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If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t find the words to express your anxiety, listen to this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Tori Press, creator of the popular Revelatori cartoons on Instagram and author of the new book I am Definitely probably Enough (I Think): Revelations on the Journey to Self-Love. “The person who needs to accept me is me—and that’s where all the work of therapy has been.” — Tori Press What’s going on inside you right now? Sometimes it’s hard to find the words. Sometimes it’s just hard to know. Therapy can help—but we can get insights from creative activities, too. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., interviews Tori Press—artist, author and anxious person—who left a career in graphic design and picked up a sketchbook and a set of markers. Today, her lighthearted cartoons about her experiences with mental health struggles and more have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers to her Instagram page, Revelatori. In this episode, she talks about how drawing has helped her explore her thoughts, gain insights and process feelings—and also what she has learned about therapy, living with anxiety and learning to love herself. Find the full show notes at womanworriers.com episode 142

Do you wince a little when you get out of the shower and look in the mirror? Listen to this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Rebecca Scritchfield, a dietitian, exercise physiologist and author of Body Kindness: Transform your health from inside out and never say diet again. “People cannot hate themselves healthy—and shame doesn’t make anyone healthier.” — Rebecca Scritchfield We don’t always love the way we look. Sometimes we beat ourselves up over what we eat. It’s no wonder, when society puts so much emphasis on how much we weigh. Worrying about our weight and trying diets that don’t work can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., interviews Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN, EPC, a well-being coach, registered dietitian nutritionist, ASCM-certified exercise physiologist and author. They talk about her Body Kindness® book, explore how our critical and shaming parts show up around food, eating and body size, and share insights into we can incorporate the Body Kindess mentality and practices into our daily lives. Listen and learn: How the Body Kindness philosophy came about and the three pillars that support it Why we shouldn’t be focusing on weight loss What you need to know about your body, your anxiety and your inner parts Whether being healthy means losing weight How today’s diet culture got started and how it keeps going When medicine adopted the war on obesity Why thinner people aren’t necessarily healthier The relationship between capitalism and the weight-loss culture Why a healthy lifestyle needs to include more than food Why most diets don’t work Why we have to separate health and well-being from weight loss How listening to your burden parts might help you make the lifestyle changes you want to make How journal prompts can help you take action, get creative and explore options Why starting with very small goals can sometimes get you better results Where to sign up for a free program to get started on the path to Body Kindness Find the full show notes @WomanWorriers.com

If you’ve ever wondered about journaling, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Hosts Elizabeth Cush talks about the hows and whys of journaling and offers some tips for getting started. “Journaling has helped me manage my stress and anxiety.” — Elizabeth Cush Do you have a dear diary, or do you find the prospect of journaling too daunting? Want to give a try, but don’t quite know where to start or what to say? Or why it’s even worth pursuing? In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., shares her own journaling experiences—how it felt to review journal entries written at a different point in her life and how her practice of journaling helps her manage the stress and anxiety during the pandemic. She also provides tips on how to get started using journaling to consciously reflect on your life. Find the full show notes and all the episodes here- https://www.progressioncounseling.com/woman-worriers

We're re-releasing our most downloaded episode of 2020! Are you really at the mercy of your hormones? Find out in this episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush interviews Dr. Sarah McKay, neuroscientist and author of The Women’s Brain Book: The Neuroscience of Health, Hormones and Happiness. Find the Full Show Notes here!

How can you celebrate when you’re so worried? That’s a question a lot of us are asking this holiday season. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush offers tips for finding joy during the holidays and throughout the winter. Quotes: “It’s hard to imagine that this year will finally end.” — Elizabeth Cush “How do we bring ourselves back from this sense that everything is screwed up?” — Elizabeth Cush “We have to work toward shifting our focus to the positives.” — Elizabeth Cush “So how do we shift our perspective from the negative to the positive?” — Elizabeth Cush “We no longer have wild animals stalking us, so our brains find other things—everyday things—to see as dangerous.” — Elizabeth Cush “We can acknowledge the negative and be more attentive and attuned to the positives in our lives.” — Elizabeth Cush “By intentionally shifting our focus, we can change our mood.” — Elizabeth Cush Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are over. We’re heading toward Christmas, Kwaanza and New Year’s. Do we celebrate? Or do we dread the three months of winter that begin in the Northern Hemisphere this week? The stresses of the holidays and the cold, dark days of winter can make it easy to get stuck in negativity, especially this year. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., explains why we’re hardwired to worry and why we don’t have to let our natural tendencies toward negativity take over our holidays—or any other time. She also shares five easy practices you can use to shift your focus from negative to positive, to improve your mood and to find everyday joys in being alive.  Listen and learn: Why this year might feel more messed up than usual—and why it doesn’t matter Why we naturally tend to notice and remember negative things What our “tigers” often look like today How we can manage our instinct to focus on the negative so we don’t stress out so much Whether focusing on the positive makes you naïve or in denial Why we continually need to practice shifting our focus 5 simple suggestions for bringing more hope, joy and positive feelings into your life

