Your Zen Friend

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen, I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you to relax deeply and feel less stressed. This meditation is ideal to do anytime you wish to feel more relaxed.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of an...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I will share some of the many benefits of group counseling. I'll also talk about why I love running therapeutic groups, how I structure them and why group counseling is especially helpful for kids and teens.  But first I'll tell you what's keeping me from peacefully meditating in my back yard. And it involves two dogs, some birds and a bunny! 🙃 S...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen, I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you to identify where you are people pleasing in your life. And I will help you to set an intention to start caring for yourself and people pleasing a little less.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, ment...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have an interview with Psychotherapist and Coach, Vicki Smith! Vicki specializes in  people pleasing and perfectionism. She also is the host and creator of a fantastic podcast called, Power to the Pleasers. In this interview, Vicki will help us to understand the differences of people pleasing vs just being a nice person in a quiz I give her calle...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen, I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you to identify what you can do to create a summer you'll love.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or me...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I will tell you what I LOVE about summers in New England. I'll include how I embrace summer to create more ease in my life, with my work schedule, the way I dress, meal preparation and more. I'll also tell you how I like to have fun in the summer with family and friends.  As I talk about my love of summer, I'll encourage you to identify what it is...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen, I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you tune into your breath and feel more calm and grounded.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental healt...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have an interview Dorina Leslie! Besides being a super warm and lovely person, Dorina is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Multidimensional Holistic Healer. Dorina will tell us about the different types of holistic healing she is trained in and talk about some of their many benefits. Here are the local providers (Fairfield County, Connecticut) tha...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen, I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you identify what activities are fun for you and how you can have more fun on a regular basis.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please cons...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I will talk about the F word.....FUN! I'll tell you why it's important to have fun, how I put fun into two different categories and how you can identify what's fun for you.    I'll start out by sharing a story about a time in my life when I was not having much fun and how something unexpected changed that for me. It involves Zen Friend to the...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen, I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you identify where you would like help in your life. I will also help you to determine who you can ask for help and how to decrease the uncomfortable feelings that might come with asking for help.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I’ll tell you why it’s so hard to find a therapist with availability right now. I’ll also share the challenges I see kids, teens and families facing in these post pandemic times.  I’ll also give you a little insight into what it has been like for me as a therapist since the pandemic began in March of 2020.  And stay tuned till the end of the episode where I give...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen, I will guide you through a short meditation that helps you to connect with the lessons you have learned from a challenging event or difficult person in your life.  Whether you connect with a past or present challenge, this episode will help you to feel more peaceful and calm.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have an interview with Justin Noppe, a leadership overwhelm coach. Justin will be talking about, "Kinstugi," the Japanese tradition of mending broken pottery. He will share how you can use this concept to heal and grow from the difficult times in your life. But first, have I told you I'm a recovering perfectionist? Well, I am. I&ap...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will share the lessons I learned from working in the restaurant business and how I apply them to my life now.  I was not a very good waitress. From falling down stairs to cutting myself constantly in the kitchen and never being able to properly cash out at the end of the night. But somehow I always felt valued by the restaurant owners.  In this episode I will...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation that helps you to release muscle tension while you visualize lying in the sun on the beach.  This is a wonderful meditation for when you are looking for deep relaxation. Enjoy!  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental hea...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I will share how I view anxiety and one way to begin to decrease anxiety symptoms. My deep dive on anxiety will include: the role the amygdala plays in anxiety what happens when the amygdala senses danger constantly why anxiety often runs in families the roles of nature and nurture underlying medical conditions that cause anxiety symptoms simple ways to begin de...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short meditation to help you honor the caretaker in you.  This meditation is in honor of Mother's Day. This can be a difficult day for many. I hope that you will find peace and love all around you.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis,...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am super excited to have an interview with Brooke Forry! Brooke is the co-host to the Podcast Good Enough-ish, Creative Director of Curious &  Co. Creative and the creator of the Balance Bound Planner.  Brooke and I talk about juggling roles as caretakers and business women. Brooke shares what inspired her to create the Balance Bound Planner and how it can...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode of a Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short meditation designed to help you check in to see how you are feeling about your day. I will invite you to accept that things are the way they are and ask yourself what you need to care for yourself as the day wraps up.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replac...

Send Lauren a text! On this week's episode I will share what it is that my anxiety tells me NOT TO DO!  I'll also share what steps I take to do it anyway. Here's a hint.... it has to do with an upcoming trip to Hawaii!  If you have a fear or anxiety that you would like to overcome, this episode will help you take the first steps to move through it. From creating an outcome picture t...

Send Lauren a text! In this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation designed to help you fall asleep with more ease.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physi...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have an interview with Paul Bright, a certified sleep science coach and creator and host of, "The Why Behind the Z's," podcast.  Before we get to our interview I will share some exciting news about an upcoming interview!  Then Paul and I will talk about: the current sleep recommendations for children and teens, why it's so imp...

Send Lauren a text! In this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short meditation to help you identify how you can meet your own needs at this time.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I will tell you how creating a red tent has been one of the best things I've done to make my 21 year marriage healthier. I will discuss where the metaphor of a red tent comes from and what it looks like to create a modern day red tent. I'll also share what research says about the benefits of having supporting and nurturing friendships in your life.  Bo...