Shows
The Shrink Think Podcast245. The Hidden Reason You Can’t Stop OverthinkingOverthinking isn’t the same thing as “thinking deeply.” In this episode, Aaron and Nathan unpack what overthinking actually is, how it feeds anxiety, and why it often turns small decisions into exhausting, paralyzing spirals.
They break down the overthinking loop (thought → anxiety → more thinking to relieve anxiety → more anxiety), and offer practical questions to interrupt it—like identifying what you’re truly worried about, what outcome you’re trying to control, and whether you’re chasing perfection instead of a workable decision.
You’ll also hear why action is often the antidote (not more analysis), how learning to tolerate discomfort and disappo...
2026-02-1224 minThe Shrink Think Podcast244. Transparency, Vulnerability, and Emotions: What Actually Builds IntimacyWhat does it actually mean to be vulnerable? Is it the same as being transparent? And where do emotions fit in?
In this episode of The ShrinkThink Podcast, licensed professional counselors Aaron and Nathan break down the often-confused differences between transparency, vulnerability, and sharing emotions—and why misunderstanding them can quietly block intimacy, connection, and growth in your relationships.
You’ll learn:
-Why being transparent doesn’t automatically create closeness
-How vulnerability invites connection (and risk) in a way transparency doesn’t
-How you can share emotions without being vulnerable—and be vulnerable without sharing emotions
-Why some personality styles (including...
2026-02-1023 min
The Shrink Think Podcast231. You Should Be Getting Better In TherapyThe purpose of therapy is to learn more about yourself so you can make meaningful changes - to “get better.” Sometimes there are obstacles that can get in the way of that process, from both the therapist or the client. The right combination should be help you make progress, even if it takes some time to get there.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private prac...
2025-03-2624 minThe Shrink Think Podcast230. Is Therapy A Product Or A Service?Some people view therapy as a “product” that can be “consumed” at any location, while others view it as a “service” that requires more of a “specialist.” Neither is right or wrong, but knowing what is being sought in therapy can help the client and therapist get on the same page and work together toward the same goals.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting...
2025-03-1925 minThe Shrink Think Podcast229. Tolerating EmotionsWhen you can give yourself compassion and tolerate your own emotional experiences, you can hold space for others and be present with their emotional experiences. This is a great skill that can transform your relationships and move conversations to what the real issues are.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu...
2025-03-1224 min
The Shrink Think Podcast228. Verbal Processing In TherapyWhy do some people just “talk talk talk” in a monologue in therapy? It could be that this kind of verbal processing is what they need to explore and understand what it is they think or feel, and the space given by a therapist facilitates it. If you’re not sure, having a conversation between therapist and client about this dynamic can help both of you understand each other and work together best.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own...
2025-03-0524 min
The Shrink Think Podcast225. Gottman’s Four Horsemen: ContemptThe second and most destructive of the four “horseman” that the Gottmans identify as a relationship killer is contempt. Contempt involves taking a one-up position of superiority and shaming the other person. The antidote to contempt is a culture of appreciation in the relationship.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/Q...
2025-03-0523 min
The Shrink Think Podcast227. Gottman’s Four Horsemen: StonewallingThe fourth and final of the Gottman “horsemen” is stonewalling-withdrawing and disengaging from the conversation to build a kind of “wall” between you and your partner. This usually comes from physiological overwhelm called “flooding,” where the stonewaller shuts down and chooses to disengage. The antidote to stonewalling is taking time to calm down and re-engaging.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow...
2025-02-1924 min
The Shrink Think Podcast226. Gottman's Four Horsemen: DefensivenessThe third “horseman” of the relational apocalypse is defensiveness, usually as a response to criticism. Defensiveness is a form of self-protection from a perceived attack, usually from a place of righteous indignation or innocent victimhood. The antidote to defensiveness is accepting responsibility for your role in the conflict or situation.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their busi...
2025-02-1324 minThe Shrink Think Podcast224. Gottman’s Four Horsemen: CriticismJohn & Julie Gottman founded the Love Lab at the UW in Seattle, WA which can predict with 94% accuracy whether a couple will stay together based on observing the first several minutes of their argument. The Gottmans discovered four relationship killers called “the four horsemen”; the first one being criticism. Criticism is when you attack the person or character rather than address the behaviors. The relationship antidote to criticism is a soft startup.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a th...
2025-01-2926 minThe Shrink Think Podcast223. Are You Arguing Or Discussing?Do you know the difference between arguing and discussing? Conflict in a relationship will require some conversation about it, and we want to make sure you’re discussing issues with the goal of understanding one another.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/ePD6xFpJ_f4
*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think
*Si...
