Podcasts

Therapist Confidential | February 25, 2026 | 14:47

Insurance, social media, and late capitalism shaping expectations of change with Travis Heath

In this Therapist Confidential short, Travis Heath tackles one of the most common—and most loaded—questions clients ask at the start of therapy: “How long is this supposed to take?” Travis breaks down the tension between brief, structured, goal-oriented therapy and longer-term work that focuses on patterns across time—attachment, relationship dynamics, meaning, and identity. He also names the forces that shape our expectations (insurance, social media, and late capitalism’s demand for measurable outcomes) and why the “right” length of therapy isn’t a rule—it’s a fit. Using real-world examples (panic while driving vs. repeating emotionally unavailable relationships), Travis argues that therapy length should match the depth of change someone is seeking: symptom relief, skill-building, support through a season of life, or deeper repatterning. He also highlights something we rarely name: therapist style and fit can influence how quickly change happens, and both clients and clinicians can carry quiet shame—whether they practice brief work or stay in therapy longer. This episode offers practical questions to ask—so decisions about staying or leaving are guided less by ideology and more by what’s actually useful.

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Therapist Confidential | February 19, 2026 | 16:28

The Blank Slate Myth—and Why Neutrality Is Impossible with Travis Heath

In this Therapist Confidential short, Travis Heath explores a simple but often-forgotten truth: your therapist is a person. Therapists walk into sessions with moods, histories, cultural identities, blind spots, and preferences—because we’re human. The goal isn’t to erase that humanity or pretend it isn’t there. The work is noticing it, metabolizing it, and staying responsive so it doesn’t quietly run the session. Travis unpacks the “blank slate” myth and why neutrality is impossible (and, at times, misleading). Therapy isn’t just an exchange of ideas—it’s two nervous systems coming into contact. Clients often sense micro-shifts in a therapist long before anything is named: tightening, softening, pulling away, leaning in. Using a practical example of how a therapist’s emotional state can subtly push a client toward (or away from) confrontation, Travis highlights the importance of self-awareness—and the power of rupture and repair. This is a warm, grounded invitation to bring more honesty and humanity into the therapeutic relationship—without letting the therapist’s inner world take over.

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Therapist Confidential | February 11, 2026 | 16:41

From ‘What I’m Hearing You Say’ to ‘Where Do You Feel That?’ with Travis Heath

In this Therapist Confidential short, Travis Heath takes a playful (and affectionate) look at therapist language—the phrases that show up in sessions, supervision, and training rooms so often they’ve become a dialect. From “holding space” and “what I’m hearing you say is…” to “let’s sit with that” and “where do you feel that in your body,” Travis roasts the clichés many of us rely on—himself included. This mini-episode isn’t a takedown of therapy skills. It’s a reminder that cliché phrases often start as useful training wheels—slowing things down, conveying presence, and creating safety—but over time can lose flavor and drift into autopilot. In an era where clients increasingly recognize therapy-speak (thanks to social media and mental health content), Travis invites clinicians to get curious about their own language: why we say what we say, when it helps, and how repeating scripts can sometimes get in the way of real human contact. Warm, self-deprecating, and practical—this one’s for therapists, students, and anyone who’s ever heard “that makes so much sense.”

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Therapist Confidential | February 4, 2026 | 33:29

What Therapists Think but Rarely Say Out Loud with Travis Heath

In this solo episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath explores the internal conversations therapists have every day—but rarely say out loud. Beneath the public image of therapy as a space of clarity, certainty, and expertise lies a quieter reality shaped by judgment, doubt, ethical tension, and very real limits. Travis reflects on uncomfortable but human thoughts therapists hold: noticing judgments, choosing not to relieve distress too quickly, sensing when therapy may not “fix” what a client is facing, and grappling with the ways therapy exists within economic and social systems. Rather than exposing these thoughts as confessions or grievances, this episode frames them as part of the responsibility of therapeutic work—held carefully, often privately, and sometimes alone. A reflective episode about presence over solutions, dignity over improvement, and why therapy’s power often lies not in certainty, but in staying with what cannot be easily resolved.

