2024 has arrived folks, and in natural end of year fashion, I’ve been in reflecting mode. In this almost last episode, I share updates about the podcast, myself and my inner and outer work for the upcoming year. I hope the episode gives you something to think about, and a message to hold on to until our paths cross again. Top reasons to listen to the entire episode: Get the most recent updates on T-Talk. Hear ways in which Shaelene is learning from past life lessons. Find ways to challenge yours...
Jan 17, 2024•24 min
How do you find yourself after surviving an intensely traumatic event? One thing people don’t often realize about having PTSD is that it impacts the way in which you see everything, including yourself. Second guessing becomes first nature and distrust of everything becomes a way of life. But what if the way to overcome the impact of these events was to do the exact opposite; to lean into who you are and work on connecting inward? Therapist Tiffany Cutrone tells us her personal story of surviving...
Jan 10, 2024•33 min
They say “money makes the world go ‘round”-and isn’t that annoying? I don’t know about you, but when I'm stressed about money, everything feels amplified, more intense and more urgent. If money problems are impacting your mental health, you’ll want to listen to this episode. Julie Herres owns an accounting firm in which she helps other therapists manage their money-so when it comes to the emotional weight of money problems-she really gets it on all sides. Julie is coming on the show to share som...
Jan 03, 2024•37 min
If I could describe Arthalia in a word it would be joy. Not artificial, superficial joy, but one that radiates into you just by being in her presence. I told her she needs to bottle her stuff up and sell it, because I would be first in line to get me some of that feeling. I would have never known in meeting her that less than just one year ago, she suffered a traumatic loss of her husband of 18 years, only to lose her son two months later. “Where are the pockets of peace?” She would find herself...
Dec 27, 2023•51 min
Why do we feel so shitty when January roles around? If the thought of setting a resolution for the new year makes you want to yak, this episode is for you. Today I have tea with Cindi Miller, MS, LMHC who has set out on a mission to eradicate perfectionism and take down the system. If you are someone who has felt less than after not keeping up with the joneses on social media, or for historically not staying on track with your “new year, new me” campaign-we want you to know it doesn’t have to be...
Dec 20, 2023•33 min
Thinking of the holidays already has me feeling tired and overwhelmed-so I thought I would bring the Self Care Queen in, Yunetta Spring-Smith, to school us on the topic! Yunetta isn’t one of those therapists who just talks about the self care basics, she goes deep! In this episode, we talk through different perspectives on how to view self care, along with how to actually practice it in a way that gives your body and mind the balance it needs. Author of the workbook “Take the Struggle Out of Sel...
Dec 13, 2023•32 min
If there’s one thing that is often not lacking during family gatherings, it’s unsolicited comments, opinions and advice about how you or others should look and be. There’s also usually a crap ton of food and drinks that get pushed on you and it can be hard to leave these gatherings with a sense of confidence and ease. Today on T-Talk, I talk with Dr. Breese Annable, eating disorders specialist and DBT psychologist on all things body image, food and family parties when it comes to the holidays. T...
Dec 06, 2023•35 min
Ever wonder what makes a certain song stick with you? Or why you crave certain music at different times in your life? Today we talk about just that With Andy Freedman, LPC and Music Therapist from Philly! In today’s episode we explore what music therapy is like and who can benefit from it. We talk about how much music acts as a mindfulness agent and social connector that helps all humans find healing in a meaningful way. My favorite part of the episode is where we go through a music analysis of ...
Nov 29, 2023•39 min
What do you picture when you hear “domestic violence”? If you are like many, you imagine something stereotypical between a husband and wife with kids, and unfortunately so much is missing from that picture. How do you recognize you are in a damaging relationship if you haven’t seen relationships otherwise? Oftentimes, it’s not until you are out of a relationship that you understand that it was harmful. Today on T-Talk, I talk with Dr. Kelly Gentry about intimate partner violence and her work wit...
Nov 22, 2023•33 min
What happens when trauma goes unresolved? What if your job requires that you face trauma every single day, multiple times a day? This is what we uncover in today’s episode of T-Talk. Ashley, a paramedic and therapist in training, discusses the hidden struggles of first responders and the need for better mental health support. Top reasons to listen to the entire episode: Learn why resilience matters in mental health recovery and how important it is to make it an actionable term. Understand vulner...
