From the Couch

What are the goals and scope of counseling? Why should you go and why is counseling important? Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through a quick explanation of what the process is all about, what the goals are, why you should go, and what you should expect to get out of choosing to go. You can watch this here: https://youtu.be/RfRkIAjPEGU You can find other support materials here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ToddJSchmenkLMHC You can get downloads and support this support program here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk

Join Todd Schmenk, as he walk you through the three main reasons for communication breakdowns in relationships. If you can identify these and be more aware of them, you can notice them when they show up in your communications and choose whether to react like you normally would in response to them, or do something else. Especially useful if you are tired of getting the results you typically get in challenging situations. You can watch the full episode of this here: https://youtu.be/JHwrltbHrOU

Join Todd Schmenk for another Monday Morning Mindfulness practice for how to deal with boredom and loneliness. This version is a simple ten minute exercise that was designed to just simply be listened to. There are three practices within this one presentation.

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.

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

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.

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.

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/

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.

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/

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/

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/

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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. 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​...

What are the goals and scope of counseling? Why should you go and why is counseling important? Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through a quick explanation of what the process is all about, what the goals are, why you should go, and what you should expect to get out of choosing to go. 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​...

Join Todd Schmenk as he walks you through another life values exercise, with a focus on three examples of what life values are not. 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 US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit... #mindfulness #toddschmenk #lifevalues

Join Todd Schmenk, as he takes a closer look at what is time orientation and how does focusing on the past or the future versus the present moment lead to increases in experience of anxiety and depression. 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 US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...

Join Todd Schmenk and Peter Binnings as they have a discussion around strategies for balance during a pandemic including Peter's favorite, Gratitude In A Jar. The whole conversation takes a closer look at what gratitude is, what it is not, and how to use your values to help guide your way in a direction that is meaningful. 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 US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit... #covidcoping #toddschmenk #gratitude

In order to thrive and not just survive, we need to have a base understanding of our core values, or prime values (in that they cannot be boiled down any further. We need to understand core values in order to feel more confident, to have a direction. In this video series, Uncovering your core values, I will take you on a journey to look at what personal values are, why we need them, how to discover your core values, and what to do with these personal values in order to live a meaningful life and ensure continued personal growth.

Given that we are all destined to fail, in this video "How To Regain Confidence After Failure", join Todd Schmenk as he walks through this common question, looking at it from multiple angles along with offering some exercises you can use to move your way through the experience. Covered in this presentation: rend of the Week: Confidence Shaken Skills and Tools: Awareness: Your Left Foot (Grounding) Openness: Checking the Facts Engaged: Good Memories

Join Todd Schmenk as he introduces a way of challenging automatic negative thoughts, with a specific focus to ways of dealing with sadness. This, like all the tools and trends topics, walks through the current situation and will offer three possible activities to try: Trend of the Week: Dealing with Sadness and Depression Skills and Tools: Awareness: Photo Book Openness: Hold It Lightly Engaged: Tapping Wisdom You can find more topics, worksheets, and support materials here: https://www.wellnesstalks.org/ FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit... #mindfulness #toddschmenk #toolsandtrends

Join Todd and Jim as they take a closer look at the upside of stress and why difficult situations are ultimately good for you, in fact, it is the only way we learn and grow. Just another way of leaning into anxiety provoking situations. 0:00 Introduction 0:43 Anti-Fragile 3:30 Physiology 7:35 The Impact 8:03 Thinking Fast and Slow 11:00 Mechanics of Mindfulness 12:19 Life Example 14:33 Pull, Not Push 16:43 Benefits of Mindfulness 18:21 An Aspect of Therapy Come connect with me on both Facebook & Instagram: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToddSchmenkMEd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit... You can also learn more about me or contact me here: https://www.toddschmenk.com/ #resilience #antifragile #personalgrowthtips

Join Todd Schmenk (LMHC) and guest, Darlene Darezzo (LMHC) as they talk about what it takes to raise confident kids with several strategies and concepts in addressing behavioral, mental, and emotional health with a special look at what it takes to be the mindful parent.