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Therapist Confidential | January 28, 2026 | 1:05:14

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”: Advocacy, systems, and who shapes healthcare with Tammie Lee Demler

Travis Heath sits down with Dr. Tammie Lee Demler—board-certified psychiatric and geriatric pharmacist—for a wide-ranging conversation on psychopharmacology, stigma, loneliness, and what clinicians often miss when they talk about “meds.” From deprescribing and the realities of polypharmacy in older adults to the ethics of access and affordability, Dr. Demler offers a grounded, collaborative perspective that’s especially relevant for therapists who work alongside prescribers. They also unpack the Surgeon General’s framing of loneliness (and how it differs from social isolation), the importance of “noticing,” and why directly asking about suicide can be relieving—not harmful. Along the way, Dr. Demler shares research on teaching to reduce stigma, explores why testing “taboo” hypotheses can still be good science, and breaks down what’s notable (and challenging) about a newer antipsychotic option with a novel, muscarinic-based mechanism.

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Therapist Confidential | January 21, 2026 | 43:17

When a Bot Feels ‘Real’: A Therapist’s First-Hand Encounter With AI with Travis Heath

In this solo episode, Travis Heath explores the fast-moving question on every therapist’s mind: what does AI mean for psychotherapy—right now? After a surprising personal encounter with a highly realistic “client bot,” Travis unpacks why AI no longer feels like a future thought experiment, but an active force reshaping mental health care. He walks through the most compelling possibilities (access, 24/7 support, therapist relief, psychoeducation, and AI as a reflective mirror), alongside the most pressing concerns (privacy, misguidance, equity, overreliance, dehumanization of care, and subtle relational harms). Rather than panic or naïve optimism, Travis argues for a more useful stance: curiosity, ethical clarity, and collaboration—while protecting what is uniquely human about therapy. Ultimately, this episode asks a deeper question: if AI can do the worksheets, scripts, and surface-level empathy, what will it demand of us as therapists—and what might it invite us to reclaim?

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Therapist Confidential | January 14, 2026 | 35:53

Speaking the Unspeakable in Therapy with Travis Heath

In this solo episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath reflects on what it means to speak the unspeakable in therapy. Drawing from years of clinical work and recent conversations in the aftermath of a polarizing act of political violence, Travis explores how people often experience feelings they are not given permission to have—relief, anger, shame, grief, and confusion—often all at once. He discusses why therapy can be one of the few places where these contradictions can be spoken without judgment, and why curiosity is not a soft skill but an ethical practice. This episode invites therapists and listeners alike to consider how systems shape emotion, how polarization flattens complexity, and how speaking what feels forbidden can restore humanity.

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Therapist Confidential | January 7, 2026 | 1:05:23

Why Experience Alone Doesn’t Make Better Therapists with Daryl Chow

In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath speaks with psychologist and researcher Dr. Daryl Chow about what actually makes therapists effective. Drawing from decades of research on deliberate practice and feedback-informed treatment, Daryl challenges some of psychotherapy’s most comfortable assumptions—including the idea that experience alone leads to better outcomes. Together, they explore why therapists often stop improving, the difference between performance and learning systems, and why humility, curiosity, and surprise may be hallmarks of highly effective clinicians. The conversation also touches on premeditated treatment plans, the limits of psychotherapy models, the role of good conversation, and what human therapists offer that AI cannot. A thoughtful, grounded episode for anyone serious about becoming a better therapist.

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Therapist Confidential | December 31, 2025 | 1:04:45

From Shame to Pride: Navigating Cultural Displacement with Anastasia Piatakhina Gire

In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath speaks with international and multilingual psychotherapist Anastasia Piatakhina Gire about therapy across borders. Based in Paris and working with clients around the world, Anastasia specializes in working with displaced, expatriate, immigrant, and highly mobile populations. Together, they explore how language, culture, power, and history shape the therapeutic relationship, and why displacement—whether physical or emotional—can be deeply traumatic. Anastasia introduces the concept of displacement as an existential experience, discusses working therapeutically in multiple languages, and reflects on identity, shame, belonging, and the meaning of home in a globalized world. This episode offers a rich, relational, and deeply human exploration of psychotherapy in motion.

