Inside Mental Health

Can a relationship survive infidelity? It is possible, but recovery isn't as simple as forgiving a cheating partner, staying together, or deciding to walk away.

In this episode, host Gabe Howard talks with licensed professional counselor Dr. Monique Thompson, author of The Infidelity Recovery Workbook for Couples, about what really happens to a relationship — and to a person's sense of self — after an affair.

The conversation also examines what the partner who cheated can do to rebuild trust, why apologies and grand gestures aren't enough, how “living amends” can demonstrate meaningful change, and why past behavior doesn't necessarily guarantee future behavior.

Listeners Will Learn:

Why couples shouldn't rush to stay or leave

Why betrayal can change how you remember the relationship

What the partner who cheated can do to rebuild trust

What forgiveness actually means after an affair

How long infidelity recovery can take

Whether you're trying to recover from infidelity, considering whether to stay, or struggling to understand what happened to your relationship, this conversation offers a compassionate look at healing after betrayal. Listen Now!

Our guest, Dr. Monique Thompson, is a licensed professional counselor, EMDR-trained therapist, and trauma-informed life coach with over 20 years of experience in private practice. She specializes in betrayal trauma, infidelity recovery, depression, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, and PTSD.

Her work integrates neuroscience, body-based trauma approaches, attachment theory, and parts-based work to help clients restore internal stability, self-trust, and clarity after emotionally destabilizing experiences. Dr. Thompson is known for translating complex psychological science into practical, humane insights that resonate with both clinical and general audiences.

She is the author of a bestselling workbook on infidelity recovery, The Infidelity Recovery Workbook for Couples and is frequently featured as a mental health expert on podcasts, radio, and community education platforms.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Everyone worries. Bills. Family. Health. Work. The future. Anxiety is a normal part of being human—but when does ordinary worry become something more? Something that needs professional intervention? More specifically, when does “everyday anxiety” become Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

In this episode, host Gabe Howard sits down with ADAA member expert Ben Eckstein, LCSW, therapist, anxiety specialist, and author of “Worrying Is Optional,” to explain how clinicians distinguish everyday stress from a diagnosable anxiety disorder. You'll learn why worrying isn't the same as problem-solving, why avoiding anxiety often makes it worse, and how evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy help people reclaim their lives.

Listeners Will Learn

The physical symptoms that commonly accompany chronic anxiety

Why avoidance can make anxiety stronger over time

The role of medications like SSRIs and benzodiazepines in treating anxiety disorders

Why worry can feel productive — even though it hardly ever is

Whether you've been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, wonder if your anxiety has crossed the line from normal to clinical, or want to better understand someone you care about, this conversation offers practical insights, expert guidance, and hope.

We would like to thank Otsuka for providing educational support for this episode.

Our guest, Ben Eckstein, LCSW, is the owner and director of Bull City Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He's a therapist specializing in the treatment of OCD, Anxiety, and OC-Related Disorders. In addition to his clinical work, Ben is a trainer, speaker, and author of the book, “Worrying is Optional.”

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Millions of people care for loved ones every day — but who takes care of the caregiver?

In this episode, Host Gabe Howard sits down with actress Cathryn Dylan Ortiz, whose powerful portrayal of Brenda in HBO Max's hit medical drama “The Pitt” sparked widespread conversations about caregiver burnout, anxiety, depression, and the invisible mental health struggles that often go unnoticed.

Cathryn shares how she prepared for one of the show's most emotionally impactful storylines by combining extensive research with her own lived experience. Together, she and Gabe explore why mental illness and mental health issues often hide behind a calm exterior and how caregivers frequently ignore their own emotional needs.

Listeners will learn:

why caregiver burnout is a serious mental health issue — not just stress

what HBO Max’s “The Pitt” gets right about portraying mental health without stereotypes

how simply asking "How are you doing?" can make a meaningful difference

why caregivers often feel guilty asking for help themselves

Whether you're caring for a parent, spouse, child, friend, or simply trying to better understand someone who is, this episode offers compassionate insights into caregiver burnout, emotional overload, and the importance of recognizing that caregivers deserve support, too.

Our guest, Cathryn Dylan Ortiz, is an actress and graduate of Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama, where she earned her BFA in Acting. She is best known for her recurring role as Brenda Azurmendi on HBO Max's acclaimed medical drama The Pitt, as well as appearances on Marshals, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order: SVU, The Rookie, Chicago Justice, and Ray Donovan.

Her portrayal of Brenda - a mother whose son's medical emergency reveals her own silent mental health crisis - sparked widespread conversations among viewers of the HBO MAX series about caregiver burnout, dissociation, and the hidden emotional toll of caregiving. Following the response to the storyline, Cathryn has used her platform to engage in conversations surrounding mental health awareness, caregiver support, and the power of storytelling to help people feel seen.

Beyond acting, Cathryn is passionate about epilepsy advocacy, mental health advocacy, and animal welfare. She is involved with the Epilepsy Foundation Los Angeles and is committed to helping bridge the gap between storytelling, education, and meaningful public conversation.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Can your smartphone become part of your mental health treatment? Prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) promise to do exactly that — but what are they, and do they actually work?

