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Therapy in a Nutshell

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Sep 13, 2022 • 18min

How to Stop Catastrophizing

Get the course: Change Your Brain-Neuroplasticity and Mental Health https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/change-your-brain In this video, we’re going to talk about catastrophizing- expecting the worst! Catastrophizing is an excellent way to make yourself anxious and depressed and completely ruin your life! Oh yeah, and I’m going to teach you 3 things you can do to stop catastrophizing. What is Catastrophizing: Catastrophizing is a common cognitive distortion, or thinking error. It’s when we think of a current or future situation as a catastrophe. So for example, you worry that you’re going to fail a test. Then you imagine what would happen when you do fail- you’re going to get kicked out of school, end up working a dead end job, fail at life at life and die homeless on the street. And all this because of a test at school. Catastrophizing is imagining the worst. It’s taking a difficult situation and interpreting it as being horrible, terrible, and unrecoverable. We’ve all known that person who, if they got a “B” on a test wailed “I’m failing Math class”. Many of us have had that parent who, when we didn’t want to do our chores they said something like “If you don’t do your chores, your college roommates will hate you and no one will want to marry you.” Like in the story about the jack, Catastrophizing often starts with a genuine setback, like getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, but then the thinking error turns that reality into the belief that something horrible is bound to happen- “I’m going to get shot, attacked and robbed!”. At its root, catastrophizing is about our habitual response to challenges or shortcomings. So take a second, pause this video and ask yourself: How do you think about failure? When these habits become part of a repeated pattern, they lead to depression or anxiety- and people tend to imagine never being able to recover. Catastrophizing is a thinking error (aka cognitive distortion) that makes you anxious, depressed, and unmotivated. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/ Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapynutshell.com?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC, and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. About Me: I’m Emma McAdam. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and I have worked in various settings of change and growth since 2004. My experience includes juvenile corrections, adventure therapy programs, wilderness therapy programs, an eating disorder treatment center, a residential treatment center, and I currently work in an outpatient therapy clinic. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC ---- Music licensed from www.Bensound.com or Artlist.io Images from Freepik.com (premium license), Pixabay, or Wikimedia commons
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Sep 12, 2022 • 11min

Quick Start Guide to Anxiety Treatment

Learn a mind-body approach to treating anxiety in my FREE course Grounding Skills for Anxiety, Stress and PTSD: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.co... An anxiety disorder diagnosis does not mean that you are defective, nor that it’s your fault, you’re not broken. The disorder is treatable. It doesn’t have to be permanent! Anxiety is a real and challenging condition where our physiology, our mind, and our experiences get caught up in a cycle of increasing worries and physical symptoms. But that cycle can be turned around with the right knowledge, skills and practice. It may be difficult to break the pattern on your own, but with the right support and resources you can overcome an anxiety disorder! In this video learn 10 ways you can treat anxiety, decrease stress and become healthier and happier. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanuts... Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.co... Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanut... Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/bes...  Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/c... If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
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Sep 8, 2022 • 12min

Overthinking Part 4: Social Anxiety

Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell You know the feeling, you come out of a work meeting or a hangout with friends and start thinking “Why did I say that? I should have responded this way! I am such an idiot! What did he mean when he said…?” Or you think “I was the most awkward person at the party!” Or “I overshared, way too much personal information” or you worry “Did I hurt someone’s feelings!?” This type of overthinking can be a symptom of social anxiety disorder, it can also just be a symptom of anxiety in general. But when you overanalyze your personal relationships to the point that you are afraid of an emotional connection with another person you’re essentially slipping into a mental rut called Rumination. It’s really common and there’s a lot you can do about it. In this video we’re going to learn 4 ways to stop overthinking every social situation. 1. Learn to notice your cognitive distortions about social situations and social anxiety 2. People aren't nearly as obsessed with you as you are with yourself, social anxiety lies to you 3. Catch yourself when you catastrophize about social situations 4. Social anxiety is fueled by underlying beliefs like: I must be perfect to be accepted I must never make anyone else uncomfortable I must never make a mistake in front of another person I must never be weird You can learn to combat social anxiety by learning to challenge your thoughts. Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/store Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
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Sep 7, 2022 • 13min

Overthinking Part 3: How to Stop Depressive Rumination

The podcast discusses depressive rumination, where individuals dwell on past negative experiences. Techniques to stop rumination are introduced, including shifting from 'why' to 'what' and taking action based on values. Changing the story we tell ourselves and acknowledging positive aspects of a situation can help counterbalance negative thoughts.
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Sep 6, 2022 • 17min

