Hi! The episode today was taken from a live Dr. L did with a licensed therapist named Gilza Fort-Martinez, LMFT. Gilza is known as the “tough love healer,” and she assists women with rebuilding themselves after betrayal. She also specializes in life transitions and relationships. In this episode, Dr. L and Gilza discuss what it means to prioritize the Self and avoid Self-betrayal. They discuss assertiveness, boundaries, prioritizing the Self in relationships, and how the use of grounding and CBT can assist with putting yourself first.
On this episode you will also meet Dr. L’s friend, assistant, liaison, coordinator and podcast producer Zyanya Santana (AKA Zy) and learn how they met and what brought them together as friends and colleagues.
Enjoy the episode! And, if you would like to follow or get in touch with Gilza, her instagram handle is @toughlovehealer, and her website is gilzafort.com. And if you aren’t already following Dr. L you can @drcecilialopez on both tik tok and instagram. Also Please subscribe to this podcast so you may be alerted of new episodes, share it this episode or the podcast, and leave a review. Lastly, For guest bookings or business questions you may contact me, Zy, at contact@drcecilialopez.com, and if you would like therapy services with Cecilia starting October, you may contact Cecilia, and her email is cecilia@drcecilailopez.com. And don’t forget, Dr. L and Zy are both so grateful to share this space with you.
Hi! On this episode I discuss the power of believing you can handle stressors in the moment. This episode reviews the following points:
1) You can’t tell the future, and this is a luxury.
2) Being mindful of putting out fires that don’t exist.
3) Having faith that you can handle anything in the moment.
4) Challenge your thoughts (including questions to ask yourself in order to do so).
5) Noticing yourself creating imaginative worries of the future non judgmentally, and bringing yourself back to the present moment.
I will provide another episode with more details on challenging thoughts this month. I hope you found this helpful and I would love if you shared this episode, whether you’re listening on apple podcasts, Spotify or IGTV. If you’r not already following me on tip Tok or IG, my handle is @drcecilialopez on both. You can email me at cecilia@drcecilialopez.com if you’d like to inquire on therapy, and for business inquiries you can email my coordinator Zy, and her email is contact@drcecilialopez.com.
Hi! On this episode I breaks down how impactful what we consume can be on our mindset, mood and overall energy. Often when we hear someone discuss “what we consume,” we might think of what we eat, but I’m not just talking about nutrition from food. Im talking about what we consume through our other senses, like what we hear and see, which can include who we spend time with, what we watch through screens and what we hear through speakers and our headphones. In this episode I go over the following points:
1) Asking yourself if what you’re consuming makes you feel good from the get go?
2) Checking in with your body while consuming…once you feel low, gross, drained, uneasy, off, or the themes of your thoughts take a turn to the land of stress, you may have overindulged. Know when to switch what you consume or take a break from consuming at all.
3) It’s ok to consume things that are a little, ya know, haha, questionable. Such as me and my death metal and violent martial arts movies…but just like you’d have balance with junk food, have balance with that.
4) Know when something is out of alignment with you from the get go. Pay attention to your body the first few seconds to minutes while you go down this rabbit hole of instagram posts. Pay attention to your muscles, your jaw, your forehead, your stomach. Did they tighten up? Pay attention to your inner dialogue. Did the theme of how you think shift? Pay attention to your mood and energy? Did it just shift to low or anxious? If so, get out of there.
My name is Dr. Cecilia Lopez and I hope these tips and insights helped you. Please share this episode with someone you think would be interested, and if you’re not already following me please do so you can stay up to date with live events, workshops, therapy openings and more podcast episodes. My handles are @drcecilialopez on tik Tok and IG. I appreciate you so so much for listening.
