
Therapy in a Nutshell
I’m Emma McAdam, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and my mission is to make mental health resources more easy to access. I take therapy skills and psychological research and condense them down into bite-sized nuggets of help.
I’m here to spread the message that while mental illness is real, it’s common, it’s debilitating, it’s also treatable. There are dozens of research-backed approaches to treating depression, anxiety, and other mental illness. Change, growth, and healing are possible. Please keep courage! Try one little thing every day to improve your life and health and things can get so much better!
Therapy in a Nutshell, and the information provided by Emma McAdam, is solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and is 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.
Therapy in a Nutshell and it’s logo are Registered Trademarks of Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
Latest episodes

6 snips
Aug 15, 2024 • 21min
How to Forgive
Ready to transform your mental health today? Get all 8 of Emma’s courses plus live Q&A here: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership
Forgiveness can be a really challenging subject. On the one hand, forgiving someone can be a powerful path to emotional freedom, but on the other, the word forgiveness is often used in a way that is hurtful or harmful for victims of abuse. In this podcast, I hope to take a nuanced and thoughtful approach to the ways that forgiveness can be helpful for those who have experienced abuse or trauma, but also to really clarify for those encouraging others to forgive how the concept can be misused, mis-timed, or mis-understood.
So let’s talk about what that healing process might look like. And how forgiveness might be a part of that. And if it is, how to forgive.
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
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.therapyinanutshell.com
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

12 snips
Aug 8, 2024 • 16min
Time Blindness - An ADHD or Executive Dysfunction Trait
Time blindness can make keeping track of time a real challenge, especially for those with ADHD. Learn about its symptoms and surprising emotional impacts, including insights from Dr. Russell Barkley's research. Discover ten effective strategies to boost time awareness, like using visual timers and breaking tasks into manageable steps. The last two strategies are particularly creative and might just change how you view time management!

Aug 1, 2024 • 13min
Behavioral Activation: How to Get Motivated to Do Stuff that You Don't Want to Do : Day 30 Break the Anxiety Cycle
Discover how to tackle mental blocks that hinder motivation, especially when facing anxiety and depression. A licensed therapist shares personal stories of perseverance and support from high school running experiences. Learn about behavioral activation, a strategy that encourages small, positive actions to break the cycle of depression, illustrated with a fun ice cream analogy. This insightful discussion empowers listeners to engage in beneficial activities, fostering personal growth and well-being.

4 snips
Jul 26, 2024 • 16min
What is Executive Function - And Why is Executive Dysfunction so bad for Mental Health?
In this podcast, Executive Function Coach Sean McCormick discusses the importance of Executive Function skills in managing thoughts, emotions, and achieving goals. He explains how deficits in these skills can impact mental health and daily functioning, and offers 6 strategies to improve Executive Functioning. The episode highlights the significance of cultivating these skills through tailored support strategies, building systems for better organization, and emphasizes the positive impact on overall well-being.

5 snips
Jul 18, 2024 • 28min
Finding Purpose and Meaning to Overcome Anxiety - Day 29 Break the Anxiety Cycle
Explore the pursuit of happiness in society and the importance of purpose and meaning in life, emphasizing the impact of connection, love, and belonging on well-being. Delve into the power of storytelling, finding transcendence, and purpose in life through sacrifice, service, and genuine relationships.

Jul 15, 2024 • 7min
Guided Meditation - The Container Method - for Processing Trauma, PTSD and Intense Emotions
Explore a transformative guided meditation technique called the container method, designed for managing traumatic emotions and PTSD. Learn how to visualize a mental space to hold overwhelming memories, fostering personal control and emotional safety. Discover the importance of not just avoiding difficult feelings but addressing them with support and grounding skills. This approach is invaluable for anyone looking to process intense emotions in a manageable way.

Jul 12, 2024 • 17min
The Container Method for Processing Trauma, PTSD and Intense Emotions
Explore the container method for processing trauma and intense emotions in therapy. Learn how to gradually work on distressing memories and feelings in a safe way. Discover how trauma therapists use this approach to support individuals dealing with PTSD and trauma.

Jul 4, 2024 • 13min
What Agoraphobia REALLY is, and how to overcome it
In this video we’re going to talk about agoraphobia, some common misconceptions, and what kind of treatment works. By the end of the video you’ll learn 5 steps to overcoming agoraphobia, and you’ll hear from someone who did it.
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
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.therapyinanutshell.com
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

13 snips
Jun 27, 2024 • 15min
Boundaries for Anxious Folk - Day 28 Break the Anxiety Cycle
Anxiety often makes setting boundaries difficult, leading to stress and exhaustion. Boundaries are essential for managing anxiety and depression. Learn how to establish and maintain boundaries effectively to improve mental health.

4 snips
Jun 20, 2024 • 13min
Insomnia- How to Fall Asleep When your Brain Won't Shut Up!
Do you want to learn How to Process Emotions and improve your Mental Health? Sign up for a Therapy in a Nutshell Membership, you'll get access to all of Emma’s courses, workbooks, and a Live Q and A with 100’s of exclusive videos: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership
If you are lying in bed trying to go to sleep, and find your mind racing, feeling anxious, what's the next best step to stop the anxiety cycle?
You all know that feeling. I’ve been there, You’ve got a big day ahead, or you’ve had a long day behind you, you really need to sleep, you’re soooo tired, but when you finally lay down, your mind starts running, you worry about everything, or you can’t stop thinking about all the mistakes you made throughout the day. You can feel your stress levels rise, and despite your best efforts, you can’t sleep. And that makes you more anxious, which perpetuates the cycle, and on it goes. You desperately want to sleep, but your brain won’t shut up. In this podcast, you’ll learn why your brain doesn’t trust you to process these thoughts during the day. And, there is something you can do about this. So, let’s talk about the science behind why your brain gets stuck doing this, and 3 things you can do to escape that cycle.
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
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.therapyinanutshell.com
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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