Psych With Mike
262 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago - ★★★★★ - 118 ratingsBeing human is hard work. Let Psych With Mike be your users manual to make it a little easier. Psych With Mike started as a radio show in 2017 and has now evolved into a podcast. The show explores topical events from a psychological perspective and gives insightful, practical and expert information. Psych With Mike is presented by two individuals with more than 60 years of clinical experience between them.
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Episodes
Good versus Bad Stress
July 07, 2023 20:28 - 22 minutes - 39.4 MBWe usually think that all stress is bad, but that is actually not true!
The Most Listened to Psych with Mike
June 30, 2023 16:32 - 36 minutes - 36.1 MBThis is the most listened-to Psych with Mike that Brett and I did. The episode is all about Transactional Analysis. When reviewing the numbers it was not even close. Enjoy!
The First Ever Psych with Mike
June 16, 2023 20:03 - 33 minutes - 40.3 MBThis was the first Psych with Mike that Brett and I ever did. The audio is horrible and there was no video but the conversation was great!
Finding Closure
June 09, 2023 16:08 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MBWith Brett no longer on the show, I am looking for the path forward for the show! https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acceptance https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/202108/how-practice-acceptance https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-closure-in-a-relationship-5224411 https://theconversation.com/the-psychology-of-closure-and-why-some-need-it-more-than-others-104159 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closure
The Psychology of Saying Goodbye
June 02, 2023 13:00 - 33 minutes - 41 MBIt is often very difficult to say goodbye. Whether the result of life passing, ending a relationship, or, moving far away, there is a period of our lives that are ending. On the other hand, there is a new period of life that is beginning. As for my friend, Brett Newcomb, I will forever be grateful for the contributions he made to the show and for being my friend! https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-135
How To Get The Most Out Of Therapy
May 26, 2023 12:17 - 35 minutes - 43.3 MBYou make the decision to go to therapy. Good on you! Now make sure you are ready to make it a useful and rewarding experience! https://psychcentral.com/lib/therapists-spill-tips-for-making-the-most-of-therapy https://www.healthline.com/health/what-to-talk-about-in-therapy
Emotional Regulation in Adulthood
May 19, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 40.9 MBThis is a revisit of one of the most downloaded episodes of Psych with Mike. This is a topic close to my heart since I believe that emotional regulation is the central issue is all psychotherapy.
How to Feel Less Lonely
May 12, 2023 12:30 - 34 minutes - 46.8 MBThe Surgeon General of the US recently released a report on loneliness. In it, the physiological effects of loneliness were found to be equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. These kinds of physiological findings just affirm what all of us already know, loneliness hurts! It hurts us both psychologically and physically. Surgeon General's Report https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-u...
The Power of Self-Forgiveness
May 05, 2023 13:00 - 33 minutes - 33.9 MBMany people find it harder to forgive themselves than they do to forgive others. We may feel like we do not deserve forgiveness or that if we forgive ourselves then we were never truly sorry for the behavior. Whatever the reason, when we do not forgive ourselves we remain in perpetual psychological bondage. https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-forgive-yourself-and-move-past-a-hurtful-mistake?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f4ecbb6ed5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_03_29&utm_medium=email&utm_...
Nihilism and Psychology
April 28, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBWhat is nihilism and what does it have to do with psychology? Most of us have heard of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and some know that he is credited with promoting the ideas of nihilism. But how many actually know what nihilism is and how it plays a role in psychology? https://psyche.co/ideas/for-nietzsche-nihilism-goes-deeper-than-life-is-pointless?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=639b69be36-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_04_06&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-0a72083c10-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID...
Does Personality Chamge
April 21, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 35.9 MBDoes our personality change and evolve over the lifespan? Or does personality remain consistent and static from adolescence? https://psyche.co/ideas/theres-a-reason-some-of-us-find-it-easier-to-change-than-others?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8e4e0f2ec4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_03_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-b1f49aa884-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D
What is Brain Fog?
April 14, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 39.2 MBThe term "Brain Fog" has been around for a long time but has gained increased significance during the pandemic. What IS brain fog and can we do anything about it? https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/31/neuroscientist-how-to-avoid-brain-fog.html
Good Communication Skills
April 07, 2023 14:36 - 32 minutes - 41.2 MBCommunication is the most basic way that humans connect. Good knowledgeable skills are the foundation of good interactions! https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/3-things-people-who-are-good-at-conversation-dont-do-according-to-a-research-psychologist.html
How Trauma Changes Connections in the Brain
March 31, 2023 13:00 - 33 minutes - 39.8 MBResearch is building an indisputable record of evidence supporting the belief that the experience of trauma changes the way the brain is wired. Trauma that is low-level over a long period of time (chronic) can be just as transformative as trauma that is intense and sudden (acute) https://www.sciencenews.org/article/trauma-distorts-time-self-new-therapy
What is Positive Psychology?
