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Bear Psychology Podcast

Dr. Anna Baranowsky is a Canadian Clinical Psychologist, CEO of the Traumatology Institute, Founder and President of the Board at Trauma Practice. She is the author of two books on trauma, numerous courses to help train professionals in trauma mental health and the developer of the Trauma Recovery Program for Self-Guided trauma care. She works with trauma survivors and those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on post-traumatic growth and recovery.

Through her work she believes that when we share, dialogue and feel supported, it provides a powerful foundation for forward movement in our understanding and the care needed. In her own words "I have found that the most profound changes occur when a person truly feels heard and understood - I like to think of it as deeply BEARING WITNESS to life evolving. We can feel incredibly stuck when we live with our fears, stressors and troubles in isolation."

Dr.Baranowsky is the host of the Bear Psychology Show, focusing on bearing witness to Evolving Mood, Mind, Health. Her talks revolve around recovery, relationships, work and life adventures.

She is dedicated to assisting organizations and health professionals who help trauma survivors to ensure a trauma informed lens of care can grow in community health networks. With that vision in 1998, the Traumatology Institute Canada (TIC) was established. TIC has trained thousands of individuals nationally and internationally.

Dr. Baranowsky serves on the board of directors of the Academy of Traumatology and is a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress through the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and is recognized by The National Center for Crisis Management. She has published in the area of Post-Traumatic Stress, Compassion Fatigue, and therapeutic relationships (the Silencing Response).

Copyright:  Dr. Anna Baranowsky, 2020

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  2. Schizoid Personality Disorder and a life of challenge

Schizoid Personality Disorder and a life of challenge

Nov 5, 2025

Blair Sorrel shares her journey of living with Schizoid Personality Disorder and learning to accept and love herself. She undercovers further elements of her life growing up in a family of origin where she experienced ridicule leading to low self-worth, social anxiety and a debilitating fear of authority figures.

 

She explores a home life with “poor parenting” which undermined her academic and career disappointments. She reflects on the importance of nurturing caregivers to allow the flourishing of Intelligence and genetics toward success. In her book, “A Schizoid at Smith: How Over Parenting Leads to Underachieving” Blair Sorrel takes us through the combined impact of poor parenting along with a diagnosis of Schizoid Personality Disorder.

 

Listen to our conversation with author Blair Sorrel as we navigate her struggles to succeed within a context of Schizoid Personality Disorder and a home life that left her feelings unsupported and not accepted.

 

Blair Sorrel is an author, creator, and animal enthusiast. She served as the “Dollarwise Dilettante” columnist for Free Time, the matchmaker for Together Dating Service, and the apheresis recruiter for New York Blood Services. She established StreetZaps to safeguard dogs and humans from stray voltage, becoming the initial community representative invited by Con Edison to their annual Jodie S. Lane Stray Voltage Detection, Mitigation, and Prevention National Conference.

 

Blair Sorrel’s memoir raises awareness of the mysterious ailment that is Schizoid Personality Disorder. The majority of the book takes place in the 1960s taking a comedic and hopeful perspective.

Listen to our conversation with Blair Sorrel to learn how she shaped her own life and defined success on her own terms.

If you are interested in learning about Blair Sorrel’s unique life, this podcast is for you.

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