On today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Siddharth Shah, the Founder and President of Greenleaf Integrative. Dr. Shah is a preventive medicine physician whose path into medicine wound through the humanities, a year traveling in India, and early work in interfaith dialogue and social justice. Siddharth talks about how he found his way into psychiatry after leaving medical school twice, the mentors who shaped his approach, and why he sees agency, curiosity, and small wins as central to healing. He also reflects on the challenges of working in a world full of injustice and how practices of rest and embodied presence help sustain both clinicians and the communities they serve.

In today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara are joined by Dr. Soe Thein, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founder of the Good Enough Psychiatrist YouTube channel. On his channel, Dr. Thein creates animated videos that explain psychodynamic therapy concepts for a general audience and has won numerous awards for his work. Together, they discuss moments of rupture that can occur in relationships and the importance of repair. They emphasize that occasional ruptures are a normal part of any healthy relationship; what truly matters is how the individuals involved address these breaks and work together to mend what has been damaged.

On today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Igor Galynker, a psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher known for his work in bipolar disorder, suicide prevention, and the role of family dynamics in psychiatric illness, who currently serves as the Associate Chairman for Research in the department of psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Dr. Galynker talks about how he got interested in exploring suicide prevention, the signs that typically appear before someone commits suicide, and how therapists can better attune themselves to these markers.

On today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Dr. Daven Morrison, a psychiatrist with deep expertise in organizational and occupational psychiatry. A member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry and an officer of the Academy of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry, Dr. Morrison shares insights into the psychological dimensions of workplace life. From managing mergers and downsizing to fostering self-aware leadership, he walks us through the core principles of organizational psychiatry.

In today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Kate Werble, a longtime friend of Fara's and founder of her own New York City art gallery. They talk about the intimidating world of contemporary art, breaking down the mystique of the gallery scene and offering practical advice on how to begin engaging with galleries. Kate emphasizes that looking at art is a skill developed over time, encouraging curiosity over expertise for newcomers interested in learning how to engage with art. Finally, they talk about what art is ultimately about and what it offers psychologically.

In today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara sit down with Dr. Glenn Saxe to discuss the development and impact of Trauma Systems Therapy (TST), a model that addresses both emotional regulation in traumatized children and the complexities of their social environments. Dr. Saxe highlights how TST’s open-source approach has allowed practitioners worldwide to innovate and adapt the model for diverse settings, from child welfare to refugee care. The conversation explores the importance of honoring intergenerational wisdom while adapting to new challenges like cyberbullying and the digital age. They also touch on the promise of causal data science to advance psychiatric research and the need to embrace complexity rather than oversimplify mental health solutions.

On today's episode of Doorknob Comments Fara and Grant are joined by Dr. Michael Levin, the Vannevar Bush Distinguished Professor of Biology and the Director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University. Dr. Levin publishes across developmental biology, computer science, bioengineering, and philosophy of mind, with work spanning from fundamental conceptual frameworks, to applications in birth defects, regeneration, and cancer. Fara and Grant discuss Dr. Levin's groundbreaking research, how he came to his research interests, and the potential linkages or applications his research might have for the future of therapeutic care.

On this episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant focus on why people often struggle to do things that are good for them while continuing habits that might be harmful. They discuss the concept of multiple self-states or personality parts that can sometimes conflict with each other, leading to procrastination, guilt, and difficulty in enjoying leisure activities.

On today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara sit down with Erica Krakovitz, a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist, to explore the complexities of relationships, self-trust, and emotional healing.

On this episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Professor Nir Eisikovits, a philosopher and the founding director of the Applied Ethics Center at UMass Boston. They delve into the intersection of artificial intelligence, ethics, and psychotherapy, exploring how AI technologies can impact therapeutic practices.

In this episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Mark Solms, a renowned neuropsychologist and psychoanalyst. Dr. Solms discusses his groundbreaking work in neuropsychoanalysis, which bridges the gap between neuroscience and psychoanalysis. He shares insights from his 30-year project of retranslating Freud's complete works, including previously untranslated neuroscientific papers, revealing how this process has deepened our understanding of Freud's ideas.

In this episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant Brenner are joined by Sharon Thomas, the founder and CEO of MAIA Education Resource Center. Sharon is a child development and learning specialist with expertise in one-on-one academic interventions and school and college placement.

In this episode, Grant and Fara are joined by Joe Feldman, the president and founder of Cover My Mental Health, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping patients and their families secure proper insurance coverage for mental health services.

In this episode, Grant and Fata are joined by Dr. Scott Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro shares his expertise as a specialist in Adult ADHD, its treatment, and practical strategies to help individuals overcome their challenges.

In this episode, Grant and Fara delve into the topic of insight. They discuss its meaning, the benefits of having insight, and the various ways in which insight can be lacking. They also explore strategies for enhancing one's insight into their mental health and the role of therapy in encouraging patients to critically engage with their mental illness. We hope you find it enjoyable.

In this episode of Doorknob Comments Grant and Fara are joined by Angie Tekriwal, owner of Silver Lining Counseling LLC and counselor specializing in treating adolescents, young adults, and families at her private practice in Montclair, New Jersey.  Angie is also a mother and a good friend of Fara. They talk about the impact of media consumption on kids, inside scoop on the mom experience, and a range of other subjects.

In this episode, Grant and Fara dive into the animated film Inside Out 2, exploring its creative depiction of emotions and the educational value it offers. They begin by providing a synopsis of the film, followed by an in-depth discussion on how emotions like anxiety and sadness play a crucial role in the protagonist Riley’s conflicts and emotional growth. The conversation also touches on the portrayal of emotional frameworks in the film and how they reflect real-life therapeutic approaches. As always, they wrap up with some thoughtful closing remarks and doorknob comments.

In this episode, Grant and Fara are joined by Dr. Alexey Tolchinsky, a clinical psychologist, adjunct professor at George Washington University, and clinical fellow of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Association. He works with neurodiverse patients and young adults struggling with life transitions. Today, they discuss his peer-reviewed research, namely what he refers to as narrative fallacy in psychotherapy. Dr. Tolchinksky explains what he thinks are the dangers of narrative fallacy in psychotherapy, how it plays out between therapists and patients, and ways that we can consider re-thinking ingrained narratives in the therapeutic encounter.

In this episode, Grant and Fara are joined by esteemed neurophysicist and authority on brain imaging, Dr. Karl Friston. His revolutionary impact on studies of the brain derives from his inventive use of probability theory to analyze neural imaging data. They discuss how we might think about psychotherapy from the point of view of Dr. Friston's work and briefly touch on artificial general intelligence, AGI, through Karl's work on VERSES AI.

In this episode, Fara and Grant approach the sticky subjects in therapy, such as: billing, scheduling, boundaries, connection... and whether I really AM my therapist's favorite patient!! They provide insights into the challenges associated with managing this relationship and offer guidance on how to effectively communicate with your therapist. How do you bring up your concerns? Is it wrong to feel emotionally or romantically attracted to your therapist? This episode covers a wide range of topics to hopefully ease some of your anxieties.