How often do you give yourself permission to rest? If your answer is “not very,” listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, as host Elizabeth Cush and Jordan Maney talk about the importance of stepping away from it all.

“Do I want to betray myself over and over and over again by not communicating [my needs]?”
— Jordan Maney

Yu can fnd the resoucres and show notes for all the episodes here.

If you have a hard time speaking up for yourself, listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, as host Elizabeth Cush talks with Acharya Shunya about her new book, Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful.

“I hope that all of our listeners understand that the universe wants them to be empowered.”
— Acharya Shunya

You can find the full show notes and resources for #19 and all episodes here- https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

Does your inner critic point out all the reasons why you shouldn’t do something? Does your perfectionist chime in in agreement? If so, you may find yourself missing out—or pushing yourself harder and harder. Ultimately you wind up feeling unfulfilled and/or overwhelmed. Many women struggle with their perfectionism and their inner critic. They find it hard to take care of themselves—or even to be kind to themselves. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., and a mid-life women’s life coach, looks at the inner critic, perfectionism and lack of self-care through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS), otherwise known as “parts work.” She explains the role of each and shares insights from her own personal journey and explains how you can use a practice of self-compassion to calm those parts and create a better relationship with yourself.

“Our inner critic and perfectionist parts interplay in such dramatic ways that sometimes we don't even recognize what's happening.” — Biz Cush

Find the full show notes and resources for this and every episode here.

If “perfect” is getting in the way of the good in your life, listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, as host Elizabeth Cush and Bianca Kesha Hughes talk about how to avoid the pitfalls of perfectionism. 

“Once we can connect to who we are, embrace and see ourselves, that's where fulfillment comes from.”
— Bianca Kesha Hughes

You can find the full show notes and resources mentioned in the interview here.

Someone wise once said, “Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.” Listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, as host Elizabeth Cush and Nicole Lewis-Keeber, the Business Therapist, talk about reliving past traumas in our work lives.

“There's wisdom in those younger versions of me about what it is I need to pay attention to, or heal, or recognize in this moment.”
— Nicole Lewis Keeber

You can find the resources and show notes for this and every episode here.

If you’ve been told that you’re “too sensitive,” this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast offers some important insights. Listen in as Elizabeth Cush talks about what it means to be a highly sensitive person.

“In order to take care of yourself, it's important to honor your sensitivity.” — Biz Cush

You can find the resources mentioned and show notes for this and all the epsiodes here.

Whether you’re caught up in the corporate rat race, struggling to build a business of your own, or juggling too many balls in your household, there’s a better way. Listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, as host Elizabeth Cush and coach/consultant Sandra Halling talk about finding harmony between self-care and getting stuff done.

“When it comes time to decision making and prioritization, I think trusting your instinct is really important.”
— Sandra Halling

You can find the full show notes and resources for this and all episodes here.

Are you going through life just by checking the boxes, hoping to do everything right so nothing goes wrong? Listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth Cush and SoulTour founder Tara-Nicholle Kirke talk about transforming your life and living big dreams.

“Something happens when spirit enters human form and enters this material world.”
— Tara-Nicholle Kirke

You can find the full show notes and resources mentioned in episode 13 here.

Are you missing important messages? In this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast, Elizabeth Cush talks about Internal Family Systems (IFS) and how to hear what your parts are trying to tell you.

“Somatic IFS can help our bodies communicate and heal those wounds without words.” — Biz Cush

You can find the full show notes for this and every episode here.

Do you have trouble saying “no”? What could the trees tell you if you stopped to listen? In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth Cush and author Natalie Lue talk about the liberating power of that two-letter word.

“’No’ does not have to feel perfect. It doesn't have to feel easy. It just needs to be true.”
— Natalie Lue

You can find the show notes and resources for this and every episode here.

What could the trees tell you if you stopped to listen? In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, you’ll hear host Elizabeth Cush and Dr. Amanda Kemp talk about life transitions and listening to the world’s wisdom.

“What my True Self said, is, ‘Amanda needs to stop everything.’”
— Dr. Amanda Kemp

You can find all the resources and full show notes here- https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

Do you take taking a walk for granted? In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, listen in as Elizabeth Cush and author Marjorie Turner Hollman talk about walks and other miracles.

“You can't prevent terrible things from happening. But you can choose to say ‘No’ to things that otherwise you're just doing because….”
— Marjorie Turner Hollman

You can find the full show notes for this and every episode here.

Let’s just say it: The holidays can be hard. If the season gets you stressed out, listen to this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast. Listen in as Elizabeth Cush shares a guided meditation to help you get grounded.

“Meditation gives me an opportunity to spend time with my inner world.” — Biz Cush

You can find the full show notes and resources here.

If you’re not exactly where you want to be, this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast just might help you get there. Listen in as Elizabeth Cush talks about her experience with vision boarding and how it could help you on your journey.

“If all your energy is going into an area that you would prefer it not to, what can you let go of?” — Biz Cush

You can find the full show notes and resources mentioned in the epsiode here.

Do you trust your intuition? In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Dawn Kohler, an author and executive coach, for a conversation about learning to listen to messages.

“Our soul is always trying to heal the split between who we truly are and how we live and think about ourselves.”
— Dawn Kohler

You can fund the full show notes and resources mentioned in this episode here- https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

Are you in a healing profession? Or a helper at heart? Taking care of others can be tremendously rewarding—but it can also leave us feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. It doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., and a mid-life women’s life coach, talks about some of the factors that can contribute to a feeling of burnout and how realigning our energy with our values can bring us closer to our authentic selves. She’ll share her own experiences and insights, and she’ll guide you through an exercise designed to help you cultivate that alignment. You’ll also hear from Kristen Boyce, a therapist and host of the Close the Chapter podcast, on what it means to be a wise woman and her words of wisdom for mid-life women.  

“If we can bring more intentionality to the things we do, that can help us live in more alignment with our values from a place of knowing.”

— Biz Cush

You can find the full show notes and resources here- https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

Could you spend three years in silence? In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes the venerable Lobsang Chunzom, a Buddhist nun, for a conversation about the power of listening.

“When we silence, we hear so much more.”
— Lobsang Chunzom

You can find the full show notes and resources here.

Or copy and paste this link in your browser- https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

Wouldn’t you love a life that feels truly authentic? In this of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Kelle Sparta, a transformational shaman, for a talk about finding out who you really are.

“True transformation happens when you combine the energy world with the personal growth world, and the wellness piece.”
— Kelle Sparta

You can find the full show notes and resources here.

Biz Cush welcomes you back to the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast and shares what’s in store for Season 3.

“We're all wise women, and we can all cultivate the qualities of wise women.”

— Biz Cush

The full show notes for this episode can be found at — https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

Listen in to the replay of Elizabeth Cush as she shares thoughts about the sacred knowing that rests within our bodies—and how to learn to listen to what it’s telling us.

This is a replay from January 2022. You can find the full show notes for this episode here.

 “We are born with this innate, wise self that is attuned to our bodies.” — Biz Cush

This is a replay of my conversation with Marisa Goudy from January of 2019.

We often tell ourselves that our stories aren’t important, that what we have to say isn’t enough or that we don’t have the tools or the words. We forget that we live in a world surrounded by language and that words are our birthright. In this episode Biz and Marisa Goudy, a writing coach and story healer in New York’s Hudson Valley, talk about the importance and the benefits of telling our stories and how writing can be a powerful tool for self knowledge and healing.

You can find Biz's coaching website here.

This week we're replaying a conversation I had way back in 2020 with Jennifer O'Sullivan.

We talk about yin yoga, mindfulness, IFS, Chinese medicine and more!

You can find the full show notes here.

In this replay of my conversationwith Sharon Martin we talk about boundaries, setting healthy boundaries and taking care of ourselves.

The episode originally aired in February of 2022.

You can find the full show notes to the the episode here.

This is a re-release of my interview with psychologist, Kristin Neff.

We talk about fierce self-compassion and how it can help us be better advocates, stand up to injustice and embrace our anger in healthy, helpful ways.

You can find more episodes on self-compassion in my Spotify playlist.

Listen in as Elizabeth Cush wraps up Season 2 of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast and looks ahead.

“Really being there in the moment with women from all over the world has been so great.” — Biz Cush

You can find the show notes and resources for this and all episodes of the AYWW podcast here!

https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

 “When we change the energy of the house, it's listening.”
— Patricia Lohan

You can find all the resources for this episode and the podcast here.

“It was a journey into coming home to the truth of who I am.”
— Donna Bond

You can find the show notes and resources for this episode and others here.

https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

“In that first moment, my heart told me there was something more to reality than my mind had really experienced.”
— Marjorie Woollacott, PhD

You can find the full show notes, resources here.

“Those feelings are telling you there's something wrong and they're screaming at you.”
— Becca Ribbing

You can find the show notes and all the resources for episode 17 here- https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

You can find all the resources and show notes here.

Listen in as Elizabeth Cush expands on the discussion of boundaries over the two most recent episodes and adds her own insights.

 “Boundaries and trust go hand in hand.” — Biz Cush

You can find the show notes, resources and all the episodes here- https://elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

“My energy is my number one sign that the boundaries are off. I'm not holding the boundary for myself or somebody else. It's my tell.”
— Kristen Boice

You can find the show notes and resources for this week's, and all the podcast episodes here.

 “We are born with this innate, wise self that is attuned to our bodies.”

— Biz Cush

You can find the sign-up for the free coaching session giveaway, and the show notes for this and all the episodes here.

You have until February 28, 2022 to apply, so get on it! I'll begin scheduling  times soon!

Things we van work on:

• Life transitions
• kinder self-talk
• healthier boundaries
• taking better care of you

I can't wait to talk to you!

You can apply here- https://bit.ly/FREEWithBiz 

If you dread sneezing or plan the day’s activities with an eye on access to bathrooms, listen to this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Julie Blamphin for a frank discussion about your pelvic floor and what you need to do to enjoy leak-free laughter and sex without pain.

“This is our primal female power, this area of sensuality and sexuality.”
— Julie Blamphin

You can find the episode show notes, resources and contact information here.

Listen in as Elizabeth Cush shares thoughts about shame and how to keep it from holding you back in the New Year.

“I love seeing women grow and bloom and step into themselves in ways they didn't think were possible.” — Biz Cush

You can find the full show notes and resources here.

If your thoughts are on your to-do list when you’re in a conversation, you owe it to yourself and those around you to listen to this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Terri Lonowski, founder of Soulful Listening™, for a conversation about how we can connect more deeply.

“We as humans are at our best when we feel seen and heard and supported by others.”
— Terri Lonowski

You can find the full show notes and resources here.

If you’re a highly sensitive person in a high-powered career, this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Melody Wilding to talk about her new book, Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work.

“Your sensitivity, your ambition—that combination is a tremendous strength.”
— Melody Wilding

You can find the full show notes and resources here.

Listen in as Elizabeth Cush shares her experience with gratitude during this season of Thanksgiving.

“I'm grateful for a full life and an open heart. And I'm really grateful for stretchy pants.” — Biz Cush

You can find the full show notes and resources  for episode 7 here.

How do you handle conflict—with your partner? Family members? Friends? In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Risa Ganel about why the role of conflict in relationships is important—and healthy!

“All relationships have conflicts. It's not just inevitable. It's essential. It's necessary for growth and for building intimacy.”
— Risa Ganel

You can find the full conversation, resources, show notes, and links right here!

Listen in as Elizabeth Cush journeys deeper into the Internal Family Systems model as a way to tap into Self energy.

“When we're stepping into a new environment, or doing something that's a little bit out of our comfort zone, parts show up that maybe we weren't aware of.” — Biz Cush

You can find the full show notes, resources and more at AwakenYourWiseWoman.com

Too many women focus all their energy on others and don’t stop to take care of themselves. If that sounds familiar, this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman is for you! Elizabeth Cush talks about how coaching can help—if you ask.

“Taking care of others is what I do best. And yet, when it comes to taking care of me, it takes effort.”
— Elizabeth Cush

You can find the show notes and resources for this episode, and

all other  AYWW episodes here  

And you can find Woman Worriers episodes here

What are you afraid of? What are you avoiding? Keeping hidden? In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Keri Nola—known to her clients as the Queen of Abundance or the Shadow Mama—about bringing your gifts out of the shadows and into the light.

“As we bring light to these dark spaces, we reclaim our gifts.”
— Keri Nola, the Shadow Mama

You can find the resources and full show notes at AwakenYourWiseWoman.com

Are you at war with your inner critic? Maybe it’s time for a different approach. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Michelle Richardson about making friends with your critical parts.

“Often our parts, even critical parts, are actually trying to keep us safe in some kind of a way.”
— Michelle Richardson

You can find the show note, resources and links to Biz and Michelle at AwakenYourWiseWoman.com

If you want to live your best life, tune in for some exciting news. Elizabeth Cush, founder of the Woman Worriers podcast, introduces her relaunch of the podcast as Awaken Your Wise Woman. 

“For me, embracing the Wise Woman means that we are also awakening all parts of ourselves and bringing them into our lives.”
— Elizabeth Cush

You can find the full show notes and resources at AwakenYourWiseWoman.com

Over the past three years, the Woman Worriers podcast has touched the lives of women all over the world. In this week’s episode, host Elizabeth Cush shares exciting news about the future.  

“I feel like the podcast is growing up.” — Elizabeth Cush

You can find the full show notes and resources for episode 166 here.

Is this point in your life everything you expected? Are you prepared to handle everything that changes in midlife? If not, you’re not alone. Learn more in this episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Colleen Rosenblum and Bridgett Biagi Garratt, co-hosts of Hot Flashes & Cool Topics, a podcast changing the outdated narratives for midlife and beyond.

“Bridget always says one of the greatest joys we’ve gotten is when women say, ‘I feel less alone in your group or listening to your show.’”
— Colleen Rosenblum

You can find the full show notes and all the resources for episode 165 here.

What do you need right now? If, like so many other women, you can’t answer that question, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Dr. Julie Hanks to talk about learning to identify what you need and want and then to ask for it without guilt or shame.

“Assertiveness is about treating yourself as an equal with others and taking ownership of your well-being while respecting others’ differences.”
— Dr. Julie Hanks

You can find the full show notes and resources from our conversation on episode 164 here.

If your inner critical voice heaps on the shame every time you make a mistake, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush talks about learning how to understand and embrace your critical parts so you can lead a fully authentic life.

“As I learned to hold firmer to my boundaries and speak to myself in a more compassionate way, that critical voice has quieted.” — Elizabeth Cush

The full show notes and resources can be found here!

If you’ve ever thought, “A part of me wants to…, but another part of me…,” you’ve already had a glimpse of what Internal Family Systems (IFS) is all about. Learn more in this episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Michelle Glass for an insightful discussion of the IFS model and how it can help you heal.

“Many of our parts are literally stuck in the past in those scenes of trauma or attachment wounding.”
— Michelle Glass

You can find the full show notes and resources for episode 162 here.

If you have trouble speaking up for yourself, do yourself a favor and listen to this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Kristin Neff, a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research and author of the new book Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power and Thrive.

“Women who can be firm and express themselves authentically are happier and more satisfied.”
— Kristin Neff

You can find the full show notes and resources for episode 161 here- https://www.progressioncounseling.com/woman-worriers

How do you feel when you say “No”? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks about the difficulty that many women have with boundaries—and why it’s so important to set healthy boundaries for yourself.

“When I don’t hold true to the boundaries around my own needs, I’m telling myself I don’t matter.”

— Elizabeth Cush

You can find all the show notes and resources for episode 160 here.

Where do your own needs fall on your priority list? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks about how coaching can help you learn to start taking care of yourself.

“I was trying to take care of other people instead of just pausing and listening to what I needed.” — Elizabeth Cush

Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., and a mid-life women’s life coach, talks about her own journey of discovery around the importance of self care. She shares about how she came from a place of not knowing what she needed or whether she’d be cared for to a better place, where she can not only trust that she knows what she needs, but she can prioritize herself—and shares insights into how you could takes steps on your own journey to self care.  

You can find all the resources and full show notes here!

If you are looking for a deeper connection with yourself, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Yolanda Williams, host of Reiki Radio, for a discussion of reiki, meditation and self-compassion.

“Essentially you’re allowing yourself to be this conduit of universal life force energy.”
— Yolanda Williams

If you’ve ever walked into a room and sensed tension without anyone saying a word, you’ve already experienced how emotion impacts energy. Chances are, you’ve felt it in your own body, even if you didn’t recognize what it was, much less what to do about it. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., and a mid-life women’s life coach, welcomes Yolanda Williams, a certified medical reiki master, for a discussion of the Japanese energy practice of reiki and its benefits. They explore the intimate relationship between mind, body and life force; and how the practices of reiki, meditation and self compassion can help rebalance blocked energy so your body, your mind, your emotions—and your life—can flow more freely.

You can find all the show notes and the more episodes of the podcast here!

What fears are holding you back? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Silvije Gurung, a business and life coach, for a discussion on changing your mindset around fear so you can move forward.

“We’re really afraid to put ourselves out there, to really show our value and to give ourselves voice.”
— Silviye Gurung

You can find the full episode and show notes here.

Resources:

Baloo Weighted Blankets
Sounds True- books and courses
Celebrate the Pelvic Floor course and membership

Soothi Leather Journals and Accessories

Does your inner critic start ask you questions that start with “Who are you to…? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks about therapy, coaching and imposter syndrome.

What role does writing play in your journey? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Sez Kristiansen, an author and spoken word performer, who talks about how poetry and journaling have helped her heal.  

“There’s a cathartic process of taking some sort of pain within yourself and manifesting it into something.”
— Sez Kristiansen

Find Elizabeth Cush life coaching here.

The full show notes and resources are here.

Whether you’re an accomplished artist or you’ve never picked up pencil or paintbrush, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Reina Lombardi for a conversation about the benefits of art therapy.

“It’s through creation that we experience meaning-making in our lives.”
— Reina Lombardi

Find the full show notes here- Woman Worriers.

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to walk away from the 9-to-5 grind? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Elizabeth Grojean, who shares her story of Bali, weighted blankets and how she found her bliss in launching a new business venture.

“I found everything I was looking for in that process of stepping back.”
— Elizabeth Grojean

Do you feel fulfilled? Have you ever asked yourself what you really want from life—and then taken the time to find the answers? It might take you to surprising places, often places beyond what you ever would have imagined for yourself. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., and a mid-life women’s life coach, welcomes Elizabeth Grojean, founder of Baloo Living, a sleep and wellness brand that was partially inspired by her sabbatical in Bali. They explore the journey to self-discovery and healing, messages that resonate and the power of women’s entrepreneurship. They also talk about Baloo Living’s flagship product, eco-friendly weighted blankets, and what they might do for you.

You can find the full show notes and resources here.

If your life is all about busy-ness, you may be losing touch with you. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush, Psychotherapist and Women's Life Coach, talks about Being instead of Doing.

“We’re so good at Doing but not so great at Being.”

— Elizabeth Cush

Are your days rich and full, or are they just busy? Do you have so much to do that you don’t have time to just be? So many of us get caught up in always doing for others that we lost touch with who we are and what we need—and we don’t leave ourselves the time we need to get in touch with those answers. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., and a mid-life women’s life coach, talks about the need for down time. She shares about her experiences as a highly sensitive person and a trauma survivor who can easily be triggered and how she has learned to get grounded. She also offers a guided meditation designed to help you take time to reset and start to learn how to feel comfortable with becoming quiet within yourself.

You can find all the show notes and resources here.

What do you do if you know you need to change your relationship with alcohol, drugs or other substances, but the 12-step emphasis on spirituality doesn’t resonate with you? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Adina Silvestri, talk about hypnotherapy and other resources to support recovery from addiction.

“If you’re always saying ‘I’m an addict’ or ‘I’m an alcoholic,’ then there’s really not a lot of room to grow or change.”
— Adina Silvestri

This is a stressful, traumatic time. Isolation helps reduce the spread of the coronavirus, but it comes at a cost. Many of us are turning to old survival skills, reaching for a drink or a drug or something else outside ourselves to cope. People are struggling with addiction or relapse, and overdose deaths are skyrocketing. If you feel yourself falling back into old patterns, know that you’re not alone and that support is available. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Adina Silvestri, EdD, LPC, a certified clinical hypnotherapist and host of the Atheists in Recovery podcast, for a conversation about the role of trauma in addiction and the work of healing old wounds. They also talk about hypnotherapy and other alternatives to 12-step programs and explore science and spirituality in recovery.

The full show notes for episode 151 can be found here.

You get nervous before get-togethers but enjoy them once you get there, at least for a while. Could you be a highly sensitive person and an extrovert, too? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Patricia Young, talk about life as a highly sensitive extrovert.

“Being alive is messy and complicated and we can lean into the pain and we can lean into the joy.”
— Patricia Young

When you were growing up, you might have felt like a misfit. Now, you might feel life’s ups and downs very intensely. You might process things differently, on a deeper level. Sound familiar? You might be a highly sensitive person (HSP). It’s a trait we usually associate with introverts, but that’s not always the case. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Patricia Young, a social worker, coach and host of the Unapologetically Sensitive podcast, who is herself a highly sensitive person who also happens to be an extrovert. They talk about therapy and coaching, introversion and social anxiety, being highly sensitive and balancing stimulation, healing old wounds and coming to understand the gifts you have to bring to the world.

You can finds the full episode here-  https://www.progressioncounseling.com/woman-worriers

More tools and resources:

Resources and Products:

Baloo Weighted Blankets

Sounds True- books and courses

Celebrate the Pelvic Floor course and membership

If you’ve lost yourself a little, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush shares some good news that could help you find your way back home.

“What if we could define ourselves by the things that bring us joy?” — Elizabeth Cush

Do you define yourself by your roles: Mother, partner, daughter, worker, friend? Many of us do it to such a degree that we lose touch with our selves and the things that bring us joy. It doesn’t have to be that way. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., talks about her journey back to self and how she is sharing her insights with other women and supporting them on their search for fulfillment through a new coaching practice that will be available to help podcast listeners across the country find a new way of being with themselves. 

Find the full show notes here- https://www.progressioncounseling.com/woman-worriers

No matter where you are on your inner journey, this week’s episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Jac O’Keeffe for an enlightening conversation about spirituality and mental health.

“I think all living beings have some unspoken depth, exquisiteness, oneness…. Something that can be trusted.” — Jac O’Keeffe

Each of us follows a unique path to our inner knowing. One woman’s journey took her from an Irish Catholic upbringing to theology school, from atheism to therapy and finally to a deep spirituality that is both transcendent and very relevant to daily life. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes that woman, Jac O’Keeffe, an author and spiritual teacher with a unique style for a conversation about how spirituality can support our mental well-being and inner growth. They talk about authenticity, the difference between religion and spirituality, living a spiritual life and building a toolkit to help us manage our anxiety to move to a place of peace.

You can find out more at WomanWorriers.com

If you’ve ever felt adrift, this week’s episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush and Sarah Wong talk about being adopted, anxiety and the journey to reclaim her Self.

“I didn’t have myself anchored to anything. That was an outcome of lack of self-identity.” — Sarah Wong

Have you always known exactly who you are? Not everyone does. Adoption can make a finding a strong sense of self-identity even more challenging, and unanswered questions can be a source of anxiety. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Sarah Wong, a career advisor and founder of Metamorphosis101, who shares about how her therapy for her anxiety led her on a transformative journey to connect with her biological family, unlocking a part of herself she never knew existed.  She also talks about how the journey taught her the importance of boundaries and how she uses mindfulness, breathing techniques and daily self-care routines to help manage her anxiety so she can help others transform their lives.

You can find the full show notes here- womanworriers.com

If the pandemic has kept you at home for the past months, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush provides a change of scenery with a mindful beach walk visualization.

“Doing a little visualization might be a nice change of scenery, even if it’s just in your mind.” — Elizabeth Cush

Whether we’re trying to stay out of winter weather or avoid getting sick, many of us have been staying home a lot. If you’ve been living and working within the same four walls, stressing out about helping kids with distance learning, or maybe just tired of looking at the same surroundings day in and day out, a little change of scenery might be in order. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., offers a safe way to get away to a place of peace and calm. She guides you, moment by moment, through a mindful visualization of a walk on the beach, with all its sights, sounds, smells and sensations of the seaside and the lessons we can learn from the ocean.

Find the full show notes here- http://womanworriers.com

Do you sometimes have trouble speaking up for yourself? Then listen in on this week’s episode of Woman Worriers as host Elizabeth Cush and Talia Bombola, known as The Confidence Coach, talk about how women can learn to be more assertive.

