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If you've heard us talk about Recovery Weeks, or you've been thinking about joining us, you might be wondering: What exactly happens during those six days? Recovery Week is a focused, immersive experience designed to help survivors explore the ways their stories of past sexual abuse have shaped their lives. In this episode, Dr. Dan Allender is joined by longtime Recovery Week facilitators Wendell Moss, LMHC, and Sue Cunningham, MA, MS, LPC, to offer you a glimpse into the experience. They describe what to expect, particularly in the Story Groups. The work invites us to consider the difference between conviction and condemnation, and what it might mean to receive the truth of our stories without contempt. They also explore some of the surprises of Recovery Week: the laughter that emerges alongside grief, the friendships and camaraderie that grow, and the relief of discovering that you are not alone. Together, they discuss how compassionate witness can loosen the grip of shame and create space to encounter God as one who sees, grieves, and cares. Listen in for a glimpse of what to expect, and why this experience can be both more difficult and more joyful than many participants anticipate. To learn more about Recovery Weeks with the Allender Center, please visit: https://theallendercenter.org/workshops This episode is centered around recovery from sexual abuse. It also contains explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. About the Allender Center Podcast: For over a decade, the Allender Center Podcast has offered honest, thoughtful conversations about the deep work of healing and transformation. Hosted by Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen, MDiv, this weekly podcast explores the complexities of trauma, abuse recovery, story, relationships, and spiritual formation. Through questions submitted by listeners, stories, interviews, and conversations, we engage the deep places of heartache and hope that are rarely addressed so candidly in our culture today. Join the Allender Center Podcast to uncover meaningful perspectives and support for your path to healing and growth. At the Allender Center, we value thoughtful dialogue across a wide range of voices, stories, and lived experiences. In that spirit, our podcast features guests and hosts who may hold differing perspectives. The perspectives shared on this podcast by guests and hosts reflect their own experiences and viewpoints and do not necessarily represent the views, positions, or endorsements of the Allender Center and/or The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Stream each episode, plus find transcripts, additional resources, and more at: theallendercenter.org/podcast To become a supporter of the Allender Center Podcast, visit: https://theallendercenter.org/2025/11/podcast-support/ If you and your organization would like to partner with the Allender Center Podcast, please reach out to Clay Clayton at cclayton@theallendercenter.org
Private practice is often presented as the goal for mental health professionals. But what if it isn't the right goal for you?In this episode, Paul Wagner and Dr. Ray Christner talk about the many directions a mental health career can take. They discuss what clinicians can learn from community mental health and school-based settings, how to recognize when it may be time for a change, and why moving too quickly can sometimes mean leaving valuable growth opportunities behind.Ray also shares how his own career developed through mentorship, supervision, teaching, private practice, consulting, writing, presenting, test development, and entrepreneurship. Along the way, the conversation challenges the idea that clinicians need to follow one straight path or eventually own a private practice.The bigger question is not simply what you should do next. It is what you actually want from your career, what you enjoy, what you are willing to take risks on, and how your interests outside of mental health might create unexpected opportunities within it.Your career does not have to be a straight line. It can grow, change, and take you places you never expected.Brightminds AdPAR Ad This episode is brought to you by PAR.Explore the AI Report Writer here:https://www.parinc.com/product/ai-report-writer?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsLearn more about the RIAS-2 NU here:https://www.parinc.com/product/groups/rias-rist-assessments?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsTo hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at: http://www.psychedtopractice.com “Be well, and stay psyched"
Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast
Episode Summary: Trauma can shatter our sense of safety, identity, and trust—especially when it comes at the hands of someone who vowed to love us. In today’s episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I’m joined by a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist whose story of surviving attempted murder is both heartbreaking and incredibly inspiring. Through her faith and her training, she has transformed her pain into purpose, helping others heal from grief, loss, and trauma. Today she shares how God meets us in our darkest moments and how we can reclaim our lives after the deepest wounds. This story is not about a villain and a victim. Instead, it is about a woman who, despite being victimized, chose healing and emerged victorious. Today we’re going to be talking about how to move from surviving to truly living again, even after the deepest hurts. Quotables from the episode: I will not be a victim. I was victimized. And on that day, I was a victim. But from that point on, I became I had been victimized, but I was not going to be a victim. I said, “I want you to know I will forgive you.“ I kept declaring these things over myself without even realizing it. Now, I did not forgive him that day, although I prayed for him that night when he was in jail. I had to work through that, but I knew that I will be forgiving. I will be joyful. I knew this is not going to be the end of my story because the devil will not have the last word. Let me maybe clarify too, because even though I declared all that over me, that doesn't mean I wasn't falling apart at times. You know, healing is not linear. I was weeping. I'd have good days and I'd had bad days. So, I don't want to give the impression that I just said, okay, life will be great. When people say, “where's God when bad things happen?” You know, sometimes we say it as an accusation, like God wasn't there. I love to say, ask the Lord where he was because he was there. I didn't know if I was going to live or die. But in that moment, I knew I would not have died alone. That it was Psalm 23 come alive that said, “yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you're with me.” So many people think, “well, we shouldn't walk through any valleys.” But the Bible says we're going to walk through the shadow of the valley, the shadow of death. The promise is he's not going to leave us. The hardest person to forgive was myself. I had to go back and rewrite those beliefs because I hadn't failed. I told myself and the enemy told me I had. I've come to learn that you can heal without forgiveness, but you can't be whole. I love to tell people that God is in the restoration business. There is no story that is too far gone. There is nothing he cannot redeem because that's what God's specialty is, is bringing beauty from ashes. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it can't happen. Hold on to God, who is the author of hope. He's not going to let you down. Recommended Resources: Healing from Life’s Deepest Hurts: Reclaiming Your Life After Grief, Loss, or Trauma by Kimberly Haar, LPC, LMFT Free Stress-Response Personality Assessment Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Kimberly Haar, LPC, LMFT, is a survivor of domestic violence, a licensed professional counselor, and a license marriage and family therapist with nearly two decades of experience helping others find healing and wholeness in life. Her therapy practice is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she continues to inspire hope and strength in those facing life’s challenges. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
JHIREE DAVIS-JONES; Healing Life's Pains, Self-Care, MentalHealth & Finding Purpose; Counselor; Live from New Jersey#realconversations #mentalhealth #CherryBlossomHe aling #counselor #stress #trauma #selfesteem CONVERSATIONS WITH CALVIN — WE THESPECIESHosted by Calvin SchwartzMEET; JHIREE DAVIS-JONES. “Firstly, huge thanks to RachelleAnne & Maria Zsal from Influencer Press for this intro with JhireeDavis-Jones, also from New Jersey. If there are no preliminary Zoom sessionsbefore an interview, it's difficult to structure and figure out what to expect.Within the first precious minute of our Zoom, I knew Jhiree was very special. ALicensed Professional Counselor at Cherry Blossom Healing in Paramus (it's amust-listen to how the name arrived). Ten minutes later; Jhiree is brilliant,accomplished, caring, eloquent, and inspiring. Her journey from childhood tocounseling is the stuff they make movies about. Powerful. Emotional.Purposeful. This really is a must-interview to absorb. A counselor. I saidupfront that we the species, need counseling on so many levels. This is part ofJhiree. Stress and Life Changes. Healing from Difficult Experiences.Relationship and Family Concerns. Self-Esteem & Identity (I wish I'd knownJhiree way back). Behavioral and Daily Life Struggles. As I like to do at thispoint. Some words and thoughts from Jhiree. Her book, ‘My Current Past.' Life'sPain. Challenges in building a practice. Self-Care. Oprah. Asking for help.444. Addiction affects family. Say yes to yourself. Balancing counselor,business owner, wife, mother. Continuing quality mental health care. The bodygives signals. Enough said for now. There was much more. Jhiree was gracious.Perhaps a return chat. 444. AI and mental health. And her book. I like saying,“to be continued.” Calvin
Four THRIVE events are coming — Rexburg, San Antonio, Boise, and St. George — and John Dehlin wants to make sure you hear about them IN ADVANCE this time.THRIVE conferences are for former and transitioning members of high-demand religions. They're about community, healing, and growth after Mormonism — meeting people who get it, picking up tools for navigating a faith crisis, and realizing you are not alone and you are not crazy.REGISTER FOR ALL FOUR AT: https://thrivebeyondreligion.com---------------------------------------------------------------------THRIVE REXBURG — Sept. 18–19, 2026 — $19---------------------------------------------------------------------"Brewing a New Story"Friday, Sept. 18: meet and greetSaturday, Sept. 19: speakersOur FIRST-EVER THRIVE in Rexburg, Idaho.Speakers:• Britt Hartley (keynote) — No Nonsense Spirituality• Renae Peterson• Erika Nordfelt• Nan Osborne---------------------------------------------------------------------THRIVE SAN ANTONIO — Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 — $25---------------------------------------------------------------------9:30 AM – 5:00 PMWheatly Heights Sports Complex, Event Hall200 Noblewood Dr, San Antonio, TX 78220Speakers:• Alyssa Grenfell• Nathan Hinckley — singer and former bishop• Megan Conner• Elbert Fish• Meggan Hayes — Generally Unquotable / Mormon News Network---------------------------------------------------------------------THRIVE BOISE — Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026 — $29, INCLUDES LUNCH---------------------------------------------------------------------10:00 AM – 5:00 PMGalaxy/Wahooz Fun Center400 W Overland Road, Boise, ID 83642Speakers:• Dr. John G. Turner (keynote) — Professor of Religious Studies and History at George Mason University; author of "Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet" and "Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet"; co-host of the Joseph Smith and Brigham Young podcast series with John Dehlin• Amy Faragher, LPC — clinical insights for navigating a faith crisis• Kolby Reddish — LDS Discussions• Andrew Propst — kidnapped while serving a mission in Russia; his story became the film "The Saratov Approach"---------------------------------------------------------------------THRIVE ST. GEORGE — March 5–7, 2027 — $45 for all three days---------------------------------------------------------------------"Think Freely. Thrive Fully."Friday, March 5: 6:00 PM – 9:30 PMSaturday, March 6: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday, March 7: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PMDixie Convention Center1835 South Convention Center Drive, St. George, UT 84790Our biggest THRIVE yet. Speakers:• Michael Foley — "Your Momma's So Mormon She Won't Come To This Session: My Adventures In Trying To Make Utah Laugh"• Chris Bartlett — "Behind the Mask: An Actor Questions His Programming"• Sally Osborne & Lena Osborne — "When Everything Changes: Staying Connected Through Faith, Identity, and Family Transformation"• Kolby Reddish — "How to Understand Different Approaches to Faith"• Dr. Christine Marie — "Stop Judging. Start Helping"• Nomz Bistline — "Stop Judging. Start Helping"• Dr. John Lundwall — "Secret Works: Magic, Memory, and the Making of the Book of Mormon"• Dr. Julie de Azevedo — "What I Kept When I Left: A Life of Thoughtful Integration"Meet content creators, shop the tables, and connect with influencers, podcasters, and authors. Book through our preferred hotel partners for 20% off your stay.Event details: https://www.stgeorgethrive.org---------------------------------------------------------------------HOW TO REGISTER---------------------------------------------------------------------All four events: https://thrivebeyondreligion.comTickets are priced only to cover the venue and food — usually $19 to $45.WANT TO ORGANIZE A THRIVE IN YOUR AREA?Email thrivebeyondreligion@gmail.com or mormonstories@gmail.com and we will help you put one together.