The anxieties and uncertainties that so many of us have felt this year have hit immigrant communities especially hard. In this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Carmen Román, talk about supporting and building resilience in the LatinX community—with insights that can apply to all of us. Quotes: “My parents were the listeners of the community.” — Carmen Román “Choosing a psychologist is like choosing a good, comfortable pair of shoes, because you are going to walk in the path of growth so you want that comfortable company.” — Carmen Román  “Choosing a psychologist is like choosing a good, comfortable pair of shoes.” — Carmen Román “What I am seeing with my clients is a lot of uncertainty.” — Carmen Román “The Latino community is really struggling.” — Carmen Román “It really took us all by surprise to be feeling that unsafe in this country.” — Carmen Román “This year has been hitting us hard—all of us.” — Carmen Román “It’s a time to feel companionship. Podcasts give you that companionship.” — Carmen Román “Another resource that is very valuable in this time is the application Insight Timer.” — Carmen Román A pandemic that disproportionately affects Hispanic and Black communities… A surge of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States… Political turmoil… Economic pressures… And wildfires raging through California. To say it has been a challenging year doesn’t even come close. And yet the members of at least one Spanish-speaking support group have faced the year with gratitude and joy. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes the facilitator of that group, Carmen Román, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist licensed in California and Mexico. They talk about the anxieties facing the LatinX communities, and Román shares her insights and observations about how therapy and peer support builds the kind of resilience that enables individuals to survive and thrive while facing adversity. Listen and learn: How a casual invitation led to a life-changing decision for a college applicant The importance of listening in a community What to look for in a therapist Why naturalized citizens are feeling anxiety similar to undocumented immigrants The increased stressors that service workers face How people who had two years of therapy responded to participating in a group that formed when the pandemic lock-downs began—and how their experience differed from individuals who had less time in therapy What kinds of activities the group engaged in and what opportunities for communication they explored How group members learned to obtain services, even when faced with challenges How gratitude and a sense of perspective support resilience How traumatized individuals who had only had some therapy responded to the challenges posed by the pandemic The surprising observations that Román made about technology use and health and how they differed among groups How learning what others are experiencing can help us feel grateful, even when we’re in a difficult situation Some concrete ways to build resilience What transference of knowledge is and how it can help you move forward Why podcasts can be so helpful right now Where to find mental health resources in English and Spanish Where to find a free seven-day course on emotional freedom  

If you’ve lost a loved one and feel like you can’t get on with your life, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Sonya Lott, talk about “complicated” or prolonged grief, integrating your feelings of loss and finding your way to joy.

If you feel like something’s not quite right with you life but you can’t put your finger on it, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Michelle Dixon, talk about developmental and preverbal trauma and how bodywork and talk therapy can work together to help heal these early wounds. Quotes: “The first thing I notice as a bodyworker is what I call armoring, or muscle tightness, in different parts of the body that can’t be explained through injury, illness, etc.” — Michelle Dixon “When you bring your attention to the body, it can be pretty magical.” — Michelle Dixon “Emotion is so embedded in memories and the connectivity of all of our memories and how they create this tapestry and then we make meaning of them.” — Michelle Dixon “There’s something in there they can’t quite articulate; they’re having a body reaction that doesn’t make sense.” — Michelle Dixon “That ‘right now’ moment is the window to all of the other moments that connect to the feeling you have.” — Michelle Dixon Show Notes: Some people have painful recollections of childhood. Others may remember their childhood as happy, but as adults feel like something is not quite right, like they don’t have a right to be here or that the world would be better off without them. That’s because some wounds occur before we have the words to understand or describe them. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Michelle Dixon, a trauma specialist and mindfulness coach who takes a holistic approach to recovery, which includes releasing trauma from the body. They talk about developmental and preverbal trauma, how to recognize it and how to heal it. Listen and learn: The meaning of a “somatic approach” to therapy and why it can be helpful What preverbal trauma and developmental trauma are and why they have such an impact on our lives Why talk therapy alone sometimes isn’t enough—and how to know you might need something more Why you might not have painful memories of past trauma How unremembered trauma might show up in your life today Why a sense of worthlessness might signal that you may have experienced trauma before you learned to talk What de-armoring is and the different traditions of de-armoring for emotional release How the native American tradition of de-armoring is carried out today How bodywork and talk therapy complement and balance each other Different types of bodywork Why old traumas are surfacing and resurfacing during the pandemic What to look for in a bodyworker and where to find one Where to find a free emotional detox program to help you through the holiday season  

