What Your Therapist Is Reading ®

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*Information shared on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
Psychotherapist and host Jessica Fowler interviews CBT specialist Deborah Dobson, PhD about her book, Living Well with Social Anxiety: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Daily Life (affiliate link). Dobson shares her definition of social anxiety, which includes avoidance and reassurance seeking from partners, friends, and therapists. Dobson shares psychoeducation, values-based goal setting, coping and grounding skills, as we discuss social anxiety.
 
Show Highlights
 
 
Why Social Anxiety
Defining Social Anxiety
Avoidance and Safety Behaviors
Rumination After Events
Psychoeducation And Early Roots
Parenting Shy Kids
Exposure Based Treatment
Practice Examples and Games
Coping And Grounding Tools
Maintaining Skills Long Term
Real World Scenarios
About the author:
 
Deborah Dobson, PhD has specialized in cognitive behavior therapy throughout her career, particularly in the understanding and treatment of social anxiety disorder. She began the first Certificate program in CBT in Western Canada through the University of Calgary.  She has provided supervision and training in cognitive behavior therapy in Canada and internationally. Her textbooks (along with co-author Keith Dobson) Evidence-Based Practice of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (2009, 2017) have been adopted by many clinical training programs. Her new book Living Well with Social Anxiety: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Daily Life (2026) is intended for anyone affected by social anxiety.
 
 

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*Information shared on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
Psychotherapist and host Jessica Fowler interviews Shaina Siber, LCSW—founder of Affirm Mental Health and host of the Affirming Minds podcast—about burnout and Shaina’s book, Using ACT and CFT for Burnout Recovery: Beyond the Blueprint (affiliant link). Shaina shares about her own burnout after working in a hospital during COVID, where burnout and moral injury were pervasive. Shaina explores symptoms of burnout such as exhaustion, cynicism/disengagement, cognitive impairment, and emotional impairment.  Shaina explores how values and self-compassion play a role in recovery of burnout. 
 
Show Highlights
Why Burnout
Defining Burnout Signs
First Steps and Values
Systemic Causes and Fixes
Book Blueprint Overview
Self-Compassion That Works
Favorite Exercises and Tools
About the author:
Shaina Siber, LCSW, is the founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited continuing education program for therapists and the host of The Affirming Minds Podcast. She is an integrative therapist and educator with over 15 years of experience. She specializes in burnout recovery for high achievers, healthcare workers and parents and champions trauma informed, culturally humble and LGBTQ affirming care.

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*Information shared on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
Book (affiliate link)
Psychotherapist and host Jessica Fowler interviews Laura Knauss, PhD all things ADHD as we discuss her book Living Well with Adult ADHD: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Daily Life. DR. Knauss describes adult ADHD as a disorder of self-regulation affecting school, work, parenting, driving, and relationships, often involving emotional impulsivity and follow-through challenges. The book can be read cover to cover or as a practical, pick-what-you-need resource with brief assessments that identify a problem and then directs its readers to targeted strategies, while also building in acceptance and self-compassion to counter self-mistrust and negative self-talk. Dr. Knouse explains CBT for adult ADHD as skills-focused support for executive functioning plus working on thoughts and feelings, including “permission-giving” thoughts.
Show Highlights
 
Adult ADHD Explained
Self-Compassion and Identity
CBT for Adult ADHD
Choice Points and Momentum
Three Parts in the book
Favorite Hacks
Research Support and Next Steps
 
About the author:
Dr Knouse is a professor of psychology at the University of Richmond and a licensed clinical psychologist. At Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, she received specialized training in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with ADHD and contributed to research on this approach. Dr. Knouse continues to research and write about how CBT for adults with ADHD can be improved and implemented--from  how college students with ADHD can study more efficiently to how thoughts may hinder the use of new skills. Dr. Knouse is the author of over 40 research articles and co-author of Thriving in College with ADHD: A CBT skills approach and Living Well with ADHD: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Daily Life.

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*Information shared on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
Book (affiliate link)
Psychotherapist and podcast host Jessica Fowler interviews Jesse Finklestein, PsyD. who co-authored Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide to Navigating Stress, Emotions and Relationships with Shireen L. Rizvi, PhD.  In this episode, we explore the modules of DBT which include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness can be used to help people in everyday life.  In addition, Dr. Finklestein explains DBT’s skills can help toward change not just in behavior but in creating hope and tolerating pain. He describes the book’s accessible, design-driven format, including having visual elements and “skills paths” to help readers choose tools for specific situations.  
 
