Are you always the one taking care of and fixing problems for everyone else?Today, I'm taking a deep dive into the heart of overfunctioning—exploring why so many of us feel compelled to take on excessive responsibilities, often at the cost of our own well-being. I delve into parentification, which I believe often lies at the root of overfunctioning. I also share how understanding these dynamics through Mel Robbins' "Let Them Theory" can offer powerful insights for change. Whether you're tired of always being 'the responsible one' or you're seeking to understand your deep-seated need to please others, this discussion will clarify the roots of these behaviors and guide you toward a path of healing and freedom.Here’s what we cover:*What is overfunctioning, and how does it impact your life?*How childhood parentification fuels overfunctioning in adulthood*5 clear signs you were parentified as a child*3 practical steps to start healing*How Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory transforms boundary settingHave a question for Dr. Alison? Leave it here.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love: Episode 5: What is Codependency and Why Does it Matter?Thanks to our sponsors: Go to www.organifi.com/bestofyou today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BESTOFYOU and get on your way to being your best self. Go to Quince.com/bestofyou for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Go to puritywoods.com/BESTOFYOU or enter code BESTOFYOU at checkout for an additional 10% off your first order. Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the secret to healing marriage struggles and fostering deep connection?In this heartfelt and incredibly vulnerable conversation, Ron and Nan Deal share their journey of rebuilding a marriage that almost unraveled. Drawing from their new book, The Mindful Marriage, they reveal how understanding and managing your own pain cycles can transform relationships. Whether you’re married, single, or navigating any relationship, this episode offers profound wisdom and practical tools for emotional and personal growth.Episode Highlights:* Explore one couple's journey through shame, blame, and rediscovering connection.* Learn 4 Pain Cycles that disrupt relationships and how to break free from them.* Uncover practical steps to nurture your relationship’s “us-ness” without losing yourself.* Learn what to do when you're willing to do the work—but your partner isn't.Get your copy of The Mindful Marriage here.Take the free assessment Ron and Nan mention in the episode here.For more insights and tools for emotional and relational health, subscribe to Dr. Alison’s weekly email newsletter here.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love: Episode 115: 4 Ways to Transform Your Relationship: Expert Tips to Heal Pain Points and Deepen IntimacyThanks to our sponsors: Go to Quince.com/bestofyou for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Get ahead of the New Year with a routine that helps you now by going to Seed.com/BESTOFYOU and use code 25BESTOFYOU to get 25% off your first month. Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you experience loving attachment when trauma leaves you feeling shattered?In this incredibly profound and insightful episode, therapist and author of the brand new book, Sacred Attachment, Michael Cusick joins us to explore how our darkest moments of brokenness are not just moments of pain, but pivotal opportunities for forming a deeper, more secure attachment with God. Michael shares about his own healing journey as a result of complex trauma, and we unpack how our pain can bring us even closer to encounters with God’s love. Today’s episode is for everyone who has ever felt broken. We discuss. . .*5 way of understanding brokenness (and why the "sin" paradigm falls short)*Why mystical encounters are for all of us*A jaw-dropping moment when Michael experienced God's love*The role of imagination in healing*How to restore exiled and wounded parts of usOrder Sacred Attachment Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love: Episode 16: What are Attachment Styles and Why Does it Matter?Thanks to our sponsors: Go to organifi.com/bestofyou today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BESTOFYOU and get on your way to being your best self. Go to Quince.com/bestofyou for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Anjuli Paschall, a spiritual director and author of 'Feel,' as she dives into the emotional rollercoaster of post-holiday life. She discusses the toll of holiday people-pleasing and shares strategies to reclaim personal boundaries for a more empowered New Year. Anjuli explores why the transition into a new year can be bittersweet and offers practical spiritual practices to navigate complicated emotions. Discover how to cultivate aspirational feelings and move forward with clarity and hope.

