Over the years, numerous individuals have sought my guidance in counseling, sharing that even though their alcohol use has led to serious problems, they hesitate to stop. Often, they express, "I just want to control my drinking. Can you help me manage it?"In most cases, when this question comes from someone who drinks heavily and has never been able to control their consumption, my answer is always, "No." I am open to being their therapist as they work towards this aim, but I make it clear that they must understand that if they could have managed their drinking, they would have done so by now.I then remind them of the first step in the 12-step program, which states, "1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable."This episode centers on embracing the first step of the 12-step journey to sobriety.

Having a spouse who is only ONLY cooperative can be unexpectedly irritating. It may seem strange to some—why wouldn't we appreciate a partner who is cooperative? In many respects, having a supportive spouse is certainly beneficial.

However, I’m not talking about a “supportive spouse”—when I mention someone who is simply cooperative, I mean a partner who shows no initiative. They don't contribute their own ideas or plans, and they appear to float along with whatever their spouse chooses. They may go anywhere or do anything their partner proposes, but there's a noticeable lack of personal input or excitement. They are just along for the journey.

This might indicate a person is relationally lazy.

I strongly believe that we show others how to treat us on a daily basis, whether we mean to or not. At times, it's about expressing our preferences, and at other times, it's about what we allow. Regardless, people are constantly observing what behaviors we will accept. The issue is that many individuals feel quite dissatisfied with how they are treated by others. This episode focuses on how to instruct others on how to treat you.

If you see yourself as the "do-it-yourself" kind of person, one guaranteed way to amplify your frustration on a project, squander time, and heighten the likelihood of feeling angry is by selecting the incorrect tool for the task at hand.This is due to the fact that the right tool can greatly simplify the process and enhance your capacity to reach your objectives.Likewise, in life overall, when we face individuals, stress, or circumstances that annoy us, choosing the wrong reaction can exacerbate the situation. In my field, we call this "Maladaptive behaviors."In this episode, we will discuss the importance of using the right tool for the task or eliminating maladaptive behavior patterns, and we will learn how to manage stress and challenges more effectively.

Few experiences can undermine our sense of importance in life quite like the sensation of being trapped in a Bill Murray film, reliving Groundhog Day endlessly. When existence seems monotonous and devoid of purpose, many men struggle to find a sense of significance. Without that feeling of importance, they often believe they don't matter. This episode explores what this experience entails and how we can address it.

You've probably heard it said quite often that men are “fixers” — meaning that men like to try to fix problems in every area of their life and relationships. It is generally true. All men need is to hear there's a problem and they're ready to jump in and fix it, however, sometimes this can cause problems.

This "fix-it" mentality describes a tendency to offer practical solutions to problems rather than just listening empathetically or even fully understanding what needs to be done before they take action.

Are you unhappy with your job? Do you feel stuck in a dead-end position? Perhaps you're a young adult just beginning your career and feeling anxious about making the right choice. No matter your situation, I've provided a foundation for finding career satisfaction in this episode.

Do you often find yourself apologetically backpedaling in a conversation with your significant other after making a comment you intended to be positive? Many people find themselves in that position. It sounded right while it was still in our head, but as soon as it came out of our mouth, the negative reaction of the other person lets us know we did not communicate as well as we had hoped.