Therapy Chat

• 491: Polyvagal Theory Helps Us Weather The Storm Together with Deb Dana

  In this episode of Therapy Chat, I interviewed returning guest Deb Dana, LCSW. We explored the profound impact of Polyvagal Theory on emotional regulation and connection. We discussed the importance of co-regulation, the role of nature in fostering a sense of safety, and the significance of recognizing micro-moments of joy and connection in our daily lives. We talked about the current trend of regulation "hacks" and challenged the idea that our goal is to be regulated. We also touchedthe power of glimmers as reminders of safety and connection. We talked about how we can move forward when things seem dark and discouraging. Ultimately, this conversation offers hope and practical insights for fostering emotional well-being in a dysregulated world, through the power of connection.Deb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, author and speaker. Deb’s work delves into the intricacies of how understanding and befriending the nervous system can change the way we navigate our daily lives. She is well known for translating Polyvagal Theory into a language and application that is both clear and accessible and for her significant contribution pioneering Rhythm of Regulation® methodology, tools, techniques and practices which continue to open up the power of Polyvagal Theory for professionals and curious people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. Deb’s clinical work published with W.W. Norton includes The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy, Polyvagal Exercises, the Polyvagal Flip Chart, and the Glimmers Journal. Her work with Sounds True for a general audience includes Anchored and The Nervous System Workbook.  Learn more about Deb Dana's work and books via her website. If you're interested in being notified when I announce the details of the new Therapy Chat membership - open to anyone, not just therapists - which will open in September, 2025, submit your info on this form. Thanks!Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on training, recommended resources and more. Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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• 490: GLP-1’s and Eating Disorders with Dr Vanessa Scaringi and Kathryn Garland

  Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, we're talking about a subject that many people are curious about lately, GLP-1's the diabetes medications that are being used by non-diabetics for weight loss. Therapists need to know about these medications, because clients are exploring them. I sat down with Dr. Vanessa Scaringi and Kathryn Garland, two therapists who specialize in eating disorders, to hear their perspective on whether these medications are helpful or harmful. Our conversation took us many places I wasn't expecting and challenged so many biases I had about these medications - some I wasn't aware of until we started talking. We went into diet culture, various eating disorders, why people are using GLP-1's and what they're experiencing. Their perspective was much more nuanced than I expected and I'm grateful to them for educating me! Whether you're someone considering GLP-1's, or a therapist whose clients may be curious about these meds, you'll find a lot to think about in this episode.Vanessa Scaringi, PhD, CEDS-C, is a licensed psychologist in Austin, TX. Vanessa co-owns with Kathryn Garland, LCSW, CALM Counseling, a group therapy practice. She primarily sees individuals in working on recovery from eating disorders or body image issues. Vanessa has dedicated much of her career to working in the eating disorder field. Kathryn Garland is a licensed clinical social worker and supervisor as well as a certified eating disorder specialist consultant in Texas, New York, Massachusetts and Colorado. She obtained postgraduate psychoanalytic training in New York City and incorporates relational and intuitive methods into her work with clients. Learn more about Dr. Vanessa Scaringi and Kathryn Garland, LCSW via their CALM Counseling ATX website and their Instagram.If you're interested in being notified when I announce the details of the new Therapy Chat membership which will open in September, 2025, submit your info on this form. Thanks!Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on training, recommended resources and more. Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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• 489: Cuddle Therapy with Michelle Renee

  Welcome back to `Therapy Chat! This week, I interviewed Michelle Renee of Cuddlist about cuddle therapy. Michelle and I discussed what cuddle therapy is, what it can do and who can benefit from it. Our conversation brought up many thoughts about loneliness, platonic touch, consent, boundaries, attachment and much more. Michelle Renee (she/her) is a human connection coach based in San Diego, California, dedicated to helping individuals overcome challenges related to emotional and physical connection. As a Cuddlist certified relational-based touch practitioner, she offers platonic nurturing touch in a safe and supportive environment, and she works collaboratively with licensed talk therapists to help clients address deeper issues surrounding trust, vulnerability, and connection. Michelle is deeply passionate about supporting individuals with a history of trauma, guiding them toward building safety within themselves and their relationships. In addition to her coaching and therapy work, Michelle is the Co-Owner and Director of Training for Cuddlist.com.Visit Michelle’s website at: https://humanconnectioncoach.comLearn more about Cuddlist at: www.cuddlist.comGet a 10% discount on Cuddlist training at: https://cuddlist.podia.com/cuddlist-certification/6dnxo?coupon=REFERRALTherapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on training, recommended resources and more. Curious about SSP after listening to the most recent episodes of Therapy Chat? On behalf of our friends at Unyte Health, we are pleased to share this Trauma Recovery Toolkit, a free resource aimed to support you as you work with clients who present with trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Download the toolkit and access an exclusive discount code for the SSP training! More new episodes about SSP are coming this summer!Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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• 488: The Power Of Community For Mind/Body/Spirit Connection with Eugene Ellis

  Welcome back to `Therapy Chat! This week's guest, Eugene Ellis, is a UK-based therapist with a background in systems theory, play therapy and adoption work who identifies as a Buddhist and is helping people talk about race through his recent book, "Transforming Race Conversations - A Healing Guide for Us All," which was previously released in 2021 as "The Race Conversation". Eugene's book delves into the story of race, exploring its historical and social construction, the language of race, the impact of race trauma on the body, and how intergenerational race trauma continues to impact us today. For the past 22 years, he has been the director and founder of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network, the UK's largest independent organisation to specialise in working therapeutically with Black, African, Caribbean and Asian people. We talked about the importance of supportive communities in helping us stay connected in mind, body and spirit through the tumultuous times we're living through. This conversation, which relates well with the discussion of authenticity from last week's episode, was deep and vulnerable, and I hope you'll find it inspiring as you listen.Find Eugene Ellis's book, Transforming Race Conversations: A healing guide for us all on the WW Norton publishing website here. Learn about the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) here.Find Therapy in Colour on Jessica Kingsley Publishers site.TRAUMA THERAPISTS - TTN membership will be open for new members from Friday, 6/27/35 to Wednesday, 7/2/25. If you've been waiting for your chance to join, this is it! Join us for a FREE webinar on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 2 pm Eastern time where you can get a taste of the TTN experience, and a special discount to save on your membership fee. Register for the webinar here! If you are a therapist working with trauma survivors who would like to join our amazing community, add your name to the waiting list! You'll be the first to know when membership opens, and you'll get a coupon code to save on your first month of membership.Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on training, recommended resources and more. Curious about SSP after listening to the most recent episodes of Therapy Chat? On behalf of our friends at Unyte Health, we are pleased to share this Trauma Recovery Toolkit, a free resource aimed to support you as you work with clients who present with trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Download the toolkit and access an exclusive discount code for the SSP training! More new episodes about SSP are coming this summer!Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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• 487: Authenticity In Therapy With Dr. Sabrina Ndiaye

  Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week's guest is Dr. Sabrina N'Diaye, a wise and deep clinician, author, teacher, speaker and leader. We had a heartfelt conversation about showing up authentically as a therapist. Not "trying to show up authentically," but living and working as our authentic selves. Sabrina speaks about how spirituality fits in with the process of reclaiming your authenticity. This was a beautiful and inspiring conversation which I hope you will enjoy.Dr. Sabrina N'Diaye is a thought leader in integrating spirituality with psychotherapy. As an integrative therapist, author, and peacebuilder, she blends ancient spiritual practices with the latest scientific research and wisdom to guide others on their healing journeys. She is affectionately referred to as, “Sister Sabrina” in the communities that she serves.Dr. Sabrina holds a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University, where her research focused on the use of guided imagery as a healing tool for African-American women with chronic STIs. She is also the founder of The Heart Nest Center for Peace and Healing, where she lovingly serves women, couples, and small groups. Her first book, Big Mama Speaks: Love Lessons from a Harlem River Swan, draws on her maternal grandmother’s resilience in overcoming trauma and chronic illness. Dr. Sabrina is deeply passionate about mentoring other therapists in creating fulfilling careers while serving humanity. She is a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend, who remains humbled by the healing powers of compassion, forgiveness, and love.Find Dr. Sabrina N'Diaye's book, Big Mama Speaks: Love Lessons From a Harlem River Swan here.Visit Dr. Sabrina's website here.Register for Dr. Sabrina's upcoming course "Writing the Healers Journey" here.Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on training, recommended resources and more. TTN will be opening for new members in June. If you are a therapist working with trauma survivors who would like to join our amazing community, add your name to the waiting list! You'll be the first to know when membership opens, and you'll get a coupon code to save on your first month of membership.Curious about SSP after listening to the most recent episodes of Therapy Chat? On behalf of our friends at Unyte Health, we are pleased to share this Trauma Recovery Toolkit, a free resource aimed to support you as you work with clients who present with trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Download the toolkit and access an exclusive discount code for the SSP training! More new episodes about SSP are coming this summer!Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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