Deciphering Growth

Why do people become therapists? And perhaps more importantly, what keeps them doing this work year after year? In this personal and reflective episode of Deciphering Growth, Tiffany Graves, and Eric Stone share the stories behind their counseling careers and discuss the experiences that shaped their professional journeys. From personal loss and addiction recovery work to therapist burnout, gaming...

Mental health care is already difficult to access—but what happens when insurance companies make it even harder? In this episode of Deciphering Growth, Tiffany Graves, LPCC-S, and Eric Stone explore the recent CareSource reimbursement controversy in Ohio and what it reveals about the larger challenges facing mental health care across the United States. We discuss insurance clawbacks, therapist rei...

Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and even discouraging—but why is it so hard? In this episode of Deciphering Growth , Tiffany and Eric unpack the realities of navigating mental health care, including healthcare trauma, financial barriers, and the confusion caused by misinformation online. They explore the difference between licensed therapists and coaches, the impact of soci...

Financial trauma isn’t just about money—it’s about survival, safety, and your nervous system. In this episode of Deciphering Growth, we unpack how financial stress and healthcare experiences shape trauma responses like anxiety, avoidance, and burnout. Why does money feel so triggering? Why do healthcare experiences leave lasting emotional impact? Why does “getting help” sometimes feel unsafe or un...

What does trauma-informed care actually mean… and are you already practicing it without realizing it? In this episode of Deciphering Growth, we break down trauma-informed care in real, everyday terms—no fluff, no gatekeeping. From how we walk through the world…to the words we choose…to the way we respect other people’s lived experiences—this isn’t about being “perfect.”It’s about being aware, inte...

In this episode of Deciphering Growth, Tiffany Graves and Eric Stone explore the often overlooked topic of financial trauma — how past experiences with money can shape anxiety, scarcity mindset, shame, and the way we navigate everyday decisions. From growing up with financial insecurity to navigating the stress of today's economy, many people carry invisible wounds related to money. Even when...

This week, we’re having a real and honest conversation about burnout, emotional exhaustion, stress, self-care, boundaries, and what it means to be human even when you’re struggling. We talk about the pressure to keep going, the guilt that can come with slowing down, and why burnout is not a personal failure. If you’ve been feeling weary, overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or disconnected from yourse...

What is a process addiction — and how is it different from substance addiction? In this episode of Deciphering Growth, Tiffany Graves, and Eric Stone explore behavioral addictions including gambling, gaming, social media, shopping, pornography, and work addiction. We break down: • The neuroscience of dopamine and reward circuitry• How trauma dysregulates the nervous system• Why unpredictable rewar...

Are you doomscrolling… or just staying informed? In this episode of Deciphering Growth , Tiffany Graves, LPCC-S, and Eric Stone explore the psychology behind doomscrolling — what it is, why it happens, and how today’s algorithms are designed to keep you engaged far longer than you intended. What starts as a quick check-in with the news or social media can quietly turn into emotional overload, nerv...

🚨 SPOILER ALERT 🚨 If you haven’t finished the latest Stranger Things finale, this episode will spoil it. In this episode of Deciphering Growth, Tiffany Graves and Eric Stone go full nerd mode to unpack Stranger Things through a trauma-informed lens: nostalgia as comfort, why some wounds get processed (and some mutate), and what Vecna represents when pain gets intellectualized instead of healed.

New year. Same pressure to “do better.” In this episode of Deciphering Growth , we unpack why New Year’s resolutions often fall apart—and what actually helps change stick . We talk about momentum over motivation, why setbacks are part of growth (not failure), and how treating mental health like a productivity checklist quietly fuels burnout and shame. If you’ve felt behind, discouraged, or stuck r...

New Year’s resolutions often fail—not because you lackdiscipline, but because shame and pressure don’t create sustainable change. In this week’s episode of Deciphering Growth, we unpack why resolution culture burns people out, how all-or-nothing thinking keeps us stuck, and what actually supports long-term growth from a trauma-informed lens. If you’re tired of “new year, new you” messaging and rea...

