Podcasts about licensed marriage

In this Q&A episode, Whitney answers questions about parents who pull back instead of facing accountability. In question one: a father goes silent for a year after his daughter discovers he secretly bought her sister a house. In question two: a mother wants a third family therapy session, after quitting the last two the moment the therapist named something she didn't like. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.co Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse and references to sexual abuse.Kreed, host of the Estranged Heart Podcast, shares her perspective as both a formerly estranged adult daughter and a formerly estranged mother, now reconciled with her daughters. Kreed and Whitney cover the common mistakes parents make when first reconnecting with children and what their children actually need from them instead.In this episode, you'll learn:- Why reconciliation is an ongoing process, not a one-time repair- Why "defending, justifying, and explaining" backfires with an estranged child- Why rushing contact after reconciliation often causes a relapse into estrangement- Why "what is within your control" matters more than trying to get the other person to changeConnect with CreedWebsite: https://theestrangedheart.com/podcastWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trauma isn't the event. It's what happens afterward, when your nervous system gets stuck defending against something that's already over. This episode breaks down the two distinct paths that lead there: one from a single overwhelming moment, the other from years of disrupted connection, and what separates someone with one specific trigger from someone who's never had access to safety at all.

How often do you take care of yourself? In this episode, I talk with Angelique Foye-Fletcher, LMFT, RPT about breaking the cycle of self-sacrifice and:How your cultural upbringing shapes your identity as an HSPLearning to take care of yourself when you grew up in an environment or culture that didn't have room for your sensitivityWhy simple acts of mindfulness are deeply healing and can change the way you parentAngelique Foye-Fletcher (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist who helps sensitive, neurodivergent adults and caregivers heal through her four pillars of Books, Nature, Play, and Connection. An INFJ, HSP, and Enneagram 4, Angelique brings curiosity, ritual, and deep empathy into her work—often lighting incense or walking in nature as part of her own healing practice.Keep in touch with Angelique:Website: https://foyefletchertherapy.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foyefletchertherapyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foyefletcherllcResources Mentioned:Parent/Caregiver Support: https://foyefletchertherapy.com/parentcaregiver-support-coachingReconnect + Rejuvenate Support: https://foyefletchertherapy.com/coachingtherapy-packagesFor more deep conversations like this, join me in Sensitive Circles - a cozy online community for highly sensitive people to find meaningful connection and deepen self-awareness at their own pace. More details: https://www.sensitivecircles.com Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at: https://www.sensitivestories.comYou can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengthsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengthsAnd for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off. If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs! This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.  Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.  

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of domestic violence, child abuse, and suicidal ideation.In this Q&A episode, Whitney answers questions about families who respond with denial when being called out. In question one: a parent threatens suicide to shut down an argument. In question two: two parents shield each other instead of the kids.Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rin Reczek spent two decades studying families before she turned her research toward estrangement. What she found in the data took her by complete surprise. In this conversation, the sociologist and author of Families We Lose explains why the estrangement rate probably isn't actually rising, why the language of "honor thy father and mother" shows up even in nonreligious families, and why grandparent estrangement is almost never the selfish, spiteful choice it gets painted as online.In this episode, you'll learn:- What "compulsory kinship" means, and how biology-based language like "step" and "half" quietly signals hierarchy in families- Why religious phrases about honoring parents show up in estrangement stories even among people who aren't religious- Why the data doesn't support the idea that adult children are cutting off grandparents to be controlling or spitefulConnect with Rin ReczekWebsite: www.rinreczek.comBuy Rin's Book: https://amzn.to/4guKWI2Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0o This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not every survival strategy looks like fighting back or running away. Sometimes it looks like befriending the person who's hurting you.This episode covers the last two mixed states: appease (safety plus flight/fight plus shutdown — all three primary states at once) and fawn (flight/fight plus shutdown, but without safety). What separates a hostage using social skills to stay alive from someone disappearing inside an abusive home. Why both states likely require significant dissociation to survive. And where I personally land on how much weight these two deserve as actual Polyvagal Theory mixed states, versus maybe something else entirely.This is Episode 13 of the Stuck Not Broken audiobook — Book 1, Trauma & the Polyvagal Paradigm; full series in the playlist.

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of self-harm, physical and emotional abuse, and a parent expressing suicidal ideation.We spend a lot of time talking about the person who decides to go no contact, and much less about everyone else who ends up living with that decision. In this Q&A episode, Whitney answers a woman in her 30s who inherited and is now dealing with the consequences of her mother's estrangement from her side of the family. Second, a listener six months no contact with an abusive mother, asking the question: who is responsible for her now?In this episode, you'll learn:- How to build your own relationships without betraying a parent's decision to go no contact- Scripts for handling the question "how's your mom?" without becoming the family messenger- How to separate compassion from obligation with a parent in crisisWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Kristen talks with Amber Trejo, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in complex trauma and CPTSD, about how complex childhood trauma can resurface in adult relationships and parenting, shaping attachment, emotional responses, and the healing journey. You'll Learn: How childhood trauma can shape adult relationships and attachment Why trauma responses can resurface when you get married or become a parent What spiritual bypassing is and how it can interfere with healing How reconnecting with your body and internal needs can support healing Why self-compassion, community, and repair are important in breaking the cycle of trauma Connect with Amber: www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com When you purchase Amber Trejo's recommended books through these Amazon affiliate links, you're helping support the podcast at no extra cost to you:    1. What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma: https://amzn.to/4groOgh 2. Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A Guide and Map for Recovering from Childhood Trauma: https://amzn.to/3I0jpjB 3. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma: https://amzn.to/47GBu0r 4. Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: https://amzn.to/47KHB3V   Subscribe HERE and get a free 5-day journal to begin closing the chapter on what doesn't serve you and open the door to the real you. Connect with Kristen: Get Kristen's newsletter, packed with tangible tools, resources, and inspiration Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Kristen on Instagram   Kristen's TikTok   Have Kristen Speak at Your Event  Disclaimer This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to you to educate you about ideas on stress management and as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not psychotherapy/counseling in any form. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. For counseling services near Indianapolis, IN, visit www.pathwaystohealingcounseling.com. Pathways to Healing Counseling's vision is to provide warm, caring, compassionate and life-changing counseling services and educational programs to individuals, couples and families in order to create learning, healing and growth.    

