I’m Emma McAdam, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and my mission is to make mental health resources more easy to access. I take therapy skills and psychological research and condense them down into bite-sized nuggets of help.
I’m here to spread the message that while mental illness is real, it’s common, it’s debilitating, it’s also treatable. There are dozens of research-backed approaches to treating depression, anxiety, and other mental illness. Change, growth, and healing are possible. Please keep courage! Try one little thing every day to improve your life and health and things can get so much better!
Therapy in a Nutshell, and the information provided by Emma McAdam, is solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
Therapy in a Nutshell and it’s logo are Registered Trademarks of Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
Are you afraid of dying? Does thinking about death or dying make you so anxious that you avoid any and all aspects of it? Or do distressing thoughts about death bother you? Or are you just in complete denial, trying to pretend that it won’t happen? In this episode we’re going to talk about four psychological skills for facing a fear of death, the anxiety around death, and some strategies that may be helpful for you. And I’ll tell you why I once took a bunch of depressed teenagers to a cemetery. ...
Sep 11, 2020•22 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast
All-or-nothing thinking is a cognitive distortion that can make you depressed because it convinces you that if you’ve messed up, it’s pointless to keep trying. Many people struggle with these types of thoughts, but you don't have to struggle with them forever. Learn how you can overcome this type of thinking and view yourself and your life in a more positive way. Thanks BetterHelp for sponsoring the video. BetterHelp: Professional, affordable online counseling starting at around $65 a week: http...
Sep 11, 2020•16 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast
Get the course: Coping Skills and Self-Care for Mental Health https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/coping-skills-and-self-care-for-mental-health?utm_campaign=Aug%2004,%202022&utm_medium=Description&utm_source=podcast Coping skills are essential to managing big emotions without doing something stupid, but it can be hard to calm yourself down when your brain isn't working very well. Sensory coping skills are essential to soothing the body to calm the mind. Looking for affordable online counselin...
Aug 04, 2020•7 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast
I’m going to be honest, I don’t really care for the self-esteem movement. The basic idea is to spend time every day saying nice things to yourself or to make lists of all of your good attributes. Now I do think that how we treat ourselves really matters and that we should be honest about both our strengths and weaknesses, but I’ve seen self-esteem get badly turned into fake accomplishments and medals or prideful comparisons or simply practices that don’t work. For example, it just never worked f...
Jul 27, 2020•14 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast
News anxiety is pretty intense right now, but there are some things you can do about it. Learn to take control of your news habits, solve physical problems, and take reasonable precautions. All of this can help ease news anxiety. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional for $65/week. Try it now for 10% off: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanu...
Jul 21, 2020•16 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast
Sleep hygiene is an essential mental health skill. When my clients come in for treatment for some of their challenges like depression, anxiety, or relational problems, one of the most common associated problems that they have is difficulty sleeping. This shows up as having a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, or just feeling tired all the time. Getting enough quality sleep can make your brain function much better. You’ll be better at solving problems and feel more self-control. In this vi...
Jul 14, 2020•9 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast
Stress, anxiety, coronavirus, and social isolation can all contribute to depression, but you can prevent depression during stressful times by using daily habits that promote mental health. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional for $65/week. Try it now for 10% off: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium...
Jul 07, 2020•19 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast
Get the course: Change Your Brain-Neuroplasticity and Mental Health https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/change-your-brain?utm_campaign=Jun%2030,%202020&utm_medium=Description&utm_source=podcast Catastrophizing is a thinking error (aka cognitive distortion) that makes you anxious, depressed, and unmotivated. In this video, I explain what catastrophizing is, how to stop, and what to do instead. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professi...
Jun 30, 2020•15 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast
Preventing teen suicide is important, but youth are at higher risk for suicide when there have been recent suicides in their community, especially if they have a history of depression, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. Learn how you can talk to your child about suicide after the suicide of a peer. If you believe your child is at risk for suicide, reach out for professional support immediately. You can contact a licensed therapist or take your child to the hospital or call 911. Thanks to BetterHel...
Jun 23, 2020•12 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast
Keeping your marriage happy can be hard. And while many people want to learn communication skills to improve their marriage, that can only go so far. The real skills that make marriage better are skills that help you have more joy more often. In their book, The 4 Habits of Joy-Filled Marriages: How 15 Minutes a Day Will Help You Stay in Love, the authors Chris Coursey and Marcus Warner teach essential skills and habits to have a better relationship, more joy, and more love in your marriage. Buy ...
Jun 17, 2020•16 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast
I review the book Moving Beyond Trauma by Ilene Smith, which teaches about using somatic experiencing to heal the nervous system from trauma. Buy Moving Beyond Trauma by Ilene Smith here: https://amzn.to/33FS7HG Not a sponsor, but I do get a few cents in affiliate links. Thanks to BetterHelp for sponsoring the video: BetterHelp: Professional, affordable online counseling starting at around $65 a week: https://www.betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health co...
Jun 09, 2020•13 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast
So many people are anxious and worried about COVID-19, and for good reason: it's disrupting our lives and harming the economy - and it's quite dangerous. In this little therapy session, we talk about Monica's approach to fear, worry, and anxiety, and her essential advice on the topic. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional for $65/week. Try it now for 10% off: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell Learn more in one of my in-d...
Jun 02, 2020•39 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast
In this episode I talk with Melissa Barry from the Conscious Matters podcast. We explore what a healthy mind is, and how to take care of it, especially during the the current COVID-19 pandemic. Check out the Conscious Matters podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/conscious-matters-podcast/id1490175088 Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional for $65/week. Try it now for 10% off: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell Le...
May 26, 2020•51 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast
