Shows
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 117: LJ"Things started to get hard...when I realized there were beauty standards," LJ told Renée. LJ was adopted from South Korea by when she was 6 months old. Growing up in Vermont, she found herself paradoxically situated between the progressive political spirit of the Northeast and its pervasive, problematic whiteness. LJ is a mental health counselor and smart as a whip, so she is able to explain beautifully the complicated intersections of her racial and sexual identity development. As she does, she and Renée discuss everything from fetishization to white fragility to how the state of Vermont is "in...2025-06-041h 45
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 116: MEGANMegan's earliest memory is of being abused, and that abuse remained a defining feature of her childhood, along with significant neglect. She spent part of her childhood in foster homes, part with her grandparents, and part navigating her mother's mental illness and addiction. Her history is so traumatic that Renée can barely control her reactions (and, you know, she barely tries), but Megan is remarkably resilient and ready to sort out the horrors of her upbringing and the abusive relationships that followed. In the process, she and Renée discuss neurodivergence, intergenerational trauma, fragile egos, addiction, childbirth, and mo...2025-05-282h 17
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 115: IMANIImani came to the show to talk about America's favorite symptom: anxiety. In the last few months, the anxiety that Imani has suffered since middle school has increased significantly, and she has no idea why. The question is particularly tricky because Imani has much less content than our usual guest. Renée is up for the challenge, though! She investigates, combing through Imani's childhood and adolescence, ultimately separating her functional anxiety from her dysfunctional anxiety, her trauma from her stress, and her physiological symptoms from her psychological symptoms. By the end, Imani has a comprehensive plan for resolving her l...2025-05-211h 13
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 114: MIKEThe laughter starts at the very beginning this week. Mike is a brilliant storyteller with a particularly compelling voice, and he makes Renée laugh - a lot. But don't let his buoyant humor fool you: Mike has been through it. "I would just sit at home and cry," he explains of the long stretches of time in his life when he has been lost in emotional pain. To make matters more difficult, Mike cannot pinpoint the exact source of his distress. He and Renée sort through the delusions, depressions, and difficulties that have defined his three decades of...2025-05-142h 02
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 113: HANNAHWhen Hannah was seven months old, her parents sent her to live with a foster mother, and it would be four years before she was reunited with her family. The strangest part about this is that it wasn't strange at all; at the time, this was a common arrangement for Nigerian families in the UK. Hannah's story continues to be unpredictable and unique: she went from military school and the Merchant Marines to earning an MFA in Creative Writing and hosting a cannabis literary club. She comes to the show because she wants to stop making herself smaller for...2025-05-072h 12
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 112: RAFAEL"I sometimes wish I could turn it off," Rafael told Renée about his emotional intensity. It's hard to believe when you first hear him - his energy is lighthearted and gentle, and his story starts out relatively uneventful - but Rafael is only recently recovered from polysubstance addiction. A series of difficult losses sent him seeking relief with self-medication, and soon he was taking Xanax bars before family Seders. Now at 27 and with two years of sobriety under his belt, Rafael finds himself struggling with feelings of worthlessness. He came to the show hoping Renée can help hi...2025-04-301h 44
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 111: PAIGEThis episode talks in detail about rape."I've actually been really scared to talk about these things," Paige told Renée as she started to tell her story and lose her breath. Paige had a relatively happy childhood and an appropriately "boy crazy" adolescence. Unfortunately, her first boyfriend was so abusive and controlling that, until recently, she kept the details of the five-year relationship buried far away from her consciousness. Now a happily married, 32 year-old mother of three, Paige finds herself suddenly overcome by the trauma - memories, feelings, all of it -- and she has come t...2025-04-231h 55
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 110: CHAD"It's an abusive relationship sometimes," Chad told Renée. He wasn't talking about his love life - he was talking about his job. Chad, who brings equal parts strength and sensitivity to the conversation (not to mention a seriously soothing voice), works as a 911 Dispatcher, and, as he explains, he often wants out but just can't leave. This relationship with his job is a big part of the reason Chad has come to the show; he is hoping Renée can help him let go of the stress he carries not only because his job is inherently stressful, but al...2025-04-162h 25
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 109: JESSJess was raised in the Mormon church and was a perfectly happy child - until she was sexually assaulted by two neighbors at 11 years old. Even at that young age, she had the self-possession to report the incident, only to be told by the church that the assault was her fault. This was the origin of Jess's "bad picker," as she calls it; she found herself drawn to abusive relationships before extricating herself from the church and its dogma. The journey from oppression to autonomy was dynamic and deeply difficult, and, Jess is ready to share the whole story...2025-04-091h 49
