Send us a text What happens when traditional masculinity meets modern mental health needs? Dr. Tim Hess, licensed psychologist and Associate Director for Clinical Services at Ball State University's Counseling Center, joins Dr. Beth Trammell to unpack the complex world of men's mental health in this thought-provoking conversation. From the moment Dr. Hess introduces his metaphor of "deciding when to stop yelling at the tsunami and start surfing," listeners are drawn into a nuanced exploration of...
Aug 08, 2025•38 min
Send us a text The secret to effective child therapy isn't just what happens in the therapist's office – it's who's in the room. Kim Feeney, an Adlerian play therapist, makes a compelling case for why parental involvement isn't optional when healing children's emotional wounds. "Parents are the experts on their child," Kim emphasizes, explaining how Adlerian therapy recognizes that all behavior serves a purpose within family systems. Without understanding a child's family atmosphere, therapists ...
Aug 01, 2025•43 min
Send us a text THROWBACK episode! As I re-listened to this episode from my other podcast, I knew I needed to share it again here! As we approach the new school year, there are some really great reminders in this episode. Enjoy! What do teachers and school administrators really want students to know? In this revealing conversation, Dr. Beth Trammell sits down with Katie Preston, a veteran school counselor with more than 14 years of experience and a background in social work. Together, they unpack...
Jul 28, 2025•23 min
Send us a text Have you been putting off "the talk" with your child or teenager? You're not alone—and the consequences of that avoidance might be more significant than you realize. This eye-opening conversation between Dr. Beth Trammell and therapist Sierra Dator tackles the challenging but crucial topic of discussing sex, intimacy, and consent with teenagers. The wisdom shared throughout this episode comes from a place of genuine understanding—both of adolescent development and parental hesitat...
Jul 25, 2025•43 min
Send us a text Ever caught yourself saying, "I should start a podcast"? You're not alone. But between technical hurdles and fears of speaking into the void, many never take that first step. That's why we've brought in podcast editor extraordinaire Phil Quinn to demystify the entire process. Phil peels back the curtain on what truly matters when launching a podcast—and it's not expensive microphones or technical wizardry. "If you've got a laptop with a camera on it and a pair of AirPods, you can ...
Jul 18, 2025•52 min
Send us a text What if you could love your children deeply while admitting you don't always love the phase of parenting you're currently experiencing? This refreshingly honest conversation between Dr. Beth Trammell and maternal mental health specialist Megan MacCutcheon dismantles one of the most pervasive myths of motherhood: that we must cherish and enjoy every moment. The episode begins with Megan sharing a revealing Mother's Day experience where she found herself struggling with her elementa...
Jul 11, 2025•38 min
Send us a text Playback episode!! I've shared this episode on Kids These Days, but it seems like so perfect to include it again this week! The perfect family vacation often exists only in our minds. As one friend wisely told me, "Vacation with kids isn't really a vacation—it's just life somewhere else." This distinction forms the foundation of our exploration into making family gatherings genuinely enjoyable rather than merely survivable. Success begins with clarity about your true priorities. A...
Jun 30, 2025•24 min
Send us a text What if the way you've always approached relationships is fundamentally limiting your capacity for true connection? In this eye-opening conversation, psychologist, Dr. Beth Trammell, and licensed mental health counselor, Rachel Elder, challenge conventional wisdom about attachment, offering hope for even the most disconnected couples. Elder, who specializes in relationship therapy through her practice Connected Couples Counseling, introduces a revolutionary framework that helps pa...
Jun 27, 2025•42 min
Send us a text "At least you have your health." "It could be worse." "Just stay positive!" These well-meaning phrases might seem helpful on the surface, but as licensed clinical social worker, Jacque Tyrell, and I unpack in this thought-provoking conversation, they often create more harm than healing. Toxic positivity—that pressure to maintain an optimistic outlook regardless of circumstances—has become so normalized that many of us don't recognize when we're perpetuating it. Jackie explains how...
Jun 20, 2025•35 min
Send us a text What if there's no such thing as a bad kid? What if challenging behaviors are simply messages children send when they lack the emotional vocabulary to express themselves? Licensed Professional Counselor Jillian Oetting takes us behind the scenes of a behavior modification camp founded in the 1960s that continues to transform lives today. Drawing from five summers working at this unique program and her family background of psychologists, Jillian breaks down the evidence-based techn...
Jun 13, 2025•43 min
Send us a text What does it really mean to live with an illness that never goes away? While most people understand the concept of getting sick and then getting better, navigating life with chronic illness requires an entirely different roadmap—one that isn't widely understood even by many medical professionals. Licensed professional counselor Victoria Rodriguez joins Dr. Beth Trammell to unpack the psychological dimensions of chronic illness, sharing both professional expertise and personal expe...
Jun 06, 2025•40 min
Send us a text What if the life you've carefully constructed is slowly burning you out? Dr. Beth Trammell sits down with licensed therapist Laurel Roberts-Meese for an eye-opening conversation about the reality of burnout – and why that tropical vacation you've been dreaming about won't fix it. "Burnout comes from a pathological pattern of not choosing yourself," explains Roberts-Meese, delivering one of many powerful insights throughout this deeply resonant episode. As someone who specializes i...
May 30, 2025•47 min
Send us a text The world feels increasingly chaotic and unpredictable. Global events, endless news cycles, and persistent uncertainty have left many of us stuck in a state of nervous system dysregulation that doesn't seem to subside. Marie Sloane returns to the podcast to share practical wisdom about finding stability when everything around us feels unstable. Marie introduces us to a transformative "bottom-up" approach to managing anxiety. She explains why our typical cognitive strategies often ...
May 23, 2025•48 min
Send us a text Ever been caught in that awkward moment when someone recognizes you but you can't place them? For therapists living and working in the same community, these encounters create what I call "introverted therapist nightmares"—those uncomfortable moments when professional boundaries and social niceties collide. In today's conversation, I share how these encounters unfold and why I often tell therapy clients I'll pretend not to know them in public. It's not about being cold or dismissiv...
May 19, 2025•8 min
Send us a text What happens to your identity when you return to a place that once felt like home but now feels foreign? In this profound conversation, therapist Kindall Tyson opens up about her journey of repatriation after spending six years building a life and career in Beijing, China. Kindall shares raw, vulnerable insights into the unexpected challenges of coming home—from the financial shock of American healthcare and housing costs to deeper questions about identity and belonging. "Success ...
May 16, 2025•43 min
Send us a text Are you worried your child isn't ready for kindergarten? You're not alone. While many parents focus on teaching academic skills, I've discovered through years of consulting with teachers and families that five-year-olds often struggle with something more fundamental: the social and emotional skills needed to thrive in a classroom environment. This episode introduces my Kindergarten Boot Camp, an innovative eight-week virtual program designed to help children develop these crucial ...
May 12, 2025•6 min
Send us a text What happens when one person in a relationship is ready to throw in the towel while their partner wants to keep trying? This emotional standoff creates a relationship limbo that can last for months or even years, preventing healing and growth for both individuals. Therapist Lianna Purjes joins us to explore the powerful tool of discernment counseling - a specialized, short-term intervention created specifically for couples with mixed agendas about their future together. Unlike tra...
May 09, 2025•41 min
Send us a text What separates those who merely notice problems from those who actually solve them? In this enlightening conversation, Leslie Bolser and Dr. Beth Trammell tackle the powerful concept of initiative —defined as "seeing what needs to be done and doing it"—and why this two-part skill proves challenging for people of all ages. The discussion moves through developmental stages, offering practical advice for nurturing initiative from preschool through adolescence. For the youngest childr...
May 02, 2025•14 min
Send us a text Have you ever been in a perfect rhythm only to let a tiny distraction derail your entire momentum? That's exactly what crossed my mind during a recent swim session that turned unexpectedly profound. While gliding through the water in a perfect cadence of stroke-stroke-breathe, a single drop of water leaked into my goggles. That tiny irritation threatened to break my rhythm completely. My first instinct was to stop and fix it—but something made me push through instead. Two hundred ...
May 01, 2025•5 min
Send us a text Cooperation sounds simple – working together to accomplish more than we could alone – but as parents and educators, we often struggle to maintain this focus as children grow. This candid conversation between Leslie Bolser and Dr. Beth Trammell explores how our emphasis on cooperation naturally diminishes as we begin prioritizing independence in our children. For preschoolers, cooperation begins with sharing toys and parallel play, creating the foundation for teamwork. Surprisingly...
