When many people lean on you for emotional support, who do you lean on? This is a question that caregivers and members of the clergy wrestle with every day. US Army Lt. Colonel Rebecca D'Angelo, speaks to Liana about how military clergy face the challenge, with information that caregivers can model in their own lives.

There is a loneliness epidemic uniquely affecting men.

Why do men have fewer friends than women - and how does that affect their relationships, self-worth and potential for success? Also... why do men have fewer friends than women?? Liana talks to game designer James "Grim" Desborough of Postmortem Studios (post-mort.com) as they explore answers for these difficult questions.

Wanting attention for accomplishments, actions, outfits or just for being you is a normal healthy human desire. Everyone needs validation now and then. Narcissism is when wanting attention crosses into needing attention - and that's not good. Liana lays out a list of what separates a healthy appetite for attention from the unhealthy cravings of narcissism.

Liana gives tips for building up confidence, toning down panic, and preventing social media brain worms with her Top Ten sayings! Plus, Adam Hodgins of Hillside Church and the GoFigure YouTube channel shares his tips on how to stay positive on bad days.

Liana takes a question from last week about a painful bullying experience as a child. The dialogue moves to reclaiming oneself and self-ownership. Guest Arlene Roze talks about the fundamentals of self-ownership, and a Gen X trans woman calls in because she just doesn’t fit in with local LGBTQ+ groups! Plus: How to stop social media from making you upset and depressed, using Liana’s Top Ten! Send questions to @NotTherapyShow on Twitter and Instagram!

It's Not Therapy Episode 1 - Let's Talk About Stress!

Guest: Jason Bradshaw, Peel District science educator, 2021 Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence Recipient talks to Liana about stressed out students!

Listener questions include how to handle your inner critic, boundary busting parents, and sexual frustration that's actually loneliness!

How we measure success or failure depends on our core values. So what are your core values? That's not the easiest thing to define. Liana is joined by Marianna Lead, founder of Goal Imagery Coaching Academy and author of the book Me, My Brand And Why, to help you name the personal values that guide your life.

"So, what are you saying?" That's a question people get asked, but also one we should be asking of ourselves. Are we really delivering the message we intend, or has it gone (maybe horribly) awry? Communication errors plague everyone at some point, so Liana takes us through easy ways to get our message across more effectively and avoid misunderstandings.

Introverts Unite! Believe it or not, Liana - Youtuber, podcast host, peer counselor and former TV personality & pin-up model - is an introvert. It is possible for introverts to navigate and succeed in a world built for extroverts and communications expert and NYU educator Nancy Ancowitz, the author of Self-Promotion for Introverts (a Quiet Guide for Getting Ahead) will share strategies on how you can do it. Nancy should know - she's an introvert too.

It's as simple as this - You Matter. It's not your job, your family, your income - your value is inherent from the day you were born. So why do so many of us struggle with feelings of worthlessness? Psychologist Dr. Julie Radico, author of the forthcoming You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health First-Aid Book, talks to Liana about why we matter and how to break through the relentless messaging that tells you otherwise.

Validation - recognition that our thoughts and efforts have value - is essential for healthy self-esteem. Yet we're exposed to so much messaging that is invalidating, it's hard to fight it...but you can do it. One of the groups facing greatest public invalidation is trans people, and Liana speaks to Aquila, a military veteran and bi-racial trans woman, about how she grappled with and overcame a lifetime of racial and gender invalidation. It's a very timely story that is emotional and uplifting.

The rising tide of homophobia and transphobia has made 2SLGBTQ+ people targets of surging intolerance, and nobody knows that better than Fae Johnstone. Fae is a trans woman and advocate whose face appeared on a Hershey chocolate bar celebrating International Women's Day which brought her waves of hate and derision. Why do some people fear trans men and women, and what's it like being the focus of such public abuse? Liana talks to Fae about her experiences and perspectives, some of which may surprise you. Sign up for Rainbow Days of Action or get information at https://www.momentumcanada.net/

We all do. Our buttons get pushed, our emotions take over. But our attempts to defend ourselves often lead to offending others. And do we really need to defend ourselves? Liana walks us through the pitfalls that add fuel to an argument and some tools to use to get better results.

According to psychotherapist and author Dr. Avrum Weiss, there's one relationship men have in common that controls their relationship with women - and most don't even know it. Liana talks with Dr. Weiss, author of Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men's Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships about exactly that.

According to some experts, we're living in the age of narcissism. It's even been called an "epidemic". So...what is narcissism, really? How do you spot it, deal with a narcissist or find out if you are one? Jeremy Sherman, Ph.D., a self-described 'Jerkologist' and author of the book What's Up with A**holes?: How to spot them and stop without becoming one talks to Liana about...well...his book title says it all.

