The SelfWork Podcast

Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD
  • 4.8 (1.2K)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

I'm Dr. Margaret, a psychologist for over 30 years, TEDx speaker, and the author of Perfectly Hidden Depression. I created The SelfWork Podcast in 2016 to explain mental health treatment and to give you the chance to consider therapy without thinking it's weird or that it somehow suggests you can't fix your own problems. My team is very honored that nine years later, SelfWork has earned nearly 5 million downloads! Each episode features the popular listener question as well as interviews with outstanding guests, authors, and experts, adding to the wide diversity of topics listeners so appreciate. Regularly rated as one of the top mental health/depression podcasts out there (ranked as a top .5% internationally) I keep it short, casual, and focused on "what you can do about it." I'd love to hear from you. Please join me.

  1. 1d ago

    516 SelfWork: Panicked About Panic: 5 Surefire Ways to Calm Your Nervous System

    Having a panic disorder is bad enough. You may be able to anticipate it happening; for example, if you tend to panic when you see a spider or a snake. But other times, panic attacks – the sudden onset of intense symptoms of anxiety, such as trouble breathing, your heart racing, feelings of wanting or even needing to flee, tunnel vision, sweating, trembling – these very unwelcome and unexpected feelings come upon you like a freight train suddenly roaring toward you - going its fastest speed. It can truly feel as if you’ve been invaded by some other being and the attacks themselves can be very frightening, especially if you have no idea what they are. Panicked About Panic...Yet what can easily begin to happen - after you’ve had a few of these highly unpleasant and even humiliating attacks – you can begin to fear them. You can see ahead and realize that you might have to deal with one at a time when you have responsibilities, duties, things to do. And so… you become panicked about panic. In this episode of SelfWork, we'll focus on five surefire ways to calm your nervous system and deal with "panic about panic." Episode -Specific Links:Dr. Saunders' YouTube video on these five calming techniques! Goodreads recommendations for "best self-help books for panic disorder" Important Links:Click here to order the PHD Workbook! Click here to find out more about Dr. Margaret's PESI course on perfectionism and depression on November 2, 2026! It's virtual! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  2. Sep 11

    515 SelfWork: Enhance Your Skills: Listening Someone Into Existence with Doug Noll

    Today we'll focus on how to listen to someone so that they feel truly understood and seen. And it may not be a kind of listening that you know about. It's a method called "affect labeling" - meaning labeling the emotions of the person you're listening to. And our expert today is Doug Noll, who teaches this method all over the world. This episode will teach you this new way of listening that is amazingly effective! Order The Perfectly Hidden Depression Workbook - A stand-alone workbook exploring the ten traits of Perfectly Hidden Depression, with guided exercises to help you decide what to keep from your drive and perfectionism, and what to let go. Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.  Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  3. Sep 4

    514 SelfWork: Three Essential Questions to Identify Your Role Model

    Today I'm focusing on three role models in my own life and the questions you can ask to help you identify your own. Who are they? Dolly Parton. Maya Angelou. And a woman named "Snooky." How does someone become a role model for you? Someone in your life may know that you look up to them, that you want to emulate them in some way. Others role models will never know it. You simply know of them. Or you’ve read their writings. Heard their songs. Watched them from afar. This episode will help you find your own role models and begin to put the values you choose into your life! Order The Perfectly Hidden Depression Workbook - A stand-alone workbook exploring the ten traits of Perfectly Hidden Depression, with guided exercises to help you decide what to keep from your drive and perfectionism, and what to let go. Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.  Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  4. Aug 28

    513 SelfWork: Inside A Psych Ward: A New Book by JaKob Williams, Chock Full of Nuts

    You may never have been on the inside of a psych ward. In his new book, JaKob Williams takes you there. Or at least, he takes you to his version of a residential psych ward. He's an interesting guy. Brilliant. Sarcastic. Successful. Driven. Creative. Funny. And he has bipolar disorder, which sometimes gets the better of him. He becomes manic, and even psychotic. As he says... "You talk about PHD. Perfectly hidden depression. I'm POM. Perfectly obvious mania." Order The Perfectly Hidden Depression Workbook - A stand-alone workbook exploring the ten traits of Perfectly Hidden Depression, with guided exercises to help you decide what to keep from your drive and perfectionism, and what to let go.  Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.  Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  5. Aug 21

    512 SelfWork: CBT for Insomnia and Its 100% Effective Cure: Dr. Nick Wignall

    Dr. Nick Wignall continues as Dr. Margaret's guest this week, as we switch from focusing on emotional fitness to the 100% effective CBT tool for curing insomnia, called sleep compression. It's hard to believe that in ten years of doing SelfWork, I don't remember an episode where we were focusing on insomnia, although I hear about it on a regular basis all the time. We've talked about "sleep disturbance" frequently in the context of classic depression, bipolar disorder, nightmares, or anxiety. So when Nick told me one of this areas of expertise was insomnia, I jumped at it. How does sleep compression work?Nick goes on to describe the technique called sleep compression (a term I'd never heard) that is a CBT - or cognitive behavioral therapy tool - that is 100% effective for insomnia. It's fascinating to hear and makes such common sense. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  6. Aug 14

    511 SelfWork: Emotional Fitness and Being The Hero Of Your Own Life: Dr. Nick Wignall

    Dr. Nick Wignall speaks about the vital importance of emotional fitness and becoming the hero of your life. This whole concept is intriguing and suggests that finding and maintaining your own sense of agency - of having some sense of and belief in your ability to have an impact on your life. Understanding emotional fitness is not just about recognizing the feelings we experience but also about actively managing them. Many people find themselves in situations where they feel overwhelmed by their emotions, which can lead to stress and anxiety. By implementing practices that enhance emotional fitness, individuals can learn to navigate these challenges more effectively. Order The Perfectly Hidden Depression Workbook - A stand-alone workbook exploring the ten traits of Perfectly Hidden Depression, with guided exercises to help you decide what to keep from your drive and perfectionism, and what to let go.  Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.  Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  7. Aug 7

    510 SelfWork: Ted Lasso, The Pandemic and The Power of Secrets

    This week – in fact to be punctual about it – on August 5th, 2026 – the first episode of the new Ted Lasso season will be released. Today, we're going to focus on the meaning of so many of Ted Lasso characters having secrets that they're keeping.... and the freedom they discover in the telling of them. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  8. Jul 31

    509 SelfWork: EMDR Therapy: How It Can Help Fill Emptiness and Release Grief with Dr. Laurel Parnell

    EMDR Therapy is known for its treatment of trauma. Dr. Laurel Parnell teaches and demonstrates how it can be healing for emptiness and grief - when relationships were never loving and for when they're gone. Order The Perfectly Hidden Depression Workbook - A stand-alone workbook exploring the ten traits of Perfectly Hidden Depression, with guided exercises to help you decide what to keep from your drive and perfectionism, and what to let go.  Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.  Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
1,186 Ratings

About

I'm Dr. Margaret, a psychologist for over 30 years, TEDx speaker, and the author of Perfectly Hidden Depression. I created The SelfWork Podcast in 2016 to explain mental health treatment and to give you the chance to consider therapy without thinking it's weird or that it somehow suggests you can't fix your own problems. My team is very honored that nine years later, SelfWork has earned nearly 5 million downloads! Each episode features the popular listener question as well as interviews with outstanding guests, authors, and experts, adding to the wide diversity of topics listeners so appreciate. Regularly rated as one of the top mental health/depression podcasts out there (ranked as a top .5% internationally) I keep it short, casual, and focused on "what you can do about it." I'd love to hear from you. Please join me.

Information

  • Creator
    Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    566
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © DrMargaretRutherford.com
  • Show Website
    The SelfWork Podcast

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