Spiritual Bypassing: When Christian Faith Is Used to Avoid Feelings, Trauma, and Real Healing What is spiritual bypassing, and how can it affect Christian women struggling with anxiety, trauma, grief, difficult emotions, or painful experiences? Sometimes well-meaning Christians respond to emotional pain with phrases like "count your blessings," "just have faith," "think positive," or "give it to God." Biblical truth matters—but using spiritual language to minimize, avoid, or shut down genuine emotional pain can keep us from addressing what is actually happening. In this episode of Trauma Healing for Christian Women, Michelle Croyle, LPC, EMDR-Certified therapist, explores spiritual bypassing in Christianity and why acknowledging painful emotions does not mean that you are failing spiritually or lacking faith. You can love God deeply and still experience anxiety, grief, anger, fear, hurt, exhaustion, or the effects of trauma. In This Episode, You'll Learn What spiritual bypassing is and what it can look like in Christian life How spiritual language can sometimes be used to minimize emotional pain Why experiencing anxiety or difficult emotions doesn't automatically mean you lack faith The difference between acknowledging your emotions and allowing your emotions to control you How trauma and a lack of felt safety can affect the nervous system Why "count your blessings" isn't always what a hurting person needs How spiritual bypassing can happen within relationships and church culture Why healthy boundaries and acknowledging when something hurt can be important How Christian faith and emotional honesty can exist together Why healing doesn't require pretending everything is fine Jesus did not ignore human suffering. He wept. He cared for people's physical and emotional needs. Throughout Scripture, we see people bringing grief, fear, pain, questions, and distress honestly before God. Faith doesn't require pretending. You can acknowledge, "This hurt me," "I'm grieving," "I'm angry," "I'm afraid," or "I need help," while still trusting God. Sometimes healing begins when we stop trying to put a spiritual bandage over a wound and allow ourselves to acknowledge what is actually there. Christian Trauma Therapy & EMDR Therapy in Pennsylvania THERAPY WITH MICHELLE Have you been looking for a Trauma-Informed Therapist who is also a Christian? Do you want to honor your faith even in your therapy? Would you love to incorporate deep healing in a way that aligns with God's Word and evidence-based treatments for trauma healing? I offer THERAPY INTENSIVES which help you to go deeper and with faster results than weekly therapy can provide. Learn more at: www.emdrpittsburgh.com. For a Free Consultation Call: If you would like to see about working with me in an EMDR Intensive, you can schedule a free 15 minute consultation call so that we can get to know each other and see if I am a good match for your therapy needs. Go to www.calendly.com/michellecroyle to connect with me. FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: Join our free Facebook Community For Encouragement and Support: CLICK HERE FREE RESOURCE: If this episode resonated, you might be interested in my free resource. I created a free, faith-honoring guide that gently explains how healing happens in the body and why you're not failing. Free Trauma Healing Resource Guide *All content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered professional counseling. If you need professional therapy, please seek it out, and if you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services near you.
A young person can be highly capable and still struggle with things that seem like they should come easily. Lisa Marker-Robbins talks with Mark Talaga about giftedness, hidden challenges, self-awareness, and the skills young people need for greater independence.In this episode, Lisa and Mark discuss:Giftedness beyond academics and exceptional ability in different areasHidden challenges and asynchronous development behind unexpected strugglesIdentity, agency, and self-advocacy as young people gain independenceCareer development and personal growth through self-awareness and supportKey Takeaways: A young person may excel creatively, academically, athletically, or in another area while still having vulnerabilities that become more visible as expectations, contexts, or demands change.Parents can look at how a young person performs in specific situations rather than assuming strong performance in one context will transfer to another, such as creative writing versus structured school assignments.Self-awareness makes advocacy more effective by helping young people explain their needs, recognize where they struggle, and work with others to create practical supports.Executive functioning can continue developing throughout adulthood, and building a support network can help young people become more capable and independent. “Giftedness is not a number. It is more, ‘Wow, this kid does not seem to fit in on some level compared to their peers.'” – Mark TalagaAbout Mark Talaga: Mark Talaga, MA, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, and founder of the Center for Identity Potential, where he works with gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent individuals and their families. With experience in mental health counseling and the video game industry, Mark offers insight into giftedness, motivation, anxiety, asynchronous development, screen time, and family dynamics. He also hosts the Hopelessly Gifted Podcast, exploring challenges facing gifted individuals and their families.Episode References:Learn more about Launch Career Clarity at https://flourishcoachingco.com/courseSample Birkman Report: https://flourishcoachingco.com/birkmanGet Lisa's Free on-demand video: THE CAREER IDENTIFICATION COMPASS: How To Be Certain Your 15 To 25 Year Old is On The Right Path to Launch With Confidence–Not Confusion: flourishcoachingco.com/video Connect with Mark:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopelesslygiftedFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopelesslygiftedYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopelesslyGiftedWebsite: https://www.centerforidentitypotential.com/Hopelessly Gifted Podcast: https://www.hopelesslygifted.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktalaga/Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co
When a student is struggling, school counselors often hear, “Can you talk to them?”But in determining if a student needs counseling, we tend to skip some very important steps.In this episode, I'm talking about a common jump everyone on campus tends to make (and nobody ever questions)- and why it's such a big deal.You'll hear why context matters more than the referral itself, how easily schools move from observation to interpretation to prescription, and the one question that can keep you from taking on student problems that may not belong in your office in the first place.(Also- there's also a huge plot twist here for experienced school counselors.)If your caseload is exploding, teachers are constantly asking you to “check on” students, or you're trying to make smarter decisions about behavior, anxiety, coping skills, and other student concerns, this one is for you.Listen before you add one more student to your list.********Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We're doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind. Come join us! ********All names, stories, and case studies in this episode are fictionalized composites drawn from real-world circumstances. Any resemblance to actual students, families, or school personnel is coincidental. Details have been altered to protect privacy.******** This work is part of the School for School Counselors body of work developed by Steph Johnson, LPC, CSC, which centers role authority over role drift, consultative practice over fix-it culture, adult-designed systems and environments as primary drivers of student behavior, clinical judgment over compliance, and school counselor identity as leadership within complex systems.
