Dr. Gurr talks with Erica Kaitz about VR Therapy, and Amelia/XR Health. Erica Kaitz, LCSW has been working in the field of behavioral health since 2010. Erica began their career as a Primary Therapist at HHC in 2010, followed by a role as a Staff Therapist at Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, Emergency Services in 2012. In 2013, they began working for Aetna as a Clinical Case Manager and Clinical Supervisor. In 2016, they took on the role of Behavioral Health Director at Cigna-HealthSpring, and in 2018, they became the Manager of Clinical Operations at Prealize Health. Most recently, in 2022, Erica Kaitz became the Vice President of Behavioral Health at Amelia Virtual Care.

Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzGVcMvsRlU&t=31s to see the full video version of this podcast.Dr. Howard Gurr and Mr. Andrew Colsky, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and entrepreneur, talk about Virtual reality Exposure Therapy and his new VR platform. Mr. Colsky is a licensed mental health counselor treating OCD and anxiety disorders in both Virginia and Florida through his practice which can be found at www.stopmyocd.com. His practice includes the use of exposure therapy. In order to facilitate his own practice needs, he founded Prescription XRT (www.rxxrt.com), a first-of-its-kind exposure therapy platform. He is planning to provide access to all exposure therapists so they may conduct therapy using lifelike exposures virtually anywhere.

To see the video  of this conversation go to https://youtu.be/vrWC9vw0K6cToday I am talking with Dr. Joe Elliot about our respective uses of VR in our clinical practices. Joe Elliott, PhD is a licensed mental health provider and owner of Joe Elliott Psychological Services in Galveston, Texas (www.galvestonpsych.com), with nearly three decades’ experience as a clinician, evaluator, and behavioral science researcher. He previously coordinated research at the anxiety disorders clinics of the University of Houston and University of Texas Mental Sciences Institute, and at the Eyewitness Testimony research lab at Sam Houston State Univ. He is Mental Health Manager at the Texas NeuroAIDS Research Center, one of four NIH-sponsored “brain banks” (tissue repositories) in the US. Joe has a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a PhD in Cognition and Instruction Psychology. He received training in Criterion-Based Content Analysis (CBCA), Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He has been providing VR mental health applications since 2021, and is the first practitioner to deploy the IDEGO treatment suite in the US.

to see the video of this podcast go to Dr. Howard Gurr Talks with Dr. Kim Bullock about Virtual Reality Therapy - YouTube.Dr. Bullock received her undergraduate degree with honors and distinction in physiology and psychology from the University of California, San Diego, Revelle College and her medical degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. She completed an internship in internal medicine at Washington Hospital in D.C. and a psychiatry residency at Stanford University. She is a diplomat in the subspecialties of Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry and Lifestyle Medicine. She is currently appointed Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within Stanford’s School of Medicine. Dr. Bullock is the founder and Director of Stanford's Neurobehavioral Clinic and Virtual Reality & Immersive Technologies (VRIT) program and laboratory. She also is a leader and pioneer in telehealth services using XR. She has published many peer-reviewed articles and is a Cambridge and Oxford Press author on the subject of functional neurological disorders. Her primary clinical research interest is exploring the use of technology for trauma treatment and psychiatric illnesses involving disruption of bodily perception and function. She is currently focused on the use and dissemination of immersive technologies for telepsychiatry as well as its use in augmentation of physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and skills acquisition. She treats a multitude of illness domains including trauma, phobias, anxiety, pain, mood disorders, and somatic symptom-related disorders. She also provides support and connects researchers, providers, and developers of immersive technology through the Stanford Psychiatry Immersive Technology Consortium (SPIT-C).Dr. Bullock currently sees patients, teaches, and performs research. She takes a holistic, customized, and personal approach to each patient and encourages family and community involvement in the treatment process. She is intensively trained and teaches both cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). 

Today’s podcast is a conversation between Dr. Howard Gurr and Dr. Les Posen about our use of Virtual Reality in private practice.  Check out the video version of this  conversation between Dr. Howard Gurr and Dr. Les Posen at https://youtu.be/tgvLHdAub5M   Les is Melbourne, born-and-bred.  Educated at Monash and Melbourne Universities, he later spent time in the Austin Hospital’s Department of Psychological Medicine, where he did clinical rotations in Adult Psychiatry and Cardiology.   With a lifelong passion for travel and commercial aviation, Les considers himself fortunate to have been supervised while at the Austin by Dr. Ida Kaplan who was Ansett Australia’s first Melbourne-based Fear of Flying Program Psychologist. He inherited the program from her in 1994 and for the next six years further developed and enhanced the program. Separate from this, he helped develop the airline’s Passenger and Crew Welfare program, training with airline staff from around the world – including United, Continental and TWA – to give him a special understanding of Crew psychology, especially enhancing resilience under stress.   Les’s website is https://flightwise.com.au/ 

I was searching through my old podcasts and I came up with another one from 2007 that seems to be pertinent to today's world. This one was on liars. According to a study 50% of people questioned thought they could tell when someone was lying. The data suggested we were not that good at telling when someone was lying to us. Is that true?This podcast presented some of the reasons why we cannot always tell who is telling the truth or who is lying. I think it is very relevant today!

I originally produced this podcast on why people who are incompetent do not know they are incompetent on August 15, 2007. At the time, I thought the research was very interesting and amusing. Now, with the state of our world, I think the podcast is very relevant and not so funny. The research was actually done in 1999. The researchers were Dr. David Duning and a then graduate student, named Justin Kruger. Interestingly, this concept has been called the Duning-Kruger effect! Below is the reference for the original article. In advance, I apologize for my voice- I must have been sick at the time I recorded the original podcast. Kruger, Justin; Dunning, David (1999). "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 77 (6): 1121–34.

