Navigating Life’s Ups and Downs
Bear Psychology Podcast
In her book, “A Very Narrow Bridge: Reflections of a Psychologist”, Dr. Rickey Miller shares her story guiding readers toward a greater understanding of life and the development of compassion for yourself and others. Her book takes an important look at suffering, resilience and healing. This memoir is a follows the author and her patients through heartbreak, grief, and anxiety toward joy, inspiration, and love. She encourages us to ask questions and truly consider alternative paths to where we are stuck. She suggests that we fail to ask ourselves if a...
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The Relief of Letting Go
Bear Psychology Podcast
Having dedicated her life to helping others through emotional moments, Dr. Bea MacKay knows better than most that there are many things we cannot control in life. In her book, “Let Go of the Outcome and Let Things Fall Together”, she shares strategies for dealing with events we cannot change without feeling defeated. Her approach to mental health, embraces emotional wellbeing. Listen to our conversation with psychologist & author Dr. Bea MacKay as we talk all about her approach to reconnecting with your emotions and yourself. In this book, she walks you through how you can combine...
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Understanding Narcissism
Bear Psychology Podcast
If you have ever struggled with a person in your life that displays behaviors such as: lack of empathy; entitlement; a need to be the center of attention; negative reactions to any critical feedback; a grandiose sense of self; arrogance; manipulation and gaslighting; a need to be in control; demeaning and blaming of others and much more than this conversation will be of interest to you! “Narcissism: A Contemporary Introduction” by Dr. Richard Wood is a well-researched book that provides you with a deep understanding of the psychological terrain of the Narcissist. He distinguishes and...
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Healing from Wounds No One Sees – From Military to Motorcycles
Bear Psychology Podcast
Dedicating your life to the safety and freedom of your country is a massive sacrifice military veterans across make every day. One of the largest challenges for these heroes is working through the barriers and stigma of PTSD following service and navigating their path of readjustment and recovery. Kurt Grant, author of “Shiny Side Up: On the Road to Recovery”, used a cross-country motorcycle trip to help integrate and calm some of the chaos in his mind following military service as an infantry sergeant. Listen to our conversation with veteran & author Kurt Grant as we talk about...
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Our Emotional Connection to Pets and how it impact our lives
Bear Psychology Podcast
So many of our listeners have pets that they cherish and certainly have shared struggles they might have with these animals. I am a great animal lover and many of my clients have found solace in their relationships with pets in the home, at times feeling a great emotional boost from the connection. With this in mind, I wanted to share the work of Denise Mange – who has written about her special approach to building a health relationship with the pets in your life. A bark is not always just a bark and a bite is not always just a bite. Training a dog (or other animal)...
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Overcoming Depression with Activation Strategies
Bear Psychology Podcast
Depression is a type of mood disorder that often results in chronic feelings of profound sadness and disinterest. Referred to as both clinical depression and major depressive disorder, it affects one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and can result in a range of psychological and medical issues. Sufferers often report difficulty navigating their day-to-day life and thinking life is not worth living. However, it is critical to understand that recovery is possible and that you are not alone in these struggles. Dr. Nina Josefowitz’s book “The Behavioral Activation Workbook for...
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Healing Emotional Dysregulation
Bear Psychology Podcast
In this healing exploration author and therapist Dr. Tamra Sattler reflects on the “Enneagram 4” also referred to as “Borderline-style personality”. These personality styles have a reputation of being difficult for therapists to work with, families to tolerate, and importantly for those struggling to love and accept themselves. In her book, “Too Much and Not Enough: Healing for the Enneagram Four or Borderline-Style Personality”, Sattler describes how people achieve self-discovery and a path forward to belonging, for those with strong emotions. Listen to our conversation with...
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Medical Assistance in Dying – loving someone through the process
Bear Psychology Podcast
Upon receiving a brain tumor diagnosis in 2018, Cynthia Clark’s husband expressed his desire to prioritize the quality of his remaining years over the quantity. His desire was to relish his time with his wife and kids, which ultimately led to his decision to utilize MAID when treatment failed eight months later. After starting a blog to update friends and family about the process, Cynthia began to notice that those going through this same process with a loved one often reported feeling alone and unsupported. This led her to write “The Many Faces of MAID: What to Expect When Someone...
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Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) impacts your life today
Bear Psychology Podcast
After 20 years in practice, Dr. Jonice Webb noticed the painful struggle of people who grew up in homes where they were emotionally neglected. She identified this neglect as an "invisible factor" that continued to affect adults often leaving them feeling depleted and dissatisfied or what she described as “Running on Empty”. In Dr. Webb’s books “Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect” and “Running On Empty No More: Transform Your Relationships” she shines a light on this invisible force of CEN. She discusses how to bring new tools, strategies and...
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Meditation after Injury and Loss
Bear Psychology Podcast
After years of excellent health as an ultra-marathon runner and athlete and a good life in a stable marriage Katie Arnold’s life flipped from stable to unrecognizable. Arnold experienced a significant injury while on a rafting trip that left her with a broken leg and big life changes. She takes us through her life as an ultra-runner and a “seething but adequate” married woman before the accident. The things she relied on before her accident were ripped away from her leaving her wondering who she really is. After her accident, she sought solace through a Zen meditation...
info_outlineSurviving a violent or abusive relationship can leave us broken hearted and in need of healing. Dr. Amelia Kelley & Kendall Ann Combs’ book “What I Wish I Knew: Surviving and Thriving after an Abusive Relationship” offers strength, guidance and clarity on this difficult life experience.
The book covers how a dangerous relationship can look like a fairy tale at the beginning only to unravel into an abusive and devastating situation that is difficult to leave and hard to rebuild from in the aftermath. Kelley and Combs provide a deep dive into how you got there and how to get out and trust again.
Listen to our conversation with Dr. Amelia Kelley and Kendall Ann Combs as we explore the dangers of an abusive personal relationship and how to free ourselves and heal from this dangerous life path.
Dr. Kelley and Ms. Combs identify various forms of relationship abuse (i.e., physical, emotional, sexual, verbal) and identify strategies for leaving an abusive relationship (i.e., asking for help, seeking support, pre-planning; creating a safety strategy and exiting). They also unpack how to deal with the aftermath of an abusive relationship and learn to thrive after the pain.
Kendall Ann Combs is an author, activist and podcaster. She is a survivor of Intimate Partner Violence herself and recognizes what it takes to get to safety.
Dr. Amelia Kelley, Ph.D. is a Trauma and Crisis Counseling Professor, a trauma-informed therapist, Yoga instructor and author, with a focus on helping others leave unhealthy relationships.
If you are interested in more information about domestic violence, escaping a relationship with intimidation, gaslighting, or control, this talk is for you.
For information about the book visit: https://www.ameliakelley.com/books/
Links & Resources:
- More about Dr. Kelley: https://www.ameliakelley.com/about/
- More about Kendall Ann Combs: https://kendallanncombs.com/
- High Heels and Heartache (Kendall Ann Combs Podcast about relationship issues): http://highheelsandheartache.com/