Mental Health Decoded with Mordechai

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1356

Oct 19, 2026

1:09:04

Question 1 – I Would Like to Share Feedback About a Previous Program Regarding a Child Crying in Nursery. Question 2 – What Is AEDP Therapy, and What Are You Learning in Your Recent Training? Question 3 – Can Babies Experience Emotions at a Very Young Age? Also, Why Can I Experience Intense Fear While Flying When Everyone Around Me Seems Calm? Question 4 – When Someone Experiences Danger, They May Respond With Fight, Flight, or Freeze. Is It Possible That Someone Who Previously Used the Fight Response May Begin Freezing Because They No Longer Feel Able to Fight Back? Question 5 – My 11-Year-Old Sister Feels Put Down and Unsafe Around Our 18-Year-Old Sibling, Who Is Very Tough on Her. Should I Stay at My Mother's House When She Goes Away for Shabbos to Protect My Younger Sister? Question 6 – What Goes On in a Bully's Mind When They Hurt Others? Why Do They Behave This Way?

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1355

Oct 19, 2026

57:45

Question 1 – What Is Love, and How Do We Know if We Are Giving Our Children the Love They Truly Need? Question 2 – My 5-Year-Old Son Has Extreme Anxiety and Needs Everything to Go His Way. How Can I Help Him? Question 3 – We Were Discussing Sending Children to Stay With Other Families During a Simcha, but Someone Said We Should Assume Everyone Is Potentially Dangerous. How Can We Balance Trusting Others With Keeping Our Children Safe?

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1354

Oct 12, 2026

1:06:22

Question 1 – Regarding the Previous Program About a Grandmother Giving Advice, I Relate to the Daughter's Perspective. Sometimes Parents Have Tried Everything to Help Their Child With ADHD. Rather Than Offering Advice, Grandparents Can Help by Giving Parents a Shabbos Break and Understanding That Parents May Not Share Every Difficulty. Question 2 – I Took Your Workshop on Dealing With Difficult People Years Ago, and It Helped Me Tremendously. Now Another Family Member Repeatedly Makes Jokes at My Expense. How Can I Stop This Bullying Behavior? Question 3 – I've Heard Professionals Explain That Becoming Afraid of Your Own Anxiety Can Actually Make It Worse. Is This True, and How Does the Fear of Fear Work? Question 4 – I Have an 8-Year-Old Nephew Who Becomes Violent and Fights With My Children. My Mother Refuses to Get Involved. What Is My Responsibility, and Should I Confront the Child or His Parents? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1353

Oct 11, 2026

1:03:06

Question 1 - My Relationship with a Family Member Is Better When We're Apart. Can Therapy Help Us Become Closer, or Is Distance Better? Question 2 - If I See Someone's Lack of Initiative, Should I Warn a Potential Shidduch or Stay Out of It? Question 3 - I've Learned a Lot About Self-Growth but Haven't Put It into Practice. Should I Consider Intensive Therapy? Question 4 - My 8-Year-Old Grandson Doesn't Want Me to Kiss Him and Seems Unhappy. How Can I Help Him?

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1352

Oct 5, 2026

1:07:15

Question 1 - In the Previous Program, You Discussed Couples Having Different Interests. What If a Couple Has Had Very Different Needs Throughout Their Entire Marriage? Question 2 - How Can You Heal Attachment Wounds If the Hurt Happened in the Past? Question 3 - What Are Red Flags to Watch for with a Therapist? If a Good Therapist Lies or Is in Denial About Something, Is That a Red Flag? Question 4 - Regarding Attachment Wounds, How Do You Make Peace with Never Receiving the Love You Needed? Question 5 - How Do I Know If I Want to Switch Therapists Because the Therapist Is the Problem or Because I Am? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1351

Oct 5, 2026

1:07:16

Question 1 - I Teach 3- and 4-Year-Olds, and One Child Is Still Crying Frequently After Two Weeks. How Do I Know If This Is Normal Adjustment or Something More? Question 2 - If I Have Attachment Wounds, Can Therapy Fully Heal Them, or Will They Always Be Part of Me? Question 3 - Can Grief Be About More Than Losing a Person, Such as a Physical or Medical Loss or a Major Life Change? Question 4 - I Enjoy Hiking but My Husband Doesn't. He's Upset That I Go with Friends Instead of Spending That Time with Him. Is He Right? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1350

