This week, architect and designer Lane Hicks joins us to talk about the effects of scale on human interaction. She advises on what makes a good church, comedy club, or Chili's, and Laura holds forth for Hobbiton.

References:

Why Has All The Color Gone Out Of The World? Jason Pargin

'Millennial Gray' Is the Color Trend an Entire Generation Can’t Get Enough Of, Move over “sad beige," this is the hottest (slightly more depressing) color scheme.

By Leslie Corona

Designing for the Mind: How Architecture Impacts Mental Health

Rene Janssen

The Power of Scale: How Proportions Shape Human Experience: Camilla Ghisleni

Why Are European City Centers So Much Nicer Than American Ones?: AUSTIN CLINK

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, and Murray SilversteinRevolutionizing everyday life through community-centric design

by Jennifer Wegner

How Does Architecture Affect Mental Health? Annie Pierson

How Urban Design Can Impact Mental Health & Well-being: Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series): Christopher Alexander, et al

Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Licensed Therapist/LMFT/Mental Wellness/Hygge

Are we on a different timeline, is it mass hypnosis, or do we just not know how to spell Bearenstain? Common examples and some explanations for the Mandela Effect. Features a special guest appearance from Star Wars expert Scott Kirkwood.

Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Licensed Therapist/LMFT/Mental Wellness/Memory Distortion/Trauma Recovery/Internet Influence

How can you tell whether a friend is toxic? What if you're the toxic friend? With special guest Maria Bamford!

Maria is the star of Lady Dynamite, Comedians of Comedy, and the new Judd Apatow documentary, Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story

References:

Chelsea Marie: Tik Tok

How to make friends? Study reveals how many hours it takes: Rick Hellman

13 Signs Your Best Friend Is Toxic- Bustle

10 signs of toxic friendships: Calm.com

How to End a Friendship While Protecting Your Heart

BY ZEE KRSTIC

Imago/Maria Bamford/Toxic Friends/Borderline Personality Disorder/BPD/12 Step/Overeaters Anonymous/Anorexia/Bulimia/Addiction/Mental Health/Friendship Dynamics/Toxic Relationships/Self Care/Communication Skills

Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Licensed Therapist/LMFT/Mental Wellness

Lily Allen released one of 2025's top albums after being recklessly played by her husband, David Harbour. What happened? What does Virginia suspect? What can we learn about narcissists, narcissist discard, infidelity, and bad boundaries from this record? We also talk about our own rocky relationships, P.Diddy, why men can't stand to see you shine, and much more.

References:

West End Girl by Lily Allen

David Harbour*Cluster B* Bipolar*Madeline*Burn Track* Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist*P.Diddy* Narcissism*NPD*Narcissistic Personality Disorder*EMDR*Healing*Hopper*Stranger Things*Kendrick Lamar*Infidelity*Relationship Issues*Self Esteem Issues

Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Sisters/Licensed Therapist/LMFT

Is the age of AI the end of the expert? What does it take to achieve mastery of something, and why do we want it so much?

References:

Outliers: The Story of Success: Malcolm Gladwell

It's All In Your Head: How To Achieve Mastery And Improve Performance: Chris Cancialosi

How to Level Up At Anything: Using Science to Approach Mastery: Jacqueline M. Kory-Westlund

How To Achieve Mastery: Three Steps To Becoming Great At Anything: Aly Juma

The 4 Essential Ingredients of Expertise Development: Joseph South

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist * Expertise * Malcolm Gladwell* Growth* Tips for Learning* Emotional Well-Being* Competition* Mental Health*Skills*Mastery*Feedback

/Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Sisters/Licensed Therapist/LMFT

If you're obsessed with your white knight, the fairy tale, and happily ever after- how was your relationship with your Dad? Bad, right?

Zach Woods-Emotional Neglect-Lily Allen- Licensed Therapist-Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Neglect-Physical Neglect-West End Girl-Robert Smith

Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Sisters/Licensed Therapist/LMFT

We get a listener question from Sharon, who twirls her hair for up to five hours a day and wishes she could stop!

What are the commonalities between OCD and and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors?

Why is it mostly women who exhibit these behaviors?

Why is it tricky to rock a rhyme that's right on time?

And when did Laura stop sucking her thumb?

These questions and more are answered on this week's episode of My Sister's A Therapist!

References:

Mayo Clinic: Trichotillomania definition

DSM-5: Criteria for Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) and Excoriation (Skin-Picking Disorder)

University of Oxford: Body focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs)

Is Twirling Your Hair as a Habit a Symptom of an Underlying Condition?: Kathryn Watson

Who is at risk for trichotillomania?

Trait anger, anger expression, and anger control in trichotillomania: Evidence for the emotion regulation model: Erin E. Curley , Esther S. Tung , Nancy J. Keuthen

Mayo Clinic: Medications for Trichotillomania

OCD*obsessive/compulsive disorder* therapy for OCD*OCD symptoms* OCD treatment*Intrusive thoughts, compulsions, rituals, perfectionism*Cognitive behavioral therapy*CBT*Anxiety, depression, mental health support, therapy*sisters*LMFT*comedian*Virginia Jones*Laura Ryan

Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Sisters/Licensed Therapist/LMFT

My Sister's A Therapist is dropping a special New Year's Eve episode- where do NYE traditions come from? Why do we have superstitions- and how close are they to OCD?

References:

The History of New Year’s Eve

35 Crazy New Year’s Eve Celebrations Throughout History: The History Collection

The psychology of superstition, with Stuart Vyse, PhD: Speaking of Psychology Podcast: Kim Mills

How superstitions may relieve anxiety: Ana Sandoiu

NYE-NEW YEAR'S EVE-LMFT- LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELOR-RESOLUTION-SUPERSTITION-BALL DROP-CUSTOMS-OCD

Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Sisters/Licensed Therapist/LMFT