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Mental Health Potluck

Danny Clark, LCSW
Mental Health Potluck
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  • Let Them Build It Wrong: Why Great Leaders Allow Mistakes
    Click to text me what you got out of this episode.Picture this: Someone's struggling with IKEA furniture, about to install the back panel upside down. Do you jump in to fix it or let them learn through failure? That split-second decision reveals the essence of your leadership philosophy.Leadership styles aren't random – they're deeply influenced by our own histories. Some of us become "fixers" who proactively correct problems, stepping in before mistakes happen. We may have been over-parented by well-meaning adults who rescued us from every challenge, teaching us that mistakes are dangerous and need immediate correction. Or perhaps we were under-supported, forced to become hyper-responsible because no one else would help.The alternative approach is the "facilitator" leadership style. Facilitators create space for growth, even when it means allowing people to stumble. They understand that true learning often requires struggle and reflection. By resisting the urge to rescue, facilitators build environments where people develop genuine confidence and problem-solving abilities.This isn't just about management strategies – it's about psychology. Theory X and Theory Y perspectives, locus of control, and self-determination theory all help explain why some leaders foster independence while others create dependency. When we constantly fix problems for others, we inadvertently communicate that they lack competence. But when we facilitate learning, we nurture autonomy and internal motivation.Ready to evolve your leadership approach? This week, challenge yourself to let someone assemble that IKEA shelf their way. Create space for them to struggle, reflect, and ultimately grow. True leadership isn't about being the smartest person with all the answers – it's about knowing when your silence is more valuable than your solution. Your restraint might be exactly what someone needs to discover their own capability.About Danny ClarkDanny Clark is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist based in Houston, Texas. As the founder of Texas Insight Center, he specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate mental health challenges with practical, evidence-based approaches.💡 Is therapy right for you? Let’s talk. If you’re struggling with stress or emotional regulation or just want to explore healthier coping strategies, reach out for a consultation. Visit www.texasinsightcenter.com to learn more and schedule a session.📩 Have a question or topic suggestion? Send it to [email protected] You can also follow me on Instagram @texasinsightcenter or visit my webpage at texasinsightcenter.com Join the conversation! Share your key takeaways using #MentalHealthPotluck or tag me on social media.
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  • Parasocial Relationships: Influencers, Followers and The Illusion of Friendship
    Click to text me what you got out of this episode.The mysterious one-sided bond between followers and online personalities has a name: parasocial relationships. These connections feel intensely real, making us defend celebrities like Taylor Swift as if they're our actual friends, even though they have no idea we exist.Parasocial relationships aren't new—psychologists first identified them in 1956 when television viewers formed attachments to TV personalities. But social media has supercharged these dynamics to unprecedented levels. When an influencer looks directly into the camera, our brains don't register this as mass communication; instead, it processes the moment as a personal interaction, creating a powerful illusion of friendship.This phenomenon affects both sides of the screen. For content creators, maintaining an online persona while balancing different audience expectations creates what experts call "context collapse"—a psychological tug-of-war between their authentic self and the version followers expect. This pressure can lead to identity confusion, anxiety, and burnout. Meanwhile, followers who constantly consume carefully curated content may develop unrealistic expectations, lower self-esteem, and diminished satisfaction with their own lives.The ASAP method offers a practical framework for maintaining mental health in this digital landscape: Awareness of how content affects you, Setting boundaries around social media use, Asking for help when needed, and Prioritizing self-care. Whether you're creating content or consuming it, this approach helps ensure that digital connections enhance your life without replacing real-world relationships. After all, true connection happens beyond the screen, where algorithms don't dictate our worth and validation comes from authentic human interaction rather than metrics.About Danny ClarkDanny Clark is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist based in Houston, Texas. As the founder of Texas Insight Center, he specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate mental health challenges with practical, evidence-based approaches.💡 Is therapy right for you? Let’s talk. If you’re struggling with stress or emotional regulation or just want to explore healthier coping strategies, reach out for a consultation. Visit www.texasinsightcenter.com to learn more and schedule a session.📩 Have a question or topic suggestion? Send it to [email protected] You can also follow me on Instagram @texasinsightcenter or visit my webpage at texasinsightcenter.com Join the conversation! Share your key takeaways using #MentalHealthPotluck or tag me on social media.
