Therapist Brain, Mom Heart

If you feel like your brain never shuts off, you forget things constantly, and you’re overwhelmed by the mental load of motherhood—this episode will make you feel seen. In this relatable and hilarious episode, psychotherapist Suzanne Orlando breaks down “mom brain”—what it really is, why it happens, and why it’s not forgetfulness… it’s cognitive overload. From mental load and invisible labor to an...

Parenting adolescents can feel like driving without directions. In this episode, inspired by the song Does Anybody Have a Map? from Dear Evan Hansen, I talk honestly about what it’s like navigating the teenage years for the first time. Even after 20 years as a psychotherapist working with adolescents, there are still moments with my own kids where I think, does anybody actually have a map for this...

As Gen X parents, we got a break from social drama when the school bell rang on Friday. Our kids don’t. Their social world follows them everywhere, through texts, posts, group chats, and social media, and it changes the way they experience trust, rejection, and connection. In this episode, I talk about how we can teach kids to build trust in friendships using the marble theory, how to recognize wh...

The internet has entered the chat… and apparently it’s now everyone’s therapist. In this episode, I’m putting therapist brain vs. social media mental health culture head-to-head — and we need to talk about what’s helping, what’s harming, and where things are getting wildly twisted. Not every hard thing is trauma. Not every bad mood is depression. Not every boundary is narcissism. And not every per...

No one warns you about this part of motherhood. The mom cliques. The unspoken rules. The pressure to belong. The subtle — and not-so-subtle — relational aggression that shows up in carpools, group texts, birthday parties, and school functions. In this episode, I talk honestly about losing myself while trying to fit into a culture that never truly aligned with who I am — the drinking, the parties,...

We’ve been sold the idea that every moment needs to be bigger, better, themed, photographed, and posted. But kids don’t remember the balloon arch. They remember how it felt. In this episode, I unpack how we went from simple drive-by birthday parades during COVID — where connection mattered more than stuff — to over-the-top PTO culture, competitive celebrations, and milestone moments that feel more...

This episode is about that space. The fear that shows up before logic has a chance. The waiting that feels endless. The stigma we swear we’re over — until our bodies remember first. The pickup line meltdowns. The shame no one warns you about. And the advocacy that doesn’t come with a script, a checklist, or a neat ending. We talk about why your brain jumps straight to worst-case scenarios, why Goo...

In this powerful, episode, Suzanne Orlando takes listeners on a deeply personal, raw, and hilarious journey into the realities of parenting and educating children with learning differences, behavioral struggles, and mental health challenges. Drawing on her dual perspectives as a parent and licensed therapist, Suzanne unpacks the frustrations, the systemic failures, and the heart-stopping moments t...

If you’re a parent whose stomach drops when the school’s number pops up on your phone, this episode is for you. In this deeply personal conversation, I speak as both a former school social worker and a mom who has watched her child struggle emotionally in a system that often misunderstands kids who need connection the most. We talk about what chronic misunderstanding does to a child’s nervous syst...

In this episode of Therapist Brain, Mom Heart, Suzanne Orlando, LCSW takes you to the other side of the IEP table—the side no amount of professional training can emotionally prepare you for. After 15 years as a school social worker on a Child Study Team in New Jersey, Suzanne thought she understood the IEP process inside and out. She wrote the reports. Ran the meetings. Interpreted the data. Knew...

In this deeply honest and darkly funny episode, Suzanne Orlando, LCSW—licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and former school social worker—steps out from behind her credentials and speaks from the place that feels far more vulnerable: motherhood. With nearly two decades of professional experience helping families navigate trauma, emotional regulation, and school struggles, Suzanne is...