"Jaxon and the Pharmacist"

Does every responsibility on your plate carry with it an extreme sense of urgency? Are you constantly trying to stay ahead of multiple tasks, with even the smallest of interruptions putting your anxiety into overdrive? If so, all of this may be causing even more problems than the obligations themselves. How can that be managed? Find out here.

Trauma can come in many forms, some of which may surprise you. Recognizing the signs is step number one -- whether that comes from within yourself, or if you suspect it to be an issue for someone you love. How to address and treat it from there is critical. All of that (and more) is covered this week.

We've discussed both toxic negativity and positivity in the past, but what about toxic productivity? Having an enormous work ethic can be a plus to a degree. But when it crosses a particular line, is it perhaps being used to mask or avoid other issues you may be experiencing? There's much in the way of layers for Courtney and Brian to explore here -- including how it may pertain to some of their o...

Unsurprisingly, alcohol intake has been on the increase throughout the pandemic. How much is too much when it comes to said coping mechanisms? If you develop a problem, what's the best course of action to take? And if someone in your life is struggling, how should it be handled on your end? 

There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to depression and anxiety. Some people make mountains out of molehills, while others may make molehills out of mountains. What forms can be both healthy and/or unhealthy, and how is all of it best managed?

You'd like to think the prospect of getting out from under quarantines and lockdowns would be nothing but a good thing. But then again, you might be wrong. The likelihood of the "old normal" becoming the "new normal" again could be jarring to some. And how might changed perspectives since this all began also potentially contribute?

Brian calls it "The Greatest American Hero" effect (Google a description of the old TV show, if need be)! You're presented with tools to do things you never dreamed possible, but if you can't stick to the instruction manual (or even find it, for that matter), none of it will do you any good. Learn here how to be patient, find focus, and stay the course.

There are a million reasons people will give NOT to participate in therapy. And when a loved one tells you she or he simply can't afford to do so, is it possible to have any solutions for that? Find those answers here.

Making a major life move deserves much in the way of reflection in even the best of times. Doing so while in a time of crisis (like say, a pandemic), may perhaps require an even closer look. What is at the root of your decision, and how do you know if it truly is the best thing for you? Courtney and Brian both provide some guidance here.

One of the biggest keys to overall mental health is focusing on, and existing in, the present. But there may be a little bit more to that than meets the eye. How so, you ask? Howard Stern and Jerry Seinfeld just might hold all the answers. Give us a listen to see what we mean.

Few will disagree that the last year-plus has taken a toll on all of us. But are our kids inadvertently getting the message that their generation is experiencing the most trying era in all of world history? How much empathy is too much? What can we do to empower them out of feeling victimized, and into proactively working their way through this?

Just in time for Valentine's Day, let's talk arguin' couples! Disagreements aren't always a bad thing. They can actually be quite healthy. How can we apply learning to "fight the right way" at home in other areas of our everyday life -- like say, on social media, in politics, or within the toxicity of an ever-increasing cancel culture? Put up your proverbial dukes, and open up both of your ears fo...

"It's only a pet," or, "You can always get another dog," may often insensitively minimize what can be a truly traumatic experience for most. What are the best ways to prepare for, and eventually process, the loss of a furry family member? Is professional help commonly a necessary means to achieving this end? And is it healthy or unhealthy to forever dismiss pet ownership as a means of avoiding suc...

The effects of the pandemic on mental health therapy have proven to be significant. The in-person experience has primarily been replaced with video-conferencing and phone-based telehealth appointments. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these dynamics? Has it discouraged or encouraged new patient activity at a time when many might very well need it most? And will it forever change the ga...

The past year has seen much in the way of changes. What have you done from a mental health perspective, if anything, to adjust? Routines seemingly provide much in the way of comfort and safety. But taking the same approach to life in the here and now, as perhaps you were pre-pandemic, most likely hasn't been the best thing for you. Some changes can be good. And as it pertains to any challenge that...

For as important as therapy is, it's not always easy. And when things get especially difficult, the worst thing a patient can do is abandon ship. There are typically 3 options at that juncture -- fight, flight or freeze. We examine each, and lay out how to best work through them all at that critical time.

Coming off of a tumultuous week of politically-charged social unrest, how much do you allow for current events, and news coverage overall, to affect you? How much attention paid is too much? What constitutes reality v. partisan propaganda, ratings-driven agendas, and spin? To what degree are you unnecessarily obsessing over matters of which you have no control? And are you contributing in some way...

Depression comes in many forms, and when it isn't chronic, it may be trickier for a potential patient to recognize, and/or acknowledge. 2020, above all others, may very well have been the year of "situational depression." That can be brought on via the loss one's livelihood, relationship issues, the death of a loved one, loneliness, cabin fever, financial struggles, or any combination thereof. Wha...

It serves as both our goal, and mission statement: eliminating stigmas associated with therapy, in the hopes of convincing reluctant participants into taking that first step. What can you do should you wish to accomplish the same with someone you love? Find those answers here.

2020 has been a year like no other, and many can't wait to hit the reset button for a fresh start in 2021. Given said uncharted territory, in what healthy ways how, and should, New Year's resolutions be viewed and approached differently, as such? 

While certain holiday songs may declare the season to be, "the best time of the year," for a certain segment of society, it can feel like the absolute worst. Complicating matters further for those who are struggling is how alone they often feel in their anxiety, stress and sadness. What can they do to pull themselves out of it, and how should loved ones who are unable to fathom this viewpoint find...

Friendship circles tend to decrease in size over time. From youth through adulthood, quality eventually overtakes quantity. Popularity, wanting to be liked, and what others think typically mean less with age. How much do those with whom you associate impact overall happiness and mental well-being? From family, to coworkers, romantic partners, and pals, what amount of effort is enough before it bec...

Life is a constant battle of processing good vs bad, reality vs denial, all through the filters of both optimism and pessimism. Perhaps the most challenging aspect of said evolution relates to mortality -- not only to that of our own, but also for those of whom we love dearly. How is that best not only confronted and balanced, but also/ultimately, accepted? 

How imperfect is the pursuit of perfection? Is aspiring to, or settling on being average necessarily a bad thing? Can true greatness be achieved by those who don't necessarily/incessantly give it their all? Find out that (and more), here.

In a week that has practically been all about ego (via a polarized nation at each other's throats over the ultimate power position), how can any (or all) of this be used for both good and evil? And what valuable lessons can be learned on that front from the likes of Garry Shandling?