Mind In View: Recent Episodes
Kate Brett and Thea Gallagher
This mental health-focused pod is a conversation between two friends, one of whom happens to be a psychologist running a world-renowned anxiety clinic; the other is a former clinic patient and current mental health advocate. It's kind of like therapy, but without the confidentiality.
Female friendships can be so tricky when you're young and sometimes when you're older but they are so important! In this episode we break down how to find the right women to have and to hold and the value of female connection in our lives. Its non-negotiable!
The Olympics have come and gone but we are still talking about them and what they mean to us! The drama! The storylines! The relationships! It's all so incredible and brings out the best in us!
Sometimes it's good to reflect! In this episode, we take some time to catch up and reflect on our lives of late and what we've been thinking about and processing!
What does it mean to be 'human'? It's definitely a broad concept but we take it head-on in this episode and explore what it means to us physically and emotionally. We discuss how to listen to our bodies and how we are trying to work against our instincts less!
Do you have 'main character energy'? What even is it? Well, thanks to the internet, it is a way of living your life with confidence and assertiveness, which many people (especially women) struggle with. In this episode we talk about what it might look like for us and ways we want to continue to lead our lives with a strong belief in ourselves!
How do we develop skills for life? In this episode, we break down what we mean by 'durable skills' and discuss the ways that we have succeeded and failed in our attempts to manage life with said skills. Join us as we explore where we have come from and where we are going in our life management attempts!
Sometimes life can be so hard that we're barely keeping it together. Other times, we're living our best lives. Kate and Thea explore the differences between surviving and thriving...and sometimes, it's down to our own perception.
Do you ever feel invisible in your own life, even if there are a lot of people around? In this episode we discuss what that feels like and when we feel that and what it might mean about us and our relationships etc. Join us as we delve into navigating feeling unseen and exploring what we can do about it!
We love to reflect on how life has been impacting us and what we are learning and focusing on. In this episode, we discuss our latest updates and what we are taking away from this season of life!
The concept of the 'mental load' has become popular on social media recently but what actually is it? In this episode, we explore the concept of the mental load and talk about different ways it manifests in our lives.
It seems like there is so much information about protecting our mental health, but is this just theoretical? Do you struggle to protect your mental health in a world where the demands seem to be in conflict with this goal? In this episode we discuss how to take care of our mental health needs when the odds feel stacked against us.
Have you ever struggled to know if you were 'taking the high road' or just avoiding a difficult interaction? Have you ever betrayed yourself by doing what other people want, but telling yourself you're doing the 'right' thing? In this episode we discuss what it's like to take the high road and if it's always the best/healthiest approach.
Do you struggle to say no to people or things? It seems like it's important to be able to say no in order to succeed but some of us struggle so much saying the dam word! In this episode we explore why it's so difficult for us and what we're afraid of! We also discuss ways to push ourselves to say it more without shame, guilt or fear.
Do you ever find that it's easier to give to others than to yourself? Why is it so easy for us to say yes to others but not to ourselves? In this episode we unpack how and why we do this and ways to do more both/and rather than either/or!
Our thoughts about what we've been thinking. In this episode, Kate and Thea take some time to reflect on their past few weeks, exploring the highs and lows. It always comes back to our mental health!
Do you ever feel stuck in certain patterns or ruts? Do you ever wish you could change, like deeply change the way you think? In this episode we explore our stuck places and talk about ways to re-wire our neural networks and change our behavior and thought patterns!
Have you ever been in a toxic relationship where you felt like you couldnt escape? Kate has some personal experiences that she shares in this episode and we also explore how this happens. You may feel mad at yourself or confused but we know these situations can happen to the best of us. We talk about signs and symptoms and ways to get out and stay safe!
Ambivalence in relationships can be triggering as we can tend to layer our own interpretations and filters over the confusion. In this episode we discuss how we feel about ambivalence in various relationships and how we have both been the victims and agents of said ambivalence. Many of us are great observers but terrible interpreters and we unpack how this shows up when we feel that ambivalence from others.
Is the concept of "choosing happy" toxically positive or is it achievable? We have so many complicated feelings around happiness and our agency in our happiness! Obviously we get INTO IT here on MIV. Come hang out with us as we explore and discuss our feelings around this topic.
Do you ever feel like a big failure but you also realize that you wouldn't think of anyone else that way? In this episode we unpack the feeling and experience of failure and explore why we judge ourselves so harshly. We also discuss ways that failure can be a teacher and why we need to see it as a path instead of a barrier sometimes.