— Why do we keep repeating the same painful relationship patterns, even when we desperately want things to be different? Why do some people fear abandonment, while others pull away when relationships become too close? And how much of our ability to love, trust, and feel emotionally safe is shaped by the experiences we had long before we entered our first romantic relationship? Attachment theory suggests that our earliest relationships create a blueprint for how we connect with others throughout life. These unconscious patterns can influence everything from our communication style and conflict resolution to our sense of self-worth, emotional security, and capacity for intimacy. The encouraging news is that these patterns are not fixed. With awareness, compassion, and intentional effort, it is possible to heal old wounds, develop greater emotional resilience, and create relationships built on trust, safety, and genuine connectionIn today's conversation, we'll explore the fascinating world of attachment styles, how they shape our inner lives and relationships, why so many of us get stuck in predictable cycles of conflict and disconnection, and what it takes to move toward more secure, healthy, and fulfilling connections—with others and with ourselves. Because at the heart of every human being is a desire to feel seen, understood, accepted, and loved. Valeria interviews  Marc Cameron — He is the author of  "Understanding Your Attachment Style: The Path to Overcoming Unhelpful Patterns and Building Healthy, Secure Relationships." Marc Cameron is an author, speaker, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Newport Beach, California specializing in couple's therapy. Alongside his private practice, Marc and his wife, Amy, lead How We Love, an organization founded by Milan and Kay Yerkovich birthed from their groundbreaking book on attachment by the same name.  Marc firmly believes that developing secure attachments is the key to creating strong and fulfilling connections between couples and within families. He guides people in enhancing communication, building trust, and deepening emotional bonds by helping them understand how insecure attachment styles create predictable dysfunctional relationship cycles—and how these patterns can be overcome. His book, Understanding Your Attachment Style (2025), outlines this approach in detail. In addition, Marc is certified in EMDR therapy, an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and trauma and is a regular co-host on New Life Live!, America's top Christian counseling call-in radio program with a weekly audience of over 2 million listeners. Learn more about Marc Cameron and his work!

We have the cure for estrangement: just see your parents as children too. Easy. Case closed. [Read: sarcasm] In this episode, Whitney traces where this sometimes helpful and sometimes very unhelpful idea came from and shows how something genuinely useful got turned into a permanent exit ramp from accountability.In this episode, you'll learn:- How "your parents were children too" worked its way into self-help- Why unfinished business has to move upward or outward, never down to your own children- What defensiveness in a parent is usually protectingWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sitting still should be the easiest thing in the world, right? But for a lot of people, it's maybe the hardest.This episode moves into the third mixed state: stillness and intimacy — safety plus shutdown, immobility without fear. What actually makes it safe to sit still, use the restroom, or fall asleep at night. Why meditation, yoga, and even bedtime can feel dangerous for someone who lives in flight, fight, or freeze. And what changes the moment a safe person joins you in stillness.This is Episode 12 of the Stuck Not Broken audiobook — Book 1, Trauma & the Polyvagal Paradigm.

Feel to Heal with Sharyn Nichols  In this third episode on the Second Agreement from The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz, Sharyn turns inward to explore how we can take our own thoughts personally. This episode looks at the inner critic, shame stories, emotional triggers, and the old voices we mistake for truth. Listeners are invited to see thoughts as messages, not identities, and to practice relating to their inner world with more curiosity and compassion. Don't take anything personally does not only apply to other people's words. It also applies to the painful stories our own minds tell us. This episode offers listeners a gentle path toward freedom from old inner narratives. 5 Key Takeaways Not every thought is the truth. Fear, shame, anxiety, and old agreements can speak through your inner voice. Separate facts from the stories your mind creates. Pausing creates space to question assumptions before believing or reacting to them. Emotional activation is not confirmation. Feeling afraid, rejected, or ashamed doesn't automatically mean something is actually wrong. Your inner critic is not your identity. You can hear critical thoughts without allowing them to define who you are. You can choose a new agreement. Notice painful thoughts, question them, comfort yourself, and consciously choose what you believe. Feel To Heal: A Guide to Feeling, Healing, and Living from the Truth of Who You Are    Author Sharyn Nichols   Amazon.com – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1997615312 Amazon.ca – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1997615312     ~ More About Feel to Heal with Sharyn Nichols ~  Sharyn Nichols is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Speaker, and Wellness Practitioner with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals create lasting emotional well-being. By combining evidence-based therapy, mindfulness, somatic practices, and Human Design, she empowers clients to regulate their nervous systems, break unhealthy patterns, and cultivate greater self-awareness, resilience, and inner peace. Known for her compassionate, grounded approach, Sharyn creates a safe space for healing, growth, and transformation. She helps clients move beyond stress, emotional overwhelm, and survival mode to build deeper self-trust, healthier relationships, and a life guided by intention rather than reaction. If you're ready to reconnect with your authentic self and experience lasting change, Sharyn will help you discover what's truly possible.    FeelToHeal.com   https://feeltoheal.com/    Email   sharynnichols@feeltoheal.com    YouTube   www.youtube.com/@sharynnicholsFeelToHeal    LinkedIn   www.linkedin.com/in/sharyn-nichols-20526a95/    Instagram   www.instagram.com/feeltohealwithsharyn_    Facebook   www.facebook.com/FeelToHealwithSharyn       TikTok   www.tiktok.com/@sharynnichols   Fell To Heal with Sharyn Nichols: https://www.inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast/feel-to-heal-with-sharyn-nichols/