Today’s podcast is a conversation between Dr. Howard Gurr and Dr. Skip Rizzo. Dr. Rizzo is well known for his work with VR and PTSD. He is one of the first psychologists to recognize the benefits of VR for psychological issues. Dr. Rizzo talks about his introduction to VR, the benefits of VR for mental health problems and his research with VR. Here is Dr. Rizzo’s bio:Albert “Skip” Rizzo is a clinical psychologist/neuropsychologist and Director of Medical Virtual Reality at the University Of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies. He is also a Research Professor with the USC Dept. of Psychiatry and at the USC Davis School of Gerontology. Skip conducts research on the design, development and evaluation of Virtual Reality systems targeting the areas of clinical assessment, treatment and rehabilitation across the domains of psychological, cognitive and motor functioning in both healthy and clinical populations. This work has focused on PTSD, TBI, Autism, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and other clinical conditions. In spite of the diversity of these clinical R&D areas, the common thread that drives all of his work with digital technologies involves the study of how interactive and immersive Virtual Reality simulations can be usefully applied to address human healthcare needs beyond what is possible with traditional 20th Century tools and methods. In 2010 he received the “American Psychological Association Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Practice of Trauma Psychology” and in 2012, the MMVR Satava Award for excellence in the use of VR for therapeutic applications. In 2015, he received the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics “Pioneer in Medicine” award presented to individuals who have significantly contributed to the scientific advancement in the fields of medicine through a multidisciplinary approach. To view some videos on his work, please visit this YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUQrbzaW3x9wWoZPl4-l4GSA&feature=plcp

Dr. Howard Gurr Talks with Dr. Robert Reiner about Virtual reality Therapy(VRT). Dr. Reiner has been using VRT for many years in his practice in New York City. Here is Dr. Reiner's bio:Robert H. Reiner Ph.D., BCN, BCB, Executive Director and founder of Behavioral Associates (BA), has been practicing psychology since 1981. After receiving his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, he went on to get his Ph. D. in clinical psychology at the University of Alabama and serve his clinical internship at Bellevue Hospital. He currently serves on the faculty for the Department of Psychiatry at New York University Medical Center and is a guest lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania psychology department.Dr. Reiner can frequently be seen and quoted in the news and media and is often called upon to make appearances on major news networks for his expert opinion. Throughout his career he has served as psychological consultant for several corporations as well as an expert witness for a number of criminal trials.He is well known for his work in treating anxiety and phobias through biofeedback and virtual reality therapy. He has been credited for this work in articles in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, New York Daily News, USA Today, Newsweek and Time Out magazine. He has specifically had great success in treating patients for fear of flying which was documented on an episode of The National Geographic Show featuring Dr. Reiner’s work with a phobic patient.He is a co-author of, The Fearless Smile Overcoming Dental Phobia, a book on the subject of people suffering from dental phobias and how they can be effectively treated. The book, published in Jan. 2012 was written by Dr. Reiner along with two well-known Manhattan dentists.Dr. Reiner currently serves on the Ethics Board at the International Study for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR). He served on the faculty at NYU Medical Center, Dept. of Psychiatry, from 1980 to 2015. He has been a guest lecturer for the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, Northeastern Regional Biofeedback Society (NFBS), Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback (AAPB) and more. Dr. Reiner can be reached at http://www.behavioralassociates.com/ or by calling him at (212) 860-8500.

Dr. Howard Gurr talks to Mr. Scott Lowe from www.psious.com about their company,the current state of Virtual Reality Therapy and the future of Virtual Reality Therapy.Mr.Scott Lowe manages the North American market for Psious, the leading company in virtual reality for mental healthcare. Scott found his way to Psious after orthogonal stops as a competitive amateur boxer, industrial engineer at Stanford University, and professional dancer/acrobat, two of which entailed journeys in anxiety management that piqued his interest in cutting-edge treatments. Now with Psious, Scott is helping establish a new class of therapists well-versed in technological resources that potentiate the effect of clients' existing skills.

Today I introduce my interest in therapy- Virtual Reality Therapy(VRT). I briefly talk about why I am focused on VRT and how I think it is a great tool for solving phobias and otther emotional difficulties.

Hello folks, I lost track of time and I got involved in a lot of other projects so I did not publish a podcast in a long time. I'm coming back with more podcasts and I'm going to focus more on my new interest- Virtual Reality Therapy.

Dr. Gurr talks about how children find clowns scary and how parents can help their children deal with the anxiety when exposed to clowns.

Dr. Gurr talks about the positive impact parents can have on their children's education.

Dr. Gurr talks about why is it is important to keep children on their regular schedules during vacations and weekends.

Today’s podcast is about mentoring youth. My guest is Jill Gurr-yes, a relative-who just published a book on mentoring called “Mentor Youth Now- A Guidebook for Transforming Young Lives”. Jill Gurr Is the Director of Create Now, a creative arts mentoring organization that she founded in 1996. She has trained hundreds of volunteers to mentor thousands of the most troubled children in Southern California. She is also a produced screenwriter and worked us a script supervisor on award-winning movies around the world. She has been featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and Anderson Cooper 360.She was one of eight people in the country featured in the exhibition ”Everyday Heroes” at theMuseum of Tolerance In Los Angeles and one of four people in the nation selected by the British Council to represent the U.S. on a Global Xchange program in South Africa and Northern Ireland.

