Therapy
No matter what we do, people think that psychology is all about therapy. Well, I hope The Psych Files helps to dispel this myth and introduce people to lots of other interesting areas in psychology, but the fact is that psychotherapy is fascinating. What works? What doesn’t? Do we really change? How can we feel better about ourselves? Overcome depression and anxiety? Explore therapy here in The Psych Files.
Episodes
- Episode 118: Are You REALLY Listening? Sanford Meisner, Acting and Psychology
A lot of people get into psychology because they think they have good listening skills, but are you really a good listener? What does it mean to be a good listener? In this episode I look at a fascinating acting exercise created by Sanford Meisner called the “repetition exercise” which trains actors how to truly listen. Are you as good a listener as these trained actors?
Resources on Sanford Meisner and Carl Rogers
Psychology Twitterers
- mbritt (me!)
- psych101
- psyprof
- PsychNews
- NewPsychologist
- Want me to add to the list? Leave a comment below
- Episode 113: Interview with Scott Lilienfeld on the 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology
In this interview Dr. Scott Lilienfeld, author of 50 Myths of Popular Psychology and we talk about, a) does the polygraph actually work?, b) do women talk more than men?, c) does handwriting analysis reveal your personality? and d) when you’re taking a multiple choice test should you change your first answer or leave it alone? Along the way we also talk about whether the full moon really does make people act strangely (and cause more dog bites). Finally, Dr. Lilienfeld provides his opinion on whether psychotherapists need to be more up-to-date on the scientific research behind the various types of psychotherapy.
- Episode 104: Can Positive Affirmations Improve Your Self Esteem?
Can positive affirmations help raise your self esteem? People use daily affirmations and money affirmations to help them feel more confident, build their self esteem and bring positive events into their lives. But do they really work? If not, then what will?
- Episode 83: New Year’s Resolutions to Lose Weight: Why So Hard To Keep?
Why is it so hard to keep our new year’s resolutions to lose weight? I explore this question in this episode in which I also take a tour through the various schools of psychology and show how each one would explain why you have trouble keeping your promise to yourself to lose weight (or stay out of debt, or stop smoking).
- Episode 81: Talking (and not Talking) in Psychotherapy – Part 2
Are you interested in play therapy or therapy with children and adolescents? Do you have a child in therapy and you wonder how playing with toys is going to possibly help you child? Learn more about therapy with children and adolescents in this episode of The Psych Files.
- Episode 80: Talking (and not Talking) in Psychotherapy – Part 1
Are you interested in play therapy or therapy with children and adolescents? Do you have a child in therapy and you wonder how playing with toys is going to possibly help you child? Learn more about therapy with children and adolescents in this episode of The Psych Files.
- Episode 69: Personal Space Invasions – Ethical Implications of one of Psychology’s Strangest Studies
Remember the psychological study conducted in a men’s room? Think it was silly? Unethical? Let’s revisit this study and take a close look at what the critics say and what the authors themselves have to say in response. A fascinating look at the ethics and history of research in psychology.
- Episode 66: What to do about Mom? Personal Control and Aging
Do nursing homes and assisted living facilities have to be so depressing? Is there a way to help senior citizens have more energy and more enthusiasm for life? What do psychologists know that you should know about how to help the elderly feel good about life?
- Episode 64: A Scientist Goes Looking for a Self Help Book….
Self Help books: why are there so many out there? How do you choose? Can they cure depression? Help you lose weight? Stop smoking? Here’s a list of the top 14 things that really bother psychologists about self-help books.
- Episode 56: What is Music Therapy?
Interested in Music Therapy? Music therapy, which is often used with children with autism, can also be used in the classroom to help children learn patterns. In this interview music therapist Kamile Geist talks about types and techniques of music therapy.
- Episode 46: Thinking Positively – or Running Away from Your Feelings?
What’s wrong with thinking positively? Could be a lot. I’ll share some ideas for bringing about more positive events in your life and discuss how important “negative” – that is sad – feelings are in our lives. Those are moments not to run from, but to embrace.
- Episode 41: EMDR – A Critical Perspective
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing – what is it about this type of psychotherapy that draws such criticism? In this episode I interview Dr. Scott Lilienfeld of Emory University. Dr. Lilienfeld has been a critic of EMDR and in this episode he explains his reasons why.
- Episode 30: Equine Assisted Therapy
If you love horses and are interested in how they can be used therapeutically, then you’ll definitely want to hear this episode on Equine Assisted therapy. Recorded outside on a beautiful summer day.
- Episode 27: From Insane Asylum to Psychiatric Center: A Brief History
Join me for an interview with Dr. Roger Christenfeld, Research Director of the Hudson River Psychiatric Center. Dr. Christenfeld and I talk about how psychiatric patients were treated in the heyday of this incredible center.
- Episode 19: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: an interview with Jamie O’Neil
Want to learn more about EMDR? Listen to this interview with Jamie O’Neil who explains how EMDR works. Turns out it’s about a lot more than just eye movements. Learn more about “Bilateral Stimulation” and the rest of what goes into EMDR.
- Episode 17: Energy Medicine: an Interview with Pat Heavren
In the first of a series of interviews with therapists who practice alternative therapeutic techniques, Pat Heavren of Energy Medicine Wellness in Woodbridge, Connecticut joins me for a discussion on the practice of energy medicine.
- Episode 12: The Necessity of the Frame in Psychotherapy
This week I discuss the importance of boundaries and guidelines between you and your therapist. These guidelines, set forth by Robert Langs, MD will help you know when your relationship with your therapist is healthy – and when it is not.
- Episode #6: The Negative Side of Positive Thinking
What could be bad about thinking positively? How about increasing our tendency to blame the victim?
- Episode #5: In Defense of Defense Mechanisms
Too many people dismiss Freud because he had a few controversial ideas, but as I try to point out in this podcast, many of Freud’s ideas were very influential and can, with a little attention, be seen in everyday life.
