“Psychotherapist and Army Veteran with 30yrs experience. Host of YT Channel "Ask the Therapist," where I answer your mental health questions.”
I've been a clinical social worker for 30 years including the Army, which I joined at the age of 42. I host a YouTube Channel, "Ask the Therapist with Elaine Belson, LCSW," where I answer your mental health questions in under a minute. I regularly make podcast guest appearances and previously hosted my own podcast, "It's More Complicated Than You Think," about psychology in politics. See my website elainebelson.com for more information.
Changing minds takes more than information and reason. It takes insight, problem-solving and coping skills. I use a lot of analogies, idioms and 3-step strategies (I call mantras) that are relatable and useful. As a seasoned therapist and former theater major at NYU, I have the speaking skills to keep listeners engaged.
Sample Podcasts Topics:
Communication skills to save your relationship
Stop worrying forever
Stop people-pleasing and gain self-confidence
Why diets don't work and what does
How parents and teachers can get kids/teens to listen and cooperate
Stop stressing about _________ (fill in the blank).
How to put your past in the past
Sample Mantras:
"People have good reasons for making bad decisions."
"Chocolate or vanilla ice cream, that's easy, but most things in life we have mixed feelings about."
Like pain and hunger, feelings are a survival mechanism - information of a need or threat you're ignoring.
Anxiety is innate. Worrying is a choice.
"You don't have a crystal ball, but you can have a toolbox full of coping skills to take with you wherever you go."
"If setting boundaries and asserting yourself "makes things worse," it's because the other people can't handle it."
"No matter how much someone upsets you, you are still responsible for how you manage your feelings and express them."
Society is sending the wrong message: that human error is abnormal when, in reality, our cultural expectations are unrealistic.
I have expertise in the following topics: anger management, anxiety, coping with chronic pain, depression, domestic violence, eating disorders, grief/loss, low self-esteem, parenting, relationships, stress, substance abuse, trauma, women's issues, and work issues. I've provided trauma services for Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, bank robberies and military deployment. I'm trained in play therapy, and help children and teens cope with academic challenges, bullying, divorce, peer pressure and low self-esteem.
SEE MY WEBSITE elainebelson.com FOR AUDIO AND VIDEO SAMPLES
I answer your mental health questions. Elaine Belson has 30 years of clinical, military, political, and teaching experience. She's worked in private practice, community agencies, and hospitals. Ms. Belson joined the US Army as a Social Work Officer at 42. She deployed to Afghanistan in 2009, providing outpatient services and serving as Executive Officer for Medical Command. Ms. Belson has also served on various advisory boards, taught psychology at the college level, and held legislative positions in DC. NOTE: Advice given on this channel is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional psychological or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Questions and concerns about your mental health should be discussed with a qualified professional. Any use of this information is the sole responsibility of the listener. If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
