In this episode, we discuss how we diagnose personality disorders as licensed professionals in clinical practice. Personality data is often observed as early as the initial contact for treatment. Once treatment begins, we engage in a "meta process" of observing what's going on inside ourselves as professionals, as well as the dynamic in the room. Because of the nuances and complexities of diagnosing personality disorders, psychological testing is an important tool to peel back the layers of the psyche. We end by discussing what psychological testing involves and point listeners to resources if they are interested in an evaluation.

Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:58 Indicators of Personality Dynamics Before Treatment Starts 06:21 The Referral Question and the Alphabet Soup 08:36 Unsuccessful Medication Trials 10:34 First Appointment: Interpersonal Dynamics 15:18 Ruptures in Relationships and Social Difficulties 17:16 The Unspoken Dynamics of Personality Disorders 24:33 Using Psychological Testing to Diagnose Personality Disorders 37:41 Resources and Conclusion

Resources

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/
• https://www.nami.org/
• https://www.questpsych.org/ (Offering Deep Dive Psychological Evaluations In Virginia)

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we discuss four trends we have observed in the post-pandemic world: collective trauma, mental health diagnoses as identity labels, over-identification with neurodivergence, and self-diagnosing. We explore the impact of the pandemic on mental health, including increased anxiety and hostility. We also discuss how mental health diagnoses have become identity labels, providing a sense of validation and belonging. We delve into the over-identification with neurodivergence, particularly autism, and the challenges of diagnosing this condition. Lastly, we address the issue of self-diagnosing and the proliferation of misleading information on social media platforms.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:46 Chapter 1: The Impact of Collective Trauma on Mental Health 10:43 Chapter 2: Mental Health Diagnoses as Identity Labels 18:40 Chapter 3: The Over-Identification with Neurodivergence 27:13 Chapter 4: The Proliferation of Self-Diagnosing and Misinformation 37:16 Conclusion

Articles Referenced:

On Healthcare Workers' Mental Health Symptoms: -https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2023/02/06/phw-violence/

On TikTok Mental Health Misinformation: -https://www.mmm-online.com/home/channel/nearly-84-of-mental-health-videos-on-tiktok-are-misleading-study/ -https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/psychiatry-on-tiktok-providing-education-to-teens-in-an-ethical-manner -https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-media-mental-health-self-diagnosis/ -https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-study-information-on-youtube-tiktok-on-did -https://www.salon.com/2022/04/09/why-teens-are-self-diagnosing-on-tiktok/

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we provide an overview of the Enneagram personality typology as a growth tool instead of a personality "box" or label. We discuss our personal journeys with the Enneagram, our typologies, and how we use this non-diagnostic tool in clinical practice. By exploring the different centers of intelligence (body, head, and heart) and the three types within each center, we highlight the key characteristics and tendencies of each of the 9 types, including their strengths and challenges.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Enneagram 01:00 - Our Enneagram Journeys 07:30 - Enneagram as a Growth Tool, Not a Box 10:15 - Enneagram Overview 12:02 - The Heart Center: Type 2s 15:48 - The Heart Center: Type 3s 19:47 - The Heart Center: Type 4s 25:04 - The Head Center: Type 5s 30:32 - The Head Center: Type 6s 34:08 - The Head Center: Type 7s 36:43 - The Body Center: Type 8s 41:36 - The Body Center: Type 9s 44:20 - The Body Center: Type 1s 48:36 - The One - Five Dynamic of Doc Bok and Doc Fish

A Few of Our Favorite Enneagram resources: * https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/ * https://sleepingatlast.podbean.com/ * https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-enneagram-an-introduction/ (Richard Rohr)