2025-01-2225 minThe Shrink Think Podcast222. Encouraging Someone To Go To TherapyWhen someone you care about is struggling and needs help, it can be difficult to talk with them about considering therapy. Here are some suggestions about what to say, and what not to say, in that delicate conversation to encourage someone to talk with a therapist.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
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2025-01-1525 minThe Shrink Think Podcast221. Get Curious About Yourself with Guest Tory KroneGuest Tory Krone, a counselor and entrepreneur, talks about focusing on the present over the past using ACT to make practical changes. She encourages people to get curious first about themselves then about others, in order to improve relationships. In this interview, she describes her clinical process of "mapping" people's experiences as well as her passion for helping group counseling practices gather data to better help clients.
Tory Krone is a seasoned licensed clinical therapist with 15 years of experience spanning therapeutic practice and leadership roles across all levels of care. She is the founder and managing director of a successful...
2025-01-0836 minThe Shrink Think Podcast220. When Your Therapist Is ExtrovertedTherapists are people with personality traits. Extroverted therapists, for example, can be easy to connect with, be good communicators, and give helpful feedback. They may also need to be more intentional about holding space for clients without interruption, ask more questions than offering answers, and be patient with the process and allow people to come to their own conclusions.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in...
2024-12-1823 minThe Shrink Think Podcast219. When Your Therapist Is IntrovertedTherapists are people with personality traits. Introverted therapists, for example, can be great listeners, ask good questions, and hold space for people to share. They may also need to be more intentional about asserting themselves, be aware of the conversational balance with clients, and give feedback or challenge people - which may be uncomfortable for many introverts.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice...
2024-12-1125 minThe Shrink Think Podcast218. Defining Your SeasonHave you defined a period of your life by a single (negative) event? Does that event taint the rest of that time period or season? If so, you might need to reclaim or redeem that season. Learn how to identify the way you might have defined your season too negatively, as well as what to do about it to reclaim that part of your life.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also...
2024-12-0423 minThe Shrink Think Podcast217. Genocide to Healing w/ Dr. David Niyonzima: Treatment or Healing?In this final episode, Dr. David Niyonzima, an ambassador for healing in the African country of Burundi, finishes his story about bringing healing - not treatment - to the people of his country and spreading this message of healing internationally.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
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2024-11-2722 minThe Shrink Think Podcast216. Genocide to Healing w/ Dr. David Niyonzima: Discovering Mental HealthIn this second of three episodes, Dr. David Niyonzima, an ambassador for healing in the African country of Burundi, continues his story about how he escaped genocide and discovered "mental health" which he later brought back to his country for people like him who had experienced trauma.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this...
2024-11-2029 minThe Shrink Think Podcast215. Genocide to Healing w/ Dr. David Niyonzima: Terror in BurundiIn this first of three episodes, we sit down with Dr. David Niyonzima, an ambassador for healing in the African country of Burundi. He shares the history of tribalism and genocide in the country, as well as how he was personally impacted which put his life on a course to pursue healing for trauma.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start...
2024-11-1323 minThe Shrink Think Podcast214. Sexual Differences in Long-Term RelationshipsGenerally, in long-term loving and committed relationships, sexual differences begin to appear. Nathan breaks this down for men and for women, as well as what can be done to better accept these to improve your relationship. Note that we are educational, not explicit with regard to the topic.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch...
2024-11-0523 minThe Shrink Think Podcast213. Knowing Your Needs Makes You KnownUsing a list of Universal Human Needs, which everyone has, we discuss the importance of knowing your needs and how they make you - and others - known. When you know your feelings AND the needs that are associated with them, you can better meet them and be a healthier, more stable person. It also means you can better see and meet the needs of others in relationships.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together...
2024-10-3025 minThe Shrink Think Podcast212. Why A Good Assessment MattersAssessments in therapy sound boring. They’re not! Let us surprise you! We explain why a good assessment, in the first couple of sessions of therapy, is important to everything else that happens - including the effectiveness and direction of your treatment.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/pleMt6gW...
2024-10-2325 min
The Shrink Think Podcast211. Hallmarks of Quality TherapyHow do you know if therapy is good? We discuss some good indicators that your therapy is quality, beyond the basic “my therapist is warm and empathetic.” Our hope is that you can be better informed to make a good decision about your therapy, or if you’re a therapist, you can be reminded of what people need in order for therapy to be effective.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a busi...
2024-10-1625 minThe Shrink Think Podcast210. Part 2: Unsupported Wives & Passive HusbandsPart 2 of 2. There is a common dynamic in marriage where a passive husband does not contribute like his wife needs him to, which causes her to “over function.” When she tries to talk to him to get more initiation from him, he often shuts down or says he will help but then doesn’t. This “pursue-and-withdraw” pattern can be tricky! In this episode, we focus on the passive husband: why he shuts down and what he needs to do to change his side of the equation.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 ye...
2024-10-0922 minThe Shrink Think Podcast209. Part 1: Unsupported Wives & Passive HusbandsPart 1 of 2. There is a common dynamic in marriage where a passive husband does not contribute like his wife needs him to, which causes her to “overfunction.” When she tries to talk to him to get more initiation from him, he often shuts down or says he will help but then doesn’t. This “pursue-and-withdraw” pattern can be tricky! In this episode, we focus on the unsupported wife: what she feels and needs to do to change her side of the equation.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each...
