In Session With Clarinda

Ever found yourself thinking,  “If my partner would just change, we’d be fine” ? You’re not alone. In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , we’re diving into one of the most common - and most damaging - patterns I see in relationships:  blame . When conflict arises, it’s easy to point fingers, defend ourselves, and focus on who’s at fault. But blame often keeps couples trapped in the very cy...

In this episode of In Session with Clarinda, we’re unpacking one of the most overused - and misunderstood - relationship terms online: narcissism. We talk about the difference between narcissistic traits, unhealthy relationship patterns, emotional immaturity, attachment wounds, and actual narcissistic personality disorder. Because not every difficult relationship is narcissism… but that doesn’t me...

Do you really need to be fully healed before entering a relationship? In this episode of In Session with Clarinda, Clarinda challenges one of the most common modern dating beliefs: that you must fix every part of yourself before love is possible. She explores the difference between growth and hiding behind self-development, why some wounds only show up inside relationships, and how healing can hap...

Motherhood isn’t one story—and it never has been. In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , we explore motherhood in all its forms: the joy, the exhaustion, the longing, and the grief that can exist all at once. Clarinda opens up about the many experiences that shape motherhood—from raising children, to trying to conceive, to navigating loss, and even the impact of losing a parent. This episo...

We talk a lot about red flags online, but real life is more complicated than memes and quick judgments. In this episode of  Clarinda Brandão In Session with Clarinda , we explore why smart, loving people sometimes ignore warning signs in relationships. From loneliness and chemistry to trauma history, hope, and fear of starting over, there are deeper reasons people stay in unhealthy dynamics. This...

More couples are bringing AI into their arguments, asking chat tools who was right, what their partner meant, or whether their relationship is toxic. But is that actually helping… or making things worse? In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , Clarinda explores the growing role of AI in modern relationships and why instant validation can sometimes deepen conflict instead of creating connect...

What if being the “good partner” is actually hurting your relationship? In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , we explore the hidden trap of being the easy one - the partner who avoids conflict, minimizes their needs, and prides themselves on being low-maintenance. At first, it feels like a strength. You’re understanding, flexible, and easy to be with. But over time, this dynamic can lead...

We’ve all said it:  “I just need closure.” But what if closure isn’t actually what helps us move on? In this episode, I unpack the uncomfortable truth about closure- why we crave it, what we’re really looking for, and how it can sometimes keep us stuck rather than set us free. From breakups to ghosting, I explore the deeper emotional layers behind the need for answers… and why healing that depends...

In this episode of In Session with Clarinda, Clarinda explores a topic that affects far more people than we realize: imposter syndrome. Despite experience, education, and real accomplishments, many people quietly struggle with the feeling that they don’t truly deserve their success. Instead of believing in their abilities, they fear that one day someone will discover they’re “not as capable as the...

What if the biggest thing standing in the way of better sex… isn’t desire - but pressure? In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , I’m joined by Registered Psychotherapist Victoria Sabo for an honest, grounded conversation about the expectations we carry around sex and how those expectations quietly erode pleasure, connection, and confidence. We explore: What “good sex” actually means (and w...

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s easy to get caught up in the fantasy of love - the chemistry, the spark, the butterflies, the grand gestures. But what if the love you think you want… isn’t the love you actually need? In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , we explore the difference between intensity and intimacy, chemistry and compatibility, and why so many of us chase what fee...

What happens when love and work sit at the same table? In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , we explore the emotional and relational impact of mixing business and pleasure - whether you’re dating someone you work with, building a business with your partner, or navigating marriage alongside shared professional goals. Beyond the logistics, this conversation looks at what often goes unspoken...

Have you ever been excited to make plans… only to cancel when the day arrives? In this episode,  The Flaky Friend , I explore a pattern many of us recognize - longing for connection while simultaneously pulling away from it. Whether you’re the friend who often cancels or the one left feeling disappointed, this conversation offers a compassionate, therapeutic lens on why this happens. I share perso...

