A victim mindset might be the reason you are stuck in your life or relationships. We identified five elements of this mindset (plus one bonus one): (1) sees self as good, other as bad; (2) focuses on my good intentions (not actions) and your bad actions (not intentions); (3) sees only from own perspective, cannot see other’s perspective; (4) cannot hold both experiences as valid and real, two parts of the same puzzle; and (5) views things as right/wrong rather than both/and. Aaron Potratz & ...
Feb 07, 2024•27 min
What does it mean to be your “self”? How do you lose “yourself” in relationships and how can you avoid or prevent that from happening? In this two-part series, we break down the issue to help you better know who you are and spot ways you might be operating that cause you to lose yourself or behave not in accordance with who you are (such as what matters to you or what you value). Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with ...
Jan 31, 2024•26 min
What does it mean to be your “self”? How do you lose “yourself” in relationships and how can you avoid or prevent that from happening? In this two-part series, we break down the issue to help you better know who you are and spot ways you might be operating that cause you to lose yourself or behave not in accordance with who you are (such as what matters to you or what you value). Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with ...
Jan 24, 2024•27 min
There is a fundamental truth to life that can be difficult to accept: YOU, not other people, are the biggest problem in your own life. What this means is your mindset, your ability to regulate your feelings, and your responses are the causes of most of your problems-which you are in control of. Taking responsibility for these can have a significant influence on your satisfaction in life, even though life will always present obstacles and involve pain. Buy the "You Are The Biggest Problem In Your...
Jan 17, 2024•28 min
What is premarital counseling? Who could benefit from it? What are some things that happen in premarital counseling to make it useful? We stole a page from our Shrink Think educational videos that orient couples to premarital counseling, and shared them here so our listeners could benefit. This episode would be helpful for couples who plan to get married someday (or are engaged), as well as therapists who work with couples. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licens...
Jan 10, 2024•25 min
As you get older, you might realize some things about your parents that you wish they would change. Maybe you’ve even considered talking to them about it. Just because you share your hurts from childhood, doesn’t mean they’ll be understanding let alone take responsibility and change. What do you do if your parents won’t change, and you’re “stuck” with the negative or unhealthy patterns? We’ll talk you through it and give you some ways you can cope with this reality. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Ha...
Jan 03, 2024•27 min
If you are a parent of adult children and they have tried to share about their childhood with you, you might be tempted get defensive or feel guilty. Don’t do it! Listen to this episode first! You’ll learn about why you need to embrace what your child is saying, embrace the idea that you made some mistakes in parenting, and use this as an opportunity to build a better relationship with your child. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical...
Dec 27, 2023•28 min
Part 2 of 2. We invited fellow PNW'er Andrew Lang to talk about inner critic and shadow work that he specializes in. The inner critic develops subconsciously from the stories and experiences of our lives, and shadows are parts of us that get rejected or repressed by the people and communities around us. Andrew discusses how to get connected to these through the body and mindful awareness in order to live an open and more vibrant life. Andrew Lang is an educator in the Pacific Northwest, an alumn...
Dec 21, 2023•34 min
We invited fellow PNW'er Andrew Lang to talk about inner critic and shadow work that he specializes in. The inner critic develops subconsciously from the stories and experiences of our lives, and shadows are parts of us that get rejected or repressed by the people and communities around us. Andrew discusses how to get connected to these through the body and mindful awareness in order to live an open and more vibrant life. Andrew Lang is an educator in the Pacific Northwest, an alumnus of Richard...
Dec 13, 2023•23 min
It's easy to feel anxious or offended about something then want to control the environment or people around you so you feel better. The healthy approach, however, is to turn inward and find out what's going on inside of you and control THAT. Controlling your own thoughts, feelings, and reactions will create better relationships and flexibility that is necessary for healthy interactions. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisor...
Dec 05, 2023•24 min
Having a conflict with someone can be really uncomfortable! This is why many people avoid conflicts altogether - that, and they don’t know what to do. Here are some practical tips for getting yourself to “zero” or “grounded” so that you can work through the issue with someone more effectively. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a...
Nov 29, 2023•24 min
When you have a disagreement with someone, it’s important to use the right tools to work through it. How you communicate together will determine how successful you’ll be at resolving the issue. Focusing on yourself and not on the other person (which sounds counterintuitive) will avoid tossing a grenade and blowing it up, an outcome nobody wants! Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They e...
Nov 15, 2023•26 min
Martin Altman, Licensed Professional Counselor in Atlanta, Georgia, joins us to talk all about ADHD. He explains what it is and how it affects people, the benefits and drawbacks of having ADHD, he shares about his own experiences with it, and talks about strategies for living with it. Website: https://www.altmancounseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altman.marty/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playtherapydouglasville/ Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health exp...
Nov 08, 2023•29 min
Martin Altman, Licensed Professional Counselor in Atlanta, Georgia, joins us to talk all about ADHD. He explains what it is and how it affects people, the benefits and drawbacks of having ADHD, he shares about his own experiences with it, and talks about strategies for living with it. Website: https://www.altmancounseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altman.marty/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playtherapydouglasville/ Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health exp...
