Valuing your worthiness involves recognizing and appreciating your inherent value as a human being, independent of external factors or validation from others. By nurturing a positive relationship with yourself and honoring your inherent worth, you can cultivate a deeper sense of fulfillment, confidence, and resilience in all areas of your life.

Today, let’s welcome renowned relationship expert Vienna Pharaon. Vienna is a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of New York City’s most sought after relationship therapists. She has practiced therapy for over fifteen years and is the founder and owner of the group practice, Mindful Marriage and Family Therapy. 

Vienna and Mary touch on the essence of human existence and the dynamics of relationships. Explore the origins of our identity and the restorative power found in therapy and discover the delicate balance between self-assurance and vulnerability, and the importance of expanding our skill sets to navigate life's complexities. 

Together, they unpack the intricate landscape of emotional wounds that shape our interactions and perceptions. From the struggle with self-worth to the challenges of belonging and trust, we uncover the layers of our innermost struggles. Along the way, we challenge societal narratives and misconceptions about therapy, emphasizing the significance of genuine connections and emotional honesty.

Join us as we unravel the complexities of human emotion, relationships, and self-discovery in this transformative episode.

What We Discussed:

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 00:45 The Origins of You
  • 01:52 Being a therapist can be restorative for some
  • 05:08 The “I Got This” mindset
  • 06:34 Continue to expand your skill set
  • 19:35 It’s harder to say, “I’m not fine.”
  • 14:00 Our gifts come through our survival
  • 18:30 Origin is the first time we question our worth
  • 20:33 How do you become an effective listener?
  • 24:30 How your behavior is protecting you from something, always
  • 26:15 Do you understand yourself?
  • 28:11 The Worthiness Wound
  • 32:12 “I don’t want to be responsible for someone else.”
  • 35:54 How your story gets internalized makes a huge difference
  • 38:32 Can you handle someone else’s emotional baggage?
  • 39:41 The Belonging Wound
  • 44:58 “You’re so unique, just like everybody else.”
  • 46:50 We can rationalize things and still need to connect to our emotion about it
  • 51:18 The Trust Wound
  • 55:32 The Safety Wound
  • 56:39 How hard can origin work become?
  • 01:00:50 What are the good things to look for in a therapist?
  • 01:04:44 Misinformation about therapy on social media
  • 01:08:24 The narrative: “You didn’t get into this field to earn money.”   
  • 01:15:11 Unsolicited advice are never helpful
  • 01:18:59 You're intimidating because you're too masculine
  • 01:22:54 When embodied anger rises into our head
  • 01:28:37 When saying you’re not okay makes everyone else uncomfortable
  • 01:31:20 Can therapists self disclose to genuinely connect with clients?
  • 01:34:44 What is EMDR Therapy?
  • 01:37:32 Something is always happening at home
  • 01:41:36 How unexpressed emotions manifest into the body
  • 01:48:23 Relationships with our family can become complicated
  • 01:52:10 Sometimes, it’s easier for us to find ourselves in other people’s stories  
  • 01:56:21 A book about the final chapter in our life
  • 02:02:17 What is an End of Life Doula? 

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February 12, 2024 — Mary Shenouda
Tags: PODCAST