The very adorkable Doug and Meredith return back this week to share how they typically begin their therapy sessions and give a recap of the trust and vulnerability issues that the client, Andrew, dealt with in his recent three sessions. Andrew and Doug work on organizing fractured thoughts into a clearer picture of reality, dig deeper into Andrew’s relationship with his mom and brother, and talk about ways Andrew can be more of his own individual person while still having the support of his parents. Doug and Meredith break it all down and talk more about organizing thoughts, challenging judgements, and communicating with intention and authenticity. Meredith also stands up for her beloved hometown of LA!
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.
[6:02] How do Doug and Meredith start their sessions? Usually with a mix of small talk and light chit chat before getting into the deeper topics.
[8:40] We know from last week that Doug loves a good analogy, and the client, Andrew, seems to pick them right up and understand how to apply them into his own narrative.
[11:00] Meredith knows firsthand what it feels like to be recovering from an addiction—she went to treatment for both drugs and eating disorders
[14:32] Session begins.
[15:38] Andrew wants his parents to be genuinely proud of him for the choices he is making now as a young man. Their support gives him the security blanket to be more independent, and yet it’s also important to him to be there in case they need any help of their own.
[20:46] Doug uses the analogy of a car shifting into different gears depending on what the drive calls for, and how it plays into Andrew shifting his energy from cruise control into high gear. They also talk about meeting people at the gear they are in, and surrounding yourself with people that match the gear where you feel most comfortable.
[28:58] Andrew had another bad night terror this weekend, but he is becoming less scared by them and able to normalize it. He and Doug will be working more on the future of his fear of the unknown, and how it stems from his need to make sure his mom was okay in his teenage years.
[31:14] With Andrew’s brother’s wedding coming up, he needs to decide whether he wants to try and be involved or if he is just okay to let it all go.
[34:41] Andrew is going to practice having a perspective change and instead of thinking from the viewpoint of his mom and brother, he is going to focus on being the best family member he can be.
[47:13] Session ends. Breakdown begins.
[1:02:53] Doug and Meredith break down the markers they noticed during Andrew’s session—the “biggest thing” on his mind, and his perception of “everyone” in Los Angeles being a certain way.
Meredith Levy
Doug Friedman
Your Mental Breakdown
• Terminator scene (Lines of code)
• City of Angels scene (What a pear tastes like to you)
• Doug's Middle School Spanish text book (Not where the analogies come from!)
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