LMFT And Emmalee Bierly - Podcast Details

Shows

ShrinkChicksAvoidance Does Not Equal HealingOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are dissecting the difference between avoidance and healing. They start the episode off by explaining how to recognize the difference in your own life and how they can tell the difference in theirs. Emmalee and Jen discuss when saying "no" is a boundary and when it is avoidance, the ability to call out your avoidance as the first step of healing, avoidance/staying busy as coping mechanisms, speaking up about your feelings even if the other person's behavior won't change, and so much more! Tune in to gain insight, awareness...2025-03-3145 min

ShrinkChicksWhat Do We Do About Burnout?This week on ShrinkChicks, Mercury is in retrograde, so naturally, Emmalee's flight got canceled. Nikki, Emmalee and Jen's producer, is filling in and joining Jen to talk about all things burnout. Jen and Nikki discuss the early signs of burnout & how to recognize it, the personality types that are prone to burnout, the various professions at risk of ignoring burnout, and two different kinds of burnout to pay attention to. They answer your questions about spotting burnout before your breaking point, setting boundaries at work when others do not set their own, how to know when to make a jo...2025-03-2450 min

ShrinkChicksThe Fear of Being "Too Much"On this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are diving into the fear of being "too much." They start the episode by sharing what "too much" means to both of them and where the feeling/fear can stem from. Emmalee and Jen talk about how we, as a society, feel about authenticity and how that plays a role in the label of "too much." They discuss shame, societal expectations as women, how this fear can show up in one context (work, for example) and not another (at home with a spouse, for example), how to depersonalize the feeling...2025-03-1742 min

ShrinkChicksWhy Is Dating So Terrible?This week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by the ever-insightful author, dating coach, screenwriter, and fellow podcaster Allison Raskin to talk all things dating and relationships! The episode begins with Emmalee and Jen learning about Allison's own personal journey and how it led her to help others navigate romantic relationships. They discuss how dating has changed over time, the reality of dating apps, dating intentionally, burnout from dating/the apps and how to put guardrails around it, how to know when to get back out there after a breakup, why we shouldn’t date for potential, Allison's tak...2025-03-1045 min

ShrinkChicksJust Two Therapists with ADHDThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are covering a long awaited episode topic: ADHD. They share about their ADHD diagnoses, when they were diagnosed, and their different experiences living with ADHD. Emmalee and Jen discuss the difference between men and women with ADHD including the age of diagnosis and presentation, shame that can arise from ADHD, what masking is and why we do it, emotional dysregulation, rejection sensitivity, the benefits of ADHD, how to navigate a partnership when one person has ADHD and the other does not, and so much more! Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and a...2025-03-0346 min

ShrinkChicksIs it Me? Recognizing Your Patterns in Your RelationshipOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are answering your questions about how to recognize your own patterns in your relationships. The episode starts off with some big news from Emmalee! Then, Em and Jen talk about the insight, awareness, and action needed in order to understand the patterns within your relationship. They discuss why we seek familiarity from our childhood in romantic relationships, the connection between childhood family dynamics and adult relationship patterns, the "spark" (is it real?), healthy love, fear of intimacy, the over-functioner/under-functioner dynamic in relationships, and so much more! Tune in to l...2025-02-1044 min

ShrinkChicksRewind: Inner Child Work & WoundsThe holidays are upon us, and Emmalee and Jen are taking a break from a new episode to spend time with their loved ones and recharge for the New Year! This week, they wanted to re-release the episode Inner Child Work & Wounds as this time of year can bring up a LOT. The episode begins with Emmalee and Jen explaining what inner child work actually entails. They discuss inner child wounds and how we can begin to heal them, signs you might want to start doing this work, paying attention to your triggers, and what it means to re-parent y...2024-12-2346 min

ShrinkChicksRiding The Waves of GriefThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by the incredible Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, an internal medicine physician, a leading voice in healthcare, founder and board president of End Well, and host of the Before We Go podcast (@beforewegopodcast)! Shoshana shares her personal story of grief, anticipatory grief, and dealing with her own mortality. Emmalee, Jen, and Shoshana discuss the guilt that surfaced when Shoshana was trying to take care of herself while a loved one was ill, supporting others while you’re grieving yourself, different people grieving differently, why talking about grief can reduce anxiety, and so much mor...2024-12-0244 min

ShrinkChicksRewind: Decision ParalysisThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are re-sharing one of their favorite episodes while they take a little Thanksgiving break. This time of year is filled with decisions, both big and small, and Em and Jen are validating the various challenges that can come when making decisions. They talk through what makes us freeze when faced with a decision, analysis paralysis that comes with an abundance of choices, the fear of regret, external validation, how people pleasing can be a hurdle, and the ability to see things from all sides. Emmalee and Jen pose questions for introspection into y...2024-11-2547 min

ShrinkChicksThe Relationship Between Spite & MotivationThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking about spite and motivation. They start the episode off by discussing both of their ADHD diagnoses and how motivation, for them, can be hard to come by. Then, they define spite by explaining the two different types and discussing the motivation behind proving people wrong. Emmalee and Jen share how spite was the catalyst for starting their business, The Therapy Group, and what to do when spite as motivation runs out. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:25 to skip the intro and get s...2024-11-1844 min

ShrinkChicksRewind: People In Our Lives Who Aren't "Doing The Work"This week's episode is a re-release of one of Emmalee and Jen's favorite episodes. They want to model what they often share, which is the importance of resting and taking breaks in order to continue to show up as the best versions of themselves. The topic is one that constantly receives questions: what to do when the people in your life aren't "doing the work?" Whether that's your family member, friend, co-worker, or partner, Emmalee and Jen are answering your questions about the frustrations that can occur when it feels like you're the only one working on yourself. They discus...2024-09-0247 min

ShrinkChicksThe Line Between Empathy and EnablingThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are explaining the difference between having empathy for someone vs. enabling someone, as they can feel very similar. They start off the episode by sharing ways to recognize the line between the two and speak on why it can be challenging to shift the dynamic in a relationship where we're enabling. Emmalee and Jen discuss how to apply this same logic to ourselves (i.e. holding self accountable in a gentle way), ways they have enabled one another as well as their partners, what maternal gatekeeping means and how it can lead...2024-08-2645 min