✨ Join the FREE Masterclass: The Mental Health Care Gap for Bereaved Mothers If you support women and have ever wondered “What am I missing?” after pregnancy loss, this training is for you. Discover what standard frameworks can overlook and leave knowing what to look for, what questions to ask, and where your role fits in supporting the whole woman after loss. Join the free masterclass here → https://www.facebook.com/groups/thereproductivelossleadershipnetwork There is a moment that Atara Parkinson describes in this episode that will stop you in your tracks. She has just given birth after 32 hours of labour. Third degree tears. A baby in the NICU. And a security guard who tells her — as her husband attempts to wheel her out of the hospital — that she cannot take the wheelchair. It can't leave hospital grounds. Figure it out. That moment, she says, became the image that defined her entire career. Because once the baby is out, it is as though the mother disappears. Atara is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 14 years in the mental health field, a certified integrative practitioner, and a mother of four — three of whom were NICU babies. Her work sits at the intersection of holistic healing, nervous system regulation, minerals and brain health, and postpartum support. She is also one of the most articulate voices I have encountered on what is actually happening inside the body when a woman cannot seem to move through her grief — and why. This conversation goes somewhere most conversations don't. We talk about the biochemistry of getting stuck. About what happens at a cellular level when trauma enters the body and the nervous system decides it is not yet safe to let the guard down. About why the calcium spikes. Why the magnesium can't get in. Why your body is not failing you — it is protecting you. And what it actually takes to move through that, not just talk about it. We also talk about the gap between what the medical system offers and what women actually need. About why talk therapy, as valuable as it is, is only ever engaging one part of the brain. And about why the body is sending 80% of the signals in this conversation — not the brain. If you have ever felt stuck in your grief and wondered why — this episode is for you. In this episode we cover: Atara's own story — three NICU babies, a gap in postpartum care, and the moment that shaped her life's work Why our culture treats the mother as invisible once the baby arrives — and how that plays out in pregnancy loss The shame–isolation loop and why connection (the right kind) is not optional in healing Why talk therapy alone cannot access where reproductive trauma is stored in the body The biochemistry of staying stuck — what happens when calcium spikes after trauma, why the protective shell forms, and what needs to shift for the body to feel safe again The role of magnesium and potassium in emotional regulation and nervous system calm How physical symptoms — disrupted sleep, shallow breathing, altered posture, blunted affect — are expressions of biochemical dysregulation, not separate problems The 80/20 communication ratio: why the body sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends to the body Why you cannot detox, heal, or regulate from inside a chronic stress state The 1% shift — how Atara approaches change with clients who are already overwhelmed Connect with Atara: Instagram: @atara.parkinson NICU & birth trauma focus: @nicufreedom Website: https://www.ataraparkinson.com/ Resources mentioned: The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk (heads up: it's a heavy read, but an important one) Connect with Sharna Find me here: @reproductivelossleadership If today's conversation resonated with you, I'd love to stay connected. My mission is to help change the landscape of pregnancy loss care through education, advocacy, research, and evidence-informed, trauma-informed support. Whether you're navigating your own loss, supporting someone you love, or you're a healthcare professional wanting to improve the care you provide, there's a place for you here. You can follow my work, explore educational resources, listen to more podcast episodes, or learn about the Pregnancy loss recovery method & Integrated Pregnancy Loss Care framework Or the Pregnancy Loss & Trauma-Informed Specialist Certification. Together, we're creating a future where every pregnancy loss is acknowledged, every family is supported, and every practitioner feels confident to provide compassionate, person-centred care. I'd love to hear what resonated with you from today's episode. Share your thoughts, leave a review, or connect with me on social media—your voice helps shape this conversation and reach more families who need it. Thank you for being part of this community. Together, we're changing the future of pregnancy loss care. Follow the podcast page: @pregnancyloss_podcast If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you are a practitioner supporting women through reproductive loss and want to go deeper on the neuroscience and body-based frameworks behind this work — the Pregnancy Loss & Trauma-Informed Specialist Certification is where we take all of this further.

In this final to our 3-part series on Pastoral Counseling, Olatunde Howard returns to discuss premarital counseling and what so many Christians struggle with regarding how they approach marriage conflicts to begin with. Olatunde is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Cary, NC. He can be reached at: https://one-eightycounseling.com/olatunde-howard/ More episodes with Olatunde can be found in our Counseling & Therapy playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4bbdsVUgfc6Y3fPvCqWfepUlSJ-HkV3k Olatunde's worksheets: PDF worksheets: * Premarital Counseling outline for Pastors - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mb78jwsx79x6br3qygebz/PREMARITAL-COUNSELING.pdf?rlkey=w9620v4j0sx2wfd9x8cbsbu6n&dl=0 * The ABCs of CBT - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/eipzf7l53jfxhvbhzn5g9/THE-ABC-S-OF-CBT.pdf?rlkey=65muk6fdv11mx42d7oecq3pip&dl=0 * The 3 C's of CBT - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hgzrf71ltyg2mn7lemubx/THE-3-C-S-OF-CBT.pdf?rlkey=q877tq0b81g3ml0446popwx8m&dl=0 * Identifying ANTs - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lipw497v0jn425q7aykfw/AUTOMATIC-NEGATIVE-THOUGHTS-ANTs.pdf?rlkey=kn25jcy9ovcfrqs5o8g8j3vyo&dl=0 * Adjusting Negative Core Beliefs - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n6kxxv0s8epwy9cy4nyrl/Adjusting-Negative-Core-beliefs.pdf?rlkey=s7i0jkyx8rk4ti0l8b2420byn&dl=0 ***Disciple Dojo shirts and other gifts are available over in our online store! - https://www.zazzle.com/discipledojo ***Become a monthly Dojo Donor and help keep us going! - https://www.discipledojo.org/donate ***Dojo Donor Patches: If you are a monthly donor and would like an iron-on DiscipleDojo patch, supplies are limited so message JM directly via the contact page at https://www.discipledojo.org/contact ***If you are an unmarried Christian looking for community, check out our Facebook group “The Grownup's Table” over at www.facebook.com/groups/grownupstable (We also have a group for both married and unmarried Christians: www.facebook.com/groups/grownupfriends ) ------ Go deeper at www.discipledojo.org

