Saint Dymphna’s Playbook

Here to fill the void in Catholic conversations about mental health.

About the show

A podcast about finding mental well-being as a Catholic with the help of community and the saints. Hosted by Tommy Tighe, a marriage and family therapist, husband, and father. In each episode Tommy addresses different mental health issues, introduces listeners to a saint who is relevant to mental health and wellness, and responds to questions from Twitter followers.

Episodes

  • 114: Can Anxious Kids Find Hope in the Saints?

    February 26th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  15 mins 43 secs
    blessed william carter, exorcism, misdiagnosis, panic attack, saints

    Tommy talks about the problem of misdiagnosis in children of color, introduces listeners to Blessed William Carter, and answers listener questions about the role of exorcism in a Catholic understanding of mental illness, how kids with mental health symptoms can find hope and support in the saints, and how to help a loved one in the midst of a panic attack.

  • 113: Compulsive Behaviors and Sin

    February 19th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  20 mins 3 secs
    anticipatory grief, compulsive behaviors, culpability, saint charles of sezze, simone biles, sin

    Tommy talks about the continued impact of Simone Biles on the mental health of athletes, introduces listeners to Saint Charles of Sezze, and answers listener questions about how to cope with anticipatory grief, how to understand sin and culpability in relation to compulsive behaviors, and how to help a spouse seek help when they aren't motivated.

  • 112: Mental Health and Social Media

    February 12th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  18 mins 25 secs
    childhood abuse, emotional health, gender dysphoria, saint mary angela truszkowska, wordle

    Tommy talks about the psychological reasons for the popularity of Wordle, introduces listeners to Saint Mary Angela Truszkowska, and answers listener questions about if we should share about our mental health on social media, the pain caused by gender dysphoria not being taken seriously in our church, how early childhood abuse can impact the emotional health of men in adulthood.

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    111: Am I Truly Sorry For My Sins?

    February 5th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  17 mins 8 secs
    depression, exercise, imposter syndrome, news, saint angela merici, sin

    Tommy talks about how physical exercise improves depression, introduces listeners to Saint Angela Merici, and answers listener questions about how to know if we're actually sorry for our sins, how to recognize and fight back against imposter syndrome, and how to be okay with unplugging from all the bad news.