Mer is back with Doug on the breakdowns, and might be a little jelly of the guest co-hosts... Drew is embracing being perfectly imperfect and not getting so caught up in the moment of disappointment, knowing it will be ok. And he will be ok. He calls Doug his mental muscle trainer, and he's flexing his muscles! Doug Friedman Meredith Levy YMB Webpage Join Us on Social Media: YMB The Facebook Group YMB on Instagram YMB on TikTok...
Oct 21, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 62
In an emotional session, Sarah vents about an issue she’s having with a coworker. This leads Doug to look deeper inside for what’s really going on with her. As he helps Sarah slow down in the session, she takes a deep breath and feels the emotional weight of stress she’s been holding and keeping inside. Sarah tries to stay controlled and worries that if she lets it out, it will all be tears. Doug and Mer break down the shift from intellectual to emotional realizations that Sarah has in the sessi...
Oct 21, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 61
Drew is directly affected by Covid hitting his family at Thanksgiving. Doug is joined by his colleague and therapy practice mate, Sasha Brodsky. Doug Friedman YMB Webpage Join Us on Social Media: YMB The Facebook Group YMB on Instagram YMB on TikTok...
Oct 19, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Drew reflects on his self-worth and thinks about it not coming from what he does for others, but rather truly from himself. Doug is joined in the breakdown this week by his colleague and friend, Bonnie Rae (who was on our first Roundtable in Season One!). Bonnie and Doug explore unmet attachment needs and breaking codependency. Doug Friedman Bonnie Rae YMB Webpage Join Us on Social Media: YMB The Facebook Group YMB on Instagram YMB on TikTok...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Drew is unlearning codependency by building confidence in himself. From this strength he is finding community and feeling a sense of belonging that doesn't rely on other people's well being for his own. "I was ok when they weren’t disappointed but I was never really happy." -Drew Doug's colleague, Jen Parkford joins the Breakdown and offers her perspective. Doug Friedman YMB Webpage Join Us on Social Media: YMB The Facebook Group YMB on Instagram YMB on TikTok...
Oct 17, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Doug and Mer talk comets and cults while Doug corrects an earlier comment that the cult leader in Sarah’s case was caught - he wasn’t! He lived in hiding for over twenty years until he died. Sarah talks about school and education growing up in the cult. She explains the massive confusion and the ensuing tragedies experienced by many around her in the aftermath of leaving the cult. Doug helps Sarah slow down and relate the innate feeling of protection she described as a new mom holding her baby f...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Mer acknowledges Doug for his emotional and personal music album coming out in a few weeks; and then she gives him guff for not getting the podcast’s Patreon launched yet! It’s coming soon with ongoing Drew episodes and other exclusives for subscribers. In this session with Sarah, Doug helps her look at the inner critic that fuels perfectionism. This is often a trauma response from her growing up in an abusive cult with neglectful parenting. Doug and Sarah acknowledge “Little Sarah,” the wounded...
Oct 07, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Meredith imparts some knowledge to Doug (and us!) about invalidation trauma after a recent training. We get to know more about Sarah in her session as she talks about her work, her upbringing in the cult, and her anxiety that she carries around with her still. Doug helps Sarah understand the connection of making herself indispensable to a historic fear of abandonment. Doug and Mer highlight the baby steps that Sarah is taking with the awareness of the connections and patterns from her past that ...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Meredith updates us on the intruder in her backyard - who came back again! We continue the new season with Sarah, in spite of a few audio hiccups in the session. Doug and Sarah talk about feeling frustrated, annoyed, and overwhelmed when others don’t get to a solution as quickly and easily as you do, especially when that means you take it on and do it all yourself. This has been a part of Sarah for so long as a survival mechanism growing up in, and running away from, a cult. Doug and Mer highlig...
Sep 23, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 54
***Trigger warning*** This episode contains potentially triggering and sensitive topics including child abuse. If you suspect or know that a child is being abused or neglected, call or text 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453). Professional crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages. All calls are confidential. The new season continues with the second therapy session for Sarah, the new client in treatment with Doug. As they explore Sarah’s parenting style, she b...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 53
We’re baa-ack! In this new season kick-off, Doug and Meredith are “a step up from sweatpants” and ready to dive back into it with us. We hear the first session with Doug and Sarah, the new client we’ll get to know and join for the journey in therapy. Sarah shares some of her history and acknowledges that she’s spent a lifetime compartmentalizing, but doesn’t truly have a handle on everything. We hear a few tips of the icebergs that have developed over time for her coming from a traumatic backgro...
