Going to therapy can be scary. You sit across from a stranger, trust them your inner most thoughts and rely on them to help navigate you through some of life's most crucial moments. Ever wonder what it is like from the therapist's perspective? Here with us, to address questions from a therapist's expertise and perspective, is special guest Jasper Lee.  Jasper Lee, MS is a fifth year doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Miami. He specializes in health psychology and has worked at the University of Miami outpatient clinic and the Miami VA, treating depression, anxiety, substance use, post-traumatic stress, and many other problems. Please join us in welcoming him to our podcast. 👏👏👏

It is story time! Bethany had to deal with an unplanned exposure exercise. This week we are talking about what happened and how she dealt. 

Today we discuss planning ahead for upcoming family events (e.g. weddings, family reunions, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and more). Anxiety surrounding get togethers and travel plans aren't new, but planning them during a pandemic is. Should we get together? What is a safe way to do so? Is travel okay? Carrah and Bethany begin this conversation by planning ahead—in bite sized amounts—how they are going to cope with decision-making and increased stressors surrounding this year's holidays and events.

This week we discuss our issues with sleep and how anxiety, to-do lists, and current events keep us up at night. They are the monsters under our bed and the sheep in our head—will they ever let us get to bed?

Bethany's husband makes a guest appearance on this week's episode as we discuss staying socially connected while maintaining physical distance. We also touch on the importance of socialization in mental (and physical) health.

This bonus episode will allow you the chance to try Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) as read from TherapistAid.com. The script can be found at https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/progressive-muscle-relaxation-script.