The Trauma & Mental Health Report Podcast

What drives Cannabis use disorder, and how does it relate to government policy? Discussion with Dr. Jeffrey Wardell

In this episode, Trauma and Mental Health Report writer Adrian Parham interviews Dr.
Jeffrey Wardell, associate professor at York University and director of the Behavioural
Alcohol and Cannabis Lab. His lab uses clinical, social, cognitive and personality
psychology to better understand the behavioural processes of substance use and misuse.
The goal of the lab is to support policy makers tailor interventions and harm reduction
efforts, by providing scientific data.

How emotion focused therapy for youth helps nurture healthy family relationships

In this episode, Trauma and Mental Health Report writer Sierrah Hamilton interviews
Dr. Mirisse Foroughe, the Research Institute Director at Emotion Transformation
Institute, the Clinical Director at Family Psychology Centre, and the developer of
Emotion Focused Therapy for Youth. She is also the author of two published books on
Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and Emotion Focused Therapy for Youth
(EFT-Y), and she hosts workshops where she teaches these tools to caregivers and
clinicians internationally. Today, we will dive into her most recent work, using Emotion
Focused Therapy for Youth and Caregiver-Youth dyads, and how you can think about
and use some of these techniques within your own family.

EP62: The Unique Experience of Ambiguous Loss in Adoption and Foster Care

In this episode, Trauma and Mental Health Report writer Shontae Cameron sits down with
JaeRan Kim, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Washington, Tacoma, in the
School of Social Work and Criminal Justice. As a writer, blogger, and scholar, Dr. Kim’s
work focuses on adoption, foster care, and child welfare. Together, we explore ambiguous
loss—a form of disenfranchised grief that deeply affects individuals with adoption and
foster-care experiences. From the emotional complexities of non-death losses to their lasting psychological impact, Dr. Kim shares her expertise, insights, and personal experience in this compelling discussion.

How to Use Your Senses To Improve Your Wellbeing: The Science of Sense Foraging with Dr. Norman Farb

In today’s episode, contributing writer Japneet Kaur speaks with Dr. Norman Farb, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, and co-author of Better in Every Sense with Dr. Zindel Segal. With him, we dive into the science behind why we get emotionally stuck in mental loops, overthinking, and overwhelm. Dr. Farb introduces Sense Foraging, a science-backed practice that helps disrupt these cycles by reconnecting us with our senses, offering a powerful pathway to emotional reset and wellbeing. Whether you're feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or simply in need of a reset, this episode will reveal how this simple yet transformative practice can help you break free from rigid patterns of thinking and being, while helping you feel more grounded and emotionally resilient.

How financial barriers often hinder healing from trauma

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Michel, CEO of Building Bridges
Psychotherapy and Affordable Therapy Ontario, a passionate advocate for accessible
mental health care. Justin believes that financial barriers should never stand between
individuals and the support they need. We'll explore the critical issue of affordability in trauma recovery, discussing how private and public systems can be leveraged to
provide low-cost mental health support. Join us as we delve into Justin's work and his
vision for a future where healing is within everyone's reach.

Male Rape Myths: What You Know, and What You Think You Know

In this episode of the Trauma and Mental Health podcast series, we are joined by contributing writer Suliana Beraki and Dr. Kenneth Widanaralalage, a lecturer in forensic psychology at King’s College London. Dr. Widanaralalage discusses his article, “I Didn't Feel Like a Victim,” providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by individuals who have experienced sexual violations. We explore the concept of rape myths, examining how they are socially constructed and the various factors that make it difficult for some male survivors to recognize, confront, and cope with their experiences. 

Join us as we delve into topics such as secondary victimization, interactions with law enforcement, and societal perceptions of masculinity. Dr. Widanaralalage also shares perspectives on how we can move forward—offering some ideas for peers, mental health professionals, and law enforcement on challenging harmful stereotypes and fostering safer, more supportive spaces for male survivors and others with similar experiences. 

SEEDs and Harm Reduction in Eating Disorder Treatment Podcast

In today’s episode, Contributing Writer Ruby Kagan speaks with James Downs, a lived experience mental health research expert in eating disorders, looking at the label of SEEDs “Severe and Enduring Eating Disorders” (SEEDs) and the recent approach of emphasizing “Harm Reduction” in eating disorder treatment. We discuss the systemic gaps in eating disorder treatments currently, including considering the ethical debate around harm reduction methods for eating disorders  and common definitions and labels like SEEDs. 

 

 

 

Is Stress Killing Your Immune System and Is There Any Way Back? Expert Insights from Dr. George Slavich.

In today’s episode, Contributing Writer Japneet Kaur speaks with Dr. George Slavich, director of the UCLA laboratory for stress assessment and research and a pioneer in the field of stress science and human social genomics. With him we dive into the conceptualisation of stress, its effects on the human brain, body and immune system, and the future of stress research. Most importantly, Dr. Slavich shares practical, evidence-based
strategies for managing everyday stress and minimizing its negative impact on overall well-
being.

Embracing Self-Empathy Through Internal Family Systems Therapy

In today’s episode, Contributing Writer Divya Bhupal speaks with Esther Goldstein, a Licensed Clinical Social worker who specializes in trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and relationship issues and is a big proponent of internal family systems (IFS) therapy. With her we
dive into what IFS therapy is and how it can help individuals navigate their lives and heal trauma from a place of empathy and understanding. Most importantly, Esther speaks to how IFS therapy not only helps you live a better tomorrow, but a better today.

 

 

 

How Pornography Affects Modern Views of Relationships: A Discussion with Dr. Gail Dines

In this episode, Trauma and Mental Health Report writer Adrian Parham interviews Dr. Gail Dines, CEO and Founder of Culture Reframed, an Organization that spreads awareness about the harms of Pornography. Having authored several books, written and starred in documentaries, Dr. Dines is a leading anti-pornography scholar and has been for the last 30 years. She discusses how pornography harms societies’, especially men’s, view of relationships, intimacy, sexuality and masculinity. Treating this as a public health problem,
Dr. Dines and her organization, Culture Reframed, aims to educate the masses on this pandemic.

 

 

 

In this episode, Trauma and Mental Health Report writer Adrian Parham interviews Dr.Gail
Dines, CEO and Founder of Culture Reframed, an Organization that spreads awareness
about the harms of Pornography. Having authored several books, written and starred in
documentaries, Dr. Dines is a leading anti-pornography scholar and has been for the last 30
years. She discusses how pornography harms societies’, especially men’s, view of
relationships, intimacy, sexuality and masculinity. Treating this as a public health problem,
Dr. Dines and her organization, Culture Reframed, aims to educate the masses on this
pandemic.