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 108: CHRISChris had a happy childhood. He has an aspirational marriage. He loves his job. So what the hell is he doing on the show? Well, Chris had a happy childhood, but his brother did not, and this difference has strained their relationship to near estrangement - and that is what Chris is doing on the show. Not only does he want help navigating the conflict with his brother, but he also wants to protect the relationships he has with his brother's kids - without betraying his own boundaries. Fortunately for Chris, Renée loves few things more than analyzing m...2025-04-021h 23
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 107: TATIANA"I remember dieting a lot," Tatiana explained to Renée about her childhood, recalling that her mother regularly told her "You'd look prettier if you lost twenty pounds." Her mother's constant criticism corrupted not only Tatiana's relationship with food but also her relationships in general - with herself, with partners, with her body. Tatiana is startlingly wise for her age; her insight, intelligence, and vulnerability make her story even more compelling, and the content is compelling enough on its own: mothers, eating disorders, body image, alcohol, adderall, abandonment, codependency, boundaries, depression, medication, love bombing, and that's not all. Tatiana h...2025-03-262h 11
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 106: REAL TALK WITH RENEEHey everyone; this is Renée. The first thing you need to know about this week's episode is that it's not a real episode. It's a long-form placeholder. There was a bit of a disaster with tonight's episode (hint: the disaster's name starts with R and hosts the show), and you know there is no way I was going to skip a week of content without at least letting you know what's going on. So this was intended to be a brief explanation, but as usual I kept talking. If you are looking for the engaging guests, informative content, a...2025-03-1930 min
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 105: JESUS"Well now you've made it much more complicated!" Jesus told Renée when she offered an explanation for his social isolation. Indeed, Jesus came on the show hoping to promote his comedy and have a quick conversation - but you know Renée can't let him off that easily. Instead, she took Jesus on a deep dive into his history of self-proclaimed "not caring." He didn't care about school, he doesn't care about socializing, and he doesn't care about not caring. What's going on? Well, Jesus didn't really care about that, either, until Renée stumbled onto some juicy det...2025-03-121h 16
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 104: KIMBERLY"I can't move past it," Kimberly explained to Renée, referring to the loss of her closest friendship. The loss of the friendship was complicated by the loss of a baby, and now Kimberly finds herself dealing with what she can best describe as "survivor's guilt." When she and Renée dug into the situation, it became clear that Kimberly is still, years after the friendship fracture, in deep pain - and as they dug even deeper, they found that there is lot more going on than just this break-up. Kimberly is brave and vulnerable and smart, and she ma...2025-03-051h 37
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 103: JAYE"I was just born sponge-y," Jaye told Renée, explaining her exquisite sensitivities. These sensitivities made for a challenging childhood, one that would have been difficult for any child given Jaye's emotionally neglectful and conflict-ridden home. Now a 37 year-old therapist in the UK, Jaye has healed many of her old wounds, but there are still some pain points that traditional therapy has not addressed. Specifically, Jaye struggles with boundary setting, is plagued by persistently negative self-talk, and finds herself regularly "trodden on" by others; she comes to the show hoping Renée can answer the age-old question: Is it me...2025-02-261h 52
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 101: ALLYAlly, a former middle school teacher turned professional artist, has come to the show to talk about two of therapy's favorite topics: parents and boundaries. Specifically, Ally needs help setting boundaries with her parents - the trick is, she wants to do so without confrontation. Renée accepts the challenge, and as she formulates a plan for Ally, they make a few stops at other topics: toxic teachers, teenagers, bullying, anxiety, friendships, money, and more. Ally has a lovely voice, a fast dry wit, and some tricky family dynamics to navigate. It all gets sorted in a fun, fast-paced c...2025-02-122h 04
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 100: TORIEWhen Renée asked Torie what she does for work, Torie responded, "Ugh. You're going to hate this. I'm a lawyer." This was only one of many times that Torie made Renée laugh out loud. Hilarious and whip-smart, Torie grew up in an "enmeshed" family that survived both her mother's brain tumors and her father's catastrophic car accident. She navigated severe anxiety as a child, postpartum depression as a new mom, and, most recently, an existential crisis. She comes to the show hoping Renée can help her map out a path to the life satisfaction that has so...2025-02-051h 54
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 99: LAYLA"I'm the mediator...I'm the oldest everything," Layla told Renée. While she is the oldest child in her immediate family and the oldest cousin in her extended family, Layla is the youngest guest we have ever had on the show. You'd never guess that from listening to her, though; she is wise beyond her years and lovely in every way. She is also carrying a timeless burden, one that most of us unpack much later in life. Layla brings all the podcast favorites to this episode - fragile ego responses, enmeshment, codependency, complex trauma - and she asks s...2025-01-291h 30
