The Holistic Counselor

Divorce recovery is about more than ending a marriage. It is about healing grief, rebuilding self-worth, restoring emotional health, processing identity loss, and learning how to move forward after one of life's most difficult transitions.
In Episode 125 of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, Diana Rice, LMHC, sits down with divorce recovery specialist Shirley Barthelemy, MS, LMHC, LPC, CAP, to discuss emotional healing after divorce, grief, faith, attachment wounds, people-pleasing patterns, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and practical tools for rebuilding confidence and finding hope again.
Drawing from both her professional expertise and personal experience, Shirley shares how her own journey through divorce inspired her to create the HER Divorce Recovery Coaching Program, a structured framework designed to help women heal emotionally, renew their minds, strengthen their faith, and rediscover who they are beyond the pain of relationship loss.
Together, Diana and Shirley explore the hidden mental health effects of divorce, the stigma many women experience within faith communities, the importance of emotional honesty, healthy boundaries, self-care, nervous system awareness, and why healing requires more than simply "moving on."
Whether you're currently navigating separation, healing from a divorce that happened years ago, supporting someone you love, or simply interested in emotional wellness, resilience, personal growth, and the intersection of faith and mental health, this conversation offers practical wisdom, encouragement, and hope for the journey ahead.
In This Episode
• How to heal after divorce
• The emotional stages of grief after divorce
• Identity loss and rebuilding self-worth
• Depression, anxiety, shame, and emotional overwhelm
• Faith, forgiveness, and healing after divorce
• Attachment styles and people-pleasing patterns
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and renewing the mind
• Healthy coping skills during major life transitions
• Emotional regulation and nervous system awareness
• The importance of community, support, and accountability
• Red flags that unresolved relationship wounds may still be affecting current relationships
• Why healing is a journey—not a quick fix
• How to move from surviving to thriving
Memorable Quotes
"You started understanding how to respond in wisdom instead of reacting in emotion."
— Diana Rice, LMHC
"The relationship ended, but that doesn't define who you are. It's just part of your story, not your entire story."
— Shirley Barthelemy, MS, LMHC, LPC, CAP
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for you if:
 You're currently going through a separation or divorce
 You're struggling with grief, shame, anger, loneliness, or uncertainty
 You're wondering how to rebuild your confidence and identity
 You're navigating divorce within a faith community
 You're carrying emotional wounds from a past relationship
 You're supporting a friend or loved one through divorce
 You're looking for practical tools to help you heal and move forward
 You're interested in mental health, faith, personal growth, and emotional wellness
About Our Guest
Shirley Barthelemy, MS, LMHC, LPC, CAP is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Addiction Professional, Certified Life Coach, and Founder of Holistic Lady Counseling Services.
For more than 10 years, she has served individuals, couples, and families within the mental health and substance use field. Today, she specializes in Divorce Recovery Coaching, helping women navigate grief, emotional healing, confidence rebuilding, self-worth restoration, and personal growth after divorce.
She is the creator of the HER Divorce Recovery Coaching Program, a comprehensive framework designed to help women Heal, Grow, and Thrive.
Resources Mentioned
Holistic Lady Counseling Services
https://holisticladycounseling.com
Learn More About Shirley Barthelemy
https://holisticladycounseling.com/official-about-page/
DivorceCare Divorce Recovery Support Groups
https://www.divorcecare.org
Through the Valley Therapy
https://www.throughthevalleytherapy.com
Transformed Mind Consulting & Coaching
https://www.transformedmindcc.com
The Holistic Counselor Podcast
https://pod.link/1732149496
Connect with Diana Rice
Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP
Founder, Through the Valley Therapy
Founder, Transformed Mind Consulting & Coaching
Host, The Holistic Counselor Podcast
Enjoyed This Episode?
If this conversation encouraged you, challenged you, or reminded you that healing is possible, please subscribe, follow, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may be struggling with grief, heartbreak, divorce, identity loss, relationship trauma, or emotional healing.
