The Abnormal Psychologist

Season 4, Episode 1: The Salem Witch Trials

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Were the Salem witches bewitched—or was something else haunting them? The true “horror” wasn’t witches or demons—it was how human psychology under stress led to neighbor turning on neighbor. This is the first of its kind episode-- a live recording with a student!

Season 3, Episode 36: Stages of Change- The Transtheoretical Model

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500

This past semester, I taught a graduate-level class in Addictions Counseling. In this class, I frequently promoted the Transtheoretical Model. This episode will discuss the Transtheoretical Model (also called Stages of Change) and how the model can be applied to changing a behavior (whether it be quitting an addiction or starting a new habit).

Season 3, Episode 35: Reflections on the ADHD Summit (and tips on ADHD management)

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I reflect on recently attending the Pearson ADHD Summit, and I discuss ADHD in females, ADHD and social anxiety, and management of ADHD symptoms. I also respond to listener criticism on my encopresis episode

Season 3, Episode 34: Mailbag

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0400

This episode tries to rapid-fire answer your mailbag questions, including ones on blushing, comorbid autism diagnoses, marijuana as therapy, pornography addiction, and whether you can outgrow a diagnosis.

Season 3, Episode 33: Parasocial Relationships

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0400

Sidenote: It's been so long since I've podcasted, I'm rusty
This episode, recorded on Father's Day, riffs briefly about fatherhood and mental health (while making a cool announcement) before delving into parasocial relationships. We discuss what parasocial relationships are using diverse examples such as Dora the Explorer, Taylor Swift, and social media influencers.

Season 3, Episode 32: Self-Diagnosis

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 14:00:00 -0500

This is a snow day episode (meaning I was able to record it since school was cancelled due to inclement weather). In this episode, I discuss pros and cons of diagnosing yourself with a mental health condition (while also introspectively exploring whether I should self-diagnose with autism). Please let me know your thoughts!

Season 3, Episode 31: Electroconvulsive Therapy (and a mailbag follow-up on Borderline Personality Disorder)

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0500

In this shocking episode, I discuss the history and treatment applications of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). I also respond to a mailbag email about borderline personality disorder.

Season 3, Episode 30: Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 21:00:00 -0500

Special from Washington, D.C., in this episode, we delve into the difference between service animals and emotional support animals (while addressing some common questions related to both)

Season 3, Episode 29: Sensory Processing Disorder

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:00:00 -0400

Let's get controversial in this episode and discuss Sensory Processing Disorder (also known as Sensory Modulation Disorder-- and a host of other names)

Season 3, Episode 28: The Reading Wars

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:00:00 -0400

This episode revisits reading and dyslexia and discusses controversial topics-- like the Reading Wars and Visual Processing Disorder-- along the way

Season 3, Episode 27: The Back to School Blues and the Sunday Scaries

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0400

It's back to school time, and many people are feeling anxious, stressed, and a bit depressed. I decided to dedicate this episode to the "back to school blues" and their close cousin, the "Sunday scaries."

Season 3, Episode 26: Animal Encounters

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:00:00 -0400

This episode is comprised of stories documenting my encounters with animals as a psychologist. Critters encountered clinically include dogs, geckos, spiders, and all sorts of fauna that graduate student definitely didn't prepare me for.

Season 3, Episode 25: Executive Functioning and Executive Dysfunction

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I discuss the somewhat ill-defined topic of executive functioning and how it can be assessed. We then talk about executive dysfunction and how it can be tied to ADHD. My own executive dysfunction is on display throughout the episode.

Season 3, Episode 24: Grit

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:00:00 -0400

This episode covers the concept of grit. It is loosely a book review of Angela Duckworth's Grit: The Power of Perseverance. Resilience, perseverance, and learned helplessness are also discussed.

Season 3, Episode 23: LGBTQ+ Mental Health

Tue, 16 May 2023 20:00:00 -0400

This episode comes as a mailbag request following the Nashville Covenant School shootings which caused confusion and even persecution against sexual minorities. This episode explores common mental health concerns among individuals in LGBTQ+ communities and also highlights the availability of resources and the importance of future research.

Season 3, Episode 22: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:00:00 -0400

This episode will introduce ABA, its applications, and its history. We'll walk through why ABA isn't rocket science and why it's sometimes controversial. We'll also try to wade through the alphabet soup associated with ABA.

Season 3, Episode 21: Parenting Styles

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 15:00:00 -0500

This episode discusses parenting styles. We'll see if I can weave in psychologist Diana Baumrind with Frank Gallagher from Shameless. We'll also discuss grandparenting styles.

