In Your Right Mind

Reports of school shootings, bombings, environmental disasters and other tragic events are on the news almost daily. In the aftermath of such tragedies and traumatic events, a serious psychological conditions known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop in some people. In this week’s show, Dr. Tonmoy Sharma and Stefanie Wilder-Taylor are joined by Roger Solomon, Ph.D., Senior Faculty of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Institute, who uses his expertise in the areas of trauma and grief to describe how traumatic events affect the brain and discuss the evidence-based treatments for traumatic stress and PTSD.

More people are spending hours every day taking “selfies,” tweeting, browsing and playing games like Candy Crush on their Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites; some people might even be a little “obsessed.” In this week’s show, Dr. Tonmoy Sharma and Stefanie Wilder-Taylor focus on the country’s growing overreliance on the internet and social media with David Greenfield, Ph.D., founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine who wrote the book, “Virtual Addiction.”

Frank McAndrew, Ph.D., an American social psychologist, professor and elected fellow of numerous professional organizations, including the Association for Psychological Science (APS), weighs in on some of the red flags that cause individuals to commit acts of mass violence. Using his years of expertise in studying the psychological profiles of mass murderers, Dr. McAndrew describes how gender, the press, and societal commentary play pivotal roles in the cultivation of mass shooters. Listen as Dr. Tonmoy Sharma and Stefanie Wilder-Taylor discuss the psychology of violence and more on this episode of In Your Right Mind.

Until recently, “addiction” has almost exclusively referred to the excessive and intrusive patterns of substance use; however, behavioral and substance addictions have many overlapping features and similarities. This show looks at process addictions (also known as behavioral addictions) and how they affect the brain, and whether compulsive behaviors such as pathological gambling, Internet use, video-game playing, and sex addiction should be classified as addictions. Featured guests include Dr. Marc Potenza from Yale University School of Medicine and Dr. Daniel Fridberg from the University of Chicago.

This week’s show focuses on the stereotypes and biases that come from our life experiences and our interactions with others. Dr. Chad Forbes, an Associate Professor of Social Neuroscience in the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Delaware, discusses how these biases evolve and how people can find ways to justify inherent bias in their minds.

This week’s show looks at how habits form and what makes them so difficult to stop. A psychiatrist and internationally-known expert in mindfulness training for addictions, Dr. Judson Brewer, helps shed light on how bad habits and addictions form in the brain and how we can overcome them using mindfulness and other strategies.

Individuals with substance use disorders may have the desire to stop drinking or using drugs but may not be ready to change. This week’s show is about motivational interviewing, an evidence-based strategy in behavioral health treatment that helps patients to resolve their ambivalence, and, in turn, motivate them to change. To discuss this strategy and how it’s used in addiction treatment are featured guests Jennifer Hettema, Ph.D., and Ken Resnicow, Ph.D. Watch the promo for “Motivational Interviewing

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a serial killer? In this week’s show, Dr. Tonmoy Sharma and Stefanie Wilder-Taylor discuss the brain abnormalities of psychopaths and serial killers, the role of nature and nurture in the development of psychopathic tendencies and traits, and what makes serial killers different from other mass murderers. Featured guests include Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Dr. James Fallon.

Have you ever been in a relationship that resembled being on an intense rollercoaster ride? Unstable and intense relationships are often characteristic of people who have borderline personality disorder (BPD) – and it’s a personality disorder that’s a lot more common than many people think. This week’s show discusses the emotional dysregulation and unstable relationships of individuals with BPD, common risk factors for this mental disorder, and treatment options available for patients and their loved ones affected by BPD with guests Dr. Jonice Webb and Julie A. Fast.

Traditional treatment approaches view abstinence as the only way to recover from an addiction, but, addiction is often not an “all or nothing” process. An unconventional approach to treating substance use disorders, known as harm reduction, aims to minimize the negative consequences of drug use and harm to patients who suffer from addiction. To discuss different harm reduction strategies and how they’re being used in the realm of addiction treatment are guests Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., a psychology professor and scientist at the University of New Mexico’s Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions, and Stephany Campos, the executive administrator and program manager for Homeless Health Care Los Angeles.

This upcoming Sunday’s show will be all about cravings and how to overcome unhealthy habits. Guests include Thomas J. Gould, Ph.D., professor and director of the Neurobiological Investigation of Learning and Addiction Group at The Pennsylvania State University, and Nicole Avena, Ph.D. a research neuroscientist at Columbia University and author who has published over 70 articles, book chapters and books on topics related to food, addiction, obesity and eating disorders.

Rather than traditional approaches that focus on the pathology, pain and suffering of individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders, positive psychology is a psychological approach that focuses on mental wellness, strengths, wellbeing and optimal functioning. But happiness is not just the absence of mental and physical illness. To discuss positive psychology in addiction treatment and how to cultivate happiness is guest Dr. Amy Krentzman, who’s a social worker, an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work and at the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota, and an Adjunct Research Investigator at the University of Michigan Medical School.

One important quality has been touted as a key predictor of success is emotional intelligence—some say that its’ even more predictive of success than conventional intelligence. To discuss what makes people successful, we’re joined by Dr. Robin Stern, the associate director for the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Dr. David Caruso, a special assistant to the dean at Yale College and management psychologist who develops and conducts emotional intelligence training around the world.

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects more than 100 million people in the U.S. alone. To discuss chronic pain management and recovery, we’re joined by guests: Dr. Jerry Lerner, the Chief of Pain Medicine at Sierra Tuscan, Dr. Jerome Stenehjem, the Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services at Sharp HealthCare in San Diego and Brian Donegan, a behavioral healthcare consultant who suffered from chronic pain for over 10 years.

The holiday season can be a joyful time to spend with loved ones, eat delicious food and create happy memories. Yet, for many people, dealing with difficult family members, maxing out credit cards and putting impossibly high expectations on ourselves can make the holiday season anything but joyful. Heightened holiday stress can be harmful to health, and, if not dealt with properly, stress can lead to problems such as alcohol abuse, binge eating, arguing with relatives and depression. To talk about ways to cope with these stressful situations, right in time for the holidays, is guest Bette Alkazian, M.A., LMFT, BCPC, a Marriage and Family Therapist, Parenting Coach and nationally recognized parenting expert who works with families to ease the challenges and increase the joys of raising children.