Behind the Therapy Door

The therapeutic journey often has a lot of twists and turns, rather than a straight line trajectory.  This is due to many factors…different personality types, motivation for change, toleration of discomfort, etc.  In fact, therapy can stall out as well, which does not necessarily mean a problem exists, but rather that an opportunity for reassessment is present.  Matt and Sarah explore what causes...

AI can certainly be your therapist, but only if you want a subpar experience!  AI is all the rage these days and is an incredibly valuable tool in certain fields.  The data that AI can pull with specific prompts can save time, gather all information into a consolidated format, and provide ideas and resources.  These are all appropriate uses of AI in the therapeutic world, but to assume AI’s abilit...

In a nutshell, knowing when to end the therapeutic experience involves collaboration between the client and therapist.  Many times clients know when they have achieved their goals, solved ongoing conflict, or figured out how to get unstuck and these are times when therapists have the privilege of supporting the client’s intuitive knowing that their time in therapy has ended.  Other times clients a...

One fact of life that is present for most individuals is a desire for healthy and safe connection with others.  In fact, it is a vital part of our biological wiring from infancy.  Some find attachment to be a natural and easy process, while others might find it more challenging or even awkward at times.  Process Communication Model (PCM) highlights the nuances and patterns in every Type of persona...

Do you ever wish you had the chance to say something different than how it came out, follow through on that gut instinct instead of ignoring it, or take action rather than sit out on the sidelines?  Well, this episode is for you!  It is so easy to get caught up in the emotions of an argument or discussion, or get stuck in resentment for what your partner did or did not do, and lose sight of the po...

Continuing the family affair, Matt’s oldest child, Maddie stops by to discuss what it has been like growing up in a house with a father that is a therapist.  She discusses her own journey of being a successful teacher in a local high school and what made her decide to continue her education to become a counselor.  Maddie unpacks the dynamics of her own personality and how they informed her journey...

Our bodies are wired to react to different circumstances in an automatic and intuitive way.  Whether this is when we get butterflies in our stomachs while falling in love or sweaty palms when giving a public presentation, our body is designed to mobilize for action, feel safe in a rested state, etc.  When we can make sense of the biological systems in place to alert us to excitement, fear, danger,...

People might assume that having a live-in therapist for a parent makes life easier.  However…is this really the case?  In this episode, we sit down with Sarah’s oldest child, Dalton, and ask him what it is like having a parent that is a therapist, what he has learned from the relationship, what has been difficult to navigate, if PCM has been helpful in understanding himself and others, and what he...

Finding the right balance of self-disclosure as a therapist can be tricky.  There is technically no “right” way to be a therapist, but there is the absolute necessity of having positive intention when sharing and connecting; to enhance rapport, share relatable conditions to normalize, showcase our own flaws and mess-ups to reduce fear of vulnerability in sessions, etc.  Oversharing is annoying and...

Change is hard. It is hard for all of us, even those of us who enjoy spontaneity and excitement. Transitions are especially difficult as it often involves changing roles, changing relationships, changing power dynamics, etc.  As we unpack several relatable changes, we hope to offer tips and tricks in navigating them, in order to make it more manageable and less stressful.  Change is inevitable. If...

It is 2026 people…Get Your Shit Together!  Though this colorful title got my vote, my more professional and appropriate counterpart was correct in dialing it down a notch for our opener of Season 2  Behind the Therapy Door.  In this episode, we catch up about our holidays and time off with family and friends, talk about what is currently in our podcast/book queue, what is influencing our growth an...

Most people have a love/hate relationship with the holiday season, depending on lived experience.  We here at Affinity Consultants have much to be grateful for during this holiday season of 2025. Tune in as we reflect on a season of growth, both personally and professionally, and recount many moments of gratitude, both big and small.  But do not worry…there will be plenty of humorous WTF’s along t...

Much has been written about and researched regarding effective leadership.  The reality is, however, that effective leadership is more about each member of the team and how they impact the whole.  Healthy leadership prioritizes a foundation of trust, proactively navigates conflict, encourages commitment and accountability, and utilizes tools to empower and mobilize action, creativity, and curiosit...