In today’s podcast Dr. Sapadin talks about her new book - How to Beat Procrastination in the Digital Age: 6 Unique Change Programs for 6 Personality Styles. Dr. Sapadin is a psychologist, success coach and media guest. She specializes in helping people enrich their lives, enhance their relationships and overcome self-defeating patterns of behavior. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and National Public Radio. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post , Psychology Today, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Prevention, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Lifetime TV.com, WedMD.com and many other print and on-line publications.You can learn more about Dr. Sapadin at her websites: www.PsychWisdom.com and www.BeatProcrastinationCoach.com

Today's podcast is a conversation about the LGBT issues, concerns and counseling services.Kathleen OBrien is a Licensed Master of Social Work specalizing in LGBT issues, Personal and Family Counseling, and Group Therapy. She has a Bachelors in Mathematics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a Masters from the University of Iowa. Kathleen now provides clinical services at the Windsor Counseling Group in New Windsor, NY and in Middletown, NY. She founded a Transgender Support Group in Orange County, NY and has been a moderator for the women's group at the LOFT Gay Center in White Plains, NY. She also works with the Lambda Peer Support Services (LPSS) group in White Plains, NY and the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center in Kingston, NY.

Today’s podcast is about anxiety and relaxation techniques. Anxiety is a problem that affects a large percentage of the population and relaxation techniques have proven to be quite helpful in managing or reducing anxiety. Today I will be speaking to Dr. Fred Holtz, an expert in the use of relaxation techniques for anxiety. Fred L. Holtz, PhD is the Executive Director of Holtz Psychological Services, a group practice in Melville, New York. Dr. Holtz has been in private practice for over twenty-two years and he has extensive experience in individual and marital therapy, learning disabilities and psychological evaluation. He received his Doctorate from Hofstra University and did his undergraduate work at State University of New York at Stony Brook. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Holtz is adjunct Professor of Psychology at Suffolk County Community College. Dr. Holtz is the author of Ten Ways To Reduce Stress and Anxiety TODAY, a practical booklet on identifying and reducing anxiety. His articles and workshops on coping with stress, and on improving communication in relationships have been featured on Long Island NEWS 12 and in NEWSDAY and he has been a guest lecturer and workshop leader for businesses and civic organizations. He established a website called www.Therapy-Now.com where you can find more information about treatment programs and psychological issues.

In today’s podcast, I have a conversation with Dr. Ross Greene who is the originator of a model of psychosocial treatment for challenging kids called Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). He has written two books about this subject called "The Explosive Child" and "Lost at School". Dr. Greene is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, he is on the professional staff in the Department of Psychology at the Cambridge Health Alliance, he is an adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech, and Senior Lecturer in the school psychology program in the Department of Education at Tufts University. Dr. Greene is also the founder of a non-profit organization – called Lives in the Balance – which aims to provide advocacy and support for behaviorally challenging kids and their parents, teachers, and other caregivers, and to disseminate the CPS model through no-cost web-based programming. He consults extensively to general and special education schools, inpatient and residential facilities, and systems of juvenile detention, and lectures widely throughout the world. You can find out more about Dr. Greene and the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) at www.livesinthebalance.org.

Today’s podcast is a conversation between Dr. Gurr and Dr. Jed Diamond about male menopause. Most of us want to have good sex, love, and intimacy at any age, but when we get to be 40, it isn't always easy. One of the less talked about reasons why our "love" life goes south is that we do not understand how to survive male menopause. Today we learn the secrets. For more than 40 years, Dr. Jed Diamond has helped men and the women who love them. Dr. Diamond is Founder and Director of the MenAlive, a health program that helps men live long and well. Though focused on men’s health, MenAlive is also for women who care about the health of the men in their lives. Since its inception in 1992, Jed has been on the Board of Advisors of the Men’s Health Network. He is also a member of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male and serves as a member of the International Scientific Board of the World Congress on Gender and Men’s Health. He is the only male columnist writing for the National Association of Baby Boomer Women.His work has been featured in major newspapers throughout the United States including the New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. He has been featured on more than 1,000 radio and T.V. programs including The View with Barbara Walters, Good Morning America, Today Show, CNN-360 with Anderson Cooper, CNN with Glenn Beck, CBS, NBC, and Fox News, and To Tell the Truth. He also did a nationally televised special on Male Menopause for PBS. Dr. Diamond has been a licensed psychotherapist for over 45 years and is the author of nine books including the international best-selling Male Menopause and Surviving Male Menopause that have thus far been translated into 22 foreign languages and The Irritable Male Syndrome: Mr. Mean: Saving Your Relationship from the Irritable Male Syndrome has recently been published.He is currently working on a new book, Tapping Power: A Man’s Guide to Eliminating Pain, Stress, Anger, Depression and Other Ills Using the Revolutionary Tools of Energy Psychology.You can find out more about Dr. Diamond at www.MenAlive.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/JedDiamondFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/Dr.Jed.Diamond

Today's podcast is about suicide and suicide prevention. I know it is a topic that is not light and entertaining, but very serious and necessary. Let me fill you in on where the idea for this podcast came from.I have a friend who lost her son to suicide many years ago. As a psychologist, and one who knew the youngster who committed suicide, his act was sudden and unpredictable. In response to the loss, my friend and her husband decided to devote much of energy to make sure this did not happen to others. They became involved in volunteering for the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention(AFSP). In support of my friends, and in an effort to get the message out to the public about suicide and suicide prevention, I have annually participated in the Out of the Darkness community walks. By the way, these walks happen all over the country. You can find out more about them by going to http://www.outofthedarkness.org or http://www.afsp.org.As I was at the most recent walk and I heard Dale Camhi, who is also a friend and former colleague, speaking to the crowd of over 1400 people about trying to help to get the message out. It dawned on me that I had the perfect vehicle to help- my podcast. So, invited Dale Camhi to be a guest. Let me give you Dale's background. I met Dale many years ago when we worked together in a local school district. At that time, Dale was a special education teacher and served as an educational evaluator for 12 years. In 1999, Dale changed career paths following the loss of her best friend’s son to suicide, Dale began working in a volunteer capacity for AFSP. After five years, she joined the national field staff. Dale currently serves as the Metro-NY Regional Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Today, Dale juggles fund raising events, educational programs, AFSP’s Survivor Outreach Program, and advocacy for suicide prevention.