Sep 14, 2026

1:23:35

Question 1 - My 7- and 9-Year-Old Sons Have Been Having Ongoing Problems on the School Bus, Including Being Pushed Around and Having Money Taken. The School Hasn't Helped. What Should I Do? Question 2 - My 16-Year-Old Is Developmentally Delayed and Can Sometimes Act Her Age and Other Times Like a 2-Year-Old. What Does It Mean When Someone Says Medication Can “Take the Edge Off” but Won't Remove the Triggers? Question 3 - My Adult Child Seems Codependent and Constantly Puts Others Before Themselves. What Can I Do as a Parent? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1349

Sep 7, 2026

1:05:35

Question 1 - I Have Derealization and Have Been Seeing the World as Dimmer, but My Eye Doctor Says Everything Is Fine. Can Derealization Cause This? Question 2 - I've Been in Therapy for 20 Years but Missed the Past Three Weeks. My Daughter Recently Seemed More Closed with Me. Could My Break from Therapy Be Affecting Her? Question 3 - How Do You Handle a Teenager Who Goes on an Angry Rant About a Situation They Need to Learn to Accept? Question 4 - I Had a Harmful Experience with a Life Coach, and I Felt the Supervisor Defended the Coach Instead of Addressing What Happened. What Are the Risks of Going to an Unlicensed Therapist or Coach? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1348

Sep 7, 2026

1:07:20

Comment 1A - You Mentioned a Pasuk About Trees Without Fruit and People Without Children, and How the Pasuk Ends with Connection to Hashem as the Answer. Question 1B - Some People Say, “Just Pop a Pill and Make It Easier.” When Is Medication Appropriate, and When Is It Important to Do the Hard Work in Therapy? Question 1C - Can OCD Improve Without Therapy? Question 2 - How Can Someone Learn and Master Anxiety Coping Skills While Taking Medication? Question 3 - What Is the Difference Between Bipolar I and Bipolar II? Do People with Bipolar Disorder Sometimes Struggle to Accept Their Diagnosis or Take Medication? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1347

Aug 31, 2026

1:12:59

Question 1A - I Was Recommended Medication for Postpartum Depression. Should I Start with Therapy, Medication, or Both Together? Question 2 - I'm a Therapist Close to Getting My Clinical License, but I Doubt Myself When Clients Don't Improve as I Expected. Why Do I Lack Confidence, and Am I Doing Something Wrong? Question 3A - If Someone Needs Coffee Every Morning to Feel Alert, Is That an Addiction or a Problem? Question 3B - Is It True That There Is Not Enough Oversight of Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Medication? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1346

Aug 31, 2026

1:01:43

Question 1 - My Friend's Psychiatrist Said Her Body Is 'Fighting the Medication.' She Hasn't Even Been Taking It for Two Weeks. What Does That Mean? Question 2A - Thank You for Serenity. My Experience Has Been Amazing, and I Was Matched with a Very Experienced Therapist. Is There a Way to Find Out More About a Therapist's Background and Experience? Question 2B - When I Started Working in Mental Health, I Realized I Needed to Take Care of Myself and Reduce My Internship Caseload. Is This Normal for New Clinicians? Question 3 - My Husband's Therapist Suggested That Because His Therapy Is Free, He May Be Less Motivated. Can Free Therapy Still Be Effective? Question 4 - My Daughter Was Hospitalized Around Yom Tov Last Year, and This Time of Year Is Bringing Back Difficult Memories for Both of Us. How Can We Handle These Flashbacks? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1345

Aug 26, 2026

1:08:56

Question 1 - How Can Someone Develop a Thicker Skin and Not Be So Affected by Others? Question 2 - What Are Your Thoughts on Medication for Children? Why Does It Seem to Be Recommended So Often? Question 3 - I Made a Mistake in the Past and Keep Thinking About How My Life Could Have Been Different. How Do I Stop Living in the Past? Question 4 - While Doing IFS, I Sometimes Feel Like I'm Reliving the Pain of My Childhood. Should I Push Through the Pain or Step Back Until I'm More Ready? Question 5 - During Elul, How Do You Know What Is Healthy Yiras Shamayim and What May Be a Mental Health Issue? Question 6 - If the Water Element Wants to Make Things Happen, Why Do Water People Often Help Others More Than Themselves? Question 7 - A Close Relative Keeps Picking at a Scab Even After Being Asked to Stop. What Is This Behavior Called? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1344

