Living in LA during a pandemic almost feels like a zombie movie. Doug and Mer touch on how lack of good sleep can affect us. In the session, Drew talks about the loss of his friend and questions how he can better cope with grief. Drew acknowledges feeling detached and afraid of confronting his own emotions. Doug helps Drew focus on the small wins in life rather than focusing on what’s lacking. Doug Friedman Meredith Levy YMB Webpage Join Us on Social Media: YMB The Facebook Group YMB on Instagra...
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Broken toes, wind chimes, and a discussion about maintaining confidentiality even when a client shares a crime they committed. Drew is back from his brother’s wedding and preparing to head home for a visit. Drew is noticing some major changes in himself, such as being scared as well as excited for the unknown. He talks with Doug about the positive impact a new puppy has had on his life. He shares how he was able to set boundaries with a house guest and how surprised he was at the outcome. Drew a...
Jan 07, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 33
This week was already going to be special with the wedding, but the fact that it’s Meredith’s birthday makes it even more fun! Meredith talks running and putt-putt golf while Doug reveals that he went to the Junior Olympics! In the session, Drew is back from his brother’s wedding. He shares some awkward family moments that weren’t so awkward to him now. Aaaannnnd he tells us the most important information - what he wore! Drew talks about caring for his new puppy and how helpful it is to have tha...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Cute cows, amaaaaazing smelling wreaths, and giant Christmas trees! The session begins with Drew’s literal worst fear coming true - his mother relapsing. He and Doug talk about how he is coping and making big strides in taking care of himself first by practicing compassionate detachment. Doug tells a fantastic prom story, Drew drops a second exciting bomb about getting a new puppy, and they discuss Drew’s openness when it comes to talking about his career at his brother’s wedding. Mentioned in t...
Dec 10, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Mer loves dogs wearing boots and Doug has been keeping busy with audiobooks on the Colorado trails. Drew focuses on getting ready for his brother’s upcoming wedding. He talks about his new possible love interest and some of the patterns that he notices coming up. He and Doug explore if it’s really the thought that counts when it comes to gift-giving, highlighted by a cool pair of sneakers. Sit back, relax, and put on your bone conduction headphones for this one! Mentioned in this episode: Dogs I...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 30
This Thanksgiving episode has a new spin on gratitude - Doug and Mer name some things they are both Grateful and Hateful for right now. One thing Doug is certainly grateful for is how self-aware Drew is in this episode. Drew’s learning to just be present for all of life’s adventures, even the boring ones. Doug and Drew discuss his brother’s upcoming wedding and his new role as an usher. Drew examines why he doesn’t add his brother’s name in his phone and why he feels guarded about letting people...
Nov 26, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 29
This week, Doug shares an update on his Colorado trip and names his top three pet peeves about snowy weather. Meredith gears up for a ski trip and wonders how rushed her hot toddy time will be. In the session, Doug and Drew talk about the Adventure vs. Challenge mentality, and how Drew can benefit by softening up and enjoying the experience of his brother’s wedding without any expectations. In the breakdown, Meredith and Doug discuss the ways that things can be less about “good” or “bad” and mor...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 28
This week, Doug and Meredith are back at it to kick off Season 2 with Andrew. Doug talks about his road trip into the mountains of Colorado while Meredith talks about the trials and tribulations of her vegetable garden. In the session, Drew recognizes some familiar patterns of behavior with his mom while his brother’s wedding is fast approaching. Drew and Doug talk about feeling even-keeled and they explore the meaning behind the phrase “It’s ok to be alone but not ok to be lonely.” In the break...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In this special bonus episode, Doug and Meredith share their personal stories with grief over the past two years. It’s been almost two years to the date since the sudden death of Doug’s wife and the death of Meredith’s mom. They share their stories with vulnerability and resilience. They reveal how the podcast started, and how working on it has helped them with their ongoing healing process and with their grief. Mentioned in this episode : Your Mental Breakdown The Facebook Group Meredith Levy D...
