Stuck in My Head with Chris King

In this season finale, Chris and Alison reflect on some of the conversations that shaped the year: facing reality as it is rather than what we think it ought to be, pulling gratitude from the sky, and navigating the grief of kids leaving home. They discuss the importance of curiosity in fear, and learning to move through change with honesty and hope. They also revisit some of their favorite Small...

Chris & Alison are joined by Alison’s husband, Ryan to talk about the relationship between parents and kids who are growing up. They explore the balance in parenting and independence, navigating the hard conversations, and how there is no grief without love.

Gratitude is one of the few positive emotions we can practice on purpose. Chris and Alison explore how intentionally noticing what is good can help shift our mindset and balance the brain’s natural focus on what’s wrong. Because gratitude doesn’t remove pain, but it does make sure pain isn’t the only thing our brain sees.

In this episode, Chris and Alison explore how the different “parts” of our personality influence the choices we make. Through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS), they talk about learning to recognize the motives behind our actions and understanding the parts of ourselves that show up in difficult moments. They also reflect on the importance of self-compassion, because while we all make mist...

Loneliness isn’t always about being alone. Sometimes it can exist even in the middle of relationships. In this episode, Chris and Alison explore the growing loneliness epidemic and the surprising ways it shows up in our lives. They unpack how it’s possible to feel more alone in a relationship than when you’re single, and why meaningful connection requires more than simply being around other people...

In this episode, Chris and Alison talk about the role relationships play in mental health and suicide prevention. They explore how to recognize signs of distress, why asking hard questions matters, and how honest conversations can create space for healing. Chris also reads an excerpt from his new book!

In this Episode, Chris and Alison share insights on adolescent mental health, the importance of relational attention, and navigating the challenges of parenting teenagers. They explore the nuances of therapy, the impact of attention, and practical ways to support youth through difficult times.

We often get caught in our own thoughts. We replay conversations, question ourselves, and search for answers that never seem to come. In this episode, Chris and Alison explore what it means to be “stuck in your head.” They talk about how mental loops form, how childhood experiences and loneliness can shape the way we think, and why acceptance and vulnerability play such an important role in emotio...

We spend a lot of time thinking about how life should be, and not enough time facing how it actually is. In this episode, Chris and Alison explore the tension between “what is” and “what ought to be,” and how living in that gap can leave us feeling stuck, frustrated, and helpless. They talk about why accepting reality is the starting point for change, how “shoulds” and “oughts” can keep us stuck,...

Most of us don’t think about where to go for mental health help until we actually need it. This week, Chris and Alison sit down with Michael McClendon to talk about how to find the right kind of support. This includes the differences between psychiatry and psychology, how to navigate your options when you’re feeling stuck, and why sometimes it takes a “test drive” with a therapist to find the righ...

Trust is essential to every relationship, but we often misunderstand how it actually works. In this episode, Chris and Alison explore how trust grows through truly knowing and understanding our partners. They talk about faking shared interests or being passive to connect, why that rarely builds real trust, and how honesty, curiosity, humility, and patience create stronger relationships.

In this episode of Stuck in My Head, Chris and Alison sit down with Greg Taylor to explore a question many parents are quietly asking: What does it actually mean to raise resilient, healthy kids in an anxious age? Together, they reflect on shared experiences and belonging, the Parable of the Prodigal Son and its picture of wastefully extravagant love, and the difference between parenting with humi...

Your inner critic knows exactly what to say. It can sound like truth. It can sound like protection. But often, it’s something else entirely.  In this week’s episode of Stuck in My Head, Alison and Chris sit down for an Ask the Expert conversation with Brianna Wilson, LPC candidate at GPS Therapies, to explore the inner critic— what it is, why it forms, and how we can begin to relate to it differen...

In this episode of Stuck in My Head, Chris and Alison explore a deceptively simple but deeply revealing question: What do people most misunderstand about you? This question invites us to slow down and consider the gap between who we are and how we’re perceived— and how that gap shapes our relationships. Chris and Alison talk about why feeling misunderstood can be so painful, why we often protect t...

“Are you really just tired… or is something deeper going on?” For a long time, I told myself I was just tired. Just busy. Just in a season. It’s amazing how faithfully our bodies carry what our hearts are holding. And how often we try to power through instead of pausing long enough to listen. In this episode, we talk about the difference between ordinary exhaustion and something deeper like burnou...

We’re back with a brand-new season of Stuck in My Head! This season, we’re focusing on relationships and orientation—how we make sense of where we are, what we’ve experienced, and where we’re going, especially when life takes unexpected turns. In this episode, we meet Rory Robinson! Through Maggie's birth story, we explore what it means to lose your bearings in a moment that’s supposed to be j...

In Part 2 of our conversation on orientation, Alison and Chris are joined by Dr. Greg Robinson for a deeper dive into what it means to find our place in the world, internally and externally. Orientation is more than just knowing where you are on a map. In therapy and mental health, it’s about understanding how we relate to the people, experiences, and beliefs that shape our lives. When our "l...

In this special episode of Stuck in My Head, Alison flips the script and interviews Chris about the concept of orientation. In therapy, orientation means knowing where you are— emotionally, relationally, spiritually. It’s how we make sense of our experiences and begin to move forward. When life doesn’t look the way we thought it would, the gap between what is and what ought to be can create deep p...

In this episode, Chris and Alison sit down with psychiatrist Dr. Natalie Vassar for a candid and "curious" conversation about ADHD, mental health meds, and what it means to grow and adapt. With warmth and expertise, Dr. Vassar shares insights from years of clinical experience—and as someone who genuinely loves her work, she brings a deep appreciation for listening to people’s stories and helping t...

In this episode of  Stuck in My Head , Chris and Alison sit down with Dr. Lisa Cromer—clinical psychologist, professor, and researcher whose work centers on resilience, sleep, and historical trauma. From the science of nightmares to simple strategies for better sleep, this conversation dives into why sleep matters more than we think. #SleepScience #MentalHealthMatters #HistoricalTrauma #StuckInMyH...

This week, Alison and Chris sit down with Chase Counts, LPC, founder of Peak Counseling in Tulsa, for a powerful conversation about  parts work  in therapy—an approach that helps us recognize and relate to the many different “parts” of ourselves. If you’ve ever seen the movie  Inside Out , you’ve already met the idea: joy, sadness, anger, fear—all with a seat at the table. From self-critics to pro...

In this powerful episode, Chris sits down with Stacey, founder of  Resolve Behavioral Health Services  and the  Post-Traumatic Growth Collective , to talk about her extraordinary personal journey through emotional, physical, and religious trauma. Stacey shares stories from her past and how they’ve shaped her into the therapist and advocate she is today. Together, they explore the complexities of s...

Alison and Chris sit down with special guests  Nathan McKinney  and  Ryan Myers , two passionate music lovers, to dive into the power of music—how it moves us, brings people together, and creates deep connections.  Music has the ability to shift our perspectives, help us understand ourselves and others more deeply, and, sometimes, just bring pure joy. This episode is all about the magic of music a...

We’re kicking off a 3-part series on  The Power of Music  with none other than  Jimmie Tramel  from the  Tulsa World ! Jimmie dives into the stories behind music and the artists who create it, sharing insight into how our personal histories shape the songs that stick with us forever. What’s the song that hit you at just the right time and never left? Let us know in the comments! Then, tune in on ...

Join us for a conversation about loving our kids through it all. In our latest episode of "Stuck in My Head," Chris and Alison sit down with Paula Lau, author of  Your Kid Did What? Strategies for Reclaiming Joy When Parenting Gets Tough . Paula shares insights from her experience as a counselor, offering guidance on managing reactions, setting boundaries, and finding strength through fa...