PsycHope Self-Help Podcast

In this PsycHope tradition, Dr. Jennifer McManus honors International Women’s Day 2026 through the theme, Give to Gain. This episode reflects on the meaning of International Women’s Day, women’s mental health, and gender equality, while shining a light not only on public women whose achievements are widely recognized, but also on the quieter, more delicate accomplishments of women that may never m...

When hearts are heavy and the hard updates never seem to stop, self-care can start to feel optional, or even selfish. In this episode, we explore why self-care is a basic human requirement, especially now, and how it protects your peace and capacity to live in alignment with your values. We also share a handful of micro self-care practices you can try right away, including things like news consump...

Happy New Year, and welcome back to a PsycHope tradition! In this episode, Dr. Jennifer McManus shares a values guided approach to New Year’s resolutions, created for anyone who loves the fresh start energy of a new year, but often struggles to get started, or anyone who wants a more meaningful way to set personal goals any time of year. You will learn what values are, why they matter from a psych...

The holidays can be magical and emotionally complex at the same time. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer McManus shares the core themes behind this year’s 12 Days of Holiday Stress Relief: Curated Restorative Practices Collection. You’ll hear about the kinds of holiday stress the collection is designed to support, such as extra demands on your time, difficult family dynamics, mental load, and grief. Yo...

This year’s annual gratitude episode takes us onto a slightly different path, one that goes many layers deeper into a more reflective, meaning-making approach to gratitude. Tune in for a gentle, science-informed exploration for a season that can feel complicated.  Important timestamp markers 11:07: Personal example with discussion of siblings. 14:53: Guidance on how to trace your own Roots of Grat...

Summer might seem like the most carefree season of the year, but from the heat to disrupted routines and workplace demands, it can come with its own kind of stress. In this episode, we’ll explore how your body’s natural DOSE chemicals—Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins—can support your mental and emotional well-being all summer long. Plus, grab your free DOSE Reflect & Respond Check...

Spring is a season of renewal, but for ambitious women juggling careers, family, and personal growth, it also brings unique stressors. In this episode, we’re back with our popular DOSE framework—exploring how your brain’s feel-good chemicals (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins) can help you manage stress around spring holidays, work pressures, spring cleaning, and more. You’ll find gentle,...

In this milestone 50th episode of the PsycHope Self-Help Podcast, we honor International Women's Day 2025 with a special focus on this year's theme: Accelerate Action. Host Dr. Jennifer McManus reflects on the importance of rapidly advancing gender equity, emphasizing the crucial link between women's mental health and systemic barriers. She highlights current statistics, including t...

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer McManus is sharing a gentle preview of the key themes that emerged from the PsycHope Self Love Audio Summit without giving too much away! You’ll hear about the meaningful insights on self-talk, mindfulness, boundaries, and self-compassion—and why you’ll want to hear these summit interviews for yourself. Listen in for a sneak peek and then join the summit to explore th...

Discover how self-compassion and your brain’s natural chemistry work together to support your well-being. In this episode, we’re exploring the DOSE chemicals—Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins—through the lens of self-compassion, uncovering how they enhance motivation, connection, resilience, and stress relief. You’ll hear about simple, science-backed ways to activate these feel-good ch...

Winter can feel long and heavy at times, but there are simple ways to bring more calm, warmth, and balance into your days. In this episode, we’re returning to the DOSE chemicals—Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins—this time to help you relax, boost your mood, and ease stress during these colder months. Whether you love winter or you’re just getting through it, you’ll find refreshing outd...

In this episode, we explore how to leverage the power of your brain’s DOSE hormones—dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins—to set yourself up for success with your New Year’s Resolutions. Learn how these “happy chemicals” can keep you motivated, connected, and on track as you work toward your goals. Ready to dive deeper? Download your free Ground to Set Them, Motivate to Get Them workbook,...

Discover how to bring joy, calm, and connection into your holiday season with the DOSE chemicals: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins. In this episode, we explore festive, stress-relieving activities that naturally boost these happy hormones, from cozy traditions to playful winter adventures. Learn how to create meaningful moments that nurture your well-being and make the holidays truly...

The holiday season is here and with it comes unique challenges many of us face this time of year. In this episode, we’re unwrapping themes from the 2nd Annual 12 Days of Holiday Stress Relief Audio Summit ! Dr. Jennifer McManus shares the most common struggles discussed by this year’s guest experts—topics like difficult family dynamics and the illusion of perfection. This episode also highlights t...

In this episode of the PsycHope Self-Help Podcast, Dr. Jennifer McManus explores how to tap into gratitude when life feels tough. With 2024 being a challenging year for many, practicing gratitude may seem impossible. Dr. McManus shares science-backed strategies to help cultivate gratitude, even in hard times, and addresses the pressure of “should” feelings during the holidays. Need more help navig...

On this episode, you’ll discover how Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins (DOSE) can help you reduce stress and improve well-being. Learn healthy ways to boost these happy hormones while avoiding unhealthy coping strategies. Download your free DOSE Reflect and Respond Checklist and Dose of Fall Inspiration Worksheet that accompany this episode at psychope.com/dose . Self-Help Resources He...

Learn all about the meaningful themes that emerged during the interviews for the Self-Care Road Trip Audio Summit. Details on registering for the summit so you can hear the exclusive interviews are available at https://www.psychope.com/roadtrip Self-Help Resources Head to psychope.com for all of our complimentary self-care and stress relief resources like insight quizzes, worksheets, workbooks, an...

On this episode, we explore the mental health benefits of spending time in nature. We also provide some self-care tips on staying connected to nature as the cooler months arrive. Want to keep the relaxed summer energy going? Then, sign up for the Self-Care Road Trip Audio Summit right here: https://www.psychope.com/roadtrip Self-Help Resources Head to psychope.com for all of our complimentary self...

Tune in to our latest summer vibe type of episode. Today we’ll explore a variety of science-backed mental health benefits we can get from taking a vacation. Plus, we’ll look at how you can still harness some of this vacation goodness even if you’re not planning a dream trip somewhere any time soon. We’ll also consider how crucial paid time off from work is for employees, but also how vacations are...

After a brief hiatus, the podcast is back with a psychodynamic analysis of the Barbie movie! At the time this episode will be going live, it will be right around the one-year anniversary of when the Barbie movie premiered in the US, which was July 21st, 2023. Tune in to hear this psychologist’s analysis of the Barbie Movie. It might not be what you think!  Self-Help Resources Head to psychope.com...

If you are someone who enjoys making commitments to becoming a better version of yourself in sync with the Gregorian calendar, then this episode, which is all about taking a Compassionate Approach to New Year’s Resolutions, might be just what you need to hear this time of year. If you would like to get your free copy of Ground to Set Them, Motivate to Get Them: A Workbook for New Year’s Resolution...

Earlier this holiday season, I had the distinct honor of interviewing 12 compassionate women, all thought leaders with a background in psychology or mental health on how they see stress impact the women they serve over the holidays. Plus, I was sure to ask about all of their self-help tips for navigating the many different forms that holiday stress can take.  On this episode, I share some of the t...

On this milestone episode (the first show since we turned 1 year old!) the podcast brings you our first guest expert interview. We are honored to be joined by Dr. Sierra Trainor, a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida who also provides tele-psychology in PsyPact participating states . She specializes in pet grief and loss and will be sharing her expertise with us.  Here are some of the ar...

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, a holiday all about giving thanks, the PsycHope Self-Help podcast wants you to know there are some impressive psychological and other health benefits connected to feeling grateful and expressing our appreciation to others. Tune in to our latest episode to hear highlights on the science of gratitude plus gets some helpful tips on bringing more gratitude into your dai...

On this episode, the podcast wraps up our in-depth exploration of one of the biggest stressors for women: work stress. This focus on work stress concludes with a journey down the final path through work stress, the Harmony Path. Women on the Harmony Path can experience any combination of struggles from the first three paths. The essence of stress relief on the Harmony Path is about joining stress...