Stuff My Therapist Says

Undoubtedly, at one point in your life, you've found yourself in the middle of a situation where lack of communication caused undue stress. Whether the communication gaps came from your side of the table, from others you were interacting with, or from everyone involved collectively, one thing was clear: poor communication led to insufficient outcomes. Effective communication is a powerful too...

If you go back in the archives of this podcast, you'll discover a truly insightful and inspirational conversation with the one and only John Purkiss, the author of The Power of Letting Go . John's bestselling book takes an in-depth look at what happens when you finally let go of past trauma and make real, intentional steps forward in your life. This vast improvement on your mental health...

Undoubtedly, there's been a point in your life where you've looked out the window and said to yourself, "Why am I not outside right now?" You may even be saying it to yourself right now. 🙂 The great outdoors serve as a natural elixir that can play a significant role in maintaining and improving your mental health. Spending time outdoors and in nature can lead to stress reducti...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm. These days, it's nearly impossible to go online and not find an advertisement or someone talking about the benefits (or detriments, depending on who you listen to) of AI software. But how does AI and other evolving technologies impact the mental health world? Can it help a clinician with their efforts? Can it provide early detection (...

Have you ever stopped to consider the type of role mental health plays in a workplace environment? With all we know about emotional well-being and a person's mental state on their productivity, it's amazing that positive mental health hasn't received much attention until today.  And, in the case of some companies, it's still overlooked or undervalued. Prioritizing mental health...

Supporting the mental health of essential workers plays a crucial role in ensuring their overall well-being and resilience. Workers such as healthcare professionals and emergency responders often face high levels of stress, burnout, and trauma due to the demanding nature of their work. Providing effective mental health support can help them cope with these types of challenges and prevent potential...

Mental health plays a critical role in the active dynamic of family life. It impacts the overall well-being and functioning of each family member, as well as the family unit as a whole. Good mental health promotes positive relationships, effective communication, and a supportive environment. When individuals in a family experience challenges regarding mental health, it can cause a significant stra...

Teletherapy, also known as online therapy or e-therapy, is a form of professional counseling that takes place remotely through digital communication tools including video calls, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It offers individuals the opportunity to access therapy services from the comfort of their home or any location where they can access the internet. This form of therapy has become highl...

Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic used to make someone question their own thoughts, feelings, and reality. It involves distorting the truth, denying facts, and undermining the victim's perception of events.  In terms of emotional manipulation, a gaslighter seeks to gain power and control over their victim. They may employ techniques such as belittling, criticizing, and insulting the victim...

Often times, it can be difficult to strike a positive relationship with money. You may believe once you have an enormous amount of it, all your problems will be solved. But, in most cases, that's simply not the case.  You may feel a sense of responsibility to help everyone around you because you have the means to do so. And while being charitable has its advantages, it's important not to...

In every aspect of life, being authentic is the only way to fly. If you try to fake it, put on a facade, or carbon copy exactly what others are doing, you put distance between yourself and who you really are. It may seem like a better choice to project a false image to the world in hopes of attracting new clients, new relationships, and new opportunities. But in the long run, it takes MUCH more ef...

Stress is inevitable. Especially in the workplace. At some point, it's going to creep into your life and it's important to recognize the signs early and manage stress levels so they don't overtake your day-to-day activities. If you've been feeling overwhelmed by stress in your work environment, you've found this podcast at just the right time! In Season 2 Episode 8 of Stuf...

Self-limiting beliefs are false theories that prevent you from pursuing goals and desires. They keep you from doing important personal and professional initiatives, such as applying for your dream job, finding the relationship you want, or the leaving the one you don't. These beliefs also keep you from doing unimportant things, like going to a concert by yourself or having a naked dance party...

Anxiety can have a major toll on your day-to-day life. Even the most routine task can go awry if you're plagued with the overwhelming feelings of stress, worry, and fear that fuel anxiety and throw you off course. Fortunately, we've got some solutions for you! On Season 2 Episode 6 of Stuff My Therapist Says, Sara Makin and Makin Wellness outpatient counselor and clinical support special...

Grief is a deep emotion that occurs as a response to the loss of a loved one we shared a bond or affection with. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the lives of people around the world, leading many to seek and obtain help to cope with the rollercoaster of emotions they experienced through unpredictable times.  The stages of grief is a model that exemplifies a series of emotions you...

The 5 Love Languages are five very different ways of expressing and receiving love. Because we are all individuals and communicate differently, the way we express and receive acts of love can vary. The myriad of interpretations that result can sometimes lead to conflict in our relationships, but having clarity on the 5 Love Languages can help those types of miscommunication be avoided On Season 2,...

Your identity plays a critical role in how you think, how you feel, and how you behave. If you wrestle with who you are and what you stand for, those feelings of doubt and confusion can have a significant impact on your overall mental health and well being. On Season 2 Episode 2 of Stuff My Therapist Says, Sara Makin is joined by Makin Wellness  outpatient therapist Kelsey George for an in-depth c...

Social media has become a staple of our everyday lives. It's how we stay up to date with current events. It's how we connect with loved ones. It's how we communicate with our customers. The numerous social media platforms found across the World Wide Web offer an array of positive benefits...as well as some negatives. In order to accentuate the positives and stave off the negatives,...

The wait is over! Season 2 of Stuff My Therapist Says (formerly known as The Makin Wellness Podcast) is here and ready for you to consume. I am thrilled to join forces with my team at Makin Wellness to bring you eight powerful new episodes this season! Hit play on this episode and discover what you'll learn throughout Season 2, as well as why we decided to change the name of the podcast after...

As school gets back into swing every Fall, one of the biggest issues children of all ages face is bullying. As the Internet has grown and become a necessity in our everyday lives, cyberbullying has become much more prevalent and its impact reaches to both children and adults. It's an unfortunate epidemic that has traumatic effects on those being bullied, causing severe mental health issues, d...

As we've discussed on The Makin Wellness Podcast on past episodes, social media plays a big role in our lives on a daily basis. As a society, we have become very reliant on these platforms for news, information, and connection to friends, family, and colleagues. In many ways, social media has helped change the world for the better. But, also in many ways, social media has played a negative ro...

In Episode 17 of The Makin Wellness Podcast, I am joined by award-winning author Mark Wolynn for an in-depth conversation on inherited family trauma. Mark share stories of his past battles with these traumas and breaks down insights found in his book, It Didn't Start With You , covering the same subject. What is Inherited Family Trauma? This definition is direct from Mark's website: When...

For years, the therapy setting has had this intimidating, almost uncomfortable image.  Bookshelves piled to the rafters with a library's worth of daunting information and diagnoses. Diplomas and certifications adorning the walls. Therapists decked out in tweed jackets with elbow patches. Patients laying on couches...in some cases, not even looking in the eyes of the person giving them directi...

The world has been changing at a rapid pace. In addition to the stigmas behind mental health slowly being knocked down, the understanding of the positive affects CBD and medical marijuana can have on mental health and overall well-being are reaching new levels of prevalence in today's society. CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis...

Social media has become a staple in our everyday lives. Ask anyone you run into and chances are excellent they just recently spent some time on one of the many social media networks at their disposal. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok...these and many other platforms consume hours of our time and, if overused, can lead to damaging outcomes. Have you stopped to consider the role social media pla...