Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! At the moment there is no more talked about neurotransmitter than dopamine. Our collective obsession with dopamine has led to a huge amount of content generated around so-called “dopamine fasts”, how to leverage dopamine for motivation, worries about dopamine-driven addiction to devices, pornography, food etc.  In addition, there is a tremendous amount of confusion and misunderstanding around what dopamine actually does within the brain, especially with respect to the experience of pleasure.  Professor, psychiatrist and author, Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman, joins us for a discussion of the major themes explored in his and Michale E. Long's book, The Molecule of More.  In this conversation we cover:  why Dr. Lieberman wanted to write this bookwhat dopamine is, its function in the brain and the structures that regulate its functiona comparison of the dopamine system with neurotransmitter systems that are thought to be more related to "here and now" psychological experiences (e.g., serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins etc.)the neurobiology & genetics of “dopamine-driven” personalities vs. more “here and now” personalities/temperaments and the benefit of having a diversity of personalities in society, the workplace, a relationship etc. how the information and/or goals pointed to by dopamine can be integrated into one's values to generate actionable wisdom, especially around long-term goals the connection between dopamine and mental disorders with a special focus on ADHD, including the effective treatment of ADHD with compounds that promote the release of dopamine within the brainthe potential for our society to create challenges with attention & concentration given the infinite potential for dopamine-driven distractionhow we can learn to be a responsible steward of our dopamine system in a world where there is increasingly unlimited access to food, sex, pornography, information, news, visual stimulation (YouTube, TikTok etc.)how to create a sense of future & achievement without falling prey to immediate gratificationDr. Lieberman's view of so-called "dopamine fasting" and his own self-compassionate journey with respect to managing various pulls related to dopamine whether “healthy” psychological processes can become addictions through the lens of dopamine (e.g., entrepreneurship, starting companies, forming/beginning relationships)the fascinating relationship between testosterone & dopamine Bio: Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University, where he has earned awards for both teaching and research. He studied the Great Books at St. John’s College and attended medical school at New York University. He is the coauthor of the international bestseller The Molecule of More, which has been translated into 20 languages, and the author of the recently published, Spellbound: Modern Science, Ancient Magic, and the Hidden Potential of the Unconscious Mind. Dr. Lieberman has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and leading psychiatric textbooks, and has provided insight on psychiatric topics for the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Commerce, and the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy.https://www.danielzlieberman.com

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Imposter syndrome combined with the somewhat curious & paradoxical phenomenon of over-identification with being a clinician is a familiar combination for many psychotherapists.  Drs. Melissa Tiessen & Karen Dyck of the Intentional Therapist join us for a discussion of these important barriers to clinician well-being.  In this conversation we cover:   imposter syndrome & ill-suited syndromethe rigours of the profession vs. the personal and coping resources the majority of clinicians are able to bring to bear to manage these demandsdangers of unaddressed imposter syndrome in clinicians both related to the delivery of clinical services as well as the management of private practicesinternal and external factors that drive imposter syndrome in cliniciansover-identification with being a clinician - signs, symptoms and copingfinding a balance between the very real competency based demands of being a clinician (e.g., continuing education, requirements of regulatory bodies) and sustainable self-care that does not become avoidance  Host note: We will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023.  For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news Please come join us!Dr. Karen Dyck completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of South Dakota and currently works in private practice in Oakbank, Manitoba.  She is also presently the Executive Director of the Manitoba Psychological Society.  Before shifting to private practice, Karen spent the bulk of her career working within the Rural and Northern Psychology Program at the University of Manitoba’s Department of Clinical Health Psychology, and is a former chair of the Rural and Northern Psychology Section of the Canadian Psychological Association.  Dr. Melissa Tiessen completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at McGill University and currently works in private practice in Ottawa, Ontario.  Melissa also previously worked in the Rural and Northern Psychology Program at the University of Manitoba, as well as has served as the Education Director for the CPA, overseeing the organization’s accreditation and continuing education activities.  Karen and Melissa both have a longstanding interest in self-care and workplace wellness initiatives.  Recognizing that there are so many female mental health professionals, like themselves, who are trying to balance careers with additional caregiving roles, in 2019 Karen and Melissa co-founded Intentional Therapist.  Their mission is to help female mental health professionals stay healthy and happy through intentional, creative, and playful self-care.  https://www.intentionaltherapist.ca/