Aug 26, 2026

59:05

Question 1 - A Relative Needs Therapy, but Her Husband Is Against It. She Would Feel Guilty Going Without His Support. What Should She Do? Question 2 - How Can You Know Beforehand Whether Reaching Out to Someone Will Help Them or Make Them Uncomfortable? Comment 3 - I Went to an Agency for Therapy, and I Am Very Happy with the Experience. Question 4 - How Can Someone Manage a Fear of Death During the Yomim Noraim, When the Books of Life and Death Are Open? Question 5 - I Thought I Could Handle Two Weeks Without My Therapist, but I'm Struggling. How Do I Not Feel Discouraged That I'm Not as Far Along as I Thought? Comment 6 - Great-Grandmother Sharing Some Things She Believes This Generation Is Doing Better. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1343

Aug 17, 2026

1:10:42

Question 1 - Now That Summer Is Ending, How Can We Keep Our Kids Active and Grounded at Home? Comment 2 - I Would Like to Read from My Journal and Share How My Different Parts Have Become Calmer and Less Intense. Question 3 - My Teenage Daughter Was Placed with Her Friends, but She No Longer Wants to Be with Them. How Can She Build Resilience, Stay Strong, and Make the Best of the Situation? Thought 4 - I Adapted the Words of the Serenity Prayer to Apply Specifically to Couples and Relationships, and I Would Like to Share It. Question 5 - My 8-Year-Old Son Has Developed a Mouth Twitch That May Be from Stress. Should I Send Him to Therapy? Question 6 - How Do You Tell Your Married Children That You Need a Break and Can't Host Them for Shabbos During the Summer? Question 7 - Last Week You Spoke About How Many People Develop Post-Traumatic Growth and How Few Develop PTSD. Did You Mean to Blame or Shame Those Who Do Develop PTSD? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1342

Aug 17, 2026

58:01

Question 1 - If I Take Medication, Does It Have to Be for Life, or Can I Eventually Come Off It? Question 2 - I Became Very Connected to a Life Coach During a Difficult Time, but She Crossed Boundaries, Wasn't Confidential, and I Now Feel Used, Hurt, Angry, and Sad. How Do I Understand What Happened, Deal with the Loss of the Relationship, and Know What Was My Responsibility and What Was Hers? Appreciation 3 - I Want to Thank You for All That You Do. Question 4 - You Mentioned Schizoid Personality Disorder Last Week. What Does Cluster C Mean? Question 5 - I Generally Balance Caring for Others with Setting Boundaries. How Do I Stop Feeling So Bad When I Set a Boundary? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1341

Aug 10, 2026

1:19:22

Question 1 - I Have a Relative with Misophonia, and Exposure Hasn't Helped. What Other Treatments Can Help? Question 2 - What Is Schizoid Personality Disorder? Question 3 - What Do People Mean by a 'Mental Breakdown'? How Is It Different from Depression or Anxiety, What Is the Professional Term, and Can Someone Eventually Come Off Medication? Question 4 - I Called a Year Ago About Choosing Between an MSW and MHC, and I Chose the MSW. I've Heard It Can Take Years for a Therapist to Feel Confident and Experienced. Why Does It Take So Long? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1340

Aug 10, 2026

1:02:15

Question 1 - How Can Someone Go Through a Trauma and Not Remember What Happened? Comment 2 - Mastering Relationships Helped Me Realize That What I Thought Was a Lack of Confidence Is Actually My Water Nature. I'm Learning to Better Understand and Accept Who I Am. Question 3 - What Are Common Situations That Can Create Tension Between a Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law, and How Can They Be More Aware of Them? Question 4 - My Friend and I Went Out to Eat, and Someone Asked Us to Order Food for Them. We Felt We Couldn't Say No Because We Had Something They Didn't Have. How Can We Learn to Say No in These Situations? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1339

Aug 9, 2026

2:16:07

Interview Let's Get Real with Coach Menachem regarding my dissertation. The power of one.

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1338

Aug 3, 2026

1:13:33

Question 1 – I read Mastering Relationships and realized I am a Water person. I care deeply about others, but I often get lost in their pain. How can I stay compassionate without becoming overwhelmed? Comment & Question 2 – Your program has helped me realize that I am not stuck and that I have the power to change the dance. Thank you for that. I have a personal question about my parents, but I feel embarrassed asking it on the air. Is it okay to change the details or ask it as if it's about someone else, such as my husband? Question 3 – What are your thoughts on energy healing and healing work? Comment 4 – I wanted to comment on Serenity's feedback. Whenever you ask for callers, I always feel like I should be the one asking a question. Why do I feel that way? Question 5 – I have set boundaries with someone who repeatedly calls me insulting names, so I leave whenever it happens. How do I stay strong when the behavior continues over and over? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1337

