Shows
Things You Learn in TherapyEp 134: What If You're Wrong About Your Relationship? with Rachel ElderSend us a textWhat if the way you've always approached relationships is fundamentally limiting your capacity for true connection? In this eye-opening conversation, psychologist, Dr. Beth Trammell, and licensed mental health counselor, Rachel Elder, challenge conventional wisdom about attachment, offering hope for even the most disconnected couples.Elder, who specializes in relationship therapy through her practice Connected Couples Counseling, introduces a revolutionary framework that helps partners rewire their attachment styles from insecure to secure. She dismantles the common misconception that simply being together equals emotional connection, explaining that many couples "divide and conquer" their...2025-06-2742 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp 133: The Trap of Toxic Positivity with Jacque TyrrellSend us a text"At least you have your health." "It could be worse." "Just stay positive!" These well-meaning phrases might seem helpful on the surface, but as licensed clinical social worker, Jacque Tyrell, and I unpack in this thought-provoking conversation, they often create more harm than healing.Toxic positivity—that pressure to maintain an optimistic outlook regardless of circumstances—has become so normalized that many of us don't recognize when we're perpetuating it. Jackie explains how this phenomenon often comes from good intentions yet can profoundly invalidate someone's emotional experience. Even trained mental health prof...2025-06-2034 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp131: Navigating the Ebb and Flow of Invisible Illness: How to Support Without Judgment with Dr. Victoria RodriguezSend us a textWhat does it really mean to live with an illness that never goes away? While most people understand the concept of getting sick and then getting better, navigating life with chronic illness requires an entirely different roadmap—one that isn't widely understood even by many medical professionals.Licensed professional counselor Victoria Rodriguez joins Dr. Beth Trammell to unpack the psychological dimensions of chronic illness, sharing both professional expertise and personal experiences. Together, they explore what Victoria describes as "dynamic disability"—the rollercoaster of good days and bad days that characterizes many chro...2025-06-0640 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp 130: You Can't Vacation Your Way Out of Burnout with Laurel Roberts-MeeseSend us a textWhat if the life you've carefully constructed is slowly burning you out? Dr. Beth Trammell sits down with licensed therapist Laurel Roberts-Meese for an eye-opening conversation about the reality of burnout – and why that tropical vacation you've been dreaming about won't fix it."Burnout comes from a pathological pattern of not choosing yourself," explains Roberts-Meese, delivering one of many powerful insights throughout this deeply resonant episode. As someone who specializes in working with high-achievers and executives, she's seen firsthand how the relentless pursuit of productivity can hollow out even the most pa...2025-05-3046 minThings You Learn in TherapyThe Introverted Therapist's NightmareSend us a textEver been caught in that awkward moment when someone recognizes you but you can't place them? For therapists living and working in the same community, these encounters create what I call "introverted therapist nightmares"—those uncomfortable moments when professional boundaries and social niceties collide.In today's conversation, I share how these encounters unfold and why I often tell therapy clients I'll pretend not to know them in public. It's not about being cold or dismissive—it's about protecting confidentiality when they're out with friends or family who might not know they're in t...2025-05-1908 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp 127: The Art of Clarity: How Discernment Counseling Helps Couples in Limbo with Lianna PurjesSend us a textWhat happens when one person in a relationship is ready to throw in the towel while their partner wants to keep trying? This emotional standoff creates a relationship limbo that can last for months or even years, preventing healing and growth for both individuals.Therapist Lianna Purjes joins us to explore the powerful tool of discernment counseling - a specialized, short-term intervention created specifically for couples with mixed agendas about their future together. Unlike traditional couples therapy that assumes both partners want to improve the relationship, discernment counseling helps couples gain...2025-05-0940 minThings You Learn in TherapyDirty Socks and Good Deeds: Growing Kids Who Step UpSend us a textWhat separates those who merely notice problems from those who actually solve them? In this enlightening conversation, Leslie Bolser and Dr. Beth Trammell tackle the powerful concept of initiative—defined as "seeing what needs to be done and doing it"—and why this two-part skill proves challenging for people of all ages.The discussion