ShrinkChicksHelp! I'm Anxious About My AnxietyOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking all about anticipatory anxiety. They begin by explaining the different reasons and scenarios where we might experience anticipatory anxiety, along with what could trigger it for us. Emmalee and Jen share their own personal experiences with anticipatory anxiety and how it manifests for them. They help you to recognize anticipatory anxiety and share tangible coping skills to use when it becomes activated. Then, they discuss the line between preparing and over-preparing, fear that can develop around experiencing the fear, control and how it plays into anxiety, and how to work...2024-08-1244 min

ShrinkChicksA New Perspective on Death & DyingOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are thrilled to sit down with Alua Arthur! Alua is a speaker, an author, and the founder of Going with Grace, a death doula training and end-of-life planning organization. The three of them discuss the often uncomfortable topic of death and how to get more comfortable with it so that it doesn't feel as overwhelming and scary. Emmalee and Jen start the episode off by finding out what exactly a death doula does. Then, they talk about anticipatory grief, death anxiety, common regrets people have at the end of their lives, th...2024-08-0546 min

ShrinkChicksThe Impact of Your Core Wounds on Your FriendshipsThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are digging deeper into our childhood wounds and exploring how they may affect our friendships today. They start the episode by explaining the four different common core wounds to help you identify yours. Then, they share which core wound they each most identify with and how Jen's wound can trigger Emmalee's and vice versa. They discuss how we can work on noticing these wounds and changing our reactions, processing the grief from a friendship break-up or transition, relational vulnerability vs. non-relational vulnerability, and so much more! The episode ends with a Dear Em...2024-07-2942 min

ShrinkChicksThe Things We're Working OnOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking about what they are working on personally and professionally. They want to continue to be vulnerable with you all and share their personal goals and struggles. In the first part of the episode, Emmalee and Jen share two different personal stories about having to pivot when it comes to either keeping or canceling plans. They then ask each other what they are working on overcoming in their own lives. Jen touches on staying present and setting emotional boundaries, while Emmalee touches on her guilt-proneness and getting better at saying "...2024-07-1544 min

ShrinkChicksWhat Does "Trauma" Really Mean?This week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by the incredible Dr. Danica Harris! Danica is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, facilitator, presenter, and educator. She helps folks heal from attachment wounds, sexual trauma, emotional neglect, vicarious trauma, intergenerational and identity-based trauma, and work or academic trauma. Emmalee, Jen, and Danica start the episode off by defining complex trauma and how it differs from single-incident trauma. Then, they discuss what it means for trauma to be trapped in the body and tangible ways to release it, anger as Danica’s favorite emotion, and connecting with our inner child. Danica answ...2024-07-0843 min

ShrinkChicksOur 10 Year Anniversary Episode!This week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are celebrating 10 years in business together by dedicating the episode to all that they've learned so far! They discuss their journey, the ways their lives have been enriched by one another, things they would change, hard decisions they had to make, and the transition away from pleasing people. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions about what they've learned from one another, what they're most proud of the other person for, how they've changed as therapists, and their top 3 moments of vindication for any haters. They end the episode with their advice to n...2024-06-2449 min

ShrinkChicksEmmalee's Fertility JourneyOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee is taking you on her fertility journey. The episode begins with Em's story and all the highs and lows that have come with it thus far. She talks about her recurrent miscarriage diagnosis, her misdiagnosis of PCOS, and her two recent egg retrieval experiences. Then, Jen asks Em all of your questions, such as advice for those freezing their eggs alone, what has been most helpful when Em's feeling overwhelmed by the process, how best to support a friend going through infertility, how to respond to advice like "just relax and it will h...2024-06-0341 min

ShrinkChicksRewind: Change is F*cking ScaryIn light of the holiday weekend, today's episode is a re-release of one of Emmalee and Jen's favorites. They want to model what they often share, which is the importance of resting and taking breaks in order to continue to show up as the best versions of themselves. In the episode, Emmalee and Jen talk all about change and why it can be so challenging and scary! They share how they each process change and why it works for them. Then, they discuss how to move through the fear of change, the loss of control that comes with change, why w...2024-05-2741 min

ShrinkChicksGetting Comfortable(ish) with DiscomfortToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are teaching you how to build distress tolerance skills. They start the episode by explaining what distress tolerance is and where the concept comes from. Emmalee and Jen discuss the relationship between acceptance of reality and its effect on distress. They answer your questions about discomfort from other people's distress, releasing control, tangible self-soothing tips for when distress arises, how to know if you have too much distress tolerance, feeling discomfort and doing it anyway, the anxiety feedback loop, and so much more! The episode concludes with a Dear Em & Jen about ADHD symptoms an...2024-05-1342 min

ShrinkChicksYou Are Not Responsible for Other People's EmotionsThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen explain the concept of differentiation. This term is woven through the work they do and they're here to explain it in a digestible, relatable way. Emmalee and Jen list some questions to help determine if you’re differentiated and share which of the questions they resonate with most. Then, they discuss how differentiation relates to codependency and cut-off, enmeshment vs. closeness, and separating your emotions from someone else’s. Em and Jen answer your questions about navigating a partner's fierce loyalty to their family, separating society's expectations from what you want, and absorb...2024-05-0644 min

ShrinkChicksSeparating Yourself From Your StoryIn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen zoom in on a specific theory in therapy called Narrative Therapy! They start the episode off by explaining what Narrative Therapy looks like and its four principles. Then Em and Jen share how to identify the narratives we each hold about ourselves, where they come from, how the narratives can shape our behavior, challenging these narratives, and how each version of you may carry a different narrative. They discuss that our narratives, while often self-protective in nature, can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. You also get to hear about Emmalee's got...2024-04-1544 min

ShrinkChicksExploring Gender Identity with Alexander StefaniniOn today’s episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by one of their amazing colleagues and friends, Alexander Stefanini, LPC, owner of Arrive Therapy, an all-LGBTQ+ counseling practice that is trans and queer-focused. The episode begins with Alexander sharing his story of growing up transgender and his experience transitioning. Then, Emmalee, Jen, and Alex discuss navigating gender identity, the work Alex does with his clients as well as their parents, supporting a loved one on their journey to transition, and the radical acceptance that can be helpful along the way. Tune in to find out what Alex is Ca...2024-03-2541 min

ShrinkChicksYour Guide to Setting BoundariesOn today’s episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by one of their amazing clinicians from The Therapy Group, Taylor Nance, LMFT, to talk about all things boundaries! Taylor is their resident boundaries expert and the three of them are answering your questions about dealing with pushback when setting boundaries, why it can be so difficult to set a boundary, the guilt that comes up, if boundary setting is worth the potential conflict, in-laws and boundaries, if boundaries always have to be verbally expressed, and so much more! Tune in for tangible tips on setting and maintaining hea...2024-03-1142 min