Jul 27, 2026

58:12

Question 1 – On your previous program about boundaries, you discussed doing what you are willing to do without feeling guilty. I often make supper for a neighbor who has experienced significant loss, but she frequently asks for more than I am comfortable giving. How do I set healthy boundaries without feeling guilty? Question 2 – I know someone who, even at a simcha, focuses on her problems instead of celebrating. Rather than saying, 'Baruch Hashem,' she talks about everything that is wrong in her life. Can a person like that change? Question 3 – What defines an addiction? Can people truly recover from one? I struggle with food addiction and wonder if I can heal. Question 4 – Is food addiction simply a matter of dieting, or is it something more? Question 5 – What is the harm reduction approach, and how does it work? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1336

Jul 27, 2026

1:09:21

Question 1 – Siblings in the same family can have very different childhood experiences and levels of trauma. How can I make peace with the fact that my siblings may be jealous of the support and love I got from my parents that they didn't get? Question 2 – What are your thoughts on energy healing? Some people attend four sessions for $250 each and say they are completely healed. Question 3 – I recently had to speak with a very complicated person and expected it would take years of therapy to prepare. Instead, I found the courage to do it, and the conversation went remarkably well. I realized I was using many of the skills I learned from your program. How do we know when therapy has truly become part of who we are? Question 4 – I run a playgroup and am much younger than many of the parents. I often feel that people expect me to do things that are not my job because of my age. How can I set healthy boundaries while showing them respect? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1335

Jul 20, 2026

58:42

Question 1 - My Therapist Has Fallen Asleep During More Than One Session. Should I Talk to Her About It or Find a Different Therapist? Question 2 - Is It Appropriate for Therapists to Text Clients Between Sessions? Question 3 - How Do You Cope with Very Disturbing and Obsessive Thoughts? Question 4A - My 12-Year-Old Asked Why Some Family Members Stay Married If They Fight All the Time. How Should I Answer? Question 4B - My 12-Year-Old Read About Borderline Personality Disorder and Thinks a Relative Fits the Symptoms. How Should I Respond? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1334

Jul 20, 2026

59:15

Question 1 - Is It Okay to Tell Someone, 'You Can Ask Me Anything, but Please Don't Ask Me About This Subject'? Question 2 - My Children Prefer One Set of Grandparents Because They Give More Treats and Attention. How Do We Handle Their Resentment Toward the Other Grandparents? Question 3 - Who Says I'm Right? If People Can See Things So Differently, How Can I Ever Trust My Own Judgment? Question 4 - After a Minor Car Accident, I'm Afraid to Drive. Is It Trauma, or Am I Just Not a Good Driver? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1333

Jul 13, 2026

58:30

Comment 1 - I've Been Enjoying the Program for Many Years. Thank You for Everything You Do. Question 2 - My Child Has Special Needs. If He Holds a Knife but I Know He Won't Use It, Is It Still Dangerous? Question 3 - I Didn't Receive Love as a Child. How Do I Heal That Emptiness? Question 4 - Did You Used to Take Questions from Children on the Program? Question 5 - I Work with an 8-Year-Old Who Says She Doesn't Like Herself or Her Appearance. How Can I Help Her? Comment 6 - Thank You to All the Callers for Their Thoughtful Questions. Question 7 - Can You Talk About ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) and When It Is Appropriate? Question 8 - Can Trauma Cause Derealization? If the Trauma Is Over, Why Does the Person Still Feel Hurt? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1332

Jul 13, 2026

1:08:56

Question 1 - Congratulations on the PhD. If a Husband Struggles to Meet His Wife's Emotional Needs, Is It Usually an Attachment Issue or Could It Be Something Else? Question 2 - Is Therapy Helpful for ADHD, or Is Medication Alone Enough? Question 3 - How Do You Show Love to a Family Member Who Pushes You Away but Still Feels Hurt When You Don't Reach Out? Question 4 - My Relative Has Severe Depression and Often Acts Like a Victim. How Do I Know If I'm Helping or Enabling Her? Question 5 - My Son Constantly Needs My Reassurance, Almost Like OCD. What Is My Role as a Parent? Question 6 - Setting Boundaries with Family Brings Up a Lot of Pain. Should My Friend Continue Setting Boundaries or Stop Because It Hurts? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1331

Jul 6, 2026

1:14:51

Question 1 - How Was the Milgram Experiment Approved, and Would It Be Allowed by Today's IRB Standards? Question 2 - My 10-Year-Old with PANDAS Refuses His Medication and Vitamins. Is It Okay to Force Him to Take Them? Question 3 - Are People with Avoidant Attachment More Likely to Be Introverts and Those with Anxious Attachment More Likely to Be Extraverts? Question 4A - My Oldest Son Is Away at Camp and Only Wants Brief Contact. How Should I Handle It? Question 4B - Can Group Therapy Be Harmful If Someone Isn't Ready for Help or Doesn't See Their Own Role in the Problem? Question 5 - If Someone with a Personality Disorder Doesn't Recognize That They Are Part of the Problem, How Can They Ever Get Better? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1330

