Practicing Failure with Dr. Amanda Cassil

Improv Comedy with Ben Cassil

About My Guest Ben Cassil is a comedian based in Los Angeles, where he performs improv with the team Cosmo. Ben also teaches improv and hosts the comedy podcast “Live from the Big Apple.” [https://www.youtube.com/@LFTBApodcast] You can find him online at bencassil.com [https://www.bencassil.com] and @bencassil on Instagram. In This Episode Not everything that has therapeutic value occurs in a formal setting. So for the season finale, I went on a deep dive into an art form that celebrates practicing failure--improv comedy. Comedian Ben Cassil shares about the value of engaging in the playful art of improv comedy. He breaks down the different types of improv comedy and the key tenets that form its foundation. Improv brings many opportunities to practice relational skills: like listening, building empathy, letting go of control, and being more present in the moment. All while laughing. Ben explores how nonjudgmental awareness expands the experience of improv, both how we reflect on our own behavior and experiences, as well as how we engage with those around us. Vulnerability, expanding comfort with uncertainty, and responding more honestly can enhance experiences and help us to be less precious with each interaction. Ben later covers radical acceptance and how expressing support for our teammates (in improv and in life) starts to change how people treat each other and how safe and confident they feel. Finally, Ben shares his own experience of switching careers in his late 20's, gathering the courage to "let himself fail," and how stepping into that fear opened up a more rewarding path in life. A naturally gifted teacher, Ben's change out of academia and into improv ironically granted him more opportunities to use this talent. Ben's openness about this journey is a reminder that there is always space to change and grow and that it's okay, even necessary, for this process to take a long time. We are not shaped overnight, we build steadily and slowly as we learn from each experience. Resources Referenced Ben provides a number of references for those interested in learning more about improv, including various ways to get involved. Podcasts and Shows * The Neighborhood Listen [https://art19.com/shows/neighborhood-listen] * Spontaneanation [https://www.earwolf.com/show_archive/spontaneanation-with-paul-f-tompkins-archive/] * Yes, Also [https://www.youtube.com/@YesAlsoPodcast] * Live from the Big Apple [https://www.youtube.com/@LFTBApodcast] * Comedy Bang Bang Podcast [https://www.earwolf.com/show/comedy-bang-bang/] (TV show also available on various paid platforms) * Dropout Comedy [https://signup.dropout.tv] Improv Schools and Theaters (to take a class or watch a show) * We Improv [https://weimprov.org] * Worlds Greatest Improv School (WGIS) [https://www.wgimprovschool.com] * The Shared Experience Studio [https://www.thesharedexperiencestudio.com] * Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) [https://ucbcomedy.com] Books * Elevator Farts [https://weimprov.org/store-1-2/p/elevatorfarts] by Jake Jabbour * The Inner Game of Tennis [https://www.amazon.com/Inner-Game-Tennis-Classic-Performance/dp/0679778314] by W. Timothy Gallwey

Maternal Mental Health with Dr. Erika Knuth

About My Guest Dr. Erika Knuth is a clinical psychologist specializing in maternal mental health. She works with individuals navigating the emotional complexities of fertility challenges, pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, traumatic birth, and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. In 2014, she earned a certificate from Postpartum Support International (PSI), and in 2018, she became one of the first therapists worldwide to receive PSI’s Advanced Certification in Perinatal Mental Health. She also served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for PSI’s Illinois Chapter. Dr. Knuth holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s in Theology, with two years of advanced training from Boston University’s Danielsen Institute in integrating spiritual and existential concerns into psychotherapy. A practical optimist, she finds joy in unexpected places and feels most alive in nature or with loved ones.  You can find Dr. Knuth online at www.magnoliawheaton.com [http://www.magnoliawheaton.com/] In This Episode Dr. Knuth explores a number of themes birthing parents face: the nature of constant transitions and identity shifts, navigating the unexpected, and perfectionism and judgment. With so many choices to be made around pregnancy, birthing journeys, and parenting, it can be paralyzing for new parents trying to find what the "right" choices are. Dr. Knuth compassionately invites listeners to consider that each path not only can be different, but needs to be different base on the individuals and their unique circumstances. Dr. Knuth helps to unpack the differences between postpartum diagnoses of depression, "baby blues," anxiety, OCD, and psychosis. She walks us through what qualifies as postpartum for a mental health diagnoses, when to consider paternal postpartum for the supporting parent, and when a new parent might want to seek professional support. She addresses ways that lack of sleep and hormonal shifts make anyone vulnerable to a mental health episode, while addressing what variables can increase that risk. In discussing traumatic birth experiences, Dr. Knuth shares ways that providers of all kinds can support the birthing parent and improve their experience. She shares how to actively seek consent from and involve parents in solving moments of crisis during complicated births. She explains how this shifts the way trauma is experienced and processed in the moment and long after. Finally, Dr. Knuth shares insights from her own experiences of failure and reminds us all that "every failure is an opportunity to calibrate our compass."

