

Therapy in a Nutshell
Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

4 snips
Feb 8, 2024 • 21min
How to Stop Taking Things Personally
Exploring the reasons behind taking things personally, the hosts share personal anecdotes and discuss the consequences of offense-taking. Steps to stop taking things personally are discussed, as well as the importance of building self-worth. Practical advice on handling situations and developing an internal sense of security is provided.

9 snips
Feb 1, 2024 • 14min
The Essential Skill to Regulate Your Nervous System - Relaxed Vigilance vs. Hypervigilance: Day 21 Break the Anxiety Cycle
Learn about the essential skill to regulate your nervous system for managing chronic anxiety. Explore how micro triggers impact stress responses and the benefits of nervous system self-regulation. Discover simple skills to reduce anxiety and improve sleep by calming the body and mind.

Jan 25, 2024 • 16min
Understanding Anxiety in the Nervous System: Day 20 Break the Anxiety Cycle
Explore how anxiety is linked to the nervous system, understanding the impact of chronic stress, hyparousal, and trauma on mental health. Learn ways to regulate anxiety and overcome trauma for a more relaxed and joyful life.

Jan 19, 2024 • 12min
Flip Anxiety on Its Head With 2 Words: Day 19 Break the Anxiety Cycle
Discover how a simple two-word phrase can radically shift your experience of anxiety. While anxiety and excitement trigger similar physical responses, transforming your mindset can enhance your performance. Tune in to explore personal stories and research that demonstrate how reframing anxiety as excitement empowers you in challenging situations. This approach emphasizes embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth, turning fear into motivation!

Jan 11, 2024 • 17min
Emotional Reasoning: Break the Anxiety Cycle Day 18
Break the Anxiety Cycle in 30 Days- Online Course- https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/anxietyskills
I’m going to teach you an important skill to be less emotionally reactive. Essentially, how to control your emotions. Emotions lie to you all the time. But they feel so real. They are very powerful motivators, but they aren’t always accurate. You’ll learn how to be less emotionally reactive by learning to combat emotional reasoning. You’ll learn 4 ways to slow yourself down in an intense moment and 3 steps to combating emotional reasoning.
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

11 snips
Jan 7, 2024 • 16min
How to Let Go of the Past - 3 Steps for Regret
Learn how to use regrets as motivation and create a better life. Discover strategies to transform past regrets into fuel for personal growth and development. Explore the concept of unhelpful rumination and the importance of taking action in the present moment. Find out how to turn regrets into opportunities for growth by leaning into discomfort, prioritizing relationships, and taking action.

Dec 28, 2023 • 14min
Stop Catastrophizing About Your Future: Break the Anxiety Cycle Day 17
Explore the negative impact of catastrophizing on performance and strategies for managing anxiety. Learn how to replace negative thinking with positive mental imagery. Discover the power of mental imagery to overcome challenges and improve performance. Understand how visualizing positive outcomes can decrease stress and increase confidence.

Dec 22, 2023 • 44min
How to Overcome Burnout from a Body-Based Perspective w Dr. Laura Hays, MD
Check out my FREE Online Grounding Skills Course here: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd
Check out Dr. Laura Hay's podcast here: https://lastingimpactwellness.com/
Burnout isn't just something that happens in your head, burnout isn't just psychological, burnout happens in your body. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Laura Hays from Lasting Impact Wellness about what causes burnout, how long-term stress can impact our nervous system, and the practical ways we can overcome burnout.
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

Dec 14, 2023 • 15min
Why Your Brain Defaults to Scarcity: Break the Anxiety Cycle Day 16
Explore how the brain's negativity bias shapes our perception of reality and affects our mental health. Discover the impact of negativity bias on news consumption and the media's focus on negative aspects. Learn how to break the negativity bias cycle by noticing patterns, taking breaks from negative information, and practicing gratitude.

Dec 7, 2023 • 25min
Managing Anxiety and Anxious Thoughts: Break the Anxiety Cycle Day 15
Explore the challenges of chronic worry and the power of mindfulness in addressing anxiety. Learn how to train the brain to control attention and redirect thoughts. Understand the misconceptions about mindfulness as just a temporary coping strategy. Emphasize the importance of being gentle with oneself in mindfulness practice to reduce anxiety.