Tara Montazeri, LMFT

Trust and Thrive

Health EN ↓ 336 episodes

Welcome to Trust and Thrive! I'm Tara Montazeri, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and host of the podcast. Through honest conversations, solo episodes, and interviews with guests, we explore topics related to mental health, relationships, OCD/anxiety, self-compassion, and the messy, nuanced parts of being human. I hope these conversations can help you feel curious, connected, understood, and less alone. Thank you for being here! Instagram and TikTok: @trustandthrive; Email: trustandthrive@gmail.com

Author

Tara Montazeri, LMFT

Category

Health

Podcast website

www.instagram.com

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

310: Managing Holiday Expectations, New Year Pressure, & Comparison 18.12.2025

For those feeling mixed feelings around this time of year, for those feeling heavy and overwhelmed going into the new year, for those feeling the pressure to "do more"...this episode is for you. You made it through this year. Whether it was a wonderful year or a really difficult one where you felt like you were simply surviving, I'm so glad you're here. In this solo episode, I...

309: Becoming a Therapist While Living with OCD & Anxiety 11.12.2025

In this solo episode, I share my personal journey of becoming a therapist and a bit of background on what inspired me to go to grad school. I also share what the experience has been like while living with OCD and my own mental health struggles. I also share how I was originally diagnosed with generalized anxiety before understanding my OCD, and what it was like navigating grad school, practicum, a...

308: End of the Year Mental Health Check-In 04.12.2025

How is it December already? Time for a mental health check-in. Many of us are feeling overwhelmed right now, and I want to validate that now more than ever.  In this solo episode, I share my recent experience with OCD, and how my thoughts have been showing up related to the social media space. I validate how difficult and frustrating it can feel to live with these thoughts, while holding space for...

307: Unpacking Burnout & the Pressure to Always Do More - with Dr. Sumi Raghavan, Clinical Psychologist & Former Psychology Professor 20.11.2025

Dr. Sumi Raghavan is a cross-cultural clinical psychologist and former psychology professor who works with adults dealing with everything from trauma to burnout and chronic stress.  She believes everybody has a culture and strives to be affirming and curious in her work.  Beyond psychotherapy, she offers workshops and training to organizations looking to support the mental health and well-being of...

306: OCD and the Fear of Being "Found Out" 13.11.2025

In this solo episode, I open up about my personal experience with OCD and the fear of being “found out." I talk about the constant worry many with OCD have that they're not as good, moral, or put-together as others might think. I share how this fear has shown up in both my personal and professional life, and how it connects to themes like moral OCD (or moral scrupulosity) and relationshi...

305: Normalizing Therapy for Men & Reframing Vulnerability - with Dr. Audra Horney, Licensed Psychologist 06.11.2025

Dr. Audra Horney is a licensed psychologist and founder of a thriving private practice devoted to men’s mental health. Known online as “the therapist for men,” she helps men untangle the emotional, relational, and cultural pressures that keep them disconnected from their true selves. Her work blends clinical depth with cultural commentary, destigmatizing therapy for men and reframing vulnerability...

304: ADHD, Relationships, & Rejection Sensitivity - with Dr. Carrie Jackson, Licensed Psychologist 30.10.2025

Dr. Carrie Jackson is a licensed psychologist who specializes in ADHD, and has ADHD herself. She’s passionate about supporting parents of kids with ADHD through both her clinical work and an online course she created just for them. Dr. Carrie is also a content creator who shares guidance and encouragement with parents of ADHD kids online, and she runs a private practice focused on helping families...

303: Navigating a Personal OCD Flare-Up 23.10.2025

In this solo episode, I open up about my recent OCD flare-up and thoughts that have come up. I share details of my thoughts in this episode, not to engage with them, but to simply name them and normalize these experiences. Even today, I continue to work on my relationship to these thoughts and have compassion for myself as I go through ups and downs of living with OCD. I hope this episode can remi...

302: Reducing the Stigma Around Harm OCD - with Nathan Peterson, Licensed OCD & Anxiety Specialist 16.10.2025

Nathan is a mental health specialist who transforms lives through his expertise in OCD, anxiety, tics, Tourette's, and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs). With extensive clinical experience across inpatient hospitals, schools, and his thriving private practice in Allen, Texas, Nathan has pioneered innovative self-directed online programs that make specialized mental health care accessi...

301: Understanding Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - with Dr. Steven C. Hayes, Psychologist & Originator of ACT 09.10.2025

Dr. Steven C. Hayes is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and President of the Institute for Better Health.  He is the founder of Contextual Behavioral Science, which includes Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). His work has shaped modern understandings of psychological flexibility, process-based therapy, and human cooperat...

300: Celebrating 300 Episodes - Learning, Growing, & Leaning Into Uncertainty 18.09.2025

300 episodes!!! In this special 300th episode of Trust & Thrive, I take a step back to reflect on the journey so far - from the very first recording and IG post (on an account that wasn't even @trustandthrive at the time) to where we are today. I share lessons I've learned, and how leaning into uncertainty has been both terrifying and rewarding...leading to this amazing community. I...

299: Being a Therapist While Navigating My Own Mental Health 11.09.2025

In this solo episode, I share my experience starting out as a therapist a few years ago, including memories of my very first session during internship, the feelings of anxiety, and the pressure I felt to “have it all together.” I talk about my own mental health struggles, and how I've worked through feelings of shame around this...now viewing them as part of what makes me the therapist I am....