This week the United States celebrates Thanksgiving. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks about having a mindful holiday—no matter how you spend it. Quotes: “There were a few Thanksgivings where I felt I could not go home.” — Elizabeth Cush “The differing messages about how we should handle the holidays … can create a lot of “It’s OK to be extra safe this year.” — Elizabeth Cush “Be mindful of the things you’re thankful for.” — Elizabeth Cush Show Notes: Does Thanksgiving bring to mind fun, food, friends and family? Or does it conjure conflict and complications? Maybe COVID separations? No matter how you answer those questions, you’re not alone. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., shares her feelings about Thanksgiving, as well as some intimate memories and hopes for this year’s holiday. She also offers some thoughts on staying safe, support for support for setting boundaries if you need to, and tips for using mindfulness to reduce stress so you can feel the gratitude and find meaning in the day. Listen and Learn: Why not everyone looks forward to Thanksgiving How this year’s holiday might be difficult even for those who aren’t experiencing family estrangement Different ways that different people are celebrating Thanksgiving this year, and why that might cause some stress for you Why it’s especially important to honor your boundaries this year Some things that might be on your gratitude list How to use mindful awareness if you’re struggling with the holiday—or even if you’re not Big news soon to come from Progression Counseling and Woman Worriers Learn More > Guided meditations from Progression Counseling > Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women > Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter > Progression Counseling

Explosive emotions. Dysfunctional relationships. Self-harm and even suicidality—all can be hallmarks of borderline personality disorder (BPD). In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Rebekah Shackney talk about the challenges of living with BPD and offer hope for recovery through mindfulness-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Quotes: “A lot of the maladaptive behaviors that people with borderline personality disorder use are just ways of dealing with crisis.” — Rebekah Shackney “People who are in such pain want to feel better.” — Rebekah Shackney “Being emotionally sensitive is part of your make-up but you can learn to adapt to it.” — Rebekah Shackney “When women are expressing anger and emotional volatility, they’re usually turning it inside, doing something to harm themselves.” — Rebekah Shackney “’Personality disorder’ sounds like there’s something wrong with your personality, when really it’s a trauma-based disorder.” — Rebekah Shackney Borderline… Narcissistic… Anti-social… Personality disorders can be an especially challenging and misunderstood mental health diagnosis, both for sufferers and for those around them. Fortunately, a mindfulness-based approach called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been shown to be effective in treating people with personality disorders. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Rebekah Shackney, LCSW, who uses DBT to help clients manage their distress, regulate their emotions and interact more effectively with others. They talk about what personality disorders are and the stigma surrounding them, how they are rooted in trauma and why the behaviors associated with personality disorders are so difficult to change. They also explore the unique story of how DBT was developed and how (and why) it can help people overcome the pain of living with a personality disorder. Listen and learn: Why Marsha Linehan developed Dialectical Behavior Therapy The purpose of each of DBT’s four modules of treatment Why distress tolerance is so useful for people with a personality disorder Why women with borderline personality disorder often resort to self harm, like cutting Why women with BPD can be so emotionally volatile—and how DBT helps with emotional regulation How DBT helps people with personality disorders get their needs met more effectively The role of mindfulness in DBT Why DBT is not a quick solution The characteristics of personality disorders—and how they come about Different types of personality disorders—including the one that women are diagnosed with most often and why Conditions that are necessary for effective treatment The role family groups play in personality disorders—and what it takes to interact more effectively Why relationships with individuals who have a personality disorder can be so difficult—and how to help The importance of empathy and overcoming the stigma and shame of personality disorders and other mental illnesses Where to find resources and the latest information on personality disorders > Rebekah Shackney Psychotherapy on Facebook >  A Therapist Takes Her Own Advice podcast > A Therapist Takes Her Own Advice Season 1 Episode 13: Unraveling Anxiety with Elizabeth Cush > A Therapist Takes Her Own Advice on Facebook > A Therapist Takes Her Own Advice on Instagram > Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech website > New York-Presbyterian’s Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center > National Educational Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder > Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter > Progression Counseling

