Podcast Summary:

Take Out Therapy: End Overthinking & Overwhelm for Empathic High Achievers
Host: Rebecca Hunter, MSW
Episode: Expand Your Perspective & Improve Your Mental Health With a Simple Therapy Tool
Date: September 19, 2025

Main Theme

Rebecca Hunter dives into a deceptively simple but transformative therapy tool: embracing the idea that two things can be true at the same time. She explains why this mindset can expand our perspective, shift mental patterns, and improve overall mental health. The episode feels like a thoughtful, encouraging conversation with a therapist friend—and delivers practical advice for empathic high-achievers struggling with overthinking and overwhelm.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Trap of a Singular Perspective

• Stuck in Our Own Heads:
  • Many of us only bring problems to a few people, or even just process them internally. As a result, “we only have our brain to work with, we only have our experience and our history and our level of skills to work with.” (02:13)
  • We can get “stuck in our opinion or in our thought about how things are” (02:46)
• The Brain’s Need for Certainty:
  • “The brain really wants to latch on to one [idea]...it likes to know what’s up.” (03:28)
  • This means we miss chances to recognize nuance, complexity, or alternate realities co-existing.

The Therapeutic “Two Things Can Be True” Tool

• Introduction of the Tool:
  • A common technique Rebecca uses in her therapy sessions is helping clients see that opposite truths can coexist.
  • Her signature line: “Two things can be true at the same time.” (03:50)
• Concrete Examples:
  • Relationships: “You can wanna be in a relationship with somebody and be completely committed to them and not be able to stand them at the same time, right?” (03:54)
  • Emotions: “You can be grieving deeply, deeply grieving and laughing and enjoying yourself at the same time.” (03:59)
  • Work Dynamics: “Your boss might be an absolute jerk and also you might not be doing the best work, right?” (04:15)
  • Life Struggles: “Your relationship might really, really, really be struggling and yet, you know, it will be okay.” (04:22)

Practice: “Yes, And…”

• Therapy and Business Technique:
  • Rebecca references “yes, and…”—a skill from both psychotherapy and business meetings.
    • Example: “When you’re in a meeting and you think like, I cannot believe that moron just said that. And you say yes. And also, here’s another idea, right?” (05:21)
• The Power of Holding Opposites:
  • Practicing ‘yes, and’ thinking grows your mental flexibility, opening space for empathy and better decision-making.

Actionable Takeaways

• When You’re Stuck:
  • Rebecca’s advice: “If you’re really stuck, think, hmm, how else could I look at this?” (05:43)
  • She encourages listeners to reach out for help as needed—and shares that she’s practicing this tool in her own life “every single day.” (06:02)
• Reassurance and Support:
  • “Two things can be true at the same time for all of us. Keep up the good work. I’ll see you soon.” (06:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Two things can be true at the same time.” (Repeated, e.g., 03:50, 05:08)
• “You can be grieving deeply, deeply grieving and laughing and enjoying yourself at the same time.” (03:59)
• “The brain wants us to think we do [know what’s going on], but two things can be true at the same time.” (03:41)
• “If you’re really stuck, think, hmm, how else could I look at this?” (05:43)
• “This is something that we teach all the time in the therapy office. It’s like the very difficult skill of saying yes. And.” (05:08)
• “I am having to do this work every single day of my life right now…” (06:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:05–01:50: Introduction to the episode and its purpose.
• 01:51–03:31: Discussion of how our brain defaults to singular, rigid perspectives and why we get stuck.
• 03:32–05:07: Explanation of the “two things can be true” tool; examples from relationships, grief, and work.
• 05:08–05:42: “Yes, and” skill—using the tool in therapy and business.
• 05:43–06:20: Closing encouragement, reminders to practice the tool, and offer of continued support.

Tone and Language

Rebecca speaks with a warm, conversational tone—often referring to the listener as “friend.” She blends gentle humor (“I cannot believe that moron just said that”), genuine empathy, and direct, practical advice in a relatable style.

Summary Takeaway

Rebecca Hunter delivers a succinct, actionable mental tool in this episode—reminding listeners to consciously consider that two (even opposite) things can be true at once. This shift in thinking helps break rigid patterns, eases emotional stuckness, and offers space for genuine growth and peace of mind. As Rebecca puts it, “Keep up the good work,” and remember, “If you’re really stuck, think, hmm, how else could I look at this?”