Dr Morgan is a Professor of Counseling & Human Services at the University of Scranton, who has spent thirty years researching, teaching, and writing about mental health and addiction. He is the author of Addiction, Attachment, Trauma and Recovery, which provides a holistic, multidisciplinary framework for understanding and treating addictive processes. 

In this conversation, we explore: 

— The extent to which addiction can be viewed as an attachment disorder 

— The central paradox at the heart of addiction 

— Why addiction is a “jealous relationship” that crowds out most others

— Why addictions localised within individual members can be thought of as “symptoms” of much wider societal problems. 

And more. 

You can get a copy of Dr Morgan’s book by going to https://bit.ly/oliver-addiction.

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Dr. Oliver Morgan is a distinguished Professor of Counseling & Human Services in the Panuska College of Professional Studies at the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA. With a diverse educational background, he holds a Bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, a Master's degree in Marital and Family Therapy, and a doctoral degree in Pastoral Psychotherapy from Boston University.

Dr. Morgan's expertise lies in the fields of addiction studies, marital and family counseling, and pastoral care. He has made significant contributions to the academic community through his teaching and publications. As a faculty member since 1990, he has taught various courses in undergraduate and graduate programs, shaping the curriculum in Addiction Studies and Marital and Family Counseling. Dr. Morgan also served as the Department Chair from 1997 to 2009.

His publications include an acclaimed book titled "Addiction, Attachment, Trauma and Recovery: The Power of Connection," published in 2019 by W.W. Norton. Additionally, he has co-edited five books covering topics such as Addiction Studies, Catholic Intellectual Thought, and Counseling & Spirituality. Dr. Morgan has authored or co-authored numerous book chapters, proceedings, and peer-reviewed articles on subjects ranging from addiction and pastoral care to spirituality and clinical practice.

Beyond his academic endeavors, Dr. Morgan has been involved in service and leadership activities both within the university and the wider community. He has held important roles in university-wide task forces focused on student lifestyles and corporate mission and identity. Furthermore, he co-founded a psychosocial oncology practice in Northeast Pennsylvania, offering support to cancer patients, their caregivers, and loved ones.

Dr. Oliver Morgan's contributions to counseling, addiction studies, and his commitment to compassionate care have established him as a respected educator, researcher, and practitioner in the field of counseling and human services.

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4 Books Dr Morgan Recommends for Every Therapist Should Read:

— Addiction, Attachment, Trauma, and Recovery: The Power of Connection — Oliver J. Morgan - https://wwnorton.co.uk/books/9780393713176-addiction-attachment-trauma-and-recovery

— In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction — Dr Gabor Maté - https://amzn.to/4125SLH

— The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit — Bruce K. Alexander - https://amzn.to/46I1yp1

— Addiction and Spirituality: A Multidisciplinary Approach — Oliver J. Morgan - https://amzn.to/3JWpQBU

Is Addiction an Attachment Disorder? — Dr Oliver Morgan

Ever daydream? You know where you find yourself the superhero or some other fantasy? It’s called escapism. By looking at what is a fantasy you feel powerful rather than the humdrum of focusing on what is missing from your life. 

This episode dives deep into the invisible chains of avoidance that hold you back from living your fullest life. Using your imagination as a visualization is not to be discouraged, but using it to stay stuck in wishful thinking never changes anything.

What's the big secret to unlocking your superpower? Stop avoiding and start living. For those ready to elevate their consciousness and escape the clutches of "attachment hell," this is your roadmap to freedom. Your superpower isn't a figment of your imagination; it's the key to a life well-lived. Activate your superpower today and change your life forever.

#724 Activate Your Superpower

Dr Louis Cozolino is a clinical psychologist, author, and professor based in Beverly Hills, California. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UCLA and an M.T.S. from Harvard University. He has been a Professor at Pepperdine since 1986 and lectures around the world on psychotherapy, neuroscience, trauma, and attachment. He has authored 10 books, including The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy, Attachment-Based Teaching, and The Making of a Therapist, which is the focus of this conversation. 

You’ll learn: 

— How Lou would approach his education and training if he was starting again from scratch. 

— The most common mistakes therapists tend to make and how to avoid them. 

— What Dr Cozolino learned from being a direct student of Carl Rogers in the 1970s

— The value of embracing confusion and complexity in psychotherapy. 

And more. 

You can learn more about Lou’s work by visiting: https://drloucozolino.com.

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Dr. Lou Cozolino practices psychotherapy and consulting psychology in Beverly Hills, California. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UCLA and an M.T.S. from Harvard University. He has been a professor at Pepperdine since 1986 and lectures around the world on psychotherapy, neuroscience, trauma, and attachment. 

