The Psych Central Show: Candid Chat on Mental Health & Psychology

Does the new coronavirus from China make you a little anxious? How concerned should we be? Is it a real threat or mostly hype? In today’s podcast, Dr. John Grohol, founder and editor-in-chief of PsychCentral.com, explains what the coronavirus is, how it compares to the flu and why it seems to have hit the panic button in a lot of people. He offers tips to avoid getting sick in general, and importantly, gives advice on how to keep our anxiety levels in check when it comes to new disease outbreaks, especially in how we seek information from the media.  If you’d like to learn more about the coronavirus and how to deal with “new disease” anxiety, tune in for a great discussion. Guest Information for 'Dr. John- Coronavirus Anxiety' Podcast Episode John M. Grohol, Psy.D.  is a pioneer in online mental health and psychology. Recognizing the educational and social potential of the Internet in 1995, Dr. Grohol has transformed the way people could access mental health and psychology resources online. Pre-dating the National Institute for Mental Health and mental health advocacy organizations, Dr. Grohol was the first to publish the diagnostic criteria for common mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. His leadership has helped to break down the barriers of stigma often associated with mental health concerns, bringing trusted resources and support communities to the Internet. He has worked tirelessly as a patient advocate to improve the quality of information available for mental health patients, highlighting quality mental health resources, and building safe, private support communities and social networks in numerous health topics. About The Psych Central Podcast Host Gabe Howard  is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book,  Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations ,  available from Amazon; signed copies are also available  .    

Are you thinking about making a therapy appointment but have no idea where to begin? What should you look for in a therapist? What’s the difference between an LPC, LCSW, Phd and PsyD? In today’s podcast, Jeff Guenther, LPC, founder of TherapyDen.com, takes us through the entire therapist-hunting process. He breaks it down into simple parts so it no longer feels daunting or confusing. He even gets us thinking about what kind of person we’d feel comfortable sharing our problems with -- for example, would you prefer a male or female? A vegan? A parent? A religious person? Is it even OK to ask a potential therapist such personal questions?  Are you ready to learn how to choose the right therapist? Join us for an in-depth discussion. Guest Information for 'Jeff Guenther- Find a Therapist' Podcast Episode Jeff Guenther, LPC is the host of the podcast Say More About That and runs an inclusive and progressive therapist directory at TherapyDen.com .  TherapyDen is a small team of people who care about making access to mental healthcare easy and affordable, our Advisory Board is made up of local thought leaders and therapists working towards a brighter future for mental health. Jeff has a very strong background in family and couples work, and received his master's degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor's degree in child and family development from San Diego State University. Prior to going into private practice, he worked in the public school system providing individual, group, and family therapy to high-risk students. He also taught parenting classes on a regular basis. Jeff's therapeutic career started out at a crisis line in Portland, Oregon, where he mainly worked with people who were suffering from suicidal thoughts and severe anxiety. Jeff has lived in Portland since 2005 and the bulk of his work focuses on seeing couples and individuals in private practice. About The Psych Central Podcast Host Gabe Howard  is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book,  Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations ,  available from Amazon; signed copies are also available  .    

When parents struggle with severe mental illness, their children can fall into the role of caregiver. What is this like from the child’s point of view? How does it affect their school life, their friendships or their worldview? Today’s guest, mental health advocate and author Michelle E. Dickinson, experienced this firsthand as the child of a mother with bipolar disorder. From a very young age, Michelle remembers her mother’s manic highs and deep lows. She recalls the happy shopping sprees on “good” days, followed by the overwhelmingly sad days when her mother would cry and cry and Michelle would tell jokes and stories to try to get a smile. Tune in to hear Michelle’s personal story -- her childhood experiences, the moment she finally felt safe to tell her friends about her mom’s illness, her own bout with depression, and how it all led to her current work as a mental health advocate. Guest Information for 'Michelle E. Dickinson- Trifecta of MI' Podcast Episode Michelle E. Dickinson is a passionate mental health advocate, a TED speaker, and a published author of a memoir entitled Breaking Into My Life. After years of playing the role of child caregiver, Michelle embarked on her own healing journey of self-discovery. Her memoir offers a rare glimpse into a young girl’s experience living with—and loving—her bipolar mother. Michelle spent years working to eradicate the mental health stigma within her own fortune 500 workplace by elevating compassion, causing more open conversations, and leading real change in how mental illness is understood in the corporate setting. She also knows first-hand what it feels like to struggle with a mental illness after experiencing her own depression due to challenging life events of her own. Michelle recently concluded her 19-year pharmaceutical career and she has emerged with a strong desire to positively impact the mental health landscape. About The Psych Central Podcast Host Gabe Howard  is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book,  Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations ,  available from Amazon; signed copies are also available  .    

In today’s digital culture, sex is easy to find. But most of our encounters with sex are shallow and unrealistic. Sexual images and films easily capture the lust, or carnality, of sex, but there is very little conversation surrounding intimacy and how sex actually works in a real human relationship. In fact, many people believe there is something wrong with them because their sex life doesn’t look like it does in the media.   In this podcast, our guest Laurie Watson, sex therapist and licensed marriage and family counselor, discusses some of the most common sexual issues she encounters in her practice and shares how sex therapy can help people become more comfortable with their own sexuality. Tune into today’s show to learn more about this very important but often misunderstood type of psychotherapy. Guest Information for 'Laurie Watson- Sex Therapy' Podcast Episode Laurie Watson is an AASECT certified sex therapist and licensed marriage and family counselor and is currently finishing her doctorate in sexology with research in helping couples recover sexually from breast cancer. She’s written a book titled  Wanting Sex Again - How to Rediscover Your Desire and Heal a Sexless Marriag e (published in 2012 by Berkley Imprints) and she’s a blogger for Psychology Today and WebMD with over 11 million reads.  Laurie addresses physicians and psychological training programs around the state and is a frequent guest lecturer at the medical schools of Duke and UNC Chapel Hill.   She too is a podcaster and host of FOREPLAY - Radio Sex Therapy available with specific episodes dedicated to the many topics of specific sexual dysfunction and relational problems. About The Psych Central Podcast Host Gabe Howard  is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book,  Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations ,  available from Amazon; signed copies are also available  .    

Comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition. In this episode, host schizophrenic Rachel Star Withers with her cohost Gabe Howard will be discussing comorbidity with schizophrenia. Comorbidity is associated with worse health outcomes, more complex clinical management and increased health care costs. Occupational therapist and host of the podcast Occupied, Brock Cook, will be joining us to discuss ways that he works with people with schizophrenia to manage multiple health issues.