Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins

The Shrink Think Podcast

Welcome to the Shrink Think Podcast hosted by Aaron Potratz and Nathan Hawkins, two licensed counselors. With engaging, informative conversations and light-hearted humor, the Shrink Think Podcast aims to normalize and demystify therapy for those beginning or continuing their mental health journey; in short, to bridge the gap between clients and therapists. Episodes are geared toward simplifying complex therapeutic concepts, exploring personal contributions and needs in relation to therapy, and both informing and empowering individuals to know what to expect from the process and their own thera...

Author

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins

Category

Education

Podcast website

www.shrinkthink.com

Latest episode

May 20, 2026

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Episodes

128. All About Extroverts 08.02.2023

Much has been written and said about extroverts-they talk a lot, enjoy being with people and in groups, and can't sit still. Extroverts do draw their energy from being with others and can have a hard time being alone (unlike introverts). If you're an extrovert or are close to one, listen to this episode for some practical tips to be a healthier, more well-rounded extrovert! ———————— Sign up for ou...

127. All About Introverts 01.02.2023

Introverts are often misunderstood as being shy or lacking social skills, but that's not always true. Introverts draw their energy from being alone rather than with people (like extroverts), and have different ways of interacting socially. Listen to this episode if you know someone who's an introvert so you can better understand them and improve your relationship with them! ———————— Sign up for ou...

126. Random Therapist Musings 24.01.2023

Do you want a behind-the-scenes listen to the conversations between two therapists about their day? This episode is an off-the-cuff dialogue describing what goes on for therapists - which might surprise you and, with Aaron and Nathan, is at least sure to entertain you! ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at: https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast *Member of th...

125. Panel: On Being Men with Uriah Guilford, Ernesto Segismundo, Connor McClenahan (Part 2 of 2) 18.01.2023

We spent a weekend on a men's retreat in Las Vegas, NV at the home of Ernesto Segismundo with Uriah Guilford and Connor McClenahan-all therapists and business owners. Our goal was to connect, help each other with business ideas, and have fun! While we were there we recorded this episode around the table. We talked about how we, as men, take care of ourselves, connect with others, and be vulnerable...

124. Panel: On Being Men with Uriah Guilford, Ernesto Segismundo, Connor McClenahan (Part 1) 11.01.2023

We spent a weekend on a men's retreat in Las Vegas, NV at the home of Ernesto Segismundo with Uriah Guilford and Connor McClenahan-all therapists and business owners. Our goal was to connect, help each other with business ideas, and have fun! While we were there we recorded this episode around the table. We talked about how we, as men, take care of ourselves, connect with others, and be vulnerable...

123. Forgiveness 04.01.2023

Forgiveness is one of those things that people have a hard time with and often misunderstand. What is forgiveness? What is it NOT? What is unforgiveness? Forgiving someone does not mean reconciling with them, and it doesn't even mean forgetting. Forgiveness can sometimes be for the other person but it's mainly for you, to release you from hurt, anger, and bitterness. ———————— Sign up for our FREE...

122. Why Do I Keep Picking The Same People To Be With? 28.12.2022

If you have found yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships and wondering "why do I keep picking the same type of people to be with," this episode will explain why. You are likely recreating patterns from childhood because it's familiar, and all of this is outside of your awareness. The good news is you can learn to spot these patterns and how you're recreating them, then take steps to...

121. Guest Lisa Mustard Shares Her Passion for Learning in Education and Podcasting 20.12.2022

Guest, Lisa Mustard, is a therapist and host of The Therapy Show podcast. She creates continuing education content to share with her audience to learn and grow along with her, whether you're a therapist or client. Lisa has a passion for sharing what she is curious about and the resources she accumulates. She is also offering a free podcourse at https://lisamustard.freshlearn.com/ for you to downlo...

120. How To Be A Good Friend 14.12.2022

Everybody needs a good friend, but many people don’t know what it takes to be a good friend - which will then attract good friends. It’s important to listen as much as you talk (or more), not give advice, be honest with yourself and with them, take initiative, and be there when they need you. We break these down in this episode and hope you will take them to heart and be a good friend to those in...

119. How To Be Happy No Matter What 07.12.2022

How is it that some people seem to be happy no matter what happens? And it's not a fake happiness. They have ups but they also have downs that don't seem to rattle them. What's their secret? How can I have that for myself? This episode will answer all of those questions for you, so listen in! ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at: https://www.shrinkthink.c...

118. How Do Therapists Remember Everything? 01.12.2022

Have you ever wondered how in the world therapists remember all the details about their clients or keep the stories straight? With so many people we meet, we are often able to remember you and your life. This is one of those behind-the-scenes conversations you won't want to miss! ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at: https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast *M...

