Therapedia the Podcast Jennifer Brookman, MFT and Audriannah Levine-Ward, Psy.D.

Welcome to Season-f*****g-Three!  Bring on the F-bombs!  In this Season 3 premiere, Jenn and Audriannah discuss the "f**k it" phenomenon that can both help us and hurt us.   The ladies dive deep into how "the fuck it button" shows up in the therapy room, how it relates to recovery, and how you can use coping skills to turn your unhealthy "fuck its" into a personal superpower. 

Reflection Question: How does "f**k it" show up for you?  Follow us on Instagram @therapediapodcast and let us know!

P.S. Sorry! We accidentally posted an unedited version yesterday.  This has been corrected as of 5/5 12pm! 

Shout-Outs/Resources in this Episode:
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
- Wonder Seeker by Andrea Scher
NOTE: All episodes contain guided meditation and grounding.  Please skip these exercises if you're driving.  
RECORDED: 4/20/22

To celebrate the last episode of Season 2 and to engage in a bit of levity, Jenn and Audriannah spend this week's episode letting their hair down in the second installment of the "Let's Chat" series.  This potpourri of topics includes our cultural reaction to the Will Smith 'slap heard round the world,' the epidemic of violence in intimate relationships, a collective trend towards avoidance & dissociation, what books/film/music help us manage our mental health, and everyday coping skills.   Also, Jenn re-learns the difference between consumption, consummation, and consommé.

Reflection Question: What are your parasocial relationships and how do they benefit you?  Follow us on IG at @therapediapodcast and let us know! 

Shout-Outs/Resources in this Episode:
- Everything Qveen Herby does
- My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
- Phoenix Rising
- Abbey Sharp
- Christy Harrison's Food Psych (podcast) & Anti-Diet (book)
NOTE: All episodes contain guided meditation and grounding.  Please skip these exercises if you're driving.  
RECORDED: 4/10/22

This week, Audriannah and Jenn continue their discussion from last week (Episode 221) about navigating life's big questions, like "What is my purpose?" or "What is the meaning of all of this suffering?" or "What the f*** is going on in the world?"   To help us with these questions, the ladies review the "Six Existential Propositions"  (Corey 2012), including how they may show up in therapy and in our lives as a whole.  Jenn and Audriannah share their thoughts and critiques about these propositions, and propose ways to utilize this model despite its shortcomings.

Which of the "Six Existential Propositions" speaks to you the most, and why?  Follow us on Instagram @therapediapodcast and let us know!

Journaling / Reflection Questions:
What situations or events have you experienced that helped you create meaning in your life - and how did the meaning get created?What gifts do you have to offer the world, and how are you using them?  If you’re not using them, what’s getting in your way?What is your understanding of the concept of a higher power?  How do you access it?Shout-Outs/Resources in this Episode:
- "Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy" by Gerald Corey
NOTE: All episodes contain guided meditation and grounding.  Please skip these exercises if you're driving.  
RECORDED: 3/25/22

Hey, did you notice there's a lot going on right now?  Are you wondering where you fit in all of this madness?  Us, too.   As therapists, Jenn and Audriannah are noticing a big-picture, "existential" flavor of processing going on in the therapy room.  In this two-part episode, Jenn and Audriannah explore how to navigate these big-picture questions while staying grounded and engaged.  The ladies discuss theoretical frameworks for understanding these existential questions as well as the role of therapy and coping skills to help you in this process.  

What big-picture questions are you asking yourself right now?  Follow us on Instagram @therapediapodcast and let us know!

NOTE: All episodes contain guided meditation and grounding.  Please skip these exercises if you're driving.  
RECORDED: 3/9/22

Research shows that what we expect or think will happen - in life, relationships, work, parenting, recovery, etc. - has a significant impact on how we will move through each moment.  In this week's episode, Audriannah and Jenn discuss the concept that became an internet meme:  expectations vs. reality.   The ladies examine how our unmet needs and expectations can contribute to anxiety, depression, codependency, and many other common issues -- as well as how to stay grounded in reality and roll with *fear of the unknown* with some solid coping skills.  Also, the ladies begin a new segment called "Show and Tell" where they share how they use those coping skills in real life. 

What unrealistic expectations have caused you difficulty in your life, and how do you stay grounded in reality?  Follow us on Instagram @therapediapodcast and let us know!

NOTE: All episodes contain guided meditation and grounding.  Please skip these exercises if you're driving.  
RECORDED: 2/23/22