Jul 6, 2026

59:40

Question 1 - How Can I Support a Friend with Many Life Challenges Without Getting Pulled into Them? Feedback 2A - Feedback To Last Caller. Small Acts of Kindness Can Make a Big Difference. A Neighbor Once Brought Me Homemade Bagels and Eggs, and It Meant So Much. Question 2B - My Daughter Is Being Excluded Because She Doesn't Have Hello Kitty. How Do We Handle This Elitist Behavior? Question 3 - My Husband Has Had Three Episodes Where He Stayed in Bed for Days, Ate Impulsively, Seemed Mentally Different, and Doesn't Remember It. What Could Be Happening? Feedback 4 - I Am the Great-Grandmother. I Really Appreciate the Interviews with the Founders of Different Therapy Approaches. I Believe, More Psychoeducation About Medication Can Help People Feel More Comfortable Accepting Treatment. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1329

Jun 29, 2026

1:13:24

Question 1 - My Friend's Older Sister Is Hurt That She Does Things Without Her. How Should They Handle This? Question 2 - Our Foster Child Says He Doesn't Want Two Moms After Visits with His Biological Mother. How Can We Help Him? Question 3 - What Should an Older Sister Do When Her Adult Sibling Constantly Depends on Her for Attention? Question 4 - A Close Relative Is Severely Depressed and Stays in Bed. When Should We Help, and When Does Helping Become Enabling? Question 5 - My Friend Is Nearly 50 and Feels That No One Is There for Her. Anything We Try Telling Her, She Won't Accept. How Can We Support Someone Who Feels Completely Alone? Question 6 - I Want to Use Technology, but My Wife Strongly Disagrees. How Do We Handle This Difference?

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1328

Jun 29, 2026

1:07:43

Question 1 - How Can I Appreciate My Own Summer Plans In The City, When Others Seem to Be Having a Much Better One? Question 2 - Can an Anxiety Disorder Get Much Worse During Times of Stress? Question 3 - Can Coping Skills That Helped Someone in the Past Become Harmful Later in Life? Question 4 - I'm Leaving My 16-Month-Old for a Week While I Go on Vacation. Will It Harm His Attachment? Question 5 - How Do You Set Boundaries with a Narcissist Without Getting Pulled into Their Anger and Outbursts? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1327

Jun 23, 2026

1:01:44

Question 1 - Does Everyone with Attachment Issues Need Medication? Question 2 - When I Know Someone Is Struggling, Am I Obligated to Reach Out and Help? Question 3 - My 12-Year-Old Is Going to Camp with a Boy He Has a Silent Conflict With. How Should He Handle It? Question 4 - Is There a Place Where I Can Read Your Articles Online? Question 5 - I've Been in Therapy for Almost Two Years and Have Improved, but I Still Have the Same Thoughts. Does That Mean Therapy Isn't Working for Me? Question 6 - Can You Discuss the Risks of Going to Seminary in Israel When You Struggle with Anxiety? Question 7 - How Do Attachment Issues Affect Someone Who Is a People Pleaser? Feedback 8 - I Previously Called About Taking a Break from Therapy Over the Summer. After Being Honest with My Therapist Instead of Keeping Secrets, Our Work Together Has Already Improved Significantly. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1326

Jun 23, 2026

1:02:01

Sharing my dissertation topic and thesis.  

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1325

Jun 15, 2026

1:00:30

Question 1 - Is It Ever Appropriate to Lock a 3-Year-Old in a Room to Protect a Baby During a Dangerous Tantrum? Question 2 - I Called Previously as the Great-Grandmother. After Hearing Last Week's Discussion, I Have a Question About Grief: Is There a Right Way to Grieve? Question 3 - My Responsible 6½-Year-Old Wants to Be a Baby Again and Still Misses Her Pacifier. Is This Normal? Question 4 - My 2-Year-Old Constantly Wants Attention, and 20 Minutes of Play Feels Like 6 Hours to Me. Why Does It Feel So Difficult, and What Can I Do About It? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1324

