In this Q&A, board-certified child and adolescent San Francisco psychiatrist Dr. Eric Bender answers common parenting questions, like why toddlers say “no,” why kids prefer one parent, how to respond to tantrums, and how to build “special time” and predictable routines. He also shares a cautious, research-informed approach to phones and social media, including family rules, supervision, and gradual responsibility over time.

In this week's episode, I look at how parents affect children and how those impacts can last through adulthood. I review the characters in the hit shows and movies: Alien Earth, Nobody Wants This (Joanne), The Pitt, The Girlfriend, Fresh Prince, and Superman (2025). Let’s take a look at the relationships between some children and their caregivers, and let's find out who parents better, Uncle Phil, or Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van!

It's the SEASON 1 review of THE PITT, and I break down how the characters are dealing with mental health! Let's take a closer look at Dr. Mel, Dr. Robby, Dr. Santos, Dr. Mohan, Charge Nurse Dana Evans, and Dr. Langdon. How does their work in The Pitt affect them, and what do they bring to The Pitt? Compassion, thoughtfulness, trauma, PTSD, addiction...it's all here in Season 1 (and likely Season 2) of The Pitt!

Dr. Bender joins Dr. Mike to view and discuss scenes from the hit television show House MD, where Dr. House goes to rehab and tries to deal with his addiction to Vicodin. They analyze what aligns with medical reality vs what’s dramatized as well as have a discussion of addiction, treatment, withdrawal, rehab protocols, relapse risk, and psychological factors.

What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and a therapist — and how do you know which one you need? In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, licensed therapist Kati Morton sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Eric Bender to explore psychiatry vs therapy, medication stigma, antidepressant withdrawal, and how to know when it’s time to seek help.

Explore the psychological depth of Batman: Arkham Shadow in this exclusive Q&A with psychiatrist and mental health expert Dr. Eric Bender, alongside the game’s creators, Ryan Payton and Matt Walker. Presented by Batman Arkham Videos in collaboration with Camouflaj.

Dr. David Puder and Dr. Eric Bender explore the psychological depth of the Emmy Award-winning show, The Bear (FX). Through a psychodynamic lens, they examine Carmy’s character—his trauma, complex PTSD, obsessive-compulsive personality traits, and avoidant attachment style.

Dr Eric Bender is a triple board-certified psychiatrist specialising in child, adolescent, adult and forensic psychiatry. In this episode we chat about the toll of mental health on patients and therapists, we discuss how social media could worsen ADHD, and Dr Eric talks us through some of the best examples of mental health disorders in modern media.

In this conversation, San Francisco psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Eric Bender discusses how mental health shows up in relationships. The discussion covers how couples get stuck, how communication breaks down, and how therapy can help. Topics include ADHD, OCD vs OCPD, social media, medication, and what it looks like to find the right therapeutic fit.

In this episode, Dr. David Puder, alongside guests Rachel Blackston and Dr. Eric Bender, dives into the psychological insights presented in Pixar's Inside Out 2. Together, they explore the complex emotional world of adolescence, focusing on the challenges Riley faces as she navigates new emotions—like Anxiety, Envy, and Embarrassment—that reflect common experiences during teenage years.

Listening to The Shrink Next Door elicited a range of emotions in me, including angst, sadness, intrigue, and heartache. For those unfamiliar with the story, it revolves around a psychiatrist named Ike who isolates his patient, Marty, from his family, takes over his business, lives in his house, charges him over a million dollars, and makes him undertake various projects for him

Psychiatrist Eric Bender is back to break down psychosis and psychotic episodes in movies, including 'Fight Club,' 'Scarface,' 'Black Swan,' 'Shutter Island,' 'Split,' 'Primal Fear,' 'The Dark Knight Rises' and 'Oldboy.'

Forensic psychiatrist Eric Bender breaks down psychopaths from movies and TV, including 'American Psycho,' 'Star Wars Ep III: Revenge of the Sith,' 'Silence of the Lambs,' 'You,' 'Blue Velvet' and 'Misery.'

Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Bender is here to explore and break down the psychopathic traits of anti-heroes in television, including Walter White, Tony Soprano and Don Draper.

Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Bender is here to explore and break down the mental health of Marvel superheroes, including Thor, Deadpool, Green Goblin, Iron Man, Hulk, Moon Knight, Thanos and Loki.

Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Eric Bender is back to explore and break down the mental health and psychology of Star Wars characters, including Emperor Palpatine, Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Jawas, and Kylo Ren.

“We tune into Succession each week because it gives us a chance to say 'Well, our family's not quite that messed up' or 'Hey I know that! That's my family.'" Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Bender is back to explore the mental health and family dynamics of Succession's Roy family.

Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Bender is back to explore and diagnose the mental health of Batman's psychotic Arkham Asylum inmates, including Two-Face, Riddler, Joker, Harley Quinn, Mad Hatter, Mr. Zsasz, The Ventriloquist and Scarface, Maxie Zeus, Mr. Freeze and Penguin.

Forensic psychiatrist Eric Bender is back to break down more psychopaths from movies and TV, including 'The Dark Knight,' 'The Godfather,' 'A Clockwork Orange,' 'Wall Street,' ''No Country For Old Men,' 'Basic Instinct' and 'Ozark.'

Psychiatrist Eric Bender breaks down mental health scenes from movies and TV, including 'Joker,' 'The Undoing,' 'BoJack Horseman,' 'Rain Man,' 'As Good as it Gets,' 'Girl Interrupted,' 'Inside Out,' 'Lars and the Real Girl,' 'Silver Linings Playbook' and 'A Beautiful Mind.'

It's funny that @HBO calls the show Euphoria when all these characters feel anything but that! Let's take a look into the minds of Nate, Rue, Fez, and others to find out what's going on with them and their mental health.

We would typically be catching up with Ted Lasso and AFC Richmond this time of year, but Season 3 is still on the horizon! As we wait, let's take a look at Ted, his experiences with anxiety and panic attacks, and the role of therapy and mental health treatment in the show.

Dr. Bender explains transgenerational trauma and the impact it has on mental health as experienced by Abuela and The Family Madrigal. Learn how such trauma results in the family not talking about Bruno, Luisa experiencing more than just Surface Pressure, and Maribel feeling so alone.

Why does the Roy Family from Succession seem so dysfunctional? Dr. Bender looks at mental health in the Waystar Royco conglomerate founder, Logan Roy, his children, and their relationships.

Let's take a look at the traumatic and terrifying experiences of the teenage girls from New Jersey on that fateful trip to the 1995 Soccer Nationals - and how those experiences continue to play out in their adult lives.