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 98: CHRISTYChristy reached out to Renée in a Q&A with this question: "My skin gets red and blotchy whenever I'm around cis men. What's going on?" Since Renée needed a lot more information before she could formulate an answer, she and Christy and decided to sort it out on the show. They look at Christy's childhood, her marriage, her experience as a parent - all of it - ultimately arriving at a fascinating explanation, one that both Renée and Christy are quite excited about. And get this: it's NOT trauma! What is it, then? Well, the ans...2025-01-221h 20
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 97: DEENA"I don't really want to talk about this at all, but let's do it," Deena told Renée when they started talking. Deena, a performing artist, has a brilliant dry wit - but in this case she was only half-joking. She has a bunch of painful content that she'd rather ignore; fortunately, she's too smart for that, so she has come to the show for help unpacking the knot of depression and trauma she has been carrying for years. And that's not all: she and Renée talk about ADHD and how it can complicate friendships, people-pleasing behaviors, what "he...2025-01-151h 36
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 95: NEW YEAR'S SPECIALRenée is back with one more episode of storytelling and psycho-education to kick off the new year. This week, she narrates the series of disasters that hit just as she was leaving Italy and makes meaning from the madness. Then, she answers listeners' questions about domestic violence, the ego, and defense mechanisms. Next week, we return to our usual format with some amazing guests. Until then, sink your teeth into some meaty content delivered with Renée's characteristic unfiltered, unedited, unchecked energy.Support the show2025-01-011h 30
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 94: YEAR END WRAP UP!Renée continues last week's series of episodes from Italy in trademark style: unplanned, unedited, and with a lot of words. This week, she talks about being a gluten-free vegan in the land of pizza and pasta before answering a few particularly interesting listener questions. Topics include why so many married couples are breaking up, how to tell your partner you're upset without causing a fight, and the best ways to intervene on panic and anxiety attacks. Plus, there's a bonus section at the very end that was recorded only moments before the episode aired in which Renée se...2024-12-252h 07
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 93: Q&A WITH RENEEWe take a break from our regular programming this week so that Renée can catch up on some juicy questions from listeners. Topics include fractured relationships, EMDR, phobias, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. And as always with Renée-only episodes, it's raw! No editing, no breath work breaks, just a whole lot of information. If you have a question for Renée that didn't make it to this episode, don't despair. There will be another, longer Q&A episode coming very soon, so keep those questions coming!Support the show2024-12-1847 min
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 92: MICKAYLAMickayla is a stand-up comedian, which makes her an excellent storyteller, and she has quite the story to tell - one she has never told before. She decided to come to the show after realizing that the trauma of her marriage is interfering with her new single life; she is constantly triggered in her new relationships, and she feels her depression creeping back to full strength. To make it more complicated, Mickayla does not currently have access to therapy or EMDR, though she has done both in the past. Fortunately, Renée picks up where Mickayla's past work in th...2024-12-111h 44
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 91: MICHELLE"I call it my 'splat from grace!'" Michelle told Renée. "My entire life turned upside down with my divorce." She isn't kidding. Michelle's marriage started out "fairy tale-esque" and devolved into an abusive nightmare over the course of 18 years. She comes to the podcast hoping Renée can help her deal with the worst consequence of her family's fracture: her broken relationship with her adult son. In order to get it sorted, Renée follows Michelle through the dramatic narrative that begins with Michelle's dream family and ends with her son refusing to speak to her. Fortunately for...2024-12-041h 51
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 90: TRAVISTravis was diagnosed with both depression and ADHD as an adult, and recently his symptoms have intensified to the point that they are creating problems in his marriage and sabotaging his satisfaction with life in general. "I've stopped trying to pursue things that I want," he explained to Renée. Travis came to the show in the hopes that Renée can help him manage his executive dysfunction and recapture his initiative. And so she does, clarifying the relationship between ADHD and depression before giving Travis actionable strategies for managing his symptoms, restoring harmony in his marriage, and finding hi...2024-11-271h 13
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 89: ALYSSA G."I was the kind of kid that made friends with my bully," Alyssa told Renée. This didn't help her much, because the bullying was rampant. She was bullied at school all day, every year, only to come home to the biggest bully of all: her father. Add to that the facts that Alyssa grew up racially isolated and that her parents' divorce only intensified her father's abuse, and you get a nasty web of complex trauma. Alyssa comes to the show looking for help with the present, however, specifically a friend break-up that she can't get over. As i...2024-11-201h 30