moves through developmental stages, offering practical advice for nurturing initiative from preschool through adolescence. For the youngest children, initiative begins with explicit instruction and modeling, teaching them to notice when someone's crying or playing alone and...2025-05-0213 minThings You Learn in TherapyCooperation: Going Farther TogetherSend us a textCooperation sounds simple – working together to accomplish more than we could alone – but as parents and educators, we often struggle to maintain this focus as children grow. This candid conversation between Leslie Bolser and Dr. Beth Trammell explores how our emphasis on cooperation naturally diminishes as we begin prioritizing independence in our children.For preschoolers, cooperation begins with sharing toys and parallel play, creating the foundation for teamwork. Surprisingly, allowing young children autonomy in tasks like tying shoes actually develops their capacity for future cooperation. The elementary years present a critical junc...2025-04-1816 minThings You Learn in TherapyResilience: The Art of Getting Back UpSend us a textResilience gets a fresh take in this heartfelt conversation between Leslie Bolser and Dr. Beth Trammell, who strip away the buzzword status and reframe this essential life skill as something we practice every single day. Moving beyond the trendy "grit" narrative, they explore what resilience actually looks like from toddlerhood through the teenage years—and why some moments of bouncing back are naturally easier than others.The discussion shines particularly bright when examining how differently resilience manifests across age groups. For our youngest children, it might be the remarkable ability to mo...2025-04-1117 minThings You Learn in TherapyHope Is Not Just Wishing for PizzaSend us a textHope isn't just wishful thinking – it's believing good things can happen even amid challenges. In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Beth Trammell and Leslie Bolser unpack how to nurture this essential quality in children at every developmental stage.For parents of younger children, we discuss the importance of mindful language, highlighting how casually using "hope" in disciplinary contexts ("I hope I don't have to come in there...") might undermine the positive meaning we want kids to embrace. Instead, we offer practical examples for modeling hope as positive anticipation in everyday conversations with li...2025-04-0417 minThings You Learn in TherapyINAEYC conference and early childhood focal pointsSend us a textThe upcoming Week of the Young Child celebration provides a fascinating framework for understanding developmental priorities. From Movement Monday to Family Friday, these themed days don't just guide our approach to supporting children—they offer surprising lessons for adults too. Dr. Beth explores this reciprocal relationship, suggesting that young children might be teaching us as much as we're teaching them. As she reflects on early social skill development, from learning to share to simply tolerating others in their space, she reveals how these fundamental capabilities form the building blocks of all future relationships.2025-04-0405 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp122: Unlocking Effective Clinical Supervision: Insights from Michele ManiSend us a textUnlock the secrets of effective clinical supervision with insights from Dr. Beth Trammell and her esteemed guest, Michele Mani, a seasoned clinical supervisor and psychotherapist. Michele shares her journey from clinical practice to private practice, and how it has elevated her role in supervision. Together, we explore the art of balancing professional duties with personal wellness, as exemplified through our mutual love for sports—Michele with pickleball and me with tennis. This episode promises to offer listeners valuable lessons on maintaining harmony between work and self-care.We dive into the essential qu...2025-01-1750 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp 121: Therapists in Therapy: Navigating Vulnerability, Self-Care, and Creative Exploration with Marie SloaneSend us a textWhat happens when therapists seek therapy themselves? That's the pressing question we tackled with Dr. Beth Trammell and our special guest, Marie Sloane, a licensed professional counselor. Despite being equipped with theoretical knowledge, therapists like Marie often face the stigma and imposter syndrome when they turn the lens inward. We delved into this fascinating topic, underscoring the importance of vulnerability and normalizing mental health support for those who provide it to others.Creating a sanctuary of comfort in therapy sessions is a cornerstone of effective practice. We share...2025-01-1040 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp117: Navigating Trauma and Emotions: Insights and Tools for Emotional Resilience with Megan MacCutcheonSend us a textEmbark on a transformative journey through the intricacies of trauma and emotions with me, Dr. Beth Trammell, and the insightful maternal mental health therapist Megan MacCutcheon. Discover