Therapy Thrift Shop

In this heartwarming solo episode, Wini shares her 2025 gratitude list—37 deeply personal and sometimes delightfully specific things she's thankful for, from supportive friendships to her trusty Corolla. Along the way, she reflects on the role gratitude plays in her mental health journey, including living 12 years past a suicide attempt, learning to quilt, and navigating life’s hard-but-worth-it l...

Is it weird that a gritty crime drama is your comfort show? In this playful and insightful episode, Wini unpacks her love for Law & Order: SVU —with help from ChatGPT acting as a pretend therapist. From parasocial Olivia Benson admiration to reflections on trauma, justice, and self-compassion, this episode is part cozy confession, part AI experiment, and all heart. Perfect for anyone who’s eve...

Feeling too low to text back but still want to show you care? In this cozy solo episode, Wini shares a heartwarming (and super practical!) way she stays connected to loved ones, especially during depressive episodes, without leaving the house. Hint: it's part vintage charm, part digital magic, and 100% impactful. Tune in for a tiny mental health tip that’s low effort, high connection, and full...

In this heartfelt and refreshingly real episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop , host Winifred Akande gets personal about coping skills that actually help —especially during the chaotic, colder, emotionally complex lead-up to the holidays. From simmering chili and Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes to journaling, quilting, chai lattes, and digital detoxes, Wini shares her current go-to ways of managin...

When tragedy strikes—again and again—we often hear "thoughts and prayers." But do those words still hold meaning? In this heartfelt episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop , Winifred Akande unpacks her evolving relationship with prayer, especially in the face of national grief, mental health struggles, and the desire to be a force for good. Inspired by the timeless Prayer of St. Francis of As...

In this deeply vulnerable episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop , Winifred Akande opens up about one of her hardest moments—September 15, 2025, the morning she woke up and didn’t want to be here anymore. With compassion and honesty, she walks listeners through the weight of that day: the work stress of an ongoing merger, feelings of disconnection from friends and church, and the painful realization o...

Ever rolled your eyes at affirmations? Same. In this episode of Therapy Thrift Shop , Winifred shares how she went from anti-affirmation skeptic to full believer — realizing affirmations are just the opposite of negative self-talk. She breaks down what affirmations really are, how they rewire the brain (yes, science backs this up), and how to make them actually work in real life. You’ll hear perso...

In this deeply honest comeback episode, Winifred opens up about being diagnosed with dysthymia (a chronic form of depression), navigating intense suicidal ideation, and finding her way back to hope and stability. She also previews what’s ahead this season: affirmations that actually work, prayers that ground her, navigating friendships, managing social batteries, and surviving the holidays with co...

This week, I’m getting raw and real about what it means to be healing in real time. Inspired by a literal scab on my nose (yep, you read that right), I unpack the emotional weight of unspoken grief, burnout, and the pressure to show up when you’re not okay. I’m hitting pause for the summer—and sharing why sometimes, we need to rest before we’re ready. If you’re in a scabby season too, this one’s f...

In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, host Winifred Akande shares a personal spiral of catastrophic thinking after starting a new job—and walks us through how to recognize and challenge those “what if everything goes wrong?” thoughts. Learn how to spot catastrophizing, reframe fear-based thoughts, and build mental resilience using real-life examples, humor, and heart. Because sometimes, your anxious b...

Ever finish something amazing and instantly downplay it? You're not alone. In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred gets honest about how a lifetime of disqualifying the positives—aka brushing off compliments, minimizing achievements, and never letting the good stuff land—has impacted her mental health. She explores where this pattern comes from, what it’s cost her, and how she’s learning to let...

In this short episode, I share a real moment of mental filtering after co-hosting a baby shower. Even though the event went well, I found myself stuck on the decorations that didn’t meet my expectations. I talk through how this cognitive distortion showed up, what my inner critic was saying, and how I’m learning to reframe those thoughts with self-compassion. If you’ve ever fixated on one small fl...

