Life Lived Better

Low energy? Feeling hopeless? Cynical? Maybe even resentful? You could have burnout. Burnout is a form of exhaustion, and it can happen to anyone. It can be caused by constant busyness and prolonged stress. Burnout is often a result of a person's job. Though it is not a formal medical diagnosis, it definitely can affect mental and physical health.  Joseph and Paula take a look at burnout - th...

No matter which you celebrate, we wish you the warmest of winter holidays! You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: www.lifelivedbetter.net. Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individu...

Annoyed? Feeling rage? Many people see anger as a negative emotion. But actually, anger is a normal emotion we all experience. It ranges in intensity – slight annoyance to rage. Anger can act as a barometer letting us know something needs to change or be addressed. Joseph and Paula dive into the emotion and its nuances.  You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: www.li...

Have you ever considered what makes you who you are and how you became that way? What is the reason for your beliefs? Your likes and dislikes? Your perceptions and values? Joseph and Paula tackle the existential question, Who Am I? on this issue of Life, Lived Better.  If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reac...

What is regret and is it normal? What role does it play in your life? Is it helping you or hurting? Joseph and Paula will address regret and how to allow it to benefit you during this episode. If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at www.lifelivedbetter.net or email them directly a...

We want to take a minute to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.  We will be back December 8 to begin Season 3.  Until then, don't forget, that knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.  Warmly,  Joseph and Paula  www.lifelivedbetter.net

After 40 episodes, Life Lived Better is wrapping up the second season. Paula & Joseph talk about their favorite episodes of the season and give a brief preview of episodes to come in Season 3!  We will return with an all new episode on December the 8th!  Happy Holidays!   If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free...

Joseph and Paula are excited for a new round of Questions for Counselors! There are a few professional and some personal questions on the agenda in this episode. Do you think everyone should consider going to counseling? How do you know when it is time to terminate counseling? These are only two of the questions addressed in this episode. If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to...

he hosts are glad to be back with a new episode this week. They will be talking about Enabling, a listener suggested topic.  Enabling occurs when you provide a person something they could provide themselves. Joseph and Paula share signs of enabling, what is wrong with enabling, and how to stop.  You can find information from this episode on Paula's Blog at PaulaHellerGarland. BlogSpot.com  You...

Back this week after being out, Joseph and Paula give a heartfelt personal update. This episode is dedicated to Joann Massey, a beautiful life that was well lived. You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: www.lifelivedbetter.net.   Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not...

September marks  National Recovery Month.  The tagline, “Every Person, Every Family, Every Community,” emphasizes that recovery is possible for all Americans. Treatment can save a life and can help people struggling with substance use disorders by counteracting addiction’s powerful effects on their brain and behavior. The overall goal of treatment is to return people to productive functioning in t...

Joseph and Paula are back this week with a listener favorite…Questions for Counselors! Is trauma and addiction linked? Does gardening improve the odds of a person staying in recovery from addiction? How can I achieve work-life balance? Joseph and Paula address these and other questions during this episode. If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Quest...

Joseph and Paula are back with Part 2! This time they address Having Healthy Relationships . This episode will give you great tips and tools, and of course, a glimpse inside the wild world of our co-hosts lives and minds. Travel there with caution.  If you or someone you know needs help, the National Domestic Violence Hotline phone number is 1-800-799-7233. If you have a question, you would like J...

Heads up! We are talking about Toxic Relationships. Shaming, blaming, isolating...just a few of the things you might find in a toxic relationship. Paula refers to them as "Poisonous Pairings" and Joseph tells you when you need to run the other way. The topic is complex, so it is broken into two parts. This episode discusses the often-subtle red flags to be aware of.  If you or someone yo...

Get off my lawn! We have been promising this episode since we started and here it is - Aging! What happens as we age? Joseph and Paula tell us what changes, what gets better, and how some of the changes feel. Paula has a lot to say on this topic…and a few feelings to share. If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to...

We have all heard #Adulting on social media, right? Well, what exactly does it mean and how do you know if you are truly #adulting? Joseph and Paula share a funny quiz you can answer to determine if you are doing it and they also talk through the tenets of daily-basis-adulting. Listen to this entertaining episode to laugh, relate, and walk away with a few tips.  If you have a question, you would l...

We hear the word “trauma” more now than before, but do we understand the reason? Joseph and Paula define trauma, the symptoms, and how it effects each person differently.  Trauma occurs when a person experiences a distressing event or series of events, including rape, combat, natural disaster, or other significant events. You can find additional information and the questionnaire on Adverse Childho...

Feeling suffocated? Intruded upon? You may be having your boundaries violated. In this episode, Joseph and Paula talk about boundaries - what they are, the reason they are needed, and how to set them.  If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at www.lifelivedbetter.net or email them d...

Did you know that self-esteem is subjective, not factual? Joseph and Paula discuss the common areas of self-esteem, which include intelligence, career, physical abilities, and physical appearance and how our esteem is often associated with anxiety, depression, addiction, and healthy or disordered eating. If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questio...

Resilience is about bouncing back after a difficult time. Paula says it is like a rubber band - stretching or even being pulled in many directions but being able to spring back to your original form. Joseph did some research and offers some great tips and tools on developing resilience.  If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors...

Is there a special certification for therapists who have therapists as clients? As a counselor, how do you deal with your own mental health? Does going to therapy feel redundant for you? What are a counselor's ultimate goals with a client? Why does addiction counseling require a person to first admit they have a problem? Are just some of the questions on this episode. Listen to the answers giv...

The Uvalde school shootings, the shootings in Philadelphia during fireworks show, and in Illinois during a 4th of July parade. The Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, followed by the clarence Thomas statement that he was not finished with overturning laws. The chaos these events have left us in and the hatred and vitriol occurring around us daily can be more to deal with than w...

In this episode, we finish up our conversation with Collier Landry. We were privileged to have Collier Landry join us on the podcast. You might know Collier from the documentary, originally aired on ID TV and now on Prime, called A Murder in Mansfield . Collier was the main subject of that documentary. At 11-years old, Collier was witness to the murder of his mother and at 12 he testified for the...

We were privileged to have Collier Landry join us on the podcast. You might know Collier from the documentary, originally aired on ID TV and now on Prime, called A Murder in Mansfield . Collier was the main subject of that documentary. At 11-years old, Collier was witness to the murder of his mother and at 12 he testified for the defense against his father. His father, Dr. Jack Boyle was convicted...

June is Pride 🏳️‍🌈 month! The 1969 Stonewall Riots were not so long ago. Though they are known to be the watershed moments leading to LGBTQ rights, we still have a long way to go. In this episode, Joseph talks about coming out and Paula discusses being an ally. If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out t...