Can you be powerful and feminine at the same time? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Cherie Burton, talk about feminine leadership and finding wholeness within yourself. Quotes: “There were seasons that I was drowning in motherhood and knew I needed something different.” — Cherie Burton “Things of the earth are what ultimately help us heal.” — Cherie Burton “If you look at Mother Nature, there’s volcanoes and earthquakes and hurricanes and tsunamis…. She’s pretty badass.” — Cherie Burton “That’s part of radical self compassion: not tolerating injustices.” — Cherie Burton “We are experiencing collectively, as women, anger and hurt for being maligned for millennia.” — Cherie Burton “The number-one thing is the cheapest most effective, safest and most broadly acceptable thing—and that is your breath.” — Cherie Burton “I’m all about simplicity. A confused mind doesn’t act.” — Cherie Burton Show Notes: Marriage... Family... Career… Why is it that so often we can “have it all” and still feel empty, anxious and depressed? Could it be that we are looking in the wrong direction for fulfillment? In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Cherie Burton, whose credentials include author, holistic psychologist, emotional release facilitator, leader of feminine empowerment programs and host of the Women Seeking Wholeness podcast. They talk about feminine leadership—its challenges, its power and its potential to change the world—and how holistic healing can help us manage our anxiety and depression, balance our strength and stay centered. Listen and learn: How a woman with a family history of bipolar disorder changed her trajectory What the world looks like through the lens of the divine feminine. How the earth can heal us Tools that can help resolve unhealthy family patterning Why yoga can be so useful for centering Why women so often struggle with feeling centered in leadership roles What Nature teaches us about power How to balance our masculine energy What it means to be a strong woman Why your breath is so important How you can learn to embrace yourself as you are The role of the senses and how to get a free multi-sensory healing “look book” Where to take a crash course in goddess confidence and finding your “soul-preneur” path Resources: > Cherie Burton’s website > Cherie Burton: Women Seeking Wholeness on Facebook > Cherie Burton on Instagram > Women Seeking Wholeness podcast > Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter > Progression Counseling  

If news headlines make you want to bury your head in the sand, listen to this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush talks about getting grounded in an uncertain world. Quotes: “Right now the world does not feel very safe.” — Elizabeth Cush “There’s so much that needs to shift and change and so much resistance to change.” — Elizabeth Cush “The uncertainty is going to be there.” — Elizabeth Cush “How can you be with the world?” — Elizabeth Cush “As women we can be in this together.” — Elizabeth Cush “Take care. Be safe. Find support.” — Elizabeth Cush EPISODE 131 Show Notes: When will the COVID-19 pandemic come to an end? What will happen to LGBTQI and women’s reproductive rights under a conservative supreme court? Will people of color ever be able to feel safe around the police? And the big question: who will win the U.S. election? In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., explores the anxiety that so many of us feel when we consider a world of social distancing and social injustice in a divisive political climate. She talks about the power of women to effect change and how we can ground ourselves and learn to feel safe despite the uncertainty we live with all the time.  Listen and learn: Why the world might not feel safe right now Why the thought of approaching winter might feel especially daunting What’s contributing to our sense of unease about the future Why a single defining moment probably won’t make everything better How we can find a way to come back to ourselves in times of uncertainty How we can find strength in connection Learn More > Guided meditations from Progression Counseling > Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women > Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter > Progression Counseling

What do you need right now? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks about the importance of creating space to connect with yourself, especially when you are feeling stressed or anxious. Quotes: “It’s really important for us to have enough space in our daily living in order to know how we’re feeling.” — Elizabeth Cush “Social anxiety can keep us from living our best lives.” — Elizabeth Cush “Just ask yourself what’s going on.” — Elizabeth Cush “Oftentimes our bodies can be our early warning system.” — Elizabeth Cush “I sat with that feeling of ‘Maybe there’s more to this. Maybe this really isn’t about the weather.’” — Elizabeth Cush “When I DO let the fear rule what’s happening, then I feel bad.” — Elizabeth Cush Think about your day. How often do you pause to check in with yourself? Most of us don’t make a habit of pausing to consider our physical or emotional needs at any given moment—and yet that pause can be a powerful tool for helping us manage our anxiety. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., explores the benefits of pausing to connect with yourself in order to get in touch with your needs. She talks about how you can incorporate the pause in your own life and shares her personal experience with using the STOP technique successfully when she was experiencing social anxiety—and how you can use it to feel more grounded and present and show up more authentically for your life. Listen and learn: Why creating space for yourself in your daily life matters How we might mask social anxiety and use coping mechanisms with negative consequences How social anxiety holds us back What “creating space” means and how it might look for you What the STOP acronym stands for and how you can use it to create space for yourself Questions that might be helpful to ask yourself when you are trying to tune into your body and your emotions to understand what is really going on in the moment Why listening to what our body is trying to tell us takes so much practice—and why it’s so important What unraveling social anxiety might look like How to figure out when it might be most helpful for you to make space for yourself The kinds of insights you could gain by creating space to connect with yourself Why you shouldn’t beat yourself up for feeling anxiety or fear How pausing to connect with yourself can ultimately lead to having more meaningful moments in your life Learn More > Guided meditations from Progression Counseling > Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women > Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter > Progression Counseling

