charlie | Charlie Swenson

In this podcast Charlie recalls a piece of biological research he did 57 years ago, at college. He pursued the question: how is it that the 2 billion cells of the human heart, each of which has on its own the capacity to contract, beat in synchrony from birth to death every second or so? What are the biological structures that make that possible? And what does it teach us about cooperation, community, interdependency, and synchrony? View video version of this podcast

In this podcast, Charlie reflects on a recent consultation as a window into the way in which memory is tethered to certain moments, as an example of Linehan’s metaphor for validation as finding a nugget of gold in a pile of sand, and as a segue into the integration of DBT and depth psychology in therapy. View video version of this podcast

In this podcast, Charlie draws from DBT in search of ways to understand the current assault on democracy in the United States, and to become more effective at taking care of oneself and acting more effectively. View video version of this podcast

In a manner that is absolutely true to these words from her DBT and life mentor, Seth Axelrod, Andrea Gold has completed her one year of prescribed treatment for breast cancer, with the best results one can hope for. Tune in to this episode to hear Andrea celebrate the completion of the year and reflect upon how she managed the suffering (a lot) and created fun and connection through it all (a lot). She brings an infectious and intelligent enthusiasm, an emotional and affiliative personality, and a bad-ass exposure and DBT lifestyle, to rather grim cancer-related events: diagnosis, staging, mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and survivorship. Listen, connect, reflect…learn from her. View video version of this podcast View Gallery

> In part 2 of the conversation with world class trainer Cem Eren, join Charlie and Nicole and enter the Lion’s Den, a practice environment thoughtfully constructed to support our training journey from the moment we step through the door until the moment we step out of it. As we tour the space, we hear how unconditional acceptance underlies Cem’s strategy for facilitating positive change, and how his intuitive application of dialectics translates to clients that consistently hit huge goals and make extraordinary transformations. View video version of this podcast

“In this episode, Nicole and Charlie tap into the wisdom that Cem Eren has gained from two decades of training elite NBA athletes, boxers, bodybuilders, beauty contestants, and ordinary humans of all ages. In examples that extend to therapy and coaching, Cem shares how he meets his clients every single day with freshness, compassion, dignity, and nonjudgmental presence, helping them connect with their strengths while building toward their goals. View video version of this podcast

What shapes the syntax of Self? How does context inform our inner lexicons? Are we more than the sum of all our actions? In this episode Charlie and Nic explore the ways we find meaning through expressing identity, how we hold space for inner contradictions, and why self definition is a paradox, ripe for dialectical intervention. View video version of this podcast

In this second of our two-episode conversation with Natalia Garcia about her grieving process over the years since the death of her two-year-old son, we focus in on her altered relationship to time, rituals, and anniversaries; her remarkable use of DBT skills and dialectics to navigate the grieving process; the ways that she has made meaning out of her suffering; and a dinosaur, a gift from a fellow griever. View video version of this podcast Gallery

Since Nicole joined Charlie as co-host, several long-time listeners have asked Charlie, Who IS that woman?! It’s actually a great question and the answer is far from simple. In this podcast, Charlie and Nicole explore their own self-narratives and expand into a larger conversation about how we all see ourselves, how we define ourselves, how we represent ourselves, how we are seen by others, and how that affects us. View video version of this podcast

In 2018, Natalia Garcia spoke with me over three podcast episodes about how she was dealing with the catastrophic and traumatic death of her two year old son eight months earlier. He died in the middle of the night for unexplained reasons. In three podcasts she spoke at length of her life, of the death itself, and then the road to recovery. In this week’s podcast, we reprise selected excerpts from those podcasts, capturing her words and her wisdom that grew out of this terrible loss. She inspires.

