Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

**Summary: How Schema Affect Anxiety and Depression by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes**[Watch the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8SL2ZbWVFE)**Outline Summary:**1. **Introduction**  - Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  - Topic: How Schema Affect Anxiety and Depression  - Objectives: Define schema, explain formation, discuss inaccuracies, and identify strategies to address unhelpful schema2. **Understanding Schema**  - Definition: Mental representations or beliefs about people or events  - Examples: Traffic lights, doctor visits, job interviews, news media, flu season, stock market  - Function: Help anticipate and interpret future situations3. **Formation of Schema**  - Based on interpretation and memories of experiences  - Influenced by age, prior experiences, cognitive development, and metacognition  - Example: Childhood experiences with a teacher or parent4. **General Categories of Schema**  - **Security and Abandonment**: Safety in relationships and self-worth  - **Trust and Safety**: General trustworthiness of others  - **Emotional Support vs. Deprivation**: Support in managing emotions  - **Self-Determination**: Control over life and vulnerability  - **Positivity vs. Negativity**: Optimism vs. pessimism  - **Acceptance vs. Hypercriticalness**: Self-acceptance vs. self-criticism  - **Competence vs. Defectiveness**: Capability vs. feeling broken  - **Independence vs. Dependence**: Reliance on others  - **Belongingness vs. Alienation**: Sense of fitting in vs. rejection5. **Impact of Schema on Anxiety and Depression**  - Negative schema lead to feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and anxiety  - Positive schema promote feelings of safety, empowerment, and self-worth6. **Adjusting Outdated or Inaccurate Schema**  - Schema may be outdated or based on inaccurate interpretations  - Recognize and update schema based on current facts and experiences  - Example: Adjusting schema about medical conditions like cancer or HIV7. **Strategies to Address Unhelpful Schema**  - **Identify and Evaluate Current Schema**: Understand thoughts contributing to distress  - **Address Cognitive Distortions**: Overgeneralization and personalization  - **Explore Schema with Fresh Eyes**: Re-evaluate old situations  - **Schema Restructuring**: Develop new, healthier schema  - **Notice and Focus on Positives**: Encourage a balanced view8. **Practical Application**  - Consistency and predictability in caregiving  - Emotional and cognitive responsiveness  - Acceptance, attention, and validation  - Safety and support in solution generation**Time Codes for Major Points:**0:00 Introduction by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes2:45 Understanding Schema7:30 Formation of Schema15:20 General Categories of Schema23:40 Impact of Schema on Anxiety and Depression33:10 Adjusting Outdated or Inaccurate Schema41:50 Strategies to Address Unhelpful Schema54:30 Practical ApplicationFeel free to ask if you need further details or a more in-depth explanation on any part of the video! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Summary: Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes**[Watch the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEDayQBJXkA)**Outline Summary:**1. **Introduction**  - Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  - Topic: Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)  - Objectives: Understand PAWS, its causes, and coping strategies2. **What is PAWS?**  - Definition: PAWS stands for Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome  - Affects people who have engaged in addictive behaviors  - Results from brain changes due to substance use  - Duration: Can last up to a year or more after acute withdrawal3. **Factors Influencing PAWS**  - **Substance Use History**: Length and intensity of substance use  - **Age of Onset**: Younger users have more significant brain changes  - **Gender Differences**: Affects men and women differently  - **Physical and Mental Health**: Poor health and underlying mental issues exacerbate PAWS4. **Causes of PAWS Symptoms**  - Memories of substance use trigger cravings and irritability  - Neurochemical changes: Altered dopamine, glutamate, and monoamine oxidase levels  - Detoxification effects: Opposite symptoms during detox compared to substance use5. **Common Symptoms of PAWS**  - Emotional outbursts or lack of emotion  - Anxiety, irritability, depression, and anhedonia  - Difficulty dealing with stress and fatigue  - Sleep disturbances and strange dreams  - Cognitive impairments: Memory problems, difficulty making decisions6. **Coping Strategies for PAWS**  - **Meditation and Breathing**: Helps modulate HPA axis response  - **Support Systems**: Engage sober social supports  - **Exercise**: Improves stress tolerance and brain health  - **Sleep Hygiene**: Ensure regular sleep patterns and quality sleep  - **Awareness and Mindfulness**: Regular check-ins on emotional and physical state  - **Pleasurable Activities**: Increase dopamine and other positive neurochemicals  - **Healthy Eating**: Provide the body with necessary nutrients  - **Relaxation Techniques**: Promote secretion of calming neurochemicals like GABA7. **Long-term Recovery and PAWS Management**  - Expect PAWS symptoms for at least the first year  - Integrate recovery with stress minimization  - Gradual rebalancing of brain neurotransmitters  - Maintain a plan for handling PAWS symptoms**Time Codes for Major Points:**0:00 Introduction by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes2:30 What is PAWS?7:15 Factors Influencing PAWS12:00 Causes of PAWS Symptoms20:00 Common Symptoms of PAWS27:45 Coping Strategies for PAWS40:00 Long-term Recovery and PAWS ManagementFeel free to ask if you need further details or a more in-depth explanation on any part of the video! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Summary: Breaking Free from Quick Fixes - Healing Deep Wounds for Good by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes**[Watch the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZR-UqWpVgE)**Outline Summary:**1. **Introduction**  - Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  - Topic: Breaking free from quick fixes and healing deep wounds  - Objectives: Discuss quick fixes, their problems, the impact of deep wounds, and healing strategies.2. **The Allure and Problem of Quick Fixes**  - Quick fixes are often superficial and temporary.  - They fail to address the root causes, leading to recurring issues.  - Example: Using antacids for stress-related GI distress without addressing the stress.3. **Impact of Deep Wounds**  - **Physical Impact**: Alters brain structure and neurotransmitter balance.  - **Interpersonal Impact**: Affects ability to trust others and lowers self-esteem.  - **Emotional Impact**: Causes anger, anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation.  - **Cognitive Impact**: Leads to negative beliefs about oneself and the world, overgeneralization, and unfiled traumatic memories.  - **Environmental Impact**: Triggers through associated sights, sounds, and smells.4. **Strategies for Healing Deep Wounds**  - **Recognizing the Impact**: Understand the effect of wounds on brain, energy, and health.  - **Reducing Stress**: Physical and emotional stress reduction through sleep, nutrition, pain management, and relaxation.  - **Managing Emotions**: Downregulate emotions to engage the wise mind, using techniques like deep breathing, guided imagery, and support systems.  - **Distress Tolerance**: Develop skills to tolerate distress without resolving underlying issues, e.g., shifting focus, physical activity, and alternate thoughts.5. **Understanding Emotions and Triggers**  - **Identifying Emotions**: Understand that anger and anxiety signal potential threats, not actual problems.  - **Evaluating Emotions**: Assess the facts and context of emotional responses.  - **Exploring Deep Wounds**: Validate past feelings and reframe beliefs with a mature perspective.  - **Addressing Cognitive Distortions**: Identify and challenge thoughts stemming from deep wounds.6. **Creating a Healing Plan**  - **Downregulating Emotions**: Use tools to manage emotional intensity.  - **Examining Beliefs**: Re-evaluate beliefs in the current context and find alternative explanations.  - **Healing Over Time**: Recognize that healing is a gradual process requiring focus and energy.**Time Codes for Major Points:**0:00 Introduction by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes2:30 The Allure and Problem of Quick Fixes6:45 Impact of Deep Wounds13:00 Strategies for Healing Deep Wounds20:15 Understanding Emotions and Triggers29:10 Creating a Healing PlanFeel free to ask if you need further details or a more in-depth explanation on any part of the video! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Summary: Ending a Relationship When You’re Anxiously Attached by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes**[Watch the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS53N-Evz4Q)**Outline Summary:**1. **Introduction**  - Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  - Topic: Ending a relationship when you’re anxiously attached  - Definition of anxious attachment2. **Characteristics of Anxious Attachment**  - Need for relationships to feel safe  - Fear of rejection and abandonment  - Fight or Fawn response to stress  - Dependence on others for validation  - Difficulty setting and maintaining boundaries3. **Causes of Anxious Attachment**  - Poor child-caregiver relationships  - Trauma and unpredictability in early life  - Experiences in significant relationships4. **Challenges in Ending Unhealthy Relationships**  - Feeling like a failure  - Opening old wounds from past relationships  - Confusing self-worth with relationship success5. **Steps to Begin Healing**  - Motivational interviewing and decisional balance  - Identifying benefits and drawbacks of the relationship  - Exploring alternative ways to meet needs6. **Addressing Unhelpful Thoughts**  - Cognitive distortions: All-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, minimizing, personalizing, mind reading  - Listing needs the relationship is supposed to fulfill  - Identifying and challenging beliefs about the relationship7. **Creating a Safety Net and Relapse Prevention**  - Establishing boundaries and support systems  - Practicing mindfulness  - Focusing on progress rather than perfection8. **Emotional Responses and Coping Mechanisms**  - Recognizing and addressing feelings of grief and loss  - Having self-compassion  - Engaging with support systems to prevent relapse**Time Codes for Major Points:**0:00 Introduction by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes2:15 Characteristics of Anxious Attachment9:45 Causes of Anxious Attachment15:30 Challenges in Ending Unhealthy Relationships20:50 Steps to Begin Healing28:10 Addressing Unhelpful Thoughts35:40 Creating a Safety Net and Relapse PreventionFeel free to ask if you need further details or a more in-depth explanation on any part of the video! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes, a seasoned clinician and mental health advocate, delves into the hidden emotional toll of goal setting. She explains how expectations can trigger feelings of depression and anxiety, driven by fears of failure and reminders of past setbacks. Dr. Snipes emphasizes the importance of creating realistic, manageable goals using the SMART criteria. Listeners learn to navigate emotional challenges by breaking goals into smaller steps, celebrating achievements, and practicing self-compassion on their journey to success.

