Beth Rogerson

English-speaking therapist in Stockholm

Navigation

What to Do When You “Bump Into” Differences in Your Relationships

By

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Therapy Spot! I recently spoke about the IFS model of therapy at Google’s week of Inclusion and Diversity. While you may not think that has much to do with your daily life outside of work, the tools you use to relate with others are useful in all sorts of situations. So for this month’s episode of the Therapy Spot, I’d like to talk about how we can use IFS when we have differences with people. This can be family, friends, or a romantic partner — anyone you share an aspect of your life with.

[Read more…]

Delving Into Disappointment and Examining Our Expectations

By

Hello and welcome back to the Therapy Spot! On this month’s episode, I want to talk about two things that go hand in hand: disappointment and acceptance. Disappointment can hit us hard and make us spin out — but for some reason, we tend to avoid talking about this difficult emotion. So today, I’d like to guide you towards a different perspective on disappointment. With this new perspective, you will have more choices, and a better understanding of yourself.

 

[Read more…]

Feeling Strain in Your Relationship? It’s Time for RICE

By

Hello everyone, welcome back to the Therapy Spot! I wanted to let you all now that from now on, I’ll be releasing one episode per month. Every month, I’ll bring you information and insights to help you on your path to personal growth and development.

For this month’s episode, I want to bring you some tips on what to do when your relationship feels strained. If you’ve ever had a sports injury, you know this feeling of strain! It hurts, it’s distracting, and it keeps you from doing the things you love. Strain in your relationship has a lot of the same effects. Luckily, just like with muscles, there’s a remedy for your strained, sprained, or inflamed relationship.

[Read more…]

Cora Forstén on Stress, Self Care, and the Mind-Body Connection

By

Hello, and welcome back to the Therapy Spot! On today’s episode, I spoke with Cora Forstén ND, MSOM, LAC. After practicing as a naturopathic primary care physician for 6 years in Portland, Oregon, Cora relocated to Stockholm, Sweden. Naturopathic medicine combines natural remedies — including herbs as well as diet and lifestyle changes — alongside modern medicine. Commonly used for healing and recovery (rather than emergencies), the end goal of naturopathic medicine is long-term results.

Together, we discussed the importance of the mind-body connection when it comes to both physical and mental health. Self care is always important — but it’s especially important to attend to your physical body when you don’t feel your best mentally.

[Read more…]

Reissue: Dr. Stan Tatkin on the Secure Functioning Couple

By

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Therapy Spot! For this episode, I’ve chosen to reissue a very helpful and informative past podcast. Last April, I had a wonderful conversation with Stan Tatkin about the safety and security we need in relationships. For those of you who didn’t catch this episode the first time, you’re in for a treat. This is a wonderful chance to learn more about being in a mutually satisfying, secure relationship.

Dr. Stan Tatkin wears many hats: not only is he a clinician and an author, but he’s also the co-founder of the PACT Institute. Stan teaches at UCLA, maintains a private practice in Southern California, and leads PACT programs in the US and internationally. He wrote Wired for Dating, Wired for Love, and Your Brain on Love, and co-authored Love and War in Intimate Relationships.

In other words, Stan Tatkin is a relationship expert. He has a lot of powerful insights to share on how to foster a sense of security and safety with your partner. After all, we often forget that close emotional bonds are not a luxury: they’re actually necessary for survival. So let’s dive in and learn more about attachment, security, and our relationships with each other.

[Read more…]

Meeting Your Shaming Part With Self Compassion

By

Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Therapy Spot! As more and more of you join me for the podcast, I like to occasionally reissue a previous podcast that newer listeners might have missed. Since this is the #YearofSelfCompassion, I think it’s important to revisit my podcast about something closely related to Self compassion: shame.

Before I recorded this podcast, I had attended a retreat on the subject of shame and self compassion. When I learn more about these topics, I get so excited to share that knowledge with other people. So let’s talk about shame, how it shows up in our lives, and how to “flip the script” with Self compassion.

[Read more…]

Revisiting Self Compassion 101: Getting Back to Basics

By

Hello and welcome back to the Therapy Spot! Time sure has flown — we’re more than halfway through the Year of Self Compassion. Since we began this journey, I’ve found that the more I talk about it, the more I have to say. That’s why I’ve decided to reissue one of my earlier podcasts about Self Compassion. After all, Self Compassion is the antidote to feelings like self criticism, doubt, and unhappiness. Don’t feel bad if this practice doesn’t come naturally to you! Let’s focus on the practice, and how to increase our Self Compassion.

This podcast — which I like to think of as “Self Compassion 101” — is for anyone who:

  • Habitually puts everyone else first
  • Holds themselves to high expectations, and feels disappointed or angry when they fall short of the goal
  • Compares themselves to others, leading to feelings of inadequacy
  • Has a strong people-pleasing part
  • Experiences feelings of guilt when they do practice Self love or compassion

Remember: love is good, healthy, and real. While all forms of love are important and beneficial, caring for yourself is the ultimate love. I say this because those who practice Self compassion have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and higher “emotional intelligence.” They also experience fewer negative emotions! Let’s explore a little deeper.

[Read more…]

Sex Therapy: YY Wei on Conflict, Change, and What to Expect

By

Hello everyone, and welcome back once again to the Therapy Spot! This week, I spoke with YY Wei, LCSW, founder and director of The Relationship Center of Colorado. For over 10 years, YY has provided relationship and sex therapy to individuals and couples of all gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as different cultural and racial backgrounds, and relationship styles. YY also offers Marathon Individual & Couples Counseling and Couples Retreat for busy professionals, high end clients, and out of state or country clients. She strives to create a safe, inclusive place where clients can reconnect with themselves, as well as their family members and partners.

On this podcast, we’ll discuss what clients can expect from sex therapy. YY will also share her tips for connecting, both with yourself and your partner, as well as the benefits of conflict in a relationship. If you’re curious about sex and sexuality in your relationship, this podcast is for you. Listen in!

[Read more…]

Cross Cultural Relationships: Advice and Insights From Veronica Lax

By

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Therapy Spot! On this week’s episode, I spoke with individual and relationship therapist Veronica Lax. Veronica is also the CEO of Turning Point, a center for the international and local community in Stockholm. As she grew up in both Sweden and the United States, Veronica is bilingual and offers counseling in both Swedish and English. Through her work at Turning Point, she has had lots of experience with cross cultural relationships. Veronica believes that “becoming aware of your needs and obstacles can help you make decisions that give more meaning and joy in life.”

During our time together, we discussed the challenges both partners face in a relationship where one person is Swedish and the other is not. While we focused mainly on this pairing, you can apply this lens to your own bicultural relationship. How do different cultural backgrounds affect a relationship? Listen along!

[Read more…]

Telling vs Curiosity: Laura Goldstein on Connection Inside and Out

By

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Therapy Spot! This week, I spoke with Laura Goldstein, LCSW, about the difference between curiosity, and telling. In her professional practice, Laura has been helping families, couples, and individuals since 1996. Her integrative mind-body approach incorporates the IFS model alongside yoga and mindfulness practices. We talked about how the Self quality of curiosity can enhance connection — and how telling can create distance. Listen along to our energetic and informative conversation!

[Read more…]