Dr. Diana Hill is a clinical psychologist and expert in acceptance based and science backed approaches to living well. In her practice, workshops, podcasts, and mentoring, Dr. Hill uses the combined tools of compassion and ACT to help you get unstuck and live more fully. Intrigued by the intersection of brain, body and behavior, Dr. Hill studied biopsychology (the physiology and neuroscience of behavior) as a premedical student at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB). She also began practicing yoga and mindfulness to manage her struggles with anxiety and eating. She then pursued a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at University of Colorado at Boulder, and did her dissertation on Appetite-Focused Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Binge Eating with Purging under the mentorship of Dr. Debra Safer at Stanford School of Medicine. She completed a yearlong pre-doctoral internship in 2007 at University of California, Davis Counseling and Psychological Services (UC Davis CAPS) under the directorship of Dr. Kristee Haggins.
In 2008, Dr. Hill took a job as the Clinical Director of La Luna Center (an intensive outpatient center for eating disorders that embraces feminine, and holistic, integrative approaches to healing) in the Northern Colorado branch. At La Luna Center, she designed the treatment program, built ACT groups, supervised doctoral students in ACT, and more. With motherhood beginning, Dr. Hill left Colorado and moved back to Santa Barbara, to start a private therapy and consulting practice, raise her kids, and grow their homestead. In an effort to stay connected to the most current psychology research, she started a podcast called Psychologists Off the Clock with her friend and colleague, Dr. Debbie Sorenson in 2016. Dr. Hill is currently the host of Your Life In Process and is the author of the ACT Daily Journal.
In this episode, Dr. Hill and I talk about what Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is, what it means to live based off our values, and how to have psychological flexibility. For more information on Dr. Hill, check out her website at www.drdianahill.com. If you’re interested in learning more about ACT, Dr. Hill also has a Foundations of ACT course available on her website. Her podcast, Your Life in Process, is available wherever you find Kare With Korac. Follow me @joshkorac on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, for video clips, podcast previews, and more mental health content.
Takeaways
Psychological flexibility and living in alignment with one's values are key to navigating obstacles and uncertainty.
The mind-body connection is crucial, and practices like yoga can help individuals reconnect with their bodies.
Living in alignment with one's values can lead to a rich and meaningful life.
Psychological flexibility is crucial for high achievers to pursue their goals without burning out.
Commitments, both personal and chosen, can provide meaning and direction in life.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:23 Psychological Flexibility and Values
02:16 Specializing in Eating Disorders
03:43 The Disconnection Between Body and Mind
06:07 The Discomfort in Our Bodies
07:46 Nature, Nurture, and Neighborhood
11:58 Starting with Creative Hopelessness
13:42 Alternative Paths and Acceptance
14:47 Living in Alignment with Values
16:14 Incorporating Yoga into Therapy
26:14 Holistic Approach to Therapy
36:15 The Importance of Social Connections
39:24 The Role of the Body in Mental Health
41:49 The Impact of Context and Moderating Variables
42:43 Isolation and Social Relationships in Younger Generations
43:15 Unexpected Outgrowths of COVID-19
44:41 Practical Coping Skills: One Eye In, One Eye Out
46:58 Mindfulness and Being Present
51:46 Scaling Back and Resting
52:37 Striving Without Striving: Psychological Flexibility for High Achievers
54:22 The Power of Commitments