Jun 15, 2026

1:00:12

Question 1 - At What Age Should Parents Start Worrying About OCD? Should They Be Concerned About OCD in a 9- or 10-Year-Old? Question 2 - What Is Countertransference, and Is It Normal for New Mental Health Providers to Doubt Themselves? Question 3 - How Can I Continue Doing Chesed After Being Taken Advantage Of? Question 4A - If Simple Skills Like Ice Can Calm the Amygdala, Why Are There So Many Different Therapy Modalities? Question 4B - What Would You Tell Someone Who Feels That a 45-Minute Therapy Session Is Not Enough Time? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1323

Jun 8, 2026

1:09:36

Question 1 – When can you trust your body and your feelings, and when should you be cautious about them? Question 2 – What is Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)? Question 3 – Why does it seem like so many people are being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) today? Question 4 – My 7-year-old daughter does things that really bother me. What bothers me even more is how strongly I react. How can I work on both her behavior and my reaction to it? Question 5 – If I did not receive the love and emotional connection I needed as a child, nothing seems to fill that emptiness. How can I begin to heal? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1322

Jun 8, 2026

1:08:54

Question 1 – I often find myself feeling very lonely in my struggles, even though I have a community and people who support me. How do I cope with that sense of loneliness? Question 2 – As both a therapist and a client, I have learned how important good supervision is. How important is quality supervision for therapists? Question 3 – What are your thoughts on using AI, particularly an IFS-style AI model, between therapy sessions as a tool for reflection and support? Question 4 – I recently started with a new therapist and was honest about some things that were not working for me. She said my comments hurt her feelings, and now I feel nervous about meeting with her again. Does this reaction make sense? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1321

Jun 1, 2026

1:11:46

Question 1 – My child has PANDAS and complex challenges. After years of research and treatment, how do we know what to try next? Question 2 – Should I continue therapy during the summer, switch to Zoom or phone sessions, or take a break? Question 3 – My child's PANDAS labs were not very elevated, but antibiotics helped. How much should symptoms matter compared to test results? Question 4 – How do you know when you are the problem in therapy? Comment 5 – I connected with caller #2's question about continuing therapy over the summer. I noticed two opposing parts in me—one wanting to leave therapy and one wanting to stay. I would like to share a diary entry about this experience. Comment 6 – The first caller on Radio Kol Bramah (June 1, 2026, Program #1320) came across as disrespectful. I was triggered by the way he spoke, but I was impressed by how calmly and professionally you responded. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1320

Jun 1, 2026

1:07:47

Question 1 – Is it wrong that therapy costs so much when families are struggling financially? Question 2 – Am I traumatizing my 2-year-old by letting him cry at bedtime since the new baby arrived? Question 3 – I ended an unhealthy friendship three times. Now that I am engaged, how do I stop myself from going back again? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1319

May 25, 2026

1:03:54

Question 1 – Can we discuss the highly sensitive child book? How do you help a child like this, and is it more nature or nurture? Question 2 – My 10-year-old daughter is very confident, but I have a neighbor her age who is manipulative toward her. She pressures her, excludes her, and tries to control situations to fit her own agenda. How can I guide my daughter in handling this? Question 3 – My parents still tell me how I should dress, even though I am already a mother of teenagers. I’ve tried asking them respectfully to stop and to respect our differences, but they make me feel like I’m being disrespectful. How can I develop a thicker skin around them? Question 4 – I struggle with social anxiety and was told that exposure therapy would help. I’ve tried it, but I don’t feel it’s working. Why might exposure not be helping me? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1318

May 25, 2026

1:06:00

Question 1 – Why are there no more programs on Kol Mevaser? Question 2 – Regarding last week’s program: Why did you recommend not staying with the same therapist for more than two years? Are there ever exceptions? Question 3 – How can I help ground an 11-year-old child who becomes very dysregulated? He says he enjoys getting hyper and making other children hyper. At seudos, he starts throwing things and says he can’t control himself. Question 4 – Is it okay to allow children to get hyper and silly? My kids tend to become more energetic than others, and I sometimes encourage playful behaviors like jumping in puddles and playing in the mud. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1317

May 18, 2026

1:09:47

Question 1A: Regarding being in therapy for 5 or 6 years (5-18-26 program 1), what are the exceptions where long-term therapy may still be appropriate or beneficial? Question 1B: When interacting with difficult or complicated people, how can I set limits and say no without feeling hurt or guilty afterward? Question 2: I had a general question about anorexia and how it develops emotionally and psychologically. Question 3: I am starting therapy and want to know how to tell whether the therapist is the right fit for me. Question 4: How do you deal with a friend who is overly pushy or demanding? Question 5: If someone struggles with anorexia, is full healing and recovery truly possible? Question 6: I was asked to help support a child from a very difficult home environment in building self-esteem. Is that something I should take on, and how can I know if I am the right person for that role? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1316

