Are you feeling the pull towards cosmetic surgery, fillers, or other body modifications? Is it because you have body dysmorphia or is it a healthy form of self-love? In this episode, Dr. Deborah takes a deep dive into the world of cosmetic surgery, accepting our “flaws” and how societal messages about beauty have permeated societies around the world throughout history. Explore her feelings about celebrity transformations and how cosmetic surgery can have both positive and negative effects. Explore movements like “body positivity” and the “free the nipple” campaign and how these help us to see ourselves without sexualizing beauty and appearance.

Dr. Deborah shares her own efforts to be “beautiful” and examines why being beautiful feels so important. She asks you to throw away concepts like vanity and “inside versus outside” beauty. She examines the pressure that many feel (in all genders identifications) to be attractive in a conventional and accepted sense versus embracing our own unique expression of beauty. Learn about how to achieve the “body neutral” approach to the mirror and to stop normalizing criticism around perceived imperfections of ourselves and others. Until we have a culture that values us for our personhood, we can only work on this within ourselves, and spread it along to others close to us: how to really see and celebrate our true beauty and be happier in our bodies.

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ. This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

Episode 16 Trigger Warnings: Surgery, Body Dysmorphia, Self Harm

Do your relationships with your partner, your family or your friends feel challenging? Is it likely because only about 15% of us have healthy, secure attachment styles? Learn about your attachment style and how you just might be getting in your own way in your relationships. Learn how to identify the attachment style of those around you to help you know where the real work of relationship building needs to begin.

We are born to attach! Learn why your past experiences have affected your attachment abilities and explore how to change this for the better. How we attach is directly related to how our relationships make us feel, and how they become a positive or negative force in our lives. It is time for you to make your life and your relationships feel better and flow healthier! Join me for your session to learn more about attachment; and how healthy, secure attachments make us feel better about our relationships and ourselves.

Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health.

She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ. This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.

Episode 15 Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse/Neglect

In this session, we get curious about what’s happening with partnered relationships. Whether you are thinking about shifting your own relationship or are just curious about what others are up to…this is for you! It may surprise you to learn that many couples these days are moving outside of the monogamous traditional relationships that have been held by the masses for centuries. When asked in secret, 34 % of those in partnered relationships individually report that something other than traditional monogamy would be ideal for them. Those outside of traditional monogamy have always existed through the ages. More and more of us now are coming out of the fringes and sharing that all types of relationships have value and can work. Learn about the different types of relationships to include polyamory, swinging, open relationships, relationship anarchy and more! Check this episode out and peek over the fence to see what your friends might be up to and explore in this session how you feel about it, too! Dr. Brown holds a BA in Secondary Education/English, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MPhil in Social & Behavioral Science and a PhD in Human Services with a Specialty in Public Health. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of NJ. This podcast is not a replacement for psychotherapy. If you are someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please seek the help of professionals.