Episodes

What happens when an esteemed psychologist-psychoanalyst writes a suspense novel? You have a thriller you can’t put down. In this episode Dr. Deborah Serani, award winning author of Living with Depression, Depression and Your Child” and Depression in Later Life” returns to Psych Up Live to discuss her award winning psychological suspense novel, The Ninth Session. In this faced paced novel, Dr. Serani brings the reader right into the psychologist’s office, giving access to a treatment process tha...

Against the frenzy of Holiday Shopping with Promotions, Sales, Countdowns, and Pop Up Deals for Only You, this podcast addresses the why and how of shopping addiction. Drs. Jean Petrucelli and Ricardo Rieppi, experienced psychoanalysts with teaching and writing expertise in the field of addiction and compulsion, offer an extraordinary look at shopping addiction. They examine the emotionally charged topic of money and its role in shopping addiction. They consider conscious and unconscious factors...

In this episode, Dr. Pauline Boss, esteemed scientist practitioner who coined the term 'Ambiguous Loss,' discusses the meaning of Ambiguous Loss and how it differs from other losses. Drawing upon powerful examples, Dr. Boss discusses physical ambiguous loss and psychological ambiguous loss due to dementia from disease, brain injury etc. She clarifies that Ambiguous Loss is not a result of pathology, but rather the ambiguity of the circumstances of loss. Using examples like the families of 9-11 s...

An eighteen year old is charged with the lethal stabbing of a 17 year old boy,who he believed was dating an x-girlfriend. The typical age range for a gang member is 12–24 years old.

In this show, Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, MD, visiting professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and Kathryn Bowers, Science Journalist, draw upon their new book, Wildhood: The Epic Journey From Adolescence to Adulthood in Humans and Other Animals, to share their five year study of adolescence across species. What they find is as startling as it is important. Adolescents, be they the teens in our homes, or the animals across the globe, reveal striking simila...

In the wake of the “Me Too” movement and the upsurge in both feminist and men’s rights activism, traditional masculinity has become the topic of impassioned debate. In this episode psychologist and author, Dr. Andrew Smiler draws upon his new book, Is Masculinity Toxic? A Primer for the 21st Century to discuss all aspects of that question . He examines evolving definitions of masculinity and their changes over decades. He considers, ‘Male Power To Harm,’ dissecting the societal impacts of bullyi...

If you are human, it is likely that you have hurt and been hurt by others. What may be less likely is knowing how to find a road to reconciliation or addressing the reality that reconciliation may not be instantly possible or possible at all. In this episode, Keith Wilson, licensed mental health counselor draws upon his years of clinical experience and his book, The Road to Reconciliation: A Comprehensive Guide to Peace when Relationships Go Bad, to offer an understanding of the pitfalls and pos...

In this Episode Julie Potiker, Mindfulness Expert and author of Life Falls Apart, but You Don’t Have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos, shares her own experience with depression and credits the power of therapy and her commitment to mindfulness techniques to changing her life. Recognizing that it’s easy to let the stresses of daily life overwhelm and send us into unhelpful thought patterns, Julie’s goal is to empower adults, teens and kids with tools and tips that will i...

In an earlier show on Psych Up Live, Law Professor Sarah Rogerson discussed the legal ramifications of the Immigration Crisis. In this show, Dr. Hawthorne Smith, licensed psychologist and Clinical Director of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture for over 15 years, discusses the psychological impact of Zero Tolerance on Immigrants. As a clinician providing services for immigrants for many years he knows about the violence they have fled, the impact of detention, the terror of ICE rai...

This episode looks closely at today’s adolescent girls. Guests, Dr. Mary Pipher and Sara Pipher Gilliam draw upon their new updated version of Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescents Girls, to compare the teenage girls of the 1990’s with the middle though high school girls of today. Using Focus Groups of girls and mothers, interviews with teachers and guidance counselors, the latest research, as well as feedback from today’s girls on the original book, they consider what challenges, n...

Regardless of political perspective, it is difficult for anyone to grasp the reality or the implications of the Immigration Crisis today. Are there any routes to citizenship? Is a working visa a possibility? Can a person still seek asylum in the US? How many children remain separated from parents? What ever happened to the Dreamers? How many of those in the caravans remain in Mexico? Sarah Rogerson, Clinical Professor of Law at Albany Law School, and Director of the Immigration Law Clinic at Alb...

Whether you are a seasoned psychoanalyst, group therapist or someone interested in how and why psychoanalysis works and how psychoanalytic thinking has expanded – You have to hear Dr. Robert Grossmark. Drawing upon his new book, The Unobtrusive Relational Analyst, he discusses his work with patients who formerly would be considered unsuitable for psychoanalytic treatment. These are patients whose behavior in the session or the group often enact the trauma they never had the words to share. Drawi...