Today's podcast is a quick review of an article I found in Time Magazine- October 4, 2010. The article points out the findings of several studies that suggest the fetal environment has a strong impact on the babies health and future. Mothers get blamed again!

Today's podcast is about a series of small experiments which show that tactile information does affect our decisions. Useful information to help assist people in making decisions in everyday life.

Brain plasticity has been in the news the past few years. Years ago we thought the brain was hardwired and incurable. Now, we know that the brain can be malleable and new brain cells can be created. Books like, “The Brain that Changes Itself”, by Dr. Norman Doidge and “Save Your Brain:The 5 Things You Must Do to Keep Your Mind Young and Sharp” , by Dr. Paul Nussbaum, have presented evidence to show how the brain can change after damage and how to enhance thinking skills. There are also websites that have information or mind games that are purported to help increase or maintain cognitive functioning. Although I do not endorse any of these sites, or can prove without a shadow of a doubt that these mental games will help, they are interesting. For a good resource site go to www.sharpbrains.com. For computer internet brain training programs check out: www.lumosity.com, www.cognifit.com, and www.positscience.com

Did you make more money in 2009 than in any other year of your life? I doubt it! In these financial times, most American’s would have to say, "No." Most companies had problems in 2009, and some large corporations and banks even had to be bailed out by the government. Well, in today’s podcast I present information from an article that came across my computer that shows how 4 out of the 5 major health insurance companies made more money in 2009 than the year before. The one company that did not make more money still profited quite nicely. It seems clear to me that these companies are not out to protect the public’s needs. They sell themselves as being there to help the public, but, in reality they are like any other company that is oriented toward making a profit for their stock holders and CEO’s. Regardless of your position on the question of universal health insurance in America, this information should make you question if health insurance companies need to be better regulated and whether these companies need to be investigated for their practices. Listen and you decide.

Today's podcast is a review of two studies that suggest women may be more likely to have a long-term relationship with guys who they find funny. It appears women rate funny guys as more intelligent than guys who are not so funny. And being funny may be seen as an attribute that makes the male a better catch.

Today I am happy to have Dr. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz return as guests to THE SHRINK IS IN. If you have been a long time listener to my podcast you may recall that I spoke to the Schmitz’ last year about their book, “Golden Anniversaries”. The Schmitz' are America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts and multiple award-winning authors, they have helped audiences around the world answer questions about love, marriage, and relationships. Their distinguished careers include over 65 awards, 350 books, articles and manuscripts, 1000 speeches, and frequent media appearances. With 26 years of research on relationships and successful marriage on six continents of the world and their own 43–year marriage, the Doctors know what makes relationships work. Today we are going to talk about their new book, “Building a Love That Lasts”, which provides more surprising insights on creating successful relationships. The new book reveals how to sustain a long-term loving marriage. In addition to exploring the seven key ingredients that define a successful marriage–togetherness, truthfulness, respect and kindness, staying fit, joint finances, tactile communication, and surprise and unpredictability–the authors have included hundreds of insightful and practical interviews with happy couples. Elizabeth and Charles also have a new website www.simplethingsmatter.com and a blog called “building Great Marriages” for www. psychologytoday.com.

We now have data with rats that shows how exercise creates new, calmer brain cells. I talk about the research and the implications for humans.

Today’s show is a follow up to a previous show on Seasonal Affective Disorder-SAD. Today, I review what to look out for when purchasing light boxes and two other treatments found to have some positive effects for patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Today, I give the listeners some research from Dr. B.R. Forer which may explain why we believe the generalized statements from Fortune Tellers, Horoscopes, and Tarot Card Readers.

Today’s podcast is really a redirection of my listeners to a video I found on Youtube. This video was a conversation between Matt Lauer, from The Today Show, Beth and Sammy Maloney. Sammy was a healthy fifth grader who developed OCD out of the blue. A subsequent diagnosis of PANDAS saved him from a life of torture. I was able to put the audio track on the podcast. The website address of the video is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50bQtkfiHvs . You can also get information about the book Mrs. Maloney wrote about her experiences with Sammy at their website: http://www.savingsammy.net/. Check this out.

In this podcast I talk to Dr. Mark Anshel about why we do things every single day that we know are bad for us but keep doing them. Why is it so hard to stop and do the "right" thing? In addition, we explore Dr. Anshel’s intervention program called the “Disconnected Values Model”. Dr. Mark Anshel is a professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology, at Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Anshel has been a professor of performance psychology, with specializations in sport and exercise psychology, and wellness program development for 29 years.He has authored 120 research articles in scholarly journals, with five currently under journal review. He has also authored 11 book chapters and he is the author several books, including Applied Exercise Psychology: A Practitioner’s Guide to Improving Client Health and Fitness (2006), Sport Psychology: From Theory to Practice (fourth ed., 2003), Concepts in Fitness: A Balanced Approach to Good Health (2003), and Aerobics For Fitness (fourth ed., 1998). His current research is focused on validating the Disconnected Values Model in exercise and wellness settings. This model provides an intervention framework for promoting adherence in replacing unhealthy habits with more desirable, “positive” routines, such as exercise and dietary changes.Dr. Anshel founded and directed Tennessee State University’s first Employee Wellness Program. He is a member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, a Fellow with the American Psychological Association (Division 47, Exercise and Sport Psychology), and a member of the Stress and Anxiety Research Society.