Hi! This is a quick guided meditation for riding a crave or emotion wave. What does that mean? If you feel discomfort caused by stress, emotions or a craving and it feels overwhelming or you find yourself using energy to distract from it, then listen to this. It can be hard to sit and actually feel the discomfort of a craving or emotion, but having a guide may help. This 5 minute guide runs you through the tools to actually feel the discomfort. It takes much more energy to avoid/distract from “feeling our feels,” but actually feeling them isn’t very fun either, which is why this quick guide is presented to you, now.
Here is what we do in this short meditation:
-Mindful feeling
-Exercising controlled attention
-Belly breathing
-Mindful listening
-Mindful observation
-Mindful tasting
-Mindful smelling
-Active body relaxation and grounding
Repeat this short meditation as many times as you need. If you found this helpful please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and say hello on IG! 🙂 @drcecilialopez
EP 21- Managing Assumptions & Difficult Emotions: Using The Motto “Guess Less, Ask More, Wait & See”
Hello! On this episode Dr. L discusses her motto, “Guess less, ask more, wait and see.”
She discusses the following:
-The power of investigating and exploring to combat assumptions which cause anxiety, depression, anger, and any uncomfortable emotion in between.
-Being mindful of “filling in the gaps of the unknown” through future thinking, and how to keep your imagination in check (if it causes you anxiety or other uncomfortable emotions).
-Examples of exploring/asking questions to combat worrisome thoughts of the past, and waiting and see how things unfold to combat worrisome thoughts of the future.
If you enjoyed this episode please let Dr. L know in the comment section of her IGTV (where you can find this latest episode) on Instagram and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Don’t forget to give her a follow on IG and Tik Tok @drcecilialopez for more content on mental health and wellness. She is also accepting new therapy clients (California residents) and to inquire further you may email her at cecilia@drcecilialopez.com. For all other business inquiries please send an email to contact@drcecilialopez.com.
Hello! On this episode Dr. L discusses how mindset (thoughts, beliefs and self-talk) cause fears which may be hindering you from reaching your goals.
Dr. L discusses the power of language and choice, and how to use mindfulness and grounding to move through fears so you can build the life that you desire.
Information in this episode (3 Thinking Options) is from Dr. Cecilia Lopez’s TAKING CHARGE (G3R) PROGRAM ©
Hi! This episode focuses on riding the “waves” of cravings and uncomfortable emotions (which include uncomfortable feelings and body responses). In my clinical opinion, it is better to feel your emotions and feelings rather than stuffing them down OR acting them out impulsively. But how exactly do we do that? How can I feel my emotions without feeling like I’m losing it?
This episode covers how to feel discomfort in a way that is grounded and present. This can help with managing impulses as well as managing stress put on the body by “stuffing” our feelings down.
Head over to my IG to leave a comment under the IGTV video of this episode! You may also communicate with me via DM on IG or message me on Tik Tok (@drcecilialopez for both). I look forward to hearing from you!
-Dr. L
Welcome back! This is a “bite sized” episode that discusses the wonderful magic of free association journaling.
In a nutshell, this version of journaling has no rules…no limits…NO BOUNDARIES. In a sense, it’s word dump (or, dare I say, word vomit).
What’s the point of this? To bring the unconscious to the conscious. To unblock blocks. To process emotions. To help you reach your subconscious to find answers to your questions. To figure out what you want or don’t want. To figure out how you feel and why. Some people do this form of journaling before bed to reduce the “chatty mind.” You can do this style of journaling if you feel angry, anxious, burnt out, stressed, depressed, low, worried, frustrated, sad, confused, and even happy or excited!
Honestly, there are many reasons this technique poses as useful.
Basically, if you feel “off,” want to reflect, or feel completely fine, give this style of journaling a go so that you can explore yourself.
Let me know how it went on IG! @drcecilialopez
As always, I appreciate you listening! Let’s keep in touch!
Special Delivery! I present to you a recording of a LIVE guided meditation from my Tuesday morning meditation group.
To skip the intro go to 4:16. 🙂
I decided to record this session and share it with you all here as the group is now paused until June 2021, so I wanted members to have something to utilize until then and also to share it with non members. 🙂
We start out with a paired progressive muscle relaxation to get us in the zone, then I guide you through a smooth mindful meditation.