ShrinkChicksIs Everyone Experiencing Imposter Syndrome?On today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen cover one of their most requested topics: Imposter Syndrome. They start the episode off by explaining the different subtypes of imposter syndrome and which subtype resonates with each of them the most. Then they answer a common question: do you ever get over imposter syndrome? Emmalee and Jen discuss what might be underneath imposter syndrome, another name for it (and why they like the alternative better), boundaries in the workplace, and so much more! Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 2:35 into their convo to sk...2024-02-1939 min

ShrinkChicksOpposites Attract But Do They Work?This week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen agree that opposites generally attract, but focus on the question: do they work? They go through listener topics and questions surrounding various differences within relationships such as life goals, politics, religion, parenting style, libido, view on money/finances, and more. Emmalee and Jen discuss the interesting notion that what attracts you to a person initially might be what you resent about them later on, life transitions in relationships and how they may highlight your differences, and working to find a balance between extremes. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fas...2024-02-1240 min

ShrinkChicksFeeling Guilty About Feeling GuiltyToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen explore the pervasive emotion of guilt and how it impacts us on a daily basis. They begin the episode by defining the term "guilt-proneness" in response to a listener asking why it is their "go-to" emotion. Emmalee and Jen discuss guilt vs. shame, healthy guilt vs. irrational guilt, why so many of us might feel like we're not doing enough, internal and external expectations for ourselves, guilt passed down to us from our parents, guilt when setting boundaries or saying no, and guilt associated with other people's feelings. Tune in to understand more a...2024-02-0542 min

ShrinkChicksWhen Family Dynamics Shift & Change in AdulthoodOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen explore the topic of shifting family dynamics in adulthood and the complexities that exist within this change. When we grow into adults, our family dynamics often do not grow at the same rate. Em and Jen discuss family roles from our childhood staying present in adulthood, why it's so hard for parents to see their kids as adults, shifting dynamics in a family that avoids confrontation, growing out of old family dynamics (esp. if you're the only one recognizing dysfunction), feeling younger than you are, changing sibling dynamics as parents...2024-01-2939 min

ShrinkChicksWhat It Means to be a Highly Sensitive PersonThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are discussing the highly requested topic of being a highly sensitive person (a.k.a. an HSP). They help us understand what it means to be an HSP and the difference between being an HSP and an empath by sharing examples. The conversation gives insight into your own sensitivity, as well as insight into the people in your life who consider themselves highly sensitive. Emmalee and Jen explain how introversion, social anxiety, and overstimulation are connected to being an HSP, share tips on how to learn to interact with the world around...2024-01-2240 min

ShrinkChicksUnderstanding Passive Aggressive BehaviorIn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are examining passive-aggressive behavior. They start the episode by sharing the different types of passive-aggressive behavior and examples to accompany each type. Emmalee and Jen explain where passive-aggressive behavior might stem from, and how to better understand it if we're engaging in it or if someone is being passive-aggressive with us. They answer your questions like: why we fall into this behavior, how to gently call someone out for being passive-aggressive, what to do if someone gets defensive, the difference between sarcasm and passive aggression, why it shows up within the mo...2024-01-1539 min

ShrinkChicksDear Em & Jen: Listener Advice (Continued)Welcome to Season 5 of ShrinkChicks! Emmalee and Jen are back for the first episode of the New Year with another episode dedicated to Dear Em & Jen questions! The first question asks: how do you help someone who is not ready to be helped? Emmalee and Jen discuss the challenges of watching a friend or loved one stay in an unhealthy relationship, providing support while also upholding boundaries to care for yourself, and the hard truth that people have to come to certain conclusions on their own time. Next is a question about missing the "spark" and sexual desire in a...2024-01-0139 min

ShrinkChicksDear Em & Jen: Listener AdviceOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are dedicating the full episode to answering multiple Dear Em & Jen questions! The first question is from a listener who is extremely frustrated with her current relationship dynamic. Her partner is not willing to do the work and she feels lost on how to reach him after trying for so long. They discuss defensiveness, the pursuer-withdrawer dynamic, and how our inner child's survival tactics can show up in our present relationships. Next, Emmalee and Jen answer a question about avoidant-attachment style. The listener is almost 30 and has never been in a...2023-12-1141 min

ShrinkChicksRewind: Why Are In-Laws So Triggering?This week, ahead of Thanksgiving, Emmalee and Jen are re-releasing their most downloaded episode: Why Are In-Laws So Triggering? They know that the start of the Holiday season can be activating, overwhelming, and bring up a lot of emotion, which is why they picked this particular episode to remind you that you're not alone. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions like: why are mothers-in-law, specifically, triggering, how to prepare for in-laws, what to do when your partner won't speak up to their parents, how to handle a deceitful and aggressive sister-in-law, how to tell overbearing in-laws that you're eloping, and...2023-11-2046 min

ShrinkChicksHow to Know When to Stay or GoThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are helping you to answer the question: should I stay or should I go? They talk about how to know when something is no longer serving you and the nuances that exist around that, how to decipher between needing to give something more time vs. knowing it's time, and working through the guilt of making the decision to leave. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions about understanding your own dealbreakers, the difference between an ultimatum and a boundary, external validation making this decision extra challenging, the fear of regret, and so much m...2023-11-1341 min

ShrinkChicksHow our Phones Impact our Mental HealthThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen sit down with Jenny Wise Black, LMFT, who specializes in how our phones affect our mental health. Jenny shares her personal journey of being without a phone for FOUR years and how it changed her life and informed her work. Emmalee, Jen, and Jenny discuss social media breaks and FOMO, living in our daily reality vs. our social media reality, the addiction to our phones and some research behind it, the impact that scrolling and keeping our phones on us "in case of emergency" has on our bodies, navigating social media breaks as a bus...2023-10-3034 min

ShrinkChicksWhat's Normal Independence vs. Hyper-Independence?Today on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are covering the highly requested topic of hyper-independence! They start the discussion off by defining hyper-independence, also known as ultra-independence, and where it can originate from. They talk about the relationship between hyper-independence and parentification and birth order, the societal praise hyper-independence receives, and how hyper-independence can affect our romantic and platonic relationships. Emmalee and Jen distinguish between hyper-independence and typical independence and share some questions to ask yourself if you're having a hard time understanding the difference in your life. The episode wraps with a Dear Em & Jen that asks: is it wrong...2023-10-2338 min

