Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, continuing our theme of coping with holiday and family stress, host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, revisits a recent Therapy Chat episode with frequent guest Dr. Sharon Martin, LCSW. Last week Sharon shared strategies to help us feel empowered when interacting with family and during the holidays in general. This week she will teach us why expressing our wants and needs, and naming our boundaries can help us feel in control of our lives as the grown @$$ adults that we are. We can't control everything but do have autonomy and choice as adults. With mindful intention, it is possible to thrive, even during stressful times.

It's common to feel disempowered when we grew up in homes without our emotional needs being met consistently enough. However, as an adult, you have more power than you may be giving yourself credit for. No one can actually take that away from you. By focusing on what is within your control and letting go of what isn't, you can take your power back during the holidays. As we move into the New Year, learning to express your wants and needs and name and hold your boundaries is something that you can learn. Sharon's recommendations shared in this episode can help. Sharon will give some great tips on why it can be hard to set boundaries, why they're important, and how to do it.

Dr. Sharon Martin, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in codependency recovery with an online practice serving California residents. For the past 20 years, she’s been helping perfectionists and people-pleasers overcome self-doubt and shame, embrace their imperfections, learn to set boundaries, and reclaim their self-worth. Sharon writes the blog Conquering Codependency for Psychology Today and is the author of The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism and The Better Boundaries Workbook.

Resources

Read Sharon's blog, Conquering Codependency, on Psychology Today here.

Buy her books on Amazon here:

The Better Boundaries Workbook: A CBT-Based Program to Help You Set Limits, Express Your Needs, and Create Healthy Relationships

The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism: Evidence-Based Skills to Help You Let Go of Self Criticism, Build Self-Esteem and Find Balance.

Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes!

Thanks to Leading Edge Seminars Innovations in Psychotherapy 2023 in Cancun for sponsoring this week's episode! Want to trade five days in chilly February to learn AND play in Cancun? Then register for Innovations in Psychotherapy 2023 by Leading Edge Seminars and use code “LAURA” to save 10% on any 5-day workshop fee when purchased with a room at leadingedgecancun.com. You’ll earn CEs in the morning, then have afternoons for fun at an all-inclusive resort. Workshops by Frank Anderson, Arielle Schwartz, John Briere, and more!

Find Laura's most recommended resources for learning about and healing trauma here.

This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available.

Therapists, registration is now open for Trauma Therapist Network membership. Join a compassionate and skilled group of trauma therapists for weekly calls focused on Self Care, Case Consultation, Q&A and Training. Three levels of membership are now available and Canadian therapists can now join! Group practice owners, we have special offers for you as well!

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