Breaking Through with Dr. Shemena Johnson: Introduction

This is the introduction to a new series, "Breaking Through." In this series, Dr. Shemena will discuss the intricate patterns that shape our emotional landscape and help guide you toward breakthroughs for a more authentic self. Stay tuned ...

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hi, this is Dr Shemina Johnson of the podcast
Dark Matters with my new seriescalled Breaking Through.
In this series, we will diveinto those areas that will help
you to engage in a selfexploration about the influence
of family patterns and also howto develop internal resources
for change.

(00:26):
So here's to Breaking Through.
In my practice, I work withadult individuals and couples,

(00:54):
and a lot of the couples workends up being individual work,
and the reason for that isbecause, in order to have the
kind of relationship thatreaches happily ever after, it
does involve a personalmetamorphosis.
You know, individuals in mypractice are also from various
backgrounds and sexualorientations.
Some are psychologicallyoriented and for some, being in

(01:17):
therapy is a first timeexperience.
But the one theme that I havediscovered and witnessed and
observed in my practice is thatmany people have learned to find
ways to cope with stress,anxiety and depression in ways
that deprive themselves of theemotional sustenance that they
need.

(01:39):
When I went through my ownpsychological rebirth, where I
had to question and investigatethe ineffective and harmful ways
I learned to cope withstressors.
It was a combination of learnedbehaviors from family, culture
and society.
I didn't even realize that Ihad been experiencing anxiety
and bouts of depression until mylate twenties, which is longer

(02:00):
than I had imagined.
It was a revelatory moment forme because in that moment I
realized that I could helpmyself.
So I got into therapy and Istarted educating myself.
Besides the anxiety anddepression I have been
experiencing, I also developedthis kind of hardness about me.

(02:23):
I didn't know how to beemotionally sensitive or
self-aware of my actions.
I had learned to beinvulnerable, and the more
invulnerable you are, theharsher and harder you are with
others and even to yourself.
The model of strength and beinginvulnerable is what I learned.

(02:45):
I learned from family, Ilearned from my culture.
I got the message that you canbend, you can shift and you may
even explode, but you neverbreak down.
In a lot of ways it was avaluable coping mechanism
because, especially when yougrow up in tough environments
where there's consequences toexpressing emotions, not just

(03:05):
with family but also in theworld at large, but it can also
be ineffective when you becomean adult and you engage in
intimate and platonicrelationships from a place of
defense, and also when you'restarting to grow in your career,
you end up robbing yourself ofthe care and kindness that was

(03:26):
needed years ago.
The acknowledgement of theserealizations can become
breakthroughs in your ability toheal.
If you've only had the model ofinvulnerability, rather than
someone as vulnerable with needs, then how can you see yourself
as a whole person and begin toheal?
Everything is when youunderstand the ineffective parts

(03:49):
of yourself.
This is the beginning, a briefintro to a series of episodes
that I'll produce to help youlearn how to break through and
dive into those areas that willhelp you get in touch with your
needs, your fears and pain.
Engage in a self explorationabout the influence of family,

(04:11):
why you do the things you do,how to change harmful patterns
and develop the internalresources for change, because I
do believe there is power inunderstanding ourselves in light
of our circumstances.
Stay tuned.