ShrinkChicksHealing Your Childhood WoundsThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are answering your questions about childhood wounds. They start the episode with a question about what a healed person looks like and what their own healing journeys have looked like. Then they discuss how our childhood wounds do not always originate from our families; that some of us have deep wounds from friendships or other formative relationships. Emmalee and Jen share questions to help identify what wounds from childhood may be showing up for you today, and how to work on responding vs. reacting. They discuss the grief that can come in r...2023-10-1639 min

ShrinkChicksGetting Out of a Shame SpiralOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are covering the highly requested topic of shame. They start the episode off by distinguishing between the emotions of guilt and shame as they can feel quite similar but are very different. Then they share some of Brene Brown's research including the 3 things shame needs to survive and how to get out of a shame spiral with tangible steps. Emmalee and Jen discuss healing from shame, shame and judgment and how they can go hand in hand, the difference between secrecy and privacy, a therapist's perspective on client's shame, overcoming body sh...2023-10-0941 min

ShrinkChicksNot Everything is About YouOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are revisiting the topic: how to stop taking sh*t personally! You can listen to this one on its own, and for more check out the episode: How to Stop Taking Sh*t Personally. Emmalee and Jen pick the topic back up by answering a question about rejection sensitivity and explaining what it looks like. They then discuss how taking things personally can connect to our deepest insecurities, the shame and guilt behind taking things personally, and the link between personalization and people-pleasing. Emmalee and Jen share their mantras to pull y...2023-09-2540 min

ShrinkChicksHow To Get Better with ConfrontationThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are covering a highly requested topic: confrontation and how to get more comfortable with it! They start by normalizing how challenging confrontation can be. They share questions to ask yourself like what does confrontation mean to you and what does it look like for you, historically? Then they answer your questions about why confrontation can be so scary, what to do if you freeze or blackout during a confrontation, different ways to approach confrontation, how to decipher between when to confront and when to let it go, and why assertive people can be ha...2023-09-1843 min

ShrinkChicksCreating Your Chosen FamilyToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking about chosen family. They discuss popular sayings like "blood is thicker than water" and "you only get one (insert family member here)" and why these don't apply to everyone. They explain that it's not all or nothing; a chosen family doesn't require the absence of a biological family. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions about finding and creating a chosen family, how to not feel like you're betraying your biological family by having a chosen one, grieving the fact that your biological family can't be there for you or support you in c...2023-09-1141 min

ShrinkChicksRewind: Carrying The Mental LoadToday on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are practicing what they preach by resting and taking the week off from a new episode. They don't want to leave you all hanging of course, so they're re-releasing one of their most listened-to episodes: Carrying The Mental Load. Emmalee and Jen break down the term "mental load," which is also known as cognitive labor. They discuss gender roles and how the mental load has historically fallen on women, the over-functioning/under-functioning dynamic in relationships and what it might look like, why the mental load falls onto the person who cares more, being th...2023-09-0442 min

ShrinkChicksHow Your History Alters Your BrainOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are honored to be joined by Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, SEP. Jules is a therapist specializing in trauma recovery, interpersonal neurobiology, and couples work and she shares her incredible knowledge with us all today! The episode begins with Jules explaining how to use neurobiology as a basis to understand ourselves and our triggers. She shares how trauma - and our own histories - can alter the brain, how our brain systems are sometimes in conflict, the science behind why self-compassion is more successful than self-criticism, rage as a bid for...2023-08-2852 min

ShrinkChicksHow to Break-Up with Your Therapist & MoreThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are answering all of your questions about therapy! They discuss why they each chose this career, where to start when looking for a therapist, how to break up with your therapist & find a new one, how to know if you've found the right therapist, how to make the most of your sessions, and why it can be hard to be fully honest with your therapist. Emmalee and Jen also read some of your therapist horror stories that leave them shook. The episode wraps with a Dear Em & Jen about changing careers to b...2023-08-1448 min

ShrinkChicksWhat To Do When Resentment BuildsThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are diving into the topic of resentment and how it can be connected to unmet expectations, feelings of unfairness or imbalance, and asking for what we need. They first explain the emotion of resentment, where it can come from, and how they each know when resentment is building for them, personally. Emmalee and Jen then answer your questions about why it can be easier to stew in the resentment than ask for what you need, the discomfort of confronting, if resentment can be solved by expressing your needs, how to become more...2023-07-3144 min

ShrinkChicksWhy It's So Hard to Give Ourselves CompassionOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are covering one of their favorite topics: self-compassion. They are thrilled to sit down with Dr. Kristin Neff, the self-compassion pioneer and expert. Dr. Neff was one of the first to research self-compassion about 20 years ago and shares many of her incredible findings with us all today. Dr. Neff defines self-compassion at the start of the episode and explains how culturally and evolutionarily, self-compassion can be challenging to give to ourselves. Ahead of the episode recording, Emmalee and Jen asked their listeners why it's hard to give yourself compassion, and they share s...2023-07-2448 min

ShrinkChicksNavigating Complicated Relationships with Our ParentsToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen dig into the topic of complicated relationships with our parents/caregivers. They start the episode off with a hilarious story about Emmalee's version of a "lovie" when she was young. Hint: it was not a blanket or a stuffed animal. They then define the term enmeshment as it relates to our family of origin, talk about the difference between a close knit family and an enmeshed family, and touch on the (sometimes maladaptive) patterns that get passed down from generation to generation. Emmalee and Jen answer listener questions about emotionally immature parents, being a...2023-07-1744 min

ShrinkChicksIt's Me, Hi, I'm the One with AnxietyOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen cover the topic of being the partner, friend, family member, etc. with anxiety and the shame, guilt, and other emotions that can bring up. They noticed a theme with the listener questions that came in for this topic around the word "burden." Emmalee and Jen answer your questions about being a burden or too much when it comes to anxiety in your relationship and where that feeling may have originated. They discuss validating our own feelings, helping those who don't experience anxiety understand it, finding a balance between leaning on our...2023-07-1044 min

ShrinkChicksRewind: Jealousy is a Complex EmotionToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are practicing what they preach and taking the week off from a new episode for the July 4th Holiday. They of course never want to leave you all hanging, so they are re-releasing one of their most popular episodes from last year: Jealousy is a Complex Emotion. They start off by discussing jealousy as a very human emotion. They then go into the difference between jealousy and envy, why jealousy is normal, and the reaction to jealousy vs. the feeling of jealousy. Emmalee and Jen each share the last time they felt jealous or...2023-07-0344 min