If all your “stuff” is sapping your energy, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush interviews Michael Spencer, a Virtual Home Energy Coach, about how to declutter your home to make space for what really matters. Quotes: “You get to have a much better understanding of yourself and the things that you choose to carry with you in your life.” — Michael Spencer “I was able to root into my soul and say, ‘Yes, I want this,’ or ‘No, I don’t.’” — Michael Spencer “I can close the door of that closet, and yet there’s something nagging.” — Michael Spencer “These belonging that we accumulate over time have meaning for us.” — Michael Spencer “We’re learning to tune in internally to what feels right to keep, what feels right to let go.” — Michael Spencer “It takes so much energy to keep holding that lid on.” — Michael Spencer “It took a long time for these belongings to accumulate the way they did, and that’s OK.” — Michael Spencer “There is really an inner purification that’s happening as the outer purification is happening.” — Michael Spencer Do you have a counter or table piled high with catalogs and other stuff that came in the mail? A closet or dresser drawer that you have to dig through to find the shirt you’re looking for? A room that makes you want to close the door and walk away? In the course of a lifetime, we can acquire a lot of stuff, and living with it can take a lot of energy and cause a lot of anxiety. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., talks with Michael Spencer, founder of Let’s Purify!, who draws on her background in mental health and mindfulness to coach people who want to transform the energy of their lives and their homes. Her unique practice of home decluttering and purifying is designed to help you better understand yourself and the things that you choose to carry with you in your life.   Listen and Learn: What a virtual home energy coach does and how it’s different from a professional organizer Why traditional decluttering methods don’t work for everyone How clutter creates energy leaks and anxiety in your life Why calming and grounding techniques are helpful when you’re trying to deal with your belongings How purifying your space and aligning your home’s energy with your own can be liberating Why we often start to declutter, only to close the lid or the door and walk away Why decluttering doesn’t mean throwing out all your old stuff The most common reasons why we resist decluttering and how to work around them The relationship between shame and stuff How a virtual home energy coach can help you work through the blocks that are keeping you from getting started and developing a decluttering plan How a Mindful Walkthrough of your home can help you get clear on what you want to do How practicing a simple three-step purifying ritual in a small space can make it easier to address bigger projects when you’re ready How to identify the places in your home where the time spend shifting the energy will yield the greatest positive effects The key questions to ask yourself before tackling any decluttering—and how the process may change your intentions More Resources: > Michael Spencer’s website > Let’s Purify! podcast > Let’s Purify! Episode 35: When a “Micro Area” of Your Home Is Massively Aggravating! (And How to Shift It) > Let’s Purify! Episode 65: A Three-Step Daily Purifying Ritual > Let’s Purify! on Instagram > Let’s Purify! on Facebook > Subscribe to the Let’s Purify! Holistic Declutter Coaching newsletter > Progression Counseling

If you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP), chances are you have trouble finding your voice—and that can cause a lot of anxiety. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes back psychotherapist April Snow, who talks about how you can learn to trust your voice, set healthy boundaries and speak up for your needs. Quotes: “When you’re highly sensitive, that sensation is loud.” — April Snow “We start to doubt ourselves. We start to silence that inner wisdom, that intuition.” — April Snow “Anxiety is a big marker that you’re living a lifestyle that’s not quite in alignment with your temperament.” — April Snow “Because of our level of empathy, if someone else is hurting, we’re hurting.” — April Snow “A lot of time when HSPs are anxious, it’s just because they’re doing too much.” — April Snow “Saying ‘No’ some of the time is actually preserving the relationship.” — April Snow EPISODE 128   Show Notes: You pick up on things in your environment—things others don’t notice. You feel much more deeply than others do. When others can’t or won’t validate your perceptions and emotions, you begin to stop trusting yourself. That’s the plight of the highly sensitive person (HSP). In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., and her guest April Snow, a San Francisco-based psychotherapist and highly sensitive person, delve deeper into what it means to be an HSP and an introvert, how being an HSP might make it more difficult to know and trust your voice, and how you can find your voice and start to learn to advocate for your needs in order to ease you anxiety. Listen and learn: The core characteristics of a highly sensitive person Why being highly sensitive might lead you to doubt yourself and silence your voice What it means to be an HSP and an introvert—and why it can feel exhausting and overwhelming Why so many highly sensitive women experience anxiety Why it’s important to set limits on how much you take on—and why it can be hard to do so How empathy and guilt are related The small lifestyle changes that can make the biggest difference in easing your anxiety How to recognize what’s really making you anxious Ways to explore boundary-setting and to identify different steps you could take to feel more comfortable The power of the pause and the reality check Three things you should think about before saying “yes” (or “no”) Ways to get the time you need to make a decision that feels right How to say “No” when saying “No” feels too hard—and why it’s OK to say “No” How self-compassion work can help The benefits you can experience when you treat yourself with care and compassion Learn More > April Snow, LMFT, bio > April Snow’s Expansive Heart website > The Expansive Heart on Instagram > The Expansive Heart on Facebook > Simple Self-Care Tools to Reduce Anxiety + Overwhelm by April Snow > “How to Set Boundaries as an HSP” by April Snow > “How to Overcome Dissatisfaction in Your Relationship as an HSP” by April Snow > The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism: Evidence-Based Skills to Help You Let Go Of Self-Criticism, Build Self-Esteem, and Find Balance by Sharon Martin, MSW, LCSW > Self-Compassion Guided Meditations and Exercises by Dr. Kristen Neff > Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg > The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be Brilliant in Your Role Even When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron, PhD > Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person by Barrie Jaeger > The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron > Highly Sensitive Person test > Progression Counseling   Other episodes you might enjoy > Episode 26: April Snow on Highly Sensitive People > Episode 42: Sharon Martin on How to Recover from Perfectionism and Find Balance