Sep 08, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 52
In this Roundtable episode, Doug and Meredith are joined by fellow therapist Ashley McGirt and therapist in training Sahaj Kohli for a conversation about cultural issues in mental health and the world around us. Ashley is a racial trauma specialist, speaker, and author. Sahaj is the founder of Brown Girl Therapy, a mental health community for children of immigrants. The conversation explores stigma, discomforts, comforts, and experiences of issues around culture in their lives and work in mental...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 5 min
In this Roundtable episode, Doug and Meredith are joined by fellow therapist José Mata and psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock, both of whom work with the intersection of psychedelics and therapy. They look at current trends, research, and experiences of healing with the assistance of certain substances like MDMA, Ketamine, Ayahuasca, and Psilocybin. Join Doug and Mer for a unique conversation with these colleagues in the growing world of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Mentioned in this episode : Mere...
Jun 17, 2021•54 min
Mer Mer launches herself into another dimension with Oculus, and this reminds Doug of a time when he was immersed in a virtual reality Star Wars experience. The session begins with Drew feeling a little down that he hasn’t lived up to the financial or material standard set by his father. He and Doug examine the anxiety he feels about his mother and his lack of trust from feeling that he has been betrayed by everyone in his family. Drew shares a story when he recognized that a “feather” wasn’t hi...
May 13, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Mer Mer keeps her mind fresh and young by doing Sudoku. She and Doug give the update that they still have yet to shut down their computers at the end of each work day. Then, a very packed session with Drew uncovers a few big reasons why he has trust issues. Drew eases his burden by sharing some stories he’s never told before. As Drew becomes more financially independent from his parents, more anxiety is kicked up about attachment and connection. They explore the conflict about cutting the cord t...
May 06, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 50
At the top of the show this week, Doug busts himself and Meredith for not following through AGAIN on shutting down their computers at night! They swap teenage closet stories (including Doug’s roaches!). The session begins with Drew sharing that he is moving back to a place in LA that he has lived before. He feels grateful for the comfort and familiarity of it, rather than feeling like he is taking a step backward. Although he is making strides in becoming financially independent and showing up a...
Apr 29, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 49
This week, Drew is realizing that sooner than later, his parents will no longer be financially supporting him. Not only is he nervous about being able to pay for everything, but he’s also worried that once his parents no longer have an obligation to support him, they won’t choose to be as connected to him. This leads Drew and Doug to have a discussion regarding being necessary and choosing love and connection rather than feeling obligated. They talk about why Drew kicks into caretaker mode when ...
Apr 22, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 48
*** Warning - this episode contains potentially triggering and sensitive topics, including sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-646-4673 or go to RAINN.org. Drew shares his thoughts and feelings about an extremely disturbing and traumatic event. The details are not 100% clear, however his initial description was that his girlfriend was “raped and essentially kidnapped.” Doug and Drew discuss what this situation brings up ...
Apr 15, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 47
While we all start to come out of the pandemic lockdown, Drew and his girlfriend are starting to come out of the honeymoon phase. In their relationship reality, running out of toilet paper becomes a symbol for so much more. Drew and Doug talk about setting boundaries vs. giving rules. Drew is ready to have the tough conversations with his girlfriend, even if it means he ends up being alone. Doug and Meredith differ over their definition of love, but still have love for each other at the end of t...
Apr 08, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Doug and Meredith finally saw each other in person again! They break down what an “episode” means to Drew and what it can mean when a therapist hears that word. In the session, Drew is feeling down and out because of some issues with his girlfriend that leave him feeling misunderstood and underappreciated. He tells Doug about a trip to Malibu that didn’t go as planned - and how her “passing out” triggered him. The argument that followed the next day brought up issues around getting his needs met...
