The Holistic Heart Podcast

In this episode, Kristen and Sammy dive into an insightful discussion about Autism and ADHD, sharing their personal journeys of self-discovery through late diagnosis while exploring the unique challenges and breakthroughs of understanding what it means to be neurodivergent. Tune in for a conversation that encourages compassion and celebrates the diversity of the human experience! Resources Mentioned: Unmasking Autism by Devon Price The Autistic Survival Guide by Steph Jones The Neurodivergent Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD by Jennifer Kemp and Monique Mitchelson A Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg

In this episode, Kristen and Sammy dive into the concept of embodiment, exploring how our physical experiences and sensations are intricately connected to our mental and emotional well-being. Tune in to discover how embracing this practice can enhance your self-awareness and offer a new perspective on your feelings.

As we transition back to school, adapt to new schedules, and embrace the seasonal change, join Sammy and Kristen as they delve into the importance of integrating self-care into your daily routine. In this episode, they explore ways to bring intention to and prioritize self-care through revealing their own favorite self-care rituals—from reading and journaling to enjoying the great outdoors and unwinding in a comfy hammock. You won't want to miss this one!

This month we are celebrating 10 years of The Holistic Heart!

If you have been listening in for any amount of time, then you know holism is at the core of our values and worldview around here. It's so important, in fact, that we made it part of our name! So what's all the fuss about? Why holistic? Listen in as Sammy and Kristen chat all about it.

We're continuing our focus on the theme of community connection! In this episode, Sammy and Kristen are joined by HH clinician and Head of Education & Training, Lauren Boulanger for a chat about the HH internship program and how it serves as a bridge to the larger local community.

We're putting extra focus on community connection at HH for the months of April-June, and thought it would be great to have some guests on the podcast from our very own HH community to share their brilliance. In this episode, Sammy and Kristen are joined by HH clinician and certified yoga teacher, Sam Rose for a chat about the ways that yoga can support mental health and well-being.

In this episode Kristen and Sammy continue the transformation conversation by exploring the topics of symbolism, imagery, and metaphor as they relate to mental health. As Kristen mentions in the episode, accessing these layers of experience is one way to go deeper with your therapeutic work - listen in to learn how.

Inspired by Kayleah's workshop offering this month and the recent Valentine's Day holiday, we decided to talk about self love in this episode - but from a different lens. Tying in some of the winter themes we discussed last episode of deconstruction and creation, Kristen and Sammy talk through some less traditional ideas of what self love can look like.

We're baaaaccckkk!!! And so excited to be!! Kristen and Sammy are kicking things off by diving right in with a deep discussion about transformation. Winter is a time of pulling back, turning inward, assessing, deconstructing... and we are talking about it all. Get cozy, pop in your headphones, and join us :)

In this episode, Kristen and Sammy discuss body image and the different ways it can come up in relation to your mental health. Your relationship with your body can have a significant effect on how you relate to yourself overall, so we thought this was an important topic to explore.

In this episode, Sammy and Kristen are joined by HH clinician Lauren Boulanger, LMHC to discuss the topic of conscious parenting and childcare. Even if you are not a parent, most of us interact with children at some point in our lives personally or professionally, so definitely tune in!

If you have been feeling particularly weighed down by day to day tasks, disconnected from yourself and/or others, or simply uninspired - you're not alone! In this episode Kristen and Sammy share their experiences of being deeply in this energy right now. So if you're there with them, this one's for you :)

May is Mental Health Month, so in this episode we're talking about the exciting progress that has been made in the field of mental health, and some of the very important ways that we still need to move things forward. This inspiring convo is all about recognizing the impact that can be made when we are committed to individual and collective change.

In this episode, Kristen & Sammy are joined by HH clinician Erika Lucas, MHC-A. Erika draws on her own lived experience as someone diagnosed with ADHD, as well as her experience as a therapist, for this really rich discussion. We cover some examples of the more nuanced ways that ADHD can present, potential benefits and limitations of a formal diagnosis, the importance of self-compassion, and so much more. This is one episode you won't want to miss!

In this episode, Kristen & Sammy are joined by HH clinician Brandi Hamlin, LICSW to discuss the important topic of grief, and death of a loved one in particular. Brandi specializes in grief and loss in her work as a therapist, and shares her thoughts on navigating this life-altering experience, as well as ways to offer support if someone you care about has lost a loved one.

It's so important for therapists to be doing their own work too. In this episode, Sammy and Kristen talk about some of the ways that the therapists of HH incorporate ongoing learning as a team to intentionally examine the use of themselves within the therapy dynamic, as well as how this can all be relevant to you for use outside of therapy in your own relationships. Plus, hear a little bit about Kristen's journey being back in school for her doctorate, and how that is inspiring new ideas for team learning too!

Your relationship with yourself is the most important one you have, and yet for so many of us self-love feels foreign, or just plain hard. In this episode, Kristen and Sammy explore some potential reasons for this, and how you might intentionally cultivate a genuine sense of self-worth and self-love that will be the foundation for how you walk through the world.