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Therapist Confidential | December 24, 2025 | 1:02:25

Adulthood Kills Adults: Reclaiming Play, Myth, and Self with Larry Rubin

In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath sits down with psychologist, writer, and longtime Psychotherapy.net interviewer Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Rubin for a wide-ranging conversation on superheroes, popular culture, and psychotherapy. Larry reflects on his own origin story, his lifelong fascination with stories and objects, and how superheroes became a powerful metaphor in his work with children, adolescents, and adults. They explore themes of identity, anger, power, creativity, and play, as well as the role of mythology and Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey in adult therapy. Along the way, Larry challenges the idea that fantasy is mere avoidance, argues that adulthood often stifles vitality, and encourages therapists to remain curious, idiosyncratic, and true to themselves—even when their interests fall outside the mainstream.

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Therapist Confidential | December 17, 2025 | 1:05:23

From Chaos to Context: Treating Family Violence and Incest with Mary Jo Barrett

In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath speaks with Mary Jo Barrett, a pioneering family therapist whose career spans nearly five decades of work with family violence, incest, and complex trauma. Together they explore what trauma really means, how the word has evolved culturally, and why trauma is best understood as an interruption of development rather than a single event. Mary Jo shares how she was forced to innovate early in her career—creating a collaborative, relationship-centered model based directly on what survivors themselves identified as healing. The conversation also examines power, safety, predictability, hope, and the reality of vicarious trauma for clinicians. This episode is a grounded, deeply human exploration of healing, responsibility, and staying present in the face of suffering.

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Therapist Confidential | December 10, 2025 | 43:52

East Meets West: A Different Lens on Trauma, Pain, and Growth with Shahrzad Jalali

In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis sits down with clinical psychologist and life coach Dr. Shahrzad Jalali to explore the ideas behind her book The Fire That Makes Us: Healing Through Curiosity, Compassion, and Integration. Drawing on her own story of profound loss and a traumatic car accident, as well as years of clinical work, Dr. Jalali talks about trauma as something that lives not just in events but in the nervous system, and how the body’s signals can become a doorway rather than a problem to be shut down. She and Travis unpack concepts like higher self, fragmentation versus integration, victim mentality, and shadow, and reflect on why quick-fix self‑help and one‑dimensional solutions so often leave people feeling stuck. The conversation invites a more nuanced, multi‑dimensional relationship with pain—one where we move away from waiting to be rescued and toward reclaiming our own agency and essence.

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Therapist Confidential | December 3, 2025 | 1:11:39

When ‘Treatment’ Becomes Trauma: A Look at the Troubled Teen Industry with Will Dobud

In this episode, Travis sits down with social worker, researcher, and author Dr. Will Dobud to explore the “troubled teen industry” and what it reveals about how we think about kids, treatment, and risk. Drawing from his new coauthored book Kids These Days, Will talks about involuntary residential programs, the financial and systemic forces that keep them going, and how many young people experience “treatment” as a form of institutional trauma. Along the way, he reflects on his own evolution as a practitioner, the limits of one-size-fits-all models, and why success, mastery, and genuine engagement matter more than any branded therapy. It’s a provocative, thoughtful conversation about the stories we tell about youth, and why change may actually start with adults these days.

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Therapist Confidential | November 26, 2025 | 1:04:39

Forgotten but Not Finished: Psychotherapy with Older Adults with Tom Medlar

In this episode, Travis talks with psychologist Tom Medlar, who has spent 43 years providing psychotherapy in nursing homes. They explore how these settings have changed, why they’re “very lively, even though they’re often dealing with death,” and what it means to do meaningful therapy with older adults and medically complex younger adults. Filled with vivid stories and nuanced reflections on loss, hope, communication, and meaning, this conversation reveals why nursing homes remain one of the most overlooked—and deeply human—spaces for psychotherapy.

