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Therapists IRLWhen Mr. Rogers is NOT Your Neighbor and Oscar the Grouch Would be a Welcome ReplacementSend us a textWelcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 46, where Steph takes us on a tour of her neighborhood, introducing us to the colorful cast of characters wreaking havoc on her life (and her poor pooches lives too). Where is Mr. Rogers when we need him?If you've ever been harassed, screamed at, threatened, attacked, or just found yourself on the receiving end of some generally appalling behavior by an unhinged neighbor, this episode is for you. No therapists were harmed in the making of this episode, but vulnerability hangovers are re...2025-04-171h 02Therapists IRLTBT - Episode 1- Intros and Mantras and Myths...Oh My!Send us a textWhew! We've managed to keep this going for over a year (limping right along). For TBT, we thought we'd welcome some new listeners with our very first, very awkward Episode 1. Whether you're new here, or have been with us from the start...Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Therapists IRL," the podcast where two seasoned therapists dive headfirst into the ties that bind us all...being human. In this very first episode, Jen and Steph share a little about themselves, their background as therapists, what motivated them to plunge into the p...2025-04-101h 05Therapists IRLWounded Healers Series: The Importance of Hope, With Debbie MerkelSend us a textHave you ever heard anyone sing on our podcast before?? Today's guest did! Welcome to another episode of Therapists IRL, where you never know what will happen! Debbie Merkel knows despair. She also knows intimately how to grasp onto hope, with a tender heart tested in the fires of trauma. Trauma that led her into the clutches of an eating disorder. Sharing her story of darkness and her determined march towards the glimmers of hope... Debbie's message of healing AND her beautiful voice will leave you feeling like maybe it's possible for you, too...2025-04-0356 minTherapists IRLRevisiting: A Non-Partisan Conversation About the Impact of Politics on Mental HealthSend us a textThis episode originally aired on November 14, 2024, just after the election, but (sadly) we feel it's still relevant.Welcome to Therapists IRL. In the wake of this 2024 Presidential Election, Steph & Jen explore the emotional impact of politics in today's America (without claiming red or blue). This episode takes a compassionate look at the pain, fear, and division rampant in our country today, on both sides of the aisle. Without getting issue-specific, they candidly discuss the reality of life in a country divided. Resources:The Center for Nonviolent Communication2025-03-201h 10Therapists IRLWounded Healer Series: An Inspiring Conversation with Amy Abel on the Long Road to Recovery After a Fall (Literally!)Send us a textWelcome to Episode 42 of Therapists IRL, where Jen and Steph are joined by friend and colleague Amy Abel. One year ago (almost to the day), Amy found herself on an unexpected medical journey after a freak accident that shattered her ankle. The road to her recovery was long, hard, and sometimes dark, but through it Amy found ways to cope and stay hopeful. Anyone who has faced a health crisis, be it an illness or injury, knows the toll it takes mentally, physically, and emotionally. Join us as Amy shares her st...2025-03-131h 12Therapists IRLTBT!! Wounded Healers Series: A Candid Conversation with Kirk M. Samuels (The Intimacy Incubator) on Men's Mental HealthSend us a textTBT!! We want to RE-introduce you to a man who not only invites other men into healing and wholeness, but also believes women will be safer as a result. Jen & Steph first spoke to Kirk in November 2024, in Episode 8 of Season 2, but we don't think we did enough to share this great man with y'all, so we're putting it back out there in honor of throwback Thursday.Join us as Kirk talks about his passion for seeing men recover from woundedness and emotional stuntedness to achieve the fullness of their potential...2025-03-061h 19Therapists IRLWounded Healers Series: Kristi Thornton, on Being an Orphan, Hummingbirds & Coping with Medical AnxietySend us a textHi Listeners! Meet one of Steph's all-time favorite people, Kristi. Welcome to Episode 40 of Therapists IRL. Kristi shares openly about what it is like to be orphaned, having lost her mom as a toddler and her father a few years ago. She also shares about the impact of Long COVID on her overall health, and the anxiety that comes from living with unexpected and frightening impacts, and her quest for wellness. (As you listen, you may notice