Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra: Recent Episodes

Dr. Alexandra, Psychologist

With warmth, heart and a respect for science, Dr. Alexandra and her guests explore questions that come up at all life stages. Dr. Alexandra is a mother of four and an expert in family systems psychology and clinical psychopharmacology. Through interesting exchanges with her guests, Dr. Alexandra brings new learning, stories and good company to listeners.

“God will not have his work made manifest by cowards” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Join us for this delightful conversation with Dr. Beth Rom Rymer and Neill Clark on the topic of risk taking in our lives. We contemplate ideas by Machiavelli, Goethe, Lincoln and George Washington. We discuss psychological and moral risks - courageous action for things aligned with our values and even better, for principles greater than ourselves.

As this episode is being recorded and released, Dr. Beth Rom Rymer is running for President Elect of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Beth Rom-Rymer’s distinguished career includes groundbreaking work with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence advocacy, and forensic geriatrics. She had been a lecturer at The University of Chicago and Northwestern University for over two decades; led the successful legislative movement for prescriptive authority in Illinois and is a national and international leader with Prescriptive Authority Movements around the globe. Dr. Rom-Rymer co-founded and is President of the Association of Jewish Psychologists. She has won numerous awards for her work, including: Distinguished Illinois Psychologist from the Illinois Psychological Association (2012 and 2014); Outstanding Psychologist of the Year from APA’s Division 31 (2014); APA Presidential Citation for Outstanding Leadership (2015); APA Karl Heiser Award for Legislative Advocacy (2015); Wellner Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (2016); Social Impact Leaders Award from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2018).

Neill W. Clark, JD, antitrust attorney, current Mayor of Sparta, New Jersey and coach to competitive runners, brings in some athletic examples of risk and reward.

This episode was recorded on August 20th, 2024

Support the Show.

This show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

In this episode I share
1) What research has found about the impact of family meals
2) Tips on how to get started again for those who have gotten away from the practice
3) My own practice with our family dinners, including three conversation starters that we have used for years. These conversation starters are helpful in other contexts, including for divorced parents and their children when they do “phone time” when away from one another. Enjoy!

Support the Show.

This show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

I consider Agape love to be the highest form of love and I’m so excited to share this topic with you. On this show Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, and I discuss the following and more:

What is the definition of Agape Love and how is it different than other forms of love, such as Eros (romantic love) or love among family?
Are feelings of love necessary to practice Agape Love?
How does Agape Love fit in with justice and fairness?
How does Agape Love fit in with other virtues defined by psychology and religion?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. Dr. Enright is the Aristotelian Professor in Forgiveness Science in the School of Education's Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For his work in the peace movement, Dr. Enright has been named the Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications, including cross-cultural studies, on this and related topics.

I dedicate most of my podcast episodes to non-profit groups and today’s show is dedicated to:
https://www.internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

Affairs, which soared during COVID, are addictive and can cause harm all around. In this episode psychologist guests Dr. Sharon Ryan Montgomery, Dr. Marcy Pasternak and Dr. Tamsen Thorpe share their expertise on the different types of affairs, how affairs impact children, the personality types of those who are more likely to have affairs, steps to take to heal from an affair and more. In my practice I find that affairs can be painful and debilitating not only for the injured party but for individuals trying to get out of one. Learn about how there are emotional affairs, virtual affairs, sexual-only affairs and fantasy affairs. Learn about the intergenerational effects of a child being alienated (cut off) from a parent in hostile, high conflict divorces. Our expert guests provide resources for how to heal after the effects of an affair.

Dr. Marcy Pasternak, PhD (marcypasternak@gmail.com) is a clinical and forensic psychologist who practices in New Jersey. She obtained her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Duke University. While her practice serves individuals of all ages in both the clinical and forensic arena, her special interests include marital and family therapy, divorce therapy, forensic evaluations concerning custody and parenting time, removal, refuse/resist dynamics, grandparent visitation, risk assessment, and personal injury. She often serves as a parenting coordinator, parenting coach, and is also an accredited divorce mediator, conducting both divorce mediation and therapeutic mediation. She conducts multi-day intensive family interventions through a program called “Building Family Resilience,” an outgrowth of her practice. These interventions are for families in which a child resists contact with a parent. Dr. Pasternak has served as a psychological expert in numerous counties in New Jersey. She was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New Jersey Medical School, UMDNJ, now voluntary faculty. She is the past President of the New Jersey chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and has given numerous workshops and presentations to the mental health and legal communities in New Jersey and nationally.

Dr. Sharon Ryan Montgomery, PsyD (sharonrmpsy@gmail.com), is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey. Dr. Montgomery completed her doctorate in psychology from Rutgers University in 1982. Her areas of expertise are in Clinical and Forensic Psychology. Dr. Montgomery has served as an expert in over 2000 custody disputes and has also conducted evaluations in criminal matters, personal injury, marital tort cases, and testifies in court on numerous occasions. She also serves as an individual, couples, family and reconciliation therapist; as well as a parenting coordinator, mediator, divorce coach and supervisor of other psychologists. Dr. Montgomery also provides intensive therapy workshops and weekend intensives for families in which a child is refusing contact with a parent through the Building Family Resilience program. She is the Past President of the New Jersey Psychological Association and the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Human Services Association and the Morris County Psychological Association.

Dr. Tamsen Thorpe (drthorpe@directions-cls.com) counsels adults, couples and families in transition. In therapy, she assists couples rekindle their relationship using a combination of techniques, the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), addressing such challe

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This episode’s guest is Dr. Sean Sullivan, psychologist and the author of The Mind Master’s Silent Journey and Be Your Purpose: 10 Science Based Steps to Feeling and Performing Your Best. Dr. Sullivan has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and the Huffington Post. During the pandemic, the University of California approved piloting a mode of therapy that Dr. Sullivan developed called “Shift Therapy” at the Santa Cruz campus (UCSC). After two years of successful pilots, UCSC’s Health Center subscribed their entire 20,000+ member community to receive Shift Therapy in 2023.

Through this episode we discuss the following and more:
* the value of 5 minutes of exercise before meditating to settle your mind
* A technique in which you purposely introduce your triggers in order to gain mastery over the
* Visiting “the silence” or stillness within yourself daily
* A specific approach to meditation, which Dr. Sean Sullivan has developed into an app
* “Backward time stamping.” This comes at the end and is pretty deep!

Enjoy!

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the 16th of a 17 part series of super brief, stand alone podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness. This episode answers the question: Can forgiveness and justice happen together? Dr. Enright brings in Aristotle in his answer . . .

The following is a complete list of episodes in this series, which can be found at the Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra podcast:

What is the definition of forgiveness?
What are the benefits of forgiveness?
What are the two paradoxes of forgiveness?
Is forgiveness just about religion?
What is it to work the “forgiveness muscle?”
What are some of the criticisms of the idea of forgiveness?
Why is an “eye for an eye” not the best way?
If I forgive, I’m afraid I’ll forget OR if I forgive, I’m afraid I won’t forget.
Why is forgiveness better than a neutral attitude toward the wrongdoer?
Isn’t forgiveness unhealthy repression?
Do I forgive if the person continues to hurt me?
Should I forgive immediately or should I take some time first?
What if multiple people have hurt you, how do you decide who to forgive first?
How long does it take to get emotional relief after forgiving, if at all?
How often should one forgive?
Can forgiveness and justice happen together?
What are the physical and emotional risks of not forgiving? (not yet released)

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the 15th of a 17 part series of super brief, stand alone podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness. This episode answers the question: How often should one forgive?

The following is a list of the other episodes in the series:

What is the definition of forgiveness?
What are the benefits of forgiveness?
What are the two paradoxes of forgiveness?
Is forgiveness just about religion?
What is it to work the “forgiveness muscle?”
What are some of the criticisms of the idea of forgiveness?
Why is an “eye for an eye” not the best way?
If I forgive, I’m afraid I’ll forget OR if I forgive, I’m afraid I won’t forget.
Why is forgiveness better than a neutral attitude toward the wrongdoer?
Isn’t forgiveness unhealthy repression?
Do I forgive if the person continues to hurt me?
Should I forgive immediately or should I take some time first?
What if multiple people have hurt you, how do you decide who to forgive first?
How long does it take to get emotional relief after forgiving, if at all?
How often should one forgive?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the 14th of a 17 part series of super brief, stand alone podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness. This episode answers the question: How long does it take to get emotional relief after forgiving, if at all? Stay tuned for the 15th episode: How often should one forgive?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the 13th of a 17 part series of super brief, stand alone podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the 14th episode: How long does it take to get emotional relief after forgiving, if at all?Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the 12th of a 17 part series of super brief stand alone podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the 13th episode: What if multiple people have hurt you, how do you decide who to forgive first?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is one of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each stand-alone show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the 12th episode as Dr. Robert Enright answers this question: Should I forgive immediately or should I take some time first?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the tenth of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the 11th episode as Dr. Robert Enright answers this question: Do I forgive if the person continues to hurt me?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the ninth of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the tenth episode as Dr. Robert Enright answers this question: Isn’t forgiveness just unhealthy repression?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the eighth of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the ninth episode: Why is forgiveness better than a neutral attitude toward the wrongdoer?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the seventh of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the eighth episode, which answers the question: If I forgive, I’m afraid I’ll forget OR if I forgive, I’m afraid I won’t forget. . .