ShrinkChicksPivoting When Things Don't Go As PlannedOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen talk all about things not going according to plan. Any planners out there? This one's for you (and also to share with anyone in your life who you want to explain your perspective to)! The episode starts off with a new intro idea from an amazing listener that has Emmalee and Jen share something they learned about themselves over the past week. They then dive into the episode topic and share how they both feel about plans and planning. Em and Jen answer your questions about pivoting when life doesn't go as...2023-06-1242 min

ShrinkChicksWas I Parentified?This week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen dive into the topic of parentification aka parenting our parents and/or siblings as a child or adolescent. They start the episode by defining parentification, sharing the different types, giving examples of what it could have looked like in your childhood/adolescence and explaining the short & long term effects. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions like: what to do if it's showing up in adulthood, can we parentify ourselves, how to set boundaries when you've had to parent a parent in the past, what to do with the guilt that can arise...2023-06-0543 min

ShrinkChicksGetting Underneath Your Need to be RightOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking about the need to be right and why it can be so hard to let this go. They start off the episode by sharing how each of them feels about being right in their relationships and also with one another. They expand on the importance of feeling heard and seen, why it can be easier to let arguments go with some people and not others, where stubbornness can come from, and being right vs. being close. Emmalee and Jen tell us how to work toward getting underneath the nee...2023-05-2239 min

ShrinkChicksWhen Fear Gets in the WayToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking about fear and resistance and what to do when they get in the way. They highlight the various responses we all can have to fear: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn and share which responses the two of them typically experience. Emmalee and Jen discuss the nuances that exist with fear and how fear can both help us and hurt us. They answer your questions about a fear of being less than, the shame spiral that can occur when fear wins, how to work on rewiring our brains from triggers we learned...2023-05-1541 min

ShrinkChicksFinding Joy in the RoutineThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen dive into a topic that many were curious to hear about: finding joy in the day-to-day routine. They discuss how they each find joy in their day to day, tips for how to incorporate it, and the challenge of transitioning out of a chaotic period of life to a calmer one. Emmalee and Jen answer listener questions about minimizing the pressure to always do more, changing up the routine as a stay-at-home mom, comparing to those with “glamorous” lifestyles on social media, finding joy through depression, starting a routine with ADHD, and so m...2023-05-0843 min

ShrinkChicksWhy We Crave External ValidationThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen dig into the topic of external validation: why we want it, where the need/want comes from, and how to start internalizing it so we can give that validation to ourselves. They normalize the desire for it, help us to understand the function of it, discuss when seeking external validation can be risky, and how much is too much. Emmalee and Jen talk about how the times in which we are feeling insecure can create an increased need for external validation and how anxiety can tie into it. They answer a Dear E...2023-04-1046 min

ShrinkChicksYour Postpartum Questions AnsweredToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking about all things postpartum! The episode begins with Jen interviewing Em about her postpartum experience through listener questions. Emmalee shares her firsthand and vulnerable perspective on the transition into motherhood, and gives her insight into listener experiences. They are then joined by the wonderful Erica Djossa, fellow therapist and host of the Momwell Podcast, to answer two listener questions in depth, one about postpartum rage and the second, about the difference between postpartum anxiety and baseline worrying. Emmalee, Jen, and Erica discuss postpartum in COVID, societal expectations of mothers, intrusive thoughts, the...2023-04-0350 min

ShrinkChicksSelf-Awareness Hell with Kaitlyn BristoweOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen sit down with the one and only Kaitlyn Bristowe! They hear all about Kaitlyn's inner child work retreat experience: her fears before going, what it was like while she was there, what surprised her, and coming back to reality after it was over. Emmalee, Jen, and Kaitlyn discuss what led her to pursue the retreat, why healing doesn't have an ultimate destination, and the people in our lives who aren't doing the work. Kaitlyn calls some BS on relationships through the lens of social media and tells us her #1 takeaway from t...2023-03-2746 min

ShrinkChicksInner Child Work & WoundsThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen explain WTF Inner Child work actually entails! They discuss inner child wounds vs. the work we can do to heal them, signs you might want to start doing this work, paying attention to our triggers, and what it means to reparent your inner child. They talk about how we all adapted to our environments as children and how some of the survival tactics we used back then might not be serving us now. Emmalee and Jen share the inner child work they've personally done, as well as answer your questions about where...2023-01-1644 min

ShrinkChicksStressed About Being StressedToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking all things stress: stress about being stressed, stress management, stress reduction, and the different kinds of stress. They share the skills we can work on to manage our stress, talk about their first experiences with stress, explain how they handle stress now, and dive into why certain kinds of stress are not always bad (hint: procrastination). Emmalee and Jen answer your questions about work/life stress, how to notice stress, and explaining stress to a partner. Plus, a Dear Em & Jen about stress and anxiety when dating and repeatedly getting the "...2023-01-0948 min

ShrinkChicksWhat’s the Deal with Money & Shame?Welcome back to Season 4 of ShrinkChicks! On today's episode, Emmalee and Jen sit down with Tori Dunlap, the amazing woman behind the social media accounts HerFirst100k! Tori is a globally-recognized personal finance educator, podcast host, social media star, and author. They start off the conversation by learning about Tori’s story and how she got started as a financial educator. Emmalee and Jen then ask Tori your questions about guilt and shame surrounding finances and debt, why it can be so hard to talk about money, financial mindsets that have been ingrained in us from a surprisingly young age, ...2023-01-0248 min

ShrinkChicksRewind: How to Set Boundaries with Your Mother-in-Law & MoreToday on ShrinkChicks, we are taking a break from a new episode to spend the holidays practicing what we preach, but didn't want to leave you all hanging! So we're re-releasing our most popular episode from this time last year: How to Set Boundaries with Your Mother-in-Law & More! In this episode, Emmalee and Jen dive into the topic of family dynamics and boundaries and how to navigate them during the Holiday season. Specifically, they discuss the difference of dynamics in our family of origin vs. our in-laws/partner's family, the transition out of our family of origin, expectation setting...2022-12-2644 min

ShrinkChicksGrief is a Lifelong ProcessOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen sit down with one of their amazing clinicians from The Therapy Group, Laura McCorry, LSW. Laura specializes in grief work with her clients and she shares the personal story with us behind why. Through her story, Laura validates the many and complex emotions that come with losing a loved one. Then, Emmalee, Jen, and Laura answer your questions including how to support friends/loved ones experiencing a loss, working towards forgiveness after a person has passed, how to handle anticipatory grief, how to differentiate healthy coping mechanisms vs. destructive ones, an...2022-11-1445 min

