In this episode of Triangle Theory, we sat down with psychotherapist and bestselling author Rick Carson to explore the mind’s quiet saboteur - the Gremlin. Through decades of clinical work and teaching, Carson has helped countless people recognise, understand, and disarm the inner voice that fuels self-doubt and emotional paralysis.

This conversation goes far beyond surface-level self-help. Rick shares the psychological mechanisms behind negative self-talk, how the Gremlin disguises itself as “rational thinking,” and what it truly means to observe your mind without getting tangled in its stories. The hosts dig into practical exercises from Taming Your Gremlin, the art of gentle awareness, and how counseling and psychotherapy can empower authentic living.

Listeners will walk away with strategies to:

- Recognise their own Gremlin in action

- Reclaim authority over inner narratives

- Cultivate self-compassion and calm presence

- Navigate moments of self-sabotage with curiosity, not judgment

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Find more about Rick's Work:

https://tamingyourgremlin.com/

In this episode, we discussed:

00:00 - Intro

01:29 - The Catalyst for Psychotherapy

07:01 - The Power of Simply Noticing

10:51 - Understanding Awareness and Reaction

15:33 - The Gremlin Concept and Personal Experience

17:08 - Connecting with Inner Child

26:59 - Experiencing Presence and Healing

28:29 - Releasing Energy and Insight

30:47 - The Gremlin Timing Method

32:49 - Understanding the Natural You

34:38 - The Heart of Authenticity

38:21 - Awareness and Authenticity

40:17 - Breathwork and Centring

43:24 - The Importance of Breath

46:18 - Language and Self-Perception

50:30 - Cultivating Present Awareness

54:14 - Rituals for Mindfulness

56:30 - Navigating Catastrophic Thinking

58:13 - Confronting Fear and Regret

01:00:32 - Letting Go of Resentment and Self-Concepts

01:02:33 - Navigating the Unknown and Authenticity

01:08:19 - Creating Rewarding Relationships

01:15:55 - Understanding Life's Unpredictability and Expectations

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