Everyday Therapy

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing continue their holiday stress series by talking about how to manage holiday expectations, including expectations related to spending time with others, finances, and gifts. Listen to find out more about the "broken promises theory" that impacts our mood, how we experience high expectations around the...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss domestic violence and dispel myths and assumptions about what it is and who it affects. Brett will share his training in using the "Duluth Model," a domestic abuse intervention program and an innovative way of holding batterers accountable and keeping victims safe. Listen to find out more ab...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss the relationship between increases in eating disorders in US society and its connection with diet culture. Eating disorders affect more than 28 million people in the US, and diet culture is the best-known environmental contributor to this... but what do we do about it? Listen to find out mor...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss the concept of gratitude in the first part of our "Managing Holiday Stress" series. Did you know gratitude isn't just an action or saying "thank you"? Together we will look at what research says gratitude is, and the mental and physical health benefits of making gratitude an intentional dail...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss the concept of Radical Acceptance along with special guest Dr. Karin Ryan, PsyD.  Dr. Ryan is a psychologist and director at Nystrom's Eden Prairie clinic and has over 23 years of experience working in the field using a variety of evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches. You can also t...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss election stress. The APA has found that every election year, Americans are feeling more and more stressed. This year they found that 76% feel that the election has been a significant source of stress in their lives. Brett and Michelle explore the factors that cause people to experience elect...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss Halloween and why some people seek out fear during the "spooky season." You'll learn the biochemical and emotional factors of fear, the benefits of experiencing fear, and how Halloween can provide safe ways to explore and challenge fears.  Learn more about how watching a scary movie and ridi...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Michelle Iversen is all alone in the studio this week and continuing to talk about psychology in the workplace. Studies show that 7 in 10 employees report the pandemic being the most stressful time in their careers, and more people than ever are reporting experiences with trauma. More organizations recognize their role in helping emplo...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss the idea of finding joy in work and why it is an integral part of our mental health. Studies show that 90% of people expect joy, but only 37% experience it at work. You'll learn more about why there is a disconnect and how to overcome this through "Harmony, Clarity, and Party!". Listen to fi...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Michelle Iversen discusses the therapy technique of Hypnotherapy along with special guest Jamie Houk, LPCC. Jamie is a therapist at Nystrom's Lakeville clinic and has 14 years of experience working in the field. Jamie is certified in multiple areas of expertise, including hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to help clients achieve...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss the condition of Hoarding along with special guest Wade Crandall, LPCC. Wade has worked with people who hoard for the past 13 years in various capacities and is currently a Clinical Site Director of Nystrom's Hugo location. Wade served as the Vice President of the Minnesota Hoarding Task For...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss 4 of the most misunderstood mental health diagnoses: Dissociative Identity Disorder (aka Multiple Personality Disorder), Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Pyromania, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. They will discuss some of the most common misconceptions about these illnesses and how thi...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss different kinds of cognitive bias and how this affects our ability to change the minds and opinions of other people. We will discuss how cognitive bias, confirmation bias, and brain bias reinforces our opinions, inform our decisions, and influences our relationships.  Listen to learn more ab...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss and critique how therapy, mental health issues, and even therapists like us are shown and represented in some of our favorite TV shows and movies.  We will discuss why it can be hard to find accurate representations of therapists in the media. We also discuss some of our favorite examples of...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss Borderline Personality Disorder (both what it is and how someone might know if they have it). Listen to find out more about tools, resources, and strategies to help find relief and fight back against the stigma surrounding Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Do you have feedback or topic...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss how to manage intense emotions, especially when they feel like they are behind the driver's wheel in your life (instead of you!). Michelle and Brett will talk about what intense emotions are, how DBT skills can help manage them when they occur, and how you can help others who might also expe...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing discuss psychosis. Michelle and Brett will talk about examples of how psychosis became stigmatized in media and horror films and the actual reality of what it is like for those who experience it. Listen to learn more about the myths around psychosis, what psychosis is, and what to do (or not do) if...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Michelle Iversen discusses Cannabis and Marijuana along with special guest Cheyenne Fendrich, LADC . Cheyenne has worked in the recovery community for 5 years, was a treatment technician at a women's substance use treatment facility, and is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor at Nystrom's Substance Use Disorder Program. Listen as Che...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing talk about the concept of co-dependency and what it can mean when examining complex relationship patterns. Listen to find out more about warning signs of these relationship patterns, and the new concept of "pro-dependence" when exploring how to help those who are struggling with loving unconditional...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing talk about the concept of self-differentiation, which is all about knowing "where I end, and you begin." You will learn from Brett about knowing who and what you are responsible for, especially when it comes to enmeshed feelings and relationships. Listen to find out more about self-differentiation,...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing talk about depression (both what it is and how someone might know if they have it).  Listen to find out more about tools, resources, and strategies to help find relief and fight back against stigma surrounding depression. Do you have feedback or topic requests? Email us at Podcast@SagentBH.com &nbsp...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing talk about anxiety (both what it is and how someone might know if they have it).   Listen to find out more about tools, resources, and strategies to help find relief and fight back against the stigma surrounding anxiety. Do you have feedback or topic requests? Email us at Podcast@SagentBH.com  ...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Michelle Iversen discusses Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) along with special guest Samantha Huguelet, DNP, APRN, PMH-C . Samantha has been an advanced practice nurse for over 20 years, and has worked in perinatal mental health for the last 12. She developed and has been the director of the Mother-Baby Program at Nystrom f...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing talk about the surprising benefits of boredom, and you will hear how and why more boredom in our lives can actually be beneficial to our focus, attention, self-control and creativity. Listen to find out research into boredom, how technology has impacted our ability to bored, and ideas on how to inco...

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) Michelle Iversen and Brett Cushing talk about self-esteem, and Michelle will engage listeners in different therapeutic activities aimed to help us better understand our own self-esteem and determine what small changes can help improve self-esteem in our lives. Listen to find out more about your self-esteem bucket and how the use of a...