2024-10-0127 minThe Shrink Think Podcast208. Replay of Types of Therapy: Internal Family Systems (IFS)This is a re-release of a popular episode we recorded way back in 2021. We’ve been introducing more IFS content and thought it would be helpful to “bump” this informative episode but with a fresh coat of paint!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think
*Sign up for our FREE email course on ove...
2024-09-2541 minThe Shrink Think Podcast207. Loving Yourself Is Not SelfishYou’ve heard the saying “you can’t give away what you don’t already have for yourself.” We unpack that, using Love as an example, to show you that being patient, kind, and humble with yourself is not only NOT selfish but is the epitome of “self-love.” And when you love yourself like this, you can more authentically love others.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in...
2024-09-1823 minThe Shrink Think Podcast206. Aaron & Nathan Demonstrate IFSWe’ve introduced Internal Family Systems and described it, and thought it would be helpful to hear it demonstrated. Aaron offers himself as a client for Nathan as his IFS therapist, focusing on a “performing/achieving” part of Aaron’s system. Listen/watch to experience IFS more in-depth.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this epi...
2024-09-1125 minThe Shrink Think Podcast205. The Real Story vs. The Story You TellAs therapists, we often hear the version of life our clients tell us without realizing there may be another version that’s very different. When a client brings in their significant other and those versions vary drastically, we get to see it in real time-and it can be shocking! We hope this episode helps you realize there’s another side of your story so you can be open to it and even seek it out.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy prac...
2024-09-0324 minThe Shrink Think Podcast204. Are You Emotionally Closed, Open, Or Available?If you’ve been with people who are emotionally closed off then meet someone who is open, it can feel like availability but it’s not. You can be emotionally open but not available for your partner in a relationship. We break down the difference between these three and give examples to help you understand so you can hopefully work toward the healthiest version of yourself and your relationship.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one toge...
2024-08-2823 minThe Shrink Think Podcast203. Internal Family Systems (IFS) ExplainedWe’ve done an episode on Internal Family Systems (#50) but we wanted to explain it better so you have an idea of what it is and how it works, practically. Nathan shares a fascinating metaphor that you’ll want to hear!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/k5CD9UAlE...
2024-08-1425 minThe Shrink Think Podcast202. Letting Go Of RelationshipsAccepting the loss of an important relationship can be painful and difficult, but doing it well brings peace and potentially resolves it at some point later on. Sometimes other people have a misunderstanding but aren’t willing to see outside their own hurt feelings or perspective. When that happens, letting go of defending yourself or saving the relationship can be the healthiest and most caring response.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is al...
2024-08-0722 minThe Shrink Think Podcast201. Holding Space In Relationships"Holding space" is a skill that gives the other person and the relationship room to breathe so you can go deeper and have more intimacy. It's like listening-you withhold your interpretation of the other person and just reflect back so they can freely explore what they think and feel without fear of judgment or reaction.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to...
2024-07-3022 minThe Shrink Think Podcast200. Celebrating Our 200th at Flyboy BrewingWe recorded this episode LIVE from our favorite local spot, Flyboy Brewery, on June 27th, 2024. We reflected on our favorite episodes, shared our most embarrassing moments, and had an all-around fun time celebrating nearly 4 years of being podcasters!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/ImXqG6UejiE
*Now on YouTube...
2024-07-1747 minThe Shrink Think Podcast199. Be IRL...IRLTechnology has made us more connected through devices but less connected in real life (IRL). While platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and FaceTime can be better alternatives to nothing, they cannot replace the value and benefit of connecting with people in real life. Social anxiety has risen and made what once was normal stressful or scary. Let’s work together to connect IRL, and put our devices away when we gather to BE IRL…IRL.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and...
2024-07-1025 minThe Shrink Think Podcast198. Maturing In MarriageIf you want to have a marriage that lasts, you will need to evolve and mature together over time. You will need to stay committed to your spouse but also to your marriage as you both go through a developmental process. Listen in as we discuss this process and what you can do to mature well together in your marriage.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists...
2024-07-0326 minThe Shrink Think Podcast197. Clinical Supervision in CounselingClinical supervision is beneficial for therapists and clients. Supervision helps clinicians see themselves more clearly, provides different perspectives, facilitates critical thinking, and fosters learning. It also gives clients more confidence in their sessions and more oversight in their process.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/Zs96HhKyolY
*Now on...
2024-06-2627 minThe Shrink Think Podcast196. How To Build Your Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence (EQ) is different from IQ and is an important skill to have for your own health as well as for the health of your relationships. Based on an article in Simply Psychology, EQ involves self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.
Article: https://www.simplypsychology.org/how-to-improve-emotional-intelligence.html
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their...
