Mind In View

With an increasingly vaccinated population, our thoughts turn towards returning to "normal." But what is normal anymore? What will the world look like? Maybe were feeling safe and comfy all locked up in our homes...we should probably wait a little longer, just in case. In this episode, Thea and Kate explore re-entry anxiety, digging into what feels like real fear versus habits we'd prefer to leave...

"To err is human, to forgive divine..." kind of puts a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the forgiver. What if a situation or relationship is unfixable, unresolvable, unforgivable--how are we supposed to find peace? In this episode, Thea and Kate dive into the idea of forgiving others and ourselves and come to some surprising conclusions. 

Sometimes you just can't get through something without professional help--mental health struggles are no different. In this episode, Thea and Kate discuss their personal relationships with therapy. For Thea, this is a role reversal as she examines her time on the therapist's couch as a patient, "smoking what she sells," as it were.  

How often do you go back to childhood traumas and explore how they affect your feelings today? Probably not too often because it's painful business (and sweaty, sometimes). In this episode, Thea and Kate each revisit a traumatic experience from their youth and consider the behaviors and habits that directly stem from those moments. Then they attempt to make peace with them by speaking to their inn...

Some days you just can't get past your feelings, but you still have to show up. When Thea and Kate logged on to record this pod, they were each struggling through intense emotions. So they decided to dig in--to Kate's intense grief and Thea's frustration and disappointment--and walk through the moment together. 

Why is it that the more we grow and advance, the less worthy we feel to embrace and celebrate our accomplishments? In this episode, Kate and Thea explore Imposter Syndrome and its poisonous effects on our confidence and overall mental health. They share their own personal (and professional) experiences and offer some ideas for re-framing self-perception so we can see the badasses that we really ar...

In the second part of this 2-episode series, pick up where we left off. Kat finishes her incredibly powerful story and discusses aspects of her PTSD and fertility journey with Thea and Kate. *Trigger warnings: infertility, abortion, pregnancy loss.  

As an "owner/operator of a uterus," Kat has survived unimaginable traumas related to body safety, sexuality, and fertility. In this episode, she shares her story--and describes the PTSD she suffers as a result--with Kate and Thea. This is part 1 of a 2 episode series.  *Trigger warnings: sexual assault, infertility, abortion, disassociation, flashbacks. 

Do you find yourself uttering "I feel like I hit my wall" a lot lately, and then...smashing smack dab into another wall? Thea and Kate discuss their own experiences with the overwhelm and hopelessness that seem to be a common theme these days. Hear their tips for focusing and centering, and don't forget that you have company in this confusing, cold, gray, unprecedented Covid winter of our disconte...

How often do you push yourself past feelings of fear to find your bravery within? Probably a lot more than you give yourself credit for. Kate and Thea share their own stories of bravery--of the Everyday, Adventure, and Extraordinary varieties--and offer some tools to help seek and acknowledge our inner badasses. 

We know perfection isn't possible, so why do we chase it? Dr. Jeremy Tyler joins Thea and Kate in a discussion about the trap of perfectionism, how to recognize when we are harming ourselves and our relationships by striving towards unreal standards, and why failing can actually be a pretty good thing (especially when you're belting out Kelly Clarkson songs on karaoke night). This imperfect episod...

Sometimes seemingly innocent interactions or minor setbacks set off emotional tornados in us that we can hardly understand. But if we take a closer look, we'll usually find the source of the storm: a deep pain, insecurity, sadness, or vulnerability. Thea and Kate discuss their own recent spirals and explore themes of self-reflection and feeling hard feelings.

Confrontation is one of life's less than pleasant realities. It's important to communicate when a difference of opinion becomes a barrier--and if you fight fair, your relationships can actually get stronger. Thea and Kate review some suggestions for keeping it above the belt, and how they've implemented these rules successfully (and sometimes not so much). 

What is the purpose of life? How do we know if we're getting it right? Sometimes the idea of prescribed fate can hold us back, keeping us rooted in place for fear of making the "wrong" move or distracting us from being fully present. In this episode, Thea and Kate talk about their own experiences wrestling with meaning and purpose--and why sometimes we need to get out of our own heads.

Do you get bummed out every year following the rush of the holiday season? Kate and Thea sure do...in this episode they discuss their early-winter blues, and why this year feels extra weird and hard. 

Acknowledge. Surrender. Celebrate. Do It Anyway. These are the kinds of intentions that Kate and Thea offer as alternatives to typical New Year's resolutions like losing weight or otherwise correcting a self-perceived flaw. Also, with the year we've all just had, what even are achievable goals? Maybe it's more about how you'd like to shift your perspective to see and embrace the strengths you alre...

What do you carry throughout your life, and how often do you re-assess if it's all still serving you? Thea and Kate examine the metaphor of "what's in your backpack?" to describe the practice of reviewing and re-prioritizing what is useful for us to carry versus what weighs us down unnecessarily.  

Whether the loss is slow and steady or sharp and sudden, it leaves a tremendous burden on those it touches. We are left swimming in big feelings, looking for signs, and questioning the meaning of our lives and choices. Thea and Kate continue to explore grief in this, the second of a two-part episode arc. 

Whether it's the "capital G" Grief of losing close loved ones (as both Thea and Kate have), or the "lower-case g" grief of adjusting to a lifestyle you didn't ask for--and don't particularly enjoy--it's complicated. This is part 1 of a 2-episode arc (FANCY!). 

Surviving the stress of the winter holidays is hard enough without also having to live through a global pandemic. Thea and Kate explore the very normal reactions of anxiety, panic, and frustration, and propose some ways we can try to maybe enjoy these (very weird) holidays anyway...at least a little bit. Or maybe not, maybe just scream it out. 

In this brief introduction, learn the basics: how Kate Brett and Dr. Thea Gallagher know each other, why they started a podcast, and what you can expect. 

It's Thea's turn to tell her story. Learn why she became passionate about mental health, and hear about her path to becoming a clinical psychologist running a best-in-class anxiety treatment program at an Ivy League university health system. 

Get to know Kate better as she shares the story of her journey with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder--from her difficulty being diagnosed to her successful treatment and current advocacy work. Thea weighs in with valuable clinical questions from a psychologist's point of view.