Psychology America With Dr. Alexandra

Text me a question I might answer through the showI’ve been experiencing chronic pain in my arm very recently which I attributed to overuse from playing tennis.  This conversation got me really thinking about what this injury could mean on a deeper level.  In this episode my expert guest and I explore: Can negative thoughts such as “unspeakable anger" manifest as pain in our bodies?Why is it that two people can show the same exact damage from an injury on an MRI but feel the pain in two very different ways?What are some steps we can take to help our chronic pain go away?   Can working through our past and present anger prevent chronic pain from emerging?My guest for this episode, Dr. Jeff Axelbank, is a psychologist and expert on chronic pain.  Dr. Axelbank is a recipient of the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA) Psychologist of the Year Award and the Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) Peterson Prize for outstanding contributions to professional psy

Text me a question I might answer through the showIn my podcast Episode 7 entitled “Commitment to Self Care and Self Care for Commitment” I discuss five life habits that I found helpful for taking care of my energy… because what good is free time if we have no energy within that free time to pursue our most meaningful commitments?  One of the strategies I mentioned is to take care of my sleep through the principles of “sleep hygiene.”    Since then listeners have asked for a podcast on this topic.  My guest for this episode is Anna Urbaniak, who teaches sleep hygiene on a daily basis to US Veterans at the VA Hospital in East Orange NJ, USA.   Anna specializes in the treatment of anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).In this episode we learn about: Practices we should follow to achieve our best sleepThe link between sleep and larger appetite How sleep deprivation affects our brainsTeenager and elderly patterns of sleepDividing sleep into two parts in the evening

Text me a question I might answer through the show*   Learn four ways to have a civil political discussion with someone with whom you disagree.*   Learn how to talk politics when you and your family member are on opposites side of the political spectrum.*   Learn what researchers have discovered about how terrorists think and how can this help us with our own heated discussions.*   How does hate affect the brain?*   Are love and hate opposite sides of the same coin?*   Can the stress caused by disagreeing over politics get passed on to future generations ?*   How can listening to understand (rather than to persuade) foster more civil discussions?Guest Neill Clark shares his experiences about trying to have political discussions with family, friends and neighbors that foster understanding.   Neill explains how the skills he has learned as an attorney have sometimes hurt his efforts to have meaningful conversations.  Dr. Alexandra and Neill together suggest ways we can connect with and engage those with whom we

Text me a question I might answer through the showThis was a delightful and interesting conversation with Dr. Robert McGrath, psychologist and author.  Among other topics, we discuss:*  What are the six virtues that religious and moral traditions across the planet have in common?*  What have Dr. McGrath's studies of over one million people determined to be the “essential three” virtues?*  What does it really take to be a good person?*  What are the roles of courage, curiosity and humor?*  What can Ben Franklin teach us about virtues?*  Can we have too much of a virtue?*  What happens if you are great at one virtue but lousy at another, are you still virtuous? *  Are virtues or moral sentiments seen in animals?Guest Robert McGrath, PhD, is a world expert on the topic of character strength and virtue, and the co-author of The Power of Character Strengths (with Ryan Niemiec), which is coming February 2019.  Dr. McGrath is also the Director of the School of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, the rec

Text me a question I might answer through the showPsilocybin, a hallucinogen derived from certain mushrooms, is receiving a lot of attention lately in the research community and Johns Hopkins University has just recommended that this compound be reclassified for medicinal use to treat depression, anxiety and to help people stop smoking.  What is psilocybin and does it have lasting beneficial effects on depression and anxiety?  How does it impact our brain?   Learn more about the effect of psilocybin with guest Jennifer Campbell, MA.I met Jennifer Campbell, in San Francisco this past August where she presented on the topic: “Psilocybin in the Therapeutic Milieu” at the American Psychological Association’s Annual Convention.  Her presentation was fascinating and I asked Jennifer if she would come onto the show to share these research findings with listeners.   Jennifer is  finishing up her Clinical Psychology PhD studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California and works in neuropsychologica

Text me a question I might answer through the showThe esteemed author and poet Maya Angelou once said: “I have written eleven books, but each time I think, uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody , and they’re going to find me out.” Imposter Syndrome is when you feel like a phony, as if you are fooling others, and are afraid of being somehow exposed as someone who doesn’t really know what they are doing or talking about. Individuals with imposter syndrome have trouble attributing their success to their own achievement and are likely to procrastinate out of anxiety or overwork. Learn more about traits of those with Imposter Syndrome through my conversation with guest Lauren Todd. Lauren Todd, MS, is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a humanistic flair. She has worked with individuals across the life span at New York Presbyterian Hospital, McLean Hospital, and Integrated Care for the Underserved of Northeastern New Jersey. Lauren is in her fifth year of PhD studies of

