Shrinking Heads

Life is stressful. Work is stressful. Relationships are stressful. The group chat is stressful. And somewhere along the way, “I’m fine” became code for “I am one minor inconvenience away from becoming completely feral.”In this episode of Shrinking Heads, we head back into the jungle of mental health to explore stress—what it does to our brains and bodies, why some stress is actually useful, and wh...

This week, Elizabeth is solo in the mental health jungle, asking a bigger question about distress tolerance: When did we get so bad at being uncomfortable? From same-day delivery and instant entertainment to avoiding conflict, curating social media feeds, and expecting immediate solutions to uncomfortable emotions, we live in a world increasingly designed to remove friction. Convenience is great—b...

Every relationship has them—the conversations we'd rather avoid. Whether it's setting boundaries, giving difficult feedback, addressing conflict, or simply saying, "I'm not okay," hard conversations can feel like hacking your way through the jungle of mental health with nothing but a dull machete. In this episode of Shrinking Heads, we explore why difficult conversations feel so...well, difficult....

In this episode of Shrinking Heads, we take a slower trek through the jungle of mental health to explore the annual summer slowdown—and what it means for both clients and mental health professionals. As the days get longer and routines become more flexible, many people find themselves skipping therapy sessions, putting self-care on the back burner, or wondering if they're "doing better" simply bec...

In this episode, we swing deeper into the jungle of mental health with special guest Shantanique Moore King, LMFT, to explore the often misunderstood world of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists—because despite the title, LMFTs do a lot more than save date nights and referee arguments about whose turn it is to do the dishes. Together, we unpack what LMFTs actually do, how relationship dynamics...

In this episode, Shannon joins us once again as we navigate a difficult and often unspoken part of the jungle of mental health: the double standards faced by mental health professionals when it comes to seeking care for themselves. As therapists, social workers, counselors, and other providers spend their careers supporting others through trauma, burnout, and emotional struggle, many quietly face...

In this episode, we continue navigating the jungle of mental health with Shannon as we explore a common—but often misunderstood—distinction: forgiveness vs. reconciliation. These terms are frequently used interchangeably, but they represent very different parts of the mental health jungle. One is internal, personal, and doesn’t require the other person. The other involves rebuilding trust, safety,...

In this episode, we step further into the jungle of mental health to explore one of the most difficult—and most necessary—paths in relationships: repairing harm through meaningful apologies. Apologies are often seen as simple words, but real repair requires much more than “I’m sorry.” We unpack what makes an apology effective, why some attempts at repair fall short, and how accountability, empathy...

In this episode, your host Elizabeth continues navigating the jungle of mental health by exploring an emerging and often overlooked path: sports social work. Joined by Cody Smith, LCSW-BACS, join them as they unpack what sports social work actually is and why it matters in today’s athletic landscape. From supporting athletes’ mental health to addressing systemic challenges within sports culture, t...

In this episode, your host Elizabeth is joined by Dr. Ryan Hildebrand to continue navigating the jungle of mental health. This week, they explore a growing and complex phenomenon: the rise of self-diagnosing and labeling in the age of social media. From TikTok trends to Instagram infographics, mental health language is more visible—and more accessible—than ever. But what happens when awareness blu...

In this special crossover episode, we venture deeper into the jungle of mental health to explore a challenge many athletes quietly face: what happens when you step back from a sport you love. Joined by the host of The Martial Maze, Israel Lopez Sensei, we discuss the psychological terrain that comes with taking a break—or even walking away—from a discipline that has shaped identity, routine, and c...

In this episode, we explore a sensitive and often misunderstood part of the mental health jungle: self-harm. With compassion and clarity, we talk about what self-harm is—and what it isn’t—focusing on the emotional pain that often drives it rather than the behavior itself. We discuss why self-harm can become a coping strategy, how stigma and silence can deepen suffering, and what supportive, nonjud...

In this episode of Shrinking Heads, we’re diving headfirst into the mental health jungle of the hospitality industry with Olivia McCoy from WeHelpNOLA. From long hours and emotional labor to burnout being worn like a badge of honor, hospitality workers are expected to show up smiling—no matter what’s happening behind the scenes. We explore what makes this industry uniquely tough on mental health,...

