My Sister's A Therapist- Mental Health, Wellness, and Healing with Humor

Is the age of AI the end of the expert? What does it take to achieve mastery of something, and why do we want it so much?References:Outliers: The Story of Success: Malcolm GladwellIt's All In Your Head: How To Achieve Mastery And Improve Performance: Chris CancialosiHow to Level Up At Anything: Using Science to Approach Mastery: Jacqueline M. Kory-WestlundHow To Achieve Mastery: Three Steps To Becoming Great At Anything: Aly JumaThe 4 Essential Ingredients of Expertise Development: Joseph SouthLicensed Marriage and Family Therapist * Expertise * Malcolm Gladwell* Growth* Tips for Learning* Emotional Well-Being* Competition* Mental Health

If you're obsessed with your white knight, the fairy tale, and happily ever after- how was your relationship with your Dad? Bad, right?Zach Woods-Emotional Neglect-Lily Allen- Licensed Therapist-Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Neglect-Physical Neglect-West End Girl-Robert Smith

We get a listener question from Sharon, who twirls her hair for up to five hours a day and wishes she could stop!What are the commonalities between OCD and and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors?Why is it mostly women who exhibit these behaviors?Why is it tricky to rock a rhyme that's right on time?And when did Laura stop sucking her thumb?These questions and more are answered on this week's episode of My Sister's A Therapist!References:Mayo Clinic: Trichotillomania definition DSM-5: Criteria for Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) and Excoriation (Skin-Picking Disorder) University of Oxford: Body focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs)Is Twirling Your Hair as a Habit a Symptom of an Underlying Condition?: Kathryn Watson Who is at risk for trichotillomania?Trait anger, anger expression, and anger control in trichotillomania: Evidence for the emotion regulation model: Erin E. Curley , Esther S. Tung , Nancy J. Keuthen Mayo Clinic: Medications for TrichotillomaniaOCD*obsessive/compulsive disorder* therapy for OCD*OCD symptoms* OCD treatment*Intrusive thoughts, compulsions, rituals, perfectionism*Cognitive behavioral therapy*CBT*Anxiety, depression, mental health support, therapy*sisters*LMFT*comedian*Virginia Jones*Laura Ryan

My Sister's A Therapist is dropping a special New Year's Eve episode- where do NYE traditions come from? Why do we have superstitions- and how close are they to OCD?References: The History of New Year’s Eve35 Crazy New Year’s Eve Celebrations Throughout History: The History Collection The psychology of superstition, with Stuart Vyse, PhD: Speaking of Psychology Podcast: Kim MillsHow superstitions may relieve anxiety: Ana Sandoiu

Why does grudge holding feel so good, if it's so bad for you? How can I let go of these feelings, and improve my life? The sisters discuss the benefits of letting it go.

Your brain is tricking you, and you love it! Why we are SO CONFIDENT in our memories, although they are USUALLY WRONG. Why we remember traumatic events, and how we can move past them.References:Roger Brown's Flashbulb Memories, Gordon H. Bower's happiness and memories, Endel Tulving's Mind Palace.

Laura and Virginia diagnose their favorite characters in the Frank Capra classic, It's A Wonderful Life. We love you, Jimmy Stewart! Mental health- feminism-family dynamics-LMFT -intermittent explosive disorder- Borderline personality disorder-Cluster B

Sometimes, an episode is based on a fan letter. Sometimes, it's tiktok. This week, it's a conversation Virginia had with a dummy. Where do morals come from? Is it God?Philosophy- moral philosophy- Heinz dilemma- atheism- religion

Is it embarrassing to have a boyfriend, now?References:Eddie Dresden: Tik Tok "Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? CHANTÉ JOSEPHWhy Do We Prioritize Romantic Over Platonic Love?: embracesexualwellness.comThe Nuclear Family Was a Mistake: David BrooksDecentering Dating: Why Love Isn’t the Only Plotline: Anh Le The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake: David Brooks Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Marriage Right Now? Lotte JeffsThe Trouble With Wanting Men: By Jean Garnett

What do Vincent Van Gogh, Yayoi Kusama, and Louis Wain have in common? The answer won't surprise you!

