Jennifer Shannon, LMFT

Recently, I was invited to join Dr. Josephine McNary on her "Mindstories" podcast where we discussed how to tolerate uncertainty, particularly in this election season. You can download the podcast here. Or you can watch the Mindstories Podcast on YouTube here. https://jennifershannon.com/guest-appearance-on-the-mindst/

If we lose, I just don’t know whether the country can survive, my client said. Things are getting too crazy. I heard those words before. From clients of the opposite party. The upcoming election has become every American’sRepublicans and Democrats, therapists, and clients worry number one. To many of us, the idea of losing feels like an existential threat, one that is igniting core fears about our health, our safety, our connections with our loved ones and community. [ 560 more words ] https://jennifershannon.com/3-essential-strategies-to-help/

A muffled crack of thunder, followed by a flash of light that lit up the bedroom wall. Then another, louder CRACK! I had been lying in bed awake since 1AM, for three hours, my husband next to me, deep asleep. But now the wind was pushing violently against our windows, and I woke him up. I did not want to be experiencing this alone. [ 1,056 more word ] https://jennifershannon.com/wildfire-anxiety-relaxation-ti/

A CBT colleague of mine wrote a powerful piece called Thoughts Anonymous Philosophy, applying a 12 Step model that address our inability to control our thoughts. I found it inspiring and I hope you do too. ~ Jennifer "What is Thoughts Anonymous? Thoughts Anonymous is a philosophical movement that is both psychological and spiritual, emerging from the simultaneous principles of evidence-based Psychology and 12 Step Recovery Programs.1 [ 115 more words ] https://jennifershannon.com/thoughts-anonymous-philosophy/

Should I return to the officeGet my haircutSend my kids back to school? My client Tom had been working from home since the pandemic hit in March, but now his boss had set a date for returning to the office, in only three weeks. Tom felt anxious about prolonged exposure to his co-workers, as his partner had an underlying health condition. [ 419 more words ] https://jennifershannon.com/making-decisions-with-confiden/