In June of 2018, eight months following the death of her two-year-old son to the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), Natalia Garcia joined this podcast for three episodes to describe the catastrophic loss and the ensuing grief process marked by her courage and skill in facing her vulnerabilities. Now, five years since the loss, she returns to the podcast to talk about the longer arc of the process of grieving her son and things that have happened since then. As before, this is a moving and inspiring story of courage that deals with a panoply of issues faced in any longer-term grief process. View video version of this podcast

In this episode, Charlie reflects on 100 episodes spent exploring human suffering. He synthesizes wisdom from interviews including coping with natural disaster, loss of a child, suicide, and cancer, arriving at seven overarching guidelines for survival. View video version of this podcast

In the final episode of our 4 part Series on coping with Suicide in the family, we hear from Teddy’s fiancé Mariya. Mariya’s developed a personal friendship with Ross and shares about that relationship and her experience grieving his suicide. She also speaks about what it was like for her as someone outside the immediate family after Ross’ suicide: what it was like to be an outsider witnessing a family grapple with unspeakable loss, and how it felt to be a supportive partner to Teddy amidst her own grief. The interview provides a window into the breadth of relationships impacted by suicide and gives perspective into the complexity of managing grief within and outside of a family system. View video version of this podcast

In the 3rd of our 4 Part Series on coping with suicide in the family, we speak with Beth’s son, and Ross’ brother, Teddy. Teddy shares his perspective on growing up as an older sibling to a brother who struggled with painful emotions throughout his lifetime, on the close friendship they developed as they got older, and his inexhaustible capacity to access compassion and warmth. Teddy talks about being the person to find Ross after he took his life, navigating the mind-numbing administrative tasks that were required of him whilst being overwhelmed with emotion, and his instinct to surround himself with friends from the beginning to help him cope with a loss so great that, at times, it still doesn’t feel real. View video version of this podcast

In this episode, the third of four on how Andrea has coped with Cancer throughout 2022, her best friend Amy joins the conversation and they talk about what has happened in their friendship as a result of Cancer.  How they have dealt with Cancer has enriched their friendship and their friendship has been key in helping Andrea to reduce her suffering and preserve her love of life.  Totally sweet and inspiring!  Check out the first two in the series, podcasts #87 and #93, where you get the detailed story of how Andrea has used DBT skills, dialectics, and mindfulness to navigate the myriad challenges that Cancer brings. View video version of this podcast

In this episode (part 2), Charlie and Nicole speak with Beth about her son Ross who ended his life two years ago. We hear about Beth, the family, and Ross leading up to his death. In future episodes we learn how Beth and other family members have coped with the tragic loss. View video version of this podcast View Gallery

In this episode, Charlie and Nicole speak with Beth about her son Ross who ended his life two years ago. We hear about Beth, the family, and Ross leading up to his death. In future episodes we learn how Beth and other family members have coped with the tragic loss. View video version of this podcast View Gallery

In this episode, Charlie and Nicole role play and then discuss a therapy session in which Charlie patiently sifts through the layers of defensive grandiosity and wounded pride that provoked his Narcissistic patient Taylor (played by Nicole) into a violent outburst at a recent wedding. View video version of this podcast

In this podcast, Charlie and Nicole contrast DBT versus psychodynamic models for narcissistic patients. Charlie demonstrates how to talk with these patients about the diagnosis with compassion and clarity. Charlie demonstrates how to talk with these patients about the diagnosis with clarity and compassion, using a DBT model. View video version of this podcast

This is the second installment of Charlie’s interview with Andrea Gold, PhD, DBT expert, faculty member of Brown University Department of Psychiatry. See podcast #87 for the first hour. Andrea was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in January of this year and is here reporting on how she has coped for the past six months with Cancer and its treatments, including managing her friendships and her family life with her husband and two young children. She is an inspiring human being and a master of using DBT skills to cope with her emotions and the challenges she faces. View video version of this podcast

In episode 3 of the series on Narcissism Charlie and Nicole illustrate the relational nature of Narcissism. Through role play and discussion, listeners hear an intimate portrait of complex interpersonal dynamics playing out between the Narcissist and his counterpart, fueling and reinforcing Narcissistic behavior and belief. Stay tuned for the final episode in the series where Charlie and Nicole share practical tools for preserving dignity and self esteem when interacting with a Narcissist. View video version of this podcast

