Myndtalk With Dr. Pamela Brewer

MyNDTALK - Democracy Betrayed – Dr. William Keller As a society, we have yet to comprehend the meaning of universal digital interconnection, its impact on our psychology, and its transformation of our government and society. America is at a crossroads in contending with a security goliath; it is the beginnings of a police state, and the conversion of our 'liberal democracy' to a 'secure democracy'-- one where government overreaches, tramples on civil liberties, and harnesses great advancements in technology to spy on the populace. Dr. Keller walks us through what these changes can mean to our society and, more importantly, what we can do to halt our march toward intrusive and widespread surveillance.

MyNDTALK - Evidence Based Treatment Options - Joanna Conti Although the Joint Commission has mandated that addiction treatment programs systematically use symptom scales throughout patient care (measurement-based care), many centers do not have measurement-based care in place today. Today's guest, Joanna Conti, says "Measurement-based care gives clinicians the ability to be more effective in real-time. It lets them identify groups of patients who are not progressing as well as others - important information that's usually invisible without MBC. This is helping clinicians be more effective and keeping patients in therapy and out of danger." Joanna Conti is CEO of Vista Research Group one of a small number of research companies helping to make measurement- based care for possible behavioral health and addiction treatment organizations. "Our clients are extremely busy and need high quality tools that are easy to use and cost-effective." Joanna shares the experiences in her personal life that brought her to do

MyNDTALK - Girl Walks Out of a Bar -  Lisa F. Smith Girl Walks Out of a Bar explores Smith's formative years, her decade of alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, and her road to recovery. In this darkly comic and wrenchingly honest story, Smith describes how her circumstances conspired with her predisposition to depression and self-medication in an environment ripe for addiction to flourish. When her close-knit group of high-achieving friends celebrate the end of their grueling workdays with alcohol-fueled nights at the city's clubs and summer weekends partying at the beach the feel-good times can spiral wildly out of control. ... Beneath the façade of success lies the reality of addiction.

MyNDTALK - Living & Loving after Betrayal - Dr. Steven Stosny Betrayal has many faces, including anger, abuse, deceit, and infidelity. These feel like betrayal because they violate the implicit promise of emotional bonds, that your loved one will care about your wellbeing and never intentionally hurt you. If you've recently left a relationship where you felt betrayed by your partner--or if you want to repair one--it can seem impossible to view the world without the shadow of past betrayal hovering over you. As a result, you may struggle to create meaning in your life, find the strength to forgive, or build new, loving relationships." Begin your journey of healing with this conversation!

MyNDTALK - Walking with the Light - William Dunn In 1996 the U.S. House of Representatives and President Bill Clinton passed a law today known as 'HIPAA.' Today's guest tells of the unintended negative consequences associated with legislation intended to help. Sandy's Gift is an intimate and shocking true story that tells of the plight in which this law places American families with members afflicted by mental illness.

MyNDTALK – Finally Out – Dr. Loren A. Olson Dr. Loren A. Olson has frequently been asked two questions: How could you not know that you were gay until the age of forty? Wasn't your marriage just a sham to protect yourself at your wife's expense? Dr. Olson answers these questions by telling the story of his evolving sexuality, into which he weaves psychological concepts and gay history. Olsen discusses human sexuality, particularly the sexuality of mature men who, like Dr. Olson, lived a large part of their lives as straight men--sometimes long after becoming aware of their same-sex attractions.  

MyNDTALK - Eating Disorders - Jennifer Rollin Jennifer Rollin is a therapist in private practice in Rockville, Maryland, who specializes in working with adolescents and adults with eating disorders, body image issues, anxiety, and depression. Learn what's true and not about eating disorders –

MyNDTALK - Take Good Care - Cynthia Orange Cynthia Orange's newest gem is a rare combination of inspiration and information that invites us to examine our behavior and feelings with an open heart, free from judgment, as we care for others and ourselves. Take Good Care offers valuable care suggestions throughout--from how to navigate difficult conversations to what contact numbers to post on the refrigerator. This manual for living will enlighten any caregiver's experience, and Cynthia holds your hand through the process as only she can." Lisa Woititz, Author - 'Unwelcome Heritance'

MyNDTALK - The Work - James McLeary James McLeary, one of the Executive Producers of 'The Work' discusses his work with 'The Work' and the non-profit Inside Circle Foundation. 'Inside Circle' the non-profit organization who was the driver behind the powerful upcoming, award-winning, 'The Work' - a rare and intimate look at the men inside the maximum-security California State Folsom Prison.

MyNDTALK - The Fix - Sharon Leder Eight-year-old Sara Katz huddles under the covers, listening to her parents' muffled arguments and fighting the sleep that inevitably brings her bad dreams - dreams of her terrifying Shadow Father, a heroin addict. Is my daddy not a good father? Is it my job to fix him? As Josef's sickness worsens, young Sara is torn apart by her family's need to keep its "shame" a secret from its Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York. Sara finds herself drawn to the liberation movements of the 1960s while feeling trapped in the darkness of her father's addiction and, ultimately, his untimely death." Will Sara ever learn the truth about how her father became addicted and why he couldn't get well?

