Not Allowed to Die

In this episode Mariska and I discuss making a plan for self improvement during the summer and why summer can be the best time to seek mental health treatment in a partial hospitalization program.

in this episode Mariska recovers from her bath and we talk about boundaries with family members.

In this episode Mariska and I share some tips about how to think about the process of finding and selecting colleges that families should consider. I deal with this challenge literally every work day as a social worker in public school where over 90% of graduates go to a four year college and I was a guidance counselor for five years of my career. Let me know if you want more college thoughts.

In this brief episode Mariska and I talk about body dysmorphia and its secondary gains. To be frank we are also checking out new recording software so be patient with us.

In this episode Marc Hans of the Think Differently Podcast has me on to talk mental health and Paws for Patrick. Mark's podcast is typically about design and so he has a unique perspective. In addition, we are old friends so it is a fun conversation.

In this episode Mariska and I talk about the impact of Ms. Yvonne on the lives of my boys when she was their day care teacher, and how she can be an example of how we can share love. Also how we can view legacy when we did not know a person completely.

Also a chance to weigh in on whether regular listeners of this show would like to be known as Mariskavites, Markiskateers, Team Maigler, or something else.

In this episode Mariska and I explore options for how to react when a therapist hurts a clients feelings in session and how it feels from the therapists end of things.

This week Mariska and I explore how to react when a parent's response to a request for help is to deny that the issue exists.

In this episode Mariska and I share some dilemmas that my clients have been facing in communicating with their psychiatrists. We talk about why this happens and some work arounds.

In addition, some quick advice to bring up conversations with people you care about regarding loved ones they have lost.

An update on Mariska's teeth, a request for advice from listeners about how they prepare for the end of a pets life, and some lessons from a couple of my clients on how conflict in a relationship can be a blessing and an enhancement to relationships.

In this episode Mariska and I explore how to think about side effects you may be experiencing when starting a new medication and some ideas of what to do when you cannot fall asleep.

Happy Boxing Day. In this last episode of 2023 Mariska and I give some tips for how to structure your journaling to act as a bit of a therapist to yourself. Also trigger warning in this episode I talk about hitting a rabbit when driving in my car and how that threatened to take me down a path of nasty magical thinking.

In this episode Mariska and I discuss thinking differently about people who lie to us and why. We also talk about how to be a better manipulator of people, especially when we are manipulating them to help them.

Mariska and I discuss the difference between trauma dumping and healthy sharing of traumatic information and experiences. We also touch briefly on the incredible importance of role models and how they can benefit us.

In this episode Mariska and I discuss giving Tuesday, how to deal with the fear of very real illness concerns, and supporting people through the loss of beloved pets.

Our most prestigious guest to date joins Mariska and I for an exploration of transcranial magnetic stimulation and Esketamine for treatment resistant depression. I have been so curious about both of these forms of treatment so to get an expert on both was incredible!

What do you do if you are barely keeping it together and people ask you how you are doing? Mariska and I offer a couple of tips of how to respond in a way that is not a lie, but does not invite a lot of probing questions.

Mariska and I talk about harassment of women again and the different ways people can feel violated. Trigger warning, episode contains a story of a person who has a violating experience on public transit.

We need to teach the 27/28 well meaning men how to Question, Support, and Interrupt to make sure that violence against women is a given that our society just accepts.

Today I went to a continuing education seminar on sexual harassment (Mariska was not invited but she knows all she needs to about this topic). It made me reflect on how situations in my life and those of my clients and former students when interrupting sexual harassment was much easier said than done. There are no easy answers here, but maybe a lens on which to view it a little differently.

In this episode Mariska and I take on the idea of being "behind" friends, and peers in the race of life. We discuss whether Jennifer Grey looked sexier before she "improved" her nose. We reveal the secret of confidence being born in the knowledge that no person has more or less value to this world than you do. I must warn you, Mariska is very passive aggressively licking her paws in this episode in a shameless plea for you to rate, review, and share the pod.

Mariska and I share our full throated endorsement for Elliot Page's memoir PAGEBOY. I toss out the names of a few other celebrity memoirs I love but I spend some time delving into what I get from a celebrity memoir that helps me in expanding my empathy and awareness for more universal experiences. We also get into the challenges of how to feel open to new love when you have survived intimate partner violence or how to approach dating when you are a person who really values intimacy with sex. There is a trigger warning in this episode because the book talks about coercive sexual situations and I make references to that.

