We are all creating the future version of ourselves every single day. We're either moving toward wholeness—or we're moving toward fragmentation. In this brand-new September series, I'm walking you through the most important steps you can take to cultivate resilience, embrace authenticity, and nurture intimacy.Today's episode kicks us off with an overview of the key challenges we all face throughout the course of our lives. Here's what you’ll learn:1. The 8 challenges we face from childhood to old age2. The #1 challenge most of us are still working to resolve3. Why identity precedes intimacy4. A proven exercise to help you become your ideal selfFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Related Episodes:Episode 55: Am I Supposed to Distrust Myself? Why Trusting Yourself is Necessary to Establishing Healthy Relationships With Other PeopleEpisode 56: Am I Really Supposed to Die to Myself? Misconstrued Messages and How to Disentangle From ThemThanks to our sponsors: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 ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today.Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.Go to www.simplemodern.com/bestofyou and by sharing your email you’ll get a unique discount code just for you or bundle and save for back to school. This should be your go to brand for your family.Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout.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

I absolutely loved this conversation with Alli Worthington. We get so real about the toxic traps all around and how to stay sane as a parent. From "parenting book trauma" to bad advice about friendships, we’ve got you covered.You'll learn practical tips & fascinating research from Alli's new book, Remaining You While Raising Them. Alli’s a business owner, podcast host, and the mom of 6 kids. Here’s what we cover:1. The #1 source of mom guilt2. The most important question to ask yourself each day3. How parenting failures actually help kids4. The surprising research on which relationships are happiest5. Which friends to keep, and which ones to releaseFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Related Episodes:Episode 66: The Truth About Anxiety & How to Become a Worry Free Parent with Sissy GoffEpisode 67: The Link Between Faith & Emotional Healing—Gen Z, College Life, & A Hidden Search for Meaning with Cindy GaoEpisode 65: Vulnerability, Parenting, and Letting Go of Control—Inside A Guy’s Perspective With Our Friends From DadvilleThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Sleep deeply and wake gently with Hatch Restore - go to hatch.co/bestofyou to get $20 off and free shipping! 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 www.simplemodern.com/bestofyou and by sharing your email you’ll get a unique discount code just for you or bundle and save for back to school. This should be your go to brand for your family.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

Today’s episode is straight up 🔥🔥🔥. I got to know Cindy Gao last year, when she reached out to me about an internship. As a student at Harvard College, she experienced a crisis of meaning and found her way to faith—and—to emotional healing. I have loved getting to know Cindy, and I know you are going to love her too.This episode is raw and inspiring. It’s packed with insight into faith, mental health, and Gen Z. Here’s what we cover:1. The phrase Cindy Googled in a moment of desperation & what she found2. What to do—and not do—when a young person expresses interest in faith3. Why emotional healing & faith cannot be separated4. The core belief that almost kept Cindy from faith5. The challenges & longings of Gen ZFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Related Episodes:Episode 66: The Truth About Anxiety & How to Become a Worry Free Parent with Sissy GoffEpisode 33: People Pleasing & Developing Your Own Inner Compass: Thoughts on Depression, Mental Health & the Church, and Finding Hope in Dark PlacesEpisode 27: 7 Ways We Manage Perceptions Instead of Forging Real ConnectionsEpisode 28: The Pain of Performing For Others and How to Claw Your Way Out with Toni CollierThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Go to www.simplemodern.com/bestofyou and by sharing your email you’ll get a unique discount code just for you or bundle and save for back to school. This should be your go to brand for your family.Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use 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

Beloved therapist, Sissy Goff, with 30 years of experience guiding kids and parents, shares tips on anxiety. Topics include: parent's most important job, rising anxiety in kids & parents, 5 parenting traps, parenting superpower, moment of hope in Covenant School shooting aftermath.