Canada's first female mayor, Dr. Charlotte Witten, said “Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.” With respect to Dr. Witten - yes, it really is. Dated perspectives often punish women for the very thoughts and behaviours men are celebrated for. But this isn't a man vs woman issue as award-winning expert in women's leadership and former corporate CEO Megan Della-Camina takes us through the facts as contained in her forthcoming book, Women Rising: The Forces That Hold Us Back and The Tools To Help Us Rise

They're Shaping Your Brain! But it's not as terrifying as it sounds! Liana talks with Branding expert Matt Johnson, author of Blindsight: The (Mostly) Hidden Ways Marketing Reshapes Our Brains, about how your brain's mental shorthand guides you to make decisions you aren't aware you're making - and how companies use this to influence our thinking. 

We live in an identity-obsessed age and a lot of us are exhausted by it. However, how we define ourselves determines our self-worth, self-esteem, and awareness of others. But putting together our self-concept isn't like following assembly instructions from IKEA. Liana dives deep into her own difficult, heart-breaking experiences to show how the good, the bad and the ugly helped her find out who she is.

Connections - In our digital world, opportunities for human connections are growing scarce - especially if you're shy, anxious, uncomfortable in crowds or socially awkward. Yet those human connections are what keep us feeling...human. Liana talks to Bobby Calloway, an actor/writer/filmmaker and content creator for Better With Bob? on YouTube, on how he forges these connections despite his quiet nature, autism and social anxiety.

When Mental Health Complicates Consent
The Perfect Storm: dishonesty, violating consent, borderline personality disorder, gender issues and complex sexual politics - therapist "Poppy" and her partner Zena navigated all this together over one Christmas break. Liana hears their story, which is heartbreaking and, ultimately, uplifting.

When applied to old dark houses or Scooby-Doo villains, we know what the word 'creepy' means. But what does it mean when it's weaponized against men and women? It can lead to ostracism, fear, and worse. Liana talks to It's Not Therapy community facilitator Jake about how & why 'creepy' is perceived, why it's become so powerful a word, and how to handle it when you get labeled.

Boundaries are emotional 'guard rails' that can make us feel secure, happier, and more fulfilled. Liana uses her personal experiences to illustrate how to establish better boundaries and why they are essential for our mental well-being... even when people react terribly to them.

Within today's political battles and social media landscape, it seems that lying is on the rise. And not even good lies, but obvious ones! Liana delves into the different motivations for lying (they're not all bad), how to confront possible liars, and how to handle it when you've been caught lying! Also - Jedis!

Racism and bigotry are making a comeback - or at least, they're speaking much louder. We know that millions of Canadians face overt prejudice every day, but do we know what that feels like? Liana talks to award-winning Canadian-Chinese author Derwin Mak about the overt and subtle anti-Asian ignorance he's faced for decades and how he deals with it. Plus, how not to hate...Hate.

'We're in this together' - Mental illness affects not just the individual, but their friends, loved ones, and especially their partner. Dr. David T. Culkin, co-author (with his wife Michaela) of OCD and Marriage, has had obsessive-compulsive disorder throughout his ongoing 28-year marriage. Liana talks to David about the need for honesty, respect, and compromise in a partnership with someone with mental health challenges.

Really, you're not! But you *are* facing a difficult life challenge that has you feeling overwhelmed. Liana talks to psychotherapist Jennifer Gerlach, author of the Psychosis & Mental Health Recovery Workbook, about how to overcome your overwhelm and live a better life.

It's the 100th episode! Liana uses her Top 10 Sayings to share what she has learned from her discussions with expert guests about mental health recovery, the strengths & weaknesses of mental health systems and treatments and the essential role of peer counseling.

Mistakes are inevitable, but they don't have to be insurmountable. Liana shares personal stories of her own mistakes, how & why she compounded some, and learned to turn mistakes into something positive. Hear how childhood trauma, parents, friends, and our work & home environments can influence what mistakes we make and how we process them - and how to turn those mistakes into fuel for positive growth.

Over the holidays we're encouraged to be grateful for what we have, and sometimes, that's not a request, it's a demand. While feeling sincerely grateful is good for mental health, no one ever feels gratitude by force. Liana goes through where the lines are, and why gratitude can become resentment when it's not freely given.

Sometimes life isn't fair. So what do we do? Liana takes listeners through the science of how the brain responds to unfairness, and how to deal with it like a hero instead of a villain!

Prejudice and bigotry are common human failings, even among those who have experienced both. Liana talks to Gila Munster, a Toronto drag performer and charity fundraiser, about how antisemitism in the LGBTQ+ community motivated her to develop a greater sense of self and desire to help others.

Howie Mandel, the star of TV's America's Got Talent and Canada's Got Talent has been open about his mental health challenges. Liana talks to Howie about normalizing caring for our mental health in the same way we care for our dental health. Plus, Liana goes in-depth on her Top 10 Rules for checking in with your best self.

Shame. It's something that touches, and damages, us all. Liana shares her raw, honest, personal battle with shame and its childhood origins and talks to Tina Schermer Sellers, PhD, author, licensed marriage and family therapist, and certified sex therapist about how to overcome shame that stunts our self-worth, infects our relationships and hurts our intimate and sexual connections.

Processing negative emotions is a learned skill... that a lot of people don't learn!
Liana talks to psychology researcher Richard Contrada, Ph.D. of Rutgers University about how to channel being sad, angry, disappointed, ashamed, or dejected into tools for positive change.

Vincent Van Gogh created many of his greatest masterpieces while in a psychiatric hospital. Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson wrote classic hits while dealing with mental illness. The list goes on. Some believe that the creative impulse and mental health challenges often go hand in hand. In this episode, Liana talks with James 'Grim' Desborough (https://post-mort.com/), UK tabletop game writer and artist, about how he manages the relationship between his depression and his creative work.

The first thing to understand about Autism - there is no one-size-fits-all way to understand Autism. It's called a 'spectrum' for a reason. It's a different way of viewing the world, not a disease, so Liana and Ingrid, an autistic friend, offer some primers to help you understand your neurodivergent friends, family, and colleagues.

"What if I F up?" It's a fear that stops conversations before they start. Beginning a conversation can stir up multiple "What if?" anxieties - but relax! Breaking the ice is easier than you think! Liana and Kevin Bennet, PhD, professor of social-personality psychology, talk about how you can overcome the pre-conversation jitters.

The media feeding frenzy and intra-party backstabbing that forced US President Joe Biden to withdraw his candidacy for the 2024 Presidential Election wasn't just politics - it was a profound example of our society's long-standing prejudice against older people. Award-winning U.S. author and psychiatrist Dr. Ravi Chandra joins Liana to uncover just how deeply ageism affects us all... and what we can do to course correct.

"So what?" Those two words have the power to free us from the anxiety, fear, and dread that keep our lives stuck in a bad place. Author and psychotherapist Richard Joelson joins Liana to relate how he helps his clients cope with and overcome obstacles and live happy, fulfilling lives.

Performance psychologists coach elite athletes to win championships by working as a team. Alex Auerbach, performance psychologist for the Toronto Raptors, joins Liana to talk about how he approaches high-level well-being, resilience, and teamwork in a highly competitive environment! Plus: why Liana utterly hated group work in school.

If your understanding of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) comes through how it's presented in the media, then you don't really understand OCD. Liana talks with Sophia Florence, a comedian with OCD, about how it impacts her daily life and the strategies she's developed to deal with it.

A leopard can't change its spots - but can we? Are our personalities anchored in our past or can they evolve..and if so, what factors will contribute to the evolution? Liana talks to Glenn Geher, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and director of the Evolutionary Studies program at the State University of New York at New Paltz, about the influences that affect our personality development and the pros and cons of 'personality tests'.

Religion can deepen our understanding of the human condition and of ourselves - except when it dissuades the critical thinking and education required to achieve it. Liana speaks to author Rabbi Michael Harvey (www.rabbimichaelharvey.com) about how blind religious faith can lead to misconceptions that prove harmful to ourselves and others.

The series on why smart people do stupid things continues! Ever feel like a phony? That you're not nearly as good as people think you are - and any day now, you're going to be exposed? If so, you're not alone - Imposter Syndrome can get to anyone. Liana talks to impostor syndrome expert Dr. Wendy Boring-Bray (https://wendyboringbray.com/) about how we can break free of this mental trap.

We all have to fake it until we make it sometimes, but the things we pretend to be to cover up our insecurities can get out of control. Men's issues expert Jeff Perera of HigherUnlearning.com joins Liana to talk about why some men's egos control their lives, with sometimes disastrous results.

Why do smart people do dumb things? Often it's because faulty thoughts reinforced by our internal dialogues lead us to make faulty decisions. Liana talks with award-winning psychologist and author Dr. Jeff Nevid about how taking charge of our inner voice leads to clearer thinking and better results.

Guns in America is a hotly debated topic, often generating more heat than light. Liana is joined by Aquila, a 3-tour US army veteran who explains the different types of US gun owners, the real facts behind American gun deaths and offers, as a gun owner, a perspective on the role of guns in American society that is rarely accorded serious consideration in the media.

Excuses. We've all made them. But when they become a pattern, they cause more problems than they solve. Liana talks to life and business coach Denise Lee, a survivor of incest and substance abuse, about how she faced facts and took back control over her life.

It's just a fact that all of us harbour some kind of prejudice. It doesn't need to be based on things like religion or ethnicity, it may be as small as attitudes toward movie genres or sports teams, but it's a part of the human condition. Where does it come from? Liana takes a journey through how to recognize prejudice, find its source, and disarm it within ourselves... and how to deal with being on the receiving end of it from others.

Achievements should bring us satisfaction and confidence, but in our 24/7 culture, the drive to succeed can become like an addiction that requires constant and ever-bigger hits. Award-winning educator Jason Bradshaw returns to talk to Liana to talk about toxic attitudes about 'success' and how to get off the hamster wheel.