It’s Not Therapy!

The Cruelty Economy

Seems as though cruelty and meanness have become greatly valued currency in how people are treated (and maybe how you're treating people). Are we living in meaner times? Is our only path retaliating or just taking it? Liana tackles these questions and more with Jennifer Keluskar, Ph.D. a professor of Biobehavioral Health at Pennsylvania State University.

Happiness Is Real and You Can Have It Right Now!

We talk about the pursuit of happiness as if it's something that will be achieved at some later date, if we just keep chasing it. But what if happiness is already here but we've been blinded to it? Dr. Gillian Mandich, a PhD in health science, believes that happiness is not a destination, it’s a practice; not something we earn, but something we learn. Liana talks with Dr. Mandich, founder of The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research, about how to access the science of achieving happiness to enrich your life now, not at some vague future date.

Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? - Mental Health and The Health Care System

For the majority of patients, their primary care physician is the one who will address their mental health issues...even though they aren't trained for it. But shouldn't they be? The medical profession has separated mental health from physical health, creating two separate streams of care and separate medical practitioners for mind and body - leaving patients without access to proper care. Dr. Robert C. Smith, author of the new book Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? talks to Liana about how to fix the shortcomings of mental health care. 

How the Incredible Hulk Helped Save a Family

As she explains in her new book The Unlocking - An Autism Story, Porscia Lam and her husband had a problem - their toddler, Harry, would not do anything he was asked to do. Yes, that's typical for some children, but Harry's reactions were extreme, with troubling behaviour escalating to the point it endangered Harry and his younger sibling.The Lams discovered Harry has Pathological Demand Avoidance, a little-understood condition in the Autism spectrum. Through much love, frustration, fear and sacrifice, the Lams got Harry the care he needed and, yes, the Hulk played a role.Liana talks to Porscia about her family's journey and how other parents can spot PDA in their child and get much-needed information. Learn more about Porscia's book at https://porscialam.com/

You Don't Need To Forgive

That's the title of trauma therapist Amanda Ann Gregory's new book, and her book's synopsis, "(f)eeling pressured to forgive their offenders is a common reason trauma survivors avoid mental health services and support. Those who force, pressure, or encourage trauma survivors to forgive can unknowingly cause harm and sabotage their recovery" gives Amanda and Liana a lot to unpack as they discuss a re-thinking of the 'divine virtue'.

Everyday Mental Health's Fantastic Four

They aren't cosmically-powered superheroes, but understanding them can give us greater power over ourselves and lead to happier lives. Values, Needs, Boundaries and Manipulations - understanding these four building blocks is key to achieving better mental health, and Liana shares personal experiences to show you how you can do it.

Top 10 Ways You're Driving People Away

The TV show "Seinfeld" popularized the line, "It's not you, it's me." And while George Costanza wasn't being sincere, the truth is that for a lot of people, it is them! Liana takes us through the top 10 things people do that drives others away from them in romantic relationships, friendships and work situations. 

Are You a Narcissist? Are They?

No, probably not. True narcissists - those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder - are rare. But you don't need to be a narcissist to behave like one; personality traits can be absorbed from others without our realizing it. Liana guides us to understand what true narcissism is and, importantly, what it isn't...and how to effectively deal with one.

How Girls Bully

Real talk: society trains girls and women to use feminine stereotypes to bully other women - and to use the same stereotypes to get away with it. Liana shines a light on the tactics female bullies use and the cultural attitudes that enable and excuse the behaviour.

How To Make It Less Hard To Meet People

Social anxiety is a real and growing phenomenon that deters folks from meeting new people, or being successful when meeting new people, or from even going out to places where there will be new people! Liana offers her personal first-hand experience with social anxiety and offers some tools that helped her and may also help you.