May 3, 2024 • 31 mins
Journey through the insights of a decade-long therapy practice, where we talk about self-acceptance, the power of being truly heard, and the art of creating a safe space for your emotions. In this session, we go beyond the surface-level and into the heart of personal growth and healing, revealing how protective mechanisms can evolve into barriers and how the simple act of being acknowledged can be transformative.
We'll talk about how aligning your actions with your core self can lead to fulfillment and the unexpected ways in which mindfulness can break cycles of mindlessness. I'll share the profound implications of addressing personal trauma, not just for individual well-being, but for societal change, emphasizing the ripple effect of healing on the fabric of our communities. By adjusting our boundaries, refocusing our motivation, and reevaluating our life's perspective, we'll explore how each step on this path is an opportunity for forgiveness and a testament to our resilience as humans. Join us for a conversation that's as much about rediscovering the self as it is about forging the path to a more mindful and connected society.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome back to Mind Manners.
This is Albert, and today I'mtaking a bit of a personal turn.
After more than a decade ofpracticing therapy and being a
therapist, I've learned a thingor two, not just about
psychology, but about theessence of what makes us truly
human, things that they don'tteach you in school.
So grab your coffee, settle inand let's dive into a decade of
(00:22):
discoveries about ourselves.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
You're listening to Mind Manners, hosted by licensed
psychotherapist Albert Nguyen.
Albert helps his clientsovercome past trauma, change
their mindset and acceleratetheir personal and professional
development.
This podcast covers a widerange of mental health and
self-development topics, witheach episode offering an
actionable step towards a betteryou.
(00:45):
If you're on a wellness journey, keep listening.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
As I reflect on my work in therapy, I realize how
much each patient has enrichedmy understanding of human
psychology.
I'm often overwhelmed withgratitude for the privilege and
trust they place in me.
Each person, no matter theirage, adds invaluable insights to
my knowledge base, insightsthat not only help them but also
help others along my journey ofproviding therapy.
(01:11):
I could easily fill a book witheverything I've learned, and
one day I will.
Saying that I've seen over athousand individuals and
families throughout my practicefeels like an understatement.
It feels much more significant.
I've had the honor of workingintimately with people from all
walks of life, people you and Iwould most likely never meet in
(01:33):
our regular lives from childrenand teenagers to adults, from
those who are homeless to thoseincarcerated for violent crimes,
and even CEOs and doctorsincarcerated for violent crimes
and even CEOs and doctors.
Each person has contributed tomy ever-growing understanding of
human psychology.
I like to believe that I'vebeen given a large sample size,
(01:54):
allowing me to create anevolving avatar that represents
the broad spectrum of humanpsychology.
It's a challenging task, buttoday I want to focus on
distilling this experience into12 critical lessons.
These are insights that Ibelieve can offer everyone a
deeper understanding ofthemselves and others.
So let's dive into these 12lessons that a decade of therapy
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has taught me about being human.
Each of these lessons reflectsa core truth that I've come to
understand deeply through myexperiences and observations in
the therapy room, and they helpguide my travels in my work with
others.
So let me take you into theprivate quarters of my mind as a
therapist.
The first lesson is aboutunderstanding the longevity of
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our emotions and behaviorsbeyond the situations that
initially triggered them.
I've observed how often peopleremain depressed or anxious long
after a particular event haspassed.
It's fascinating, yet alsoquite revealing.
These emotions and thebehaviors they inspire carry
over into new situations,continuously affecting lives.
(03:03):
Here is something I findincredibly important to
recognize All of our behaviors,no matter how destructive or
unhelpful they might seem,originally served a purpose.
They were meant to support us,even the ones you feel ashamed
of or frustrated by At somepoint.
These behaviors were likely anappropriate response.
(03:23):
They were probably a veryclever and strategic way of
taking care of yourself when youcouldn't meet your needs in
other, more constructive andhealthy ways.
The challenge I often see isthat many of us carry these same
behaviors well into the future,years after, whatever triggered
it, and most of the time it'sbrought to your attention
because it no longer is servingyou anymore and rather it's
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causing current issues.
That's okay.
This acknowledgement is thefirst step In therapy.
We work to help identify thesepatterns and cultivate new
choices, new ways of thinkingand add any resources that may
be useful.
The goal is to manage yourexperiences differently and more
effectively now that theoriginal situations have changed
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or no longer apply.
This leads me to my next lesson.
It's about what people trulyseek from therapy, beyond just
solutions.
Most people come to therapythinking they want solutions to
their problems.
It's a natural expectation,after all, when we feel pain or
discomfort, it's a naturalexpectation.
After all, when we feel pain ordiscomfort, our instinct is to
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find a way to stop it.
But through my years ofexperience, I've seen that what
most people think they wantversus what they really need is
something quite different.
Solutions are often clear andsimple, but that's not what most
people need.
What many need is the experienceof being seen and heard, the
emotional release of letting goby, being courageously and
relentlessly transparent, oftalking openly, of being
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genuinely listened to.
It's about the emotionalfreedom that comes from being
able to voice thoughts andfeelings that are private, often
painful and sometimes evenshameful.
This act of expressing oneself,of unburdening one's deepest
fears and secrets, can itself beincredibly healing.
It's this emotional experience,the ability to free a very
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private, often hidden emotionalpart of themselves that brings
the most relief andtransformation.
This isn't just about findingquick fixes.
It's about creating a spacewhere individuals feel safe
enough to be real in order toexplore the depths of their
emotions and begin the processof healing.
This lesson highlights thetherapeutic power of simply
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being present with someone,without judgment or the rush to
fix things.
As therapists, my role is hardlyever to provide answers, but
rather to facilitate anenvironment where people can
find their own path to healingthrough expression and
acceptance.
The impact of having a safespace to express oneself is
profound, and it sets the stagefor deeper work in therapy.
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With that said, havingdiscussed the healing power of
expression, this naturally leadsme to reflect on another
fundamental but oftenmisunderstood aspect of our
psychological journeyself-acceptance.
This next lesson is close to myheart and vital for anyone on a
path of personal growth.
As a therapist, I strive tocreate a psychologically safe
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space for you to truly be youand accept you as you are so
that we can do the deep workneeded.
But in reality, I'm really onlysetting the example for you to
move towards self-acceptance andfeel safe within yourself to
integrate all parts of you intoa complete whole.
Self-acceptance is a term thatis so often tossed around in
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self-help books and motivationalspeeches that it might seem a
bit cliche.
Yet it's a core concept thatmany of us struggle with deeply.
Throughout my years of practice, I've seen countless
individuals betray themselves inthe pursuit of external
achievements, chasing careers,grades and social acceptance,
all while moving further awayfrom their true selves.
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We're not taught to know moreabout ourselves and to reflect
on what we really care about orwant, and to think and plan for
that version of life.
Many of my patients come in notreally knowing what they want.
It's not because they haven'tthought about it.
It's because they've nevergiven themselves the space to
truly listen to their ownthoughts, to feel deeply or to
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get in touch with who they are.
We live in a society thatdoesn't always cultivate our
unique qualities.
Instead, we're often pushedtoward a generic version of
success that might not alignwith our personal values or
desires and what are seen asflaws in one person in place
might be beautiful and amazingin another.
It's often a revelation theidea that you don't need to
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undergo a personality transplantto find contentment,
fulfillment and love, becausewho you are right now is enough.
Most of us just have beendeterred from accessing our
ability to actualize and makeuse and optimize our natural
selves because we've beenplaying someone else's game, and
not only that, we've adoptedmessages and ways of thinking
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along the way that isn't evenhelping us.
Self-acceptance isn't aboutperfection or stopping growth.
It's about recognizing ourintrinsic worth and learning to
belong to ourselves so that wecan actually grow and cultivate
that internal relationship.
It's about seeing that the realgame is inward and
understanding that contentmentcomes from embracing and
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deepening that relationship withwho we are at our core, not who
we think we should be.
Now that we've discussed thesignificance of self-acceptance,
let's shift our focus to atopic that naturally extends
from understanding ourselvesbetter, our values.
This next lesson revolvesaround the importance of knowing
and aligning with what we trulyvalue in life.
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Over the years as a therapist,I've noticed a common disconnect
in many people's lives a gapbetween what they say they value
and what their actions reflect.
It's surprisingly common to seethis incongruence, and it can
lead to significantdissatisfaction and conflict,
both internally and inrelationships.
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From a psychological standpoint, values are the principles that
guide our behavior.
They are the benchmarks bywhich we measure our actions.
According to psychologicalresearch, particularly in the
field of cognitive behavioraltherapy, clarifying your values
is a critical process that helpsyou determine what is truly
important to you, which, in turn, can influence your goals,
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actions and decisions.
When you align your actionswith your values, you will
experience higher levels ofsatisfaction and well-being.
This isn't just about feelinggood.
It's about the coherencebetween your actions and your
deeper self, which significantlyaffects your psychological
health.
But how do we begin thisprocess of value clarification?
It starts with self-reflectionand self-awareness, going beyond
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surface-level desires andgetting to the heart of what
makes you feel fulfilled andpurposeful.
This might involve reassessingyour goals, questioning your
current life choices or simplytaking time to reflect on what
feelings and activities give youa sense of true satisfaction.
Here's an example.
A lot of my patients havesimilar goals that might
resonate with you.
They think they value successin a high-powered job because
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someone or somewhere in societysays it's important.
But upon deeper reflection, youmight realize that what you
really value is connection withyour family, making a positive
impact, or creativity in yourwork.
Recognizing this can shift howyou prioritize your time and
energy, leading to moremeaningful and satisfying life
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choices.
Let's pivot to a concept that'sessential for actualizing those
values in our day-to-day livesMindfulness.
Most of us suffer frommindlessness.
We're often not here right now.
In our present moments, we'rein the past or the future.
So here's the thing.
I have said this many timesbefore and I will say it again
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here.
If I could choose just oneskill for everyone to practice
that will improve their mentalhealth, it's mindfulness.
Not meditation, but mindfulness.
There is power in intentionallycreating more mindful moments
and breaking the cycle ofmindlessness.
Mindfulness might seem like abuzzword these days, but its
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psychological benefits are welldocumented.
It's about being present in themoment, truly engaged with
what's happening right now,rather than being caught up in
thoughts of the past or future.
In session, I often act aspeople's awareness.
I see things for them, I ampresent for them and I bring
whatever I observe, what theyfeel and think, into the here
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and now.
I do this to encourage them todevelop this in themselves the
ability to check themselves.
I remember a session where Inoticed my patient just staring
out the window, fidgeting andmaking small talk about the
weather.
It was one of those momentswhere they felt a bit lost.
I noticed it and asked a simpleyet profound question that most
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people often overlook what'shappening for you right now?
At first, most peopleautomatically begin talking
about events of the week orfuture plans, but I often try to
redirect them to come back tothe room with me emphasizing how
are you right now, in thismoment, what's happening for you
?
This practice of checking inwith ourselves is incredibly
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valuable.
It helps break the cycle ofmindlessness, where we operate
on autopilot, disconnected fromour feelings and surroundings.
By cultivating moments ofmindfulness, we start to notice
the subtle yet significantaspects of our current
experiences, which can lead togreater clarity, reduced anxiety
and a deeper connection toourselves and the world around
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us.
It starts with simple practices, perhaps setting reminders or
pairing mindful moments withthings we typically already do
on a daily basis, like eating ordrinking coffee, just to pause
a few times a day to breathedeeply and observe our thoughts
and feelings without judgment.
Over time, these mindfulmoments can become a natural
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part of our routine, enhancingour overall mental health and
well-being.
Mindfulness not only enrichesour personal experiences, but
also enhances our interactionswith others by making us more
attentive and empathetic.
This takes us into my nextlesson.
I think working on ourselves andimproving who we are is not
just a privilege, but should bemandatory and a personal
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responsibility, because we areall part of a bigger whole.
What we do is not just aboutourselves.
Doing your own personal work isnot only a privilege, but also
an act of ethical and moralobligation and, not to mention,
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it's an act of social justiceand an investment in the world
around us.
Throughout my practice intherapy, a recurring sentiment
among patients is a sense ofguilt for seeking therapy.
Some feel that their problemsare trivial compared to the
larger, more visible tragediesin the world.
They often ask who am I tocomplain when my life is so
comfortable?
In many ways, this brings us toa critical realization
Suffering and privilege are notmutually exclusive.
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Yes, those of us who can accesstherapy are privileged in many
ways compared to much of theworld.
We don't have to worry aboutstarving, finding clean water or
a safe shelter or have bombsfalling overhead.
Most of us can provide basicnecessities for our families.
These are undeniable privileges.
