Shows
A Hero's Welcome PodcastEMDR Sandtray based Therapy by Ana M. GómezSend us a textWhen words collapse under the weight of trauma, symbols step in with clarity and care. We sit down with Anna Gomez to explore how EMDR and sand tray therapy, used together, create a safer path into memory networks, one that honors culture, protects against flooding, and invites healing to unfold at the nervous system’s pace. From the first touch of sand to the choice of a miniature, the tray becomes a living map of autonomic states, attachment patterns, and dissociative parts, allowing clients to express what feels unsayable.We dive in...
2025-11-1332 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastUsing D&D as a Healing Tool with Erika WalkerSend us a textErika brings Dungeons & Dragons into therapy sessions, creating transformative healing experiences for clients through role-playing games and character development.• Using D&D with clients to build characters and create new therapy modalities• Personal journey with D&D helping develop real-world skills like confrontation• Client's story of choosing friendship over combat reveals therapeutic needs• Facing resistance from traditional play therapy circles despite proven effectiveness• Creating accessible D&D sand tray therapy tools for therapists with no gaming experience• Challenging therapy systems that reject innovation they don't understand• Advoca...
2025-10-2344 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastRemoving Your Armor: Embracing Authenticity with Miranda StollSend us a textMiranda shares how we can create the life we want by letting go of fear and embracing our authentic selves through the removal of protective armor that no longer serves us.• Exploring how our "armor" protects us from vulnerability but also prevents authentic connection• Teaching children to question their protective responses rather than automatically armoring up• Understanding how burnout happens when therapists try to "save" clients instead of supporting their journey• Recognizing when comparisons to idealized therapist images cause us unnecessary suffering• Learning to pause and reconnect with our t...
2025-10-0936 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastTravel Hacking Your Way to Therapist Wellness: A Conversation with Allison RimlandSend us a textWe explore how pursuing personal passions, such as travel, can serve as a powerful burnout prevention strategy for therapists, with special guest Allison Rimland sharing her journey after losing her father and discovering the world of travel hacking.Allison shares how her father's sudden death prompted her to reconsider priorities and follow her parents' example of making travel a life priority. Introduction to travel hacking through home exchanges and credit card points as affordable ways to explore the worldDiscussion of the unique burnout challenges faced by supervisors who carry both their clients' s...
2025-09-2540 minA Hero's Welcome PodcastThe Therapist's Journey with Maria & LilianaSend us a textThe secret evolution of therapists that nobody talks about in graduate school - from survival mode to seasoned professional, Maria and Liliana crack open the unspoken developmental journey that shapes our careers and lives as mental health professionals.Remember that idealistic student who entered the field ready to change lives? Then reality hit - staggering student debt met with jobs (not careers) where you felt easily replaceable rather than valued. This episode compassionately maps the typical progression: freshly-licensed clinician in survival mode, licensed professional accumulating certifications, supervisor carrying tremendous liability, and...
2025-09-1119 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastBeyond Burnout: Discovering Your Authentic Professional Self with Madison DuranSend us a textProfessional identity formation is a crucial yet often overlooked process for preventing burnout and achieving fulfillment in the mental health field.Burnout symptoms closely mirror those of an identity crisisMany clinicians experience burnout within just 2-5 years of practiceProfessional identity involves aligning personal values with professional workTransitioning from training to practice requires developing your voiceNavigating insurance systems often creates value conflictsMixed messages from employers create professional confusionFinding role models helps shape your professional identityA strong professional identity acts as a GPS for career decisionsProfessional identity formation is an ongoing process, not a...
2025-08-2135 min
Radio UVOye, lee y dile - Diego SalasAlma Espinosa, Germán Martínez y Liliana Calatayud nos comparten una nueva emisión de Oye, lee y dile, el espacio radiofónico de la Editorial UV. Hoy disfrutaremos de una charla con Diego Salas, quien nos habla sobre el libro: Será de abismos la tela en que descanses.
