DeepSummary
Rick Hanson and his son Forrest answer questions from listeners covering a range of topics related to therapy, trauma, and personal growth. They discuss managing anxiety in relationships, getting the most out of therapy, appropriate approaches for treating childhood trauma, how to talk to children about one's own abusive childhood, maintaining boundaries with friends as a therapist, and dealing with an adult ADHD diagnosis.
One key point is the importance of finding the right therapeutic approach and therapist for one's unique circumstances. Rick emphasizes that good therapy should lead to lasting positive changes. For childhood trauma, developmentally appropriate interventions matching the age the trauma occurred are recommended over purely cognitive approaches.
The episode also covers the potential benefits and drawbacks of discussing one's past traumas with children, as well as practical advice for new ADHD diagnoses such as optimizing environments, nurturing oneself, and considering medication if needed. Overall, the focus is on finding self-compassion and holistic ways to approach personal challenges.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Adopting a compassionate, non-judgmental attitude toward oneself is crucial when dealing with personal challenges.
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy; the right treatment depends on the individual's unique history, circumstances, and goals.
- If therapy is not leading to noticeable, lasting positive changes within 5-10 sessions, it may be time to reevaluate the approach or find a new therapist.
- For developmental trauma, therapies targeting somatic and pre-verbal levels may be more effective than purely cognitive approaches like CBT.
- Honest introspection about one's motivations is advised before discussing past abuses with children, to avoid burdening them unnecessarily.
- An ADHD diagnosis in adulthood can provide context for lifelong struggles and suggest management strategies like optimizing environments and considering medication.
- Reframing mental health conditions as 'mismatches' with societal conventions rather than disordered states can promote self-acceptance.
- Clear boundaries are essential when friends seek therapy-like guidance to protect the friendship and the person's autonomy.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think that your experience is really common and understandable. And one of the first things to do is to be mindful of it and compassionate towards yourself about it and not shame yourself for being ashamed, to put it a certain kind of a way.“ by Rick Hanson
- “If you're five or 1010 sessions in and you're not getting much from it, that's a contraindication, and it's really time to talk about it.“ by Rick Hanson
- “The most effective treatment is the one that's individualized to a person who is motivated to make use of it.“ by Rick Hanson
- “Our fears don't protect us.“ by Forrest Hansen
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Episode Information
Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson
9/18/23