Think Act Be Podcast

Guilt is a normal human emotion that everyone deals with at times, and it’s not a problem by itself—it can actually be quite helpful. But excessive guilt can take on an oversized role in your life. Maybe you feel guilty even when you did nothing wrong, or you can’t forgive yourself for an honest mistake, or for something that happened a long time ago. In this episode Joel and I explore where guilt comes from, when it’s useful, how to question it, and the best, most powerful ways to respond. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe

Joel Minden, psychotherapist specializing in anxiety treatment, shares practical clinical strategies and personal examples. He explores why fighting anxiety backfires and how moving toward it, accepting sensations, and amplifying worries can reduce their power. Short daily exposures, public accountability, and deliberate action over debate are highlighted as surprisingly effective approaches.

Joel Minden, a frequent conversational partner who brings psychological and practical perspectives on civic life. They dig into disturbing recent events and how public discourse has coarsened. They explore political identity overtaking moral judgment. They discuss media bias, systemic causes of violence, practical reforms for enforcement, and ways to cope without doomscrolling.

New Year's resolutions are famously hard to keep. In this episode Joel and I explore why our resolutions don't tend to stick and what they might leave out for effective behavior change. Find out how you can set more useful resolutions that you're more likely to follow through on. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe

Worry is an understandable response when you’re not sure how something you care about is going to turn out. But worry can become self-perpetuating, eating up your mental bandwidth and creating unnecessary tension over things you can’t control. In this episode Joel and I share some of the best-tested approaches for freeing your mind from the trap of worry.For more daily practices to manage stress and worry all year, here’s the link to my latest book that Joel and I discussed: Your Daily Reset. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe

Joel Minden, a clinician with a knack for discussing therapy and mental health, joins the conversation on the role of AI in therapy. They dive into AI's strengths, like its vast knowledge for psychoeducation, while also addressing its limitations, such as missing nonverbal cues. Concerns about safety and effectiveness arise, especially regarding AI's tendency to avoid challenging responses. They envision a collaboration between therapists and AI for optimal support, weighing the benefits against the risks of over-reliance on technology.

In this engaging discussion, Joel Menden, a clinician specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy, shares insights on balancing thought and action for improved well-being. They explore how overthinking can hinder action and dive into practical strategies to break out of the rumination cycle. Using sports mechanics as an analogy, Joel emphasizes action as a pathway to motivation and cognitive change. Additionally, they discuss the importance of restructuring environments to support behavior modification and tackle unwanted habits effectively.

How can you find more peace in each day, even when things aren't going exactly the way you want them to? Joel and I discuss many ways to cope with life's daily struggles, from changing our perspective to removing the source of predictable problems. You can't eliminate daily hassles, but you can experience a lot less stress and strain. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe

Joel Minden, a licensed therapist and frequent podcast collaborator, discusses maximizing the effectiveness of therapy sessions. He shares tips on choosing the right therapist and preparing for sessions by prioritizing topics. The conversation highlights the importance of honesty with therapists and the benefits of practicing skills outside of therapy. Joel emphasizes summarizing key takeaways at the end of each session to enhance learning and application in daily life, making every therapy visit count.

In this engaging conversation, cognitive-behavioral therapist Joel Minden tackles the fear of judgment in therapy. He explores why clients often hold back, addressing common anxieties about being perceived as 'crazy' and the shame tied to personal struggles. Joel emphasizes the need for therapy to be a safe space for full honesty and normalizes the experiences of clients. He also discusses the significance of initial sessions in building trust and the importance of therapists' nonjudgmental attitudes, even when sensitive topics arise.