Journey from Science to Psychiatry and Motivation in Children

Samantha Boardman, psychiatrist and M.D., spent years treating clients with traditional psychiatric techniques—until a patient fired her. She told Dr. Boardman that every session made her feel worse. And it made sense. After all, therapy, the way most psychologists and psychiatrists are taught, focuses on the negative to the exclusion of the positive. And, Boardman realized, "she was right. I knew how to dial down her misery, but I knew nothing about how to build up her strengths and cultivate well-being."

That's when she went in search of something different. She found it at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a master's degree in applied positive psychology. Now, Boardman practices positive psychiatry—an approach to therapy that focuses on building resilience and enhancing life rather than eradicating perceived negativity.

In this podcast episode, we'll take a deep dive into how Samantha got her start, what motivates her to always keep learning, and what makes for a truly fulfilling life.

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