Mental Health Blog
Sharing optimistic news about serious mental health concerns such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, and OCD.
EP9: The Fear of Hope with Ross Ellenhorn, Ph.D.
Episode 9 of our Mental Horizons Podcast is with Dr. Ross Ellenhorn and is about a fascinating topic: the fear of hope. Listen to the Episode iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Ross is trained as a sociologist, psychotherapist, and social worker and specializes in the...
Offering a New Service Level
Adding a new service level for families who may not need the full 12 hours offered in our standard contract. Since opening our consulting business two years ago, our core service has been to provide 12 hours of consultation to our families. We help clients during...
EP8: Authentic Relationship in Therapy with Eric Plakun, MD, of Austen Riggs Center
In the 8th episode of our Mental Horizons Podcast, Virgil had the the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Eric Plakun. During this hour-long conversation, Virgil spoke with Eric about how he came to this work, his thoughts on the role of authentic relationship in mental...
EP7: Vocation & Vulnerability: Lisanne Finston, Executive Director of Gould Farm
In episode 7 of our Mental Horizons Podcast, Virgil spoke with Lisanne Finston about vocation, vulnerability, and leadership. Lisanne is the Executive Director of Gould Farm, the oldest therapeutic farm community in the U.S., founded in 1913. She has been in this role...
EP6: A candid conversation with Elyn Saks, PhD.
"In solidarity, with pride, and without shame" - Elyn Saks speaking about her passion for mental health advocacy. In episode 6 of our Mental Horizons Podcast, Virgil had the pleasure of speaking with Elyn Saks, PhD. Among many things, Elyn is a scholar, a mental...
EP5: Integrated Psychiatric Care with guest Dominic Sisti, Ph. D.
Episode 5 of our Mental Horizons Podcast is with Dr. Dominic Sisti, Ph.D. In this episode Dominic and and Virgil discuss conceptual parity in healthcare. What is conceptual parity? It is the idea that there is no health without mental health - that in order to treat...
Episode 4: The history of the Moral Treatment Movement and how it impacts psychiatry today.
In this episode, Virgil had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Steve Sharfstein about the history of the moral treatment movement. Dr. Sharfstein is the former longtime CEO and President of the Sheppard Pratt Health Systems and former president of the American...
Mothers, Fathers, and Others
I've been doing all right when it comes to being a supportive mom of an adult son with a schizophrenia diagnosis. I am his life coach, his cheerleader, and his 24/7 shrink. Outside of the home, I try to put a positive face on schizophrenia because I believe it needs...
An uncertain path: psychiatry in the U.S. over the last 200 years.
AN INTRODUCTION TO MADNESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY For as long as humans have existed, madness has existed. How we have named and responded to madness changes constantly. To be of sound mind is to have the ability to reason. The loss of reason - the loss of the ability to...