We decided to go off protocol and have a little fun for once! In this episode, we try to stump each other with fun facts we think the other person might not know. Since neither of us have a filter, we expected this to be hard. Plot Twist: we might be more secretive than we realized! Tune in to hear about Kate, who has asked "whats a superbowl" is actually Philadelphia Sports Royalty! And perhaps less surprising, how Thea's legendary dorky-ness has deep roots. Have some fun with us!
Why is it so much easier to focus on the negative aspects of ourselves? Why is being positive toward ourselves SO HARD? In this episode we explore why this might be the case and what we can do about it. We also discuss ways we've fallen into the traps of negative self-talk in our lives, and how we've worked our way out of those traps!
OMG its our 100th episode!!!! We are so excited and proud we've made it this far! In this episode we talk about self-care and ask if we are allowed to have fun with it. Habits always seem like work but here we are talking about the possibility of enjoying things we do for self-care. Join us as we explore the possiblities!
Have you ever cried at work? Or had a panic attack during a social outing? Well, it can feel very overwhelming and embarassing! In this episode we unpack some of these moments, and talk about what we did and how it felt. The interesting thing is that we aren't worried about being "too excited" in a work setting or "too happy" at a social event, so again we are talking about expressions society deems 'inappropriate' like sadness and anxiety. Time to break stigma around these taboo emotions and expressions!
In this episode we get down and dirty about depression and what it looks like and feels like and we talk about the CBT technique of Behavioral Activation. Kate sheds some light on this personally as she is engaging with this on her own mental health journey.
We haven't a guest for awhile so it was super fun to sit down and chat all things OCD with Amy Keller Laird, the founder of the new mental health website Club Mental. We talk normalizing mental health and talking about how it impacts us ALL! It's a fun one!
OCD is NOT JUST ABOUT WASHING HANDS! We know many of you know this, but always a good reminder. In this episode we explore the different ways that OCD can show up and how to deal!
Do you ever notice that you sabotage yourself when you really want something? Do you sometimes worry about what it would mean to care, to really give yourself fully to something? Well, we feel this way, AND we both feel it about this podcast! Join us for this meta episode where we talk about what it means to care about something, while at the same time fearing it's success.
Are you meh about resolutions? We are too, but we also see the benefit to setting intentions and having healthy habits. In this episode, we explore our relationship to these constructs, and decide whether to take or leave them. We DO think a healthy habit for you would be to listen to our podcast regularly and share it with people you like ;)
Do you ever feel trapped by the way you've always done things? But maybe you are scared to do it a different way because you've just "always done it that way". Well we have, and we have thoughts... and feelings about it. Come hang with us as we discuss how to shake things up even when it feels scary!
How do we care for our friends when they are struggling, while also getting what we need emotionally? Sometimes it means giving more and getting less and sometimes it means giving less and getting more somewhere else. It can be hard to love our friends through tough times when we might have our own needs at the same time. Navigating this web is what we discuss on the pod this week and as usual, we take some twists and turns.
Do you ever wake up with crippling existential dread? If this means nothing to you, we might recommend one of our happier episodes lol. But if you can relate, please join us in the gutter as we discuss this feeling and what we try to do about it. We like to get real with all of the aspects of life here on 'Mind in View', so here is our attempt at exploring what its like when we feel hopeless.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the mental health of your loved ones or by your own mental health AROUND your loved ones? Do you struggle to know how to lovingly manage your feelings around family? It's definitely complex and dynamics are a wild thing. Maybe you're reflecting on the holiday season and feeling less than happy about your interactions with family members. Maybe you reverted to your 10 year-old self around your family and have no idea why. Well, in this episode we unpack these layers and try to make meaning of these conscious and subconcious reactions!
Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone's wrath and you realize it's about them and not about you? Have you ever projected your own issues onto someone else? In this episode we discuss how this feels and why we do this. Time to own our shit and make people own theirs!
Already, not yet. Waiting is so hard. Especially when we are waiting for news, good or bad. Our mind loves to create wild stories and we have to somehow exist in the now when we JUST NEED TO KNOW. In this episode, its personal for us. Our dear Kate had a recent health scare, and she goes into detail about this month of waiting. We explore our emotions around this and discuss ways to stay present when all we want to do is fast forward time.
I mean, the title pretty much speaks for itself. When you hear the word 'rejection', I'm sure you are inundated with a few very powerful core memories. Well, we are here to unpack our own pivotal rejection memories, and discuss how we look at them, feel them, and deal with them.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone takes space from you and you feel incredibly distressed? Well, surprising no one, we have. In this episode we unpack our attachment to others and the feelings that arise when we feel disconnected due to a disagreement. It's amazing the stories our minds will spin when given the opportunity to incriminate ourselves!
Do you ever want some space from the people you love? Do you feel conflicted or guilty about this? Well we do! In this episode we unpack why we feel this way and why its, dare we say, healthy?! Join us as we talk about the ins and outs of these feelings in the only way we know how...painfully honestly.
Do you ever just need to vent to another person about someone you love? Do you feel guilty afterwards? Do you sometimes feel better? In this episode we explore why we think its ok to bitch about the people you love sometimes and why we think it might actually be good for you and the relationship!
Patience is hard for many of us, but weirdly, many of us also procrastinate, which is actually more like delaying/avoidance. In this episode, we explore the differences and ways to notice when you might be doing one or the other. Then, we unpack where we could use more patience, and where we could use more DOING!
Do you ever feel like you have to 'do' in order to be loved? I think many of us can relate to the concept of 'earning' love even though we would tell others that they have our unconditional support and adoration. Funny how many 'rules for me not for thee' we find in ourselves. In this episode we explore why we might feel that way and unpack how we can live lives of worthiness... without the work.
Even though the title of this episode sounds kinda sexy, it's actually more of a deep dive into our core longings. In this episode we unpack what we want and what motivates us and how we honor these desires. We also explore the barriers to living a life that aligns with the things we truly want and how to move past those limitations. It's always about living authentically on the Mind in View pod, so join us as we honestly investigate.
Do you ever look back at the moments of discomfort in your life and realize they taught you something about yourself? Or do you sometimes feel like it just made you more annoyed at life? In this episode, we unpack our relationship to discomfort and the things that we have learned along the way and the things we would be ok with leaving behind!
How do you manage stress and create space for self-care? Do you ever wonder if you're doing it right? Well, we do, and we are here to share our strategies and thoughts on the matter! Join us as we talk about what works and what has worked for us to manage this modern world in stressful times.
Do you ever avoid trying something new because you've told yourself it's "just not your thing," or don't explore beyond old boundaries because you've decided you don't deserve more? In this episode, Kate and Thea discuss the moments in their lives they have held themselves back out of self-beliefs about being unworthy or incapable, and what happened when they decided to push against those ideas (hint: it was good).
Are you ever mad, frustrated, sad, discouraged, and hopeless all at once? Well sometimes the state of the world makes us feel like that and we thought it might be a good idea to vent about it...together. In this episode, Thea and Kate let it all hang out about how we feel about the way things are and it's kind of messy and winding and fiery etc. So please come hang out with us as we process are not-so-neat emotions.
Do you ever feel drained by situations or people? Do you ever struggle to say no to things because you feel guilty? In this episode we talk about how to healthily protect our energy, while also pushing ourselves to do the things that our ultimately in our best interest. Join us as we explore the life-sucking and life-giving aspects of our worlds!
What exactly is self-awareness? Is it actually being aware of yourself or is it more about your awareness of yourself in context to others? In this week's episode Thea and Kate explore what it means to be self-aware and what growing in this area looks like. Let's evolve together!
Anger is such a complicated emotion. Some say it's a sign of something deeper, others say it has a place all it's own. Some of us really try to avoid anger or feeling/expressing anger while others love to confront a situation/person head on. In this episode we unpack anger and what it means to us. And we recorded early in the morning, so we're both angry!
Do you ever feel misunderstood? Have you ever jumped to a conclusion and later realized you were just projecting your own fears onto a situation? In this episode we discuss all the layers of understanding and misunderstanding after being on both sides. Come hang out with us as we explore the lenses through which we see the world, and are seen.
Sometimes it feels hard to live in a world where bad things happen. It's hard to face our seeming lack of control at times. So should we ever prepare for bad things to happen or should we just throw caution to the wind? In this episode we discuss facing our powerlessness head-on and talk about learning to tolerate uncertainty, again and again.
Can you identify with being rigid or stubborn? Does it ever feel like the way you want things to be is the way it should be for everyone? In this episode, we break down where OCD ends, and rigidity begins. We talk about what cognitive flexibility looks like and when anxiety gets in the way. Sometimes it's hard to know the difference between OCD/Anxiety vs preferences vs rigidity vs meticulousness. Let's figure this out together... flexibly.