Text me a question I might answer through the showI enjoyed this wonderful conversation as we explored the following profound and often perplexing questions: Why forgive? How does psychology define forgiveness and how do Judaism, Christianity and Islam see forgiveness? Does forgiving mean we are pardoning bad behavior? Do you need the offender to participate if you want to forgive? What steps can we take to forgive and how do we do it? Guests for this episode bring the perspectives of Judaism, Islam and Christianity to the topic. Rabbi Mendel Dubov serves as faculty at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ, USA and as Director of Chabad in Sussex County, NJ. Saifulla Chaudahry serves as Propagation Secretary for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of North Jersey. Pastor Michael Bos, Ph.D. serves as the Senior Minister of Marble Collegiate Church of New York City and is the President of the Collegiate Churches of New York. Dr. Bos established the first interfaith religious diplomacy center on the Arabian

Text me a question I might answer through the showEnjoy our conversation as we span a range of interesting topics within psychology, including: Can we increase our Emotional Intelligence (EQ) through an app? What is “Digital Cocaine?” What is happening with artificial intelligence and facial recognition, and what are the implications? Can we learn from micro expressions on the human face? How can we use technology to better ourselves psychologically? What can we learn from rejection? How can we effectively give others space when they need it? How can we manage “expectancy effect” or what other peoples’ expectations are of us? Why is accessing emotions important for making good decisions? How do stress responses cause long term physical problems? What is Integrated Psychology and how can psychological care help with medical problems? In this 10th Episode Of Psychology America I interview Silja Litvin, founder and CEO of Psych Apps and creator of eQuoo, an app designed to use games to increase emotional intelli

Text me a question I might answer through the showThe honeymoon phase of love is one of the greatest human experiences. Learn from this episode: What is the honeymoon phase? What is happening in our brains? How long does the honeymoon phase last? How can learning about the honeymoon phase apply to smart dating? How can knowledge about the honeymoon phase inform us about marital affairs? How can the above inform us about long distance relationships? Can long term relationships keep the honeymoon phase going and how? (The answer is: yes they can!) My guest for this episode is Justine Bates-Krakoff, MS, an expert on brain-behavior relationships, including work in: a longitudinal study examining genetic, cognitive, and interpersonal vulnerability to depression, a group intervention based on The Penn Resiliency Program (PRP), an investigation on PTSD and resilience trajectories in at-risk populations following traumatic events, and internship at New York Presbyterian Hospital on an affective disorders acute inpati

Text me a question I might answer through the showPrecepts 1 and 4 are especially for single parents but the rest apply to all parents. I created this list based on three things: what research has found in psychology, what I have learned from experience with my patients over fifteen years of private practice, and my own experience as a single mother of four children. Some precepts have to do with what we “do” and others have to do with what we “don’t do.” May these precepts lead to greater nurturing, love and peace in households of all types. ******************************* Do you want to teach your child about how to make the best of it even when they’re disappointed? Consider purchasing my recently published book entitled “There’s Always Hope: A Story About Overcoming” on Amazon.com or Sparta Books. I wrote it with love for children nine and under or to serve as a symbolic gift for an adult in your life who is in need of hope. Lastly, if you have enjoyed Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra, support us at

Text me a question I might answer through the showI hope you will enjoy listening to this live event, recorded at my book signing and podcast launch April 26th, 2018 in Sparta, New Jersey at Interplay Couture. After some brief introductions you will hear my talk. I was asked to speak on the topic: “There is Hope: Life Balance and Self Care” but you’re going to hear why I renamed the talk to “Commitment for Self-Care and Self Care for Commitment.” I will discuss five strategies I used to manage my energy in my quest to launch my book and podcast, as well as some of the inner obstacles I faced along the way. The following are the books and apps I referenced in the talk: The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Program by K. DesMaisons Stress Free for Good: 10 Scientifically Proven Life Skills for Health and Happiness by Luskin and Pelletier The Essential Rumi Translated by Barks, C. Apps: Insight Timer (I like the bells for meditation and prayer) CBT-i Coach (to learn about sleep hygiene). If you haven’t yet had a cha

