Dr. Jim interviews Dr. Julia Sheffield, professor at Vanderbilt University and clinician specializing in psychotic and delusional disorders. She discusses her research and her interview with The New York Times on how AI chatbots may unintentionally reinforce or contribute to delusional thinking.

Dr. Sheffield explains how AI can mirror and amplify distorted beliefs by bypassing reality testing, raising concerns about vulnerable users forming unhealthy attachments — reminiscent of Her starring Joaquin Phoenix where a man falls in love with a bot and slowly loses his grounding.

Invoking the image of being “10 feet tall” — a nod to - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - people ask Dr. Sheffield how not to fall into the rabbit hole. How altered perception, magnified meaning, and distorted reality can take hold in both human psychology and AI-mediated experience.

Dr. Sheffield frames psychosis on a spectrum and challenges the field’s overreliance on the medical model, emphasizing that therapy can be highly effective. She calls for clinicians to engage more confidently with this often-avoided yet deeply treatable population.

A timely conversation at the intersection of AI, attachment, delusion, and reality.

Credits:

River is High, Ticketless Traveler

Carl Reisman, guitar, singer, and songwriter

Jenny Goodwine, vocals

James Singleton, bass

Johnny Vidocovich, drums

Dave Easley, steel guitar

Produced by Morgan Orion Reisman

for more information, carlreisman@gmail.com

Copyright 2025

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A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Featuring Dr. Lauren Hartman M.D.

Dr. Jim sits down with Dr. Lauren Hartman, a double board-certified specialist in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics, contributor to Psychology Today, and author of the forthcoming book Freeing Children & Young Adults from Shame, Scales & Stigma.

In this episode, Dr. Hartman breaks down what every parent, clinician, and educator needs to understand about eating disorders—and why it’s not your fault. She highlights the essential role families can play in the healing process and offers practical guidance for supporting adolescents with compassion and clarity.

We explore the Barbie effect, the rise of GLP-1 medications, and how social media and comparison culture fuel distorted body image and perfectionism. Dr. Hartman underscores the absurdity of our societal ideals: the original 1959 Barbie, scaled to human size, would stand 5’9”, weigh 110 pounds, measure 39–18–33, and—ironically—would meet criteria for anorexia. And Barbie’s measurements haven’t improved much since.

Zooming out, we look at the cultural forces that perpetuate body shaming and misunderstanding about what “healthy” truly means. Dr. Hartman shares how to talk with adolescents about their eating disorders, what treatments show the strongest evidence, and how to navigate parental shame without derailing recovery.

Finally, we discuss the powerful role of Internal Family Systems (IFS) as an integrative therapeutic approach for adolescents and families—an essential model for clinicians working in this space.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone supporting young people on the path toward healing, nourishment, and self-compassion.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Featuring Drs. Benton-Hardy, Freed, Peterson, and Ehrensaft • Hosted by Dr. Jim Bramson

In this special episode, four brilliant clinicians explore what it means to parent mindfully in an age of rapid change, digital overload, and cultural uncertainty. Each expert brings a unique blend of curiosity, expertise, humor, and heart to the conversation.

Dr. Lisa R. Benton-Hardy reflects on the risks of “Dr. Google” and the gap between online advice and true clinical expertise—especially when parents are overwhelmed by information.

Dr. Dan Peters challenges the term “failure to launch,” offering a compassionate reframing: young adults often need more time to find their place in today’s complex world, and that’s not a failure. He also dives into the experiences of twice-exceptional (2E) children in dialogue with Dr. Hardy.

Dr. Diane Ehrensaft discusses current research on gender-affirming care, the stressful political climate facing transgender youth and the professionals who support them, and what all parents can learn from the resilience and wisdom of queer and gender-diverse clients.

Dr. Richard Freed brings his signature wit and clarity to the topic of persuasive design, attention hacking, and the addictive architecture of modern video games. He unpacks how Silicon Valley profits from keeping kids online—and why mindful parenting requires understanding the commoditization of a child’s attention span.

This episode offers grounded, practical, and deeply human guidance for navigating parenting in our increasingly uncertain times.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here