Episode 42: Brad Lieberman

In this episode, Allison Sheff sits down with psychiatric nurse practitioner Brad Lieberman to demystify psychiatric medications — what they are, how they work, and when (or when not) to use them. Together, they explore the full toolbox of mental health treatments available today, from traditional talk therapy and antidepressants to cutting-edge modalities like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Brad shares a grounded perspective on how medication fits into the broader process of healing, emphasizing that while meds can help open the door, real progress requires personal work and self-understanding.

Topics:

• The role of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)

• Overview of treatment tools: medication, supplementation, and modern therapies

• Understanding TMS and its benefits for treatment-resistant depression and OCD

• The emerging science of psychedelic therapy (ketamine, psilocybin, and beyond)

• When medication should — and shouldn’t — be used

• The misunderstood world of antidepressants and antipsychotics

• How SSRIs may actually promote neuroplasticity, not just serotonin

• The truth behind the term “antipsychotic” and how these meds are used for conditions like bipolar disorder

• Genetic testing for psych meds (GenoMind, GeneSight): what’s useful and what’s hype

• Why Katy Perry uses propranolol — and how beta blockers can help with performance anxiety

Key Takeaways

• Medication is a tool, not a cure. It opens the door for deeper therapeutic work.

• Names can be misleading. “Antipsychotic” doesn’t mean someone is psychotic — it’s about brain chemistry, not labels.

• Performance anxiety is physiological too. Medications like propranolol work on the body to calm the brain.

• Don’t self-diagnose. A screener or Google search can’t replace a trained professional.

• Healing takes partnership. True recovery blends professional guidance, community, and your own effort.

Resources

• LCP Therapy

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