Take What Serves. Leave the Rest.

Being human is quite the experience. And sometimes we need compassionate reminders along the way.  In this week's episode, we're exploring some of those.  Bryan is joined by Dr. Anastasia Ristau as they discuss the things they often remind themselves of, with the intention that they may be helpful for you, too.  Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

OCD is very clever at getting people to immerse themselves in fake stories that feel very real, and pull them away from the present moment. As a Twin Cities based OCD therapist, Sierra Claeson works with her clients to help them learn how to not take OCD's bait, and stay connected to the here and now.  In this week's episode of the podcast, Bryan talks to Sierra about her work treating OCD, her passion for inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT), the courage it takes to get help, and much more.  Sierra is the co-founder of Out of the Woods Counseling. She sees clients virtually in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Asking for help with your mental health can feel really hard. However, leaning into support is a powerful act of courage.  In this week's episode, Bryan and Dr. Anastasia Ristau talk about stepping into the space of vulnerability and surrendering into help.  Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Lucy Grantz lived almost 30 years with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and didn't know it. She is now a therapist specializing in the treatment of it.  In this week's episode Bryan talks to Lucy about a number of things, including: Getting diagnosed with OCD in her 40's.  Interacting with mindfulness practices while living with OCD.  Focusing on living the "middle path".  Creating space for the grief that comes with an OCD diagnosis. Lucy Grantz is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Southwest Minneapolis. She runs a private practice called Pivot Psychotherapy.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Receiving a mental health diagnosis can activate a wide array of emotions.  In this episode, we're exploring how a diagnosis can be an empowering experience - even as you experience all the other emotions that might be coming along with it, too.  Bryan is joined, once again, by Dr. Anastasia Ristau. They discuss how a diagnosis can validate what you're experiencing - and give you a path forward to show up for your life in a more expansive way. They also offer a special message to parents who might be maneuvering a mental health diagnosis for their children. Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Here we are in the change of seasons. No doubt that this time of the year holds great beauty. It can also feel tender for some of us when it comes to our mental and emotional health.  In this week's episode we're talking about it. Bryan and Kelly Grosklags talk about meeting ourselves gently as we ride the many seasons of our life. They discuss why the season change can sometimes be difficult - and ways to nurture yourself through it. Also, how different seasons may hold deep tenderness when it comes to grief and loss. Kelly Grosklags is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), author, podcast host, and Founder of "Conversations with Kelly".  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

It's been about eight months since Bryan has been working as a mental health therapist. In this episode, he shares some of what he's learned along the way that may help you if you're in therapy - or interested in exploring the process.  Bryan is interviewed by Kelly Grosklags about what the past eight months have been like for him. They talk about finding a therapist that is a good fit, the safe space that is often cultivated in a therapy session, naming when imposter syndrome shows up, cultivating a root system to weather the ebbs and flows of life - and much more.  Kelly Grosklags is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), author, podcast host, and Founder of Conversations with Kelly.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  Click here to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation if you are interested in working with Bryan. (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

To be uncertain is to be human.  And yet, sitting in uncertainty can be a very uncomfortable experience.  In this week's episode, Bryan explores with Dr. Anastasia Ristau what it means to nurture our relationship with uncertainty - and how to start showing up for our life in the midst of the questions.  If uncertainty is feeling especially prominent in your life right now, this episode is meant to provide some comfort and hope. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  Click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with Bryan if you're interest in working with him.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Rumination can feel all-consuming when we're in the depths of it. Churning over and over again in our mind - thinking we're solving our worries. In reality, rumination is often pulling us further and further away from what's most important to us.  In this episode, Bryan talks the process of noticing when we're ruminating - and reconnecting to what's most important to us in the present moment.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  If you are interested in working with Bryan, click here to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation with him.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Many are experiencing strong emotions about the upcoming Presidential election. In this week's episode, we're talking about. Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the process of taking care of yourself if things are feeling emotionally charged right now. Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest. Click here if you are interested in working with Bryan and want to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation. Learn more about Bryan here. (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

