Tea with Dymphna

What is porn actually doing to your brain—and is real healing possible? In this video, we break down the science of porn addiction, how it impacts your brain, and—most importantly—how you can overcome it and find lasting freedom. If you’ve tried to quit porn and keep falling back into the same patterns, you’re not alone. Pornography doesn’t just affect behavior—it rewires the brain, shaping desire...

In this episode we dive into the difference between "perfectionism" and Holiness, and how striving for perfection can even hinder you from entering deeper into relationship with Christ. We discuss clinical implications and difficulties we see in our practices for people chasing being perfect, and most importantly how you can gain freedom in realizing what it really takes to live out your...

You've probably heard the passage in Ephesians where wives are called to submit to their husbands in "everything". But how is this played out in real life, what boundaries are necessary to make this safe and healthy, and what fears or real challenges might be hindering us from truly living this out? In this episode of Tea with Dymphna, we discuss this topic as always from a Clinical/...

When you are faced with a difficult task, it's often the mind that wants to give up first. But if you tell yourself, "I can't do it!", your mind stops problem solving. In this video, we talk about the psychology behind (NOT) quitting, and the mindset that will give you the best chance at being successful, reaching your goals, and being in control of when you give up on something,...

Are you finding yourself becoming rigid with your religious fasting? Is Lent becoming a self-improvement (or clothes-size reduction) project? For many Catholics, fasting is a sincere spiritual practice — but for some, especially those with a history of anxiety, perfectionism, or disordered eating, fasting can quietly become harmful and even turn into an Eating Disorder (e.g. Anorexia Nervosa). We...

Are you dreading the cold months? Do you feel low, unmotivated, anxious, or emotionally drained every winter? You’re not imagining it. Seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), can deeply affect mood, energy, sleep, and motivation—especially during darker months. In this video, we (two licensed psychotherapists) share practical strategies you can start using now to redu...

What do you do when you realize you’ve fallen in love with a married man - or your friend's boyfriend, fiancé, or someone else who is completely unavailable to you? For many Catholic women, this experience brings deep confusion, shame, grief, and fear. You may be asking yourself “How did this happen?” or “Now what?” — while also feeling torn between your faith, your emotions, and your desire t...

We have treated many people in our therapy practices for the anxiety of hell. It can be so crippling, but there is hope! This anxiety can be treated and you can become free. In this video, we will share our therapeutic insight paired with our Catholic Faith and what the Church teaches about salvation. You will be able to identify where your fear of hell is coming from and have a set of tools and s...

In this episode, we explore why you have a hard time maintaining healthy relationships, especially if you grew up in a chaotic or dysfunctional family (ACOA), and why you might feel “allergic to intimacy” — and more importantly, the path to real healing, secure attachment, and healthy relationships. As Catholic psychotherapists, we break down the psychological patterns that form in childhood, how...

Intergenerational Trauma — why does this happen and what are ways to break the cycle? In today’s episode, we explore intergenerational trauma from both a clinical and Catholic perspective, and why patterns of anxiety, alcoholism, dysfunction, and emotional wounds often repeat across generations. As two licensed Catholic psychotherapists, we break down how family systems, ACOA traits, and unresolve...

Can you forgive your alcoholic parents without pretending the past didn’t hurt? And is forgiveness the same as reconciliation? In this episode, we (two Catholic psychotherapists) explore one of the hardest but most freeing journeys many Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) face — learning to forgive their parents while maintaining healthy emotional and spiritual boundaries. We unpack the difference...

How do you honor your father and mother when they’ve hurt you deeply — especially if they struggled with alcoholism? As Catholic psychotherapists, we understand the tension between obeying the 5th Commandment and protecting your emotional, spiritual, and psychological health."Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend:📖 👀 https://amzn.to/43dW7OsIf you purchase the book through this l...

In this second Episode in our Series on Alcoholic Family Systems, we explore the common traits of ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) and the spiritual wounds that it leaves them with. We discuss how Perfectionism, Difficulty with Intimacy, Control, and People Pleasing impact our faith life and relationship to God the Father. We explore how the "Good Girl Obsession" is a common result of growing u...

In this episode, we explore what it’s really like growing up in chaos — and how those early family dynamics can deeply affect your identity, your faith, and even your relationship with God the Father. We break down the classic roles in an alcoholic family system — the golden child (hero), scapegoat, lost child, and mascot — and how each role shapes the way children learn to survive in a dysfunctio...

Do you feel anxious or nervous about bringing your lively Kids to Mass? Are you worried they might be loud and disrupt the Liturgy? Jesus could not have been clearer when he stated, "Let the Little Children come to Me" (Matthew 19:14), and he rebuked the disciples who were trying to hinder the Children from coming to Him. Jesus wants your children at mass. With all their being, noise, ta...

Do you feel constantly drained, anxious, or like you never quite measure up — no matter how hard you try? As Catholic women, we long to live in God’s peace… but many of our everyday habits are quietly robbing us of it.🌿 Here’s the good news: Peace isn’t out of reach. In this video, we share the simple but powerful habits that help Catholic women reclaim peace of mind and heart — habits that are n...

As Therapists, we know all the Tips and Tricks, Research and Strategies to overcome Anxiety - and THIS is our Go-To Anxiety Hack that we ourselves use - and it works! In this video, we share an Anxiety Hack that is based on the evidence-based CBT approach combined with scripture. We also share a meditation on relating our anxiety to Jesus instead of ruminating on it, from the book "Rejoice&qu...

Without realizing it, you might be using your faith to hide from your Father Wound or Mother Wound. We get it, hurtful childhood experiences are very painful to face, so it makes sense that your mind is trying to protect you from them! The problem is, that this keeps you from healing. Many Christians who carry a Mother wound or Father wound unconsciously fall into overspiritualizing or intellectua...

Many Catholics misunderstand boundaries, seeing them as uncharitable, selfish, or even un-Christian. But the truth is: healthy boundaries are biblical and are essential for growing in humility, charity, and holiness. In this episode of Tea with Dymphna, we break down:✅ Why Catholics often struggle with boundaries✅ The difference between holy suffering vs. unhealthy suffering✅ How setting bounda...

Have you ever wondered why your relationship with God the Father feels distant, confusing, or even painful? Many of us unknowingly project our Mother wounds and Father wounds onto God, seeing Him through the lens of our early experiences with parents. In this episode of Tea with Dymphna, we explore how parent wounds—both Mother and Father—can distort your image of God the Father. Drawing from both...

If you struggle with OCD, you know how easy it is to fall into habits, apps, and websites that actually make symptoms worse instead of better. In this video, two licensed therapists break down the things you should avoid if you have OCD — from health apps and Reddit rabbit holes to WebMD searches and even home security cameras. Whether you’re living with OCD, in therapy, or just curious about the...

❄️ Why couldn't Elsa just “let it go”? In this episode, we dive deep into the hidden psychological layers of Disney’s Frozen and unpack the trauma, emotional repression, and attachment dynamics behind Elsa’s icy exterior. As two licensed psychotherapists, we analyze Elsa’s character through a clinical lens—exploring how early childhood experiences, fear-based messaging, and isolation contribute to...

We asked ChatGPT to help someone with OCD and, uh... it kinda crushed it? 😳In this episode, two licensed therapists (that’s us 👋) pretend to be a client with OCD and see how well AI handles it. Spoiler: we were not ready for how it's response! So… should we be worried about our jobs? (Kidding. Mostly.)Join us for laughs, insights, and a little therapist existential crisis. 😅Great for anyone cur...

Can Therapy and Mental Health become too spiritualized? Join us as we dive into this question and share our thoughts on how abusing spirituality to "fix" ourselves on the one hand, or becoming overly passive in putting our hands into our laps and reducing our efforts to "just praying about it more". As Catholic licensed psychotherapists, we believe in the deep integration of faith and mental healt...

We dive into why Catholic/Christian women might find themselves romantically attracted to Catholic priests or seminarians. We explore how your God-given nature, the consequences of the Fall, and past wounds can all contribute to you falling in love with someone part of the Clergy. You will also gain tools, techniques, and strategies to overcome these feelings and thoughts so that they don't drive...