MyNDTALK - From Drift To Shift - Jody B. Miller We all desire to be happy in our work and in our personal lives, and we want to be valued for who we are. Through the transformational stories Jody Miller shares in From Drift to Shift, listeners learn to recognize the opportunity to pursue life's true purpose and to embrace it both professionally and personally. Jody encourages all to seek a life of meaning, to have the courage to be who they really are, and to not let external forces pressure them into being less than they can be." Jody's goal is to help people discover how they can make their own uniquely important contributions to the world.  

MyNDTALK - A Tango with Cancer - Apryl Allen Depicting the poignant complexities patients encounter, Apryl Allen takes us deep into the realities of the human side of the disease: the nerve-wracking undertakings of her quest to find multiple health specialists through the aftermath of medical bills. Apryl reminds us compassion is a vital element to the healing process. She also discusses how, in today's medical world, many health professionals have abandoned the practice of altruism." Everyone - anyone – who has been challenged by their experiences with the medical profession will appreciate this conversation.

MyNDTALK - Meditations for Caregivers - Dr. Barry Jacobs and Dr. Julia Mayer Family caregiving has its challenges: emotional overload, time constraints, anxiety, burnout, missed work, adult sibling conflicts, and marital issues." Barry and Julia discuss their creation, AARP Meditations for Caregivers, which is a blend of their personal and professional experiences. They discuss the emotional and spiritual motivation skills needed to minimize the strains while helping caregivers view their work as a mission from the heart. Today's discussion includes topics such as accepting your feelings, knowing your limits, seeking support, and managing stress.

MyNDTALK - Vibes From The Screen - Bob Moss His professional life began as a social worker, then the legal profession called to him ... and now he teaches us to use our critical thinking skills as we consume movies. Bob's life has taken him along many interesting paths that now allow Bob to bring all of his skills to his research and articulation of the world of the creative arts. Learn to look at and listen to the world of movies from an entirely new and expanded perspective!

MyNDTALK - Is There A Reason To Hurt - Dr. Aneesh Singla "Why must we feel pain? It is a question humans have asked for centuries. Harvard-trained pain specialist Dr. Aneesh Singla offers a physician's point of view as he takes a journey through medicine, history, and the world around us to provide some insights into our experience of pain, what we can do about it, and why it hurts in the first place. Drawing upon over a decade of experience, Dr. Singla offers an honest and insightful look at how we must balance our desire to "cure" every type of pain with the urgent need to manage the colossal problem of chronic pain, which afflicts over 116 million Americans, and many millions more across the globe.   As the opioid crisis in the United States is reaching critical levels, we live in a world where misinformation about the nature of pain is all around us. Countless books offer miracle cures for all kinds of pain, with varying levels of success. However, pain can be a transformative experience, and the

MyNDTALK - Loving Bravely - Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon Don't miss this manual for all ages - learn to better nurture yourself, the relationships you care about and the people you love. Learn to love yourself bravely, live your life bravely, love other bravely, with joy and self-respect!

MyNDTALK - The Perfect Husband - Maggie Kneip After a fairy-tale courtship in 1980s New York City, Maggie's young marriage shatters when her "perfect" husband--a star editor at The  Wall Street Journal--is diagnosed with and dies of AIDS, leaving her with two young children in a city electrified by paranoia about the new epidemic. Devastated by his betrayal, Maggie struggles to protect  herself and her children from stigma, keeping the circumstances of her husband's death a secret for nearly twenty-five years. It is only when a journey of self-discovery aligns with her children's coming of age and a new world of sexual tolerance that she can finally embrace the truth and set herself free.

MyNDTALK - The Neuroscience of Innovation and Creativity - Dr. Ransom Stephens Physicist Ransom Stephens explains the interesting and often amusing tale of how the human brain works. Using understandable metaphors and easy to follow language, Stephens gives readers of any scientific level an introduction to neuroscience and shows them how things like creativity, skill, and even perception of self can grow and change by utilizing the body's most important muscle. Fans of Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson will love Stephens' down to earth attitude and those interested in science will appreciate his thoughtful explanations of scientific terms.

MyNDTALK - Livin' in the Shade - Eric Johnson and Akili Uchenna More often than not, the relationships between fathers and sons impact the understanding that many males develop about notions of manhood. Even when a man's father has not been present in a way that meets his expectations, his understanding of what it means to be a man is impacted either by the noted absence or the perceived relationship inadequacies. In such cases, men are faced painfully with only two choices: Extend an unhealthy and unhappy notion of  manhood or do the work that heals his heart and soul in a way that makes him better. However, when men have positive and healthy relationships with their fathers, they have the opportunity to grow from their father's successes and learn from his mistakes. No father and son relationship can be called perfect and as a result, there are always things that can be improved, even after one of them is gone." Dr. Eric Johnson and his son Akili Uchenna explore the implications of father and son relatio

MyNDTALK - To Fool the Rain - Steven Werlin Steven Werlin chronicles his journey with Fonkoze - Haiti's leading microfinance organization. Fonkoze provides financial and non-financial tools to assist Haitians to work out of wrenching poverty. Hear stories of some of the participants who have benefited from the Fonkoze program making it clear there is no single pathway to a better life. The stories of each of these women are the stories of Fonkoze: individual begin­nings, challenges, and successes bound together by the themes that pattern life in rural Haiti.