Podcast rotation at the end of 2019

Here is a list of Podcasts I am currently listening to and on my rotation (on Spotify, Soundcloud, Anchor, or iTunes) as I ramp down with 2019 and gearing up for 2020.

The Tony Robbins Podcast - https://www.tonyrobbins.com/podcasts/

Rise Podcast by Rachel Hollis - https://www.risetogetherpodcast.com

Uncommitted: Iowa 2020 - https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xw7zv/introducing-uncommitted-iowa-2020-a-new-podcast-from-vice-news-and-spotify

Selling the Couch with Melvin Marghese, PhD - https://sellingthecouch.com

Historical Hookups https://open.spotify.com/show/4F2PMwrcflikzQnxAsn5QO

Latina to Latina by Lantigua Williams & Co - https://www.latinatolatina.com/episodes

The Nod by Gimlet - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nod/id1250583865?ign-mpt=uo%3D2&mt=2

Cat & Cloud Coffee Podcast - https://catandcloud.com/pages/podcast

2020 is upon us.

It is almost here.

What a better time to reflect than at the end of the decade. As I write this, I am sitting up late watching the Star Wars: The Last Jedi trying to not get distracted or geek out over seeing the new movie, maybe a discussion for another time.

Anyway, in a few minutes there will be 48 hours left in 2019, and we will welcome in the new decade. I could probably come up with a top 10, top 20, or top 5 tips/tricks/lists on self-care, reflecting on one’s accomplishments, acknowledging our journeys, or going on a discussion on the importance of being authentic. Mind you these are all important things being discussed by other therapists, coaches, motivational speakers, podcasters, Youtubers, and IG influencers. I just want to very briefly talk to you about one thing…. permission.

Permission. Yes. Permission. Why? When was the last time you sincerely gave yourself just permission? As I have come to learn in culture, popular thought, working with clients, friends, family, talking with colleagues, etc…. we (the general ‘we’ as people) give ourselves less permission than we think. I am sure there is some statistic I will find and add to this later on. I know that several people have written on the subject.

Let’s go back. So permission… we don’t give it to ourselves enough.

Permission for what?

Here’s a secret.

It doesn’t matter for what, to do what, about what…. cause deep down it is just the act of just allowing ourselves to be.

This could be permission to allow ourselves the chance to feel, to think, to act, to embrace, to enjoy, to love, even love ourselves. Maybe chase a dream, to follow through, to have that difficult conversation, to take charge, ask for a raise, have a hard talk with a partner, show up for someone you weren’t planning to, and event take your self-care more seriously. This could even be to plan a vacation without hesitation, say no, to step back, set a boundary, embrace your body, to go a different direction, to look at food differently, say goodbye to pain, let go of suffering, to wave good-bye to fear…. and maybe just maybe [fill in the blank here] _____________. Permission has to start from somewhere.

It can be very very hard to start and give yourself permission.

Let me be someone to just tell YOU … you NOW have permission to celebrate the end of this decade in order to give yourself permission to welcome a new one.

And most importantly..

you have PERMISSION…

to be YOU.

Breathe it in.

Hold. A pause or two.

Breathe it out and allow it to just be.

Let yourself have more permission in this new year and decade.

Thanks for reading.

See you in 2020.

Cheers,

-Z

So much for the weekly process....

Indeed. So it has been over a month since I have updated this blog. In short, the studying continues. I have had a few mental breakdowns, chips at my confidence, some highs when information clicks,, and even mixed scores on practice cases and exams so… borderline passing.

What does all this mean?

Not a whole lot… just the fact that in a little over a week I will take this license exam for the first time. I will push on. Keep doing what I need. Breathing, drinking water, getting ample amounts of sleep, and oh yeah eating. Self-care is crucial. I won’t lie, it has been hard, sometimes forgetting I missed breakfast to cram a section in, or over-caffienated. A good friend reminded me to take my recommendations of doing what I need to nourish myself during this stressful time. Thanks for the reminder. As I type, I take another swig of water, have a mellow jam playing in the background, and my dog snoring in the middle of this night.

I am putting it out into the universe and back into myself that my 4 years post grad, 2 years in graduate school, and a few years of lived experience can help me strengthen my intuition and acquired knowledge in mental health. I will pass this exam…. one way or another. It will happen.

So with that… back to learning about another few theories tonight….. Gestalt, Interpersonal therapy, and maybe some object relations.

Keep on keeping on.

More to come eventually.

Deuces.

A dash of this and a dash of that..

Here I am in my second week of the studying.

Progress?

Some.

Setting myself up with my routine, my focus points, coffee, a location that I can call my study zone is hard to flush out. I certainly have access to several… home, coffee shops, the library, my alma mater… and yet I feel like I am not setting myself up to hunker down.

That is my main focus this week in addition to studying… creating the environment I need to get this studying done.

Just over two months left.

I got this.

Stay tuned.

The Mad Dash

Here I am 4 years and some change since completing graduate school. It took me almost 2 years to get my associate (formerly intern) number before I could start acquiring my hours towards becoming an LPCC. It has been a journey full of mixed emotions. Fear, distress, anxiety, doubt, shame, triumph, exhilaration., happiness, frustration, and in some cases relief.

Now, I have come to the point where the next step towards licensure is….. the clinical exam. For LPCCs in California, you need to take both the law and ethics exam (for new associates you need to take this exam before you renew your number for the next year), and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE). I have signed up to take my exam in November with hopes to pass before the end of the year. That way come the beginning of 2020, I can add a new set of 4 letters to the end of my name. And onto the next phase of my mental health practitioner journey.

Why am I posting about this?

To hold myself accountable for my own studying. Over the next 10+ weeks, my plan is to post how I am doing, how my study process is going, and any insights I can share.

Hope you enjoy this.

As far as the study materials go, I am utilizing a combination of 4 main resources:

• The DSM-V.

• A 90 day subscription to Counselingexam.com

• The Defining Line by Dr. Alyson Carr

• And utilizing some theories books from graduate school.

  ** Disclaimer - I am not endorsing, being sponsored, or being provided any compensation from any of the listed above resources. I am strictly listing what I am using as this counselor’s way to preparing for the NCMHCE.

Stay Tuned.

-ZRF