Hello Therapy: Mental Health Tips For Personal Growth Dr Liz White

Reassurance seeking in OCD is part and parcel of the OCD experience, but it is a symptom that does not get talked about that much.

This episode seeks to rectify that. In it, I discuss not just the 'what' of reassurance seeking but also the 'how' of responding to it without feeding the anxiety and getting stuck in the reassurance trap further. I explore how consistency and flexibility can transform interactions with loved ones into stepping stones toward recovery and offer some ideas on how to respond to a loved one with OCD when they are seeking reassurance. Episode highlights include:

- What is reassurance seeking in OCD?
- The difference between self-reassurance and seeking reassurance from others
- How shame and guilt interact with reassurance-seeking
- Impact on relationships
- An alternative to reassurance seeking: seeking support
- Example scripts on how to manage reassurance-seeking

**FREE DOWNLOAD** Am I reassurance seeking or gathering information? A simple guide to help you decide. Download here.


Have a question about this episode? Let me know!
More free downloads and resources to support your mental health and wellbeing: https://www.harleyclinical.co.uk/free-mental-health-downloadable-guides

Join our email list for more mental health tips: https://mailchi.mp/harleyclinical/newsletter-sign-up

For private psychology services and therapy in person (London/Hertfordshire) or online, please visit Harley Clinical Psychology.

*****************
Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Follow Harley Clinical on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on TikTok

*****************

DISCLAIMER - The Hello Therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Liz White (DClinPsy, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CSci, HCPC reg.), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalised advice. Please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional if you need support.

A heartfelt and enriching conversation with Helen Marie, a London-based registered psychotherapist with almost 400k followers across her social media accounts. In this episode, we discuss Helen's new and widely anticipated book, Choose You: Gentle Words To Help You Heal And Grow. Highlights of the episode include:


- Impactful Chapters in 'Choose You': Learn about the structured guidance offered in 'Choose You,' especially the profound insights in the 'Healing' chapter.
- Attachment Theory and Relationships: We unpack the influence of attachment theory on our relationships and personal growth.
- Generational Trauma: The impact this can have, the grief and sadness it can cause, and what it means to let go of this pain.
- Learning to notice: Discover the role of observing the internal world and the fact that mindfulness exercises can enhance your self-care regimen.
- Personal Stories: Listen to Helen share her victory over a long-standing fear of thunderstorms and what this means for self-healing and personal transformation.

Whether you’re a long-time therapy goer or just starting to explore your inner world, this episode is packed with gentle wisdom, personal stories, and professional insights that will inspire and empower you.
-------------
You can get Helen Marie's new book 'Choose You' now:
Book - Helen Marie Psychotherapy & Counselling
Follow Helen Marie on Instagram or TikTok:
helen marie | therapist PGDip MPH BSc (Hons) MBACP (@h.e.l.e.n.m.a.r.i.e) • Instagram photos and videos
TikTok - Make Your Day
--------------
Have a question about this episode? Let me know!
More free downloads and resources to support your mental health and wellbeing: https://www.harleyclinical.co.uk/free-mental-health-downloadable-guides

Join our email list for more mental health tips: https://mailchi.mp/harleyclinical/newsletter-sign-up

For private psychology services and therapy in person (London/Hertfordshire) or online, please visit Harley Clinical Psychology.

*****************
Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Follow Harley Clinical on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on TikTok

*****************

DISCLAIMER - The Hello Therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Liz White (DClinPsy, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CSci, HCPC reg.), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalised advice. Please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional if you need support.

In a world that often idealises flawless parenting, how can we embrace the concept of 'good enough parenting' and find peace in the imperfections? What steps can we take to repair and strengthen our relationships with our children after inevitable mistakes and manage the guilt that often comes with parenting?

In this episode, I am joined by parenting expert and Clinical Psychologist Dr Jo Mueller. We tackle the complexities of modern parenting, juggling the demands of mental health with the joys and challenges of child-rearing. We explore the impact of social media and the abundance of conflicting advice, providing a reassuring guide for embracing the beauty of imperfection and reducing the burden of parental guilt.

We also address the internal struggles parents face, particularly those raising neurodivergent children, and we discuss practical strategies for managing stress and regulating emotions. Highlights include:

The Perfect Parent Myth:  How societal and digital media pressures create unrealistic parenting standards.

Acknowledging and Repairing Mistakes: Learn why being honest about errors to your children can strengthen your relationship.

Parenting and Emotional Regulation: Gain insights on managing emotional dysregulation in parents and children, especially when a child or parents are neurodivergent.

Self-compassion in Parenting: We discuss avoiding self-blame, and understanding the stress-guilt cycle that many parents fall into.


*************************

 Dr Jo Mueller is a clinical psychologist who specialises in working with parents, supporting both their parenting and mental health. Jo believes that helping parents is the most powerful way to help children, families, and even the next generation. She has an interest in both neurodivergence and parental guilt, and founded The Guilty Parent Club in 2023. Her parenting framework, the Guilty Parent Escape Plan, organises evidence-based concepts into 6 memorable “Keys”, which help parents feel more confident, less guilty, and more like themselves and the parent they want to be. Far from a set of parenting “rules”, the 6 Keys emphasise imperfection and wellbeing, alongside a flexible toolkit of ideas to help keep our children’s brains regulated. ***The next Club cohort starts in September 2024***

To find out more and join the waiting list:

Have a question about this episode? Let me know!
More free downloads and resources to support your mental health and wellbeing: https://www.harleyclinical.co.uk/free-mental-health-downloadable-guides

Join our email list for more mental health tips: https://mailchi.mp/harleyclinical/newsletter-sign-up

For private psychology services and therapy in person (London/Hertfordshire) or online, please visit Harley Clinical Psychology.