Domestic violence—especially domestic violence homicide—is not an easy topic. In this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Rachel Louise Snyder, award-winning journalist and author of No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us. Quotes: “ A billion people around the world are victims of domestic violence.” — Rachel Louise Snyder “We misunderstand the nature of domestic violence…everything from the origins of violence to the outcomes of violence.’” — Rachel Louise Snyder on victims of domestic violence homicide “Leaving gets them killed.’” — Rachel Louise Snyder on victims of domestic violence homicide “Leaving is a process. It’s not an event.’” — Rachel Louise Snyder  “She did not recant because she lied. She recanted to stay alive. She recanted to keep her children alive.” — Rachel Louise Snyder, No Visible Bruises “Something like 80%–85% of men in prison today have domestic violence, either as witnesses or victims, in their childhood (or sexual assault).” — Rachel Louise Snyder “Victims never recognize themselves; no one ever thinks they’re a typical victim.” — Rachel Louise Snyder Show Notes: Domestic violence isn’t a private matter. It affects families, communities—all of us. And it can be deadly. It’s not an easy topic to talk about, but it needs to come out of the darkness. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., talks with journalist and author Rachel Louise Snyder about her new book, an in-depth exploration of the complex and challenging issues surrounding domestic violence and intimate partner homicide. Their enlightening and thought-provoking conversation looks at the risk of being killed by an intimate partner, signs of escalating violence, how communities can help prevent domestic violence and resources for those who are in a violent relationship themselves or know someone who might be. The truth around the notion that women continue to be victims of domestic violence because they don’t leave When women in violent relationships are at greatest risk Why the danger is greater because we don’t talk about domestic violence How domestic violence has a ripple effect that extends beyond the couple The most obvious indicator of potential lethality—and why it’s often overlooked Why an abuser’s suicide threat might be a sign of danger Why it’s not enough just to get the victims out Why we need to get past stereotypical views of “typical” victims and perpetrators Various strategies that communities are using to reduce domestic violence and keep victims safer Why it’s critically important to have open conversations about domestic violence When it’s appropriate to start talking to your kids about what an abusive relationship looks like Where to find online tools to assess risk, safely call emergency services and more How to approach a friend or family member who might be a victim of domestic abuse Learn More > Rachel Louise Snyder’s official website > No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence by Rachel Louise Snyder > Follow Rachel Louise Snyder on Facebook > Follow Rachel Louise Snyder on Twitter @RLSWrites > Danger Assessment website > Danger Assessment tools and resources > Lethality Assessment Program > National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 > National Domestic Violence Hotline website and chat >  Progression Counseling