Do you remember the teenage version of yourself? Isn't it wild to reflect on how you saw the world at that time, and yourself in it?! Some things have stayed the same, but so much has changed. In this episode, we explore what we recall about those INTENSE times, and discuss what we would want to tell our younger selves. Tune in if you want to reminisce and reflect on that stage of life with us.
Thea and Kate continue to explore the ways they live and behave through the lens of the Myers-Briggs. We dive deeper into the strengths and weaknesses associated with these styles and discuss how we hope to grow and evolve while also radically accepting some hard-wired aspects of ourselves!
Do you have things that irk you to your core? Or do you know you do things that make your loved ones cringe? Well we decided to have a cheeky episode talking about these pet peeves because we also love to be silly and have fun! Join us as we laugh about the absurdities of life together.
Are you more of an ENFP like Thea or an ENFJ like Kate? If this means something to you, you might be chuckling at us, or if it sounds like random letters, you might enjoy listening to us break it all down! In this episode, we loosely touch down on our personality styles utilizing the Myers-Briggs constructs. As always, it's more of a vehicle for us to explore and reflect on who and what we are at the core. One thing is for sure, us two hambones are definitely extroverts!
Do you ever wonder where your brain ends and your body begins? Well we do too! The truth is, that somewhere along the way, we were told these are two separate parts of our being. We tend think they are part and parcel of the same whole. In this episode, Kate and Thea talk about their personal experiences with the physiological aspects of their mental health and discuss ways to better understand this connection and manage it.
Do you ever wish you could help your friends or family when you see them struggling but don't exactly know how? In this episode, Thea and Kate discuss the 'do's and don'ts' of supporting loved ones with anxiety and other mental health challenges. Spoiler: sometimes just showing up for others and ourselves is the best place to start.
Do you ever find yourself engaging in catastrophic thinking, discounting the positive, or jumping to conclusions? Well, this episode is for you! Thea and Kate discuss the top cognitive distortions, and share which ones they are most susceptible to. We also discuss real ways to challenge these thought traps. Join us this week as we navigate the mental labyrinth!
Meet Grace! She is a dynamic teenager wise beyond her years. Grace has lived with OCD since childhood and spent many years struggling without knowing what to make of her intrusive thoughts. On this episode, Grace shares her amazing and challenging journey, and we can guarantee you, it will warm your heart. This is a true story of resilience and perserverence. And everytime you eat a mint, you'll think of Grace (you'll know what we mean when you listen).
Starting therapy can be daunting, with lots of people asking themselves: "How do I find the right therapist?" What should I say I need help with?" and "Am I 'bad' enough to even need therapy?" In this episode Thea and Kate discuss therapy from both sides of the couch and share their advice on how to find the right provider, where to start the dialogue, and why it's more important to be emotionally curious about yourself than it is to want to be your therapist's bff.
Does everyone feel totally drained, exhausted, foggy, and over it, or is that just us?
Thea and Kate discuss the mental toll of living in constant crisis mode, and offer some strategies for navigating yet another leg of this global pandemic. Kate also sought some guidance from the universe at a Tarot/Astrology reading...hear all about it in this episode.
Intention-setting is an important part of every new calendar year for Thea and Kate--not to be confused with New Year's Resolutions, which they find punishing and self-judging. In this episode, they reflect on another year past and the fresh start ahead of us all.
p.s. This episode is a little late because Thea was busy giving birth to twins (listen closely and you might hear one of them quietly whimper and snorf while mama's talking).
Recorded just one day before Thea's scheduled induction to deliver her twins, this episode focuses on her pregnancy journey. Kate peppers Thea with questions about pregnancy's affects on her mind, body, and relationships--and how they have been doubled!
No matter your age, getting older can really mess with your head. Time seems to pass more quickly every year--don't even get us started on Covid time--and all of a sudden we look back at younger versions of ourselves and wonder "how did I get here?" In this episode, Thea and Kate talk about their own experiences with aging, and offer some insights into making the most of every moment we've got.
It's amazing how we can get accustomed to talking to ourselves like a piece of hot garbage, and how we can't even fathom talking to someone we love this way. Why does this come so easily, but is so easily refuted when asked if we would ever speak to our loved ones like this? On this week's episode, Thea and Kate explore this topic, and discuss ways to combat this somewhat innate urge. Imagine if we nurtured ourselves instead of so often critiquing ourselves... IMAGINE.