117. The Point of Parenting 22.11.2022

There are tons of parenting books and podcasts out there with tips on how to do it well. We're not re-creating those. We discuss the ultimate point of parenting: to raise responsible and mature adults who can function in the world. This fundamental purpose can help direct many of your parenting decisions, and hopefully change your mindset about what it is you're doing day in and day out as a paren...

116. Are You A Content Or Process Communicator? 16.11.2022

When you communicate, do you focus on the content of the conversation - the specifics of what you're talking about? Or do you focus more on the dynamic (process) between you and the other person? Many people don't realize they lean in one direction or the other, and it impacts their relationships. We break down the differences between these and what you can do to become aware of your tendencies so...

115. How Faith Can Help Your Therapy with Guest Whitney Owens 09.11.2022

Our friend and colleague, fellow podcaster Whitney Owens, is back as a guest on our show talking about how faith can be a valuable resource for people in therapy. She gives some practice tips about how to use it well in your therapy journey and, as always, brings some fun to the episode! Website: www. WhitneyOwens.com Podcast: Wise Practice Podcast Instagram: @whitneyowensconsulting ———————— Sign...

114. Gaslighting (Part 2 of 2) 02.11.2022

Everyone talks about gaslighting these days, so we took two sessions to break it down for you. We used a simple list of 10 signs of gaslighting behavior, explaining what these are and how they are different from emotional immaturity in relationships. 10 Signs of Gaslighting Behaviour: http://www.grampian-womens-aid.com/newsevents/gaslighting-10-signs/ ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on...

113. Gaslighting (Part 1 of 2) 26.10.2022

Everyone talks about gaslighting these days, so we took two sessions to break it down for you. We used a simple list of 10 signs of gaslighting behavior, explaining what these are and how they are different from emotional immaturity in relationships. 10 Signs of Gaslighting Behaviour: http://www.grampian-womens-aid.com/newsevents/gaslighting-10-signs/ ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on...

112. Intro To Blended Family Dynamics 19.10.2022

When you or your partner become a step-parent, things can become pretty complicated in terms of the relational dynamics between the two blended families. How should you relate to your partner's kids? What role should you play in relation to their other biological parent? How can you handle the transitions between households if you share visitation? In this episode, we discuss all of these issues a...

111. What To Do When Everything Is Going Well 12.10.2022

Have you ever walked into therapy not knowing what to talk about because everything was going well? Some people cancel those appointments, some people talk about how great life is. What does it mean and what can you do about it? It might mean more than you think it does... listen in to find out! ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at: https://www.shrinkthin...

110. Regulate Your Body 05.10.2022

If your nervous system is activated, it means you are dysregulated and may find yourself reacting to people in your life and relationships. Learn how and why to regulate your system in this episode. ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at: https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

109. Can You Talk Too Much In Therapy? 28.09.2022

Some people who come to therapy talk the entire session, maybe because there's nobody else in their life who is safe or who listens without judgment or feedback. But is talking through the whole session the best use of your time with a professional counselor? Is that dynamic a healing relational one, or do you need to learn to adjust to a less didactic and more interactive back-and-forth? ————————...

108. Your Sleep Affects Your Mental Health 20.09.2022

Have you ever had a terrible night's sleep and found yourself feeling grumpy, irritable, reactive, and unmotivated the next day? You may not realize how important sleep is to your mental health but we open it up and connect those dots for you in this episode. ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at: https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

107. Why Aren’t You Fixed Yet? 14.09.2022

Many people complain after several months of therapy that nothing has changed or that the problems still exist and have only slightly gotten better. Why is that? In this episode, we discuss the change process which many misunderstand. It takes longer and can be much more difficult than you expect it, and you are your own worst enemy so facing resistance or blindspots in yourself is a major challen...

106. It IS All About You 07.09.2022

When you come to therapy, it's important that you talk about yourself! You can mention the other people in your life and give context, of course, but therapy is about YOU so we need to focus on you. Becoming healthier from therapy requires you to develop an internal (versus external) locus of control, which means operating from your own sense of self. This means that therapy sessions ARE all about...

105. This Isn’t What I Came To Therapy For 31.08.2022

Sometimes you start talking about things in therapy that aren't what you came in for. Why is that? You might think you have a complete picture of your issue, but as you present it to a professional, they see things you didn't or couldn't and start asking questions you might not have thought to ask before. It's okay to ask why you're talking about it, but try to be open and see how it relates. ————...

104. How Should You Feel When You Get Ghosted In Therapy? 24.08.2022

This is for clients and therapists. When a client suddenly stops coming to therapy without an explanation, how should you feel? Why does that happen? What can you do about it? If you're a client, this will help you better understand the humanity of your therapist. ———————— Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at: https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

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