This Isn't Therapy... it's the *encore* episode about the pressure to be happy. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about how to feel authentically happy when there's a lot of pressure to perform positivity or force happy feelings. Jake and Simon hear from two Lovely Listeners who wonder about the true meaning of happiness and how to spot the difference between authentic joy versus fake happiness. In a culture that might encourage us to "just think positive!" we're asking "...should we?"

Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...

Creators & Guests

• Simon Paluck - Host
• Jake Ernst - Host

This Isn't Therapy... it's the *encore* surprise solo session with Jake! In this episode, Jake shares two snippets from his weekly newsletter Just Trying To Help. Jake walks us through his theories for how social media is re-wiring our brains, reshaping our moods, and changing how we connect.

P.S. Happy Leap Year! Ribbit Ribbit!

Read the full articles here:

• How Social Media Re-Wired Us All
• The Rise of Algorithmic Moods

Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...

Creators & Guests

• Simon Paluck - Host
• Jake Ernst - Host

This Isn't Therapy... it's an *encore* doomy episode about the ever-evolving landscape of doomslang. Doomslang, coined by author and linguist Amanda Montell, is a term used to describe dystopian jargon like “dumpster fire” and “doomscroll” and “bed rot”. In this episode, Jake and Simon talk about how the constant conjuring of End Times is having surprising, unintended, and maybe even dangerous, consequences. From bed rot to brainrot, this episode sure packs a doomsday punch! Oh... and be sure to tune in this week for a very imporant Summertime announcement!

Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...

Creators & Guests

• Simon Paluck - Host
• Jake Ernst - Host

FROM THE VAULT: This Isn't Therapy... it's the *encore* episode about AI therapists and if they can ever replace the real thing. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss a recent BBC article about why teens are seeking out AI therapist bots and what that means for the future of mental health. Conversational AI or, in other words, "chatbots with a personality" are gaining more attention and users are finding new therapy-ish use-cases on platforms like Character.ai and Replika. The pros, the cons, the risks, and the benefits. All that and more!

BBC Article discussed: Young people turning to AI therapist bots

Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...

Creators & Guests

• Simon Paluck - Host
• Jake Ernst - Host

This isn't therapy... and it's not working out, either! In this *encore* episode, Jake and Simon discuss what to do when therapy isn't working. Importantly, they talk about how to know if therapy is actually working and what to do when you feel like it's not. This episode is based on a Lovely Listener question: "If I cry in therapy, does that mean it's working?" Strap in!

Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...

Creators & Guests

• Simon Paluck - Host
• Jake Ernst - Host

Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about the four F's: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss the four threat responses and how to move through tough situations and face what's in front of us. This episode is for anyone who feels trapped by their reactions or is left feeling overwhelmed by stressful situations. These responses are what make us human; it is better to embrace them and face them rather than become ruled by them.

Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...

Creators & Guests

• Simon Paluck - Host
• Jake Ernst - Host

Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's a long overdue convo about the two most essential skills in relationships. In this episode, Jake and Simon discuss a statistic about emotional availability: on average, we are only emotionally available for our partners about 9% of the time. With that in mind, they discuss how to get closer to the 9% using the two essential skills of attunement and repair. Throughout the episode, they discuss how to implement these skills through the development of micro-skills.

Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...

Creators & Guests

• Simon Paluck - Host
• Jake Ernst - Host

Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.

This Isn't Therapy... it's the episode about one of the things that robs kids of a care-free childhood: being parentified. When kids are forced to grow up too soon and become adults in childhood, kids can take on adult-like responsibilities and burdens. In this episode, we talk about the difference between healthy responsibility for kids and parentification and talk about the impact of having childhood stolen from us and being burdened before we're developmentally ready.

Article: Were you a ‘parentified child’? What happens when children have to behave like adults By Nivida Chandra

Got a quandary, query, or question? Submit your Q (anonymously) to Asking For A Friend...

Creators & Guests

• Simon Paluck - Host
• Jake Ernst - Host

Original music composed by Kat Burns and performed by KASHKA.