May 18, 2026

1:01:27

Question 1: How can I tell the difference between simply feeling down and experiencing depression? Question 1B: I worry that I may struggle in therapy because I tend to be emotionally closed off and may have difficulty opening up. Question 2: How do you know when it may be time to end a friendship? Question 3: I would like a deeper understanding of how a marriage can be impacted when a sibling separates just a few weeks before their wedding. Question 4: I wanted to share an awareness regarding therapy. If someone has been doing trauma work for five or six years and still feels emotionally raw, and the therapist’s approach has been more conceptual than emotional, would it be advisable to seek a therapist that is more emotional and will support the person better? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1315

May 11, 2026

1:03:15

Question 1: Someone in my family is viewed as wonderful by the public, but in their personal life they deeply hurt the people closest to them. How can I cope with the anger and resentment I feel toward this person? Question 2: Trichotillomania improved for several months during therapy but later returned. Why might that happen? Question 3: I have a three-year-old who is afraid to use the bathroom. I notice that when I am anxious, he becomes more anxious, and when I am calm, he seems calmer. Can a parent’s emotions impact a child’s ability to use the bathroom comfortably? Comment 4A: I related to the mother whose three-year-old was struggling with using the bathroom. My daughter went through the same thing, and it was very stressful and frustrating. Eventually, I learned to let go of the pressure, used a laxative when needed, and one day things finally improved naturally. Question 4B: I also wanted to ask another question. We have a yesom staying in our home for about a year. Initially, he struggled significantly with functioning, but over time he became much calmer. Recently, however, I discovered that he has been stealing money from my purse, and I also received a call from a grocery store saying he stole from there as well. My husband was advised to respond very strictly. Do you agree with that approach? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1314

May 11, 2026

1:02:29

Question 1: For most of my life, I struggled with low-grade anxiety. After experiencing several difficult life events, I began therapy and was eventually encouraged to consider medication. Thanks in part to your program, I decided to try it, and it has helped significantly. A psychiatrist also helped normalize the experience for me and reassured me that I was not “crazy.” I am on a low dose and functioning much better, even with trauma reactions. However, part of me misses feeling emotions as intensely as I once did, including during davening, and I sometimes question the tradeoff of being on medication. Question 2: How do I balance my role as someone’s physical aide without enabling dependence or avoiding tasks that I believe they are capable of doing on their own? Question 3: I wanted to know whether you are familiar with cranial sacral therapy and your thoughts on it. Question 4: What should a client do if they were told during intake that sessions would last an hour, but the actual sessions are only around 20 minutes? Question 4B: I previously went to a coach but did not feel a strong connection. How is therapy different from coaching, and can a therapist help me in ways a coach may not? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1313

May 5, 2026

1:00:57

Question 1: My son is in play therapy, with one session for him and one for me each week. What is the parent’s role in these sessions? Are they only about the child, or can they also address my emotions as a parent? Question 2: You encouraged parents to spend quality time with their children, which can be very powerful. What should a parent do when one sibling teases another by saying hurtful things, such as calling him “slow” because he wears glasses? Question 3: In play therapy, the child usually attends alone. However, my son wants me to join every session. What should a parent’s role be during the session? Question and Comment 4: I teach four-year-old boys. If a child lost a parent a year or two ago, the mother wants us to be very lenient with him. But its not good for him socially and academically. I decided to discipline him, by the end of the year the child became a mentch and part of the class but his mother is upset at me. How should I look at it? Question 5: Why do some people turn to food when they are stressed or anxious? Comment 6: Parents of gifted children with additional challenges sometimes expect teachers to provide significantly more one-on-one attention. However, this can take time away from the other students. If a child truly needs that level of support, additional professional help may be necessary. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1312

May 5, 2026

1:04:36

Question 1: A close friend leaned on me emotionally more than I felt comfortable with, and eventually pulled away. Should I reach out to show I care, and how do I manage my feelings of resentment? Question 2: What does play therapy for a child typically look like, and how does it help uncover underlying emotional issues? Question 3: My 14-year-old daughter feels she is always the one reaching out to a longtime friend, and the friendship now feels one-sided. Should she distance herself and invest more in other friendships? Comment 4: Children may not always understand why they struggle socially. Constantly discussing it may increase self-doubt, while guidance from a trusted adult can help them better understand themselves and improve social connections. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1311