 “If you lose a relationship over being yourself, isn’t that a good thing in the long run?” — Talia Bombola

Listen and learn:

• The misconception about therapy that might be keeping many people from living their best lives
• Why it can be more effective to get into therapy before you think you need it
• How to know when you should reach out for help
• Why assertiveness and setting boundaries are usually harder for women
• The two very different types of people who can benefit from learning how to be more assertive
• How—and why—learning dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills can benefit teens—and help their parents, too
• The impact of a changing culture on women’s assertiveness
• The small verbal and written habits we have that might be sabotaging our ability to get what we need
• Why we should worry less about the “B” word
• What setting boundaries is really all about
• How to negotiate for what you need without getting into a fight
• The important connection between clear communication and assertiveness
• What to ask yourself when you’re afraid to speak up for yourself
• Why timing matters
• How practicing self compassion can help with confidence
• Which books and workbooks can help you get more insight into the skills that can help you to be more assertive, set healthy boundaries and negotiate for what you need

Find the full show notes here- http://womanworriers.com

If you’ve ever worried about money, this week’s episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin for a healing conversation about financial anxiety.

“We have to stop shaming women for having money and for being proud of having money.” — Lindsay Bryan-Podvin

Money, the song goes, makes the world go ‘round. So why do so many women struggle with it—talking about it, asking for it, being honest about spending it? Money is woven into so much of our lives and yet how often do we talk to our therapists about our money worries? Instead, we listen to the money stories we’ve learned and the mixed messages we get about women and money. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., talks with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, a Michigan-based financial therapist, speaker and author, about the emotional and psychologist side of money. Listen to their insights about personal finance and mental health and how they intersect with race, gender—every aspect of our lives, and how women as individuals and as partners can learn to relate to money in a healthy and effective way.

Find the full show notes and resources at womanworiers.com

If your anxiety didn’t disappear with the New Year, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Hosts Elizabeth Cush talks about how mindfulness can help you get through the winter.

“How can we feel more grounded and present in our lives through the rest of the winter?” — Elizabeth Cush

Listen and learn:

• How you can feel more grounded and able to handle anything that comes up
• What mindfulness does and why it can help us feel less anxious
• How to get started with mindful journaling—and what kinds of things you might write
• Where to find journaling prompts specifically designed to help you manage your anxiety
• How to ground yourself by taking a mindful moment
• A quick trick that can bring more mindfulness to your day in only a minute
• How to listen mindfully—whether you’re outdoors or staying inside out of the cold.
• How to open up all your senses on a mindful winter walk

You can find the full show notes here-  https://www.progressioncounseling.com/woman-worriers

If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t find the words to express your anxiety, listen to this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Tori Press, creator of the popular Revelatori cartoons on Instagram and author of the new book I am Definitely probably Enough (I Think): Revelations on the Journey to Self-Love.

“The person who needs to accept me is me—and that’s where all the work of therapy has been.” — Tori Press

What’s going on inside you right now? Sometimes it’s hard to find the words. Sometimes it’s just hard to know. Therapy can help—but we can get insights from creative activities, too. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., interviews Tori Press—artist, author and anxious person—who left a career in graphic design and picked up a sketchbook and a set of markers. Today, her lighthearted cartoons about her experiences with mental health struggles and more have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers to her Instagram page, Revelatori. In this episode, she talks about how drawing has helped her explore her thoughts, gain insights and process feelings—and also what she has learned about therapy, living with anxiety and learning to love herself.

Find the full show notes at womanworriers.com episode 142

Do you wince a little when you get out of the shower and look in the mirror? Listen to this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Rebecca Scritchfield, a dietitian, exercise physiologist and author of Body Kindness: Transform your health from inside out and never say diet again.

“People cannot hate themselves healthy—and shame doesn’t make anyone healthier.” — Rebecca Scritchfield

We don’t always love the way we look. Sometimes we beat ourselves up over what we eat. It’s no wonder, when society puts so much emphasis on how much we weigh. Worrying about our weight and trying diets that don’t work can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., interviews Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN, EPC, a well-being coach, registered dietitian nutritionist, ASCM-certified exercise physiologist and author. They talk about her Body Kindness® book, explore how our critical and shaming parts show up around food, eating and body size, and share insights into we can incorporate the Body Kindess mentality and practices into our daily lives.

Listen and learn:

• How the Body Kindness philosophy came about and the three pillars that support it
• Why we shouldn’t be focusing on weight loss
• What you need to know about your body, your anxiety and your inner parts
• Whether being healthy means losing weight
• How today’s diet culture got started and how it keeps going
• When medicine adopted the war on obesity
• Why thinner people aren’t necessarily healthier
• The relationship between capitalism and the weight-loss culture
• Why a healthy lifestyle needs to include more than food
• Why most diets don’t work
• Why we have to separate health and well-being from weight loss
• How listening to your burden parts might help you make the lifestyle changes you want to make
• How journal prompts can help you take action, get creative and explore options
• Why starting with very small goals can sometimes get you better results
• Where to sign up for a free program to get started on the path to Body Kindness

Find the full show notes @WomanWorriers.com

If you’ve ever wondered about journaling, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Hosts Elizabeth Cush talks about the hows and whys of journaling and offers some tips for getting started.

“Journaling has helped me manage my stress and anxiety.”

— Elizabeth Cush

Do you have a dear diary, or do you find the prospect of journaling too daunting? Want to give a try, but don’t quite know where to start or what to say? Or why it’s even worth pursuing? In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., shares her own journaling experiences—how it felt to review journal entries written at a different point in her life and how her practice of journaling helps her manage the stress and anxiety during the pandemic. She also provides tips on how to get started using journaling to consciously reflect on your life.

Find the full show notes and all the episodes here- https://www.progressioncounseling.com/woman-worriers

We're re-releasing our most downloaded episode of 2020! Are you really at the mercy of your hormones? Find out in this episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush interviews Dr. Sarah McKay, neuroscientist and author of The Women’s Brain Book: The Neuroscience of Health, Hormones and Happiness.

Find the Full Show Notes here!

How can you celebrate when you’re so worried? That’s a question a lot of us are asking this holiday season. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush offers tips for finding joy during the holidays and throughout the winter.

Quotes:

“It’s hard to imagine that this year will finally end.” — Elizabeth Cush

“How do we bring ourselves back from this sense that everything is screwed up?” — Elizabeth Cush

“We have to work toward shifting our focus to the positives.” — Elizabeth Cush

“So how do we shift our perspective from the negative to the positive?” — Elizabeth Cush

“We no longer have wild animals stalking us, so our brains find other things—everyday things—to see as dangerous.” — Elizabeth Cush

“We can acknowledge the negative and be more attentive and attuned to the positives in our lives.” — Elizabeth Cush

“By intentionally shifting our focus, we can change our mood.” — Elizabeth Cush

Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are over. We’re heading toward Christmas, Kwaanza and New Year’s. Do we celebrate? Or do we dread the three months of winter that begin in the Northern Hemisphere this week? The stresses of the holidays and the cold, dark days of winter can make it easy to get stuck in negativity, especially this year. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., explains why we’re hardwired to worry and why we don’t have to let our natural tendencies toward negativity take over our holidays—or any other time. She also shares five easy practices you can use to shift your focus from negative to positive, to improve your mood and to find everyday joys in being alive. 

Listen and learn:

• Why this year might feel more messed up than usual—and why it doesn’t matter
• Why we naturally tend to notice and remember negative things
• What our “tigers” often look like today
• How we can manage our instinct to focus on the negative so we don’t stress out so much
• Whether focusing on the positive makes you naïve or in denial
• Why we continually need to practice shifting our focus
• 5 simple suggestions for bringing more hope, joy and positive feelings into your life

The anxieties and uncertainties that so many of us have felt this year have hit immigrant communities especially hard. In this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Carmen Román, talk about supporting and building resilience in the LatinX community—with insights that can apply to all of us.

Quotes:

“My parents were the listeners of the community.” — Carmen Román

“Choosing a psychologist is like choosing a good, comfortable pair of shoes, because you are going to walk in the path of growth so you want that comfortable company.” — Carmen Román 

“Choosing a psychologist is like choosing a good, comfortable pair of shoes.” — Carmen Román

“What I am seeing with my clients is a lot of uncertainty.” — Carmen Román

“The Latino community is really struggling.” — Carmen Román

“It really took us all by surprise to be feeling that unsafe in this country.” — Carmen Román

“This year has been hitting us hard—all of us.” — Carmen Román

“It’s a time to feel companionship. Podcasts give you that companionship.” — Carmen Román

“Another resource that is very valuable in this time is the application Insight Timer.” — Carmen Román

A pandemic that disproportionately affects Hispanic and Black communities… A surge of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States… Political turmoil… Economic pressures… And wildfires raging through California. To say it has been a challenging year doesn’t even come close. And yet the members of at least one Spanish-speaking support group have faced the year with gratitude and joy. This week, Woman Worriers podcast host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes the facilitator of that group, Carmen Román, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist licensed in California and Mexico. They talk about the anxieties facing the LatinX communities, and Román shares her insights and observations about how therapy and peer support builds the kind of resilience that enables individuals to survive and thrive while facing adversity.

Listen and learn:

• How a casual invitation led to a life-changing decision for a college applicant
• The importance of listening in a community
• What to look for in a therapist
• Why naturalized citizens are feeling anxiety similar to undocumented immigrants
• The increased stressors that service workers face
• How people who had two years of therapy responded to participating in a group that formed when the pandemic lock-downs began—and how their experience differed from individuals who had less time in therapy
• What kinds of activities the group engaged in and what opportunities for communication they explored
• How group members learned to obtain services, even when faced with challenges
• How gratitude and a sense of perspective support resilience
• How traumatized individuals who had only had some therapy responded to the challenges posed by the pandemic
• The surprising observations that Román made about technology use and health and how they differed among groups
• How learning what others are experiencing can help us feel grateful, even when we’re in a difficult situation
• Some concrete ways to build resilience
• What transference of knowledge is and how it can help you move forward
• Why podcasts can be so helpful right now
• Where to find mental health resources in English and Spanish
• Where to find a free seven-day course on emotional freedom

If you’ve lost a loved one and feel like you can’t get on with your life, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Sonya Lott, talk about “complicated” or prolonged grief, integrating your feelings of loss and finding your way to joy.

If you feel like something’s not quite right with you life but you can’t put your finger on it, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Michelle Dixon, talk about developmental and preverbal trauma and how bodywork and talk therapy can work together to help heal these early wounds.

Quotes:

“The first thing I notice as a bodyworker is what I call armoring, or muscle tightness, in different parts of the body that can’t be explained through injury, illness, etc.” — Michelle Dixon

“When you bring your attention to the body, it can be pretty magical.” — Michelle Dixon

“Emotion is so embedded in memories and the connectivity of all of our memories and how they create this tapestry and then we make meaning of them.” — Michelle Dixon

“There’s something in there they can’t quite articulate; they’re having a body reaction that doesn’t make sense.” — Michelle Dixon

“That ‘right now’ moment is the window to all of the other moments that connect to the feeling you have.” — Michelle Dixon

Show Notes:

Some people have painful recollections of childhood. Others may remember their childhood as happy, but as adults feel like something is not quite right, like they don’t have a right to be here or that the world would be better off without them. That’s because some wounds occur before we have the words to understand or describe them. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Michelle Dixon, a trauma specialist and mindfulness coach who takes a holistic approach to recovery, which includes releasing trauma from the body. They talk about developmental and preverbal trauma, how to recognize it and how to heal it.

Listen and learn:

• The meaning of a “somatic approach” to therapy and why it can be helpful
• What preverbal trauma and developmental trauma are and why they have such an impact on our lives
• Why talk therapy alone sometimes isn’t enough—and how to know you might need something more
• Why you might not have painful memories of past trauma
• How unremembered trauma might show up in your life today
• Why a sense of worthlessness might signal that you may have experienced trauma before you learned to talk
• What de-armoring is and the different traditions of de-armoring for emotional release
• How the native American tradition of de-armoring is carried out today
• How bodywork and talk therapy complement and balance each other
• Different types of bodywork
• Why old traumas are surfacing and resurfacing during the pandemic
• What to look for in a bodyworker and where to find one
• Where to find a free emotional detox program to help you through the holiday season

This week the United States celebrates Thanksgiving. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks about having a mindful holiday—no matter how you spend it.

Quotes:

“There were a few Thanksgivings where I felt I could not go home.” — Elizabeth Cush

“The differing messages about how we should handle the holidays … can create a lot of

“It’s OK to be extra safe this year.” — Elizabeth Cush

“Be mindful of the things you’re thankful for.” — Elizabeth Cush

Show Notes:

Does Thanksgiving bring to mind fun, food, friends and family? Or does it conjure conflict and complications? Maybe COVID separations? No matter how you answer those questions, you’re not alone. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., shares her feelings about Thanksgiving, as well as some intimate memories and hopes for this year’s holiday. She also offers some thoughts on staying safe, support for support for setting boundaries if you need to, and tips for using mindfulness to reduce stress so you can feel the gratitude and find meaning in the day.

