This week, Doug and Meredith remind us about getting out of our comfort zone and experiencing the cool things there are to do - regardless of quarantine (like glow in the dark seaweed!). In the session, Drew looks at what’s next after getting the support of his parents and putting in his two weeks notice at work. Doug and Drew look at how issues from his past relationships have shaped how he approaches his current one. Drew is starting to recognize triggers and see the path to breaking old patterns.
Bonnie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Los Angeles. She is an instructor for graduate students in the LGBT Specialization Psychology program at Antioch University. Although her specialty is working with the LGBTQ community and people in the entertainment industry, she also assists clients in managing and/or overcoming anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, painful relationship patterns, creative blocks, co-dependency, love and sex addiction, issues with intimacy and low self-esteem.
Bonnie received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Emerson College and a Masters in Clinical Psychology degree from Antioch University with a specialization in LGBT psychology.
Doug Friedman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that has spent nearly 20 years working with adults, adolescents and families with issues ranging from depression and anxiety to substance abuse, bipolar disorder and PTSD. He has supervised a program at a community mental health agency that serves severely emotionally disturbed youth and their families in Los Angeles. He continues to provide clinical supervision to therapists and associates in his private group practice, Clear Mind Full Heart in Los Angeles.
Doug received a Masters in Social Work from The Catholic University of America and a BA in Study of Religion from UCLA. Before becoming a psychotherapist, Doug worked for a music management company that oversaw bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, and Bonnie Raitt. Doug is also the artist and songwriter behind all the music heard on the podcast.
Meredith Levy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California and holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. Over the last ten years she has worked with many different populations, and feels most at home working in addiction, personality disorders and mood disorders. Meredith specializes in Dialectical
Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Meredith worked with inner-city youth as a bi-lingual therapist for the Department of Mental Health in Los Angeles County. Not only has Meredith worked at a variety of different drug and alcohol treatment centers throughout California, she was also the co- founder of a large treatment facility in Northern California.
Meredith's extensive education and background as an attorney and an MBA gives her a unique perspective and a fresh approach to elevating personal growth. In addition, she is a certified yoga instructor and believes that the spiritual, physical and emotional aspects of the self are important components of the therapeutic process.
[1:10] MerMer gets out of her comfort zone to see the bioluminescence with her family at the beach at night time.
[6:23] Session begins
[6:51] Andrew shares how he was able to get his parents support about putting in his two week notice at work!
[8:25] Doug highlights how it’s more important to run to something than to run away from something.
[9:45] Drew is smiling ear to ear but is trying not to get too excited or too far ahead of himself with what’s next. They look at the idea of “false” hope actually being the feeling of hope.
[11:07] Doug and Drew look at how issues from his past relationships have shaped how he approaches this one. Now he can look at who he wants to be, not who he thinks his girlfriend wants him to be.
[14:40] Doug helps Andrew recognize that when others are disappointed in him, it’s often their judgement thrust upon him.
[16:43] Andrew reports on the good weekend, and that they were able to go to church and he was able to show how faith is an important part of his life.
[19:41] Letting go of things you can’t control leads to a more authentic way of living.
[22:01] Drew didn’t respond to Dad’s trigger and fear response to his taking a leap by leaving work. They were able to have a good discussion.
[25:33] Back at home, Drew notices how therapy has helped with his relationship. He wasn’t triggered by his girlfriend choosing to go out without him this week.
[33:03] Session ends. Breakdown begins.
[34:15] We don’t hear everything that’s been going on at Drew’s work because of confidentiality, so the abruptness of his 2-week notice isn’t all that abrupt, there’s been a build up.
[36:08] Meredith picks out 3 Doug-isms that stuck out for her: running to something instead of away from something, the idea of ‘false’ hope, and counting your eggs not your chickens before they hatch!
[37:39] Meredith dissects the spectrum of hope by showing how you can be the optimist, the realist, or the pessimist. Which is why it’s realistic for her to buy a lottery ticket every week.
[40:03] They explore how going to church or going out drinking is about being true to yourself in a relationship not catering to someone else’s judgement.
[44:12] Meredith picks up on the rando comment by Drew’s mom saying she was a bad mom, and how Drew wasn’t triggered by her saying that.
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