298: Understanding Mental Compulsions in OCD 04.09.2025

In this episode, I dive deep into the part of OCD that is not too often discussed: mental compulsions. Many of us are familiar with physical rituals like checking or handwashing...that being said, mental compulsions can be just as exhausting, and even harder to notice. I go into detail about what mental compulsions can look like and share examples, including mental checking, neutralizing thoughts,...

297: Relationship OCD in the Age of Social Media 28.08.2025

In this episode, I share more about Relationship OCD (ROCD) and how social media can fuel the cycle of comparison, doubt, and intrusive thoughts. From seeing engagement posts to scrolling through "perfect" couple photos, social media can create pressure that can send many into ROCD spirals, leading to rumination and reassurance-seeking. As a Swiftie since her debut album, I share my exci...

296: What It Can Feel Like to Live with OCD 21.08.2025

In this episode, I open up about what it can feel like to live with OCD, sharing personal experiences and giving visuals that bring the struggles to life. I also talk about the difference between OCD and generalized anxiety disorder, and the wide spectrum of ways OCD can manifest. This solo episode is a reminder that OCD doesn’t always look the same from person to person, and that what I share is...

295: Validating Quiet Struggles - Mental Health Check-In 14.08.2025

In this episode, I share how important it is to acknowledge the nuances of one's mental health and how OCD, anxiety, depression, whatever it is you are going through can look different for everyone and manifest differently for each person. I hope this episode can remind you that your experience does not need to match someone else's to be valid and real. I hope you can hold some compassio...

294: Understanding People Pleasing & Working Through Feelings of Guilt - with Emily Nader, Licensed Professional Counselor 07.08.2025

Emily Nader is a Lebanese-American Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), licensed in Texas and Arizona. Through her online private practice, she works with adults in their 20s–40s who’ve spent years people-pleasing, feeling overwhelmed by anxious thoughts, and losing touch with their authenticity in life and relationships. She’s also a dog mom to two chocolate labs, a travel lover, and deeply pro...

293: Riding the Wave of Intrusive Thoughts & Uncomfortable Emotions 31.07.2025

In this episode, I talk about what it really means to ride the wave of intrusive thoughts and uncomfortable emotions. I share my experience of sitting with the discomfort of riding the wave, without numbing, avoiding, or rushing to fix them...which is so hard.  I share how I’ve been learning to sit with my own feelings of uncertainty and overwhelm, while also holding space for others. In this epis...

292: A Conversation on Child Stars & Mental Health in the Entertainment Industry - with Carly Gilmore, AMFT & Shannon Amabile, LMFT & Founder of The Happy Byrd 24.07.2025

Shannon Amabile is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Los Angeles and the founder of The Happy Byrd, a private practice specializing in the mental health and creative support of entertainment professionals. She is also the co-founder of Starlight Support, a mobile therapy service that brings clinical care and mental health resources directly to set for child actors and their familie...

291: Navigating Life Transitions in Adulthood & Letting Go of Timelines - with Marisa Padilla, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & Founder of Illuminated Life Therapy 17.07.2025

Marisa is a Black and Latina Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT 136357) and the founder of Illuminated Life Therapy, based in San Diego, California. She specializes in working with adults in their 20s and 30s who are navigating anxiety, low self-esteem, and trauma related to relationships. This season of life often brings intense relational and identity shifts, decision uncertainty, an...

290: Relationship OCD - Sharing My Experience & Answering Your Questions 10.07.2025

In this solo episode, I open up about my personal experience with Relationship OCD (ROCD), including how it's shown up in my current relationship and how I navigated these thoughts before I even knew I lived with OCD. I share both about my personal relationship, while incorporating what I've learned as a therapist and in my work. I also answer your questions from Instagram and TikTok, in...

289: Navigating Imposter Syndrome as a Therapist 03.07.2025

In this solo episode, I share more on feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome that can come up in my work as a therapist at different periods of time. I share what it's like to be struggling with my own mental health and have periods of feeling too hard on myself. I also discuss the privilege of this work, leaning into my humanness, and how deeply I care about the work and people I meet...

288: The Intersection of Religion, Politics, & Therapy - with Liz Rhea, Licensed Master Social Worker 26.06.2025

Liz Rhea, MSW, LMSW is an associate licensed social worker and private practice owner in Atlanta, Georgia. Liz is a queer-identified therapist and specializes in supporting queer and trans folks, as well as folks navigating complex trauma, including religious trauma and purity culture recovery. Liz believes deeply in the utilization of reclaiming and healing within community in the therapeutic spa...

287: Deepening Cultural Competency in Therapy - with Dr. Zachary Trevino, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & Director of Clinical Training 19.06.2025

Hi all! Please keep in mind that this episode was recorded a few months ago, and the intro was recorded early last week. I want to hold space for anyone affected by issues occurring globally - especially for the immigrants that make this country what it is and for fellow Iranians waiting to hear from loved ones as they flee their home. To introduce this week's guest: Dr. Trevino is a Texas-ba...

286: Honoring Pride - Queer Self-Expression, Non-Binary Representation, Body Liberation 05.06.2025

Happy Pride month to all! Sending love to those who haven't had the safe space, resources, or support to show up authentically. I see you and am so glad you exist. This episode contains clips from past episodes, discussing LGBTQ+ mental health, queer self-expression, transgender health, body libation, non-binary representation, intersecting identifies, and more. I've included the origina...

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