Oct 15, 2020•35 min
Wyatt is a previous client of Doug’s that has experienced severe trauma. He had a sudden brain aneurysm and cancer. This is his story of endurance, awareness, and healing. Mentioned in this episode : Your Mental Breakdown - The Facebook Group Meredith Levy Doug Friedman
Sep 24, 2020•1 hr 10 min
In this bonus Roundtable episode, Meredith and Doug are joined by fellow therapists Mona Valeriano and Jessica Kramer. They look at different ways of approaching trauma and therapy from their training and experience. Mona comes from a psychoanalytic background and is trained in EMDR (and she explains what that means!). Jessica is a Somatic Experiencing practitioner and marriage and family therapist associate who specializes in new mothers and infants 0-3 years old. Join Doug and Meredith for a u...
Sep 10, 2020•57 min
This week, Doug and Meredith reflect on the first six months of the podcast as we reach the end of season one with Drew. In the session, you’ll hear clips from a few recent sessions with Doug and Drew hitting the six-month mark of their work. Drew shares his thoughts about the podcast coming out and his perspectives after hearing the first episode. In the breakdown, Doug and Mer wrap it up and look forward to the next season of Drew picking up right where we left off - and the wedding only a mon...
Jul 30, 2020•43 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Talking about the sensationalism of Bambi and how seeing traumatic events can be very impactful. In the session, Drew says he’s been future tripping and past tripping - and not being present in the here and now. In the breakdown, Doug and Meredith explore concepts of motivation, confidence, and self-worth, as they came up for Drew in the session. Episode Webpage Doug Friedman The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman Join Us on Social Media: YMB The Facebook Group YMB on Instagram YMB on TikTok...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Fireworks, dad jokes, and great movies from our days as younguns. Drew acknowledges his growth in treatment, and with a little self-reflection, he admits he is not very motivated right now. In the breakdown, Meredith talks about a focus of her work with clients on narrowing down our broad goals to the one small step you can take right now. (Look for an upcoming Insight Out focused on how to do this concretely!). YMB Webpage Doug Friedman D.W. Winnicott - prominent psychoanalyst that Doug quoted....
Jul 16, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 24
This week, Doug showered with his dog and Meredith shared her excitement about tennis lessons, her bird feeder, and getting ready to watch The Matrix. In the session, Drew feels excitement about the unknown in front of him as well as some unsettled feelings. He’s been rediscovering himself and spending quality time with his friends. In the breakdown, Doug and Meredith talk about grading ourselves in terms of Pass-Fail, not a letter grade, how being selfish isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and how ...
Jul 09, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 23
This week, Doug and Meredith talk about the highs and lows of watching their dogs on webcams, as well as the joys of home repair, toilet hygiene, and tushie cushies. In the session, Drew connects a long-standing fear of losing mom with how he tries to keep people in his life, even if it compromises or sacrifices his integrity and boundaries. In the breakdown, Doug and Meredith dive deeper into the trauma of Drew’s mother overdosing. They look at how Drew coped with it then and how those defenses...
Jul 02, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 22
This week, Doug and Meredith talk about how our relationship with time can create pressure and affect our level of stress. They also talk about hiking, napping, and glamping to get away from it all! In the session, Drew continues to process his recent breakup and he feels a definite shift in perspective. He shows more strength in carving his own path and making his own choices. In the breakdown, Meredith and Doug dive deeper into anger - how it isn’t necessarily easier for everyone to express, a...
Jun 25, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 21
This week, Meredith retreats to Lake Tahoe and Doug is entertaining his dog at home. In the session, Drew moves around different stages of grief and loss after his breakup. He acknowledges there’s baggage he’s been carrying with him that pre-dates his ex-girlfriend. He is feeling fragile and raw, and starting to look at the freedom that this stage is offering him. In the breakdown, Doug and Mer talk about the dual role of a therapist in the office and a person walking around in the world. They e...
Jun 18, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 20
This week, Doug and Meredith ‘monkee’ around a bit and reference a handful of classic movies from their youth - showing how old and adorbs they are! In the session, Doug and Drew continue to process the breakup and move through different stages of grief and loss. Drew starts to reconnect with his friends for support. In the breakdown, Doug and Meredith remind us that we’re human, and need to have compassion for ourselves. They look at perspective shifts that we often go through in relationships ...
Jun 11, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 19
This week, Doug and Meredith discuss the routine and comfort of going to a therapist’s office as a physical space, not just a virtual room. Meredith updates us on her US geography skills. In the session, Drew’s issues of trust in the relationship are pushed to the edge, leading to a breakup. Doug and Meredith break down the break up. They talk about healing from and dealing with, breakups using some of their own experiences. We all have our own ways of coping with grief and loss; and that can lo...
