Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra

Dr. Alexandra, Psychologist
  • 4.8 (52)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Semimonthly

With warmth, heart and a respect for science, Dr. Alexandra and her guests explore questions that come up at all life stages.  Dr. Alexandra is a mother of four and an expert in family systems psychology and clinical psychopharmacology. Through interesting exchanges with her guests, Dr. Alexandra brings new learning, stories and good company to listeners.

  1. Jul 23

    Maslow on Higher Love

    Have you ever had a peak experience? Please share about it to help me with my next episode. Discover how Abraham Maslow's insights into love reveal a profound distinction between deficiency love (D-love) and being love (B-love), and how these concepts can transform our relationships and self-understanding. This episode explores Maslow's research on healthy, exceptional humans and their capacity for higher love.  The life and influence of Abraham Maslow on psychology and personal growth The hierarchy of needs and the simplified ERG theory by Clay AlderferThe concept of deficiency love (D-love) versus being love (B-love)Early attachment studies by Spitz, Bowlby, and Levy and their importance for human survivalHow love contributes to self-actualization and the well-being of exceptional individualsPractical applications of B-love in caregiving, relationships, and spiritual practiceMaslow’s parallels between B-love, mystics’ love for God, and appreciation of art The impact of love on self-acceptance, growth, and human potentialPersonal stories illustrating the practice of love and compassion, including rescue of wildlife Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: The episode’s focus on Abraham Maslow and higher love 00:25 - Maslow’s study of exceptional human beings and focusing on what’s good 00:54 - The hierarchy of needs and Clay Alderfer's ERG theory 1:24 - How needs can be flipped and the resilience of self-actualized individuals 2:24 - Maslow’s teachings on love and its role in human development 3:22 - Maslow’s method: studying healthy, creative, high-potential individuals 3:51 - Celebrated figures studied by Maslow, including Abraham Lincoln and Albert Schweitzer 4:32 - The concept of reverence for life and compassion in Albert Schweitzer 5:24 - Eleanor Roosevelt and the importance of universal human rights 5:35 - Maslow’s insights on different types of love: D-love and B-love 6:10 - Explanation of deficiency love (D-love) and early attachment needs 7:14 - Early attachment research and the tragic findings of Spitz’s studies 8:13 - The effects of lack of maternal attachment and attachment theory support 9:55 - The role of love in survival and Maslow’s view of deficiency love as a hole 11:23 - The nature of B-love as unselfish and abundant 11:34 - Qualities of B-love: unconditional, non-possessive, and joy-giving 12:01 - The therapeutic and spiritual power of experiencing B-love 12:54 - Personal stories of practicing love in caregiving and work 14:08 - The energy and vitality gained from loving without expectation 15:15 - B-love's spiritual and aesthetic connections 16:21 - Romantic love and the differences from B-love, including anxiety and independence 17:22 - The qualities of B-love in romantic relationships: autonomy, generosity, and depth 18:22 - The “love is blind” myth explained through neurochemistry 19:34 - The concept of intra-object richness—the fascination with loved ones 20:30 - Details and love for the beloved as an expression of deep connection 21:16 - How B-love influences self-perception, acceptance, and growth 22:02 - The distinction that deficiency love (D-love) can be gratified, but B-love offers spiritual fulfillment 22:58 - Personal story about rescuing baby raccoons, illustrating D-love and compassion 24:31 - The story of rescuing raccoons and connecting it to Maslow’s ideas 27:19 - Upcoming episode on peak experiences and plateau states in exceptional humans 28:47 - Practicing higher love and starting wherever we are emotionally 29:13 - Closing remarks and gratitude Support the show This show was created with love on my volunteer time.   One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes.  You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra.  I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

  2. May 19

    Family Estrangement and Cutoffs

    Have you ever had a peak experience? Please share about it to help me with my next episode. Recent studies indicate that about one in four Americans experience some form of family estrangement.  This statistic is alarming, as many individuals report feeling deeply troubled by this estrangement. A significant portion of these estrangements occur between parents and their adult children, emphasizing the need for understanding and addressing familial relationships.  In this podcast and video, expert guest Dr. Tamsen Thorpe and I explore the causes, implications and solutions for family estrangement, drawing on insights from experts in psychology and family dynamics. What is Family Estrangement? Family estrangement refers to a cutoff in communication or contact between family members. It ranges from complete no contact to limited interactions, such as only connecting through social media. It is not always a straightforward situation; some families might maintain superficial ties while feeling emotionally distant. Understanding these nuances is crucial for addressing the underlying issues that contribute to estrangement. Support the show This show was created with love on my volunteer time.   One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes.  You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra.  I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

  3. Apr 3

    Anger in Leadership with Dr. Julian Barling PhD and Dr. Simon Rego, PsyD

    Have you ever had a peak experience? Please share about it to help me with my next episode. You’re in a leadership role and the anger bubbles up.  Or . . .you’re the subject of the leader experiencing anger.  Learn about anger in leadership as well as transformational leadership from the best selling authors of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workbook for Leaders: How Improving your Mental Health is Essential to Avoiding Burnout and Leading More Effectively, Dr. Julian Barling PhD and Dr. Simon A. Rego, PsyD.    I have started sharing my podcasts on YouTube as well - find this one under @AlexandraMillerClark.  Some gems I learned from this interview include:  * just a little bit of anger can be motivating * showing anxiety can be more effective than showing anger as a leader . . . But not too much!   *sometimes it helps to say “I don’t know” or “I’m sorry” *it’s good to prepare for future crises as leaders *leaders who show anger are just humans with a range of emotions Support the show This show was created with love on my volunteer time.   One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes.  You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra.  I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

