Free Association The Podcast

We are so excited to have our first, non-therapist guest on here (Taylor doesn't count). Our buddy Madison is here to eloquently share about her mental health journey. We talk to our teenage selves, to each other, and to ghosts. Listen to relate, possibly cry, and learn why only five sharks die a year! Visit Madison's website, glasscactus.wixsite.com/artwork or follow her @glass.cactus.artwork.

Everyone in life is searching for the Perfect Fit. Whether this be in your relationships, profession, or in that pair of nude velvet heels that are perfect for a wedding you're in but OF COURSE not in your size. We digress. Today, we're talking about finding the Perfect Fit in terms of which type of therapy you might find most helpful. If you're confused about what to look into in terms of taking care of your mental health, you've come to the right place.

This one is a listener request--and we couldn't think of a punny title for a subject so ever-present in our lives. We talk about how mental health is portrayed in the media, particularly within the shows and movies that we come across daily. Here are the tropes and triumphs, the stereotypes and spearheaders that the public absorbs constantly. We hope it helps you look at what you consume with a more critical eye (but ofc we still want you to go ahead and binge 90 Day Fiance with abandon).

Boundaries and expectations and needs--oh my! This week we dive into how we know what's best for us, and how we notify others of it. Boundaries are tough to find and tough to keep, just like friends. Listen to two good friends talk about our pasts and what we need for our future. As always, thanks for listening.

...Well, it's about thought traps, anyway. This episode we talk about cognitive distortions--or, from what one of our sources call it, "stinkin' thinkin'." We talk about our coping skills (both deep and shallow), irrational thoughts we frequent (but don't say that to our faces), and ways to combat them (non-violently). Stop those thoughts in their traps.

Hello, dear listeners. If you've been wondering why we put you through that horrible hiatus last month, we explain it in this episode (it wasn't our fault)! You'll relate if you've ever been through heartbreak, grief, and self-discovery. Send Haley some love for sharing her vulnerable and enlightening experience...and as always, we love you for listening.

Hi, Mimi! (And everyone else). It's good to be back! Thank you for putting up with our hiatus--we were dealing with life--and welcome back. We're talking about attachment styles--Anxious/Preoccupied, Secure, Avoidant/Dismissive, and Preoccupied/Anxious. Get ready to overanalyze yourself and your partner/anyone you've ever been with! It'll be fun, we promise. We missed you.

Links:

http://the-love-compass.com/about-the-love-compass-erica-djossa/

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/

Sometimes therapy isn't what you expect and the reasons you go change over time. This week we are exploring the directions and hope to go.

"Burnout" has become a trend-setting buzzword in the mental health field and in the media in the past few years. Much like its cousin term, "mindfulness". It's thrown out a lot in the world and grad programs alike, but what does it even mean? This week, we did research *gasp* and we analyzed our own habits and lives. Will you sit with us at the burnout table?

It's the moment you've all been waiting for, Lacey is ready to talk about her transition to her new job! Grab your tissues and pull up a seat, it's time to learn the honest truth about what it's like to follow your gut. And you're going to want to save this episode because chances are your future self is going to need to hear the things she is about to say.