Relationship dynamics are one of THE most discussed topics in therapy sessions, and it's because they have such a huge impact on our quality of life and sense of well-being. Relationships can be a source of great joy and nourishment, and also a source of stress and frustration... and as Sammy points out so accurately in this episode - sometimes both in the same relationship! Let's dive in on this one.

We talk about it all the time, and we FINALLY did an episode on it - the both/and! If you're a regular HH podcast listener, then you know that Kristen and Sammy regularly reference the both/and. To us this refers to an inclusive, holistic, lens that allows one to see beyond the either/or singular framework that we've been conditioned to view the world through. More often there is a both/and of multiplicity, where many things are true at once. This perspective is an important one when it comes to making space for all of you (and others!) to show up, both inwardly and outwardly. Let's talk about it!

In this episode, Sammy and Kristen talk values and intentions, and moving into the new year gently in a way that feels aligned for you.

This time of year can sometimes include more time with family and friends if you are gathering for the holidays. That kind of environment can be tricky for the unhealed parts of self from your early life experiences, prompting a younger version of you to present for healing. This is where inner child work can come in. In this episode, Kristen and Sammy discuss what we mean by 'inner child' and ways to support the younger self within you through those tough moments in ways that will interrupt unhealthy patterns and foster self-love and healing.

Inspired by the recent start of daylight savings time, with less sunlight and more darkness during the daytime hours, Kristen & Sammy took an episode to talk about our relationship with darkness - both literal, and metaphorical. This is a timely episode for sure as we shift into winter. We hope you enjoy it!

Since this episode is coming out on Halloween (a favorite holiday here at Holistic Heart) we decided to tackle a spooky subject for today's convo - the Sunday Scaries. You're familiar, right? It's that feeling that can creep up at the end of the weekend as the work week looms ahead, or when something you enjoy is coming to an end... and it takes you right out of the very present moment that you are wanting to hold onto. Join Kristen & Sammy as they talk about how the Sunday Scaries can show up, and some supportive inquiries for when they do.

Change can be hard, and it can also be exciting. In this episode, Sammy & Kristen explore their own relationships to change, some of the reasons it can be a struggle, and thoughts on shifting your perspective to see the potential held within the unknown. This episode feels like an important one, because if there is one thing we all can count on, it's change!

How has it seriously been one full year of this magic already?! In this episode, Kristen and Sammy reflect on the journey of creating and navigating a new podcast over this past year, their process and experiences behind the scenes, and new insights gained. Here's to celebrating one year and counting!

Perfectionism can be a real threat to our sense of mental and emotional well-being. In this episode, Sammy & Kristen explore some of the different ways perfectionism can show up, why it might be presenting, and ways to work with it when it does.

Here at HH we talk a lot about the Mind-Body Connection - but what IS it, and why is it important? This week we're talking about exactly that! Full of insightful shares from Sammy based on her own expertise and experience working therapeutically with expressive arts and somatic (or body-based) modalities, this episode explores how awareness of the mind-body connection is an essential component of mental and emotional well-being. It's all connected!

Let's talk about attachment! Attachment styles have been at the forefront of mental health and relationship conversations recently, but what are they and how can understanding them help you in navigating your own relationships? In this week's episode, HH clinician Claire Robinson, LICSW joins Kristen and Sammy for a conversation all about attachment. Claire draws on her background being certified in Infant Mental Health, and has a wealth of knowledge regarding relating and relationships. This one is a must-listen for anyone in any kind of relationship - so all of us!

Dive a little deeper into the Shadow in this part two to the intro episode we did on Shadow Work back in episode six. Kristen is currently sifting through all things Shadow Work in preparation for her upcoming workshop on the topic, and it felt like a great time revisit the discussion on this very powerful work. Sammy, as always, asks some amazing questions, making this quick little episode is one you won't want to miss.

In this episode, join Kristen and Sammy for a conversation about symbolism - learn about what it is, and how working with it can help increase self-awareness and support mental and emotional well-being.

We've all been there, right? You're going through your day minding your biz and someone you love comes into the space in a mood. And YOU. CAN. FEEL. IT. It's so uncomfortable that you begin attempts at shifting their mood. Maybe its because you hate to see them feeling that way - but its also so that you can get out of your own discomfort. If they feel better, you'll feel better, so the focus should be on them - right? Wrong. In today's episode Sammy and Kristen talk about our impulse to regulate others as a way to self-regulate, when really our work is to do our own self-regulation directly. So how do we do it? Listen in and find out!

Relationships are such an integral part of the human experience, and navigating them can sometimes be challenging. One common dynamic that can show up in relationships is codependency - which is just what it sounds like: "I'm dependent on you being dependent on me." In this episode, Sammy and Kristen talk about what codependency can look like, and how you can work with it if it is part of your experience.

