Not Therapy with My Therapist: How Family Validation and Your Past Impacts Mental Health

Is enough ever enough when it comes to your personal growth? Do you always need to be going at full speed towards big goals and ambitions? Prepare to challenge your preconceptions about self-help, ambition, and what it truly means to thrive in today's fast-paced world. In this episode, we discuss the potential pitfalls in the pursuit of bettering yourself and going after big goals and what you can do to protect your mental health as you fight to become the best version of yourself possible. We share personal struggles with this and give you a practical tool to help you better navigate your growth journey.In this segment of Not Therapy with My Therapist, Jessica and Justin talk about the issue of self-help and the pressure of feeling like you have to constantly work hard to achieve more growth and success in life. We examine the pitfalls in the self-help space and offer considerations to help you pursue ambition with mindfulness.  

Communication is critical in relationships, at work, with our kids, spouses, or friends. But let's face it, it can be a challenging journey. In this segment of "Not Therapy with My Therapist," we explore the nuances of communication obstacles. Join us as we dissect the complexities that make communication so demanding. Together, we'll uncover valuable insights to enhance your interpersonal connections and provide insights to help you improve your communication with others.You can submit questions for Jessica by going to fightforbrilliance.com/ask Jessica is a LMFT-S and Co-Founder of The Flourishing Way in Houston, TX.  She helps people rewire their thinking patterns to see the potential in life, instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios. Jessica’s approach involves using real-time tools to help clients break free from overthinking and self-doubt. Her compassionate yet honest feedback are highly valued by those she works with. | Jessica on InstagramJustin is a proud father, entrepreneur, and author on a mission to help brands and individuals unleash their untold brilliance. As the founder of Circlefifty and the author of two business books, "Human Always" and "Rebel Brands," Justin has a wealth of experience in helping non-profits and businesses alike achieve massive growth and engagement. Justin's passion for inspiring brilliance extends beyond the business world; he's also written a children's book, "The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance." Through his books, podcasts, and the way he lives his life, Justin helps people fight against complacency and conformity to make the greatest possible impact.  | Instagram | Twitter  | Find all episodes at FightForBrilliance.comPlease note that the guidance provided is not clinical mental health advice, nor is it a form of therapy. It consists solely of opinion-based responses.

In this episode, Brady Wix shares his journey from weighing 340 lbs., living with little purpose and direction to becoming an ultra runner and Sergeant in the United States Army. We discuss the importance of limiting your options, simplifying your decision-making, taking responsibility for your life, why challenges are critical, learning to let go of control, and living with the end in mind. Brady Wix serves in the U.S. Army, he is an Ultra Marathon Runner, and is he is constantly seeking out the next challenge for his life. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram. Justin is a proud father, entrepreneur, and author on a mission to help brands and individuals unleash their untold brilliance. As the founder of Circlefifty and the author of two business books, "Human Always" and "Rebel Brands," Justin has a wealth of experience in helping non-profits and businesses alike achieve massive growth and engagement. Justin's passion for inspiring brilliance extends beyond the business world; he's also written a children's book, "The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance." Through his books, podcasts, and the way he lives his life, Justin helps people fight against complacency and conformity to make the greatest possible impact.  | Instagram | Twitter   | Website

In this episode of Not Therapy with My Therapist, Jessica Pass Haskell and Justin Keller discuss the importance of family validation and how to navigate making decisions that your family won't agree with. They also explore the potential of gene editing to improve mental health. You’ll learn about the misconception that exists when it comes to connecting with others, what trauma is, the conflict of family identity, the power of remembering your past, and how to change your relationship with your past.You can submit questions for Jessica by going to fightforbrilliance.com/ask Jessica is a LMFT-S and Co-Founder of The Flourishing Way in Houston, TX.  She helps people rewire their thinking patterns to see the potential in life, instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios. Jessica’s approach involves using real-time tools to help clients break free from overthinking and self-doubt. Her compassionate yet honest feedback are highly valued by those she works with. | Jessica on InstagramJustin is a proud father, entrepreneur, and author on a mission to help brands and individuals unleash their untold brilliance. As the founder of Circlefifty and the author of two business books, "Human Always" and "Rebel Brands," Justin has a wealth of experience in helping non-profits and businesses alike achieve massive growth and engagement. Justin's passion for inspiring brilliance extends beyond the business world; he's also written a children's book, "The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance." Through his books, podcasts, and the way he lives his life, Justin helps people fight against complacency and conformity to make the greatest possible impact.  | Instagram | Twitter  | Find all episodes at FightForBrilliance.comPlease note that the guidance provided is not clinical mental health advice, nor is it a form of therapy. It consists solely of opinion-based responses.