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  • Boundaries, Gaslighting, and Trauma: Are We Using These Words Wrong?
    Click to text me what you got out of this episode.Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm setting a boundary," but it feels more like they're avoiding a hard conversation? Or maybe you've seen the word "trauma" used to describe everything from a bad breakup to a stressful day at work? Therapy language has made its way into everyday conversation, but are we always using it correctly? In this episode, we break down how therapy speak—words meant to help us heal—can sometimes keep us stuck.We'll explore the four biggest ways therapy language gets misused and what that actually means for your mental health. Plus, we'll dig into how real therapy should challenge you—not just comfort you—and why growth doesn’t happen in an echo chamber of self-validation.Guest InformationGuest Name: Reverend Geneece GoertzenBio: Rev. Geneece Goertzen is a national expert on domestic violence, researcher, and author. She provides critical insights into gaslighting and manipulation in abusive relationships and has published books to help people identify red flags.Links: Taking It Seriously: A Faith Leader's Guide to Domestic ViolenceNever Ever After: A Guide to Recognizing Red FlagsEpisode Outline1. The Rise of Therapy SpeakHow psychological terms have entered everyday conversation through social media.The pros and cons of using therapy language in casual discussions.2. Four Common Misuses of Therapy SpeakBoundaries: When setting a boundary is actually avoiding accountability.Trauma: The difference between real trauma and difficult life experiences.Toxic Relationships: When normal conflict gets mislabeled as dysfunction.Gaslighting: What it actually means (and what it doesn’t).3. Social Media’s Role in MisinformationA study found that 85% of mental health advice on TikTok is misleading, and nearly 75% of trauma-related content is inaccurate.How therapists are navigating these challenges in sessions.4. Therapy Language in the Therapy RoomHow words like "trauma" and "boundaries" function in actual therapy.Why therapists ask deeper questions instead of taking labels at face value.5. Moving Forward: Using Therapy Language for GrowthTips for avoiding mislabeling experiences and fostering real self-awareness.How to use these terms as conversation starters, not conversation enders.Host Name: Danny ClarkAbout Danny ClarkDanny Clark is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist based in Houston, Texas. As the founder of Texas Insight Center, he specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate mental health challenges with practical, evidence-based approaches.💡 Is therapy right for you? Let’s talk. If you’re struggling with stress or emotional regulation or just want to explore healthier coping strategies, reach out for a consultation. Visit www.texasinsightcenter.com to learn more and schedule a session.📩 Have a question or topic suggestion? Send it to [email protected] You can also follow me on Instagram @texasinsightcenter or visit my webpage at texasinsightcenter.com Join the conversation! Share your key takeaways using #MentalHealthPotluck or tag me on social media.
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  • The Attention Economy: How Social Media Hijacks Your Mind
    Click to text me what you got out of this episode.Why We Can’t Look Away: Social Media, Outrage, and Your BrainHave you ever opened your phone for a quick check-in, only to find yourself deep in an internet-fueled existential crisis? Why does our brain fixate on negativity, and why do social media platforms exploit this? In this episode of Mental Health Potluck, Danny Clark breaks down how social media platforms profit from outrage, why our brains are wired to fixate on bad news, and—most importantly—how to break the cycle before it hijacks your mental health.We’ll explore the science behind negativity bias, the tactics tech companies use to keep us emotionally invested, and practical strategies to reclaim your attention and peace of mind.Episode Outline1. Why Our Brains Fixate on Chaos (2:12)The psychology behind negativity biasHow evolution wired us to pay attention to bad newsStudies proving that negative news spreads faster than positive news2. The Outrage Economy & How Social Media Exploits It (5:32)How social media algorithms prioritize outrage for engagementThe business model behind keeping users emotionally on edgeHow platforms personalize negativity to keep you hooked3. The Mental Health Cost of Doomscrolling (9:21)Research on how negative content increases stress, anxiety, and depressionHow your brain absorbs negativity and shifts your worldviewThe cycle of outrage addiction and the dopamine reward loop4. Five Ways to Break Free from the Outrage Loop (12:24)Recognize when you’re in the outrage cycle – Pause before engaging with negative contentUse the three-day rule – Wait before reacting to emotional newsCurate your information diet – Choose content that informs rather than enragesThe 3-to-1 positivity rule – Balance negative exposure with positive inputsDigital detox strategies that actually work – Realistic ways to limit harmful social media habits Host & Show InfoHost Name: Danny ClarkAbout the Host: Danny Clark is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist in private practice at the Texas Insight Center.  He takes a no-nonsense approach to mental health and mental wellness while integrating the latest evidence-based research. Podcast Website: TexasInsightCenter.comCommunity & Calls to ActionRate & Review on Apple Podcasts – Your support helps others find the show! About Danny ClarkDanny Clark is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist based in Houston, Texas. As the founder of Texas Insight Center, he specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate mental health challenges with practical, evidence-based approaches.💡 Is therapy right for you? Let’s talk. If you’re struggling with stress or emotional regulation or just want to explore healthier coping strategies, reach out for a consultation. Visit www.texasinsightcenter.com to learn more and schedule a session.📩 Have a question or topic suggestion? Send it to [email protected] You can also follow me on Instagram @texasinsightcenter or visit my webpage at texasinsightcenter.com Join the conversation! Share your key takeaways using #MentalHealthPotluck or tag me on social media.