Fear often gets a bad rap as a toxic and negative emotion that serves little purpose.  While it is true that fear can be corrosive when unprocessed and unchecked, it can also serve as a powerful motivator for facing challenges, growing confidence, and rewiring the nervous system.  We investigate how fear can hijack each type of personality, using Process Communication Model as a framework, as well...

We have a fun episode in store today!  Ever wonder what it is like to be married to a therapist and live with day in and day out access to know-it-alls, ahem…advice and communication tools galore? We had the pleasure of sitting down with our spouses (AKA very good sports) in the lovely town of Hermann, MO, to interview them on what it is like living with a therapist, what is helpful, what might be...

Conflict is inevitable, as much as we do not like it or want it near us.  It exists in all relationships and situations and can often serve as a powerful lesson in compromise, healthy communication, self-empowerment, etc.  Conflict is not the same as drama, however, and it is important to be able to distinguish the two from one another.  Today we explore Stephen Karpman’s Drama Triangle, the 3 rol...

We are back for Part 2 of Relationship Fallacies this week and unpacking more myths that exist in partnerships.  It is easy to get caught up in so many of these myths, as they have become a part of the social vernacular.  However, as seasoned therapists, we are trained to deconstruct the narrative and rework it in healthier and more compromising ways to help clients live their best lives.  Help us...

Disruptions in mood can be a common occurrence and often a confusing one.  Depression is a condition that impacts people of all walks of life and ages and can take many twists in turns.  The heaviness and fog often connected to periods of depression can make even mundane tasks seem extraordinarily hard. In today’s episode, we talk through mild symptoms of depression up to more serious symptoms, ho...

There are too many relationship myths to count, but they all have something in common…false information based off assumptions.  You know what they say when we assume?  It makes an ass out of u and me!  Follow along in today’s episode as we unpack common relationship myths, how they can be destructive, and the healthier options required for meaningful communication and connection. theaffinityconsul...

What is there not to say about our 1st guest on Behind the Therapy Door?  We could go on and on, but suffice it to say, Wendy Hummel is a powerhouse of compassion, a change agent, and our friend. She is a retired detective that has been through the trenches, all while raising a family, going through several education programs, becoming a certified yoga instructor, etc.  Wendy is a thought leader t...

You know that phrase, “It’s not all about you!”?  Welcome to the Art of Compromise!  When working through dilemmas that involve another person, it cannot just be our way or their way.  Most often, the best strategy is finding a way for both to come to the negotiating table in an open and curious position and work together.  In today’s episode, we unpack tips and tricks for healthy listening, fair...

Anxiety is a universal condition and one we can all relate to at different points in our lives.  Learning how to recognize the early signs of somatic distress and the emotional signals of anxiety can often empower us to decrease its vice grip-like hold on us.  Tune in as we discuss common symptoms of anxiety and panic, how to discern when it is stress vs. something more serious, and hands on tools...

Action oriented and charming Promoter Types are so incidence focused that they can leave others in the dust when in Phase distress.  The thought of slowing down, asking for help, and showing their soft underbelly is synonymous with kryptonite.  However, when directed to lean into their vulnerability, the natural courage of Promoter change agents can shine through and lead to even greater excitemen...

In this week’s episode, we unpack the developmental stages first written about by Erik Erikson.  These stages are ones we all go through, regardless of personality type, and span the entire age spectrum.  Each stage poses an internal struggle that must be mastered in order to develop the accompanying virtue that waits as the pot of gold at the end of the journey.  The stages, once mastered, culmin...

The natural “chill” that Imaginer Types possess can become their very downfall, if trapped in phase distress  Though the calm nature of an Imaginer Type is something novelists write about, it can also morph into passive withdrawal and isolation when intense distress is heaped on.  Imaginer Type’s can become overwhelmed with too much stimulation or too many expectations to achieve or perform and be...