Krissy Johnson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and devoted MIHH listener. She opens up about escaping a manipulative relationship, shedding her secrecy and shame, and what led her to become a therapist. More about Krissy:www.inthelifetherapy.comIG handle: @inthelifetherapyFB: In the Life TherapyThis episode is sponsored Quince. Go to www.Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.This episode is sponsored by Alma. Search their directory of over 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Go to www.HelloAlma.com/happyhourThis episode is sponsored by Timeline. Timeline's clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price . Mitopure now starts at $99, with the exact same science and formula and listeners can still get 20% off when they go to www.timeline.com/MENTALIf you're interested in seeing or buying the furniture that Paul designs and makes follow his IG @ShapedFurniture or visit the website www.shapedfurniture.comWAYS TO HELP THE MIHH PODCASTSubscribe via Apple Podcasts (or whatever player you use). It costs nothing. It's extremely helpful to have your subscription set to download all episodes automatically. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mental-illness-happy-hour/id427377900?mt=2Spread the word via social media. It costs nothing.Our website is www.mentalpod.com our FB is www.Facebook.com/mentalpod and our Twitter and Instagram are both @Mentalpod Become a much-needed Patreon monthly-donor (with occasional rewards) for as little as $1/month at www.Patreon.com/mentalpod Become a one-time or monthly donor via PayPal at https://mentalpod.com/donateYou can also donate via Zelle (make payment to mentalpod@gmail.com) To donate via Venmo make payment to @Mentalpod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark Odland is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist, and faith-based counselor on a mission to help men break free from the cages holding them back and step into the strength and purpose they were created for. Over the last 15 years, he's conducted over 15,000 therapy sessions, trained over 1,000 therapists, and helped over 1,000 clients, with a particular focus on supporting high-achieving men through individual EMDR therapy and marriage counseling. As an Approved EMDR Consultant and Continuing Education Provider through EMDRIA, he's trained therapists around the world through his consultation, books, and online courses. He also offers executive coaching for business leaders and mental coaching for athletes. To learn more about Mark, go to escapethecagenow.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of suicidal ideation, child abuse and neglect, childhood sexual abuse, and abortion.Whitney answers two questions about accepting a family situation you never chose and never asked for. First, a mother whose family just lost a three year grandparent visitation case. She is being mandated by family court to send her children on unsupervised monthly visits with a grandmother she doesn't believe is safe. Second, a listener who has been 15 years no contact asking the question: should the adult child be apologizing for how they behaved as a kid?In this episode, you'll learn:- How to separate what the court controls from what you actually control as a parent- How to prepare a child for time with someone you don't trust, without making them afraid- Why a child's behavior during abuse is never something to apologize for- When accountability between an adult child and a parent is genuinely useful, and who has to go firstWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've spent time in the estrangement conversation online, you've noticed how fast it flattens into two camps: the people who cut off and the people who got cut off. Ashley and Jon Lefrandt have lived on both sides of that line. The couple behind Leave Then Cleave joins Whitney to talk about what happened when they asked for space from one family member and ended up estranged from 40 family members. Together they explore what it looks like to hold onto your faith when your faith is the thing being used against you.In this episode, you'll learn:- How honor thy father and mother gets used to override every other thing a person believes- Why a family system escalates when one person stops complying- What words like grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation actually mean, and who tends to be the one insisting on them- How to keep a faith that has been weaponized against youConnect with Ashley and Jon LefrandtLeave Then Cleave: https://www.leavethencleave.com/Jon and Ashley's Book: https://amzn.to/4fUGi4JWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wrestling with your kids. Trash-talking during a pickup game. Screaming through a game of tag. On paper, those look like danger cues, so why do they feel so good? Play is what happens when your safety state and your fight-or-flight mobility switch on at the same time. Here's what's actually happening in your nervous system when you play, why the game changes the moment it moves from the living room to online voice chat, and what it looks like when a kid mobilizes with no safety behind it at all.

In this podcast, Anika Warrier, interviews Michelle Li, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). This is the first podcast of the Therapists Off the Clock Series, where Anika interviews various therapists. Michelle discusses the ups and downs that comes with working in this field along with the reward that comes with it. Lastly, Michelle provides tips and tricks for students interested in going into this field of Psychology.

Feel to Heal with Sharyn Nichols  In this second episode on the Second Agreement from The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz, Sharyn explores what “Don't take anything personally” does and does not mean. This episode focuses on emotional hooks, old bruises, criticism, projection, and boundaries. Listeners are reminded that not taking things personally does not mean accepting mistreatment, avoiding accountability, or pretending words do not hurt. Instead, it means learning to separate someone else's behavior from our worth while still responding with clarity and self-respect. This episode offers a grounded, healing-centered interpretation of the Second Agreement for real relationships, real conflict, and real emotional pain. 5 Key Takeaways Other people's behavior is a reflection of their world, not your worth. Don't confuse someone else's actions with your identity. Not taking things personally doesn't mean accepting poor treatment. You can set healthy boundaries while honoring your own value. Strong reactions often point to old wounds. Use emotional triggers as opportunities for healing rather than proof that something is wrong with you. Receive feedback with discernment. Learn from constructive criticism without accepting character attacks as truth. Your worth comes from within—not from praise or criticism. Build self-respect by responding from your truth instead of seeking external validation. Feel To Heal: A Guide to Feeling, Healing, and Living from the Truth of Who You Are    Author Sharyn Nichols   Amazon.com – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1997615312 Amazon.ca – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1997615312     ~ More About Feel to Heal with Sharyn Nichols ~  Sharyn Nichols is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Speaker, and Wellness Practitioner with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals create lasting emotional well-being. By combining evidence-based therapy, mindfulness, somatic practices, and Human Design, she empowers clients to regulate their nervous systems, break unhealthy patterns, and cultivate greater self-awareness, resilience, and inner peace. Known for her compassionate, grounded approach, Sharyn creates a safe space for healing, growth, and transformation. She helps clients move beyond stress, emotional overwhelm, and survival mode to build deeper self-trust, healthier relationships, and a life guided by intention rather than reaction. If you're ready to reconnect with your authentic self and experience lasting change, Sharyn will help you discover what's truly possible.    FeelToHeal.com   https://feeltoheal.com/    Email   sharynnichols@feeltoheal.com    YouTube   www.youtube.com/@sharynnicholsFeelToHeal    LinkedIn   www.linkedin.com/in/sharyn-nichols-20526a95/    Instagram   www.instagram.com/feeltohealwithsharyn_    Facebook   www.facebook.com/FeelToHealwithSharyn       TikTok   www.tiktok.com/@sharynnichols   Fell To Heal with Sharyn Nichols: https://www.inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast/feel-to-heal-with-sharyn-nichols/

Content warning: This episode contains a description of a traumatic birth, postpartum complications, and abuse.Before the Q&A, Whitney opens with an unscripted reflection on taking a break from Instagram. She then moves into two listener questions from people who have stopped waiting for an apology and are asking what comes after you finally see your family clearly.In this episode, you'll learn:- How to handle being the only person in your family willing to talk about the past- What to do when you've accepted a parent won't change but they still expect the same closeness and access- How to think about titrating contact- Why the fantasy that a parent will soften at your lowest moment is so commonWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“He's been hard since the day he was born.” “Something in her is just off, and always has been.” “Is there something broken with my child?” Whitney traces questions and the fears beneath them to a centuries old belief that some people are simply born bad. It's a belief that has changed costumes across religion, science, and psychology but never fully gone away. Whitney brings questions like these into the present for the parents living with a child with a mental illness, an addiction, or a disability they can't fix.In this episode, you'll learn:- How the "born bad" idea traveled across history- Why temperament is real but more complicated than you think- How to recognize these fears if you were the "problem child" so you don't hand it downWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freeze is not the same as shutdown, even though people use the words like they mean the same thing. Shutdown is a limp collapse. Freeze is tense: all the energy to run or fight, with a body that can't move. It's the gas and the brake at the same time, and it's underneath panic, phobias, and that flash of rage that comes out of nowhere. Here's what's actually happening in a freeze, how to come out of one in the moment, and why a long-held freeze has to be thawed slowly rather than forced.

