Trigger Warning: Extensive discussion of suicide

Today we talk with one of the most knowledgeable, compassionate psychology doctoral candidates (and professional writers) we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Andrew schools us on what “stigma” actually means, helpful stats on depression and mental health, mental health literacy, and (warning) suicide. We’re all mental health professionals here, but this episode will show you just how hard it (still) is to talk about these tough topics.

Andrew Devendorf, M.A., is a PhD candidate in clinical psychology at the University of South Florida. He is also about to embark on his one-year clinical psychology internship/residency at the Seattle, Puget Sound Veteran's Affairs Healthcare System. Andrew studies depression, suicide, and mental health stigma toward these experiences. He is passionate about communicating science to increase mental health awareness and reduce stigma. His freelance work has appeared in outlet like the HuffPost, the Conversation, Psyche Magazine, and the APS Observer. You can follow him on Twitter at @AndrewDevendorf.

Links from Andrew:

Here's a link to my brother's Tumblr page with some of his comics:

https://mathew-comics.tumblr.com/page/5 

Here's a link to a water carafe he designed for CB2 during his Master's Program at SAIC, which is still being sold:

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/shop/product/saic-watering-carafe-154108

Here's a video in memory of him: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dZR04W41SU&ab_channel=AndrewDevendorf

My personal website: 

https://sites.google.com/view/andrewdevendorf

Welcome to The Psychologists Podcast, where we talk about all things psychology through a very personal lens.

Gill Strait PhD and Julia Strait PhD are both Licensed Psychologists (TX) and Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSPs, TX). They are alumni of The University of South Carolina School Psychology Doctoral Program (Go Gamecocks).

Gill is a teacher, researcher, and supervisor at a university graduate psychology training program.

Julia is owner and therapist at Ocean Therapy in Houston, TX, offering telehealth therapy to young adults in their 20s and 30s who are struggling with anxiety. Check it out here: https://www.oceantherapy.net/

Here’s your rare chance to peek behind the scenes at how an experienced psychological researcher develops a new theoretical model. Its Vygotsky meets Paul Meehl meets John Muir in this episode of TPP, as we explore a new theory focused on the 4 types of fun. Let’s get serious, but not solemn, in the scientific discussion of one of the most commonly overlooked and understudied elements of human experience: having fun.

PS: Dr Smith has been Gill’s research mentor since undergrad, and he taught Julia graduate research methods. We are honored to host him today!

Honorable Mentions:

Mindfuluh.org

bsmith5@uh.edu (Email Dr. Smith at UH)

Welcome to The Psychologists Podcast, where we talk about all things psychology through a very personal lens.

Gill Strait PhD and Julia Strait PhD are both Licensed Psychologists (TX) and Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSPs, TX). They are alumni of The University of South Carolina School Psychology Doctoral Program (Go Gamecocks).

Gill is a teacher, researcher, and supervisor at a university graduate psychology training program.

Julia is owner and therapist at Ocean Therapy in Houston, TX, offering telehealth therapy to young adults in their 20s and 30s who are struggling with anxiety. Check it out here: https://www.oceantherapy.net/

Dr. Raja David spent his infancy in a residential treatment center--seriously! Today we learn from Dr. David about Therapeutic Assessment or TA, which is totally different from the usual psychological testing and diagnosis methods you learn in graduate school (AKA Your IQ is X, your diagnosis is Y, and we recommend CBT; mk, thanks, bye.)

TA offers a much appreciated humanistic, experiential perspective. It's a process for helping people figure out what's going on in their lives, and "hand[ing[ that info back to them in a digestible way", so that "insight is LIVED, not just cognitively grasped".

It just so happens that this approach to evaluating humans is evidence-based, too. It's a win-win for everyone, really, and we hope you'll appreciate the shift in perspective, even if you're in a setting where committing to a full TA model is hard.

Bio:
Dr. Raja David is the founder and owner of the Minnesota Center for Collaborative/Therapeutic Assessment, where he conducts Therapeutic Assessments with adolescents and adults. He is a former assistant professor and has taught doctoral level courses and professional workshops, and co-wrote what is essentially the adult TA manual. He consults with others about TA and conducting psychological assessments, and is a member of the Therapeutic Assessment Institute board of directors.

Honorable Mentions:
Dr. David's private practice web site: https://www.mnccta.com/
What is TA? (from Dr. David's site): https://www.mnccta.com/therapeutic-assessment
Therapeutic Assessment Institute (TAI; includes trainings for professionals): https://therapeuticassessment.com/
Society for Personality Assessment (SPA): https://www.personality.org/

Welcome to The Psychologists Podcast, where we talk about all things psychology through a very personal lens.

Gill Strait PhD and Julia Strait PhD are both Licensed Psychologists (TX) and Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSPs, TX). They are alumni of The University of South Carolina School Psychology Doctoral Program (Go Gamecocks).

Gill is a teacher, researcher, and supervisor at a university graduate psychology training program.

Julia is owner and therapist at Ocean Therapy in Houston, TX, offering telehealth therapy to young adults in their 20s and 30s who are struggling with anxiety. Check it out here: https://www.oceantherapy.net/