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the sixth of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the seventh episode, which answer the question: Why is "an eye for an eye" not the right way?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the fifth of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness. In this show you will learn about how resentment has physical effects on the body!

Stay tuned for the sixth episode, which answer the question: What are some of the criticisms of the idea of forgiving?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Find this show wherever you find your podcasts!

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

This is the fourth of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts (5 - 10 minutes each) on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

Stay tuned for the fifth episode, which answer the question: What is it to work the forgiveness muscle? In this episode learn about the wonderful concept of "bearing the pain."

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Find this show wherever you find your podcasts!

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

I'm excited to share the third of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

The following brief episode answers the question: What are the two paradoxes of forgiveness?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Find this show wherever you find your podcasts!

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

I'm excited to share the second of a 17 part series of super brief podcasts on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, I will ask just one question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

The following brief episode answers the question: What are the benefits of forgiveness? (What’s in it for the person forgiving?)

Stay tuned for the third question, which answer the question: What are the two paradoxes of forgiveness?

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Find this show wherever you find your podcasts!

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

Is there someone from your life that you need to forgive? The following super brief episode is one of a 17 part series on the topic of forgiveness. In each show, Dr. Alexandra asks just one new question of Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, internationally renowned expert on the science and psychology of forgiveness.

The following brief (five minute) episode answers the question: What is the definition of forgiveness?

Stay tuned for the next brief episode, which answers: What are the benefits of forgiveness? (What’s in it for the person forgiving?)

Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation. As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications on the topic and related topics, including studies on cross-cultural interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Enright developed an early intervention to promote a model of forgiveness that can be self-taught or used in therapeutic settings. Dr. Enright is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To learn more about forgiveness and Dr. Robert Enright, visit internationalforgiveness.com.

Would you like to be sent an article on how to forgive when someone has been unfaithful? E-mail dralexandra@psychologyamerica.com and in the subject line write “forgiveness article.”

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

I really enjoyed my conversation with Dr. Paul Coleman on the topic of intuition. Some of the studies he shared are fascinating! Our conversation went from psychology to quantum physics to the esoteric concept of the future affecting the past.

Paul Coleman is a psychologist in private practice specializing in intuition development, rebuilding relationships, grief, anxiety and trauma. I had a chance to meet Dr. Coleman after I heard him give a beautiful talk at the International Forgiveness Institute’s 2022 Agape Love conference. Dr. Coleman, the author of Finding Peace When Your Heart is in Pieces, has appeared on national television, including Today, and Fox’s The Morning Show.

Dr. Coleman will be a delight to "spend time with" through this show. May you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Support the showThis show was created with love on my volunteer time. One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes. You can also support the production costs of this show through buying me a coffee for $3 on buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra

Those who are rejection sensitive notice very small slights and interpret them in the worst way. Rejection sensitive people either need to constantly present themselves in a positive light to earn the approval of others or the complete opposite . . .they withdraw socially so they can remove the risk of rejection. Rejection sensitive people might also be be fear based perfectionists - their fear is that of somehow being rejected for not getting everything right. Life is better without so much worry about rejection - learn more about this topic, attachment theory and how to get relief from expert guest Dr. Leslie Becker-Phelps.

Dr. Leslie Becker-Phelps, psychologist, has authored Bouncing Back from Rejection and Insecure in Love. She also shares her expertise through YouTube and the blog Making Change in Psychology Today. To learn more about Dr. Becker-Phelps and for free resources she offers, visit www.drbecker-phelps.com.

Note: Chris Fraley’s survey, mentioned in this episode, can be found at: http://drbecker-phelps.com/home/insecure-in-love-resources

Please enjoy the following poem by Rumi which was read on this show:

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

This episode is dedicated to the nonprofit group internationalforgiveness.com where you can learn about how forgiveness is not for the person you’re forgiving, it’s for you, and how the burden of resentment causes fatigue.

Support the show

Beth Rom-Rymer, PhD is the Chair and President of the Board of Directors of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, the co-founder and co-chair of the International Movement for Prescriptive Authority (a movement supporting psychologists ability to prescribe medications) and at the time of this recording, a current candidate for the presidency of the American Psychological Association (APA). Through her leadership and her ability to bring together multiple groups, Dr. Rom-Rymer has greatly increased access to mental health care in the United States. I hope you will enjoy learning from her as much as I did through this interview!

Support the show

This is a “bonus” short form episode offers practical skills that you can apply today so that you can focus less on anxiety and more on the things that matter most.

Guest Hillary Grennan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in working with clients struggling with anxiety, depression and trauma. She has over ten years of clinical experience working with young children, adolescents, adults, and families. As a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) with a certificate in Intensive Cognitive Therapy, Hillary’s theoretical approach is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Recently she completed the ACT Immersion course taught by Dr.Steven Hayes. Hillary guides her clients on how to utilize their strengths and inner resilience to overcome the challenges of life with compassion, creativity and empowerment.

This episode is dedicated to InternationalForgiveness.com

Support the show

What is bravery and does bravery always have to be “big?” We have the opportunity to challenge ourselves with small acts of bravery in our every day world. Bravery can mean psychological bravery, such as getting ourselves to speak to someone when we’d normally avoid them, or taking a first action step on a creative endeavor that feels like a risk.

My guest on this show is Dr. Kristen Lee, Ed.D, a 2022 Next Big Idea Club nominee and the author of 2022 book “Worth the Risk: How to Microdose Bravery and Grow Resilience, Connect More and Offer Yourself to the World.” Dr. Kris leads the Behavior Science program at Northeastern University and is the author of “RESET: Make the Most of your Stress.” She is the winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Motivational Book 2015. Lastly, Dr. Kris has over two decades of experience as a mental health clinician.

Support the show

This episode is about an area that has not been researched very much in psychology, but which I think is worthy of a conversation: our hair and its impact on our self esteem. We will hear about the experience of folks with thick frizzy hair texture as well as those that have completely lost their hair. The show features interviews with two hairdressers, a woman who has lost her hair to cancer and my husband, Neill Clark, attorney, who will share his non psychologist “regular guy” perspective on some of these topics.

I’m happy to share that at the release of this episode 12 states have passed laws to ban race based hair discrimination and last month the US House of Representatives passed federal legislation (the “CROWN Act”) that bans race based hair discrimination, such as telling folks they can’t wear braids or cornrows because it looks “unprofessional.”

I like to dedicate each of these shows to a non-profit and today’s show is dedicated to The International Forgiveness Institute. Learn all about research that supports the mental and physical health benefits of forgiveness by visiting internationalforgiveness.com.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” Mark TwainSpend time with myself and guest Dr. Simon Rego as we discuss the latest strategies psychologists are using to help those who worry too much.

Dr. Simon Rego, is Chief of Psychology, Director of Psychology Training and Director of the CBT Training Program at Montefiore Medical Center in NYC and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Simon has been sought out as an expert by the media, with appearances on CBS News TV, Fox News TV, and in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and more. He is the author (along with Sarah Fader) of the #1 Amazon Best seller: The 10 Step Depression Relief Workbook, which has now been translated into German, Polish, Russian and Simplified Chinese, and most recently he and Sarah Fader released another book, which also hit #1 on Amazon’s best sellers if cognitive psychology, The CBT Workbook for Mental Health: Evidence-Based Exercises to Transform Negative Thoughts and Manage Your Well Being.

I like to dedicate each of these shows to a non-profit and today’s show is dedicated to the International Forgiveness Institute. Learn all about research that supports the mental and physical health benefits of forgiveness by visiting internationalforgiveness.com.