The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy
What This Work Asks of Therapists: Integration, Not Knowing, and the Capacity to Stay - An Interview with Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, SEP Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, SEP, on therapist integration, not knowing, and the capacity to stay in the room. Curt and Katie talk with Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, SEP, about what determines how much a therapist can do in session. Her answer is not which model you reach for, but how integrated you are while you reach for it. Jules wrote Setting Boundaries That Stick and created the STAIR Method. Jules separates eclectic practice, pulling from whichever training fits the moment, from integrative practice, where one theory of mind and theory of change organizes which tool gets used when. Hers is neurobiological: the brain as an open, dynamic, complex system, most stable and most flexible when its parts stay differentiated and cross-share information. She also names what she thinks training got wrong. Many therapists learned to read client comfort as the measure of their therapeutic presence, a poor gauge when most clients arrive in a threat state. Her alternative is the therapist's own integration, because that is what creates capacity for connection, bonding, and creativity when a session gets hard. In this episode, we discuss: - What separates integrative from eclectic practice - Why client comfort is an unreliable measure of therapeutic presence - How adding compassion to empathy keeps a clinician from fatiguing - What humility and self-kindness predict about client outcomes - How power with differs from power over and power under - Why presence and skill have to be trained in the same state - What grief this job asks therapists to hold Timestamps: - 02:32 - Integrative therapy versus eclectic practice - 05:07 - Theory of mind, theory of change, and integration - 09:10 - What therapists get wrong about presence - 16:27 - Why empathy fatigues and compassion does not - 19:36 - Color shifting and finding felt compassion - 28:11 - PONS: power, of-courseness, not knowing, and self - 35:23 - The salience network, presence, and skill - 38:41 - The grief this work asks you to hold Guest Bio: Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, SEP, is a therapist, author, and teacher who translates neurobiology into practices that support brain change. She wrote Setting Boundaries That Stick, created the STAIR Method, and is an associate Instructor with the Coherence Institute and core faculty with Therapy Wisdom. Learn more at julianetaylorshore.com. Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
Eating disorder recovery often requires developing a relationship with food, hunger, movement, and body size that differs sharply from what society considers “normal.” In this conversation, Dr. Marianne welcomes back psychotherapist Shira Collings, LPC, to discuss a powerful question: Can eating disorder recovery become its own form of neurodivergence? Shira describes neurodivergence as a way of thinking, processing information, or living that diverges from dominant social expectations. From this perspective, rejecting diet culture, anti-fat bias, intentional weight loss, and rigid rules about “healthy eating” can place someone outside the cultural norm. Recovery may change how a person understands nourishment, pleasure, rest, exercise, body acceptance, and the right to eat without trying to control their body size. Eating Disorder Recovery in the Ozempic and GLP-1 Era Dr. Marianne and Shira discuss why eating disorder recovery can feel especially isolating in the Ozempic and GLP-1 era. As weight loss becomes culturally celebrated again, people in recovery may experience grief, loneliness, body-image distress, or renewed pressure to shrink themselves. They also examine the growing tendency to call hunger, cravings, and thoughts about food “food noise.” For many people recovering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, chronic dieting, or other eating disorders, noticing hunger and responding to food cravings represent meaningful signs of healing. Treating these experiences as problems that should disappear can undermine body trust and reinforce disordered eating beliefs. Hunger Cues, Neurodivergence, and Body Trust Hunger does not feel the same for everyone. Autistic people, ADHDers, highly sensitive people, and others with neurodivergent eating experiences may not notice traditional hunger cues such as a growling stomach. Hunger might appear as lightheadedness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, thoughts about food, emotional changes, or a desire for sensory regulation through eating. Dr. Marianne shares how ADHD hyperfocus can interfere with recognizing when she needs food and why mechanical eating helps her nourish herself consistently. Shira explains that eating without experiencing a specific type of physical hunger does not mean someone is eating incorrectly. Rebuilding body trust can include recognizing your individual hunger signals and releasing the fear of eating “too much.” Diet Culture, Anti-Fat Bias, and the Fear of Eating Too Much The conversation also addresses how anti-fat bias, purity culture, healthmaxxing, and moral judgments about food teach people to distrust hunger and reject pleasure. Larger-bodied people often face added pressure to become the “good fatty” by pursuing weight loss, exercising frequently, or proving that they eat according to society's definition of health. Sustainable eating disorder recovery may mean letting go of the belief that you must control your weight to deserve nourishment, rest, pleasure, care, or belonging. Dr. Marianne and Shira acknowledge how difficult this work can feel when friends, family members, healthcare providers, therapists, treatment programs, and social media continue to reinforce diet culture. About Shira Collings, LPC Shira Collings is a feminist, neurodiversity-affirming, LGBTQIA+-affirming, fat-affirming, and disability justice-aligned psychotherapist. Their specialties include eating disorders, body image, reproductive mental health, trauma, grief, and loss. Shira supports clients in healing from external and internalized oppression and creating lives aligned with their values. Learn more about Shira at threadandthreshold.com or follow them on Instagram at @threadandthreshold.therapy. In This Eating Disorder Recovery Episode Dr. Marianne and Shira discuss eating disorder recovery as neurodivergence, hunger cues in autism and ADHD, mechanical eating, body trust, food noise, Ozempic and GLP-1 medications, anti-fat bias, diet culture, body acceptance, fear of eating too much, weight-neutral recovery, and the loneliness of rejecting cultural expectations around food and body size. Related Episodes What If You're Not Broken? Neurodivergence, Sanism, Eating Disorders, & Radical Acceptance With Shira Collings, LPC on Apple & Spotify. About Dr. Marianne Miller Dr. Marianne Miller is an eating disorder therapist with nearly 30 years of mental health experience. She specializes in ARFID, binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia through a neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed, and weight-neutral approach. Dr. Marianne provides therapy in California and Washington, D.C., as well as coaching for clients worldwide. Learn more about working with her, her self-paced ARFID course, and her Binge Eating Recovery Membership at drmariannemiller.com.
Join Travis Sparks & Eric Frye on the Over Reaction Monday podcast edition of The Starting Lineup: Week 5 is here Effingham try's to build off the momentum, Cumberland looks to bounce back, Apollo, LPC, LIC and other conferences to preview, Week 5 Pick'Em and get involved with Pick"Em on our Facebook page, Plus it only took the 2nd game of the season but the first Illini Therapy Session is here and Other Fall Sports from around the area Follow us on Facebook at The Starting Lineup 98 9 The Game Text us on brand new text line 646-801-2556 to get involved with the show!
In episode 555 I chat with Natalia Aíza. Natalia, LPC, is a therapist, writer, and mental health advocate. She is the founder of Kairos Wellness Collective, an innovative therapy center specializing in OCD and Anxiety Disorders. She is the author of Self-Guided Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy for OCD, Self-Guided EMDR Workbook, and the forthcoming Anxious to Launch: Empowered Parenting Skills to Nudge Your Adult Child Out of the Nest. We discuss her story, getting distracted by trauma in her own recovery, doing therapy in China, her self-guided exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) workbook, doing compassionate ERP, and her new book anxious to launch, supporting young adults struggling to leave home, her new EMDR book, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/natalia-555 The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
In this episode, Paul Krauss, MA, LPC speaks with psychotherapist and author Dr. Sylvia Kalicinski to unpack why so many people — including high-achievers and even therapists themselves — quietly struggle with feeling alone, even when surrounded by others. Drawing on her new book,
Send us Fan MailBurnout doesn't always show up as collapse. Sometimes it shows up as competence that never turns off, a brain that can't tolerate quiet, and a calendar packed with “necessary” things that somehow never end. Marie Sloane, LPC, joins us to name what so many people are living right now: life moves fast, but recovery moves slower, and that mismatch is exhausting.We talk about why time can feel warped in a world of constant stimulation, and why boredom has become strangely hard for both kids and adults. From there, we get practical about self-care strategies that work in real life, not influencer life. We break down the guilt loop of “I should be doing something else,” the all-or-nothing trap that makes people quit, and a simple framework we love: small daily actions that remove a few “pebbles” from the heavy backpack you carry every day.We also go deeper into trauma-informed therapy insights, especially overfunctioning. We unpack how overfunctioning can start as a survival skill, then get rewarded by work culture and relationships until it becomes physically and emotionally unsustainable. If you've ever felt selfish for having needs, or you only feel safe when you're producing, this conversation will land.We close with ways to plan for obstacles before motivation disappears, including accountability and community support that keeps self-care from becoming another broken promise. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with someone who's running on fumes, and leave a review so more people can find these burnout recovery tools.This podcast is meant to be a resource for the general public, as well as fellow therapists/psychologists. It is NOT meant to replace the meaningful work of individual or family therapy. Please seek professional help in your area if you are struggling. #breakthestigma #makewordsmatter #thingsyoulearnintherapy #thingsyoulearnintherapypodcastIf you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, please contact 988 or seek a treatment provider in your area.If you are a therapist or psychologist and want to be a guest on the show, please complete this form to apply: Podcast Application FormFeel free to share your thoughts at www.makewordsmatterforgood.com or email me at Beth@makewordsmatterforgood.comSupport the showwww.bethtrammell.com
Are we more likely to trust AI when we know less about a subject?Dan and Adam explore the surprising gap between how experts and novices use AI, and what that could mean for mental health and school psychology. They talk about the risks of relying on AI when you do not know enough to spot mistakes, the importance of using multiple sources to check AI-generated information, and why AI should support professional judgment rather than replace it.The conversation also covers major AI developments discussed at the APA conference, including AI report writers, electronic medical records, school data systems, AI agents, and recent changes to Google NotebookLM. Along the way, Dan and Adam consider a bigger question: How can professionals use increasingly powerful AI tools without losing the skills and critical thinking that make them experts?Brightminds AdPAR Ad This episode is brought to you by PAR.Explore the AI Report Writer here:https://www.parinc.com/product/ai-report-writer?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsLearn more about the RIAS-2 NU here:https://www.parinc.com/product/groups/rias-rist-assessments?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsTo hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at: http://www.psychedtopractice.com “Be well, and stay psyched"
Could GLP-1 peptides like Ozempic actually improve egg quality? And is your prenatal vitamin missing the nutrients that matter most for fertility? In this episode, we dive deep into the surprising connections between metabolic health and reproductive wellness: from how GLP-1 agonists may reduce oxidative stress and support ovarian function, to the specific probiotic strains that promote vaginal and gut health during conception, to the critical nutrients most prenatals leave out. Ayla Barmmer, founder and CEO of FullWell, is a leading expert in fertility nutrition and a science-backed reproductive health supplement brand. She is also an herbalist and trusted voice in reproductive wellness, passionate about cutting through misinformation to provide truly effective, evidence-based solutions for those trying to conceive. In this episode, we cover: How GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide) work and their potential benefits for fertility, egg quality, and ovarian health The powerful link between metabolic health and reproductive health, including insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and mitochondrial function Why fiber is the foundation of gut health before you even consider a probiotic Specific probiotic strains (L. rhamnosus HN001, B. lactis, L. paracasei LPC-37) that support vaginal health, blood sugar regulation, and stress response Adaptogens in alcohol-free mocktails: are they safe for fertility and pregnancy? The most overlooked nutrients in standard prenatal vitamins, including choline, magnesium, vitamin D, and iodine Why iron and omega-3s should be taken separately from your prenatal, plus the critical warning about going into pregnancy depleted while on GLP-1 medications Resources & Links: FullWell Fertility Supplements: https://fullwellfertility.com Follow Ayla Barmmer on Instagram: @FullWellFertility More Fertility Resources from Dr. Aimee: https://draimee.org Find the full show notes on Dr. Aimee's website. Do you have questions about IVF? Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class. The next live class call is on Monday, September 14 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom. Click to find The Egg Whisperer Show podcast on your favorite podcasting app. Watch videos of Dr. Aimee answer Ask the Egg Whisperer Questions on YouTube. Sign up for The Egg Whisperer newsletter to get updates Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.
