The Broken Brain

Matt Moyer is a photographer, producer, and filmmaker. He is the Co-Director and Cinematographer of the Indie Documentary "Inheritance," which follows five generations of a family in Rural Ohio. 11 years in the making, the film focuses on Curtis, a young member of this family, from age 12-18, and allows us to observe the patterns and events in his family, and how they experience love, addiction, trauma, and hope. A vulnerable and brave family, their story of heartache and hope provides precious insight for anyone hoping to understand addiction and to help others. Follow the film at www.inheritancethefilm.com  This month we are highlighting the Prince Edward Island Transgender Network, found at www.peitn.com, a nonprofit focused on advocacy and support for the Trans community.

Online self-assessment tests are huge online. They can be a great tool in our own health management and improvement, but we have to use them the correct way. 

A dive into a few psychological elements of the story "A Christmas Carol." a story that has been popular for 181 years, probably for a reason. To hear history episodes like this every week, along with other bonus materials, consider donating to the Broken Brain Patreon, at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain The charity-of-focus for this month is Prince Edward Island Transgender Network, a nonprofit providing advocacy for Trans individuals in Prince Edward Island & surrounding areas. Follow their work at www.peitn.com 

Mark Sullivan MD is an Internal Medical Physician providing individual and family care at the North Virginia Family Practice. He believes in individual empowerment through relationship building and listening to patients. Like me he is dedicated to putting the patient in the driver's seat of their own healthcare. Follow his practice at www.nvafamilypractice.com Our charity-of-focus for December is the PEI Transgender Network, a nonprofit providing support and advocacy to Trans individuals living in Prince Edward Island and the surrounding areas. Go to www.peitn.com to learn more and support their great work.   Our charity-of-focus for December is the PEI Transgender Network, a nonprofit providing support and advocacy to Trans individuals living in Prince Edward Island and the surrounding areas. Go to www.peitn.com to learn more and support their great work.

Dr Sui Wong is Neurological Ophthalmologist, direct care specialist in Migraine treatment, and Author. She was kind enough to join me to discuss proactive healthy behavior for the health of the brain, finding hope with neurological disorders, and the use of mindfulness.  Go to www.peitn.com to visit our highlighted charity for December. The PEI Transgender Network provides education, fundraising, and advocacy for Trans people in Prince Edward Island & the surrounding area.

What is sobriety? For those working with Compulsion or Addiction, one of the most important elements of health is finding your own goals and measures of success. Developing an individual definition of sobriety is an often overlooked but useful tool in this process. 

Marion Stokes was a political & civil rights activist, television professional, librarian, and someone who absolutely followed her passions. From 1976 to 2012 she recorded TV for every waking hour of the day, ending up with 74,000 VHS tapes loaded with history of the evolution of news, entertainment, talk shows, and US culture. Why would she do this, and what has it contributed? To hear full episodes diving into psychological history every Thursday, consider becoming a patron of the show at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain 

As the former Director of Content for Sesame Street, Anna Housley Juster knows the psychoeducation and mental health needs of children. As a child & adolescent therapist and author, she has continued to teach children and parents the skills of emotional regulation. She discusses these needs and her new children's book, "How To Train Your Amygdala."   Follow her work at www.annahousleyjuster.com Follow her work at www.annahousleyjuster.com

The holidays are upon us! Look out! Traditions & holidays can be a joy, a burden, or even kinda meh. Forging personal traditions can help to deepen joy, reduce burden, or make it less meh and a bit more yeah.  Please check out the charity-of-focus for November while there is still some November left. The Because Organization helps people in the Philadelphia area who have survived and emerged from situations of human trafficking, to find jobs, health, and stability. Those who join the Patreon this final week of the month will have half of their monthly donation sent to The Because Organization as long as they are patrons of the show. You can also get involved or donate directly to them at: www.becauseorganization.org 

Samantha Skelly is an Master Breathwork Facilitator, Author, and the Founder & CEO of Pause Breathwork. She teaches others how to use breath as a powerful tool for stress management, emotional processing, and trauma recovery. Follow her work at www.pausebreathwork.com  Remember to follow and support The Because Organization, this month's highlighted charity, a Philadelphia based nonprofit helping survivors of human trafficking, at www.becauseorganization.org 

This week's mental health tip is about Positive Deviancy: an interesting concept and a way to find a solution that already exists, but is flying under the radar.  Go to www.becauseorganization.org to support this month's charity-of-focus, helping survivors of human trafficking.

This week we are diving into the history of Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and the tool of The Miracle Question in trying to solve clinical problems. The entire episode can be found through subscribing to the Patreon: www.patreon.com/brokenbrain  The highlighted charity this month is the Because Organization, a nonprofit helping survivors of human trafficking to rebuild a healthy & happy life. Follow their work at www.becauseorganization.org 

Thomas LaGrave is a Therapist, Social Worker, Author, former Navy SEAL, and expert in mental health treatment for youth. He describes the obstacles to mental health and social development facing modern youth, and the strengths of the young generation.  Our charity of focus this month is Because ORganization, helping survivors of Human Trafficking to adjust and build a healthy life. Follow their work at www.becauseorganization.org

Where do we look for hope when we are overwhelmed, anxious, or afraid? Mr Rogers suggested looking for the helpers, those coming to the aid of others at risk. Can we find comfort and survival by looking at all those doing good in the world?  I hope so! Visit www.becauseorganization.org to help battle Human Trafficking by helping survivors with their aftercare needs. 

The myth of Pandora's Box: is it a story of punishment, troubles, or hope? Or maybe all of that.  This week's Thursday History lesson is the open episode for November, available to regular listeners as well as Patreon Subscribers.  Goto becauseorganization.org to follow this month's highlighted charity, focused on rebuilding the lives of survivors of Human Trafficking.

Cedric Bertelli is a psychotherapist who helps people heal from trauma through somatic and movement based techniques. Somatic therapy is a huge part of modern trauma treatment, and Cedric shares how these techniques can help to impact the unconscious choices that impact our behavior. The charity of focus for November is the Because Organization, helping support survivors of human trafficking in the Philadelphia area. Follow their work at www.becauseorganization.org 

Anxiety around making or receiving voice calls on the phone is quite common nowadays. Many suffer from the anxiety caused by feeling out of control, put on the spot, or otherwise stressed about the process. Here are a few tips for mitigating and facing that anxiety.  The charity of focus for this month is Because Organization, a nonprofit that provides support for survivors of human trafficking, addressing the often forgotten aftercare. Follow their work and help out at www.becauseorganization.org  

Why do we prank at Halloween? Especially tossing rolls of toilet paper all over the land? Let's chat about it, this week on Thursday Thistory!  This one is for everyone! Not just Patrons this week!

Second Halloween Episode! AND it's is one of the ongoing episodes to feature Role Playing Games and their usefulness in therapy.  The storyline of this game is a team of Vampire Couriers helping a Vampire to relocate safely. Each player has selected strengths and weaknesses of the characters. In a Therapy RPG group these characters and attributes would tie with previously set goals, individually and by the group. Situations are pre-written for emotional experience and a processing time would be held after play session.  To learn more about RPGs as group therapy technique, stay tuned for the making-of episode and go to: www.dwighthurst.com/rpg

You can spend a lot of time and energy searching for mindfulness. Sometimes there are opportunities all around us that we don't see. Here are 2 examples of stumbling into mindfulness by accident.