This week, listener Anna asks about white people bs, and we talk about it. Thanks, Anna! References:The Backlash Against “Karen” Memes is Peak White Feminism: By Stephanie YoungerWhat exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from? Ashitha Nagar Is Barbie Peak White Feminism? Does It Even Matter?: JOURDAIN SEARLESWhen White Women Cry: How White Women's Tears Oppress Women of Color: Mamta Motwani AccapadiIs Barbie Peak White Feminism? Does It Even Matter?: JOURDAIN SEARLESWhen White Women Get Caught: victimhood as racialised violence: ITS JANINEBTW

What makes us competitive, and is it a healthy impulse? The girls discuss what makes for healthy, and unhealthy competition- and why American society praises the latter. Guess what, Virginia is talking about Alfred Adler again. A nice moment of vulnerability between sisters as Laura complains about shit Virginia did forty years ago.

Will p0rn make you an incel? Well, it might not, but why would you risk it? The girls talk about why Cindy Gallop is their hero, and why we should try to stay connected to each other.References:Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality:Gail Dines Make Love, Not Porn: Cindy GallopPorn Sex vs Real Sex: The Differences Explained With FoodAdolescents, Porn, and Mental Health: Understanding the Dangerous Effects of Porn on Developing Minds: culture reframed10 Negative Effects of Porn on Your Brain, Body, Relationships, and SocietyIs Porn Bad For You? Integrative Life Center“I Don’t Hate All Women, Just Those Stuck-Up Bitches”: How Incels and Mainstream Pornography Speak the Same Extreme Language of Misogyny/Violence Against Women: Alessia Tranchese and Lisa Sugiura“I Don’t Hate All Women, Just Those Stuck-Up Bitches”: How Incels and Mainstream Pornography Speak the Same Extreme Language of Misogyny/Violence Against Women: Alessia Tranchese and Lisa Sugiura

Listener Rachel asks- Why aren't we ok as we are? We explore the origin of the Beauty Myth and why it just gets stronger with time. References: The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf

We thought it was gonna be climate warming, but it looks like the human race is going to chatbot itself to death! How did movies like Her and Blade Runner 2049 try to tell us it was coming? Why does that weird kid have a crossbow? What does Laura's boyfriend Kirk think of all of this? Find out now!

Can you tell the difference between fear and lust? Between excitement and anxiety? And is make up sex the best thing since Adam and Eve? Find out today!References: Misattribution of Arousal-Schacter and Singer, 1962David Ludden Ph.D.The Psychology of Makeup Sex

What's Laura's beef with Charlize Theron? Why doesn't Virginia get traffic tickets? These and many more questions answered in this discussion on pretty privilege!References:Smartless Podcast: Episode 123: Charlize TheronSmartless Podcast: Episode 266: Jason Momoa A Psychologist Explains The ‘Pretty Privilege’ Paradox: Mark TraversBeauty is in the eye of the employer: Labor market discrimination of accountantsOffer Moshe Shapir, Zeev Shtudiner The impact of attractiveness on employability: Gender differences in peer effects: Zeev ShtudinerThe Effects of Physical Attractiveness in the Health Care Industry: Richard Shane WestfallStudent beauty and grades under in-person and remote teaching: Adrian MehicPretty People Really Do Have It Better: Sable Yong

How did Winston Churchill ruin Laura's life, and why do we hold onto cruel shoes? How the sunk cost fallacy affects jobs, relationships, and even what we wear.References:Why are we likely to continue with an investment even if it would be rational to give it up?The Decision LabSunk cost fallacy: behavioraleconomics.comSunk Cost Fallacy: Why We Can’t Let Go: Jeremy Sutton, Ph.D.

It's been a minute since the girls had a real man-hater episode, but we're back! The topic is: when a groom smashes cake into his bride's face, is it a) funny or b) cause for annulment? On the way, we discuss Jake and Logan Paul, John Gottman, and, of course, our Dad.

In which Virginia invents a new word for what chiropractors do, Laura talks about flip flops and they both talk about what Enclothed Cognition means.