Text me a question I might answer through the showMusic, a language that everyone understands, has been used in rituals across cultures throughout time. This podcast reviews how music and sound affect the brain to bring feelings of reward, analgesic (painkilling) effects and more. This bonus episode includes an introduction to and a sample of the sounds of Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls which are used for healing in complementary medicine. My guest for this episode is T Love who is only one of a handful of Vibrational Sound Therapists in the world certified to both teach and play Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls specifically for healing purposes. T, the host of the award winning Energy Awareness Radio, is the founder and CEO of the Sojihuggles Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide basic necessities for underprivileged children and is only run only by volunteers. T Love can be reached at quantumwellness.org. This episode is sponsored by CF Creative Designs, a full service creative design age

Text me a question I might answer through the showMy guest in this episode is Dr. Simon Rego, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center of New York City and co-author with Sarah Fader of the #1 Amazon Best Seller The 10 Step Depression Relief Workbook. Simon Rego has been sought out as an expert for CBS and Fox News television, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, just to name a few. In this episode we share stories and discuss practical techniques for how to deal with intrusive thoughts. Techniques discussed include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness and Exercise Therapy. This episode is sponsored by CF Creative Designs, a full-service creative design agency. They offer a full suite of marketing solutions such as logo and brand identity, print design, package design, vehicle wraps, trade show booths, promotional items, signage and other marketing collateral.  CF Creative Designs has built an incredible reputation for their award winning d

Text me a question I might answer through the showFor this episode I interview Dr. R. Wolf Shipon, psychologist and author of “One Minute Healing.” We discuss gratitude, how psychology has blended with acupuncture, the techniques he uses to treat patients with the fear of public speaking and other phobias and how our past doesn’t have to predict our future. Wolf is one of the most positive and delightful people I know and I hope you’ll enjoy his company as much as I did. Learn more about Wolf’s practice in Mountain Lakes, NJ at inner-wellth.com. I’m also delighted to share that I’ve just published my first children’s book, entitled “There’s Always Hope,” which teaches about the joy of life even if things don’t go exactly as planned (you may find it on Amazon.com). Sydney’s story will touch the hearts of both children and adults as they read about how she overcomes an obstacle she didn’t expect. “There’s Always Hope” is beautifully illustrated by Briana Giasullo. I wrote “There’s Always Hope” with love for chi

Text me a question I might answer through the showPsychology studies have found that human groups have a tendency to scapegoat, especially during stressful times. What is scapegoating and who tends to be chosen to be the scapegoat in a group? What can you do when it's happening to you or in your world? In this episode Dr. Alexandra shares what psychology studies and literature have found about groups and scapegoating. She shares stories of case examples of scapegoating at work and at a funeral. Lastly, she reviews practical tips for what to do if you find that you are the scapegoat or if your group is scapegoating someone else. The podcast touches on the work of Abraham Maslow, Clay Alderfer and Leroy Wells, Jr. This podcast was sponsored by PonderRosa Studios of Lafayette, NJ. PonderRosa offers a professional New York experience and sound in a private, creative setting, including a comfortable environment for artists to reside while they record. If you enjoyed this podcast of Psychology America with Dr.

Text me a question I might answer through the showWhen we see bad behavior in children and adults, we may feel compelled to "do something," but there are times when seemingly "doing nothing," or ignoring, is the best response. When is ignoring a misbehaved child the best response? How might ignoring an adult be the best way to inspire behavior change? Enjoy vivid stories and new learning with Dr. Alexandra and her expert guest, Cassandra Hoy, MA. In this episode New York City resident Cassandra "Cass" Hoy shares practical ideas from Parent Management Training (PMT) and cognitive behavioral psychology with listeners. Cassandra has worked with children, adolescents and adults at Columbia University Medical Center, the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell University, the Center for Psychological Services at Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ and at Integrated Care for the Underserved of Northeastern New Jersey. Cassandra is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Fairleigh Dic

Text me a question I might answer through the showIn this episode I share a conversation with Dr. Deb Bernstein, a licensed psychologist who has been in clinical practice in Warwick, New York for 24 years. Dr. Deb as a renaissance woman — she is also a potter and a gourmet cook with 12,000 followers on her food blog on Instagram (Dr.Debs.pots). Whether it is with her patients, through her pottery, as a gourmet cook, or as a mother, Dr. Deb sees her life work as creating and witnessing transformation. We begin with exchanging ideas on a sex therapy case in which the woman felt no desire and thought that she would be perfectly happy if she didn’t have sex for the rest of her life. We then move on to talk about the hot topic of sexual consent, including how we give or don’t give clear signals of yes or no to going further. Lastly, Dr. Deb shares some stories and ideas about how to deal with the pain of losing a loved one. This episode is sponsored by PonderRosa studios of Lafayette New Jersey. Warm sound, good p