we reference the upcoming holidays a lot... that's because this episode has been sitting in th...2025-02-271h 02Therapists IRLAbsence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...Or so We Hope!Send us a textWelcome to Therapists IRL... Episode 39? It's been so long, we hardly remember! Yup. We went on a little unplanned hiatus. Please forgive us! We've missed you and we hope you've missed us and come listen to the new episodes we'll be dropping. This episode is a bit of a "catching you up" on where we've been and what we've been up to since November! No therapists were harmed in the making of this episode, but vulnerability hangovers are real.Please note: While our podcast aims to destigmatize and normalize me...2025-02-2051 minTherapists IRLEpisode 38: Big Heart, Weary Soul, Tear-Filled EyesSend us a textWhen love alone can't heal, comforting words fall short, and hope doesn’t alter reality….Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 38. In this episode, Jen and Steph explore the challenges of caregiver compassion fatigue and anticipatory grief. Jen shares her personal experience of supporting her significant other through illness, offering an honest glimpse into the complexities of loving through hardship. No therapists were harmed in the making of this episode, but vulnerability hangovers are real.Please note: While our podcast aims to destigmatize and normalize mental health issues, increase awareness, foste...2024-10-301h 04Therapists IRLWounded Healer Series: A Conversation with Taylor About Her Journey to Peace & Self-Acceptance regarding her Spirituality, Racial identity, and Sexual EvolutionSend us a textImagine your rock bottom being the moment a neighbor throws a chair through your window and saves your life. Welcome to Episode 37, where Jen & Steph chat with Taylor Newell-Smith about her healing and personal growth within the intersections of her identities - a biracial, pansexual, and spiritual woman growing up in a millenial world. If you could use some inspiration, Taylor's story is for you. Taylor would like to share reoairces for anyone in need in the Madison, Wisconsin area, USA. Salvation Army Dane County - Women & Family Shelter2024-10-231h 00Therapists IRLEpisode 36: Wounded Healer Series - A Soulful Talk with Abby Ward, on Navigating the Loss of a Therapy Client to Suicide (Trigger Warning!)Send us a textMost people probably don't think about the loss a therapist experiences when one of their clients passes away. Welcome to Episode 36 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph sit down with our dear friend Abby Ward to discuss just that. On the heels of Suicide Prevention Month last month, Abby tenderly shares her story of living through and recovering from a therapist's worst nightmare - the loss of a beloved client to suicide. A unique perspective that is not talked about enough, we are so thankful for the sacred space carved out in this ep...2024-10-161h 13Therapists IRLEpisode 35: When the Therapists Need Therapy (Vulnerable Episode Alert!)Send us a textWhen you realize you're still enraged about something that happened a long time ago... or you just can't get it together and clean up those doom piles or pick up the dog toys. Welcome to Episode 35 of Therapists IRL!! Steph & Jen get real about their therapy status - why they're going (Steph) and why they need to (Jen). And we're here to tell you, vulnerability hangovers really are real. No therapists were harmed in the making of this episode, but vulnerability hangovers are real.Please note: While our podcast ai...2024-10-0858 minTherapists IRLEpisode 34 -Wounded Healer Series: A Conversation with Charlotte Bertrand, on Doing the Work and Finding Hope When Life Doesn't CooperateSend us a textImagine always being told that being a wife and mother were the ultimate goals in life, then finding yourself single, childless not by choice, and working in the Adoption field... Welcome to Therapists IRL! In this week's episode, Jen & Steph talk candidly with Steph's long-time friend Charlotte, who openly shares her story of disappointment and pain in some of her adult years through a lens of faith in a loving God. If you have ever experienced the pain of life not turning out the way you hoped, there is a nugget here for yo...2024-10-021h 01Therapists IRLEpisode 33 -Wounded Healer Series: Karen is Back! Special Guest, Karen Corona on Hope and Healing After Despair (TRIGGER WARNING- Suicide Discussed)Send us a textAs we wrap up September and Suicide Prevention Month, Jen and Steph are joined by their dear friend, Karen Corona. Please note, this episode comes with a heavy-duty TRIGGER WARNING, as Karen shares her personal experiences with suicidal ideation and previous attempts. Friends, we are here to keep it real, and sadly, suicide is real. However, there is hope. Karen's inspiring message is one of healing and resiliency. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, there is help available and you are not alone. Below i...2024-09-2559 minTherapists IRLEpisode 32: It's Suicide Prevention Month (Trigger Warning!)Send us a textHey Podcast Family! It's good to be back. We have to put a trigger warning on this episode, because we are talking about a very tender and sometimes triggering topic - suicide. In this episode, Jen & Steph share perspectives from the therapist's couch, and offer information on suicide risk factors, myths, and more. If you or anyone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts or feelings, please go to your nearest emergency room or call 988, where trained professionals are ready to help. Resources:US National text Hotline: 7417412024-09-181h 02Therapists IRLEpisode 31: Therapists IRL Updates & AlohasSend us a textWelcome to Episode 31 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph make some important announcements regarding the future of the podcast. Tune in, and we will see you soon! No therapists were harmed in the making of this episode, but vulnerability hangovers are real.Please note: While our podcast aims to destigmatize and normalize mental health issues, increase awareness, foster understanding, and offer support with love and laughter, we are not a substitute for professional mental health advice or treatment. [Read our full disclaimer here.]If yo...2024-08-0728 minTherapists IRLEpisode 30- Who Moved the Dang Cheese? And Other Important Questions from the CheeseheadSend us a textIt's 3am. Do you know where your cheese is? Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 30, where Jen and Steph wax poetic about cheese, change, and challenges based on the classic book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" For many (or maybe most) of us, change can be unsettling, and accepting difficult, unpleasant, or painful experiences is one of our greatest life challenges. What do you do when things aren't as you'd like them to be? How do you cope? In the story Who Moved My Cheese? the characters all respond to a stressful situation i...2024-07-3155 minTherapists IRLEpisode 29: I Need, You Need, We all Need... Ice Cream?Send us a textWant to hear us get a little choked up? Welcome to Therapists IRL Episode 29, where Jen & Steph delve into one of the most important (and sometimes painful) parts of being human - unmet needs. Needs drive everything, whether we are talking about basic physical needs, relationship and emotional needs, spiritual needs and everything in between. We invite you to join us in your own exploration as we adapt an experiential group therapy activity to explore our own unmet, difficult, and most secret needs. No therapists were harmed in the making of t...2024-07-241h 05Therapists IRLEpisode 28 : Do As I Say, Not As I Do: Self-Care Strategies and RoutineSend us a textWe start each day early with a daily meditation, a little yoga, and an intentional breakfast, and end each day by winding down gently until we drift off to a restful 8 hours of sleep. Just kidding. Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 29, where Steph and Jen talk about the importance of a daily routine in self-care and emotional well-being, while simultaneously confessing their mutual rebellion against routine. Per usual, we're keeping it real. Besides forgetting how old we are, we share our own struggles when it comes to self-care and daily routine, ta...2024-07-171h 05Therapists IRLEpisode 27- Wounded Healers Series: Guest Karen Corona on Rising from the Ashes of Major Depression, Severe Mood Disorder, and TraumaSend us a textAt age 13, an A- triggered thoughts of ending it all. At 21, a lost friendship led to time in a psychiatric hospital... the first of several psychiatric stays. Welcome to Episode 27 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph talk with colleague Karen Corona, who opens up about her struggle with major depression, complex trauma, and Bipolar Disorder. Despite the very dark places Karen has sometimes found herself over the years, she found strength, comfort, and resilience in expressive arts, which proved fundamental in her healing journey. As Karen continues to nurture these artistic o...2024-07-101h 11Therapists IRLEpisode 26 - Wounded Healers Series: Guest Interview with Kati Saul on Mothering Her Child Through a Heart TransplantSend us a textImagine getting a call one afternoon that