An Interview With Stephanie Greer
Enduring a mental health disorder is terrifying, and schizophrenia and often referred to as a life of horror, questioning your surroundings and people. It is easy to judge individuals who are struggling with schizophrenia, but be kind.
Schizophrenia, a condition that affects millions around the world, not only impacts the individual diagnosed but also their surrounding family. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the journey towards mental wellness is not solely an individual pursuit but a collective one. Incorporating family perspectives and integrating a family approach in treatment methodologies can be pivotal in achieving holistic healing and stability. In this interview series, we are talking to psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, researchers, and other mental health professionals to delve deeper into the significance of a family-oriented approach in the treatment of schizophrenia. As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Leslie Dobson.
Dr. Leslie Dobson is a clinical and forensic psychologist in California. She has worked with severe cases of schizophrenia in criminal settings, and she has also worked with individuals struggling with schizophrenia while maintaining work, family, and stressful daily lives.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your childhood backstory?
I was born in Canada and immigrated to California. I lived most of my childhood in Orange County, where I was aware very early on that there was a focus on image and superficiality. I left home at 18 to study in Colorado, and then quickly moved to England, and back to California for my doctorate. I became fascinated with psychology at an early age, because I started to see patterns of behaviors and people, and I had a strong desire to understand. My first clinical experience was in the Los Angeles County Jail, with some of the most dangerous and mentally ill individuals I had ever seen in my life. Notably, many individuals that struggled with schizophrenia were not in the jail for violence crimes. That was the first year that I decided to push myself into a career that took risks, perseverance, and strong personal boundaries so that I could keep myself healthy and safe while holding the stories of thousands of people throughout my life. I have worked and trained in hospitals, community settings, prisons, and in private practice. I have testified in front of a jury. I have been assaulted by clients. I have witnessed assaults. I have been in the room when people have felt so much emotional pain that they make the decision they no longer want to live. I am fascinated by the human mind, and how we show up with other people in the world in all the different settings we are in.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I’m serious when I need to be. Life is difficult and the challenges do not end. If we learn to take certain things seriously, then we give ourselves permission to take other life events with humor and light-heartedness, allowing us to preserve and maintain our energy.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your professional career treating patients with schizophrenia diagnoses?
I became interested in the treatment of individuals with schizophrenia and psychosis early in my career. During my doctorate, I focused my research on the group therapy of individuals struggling with schizophrenia. I published multiple articles in psychology evidence-based journals discussing how schizophrenia comes to be and also how we can treat schizophrenia, largely with the family focus.
When you work with patients, I understand that you often integrate family or friends into the treatment process. What do you consider the 3 primary benefits of including family?
- Individuals struggling with schizophrenia are often struggling to understand reality. It is essential to have familiar friends and family around them, in order to quickly and efficiently ground them in reality when their symptoms are worsening.
- Individuals with schizophrenia often feel paranoid and they struggle to trust others. They are more likely to trust their family when they are present in therapy, in contrast to just trusting a therapist.
- Family is often more efficient and effective at getting the message across, especially when the message involves consistent engagement in mental health treatment and psychiatric medications, not just in the therapy office but at home.
What are some of the challenges you run into when working with families? How do you balance responding to the needs of the family with the needs of the patient?
I have had difficulty if family members are also struggling with mental illness. I try and work with the family if they are helping to support the client, and they are not adding to the struggle. If they are adding to the struggle, I may ask the client if I can work with the family separately and educate them on the diagnosis of schizophrenia and the treatment required. There are other support systems available for individuals with schizophrenia, rather than just family. I will educate clients and dig into other resources, as well.
Family dynamics can greatly vary depending on the sociocultural backgrounds of the individuals involved. How do you tailor your family approach to respect and incorporate different sociocultural perspectives and values?”
I think it’s very important to meet the client where they are at, and also meet the family with reasonable expectations. I have hired interpreters to help explain what schizophrenia is to family members who speak different languages. I have given clients and families books on schizophrenia. I have outlined books and made handouts with resources that allows them to understand to the best of their ability. Most importantly, I tend to act as a mother hen. With permission, I will contact the client’s family, psychiatrist, medical practitioners, and anyone who may be in the world of the client. My goal is to understand the big picture of the individual In order to offer the best treatment plan and then explain that plan to all the key players. My goal is to present a treatment plan to the client and the family in a way that they can engage in it in a meaningful way, consistently and over the long run.