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 88: MARK"Here I am two years later and I still think about her every day," Mark told Renée, referring to his ex-wife. His first marriage survived his partner's affair and went on to produce two children before ending amicably in divorce. His second marriage came to a much pricklier conclusion, and Mark is still struggling to accept and process its end. He came to the show hoping Renée can help him "get closure and move on." And get this: he specifically wants some guidance around his own relationship behaviors, which he identifies as narcissistic and abusive. You read th...2024-11-131h 49
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 87: BIANCAEdited to add this note from Renée:Hey there everyone! The feedback on this episode has been intense already. I was aware when we aired it that this would be the case! Our guests are almost exclusively deeply vulnerable and eager for support. Bianca comes to the show in a much different place. So I decided to air this episode to challenge us all -- myself included. How do we find our empathy and desire to help someone who doesn't immediately inspire us to want to help them? If you find yourself frustrated when you listen to t...2024-11-062h 13
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 86: MICHEE"I think I'm just a temporary person," Michee told Renée, explaining that she has never felt prioritized by friends or family. She describes her childhood as "toxic and abusive," with a controlling, unpredictable father and a loving but absent mother. She has struggled with all of her relationships, whether platonic, familial, or romantic, and insists that she "wasn't someone people cared much for." You need to hear Michee for only a few minutes to know that this can't be true. She is smart, funny, gracious, forgiving, talented, honest, resilient - she is extraordinary. Then why are her relationships s...2024-10-302h 02
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 85: BOBBYWhen Bobby applied to be a guest on the show, he wanted help resolving the leftover emotional wounds from his childhood, which he described as one of "constant chaos, instability, and... abuse." Despite some intense breakthroughs in talk therapy, strands of trauma remained. But get this: a few days before he recorded his episode, Bobby had a life-changing Ayahuasca journey that healed those wounds. And that's not the only fascinating part of Bobby's story. He tells Renée about all of it, from growing up and coming out as a gay man in a hyper-masculine community to the estrangement a...2024-10-231h 47
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 84: ALYSSA"Emotions were a taboo thing in my house," Alyssa said when Renée asked about her childhood. And, get this: Alyssa is now a therapist. She raised in an invalidating environment by an emotionally misattuned mother and often absent father, but since then Alyssa has made it her job, literally and figuratively, to honor her sensitivity and sharpen her insight. She has done both and beyond, yet she still struggles to release her anger over the circumstances of her recent divorce, and for good reason. Renée helps her get to the bottom of it, and in the process th...2024-10-161h 16
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 83: DANDan grew up in an abusive household with perfectionist parents who often asked him, "Why can't you be normal?" Not only did Dan feel misunderstood and disconnected at home, but he also struggled in social situations; his childhood was lonely. Now, at 41 years old, Dan has a loving wife, a happy daughter, and a new understanding of his neurodivergence. What he doesn't have is a sense of peace about his parents. That's where Renée comes in. She and Dan sort out his wounds and triggers, and in the process they talk about all sorts of stuff, including online d...2024-10-091h 56
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 82: BRANDILast week's guest, Annette, shared with us late in the episode that she is in an abusive relationship, one that she is not quite ready to leave. So many people were moved by Annette's story, and some of those people reached out to Renée with questions about why it can be so hard to leave an abusive partner. Renée had planned to address the questions in this week's intro - and then Brandi came to the show. "I'm not afraid to talk about it anymore. I need to talk about it," she said. Brandi's beautiful bravery is br...2024-10-021h 41
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 81: ANNETTE"I have so many stories for you, you don't even know," Annette tells Renée early in this episode. And, wow, was she right. Fortunately for all of us, Annette is hilarious and smart and tells her story perfectly. This makes it easy for Renée to find places to go - so much so that a conversation that Annette had expected would be about one aspect of her childhood trauma becomes a much deeper and more complex dive. Annette and Renée cover a lot of topics as they explore her story, from promiscuity to polyamory to why sel...2024-09-252h 00
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 80: LISALisa ordered diet pills through the mail when she was 15 years old, and that order became the cornerstone of a decades long eating disorder. She has completed an inpatient eating disorder treatment program, she attends ongoing outpatient therapy, and still she falls back into disordered eating whenever her stress is unmanageable. Lisa has worked hard, and she is tired of shrinking herself. She comes to the show hoping Renée can help her figure out how to stop battling herself and her body. Renée goes looking for what Lisa's treatment missed, and in the process she and Lisa di...2024-09-181h 04