your firstborn 12 year old child went into cardiac arrest while playing at a friend's house. Welcome to Episode 26 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph talk with colleague Kati Saul. Kati shares her experience of navigating the scary journey of medical trauma as her son went through the process of receiving and adjusting to a heart transplant. Join us as she shares her emotional and ultimately hopeful story. Kati's Practice:www.hiddentreasurestherapy.comContact Therapists IRL at:Instagram: TherapistsIRL2024-07-031h 17Therapists IRLEpisode 25- The 4-1-1 on Emotional Intelligence (Because Adulting is Hard)Send us a textEver feel like you're one missed coffee away from a meltdown? Yeah, us too. Listen, adulting is hard, but there are some things we can do to lighten our load, and they start with an understanding of EQ-- emotional intelligence.In Episode 25 of Therapists IRL, Jen and Steph talk about how to float your own boat, how to resist the urge to throat-punch the guy who cut you off in traffic, and why crying in the shower is actually a sign of emotional strength. Inspired by the very wise w...2024-06-2652 minTherapists IRLEpisode 24: In Honor of the Loving DadsSend us a textAnother one of those potentially hard days just passed (in the US)...Father's Day. Welcome to Episode 24 of Therapists IRL, where Jen and Steph reflect on their relationships with their own dads, and share a few fond memories. We were lucky enough to both have pretty darn good Dads, and we also acknowledge that it may have been a tough day for many of our listeners who didn't. Whether you have a father, are a father, or want to be a father, this one's for you. No therapists were harmed in th...2024-06-1944 minTherapists IRLEpisode 23: The Ways We Self-protect & Get In Our Own Way. Yep, We're Talking Defense Mechanisms.Send us a textIt's the fight you pick with your partner after a horrible day at work. It's the 3 hours you spend scrolling social media instead of making the phone call you've been dreading. It's the sugary sweet way you greet that neighbor you simply can't stand. Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 21, where Jen and Steph dive into defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms serve a purpose. They protect us when we feel emotionally unsafe or too vulnerable. We've all got 'em and we've all used 'em. Some, however, are less helpful than others. In this ep...2024-06-121h 06Therapists IRLEpisode 22: Yeah...That's On YouSend us a textWhat can you do when your "bestie" of 35 years suddenly decides the friendship isn't cutting it for her anymore and makes a unilateral decision to end it...without ever talking to you beforehand about why??? Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 22, where Jen revisit the trajectory of friendships - the good, the bad, and the heartbreaking. This week, Jen and Steph get real about how people-pleasing, avoiding conflict, and not communicating your feelings, wants, and needs in a relationship is not just damaging to you, but also to those you're in a re...2024-06-0553 minTherapists IRLEpisode 21: In Honor of World Infertility Awareness Month, Steph's Journey Through InfertilitySend us a textJune is World Infertility Awareness Month. A gentle trigger warning for our listeners. If you have dealt with pregnancy loss and/or infertility, take care in listening to this episode. I (Steph) would not have been able to listen to it at certain points of my story. Welcome to Episode 21 of Therapists IRL, where Steph shares about her painful 6-year journey walking the lonely path of infertility, only to come out on the other side with no little one to hold. Childless Not By Choice, Steph shares some of the details of her pr...2024-05-291h 07Therapists IRLEpisode 20: Wounded Healers: Guest Nikki Blakesley - When Anxiety is Calling the ShotsSend us a textHave you ever felt impending doom? Gone to the ER thinking you might be dying? Obsessively pictured terrible outcomes to normal every day scenarios? Welcome to Episode 20, where Jen & Steph chat with fellow therapist Nikki Blakesley about her battle with lifelong anxiety. Anxiety is tricky. Sometimes it just feels normal to imagine the worst possible outcome of a situation so that you feel prepared in case it happens. Join us as we chat with Nikki about how she discovered that she had been anxious her whole life. And her secrets to recovery and pe...2024-05-2255 minTherapists IRLEpisode 19: When it's Not All Sunshine and Rainbows- Hiding Pain Behind a SmileSend us a textYou walk into the house on your 18th birthday and hear "Surprise!" Your friends are all there, there's pizza, cake, and presents. Why do you feel like you're about to burst into tears? Welcome to Therapists IRL Episode 19, where Jen and Steph tackle the topic of depression, and Jen shares her personal journey living with low-level depression and S.A.D., hiding pain behind a smile. Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, and Seasonal Affective Disorder are fancy names for feeling like crap. In this episode, we chat about these diagnoses an...2024-05-151h 14Therapists IRLEpisode 18: Does Hallmark Make a Card for That? Relationship Series Part 4: MothersSend us a textYou're standing in the card aisle desperately searching for just the right one. The one that says something like "Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for birthing me. The end." Welcome to Episode 18 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph talk all things Mothering on the cusp of Mother's Day in the US. Join us for real talk about our moms, the ways we relate to mothering (and don't), and the pressure put on moms (and their kids) on this often difficult day. Contact us:Email: TherapistsIRL@gmail.comInstagram: TherapistsIRL ...2024-05-0851 minTherapists IRLEpisode 17- The Ties that Bind...And Drive us Crazy: Relationship Series Part 3 (Family Dynamics)Send us a textPOV: You're home for the holidays with your new husband, and your mom barges in your room at an ungodly early hour running the vacuum. Oh, you haven't experienced that? Congratulations! You didn't grow up in an enmeshed family system. Welcome to Therapists IRL Episode 17, where Jen & Steph unpack the foundations laid by family dynamics in our boundary systems and relational patterns as adults. Weaving personal anecdotes with some research-based educational info, join us as we examine the ways our families impact us - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Messa...2024-05-011h 06Therapists IRLEpisode 16- Wounded Healers: Guest Jesie Steffes, on the Power of Understanding & Accepting the Intersections of One's IdentitySend us a textWhat happens when you finally have the language to understand yourself, understand your experiences, and understand you're not alone? You become a badass human. Welcome to Episode 16 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph chat with Jesie Steffes about living life as a Highly Sensitive Person in a larger body. Join us as Jesie shares her own soul journey as an HSP and the intersection of anxiety and body image in her life. Jesie is a badass therapist with a voice as soothing as a hot cup of tea, and a self-proclaimed "brickhouse" who...2024-04-241h 07Therapists IRLEpisode 15- Red Flags and Green Flags: Relationship Series Part 2 (Intimate Partners)Send us a textRom-coms have ruined us. We've spent so much time watching the "happily ever after" version of relationships that most of us aren't really ready for the reality...which may look a lot less like "The Notebook" and a lot more like "10 Things I Hate About You." Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 15, where Jen and Steph talk red flags (as in RUN!) and green flags (as in "Yes, you too deserve to have your needs met in a healthy, loving relationship" and "No, Steph's not smoking crack.") The truth is, relationships are HA...2024-04-171h 02Therapists IRLEpisode 14: When Bad Relationships Happen to Good People: Relationships Part 1 (Intimate Partners)Send us a textYou know you're in a bad relationship when... you come home from vacation to find family heirlooms missing because your significant other took a trip to the pawn shop while you were out of town. Welcome to Episode 14 of Therapists IRL, where Steph and Jen talk the talk after walking the walk in bad, toxic, and sometimes abusive relationships. That's right. We've been there. The truth is, anyone can find themselves in an abusive relationship. In part one of our Relationship Series, Steph shares her experience of meeting the epically wrong...2024-04-101h 06Therapists IRLEpisode 13: For Good or for Evil - The Powerful Intersection of Religion, Shame, Hope, Belonging, & TraumaSend us a textPOV: A 16 year girl plants a "purity flag" with her dad under the shadow of The Washington Monument, proclaiming her dedication to chastity alongside hundreds of other teenage girls, under the watchful eye of the Evangelical Christian Nation. Welcome to Episode 13 of Therapists IRL, where Jen and Steph discuss the impact of religion on mental health. Join us as Steph shares a little more of her story growing up in the 90s US Purity Culture, her brush with involvement in a pseudo-cult in college, and reclamation of her identity apart from internalized shame-based m...2024-04-031h 23