Mo Therapy: Recent Episodes

Monique Simkova

Mo Therapy is all about cultivating curiosity & compassion to figure out what works and what doesn't. I’m a therapist in training for both Mental Health Counseling & School Counseling. On this podcast, I’ll share my Aha moments, mental health resources, tips for success, & the process of getting licensed. Whether you are becoming a counselor, interested in the field, or someone who loves to nerd out on personal growth, come along this journey with me as we move past limitations & make positive social change in society.

Note: This is not a substitution for therapy. 🎶 IG @maxdugganmusic

Summary of Episode

The end of my internship
Recognizing what is an emotion and what is a personality trait
Things I tell myself to cope with anxiety

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“We don’t set out to save the world. We set out to wonder how other people are doing and reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts.” Pema Chodron

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are the works I referenced:

Helene Brenner's “The ABC’s of the Inner Voice”

Kristin Neff's work on Self Compassion

I didn't talk about this but it is also a helpful YouTube video about self-regulation by Heidi Priebe

This is an insightful episode with P.T. Griffin, we talk about his work as a professional DM, how he got into the business, and now runs 10-12 sessions a week. His company is called Detect Magic (I linked ways you can connect with him in the show notes below) He also talks about his process for creating campaigns and his love for creating shared experiences among friends.

P.T. Griffin aka Tav is a Los Angeles-based writer, professional game master, and head of Detect Magic Games. He debuted in the world of fiction as the lead writer of Ross Tran’s fantasy artbook, NIMA, and aims to explore the development and design of his own tabletop adventures in the near future.

“I like to show people that to get together with the people you love, and to make something that you are really proud of is something that you're gonna hold on to for the rest of your life. And, that is really valuable.” ~ P.T. Griffin

Guest Links:

https://www.twitch.tv/detectmagic

Discord @ detectmagic#2996

https://www.detectmagic.net/

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

Interview with Forever DM Conor Galagan-Mead about his experiences being a DM, how TTRPGs have helped him in his real life, and what resources and tips he has to create a fantastical world of chaos.

“Play is an antidote to stress, and this is key because stress, in addition to being an enemy of productivity, can actually shut down the creative, inquisitive, exploratory parts of our brain.” ― Greg McKeown

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

Summary of Episode

Next semester is going to be packed with a lot of fun things
Overview of a WSCA presentation proposal I’m doing with another student called “A Case for Games: Building Connections and SEL Skills through Role Playing Games”
How Role Playing Games are Beneficial for Academic Success

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“The opposite of play is depression. It’s time we started to appreciate play for what it does for our mental health.” Brian Sutton-Smith

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are the works I referenced:

Game to Grow

Critical Core

Storytelling Workshops at Unexpected Productions

WSCA Conference March 1-3

Leveling Up Reluctant Readers With Dungeons & Dragons

Summary of Episode

Learning about intention meditation from Tara Brach
Cultivating a radical incrementalism disposition
How to cope with external validation

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“choosing curiosity (wondering what might happen next) over worry (hoping that a certain specific thing will happen next, and fearing it might not) whenever you can.”
― Oliver Burkeman

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are the works I referenced:

Tara Brach's Podcast

4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

How We Feel App

Atlas of the Heart

Summary of Episode

Empower students to come up with their own solutions.
"I am not here to solve. I am here to connect."
Articulate their inherent worth and value, and that they are not a burden.

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“Observing desire without acting on it enlarges our freedom to choose how we live.”
― Tara Brach

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

Summary of Episode

Utilizing LinkedIn for networking
Incorporating what you’re interested in to assignments
Theimportance of humility

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“We don’t set out to save the world. We set out to wonder how other people are doing and reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts.” ~ Pema Chodron

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are the works I referenced:

Expressed Humility in Organizations: Implications for Performance, Teams, and Leadership by Bradley P. Owens, Michael D. Johnson, Terence R. Mitchell

A recap of three techniques I learned from a self-compassion retreat with Mindfulness NW who is not a sponsor, just sharing resources.

1.) Time traveling to difficult situations in the past and giving yourself the love and care you wish you had. Acknowledging the external factors that created this situation and that you were doing the best you could with the time, energy, and resources that were available. Accepting that we aren't able to change what happened but we are able to learn and grow from it.

2.) Imagine giving hugs and sharing in forgiveness with the people that you have hurt or that have hurt you.

3.) Sending loving-kindness prayers to people that have caused you pain and experiencing the freedom of letting go of the burden of having to carry this pain.

https://mindfulnessnorthwest.com

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor Frankl

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

Learn about a technique I call "Calendar Hopping" to increase optimism.

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

Summary of Podcast

How to stay on top of assignments during the summertime.
Ways to make essay writing easier.
A concept I like to call the Joy Barometer which helps to measure burnout.

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“Bring the joy. This is my favorite advice to give to people who say, “I want to change my life.” I’m like, “Great. Bring the joy.” You know, people always say, “Brendon, what should I bring to your seminars.” I go, “Bring the joy.” You know what I…”I’m going to come to your house on Friday for the party, what should I bring?” Bring the joy.” ~Brendon Buchard

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are works I referenced:

Scribber.com for citations

https://brendon.com/blog/bringthejoy/

Listen to my windy road of getting into Graduate School for Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling at the University of Puget Sound. For anyone experiencing imposter syndrome, know you aren’t alone!

