Therapist Uncensored Podcast

Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy, a prominent voice in racial justice, shares his insights on navigating tough conversations about race and privilege. He introduces the VCR Method—Validate, Challenge, Request—as a tool to maintain dialogue amidst discomfort. Hardy discusses the damaging effects of 'invisible wounds' from racial trauma and critiques the harmful expectation for marginalized individuals to 'take the high road.' His practical advice encourages deeper empathy, self-reflection, and the courage to engage authentically in discussions about identity and privilege.

Rebecca Kase, a licensed clinical social worker and trauma expert, shares her inspiring journey of healing and personal growth. She dives into the concept of interoception, illustrating how it can enhance trauma therapy by helping individuals reconnect with their bodies. Discussing the significance of creating safety and being mindful of internal signals, Rebecca emphasizes practical steps for emotional regulation. Her insights by integrating body awareness can transform how we approach trauma healing, making it accessible and compassionate.

Dr. Jill Stoddard, a psychologist and author specializing in acceptance and commitment therapy, dives deep into the nuances of imposter syndrome. She discusses why these feelings of inadequacy often arise and who they impact most. Jill emphasizes that sharing moments of vulnerability can alleviate isolation and shame. By reframing discomfort and harnessing these feelings as opportunities for growth, she provides insightful strategies for navigating self-doubt and building psychological flexibility.

Reconnecting to natural, community-based healing radically expands options for mental healthcare. This is a don’t episode if you care about your community. Using grandmothers and indigenous wisdom means effective care is possible everywhere… Sue Marriott continues practical exploration of liberation psychology and communty-centered care by learning from Zimbabwe-based psychiatrist, Dr. Dixon Chibanda.  Don’t miss the first episode about this research based program.  Dr. Chibanda shares his powerful story behind the Friendship Bench, a community-based mental health model that centers healing in the heart of local communities and his new book, launching this week! They explores how grandmothers (not youth or grandfather’s so much – find out why) are often overlooked in traditional mental health systems. Tapping them they can play a vital role in offering care, connection, and wisdom.Dr. Chibanda discusses the barriers to accessing mental health services, the role of storytelling in the healing process, and the global expansion of their research-based program, the Friendship Bench. Grounded in research and lived experience, this conversation invites a rethinking of care—away from over-medicalization and toward more accessible, human-centered approaches. “Every one of us carries a powerful seed that is meant to grow and be shared for the betterment of our community and the world” – Dr. Dixon Chibanda Time Stamps for Indigenous Mental Health, the Friendship Bench with Dr. Dixon Chibanda (271) 02:34 The role of community elders in mental health 05:16 The Friendship Bench: A community-based mental health solution 10:14 The impact of storytelling on healing 13:18 Replication of the friendship bench model globally 18:43 Challenges and obstacles in implementation 32:11 The impact of the friendship bench in urban settings 48:44 Vision for future mental health initiatives About our Guest – Dr. Dixon Chibanda Dixon Chibanda is a leader in the global conversation to democratize mental health care. He is a professor of psychiatry, published researcher, author, advocate, public speaker, and the found of Friendship Bench. He has been featured on the Financial Times, PBS NewsHour Brief But Spectacular episode, Positive News, and has written about his work for The Guardian, LA Times, Project Syndicate and has spoken to audiences at the World Economic Forum, Skoll World Forum, World Health Assembly, the Aspen Ideas Festival, and the TEDWomen conference. As a practising medical doctor, professor of psychiatry & global mental health at the University of Zimbabwe and The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Dixon has explored the intersection of indigenous knowledge and western models of care to develop sustainable interventions in global health. His TED talk on why he trains grandmothers to treat depression describes the journey of the Friendship Bench. Over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications of the program are accessible online. He has been for over a decade a key player in bringing the various stakeholders from local health authorities, health professionals, national and international researchers, and donors together to form successful collaborations. Resources for Where Grandmas & Healing Meet: The Friendship Bench with Dr. Dixon Chibanda (271) The Friendship Bench: How Fourteen Grandmothers Inspired a Mental Health Revolution – Get your copy here! Dixon’s website – Website, resources & information The Friendship Bench – Website, information & resources Friendship Bench Youtube Channel – Videos and other content Enjoy this Episode? Check Out Other Similar Episodes  https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/tu127-friendship-bench/ Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/TU to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Ann’s FAVORITE!  Coffee alternative powered by mushrooms! Right now, you can get 20% off plus a FREE starter kit when you shop exclusively Piquelife.com/tu No dyes, no fragrances, no harmful chemicals—just simple, plant- and mineral-based formulas that you can feel good about using in your home. Get 15% off Branch Basics with the code TU at https://branchbasics.com/TU #branchbasicspod

How do we confront racial trauma with courage and real allyship? Image by Psychwire Dr. Monnica Williams teaches Sue Marriott as they explore the deep psychological toll of racism, focusing on the concept of racial trauma and its cumulative impact on people of color. She highlights the importance of recognizing these experiences within therapeutic settings and the need for diversity in mental health research and practice. The discussion delves into the role of civil courage and meaningful allyship—particularly among white individuals in addressing systemic injustice. Dr. Williams offers insights into the multifaceted nature of activism, the harm caused by microaggressions, and the emotional labor involved in navigating everyday racism. From the fear of law enforcement to the unique challenges faced by white women in activism, Dr. Williams urges practitioners and allies alike to listen deeply, receive feedback openly, and use their privilege to support marginalized communities. “…we’ve looked at the different symptoms of racial trauma, and for the most part, it’s pretty hard to tell the difference between that and PTSD… all those same symptoms are present in people who have racial trauma as well.” – Dr. Monnica Williams Time Stamps for What is Real Allyship When it Comes to White Women and Racial Trauma with Dr. Monnica Williams (271) 05:53 Understanding racial trauma 12:04 The role of white privilege in racism 14:58 The intersection of psychedelics and mental health 18:01 Research on racial trauma treatment 24:01 Therapeutic approaches to racial trauma 34:13 Understanding microaggressions in conversations 36:08 Fear and empowerment: The impact of law enforcement 40:50 The role of white allies in advocacy 46:57 The challenges of white women in activism 52:01 Receiving feedback: A guide for allies About our Guest – Dr. Monnica Williams Dr. Monnica T. Williams is a board-certified licensed clinical psychologist and Professor at the University of Ottawa, in the School of Psychology, where she is the Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Disparities. She is also the Clinical Director of the Behavioral Wellness Clinics in Connecticut and Ottawa, where she provides supervision and training to clinicians for empirically-supported treatments. Prior to her move to Canada, Dr. Williams was on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania Medical School (2007-2011), the University of Louisville in Psychological and Brain Sciences (2011-2016), where she served as the Director of the Center for Mental Health Disparities, and the University of Connecticut (2016-2019) where she had appointments in both Psychological Science and Psychiatry. Dr. Williams research focuses on BIPOC mental health, culture, and psychopathology, and she has published over 200 scientific articles on these topics. Current projects include the treatment of racial trauma, improving cultural competence in the delivery of mental health care services, and addressing structural racism. She gives diversity trainings nationally for academic programs, scientific conferences, and organizations.Through the Kentucky Psychological Association (KPA), Dr. Williams served as the diversity delegate to Washington DC for the American Psychological Association (APA) State Leadership Conference for two consecutive years. She has served as the African American SIG leader for Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and recently served as Chair of their Academic Training & Education Standards (ATES) Committee. She serves as an Associate Editor of Behavior Therapy and the Behavior Therapist. She also serves on the editorial board of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Canadian Psychology, International Journal of Mental Health, the Journal of Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders and the Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation, and co-founded their Diversity Council. Her work has been featured in all major US and Canadian media outlets, including NPR, CBS, CTV, CBC, Huffington Post, and the New York Times. Resources for What is Real Allyship When it Comes to White Women and Racial Trauma with Dr. Monnica Williams (271) A Clinician’s Guide to Healing the Wounds of Racial Trauma: A 12-Session CBT-Based Protocol – Dr. William’s book Treating Racial Trauma – Dr. William’s online course MonnicaWilliams.com – Website, information & resources If you enjoyed this episode, check out some of our other similar episodes –  https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/navigating-racial-trauma-part-1-203/ https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/racial-trauma-challenges-traditional-therapy-part-2-sriw-series-ep-3-204-2/ Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/TU to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Ann’s FAVORITE!  Coffee alternative powered by mushrooms! Right now, you can get 20% off plus a FREE starter kit when you shop exclusively Piquelife.com/tu

Patreon/Supercast Special Release – Amplify Your Voice: Reflections on Mental Health & Meaningful Practice (270) This is a sneak peek of our exclusive Neuronerd episode with Ann and Sue!  Available only on our Premium Supercast and Patreon platforms. For as little as $5/month you can have access to special releases like this one, first-to-know about upcoming events and discounts and an ad-free feed. Click here to join & finish the episode!! Let’s get real about revitalizing the therapy landscape Ann Kelley and Sue Marriott are back for a one on one episode, and sharing their personal reflections on mental health, community, and the evolving challenges clinicians face today. From the tension between accessibility and sustainability in therapy, to the influence of corporate models – they discuss the need for creativity in the field. Emphasizing connection, curiosity, and professional growth, they introduce exciting opportunities, updates, and even a new series focused on inclusivity – inviting listeners to find and amplify their unique voice in the mental health space. Time Stamps for Bonus – Amplify Your Voice: Reflections on Mental Health & Meaningful Practice (270) 06:06 Challenges in mental health care accessibility 08:47 The impact of corporations on therapy 15:02 Encouraging creativity and individual impact 21:49 Listening to your inner self 27:01 Introducing our new series 31:53 Feedback and future directions Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   NOTE: Next LIVE Q&A coming soon June 13th! Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!!  

Dr. Jean Twenge, a Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and author renowned for her work on generational differences, dives into the profound impact of smartphones on mental health. She reveals a troubling rise in anxiety and depression among Generation Z, linking it to increased screen time and reduced face-to-face interactions. The discussion also covers the 'slow life strategy' that defines today's youth, the contributing factors to delayed adulthood, and offers practical strategies for parents to foster healthier connections while navigating the digital age.

Dr. Aditi Sethi, a hospice physician and founder of the Center for Conscious Living & Dying, shares profound insights on death and dying. She emphasizes the healing power of presence and music in end-of-life care while exploring the concept of ecstatic dying. Dr. Sethi discusses the importance of preparing for death consciously, alongside the role of psychedelics in alleviating death-related fears. With a compassionate approach, she advocates for open conversations about mortality, highlighting our shared humanity in the face of the inevitable.

Patreon/Supercast Special Release – The 9 Personality Patterns and the Enneagram with Dr. Dan Siegel (267) This is a sneak peek of our exclusive Neuronerd episode with Dr. Dan Siegel, who shares science of personality as it relates to the Enneagram, and answers the questions, how scientific is the Enneagram?   Available only on our Premium Supercast and Patreon platforms. For as little as $5/month you can have access to special releases like this one, first-to-know about upcoming events and discounts and an ad-free feed. Click here to join & finish the episode!! Alongside co-host Sue Marriott, Dr. Dan Siegel explores how loss, vulnerability, and connection shape personal growth and healing. He discusses the science of attachment and personality, highlighting nine adaptive patterns that emerge from non-secure attachment and how it relates to the Enneagram. The conversation also explores how neuroscience sheds light on emotional needs, alongside Siegel’s personal reflections on his own attachment history and path as a professional. Together they unpack how neuroscience, motivation, and community impact therapy. The episode offers practical insights for clinicians, emphasizing a compassionate, non-shaming approach to mental health and the journey toward secure attachment and the feeling of wholeness. “It’s ultimately a lifelong journey toward wholeness.” – Dr. Dan Siegel  Time Stamps for Bonus – The 9 Personality Patterns and the Enneagram with Dr. Dan Siegel (267) 02:59 The impact of loss on personal growth 05:47 Teaching and vulnerability in professional settings 15:13 Exploring developmental pathways and personality 20:57 Addressing societal challenges through mental health 24:07 The science of personality and attachment 41:56 Non-Secure attachments and personality patterns 46:35 The nine personality patterns 01:14:44 Exploring motivation in therapy 01:17:50 The intersection of neuroscience and personality 01:24:34 Understanding temperament and adaptive strategies 01:27:30 Growth edge work in therapy About our Guest – Dan Siegel, MD Dr. Dan Siegel is the Founder and Director of Education of the Mindsight Institute and founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA, where he was also Co-Principal Investigator of the Center for Culture, Brain and Development and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the School of Medicine. An award-winning educator, Dan is the author of five New York Times bestsellers and over fifteen other books which have been translated into over forty languages. As the founding editor of the Norton Professional Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology (“IPNB”), Dan has overseen the publication of one hundred books in the transdisciplinary IPNB framework which focuses on the mind and mental health. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dan completed his postgraduate training at UCLA specializing in pediatrics, and adult, adolescent, and child psychiatry. He was trained in attachment research and narrative analysis through a National Institute of Mental Health research training fellowship focusing on how relationships shape our autobiographical ways of making sense of our lives and influence our development across the lifespan. Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   NOTE: Next LIVE Q&A coming soon June 13th! Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!!

