• YOLANDI RAUSE, MS, LCMHC - Counselor
  • As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate, Yolandi has a heart for students and young adults. She has experience in the school system, working alongside families and educators by compassionately processing life's hardships and moving towards holistic healing and growth.
• STEVEN PRICE, MA, LCMHC - Counselor
  • Steven is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor committed to understanding each person's story. Steven seeks to engage in past memories of struggle and pain to make sense of the whole person and work towards healing individually and in relationships. Steven has experience in many therapy areas, but he also offers to coach as life has many transitions and sometimes hard changes.
  • CATHERINE SAUNDERS, MA, LCMHCA - Counselor
    • Catherine is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate who deeply enjoys walking beside those on their path to personal and spiritual growth. She has a passion for helping others set and attain realistic goals to conquer the ever-changing obstacles of life. Catherine uses an integrative approach to tailor therapy to the strengths of each client to meet them where they currently are. Catherine’s areas of experience include depression, anxiety, grief/loss, life transitions, and identity.

In today's episode:  

• OCD is a brain-based mental health disorder that involves obsessions and compulsions.
• There are scientific differences in the brain of people with OCD. It's important for people with OCD to know that it is not their fault, or a result of anything they have done.
• An obsession is an unwanted, intrusive thought, feeling, sensation, or urge that is repetitive and induces a significant degree of anxiety, uncertainty, doubt, or disgust. 
• Compulsions are physical and mental behaviors that reduce or remove anxiety, uncertainty, or another form of discomfort.
• These obsessions and compulsions are very exhausting and will significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life if we meet the criteria for a diagnosis of OCD.
• We discuss the OC cycle and examples of what it can look like.
• What is pure "O" and does it really exist?
• We list some great resources including: The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD: Lean into Your Fear, Manage Difficult Emotions, and Focus On Recovery.
• Here is a list of OCD types that we talk about:
  • Contamination
  • Symmetry
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Just right
  • Harm
  • Pedophilia
  • Parinatal
  • Immoral
  • Relationship
  • Emotional Contamination
  • Existential
  • Obsessing about Obsessing 
  • and more...

• YOLANDI RAUSE, MS, LCMHC - Counselor
  • As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate, Yolandi has a heart for students and young adults. She has experience in the school system, working alongside families and educators by compassionately processing life's hardships and moving towards holistic healing and growth.
• STEVEN PRICE, MA, LCMHC - Counselor
  • Steven is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor committed to understanding each person's story. Steven seeks to engage in past memories of struggle and pain to make sense of the whole person and work towards healing individually and in relationships. Steven has experience in many therapy areas, but he also offers to coach as life has many transitions and sometimes hard changes.
• BILL VENABLE, MA, MDIV, LCMHCS
  • Bill is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor and has been practicing for over 20 years in the Raleigh area. Bill brings a passion for training other clinicians and continuing to lead sound therapy for both the individual as well as in marriages. As co-founder of LifeCare his training in trauma, sexual addiction, and other areas of struggle continue to influence many. He is prayer warrior and humble servant.

In today's episode: 

• We discuss how LifeCare was founded and what principles it was founded upon.
• Bill discusses the meaning of anxiety, how after a study of the Bible, he found there was no verb for anxiety, but its root word is divided. So a definition of anxiety could be being unable to decide between two or more choices.
• If somebody does feel split or divided, what do they do next? What is the process of moving forward or getting out of this dilemma that they might be having?
• We talk about the difference between anxiety and fear.
• When it comes to anxiety, there are no quick fixes, but what steps can we take toward breaking the cycle of anxiety?
•  You don't have to be controlled or managed by your anxiety. You can start managing it.
• Bill shares what, for some people, can be a useful exercise to decrease their anxiety and fear.
•  