Dana Fonteneau is a former concert cellist and now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, performance consultant, and founder of WholeHearted Musician™ and Dana Fonteneau Consulting, LLC. I worked with Dana during 2023-24 when she was one of my coaches. She helped me gain clarity of my WHY, who I am as an artist, and learning how mind and body connects.To learn more about Dana's work, visit her website at danafonteneau.com. You can also read her book It's Not (JUST) About the Gig: A Musician's Guide to Creating the Mindset Which Leads to Career Success AND Fulfillment which is available on AMAZON, or Book a Complimentary & Confidential Discovery Session with her.All About Chaowen Ting 

Feel to Heal with Sharyn Nichols  In this first episode on the Second Agreement from Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements, Sharyn explores the liberating idea that what others say and do is a reflection of their own inner world, not a final truth about who we are. Through relatable examples like being cut off in traffic, receiving a cold email, or feeling rejected by someone's mood, this episode gently unpacks why we so often take things personally and how doing so creates unnecessary suffering. Listeners are invited to begin separating other people's behavior from their own worth. This episode is not about becoming numb or pretending we are not hurt. It is about learning to pause, breathe, and remember that someone else's reaction is not the same thing as our identity. 5 Key Takeaways / Highlights Most emotional suffering comes from the meaning we attach to an event—not the event itself. When someone criticizes you, ignores you, or behaves in a hurtful way, it's easy to create a story about your worth. Learning to separate what actually happened from the story you tell yourself creates greater emotional freedom. Other people's reactions are shaped by their own experiences, beliefs, and wounds. The way someone responds to you is filtered through their personal history, perceptions, fears, and emotional state. While their behavior may affect you, it is not a definitive statement about who you are or your value. Taking things personally often comes from old survival patterns. Many people learned as children to monitor others' moods, facial expressions, and behavior to feel safe. As adults, these adaptations can cause us to assume responsibility for other people's emotions when, in reality, those emotions belong to them. Protect your self-worth without accepting harmful behavior. Understanding that another person's actions come from their own internal world does not mean excusing poor behavior. It means refusing to build your identity or sense of worth around someone else's reactions, criticism, or approval. Pause before reacting and question the story you're creating. When something feels hurtful, ask yourself what actually happened, what meaning you're assigning to it, whether there could be another explanation, and what part of you feels activated. Creating this space helps you respond with greater self-awareness instead of reacting from old emotional patterns.     Feel To Heal: A Guide to Feeling, Healing, and Living from the Truth of Who You Are    Author Sharyn Nichols   Amazon.com – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1997615312 Amazon.ca – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1997615312     ~ More About Feel to Heal with Sharyn Nichols ~  Sharyn Nichols is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Speaker, and Wellness Practitioner with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals create lasting emotional well-being. By combining evidence-based therapy, mindfulness, somatic practices, and Human Design, she empowers clients to regulate their nervous systems, break unhealthy patterns, and cultivate greater self-awareness, resilience, and inner peace. Known for her compassionate, grounded approach, Sharyn creates a safe space for healing, growth, and transformation. She helps clients move beyond stress, emotional overwhelm, and survival mode to build deeper self-trust, healthier relationships, and a life guided by intention rather than reaction. If you're ready to reconnect with your authentic self and experience lasting change, Sharyn will help you discover what's truly possible.    FeelToHeal.com   https://feeltoheal.com/    Email   sharynnichols@feeltoheal.com    YouTube   www.youtube.com/@sharynnicholsFeelToHeal    LinkedIn   www.linkedin.com/in/sharyn-nichols-20526a95/    Instagram   www.instagram.com/feeltohealwithsharyn_    Facebook   www.facebook.com/FeelToHealwithSharyn       TikTok   www.tiktok.com/@sharynnichols   Fell To Heal with Sharyn Nichols: https://www.inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast/feel-to-heal-with-sharyn-nichols/

In this episode of Spiritually Fierce, I speak with Laura Kosak, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of the forthcoming book Your Guide to AI Companions: Straight Talk from a Therapist.We explore the rapidly emerging intersection of AI and therapy, asking whether AI can truly support emotional wellbeing, what it can and cannot safely do, and how it is already reshaping relationships, spiritual life, and mental health. Drawing on over a decade of clinical experience, Laura shares real-world client stories, explains what therapy actually is, and offers a nuanced view of AI as a tool that can sometimes help but can never replace a therapist or a spiritually grounded guide.In this episode:The conversation ranges from sentience, consciousness, and the unified field, toThe risks of people outsourcing big life decisions to AI, to The urgent need for education and guardrails—especially for teens—so that AI companions don't quietly become unexamined authorities in our emotional and spiritual lives. Laura also introduces the intention behind her book: to restore user agency, offer ethical, practical prompts, and teach people how to think with AI rather than be led by it.About LauraLaura Kosak is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over a decade of clinical experience. She holds an MA in Clinical Psychology from Alliant University and has completed rigorous postgraduate studies in the field.  Prior to opening her private practice in 2021, Laura served as an in-house therapist in several schools. She currently works with adults, couples, and families. She is an expert on the impact of AI use on individuals and their relationships. She offers psychotherapy and coaching in both English and Spanish.  Laura is certified in EMDR and Level 2 trained in IFS. She uses a blend of both, alongside multiple somatic practices, to help her clients release old beliefs and experiences to step into the lives they want. She authored a chapter on a spiritually-anchored approach to transformative healing in the edited book IFS-Informed EMDR Therapy: Collaborative and Creative Approaches. Laura is the author of the forthcoming book Your Guide to AI Companions: Straight talk from a therapist. Laura is a graduate of the Level 2 Trainer program. She employs the theory and practices she learned at the Institute to support her clients on their journeys. Laura lives with her husband in the hills of Southern Oregon, USA, surrounded by trees, birds, deer, and the occasional black bear. She is the founder of Know ThySelf Counselling and her coaching practice The Crossliminal Way®. She writes on the intersection of AI and therapy at Crossliminal Minds (Substack: @laurakosak). Connect with Laurawww.LauraKosak.com.https://laurakosak.substack.com/p/therapy-is-not-the-1-use-of-ai?r=32h6dqhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-kosak/

How do you keep giving to a relationship that isn't giving much back? How do you know when you've finally done enough? In this Q&A episode, Whitney answers two questions that arrived from very different places but land in the same spot: radical acceptance. First, a woman exhausted by in-laws who never make the drive, never offer help, and never seem to notice the effort going one direction. Second, a woman whose gone no contact with parents who keep leaving her voicemails claiming they have no idea why.Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes the body's answer to too much isn't panic, it's the opposite: going quiet, going numb, wanting to disappear. That's shutdown, the bottom of the Polyvagal ladder, and it's where a lot of what gets called depression actually lives. Here's what it feels like from the inside, why your body would ever reach for it, and the slow, gentle way back up. No pushing through, no forcing it.

