APA Highlights: Interventional Psychiatry, Brain Energy, and Career Advice

APA Highlights: Interventional Psychiatry, Brain Energy, and Career Advice

In this episode of The Good Enough Psychiatrist, we reflect on some of the most memorable sessions and conversations from the APA Annual Meeting. From emerging treatments to career development and the future direction of the field, we discuss the ideas that challenged our assumptions and sparked our curiosity. We explore innovations in interventional psychiatry, including ketamine, deep brain stimulation (DBS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and stellate ganglion block (SGB), and consider what these treatments may mean for patients with treatment-resistant conditions. We also discuss the growing interest in metabolic psychiatry and Christopher Palmer’s “Brain Energy” framework, which proposes new ways of understanding the relationship between mental and physical health. Beyond clinical topics, we reflect on lessons about mentorship, leadership, networking, and career development. From choosing a first job to finding mentors and building a professional identity, we share practical advice that resonated with us as trainees preparing for the next phase of our careers. Most importantly, we discuss what conferences like APA can offer beyond the lectures: opportunities to connect with colleagues, explore new ideas, and remember the broader community that exists within psychiatry. Topics discussed include: * Highlights from the APA Annual Meeting * Stellate ganglion block for PTSD * Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and suicidality * Deep brain stimulation for OCD * Vagus nerve stimulation for depression * The future of interventional psychiatry * Christopher Palmer’s Brain Energy theory * Metabolic approaches to mental health * Mentorship and leadership development * Academic and career pathways in psychiatry * Job searching and contract negotiation * Networking and making the most of professional conferences * Lessons we’re bringing back to training and clinical practice Whether you’re a trainee, early-career psychiatrist, or simply interested in where the field is headed, this episode offers a glimpse into the ideas, conversations, and questions shaping the future of psychiatry. The Good Enough Psychiatrist explores the human side of psychiatry, training, and professional growth through conversations about connection, meaning, clinical care, and lifelong learning.

Finding Connection Through Coffee and Hobbies in Medicine

Welcome back to The Good Enough Psychiatrist. In this episode, we're joined by Eric Wagner, a psychiatry resident and founder of Fortifying Wellness, an integrative psychiatry practice in Colorado. Together, we explore the role hobbies play in helping us maintain balance, build community, and stay connected to ourselves throughout training and beyond. Using coffee as our starting point, we discuss how a simple hobby can become a source of connection—with family, friends, colleagues, and even patients. We reflect on how hobbies evolve throughout medical training, what happens when we lose touch with activities that bring us joy, and why cultivating interests outside of medicine may be essential for long-term wellbeing. Eric shares his path into psychiatry, his interest in integrative approaches to mental health, and his journey toward launching a private practice. We also dive into the surprisingly nuanced world of coffee, from brewing methods and bean selection to the rituals that transform a daily beverage into a meaningful practice. Topics discussed include: Eric's path into psychiatry Launching Fortifying Wellness Integrative Psychiatry Building a career in Colorado The role of hobbies in maintaining wellbeing How coffee became a passion and source of connection Relationships built through shared interests The intersection of hobbies and patient care Preserving identity outside of medicine Coffee brewing techniques, equipment, and experimentation Finding meaning and community through everyday rituals We also discuss recent research examining coffee consumption and health outcomes, including cognitive function, dementia risk, and cardiovascular health. Studies Mentioned Zhang Y, Liu Y, Li Y, et al. Coffee and Tea Intake, Dementia Risk, and Cognitive Function. JAMA. 2026;335(11):961–974. Wong CX, Cheung CC, Montenegro G, et al. Caffeinated Coffee Consumption or Abstinence to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation: The DECAF Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2026;335(4):317–325. About Our Guest Eric Wagner is a psychiatry resident and founder of Fortifying Wellness, an integrative psychiatry practice in Colorado. His interests include lifestyle psychiatry, integrative mental health care, physician wellbeing, and helping individuals build sustainable foundations for long-term wellness. The Good Enough Psychiatrist explores the human side of psychiatry, training, and life through conversations about connection, meaning, relationships, and the experiences that sustain us both inside and outside of medicine.

