Therapy Thursday

A liminal zone is a place between places. A transition, or in-between state. They show up in the real world all the time, but can be a real challenge when we face emotional/mental liminal zones. 

It can be a very difficult thing learning we are wrong. Especially if being right plays a big role in how you see your value. So let's examine some of the more lighthearted and simple ways that we have been wrong about things we assumed to be true for years, and how it applies to mental health.

In our first Therapy Thursday bonus interview I got to sit down with my incredibly talented friend Elle McLemore to talk about her journey with eating disorders and self worth while working in the entertainment industry. 

Multiple studies have shown repeatedly how closely our physical health and mental health are associated. But far too often we take care of one while ignoring the other. In this episode we examine what studies say is the best way to get mental health benefits from physical activity.

About a month ago I was fortunate to be a keynote speaker at the Affirmation International Conference. Affirmation is a group helping LGBTQ+ members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints. This podcast contains the audio of my address. Although it is primarily aimed at the LDS/LGBTQ audience, I hope that everyone will find it helpful and insightful as we learn to better understand and l...

Often as people start their therapy or healing journey and begin to separate themselves from unhealthy relationships or systems, they will experience backlash from the people still in those systems. This is a normal part of the growth process, but it can be uncomfortable and scary. 

We throw the phrase "I can't" around far too frequently, when in fact the majority of the time, the things we say that we "can't" do are actually just things that we won't do, don't want to do, or understand will be harmful for us and so choose not to do. And although saying "can't" can help us feel more comfortable, it actually limits our own power. Taking that power back is huge for your mental...

So many clients I meet with are trying to make a change happen in their lives. But far too often they are trying to motivate this change coming from a place of hating themselves or their current situation. Hate is a terrible and weak motivator. Here's why. 

Although a lesson in linguistics may not be what you expect when discussing mental health, there are actually a lot of things we can learn from the way we structure our words and how that makes us view the world.

Developing the skill to have nuance in thinking pays huge dividends in mental and emotional health. And, incidentally, it's important to keep in mind when learning about something as personal as mental health on a platform as broad as social media or a podcast.

There is a crazy paradox in the mental health game, where we find that the more we allow ourselves to let go of control, the more control we actually have. Let's examine why this happens and how you can practice letting go of control. 

If you've listened to past episodes, you've probably heard me talking about how important thought choices are to get the results in life that we want. But how exactly do we choose our thoughts when they seem so automatic and fast? Here is a simple 3 step approach to get started, by checking your E.G.O.

There is something very interesting that happens when a person's vulnerability is made public - whether due to a death, sickness, tragedy, or disaster - we see people rally together to help the person. I believe that we can create that same sense of love, support, community, and belonging, but without the need for tragedy or heartache, by simply choosing to be more public with our vulnerability.

By far one of my most requested topics for episodes is about boundaries. So in this episode we continue the conversation from previous episodes,  and specifically discuss how to communicate healthy boundaries and what to do when those boundaries aren't respected. 

As a therapist with LGBTQ+ clients, and as an LGBTQ+ person myself, I often hear the concern presented (usually by parents) that it's "just a phase." The majority of the time, this is coming from parents or loved ones who are worried about their child/family member, and who only want what is best for them. So let's discuss the implications of what would happen even if something was "just a phase"...

If you've been following the Olympics at all this week, you probably heard about Simone Biles withdrawing from the final events due to mental health concerns. Let's talk about what this means and why it is such a big deal. Follow TJ on Instagram @tjcounseling for more mental health resources. 

Learning how to get curious about our emotions the way a scientist is curious about specimens under a microscope helps us not only understand them better, but actually helps us regain emotional control. 

If you've ever used "reverse psychology," you've been taking advantage of the principle of Psychological Reactance. But what exactly is it, and how can understanding it improve our mental health and relationships? Let's explore! Join me on Instagram @tjcounseling for more mental health content!

One question I've been asked frequently when people are starting their mental health journey is about the difference between a therapist and a life coach, and which one they should go to. So let's take a look! Follow my Instagram @tjcounseling for more mental health and therapy tips!

Have you ever wished you could make something happen by just thinking about it? Well the expectancy effect is probably as close to that real world supper power that you can get, and the crazy thing is we use it every day! Originally shared July 1, 2021 on Instagram @tjcounseling

It might sound too good to be true (because, spoiler, it is), but here are 3 sure-fire, never-fail, guaranteed ways to avoid all current, future, and potential rejection or abandonment! Originally shared June 24, 2021 on Instagram @tjcounseling

In honor of Pride Month, let's talk about three common mistakes I hear people making (with the best of intentions, I'm sure) when a loved one comes out, and three easy positive things you can say instead.  Originally shared June 17, 2021 on Instagram @tjcounseling.

I have a lot of clients coming to me with self-diagnosed "addictions." After digging, I very often find that these are actually just habits. So why do so many people jump to the addiction label, and why does it matter? Originally shared June 10, 2021 on Instagram @tjcounseling.

What does our discomfort have to do with our habits? Well, to put it simply, most of our bad habits are developed to avoid discomfort. So let's talk about why this happens and what we can do about it. Originally shared June 3, 2021 on Instagram @tjcounseling.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is also known as EMDR (and thank goodness for abbreviations, that is a mouthful). It is a very powerful therapeutic modality. If you've had questions about what it is, or been recommended to try it for yourself, here is some helpful information on what it's all about. Originally shared May 27, 2021 on Instagram @tjcounseling.