Relationships 2.0 With Dr. Michelle Skeen

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Guest: Aphrodite T. Matsakis, PhD author of Loving Someone with PTDS: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Connecting with Your Partner after Trauma. Apr 23, 2014

Show notes

About the book: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can present with a number of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and trouble sleeping. If your partner has PTSD, you may want to help, but find yourself at a loss. The simple truth is that PTSD can be extremely debilitating—not just for the person who has experienced trauma first-hand, but for their partners as well. And while there are many books written for those suffering from PTSD, there are few written for the people who love them. In Loving Someone with PTSD, renowned trauma expert and author of I Can’t Get Over It!, Aphrodite Matsakis, presents concrete skills and strategies for the partners of those with PTSD. With this informative and practical book, you will increase your understanding of the signs and symptoms of PTSD, improve your communication skills with your loved one, set realistic expectations, and work to create a healthy environment for the both of you. In addition, you will learn to manage your own grief, helplessness, and fear regarding your partner’s condition. PTSD is a manageable disability. While it isn’t your responsibility to rescue your partner or act as his or her therapist, this book will help you be supportive and implement strategies for lessening the negative impact of PTSD—not just for your partner, but for your relationship, and, importantly, for yourself. About the author: Aphrodite T. Matsakis, PhD, is an internationally recognized expert in trauma and relationships. Her books include: I Can’t Get Over It!, Trust After Trauma, The Rape Recovery Handbook, Back From the Front: Combat Trauma, Love & Family, and most recently Loving Someone with PTSD. Other specialities: communication skills, relationships, stress management, and women’s and minority issues. She has counseled others for over 35 years, taught at several major universities; and has conducted numerous seminars. Visitwww.matsakis.com for further information.

Guest: Jim Donovan, author of Happy@Work: 60 Simple Ways to Stay Engaged and Be Successful. Apr 16, 2014

Show notes

About the book: Even in a tight economy, job satisfaction isn’t a luxury; fulfilled, happy employees are productive, innovative, and loyal. And workplace fulfillment spills over into happier families and better communities. Jim Donovan, a small-business owner, consultant, and speaker, has worked with employees and employers for twenty-five years. In that time he has tested and honed these shift-producing strategies on everything from managing time, making decisions, and marking milestones to breaking patterns, bouncing back, and becoming exceptional. Each tip’s method and rationale are clearly explained. Real workplace vignettes demonstrate the benefits and results that can be gleaned from simple shifts and actions. These tools will empower you with the knowledge that no matter the circumstance, you can think, act, and feel in ways that create purpose, success, and, yes, happiness. About the author: Jim Donovan speaks regularly to employees and executives at small business and large corporations. He is a frequent media guest and expert source on personal development, business success, and the spiritual laws that develop both. Jim delivers a message of hope and possibility to everyone he comes in contact with. He is able to see the potential in others even when they themselves cannot and his absolute refusal to accept limits, either in himself or others enables him to bring out the best in those who he encounters. Several of Jim’s books have been proclaimed self-help classics and have inspired people of all ages and from all walks of life. His seminars have motivated audiences from single parents trying to get off welfare to company managers and business owners who want to achieve greater results. Beyond simple inspiration and motivation, Jim provides people with workable strategies that enable them to take charge of their own destiny and reach their full potential. Jim’s driving principle is that “Within you is the power to change your life” and that we are, in fact, capable of creating the life we’ve always wanted. He lives in Buckingham, PA.

Guest: Emily K. Sandoz PhD, co-author of Living with Your Body and Other Things You Hate: How to Let Go of Your Struggle with Body Image Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Apr 09, 2014

Show notes

Let’s be honest: most people are unhappy with at least some aspect of their physical appearance. Just think of all the money we spend each year trying to improve our looks! But if worrying about your appearance is getting in the way of living, maybe it’s time to start thinking about body image in a completely new way. Based in proven-effective acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Living with Your Body and Other Things You Hateoffers a unique approach to addressing your struggle with body image. In this book, you will not be told that your self-perceptions are wrong, that your thoughts are irrational, or that your feelings are misguided. Instead, you will learn to live with the reality that these often painful thoughts and beliefs about yourself will arise from time to time, and that what is really important is accepting these distressing thoughts without allowing them to dominate your life. You know what it’s like to constantly be checking the mirror, to avoid certain social situations where your body may be exposed, or to gaze longingly at a fashion model in a magazine and think, “Why can’t I be her?” But what you may not know is that people who struggle with negative body image are at an increased risk for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and low self-esteem. Body image problems can even lead to major financial issues. By focusing on your appearance and little else, you are hurting yourself in more ways than one. If you are ready to find a purpose in life that is more important than the pain you feel about your appearance, this book provides a truthful, powerful resource. About the author: Emily K. Sandoz, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at University of Louisiana at Lafayette and director of the Louisiana Contextual Science Research Group. She is also a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating clients who struggle to live with peace and purpose in their bodies, including those suffering with body image disturbance, eating difficulties, medical issues, pain or sexual trauma. Emily is coauthor of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders, Mindfulness and Acceptance for Bulimia.

