Resources

Art and media can be powerful tools for exploration, connection, and healing. Here’s a collection of my favourites.

Golden hour view of the Vancouver skyline

Audio

Podcasts, stories and more

  • It’s understandable that we sometimes dwell on things that upset us. But sometimes our negative emotions can keep us from savoring the good things in our lives. Listen

  • Sorrows have a way of finding us, no matter how hard we try to avoid them. Joys, on the other hand, are often harder to notice and appreciate. This week, we continue our conversation with psychologist Fred Bryant about the science of savoring, and how to make the most of the good things in our lives. Listen

  • Anxiety is spiking around the world and we need the radical medicine of awareness to unwind it. Tara and Dr. Judson Brewer look at how anxiety is a habit that can be unlearned as we cultivate a curious and kind mindful presence. Listen

  • This two-part podcast explores the sinister tricks of depression, including rumination, and how meditation can help alleviate suffering.

    Listen - Part 1

    Listen - Part 2

  • Internalizing shame: The psychological tolls of late stage capitalism and how to protect our sense of self. Listen

  • Hidden Brain interview with the Sarah Jaquette Ray, author of

    A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety.
    How to keep your cool on a warming planet.

    Confronting the emotions we feel when faced with the despair of climate change.

    Listen

Video

TED Talks, YouTube, and more

  • Essential viewing for anyone interested in how to live more whole heartedly. Watch

  • A year after her Vulnerability TED Talk went viral Brene came back with this Part 2 on the ubiquity of shame. Watch

  • Inside the mind of a master procrastinator. Watch

  • A young woman talks openly and clearly about living with anxiety and panic in this 3 minute video. Watch

Film

Visual storytelling can be a powerful tool for understanding ourselves

  • This feel-good movie elaborates on the original YouTube viral video from over a decade ago. This is definitely on my antidepressant film list.

  • Gorgeous, meticulous animation and art direction. This one gets pretty dark, so not suitable for younger viewers. But, it confronts real life, difficult situations in a sensitive, creative way. It’s also a story about a beautiful sibling relationship.

  • This adaptation of the Broadway musical seems to be an allegory about racism, diversity, systemic violence, othering, and current politics. It reminds me of the Tom Robbins quotation, “There is no such thing as a weird human being. It’s just that some people require more understanding than others.”

  • This Netflix documentary by Jonah Hill explores the tools of therapy he learned from Dr Stutz, his long-term psychotherapist. You may want to take notes for this one, as it contains lots of information about the process of counselling.

  • Another film to watch when you need to uplift your mood. Little Miss Sunshine is a black comedy aimed at adults. It exposes the hypocrisy in children's beauty pageants as well as the myth of winners versus losers. The main messages from this movie are that so called 'losers' can be winners too and that body image is irrelevant in the broad scheme of things.

  • Despite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love. More

  • A cranky history teacher at a prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a grieving cook and a troubled student who has no place to go. More

  • The plan to make a trip back home as short as possible begins to unravel as Eric finds himself balancing the challenging relationship with his two sisters and his addiction to a local poker game. More

Music

Music can help us access emotions

  • The final song of the film The Adults is especially delicate and beautiful. Listen

  • Parks chose her stage name as a distinctive personal pseudonym, inspired by King Krule and Frank Ocean. Listen

  • Item Sarah Neufeld (born August 27, 1979) is a Canadian violinist who is known for her work with indie rock band Arcade Fire, with whom she is a former core member and currently a touring member. Listen