This week was already going to be special with the wedding, but the fact that it’s Meredith’s birthday makes it even more fun! Meredith talks running and putt-putt golf while Doug reveals that he went to the Junior Olympics! In the session, Drew is back from his brother’s wedding. He shares some awkward family moments that weren’t so awkward to him now. Aaaannnnd he tells us the most important information - what he wore! Drew talks about caring for his new puppy and how helpful it is to have that as his relationship focus. In the breakdown, Doug and Meredith highlight Drew’s growing confidence in being authentic, in part evidenced by his ability to “chop it up” in conversation with other guests.
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.
[1:25] Besides that knot in her shoulder, Meredith celebrates her birthday feeling young and spry. So spry, in fact, that she’ll take any running tips you have.
[3:31] Meredith prides herself on graduating last in her class, which lived up to her “go big or go home” way of living!
[8:20] Session begins.
[11:43] Drew’s brother’s wedding had been such a source of anxiety and anticipation for quite some time. One of Drew’s biggest worries was not feeling comfortable and not knowing anyone there, yet when the day actually came, he was able to meet new people and show up in an authentic and present way.
[12:01] Drew shares one “bad” moment, when he overheard some guests saying they should sit on the groom’s side since there wasn’t much of his family there. It made him feel sad, but he was able to move through the emotions, see some positives around him, and actually enjoy himself throughout the event.
[12:41] Drew is taking what he learned from the wedding experience and applying it to some workplace stress. He and Doug talk about the fact that we can’t predict everything that’s going to happen, so all we can do is show up and be as ready as we can for anything.
[15:59] While Drew has struggled with sleep issues and night terrors in the past, now he is sleeping like a baby - not the kind that wakes up every hour crying, but the kind that sleeps like a log.
[19:14] Drew is learning to be more independent and base his actions on whether or not he feels like doing something - not based on how other people will react or respond.
[24:46] Only Doug was lucky enough to see the picture, but Drew rocked the heck out of a green velvet suit for the wedding. He looked great and it ended up sparking up conversation with other guests at the reception.
[32:00] Drew’s attitude towards the wedding exemplifies the quote that he and Doug discussed months ago, “Where there is Fear, there is Courage.”
[33:35] Session Ends.
[37:38] Doug and Meredith talk about Drew’s growing confidence in being authentic, as evidenced by his ability to “chop it up” in conversation with other guests.
[38:58] Meredith compares Drew’s anticipation of the wedding being way more stressful than the wedding itself to how she feels about going to the dentist.
[41:04] Meredith loved how Drew mentioned mile markers to show he is on the right path, but Doug better not bring up the ski trail analogy again… her head will literally explode.
[42:56] Doug and Meredith discuss how Drew is finding comfort and structure with his new pup. They explain how people experiencing depression or a depressive episode can have a hard time choosing to do anything, even getting out of bed, as it is seemingly beyond their conscious control and overwhelming.
[50:39] As Drew continues with therapy, Doug and Meredith look forward to seeing him trust himself more. With more experience of trusting himself, he’ll feel more confident in his own skin without the feeling that he should be offering or giving something to others.
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Susie Cakes Bakery
Your Mental Breakdown - The Facebook Group
Meredith Levy
Doug Friedman
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