Therapy Thursday

This episode is different from what we normally do. Instead of sharing a quick therapy tip or insight, I wanted to get vulnerable about what has been going on in my life, to not only shed light on what I feel is an important issue, but also to demonstrate how everyone deals with mental health struggles, and it's okay to be vulnerable about that. 

A common concern for people in therapy is not wanting lose the "real" them, or wanting to find a way back to the "real" them. But what does this actually mean? Is there actually a "real" you in the first place? Let's find out. 

With all the LGBTQ+ related legislation going on, I want to take a minute and discuss what an ally is, and how looking at being an ally as being an accomplice can help create a bigger impact. 

Unfortunately the English language doesn't have a good word for what we mean when we talk about things that are "anti-fragile." So in this episode we explain what we are talking about, and how it impacts our mental and emotional health.

Yes, it's a Taylor Swift lyric, and maybe a bit cliche, but the staggering truth that you are literally the only one of you who has ever and will ever live on the planet has some pretty massive mental health implications to help increase acceptance and self-love and abolish shame.

Although they might seem very closely connected, there is a very important difference between fault and responsibility, especially when it comes to our mental health. 

A lot of people come to therapy hoping to learn how to eliminate pain from their life. That isn't the point. In fact, the very act of trying to avoid, distract, or numb pain is usually what is causing the most pain in the first place.

Driving is a gold mine for metaphors related to mental health, especially because almost every person on the planet can relate to experiences of driving. Lets dive in to a few of them this week, including one of my favorites: driving slow in bad road conditions. 

Our chance to achieve something is directly correlated to our willingness to feel its opposite. Sounds complex, but it's actually pretty simple, and incredibly important to know, so let's break it down.

What? The Anti-Golden Rule? How dare you!? I know, I know. But hear me out. Treating others the way you wish to be treated isn't actually as simple of advice as you might think. Here's why.

In the Season 2 kick-off episode, we discuss what are called "meta feelings", aka feelings about feelings, and how they often get in the way of our mental and emotional health. 

100th episode!!! Let's talk all about fear - where it comes from, what it does in the body, and what we can do about it.

I know this sounds backwards for a therapist to say, but bear with me, listen to the episode and see what you think. Because sometimes the pressure to set resolutions actually does more harm than good. 

Avoid these 3 simple mistakes that a lot of people make when setting their New Year's Resolutions, and you'll be much better off in 2022!

Let's talk about one of our favorite holiday baddies - The Grinch! We give him some possible diagnoses, and discuss how we can all get a bit Grinchy during the holidays. 

A simple shift of perspective can make a world of difference in the way we empathize with others, and even with ourselves!

Where we place our value can have a significant impact on our mental health, specifically whether the value systems are internally or externally focused.

In this viewer-requested episode, we break down the fundamentals of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, why it gets thrown around so wildly, and the oft-misunderstood origins of narcissism. 

We sit down and talk with Calli (from the very popular YouTube show The King of Random) about her mental health journey, including medications, new diagnoses, and how it has impacted her work in the public eye. Enjoy!

Sometimes the absolute hardest people to set boundaries with are our families, and nothing brings out the complexities of family dynamics like going home for the holidays. Use these tips to navigate the often tricky business of setting assertive boundaries with family while still showing love and compassion. 

Whether in wars between nations or battles between people, having a set of ground rules for fighting fair can help any conflict be safer and more productive. The tips in this episode can go a long way to making your arguments less divisive and more constructive. 

Stacey Harkey, the brilliant funny-man who was part of the original cast of Studio C, JK Studios, and on NBC's "Bring the Funny" talks about his experiences with mental health, boundaries, nuance in thinking, and much more. 

Stress does some very interesting and important things on a biological level. Unfortunately, if we sit in the stress for too long, it can start to do damage. 

I work with clients facing a wide variety of addictions, but the most common one is an addiction to validation. In this episode we discuss what that looks like, why it is harmful, and how we can fix it. Originally shared on Instagram on November 4, 2021.

I got to chat with my friend Lauren Hunter about her experiences dealing with mental health concerns, including the process of her divorce, emotionally abusive relationships, finding the right therapist, and learning about being vulnerable.