Join Todd as he takes another look at a thought or thoughts that just won't go away and offers a process you can use to identify that thought and name it to tame it. Starts off with a grounding presence mindfulness practice, introduces a thought spotting technique, then plays around with a new way to relate to these types of thoughts. Trend of the Week: "I Can't Seem to Get Away From This Thought" Skills and Tools: Awareness: Inhale on Three Openness: Is This Thought Helpful? Engaged: Name it to Tame It

The key to enduring emotional pain is living a purposeful life. Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through 3 simple exercises to help you look at the underlying causes of emotional pain and the associated thoughts that often occur with this type of pain with the last exercise helping you what your pain is trying to tell you. Your pain has wisdom, it tells you what is most important. If you can learn to gain some distance, you can choose to accept or reject the advice and become more psychologically flexible. Trend of the Week: Dealing with emotional pain Skills and Tools: Awareness: Getting Present Right Now Openness: Thought Assessment Engaged: The Connection between Pain and Values FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteampositive/

How do you work at managing the inner critic? See the inner critic as coach. That is inner critic AND inner coach integration. While I am sure you are aware of these inner voices, have you ever considered that these voices are one in the same? Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through this weeks themes of coming to term with these aspects of the self, how they are beneficial, and how either of these two voices can become overwhelming and rigid when over emphasized. Trend of the Week: Dealing with the Inner Critic Skills and Tools: Awareness: Inner Clues Openness: Name the Critic Engaged: Learning from Struggles Follow More like this here: Www.wellnesstalks.org BeTeamPositive.Us - Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

Join Todd Schmenk as he interviews Dr. Mark Forman in taking a closer look at healing trauma and spiritual growth in Mark's new book, "The Monster's Journey: From Trauma to Connection". Overview of interview and time stamps: 1:02 Introduction to the book and author 3:07 The Hero's story 4:30 The Monster's story 6:37 Author's personal experience 10:00 Trauma assessment 15:17 Who will benefit from the book 17:40 Overview of symptoms of trauma 24:18 A closer look at the cover art 27:16 Main goal of the book 28:36 Comparison of the Hero's and Monster's Journey 31:46 Geeking out with Star Wars and Lord of the Rings You can listen to this on www.wellnesstalks.org here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mXk1f2WCm62stEENxvlOk or here on BeTeamPositive.us https://open.spotify.com/show/4z8LH3aOpYeZwNksrlnlX2 You can order the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Journey-Trauma-Connection/dp/B08DC5VTRR You can find more topics, worksheets, and support materials here: https://www.wellnesstalks.org/ FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteampositive/

Join Todd Schmenk as he walks you through how to manage dealing with what ifs, that if focused on for too long increase levels of stress and anxiety and what to do instead. Trend of the Week: Dealing with What Ifs Skills and Tools: Awareness: Taking a Purposeful Breath Openness: Unhooking from thoughts Engaged: Finding a Guide

More thought management techniques in this weeks end of the week reflection, join Todd Schmenk, as he walks through dealing with disturbing dreams and the thoughts often associated with them. Practical easy to follow pen and paper exercise that you can use right now also covered as a bonus. Learn how to use this and you now have a skill you can use anytime. Topics in this presentation are: Trend: Disturbing Dreams Openness: Holding Thoughts Lightly Awareness: Identifying the Thought Engaged: Utilizing a Values Anchor You can watch this in a video format here: Thought Management Techniques | End of Day Reflection

Here is a beginning or even end of day reflection where Todd Schmenk walks you through a series of three simple exercises designed to help you deal with that thought that often times will simply just not go away. These skills can be utilized at any time during your day and will often help you pull back far enough away from the thought to truly engage in a way that matters. Exercises in this podcast: Doing a Sensory Check Quick Body Scan Values Guided Next Steps Want the video? Watch it here: End Of Day Reflection | Three Simple Exercises Learn More About Todd Here

This end of week reflection builds upon past videos with similar titles but with more emphasis on application to all situations, not just personal growth during covid-19. This series will continue to focus on current weekly trends while introducing and/or reviewing new concepts, skills, and themes designed to supporting your mental health with greater psychological flexibility. This series will always focus on a current trend and an openness, awareness, and engagement skill or concept. Topics in this presentation are: Openness: Half-Smile Awareness: Mindful Eating Engaged: Personal Values Assessment - a further exploration.

