Mentally Flexible

My guest today is Dr. Robyn Walser. Robyn is a clinical psychologist, educator, and author of several influential books on ACT for professionals and general readers. She is Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Director of Research at Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services. She is also on the staff of the National Center for PTSD at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Internationally known for her compassionate, client-centered approach, Dr. Walser has been working in the field of trauma and conducting the ACT training internationally since the 1990s. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: * The here and now unfolding of ACT in the therapy room * How Robyn pays attention to function throughout a session * Undermining therapist “rules” * The potential downsides of bringing AI into the therapy process * We discuss Robyn’s new book You Are Not Your Trauma * Creative ways Robyn helps therapists cultivate their practice ————————————————————————— Robyn’s Website: https://robynwalser.com/ [https://robynwalser.com/] ————————————————————————— Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible: Sign up for PsychFlex through the Mentally Flexible link! PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible [http://PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible] You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible [http://www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible] Please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988] Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/ [https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/] Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth [https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth] Check out my new album, Holding Space! https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw [https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw]

My guest today is Noelle McWard Aquino. Noelle is a Chicago-based therapist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders. She is the author of Anxiety Unpacked: Discover Your Type and Recover Your Peace, a bestselling book that helps readers identify and work with the specific patterns driving their anxiety. Her work has been featured in publications including Psychology Today and Psychotherapy Networker. Noelle speaks regularly to both clinical and general audiences, training therapists in her framework for understanding anxiety and helping individuals develop more effective, compassionate responses to it.   Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: - How Noelle’s relationship with her son helped inform her new book - The biological processes involved in anxiety - The difference between anxiety and intuition - Recurring root patterns of anxiety - The role of values when navigating anxiety challenges - The pitfalls of control and unhelpful beliefs ————————————————————————— Noelle’s Website: https://noellemcwardaquino.com/ [https://noellemcwardaquino.com/] Anxiety Unpacked: https://a.co/d/dJ41mEK [https://a.co/d/dJ41mEK] ————————————————————————— Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible: Sign up for PsychFlex through the Mentally Flexible link! PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible [http://PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible] You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible [http://www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible] Please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988] Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/ [https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/] Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth [https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth] Check out my new album, Holding Space! https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw [https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw]

My guest today is Alissa Jerud, PhD. Alissa is a licensed clinical psychologist working in private practice and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In her private practice, Dr. Jerud specializes in exposure-based treatment of anxiety-related disorders and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training. She particularly enjoys helping other parents learn to accept, regulate, and tolerate their emotions, as well as their children's. Alissa is the author of a new book, Emotion-Savvy Parenting: A Shame-Free Guide to Navigating Emotional Storms and Deepening Connection. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: * What led Alissa into the field of psychology  * The inspiration for her new book, Emotion-Savvy Parenting * Science-backed strategies for dealing with difficult emotions * A deeper dive on the skills of accepting, regulating, and tolerating  * How attempts to control our children can backfire  * The role of personal vulnerabilities in activating emotions * And we explore the different ingredients that go into our emotional experience ————————————————————————— Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible: Sign up for PsychFlex through the Mentally Flexible link! PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible [http://PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible] You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible [http://www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible] Please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988] Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/ [https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/] Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth [https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth] Check out my new album, Holding Space! https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw [https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw]

My guest today is Holly Yates, LCMHC. Holly has been in private practice in North Carolina since 2004. Her specialty areas are working with adults both individually and in groups as well as couples addressing depression, anxiety, mood disorders and life stressors through clinical intervention and skills training. Holly's practice centers on third wave therapies most specifically Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is a founding facilitator of the online ACT Peer Intervision Network sponsored through ACBS and a Certified FAP Trainer through University of Washington. Holly presents FAP and ACT workshops locally and around the world. Holly is Co-founder of North Wake Counseling Partners in Raleigh NC. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: - Holly’s background with ACT and how it led to learning about FAP - The importance of the therapeutic relationship - Clinically relevant behaviors for connection building in the therapy room - The importance of encouraging authentic relationships outside of therapy - The courage and vulnerability involved in intentional self-disclosure - How ACT and FAP naturally blend together ————————————————————————— Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible: Sign up for PsychFlex through the Mentally Flexible link! PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible [http://PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible] You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible [http://www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible] Please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988] Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/ [https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/] Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth [https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth] Check out my new album, Holding Space! https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw [https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw]

My guest today is Dr. Joe Oliver. Joe is a consultant clinical psychologist, author, and the founder of Contextual Consulting, a leading international training provider that has trained over 60,000 practitioners in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He also serves as an associate professor and the programme director for the University College London’s postgraduate programme in CBT for Severe Mental Health Problems. Joe is an active member of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) and a peer-reviewed ACT trainer  He is also the author of six ACT books, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Mindfulness for Psychosis and most recently, ACTivate Your Life. His extensive contributions to the field also include several textbooks, such as Acceptance and Commitment Coaching, ACT: 100 Key Points and Techniques, and The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Self-Esteem. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: - How ACT first came into Joe’s life - His work on using ACT to support psychosis  - Fusion to aspects of the self and identity - Relational frame theory and its early influences in childhood development - And Joe’s new book, ACTivate Your Life ————————————————————————— Contextual Consulting: https://contextualconsulting.co.uk/ [https://contextualconsulting.co.uk/] ACTivate Your Life: https://contextualconsulting.co.uk/resources/activate-your-life [https://contextualconsulting.co.uk/resources/activate-your-life] Joe’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXyoggevWPfFjvhbYlM3x8A [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXyoggevWPfFjvhbYlM3x8A] ————————————————————————— Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible: Sign up for PsychFlex through the Mentally Flexible link! PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible [http://PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexible] You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible [http://www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexible] Please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988] Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/ [https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/] Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth [https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth] Check out my new album, Holding Space! https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw [https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw]