Each and every day we have different portals that arise along the path. Uncomfortable spaces that we step into - often with meaningful experiences on the other side.

Although the pull to avoid the portal is strong - Bryan explores, in this episode, the importance of having the courage to step in. He talks about how it often leads to living a life in alignment with what's most important to us.

Bryan explores creating space for our thoughts, emotions, and sensations in our bodies - the idea of "showing up" before we feel ready - and much more.

As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Have you ever felt like the constant need to "heal" and "grow" sometimes pulls you away from living life in the present moment?

We're exploring this in today's episode.

In this conversation with Dr. Anastasia Ristau, Bryan talks about finding that balance of doing the "deep work", and also noticing when we might be slipping into the mentality that we constantly need to be "fixed".

Dr. Anastasia Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.

If you live in Minnesota and are interested in working with Bryan, click here to set up a free 15-minute mental health therapy phone consultation with him.

As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

This episode is intended to help anyone experiencing the impact of infertility feel less alone.

In this week's episode, we're hearing the story of Beth Anderson. Beth opens up about her experience with infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, which has included seven miscarriages over the past four years - and also the birth of her beautiful baby boy.

Beth shares what the journey has looked like for her and her husband Nate, how the experience has shifted the way she lives her life, what has felt supportive from other people along the way, and much more.

As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Expressing his mental and emotional experience through drawing has been a healing outlet for Justin Jordan-Lake. He's now sharing his art through "The OCD Blog", providing light for others living with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Justin about his OCD journey, his approach to recovery, the intention behind "The OCD Blog", and much more.

You can follow "The OCD Blog" on Instagram: @theocdblog.

As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

What does it mean to be gentle with yourself?

In the fast-paced world we find ourselves in, it can sometimes be hard to cultivate a sense of gentleness towards ourselves. Bryan explores this more deeply with Dr. Anastasia Ristau in this week's episode.

They discuss how "being gentle" may look different for everyone, how a gentle action towards ourself may vary depending on what we're experiencing in the moment, and much more.

Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist, and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.

As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Many people with OCD experience obsessions related to God, spirituality, and their faith. Reverend Katie O'Dunn is helping bridge the gap between spiritual traditions and effective treatment for OCD.

In this episode, Bryan talks to Katie about religious and moral scrupulosity and how it can manifest for some people living with OCD. She also talks about how she is reframing effective OCD treatment as a spiritual practice, and how she's seen therapy help people deepen their relationship with God. Katie also shares her own personal journey of living with OCD.

Katie is an ordained minister and interfaith chaplain. She is also the Founder and Director of "Stick with the Ick", and lead advocate for the International OCD Foundation. Katie shares that running is a spiritual practice for her and - as an endurance athlete - she is working towards running an ultra marathon in every state to raise awareness about OCD.

Follow Katie on Instagram: @revkrunsbeyondocd Visit her website here.

As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Learning to truly lean in, feel, and express what is arising in our body is some of the most nuanced and deep work we can step into as a human being. Especially living in a world that is often telling us to keep our emotions hidden.

In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the process of honoring our own emotional landscape. As mentioned in the episode, this conversation was inspired by this video on TikTok.

Bryan and Dr. Ristau talk about the courage it takes to trust the process when an emotion arises, holding space for others when they are maneuvering an emotion - and much more.

Dr. Ristau is a Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare.

As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

Lauren Rosen started experiencing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) when she was seven years old, and wouldn't be properly diagnosed for 17 years. She's now transformed her own journey into a career as a mental health therapist supporting people living with OCD.

In this episode, Bryan talks to Lauren about her mental health story, the manifestation of OCD often referred to as "Pure OCD", mindfulness, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and much more.

Lauren is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Founder of "The Center for the Obsessive Mind", and co-host of the Purely OCD podcast.

You can follow Lauren on Instagram: @theobsessivemind.

If you are interested in working with Bryan you can click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation for OCD & anxiety therapy in the state of Minnesota. You can also email him at bryan@stateofmindtherapy.com.

As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)