“I still have a little imposter syndrome... It doesn’t go away, that feeling that you shouldn’t take me that seriously. What do I know? I share that with you because we all have doubts in our abilities, about our power and what that power is.” ~ Michelle Obama

“You don’t have to be an expert. No one is expecting you to be an expert. All you need to do is show up and be you.” ~ Ruth Soukup

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

Summary of Podcast

The Epidemic of Loneliness
The Benefits of Using Role-Playing Games in Therapy
Examples of How it Can be Used

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, I encourage you to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

References for your convenience:

Game to Grow https://gametogrow.org/

Aspiring Youth https://aspiringyouth.net/

Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Dr. Vivek H. Murthy

How People Matter: Why It Affects Health, Happiness, Love, Work, and Society by Isaac Prilleltensky and Ora Prilleltensky

YouTube: How to Play PbtA (Powered by the Apocalypse)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oDqlUWaJrg

Acronyms:

RPG - Role Playing Game

TTRPG - Tabletop Role-Playing Game

DnD - Dungeons and Dragons

NPC - Non-Player Character

DM - Dungeon Master

GM - Game Master

PBTA - Powered by the Apocalypse

Finished up my first year of graduate school and practicum and here are some things I did to help reduce my stress.

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health.

Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are things I referenced:

Ranier Pollard from Sugar Pop

Ryan Heffington Sweatfest on Instagram

“I Know You’re In There Somewhere” by Helene Brenner

ABC’s of Inner Knowing activity by Helene Brenner

Episode Summary

Understanding your syllabus and planning ahead
Tips for people that have a hard time reading or writing
Ways to prioritize working out and avoiding drinking

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

"Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your identity. This is why habits are crucial. They cast repeated votes for being a type of person." James Clear

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

Episode Summary

Popcorn for dinner got me through some difficult times in my 20s but these days I eat food that is more nourishing so that I can thrive instead of just survive.
Having self-compassion doesn’t make you lazy, in fact, it can help you to be more resilient and motivated.
Developing self-compassion is like growing a garden.

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

IG @yung_pueblo “Love is not: I will give this to you if you do this for me. Love is, I will give this to you so that you may shine.”

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music IG @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are works I referenced:

Juliana Breines and Serena Chen, “Self-compassion increases self-improvement motivation” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22645164/

Kristin Neff, Ya-Ping Hsieh, and Kullaya Dejitterat “Self-compassion, achievement goals, and coping with academic failure.” https://self-compassion.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/SClearninggoals.pdf

Article: Make Self Compassion one of your new year's resolutions

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/make_self_compassion_one_of_your_new_years_resolutions

Article: The Five Myths of Self Compassion

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_five_myths_of_self_compassion

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Effortless by Greg McKeown

A short episode about the necessity of self-care.

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“When you mess up, which you will because you’re human and you will mess up gloriously. And when you mess up, you say “I’m sorry” and when you mess up again, you say “I’m sorry, I’ll try harder.” And that’s what love is for me, trying harder. Alok Vaid-Menon: The Urgent Need for Compassion. The Man Enough Podcast

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are works I referenced:

Ira Glass On the Creative Process YouTube

Alok Vaid-Menon “Beyond the Gender Binary”

Episode Summary

I doubted my career choice so I became a metaphorical scientist, did some research, and resolved my self-doubt forever.
Months later, self-doubt returned so I tried something else and that’s been working.
Angela Duckworth and Brene Brown talk about the importance of perspective.

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health. Above all else, encourage yourself to be compassionately curious and try these things out to see what works for you.

“I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” Mark Twain

For more content check out my Insta @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic on Insta

For your convenience here are works I referenced:

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear.

“Essentialism, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown

Podcast: Dare to Lead “Brene with Dr. Angela Duckworth on Grit and the Importance of Trying New Things.”

Podcast: On Being “Oliver Burkeman - Time Management for Mortals”

“Self Compassion” by Kristin Neff

“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” by Mark Manson

I’m going to talk about how my personal experience with self-doubt in Guatemala, a research study on ‘Self-Doubt Across Strata of Academic Science’, and how you can utilize self-doubt through three steps: acknowledging what you’re feeling, reframing your perspective, and connecting to a greater purpose.

For more content check out my Instagram @Mo_Therapy

Music by @MaxDugganMusic

For your convenience here are works I referenced:

“The Work” by Byron Katie

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear

"Unlocking Us" Podcast by Brene Brown

“A Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl

“Scientists and Self-Doubt Across Strata of Academic Science” by Joseph Hermanowicz

“Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement” Alison Wood Brooks a professor of Business at Harvard

I'm excited for you to come on this journey with me as I finish my Masters in Education in Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Each episode I will give an Aha moment, a fun fact, and a question to ponder. Making mental health resources easier to access and sharing information about the path to becoming a mental health counselor or school counselor.

In this episode, I’m going to let you know a bit about myself and give you the why behind starting this podcast.

Then, I’ll give a fun fact about psychologist Albert Bandura, and leave you with a question to ponder about the relationship between self-efficacy and self-doubt.

Any technique I suggest is an invitation, not an expectation. I am but a therapist in training and I say this because I want the very best for your mental health.

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Rumi

References:

"Start with Why" by Simon Sinek (Book and Ted Talk)

Self Efficacy work by Albert Bandura

"Late Bloomers" by Rich Karlgaard

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear

"Unlocking Us Podcast" by Brene Brown

Intro Music by @MaxDuggan (check out his IG!)

Big shout out to @AkashThakkarAudio | Check out his podcast 'Sound Business' and YouTube Channel Akash Thakkar (I wouldn't have done this without your support!)