When we consider the definition of shame we often compare it to Guilt. Commonly, it is thought that we feel guilt for something we have done that is unacceptable; but with shame, we feel that we are unacceptable. In this episode Dr. Joe Burgo expands the formal definition of Toxic Shame discussed by John Bradshaw as the result of unspeakable child abuse or the oppressive force of social shame addressed by Brene’ Brown. Drawing upon his new book, Shame: Free Yourself, Find Joy and Build True Self...

Despite the incredible access to information and opportunities available to teens in this culture, it is a difficult time for most. In 2019 alone, there were 46 incidents of gunfire on school grounds. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24. Fifteen percentage of high school students were electronically bullied in the past year. Add the physical and emotional changes of teens, and it makes sense to help our teens build resilience. That is just what Cheryl Bradshaw offers in l...

If you are lucky enough to be the parent, teacher, babysitter or grandparent of a “little one”- you must hear this show. In it, psychologist, Dr. Rebecca Schrag Hershberg draws upon her invaluable new book, The Tantrum Survival Guide to clarify, inform deconstruct and offer strategies for managing a toddler or young child’s tantrums. She answers the What, Why and What to do Next about tantrums; considers the magic of “ Love and Limits,” exemplifies the power of Planning and Predictability and un...

In this show, Carol Novello, founder of Mutual Rescue™ and author of the new book, “Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too” shares her story and the countless stories of others who reveal the powerful impact of adopted pets and their owners upon each other. From Parkland HS students, who lost friends in the horrific school shooting, but found the presence and adoption of dogs to be the bridges from terror and loss to love and comfort, to couples improving their relations...

Few of us have been spared relationships with emotional predators – The neighbor who wanted to share everything only to spread rumors; the boss who praised your work, asked for late hours and then promoted someone else; the fiancé who had a lover at college; the coach you trusted who made inappropriate advances. In this show, psychotherapist, mediator, custody evaluator and retired attorney, Steven Wolhandler, JD,MA,LPC draws upon his years of dealing with emotional predators and protecting thei...

While the choice of using marijuana is personal and legalization is likely moving forward, Alex Berenson, former New York Times reporter, invites you to consider this question with your children- How dangerous is today’s marijuana? Drawing upon research, he clarifies that unlike the marijuana smoked in the 1970’s with a 2% level of THC, the main psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, today the level of THC is 25%. Underscoring this potency, Berenson untangles the THC in marijuana with the...

Regardless, of gender, age, or political persuasion, we all fall for fake news. Not You? Listen in as MIT trained science writer, Matthew Hutson, discusses how and why we are all increasingly susceptible to believing misinformation. Drawing upon his recent article in Psychology Today, “How Memory Became Weaponized,” Matthew Hutson discusses the flaws of human memory, our evolutionary tendency to believe what we see, and the attack on our memories with algorithms used by marketers, trolls, or any...

In this show, Savannah Sanders M.S., author of Sex Trafficking Prevention: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Parents and Professionals shares her experience of offering a year-long online trauma course with a community of 27 women which became for them a powerful healing journey. Drawing upon her own childhood abuse and experience of being trafficked plus insights gained from her years of advocacy, professional studies and personal therapy, Savannah recognized that being informed about trauma and u...

This show is a tribute to all singles who would like to be in a relationship but have not yet found the right person. Guest Sara Eckel, author and well known contributor to the popular New York Times Column ‘Modern Love’ draws upon her poignant, funny and important book, It’s Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You’re Single, to debunk the myths that society advances and singles accept for what is deemed as their failure to be coupled up- “ You’re too picky.” “ You don’t really want a relationship.” “ Y...

Postpartem Depression is suffered by 20 percent of women. But it is misunderstood and overlooked by many new mothers who suffer, as well as those who love them.

In this episode, Dr. Michael Anestis, clinical psychologist, and award winning researcher discusses his powerful book, Guns and Suicide: An American Epidemic. Dr. Anestis is not advocating for or against gun ownership. What he is advocating for is prevention of firearm suicides. Funded by the Department of Defense through a program known as the Military Suicide Research Consortium, Michael Anestis collected and will share findings like the fact that each year the majority of gun deaths in the US...

There are few people who have been injured or wronged by another who don’t think about and want to mollify their psychic pain with revenge. In this episode, Dr. Steven Berglas, professor, psychotherapist, research scientist and executive coach invites us to consider “ Taking Revenge – A Better Way.” The author of award winning books, 70 articles and journal reports on cures of self-defeating behavior, Dr. Berglas discusses the personal cost of angry retaliation and the power of redirecting the b...