Listen and Learn:

• Why not everyone looks forward to Thanksgiving
• How this year’s holiday might be difficult even for those who aren’t experiencing family estrangement
• Different ways that different people are celebrating Thanksgiving this year, and why that might cause some stress for you
• Why it’s especially important to honor your boundaries this year
• Some things that might be on your gratitude list
• How to use mindful awareness if you’re struggling with the holiday—or even if you’re not
• Big news soon to come from Progression Counseling and Woman Worriers

Learn More

> Guided meditations from Progression Counseling

> Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women

> Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter

> Progression Counseling

Explosive emotions. Dysfunctional relationships. Self-harm and even suicidality—all can be hallmarks of borderline personality disorder (BPD). In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Rebekah Shackney talk about the challenges of living with BPD and offer hope for recovery through mindfulness-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Quotes:

“A lot of the maladaptive behaviors that people with borderline personality disorder use are just ways of dealing with crisis.”
— Rebekah Shackney

“People who are in such pain want to feel better.”
— Rebekah Shackney

“Being emotionally sensitive is part of your make-up but you can learn to adapt to it.” — Rebekah Shackney

“When women are expressing anger and emotional volatility, they’re usually turning it inside, doing something to harm themselves.” — Rebekah Shackney

“’Personality disorder’ sounds like there’s something wrong with your personality, when really it’s a trauma-based disorder.”
— Rebekah Shackney

Borderline… Narcissistic… Anti-social… Personality disorders can be an especially challenging and misunderstood mental health diagnosis, both for sufferers and for those around them. Fortunately, a mindfulness-based approach called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been shown to be effective in treating people with personality disorders. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Rebekah Shackney, LCSW, who uses DBT to help clients manage their distress, regulate their emotions and interact more effectively with others. They talk about what personality disorders are and the stigma surrounding them, how they are rooted in trauma and why the behaviors associated with personality disorders are so difficult to change. They also explore the unique story of how DBT was developed and how (and why) it can help people overcome the pain of living with a personality disorder.

Listen and learn:

• Why Marsha Linehan developed Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• The purpose of each of DBT’s four modules of treatment
• Why distress tolerance is so useful for people with a personality disorder
• Why women with borderline personality disorder often resort to self harm, like cutting
• Why women with BPD can be so emotionally volatile—and how DBT helps with emotional regulation
• How DBT helps people with personality disorders get their needs met more effectively
• The role of mindfulness in DBT
• Why DBT is not a quick solution
• The characteristics of personality disorders—and how they come about
• Different types of personality disorders—including the one that women are diagnosed with most often and why
• Conditions that are necessary for effective treatment
• The role family groups play in personality disorders—and what it takes to interact more effectively
• Why relationships with individuals who have a personality disorder can be so difficult—and how to help
• The importance of empathy and overcoming the stigma and shame of personality disorders and other mental illnesses
• Where to find resources and the latest information on personality disorders

> Rebekah Shackney Psychotherapy on Facebook

>  A Therapist Takes Her Own Advice podcast

> A Therapist Takes Her Own Advice Season 1 Episode 13: Unraveling Anxiety with Elizabeth Cush

> A Therapist Takes Her Own Advice on Facebook

> A Therapist Takes Her Own Advice on Instagram

> Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech website

> New York-Presbyterian’s Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center

> National Educational Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder

> Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter

> Progression Counseling

Can you be powerful and feminine at the same time? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Cherie Burton, talk about feminine leadership and finding wholeness within yourself.

Quotes:

“There were seasons that I was drowning in motherhood and knew I needed something different.” — Cherie Burton

“Things of the earth are what ultimately help us heal.” — Cherie Burton

“If you look at Mother Nature, there’s volcanoes and earthquakes and hurricanes and tsunamis…. She’s pretty badass.” — Cherie Burton

“That’s part of radical self compassion: not tolerating injustices.” — Cherie Burton

“We are experiencing collectively, as women, anger and hurt for being maligned for millennia.” — Cherie Burton

“The number-one thing is the cheapest most effective, safest and most broadly acceptable thing—and that is your breath.” — Cherie Burton

“I’m all about simplicity. A confused mind doesn’t act.” — Cherie Burton

Show Notes:

Marriage... Family... Career… Why is it that so often we can “have it all” and still feel empty, anxious and depressed? Could it be that we are looking in the wrong direction for fulfillment? In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Cherie Burton, whose credentials include author, holistic psychologist, emotional release facilitator, leader of feminine empowerment programs and host of the Women Seeking Wholeness podcast. They talk about feminine leadership—its challenges, its power and its potential to change the world—and how holistic healing can help us manage our anxiety and depression, balance our strength and stay centered.

Listen and learn:

• How a woman with a family history of bipolar disorder changed her trajectory
• What the world looks like through the lens of the divine feminine.
• How the earth can heal us
• Tools that can help resolve unhealthy family patterning
• Why yoga can be so useful for centering
• Why women so often struggle with feeling centered in leadership roles
• What Nature teaches us about power
• How to balance our masculine energy
• What it means to be a strong woman
• Why your breath is so important
• How you can learn to embrace yourself as you are
• The role of the senses and how to get a free multi-sensory healing “look book”
• Where to take a crash course in goddess confidence and finding your “soul-preneur” path

Resources:

> Cherie Burton’s website

> Cherie Burton: Women Seeking Wholeness on Facebook

> Cherie Burton on Instagram

> Women Seeking Wholeness podcast

> Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter

> Progression Counseling

If news headlines make you want to bury your head in the sand, listen to this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush talks about getting grounded in an uncertain world.

Quotes:

“Right now the world does not feel very safe.” — Elizabeth Cush

“There’s so much that needs to shift and change and so much resistance to change.” — Elizabeth Cush

“The uncertainty is going to be there.” — Elizabeth Cush

“How can you be with the world?” — Elizabeth Cush

“As women we can be in this together.” — Elizabeth Cush

“Take care. Be safe. Find support.” — Elizabeth Cush

EPISODE 131

Show Notes:

When will the COVID-19 pandemic come to an end? What will happen to LGBTQI and women’s reproductive rights under a conservative supreme court? Will people of color ever be able to feel safe around the police? And the big question: who will win the U.S. election? In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., explores the anxiety that so many of us feel when we consider a world of social distancing and social injustice in a divisive political climate. She talks about the power of women to effect change and how we can ground ourselves and learn to feel safe despite the uncertainty we live with all the time. 

Listen and learn:

• Why the world might not feel safe right now
• Why the thought of approaching winter might feel especially daunting
• What’s contributing to our sense of unease about the future
• Why a single defining moment probably won’t make everything better
• How we can find a way to come back to ourselves in times of uncertainty
• How we can find strength in connection

Learn More

> Guided meditations from Progression Counseling

> Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women

> Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter

> Progression Counseling

What do you need right now? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks about the importance of creating space to connect with yourself, especially when you are feeling stressed or anxious.

Quotes:

“It’s really important for us to have enough space in our daily living in order to know how we’re feeling.” — Elizabeth Cush

“Social anxiety can keep us from living our best lives.” — Elizabeth Cush

“Just ask yourself what’s going on.” — Elizabeth Cush

“Oftentimes our bodies can be our early warning system.” — Elizabeth Cush

“I sat with that feeling of ‘Maybe there’s more to this. Maybe this really isn’t about the weather.’” — Elizabeth Cush

“When I DO let the fear rule what’s happening, then I feel bad.” — Elizabeth Cush

Think about your day. How often do you pause to check in with yourself? Most of us don’t make a habit of pausing to consider our physical or emotional needs at any given moment—and yet that pause can be a powerful tool for helping us manage our anxiety. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., explores the benefits of pausing to connect with yourself in order to get in touch with your needs. She talks about how you can incorporate the pause in your own life and shares her personal experience with using the STOP technique successfully when she was experiencing social anxiety—and how you can use it to feel more grounded and present and show up more authentically for your life.

Listen and learn:

• Why creating space for yourself in your daily life matters
• How we might mask social anxiety and use coping mechanisms with negative consequences
• How social anxiety holds us back
• What “creating space” means and how it might look for you
• What the STOP acronym stands for and how you can use it to create space for yourself
• Questions that might be helpful to ask yourself when you are trying to tune into your body and your emotions to understand what is really going on in the moment
• Why listening to what our body is trying to tell us takes so much practice—and why it’s so important
• What unraveling social anxiety might look like
• How to figure out when it might be most helpful for you to make space for yourself
• The kinds of insights you could gain by creating space to connect with yourself
• Why you shouldn’t beat yourself up for feeling anxiety or fear
• How pausing to connect with yourself can ultimately lead to having more meaningful moments in your life

Learn More

> Guided meditations from Progression Counseling

> Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women

> Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter

> Progression Counseling

If all your “stuff” is sapping your energy, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush interviews Michael Spencer, a Virtual Home Energy Coach, about how to declutter your home to make space for what really matters.

Quotes:

“You get to have a much better understanding of yourself and the things that you choose to carry with you in your life.”
— Michael Spencer

“I was able to root into my soul and say, ‘Yes, I want this,’ or ‘No, I don’t.’”
— Michael Spencer

“I can close the door of that closet, and yet there’s something nagging.”
— Michael Spencer

“These belonging that we accumulate over time have meaning for us.”
— Michael Spencer

“We’re learning to tune in internally to what feels right to keep, what feels right to let go.”
— Michael Spencer

“It takes so much energy to keep holding that lid on.”
— Michael Spencer

“It took a long time for these belongings to accumulate the way they did, and that’s OK.”
— Michael Spencer

“There is really an inner purification that’s happening as the outer purification is happening.”
— Michael Spencer

Do you have a counter or table piled high with catalogs and other stuff that came in the mail? A closet or dresser drawer that you have to dig through to find the shirt you’re looking for? A room that makes you want to close the door and walk away? In the course of a lifetime, we can acquire a lot of stuff, and living with it can take a lot of energy and cause a lot of anxiety. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., talks with Michael Spencer, founder of Let’s Purify!, who draws on her background in mental health and mindfulness to coach people who want to transform the energy of their lives and their homes. Her unique practice of home decluttering and purifying is designed to help you better understand yourself and the things that you choose to carry with you in your life.  

Listen and Learn:

• What a virtual home energy coach does and how it’s different from a professional organizer
• Why traditional decluttering methods don’t work for everyone
• How clutter creates energy leaks and anxiety in your life
• Why calming and grounding techniques are helpful when you’re trying to deal with your belongings
• How purifying your space and aligning your home’s energy with your own can be liberating
• Why we often start to declutter, only to close the lid or the door and walk away
• Why decluttering doesn’t mean throwing out all your old stuff
• The most common reasons why we resist decluttering and how to work around them
• The relationship between shame and stuff
• How a virtual home energy coach can help you work through the blocks that are keeping you from getting started and developing a decluttering plan
• How a Mindful Walkthrough of your home can help you get clear on what you want to do
• How practicing a simple three-step purifying ritual in a small space can make it easier to address bigger projects when you’re ready
• How to identify the places in your home where the time spend shifting the energy will yield the greatest positive effects
• The key questions to ask yourself before tackling any decluttering—and how the process may change your intentions

More Resources:

> Michael Spencer’s website

> Let’s Purify! podcast

> Let’s Purify! Episode 35: When a “Micro Area” of Your Home Is Massively Aggravating! (And How to Shift It)

> Let’s Purify! Episode 65: A Three-Step Daily Purifying Ritual

> Let’s Purify! on Instagram

> Let’s Purify! on Facebook

> Subscribe to the Let’s Purify! Holistic Declutter Coaching newsletter

> Progression Counseling

If you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP), chances are you have trouble finding your voice—and that can cause a lot of anxiety. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes back psychotherapist April Snow, who talks about how you can learn to trust your voice, set healthy boundaries and speak up for your needs.

Quotes:

“When you’re highly sensitive, that sensation is loud.”
— April Snow

“We start to doubt ourselves. We start to silence that inner wisdom, that intuition.”
— April Snow

“Anxiety is a big marker that you’re living a lifestyle that’s not quite in alignment with your temperament.”
— April Snow

“Because of our level of empathy, if someone else is hurting, we’re hurting.”
— April Snow

“A lot of time when HSPs are anxious, it’s just because they’re doing too much.”
— April Snow

“Saying ‘No’ some of the time is actually preserving the relationship.”
— April Snow

EPISODE 128

Show Notes:

You pick up on things in your environment—things others don’t notice. You feel much more deeply than others do. When others can’t or won’t validate your perceptions and emotions, you begin to stop trusting yourself. That’s the plight of the highly sensitive person (HSP). In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., and her guest April Snow, a San Francisco-based psychotherapist and highly sensitive person, delve deeper into what it means to be an HSP and an introvert, how being an HSP might make it more difficult to know and trust your voice, and how you can find your voice and start to learn to advocate for your needs in order to ease you anxiety.