But here's a pivotal pointbeing privileged does not
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diminish our own suffering orthe validity of our emotional
experiences.
In fact, I would argue that ourprivilege gives us not just the
opportunity, but the obligationto do our own personal work.
By healing our traumas andmaladaptive behaviors, we are in
a stronger position tocontribute positively to our
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immediate surroundingscompassionate and
psychologically sound ways, themore we can positively influence
others and improve broadersocial circumstances.
From this perspective, engagingin personal development and
therapy is indeed a privilege,but it is also a moral
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responsibility and profound actof social justice and an
investment in making the world abetter place.
So understand this you are morethan just you.
You are connected to a networkof living things where you have
the power to affect change.
By healing ourselves, we canstop the transmission of
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intergenerational traumas,empower our communities and even
impact larger societal issues.
It's about recognizing ourcapacity for both good and evil
and choosing to cultivate thegood through self-awareness and
healing, and I want us all to beaware of that.
Understanding the rippleeffects of our personal healing
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journey helps frame our nextdiscussion.
As we continue to explore theimpacts of our inner work, let's
now turn to a critical aspectof psychological health that
profoundly affects many, andthat's trauma.
I've been working with traumathroughout my personal life and
through my work with patients.
One key insight about thenature of trauma is that it's
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not necessarily the traumaticevents themselves that are most
damaging.
Rather, it's what happensafterward.
It's the struggle of processingand integrating these traumatic
experiences that can lead toprolonged suffering and negative
outcomes.
When an individual, whetheradult or child, is properly
supported through their trauma,given the space to feel their
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feelings, make meaning of theirexperiences and process them
both psychologically andphysiologically, they can move
forward in constructive andadaptive ways.
This support is crucial forhealing.
However, this isn't always thecase, so when this support of
processing and integration don'thappen, that's when we often
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see the long-lasting negativeimpacts of trauma.
Without these processes,individuals might struggle with
unresolved emotional andphysiological responses that can
affect their functioning andquality of life.
Effective trauma work andhealing involves several key
components Therapeutic support,safe environments for expression
and strategies for emotionalregulation.
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These elements help individualsnot only confront and manage
their trauma, but also integratethese experiences into their
lives without being overwhelmedby them.
Our trauma does not have to be alife sentence, and working on
our healing is necessary,because how we do one thing is
often the way we do many things,so if you're still engaging in
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trauma responses and patterns,it might be impacting a large
part of your life.
This is an observation thatmight seem simple on the surface
, but reveals deep truths aboutourselves.
So let's talk about lessonnumber eight.
A fascinating aspect of humanbehavior that I've observed in
therapy is the principle thatthe way we do one thing is often
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the way we do many things.
This idea suggests that ourdaily habits and choices how we
eat, spend money or evenapproach exercise can reveal
larger patterns in how we seeand move through the world.
By examining how we manageroutine activities, we can
uncover significant clues abouthow we approach life in general.
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Consider how you manage time,for example.
Someone who is always rushing,even when there's no need, might
be expressing a broader patternof impatience or a fear of
stillness and reflection.
Or think about how you handletasks like cleaning your home.
Do you tackle it methodicallyor do you clean in frantic
bursts?
This might mirror how youmanage stress and projects at
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work, either with steadyattention or sporadic bursts of
energy.
Even your social media usagecan be telling.
Do you carefully curate whatyou share, or are you
spontaneous and open?
This behavior could reflect howyou manage personal boundaries
and privacy in the broadercontext of your life.
Identifying these patterns isn'tjust an exercise in
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introspection.
It has practical implications.
By understanding the why behindour daily choices, we can start
to align our actions moreclosely with our true values and
goals.
This awareness allows us tomodify behaviors that might be
holding us back from a morebalanced and fulfilling life.
For example, if you recognize apattern of over-committing
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yourself socially to avoiddowntime, you might start to
carve out intentional quietperiods in your schedule, which
could improve your overallwell-being and reduce stress.
Building on our understandingof behavioral patterns and their
insights into our lives, let'sconnect this to our earlier
discussion on trauma.
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Our next lesson explores acrucial element in both healing
from trauma and living awell-rounded life setting
boundaries.
This is often talked about, butmost of us are not good at
practicing it.
Boundaries are like theprotective unseen force fields
of our lives.
They encompass the physical,emotional, mental, spiritual and
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even financial aspects of ourexistence.
They are dynamic, spiritual andeven financial aspects of our
existence.
They are dynamic, adaptingmoment to moment, situation to
situation and person to person.
Properly set and maintainboundaries keep us safe, whole
and contribute to our physicaland psychological health.
The more aware we are withwhat's important to us and who
we are at the core, the moreeasily we can assert our
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boundaries.
I often tell my patients thatbeing assertive and setting
boundaries are one in the same,and it's about learning how to
teach ourselves and others howto respect who we are.
In the context of trauma,boundaries take on an even more
significant role.
For those who have experiencedtrauma, establishing and
asserting boundaries can be acrucial step in the healing
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process.
It helps in creating a safespace where one can process and
integrate traumatic experienceswithout feeling overwhelmed or
re-traumatized.
Learning what your individualboundaries are and how to assert
them isn't just aboutprotecting yourself.
It's about building afoundation for a healthy,
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well-lived life.
It empowers you to control yourinteractions and the influence
others have on your mental andemotional well-being.
So how can we effectivelyestablish these boundaries?
You guessed it it starts withself-awareness.
It's about recognizing yourlimits in various areas of your
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life.
Then it's about clearlycommunicating these boundaries
to others, ensuring theyunderstand and respect your
needs.
This might involve saying nomore often, choosing to step
back in certain relationships orprioritizing self-care.
This leads me to a veryimportant lesson.
That is often a primarycomplaint I hear, and honestly,
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I'm tired of hearing it.
It's a topic surrounded bymisconceptions.
It's a common catchphrase intherapy and everyday
conversations.
I hear people say they lackmotivation, but here's a
perspective shift I'd like tooffer.
Motivation doesn't just stop,it's always present.
The real issue isn't theabsence of motivation, but
rather its direction.
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Many of us struggle not withmotivation itself, but with
misdirected motivation.
This means our energy and driveare often channeled towards
habits or goals that aren'tactually aligned with what we
truly want.
Instead of helping us moveforward, our motivation gets
caught up in cycles ofcompulsive behaviors and
impulses.