Show Highlights:
Values Versus Goals
Why DBT Skills Matter
Four DBT Modules
Skills Not Identity
How The Book Works
Design And Accessibility
Dialectics And Connection
 
About the author:
Dr. Jesse Finkelstein is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapies, including DBT and exposure-based treatments. He is the founder of Axis Psychology in New York (axiscbt.com) and Chief Content Officer at TheraHive (therahive.com), a platform focused on psychoeducation skills.
 
 

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*Information on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
Book (affiliate link)
Psychotherapist and host Jessica Fowler interviews sports and health psychologist Dr. Carly Hunt about her book, Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain: How to Harness the Power of the Mind-Body Connection.  In addition to sharing about her history of childhood medical trauma and intermittent pain, Dr. Hunt explores many aspects of chronic pain including how trauma can contribute to nervous system sensitization.  Dr. Hunt emphasizes building a multidisciplinary care team, activity pacing with time-contingent rest, and mindfulness to reduce pain-related worry.
Show Highlights
How Chronic Pain Works
Grief/Hope Stressors
How to Start with Understanding/Accepting Chronic Pain
Mindfulness Skills
Pain Reprocessing Therapy
Five Percent Wins
Integrative Care Plan
About the author:
Dr. Carly Hunt is a sport & health psychologist, author, consultant, and former D1 golfer. Her holistic approach blends sport, health, and positive psychology to help people build inner resources that support excellence and mind-body health. She completed her BA in Psychology from Georgetown University, MA in Kinesiology and PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland, and postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Find her on the web at www.presentmindconsulting.com and www.thinkbettergolf.com.

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Book (affiliate link)
*Trigger warning as we are discussing reproductive trauma.
Psychotherapist and podcast host Jessica Fowler interviews Bethany (Beth) Warren, LCSW, PMH-C about reproductive trauma as we explore her book, Healing from Reproductive Trauma:  A Workbook for Survivors of Traumatic Infertility Journeys, Pregnancies and Births.  During our discussion Bethany Warren shares about her 25 plus years working with the birthing population and what this population will need for support.  During our conversation we explore the definition of reproductive trauma, common triggers, the impact on family, the need for support for the partner and much more. 
Show Highlights
Why Reproductive Trauma Work
Defining Reproductive Trauma
Symptoms and Triggers
Why a Workbook Formate
Self-Validation and Healing
Partners and Family Support
Who the Book is For
Provider Trauma and Training
About the author: 
Bethany (Beth) Warren, LCSW, PMH-C is a perinatal psychotherapist in private practice in San Diego, California and has worked in reproductive mental health for over 25 years. She is author of the books: The Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Workbook and most recently, Healing From Reproductive Trauma. Her 3rd book, about trauma-informed care in perinatal spaces is due out next year.
Beth is certified in EMDR therapy and Perinatal Mental Health, specializing in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, treating perinatal OCD, birth and reproductive trauma, pregnancy loss, and infertility. Her work is rooted in trauma-informed and person-centered care from an attachment lens. She is passionate about spreading awareness about mental health treatment and prevention and is regularly featured on podcasts and gives trainings on perinatal mental health and trauma.
She is also an EMDRIA approved consultant and facilitates EMDR therapy trainings. Beth is a current member and previously served as the President of the Board of the Postpartum Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of Perinatal Mental Health and accessibility of quality mental healthcare for all parents.
The information on the podcast What Your Therapist is Reading and on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and although Jessica Fowler is a licensed clinical social worker in New York State, this program is not intended to provide mental health  treatment and does not constitute a patient/therapist relationship.

