Don't Go There Dr. Brenda Gesell

Newport Beach clinician Ryan Michele Wall, M.S., AMFT, talks with us about mom-guilt. Although, guilt seems to be a unifying factor among most Moms, it may be a feeling you can learn to embrace. Join us in our discussion about mothers who worry they're failing or falling short of expectations.

Join us as we interview psychotherapist, Andrey Antonenko, as he shares his story about coming out as a gay man in a Christian subculture. We discuss how religious abuse and homophobia affects the psyche and can have tragic and traumatic psychological consequences. We hope Andrey’s story challenges homophobic attitudes, illuminates the religious abuse taking place in the Christian sub-culture, and provides hope for other gay individuals.

What does culture expect of husbands? Why do men have difficulty emotionally connecting to their spouses? In this episode, we interview Quentin Hafner, a clinician in Newport Beach, California who specializes in couples psychotherapy. Join us as we explore Quentin's book the “Black Belt Husband” where he introduces an innovative way to help men build emotional intelligence utilizing the martial arts as a metaphor to understand the developmental process of becoming a successful husband.

The way we use food is often an attempt to solve or avoid an internal problem. Eating or not eating is rarely just about physical hunger in our culture. In this podcast, we will discuss how we all have a connection or a relationship with food that is highly symbolic.

In a survey published by the AARP in 2010, slightly more than one out of three adults aged 45 and over reported feeling chronically lonely. In 2017, the Office for National Statistics found that young people aged 16-24 experienced feelings of loneliness more often than any other age group. Major life transitions, personal tragedies, serious illness and job loss usually cause feelings of loneliness and isolation. Moreover, perpetual feelings of loneliness are often the consequence of early emotional neglect. Our desire to belong and to feel known and connected is a natural and normal biological yearning. However, the need is often frustrated and we are left feeling rejected and unloved. Join us as we consider the painful feeling of loneliness and discuss how the experience of isolation may have something to teach us.

In recent news, dozens of famous and powerful men have been accused of sexual assault. The allegations, investigations and formal apologies seem endless. Many men are being held accountable for their sexual misconduct for the first time; politicians are resigning and celebrities are seeking treatment. But, why is sexual assault so common? And is it a treatable issue? Join us as we try to understand why so many men can’t keep it in their pants.