**Summary: Complicated Grief and Attachment by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes**[Watch the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0duJ33ymig)**Outline Summary:**1. **Introduction**  - Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  - Topic: Complicated Grief and Attachment  - Objectives: Define complicated grief, explore the overlap with trauma, identify risk factors, and explore tasks for successful grief resolution.2. **Definitions**  - **Loss**: Change that includes being without someone or something, focusing on primary attachment relationships.  - **Secondary Loss**: Results from a primary loss, e.g., emotional unavailability of a caregiver due to substance abuse or depression.  - **Grief**: Reaction to loss encompassing physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual dimensions.  - **Trauma**: Any situation causing extreme distress, not necessarily PTSD-level.3. **Primary Attachment Relationship**  - Forms between 0-18 months, critical up to age 5.  - Disruptions can have lasting psychological and physical effects.  - Quality characterized by trust, safety, and security.4. **Impact of Early Attachment**  - Influences social and emotional outcomes.  - Predicts future interactions and relationships.  - Secure attachments help children feel loved, accepted, and valuable.5. **Effects of Technology and Modern Parenting**  - Increasing emotional unavailability due to technology.  - Shift in family dynamics with daycare and dual-working parents.  - Importance of being emotionally and cognitively present.6. **Consequences of Attachment Disruption**  - Anxiety, irritability, and sleep disturbances.  - Difficulty forming future relationships and managing emotions.  - Potential for cognitive and learning disruptions.7. **Reconciliation Tasks**  - Acknowledge reality of the loss.  - Develop new self-identity and intimate relationships.  - Enhance emotional balance, confidence, and self-esteem.8. **Intervention Strategies**  - Mindfulness and distress tolerance skills.  - Encouragement of supportive adult attachments.  - Support for parents and screening for postpartum depression.**Time Codes for Major Points:**0:00 Introduction by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes3:15 Definitions of Loss, Grief, and Trauma12:30 Importance of Primary Attachment Relationship22:45 Impact of Technology and Modern Parenting34:50 Consequences of Attachment Disruption48:20 Reconciliation Tasks and Intervention StrategiesFeel free to ask if you need further details or a more in-depth explanation on any part of the video! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes discusses trauma recovery and resilience, covering topics like intergenerational trauma, risk factors for PTSD, signs of resiliency, cognitive distortions, and strategies to enhance resiliency. The podcast emphasizes the importance of secure attachment, distress tolerance, positive self-talk, problem-solving skills, and addressing developmental considerations in trauma recovery.