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Therapist Confidential | November 19, 2025 | 1:00:21

When the Past Lives in the Body: Understanding Intergenerational Trauma with Marlene Williams

In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis speaks with Dr. Marlene Williams of Texas Woman’s University about intergenerational trauma, ancestral wisdom, and what it really means to “break the cycle.” Together they explore how trauma is transmitted through families and culture—psychologically, relationally, and even genetically—and how healing can begin by reclaiming personal and collective stories. Dr. Williams also shares insights from her work with Black women and mothers, offering a deeply human look at resilience, identity, and liberation through therapy.

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Therapist Confidential | November 12, 2025 | 1:16:32

When Rebellion Feels Light: The Therapist Confidential Takeover with Lisa Forbes interviewing Travis Heath

In this special Therapist Confidential Takeover, the tables turn. Guest host Lisa Forbes interviews Travis Heath about his evolving relationship with AI in therapy, why he believes contradiction is essential to being human, and how therapists can subvert psychology’s dominant logics. From graffiti as therapy to hip-hop and basketball as guiding philosophies, this conversation explores what happens when curiosity replaces certainty. A candid and thought-provoking episode about creativity, ethics, and what it really means to ask good questions.

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Therapist Confidential | November 5, 2025 | 41:44

Adapting the Model, Not the Client: Supervision, Style, and Voice with Liliana Baylon – Part 2

Host Travis Heath sits down with therapist, mediator, and “cultural broker” Liliana Baylon for a candid conversation about migration, trauma, and care. Liliana shares her story of coming to the U.S. at 16, “pushing through” grief and survival, and becoming the advocate her family needed. She names what migrants are carrying now — “ongoing anxiety that is coming now to panic attacks” — and why “you are loyal to the client, not to the model.” Part one also explores layered trauma (pre-migration, migration, post-migration), cultural rituals in therapy, and “learning to rest.”

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Therapist Confidential | October 29, 2025 | 45:53

“You Are Loyal to the Client, Not to the Model” with Liliana Baylon – Part 1

Host Travis Heath sits down with therapist, mediator, and “cultural broker” Liliana Baylon for a candid conversation about migration, trauma, and care. Liliana shares her story of coming to the U.S. at 16, “pushing through” grief and survival, and becoming the advocate her family needed. She names what migrants are carrying now — “ongoing anxiety that is coming now to panic attacks” — and why “you are loyal to the client, not to the model.” Part one also explores layered trauma (pre-migration, migration, post-migration), cultural rituals in therapy, and “learning to rest.” Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health. 

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Therapist Confidential | October 22, 2025 | 45:02

“The Climate Elephant: What Therapists Need to See” with Thomas Doherty

Thomas Doherty, who has been at the forefront of climate psychology, joins Travis Heath to trace an unconventional path—from wilderness therapy and Greenpeace to the APA’s first Climate Change Task Force—and to map today’s “climate elephant.” They explore eco-anxiety as feeling, diagnosis, and social phenomenon; taking news breaks; the “upside down pyramid” of stress; a shifting “horizon of hope”; and action identities (Climate Detective, Champion, Survivor). Doherty shares practical steps from identity work, and adapting existing skills, to implementing with congruence. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health. 

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Therapist Confidential | October 15, 2025 | 38:40

“So You Want to Start a Private Practice?” with Travis Heath

Host Travis Heath goes solo to unpack the realities of private practice—what it takes to start, sustain, and stay grounded while doing it. He shares his own story of building a practice without a website or marketing budget, explores myths about “readiness,” talks money and ethics, and wrestles with the tension between authenticity and visibility. Whether you’re just beginning or re-evaluating your path, this candid conversation offers a grounded look at what private practice really means today. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health. 