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 79: TOLUOn the heels of Andre's punchy episode, Tolu changes the tempo this week. If André was pop punk, Tolu is smooth jazz. His voice is gentle and comforting, and his spirit matches. Tolu doesn't have a childhood trauma story to tell, but he does have a problem he needs help with, and it just happens to involve one of Renée's favorite topics: meddling moms. Despite a childhood he calls "fun" and the easy awareness that his mom loves him, Tolu, now 29, finds himself dreading contact with her. What's going on? Enmeshment is the name of the game, and Re...2024-09-112h 07
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 78: ANDREAndre is a 47 year-old father of three who is "tired of being in survival mode." He comes to the show hoping Renée can help him resolve his persistent anxiety. And she can, but not before she and Andre discuss his childhood trauma, his first wife's death from cervical cancer, racism, parenting, stand-comedy, grief, and more. Andre has a complicated story, and he is brilliant at telling it, which makes it easy for them to unravel the persistent knot that has lived in his body for decades. Andre is as funny as he is vulnerable, much to Renée's de...2024-09-041h 23
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 78: ANDRE(Note from Renée: Hi everyone! There was a glitch in this episode when we first uploaded it. If you listen to it soon after it aired, you may have noticed that it stopped abruptly at the end. In fact, it had cut off the last 15 minutes, and those 15 minutes are gold! The episode is fixed now. You should have the full 1 hour and 23 minutes. If you missed those last 15 minutes the first time around, I highly recommend you hear them. Andre delivers a mic drop monologue that is worth the wait!)Andre is a 47 year-old father o...2024-09-041h 23
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 77: ELIO"I'm just terrified to get close to anyone right now," Elio told Renée early in their conversation. When you hear their story, you will easily understand their terror. Elio wasn't sure what they wanted from coming on the show, but they certainly gave Renée plenty to work with. There have been a series of hard hits in Elio's short life, and yet their spirit is bright and infectious; they inspire Renée to carve out some healing within overwhelming circumstances. Elio's playfulness makes it easy for Renée to navigate their intense content, and the two of them...2024-08-281h 48
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 76: JENNYThis episode starts with a few different bouts of uproarious laughter, and this definitely sets the tone for the episode. There is a lot of laughing, thanks to both our hilarious guest, Jenny, and also our inimitable guest co-host, Victoria. Jenny is beautifully colorful. Her stories are colorful, her language is colorful, her life is colorful. From selling cannabis cookies to medical students to selling real estate at the top of the field, she has put her impressive drive to good use. Renée does her best to keep Jenny's boundless energy on task, and eventually she finds the w...2024-08-211h 15
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 75: KRISTINKristin was kidnapped when she was 3 years old. Let's just start there. Unfortunately, it doesn't end there. In her 37 years of life, Kristin has endured almost every type of trauma one can imagine - attachment, sexual, medical, financial - and she has lived in over 40 different places, including prison. Her story would be hard to believe if Kristin weren't so beautifully honest and vulnerable as she narrates it. So while her story is tragic and shocking, Kristin herself is inspiring. And in between the tragic and shocking, her conversation with Renée also manages to be laugh-out-loud funny. Kristin c...2024-08-141h 32
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 74: RENEEHey there, everyone. Renée here. As requested, I am back this week as the guest to take you on a wild ride through my romantic relationship history. Just a reminder that unlike our normal weekly episodes, those with me as the guest build on one another. So if you haven't yet listened to Episodes 60 and 67, go back and listen to those first - this one will make much more sense once you have. Likewise, if you're new to the podcast, don't start here! This isn't our normal format. As for the rest of you, well, you know the d...2024-08-072h 26
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 73: YOLANDAYolanda grew up fearing two things, God and her mother, and she had the anxious, people-pleasing behavior to show for it! After losing her dad at 18, however, Yolanda ditched her "good girl" role for the first time. She has been back and forth ever since: between rules and rebellion, between partners, between versions of herself. Now in her 40's, Yolanda comes to the show to ask Renée, "How did I fall into this pattern again?" To get to an answer, Renée follows Yolanda through her relationship history - and it is a juicy rollercoaster of a narrative. Yo...2024-07-311h 33
