Category: State of Mind
Mental Health Effects of Dementia on Patients and Caregivers
Episode #22: In honor of September, World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Psychotherapist Debra Sloss is joined by Anne Friscia who cared for her mother Dixie for the last 9 years of her life while she lived with vascular dementia. This show also features dementia support group leader, educator and psychologist Louise Bettner PhD, who helps us understand the many challenges facing dementia patients and their care-partners. Caregivers for dementia patients are at particularly high risk for anxiety, depression, and poor quality of life. Learn more about important preparations, finding support and local resources.
Read More
The Power of Forgiveness in Mental Health
Episode #21: Psychotherapist Debra Sloss is joined by Holocaust survivor and public speaker Gitta Ryle who was separated from her parents and experienced terrible trauma while fleeing from the Nazis during World War II. As an adult, Gitta found herself sick with physical and mental health symptoms. She embarked on a long road of self-discovery and healing with forgiveness playing a central role. Also with us to discuss the profound power of forgiveness in mental health is researcher, author, and forgiveness expert Frederic Luskin PhD, who helps us understand what forgiveness is and isn’t, why it is of value, and ways to access it.
Read More
Part II: Parenting Teens with Anxiety
Episode #20 Continues our 2-show series on Teens with Anxiety by focusing on parenting. Psychotherapist Debra Sloss is joined by Jenny Shain, the parent of two children with serious anxiety that required residential treatment and Santa Cruz psychologist Sheilah Siegel, Ph.D. to discuss the strategies and challenges of raising teens with anxiety. Jenny discusses what it is like parenting these teens and what she has learned. Dr. Siegel shares warning signs, ways to talk with your teen, and strategies and approaches to support them. We also discuss the effect the coronavirus pandemic is having on Jenny’s family, and Dr. Siegal discusses some of the expected impacts on teens with pre-existing anxiety. To learn more, listen to last month’s show Part 1: Teens with Anxiety (episode 19).
Read More
Part I: Teens with Anxiety
Episode #19: Psychotherapist Debra Sloss is joined by college student Elena Shain and Santa Cruz psychologist Sheilah Siegel, Ph.D. to discuss the increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders in teens and young adults. Elena courageously shares her story of navigating severe anxiety since childhood, her placement in a residential treatment program, and working with her family to developed skills to better navigate her life. Elena credits her psychiatric service dog Tucker with enabling her to better manage symptoms and expand her world. Dr. Siegel helps us understand teen anxiety symptoms, shares tips from her clients, and offers resources. We also discuss the impacts the coronavirus pandemic is having on teens with pre-existing anxiety conditions. This is Part 1 of a two-show series on teens with anxiety. To learn more, tune in to “Part 2: Parenting Teens with Anxiety.”
Read More
Mental Health Effects of Lyme Disease
Episode #18: Psychotherapist Debra Sloss is joined by Judith Ain and Family Medicine Physician Assistant and Integrative Medicine Specialist Dr. Cynthia Quattro to discuss the tick-borne illness Lyme Disease and the mental health effects associated with it. Judith shares her personal story of trying to figure out what was happening as her health deteriorated and how she got diagnosed, sought treatment and learned to live with the long-term symptoms. Dr. Quattro offers information about the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease and how and where to get the illness accurately diagnosed. She also shares information about integrative treatment approaches.
Read More
Mental Health First Aid for COVID-19
Episode #17: Debra Sloss is joined by Anastasia Baboulevich and psychotherapist Kara Bowman, LMFT to talk about ways to help those with mental health conditions cope with the COVID-19 outbreak. Anastasia shares how she is experiencing and dealing with the situation while trying to support her vulnerable mental health. Kara Bowman, LMFT offers helpful suggestions about ways to support one’s self and loved ones during these unprecedented times. Full of practical suggestions you can adopt right away, this show includes an extensive list of mental health resources, most of which are free.
Read More
Anorexia Nervosa: An Unconventional Recovery Story
Episode #16: Debra Sloss is joined by biomedical writer Evelyn Strauss and Psychotherapist Jeanne Willis, LMFT to talk about recovery from eating disorders, specifically, Anorexia Nervosa. Evelyn shares how she worked her way out of the physical and psychological manifestations of anorexia through a self-created and unconventional path. By facing her fear of being fat, she made lasting peace with food and her body. Jeanne, a psychotherapist who specializes in eating disorders, educates us about the types and prevalence of these conditions, dispels commonly held myths, discusses the types of treatments available, and shares resources to help support recovery.
Read More
Parenting Transgender Youth Remix
Episode #15: In this STATE OF MIND episode Debra Sloss, LMFT is joined by parent advocate Heidi Korokowski and gender therapist Daniel Blumrosen, LMFT to talk about the unique and often challenging experience of parenting a transgender child, They discuss how to provide support for your loved one and where to find help and support for yourself. This show originally aired a year ago, when KSQD was in its first week of broadcasting. Because the topic is of such relevance in our community, we are re-broadcasting it.
Read More
Psychiatric Service Dogs
Episode #14: Debra Sloss is joined by Rita & dog trainer Lori Katz to discuss the important roles that specially trained Psychiatric Service Dogs perform. These dogs help their owners with conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and severe anxiety. Trained in obedience and task performance, and working in distracting public environments, these dogs perform tasks that enable their handler to function in ordinary ways that the non-disabled person might take for granted. Rita shares her experience of having had a psychiatric service dog and of training dogs for herself and her son. Lori, a longtime dog trainer, helps us understand how these dogs are trained, the kinds of services they can provide, and where and how someone might go about training or obtaining a psychiatric service dog. Lori also clarifies the differences between the increasingly popular “emotional support animal” and a psychiatric service dog. Joining us for the interview are Rita’s service dog in training, Momo, and Lori’s dog, Chopa.
Read More
Demystifying Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
Episode #13: Debra Sloss is joined by Laura Vollset & Maggie Muir to discuss Perinatal Depression & Anxiety (PPD). Laura shares her experience of having had debilitating PPD after the birth of her twins. She sought treatment, found support, and wended her way to back to wellness and joy in parenting. Maggie Muir, a Licensed Psychotherapist, Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Perinatal Support Group Leader explains what PPD is, who is at risk, and how and where mothers and family members can get help.
Read More