Relationships 101 – Dr. Beth Erickson

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with Neil Brick (ritualabuse.us/smart/neil-brick) about his experience from infancy on as a victim of the ritual sex abuse he endured. We also spoke about how being sexually abused impacts the survivor’s intimate relationships in adulthood. Then she spoke with V.J. Smith (www.MinneapolisMadDads.org), the newly inaugurated national President of Mad Dads, a group of 75,000 parents who work to take back their cities. We talked about how to get out of a gang. His strongest recommendation is to get support from adults outside the gang. He offered that if people would like more help, they should contact him through their web site.

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with Bob Wieland (www.bobwieland.com) whose legs were blown off in Viet Nam and zipped into a body bag. When he came back stateside, he required only six weeks’ hospitalization, while some of the soldiers were still in the hospital into their third year. Undaunted by his physical condition, he walks across the U.S. on his hands. She then spoke with Arthur Simon (www.lifetimemanagement.co) about the purpose being in a gang served, how he left his gang without fear of being harmed, and the activities engaged in to replace his gang “family.”

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) spoke with Matt Cavallo (www.mattcavallo.com) about his multiple sclerosis that came with a vengeance overnight when he was 28 years old. Although initially, he “walked like a penguin,” he and his wife were able to have two sons. His book is The Dog Book. Then she spoke with Robert Hayward (www.thethirteenthstep.com) about his being a drunk and a druggie from age of 14 on. That is, until he hit the proverbial bottom and decided to try a traditional Indian ceremony to rid himself of his addictions. And it worked! He is now a drug and alcohol counselor. His book is The Thirteenth Step.

Dr. Beth Erickson (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with Dr. Marguerite Guzman Bouvard about her latest book The Invisible Wounds of War about the wounds like PTSD and traumatic brain injury that our returning vets bring home with them. A startling statistic is that there are more people who commit suicide than die in war. Then she spoke with Joseph Padgal, (www.thefreedomofforgiveness.com) the author of Fire Dance, about the need to forgive and the mental, spiritual, health effects, and emotional freedom that result.

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with Carole Brody Fleet (www.widowswearstiloettos.com) about her new book Happily Even After about her recovery process after the death of her husband. Carole’s remarriage illustrates that it is possible to heal and love again. Then she spoke with novelist and historian, Peter Golden (www.petergolden.com), about his first novel Comeback Love which deals with universal themes of first love, the toxic effects of defensiveness, loss, regret, passion, and reconnection. It is set in the 1960s, an era of so many far reaching societal changes.

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with a very controversial former bishop within the Old Catholic tradition, Dr. Lou Bordisso, (www.sex,celibacyandpriesthood.com). Dr. Bordisso is now reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church. Then she spoke with Nanette Sagastume (www.wealsoserve.net) about the PTSD of her husband who was a Marine in Vietnam and her own when her son, also a Marine, was deployed to Iraq.

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with Hollywood screenwriter and Recovering Cheater, Sterling Anderson (www.doeshecheatthebook.com)about the book he and Stephanie Dart wrote based on interviews of 50 cheaters called Does He Cheat? Their primary purpose in writing the book was to empower women to open their eyes. Then she spoke with Dr. Joe Amoia (www.smarterdatingforwomen.com), author of the E-book The ABCs of Smarter Dating about how to zero in and find the type of man she wants, rather than believing there are no good men left.

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) interviewed Crystal Clancy (www.crystalclancy.weebly.com) for the second in a four-part series on narcissism. Crystal spend 4 years with a narcissist, became engaged, but broke it off before disaster ensued and she married and had children with him. Then I spoke with Valerie Lothian (www.internettrafficlistbuilding.co.uk) about her work as a mentor and coach of budding entrepreneurs. We shared our personal stories of becoming entrepreneurs and discussed what traits and processes are necessary to succeed.

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with Amanda Bennett (www.facebook.com/costofhope;//) about the emotional and financial costs of searching for a cure of her husband’s cancer. She is the author of The Cost of Hope, which is 2 parts memoir and 1 part investigative journalism. Next, she spoke with Maine State Senator Bill Diamond (www.evilandinnocent.com) about the sexual victimization of children in the context of the recent verdict convicting former coach Jerry Sandusky for abusing at least 9 young boys, including his adopted son. This proves that Sandusky is a pedophile. Sen. Diamond authored The Evil and the Innocent.

Dr. Beth (drbetherickson.com) first spoke with Heather Cariou (sixtyfiverosesthebook.com), author of Sixty-Five Roses: A Sister’s Memoir, about the challenges of growing up with both a sister and a brother with Cystic Fibrosis. Heather clearly had to grow up too fast for her own good. Then she spoke with R.T. (Willie) Willard who retired after teaching in middle school for 35 years about this question: Are Our Kids Overscheduled Today? Dr. Beth offered some guidelines for parents to consider in making decisions about kids’ extracurricular activities.

Kristine Carlson’s memoir Heartbroken Open describes her journey from brokenness to healing after the death of her husband, bestselling author Richard Carlson. Dr. Elizabeth Wohl and I spoke about grandparents rearing their grandchildren for whatever reason, whether the child’s parents are incarcerated, addicted, deployed, or dead. Certainly, there are challenges, but there also are multiple rewards.

The work of Dr. Boyd Purcell, author of Spiritual Terrorism, stands at the crossroads of psychology and theology. What makes some people susceptible to spiritual abuse while others are immune? What gives cult leaders their power? Kristen Brown became a widow at 31, and instead of sinking into depression, she became an entrepreneur. We discussed the skills and personal attributes required to become successful entrepreneurs. It isn’t for everyone.

Two I spoke with Glenn Plaskin, author of Katie Up and Down the Hall: The Story of How One Dog Turned Five Neighbors into a Family, about chosen families, second chances, life and death, loneliness, and adapting to change. My second guests were a couple, Piper Hoffman and Aviv Roth, who shared their decision, their feelings, and their process for reaching the conclusion to remain childfree. Their first priority is keeping their marriage strong.

When Marlene Clay divorced, she vowed not to repeat the mistakes of her parents and stepmother. So she forged a co-parental team with her ex and his new wife. Laura Carroll, author of Families of 2, interviewed 30 couples who are childless by choice that suggest a roadmap for those who choose to remain a family of 2. We discussed couples’ rationale for this choice as well as how to manage some of the societal pressures they face.

I spoke with Beth Whitehouse, an award winning journalist at Newsday who wrote The Match: “Savior Siblings” and One Family’s Battle to Heal Their Daughter. It details a couple’s heart wrenching journey to save their child’s life. Then I spoke with Dr. Barry Ginsberg about how people are attracted to each other in complementary ways and how to maintain their attraction and attachment later on, rather than insisting they change.

In the second of a 3-part series, my first guest is Julie Pech. Some people just have a knack for knowing how to parent, and she is one. My second guest, Elsa Prado, discussed some of the moral issues she struggles with now, that she wasn’t aware of when she was artificially inseminated to save her marriage. Although she loves her daughter with all her heart, she wants people to make more informed choices.

The first of a series of shows about why Mother-Daughter relationships can be so conflictual, I spoke with family therapist Dr. LeslieBeth Wish, to get her perspective on this very important topic. We discussed tips for making this relationship constructive. My next guest was actor, novelist, and playwright, Shane Briant, who talked about his latest novel, Worst Nightmares, about the dangers that lurk on the Internet, and about his acting with 9 Academy Award winners.

Dr. Beth Erickson (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with Senator Adlai Stevenson III (www.Adlai3.com), author of The Black Book, about our political landscape nationally and internationally. Politics is in his DNA. His grandfather was Vice President of the U.S. before the turn of the 20th century, and his father was U.N. Ambassador. Then she spoke with Selisse Berry who is the Founding Executive Director of Out and Equal and the editor of a book by that same name featuring essays written by business leaders who proudly went from the closet to the corner office. These individuals provide inspiration and role models.

Dr. Beth (www.drbetherickson.com) first spoke with award-winning author Barbara A. Lewis (www.freespirit.com) about her book What Do You Stand For, For Teens which concerns building character in teens, which can be seen as a strategy for preventing bullying and igniting creativity. Then she spoke with Dr. John Stafford Peale, author of Just How Far From the Apple Tree. He is the only son of the famous preacher and author Norman Vincent Peale. For John, life was not without its challenges. In this memoir, John S. Peale shares his story, one of love, tension, and resentment. Life in the shadow of a famous father became a long and heartfelt struggle to become his own man.

Dr. Beth’s (www.drbetherickson.com) first guest was Lisa Guisbond (www.fairtest.org) about some of the issues that prompted Chicago teachers to go on strike for seven days that idled the city’s 350,000 students, chief among their complaints was being blamed for not teaching their children when other factors such as poverty and violence also figure in. Then she spoke with author Tim Ward (www.zombiesonkilimanjaro.com) about his trek with his 20 year- old son to the top of Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro which provided the opportunity for Tim and his son, Josh, to bond as two adults rather than just father and son.