Have you heard of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss? Recurrent pregnancy loss is historically defined as 3 or more consecutive pregnancy losses prior to 20 weeks. Today's guest has experienced 4 pregnancy losses including losing a son at 15 weeks due to chromosomal abnormalities. Dr. Loree Johnson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, shares her loss story and journey to motherhood. In this episode you will hear Dr. Loree's story of strength and perseverance and how she found joy and peace in the uncertainty of this journey. We all could use more joy and peace as we navigate the current uncertain times. This episode is for you to listen to if you are seeking a story of finding joy and strength after recurrent pregnancy loss. Dr. Loree Johnson's Bio I'm Dr. Loree Johnson, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with more than 25 years of experience as a clinician, educator, and clinical supervisor. I help my clients navigate uncertainty in their relationships, overcome the emotional challenges that come with infertility and the loss of a pregnancy, and strengthen their relationships. By combining my licensed clinical background and personal experience into a holistic and therapeutic approach, I support women and couples on their path to parenthood. I'm a clinical fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and I've also served on the state and national boards. I live in Hermosa Beach, CA with my husband and pampered pooch. In my spare time, I enjoy salsa dancing, traveling, reading, and riding my motorcycle. Become a Sisters in Loss Birth Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula Here Book Recommendations and Links Below You can shop my Amazon Store or  ​Bookshop.org for the Book Recommendations You can follow Sisters in Loss on Social Join our Black Moms in Loss Online Weekly Grief Support Group Join the Sisters in Loss Online Community Sisters in Loss TV Youtube Channel Sisters in Loss Instagram Sisters in Loss Facebook

Something goes wrong at home. A glass tips over. Someone forgot to change the laundry, unload the dishwasher. The dog escapes. Within seconds there's a full trial underway about whose fault it is. Whitney breaks down what's actually happening in families that run on blame.In this episode, you'll learn:Why blame feels like accountability but actually prevents itHow the scapegoat and golden child both learn about faultThe three-part anatomy of real repairWhat to do when you can repair and your family can'tHow to stop the cycle blame with your own kidsWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation Podcast, host Rachel Keener is joined by licensed marriage and family therapist, entrepreneur, and Nebbi founder Nina Westbrook for a conversation about what it means to be "high functioning, low battery."Drawing from her experiences as a therapist, mom, and caregiver, Nina explores the often-overlooked signs of burnout—especially among Black women who are expected to keep going no matter the cost. She explains why real recovery isn't found in quick fixes, but in small, sustainable habits, honest emotional check-ins, and learning to ask for help.Together, Rachel and Nina discuss setting boundaries without guilt, redefining strength, and making mental health support more accessible through tools like Nebbi. Their conversation offers practical insights for anyone trying to care for themselves while caring for everyone else.Listen in for a thoughtful discussion on burnout, self-awareness, and building a more sustainable approach to mental wellness.More about Nina Westbrook:As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, entrepreneur, and advocate, Nina is deeply passionate about erasing the stigma around mental health. She has been featured in The New York Times, Goop, Oprah Daily, BET, ESSENCE, Marie Claire, and SHAPE, and has shared her expertise on TED, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and The Tamron Hall Show.Beyond her clinical work, Nina creates opportunities for connection and reflection. She is the co-founder of Nebbi, a wellness app designed for the emotional grey zone—the space between crisis and wellness where most of us live. Nebbi offers 60-second check-ins using evidence-based tools to support high-functioning individuals in navigating everyday emotional challenges. She is also the creator of the Do Tell! Conversation Card Game, designed to spark meaningful discussions on relationships, intimacy, and self-awareness. Additionally, she hosts the Do Tell Relationship Podcast and the Bene Moments of Mindfulness Podcast, where she offers evidence-based insights on cultivating happiness, personal growth, and deeper human connections. Her shows have featured thought-provoking and candid conversations with esteemed guests, including Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Jennifer Fisher, Malin Åkerman, Kier Gaines, and many more.In addition to her professional endeavors, Nina is a dedicated wife and mother of three, balancing her commitment to family with her mission to support others in their wellness journeys. She also serves on the Advisory Board of The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation and most recently became a member of the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital board.–The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is an additional resource not only to the public but also to our therapy fund cohort members. The Loveland Foundation therapy fund and resources are only made possible through support from our community. At The Loveland Foundation, we are committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. Since our founding, the Therapy Fund has provided financial support for therapy to over 26,936 Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals across the country.Links:Join The Abundance Collective: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/abundanceSupport the show: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/donorbox/Follow Nina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninawestbrookFollow The Loveland Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelandfoundation/Visit the Loveland Foundation's website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/Support the show

Content warning: This episode discusses childhood abuse, domestic violence, racial slurs, and the death of a sibling.In this Q&A episode, Whitney reads a single letter from a woman who survived a childhood of severe violence, lost her sister at 24, and is now permanently no contact with a family system that still minimizes what happened. Whitney takes the letter in pieces and answers all three of her questions.In this episode, you'll learn:How to grieve a sibling whose life was overshadowed by abuse, without reducing them to what was done to themWhy thriving after you escape is not a betrayal of the people who didn'tWhat it means when an entire family, including the abuser, admits the violence happened and still asks you to come backWhy grief and boundary-holding almost always have to happen at the same timeWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Lindsay Gibson's first book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, gave millions of people language for what happened to them growing up. Her new book flips the lens for the people who are now raising kids of their own and are quietly terrified of passing it all down. Whitney sits down with her to talk about what actually builds emotional maturity in a child, and what to do in the moments your own immaturity shows up.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the fear of becoming your own parents is often a sign you won'tWhat emotional maturity actually looks like at different ages, from newborn to teenagerWhy ruling through fear works in the short term and costs you the relationship long termHow to repair with your child in a way that actually changes the pattern instead of pseudo-apologizingWhy you don't have to be the perfect source of everything for your kidConnect with Dr. Lindsay GibsonGet her new book, How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child: https://amzn.to/4fbX135 [this is an affiliate link - as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at not additional cost to you.]Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anxiety and anger can feel like opposites, but they are two sides of the same state. Fight or flight is your sympathetic nervous system mobilizing to protect you: flight shows up as anxiety and worry, fight as anger and irritability. This one is about what that state feels like, what it looks like in a person's face, breath, and voice, and why a system built for short bursts can leave you feeling stuck when it stays switched on. Courtney's story picks back up here too, and the day takes a turn.