Think about it how often haveyou found yourself engaging in
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mindless activities that killstime, or pursuing something only
to realize it doesn't trulyresonate with your deeper
desires?
This is what I mean when I saywe give up our sovereignty every
day.
When I say we give up oursovereignty every day, we give
up our power to govern ourselveseffectively.
We let misaligned goals dictateour actions rather than
steering our motivation towardsmeaningful and fulfilling
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pursuits.
It's not about findingmotivation.
It's about redirecting it.
To deepen our understanding ofmotivation and how we can
redirect it.
Let's consider a powerfulanalogy.
The mind is like a reflexmuscle it responds and reacts.
It's selective and acts like aspotlight.
This spotlight illuminatescertain aspects of our
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experiences while leaving othersin the dark, and, essentially,
wherever our mind focuses, ourbody follows.
This interconnection shows justhow pivotal our mental focus is
to directing our motivation.
When our mind's spotlight isaimed at compulsive behaviors or
misaligned goals, our energyand actions follow suit, often
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betraying us and leading us awayfrom our true values and goals.
However, when we recalibratewhere our mental spotlight
shines, focusing on what trulymatters to us, we align our
motivation with our deepervalues and aspirations.
This understanding helps us seethe importance of being
deliberate about where we allowour mental focus to dwell.
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It's about consciously choosingto spotlight the activities and
goals that resonate with ourtrue selves.
By doing so, we ensure that ourmotivation is not misdirected,
but is a powerful force drivingus toward true fulfillment and
success.
Start by asking yourself whatam I consistently putting effort
into?
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Does this reflect what Igenuinely value and how I want
to show up in the world?
If not, it's time to reconsiderwhere your energy is going as
we become adept at controllingthe spotlight of our mind, we
harness the true power ofmotivation.
Redirecting motivation requiresmindful and conscious effort.
It involves waking up out ofautopilot and being clear about
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our values and aligning it withour goals and breaking them down
into realistic daily practices.
It also means being mindful ofour impulses and compulsions and
recognizing when they'resteering us off course Up.
Next, let's talk aboutperspective, specifically how we
interpret and give meaning toour experiences, because this
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really matters.
A profound realization in myyears as a therapist is that we
are fundamentally meaning-makingmachines.
Every day, we encountercountless stimuli and situations
that in themselves, are neutral.
It's we who define, constructand narrate these events into
the stories that make up ourlives.
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Think about it there areendless perspectives to what we
think we know.
Nothing is absolute.
Every event, every interactiondoesn't come with built-in
meaning.
We assign those meanings basedon our past experiences, our
values and our expectations.
This brings us to a criticalinsight.
There is never just oneinterpretation of any situation.
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It's not the events themselvesthat determine what we feel.
It's how we view them.
Our interpretations shape ouremotions and reactions, coloring
our world in distinct tonesthat are uniquely our own.
Understanding that we aremeaning makers empowers us to
question the stories we tellourselves.
Are they serving us well?
Are they limiting our growth orhappiness?
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By recognizing that we canchoose our interpretations, we
open up a space for moreadaptive and empowering
narratives by embracing our roleas narrators of our own lives.
Understand that we can't changethe past and what happened to
us, but we can rewrite thestories we tell ourselves and
how we tell it, and recognizingthat some of these stories no
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longer serve us, and perhapsonly then can we foster a richer
, more nuanced view of the world.
As we learn to interpret ourexperience in the present with
more flexibility andadaptability, we'll find that
our capacity for joy, resilienceand connection grows.
Let's pause for a moment.
I know that was a lot.
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As we near the end of today'ssession, I want to take a moment
to thank all of you who'vejoined me on this journey
through some of the profoundlessons learned over a decade of
therapy.
For our final discussion today,I want to introduce a topic
that we'll explore more deeplyin future sessions, a topic
that's both challenging andoften misunderstood Forgiveness.
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Forgiveness is a powerfulconcept in psychological healing
and personal growth, yet it isalso one of the hardest to grasp
fully.
Many people struggle with theidea that forgiving someone does
not necessarily mean you mustcontinue to have them in your
life.
I believe that forgiveness is achoice, not an obligation.
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You don't have to forgiveanyone.
It's something that should comefrom a place of personal
healing, not coercion.
And, importantly, forgivingsomeone who has hurt you doesn't
mean you have to open the doorto them again.
You can choose forgiveness foryour own peace and still choose
to keep that person out of yourlife.
This approach to forgivenessisn't about giving someone else
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a free pass.
It's about freeing yourselffrom the burden of ongoing
resentment and pain.
You can forgive and you canchoose what's best for your
continued well-being.
And there we have it.
As we close today's journeythrough these 12 vital lessons,
I want to leave you with athought that what we've explored
together is not a finalstatement, but rather part of an
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ongoing conversation.
Insight and wisdom evolve as wedo.
They adapt as we face newchallenges and embrace new joys
in life.
These lessons are snippets of aliving document that grows and
changes with us.
In our time together, we've seenthat therapy is more than just
theory-based or solution-focused.
It's fundamentally relational.
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The heart of therapy lies inthe relationship between
therapist and patient, a dynamicpartnership where both parties
are fellow travelers on thecomplex journey of life.
It's about removing obstacles,not fixing problems, allowing
for natural growth andself-actualization.
Therapy is a collaborative andnon-hierarchical alliance.
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It's essential to maintainprofessional boundaries, yet
it's equally important to fostera connection where both
therapist and patient learn andgrow.
Therapy is about confronting ourpersonal truths and hard topics
like death, isolation and thequest for meaning and freedom.
It's a space where spontaneityand creativity thrive, providing
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personalized care that evolvesover time to meet each
individual's unique needs.
The essence of effectivetherapy lies in our ability to
engage with each other in thehere and now, creating dynamics
that are not only healing withinthe therapy room but also
empowering outside of it.
Thank you for joining me today,and I hope you carry these
(30:20):
reflections into your own life,enriching your journey towards a
deeper understanding ofyourself and those around you.
Until next time, keep exploring, keep questioning and, most
importantly, keep growing.
Remember we are all in thistogether.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Thanks for tuning in to Mind Manners with Albert
Nguyen.
We hope you found value in thisepisode.
If you'd like to work withAlbert one-on-one, visit
OptiMindCounselingcom to learnmore about his private practice.
Looking to join a community oflike-minded individuals, search
Mind Manners Podcast Communityon Facebook and join our group
(30:56):
to connect with others on theirwellness journeys.