Communication is a central component of our relationships, and is a bridge for creating and maintaining connection with important others in our lives. In this episode, Kristen and Sammy talk about talking - and why it can seem so hard sometimes! We explore some of the most common reasons for miscommunication, and share our own favorite approaches to communicating in a more genuinely constructive and connective way.

In this episode, Sammy and Kristen explore the role of imagination in mental health and how it can support access to your own inner resources. Imagination is the vehicle on which we explore the depth of our inner landscapes... let's talk about it!

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this week's podcast episode is a candid conversation about the importance of understanding mental health as something we all have. Kristen and Sammy share their biggest take-aways in their respective mental health journeys so far, as well as different supports that they use and recommend for cultivating mental and emotional well-being.

Intuition connects us to our inner compass, helps us access inner resources, and supports our overall well-being. It absolutely has a place in the mental health conversation... let's talk about it. Joining Sammy & Kristen today is our featured guest and HH Clinician, Lauren Boulanger, MA. Lauren lends her expertise and shares from her experience as a therapist who works with highly-sensing, empathic, and intuitive individuals. Lauren also leads workshops and groups at The Holistic Heart on working with intuition, and empowering yourself as an empath.

In this episode, Sammy and Kristen explore the role of diagnosis in mental health conceptualization and treatment. Together they talk through potential pros and cons of establishing diagnoses and reflect on this aspect of mental health care through a holistic lens.

In this episode Kristen & Sammy explore how emotions are experienced in the body, why it's important to actually feel into your feelings (and not just talk about them!), and how to increase your connection to the embodied sensations they present.

In this episode Kristen & Sammy expand on the often limiting conventional understanding of authenticity to explore the many different ways of "showing up" meaningfully and authentically in the world and with yourself.

I mean... wtf is self-discovery? We hear it all the time, but what does it actually look like? In this episode Kristen & Sammy explore the essence of self-discovery and why we do it. We do drop a couple of f-bombs in this one, so heads up if there are little person ears nearby :)

Can we just say it? Sometimes what is true self-care isn't comfortable, and it isn't necessarily what we really want to do in the moment. In this episode, Sammy & Kristen go beyond surface-level self-care and talk about what it can look like to show up for yourself in meaningful ways, big and small, that support genuine well-being over time. So by all means, take that bubble bath... but do this stuff too ;)

In this episode, Sammy & Kristen are joined by Alex, an aspiring astrologer and one of our incredible HH clinicians, to talk about psychological astrology, or the use of astrology to deepen self-understanding. Alex is a wealth of knowledge and clearly so passionate about the subject. She also has an incredible gift for sharing a complex subject in a way that is clear and relatable. This episode includes examples of how to apply astrological insights in your day to day life, how to understand yourself within the context of your "big three" (sun, moon, and rising signs), and so much more. Listen until the end to hear Alex share a bit about the strengths of each sign!

The term Shadow Work seems to be everywhere these days... but what IS it, exactly? In this episode, Sammy asks Kristen - based on her own background and experience learning about depth psychology, the unconscious, and Shadow Work - to share some introductory information about the Shadow, and ways to get started with this powerful and transformative practice from Jungian Psychology.

Kristen and Sammy share their perspectives on what it means to take a holistic approach to mental health, why it's important, and how the views that inform our approach may differ from common impressions of holistic care.

In this episode Kristen & Sammy call out unproductive social conditioning and norms regarding the transition into a new year, and offer meaningful reframes to encourage more self-alignment at this time of year and beyond!

Everyone's favorite topic, especially around the holidays - boundaries! In this episode Sammy and Kristen discuss what setting boundaries really means, why it can feel so hard, and ways to effectively set boundaries when you need to. Examples included :)

Sammy, our resident Expressive Arts facilitator here at HH and overall deeply creative human, shares her expertise on Expressive Arts & self expression, and the profound role that they can play in emotional healing. Both Kristen and Sammy share insights from their own experiences with Expressive Arts, as well as ideas for how you can incorporate this meaningful work.

In our very first episode, Kristen & Sammy decide to tackle some of the common obstacles they hear about in therapy and explore ways to navigate them. They cover what you can do when: you have so much to talk about that you don't know where to start, you're not sure what to focus on in session, you don't feel like you're getting to the "real issue," feel like you are "just talking" or doing weekly recaps session to session, and so much more! This one is a must-listen if you are in therapy.

The Holistic Heart is a holistic mental health center, located in Warwick, RI. Our team of twelve amazing providers (and growing!) supports over 300 clients locally, by approaching mental health through a holistic lens that honors the mind-body spirit connection. Our unique team is made up of masters level & licensed clinicians, yoga teachers, expressive arts facilitators, core energetics facilitators, and energy work practitioners who specialize in a wide scope of psycho-spiritual work. In this intro trailer, meet your hosts: Holistic Heart founder Kristen Acciari & HH masters-level therapist Sammy Knight, as we talk about what led us to create this podcast and the topics and themes we're planning to explore.