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  • Why New Leaders Need to Channel Their Inner Therapist
    Click to text me what you got out of this episode.In this episode of Mental Health Potluck, Danny Clark explores the unique challenges of stepping into a leadership role at a new company and why approaching leadership like a therapist working with a new client can set managers up for success.Leadership isn’t just about setting goals and making decisions—it’s about understanding people, navigating workplace dynamics, and earning trust. Danny introduces the concept of role strain, explaining why new leaders often feel caught between expectations and their own uncertainty. Drawing from his experience as a therapist and social worker, he compares the early days of leadership to the first sessions with a new therapy client—where listening, observation, and understanding come before offering solutions.The episode highlights why trust-building is crucial, how unspoken workplace dynamics shape leadership success, and why leaders should resist the urge to prove themselves immediately. Danny provides a challenge for new leaders: spend the next week observing, listening, and understanding the environment before jumping into action.Whether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned leader transitioning to a new organization, this episode will help you approach leadership with curiosity, patience, and confidence—and remind you that discomfort in a new role doesn’t mean you don’t belong. It just means you’re still becoming.Key Topics CoveredThe Leadership-Therapy Connection – Why starting a new leadership role is like working with a new therapy client, and how understanding workplace culture before making changes builds trust.Role Strain and the Identity Shift of Leadership – How new leaders experience internal tension between expectations and confidence, and why this adjustment period is normal.Building Trust Before Making Changes – The importance of observing workplace power dynamics, listening to employees, and understanding the company’s history before implementing new ideas.Important Definitions & ConceptsRole Strain – The psychological tension that arises when the expectations placed on someone in a new role don’t fully match their comfort level, confidence, or familiarity with the system.Person-in-Environment Perspective – A social work framework that emphasizes understanding individuals (or teams) within the larger context of their environment, including relationships, power structures, and cultural norms.Discussion & Reflection QuestionsHow does role strain show up in leadership transitions, and what strategies can help leaders manage it effectively?About Danny ClarkDanny Clark is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist based in Houston, Texas. As the founder of Texas Insight Center, he specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate mental health challenges with practical, evidence-based approaches.💡 Is therapy right for you? Let’s talk. If you’re struggling with stress or emotional regulation or just want to explore healthier coping strategies, reach out for a consultation. Visit www.texasinsightcenter.com to learn more and schedule a session.📩 Have a question or topic suggestion? Send it to [email protected] You can also follow me on Instagram @texasinsightcenter or visit my webpage at texasinsightcenter.com Join the conversation! Share your key takeaways using #MentalHealthPotluck or tag me on social media.
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About Mental Health Potluck

 Welcome to Mental Health Potluck Podcast, your go-to space for mental health insights and practical guidance for mental health and wellness.  Hosted by Danny Clark, LCSW, this podcast blends expert knowledge with real-world strategies to support your well-being and personal growth. Whether you’re seeking tools for personal resilience, ways to ground your day, or insights to enhance your relationships, you’ll find thoughtful conversations and actionable wisdom here.Join us as we explore the intersection of science, therapy, and self-care—helping you and those you love.
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