I create this show out of love and a wish to freely share access to psychology. To support the production costs of this show, please visit buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. If you choose to buy me a coffee for $3 you have the option to leave me a message with a comment, a show idea or just to say something nice!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Learn about symptoms of adult ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), what research has found about consequences of untreated ADHD, structural brain differences for those diagnosed with it and natural and pharmaceutical approaches to treatment. My guests are Heidi Keller, PhD and Tiffany Heineman, Esq . Tiffany Heineman bravely shares her personal story and experience with having ADHD and Heidi Keller, PhD, psychologist, shares her favorite natural treatment approach to improving executive skills.

This episode is dedicated to Girls on the Run non-profit (www.gotr.org) - an organization dedicated to teaching girls service, social and emotional skills and the value of exercise, all at once. Note that guest Tiffany Heineman is the Chair of the Board of our local chapter of Girls on the Run - I asked her to talk about it at the end of the show.

Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

If it’s true that the average American adult has about about five hours of free time per day. . . why do so many of us still feel as if we have no free time to get things done? This short episode offers a practical technique that will help avoiders and procrastinators get things done.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Dr. Boykin and I discuss Black America, and reflect on myths and research about Black America (especially as found in the 2020 book From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century by William Darity and Kirsten Mullen). Throughout the episode Dr. Boykin shares heartwarming stories, including his strategy for raising his GRE (Graduate Record Exam) score by 550 points in about 100 days. Malik Boykin, aka Malik Starx, is the first Black professor in the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences (CLPS) at Brown University. He is also a hip-hop artist and we feature his song “Dancing for Freedom,” a jazzy, Afro-Carribbean single, early in the show. Learn more about Dr. Malik Boykin at https://www.boykinlab.com , https://www.malikstarx.com)

Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

In this show we discuss the push and pull between the budding independence of young adults in college and the task parents have of “letting go,” among other related topics, including:

Self starting and procrastination tips for students
Coming back home: sleep pattern differences and messy rooms
Dr. Shane Owens answers direct questions from some students about their current worries

Guest Dr. Shane Owens, PhD had a wonderful "dad voice" that I believe will comfort anyone interested in this topic. Dr. Owens is a board-certified behavioral and cognitive psychologist dedicated to helping college students, young adults, and parents. He has been serving campus mental health services at Farmingdale State College for many years and holds a private practice in Commack, New York. Dr. Owens is frequently a contributor/speaker at professional conferences and is an editorial board member of Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

This show is dedicated to internationalforgiveness.com where you can learn all about research that supports the mental and physical health benefits of forgiveness, practical steps on how to forgive and more.

I create this show out of love and a wish to freely share access to psychology. To support the production costs of this show, please visit buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra. If you choose to buy me a coffee for $3 you have the option to leave me a message with a comment, a show idea or just to say something nice!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Are you narrowing your life by “managing” your worries and obsessions for a good portion of your day? Listen to this episode while folding your laundry or doing your dishes and learn about:

What it’s like for people who experience “sticky” thoughts that don’t go away
How feelings are like waves in the ocean . . . they come and go. We can’t always control our feelings, but we can control how we respond to them.
How to use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to live your deepest values while getting relief from “sticky thoughts” and compulsions from OCD and more

Today’s guest is psychologist Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona, known as “Dr. Z,” author of six books including Escaping the Emotional Roller Coaster, ACT for the Emotionally Sensitive and The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD: Unhook Yourself and Live Life to the Full. Dr. Z has led over 140 workshops at national and international conferences and runs a private practice in San Francisco where she works with children through adults that struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, procrastination, and with managing their emotions. Dr. Z is also the host of Playing it Safe Podcast - learn more about her at www.thisisdoctorz.com.

Click here or find Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra wherever you listen to podcasts. I create these podcasts out of love and service - if you leave a rating on iTunes it helps to share the episodes with more people. You can also help me with production costs by buying me a coffee and leaving me a personal comment, question or topic request! Visit buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Get out your pen, there are so many helpful and practical morsels of wisdom offered in this episode! Expert guest Brittany Wool shares with listeners Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) concepts such as “wise mind,” “opposite action” and how to “pause” with mindfulness. Hear stories about a married couple getting angry over dishes, a middle schooler learning to tame their reactions to “mean girls” and what to do when feeling absolutely exasperated.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

How can we stop uncontrollable and unintentional weight gain? What can we do about it, what works and how do we stick to it? Should those with serious weight problems consider bariatric surgery and medication?

I recently learned so much about obesity from incredibly informed health psychologist Dr. Dina Goldstein Silverman. After watching her excellent presentation at the 2020 NJPA Conference I asked her if she would be a guest on podcast. We are joined in this conversation by attorney and my husband, Neill W. Clark.

**Expert guest Dr. Dina Goldstein Silverman is the recipient of the Frank and Mary Ann Dattilio Education Award from the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. She was recently recognized by South Jersey Magazine for the Reader's Choice Award in 2019 and 2017. She is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at Cooper University Hospital where she teaches evidence-based psychotherapy and provides individual supervision to psychiatry residents, medical students, and post-doctoral and pre-doctoral clinical health psychology residents.

If you have found any value from this show, please show your encouragement by buying me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra**

Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

How do exceptional leaders use emotions to effectively lead and persuade?

Enjoy stories and new learning about these topics and more, including:
The EQ characteristics of outstanding leaders
Authenticity versus strategically bringing in emotion
Emotional contagion
Daydreaming in the workplace

My guests on this episode are Cary Cherniss and Cornelia Roche, authors of Leading with Feeling, Nine Strategies of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership (2020), a book based on their in depth study of 25 outstanding leaders.

Cary Cherniss, PhD was my dissertation chair at Rutgers, where he serves as Professor of Applied Psychology Emeritus. Cary spent much of his professional life studying Emotional Intelligence and he has published seven books, including Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace, and over 70 scholarly articles, many on this same topic. Dr. Cherniss is the Director of the Emotional Intelligence Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations.

Cornelia Roche, PsyD was a classmate of mine when I was in graduate school. She is an organizational psychologist and management coach serving various types of organizations, including corporate settings, schools, small businesses and non profits. Cornelia has served the Emotional Intelligence Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations since its inception.

We are also joined in this episode by attorney (and my husband) Neill W. Clark, who always enhances the conversation with his wisdom and curiosity.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

It surprised me to learn that we have over two million people in prison in the United States. The majority of individuals in prison will eventually be released into the community. . . and who will they become after the prison experience? This episode presents the results of research just completed on a novel therapy for rehabilitating men in a maximum security prisons. Learn the elements of an approach which seeks to address the root of the problem, and in the process learn techniques for healing and breaking free of anger and resentment.

Guest Dr. Maria Gambaro is a licensed psychologist who has dedicated the last twelve years of her life to forgiveness counseling, research and assessment. She is one of the principle authors of the research and paper we will cover today. Guest Dr. Robert Enright is the founder of the International Forgiveness Institute and has been featured in Time Magazine and ABC’s 20/20 as the pioneer of the scientific study of forgiveness. Dr. Enright is a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and is the author of the Eight Keys to Forgiveness. This is the second time I have had Dr. Enright on the show - find him in a previous very popular episode entitled “How to Forgive.”

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Historical figures like George Washington and Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus can teach us about humility and virtue in politics and life. Host Randolph "Wolf" Shipon and I discussed these topics and more on the American Unity Radio podcast, in which Dr. Shipon seeks to bring a divided America closer together. He talks about putting red, white and blue together to form “purple people.” Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Google Scholar data ranked Steven C. Hayes among the top 1,500 most cited scholars on the planet, in all areas of study, living and dead. He is the founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which brings in mindfulness, acceptance and value based methods to relieve human suffering. I enjoyed and recommend his most recent book “A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters.” Learn more about him at stevenchayes.com. May you enjoy the wisdom of Steven C. Hayes as much as I did!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

In this episode Dr. Kendahl Shortway shares the results of her recent study entitled: “New Jersey Coaches and Athletic Directors Perspectives: Gender Nonbinary Athletes.”

Dr. Shortway, Neill Clark and I also discuss:

Important definitions, including the meaning of “nonbinary,” transgender, genderfluid, cisgender LGBTQA+ and more for listeners who are unfamiliar
Concepts and questions about the psychology and biology of gender
What the NCAA and Olympic Committee rules state as it relates to participation by transgender athletes.