March 24, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 38.8 MBThe introduction of concepts like "mindfulness" and "positive psychology" is only helpful if they can be defined. In science, this is called operational definition. Is Positive Psychology an actual theoretical orientation or just a new-wave fad? https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-positive-psychology-2794902
Are There Learning Styles and Why Does it Matter?
March 17, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 38.6 MBAs long-time educators, Brett and I have always accepted the concept that different people learn in different ways. A recent article in Aeon magazine challenges this long-held belief. https://aeon.co/essays/the-evidence-is-clear-learning-styles-theory-doesnt-work?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=83087b53bc-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_01_24_05_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-83087b53bc-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D
Heinz Kohut and Self Psychology
March 10, 2023 14:00 - 33 minutes - 43.5 MBHeinz Kohut and Self Psychology establish the foundational understanding of the development of emotional regulation. But perhaps his most impressive contribution to the field was his introduction of empathy into the therapy relationship. https://www.selfpsychologypsychoanalysis.org/about.html
How Much Should You Know About Your Therapist?
March 03, 2023 14:00 - 33 minutes - 40.3 MBClients are often very curious about the private lives of their therapists. But therapists are educated to present themselves as a blank slate. The amount of self-disclosure that a therapist engages in therefore is a balance between what is most therapeutic for the client and the therapist's presentation as genuine and sincere. https://aeon.co/videos/pondering-the-peculiar-one-sided-intimacy-of-the-client-therapist-relationship?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=974bf7efe0-EMAIL...
Just Breathe
February 24, 2023 14:00 - 32 minutes - 38.4 MBBreathwork is a core technique in counseling and psychotherapy. It has also been a central tenet of practices as old as Zen meditation. But what are the therapeutic and/or health benefits of breathwork? https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/science-says-use-relaxing-breath-method-to-fall-asleep-faster-starting-tonight.html
Otto Kernberg is Still Alive! Who Knew?
February 17, 2023 14:00 - 34 minutes - 42.1 MBOtto Kernberg is one of the most influential theorists responsible for our understanding of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)! https://www.verywellmind.com/borderline-personality-disorder-meaning-425191
What Does it Mean to be a Dry Drunk?
February 10, 2023 14:00 - 35 minutes - 41.5 MBThere is a whole vocabulary associated with recovery from alcohol and drugs. For those who are not in the program or do not work professionally with those in recovery, this can be very confusing. Brett recently was talking to a friend about what it means to be a dry drunk and found that even he had many questions. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/what-to-know-dry-drunk-syndrome
Ketamine and Depression
February 03, 2023 14:00 - 38 minutes - 46.7 MBKetamine is the only psychedelic substance that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression, so far. How does this drug help depression and will other psychedelics get approval in the future? https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/09/12/ketamine-therapy-explained/
What is the Enneagram
January 27, 2023 14:00 - 32 minutes - 39.2 MBThe Enneagram is a personality classification system based on the work and theories of Carl Gustav Jung.
The Best Advice from 2022
January 20, 2023 14:00 - 32 minutes - 38.5 MBIn early 2023, Brett and I discuss 10 lessons from 2022. https://www.wellandgood.com/best-advice-from-therapists/
Understanding Insecure Attachment
January 13, 2023 14:00 - 31 minutes - 37.3 MBAttachment styles play a huge part in successful and enjoyable relationships. But most of us do not even know what our attachment style is. https://www.verywellhealth.com/insecure-attachment-5220170
Are There Narcissistic Kids?
January 06, 2023 14:00 - 34 minutes - 42.1 MBA current buzzword in psychology and also society at large is, entitled child. But before that psychology had a word for those who saw themselves as wonderful and that was narcissism. Are these separate concepts or just opposite sides of the same coin? https://awarenessact.com/narcissistic-children-are-raised-by-parents-who-do-these-8-things/?fbclid=IwAR1wcd8eu0xHxiY3nW24f3mZ9Dr7zxmg2jo9jwcULvBPhqIt1lcKoDXwJts
How to Create Resolutions You Can Actually Stick With
December 30, 2022 14:00 - 35 minutes - 34.9 MBHappy New Year to you and your loved ones from us at Psych with Mike. This is a revisit of a conversation that Brett and I had on making resolutions that work. Enjoy and the best of luck in the new year!