Are the 'Love Languages' corny or accurate? We think the answer might be a little bit of yes to both. Join Thea and Kate this week as they explore their 'love language' test results and try to unpack them. Surprising no one, Thea needs lots of words of affirmation, while Kate, yet again, received results that surprised her. Hang out with us while we laugh at ourselves, and at the same time, try to explore the deeper parts of showing love and being loved.
Do you ever feel like you're trying to have meaningful conflict with someone you love but you end up just fighting about feelings? Do you want to be more assertive but find that you either shut down or blow up instead? In this episode, our girl Lauren Merclean helps to diagnose our bad habits here and provides helpful techniques for being more effective in our interactions with each other. It's amazing how hard it seems to communicate effectively, but how easy it can be when you get out of the weeds and back to connecting!
We all want to belong, but what does that actually mean? In this week's episode, Kate and Thea explore the concept of belonging and unpack the who, what, where, why of it all. We also discuss what it feels like to NOT belong, and discuss where it's self-inflicted or driven by others. We hope that you feel like you belong with us, just two weirdos, over-sharing our feelings each week. Stay for the end to hear Thea's daughter, Georgia tell her she does NOT belong in her room... the nerve!
This week's episode puts the spotlight on Kaitlin, who had to rethink her entire life at the same time the world shut down. Her story shows her resilience, perseverance, and adaptability in the face of major life changes and stressors. If you have ever reinvented yourself, or are feeling the urge to take that leap, Kaitlin's words will resonate with you. Kaitlin also reflects on her grief journey in the face of tremendous loss. Tune in to hear this compelling story!
For those of you who are female or female-identifying, do you ever find it challenging to navigate the world of 'lady-friends'? Support systems are so important to our mental health, but finding the right amount/kind/intensity is different for all of us. In this episode, Kate and Thea reflect on their own history with female friendships, and discuss the various nuances involved. We explore competition, jealousy, comparison and unconditional positive regard, to name a few. Intrigued yet?
Do you ever feel like all you do is work, work extra, do various chores, sleep and repeat? Well we feel like this, and it seems to have gotten worse since the pandemic began! Everything just seems to take more annoying steps, and we end up dedicating less time to the things we truly care about. In this episode, Kate and Thea explore this trap and discuss ways to break the cycle in spite of the limitations of COVID life.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an often misunderstood disorder, for both laypeople AND medical professionals. Kate and Thea are very passionate about breaking mental health stigma generally, but ESPECIALLY around OCD. In light of OCD awareness week, this episode focuses on aspects of the disorder that are often misrepresented or unknown to many. Kate and Thea also discuss what it's like to be the patient and the therapist in OCD treatment respectively. So snuggle up and hang with us, and whatever you do, just don't say you're "so ocd" when you just mean you're a tidy person!
It's hard to know whether our attitude determines our reality or if our reality determines our attitude. We think it's probably a bit of both/and rather than either/or. In this episode, Thea and Kate discuss this concept and the idea of 'self-fulfilling prophecies'. Join us as we explore these topics and ways to interact with a world that is sometimes predictable, and other times confusing.
Do you ever just want to indulge feeling really sorry for yourself? Well we certainly do but then we end up feeling worse in the long run. It’s important to feel our feelings but when we find ourselves on an island by ourselves, thinking we’re all alone in our suffering, it’s kind of a road to nowhere. In this episode Thea and Kate discuss ways to fight the pull toward self-pity, and instead to connect with others and our feelings in a meaningful way.
Let's face it--at some point in our lives, we all need help. Are you like Thea, who has natural ease and confidence about making requests of others? Or maybe you are more aligned with Kate, for whom asking a favor doesn't even occur to her unless she's in an extreme state. Thea offers Kate some much-needed pointers in this episode, and they discuss how we can all cultivate a healthier approach to needing, asking for, and accepting assistance...and in doing so both the helped and the helpers can benefit.
Here's the thing about seasons: they affect us, whether it's a change in the weather or a subtle evolution to a new phase of life. And yet we act like they shouldn't, like something is wrong with us if we find it harder to wake up in the morning or we miss what we used to have. In this episode, Thea and Kate examine their own relationships with seasons--physically and emotionally, literally and figuratively--and offer thoughts on how to adjust to the changes that come naturally.
It feels counter-intuitive when you're experiencing trauma or pain, but sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is fall apart. Thea and Kate talk in this episode about how it can actually be a faster path to healing; they share their own experiences and some strategies for releasing the need to fight our feelings. Think of the Phoenix, the gorgeous mythical bird that bursts into flames and returns to dust, re-emerging as a more fabulous version of themselves. That's the vibe.