Apr 18, 2025•16 min
Send us a text Resilience gets a fresh take in this heartfelt conversation between Leslie Bolser and Dr. Beth Trammell, who strip away the buzzword status and reframe this essential life skill as something we practice every single day. Moving beyond the trendy "grit" narrative, they explore what resilience actually looks like from toddlerhood through the teenage years—and why some moments of bouncing back are naturally easier than others. The discussion shines particularly bright when examining ...
Apr 11, 2025•18 min
Send us a text Discovering what makes us each wonderfully unique stands at the heart of this month's exploration. We're diving into the powerful idea that by learning about others, we actually uncover more about ourselves – a concept that creates ripples through every stage of childhood development. For the littlest ones, uniqueness blossoms when parents simply notice and name those special qualities: "I love how curious you are" or "Your excitement when we play together makes my day." These see...
Apr 11, 2025•14 min
Send us a text Hope isn't just wishful thinking – it's believing good things can happen even amid challenges. In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Beth Trammell and Leslie Bolser unpack how to nurture this essential quality in children at every developmental stage. For parents of younger children, we discuss the importance of mindful language, highlighting how casually using "hope" in disciplinary contexts ("I hope I don't have to come in there...") might undermine the positive meaning we...
Apr 04, 2025•18 min
Send us a text The upcoming Week of the Young Child celebration provides a fascinating framework for understanding developmental priorities. From Movement Monday to Family Friday, these themed days don't just guide our approach to supporting children—they offer surprising lessons for adults too. Dr. Beth explores this reciprocal relationship, suggesting that young children might be teaching us as much as we're teaching them. As she reflects on early social skill development, from learning to sha...
Apr 04, 2025•6 min
Send us a text Join us for a compelling discussion on the growing concerns of mom rage and how community care among mothers can transform individual struggles into collective strength. In this episode, I sit down with two incredible therapists, Megan and Nicole, who share their insights and experiences working in the field of maternal mental health. As we dive deep into the subject of mom rage, we explore how societal pressures can contribute to feelings of anger, isolation, and frustration amon...
Mar 07, 2025•52 min
Send us a text Unlock the secrets to fostering a supportive environment for children grappling with weight and body image concerns. Join us as we engage with Christy Tunnell, a seasoned registered dietitian, who shares her professional insights and personal experiences, including those with her own daughter. Together, they unravel how societal pressures and nutritional challenges complicate conversations for parents and emphasize the importance of involving healthcare professionals in nurturing ...
Feb 14, 2025•53 min
Send us a text Join us for an enlightening conversation with special guest Desiree Argentina, a licensed independent clinical social worker, who shares her insightful journey of transitioning to Washington State and the hurdles of obtaining a new professional license. We take a deep dive into the shifting landscape of middle and high schools, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. With rising violence and behavioral issues among students, the stress on educators has reached unprecedented level...
Feb 07, 2025•47 min
Send us a text Discover the complexities of religious trauma with Dr. Essence Rivers, a licensed clinical psychologist known for her work with marginalized and intersectional groups. Dr. Rivers brings her wealth of knowledge to our discussion, shedding light on how religious trauma can reshape an individual's worldview and sense of self. We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of how to identify and support those who may be suffering from these often-overlooked experiences, enhancing both ...
Jan 24, 2025•47 min
Send us a text Unlock the secrets of effective clinical supervision with insights from Dr. Beth Trammell and her esteemed guest, Michele Mani, a seasoned clinical supervisor and psychotherapist. Michele shares her journey from clinical practice to private practice, and how it has elevated her role in supervision. Together, we explore the art of balancing professional duties with personal wellness, as exemplified through our mutual love for sports—Michele with pickleball and me with tennis. This ...
Jan 17, 2025•51 min
Send us a text Listen in as we debrief the episode from Kaya Spicer! We're also excited to welcome back Kaya, who brings a refreshing approach to discussing sexual health. With her candidness, Kaya transforms what is often a hushed topic into an easy, dinner-table conversation. For many of us who grew up in environments where such discussions were sparse, Kaya's openness is both enlightening and comforting. This episode promises a thoughtful exploration of how openly discussing sexual health can...
Jan 13, 2025•13 min