2024-06-1925 minThe Shrink Think Podcast195. Normalizing: Making the Strange Familiar"Normalizing" someone's problems is a skill that helps them know what's "normal" and what's not. Therapists do this all the time with clients as a way of connecting and helping clients face the issues they need to repair-without coming across as dismissive. Normalizing can be a great relationship tool if you know how to use it well.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice...
2024-06-1324 minThe Shrink Think Podcast194. People-Pleasing & Anxiety: Breaking the CycleDo you tend to care more about the opinion of others than your own? Do you find yourself bending to what others want instead of asserting your wants or needs? These people-pleasing tendencies limit the connection and intimacy of relationships, and can create distrust. Listen more to find out what to do to improve connections and create true intimacy.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in...
2024-06-0526 minThe Shrink Think Podcast193. Dating: No Is The Best Way To YesLearning to say “no” to what is not right for you will free you to be available to say “yes” to the kind of person and relationship that’s right for you. To do this, you have to know what is incompatible and not good for you, and be unwilling to tolerate those in your life. This is the best path toward finding the right relationship for you.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is a...
2024-05-2923 minThe Shrink Think Podcast192. Group TherapyWhat is group therapy and how can it be beneficial for you? What’s the difference between a topical group and a process group? Believe it or not, giving and receiving feedback from other like-minded people in a group can be extremely beneficial in helping you grow.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this ep...
2024-05-2225 min
The Shrink Think Podcast191. What It Takes To Be Successful in Private PracticeDo you want to start a private therapy practice? Here are some things we’ve learned from our 20 years and three group practices to help you know what it takes to find success. These are not tips on how to do it, but qualities you’ll need to possess (or develop) in order to do it well.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice want...
2024-05-1525 minThe Shrink Think Podcast190. Scapegoating in FamiliesSometimes one person in a family becomes the "black sheep" and gets blamed for the faults, wrongdoings, and mistakes of others-especially for reasons of expediency. This person is considered the "scapegoat" for the family's issues. It results in an avoidance of accountability and projection of blame onto others. This episode unpacks these family system dynamics and what to do about them, whether or not you are the identified "scapegoat."
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one...
2024-05-0824 min
The Shrink Think Podcast189. Let Your Teenager LearnAs somewhat of a follow-up for the previous episode, this one focuses on the importance of allowing natural consequences (“life”) to do the teaching as your kids become teens. Your role as a parent shifts with their developmental stage, from implementing consequences to allowing them and acting as a coach in their learning process.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow...
2024-05-0124 minThe Shrink Think Podcast188. Raising Kids To Fear Or People-Please YouIf you’re a parent and you’ve taught your kids that doing something wrong will lead to you being disappointed, frustrated, or upset with them, you might be casing them to fear you rather than the natural consequences. Worse, you might also be training them to people-please in order to keep you happy. Don’t worry, there are things you can do to cancel this and shift the focus away from you (the parent) to where it belongs-your kid.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a...
2024-04-2424 min
The Shrink Think Podcast187. Are You Talking Too Much?Are you a verbal processor? Have people told you that you talk too much? Do you often worry people don’t understand you so you over-explain? If this sounds like you, listen to this episode to gain clarity on what might be happening and why so that you can do something differently to improve your relationships.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to...
2024-04-1725 minThe Shrink Think Podcast186. Living In Survival vs. ThrivingAre you successful in life but not getting enough sleep, drinking coffee all day, or sacrificing time with family to achieve your goals? Do you have trouble slowing down or stopping to be present? If so, you might be living in survival mode. Here are some things you need to know to recognize if you’re in survival but working toward thriving.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant fo...
2024-04-1026 minThe Shrink Think Podcast185. Did You Grow Up With Emotional Incest?Did you grow up being responsible for taking care of the feelings of a parent? Were you also responsible for making adult decisions as a child? Do you have difficulty knowing or caring for your own needs now as an adult? If so, you might have experienced emotional incest and need to learn some boundaries for yourself so you can grow the parts of you that you need to be healthy and mature.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and...
2024-04-0324 minThe Shrink Think Podcast184. Take A Compliment, Bro!Do you have a hard time receiving compliments? Do they make you feel uncomfortable or spotlighted? Accepting a compliment requires vulnerability which might be the reason they make you feel awkward. Try seeing it as an invitation to intimacy or a deeper connection, and practice accepting the invitation.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch...
2024-03-2023 minThe Shrink Think Podcast183. Expectations Can Be Premeditated ResentmentsWe all have expectations but sometimes we’re not aware that we do. These can set us up for disappointment, anger, or resentment when things don’t go the way we expected them to. Being aware can help, but so can holding our expectations loosely - or not having them at all.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expa...
2024-03-2022 minThe Shrink Think Podcast182. Get Over YourselfSometimes when you say or do something with a certain intent, the other person takes it very differently, which can create a conflict between you. In this episode, we blend several topics from the past to help you understand and navigate the intent versus the impact parts of communication, and give you tips to get over yourself!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice...