Recording of a recent Anxiety Q&A session with Todd as he explored ways for those asking questions to get a better handle on their anxiety and increase their psychological flexibility in dealing with these questions and more. Broken into three parts due to the length of the Q&A Session. This is part 1.

Principle to live by: Compare Yourself To Who You Were Yesterday Not To Who Someone Else Is Today since the only person you can compare yourself to is you. Quick overview of why we compare, who we compare ourselves against, and who we should be comparing ourselves to.

A quick overview of cognitive fusion and diffusion and how knowing this is useful in developing psychological flexibility.

Consider that Failure Is A Part Of Success. The fear of failure often associated with higher levels of anxiety. This short talk walks through some of the reasons why failure is essential and how we could not succeed without failing.

Join Todd as he walks through what the thinking mind is, what its job is, and how this sometimes gets in the way and causes us to become stuck, especially when dealing with a problem that is, for the moment at least, unsolvable andor out of our control.

In this episode, Todd Schmenk walks listeners through a series of the most common answers he has been focusing on with those in his practice as well as friends and family in being able to refocus and reset ones mindset in dealing with the stay at home orders in response to Covid-19.

What is the ratio of positive to negative interactions needed to maintain a good relationship? How does one go about figuring out what the ratio is in your relationship? Join Todd as he walks through what it is, where it came from, why it's important, and most importantly, how to use the idea to improve and maintain your own relationship.

In this video, I answer the question "does social anxiety reduce openness to experience" which I received in an email request to answer. It addresses how our behaviors can affect our openness and how, if we are willing to experience some modest discomfort, it is possible to increase our confidence to be more open.

One of the considerations of how to build a chronic illness support group is in learning how the mind works in order to come up with ways of dealing with distress. This podcast looks at the thinking mind and observing mind for strategies to be able to distance yourself as well as highlighting the importance of managing your energy. It is designed for both the patient and for anyone in a supportive role. It is broken into three parts due to its length, one coming out each week, and each one provides an effective coping skill you can try immediately. A special focus of this episode is in managing your energy levels to ensure you can use the other tools outlined in this series.

In this episode in dealing with distress, Todd focuses on two more techniques in being able to better manage stressful situations, thoughts and emotions. The first technique looks at a way to look for and find exceptions to your usual rules or ways of responding. This provides you with two practices within a practice, identification, and defusion from a thought and the ability to test the situation for the thought's truthfulness and its usefulness. In doing so, this frees you up to act on something that truly matters to you. It allows you to find the exceptions to situations which often look more dire than they truly are. The second half looks at the S.T.O.P. technique, which allows you to create some space so that you can find the exceptions and choose what you will do/become next.

One of the considerations of how to build a chronic illness support group is in learning how the mind works in order to come up with ways of dealing with distress. This podcast walks through the topic of the thinking mind and observing mind for strategies to be able to distance yourself as well as highlighting the importance of managing your energy. It is designed for both the patient and for anyone in a supportive role. It is broken into three parts due to its length, one coming out every other week, and each one provides an effective coping skill you can try immediately. Designed in support of the book: "Team Positive: How to Build Support for Someone Coping with Chronic Illness"

Listen in as Todd walks through the "Dirty Dozen", the 12 most common cognitive biases that we all experience along with tips on how to detect them and why it is important to do so.

An exploration of why it is so enticing, what occurs when we spend too much time on social media including higher anxiety levels, and some strategies for what to do about it.

Ever witnessed something dumb? Something that annoyed you? This little exercise helps you to step back, take a breath, observe what's going on and move in a direction of compassion.

Ever have a moment where you meant well, but it appeared that you somehow missed the mark in communicating with a loved one, child or friend? Take a look at a way to engage more fully by understanding this technique. You can watch the video here: Right Brain to Right Brain Communication on WellnessTalks.Org