In this episode of Savvy Psychologist, host Dr. Monica Johnson delves deep into the world of dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter that influences our behavior, motivation, and pleasure. While dopamine is a vital part of our brain's functioning, an over-reliance on it can lead to various downsides affecting our mental and physical well-being.
Today
The power of being DUMB to build a good life
<p>540. On her final episode, Dr. Monica Johnson shares a brain dump of quick and dirty tips to help listeners build a life worth living. She looks at the benefits of being DUMB—an acronym covering Decode/Disrupt patterns, Uncomfortable Engagement, Meaning-Making/Mastery, and Bel ... Show More
16m 5s
Nov 19
Structural dissociation: Understanding your personality's survival parts
<p>539. Dissociation is a normal human experience, but when it's outside of normal limits, it can be dysregulating. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson and Alexandra Mejia look at the signs of structural dissociation, the importance of building a baseline of coping skills, and th ... Show More
27m 3s
Nov 12
How can you walk with grief instead of fighting it, with Hilary Bucell
<p>538. Loss is inevitable, but grief is our emotional response to what is gone. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson and psychotherapist Hilary Bucell look at the differences between grief and depression and discuss various forms of loss, including ambiguous loss (like dementia o ... Show More
30m 50s
Mar 2023
Dr. Amen: A Revolution in Brain Health
TW: suicide
The Lautners are joined by psychiatrist and 18-time best-selling author, Dr. Amen, who’s on a mission to end the concept of mental illness and talk about brain health. They discuss the Launters’ brain scans from The Amen Clinic, how mental hygiene is equally as impor ... Show More
59m 32s
Jan 2024
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) with Dr. Judith Beck
In today’s episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Judith Beck, a prominent figure in the field of psychology and author of the highly regarded textbook, Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond, which is a staple in the academic journey of many students in psychiatry, psyc ... Show More
1h 17m
Feb 2024
Do Personality Tests Actually Work? Exploring the Validity of Psychometric Assessments like the MMPI
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a psychometric test used to assess personality traits and psychopathology. It’s also used to determine hiring, promotion practices, and even parole status. However, is a test really able to determine if someone will excel ... Show More
29m 39s
Feb 2024
Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT), with Dr. Anthony W. Bateman, MA, FRCPSYCH and Dr. Peter Fonagy, Ph.D., FBA
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Anthony W. Bateman and Dr. Peter Fonagy to discuss their expertise on Mentalization. Mentalization refers to the capacity to reflect upon and understand one's own state of mind and the states of mind of others. This involves recognizing and m ... Show More
1h 1m