In this episode, renowned parenting expert and child developmental psychologist Aliza Pressman shares practical insights for navigating the challenges of modern parenting and how to help children become more resilient. We discuss fundamental principles of a child’s development, intentional parenting, how parents can remain a strong support system, and why being a perfect parent isn’t realistic or necessary. Aliza’s wealth of knowledge and experience will inspire you to create a nurturing environment that promotes your child’s emotional well-being and success. Bio: Dr. Aliza Pressman received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She is certified in parent management training from the Yale Parenting Center and a clinical instructor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.  She is also the co-founder of the SeedlingsGroup, a New York City and Los Angeles parent education group that uses evidence-based research and information to educate and guide families about their developing children. Dr. Pressman is known for her podcast, Raising Good Human's, which aims to make the journey of being a parent less overwhelming and a little more joyful!Justin is a proud father, entrepreneur, and author on a mission to help brands and individuals unleash their untold brilliance. As the founder of Circlefifty and the author of two business books, "Human Always" and "Rebel Brands," Justin has a wealth of experience in helping non-profits and businesses alike achieve massive growth and engagement. Justin's passion for inspiring brilliance extends beyond the business world; he's also written a children's book, "The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance." Through his books, podcasts, and the way he lives his life, Justin helps people fight against complacency and conformity to make the greatest possible impact.  | Instagram | Twitter   | Website 

In this month's segment of Not Therapy with My Therapist on the Fight for Brilliance Podcast, we are discussing the powerful Japanese Philosophy Wabi Sabi. We take a look at how business icons like John D. Rockefeller practiced contentment and found happiness in simplicity, and we unpack the meaning of this Japanese philosophy and provide practical ways to apply it to your life.We discuss these ideas: Not all of life needs to be optimized  • The difference between acceptance and acknowledgement • The reason time might not heal all wounds • The importance of knowing what three things you need optimized in life • How to see beauty in an imperfect life.You can submit questions for Jessica by going to fightforbrilliance.com/ask Jessica is a LMFT-S and Co-Founder of The Flourishing Way in Houston, TX.  She helps people rewire their thinking patterns to see the potential in life, instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios. Jessica’s approach involves using real-time tools to help clients break free from overthinking and self-doubt. Her compassionate yet honest feedback are highly valued by those she works with. | Jessica on InstagramJustin is a proud father, entrepreneur, and author on a mission to help brands and individuals unleash their untold brilliance. As the founder of Circlefifty and the author of two business books, "Human Always" and "Rebel Brands," Justin has a wealth of experience in helping non-profits and businesses alike achieve massive growth and engagement. Justin's passion for inspiring brilliance extends beyond the business world; he's also written a children's book, "The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance." Through his books, podcasts, and the way he lives his life, Justin helps people fight against complacency and conformity to make the greatest possible impact.  | Instagram | Twitter  Please note that the guidance provided is not clinical mental health advice, nor is it a form of therapy. It consists solely of opinion-based responses.

After a back injury, a prescription for pain turned into a desperate and dark addiction for Kory Aronson. In this episode, Megan Aronson shares how her fairy tale love story became a living nightmare with her husband was like. Megan discusses the pain she lived with for so many years, knowing her husband was no longer himself. She talks about how hard it was for her to finally admit he had a substance use disorder and how she finally realized that to love him, she had to be willing to lose him. You will also hear what the journey toward recovery was like for Kory. This story is about grief, extreme love, compassion, forgiveness, and redemption. If you have a family member or friend struggling with addiction, you’ll connect deeply with Megan’s story. If you have a substance use disorder, you’ll be able to hear hope and encouragement to fight for a life free from the disease of addiction. If you are struggling, please get in touch with SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or text your zip code to the number 425748 (HELP4U).Connect with Megan:  Website | Twitter | Instagram   /  Connect with Justin: Justin is a proud father, entrepreneur, and author on a mission to help brands and individuals unleash their untold brilliance. As the founder of Circlefifty and the author of two business books, "Human Always" and "Rebel Brands," Justin has a wealth of experience in helping non-profits and businesses alike achieve massive growth and engagement. Justin's passion for inspiring brilliance extends beyond the business world; he's also written a children's book, "The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance." Through his books, podcasts, and the way he lives his life, Justin helps people fight against complacency and conformity to make the greatest possible impact.  | Instagram | Twitter  