Adolescent Mental Health with Dr. Rebecca Lierly

About My Guest Dr. Rebecca Lierly is a clinical psychologist who has been working in the field of adolescent psychology for fifteen years and still uses Urban Dictionary on a weekly basis. Specializing in acute crisis, group therapy, Autism Spectrum disorder, and trauma populations, she loves coming alongside families and find creative strategies to improve communication and coping. In This Episode Dr. Lierly breaks down the various levels of care that come with treatment options for adolescents--from weekly talk therapy to partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) to inpatient hospitalization. She helps parents understand why different levels may be recommended. Dr. Lierly highlights how parents can support adolescents through various challenges they might be facing, such as substance dependence, severe social anxiety, avoidant behaviors, suicidality, and more. Highlighting the key struggles and goals of adolescence, Dr. Lierly shares how it is a time where we figure out who we are, what we like, and how we want to move through the world, all while separating from our families of origin. A teen's social world is highly complex and social feedback is quite powerful during this time of life, in ways that are both helpful and hurtful. Building adaptability, experimenting safely, finding community, and developing coping strategies are all key pieces of developing through adolescence. Finally, Dr. Lierly shares examples of failure and how failures are prime learning opportunities for us and for teens, who are watching how adults respond to stress. She discusses how working on a team can change the experience of failure and green flags to look for when evaluating potential employers and colleagues. Dr. Lierly effectively models what she teaches--that failure is an opportunity to check in with yourself, identify what you need, ask for help where you need it, learn from what is not working, and then experiment with new ways of doing something. With kindness and humility, Dr. Lierly is a helpful example of what therapy and parenting can do for adolescents who are struggling. Resources Referenced Brené Brown video on empathy v. sympathy [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw] Good Inside [https://www.amazon.com/Good-Inside-Guide-Becoming-Parent/dp/0063159481] by Dr. Becky Kennedy, @drbeckyatgoodinside on Instagram The Anxious Generation [https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036] by Jonathan Haidt The Teenage Brain [https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Brain-Neuroscientists-Survival-Adolescents/dp/0062067850] by Dr. Frances E. Jensen Selena Gomez's Wondermind [https://www.wondermind.com/our-story/]

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion with Dr. LaMisha Hill Weller

