The Two Faces of Fear: Constructive/Destructive with Carla Marie Manly, Ph.D.

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We’re all familiar with the aspect of fear that strangles us, holds us back, and keeps us living lives filled with stress, unhappiness, and emptiness. This kind of fear creates chronic anxiety, depression, and disconnection. However, Manly shares a hidden aspect of this same fear that affords us the opportunity to live a life with fear as an ally rather than a foe. In her research and work as a psychotherapist she has discovered a way out of destructive fear and how we can turn it into transformational healing. She tells us, “The aspects of fear that we ignore or run from are often the very aspects that contain the subtle messages we need the most.” She helps us understand that destructive fear is loud, cantankerous, and moody. Whereas constructive fear is more difficult to notice because it is not so loud and we need to train ourselves to hear it. (hosted by Justine Willis Toms) 

Bio 

Carla Marie Manly, Ph.D. is a licensed psychotherapist who’s focus is on fear-based disorders such as trauma, anxiety, and depression as well as women’s issues. With her doctorate in clinical psychology and her master's degree in counseling, Manly merges her psychotherapy skills with her writing expertise to offer easily understood guidance. Through a highly personalized approach that focuses on discovering and understanding each individual's unique needs and life-path goals, Dr. Manly's psychotherapeutic approach blends her clinical knowledge with a holistic, body-mind-spirit approach. She’s passionate about creating healing from the inside out and maintains her clinical practice in Sonoma County, California just North of San Francisco.

Carla Marie Manly is the author of: 

• Joy From Fear: Create the Life of Your Dreams by Making Fear Your Friend. (Familius 2019).

 To learn more about the work of Carla Manly go to www.drcarlamanly.com.

Topics Explored in This Dialogue

• What are the beginnings of primal fear that start to take hold of us into adulthood
• How do mirror neurons influence how we see ourselves
• How destructive fear can convince us that we are not good enough, safe, or worthy of love
• How we develop defense strategies in childhood that no longer work in adulthood
• How working with her fear archetypally transformed her relationship with it
• How fear is giving us messages we most need
• How destructive fear is loud, cantankerous, and moody
• How constructive fear is loving, kind soft, genuine and not so loud
• How Manly works with clients to track down the underlying fear that is a hidden motivator
• Why many people are going for quick fixes offered by pharmaceuticals, alcohol, or other addictive substances
• How medications can offer a “kick start” to healing but one needs to address the underlying cause of their anxiety and inability to function in healthy ways
• What does she mean by “passively accepting” how is it different from “escapism” 

Host: Justine Willis Toms              Interview Date: 7/30/2019            Program Number: 3680

Music Playlist

From Album: Jonah's Journey
Artist: Steven Halpern and David Friesen
1986 Halpern Sounds #HDS 9001

Opening Essay: Track 01 Mirror Image
Music break 1: Track 02 Belly of the Beast
Music Break 2: Track 07 Prelude / Children of the Light
Music Break 3: Track 08 Affinities