Apr 27, 2026

1:02:20

Question 1: A 12-year-old girl is being raised only by her father. She comes to my house from time to time, and I try to give her attention and support. Because of her upbringing, she seems to crave a lot of attention, often in immature ways. Should I still give her attention through those immature behaviors? Comment 2A: I wanted to thank you for the chizuk you gave to stay-at-home mothers on Kol Bramah Radio on 4/27/26, Program 1310. Comment 2B: I needed to place some of my children in foster care. We still maintain a connection with them, and I’ve learned that it does not have to be all-or-nothing. I see them growing and doing much better. Question 3: My father-in-law lives outside of Brooklyn, and when we visit, we stay in a gabbai’s apartment. I daven in the gabbai’s shul, which has a very small minyan, and I often feel pressured to daven for the amud. It is very difficult for me, but I feel guilty saying no. How can I deal with that guilt? Question 4: Why would someone be afraid to daven for the amud? Question 5: I have a teenage son who wants to know how to overcome the fear of davening for the amud. Question 6: I especially appreciated the question in the previous program about a mother needing to return to work. As a working mother of two, I found the validation very meaningful. My question is: How can you encourage a sibling to be more communicative when they tend not to share where they are going or what they are doing?

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1310

Apr 27, 2026

1:12:22

Question 1: I have a lot of mixed feelings about unconventional therapy. I recently heard about kinesiology, and I was wondering if you could help me better understand how it works. Question 2: My wife had a baby two months ago and recently returned to work. She is finding the transition overwhelming and feels she is missing out on bonding with the baby. She also does not feel comfortable in her work environment. Question 3: I find myself tremendously triggered by children, from around age 3 through 16. I am especially anxious thinking that my one-year-old will eventually grow into those ages. My mother struggled with this as well, and I wonder if that may be impacting me. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1309

Apr 20, 2026

1:08:22

Question 1- What is the role as a parent to their daughter when they see that their son is struggling with alcoholism and behaving in a very narcissistic way? Question 2- I have a 10-year-old child who is afraid to go to many places. She is comfortable going to the grocery store down the block or to a neighbor’s house on the block, but she refuses to go to other places. What can we do to help her? Question 3- What should someone do if they feel uncomfortable being vulnerable with their therapist? Question 4- I’ve heard a lot about attachment theory. What is attachment theory, and how can it be understood in simple English? 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1308

Apr 20, 2026

1:06:12

Question 1- I have a relative who has dementia along with several physical ailments. He needs to be tied to his wheelchair for safety, and he often feels depressed and frustrated. What advice is there for helping calm him and making him feel more valuable? Question 2- I would like to raise a question about awareness and faith. As a bochur I struggled with many mental health challenges, and therapy helped me a lot. Later, after I got married, a major trauma happened and many of those struggles returned. One of the deepest pains for me was feeling like, “How could Hashem do this to me?” At times I even felt that Hashem hated me. I never learned how to shift my view of Hashem so that He doesn’t feel so frightening. How can someone begin to change that perspective? Question 3- I am a long-time listener. In our neighborhood, someone rented out their house to people who are OTD. This is a block with many frum families, and some of their public behaviors are making the neighbors uncomfortable. What can the community do in a respectful way to address this situation? Question 4- If and how does the role of a mother change when a child becomes a teenager? Feedback 5- I am the great-grandmother calling with feedback about the program from 4/13/26, Program 1 (1306), Question 2. My feeling is that when someone keeps returning to the same painful topic, the most important thing is simply to support her and be there for her. 

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Mental Health Decoded Episode #1307

Apr 13, 2026

1:08:46

Question 1- I’ve been to therapy in the past for a few years and didn’t see much improvement. I felt like I did the work on an intellectual level, but it stayed in my mind and didn’t really affect my emotions or my heart. Should I consider starting therapy again? Question 2- What is the role of a dating coach? My relative is seeing a dating coach, and she said the coach advised her not to pursue a certain boy. Why would a coach make that kind of recommendation? Question 3- Does medication heal trauma? Question 4- I have a daughter who is about 16 years old. I am seeing a therapist from Serenity, and I would like some clarity about an episode we had this evening. Is it healthy to raise a child without giving them chores? Question 5- I have a six-year-old son who has never been formally evaluated, but we suspect he may have ADHD. He is very cute and full of life. This year he has a rebbe who is helping him learn a lot and is providing strong structure. However, the rebbe is concerned that the frequent punishments—such as sending him out of class—may be harming him. At home, though, he is happy going to Yeshiva. Should we consider medication? 

Mental Health Decoded with Mordechai

Mental Health Decoded with Mordechai

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