Do you ever wonder whether you should walk away from a situation or stick it out? Do you question whether your "chickening-out" or making a healthy choice for yourself? These decision points can feel stressful, and sometimes its hard to know even our own motivations! In this episode, Thea and Kate discuss intentional decision making in difficult situations (micro and macro), and examine the differences between fear and intentionality in choices around our work/relationships/social obligations.
Do you ever see some old classmate's social media, or find a picture of an ex and realize that you are holding onto negative feelings? Even though it doesn't hurt anyone but you? Thea and Kate explore why we might hold tight to old hurts, and discuss ways to release negativity that's keeping us from being our most joyful selves.
Do you ever see some old classmate's social media, or find a picture of an ex and realize that you are holding onto negative feelings? Even though it doesn't hurt anyone but you? Thea and Kate explore why we might hold tight to old hurts, and discuss ways to release negativity that's keeping us from being our most joyful selves.
No one likes to feel uncertain, unsteady, unmoored. And yet these days it's a pretty universal state of being--plans are being put into question, health and safety concerns are once again top of mind, and we are just really freaking exhausted of living like this. Thea and Kate explore their own frustrations and worries, and discuss ways to center ourselves and live in the moment, informed by personal experiences with OCD treatment and its call for surrender.
You've likely heard some of the media stories lately around a certain ultra-famous pop star's conservatorship woes, but do you know what exactly all that means? Thea and Kate were curious about how these legal arrangements work, especially in the context of mental illness. So they brought in an expert, Dr. Jacob Appel--a bioethicist, psychiatrist, lawyer, and accomplished author, among his myriad titles--to answer their questions.
Being a parent is full of tough moments, hard decisions, and worry about somehow messing up your kid. Can you imagine how much harder it gets when your child is diagnosed with a debilitating anxiety disorder? Annabelle was just 7 years old when she began to experience severe OCD. Her mother, Becky, sits down with Thea and Kate in this episode to tell their family's story of tenacity, bravery, and mental health advocacy.
Whether you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist, reality can pack a tough punch, especially when you're expecting one thing and get another. In this episode, Thea and Kate explore the various lenses (rose-colored and otherwise) through which they see the world, including how they process expectations in their own experiences and relationships. i
Money is one of those things that we all kind of have to have a relationship with in order to live in the world...but we don't really talk about it. And the thing is, cash flow (or lack thereof) and decisions about spending, saving, and earning can really take a toll on our mental health. Thea and Kate explore their own relationships with dollars and cents, and discover that often our issues come free of charge.
Brush and floss? Check. Work out three times a week? Check. Put a quarter in the piggy bank? Check. How often do you sit down and think about your habits? Probably....never. And yet they inform so much of how we experience the world. In this episode, Thea and Kate explore their own habits and examine what kinds of strategies make new ones more likely to stick.
Is there anything more complicated and dynamic than our sense of identity? When confronted with interpretations of ourselves that don't line up, that can be confusing or even traumatizing. In this episode, we pick up where the last one left off, and explore why the Enneagram results made Thea feel seen and Kate feel misunderstood. Then we dive further into what identity means to us, and how we define it for ourselves....personality assessments be damned.
Personality tests can be fun to try and offer interesting perspective on ourselves and our loved ones. Based on a listener suggestion, Thea and Kate took their official Enneagram assessments. In this episode, you'll hear which of them is an Achiever whose results lined right up with her self-perception, and which one is an Individualist who was, frankly, triggered by the inaccuracies in hers. You'll have to listen to find out which is which...although you can probably guess.
Are you a goal-setter like Thea, who likes to develop a vision for the future and plan out each benchmark to achieve it? Or are you more of a goal-finder like Kate, whose Pisces heart has to feel its way to the next step? The Mind In View ladies talk about their personal relationships with goals, and how they can be both helpful tools as well as paralyzing pressure-cookers.
Can you remember the first time you felt guilt? It's such an intense, visceral emotion, and yet most of the time we feel guilty even when we've done nothing wrong! Thea and Kate discuss the power of guilt and it’s close relative, shame. They also explore their own experiences with that pull of self-blame and punishment, and discuss how they are trying to take some of its power away and get out of that all too familiar guilt trap.