2024-03-1324 minThe Shrink Think Podcast181. The Power of Core BeliefsWe all have beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world. These “core” beliefs determine how we interpret things and see ourselves. They can also can create self-fulfilling prophecies, causing us to act out well-worn patterns that produce familiar outcomes - even if those are the exact results we don’t want!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their...
2024-03-0625 min
Continuing Education for Mental Health Counselors: Therapy Show with Lisa MustardThe Art of Meaningful Change with Aaron Potratz | life coaching | transformation | counselor to coach | new year resolutions | how to find your whyIn this episode, I'm joined by the insightful Aaron Potratz, a renowned therapist, life coach, and one-half of the dynamic duo behind the Shrink Think podcast. Together, we explore the transformative power of understanding your "why" and how it can guide you toward a more fulfilling life. The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard is sponsored by TherapyNotes! Why not find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Click here: www.lisamustard.com/therapynotes or enter promo code "Lisa" at www.TherapyNotes.com. In This Episode, You'll Disco...
2024-02-2841 minThe Shrink Think Podcast180. Relational Repair Requires ValidationIf you’ve been in a conflict with a partner, friend, or coworker and are unsure how to begin the repair, start with validation. Validating their experience or concern will help you both move toward resolution, and it’s a great peace offering that can bring immediate connection.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this...
2024-02-2724 minThe Shrink Think Podcast179. Budget Your EnergyEnergy is a finite resource we all have and need to budget properly. We need to maximize our energy "income" through sleep, diet, and exercise. We also need to make sure we're spending energy wisely: giving it to the people and activities that are most beneficial for us.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch...
2024-02-2126 minThe Shrink Think Podcast178. Fix It Don’t FixateWe can get too fixated on the "problems" we experience in life, keeping ourselves stuck ON the problem. Trying to understand the problem is helpful to a degree, but then we need to move toward fixing it - which usually involves doing something different. Therapists can be prone to this, too, but ultimately need to partner with you to explore what you can do differently to get a different outcome.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third...
2024-02-1424 minThe Shrink Think Podcast177. The Victim MindsetA victim mindset might be the reason you are stuck in your life or relationships. We identified five elements of this mindset (plus one bonus one): (1) sees self as good, other as bad; (2) focuses on my good intentions (not actions) and your bad actions (not intentions); (3) sees only from own perspective, cannot see other’s perspective; (4) cannot hold both experiences as valid and real, two parts of the same puzzle; and (5) views things as right/wrong rather than both/and.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each ow...
2024-02-0726 minThe Shrink Think Podcast176. How To Not Lose Yourself In RelationshipsWhat does it mean to be your “self”? How do you lose “yourself” in relationships and how can you avoid or prevent that from happening? In this two-part series, we break down the issue to help you better know who you are and spot ways you might be operating that cause you to lose yourself or behave not in accordance with who you are (such as what matters to you or what you value).
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-o...
2024-01-3125 minThe Shrink Think Podcast175. What Is My "Self"?What does it mean to be your “self”? How do you lose “yourself” in relationships and how can you avoid or prevent that from happening? In this two-part series, we break down the issue to help you better know who you are and spot ways you might be operating that cause you to lose yourself or behave not in accordance with who you are (such as what matters to you or what you value).
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-o...
2024-01-2426 minThe Shrink Think Podcast174. YOU Are The Biggest Problem In Your Own LifeThere is a fundamental truth to life that can be difficult to accept: YOU, not other people, are the biggest problem in your own life. What this means is your mindset, your ability to regulate your feelings, and your responses are the causes of most of your problems-which you are in control of. Taking responsibility for these can have a significant influence on your satisfaction in life, even though life will always present obstacles and involve pain.
Buy the "You Are The Biggest Problem In Your Own Life" t-shirt from our swag shop: https://shrinkthink.myshopify.com/products/you-are-the-biggest-problem-lol
Aaron...
2024-01-1727 minThe Shrink Think Podcast173. Why Do Premarital Counseling?What is premarital counseling? Who could benefit from it? What are some things that happen in premarital counseling to make it useful? We stole a page from our Shrink Think educational videos that orient couples to premarital counseling, and shared them here so our listeners could benefit. This episode would be helpful for couples who plan to get married someday (or are engaged), as well as therapists who work with couples.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a...
2024-01-1025 minThe Shrink Think Podcast172. When Your Parents Won’t ChangeAs you get older, you might realize some things about your parents that you wish they would change. Maybe you’ve even considered talking to them about it. Just because you share your hurts from childhood, doesn’t mean they’ll be understanding let alone take responsibility and change. What do you do if your parents won’t change, and you’re “stuck” with the negative or unhealthy patterns? We’ll talk you through it and give you some ways you can cope with this reality.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of...
2024-01-0326 minThe Shrink Think Podcast171. Fix Your Parenting Mistakes!If you are a parent of adult children and they have tried to share about their childhood with you, you might be tempted get defensive or feel guilty. Don’t do it! Listen to this episode first! You’ll learn about why you need to embrace what your child is saying, embrace the idea that you made some mistakes in parenting, and use this as an opportunity to build a better relationship with your child.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy prac...
