Connecting U Podcast Season 6, Episode 1

We're back from our break! This episode features an introduction to therapy, addressing common fears and misconceptions, setting goals in therapy, and the importance of choosing the right therapist. Mayra also reflects on her 15-year therapy journey, emphasizing continuous self-improvement and adapting to life's seasons. Practical advice is given on how to find the right therapeutic fit and the value of therapy even when not in crisis.

00:00 Welcome to Season 6!

00:22 Exciting Family News

01:31 Therapists Have Anxieties Too

01:56 Understanding the Goal of Therapy

03:03 Personal Therapy Journey

06:33 The Importance of Continuous Therapy

14:47 Finding the Right Therapist

19:50 Signs of a Good Fit

26:51 Celebrating Small Wins in Therapy

28:22 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

28:35 Closing Prayer and Blessings

Mayra and Emily delve into tough life topics, focusing on how suppressed emotions like sadness and grief can manifest as anger. Sharing personal and client experiences, they discuss how anger can show up quietly, the importance of recognizing underlying issues, and methods for emotional regulation. Emphasizing mindfulness and restoration, they provide insight into coping with anger in a healthy way. They conclude with a hopeful message and a prayer for those facing life's struggles.

Mayra and Emily explore the complex realities of single parenting. They address the unexpected transitions that lead to single parenthood, such as divorce or widowhood, and emphasize the emotional and logistical challenges involved. Through personal anecdotes and broader reflections, they discuss the importance of redefining expectations and finding strength in the midst of adversity.

They highlight the misconceptions and stigmas surrounding single parents and the necessity of self-acceptance & emotional honesty. The episode concludes with encouragement for single parents to view their value and capability as sufficient. Everyone, regardless of marital status, needs community and support.

Mayra and Emily engage in a deep discussion on the complexities of divorce, sharing personal insights and professional observations. They explore how unaddressed grievances can lead to bitterness and the reasons why couples often struggle to communicate early on. They discuss the societal pressures and misinterpretations surrounding marriage and divorce, emphasizing that marriage is not a measure of success or failure but a covenant meant to humble and sanctify one's life.

The conversation covers the importance of understanding and addressing one's own role and healing needs in the relationship, as well as the consequences of ignoring red flags during dating. The episode concludes with a reflection on the healing process post-divorce and a prayer offering comfort and hope to those facing difficult times.

They stress the importance of compassion & recognizing addiction as a symptom of a larger issue. The conversation highlights the significance of saying 'no' to harmful habits while focusing on positive goals, attending appropriate therapy programs, and the necessity of community support. They also discuss the critical steps toward recovery, including honest self-assessment and humility. Ultimately, this episode emphasizes that the goal is not just sobriety but holistic healing, fostering healthier relationships and personal well-being.

Season 5 of the Connecting U Podcast focuses on hard truths in life. Episode 1 discusses the realities of grief & loss.

How can we wait productively for the big things in life? 

Mayra & Emily discuss the power of waiting well for what’s best for you. They talk about the intuition and conviction behind patience, particularly waiting on the Lord during difficult seasons. “Patience is the posture of the heart while you wait.” This includes being hopeful while single, getting back up after being discouraged, and believing that the plans for your life will be good. Ask yourself what is underneath the desires that you have & what is driving the questions that you are asking. Wait until the person in front of you aligns with those underlying needs, don’t settle at the first sign of something similar to it. Maintain your sense of identity & worth in the waiting so you are ready when your person arrives in your life; Avoid the trap of comparing yourself to someone else’s journey! Wait with your whole being, grieve when it doesn’t come, but focus on the morning that’s coming.

00:36 Personal Journey of Waiting

01:53 Biblical Perspectives on Waiting

04:38 Patience and Intuition in Waiting

06:02 Maintaining Hope and Faith

08:18 Practical Advice for Singles

13:33 The Role of Comparison and Social Pressure

16:57 Knowing When the Wait is Over

Tune in to Season 4: SINGLE & DATING for relatable conversations with Mayra, a licensed therapist, and Emily, who holds a bachelor’s in Psychology from Harvard. Hosts are @ Em.Robinsonnn and @ Mayra_Richards_ and @ ConnectingUPodcast on IG. YOUTUBE: Connecting U Podcast

The dating season is a learning season. Expect to be nervous if you really like this person. Going on dates is the prospect that your whole life could change after meeting this person. In a dating season, you should expect rejection & learn to push through it. Every ‘no’ gets you one step closer to your ‘yes.’

Feeling hopeless is normal when you really want something to work out, and it doesn’t. Rely on friends who can remind you that even if this specific person wasn’t for you, that doesn’t mean there’s not going to be somebody for you in the future. Everybody’s story is different. Don’t make someone else’s story into the expectation of what your reality should be. 

Don’t compromise your expectations just because you haven’t found someone yet. If you expect kindness, patience, and dedication from yourself, then you should be able to expect it in a partner. Take it one date at a time, and expect that it takes time to get to know someone. Say the things that matter to you out loud, remind yourself of them in times of hopelessness, and expect that they are out there waiting for you. The only person who has to expect your non-negotiables is you.

Tune in to Season 4: SINGLE & DATING for relatable conversations with Mayra, a licensed therapist, and Emily, who holds a bachelor’s in Psychology from Harvard. Hosts are @ Em.Robinsonnn and @ Mayra_Richards_ and @ ConnectingUPodcast on IG. YOUTUBE: Connecting U Podcast

In this episode of Single & Dating, Emily & Mayra discuss healthy expectations in dating. Expect good conversations on dates, expect to be treated well, regardless of whether or not the date goes well, and don’t settle for less. Look for effort, intentionality, and showing you that the date is a priority. Expect there to be a directness in dating; When someone likes you, they should be willing to tell you upfront, willing to risk the vulnerability of telling you, and ultimately free you from the confusion that you would otherwise feel. Expect dating the right person to be fun, refreshing, and to bring you a level of peace.

Give people the freedom to show you who they are, and believe what they tell you, even if it’s not what you wanted to hear. Think about what you want in the long-haul, and whether this person fits into and supports your dream for the future. Otherwise, you could end up shifting your life for this person, rather than waiting to find someone who wants the same things. Expect that who they are right now is going to be who they are for the rest of your life, unless they are already showing you the specific ways that they are growing and changing. Act based on what they are saying right now, not based on what you expect will change in the future. Do not expect anyone to change for you. Know what you want, stand by it, and expect that it’s out there waiting for you.

Tune in to Season 4: SINGLE & DATING for relatable conversations with Mayra, a licensed therapist, and Emily, who holds a bachelor’s in Psychology from Harvard. Hosts are @ Em.Robinsonnn and @ Mayra_Richards_ and @ RemainConnected on IG. TikTok @ ConnectingUPodcast. YOUTUBE: Connecting U Podcast

Mayra & Emily take a deep dive into the core beliefs that create negative or abusive dating experiences, such as shame, guilt, and fear of abandonment. Steps towards healing involve relying on your support group, going to therapy, and taking small steps every day to rewire your beliefs. You are capable of working on yourself, loving yourself, and believing you are worthy REGARDLESS of how you have been treated in the past.

Tune in to Season 4: SINGLE & DATING for relatable conversations with Mayra, a licensed therapist, and Emily, who holds a bachelor’s in Psychology from Harvard. Hosts are @ Em.Robinsonnn and @ Mayra_Richards_ and @ RemainConnected on IG. TikTok @ ConnectingUPodcast. YOUTUBE: Connecting U Podcast