Overthinking Part 2: 6 Therapy Skills to Stop Overthinking Everything

Learn how to stop overthinking with practical strategies such as recognizing and labeling the behavior, setting limits on overthinking, and shifting focus. Discover alternative questions to break free from rumination and focus on personal values. Explore the importance of therapy skills and seeking professional help to address overthinking.
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Sep 5, 2022 • 13min

Overthinking Part 1: The 4 Subconscious Reasons You Overthink Everything

Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.co... Want individualized support to stop dwelling on the past? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional counselor from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanuts... Depressive rumination is a type of overthinking where you create the habit of dwelling on the past. You rehash all the terrible things you can think of over and over and over. Depressive rumination says “Why is life so awful? Why am I such a failure? Why can’t I ever be happy?” Rumination is like ruts in a road, whenever you’re not paying attention, you slip back down into thinking about all your regrets. But then you spin your wheels, you think and think but never get anywhere. One of my other clients, Elena, constantly dwelt in the past, she’d Ruminate like this “ Why did I buy this car? I’m such an idiot!” Or she’d say “Why am I so depressed?” and she’d worry about it for hours every day, for months. But she didn’t just dwell in the past, she projected it into the future. In session she’d often say “What if my depression never gets better?”. Another type of rumination is dwelling on how you were mistreated. Maybe your dad shamed you when you came out to him as gay, or your boss threw you under the bus at work, or your lover ghosted you, and you spend hours of your day wondering why they did that, alternating between resentment towards them and wondering if it was your fault. Rumination might also look like fantasizing about how your life could have been better if you had done things differently. Rumination contributes to depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanut... Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/bes...  Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/c... If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
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Sep 1, 2022 • 8min

The 10 Best Books for Healing Trauma/PTSD

Learn about the hosts' favorite books on recovering from trauma and PTSD, including Peter Levine's 'Healing Trauma' and Bessel Van Der Kolk's 'The Body Keeps the Score'. The podcast provides detailed explanations and practical exercises to start healing your relationship with your body. Also, discover Dr. James Gordon's book 'The Transformation' and inspiring memoirs for personal stories of overcoming trauma.
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Aug 29, 2022 • 13min

PTSD Treatment Options: How to Find a Good Trauma Therapist

Check out my free Grounding Skills Course here: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd When it comes to therapy it’s really good to be an informed consumer. There are hundreds of different types of therapy, and every therapist is different in how they approach issues like PTSD, so whether you’ve never tried therapy before or you’ve worked with other therapists in the past and you want something different, learning about different PTSD treatment modalities can be really helpful. So first, what is trauma? Trauma is any experience that was overwhelming, threatening, that caused pain, distress, fear to the point where you feel or felt helpless. It can include abuse, assault, witnessing tragedy, it can include frightening medical experiences, near death experiences or a severe loss. When your response to these situations interferes with your life you might receive a diagnosis of PTSD or if the abuse was ongoing for long periods, Complex PTSD (CPTSD). Symptoms include nightmares, feeling tense or anxious all the time, being jumpy, feeling numb or detached, exhausted and depressed, and struggling in relationships, sleep, and work. While almost all therapists have some skills in treating depression, anxiety and trauma or PTSD- because these are so universal, not all therapists specialize in trauma treatment. That means that most therapists have at least a handful of tools to treat PTSD, but some therapists have a lot of skills, interventions, and resources plus experience to help you out. And that’s not exclusive to trauma, the more specific you can get with your diagnosis, the more specific you can get in finding a therapist who has interventions tailored to your needs. OK, so what are the trauma treatment options out there and how do you find a therapist who uses them? There’s an gazillion ways to do PTSD treatment, but I’m going to highlight the ways that are research backed, meaning a strong body of consistent evidence that these treatments are effective. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanuts... Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.co... Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanut... Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/bes...  Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/c... If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
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Aug 25, 2022 • 8min

7 Signs You’re Not Processing Your Grief

Learn about the consequences of avoiding grief and the importance of working through pain. Explore seven signs of unprocessed grief and discover three small steps to confront it. Gain insights on building resilience and coping skills to face your pain.
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Aug 22, 2022 • 9min

How to Deal With Anxiety at Night: 2 Essential Skills

Check out my free Grounding Skills Course for Anxiety: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.co... Anxiety at night can be brutal, you just want to lay down, rest, go to sleep, and your brain is like “Hey, let’s do a quick review of everything stupid you’ve ever done” and you’re like “What? No!” and your brain is like…ok, point number 1…” Or it’s like- hey, let’s try to imagine every awful thing that could happen. You’re relaxing, let’s worry for a little bit, doesn’t that sound like fun? Nighttime anxiety can be so painful, but you don’t have to just suffer- let’s talk about 2 really powerful skills to turn down anxiety at night and sleep better. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanuts... Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.co... Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanut... Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/bes... Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/c... If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

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