Oct 31, 2023•31 min
* Codependent relationship dynamics are common, and people often don't know where they end and the other person begins-let alone how to let others have their own feelings without taking responsibility for them. It's a complicated dynamic, so we broke it down to make it simpler to see and understand. Being compassionate means owning your words and actions, as well as how they impact another person, but it is their responsibility from there. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health...
Oct 25, 2023•24 min
As a follow-up to the previous episode, we look at the benefits of in-person therapy as superior to telehealth. Nothing can replace the experience of commuting to the office and sitting down with a therapist face-to-face. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists i...
Oct 18, 2023•24 min
The COVID-19 Pandemic changed therapy and opened up the option of telehealth or video therapy. Telehealth allows for more options, easier access to providers with specialties, and convenience. It also has drawbacks, such as eliminating pre- and post-session processing time as well as the valuable in-office person-to-person contact. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a priv...
Oct 11, 2023•23 min
When people go to therapy, it's a good idea to know what you need from the session and from your therapist. Understanding what you need helps you to focus on the most important things and it helps the therapist know best how to help you - whether it's giving clarity, empathizing, or providing insight. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and ...
Oct 04, 2023•23 min
This is part two of our Podcast Takeover with Lisa Mustard of The Therapy Show. We continue the discussion on attachment styles as it applies to parenting. Lisa, Nathan, and Aaron all share about how they wrestle with attachment styles in their parenting, so tune in because you won't want to miss it! Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and c...
Sep 27, 2023•32 min
Podcast Takeover! Guest Lisa Mustard of The Therapy Show Podcast joins us as we catch up as friends and colleagues, talk about the different attachment styles, and in part 2 we extend that discussion to us as parents. It was a fun and informative episode that you won't want to miss! Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one ...
Sep 19, 2023•31 min
We decided to have fun with the enneagram, so Nathan created a scenario and asked Aaron to describe how different enneagram types would respond to the same situation. We wanted to make all the enneagram information from previous episodes come alive so you could see what different types might look like in real life... we didn't rehearse it at all! Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They ...
Sep 13, 2023•23 min
Starting counseling as a couple is different from individual counseling, and not every counselor works with couples because of these challenges. Here's what you need to know about couples counseling, whether you're a therapist working with couples or in a relationship and in counseling together. This episode is based on our "Orientation to Couples Counseling" digital course at www.ShrinkThink.com. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical...
Sep 06, 2023•24 min
When you hurt someone, you need to take responsibility for your actions and apologize. But saying "sorry" isn't enough; apologies need you to empathize with their pain which you inflicted, and let that discomfort change you to be a better person (and not repeat the action). Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together....
Aug 30, 2023•24 min
This is Aaron's first solo episode without Nathan, who was traveling. Many people say things like “it feels unsafe,” but they may be mixing facts with feelings and doing something called "emotional reasoning." Being able to describe the facts or events of what happens, while clearly identifying the feelings you have about them, can help you better understand how it has impacted you and get the validation you may be seeking. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licens...
Aug 24, 2023•25 min
There are three triads to the Enneagram: Body, Heart, and Head. Numbers 5, 6, and 7 comprise the Head triad, which is a fundamental thinking orientation to the world - they process it through their mind. The Head triad's main struggle is fear, a feeling of insecurity and uncertainty. Fives may seek security in accumulating knowledge, sixes may seek it in solutions, and sevens may seek it in fun or excitement. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, ...
Aug 09, 2023•23 min
There are three triads to the Enneagram: Body, Heart, and Head. Numbers 2, 3, and 4 comprise the Heart triad, which is a fundamental feeling orientation to the world - they process it through emotions. The Heart triad's main struggle is shame, a feeling of unworthiness or not good enough. Twos may seek appreciation for helping, threes may seek admiration for achievements, and fours may seek affirmation for uniqueness. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed cou...
Aug 09, 2023•24 min
Often in relationships, we project what we think the other person's intent is and then perceive them to be "attacking" us. The reality, though, is that they are usually defending themselves. The same is true for us when the roles are reversed: we are protecting ourselves and not intentionally trying to hurt the other person. Learning and discerning this can be a game-changer for your relationships. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinica...
Aug 01, 2023•23 min
The world needs more peace. One of the ways we can spread it is to stop being offended about things that don't concern us or that we simply don't need to take offense about. It will make you happier as an individual, it will improve your relationships, and it will make for more peaceful environments. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and c...
Jul 25, 2023•23 min
People say they're "triggered" left and right these days, but what does that word even mean? Does it mean what they think it means? Probably not. They might be feeling overwhelmed rather than experiencing something "trigger" a past memory or trauma (little "t" or big "T" trauma). If you use that word often, you might want to listen to this episode and make sure you're using it correctly. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical superviso...
Jul 19, 2023•23 min
You may be asking questions with an agenda that leave others feeling defensive or like you're looking for something specific. This may be keeping you stuck in communication and limiting your connection in the relationship. Leading with curiosity can create safety and openness, but it might land you somewhere you don't expect. Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private gr...
Jul 05, 2023•24 min