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*Information shared on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
Book (affiliate link)
Psychotherapist and podcast host Jessica Fowler interviews licensed clinical social worker and author Sophia Valle Galano about teen anxiety and her book, Calming Teen Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry. Sophia Valle Galano explains that teen anxiety often looks different than adult anxiety and may appear as overwhelm, school refusal, panic symptoms, isolation, or irritability. Adults should assess frequency and the degree of impairment. Sophia and Jessica explore what to do when teens refuse therapy, including brainstorming alternative supports.  Sophia emphasizes boundaries around teen therapy, not over-involving parents or grilling teens afterward, and highlights listening, collaboration, preventive approaches, and not avoiding difficult topics like substance use and sexual health to build trust and safety.
Show Highlights
What Teen Anxiety Looks Like
When Teens Refuse Therapy
Boundaries around Therapy
Hands off Parenting Shift
Empathy Exercises for Parents
Modern Pressures Tech and AI
About the author:
Sophia Vale Galano is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, author, speaker, teacher and practicing therapist. Sophia was born in Los Angeles, raised in London, and holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University. She has been providing therapy since 2015 and has over a decade of experience working with adults and adolescents. Sophia has treated individuals and families in her private practice while also providing therapy in medical, educational, residential and outpatient settings. She is an expert at treating teenage anxiety, and is the author of the book, Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry.
The information on the podcast What Your Therapist is Reading and on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and although Jessica Fowler is a licensed clinical social worker in New Yor State, this program is not intended to provide mental health treatment and does not constituent a patient/therapist relationship.

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*Information shared on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
Psychotherapist and host Jessica Fowler closes season nine of “What Your Therapist Is Reading” with Dr. Dana E. Crawford, licensed clinical psychologist and trauma-informed care expert, to discuss her book “Healing Bias: Your Guide to Individual, Interpersonal and Institutional Change.” (affiliate link)  We explore how bias shows up for people and Dr. Crawford shares about her Bias Reduction Theory and Training (CBRT) as a framework for addressing culture-based countertransference and projection in therapy and beyond.
Show highlights:
What Bias Really Means
Everyday Bias Examples
CBRT Framework Explained
Impact Over Morality
Scarcity Trauma and Racism
Equity Versus Equality
Three Levels of Change
From Awareness to Practice
Stories And Discomfort Growth
About the author:
Dr. Dana E. Crawford is a licensed clinical psychologist and leading expert in trauma-informed care, bias reduction, and cultural healing. She runs a private practice in Manhattan and is the author of Healing Bias: Your Guide to Individual, Interpersonal, and Institutional Change. Dr. Crawford is also the creator of the R.A.C.E. Cards discussion deck and the Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training framework.

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*Information shared on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
Psychotherapist and host Jessica Fowler interviews licensed clinical social worker and author Phil Lane about his book, "Overcoming Panic and Panic Attacks." (affiliate link) Phil shares that the book is rooted in his own experience with intense panic attacks. Listen in as we explore the topic of panic, causes and how to handle it through various interventions. We also address fear of recurring panic, framing episodes as temporary “flare-ups,” and note that panic symptoms can mimic medical emergencies, so ruling out health issues and keeping up with checkups is important.
Highlights:
Challenging Panic Thoughts
What Panic Really Is
Book Roadmap Overview
Why Panic Happens
Baseline Habits
Therapy Tools That Help
Fear of Panic Returning
Somatic Mimics and Medical Checks
Self Awareness and Triggers
About the author:
Phil Lane is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist in private practice, and the author of three books in the psychology/self-improvement space. Phil specializes in the treatment of anxiety, panic, life transitions, impulse control, and men's issues.

Psychotherapist and host Jessica Fowler interviews Kaytee Gillis this week about parental abandonment.  We are discussing her book: Healing from Parental Abandonment and Neglect: Move Beyond Insecure Attachment to Build Safety, Connection and Trust with Yourself and Others (affiliate link). Kaytee Gillis defines parental abandonment as a parent or caregiver severing the relationship through rejection, being kicked out of the home, or loss of a caregiver after divorce, and notes it can occur across the lifespan and overlaps at times with family estrangement. There are a variety of causes including family dysfunction, abuse, and homophobia/transphobia.  This in as we discuss how abandonment can impact the child and how to move forward with healing,
Highlights:
What Is Abandonment
 Estrangement vs Abandonment
Why It Happens
How It Shows Up
Healing Stages
Inner Child Practices
Jealousy Around Happy Families
Grieving the Living Parent
 Scripts for Awkward Questions
Forgiveness Without Pressure
Signs You Are Healing
After todays episode, head on over to @therapybookspodcast to learn about what else I am reading.
*Information shared on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.
About the author:
Kaytee is a psychotherapist and author with a passion for working with survivors of relationship and family trauma and the LGBTQ+ community. She is the author of several books, including Breaking the Cycle: the 6 Stages of Healing from Childhood Family Trauma, and Healing from Parental Abandonment and Neglect.