In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) explore the cultural and clinical trends of 2024, focusing on global unrest, political polarization, re-examining power dynamics, and the ongoing mental health crisis. We discuss the impact of trauma awareness and the complexities of the victim mentality, as well as state-specific mental health trends revealed through recent research. In this episode, we further explore the state of mental health in America, discussing various mental health trends across states, the impact of misinformation on mental health, and the public's outrage towards healthcare practices, as evidenced in the assassination of United Healthcare’s CEO. We delve into the role of venture capital in telehealth and the ethical implications of profit-driven healthcare. The conversation emphasizes the need for advocacy and ethical change in the mental health landscape, urging listeners to engage in positive dialogue and action.

Chapters

00:00 Cultural and Clinical Trends of 2024 03:54 Global Unrest and Political Polarization 6:55 Re-examining Power Dynamics, Trauma, and Victim Mentality 12:22 Cosmetic Facial Scar Study 13:32 Attitudes Towards Trauma Study 15:25 The Mental Health Crisis and Its Impacts 16:30 State-Specific Mental Health Trends 2024 23:08 Health Insurance and Public Outrage 27:36 The Impact of Venture Capital on Telehealth 31:03 Advocacy and Ethical Change in Mental Health

Personality Couch Episodes Referenced:

• Personalities that Kill (Ep. 07): https://youtu.be/Ob7WLEX7ZvQ
• What's Trending in Our Culture and How it Affects Mental Health (Ep. 09): https://youtu.be/uJKTb9Qj8RA

References:

Global Election Results:

• https://apnews.com/article/global-elections-2024-incumbents-defeated-c80fbd4e667de86fe08aac025b333f95
• https://abcnews.go.com/538/democrats-incumbent-parties-lost-elections-world/story?id=115972068
• https://www.ft.com/content/e8ac09ea-c300-4249-af7d-109003afb893
• https://time.com/6550920/world-elections-2024/

Trauma and Our Perceptions:

• Jones and McNally Facial Scar Study (2022): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1981-28014-001
• Kleck and Strenta Study on Expectancy and Trauma (1980): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1981-28014-001

Mental Health Trends By State:

• https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america
• https://www.aol.com/mental-illness-plagues-va-n-184111928.html

Mental Health Venture Capital Companies’ Impact:

• https://www.amha-or.com/the-toxic-impact-of-venture-capital-on-psychotherapy
• https://www.reddit.com/r/therapists/comments/143v1yg/venture_capitol_funded_mental_health_companies/?rdt=44172
• https://www.chesshealthsolutions.com/2023/08/17/the-dark-side-of-venture-capital-investments-in-healthcare/

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we dive into the complexities of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) treatment, in particular, the healing power of the invisible dynamics in therapy. We discuss the importance of motivation and insight in recovery for BPD, and the significance of the therapeutic relationship. The conversation emphasizes that while BPD is treatable, the journey is often non-linear and requires active participation from the patient. We also highlight the necessity of setting boundaries within therapy to create a safe and effective environment for healing. In this conversation, we discuss the importance of evaluating effort in therapy, the significance of attachment, and the challenges posed by boundary violations. Our conversation also explores the concepts of transference and counter-transference, the process of repairing ruptures in the therapeutic relationship, and the methods of facilitating insight and connections in therapy. Overall, this discussion emphasizes the individualized nature of treatment and the invisible dynamics that play a crucial role in the therapeutic process.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Treatability and Recovery in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) 05:50 The Role of Motivation in Treatment 11:28 Which Treatment is Best for BPD? 14:08 Our Approach to BPD Therapy: Invisible Concepts 14:58 Boundaries in Therapy 21:15 The Therapy Relationship 22:51 Bad Therapy 26:51 Transference and Counter-Transference 33:35 Facilitating Insight and Connections 36:35 Summary and Conclusion