2023-12-2727 minThe Shrink Think Podcast170. Interview with Guest Andrew Lang on Inner Critic & Shadow Work (part 2)Part 2 of 2. We invited fellow PNW'er Andrew Lang to talk about inner critic and shadow work that he specializes in. The inner critic develops subconsciously from the stories and experiences of our lives, and shadows are parts of us that get rejected or repressed by the people and communities around us. Andrew discusses how to get connected to these through the body and mindful awareness in order to live an open and more vibrant life.
Andrew Lang is an educator in the Pacific Northwest, an alumnus of Richard Rohr’s Living School for Action and Contemplation, and author of Unmasking th...
2023-12-2133 minThe Shrink Think Podcast169. Interview with Guest Andrew Lang on Inner Critic & Shadow Work (part 1)We invited fellow PNW'er Andrew Lang to talk about inner critic and shadow work that he specializes in. The inner critic develops subconsciously from the stories and experiences of our lives, and shadows are parts of us that get rejected or repressed by the people and communities around us. Andrew discusses how to get connected to these through the body and mindful awareness in order to live an open and more vibrant life.
Andrew Lang is an educator in the Pacific Northwest, an alumnus of Richard Rohr’s Living School for Action and Contemplation, and author of Unmasking the Inner Cr...
2023-12-1322 minThe Shrink Think Podcast168. Control Yourself Not Your EnvironmentIt's easy to feel anxious or offended about something then want to control the environment or people around you so you feel better. The healthy approach, however, is to turn inward and find out what's going on inside of you and control THAT. Controlling your own thoughts, feelings, and reactions will create better relationships and flexibility that is necessary for healthy interactions.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant...
2023-12-0523 minThe Shrink Think Podcast167. What To Do When You're Emotionally FloodedHaving a conflict with someone can be really uncomfortable! This is why many people avoid conflicts altogether - that, and they don’t know what to do. Here are some practical tips for getting yourself to “zero” or “grounded” so that you can work through the issue with someone more effectively.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their busi...
2023-11-2924 minThe Shrink Think Podcast166. Use This Not A Grenade To Resolve ConflictWhen you have a disagreement with someone, it’s important to use the right tools to work through it. How you communicate together will determine how successful you’ll be at resolving the issue. Focusing on yourself and not on the other person (which sounds counterintuitive) will avoid tossing a grenade and blowing it up, an outcome nobody wants!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in priv...
2023-11-1526 minThe Shrink Think Podcast165. All About ADHD with Guest Martin Altman (part 2)Martin Altman, Licensed Professional Counselor in Atlanta, Georgia, joins us to talk all about ADHD. He explains what it is and how it affects people, the benefits and drawbacks of having ADHD, he shares about his own experiences with it, and talks about strategies for living with it.
Website: https://www.altmancounseling.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altman.marty/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playtherapydouglasville/
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is...
2023-11-0829 minThe Shrink Think Podcast164. All About ADHD with Guest Martin Altman (part 1)Martin Altman, Licensed Professional Counselor in Atlanta, Georgia, joins us to talk all about ADHD. He explains what it is and how it affects people, the benefits and drawbacks of having ADHD, he shares about his own experiences with it, and talks about strategies for living with it.
Website: https://www.altmancounseling.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altman.marty/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playtherapydouglasville/
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is...
2023-10-3131 minThe Shrink Think Podcast163. Being Responsible TO But Not FOR Others* Codependent relationship dynamics are common, and people often don't know where they end and the other person begins-let alone how to let others have their own feelings without taking responsibility for them. It's a complicated dynamic, so we broke it down to make it simpler to see and understand. Being compassionate means owning your words and actions, as well as how they impact another person, but it is their responsibility from there.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own...
2023-10-2523 minThe Shrink Think Podcast162. Benefits of In-Person TherapyAs a follow-up to the previous episode, we look at the benefits of in-person therapy as superior to telehealth. Nothing can replace the experience of commuting to the office and sitting down with a therapist face-to-face.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/F-mqR7jUkcI
*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think
*Sign...
2023-10-1823 minThe Shrink Think Podcast161. Benefits & Drawbacks of TelehealthThe COVID-19 Pandemic changed therapy and opened up the option of telehealth or video therapy. Telehealth allows for more options, easier access to providers with specialties, and convenience. It also has drawbacks, such as eliminating pre- and post-session processing time as well as the valuable in-office person-to-person contact.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch...
2023-10-1122 minThe Shrink Think Podcast160. What Do You Need From Therapy?When people go to therapy, it's a good idea to know what you need from the session and from your therapist. Understanding what you need helps you to focus on the most important things and it helps the therapist know best how to help you - whether it's giving clarity, empathizing, or providing insight.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start...
