Mind Tricks Radio

In today's Distortion of the Day!, I talk about Emotional Reasoning. Distortions of the Day! are brief episodes running under 10 minutes where I introduce psychological concepts in a fun, practical, useful way.

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In today's Distortion of the Day!, I talk about Personalization. Distortions of the Day! are brief episodes running under 10 minutes where I introduce psychological concepts in a fun, practical, useful way.

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I enjoyed a lively conversation today with Dr. Andrea Bonior, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and faculty member of Georgetown University. Dr. Bonior spoke with me today about nurturing adult friendships, and the importance of friendships to both physical and emotional health and well-being.  She talked about many aspects of friendships, including:

• picking and maintaining the right friends for your personality
• recognizing when friendships are healthy versus unhealthy
• how life events can challenge friendships and how to face these challenges
• recognizing the normal ebbs and flows of friendships
• differences between males and females on making and maintaining friendships
• frindships and social media
• simple suggestions for nurturing existing friendships

Dr. Bonior recently launched her own psychology podcast called Baggage Check: Mental Health Talk and Advice, which premiered November 1st.  Baggage Check is about getting real regarding mental health and making listeners part of the conversation. She’s written several books on topics of psychology, including THE FRIENDSHIP FIX about topics related to Adult Friendships.

Dr. Bonior is a frequent commentator in media outlets such as NPR, CNN, The Today Show, The NY Times, and the Washington Post, and her Psychology Today blog has been read more than 25 million times. She speaks to audiences large and small about work-life balance and mental and emotional health. 

In today's Distortion of the Day!, I talk about Mind Reading. Distortions of the Day! are brief episodes running under 10 minutes where I introduce psychological concepts in a fun, practical, useful way.

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I enjoyed a lively conversation with Dr Michelle P. Maidenberg, a psychotherapist in private practice in Harrison, NY. I interviewed Dr. Maidenberg about her new book, “Ace Your Life: Unleash Your Best Self and Live the Life You Want.”  This book is packed with all sorts of meaningful explanations and pointers about Core Values, Growth Mindset, Radical Self-Acceptance, Compassion, and Empowerment.   

Dr. Maidenberg is an adjunct faculty member at New York University teaching a graduate course in Mindfulness Practice.  She is the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of “Thru My Eyes”, a nonprofit organization that offers free clinically-guided videotaping to chronically medically ill individuals who want to leave video legacies for their children and loved ones. 

Dr. Maidenberg is also the author of the book “Free Your Child From Overeating" 53 Mind-Body Strategies For Lifelong Health” and her new book She writes the Psychology Today Blog: Being Your Best Self and is a contributing editor of the journal GROUP. She is dedicated and invested in health and mental health advocacy. 

In today's Distortion of the Day!, I talk about Overgeneralization. Distortions of the Day! are brief episodes running under 10 minutes where I introduce psychological concepts in a fun, practical, useful way.

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I enjoyed a fun conversation with Dr. Dianne Grande, a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in the western suburbs of Chicago. We talked about the ways in which people take too much responsibility for others as Caretakers, Enablers, and Rescuers. Dr. Grande talks about how people get into unhealthy dynamics with others that are marked by dependency, resentment, and helplessness, and ways in which people can change this dynamics for themselves and their relationships with others.

Dr. Grande publishes articles on mental health topics for the Choosing Therapy website. She also writes monthly blogs on various topics including communication skills, emotional vulnerability and connection, self-esteem, and expectations in marriage. Her blog, titled “In It Together,” is published on Psychology Today’s website.

In today's Distortion of the Day!, I talk about Jumping to Conclusions.

The reason why Jumping to Conclusions can be such a problem is it can cause you to make rash or wrong decisions based on a lack of accurate information. 

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I enjoyed having the opportunity today to "pick the brain" of Dr. Martin Hsia, a  Clinical Psychologist and expert in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). We talked in-depth about many forms of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors commonly encountered with OCD. Dr. Hsia provides many examples of what differentiates "normal" thinking and behavior from OCD symptoms.

Dr. Hsia is the Clinical Director at the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Southern California (http://www.CBTSoCal.com). CBT SoCal is a group practice that specializes in treating people with Anxiety Disorders, most specifically Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in its various forms, as well as CBT for unique presentations such as Trichotillomania, Excoriation Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Insomnia, Tics, and Chronic Pain.

Dr. Hsia is a member of the International OCD Foundation, a Diplomate with the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and has lectured and supervised as Adjunct Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at USC Keck School of Medicine.

In today's episode of Distortion of the Day!, I discuss Black and White Thinking, also known as All Or Nothing Thinking or Absolute Thinking.

When you engage in Black and White thinking, you approach things from an extreme point of view. Either something is all good or all bad. A person either’s got your back, or you cant count on them. A situation is either totally awesome or totally screwed. And another person’s perspective or point of view is either completely in alignment with yours, or you are in total disagreement. There is no in-between. And that’s an unfortunate way to approach life because it creates barriers between you and the world around you by shutting out the possibilities of connection and growth that lie in the grey areas.

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