Now Serving.. A Side of Therapy

Can heavy metal music actually improve your mental health? The answer might surprise you. In this episode of Now Serving, host Dalton Huckaby, LMFT 146802, sits down with Jeff Watson, licensed marriage and family therapist and former music industry professional, for a conversation that challenges everything you think you know about aggressive music and emotional wellbeing. Jeff's path to thera...

In Part 2 with business coach Chris Warnes, host Dalton Huckaby, LMFT 146802 breaks down the psychology of lasting change — how childhood belief systems shape your behavior, what shadow work really requires, and why the habits you choose today are the recipe for who you become tomorrow. Real talk, no shortcuts.

What happens when a licensed therapist and a business coach sit down to talk strategy? You get a masterclass in applying psychological principles to real-world leadership. In Ep. 042, Dalton Huckaby, LMFT 146802 and business coach Chris Warnes break down how subconscious programming, communication alignment, and unlearning limiting beliefs are the real keys to scaling a business — and building a t...

Art isn't just creative expression — for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it can be the key to connection, agency, and healing. In Part 2 with Taylor, host Dalton Huckaby, LMFT 146802 explores the real-world impact of arts programming on the IDD community: from nervous system regulation and self-advocacy to the urgent and underfunded world of creative aging for adults w...

Why Community Might Be Better Than Therapy (For Some People) | LGBTQ+ Mental Health What if therapy isn’t the only answer to healing? In this episode, we explore why community, connection, and belonging may be just as important—if not more—for mental health. Featuring the San Mateo County Pride Center, this conversation breaks down how real support happens both inside and outside the therapy room....

Filling the Need and Encouraging Agency” with Tyler ButtreyIn this episode of Now Serving: A Side of Therapy, we sit down with Tyler Buttrey to discuss the growing need for services supporting persons with IDDs and the aging population, while exploring the importance of autonomy, creativity, and community connection. Topics include:• Cultural components for persons with IDDs• Sharing success stori...

What does LGBTQ+ support look like when it is rooted in community, advocacy, and real care? In this episode of Now Serving Therapy, hosted by Dalton Huckaby, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #146802), in collaboration with San Mateo County Pride Center and Izzo Therapy, we sit down for an important conversation about mental health, resilience, and the realities of serving LGBTQ+ indivi...

What if two things could be true at once? In this episode, we explore one of the most practical and powerful skills in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): the “And Yet” statement. This simple but profound tool helps us move beyond black-and-white thinking, hold two truths at once, and respond to life from wise mind instead of emotional reactivity. We discuss how “And Yet” can help with anxiety, de...

In this episode of Now Serving Therapy , host Dalton Huckabe sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Dena Castrio, owner of Good Roots Psychotherapy, to break down Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in a way that actually makes sense in real life. Together, they explore how DBT helps individuals manage overwhelming emotions, reduce stress, and make more balanced decisions using wha...

In this episode of Now Serving .. A Side of Therapy , host Dalton Huckaby sits down with Joe Gutierrez, LMFT and supervisor at Izzo Therapy , to explore what actually works in substance use treatment and recovery. They break down the “3-legged stool” model of recovery — a balanced approach that includes community support, individual therapy, and medication-assisted treatment — and why relying on j...

In this episode of Now Serving Therapy, host Dalton Huckaby sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist and Izzo Therapy supervisor Joe Gutierrez to explore the realities of substance use disorders. Together, they break down what substance use disorder actually means, why the language has shifted away from “addiction,” and how brain chemistry, environment, and genetics all play a role. J...

Self-care is often talked about like it’s something extra — something you get to after everything else is handled. But in reality, it’s the foundation that allows everything else to function. In this episode of Now Serving Therapy , Jessica Gonzalez, LMFT brings the conversation back to the basics — the kind of care that isn’t flashy, but deeply necessary. The kind that supports your nervous syste...

In this episode, host Dalton Huckaby sits down with Jessica Gonzalez, LMFT, a trauma-informed, bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to explore how today’s political climate is affecting mental health. Jessica shares her perspective on therapy as a collaborative space for self-exploration and healing, explaining how trauma lives in the nervous system and why many people carry symptoms...