When you experience a major life change that people think of as good--a new job, a move, an addition to the family--do you feel like you aren't allowed be anything but happy about it? Even though along with the great it might still be hard, or sad, or feel like a loss? Thea and Kate explore how even positive transitions can cause all kinds of different feelings. Let's give ourselves and each other a break and leave space for growth to be a little more complicated.
As important as mental health is to our overall well-being, opening up about our struggles can feel like a big risk. What are we afraid of? Thea and Kate talk about the stigmas they've experienced and observed, and try to start chipping away at some assumptions or generalizations that can make people suffering with mental illness feel misunderstood.
Is gratitude an attitude? Is optimism a strategy? Sure. Those positive approaches to life can certainly benefit our mental, emotional, and physical health. But when we don't allow them to co-exist with the hard parts--when they become avoidance or denial in disguise--they can become shallow and toxic. Thea and Kate discuss the importance of acknowledging and embracing the full range of experiences, including the sucky ones, so that we can release expectations that we or others should always be cheerful.
Do you remember the day when "I wouldn't be caught dead leaving the house in sweatpants..." became "it's been so long since I've worn non-elastic clothing I'm not sure it still fits?" This pandemic has done a number on our physical appearances--it's changed our movement habits, what we wear, where we go, and how we see ourselves. Thea and Kate begin to explore the topic by starting with their own relationships with their bodies.
You now how some situations or interactions just feel like they totally drain your life force? Yeah, we do too. In this episode, Thea and Kate talk about their own experiences with "energy vampires," and offer some simple ways we can make sure we are protecting ourselves and our inner peace when we inevitably come upon these people or moments in our daily lives.
Do you have a relationship with your intuition, that little quiet voice inside you that tells you what you really need to know? As valuable as it is, sometimes we can avoid, mistrust, or mislabel it, and as a result we miss out on a connection with our innermost knowing. Thea and Kate discuss their own thoughts on the topic, and offer some ways to "tune in" to that place.
Some of us are great at setting and maintaining our own boundaries. Others (coughThea&Katecough) struggle to understand how best to establish these self-protecting guidelines--and to properly communicate them--before they are crossed by unsuspecting friends and family. In this episode, Kate and Thea consider ways to develop clear boundaries, which in turn helps to recognize and respect those of others.
She knows anxiety intimately as both a sufferer (with diagnoses of OCD and PTSD) and as a therapist who's devoted her professional career to healing. And that is her superpower. In this episode, guest Bronwyn tells Thea and Kate her story, and the three of them discuss her unique perspective on mental disorders as both a consumer and a provider of mental health treatment.
With an increasingly vaccinated population, our thoughts turn towards returning to "normal." But what is normal anymore? What will the world look like? Maybe were feeling safe and comfy all locked up in our homes...we should probably wait a little longer, just in case. In this episode, Thea and Kate explore re-entry anxiety, digging into what feels like real fear versus habits we'd prefer to leave behind in our pre-Covid lives, even as we long for the days when we can experience the real world again.
"To err is human, to forgive divine..." kind of puts a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the forgiver. What if a situation or relationship is unfixable, unresolvable, unforgivable--how are we supposed to find peace? In this episode, Thea and Kate dive into the idea of forgiving others and ourselves and come to some surprising conclusions.
Sometimes you just can't get through something without professional help--mental health struggles are no different. In this episode, Thea and Kate discuss their personal relationships with therapy. For Thea, this is a role reversal as she examines her time on the therapist's couch as a patient, "smoking what she sells," as it were.
How often do you go back to childhood traumas and explore how they affect your feelings today? Probably not too often because it's painful business (and sweaty, sometimes). In this episode, Thea and Kate each revisit a traumatic experience from their youth and consider the behaviors and habits that directly stem from those moments. Then they attempt to make peace with them by speaking to their inner children with compassion and comfort.
Some days you just can't get past your feelings, but you still have to show up. When Thea and Kate logged on to record this pod, they were each struggling through intense emotions. So they decided to dig in--to Kate's intense grief and Thea's frustration and disappointment--and walk through the moment together.
Why is it that the more we grow and advance, the less worthy we feel to embrace and celebrate our accomplishments? In this episode, Kate and Thea explore Imposter Syndrome and its poisonous effects on our confidence and overall mental health. They share their own personal (and professional) experiences and offer some ideas for re-framing self-perception so we can see the badasses that we really are.
In the second part of this 2-episode series, pick up where we left off. Kat finishes her incredibly powerful story and discusses aspects of her PTSD and fertility journey with Thea and Kate. *Trigger warnings: infertility, abortion, pregnancy loss.
