Therapists IRL

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 46, where Steph takes us on a tour of her neighborhood, introducing us to the colorful cast of characters wreaking havoc on her life (and her poor pooches lives too). Where is Mr. Rogers when we need him? If you've ever been harassed, screamed at, threatened, attacked, or just found yourself on the receiving end of some generally appalling b...

Send us Fan Mail Whew! We've managed to keep this going for over a year (limping right along). For TBT, we thought we'd welcome some new listeners with our very first, very awkward Episode 1. Whether you're new here, or have been with us from the start... Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Therapists IRL," the podcast where two seasoned therapists dive headfirst into the...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever heard anyone sing on our podcast before??  Today's guest did!  Welcome to another episode of Therapists IRL, where you never know what will happen!  Debbie Merkel knows despair. She also knows intimately how to grasp onto hope, with a tender heart tested in the fires of trauma. Trauma that led her into the clutches of an eating disorder.  Sharing her story of da...

Send us Fan Mail This episode originally aired on November 14, 2024, just after the election, but (sadly) we feel it's still relevant. Welcome to Therapists IRL. In the wake of this 2024 Presidential Election, Steph & Jen explore the emotional impact of politics in today's America (without claiming red or blue). This episode takes a compassionate look at the pain, fear, and division...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Episode 42 of Therapists IRL, where Jen and Steph are joined by friend and colleague Amy Abel.  One year ago (almost to the day), Amy found herself on an unexpected medical journey after a freak accident that shattered her ankle. The road to her recovery was long, hard, and sometimes dark, but through it Amy found ways to cope and stay hopeful.  Anyone who has faced a h...

Send us Fan Mail TBT!! We want to RE-introduce you to a man who not only invites other men into healing and wholeness, but also believes women will be safer as a result. Jen & Steph first spoke to Kirk in November 2024, in Episode 8 of Season 2, but we don't think we did enough to share this great man with y'all, so we're putting it back out there in honor of throwback Thursday....

Send us Fan Mail Hi Listeners!  Meet one of Steph's all-time favorite people, Kristi.  Welcome to Episode 40 of Therapists IRL.  Kristi shares openly about what it is like to be orphaned, having lost her mom as a toddler and her father a few years ago.  She also shares about the impact of Long COVID on her overall health, and the anxiety that comes from living with unexpected and frightening...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Therapists IRL... Episode 39? It's been so long, we hardly remember! Yup. We went on a little unplanned hiatus. Please forgive us! We've missed you and we hope you've missed us and come listen to the new episodes we'll be dropping. This episode is a bit of a "catching you up" on where we've been and what we've been up to since Nov...

Send us Fan Mail When love alone can't heal, comforting words fall short, and hope doesn’t alter reality….Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 38 . In this episode, Jen and Steph explore the challenges of caregiver compassion fatigue and anticipatory grief. Jen shares her personal experience of supporting her significant other through illness, offering an honest glimpse into the complexities of...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine your rock bottom being the moment a neighbor throws a chair through your window and saves your life. Welcome to Episode 37, where Jen & Steph chat with Taylor Newell-Smith about her healing and personal growth within the intersections of her identities - a biracial, pansexual, and spiritual woman growing up in a millenial world.  If you could use some inspiration, Tayl...

Send us Fan Mail Most people probably don't think about the loss a therapist experiences when one of their clients passes away. Welcome to Episode 36 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph sit down with our dear friend Abby Ward to discuss just that.  On the heels of Suicide Prevention Month last month, Abby tenderly shares her story of living through and recovering from a therapist's...

Send us Fan Mail When you realize you're still enraged about something that happened a long time ago... or you just can't get it together and clean up those doom piles or pick up the dog toys. Welcome to Episode 35 of Therapists IRL!! Steph & Jen get real about their therapy status - why they're going (Steph) and why they need to (Jen). And we're here to tell you, vulnerabi...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine always being told that being a wife and mother were the ultimate goals in life, then finding yourself single, childless not by choice, and working in the Adoption field...  Welcome to Therapists IRL!  In this week's episode, Jen & Steph talk candidly with Steph's long-time friend Charlotte, who openly shares her story of disappointment and pain in some of her...