Dr. Kendahl Shortway, PsyD is the co-author of the Routledge Handbook of Clinical Sport Psychology (in publication 2020) and much of her research has focused on sports psychology. She teaches and serves as research coordinator at Kean University.

Neill Clark, formerly a NCAA Division 1 Track and Field athlete and currently a master’s competitive athlete in running and swimming, offers his perspective as an athlete and an attorney.

Yesterday (6-15-20) the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, protects transgender & homosexual people from workplace discrimination. Listen to this podcast for a primer on LBGTQA+ terms, definitions and concepts and learn about the controversial topic of transgender athletes competing in sports.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

In this recorded talk Dr. Alexandra shares wisdom from Rumi, Petrarch, Nelson Mandela, positive psychology and more. A special thank you to Mr. Gary Kitchell for his photo of the sunrise.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

This episode is about identifying our values and living according to them, including strategies to help us from getting distracted and derailed. In this episode Tom Russo, author of There are no Politics in Heaven, shares some of the life lessons he has learned including overcoming his earlier years of being bullied, escaping into the unsavory aspects of political power, finding and living according to his deepest values and transforming into a servant-leader. Dr. Alexandra teaches listeners about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) along the way.

Thomas Russo, a former elected official in two NJ municipalities, currently serves as town manager of Newton NJ in addition to teaching at Seton Hall University and Pillar College.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Dr. Alexandra, Dr. Michelle Pievsky and Neill Clark share seven practical tips on how to cope with stressful and unexpected circumstances.

For further podcasts that may be particularly helpful for coping during COVID 19, search Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra for. . . .

Caring for our Immune System:

31. Mind Your Microbiota

16. Your Best Sleep

General Coping:

4. Facing Our Fears

25. Resilience, Overcoming and Fortitude

20. For Couples: The Second Shift

5. When Our Thoughts Get in the Way (and How to Get Relief)

19. Facing the Unknown Part 1

29. Grief

Thank you to my 5th grade son George for the cover artwork. Find his artwork and photography on toads and more at his artwork (@grego.andrew).

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

I so enjoyed this conversation on the “Love and Psychology of Dogs” and am excited to share it with you! The guests on this podcast episode are Dr. Nancy Shay, veterinarian and Jeannette Carpenter, dog walker. Join us as we discuss the following and more:

our thoughts on recent research on the “intelligence,” including emotional intelligence, of dogs
dogs’ emotions and sense of morality
amazing research on the effects dog ownership has on the health of children and adults

Dr. Nancy has worked at the Highlands Veterinary Hospital in Sparta, New Jersey for 22 years. She has a special interest in physical rehabilitation and animal behavior. She earned her veterinary degree from University College Dublin Veterinary School of Ireland and is currently working toward her certification in canine rehabilitation.

Jeannette Carpenter has owned her own dog walker/pet sitter business for 10 years. I have aways enjoyed and appreciated her funny and moving stories about her “clients.” In this recorded conversation I especially enjoyed learning about her two styles of walks she gives her dogs.

Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

I am grateful to have experienced joy and even bliss when my children were infants and toddlers, but this is not always the case. In fact, on this show I learned that 80% of mothers experience postpartum blues. In this episode you’ll also learn:

Advice on screen time for infants and toddlers
Infants, toddlers and sleep
The best way for little ones to learn language
How to discipline a toddler
What both she and I might do differently in raising our infants and toddlers

Dr. Michelle Arkow Pievsky, PhD is an expert on the psychology of infants and toddlers and serves as a fellow at bothYouth Consultation Service Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health in East Orange, NJ and at Mindful Assessment and Psychological Services in Pequannock, NJ. Her many publications include a meta analysis on the neurocognitive profile of ADHD. Last year Dr. Pievsky presented on many topics, including “Autism Spectrum Disorder in Primary Care” and “A Behavioral Health Toolbox for Pediatricians.” Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

This episode inspired me to change the way I eat and I’m excited to share this topic with others. Guest Jeanne Petrucci and I discuss the connection between our mood, our health and the gut, including:
Promising research on how our gut impacts our mood and vice versa
What it means for the gut to be “leaky” and its relation to inflammation and the immune system
The gut and the increase in food sensitivities
What to feed the gut for your health and cancer prevention
The role of fecal transplants
What pregnant women and parents of young children need to know about the gut

Jeanne Petrucci is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the founder of Living Plate (livingplate.org), an organization which seeks out the latest scientific research on nutrition and then shares that information through educational and culinary programs.

Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

With compassion and elegance the guest on today’s episode, Dr. Nancy McWilliams, helps listeners understand the following and more:

What is healthy versus pathological narcissism?
Can certain parenting create narcissistic personalities?
What are some practical suggestions for those in a romantic relationship with a partner with narcissistic tendencies?
What does it feel like if you have narcissistic personality disorder and what can help?
What is overt, covert and psychopathic narcissism?
What if you work for someone with narcissistic tendencies?
How can companies spot narcissistic tendencies when hiring leaders?

Dr. Nancy McWilliams (nancymcw@aol.com) teaches at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology and practices in Lambertville, New Jersey. She is author of Psychoanalytic Diagnosis (1994, rev. ed. 2011), Psychoanalytic Case Formulation (1999), and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (2004) and is associate editor of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual, 2nd ed. (2017). A former president of Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) of the American Psychological Association, she has been featured in three APA videos of master clinicians, the most recent being “Three Approaches to Psychotherapy.” Her books are available in 20 languages; she lectures widely both nationally and internationally.

Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Guest Dr. Deb Bernstein (drdebbernstein.com) endured the loss of her young brother, her young romantic love and most recently both her mother and father. As a clinical psychologist she has specialized in grief through research and through her 35 year private practice in Warwick, NY.

In this episode Dr. Deb and I discuss the following and more:

The many and varied symptoms of acute grief and how long it lasts
How our relationship with the deceased affects our grief, such as when we have mixed feelings about them
How Elizabeth Kubler-Ross apologized about how her “Stages of Grief” were misconstrued
How to respond to a grieving friend
Strategies for coping

Some books and authors we brought up in our conversation include:

When the Bough Breaks: Forever After the Death of a Son or Daughter by Judith R. Bernstein, Ph.D.

Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy, Fifth Edition: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner by J. William Worden PhD

The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss by George A. Bonanno Ph.D.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Did you know that most people with dementia don’t notice that they’ve had memory loss or personality changes? It tends to be relatives and close friends that notice it and then encourage the individual to seek an evaluation. I learned from the guest on this episode that the “self awareness” part of the brain is likely to be one of the areas harmed by dementia! In this episode, also learn:

How do Dementia symptoms differ from normal aging?
How can one tell the difference between Dementia and depression?
What does research recommend on how to prevent dementia?
What steps should you or family take once a Dementia diagnosis has been made?
What is the latest technology on identifying Alzheimer’s Disease?
What is it like for those caring for the Dementia patient?

The guest on today’s episode is Dr. Michelle Papka (www.thecrcnj.com, 973-850-4622), who has nearly 25 years' combined experience as a researcher and clinician specializing in the field of aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. She practices as a neuropsychologist, psychotherapist, and researcher, and has served as the Principal Investigator on over 20 recent clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease, memory impairment, or mild cognitive impairment.

She’s had numerous publications of her work and is an active public speaker, invited editor, grant reviewer, consultant, and committee member of multiple specialized organizations and publications in the field of aging and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Your heart is racing, your hands are tingling, you can’t breathe and you wonder: “Is this a heart attack? Why does it feel like the world is crashing down on me?”

In this episode learn:
What a panic attack is and is not
Evidence-based strategies for overcoming panic
The role of medication when treating panic disorder
The treatment approach for Tourette’s syndrome, a disorder related to motor and vocal tics, another expertise held by the episode guest.

Expert guest for this episode is Dr. Rob Zambrano, a psychologist at Stress and Anxiety Services of New Jersey (stressandanxiety.com). Dr. Zambrano, who specializes in panic, Tourette’s syndrome and the anxiety spectrum disorders, will surprise listeners with what may seem like a paradoxical strategy to overcoming a panic attack.

This episode is dedicated to Ginnie’s House, a non-profit organization which provides 100% free therapy to abused children and their caregivers. Learn more at ginnieshouse.org.