Relationships: The Connections That Sustain Us Through Training

For this episode of The Good Enough Psychiatrist, we’re joined by our co-resident Luke, an MD-PhD, researcher, and avid drummer, for a conversation about relationships and the many ways connection shapes our lives. Relationships influence who we become, how we navigate challenges, and how we find meaning both inside and outside of medicine. Together, we explore how friendships, romantic partnerships, mentorship, and shared interests sustain us through the demands of psychiatric training and adulthood. Luke reflects on his path to psychiatry, the role important relationships have played in his life, and how connection evolves over time. We discuss long-standing friendships, maintaining relationships across different stages of training and life, balancing a romantic partnership during residency, and the unique value of having people who have known us through different chapters of our lives. We also explore how relationships help us weather difficult moments, process setbacks, and stay grounded when the demands of training feel overwhelming. Topics discussed include: * Luke’s journey into psychiatry * The role of relationships in career and life decisions * Romantic partnerships during residency * Friendships across different stages of training * The value of lifelong friendships * Hobbies, music, and community-building * Maintaining meaningful connections as adults * Sources of support during difficult times * How relationships sustain us through the challenges of medicine The Good Enough Psychiatrist explores the human side of psychiatry, training, and life. Through conversations with colleagues, mentors, friends, and guests, we examine the relationships, experiences, and values that help us stay connected to what matters most. Guest Bio Luke is an MD-PhD trainee, psychiatry resident, researcher, and avid drummer. His interests include psychiatry, neuroscience, music, and the role of relationships in shaping identity, resilience, and wellbeing. Note: We apologize for any inconsistencies in audio quality during this episode. We are continuing to improve our recording setup and appreciate your patience as we grow the podcast.

Connection and Mental Health: Psychiatry, Relationships, and What Keeps Us Going | Season 1 Premiere

In this season opener of The Good Enough Psychiatrist, we explore connection, the idea of a holding environment, and what keeps us grounded through the demands of psychiatry and everyday life. What does it mean to feel held—by our work, our relationships, and the world around us? In this episode, we reflect on how connection sustains us through the emotional realities of psychiatry training and life more broadly. We move between the personal, professional, and societal, exploring what reminds us of what truly matters when things feel uncertain or overwhelming. We discuss how connectedness shows up across different areas of life, including relationships, family, work, hobbies, grief, mental health, and being part of a larger community. This conversation sets the tone for the podcast: an honest, human look at psychiatry, training, and the experience of caring for others. Future episodes will expand on these themes through conversations with guests and deeper reflections on meaning, relationships, and the human side of medicine. Follow The Good Enough Psychiatrist for ongoing conversations about psychiatry, mental health, and connection.

Why We Chose Psychiatry | Introducing The Good Enough Psychiatrist

In the first episode of The Good Enough Psychiatrist, two psychiatry residents reflect on why they chose psychiatry and why they felt compelled to start this podcast. They discuss the emotional complexity of psychiatric training, the tension between being a clinician and being human, and the unspoken experiences that come with residency. This conversation sets the tone for a podcast focused not just on psychiatric knowledge, but on the lived experience of practicing psychiatry. Welcome to The Good Enough Psychiatrist. In this introductory episode, Chris and Ross share the story behind the podcast and explore what drew them to psychiatry. They discuss the fascinating question of human behavior, the power of therapeutic relationships, and the diverse tools psychiatrists use to help patients—from psychotherapy and medications to advocacy and neuromodulation. They also explore something that is rarely talked about openly: the emotional underbelly of psychiatric training. Residency can bring uncertainty, self-doubt, awe, and ethical tension—especially when navigating involuntary treatment, patient autonomy, and the responsibilities of clinical care. Throughout the conversation, they introduce the “good enough” framework—an idea rooted in being present, responsive, and emotionally available rather than striving for impossible perfection. This episode sets the foundation for the podcast: honest conversations about psychiatry, training, and the human side of medicine. Arrival Fallacy in Medical Education https://students-residents.aamc.org/medical-student-well-being/arrival-fallacy-medical-education-and-pursuit-happiness [https://students-residents.aamc.org/medical-student-well-being/arrival-fallacy-medical-education-and-pursuit-happiness] Future episodes will include: * Personal stories from psychiatric training * Conversations about the emotional experience of practicing psychiatry * Interviews with mentors, co-residents, and leaders in the field * Discussions of clinical topics through a humanistic lens * Occasional deep dives into psychiatric research and theory Have a question, story, or topic you'd like us to discuss? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out and be part of the conversation. Email us at TheGoodEnoughPsychiatrist@gmail.com. Also available on Apple Music and Substack.