The podcast has been on a bit of a hiatus as I have been dealing with a stressful time of my own. In this episode I share how I decide what to share with clients and the podcast audience about my life and challenges. I also share what some of the coping skills that have been helping me are.

Mariska and I share a framework we use when we are making decisions and we go through a couple of examples for clients of mine who are facing dilemmas from child support payments to supporting a sibling in addictions treatment.

Life Coach and author Colin Kingsmill visits with Mariska and me to talk about the how whole person coaching can help let go of feelings of unworthiness, develop our identity and achieve our goals.

https://colinkingsmill.com/

In this episode Mariska and I explore the challenges of being honest with doctors about marijuana use. We talk about being assertive in medical and romantic contexts and the dangers for a little old dog of staying in the moment too much.

In this episode Mariska and I announce my new email dmaiglerlcsw@gmail.com, make a plug for watching/listening to the podcast on Youtube, and talk about how I've been managing a recent bout of death anxiety by using meditation apps like Lets Meditate and Atom, exercising, and reminding myself I've been through this before. We also talk about vasovagal syncope and how one can respond to that.

Mariska and I were helping the brother of a student I lost to suicide decide if he wanted to become a public speaker to use his pain to help others. In this episode we talk about how to decide if you should share your story, and how. This episode will not be on Youtube. Currently only my episodes with guests are in the youtube feed. If you want me to change that email me to let me know.

Lately I have been wrestling with the appropriate time to push clients, question them, challenge them, encourage them, and/or just support them. As a therapist or a friend you want the people you talk to to feel comfortable and safe, but sometimes what a person needs to hear is not comfortable. In this episode Mariska and I delve into some of the challenges I have been facing in working with my clients to find what is appropriate for them each week. Sorry the audio quality is still not back to our old standards but it is improving.

In this episode we explore several of my clients who are beating themselves up for not having their lives where they want them. Mariska and I hope to give them a way to reframe and have a little less self judgment.

In this episode Mariska and I discuss some things to think about for therapists, clients, and anyone who is about to consider disclosing something or receiving disclosure of a memory that feels toxic and shameful to the person sharing it.

Mariska and I get the chance to talk to Dana Slowinski, who has been teaching me about DBT for years. Dana is the co-founder of the Family Recovery Centers: https://familyrecoverycenters.com/

This is just a brief overview of DBT to learn more: https://depts.washington.edu/uwbrtc/our-team/marsha-linehan/

When you or people you care about have had their safe space violated how do you not let yourself be consumed by anger and hate for the bullies who did it?  In this episode Mariska and I discuss the violation of the privacy of the group room of the school where I work and how that impacts the kids who see that space as a refuge.  Lots of references to my favorite movie It's a Wonderful Life.  

Ever wonder what a therapist is thinking after a client discloses that they made a suicide attempt?   Mariska and I talk through my feelings after a recent disclosure.  

In this episode Mariska and I talk to author and support group leader Steve Wilson about living with bi-polar disorder for decades and how he has used his experiences to help others by leading support groups.  It inspires me to see Steve's 50 year marriage and dedication to maintaining his mental health hygiene.  

A link to his book:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/teetering-on-a-tightrope-steven-w-wilson/1142967489

Mariska and I were elated to talk with Nate Gates host of Altered States of Context podcast, to talk about misconceptions and things to consider at the intersection of mental health and psychedelics.  I am a genuinely big fan of Nate's perspective and feel like I always learn a lot from him.  

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/altered-states-of-context/id1574529959

Mariska and I summarize what several of my clients have been struggling with this week including chronic pain,  chronic non-suicidal depression, and writing a victim impact statement for a judge.  We also touch at the end of a different way to view Valentines Day as perhaps a reason to celebrate the end of the HOLIDAYS.  

In this episode Mariska and I discuss some things to consider when thinking about calling Child Protective Services (or Department of Children and Family Services in Illinois 1800-25-ABUSE).  Never a fun thing to have to consider BUT if you do don't be afraid to consult with us. 

Mariska and I explore  a number of mental health topics and treatments with Erik DaRosa, co-host of the Survivor to Thriver mental health podcast.  Erik shares a great deal about his struggles with OCD, among other things, and his Equilateral Triangle of Healing with Western medicine on one side, Eastern approaches to healing on another, and nature therapy as a third (there is a reason why they call him the Ski Sherpa).  Truly a lot to learn from Erik.  

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-survivor-to-thriver/id1551758201