Psychologists Off the Clock

262. Hope and Values in Dark Times with Us

Listen Later

The world is chock full of bad news right now, and many are feeling the impacts. From war to revocation of rights, the world around us can easily (and not unreasonably) feel hopeless. On this week’s episode of POTC, Debbie, Yael, Jill, and Michael come together to discuss the psychological impact of the socio-political climate as well as practical advice for navigating these difficult times. Join us in this episode to learn expert-approved strategies for fostering hope and compassion in times of anger, using anger in values-oriented ways, distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy avoidance, and much more today. 


Listen and Learn:

  • The psychological impact of the socio-political climate
  • Practical advice for living consistently with your values during hard times
  • The validity in feeling numb, detaching, and isolating
  • Important distinctions in healthy and unhealthy avoidance
  • Expert-approved strategies for using anger in healthy ways
  • The cognitive load of uncertainty and practical advice for tolerating it
  • Evidence-based methods for fostering hope and taking action
  • Role-models who endured hopelessness with bravery and compassion
  • The strategies the POTC team uses to foster hope in their personal lives
  • How to balance feelings of guilt and shame
  • Practical advice for deciding when it’s time for self-care and when it’s time for taking action
  • Expert-approved strategies for staying informed without burning out or doom scrolling
  • How to have difficult conversations about heavy socio-political topics with even the most difficult of people
  • Clarifying your values by finding the grains of sugar in life


    • Resources:

    • Read Melinda Moyer’s article, The 'Psychic Numbing" of Mass Tragedies 
    • Read Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams’ book, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times 
    • Check out Michael in his cow hat and with Jane Goodall!
    • Grab your copy of all our favorite books at bookshop.org/shop/offtheclockpsych.
    • Check out Debbie, Diana, Yael, and Jill’s websites to access their offerings, sign up for their newsletters, buy their books, and more! 


      • About our team:


      Debbie Sorensen, PhD, (she/her) is a psychologist in private practice in Denver, Colorado She is co-author of ACT Daily Journal: Get Unstuck and Live Fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. You can learn more about Debbie, read her blog, and find out about upcoming presentations and training events at her webpage, drdebbiesorensen.com.


      Yael Schonbrun, PhD, (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Brown University. Yael’s book, Work, Parent, Thrive comes out in November and is available for pre-order now!


      Jill Stoddard, PhD, (she/her) is a clinical psychologist and author of The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Be Mighty: A Woman’s Guide to Liberation from Anxiety, Worry, and Stress Using Mindfulness and Acceptance. 


      Michael Herold (he/him) is the head coach at The Art of Charm and a public speaker and speaker coach. Clients he has coached for presentations have been featured on NBC, Fast Company, Forbes, and the Oprah Winfrey Network.


      Related Episodes:

      • Episode 201. Fierce Compassion with Kristin Neff 
      • Episode 214. How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Jerks with Melinda Wenner Moyer 
      • Episode 168. Everyday Conversations: How Conversational Style Impacts Relationships with Deborah Tannen 
      • Episode 260. Health Anxiety with Karen Lynn Cassiday 
      • Episode 230. The Laziness Lie with Devon Price 
      • Episode 259. Rethinking Delusions with Victoria Sheperd

        • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        Psychologists Off the ClockBy Debbie Sorensen, Jill Stoddard, Yael Schonbrun, Michael Herold & Emily Edlynn
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6

        4.6

        306 ratings

        More shows like Psychologists Off the Clock

        View all
        Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

        Good Life Project

        3,292 Listeners

        The Trauma Therapist by Guy Crawford Macpherson

        The Trauma Therapist

        529 Listeners

        Therapy Chat by Laura Reagan, LCSW-C

        Therapy Chat

        677 Listeners

        10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

        10% Happier with Dan Harris

        12,521 Listeners

        Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

        Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

        2,429 Listeners

        Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

        Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

        616 Listeners

        Therapist Uncensored Podcast by Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP & Ann Kelley PhD

        Therapist Uncensored Podcast

        1,388 Listeners

        The Couples Therapist Couch by Shane Birkel

        The Couples Therapist Couch

        267 Listeners

        Attachment Theory in Action by The Knowledge Center

        Attachment Theory in Action

        149 Listeners

        Light Up The Couch by Clearly Clinical

        Light Up The Couch

        315 Listeners

        The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast by Tammy Sollenberger

        The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast

        273 Listeners

        Adult Child by Andrea

        Adult Child

        1,782 Listeners

        We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

        We Can Do Hard Things

        41,333 Listeners

        Evidence-Based: A New Harbinger Psychology Podcast by New Harbinger Publications

        Evidence-Based: A New Harbinger Psychology Podcast

        52 Listeners

        Mother Mayhem: For Daughters of Narcissistic or Emotionally Limited Mothers by Heather Gray, LICSW

        Mother Mayhem: For Daughters of Narcissistic or Emotionally Limited Mothers

        192 Listeners