• How can you improve your sleep for better mental and physical health?
    Oct 29 2025

    536. Sleep isn't a luxury; it's a foundational deposit in your "mental health bank." In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at why consistent sleep is essential for mood, memory, immunity, and heart health. She looks at the minimum recommended sleep amount and discusses the positive ripple effects of protecting your rest.

    Episodes related to this one:

    • Hello Sleep #1: 4 biggest myths about sleep
    • Hello Sleep #2: Got a busy brain at night? Here’s how to calm it and get back to sleep.
    • Hello Sleep #3: Why perfect sleep hygiene backfires and what to do instead

    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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    14 mins
  • Deception and illness: Factitious disorder versus malingering
    Oct 22 2025

    535. Deceptive behaviors around illness are often signs of deep, unmet emotional needs. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at the severe medical and psychological costs of factitious disorder and malingering. She looks at how to recognize these patterns and discusses how specific therapies like CBT and DBT can help an individual build a life based on authenticity.

    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
  • The psychology of money: How your brain, history, and emotions influence your financial habits
    Oct 15 2025

    534. Money isn't just about numbers; it's deeply emotional. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at the psychology behind your financial habits, including the money scripts you absorbed in childhood and how your brain categorizes money. She looks at why you feel a certain way about spending, saving, and debt.

    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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    12 mins
  • Understand the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn survival responses
    Oct 8 2025

    533. Do you snap at your loved ones, shut down in meetings, or go to great lengths to please others? In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at the four survival responses: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. She looks at how these deeply rooted biological reactions manifest in your daily life and offers strategies for understanding your nervous system's attempts to keep you safe.

    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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    9 mins
  • How to deal with emotionally immature people
    Oct 1 2025

    532. It's possible to have healthy, reciprocal relationships, even if you’re dealing with emotionally immature people. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at how to reclaim your peace by understanding this dynamic. She looks at why your boundaries are essential and offers insights on how to disengage from unhealthy patterns so you can prioritize your well-being.

    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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    8 mins
  • How a love triangle can build a better relationship
    Sep 24 2025

    531. Have you ever wondered why some relationships last while others fizzle? In this episode, Dr. Johnson looks at Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love to help you understand the dynamics of your relationships. She looks at the roles of emotional closeness, physical attraction, and long-term commitment, and how their presence or absence shapes different kinds of love.

    Find a full transcript here.

    Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.

    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.


    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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    10 mins
  • How to stop people pleasing and set better boundaries
    Sep 17 2025

    530. Do you often find yourself agreeing to things you don't want to do? In this episode, we look at the deep psychological and cultural reasons behind people-pleasing, from social conditioning to the fear of rejection. We look at how this tendency can lead to burnout, resentment, and a loss of self-trust, and offer ways to understand why you might struggle to say "no.”

    Find a full transcript here.

    Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.

    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.


    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
  • How can you expand your window of tolerance for stress?
    Sep 10 2025

    529. Do you find yourself easily overwhelmed or shut down by stress? In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at the window of tolerance, a key concept for understanding your nervous system's capacity to handle life's challenges. She looks at how past trauma and societal pressures, particularly for groups like Black women, can impact this window, and offers actionable strategies to expand it.

    Find a full transcript here.

    Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson.

    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

    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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    14 mins