Whether you've been considering therapy for a while, or you're a seasoned therapy vet, you'll want to listen in to today's podcast episode. I'm sharing all the things I wish I could tell my clients before they come to therapy for the first time, and some of them may surprise you! For more information on working with a therapist, visit www.selfcarebestie.com.

If you're in need of some ideas for self-care you've come to the right place...especially if you've got a little more time on your hands than usual. The weekend is the perfect time for a little more robust self-care practice so listen up, take note, and start planning your perfect self-care weekend with the help of this episode!

Elizabeth Edwards talks about the power of "adjusting your sails" if the weather doesn't seem to be changing. With all that's going on in the world right now (not to mention what's going on in your own life), it may be worthwhile to figure out to some solutions to some problems we are facing. In today's episode, I'm sharing some ways to brainstorm solutions to your problems and start implementing them to increase your peace and joy, regardless of your circumstances.

Connecting deeply through intentional conversation is an important part of self-care. This list of 20 questions to explore with your loved ones, be they family or friends, will help you nourish your relationships and maybe even learn something new about someone you care about! Learn more on my website, selfcarebestie.com

Whether you feel inundated with guilt over things you can’t control, anxiety about things that may or may not happen in the future, or unexplained sadness when a disturbing “what if” scenario suddenly springs to mind, we have all been there at some point or another.

What separates a normal amount of intrusive thoughts from something worthy of a clinical diagnosis is what you do with those thoughts when they happen. A person with OCD or another type of anxiety disorder will typically be run away with these thoughts, making their present task extremely difficult or downright impossible. So let’s spend some time chatting about coping skills, shall we? There is so much to share about these unwanted thoughts, but for today’s episode I will stick to the basics.

If you've had a major life event cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus and social distancing, you're not alone. Today's episode of the Self Care Bestie Podcast will validate, support, and encourage you if you're feeling disappointed or discouraged. Feel free to reach out to me through my website selfcarebestie.com if you would like additional support during this crazy time!

Call a therapist. This is what we do – we are skilled at untangling your thoughts and offering helpful guidance when you need it most. You don’t have to go through this alone.

Second, I’d like to recommend a journaling prompt that can help you show up as your best self during this quarantine, or any other situation you’d like to apply it to. If you’re going through a hard time, or just have a lot to do in a day, this journaling prompt will help ease your anxiety and direct you to the next right thing (who doesn’t love a good Frozen II reference, right?).

Take 5 minutes to write about the struggles you may be facing as you and your loved ones are living, working, and well, spending every waking hour together for the forseeable future. Write in the present tense, and write as if you are writing a story. Here’s the kicker: write yourself in as the hero, not the victim.

Self care doesn't have to be something you do by yourself! Whether you're stuck at home during this coronavirus quarantine, or you simply want to share self care with a partner or spouse (or even your kids!) you will love this episode! I'm sharing all sorts of ways to create a self care date night (or day) so that you and your loved ones can feel your very best!

One of the questions I get asked most as a therapist is: how do I set boundaries without feeling like a jerk? No one wants to be perceived as selfish or make others feel bad, but it's also reasonable for you to set boundaries with people you love. So how do you find the balance? I'm telling you everything you need to know about setting boundaries from a therapist's perspective in today's episode!

How do you get to know yourself better? And why does it matter if you know yourself well? I'll be answering these questions and sharing a one day experiment in mindfulness you can use to get to know yourself better and increase your peace in the process!

If you have questions, you can reach out via email: [email protected] OR find me on Instagram: @self_care_bestie