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Given that mental health treatment outcomes have not improved dramatically over time despite a wealth of research, novel psychotherapies and pharmaceutical compounds, it is important that new theories around mental disorders continue to be identified and explored.   Harvard psychiatrist & researcher, Dr. Chris Palmer, joins us for a discussion of some of the core themes in his new book Brain Energy, which paints the picture of a potential “unifying” underlying metabolic mechanism with respect to mental disorders that might allow better understanding and treatment of brain illness.  In this conversation we cover:the client journey that led Dr. Palmer to want to write this bookan overview of Dr. Palmer's conceptualization of mental disorders, including differenting between expected and adaptive responses to stressors vs. true brain disorders a review of some of the findings that have suggested a link between metabolic processes and the evolution & maintenance of mental disorders and how this model accommodates comorbiditythe importance of neuronal activation - both over- and under-activation - in Dr. Palmer's modelthe risk factors that contribute to developing a metabolic disorder within the brainimplications of the Brain Energy model with respect to why established pharmacotherapy (or even psychotherapy) might actually workmedical & self-help treatments that this model suggests might be helpful, including the role of supplements & medications which impact upon metabolismHost note: We will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023.  For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news Please come join us!Dr. Christopher M. Palmer is a Harvard psychiatrist and researcher working at the interface of metabolism and mental health. He is the Director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. For over 25 years, he has held administrative, educational, research, and clinical roles in psychiatry at Harvard. He has been pioneering the use of the medical ketogenic diet in the treatment of psychiatric disorders—conducting research in this area, treating patients, writing, and speaking around the world on this topic. Most recently, he has proposed a comprehensive theory of what causes mental illness, integrating existing theories and research into one unifying theory—the brain energy theory of mental illness.https://brainenergy.com/

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Evidence-based, psychological models & treatments for chronic pain are an exciting development in the understanding and management of non-structural chronic pain.  Director of the documentary This Might Hurt, Kent Bassett, and Dr. Lilia (Lily) Graue join us for a discussion of the psychological treatment of chronic pain. In this episode we cover: an overview of This Might Hurt and why Kent wanted to make this documentary, including his personal journey with chronic painthe kinds of precautions and relationship building that had to be put in place to make a film within a health care settingresponse to the film from both consumers and medical professionalsa review of neuroplastic chronic pain/symptoms with a significant contribution from central sensitization what the standard medical model has wrong about the treatment of painnavigating the perception among clients that they are being told “it’s all in their heads"tell-tale patterns in symptom presentation that typically suggest that pain is of a psychogenic, rather than structural originthe urgency to integrate this framework into common interventions for chronic pain, including CBTa brief overview of the interventions typically employed within psychological treatments for chronic painthe role of medication including antidepressants but also opioids etc.in the treatment of chronic painListeners of Thoughts on Record can access This Might Hurt for free for two weeks beginning February 6, 2023 by visiting (use the password: tor2023): https://www.thismighthurtfilm.com/thoughtsDr. Lilia (Lily) Graue is a physician, psychotherapist, coach, and grief tender in Mexico City, where she's practiced, lectured, and mentored for over 20 years in both Spanish and English. Her approach is collaborative, trauma sensitive, healing centered, and mindfulness and compassion based. She brings together radical care approaches to foster healing, and mentors healthcare professionals in engaging critical and feminist perspectives to promote justice and equity in medicine and healthcare. In addition to her work in chronic pain recovery, Dr. Graue has extensive experience in the fields of eating disorders and medical family therapy. She is a Clinical Advisor for Lin.Health and part of the Medical Advisory Board for The Better Mind Center. https://liliagraue.com/ Kent Bassett is an Emmy-nominated editor and filmmaker from Arizona. He directed This Might Hurt, a feature documentary about a radical treatment for chronic pain that premiered at the Austin Film Festival. Once on the fringes, the brain-retraining paradigm explored in the film, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), has been proven effective in randomized controlled trials and is now listed by the HHS as a “best practice” to combat the opioid crisis. His most recent editing work is the Hulu documentary Not Going Quietly, a profile of activist Ady Barkan as he fights for universal healthcare in the wake of an ALS diagnosis. In addition to film work, Kent serves as a pain recovery coach and he draws frequently from his personal experience with tendonitis and repetitive stress injury.