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Therapist Confidential | October 8, 2025 | 56:47

Building Self-Worth and Better Mental Health Outcomes with AutPlay Therapy Founder, Robert Jason Grant

What does it mean to center neurodivergence as identity, not pathology? In this episode, Robert Jason Grant—founder of AutPlay Therapy—shares how therapists can use neurodiversity-affirming practices to make therapy a space of inclusion and acceptance. From “all-the-time goals” like self-worth, identity awareness, autonomy, and advocacy, to building better mental health outcomes for neurodivergent kids, this conversation is a call for therapists to lead the way in creating inclusive, identity-affirming practices. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | September 30, 2025 | 35:51

The Gift of Stuckness: Travis Heath on Not Knowing Where to Go

Therapists aren’t immune to feeling lost. In this solo reflection, Travis Heath shares candidly about what it’s like to sit in silence, to admit “I don’t know where to go,” and to discover that being stuck often opens the door to the most important work. From small talk that becomes big talk to humility in the face of hopelessness, this episode is an invitation to embrace not knowing as part of the therapeutic journey.

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Therapist Confidential | September 24, 2025 | 53:38

Systems at Play: Attachment Centered Play Therapy with Clair Mellenthin

“Humans need humans. We need relationships in order for us to survive in this world.” In this episode, play therapist Clair Mellenthin shares her attachment-centered approach to play therapy that fosters child-led, systemic healing. From maximizing safety and security to reframing play as an attachment need, Mellenthin shows how change happens when parents are invited into the playroom — becoming resources, partners, and safe bases for their children. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | September 17, 2025 | 55:35

What Words Can’t Reach: Judy Rubin on the Spirit of Art Therapy

“When you express yourself non-verbally, it’s really different from when you try to put something into words. And so you discover things that you couldn’t have discovered any other way.” – Judy Rubin Judy Rubin didn’t just practice art therapy — she helped shape the field. In this intimate conversation, The Art Lady reflects on her naïve beginnings as a school teacher, her transformative work with children in psychiatric care, and the discovery of rich emotional experiences that could only be shared outside the limitations of language. As a pioneer at the intersection of mental health and the arts, Rubin reminds us why art touches places words cannot reach. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | September 10, 2025 | 35:48

Labels, Language and the Lives They Miss: A Bonus Conversation with Sanni Paljakka and Tom Stone Carlson Part 2

In this second half of an expansive conversation, Sanni Paljakka and Tom Stone Carlson return to join Travis Heath for a deeper dive into narrative therapy's evolving landscape. Together, they confront the implications of labels, the erosion of lived experience, and the role of neoliberalism in shaping modern therapy. With equal parts compassion and provocation, the trio explores what it means to honor the human story behind the diagnosis. From poetic interludes to powerful case illustrations, this episode brings narrative therapy back to its radical, relational roots. A Psychotherapy.net original.

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Therapist Confidential | September 5, 2025 | 55:32

Labels, Language and the Lives They Miss: A Bonus Conversation with Sanni Paljakka and Tom Stone Carlson Part 1

In this bonus episode of Therapist Confidential, host Travis Heath is joined by Sanni Paljakka and Tom Stone Carlson for a spirited conversation on the evolving language of narrative therapy. They challenge the rise of diagnostic labels, explore the concept of "unstories," and reflect on how language both shapes and limits our understanding of human suffering. A timely dialogue, brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, for therapists seeking to reclaim imagination and complexity in the therapy room.

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Therapist Confidential | August 27, 2025 | 57:12

Maliek Blade and the Whole Brother Mission: Building a Legacy of Emotional Wisdom

“Guys think that this ends up being an identity or sexuality conversation, when it is actually an emotional competence conversation.” – Dr. Maliek Blade In this episode, therapist and founder of the Whole Brother Mission, Maliek Blade, talks about redefining masculinity, fatherhood, and success for Black men. From emotional competency to cultural relevancy, Maliek Blade shares how his work creates a space that helps Black men thrive. This conversation is essential for anyone interested in reimagining what healthy masculinity looks like across families and communities. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | August 20, 2025 | 1:06:32

