Another Q&A episode today! Some really great questions and I get pretty detailed about a few diagnoses. Before that, be sure to check out the private facebook group for the HCSH community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/484559841901855/

Look out for more info on my upcoming Kick Anxiety's Ass course and be a part of the beta group here: http://eepurl.com/c06Uzn

Here are the questions covered in this episode:

• Why do I have violent thoughts and why do I need everything to be even in number?
• How can I work on my relationships with other people, given my estrangement from my mother?
• Do my symptoms fit with bipolar disorder?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Today we are doing a deep dive episode all about ways that you can maximize your progress in therapy. Whether you are a seasoned therapy veteran or barely thinking about getting started, this will be good information for you to keep in the back of your mind. 

Before I share the 10 tips for getting the most out of therapy, I wanted to let you know that I started a new closed facebook group for the Hardcore Self Help Community. You can find that at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/484559841901855/

Here are the tips:

1. You don't need to impress your therapist

2. Don't lie to your therapist

3. Don't be afraid to get emotional and let it out

4. Challenge your therapist and correct them

5. If it's not working, say something

6. Find someone you are comfortable with

7. Get therapy sooner

8. Take notes and journal

9. Do the homework and practice the skills

10. Talk about the relationship between you and your therapist during session

Next week should be another Q&A episode, so keep sending me your awesome questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Hello, everyone! Just off the top, given the BS going on in the world at the moment, I need to reaffirm that everyone is welcome here regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural background, gender identity, sexual orientation etc. Just needs to be said. 

Today's episode is another Q&A with some really awesome questions including:

• How can I help my mom who has multiple personalities?
• Why do I procrastinate sleep and what can I do about it?
• What can I do when I am the codependent friend?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and don't forget to follow me on social @duffthepsych for cute baby stuff!

This is a deep dive episode all about common thinking traps and pitfalls that we encounter as human beings. In the field, we refer to these as "cognitive distortions". In this episode, I break down ten of them for you and talk a bit about how to use your knowledge of them to your advantage. Here are the cognitive distortions that I cover in this episode:

1. Mind Reading
2. Personalizing
3. Just World Fallacy
4. Emotional Reasoning
5. Shoulds and Musts
6. Black and White Thinking
7. Overgeneralization
8. Filtering
9. Catastrophizing
10. Overestimating Power of Thoughts

Next week should be another Q & A episode, so please keep sending me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com 

Hello, friends! Just another awesome question and answer episode for you. Two short questions and one more complicated question:

• How can I overcome my self-criticism and low self-esteem?
• What does my family member mean when she says that she has "functional anxiety"?
• Do I need to forgive my abuser? 

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and follow my on facebook at http://facebook.com/duffthepsych