Research shows that many men are struggling and not sure how to get support. So I asked our friends from the Dadville podcast to come on and talk about how to encourage the guys in your life! What a joy to host this insightful and fun duo! Jon McLaughlin and Dave Barnes are best known for their careers as musicians and song writers, but on theiroff-time, they encourage and inspire us on their popular parenting podcast, Dadville. You’ll find so much wisdom in this conversation, including: 1. How to find joy in the dream vs. the destination2. Guys and vulnerability3. The true goal of parenting4. Why we all have to face our own blind spots5. A beautiful picture of letting go of control with our kidsFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Related Episodes:Episode 32: Productivity and the Never Ending To Do List: How to Stop Hustling & Embrace the Joy of EnoughEpisode 28: The Pain of Performing For Others and How to Claw Your Way Out with Toni CollierTherapy Adjacent Series:Episode 63: Spiritual Direction, the Power of Listening, & How to Attune to Yourself and to OthersEpisode 64: Women’s Health—Menopause, Hormones, Depression and How to Advocate for Yourself Through Your Body’s ChangesThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.Go to AquaTru.com and enter code BESTOFYOU at checkout to get 20% OFF any AquaTru purifier! AquaTru comes with a 30-day Money-Back Guarantee so if you don’t like it just send it back for a refund, minus shipping. If you've been searching for a better alternative to traditional healthcare and want to take your health to new heights, visit www.WildHealth.com/Premium to apply for membership.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

This episode is an absolute must-listen! If you're a woman journeying through your 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond, or if you're parenting a daughter, you don't want to miss this conversation. We dive into women's health, including menopause, perimenopause, hormone shifts, reproductive health, and ways to empower young women and girls. Dr. Leslie Appiah is a nationally-acclaimed OB/GYN who has helped women and girls for decades. Her practical and insightful approach is such a needed voice for all women. Here’s some of what we cover:1. The impact of hormones on mental health2. How to get relief for perimenopause and menopause symptoms3. When to consider an anti-depressant4. Why your physician might not have a clue 5. How to find one who will!6. How to empower your daughters to live free of body shameFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison or Dr. Appiah?⁠ Leave them here.Related Episodes:Episode 63: Spiritual Direction, the Power of Listening, & How to Attune to Yourself and to OthersThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Go to www.simplemodern.com/bestofyou and by sharing your email you’ll get a unique discount code just for you or bundle and save for back to school. This should be your go to brand for your family.Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout. Head to GreenPan.us and use promo code BESTOFYOU and you’ll receive 30% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER plus free shipping on orders over $99.Go to Reliefband.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU for 20% off plus free shipping.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

Imagine if someone sat with you and listened to you attentively for as long as you needed. That’s what I experienced through a series of spiritual listening retreats. And today, I invited the Rev. Dr. Stephen Macchia and spiritual director in training, Rowena Day to talk with us about the practice of spiritual direction and deep listening as one component of your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. This episode is so rich, so soothing, and so deeply nourishing. As a therapist, I have found spiritual direction to be a powerful part of my own mental health practices. It’s also taught me how to become a better listener in my relationships with others. Here’s what we discuss:1. The deepest need we all have2. How to attune to your own soul 3. The neurobiology of presence4. What to do if quiet is hard for you5. The links between spiritual and mental healthConnect with Dr. Stephen Macchia and Spiritual Formation resources here.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Related Episodes:Episode 31 and Episode 44 with Rowena DayEpisode 36: An Update on My Social Media Detox & How to Create Boundaries With Toxic Distractions, Numbing, & Unhealthy Coping TacticsEpisode 47: Spiritual Bypassing vs. Embodied Faith & How Not to Harm Those Who Are Hurting, Including YourselfThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. If you've been searching for a better alternative to traditional healthcare and want to take your health to new heights, visit www.WildHealth.com/Premium to apply for membership.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. Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to receive UP TO 39%! Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.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