Send us Fan MailYour brain can be brilliant and still hit the panic button at the worst time. We get blunt about why that happens and why so many “best practices” for anxiety relief accidentally keep people stuck in a lifetime of coping, avoiding, and white knuckling.We walk through our nervous system reset series with a simple image: a smoke alarm that screams every time you make toast. Most advice is basically “deal with the noise” instead of fixing the alarm. For anxiety and panic attacks, that means you can talk about triggers for years, collect breathing apps, and understand your childhood perfectly, yet still feel the adrenaline surge an hour later. We dig into the real mechanism, the amygdala reading threat and dumping adrenaline and cortisol into your body, and why those symptoms can feel like danger even when you're safe.Then we pivot to the “new way” we're building in the program: retraining the alarm at the subconscious level where it actually lives. We share a client case study, talk about situational anxiety in everyday life, and return to the window of tolerance as the real goal: not zero anxiety, but a faster, steadier return to baseline. We also zoom in on micro changes, the small wins that create new neural pathways over time, whether you're navigating school stress, social triggers, family tension, or a high-stakes job interview.If this helped you rethink anxiety, subscribe, share the show with someone who needs it, and leave us a review so more people can find practical mental health support. What “false alarm” do you want to shut off next?Recorded 08-24-26FIND ME:My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcastMy social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gATwitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypnoInstagram: motorcityhypnoFREE HYPNOSIS GUIDEhttps://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guidePlease also subscribe to the show and leave a review.(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I'll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)Change your thinking, change your life!Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHTThe Motor City Hypnotist
Join Travis Sparks & Eric Frye on the Monday podcast edition of The Starting Lineup: Week 4 is upon us Effingham still searching for first W vs Charleston, Cumberland after a big win the Pirates have Arthur this week, Apollo, LPC, LIC and other conferences to preview, Week 4 Pick'Em Plus Illini Football recap our resident Illini super fan / expert, Robbery in the Big House, and Other Fall Sports from around the area Follow us on Facebook at The Starting Lineup 98 9 The Game to vote in our weekly Pick'em game Text us at 646-801-2556 on our text line to get involved with the show!
What happens when we start treating normal human experiences as symptoms of a mental disorder?In this episode of the Psyched to Practice Podcast, Paul Wagner and Dr. Ray Christner take a closer look at the line between normal distress and clinical pathology. They discuss how referral bias, self-diagnosis, rating scales, symptom matching, and even our own clinical expectations can lead us to see a diagnosis before we fully understand the person sitting in front of us.They also explore why context, culture, proportionality, persistence, and functional impairment matter when deciding whether a reaction is clinically significant. From grief and anxiety to ADHD, OCD, sleep problems, food preferences, and passive suicidal thoughts, the conversation looks at why a symptom alone does not tell the whole story.Most importantly, the episode asks a difficult question for clinicians: What if our attempts to help can sometimes reinforce the idea that normal emotions are problems that need to be eliminated?Mental health is not about never feeling sad, anxious, angry, or uncomfortable. It is about developing the capacity to experience those emotions without becoming controlled by them.For clinicians, this episode offers a reminder to slow down, stay curious, and understand the experience before deciding what it means.Brightminds AdPAR Ad This episode is brought to you by PAR.Explore the AI Report Writer here:https://www.parinc.com/product/ai-report-writer?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsLearn more about the RIAS-2 NU here:https://www.parinc.com/product/groups/rias-rist-assessments?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsTo hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at: http://www.psychedtopractice.com “Be well, and stay psyched"
Jonathan Dower, MS, LPC, ALPS, NCC, CRC, ICAADC, CCS, SAP, Chief Executive Officer at West Virginia Sober Living on advanced degree opportunities at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Bobby Nutter from ICS Tax on the Earned Income Tax credit and other tax issues.
Send us Fan MailYour heart races, your stomach drops, your hands sweat, and your brain decides something is wrong, even when you are “fine.” That experience can make anxiety and panic feel like a character flaw, but we see it differently: your nervous system is doing its job, your alarm is just miscalibrated. We pick up part three of the Nervous System Reset series and walk through the shift that helps people move from stuck and avoiding life to functioning with confidence again.We get practical about what is happening in the brain and body, including the amygdala's threat response and the adrenaline and cortisol surge that drives the physical symptoms of panic attacks. We also talk about a hard truth that can be strangely relieving: nobody lives with zero anxiety, and you do not need that to be free. The real win is returning to your window of tolerance faster, so you can speak up, travel, shop, lead meetings, and show up even with butterflies.Then we call out the “old ways” that often backfire: white knuckling another breathing drill, relying on apps alone, avoiding every trigger, using alcohol to take the edge off, or just waiting it out. When coping becomes avoidance, it can teach your brain the moment was dangerous and strengthen the pattern you are trying to break. That is where subconscious nervous system retraining comes in, using clinical hypnosis to reach the automatic part of the mind where the alarm lives and help quiet panic before it starts.If you want a clear, structured approach to anxiety recovery, check out the Nervous System Reset program and see how the modules and discovery calls work. Subscribe for the next part, share this with someone who is stuck in the panic loop, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Recorded 08-24-26FIND ME:My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcastMy social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gATwitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypnoInstagram: motorcityhypnoFREE HYPNOSIS GUIDEhttps://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guidePlease also subscribe to the show and leave a review.(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I'll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)Change your thinking, change your life!Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHTThe Motor City Hypnotist
What if winning has less to do with what you accomplish and more to do with who you become? In this spirited episode of Performing Under Pressure, Lynn Roush, LPC, sits down with Ella Swindle, a senior setter for the University of Texas Longhorns volleyball team who helped lead her team to an NCAA National Championship as a freshman. As a setter, Ella occupies one of the most demanding positions on the court: she calls the plays, directs the offense, and has to reset quickly after every point. But some of the most significant pressure she's faced hasn't come from the volleyball court at all. For Ella, college athletics has become a place where questions of performance, identity, expectations, and faith collide. She opens up to Lynn about the internal voices that tell her she's not enough, and the hard work of learning to distinguish truth from lies. Along the way, she has discovered the importance of silence, stepping away from social media, and becoming her own biggest cheerleader. At the heart of Ella's story is a growing confidence that her identity isn't ultimately determined by a scoreboard, a coach, a career, or other people's expectations. As she looks beyond volleyball towards her future, she's beginning to define success not simply by what she achieves, but by the kind of person she becomes. In a world constantly telling us who we should be, Ella has discovered something freeing: it's kinda chic to be you. Connect with us: Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds X: withyou_weeds Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Website: withyouintheweeds.com
Learn tips on how to stop relationship and marriage arguments, increase your passion, and also helping you with your dating life. Weekly LIVE Q&A on Marriage, Love, Relationship, Dating and Sex from a Licensed Professional! PLEASE LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT! Thank you!
Sometimes the hardest person to give credit to is ourselves. We can become so focused on where we're going—or where we think we should be—that we overlook just how far we've already come. In this Wellness Wednesday conversation, Robin, Beth and Jeff explore the importance of recognizing our accomplishments, giving ourselves permission to change our goals, and remembering that we deserve to be in the spaces we've worked so hard to reach. Progress doesn't always arrive with something tangible we can point to. Sometimes it happens quietly, one small step at a time. From breaking larger ambitions into achievable SMART goals to simply allowing yourself to "toot your own horn," this conversation is a reminder to ease up on the self-criticism and acknowledge the journey. Your destination may change along the way—and sometimes, what you discover there may be even better than what you originally imagined. Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes. Show Hosts: Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS Www.transitioningthroughchange.com You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093. They are looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks for listening!
It doesn't work.And if you've tried it, you know it's true.The school counseling advocacy model most of us were taught was supposed to be simple: explain your role, show your data, cite the standards, make the case.THEN we were supposed to be able to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.The problem is- information isn't influence.So in this episode, we'll talk about how school counselors can become influential long before "advocacy" meetings ever happen.We'll talk about why your principal does NOT need to care about school counseling as much as you do, why constantly sharing information can keep you stuck, and how a little out-of-the-box school counseling thinking can completely change your situation.There's a HUGE difference between being the school counselor who's always asked for more effort, and being the person they stop in the hallway to ask:“Hey- what do you think?”One is asking for your labor, but the other is asking for your judgment.THAT'S influence.********Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We're doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind. Come join us! ********All names, stories, and case studies in this episode are fictionalized composites drawn from real-world circumstances. Any resemblance to actual students, families, or school personnel is coincidental. Details have been altered to protect privacy.******** This work is part of the School for School Counselors body of work developed by Steph Johnson, LPC, CSC, which centers role authority over role drift, consultative practice over fix-it culture, adult-designed systems and environments as primary drivers of student behavior, clinical judgment over compliance, and school counselor identity as leadership within complex systems.
Send us Fan MailPanic can hijack your body in seconds, and the worst part is how convincing it feels. We pick up Nervous System Reset Part Two by getting specific about what's really happening during anxiety and panic attacks and what to do about it. I walk through the program I built for people who are truly stuck in that daily loop, plus how to book a free 30 to 45 minute discovery call to see if it's a fit.We dig into the science in plain English: why anxiety isn't a conscious choice, how the amygdala misreads danger, and how stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline create the racing heart, tight chest, sweats, and dizziness that make people fear they're breaking down. The first big shift is counterintuitive but powerful: become a scientist of your own experience. Instead of fighting sensations, you name them, study them, and ask what your nervous system is trying to protect you from, because those sensations aren't dangerous, they're information.Then we hit the shame piece head-on. Anxiety isn't a character flaw. It's a learned alarm that can be miscalibrated by stress, trauma, or a single scary event, and your brain can “time travel” when the prefrontal cortex gets knocked offline. We share real client examples like freeway panic and bedtime anxiety, and we explain how new neural pathways form through repetition, proof of safety, and consistent self-talk that teaches your brain the alarm isn't needed.If you've been searching for anxiety relief, nervous system regulation tools, hypnosis-based support, or a practical approach to stopping panic attacks, this is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who's struggling, and leave a review so more people can find the reset.Recorded 08-17-26 FIND ME:My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcastMy social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gATwitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypnoInstagram: motorcityhypnoFREE HYPNOSIS GUIDEhttps://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guidePlease also subscribe to the show and leave a review.(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I'll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)Change your thinking, change your life!Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHTThe Motor City Hypnotist
Building rapport isn't just about helping clients feel comfortable. It can play a major role in whether they trust you, open up, and keep coming back. In this episode, I sit down with Nora Anger, LPC, to talk about building stronger therapeutic relationships in private practice. We discuss what clients really want from their therapists, common reasons they leave therapy, thoughtful self-disclosure, creating safety and trust, and how to balance compassion with challenging clients when they need it. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Subscribe to YouTube Read the show notes here Watch on YouTube Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Follow us on Instagram Meet Nora Anger Nora Anger, MS, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than a decade of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression, helping clients navigate difficult life transitions and experiences. Known for her warm, direct, and down-to-earth approach, Nora has a particular strength in building rapport with clients who may have struggled with therapy in the past. She earned her master's degree from Chestnut Hill College and currently provides counseling in the greater Philadelphia area. Nora's Website Nora's Instagram
The psychedelic renaissance is here — money is pouring in, states are legalizing, and a federal executive order has fast-tracked ibogaine research for veterans. But if you're a conservative, a skeptic, or just politically homeless, is there room for you in this movement? In this episode I welcome back therapist Karen King (last heard in episodes 81 and 97) alongside her co-author Wesley Smith, a small-c conservative who stumbled into psychedelics through a paragliding accident. Together they've written Sensible Psychedelics: Why the Psychedelic Renaissance Needs Conservatives, Skeptics, and the Politically Homeless.We dig into what Karen witnessed firsthand in the very first therapist training cohort: a week spent dismantling privilege and naming genders rather than discussing consciousness, clinical skills, or facilitation. We talk about why that ideological capture isn't just annoying — it's dangerous. When a patient's mind is cracked wide open in a psychedelic state, a facilitator who imprints their own politics is committing something close to abuse. Wesley shares the veterans angle, where an anti-colonial culture hopes to turn warriors into pacifists.But this isn't a cynical conversation. We explore the genuine healing psychedelics can offer — Karen's work helping a dying woman conquer her fear of death, Wesley's reconciliation with his late father — and ask the questions this movement keeps avoiding: Why does psychedelic culture skew so far left? Where are the liberals whose journeys made them more curious about people they'd dismissed? And can a self-regulating, transparent ecosystem — maybe even one built around churches — grow up outside the captured certification boards?Are you an ROGD parent looking to do some deep, inner work for healing? A trusted friend has a special small-group offering called “Parents Heal Together” which might be a good fit for you. To learn more, please sign up here for a free informational webinar.Books mentioned in this episode:Sensible Psychedelics: Why the Psychedelic Renaissance Needs Conservatives, Skeptics, and the Politically Homeless — Karen King & Wesley SmithHow to Change Your Mind — Michael PollanKaren King, MS, LMHC, LPC is a psychotherapist with more than 20 years of experience helping adults navigate trauma, anxiety, grief, and life's deepest transitions. The former founder of a multidisciplinary behavioral health clinic, she specializes in contemplative and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. With Wesley Smith, she co-authored the forthcoming Sensible Psychedelics: Why the Psychedelic Renaissance Needs Conservatives, Skeptics, and the Politically Homeless, which explores how psychedelics can bridge cultural divides rather than deepen them. Find her therapy practice at NewMindTherapy.com. Karen also hosts the Nuanced Therapist Network, a private, vetted community for heterodox therapists.Wesley Smith is a “small c” conservative psychonaut and writer working to bring the psychedelic renaissance out of the counterculture and into the living rooms of average Americans. After a head injury led him to explore nontraditional paths for healing, he found that psychedelics can deepen the values conservatives hold dear — faith, family, duty, and personal responsibility. His co-authored case in Sensible Psychedelics pairs evidence-based research with a culturally grounded argument for humility, gratitude, and moral clarity.[00:00:00] Start[00:03:15] Trump's Executive Order and State Psychedelic Laws[00:06:57] A Conservative's Accidental Path to Psychedelics[00:14:45] Karen's Path Through Ketamine-Assisted Therapy[00:18:50] Ideological Capture in Psychedelic Training[00:21:52] Imprinting Values, Vulnerability, and Veterans[00:29:07] Ketamine Case Study and Personal Growth[00:35:56] Why the Psychedelic World Skews Left[00:44:52] How Psychedelics Broadened Wesley's Empathy[00:48:33] Therapy as Dismantling Civilization[00:52:23] Regulation, Transparency, and Psychedelic ChurchesROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesPRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my L...
Join Travis Sparks & Eric Frye on the Monday Podcast edition of The Starting Lineup: Time to turn the page to Week 3 one third of the season gone after this Friday, Both Effingham and Cumberland searching for their first wins this Friday the guys got the games covered Apollo, LPC, LIC and other conferences to preview, Week 3 Pick'Em Plus Illini Football Kicks Off and our resident Illini super fan / expert has you covered with a preview and Other Fall Sports from around the area Follow us on Facebook at The Starting Lineup 98 9 The Game to vote in our weekly Pick'em game Text us on brand new text line at 646-801-2556 to get involved with the show!
AI can fix your grammar, rewrite a sentence, summarize your notes, generate recommendations, and eventually start making decisions for you. But where should the line be?In this episode of Beyond the Bot: AI and Mental Health, Dan Florell and Adam Lockwood break down the different levels of AI-assisted report writing, from simple editing to recommendations and clinical judgment. They discuss data security, HIPAA and FERPA concerns, enterprise accounts and BAAs, and why even seemingly harmless AI tools can create privacy risks.They also tackle a bigger question: What happens to our professional skills when we let AI do too much of the thinking?For newer professionals, the risks may be even greater. Dan and Adam discuss why developing strong report-writing and clinical reasoning skills should come before handing those tasks over to AI. They also explore using AI as a thought partner, the limits of AI-generated perspectives, and why clinicians need to remain the expert in the loop.The bottom line is simple: If AI is helping you write the report, you still need to know the data well enough to know when AI is wrong.Brightminds AdPAR Ad This episode is brought to you by PAR.Explore the AI Report Writer here:https://www.parinc.com/product/ai-report-writer?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsLearn more about the RIAS-2 NU here:https://www.parinc.com/product/groups/rias-rist-assessments?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsTo hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at: http://www.psychedtopractice.com “Be well, and stay psyched"
Send us Fan MailThe devotion for today, Friday, August 28, 2026 was written by Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley, LPC and is narrated by Michael Benham. Today's Words of Inspiration come from Proverbs 14:5:A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. Support the show
School counselor advocacy is supposed to create change. But what if some of what we've been taught to call advocacy is actually doing something else?You can explain your role, bring the data, cite the standards, and make a compelling case...And still walk out with the same testing assignment, MTSS responsibility, impossible caseload, or non-counseling duties you walked in with.This episode takes a hard look at the advocacy model our profession has inherited, why school counselors can do everything they've been told to do and still end up stuck, and three questions that may completely change how you approach advocacy on your campus.If you've ever stated your case, watched admin nod in agreement, then wondered why absolutely nothing changed afterward- this one is for you.********Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We're doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind. Come join us! ********All names, stories, and case studies in this episode are fictionalized composites drawn from real-world circumstances. Any resemblance to actual students, families, or school personnel is coincidental. Details have been altered to protect privacy.******** This work is part of the School for School Counselors body of work developed by Steph Johnson, LPC, CSC, which centers role authority over role drift, consultative practice over fix-it culture, adult-designed systems and environments as primary drivers of student behavior, clinical judgment over compliance, and school counselor identity as leadership within complex systems.
After being blindsided by divorce papers, Alessia Madkins discovered the truth about her marriage. Her former spouse was living a double life and left her to pick up the pieces while she was caring for two young children. Through her faith and a renewed sense of hope, Alessia has built a life that is better than she imagined. Alessia's message to betrayed partners is powerful; it's declaring that healing is possible, hope is alive, and no one's story has to end where their heartbreak began.Alessia is an LPC and a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist with APSATS. You can connect with Alessia via her website www.compassguided.com.
Is it possible to heal from the grief associated with infertility? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Dr. Clay Brigance on Finding Hope Through Infertility and Reproductive Grief.Moments with Marianne Radio Show airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate! https://www.kmet1490am.comDr. Clay Brigance, PhD, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, researcher, and nationally recognized specialist in couple therapy for infertility and reproductive grief. He is the founder and clinical director of Shiloh Counseling, a group practice specializing in relationship therapy for couples navigating infertility, miscarriage, and perinatal loss. He is also the host of the podcast “Love and Infertility”. For over a decade, Dr. Brigance has worked almost exclusively with couples facing reproductive trauma. His clinical and research work has included more than 1,000 individuals and couples experiencing infertility and miscarriage, informing his integrative approach to treatment. He has published in some of the top journals for couples work, including Marriage and Family Therapy, Couple and Relationship Therapy, and The Family Journal, among others. His model draws from interpersonal mindfulness and evidence-based couple therapy approaches, including the Gottman Method and emotion-focused principles, to help couples reduce conflict, process grief, and rebuild emotional connection. https://www.drclaybrigance.com https://www.drclaybrigance.com/podcastDiscover inspiring conversations with today's leading authors, celebrities, thought leaders, and change makers. To learn more about the Moments with Marianne Radio Show, explore guest interview opportunities, connect with Marianne, and follow her on social media, visit https://www.mariannepestana.comExplore the Moments with Marianne Book Club and find your next great read: https://www.mariannepestana.com/book-club/Listen to the Moments with Marianne Radio Show on KMET 1490AM & 98.1FM, an ABC News Radio Affiliate, weekdays at 8:06 AM PT / 11:06 AM ET and Sundays at 10:06 AM PT / 1:06 PM ET. Learn more at: https://www.kmet1490am.com/moments-with-marianne
It's that time of the year again, one of the biggest transitions for families is back with back to school. Whether you're a parent or student this is a time of change. And that's exactly what Ray and Paul explore in this week's episode. They review some helpful and healthy recommendations to ease back into the school routine, and make this school year the best it can be. We hope you enjoy this Living Psyched episode Schools Back, Bye Summer. Brightminds AdPAR Ad This episode is brought to you by PAR.Explore the AI Report Writer here:https://www.parinc.com/product/ai-report-writer?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsLearn more about the RIAS-2 NU here:https://www.parinc.com/product/groups/rias-rist-assessments?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20PodcastsTo hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at: http://www.psychedtopractice.com “Be well, and stay psyched"
In this Wellness Wednesday episode, Beth, Robin, and Jeff explore the similarities between adjusting to vision loss and navigating the changes that come with aging. Whether it's losing abilities we once relied on, watching support systems change, or simply realizing that life doesn't work quite the way it used to, acceptance can be a slow and ongoing process. The changes are real, and adjusting to them takes time. Together, Beth, Robin, and Jeff reflect on what it means to acknowledge these changes while continuing to grow and move forward. Life may look different than it did before, but with time, we learn to adapt, discover new ways of doing things, and find meaning in where we are today. After all, life is a continuous journey. The path may change, but we keep moving forward. Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes. Show Hosts: Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS Www.transitioningthroughchange.com You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093. They are looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks for listening!
What happens when the life you thought you were building suddenly stops making sense? A career takes an unexpected turn. A job disappears. A diagnosis changes the way you understand yourself. And the carefully constructed picture of work, family, and the future begins to unravel, exposing that work-life balance doesn't actually exist. In this episode of Performing Under Pressure, hosts John Tinnin, MFT, and Lynn Roush, LPC, sit down with David and Molly Cover, a couple who found themselves navigating multiple job losses, major career transitions, the discovery of ADHD, and the anxiety and grief that came with all of it. Listen in as David and Molly share honestly about what happened when their plans collided with a reality they couldn't control, and how the pressure affected their marriage, their parenting, their identities, and their faith. As they turned to God, counseling, and their community for support, they learned to navigate their anxieties rather than be controlled by them. But this isn't a story about having everything figured out. It's a story about being disoriented, surrendering the illusion of control, and learning to reorient around what matters most. If you find yourself losing balance and going in a direction you didn't expect, God may be redirecting your destination and giving you the gift of learning to rely on him. Connect with us: Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds X: withyou_weeds Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Website: withyouintheweeds.com
A conversation on complex trauma, ADHD, autism, masking, therapist curiosity, and providing therapy that supports authenticity instead of conformity. Comparison is often cited as the thief of joy. For neurodivergent people, comparison is also a source of shame. Imagine receiving constant reminders that your brain doesn't respond well to, or "fit" with, the dominant societal structure. The messaging can impact self-worth and inform masking behaviors that neurotypical family members, friends, and co-workers fail to understand. One clinician invites care providers to move away from asking "what's wrong with this client?" in favor of a more holistic line of questioning: "how does their client feel, what adaptations have they made to weather neurotypical norms, and what kind of support do they need now?" On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth is pleased to welcome Sabrena Ness, CMHC, LPC, clinical director at LifeStance Health and NARM® practitioner. Drawing on her personal and professional experiences, Sabrena shares insights from a neurodivergent perspective, namely, how the NeuroAffective Relational Model® cultivates a tempo ideal for exploring shame and other relational experiences that many neurodivergent people navigate alone. Transforming Trauma appreciates Sabrena's continued support of neurodivergent clients and the communities that they belong to. To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma SPACE: SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. *** The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com View upcoming trainings: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ Join us for this a transformative 2-day Intro to NARM® online workshop: https://bit.ly/narmintro *** The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. We want to connect with you! Facebook @complextraumatrainingcenter Instagram @cttc_training LinkedIn YouTube
Join a Paid Support Group - Coupon Code PLUS30Book It Here *This episode discusses eating disorders, disordered eating, substance use, body image, and other sensitive topics. Please take care of yourself while listening.In Part 2 of Kat's conversation with Nanette Adams, MEd, LPC, LMHC, they have a candid discussion about eating disorders, substance use, and obesity care from both a professional and lived-experience perspective.Nanette is a therapist specializing in obesity and eating disorders, an obesity advocate, and a person living with obesity who has experienced both bariatric surgery and GLP-1 treatment herself. Together, she and Kat explore how our relationships with food, movement, our bodies and other coping behaviors can change throughout obesity treatment, and why eating disorders can be particularly difficult to recognize when weight loss is being celebrated.You'll leave with a better understanding of how eating disorders and substance use can intersect with obesity treatment, why they can be missed in higher-weight bodies, and when you or someone you love may need additional support.Connect with Nanette:Weighted Wisdoms: https://weightedwisdoms.comSubstack: https://weightedwisdoms.substack.comInstagram: @nanetteadamslpcTikTok: @weightedwisdomsFacebook: Weighted WisdomsSupport & ResourcesIf you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, disordered eating, substance use or mental health, support is available.National Alliance for Eating DisordersTherapist-staffed helpline: 866-662-1235Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. ETFind treatment and eating disorder support:https://www.findedhelp.com/https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/SAMHSA National Helpline1-800-662-HELP (4357)Free, confidential treatment referral and information, available 24/7.https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplineshttps://findtreatment.gov/If you are in crisis: Call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are experiencing a medical emergency or are in immediate danger, call 911.Send us Fan Mail!Support the showKim Carlos, Executive Producer TikTokInstagram Kat Carter, Producer TikTokInstagram
When does investing in your growth stop serving you — and start draining your finances?In this coaching conversation, Linzy sits down with Money Skills for Therapists graduate Katie Grant to explore how the constant drive to become a "better" therapist has turned professional development into a financial leak in their business.Together, they uncover the deeper story behind Katie's need to accumulate education and chase achievement, and they find a grounded path forward — one that supports Katie's continued learning and financial wellbeing.If you're a high achiever, perfectionist, or therapist who always feels like you should know more, this episode is for you.Timestamps:04:25 - How Profit First Made the Debt Visible09:45 - Professional Development as a Financial Leak13:15 - The Childhood Roots of Needing to Be the Best17:47 - When Achieving Becomes the Downfall24:41 - The 12-Year-Old with the Checkbook26:58 - Bringing an Adult Money Part into Purchase Decisions28:01 - Turning Caregiving Energy Toward Herself30:51 - A Separate Profit First Account for Professional Development38:26 - Running the Numbers Before Making a Drastic MoveRelated episode: Episode 155FF - Making Better Decisions About Professional DevelopmentWant to feel more calm and confident about your money? Join one of Linzy's online workshops for private practice owners to shift your money mindset, transform your relationship with money, and gain practical tools and strategies to manage your business finances with greater clarity and ease. Explore upcoming workshops and sign up to save your spot or register to receive the replay.You can also join the private WhatsApp community to connect with other therapists, health practitioners, and listeners of Money Skills for Therapists: The Podcast. Submit your request to join the community today.If you want dedicated coaching and support with your solo practice finances, join the Money Skills for Therapists waitlist to hear when enrollment opens.Meet Katie Grant:Katie Grant, MS, LCPC, LMHC, LPC, is a queer and neurodivergent trauma therapist with 20 years of experience and postgraduate training, with concentrations in EMDR Therapy, complex trauma, and dissociation. Katie is an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Therapist and Approved Consultant. She is passionate about providing affirming therapy to LGBTQIAP+ and neurodivergent clients, including those who are Autistic or ADH.Katie was diagnosed with ADHD at age 37, when she was also thrilled to find that she no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis. Early in their career, Katie realized that she would not function optimally in agency settings that normalized overscheduling and underserving. She opened a solo private practice in 2013 and currently operates out of Davenport, Iowa.Katie is licensed as a counselor in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. They believe the very best therapists are those who also attend therapy and continually work on improving their own awareness and wellbeing.Connect with Katie:Counseling websiteFacebookInstagramJust Another Fucking Growth OpportunityJAFGO InstagramAbout Linzy Bonham:Linzy Bonham is a therapist turned money coach who helps private practice owners and health professionals feel calm, confident, and in control of their finances through her podcast, free workshops, and comprehensive programs: Money Skills for Therapists and Money Skills for Group Practice Owners. You can learn more about Linzy here.Connect with Linzy:LinkedInInstagramFacebook
You've explained your role. You've shown the data. You've pulled out the appropriate and inappropriate duties list. You've advocated. But... nothing changes.So- what are you supposed to do now? Just advocate harder? (Spoiler: Nope.) In this episode, I'm questioning one of the biggest assumptions driving school counselor advocacy.Because there's a big difference between someone not understanding what your job is supposed to be, versus someone understanding your job... but not changing anything. Which means: we may all have been working to solve the wrong problem all along. Before you print that list yet again, listen to this.********Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We're doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind. Come join us! ********All names, stories, and case studies in this episode are fictionalized composites drawn from real-world circumstances. Any resemblance to actual students, families, or school personnel is coincidental. Details have been altered to protect privacy.******** This work is part of the School for School Counselors body of work developed by Steph Johnson, LPC, CSC, which centers role authority over role drift, consultative practice over fix-it culture, adult-designed systems and environments as primary drivers of student behavior, clinical judgment over compliance, and school counselor identity as leadership within complex systems.
Dr. Myron Krys calls himself and loneliness bedfellows. He knows it from the inside, and he sees it every day in his therapy practice with gay men who look like they have it all. Krys explains why open relationships, packed calendars, and career wins do not fix isolation, and how dating apps trade real connection for fetishization and instant rejection. He also opens up about being neurodivergent in a field that rarely talks about it, and why that intersection gets ignored in therapy rooms built for someone else. This conversation names what achievement cannot buy: being fully seen. Key Takeaways Being wanted and being seen are not the same thing, and dating apps have made that gap widerSuccess, sex, and a packed calendar can all be sophisticated ways to avoid connectionKrys calls himself and loneliness bedfellows, he built his career around what he livedNeurodivergence and queerness intersect in ways most therapy rooms are not built to holdCourage looks like putting yourself in a new room, not waiting to feel ready firstAsking permission before using sensitive language is a form of respect, not weakness About Myron Dr. Myron Krys (pronounced “Chris”), PhD, LPC, is a licensed psychotherapist, speaker, scholar, and creator of the Self-Reclamation Framework (5Rs), which helps people reclaim identity, heal from limiting beliefs, and build more authentic lives and relationships. He specializes in identity development, self-esteem, sexuality, relational dynamics, religious trauma, and the unique emotional challenges faced within LGBTQ+ communities. Dr. M.K. is a body- and sex-positive therapist at The Depth Collective and an award-winning speaker known for bridging psychology, spirituality, culture, and lived experience. His work explores how people move from performance and survival toward authenticity, intimacy, and belonging. Connect With Myron Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Hey Guys, Check This Out! Are you a guy who keeps struggling to do that thing? You know the thing you keep telling yourself and others you're going to do, but never do? Then it's time to get real and figure out why. Join the 40 Plus: Gay Men Gay Talk, monthly chats. Learn More! Also, join our Facebook Community - 40 Plus: Gay Men, Gay Talk Community
Welcome to the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, hosted by Drs. James Hawkins, Ph.D., LPC, and Ryan Rana, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC—Renowned ICEEFT Therapists, Supervisors, and Trainers. We're thrilled to have you with us. We believe this podcast, a valuable resource, will empower you to push the boundaries in your work, helping individuals and couples connect more deeply with themselves and each other. In this episode, James and Ryan unpack a simple but powerful metaphor for adult romantic bonds: the red hat (emotional system), blue hat (caregiving system), and purple hat (sexual system). Drawing on attachment science from Phil Shaver, Mario Mikulincer, and Sue Johnson, they show how these three behavioral systems interact in-session and at home—and why you “can't red-hat your way into connection.” You'll hear vivid clinical examples, live-process reflections, and practical language you can bring straight to your couples, helping them see their cycle, name their hats, and take the first small blue-hat risks that change everything. 1. The Three Behavioral Systems = Three Hats Red Hat = Emotional System The hardwired system that signals inner experience—distress, pain, longings—outward. “Red” is not bad; it's the channel for “something is happening in me; I need you to see it.” Blue Hat = Caregiving System The instinct to turn toward another's distress: to be accessible, responsive, and engaged. In EFT terms, this is the responsive other—and it's what actually creates and maintains bond. Purple Hat = Sexual System The system driving touch, pleasure, and erotic connection in adult romantic bonds. Not an “add-on” after emotions are fixed, but a co-equal system that interacts with red and blue. 2. You Can't “Red-Hat” Your Way into Connection When both partners stay in red, they're each sending signals but no one is picking up the phone. That red‑vs‑red pattern feels like: competing for whose pain “counts,” chronic explaining, convincing, and defending, more loneliness after talking than before. Without at least a little blue hat, the bond cannot form or repair—no matter how much content is shared. 3. The Blue Hat Is Vulnerable Work—for Clients and Clinicians Putting on the blue hat requires a yielding move (Jim Coan's language): setting your own swirl aside for a moment, letting the other's pain actually touch you, allowing yourself to be impacted and guided by their inner world. For many partners (especially withdrawers), caregiving is wired to feel like a set-up for failure: “Every invitation is just another chance to get it wrong.” They often pull their heart back to protect against repeated failure. As a therapist or coach, you are meant to wear the blue hat for everyone in the room: If your compassion goes offline for one partner, the cycle has pulled you into red. Your temporary blue hat often “bridges” when a partner can't yet offer that responsiveness. 4. Red, Blue, and Purple Are Interlocking Cogs, Not a Straight Line Traditional framing: fix the emotional system first, and the sexual system will naturally follow. This episode offers a more mutual, systemic view: Secure emotional connection supports satisfying sexual connection. Blocked or painful sexual dynamics also make emotional safety harder. Deep, responsive sexual moments can reinforce emotional security, and vice versa. Think of the systems as interlocked gears: when one jams (emotion, caregiving, or sex), the others feel the strain. 5. Simple Metaphor, Heavy Theory Behind It The hat model is a front-door metaphor for clients that quietly carries: attachment research (5,000+ studies), Shaver & Mikulincer's work on adult bonding systems, Sue Johnson's emphasis on responsiveness as the core of love. Instead of teaching full attachment theory to clients who “can't even sit on the same couch,” you: offer two or three hats they can remember in the heat of the moment, help them name when they're switching hats, and anchor micro-interventions: “Right now, everyone has the red hat on. Who can risk 1% of a blue hat?” 6. Seeing the Cycle = Regaining Choice Clients cannot change what they cannot see; “hats” give them a shared language to see it. Therapists can track: When red turns from “open red” (vulnerable sharing) into “shadow red” (mistrust, blame, vague signals). When a partner briefly has a blue hat on and then flips back into red. When sexual bids (purple) are met with blue (healing) vs met with red (rejection, mistrust). Even a 1% blue-hat response (e.g., “I can see how hard that is for you”) can be enough to create real hope. 7. Beyond the Couch: A Call for More Blue Hats in the Culture The same red‑vs‑red dynamic shows up at the societal level: “My red hat is bigger/more legitimate than your red hat.” Lots of pain, very few reliable blue hats. The episode frames EFT and attachment science as world-facing work: inviting more blue‑hat moments in communities, justice spaces, and public conversations, honoring community leaders who quietly build learning communities that increase quality of care everywhere. We aim to equip therapists with practical tools and encouragement for addressing relational distress. We're also excited to be part of the team behind Success in Vulnerability (SV)—your premier online education platform. SV offers innovative instruction to enhance your therapeutic effectiveness through exclusive modules and in-depth clinical examples. Stay connected with us: Facebook: Follow our page @pushtheleadingedge Ryan: Follow @ryanranaprofessionaltraining on Facebook and visit his website James: Follow @dochawklpc on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website at dochawklpc.com George Faller: Visit georgefaller.com If you like the concepts discussed on this podcast you can explore our online training program, Success in Vulnerability (SV). Thank you for being part of our community. Let's push the leading edge together!
If you've ever lost your temper with your kids, this conversation is for you. Counselor Josh Thames shares practical tools to help moms stay calm, communicate more effectively, and respond with confidence, even when emotions are running high. Whether you're parenting a child with ADHD, anxiety, or just big feelings, you'll walk away with practical encouragement you can use today.Episode Recap:Josh is an LPC with a background in teaching (1:30)Are we making parenting decisions out of fear? (5:18)Remaining steady is critical, especially for parents of kids with ADHD (8:07)How can I stay calm on crazy, back to school mornings? (10:22)A practical illustration of what tasks are like for an ADHD brain (14:29)How can I bring down the emotional climate in my home? (17:30)Having kids who are wired differently is a really good thing! (20:11)Scripture: Isaiah 40:11 (NIV) "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."Discussion Questions:Josh said our job is to be shepherds, not engineers. How does that change the way you think about your role as a parent?When your child becomes emotionally overwhelmed, what usually happens inside of you? How can you become the calm your child needs?Which parenting habit would make the biggest difference in your home this week: using more concrete language, planning better transitions, or slowing down your own reactions?Josh reminded us that success isn't measured by our child's behavior on any given day. How would redefining success change the way you parent this week?Resources:Connect with Josh: @joshthameslpc, thamescounseling.comUse code WT20 to get $20 off SOAR registration today! Reach out to have Karen come speak in your community.Become a WT+ Insider this month and get an exclusive SOAR discount! Want More of This Conversation?During Wire Talk+, Josh shares practical advice for connecting with teens who don't want to talk, helping kids navigate transitions, and learning how to stay calm when your own emotions start to rise. This extra conversation is full of real-life parenting wisdom you won't want to miss!Become an Insider today and help us reach our goal of 400 subscribers this year!