Today, I follow up on an earlier podcast about exercise and mental health. In this new podcast, I talk with an expert in the field, Dr. Jack Raglin, and we further explore the benefits of exercise adherence issues and ways to stick to an exercise program. Jack Raglin, Ph.D. is currently a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University-Bloomington. Jack is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. His research involves integrating the use of psychological and physiological variables to examine various issues in sport and exercise, including overtraining, pre-competition anxiety, performance, exercise behavior and adherence, and the relationship between exercise and mental health.

Today I talk with Paul Brewer who is an author and illustrator of children’s books, with a particular interest in humorous stories. His specialty has become joke books, as he has written three of them so far. He wrote and illustrated You Must Be Joking! and You Must Be Joking, Two! These joke books include tips for remembering and telling jokes, plus how to perform them like a stand-up comedian. He also illustrated the popular “Robert” series of chapter books, written by Barbara Seuling, with titles like Oh No, Its Robert, Robert Takes a Stand and Robert and the Happy Endings. His wife, Kathleen Krull, wrote two light-hearted picture books, Clip Clip Clip: Three Stories About Hair and How to Trick or Treat in Outer Space, that Paul illustrated. They also co-wrote a book called Fartiste, illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Paul and Kathleen just finished a book they co-wrote called Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country). It is about our famous president and his great sense of humor, which he used quite often to make himself and others around him feel comfortable. It was also a way to help him deal with his depression and the very turbulent times of his presidency. The book will be published in 2010. Paul and Kathleen live in San Diego, and have two adult daughters, Jacqui and Melanie, and a three-year-old grandson named Ethan, who already is showing the potential to be a great joke-teller.If you want to learn more about Paul Brewer, check out his website at www.paulbrewer.com.

In today’s podcast, I present a problem that many of my patients have been troubled with, which has been labeled “The Fraud Concept”. I am not 100% sure if I came up with this label, or I heard of it many years ago,in either case, I have been using this label and description to help patients cope with their problems of believing that were frauds and that others would imminently find out that they were inadequate or incompetent. These patients always believed that they were somehow faking out others and that any day they would be uncovered as being a phony. I discuss the source of these erroneous beliefs, and why these patients are usually worried for nothing.

Todays podcast is a conversation between two therapists. I was contacted by Kirk Honda a therapist from Seattle who also produces his own vidcast called “Psychology In Seattle”(http://www.psychologyinseattle.com). Kirk has been a licensed therapist therapist in Seattle since 1996. He taught graduate-level psychology courses at Antioch for nine years. He also supervises therapists-in-training. Today we talk about therapy on the two different coasts, our practices and some specific questions Kirk has from his audience. Listen in and see what you think.

Today I talk about a research study that was undertaken starting in 1961 by Dr. Stanley Milgram which was designed try to ascertain what kind of people were capable of carrying out the atrocities during the Nazi regime and the Holocaust. Surprisingly, the study showed regular people could be coerced into doing terrible things. The research showed one does not have to have a pathological personality disorder to be inhuman to others. Studies similar to Dr. Milgram’s have not been initiated for many years due to ethical concerns. However, I came across a more recent study that has revealed similar findings. The findings and the implications are discussed.

Today’s podcast is a conversation with Dr. Karen Sherman on mindfulness and making choices in ones life. We discuss the reasons she wrote her new book called Mindfulness and the Art of Choice: Transform your Life. Dr. Sherman’s book offers the reader the tools to stop living a life that is burdened by old, repetitive feelings and patterns that keep people stuck and unhappy.Dr. Karen Sherman, a NYS licensed psychologist, who has been in private practice for over 20 years on Long Island. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Sherman has been taking her skills to groups and organizations with her Art of choice workshops and seminars. In Art of Choice workshops and lectures, Dr. Sherman helps people examine how they make choices, what motivates those choices, and whether those motivating factors are really, what the people themselves want. She also examines the conditions under which people sometimes accidentally give up their ability or right to choose.Dr. Sherman is also an expert in relationship counseling and an author on the topic. Her book, Marriage Magic! Find It, Keep It, and Make It Last, co-authored with communications expert Dale Klein, is a compendium of wisdom about making marriages better. Dr. Sherman has two websites where you can find out more about her books, programs and offerings: www.ChoiceRelationships.com and www.Drkarensherman.com.

Parenting issues come up in my practice everyday. I have been giving advice to parents for over 25 years. I came across a great resource for parents and today I talk to the author of one of the best parenting books I have seen in years, The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids, Dr. Jenn Berman. Dr. Jenn Berman is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Beverly Hills and has been working in the field of psychology for more than 15 years. She has made appearances as a psychological expert on more than one hundred television shows including: The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, Intervention, 48 Hours, and The Tyra Banks Show. She has been heard on various different radio stations including on her call in advice show "On the Couch”. Her “Dr. Jenn” column, which is printed in Los Angeles Family Magazine and four other magazines, won the 2005 Parenting Publication of America silver medal in the area of Child Development and Parenting. She has been quoted as an expert in such publications as: The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, US Weekly, The Boston Herald, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Good Housekeeping, and Parents Magazine. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. She has done consulting for child-oriented organizations such as A Minor Consideration, The Actors' Fund, and USA Gymnastics. Her website is www.DoctorJenn.com.

In today's podcast I talk with Dr. Richard Nicastro, a psychologist and relationship coach with fifteen years experience helping couples build stronger, more fulfilling relationships, about the most common problems in relationships today, relationship coaching, and the difference between relationship coaching and more formal relationship counseling. Dr. Nicastro has lectured at several universities and now conducts workshops for couples on a wide range of relationship issues. His relationship advice has appeared on television, radio and in national magazines. His goal is to guide individuals and couples as they implement the skills that will allow their relationships to flourish. Dr. Nicastro has developed The Healthy Relationship Program: A Comprehensive E-Workbook Series for Couples. The program is designed for individuals and couples eager to acquire the essential relationship tools needed to create a meaningful, lasting union. You can read Dr. Nicastro's relationship articles by visiting his website (www.StrengthenYourRelationship.com). Dr. Nicastro also offers individuals and couples a free 30-minute relationship check-up conducted over the phone. Visit his website for details about how to schedule a relationship checkup.

Today's podcast is a conversation with Dr. Leah Klungness on the effect of divorce on children. Leah Klungness is a psychologist and recognized authority on single parenting and relationship issues.She is the co-founder of the recently launched www.singlemommyhood.com and the co-author of the award winning book “The Complete Single Mother”, which is the only comprehensive and best selling self-help book ever written for single parents. Leah is in private practice in Locust Valley, Long Island, New York. She specializes in working with families during and after divorce, and offers expert testimony.

Today, I briefly talk about the 2008 Mental Health Parity Act that was dropped into the big billion dollar bail out plan. I give a brief history of mental health parity and the impact this new act will have for those who need mental health services and for those who provide those services.

Today, I talk about what is in the pipeline for mental health problems. There are some new leads, but more research and development is needed.

Today's podcast is a conversation between Dr. Gurr and Mr. Gazley about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) and a variety approaches to treat this disorder. Mr. Gazley has practiced psychotherapy for over thirty years and is the owner operator of www.asktheinternettherapist.com since 1998. He is the author of eight mental health educational videos and DVD's and is currently writing a book on distance counseling. Jef is State Licensed in General Counseling, Marriage/Family, and Substance Abuse counseling. In his private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, Jef specializes in ADD, love addiction, hypnotherapy, dysfunctional families, codependency, and trauma issues. He is a trained counselor in EMDR, NET, TFT, Applied Kinesiology, and a certified hypnotist and hypnotherapist. Jef received his B.A. in Psychology, History, and Teaching from the University of Washington and his Masters in Counseling from the University of Oregon. He is a member in good standing with the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, the International Society for Clinical Hypnosis, a Clinical Member of the Norton Prince Institute of Hypnosis, a member of the National Board of Certified Hypnotherapists, and a member of the American Psychotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association.

Today’s podcast is conversation between Dr. Howard Gurr and Michael J. Connelly, M.Ed., NCC, LPC on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Michael J. Connelly is a Licensed Professional Therapist and President of Positive Pathways, Mr. Connelly’s treatment philosophy is quite eclectic with concentration on Cognitive Behavior Therapy, (CBT). Mr. Connelly's professional experience has been with clients suffering with depression and anxiety disorders, especially those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, (OCD) by means of using Exposure Therapy. He has been a personal and academic counselor at a local University. Mr. Connelly is trained in treating Problem and Pathological Gambling issues. Mr. Connelly received his training for treating Problem Gambling at the University of Pittsburgh.

Today’s podcast is a conversation between Dr. Gurr and Dr. Peter T. Lambrou on anxiety in our society, when it becomes a problem, and what helps to reduce anxiety. The guest or today, Dr. Peter Lambrou is a licensed clinical psychologist and Chairman of Psychology at Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California (2008 - 2009), where he has maintained a private practice since 1987, and he is on the teaching faculty of the University of California at San Diego. Dr. Lambrou is a Fellow of the American Institute of Stress, a Diplomate in Behavioral Medicine among many affiliations. He is also the co-author of Self-Hypnosis: The Complete Manual for Health and Self-Change (2nd Ed.) which has been translated into eight languages, and of the books Hyper-Performance and the award-winning book, Instant Emotional Healing: Acupressure for the Emotions, published by a division of Random House. You can see more about Dr. Lambrou at his website http://www.peterlambrou.com/ and get anxiety tips at http://www.stopanxietynow.com/

Today Dr. Howard Gurr talks with Lisa Brookes Kift on how our past affects our present life. Lisa Brookes Kift is a California Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice doing individual therapy and couples counseling. Lisa has written numerous articles about topics related to mental health and relationships which can be seen at www.lisakifttherapy.com. She is also the author of Therapy-at-Home Workbooks™: Premarital Counseling, the first in her Therapy-At-Home Workbooks™ series which is available in eBook format. She is committed and passionate about helping people resolve their individual issues and have more satisfying relationships either in her private practice or via her writing.

Today, Dr. Gurr talks about the 9/11 terrorist attacks and recent research that suggested many residents of lower Manhattan experienced Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) years after the events. Dr. Gurr explains what PTSD is and why it may be present years after a traumatic event.