Thank you _geogre.art_ , my son, for the photograph.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Two days after my first baby Rebecca was born, as I held her, nursed her and loved her so much, I also mourned. . . knowing that one day I would need to let her go. Now she’s seventeen, lovely, and about to enter her senior year of high school. At the end of next summer she’ll be living at college. It’ll soon be the start of her launch, and her freedom. When she comes back, she’ll have already tasted independence like never before. . . In this episode on “Launching Children and Letting Go” learn about:

What it’s like for parents after children are launched
Healthy and unhealthy attachment
What it means when the adolescent or teenager “pulls away”
How to prevent secrets and lying with adolescents and teenagers
How to “let go” of children
How to assist children with moving toward independence
Inspirational examples

Song by Tom Askin of PonderRosa Studios, butterfly illustration by Briana Giasullo

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Parents like myself would like to know that their children will “be okay” and bounce back should bad things happen to them, and tough times will inevitably happen in life. How can we build skills in ourselves and in our children to be able to “bounce back” and grow stronger from adversity?

Expert guest Heidi Keller, PhD discusses resilience, how we can have more of it and how we can teach our children to have more of it. Dr. Keller, a clinical psychologist, has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and at the end of the episode she talks about how what she has learned about resilience has helped her.

Other topics discussed include:

Three practical questions that help build resilience in adults and children
Three ways the people who have experienced abuse or trauma are different than others
How the self-esteem movement in the United States was unhelpful
The wrong way to compliment a child and the best way to give a child encouragement
What the U.S. military does to teach soldiers resilience

For listeners who are couples. . . remember from Episode #9 on this show entitled “The Honeymoon Phase of Love” when we talked about how in order to keep those honeymoon feelings going beyond the first six months of your relationship, you need to actively do new & interesting things together? For listeners local to New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania, please consider attending the MS FunRaiser July 02nd 2019 at Farmstead Golf and Country Club in Lafayette, NJ. This dinner and dancing event features Val and Jenna from ABC TV’s Dancing with the Stars. Money raised from tickets and donations will help and support those Multiple Sclerosis, MS, in this region of the United States. This event is run by the guest on this show, Dr. Heidi Keller. E-mail MSFUNraiser2019@gmail.com for tickets.

P.S. The photo used as artwork for this show was taken by my 10 year old son George (_geogre.art_)who was given the assignment "create a photo that represents resilience." This gave me a chance to teach him about what resilience means!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

I am excited to share this episode with you not only because Kevin is a dear friend from college but because he is one of the most delightful and interesting people I know! Our conversation in this episode includes:

What it’s like for non-traditional and African American fathers battling stereotype expectations about fatherhood
How men’s bodies change once they become fathers, including decreases in testosterone
The “father culture” of Sweden
Fathers in prison
“Dead Broke” Dads
Reforming child support to include the economic value of “time spent.”
Spoken and unspoken rules about storytelling and its impact on society

Kevin Maillard (kevinmaillard.com) is Professor of Law at Syracuse University and a contributing editor to the New York Times. He specializes in Family Law, Constitutional Law, and popular culture. He also has written for The Atlantic and has provided on-air commentary to ABC News and MSNBC. He is the co-editor of Loving v. Virginia in a Post-Racial World (with Rose Villazor, Cambridge 2012). An enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, he is the author of the forthcoming 2019 children's book, FRY BREAD.

Neill W. Clark, father of four, adds commentary to this conversation.

Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by having a combination of obsessions (when you have repetitive persistent worries that are hard to dismiss) and compulsions or rituals (these provide temporary relief from obsessions). These obsessions and compulsions are very disruptive - disruptive enough to create problems in one’s relationships, work, school or general functioning. Do you think you have OCD or do you suspect a loved one or co-worker has it? Learn about the true definition of OCD, evidence based treatments and helpful resources through this episode of Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra.

I love the stories this guest shares! Expert guest Dr. Allen Weg, psychologist, is the Co-Founder and President of the Board of OCD New Jersey, an affiliate of the International OCD Foundation. He is the author and presenter of "OCD Tips," a series of short YouTube video clips and the author of OCD Treatment Through Storytelling: A Strategy for Successful Therapy. Dr. Weg has been featured as an OCD expert on on the ABC’s 20/20 and NPR’s Voices in the Family. He is the Founder and Director of Stress and Anxiety Services of New Jersey (stressandanxiety.com), where he specializes in cognitive behavioral and other evidence-based treatment of OCD, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders. Over 80% of Dr. Weg’s clients in his practice present with a primary diagnosis of OCD or PTSD. To learn more about OCD Dr. Weg recommends iocdf.org. Enjoy!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Individuals identified as having Borderline Personality Disorder may show some or all of these symptoms: intense emotions, frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment, recurring conflict in relationships, impulsive or reckless behavior, self harm, chronic feelings of loneliness or boredom, frequent outbursts of anger, switching between loving someone and then hating them and suspiciousness about others.

In this episode learn:
What is Borderline Personality Disorder and how can we better understand it?
What it’s like for family members and loved ones and what can they do to cope or help?
How can things improve for individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder?

Expert guest Emily Biggs-Heisler has worked on a treatment study at the New York State Psychiatric Institute comparing the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in a population with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Her dissertation at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey is examining the interpersonal mechanisms of suicidal and non-suicidal behaviors in individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. At Cognitive Behavior Consultants, New York City, she is implementing adherent DBT with adolescents and adults. Lastly, Emily is serves as a Behavioral Health Consultant in an integrated setting at North Hudson Community Action Corporation in Passaic, NJ.

Neill Clark, attorney, joined the conversation to bring a non-clinical perspective to this topic.

To identify professionals with expertise in treating Borderline Personality Disorder consider behavioraltech.org as a start or search of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

If you haven’t had a chance to hear this podcast episode I highly recommend it! Fascinating new learning from Robert McGrath, Ph.D. who just co-authored (with Ryan Niemiec) The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate and Ignite Your Positive Personality (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578434296/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_-xVFCb972S2HK), a book which teaches us about positive psychology while offering practical “how to” ideas for self improvement. The delightful conversation in this podcast offers interesting ideas and stories gleaned from Dr. McGrath’s world expertise on positive psychology, including:
What are the six virtues that religious and moral traditions across the planet have in common?
What have studies of over one million people determined to be the “essential three” virtues
What does it really take to be a good person?
What are the roles of courage, curiosity and humor?
What can Ben Franklin teach us about virtues?
Can we have too much of a virtue?
What happens if you are great at one virtue but lousy at another, are you still virtuous?
Are virtues seen in animals?

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate and Ignite Your Positive Personality

You and your loved one have each had busy and full working days and you both feel mentally and physically tired. It’s now evening and you’re both home. At this point, who continues to “work?” Who is still seen moving around - getting things cleaned, getting things ready, cooking, and caring for the needs of the home and/or children? The time we spend working after working hours, which includes those evening times and weekend hours, is referred to as the “Second Shift,” a term coined by author Arlie Hochschild. In this episode learn:
What research has found about men and women today - who works more overall?
How to discuss and negotiate the Second Shift responsibilities of living together
** Steps to take if your spouse or loved one doesn't wish to change

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Worry about the unknown can take up our precious time and energy. We may feel like the worry is going to help us control the outcome, but chances are constant worrying about the unknown is wasting our time! This podcast offers a few practical steps for productively dealing with the unknown so that we can instead turn our energy toward our more fulfilling, productive and meaningful commitments.

Learn:
* Why our brains assume the worst when facing the unknown

How repeated chronic stress can leads to back and stomach pain
How to move out of the physical state of stress when it’s bad
How to mentally shift our perspective when facing the unknown

This podcast is dedicated to Ginnie’s House, a non-profit which offers free therapy for abused children. Learn more or support them at ginnieshouse.org.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Forgiving isn’t excusing or forgetting; it is a decision that gives greater physical and psychological health to the forgiver. In this episode Dr. Enright provides profound insights into forgiveness including:

How and why forgiveness benefits the forgiver
Practical, proven steps on how to actually forgive
How to forgive after being betrayed by unfaithfulness
What five steps to take if you have been unfaithful
What to do when the person you need to forgive is yourself
How to forgive someone who has already died
How to get over divorce anger
The unexpected and beneficial effects of offering mercy to the offender
How to prevent your own excessive anger from “living on” in your children and future generations

Dr. Enright is a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the pioneer of the scientific study of forgiveness. He is the author of seven books, including ”8 Keys to Forgiveness” and the children’s book “Rising Above the Storm Clouds: What it’s Like to Forgive.” He has been featured on ABC’s 20/20 and has been called the “Forgiveness Trailblazer” by Time Magazine. Dr. Enright has developed forgiveness education programs in twelve countries across the globe. Learn more about his work or support him at internationalforgiveness.com.