  4. Mar 16 ·  Bonus

    Short Episode: A Meditation to help with Resentment

    Have you ever had a peak experience? Please share about it to help me with my next episode. In this brief episode I share a helpful meditation / prayer to help with resentment.  It has helped both my patients and myself and can be useful as we build the "forgiveness muscle."  To learn more about forgiveness, listen to the seventeen brief "forgiveness series" episodes on this show.  Support the show This show was created with love on my volunteer time.   One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes.  You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra.  I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

  5. Feb 15

    Navigating Parenting Challenges with Compassion

    Have you ever had a peak experience? Please share about it to help me with my next episode. This episode was simultaneously recorded by video which can be found on LinkedIn or YouTube (Alexandra Miller Clark).  In this episode, we explore themes of compassion, the importance of self-management in parenting and nervous system regulation.  Dr. Nicole Dolan also discusses her forthcoming memoir, "The Art of Chaos," which reflects on her experiences as a mother and therapist.  Dr. Nicole Dolan is a licensed psychotherapist and the Founder of Sacred Paths non-profit group in California.  At the start of the show, I share about a Japanese hero, Sempo Sugihara, and dedicate the show to the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia. Conscious Parenting and Self-Management  05:39 Nervous System Regulation and Breathwork  09:02 Exploring Triggers and Emotional Responses  11:36 The Role of the Body in Therapy  15:46 Understanding Split Off Parts of Self  20:18 Reintegration of Trauma and Healing  26:08 The Art of Chaos: A Memoir  35:29 Surviving vs. Thriving in Parenting - last Support the show This show was created with love on my volunteer time.   One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes.  You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra.  I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

  6. 09/01/2024

    Bravery, Risk and Reward

    Have you ever had a peak experience? Please share about it to help me with my next episode. “God will not have his work made manifest by cowards”  Ralph Waldo Emerson.   Join us for this delightful conversation with Dr. Beth Rom Rymer and Neill Clark on the topic of risk taking in our lives.  We contemplate ideas by Machiavelli, Goethe, Lincoln and George Washington.    We discuss psychological and moral risks - courageous action for things aligned with our values and even better, for principles greater than ourselves.   As this episode is being recorded and released, Dr. Beth Rom Rymer is running for President Elect of the American Psychological Association.    Dr. Beth Rom-Rymer’s distinguished career includes groundbreaking work with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence advocacy, and forensic geriatrics. She had been a lecturer at The University of Chicago and Northwestern University for over two decades; led the successful legislative movement for prescriptive authority for specially trained psychologists in Illinois and is a national and international leader with prescriptive authority movements around the globe.  Dr. Rom-Rymer co-founded and is President of the Association of Jewish Psychologists. She has won numerous awards for her work, including:   Distinguished Illinois Psychologist from the Illinois Psychological Association (2012 and 2014);  Outstanding Psychologist of the Year from APA’s Division 31 (2014); APA Presidential Citation for Outstanding Leadership (2015); APA Karl Heiser Award for Legislative Advocacy (2015); Wellner Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (2016); Social Impact Leaders Award from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2018).  Neill W. Clark, JD, antitrust attorney, Town Councilman of Sparta, New Jersey and coach to competitive runners, brings in some athletic examples of risk and reward.   This episode was recorded on August 20th, 2024 Support the show This show was created with love on my volunteer time.   One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes.  You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra.  I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

  7. 06/21/2024

    Bring back the Family Meal

    Have you ever had a peak experience? Please share about it to help me with my next episode. In this episode I share  1) What research has found about the impact of family meals 2)  Tips on how to get started again for those who have gotten away from the practice  3) My own practice with our family dinners, including three conversation starters that we have used for years.  These conversation starters are helpful in other contexts, including for divorced parents and their children  when they do “phone time” when away from one another.    Enjoy!   Support the show This show was created with love on my volunteer time.   One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes.  You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra.  I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

  8. 07/14/2023

    Agape Love: The Highest Form of Love

    Have you ever had a peak experience? Please share about it to help me with my next episode. I consider agape love to be the highest form of love and I’m so excited to share this topic with you.  On this show Dr. Robert Enright, PhD, and I discuss the following and more: What is the definition of agape love and how is it different than other forms of love, such as Eros (romantic love) or love among family?  How does one practice agape love?  How does agape love fit in with justice and fairness?  How does agape love fit in with other virtues defined by psychology and religion?  Dr. Robert Enright is the 2022 recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation.  Dr. Enright is the Aristotelian Professor in Forgiveness Science in the School of Education's Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   For his work in the peace movement, Dr. Enright has been named the Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.  As the founder of the scientific study of forgiveness, Dr. Enright has authored seven books and over 100 publications, including cross-cultural studies, on this and related topics. I dedicate most of my podcast episodes to non-profit groups and today’s show is dedicated to:   https://www.internationalforgiveness.com.    Support the show This show was created with love on my volunteer time.   One small gift you can give me back is to take the time to leave the show a comment and rating on iTunes.  You can also support the production costs of the show by buying me a $3 coffee at buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra.  I will be encouraged by your support, and thank you!

    Agape Love: The Highest Form of Love
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About

With warmth, heart and a respect for science, Dr. Alexandra and her guests explore questions that come up at all life stages.  Dr. Alexandra is a mother of four and an expert in family systems psychology and clinical psychopharmacology. Through interesting exchanges with her guests, Dr. Alexandra brings new learning, stories and good company to listeners.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Alexandra, Psychologist
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra
  • Show Website
    Psychology America with Dr. Alexandra

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