In an era of smartphones, Facebook, and endless distractions, practicing mindfulness is a radical act. Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as purposefully and non-judgmentally paying attention to the present moment, as if your life depended on it. Preoccupied with planning for the future or ruminating about the past, the present moment so often gets completely overlooked, robbing us of the opportunity to be fully, consciously, and responsibly alive. Mindfulness...

Friends, relatives, and caretakers of trauma survivors often struggle to understand the wrenching depth and complexity of PTSD, even as the fallout from this medical disorder pervades their lives. It can be confusing and frustrating, even heartbreaking, to see those close to us suddenly become unrecognizable, well past what we think is the "normal recovery period" after a tragic or horrific event. This film, featuring Dr. Frank Ochberg and Dr. Angelea...

In this provocative interview with the founder of child behavioral therapy, Sidney Bijou recounts his education in the very young field of psychology, after which he was deployed for World War II, and his dissatisfaction with the limited scope of practice of psychologists upon his return. After witnessing the disturbing treatment of developmentally disabled children at the notorious Letchworth Village in New York, Bijou came to reject the role of...

The Gift of Therapy: A Conversation with Irvin Yalom, MD, the video, coincides with the publication of his book, The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients. In this hour-long interview by Randall Wyatt, PhD of Psychotherapy.net, renowned psychiatrist and author Dr. Yalom. discusses the central themes of his life's work as a psychotherapist and writer. He addresses such core concepts as existential psychotherapy,...

A survivor of bipolar disorder herself, Dr. Jamison courageously uses her personal struggle to help clients and therapists understand the misconceptions of this lethal illness. In this riveting interview with Victor Yalom, PhD, clinicians will find out not only what bipolar disorder is, but also what causes it, how to make an accurate diagnosis, and how to treat it effectively. Based on extensive research, Jamison presents compelling evidence that...

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people utilize mental health services at a rate considerably higher than heterosexuals, and over 95 percent of psychotherapists treat GLB clients in their practice. This program focuses on some of the most salient assessment and treatment issues that clinicians should know. This video will teach you about: The effectiveness of cognitive therapy with this population. Implications of internalized homophobia and the importance...

What prevents most people from being able to sustain romantic, meaningful relationships that satisfy their needs and desires? In this film, actual group participants identify negative thoughts or voices toward themselves and others that seriously impair their capacity for intimate relating. Dr. Robert Firestone helps them identify and understand this negative thought process, and challenge the self-defeating behavior patterns through the powerful...

An educational program for the public. How can you know if your family member or friend may be suicidal? How do you recognize the warning signs? How can you help? This video program for the public describes the risk factors and warning signs of suicide and offers guidelines from experts in suicide prevention and treatment for getting troubled loved ones to the professional help they need. You'll also hear from three individuals who have made serious...

Taking ownership of our behavior is a major part of recovery, but difficult emotions can often hinder our progress. As the recovery process deepens, we often face the hurdle of getting back in touch with our emotions, and learning to handle them appropriately rather than simply reacting or "numbing out." In this video, a live studio audience of men and women in various stages of recovery engage in honest discussions about their own challenges with...

In this video, Peter Fonagy, PhD, eloquently articulates effective methods of intervening with violent behavior. He begins with child development, emphasizing that early attachment often inhibits violent tendencies. Providing viewers with a series of effective examples, Fonagy discusses the importance of mentalization or self-reflective functioning as a method for intervening with violence. He also addresses social factors affecting violence, risk...