We all experience thoughts that can feel distressing and sometimes pull us away from how we want to be living our life. For people living with OCD, this experience is amplified.  This week, Bryan talks to Dr. Marisa Mazza who is helping people living with OCD maneuver the noise of their mind and lean into what's most important to them. She talks about disengaging from our thoughts, rooting into our values, and her definition of what it means to "live well". Dr. Mazza is a licensed psychologist, and founder of choicetherapy, a group practice specializing in evidence-based treatments for OCD and anxiety. She is also faculty at the International OCD Foundation's Behavioral Therapy Training Institute, and author of "The ACT Workbook for OCD: Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Exposure Skills to Live Well with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder". As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest. Click here to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation with Bryan if you are interested in working with him.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Summer is a time of the year that many look forward to. It can also bring with it some nuances that may play a role in our mental and emotional health. That's what we're exploring in this week's episode.  Bryan chats with Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the shifting in day-to-day routines that happens in the summer for some of us. They also explore the expectations that we may place on this time of the year, the unique challenges facing parents in the summer - and much more.  Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  Click here to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation with Bryan, if you're interested in working with him.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Each and every day we have different portals that arise along the path. Uncomfortable spaces that we step into - often with meaningful experiences on the other side.  Although the pull to avoid the portal is strong - Bryan explores, in this episode, the importance of having the courage to step in. He talks about how it often leads to living a life in alignment with what's most important to us.  Bryan explores creating space for our thoughts, emotions, and sensations in our bodies - the idea of "showing up" before we feel ready - and much more.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Have you ever felt like the constant need to "heal" and "grow" sometimes pulls you away from living life in the present moment?  We're exploring this in today's episode.  In this conversation with Dr. Anastasia Ristau, Bryan talks about finding that balance of doing the "deep work", and also noticing when we might be slipping into the mentality that we constantly need to be "fixed". Dr. Anastasia Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  If you live in Minnesota and are interested in working with Bryan, click here to set up a free 15-minute mental health therapy phone consultation with him.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

This episode is intended to help anyone experiencing the impact of infertility feel less alone. In this week's episode, we're hearing the story of Beth Anderson. Beth opens up about her experience with infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, which has included seven miscarriages over the past four years - and also the birth of her beautiful baby boy. Beth shares what the journey has looked like for her and her husband Nate, how the experience has shifted the way she lives her life, what has felt supportive from other people along the way, and much more. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Expressing his mental and emotional experience through drawing has been a healing outlet for Justin Jordan-Lake. He's now sharing his art through "The OCD Blog", providing light for others living with obsessive-compulsive disorder.  In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Justin about his OCD journey, his approach to recovery, the intention behind "The OCD Blog", and much more. You can follow "The OCD Blog" on Instagram: @theocdblog.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

What does it mean to be gentle with yourself?  In the fast-paced world we find ourselves in, it can sometimes be hard to cultivate a sense of gentleness towards ourselves. Bryan explores this more deeply with Dr. Anastasia Ristau in this week's episode.  They discuss how "being gentle" may look different for everyone, how a gentle action towards ourself may vary depending on what we're experiencing in the moment, and much more.  Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist, and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Many people with OCD experience obsessions related to God, spirituality, and their faith. Reverend Katie O'Dunn is helping bridge the gap between spiritual traditions and effective treatment for OCD.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Katie about religious and moral scrupulosity and how it can manifest for some people living with OCD. She also talks about how she is reframing effective OCD treatment as a spiritual practice, and how she's seen therapy help people deepen their relationship with God. Katie also shares her own personal journey of living with OCD.  Katie is an ordained minister and interfaith chaplain. She is also the Founder and Director of "Stick with the Ick", and lead advocate for the International OCD Foundation. Katie shares that running is a spiritual practice for her and - as an endurance athlete - she is working towards running an ultra marathon in every state to raise awareness about OCD.  Follow Katie on Instagram: @revkrunsbeyondocd Visit her website here.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Learning to truly lean in, feel, and express what is arising in our body is some of the most nuanced and deep work we can step into as a human being. Especially living in a world that is often telling us to keep our emotions hidden.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the process of honoring our own emotional landscape. As mentioned in the episode, this conversation was inspired by this video on TikTok.  Bryan and Dr. Ristau talk about the courage it takes to trust the process when an emotion arises, holding space for others when they are maneuvering an emotion - and much more. Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Lauren Rosen started experiencing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) when she was seven years old, and wouldn't be properly diagnosed for 17 years. She's now transformed her own journey into a career as a mental health therapist supporting people living with OCD. In this episode, Bryan talks to Lauren about her mental health story, the manifestation of OCD often referred to as "Pure OCD", mindfulness, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and much more.  Lauren is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Founder of "The Center for the Obsessive Mind", and co-host of the Purely OCD podcast.  You can follow Lauren on Instagram: @theobsessivemind. If you are interested in working with Bryan you can click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation for OCD & anxiety therapy in the state of Minnesota. You can also email him at bryan@stateofmindtherapy.com. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In a world that is constantly telling us we need to be perfect, Colleen Lindstrom is on a mission to help us all celebrate the beauty in the average of life.  In this episode, Colleen joins Bryan and Kelly Grosklags of the "See My Grief" podcast. Colleen is a former radio host in the Twin Cities, creator of The Bronze Medal Life and host of The Bronze Medal Life podcast.  Colleen shares more about The Bronze Medal Life and her relationship with grief after the loss of her three month old daughter. Colleen, Kelly and Bryan also discuss being honest with others about our pain, and much more.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

There is deep messaging in our world that happiness is somewhere off in the future. "I'll be happy when...". While setting goals and working towards things we want to create can be deeply powerful, the journey that we take to get there can often get lost in the mix.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the idea that life is a journey that we are all on, not a destination that we arrive at. They discuss being open to the detours along the way in life, connecting to the subtle nature of the present moment, showing up before we are ready, and much more.  Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

The holidays are a beautiful time of the year, and can also be very tender for some of us.  In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about creating space for what arises this holiday season when it comes to our mental and emotional health.  They discuss the shifting of routines that often happens, listening to signals from our bodies that we need some self care, creating new traditions, and much more.  Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at Prairiecare.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Getting on an airplane activates anxiety for many people.  In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Jenny Matthews about maneuvering flying anxiety.  Jenny is a licensed mental health therapist, and founder of State of Mind Therapy.  Jenny talks about her personal experience with flying anxiety, different core fears that people often have when getting on an airplane, and ways to maneuvering the anxiety when it arrives before and during the flight.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  Follow Jenny on Instagram: @state.of.mind.therapy (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

You can often find Jared Fessler up close and personal at concerts in the Twin Cities, photographing artists from Taylor Swift to Queen. All experiences that would have been extremely difficult for him several years ago he was struggling with intense anxiety.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Jared about how anxiety forced him to start avoiding places like large crowds and driving in the car. He also shares how anxiety latched onto the fear of getting sick, working through resistance to mental health medication, and much more.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  You can check out Jared's website here. Follow him on Instagram: @jaredfesslerphotography & @jarredfessler (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

We've all done it. Assuming that we know exactly what another person is thinking, feeling, or experiencing in a given moment.  This week on the podcast, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about how those assumptions we make may be impacting us more than we realize.  Dr. Ristau talks about the act of pausing when we notice we're making an assumption, opening up to the possibility of alternate explanations, communicating with our loved ones about assumptions we're making, and much more.  Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.   (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

How do we carve out space to nurture our health in the world we find ourselves in every day? That's a question that Pilar Gerasimo has devoted this stage of her career to exploring. In this week's episode, Pilar joins Bryan to talk about the "unhealthy default reality", what it means to be a "healthy deviant", developing survival skills for the new era, and much more. Pilar is a health journalist and author of the book, "The Healthy Deviant: A Rule Breaker's Guide to Being Healthy in an Unhealthy World". She's also the Founding Editor of Experience Life Magazine and co-host of The Living Experiment podcast. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Dr. Courtney Burnett says getting diagnosed with brain cancer has radically shifted how she lives her life, and had a profound impact on her mental and emotional health.  In this podcast, Bryan talks to Dr. Burnett about getting diagnosed with a brain tumor in Thailand at the age of 29, and how the diagnosis has taught her how to live more in the present moment.  Dr. Burnett is a practicing physician, public speaker, and author of the book "Difficult Gifts". She is also the creator of the blog "Elephant. Lotus. Brain Tumor".  As always - take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In 2021, Evan Hansen set out on a journey to raise awareness about suicide prevention. He ended up carrying a canoe over 300 miles across the state of Minnesota. He went on to write the book, "Into the Wind". In this episode, Bryan talks to Evan about why he decided to make this journey, his own mental health story, opening up to taking medication for his mental health as a man of faith, and much more.  As always take what serves you, and leave the rest. Check out Evan's "Portage for a Purpose" Facebook page.  Learn more about the upcoming Portage for a Purpose 5K here.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional) If you, or someone you know, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 