• YOLANDI RAUSE, MS, LCMHC - Counselor
  • As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate, Yolandi has a heart for students and young adults. She has experience in the school system, working alongside families and educators by compassionately processing life's hardships and moving towards holistic healing and growth.
• STEVEN PRICE, MA, LCMHC - Counselor
  • Steven is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor committed to understanding each person's story. Steven seeks to engage in past memories of struggle and pain to make sense of the whole person and work towards healing individually and in relationships. Steven has experience in many therapy areas, but he also offers to coach as life has many transitions and sometimes hard changes.
• CATHERINE SAUNDERS, MA, LCMHCA - Counselor
  • Catherine is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate who deeply enjoys walking beside those on their path to personal and spiritual growth. She has a passion for helping others set and attain realistic goals to conquer the ever-changing obstacles of life. Catherine uses an integrative approach to tailor therapy to the strengths of each client to meet them where they currently are. Catherine’s areas of experience include depression, anxiety, grief/loss, life transitions, and identity.

In today's episode: 

• We talk about the difference between the feeling of being anxious or nervous and the clinical definition of anxiety.
• The American Psychological Association. And they define anxiety for the sake of the rest of this discussion, as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.
• People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat.
• We share some examples of what anxiety can feel like for an individual.
• We discuss and define the differences between automatic thoughts and intrusive thoughts.
• We talk about some of the branches of anxiety like:
  • OCD
  • Social Anxiety
• We also talk about cognitive distortions and catastrophizing.
• What is mental filtering, polarized thinking, and mind-reading in terms of anxiety?

• YOLANDI RAUSE, MS, LCMHC - Counselor
  • As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate, Yolandi has a heart for students and young adults. She has experience in the school system, working alongside families and educators by compassionately processing life's hardships and moving towards holistic healing and growth.
• STEVEN PRICE, MA, LCMHC - Counselor
  • Steven is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor committed to understanding each person's story. Steven seeks to engage in past memories of struggle and pain to make sense of the whole person and work towards healing individually and in relationships. Steven has experience in many therapy areas, but he also offers to coach as life has many transitions and sometimes hard changes.
• CAROLINA AGUILAR, MA, LCMHCA, TRCC - Counselor
  • As a bilingual Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, Carolina enjoys working with clients on their specific goals and aims to incorporate her psychotherapy training and/or theological approaches to therapy. She hopes to provide a safe and empowering space and give understanding to each client's story.
• RYAN CHRISCOE MA, NCC, LCMHCA
  • Ryan is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors. He holds a Master of Arts degree in clinical mental health counseling from Liberty University, where he graduated with high distinction honors. 

In today's episode: 

• Ryan shares his story of how he decided to become a counselor. He started attending counseling after experiencing the value of therapy.
• Ryan shares his perception of therapy as a male. For Ryan, the depression had reached the point where he felt he needed it.
• He worked as a real estate agent for about a decade before pursuing his dream of becoming a therapist.
• We discuss what it felt like the first time sitting down with a client as a therapist. It can be very intimidating going from books to boots on the ground.
• We talk about the importance of having a therapist or counselor as a presence to experience your emotions with you instead of just trying to fix or comfort you.
• Ryan loves to work with couples and help them achieve the unity meant to be a picture of Christ and the Church.
• He also enjoys working with people in ministry and helping them stay in the fight.

• YOLANDI RAUSE, MS, LCMHC - Counselor
  • As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate, Yolandi has a heart for students and young adults. She has experience in the school system, working alongside families and educators by compassionately processing life's hardships and moving towards holistic healing and growth.
• STEVEN PRICE, MA, LCMHC - Counselor
  • Steven is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor committed to understanding each person's story. Steven seeks to engage in past memories of struggle and pain to make sense of the whole person and work towards healing individually and in relationships. Steven has experience in many therapy areas, but he also offers coaching as life has many transitions and sometimes hard changes.

Our Guest:

• Shawn Rause is a professional dog trainer and shares his experience with therapy and his unique perspective of being married to a counselor.

