In this episode, we explore the innovative work of Dr. Paul L. Wachtel, a leading psychologist known for his integrative approach to psychotherapy. Dr. Wachtel challenges single-framework therapy models, advocating for a flexible approach that draws from cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, and other modalities. We discuss his concept of the "disavowed self"—the parts of oneself that are unconsciously denied—and how therapists can help clients reclaim these aspects to foster growth.

We also dive into how attachment theory and integrative methods can be used to treat anxiety, phobias, and interpersonal issues, providing practical insights for both therapists and those interested in understanding human behavior more deeply. Join us for an engaging conversation on advancing therapeutic practices.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

Eating disorders are often understood through a medical or behavioral lens, focusing on symptom reduction. But what if we’ve overlooked something deeper—something rooted in the complex emotional lives of our patients? In this episode, Dr. Tom Wooldridge, a psychoanalyst and expert in eating disorders, joins Dr. David Puder to explore the psychoanalytic perspective on treating these conditions.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we welcome back fan favorite Dr. Michael Cummings and ask questions sent in by listeners. Topics include Schizophrenia, Social Media Trends, and the SSRI controversy. We are thrilled to dedicate an episode that allows individuals to ask pointed questions and glean from Dr. Cummings' expertise. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we will be discussing some themes observed in Meditations, a collection of notebooks written by the 16th Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, during the last years of his reign. His writings are still relevant to us and resonate within us, as the emperor himself struggled with some core questions that anyone who is living this thing called life might ponder.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, I am joined once again by Michael Cummings. M.D. and Melissa Pereau, M.D. along with Chantel Fletcher who will soon be a fourth year medical student going into Psychiatry. We will be doing an in-depth analysis on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder including history, assessments, diagnosis, and so much more. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

In this episode, I am going to build on the therapeutic alliance series to express my thoughts on how understanding emotion, specifically microexpressions, can better help you make connections with your clients. The research is amazing; there are thousands of articles on the subject. I thought I would share a bit about the evolution of my interest in emotion and microexpression in this episode and how I translated it from the forensic world into a psychotherapy setting.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this podcast episode, we will interview Jeffrey Paul Kahn, MD, a psychiatrist who recently co-edited a book called Psychotic Disorders: Comorbidity Detection Promotes Improved Diagnosis and Treatment. Our focus will be on different presentations of psychosis and how through a good history you can better treat the underlying issue and choose optimal treatments.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, I interviewed Carl B. Gacono, PhD, who is an expert in the areas of criminal psychopathology, behavior, and treatment. We dive into understanding and acknowledging the distinct differences between psychopathic and non-psychopathic patients and how their assessment with the PCL-R and Rorschach aid in their management and treatment. We also discuss how understanding transference and countertransference is essential when interacting with these difficult patients.

Link to Blog.

Link to Resource Library. 

In this episode of the podcast, we introduce borderline personality disorder (BPD). We discuss its history, nomenclature, epidemiology, etiology, and diagnosis while providing perspectives from clinicians regarding the treatment of individuals with BPD.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

On this week’s podcast, I interview Jason Smith, Psy.D., A.B.P.P., Chief Psychologist at a prison in the United States, and Ted B. Cunliffe, Ph.D., who is a clinical and forensic psychologist at a private practice in Florida. Together, along with Carl B. Gacono, Ph.D., ABAP, they have written the book Understanding Female Offenders, researching how female offenders’ psychopathic behaviors present differently than in males and how we can address biases we may have in order to identify, assess, and treat these women.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we will be going over a book every therapist and psychiatrist should read, Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Being in the trenches with our patients, we see so much pain and suffering and potentially undergo vicarious trauma ourselves through their suffering. The question, “What is the meaning of life?” often comes up in such a context.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In today’s episode of the podcast, we’ll be continuing our deep dive into duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). In this second part, we’ll be covering the approved indications and off-label uses of duloxetine. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss akathisia, the horrible and all too common side effect of psychiatric medications. Subsequently, we go through definitions, history, mechanism, how to rate it, and treatment.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

