We have a mental health crisis that we will continue to be unable to address if we do not accurately conceptualize all of the factors that contribute to this problem. Our society is constructed around values that lead to psychological distress and need to be acknowledged and challenged if we are to promote psychological wellness.
Dr. Dana Torpey-Newman is a licensed clinical psychologist and political activist specializing in couples therapy, mood disorders, and how societal values contribute to psychological distress. She received her undergraduate degree from University of Pennsylvania, then worked for Dr. Kevin LaBar and Dr. Timothy Strauman at Duke University in the 2000s before attending Stony Brook University for graduate school. She completed a clinical internship and her postdoctoral fellowship at University of California at San Diego/San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center consortium. She trained and practiced in many clinical settings with diverse populations nationwide. In her limited free time she ruminates societal inequities and laments the insistence on relying on the charity of individuals to compensate for failing to address systemic inadequacies; attempts to educate elected officials about the poor, inhumane design of our healthcare; and encourages her two children to develop empathy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx