Therapist Confidential

In this bonus episode of Therapist Confidential , host Travis Heath is joined by Sanni Paljakka and Tom Stone Carlson for a spirited conversation on the evolving language of narrative therapy. They challenge the rise of diagnostic labels, explore the concept of " unstories ," and reflect on how language both shapes and limits our understanding of human suffering. A timely dialogue, brought to you...

“Guys think that this ends up being an identity or sexuality conversation, when it is actually an emotional competence conversation.” – Dr. Maliek Blade In this episode, therapist and founder of the Whole Brother Mission, Maliek Blade, talks about redefining masculinity, fatherhood, and success for Black men. From emotional competency to cultural relevancy, Maliek Blade shares how his work creates...

“There’s moments where I feel like I’m being ineffective… and then a client might return and say, ‘That thing from last session really stuck with me.’” In this special “Ask a Therapist Anything” episode of Therapist Confidential, host Travis Heath is joined by Lisa Forbes and Clayton Norman to answer listener questions about therapy, healing, and what it’s like on both sides of the therapy room. F...

“I'm always telling stories. and that allows me to be curious about you and create space so that you can be curious about me.” In this episode, Liliana Baylon, whose practice and trainings focus on therapy in immigrant communities. She invites us to consider the cultural complexity of immigrant clients and the stressors they face. Liliana speaks candidly about stereotypes, survival, and systems—an...

“We're gonna have a conversation about the thing, or we can do the thing, and then I can see it in real time.” In this episode, Travis Heath sits down with Digital Play Therapy Expert Jessica Stone to explore how screen-based environments—often viewed with skepticism—can become rich spaces for therapeutic connection. From Virtual Sandtrays to video games, Stone makes the case that what matters mos...

“I’m not here to fix bodies or food behaviors—I’m here to hold space for what those things are holding.” In this episode, Kim Fry challenges traditional models for treating eating disorders and invites us into a more relational approach. From deconstructing societal aesthetics to unlearning what you know about “healthy” behavior, Kim helps us rethink what healing looks like in a system that so oft...

How do you offer meaningful, person-centered care inside a system built on confinement and control? In this episode, Travis Heath speaks with Brooke Sheehan, a social worker and the Regional Director of a mental healthcare program operating inside correctional institutions. They unpack the myths of working in prisons, the power of radical acceptance, the flexibility required to meet varied mental...

Jason Buckles is not the DSM expert you’re looking for. Or is he? In this episode, Dr. Jason Buckles joins Travis Heath to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the DSM—from the benefits of providing a common language to the realities of dehumanizing clients when that language is applied. Together, they explore the power and perils of using diagnoses to define the human condition.  A laye...

"If it’s your idea, you’re going to like it better.” You know how to support clients’ mental health but what happens when clients bring up physical health goals? In this episode, health coach Shana Walsh shares how she fosters healthy change that comes from within. From helping clients set process goals to navigating motivation and reframing setbacks, this conversation will give you some fresh ide...

"Teenagers are not that scary. We are a lot more human than maybe we’re portrayed." In this episode, 16-year-old  Meztli shares her take on what’s wrong with therapy. From rushed solutions and misplaced positivity to the need for authenticity and curiosity, she unpacks why therapy can feel more like treatment than conversation—and what therapists can do to better help their clients. Spoiler:...

What does caring for people really look like when everything is on the line? In this episode, EMT and Paramedic Instructor Scott Reasor offers a thoughtful perspective on caring for others from the frontlines of emergency response. With decades of experience as a firefighter, EMT, and now a continuing education director, Scott shares stories that bridge his experiences as a first responder with th...

Play therapy isn’t just child’s play. In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath talks with Dr. Lisa Forbes about non-directive play therapy, where patience, process, and trust guide the therapeutic journey. They explore how stories unfold through toys, what progress really looks like, and how to support parents along the way. A must-listen for therapists who work with kids—or anyone...

  “What if we stopped asking, 'What do I do with this client?' and started asking, ‘What’s alive in this relationship?’” —marcela polanco   In this episode of Therapist Confidential , Travis Heath is joined by marcela polanco for a radical reimagining of therapy—not as a series of techniques to be applied, but as a relationship to be tended. Together, they explore what it means to shift...

In this episode of Therapist Confidential , host Travis Heath shares the professional journey that shaped him—from his early days as a trainee seeing clients in El Segundo to questioning what therapy is really about. With honesty and humor, Travis reflects on what grad school couldn’t prepare him for: meeting people in parks, sitting on front steps, and learning that therapy doesn’t always need a...

In this episode of Therapist Confidential , Travis Heath speaks with Clayton Norman—a therapist whose work is anything but traditional. Clayton blends narrative therapy, Adlerian play therapy, and his background in youth programming to create “skate therapy”—sessions that unfold at skate parks rather than behind office walls. They discuss metaphor, subculture, and what therapy can become when we m...

  In the debut episode of Therapist Confidential , host Travis Heath introduces a fresh and candid space for mental health professionals—one that moves beyond polished scripts and curated personas. Produced by Psychotherapy.net, a leader in training mental health professionals, this podcast is part of a new chapter focused on relevance, accessibility, and community. This episode lays the foun...