The holidays don’t just bring joy — they can reactivate parentification, attachment patterns, and nervous-system survival responses we’ve carried since childhood. In this season-ending episode of Deciphering Growth ,we explore:• Why parentified children feel exhausted during family gatherings• How attachment styles show up under holiday stress• The neuroscience behind emotional labor, hypervigilan...

The holidays can be loud, overwhelming, and emotionallycomplicated — and that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. In this week’s episode of Deciphering Growth, we break down:• Why holiday stress hits your nervous system so hard• What doesn’t help (over-committing, people-pleasing, pushing through)• Practical, trauma-informed ways to protect your peace

In this week’s Deciphering Growth , Tiffany and Eric unpack what happens when ACA subsidies change, healthinsurance costs rise, and therapy starts to feel like a luxury instead of a basic need. We talk about the real mental health impact, why so many of us are scared about coverage, and some practical options and coping strategies if you’re worried about losing access to care. 🎧 Listen on Spotify...

In this week’s Soapbox, we’re digging into toxic productivity, hustle culture, and how the “what do you produce?” mindset has seeped into mental health care. From community mental health and private practice to neurodivergence, KPIs, and burnout—we’re unpacking all of it. 🎧 This episode is available publicly on all major platforms. 🌿 If you love our Soapbox episodes, we have more bonus Soapbox c...

The holidays aren’t easy for everyone — and grief doesn’t care what the calendar says. In this week’s episode of Deciphering Growth , we sit down with Bethany Valenti to talk about what grief really looks like during the holidays, why the “stages” don’t tell the full story, and how to navigate traditions, boundaries, and emotional waves with compassion.

We’re therapists—and humans. In this episode of Deciphering Growth, we drop the polished scripts and share the exact self-care we use when life (and clinical work) gets heavy. From odd little joys (automation video games, planted shrimp tanks) to parasympathetic resets (Epsom-salt baths, stretching, visual grounding, the Serenity Prayer), we show how we downshift our nervous systems without perfec...

We’re diving into how teen trauma reshapes the developing brain—and why that can look like “bad choices,” emotional whiplash, or substance use. Tiffany breaks down the neurobiology (amygdala, prefrontal cortex, reward systems, HPA axis) while Eric explores real-world patterns in youth vaping, drinking, and self-medication. Key takeaways:• Trauma ≠ destiny—adolescent neuroplasticity means we can re...

Trauma doesn’t just live in the past—it shows up in our communication, our tone, and our bodies. In this week’s Deciphering Growth, we unpack trauma-informed couples therapy and how to build safer connection. We cover: why domestic violence screening must be done individually, how triggers hijack conversations, what polyvagal cues (voice, face, posture) do to our nervous systems, and practical too...

Healthy relationships after trauma are possible—and they’re science-backed. In this episode of Deciphering Growth, Tiffany Graves, LPCC-S, and Eric Stone break down how trauma reshapes the nervous system (amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex), why polyvagal theory matters (fight/flight/freeze/fawn), and how attachment patterns, boundaries, and co-regulation rebuild safety and trust. We share p...

We’re doing something different—an honest check-in about balance. What’s working, what’s not, and the tiny habits that move us from a 3 to a 6 on our “balance scale.” Inside: how a quick mini shower can flip your brain out of work mode, why 15-minute buffers are magic, and how to stop the comparison loop on social media.

In this powerful episode of Deciphering Growth , Tiffany and Eric explore the complex topic of trauma bonding —a survival-based attachment that forms through cycles of abuse, intermittent reinforcement, and emotional highs and lows. We break down the neuroscience behind trauma bonds , including how the brain’s stress and reward systems can create emotional dependency, and why these bonds can feel...

In this powerful episode of Deciphering Growth , we sit down with Chris Perry , a retired police officer and mental health advocate, to explore the emotional toll of working in law enforcement and what it really takes to heal from trauma. Chris shares his raw, personal story of navigating PTSD , breaking through the stigma of seeking help, and transforming his pain into purpose by supporting first...

In this episode of Deciphering Growth , Tiffany and Eric take a deep dive into the four main attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized—and how early childhood trauma rewires the brain's response to connection, trust, and safety. We unpack the neuroscience behind attachment, including amygdala reactivity, vagal tone, and how co-regulation and emotional attunement impact the...