The Chief of Staff Podcast From Boardroom to Therapy Room: What Chiefs of Staff Need to Know About Emotional Support
Feb 4, 2026
Dhyan Valle, a former Chief of Staff turned registered therapist who focuses on trust and regulation. He recounts moving from CoS work through an intense M&A and into therapy training. Conversations cover where support becomes therapy, moments he crossed that line, signals leaders need regulation, and practical structures to protect relationships and boundaries.
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Executive Behavior Roots In Early Development
- Early childhood development and trauma shape how leaders show up, regardless of success.
- Understanding these roots reframes executive problems as human, not just strategic, issues.
M&A Moment That Shifted The Role
- During a high-stakes M&A my closeness to the CEO led me to provide emotional containment after a heated meeting.
- That moment blurred the line between operational support and therapeutic processing and influenced my career pivot.
Where Professional Ends And Therapy Begins
- The professional support focuses on how a leader's behavior impacts business decisions.
- The therapeutic territory is exploring what lies beneath those behaviors on a personal level.