Your Mental Breakdown

This week, Doug and Meredith talk about the highs and lows of watching their dogs on webcams, as well as the joys of home repair, toilet hygiene, and tushie cushies. In the session, Drew connects a long-standing fear of losing mom with how he tries to keep people in his life, even if it compromises or sacrifices his integrity and boundaries. In the breakdown, Doug and Meredith dive deeper into the trauma of Drew's mother overdosing. They look at how Drew coped with it then and how those defenses are still very present for him now.

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Doug Friedman

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This week, Doug and Meredith talk about how our relationship with time can create pressure and affect our level of stress. They also talk about hiking, napping, and glamping to get away from it all! In the session, Drew continues to process his recent breakup and he feels a definite shift in perspective. He shows more strength in carving his own path and making his own choices. In the breakdown, Meredith and Doug dive deeper into anger - how it isn't necessarily easier for everyone to express, and how there are almost always other emotions behind the anger.

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Doug Friedman

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This week, Meredith retreats to Lake Tahoe and Doug is entertaining his dog at home. In the session, Drew moves around different stages of grief and loss after his breakup. He acknowledges there's baggage he's been carrying with him that pre-dates his ex-girlfriend. He is feeling fragile and raw, and starting to look at the freedom that this stage is offering him. In the breakdown, Doug and Mer talk about the dual role of a therapist in the office and a person walking around in the world. They explain concepts of emotional dysregulation, a disproportionate response, and incongruent reactions.

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Doug Friedman

Peter Levine - Somatic Experiencing

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

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In this Insight Out bonus minisode, Doug and Meredith break down the differences between emotional support animals, service animals, and therapy pets. Hear their insight (and opinions!) about the responsibilities of both therapists and pet owners. It involves more than just getting a signed letter and a harness with a sticker on it!

This week, Doug and Meredith 'monkee' around a bit and reference a handful of classic movies from their youth - showing how old and adorbs they are! In the session, Doug and Drew continue to process the breakup and move through different stages of grief and loss. Drew starts to reconnect with his friends for support. In the breakdown, Doug and Meredith remind us that we're human, and need to have compassion for ourselves. They look at perspective shifts that we often go through in relationships when some parts feel good and some parts don't.

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Doug Friedman

The Monkees - Hey Hey We're the Monkees

All of Me - Back in Bowl

Golden Child - I Want the Knife

Coming to America - Yes, yes! F*ck You Too!

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In this Insight Out bonus minisode, we take a deeper dive into faith in therapy. We hear a clip of a story Doug told Drew in Episode 19 about faith and God. We explore how a client’s relationship to God can be relevant in therapy. Doug and Meredith break down the role of Drew’s guts, his wise mind, and his faith. They look at how this affects his progress in therapy. How does your faith enter into your therapy? Let us know!

This week, Doug and Meredith discuss the routine and comfort of going to a therapist's office as a physical space, not just a virtual room. Meredith updates us on her US geography skills. In the session, Drew's issues of trust in the relationship are pushed to the edge, leading to a breakup. Doug and Meredith break down the break up. They talk about healing from and dealing with, breakups using some of their own experiences. We all have our own ways of coping with grief and loss; and that can look so different or so similar, but comes from the same place.

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Doug Friedman

The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck

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This week, Mer and Doug are coping with quarantine and testing their geography skills with a US map quiz. In the session, Drew's last day at work is coming up and he has nothing going on, which makes him feel anxious. Drew and Doug explore trust issues that have come up in work relationships and his personal relationships. They look at ways to have a conversation with people rather than leaving something important unsaid. Doug and Meredith talk about individuating - the process of separating from family and becoming your own person.

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US State Map Quiz

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In this Insight Out bonus minisode, we hear the tail end of Andrew’s last session as he is leaving Doug’s office. Drew asks if it’s time to stop therapy now that he’s feeling better. Doug and Meredith break down the idea of clients stopping therapy or not. They give their therapist insight into when it might be time for a client to be done, take a break, or continue going to therapy.

This week, Mer and Doug are doing 'fair' and 'corona good' in spite of a burnt tongue and a kitschy therapist pillow. In the session, Drew feels good having put in his two-week notice. He can feel himself slowing down and letting go of a lot - and he hasn't had a night terror in weeks! Drew notices triggers on date night with his girlfriend and doesn't spring into action or reaction to fix things. As we allow the people in our lives to be their own selves, it's less work for us and we can focus on being our own individual person.

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Doug Friedman

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