Savvy Psychologist

How to resist the urge to optimize everything

542. If you’ve ever obsessed over your sleep score, treated self-help like homework, or tried to “maximize” a vacation, you know how easily optimization becomes its own exhausting job. Culture tells us to upgrade everything—habits, productivity, even our emotions—but at a certain point, trying to be our “best self” backfires. This week, instead of automatically optimizing your life, here are five questions to help you step back, recalibrate, and remember what actually matters. Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack. [https://substack.com/@ellenhendriksen] Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website. [https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/aea4cd2f-920d-4f23-a09a-6a8f045a8df4/episodes/c08902df-ed00-4626-8282-946058a7df89/www.drjadewu.com] Find a transcript here [https://savvy-psychologist.simplecast.com/episodes/how-to-resist-the-urge-to-optimize-everything/transcript]. Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com. [psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com] Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych], or subscribe to the newsletter [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist-newsletter] for more psychology tips. Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/]. Links:  https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist [https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist] https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A blast from the past: Ellen Hendriksen and Jade Wu return

541. Today, we hear from two of our past hosts of the Savvy Psychologist. Dr. Ellen Hendriksen and Dr. Jade Wu. They will tell us what they’ve been up to and set the stage for exciting weeks ahead for the show. While we work to fill the seat of the amazing Dr. Monica Johnson, Drs. Hendriksen and Wu will deliver mental health wisdom you are used to. Today, they chat about the meaning of a psychologist's work, the biggest challenges in mental health, and what you can look forward to on the show. Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack. [https://substack.com/@ellenhendriksen] Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website. [www.drjadewu.com] Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com. [psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com] Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych], or subscribe to the newsletter [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist-newsletter] for more psychology tips. Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/]. Links:  https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist [https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist] https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych]   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The power of being DUMB to build a good life

540. On her final episode, Dr. Monica Johnson shares a brain dump of quick and dirty tips to help listeners build a life worth living. She looks at the benefits of being DUMB—an acronym covering Decode/Disrupt patterns, Uncomfortable Engagement, Meaning-Making/Mastery, and Belonging. Find a transcript here [https://savvy-psychologist.simplecast.com/episodes/the-power-of-being-dumb-to-build-a-good-life/transcript].  Savvy Psychologist [https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist] is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.  Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com [psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191.  Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych], or subscribe to the newsletter [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist-newsletter] for more psychology tips. Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/]. Links:  https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist [https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist] https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych] https://www.kindmindpsych.com/ [https://www.kindmindpsych.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Structural dissociation: Understanding your personality's survival parts

539. Dissociation is a normal human experience, but when it's outside of normal limits, it can be dysregulating. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson and Alexandra Mejia look at the signs of structural dissociation, the importance of building a baseline of coping skills, and the need for trauma-informed, integrated therapy (like DBT and somatic work) for long-term healing. Learn more about Sasha at her practice, MindfulInsightsMHC [https://www.mindfulinsightsmhc.com/]. Find a transcript here [https://savvy-psychologist.simplecast.com/episodes/structural-dissociation-understanding-your-personalitys-survival-parts/transcript].  Savvy Psychologist [https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist] is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.  Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com [psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191.  Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych], or subscribe to the newsletter [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist-newsletter] for more psychology tips. Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/]. Links:  https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist [https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist] https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych] https://www.kindmindpsych.com/ [https://www.kindmindpsych.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can you walk with grief instead of fighting it, with Hilary Bucell

538. Loss is inevitable, but grief is our emotional response to what is gone. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson and psychotherapist Hilary Bucell look at the differences between grief and depression and discuss various forms of loss, including ambiguous loss (like dementia or divorce) and disenfranchised grief (loss that society doesn't acknowledge). Learn more about Hilary Bucell at her practice, integrativepsychwellness.com. [http://integrativepsychwellness.com] Find a transcript here [https://savvy-psychologist.simplecast.com/episodes/grief-hilary-bucell/transcript].  Savvy Psychologist [https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist] is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.  Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com [psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191.  Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych], or subscribe to the newsletter [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist-newsletter] for more psychology tips. Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips [https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/]. Links:  https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist [https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist] https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist [https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist] https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych [https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych] https://www.kindmindpsych.com/ [https://www.kindmindpsych.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.