Chad Hyams and Bob Stewart discuss the concept of restlessness with licensed marriage and family therapist Kristen Mosier. The conversation delves into how restlessness affects personal and professional lives, and Kristen shares insights from her book, "Restless: How to Stop Living an If Only Life." Key themes include identifying and aligning with personal values, the impact of restlessness in relationships, and practical steps for being more present. Kristen also explores how to channel restlessness positively and achieve satisfaction by making value-aligned decisions. This episode is insightful for entrepreneurs and anyone seeking personal growth. Connect with Kristen at https://www.kristenmosierlmft.com/ Get her Book: Restless: How to Stop Living an If-Only Life ---------- Connect with the hosts: •    Ben Kinney: https://www.BenKinney.com/ •    Bob Stewart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/activebob •    Chad Hyams: https://ChadHyams.com/ •    Book one of our co-hosts for your next event: https://WinMakeGive.com/speakers/   More ways to connect: •    Join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/winmakegive •     Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://WinMakeGive.com/sign-up •     Explore the Win Make Give Podcast Network: https://WinMakeGive.com/ Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network   00:00 Insights from a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 03:26 Understanding Restlessness and Aligning Life with Personal Values 09:02 The Importance of Singular Focus for Being Present 10:51 Balancing Restlessness and Satisfaction in Personal Growth 16:51 Understanding and Practicing Personal and Business Values 19:24 Understanding Relational Restlessness and Self-Evaluation in Relationships 23:18 Technical Glitches and Bob's Eventful Podcast Experience 25:13 Embracing Acceptance Over Control in Emotional Challenges 29:36 Balancing Personal Growth and Career Focus with ADHD 32:17 Embrace Personal Satisfaction Over Constantly Optimizing Your Life

Dangerously high temperatures are knocking on our door. Triple-digit heat is expected through the weekend and into next week. And on Sunday, we could break the all-time high temperature record for Salt Lake City. To get the latest on the forecast – and to find out if there's any relief in store – Inside Sources chats with KSL Meteorologist Matt Johnson. Hot weather can also negatively affect our mental health. And people on some kinds of psychotropic medications can find themselves even more susceptible to higher heat. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Gregory Noel, co-founder and clinical director of In Soliday Counseling joins the conversation to share his recommendations to keep mental health stable when the temps soar.

In this Q&A episode, Whitney answers two questions from people trying to figure out where acceptance ends and cutting off begins. First, a woman who thought her mom was finally going to leave her father after a major blowup involving favoritism, triangulation, and infidelity, only to watch her mom stay and start calling her the difficult one instead. Second, a new mother whose parents made her postpartum period worse instead of better, and who's now wondering whether sending a birthday card is worth it after a year and a half of near silence.Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a dynamic underneath a lot of disconnected relationships that almost nobody names — and when it collapses, it can quietly erode intimacy. In this episode, I'm joined by Tyler Patrick, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and co-host of the Therapy Brothers podcast, to talk about masculine and feminine energy as a relational dynamic — what it is, how it gets out of balance, and what it takes to restore it after infidelity.Whether you're the betrayed partner who had to harden to survive, or the partner who caused harm and is trying to show up differently, this conversation offers a grounded, non-shaming way to understand what may be happening beneath the surface — and a path toward rebuilding something stronger than what was there before.About today's guest: Tyler Patrick is a licensed marriage and family therapist, speaker, and co-host of the Therapy Brothers podcast. Alongside his brother Brannon Patrick, Tyler helps individuals and couples navigate addiction recovery, betrayal trauma, relationship healing, and emotional wellness through honest, compassionate conversations. With more than 20 years of experience in the mental health field, he's known for his direct, relatable approach and passion for helping people rebuild trust, connection, and wholehearted living.Connect with Tyler: https://therapybrothers.org/choosing-to-stayemail: connect@therapybrothers.orgphone number: (435) 227-5272Facebook: /Therapy.BrosInstagram: @Therapy.BrothersYoutube: /@Therapy.BrothersTherapy Brothers Podcast: TherapyBrothers.orgReclaimed Heart Journey: ⁠https://join.reclaimyourheart.orgRising Son | Men's Retreat: ⁠⁠⁠https://risingson.orgEnjoyed This Episode?If this conversation resonated with you, here are three ways you can support the show:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a Review

Summer is here and so is the quiet disconnection that comes with it. Longer days, busier schedules, kids home, and somehow you and your partner are co-managing the season instead of actually connecting. In this episode, licensed therapist Vanessa De Jesus Guzman sits down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Sheila Arias to talk about how couples rebuild emotional closeness through small, intentional moments, not grand gestures, not perfect timing, just presence.EPISODE DESCRIPTIONWhy emotional disconnection is common in long-term relationshipsHow judgment and comparison quietly erode intimacyThe role of curiosity and compassion in strengthening emotional bondsWhy small, consistent moments matter more than grand gesturesHow structure and intentionality support connection and intimacyThe importance of physical affection beyond sexual intimacyTUNE IN TO LEARNHow to rebuild emotional connection without blaming yourself or your partnerSimple communication tools couples can practice right awayWhy emotional intimacy fades and how to restore it intentionallyHow scheduling connection can still feel meaningful and authenticWays to reconnect that fit real life, not unrealistic relationship idealsCONNECT WITH SHEILAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilaariaslmftTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sheilaariaslmftWebsite: https://www.compasiontherapy.comTAKEAWAY MESSAGERebuilding emotional connection isn't about fixing your relationship or judging where you are. It's about choosing one small, intentional shift that brings curiosity, warmth, and presence back into your connection. Over time, those moments add up and help relationships feel alive again.As always, thank you for listening. If this episode resonated, consider sharing it with a partner or someone who may need this reminder. And remember - in a world where you are free to be anything, you are always free to be mindfulSend us Fan MailSupport the showNJ RESIDENTS, WORK WITH VANESSA Book a free 15-minute therapy consultation https://www.freetobemindful.com/contact LET'S STAY CONNECTED 

Estranged parents often say: “We had a perfect relationship, and then something to them. Social media. A therapist. A partner. Their other parents. They were brainwashed. In this episode, Whitney takes that fear seriously and gives it an honest, research-informed answer.This episode explores:The real history of brainwashingWhat social media can and can't doIf therapists can implant grievances into clientsHow the brainwashing framework offers comfortSources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M0YYHl6m_W2HeEAIa5DhM4lH6VdVmhAxTyUuEuG6qXo/edit?usp=sharingWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Safety is the state where life feels workable. Not perfect, just manageable. It's the top of the ladder and the place we're all reaching for, so this episode is about what it actually feels like in your body, what it looks like on someone's face and in their voice, and what it really takes to get there. You'll also meet Courtney, whose story we follow throughout the states from here.