Your reviews help these conversations reach people who feel isolated, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. Together, we can remind others that they are not alone and that healing is possible.
Until next time, remember: you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

What happens when mental health awareness meets social media algorithms?
In this thought-provoking episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP sits down with Dr. Alyssa Kerrigan, Licensed Psychologist, ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP), and founder of Peace of Mind Testing and Therapy, to explore one of the most important conversations happening in mental health today: self-diagnosis, therapy culture, psychological testing, neurodiversity, social media, and identity.
From TikTok videos about ADHD and autism to viral discussions about anxiety, trauma, executive functioning, and neurodivergence, more people than ever are seeking answers about their mental health. But how do we balance awareness with accuracy? Validation with discernment? Understanding with identity?
Together, Diana and Dr. Kerrigan discuss why so many people turn to social media for mental health answers, the role of comprehensive psychological evaluations, how diagnostic labels can both help and hinder growth, and why understanding ourselves should lead to greater freedom—not greater limitation.
Whether you're a therapist, parent, educator, student, faith leader, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, this episode offers practical insight, compassion, and hope.
In This Episode We Explore
• The impact of TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, AI, and social media on mental health awareness
• Why ADHD, autism, anxiety, trauma, and neurodivergence content is exploding online
• The difference between self-diagnosis and professional psychological evaluation
• How psychological testing can provide clarity, validation, accommodations, and support
• Why many women and adults are being diagnosed with ADHD and autism later in life
• The role of culture, race, family systems, and lived experience in mental health assessment
• How labels can become empowering tools instead of limiting identities
• The importance of digital literacy and critical thinking in the age of algorithms
• Parenting strategies for raising children in a social media-driven world
• How therapists can balance validation, resilience-building, and personal growth
Memorable Takeaways
"Understanding yourself should lead to greater freedom, greater self-compassion, and greater possibility."
A diagnosis is not the end of your story.
Psychological evaluations are not designed to put people into boxes. They are designed to provide clarity, uncover strengths, identify challenges, and create a roadmap for support.
Social media can offer validation and community, but it should never replace a comprehensive evaluation conducted by a qualified mental health professional.
The goal is not to become your diagnosis.
The goal is to better understand yourself so you can move forward with confidence, self-awareness, and appropriate support.
About Dr. Alyssa Kerrigan
Dr. Alyssa Kerrigan is a Licensed Psychologist, ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP), and founder of Peace of Mind Testing and Therapy in Wellington, Florida.
She specializes in psychological and psychoeducational evaluations for children, teens, and adults, helping individuals gain clarity regarding ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, learning disabilities, executive functioning challenges, mood disorders, and neurodivergent presentations.
Dr. Kerrigan is passionate about helping individuals understand how they learn, think, process information, and navigate the world. Through evidence-based assessment and compassionate care, she empowers clients to recognize their strengths, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward achieving their personal, academic, and professional goals.
Connect with Dr. Alyssa Kerrigan
Website:
https://www.peaceofmindtestingandtherapy.com
Psychology Today:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/alyssa-kerrigan-wellington-fl/1058709
Connect with Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP
Through the Valley Therapy
https://www.throughthevalleytherapy.com
Transformed Mind Consulting & Coaching
https://www.transformedmindcc.com
The Holistic Counselor Podcast
https://www.throughthevalleytherapy.com/holistic-counselor-podcast
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holistic-counselor/id1732149496
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/throughthevalleytherapy
Diana specializes in anxiety, trauma recovery, perfectionism, faith and identity struggles, religious trauma, nervous system regulation, resilience, neuroplasticity, and whole-person healing through an integrative approach that blends neuroscience, evidence-based therapy, and faith-informed care.
Resources Mentioned
DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) 
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/iep-overview/
Neurodiversity-Affirming Care
https://www.usa.edu/blog/neurodiversity-affirming-care-what-does-it-mean-for-therapy/
Digital Literacy and Social Media Awareness
https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/what-is-digital-literacy 
CommonSense Media (Parent Resource)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org
Understood.org (Learning Differences, ADHD, Dyslexia)
https://www.understood.org
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
https://chadd.org
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
https://autisticadvocacy.org
American Psychological Association
https://www.apa.org
National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov
If This Episode Helped You
Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend, parent, teacher, therapist, pastor, or family member.