Jun 04, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 18
This week, Mer and Doug are coping with quarantine and testing their geography skills with a US map quiz. In the session, Drew’s last day at work is coming up and he has nothing going on, which makes him feel anxious. Drew and Doug explore trust issues that have come up in work relationships and his personal relationships. They look at ways to have a conversation with people rather than leaving something important unsaid. Doug and Meredith talk about individuating - the process of separating fro...
May 28, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 17
This week, Mer and Doug are doing ‘fair’ and ‘corona good’ in spite of a burnt tongue and a kitschy therapist pillow. In the session, Drew feels good having put in his two-week notice. He can feel himself slowing down and letting go of a lot - and he hasn’t had a night terror in weeks! Drew notices triggers on date night with his girlfriend and doesn’t spring into action or reaction to fix things. As we allow the people in our lives to be their own selves, it’s less work for us and we can focus ...
May 21, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 16
This week, Meredith goes down the rabbit hole of tequila and zoom filters. She joins Doug for a walk down the memory lane of their worst old hairstyles. In the client session, Andrew goes on a work trip to Vegas where issues come up with his girlfriend - in part because the relationship is not out in the open. Doug and Andrew look at issues of validation and control. They also help name emotions and look at differences between being alone and feeling lonely. Episode Webpage Join Us on Social Med...
May 14, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 15
This week, Doug and Meredith remind us about getting out of our comfort zone and experiencing the cool things there are to do - regardless of quarantine (like glow in the dark seaweed!). In the session, Drew looks at what’s next after getting the support of his parents and putting in his two weeks notice at work. Doug and Drew look at how issues from his past relationships have shaped how he approaches his current one. Drew is starting to recognize triggers and see the path to breaking old patte...
May 07, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 14
This week, Doug and Meredith talk about adjustments they’ve been making during this pandemic time. The client, Andrew, feels the benefits of putting in the hard work and letting raw emotions come up and out. He is beginning to see with a new perspective and way of thinking as he gets ready for a big weekend with his family and girlfriend. Doug brings up the idea that it’s okay for someone to be disappointed - and that doesn’t mean that you’re a disappointment. Andrew realizes he doesn’t need to ...
Apr 30, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Doug and Meredith acknowledge passing the month mark of quarantine and note some good things that have come out of this experience. In the client session, we see how important it is to have trust between a therapist and client. Andrew gets raw and emotional while talking about his girlfriend, and Doug helps him stay with the emotions instead of run away from them. They process the triggers and connect them to old wounds from his relationship with his mom. Andrew embraces the idea that he can be ...
Apr 23, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 12
This week, Doug and Meredith talk about how the “thing” itself is usually not that bad, it’s the lead up to it that creates fear and anxiety. They highlight this with a story of Doug trying not to get wet on a hike then slipping on a log and splashing into a stream; and Meredith going to the dentist. Andrew has some issues of abandonment triggered by his current relationship, creating uncertainty and anxiety for him. Andrew explores what it means to have a sense of self-worth inside a relationsh...
Apr 16, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this Insight Out bonus minisode, Doug and Meredith give us a brief look at the basics of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). They break down some key aspects of these types of treatment and how they borrow from these approaches in their work as therapists. Episode Webpage Mentioned in this episode : Your Mental Breakdown The Facebook Group Meredith Levy Doug Friedman CBT Triangle/Loop...
Apr 13, 2020•20 min
In this episode, Doug and Meredith talk about finding self-confidence, compassion for self, and having a support system - while also being okay with being alone. Doug and his client, Andrew, explore Andrew’s challenges with anxiety about his relationship, and the interdependence he needs in order to feel safe and loveable. Andrew discusses key examples within his relationship that have been causing doubt lately, and Doug gives some great analogies to help process it. Episode Webpage Mentioned in...
Apr 09, 2020•59 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this pre-Corona virus episode, Doug and Meredith talk about fires, mountains, Coachella and bubble gum. Doug’s client Andrew checks in about the guilt he is feeling towards not having a conversation yet with his estranged brother, as his brother’s bachelor party weekend approaches. He and Doug talk about what that conversation would authentically look like for him, and what’s getting in the way of him talking to him or even sending out a letter with his thoughts written out. Andrew has been t...
Apr 02, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 9
