# Mindful Psychotherapy, LLC and Awaken Joy

Barbara Heffernan, certified coach, psychotherapist and meditation instructor, offers The Ultimate Boundary Course and the Roadmap to Joy and Authentic Confidence. Her YouTube channel, Awaken Joy, @awakenjoy.life, provides information worldwide to help people live more joyful lives.

## Pages


- [ABOUT](https://www.awakenjoy.life/about): Barbara Heffernan, LCSW, MBA, Certified Coach. Bio and mission statement.

- [Rewire Your Brain](https://www.awakenjoy.life/rewire-your-brain): Interested in lowering your anxiety and improving your confidence? This webinar demonstrates the power we have to rewire our brains, and Barbara Heffernan shares actionable techniques to help you do so.

- [1:1 COACHING](https://www.awakenjoy.life/1-on-1-coaching): Transformational Coaching, Barbara Heffernan

- [Break Free!](https://www.awakenjoy.life/BreakFree): Heal negative self-talk. Stop constant criticism. Healing your negative core beliefs improves self-esteem, self-confidence and self-compassion.

- [RESOURCES](https://www.awakenjoy.life/resources): Live more joyfully. Free PDF to transform negative core beliefs. Online EMDR program. Betterhelp therapy,

- [BLOG](https://www.awakenjoy.life/blog): Barbara Heffernan's Blog covers How to Lower Anxiety, Heal from Parentification, Set Boundaries and more to help you live a happier life.  Barbara Heffernan was a psychotherapist for 20 years, and now has a successful YouTube channel where she shares powerful techniques to help people around the world.

- [THE ULTIMATE BOUNDARY COURSE](https://www.awakenjoy.life/boundary): Transformational program to develop healthy boundaries.  Rewire negative core beliefs, regulate emotions and be able to set and enforce boundaries with ease.

- [ROADMAP TO JOY](https://www.awakenjoy.life/roadmap): Live the life you deserve! Transformational program will allow you to heal negative core beliefs, dramatically lower anxiety and develop authentic self-confidence.

- [HOME](https://www.awakenjoy.life/): Transformational online programs to live a more joyful life. Healthy boundaries and Recover from Anxiety

- [Contact](https://www.awakenjoy.life/contact): Contact Barbara Heffernan


## Blog Posts


- [Overloaded and Overwhelmed? Here's Help](https://www.awakenjoy.life/overloaded-and-overwhelmed-here-s-help)

- [The 4 Faces of Emotional Overwhelm: Which is Yours?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-4-faces-of-emotional-overwhelm-which-is-yours)

- [Fear of Eye Contact and Being Judged? 3 Tools to Help Social Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/fear-of-eye-contact-and-being-judged-3-tools-to-help-social-anxiety)

- [Interoceptive Exposure: A Powerful Technique for Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/interoceptive-exposure-a-powerful-technique-for-anxiety)

- [Which of These 6 Beliefs Is Sabotaging Your Emotional Regulation?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/which-of-these-6-beliefs-is-sabotaging-your-emotional-regulation)

- [Emotional Dysregulation is Driven by Your BELIEFS](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-dysregulation-is-driven-by-your-beliefs)

- [Can't Stop Ruminating? Here's the Missing Piece](https://www.awakenjoy.life/can-t-stop-ruminating-here-s-the-missing-piece)

- [Emotional Regulation and Relationships: 5 Critical Skills to Improve Relationships](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-regulation-and-relationships-5-critical-skills-to-improve-relationships)

- [Said Yes, Meant No? What to Do (for People-Pleasers)](https://www.awakenjoy.life/said-yes-meant-no-what-to-do-for-people-pleasers)

- [Health Anxiety: When Worry Feels Necessary](https://www.awakenjoy.life/health-anxiety-when-worry-feels-necessary)

- [Anxiety Recovery: The Complete Approach](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anxiety-recovery-the-complete-approach)

- [Anxiety: The RIGHT Use of Logic](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anxiety-the-right-use-of-logic)

- [Is Your Family "Too Close"? The Warning SIgns of Enmeshment](https://www.awakenjoy.life/is-your-family-too-close-the-warning-signs-of-enmeshment)

- [9 Signs You Are Stuck in a Dysfunctional Family Role](https://www.awakenjoy.life/9-signs-you-are-stuck-in-a-dysfunctional-family-role)

- [Dysfunctional Family Communication: From Unhealthy to Healthy](https://www.awakenjoy.life/dysfunctional-family-communication-from-unhealthy-to-healthy)

- [Break Free From Your Family Role/ The 7 Critical Steps](https://www.awakenjoy.life/break-free-from-your-family-role-the-7-critical-steps)

- [Dysfunctional Family Roles: Why is it SO hard to change?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/dysfunctional-family-roles-why-is-it-so-hard-to-change)