Learning how to approach patients with PTSD and severe trauma is necessary to help long term. Dr. Patricia Resick has plenty of experience in dealing with PTSD and is on the podcast today, sharing her wisdom so that we may better serve patients suffering from trauma. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In the last episode, we talked about the first two stages of the hero’s journey. In this episode, I will focus on the path of the hero as it specifically applies to mental health professionals. I will discuss exactly what those are and how these are areas in our core being that simply cannot be faked. The areas we will be discussing require the hero (us) to develop and mature at the core of our being, to embody these things, and to be fundamentally transformed.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In today’s episode of the podcast, we will be doing a deep dive into duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). In part one of this two-part series, we will cover the history of SNRIs as well as mechanisms of action, cytochrome P450 issues, side effects, and contraindications to consider when prescribing duloxetine and this class of medications.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

There are several disorders so branded with taboo, stigma, and legal consequences that they are almost never diagnosed and very little research has been done on them. These patients are literally seen by every specialty, often without knowing it, and without a good solution. I am hoping this podcast brings awareness to this important topic and gives providers insight into the power of empathy in helping these patients.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

“The Hero’s Journey” entails several predictable steps of leaving and returning transformed. Striving towards one’s heroic possibilities and unfolding one’s potentials is deeply pleasurable. Realizing that our narratives can be seen as part of a journey can encourage these pleasurable aspirational attempts and reframe hardships. This concept of The Hero’s Journey is something I use often in my practice and find very useful.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

With the background from part 1 in mind, in part 2, we review the modern era of research exploring the treatment of various psychopathology. The results for these studies begin to elucidate the various effects individuals experience with psilocybin. The benefits are potentially impressive, however, there are significant limitations that are noteworthy. Psilocybin therapy is just coming out of its nascence and it is useful to have a critical view of the research coming out to avoid pitfalls in the future. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 2.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

The basis of cognitive behavioral therapy is that we should put our thoughts on trial and not just believe them. CBT works by digging into the foundation of our thinking patterns so we can rewire the patterns that are messed up. 

On this week’s episode of the podcast, I speak to Dr. David Burns M.D. about cognitive behavioral therapy. He’s the author of several industry-leading books on the subject, including Feeling Good and Feeling Great.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

Psilocybin has been increasingly part of western consciousness. As the scientific community explores its therapeutic use and safety in controlled settings, there are a lot of people outside of that community who are passionate advocates for its recreational use. If we are to be knowledgeable about this subject, it is useful to know the sources that our patients are getting their information from, the history of its use, and what we currently know about its safety.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

We are privileged to be joined by Dr. Steven Hayes for this podcast. Dr. Hayes is a psychologist with a remarkable academic career. He is the author of a number of seminal papers and pioneered Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

There are medications that worsen cognitive function and all mental health providers should be aware, and work on optimizing sensorium. In this episode, we'll cover a spectrum of sensorium disruptions and medications that you need to look out for. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this last episode of the Big Five personality model series, we are going to focus on extraversion which is the positive emotion dimension associated with gregariousness, charisma, enthusiasm, assertiveness, and social ability.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 2 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

Therapies of depth, insight, and relationship have been missing from, if not pushed out of, the public conversation on mental health treatment. After decades of attack from multiple fronts, these therapies are misunderstood, undervalued, and overlooked by the general public. In order to address this challenge and change this trajectory, we must start by listening to the public and understand their needs, values, and preferences about therapy. Dr. Linda Michaels and colleagues conducted an extensive research project, leveraging qualitative and quantitative tools and techniques widely used in the corporate world, focused on “listening” to the public and understanding what people want and need from therapy. 

