An interview with Paul Puri, M.D., about how we can make therapy better. Curt and Katie interview Dr. Puri about how technology and better clinical training can improve therapy outcomes as well as the responsibility we have as experts to impact social change through education and art. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Paul R. Puri, M.D., Psychiatrist, TV Writer, CMO of OOTify Dr. Puri is a psychiatrist, TV writer, and an entrepreneur. In his private practice in Los Angeles, he practices multiple forms of psychotherapy, including hypnosis, in addition to managing medications. He attended medical school at University of Rochester, and specialty training in psychiatry at UC San Diego. He is currently a clinical Assistant Professor at UCLA, and the president-elect of the Psychiatric Clinical Faculty Association. In his non-clinical time, he consults and writes for TV, and is the Chief Medical Officer for an online mental health hub, OOTify -- OOTify.com In this episode we talk about: How Paul has found the different ways that he is helping transform mental health The history of psychotherapy and psychiatry and how training changed to match the reimbursement model How psychiatry training is shifting to reflect the modern needs How therapy is changing, how technology is entering into the picture, and what is driving research and evidence-based treatments The importance of therapist matching in the success of treatment (and how machine learning can help this process) The internal work that therapists have to do to improve their clinical work The importance of getting different perspectives to become the therapist you are supposed to be rather than becoming a duplicate of your supervisor How Paul is trying to represent our field accurately and well in his writing on Chicago Med The impact of entertainment on mental health stigma The social responsibility of having a larger microphone or platform How much to push beyond the current reality to effect social change How we make therapy and therapists better The noise that has developed in the “personal branding” era of private practice The responsibility we have to help potential clients find the best fit – and how we are frequently failing at it The problem with only seeking out “evidence-based” treatment without considering what the evidence means How to move outside the office and add your voice to the social landscape The Public Health responsibility we have to educate with the expertise we have The balance of making sure you’re not weighing in unsolicited, but rather strategically The nuance of talking about your knowledge without over-disclosing, breaking ethical and legal guidelines, or speaking outside your scope   Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by Center For Discovery. Center For Discovery provides evidence-based treatment for eating disorders, binge eating disorders, mental health, substance use, and co-occurring conditions nationwide. Discovery offers gender inclusive and gender-specific treatment with separate programming for adolescent and adults. Programs have a high staff to client ratio because individualized attention is critical when it comes to providing effective and efficient treatment. Learn more about these clinical programs at CenterForDiscovery.com. Discovery offers free resources including weekly support groups, a recovery app, free evaluations, and treatment scholarships. Learn more about Discovery's Free Weekly Support Groups, for those struggling and loved ones, at SupportInRecovery.com. Center For Discovery is a preferred provider and in-