2025-08-1923 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastSITH Conference 2025: The Legal Arena: Playing by the Rules and Advocating for ClientsThrough Play Therapy & Clinical Expertise with Val BrunoSend us a textWe welcome special guest Val to discuss her upcoming session at the SITH Conference, which focuses on helping clinicians navigate the legal arena with confidence. Val shares her expertise as a translator between the therapeutic world and legal settings, helping therapists understand how to effectively advocate for their clients in court.• SITH (Supportive Innovations for Therapeutic Heroes) is an in-person conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico, October 9-11• This year's conference focuses on the legal arena and court-involved cases• Val will present on "The Legal Arena: Playing by the Rules...
2025-08-1510 minA Hero's Welcome PodcastSITH Conference 2025: Rooted & Resilient: Healing Ourselves While We Heal Systems with Maria Laquerre-DiegoSend us a textMaria introduces the SITH (Supportive Innovation for Therapeutic Heroes) conference, taking place in Las Cruces this October, featuring her session, "Rooted and Resilient: Healing Ourselves While we Heal Systems."• SITH conference provides in-person learning with a fun, geeky pop culture vibe for therapists• Maria's session focuses on therapist self-healing while working in depleting systems• Conference specifically addresses court-involved cases and high-stress clinical situations• Session will explore expressive arts, journaling, and sand work as self-healing modalities• Honest discussions about systems that make clinical work difficult, including sociopolitical and family sys...
2025-08-1505 minA Hero's Welcome PodcastSITH Conference 2025: Join us for a deep dive into Beyond Borders & Supervising with Caution with Liliana BaylonSend us a textLiliana joins us to preview her two upcoming workshops at the SITH conference in Las Cruces this October, focusing on cultural humility in mental health and ethical supervision practices. Her unique approach combines her experience as a migrant, her passion for ethics, and her training across multiple supervision models to offer fresh perspectives that go beyond stereotypical checklists.• Liliana will present two workshops: "Beyond Borders: Culturally Responsive & Ethical Care in Play Therapy and Mental Health" and "Supervising with Caution: Legal Pitfalls and Protections in Play Therapy"• Unlike typical train...
2025-08-1508 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastSITH Conference 2025 - The Force Within the Family with Jen ShiveySend us a textWe delve into the upcoming SITH Conference (Supportive Innovations for Therapeutic Heroes) taking place October 9-11 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with a special focus on court-involved cases and family systems work in play therapy.• Jenny discusses her conference session "The Force Within the Family" focusing on family dynamics in play therapy• Importance of working with the entire family system rather than just the child in therapy• How to engage with the trifecta of home, school, and therapy for lasting change• Special focus on LGBTQ+ affirming approaches to family t...
2025-08-1411 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastBalancing Ethics and Flexibility Creates Better Therapy with Dr. Dana WyssSend us a textHow do we honor therapeutic boundaries while truly meeting clients where they are? In this thought-provoking reunion episode with Dr. Dana Weiss, we explore the delicate dance between ethical practice and therapeutic flexibility.Dana shares a compelling case study of working with a client in a domestic violence situation who splits time between countries, illustrating the complex decisions therapists face when standard practices don't fit unique client circumstances. Rather than rigid adherence to convention, Dana demonstrates how thoughtful adaptation—increasing session frequency when the client is available, creating personalized therapeutic tools, an...
2025-08-0736 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastNavigating High-Conflict Divorce Therapy with Berenice Leon-FonsecaSend us a textFew therapists willingly choose to work with high-conflict divorce cases. The fear of subpoenas, licensing board complaints, and getting caught in legal crossfire keeps many clinicians from helping the families who may need them most. But Berenice Leon Fonseca sees things differently.Drawing from her unique background in law and family therapy, Berenice illuminates the path for therapists who want to serve families navigating the painful journey of separation but feel intimidated by court involvement. She challenges the profession's tendency toward fear-based avoidance, asking a powerful question: "When we hear somebody...
2025-07-2439 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastBeyond Control: How Behavior Speaks with Robyn GobbelSend us a textDemystifying the complex world of childhood trauma behaviors demands more than clinical knowledge—it requires a profound shift in how we view challenging behaviors altogether. Robin, a seasoned former therapist who specialized in supporting families of children with trauma histories, joins us to transform how we interpret behavior that seems baffling, dangerous, or personally directed.At the heart of this conversation lies a powerful truth: all behavior is communication. Robin shares how this simple-yet-revolutionary perspective changed not just her clinical effectiveness but her entire job satisfaction. For therapists overwhelmed by children's di...