In this episode, host Gabe Howard is joined by ADAA member experts John Torous, MD, MBI, a digital psychiatry expert, and Michelle A. Patriquin, PhD, ABPP, a clinical psychologist, to separate hype from reality. Together, they explain what PDTs are — and aren't — and how mental health apps fit into modern treatment.

The conversation explores how apps can help bridge long wait times for therapy; reinforce skills learned in treatment; track mood, sleep, and behavior between appointments; and provide valuable insights that improve conversations with mental health clinicians.

Listeners will learn:

the difference between FDA-approved mental health apps and standard wellness apps

why choosing the "best" mental health app is less important than finding one you'll actually use consistently

how to avoid common misconceptions about digital mental health tools and make informed choices

If you've ever opened an app store looking for mental health support, this episode will help you separate marketing from evidence so you can make smarter, safer, and more informed decisions about incorporating technology into your mental health care.

This episode has been sponsored by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Our guest, Dr. Michelle Patriquin, is the John S. Dunn Distinguished Professor and Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, and serves as Assistant Dean of Digital Health & Innovation in the UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Sciences. She is also Co-Director of Research for the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center, the largest academic inpatient psychiatric hospital in the United States. She is a board-certified clinical psychologist and researcher focused on digital mental health: bringing data-driven, tech-enabled mental health care into real-world clinical setting - especially intensive and inpatient mental healthcare - to improve safety, recovery, and access. Her work is widely published and is supported by state, federal, and foundation funding.

Our guest, John Torous, MD, MBI, is director of the digital psychiatry division in the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a Harvard Medical School-affiliated teaching hospital, where he also serves as a staff psychiatrist and associate professor. He has a background in electrical engineering and computer sciences and received an undergraduate degree in the field from UC Berkeley before attending medical school at UC San Diego. He completed his psychiatry residency, fellowship in clinical informatics, and master's degree in biomedical informatics at Harvard. Dr. Torous is active in investigating the potential of mobile mental health and AI technologies for psychiatry, and his team supports mindapps.org as the largest database of mental health apps, mindApps.ai for benchmarking AI chatbots, mindLAMP technology platform for scalable digital phenotyping and interventions, and the Digital Navigator program to promote digital equity and access. Dr. Torous has published over 300 peer reviewed articles and 5 book chapters on the topic. He directs the Digital Psychiatry Clinic at BIDMC which seeks to improve access to and quality of mental health care through augmenting treatment with digital innovations. Dr. Torous serves as editor-in-chief for the journal JMIR Mental Health, web editor for JAMA Psychiatry, and a member of various American Psychiatric Association committees.

Does mental health treatment work the same for everyone? The answer is more complicated than many people realize.

In this episode, host Gabe Howard is joined by Stephanie Robertson, J.D., Director of Mental Health Equity at NAMI, and Dr. Nicole Washington, psychiatrist and President-Elect of the Black Psychiatrists of America, for an honest conversation about mental health equity, cultural identity, and why representation matters in behavioral health.

Rather than focusing on politics, this conversation centers on practical realities: how clinicians can better understand the people they serve, why patients deserve care that reflects their experiences, and how open conversations can reduce stigma while improving access to treatment.

Listeners Will Learn:

How implicit bias can affect healthcare decisions even when providers have good intentions

Why mental health equity means providing care that meets people's unique needs—not simply providing identical care for everyone

Why difficult conversations about mental health, culture, and bias are necessary to improve outcomes

Why representation helps people feel understood, respected, and more willing to seek treatment

If you've ever wondered why diversity in mental health care matters—or how to achieve it—this episode explores why increasing diversity among mental health professionals isn't just about representation; it's about improving care, expanding access, and creating a mental health system that works better for everyone.

Cold Open Transcript:

“Being misdiagnosed happens so often to people of color, to women. It's about understanding what people have experienced throughout their lives, not just because of being a person, but because of being a black person, because of being a woman, because of growing up in a large family, because of growing up in the South. You know, there are just things that are culturally and/or the nuances of how you grew up and what you were exposed to makes such a difference.” ~Stephanie Robertson, Director of Mental Health Equity at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Our guest, Stephanie Robertson, is the Director of Mental Health Equity at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), where she advances access to community-informed and culturally responsive mental health care. She partners with the NAMI Alliance and community-based organizations to address structural barriers to equitable care. Stephanie holds a BA from Duke University and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center. Her professional background spans corporate law, higher education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership. Outside of work, she enjoys jogging, crafting handmade jewelry, and spending time with her mini Goldendoodle, Indie.

Our guest, Dr. Nicole Washington, is an ABMS board certified psychiatrist and the Chief Medical Officer of Elocin Psychiatric Services, a primarily virtual practice where she focuses on the mental health needs of women and the busy professional. Dr. Washington also serves as President-Elect of the Black Psychiatrists of America, Inc.

Dr. Washington has spent most of her career caring and advocating for people who aren't typically consumers of mental health services, namely underserved communities and high-performing professionals.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.