- [Anxious? The Surprising Link with Disappointment](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anxious-the-surprising-link-with-disappointment)

- [Is It Reasonable Concern or Anxiety?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/is-it-reasonable-concern-or-anxiety)

- [Cognitive Distortions and the Downward Spiral From Disappointment](https://www.awakenjoy.life/cognitive-distortions-and-the-downward-spiral-from-disappointment)

- [Chronic Disappointment Can Crush Motivation](https://www.awakenjoy.life/chronic-disappointment-can-crush-motivation)

- [Emotional Dysregulation and Disappointment](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-dysregulation-and-disappointment)

- [Dysfunctional Family Roles During the Holidays](https://www.awakenjoy.life/dysfunctional-family-roles-during-the-holidays)

- [What is an emotional trigger really?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/what-is-an-emotional-trigger-really)

- [Chasing Happiness Can Backfire](https://www.awakenjoy.life/chasing-happiness-can-backfire)

- [Traumatic Memories and EMDR](https://www.awakenjoy.life/traumatic-memories-and-emdr)

- [How to Calm Your Emotional Reactivity](https://www.awakenjoy.life/how-to-calm-your-emotional-reactivity)

- [Trauma and Emotional Dysregulation](https://www.awakenjoy.life/trauma-and-emotional-dysregulation)

- [Emotional Suppression](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-suppression)

- [Why Am I SO Emotionally Dysregulated?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/why-am-i-so-emotionally-dysregulated)

- [Emotional Regulation: Scientifically Proven Skills](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-regulation-scientifically-proven-skills)

- [Emotional Dysregulation: What it is and what to do about it](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-dysregulation)

- [The Narcissist is Enmeshed with YOU](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-narcissist-is-enmeshed-with-you)

- [Emotional Dysregulation: The Hidden Cost of Parentification](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-dysregulation-the-hidden-cost-of-parentification)

- [Parentification Creates Enmeshment: The Connection That Explains Everything](https://www.awakenjoy.life/parentification-creates-enmeshment-the-connection-that-explains-everything)

- [Emotional Enmeshment](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-enmeshment)

- [Why It is so HARD to set boundaries](https://www.awakenjoy.life/why-it-is-so-hard-to-set-boundaries)

- [Boundaries vs Ultimatums](https://www.awakenjoy.life/boundaries-vs-ultimatums)

- [Setting Boundaries with Family: What to Expect](https://www.awakenjoy.life/setting-boundaries-with-family-what-to-expect)

- [The Paradox in Healing Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-paradox-in-healing-anxiety)

- [Were You the 'Responsible One'? How Parentification Creates Adult Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/were-you-the-responsible-one-how-parentification-creates-adult-anxiety)

- [Anxiety Physical Symptoms Out of the Blue](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anxiety-physical-symptoms-out-of-the-blue)

- [Physical Symptoms of Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/physical-symptoms-of-anxiety)

- [Anxiety: When Your Body Responds to Made-Up Stories](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anxiety-when-your-body-responds-to-made-up-stories)

- [Worst Case Thinking and How to Stop](https://www.awakenjoy.life/worst-case-thinking-and-how-to-stop)

- [Why Are We All So Anxious?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-evolution-of-anxiety): Evolutionary Mismatch: Why We Are All So Anxious

- [Is Anxiety Hereditary?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/is-anxiety-hereditary)

- [Stop Amygdala Hijacks: Research Based Technique](https://www.awakenjoy.life/stop-amygdala-hijacks-research-based-technique)

- [9 Steps to Heal the Fawn Response](https://www.awakenjoy.life/9-steps-to-heal-the-fawn-response)

- [The Fawn Response Explained](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-fawn-response-explained)

- [All Anxiety is an Amygdala Hijack](https://www.awakenjoy.life/all-anxiety-is-an-amygdala-hijack)

- [How to Calm An Amygdala Hijack](https://www.awakenjoy.life/how-to-calm-an-amygdala-hijack)

- [Amygdala Hijack Explained](https://www.awakenjoy.life/amygdala-hijack-explained)

- [7 Signs You Are In Chronic Freeze](https://www.awakenjoy.life/7-signs-you-are-in-chronic-freeze)

- [The Freeze Response](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-freeze-response)

- [Discounting the Positive](https://www.awakenjoy.life/discounting-the-positive)

- [The Cognitive Distortion of Personalization](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-cognitive-distortion-of-personalization)

- [Cognitive Distortions and Emotional Regulation](https://www.awakenjoy.life/cognitive-distortions-and-emotional-regulation)

- [The Cognitive Distortion of Emotional Reasoning](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-cognitive-distortion-of-emotional-reasoning)

- [The Cognitive Distortion of SHOULD Statements](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-cognitive-distortion-of-should-statements)

- [The Cognitive Distortion of Mind Reading](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-cognitive-distortion-of-mind-reading)