Please “give back” to this podcast by leaving us an awesome rating on iTunes! Here are the steps to take to do so from an iPhone:

1) Launch Apple’s purple Podcast app in your phone
2) Even if you already subscribe to / have Psychology America and it is open, tap “Search”
3) Enter “Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra”
4) Tap on the photo of the podcast
5) Scroll all the way down
6) Press the star rating you choose and/or tap the “write a review.” For the highest rating tap the last star on the right first.

Your review is appreciated!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

I’ve been experiencing chronic pain in my arm very recently which I attributed to overuse from playing tennis. This conversation got me really thinking about what this injury could mean on a deeper level. In this episode my expert guest and I explore:

Can negative thoughts such as “unspeakable anger" manifest as pain in our bodies?
Why is it that two people can show the same exact damage from an injury on an MRI but feel the pain in two very different ways?
What are some steps we can take to help our chronic pain go away?
Can working through our past and present anger prevent chronic pain from emerging?

My guest for this episode, Dr. Jeff Axelbank, is a psychologist and expert on chronic pain. Dr. Axelbank is a recipient of the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA) Psychologist of the Year Award and the Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) Peterson Prize for outstanding contributions to professional psychology. Learn more about his work and practice at www.jeffreyaxelbankpsyd.com. Dr. Axelbank practices the Sarno approach to addressing chronic pain, of which more information can be found at www.tmswiki.org.

An additional “fun fact’ about chronic pain that I learned while preparing this podcast but didn’t have a chance to mention was the relationship between norepinephrine and pain. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter we produce in the brain that regulates our mood. Certain antidepressant medications work by accessing more norepinephrine. Norepinephrine travels from the brain and through the body and inhibits pain in areas where it’s not useful for us to have pain, such as the stomach, joints and back. When the body is constantly shooting messages of pain to the brain this is a stressor. If, as a result of stress, we produce less norepinephrine to be distributed to the body, we will feel more pain in our back, joints and stomach. This explains why antidepressant drugs like SNRIs that attempt to access more norepinephrine can be helpful for syndromes which cause joint pain and chronic pain, such as in Fibromyalgia.

This episode is dedicated to Ginnie’s House, a non profit organization which provides100% free therapy for abused children. Learn more at GinniesHouse.org.

If you have found value in listening to this or previous episodes, please leave Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra a rating, it truly makes a difference!

How to leave a rating on iTunes

1) Launch Apple’s purple Podcast app in your phone
2) Even if you already subscribe to / have Psychology America and it is open, tap “Search”
3) Enter “Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra”
4) Tap on the photo of the podcast
5) Scroll all the way down
6) Press the star rating you choose and/or tap the “write a review.” For the highest rating tap the last star on the right first.

Your review is appreciated!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

In my podcast Episode 7 entitled “Commitment to Self Care and Self Care for Commitment” I discuss five life habits that I found helpful for taking care of my energy… because what good is free time if we have no energy within that free time to pursue our most meaningful commitments? One of the strategies I mentioned is to take care of my sleep through the principles of “sleep hygiene.” Since then listeners have asked for a podcast on this topic.

My guest for this episode is Anna Urbaniak, who teaches sleep hygiene on a daily basis to US Veterans at the VA Hospital in East Orange NJ, USA. Anna specializes in the treatment of anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

In this episode we learn about:

Practices we should follow to achieve our best sleep
The link between sleep and larger appetite
How sleep deprivation affects our brains
Teenager and elderly patterns of sleep
Dividing sleep into two parts in the evening (bifurcated sleep)

This episode is dedicated to Ginnie’s House, a non profit organization which provides100% free therapy for abused children. Learn more at GinniesHouse.org.

If you have found value in listening to this or previous episodes, please leave Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra a rating, it truly makes a difference!
How to leave a rating on iTunes
1) Launch Apple’s purple Podcast app
2) Tap “Search”
3) Enter “Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra”
4) Tap on the photo of the podcast
5) Scroll all the way down
6) Press the star rating you choose and/or tap the “write a review”
Your review is appreciated!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Learn four ways to have a civil political discussion with someone with whom you disagree.
Learn how to talk politics when you and your family member are on opposites side of the political spectrum.
Learn what researchers have discovered about how terrorists think and how can this help us with our own heated discussions.
How does hate affect the brain?
Are love and hate opposite sides of the same coin?
Can the stress caused by disagreeing over politics get passed on to future generations ?
How can listening to understand (rather than to persuade) foster more civil discussions?

Guest Neill Clark shares his experiences about trying to have political discussions with family, friends and neighbors that foster understanding. Neill explains how the skills he has learned as an attorney have sometimes hurt his efforts to have meaningful conversations. Dr. Alexandra and Neill together suggest ways we can connect with and engage those with whom we disagree.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

This was a delightful and interesting conversation with Dr. Robert McGrath, psychologist and author. Among other topics, we discuss:

What are the six virtues that religious and moral traditions across the planet have in common?
What have Dr. McGrath's studies of over one million people determined to be the “essential three” virtues?
What does it really take to be a good person?
What are the roles of courage, curiosity and humor?
What can Ben Franklin teach us about virtues?
Can we have too much of a virtue?
What happens if you are great at one virtue but lousy at another, are you still virtuous?
Are virtues or moral sentiments seen in animals?

Guest Robert McGrath, PhD, is a world expert on the topic of character strength and virtue, and the co-author of The Power of Character Strengths (with Ryan Niemiec), which is coming February 2019. Dr. McGrath is also the Director of the School of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, the recipient of the New Jersey Psychological Association Psychologist of the Year Award, the Senior Scientist at the VIA Institute on Character and the Director of Integrated Care for the Underserved of Northeastern New Jersey. He will gladly answer any questions about his work on virtue and character strengths at mcgrath@fdu.edu.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Psilocybin, a hallucinogen derived from certain mushrooms, is receiving a lot of attention lately in the research community and Johns Hopkins University has just recommended that this compound be reclassified for medicinal use to treat depression, anxiety and to help people stop smoking. What is psilocybin and does it have lasting beneficial effects on depression and anxiety? How does it impact our brain? Learn more about the effect of psilocybin with guest Jennifer Campbell, MA.

I met Jennifer Campbell, in San Francisco this past August where she presented on the topic: “Psilocybin in the Therapeutic Milieu” at the American Psychological Association’s Annual Convention. Her presentation was fascinating and I asked Jennifer if she would come onto the show to share these research findings with listeners. Jennifer is finishing up her Clinical Psychology PhD studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California and works in neuropsychological and rehabilitation psychology at the Texas NeuroRehab Center.

Disclaimer: please note that I am a doctoral level psychologist, not a physician. Do not make medical decisions on the basis of information from today’s podcast without discussing it fully with your physician. Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra is neither advocating for the illegal use of psilocybin nor recommending that it be taken to treat anxiety and depression. Instead, with a spirit of openness to new learning, we are sharing what research is discovering about this interesting compound and its impact on mental health. To learn more about clinical trials being done on psilocybin in the United States, go to clinicaltrials.gov and search hallucinogens. Also search London based compasspathways.com.

P.S. For those who love neuroscience: Psilocybin is a 5HT2 receptor agonist in contrast to SSRIs, which target 5HT1A receptors.

Relevant articles:
https://nyti.ms/2P87IGH

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-13282-7

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0269881116675512

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(16)30065-7/fulltext

https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110605

http://www.eurekaselect.com/111922/article

If you enjoyed this episode of Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra there are a few ways that you can show your support:1) order a book from PsychologyAmerica.com where there is a selection of books I’ve personally chosen (your order will go seamlessly through to Amazon.com) 2), leave an awesome rating on iTunes or 3) press subscribe to continue to receive new episodes.

