Things You Learn in Therapy

Send us Fan Mail Sharing some of my favorite throwback episodes from Kids These Days... What if the first second of your response could change how your teen handles anxiety? We unpack a practical, compassionate approach to big feelings that begins with a steady face and ends with stronger connection. No jargon, no lectures—just a clear framework you can use tonight. We start with the counterintuit...

Send us Fan Mail Sharing some of my favorite episodes from Kids These Days...  Ever find yourself locked in a standoff with a kid and wondering why your go‑to lines aren’t working? We dig into three everyday phrases that seem efficient but quietly sabotage trust and cooperation, then share simple replacements that calm the room and still get things done. As a licensed psychologist and educator, I...

Send us Fan Mail Joined by my friend from Core Essential Values, Leslie Bolser, we dig in to TRUST!!  Trust doesn’t arrive with a grand gesture; it’s built in the tiny moments we repeat. We dive into what makes a parent truly dependable and why predictability—not perfection—is the foundation kids need to feel safe, open up, and keep coming back to us when it matters most. If you’ve ever wondered h...

Send us Fan Mail Throwback episode! Costumes and candy get all the attention, but the real magic of Halloween starts with a short conversation before you hit the sidewalk. We dive into the simple, practical steps that turn a sugar‑charged night into a calm, safe, and joyful memory: clear candy rules, repeatable safety cues, and manners that make neighbors smile. As a licensed psychologist and pare...

Send us Fan Mail Think focus is just willpower? We challenge that idea with a clear, evidence-based guide to ADHD that bridges home, school, and the doctor’s office. I walk through what changed from ADD to ADHD, why girls and adults are often missed, and how interest-driven attention can make games feel easy while homework feels impossible. You’ll hear why that pattern is normal for an ADHD brain...

Send us Fan Mail What if your most explosive moments as a mother aren't failures, but crucial messages your mind and body are sending? Licensed Professional Counselor Nicole McNelis returns to unpack the powerful truth behind maternal rage - that overwhelming anger isn't a character flaw but a rational response to impossible expectations and unmet needs. "Mom rage is not a meltdown,...

Send us Fan Mail The silence around menopause and sexuality in midlife is finally breaking. Sex therapist Brooke Bralove returns to the podcast for a candid, informative conversation about what women really experience during perimenopause and menopause—and why suffering should never be the default option. Brooke reveals that even as medical understanding evolves, many healthcare providers remain w...

Send us Fan Mail What if the most powerful therapy happens not in "safe spaces," but in "brave spaces"? This game-changing conversation with Barbara Sheehan-Zeidler, a licensed professional counselor from Colorado, challenges our fundamental understanding of the therapeutic relationship. Barbara introduces us to the profound concept of brave space through Micky ScottBey Jones&a...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever watched a TikTok about ADHD symptoms and thought, "That's totally me!" or found yourself wondering if your social discomfort might actually be diagnosable anxiety? You're not alone. In this thought-provoking conversation with returning guest Dr. Tim Hess, we dive into the increasingly common phenomenon of mental health self-diagnosis. We explore h...

Send us Fan Mail 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 &qu...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Adleri...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 th...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 be...

Send us Fan Mail 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 makin...

Send us Fan Mail 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 th...

Send us Fan Mail "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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 un...

Send us Fan Mail 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," explain...

Send us Fan Mail 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 transf...

Send us Fan Mail 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 u...

Send us Fan Mail 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 shoc...

Send us Fan Mail 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...