Ask a Therapist Anything: Curiosity, Growth and Care

“There’s moments where I feel like I’m being ineffective… and then a client might return and say, ‘That thing from last session really stuck with me.’” In this special “Ask a Therapist Anything” episode of Therapist Confidential, host Travis Heath is joined by Lisa Forbes and Clayton Norman to answer listener questions about therapy, healing, and what it’s like on both sides of the therapy room. From self-doubt to growth, painful experiences to the limits of healing, this candid conversation invites curiosity about the work we do and the humans we are while doing it. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | August 13, 2025 | 55:41

Bridges, Not Checklists: Ethics at the Border of Culture and Care with Liliana Baylon

“I'm always telling stories. and that allows me to be curious about you and create space so that you can be curious about me.” In this episode, Liliana Baylon, whose practice and trainings focus on therapy in immigrant communities. She invites us to consider the cultural complexity of immigrant clients and the stressors they face. Liliana speaks candidly about stereotypes, survival, and systems—and what it really takes to bridge traditional treatment models with ethical care for immigrant communities. This conversation is a must-listen for any clinician, educator, or student learning to navigate complexity with integrity. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | August 6, 2025 | 54:09

Real Therapy in the Land of Zombies with Digital Play Therapy Expert, Jessica Stone

“We're gonna have a conversation about the thing, or we can do the thing, and then I can see it in real time.” In this episode, Travis Heath sits down with Digital Play Therapy Expert Jessica Stone to explore how screen-based environments—often viewed with skepticism—can become rich spaces for therapeutic connection. From Virtual Sandtrays to video games, Stone makes the case that what matters most isn’t the medium—it’s the meaning. Together, they unpack the ethical considerations, generational divides, and powerful moments that emerge when therapists are willing to get curious, step into the unknown, and explore digital spaces with their clients. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | July 30, 2025 | 58:36

Holding the Mirror Up to Systems That Fail Us: Treating Eating Disorders with Kim Fry

“I’m not here to fix bodies or food behaviors—I’m here to hold space for what those things are holding.” In this episode, Kim Fry challenges traditional models for treating eating disorders and invites us into a more relational approach. From deconstructing societal aesthetics to unlearning what you know about “healthy” behavior, Kim helps us rethink what healing looks like in a system that so often fails the people it claims to serve.

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Therapist Confidential | July 23, 2025 | 48:47

Locked Up, Not Left Behind: Humanizing Mental Healthcare in Prisons with Brooke Sheehan

How do you offer meaningful, person-centered care inside a system built on confinement and control? In this episode, Travis Heath speaks with Brooke Sheehan, a social worker and the Regional Director of a mental healthcare program operating inside correctional institutions. They unpack the myths of working in prisons, the power of radical acceptance, the flexibility required to meet varied mental health needs, and what it means to humanize care in a dehumanizing environment.

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Therapist Confidential | July 16, 2025 | 55:46

Nothing is Ever Just One Thing: Diagnosing Without Dehumanizing with DSM Expert, Jason Buckles

Jason Buckles is not the DSM expert you’re looking for. Or is he? In this episode, Dr. Jason Buckles joins Travis Heath to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the DSM—from the benefits of providing a common language to the realities of dehumanizing clients when that language is applied. Together, they explore the power and perils of using diagnoses to define the human condition. A layered, provocative episode for anyone who’s ever wrestled with the complexities of diagnosis. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | July 9, 2025 | 1:00:16

When Mental and Physical Health Intersect: Supporting Change That Sticks with Shana Walsh

"If it’s your idea, you’re going to like it better.” You know how to support clients’ mental health but what happens when clients bring up physical health goals? In this episode, health coach Shana Walsh shares how she fosters healthy change that comes from within. From helping clients set process goals to navigating motivation and reframing setbacks, this conversation will give you some fresh ideas for nurturing change that sticks—especially when physical wellness enters the room. Brought to you by Psychotherapy.net, the home of timeless and timely conversations in mental health.

