Sessions With Bob & Lena

In this episode, Bob and Lena are joined by Dr. Eleanor Mackey, a pediatric psychologist at Children's National Hospital in Washington DC. Dr. Mackey describes the numerous mental health challenges children have experienced and continue to experience since the pandemic begain in 2020. Dr. Mackey offers thoughtful and compassionate advice to parents who are struggling with how they can help their children manage anxiety, trauma, relationships, and more.

In this episode, Bob and Lena are joined by ordained minister and clinical mental health counselor, Ciara Simonson. February not only marks the beginning of a new year, but also the observance of Black History Month, and this discussion centers around how one can create a new narrative, create a more positive vision, and transform that into the life they want to live. Beyond new narratives for our individual lives, Bob, Lena, and Ciara talk about how important it is to hear, and acknowledge Black narratives, and how we need to collectively move beyond acknowledgment and education of Black history and culture, and mobilize that into action in order to courageously create the change we want for a new narrative of racial justice, healing, and equality. For more ways to take action during Black History Month and beyond, check out the resources at Movement 4 Black Lives (M4BL) here: https://m4bl.org/

Bob and Lena are joined by licensed psychotherapist, Hayley Hoffman, who is also a Polyvagal Informed Therapist (among many other things). Hayley explains what polyvagal theory is, and how people can use it calm their nervous system, deepen connections with others, and transform their lives.

Lena and Bob are joined by licensed and Imago certified therapist, Meredith Janson, to discuss why you still might be feeling off, depressed, anxious, hopeless, or burned out, even if your life feels somewhat or mostly "normal." They discuss a phenomenon they coined, "covid traumatic stress disorder" and explore why people are struggling, 2 years into the pandemic.

Bob and Lena discuss a common dynamic in intimate relationships, where one person has a fear of abandonment and the other has a fear of shame and/or failure.

Are you stuck and don't know what to do? Does it feel like you're banging your head against the wall and nothing is happening? Are you sitting with questions you don't have any answers to? In this episode, Bob and Lena discuss what it means to surrender and let go, and how they help their clients find acceptance with the things they can't control.

It's been one year since Covid-19 was officially declared a pandemic. The entire year, but especially recently, has shown an uptick in people seeking therapy. Therapists are booked and people need affordable mental health care more than ever. Lena and Bob discuss what themes they are seeing in therapy as we approach the one year mark of the pandemic, and how they are helping their clients navigate those challenges.

In this episode, Bob and Lena pass the mic to Alison Crockett and Latasha Harrison to discuss the realities of being a black woman in America. Alison Crockett is a musician, singer, and songwriter in the genre of Nu Jazz, R&B, with 6 records. She is an educator and choral director and a professor at George Washington University in the music department. Dr. Latasha Harrison has 3 Masters Degrees and a PhD. She works as a counselor at the Imago Center and is an administrator at the Department of Special Education, as well as an adjunct professor at Bowie State University.

Bob and Lena chat with parenting experts and Imago relationship therapists Caroline Bernhardt-Lanier and Tory Joseph on the challenges parents are facing with their children during the pandemic. This episode is focused on listener questions and the topics include: Sibling fighting, managing kids and parents big emotions, anxiety, talking to kids about the realities of a pandemic, distance learning, and more.

Bob and Lena are joined by 3 singles living a socially distant life. The group processes the challenges, the loneliness, the spiritual awakenings, and the gifts of living as a single person during Covid 19.

Lena and Bob discuss the issues that functional and semi-functional couples are facing as they are faced with too much time together during the novel coronavirus. Different scenarios and strategies to overcome poor communication, stress, and conflict are all discussed.

It has been said that comparison is the thief of joy, yet why is it that so many of us constantly compare ourselves to others? In this episode, Lena and Bob interview theologian Brian Smith on envy, comparison, social hierarchies, and why so many get caught up in the "keeping up with the Joneses" phenomenon.

Lena and Bob discuss "The Nice Guy Syndrome" with special guest, John. Based on the book, "No More Mr. Nice Guy" by Dr. Robert Glover, they explore everything related to "nice guys." Do nice guys finish last? Why are nice guys actually not very nice at all? And much more!

Lena and Bob interview the brilliant neuroscientist Dr. Doug Fields on his book, "Why We Snap: Understanding The Rage Circuit In Your Brain." Learn the 9 triggers of rage and violence, why people with no history of violence can become violent, understanding your own anger and rage, violence against women, why men are more violent than women and how Dr. Fields believes we can end violence.

Bob and Lena interview the brilliant Dr. Carl Siegel on everything you ever wanted to know about men. What do men struggle with? What are the relational struggles men go through? What do men want? Why do men leave? How does one raise an emotionally healthy boy to be an emotionally healthy man? These questions are discussed and much more. Dr. Carl Siegel is the Executive Director of the Imago Center in Washington DC. He is an expert on male psychology and sees individuals, couples and runs mens support groups in Washington DC.

According to statistics, 2/3 of women have reported being bullied by a female boss at work. Toxic masculinity is a hot topic and in an era where women are supposed to be supporting other women, it doesn't always go that way. Lena and Bob interview "Kim" and "Angie" on their personal experiences of toxic female bosses and the group also discusses female relational aggression in the workplace, mom wars, female bullying and more.

Lena and Bob interview psychotherapists Shervon Laurice & Michael Giordano (who specialize in sex therapy) on everything you always wanted to know about sexual issues. Topics include: mismatched desire, low libido, erectile dysfunction, sexual communication, eroticism, open relationships, polyamory and more. Find out about how sex therapists work with these issues.

Bob and Lena have discussed the biological aspects of depression in previous episodes but this one focuses on whether or not human beings choose to be unhappy. Bob and Lena explore why this happens frequently, the purpose for it and why we often choose unhappiness over happiness. They also discuss the latest scientific research linking stress and inflammation to depression.

Rom-coms, Disney, fables and media subconsciously influence how we view our relationships and often to our detriment. Bob and Lena discuss how unrealistic expectations potentially ruin perfectly good relationships and hurt single people who are looking for the right person. What are realistic expectations for a relationship and what should someone be looking for when it comes to the "right" person? Bob and Lena also look at the research and how rom-coms can encourage stalker behavior, and much more.

Lena and Bob interview Jim Rendon, author of the book, "Upside: The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth." This episode is a follow up to the previous episode on trauma. Find out why so many people can go on with their lives after experiencing horrible and life changing events. Learn the difference between resilience and growth and find out why there is a lot of hope after bad things happen to good people.

You don't have to have a clinical diagnosis of PTSD to experience trauma and the influence it can have on your feelings and behaviors. Traumatic experiences, even one, can have a profound impact on the way we live our lives and on our relationships. Many people have experienced a trauma in their lifetime and it can come from many things- bullying, neglect, any kind of abuse, witnessing a horrifying event, violence or threat of violence, accidents, threat to safety and so much more. In episode 10, Lena and Bob interview trauma specialist Melanie Shapiro of the Viva Center and unpack everything related to trauma and healing, including the best modalities to treat trauma.

Part 3 of communications breakdown explains the way Bob and Lena use Imago relationship therapy to help couples communicate effectively and restore their connection. Get a crash course in this highly effective way to work with couples.

Part 2 of Communications Breakdown continues the discussion on why couples fight, the things that couples do that predict break up or divorce and continued tips to break the cycle of conflict and increase healthy communication and connection.

Bob and Lena discuss the communication breakdown that happens when couples fight. Find out what leads to communication breakdown in relationships, why it happens and strategies to help you strengthen the communication in your relationship (part 1 of 2)

What are the consequences of constantly being bombarded with bad news that seems to be overly prevalent in the news and everywhere we turn? Lena and Bob examine collective and subconscious anxiety in the aftermath of events such as the recent Parkland Florida school shootings. Tune in for insight and practical tips to managing life when things feel like they're too much. Bonus: listener question at the end- how to talk to kids about tragedy.

Are you depressed? Do you know someone who is depressed? What's the difference between being clinically depressed vs. situationally depressed? How do grief, trauma, spiritual crisis and culture contribute to depression? What do we do about it and how do we get better?

Do you ever wonder about what goes on behind the facade of those happy social media couples? Experienced couples therapists, Bob and Lena have seen it all and tell the truth about the reality of long term relationships.

Did you know that social isolation and loneliness are a public health crisis? The research now says that being socially isolated is the equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. People are reporting fewer close relationships and communities are not what they once were. So what's going on here? Why is that even though we seem more connected than ever, we are becoming increasingly socially isolated and disconnected? Lena and Bob explore why this is happening and what we can do about it in episode 2.

In episode 1, Bob and Lena explore the many complexities of rape culture in 2017. How do history, culture and gender roles contribute? What is toxic masculinity vs. healthy masculinity? What about socialization and messages children receive? Do men and women experience sexuality differently? How does pop culture contribute to this? What is our collective responsibility in creating and preventing rape culture? WARNING: sensitive and disturbing content is discussed.