Finding You: by Dr. Brad Reedy

In this episode I am so pleased to welcome Ian Morgan Cron to the podcast. While he wears many hats, as he shares in this episode, the fundamental nature of his work is a spiritual one. Ian is Bestselling Author, Enneagram Expert, Priest, and the host of the Typology Podcast. After many years in recovery and in the wake of a relapse, he released his most recent book, The Fix. In it, he reveals how the twelve wteps can be key for anyone who wants to take their life back. Richard Rohr says about his newest book, “Ian Cron’s generous and hard-earned wisdom reveals that the Twelve Steps are not just for alcoholics and addicts, but a path to a profound transformation of Self for everyone.” In the this interview we cover a wide variety of topics including God and family, making an amends, how his various roles overlap and complement each other, his experience with shame (in real-time), and how he leans into his personal story to inform his work and hopefully make himself useful to the people he loves and serves.

Dr. Reedy takes questions on topics from the audience. He discusses what to do when our adult children seem to be going off course. He talks about how we can learn to be our most authentic self and how to protect that journey by the company we keep.

Dr. Reedy explains communication theory and the deeper psychological principles required for connection. He warns against using communication skills to change others and emphasizes that such skills can improve self-awareness first. They can also help us to remember to own our feelings (they are ours). He talks about listening and how it requires a significant amount of psychic energy.

Dr. Reedy talks about how humans cope with the anxiety of uncertainty and ambiguity. He explains that if we seek for security and absolute answers, we move towards mental illness. But if we can embrace the mystery of this life, we become more human and in that lies our resiliency.

Dr. Reedy takes live questions from the audience on parenting and relationships. He talks about the difference between caring and wanting someone to know you care. He explores the nuances of loving and caring for yourself and loving and caring for your partner.

Dr. Reedy explains the origins and function of resistance and defensiveness. He talks about how we can make it worse as parents, therapists, and spouses.

Dr. Reedy describes various forms of experiential therapy, including psychodrama - the primary type of therapy used in Finding You Programs’ Intensives. He explains why they work on the unconscious aspects of the psyche, and how healing can be accelerated with an experiential approach. He explains how experiential therapy bypasses resistance. He also explains how any therapy can be reparative and a “re-experiencing” of ourselves.

Dr. Reedy discusses Jung's concept of the Shadow, how to recognize it, and how to integrate it. He explains how this brings peace and freedom and lays the foundation for greater intimacy.

Dr. Reedy discusses how therapists and their clients can benefit from the therapist goin to therapy. He empowers clients to ask their therapists about their participation in therapy. He also explains the parallels between the client’s and the therapist’s resistance to therapy are mirror images of each other.

Dr. Reedy discusses the relationship principles that transcend through all relationships. He talks about how becoming who you are forms the basis for greater connection to others. He addresses the line between “can’t” and “won’t” when it comes to our children.