Nov 15, 2023•37 min
When I asked my friend Lenora to be a guest on T Talk and she said she wanted to do an episode on the “other” New Kids on The Block, I wasn’t sure if I needed to bust out my boombox and walkman or this would actually connect back to healing! Of course, with the use of this metaphor, she delivered. In today’s episode, we talk about what she calls the “Unspoken Entourage” of parts that show up after something bad happens-Trauma, Anxiety, Depression and Grief. Without awareness of who is coming alo...
Nov 08, 2023•35 min
I have to say, one of the coolest things about being a podcast host is meeting so many awesome people and learning about new ways of healing. Today, I got to do just that. Meet Jess Brock-Pitts, a licensed therapist and certified personal trainer. What’s very cool about Jess is that she is helping people recover from trauma not just in therapy, but through weightlifting! That’s right. She is a trauma informed weight lifter and uses principles from weight lifting to help her clients gain access t...
Nov 01, 2023•41 min
In honor of spooky season, I wanted to shed some light on methods of healing that sometimes get judged as “dark”, “mysterious” and sometimes (according to the therapist police of Facebook) “UNETHICAL”! *Cue dark and ominous music along with gasps in the near distance*. That’s right folks, today on T-Talk we explore the healing ways of the Tarot. What alternative ways of healing have you found on your journey? Have you ever considered how Tarot cards may play a role in your therapy sessions? Let ...
Oct 25, 2023•51 min
After you listen to this episode, click here 🗣 to tell us your thoughts, leave a voice message or ask a question. Have you ever wondered what Astrology is all about? Maybe you've even looked up where your birthday falls in a newspaper or a magazine. Or whenever Mercury is in retrograde, it messes you up, and you want to know why! If you wish to learn more about astrology, prepare for a life change, or want to have fun with it, keep listening! In this episode, Charlene Dunkley discusses using yo...
Oct 23, 2023•44 min•Ep. 19
Today I sit down and have tea with Barbara Beck, an expert who knows first hand what it’s like to be in a relationship with a narcissist. Barb shares her personal story of realizing she was in a relationship with a narcissist despite being a therapist, and how she made her exit. In this episode we cover the spectrum of narcissism across all relationships-partners, friends, parents and co-workers. Top reasons to listen to the entire episode: Hear Barb’s story of leaving a narcissistic relationshi...
Oct 18, 2023•30 min
How do you manage jealousy in a relationship? How about when you have multiple relationships? Today’s tea is with Kieran Mcmonagle, a radical trans therapist, coach and consultant who holds expertise in many areas, including polyamory and non-monogamy. Per usual, I ask a TON of questions and get schooled in the area of what it means to be in non-monogamous relationship, the role society plays (again, per usual) in creating issues for individuals who feel they don’t fit in the standard box when i...
Oct 11, 2023•35 min
October is ADHD awareness month! And what better way to kick off this month’s tea than with THE Neurodivergent Therapist, Jamie Roberts! As someone who struggles with ADHD, I was excited to jump right into ALL of the questions I had-both for myself and for my listeners. Jamie shares her experience in living a majority of her life not knowing that she had both ADHD and Autism. Jamie shares about her own healing journey as well as the role both the pandemic and social media have had in the increas...
Oct 04, 2023•41 min
When you’re working in alignment with yourself, everything becomes joyful.” This is what Andrew describes as his full life shift after attending a psilocybin retreat. Yep, that’s right, we are talking mushrooms and psychedelics on T-Talk! This week's guest is Andrew Tansil. He is the co-founder of Sayulita Wellness Retreats and also launched a non-profit for Veterans to help them heal from PTSD and Depression through the use of psilocybin as an intervention. Top reasons to listen to the entire e...
Sep 27, 2023•38 min
Have you heard of betrayal trauma? How about taking a polygraph test with your therapist? I bet I have your attention now! This week, I talk with Dr. Jake Porter about helping people heal deep attachment wounds that have come by way of betrayal in a relationship. Top reasons to listen to the entire episode: Learn about therapy intensives and why they are useful. Understand the impact of betrayal in relationships. Hear what happens to the brain in the midst of uncovering betrayal. Listen to Dr. J...
Sep 20, 2023•41 min
Are you tired of feeling like you have to tiptoe around trigger warnings when expressing your emotions? Do you feel alone and isolated in your struggle to connect with friends who have not experienced trauma like you have? In this episode, Katherine Lazar, a courageous woman who has navigated the heartbreaking experience of losing a child before birth, shares her inspirational journey of loss, recovery, and finding a supportive community to help her through it all. Tune in to be embraced and gai...