Listen and learn:

• The core characteristics of a highly sensitive person
• Why being highly sensitive might lead you to doubt yourself and silence your voice
• What it means to be an HSP and an introvert—and why it can feel exhausting and overwhelming
• Why so many highly sensitive women experience anxiety
• Why it’s important to set limits on how much you take on—and why it can be hard to do so
• How empathy and guilt are related
• The small lifestyle changes that can make the biggest difference in easing your anxiety
• How to recognize what’s really making you anxious
• Ways to explore boundary-setting and to identify different steps you could take to feel more comfortable
• The power of the pause and the reality check
• Three things you should think about before saying “yes” (or “no”)
• Ways to get the time you need to make a decision that feels right
• How to say “No” when saying “No” feels too hard—and why it’s OK to say “No”
• How self-compassion work can help
• The benefits you can experience when you treat yourself with care and compassion

Learn More

> April Snow, LMFT, bio

> April Snow’s Expansive Heart website

> The Expansive Heart on Instagram

> The Expansive Heart on Facebook

> Simple Self-Care Tools to Reduce Anxiety + Overwhelm by April Snow

> “How to Set Boundaries as an HSP” by April Snow

> “How to Overcome Dissatisfaction in Your Relationship as an HSP” by April Snow

> The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism: Evidence-Based Skills to Help You Let Go Of Self-Criticism, Build Self-Esteem, and Find Balance by Sharon Martin, MSW, LCSW

> Self-Compassion Guided Meditations and Exercises by Dr. Kristen Neff

> Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg

> The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be Brilliant in Your Role Even When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron, PhD

> Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person by Barrie Jaeger

> The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

> Highly Sensitive Person test

> Progression Counseling

Other episodes you might enjoy

> Episode 26: April Snow on Highly Sensitive People

> Episode 42: Sharon Martin on How to Recover from Perfectionism and Find Balance

Domestic violence—especially domestic violence homicide—is not an easy topic. In this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Rachel Louise Snyder, award-winning journalist and author of No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us.

Quotes:

“ A billion people around the world are victims of domestic violence.”
— Rachel Louise Snyder

“We misunderstand the nature of domestic violence…everything from the origins of violence to the outcomes of violence.’”
— Rachel Louise Snyder on victims of domestic violence homicide

“Leaving gets them killed.’”
— Rachel Louise Snyder on victims of domestic violence homicide

“Leaving is a process. It’s not an event.’”
— Rachel Louise Snyder

 “She did not recant because she lied. She recanted to stay alive. She recanted to keep her children alive.”
— Rachel Louise Snyder, No Visible Bruises

“Something like 80%–85% of men in prison today have domestic violence, either as witnesses or victims, in their childhood (or sexual assault).”
— Rachel Louise Snyder

“Victims never recognize themselves; no one ever thinks they’re a typical victim.”
— Rachel Louise Snyder

Show Notes:

Domestic violence isn’t a private matter. It affects families, communities—all of us. And it can be deadly. It’s not an easy topic to talk about, but it needs to come out of the darkness. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., talks with journalist and author Rachel Louise Snyder about her new book, an in-depth exploration of the complex and challenging issues surrounding domestic violence and intimate partner homicide. Their enlightening and thought-provoking conversation looks at the risk of being killed by an intimate partner, signs of escalating violence, how communities can help prevent domestic violence and resources for those who are in a violent relationship themselves or know someone who might be.

• The truth around the notion that women continue to be victims of domestic violence because they don’t leave
• When women in violent relationships are at greatest risk
• Why the danger is greater because we don’t talk about domestic violence
• How domestic violence has a ripple effect that extends beyond the couple
• The most obvious indicator of potential lethality—and why it’s often overlooked
• Why an abuser’s suicide threat might be a sign of danger
• Why it’s not enough just to get the victims out
• Why we need to get past stereotypical views of “typical” victims and perpetrators
• Various strategies that communities are using to reduce domestic violence and keep victims safer
• Why it’s critically important to have open conversations about domestic violence
• When it’s appropriate to start talking to your kids about what an abusive relationship looks like
• Where to find online tools to assess risk, safely call emergency services and more
• How to approach a friend or family member who might be a victim of domestic abuse

Learn More

> Rachel Louise Snyder’s official website

> No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence by Rachel Louise Snyder

> Follow Rachel Louise Snyder on Facebook

> Follow Rachel Louise Snyder on Twitter @RLSWrites

> Danger Assessment website

> Danger Assessment tools and resources

> Lethality Assessment Program

> National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

> National Domestic Violence Hotline website and chat

>  Progression Counseling

Healing past traumas and core wounds often must come from within. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush guides you through a meditation to help you get in touch with your body.

Quotes:

“A lot of internal healing needs to come from the body.” — Elizabeth Cush

“If you’ve experienced trauma, especially sexual trauma, but any type of trauma, it’s really easy to disconnect from your body to cope.” — Elizabeth Cush

“Knowing how you’re feeling if you’re not tuned in to your body can be really hard. ” — Elizabeth Cush

“Bodywork is important but it can be very hard for trauma survivors. ” — Elizabeth Cush

“It also made me realize that my body was feeling things, noticing things, reacting to things all the time. ” — Elizabeth Cush

In recent episodes of the Woman Worriers podcast, guests Tami Simon and Thais Gibson have talked about attachment wounds and how they impact our lives and relationships. How do we heal those core wounds? Talk therapy and connecting with others can help, but some of the healing has to come from within the body. In this week’s podcast episode, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., shares her journey of healing by getting in touch with her body and what it’s telling her—and how those messages have helped her manage anxiety. She will also guide you through a progressive body scan—a type of meditation that can help you start to tune into your body with kindness and compassion.

Listen and Learn:

• The connection between being comfortable in your body and healing all your parts
• Different types of body work
• Why it might be hard to get touch with your body—especially if you’ve experienced trauma
• Why reconnecting with your body is an important part of healing
• What your body can teach you—and what it wants you to know
• The benefits you could experience by learning how to tune into your body
• Why trauma survivors might find bodywork difficult—and what to do about it
• Different ways that feelings show up in your body
• What a body scan meditation is and how to get started
• How the breath works with a body scan
• Where to focus your awareness during a body scan and what to do if it drifts
• Some of the sensations you might experience as you scan your body
• How to “return” from a body scan meditation
• How to use the knowledge you develop by doing body scans to move forward
• Where you can leave feedback on the body scan meditation
• Where to find more resources for meditation, including other guided meditations and a beginner’s guide to meditation

More:

> Other guided meditations from Progression Counseling

> Elizabeth’s “Let Go of Worry” meditation on InsightTimer

> Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women

> Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter

> Leave a voice message for Elizabeth

> Progression Counseling

Description:

If you struggle with relationships, maybe the barrier lies in your subconscious mind. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Thais Gibson, talk about retraining the brain to achieve better relationships with the people in your life.

Quotes:

“My conscious mind can’t actually out-will or overpower the subconscious mind.”
— Thais Gibson

“Attachment style is the rules we have for relating to others.” — Thais Gibson

“We need attachment to survive.” — Thais Gibson

“It’s repetition plus emotion that programs the subconscious mind.” — Thais Gibson

“The mind takes its core wounds and its fears and, at a subconscious level, it projects all those things back out.” — Thais Gibson

“All memory is colored with emotion.” — Thais Gibson

“The psyche freezes in time when we have trauma.” — Thais Gibson

“What are the stories? What is the meaning I am giving to this experience?” — Thais Gibson

EPISODE 125

Show Notes:

If you’ve ever felt that you and your partner are each following a different rulebook, you might already have some insight into the challenges that different attachment styles bring to relationships. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Thais Gibson, MA, speaker, founder of The Personal Development School and author of Attachment Theory: A Guide to Strengthening the Relationships in Your Life. They talk about attachment wounds and attachment styles and how they affect our lives and relationships. They also discuss the role of the subconscious, how it often keeps us from achieving fulfilling relationships or reinforces unwanted behaviors, and how we can learn to reprogram the mind, heal our attachment wounds and find personal freedom.

Listen and learn:

• Why we need to tap into the subconscious mind in order to create change and heal
• What integrated attachment theory is and how it differs from traditional attachment theory
• The rules we have for relating to others—and why others might be playing with a different rulebook
• What shapes each of the four attachment styles and how they look in our relationships
• Why our early experience of attachment has such a deep impact
• The connection between attachment styles and core wounds—and why the subconscious is the key to healing them
• Why affirmations alone aren’t enough to create transformation and how you can reprogram the subconscious for healing
• What the person with an anxious-preoccupied attachment style needs in a relationship
• Where the person with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style feels safest
• Why persons with fearful-avoidant, or disorganized, attachment style are often the most traumatized—and the trait the often develop to deal with it
• How the subconscious can sabotage you while trying to get your needs met
• The subconscious beliefs underlying co-dependency
• The five key components that make up an attachment style
• The importance of identifying the beliefs we have related to our core wounds
• The relationship between beliefs, thoughts, emotions and neurochemicals—and what it takes to change them
• How to speak the language of the subconscious
• Why individuals with insecure attachment styles don’t have relationships with themselves
• The importance of understanding and expressing your own needs
• Why you need to make sure your “need buckets” are full every day
• How the negative and positive associations we form determine where we turn when our needs are not met
• How to stop binge eating candy (or other go-to stress behaviors)
• How to create healthier habits when the pandemic is keeping you separate from family, friends and community
• Why digging into discomfort can provide useful feedback
• How to learn your own attachment style

Resources:

Learn More

> Thais Gibson’s Personal Development School website

> Thais Gibson on Instagram

> The Personal Development School on YouTube

> Attachment Theory: A Guide to Strengthening the Relationships in Your Life by Thais Gibson

> About Dr. John Bowlby 

> About Dr. Mary Ainsworth

> About Dr. Gary Chapman

> Progression Counseling

Sounds True is a multimedia publisher that partners with the leading teachers from the world’s major spiritual traditions. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and welcomes Sounds True founder Tami Simon for a conversation about fitting in and finding your way.

Quotes:

“I belong with other humans.”
— Tami Simon

“Right here, where you are, is Home.”
— Tami Simon

“There’s a journey, yes, from feeling like an alien to feeling like an expression of the universe that is perfectly right and perfectly on time.” — Tami Simon

“I wanted to share as many different ways to that experience—what I’ll just call Presence.” — Tami Simon

“For me, having this connection with the earth that I discovered gave me a way to feel grounded in a deeper way.” — Tami Simon

“My anxiety was a form of intelligence.” — Tami Simon

“In whatever way you feel different, or like an outsider, it’s intelligent. It’s giving you information about where your true wisdom and true fulfillment lie.” — Tami Simon

“I’m always listening for that takeaway.” — Tami Simon

EPISODE 124

Show Notes:

A religious studies major who dropped out of college, Tami Simon kept searching for the right fit. In 1985, at age 22, she started Sounds True with a dream and a tape recorder—and an intention to share spiritual wisdom. Today, the multimedia publisher based in Louisville, Colorado, offers more than 3,000 titles by teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh, Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Eckhart Tolle and others, as well as events, certification programs and transformational online learning experiences. The company is North America’s leading publisher of spoken-word spiritual teachings. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., talks with Simon about her journey of lifelong learning; some of the “aha” moments she has had with guests of her podcast, Insights at the Edge; and how serving others has been the guiding force behind Sounds True. Simon talks about her experience creating a business that aligns with her passions and also shares some unique and surprising insights into her anxiety and sense of feeling different.