Do you have a friend who is going through a rough time that you would like to cheer up? Some people will truly feel loved with small and thoughtful gifts. Consider the gift of my children’s book entitled: “There’s Always Hope: a Story About Overcoming. It can be found psychologyamerica.com, Amazon.com or at Sparta Books.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

The esteemed author and poet Maya Angelou once said: “I have written eleven books, but each time I think, uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody , and they’re going to find me out.” Imposter Syndrome is when you feel like a phony, as if you are fooling others, and are afraid of being somehow exposed as someone who doesn’t really know what they are doing or talking about. Individuals with imposter syndrome have trouble attributing their success to their own achievement and are likely to procrastinate out of anxiety or overwork. Learn more about traits of those with Imposter Syndrome through my conversation with guest Lauren Todd. Lauren Todd, MS, is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a humanistic flair. She has worked with individuals across the life span at New York Presbyterian Hospital, McLean Hospital, and Integrated Care for the Underserved of Northeastern New Jersey. Lauren is in her fifth year of PhD studies of psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University and her primary areas of interest are eating disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and life transitions, particularly among children and adolescents. To learn more about Imposter Syndrome begin with Sakulku and Alexander’s 2011 article in the International Journal of Behavioral Science entitled “The Imposter Phenomenon.” If you enjoyed this episode and others, there are a few ways that you can show your support:1) order a book from PsychologyAmerica.com where there is a selection of books I’ve personally chosen (your order will go seamlessly through to Amazon.com) 2), leave an awesome rating on iTunes or 3) press subscribe to continue to receive new episodes. Do you have a friend who is going through a rough time that you would like to cheer up? Some people will truly feel loved with small and thoughtful gifts. Consider the gift of my children’s book entitled: “There’s Always Hope: a Story About Overcoming." It can be found on PsychologyAmerica.com, Amazon.com or at Sparta Books.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

I enjoyed this wonderful conversation as we explored the following profound and often perplexing questions: Why forgive? How does psychology define forgiveness and how do Judaism, Christianity and Islam see forgiveness? Does forgiving mean we are pardoning bad behavior? Do you need the offender to participate if you want to forgive? What steps can we take to forgive and how do we do it? Guests for this episode bring the perspectives of Judaism, Islam and Christianity to the topic. Rabbi Mendel Dubov serves as faculty at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ, USA and as Director of Chabad in Sussex County, NJ. Saifulla Chaudahry serves as Propagation Secretary for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of North Jersey. Pastor Michael Bos, Ph.D. serves as the Senior Minister of Marble Collegiate Church of New York City and is the President of the Collegiate Churches of New York. Dr. Bos established the first interfaith religious diplomacy center on the Arabian Peninsula, and received the U.S. Ambassador’s Award for Community Service. Psychology studies have found that when people forgive it decreases anxiety, depression and obsessive thinking about the offender. Multiple studies have also found that forgiveness improves mood, psychological health and the quality of one’s relationships overall. To read & explore further about forgiveness , may I suggest starting with a search of psychology studies by Robert Enright and Richard Fitzgibbons. I hope you will enjoy and learn from this very special episode! If you have enjoyed Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra, there are a few ways that you can show your support: 1) visit iTunes and leave us a 5-Star rating, 2) order a book from PsychologyAmerica.com where there is a selection of books I’ve personally chosen (your order will go seamlessly through to Amazon.com) or 3) press subscribe to continue to receive new episodes. Would you like to teach your child nine and under about how to have an optimistic outlook even when things go wrong? Consider purchasing my book entitled: “There’s Always Hope: a Story About Overcoming.” It can be found on The PsychologyAmerica.com website or at Amazon.com. The beautiful illustrations were painted by Philadelphia resident, Briana Giasullo, and the book also imparts empathy for the disabled.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Enjoy our conversation as we span a range of interesting topics within psychology, including: Can we increase our Emotional Intelligence (EQ) through an app? What is “Digital Cocaine?” What is happening with artificial intelligence and facial recognition, and what are the implications? Can we learn from micro expressions on the human face? How can we use technology to better ourselves psychologically? What can we learn from rejection? How can we effectively give others space when they need it? How can we manage “expectancy effect” or what other peoples’ expectations are of us? Why is accessing emotions important for making good decisions? How do stress responses cause long term physical problems? What is Integrated Psychology and how can psychological care help with medical problems? In this 10th Episode Of Psychology America I interview Silja Litvin, founder and CEO of Psych Apps and creator of eQuoo, an app designed to use games to increase emotional intelligence in adults. (To find this app search http://bit.ly/eQuooiPhone http://bit.ly/eQuooAndroid). This interview took place between myself in New Jersey, USA and Silja Litvin in London and we did it through a Skype call. We have also turned the episode into a YouTube video which can be found on PsychologyAmerica.com or Siljalitvin.com under the same above title. If you enjoyed this episode and others, there are a few ways that you can show your support: 1) visit iTunes and leave us a 5-Star rating, 2) order a book from PsychologyAmerica.com where there is a selection of books I’ve personally chosen (your order will go seamlessly through to Amazon.com) or 3) press subscribe to continue to receive new episodes. Do you want to teach your child nine and under about how to have an optimistic outlook even when things go wrong? Consider purchasing my book entitled: “There’s Always Hope: a Story About Overcoming.” A link to this book on Amazon can be found on The Psychologyamerica.com website or directly at Amazon.com. The beautiful illustrations were painted by Philadelphia resident Briana Giasullo.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

The honeymoon phase of love is one of the greatest human experiences. Learn from this episode: What is the honeymoon phase? What is happening in our brains? How long does the honeymoon phase last? How can learning about the honeymoon phase apply to smart dating? How can knowledge about the honeymoon phase inform us about marital affairs? How can the above inform us about long distance relationships? Can long term relationships keep the honeymoon phase going and how? (The answer is: yes they can!) My guest for this episode is Justine Bates-Krakoff, MS, an expert on brain-behavior relationships, including work in: a longitudinal study examining genetic, cognitive, and interpersonal vulnerability to depression, a group intervention based on The Penn Resiliency Program (PRP), an investigation on PTSD and resilience trajectories in at-risk populations following traumatic events, and internship at New York Presbyterian Hospital on an affective disorders acute inpatient unit serving adults with primary diagnoses of major depressive, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. Justine Bates-Krakoff is currently attending Fairleigh Dickinson University, working toward a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology under the mentorship of Dr. Robert McGrath, in his positive psychology laboratory. If you haven’t had a chance please consider purchasing my new book entitled "There’s Always Hope: A Story About Overcoming,” which can be found via an Amazon Link on PsychologyAmerica.com. I wrote it with love for children nine and under. The beautiful illustrations were done by Briana Giasullo, my stepsister! PsychologyAmerica.com also has links to Amazon for other books I recommend!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Precepts 1 and 4 are especially for single parents but the rest apply to all parents. I created this list based on three things: what research has found in psychology, what I have learned from experience with my patients over fifteen years of private practice, and my own experience as a single mother of four children. Some precepts have to do with what we “do” and others have to do with what we “don’t do.” May these precepts lead to greater nurturing, love and peace in households of all types. ******* Do you want to teach your child about how to make the best of it even when they’re disappointed? Consider purchasing my recently published book entitled “There’s Always Hope: A Story About Overcoming” on Amazon.com or Sparta Books. I wrote it with love for children nine and under or to serve as a symbolic gift for an adult in your life who is in need of hope. Lastly, if you have enjoyed Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra, support us at no cost by leaving us a rating on iTunes, sharing it with a friend and pressing subscribe.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

I hope you will enjoy listening to this live event, recorded at my book signing and podcast launch April 26th, 2018 in Sparta, New Jersey at Interplay Couture. After some brief introductions you will hear my talk. I was asked to speak on the topic: “There is Hope: Life Balance and Self Care” but you’re going to hear why I renamed the talk to “Commitment for Self-Care and Self Care for Commitment.” I will discuss five strategies I used to manage my energy in my quest to launch my book and podcast, as well as some of the inner obstacles I faced along the way. The following are the books and apps I referenced in the talk: The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Program by K. DesMaisons Stress Free for Good: 10 Scientifically Proven Life Skills for Health and Happiness by Luskin and Pelletier The Essential Rumi Translated by Barks, C. Apps: Insight Timer (I like the bells for meditation and prayer) CBT-i Coach (to learn about sleep hygiene). If you haven’t yet had a chance please consider purchasing my recently published book entitled “There’s Always Hope: A Story About Overcoming.” I wrote it with love for children nine and under or to serve as a symbolic gift for an adult in your life who is in need of hope. Thank you to Sparta Books and Interplay Couture of Sparta, NJ for hosting the book and podcast launch and for donating profits to Ginnie’s House Children’s Advocacy Center of Newton, NJ. I am grateful that you have supported their mission to treat and prevent child abuse. If you have enjoyed Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra, support us at no cost by leaving us a rating on iTunes, sharing it with a friend or by pressing subscribe.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Music, a language that everyone understands, has been used in rituals across cultures throughout time. This podcast reviews how music and sound affect the brain to bring feelings of reward, analgesic (painkilling) effects and more. This bonus episode includes an introduction to and a sample of the sounds of Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls which are used for healing in complementary medicine. My guest for this episode is T Love who is only one of a handful of Vibrational Sound Therapists in the world certified to both teach and play Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls specifically for healing purposes. T, the host of the award winning Energy Awareness Radio, is the founder and CEO of the Sojihuggles Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide basic necessities for underprivileged children and is only run only by volunteers. T Love can be reached at quantumwellness.org. This episode is sponsored by CF Creative Designs, a full service creative design agency. I have used them for my logos, websites and more. The agency was founded and is run by Christy Ferrigno, who is responsive, a true expert, a pleasure to work with and who came with an incredible reputation for award winning designs. CF Creative Designs offers a full suite of marketing solutions which also includes brand identity, print design, package design, vehicle wraps, trade show booths, promotional items, signage and other marketing collateral. Their rates are affordable to fit in your budget. Check out their five star reviews at CFcreativedesigns.com or reach them at 201-306-6422 for a free quote on your next design project. For those local to northwestern NJ, on Thursday, April 26th, 2018 I will be having a book signing in Sparta, NJ at Interplay Couture fashion store in Theater Plaza from 6-8PM. At 7PM I will give a brief talk entitled: “There is Hope: Strategies for Self Care and Life Balance.” My book is entitled “There’s Always Hope: A Story About Overcoming.” I wrote it with love for children nine and under or to serve as a symbolic gift for an adult in your life who is need of hope - find it on Amazon.com or at Sparta Books. If you enjoyed this episode of Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra, press subscribe, share the episode with a friend, or leave us a rating on Itunes.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

