Meredith kicks off the show talking about her love of dogs wearing boots. Doug has been keeping busy with audiobooks on the Colorado trails. In the session, Doug and Drew focus on getting ready for his brother’s upcoming wedding. Drew talks about his new possible love interest and some of the patterns that he notices coming up. They explore if it’s really the thought that counts when it comes to gift giving, highlighted by a cool pair of sneakers. Sit back, relax, and put on your bone conduction headphones for this one!
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.
[3:00] If you want to see what keeps Meredith laughing until she cries, just look on YouTube for “dogs in boots” (see the link below). It never gets old.
[7:50] Doug’s been keeping busy on the hiking trails listening to audiobooks and podcasts.
[12:21] Session begins.
[18:01] Drew has a new possible love interest and he is taking it slow for a change. He and Doug explore a pattern of picking partners that are not available - this one’s actually married!
[24:57] Drew has a common habit of comparing a new girl with an ex, even though both are different and there’s no real “better” one. Drew can see that it’s really about who might be a more authentic match for him at the time.
[27:41] Drew is creating a new ski trail in his mind about gift giving. He and Doug examine the old saying, “It’s the thought that counts.” Drew sees this clearly as they talk about what’s really important to Drew about finding a super cool pair of sneakers that his friend would love.
[33:12] Doug helps Drew see that getting reassurance from himself, instead of other people, will lead to him feeling more secure and less codependent.
[40:45] When Drew first started with Doug he mentioned having night terrors, but now they have significantly lessened. The work they are doing helps him have a place to process his emotions.
[42:02] Session Ends
[42:14] Meredith was excited to finally hear Drew talking about what he’s going to wear to the wedding!
[45:05] Drew and his brother don’t have to work it all out before the wedding. He can instead focus on just being present in the moment.
[51:50] Meredith highlights how Doug points out that Drew’s new girl may not be Miss Right, but it’s totally fine for her to be Miss Right Now.
[56:04] Doug and Meredith talk about Drew’s comparison of his new lady friend to his ex-girlfriend. Doug uses a sweet Porsche metaphor!
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Origin by Dan Brown
Love’s Executioner by Irvin Yalom
Your Mental Breakdown - The Facebook Group
Meredith Levy
Doug Friedman
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