how the seemingly insignificant Lego blocks of everyday experiences can stack up to shape your mental landscape, affecting anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Megan introduces us to EMDR therapy, a powerful tool to process these cumulative experiences, offering a fresh perspective on emotional resilience.In a society that often demands we sideline our emotions, we unpack the complexity of experiencing joy alongside...2024-11-0137 minThings You Learn in TherapyCreating a Joyful and Safe Halloween for the Whole FamilySend us a textRemember those childhood nights filled with excitement and sugar rushes as you roamed the neighborhood in your Halloween costume? Join me, Dr. Beth Trammell, for this cross-posted episode as I reminisce about those nostalgic experiences and share valuable insights on making this spooky season both fun and safe for our children. From setting expectations on candy consumption to having crucial safety discussions about crossing streets after dark, this episode of "Kids These Days" is packed with practical tips to ensure a memorable Halloween. It's all about laying the groundwork for a...2024-10-3105 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp 116: Practical Self-Care in the Age of Social Media with Jacque TyrellSend us a textCan social media influencers unintentionally worsen mental health issues among their followers? Join us as we explore this provocative question with Dr. Beth Trammell and our insightful guest, Jacque Tyrrell. Together, we dissect the complex relationship between social media and mental health, shedding light on how well-meaning advice can sometimes lead to self-deprecating thoughts. We highlight the critical importance of context when discussing sensitive mental health topics online. Jackie also shares her dedication to improving workplace mental health and her plans for expanding her practice.Discover the pitfalls...2024-10-2533 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp 113: Unveiling Substance Use Disorders: Diagnosis, Bias, and Recovery Insights with Chrissy RifeSend us a textUnlock the secrets of diagnosing and treating substance use disorders with insights from Dr. Beth Trammell, psychologist and professor at Indiana University East, and Chrissy Rife, a licensed professional counselor. Together, they illuminate the complexities of recognizing substance use disorders, focusing on the DSM-5 criteria and the profound effects substances like alcohol and marijuana have on mental health. Chrissy brings her extensive experience to the conversation, sharing the hurdles therapists face when identifying and addressing substance use issues in clients.Navigate through the biases that cloud both users...2024-10-0441 minThings You Learn in TherapyDEBRIEF - The Art of Therapy with Barbara Sheehan-ZeidlerSend us a textDiscover the art of therapy through an engaging conversation as Dr. Beth Trammell and her student, Sarah Leis, unpack an enlightening encounter with exceptional therapist, Barbara. Have you ever wondered how a therapist continuously refines their craft? This episode promises insights into Barbara's impressive certification journey, illustrating her unwavering commitment to lifelong learning and self-reflection. Sarah adds a unique flair to the dialogue by sharing her hobby of spinning wool and knitting, which mirrors the patience and dedication seen in therapy. Barbara's presence, even in audio, radiates warmth and grounding energy, cr...2024-10-0214 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp 111: Overcoming Negative Self-Talk: Strategies for Cultivating Self-Compassion and Awareness with Laura SgroSend us a textEver wondered why your inner dialogue often seems to sabotage your best efforts? Discover the origins and influences of negative self-talk with Dr. Beth Trammell and her guest, licensed clinical social worker Laura Sgro. Laura shares her expertise on how comparison, perfectionism, and people-pleasing mold our inner voices, and why compassionate self-talk is better than mere positive affirmations. She even shares personal anecdotes—including her stint in an acapella group—to highlight the pervasive nature of self-talk in our daily lives.Explore how past experiences, societal pressures, and even...2024-09-2043 minThings You Learn in TherapyEp 106: Embracing Neurodiversity in Relationships: Understanding and Navigating the Unique Dynamics of ADHD and Autism with Lianna PurjesSend us a textDiscover the hidden dynamics of neurodivergence in relationships as licensed clinical social worker, Lianna Purjes, uncovers the profound impact of ADHD and autism on how we connect and communicate with those closest to us. Our conversation isn't your usual relationship talk; it's an eye-opening exploration of brain diversity that challenges the norms and celebrates every individual's unique contribution to human connection. Lianna's expertise shines as we tackle the question: Can the distinct ways neurodivergent individuals perceive the world be seen as superpowers rather than hurdles?Communication can be a minefield, but...2024-08-1639 min