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Therapist Confidential | July 2, 2025 | 57:36

“Slow Down and Stop Trying to Fix Things”: Why This Teenager Is Skeptical About Therapy

"Teenagers are not that scary. We are a lot more human than maybe we’re portrayed." In this episode, 16-year-old Metzli shares her take on what’s wrong with therapy. From rushed solutions and misplaced positivity to the need for authenticity and curiosity, she unpacks why therapy can feel more like treatment than conversation—and what therapists can do to better help their clients. Spoiler: It’s about human connection.

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Therapist Confidential | June 25, 2025 | 59:32

Pink Elephants, Coordinated Chaos and Cake: Caring for People as a First Responder with Scott Reasor

What can therapists take from the world of emergency response? In this conversation, EMT and Paramedic Instructor Scott Reasor reflects on the emotional realities of high-stakes care: the pressure to perform, the importance of individualized care, and the unexpected impact of remaining present. From coordinated chaos to pink elephants and cake, this episode is about how being with people in their time of crisis—even when you don’t have the “right” answers—can change lives.

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Therapist Confidential | June 18, 2025 | 1:08:48

Is This Even Working? Patience, Process and Patterns in Play Therapy with Lisa Forbes

“Hold on. They throw stuff at you? And you just let them?” In this episode, Travis Heath sits down with play therapist and professor Lisa Forbes to explore the purpose and phases of non-directive play therapy. Together, they talk about patience, recognizing therapeutic content in play therapy with children, the subtle shifts that signal transformation, and the challenge of helping parents trust a process they can’t always see. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this even working?”—this one’s for you.

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Therapist Confidential | June 11, 2025 | 1:03:15

In the Borderlands of Therapy with Marcela Polanco

“What if we stopped asking, 'What do I do with this client?' and started asking, ‘What’s alive in this relationship?’” —Marcela Polanco

In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath is joined by marcela polanco for a radical reimagining of therapy—not as a series of techniques to be applied, but as a relationship to be tended. Together, they explore what it means to shift from prescriptive models to deeply relational, decolonial practices rooted in lived experience, language, and land.

Drawing from her life as a Colombian immigrant, narrative therapist, and decolonial scholar, marcela invites listeners to consider healing that’s grounded in connection, not just intervention. Produced by Psychotherapy.net, this conversation opens a necessary dialogue about what it means to truly meet another human being in therapy—and what might be possible when we do.

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Therapist Confidential | May 28, 2025 | 55:03

“Weird Therapy” with Clayton Norman

In this episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath speaks with Clayton Norman—a therapist whose work is anything but traditional. Clayton blends narrative therapy, Adlerian play therapy, and his background in youth programming to create “skate therapy”—sessions that unfold at skate parks rather than behind office walls. They discuss metaphor, subculture, and what therapy can become when we meet clients where they already are. Produced by Psychotherapy.net, this is a conversation for anyone rethinking what therapy looks like—or where it happens.

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Therapist Confidential | May 21, 2025 | 28:10

Travis Heath Didn’t Learn This in Grad School: From El Segundo to Therapist Confidential

In this debut episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath introduces a podcast that doesn’t aim to be polished, perfect, or predictable. Instead, it's an honest and messy invitation to explore therapy in its most human form. He shares his hopes for the show, including challenging groupthink in the field, amplifying voices beyond the usual “masters,” and asking weird questions that lead to deeper insight. Powered by Psychotherapy.net, this is a space for clinicians, clients, and the curious to connect over the complexities and contradictions of therapy. Come row toward the same shore — even if we disagree on how to get there.

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Therapist Confidential | May 2, 2025 | 13:38

Rowing Towards the Same Shore: A New Kind of Therapy Podcast with Travis Heath

In this debut episode of Therapist Confidential, Travis Heath introduces a podcast that doesn’t aim to be polished, perfect, or predictable. Instead, it's an honest and messy invitation to explore therapy in its most human form. He shares his hopes for the show, including challenging groupthink in the field, amplifying voices beyond the usual “masters,” and asking weird questions that lead to deeper insight. Powered by Psychotherapy.net, this is a space for clinicians, clients, and the curious to connect over the complexities and contradictions of therapy. Come row toward the same shore — even if we disagree on how to get there.

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