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Think Act Be Podcast

Seth J. Gillihan

The Think Act Be podcast features conversations about finding happiness, peace, and connection. Clinical psychologist Seth Gillihan talks with his guests about ways to nourish your mind, body, and spirit. For one-on-one sessions with Seth Gillihan: sethgillihan.com/1-1-sessions For individual psychotherapy (in CA or DC) with Joel Minden: cbtchico.com

thinkactbe.substack.com

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August 5 · 56 min
264: Coping with Anticipatory Anxiety
Why is anxiety so common as you look to the future? Why do we tend to worry about things even though we know that worry is useless? And how can we stop dreading the future and start living more in the present? Joel and I explore these questions and more in this episode. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
July 1 · 46 min
263: How to Improve Your Self-Talk
How do you tend to speak to yourself—more like a friend or your worst critic? In this episode Joel and I explore why self-talk tends to be so negative, techniques for speaking to yourself more kindly, why it’s often hard to change negative views of yourself, and some of the many benefits of changing your internal speech. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
June 10 · 48 min
262: New Developments in Getting Off of Psychiatric Medications
It's often easier to start taking a psychiatric medication than to get off of it, or even to know when it's OK to stop. The Make America Healthy Again movement has highlighted this issue, which has long been neglected by the field of psychiatry. In this episode Joel and I discuss the widespread use of antidepressant medication, the risks and benefits of taking medication for psychiatric issue (especially depression), and a recent consensus statement on deprescribing psychiatric meds by the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
April 29 · 37 min
261: Free Yourself from Mental Health "Shoulds"
Learning techniques for managing your mental health can sometimes be a double-edged sword. As helpful as they might be, they can also become a kind of burden, especially when they get wrapped in “shoulds” and “have-to’s.” For example, maybe you tell yourself, “I should meditate more often,” or, “I have to get eight hours of sleep every night.” While those practices can be good for you, thinking you must adhere to them at all times can add unnecessary stress to your life. In this episode Joel and I discuss some of the common pitfalls in mental health self-care, why it’s easy to fall into them, and how to find greater balance. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
April 15 · 48 min
260: Reclaim Your Life From Social Media
Social media is great, except when it isn’t. Most of us enjoy what these platforms offer for entertainment and connection, and also find them hard to use in moderation. In this episode Joel and I explore what makes social media so addictive, some of the costs of excessive use, and the society-wide experiment that we’re unwittingly a part of. If you’re tired of spending much of your life stuck on a screen, try the behavioral strategies we discuss that can help you recapture more of your time and mental bandwidth. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
March 18 · 43 min
259: Free Yourself From Unnecessary Guilt
Guilt is a normal human emotion that everyone deals with at times, and it’s not a problem by itself—it can actually be quite helpful. But excessive guilt can take on an oversized role in your life. Maybe you feel guilty even when you did nothing wrong, or you can’t forgive yourself for an honest mistake, or for something that happened a long time ago. In this episode Joel and I explore where guilt comes from, when it’s useful, how to question it, and the best, most powerful ways to respond. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
February 19 · 43 min
258: Surprisingly Effective Ways to Manage Anxiety
Anxiety can be hard to manage, and many of our best attempts to reduce anxiety end up having the opposite effect. In this episode Joel and I explore surprisingly effective ways to deal with anxiety, from agreeing with your worries to stopping the things that seem like they're keeping you safe. With consistent practice, these techniques can make anxiety much more manageable. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
February 4 · 1 hr 2 min
257: Dealing with Heartbreaking Current Events
Disturbing recent events have left many of us reeling, especially the violence and killings in Minneapolis. In this episode Joel and I explore the coarsening of our public discourse, the distorting effects of elevating political allegiance above all else, and how to find solace in these troubling times. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
January 28 · 41 min
256: New Year's Resolutions 4-Week Check-in
New Year's resolutions are famously hard to keep. In this episode Joel and I explore why our resolutions don't tend to stick and what they might leave out for effective behavior change. Find out how you can set more useful resolutions that you're more likely to follow through on. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
January 7 · 37 min
255: What Actually Helps When You're Stuck in Worry
