In this candid episode of 'The Virtual Couch,' host Tony Overbay, LMFT, is joined by his colleague, Nate Christensen, APCC. Together, they dissect the trend highlighted in a recent article titled "U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Highs" https://news.gallup.com/poll/505745/depression-rates-reach-new-highs.aspx while discussing their theories and experiences dealing with mental health in their therapy practices. Tony starts by explaining his theory that the brain, constantly analyzing for threats, signals us through anxiety and depression that it's time to address negative aspects of our lives. Both Tony and Nate emphasize that these signals, as tough as they are, are not enemies but signs that push us toward positive changes.

The discussion then navigates through various types of depression, the prevalent causes, and contributing factors, shedding light on the increased depression rates despite an uptick in societal mental health awareness. Nate shares his experience of dealing with depression and anxiety, leading to an in-depth discussion about different therapy approaches, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Finally, they explore the benefits of medication and newer therapy forms, like psychedelic-assisted therapy. All throughout, the underlying message is clear: If you're struggling, seek help. You're not broken, you're human, and this journey is discovery and transformation.

To learn more about Tony's upcoming re-release of the Magnetic Marriage course, his Pathback Recovery course, and more, sign up for his newsletter through the link at https://linktr.ee/virtualcouch

To learn more about Jeff Dickamore and Aurora Florence's crow-funded movie "Too Soon" from episode 386, visit http://wefunder.com/toosoon and be a part of the change in independent filmmaking. You can find Jeff and Aurora on Instagram at the production company’s account @stnormajean as well as on their individual accounts @auroraflorence and @jeffdickamore and go check out the Dating After Death podcast Jeff and Aurora mentioned at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dating-after-death/id1614164834

To learn more about Tony's upcoming re-release of the Magnetic Marriage course, his Pathback Recovery course, and more, sign up for his newsletter through the link at https://linktr.ee/virtualcouch

Inside ACT for Anxiety Disorder Course is Open! Visit https://praxiscet.com/virtualcouch Inside ACT for Anxiety Disorders, Dr. Michael Twohig will teach you the industry-standard treatment anxiety-treatment experts use worldwide. Through 6 modules of clear instruction and clinical demonstrations, you will learn how to create opportunities for clients to practice psychological flexibility in the presence of anxiety. 

After completing the course material, you'll have a new, highly effective anxiety treatment tool that can be used with every anxiety-related disorder, from OCD to panic disorder to generalized anxiety disorder.

And follow Tony on the Virtual Couch YouTube channel for a sneak preview of his upcoming podcast "Murder on the Couch," where True Crime meets therapy, co-hosted with his daughter Sydney. You can watch a pre-release clip here https://youtu.be/-RkRq8SrQy0

Subscribe to Tony's latest podcast, "Waking Up to Narcissism Q&A - Premium Podcast," on the Apple Podcast App. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/waking-up-to-narcissism-q-a/id1667287384

Go to http://tonyoverbay.com/workshop to sign up for Tony's "Magnetize Your Marriage" virtual workshop. The cost is only $19, and you'll learn the top 3 things you can do NOW to create a Magnetic Marriage. 

You can learn more about Tony's pornography recovery program, The Path Back, by visiting http://pathbackrecovery.com And visit http://tonyoverbay.com and sign up to receive updates on upcoming programs and podcasts.

Tony mentioned a product that he used to take out all of the "uh's" and "um's" that, in his words, "must be created by wizards and magic!" because it's that good! To learn more about Descript, click here https://descript.com?lmref=bSWcEQ