In this episode, we examine some of the buzzwords people are using (often incorrectly) about relationships. We define what boundaries really are, explore what a “toxic relationship” is and isn’t, and how codependency can be affecting how you behave in your relationships. Learn how to identify your limits, and notice when you need to set boundaries. Find out if you are allowing people to step over your limits, or if you have a limit-pusher or two in your life that needs to learn about boundaries, too. Understand how to make boundaries work for you and why everyone needs them in healthy relationships of all types.

It's time to understand that living a life focusing on your very real needs is NOT selfish, and to learn about how to be self-oriented in your approach. Stop being an over-explaining, people pleasing approval-seeker afraid of rejection. Come on, you got this! Let’s open our minds to the changes that we may need to feel better, love more, and enjoy this one life!

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ. This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

*Episode 7 Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Cheating

In this episode, you will explore trauma and healing with Dr. Brown. You will learn about what trauma really is, and what it means to have PTSD. Dr. Brown will share the “Trauma 10,” a list of to do’s to get you moving on your healing journey. Hear about why trauma affects each of us so differently and how it can show up in unexpected ways in our lives.

Explore how unresolved trauma can invade our peace and our relationships now, even if something happened many years before. Explore how others have risen from trauma and how we all can rise when we get unstuck and begin to heal. Dr. Deborah will open your eyes and your mind to the possibilities within yourself when you begin to realize your own resilience. Share this one with someone you love who is trying to rise!

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ.

This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

*Episode 6 Trigger Warnings: Domestic Violence, Suicide, PTSD, Sexual Abuse

Feeling Anxious? Join your session this week to learn about anxiety-what is typical and what is too much. Anxiety is a fear signal informing us to pay attention! But are we paying too much attention to our fears, and disrupting our daily functioning? Explore the scarcity mindset and the trap of anxiety-induced survival mode. Learn to name your symptoms as intrusive thoughts, rumination and catastrophizing. Discover the wide prevalence of anxiety as it increases in America and think about why it may be affecting you in particular. Explore how mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are linked and how to prevent your thoughts from getting the best of you.

Dr. Brown will share stories about what happens when anxiety becomes uncontrolled and will also share about those rising above anxiety and thriving. Dr. Brown will discuss the connection between trauma and the subsequent fears that prevent us from growing. Break your anxiety loops and heal from long standing patterns that don’t serve you and your big, beautiful life! It’s time to stop fearing and start learning more and healing, and Dr. Brown is here to help.

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ.

This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

*Episode 5 Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Trauma, Addiction, Pregnancy Loss

In this episode, you will examine some ways that partnered relationships can grow! You will learn how to answer the question, “am I doing this wrong or is this the wrong person?” Dr. Brown will share the real reason why relationships go wrong, and how to prevent that from happening to you. Hear about the role of resentments, assumptions, testing, and the other negative behaviors that inhibit our relationship connection. Explore how healthy partnerships can be crucial in how we manage our overworked-overstressed-overwhelmed lives. Explore stories about emotionally reactive behavior and the divide this causes in our connections, destroying our relationships and our peace. Learn the secret to building and rebuilding connection with the 4 Levels of Intimacy that Dr. Brown shares with you in this episode. Learn about how to communicate to build connection and how connection creates a space to solve problems, as they will absolutely come and will need resolution. Understand how to stop being adversaries and start getting generous to make your connection grow. Dr. Deborah will open your eyes and your mind to the possibilities within your relationship. Share this one with your partner, then have a date night to discuss.

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ.

This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

*Episode 3 Trigger Warnings: Cheating, Sexual Trauma

Today we create change! Join your session this week to learn about emotional regulation and how to think differently about your feelings. Feelings are signals that are informing us of very important things, and we must learn to listen. Move forward into your fear of feelings and understand why you might be avoidant or afraid of certain emotions. Explore skills that address emotional regulation, which can improve the way that you navigate your life. Learn about how mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are linked to emotional dysregulation. Dr. Brown will share stories about what happens when you cut off your feelings, and what happens when you allow your feelings to drown out your reality.

Dr. Brown will share the connection between trauma and the subsequent core fears that prevent us from growing. You will learn how to observe your feelings like weather and develop different expectations for the effect of your temporary feelings on the long-term you. Break patterns of automatic thoughts and your reactive patterns. It’s time to stop avoiding and start healing, and Dr. Brown is here to help.

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ.

This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

*Episode 3 Trigger Warnings: Depression, Anxiety, Bullying

In this second episode, examine the power of mental health in how we live (and die) in America. Hear about the role of hope and worthiness in our change process. You will leave with a plan to use the “Pie Chart” activity to identify how to get your values showing up front and center in your priorities and in how you spend your time.

Explore the role of hypervigilance in overworked-overstressed-overwhelmed lives and the emotionally reactive behavior it causes which destroys our relationships and our peace. You will identify that when you view how you are spending your time in a real, honest way, you can feel better and have more of what you need to actually recharge and reset from the very real demands of life, work and family.

Examine what it actually means when we say we are “overwhelmed” or tired”. Get honest about what is external or internal: is it really out of your control or a pattern you stay stuck in? Powerlessness is sometimes outside of us, but often created inside of us. Identify your escapes versus healthy coping, and feeling trapped by the lack of two of the most important commodities: time and money. If we don’t make changes, we lose the third: health. Dr. Deborah will open your eyes and your mind to the possibilities within you.

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ.

This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

*Episode 2 Trigger Warnings: Addiction, Drug Use, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety

Today is your first session! This is the beginning of growing the seed that is YOU into the lovely tree you wish to be. In this session, we explore why people go to psychotherapy, how many of us need it, and what it is to walk in the dangerous neighborhood of the mind when we are stressed, depressed, anxious and traumatized. We discuss the need for wise elders, when instead we are exposed to a surplus of “experts” and influencers who tend to point us in a million different (not always psychologically sound) directions.

Join your session to explore your internally held ideals and how to identify them as the possible minefields to your mental health they may be. Discover the space that exists between our current selves and our ideal self and (spoiler alert!) that we live in that space for our whole lives. We address the “life in chapters” theory and the shame that holds us back from recognizing all our chapters as important parts of the mosaic that is us as humans.

You will be encouraged to embrace the weird, wild, and wonderful you, and identify the influences that may prevent that from happening. Go face forward into the fear that prevents growth and incorporate the value of curiosity in self-development. You will learn about the self-talk synthesis that happened to you, and how your inner voice may not be entirely yours. Break your down-going patterns and start some new ones that take you up where you belong in your precious one life. It’s time, and Dr. Brown is here to help.

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ.

This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

*Episode 1 Trigger Warnings: Eating Disorders, Sexual Assault, Suicide