Season 3, Episode 20: Causes of Autism

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0500

This episode is bound to cause some controversy as it discusses what does and does not cause autism (spoiler: the MMR vaccine is not a cause). We'll explore whether Tylenol usage in pregnancy, high-fructose corn syrup, living near a highway, and advanced parental age are linked to ASD. We'll also talk about possible neuroanatomical causes of autism.

Season 3, Episode 19: Sleep

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 14:00:00 -0500

I can't believe I haven't published an episode on sleep so far. This episode will cover sleep related disorders-- and over the course of 30 minutes, I'll discuss a wide variety of topics including sexsomnia and sleep walking. I'll also work in references to the movies Water Boy and Stepbrothers.

Season 3, Episode 18: New Year's Resolutions

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 15:00:00 -0500

Happy 2023! This episode discusses the psychology of New Year's Resolutions and how to make them SMART

Season 3, Episode 17: Kleptomania

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500

This episode discusses another impulse control disorder, kleptomania, which involves compulsive stealing. I'll discuss kleptomania-- and also my daughter's own stealing tendencies.

Season 3, Episode 16: Pyromania

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0500

This episode discusses pyromania and arson. It also touches upon psychogenic vomiting and features a cameo from my dogs.

Season 3, Episode 15: Halloween

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Happy Halloween! This is a special spooky season episode that discusses a wide-range of psychologically relevant Halloween topics-- including fall fetishism, clinical lycanthropy, trick-or-treating, the Salem Witch Trials, and beliefs in ghosts and demons.

Season 3, Episode 14: Dr. John Fryer

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 13:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses how, Dr. John Fryer, under the pseudonym of Dr. H. Anonymous and with the help of a Halloween mask and a voice modulator, was able to convince the American Psychiatric Association to depathologize homosexuality.

Season 3, Episode 13: Misophonia

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 14:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses misophonia-- or when people experience emotions like anxiety, disgust, or rage that is triggered by certain sounds.

Season 3, Episode 12: Insanity

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Ever wonder what the definition of insanity is? No, it's not doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This episode discusses insanity and some legal history behind the term.

Season 3, Episode 11 Morbid Jealousy

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses morbid jealousy-- or the preoccupation that your significant other is unfaithful to you.

Season 3, Episode 10: Parentification

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses parentification (when children are put into caretaking roles) and its negative and positive associations. I also introduce a new piece to the podcast-- a trivia segment! Finally, I discuss 2 books I would recommend to any aspiring psychologist.

Season 3, Episode 9: The National Mental Health Hotline

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses the roll-out of the 988 National Mental Health Hotline in July 2022-- and why I foresee challenges with the debut of the hotline.

Season 3, Episode 8: Dueling Diagnoses

Wed, 18 May 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Ever encountered different diagnoses from different mental health providers and wondered which, if any, is correct? This episode discusses dueling diagnoses and diagnostic uncertainty

Season 3, Episode 7: Talking to Children about Death and Dying

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This episode shares best practices and resources in talking to children about death and dying.

Season 3, Episode 6: Birth Order

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:00:00 -0400

This episode looks into the relationship (or lack thereof) between birth order and psychology. How birth order relates to intelligence, personality, and psychopathology is discussed.

Season 3, Episode 5 The DSM-5-TR (Text Revision)

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 11:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses changes between the DSM-5 and the DSM-5-TR (text revision) -- including the introduction of a new disorder (Prolonged Grief Disorder)-- and various disorder name changes

Season 3, Episode 4: Regression as a Defense Mechanism and Peter Pan Syndrome

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:00:00 -0400

Ever act like a kid when you're stressed out? This episode discusses the Freudian defense mechanism of regression. We also touch on Peter Pan Syndrome-- when fully grown adults don't act their age

Season 3, Episode 3: Infantile Amnesia

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Why can't you remember your first birthday party? This episode will attempt to answer that question by exploring the topic of early childhood amnesia (also called infantile amnesia)

Season 3, Episode 2: School Shootings

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0500

This episode, which comes by listener request, explores school shootings and introduces the field of threat/risk assessment.

Season 3, Episode 1: The Mental Status Examination

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 11:00:00 -0500

This episode covers one of the oldest and most commonly administered mental health assessments-- the Mental Status Exam (MSE).

Season 2 Wrap-Up

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 20:00:00 -0500

This episode wraps up Season 2 of the podcast with me reading mailbag questions. In doing so, we brush on arithmomania, sanity, and Joe Goldberg from the Netflix series You.