Send us Fan Mail As we wrap up September and Suicide Prevention Month, Jen and Steph are joined by their dear friend, Karen Corona. Please note, this episode comes with a heavy-duty TRIGGER WARNING , as Karen shares her personal experiences with suicidal ideation and previous attempts. Friends, we are here to keep it real, and sadly, suicide is real.  However, there is hope. Karen's inspiring...

Send us Fan Mail Hey Podcast Family! It's good to be back. We have to put a trigger warning on this episode, because we are talking about a very tender and sometimes triggering topic - suicide. In this episode, Jen & Steph share perspectives from the therapist's couch, and offer information on suicide risk factors, myths, and more.   If you or anyone you know is suffering from suicid...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Episode 31 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph make some important announcements regarding the future of the podcast.  Tune in, and we will see you soon! No therapists were harmed in the making of this episode,  but vulnerability hangovers are real. Please note: While our podcast aims to destigmatize and normalize mental health issues, increase awareness, fost...

Send us Fan Mail It's 3am. Do you know where your cheese is?  Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 30, where Jen and Steph wax poetic about cheese, change, and challenges based on the classic book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" For many (or maybe most) of us, change can be unsettling, and accepting difficult, unpleasant, or painful experiences is one of our greatest life challenges. What do...

Send us Fan Mail Want to hear us get a little choked up? Welcome to Therapists IRL Episode 29, where Jen & Steph delve into one of the most important (and sometimes painful) parts of being human - unmet needs. Needs drive everything, whether we are talking about basic physical needs, relationship and emotional needs, spiritual needs and everything in between. We invite you to join us in your o...

Send us Fan Mail We start each day early with a daily meditation, a little yoga, and an intentional breakfast, and end each day by winding down gently until we drift off to a restful 8 hours of sleep.  Just kidding.  Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 29, where Steph and Jen talk about the importance of a daily routine in self-care and emotional well-being, while simultaneously confessing their mu...

Send us Fan Mail At age 13, an A- triggered thoughts of ending it all. At 21, a lost friendship led to time in a psychiatric hospital... the first of several psychiatric stays. Welcome to Episode 27 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph talk with colleague Karen Corona, who opens up about her struggle with major depression, complex trauma, and Bipolar Disorder.  Despite the very dark places Kar...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine getting a call one afternoon that your firstborn 12 year old child went into cardiac arrest while playing at a friend's house. Welcome to Episode 26 of Therapists IRL, where Jen & Steph talk with colleague Kati Saul.  Kati shares her experience of navigating the scary journey of medical trauma as her son went through the process of receiving and adjusting to a hea...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like you're one missed coffee away from a meltdown? Yeah, us too.  Listen, adulting is hard, but there are some things we can do to lighten our load, and they start with an understanding of EQ-- emotional intelligence. In Episode 25 of Therapists IRL, Jen and Steph talk about how to float your own boat, how to resist the urge to throat-punch the guy who cut you off...

Send us Fan Mail Another one of those potentially hard days just passed (in the US)...Father's Day. Welcome to Episode 24 of Therapists IRL, where Jen and Steph reflect on their relationships with their own dads, and share a few fond memories. We were lucky enough to both have pretty darn good Dads, and we also acknowledge that it may have been a tough day for many of our listeners who didn&a...

Send us Fan Mail It's the fight you pick with your partner after a horrible day at work. It's the 3 hours you spend scrolling social media instead of making the phone call you've been dreading. It's the sugary sweet way you greet that neighbor you simply can't stand.  Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 21, where Jen and Steph dive into defense mechanisms. Defense mechanism...

Send us Fan Mail What can you do when your "bestie" of 35 years suddenly decides the friendship isn't cutting it for her anymore and makes a unilateral decision to end it...without ever talking to you beforehand about why???  Welcome to Therapists IRL, Episode 22, where Jen revisit the trajectory of friendships - the good, the bad, and the heartbreaking.  This week, Jen and Steph ge...