*****************
Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Follow Harley Clinical on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on TikTok

*****************

DISCLAIMER - The Hello Therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Liz White (DClinPsy, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CSci, HCPC reg.), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalised advice. Please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional if you need support.

Are you caught in the relentless pursuit of perfection? Do you find yourself tied to unattainable standards that leave you feeling exhausted and unfulfilled?

If this sounds like you, this episode will help! I am joined by CBT therapist and coach Natalie Englander, and we unpack the intricacies of perfectionism — from the underlying causes to transformative therapy techniques and practical things you can do to start managing perfectionism. We discuss:
- How you can tell that you are a perfectionist
- The hidden roots of perfectionism and the influence of childhood experiences and working life
- The importance of awareness and self-compassion in managing perfectionism
- How perfectionism can show up in the therapy room
- Practical tips on how to step back from unhelpful perfectionist thoughts and beliefs


**********************************
Natalie is an award-winning Senior Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Coach, accredited by the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and registered as a member of the British Psychology Society (BPS).

Connect with Natalie:
Instagram
Website

***********************************
Have a question about this episode? Let me know!
More free downloads and resources to support your mental health and wellbeing: https://www.harleyclinical.co.uk/free-mental-health-downloadable-guides

Join our email list for more mental health tips: https://mailchi.mp/harleyclinical/newsletter-sign-up

For private psychology services and therapy in person (London/Hertfordshire) or online, please visit Harley Clinical Psychology.

*****************
Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Follow Harley Clinical on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on TikTok

*****************

DISCLAIMER - The Hello Therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Liz White (DClinPsy, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CSci, HCPC reg.), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalised advice. Please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional if you need support.

In this epsiode, we'll dive deep into familiar territory – the often rocky terrain of our emotions. We've all been there, haven't we? Wrestling with those pesky feelings that just won't settle, trying our hardest to either suppress the painful ones under a façade of okay-ness or being so overwhelmed by them that they seem to define our very existence.
But today, I offer you an alternative approach. We'll explore common pitfalls, like over-identification with our emotions, bottling them up or harshly judging ourselves for simply feeling them. And, of course, I'll share practical strategies to help you navigate these pitfalls, including how to observe your feelings without getting entangled in them, the importance of healthy emotional outlets, and the benefits of self-compassion.


 Transforming your relationship with your emotions, I cover: 

- Why emotions are not the enemy and how to coexist with them peacefully.
- Techniques to avoid over-identification with your feelings and maintain a healthy perspective.
- Practical methods to prevent bottling up emotions and dealing with the mess later.
- Strategies to counteract self-judgment and embrace self-compassion.
- How emotional acceptance can be your most powerful ally.


****************************************

FREE Managing Emotions Workbook

****************************************
Have a question about this episode? Let me know!
More free downloads and resources to support your mental health and wellbeing: https://www.harleyclinical.co.uk/free-mental-health-downloadable-guides

Join our email list for more mental health tips: https://mailchi.mp/harleyclinical/newsletter-sign-up

For private psychology services and therapy in person (London/Hertfordshire) or online, please visit Harley Clinical Psychology.

*****************
Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Follow Harley Clinical on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on TikTok

*****************

DISCLAIMER - The Hello Therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Liz White (DClinPsy, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CSci, HCPC reg.), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalised advice. Please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional if you need support.

Do you believe that therapy is only for those at their breaking point, or could it be the untapped resource in your toolkit for personal growth and resilience? Have you ever scrolled through your social media feeds and wondered if those mental health tips and tricks are truly the golden tickets to well-being? How do we separate the helpful from the harmful when everyone seems to be a keyboard therapist?

In this episode, Dr. Liz White and special guest Dr. Tess Brown, Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Coach, dismantle common therapy myths that prevail in our society.  Tess, with her vast experience in private practice, provides invaluable insights into the significance of early mental health intervention and the nuanced flexibility of private therapy that extends beyond the constraints of traditional mental health services.

Navigating the shifting cultural perceptions of therapy, our episode reveals an interesting comparison between the American and British landscapes. While discussing the stereotypes that often misrepresent the role of therapists, we underscore the empowering partnership between therapist and client. As a professional guide, the therapist fosters a space for clients to lead their own journey to self-discovery and decision-making, challenging the notion that therapists are supposed to have all the answers.

Wrapping up this compelling dialogue, we confront the intricacies of addressing trauma and OCD in therapy, emphasizing the importance of pacing and debunking the fear that treatment pushes clients into discomfort prematurely. Moreover, we reflect on the influence of social media on mental health awareness, weighing its potential to both normalize conversations around mental health and spread misinformation. Join us for this transformative discussion that promises to reshape your understanding of therapy and its powerful role in fostering personal growth and healing.

WATCH this episode on YouTube here.

Join Tess' community:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtessbrowne/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtessbrowne?modal=admin_todo_tour
Website: https://drtessbrowne.com/

**************************
Have a question about this episode? Let me know!
More free downloads and resources to support your mental health and wellbeing: https://www.harleyclinical.co.uk/free-mental-health-downloadable-guides

Join our email list for more mental health tips: https://mailchi.mp/harleyclinical/newsletter-sign-up

For private psychology services and therapy in person (London/Hertfordshire) or online, please visit Harley Clinical Psychology.

*****************
Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Follow Harley Clinical on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on Instagram

Follow Dr Liz White on TikTok

*****************

DISCLAIMER - The Hello Therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Liz White (DClinPsy, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CSci, HCPC reg.), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalised advice. Please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional if you need support.