Apr 01, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Meredith swims a mile then she and Doug talk about Justice League. And the superhero talk continues with Drew taking to a Superman analogy - balancing the daily grind of a day job with using his own time to focus on his passions. Drew shows vulnerability with his girlfriend. He and Doug explore ways to relieve stress and be mindful other than his go to of smoking weed. Meredith and Doug talk about shutting down your laptop computer to unconsciously send a message to our minds to shut down and st...
Mar 25, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Meredith loves daylight saving time! Restaurants and movie theatres are opening up in LA now, but Doug is still trying to hide out like a mountain man. In Drew’s therapy session he talks about feeling burnt out and tired from his job. He is also using this time to define his boundaries and let people know when things aren’t right or fair. He and Doug talk about two examples of Drew standing up for himself - one work-related, and a personal one that triggered a familiar feeling of distrust and di...
Mar 18, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Meredith and Doug discuss their take on working with clients that have different political views and ideologies than their own. It’s a great jumping-off point for this week’s session. Drew is trying to be the bridge for people in his life dealing with racial injustice and prejudice. Drew talks about compartmentalizing when feeling overwhelmed and anxious. He and Doug use a house analogy to visualize how to store the different compartments of issues in his life. Doug plays the “High, Low, and Odd...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 42
Doug is back in LA and missing the mountains. Meredith realizes it may be time for all of us to get a car wash (especially Doug!). In the session, Drew and Doug get into a heavy conversation as Drew details how a party with his new girlfriend went way wrong. Drew shows major growth by choosing when to have and not have a “tough conversation” with people. Drew acknowledged that the fight at the party triggered past trauma and feelings of being unsafe. Drew is able to have some real talks with his...
Mar 04, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 41
The podcast hits the one-year mark this week… and it’s a twofer! Two sessions in one episode as life in the podcast timeline is starting to go virtual in the very beginning of the pandemic. Doug and Drew pack a lot into these two shorter sessions. In Session 1, Drew gets home from the funeral and is feeling sick and alone yet enjoying more independence and finding purpose in helping to produce millions of masks. In Session 2, we hear the big news about Drew’s dating life. Doug highlights that th...
Feb 25, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Before Drew’s session this week, Meredith and Doug give a wrap-up of their Valentine's Day experiences, Drew talks about going home for his friend’s funeral; and he walks through both the horror movie version and Disney version of how the weekend could go. Doug helps Drew identify how he can show up authentically rather than trying to match his online persona or a more people-pleasing version of himself. Drew works on going through his emotions rather than just going through the motions, and set...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Doug took Meredith’s pillow washing challenge and he took her movie recommendation! They figure out why we call a podcast a podcast. The session begins with Drew dealing with emotions that are stirred up as he prepares to go home for a friend’s funeral. He works with Doug on sticking with his personal boundaries, dealing with the feeling of betrayal from his mother, and learning how to disappoint people without feeling extreme guilt or shame. Drew explores his patterns in relationships as he pre...
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 38
It’s a busy and eventful show this week, kicking off with Doug’s second mountain lion sighting - this time it’s a baby! Meredith gives her thoughts on outdoor dining reopening in Los Angeles. The session begins with Drew telling Doug about the three main motivating factors in life that he heard about in church. They explore how this can lead us to find our purpose in life. Doug and Drew also talk about compassion fatigue and accepting being perfectly imperfect. Drew is balancing being by himself...
Feb 04, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Doug and Meredith roar into this week with a recount of Doug’s mountain lion visitor while Mer has been washing her dishes and feeling soooo good and accomplished. Drew’s session comes at the one year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death, which stirs up emotions for Drew about loss. Drew gives an update on seeing his longtime ex-girlfriend. Doug helps Drew explore having tough conversations with people you love. Doug gives a Matrix reference about knowing your path vs. walking your path. At the en...
Jan 28, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 36
Drew picks up where he left off last week, back from the holidays and feeling somewhat unmotivated and withdrawn. In the session, Drew and Doug discuss the difference between feeling depressed and a depressive episode. They talk about Drew’s need to withdraw and how it might be exactly what he needs at this moment, as he works on being okay with himself, instead of trying to please others. Doug uses his gear analogy to help Drew see that he can bring out different aspects of his personality with...
Jan 21, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 35
