Good Enough Shrink
We are child psychiatrists practicing in the Los Angeles area on a mission to demystify psychiatry and mental health. The title of this podcast is a tribute to the psychoanalyst, Donald Winnicott, and his concept of the "Good Enough Parent.” This is the idea that the imperfect but sufficient provisions of a parent will build a resilient child in an imperfect world. We want to empower children and parents to embrace their strengths and flaws, and know that you are good enough.
We want to emphasize the power of holding difficult emotions from the lens of attachment theory. Attachment theory is based on the idea that humans need a social bond with another to survive. This bond, when it is “good enough”, serves as a secure base from which a child can explore the world. When this attachment is disrupted, it can lead to emotional issues, and sometimes full-blown psychiatric disorders. This is where therapists and psychiatrists come in.
This podcast is for the curious adults, parents, family members, mental health professionals and trainees. So we hope you join us in this adventure to explore science and mental health from a developmental perspective.
Episodes
29 episodes
#29 Weathering the Storm - A Candid Discussion on Suffering
Hello listeners! This episode, I was inspired by conversations with my closest friends on what exactly it means to endure suffering. I wanted to demonstrate what it actually looks like to "weather the storm" or "ride the wave" as they call it. ...
#28 How to Talk to Your Kids About the News
As we continue to see violence, political conflict, and distressing news in the world, we bring to you this episode to help guide parents on how to talk to their kids about difficult news. The physical and mental effects of high stress-st...
#27 What is Your Life's Purpose? A Psychiatrist's Answer Inspired by Viktor Frankl
As you face the new year (and possibly Sunday blues today), you might be questioning your sense of purpose, direction, and life’s meaning. This is an episode to help you through this time of transition, which often feels crushingly paralyzing. ...
#26 Manic! At the Disco - Demystifying Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
This time of year, severe mental health conditions like bipolar disorder can worsen. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of bipolar disorder and how it came to be understood. We start with adult bipolar disorder and dive into pediatric bi...
#25 Münchausen Syndrome and Münchausen by Proxy: Harming Self and Others to Play the Sick Role
Hello listeners! Münchausen Syndrome or factitious disorder is a fascinating yet devastating topic that we’ve taken a few recordings to discuss, especially in light of the recent Florida appeals court ruling on the famous case of Maya Kowalski....
#24 Trauma III: Psychotherapy and Medication Treatments for PTSD
Hello listeners! We are so excited to share this episode with you. We get into the nitty gritty of treatment for PTSD in both psychotherapy and medications. **This information is for general knowledge and does not substitute for pro...
#23 Trauma II: Childhood Trauma, Biology of PTSD, and the Healing Power of Community
In this episode, we discuss how trauma symptoms present in children, the challenges of diagnosing and treating trauma in children, including the limitations of current diagnostic systems, and the neurobiology of trauma response. Lastly, we disc...
#22 Trauma I: PTSD History and Diagnosis, Complex PTSD, and the Role of Memory
Hello listeners! We are tackling the enormous topic of trauma. We start with how trauma response was stigmatized in history, PTSD's diagnostic criteria, overlap with other conditions such as cPTSD and borderline personality disorder, and the cu...
#21 What a Shock! - How ECT Can Be Lifesaving, with Dr. Michael Couse
In this episode, we invite our good friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Couse, to discuss a recent paper that he and Dr. Kelly published in the academic journal, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The paper discus...
#20 Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - Myths and Truths
Welcome to Season 2 of Good Enough Shrink! It has such a fun ride this past year. We are kicking off the new season with a topic that remains controversial in some areas of the country, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). We want to dispel misunde...
#19 How to Communicate When You are At Your Worst - The Secret of Validation
Hello listeners! In this episode, I bring together neuroscience and everyday life to present tips on how to communicate when you are feeling at your worst. Whether you are in an argument with your partner, a power struggle with your kid, ...
#18 The Claws of Addiction - It's Not That Simple
In this episode, our goal is to bring you tools to understand and destigmatize addiction. We discuss the complexity of addiction at the biological, psychological and societal levels. So if you are ready to explore this complex topic, take a lis...
#17 Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Suicide - How to Approach It with Your Child
This episode starts with the various ways social media has changed how we view ourselves and others. We then discuss the sobering link between cyberbullying and suicide rates among young people. Finally, we bring you practical tips and ideas ab...
#16 IOP, PHP, RTC - Continuum of Care for Mental Health Treatment Explained
Hello! We are back after a busy month at the clinic! In this episode, we discuss a very niche topic -- the different levels (or continuum) of care in mental health treatment. These acronyms can be so confusing for parents and families, so we ho...
#15 LA Fires - The Aftermath of Traumatic Events and How to Talk to Your Kids About It
In this episode, we explore the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires on families and the individual person, emphasizing trauma-informed care and support for those affected by disasters. We also cover practical tips for disaster psychiatry, psych...
#14 Challenges with the Executive Orders against the LGBTQ+ Community
In this episode, we discuss the challenges in dealing with the recent executive orders against the LGBTQ+ community. We go over the emotional toll of political rhetoric, the need for access to gender-affirming care in youth, and how important i...
#13 Adult Loneliness: How Our Bodies Respond to Attachment Disruption
This is a long-awaited episode! We talk about the difference between feeling lonely and being alone, and the biological mechanisms that drive humans to connect with each other. After we intellectualize it all (as doctors do), we get to the root...
#12 The Optimism and Cautionary Tale of AI and Mental Health
This week, we explore the curious and unnerving world of artificial intelligence (AI) and mental health. We discuss its potential benefits in healthcare for both psychiatrists and patients, as well as risks such as harmful content, liability is...
#11 Finding Motivation for Change
Welcome to the new year! This episode is about how to approach making a change in your life. Your ambivalence, values, fears, and goals are all crucial parts of what makes you you. It's also important to just take a pause sometimes in this ever...
#10 Neurosis and Anxiety: What it is and What to Do About It
Hello there! This episode is a dense one. We discuss neurosis and anxiety from the perspective of childhood and growth. We go over concepts of “basic anxiety” and “neurotic pride”, reflecting on healthy and unhealthy narcissism fueling anxiety ...
#9 Psychosis III: A Conversation with Dr. Gil Hoftman, an Expert on Schizophrenia Research
We are back! In this episode, we discuss the nitty gritty, fascinating details of schizophrenia and psychosis. We explore the devastating stigma associated with schizophrenia, the challenges of diagnosing and managing severe mental illnesses, a...
#8 Psychosis II: Is it Schizophrenia or Something Else?
Hello! We are continuing our conversation on psychosis. In this episode, we focus on differential diagnoses for psychosis, including medical and psychiatric conditions that can often be confused with a truly psychotic disorder like schizophreni...
#7 Intro to Psychosis - History, Conceptualization, and Symptoms to Look For
Hello! This week, we delve into the fascinating history of how we conceptualize psychosis and schizophrenia. All those with schizophrenia have psychosis, but not all those with psychosis have schizophrenia. From a psychological framework to a b...
#6 School Anxiety, Avoidance and Refusal - What's Behind It and What to Do About It
School is back in full swing, and so is everyone's anxiety! We discuss the challenges kids, teens and parents face as they reintegrate back to school after the summer break. We delve into the various reasons for school avoidance and refusal, wh...
#5 Social Media and its Impact on Youth Mental Health
*Trigger warning for content on self-harm, suicide and eating disorders. Please feel free to opt out and prioritize your sense of safety if you need to do so.*This is a tough one. The positive effects of social media on mental health can...