Making Smart Choices in Relationships: Dr. Donald Meichenbaum’s Five-Step Plan

E423- INNER VOICE : A HEARTFELT CHAT WITH DR. FOOJAN AND DR. DONALD MEICHENBAUM ON 💔 Choose Him Wisely: Spotting Relationship Red Flags Before It’s Too Late Preventing Abuse, Love Bombing & Coercive Control. Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D., one of the top 10 most influential psychotherapists of the 20th century, joins Dr. Foojan Zeine to share groundbreaking strategies from his latest book, “Choose Him Wisely: How to Identify a Safe Partner.” Together, they dive into the psychology of abusive relationships, how to detect early warning signs, and why even the smartest women fall into toxic dynamics — and how to prevent it. Dr. Meichenbaum, co-founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and former Research Director of the Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention, brings decades of clinical insight. From analyzing real-life cases to teaching women how to assess partners using psychology-backed methods, this conversation is a must-watch for anyone navigating dating, trauma recovery, or therapeutic work. 🎯 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO: The hidden signs of love bombing How to question partners effectively Social media red flags & subtle control tactics The role of jealousy, entitlement, and cultural norms Real-life stories, risk matrices, and partner assessment tools Why intelligence doesn’t protect you from abuse — awareness does Tools to help women make smart, safe relationship decisions ⏱️ CHAPTERS & CLICKABLE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction: Why “Choosing Him Wisely” matters 01:25 - Understanding Love Bombing: Intensity vs. intimacy 04:48 - Common early red flags in toxic relationships 07:30 - Why women ignore gut feelings & early warning signs 10:45 - Love bombing vs. healthy romantic gestures 13:15 - Recognizing patterns of coercive control 16:32 - The psychology behind emotional manipulation 18:10 - The science of questioning: How to ask the right questions 21:02 - Real-life examples: The dinner test & red flag behaviors 25:24 - Observing dominance & controlling behavior in subtle ways 28:25 - Social media sleuthing: Finding hidden truths 30:01 - DUI, substance abuse, and relationship safety risks 31:20 - Trusted friends as witnesses: Why 3rd-party perspective matters 33:07 - The “White Lies” we tell ourselves in bad relationships 34:04 - Debunking jealousy as love: What it really signals 35:38 - Turning arguments into behavioral samples 37:16 - Recap: The red flag checklist every woman should know 39:00 - Mass shooters & interpersonal violence: The link 40:00 - Cultural norms that perpetuate abuse and silence 42:30 - Intergenerational trauma in patriarchal systems 44:00 - Admiration for survivors: Courage in breaking the cycle 45:09 - The role of the MeToo Movement in societal change 46:07 - Final thoughts & blessings from Dr. Meichenbaum 46:56 - Where to get the book: Choose Him Wisely 47:36 - Gabby Petito’s story & its lessons on partner violence 48:02 - Outro: Share, comment, and spread awareness 48:23 - Bonus: Awareness Integration Therapy (A.I.T.) training info 📘 About Dr. Donald Meichenbaum Professor Emeritus, University of Waterloo, Canada Co-founder of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) Research Director, The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention Honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the APA Author of Roadmap to Resilience (FREE online: downloaded in 139 countries) Co-author of Choose Him Wisely (available October on Amazon) 📚 Get the Book 📖 Choose Him Wisely: How to Identify a Safe Partner 🛒 Available on Amazon October 2025 👥 Co-authored with Dr. David Wexler 💡 Features real-life cases (like Gabby Petito) and evidence-based strategies 🧠 More from Dr. Foojan Zeine Licensed psychotherapist, researcher & author Creator of Awareness Integration Therapy (A.I.T.) 🌐 www.Foojan.com 🔔 Like, Subscribe & Share ✅ If this conversation helped you — please like, comment, and subscribe 📢 Share this video with women, therapists, educators, or anyone navigating difficult relationship dynamics 💬 Drop your questions for Dr. Meichenbaum — we’ll share them with him directly!