Sep 13, 2023•35 min•Ep. 61
How do you measure the return on investment when it comes to therapy? How do we end up in therapy? And why do people have to get “all political” when it comes to mental health? Listen to today’s episode and find out! I came across Marvin Toliver’s account on instagram and immediately was drawn in by the boldness of the posts! One of them outright said to budget for therapy like you do for weed, and you know there was a lot going on in the comments! I invited Marvin to come on the show and am so ...
Sep 06, 2023•36 min•Ep. 60
You all know I talk about burnout a LOT on T-Talk and in real life. As a therapist who is supporting people with PTSD and trauma week after week, and supervises many clinicians who do the same, I know it can take an invisible toll on one’s physical and mental wellness. Onel that you don’t realize until one day you wake up and you’ve hit the wall. Dr. Charlie Swenson, DBT Expert & Legend, knows this all too well and in this episode, he shares his wise advice for those of us in private practic...
Aug 30, 2023•47 min•Ep. 60
Nobody teaches us that happiness is an inside job. Nobody teaches us that our value is not in solving everyone’s problems or micromanaging everyone’s lives to prevent messes. If you chronically over-extend, this episode is for you. If you hesitate to make moves, wondering if “they are going to be ok without you,” - this episode is for you. Montoyia spills the tea on how she outsourced happiness in her marriage and how she learned not to be “Jesus Junior” to everyone in her life. Also in this epi...
Aug 23, 2023•41 min•Ep. 59
**A gentle warning, this episode discusses suicide. If you are feeling vulnerable in this area, please consult with a doctor or mental health professional in your area. Or call one of the Suicide Prevention numbers listed in the resources.** Loss, grief, death. None of them are things we can avoid in this life, although we all try to. It’s natural to try to avoid pain and keep the heartaches of life as far away as possible. But, what if we actually brought it in? Closer? On purpose? In this epis...
Aug 16, 2023•44 min•Ep. 58
How do you feel about huge life pivots in your late 30s? They are quite a choice point. You’re not 22 and still landing all the things. Late 30s, you’re likely decently established, have full-on identity, career, home life and maybe even a family. But what to do when underneath it all runs a whisper that you are actually not this life anymore, not the same person you were a decade ago? The choice point: to stay in what you’ve made thus far or take the leap into who you’ve become? Maureen took th...
Aug 09, 2023•31 min•Ep. 57
“God is for weak people. I need strength.” Have you ever thought this to yourself in a moment of challenge or struggle? In this episode, my good friend Justin Taylor walks us through his story of recovery and shares how he was not interested in God or spirituality at all when he was first admitted to the psych ward after his darkest moments. Also in this episode: Everything is spiritual Tips for nurturing spirituality Non-AA tips Justin Taylor is in long-term recovery from substance use disorder...
Aug 02, 2023•47 min•Ep. 56
If you don’t know already, KellySue has been my right hand-gal and Magical Assistant for the last year and a half doing loads of bts work both for Rebelmente and for DBT of South Jersey, but prior to all of that, she’s had a pretty unique life! KellySue was a catholic missionary nun from ages 22-30 where she led a very active life of ongoing service that took many and varied forms. While you may not link burnout to nun-life, we all know that boundaries can be challenging in any walk of life, and...
Jul 26, 2023•46 min•Ep. 55
There are certain moments in life that are choice points. We can either choose darkness or light. Choose to be a victim or to be grateful. Choose to collapse or to take another step forward. In this episode, I share tea with Justin Reilley, who at age 30 truly hit his rock bottom - having given everything to make his yoga teaching career work, he ended up separated from his wife, eating on the floor of his apartment with no furniture, wondering what he had done. This was Justin’s choice point. A...
Jul 19, 2023•56 min•Ep. 54
Grief might have its timetable, but what do you do when it feels like grief is almost here--you can see the end coming and you’re already feeling the weight of goodbye? If you anticipate an upcoming sadness or try to come to terms with an unexpected farewell that came before its time, this one is for you. In this episode, I share my experience with flirting with grief through music and how understanding the stages of grief can help us integrate loss into our lives and create an ongoing connectio...
Jul 05, 2023•37 min•Ep. 52
Do you ever feel like life's emotions are in a never-ending cycle? From the highs of joy and excitement to the lows of anger and fear, it can seem like an uphill battle. But what if this feeling could be seen as something beautiful instead of overwhelming? What if having negative emotions spring back up didn't feel like you were screwing up your healing journey? Carleena Lara-Bregattaå, shares her expertise of inner Alchemy and how to use it for healing. She discusses how our healing journey is...
Jun 28, 2023•42 min•Ep. 51