Food behaviors are deeply connected to self-worth Dr. Vanessa Scaringi and Kathryn Garland talk about the complexities of disordered eating and body image, especially in light of cultural pressures and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. They explore the differences between disordered eating and eating disorders, and also discuss how medications like GLP-1 affect eating habits. The conversation touches on how society promotes unhealthy body standards and behaviors, and how our emotional relationship with food is often overlooked. Highlighting the role of attachment styles in shaping eating patterns, they stress the importance of intuitive eating—especially when parenting. Follow along as they offer practical tips for developing a healthier relationship with food and explore therapeutic methods that support recovery. “There is this chaotic experience of food in our culture…sometimes we’re turning to food to cope and then other times we’re saying, ‘no, that’s bad’… It puts us in a disorganized state of constantly cycling through what are my needs and how do I get them met?” – Kathryn Garland Time Stamps for Disordered Eating: Attachment, Intuition & Cultural Influence (268) 06:01 The impact of COVID-19 on eating behaviors 10:13 The role of GLP-1 medications in eating behaviors 14:05 Body image messages and cultural pressures 33:53 Understanding disordered eating vs. normal eating 36:02 Intuitive eating and parenting strategies 45:59 Practical steps for intuitive eating 53:58 Therapeutic approaches to eating disorders Resources for Disordered Eating: Attachment, Intuition & Cultural Influence (268) Academy of Therapy Wisdom – “Hungry for Security: Healing Disordered Eating Through an Attachment Lens” – Vanessa and Kathryn’s new course Calm Counseling – Vanessa and Kathryn’s website, resources & information About our Guests – Vanessa Scaringi, PhD, CEDS-C & Kathryn Garland, LCSW-S, CEDS-C Vanessa Scaringi, PhD, CEDS-C, is a licensed psychologist in Austin, TX. Vanessa co-owns a group therapy practice called, CALM Counseling where she works with adolescents, young adults, and adult populations. Vanessa has dedicated much of her career to working in the eating disorder field. She is a relational psychologist who strives to understand the context of one’s eating disorder. By facilitating insight, Vanessa works with her clients to identify patterns and behaviors that interfere with living the life they want. She strives to instill a sense of hope, as she has found this is an important part of the change process. Vanessa also runs interpersonal process groups where clients can heal in community with others. Kathryn Garland, LCSW-S, CEDS-C is a licensed clinical social worker and supervisor in Texas, New York, and Massachusetts. She is an IAEDP approved Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Consultant. Kathryn spent her early career and completed postgraduate training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy in New York City. She incorporates relational and attachment-based methods into her work with clients. Her experience includes working with LGBTQ+ teens in the NYC foster care system, community mental health clinics, as well as primary therapist and IOP Program Coordinator at an eating disorder treatment center. Kathryn co-owns CALM Counseling in Austin, Texas with Vanessa. Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   NOTE: Next LIVE Q&A coming soon June 13th! Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Ann’s FAVORITE!  Coffee alternative powered by mushrooms! Right now, you can get 20% off plus a FREE starter kit when you shop exclusively Piquelife.com/tu ZocDoc  Sue uses this all the time!  Find a provider, their insurance, see patient ratings – all for free! AG1 – Ann and Sue’s daily gut health regimen. Other Related TU Episodes https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/healing-body-focused-repetitive-behavioral-disorders-with-stacy-nakell-189/ Thank you for being on this journey with us!