Today’s podcast is a conversation between Dr. Howard Gurr and Dr. John Ryder on psychology in the corporate world and the corporate mentality. Dr.John Ryder is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Manhattan. After earning his doctorate in psychology at the City University of New York, he served as an Assistant Professor at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Traveling around the world, he has studied the secrets to a healthy and successful life with many of the most respected leaders of both Western and Eastern traditions. Dr. Ryder has been a consultant to many successful individuals, corporate executives, athletes, and celebrities. He has shared his expertise on a variety of radio and television shows. A highly requested speaker and workshop leader, he travels and lectures widely. He is the author of a new book called “Positive Directions. You can find out more about Dr. Ryder, his practice and his services by going to his website www.JohnRyderPhD.com

Dr. Gurr talks to Dr. Gaston Weisz about autism. Dr. Weisz just finished a three part podcast series on autsim and Dr. Gurr interviews Dr. Weisz on autism- what it is, what we know works and what does not work.Dr. Gaston Weisz received his doctorate in School Community Psychology at Pace University and his Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling at Queens College. He is a NYS Licensed Psychologist and a NYS Certified School Psychologist. Presently, he is employed as a full time school psychologist in Valley Stream School District for 17 years. He also has a Private Practice in Lynbrook, New York, working with children, adolescents and adults and he is a adjunct instructor at Adelphi University, Garden City, New York.Dr. Weisz has a website called www.weiszdoc.com where he has organized various resources for school psychologists, parents, teachers and anyone interested in psychology and education. He hosts his own podcast called school psychology podcast with Dr. Gaston Weisz. and a weblog called drweisz.blogspot.com which includes show notes for his podcast, as well as many links relevant to school psychology.

Today's podcast is a conversation between Dr. Howard Gurr and Dr. Lyle Becourtney about anger management treatment for adults and teens. Dr. Lyle Becourtney is a New York State Licensed Psychologist, New Jersey Certified School Psychologist, and a Certified Anger Management Professional. In 1996, he obtained his doctorate degree in psychology from Pace University. As part of his training, Dr. Becourtney completed an externship in the adolescent partial hospitalization program at Metropolitan Hospital and an internship at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, both located in NYC. Thereafter, Dr. Becourtney worked in an adolescent residential treatment center in Yonkers, NY, at Great Neck North High School, and since 1999 at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, NJ. Dr. Becourtney currently has a private practice in Blauvelt, NY in Rockland County that is devoted almost exclusively toward doing anger management work with teens and adults. He sees clients individually as well as in weekly groups and spends much of his time teaching the eight anger control tools of the Century Anger Management program. In addition to his anger management work, Dr. Becourtney trains other mental health professionals and parents on how to implement a proven discipline program in the home. To learn more about his background, credentials, and the services that he offers, please visit his website, http://www.AngerManagementGroups.com

Today’s podcast is a conversation with, Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz about their research on what makes a successful marriage and their new book entitled, “Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage”. You can read more about the Drs. Schmitz on their own website - http://www.GoldenAnniversaries.com. For the past 25 years, Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz have been referred to as “the marriage doctors” — a term given them by one of their early workshop participants. With more than 25 years of research experience on successfully married couples and their own 41 years of successful marriage, Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz know what makes marriage work. From their research they have discovered seven pervasive characteristics present in all successful marriages. Their book, “Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage,” exposes their secrets for success through poignant, real-life stories, garnered from hundreds of interviews with happily married couples as well as from their own marriage. Dr. Charles D. Schmitz has been a highly successful faculty member and administrator in higher education for 38 years. His teaching has focused in the areas of counseling psychology and leadership development. During his distinguished career, he has received some 40 local, state and national awards and honors; published more than 200 articles, manuscripts, books and scholarly papers; delivered more than 600 public speeches, professional presentations and workshops; and traveled throughout the world. He has appeared on radio and television, and has been frequently quoted in the print media. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He currently is Dean of the College of Education and Professor of Counseling and Family Therapy at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz was an award-winning administrator and educator for 36 years and has lectured in numerous college courses in counseling and leadership since receiving her doctoral degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. As the former chief operating officer for a large organization of more than 22,000 people (students and employees), she understands complex enterprises and human relations issues. During her career, Elizabeth received more than 25 local, state and national awards and honors; published more than 85 articles, manuscripts and books; and delivered more than 400 speeches, workshops and presentations. She has made numerous radio appearances, been featured on television and quoted extensively in the print media on a variety of topics. She currently is president of Successful Marriage Reflections, LLC. Charley and Liz reside in St. Louis, Missouri, the heart of America, with their Wonder Dog, Jake. When they are tired of writing for the day or just want to enjoy the sights and sounds of their wonderful hometown, you can see “the marriage doctors” tooling around the region in their torch red Mustang convertible with the top down. Their personalized St. Louis Cardinals license plate says simply, “2CARDS.” They are, without a doubt, a couple of cards — two fun loving fools!

Today's podcast is presentation of studies performed at Harvard university which help explain why adolescents make poor choices, have judgment issues, and may have social anxieties.

Today's podcast is a review of a study by Russell Barkley on young drivers and driving records. His study found drivers who have ADHD had more violations, accidents, and poorer driving habits than non ADHD peers.

Today's podcast is a presentation of my opinion on the question of whether or not there are true tests for ADHD. My beliefs are that to rule out ADHD requires a thorough physical evaluation, an educational assessment, a full psychological evaluation, and a speech/language evaluation.

Today's podcast is a presentation of research from Dr. Arthur Aron and associates which had shown that love was connected to dopamine levels and other brain functions. The data suggested love was like a drug for those who were in love. Equally, being "lovelorn" could be like withdrawal and could cause an increase risk taking behaviors.

Today's podcast is a brief presentation on how we have 18 years of follow- up data on students who either took medication for ADHD, those who did not take the medication and the outcomes in regard to reading, absenteeism, and being retained in school.

Today's podcast is my fantasy about what would happen if the managed care companies were able to refer patients to a mental health computer in a retail chain store. I present the worst care scenario and I discuss my concerns for the public and the profession.

Today's podcast is an expression of my anger towards ValueOptions, a managed care company. After years of dropping our fees, and than keeping them stagnant for over 8 years, they mail me a certificate of appreciation for years of service. Their subscribers appreciate our services. The company, however, does not see the field as important enough to warrant a raise in fees. Listen to my little dream sequence.

