The Counseling Center Podcast

Episode 23: Worshipping Our Higher Power With Religious OCD

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2400205/open_sms] Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can manifest in a multitude of ways, especially in ways that affect the parts of our life that we hold the most dear. In this episode Jessica Fish Champlin, LCSW re-joins Tim at their kitchen table to discuss her life experience with Scrupulosity. Jessica discusses how it affected her life as an LDS missionary, how it tainted her relationship with God and how she learned to sit in uncertainty to take her spirituality back.

Episode 22: How Can I Be More Happy? What The Research Says

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2400205/open_sms] Who doesn't want to be more happy in their life? In this episode Tim is joined by Dr. Neeta Lal, MD, CSW to talk about the 2025 World Happiness Report. Tim and Neeta discuss what we can learn from the research about being happier as well as what obstacles we face in our culture here in the U.S. to achieve more happiness. Put in some headphones, make some time for yourself, listen and enjoy!

Episode 21: Be The Hero In Your Own Story

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2400205/open_sms] In 1949 writer Joseph Campbell released The Hero with a Thousand Faces. A book that introduced the concept of the Hero's Journey. The Hero's Journey is a pattern that many stories we love follow about a protagonist's adventures in self discovery and becoming stronger. In this episode Tim is joined by Dr. Maren Swensen to discuss how we can apply the Hero's Journey to our own mental health journey and how we can begin identifying ourselves as heroes in our story. After the discussion Tim and Maren also share their personal lists of favorite stories that feature the Hero's Journey and what we can take away from those stories. Check it out!

Episode 20: Political Violence-Education About Radicalization

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2400205/open_sms] Between the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the murder of the Melissa and Mark Hortman in their home and the attack of Paul Pelosi in 2022, political violence is on the rise. The past weeks have filled many with fear, apprehension and uncertainty. When possible, during such times it is valuable to learn pertinent information so we can act in effective ways. In this episode Tim is joined by Dr. Bryan Bushman to discuss what the research says about the psychological profiles of those committing these acts of violence and what we can do with this information to be a help and a support. Tim and Bryan also discuss effective ways to connect with those we may politically disagree with to avoid dehumanization. This episode is very much worth your time during this difficult period.

Episode 19: Radical Acceptance is Rad

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2400205/open_sms] In this episode, Tim is joined by LCSW Madeline Claude to discuss the powerful DBT skill of radical acceptance. We discuss what it means to radically accept our reality, how this is valuable and how radical acceptance is not giving up or being apathetic. Madeline shares the process of radical acceptance and gives us a bonus guided meditation we can practice. Check it out!