In this episode of the EZ Conversations podcast, Phyllis Leavitt, a seasoned psychotherapist and author, shares her extensive insights on the importance of Therapy and healing in America. She discusses the profound impact of family dynamics, social media, and political divisiveness on mental health. Phyllis emphasizes the need for personal and collective healing to break the cycle of violence and promote cooperation and compassion. Throughout the conversation, she underscores the significance of vulnerability, self-connection, and speaking truth to power. The episode also highlights key themes from Phyllis’s book, ‘America in Therapy,’ exploring the potential of psychological understanding to transform societal Relationships. Listeners are encouraged to engage with her work and continue this essential healing and mental well-being dialogue.

Phyllis Leavitt has a Master’s degree in Psychology and Counseling from Antioch University. She co-directed the Parents United sexual abuse treatment program in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for two years and then went into private practice full-time. Phyllis has treated children, families, couples, and individual adults for 34 years. She has worked extensively with abuse and dysfunctional family dynamics, their aftermath, and some of the most essential elements for healing. She has two previous books, A Light in the Darkness and Into the Fire. Her latest book, America in Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis, published by Morgan James Publishing, explores the roots of divisiveness and violence in America from a psychological point of view to bring the best of what heals relationships and restores us to safety, into the national conversation. Phyllis lives with her husband in Taos, NM and is now focusing on writing and speaking.

04:40 Introduction and Guest Welcome

05:18 Phyllis’s Background and Experience

06:48 The Need for Therapy in America

08:31 Healing and Psychological Understanding

11:57 Political and Social Implications

14:02 Family Systems and Intergenerational Trauma

16:35 The Role of Connection and Self-Healing

22:27 The Power of Vulnerability

25:22 Spiritual Connection and Secularism

50:08 Speaking Truth to Power

51:21 Conclusion and Contact Information

Sponsors of the Podcast:

• BetterHelp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/ez10⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 10% off your first month of therapy
• WeShape: https://weshape.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/dcfogwyuk?a_aid=FurkhanDandia&a_bid=d7508fa8 for 35% all plans.
• Aura: https://aura.com/ez10 for a free two-week trial
• Plunge: https://plunge.com/ez
• Mint Mobile: ⁠https://trymintmobile.com/ez10⁠ for 15$ for an unlimited cell phone plan
• Mental: ⁠https://getmental.com/ez

If you would like to support EZ Conversations, here are all the ways you can do that:

• Instagram⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://m.facebook.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/furkhan-dandia-macp-mba-072a8a1ba/⁠
• Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/EzConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or find Furkhan’s Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1⁠⁠⁠

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Furkhan Dandia Therapist and Coach

I am a men's coach, therapist, group facilitator, podcaster and author. My journey began five years ago when I was going through a separation. I found myself alone and in a shame spiral that our culture and society covertly exert on people due to the perceived "failure" of a marriage. Unfortunately, I personalized that message which led me to fall deeper into a hole, causing me to surround myself with people that did not serve me and engage in substance abuse. While seeking therapy, I was not making the wholesale changes I needed.

As part of my experience with therapy, I realized that I am not alone in the challenges men my age experience (I separated at the age of 34/35). I realized I could be a voice for men like myself and offer support in this space. In the middle of the pandemic, I applied for a Master's degree in Psychology to become a therapist. This change was a significant shift for me as I worked in the corporate world as an engineer. Once I leaned into the space of supporting other men, I also started a podcast to normalize these difficult conversations and started a men's group a year later with the support of a friend.

I thought I was giving something back when I started the men's group. However, I quickly realized I was getting substantially more from the connections I built than I initially anticipated. It was also something I needed because I was going through another breakup.

At that point, I also realized that I had not taken the time to heal, and I was outsourcing my healing through romantic relationships, substances, material acquisitions and superficial relationships. I decided to step away from the outgoing lifestyle and started to focus on my healing which was another phase of evolution for me on my journey. Over the last year and a half, I have become mindful of the people I spend my time with. I have cleaned my lifestyle of substances, toxic environments and behaviours. I have focused on my sleep, my health and my knowledge. I have improved my spiritual relationship with myself, which was lacking the most over the past five years. This is the best I have felt.

As part of my solitude journey and to find myself again, I also released a book encapsulating my journey, which I hope to share with others. My book is titled: The Pursuit of Self-Love.