In this episode, we machete our way through one of the densest thickets of all: psychiatric medication. Why does taking meds still feel like stepping into quicksand socially? Who decided that needing a prescription is a character flaw? And lurking in the undergrowth—how much influence does Big Pharma really have over what ends up on the prescription pad? We explore the stigma that keeps people hid...

Season 2 kicks off with machetes sharpened and resolutions already wobbling. In Episode One of Shrinking Heads, we trek back into the jungle of mental health to ask a timeless January question: do New Year’s resolutions actually help, or are they just motivational vines we trip over by February? Join us as we wander through the mental health jungle to examine whether resolutions are tools for mean...

This week on Shrinking Heads, we emerge from the dense jungle of mental health we’ve been trekking through all season—mud-splattered, wiser, and still shaking leaves out of our hair. As we set up camp at the edge of the wild, we’re reflecting on the creatures we’ve encountered along the way: the sneaky stress snakes, the rumbling anxiety beasts, and those rare moments of clarity that shimmered lik...

This week on Shrinking Heads, we grab our machetes and head straight into the dense emotional jungle created by the government shutdown. With vines of uncertainty, quicksand pits of stress, the distant calls of budgetary chaos echoing through the canopy, and host Shannon still on sabbatical, join Elizabeth as she explores how all this political turbulence takes a real toll on mental health. Luckil...

This week on Shrinking Heads, we grab our machetes and head straight into the dense emotional jungle created by the government shutdown. With vines of uncertainty, quicksand pits of stress, the distant calls of budgetary chaos echoing through the canopy, and host Shannon still on sabbatical, join Elizabeth as she explores how all this political turbulence takes a real toll on mental health. Luckil...

What happens when one of our hosts gets left to fend for themselves in the jungle? Chaos? Adventure? A few too many bug bites? All of the above. In this wild episode of Shrinking Heads, we swing from the trees of survival to the branches of therapy as our stranded host shares her favorite lessons, tips, and insights from the therapy room. Expect laughter, reflection, and practical mental health wi...

Sometimes, what looks like delusion in one culture is divine connection in another — and if we’re not careful, our diagnostic machete can hack away at someone’s sacred roots. In this episode, we venture deep into the undergrowth of spirituality, culture, and clinical judgment. We’ll talk about how to tell when a “calling” isn’t a crisis, why burning sage isn’t always a red flag, and how to avoid c...

This week, we’re venturing into the therapy jungle to take a hard look at ourselves—not our clients. Even the most experienced therapists carry assumptions and stereotypes about the people who come throughout doors: the “one with the pumpkin spice latte”, the “resistant” client, the "perfectly self-aware” client. In this episode, we’ll explore where these mental shortcuts come from, how they can s...

This week, we’re venturing into the therapy jungle totake a hard look at ourselves—not our clients. Even the most experiencedtherapists carry assumptions and stereotypes about the people who come throughour doors: the “one with the pumpkin spice latte”, the “resistant” client, the“perfectly self-aware” client. In this episode, we’ll explore where thesemental shortcuts come from, how they can shape...

What’s it really like when your family tree grows therapists? In this episode of Shrinking Heads, we trek deeper into the jungle of mental health by flipping the mic toward home. Elizabeth’s mom and Shannon’s husband join us for an honest (and hilarious) look at what life is like when your dinner table doubles as a therapy couch. From unsolicited “reflective listening” to decoding every sigh, we e...

In this week's episode, join your Shrinking Heads hosts Shannon and Elizabeth as they take you deep into the tangled jungle of mental health, where every vine looks like a hashtag and every branch carries a label waiting to stick. In this episode, they hack through the overgrowth of social media’s illusions and the traps of being defined by labels. Are these tools helping us navigate the terrain,...

Grab your gear—this week on Shrinking Heads, Shannon and Elizabeth hack through the jungle of mental health to uncover the wild world of emotional activation. Ever wonder why your body sounds the alarm at the smallest rustle in the leaves? We’ll map out the hidden trails emotional activation, explore the signs of activation, and pack your survival kit with evidence-based coping tools. By the end,...