Today we're trying something new! We've gathered up your most-asked questions about friendship and discuss them on the podcast. These are such thoughtful and real questions, and I love thinking through them with you. Here's what we cover:1. The mother wound and female friendships2. Managing expectations through your own healing season3. Assessing trust in a new friend4. Navigating a terminal diagnosis with friends5. What about helping others who can't reciprocate friendship? For communication scripts check out, ⁠⁠check out The Best of You⁠⁠.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Related Episodes:Episode 58: How to Find Friends Who Bring out the Best of You, Why it Matters, and How a Good Friend Can Transform Your Life with Dr. Curt Thompson, Amy Cella, and Pepper SweeneyEpisode 59: Finding Your People, Overcoming Past Hurt, & Deepening Friendships Through Intentional Community with Jennie AllenEpisode 60: How to Make New Friends, Overcome People Pleasing, Identify Red and Green Flags, & Extract Yourself From an Unhealthy Situation with Aundi Kolber and Dr. Monique GadsonEpisode 61: Reconnecting With Old Friends—Healing the Past, Naming Regret & Bringing Your Whole Self into the FutureThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Go to www.simplemodern.com/bestofyou and by sharing your email, you’ll get a unique discount code just for you. Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout.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

This episode is so special! I sit down with my 3 childhood friends, including my older sister, as we describe what happens when you bring your past self into your present. We were close all through high school, but life took us on different paths, to different cities, and through different experiences of faith, marriage, and family life.Over 2 decades later, we reconvened and replayed the tape of our lives—each one of us bearing witness to the other. Today, we share with you what we discovered about the power of reclaiming your past.I pray this episode sparks your imagination and ignites your desire as you consider pulling in old and new friends as companions on your journey toward wholeness. Here's what we cover:1. Why 4 childhood friends reconnected to each other—and our past selves2. How diverse perspectives strengthened, not divided, our rekindled friendships3. Confronting & overcoming regret4. How revisiting my sister’s teen pregnancy became a catalyst for healing5. What we'd each say to our younger selves now.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Related Episodes:Episode 58: How to Find Friends Who Bring out the Best of You, Why it Matters, and How a Good Friend Can Transform Your Life with Dr. Curt Thompson, Amy Cella, and Pepper SweeneyEpisode 59: Finding Your People, Overcoming Past Hurt, & Deepening Friendships Through Intentional Community with Jennie AllenEpisode 60: How to Make New Friends, Overcome People Pleasing, Identify Red and Green Flags, & Extract Yourself From an Unhealthy Situation with Aundi Kolber and Dr. Monique GadsonThanks to our sponsors: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 ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.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

Making new friends is hard as an adult! We’ve been hurt. We’ve changed and outgrown old ways. So how do we find new friends? And how do we learn to trust after trust has been broken? Today, I’m joined by 2 of my new friends, Aundi Kolber and Dr. Monique Gadson, as we discuss how to overcome past hurts and brave the work of finding new friends. This episode is packed with practical tips, and I was so touched by the raw emotion that surfaced at the end as we each reflect on our own experiences.Here’s what we cover: 1. Friendship red flags2. Green flags that indicate safety3. The impact of trauma on friendships4. Breaking free from people pleasing5. How to “break up” with a potential friend6. Is friendship about quality or quantity?Connect with Aundi Kolber and Dr. Monique GadsonFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions about friendship for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Related Episodes:⁠Episode 14⁠: The Fawn Response and the Hidden Root of People PleasingEpisode 33 with Dr. Monique GadsonEpisode 58: How to Find Friends Who Bring out the Best of You, Why it Matters, and How a Good Friend Can Transform Your Life with Dr. Curt Thompson, Amy Cella, and Pepper SweeneyEpisode 59: Finding Your People, Overcoming Past Hurt, & Deepening Friendships Through Intentional Community with Jennie AllenThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Go to AquaTru.com and enter code BESTOFYOU at checkout to get 20% OFF any AquaTru purifier! Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout.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