Worry is an understandable response when you’re not sure how something you care about is going to turn out. But worry can become self-perpetuating, eating up your mental bandwidth and creating unnecessary tension over things you can’t control. In this episode Joel and I share some of the best-tested approaches for freeing your mind from the trap of worry. For more daily practices to manage stress and worry all year, here’s the link to my latest book that Joel and I discussed: Your Daily Reset. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Dec 23, 2025 · 44 min
254: Pros and Cons of Using AI as Therapy
Many people are turning to AI for support, and even for therapy. These technologies are low-cost, seemingly empathic, always available, and draw on a vast store of knowledge. In this episode Joel and I explore the safety and effectiveness of AI as a therapist. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Dec 10, 2025 · 43 min
253: Less Thinking, More Action for Greater Well-Being
Changing your thoughts can be a powerful way to greater well-being. But too much of a focus on thinking can keep you stuck in your head and get in the way of meaningful action. In this episode Joel and I explore how to find the balance between the cognitive and the behavioral elements of CBT. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Nov 26, 2025 · 44 min
252: Practical Ways to Cope with Daily Hassles
How can you find more peace in each day, even when things aren't going exactly the way you want them to? Joel and I discuss many ways to cope with life's daily struggles, from changing our perspective to removing the source of predictable problems. You can't eliminate daily hassles, but you can experience a lot less stress and strain. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Nov 12, 2025 · 42 min
251: How to Get More Out of Every Therapy Session
Therapy is a big investment of time, finances, and energy. How can you make your time in therapy as productive as possible? How can you prepare for your sessions, and apply what you’ve learned to the rest of your life? And how do you choose a therapist in the first place? Joel and I explore these questions and more as we consider how you can get more out of every therapy session. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Nov 5, 2025 · 47 min
250: The Fear of Being Judged in Therapy
Therapy is a place where you can say things you wouldn't share anywhere else. But what if you're afraid of what your therapist is going to think of you? Joel and I explore common fears that come up in psychotherapy, what's behind them, and how to address them so they don't get in the way. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 29, 2025 · 40 min
249: How to Meet New People
There's nothing more important for your well-being than having good relationships. But countless people find themselves feeling isolated and alone, with few real friends. Joel and I explore effective ways to meet new people, including how to address common obstacles like anxiety and depression. Discover small, practical steps you can take toward building more connection in your daily life. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 21, 2025 · 40 min
248: Daily Practices for Managing Anxiety
Out-of-control anxiety can dominate your thoughts and direct your actions. In this conversation Joel and I explore many effective ways to tame anxiety so you can live more freely. Use these practices every day to loosen the grip of anxious thoughts and feelings and find greater peace. The practices we discuss come from my just-released book, Your Daily Reset. This guide offers 366 exercises for managing stress and anxiety, one for every day of the year. If you use one of these links, some of the purchase price will go toward supporting this podcast, at no additional cost to you: Amazon Bookshop . Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 8, 2025 · 38 min
247: Parenting Yourself Through Challenging Emotions
One of the hardest parts of being a parent is dealing with a child’s challenging emotions. Many of the same skills that help in your relationship with your child can also help in managing your own feelings. In this episode Joel and I explore how to diffuse difficult emotions rather than adding fuel to the fire, integrating firmness and warmth, and investing in a long-term relationship with yourself. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
#246
Oct 1, 2025 · 44 min
246: How to Change the Thoughts That Hurt Your Relationship
Your mental habits have a powerful effect on the health of your relationship. In this episode Joel and I explore some of the common cognitive distortions that can drive a wedge between partners, such as mind reading, personalizing, shoulding, and the blame bias. Discover how to recognize and see through these distortions. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 24, 2025 · 46 min
245: Emotional Intelligence and the Power of Awareness
What is emotional intelligence (EI)? Where does it comes from? And what are its benefits? Joel and I also discuss what you can do to increase your ability to recognize and work with emotions, whether your own or others'. Get full access to Think Act Be with Seth Gillihan at thinkactbe.substack.com/subscribe

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