Spirit Lake Wellness.

Getting the Most from your Psychotherapy Part 3: Taking an Active Role

The conversation between Dr. John Ewing and Dr. Tom Hayes focuses on getting the most out of psychotherapy. They emphasize the importance of self-awareness, exploring one's desires and feelings, and being willing to make changes. They also discuss the role of ambivalence and the need for clients to take an active role in their therapy. They highlight the importance of understanding how emotions are generated and how to change them. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the need for clients to be open, honest, and willing to challenge themselves in order to achieve meaningful change.

Getting the Most from Your Psychotherapy Part 2: Bringing About Change

The conversation between Dr. John Ewing and Dr. Tom Hayes focuses on getting the most out of psychotherapy. They explore how attachment styles and the activation of the care system and panic grief system play a role in relationship dynamics. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help clients change their self-talk and behaviors, but it requires personalized approaches and addressing underlying emotional issues. Overcoming misconceptions about psychotherapy, such as expecting it to be a magic process, is important for progress. Validation of feelings is important, but it's also necessary to challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. They focus on teaching clients to make changes in psychotherapy involves providing content, facts, and a roadmap for change.

Getting the Most from Your Psychotherapy Part 1 of 3: Setting Expectations

Dr John Ewing and Dr. Tom Hayes discuss having reasonable expectations and being active in the therapy process can help clients get the most out of psychotherapy. Ventilation and releasing pent-up tension can be therapeutic, but it's important to transition from venting to taking action. A safe and supportive therapeutic relationship is crucial for effective therapy. Self-authoring and organizing past experiences can help clients evaluate what they can change in their lives. They also discuss the importance of understanding emotions and how they are generated to empower clients to modulate their emotional responses

Finding Meaning Part 3 of 3: Embracing the Unknown

In this episode of the Spirit Lake Wellness podcast, Dr. John Ewing and Cathy Couture discuss the concept of finding meaning in life. They explore the themes of embracing the unknown, play, and the metaphysical concept of meaning. They also discuss the process of changing the meaning of negative experiences and finding gratitude in difficult situations. The conversation highlights the importance of living in the present moment and being open to the ever-changing nature of meaning. Transcript is available at SpiritLakeWellness.org.

Finding Meaning in Life, Part 2 of 3: Deciding What’s Important

Our panelists look at the role of relationships and acts of service in finding meaning. The importance of suspended judgment, letting go of social expectations and challenging social constructs are explored. Dreaming of a better place, finding joy in the little things, and having gratitude are considered as our panelists embrace the unknown and the fragility of life. 

Finding Meaning in Life, Part 1 of 3: The Impact of Trauma

The conversation explores the concept of meaning and how it relates to perception, interpretation, and feelings. It discusses how the meaning of traumatic events can be changed through shifting perspectives and understanding. The conversation also touches on the impact of trauma on children and young people, and the importance of reinterpreting past experiences to heal. It delves into the role of internal tension, thoughts, and emotions in trauma and how they can be modified through repetition and conscious effort. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the meaning of combat experiences and the challenges of reintegration into civilian life.

Challenges of Healthcare Navigation Part 3 of 3: The Role of Constructive Anger

This conversation explores the themes of responsibility, individualism vs. collectivism, acceptance, and change. The speakers discuss the power and responsibility that come with working together and the cultural differences in how individualism is perceived. They also delve into the role of emotions and the importance of constructive complaining. The conversation highlights the need for balance between acceptance and the desire for change, as well as the impact of outrage and labeling on personal growth. Mindfulness and incremental change are also explored as tools for navigating challenges and achieving personal and societal transformation.

Challenges of Healthcare Navigation Part 2 of 3: Helping versus Providing Service and Support

In Part two of our series on Challenges of Healthcare Navigation, our panelists explore the difference between helping and providing support across mental health, disability, and medical programs. 

Challenges of Healthcare Navigation, Part 1 of 3

Our panelists explore a wide range of factors influencing access to care and navigation of healthcare systems in this series. Topics include cultural, bureaucratic, and economic factors as well as physician burnout. 

Neuroscience of Addiction: Part 3 of 3

Dr. John Ewing and Cathy Couture conclude their discussion of the underlying physiological and neurological systems impacted by substance use, withdrawal, and why recovery takes time.