My Mission: Mental Health Resources

Hi everyone, and welcome to my passion project, Therapy in a Nutshell.
I’m Emma McAdam, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and my mission is to make mental health resources easier to access.
So I’m taking therapy skills and psychological research and condensing them down into bite-sized nuggets of help.
As a licensed therapist, one thing I’ve noticed is that so many people have little to no idea what they can do to help things like depression, anxiety, or other mental illness. Or lots of people believe that there’s nothing they can do to make things better, that they are just stuck feeling anxious and hopeless for the rest of their lives. Well, I’m here to spread the message that while mental illness is real, it’s common, it’s debilitating - it’s also treatable. There are dozens of research-backed approaches to treating depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. Most people just don’t know how to find that information.
Change, growth, and healing are possible. Please keep courage! Try one little thing every day to improve your life and health, and things can get better. Five minutes a day can make a big difference.
Check out my playlists on anxiety, PTSD, depression, and grounding techniques.
And please share these videos - you never know who could benefit from them today.

Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC, and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.

About Me:
I’m Emma McAdam. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and I have worked in various settings of change and growth since 2004. My experience includes juvenile corrections, adventure therapy programs, wilderness therapy programs, an eating disorder treatment center, a residential treatment center, and I currently work in an outpatient therapy clinic.

In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
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[suzannelemery]

Thank you SO much!!! This is good stuff!!!

[shanaikendrick]

Thank you Emma for dedicating your time for someone like myself who cannot afford therapy at this moment and dealing with issues and would like to be come my best self! I want everyone to know that it is ok to seek therapy. Anyone who is reading this is a step to wellness and you are doing great! Keep going! You got this!!!!

[mrbuildertasmania]

Hi Emma I have suffered with depression and anxiety all of my life and it has been a roller coaster ride for me. I am so glad I found your channel. I think you provide hope for so many people

[petesharpe]

Thank you so very much. Have lived with this for nearly 50 years and your videos really DO help.

[donnamartin]

Thank you Emma.
So happy I ‘bumped’ into your channel.
You are awesome!
Between the feelings/ issues description to the tools you provide us with.
You ROCK.
One more thing- your vibe, positive energy, soft pleasant voice and beauty. They are all a great bonus that make the learning process of getting over PTST a process I am willing to put time and effort into. And not rely solely on prescribed medications.
Not today, not tomorrow- but with you, I know the times of medication free life is getting closer and closer. 🙏🏽💪🏽

[sparra]

Precious channel, you will help so many with this. A video is something one can visit again and again, a real solution! I needed this so desperately 30 years ago. It makes me wonder how my life could have looked different with this kind of real and timely help. Thankful, somehow through the bad, things have worked out for me but this is in part a product of stoicism and of good fortune. I would have more grounded pride and confidence had I constructively carved my path 💚

[elenavanbc]

***THANK you're doing so much good to so many people. I found your channel today - I'm living far from any place with mental health resources - or, better said, the place where I live in South America has poor resources - the few professionals have a patronizing way of dealing with patients. I lived in Canada and I miss very much the community resources I had. Finding your channel is a blessing!! what a wonderful human being you are!!!

[mikehisir]

Thank you! We watched a couple of your videos in veterans group therapy today. I look forward to watching all of your videos.

[michaelmcgee]

Thanks Emma. As a therapist myself, I am not out to reinvent the wheel. I will refer clients to your page. Most appreciative.

[monsiepickles]

I am very happy to have met you and that your book The Oat in the acorn has got the answers I needed right now. I have already started!

[livwilson]

Hey Emma, I’ve been really enjoying your videos. I find them very easy to stick to and follow along. My mom suffers from central sensitization, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. I’m wondering if you would recommend any of your online courses for her to help manage her pain. Or, if you know of any other therapists that specialize in these syndromes that offer something similar. Thanks :)

[cassiedianne]

I examine myself and thought so many issues about my mental health, thanks for this channel, this is what i need🙂

[shashankkulkarni]

All businesses of making money.
Stay away from toxic people in life

Sacristic peopke ppl who are intrested to bullying based on past

Stay away from toxicity ppl

Rest all will get in good shape

[Juanro_]

I really like your channel. There is a lot of great tips. Can you share any advice on social anxiety or panic attacks in social situations? I find myself turning serious and getting in a anxious mood very quickly only in social situations. I would like to know more so that I can find ways to improve or eliminate this anxiety.

[bdyhpgj]

thank you so much for this. thank you so much

[MrLikesurf]

Hi Emma, Thanks for your helpful videos. I and many others have benefited from your talks.

[janedoe]

much needed advice in our present day stress, thank you!

[jillrich]

Dear Emma, Can you do a video on waking up during the night with racing thoughts. I wake up at night and worries start going through my mind about work. I cannot seem to turn them off, and often cannot get back to sleep after about 4 am. Thank you, I love your channel. Jill R.

[GuilloRamiro]

Really inspiring channel! Thanks for sharing! ❤❤❤👍👍👍

[knaberr]

I love your channel so much! Your positive attitude when talking through these issues is really helpful. <3 Can you do a video on dealing with anxiety caused by bodily sensations? I have chronic pain and I get anxious with the slightest "bad" sensation in my body. Thanks