ShrinkChicksBreaking Family PatternsThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking all about intergenerational patterns AKA the things that get passed down from generation to generation in our families of origin. They start the episode off by giving examples of intergenerational patterns and trauma and share some of the patterns that exist in both of their families. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions like, are divorce and cheating intergenerational patterns? Is anxiety being passed down inevitable? How do we process anger toward a parent for repeating unhealthy patterns? They also discuss breaking diet culture patterns, relational cut off, seeing our parents...2022-10-3142 min

ShrinkChicksResponding to Those Not "Doing the Work"This week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen dive into part two of people in our lives who aren't "doing the work." They continue to answer listener questions such as how to enjoy these people, when is it "too much," and how to respond to manipulation. They discuss ultimatums and setting the hard boundary, how it can be so hard to receive what we've asked for, grieving the fact that some people in our lives may not change, how different relationships can fulfill us in different ways, and so much more. We also get an update on the new Philadelphia of...2022-09-2645 min

ShrinkChicksAdvice to Our Younger SelvesToday's episode of ShrinkChicks is dedicated to advice for our younger selves. Emmalee and Jen share the advice they would give to their younger selves and also the advice written in by their audience. They start the episode by reminiscing on the early days of The Therapy Group and the amount of anxiety they had while building the business. They talk through how they've grown since then and the advice they had trouble hearing at the time. Emmalee and Jen discuss why they think we can also give this advice to our present selves, their experiences being “the chill gi...2022-09-0551 min

ShrinkChicksIf Couples Therapy Isn't Working with Amelia Innis, LMFTThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by Amelia Innis, LMFT, one of their amazing clinicians at The Therapy Group. Amelia specializes in working with couples and shares her approach to couples therapy, which is rooted in honesty and direction. She discusses the importance of honesty in romantic relationships as well as the therapeutic relationship and why we can't expect our partners to "just know" what we need. Amelia is now offering Couples Intensives at The Therapy Group and she shares what an intensive looks like (hint: it's intense), why a couple might benefit from it, and ho...2022-08-2946 min

ShrinkChicksWhen Strangers Become FamilyOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by Amy Crichton, LMFT, one of their wonderful therapists from The Therapy Group, and her brother, Josh Weaver! Josh and Amy share the incredible story of how they discovered they were siblings just about three years ago. Spoiler alert: our parents' generation did not anticipate DNA test kits being so accessible! Josh explains how he found out that the father who raised him was not his biological father via Ancestry.com, and Amy shares her perspective on how that news impacted her and her family of origin. Tune in to h...2022-08-2250 min

ShrinkChicksYou Don't Have to Like Your In-LawsOn this week's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen bring you the third and final part of the in-laws series! They start the episode off by discussing some DMs received from mothers-in-law about their daughters-in-law and shed some light on the roles we all play in this complicated dynamic. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions about in-laws using guilt as a form of manipulation, what to do if you simply dislike your in-laws, expectations for vacations, being married to the "non-favorite" child and the resentment it can cause, comparing your childhood and upbringing with your partner's, where to start...2022-08-0145 min

ShrinkChicksPsychedelic Assisted Therapy with Jenny Weinar, LCSW*Trigger Warning:* We discuss suicidal ideation in today's episode. If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts, please know that you're not alone. There are so many options and resources out there for you. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial or Text 988Today on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen have the pleasure of sitting down with Jenny Weinar, LCSW! Jenny is trained in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and works with Emmalee, individually, doing KAP treatments! Emmalee and Jenny discuss what KAP entails from start to finish from both of their perspectives, Emmalee's firsthand experience with the treatment and the changes she has...2022-07-2548 min

ShrinkChicksBoundaries & Expectations with In-LawsToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen dive into part two of their in-laws series! The focus this week is all about setting boundaries with in-laws and where to begin when doing so. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions about HOW to set healthy boundaries, what to do when your partner still consults their parents about big life decisions, how to discuss in-law issues with your significant other, protecting your energy around your in-laws, what to do when your partner's family does not respect your boundaries, setting boundaries re: financial support of a family member, boundaries to set before having a...2022-07-1146 min

ShrinkChicksCarrying The Mental LoadToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen break down the buzz term "the mental load" AKA cognitive labor! They discuss gender roles and how the mental load has historically fallen on women, the overfunctioning/underfunctioning dynamic in relationships and what these terms mean and look like, the mental load falling onto the person who cares more, being the default parent and how to divide the mental load when parenting, what to do when you feel like you’re the only one who knows how to do it "right," the mental loads Emmalee and Jen carry in their relationships with their par...2022-06-2044 min

ShrinkChicksQuestions to Ask Before Getting Married with Dr. Alexandra SolomonOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen have the honor of sitting down with the brilliant Dr. Alexandra Solomon! Dr. Solomon is a therapist, author, teacher, fellow podcast host and relationship expert! They start the episode off by talking about the challenges and nuances of Instagram and TikTok therapy. They then ask Dr. Solomon about the class she teaches at Northwestern University called Marriage 101. This leads them into the episode topic: hard conversations to have with a partner before marriage or that next big step in your relationship and where to begin when approaching them. Emmalee, Jen and D...2022-06-1355 min

ShrinkChicksTerry Real Wows "Us" AgainThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are thrilled to have a listener favorite guest, and one of their mentors, Terry Real, back on the podcast to tell us all about his new book: Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship. Terry shares some stories and concepts from the book, how Bruce Springsteen writing the forward of "Us" came to be, the difference between “us” vs. “you and me”, two parts of our brains: the wise adult and the adaptive child and what they mean, fight, flight, freeze, and fix responses to our partners - and which...2022-06-0650 min

ShrinkChicksSetting Emotional BoundariesThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are talking all about emotional boundaries, starting off by defining emotional boundaries and where to begin when setting them. They discuss separating our emotions from others' emotions, how to recognize when you need to do so, and the importance of tone and context. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions like: how to set emotional boundaries when working in a helping field, the concern about coming off as rude or demanding, how to set boundaries when you're scared of hurting others, the fine line between feeling your feelings and setting boundaries around them, pl...2022-05-2340 min