Braden Brown is the Associate Athletic Director for Mental Health at BYU Athletics, where he helps student-athletes navigate both the mental and performance demands of athletics. A Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (in training), Braden works with athletes on everything from anxiety and relationships to confidence, focus, and performing under pressure. Before joining BYU, Braden spent four years as Director of Mental Performance and Counseling Services at IUPUI, supporting athletes across all 18 Division I programs. He holds a Ph.D. in Medical Family Therapy from East Carolina University, along with degrees from Utah State and BYU. In this episode we discuss the following: Confidence is helpful—but it's not required. We tend to believe that success starts with feeling ready, feeling certain, feeling like we belong. But Braden's story flips that. He didn't feel like he belonged at BYU. He didn't feel like he belonged in the NFL. He didn't even feel like he was “PhD material.” And yet, he showed up anyway. And when he couldn't believe in himself, he leaned on the belief others had in him. Over time, showing up did what confidence couldn't—it built it. There's also something powerful in how Braden reframes our relationship with emotions. Fear, doubt, anxiety—those aren't signals to stop. They're part of being human. And even top performers feel them. The mistake is letting them drive the car. Like the athlete he described—who felt great and performed poorly, then felt terrible and went out and set a national record. Feelings don't determine performance. So the better question isn't, “Do I feel ready?” It's, “What can I commit to—regardless of how I feel?” Who we are today is not who we'll be in three months—but how we show up today determines who we become. Action doesn't follow confidence. More often, confidence follows action.

One of the harder truths of estrangement is coming to terms with the fact that your parent was not who you needed them to be and in many cases is not going to become that person. In this episode's Q&A, two questions circle that theme. First, a couple with two young children trying to integrate not one, but two sets of critical and unsupportive grandparents into their family. Second, a woman asks how to ever reach true acceptance when you're stuck between anger and still wanting them to be different.Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You're getting things done. Answering texts, making dinner, showing up. But underneath it you feel wired and flat at the same time, like you're watching your own life through a foot of glass. That's functional freeze: your gas and your brake pressed at once, and "functional" just means you're still getting through the day while it runs. In this episode I break down what freeze actually is, how it's different from burnout, depression, and shutdown, why the two obvious moves (pushing through and checking out) both backfire, and one small orienting practice you can try today to let the brake come off a little.

Did you ever feel like you're in a conversation where the other person is just waiting for you to stop talking while they load up something to say? You can talk to members of your family every single day and still feel completely unheard. And it works the other way too. Whitney breaks down the real difference between hearing and listening. In this episode, you'll learn: Concrete tools for listening on both sides of a conversation How to actually listen when someone you love is hurtingWhy our instinct to fix or reassure often backfiresHow to ask for what you need when you're the one who doesn't feel heardWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever notice your thoughts get meaner when you feel bad, and softer when you feel good? That's not a coincidence, and it's not a flaw in you. "Story follows state" means the story in your head comes out of the state your body is in, not the other way around. Once you catch it happening in real time, a dark story starts to lose its grip.

In this Q&A episode, Whitney answers two follow-up questions from her viral episode on parental curiosity. First, from a listener who wants to stay connected with an 81-year old father who has never once shown curiosity. Second, the opposite problem: a parent who, after a period of estrangement, suddenly asks a genuine follow-up question.The original episode that inspired the second question:When Parents Don't Show Curiosity About Your LifeWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.coFollow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmftOrder Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivitySign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0oThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OCD isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about understanding the parts beneath them In the third and final part of our OCD series, expert Melissa Mose explores the complexities of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), discussing evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can complement traditional approaches. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, Melissa shares practical strategies for navigating OCD, while highlighting the roles of self-leadership, compassion, and understanding the different “parts” that influence thoughts, fears, and behaviors. “ERP has been shown to be the most effective treatment. Exposures help the brain rewire and learn resilience.” – Melissa Mose  Time Stamps for The Hidden Parts of OCD: ERP, IFS, and Self-Leadership with Melissa Mose (303) 00:12 Introduction to OCD and treatment 02:58 Understanding exposure and response prevention (ERP) 08:13 The role of the therapist in ERP 10:45 Integrating internal family systems (IFS) with ERP 13:30 The impact of shame in OCD 16:09 Differentiating reassurance from compulsions 36:25 Understanding exiled parts in therapy 40:58 Obsessive and compulsive parts: A closer look 43:38 Navigating the helicopter parent dynamic 47:40 Differentiating between anxiety and OCD 55:45 The connection between attachment and OCD About our Guest – Melissa Mose, LMFT Melissa Mose is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Los Angeles since 1995. She has specialized in the treatment of OCD and anxiety since 2011 and currently trains and supervises associates in her group practice. Melissa is also an Internal Family Systems therapist. She is Level 3 trained and Certified and an IFSI-approved clinical consultant. She has served on staff as a PA for multiple Level 1 and Level 2 experiential IFS trainings through the IFS Institute. Melissa's experience as the parent of a child with OCD led her to specialize in the treatment of individuals with anxiety and OCD as well as their families. She is a graduate of the IOCDF's general, pediatric and advanced Behavior Therapy Training Institutes (BTTI) as well as the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program and Cognitive-behavioral Intervention for Tics training (CBIT). Her fifteen years of experience prior to that specialization provided a broad foundation of skills and approaches that infuse her integrative approach. With a background in family systems and mindfulness practices, she became driven to find more compassionate and accessible treatment for OCD. Melissa has developed an integrative approach that utilizes an IFS framework to provide evidence-based exposure therapy for OCD. She is an international speaker and educator on obsessive compulsive disorder and its treatment, and she is currently the president of the board of directors of OCD Southern California, an affiliate of the International OCD Foundation. In her role on the board of OCD SoCal advocates for individuals with OCD, hosts speakers' series, trainings, and one of largest virtual OCD conferences worldwide. It is her mission to raise awareness, improve early identification and greater treatment accessibility for individuals with OCD and their families. Resources for The Hidden Parts of OCD: ERP, IFS, and Self-Leadership with Melissa Mose (303) Melissa’s website – Resources & information IFS for OCD Clinician’s Guide – Melissa’s book – Internal Family Systems for OCD: A Clinician’s Guide  www.OCDSoCal.org – Melissa is president of OCD Southern California Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount.       You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!!    Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  A coffee alternative with 4 adaptogenic mushrooms and ayurvedic herbs. With only a fraction of caffeine as a cup of coffee, you get energy without the anxiety, jitters, or crash of coffee Go to mudwtr.com/tu to support the show and use code TU for 15% off