Finally, if you haven't alreadydone so, please write us a
five-star review on ApplePodcast and let us know you're
enjoying the show.
Hello and welcome back to Mind Manners.
This is Albert, and today I'mtaking a bit of a personal turn.
After more than a decade ofpracticing therapy and being a
therapist, I've learned a thingor two, not just about
psychology, but about theessence of what makes us truly
human, things that they don'tteach you in school.
So grab your coffee, settle inand let's dive into a decade of
(00:22):
discoveries about ourselves.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
You're listening to Mind Manners, hosted by licensed
psychotherapist Albert Nguyen.
Albert helps his clientsovercome past trauma, change
their mindset and acceleratetheir personal and professional
development.
This podcast covers a widerange of mental health and
self-development topics, witheach episode offering an
actionable step towards a betteryou.
(00:45):
If you're on a wellness journey, keep listening.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
As I reflect on my work in therapy, I realize how
much each patient has enrichedmy understanding of human
psychology.
I'm often overwhelmed withgratitude for the privilege and
trust they place in me.
Each person, no matter theirage, adds invaluable insights to
my knowledge base, insightsthat not only help them but also
help others along my journey ofproviding therapy.
(01:11):
I could easily fill a book witheverything I've learned, and
one day I will.
Saying that I've seen over athousand individuals and
families throughout my practicefeels like an understatement.
It feels much more significant.
I've had the honor of workingintimately with people from all
walks of life, people you and Iwould most likely never meet in
(01:33):
our regular lives from childrenand teenagers to adults, from
those who are homeless to thoseincarcerated for violent crimes,
and even CEOs and doctorsincarcerated for violent crimes
and even CEOs and doctors.
Each person has contributed tomy ever-growing understanding of
human psychology.
I like to believe that I'vebeen given a large sample size,
(01:54):
allowing me to create anevolving avatar that represents
the broad spectrum of humanpsychology.
It's a challenging task, buttoday I want to focus on
distilling this experience into12 critical lessons.
These are insights that Ibelieve can offer everyone a
deeper understanding ofthemselves and others.
So let's dive into these 12lessons that a decade of therapy
(02:19):
has taught me about being human.
Each of these lessons reflectsa core truth that I've come to
understand deeply through myexperiences and observations in
the therapy room, and they helpguide my travels in my work with
others.
So let me take you into theprivate quarters of my mind as a
therapist.
The first lesson is aboutunderstanding the longevity of
(02:41):
our emotions and behaviorsbeyond the situations that
initially triggered them.
I've observed how often peopleremain depressed or anxious long
after a particular event haspassed.
It's fascinating, yet alsoquite revealing.
These emotions and thebehaviors they inspire carry
over into new situations,continuously affecting lives.
(03:03):
Here is something I findincredibly important to
recognize All of our behaviors,no matter how destructive or
unhelpful they might seem,originally served a purpose.
They were meant to support us,even the ones you feel ashamed
of or frustrated by At somepoint.
These behaviors were likely anappropriate response.
(03:23):
They were probably a veryclever and strategic way of
taking care of yourself when youcouldn't meet your needs in
other, more constructive andhealthy ways.
The challenge I often see isthat many of us carry these same
behaviors well into the future,years after, whatever triggered
it, and most of the time it'sbrought to your attention
because it no longer is servingyou anymore and rather it's
(03:46):
causing current issues.
That's okay.
This acknowledgement is thefirst step In therapy.
We work to help identify thesepatterns and cultivate new
choices, new ways of thinkingand add any resources that may
be useful.
The goal is to manage yourexperiences differently and more
effectively now that theoriginal situations have changed
(04:06):
or no longer apply.
This leads me to my next lesson.
It's about what people trulyseek from therapy, beyond just
solutions.
Most people come to therapythinking they want solutions to
their problems.
It's a natural expectation,after all, when we feel pain or
discomfort, it's a naturalexpectation.
After all, when we feel pain ordiscomfort, our instinct is to
(04:28):
find a way to stop it.
But through my years ofexperience, I've seen that what
most people think they wantversus what they really need is
something quite different.
Solutions are often clear andsimple, but that's not what most
people need.
What many need is the experienceof being seen and heard, the
emotional release of letting goby, being courageously and
relentlessly transparent, oftalking openly, of being
(04:51):
genuinely listened to.
It's about the emotionalfreedom that comes from being
able to voice thoughts andfeelings that are private, often
painful and sometimes evenshameful.
This act of expressing oneself,of unburdening one's deepest
fears and secrets, can itself beincredibly healing.
It's this emotional experience,the ability to free a very
(05:12):
private, often hidden emotionalpart of themselves that brings
the most relief andtransformation.
This isn't just about findingquick fixes.
It's about creating a spacewhere individuals feel safe
enough to be real in order toexplore the depths of their
emotions and begin the processof healing.
This lesson highlights thetherapeutic power of simply
(05:35):
being present with someone,without judgment or the rush to
fix things.
As therapists, my role is hardlyever to provide answers, but
rather to facilitate anenvironment where people can
find their own path to healingthrough expression and
acceptance.
The impact of having a safespace to express oneself is
profound, and it sets the stagefor deeper work in therapy.
(05:58):
With that said, havingdiscussed the healing power of
expression, this naturally leadsme to reflect on another
fundamental but oftenmisunderstood aspect of our
psychological journeyself-acceptance.
This next lesson is close to myheart and vital for anyone on a
path of personal growth.
As a therapist, I strive tocreate a psychologically safe
(06:20):
space for you to truly be youand accept you as you are so
that we can do the deep workneeded.
But in reality, I'm really onlysetting the example for you to
move towards self-acceptance andfeel safe within yourself to
integrate all parts of you intoa complete whole.
Self-acceptance is a term thatis so often tossed around in
(06:41):
self-help books and motivationalspeeches that it might seem a
bit cliche.
Yet it's a core concept thatmany of us struggle with deeply.
Throughout my years of practice, I've seen countless
individuals betray themselves inthe pursuit of external
achievements, chasing careers,grades and social acceptance,
all while moving further awayfrom their true selves.
(07:03):
We're not taught to know moreabout ourselves and to reflect
on what we really care about orwant, and to think and plan for
that version of life.
Many of my patients come in notreally knowing what they want.
It's not because they haven'tthought about it.
It's because they've nevergiven themselves the space to
truly listen to their ownthoughts, to feel deeply or to
(07:25):
get in touch with who they are.
