Pod Help Us Misha Abarbanel

Dr. Christine Henry on animal-assisted therapy, emotional support animals, psychiatric service dogs, and getting the most out of regular pets. You won't believe what Murphy, her clinical helper, can do. Dr. Henry's animal-assisted therapy practice, which you can read about at therapyforpetpeople.com, helps people with a plethora of concerns. This episode is a must-listen for animal lovers.

Yvonne Block left the highest levels of bureaucracy for private practice as a Spiritual Director. In this episode, Yvonne describes her role as a deep listener and spiritual guide, what it was like raising a child with a significant mental illness, and some of what she took away from her years as the CEO of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, the Executive Director of Mental Health, Addictions and Spiritual Care for the government of Manitoba's Department of Health, and as a Manager at the Canadian Mental Health Association.  

Psychotherapist and author Ellen Feldman on Moreness, questioning the narratives we tell ourselves, seeing challenges as our greatest opportunities, gratitude, reaching out for something larger than ourselves, the fear that we're not good enough, and adopting the belief that we are unconditionally loved.   

Borrowing from Eastern philosophy, Misha explores the nature of the self. Understanding that we are merely the observers of our thoughts (and other experiences) can be liberating and healing. We are not our bodies or our minds. We are the consciousness that observes our bodies and our minds, that observes all our thoughts and other experiences. We are not our thoughts, our minds, or our bodies. We are the observers.   

Legendary Canadian broadcaster Michael Landsberg on #SickNotWeak, what changed when he started publicly discussing depression and anxiety, isolation, the end of America, casseroles, the caregiver's oath, being proud of a shower, learning to love the thing you hate the least, fighting for your health and happiness, and never giving up. 

Dr. Wendell Block discusses the brain, the nervous system, neurotransmitters, social determinants of mental health, psychiatric medication, stigma, the roles of family doctors and psychiatrists, and working with refugees.