Linda Michaels, PsyD, MBA, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Chicago. She is also chair and co-founder of the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), a non-profit that advocates for quality therapy. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we continue our discussion on the Big Five. We will do a deep dive into agreeableness discussing it's sub facets: trust, straightforwardness, altruism, compliance, modesty, and tender-mindedness. We will also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of having high trait agreeableness.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In Conscientiousness Part 1 we explored the sub-facets of conscientiousness, summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of each. For completeness, we will provide sources for that material as well as brief summaries of those sources. Today, in Part 2, we will focus largely on conscientiousness in daily life, psychopathology, and therapy.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this podcast, we discuss openness, the third of five in our podcast series looking at the domains within the Five Factor Model of personality. We look at how openness is defined, its heritability, and its effects on physical health, personal attributes, psychopathy, pharmacotherapy, and therapeutic techniques. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we continue our Big Five Personality Traits series by doing a deep dive into Conscientiousness. We'll look into studies that show how low conscientiousness increases mortality rate as well as positive aspects of high conscientiousness. We also explore the 6 domains, genetic factors, and different life stages of conscientiousness. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we review studies on strength training, exercise, and depression from the last 2 years. It is well known that any form of exercise is beneficial for people with depressive symptoms, with strength training being most effective. Strength training can be both a treatment for patients with depression and a protective mechanism against the onset of depression.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In part 2 if the Big Five series we talk about how medications, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), psychotherapy, and exercise can make an impact. Trial studies of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have shown promise in the treatment of neuroticism. We also discuss the possible benefits of neuroticism. Studies have shown that neurotic people may outperform their stable counterparts in a work context. This “healthy neuroticism” may exist when the effects of neuroticism and conscientiousness interact. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

Netflix has recently come under fire for its release of the French film "Cuties." While critics have praised the movie for exploring themes of the oversexualization of children, audience members are consistently appalled at the provocative situations that the 11-year-old characters are put through. In this episode, I discuss our culture's saturation with the oversexulization of children in media with Maddie Ulrich B.S., Randy Stinnett, Psy.D., ABPP, and Caroline Osorio M.D.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, Dr. Cummings and I discuss forensic pedophilia and the sexualization of children in our society.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In today’s podcast, we discuss the Big Five personality traits, focusing on neuroticism and how it fits into this set. We then explore each of the six domains of neuroticism and the research of how it manifests in other parts of one’s life and affects relationships.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In today’s episode of the podcast, we’ll be doing a deep-dive into nortriptyline, a lesser-talked about medication in psychopharmacology. We’ll cover a little about the history of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) as well as the characteristics, side-effects, and indications to consider when prescribing this class of medication.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this Episode, Dr. David Puder, Dr. Adam Borecky, and Joanie Burns discuss the 5-factor approach to holistic, patient-centered psychiatric care. This approach takes into account that each individual who seeks care is unique in their physiological and psychological make-up and that multiple factors influence both physical and mental health (for better or worse). 

The 5-factor approach to treatment is based on the importance of sensorium and its pivotal role in regulating thoughts, feelings, and overall mental health. Sensorium is a lens to understand how we focus on various things. Sensorium is total brain function, which fluctuates throughout the day and depends on a number of factors, including sleep, stress levels, and more.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have seemed to foster a “sub-epidemic” of suicidality and deteriorating mental health. Suicidal thoughts have spiked across every demographic due to the loss of connection to usual psychosocial supports, normal activities, and in a lot of cases, jobs, leading to significant financial stress. These stressors compound and massively impact the mental resiliency of everyone reached by this pandemic.

Link to Blog.

Link to Resource Library. 