See you in 2022!

https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist

Season 2, Episode 25: Involuntary Commitment

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500

This episode explores involuntary commitment (also known as civil commitment or sectioning)-- and how (and when) you can be admitted to psychiatric care against your will.

Season 2, Episode 24: School Psychology

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Happy 50th episode! This episode is a celebration episode and discusses the field of school psychology (in honor of National School Psychology Awareness Week).

https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist

Season 2, Episode 23: Conspiracy Theories

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:00:00 -0400

This episode delves into the psychology of conspiracy theories.

Season 2, Episode 22: Positive Psychology and Toxic Positivity

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:00:00 -0400

This episode focuses on positive psychology-- on what makes us happy-- and also explores the concept of toxic positivity. Along the way, I talk about Ted Lasso a little.

Season 2, Episode 21: The Body Keeps the Score

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 16:00:00 -0400

This episode contains my ramblings and musings after reading Bessel Van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score: Brain Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Season 2, Episode 20: Homicidal Ideation

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 11:00:00 -0400

This episode is in response to a mailbag request and discusses homicidal ideation-- and whether it should be a standalone psychological diagnosis.

Season 2, Episode 19: How to Make the Most out of Being a Psych Undergrad

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:00:00 -0400

This is a listener request episode that discusses what you can do as a psych undergrad to make yourself a stronger candidate for post-grad employment or for grad school.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist

Season 2, Episode 18: Divorce

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 14:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses divorce and its relevance to psychology.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist

Season 2, Episode 17: The Olympics, Sports Psychology, and V-Codes

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 16:00:00 -0400

This episode is pretty wide-ranging-- it discusses mental health and the Olympics and touches on the field of sports psychology.

This episode also discusses Other Conditions that May be the Focus of Clinical Attention (or V-codes), which many clinicians sadly often overlook

Season 2, Episode 16: Borderline Personality Disorder

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses Borderline Personality Disorder and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist

Season 2, Episode 15: Teletherapy

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we talk about issues related to telehealth/teletherapy-- including concerns about encryption, licensure, and privacy. Teletherapy, for better or worse, is not going away (but I also don't see it as replacing in-person therapy).

Season 2, Episode 14: Cave Syndrome and Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

This is a wide-ranging episode. We talk about Cave Syndrome-- or the cutesy name that's been given to anxiety in returning to the real, post-pandemic world. We also discuss depression due to summer time heat-- which is an often overlooked aspect of depression with seasonal pattern.

Season 2, Episode 13 Paraphilias

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses paraphilias, or deviant sexual behaviors, and the paraphilic disorders of the DSM-5.

Season 2, Episode 12 Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0400

I'm back-- my wife and I recently had a second child so I went MIA for about a month. In this episode, which is a listener request, we discuss High-Functioning Autism-- or Asperger Syndrome.

Season 2, Episode 11: Imposter Syndrome

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Ever feel like you're a fraud-- or question your accomplishments? Then this episode on Imposter Syndrome is for you!

Season 2, Episode 10: Bullying

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0400

This episode explores all things bullying-- we talk about bullies, victims, bully-victims, and cyberbullying.

Season 2, Episode 9: Suicide

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses suicide, suicidal ideation, and warning signs and risk factors of suicide.

Season 2, Episode 8: Self-Injury, Self-Harm, and Self-Mutilation

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0400

This episode explores self-injurious behaviors, including cutting behaviors. In it, we'll explore who is most likely to harm themselves, why people harm themselves, and why we consider some forms of self-harm to be socially acceptable.

Season 2, Episode 7: Couvade

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0500

This episode explores Couvade, a condition in which men experience pregnancy symptoms.

Season 2, Episode 6: Violent Video Games

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0500

This episode explores the misconception that violent video games lead to school shootings. It also touches on Pikachu and my possible addiction to Pokemon Go.

Season 2, Episode 5: Imaginary Friends

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0500

This episode discusses imaginary friends, or imaginary companions, in early childhood. Are they a normal part of development or do they indicate an underlying emotional disturbance?

Season 2, Episode 4: COVID-19 and Mental Health

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 14:00:00 -0500

This episode will explore the proverbial elephant in the room-- how COVID-19 is affecting mental health across the lifespan. Rates of anxiety, depression, disordered eating behaviors, opioid overdoses, and suicide attempts have skyrocketed over the past year.

Season 2, Episode 3: What is a Psychologist?

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 14:00:00 -0500

The seemingly simple question of "what is a psychologist?" has a surprisingly complicated answer that this episode will attempt to wade through.