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Psychological suffering appears to be greatly facilitated by unfavourable comparisons that we make between ourselves and others in many domains of life. However, there are surprising dynamics (and even upsides) to these comparisons or modelling depending on the context.  Entrepreneur & author, Mr. Luke Burgis, joins us for a discussion of the themes in his widely acclaimed book Wanting - The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life.  In this discussion we cover:important experiences in Luke's journey that led to him to want to write the book “Wanting”the difference between wanting vs. likinga brief summary of René Girard’s theory of “mimetic desire”—that is, the idea that most human wanting comes from imitating the desires of others and that each of us is surrounded by people who generate, shape, and manipulate our desiresa consideration of the common challenges (and upsides) of mimetic desire embedded in everyday life, including of identity formationdynamics related to whether the “model” of imitation is near (a next door neighbour) or far (a celebrity) and how this distance influences whether a model of imitation will spark desire/inspiration vs jealously/conflict the delicate dance that leaders must manage with respect to inspiring but also not inciting jealously & conflictexploration of the notion that scapegoating & blame are common, but pathological ways of stopping the cycle of mimetic conflictconsideration of the impact of social media on psychological well being through the lens of mimetic desire"thin" vs. "thick" desires and the implications for meaningfulness in lifehow to foster motivation, move humanity forward and pursue excellence/achievement without unleashing cycles of mimetic desire that lead to competition and conflictComments or feedback?  Email the show @ oicbtpodcast@gmail.com.  Host note: We will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023.  For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news Please come join us!Bio: Luke Burgis has co-created and led four companies in wellness, consumer products, and technology. He’s currently Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Director of Programs at the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship where he also teaches business at The Catholic University of America. Luke has helped form and serves on the board of several new K-12 education initiatives and writes and speaks regularly about the education of desire. He studied business at NYU Stern and philosophy and theology at a pontifical university in Rome. He’s Managing Partner of Fourth Wall Ventures, an incubator that he started to build, train, and invest in people and companies that contribute to a healthy human ecology. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Claire.https://lukeburgis.com/@lukeburgis

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Effective coping almost always hinges on an accurate appraisal of the stressful event that is being navigated, particularly with respect to what can be controlled versus not. In this 3rd annual Fireside Chat, the host of Thoughts on Record, Dr. Pete Kelly, C.Psych, shares some observations on the relationship between truth, control & coping and why it is often so hard to see things as they are (and not as we wish them to be) and how this can at times sabotage our efforts at managing situations that come up in our lives.  In this discussion we cover:a practical and workable definition of "truth" within psychotherapy  common reasons why it is difficult for us to embrace the truth of what is going on in our livesthe unintended consequences of emotional avoidance on the coping strategies selectedthe two main categories of coping - problem-focused & emotion-focused coping and when they are best deployedan overview of the likely emotional outcomes when there is a mismatch between the demands of the situation and the category of coping used and how to use your emotional reaction to tell if you are on the right track or notComments or feedback?  Email the show @ oicbtpodcast@gmail.com.  Host note: Thanks to everyone for the support this year!  Just a quick note to say that we will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023.  For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news Please come join us!

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can at times be difficult to differentiate from the anxious distress that can accompany depression, health anxiety, some presentations of OCD and even social anxiety.  As well GAD, is often treated as a “catch-all” diagnosis that is applied to any client expressing distress. One of Canada's leading voices in the understanding and treatment of GAD, Dr. Melisa Robichaud joins us for an extensive discussion of GAD with respect to: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) from a diagnostic lensuncertainty as being a key challenge within the context of GADthe developmental experiences & biological factors that might predispose someone towards developing GADwhether anxiety disorders in childhood reliably predict GAD in adulthoodthe evolution of GAD over the developmental lifespan and whether GAD gets worse with ageuseful features of GAD to be aware of that do not necessarily fall within the diagnostic framework but that would nonetheless be useful for clinicians to keep in minddifferentiating between GAD and the “anxious distress” that can so frequently accompany an episode of major depression applicability of ACT and other 3rd wave CBT therapies to GADthe vital importance of psychoeducation and pacing of therapy in the treatment of GADthe role of medication in the treatment of GADComments or feedback?  Email the show: oicbtpodcast@gmail.comHost note: We will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023.  For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news.  Dr. Melisa Robichaud received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Concordia University in Montreal. She is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a clinical instructor in the UBC Department of Psychiatry, and a clinical associate in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University (SFU). She is also certified as an expert in cognitive-behavioural therapy by the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT).  Dr. Robichaud worked in the former Anxiety Disorders Clinic of UBC Hospital, where she provided assessment and treatment to anxiety disorder patients. She also trained and supervised psychiatry and psychology residents in how to assess, diagnose, and treat anxiety disorders.  Dr. Robichaud has been actively involved in non-profit organizations dedicated to the dissemination of best practice treatment for individuals struggling with anxiety disorders. She is a former President of CACBT (2016-2019), and is on the CACBT Certification Task Force. She also served on the Board of Directors of Anxiety Canada (formerly AnxietyBC) from 2006 to 2010, was the Director of Programs (2007-2010), and is currently on the Anxiety Canada Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Robichaud’s area of specialization is cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders. She has established expertise in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), health anxiety (also called illness anxiety or hypochondriasis), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviours (e.g., hair pulling, skin picking), and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Robichaud’s particular area of expertise is CBT for GAD. She ran the GAD treatment program at the former Anxiety Disorders Clinic of UBC Hospital, and has provided workshops to professionals internationally on how to recognize and treat GAD. She has published numerous scientific articles and book chapters on the subject, as well as co-authoring several books on the treatment of GAD

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! As is the case in many areas of life, for those who are perfectionistic, sex and sexual expression can be areas where emotional over-control & cognitive/behavioural inflexibility can impair pleasure, erode intimacy and create anxiety.  International trainer, educator, couples and sex therapist & author, Dr. Tom Murray joins us for a discussion of core themes of his new book Making Nice With Naughty: An Intimacy Guide for the Rule Following, Organized, Perfectionist, Practical and Color-Within-The-Lines-Types.  In this discussion we cover:  why Dr. Murray wanted to write this bookwhy he built his book on a strong Radically Open DBT (RO DBT) framework but with the addition of many other strategies drawn from within CBT (ACT, REBT etc)the four features of being emotionally “over-controlled” (or OC)why the over-controlled temperament might hold special concern within the context of sexexamples of challenges emblematic of the problems that an OC might report in the content of sex therapythe impact that perfectionism might have in the context of sex (either towards the self or towards the partner)how OC coping strategies around threat reduction can backfire specifically in the context of sexstarting points for OC clients who want to step into and/or reclaim (or even just claim!) their sexualitythe conundrum of waning desire within long-term relationships, with a focus on the potential origin of gender differenceshelping clients to become comfortable first with their own inner experience through fantasy etc before perhaps being vulnerable with another Dr. Murray's reflection on the experiential aspect of being a sex therapistFeedback or comments?  Email the show at oicbtpodcast@gmail.comHost note: We will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023.  For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news.  Dr. Tom Murray, an international trainer, educator, and couples and sex therapist, is a widely sought-after expert in sexuality and intimate relationships. He authored the 2022 book, Making Nice with Naughty: An intimacy guide for the rule-following, organized, perfectionist, practical, and color-within-the-line types.  Dr. Murray has appeared in numerous venues, including the Huffington Post and The Daily Mail, as well as radio, television and podcasts, including the Practice of Being Seen and Shrink Rap Radio. He’s a highly acclaimed presenter at local, regional, and national conferences on various mental health and relationship topics. Dr. Murray has published numerous articles in professional journals and has faculty affiliations with UNC Greensboro, Walden University, and Lindsey Wilson College. He currently teaches at Northwestern University’s Family Institute.  In addition to his couples and sex therapy practice, Dr. Murray is passionate about Highly Sensitive Persons, artists, actors, dancers, musicians, and other creative types. With nearly a decade of experience as the director of a counseling center for one of the premier art conservatories in the nation, Dr. Murray integrates knowledge from business, positive psychology, sports psychology, mindfulness, and performance optimization to manifest creative aspirations. Dr. Murray lives in Greensboro, NC, along with his two sons. In addition to his strong passion for sex-positive, clinical practice, and advocacy, Dr. Murray enjoys writing jokes, taking comedy improv courses, cooking and baking, singing, and participating in his faith community.https:/