Listen and learn:

• What sparked Tami Simon’s journey and planted the seeds of Sounds True
• What Sounds True offers today
• How the new Inner MBA program can help you align your work to your inner goals
• How spirituality can help heal the feeling of being disconnected or not fitting in
• The lesson that Simon learned from reading authors like Herman Hesse, Alan Watts and Ranier Maria Rilke
• The value of an embodiment practice
• How connecting with the earth’s energy can help you feel more connected and more grounded
• How the “experiment” of Sounds True grew to a successful multimedia publishing company—and the thought process behind the leap of faith
• How gratitude created a company with a commitment to giving back—and what Sounds True Foundation scholarships are all about
• What an “aha” moment is and when you can hear them in podcasts
• How anxiety, ego and groundlessness are related
• Why groundlessness isn’t a bad thing
• How anxiety and feeling disconnected can be forms of intelligence and what that intelligence can tell you

Learn More

> Sounds True website

> Woman Worriers Sounds True affiliate link (use this link to shop Sounds True and Support the Woman Worriers podcast)

> Tami Simon’s Insights at the Edge podcast on Apple podcasts

> Already Free: Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path to Liberation by Bruce Tift, MA LMFT

> Belonging Here: A Guide for the Spiritually Sensitive Person by Judith Blackstone

> Radical Alignment: How to Have Game-Changing Conversations That Will Transform Your Business and Your Life by Alexandra Jamieson and Bob Gower

> Reggie Ray’s Dharma Ocean website

> Adyashanti website

> Progression Counseling

How are you doing with self-care? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush explores what self-care is and why it matters.

Quotes:

“Maybe we’re not even recognizing that things aren’t OK.” — Elizabeth Cush

“I also learned how not to take up a lot of space; I learned to be quiet.” — Elizabeth Cush

“As a child, you knew what you needed. ” — Elizabeth Cush

“We have to re-parent ourselves to learn who we are and how to take care of ourselves.” — Elizabeth Cush

“One of the small things I like to recommend for clients is to find moments throughout your day to check in with yourself. ” — Elizabeth Cush

“Ask yourself, ‘What do I need right now?’” — Elizabeth Cush

EPISODE 123

Show Notes:

Recent episodes of the Woman Worriers podcast featuring B. Nilaja Green, PhD, and Sharon Martin, LCSW, have explored issues around speaking up, asking for help and getting your needs met. These skills are not always easy, but they are critical to our well-being. In this week’s episode, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., takes a deeper dive into self-care and why it is so very important. She talks about some of the many reasons why we might not take care of ourselves and shares some of her own challenges on her personal journey toward finding her voice and learning to ask for what she needs. Finally she shares some simple tips and techniques that you can use to tune into yourself, identify your needs, set clear boundaries and take better care of yourself.

Listen and learn:

• Why we often say we’re “fine” even when we’re not
• How we can get off from our feelings and why that makes it harder to know what we need
• How disconnecting from our feelings can get lead to anxiety and even poor coping mechanisms like abusing drugs or alcohol
• Two ways that we can “learn” that it’s more important to take care of others’ needs than our own
• How we lose touch with who we are and how that affects us
• What it takes to build back trust in yourself and your intuition
• How to look at boundaries in a positive light—and how to build healthy ones
• How life can get in the way of getting what we need
• How family patterns fit in to all this
• What we can learn from our younger selves
• Who we might reach out to as we re-parent ourselves
• A simple habit you can develop that can build a foundation for self-care
• What you need to do after you ask yourself what you need
• What to do when you can’t get what you need right now
• How self care change our relationships with others

Learn More

> Episode 121 with Sharon Martin

> Guided meditations from Progression Counseling

> Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women

> Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter

> Progression Counseling

Looking for some grounding or a moment of peace? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush guides you through a listening meditation.

Quotes:

“What I love about listening meditations is that they really bring us back to our experience right now.” — Elizabeth Cush

“This brings you outside yourself and yet tunes you in to your sensory experience, and I think that it can be really, really helpful.” — Elizabeth Cush

“Just allow those sounds to wash over you. ” — Elizabeth Cush

“Take some time to notice the sounds around you, in your environment, in your space, wherever you are in the moment. ” — Elizabeth Cush

Show Notes:

Whether you’re trying to manage your anxiety and stress or lower your blood pressure, meditation can offer many benefits. Yet some people who could benefit most—especially those who have experienced trauma—may have difficulty with body- or breath-based meditation techniques. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., offers an alternative that you might find easier—one that keeps you in the moment by focusig on a single sense. She will guide you through a brief listening meditation practice that you can do anywhere, indoors or out, sitting or standing, with eyes open or closed, any time you need to feel grounded or just need to take a break.

Listen and learn:

• A simple definition of listening meditation
• Why listening meditation may be easier body-based techniques if you have experienced trauma
• The benefits of listening meditations
• How to get started with listening meditation
• How to expand the meditation by opening your ears
• What to do if you find yourself focusing on a particular sound
• How to “come back” from a listening meditation
• Other types of sensory-based meditation that you could try
• Where to find more resources for meditation, including other guided meditations and a beginner’s guide to meditation

Resources:

Learn More

> Guided meditations from Progression Counseling

> Elizabeth’s “Let Go of Worry” meditation on InsightTimer

> Download Elizabeth’s free Mediation Guide for Worried Women

> Sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter

> Progression Counseling

If you have trouble asking for what you need, this episode of Woman Worriers is for  you. Host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, therapist and author Sharon Martin, talk about how to find your voice and why you might be silencing it.

Quotes:

“A lot of us of fall into trying to be what other people want us to be.”
— Sharon Martin, LCSW

“You can’t ask for what you need if you don’t know what you need.”
— Sharon Martin, LCSW

“The reality is that we all have needs.” — Sharon Martin, LCSW

“We need to be asking ourselves throughout the day, ‘What is it that I need?’ so that I have a chance of trying to give that to myself.” — Sharon Martin, LCSW

“People are often surprised to find that others are very willing to help them out.” — Sharon Martin, LCSW

“We have a much greater chance of having our needs met if we can directly tell somebody what they are.” — Sharon Martin, LCSW

“It’s clearly not realistic to go through life thinking we shouldn’t need anything or that we’re going to be able to meet everybody else’s needs and not be tired or not be resentful.” — Sharon Martin, LCSW

“I usually encourage people to start practicing checking in with themselves.” — Sharon Martin, LCSW

“There is a certain vulnerability in asking for something.” — Sharon Martin, LCSW

EPISODE 121

Show Notes:

If always doing for others leaves you feeling exhausted, overwhelming and maybe even resentful, you might need help. Have you asked for it? Many of us who are so good at meeting others’ needs don’t even know where to begin when it comes to our own. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes back Sharon Martin, LCSW, a San Francisco Bay-area psychotherapist and author of the Happily Imperfect blog and The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism for a discussion about asking for what you need—whether it’s help with the dishes or just a hug—why it can be so hard, how to get started and the many benefits of learning to identify what you need and to ask for it.

Listen and learn:

• The first thing most women need to do if we want to start asking for what we need
• Why it’s hard for so many women to take the first step
• Why we so often overlook our own needs—and what we need to recognize in order to move forward
• Why putting names to your feelings matters
• Why so many of us end the day by binging on TV and eating junk food
• The simple question we need to start asking ourselves that could make all the difference
• Why it’s not selfish to ask for what you need—and what can happen if you don’t
• Why you shouldn’t apologize when you ask for something
• How not asking for what you need might be affecting your relationships
• The magical thinking trap that many of us fall into
• How our perfectionism can get in the way of asking for what we need—and how social media can make it even harder
• Why getting what you need is sometimes easier than you realize
• Which needs you can meet for yourself and which you can’t
• The role our upbringing plays
• Why getting your needs met is not an all-or-nothing proposition and how you might negotiate
• What happens when someone says “No” to your request—and how to ask so you’re less likely to hear it
• The bigger questions you might want to ask yourself
• How self-compassion can help as you move forward
•  

Resources:

Learn More

> Sharon Martin’s website

> Sharon Martin, LCSW on Facebook

> Sharon Martin, LCSW on Instagram

> Happily Imperfect blog

> Feelings chart

More conversations with Sharon Martin:

Episode 17- Sharon Martin on Codependence

Episode 42- Sharon Martin On Perfectionism and Anxiety

> Progression Counseling

How does cultural experience affect mental health? In this episode of Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush interviews Dr. Nilaja Green about how the Strong Black Woman identity can be both protective and problematic.

Quotes:

“Part of what the stripping away of freedom meant was also the loss of control over the very basic aspects of life that most of us take for granted.”
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

“If I am in a position where I have to show up and do things whether I feel like it or not, and my emotions can actually be used against me, what is my choice?
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

“Sometimes the needs of other people are more immediate than your own needs, but what begins to happen is that the more that message is reinforced, the more it becomes unacceptable for you to have needs.”
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

“There’s only so long you can function not paying attention to your own needs and be in any way effective for yourself or anyone else.”
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

“This characteristic that is not functional in some places is actually very functional in other places.”
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

“How will I know when it’s time to reach out?”
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

“If I’m so used to being empty all the time, that might become my way of living and I may not know there is another way to be in the world.”
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

“Emotions are communicators.”
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

“All I see is that you have survived and continue to survive. I don’t also see what it has cost you.”
— B. Nilaja Green, PhD

Show Notes:

Sometimes strength is not an advantage. The qualities we develop to protect ourselves can sometimes cause us problems. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes B. Nilaja Green, PhD, an Atlanta-based psychologist who provides specialized trauma treatment to vulnerable populations including people of color and members of the LGBTQ community. They talk about the paradigm of the Strong Black Woman as a coping mechanism—how it arose and why it’s necessary, why it’s effective and how elements of it can negatively affect mental health, sometimes leading to depression and suicidality. They also discuss the issues that can block some Black women from getting into therapy and finding the support that could help them find relief from distress and how to access resources that feel right.

Listen and learn:

• How the idea of Strong Black Woman developed over generations, from West Africa to the so-called New World
• The core characteristics of the Strong Black Woman paradigm
• The impact of the loss of control that Black women experienced as a result of the Maafa, or Middle Passage
• How independence turns to self-reliance and how that self-reliance can stand in the way of getting relief
• The connection between communal responsibility and caretaking and how enslavement twisted the role
• How caretaking became traumatic for some Black women
• Why Black women had to learn to hide their feelings—and the fallout that some experience from that today
• The role of pride, how it can get in the way of getting the help
• How the Strong Black Women sometimes shows up in therapy—and why therapists need to be aware of it
• How looking through a lens of trauma might help therapists who work with women of color and other oppressed groups
• Why many Black women may be reluctant to turn to therapists for help
• The one factor that seems to have the strongest relationship with depression and suicidality
• When looking fabulous isn’t a good sign
• Where Black women can access resources for therapy and how they can find a therapist who might be a good fit
• How women of color—and anyone else—can get the most out of therapy

Learn More

> Standpoint Therapy website

> Dr. B. Nilaja Green on Instagram

> “Strong Like My Mama: The Legacy of ‘Strength,’ Depression, and Suicidality in African American Women” by B. Nilaja Green, PhD, in Women & Therapy

> Request Dr. Nilaja Green’s “Strong Black Women” packet

> Therapy for Black Girls

If you’ve thought of exploring alternative ways to deal with anxiety, listen in as Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush shares her personal insights into meditation, mindfulness and self-compassion for healing.

Quotes:

“I am all about how therapy can help you heal, but I think it can be a more holistic inclusive process.” — Elizabeth Cush

“I went back into therapy and began to explore how that trauma had impacted my relationships, my sense of self and my relationship with Me.” — Elizabeth Cush

“I wanted to be able to show my kids but also show myself that healing was possible.” — Elizabeth Cush

“The way for me to be a better mom was for me to know myself better.” — Elizabeth Cush

“As each step progressed I learned more about Me, and it became easier and easier to sit quietly with my breath.” — Elizabeth Cush

“I no longer feel that hole and emptiness inside me, I no longer feel like something is missing or that there’s something about me that’s different from other people.” — Elizabeth Cush

“I’ve learned that I can be my own parent.” — Elizabeth Cush

“Know that’ there’s hope that change can happen.” — Elizabeth Cush

“You can feel more connected to yourself in a way that fills that hole and allows you to live your best life and feel joy and ease and comfort in yourself.” — Elizabeth Cush

Show Notes:

Therapy is a powerful tool for self-knowledge and change. But if you want to expand your anxiety management toolkit, you might want to consider some alternative approaches. Recent guests on the Woman Worriers podcast have talked about how yoga therapy and the Pause NOW acronym, hypnotherapy and visualization, and even improvisational theater can support personal growth. In this episode, host Elizabeth Cush, LGPC, a licensed professional therapist and founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., shares about her personal struggles with trauma and anxiety, her own therapy journey and how she uses meditation, mindfulness and self-compassion to fill the emptiness inside, become more comfortable with herself and life her best life with joy and ease—and how you can, too.