Today’s podcast is my opinion that college is not the path for every High School Graduate. The kids who struggled in school, hated school, or had significant learning problems may not be the best candidates for college. They may be better of in technological training programs or entering the work force in areas that interest them. Not every job needs a college diploma.

Although 50% of people questioned think they can tell when someone is lying, the data suggest we really are not that good at telling when someone is lying to us. Today’s podcast presents some of the reasons why we can't always tell who is telling the truth or who is lying.

With the start of a new year, I wanted to impart some information that can be helpful to all parents. Today's podcast contains a few tips for parents.

Today's podcast is a presentation of a study that suggested incompetent people are unaware of their incompetence.

Today's podcast is another of my own productions. Today, I give the general public a taste of what we clinicians have to handle when we have are forced to have telephone reviews by managed care company employees.

Today's podcast is a brief discussion on how brain cells can regenerate and grow throughout our lives and how we can always learn new tricks.

Today's podcast production is a simulated call from a parent who is requesting therapy for her 17 year old son. Unfortunately, she does not get the answer she wanted to hear!

Today's Podcast is a short presentation on why people need to accept the fact that everybody does not look at the world the same way. It is importnat to understand how people you deal with look at the world to undertand how to deal with them more effectively.

Dr. Howard Gurr presents a new podcast, which is a spoof of a generalized voice mail box system of a typical managed care company. Hear how frustrating this is to deal with these companies on a daily basis. Any comments about today's podcast would be greatly appreciated.

The data suggests psychologists are not very good at predicting violence in people. There are some indicators that are recognized as being correlated with violence. In today's podcast I provide the listener with some of the major factors and qualities that are correlated with violent behaviors.

Today's podcast presents a review of a psychological study of a simple screening test for Autism that can be used with infants of 12 months of age. The study presents correlational data that can be helpful for pediatricians and parents to use with infants at 12 months of age. The test is simple and harmless, but it cannot be used to defintely prove whether a child has Autism.

Today's podcast presents the most recent information on the mental health benefits of exercising.

On today's podcast I talk about the negative and the positive aspects of video games and virtual environments.

Today's podcast is a conversation with Dr. Michael Zentman. Dr. Zentman heard my earlier podcast on the different types of therapy and he wanted to explain how contemporary psychoanalysis was different than how I presented it in my podcast.Dr. Michael Zentman has been a practicing Clinical Psychologist for 27 years in Centerport, LI and Manhattan. After earning a doctorate in Clinical Psychology he completed eight additional years of post-doctoral training in Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy, Group Therapy and Family & Marital Therapy, He has taught at the graduate and post-doctoral level for eighteen years. He is on the faculty at the Training Institute for Mental Health in Manhattan, and he is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology and Supervisor of Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. He is the founder and director of the Adelphi University Postgraduate Program in Marriage & Couple Therapy. In addition to working with families and couples, Dr. Zentman has consulted with many family business owners on the complex interaction of their businesses and their families.

Today's podcast is a discussion of alcohol use and psychological treatment with Dr. Robbin Schneider Gurr.

Today's podcast presents some ideas on how and why men and women solve problems and think differently.

Today's pdocast is about people abusing medications for ADD/ADHD.

Today's show is about the benefits of being treated by a psychiatrist and a psychologist when a person has a serious or long term mental conditon.

Today's show gives the listener the major issues that interfere in long term relationships and my tips on how to find a healthy partner.

Today I review a study that suggests shyness may have its roots in brain physiology and may not just due to our environmental experiences.

In today's podcast I provide some simple tips on how not to break your New Years resolutions.

Psychologists are involved in consumer research. Now they are using neurobiology to determine product preferences. This technique was clearly seen as being very powerful in a recent study comparing Coke and Pepsi.

When we talk to others about what they did to hurt us the word"you" gets in the way. Today I teach people how to stop using the word "you" and why the word "I" is much better.

Today I comment on two cases in which Paxil, an SSRI, was seen as being the cause or contributor to a case of embezzlement and a case of murder/suicide.

Today's Podcast provides a neurobiological explanation for Deja Vu.

Today I talk about red wine and healthy lifestyles- which one really helps?

Today's podcast is about PANDAS a controversial disorder that may,or may not, explain why some children get Tic disorders.

This podcast presents an outline of Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD).

Today's Podcast is a snapshot of my philosophy on what I consider to be rational parenting.

Should you intervene if your elderly parents need assistance or guidance?

Todays podcast presents data which suggests smoking cigarettes can possibly lower a smoker's overall intelligence.

Dr.  Richard Lustberg is my guest today discuss the confusion the public experiences figuring out the differences between all of the mental health providers in their areas.

The podcast is a brief rundown on how parents can work with school if their children have special educational needs.

This show talks about what depression costs the US economy and why we need to prevent depression in the workplace.

This podcast presents a study that claims Botox can cure depression- and what is wrong with this study.

There are three major schools of practice in psychotherapy. This podcast explains the difference between Psychoanalysis, Behaviorism, and Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy.

Today's Podcast is about Panic Disorder: what it is and how to reduce its power.

Mental health services are beneficial in many health and medical conditions.

Follow-up podcast on depression. This podcast presents the two types of depressive reactions.

This podcast is a simplified explanation of depression.

Approximately 4% of adults may have these disorders. ADHD is a more complex disorder than most people think. Although we know that ADHD does not go away, we do know with the proper diagnosis and treatment, the disorder can be controlled and the negative...

 How do you choose the right mental health professional?

 How come it is sometimes so hard to get a mental health worker from your insurance panel provider list?