Therapy Talk with It's Complicated

AI is already shaping how people seek comfort, reassurance, and even intimacy. So what happens when more and more turn to machines for therapy? In this live-recorded conversation, Johanne sits down with psychodynamic psychotherapist Aaron Balick , author of The Psychodynamics of Social Networking and an early voice on the digitally extended self, to talk about what hyper-validation and frictionles...

In this episode, Johanne Schwensen sits down with psychologist Julie Haas to break the silence around a topic that affects millions, yet remains deeply misunderstood: the psychological impact of the menstrual cycle. We often normalize suffering as "just part of being a woman," but Julie challenges this narrative. We dive into the science of how hormones shape our mental health and explore practica...

What happens psychologically when moving doesn’t “fix it”? In this episode of Therapy Talk , Johanne Schwensen speaks with clinical psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist Julia Wysokowsky about the emotional impact of moving. Together they explore how mobility shapes identity, belonging, and emotional continuity, from the early euphoria of relocation to grief, loss of grounding, and the ch...

In this Therapy Talk episode, Johanne sits down with Dr. Andrea Jungaberle — Chief Medical Officer at OVID Clinic and co-founder of the MIND Foundation — for a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at how psychedelic-assisted therapy is actually making its way into clinical practice. They talk about Germany’s first compassionate use program with psilocybin, why the real work happens before and after th...

Psychotherapist and author Roland Evans joins Johanne Schwensen to talk about his book Surface and Depths: A Story of Adolescence with Reflections on the Inner Journey . Together they explore adolescence, family, and the lifelong process of becoming ourselves — and how therapy can help us revisit and repair the patterns formed early in life.

Therapy Talk is back! Johanne speaks with psychologist and researcher Lea Schäfer about how AI is showing up in therapy – for clients, therapists, and the future of mental health care. They explore the promises, pitfalls, and ethical questions of bringing technology into the therapeutic space. Full conversation here . *The BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) was first published in 1961 by Dr. Aaron T....

In this episode, therapist Dariia Milinchuk shares her expertise on working with survivors of narcissistic abuse. We explore how narcissistic traits differ from narcissistic personality disorder, why even trained professionals can miss the signs of manipulation, and the subtle but powerful ways narcissistic behaviour shows up in relationships. Dariia also discusses the long-term impact of narcissi...

In Breaking Negative Cycles in Relationships, Sára Ritter explains: Her journey into couples therapy and her passion for Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)  How conflicts in relationships are often rooted in unmet attachment needs The pursuer-withdrawer cycle and why we fall into predictable relationship patterns How couples can reconnect and shift their dynamic Join us as we unpack these themes an...

In this episode, Johanne speaks with Matias Castagnola , a clinical psychologist and psychodrama facilitator, about the transformative power of psychodrama. Matias shares how this therapeutic approach uses role-playing, sociometry, and group dynamics to explore possibilities, expand roles, and create meaningful change in a safe and playful environment. We also discuss the balance of creativity and...

In this episode, host Johanne Schwensen sits down with psychological counsellor Aranja Berkmüller to explore the fascinating and often misunderstood role of kink in the therapy space. This thought-provoking conversation challenges societal norms and encourages deeper reflection. Johanne and Aranja discuss: Common misconceptions about kink and its presence in therapeutic settings. The healing poten...

To celebrate ADHD Awareness month, we're diving into the ADHD brain and the struggles that come with it. In this episode, Johanne speaks with clinical psychologist Anna Bellack , who not only researched ADHD in women for her thesis but also received her own ADHD diagnosis during her studies. Anna provides insight into the neurological workings of ADHD and sheds light on common challenges faced by...

In this episode of our mini-series on dreams, clinical psychologist and dream expert Roland Evans explores how we can better understand our dreams by working with them in altered states of consciousness (ASCs). From naturalistic trance and EMDR to active imagination and hypnosis, Roland looks into how these non-ordinary states of awareness help us access deeper layers of dream meaning that are oft...