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 72: KENNYWhen Kenny was in middle school, he participated in his first drive-by shooting. Not long after, he went to prison for the first time; ultimately he would serve 28 years. He was released 7 months ago and has come to the show to tell his story. Kenny and Renée talk about all of it - murder, Maslow, family, gangs, grief, and more. Despite the devastating trauma he unfolds, Kenny makes Renée laugh quite a bit. Renée captures the psychological strands and gets Kenny started on a healing path, while Kenny's honesty and intelligence make for a fascinating conversation.2024-07-241h 51PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 71: LEANNE"The more people that know, the better," Leanne told Renée after she narrated her devastating experiences as a patient in the Troubled Teen Industry, a network of therapeutic boarding schools and treatment centers that she first entered at 12 years old. This is the first time Leanne is telling her entire story; she only recently began telling it at all. And despite an understandable bout of stage fright beforehand, she not only tells her story but also delivers a gripping cautionary tale that exposes the web of corruption and greed at the heart of these systematically abusive "therapeutic" centers. P...2024-07-171h 19
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 69: VIVIANVivian and her story are both so compelling that they defy summary. She is hilarious and engaging - and she has been through unthinkable trauma. Fortunately, she has a brilliant therapist and a seemingly bottomless well of resilience. What she doesn't have, however, is a way out of her current emotional predicament. She comes to the podcast hoping Renée has some advice to offer where this predicament is concerned. Guess what? Renée does. Vivian has questions, Renée has answers, and everyone does a lot of laughing.Support the show2024-07-031h 48
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 67: RENEEBack by popular demand! Renée returns this week as the guest on her own show to follow up on Episode 60 and answer listener questions - this time, she traces the development and resolution of both her eating disorder and her chronic illness and explains how the two intersect. This is a raw, rogue, really Renée episode: no planning, no editing, no breaks, no outro - just a whole lot of content. Next week, we will return to our regularly scheduled guests and our finicky editing, But for now, Renée lets it rip. Enjoy! S...2024-06-191h 58
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 66: GABRIELGabriel describes his childhood as "chaotic," with a volatile mother and dismissive father. He has unpacked these childhood wounds in therapy for the last five years, and he has learned a lot. And yet, despite everything he knows about himself, attachment, and psychology in general, Gabriel is stuck in a frustrating and lonely dating vortex. Neither codependent behaviors nor alcohol have managed to put a balm over the burn of fast, failed relationships - at only 26 years old he has been scorched several times. He comes to the podcast hoping Renée can pick up where his therapy left of...2024-06-121h 44
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 65: KAILAWhen Kaila was a 16 year-old runaway, she was tricked into coming home only to be virtually kidnapped and taken to residential treatment. Her experiences that followed were so intense that she has written a book about them. But now, just as the book is about to be released, Kaila is panicking. Why is she suddenly riddled with fear about sharing her truth? She comes to the show hoping Renée can help her reclaim her confidence. Almost as exciting as Kaila's story is her relief when Renée sorts it! Be prepared to be blown away by Kaila, her st...2024-06-051h 22
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 64: DALTON"Feelings really aren't me," Dalton told Renée about halfway through their conversation. In addition to making Renée laugh, his sentence sums up the problem he brings to the podcast. Dalton has suffered more than a few tragic losses in the 28 years he has been alive, and the experiences have left him less than friendly with his emotions. It is often said that comedy comes from tragedy, and in Dalton's case, this idea holds true. He has managed to retain his humor - and then some - but loss after gripping loss have stranded his more tender feelings. Re...2024-05-291h 23
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 63: KAEDENIn the three decades they have been alive, Kaeden has survived some profoundly traumatic events, including their mother's suicide and their own nervous breakdown. Despite a childhood they describe as "terrorizing," Kaeden astonishingly emerged with a beautifully tender heart. Likewise, after years spent recreating their childhood dynamics with problematic partners and self-defeating behaviors, Kaeden is now happily married, reinvested in creating art, and steeped in insight. Still, they struggle with dissociation, chronic feelings of unworthiness, and the general sense that they are "stuck." They come to the show hoping Renée can get them unstuck and on the path t...2024-05-221h 43
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 62: MAKENSI & MICKMakensi and Mick are artistic, articulate Aussies. Parents to a 3 year-old daughter, they share the desire to have a more harmonious relationship, and they come to the show hoping Renée can help them get there. Renée talks first to Makensi and then to Mick, exploring their childhoods, their current emotional landscapes, and the fights they hope to extinguish. As the conversation unfolds, clear patterns emerge, and thanks to the couple's remarkable insight and honesty, Renée is able to tie the strands of their individual childhood wounds to their current marital conflicts. It's couple's therapy, deconstructed!S...2024-05-152h 43
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 61: LOVE (Bonus Episode!)What do you get when you mix a traumatized nervous system and a new relationship? For Love, a 37 year-old single mom with an uber-social boyfriend, it's a whole lot of anxiety. So much anxiety, in fact, that she and her new man are fighting almost every weekend. She comes to the podcast hoping Renee can help her figure out how to build intimacy while navigating the many triggers associated with her unresolved trauma. Renee helps love leverage the, well, love that the couple shares and gives her a plan towards deeper healing. It's an extra episode this w...2024-05-081h 23