About My Guest Dr. LaMisha Hill Weller is a Licensed Counseling Psychologist originally from the Chicagoland area. She completed her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oregon, her Pre-Doctoral Internship at UC Riverside, and her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at UC Berkeley. LaMisha began her professional career at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 2013 with the Office of Diversity and Outreach. In 2022, LaMisha joined UCSF’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences (OBGYN-RS) as an Associate Professor and the inaugural Vice Chair for Equity, Inclusion, and Structural Change. Within her professional scope of work, she also serves as the Diversity Advisor to the Birth Center (UCSF Health) and leads various initiatives to support belonging and health equity. Anchored in the Spirt of Service, LaMisha works collaboratively to help individuals and organizations move towards their values of inclusion. Her skillset includes strategic planning, education and training, individual coaching, facilitating, and keynote speaking. You can find Dr. Hill Weller on her website at https://www.drlamishahill.com/ [https://www.drlamishahill.com/] In This Episode Dr. Hill Weller deftly educates us about the interconnection of our individual stories and the systems and contexts that we function within. She provides a primer on the Ecological Systems Theory of psychology and invites us each to explore how our own experiences, contexts, and development continue to shape us. From navigating racism on the playground as a child to dealing with fallout from culture wars to the mutual condescension in today's political realm, Dr. Hill Weller holds compassion and understanding for the universal human experience. She brings in growth mindset as a useful tool in reframing difficult experiences and reflects on ways trauma disrupts our ability to connect with others. Failure can occur at all levels of the ecological model and we must examine how we can contribute to growth, learning, and repair when this happens. Finally, Dr. Hill Weller shares examples of professional failures that formed her into the person she is today. She describes looking back on these examples with more gratitude than shame. Reframing, big-picture awareness, and moving away from binary thinking are all tools Dr. Hill Weller references as she discusses DEI, the political exploitation of DEI, and how we find constructive paths forward individually and collectively. References We discuss how wealth and power alter the brain and our ability to be empathic toward others. This is data that people often question because it challenges our assumptions, so here are some articles that review the research from the past 15 years. How Money Changes the Way You Think and Feel by Carolyn Gregoire [https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_money_changes_the_way_you_think_and_feel] Power Blocks Empathy by Elizabeth Segal, PhD [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-empathy/201909/power-blocks-empathy] 6 Studies on How Money Affects the Mind from TEDx and Paul Piff [https://blog.ted.com/6-studies-of-money-and-the-mind/] Higher Social Class Predicts Increased Unethical Behavior by Piff et al. [https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1118373109] How Wealth Reduces Compassion by Daisy Grewal [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-wealth-reduces-compassion/] When Power Goes to Your Head, It May Shut Out Your Heart by Chris Benderev [https://www.npr.org/2013/08/10/210686255/a-sense-of-power-can-do-a-number-on-your-brain]

Complex Chronic Illness with Dr. Lisa Belvy

About My Guest Dr. Lisa Belvy (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who owns and operates a private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, and sees clients throughout California. She specializes in health psychology, working at the intersection of what’s traditionally been labeled ‘physical’ and ‘mental’ health, with the goal of helping clients improve their holistic well-being. Dr. Belvy has a particular focus on complex chronic health conditions. She has dedicated much of her practice to clients living with connective tissue disorders such as Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), a condition that she herself lives with. Dr. Belvy enjoys working with clients individually and as part of her EDS support group, and aims to help empower those who have often been marginalized in healthcare settings. You can find Dr. Belvy on her website www.lisabelvyphd.com [http://www.lisabelvyphd.com] In This Episode Dr. Belvy's history of working in health psychology has led to a deep understanding of complex chronic illnesses, such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. She differentiates chronic illnesses (like diabetes) from complex chronic illness (life-long conditions involving multiple systems within the body). While the diseases themselves can be quite complex, Dr. Belvy highlights the additional challenges of living with a complex chronic illness--from attending multiple doctor appointments each week to managing medication schedules to responding to symptom flares. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that impacts all systems of the body, is a prime example of this complexity. Many doctors are not trained in complex illnesses, which leads to misdiagnoses, often with psychological conditions, that can delay or misguide proper treatment. Dr. Belvy provides advice for those navigating the US healthcare system, such as seeking second opinions, following empirical science, and pacing yourself to make sure you can maximally benefit from your treatments. Drawing from Liberation Psychology and Feminist Psychology, Dr. Belvy highlights the crucial importance of seeing how the sociopolitical environment impacts our health experiences. From public policy to internalized capitalism and ableism, understanding the structures and systems we live in informs how we interpret and approach our own health experiences. Understanding the sociopolitical context is particularly important when we experience "failures" in our health. Tools like nonjudgmental awareness, grief processing, and gratitude can help turn the harrowing experience of complex chronic illness into one that clarifies your values and guides your life choices. Finally, Dr. Belvy shares how having Ehlers Danlos shaped her professional career path. Instead of treating each "failure" as a personal defeat, Dr. Belvy took each step of the process as information that helped guide her toward her goal of working sustainably as a health psychologist. While grief was a part of this journey, it also brought her to a place of joy and gratitude as she thrives in her current practice.