Feel free to lay flat or sit up on the floor or in a chair. Headphones are not required!
Let me know if this meditation was helpful. I appreciate you for listening and sharing this space with me!
IG and Tik Tok @drcecilialopez
Today’s episode is VERY special as I had the privilege of being a guest on another fab podcast called Fitness Mindset Podcast with Maximos George, and he was gracious enough to let me share the episode with YOU.
A little about the Maximos:
Maximos George is a fitness coach who is passionate about movement. He has a diverse background including bodybuilding, calisthenics, martial arts, theatre and eastern practices, and his background influences him to create a more holistic approach to physical training. Maximos doesn’t see fitness as just a means to a dream physique, but more of a practice to improve ourselves overall by increasing mental and physical strength while challenging the body and mind. Through his teachings, he helps people get physically and mentally stronger while simultaneously building a physique that functions as good as it looks.
On this episode we cover the following topics:
-Our description of mindfulness
-How to use mindfulness during the fitness journey (especially when experiencing challenges)
-Mindful eating and how this may help with portion control
-Riding waves of craving and emotions with mindfulness
Please give Maximos a follow on IG @MaximosGeorge_ and TikTok @Maximos_George and check out his p
Enjoy!
I am pleased to bring to you the wonderful, Janet Fouts!
Janet is a Human Potential Facilitator, mindfulness-based emotional intelligence coach and trainer, she brings the tools of mindfulness, positive psychology and emotional intelligence together to help leaders and their teams realize their full potential.
She’s authored 7 books and hosts two podcasts. Mindful Social Business and Nearly Mindful.
In this episode we discuss the following topics:
-Janet’s definition of mindfulness
-An activity to demonstrate mindfulness
-The importance off “anchoring ourselves”
-Shifting to a nonjudgmental attitude
-Janet’s path to becoming an author and coach
-Significant shifts/transformations she has witnessed after teaching mindfulness
-Using mindfulness to improve feelings of procrastination, stress and burnout
-Using mindfulness to recognize compulsive behaviors as the first step to curbing them
-Strategies for managing social media consumption
-Riding the “crave wave” to manage addictive cravings (a mindfulness technique)
-Recognizing the ego
-Actionable tips for practicing mindfulness
Janet can be found on IG, FB and Twitter @jfouts. You may also find her on her websites: http://nearlymindful.com and
http://janetfouts.com
Please, check her out!
Happy New Year’s Eve! I wanted to provide a calm, short and informative episode to help us all welcome in the new year. On this solo episode I discuss the following:
-Mindful methods that helped me get through 2020
-How to use our breath and senses to anchor us when feeling mentally or emotionally overwhelmed
-What it means to navigate stressors in a mindful fashion
I appreciate each and every one of you and I am so excited to move through 2021 with you!
On this episode I had the privilege of speaking with Michael Arterberry, Master Encourager, and Dynamic Motivational Speaker.
As a teenager, Michael was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion. For more than 25 years, he has been helping teens and adults to use what they have gone through as a catalyst for success rather than an obstacle for failure.
Michael received the 2010 USA Network’s Characters Unite Award for exceptional commitment to combating prejudice and discrimination while increasing tolerance and acceptance within the community. He is also the recipient of the 2014 100 Men of Color Award for leadership in education, government, mentorship, entrepreneurial success and community service.
In 2008, Michael founded Youth Voices Center, Inc. a non-profit with the mission of helping young people to become active, productive members of society by overcoming their obstacles, their history, stereotypes and even their own self-image and limiting beliefs.
Join us as we discuss what it means to regain control of your beliefs and behaviors, as well as use adversity to fuel our motivation.
“Be encouraged!”
-Michael Arterberry
Enjoy!
