198 episodes

Therapy in a Nutshell
Mental Health Skills in concise packages
Emma McAdam, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist shares mental health skills in concise packages.

Therapy in a Nutshell Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.8 • 415 Ratings

Therapy in a Nutshell
Mental Health Skills in concise packages
Emma McAdam, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist shares mental health skills in concise packages.

    What is Executive Function - And Why is Executive Dysfunction so bad for Mental Health?

    What is Executive Function - And Why is Executive Dysfunction so bad for Mental Health?

    Executive Function Coach Sean McCormick's Website: https://www.efspecialists.com/
    OK, here’s the thing, you (or someone you know) might have been diagnosed with ADHD, Depression, PTSD, or Anxiety, (because like 30% of the US has had a diagnosis like this). Or even more likely, you might struggle with impulse control, or procrastination, or getting stuff done. Maybe you feel overwhelmed or you’re not reaching your goals. And both the internet and professionals are quick to give you a big diagnosis, like ADHD or Anxiety…But what if it might be more helpful to think of it differently? What if we could describe the cause of your symptoms in a much more specific, actionable way? I cannot say it loudly enough how important it is to learn about Executive Function, because when you do you might be amazed to find out that you have a specific name for a specific problem that has a specific set of skills that actually solve that problem. THIS is why we’re going to talk about what the heck is Executive Function and 6 things you can do to improve your Executive Functioning Skills Executive function is a set of mental skills coordinated in the brain’s frontal lobe that sorts through information, delays gratification, manages thoughts and emotions and decides what is most important and helps you take action toward your goals instead of just what you feel like doing. Yeah, it’s pretty darn important.
    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

    • 16 min
    Finding Purpose and Meaning to Overcome Anxiety - Day 29 Break the Anxiety Cycle

    Finding Purpose and Meaning to Overcome Anxiety - Day 29 Break the Anxiety Cycle

    Break the Anxiety Cycle in 30 Days: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/anxietyskills
    Do you want to learn How to Process Emotions and improve your Mental Health? Sign up for a Therapy in a Nutshell Membership, you'll get access to all of Emma’s courses, workbooks, and a Live Q and A with 100’s of exclusive videos: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership
    If you were to ask most people what they want from life, the average answer you would get is “I just want to be happy.” If you would ask most people what they would want for their kids you might get two answers “I just want them to be happy” or “I want them to be successful so they can be happy”. We are drowning in a culture of happiness. 4000 books a year are written on happiness. Google searches for happiness have exponentially increased. Products promise happiness. Food commercials promise happiness. And happiness is extolled as the highest virtue.
    But here’s the interesting thing. What if I could promise you that I could create a tank, an amazing tank that you could program to feel any experience in the entire world. Pleasure, success, anything you dream of, and this experience would feel 100% real inside the tank. You could be the world's best athlete, olympic gold medalist, world cup champion, you could be the world's bestselling author, you could be the sexiest man alive or the most adventurous explorer, and while you were in the tank it would feel 100% real. You would feel happy. You would only have to leave the tank briefly to choose the next happy experience, and then you could go right back in. Would you choose this life for yourself? Would you choose this life for your kids? Even though the vast majority of people would say that happiness is their goal, when presented with the option to experience decades of “happiness” in the tank, most people would reject “the Tank” because deep down, they know that there is something much more valuable. A life with purpose, with meaning, with authenticity.
    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.churchofjesuschris

    • 27 min
    Guided Meditation - The Container Method - for Processing Trauma, PTSD and Intense Emotions

    Guided Meditation - The Container Method - for Processing Trauma, PTSD and Intense Emotions