Guest: Josh Turknett, MD author of The Migraine Miracle: A Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free Ancestral Diet to Reduce Inflammation and Relieve Your Headaches for Good. Apr 02, 2014

Show notes

If you suffer from migraines, you know from experience that prescription medication can only do so much to help relieve your suffering. You also know that your next headache could still strike at any time, and as a result, you may lead a life of fear and trepidation, never knowing when the responsibilities of work and family will once again fall victim to your throbbing skull. Unfortunately, despite the many advances in medicine, there is still no real cure for the migraine headache. In The Migraine Miracle, a neurologist with a personal history of migraines offers readers the revolutionary dietary cure that has worked for him and continues to work for his patients: a diet low in wheat, sugar, and processed foods, and high in organic, protein-rich animal products. The book also explores the link between inflammation, diet, and migraines, and contains a 21-day meal plan to help readers change the way they eat. By following this easy meal plan, millions of sufferers will discover a life free from symptoms—once and for all. The book includes comprehensive, research-based information that explains what the brain goes through during a migraine headache, the phases of the migraine, and how a diagnosis is made. It also explores the risks and benefits of migraine medication, natural remedies for migraines, dietary migraine triggers, and detailed, specific instructions for a migraine-free eating plan If you have tried migraine medicine but have not found real relief, it’s time to try something new. By changing the way you eat, and understanding what foods can trigger your migraine, you can start feeling better longer, without the threat of a migraine always looming over everything you do. About the author: Josh Turknett, MD, is a 2001 graduate of the Emory School of Medicine, a board-certified neurologist, and a clinical researcher in the areas of migraine, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Turknett maintains a busy neurology practice in Atlanta, GA, and has been recognized twice by www.vitals.com as one of America’s most compassionate doctors. He lives in the metro Atlanta area with his wife Jenny, their two children, and an ever-expanding collection of banjos.

Guest: Sam Bennett, author of Get It Done: From Procrastination to Creative Genius in 15 Minutes a Day Mar 26, 2014

Show notes

About the book: Creative people tend to see the world a little differently than everyone else. But that doesn’t mean they can’t zero in on their goals, get focused, get organized, and not only accomplish what they want to achieve but earn money doing it. In Get It Done, a beloved teacher and successful writer, actor, and comedian helps you get a handle on your own particular — even peculiar — creative process and harness your energies in positive, productive, and income-generating ways. Sam Bennett’s innovative exercises, inspiring true success stories, and bonus online components will shift your thinking and prompt the kind of insights that turn underperforming geniuses into accomplished artists. About the author: Sam Bennett is the creator of the Organized Artist Company. In addition to her multifaceted writing and performance work, she specializes in personal branding, career strategies, and small-business marketing. She grew up in Chicago and now lives in a tiny beach town outside Los Angeles.

Guest: Richard Saul, MD author of ADHD Does Not Exist: The Truth About Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. Mar 19, 2014

Show notes

About the book: In this groundbreaking and controversial book, behavioral neurologist Dr. Richard Saul draws on five decades of experience treating thousands of patients labeled with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder—one of the fastest growing and widely diagnosed conditions today—to argue that ADHD is actually a cluster of symptoms stemming from over 20 other conditions and disorders. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 6.4 million children between the ages of four and seventeen have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While many skeptics believe that ADHD is a fabrication of drug companies and the medical establishment, the symptoms of attention-deficit and hyperactivity are all too real for millions of individuals who often cannot function without treatment. If ADHD does not exist, then what is causing these debilitating symptoms? Over the course of half a century, physician Richard Saul has worked with thousands of patients demonstrating symptoms of ADHD. Based on his experience, he offers a shocking conclusion: ADHD is not a condition on its own, but rather a symptom complex caused by over twenty separate conditions—from poor eyesight and giftedness to bipolar disorder and depression—each requiring its own specific treatment. Drawing on in-depth scientific research and real-life stories from his numerous patients, ADHD Does not Exist synthesizes Dr. Saul’s findings, and offers and clear advice for everyone seeking answers. About the author: Dr. Richard Saul is a professor, clinician, researcher, and radio personality. For more than fifty years Dr. Saul has incorporated his clinical and academic experience into the practice of behavioral neurology and development. He served as the chairman of the department of pediatrics at Highland Park Hospital, and the medical director of an HMO in North Suburban Chicago. While working with the Health Systems Agency, a federal program, he was responsible for containing healthcare costs in Illinois. Dr. Saul has been a Castle and Connolly Best Doctor in Chicago for the past ten years. His work has been applauded in US News & World Report. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Neurology, and the Society for Behavior and Development. He earned his M.D. at Chicago Medical School. He lives with his wife outside of Chicago.

