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Dr. Heather is answering this very question using examples from the 1996 film, Primal Fear. In his film debut and Oscar nominated performance, Edward Norton portrays a murderer capable of convincing everyone around him he has Multiple Personality Disorder. Heather and Kristen break down the complexities of malingering and diagnosing the mental health condition, Dissociative Identity Disorder (having two or more identities). Movie Clips References: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. (2017). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association. Tracy, D., & Rix, K. (2017). Malingering mental disorders: Clinical assessment. BJPsych Advances, 23(1), 27-35. doi:10.1192/apt.bp.116.015958. Detecting-Clinical-and-Simulated-Dissociative-Identity-Disorder-With-the-Test-of-Memory-Malingering.pdf (researchgate.net) Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Pathophysiological Phenomenon (researchgate.net)

Dr. Heather defines narcissism as a personality trait and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. We will also be getting into a VERY important topic that many of us may not have heard about: narcissistic abuse in romantic relationships. We’ll also be defining things that occur in these relationships: love bombing, devaluing, discarding, triangulation, and gas lighting. Resources: What Is Narcissistic Abuse? - Narcissist Abuse Support DoctorRamani - YouTube Taking Yourself Back: Healing from Narcissistic & Antagonistic (teachable.com) References:  PR Newswire. (2017, May 17). World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day 2017 to Feature Free, Week-Long Telesummit. PR Newswire US. Doctor reveals the warning signs you’re dating a narcissist, from telling lots of stories to showing off (the-sun.com) All You Should Know About Narcissistic Love Bombing | Psychology Today

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was groundbreaking television at the time–shaping our emotional development as preschoolers. As we share some history and examples from the show, Dr. Heather breaks down its psychological impact and the effects of Mister Rogers’ social influence. Sources: Fred Rogers Productions Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018) Available to stream on HBO Aminimanesh, A., Ghazavi, Z., & Mehrabi, T. (2019). Effectiveness of the Puppet Show and Storytelling Methods on Children's Behavioral Problems. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, 24(1), 61–65. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_115_15 Arnett, J.J. et al., 2019. Human development: A cultural approach, Melbourne, VIC: Pearson Australia. Mcleod, S. (1970, January 1). Bobo doll experiment. Bobo Doll Experiment | Simply Psychology. Retrieved January 21, 2022, from https://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html

What does psychopathy, machiavellianism, and narcissism have in common? They are all part of what is called The Dark Triad, and they ghost. Dr. Heather and Kristen dive deep into the personality traits of these toxicos/toxicas. Source: Leaving without a word: Ghosting and the Dark Triad traits, 2021, Acta Psychologica

Therapists portrayed in film and television have made us laugh, cry, and cringe. As a psychologist, therapist, and professor, Dr. Heather shares her thoughts on Kristen’s top picks from entertainment. Article: Fictional TV therapists ranked from least to most likely to ruin lives (insider.com)

Do you vibe with your therapist? Dr. Heather offers some pointers to tell if they're a good fit, or if you should just swipe right. Kristen and Heather share some personal examples of their therapeutic experiences (the good, the bad, and the ugly). Sources: 6 Signs You Should Swipe Right on Your Therapist (healthline.com) Behn, A., Davanzo, A., & Errázuriz, P. (2018). Client and therapist match on gender, age, and income: Does match within the therapeutic dyad predict early growth in the therapeutic alliance? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(9), 1403–1421. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22616

Why do we expect to have what we want right when we want it? We'll talk about the connection between the need for instant gratification and social media, as well as the benefits of delayed gratification.

Chess prodigy and grandmaster Beth Harmon's struggle with drug and alcohol dependency are depicted in the 2020 Netflix drama miniseries. We'll define addiction, share behavior changes and risk factors associated with substance abuse, and elaborate on the impact of social support in Beth's journey.  Kristen's Wine Pick: Not even worth remembering this time... Heather's Wine Pick: Rabble Red Wine, Paso Robles

High achievers and creators—this one’s for you! Have you ever beat yourself up too much for not reaching a goal? We have! We’re sharing healthier ways of setting expectations for all you fellow perfectionists.