As an "owner/operator of a uterus," Kat has survived unimaginable traumas related to body safety, sexuality, and fertility. In this episode, she shares her story--and describes the PTSD she suffers as a result--with Kate and Thea. This is part 1 of a 2 episode series.
*Trigger warnings: sexual assault, infertility, abortion, disassociation, flashbacks.
Do you find yourself uttering "I feel like I hit my wall" a lot lately, and then...smashing smack dab into another wall? Thea and Kate discuss their own experiences with the overwhelm and hopelessness that seem to be a common theme these days. Hear their tips for focusing and centering, and don't forget that you have company in this confusing, cold, gray, unprecedented Covid winter of our discontent.
How often do you push yourself past feelings of fear to find your bravery within? Probably a lot more than you give yourself credit for. Kate and Thea share their own stories of bravery--of the Everyday, Adventure, and Extraordinary varieties--and offer some tools to help seek and acknowledge our inner badasses.
We know perfection isn't possible, so why do we chase it? Dr. Jeremy Tyler joins Thea and Kate in a discussion about the trap of perfectionism, how to recognize when we are harming ourselves and our relationships by striving towards unreal standards, and why failing can actually be a pretty good thing (especially when you're belting out Kelly Clarkson songs on karaoke night). This imperfect episode features a blooper real if you hang on--or fast-forward, I guess, but why would you do that--to the end.
Sometimes seemingly innocent interactions or minor setbacks set off emotional tornados in us that we can hardly understand. But if we take a closer look, we'll usually find the source of the storm: a deep pain, insecurity, sadness, or vulnerability. Thea and Kate discuss their own recent spirals and explore themes of self-reflection and feeling hard feelings.
Confrontation is one of life's less than pleasant realities. It's important to communicate when a difference of opinion becomes a barrier--and if you fight fair, your relationships can actually get stronger. Thea and Kate review some suggestions for keeping it above the belt, and how they've implemented these rules successfully (and sometimes not so much).
What is the purpose of life? How do we know if we're getting it right? Sometimes the idea of prescribed fate can hold us back, keeping us rooted in place for fear of making the "wrong" move or distracting us from being fully present. In this episode, Thea and Kate talk about their own experiences wrestling with meaning and purpose--and why sometimes we need to get out of our own heads.
Do you get bummed out every year following the rush of the holiday season? Kate and Thea sure do...in this episode they discuss their early-winter blues, and why this year feels extra weird and hard.
Acknowledge. Surrender. Celebrate. Do It Anyway. These are the kinds of intentions that Kate and Thea offer as alternatives to typical New Year's resolutions like losing weight or otherwise correcting a self-perceived flaw. Also, with the year we've all just had, what even are achievable goals? Maybe it's more about how you'd like to shift your perspective to see and embrace the strengths you already carry within you.
What do you carry throughout your life, and how often do you re-assess if it's all still serving you? Thea and Kate examine the metaphor of "what's in your backpack?" to describe the practice of reviewing and re-prioritizing what is useful for us to carry versus what weighs us down unnecessarily.
Whether the loss is slow and steady or sharp and sudden, it leaves a tremendous burden on those it touches. We are left swimming in big feelings, looking for signs, and questioning the meaning of our lives and choices. Thea and Kate continue to explore grief in this, the second of a two-part episode arc.
Whether it's the "capital G" Grief of losing close loved ones (as both Thea and Kate have), or the "lower-case g" grief of adjusting to a lifestyle you didn't ask for--and don't particularly enjoy--it's complicated. This is part 1 of a 2-episode arc (FANCY!).
Surviving the stress of the winter holidays is hard enough without also having to live through a global pandemic. Thea and Kate explore the very normal reactions of anxiety, panic, and frustration, and propose some ways we can try to maybe enjoy these (very weird) holidays anyway...at least a little bit. Or maybe not, maybe just scream it out.
In this brief introduction, learn the basics: how Kate Brett and Dr. Thea Gallagher know each other, why they started a podcast, and what you can expect.
It's Thea's turn to tell her story. Learn why she became passionate about mental health, and hear about her path to becoming a clinical psychologist running a best-in-class anxiety treatment program at an Ivy League university health system.
Get to know Kate better as she shares the story of her journey with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder--from her difficulty being diagnosed to her successful treatment and current advocacy work. Thea weighs in with valuable clinical questions from a psychologist's point of view.