Worry is an understandable response when you’re not sure how something you care about is going to turn out. But worry can become self-perpetuating, eating up your mental bandwidth and creating unnecessary tension over things you can’t control. In this episode Joel and I share some of the best-tested approaches for freeing your mind from the trap of worry.

For more daily practices to manage stress and worry all year, here’s the link to my latest book that Joel and I discussed: Your Daily Reset.

Many people are turning to AI for support, and even for therapy. These technologies are low-cost, seemingly empathic, always available, and draw on a vast store of knowledge. In this episode Joel and I explore the safety and effectiveness of AI as a therapist.

Changing your thoughts can be a powerful way to greater well-being. But too much of a focus on thinking can keep you stuck in your head and get in the way of meaningful action. In this episode Joel and I explore how to find the balance between the cognitive and the behavioral elements of CBT.

How can you find more peace in each day, even when things aren't going exactly the way you want them to? Joel and I discuss many ways to cope with life's daily struggles, from changing our perspective to removing the source of predictable problems. You can't eliminate daily hassles, but you can experience a lot less stress and strain.

Therapy is a big investment of time, finances, and energy. How can you make your time in therapy as productive as possible? How can you prepare for your sessions, and apply what you’ve learned to the rest of your life? And how do you choose a therapist in the first place? Joel and I explore these questions and more as we consider how you can get more out of every therapy session.

Therapy is a place where you can say things you wouldn't share anywhere else. But what if you're afraid of what your therapist is going to think of you? Joel and I explore common fears that come up in psychotherapy, what's behind them, and how to address them so they don't get in the way.

There's nothing more important for your well-being than having good relationships. But countless people find themselves feeling isolated and alone, with few real friends. Joel and I explore effective ways to meet new people, including how to address common obstacles like anxiety and depression. Discover small, practical steps you can take toward building more connection in your daily life.

Out-of-control anxiety can dominate your thoughts and direct your actions. In this conversation Joel and I explore many effective ways to tame anxiety so you can live more freely. Use these practices every day to loosen the grip of anxious thoughts and feelings and find greater peace.

The practices we discuss come from my just-released book, Your Daily Reset. This guide offers 366 exercises for managing stress and anxiety, one for every day of the year. If you use one of these links, some of the purchase price will go toward supporting this podcast, at no additional cost to you: Amazon Bookshop .

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is dealing with a child’s challenging emotions. Many of the same skills that help in your relationship with your child can also help in managing your own feelings. In this episode Joel and I explore how to diffuse difficult emotions rather than adding fuel to the fire, integrating firmness and warmth, and investing in a long-term relationship with yourself.

Your mental habits have a powerful effect on the health of your relationship. In this episode Joel and I explore some of the common cognitive distortions that can drive a wedge between partners, such as mind reading, personalizing, shoulding, and the blame bias. Discover how to recognize and see through these distortions.