In this episode, we’ll be discussing how to navigate heartbreak. Although heartbreak is often associated with relationships, it’s not privy to that. Heartbreak can occur anytime we are disappointed in a situation that doesn’t work out as we had hoped. Mental health expert and licensed therapist Jessica Pass Haskell discusses what makes moving on difficult after heartbreak. She discusses the importance of letting go, practicing self-compassion, and practicing self-awareness. Jessica provides practical tips to help you move through the hurt and disappointment in life not just get over it. Jessica and Justin also tackle the challenging topic of breaking up with a narcissist. They discuss ways to identify if someone is a narcissist, provide a baseline definition of narcissistic personality disorder, and offer helpful ways to break free from a toxic relationship.  You can submit questions for Jessica by going to fightforbrilliance.com/ask Jessica is a LMFT-S and Co-Founder of The Flourishing Way in Houston, TX.  She helps people rewire their thinking patterns to see the potential in life, instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios. Jessica’s approach involves using real-time tools to help clients break free from overthinking and self-doubt. Her compassionate yet honest feedback are highly valued by those she works with. | Jessica on InstagramJustin is a proud father, entrepreneur, and author on a mission to help brands and individuals unleash their untold brilliance. As the founder of Circlefifty and the author of two business books, "Human Always" and "Rebel Brands," Justin has a wealth of experience in helping non-profits and businesses alike achieve massive growth and engagement.Justin's passion for inspiring brilliance extends beyond the business world; he's also written a children's book, "The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance." Through his books, podcasts, and the way he lives his life, Justin helps people fight against complacency and conformity to make the greatest possible impact.  | Instagram | Twitter  Please note that the guidance provided is not clinical mental health advice, nor is it a form of therapy. It consists solely of opinion-based responses.

On this inspiring episode of the Fight For Brilliance Podcast, Justin Keller sits down with a former elite amateur triathlete, Gordo Byrn, who left behind a successful corporate career to pursue his passion for endurance sports. Gordo shares his journey of how a divorce, combined with the feeling that something is missing in his life, transitioned from working in a private equity firm to eventually becoming an Ultraman champion, one of the most challenging endurance races in the world.At the point where Gordo was in peak athletic condition, he decided knew that, once again, something in his life needed to change. Gordo chose to shift all of his efforts toward raising his kids and being a husband to his wife now. Gordo talks about his decision-making process, how he invests time, and a unique perspective on parenting while not compromising your marriage or health.Gordo has been featured on podcasts like The Rich Roll Podcast; he has two weekly newsletters and can be found investing his knowledge into the lives of endurance athletes on Twitter. • Connect with Gordo: Gordo on Twitter | Endurance Essentials | True Wealth | Gordo on Youtube | Rich Roll’s Podcast  • Connect with Justin: Website | Instagram | Twitter • Resources from episode: Parenting From the Inside Out | 12 Rules for Life 

Despite conversations around mental health and therapy becoming more common, there are still a lot of misconceptions about what therapy is. Justin misunderstood and used to be skeptical of therapy. But after working with Jessica for years navigating divorce, parenting, career, and relationship decisions, he's realized how valuable it can be for anyone looking to improve their mental well-being and life.Justin and Jessica decided to launch a new monthly segment on the show, Not Therapy with My Therapist. These episodes are a chance to eavesdrop on their candid, real-time discussions about life's most challenging topics. They're not about giving easy answers or quick fixes - instead, they're all about helping you ask the right questions, challenge your assumptions, and develop the tools you need to take control of your mental health.You can submit questions for Jessica by going to fightforbrilliance.com/ask Jessica is a LMFT-S and Co-Founder of The Flourishing Way in Houston, TX.  She helps people rewire their thinking patterns to see the potential in life, instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios. Jessica’s approach involves using real-time tools to help clients break free from overthinking and self-doubt. Her compassionate yet honest feedback are highly valued by those she works with. | Jessica on InstagramJustin is a proud father, entrepreneur, and author on a mission to help brands and individuals unleash their untold brilliance. As the founder of Circlefifty and the author of two business books, "Human Always" and "Rebel Brands," Justin has a wealth of experience in helping non-profits and businesses alike achieve massive growth and engagement.Justin's passion for inspiring brilliance extends beyond the business world; he's also written a children's book, "The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance." Through his books, podcasts, and the way he lives his life, Justin helps people fight against complacency and conformity to make the greatest possible impact.  | Instagram | Twitter  Please note that the guidance provided is not clinical mental health advice, nor is it a form of therapy. It consists solely of opinion-based responses.