What happens when motherhood changes you in ways no one prepared you for? In Ep031, Dalton Huckabe sits down with Veronica to unpack the realities of maternal mental health beyond “just drink more water.” They explore generational parenting patterns, corporal punishment, emotional regulation, postpartum depression and anxiety, and the identity shifts that come with becoming a mother. Veronica shar...

Motherhood changes everything — but it doesn’t erase who you are. In Part 1 of this important conversation, Dalton Huckaby sits down with Dr. Veronica Eyo to unpack maternal mental health — a term that goes far beyond postpartum depression. Dr. Veronica, a licensed clinical social worker, professor, and mother of three, shares both her clinical expertise and her personal journey with postpartum de...

Why does representation in mental health matter — especially for young athletes? In Part 2 of this conversation, Mateus expands on the deeper layers behind performance, identity, and emotional safety. We explore how visibility, cultural understanding, and lived experience impact whether someone feels safe enough to open up. This episode dives into: Why representation in therapy changes outcomes Un...

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. It doesn’t move in stages. And there is no “right” way to experience it. In Part 2 of this conversation, Dalton Huckaby continues his discussion with associate marriage and family therapist Lindsey Smith of Izzo Therapy, diving deeper into what it means to live with grief rather than trying to fix or outrun it. This episode focuses on how grief shows up over time —...

What happens when young athletes are told to “tough it out”?In this episode, Mateus joins us to unpack the cultural pressure placed on athletic minors to suppress emotion, push through pain, and prioritize performance over mental health. We explore:The hidden emotional cost of “mental toughness”Supporting athletic minors in high-pressure environmentsHow family and coaching values shape behaviorThe...

Defining Grief: Why Healing Is Non-Linear Grief is not something we “get over.” It is something we learn how to live with. In the Season 2 premiere of Now Serving Therapy , host Dalton Huckaby is joined by associate marriage and family therapist Lindsey Smith of Izzo Therapy for a thoughtful and compassionate conversation about grief, loss, and healing. This episode explores why grief is deeply pe...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Elliana from CORA , we focus on what support can actually look like after abuse — centering choice, strengths, and resilience. This episode explores: • Resources and services available to survivors • Affirming and inclusive support for LGBTQ+ individuals • Strengths-based approaches to healing • The role of psychoeducation in recovery and empowerment This convers...

In this episode of Now Serving: A Side of Therapy , we’re joined by Elliana from CORA , an organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families impacted by domestic abuse. This conversation focuses on building understanding — not only of what domestic abuse looks like, but also how it affects people emotionally, relationally, and psychologically. We explore how abuse can show up in many f...

In Part 2 of our conversation on Child’s Play Therapy, Dalton sits down again with Shivvy to explore how humor, play, and creativity help kids make sense of big emotions. Shivvy breaks down practical tools like the Urn of Emotions , explains why misbehavior is often a symptom (not a choice), and introduces memorable concepts like the brain highway , catastrophizing cycles, and emotional personific...

🎙 Featuring Shivvy In this episode of Now Serving: A Side of Therapy , we sit down with Izzo clinician Shivvy to explore the power of play therapy and how children express emotions through art, creativity, and play. Children don’t always communicate their experiences with words — instead, they show us through movement, drawing, storytelling, and imaginative play. Shivvy shares what it’s like to wi...

In this episode of Now Serving: A Side of Therapy , host Dalton Huckaby, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist , continues his powerful conversation with Sharon Egan in Part 2 of Teens and Sex . With over 30 years of experience in the caring profession , Sharon has dedicated her career to supporting vulnerable children, adolescents, and families through child protection, foster care, youth homele...

In this powerful and necessary episode of Now Serving: A Side of Therapy , host Dalton Huckabe, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist , sits down with Sharon Egan , a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the caring profession , dedicated to supporting vulnerable children, adolescents, and families. Sharon’s career spans child protection, foster care, youth homelessness, resid...