Every conversation helps reduce stigma, increase understanding, and remind people that they are more than a diagnosis.
Remember:
You are not your label.
You are not your diagnosis.
You are a whole person with strengths, challenges, gifts, and a story still being written.
And wherever you are on your journey, I hope today's conversation encourages you to keep learning, keep growing, and keep moving forward.

Why do we keep repeating the same relationship patterns, emotional reactions, and self-sabotaging behaviors—even when we understand where they come from?
In this episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP welcomes Mark Levinsky, MS, LMHC, licensed psychotherapist, life coach, Certified Instructor with The REAL Courses, and founder of Intentional Living Coaching & Counseling Services.
Together they explore childhood trauma, family-of-origin influences, emotional maturity, vulnerability, shame, men's mental health, addiction recovery, inner child work, experiential learning, and the connection between faith, psychology, and personal transformation.
If you've ever wondered:
Why do I keep repeating the same relationship patterns?
Why do I feel emotionally stuck?
How does childhood trauma affect adulthood?
How can I stop reacting and start responding?
Why is vulnerability so difficult?
What is experiential therapy or experiential learning?
How can faith and psychology work together?
This conversation offers practical insights and hope.
Mark shares how experiential growth work transformed his own life after years of traditional therapy and discusses why understanding our story is important—but often not enough to create lasting change.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of emotional growth, self-awareness, relationship patterns, trauma recovery, community, belonging, forgiveness, and the lifelong process of becoming more fully who God created us to be.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Childhood Trauma & Family Systems
How childhood experiences shape adult relationships
Family-of-origin patterns
Attachment wounds
Core beliefs and self-worth
Understanding emotional triggers
Emotional Growth & Mental Health
Emotional maturity
Vulnerability and shame
Self-awareness
Emotional intelligence
Emotional sobriety
Faith, Psychology & Transformation
Personal responsibility
Community and belonging
Forgiveness
Spiritual growth
Why perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18)
Experiential Growth
What experiential learning is
How action creates transformation
Why insight alone isn't enough
Building courage and resilience
POWERFUL QUOTES
Mark Levinsky, LMHC
"To love and be loved. They're starving to be loved, and they want to love."
"Understanding is the booby prize."
"With action, I believe deeper growth occurs."
"The main thing is not to isolate."
"Vulnerability is strength."
Diana S. Rice, LMHC
"Perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18)
"We're trying to understand. It's not blaming."
"Learning how to become the parent you needed."
"The lessons become blessings. The wounds become wisdom."
RESOURCES
Mark Levinsky, LMHC
Website:
https://marklevinsky.com
The REAL Courses
Official Website:
https://therealcourses.com
Instructor Directory:
https://therealcourses.com/instructors
Adlerian Psychology
North American Society of Adlerian Psychology:
https://www.alfredadler.org
Through the Valley Therapy
https://www.throughthevalleytherapy.com
Transformed Mind Consulting & Coaching
https://www.transformedmindcc.com
Related Episode
Episode 103: Why Men Struggle With Emotions with Jon Waller, LMHC
YouTube:
https://youtu.be/NR_bKRvPc3w?si=4cVJ2y44HkD889LN
ABOUT THE HOLISTIC COUNSELOR PODCAST
The Holistic Counselor Podcast is where faith, science, and holistic healing intersect.
Hosted by Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, the podcast features therapists, physicians, attorneys, pastors, authors, educators, wellness professionals, and advocates exploring mental health, trauma recovery, neuroplasticity, relationships, emotional wellness, faith, personal growth, and whole-person healing.
The mission is to challenge stigma, foster meaningful conversations, and provide practical tools that help people grow emotionally, mentally, physically, relationally, and spiritually.