Habits of Unhealthy People
December 23, 2022 14:10 - 34 minutes - 40.6 MBIt's been a long two years. Over this holiday season, many of us may be re-evaluating our behavior in the hopes of making better choices and improving our physical and mental health in the new year. But to do this effectively we need to know what behaviors we may have fallen into that are not the healthiest for us. https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2016/07/26/10-troubling-habits-of-chronically-unhappy-people/?sh=33018b6b70f3
The Power of Letting Go
December 16, 2022 13:47 - 32 minutes - 38.5 MBAll of us have past trauma that affects us in the present. It is cliche to hear someone say "you have to let it go". But how do you do this? https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/letting-go.html https://unfoldingtheuniversewithin.com/the-art-of-letting-go-of-the-past/
Avoidant Attachment Style
December 09, 2022 14:00 - 28 minutes - 33.3 MBRelationships are at the core of being a healthy human being. We develop attachment styles as a result of our experiences early in our lives. One of these attachment styles is avoidant attachment. Today we discuss the characteristics of this attachment style and how it impacts our relationships. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/202206/what-is-avoidant-self-attachment
The Neurology of Fear and Anxiety
December 02, 2022 14:55 - 31 minutes - 36.9 MBAs better ways of exploring the way our brains are connected become available, we are mapping these connections with greater precision. Does a better, more comprehensive map of the way areas of the brain operate make psychology more of a "hard" science? https://neurosciencenews.com/amygdala-emotion-20969/
The Language of Passive Aggression
November 25, 2022 14:55 - 35 minutes - 41.2 MBWe all have heard someone accuse someone of being passive-aggressive. But how many of us really know what that means or how to identify the behavior? https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/25/the-3-biggest-signs-of-passive-aggressive-and-childish-behavior-harvard-body-language-expert.html
Why Therapy Sucks
November 18, 2022 13:53 - 32 minutes - 38.1 MBTherapy and mental health are recognized as being in epidemic-like short supply. With the pandemic and political division, people are finding their mental health has taken a big hit over the last couple of years. And yet there is growing dissatisfaction among therapy devotees and unequal availability of therapy services across socioeconomic domains. https://www.wired.com/story/therapy-broken-mental-health-challenges/
The Epidemic of Loneliness
November 11, 2022 13:12 - 32 minutes - 38.4 MBAs we move beyond the pandemic we are seeing a significant increase in the number of persons who express that they are feeling lonely. What are the factors that are contributing to this besides the isolation of the pandemic? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-ptsd/202207/how-childhood-trauma-can-lead-adult-loneliness
Self Talk to Boost Your Confidence
November 04, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 38.6 MBWe could all use a little boost to our self-esteem. You're welcome! https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/18/want-to-sound-and-feel-more-confident-ditch-these-11-phrases-from-your-vocabulary-say-psychologists.html
What is Happening to the Human Attention Span?
October 28, 2022 17:14 - 33 minutes - 39.6 MBStudies indicate that the human attention span has significantly shortened since the rise of social media. Why is it getting so hard for us to focus our attention? https://www.ranieriandco.com/post/changing-attention-span-and-what-it-means-for-content-in-2021 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/16/got-a-minute-global-attention-span-is-narrowing-study-reveals
The Neuroscience of Enlightenment
October 21, 2022 14:21 - 34 minutes - 40.2 MBEnlightenment, self-actualization, and, mindfulness are ideal states of being that we are all striving for. But what is the neuroscience that supports the idea that enlightenment is a real phenomenon that has beneficial effects? https://bigthink.com/the-well/neuroscience-of-enlightenment/
The Psychological Consequences of Family Estrangement
October 14, 2022 12:28 - 33 minutes - 36.8 MBShould you go or not go to Thanksgiving? Are you the one tearing the family apart when you identify familial dysfunction? Good questions. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202206/how-family-estrangement-echoes-across-generations
How to Know if Your Therapist is Any Good
October 07, 2022 12:59 - 32 minutes - 41.1 MBSure your therapist has framed pieces of paper on the wall, but how do you truly know if your therapist is any good? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/get-out-your-mind/202209/how-tell-you-have-good-therapist
Parental Alienation Syndrome
September 30, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 40.6 MBSometimes a child's parent goes beyond the stereotypical defaming of the other parent. When this happens we have to think of this process as similar to the type of programming associated with a cult. https://www.familylawpleasanton.com/blog/2020/10/the-8-symptoms-of-parental-alienation/
The Most Important Question in Therapy
September 23, 2022 13:00 - 32 minutes - 36.9 MBHave you ever wondered what is the most important question in psychotherapy? No spoilers here just check out the conversation! https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202209/the-most-important-question-in-therapy Transcript: you're listening to psych with Mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:07 guest go to www.psychwithmike.com follow the show on 0:12 Twitter at psych with Mike or like the Facebook page ...
