A Little Help For Our Friends

This episode gives a step by step guide to managing mental health crises like self-harm, suicide, or overdose threats.

Most people feel completely helpless when someone they love descends into a mental health crisis but what if you had a clear, plan that could save lives? In this episode, Dr. Kibby shares the insider knowledge she gained from working in psychiatric emergency rooms and supporting families through the most dangerous moments. Whether it's a loved one overdosing, becoming violent, or threatening suicide, knowing exactly what to do can make all the difference and even prevent tragedy.

Dr.Kibby demystifies the chaos of mental health emergencies. She walks you through what really happens inside the hospital, explains how to recognize dangerous signs like alcohol withdrawal or impulsive self-harm, and reveals the untold reality of involuntary holds and crisis interventions. She shares personal stories and offers practical, repeatable steps to de-escalate crises before they escalate further.

Tune in for actionable tactics: how to create a tailored safety plan, the best emergency resources like 988 and mobile crisis teams, and when to call 911 versus seek professional help. You’ll learn concrete warning signs and calming techniques from DBT skills, as well as how to assemble your support network in advance. Safety planning isn’t just for professionals- it’s your first line of defense. With clear advice rooted in real-world experience, this episode equips you to act decisively when it matters most. Don’t wait for a crisis to strike! Prepare now, protect those you love, and reclaim your peace of mind.

Resources:
Safety Plan Template
Dr. Kibby's quick guide for managing an emotional outburst (for free)

This episode gives parents of adults with borderline personality disorder insights into the experience of parenting someone with BPD and strategies for supporting their children.

When your child struggles with intense emotions, it's heartbreaking for any parent. But when you're a parent of an adult child with borderline personality disorder (BPD), you're walking on eggshells trying not to make things worse. In this episode, Dr. Kibby shares powerful, research-backed strategies for parents of grown children with intense emotions, revealing how your approach can prevent crises from escalating and rebuild vital connections.

You’ll discover why family dynamics often reinforce emotional storms, and how shifting your perspective can de-escalate fights before they explode. Dr. Kibby breaks down practical, compassionate tools like validation, boundary-setting, and safety planning—skills that empower you to stay calm and present, even when your loved one is in chaos.

Plus, she reveals why involving the whole family system is essential, not just the individual with BPD, and how to handle crisis moments like threats or self-harm without reinforcing harmful behaviors. We’ll also explore the impact of trauma, shame, and guilt that parents carry and how your own mental health is intertwined with theirs.

If you’re exhausted by cycles of overwhelm, blame, or hopelessness, this episode is your guide to navigating the unthinkable with clarity and kindness. Perfect for parents, partners, or anyone supporting someone with borderline or emotional dysregulation.

Resources:
Join KulaMind, Dr. Kibby's support program for parents and partners of people with BPD

Book: Stop Walking on Eggshells for Parents: How to Help Your Child (of Any Age) with Borderline Personality Disorder without Losing Yourself

This episode explores the psychology of why we chase emotionally unavailable partners.

Are you caught in a cycle of pursuing those who seem just out of reach? In this episode, Dr. Kibby delves into the psychology behind why we chase those who are hard to get. She talks about to main principles that drive this behavior, from behavioral economics to the neurobiology of attachment.

She unpacks the attachment patterns that lead to the "pursuit-withdrawal" cycle, where anxious and avoidant attachments clash, creating a loop of emotional highs and lows. Through personal anecdotes and scientific insights, Dr. Kibby reveals how these patterns are rooted in our upbringing and survival mechanisms. Learn strategies to break free from this cycle, including emotion regulation techniques and the importance of secure attachments.

Resources:
Johnson, S. (2008). Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love.

Tatkin, S. (2012). Wired for Love: How Understanding Your Partner's Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship.

This episode is a conversation with Dr. Cam Caswell, "The Teen Translator," about how to actually connect to your teen who's struggling.

Most parents feel powerless when it comes to connecting with their teens (or a loved one that ACTS like a teen), especially when they struggle with anxiety, depression, or other intense pain. In this episode, Dr. Kibby gets golden insights from Dr. Cam, an adolescent psychologist, parenting coach, TEDx speaker, and host of the Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam podcast. The conversation delves into how can you actually support someone who can't handle their emotions, is in distress, but shuts you out? Parents of teens are all too familiar with this dynamic, but so are loved ones of grown adults who have the emotion regulation of a teenager.

Dr. Cam reveals that the key to guiding teens isn’t what most of us believe. Instead of controlling or punishing, she advocates for understanding, respect, and building trust, even when your teenager buries their face in their phone. Dr. Cam challenges your assumptions about parenting and equip you with practical, compassionate strategies to foster a secure, trusting relationship with your teen before the storm hits. Imagine transforming the typical power struggle into a partnership based on empathy and understanding.

Dr. Cam shares her journey from a communications background to becoming a leading expert in adolescent psychology, and how her insights can help any parent navigate the turbulent teen years. You'll discover how the brain’s development during adolescence makes traditional discipline ineffective, and why connection (rather than control) is the secret to cultivating resilience, independence, and open communication. From setting compassionate boundaries to understanding social media’s role, this episode is packed with actionable advice to foster emotional safety and trust at every stage. This conversation breaks down:
Why fear and control undermine your influence and how to replace them with connection
Practical ways to build trust that encourages your teen to share honestly - even during crises
How to set clear boundaries without punishing, and why respect is the foundation of safety
The truth about mental health struggles in teens today and how societal stigma and technology impact them
Simple daily habits to foster emotional regulation, resilience, and autonomy in your loved ones
In a world full of digital distractions, social pressures, and fears about safety, this episode offers a new blueprint: meet your teen where they are, understand them deeply, and lead with love, not fear.

Resources:
Dr. Cam's website
Find her on Instagram: @drcamcaswell
Podcast: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

This episode explains what schizotypal and schizoid personality disorders are, how they're diagnosed, and what treatments may work.

Do you know anyone who marches to the beat of their own drum?...Even drums that no one else can hear? Most people with schizoid or schizotypal personality disorder are misunderstood, yet their unique traits can be seen as adaptive or even vital in the right context. Dr. Kibby challenges the negative stereotypes around these "odd" personalities. In this episode, she delves into the subtle yet profound distinctions between schizoid and schizotypal personalities.

She breaks down how schizoid individuals thrive off solitude, resembling the iconic Sherlock Holmes or Mr. Robot. Conversely, schizotypal personalities are more open to connection yet remain anxious and eccentric, exemplified by Luna Lovegood from "Harry Potter."

Dr. Kibby walks through key diagnostic traits like ideas of reference, magical thinking, unusual perceptual experiences, and social withdrawal. She discusses how these traits, often misunderstood, are shaped by early trauma, cultural influences, and evolutionary roles.You'll also learn about emerging, promising therapies that focus on social cognition and compassion, offering hope for better integration and self-understanding for those with schizotypal traits.

With stories from clinical practice and insights into neurodiversity, this episode invites you to rethink what it means to be "different."

Resources:
Cheli, S., Cavalletti, V., Lysaker, P. H., Dimaggio, G., Petrocchi, N., Chiarello, F., ... & Goldzweig, G. (2023). A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a novel compassion and metacognition approach for schizotypal personality disorder with a combination of cognitive therapy and psychopharmacological treatment. BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 113.