ShrinkChicksHow to Ask For What You NeedOn today’s episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen answer one of our most popular listener questions: how to ask for what you need! They discuss why it can be so hard to ask for what you need, how to begin learning what you need, and give us tangible steps to do so. Emmalee and Jen share how they learned what it was they needed through trial and error, why our childhood experiences can play a big role in asking for what we need, the difference between wants and needs, and so much more! Dear Em & Jen answers a questio...2022-05-1642 min

ShrinkChicksWhat is Energy Healing with JoAnne Hanson, LMFTOn today’s episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by one of The Therapy Group's wonderful therapists, JoAnne Hanson, LMFT! JoAnne is not only a therapist but also an energy healer. Emmalee and Jen talk to JoAnne about WTF energy healing is, her journey to becoming an energy healer, integrating energy healing into traditional talk therapy, what it was like for JoAnne growing up as a highly sensitive person, the "woo continuum," what JoAnne is calling BS on, and so much more! Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action.To get con...2022-05-0941 min

ShrinkChicksHow to Handle RejectionOn today’s episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen cover the topic of rejection. They start the episode off by addressing a listener question that asks “how to get over rejection?” The hard truth is that rejection is inevitable - and so they give us all tangible ways to learn to deal with rejection and the feelings that accompany it. Emmalee and Jen discuss rejection’s connection to shame and embarrassment, the fear of rejection and how to overcome it, how to work on not taking rejection personally, the grieving process that can come after being rejected, their personal experien...2022-05-0243 min

ShrinkChicksWhat to Expect in Couples TherapyThis week, Emmalee and Jen talk about their bread and butter: couples therapy! As Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, couples therapy is one of their favorite topics to demystify. They start by discussing the stigma behind couples therapy and why they wholeheartedly believe in it - from both sides of the couch - because relationships are hard!! They talk about when a couple should seek out therapy, what to expect from couples therapy, the fears going into it, and why it is helpful when their couple clients argue in front of them. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions like wha...2022-04-2543 min

ShrinkChicksNavigating Relationships Through Astrology with Natalie LevinOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by their wonderful Astrologer, Natalie Levin! Natalie shares her expertise with us and starts off with some Astrology 101. She explains what a birth chart is (i.e. sun, moon, and rising signs) and why some people don't feel aligned with their astrological sign. She then does a deep dive into Emmalee and Jen's charts, individually, and also how they intertwine and complement each other. We learn what parts of their personalities their signs confirm, why they're meant to be business partners, and the roles they fulfill for one another...2022-04-1855 min

ShrinkChicksGrieving Unmet ExpectationsThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen cover one of your most requested topics: expectations. They discuss expectations in our romantic relationships, friendships, and with our family members as well as grieving unmet expectations and change and how to categorize this type of grief. They talk about how magical thinking and toxic positivity can play a role in our expectations, realistic vs. unrealistic expectations, and how we develop our own, internal expectations. Emmalee and Jen answer your questions like: how to tell if my expectations are too high, how to grieve former versions of myself, and how to grieve...2022-04-1143 min

ShrinkChicksKnow Yourself Grow Yourself Part TwoAt the end of every episode, Emmalee and Jen always say: "to grow yourself, you gotta know yourself" but what does that really mean? This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen break down their tagline and explain where to start when getting to know yourself. They discuss specific questions to guide us on this journey, how indecisiveness plays a role in knowing ourselves, internal self vs. external self, and the stories they've told themselves about themselves that are no longer true. Emmalee and Jen answer listener questions like: what age did they feel like they knew themselves, how to kno...2022-03-2844 min

ShrinkChicksBaby Mamas Talk Drama with Kail Lowry & Vee RiveraThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by Kail Lowry and Vee Rivera, hosts of the Baby Mamas No Drama Podcast! If you watched Teen Mom 2, you know that Kail and Vee’s relationship started off rocky, but today, Emmalee and Jen learn about their journey from hating each other, to co-parenting, to hosting a podcast together. They discuss the effect that being on reality TV has had on their mental health, their personal relationships, and their relationship with themselves. Kail and Vee discuss how they stay grounded amidst social media trolls, talking to their kids about the...2022-03-2144 min

ShrinkChicksJealousy is a Complex EmotionOn today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen dive into one of their most requested topics: Jealousy! They start off by discussing jealousy as a controversial emotion, the difference between jealousy and envy, why jealousy is a very normal emotion, and the reaction to jealousy vs. the emotion of jealousy. Emmalee and Jen each share the last time they felt jealous or envious and why. They recall times in their business partnership where jealousy crept in, the role radical acceptance can play within jealousy and envy, comparison and what it means, and lastly, a Dear Em & Jen that you d...2022-03-1446 min

ShrinkChicksDysfunctional Family Roles ft. EncantoThis week's episode combines Emmalee and Jen's love for therapy and the Disney movie, Encanto, by discussing how Encanto so perfectly depicts family systems. Emmalee and Jen tell us about common, family roles we take on like the “caretaker” or the “scapegoat," how these roles can serve us and be reinforced externally, the story your family tells about you vs. what your story actually is, how trauma can inform these family roles, vulnerability, being the helpful one, and of course, Emmalee’s rendition of We Don’t Talk About Bruno. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action!...2022-02-1442 min

ShrinkChicksBody Image, Diet Culture, & a Ton of Bullsh*tThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by one of their amazing clinicians, Katie Bongiorno, LMFT, to talk about her new e-course: Achieving Authentic Balance in Your Body. They start off by telling the story of how Katie was hired at The Therapy Group (hint: it involves her dog) and then they dive into her e-course (launching TOMORROW) all about body image and learning to reject diet culture. Katie shares her personal journey that inspired her to create this course. She defines diet culture for us, tells us which social media trends she can't stand, and calls...2022-01-3145 min

ShrinkChicksDoes Sibling Rivalry Ever End?On today's episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen talk all about sibling relationships. They discuss birth order, sibling conflict, only children, reconnecting with your siblings as adults, favoritism and so much more. Emmalee and Jen are both the youngest siblings in their family's of origin and they share some insight into what it was like growing up with older brothers. Dear Em & Jen answers a listener question about a parent favoriting a sibling and how to cope. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action!If you want to watch ShrinkChicks episodes on YouTube...2022-01-2445 min

ShrinkChicksHow to Set Boundaries with Your Mother-in-Law & MoreThis week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen dive into the topic of family dynamics and boundaries and how to navigate them during the Holiday season. Specifically, they discuss the difference of dynamics in our family of origin vs. our in-laws/partner's family, the transition out of our family of origin, expectation setting, and family traditions and rules that may be different from what we’re used to. Emmalee and Jen finish the episode with some tangible examples of boundary setting by doing a role play. Hint: Jen is the mother-in-law. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action!...2021-12-2043 min