SUPPORT THE SHOW
If this episode encouraged you:
 Leave a review
 Share the episode with a friend
 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform
 Visit our merch store:
https://theholisticcounselorpodcast.printful.me/

What happens when you genuinely love Jesus… but still struggle with anxiety, panic attacks, overthinking, intrusive thoughts, chronic stress, or emotional exhaustion?
In this deeply honest and clinically grounded episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP sits down with Christian therapist and author Melissa Fisher, LMHC, to explore the intersection of Christian faith, anxiety, trauma, nervous system regulation, burnout, perfectionism, emotional healing, and mental health in the church.
Melissa shares her personal story of navigating military life, repeated relocations, panic attacks, self-doubt, and what she describes as a "dark night of the soul," while learning how faith, therapy, neuroscience, breathwork, and emotional healing can work together instead of against one another.
Together, Diana and Melissa unpack some of the questions millions of Christians silently wrestle with every day:
Can Christians have anxiety?
Is anxiety a sin?
Why do I still feel anxious if I trust God?
What does the Bible actually say about anxiety and peace?
Can prayer and therapy work together?
How do trauma and chronic stress affect the nervous system?
What is high-functioning anxiety?
How do perfectionism and people-pleasing fuel anxiety?
Can someone intellectually trust God while their body still carries fear?
How do we tell the difference between God's voice, wisdom, fear, hypervigilance, and trauma-driven anxiety?
This episode also explores:
Christian anxiety and panic attacks
Nervous system dysregulation
Trauma and emotional healing
Church hurt and spiritual abuse
High-control religion and guilt
Breathwork and neuroscience
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Neuroplasticity and rewiring the brain
The mind-body connection
Faith and mental health
Women's mental health and burnout
Military family stress
Rest, Sabbath, and slowing down
Overstimulation, doomscrolling, and social media anxiety
Somatic and body-based healing approaches
Why emotions are signals—not failures
One of the most powerful moments of the conversation comes when Melissa shares:
"It's never labeled as a sin in the Bible." — Melissa Fisher, LMHC
And Diana reflects:
"I've started seeing anxiety less as an identity and more as a signal." — Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP
Whether you're a therapist, ministry leader, caregiver, military spouse, trauma survivor, person of faith, or simply exhausted from carrying too much for too long, this conversation offers practical tools, honest reflection, and compassionate insight for anyone trying to find peace in an overwhelmed world.
About Melissa Fisher, LMHC
Melissa Fisher, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor based in Vancouver, Washington, specializing in trauma, anxiety, spiritual formation, and Christian mental health. She has over two decades of experience serving in Christian youth, women's, military, and young adult ministries.
Melissa is also the author of Jesus for the Anxious: 8 Weeks of Practicing Peace to Calm Your Worry and Fear, published by Revell, an imprint of Baker Publishing Group.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Melissa Fisher Counseling
https://www.melissafishercounseling.com/
Melissa Fisher's Book: Jesus for the Anxious
https://www.melissafishercounseling.com/book
One Minute Pause App
https://wildatheart.org/pause
Breathly App
https://breathly.app/
Learn More About Through the Valley Therapy
https://www.throughthevalleytherapy.com/
Transform Mind Consulting & Coaching
https://www.transformedmindcc.com/
Support The Holistic Counselor Podcast + Merch Store
https://theholisticcounselorpodcast.printful.me/
About The Holistic Counselor Podcast
The Holistic Counselor Podcast is where faith, science, and holistic healing intersect. Hosted by Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, the show explores trauma, neuroscience, relationships, nervous system healing, Christian mental health, emotional wellness, and integrative healing through thoughtful conversations with therapists, physicians, authors, advocates, and wellness experts.
Loved This Episode?
Please rate, review, and share this episode with someone navigating anxiety, burnout, overthinking, panic, or emotional exhaustion. Your reviews help more people discover these honest and healing conversations.
And as always…
Trust in the Lord.
Guard your heart.
Renew your mind.

