The Convenient Counselor

This is the first in a two-part discussion about how the right questions can help you establish much-needed boundaries in your life. Learn the 3 questions that can help you get "unstuck" and regulated before you make any decisions about a relationship!

Ever wondered if you're just in a rough season...or if something more is going on? In this episode, we're pulling apart two things that often get lumped together: chronic overwhelm and depression. They can look similar from the outside (tired, foggy, irritable) but feel very different on the inside. We'll talk through what sets them apart, the questions to ask yourself, and why naming what you're actually experiencing is the first step toward real relief, not just pushing through.

FB and IG: @brianaleachlpc

You started tracking your sleep, your steps, your water, your gratitude...all to feel better. So why does it feel like one more job you're failing at?

In this episode, Briana names the exhaustion hiding underneath wellness culture's obsession with optimization, and offers practical tools to help challenge this mentality. This one's for the listener who loves a good system but is quietly drowning in metrics.

References:
Psalm 46:10

Episode 3 - "5,5,5" https://www.buzzsprout.com/275153/episodes/1645342

It's time for another round of Q&A! In this episode, Briana gives thoughtful answers to two listener-submitted questions:

"What's the difference between being chronically overwhelmed and actually being depressed?"

"Is there a question you get asked so often you could answer it in your sleep?" :)

Submit a question for future Q&A episodes at brianaleach.com, or DM on socials: @brianaleachlpc

Sunsets get earlier, school supplies are purchased, and spontaneous pool parties are winding down...the transition from summer to fall can bring mixed emotions for sure, and you deserve to process! In this brief episode, Briana provides four introspective questions to help you assess important parts of the summer to fall transition.

Welcome to our new game show, Name...That...Boundary! Okay not really, but if you leave personal boundaries up to a game of chance (or expecting others to mind read), it's easy to see why resentment and frustration might appear often.

In this episode, Briana clarifies the role of boundaries and why they MUST be named in order to have the chance to be respected. You're not alone if this is a struggle, and she explores why it can sometimes be hard to name boundaries.

Website: brianaleach.com
IG and FB: @brianaleachlpc

YES THIS IS THE CORRECT PODCAST! Don't be confused - this podcast was first named "Grace in Progress," so that's what you will hear in this throwback episode, and we are going all the way back to 2019 for this one! This information feels even more relevant today as I have so many people in my life walking through heavy seasons and relying on vital friendships like the ones mentioned in this episode.

We all have many different types of friends (acquaintances, coworkers, neighbors, etc), but this episode dives into a special type of friend that I call a "mat carrier," based on the miracle story in Mark 2. Learn what this important friend looks like with 5 characteristics of a mat carrier, and how to recognize/apply these characteristics in your life.

Bible verse:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202:1-12;&version=NIV

You might be surprised during this episode as we unpack the top three myths of people-pleasing...the ones that feel like virtues but cost you more than you realize. Whether you've been carrying this pattern for years or you're just starting to notice it, this conversation will help you name what's really going on and take one step toward something freer!

Website: brianaleach.com

IG and FB: @brianaleachlpc

YES THIS IS THE CORRECT PODCAST! Don't be confused - this podcast was first named "Grace in Progress," so that's what you will hear in this throwback episode!! The #2 most downloaded episode of this podcast, I thought revisiting this mindfulness tool would be helpful during a busy summer season!

Learn and start to use a tool I use EVERY. DAY. (5,5,5) to help you with reacting vs. responding to situations!

Links referenced:
"React vs. Respond: What's the Difference?"
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/focus-forgiveness/201609/react-vs-respond

The reason summer can feel hard for parents (and anyone who typically has a school schedule) has nothing to do with your attitude and everything to do with your nervous system. School-year structure was quietly keeping you regulated...and then summer yanked it away!

New episode breaking down what creative self-care actually looks like when your normal tools aren't available. 🎙️

#selfcare #summertime #parenting #nervoussystem #regulation #mentalhealth