2025-07-1038 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastThe Role of Attachment and Mentorship with Clair MellenthinSend us a textDiscover the transformative power of earned security in attachment theory with the insightful Clair Mellenthin, the brilliant mind behind Attachment-Centered Play Therapy. Clair unveils her pioneering research on the journey of registered play therapists, highlighting how their attachment histories deeply influence their professional and personal lives. This conversation offers a beacon of hope, emphasizing that early relationship patterns are not set in stone and can evolve through nurturing surrogate attachments like mentors and supervisors, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.We explore the significant impact of mentorship and its profound...
2025-06-2640 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastOfficers' Path to Personal Growth and Well-being with Anjuli R. ThompsonSend us a textEver wonder how law enforcement officers manage their roles' immense stress while maintaining their identities? Our insightful guest, Anjuli Raven Thompson, a licensed professional counselor supervisor, steps into the spotlight to share her fascinating journey as a mental health advocate for police officers. Inspired by her husband's lengthy career in law enforcement, Anjali has carved out a unique niche by integrating synergetic play therapy into her work, offering officers a tailored approach to mental health support.Empathy and authenticity are at the heart of our conversation, and we emphasize the necessity...
2025-06-1240 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastEmbracing Cultural Sensitivity and Early Relational Health with Dr. Meyleen VelasquezSend us a textDr. Meyleen Velasquez, an inspiring Latina clinician, joins us to share her profound journey in mental health, shaped by her own life with vitiligo and her dedication to working with perinatal and early relational health. Embarking on this path in Miami, she was one of the few Spanish-speaking clinicians, leading her to specialize in play therapy. We explore her newly published book, "What Therapists Need to Know About Perinatal and Early Relational Health," which provides an anti-oppressive framework for supporting pregnant individuals and families with young children. Listen as Dr. Velasquez emphasizes the...
2025-05-2242 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastUnderstanding Intergenerational Trauma with Mili ShoemakerSend us a textUnlock the secrets of intergenerational trauma with Milagros "Mili" Sarmiento Shoemaker, a distinguished therapist who bridges cultures from Argentina to the United States. Have you ever wondered how the experiences of your ancestors shape your life today? This episode promises insights into understanding trauma as a survival mechanism that transcends generations, using historical contexts, like wars and migrations, to illustrate the invisible threads connecting us to our past.Our conversation with Mili dives deep into the layers of generational healing, where we explore the unique privilege and responsibility our generation holds...
2025-05-0839 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastUnpacking Domestic Violence: Beyond Physical Abuse with Sybil CumminSend us a textJoin us for a compelling conversation with Sybil Cummin, a licensed professional counselor whose expertise in domestic violence sheds light on a topic often misunderstood. Sybil takes us beyond the physical aspects of abuse, highlighting the more subtle yet equally damaging forms of control and manipulation that can infiltrate relationships. From financial manipulation to spiritual abuse, Sybil unpacks the various ways one partner can exert power over another, urging us to recognize these signs early on.We challenge societal stereotypes and cultural misconceptions that simplify domestic abuse to mere physical violence...
2025-04-2438 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastNavigating Neurodiversity in Mental Health with Dr. Robert Jason GrantSend us a textWhat happens when the professional world of mental health meets the personal journey of neurodivergence? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Robert Jason Grant, who shares his profound experience of being diagnosed with sensory processing disorder as an adult. Dr. Grant opens up about the internalized ableism he faced and the role the autistic community played in his journey towards acceptance. We explore the often conditional acceptance of diversity in professional settings and the pressures neurodivergent professionals experience to conceal parts of their identity. This episode shines a light on the...
