Through the Eyes of a Therapist Podcast

Mom guilt: preoccupation with feeling "not good enough" as a parent/caregiver, questioning your decisions or indecisions about parenting, feeling guilty about taking care of yourself, thinking you might "mess up" your kids. I talk about my experience with "therapist mom" guilt in this episode.   Influencing factors to mom guilt are also addressed: the patriarchy, unfair and unattainable societal n...

Hi everyone! In this episode I talk about the beginning of the holiday season...and the stress that comes along with it. Also mentioned: systems theory and ideas on how to give gifts on a person's love language!

In another candid and unedited episode, I walk you through a typical day of working at home in solo private practice. I talk about why copywriting and letting your voice and purpose shine through in website descriptions is a good way to increase SEO and communicate with potential clients. Mentioned in this episode: Mi colega, Mishka Kimball at  https://www.thekimballcollective.com/  

Season 5 is the most candid season yet. Raw and unfiltered audio. Unedited thoughts from Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, Board Certified Counselor takes you along with her on the day to day life of entrepreneur life and therapist life. Visit www.clarityelpaso.com to find out more or https://linktr.ee/Cristalacosta to sign up for consultations, e courses, or trainings!

Ashley Zayas and Zamanda Martinez, are two therapists featured on the Therapists Looking for Love Episode. We analyze the show, talk about each couple and their dynamics, and say what we think as “regular viewers” and as “therapists”. Join us for the chisme and the clinical view.   PS: Beware of spoilers!   *This podcast is not therapy/counseling or consultation. It is for entertainment purposes o...

Do you wonder what therapists who are self-employed do for a living? How do we make ends meet? How do we make our ideas come to fruition?   In this episode I speak with two other therap-preneurs, Ashlei Lien, LMFT and Dr. Cristina Bautista, who have several business ventures that we call “side hustles”.  These folx are BUSAYYY with kids, travel, writing books, teaching fitness classes, and running...

For those of you who are interested or curious about the PhD track in therapy, here are two of my colleagues talking about their experiences in higher education. Viridiana Sigala and Federico Mendez discuss balancing personal and work life, first generation student struggles, bilingualism, marginalization, biculturalism, and more.   My new Patreon—> https://www.patreon.com/Therapistcristal   Here’...

Get your cafecito because this is gonna be juicy!  Cristal asks 3 therapists who are in the dating scene what it’s like out there looking for love. She speaks with Ashley, Zamanda, and Carmen, three therapists who are at different stages of companionship seeking. Dating apps, running into clients, attachment styles, and queer love are discussed. Cristal’s marriage tips/perspectives are included! ...

Brenda Risch, PhD, LCSW and Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, NCC, CCTP, continue the conversation about the bigger picture related to gender affirming care in Texas.  With recent opinions from the Texas Governor and Attorney General saying that this type of care should be reported to DFPS, the implications are far reaching.     We hope that this two part series has provided sound evidence that gender affirm...

In this two part series, 2 therapists explore what is happening in Texas with Governor Greg Abbott and Trans Youth.  In a recent upheaval on the Texas Capitol, Texas Governor and Texas Attorney General stated their opinion that offering trans affirming care should be considered child abuse and that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (AKA, CPS) should investigate those who are a...

Marilyn F. Corbin-Burdick, LPC and Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, NCC, CCTP (both Borderland, Latine Therapists) FINALLY saw Encanto and FINALLY discussed it on the podcast.  Themes about intergenerational trauma, shared language with clients, representation in media, and miraculous happy endings (thanks Disney) are SQUEEZED into a 30 minute episode.     Let us know what you want to hear more about by giv...

Elisa D. LCSW and Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, friends and colleagues, are back together on this episode to have a chat about what makes them happy.  Joy is an important part of self-care and replenishing the “therapist self”.  Listen in as they talk about video games, Paw Patrol, and Seinfeld.   Tell us what makes you happy on Instagram https://instagram.com/throughtheeyesofatherapistpod   *This podcas...

What are the hazards of being a counselor? Loneliness, existential dread, and VT of course! In this episode, Cristal shares a few reasons why a therapist would choose to see their own counselor…aside from occupational hazards!   Mentioned in this episode: HTTPS://www.sondermind .com   Latinxtherapy https://latinxtherapy.com/find-a-therapist/   Clinicians of Color: https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org...

