I often hear a common myth about anxiety when I meet for the first time with someone in session and they explain to me that their goal is in getting rid of it.  Problem with this is simple:   We can't.    You cannot get rid of anxiety.     You can learn what it is, how it becomes activated, how to manage it, and lessen its effects.   In this episode, I explain why we cannot get away from anxiety, what the function of it is, and ways to manage your psychological flexibility so you can learn how to use anxiety to your advantage. 

From the Couch

Common Myth About Anxiety

Join Todd Schmenk as he walks you through the basic's of grounding with this 5 minute mindful breathing exercise and body scan.  Great for beginners or just a review of one of the most basic of a mindfulness practice.  You can either watch or listen and follow along with this guided mindfulness exercise. You can follow along on video here: WellnessTalks on Youtube

5 Minute Mindful Breathing Exercise | Basic Grounding

As stated in the introduction, mindfulness does not have to be sitting on a pillow and focusing on your breath. It can also be applied to simple everyday activities and that is exactly what I am going to walk you thought this morning.  One activity you can add mindfulness to is drinking a hot beverage each morning at breakfast, something you might already do.  So join me as I walk you through a short and simple exercise to help you develop a your mindfulness skill (being able to notice when you mind jumps in) doing something a good deal of people enjoy.

How to Easily Add Mindfulness to Your Day with a Hot Drink

Adding mindfulness to your daily routine doesn’t have to be some momentous undertaking. You don’t need to sit on a round pillow in some weird pose, with a silly special chant, choking on incense, and special world music. In fact, all you pretty much need to be able to do is listen to this podcast released on Mondays and follow along as I lead you through practical, simple, follow along mindfulness exercises. Some with more a focus on the practicing, others with a focus on the "how to" and other important concepts to consider. All you need is your breath. 

Quick Overview of Monday Morning Mindfulness

What do you do when your overcome with an intense thought or emotion?   These 3 exercises from the acceptance and commitment therapy defusion skills can help you lessen the effects and even begin to notice such occurrences in the future making your life more flexible and less stressful.  (originally, it was just 3, but when I was finishing up shooting this video, I remembered one more, so you get a bonus defusion exercise to help with the recurring thoughts. ) https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk Please consider this to support both this type of work I do (podcast/videos) and those who do not have good access to mental health services. You can also watch the video here: https://youtu.be/IQmggEs4tDw  You can learn more about me here: https://www.toddschmenk.com/

Three Quick Defusion Exercises

Join me, Todd Schmenk, for an introduction to this series, from the history behind the "Team Positive program" to what you can come to expect in listening to this series on WellnessTalks.  The primary goal of this podcast is in fostering psychological flexibility for all involved, from the person dealing with the chronic illness or medical situation to anyone who finds them-self in a supportive role. Topics will include a deeper look at the guides and framework, what you should expect, what to say and what not to say, how to manage your energy, mental and emotional states, and a whole host of skills and tools all aimed at the primary goal.  Dealing with a diagnosis, whether it is a newly diagnosed issue, or an ongoing issue, is no easy task.  It is my greatest hope that this approach will give you and your entire Team Positive some reassurance and relief.  Here is to building your own Team Positive! You can learn more about the book and pick up a copy here.

Welcome to Be Team Positive: How to Build Support for Someone Coping with Chronic Illness

Join Todd Schmenk as he answers a Patreon member's question of how to stop expecting the worst.   The short answer is, you cannot.  There will always be an aspect of yourself that's primary objective is watching for things that can go wrong.  Learning more about this key concept, however, he has found is often all that is needed to begin to find a way out of this tendency of expecting the worst which can give you a better peace of mind in building a more peaceful and meaningful life. I mentioned the following link to check out if your interested: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk Please consider this to support both this type of work I do (podcast/videos) and those who do not have good access to mental health services.  You can also watch the video here: https://youtu.be/alefbh7mPXg  You can learn more about me here: https://www.toddschmenk.com/

How To Stop Expecting The Worst

Join Todd Schmenk as he addresses choosing a therapist or counsellor and how to find one that fits best for you.  A quick look at the differences, how you can be proactive, and other details to keep in find when trying to find one that would work best with your situation.   Don't know if you need on?  Watch this to help determine whether you do:  https://youtu.be/39elWRSiG38   0:00 Introduction  0:50 Types of Credentials  3:17 Selecting a Therapist/Therapy Type  6:48 Considering Different Approaches   Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here?  Want more information about this educational project?  Then be sure to visit out: https://www.wellnesstalks.org/

