The Trauma & Mental Health Report Podcast

EP68: Rethinking Parasocial Relationships: Harmless, Helpful, or Misunderstood?

As social media grows, our connections to the people we see on screens continue to deepen. The term “parasocial relationship” has been spreading through online discourse, but are these relationships inherently negative? In this episode, writer Natalie Joly speaks with Dr. Gayle Stever, an expert in parasocial relationships and author of Parasocial Experiences and The Psychology of Celebrity. They discuss common misconceptions surrounding these nuanced relationships and how the term is often misunderstood and misrepresented.

EP67: AI Therapy and the Risk of Getting it Wrong

As AI tools like ChatGPT become part of everyday life, more people are turning to them for advice, comfort, and even therapy. But can artificial intelligence truly take on the role of a mental health provider? In this episode, writer Niemat Yusuf speaks with Dr. William Agnew, a postdoctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, whose work examines the ethics of AI and its impact on marginalized communities. Together, they explore what current research reveals about AI’s potential and its limits in emotional support.

The Stigma of disclosing Mental Health difficulties among Professionals in the Field

In this episode of the Trauma and Mental Health Report’s podcast, contributing writer Amanda Fernandes interviews Dr. Stephen Lewis, Associate Professor in psychology and Research Leadership Chair at the University of Guelph. His research has focused extensively on lived experiences in mental health, as well as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among youth and young adults. Together we delve into his co-authored paper exploring diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health difficulties among school, clinical, and counselling psychologists, and graduate students. Dr. Lewis draws on his own lived experiences and academic expertise to advocate against the stigmas that have prevented applied psychologists from disclosing and addressing their mental health struggles. He provides meaningful insights into the topic of clinician effectiveness given mental health struggles, and poses several avenues of future research and change.

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.