Can working hard, doing your best, and accomplishing much actually serve as a detriment in life? How might being a good person, treating others with respect, and living well periodically come back to bite you? And should any of this be true, what can one do to combat it? Both sides of the therapeutic spectrum join forces to weigh in on this one. 

For as much as we want full control over our lives and destiny, reality is constantly getting in the way. And if 2020 hasn't already proven that to us all, then perhaps nothing else will. Sometimes, it's other people who can also get that grip on our peace of mind and well-being. What are the healthiest ways to work around said outside forces?

Before a patient can fix oneself, character flaws must be both recognized and acknowledged. Perspective on and perception of one's strengths and weaknesses can very often be a difficult first step. But not every perceived negative is specifically/only that. How can a therapist most effectively shine a light on all of this, and what work needs to be done by both parties to manage it all?

From a mental health perspective, 2020 is the year of, "One thing after another." A single major challenge can be debilitating enough on its own. But as others continue to add up, shutting down/checking out can disturbingly become all too easy. What can a patient do to maintain hope and stay motivated? And how can a therapist be of assistance in that process?

As referenced in part 1, Brian's emotionally raw tribute to his mom, less than 36-hours after witnessing his mother's gut-wrenching/COVID-related passing.

Brian's 3-week absence from the podcast is due to the tragic passing of his beautiful mom, Barbara -- a heartbreaking victim of COVID-19. It was an experience further complicated by his father's own battle with the pandemic, planning her memorial around all of that, a COVID scare of his own, and preexisting dysfunction which only became exacerbated by it all. How did therapy get him through it? What role did Courtney play? And how can others learn from said experience? This is an episode not to be missed.

Ben DeCastro, pinch-hitting for Brian one more time! Empathy is key, not only in everyday life, but particularly in the world of a professional therapist. What is the most effective way for them, and the rest of us, to practice and apply it, when it's needed most?

Ben is in for Brian for the foreseeable future. And sometimes, it's all about changing your brain to cope with what the world is dealing from a madness perspective -- especially during a pandemic.

Ben DeCastro fills in for Brian this week, as he and Courtney discuss the pitfalls of crisis fatigue (and its effects on all of us), with the pandemic now hitting the 6-month mark.

"Rock bottom" from a depression perspective can perhaps best be described in one word: "hopelessness." Said headspace is potentially a very dangerous place to be. Taking that first step into a therapist's office may represent a flicker of hope. What must a mental health professional do to fan that flame, and how willing of a participant must a patient be to keep that fire burning?