How to Find A Therapist That Fits

Join Todd Schmenk as he shares one of his confidence building exercises.  Tied to the skills of drilling down into your personal values, this skill, of committing 100% is a powerful combination that you can begin to use right now, even if you are feeling completely overwhelmed.    Want to learn how to build self confidence?  This is a good demonstration along with some examples of where to apply it.  Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here?  Want more information about this educational project?  And/or if you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and want to support the efforts here, consider joining me here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!    FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive VIEW: https://www.instagram.com/toddschmenk/

Confidence Building Exercises Part 1: Commit 100%

Blursday.  It is an experience we will all face at some point in our lives.  Probably several times.   Join Todd Schmenk as he takes a closer look at this phenomenon and looks at ways you can build a more meaningful life in dealing with the boredom and loneliness that comes with the living the same type of day, day after day.  Blursday.   Sections:  0:00 Introduction to Blursday  1:30 Understanding the Origin of Blursday  2:20 How Blursday Develops  4:14 Defining Blursday  5:27  How to Decrease the Likelihood of Blursday  6:57  Rebalancing the Equation    Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here?  Want more information about this educational project?  And/or if you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and want to support the efforts here, consider joining me here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!

Blursday - Dealing with Boredom and Loneliness

Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through a self as context ACT exercise that uses the metaphor of armor to both see the continuity of the self and natural defenses that we construct, that while they help initially, but in the long run, often become a barrier to the kind of life that we want to live.   Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here?  Want more information about this educational project?  And/or if you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and want to support the efforts here, consider joining me here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!     FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk  LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive  VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/toddschmenk/   #mindfulness #toddschmenk

Taking Off Your Armor

Join Todd Schmenk, as he revisits and expands upon an older comparison of the thinking mind and observing mind with a focus on the #1 job of the mind (the #1 Job of the thinking mind that is).   This podcast (based off of video) takes a closer look at the process of how we develop rules, how we can sometimes get stuck in a rigid position with a rule, how these types of rules dictate actions, and how we might find a way to free ourselves from this phenomenon.    Chapters:  0:00 What is the job of the thinking mind?  0:59 Defining the job of the thinking mind  1:35 History of the thinking mind  3:29 Where the thinking mind can go offline  4:12 How to account for this and free yourself  5:19 Simple definition and summary  5:54 Key concept  6:47 Thank the thinking mind    Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here?  Want more information about this educational project?  and If you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and which to support the efforts here, take a look here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!     FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...   #mindfulness #toddschmenk #howthemindworks

The #1 Job Of The Mind | Managing The Inner Critic

Join Todd Schmenk as he takes a closer look at how small changes can make a big difference.  It is known as the Principle of Small Changes and is one of the underlying beliefs that informs his therapeutic approach. You can watch the video here:  Principle of Small Change ALSO:  If  you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and which to support the efforts here, take a look here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!  

How Small Changes Can Make A Big Difference | Principle of Small Change

Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through one of the simple ACT acceptance exercises which takes a look at problems, 88 of them, and how this exercise allows for a little room for how things have been, how they will be, and the fact that we most often get through a lot if not all of them, in some way, shape, or form. Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here?  Want more information about this educational project?  Then be sure to visit out: https://www.wellnesstalks.org/  ALSO:  If  you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and which to support the efforts here, take a look here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!     FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive VIEW: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...   #mindfulness #toddschmenk #ACT

You Have Exactly 88 Problems

Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through the theme of this past week in struggling with consistency and the overall effect it has on feeling disconnected and like life has no direction.    Covered in this presentation:  Trend of the Week: Feeling Disconnected, No Direction   Skills and Tools:  Awareness: Identify Your Roles  Openness: Assess the Situation  Engaged: Step with Purpose

Struggling With Consistency in a Time of Uncertainty

Join Todd for a variety of mental health topics related to chronic illness, anxiety, and depression issues as he shares what he has observed works best, answers questions from his followers, and gives overviews of themes he sees occurring in the scope of his practice, profession, and life. The "From the Couch" podcast presents audio versions of the most useful, compelling, and effective tools and concepts used within Todd Schmenk's mental health counseling practice.

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From the Couch

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