- [Cognitive Defusion: Help for Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/cognitive-defusion-help-for-anxiety)

- [Challenging Negative Thoughts](https://www.awakenjoy.life/challenge-negative-thinking): Challenging Negative Thoughts

- [What if Your Negative Beliefs are True?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/what-if-your-negative-beliefs-are-true)

- [Overcome Limiting Beliefs: 3 Questions to Ask](https://www.awakenjoy.life/overcome-limiting-beliefs-3-questions-to-ask)

- [Self-Criticism and Your Inner Critic](https://www.awakenjoy.life/self-criticism-and-your-inner-critic)

- [How to Deal with Criticism](https://www.awakenjoy.life/how-to-deal-with-criticism)

- [Constructive Criticism VS Destructive Criticism](https://www.awakenjoy.life/constructive-criticism-vs-destructive-criticism)

- [Healthy vs Unhealthy Competition: The Psychology of Competition](https://www.awakenjoy.life/healthy-vs-unhealthy-competition-the-psychology-of-competition)

- [Compulsive Rumination](https://www.awakenjoy.life/compulsive-rumination)

- [What is High-Functioning Anxiety?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/what-is-high-functioning-anxiety)

- [Self-Esteem and Boundaries: The Feedback Loop](https://www.awakenjoy.life/self-esteem-and-boundaries-the-feedback-loop)

- [Overcome Overwhelm](https://www.awakenjoy.life/overcome-overwhelm)

- [Does Staying Busy Help Your Anxiety?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/does-staying-busy-help-your-anxiety)

- [Anxious About a Decision? 5 Concepts to Help!](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anxious-about-a-decision-5-concepts-to-help)

- [2 Questions to Calm Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/2-questions-to-calm-anxiety)

- [Anxious For No Reason](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anxious-for-no-reason)

- [Are You Indecisive Because You Are Too Responsible?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/are-you-indecisive-because-you-are-too-responsible)

- [The 5 Reasons People-Pleasers Are Indecisive](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-5-reasons-people-pleasers-are-indecisive)

- [Is it My Intuition? Or My Anxiety?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/is-it-my-intuition-or-my-anxiety)

- [Focus On Breathing Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/focus-on-breathing-anxiety)

- [The Avoidance Anxiety Cycle: What it Is and Why It Is A Problem](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-avoidance-anxiety-cycle-what-it-is-and-why-it-is-a-problem)

- [5 Tips To Help Anticipatory Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anticipatory-anxiety)

- [Anxiety vs Fear](https://www.awakenjoy.life/anxiety-vs-fear)

- [Enmeshment In Romantic Relationships](https://www.awakenjoy.life/enmeshment-in-romantic-relationships)

- [How To Talk To Your Enmeshed Partner](https://www.awakenjoy.life/how-to-talk-to-your-enmeshed-partner): How To Talk to Your Enmeshed Partner

- [What Is Enmeshment?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/what-is-enmeshment)

- [Procrastination and Perfectionism](https://www.awakenjoy.life/procrastination-and-perfectionism)

- [The 6 cognitive distortions beneath perfectionism](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-6-cognitive-distortions-beneath-perfectionism)

- [Social Anxiety Around The Holidays: Why It Happens & 3 Tips To Help](https://www.awakenjoy.life/social-anxiety-around-the-holidays-why-it-happens-3-tips-to-help)

- [How To Cope With Holiday Stress - 4 Tips](https://www.awakenjoy.life/how-to-cope-with-holiday-stress-4-tips)

- [Why Are The Holidays So Miserable?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/why-are-the-holidays-so-miserable)

- [How To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others](https://www.awakenjoy.life/how-to-stop-comparing-yourself-to-others)

- [Saying Yes to Family Too Often?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/saying-yes-to-family-too-often)

- [5 Exercises to Heal Anxiety](https://www.awakenjoy.life/5-exercises-to-heal-anxiety)

- [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Will CBT Work For You?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-will-cbt-work-for-you)

- [EMDR Therapy: What is the Best Option for You?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emdr-therapy-what-is-the-best-option-for-you)

- [Boundaries, Anxiety and Assertiveness: A Key to Self-Empowerment](https://www.awakenjoy.life/boundaries-anxiety-and-assertiveness-a-key-to-self-empowerment)

- [The Roles in a Dysfunctional Family](https://www.awakenjoy.life/the-roles-in-a-dysfunctional-family)

- [Am I A Narcissist?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/am-i-a-narcissist)

- [7 Signs of a People Pleaser](https://www.awakenjoy.life/7-signs-of-a-people-pleaser)

- [Were you parentified as a child?](https://www.awakenjoy.life/were-you-parentified-as-a-child): Parentification: Were you parentified as a child?

- [Emotional Parentification](https://www.awakenjoy.life/emotional-parentification)

- [CALM ANXIETY](https://www.awakenjoy.life/calm-anxiety)