We live in a society thatdoesn't always cultivate our
unique qualities.
Instead, we're often pushedtoward a generic version of
success that might not alignwith our personal values or
desires and what are seen asflaws in one person in place
might be beautiful and amazingin another.
It's often a revelation theidea that you don't need to
(07:48):
undergo a personality transplantto find contentment,
fulfillment and love, becausewho you are right now is enough.
Most of us just have beendeterred from accessing our
ability to actualize and makeuse and optimize our natural
selves because we've beenplaying someone else's game, and
not only that, we've adoptedmessages and ways of thinking
(08:10):
along the way that isn't evenhelping us.
Self-acceptance isn't aboutperfection or stopping growth.
It's about recognizing ourintrinsic worth and learning to
belong to ourselves so that wecan actually grow and cultivate
that internal relationship.
It's about seeing that the realgame is inward and
understanding that contentmentcomes from embracing and
(08:33):
deepening that relationship withwho we are at our core, not who
we think we should be.
Now that we've discussed thesignificance of self-acceptance,
let's shift our focus to atopic that naturally extends
from understanding ourselvesbetter, our values.
This next lesson revolvesaround the importance of knowing
and aligning with what we trulyvalue in life.
(08:55):
Over the years as a therapist,I've noticed a common disconnect
in many people's lives a gapbetween what they say they value
and what their actions reflect.
It's surprisingly common to seethis incongruence, and it can
lead to significantdissatisfaction and conflict,
both internally and inrelationships.
(09:15):
From a psychological standpoint, values are the principles that
guide our behavior.
They are the benchmarks bywhich we measure our actions.
According to psychologicalresearch, particularly in the
field of cognitive behavioraltherapy, clarifying your values
is a critical process that helpsyou determine what is truly
important to you, which, in turn, can influence your goals,
(09:38):
actions and decisions.
When you align your actionswith your values, you will
experience higher levels ofsatisfaction and well-being.
This isn't just about feelinggood.
It's about the coherencebetween your actions and your
deeper self, which significantlyaffects your psychological
health.
But how do we begin thisprocess of value clarification?
It starts with self-reflectionand self-awareness, going beyond
(10:01):
surface-level desires andgetting to the heart of what
makes you feel fulfilled andpurposeful.
This might involve reassessingyour goals, questioning your
current life choices or simplytaking time to reflect on what
feelings and activities give youa sense of true satisfaction.
Here's an example.
A lot of my patients havesimilar goals that might
resonate with you.
They think they value successin a high-powered job because
(10:24):
someone or somewhere in societysays it's important.
But upon deeper reflection, youmight realize that what you
really value is connection withyour family, making a positive
impact, or creativity in yourwork.
Recognizing this can shift howyou prioritize your time and
energy, leading to moremeaningful and satisfying life
(10:44):
choices.
Let's pivot to a concept that'sessential for actualizing those
values in our day-to-day livesMindfulness.
Most of us suffer frommindlessness.
We're often not here right now.
In our present moments, we'rein the past or the future.
So here's the thing.
I have said this many timesbefore and I will say it again
(11:07):
here.
If I could choose just oneskill for everyone to practice
that will improve their mentalhealth, it's mindfulness.
Not meditation, but mindfulness.
There is power in intentionallycreating more mindful moments
and breaking the cycle ofmindlessness.
Mindfulness might seem like abuzzword these days, but its
(11:30):
psychological benefits are welldocumented.
It's about being present in themoment, truly engaged with
what's happening right now,rather than being caught up in
thoughts of the past or future.
In session, I often act aspeople's awareness.
I see things for them, I ampresent for them and I bring
whatever I observe, what theyfeel and think, into the here
(11:50):
and now.
I do this to encourage them todevelop this in themselves the
ability to check themselves.
I remember a session where Inoticed my patient just staring
out the window, fidgeting andmaking small talk about the
weather.
It was one of those momentswhere they felt a bit lost.
I noticed it and asked a simpleyet profound question that most
(12:11):
people often overlook what'shappening for you right now?
At first, most peopleautomatically begin talking
about events of the week orfuture plans, but I often try to
redirect them to come back tothe room with me emphasizing how
are you right now, in thismoment, what's happening for you
?
This practice of checking inwith ourselves is incredibly
(12:33):
valuable.
It helps break the cycle ofmindlessness, where we operate
on autopilot, disconnected fromour feelings and surroundings.
By cultivating moments ofmindfulness, we start to notice
the subtle yet significantaspects of our current
experiences, which can lead togreater clarity, reduced anxiety
and a deeper connection toourselves and the world around
(12:54):
us.
It starts with simple practices, perhaps setting reminders or
pairing mindful moments withthings we typically already do
on a daily basis, like eating ordrinking coffee, just to pause
a few times a day to breathedeeply and observe our thoughts
and feelings without judgment.
Over time, these mindfulmoments can become a natural
(13:17):
part of our routine, enhancingour overall mental health and
well-being.
Mindfulness not only enrichesour personal experiences, but
also enhances our interactionswith others by making us more
attentive and empathetic.
This takes us into my nextlesson.
I think working on ourselves andimproving who we are is not
just a privilege, but should bemandatory and a personal
(13:40):
responsibility, because we areall part of a bigger whole.
What we do is not just aboutourselves.
Doing your own personal work isnot only a privilege, but also
an act of ethical and moralobligation and, not to mention,
(14:01):
it's an act of social justiceand an investment in the world
around us.
Throughout my practice intherapy, a recurring sentiment
among patients is a sense ofguilt for seeking therapy.
Some feel that their problemsare trivial compared to the
larger, more visible tragediesin the world.
They often ask who am I tocomplain when my life is so
comfortable?
In many ways, this brings us toa critical realization
Suffering and privilege are notmutually exclusive.
(14:23):
Yes, those of us who can accesstherapy are privileged in many
ways compared to much of theworld.
We don't have to worry aboutstarving, finding clean water or
a safe shelter or have bombsfalling overhead.
Most of us can provide basicnecessities for our families.
These are undeniable privileges.
But here's a pivotal pointbeing privileged does not
(14:46):
diminish our own suffering orthe validity of our emotional
experiences.
In fact, I would argue that ourprivilege gives us not just the
opportunity, but the obligationto do our own personal work.
By healing our traumas andmaladaptive behaviors, we are in
a stronger position tocontribute positively to our
(15:06):
immediate surroundingscompassionate and
psychologically sound ways, themore we can positively influence
others and improve broadersocial circumstances.
From this perspective, engagingin personal development and
therapy is indeed a privilege,but it is also a moral
(15:29):
responsibility and profound actof social justice and an
investment in making the world abetter place.
So understand this you are morethan just you.
You are connected to a networkof living things where you have
the power to affect change.
By healing ourselves, we canstop the transmission of
(15:50):
intergenerational traumas,empower our communities and even
impact larger societal issues.
It's about recognizing ourcapacity for both good and evil
and choosing to cultivate thegood through self-awareness and
healing, and I want us all to beaware of that.
Understanding the rippleeffects of our personal healing
(16:10):
journey helps frame our nextdiscussion.
As we continue to explore theimpacts of our inner work, let's
now turn to a critical aspectof psychological health that
profoundly affects many, andthat's trauma.
I've been working with traumathroughout my personal life and
through my work with patients.
One key insight about thenature of trauma is that it's
(16:33):
not necessarily the traumaticevents themselves that are most
damaging.
Rather, it's what happensafterward.
It's the struggle of processingand integrating these traumatic
experiences that can lead toprolonged suffering and negative
outcomes.
When an individual, whetheradult or child, is properly
supported through their trauma,given the space to feel their
(16:53):
feelings, make meaning of theirexperiences and process them
both psychologically andphysiologically, they can move
forward in constructive andadaptive ways.
This support is crucial forhealing.
However, this isn't always thecase, so when this support of
processing and integration don'thappen, that's when we often
(17:14):
see the long-lasting negativeimpacts of trauma.
Without these processes,individuals might struggle with
unresolved emotional andphysiological responses that can
affect their functioning andquality of life.
Effective trauma work andhealing involves several key
components Therapeutic support,safe environments for expression
and strategies for emotionalregulation.
(17:37):
These elements help individualsnot only confront and manage
their trauma, but also integratethese experiences into their
lives without being overwhelmedby them.
Our trauma does not have to be alife sentence, and working on
our healing is necessary,because how we do one thing is
often the way we do many things,so if you're still engaging in
(17:58):
trauma responses and patterns,it might be impacting a large
part of your life.
This is an observation thatmight seem simple on the surface
, but reveals deep truths aboutourselves.
So let's talk about lessonnumber eight.
A fascinating aspect of humanbehavior that I've observed in
therapy is the principle thatthe way we do one thing is often
(18:19):
the way we do many things.
This idea suggests that ourdaily habits and choices how we
eat, spend money or evenapproach exercise can reveal
larger patterns in how we seeand move through the world.
By examining how we manageroutine activities, we can
uncover significant clues abouthow we approach life in general.
(18:41):
Consider how you manage time,for example.
Someone who is always rushing,even when there's no need, might
be expressing a broader patternof impatience or a fear of
stillness and reflection.
Or think about how you handletasks like cleaning your home.
Do you tackle it methodicallyor do you clean in frantic
bursts?
This might mirror how youmanage stress and projects at
(19:04):
work, either with steadyattention or sporadic bursts of
energy.
Even your social media usagecan be telling.
Do you carefully curate whatyou share, or are you
spontaneous and open?
This behavior could reflect howyou manage personal boundaries
and privacy in the broadercontext of your life.
Identifying these patterns isn'tjust an exercise in
(19:25):
introspection.
It has practical implications.
By understanding the why behindour daily choices, we can start
to align our actions moreclosely with our true values and
goals.
This awareness allows us tomodify behaviors that might be
holding us back from a morebalanced and fulfilling life.
For example, if you recognize apattern of over-committing
(19:49):
yourself socially to avoiddowntime, you might start to
carve out intentional quietperiods in your schedule, which
could improve your overallwell-being and reduce stress.
Building on our understandingof behavioral patterns and their
insights into our lives, let'sconnect this to our earlier
discussion on trauma.
(20:09):
Our next lesson explores acrucial element in both healing
from trauma and living awell-rounded life setting
boundaries.
This is often talked about, butmost of us are not good at
practicing it.
Boundaries are like theprotective unseen force fields
of our lives.
They encompass the physical,emotional, mental, spiritual and
(20:30):
even financial aspects of ourexistence.
They are dynamic, spiritual andeven financial aspects of our
existence.
They are dynamic, adaptingmoment to moment, situation to
situation and person to person.
Properly set and maintainboundaries keep us safe, whole
and contribute to our physicaland psychological health.
The more aware we are withwhat's important to us and who
we are at the core, the moreeasily we can assert our
(20:53):
boundaries.
I often tell my patients thatbeing assertive and setting
boundaries are one in the same,and it's about learning how to
teach ourselves and others howto respect who we are.
In the context of trauma,boundaries take on an even more
significant role.
For those who have experiencedtrauma, establishing and
asserting boundaries can be acrucial step in the healing
(21:16):
process.
It helps in creating a safespace where one can process and
integrate traumatic experienceswithout feeling overwhelmed or
re-traumatized.
Learning what your individualboundaries are and how to assert
them isn't just aboutprotecting yourself.
It's about building afoundation for a healthy,
(21:36):
well-lived life.
It empowers you to control yourinteractions and the influence
others have on your mental andemotional well-being.
So how can we effectivelyestablish these boundaries?
You guessed it it starts withself-awareness.
It's about recognizing yourlimits in various areas of your
(21:56):
life.
Then it's about clearlycommunicating these boundaries
to others, ensuring theyunderstand and respect your
needs.
This might involve saying nomore often, choosing to step
back in certain relationships orprioritizing self-care.
This leads me to a veryimportant lesson.
That is often a primarycomplaint I hear, and honestly,
(22:18):
I'm tired of hearing it.
It's a topic surrounded bymisconceptions.
It's a common catchphrase intherapy and everyday
conversations.
I hear people say they lackmotivation, but here's a
perspective shift I'd like tooffer.
Motivation doesn't just stop,it's always present.
The real issue isn't theabsence of motivation, but
rather its direction.
(22:39):
Many of us struggle not withmotivation itself, but with
misdirected motivation.
This means our energy and driveare often channeled towards
habits or goals that aren'tactually aligned with what we
truly want.
Instead of helping us moveforward, our motivation gets
caught up in cycles ofcompulsive behaviors and
impulses.
Think about it how often haveyou found yourself engaging in
(23:03):
mindless activities that killstime, or pursuing something only
to realize it doesn't trulyresonate with your deeper
desires?
This is what I mean when I saywe give up our sovereignty every
day.
When I say we give up oursovereignty every day, we give
up our power to govern ourselveseffectively.
We let misaligned goals dictateour actions rather than
steering our motivation towardsmeaningful and fulfilling
(23:26):
pursuits.
It's not about findingmotivation.
It's about redirecting it.
To deepen our understanding ofmotivation and how we can
redirect it.
Let's consider a powerfulanalogy.
The mind is like a reflexmuscle it responds and reacts.
It's selective and acts like aspotlight.
This spotlight illuminatescertain aspects of our
(23:49):
experiences while leaving othersin the dark, and, essentially,
wherever our mind focuses, ourbody follows.
This interconnection shows justhow pivotal our mental focus is
to directing our motivation.
When our mind's spotlight isaimed at compulsive behaviors or
misaligned goals, our energyand actions follow suit, often
(24:10):
betraying us and leading us awayfrom our true values and goals.
However, when we recalibratewhere our mental spotlight
shines, focusing on what trulymatters to us, we align our
motivation with our deepervalues and aspirations.
This understanding helps us seethe importance of being
deliberate about where we allowour mental focus to dwell.
(24:33):
It's about consciously choosingto spotlight the activities and
goals that resonate with ourtrue selves.
By doing so, we ensure that ourmotivation is not misdirected,
but is a powerful force drivingus toward true fulfillment and
success.
Start by asking yourself whatam I consistently putting effort
into?
(24:53):
Does this reflect what Igenuinely value and how I want
to show up in the world?
If not, it's time to reconsiderwhere your energy is going as
we become adept at controllingthe spotlight of our mind, we
harness the true power ofmotivation.
Redirecting motivation requiresmindful and conscious effort.
It involves waking up out ofautopilot and being clear about
(25:16):
our values and aligning it withour goals and breaking them down
into realistic daily practices.
It also means being mindful ofour impulses and compulsions and
recognizing when they'resteering us off course Up.
Next, let's talk aboutperspective, specifically how we
interpret and give meaning toour experiences, because this
(25:38):
really matters.
A profound realization in myyears as a therapist is that we
are fundamentally meaning-makingmachines.
Every day, we encountercountless stimuli and situations
that in themselves, are neutral.
It's we who define, constructand narrate these events into
the stories that make up ourlives.
(25:58):
Think about it there areendless perspectives to what we
think we know.
Nothing is absolute.
Every event, every interactiondoesn't come with built-in
meaning.
We assign those meanings basedon our past experiences, our
values and our expectations.
This brings us to a criticalinsight.
There is never just oneinterpretation of any situation.
(26:20):
It's not the events themselvesthat determine what we feel.
It's how we view them.
Our interpretations shape ouremotions and reactions, coloring
our world in distinct tonesthat are uniquely our own.
Understanding that we aremeaning makers empowers us to
question the stories we tellourselves.
Are they serving us well?
Are they limiting our growth orhappiness?
(26:42):
By recognizing that we canchoose our interpretations, we
open up a space for moreadaptive and empowering
narratives by embracing our roleas narrators of our own lives.
Understand that we can't changethe past and what happened to
us, but we can rewrite thestories we tell ourselves and
how we tell it, and recognizingthat some of these stories no
(27:04):
longer serve us, and perhapsonly then can we foster a richer
, more nuanced view of the world.
As we learn to interpret ourexperience in the present with
more flexibility andadaptability, we'll find that
our capacity for joy, resilienceand connection grows.
Let's pause for a moment.
I know that was a lot.
(27:25):
As we near the end of today'ssession, I want to take a moment
to thank all of you who'vejoined me on this journey
through some of the profoundlessons learned over a decade of
therapy.
For our final discussion today,I want to introduce a topic
that we'll explore more deeplyin future sessions, a topic
that's both challenging andoften misunderstood Forgiveness.
(27:48):
Forgiveness is a powerfulconcept in psychological healing
and personal growth, yet it isalso one of the hardest to grasp
fully.
Many people struggle with theidea that forgiving someone does
not necessarily mean you mustcontinue to have them in your
life.
I believe that forgiveness is achoice, not an obligation.
(28:09):
You don't have to forgiveanyone.
It's something that should comefrom a place of personal
healing, not coercion.
And, importantly, forgivingsomeone who has hurt you doesn't
mean you have to open the doorto them again.
You can choose forgiveness foryour own peace and still choose
to keep that person out of yourlife.
This approach to forgivenessisn't about giving someone else
(28:32):
a free pass.
It's about freeing yourselffrom the burden of ongoing
resentment and pain.
You can forgive and you canchoose what's best for your
continued well-being.
And there we have it.
As we close today's journeythrough these 12 vital lessons,
I want to leave you with athought that what we've explored
together is not a finalstatement, but rather part of an
(28:55):
ongoing conversation.
Insight and wisdom evolve as wedo.
They adapt as we face newchallenges and embrace new joys
in life.
These lessons are snippets of aliving document that grows and
changes with us.
In our time together, we've seenthat therapy is more than just
theory-based or solution-focused.
It's fundamentally relational.
(29:17):
The heart of therapy lies inthe relationship between
therapist and patient, a dynamicpartnership where both parties
are fellow travelers on thecomplex journey of life.
It's about removing obstacles,not fixing problems, allowing
for natural growth andself-actualization.
Therapy is a collaborative andnon-hierarchical alliance.
(29:37):
It's essential to maintainprofessional boundaries, yet
it's equally important to fostera connection where both
therapist and patient learn andgrow.
Therapy is about confronting ourpersonal truths and hard topics
like death, isolation and thequest for meaning and freedom.
It's a space where spontaneityand creativity thrive, providing
(29:59):
personalized care that evolvesover time to meet each
individual's unique needs.
The essence of effectivetherapy lies in our ability to
engage with each other in thehere and now, creating dynamics
that are not only healing withinthe therapy room but also
empowering outside of it.
Thank you for joining me today,and I hope you carry these
(30:20):
reflections into your own life,enriching your journey towards a
deeper understanding ofyourself and those around you.
Until next time, keep exploring, keep questioning and, most
importantly, keep growing.
Remember we are all in thistogether.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Thanks for tuning in to Mind Manners with Albert
Nguyen.
We hope you found value in thisepisode.
If you'd like to work withAlbert one-on-one, visit
OptiMindCounselingcom to learnmore about his private practice.
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