Healing past traumas and core wounds often must come from within. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush guides you through a meditation to help you get in touch with your body. Quotes: “A lot of internal healing needs to come from the body.” — Elizabeth Cush “If you’ve experienced trauma, especially sexual trauma, but any type of trauma, it’s really easy to disconnect from your body to cope.” — Elizabeth Cush “Knowing how you’re feeling if you’re not tuned in to your body can be really hard. ” — Elizabeth Cush “Bodywork is important but it can be very hard for trauma survivors. ” — Elizabeth Cush “It also made me realize that my body was feeling things, noticing things, reacting to things all the time. ” — Elizabeth Cush In recent episodes of the Woman Worriers podcast, guests Tami Simon and Thais Gibson have talked about attachment wounds and how they impact our lives and relationships. How do we heal those core wounds? Talk therapy and connecting with others can help, but some of the healing has to come from within the body. In this week’s podcast episode, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., shares her journey of healing by getting in touch with her body and what it’s telling her—and how those messages have helped her manage anxiety. She will also guide you through a progressive body scan—a type of meditation that can help you start to tune into your body with kindness and compassion. Listen and Learn: The connection between being comfortable in your body and healing all your parts Different types of body work Why it might be hard to get touch with your body—especially if you’ve experienced trauma Why reconnecting with your body is an important part of healing What your body can teach you—and what it wants you to know The benefits you could experience by learning how to tune into your body Why trauma survivors might find bodywork difficult—and what to do about it Different ways that feelings show up in your body What a body scan meditation is and how to get started How the breath works with a body scan Where to focus your awareness during a body scan and what to do if it drifts Some of the sensations you might experience as you scan your body How to “return” from a body scan meditation How to use the knowledge you develop by doing body scans to move forward Where you can leave feedback on the body scan meditation Where to find more resources for meditation, including other guided meditations and a beginner’s guide to meditation More: > Other guided meditations from Progression Counseling > Elizabeth’s “Let Go of Worry” meditation on InsightTimer > Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women > Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter > Leave a voice message for Elizabeth > Progression Counseling  

Description: If you struggle with relationships, maybe the barrier lies in your subconscious mind. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Thais Gibson, talk about retraining the brain to achieve better relationships with the people in your life. Quotes: “My conscious mind can’t actually out-will or overpower the subconscious mind.” — Thais Gibson “Attachment style is the rules we have for relating to others.” — Thais Gibson “We need attachment to survive.” — Thais Gibson “It’s repetition plus emotion that programs the subconscious mind.” — Thais Gibson “The mind takes its core wounds and its fears and, at a subconscious level, it projects all those things back out.” — Thais Gibson “All memory is colored with emotion.” — Thais Gibson “The psyche freezes in time when we have trauma.” — Thais Gibson “What are the stories? What is the meaning I am giving to this experience?” — Thais Gibson EPISODE 125 Show Notes: If you’ve ever felt that you and your partner are each following a different rulebook, you might already have some insight into the challenges that different attachment styles bring to relationships. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Thais Gibson, MA, speaker, founder of The Personal Development School and author of Attachment Theory: A Guide to Strengthening the Relationships in Your Life. They talk about attachment wounds and attachment styles and how they affect our lives and relationships. They also discuss the role of the subconscious, how it often keeps us from achieving fulfilling relationships or reinforces unwanted behaviors, and how we can learn to reprogram the mind, heal our attachment wounds and find personal freedom.   Listen and learn: Why we need to tap into the subconscious mind in order to create change and heal What integrated attachment theory is and how it differs from traditional attachment theory The rules we have for relating to others—and why others might be playing with a different rulebook What shapes each of the four attachment styles and how they look in our relationships Why our early experience of attachment has such a deep impact The connection between attachment styles and core wounds—and why the subconscious is the key to healing them Why affirmations alone aren’t enough to create transformation and how you can reprogram the subconscious for healing What the person with an anxious-preoccupied attachment style needs in a relationship Where the person with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style feels safest Why persons with fearful-avoidant, or disorganized, attachment style are often the most traumatized—and the trait the often develop to deal with it How the subconscious can sabotage you while trying to get your needs met The subconscious beliefs underlying co-dependency The five key components that make up an attachment style The importance of identifying the beliefs we have related to our core wounds The relationship between beliefs, thoughts, emotions and neurochemicals—and what it takes to change them How to speak the language of the subconscious Why individuals with insecure attachment styles don’t have relationships with themselves The importance of understanding and expressing your own needs Why you need to make sure your “need buckets” are full every day How the negative and positive associations we form determine where we turn when our needs are not met How to stop binge eating candy (or other go-to stress behaviors) How to create healthier habits when the pandemic is keeping you separate from family, friends and community Why digging into discomfort can provide useful feedback How to learn your own attachment style     Resources: Learn More > Thais Gibson’s Personal Development School website > Thais Gibson on Instagram > The Personal Development School on YouTube > Attachment Theory: A Guide to Strengthening the Relationships in Your Life by Thais Gibson > About Dr. John Bowlby  > About Dr. Mary Ainsworth > About Dr. Gary Chapman > Progression Counseling