Wanting reassurance is a natural part of being a human being.  In this episode Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about our relationship with it. They talk about how sometimes reassurance can be used to avoid what we're feeling in the moment, ways it can fuel anxiety, when reassurance can be especially healing, and much more.  Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist, and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  This conversations was inspired by the article "How To Stop Reassurance Seeking" by Nick Wignall.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)  

In this episode, Bryan talks to Anna Ransbotham-Cole about her journey of getting an ileostomy surgery after living with ulcerative colitis.  Anna shares the depths that she reached when ulcerative colitis was at its worst, and how she says her ileostomy surgery gave her her life back. She shares more about what an ileostomy surgery is, what this journey has taught her about life, and much more.  Resources that Anna recommends: - United Ostomy Associations of America  - Crohn's & Colitis Foundation  - Follow @betterbelliesbymolly on Instagram  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In a world where there is constant pressure to grow, evolve, do our best, strive, and achieve - perhaps some of the best medicine we can give ourselves is the permission to "be average".  I know - encouraging someone to "be average" is almost like saying a bad word in the society we all live in today. But, hear us out.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about how "being average" maybe isn't such a bad thing, and actually an invitation to lean into and embrace our humanness.  They talk about what the word "average" means to them, how "average" may being us closer to those around us, and ways to flow between the "average" moments in life and those times where we need to push, strive and achieve.  Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Lyndsay Guentzel was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago in her mid 30's. Then, recently was diagnosed with a rare, incurable muscle disease called Myositis.  In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Lindsay about her journey. She shares what it's teaching her about life, what helps her maneuver the day-to-day, and much more.  Lyndsay is an award-winning radio journalist and producer - working at WCCO Radio and Minnesota Public Radio in the past. She's also a mental health advocate and the host of the ADHD Online weekly podcast called “Refocused with Lyndsey Guentzel”. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Conflict can be deeply uncomfortable and something many of us often avoid.  It is, however, an inevitable and natural part of being in all sorts of relationships.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about how conflict can actually deepen our relationships and draw us closer to the people in our lives.  They discuss ways to maneuver those tough conversations we may find ourselves in during conflict, how perfectionism can seep into the discussion around conflict, and much more.  Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this week's episode, Bryan hops on a boat in Minnesota's lakes country and has a conversation with his younger brother Eric.  Eric shares his recent journey of traveling the world, and getting accepted into medical school. Eric shares what the process has taught him about what is most important to him, and coming into contact with the present moment.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this week's episode of the podcast, Bryan checks in from the edge of his dock in lakes country.  If things feel hard right now with your mental health, this episode is an invitation to be gentle with you.  One moment at a time.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this week's episode of the podcast Bryan talks to Jonny Say, who's a counselor and compassion & mindfulness-based therapist in the UK.  Jonny shares his own mental health story, which includes symptoms of OCD, depersonalization and panic.  Jonny shares how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been instrumental in his healing, and how he now uses it with his clients. Jonny also shares how he cultivates self-compassion in moments where things feel really intense.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this week's episode, Bryan offers a meditation for you to help ground in moments of overwhelm.  This guided meditation is meant to help you gently come back to your heart, and your body, when the noise of your mind feels particularly intense.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In a world that seems to be constantly driving us all more and more up into our minds, sometimes what we need most is for our bodies to express in a way that feels good.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the power of play, movement, and expressing our bodies.  Dr. Ristau and Bryan discuss how movement can help us maneuver our minds when they are particularly active, and the wisdom we tap into when we allow ourselves to play and express.  Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest. (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

We all have things that help guide us with our mental health. Here are four things that I come back to often as I maneuver the noise of my mind on a daily basis.  My hope is that this episode can offer a soft place for you to land, no matter what it is that you're experiencing. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest. (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Truly feeling the emotions that are present within our body can feel deeply scary at times. It can feel like we are "losing it" and out of control.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Kelly Grosklags about the process of "getting in touch" with our pain. Meeting ourselves gently as we lean into what we're feeling.  Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Conversations with Kelly. She's also the author of A Comforted Heart, and the host of the See My Grief podcast.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Our minds love to jump into the future and try to figure out what things are going to be like there. Often creating really scary stories about what might be ahead of us. Instead of trying to figure out what the future is going to feel like, what if we give the present moment an opportunity to surprise us?  That's the topic of this week's episode. Bryan is joined by Kelly Grosklags for a conversation about creating space for "what is" in the present, and ways to anchor a little more into "the now". Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Conversations with Kelly. She's also the author of A Comforted Heart, and the host of the See My Grief podcast.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

For all of you parents out there doing your best to support a child who's struggling with their mental health, this one's for you.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about what can be helpful when maneuvering mental health challenges within your family.  She discusses the process of holding space for your child, validating their experience, maneuvering shame that may arise for parents, and much more. Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Sometimes we expect life to be simple. For things to just work out. We look around, and everything appears so simple for everyone else. Why does it feel so hard for me?  In this week's episode, Dr. Anastasia Ristau pushes back on this idea a bit and talks about how life isn't always instant oatmeal. Perhaps it's more like a pot of stovetop oats that we have to tend to, season, and nurture. A much more involved process that features the full array of human emotions.  Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist, and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.  As always - take what serves you from this conversation, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Living with OCD is anything but funny. And yet, learning to find moments of humor has been part of the healing journey for Peter Scobas.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Peter about the newsletter he's launched called Psychology Onions. The newsletter is aimed at using humor to help take some of OCD's power away.  Peter shares what his experience with OCD has looked like, what has helped him live with it, and much more. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

We all have parts of ourselves that no one sees. Things we experience internally that go "unseen". In this episode, Bryan talks to members of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus about their upcoming concert, which is focused on neurodiversity and mental health. The concert is called "Unseen" and is being held March 17th and 18th at Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park. Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.  Gerald Gurss (Chorus Artistic Director) and Nathan Porras (Chorus Singer) talk about their own experience with mental health, what helps them ride the waves, and how music has been part of their hearing.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

There is sacred wisdom through the lens of someone at the end of their life. In this episode, Kelly Grosklags talks about how the dying teach us how to live. How they teach us to be more present for our lives right now, and notice what matters most. For the second week, the "Take What Serves. Leave the Rest" podcast is joining hands with Kelly's podcast titled, "See My Grief". Kelly a licensed clinical social worker who's worked for over 25 years in the field of oncology, palliative care and hospice. This includes running her own private therapy practice for over 15 years.  Kelly is also the Founder of “Conversations with Kelly”, and author of the book “A Comforted Heart”. As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Learning to nurture that inner child that lives inside of you is deeply sacred work.  In this episode, the "Take What Serves. Leave the Rest" podcasts joins hands with the "See My Grief" podcast to talk about talking to your inner child.  The "See My Grief" podcast is hosted by Kelly Grosklags, who's a licensed clinical social worker who's worked for over 25 years in the field of oncology, palliative care and hospice. This includes running her own private therapy practice for over 15 years.  Kelly is also the Founder of “Conversations with Kelly”, and author of the book “A Comforted Heart”. As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Matt Entz just wrapped up his 4th season as head coach of the North Dakota State University football team.  He joins Bryan this week to talk about how he maneuvers the pressure that comes along with leading the program. He talks about what he does when self doubt grows strong, the team's "Right Now Means Everything" motto, and how he addresses mental health with his players.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

We experience a wide array of emotions as human beings and, in this episode, we talk about creating space for it all to exist within us.  Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau, who is a Psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare. Dr. Ristau joined us previously on the podcast to talk about the basics of therapy. You can listen to that episode here.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Kindness. It's at the core of the way Katie Steller is showing up in the world. She founded the Steller Kindness Project and the Red Chair Project, where she travels around Minneapolis giving free haircuts to people in need.  In this week's episode, we talk about the mental health challenges Katie has maneuvered in her life and the ways she has learned to show up. She also shares her experience with ulcerative colitis when she was a teenager, embracing her sexuality over the last few years, and much more. Katie is the CEO of Steller Hair Company in Northeast Minneapolis.  As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)