In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred unpacks a real-life moment of overgeneralization after oversleeping before work. Join her as she breaks down how our brains turn one off morning into a dramatic narrative ("I'll never get used to this!"), and how to gently challenge that kind of thinking. If your inner monologue is a bit of a drama queen lately, this cozy mental health momen...

A missing piece of fabric sends Winifred into a spiral—but it’s not just about the fabric. It’s about all-or-nothing thinking, that sneaky mental trap that turns small mistakes into big self-blame. In this 5-minute Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred walks through the distortion in real time, offering a funny, gentle reminder that being human is messy—and that’s okay. Connect with Me: IG - @therapy...

I tried Tantra Speed Dating hoping for connection—but left before it even started. In this honest (and hilarious) recap, I share what happened, why I walked out, and what it taught me about intuition, loneliness, and dating in your 30s. Spoiler: It involves beads, breathwork, and one very awkward moment. Connect with Me: IG - @therapythriftshop Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this Therapy Thrift Shop episode, host Winifred Akande dives into the world of cognitive distortions—those pesky mental habits that twist our thinking and fuel negativity. Discover eight common distortions, from all-or-nothing thinking to mind reading, and learn practical tips for spotting and challenging them. Whether you're new to the concept or need a refresher, this episode offers valuable...

In this episode, host Winifred Akande opens up about her ongoing struggle with loneliness and how it has shaped recent decisions, including pursuing a new in-person job after years of remote work. She reflects on a recent encounter with her ex-boyfriend "Richard," which reignited old patterns and reminded her of valuable lessons about self-worth, growth, and boundaries. Winifred candidly discusses...

In this episode of Therapy Thrift Shop, I dive into the unexpected life lessons I learned from sewing my very first quilt. From battling perfectionism and embracing progress to learning patience and finding joy in the process, each stitch taught me something valuable. Tune in to hear how quilting became a metaphor for navigating life’s bumps and why sometimes ripping out mistakes is just part of t...

Feeling the Sunday Scaries creeping in? You're not alone. In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred Akande shares simple mindset shifts and calming rituals that helped her ease anxiety before the workweek. Tune in for a quick, cozy pep talk on how to make Sunday feel less like a countdown and more like a soft landing. Connect with Me: IG - @therapythriftshop Email - hello@therapythriftshop.or...

In this deeply personal (and totally unscripted) episode, I sit down and do a live self check-in—no filter, no prep, just honest reflection. I walk through how I’m feeling emotionally, what my body’s telling me, what’s been taking up mental space, and what I actually need right now. If you’ve been meaning to pause and check in with yourself too, this is your gentle invitation to do just that. Real...

In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred dusts off a vintage mental health tool: the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale. Learn how this 1967 "stress thermometer" can help you understand the impact of life’s major events on your well-being today. Winifred also shares her personal experience with the scale and invites you to download a free version designed just for the Therapy Thrift Shop com...

In this bite-sized episode, Winifred shares a personal favorite—The Prayer of St. Francis. Introduced through a meditation app and now a quiet presence on her desk, this timeless piece offers a beautiful reflection on giving, understanding, and being a source of peace. Whether you're spiritual, curious, or just in need of a grounding moment, take what resonates and leave the rest. Connect with...

In this cozy mini-episode, Winifred shares a scrappy little gem she found online that flipped the script on imposter syndrome. Instead of trying to banish it, what if we just… leaned in? Enter: brilliant con man syndrome. It’s cheeky, it’s empowering, and it might just help you own your magic—doubts and all. Connect with Me: IG - ⁠@therapythriftshop⁠ Email - ⁠hello@therapythriftshop.org⁠ Resources...

In this episode, Winifred Akande discusses the importance of self-patience in the journey of mental health and personal growth. She explores the cultural pressures for quick fixes, the impact of social media on self-comparison, and the unrealistic expectations we often set for ourselves. Winifred shares practical tools and strategies to cultivate self-compassion and patience, emphasizing that heal...

In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred shares the simple power of adding "yet" to your self-doubt. “I can’t do this” becomes “I can’t do this yet ”—a small shift that makes a big difference. Connect with Me: IG - @therapythriftshop Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (discount code: PODCAST) Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purp...