Sounds True is a multimedia publisher that partners with the leading teachers from the world’s major spiritual traditions. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and welcomes Sounds True founder Tami Simon for a conversation about fitting in and finding your way. Quotes: “I belong with other humans.” — Tami Simon “Right here, where you are, is Home.” — Tami Simon “There’s a journey, yes, from feeling like an alien to feeling like an expression of the universe that is perfectly right and perfectly on time.” — Tami Simon “I wanted to share as many different ways to that experience—what I’ll just call Presence.” — Tami Simon “For me, having this connection with the earth that I discovered gave me a way to feel grounded in a deeper way.” — Tami Simon   “My anxiety was a form of intelligence.” — Tami Simon “In whatever way you feel different, or like an outsider, it’s intelligent. It’s giving you information about where your true wisdom and true fulfillment lie.” — Tami Simon “I’m always listening for that takeaway.” — Tami Simon EPISODE 124 Show Notes: A religious studies major who dropped out of college, Tami Simon kept searching for the right fit. In 1985, at age 22, she started Sounds True with a dream and a tape recorder—and an intention to share spiritual wisdom. Today, the multimedia publisher based in Louisville, Colorado, offers more than 3,000 titles by teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh, Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Eckhart Tolle and others, as well as events, certification programs and transformational online learning experiences. The company is North America’s leading publisher of spoken-word spiritual teachings. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., talks with Simon about her journey of lifelong learning; some of the “aha” moments she has had with guests of her podcast, Insights at the Edge; and how serving others has been the guiding force behind Sounds True. Simon talks about her experience creating a business that aligns with her passions and also shares some unique and surprising insights into her anxiety and sense of feeling different.   Listen and learn: What sparked Tami Simon’s journey and planted the seeds of Sounds True What Sounds True offers today How the new Inner MBA program can help you align your work to your inner goals How spirituality can help heal the feeling of being disconnected or not fitting in The lesson that Simon learned from reading authors like Herman Hesse, Alan Watts and Ranier Maria Rilke The value of an embodiment practice How connecting with the earth’s energy can help you feel more connected and more grounded How the “experiment” of Sounds True grew to a successful multimedia publishing company—and the thought process behind the leap of faith How gratitude created a company with a commitment to giving back—and what Sounds True Foundation scholarships are all about What an “aha” moment is and when you can hear them in podcasts How anxiety, ego and groundlessness are related Why groundlessness isn’t a bad thing How anxiety and feeling disconnected can be forms of intelligence and what that intelligence can tell you Learn More > Sounds True website > Woman Worriers Sounds True affiliate link (use this link to shop Sounds True and Support the Woman Worriers podcast) > Tami Simon’s Insights at the Edge podcast on Apple podcasts > Already Free: Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path to Liberation by Bruce Tift, MA LMFT > Belonging Here: A Guide for the Spiritually Sensitive Person by Judith Blackstone > Radical Alignment: How to Have Game-Changing Conversations That Will Transform Your Business and Your Life by Alexandra Jamieson and Bob Gower > Reggie Ray’s Dharma Ocean website > Adyashanti website > Progression Counseling

How are you doing with self-care? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush explores what self-care is and why it matters. Quotes: “Maybe we’re not even recognizing that things aren’t OK.” — Elizabeth Cush “I also learned how not to take up a lot of space; I learned to be quiet.” — Elizabeth Cush “As a child, you knew what you needed. ” — Elizabeth Cush “We have to re-parent ourselves to learn who we are and how to take care of ourselves.” — Elizabeth Cush “One of the small things I like to recommend for clients is to find moments throughout your day to check in with yourself. ” — Elizabeth Cush “Ask yourself, ‘What do I need right now?’” — Elizabeth Cush EPISODE 123 Show Notes: Recent episodes of the Woman Worriers podcast featuring B. Nilaja Green, PhD, and Sharon Martin, LCSW, have explored issues around speaking up, asking for help and getting your needs met. These skills are not always easy, but they are critical to our well-being. In this week’s episode, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., takes a deeper dive into self-care and why it is so very important. She talks about some of the many reasons why we might not take care of ourselves and shares some of her own challenges on her personal journey toward finding her voice and learning to ask for what she needs. Finally she shares some simple tips and techniques that you can use to tune into yourself, identify your needs, set clear boundaries and take better care of yourself. Listen and learn: Why we often say we’re “fine” even when we’re not How we can get off from our feelings and why that makes it harder to know what we need How disconnecting from our feelings can get lead to anxiety and even poor coping mechanisms like abusing drugs or alcohol Two ways that we can “learn” that it’s more important to take care of others’ needs than our own How we lose touch with who we are and how that affects us What it takes to build back trust in yourself and your intuition How to look at boundaries in a positive light—and how to build healthy ones How life can get in the way of getting what we need How family patterns fit in to all this What we can learn from our younger selves Who we might reach out to as we re-parent ourselves A simple habit you can develop that can build a foundation for self-care What you need to do after you ask yourself what you need What to do when you can’t get what you need right now How self care change our relationships with others Learn More > Episode 121 with Sharon Martin > Guided meditations from Progression Counseling > Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women > Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter > Progression Counseling