    Do you want to learn How to Process Emotions and improve your Mental Health? Sign up for a Therapy in a Nutshell Membership, you'll get access to all of Emma’s courses, workbooks, and a Live Q and A with 100’s of exclusive videos: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership
    Check out my FREE course Grounding Skills for Anxiety and Trauma: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd/
    Do you tend to avoid thinking about difficult emotions or memories? Have you heard it’s unhealthy to just “stuff down” all the hard things? In this video, I’ll present a helpful strategy to use in order to slowly and deliberately work on distressing emotions and memories. And it’s a resource that trauma therapists use all the time to help people. PTSD and Trauma can create overwhelming feelings. The container method is a way to slow down the processing of them until you are in a safe place. It's often used with other trauma-healing approaches like EMDR, CBT, or other forms of therapy.
    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

    • 6 min
    The Container Method for Processing Trauma, PTSD and Intense Emotions

    The Container Method for Processing Trauma, PTSD and Intense Emotions

    Do you want to learn How to Process Emotions and improve your Mental Health? Sign up for a Therapy in a Nutshell Membership, you'll get access to all of Emma’s courses, workbooks, and a Live Q and A with 100’s of exclusive videos: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership
    Check out my FREE course Grounding Skills for Anxiety and Trauma: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd/
    Do you tend to avoid thinking about difficult emotions or memories? Have you heard it’s unhealthy to just “stuff down” all the hard things? In this video, I’ll present a helpful strategy to use in order to slowly and deliberately work on distressing emotions and memories. And it’s a resource that trauma therapists use all the time to help people. PTSD and Trauma can create overwhelming feelings. The container method is a way to slow down the processing of them until you are in a safe place. It's often used with other trauma-healing approaches like EMDR, CBT, or other forms of therapy.
    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

    • 16 min
    What Agoraphobia REALLY is, and how to overcome it

    What Agoraphobia REALLY is, and how to overcome it

    In this video we’re going to talk about agoraphobia, some common misconceptions, and what kind of treatment works. By the end of the video you’ll learn 5 steps to overcoming agoraphobia, and you’ll hear from someone who did it.
    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

    • 12 min
    Boundaries for Anxious Folk - Day 28 Break the Anxiety Cycle

    Boundaries for Anxious Folk - Day 28 Break the Anxiety Cycle

    Do you want to learn how to process emotions and improve your mental health? Sign up for a Therapy in a Nutshell Membership. You'll get access to all of Emma’s courses, workbooks, and a live Q and A with 100’s of exclusive videos: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership
    People with anxiety often struggle with boundaries, and that’s partly because setting a boundary makes them anxious and not holding a boundary makes them anxious. And because many people with anxiety are sensitive and empathetic, they’re more likely to sacrifice their own needs and wants than to set boundaries on others. If you tend to be anxious, I bet the thought of setting boundaries makes you cringe a little. Someone with anxiety might say yes to every request at work, they might take on too many tasks, get overwhelmed, and feel stressed and exhausted because they didn’t say no. Relationships require a lot of boundaries, on your space, on your time, on your body and resources. And that’s just normal for healthy relationships, but dealing with toxic people requires even more intense boundary setting. If you want to manage depression or anxiety, you need to set boundaries.
    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

    • 15 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
415 Ratings

415 Ratings

Lehighan12 ,

Wonderful Mental Health Resource

I am new to the therapy-sphere and was looking for free resources while I learned what kind of therapy might suit my needs related to anxiety. Emma’s straight forward, no-nonsense, kind and empathetic approach to therapy techniques has been life changing. Learning about negativity bias, avoidance and CBT (to name a few!) has made a huge difference in my mental health. I no longer feel alone in my experiences and I’m no longer scared of these sometimes overwhelming feelings. Quite literally, Emma has taught me how to get better at feeling and I’m so grateful. Also grateful that a lot of the material is free, but there’s an option to purchase courses if I want to go more in depth on any subject. Keep on keeping on, Emma, and thank you so very much!
~ L from Ohio

AmberBillerica ,

So very helpful

Honest, direct, and straightforward. I really like this podcast!!!

The Players Coach ,

Easy to understand

I recently found this podcast and started to really do a deep dive on it after listening to a couple of episodes! I’ve even taken some of the content I’ve learned here and shared it with my clients. So if you’re looking to improve your mental health, check out this podcast!

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