Listen and learn:

• How anxiety can show up in different ways
• How therapy may not be the right fit at the right time
• What it’s like to live your life feeling empty inside—and what it takes to fill the hole
• Why it’s important to understand the impact of past trauma
• How those around us are affected when we don’t deal with our anxiety
• Why the best therapists get therapy for themselves
• How therapy can open you up to new possibilities for healing
• How practicing yoga, mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion can support the work you’re doing in therapy
• Why getting to know all your “parts” can be so powerful
• How some alternative paths to healing are about taking baby steps—and why they’re worth taking
• The first simple step toward practicing mindfulness and meditation
• How the process of building a mindful meditation practice can work—and how it lines up with getting to know yourself better
• What kinds of things you might notice if you begin to practice mindfulness and self-compassion
• How healing past trauma is the key—and why you should have hope that it can happen
• How to get a free 15-minute therapy consult and other resources

Resources:

Learn More

> More Episodes like this-

            How to Manage Anxiety Through Visualization,

            How to Unwrap the Gift of Stress ,

            Can Improv Help You Overcome Anxiety?

> Dr. Kristin Neff’s Self-Compassion website

> Center for Mindful Self-Compassion

> Insight Timer app

> Woman Worriers Group on Facebook

> Progression Counseling

If getting a handle on your anxiety seems to be taking forever, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush interviews Mahesh Grossman, a certified clinical hypnotherapist and author of The One-Minute Anxiety Solution.

Quotes:

“I didn’t even realize it was anxiety. It felt like procrastination at first.”
— Mahesh Grossman

“The basic rule of anxiety—which I call the Modern Cave Man Rule—is ‘Keep going and don’t let the anxiety stop you,’ because otherwise the brain thinks it’s winning and helping you to survive by giving you the anxiety”
— Mahesh Grossman

“The more places we go to inside ourselves, the more we have to offer clients.”
— Mahesh Grossman

“You don’t have to get rid of all the anxiety. You have to get rid of enough anxiety that you can keep going.”
— Mahesh Grossman

“Any time we flee from doing what we want to do, that’s a victory sign to the Cave Brain — so we really do have to move forward.”
— Mahesh Grossman

“We cut off a part of ourselves to be safe; the soul retrieval is a way of bringing it back.”
— Mahesh Grossman

“Sometimes you don’t need information. Sometimes you just need energy.”
— Mahesh Grossman

“It’s all OK. You always are exactly the way you’re supposed to be.”
— Mahesh Grossman

Show Notes:

Unraveling unresolved trauma and deep-rooted anxiety can be a lengthy process. Or it could be as gone in the time it takes to imagine…. If you want the answer, listen to this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast. Host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., welcomes Mahesh Grossman, CCHT, of Berkeley Hypnosis, and author of The One-Minute Anxiety Solution, who talks about his own healing journey, insights into anxiety and trauma, and how his energy practices help clients release tension and anxiety quickly by using their imagination. He also shares some of his favorite visualization practices from his book—exercises that you can use yourself to start releasing pent-up energy from old trauma and anxiety to feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Listen and learn:

• Ways you can experience anxiety without recognizing what it is
• Why avoiding the things you’re anxious about can make your anxiety worse
• Why a hypnotic trance is so relaxing
• What the connection is between trauma, emotion, energy and the body
• The 4 places in the body where energy most commonly gets blocked
• What the Fire House Technique is, what it does and why you might want to use it to start your day
• What happens in your brain when you use your imagination and why it helps lower your anxiety
• How picturing a pencil can help you explore and release unresolved trauma—or just help you fall into a restful sleep
• Why you don’t need to be able to picture anything when you are doing visualization exercises
• What a soul retrieval is and when it can be most useful
• What you can say to confront your parents about past hurts without actually confronting your parents—and why it doesn’t need to be scary
• Why hypnosis can be so powerful
• Where to find more visualization exercises for releasing trauma and tension

Learn More

> Mahesh Grossman’s Berkeley Hyponosis website

> The One Minute Anxiety Solution: 57 Ways to Lower Your Anxiety, Take Back Your Life & Get Back to Your Pre-Anxiety Self by Mahesh Grossman, CCHT

> One-Month Soul Makeover course  

> Joy In One Minute on Facebook

> Progression Counseling

Stress can drive us to do things we don’t want to do. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Stephannie Weikert, a certified yoga therapist, about simple practices that can help you overcome habits related to worry and to find what really makes you happy.

Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage.” In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews her sister, Clifford Henderson, about the parallels between improvisational theater and therapy.

Do you have a professional side at work and a personal side that you only show to family and friends? If so, you’re not alone. Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush talks about her personal journey toward recognizing all the different parts of her self and having them live in harmony.

If our role models are narcissists, what is the impact on us? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Stephanie Kriesburg about helping women who grew up with narcissistic mothers and the damage they caused.

Many of us have moments when we feel we don’t fit in—or that probably no one would understand us. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Katie K. May about her work with teens, her own healing journey and the role that groups play in both.

What’s beneath your worries? Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush shares her journey with fear and offers tools to help you cope with yours.

What does sexism have to do with women’s stress and worry? More than you might realize. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Dr. Joanne Bagshaw, a psychology professor, author and therapist, about how feminism might help improve your mental health.

A lot of women struggle with anger—some without even knowing it. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Michelle Farris, an anger management specialist, about identifying anger, expressing it safely and listening to those who are angry with us.

Addressing racism requires that white people make an effort to understand the world as people of color experience it. Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush introduces listeners to three women of color who host amazing and informative podcasts from their unique perspectives.

Can couples spend too much time together? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Rebecca Wong, LCSW, a relationship therapist, about how intimate partners are faring during the pandemic and how they can strengthen their communication and connection in these trying times.

If you’re feeling fatigued, out of sorts or even struggling to lose weight that won’t come off, this episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Dr. Erin Kinney for a discussion of chronic stress, the impact it can have on women’s bodies and how we can overcome it to begin healing.

Are you really at the mercy of your hormones? Find out in this episode of Woman Worriers, as host Elizabeth Cush interviews Dr. Sarah McKay, neuroscientist and author of The Women’s Brain Book: The Neuroscience of Health, Hormones and Happiness.

If you have ever experienced a loss, you know what it is to grieve. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Gail Carruthers, an Equine Guided Learning facilitator, who talks about grief, loss and how horses can help us process those difficult feelings.

Efforts to stem the spread of covid-19 have changed our daily lives. Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush offers some tips on using self-compassion to deal with the array of feelings you might be experiencing.

If you want to better your world, but worry that you’re just one person, this episode of Woman Worriers will inspire you. Host Elizabeth Cush interviews Eileen Flanagan, an author, instructor and activist, about how women can channel their anxiety about big issues into a powerful force for change.

Sometimes life can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Elizabeth Bonet, a clinical psychologist and hypnotherapist specializing in emotional healing, about anxiety and insomnia—and using hypnosis as a tool to manage them.

If you’ve heard of the Enneagram, or even if you haven’t, tune in to this episode of “Woman Worriers.” Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush and Tamara Powell, a therapist and empowerment coach, discuss this personality test and how to use it as a tool for self-actualization.

What do you do if you suffer from anxiety and talk therapy isn’t enough? In this episode of “Woman Worriers,” Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush and Tracy Kenela, a counselor from Olympia, Washington, discuss how the Emotional Freedom Technique and hypnotherapy might help you get unstuck.

If you’re worried about the new coronavirus, you’re not alone. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush shares her fears and feelings and offers a meditative antidote for your anxiety.

If you have your smartphone on and with you 24/7, you’re not alone. Did you know that your smartphone might be adding to your anxiety? In this episode of “Woman Worriers,” Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush and Tchiki Davis, author of Outsmart Your Smartphone, talk about how managing your digital consumption can lead to greater happiness.

If your digestive tract reacts when you’re anxious or under stress, check out this episode of “Woman Worriers.” The conversation between Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush and Nikki Kenward, author of It’s All in Your Gut, will give you insight into why you should listen to your lower abdomen and what it’s trying to tell you.

Woman Worriers is celebrating its two-year anniversary, and host Elizabeth Cush reflects on her podcasting journey, offers a book giveaway, and shares a mindful meditation with you.

If you’ve ever said, “I’m never gonna be like my Mom/Dad,” and then found yourself doing exactly what you didn’t want to, this episode of “Woman Worriers” is for you. Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Hunter Clarke-Fields, of the Mindful Mama podcast, about how mindfulness and an understanding of your generational patterns can help you be the parent, spouse and friend you want to be.

Do you feel isolated? Disconnected? If so, you’re not alone. In this episode of “Woman Worriers” Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Robyn D’Angelo, founder of The Wild Grace Collective, about women’s deep yearning for connection—with others and with self—and how to form the bonds that heal.

If you want to live in a world that is “more beautiful, bearable and bold,” this episode of “Woman Worriers” is for you. Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Marisa Goudy, a writing coach, energy healer and author of the new book The Sovereignty Knot: A Woman’s Way to Freedom, Power, Love, and Magic.

Stress can be a killer. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Jennifer O’Sullivan about using yoga, mindfulness, traditional Chinese medicine and Internal Family Systems as tools to reduce stress and manage anxiety and depression.

Whether you’re a long-time fan Woman Worriers or a first-time listener, you’ll want to hear host Elizabeth Cush shares her thoughts on how the podcast is changing to better support you in these worrisome times.

What is it like to live with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Tenisa Montgomery, a therapist who has—and treats clients with—OCD.

If you suffer from chronic pain or illness, you may also experience trauma. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush welcomes back Daniela Paolone for a discussion on chronic illness-induced post-traumatic stress disorder and how to manage it.

What’s your pet peeve? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush shares her concerns the common cultural idea that we need to “fix” ourselves with the coming a new year—and what to do instead.

Trauma survivors can get triggered in ways that feel overwhelming. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Deirdre Fay about using mindfulness and meditation to manage triggers and take care of ourselves in that moment.

This week we're re-playing the number one downloaded episode of 2019.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and under pressure, maybe you’re trying too hard to be perfect. Always focusing on others can add to your anxiety. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Sharon Martin, LCSW, talk about how perfectionism can fuel anxiety—and what to do about it.

We're rerunning the top three episodes of 2019 and this week we're sharing the second most downloaded session.

If you’ve ever said, “Part of me feels…,” you’ll relate to this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush talks with Michelle Richardson about anxiety and the “parts” of Internal Family Systems (IFS), a gentle approach to healing.

This episode was the third most downloaded episode of 2019.

Self-compassion can be a powerful tool for healing. Elizabeth Cush, host of Woman Worriers, talks about how to practice being your own best friend.

We’re heading into the holiday season. Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush offers some tips on handling the stresses that can come with it.

So many women today find themselves serving as caregivers for elderly loved ones. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Laura Vaillancourt about why caregiving can be so difficult and how to better manage being a caregiver.

Our body holds tension and even past trauma. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Danielle Ivins-Fishman about Tension & Trauma Release Exercises (TRE®) to reduce stress and anxiety.

What’s at the heart of fear? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush explores what it’s like to feel fear—and offers an antidote.

As much as you love your kids, parenting can be a struggle. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Doña Bumgarner about how ease some of your anxieties about being a mom.

What’s it like to live with cerebral palsy? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Win Kelly Charles about living and thriving with a disability.

Everyone feels anger. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush explores being angry, showing anger and why so many women find anger so uncomfortable.

You’ve heard the expression “woman’s intuition.” But what does it mean? In this episode of Woman Worriers, Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Lee Chaix McDonough, host of “Work Your Inner Wisdom,” about the power of your intuition.

If your anxiety keeps you awake at night, listen to this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush interviews insomnia and anxiety specialist Yishan Xu, Ph.D., who shares some eye-opening information about sleep and mental health.

“Family is everything,” we’re told. But what about families that cause us pain? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and Annie Wright, a therapist who specialists in complex relational trauma, talk about family estrangement and why it might be necessary.

Feelings of anxiety, emptiness and disconnect often have roots deep in even seemingly happy childhoods. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Dr. Jonice Webb about the adult impacts of Childhood Emotional Neglect.™

Mindfulness takes practice, but it’s worthwhile. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush offers techniques for practicing mindfulness to help manage stress and anxiety.

Women have sex and babies, but somehow the topic of the pelvis is rarely on the table. That changes with this episode of Woman Worriers, when host Elizabeth Cush interviews Leslie Howard about her book Pelvic Liberation.

If your period always caused unbearable pain, how would you know it wasn’t normal? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Sofia Arellano on the challenges of diagnosing and managing endometriosis.

Betrayal can be traumatic for both parties in a relationship. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Anna Osborn, a licensed marriage and family therapist, about finding a way to heal after infidelity has destroyed trust.