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 60: RENEEYes, that Renée. The host of the show. She's the guest. What's going on? Well, a whole bunch of stuff! This episode is something a little different. Rather than get into it here, We'll just let you listen.Support the show2024-05-061h 07PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 59: JENJen has it all figured out - okay, maybe not all of it. But she has a lot figured out. An artist who was shamed as a child for her emotional nature, Jen has found her way out of addiction and self harm. She has learned to expect and accept love, and she has a deep sense of purpose, one that belies her young age. Still, she hasn't harnessed the self-love she craves, and she still struggles in social situations. This is where Renee comes in. The two women talk neurodivergence, pansexuality, and emotion regulation before Renee gives Jen...2024-04-291h 09
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 58: ROB"I honestly don't think you could give me any therapy," Rob wrote to Renee when she asked if he wanted to be on the show. He agreed to appear nonetheless, and Renee took his hopelessness as a challenge. Once Rob's story unfolded, it was clear that he had come to his hopelessness honestly, as his biography is punctuated by bullying, chaos at home, addiction, and isolation. Despite this - or perhaps because of this - Rob is absolutely hilarious, which makes his already stunning story that much more compelling. By the end of the conversation, Renee has a stomach...2024-04-221h 12
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 57: ALYSONAlyson, an artist who attended the renowned "Fame" school in New York City, was 14 the first time she met with a therapist. Despite some prickly family dynamics that would have been perfect therapy content, Alyson had had a different agenda. "I was afraid I was going to die a virgin!" Spoiler alert: she didn't. This theme of longing, however, became a constant presence in Alyson's life. Now, after marriage and divorce, Alyson is back in the dating world and cannot seem to figure out why she is always pining after unavailable men. She comes to the show hoping Renee...2024-04-151h 22
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 56: TYLERTyler describes his childhood home as an "active war zone." After years of physical and emotional abuse by his parents, he married young in the hopes that he could create the harmonious family for which he longed as a child. Unfortunately, he once again found himself in an abusive relationship, this time with his ex-wife, who is now colluding with Tyler's mother in a grueling custody battle. Having survived decades of depression, anxiety, physical pain, and grief, he comes to the show with hope and an open heart, ready to embrace any insight and direction Renee can offer. And s...2024-04-081h 56
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 55: YVONNEYvonne is a firecracker! An actor, writer, and comedian who has been sober for 31 years, Yvonne has done a lot of therapy to unburden herself of the codependent behaviors she developed while growing up with an emotionally withholding, narcissistic father and hypercritical, dysregulated mother. But despite her hard-won confidence, compelling personality, and many tries at dating, Yvonne hasn't met a man who can hold her interest. What's going on? That's the question Yvonne brings to the show, and Renée has answers. The two women have a blast talking drugs, astrology, rage, and revenge before Renee breaks it down a...2024-04-011h 26
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 54: ANDREWAndrew grew up in a small town that left his voracious, neurodivergent mind profoundly bored. As a teen, this boredom bred criminal behavior and depression. As an adult, however, his energy found outlets in tremendously successful entrepreneurial endeavors. His peripatetic lifestyle and demanding career kept Andrew safely away from his deeper emotions until a recent breakup cracked him open. He has been working on himself with characteristic commitment since then and comes to the podcast wondering if Renee can find the places where he still needs healing. And make no mistake: he has been on it. So he is...2024-03-252h 05
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 53: MORGANMorgan is a former Olympic athlete who can't stop moving - moving homes, moving her body, moving away from pain. She comes to the podcast hoping Renee can help her move from self-criticism to compassion and from distraction to contentment. And since Morgan has recently pivoted from sports to psychology as she studies to become a therapist herself, she deftly unrolls her trauma stories, from her experiences as the parentified child of a single mom to recent familial betrayal. Renee finds the connections and the pressure points and helps Morgan carve out a path to peace, leaving perfectionism and...2024-03-181h 23
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 52: MAYAMaya comes to us from New Zealand hoping Renee can get her unstuck. She suffered an emotional trauma during the birth of her second child for which she holds her husband responsible. Now, three years later, Maya still hasn't been able to let go - she hasn't forgiven her husband, and she doesn't understand why. Renee doesn't understand why either, at first! But she realizes Maya will have to go back in order to go forward, so they put together the psychological puzzle with pieces made of Maya's childhood trauma and current relationship dynamics. Things start to make sense...2024-03-111h 25