In today's episode: 

• We asked Shawn what's it like to be married to a counselor. He says, "There is no staying in the shallow end of conversations." 
• Shawn has been seeing a counselor for over a year now, and we discussed what perceptions he had it would be like before his first session. 
• We discuss the cultural stigma around seeking professional help from family, culture, and the church.
• We talk about the "tough guy mentality" and how it plays into seeking help for men.
• Shawn shares his first experience using BetterHelp online.
• It comes up a lot that people feel they don't "need" counseling. But that doesn't mean you won't benefit from it.

• YOLANDI RAUSE, MS, LCMHC - Counselor
  • As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate, Yolandi has a heart for students and young adults. She has experience in the school system, working alongside families and educators by compassionately processing life's hardships and moving towards holistic healing and growth.
• STEVEN PRICE, MA, LCMHC - Counselor
  • Steven is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor committed to understanding each person's story. Steven seeks to engage in past memories of struggle and pain to make sense of the whole person and work towards healing individually and in relationships. Steven has experience in many therapy areas, but he also offers coaching as life has many transitions and sometimes hard changes.
• CAROLINA AGUILAR, MA, LCMHCA, TRCC - Counselor
  • As a bilingual Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, Carolina enjoys working with clients on their specific goals and aims to incorporate her psychotherapy training and/or theological approaches to therapy. She hopes to provide a safe and empowering space and give understanding to each client's story.

In today's episode: 

• Carolina shares her experiences with therapy as a young woman and later with a couples therapist with her husband.
• "Trauma happens in a relationship, so healing has to take place in a relationship as well."
•  Yolandi shares her first experience with therapy after a bad breakup in her college years. Those six sessions changed her life.
• Many people think therapy is only something you use as a last resort, but you do not need to wait until your marriage is completely broken to go to therapy.
• For many people, speaking with a counselor can provide a different relationship or perspective than speaking with friends and family. We talk about that from our personal experiences.
• Steven shares his first experience with therapy after a four-year relationship ended, and at the time, it felt like the end of the world.
• We discuss how the scientific basis behind therapy is that when we get to reprocess these things with another person, we physically change pathways in our brain.

• YOLANDI RAUSE, MS, LCMHC - Counselor
  • As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate, Yolandi has a heart for students and young adults. She has experience in the school system, working alongside families and educators by compassionately processing life's hardships and moving towards holistic healing and growth.
• STEVEN PRICE, MA, LCMHC - Counselor
  • Steven is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor committed to understanding each person's story. Steven seeks to engage in past memories of struggle and pain in order to make sense of the whole person and work towards healing individually and in relationship. Steven has experience in many areas of therapy, but he also offers coaching as life has many transitions and sometimes hard changes.
• CAROLINA AGUILAR, MA, LCMHCA, TRCC - Counselor
  • As a bilingual Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, Carolina enjoys working with clients on their specific goals and aims to incorporate her psychotherapy training and/or theological approaches to therapy. She hopes to provide a space which feels safe and empowering as well as give understanding to each client's story.

In today's episode: 

• Even during the pandemic, with a big shortage of people working in mental health care, our offices at LifeCare have continued to expand.
• We talk about our latest office to open up, which is in Wake Forest, and our staff which is growing fast and now has at least 30 people.
• What is therapy?
• What is the role of a therapist or counselor?
• What is the role of a client?
• According to the American Psychiatric Association, psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a way to help people with a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy can help eliminate, control, or diminish troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase wellbeing and healing. 
• We discuss the therapeutic relationship. It is exactly that, a relationship.
• We discuss the importance of understanding that your diagnosis is not your identity. 
• Therapy requires courage.
• What is the difference between a psychologist and a counselor?
• We discuss how to determine who you need to see when seeking help with your mental health. 
• We want our clients to grow, and if we don't feel like we are a good fit or they could benefit from someone with a specialty we don't have, we will refer them to another specialist to help them experience growth.  
• Research shows that 70% of therapy's success is going to be based on the match between the client and therapist.