ShrinkChicksEm & Jen Explain EnmeshmentToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen explain what enmeshment is. You might have heard similar terms used like codependency or fusion, as they can look incredibly similar. They go into what enmeshed relationships look like in families, in romantic partnerships, and even at work. Enmeshment and boundaries go hand in hand, and Emmalee and Jen walk us through how to start setting specific boundaries within enmeshed relationships and how to create consciousness around it.If you want to watch ShrinkChicks episodes on YouTube, you can find our channel here! https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3...2021-11-1540 min

ShrinkChicksCareer Transitions & Trusting Your Gut with Nikki CoxOn today’s episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen introduce you all to Nikki, their ShrinkChicks producer and Head of Operations of The Therapy Group! She talks about how she got her job (hint: she was a listener who DM’ed Em and Jen), the steps she took to make a major career shift, the biggest surprise about working for Emmalee and Jen, imposter syndrome, her fear of public speaking, what she’s calling BS on, and so much more! Tune in to hear her story!Thanks to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We hav...2021-10-1856 min

ShrinkChicksThe Power of Fierce Intimacy with Terry RealToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen have the pleasure of sitting down with Terry Real, an internationally recognized Couples & Family Therapist, speaker, and best selling author. Terry has worked with thousands of women and men, parents and non-parents, to help them create the connection they desire in their relationships. Emmalee and Jen talk with Terry about honesty and how important it is to speak up in our romantic relationships, vulnerability and how to encourage our husbands, boyfriends, partners to share their emotions, why women are the ones who initiate divorce 75% of the time, and that it’s okay (and ofte...2021-10-1154 min

ShrinkChicksPersonal Self vs. Professional SelfToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen explore the differences between our personal and professional selves. They talk about starting their business, imposter syndrome, authenticity in the workplace, different work environments, and how therapists are taught to be a blank slate. Emmalee and Jen share the fears they both had when deciding to start The Therapy Group and the story of when they got their first call from a potential client. Dear Em & Jen answers the question: Any tips on dealing with my significant other's toxic family? Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action!Tha...2021-09-2744 min

ShrinkChicksPurity Culture Dropout with Erica Smith, M.Ed.Today on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are joined by the amazing Erica Smith, M.Ed., sex educator and creator of the Purity Culture Dropout Program. Erica educates us all on purity culture and what it looks like in our world today. They discuss Erica's path to becoming a sex educator and the work she does to help her clients recover from the effects of purity culture. They cover topics like dress codes in schools, abstinence only sex education and why it doesn't work, how abortion became a central part of American politics, and so much more. Tune in to fi...2021-09-1357 min

ShrinkChicksChallenging the Stories We Tell Ourselves About OurselvesToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen discuss a type of therapy called Narrative Therapy. They explain what Narrative Therapy is, how it's used with clients, and how we can begin to challenge the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. They talk about where these stories can originate, the roles we take on in our families of origin such as "the shy one," the narratives Em and Jen learned to believe about themselves, personally, and how the two of them challenge those stories now. We also meet Jen's new kitten, Nelly, and learn some exciting news about Emmalee and Jen's t...2021-08-0942 min

ShrinkChicksParts of Ourselves that are Healed vs. The Parts that are Still HealingToday on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee tells Jen two stories from her weekend that Jen is hearing for the first time on air. Hint: you won't believe them, either! In processing these stories, Emmalee and Jen discuss how some parts of ourselves can feel healed while others can feel like a work in progress. They talk Mom shaming, society's expectations of Mom's and women and how those expectations are wildly different than they are for Dad's and men, and why on Earth people feel that they can make comments about someone they know nothing about. Dear Em & Jen features a question o...2021-07-2645 min

ShrinkChicksDemystifying Couples Therapy with Nicole Lewis, LMFTThis week, Emmalee and Jen are joined by one of their wonderful @thetherapygrp therapists, Nicole Lewis, LMFT to demystify couples therapy. Nicole works primarily with couples and gives us insight into what really goes on in the room. Does the therapist take sides? Can the therapist keep one partner's secret from the other? Can they give direct advice like: "you should break-up"? Tune in to find out! Thanks to Dew Edit for sponsoring today's episode! Use the one time code SHRINKCHICKS for 15% off your first purchase at DewEdit.com.2021-05-1045 min

ShrinkChicksAddressing the Fear of Being Single Forever with Mary Chen, LMFTLacking a close romantic relationship when one is desired taps into core human fears of rejection and isolation. Connection, understanding, sharing, all of the things that can make successful relationships so fulfilling can bury the individual under a mountain of dread when an unsuccessful relationship or period of loneliness convinces them that maybe finding a partner just isn't in the cards. This week, Emmalee and Jen are joined by fellow LMFT Mary Chen to discuss the healthy way to confront your fear of going through life without a partner and how your misconceptions of "the one" might be getting i...2021-02-081h 00

ShrinkChicksThe Cycle of Abuse in Relationships with Kaitlyn Peabody, LMFTTrigger Warning: Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Sexual Assault, ViolenceAbuse has the ability to transcend an individual relationship and continue to affect the lives of survivors if not treated with care. This week, fellow Marriage and Family Therapist Kaitlyn Peabody (@therapywithkate) joins Emmalee and Jen to discuss solutions for stopping the cyclical power of abuse in its tracks.Resources:thehotline.org800.799.SAFE (7233)Blog post: http://www.wctherapygroup.com/blog/12-types-of-emotional-abuse-that-arent-physical-violence 2020-12-2153 min

ShrinkChicksThe Psychology of Cults with Rachel Bernstein, LMFTThis week, fellow podcast host and LMFT, cult specialist, Rachel Bernstein, explores the mentality and psychology of cult membership with Emmalee and Jen. Rachel speaks about how and why people are drawn into cults, what keeps them there, and the aftermath that can occur if they leave. She was recently featured in the STARZ Documentary Seduced: Inside The NXIVM Cult, and touches on her experience with that, too.To hear more about this subject or get in touch with Rachel, see below:http://www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/bernsteinlmft...2020-12-141h 06

ShrinkChicksThe One Where Emmalee Has A MiscarriageThis week, Emmalee and Jen respond to stories and questions they have received about fertility problems and the struggles of childbirth, with Emmalee's own experience with miscarriage serving as a framework to talk about one of the more stigmatized crises in physical and emotional health.2020-12-0749 min