In this insightful episode, Johanne sits down with Aranja Berkmüller , an experienced psychological counsellor and death doula, to delve into the world of end-of-life care. Aranja sheds light on the important role of death doulas—what they really do, and what they don’t. With her unique perspective, she shares powerful lessons from her journey, offering a compassionate exploration of death doula w...

In this episode, Johanne Schwensen sits down with co-founder of It's Complicated, Jungian psychoanalyst, and author Jakob Lusensky to discuss his new book, C.G. Jung: Face to Face with Christianity - Conversations on Dreaming the Myth Onward . Together, they explore Jung’s complex relationship with Christianity, the process of writing the book, and the deep insights from leading Jungian scholars....

In this episode of Therapy Talk, I sit down with seasoned psychotherapist Vasiliki Loumpa , who brings more than a decade of experience in family therapy. We explore the rewarding and challenging aspects of parental counselling, the transformative approach of non-violent resistance and discuss family therapy's powerful impact on supporting children by empowering their parents. Tune in to discover...

In this episode, psychologist Valentina Calandra , explores the realms of liberatory psychology and feminist therapy, and what it means to be "queering" therapy. Calandra highlights the interconnectedness of personal and political struggles in therapy, and envisions therapy as a form of activism that supports individual and collective liberation.

Enveloped in the Therapy Talk podcast, here comes a mini-series about dreams by Roland Evans , and accredited clinical psychologist who has 40 years of experience unlocking the mysteries of dreams.

In this episode, Eugene Belilovsky , explains what it means to take a holistic approach to mental health counselling, and illuminates the value in integrating health factors, societal influences and concepts such as awareness and alignment in working with wellness. List of resources can be found here .  

What do friendship and therapy have in common? In this episode, Johanne Schwensen explores this thought-provoking question with fellow psychologist Valentina Calandra . Tune in to discover how the nuanced overlap between these two realms offers insights into boundaries, queering therapy, and the political dimensions of friendship. Music by Kadri Arula Visit the Relationship Garden where the conver...

An increasingly popular specialty within the therapy world is psychedelic integration. But what does it mean to engage in psychedelic integration work? Do you need to have experienced a drug-induced trip, and is it legal? These questions are just a few of the many covered when It's Complicated co-founder and psychologist, Johanne Schwensen , speaks with integrative, person-centred therapist and ps...

Some therapists never fully retire, for the main reason that their profession stays a source of passion and purpose. Roland Evans who joined me for the bi-weekly It's Complicated webinar, Mind Mingles , to talk about his dream work, is one of these therapists. In this episode, which is the raw recording of our Mind Mingles, he gives a peak into what he's learnt from listening to about 20,000 dream...

In this Therapy Talk episode, family psychotherapist  Emonie Carter-Hale  provides an engaging overview of systemic therapy, while exploring its application in trauma contexts. She shares her moving story about what it means to be a well-adjusted eldest daughter who went to law school to work with survivors of trauma, and ended up rebelling by becoming a psychotherapist working in an intersectiona...

In this moving conversation, Noémie Gmür  reveals how studying history and doing their own podcast was the perfect preparation to becoming a relationship and sex-counsellor. While generously sharing their personal journey, Noémie reflects on the many ways in which being their own guinea pig has helped shape their approach to therapy. Keep up to date with Noémie's workshops here Visit our newly est...

Most therapists like to occasionally explain to their clients how the nervous system plays into the issues at hand, but did you know that there is a body-oriented approach called Somatic Experiencing that has the understanding of humans' survival response at it's core? In this episode, Johanne asks trauma-therapist Ariane Fuechtner to give an overview of how Somatic Experiencing works. She explain...

Join us in exploring the intriguing world of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) , explained by Canadian counselor Sadie Smith . Tune in to learn about the enigmatic modality's link to psychedelics, how mandalas are incorporated into the sessions, and the kind of journey a GIM session can take you on. Sadie's DJ set Mandala from a GIM session Music by Kadri Arula