The Angry Therapist Podcast Relearning How to Feel Joy
Feb 2, 2026
Dr. MC McDonald, psychologist, writer, and trauma coach known for work on grief and nervous-system–centered healing. She talks about why joy can feel unsafe and a daily Joy Reset practice. Conversations cover grief, intimacy, hiding from connection, patterns that block vulnerability, and how learning safety reshapes life.
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A Therapist Said 'Let This Be For You'
- John Kim shared getting a therapist who refused to record sessions and called it performative.
- That therapist told John, "Let this be for you," which profoundly shifted him.
Joy Can Be Hard To Accept
- MC McDonald finds joy and contentment the hardest emotions to let in despite being a joy author.
- Daily, small joy practices trained her nervous system to recognize joy as safe and grounding.
Practice Tiny Joys Daily
- Do a daily tiny-joy practice in community to teach your nervous system that joy is safe.
- Consistent small visits to joy create grounding even through a relentless, difficult year.