2023-10-0423 minThe Shrink Think Podcast159. Attachment Styles with Guest Lisa Mustard (Part 2)This is part two of our Podcast Takeover with Lisa Mustard of The Therapy Show. We continue the discussion on attachment styles as it applies to parenting. Lisa, Nathan, and Aaron all share about how they wrestle with attachment styles in their parenting, so tune in because you won't want to miss it!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow...
2023-09-2731 minThe Shrink Think Podcast158. Attachment Styles with Guest Lisa Mustard (Part 1)Podcast Takeover! Guest Lisa Mustard of The Therapy Show Podcast joins us as we catch up as friends and colleagues, talk about the different attachment styles, and in part 2 we extend that discussion to us as parents. It was a fun and informative episode that you won't want to miss!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their...
2023-09-1931 minThe Shrink Think Podcast157. Enneagram “Roulette” - Type ResponsesWe decided to have fun with the enneagram, so Nathan created a scenario and asked Aaron to describe how different enneagram types would respond to the same situation. We wanted to make all the enneagram information from previous episodes come alive so you could see what different types might look like in real life... we didn't rehearse it at all!
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists...
2023-09-1322 minThe Shrink Think Podcast156. Orienting Couples to CounselingStarting counseling as a couple is different from individual counseling, and not every counselor works with couples because of these challenges. Here's what you need to know about couples counseling, whether you're a therapist working with couples or in a relationship and in counseling together. This episode is based on our "Orientation to Couples Counseling" digital course at www.ShrinkThink.com.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for...
2023-09-0624 min
Wise Practice PodcastOnboarding New Therapists to your Practice with Nathan Hawkins and Aaron Potratz | WP45WP 45 | Onboarding New Therapists to Your Group Practice: Tips and Strategies Whether you're a seasoned practice owner with a growing team of therapists or a newcomer to the world of private practice, onboarding new therapists is a crucial process that sets the stage for success. In this blog post, we'll explore valuable insights shared by Nathan Hawkins and Aaron Potratz from their experience in group practice and their podcast, "Shrink Think," on the Wise Practice Podcast. About Aaron Aaron is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Clinical Supervisor in Oregon, the owner of Discover Counseling, and the co-owner...
2023-09-0534 minThe Shrink Think Podcast155. Apologies Also Need RemorseWhen you hurt someone, you need to take responsibility for your actions and apologize. But saying "sorry" isn't enough; apologies need you to empathize with their pain which you inflicted, and let that discomfort change you to be a better person (and not repeat the action).
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode...
2023-08-3024 minThe Shrink Think Podcast154. "It Feels Unsafe" Is Not The Same As "It IS Unsafe"This is Aaron's first solo episode without Nathan, who was traveling. Many people say things like “it feels unsafe,” but they may be mixing facts with feelings and doing something called "emotional reasoning." Being able to describe the facts or events of what happens, while clearly identifying the feelings you have about them, can help you better understand how it has impacted you and get the validation you may be seeking.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a thir...
2023-08-2424 min
The Shrink Think Podcast153. Enneagram: The Head Triad (5s, 6s, 7s)There are three triads to the Enneagram: Body, Heart, and Head. Numbers 5, 6, and 7 comprise the Head triad, which is a fundamental thinking orientation to the world - they process it through their mind. The Head triad's main struggle is fear, a feeling of insecurity and uncertainty. Fives may seek security in accumulating knowledge, sixes may seek it in solutions, and sevens may seek it in fun or excitement.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together...
2023-08-0923 minThe Shrink Think Podcast152. Enneagram: The Heart Triad (2s, 3s, 4s)There are three triads to the Enneagram: Body, Heart, and Head. Numbers 2, 3, and 4 comprise the Heart triad, which is a fundamental feeling orientation to the world - they process it through emotions. The Heart triad's main struggle is shame, a feeling of unworthiness or not good enough. Twos may seek appreciation for helping, threes may seek admiration for achievements, and fours may seek affirmation for uniqueness.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is...
2023-08-0924 minThe Shrink Think Podcast151. They're Not Attacking You They're Defending ThemselvesOften in relationships, we project what we think the other person's intent is and then perceive them to be "attacking" us. The reality, though, is that they are usually defending themselves. The same is true for us when the roles are reversed: we are protecting ourselves and not intentionally trying to hurt the other person. Learning and discerning this can be a game-changer for your relationships.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is...
2023-08-0122 minThe Shrink Think Podcast150. Don't Be OffendedThe world needs more peace. One of the ways we can spread it is to stop being offended about things that don't concern us or that we simply don't need to take offense about. It will make you happier as an individual, it will improve your relationships, and it will make for more peaceful environments.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to...
2023-07-2522 minThe Shrink Think Podcast149. Are You Triggered Or Just Overwhelmed?People say they're "triggered" left and right these days, but what does that word even mean? Does it mean what they think it means? Probably not. They might be feeling overwhelmed rather than experiencing something "trigger" a past memory or trauma (little "t" or big "T" trauma). If you use that word often, you might want to listen to this episode and make sure you're using it correctly.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together...