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Music has a unique ability to evoke emotion and articulate a feeling or sentiment where words can fail.  Moreover, much like a romantic attachment, many of us form an intense connection to a specific song, genre or band but are never really sure why or where our specific attraction or pull comes from. Professor, author, producer (Barenaked Ladies) & audio engineer (Prince), Dr. Susan Rogers, joins us for a discussion of some of the core themes in her wonderful new book, This is What it Sounds Like - What the Music You Love Says About You.  In this discussion we cover:  why Dr. Rogers wanted to write this booktheories on why humans have the capacity to create and enjoy musicthe relationship between emotions and musicmusic as special form of touch (and not just as a metaphor)the neuroscience underlying music and emotional memorieshow are musical preferences are formed from a brain/psychological lenshow melody is experienced in the brain and the mixed emotions that a single melody can evokewhy the applications of various audio effects (reverb, echo, delay) can so greatly influence and enhance the listener's emotional experiencea consideration of the at times "culturally bound" nature of music e.g., why is it that  a band can be incredibly popular in one country while only enjoying limited success in another country (often for subtle or unknown reasons)?the science behind what makes some music universally loved music vs. being more of a niche preference how the quality of creativity may ebb and flow across the developmental lifespana brief reflection by Dr. Rogers' on Prince around the intersection of his talent with his work ethicComments or feedback?  Email the podcast: oicbtpodcast@gmail.com.  Enjoying the content?  Please consider providing a rating or review!Host note: We will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023.  For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news.  Dr. Susan Rogers holds a doctorate in psychology from McGill University, where she studied music cognition and psychoacoustics under researchers Daniel Levitin and Stephen McAdams. Her research focuses on auditory memory, the perception of musical signals, and the influence of musical training on auditory development. For two decades prior to her science career, Rogers was one of the world's few women known for her work as a record producer, engineer, mixer, and audio electronics technician. Career highlights include years (1983–1988) as staff engineer for recording artist Prince and working with such diverse artists as Barenaked Ladies, David Byrne, Tricky, and Tevin Campbell. Rogers is the director of the Berklee Music Perception and Cognition Laboratory. Her new book ‘This is What it Sounds Like - What the Music You Love Says About You” co-authored with Ogi Ogas was released in the fall of 2022.  https://www.thisiswhatitsoundslike.com

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! In a world in which we are increasingly wary of quick dopamine "hits" that frequently lead to feelings of emptiness, meaninglessness & dissatisfaction, it has become unclear how one could or should relate to joyful obsessions that reflect a fuller expression of the self, that could hold great personal meaning.  Author, Tabitha Carvan, joins us for a discussion of her new book "This Book is Not About Benedict Cumberbatch" in which she explores the notion of a joyful obsession and the value that it can bring to one's life.  Host note:  My hope is that we made this pretty clear in the conversation; however, just so there is no ambiguity - in this conversation we are discussing joyful obsessions that lead to an enhanced sense of self, meaning & well-being - this, of course, would be in contrast to an addiction in which there is an erosion in one's self of self, functioning & psychological well-being.  With that out of the way, enjoy the episode!    In this conversation we cover:the core concept of the book and why it is, in fact, really not about Benedict Cumberbatchthe vulnerability that Tabitha felt in writing this book and why she feels this vulnerability was ultimately critical to having the book translate to, and resonate with readersthe reception the book has received so far and whether Benedict Cumberbatch has heard of and/or seen the bookthe potential psychological function, role & utility of joyful obsession & fantasy in one's lifeTabitha's reflection on the function of her joyful obsession with Benedict Cumberbatch and why it presented itself to her at the time in her life that it didan in-depth consideration of the way in which women's joyful obsessions/passions are denigrated & trivialized  in a way that men's are notthe very specific overlay of motherhood in the context of women's joyful obsessions/passionsexamples of women highlighted in the book who were able to engage in meaningful, life-affirming change by leveraging the energy & perspective drawn from a joyful obsessiona discussion of the health of the average individual's fantasy life and what might be getting left on the table for those not engaging in this important exploration of the selfdo's & don'ts for exploring the integrating of a joyful obsession into one's lifeComments or feedback?  Email the show: oicbtpodcast@gmail.com.  Enjoying the content and/or finding it is adding value to your life or practice?  A rating (or even a review) on Apple podcasts would be greatly appreciated!Tabitha Carvan has written for publications such as The New York Post, Australian Geographic, Overland, Offbeat Home, The Outline, AsiaLIFE, and MamaMia, focusing on issues of identity, family, and pop culture. This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch is her first book.http://www.tabithacarvan.com@tabithacarvan