In this episode, the second in our series on narcissism, Charlie and Nicole dissect clinical models and cultural assumptions to illuminate the nature of narcissistic behavior, distinguishing between adaptive traits and the destructive conduct that may meet the criteria for a Narcissistic Personality Disorder diagnosis. View video version of this podcast

In this podcast, Charlie and Nicole talk about narcissism, how it plays a part in all of our lives, how there is a range from healthy to pathological, and how it can present in two different types, the grandiose and/or the vulnerable types. This will be the first of three or four podcasts on this topic. View video version of this podcast

In this episode, Charlie and Nicole role play a therapy session in which the client plans to terminate her pregnancy. DBT skills help her decide if, and how, she’ll share her plans with her partner who is very excited about having the child. View video version of this podcast

In this podcast, Charlie and Nicole look at recent divisive decisions by the Supreme Court through a dialectical lens as developed in DBT. In the spirit of conflict, Charlie sings a Dialectical Love Song, “Unhappy Together,” a bastardization of the Turtle’s 1967 love song, “Happy Together.” View video version of this podcast

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“Acting Opposite…” is one of the cardinal skills taught in DBT, a way to reduce painful emotional responses, and the cornerstone of the behavioral change procedure of Exposure. In the upcoming podcast, “live” on Thursday, March 25 at 6:00 pm eastern, I will go over the functions of “acting opposite…,” the formula for doing it, and the nuances of making it work. While this might be interesting for DBT informed people, my hope is to get this skill out to a wider audience, it being such an effective and practical thing to do. View video version of this podcast

On this Thursday, March 11, at 6:00 pm, I will be joined on the podcast by three DBT therapists from Clearview Treatment Center Women’s Program: Nicole Riddle, Kate Roahrig, and Ruth Avalos. They all do individual DBT therapy and lots of skills training. They will bring practical examples of how you can apply DBT’s Model of Emotions to your life. You may benefit from listening to the last podcast, when I went over the ingredients of the model, but if you don’t, I think you can still benefit from this one. View video version of this podcast

Even with all the techniques for regulating emotions, it’s really hard to deal with the intense, repetitive, stubborn ones. In this podcast I will go over ten reasons it’s so difficult. I do this for two reasons: first, maybe this will help someone who is listening to get a better understanding of what is making it so impossible to regulate certain emotions; second, this podcast will set the stage for a podcast next week on how to use DBT’s model of emotions to deal with stubborn negative emotions. View video version of this podcast

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We are all living through a socio-cultural-political environment that is multi-layered, complex, intense, and can be dysregulating. In this podcast I will focus on three sets of principles/strategies/skills that can help us to be regulated and effective: mindfulness, radical acceptance, and validation. View video version of this podcast

We are all living through a socio-cultural-political environment that is multi-layered, complex, intense, and can be dysregulating. In this podcast I will focus on three sets of principles/strategies/skills that can help us to be regulated and effective: mindfulness, radical acceptance, and validation. View video version of this podcast

An upside down world eventually casts new and different light on fundamental principles and values, including those that interweave with the deep roots of DBT. Who knows in what ways we will emerge from this era different than when we went in. On this Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 pm eastern time, Kathryn Patrick and I will have a conversation about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our own perspectives as we go through it. We invite you to listen in. Kathryn is a DBT therapist leading a DBT team in Denver, has worked for years with Kelly Koerner in developing the Practice Ground learning community, has trained and supervised others in DBT including at the intensive level, and will teach a ten day DBT intensive with me beginning in July. View video version of this podcast

I have suffered from envy throughout my life. It is a painful emotion, and even as I taught others how to change emotions, I have not deliberately applied it to this emotion of mine. I apply some principles and skills in DBT to address and transform my envy, and in doing so I will show how you can use the same tools to address your own emotional pain. I will share other examples along the way. View video version of this podcast