In couples therapy, we spend a lot of time asking  how  to make the relationship work. But there’s a quieter, often unspoken question that lives underneath it all: Why are we staying? In this episode, Clarinda explores the deeper layer beneath “making it work” - the hopes, fears, and grief that can quietly keep couples fighting for a relationship without fully understanding what’s holding them the...

Loneliness isn’t just something we feel when we’re alone - it can show up even in committed relationships, busy homes, and full lives. In this episode, I explore why loneliness happens inside relationships, the emotional and somatic layers underneath it, and how we can begin to reconnect when the distance feels heavy. We’ll talk about emotional bids, self-protection, micro-moments of closeness, an...

This week, we’re slowing down. After being knocked out by the flu for over a week, I found myself reflecting on what happens when the body forces a pause we didn’t plan for. As someone who grew up valuing productivity and showing up for everyone else, being unable to function brought up old stories, internal pressure, guilt, and — surprisingly - clarity. In this episode, I share what the pause tau...

From the series The Midlife Shift: A Mind–Body Series on Perimenopause and Menopause Part Two: Nourishing the Change - Eating for Balance in Perimenopause   The Midlife Shift: A Mind–Body Series on Perimenopause and Menopause What we eat plays a powerful role in how we feel - physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this week’s episode of  The Midlife Shift , I sit down with Michaele Kruger, a re...

From the series The Midlife Shift: A Mind–Body Series on Perimenopause and Menopause Part One - The Body in Transition: Moving Through Perimenopause In this first episode of  The Midlife Shift , we explore how movement, breath, and body awareness can help women navigate the physical and emotional changes of perimenopause. Clarinda is joined by  Almon , a yoga and holistic health professional speci...

Ever feel like you’re always the one fixing, while your partner shuts down or pulls away? In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , I explore the dynamic between the Fixer and the Avoider - why they’re drawn to each other, what’s really happening beneath the surface, and how both can begin to heal. You’ll learn where these patterns come from, how to recognize them in yourself, and what it tak...

In this calming, curiosity-filled conversation, Clarinda sits down with Martina Anguelova - astrologer, Reiki Master, Yoga Nidra guide, EFT (tapping) facilitator, and self-described super-connector of people and ideas. Martina shares how anxiety first led her to yoga and energy work, why she sees healing as a return to wholeness, and how practices like Reiki, tapping, Yoga Nidra, and astrology can...

Are they really a narcissist or just emotionally unavailable? In this episode of  In Session with Clarinda , I unpack one of the most overused and misunderstood labels in modern relationships. We’ll explore what true narcissism looks like, what’s actually emotional immaturity or trauma in disguise, and how to spot the difference. Because not everyone who hurts you is a narcissist, and understandin...

Why do relationships end? In this episode, Clarinda explores the deeper reasons couples separate, drift apart, or choose to stay. From the roots of how we connect - through familiarity, attraction, or shared growth - to the moments when love begins to fade, this conversation unpacks the psychology of endings with honesty and compassion. Clarinda also shares what to do when you feel your relationsh...

Anxiety isn’t just in your head - it’s also in your body. In this episode of In Session with Clarinda, I’m joined by Katrin, a body worker, educator, and mentor based in Lisbon who specializes in somatics and nervous system care. Together, we explore how anxiety is deeply tied to the body’s survival system, why physical symptoms like racing heart or dizziness are part of the nervous system’s respo...

Your inner child doesn’t disappear when you grow up - it shows up in your relationships, your reactions, your fears, and the way you connect. In this season opener, I explore what the inner child  really  is, how the lesser-known inner  teenager plays a role, and the powerful ways these parts of us shape our intimate partnerships. We’ll look at signs your inner child is running the show, what happ...

Clarinda shares her personal story of moving back to Portugal after a lifetime in Canada - and the surprising emotional toll that came with it. From identity shifts and culture clashes to the quiet loneliness of starting over, this raw and relatable conversation explores how moving abroad can impact your mental health. Whether you’ve made a big move yourself or are simply curious about what it’s l...