With more than 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist and coach, Lou works with adults, adolescents, and families as they face a wide variety of life’s challenges. Lou’s primary method as a therapist is one of connection, attunement, and interaction. Working primarily from a psychodynamic model of treatment, he also employs strategies and techniques from the other forms of therapy he has studied including CBT, family systems, and humanistic/existential.

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Interview Links:

— Dr Cozolino’s website: https://www.drloucozolino.com

— Why Therapy Works: https://amzn.to/3wt90El 

— The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: https://amzn.to/3MBxcKw 

— The Making of a Therapist: https://amzn.to/3lnbuha  

— The Development of a Therapist: https://amzn.to/3wtNOhF

Becoming the Best Therapist You Can Be - Dr Lou Cozolino

Dr Bessel van der Kolk is a clinician, researcher, and teacher who has spent his professional life studying how children and adults adapt to traumatic experiences.

He specialises in translating emerging findings from neuroscience and attachment research to develop and study a range of effective treatments for traumatic stress and developmental trauma in children and adults.

He is the author of the New York Times Bestseller: The Body Keeps the Score, the Founder of Trauma Center in Boston, and currently serves as President of the Trauma Research Foundation. 

In this conversation, we explore: 

— The role that neurofeedback can play in healing developmental trauma

—  Dr van der Kolk’s study examining the effects of MDMA on PTSD

— The essential difference between those who were traumatised by the 9-11 attacks and those who weren’t

— How developmental trauma leads to deficits in sensory integration areas of the brain and the most effective treatments for addressing this. 

And more. 

You can learn more about Dr van der Kolk’s work by going to: https://traumaresearchfoundation.org/

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Bessel van der Kolk MD spends his career studying how children and adults adapt to traumatic experiences, and has translated emerging findings from neuroscience and attachment research to develop and study a range of treatments for traumatic stress in children and adults.

In 1984, he set up one of the first clinical/research centers in the US dedicated to study and treatment of traumatic stress in civilian populations, which has trained numerous researchers and clinicians specializing in the study and treatment of traumatic stress, and which has been continually funded to research the impact of traumatic stress and effective treatment interventions. He has focused on studying treatments that stabilize physiology, increase executive functioning and help traumatized individuals to feel fully alert to the present. ​

His efforts resulted in the establishment of Trauma Center (now the Trauma Research Foundation) that consisted of a well-trained clinical team specializing in the treatment of children and adults with histories of child maltreatment, that applied treatment models that are widely taught and implemented nationwide, a research lab that studied the effects of neurofeedback and MDMA on behavior, mood, and executive functioning, and numerous trainings nationwide to a variety of mental health professional, educators, parent groups, policy makers, and law enforcement personnel.

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3 Books Dr van Der Kolk Recommends Every Therapist Should Read: 

— John Bowlby - Attachment and Loss - https://amzn.to/4bOd3NK

— Daniel Stern - The Interpersonal World of the Infant - https://amzn.to/4e1aTf8

— Ed Tronick - The Neurobehavioral and Social-Emotional Development of Infants and Children (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology) - https://amzn.to/459qIwa

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk — Attachment and Trauma

Low self-confidence 
And self-esteem
Equals 
Insecurity

Anxiety about losing someone 
Equals Fear of Loss

Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense

Measuring self against others 
Equals 
Comparison

Desire to control relationships 
Equals 
Possessiveness

Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense

Distrust due to past betrayals 
Equals 
Trust, Trust, Issues

Unresolved past 
Emotional pain 
Equals 
Emotional Trauma

Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense

Insecure and anxious 
Attachment patterns 
Equals 
Abandonment Issues

Poor discussions causing 
Misunderstandings
Equals 
Lack of communication 

Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense

Low self-confidence 
And self-esteem
Equals 
Insecurity

Anxiety about losing someone 
Equals Fear of Loss
Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense

Measuring self against others 
Equals 
Comparison

Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense
Breaking Down this Defense

Breaking Down this Defense

M – Messenger
D – Divine
R – Restoration
J – Justice
R – Renewal

Insights for Evolving Consciousness

In-depth interviews with leading thinkers at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, culture, and spirituality.

This show is for you if you’re interested in:

– Reducing suffering — in yourself and others
– Continuously upgrading your perspective
– Realising more of your potential
– Experiencing a greater sense of awe, meaning, and connection in everyday life.

New episodes every Thursday.

A lot of us live in our head, disconnected from our feelings and intuition. This podcast touches on releasing insecure attachment, accepting your authentic self and getting “unstuck” by connecting to how you FEEL instead of how you THINK. I’ve been there, and discuss sensitive subjects using my own experiences with a lot of laughs and even more empathy… because we’re all flawed humans.

New tracks tagged #InsecureAttachment