Mar 2, 2020
Bio:
A Los Angeles
native, Babak holds a clinical doctorate in clinical
psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology,
where he also obtained a master’s in organizational behavior. He is
the originator of the moderative psychotherapy.
Currently living in Portland, Oregon with his wife and children, he
is in private practice at Integrative NW as a clinical and health
psychologist. Babak is also a fiction author and, as
Secret Arcade, a music artist. Babak’s writing debuted
in North American Review (“Fighting Fish”), and
he was a finalist for a Glimmer Train award. His
story “Glow,” published in Palo Alto Review, was
deemed “flawless” and “brilliant”
by Shenandoah literary review. His book, a
dystopian psychological novel, A-Void, examines
accelerating (exponential) change and information overload, and
was selected as a Top Ten Book of 2018. Secret Arcade’s debut
electronic rock album, Quarter
Century, skyrocketed on college radio. A popular
docu-series on A&E/Lifetime recently offered him a role, but he
turned it down to focus on his theory, his writing, his music,
and his family.
In this podcast, Babak Govan, PhD, MAOB, psychologist at
Integrative NW, provides an overview of insomnia treatment,
psychopathology, and more.
Podcast Points:
Dr. Govan is actively engaged in helping people manage their
anxiety and depression, ADHD, self-defeating behaviors, and
substance abuse. Dr. Govan talks about his background and discusses
health psychology, the interface of medical and psychological
issues. Going deeper, Dr. Govan explains how his practice
subspecializes in treating insomnia.
Dr. Govan explains just how common depression is today in America,
and he discusses the various sociogenic factors that may be
exacerbating the rise in depression cases nationally. Dr. Govan
discusses tools to manage psychological issues, such as cognitive
behavioral therapy, but he stresses that cognitive behavioral
therapy, CBT, is only one possible avenue
for treatment.
The PhD elaborates on the importance of limiting our negative
influencers, such as the preponderance of negative news that is
seemingly always breaking. He discusses his thoughts on the
relative impact of modern technology that delivers news 24/7, and
ways we can limit our exposure to negative influences. Continuing,
the doctor discusses the concept of loneliness, and how technology
may be severely disconnecting us.
Dr. Govan talks about the kinds of clients they work with. He
discusses the problem of insomnia, which can be a psychodynamic,
deeper issue. He discusses abrupt insomnia versus cases in which
people have had chronic sleep problems for a long period, and how
the latter understand that it could be a long term issue for them
to solve over time.
Dr. Govan reiterates the importance of taking control of the
environments in which we exist. He talks about time management, as
well as journalistic errors, and how so often in our modern
society, things fall through the cracks. Wrapping up, Dr. Govan
provides information on the specific types of cases they deal with
at Integrative NW, and how they seek to help people manage their
many and varied issues.