Dr. Todd Grande's Psychology YouTube Channel has a plethora of interesting videos
April 19, 2024
Dr. Todd Grande is a licensed professional counselor of mental health, licensed chemical dependency professional and has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education. His popular YouTube channel has 1.43 million subscribers and 3.2k videos. What is his appeal? Let's discuss...
YouTube-A Powerful Social Media Platform
YouTube is the second most visited website in the world, after Google. More than one billion hours of videos are watched daily. YouTube, supported by advertising revenue, is free to use and anyone can get an account and upload videos.
Social Media Influencers
YouTube social media influencers upload videos covering a wide array of topics such as beauty, do-it-yourself projects, true crime series and psychology. Anyone with access to technology can upload videos, which has both pros and cons. A pro is that it removes barriers to knowledge because the information is free and readily accessible to the public. For an example, if you need to unclog a kitchen sink, you can watch a video and get tips first before paying for an expensive plumber. Also, successful influencers earn a lucrative living through product endorsements and monetizing their videos. A con is that since the market is saturated with content, you must sift through several videos to find ones that fit your needs.
Dr. Todd Grande
Per the About section on YouTube:
Dr. Grande's YouTube Channel covers topics related to counselor education and supervision including but not limited to mental health, human behavior, relationship dynamics, psychopathology, personality theory, true crime, pop culture, research, statistics, SPSS, Excel, appraisal, and group counseling. Dr. Grande has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (LCDP).
The disclaimer is:
The channel is for informational purposes only. Nothing on this channel is intended to substitute treatment provided by a mental health professional.
Understanding Human Behavior
Dr. Grande's content answers questions to help you to better understand human behavior. Even though, per his disclaimer, the channel is not intended to substitute treatment provided by a mental health professional, Dr. Grande's simplified tactful way of explaining the idiosyncrasies of human interactions add value.
In a previous blog we discussed the concept of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which is illustrated in the diagram below:
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs diagram courtesy of Wikipedia
Human beings are innately motivated to seek opportunities to get their needs met. Basic needs must be met before higher needs are attained. We focus on a higher unfulfilled need once a lower need is met. For an example, once the basic needs of food, water and shelter are met, then the belonging and love needs become a focus.
Informational Healing
Dr. Grande's approach to explain human behavior is very logical. He explains that Person A made Choice B because of Reason C. His explanations are very 'matter of fact' without sugar coating the issues. He often summarizes his videos with a moral of what went wrong, why it went wrong, and what can we learn from it. His videos are appealing because his content is concise and focuses only on pertinent facts. I highly recommend you check out his videos. You will definitely gain beneficial knowledge.
What I have learned from my teachers, including Dr Grande:
Reasons Are Not Always Justifiable
Just because a person has a reason for a choice, does not always make it a rightful choice. The legal system exists to compensate parties hurt due to a breach of contract. Not all promises are kept, which is why the courts are there to make sure that just compensation is fair. However, what happens when you are betrayed in non-legally binding relationships such as friendships and dating? All we can do is learn from our experiences, grow and make wiser choices.
Healing vs Avoidance
Per Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, we are all on a quest to have our needs met, and our needs vary based on our goals. Some people aim for self-actualization, while others seek to only fulfill basic needs. Just because you know the truth, does not mean you have healed. Feelings of disappointment and pain from hurtful experiences are normal human responses. You can watch thousands of YouTube videos or spend hours talking to a therapist and it does not mean that you have healed. What does it mean to heal? I believe healing happens after we accept people and situations for what they are and not for what we want them to be. We understand that we all make choices that we think are best for us, right or wrong. Do not take anything personally.
Avoidance is the opposite of healing when you:
- blame others for your unhappiness
- refuse to look within at your actions
- believe you are entitled to another person's time, energy, etc.
- overindulge in food leading to obesity or alcohol leading to alcoholism
- never learn from your mistakes
Everybody is a Teacher; But Not Everybody Learns
Everybody is a teacher. We learn a fact of life from everyone. Some of the lessons are painful, but they serve a purpose to help you mature. Family teaches you unconditional love. Friends teach you about loyalty. Enemies teach you cannot trust everyone.
We are all on a journey to live our best life and to make the world a better place. Do not take anything personally, and you will be fine.
Every Relationship has a Beginning, Middle and an End
Life unfolds when it is supposed to and not always when it want it to. Life is about change. Some relationships last for a season and others last for years. In order to enjoy life, we must give up the illusion of control. Be open to allow new beginnings, and be open to allow things to end when it is time to let go.
References:
Dr. Todd Grande, courtesy of YouTube, retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/@DrGrande
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs retrieved from Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs#/media/File:Maslow's_Hierarchy_of_Needs2.svg