Season 2, Episode 2: A Brief History of Childhood

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0500

This episode explores conceptualizations of childhood through human history (or at least up until the 20th century). It explores what an infant is, how the word "family" is related to slavery, and why you might find baby Jesus with male-pattern-baldness in medieval art .

Season 2, Episode 1: Encopresis

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 14:00:00 -0500

What better way to kick off Season 2 than by talking about number 2? This episode explores encopresis and feces smearing (scatolia).

Episode 26: Gender, Culture, and Tearing it All Down

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500

This episode is the season finale for Season One of the Abnormal Psychologist. In this episode, I discuss shortcomings of the DSM-5, especially as they relate to gender and cultural issues.

Episode 25: Autism

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:00:00 -0500

This episode discusses Autism Spectrum Disorder. I'm super excited about this one, as Autism is one of my passions.

Episode 24: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 11:00:00 -0500

This episode covers what we colloquially call "addiction"-- including substance-related addictions, like alcohol use disorder, and non-substance related addictions, like gambling disorder. Internet gaming disorder is also discussed.

Episode 23: Schizophrenia

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 11:00:00 -0500

This episode discusses schizophrenia, and in doing so, explores the life of Dr. W.C. Minor, which involved murder, the branding of someone's face, and a penis amputation.

Episode 22: Personality Disorders

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 14:00:00 -0500

This episode discusses the personality disorders of the DSM-5 and touches on Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and Dependent Personality Disorder.

Episode 21: Eating Disorders

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 15:00:00 -0500

This episode covers feeding and eating disorders in the DSM-5, including Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa.

Episode 20: Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders, including Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Pyromania, and Kleptomania.

Episode 19: ADHD

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

This episode explores ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and its subtypes or presentations and treatment. It also explores whether psychostimulant medications stunt growth and whether eating too much sugar causes ADHD.

Episode 18: Dyslexia

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses dyslexia in-depth. What is involved in assessing dyslexia? What is the neuroanatomy of dyslexia? Does dyslexia look different in English than in other languages? And do people with dyslexia really reverse letters? These questions and more are explored in this episode.

Episode 17: Specific Learning Disorders

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400

This episode covers Specific Learning Disorders/Disabilities, how they used to be diagnosed (the discrepancy model) and how they are diagnosed now (using RTI). The next episode will cover dyslexia specifically.

Episode 16: Developmental Disorders

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 15:00:00 -0400

This episode explores developmental disorders and disabilities, and dives more specifically into the diagnosis of Intellectual Disability.

Episode 15: Dissociative Disorders

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

This episode explores dissociative disorders, including the highly controversial and popularized Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder.

Episode 14: Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 20:00:00 -0400

This episode explores somatization, including conversion disorder, hypochondriasis, and Munchausen Syndrome.

Episode 13: Psychedelic Treatment of Depression

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses psychedelics, their history, and their effectiveness in treating depression.

Episode 12: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 15:00:00 -0400

This episode discusses Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its treatment

Episode 11: Bipolar Disorders

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0400

This episode explores bipolar disorders and their treatments, as well as the definitions of manic episodes and hypomanic episodes.

Episode 10: Depression Part II

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss treatment for depression-- including psychopharmaceutical treatment and talk therapies.

Episode 9: Depressive Disorders Part I

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0400

This episode gives a broad description of depressive disorders in the DSM-5 with more focused discussion of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

Episode 8: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0400

This episode explores a commonly misunderstood diagnosis, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Episode 7: Anxiety Disorders, Part II

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 17:00:00 -0400

This episode covers Social Anxiety Disorder, Selective Mutism, Separation Anxiety Disorder, and Specific Phobia. It also covers common treatments for anxiety disorders.

Episode 6: Anxiety Disorders Part 1

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we will discuss anxiety disorders in general and also Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This is the first of a two-episode series on Anxiety Disorders.

The DSM-5

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we'll discuss the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, which mental health experts affectionately call the DSM-5. In doing so, we'll talk about nosology, which, counter-intuitively, is not the study of noses.

Episode 4: Let's Talk Therapy

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we'll discuss different therapeutic paradigms. In doing so, we'll touch upon COVID-19 dreams, breathing throw straws to treat anxiety, and snakes.

Episode 3: What Exactly is Abnormal, Anyway?

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 20:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss different models of abnormality. Should being left-handed-- or being a genius-- be a diagnosable condition?

Episode 2: The History of Psychopathology

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we'll discuss the history of psychopathology from ancient times to the present.

Episode 1: Media (Mis)Portrayals of Psychopathology

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 17:00:00 -0400

This episode explores media misportrayals of psychopathology. Spoiler alert: Most of what you think you know about psychopathology is probably wrong.