Therapist Horror Stories: When Counseling Goes WrongJoin hosts Paula Atkinson and Lisa K as they dive into an engaging and hilarious episode of 'What, If Nothing Is Wrong With You?' where audience members share their most shocking and hysterical therapist horror stories. From therapists falling asleep mid-session to wildly inappropriate disclosures, this episode sheds light on the importance of choosing the right therapist and recognizing when therapy may be doing more harm than good. Tune in for a blend of humor, insight, and audience participation in this captivating episode!00:00 Introduction and Audience Participation01:16 Chit Chat: Adult Swim Team Adventures05:19 TV Show Recommendations: The Righteous Gemstones08:45 Therapy Update and Reflections12:49 Therapist Horror Stories: Inappropriate Advice24:52 Therapist Horror Stories: Mishandling Coming Out28:52 Therapist Horror Stories: The Power Dynamics29:54 The Perils of Self-Disclosure30:31 Therapist Over-Sharing: When It Gets Personal36:33 Couples Therapy Gone Wrong44:02 Therapists Falling Asleep: A New Low49:14 Unhelpful Advice: Have You Tried...?52:39 Conclusion: Sharing Your Stories
--------
54:54
--------
54:54
Friends & Ketamine (Ep. 25)
Friendship and Ketamine: Deconstructing Cultural MythsIn this episode of 'What If Nothing's Wrong With You,' Paula and Lisa dive into the overlooked importance of friendships and the therapeutic potential of ketamine. They begin by discussing their reactions to the Netflix remake of 'The Four Seasons,' and how it reflects outdated notions of relationships. The hosts then explore the cultural devaluation of friendships, particularly stressing how systemic issues like capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy undermine community bonds. They share personal stories, insights from research, and highlight the importance of being deliberate and effortful in maintaining friendships. The episode wraps up with powerful reflections on prioritizing platonic relationships for better mental health and overall well-being.00:00 Introduction and Today's Topics00:36 TV Show Review: The Four Seasons11:22 Young Sheldon and Intergenerational Themes14:18 Book Recommendation: Educated by Tara Westover16:14 The Emerald Podcast and Media Consumption20:06 Ketamine as a Treatment for Mental Health25:53 The Importance of Friendships28:48 The Devaluation of Friendships in Modern Society30:34 Redefining Romance and Friendship33:57 The Origin Story of a Lifelong Friendship39:56 The Myth of the Core Friend Group50:37 The Importance of Friendships for Parents and Children53:58 Friendship as a Sacred Form of Love55:36 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
--------
57:46
--------
57:46
Boomers (Ep. 24)
In this episode of 'What If Nothing Is Wrong With You?', Paula D. Atkinson and Lisa K. Kays, dive deep into the complexities of the Boomer generation. They explore long-standing requests and discuss the historical, social, and psychological factors that have shaped Boomers into who they are today. Topics include the consequences of post-war trauma, lack of curiosity, over-identification with the country, and the struggles of growing up under Boomer parents. They also address the sensitive issue of going 'no contact' with difficult family members, providing insights into handling these challenging relationships.
--------
1:08:17
--------
1:08:17
Therapy Terms (Ep. 23)
SHOW NOTESIn this episode of 'What if Nothing's Wrong with You?', Paula D. Atkinson, Lisa K. Kays, tackle the misuse and overuse of popular therapy terms like 'narcissist,' 'triggered,' and 'boundaries.' They dive into the potential pitfalls of mislabeling behaviors and emotions, emphasizing the importance of context and cultural factors. The discussion also covers the commodification of therapy terms and how they can sometimes do more harm than good. Along the way, they touch on reality TV insights from 'Squid Games' and 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' highlighting how these shows can serve as sociological experiments. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on navigating mental health language in today's world.00:00 Introduction and Wild Ride Since 202501:03 Squid Games Discussion02:39 Sociological Insights from Reality TV08:39 RuPaul's Drag Race and Gen X Parenting12:37 Chapel Rone's Controversial Comments19:31 Therapy Terms and Their Misuse34:31 Finding Calm and Setting Boundaries34:49 Facing Relationship Truths36:08 Energetic Boundaries and Self-Regulation37:57 Pathologizing Everyday Behaviors39:09 Narcissism and Cultural Context40:57 Dependence and Pathologizing Needs46:22 Misuse of Psychological Terms50:29 Depression vs. Heartbreak54:03 Capitalism and Human Suffering54:31 Trauma Bonding and Pathologizing Venting58:10 Ridiculous Diagnoses and Pathological Ambivalence01:07:38 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Engagement
--------
1:08:43
--------
1:08:43
Online Dating (Ep. 22)
In this episode of 'What If Nothing's Wrong With You?', hosts Paula D. Atkinson and Lisa K. Kays, dive into the complexities and chaos of online dating. They discuss their clients' experiences, Paula's memories of online dating, and how it can be approached in a relatively sane manner. They explore the impact of societal norms on relationships and the importance of individual preferences, freedom, and self-awareness. The hosts provide practical advice for managing online dating, including treating it as an experiment or skills-building lab. They also emphasize the significance of listening to one's body and give tips on how to gracefully say no to unsuitable matches.00:00 Introduction and Podcast Hosts00:10 Diving into Online Dating00:52 Lady Gaga's New Album and SNL Performance04:15 Mental Health and Celebrity Struggles06:25 Community Building and Conflict Management11:55 Heteronormativity and Relationship Freedom19:42 Online Dating Experiences and Challenges23:04 Dating and Speech Therapy: A Hilarious Connection23:53 The Serial Killer Factor in Dating24:20 Navigating Chemistry and Safety in Dating25:58 The Absurdity of Online Dating28:33 Setting Boundaries and Knowing What You Want33:17 Listening to Your Body's Signals37:26 Using Dating as a Skills-Building Lab39:52 Infinite Permission to Say No43:57 Final Thoughts and Listener Engagement
Hi! We're Paula D. Atkinson and Lisa Kays, hosts of the What If Nothing's Wrong With You? podcast, and we're so grateful you found us. We are two psychotherapists who have been in the field for a long time, and we started this podcast to invite you into our ongoing conversations that explore the mental health field, psychotherapy, freedom and sanity. We investigate the history of psychotherapy, the way it is practiced, the roots of treating "mental illness", who among us is usually diagnosable, and the ways in which perhaps psychotherapy creates more harm than healing.
USA