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 51: ADAM C.Adam C. comes to the podcast with a whole bunch of juicy content to discuss: his recent diagnoses of borderline personality disorder and type 2 diabetes; self-destructive romantic relationships; and the internet's favorite topic...narcissists! And these are only a few of the stops Renee and Adam make as they endeavor to break Adam out of the relational patterns that keep him from healthy attachment. Adam's candor, insight, and humor set the perfect stage, and Renee digs deep to find the missing piece of his healing puzzle.Support the show2024-03-041h 24
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 50: SHANA"I feel like I just got off Dr. Phil. I don't even know what just happened!" So said Shana towards the end of her conversation with Renee. Shana had come to the podcast without ever having listened to it; she had no expectations. Having noticed from Renee's Instagram bio that she is a nutritionist as well as a therapist, Shana figured they could discuss her recent weight gain. A few minutes into their conversation, though, Renee had other ideas. They talk through Shana'sexperiences with addiction, abusive relationships, debilitating anxiety, and family conflict. Renee does answer Shana's questions...2024-02-262h 00
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 48: MARIYAMariya spent her childhood in Bulgaria, raised mostly by her grandmother. When she arrived in America as a teenager, she learned quickly that this arrangement had been a true blessing. Still, it was only recently when Mariya, now an artist and business owner, came to realize the extent of the trauma she had endured. She came to the podcast hoping Renee can tell her how to heal. Thanks to Mariya's quick mind and compelling energy, she and Renee have a lively and juicy conversation that answers the question, "How do I get out of survival mode?"2024-02-121h 19
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 47: MALINThis week's guest brings a different type of problem to the show. Malin comes to the podcast with a puzzle. She's had some persistent physical symptoms for a while now, and she has started to wonder if they aren't all in her head - or maybe because of her head? She comes to the podcast hoping Renee can help her figure it out. Is she making herself sick with her mind? And, if she is, can she make herself well with her mind? Renee is determined to solve the puzzle, and she leaves no stone unturned. By the end, M...2024-02-051h 15
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 46: MARSMars has endured a volatile and chaotic childhood, the violent death of her brother, and her own substance abuse battle. And that's not all. Still, it is only now, in her 40s, when she finds herself immobilized by the trauma. She was particularly eager to come on the podcast, hoping Renee can help her out of the social isolation she has created. Renee realizes early that what Mars needs most is hope, and she guides Mars through the creation of a narrative that opens up space for joy. The episode starts with tears and ends with laughter - and...2024-01-292h 01
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 43: KELVETTEKelvette's last partner cited some rather dubious reasons for ending their relationship. And despite the fact that he told her directly that he does not want to spend his life with her, Kelvette cannot let go. This is even more surprising once you get to know Kelvette: she is an absolutely hilarious, delightful, intelligent, insightful, no-BS firecracker. So what the heck is going on? This is exactly the question Kelvette came to the podcast to answer. Renée sorts through Kelvette's relationship history and helps her understand why she is not only accepting but actually pursuing someone who doesn't va...2024-01-082h 10
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 42: VANESSAVanessa left home at 17 after a traumatic childhood that positioned her as a parentified child - one who watched her father die of a drug overdose - and that is only the tip of her trauma iceberg. Despite the fact that she "feels good most days," Vanessa still suffers the fragmentation and self doubt that rooted so early in her tumultuous life. Vanessa and her remarkble, inspiring spirit came to the podcast looking for help sorting through the decades of complex trauma that still live in her body. Renée takes a metaphoric fine-toothed comb to Vanessa's life, guiding he...2024-01-011h 23
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 41: MAXMax says his mother and father approached parenting on a "sliding scale from permissive to neglectful." Currently an undergrad psychology student who has done some intense therapy, Max understands a lot about his family. But even with his vast experiential and academic knowledge, he still finds himself confounded by his dad. He comes to the podcast hoping Renée can help him crack the code. Together they sort through Max's formative experiences with his dad, and Renee helps Max make some sense out of otherwise senseless wounds. Max's fast mind and incredibly soothing voice add extra layers to an a...2023-12-251h 12
PSYCHO THERAPISTEPISODE 39: PAULEPaule's childhood was dominated by religious abuse, the scars from which still conspire to rob his days of joy. Nonetheless, Paule has taken his healing work head-on; his lifeforce is indefatigable. He came to the show hoping Renee could help him make greater strides in his healing, and as she does they discuss a wide range of details, from his diagnosis to his recent relationship with a woman 20 years his senior. Renee sets Paule on track for deep healing, and Paule keeps the conversation going with his infectious spirit.Support the show2023-12-111h 18