My guest in this episode is Dr. Simon Rego, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center of New York City and co-author with Sarah Fader of the #1 Amazon Best Seller The 10 Step Depression Relief Workbook. Simon Rego has been sought out as an expert for CBS and Fox News television, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, just to name a few. In this episode we share stories and discuss practical techniques for how to deal with intrusive thoughts. Techniques discussed include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness and Exercise Therapy. This episode is sponsored by CF Creative Designs, a full-service creative design agency. They offer a full suite of marketing solutions such as logo and brand identity, print design, package design, vehicle wraps, trade show booths, promotional items, signage and other marketing collateral. CF Creative Designs has built an incredible reputation for their award winning designs, expertise in their field, their dependable and quick turnaround times and their excellent customer service. Their rates are affordable to fit in your budget. Check out their five star reviews at www.CFCreativeDesigns.com or reach them at 201.306.6422 for a free quote on your next design project. Do you have a child nine and under in your world? Teach them the lesson of strength and resilience through gifting them my new book, entitled "There’s Always Hope: A Story About Overcoming,” which can be found on Amazon.com and features beautiful illustrations by Briana Giasullo. This book will also serve as a great symbolic gift for an adult in your life who is in need of hope.

How to leave a rating on iTunes

1) Launch Apple’s purple Podcast app in your phone
2) Even if you already subscribe to / have Psychology America and it is open, tap “Search”
3) Enter “Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra”
4) Tap on the photo of the podcast
5) Scroll all the way down
6) Press the star rating you choose and/or tap the “write a review.” For the highest rating tap the last star on the right first.

Your review is appreciated!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

For this episode I interview Dr. R. Wolf Shipon, psychologist and author of “One Minute Healing.” We discuss gratitude, how psychology has blended with acupuncture, the techniques he uses to treat patients with the fear of public speaking and other phobias and how our past doesn’t have to predict our future. Wolf is one of the most positive and delightful people I know and I hope you’ll enjoy his company as much as I did. Learn more about Wolf’s practice in Mountain Lakes, NJ at inner-wellth.com.

I’m also delighted to share that I’ve just published my first children’s book, entitled “There’s Always Hope,” which teaches about the joy of life even if things don’t go exactly as planned (you may find it on Amazon.com). Sydney’s story will touch the hearts of both children and adults as they read about how she overcomes an obstacle she didn’t expect. “There’s Always Hope” is beautifully illustrated by Briana Giasullo. I wrote “There’s Always Hope” with love for children ages nine and under or to serve as a symbolic gift for any adult who needs encouragement.

Please leave a rating of this episode on iTunes!

How to leave a rating on iTunes:

1) Launch Apple’s purple Podcast app in your phone
2) Even if you already subscribe to / have Psychology America and it is open, tap “Search”
3) Enter “Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra”
4) Tap on the photo of the podcast
5) Scroll all the way down
6) Press the star rating you choose and/or tap the “write a review.” For the highest rating tap the last star on the right first.

Your review is appreciated!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

Psychology studies have found that human groups have a tendency to scapegoat, especially during stressful times. What is scapegoating and who tends to be chosen to be the scapegoat in a group? What can you do when it's happening to you or in your world? In this episode Dr. Alexandra shares what psychology studies and literature have found about groups and scapegoating. She shares stories of case examples of scapegoating at work and at a funeral. Lastly, she reviews practical tips for what to do if you find that you are the scapegoat or if your group is scapegoating someone else. The podcast touches on the work of Abraham Maslow, Clay Alderfer and Leroy Wells, Jr. This podcast was sponsored by PonderRosa Studios of Lafayette, NJ. PonderRosa offers a professional New York experience and sound in a private, creative setting, including a comfortable environment for artists to reside while they record. If you enjoyed this podcast of Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra, please rate it on Itunes, press subscribe, or share it with a friend. Would you like to share your ideas, experience or comments on the topic of scapegoating? Visit psychologyamerica.com

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

When we see bad behavior in children and adults, we may feel compelled to "do something," but there are times when seemingly "doing nothing," or ignoring, is the best response. When is ignoring a misbehaved child the best response? How might ignoring an adult be the best way to inspire behavior change? Enjoy vivid stories and new learning with Dr. Alexandra and her expert guest, Cassandra Hoy, MA. In this episode New York City resident Cassandra "Cass" Hoy shares practical ideas from Parent Management Training (PMT) and cognitive behavioral psychology with listeners. Cassandra has worked with children, adolescents and adults at Columbia University Medical Center, the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell University, the Center for Psychological Services at Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ and at Integrated Care for the Underserved of Northeastern New Jersey. Cassandra is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University and studied PMT in depth through Yale University’s Parenting Center. With warmth, heart and a respect for science, Dr. Alexandra and her guests explore questions that come up at all life stages. Dr. Alexandra is a mother of four and an expert in family systems psychology, cognitive behavioral psychology (CBT) and clinical psychopharmacology. Over the years she has helped many individuals, families and couples heal wounds and achieve greater peace and tranquility. Through interesting exchanges with her guests, Dr. Alexandra brings new learning, stories and good company to listeners. This episode is sponsored by PonderRosa studios of Lafayette New Jersey. Warm sound, good people (ponderRosastudios.com). If you enjoyed the show, support Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra by pressing subscribe, leaving a rating, or sharing the episode with friends.

How to leave a rating on iTunes

1) Launch Apple’s purple Podcast app in your phone
2) Even if you already subscribe to / have Psychology America and it is open, tap “Search”
3) Enter “Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra”
4) Tap on the photo of the podcast
5) Scroll all the way down
6) Press the star rating you choose and/or tap the “write a review.” For the highest rating tap the last star on the right first.

Your review is appreciated!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)

In this episode I share a conversation with Dr. Deb Bernstein, a licensed psychologist who has been in clinical practice in Warwick, New York for 24 years. Dr. Deb as a renaissance woman — she is also a potter and a gourmet cook with 12,000 followers on her food blog on Instagram (Dr.Debs.pots). Whether it is with her patients, through her pottery, as a gourmet cook, or as a mother, Dr. Deb sees her life work as creating and witnessing transformation. We begin with exchanging ideas on a sex therapy case in which the woman felt no desire and thought that she would be perfectly happy if she didn’t have sex for the rest of her life. We then move on to talk about the hot topic of sexual consent, including how we give or don’t give clear signals of yes or no to going further. Lastly, Dr. Deb shares some stories and ideas about how to deal with the pain of losing a loved one. This episode is sponsored by PonderRosa studios of Lafayette New Jersey. Warm sound, good people (ponderRosastudios.com)

How to leave a rating on iTunes

1) Launch Apple’s purple Podcast app in your phone
2) Even if you already subscribe to / have Psychology America and it is open, tap “Search”
3) Enter “Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra”
4) Tap on the photo of the podcast
5) Scroll all the way down
6) Press the star rating you choose and/or tap the “write a review.” For the highest rating tap the last star on the right first.

Your review is appreciated!

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra)