Personality Couch

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack attachment and its relationship with avoidant personality disorder. We explore the four main attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized, discussing how these styles manifest in adult relationships. We highlight the nuances of avoidant personality disorder, suggesting that individuals may present as avoidantly attached but have underlying anxious tendencies. We end by discussing some interesting research on adult attachment and coregulation with a partner, suggesting that attachment is fluid and can change depending on the relationship homeostasis. 

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org. Clinicians use the email listed on the website.  

Chapters
00:00 Intro to Attachment & Attachment Styles
05:15 Secure Attachment
06:08 Anxious Attachment
09:08 Avoidant Attachment
13:09 Disorganized Attachment 
14:38 Attachment in Adulthood 
16:54 Avoidant Personality Disorder and Attachment Dynamics
22:22 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) dive into Avoidant Personality Disorder, exploring Dr. Theodore Millon's six subtypes. We discuss a few interesting historical names before jumping into the characteristics of mild (Anxiously & Imaginatively shy); moderate (Hypersensitively & Phobicly Reticent); and severe (Conflicted & Self-Deserting) subtypes. Our conversation also critiques Millon's work, questioning the distinctiveness of avoidant traits compared to other personality disorders, and we invite listeners/viewers to share their thoughts and opinions.

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org. Clinicians use the email listed on the website.  

Chapters
00:00 Introduction & Historical Names
05:18 Millon's Six Subtypes of Avoidant Personality
5:38 Mild Type Overview
      6:44 Anxiously Shy Type
      9:14 Imaginatively Shy Type
12:05 Moderate Level Overview
      12:28 Hypersensitively Reticent Type
      14:31 Phobicly Reticent Type
16:55 Severe Level Overview
      17:29 Conflicted Avoidant Type
      19:40 Self-Deserting Avoidant Type
22:21 Our Opinions About the Subtypes
26:14 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, licensed clinical psychologist Doc Bok unpacks the historical context of Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD), exploring the ongoing debate about its classification in the DSM. This episode discusses the contributions of Theodore Millon, the controversies that arose during the introduction of APD, and the implications of trauma and sociopolitical culture on personality development. The episode concludes with proposing alternative classification systems, including the Enneagram, the psychodynamic phobic character, and avoidant personality as a problematic trait versus a disorder. 

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org. Clinicians use the email listed on the website.  

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Avoidant Personality Disorder
02:32 Millon, the DSM, and Controversy 
05:47 The 1960s & Personality Development
09:37 Avoidant Traits, Trauma, & Alternative Views
18:08 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the DSM’s Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPd), exploring its hotly debated history, the DSM criteria, and its overlap with social anxiety. We discuss the developmental aspects of AvPd, the challenges of low self-esteem with this disorder, and how it can cause problems in employment. We end with our own unfiltered thoughts on whether or not we think it should be a diagnosis, questioning the zeitgeist in which it was coined, the lack of historical research, and its overlap with multiple other personality disorders.  

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org/ (Clinicians use the email listed on the website.)

Chapters
00:00 Intro, History, & Controversy
03:42 Avoidant Personality Disorder: DSM
       05:41 Social Inhibition and Fear of Criticism
       08:14 Intimacy Issues and Fantasy 
       10:41 Self-Perception and Feelings of Inadequacy
       14:49 Taking Risks and Employment Issues
17:09 Developmental Implications of Avoidant Personality
19:04 Avoidant Personality vs Social Anxiety
24:29 Unfiltered Thoughts on Avoidant Personality Disorder
35:10 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) explore the 3 most unstable personality disorders: schizotypal, borderline, and paranoid. All 3 types are at risk of psychosis. We first discuss historical personality classifications of neurotic, psychotic, and borderline, highlighting that the borderline space between neurotic and psychotic is the most prone to instability. This borderline space is where schizotypal, borderline, and paranoid personalities sit. We discuss the risky traits of each personality, including cognitive slippage, emotional instability, and extreme rigidity. We also discuss some of our thoughts and experiences in diagnosing these rather tricky disorders!

🆘Are you a clinician stuck on a case? To schedule a consultation, please visit the practice website! 👉https://www.questpsych.org/

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Psychodynamic Personality Organization
      02:31 Neurotic Personality Organization
      04:47 Psychotic Personality Organization
      05:48 Borderline Personality Organization
07:57 Schizotypal Personality & Instability
      08:57 Why Personalities Are Unstable (according to Millon)
      13:55 Personalities that Coexist with Schizotypal
16:30 Borderline Personality & Instability
      21:16 Personalities that Coexist with Borderline 
23:18 Paranoid Personality & Instability
      26:52 Personalities that Coexist with Paranoid
30:18 Our Experiences with Diagnosing Unstable Personalities
33:39 Summary & Conclusion