### Summary of the Video#### Introduction- Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes- Topic: Understanding Anxiety Through a Child's Eyes#### What is Anxiety?- Anxiety is essentially fear, part of the fight-or-flight response.- Children and adults share similar fears but children may have broader fears due to less life experience.#### Common Fears in Children- Death and safety concerns, not only for themselves but for their caregivers.- Fear of rejection, isolation, and abandonment.- Anxiety about the unknown and loss of control.#### Developmental Impact on Anxiety- Children’s fears are influenced by their developmental stage.- Younger children have stronger emotional responses due to underdeveloped reasoning areas in the brain.- Children often exhibit more somatic symptoms and behaviorally express their anxiety.#### Symptoms of Anxiety in Children- Increased sensitivity and irritability.- Behavioral changes such as meltdowns, compulsive behaviors, and avoidance.- Physical signs like headaches, stomach aches, restlessness, and sleep disturbances.- Cognitive symptoms like excessive worry and difficulty concentrating.#### Misdiagnoses- Anxiety can be mistaken for ADD, autism spectrum disorders, PTSD, and depression.- Differentiating anxiety from other disorders is crucial for effective treatment.#### Interventions for Managing Anxiety- Establish a secure attachment and consistent mindfulness of the child's emotional state.- Use empathy and validation to encourage open communication.- Teach distress tolerance and mindfulness techniques.- Provide structure, predictability, and clear expectations to reduce anxiety.- Encourage positive self-talk, visualizations, and support networks.#### Addressing Cognitive Distortions- Help children identify and challenge all-or-nothing thinking, personalization, and magnification.- Encourage factual analysis and identification of exceptions to anxious thoughts.#### Developmental Considerations- Infants and toddlers require responsive caregiving to build trust and security.- Preschool and school-age children benefit from structured environments and clear communication about plans and expectations.- Older children and adolescents need support in developing identity and understanding complex emotions.### Time Codes for Major Points0:45 Introduction and importance of understanding anxiety in children4:15 Explanation of common fears and their developmental context15:30 Symptoms of anxiety in children and how they manifest24:50 Misdiagnoses and differential diagnosis considerations33:40 Interventions for managing anxiety and establishing secure attachments47:10 Addressing cognitive distortions and developmental considerationsFeel free to ask for more details or a deeper explanation on any part of the video! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the transformative power of envisioning a meaningful life during recovery. Learn how daily guided imagery can keep motivation high and help navigate challenges. Discover practical goal-setting techniques across physical, emotional, and cognitive health. Find out how to identify actions that enhance well-being, like quitting unhealthy habits and managing stress. This insightful discussion emphasizes resilience and the importance of having a clear vision for a fulfilling future.

### Summary of the Video#### Introduction- Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes- Topic: Moving from supportive to solution-focused interventions, primarily with children and adolescents.#### Differentiating Interventions- Supportive Interventions: - Grounded in empathy - Aim to help individuals survive the moment and return to emotional regulation - Analogous to plugging a hole in a sinking ship temporarily  - Solution-Focused Interventions: - Aim to help individuals move from surviving to thriving - Focus on long-term solutions and prevention of future issues#### Supportive Interventions- Establish rapport and validate feelings- Techniques include active listening, radical acceptance, and distress tolerance activities- Help individuals re-regulate emotionally and return to their baseline state#### Examples of Supportive Interventions- Active listening- Radical acceptance: Encouraging acceptance of reality to reduce distress- Distress tolerance activities: Techniques to help manage immediate emotional distress#### Transition to Solution-Focused Interventions- Requires the individual to be emotionally regulated and ready to problem-solve- Involves identifying problems and hoped-for resolutions- Encourages brainstorming and implementing practical solutions#### Solution-Focused Techniques- Identifying strengths and past successes- Looking for exceptions to the problem- Encouraging realistic goal setting and problem-solving#### Challenges in Transitioning to Solution-Focused Interventions- Individuals may get stuck in supportive interventions due to: - Denial or avoidance - Feeling overwhelmed - Dependency on others to fix their problems - Stigma associated with their issues#### Enhancing Motivation for Change- Highlight the benefits of making changes versus staying the same- Use decisional balance charts to weigh pros and cons- Provide continuous reinforcement and follow-up#### Special Considerations- Developmental disabilities and severe depression may require tailored approaches- Consider cultural sensitivity and appropriateness of interventions- Ensure interventions match the individual's developmental level and personal context#### Maintaining Motivation- Regular check-ins and assignments to keep individuals on track- Reinforcement for effort and progress- Avoid rewarding backsliding and encourage continued problem-solving#### Addressing Underlying Issues- Help individuals understand and address the root causes of their distress- Encourage looking at all contributing factors and focusing on controllable aspects- Use narrative therapy and cognitive processing techniques for deeper exploration### Time Codes for Major Points1:05 Introduction and topic overview by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes4:10 Differentiation between supportive and solution-focused interventions7:45 Explanation of supportive interventions and their purpose12:20 Examples of supportive interventions (active listening, radical acceptance)21:30 Transitioning to solution-focused interventions and challenges faced31:00 Techniques for enhancing motivation and maintaining changeFeel free to ask for more details or a deeper explanation on any part of the video! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices