Dr. James H. Bramson Interviews Dr. Doris Brett (Following the ASH Conference)

You should know who Dr. Doris Brett is. If you are living in Australia, New Zealand, or even Europe you may already know her work. She is a celebrated writer who has won numerous awards for her poems, novels, and children’s books. Dr. Doris Brett is also a captivating speaker and renowned clinical psychologist and hypnotherapist. I reconnected with her at the ASH (Australian Society of Hypnosis) conference in Cairns, Australia. I asked her for an interview and then stalked her and threatened to not leave Australia until she agreed … and, lucky for you all, she finally acquiesced.

In this episode, Dr. Brett touches on several classic stories ripe with metaphors. As an example, do you know the famous story about a lost girl who starts off her misadventures in life by inadvertently killing someone? Then her circuitous journey leads her to three feckless male archetypal figures, who are also lost. They band together and set off to find what they’re missing inside. They eventually walk down a windy road and kill again, which sets them free. Their journey results in each of them becoming more enlightened, self-assured, self-directed, and happier. They even start singing together and find a skip in their step.

Dr. Brett knows that you will easily recognize this familiar tale despite the cryptic setup. She opines that the way we setup a story or narrative framework is important. Have you figured it out? The above framework is the basis for the Wizard of Oz where two witches die. One witch dies at the beginning when Dorothy’s house lands on her. At the end, we all remember how the wicked witch melts (second death). Each character in Oz is a source of inspiration. Dorothy realizes she has always had the power to go back home, to find peace and strength within, and that she is not alone. Whereas the Scarecrow realizes he is smart, the Tin Man discovers his heart, and the Lion finds his courage. It’s a meta-story about not doubting ourselves and recognizing our full potential. It also illustrates the wisdom of questioning authority figures, false prophets, and autocratic leaders who rule by fear.

The Wizard is a symbol of false authority or illusions of power until the curtain is pulled back. The Emerald city is a metaphor for a false utopia. The tornado represents upheaval, change, and a new phase of life. The story as a whole can be a psychological guide on resiliency, the importance of community, and finding your life path after a tragic event.

Arduous events can test one’s soul and grit. Dr. Brett believes that hardships can lead to Post-Traumatic Growth. In brief, Dr. Brett illustrates how a familiar story like the Wizard of Oz can be rich with symbolism. Dr. Brett artfully uses this classic story and film, along with Greek mythology, ferry tales, and poems to help clients gain insights into their own life story - - that can lead to meaningful change.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Dr. Jim Bramson interviews Dr. Dan Peters

Dr. Dan Peters is known to his clients and followers as Dr. Dan. He is a podcaster, author, therapist, and Executive Director at the Summit Center.

In this episode he opines about how to “Make Your Worrier a Warrior” based on his seminal book by that same title. This shift from worrier to warrior benefits children inasmuch as parents.

Dr. Dan is an expert on twice exceptional or multi-exceptional children. He discusses how to support the emotional needs of gifted children and all children. He touches on the topics of "perfectionism" and the importance of helping children feel like "they are enough." He encourages parents to instill positive self-worth in their kids. He thinks parents should avoid turning children into anxious achievers like themselves. Instead he believes that parents are most helpful and efficacious when they learn how to become mindful (peaceful) warriors with a heart.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Male Intimacy: The Benefits of Cultivating Authentic and Fulfilling Connections

Hey guys— this one’s for you!

In this episode, Rafael and Jim join forces again to help men discover the rewards of lasting male intimacy and friendships. These connections have been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation - - and can even lead to a longer life.

Humor also helps. Comedian, Hunter Duncan, in one of his standup bits, shared that the dating app Bumble has a BFF version where you can just swipe your way into a male friendship. He admitted to trying it out to make new guy friends and confessed it was semi-disastrous: “People are looking at my profile like, I wouldn’t even throw a frisbee with this guy.” Hence, shrinks (including your hosts) stress the importance of men’s groups…. and other activities where men can cultivate authentic connections with other guys.

Don’t give up hope, comrades: turns out men are teachable, and we can

learn to get out of their own way. We can be re-socialized to be less competitive, ego-driven, approval-seeking, inauthentic, and stoic. Men can also learn to stop engaging in “one-upmanship” behavior (except maybe while watching sports, like say a football game between the

Lions and the 49er’s (a random example that may or may be based on a lived experience between Jim and Rafael)).

EBMC Psychology Inc. and WCMI (which sponsor this podcast) can link you to an active Men’s Group (contact Eti Kaminsky if you are interested: etimft@gmail.com or ebmcpsych@gmail.com).

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here