Anxiety is a Luxury
September 16, 2022 17:18 - 33 minutes - 34 MBSometimes it is important to try and re-focus our perspective. A great deal of anxiety is about the privilege we enjoy because of the place we live. Trying to understand that concept can help us consider how the perspective of the world at large. Refocusing is an essential tool for reducing anxiety. https://forge.medium.com/panic-is-a-luxury-c4330107b80a Transcript: you're listening to psych with Mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be ...
Jung on Clarity
September 09, 2022 14:26 - 33 minutes - 37.5 MBFor most, the goal of therapy is to increase your self-understanding. The only way to truly do this is through honest self-reflection. https://medium.com/perennial/the-discipline-of-clarity-according-to-jung-630e8434252f Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 guest go to www.cyclicmike.com follow the show on twitter at psych with 0:13 mike or like the facebook page at psych w...
General Adaptation Syndrome: Stress and Anxiety
September 02, 2022 14:40 - 33 minutes - 41.4 MBHow our bodies experience and process stress and anxiety are important considerations when examining situations like police shootings. It is also important for therapists to understand when working with clients who have experienced trauma. https://www.verywellmind.com/general-adaptation-syndrome-gad-definition-signs-causes-management-5213817 Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 ...
The Biology of PTSD
August 26, 2022 13:59 - 33 minutes - 34.8 MBPost Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is recognized as a significant issue that can affect people in everyday life. The sum total of small traumas can have the same biological effect as those experienced in combat. It is important for therapists and clients to understand the biology of this process to best help those dealing with this potentially debilitating issue. https://www.ptsduk.org/what-is-ptsd/the-science-and-biology-of-ptsd/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/underst...
Attachment in Adolescence
August 19, 2022 13:54 - 31 minutes - 32.6 MBAdolescence is a time of distance from the family of origin and identification with a peer group. So what are the perils and benefits of attachment during this developmental period? https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/teen-attachment-disorder/ Transcript you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 guest go to www.cyclicmike.com follow the show on twitter at psych with 0:13 mike ...
Appreciate the Small Things in Life
August 12, 2022 13:12 - 33 minutes - 34.5 MBThe news seems to get crazier and people are getting more polarized. How is a person supposed to find solace and meaning in life? Perhaps the best way is to learn to appreciate the small things. https://neurosciencenews.com/meaning-life-small-things-21063/ Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 guest go to www.cyclicmike.com follow the show on twitter at psych with 0:13 mike or lik...
Understanding Narcissism
July 29, 2022 12:30 - 33 minutes - 36.3 MBNarcissism is both necessary and pathological. Every individual needs some narcissism for the Ego to develop, but too much can become a personality disorder. Understanding narcissism can help us recognize the difference and better understand ourselves. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/peaceful-parenting/202205/how-narcissist-manipulates-the-love-language-concept Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas o...
Borderline Personality Disorder
July 22, 2022 13:00 - 35 minutes - 42.9 MBWhen I worked in a behavioral health hospital, all the nurses said it was because she was borderline (BPD) when there was a difficult female patient. Obviously, no one can be so easily diagnosed but it is a common belief that individuals with BPD have difficulty in relationships. How true is this and just exactly what is Borderline Personality Disorder? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/toxic-relationships/201909/the-drama-loving-borderline Transcript: you're listening to psyc...
Self Love
July 15, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 36.1 MBPsychology jargon goes through a cyclic evolution just like any vocation. Are "new age" concepts like self-love and mindfulness new concepts? If not what were they known as in the before times? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/new-gps-intimate-relationships/202205/the-keys-self-love Transcript: you're listening to psych with Mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:07 guest go to www.sitewithmike.com follow the show on 0:1...