2025-04-1037 minA Hero's Welcome Podcast🎙️ Bonus Episode: Challenging Hustle Culture with Maria Diego and Liliana BaylonSend us a textWhat if the relentless drive for success is harming you? Join Maria Diego and Liliana Baylon as they critically examine the hustle culture that saturates the mental health field. Inspired by their recent book club reading, "Dynamic Drive," they share personal experiences from their rigorous academic journeys and career paths. Together, they challenge the idea that relentless hustling is necessary for success, especially when it comes at the cost of personal well-being. This episode encourages you to reconsider your definitions of success and explores healthier, more sustainable approaches to professional growth....
2025-04-0331 minA Hero's Welcome PodcastTrauma Response: Supporting Mental Health Clinicians in CrisisSend us a textWhen tragedy strikes a community, mental health professionals rush to provide support—but who supports them? This candid conversation explores the often-overlooked challenges faced by therapists in the aftermath of a recent mass shooting in Las Cruces, New Mexico.We dive into the harsh reality that mental health providers are expected to function as first responders without receiving the recognition, resources, or support given to other emergency personnel. Despite carrying traumatic stories day after day, therapists are left to navigate their emotional responses while continuing to show up for clients in cr...
2025-03-2726 minA Hero's Welcome PodcastMass Shootings and Mental Health: Who Helps the Helpers?Send us a textWhen tragedy strikes a community, mental health professionals rush to provide support—but who supports them? This candid conversation explores the often-overlooked challenges faced by therapists in the aftermath of a recent mass shooting in Las Cruces, New Mexico.We dive into the harsh reality that mental health providers are expected to function as first responders without receiving the recognition, resources, or support given to other emergency personnel. Despite carrying traumatic stories day after day, therapists are left to navigate their own emotional responses while continuing to show up for clients in...
2025-03-2701 minA Hero's Welcome PodcastChoosing Your Battles: Mental Health ActivismSend us a textWhat happens when the cost of having your voice heard threatens your wellbeing? In this raw, unplanned conversation, we explore the painful reality many professionals face: choosing which battles to fight and which to walk away from.The discussion begins with a triggering incident in a professional setting where unprofessional behavior created a hostile environment. From there, we unpack the specific challenges faced by those with "dynamic disabilities" – conditions that aren't immediately visible but significantly impact daily life. "But you look fine" becomes a phrase that dismisses real suffering and forces ma...
2025-03-2119 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastThe Transformative Power of Play with Jackie FlynnSend us a textExplore the transformative world of play therapy with our insightful guest, Jackie Flynn, a passionate mental health counselor and play therapist from Central Florida. In this enlightening episode, we unpack the power of play therapy to heal psychological trauma across all ages, thanks to the brain's remarkable ability to adapt and change. Jacqueline shares her inspirational journey and dedication to making mental health resources more accessible, especially within BIPOC communities. Recognized by EMDRIA for her advocacy, she elucidates the profound therapeutic value of play, underscoring it as a vital healing process rather than...
2025-03-1335 min
testimoniosClaudia Véliz: "Pedimos el cartel de Diego el vereda de la comisaría"El sexto de sus nueve hijos tenía 20 años cuando expiró el 14 de marzo de 2012 tras ser detenido ilegalmente y torturado por una horda de policías de la ciudad de Catamarca. El juicio realizado en 2022 mandó a tres a la cárcel, pero ninguno responde por el homicidio. La Justicia ahora quiere indagar a dos misteriosamente excluidos del proceso oral y público.«Si se me nota agitada es porque vengo camino a la Virgencita del Valle de nuestra ciudad de Catamarca; le vengo a pedir por todas las necesidades; entre ellas, que nos ayude a que pu...
2025-03-0312 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastTransforming Mental Health Experiences for BIPOC Communities with Joy EwingSend us a textWhat if mental health care could be as inviting as a spa day? We sit down with Joy Ewing, a trailblazer in holistic therapy and owner of Joy Life Counseling, to uncover how she's transforming mental health support for the BIPOC community in Aurora, Colorado. Joy shares her groundbreaking approaches, including emotionally focused therapy (EFT), EMDR for trauma, and alternative therapies like neurofeedback and yoga, all tailored to meet the unique needs of her clients. Her practice stands out by offering specialized support groups, such as those for Black mothers, and community-building activities...
2025-02-2832 min