Therapy in a Nutshell

By: Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam
  • Summary

  • I’m Emma McAdam, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and my mission is to make mental health resources more easy to access. I take therapy skills and psychological research and condense them down into bite-sized nuggets of help. I’m here to spread the message that while mental illness is real, it’s common, it’s debilitating, it’s also treatable. There are dozens of research-backed approaches to treating depression, anxiety, and other mental illness. Change, growth, and healing are possible. Please keep courage! Try one little thing every day to improve your life and health and things can get so much better! Therapy in a Nutshell, and the information provided by Emma McAdam, is solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. Therapy in a Nutshell and it’s logo are Registered Trademarks of Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
    Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
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Episodes
  • The Sneaky Mental Rule that Lets your Emotions Control You
    Apr 24 2025

    Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership

    So many of us have picked up messaging that emotions are negative or embarrassing, that they need to be controlled, that crying is shameful. We’ve internalized a mental rule that says something like, “I don’t let myself feel so-called “negative” emotions, because that makes me weak.” And then, in trying to not have feelings, we accidentally let them control us.

    You can influence your feelings by how you think, how you act, and the choices you make. But if you have a rule that “you have to control your emotions” it doesn’t leave you with many options other than avoidance.

    Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell

    Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com

    Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell

    Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com

    Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books

    Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

    And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

    If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.

    Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

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    11 mins
  • How to Stop Nightmares in Adults w/ PTSD - Rescripting Nightmares with CBT for Nightmares Protocol
    Apr 21 2025

    Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership

    Nightmares are a common symptom of PTSD and can impact sleep, mood, energy, and contribute to more PTSD symptoms.

    Today I'm speaking with Dr. Joanne Davis, Clinical Psychologist on how to treat nightmares in adults with or without PTSD.

    You can find her nightmare training for clinicians here: https://cbtnightmares.org

    And her book on nightmare treatment here: https://a.co/d/9FLv4C9

    Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell

    Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com

    Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell

    Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com

    Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books

    Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

    And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

    If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.

    Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

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    37 mins
  • How to Build an Internal Locus of Control
    Apr 10 2025

    Get the FREE Locus of Control Exercise here: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/pl/2148648319

    Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership

    Locus of control refers to how much you believe you can influence what happens in your life.

    People who focus on what they can change, have an Internal locus of control. They believe that their efforts make a difference. They acknowledge what they can’t change and they focus their attention and energy on what they CAN change. And having an internal LOC has been linked with improved physical health, happiness, and better relationships.

    When people have an external locus of control, they believe that external factors like luck, fate, or other people’s actions are responsible for life’s outcomes. They tend to feel more depressed, stressed and anxious.

    But your locus of control isn’t a trait, this is a choice. This is a thinking pattern that everyone, including you, can adopt. You can learn how to shift from an external to an internal locus of control.

    Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell

    Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com

    Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell

    Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com

    Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books

    Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

    And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

    If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.

    Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

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    21 mins
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highly insightful

wonderfully helpful. keeps it simple and positive. worth a listen on your search for self discovery.

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Incredibly Beneficial

This easy to listen to and understand podcast is a useful tool in learning about and improving emotional health. I feel that applying the tips found here to my own life is helpful to me as well as people around me. Recommended for anyone wishing to improve their mind (and body) as well as their relationships.

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Life Changing

I have been in therapy for the most part of 20 years, and I have learned more from Emma than any therapist I’ve worked with. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

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She is so informative!

I really like TIANS. I learn a lot every time I listen to one of the podcasts. I also watch Emma on Youtube. She is a very smart and very helpful therapist but also seems like a really nice person.

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Good tips!!

Emma McAdams is easy to understand and I can't wait to implement the tips!

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An Outstanding Mental Wellness Resource

I've been listening to Emma on Spotify and YouTube and I was thrilled to see her content on here as well. It's rare to get access to such a high quality resource without paying a ton of money for it. I work in mental health and I feel inspired by every episode. This podcast is helping me to help others. Thank you Emma!

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These podcasts are life changing.

The mental health assistance I've received from my medical provider (Kaiser) has been a total failure. Thanks to podcasts like this, I am well on the way to self-healing. I learned about Emma on YouTube, and it gave me the motivation to listen and learn more about my BPD, which snowballed into a deep dive into many aspects of psychology and mental health disorders. Emma's videos and podcasts brought me to a place I never thought I'd reach again. I couldn't be more grateful. I'm 51 years old and attempted suicide over a year ago. Now, for the first time in the past 20 years, I feel like I want to live to see what's around the corner.

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What a great podcast!

Emma is so informative and easy on the ears and brain. I have learned so much from her podcasts!

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