Likewise, inter-generational dynamics can sometimes play a significant role in the therapy process. Can you share any insights or experiences on how inter-generational understanding and communication facilitate the healing process?
Every culture is different, and intergenerational factors range in importance. First, I assess how important intergenerational factors are to the client, diagnosis, and prognosis. I incorporate relevant psychoeducation of the treatment plan to family members, and I personalize the information so that it is digestible. Some cultures believe in mental health disorders and some do not. I have experienced clients who have struggled with severe psychosis, but their family has told them that they are not ill and they do not need their medication. At times this is based on their educational levels, and at times this is a cultural or religious belief. I support the client to the best of my ability through education and a therapeutic alliance.
Many mental health professionals don’t have training in working with families. How did you learn the techniques you use and what would you recommend to professionals who want to learn more about this approach?
I quickly learned that if I wanted to work with individuals struggling with schizophrenia, I needed to integrate their family for the most efficient and effective treatment outcome. Therapy is such a small and segmented hour of a person’s week or even month, and it is essential to incorporate the client support system so that therapy carries over into the real world. This was a huge part of my education in my doctorate, but also the education I’ve taken from my experience.
Caring for a family member with schizophrenia can sometimes be challenging and might lead to caregiver burnout. How does your approach incorporate strategies for self-care and support for family members who are involved in the caregiving process?
Caring for a family member with schizophrenia is extremely challenging. It is extremely important for family members to have their own support systems around them, and also an ability to gain reliable information on the mental health disorder. I refer many family members to the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) support groups and free education.
Preventive education is often seen as a powerful tool in managing schizophrenia symptoms. How do you integrate education and awareness for family members within your family approach to treating schizophrenia?
Preventative education is a powerful tool in managing psychosis. The treatment of schizophrenia is most effective when the individual is consistent with therapy and psychiatric medications. Treatment is also effective when the individual stays in a low stress state, is surrounded by loved ones, and is consistent with diet, exercise, and interest that bring them happiness.
Thank you. Here is the main question of our interview. What are 5 things you wish more people knew about people navigating life with schizophrenia?
1 . You are likely around people every day that hear voices or experience auditory hallucinations. Many high functioning people in our society struggle with schizophrenia.
2 . Schizophrenia does not mean the person is dangerous. If untreated, an individual with schizophrenia may not be grounded to reality. They may experience auditory or visual hallucinations. They may become paranoid.
3 . If you are struggling with symptoms of schizophrenia, you can feel better when you find the most fitting psychological and psychiatric treatment.
4 . Enduring a mental health disorder is terrifying, and schizophrenia and often referred to as a life of horror, questioning your surroundings and people. It is easy to judge individuals who are struggling with schizophrenia, but be kind.
5 . Individuals who are diagnosed with schizophrenia have frequently experienced trauma in their past.
There is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to mental illnesses, especially involving psychosis. What do you wish more people were aware of either in the professional field or the general public?
There is a difference between an individual with schizophrenia and an individual that is on illicit substances and appearing to be psychotic.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them. 🙂
Mel Robbins. I find her to be powerful, interesting, relevant, warm, and inspiring.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
www.tiktok.com/@drlesliedobson
www.linkedin.com/in/drlesliedobson
https://www.instagram.com/drlesliedobson
Thank you for your time and thoughtful answers. I know many people will gain so much from hearing this.
About The Interviewer: Stephanie Greer, PhD is the Co-founder and CEO of Akin Mental Health — a company dedicated to guiding families on their journey supporting a loved one with mental health challenges like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe depression. Stephanie is passionate about this topic from her own personal experience growing up with a mother who struggled with bipolar 1 disorder and found a path forward to overcome the obstacles and live well. Stephanie’s professional experience includes a doctorate in neuroscience as well as design research roles at Hopelab and Apple. Stephanie brings this personal passion together with her world-class science and technology background to support families across the US in their personal journeys supporting loved ones with mental illness. To learn more about Akin Mental Health and join our community, visit us at akinmh.com.
Dr. Leslie Dobson On The Benefits Of Using A Family Approach For Treating Schizophrenia was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.