Guest: Alan C. Fox author of People Tools: 54 Strategies for Building Relationships, Creating Joy, and Embracing Prosperity. Mar 12, 2014

Show notes

About the book: Getting along well with others is the real secret to success and happiness. In tens of thousands of classrooms we teach reading, writing, and arithmetic and yet we leave solutions to the universal problems of human relationships to be discovered, if at all, by trial and error. The trial is painful and the error is costly. People Tools: 54 Strategies for Building Relationships, Creating Joy, and Embracing Prosperity, provides time-proven techniques that you can use to build a better, happier, more successful life. It is the perfect resource for busy people looking for fast and effective solutions to the challenges we face every day. “People Tools” are practical and easy to understand. From developing self-confidence, to improving communication skills, to finding constructive ways to resolve conflict, each “People Tool” addresses a specific issue and provides a simple, straightforward strategy that you can adopt to bring about a positive result. Open the book to any page and you will find a useful solution. Each tool is illustrated with insightful stories and amusing anecdotes that are relevant and relatable. The stories will reel you in but the advice will change your life. Although you may recognize the more intuitive techniques in People Tools, this sourcebook provides explanations and helpful examples from a vast collection of different tools designed to help you further expand your own existing repertoire of skills. Some of the useful “People Tools” in the book include: The Belt Buckle. When words are different than action (The Belt Buckle), trust the Belt Buckle, not the words. Buy a Ticket. To make something good happen in your life you have to participate. Catching a Feather. An alternative to the endless chase, this Tool reveals how to attract people you want to be closer to. Patterns Persist. Prior actions are predictive of future behaviors. Catch Them Being Good. Rewards are more effective than punishments. About the author: Alan Fox has enjoyed a number of lifetimes during the past seventy-two years. He has university degrees in accounting, law, education, and professional writing. He has been employed as a Tax Supervisor for a national CPA firm, established his own law firm, and founded a commercial real estate company in 1968 that now owns and manages more than seventy major income-producing properties in eleven states. Fox is the founder, editor, and publisher of Rattle, one of the most respected literary magazines in the United States, and he sits on the board of directors of several non-profit foundations. People Tools is the distillation of his experience in accounting, law, real estate, poetry, three marriages, and raising six children, two step children, and one foster child.

Guest: Michael A. Tompkins, PhD author of OCD: A Guide for The Newly Diagnosed. Mar 08, 2014

Show notes

About the book: When someone is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chances are they’ve been living with the symptoms for a long time. People with OCD may have long felt embarrassed by their thoughts and behaviors, which may include fear of contamination, the need for symmetry, pathological doubt, aggressive thoughts, repeating behaviors, and obsessive cleaning. OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed helps readers understand how OCD works so they can develop better strategies for coping with their symptoms. This pocket guide offers guidance for coping with the diagnosis itself, discusses stigmas related to OCD, and includes help for readers unsure of who they should tell about the diagnosis. Readers also learn about the most effective treatment approaches and easy ways to begin to manage their OCD symptoms. An OCD diagnosis can be a devastating event, or it can be a catalyst for positive change. Books in the Guides for the Newly Diagnosed series provide readers with all the tools they need to process a diagnosis in the healthiest way possible, and then move forward to manage their symptoms so that the disorder doesn’t get in the way of living a fulfilling life. This book is a part of New Harbinger Publications’ Guides for the Newly Diagnosed series.The series was created to help people who have recently been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Our goal is to offer user-friendly resources that provide answers to common questions readers may have after receiving a diagnosis, as well as evidence-based strategies to help them cope with and manage their condition, so that they can get back to living a more balanced life. About the author: Dr. Michael A. Tompkins is the author of six books. His latest book for anxious adults is Anxiety and Avoidance: A Universal Treatment for Anxiety, Panic, and Fear. He is co-director of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, a diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, a trainer for the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Research, and assistant clinical professor, University of California, Berkeley. His book for anxious teenagers, My Anxious Mind: A Teen’s Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic is a Magination Press/American Psychological Association bestseller and received the 2011 Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit Award.

Guest: Mark Weinstein, a privacy expert and CEO of Sgrouples. Mar 01, 2014

Show notes

This week my guest is Mark Weinstein, a privacy expert and CEO of Sgrouples. Many of our relationships are started and maintained online. Whether you are using match.com (or another dating service), Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, or other ways to connect you need to know what you can do to protect your privacy. Mark will address issues about our privacy and provide tips for what we can do to protect ourselves. About my guest: Mark Weinstein is a leading privacy expert and CEO of Sgrouples.com, a privacy-centric social network that is positioned to lead the privacy revolution. Sgrouples has an unprecedented “Privacy Bill of Rights,” which prevents Sgrouples from inserting tracking cookies, data mining, or stalking its users. Mark Weinstein has been featured in Forbes and USA Today, as well as on Fox News. Honored as “Privacy By Design Ambassador” by the Canadian Government, Mark is also the author of the award winning book series,Habitually Great and a privacy blogger for USA Today and the Huffington Post.

Guest: Betsy Prioleau. Feb 22, 2014

Show notes

This week my guest is Betsy Prioleau. We will discuss her specialty subject: sex and love from a post-feminist perspective. Betsy is the author of Swoon: Great Seducers and Why Women Love Them (W. W. Norton, 2013), Circle of Eros (Duke University Press) and Seductress: Women Who Ravished the World and Their Lost Art of Love (Penguin/Viking). She has a Ph.D. in literature from Duke University, was an associate professor at Manhattan College, and taught cultural history at New York University. She lives in New York City. Visit her website at www.BetsyPrioleau.com.

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