Are you curious about how science and spirituality intersect in understanding and treating mental health conditions like OCD?This week, therapist and spiritual director Ryan Kuja shares his incredible journey through the complex world of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). From a young age, Ryan battled intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Feeling isolated and overwhelmed, at 17, he cried out to God—a pivotal moment that launched him into an unexpected exploration of mysticism, neurobiology, and the intricacies of diagnosis. This episode is designed for everyone, whether you or someone you love is dealing with OCD, or you're simply interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the diverse human experience.Here’s what we cover:* Ryan recounts the pivotal moment at 17 when his struggle with OCD drove him to seek divine intervention* The difference between OCD and common intrusive thoughts—what sets them apart?* An overview of the latest and most effective treatments for OCD, from clinical approaches to innovative therapies* Ryan shares the spiritual practices that have not only helped manage his OCD but also enriched his spiritual journeyHave a question for Dr. Alison? Leave it here.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love: Episode 129: Understanding Your Anxiety—A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Calm, Advocating For Yourself, and Cultivating Inner Resilience Episode 51: The 12 Common Thinking Traps, Mind Reading, Mental Filters, and How To Stop Taking Things Personally Thanks to our sponsors: Go to www.organifi.com/bestofyou today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Turn back time on the appearance of your skin with Purity Woods’s Age-Defying Dream Cream. Go to puritywoods.com/BESTOFYOU or enter code BESTOFYOU at checkout for an additional 10% off your first order. Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout. Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/BESTOFYOU and using code BESTOFYOU at checkout. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BESTOFYOU and get on your way to being your best self. Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you move from feeling stuck to finding meaning and healing in your grief?In today’s episode, I’m honored to speak with David Kessler, one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and the author who expanded Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s original five stages of grief by adding a sixth stage: meaning. We explore how common reactions like avoidance, blame, and bargaining are a normal part of the grieving process, and how finding meaning can be a transformative step toward healing. Whether you’re grieving a loss or supporting someone who is, this conversation will help you better understand the continuum of grief and the power of creating meaning.Here's what we cover:* The 5 stages of grief and how different parts of us experience loss* David’s 6th stage of grief and how it developed out of his own story* The most important question to ask someone who is grieving* David’s 7 guidelines for creating meaning after loss* Why grief is intimately linked to joyHave a question for Dr. Alison? Leave it here.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love: Episode 98: I Shouldn’t Feel Alone in My Grief—Why Your Grief Matters & the #1 Most Important Support For Those Who Are GrievingThanks to our sponsors: Go to www.organifi.com/bestofyou today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout. Go to AquaTru.com and enter code BESTOFYOU at checkout to get 20% OFF any AquaTru purifier! Right now get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription - but only for our listeners - at Babbel.com/BESTOFYOU. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BESTOFYOU and get on your way to being your best self. Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation delves into the struggles of the sandwich generation, juggling caregiving for aging parents and children. Listeners learn about managing emotional stress and setting healthy boundaries. The podcast highlights the importance of self-care and offers practical strategies for overcoming guilt. It encourages recognizing unresolved emotions and invites spirituality into daily life as a source of strength. Personal stories and humor add depth to the discussion, making self-care feel relatable and achievable.

Do the holidays bring a mix of joy and complicated emotions for you?We're supposed to feel grateful, and parts of us do. But other parts of us feel nostalgic, driven by guilt, exhausted, or even angry. In this honest, vulnerable conversation, author and spiritual director Anjuli Paschall joins me to explore the emotions that surface during the holiday season. We talk about how to navigate these feelings with grace, and how these emotions can be gifts in disguise. We cover. . .* How to distinguish between true guilt and false guilt* The surprising connection between anger and exhaustion* Why nostalgia can be both comforting and bittersweet* Practical ways to honor all your feelings during this emotionally complex season* Anjuli’s practice of praying through complicated emotions and finding God’s presence in themHave a question for Dr. Alison? Leave it here.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:Episode 30: Protecting What’s Good Without Denying What’s Hard at the HolidaysThanks to our sponsors: Go to www.organifi.com/bestofyou today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Go to thrivemarket.com/bestofyou for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Visit cozyearth.com and unlock an exclusive 35% off with code BESTOFYOU. Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Donna Henderson, a licensed clinical neuropsychologist specializing in autism, shares her expertise on neurodiversity and the intricacies of Autism Spectrum Disorder. She discusses the seven key criteria for identifying autism and the significance of neuropsychological evaluations. Interesting insights include why traditional talk therapy may not address the needs of neurodivergent individuals and how some might exhibit an 'autistic nervous system' without a formal diagnosis. Dr. Henderson also offers practical tips for supporting loved ones, enhancing our understanding of diverse experiences.

Many people struggle with anxiety, and understanding its roots can lead to greater calm and clarity. The discussion covers how genetics, environment, and personality contribute to anxiety. Techniques like cognitive reframing and somatic awareness are highlighted to manage anxious thoughts effectively. High Sensitivity and neurodivergence's unique impacts on anxiety are explored. Listeners gain insights into anxiety's constructive nature, viewing it as a natural stress response while learning to cultivate resilience and set personal boundaries.