I will be joined by Maria Elena Ridolfi, a friend, colleague, DBT expert, and a leading public sector psychiatrist in Northern Italy. Maria and I will compare notes about personal and professional experiences and DBT perspectives on the crisis. Maria has lived and worked through some shockingly troubling times in Northern Italy in recent weeks, and has been helpful to me in understanding things that are “arriving” in the U.S. and other parts of Europe. I have no doubt that a dialogue about Italy, America, DBT, and the pandemic will be helpful to all of us. Maria and I will be joined by Laura Coverlizza, who lives with her husband and children near Milan, who is the interpreter for all of my DBT workshops in Italy, and who will provide consecutive interpretation into Italian throughout the Zoomcast/podcast so that it will also be accessible to the large Italian DBT and CBT community. View video version of this podcast

I will be joined by Maria Elena Ridolfi, a friend, colleague, DBT expert, and a leading public sector psychiatrist in Northern Italy. Maria and I will compare notes about personal and professional experiences and DBT perspectives on the crisis. Maria has lived and worked through some shockingly troubling times in Northern Italy in recent weeks, and has been helpful to me in understanding things that are “arriving” in the U.S. and other parts of Europe. I have no doubt that a dialogue about Italy, America, DBT, and the pandemic will be helpful to all of us. Maria and I will be joined by Laura Coverlizza, who lives with her husband and children near Milan, who is the interpreter for all of my DBT workshops in Italy, and who will provide consecutive interpretation into Italian throughout the Zoomcast/podcast so that it will also be accessible to the large Italian DBT and CBT community. View video version of this podcast

Donald Trump’s presidency has been challenging in so many ways for so many individuals and families. In the next 4 podcasts I will draw from DBT for perspective on the situation and to spell out strategies to cope with Trump-associated adversity. View video version of this podcast

Donald Trump’s presidency has been challenging in so many ways for so many individuals and families. In the next two podcasts I will draw from DBT for perspective on the situation and to spell out strategies to cope with Trump-associated adversity. View video version of this podcast

Donald Trump’s presidency has been challenging in so many ways for so many individuals and families. In the next two podcasts I will draw from DBT for perspective on the situation and to spell out strategies to cope with Trump-associated adversity. View video version of this podcast

Seth Axelrod, PhD., is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of DBT services there.  He is a trainer and consultant in DBT for Behavioral Tech.  He was the recipient of the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award in November, 2019, given by the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT).   AND he has lived with and battled with a “bad” kind of Cancer for the past six years, continuing into the present.   He will join me for the next three podcasts to talk with me (and all of us) about his experiences of Cancer and how he has used DBT, among other things, to cope. View video version of this podcast

Seth Axelrod, PhD., is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of DBT services there.  He is a trainer and consultant in DBT for Behavioral Tech.  He was the recipient of the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award in November, 2019, given by the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT).   AND he has lived with and battled with a “bad” kind of Cancer for the past six years, continuing into the present.   He will join me for the next three podcasts to talk with me (and all of us) about his experiences of Cancer and how he has used DBT, among other things, to cope. View video version of this podcast

Seth Axelrod, PhD., is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of DBT services there.  He is a trainer and consultant in DBT for Behavioral Tech.  He was the recipient of the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award in November, 2019, given by the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT).   AND he has lived with and battled with a “bad” kind of Cancer for the past six years, continuing into the present.   He will join me for the next three podcasts to talk with me (and all of us) about his experiences of Cancer and how he has used DBT, among other things, to cope. View video version of this podcast

Seth Axelrod, PhD., is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of DBT services there.  He is a trainer and consultant in DBT for Behavioral Tech.  He was the recipient of the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award in November, 2019, given by the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT).   AND he has lived with and battled with a “bad” kind of Cancer for the past six years, continuing into the present.   He will join me for the next three podcasts to talk with me (and all of us) about his experiences of Cancer and how he has used DBT, among other things, to cope. View video version of this podcast