If you are a medical student or someone studying for a big exam, this episode is for you. We will first discuss the mental roadblocks that prevent students from performing at their top potential for exams. We also break down and outline some effective study strategies, and provide a sample day-by-day study plan for any 2nd year medical student preparing for the USMLE Step 1 exam. Finally, we have also created a 3-step challenge all students can follow.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

On this episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast, we continue our conversation with geriatric psychiatrist, Dr. Osorio, to talk about retirement—specifically, how to retire well and happy.  She recently published a book for people in this transition: Stop Freaking Out About Retirement

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Understanding disorganized attachment as medical professionals is important because some patients have experienced trauma, or 2nd generation influences of trauma, which leads to this issue. As we continue to explore disorganized attachment and how we can help patients with this attachment style, it’s important to remember that this information provides the foundation for why empathy, connection, and emotion mirroring is vital in psychotherapy and psychiatry.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

When people dissociate, it means they feel disconnected from their body. They feel fear and dread, sometimes feeling completely frozen. As mental health professionals, understanding disorganized attachment gives us appreciation and understanding for the necessity of empathy, attunement and deeply understanding the experience of another.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this final part of the free will series, we take a look at the relationship between the concept of free will and mental health. Is free will altered in those suffering from schizophrenia? How is well-being related to free will? Thinking about these questions and the rise of neuroessentialism within psychiatry allows us to recognize the influence of our environment on our decision-making. The debate is far from settled, but a belief in free will clearly affects daily life and the practice of psychiatry.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

This is the second episode in our Free will series. In this episode, we will describe some definitions of free will, explore determinism (the opposite of free will), cover some quotes by famous authors on the topic, and break down some statistics, and studies about it. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

On this episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast I have a conversation with Matthew Hagele, a soon to be 4th year medical student with a masters in bioethics.  We will talk about the history, the why, and the cultural importance of free will. We will examine the implications of free will on mental health. 

This is the first of a three part series. We hope they provide interesting application information for your own practice.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

Join Dr. Danielle Hairston and Dr. Puder on a discussion of recent events. Dr. Hairston has served as the Black Psychiatrists of America Scientific Program Chair since 2016. She is also the American Psychiatric Association Black Caucus’ Early Career Representative.  She is the residency director at Howard University.  She has a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Hairston has also had the opportunity to speak nationally and internationally about the impact of racial trauma and culture on mental health. She is a contributing author to the recently published book, Racism and Psychiatry: Contemporary Issues and Interventions. Her interests include consultation-liaison psychiatry, resident education, minority mental health, cultural psychiatry, and collaborative care. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.5 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

On this episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast, we talk about meaning, and how it relates to suicide. 

This is part 3 of a series of podcasts on suicide. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes, they are here: 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Anthony W. Bateman and Dr. Peter Fonagy to discuss their expertise on Mentalization. 

Mentalization refers to the capacity to reflect upon and understand one's own state of mind and the states of mind of others.  This involves recognizing and making sense of one's own and others’ emotions, beliefs, needs and desires.  People use this tool consciously and unconsciously to make sense of others and themselves. Often done automatically, a person may form beliefs about the people they interact with, making assumptions about their mental states. These beliefs tend to have a strong influence on the mental state of the person, whether or not they are correct.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

As the economy continues to shut down during COVID-19, people are growing more concerned about work and finances. Even if the virus is miraculously contained in the next few months, the economy will still be reeling from the damage of the lockdown. 

As psychiatrists, we are concerned about the increases in mental illness from the lack of employment and a potential increase in suicides. In this episode, we begin to look at past studies on the links between economic disaster and the subsequent rates of depression and suicide, and what we might be able to do to help.

By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

On this week’s episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast, I interview Dr. Daved Van-Stralen. During this season of COVID-19, Van-Stralen is focusing on the unique stresses on the healthcare system. How can the healthcare system improve the way that things are currently being done? How can people handle stress and the stress of seeing multiple deaths, exposure to the disease, and increased hours?

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.

In the US, people do not talk about death often or even acknowledge their own mortality. Instead, we act as if we just work hard enough we can do anything, even refuse the grim reaper.

In this episode, we wrestle with the current issues created by COVID-19. Join us as we think more about death and the necessity to have conversations around it. 

By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits.

Link to blog.

Link to YouTube video.