Selena’s legacy continues nearly 26 years later. Beyond her music and natural-born talent as a performer, she lives on in the hearts of fans because of her incredible social impact as a bi-cultural icon. Through Selena’s example, we are defining elements of biculturalism, specifically what this means for Mexican-Americans. Kristen's Wine Pick: Toad Hollow, 2019 Chardonnay, Unoaked Heather's Wine Pick: Wilson Creek Winery, 2018 Family Reserve GSM Prime Time Story with John Quinones: https://youtu.be/-NI8Pm7khiI

You survived 2020! Now let’s use what we learned to help us plan and keep our goals for 2021.

Body image and culture clash are the main themes we are discussing within the 2002 film, Real Women Have Curves, starring America Ferrera. Girl, you betta eat that flan! Many of the topics we'll discuss about body image impact societal expectations, familial boundaries, and the way we see ourselves. Our special guest Branigan is a fellow Latina, friend, and body positive/mental health advocate. Branigan's Wine Pick: Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon Frida Kahlo

Who knew vividly imagining positive situations could actually lead to optimism and content? There's way more to it, as Dr. Heather and Kristen will discuss. We hope this candid conversation will lift some of the uncertainty and anxiety we're all feeling with the pandemic, racial injustice, and the election among other things.

We're covering everything from lobotomies to hypnosis to Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and Multiple Personality Disorder—some of which are observed in the 2020 Netflix series, Ratched. You won't want to miss this Halloween special!

Haunted houses, horror movies, and scary costumes are a few of our favorite things about Halloween. But why do so many people enjoy getting scared? Heather will share some research about that! We’re also talking about some unique phobias that you may or may not have heard about, as well as how phobias are diagnosed by mental health professionals.

Psychopathology simply means the scientific study of mental and behavioral disorders. So what does this look like in vampires knowing how destructive, impulsive, and blood thirsty they can be? Join us for a special Halloween-themed episode! We're talking about your favorite vampire shows and movies: Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and more!

Are we allowed to grieve the death of a celebrity, even though we never knew them personally? We debunk judgement passed when we feel sad about the death of a well-known figure we’ve connected with. Heather will share all the research and even offer some coping skills when dealing with grief. @drlisaoefinger, "Why we Grieve When a Public Figure Dies." (Check out her IG page for amazing mental health content).

In this episode we cover topics of suicide warning signs and risks associated with addiction in the Academy Award winning film, A Star is Born (2018). Stick around till the end because Heather will share suicide prevention resources and what you can do if someone you love is thinking of suicide. Helpful link: https://afsp.org/story/if-someone-tells-you-they-re-thinking-about-suicide-a-realconvo-guide-from-afsp *Trigger Warning ⚠️ This episode contains very sensitive topics about suicide.* Wine Recs: Maurice Carrie Sara Bella White Cabernet Sauvignon & Prayer of Sinners Red Blend More Resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK   Crisis Text Line Text “HELLO” to 741741  Support for deaf/HH 1-800-799-4889

Therapy is really not as scary as people think. We’re throwing out some common myths about therapy. We’re also going to talk about our own experiences with therapy! Heather found some great, budget-friendly mental health resources if you’re looking to find a therapist (below).   Employee Assistance Programs (EAPS) can offer free therapeutic services. Colleges, universities, school districts have mental health professionals on staff. Health insurance is another route. Links Free clinics in DFW https://www.freeclinics.com/cit/tx-dallas http://centromisalud.com/  Free Clinics in Riverside County, CA https://connectriverside.org  Other ways to access mental health services https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/June-2018/4-Ways-Teens-Can-Access-Therapy-Without-Health-Ins

The Notebook ranks one of our favorite rom coms. But is it a fair representation of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease? Heather evaluates examples from the movie. We also share research showing how these conditions disproportionately affect Hispanics and African-Americans. Fun fact: September is World Alzheimer's Month.