Conversation #362: The Story, Journey and Passion of Integrative and Functional Dietitian, Danielle Mitchell, M.Ed., LPC, RDN, LD, FMCHCToday's conversation is with Danielle Mitchell, a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach. Danielle combines her expertise in nutrition, mental health, and functional medicine to help clients through a whole-person, bio-psychosocial-spiritual approach. She specializes in functional medicine nutrition, eating disorders, pediatric nutrition, special needs, and nutrigenomics, and is passionate about helping people uncover the root causes of illness while supporting both mental and physical well-being. Danielle also incorporates equine-assisted counseling into her practice, bringing the healing connection between horses and humans into the therapeutic process.Please enjoy my conversation with Danielle. Connect with Danielle:The Cognizant Group Websitewww.anneelizabethrd.comCopyright © 2026 AEHC & OPISong: One Of These DaysArtist: The Geminiwww.thegeminimusic.comMusic used by permission. All rights received.© ASCAP OrtmanMusic
Welcome to the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, hosted by Drs. James Hawkins, Ph.D., LPC, and Ryan Rana, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC—Renowned ICEEFT Therapists, Supervisors, and Trainers. We're thrilled to have you with us. We believe this podcast, a valuable resource, will empower you to push the boundaries in your work, helping individuals and couples connect more deeply with themselves and each other. In this episode of The Leading Edge in EFT, James Hawkins and Ryan Reyna tackle one of the trickiest tensions in therapy: how to work with distortion and meaning-making without gaslighting your client—especially tender pursuers and highly protected withdrawers. Using a vivid “watermelon vs. hot sauce” metaphor, they unpack what happens when one partner intends care, but the other receives danger. They explore why the brain distorts on purpose in the name of survival, how to keep honoring the client's emotional reality, and how to redirect blame away from partners and back to the negative cycle as the true enemy. You'll hear a powerful reframe that replaces the potentially invalidating, “What's the story you're telling yourself?” with a cleaner, safer question: “When you see Trigger X, what message does the cycle send to you about how your partner sees you?” James and Ryan apply this lens not just to couples, but also to race, marginalization, and societal conversations, illustrating how attempts to “correct the facts” can land as gaslighting when bodies are carrying generations of threat. They share moving examples of Stage 2 and Stage 3 work where partners begin catching and correcting the cycle on their own—creating “cycle killer” moments that change everything. If you're an EFT therapist, trauma-informed clinician, or a partner trying to understand your own reactions, this episode will help you honor emotion, respect meaning-making, and still gently face distortion—without shaming or silencing anyone. Top Takeaways “Distortion” in EFT ≠ Fake or Irrational Emotion Emotions are never irrational; they always make sense in context. What may be “distorted” is the meaning-making or thinking, not the feeling. Watermelon vs. Hot Sauce Metaphor One partner offers something meant to be sweet and refreshing (watermelon). The other experiences it as danger or attack (hot sauce). This gap often comes from old injuries, expectations of being hurt, and the cycle, not badness in either partner. Why “What's the Story You Tell Yourself?” Can Feel Like Gaslighting Although poetic, it can land as, “This is just in your head; you're making it up.” For pursuers especially, this repeats a long history of being told they're “too much” or “misreading reality.” A Safer, Cleaner Clinical Question Instead of: “What's the story you're telling yourself?” Use: “When you see Trigger X, what message does the cycle send to you about how your partner sees you?” This question: Honors the client's internal world and logic. Externalizes the problem to the cycle, not the partner. Protects both partners from blame and shame. The Cycle as the Real Distorter The negative cycle becomes the “third entity” that scrambles messages. Seeing the cycle as the enemy helps the therapist stay out of the triangle and helps partners fight the cycle, not each other. Expected Pain Is Real Pain (Jim Coan's Research) The brain responds to anticipated threat almost as if it already happened. So even if words are technically “distorted,” the body's reaction is real and valid. The limbic system amplifies signals to protect, not to be dramatic. Clinical Target: Lean Into Pain, Not Cognitive Correction If you pivot too fast to “self-reflection” or cognitive reframe, you may move away from the raw pain where the best enactments live. Staying with the pain supports deeper Stage 2 work and more powerful enactments. Personal vs. Clinical Use of Self-Reflection Personally, it's healthy to ask, “Is this really what they meant, or is this my story?” Clinically, putting that question on the client too soon can feel invalidating and gaslighting. Application to Race, Marginalization, and Power When someone names patterns of racism or marginalization, responding only with “facts” and statistics often lands as, “You're crazy; that's not real.” Bodies encode generational and societal cycles, so their threat response has good reasons. Saying, “I can see good reasons your brain codes it this way,” is deeply regulating and dignifying. Stage 2 & Stage 3: “Cycle Killer” Moments In de-escalated couples, partners begin to say things like: “This might be my stuff coming up, but here's what happens for me…” “You don't have to put that part of you away—let's make space for your fear and my optimism.” These are Stage 3 moments where partners catch and correct the cycle themselves—sometimes without therapist intervention. Therapist Posture: Genuine Blame on the Cycle Effective EFT therapists truly believe that “this is the cycle, not their character.” Repeated exposure to Stage 2/3 couples reshapes the therapist's internal frame, making it easier to hold the externalized cycle under pressure. Therapist Self-Care and Embodiment Therapy is hard on bodies, not just minds. Ryan and James emphasize physical health practices (walking, gym, etc.) as non-optional for therapists. Our bodies are the instrument we bring into the room. From the Couch to the Culture The same principles that de-escalate couples can transform societal conversations—about race, oppression, and power. As Bruce Perry urges, therapists are invited to take what they witness in session and amplify it into the world We aim to equip therapists with practical tools and encouragement for addressing relational distress. We're also excited to be part of the team behind Success in Vulnerability (SV)—your premier online education platform. SV offers innovative instruction to enhance your therapeutic effectiveness through exclusive modules and in-depth clinical examples. Stay connected with us: Facebook: Follow our page @pushtheleadingedge Ryan: Follow @ryanranaprofessionaltraining on Facebook and visit his website James: Follow @dochawklpc on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website at dochawklpc.com George Faller: Visit georgefaller.com If you like the concepts discussed on this podcast you can explore our online training program, Success in Vulnerability (SV). Thank you for being part of our community. Let's push the leading edge together!
Everything difficult or weird on a school campus somehow gets shuffled to the school counselor.And nobody is likely to stop you from taking it all on. In fact, sometimes the whole campus seems perfectly happy to let you do ALL the things.So before the school year really gets rolling, there are four decisions worth making.These aren't decisions you can make with a list of “appropriate” and “inappropriate” duties or another lecture about setting better boundaries. They require a better way to look at what keeps landing in front of you, and a way to decide when something really deserves more attention or effort from you.Bottom line: caring deeply about your students and your school does NOT mean you are responsible for fixing everything that needs fixing.Make these four decisions now, before the year starts making them for you.********Want support with real-world strategies that actually work on your campus? We're doing that every day in the School for School Counselors Mastermind. Come join us! ********All names, stories, and case studies in this episode are fictionalized composites drawn from real-world circumstances. Any resemblance to actual students, families, or school personnel is coincidental. Details have been altered to protect privacy.******** This work is part of the School for School Counselors body of work developed by Steph Johnson, LPC, CSC, which centers role authority over role drift, consultative practice over fix-it culture, adult-designed systems and environments as primary drivers of student behavior, clinical judgment over compliance, and school counselor identity as leadership within complex systems.
Linktree for Community ResourcesNEW From The Plus SideZ! Need extra help on your GLP-1 Journey? We have options! Live Patient Group with Kim Sign up here: Save with Code PLUS10One-on-One Session with KimSchedule here: Save with Code PLUS15_____________________________________________________________GLP-1 & Weight Regain: Why We Blame OurselvesWhen weight regain happens, most people ask, "What am I doing wrong?" Weight regain can happen during GLP-1 treatment, after bariatric surgery, or years into an obesity journey. For many, the first response is self-blame.Licensed therapist, obesity advocate, and person living with the disease of obesity, Nanette Adams, shares her personal journey while exploring why obesity is a chronic disease, how treatment often evolves over time, and the emotional toll of stalls, plateaus, and weight regain. We discuss therapy, shame, self-compassion, and why long-term support matters.About Our GuestNanette Adams, LPC, LMHC is a licensed therapist, obesity advocate, and person living with the disease of obesity. Through her platform, Weighted Wisdoms, she combines professional expertise with lived experience to help people better understand obesity, weight stigma, and the emotional side of long-term treatment.Connect with NanetteWebsitehttps://weightedwisdoms.comSubstackhttps://weightedwisdoms.substack.comInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nanetteadamslpc/TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@weightedwisdomsFacebookhttp://www.facebook.com/weightedwisdoms_____________________________________________________________Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0HUIGKl3BN4Vg6LYI-dkOA/join______________________________________________________________________#Mounjaro #MounjaroJourney #Ozempic #Semaglutide #tirzepatide #GLP1 #Obesity #zepbound #wegovySend us Fan Mail!Support the showKim Carlos, Executive Producer TikTokInstagram Kat Carter, Producer TikTokInstagram
My guest, Katie Beecher, MS, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Medical and Emotional Intuitive with over thirty-five years of experience. She blends clinical training with intuitive readings to help clients get to the root of what's really going on in their lives, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Katie is featured in over 200 media outlets including Goop, Kourtney Kardashian's website Poosh and Miranda Kerr's Kora Organics Blog and has taught a weeklong workshop at the Omega Institute. She has a unique way of working with clients, creating a detailed, individualized, physical, emotional, and spiritual report and symbolic painting, before ever seeing them, talking with them or seeing a photograph, using only their name and age. For every client, she creates a detailed written report along with a symbolic watercolor "soul painting," then walks through themtogether during a session. Katie's book, Heal from Within: An Intuitive Guide to Wellness is published by St. Martin's Press, uses the same practical tools and techniques Katie uses in her own medical and spiritual intuitive readings. In addition, the book teaches you to be your own medical intuitive using Katie's revolutionary, step-by-step process for connecting to intuition and spirit, finding self-love and empowerment as well as how to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. LEARN MORE
In episode 549 I chat with Justin Hughes and Ted Witzig, Jr. PhD. Justin, MA, LPC, is a therapist and author specializing in OCD and anxiety. A CBT practitioner trained in psychology and theology (Dallas Theological Seminary), he bridges mental health and faith. Ted, PhD is a clinical psychologist and pastor. His roles give him a special desire to help those whose OCD has become entwined in religious and moral matters. We discuss their therapy backgrounds, Justin's book The Christian's Guide to Overcoming OCD, the integration of faith and therapy, parental accommodation, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/justin-ted-549 The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter