How to Manage Chronic Pain- w/ Author Alan Gordon LCSW

More from Therapy in a Nutshell All episodes →

1. 

   E237 · 27 Mar 2026 · 46 min

   Social Anxiety Skills That Actually Help w/ Dr. Deborah Dobson

   Social Anxiety Explained with Dr. Deborah Dobson: Why Social Anxiety Feels So Intense and the Skills That Actually Help Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership In this conversation, Emma McAdam and Deb Dobson explore the complexities of social anxiety, its prevalence, and the impact of avoidance on mental health. They discuss common cognitive distortions associated with social anxiety, the importance of self-compassion, and practical strategies for managing anxiety in social situations. Deb emphasizes the value of…

2. 

   E247 · 20 Mar 2026 · 24 min

   How To Be Less Reactive or Impulsive - The System that Actually Works

   It can be hard to figure out how to change your life, stop impulsive behaviors and regulate your emotions. In this video I’ll teach you a system to do it effectively. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Why can’t you just stop being impulsive or reactive— even when you really want to? Because impulsivity isn’t a willpower problem. It’s a nervous system reflex. In this video, you’ll learn why your emotional brain hijacks your decisions (and why “just try harder” never works), plus a practical 5-step system to train…

3. 

   E240 · 12 Mar 2026 · 10 min

   Healing Beam of Light Meditation for Energy, Warmth and Healing

   Using this short meditation, visualize a healing beam of light helping you overcome hurt, giving you energy, and helping you heal. Sign up for my free Panic Attacks course https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/ending-panic-attacks-and-anxiety-attacks Sometimes when I’m feeling a little cold, or hurt, or stuck, or frozen, or just like I’d like to have a little more love and light and energy in my life- I like to do this gentle little 9-minute meditation called Healing Beam of Light, and it’s perfect for healing and energizing at the start of the day. So, let’s try it together. This exercise…

4. 

   E245 · 6 Mar 2026 · 12 min

   Hidden Medical Issues that Mimic Depression and Anxiety

   Depression and anxiety can come from physical problems like thyroid, hormones, sleep, or nutrient deficiencies—learn the top medical causes to check Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership How to Sleep Better Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiUrrIiqidTWdplSnedICFAMlMN-8ikae If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, it might not be “just in your head.” Many medical conditions can mimic or trigger mood symptoms—things like thyroid imbalances, hormone changes, nutrient deficiencies, sleep…

5. 

   E230 · 26 Feb 2026 · 30 min

   6 Keys to get WAY MORE out of Therapy

   Learn how to get the most out of therapy, how to choose the right therapist and how to know if therapy is right for you. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership In this conversation, Emma McAdam and Barry Fell discuss how to maximize the benefits of therapy. They share practical tips, including the importance of setting clear goals, the therapeutic relationship, and the balance between insight and action. They emphasize the need for clients to be proactive, such as bringing a journal to sessions, and the significance…

6. 

   E244 · 20 Feb 2026 · 28 min

   How Chronic Pain Gets Stuck in the Nervous System

   Back pain and other chronic pain can be managed with pain reprocessing therapy. Alan Gordon’s book The Way Out can teach you how to retrain your brain to manage chronic pain The Pain Psychology Center: https://painpsychologycenter.com/ The Way Out book: https://a.co/d/053sW1L0 Chronic Pain Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiUrrIiqidTXq4l8CetR1bQqoQfONrh4c Somatic Tracking Exercise: https://youtu.be/HeNRMr8uJbI Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Chronic pain isn't "just in your head"—it's often…

7. 

   E243 · 13 Feb 2026 · 42 min

   How IFS Works- Founder Dick Schwartz Therapizes Emma

   Internal family systems Founder Richard Schwartz does an IFS therapy session with Emma McAdam, we work with her inner critic and Self in IFS Sign up for my free Panic Attacks course https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/ending-panic-attacks-and-anxiety-attacks In this conversation, Emma McAdam interviews Dick Schwartz, the creator of Internal Family Systems (IFS), a therapeutic approach that emphasizes understanding the mind as composed of multiple parts. Schwartz explains how these parts can be influenced by trauma and how IFS helps individuals connect with their true Self to facilitate…

8. 

   E241 · 5 Feb 2026 · 20 min

   How to Rewrite the Stories That Make You Anxious, Angry, or Depressed

   Learn how the stories you tell yourself fuel anxiety, depression, and triggers—and discover practical skills like cognitive defusion to rewrite your life. Free worksheet: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/opt-in-4a614f1a-99a9-46dd-b2e4-69e58990c7ea Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership In this episode, you’ll learn the hidden thought pattern that fuels anxiety, depression, anger, and emotional reactivity — and how to break free from it. Our brains create stories to protect us, but sometimes those stories become…

9. 

   E227 · 23 Jan 2026 · 14 min

   How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

   Want to learn how to stop comparing yourself to others? Jealousy is often seen as negative, but you can learn to deal with jealousy through curiosity and values work. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Sign up for my free Panic Attacks course: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/ending-panic-attacks-and-anxiety-attacks Jealousy and envy are emotions we all feel, especially when we get stuck in comparison—seeing someone confident or attractive and instantly wondering what’s wrong with us. But jealousy isn’t a…

10. 

    E235 · 15 Jan 2026 · 30 min

    The Neuroscience of ADHD and Emotional Dysregulation

    If you have ADHD and your emotions feel overwhelming, fast, or hard to control—you’re not broken, lazy, or “too sensitive.” In this episode of Therapy in a Nutshell, I explain the brain science behind ADHD and emotional dysregulation—including delayed prefrontal cortex development, dopamine and norepinephrine differences, rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), and why emotions can hit before your “brakes” have time to turn on. Learn the skills to regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Up to 70% of people with ADHD struggle with emotional…