• How to set boundaries when you’re anxious
    Dec 24 2025

    544. Boundaries, like wide-leg sweatpants and quarter-zips, are trending—but setting them can feel anything but comfy, especially if you’re anxious. This week, we’ll talk about how to set boundaries kindly, handle pushback without folding, and avoid using boundaries as a wall that isolates you. By the end, you’ll see boundaries as practical, comfortable, and totally wearable—just like your favorite cozy outfit.

    Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

    Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.

    Find a transcript here.

    Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com.

    Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

    Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

    Links:
    https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
    https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
    https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych


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    10 mins
  • How to nap without ruining your sleep: Finding the sweet spot
    Dec 17 2025

    543. Napping isn't just for toddlers; it's a performance enhancer. In her first solo episode back, sleep psychologist Dr. Jade Wu looks at what short naps do for your declarative memory, emotional regulation, and physical speed. She looks at the science behind the afternoon slump and why a well-timed nap can provide a performance boost.

    Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.

    Find a transcript here.

    Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com.

    Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

    Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

    Links:
    https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
    https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
    https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

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    14 mins
  • How to resist the urge to optimize everything
    Dec 10 2025

    542. If you’ve ever obsessed over your sleep score, treated self-help like homework, or tried to “maximize” a vacation, you know how easily optimization becomes its own exhausting job. Culture tells us to upgrade everything—habits, productivity, even our emotions—but at a certain point, trying to be our “best self” backfires. This week, instead of automatically optimizing your life, here are five questions to help you step back, recalibrate, and remember what actually matters.

    Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

    Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.

    Find a transcript here.

    Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com.

    Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

    Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

    Links:
    https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
    https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
    https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    9 mins
  • A blast from the past: Ellen Hendriksen and Jade Wu return
    Dec 3 2025

    541. Today, we hear from two of our past hosts of the Savvy Psychologist. Dr. Ellen Hendriksen and Dr. Jade Wu. They will tell us what they’ve been up to and set the stage for exciting weeks ahead for the show. While we work to fill the seat of the amazing Dr. Monica Johnson, Drs. Hendriksen and Wu will deliver mental health wisdom you are used to. Today, they chat about the meaning of a psychologist's work, the biggest challenges in mental health, and what you can look forward to on the show.

    Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

    Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.

    Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com.

    Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

    Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

    Links:
    https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
    https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
    https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    18 mins
  • The power of being DUMB to build a good life
    Nov 26 2025

    540. On her final episode, Dr. Monica Johnson shares a brain dump of quick and dirty tips to help listeners build a life worth living. She looks at the benefits of being DUMB—an acronym covering Decode/Disrupt patterns, Uncomfortable Engagement, Meaning-Making/Mastery, and Belonging.

    Find a transcript here.

    Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.

    Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191.

    Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

    Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

    Links:
    https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
    https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
    https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
    https://www.kindmindpsych.com/


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    16 mins
  • Structural dissociation: Understanding your personality's survival parts
    Nov 19 2025

    539. Dissociation is a normal human experience, but when it's outside of normal limits, it can be dysregulating. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson and Alexandra Mejia look at the signs of structural dissociation, the importance of building a baseline of coping skills, and the need for trauma-informed, integrated therapy (like DBT and somatic work) for long-term healing.

    Learn more about Sasha at her practice, MindfulInsightsMHC.

    Find a transcript here.

    Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.

    Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191.

    Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

    Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

    Links:
    https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
    https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
    https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
    https://www.kindmindpsych.com/


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    27 mins
  • How can you walk with grief instead of fighting it, with Hilary Bucell
    Nov 12 2025

    538. Loss is inevitable, but grief is our emotional response to what is gone. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson and psychotherapist Hilary Bucell look at the differences between grief and depression and discuss various forms of loss, including ambiguous loss (like dementia or divorce) and disenfranchised grief (loss that society doesn't acknowledge).

    Learn more about Hilary Bucell at her practice, integrativepsychwellness.com.

    Find a transcript here.

    Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.

    Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191.

    Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

    Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

    Links:
    https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
    https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
    https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
    https://www.kindmindpsych.com/


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    31 mins
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder: How to manage the winter blues
    Nov 5 2025

    537. You don't have to suffer through the winter months. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at how to create a multi-faceted approach to wellness for SAD. She looks at the importance of regulating your sleep schedule, boosting natural light exposure, and using behavioral activation to combat the urge to withdraw and isolate yourself.

    Find a transcript here.

    Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.

    Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191.

    Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

    Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

    Links:
    https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
    https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
    https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
    https://www.kindmindpsych.com/


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    13 mins