Cristal answers listener questions she curated from her IG, FB, and Gmail.  Listen to a therapist’s thoughts on sitting all day, listening to people’s problems, how to shop around for your own therapist, and more!   *This podcast is not therapy*   If you have any questions, reach out on @throughtheeyesofatherapistpod • Instagram photos and videos  

How do you respond in highly stressful situations? Are you a fighter? How about a runner? A freezer? Is the person you’re dealing with such a threat that you need to keep them happy or stay in their good graces with the “fawning” response? In this episode I talk about the four main survival responses and how they show up in life-or-death situations as well as in daily life.    Visit me on Instagra...

In this episode, Dr. Kate Walker, counselor educator, and myself discuss what it’s like to mess up! It’s ok because everyone makes mistakes and nobody is perfect! Especially therapists! We are absolutely not perfect and have our own baggage; BUT we are held to a high standard of care (laws and ethics) that requires us to bravely confront these mistakes with our clients and each other.  Dr. Kate an...

Did you know there are several types of boundaries? Sexual, physical, emotional, financial, and more! In this episode psychiatrist Dr. Gaiathry Jeyarajan, author of children’s book “Ella’s Choice” talks about how to teach babies and kids about consent and boundaries. Teaching our littles about how to say “no” and how to give “permission” starts at a very young age and with everyday activities like...

The interesting thing about being one of the 10% Latinx therapists in the U.S. is all of the UNLEARNING we had to do.  Luis Cornejo, LMFT and I talk about our “Lessons Learned” as therapists. (5.5% of therapists are fully bilingual BTW according to the APA.) Here’s some data about the gap that exists for mental health care for Spanish speaking Americans.   TBH, when before recording the episode, I...

What is a highly sensitive therapist? Well, firstly what is a highly sensitive person?  Are we empaths? Introverts? Do we have special powers?     In this interview with April Snow, LMFT, we have a candid and informative convo about what it’s like inside of a HST (Highly Sensitive Therapist’s) brain. Yep, it’s different in here.   Mentioned in the episode: www.instagram.com/sensitivetherapist www....

Can you tell the difference if a therapist is truly providing trauma-informed services or if they are merely providing trauma-focused care?  In this episode, I explain the difference between the two concepts.  I also provide a list of questions to ask providers to ensure they are actually “trauma-informed”. Mentioned in the episode: https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/userfiles/files/SAMHSA_Trauma.pdf   Reg...

In this episode my guest, Marilyn Corbin-Burdick, Licensed Professional Counselor, and I discuss how horror films and stories are much like the therapeutic process.  We talk about folklore--stories passed down from previous generations, and why they are important to consider when thinking about dealing with our own traumas and mental illness.  We also discuss Stephen King novels and how insightful...

In this episode, Cristal Acosta, Licensed Professional Counselor, speaks with some of her colleagues who also happen to be a part of the new-mom club.     In the first segment, Bianca Balderrama, LPC, talks about her experience giving birth in the middle of the pandemic, perinatal and post-partum anxiety/depression, as well as the grief and loss she and many women felt due to the missed experience...

Today, Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, NCC, speaks with Elisa D, LCSW about what the hell even happened to all of us in 2020 and 2021.  The series of unfortunate events that occurred over the last two years has taken a toll on not only our clients, but on therapists everywhere! We discuss what two therapists could have possibly been up to for the last year and a half.   Reach out to me on Instagram @throug...

In this episode I am an open book about my personal journey into why I decided to go into private practice after 10 years of working for other agencies.  Even though I had a steady income, I knew I had to follow my dreams! (Here’s my referral code for SimplePractice.  You’ll get a free 30 day trial and a $50 subscription credit after you sign up for a paid account. https://www.simplepractice.com/?...

The personal is political and the political is personal.  Mental health is both personal and political! It's about viewing the person as a whole within a larger system.  My guest today really, really gets this. Lawyer and mayoral candidate, Veronica Carbajal, is a guest on today's episode to talk about her views on politics and mental health.  If you are an El Pasoan, this episode provides a windo...