Stressed? Depressed? Anxious? Overwhelmed? In this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks about the importance of self care for women.

If you often feel like you live under a dark cloud, this episode of Woman Worriers may help you see the sunshine. Host Elizabeth Cush and author Linda Roszak Burton talk about how gratitude can make a difference in your life.

Are expectations making you miserable? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and Agnes Wainman, PhD, talk about how trying to live up to unrealistic expectations drives stress, overwhelm and anxiety.

If you feel guilty when you say “No,” this week’s episode of Woman Worriers is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush interviews Nicole Liloia, a women’s empowerment coach who helps women learn to set healthy boundaries and speak up for what they want and need in their lives.

Following last week’s powerful podcast on domestic violence homicide, Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush shares her personal insights into emotionally abusive relationships and their long-lasting impact.

Domestic violence—especially domestic violence homicide—is not an easy topic. In this week’s episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Rachel Louise Snyder, award-winning journalist and author of No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us.

If you wonder whether your kids spend too much time playing video games, this episode of Woman Worriers offers some answers. Host Elizabeth Cush and Dr. Rachel Altvater talk about common parental concerns regarding children and teens and online gaming.

Would you like the gift of being mindfully present? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Mari A. Lee about healing the wounds of past trauma through mindfulness and what to look for in guide on your mindfulness journey.

Thirty years ago, Vidyamala Burch began exploring mindfulness and meditation as a means of managing the pain of a spinal injury. In this episode of Woman Worriers, she talks with host Elizabeth Cush about her book Mindfulness for Women – declutter your mind, simplify your life, find time to ‘be.’

The outdoors is a perfect setting for practicing mindfulness. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush offers tips for finding mindful moments in nature.

Whether you grew up wanting a pony or know nothing about the equine world, you’ll find this episode of Woman Worriers to be fascinating. Host Elizabeth Cush talks with Charlotte Hiler Easley about horses as healers.

If you’re concerned about teen suicide, listen to this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush talks with Dr. Rachel Altvater about child and adolescent stress and suicide prevention.

If you’ve ever said, “Part of me feels…,” you’ll relate to this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush talks with Michelle Richardson about anxiety and the “parts” of Internal Family Systems (IFS), a gentle approach to healing.

Creativity can be healing. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Jennifer Wolfe-Hagstrom about SoulCollage® and how it can reduce anxiety and enhance the therapeutic experience.

Life is unpredictable. Elizabeth Cush, host of Woman Worriers, talks about managing anxiety when things don’t go as planned.

If you ever worry about your finances, tune into this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush talks with Michelle Jackson talks about managing money mindfully.

Women have babies, right? In this episode of Woman Worriers, creator and host Elizabeth Cush talks with Catherine O’Brien about the emotional and psychological impact of infertility.

Could you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Gretchen Kubacky, Psy.D., about this very common yet under-diagnosed condition affecting women.

Self-compassion can be a powerful tool for healing anxiety. Elizabeth Cush, host of Woman Worriers, talks about how to practice being your own best friend. She also shares a self-compassion meditation her Ignite Annapolis presentation.

What do your dreams mean?? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Dr. Lourdes Viado about digging deep into the unconscious mind and trying to understand what it might be trying to tell us.

Could inflammation be behind your anxiety or depression? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Roseann Capanna-Hodge, Ed.D, BCN, LPC, about the brain, the body and mental health—and how best to take care of them.

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Woman Worriers podcast—and 10,000 downloads. To celebrate, host Elizabeth Cush shares her gratitude and a guided mediation.

Adoption can impact the lives of all involved in ways that aren’t always obvious. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Marie Celeste, talk about adoption, from the trauma of losing the birth family to challenges within the adoptive family to a better understanding of those involved in the adoption process.

Research shows that the body stores memories of trauma. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest Lynn Fraser, author of Friends With Your Mind, talk about safely accessing those memories on the journey to recovery.

Our mind and body are intertwined, but we don’t always recognize this connection. Elizabeth Cush, host of Woman Worriers, explains why it’s important to get in touch with your body and how to hear what it’s trying to tell you.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and under pressure, maybe you’re trying too hard to be perfect. Always focusing on others can add to your anxiety. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Sharon Martin, LCSW, talk about how perfectionism can fuel anxiety—and what to do about it.

Can mindfulness help your marriage? In this episode of Woman Worriers Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Susan Piver, meditation teacher and author of The Four Noble Truths of Love, about the Buddhist perspective on relationships.

Exploring your story can help you put the past in a new perspective. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush shares her story of sexual abuse and talks about how telling it helped her heal.

If you have ever wondered whether you have a story inside you, this episode of “Woman Worriers” is for you. Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Marisa Goudy, a writer and writing coach, about helping women find their voices and the healing power of writing.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you might be an introvert, this episode of “Woman Worriers” is for you. Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Nicole Burgess, LMFT, an empowerment mentor for introverted women, about what it means to be an introvert, how anxiety impacts you if you are introverted, and how introverted women can take care of themselves.

If dieting leaves you discouraged—maybe even a little depressed—this episode of Woman Worriers will give you hope. Host Elizabeth Cush talks with Jenna Hollenstein, a nutrition therapist, about the damage that the “diet culture” has done and how mindful eating can help us get in touch with the wisdom of our bodies.

In the midst of the holiday season — and all the activities and emotions that entails — give yourself the gift of being in the present moment. Elizabeth Cush, host of Woman Worriers, offers a mindfulness exercise to help you feel more grounded.

The holidays are upon us — and for many they bring anxiety or sadness. Even if you love the holidays, you can feel overwhelmed. Elizabeth Cush, ctrator host of Woman Worriers, offers tips for taking care of yourself during this often stressful season.

Many women struggle emotionally after the birth of a child. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Kat Kaeni, a psychologist from Claremont, Calif., who specializes in maternal mental health, about postpartum mood disorders and how to get help for the anxiety or depression.

Women aren’t the only worriers. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Dr. Ellis Edmunds, a clinical psychologist who often treats men with anxiety, about how practicing mindfulness can help you enrich and grow your relationships.

In times of stress, how great would it be to retreat to a place where you feel where you feel calm? Elizabeth Cush, host of Woman Worriers, offers a guided imagery meditation to help you create that safe space to ease anxiety.

Will life really be harder for men after #MeToo? In this episode of “Woman Worriers,” Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Robert Cox, of Life Recovery Consulting, about how the white patriarchal response to women’s accusations of abuse and sexual assault is impacting survivors and victims — and what needs to change.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, intimate partner violence affects more than 12 million people in the United States every year. In recognition of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Woman Worriers host Elizabeth Cush interviews Rae Leonard, of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Abuse and Domestic Violence Program, about resources for victims of domestic abuse.

Recent headlines have raised many questions about sexual assault reporting. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush explores why more women don’t come forward immediately — if at all — when they are sexually assaulted.

Sometimes motherhood can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Elizabeth Bonet, a clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety and perinatal mood disorders, about new moms, anxiety and depression — and how hypnosis can help.

Have you been trying to conquer your fear and anxiety? Maybe it’s time to stop. In this episode of Woman Worriers, creator and host Elizabeth Cush interviews Kristen Ulmer, a former extreme skier who is now a master facilitator, fear specialist and author of The Art of Fear: Why Conquering Fear Won’t Work and What to Do Instead.

If you’re always in tune with the vibe around you, and often overwhelmed by it, your brain may be wired differently. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews April Snow, a psychotherapist, about what it’s like to be a highly sensitive person (HSP) and how HSPs can manage the anxiety and overwhelm that come hand in hand with the trait.

If you’ve ever wondered how those other mothers seem to keep it all together, this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast is for you. Host Elizabeth Cush interviews Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, a parent coach and author of Shame-proof Parenting: Find your unique parenting voice, feel empowered, and raise whole, healthy children.

Relationship skills don’t always come naturally. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews Rebecca Wong, LCSW, a relationship therapist, about relationships, intimacy, anxiety, building healthy boundaries, communicating effectively, bringing mindfulness into the moment and more.

Can mindfulness make a difference in your life? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush interviews author and mindfulness leadership coach Laurie J. Cameron about her new book, The Mindful Day: Practical Ways to Find Focus, Calm, and Joy from Morning to Evening.

If you’re never quite living up to your partner’s expectations, it’s a problem — and the problem isn’t you. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, relationship coach Lindsey Ellison, talk about women in relationships with narcissists.

Sooner or later, you’re going to hit your anxiety head on. In this episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush shares her personal experience with managing anxiety in a triggering situation.

What happens when someone’s sexual behavior becomes a problem? In this episode of Woman Worriers, creator and host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Jennifer Weeks, PhD, talk about sex addiction and its impacts on the individual and the primary partner.

Does anxiety affect sexual relationships? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Nazanin Moali, PhD, talk about the different ways that anxiety might shape your sex life.

Could lavender or other essential oils help calm your anxiety? In this episode of Woman Worriers, creator and host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Deb Del Vecchio-Scully, LPC, talk about mindful breathing, brain chemistry and a unique way to feel better fast.

Always focusing on others can add to your anxiety. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Sharon Martin, LCSW, talk about the relationship between codependence, people-pleasing, perfectionism and anxiety.

You’ve probably heard about mindful meditation — and the positive impact it can have on your physical and mental health. Elizabeth Cush, creator and host of Woman Worriers, takes the mystery out of mindfulness and offers an easy “how-to” on mindful meditation.

Lack of money… Guilt over family left behind… The stigma of seeking counseling… Latina women, particularly immigrants, face many fears. In this episode of Woman Worriers, creator host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Adriana Alejandre, MA, LMFT, talk about anxiety and women of color.

Anxiety doesn’t have to be the enemy. In this episode of Woman Worriers, creator and host Elizabeth Cush and her guest, Allison Puryear, LCSWC, CEDS, share unique perspectives on anxiety, therapy, work and life.

If you feel anxious, you’re not alone. In this episode of Woman Worriers, creator and host Elizabeth Cush talks with Agnes Wainman, PhD, about the dynamics that are driving so many women to the edge of overwhelm.

Feelings of anxiety, emptiness and disconnect often have roots deep in even seemingly happy childhoods. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Dr. Jonice Webb about the adult impacts of Childhood Emotional Neglect.™

Have you ever wondered whether what you’re feeling might be anxiety? Everybody feels anxious sometime — and everyone can benefit from listening to these tips on recognizing and managing anxiety from therapist Elizabeth Cush, host of Woman Worriers.

Anxiety demands that we stay in control. Creativity suggests that we do not. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with music therapist Maya Benattar about how music can help women find their voice and manage their anxiety.

Childhood trauma can stay with us long into adulthood, affecting the pattern of our lives. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Laura Reagan, an integrative trauma therapist, about healing past pain.

Not feeling good about your body can cause a lot of anxiety in many aspects of your life. In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Maria Paredes, an eating disorder specialist, about finding ways to feel comfortable in your own skin.

If chronic pain or illness adds to your anxiety, be sure to listen to this episode of Woman Worriers. Host Elizabeth Cush talks with Daniela Paolone, a licensed marriage and family therapist, about how counseling can help women cope with the anxiety that often goes hand-in-hand with chronic pain or illness.

Many guests on the “Woman Worriers” podcast talk about mindfulness as a tool to manage anxiety. But what is mindfulness, really? In this episode, “Woman Worriers” creator and host Elizabeth Cush, MA, LCPC, explains what mindfulness is all about and why it’s helpful and shares an easy 5-minute mindfulness practice.

You wanted the freedom of having your own business, but now you feel overwhelmed. You’re not alone. In this episode of “Woman Worriers,” Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Lee Chaix McDonough, a licensed clinical social worker and certified professional coach, about the challenges facing women entrepreneurs.

Trauma, anxiety and addiction can go hand in hand. In this episode of “Woman Worriers,” Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Robert Cox, of Life Recovery Consulting, about his own experiences with these issues and insights into how mindfulness can help manage the anxiety and ease the cravings.

Are you juggling multiple roles? Frequently multi-tasking? In this episode of “Woman Worriers,” Annapolis-based therapist Elizabeth Cush talks with Dalila Jusic-LaBerge, a California-based therapist, about how high-functioning women experience anxiety, what you can do to manage it and how to get a free e-book to help you find your power.

Nicole Burgess, LMFT shares her thoughts on how anxiety affects the mother-daughter relationship and we discuss some strategies to help moms and teens.

This is an introduction to the Woman Worriers podcast with host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC talking about her vision for this podcast.

Woman Worriers explores why women are more likely than men to have anxiety. We'll also share things they can do to help them live with, not battle against their anxiety.