2023-07-1923 minThe Shrink Think Podcast148. Stop Asking Agenda-Based QuestionsYou may be asking questions with an agenda that leave others feeling defensive or like you're looking for something specific. This may be keeping you stuck in communication and limiting your connection in the relationship. Leading with curiosity can create safety and openness, but it might land you somewhere you don't expect.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or...
2023-07-0524 minThe Shrink Think Podcast147. Dating 101: Some Do's and Dont'sMany people come to therapy discussing issues with dating. We compiled these into one episode just skimming the surface of how to go about dating to find a good partner, and some things to definitely avoid doing.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/xYI1dYzXfhg
*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think
...
2023-06-2822 min
The Shrink Think Podcast146. Be Honest With YourselfIf you want to give yourself a valuable gift, start with being honest with yourself - about yourself. Telling yourself the truth about your thoughts, feelings, and actions is challenging because we often don't want to see ourselves as we really are, but this kind of honesty will bring clarity and a solid place to start if there are things you want to change.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a...
2023-06-2122 minThe Shrink Think Podcast145. Stop Pretending-Tolerate Your Fear & Accept RealityFear is one of the most powerful feelings we experience, which can drive behavior and distort your perception. Learning how to tolerate how fear feels in your body can empower you to see more objectively and make better decisions in life.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/RGHqnTTDNxE
*Now...
2023-06-1422 minThe Shrink Think Podcast144. When You Have Value Differences With Your TherapistSome people believe you and your therapist must have all the same values in order to work together effectively. There is some merit to this, but you can still have a productive working relationship even when you have values differences.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/lV68vQARL_U
...
2023-06-0722 minThe Shrink Think Podcast143. When Do You Need Family Therapy?When is family therapy a good idea and how can you know it's not couples counseling or individual therapy that you're needing? Family therapy involves all people of the system, not just a couple (such as parents), and works on the relational dynamic between everyone.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this episode: https...
2023-05-3123 minThe Shrink Think Podcast142. Enneagram: The Body Triad (8s, 9s, 1s)The Enneagram has 3 triads, each with 3 numbers (9 total numbers or personality types). In this episode, we break down the Body/Gut Triad which includes numbers 8, 9, and 1. People in Body Triad experience the world primarily through the physical body and these numbers' main struggle in life is anger: 8s are angry outwardly, 1s are angry inwardly, and 9s don't know they're angry (until they are!).
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a...
2023-05-2422 min
The Shrink Think Podcast141. Helping Friends Who Are SuicidalIt can be scary when a friend tells you they're suicidal or having suicidal thoughts. Many people don't know what to do or say, and are afraid of doing the wrong thing-whatever that is. We open up this difficult topic to give you an outline of things to consider as you help a friend in this situation.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice...
2023-05-1624 minThe Shrink Think Podcast140. Enneagram TriadsThis is a follow-up to a previous podcast episode on the Enneagram, outlining the three triads: Body/Gut (8s, 9s, 1s), Heart (2s, 3s, 4s), and Head (5s, 6s, 7s). The Body/Gut triad's biggest struggle is Anger, the Heart's is Shame, and the Head's is Fear.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.
*Watch this...
2023-05-1024 minThe Shrink Think Podcast139. When You Outgrow FriendshipsWhat happens when you work on yourself and grow, then realize some of the friendships you've had no longer work for you? They're not bad, just just may not support your growth or meet your needs after you've changed. Is it ever okay to move on from friendships? We discuss why this may have happened and how you can address these situations, and those friends, respectfully.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is...
2023-05-0323 min
The Shrink Think Podcast137. Yung Pueblo's Observing Beyond ReactionsYung Pueblo (his real name is Diego Perez) is a poet and philosopher whose writings have inspired millions of people. His instagram (@yung_pueblo) posts are full of wisdom about life and relationships. Recently, he posted about the importance of managing your reactions without suppressing your emotions: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqGCkdquYkZ/. We thought this was an important message to share and expand upon as counselors.
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron...
2023-04-1123 min
The Shrink Think PodcastEp 02 - Interview With Aaron PotratzEpisode 02: Host of the podcast interviews his co-host, Aaron Potratz, so you can get to know his story, how he got into counseling as a therapist, and why podcasting became a pursuit of his.
2020-07-2233 min
The Practice of Therapy PodcastAaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins | Creating Successful Partnerships As Private Practice Owners | TPOT 112In this episode, Aaron Potratz and Nathan Hawkins join the podcast to discuss starting a partnership in private practice. They reveal some vital things you will need to know before committing to a partnership; you especially need to know the identity of your practice and where you see your business going. Later, the two explain why there is no competition between them and the importance of trust in a partnership. Meet Nathan Hawkins Nathan Hawkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been working in the field for almost 17 years. He is a certified trauma professional and...
2020-01-2043 min