By Jen Alley, Therapist
5
1818 ratings
The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.
The holidays are here—and while they can be magical, they can also take a real toll on our mental health. Between the Hallmark-worthy fantasies and the messy realities of family drama, unmet expectations, and endless obligations, it’s no wonder so many of us feel anxious, overwhelmed, or even downright depleted during the “most wonderful time of the year.”
For some, the season brings an even deeper layer of challenge—grief, loneliness, or navigating the first holiday without a loved one. If that resonates with you, know that you’re not alone, and we’ll explore those topics in an upcoming episode.
In today’s episode, we’re focusing on the everyday mental health stressors of the holidays. We’ll unpack practical strategies to protect your peace, set boundaries, and focus on what truly matters.
Resources:
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Boundaries: The Mental Health Coach Episodes 40 and 41
Gratitude: The Mental Health Coach Episode 33
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
Crisis hotlines: Text HOME to 741741 (for any crisis) 24/7 hotline
Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org (suicide and crisis lifeline) 24/7
The holidays are here—and while they can be magical, they can also take a real toll on our mental health. Between the Hallmark-worthy fantasies and the messy realities of family drama, unmet expectations, and endless obligations, it’s no wonder so many of us feel anxious, overwhelmed, or even downright depleted during the “most wonderful time of the year.”
For some, the season brings an even deeper layer of challenge—grief, loneliness, or navigating the first holiday without a loved one. If that resonates with you, know that you’re not alone, and we’ll explore those topics in an upcoming episode.
In today’s episode, we’re focusing on the everyday mental health stressors of the holidays. We’ll unpack practical strategies to protect your peace, set boundaries, and focus on what truly matters.
Resources:
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Boundaries: The Mental Health Coach Episodes 40 and 41
Gratitude: The Mental Health Coach Episode 33
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
Crisis hotlines: Text HOME to 741741 (for any crisis) 24/7 hotline
Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org (suicide and crisis lifeline) 24/7
With the holiday season around the corner, it’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of events, obligations, and expectations. But what if there was a way to feel more grounded, more connected, and less overwhelmed through it all? Today, we’re talking about the power of knowing your values—both personal and family values—and how they can serve as a compass to guide you not just during the holidays, but in every part of your life. Imagine making decisions that feel true to who you are, setting boundaries that honor what matters most, and creating a home environment that reflects what you and your loved ones truly stand for.
Resources:
https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/
Episode 20: Tired of Living On Autopilot? Incorporate THIS to Help You Live With More Purpose and Intention.
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
We’re kicking off a series on navigating mental and relational health during the holiday season. For many, the holidays can bring anxiety, sadness, grief, and loneliness. Today, we're diving into something that many of us feel but don’t always talk about—holiday stress. Why can this season, which is often advertised as "the most wonderful time of the year," feel so challenging and emotionally draining for so many of us? If you're feeling the weight of the holiday season creeping up, you're not alone. Today, we’ll explore some of the common sources of holiday stress and share strategies to help you navigate this time of year with more peace and intention.
Resources:
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
Today is National Stress Awareness Day – a day to recognize the effects of stress on our lives and learn how to recognize, manage, and reduce it. This episode will help you define stress, understand the impact of chronic stress, encourage you to create a self-care plan as part of your normal routine to promote resilience, and teach you ways to help your body move into safety once you are in stress.
Resources:
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
Conflict is inevitable in any close relationship. What's important isn't that we avoid rupture but the desire, skillset, and ability to repair. In this episode, we’re diving into what it means to experience rupture and repair in relationships—and how this can build resilience, deepen intimacy, and foster personal growth. We’ll explore why ruptures happen, how to recognize when they occur, and outline practical steps to repair and rebuild with the people who matter most to us.
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
Did you know that the U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness a public health crisis, with risks as serious as smoking and obesity? Loneliness affects millions of adults, posing real risks to both mental and physical health. In this episode, we’ll uncover why loneliness is so prevalent, how our fast-paced lives and digital connections can often make things worse, and, most importantly, steps to build fulfilling adult friendships that support well-being.
Resources:
Brené Brown on building trust/the marble jar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6442YcvEUH8
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
Welcome to this episode of The Mental Health Coach podcast! This week is OCD Awareness Week, and we’re diving into an important conversation about obsessive-compulsive disorder with a special guest, Carrie Bock. Carrie is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in helping people navigate the challenges of OCD. Together, we’ll explore the difference between OCD and anxiety, what exacerbates symptoms of OCD, how it impacts people's lives, and what effective treatment looks like.
OCD Awareness Week is dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing education about OCD. People with OCD often experience significant distress and impairment in their daily functioning due to their symptoms and around 1/3 of people with OCD do not receive the treatment that they need. Many misconceptions surround the disorder, and this week is an opportunity to provide important information about OCD while dispelling myths and encouraging those who are struggling to seek the treatment they need. Whether you're seeking a better understanding of OCD or looking for ways to support someone with it, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Let’s dive in!
About Our Guest:
Carrie Bock, LPC
www.carriebock.com
Podcast: Christian Faith and OCD
Instagram: @christianfaithandocd
Hi friend!
If you're ready to feel more present and less stressed, the first step is identifying the practices that work best for you and making them a priority. That's why I created a free guide: 5 Steps to Discover and Implement Your Non-Negotiables: A Busy Parent’s Guide to Feeling Less Overwhelmed and More Present.
This guide will help you uncover what you need to feel grounded and give you a plan to make it part of your daily life.
Get your free copy today!
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
Did you know that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year? For many, that translates into daily struggles with conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, among others. And yet, nearly 50% of those with a mental illness don’t receive treatment. Stigma, lack of access, or simply not knowing where to begin keeps many people from seeking the help they need.
In this episode, I will address commonly asked questions and concerns regarding mental health and how to seek help including:
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
Last week on the podcast, we had my long-time mentor, friend, and colleague, Juliane Taylor Shore on to talk about her book, Setting Boundaries that Stick. Since that conversation, I have continued to think about boundaries and wanted to highlight a few takeaways from our conversation and also share some other thoughts I have been having about how boundaries are so important, especially as we navigate caring for ourselves, our families, and our relationships.
In this episode, we will discuss:
Want to work with me?
You can learn about the services I offer at www.jenalley.com
The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.
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