What happens when two brothers both become therapists—and dedicate their lives to helping people heal from betrayal trauma, pornography addiction, shame, secrecy, broken trust, and relationship pain?
In this deeply honest and powerful episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, Diana sits down with Brannon Patrick, LCSW and Tyler Patrick, LMFT of Therapy Brothers for a raw, compassionate conversation about addiction recovery, betrayal trauma, faith, emotional healing, and what it actually takes to rebuild trust after secrecy and infidelity.
Together, they explore why betrayal trauma can feel like PTSD, how shame and secrecy fuel addiction cycles, and why many people struggling with pornography addiction are not "bad people" but hurting humans carrying unresolved pain, loneliness, and disconnection. The conversation also dives into purity culture, high-control religion, emotional safety, grief, attachment wounds, and the healing process for both individuals and couples.
Diana, Brannon, and Tyler also discuss Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, DBT, EFT, accountability, self-acceptance, faith deconstruction, and the importance of moving beyond symptom management into true root-cause healing.
This episode is filled with practical insight, psychoeducation, hope, humor, honesty, and real conversations many people are secretly searching for but are often too afraid to ask out loud.
In This Episode We Discuss:
Betrayal trauma and why it can feel like PTSD
Porn addiction in both men and women
Rebuilding trust after infidelity and secrecy
Shame, guilt, and emotional coping
Purity culture and high-control religion
Healthy sexuality and sexual self-acceptance
Faith deconstruction, reconstruction, and spiritual grief
Emotional safety and attachment wounds
Why accountability matters in recovery
The role of grief in relationship healing
Root-cause healing vs symptom management
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
EMDR trauma therapy
DBT and emotional regulation
EFT and attachment-based couples work
Healing through honesty, humility, and connection
Memorable Quotes
"Protection without the education causes a problem." — Tyler Patrick, LMFT
"We don't have sexual self-acceptance, we don't have adequate sex education, but what we do have is the box that you're supposed to fit it in." — Brannon Patrick, LCSW
"My sacred text, the Bible, is a mirror—not a weapon." — Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP
Resources & Links Mentioned
Therapy Brothers
Official Website
https://therapybrothers.org/
Therapy Brothers Special Listener Page
https://therapybrothers.org/the-holistic-counselor 
Reclaim Your Heart Healing Journey
https://reclaimyourheart.org/
Therapy Modalities Discussed
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Official IFS Institute
https://ifs-institute.com/
Dr. Tori Olds – IFS Explained
https://youtu.be/tNA5qTTxFFA?si=CCCbRhwKGjn1hH2H 
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR International Association
https://www.emdria.org/
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
Behavioral Tech – DBT Information
https://behavioraltech.org/resources/faqs/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/
EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy)
International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
https://iceeft.com/
Faith Development Resource Mentioned
Fowler's Stages of Faith Development
PDF Overview
https://www.leaderresources.org/assets/images/Youth/Fowler_FaithDev_chart.pdf
 
Additional Topics Mentioned
Betrayal Trauma Recovery
Addiction Recovery
Faith Deconstruction & Reconstruction
Shame Resilience
Attachment Theory
Emotional Regulation
Trauma Healing
Healthy Masculinity
Relationship Repair
Accountability and Authenticity
About the Guests
Brannon Patrick, LCSW and Tyler Patrick, LMFT are licensed therapists, brothers, educators, and founders of Therapy Brothers. With over 20 years of experience each in betrayal trauma recovery, sexual addiction treatment, and relationship healing, they help individuals and couples move from shame, secrecy, addiction, and disconnection into honesty, accountability, emotional safety, and authentic connection.
Their work focuses on helping people heal the deeper root causes beneath addiction and betrayal—not just manage symptoms.
If this episode encouraged you, challenged you, or helped you feel less alone, please take a moment to rate, review, and share The Holistic Counselor Podcast. Your support helps more people find these conversations around faith, trauma, mental health, relationships, and holistic healing.
 
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https://theholisticcounselorpodcast.printful.me/