Whoooaaa! I’M BACK! In this episode I discuss the following:
-My random hiatus (lol)
-The realizations that brought me to two life changes (one of which being a big milestone)
-My thoughts of building the life you desire
-What’s to come for this podcast
Hi! In this episode I had the privilege of interviewing my dear friend, Erika Cadenas, licensed marriage and family therapist. She brings us 7 self-care tips to help us boost and maintain a balanced mind, body and soul as we continue to navigate through these difficult times during the pandemic. This episode covers the following:
-Creating structure and a routine
-Getting plenty of sleep
-Staying connected to sources of support
-Disengaging from social media
-Practicing positive affirmations
-Practicing mindfulness
-Practicing empathy and kindness with self
Erika Cadenas can be reached via erikacadenaslmft.com and through IG @erikacadenaslmft. Please feel free to reach out to her or myself with any questions. And we are both accepting new therapy clients! 🙂
In this episode I discuss the following:
-A brief description on what Imposter Syndrome is
-My perspective on this syndrome from a cognitive behavioral and schema therapy framework
-Educational information on ways to move THROUGH the thoughts and feelings associated with imposter syndrome
-How to “build the faith” in your capabilities, competencies, skills and overall worth
For anyone who listens to this, know that I appreciate you SO much.
Dr. L
Expressing gratitude or having gratitude themed thoughts is one of the fastest ways to shift your mood, raise your vibrations and revamp your experiences. Take less than 10 minutes of your day to lay down, get cozy, and lift your mood with this guided meditation.
If you struggle with feeling fearful, anxious or nervous, this episode is for you. This is a short, to-the-point guide on how to ground yourself, shift your mind and what to do with the uncomfortable energy fear creates. More specifically, this episode covers the following:
-My clinical/professional perspective on what FEAR is
-How fear becomes ANXIETY
-How to quickly ground yourself and gently move to a “REST” state
-How to reframe the thoughts which fuel FEAR ENERGY
-How to burn and MOVE fear energy
Let me know what you found helpful from the episode on my IG or FB @drcecilialopez, and please share!
This episode covers the following:
-The difference between stress and anxiety
-Controlling responses to stressors with mindfulness
-Controlling responses to stressors with thought reframing
-Examples of acceptance versus thought reframing and why these are helpful
This is a bonus episode that is unlike my other episodes, in that I am not providing much info on a topic, and instead I am guiding you through a paired progressive muscle relaxation.
To skip the intro, fast forward to 5:25.
You may do this exercise when feeling anxious, panicked, angry, irritable, agitated, overwhelmed, stressed, tense, or are struggling with an overactive mind or falling asleep
This exercise focuses on reducing cortisol (our stress hormone) and activating the parasympathetic system (our “rest and digest” state).
Enjoy!
In this episode you will learn what the symptoms of general anxiety are according to the DSM-5, and hear my insights on each criterion. This episode also provides tips on grounding your mind to the present moment and other suggestions for starting or continuing your anxiety management journey.
This episode covers the following:
-How mindfulness can be used to maintain better hygiene and awareness of what we touch as we navigate COVID-19
-How mindfulness can help improve awareness and caution while around others
-How mindfulness can help us keep our mind grounded to the moment and control future thinking (including worrisome thinking) and dwelling on the past
-Examples of practicing mindfulness with day-to-day activities such as eating and washing dishes
-My professional insights on how mindfulness can improve control over our mind (versus our mind being in control of us)
In this second episode you will hear my perspective on having a mindfulness practice and how this can help with managing thoughts which contribute to anxiety, depression and anger (and the physiological features associated with these emotions). Hear me use metaphors to assist with explaining mindfulness as well as explain ways you, the listener, can start practicing mindfulness today with day-to-day activities to promote presence, balance and wellness. Enjoy!
*Learn about the “Monkey Mind”
*Learn how to control reactions with mindfulness
*Learn how to notice your own thoughts in order to control emotions
*Learn about using the 5 senses to remain present
In this first episode you will meet Dr. Cecilia Lopez and learn what this show is all about, as well as her take on mindful living.