BeTeamPositive.Us
By Todd Schmenk
It's a resource that unpacks and pulls together sensible information and tools from many different disciplines and approaches to therapy, support, and communication, while keeping it friendly and accessible. It is especially useful when first receiving the news of a life-changing condition.
Hosted by Todd Schmenk
BeTeamPositive.UsFeb 21, 2021
How Small Changes Can Make A Big Difference
Join Todd Schmenk as he takes a closer look at how small changes can make a big difference. It is known as the Principle of Small Changes and is one of the underlying beliefs that informs his therapeutic approach.
Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here? Want more information about this educational project? Then be sure to visit out: https://www.wellnesstalks.org/
ALSO: If you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and which to support the efforts here, take a look here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive
VIEW: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...
What Is Time Orientation? Effects of Focus on Anxiety and Depression.
Join Todd Schmenk, as he takes a closer look at what is time orientation and how does focusing on the past or the future versus the present moment lead to increases in experience of anxiety and depression.
Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here? Want more information about this educational project? Then be sure to visit out: https://www.wellnesstalks.org/
ALSO: If you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and which to support the efforts here, take a look here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
Gratitude In A Jar
Join Todd Schmenk and Peter Binnings as they have a discussion around strategies for balance during a pandemic including Peter's favorite, Gratitude In A Jar. The whole conversation takes a closer look at what gratitude is, what it is not, and how to use your values to help guide your way in a direction that is meaningful.
Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here? Want more information about this educational project? Then be sure to visit out: https://www.wellnesstalks.org/
ALSO: If you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and which to support the efforts here, take a look here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive
VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...
#covidcoping #toddschmenk #gratitude
How To Uncover Your Core Values | Part 2
Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through part two in a series of how to uncover your core values with a simple exercise that will leave you with a list to begin to explore and orient towards.
You can find more topics, worksheets, and support materials here:
https://www.wellnesstalks.org/
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive
VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...
#personalvalues #toddschmenk #wellnesstalks
Uncovering Your Core Values
In order to thrive and not just survive, we need to have a base understanding of our core values, or prime values (in that they cannot be boiled down any further. We need to understand core values in order to feel more confident, to have a direction. In this video series, Uncovering your core values, I will take you on a journey to look at what personal values are, why we need them, how to discover your core values, and what to do with these personal values in order to live a meaningful life and ensure continued personal growth.
Mindfulness Exercise For Pain
Often, one of the core challenges of dealing with a chronic illness is having to deal with a wide variety of possible pain, both physical and mental. Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through ways in which you can utilize use a mindfulness exercise in addressing such pain. This is a guided practice which starts of with a simple grounding exercise then moves on to use a time tested technique that has worked for several situations including chronic pain, pain from cancer, and even with some dealing with an emotional pain.
My apologies for the microphone...
Doing a Basic Mindfulness Grounding Exercise
Join me as I walk through on of the most basic mindfulness skills you should consider strengthening in order to help you get through whatever challenges you might be dealing with. Whether that means dealing with ongoing pain, recurring thoughts, or looking for a way to recharge, this podcast is for you. There is nothing special you have to do or know. Just listen and follow along as I jump right in and guide you through. Listen as often as you like.
Would you like a more organized way of browsing the topics, worksheets, and support materials found here? Want more information about this educational project? Then be sure to visit out: https://www.wellnesstalks.org/
ALSO: If you REALLY like what I am doing here, want to be part of a smaller community with direct access to me, and which to support the efforts here, take a look here: https://www.patreon.com/toddschmenk to see how to become more involved!
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive
VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...
#mindfulness #toddschmenk #painmanagement
A Quick Look At Medication And Mental Health Counseling
A common question which often comes up is whether someone needs psychotherapy or medication. It is framed as psychotherapy vs medication. There is more to it than that. So join me, Todd Schmenk, as I take a closer look at medication and mental health counseling, answering a common question, "Do I need medication, psychotherapy, or both?"
Easy to understand analogy looking at three ways of addressing this common concern.
Learn more about me here: https://www.toddschmenk.com/
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive
VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...
Team Positive Kaffeeklatsch
Join Todd Schmenk at his online Team Positive Kaffeeklatsch presentation at the Association of Rhode Island Authors Expo in December of 2020. This event is usually a large public affair, but due to the circumstances of the year, this format was done as an alternative. Watch the presentation he gave here. (please note, this is about my book, but the information within is useful whether or not you choose to purchase the resource. Thought I would just give you a heads up.)
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive
VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteampositive/
#chronicillness #cancersupport #teampositive
Mindful Movement Full Body Scan | Simple Mindfulness Exercises for Beginners
Join Todd Schmenk as he guides you through a mindful movement full body scan with prompts followed up at the end with tips for how to use this powerful tool to help develop psychological flexibility for intentional living as well as decreasing experiences of anxiety and depression.
You can find more topics, worksheets, and support materials here:
https://www.wellnesstalks.org/
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive
VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteamposit...
