Authentic Beyond the Couch

What if you never had to earn your way back to God? 🤍 In the final part of this conversation on Authentic Beyond the Couch , Jirzia Blackman and Rev. Ciara Simonson explore the freedom of grace, the weight of religious legalism, and what it means to reconnect with God without hiding your humanity. Rev. Ciara shares a powerful reminder: God knows our history, our wounds, our doubts, and our longin...

Are you really walking away from God—or are you walking away from an experience of church that no longer feels safe? In Part 2 of this powerful conversation on Authentic Beyond the Couch, Jirzia Blackmon continues her conversation with Rev. Ciara Simonson about the intersection of faith, mental health, church hurt, perfectionism, relationships, and healing. Rev. Ciara Simonson is a Licensed Profes...

What if becoming a more effective therapist actually meant doing less? In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Jirzia Blackman continues her conversation with **Michelle Bohls, Imago Clinical Trainer and mentor**, exploring what it really takes to create sustainable, connected, and meaningful work as a therapist. Michelle shares why so many clinicians experience **therapist burnout, imposter synd...

What if the biggest breakthrough in couples therapy isn't another intervention—but a completely different way of seeing relationships? In this powerful episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch, licensed therapist Jirzia Blackman sits down with renowned Imago Clinical Trainer Michelle Bohls to explore how Imago Relationship Therapy transforms not only marriages—but therapists themselves. Whether you'r...

What if your anxiety, chronic stress, or trauma is affecting more than just your mind? What if it's affecting your gut, too? In this eye-opening episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch, Jirzia Blackman sits down with Hannah Wood, Clinical Nutrition Specialist (CNS), to explore the powerful connection between gut health, mental health, inflammation, trauma, and the nervous system. Together, they...

Why does healing sometimes feel heavier before it finally feels peaceful? In this powerful solo episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch, Jirzia Blackmon dives into one of the most common questions people ask in therapy: “Why does it feel worse before it feels better?” Through personal stories, clinical insight, faith-based encouragement, and trauma-informed education, Jirzia explains why healing is...

What happens when you finally choose yourself — after years of putting everyone else first? This week on Authentic Beyond the Couch, Jirzia Blackmon sits down with special guest Candice Terrazas for a powerful and honest conversation about healing, identity, and what it really means to choose yourself. In this episode, Candice opens up about her personal journey — navigating emotional challenges,...

You can’t heal what you keep avoiding. This is Part 2 of Jirzia Blackmon’s powerful conversation with her former therapist, Kami Roberts, LCSW — and this is where the real work begins. In Part 1, we named the wounds. In Part 2, we talk about what it actually takes to confront them. Together, Jirzia and Kami go deeper into the process of healing — challenging long-held beliefs, unpacking emotional...

Healing isn’t easy — and the hardest part is facing the truth about where your pain really comes from. This is Part 1 of a powerful two-part conversation on Authentic Beyond the Couch. In this episode, host Jirzia Blackmon reunites with her very first therapist, Kami Roberts, LCSW, to unpack the emotional and spiritual wounds many people carry but are afraid to confront: ✨ church hurt ✨ father w...

What do you do when healing hurts? When the process feels heavier than the pain you’re trying to let go of? In this heartfelt episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch, Jirzia Blackmon, EMDR therapist and founder of Rhapsody Counseling & Wellness Center, opens up about her personal valley season — a time marked by deep pain, confusion, and the struggle to reconcile faith with emotional healing. 🌿...

Many people see your strength — but few know the story behind it. This is Part 1 of a special feature episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch, where host Jirzia Blackman appears as a guest on the Untamed & Unapologetic Podcast with Jeanette Lira for one of her most vulnerable and powerful conversations yet. In Part 1, they begin unpacking the journey — the moments that shaped the strength others...

Grief doesn’t look the same for everyone — and sometimes, the hardest parts are the ones no one talks about. 💔 In this powerful episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch, host Jirzia Blackmon sits down with her sister-in-love, Renee Samuel, for a deeply moving and honest conversation about grief, loss, loneliness, and finding strength after losing a spouse. Renee opens up about her experience with wi...

Welcome to the very first episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch — the space where healing, growth, and authenticity meet. 💛 In this episode, Jirzia Blackman, CEO of Rhapsody Counseling and Wellness Center, shares the heart behind creating Authentic Beyond the Couch and what listeners can expect from this brand-new podcast. You’ll hear her story of healing through trauma, EMDR, faith, marriage, an...

This channel is all about healing, growth, and authenticity — taking therapy outside the four walls of a traditional office. Here, we’ll dive into real and raw conversations about mental health, relationships, personal growth, and breaking free from the patterns that hold you back. I’m Jirzia, therapist, speaker, and founder of Authentic Beyond the Couch. My mission is to make mental health access...