My guest this week is Dr. David Tolin, a clinical psychologist, researcher, author, and expert on effective treatments for many psychological conditions.
In this conversation we focused on hoarding disorder, and then segued into a more general discussion about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other treatment approaches.
Topics we discussed included:
The continuum of hoarding
The diagnostic criteria for when hoarding is considered a disorder
Instances of needing to buy a second home due to hoarding
The prevalence of hoarding disorder
The causes of hoarding
How those who are at risk for hoarding disorder can minimize the risk of developing it
The limits of reason and logic in treating hoarding
Effective hoarding treatment
The possibility that the medications atomoxetine and venlafaxine might be effective
The role of distress tolerance in treatment
Prioritizing living better over feeling better
The value of strategies from motivational interviewing
Effectiveness of the best treatments
The effects on hoarding of general talk therapy
Whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the best treatment for every condition
How to harness the placebo effect in therapy
Finding mutual respect across therapy traditions
The need for more effective psychological treatment
Doing higher quality research studies
What to do when the best-tested treatments aren’t helpful
Historical advancements in CBT for panic disorder
The textbook that David wrote calling Doing CBT
David Tolin, PhD, ABPP, is the Founder and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living, and an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine.
He is the Past-President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, the Past-President of the Clinical Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association, and a principal investigator for the National Institutes of Health.
He received the Awards for Distinguished Contribution to the Science of Psychology, Distinguished Contribution to the Practice of Psychology, and Lifetime Contribution to Psychology from the Connecticut Psychological Association.
David is the author of over 200 scientific journal articles, as well as several books, including (affiliate links):
Doing CBT: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Behaviors, Thoughts, and Emotions
Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding
Face Your Fears: A Proven Plan to Beat Anxiety, Panic, Phobias, and Obsessions.
He has been featured on the reality TV series Hoarders and The OCD Project, and has been a recurring guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Find David online at his website and at the Institute of Living.
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