#mindfulness #toddschmenk #mondaymorningmindfulness
Mindfulness Exercise for Emotional or Physical Pain
Pulling from another ongoing series, Monday Morning Mindfulness, this episode is a skill development and practice designed to use a visualization grounded in a simple mindfulness practice allowing the listener to create a little room or space in connection with an unwanted personal experience. There is no need to have any knowledge of how to do a mindfulness practice, just follow along and listen.
Chronic Illness Support Group | Dealing with Distress Part 3
One of the considerations of how to build a chronic illness support group is in learning how the mind works in order to come up with ways of dealing with distress. This video looks at the thinking mind and observing mind for strategies to be able to distance yourself as well as highlighting the importance of managing your energy. It is designed for both the patient and for anyone in a supportive role.
It is broken into three parts due to its length, one coming out each week, and each one provides an effective coping skill you can try immediately. This is part 3 of 3.
You can watch the video format of this here: Chronic Illness Support Group | Dealing with Distress Part 3
Chronic Illness Support Group | Dealing with Distress Part 2
One of the considerations of how to build a chronic illness support group is in learning how the mind works in order to come up with ways of dealing with distress. This video looks at the thinking mind and observing mind for strategies to be able to distance yourself as well as highlighting the importance of managing your energy. It is designed for both the patient and for anyone in a supportive role. It is broken into three parts due to its length, one coming out each week, and each one provides an effective coping skill you can try immediately.
You can watch the video here as well: Chronic Illness Support Group | Dealing with Distress Part 2
Dealing with Distress: Part 1
One of the considerations of how to build a chronic illness support group is in learning how the mind works in order to come up with ways of dealing with distress. This video looks at the thinking mind and observing mind for strategies to be able to distance yourself as well as highlighting the importance of managing your energy. It is designed for both the patient and for anyone in a supportive role. It is broken into three parts due to its length, one coming out each week, and each one provides an effective coping skill you can try immediately.
Simple Mindfulness Exercises For Beginners
A simple mindfulness exercises for beginners or for anyone wanting to try to strengthen their practice with a simple 3-5 minute long exercise followed by a quick discussion of what to expect, what might be experienced, and how to add this skill to your day. Essential tool in the Team Positive Toolbox.
Dealing With What Ifs | Unhooking from Worries
Join Todd Schmenk as he walks you through how to manage dealing with what ifs, that if focused on for too long increase levels of stress and anxiety and what to do instead.
Skills and Tools: Awareness: Taking a Purposeful Breath Openness: Unhooking from thoughts Engaged: Finding a Guide
How to Reduce Stress, The 5,4,3,2,1 Method
An easy to use approach to decreasing emotional distress, anytime anywhere.
This mindfulness technique helps you to become more present to the current moment. This is helpful in that when we are worried or anxious, it is because our minds are focused on the future. While this is a necessary component of life, if we focus too much attention there, we become hypersensitive. This technique addressed this phenomenon.
An easy to use approach to decreasing emotional distress, anytime anywhere. The 5,4,3,2,1 method is a mindfulness stress management technique that helps you to become more present to the current moment. This is helpful in that when we are worried or anxious, it is because our minds are focused on the future. While this is a necessary component of life, if we focus too much attention there, we become hypersensitive. This technique addressed this phenomenon.
This is one of the ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) areas of focus, present moment, which is an openness skill.
A broader explanation of this tool can be found within the Team Positive book here: https://www.amazon.com/Todd-Schmenk/e...
Building a Support Team
Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through to build support for caregivers of cancer patients (or any other chronic illness). A look at some common questions and concerns are covered along with some suggestions for how best to either build your own team or build a team for someone you love.
FOLLOW: https://twitter.com/tschmenk
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/beteampositive
VIEW US: https://www.instagram.com/beteampositive/
Be Team Positive: Dealing with the Initial Impact
What do you do the moment you discover you have a serious medical challenge in front of you? Whether it is your own personal challenge or that of a loved one or good friend? Join Todd Schmenk as he walks through a few examples of how this occurred for others, what you might expect, and stick around until the end of the podcast for ten suggestions for what to do in that initial moment.
Welcome to Be Team Positive: How to Build Support for Someone Coping with Chronic Illness
Join me, Todd Schmenk, for an introduction to this series, from the history behind the "Team Positive program" to what you can come to expect in listening to these podcasts. The primary goal of this podcast is in fostering psychological flexibility for all involved, from the person dealing with the chronic illness or medical situation to anyone who finds them-self in a supportive role.
Topics will include a deeper look at the guides and framework, what you should expect, what to say and what not to say, how to manage your energy, mental and emotional states, and a whole host of skills and tools all aimed at the primary goal. Dealing with a diagnosis, whether it is a newly diagnosed issue, or an ongoing issue, is no easy task. It is my greatest hope that this approach will give you and your entire Team Positive some reassurance and relief. Here is to building your own Team Positive!