Therapy Chat

Latest Episodes:

524: The Motherhood Myth with Vanessa Bennett Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

With Mother's Day approaching, this week we are revisiting one of my favorite conversations of 2025. My guest is Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, author of "The Motherhood Myth: A Depth Therapist's Guide to Redefine Parenting, Reimagine Intimacy, and Reclaim the Self."

So many of us who were socialized as women are considering what it means to exist in a female body, and expectations around womanhood and mothering in a colonized culture - Vanessa and I discuss the shadow and light aspects of this identity, and our experiences, in this soulful conversation. Through the lens of depth psychology, Vanessa Bennett explores themes of motherhood, including the archetypal wounds that women carry. You may be familiar with the mother wound, and we also talk about how we carry sister wounds, witch wounds, father wounds and more. We discuss societal myths surrounding motherhood and the importance of reclaiming one's self and intuition after becoming a parent.

Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, is a licensed depth psychotherapist, author, and facilitator known for her no-nonsense yet compassionate approach to personal growth and healing. She is the coauthor of the bestselling relationship book "It’s Not Me, It’s You," with her partner John Kim and co-hosts the Cheaper Than Therapy podcast. A former New Yorker now based in Los Angeles, Vanessa leads transformational retreats and workshops grounded in Jungian and depth-oriented psychology. Through her writing, teaching, and digital content, she helps others break generational patterns and reconnect with their truest selves.

Find everything Vanessa Bennett offers on her website here.

Resources for Therapists and Helping Professionals:

Therapists and mental health professionals: I created a FREE video to help you feel more confident in supporting survivors of sexual violence in an embodied and trauma sensitive manner. Check it out here!

Therapists - if you're ready to allow yourself to be held in nature with a community of like-minded therapists, my Mind, Body + Soul Healing Retreat for Therapists in Tulum, Mexico is here. November/December dates are on the website now!

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community now. I facilitate 4 live calls per month. We have a new membership tier - check out everything included in TTN membership and choose the tier fits your needs! You can upgrade or downgrade your membership at any time. Learn more and apply here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, save $1000 on Synthesis Institute's Psychedelic Facilitation training beginning next month, other recommended resources and more.

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.

Thank you for listening to Therapy Chat! Please be sure to go to iTunes and leave a rating and review, subscribe and download episodes.

Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

523: Yoga + Sexual Trauma - With Zabie Yamasaki Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! In today's episode, host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C revisits her interview from 2022 with Zahabiya "Zabie" Yamasaki, who is a survivor, an advocate and a teacher who is deeply passionate about helping survivors find healing after experiencing sexual violence.

Zabie Yamasaki, M.Ed., RYT is the Founder of Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga. Zabie has trained thousands of yoga instructors and mental health professionals and her trauma-informed yoga program and curriculum for survivors is now being implemented at over 25 colleges campuses and agencies including the University of California (UC) system, Stanford, USC, University of Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins University.

Zabie received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Social Behavior and Education at the UC Irvine and completed her graduate degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs at The George Washington University. Her work has been highlighted on CNN, NBC, KTLA 5, and The Huffington Post. Her book: Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault, was published by W. W. Norton & Company in 2022.

Resources

Find Zabie's book, Trauma Sensitive Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault, Practices for Healing & Teaching with Compassion on Amazon here.

For more information on what Zabie offers, including her trauma-informed yoga courses, and speaking offerings, visit her website: http://www.zabieyamasaki.com/

Follow Zabie on Instagram here.

Go here to find the episodes of Therapy Chat with Nityda Gessel, RYT, LCSW, that were mentioned today. Bringing Yoga Therapy Into A Talk Therapy Practice and Trauma-Informed Practice and Scope.

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community now. I facilitate 4 live calls per month. Choose the level of membership that fits your needs! Learn more and apply here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Thank you for listening to Therapy Chat! Please be sure to go to iTunes and leave a rating and review, subscribe and download episodes.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

522: Connecting To The Wisdom Within Us - With Zulma Reyo Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm replaying my interview from 2021 with teacher and author Zulma Reyo, creator of the Zulma Reyo School of Consciousness. Zulma wrote the book "Inner Alchemy," which is now available for FREE in e-book format via her website. Zulma teaches us about consciousness and inner alchemy, and connecting with the "still, small voice" within.

When we first met I really didn't know what a "Consciousness School" was, and now, five years later, many of us are awakening what is beyond ordinary states of consciousness. If you need to find your way back to connection with your inner knowing, settle in with a cup of tea and listen to my conversation with Zulma Reyo. Wherever you are along that path, you are likely to find something in this conversation that will get you thinking!

Zulma Reyo is a native of Puerto Rico educated in the U.S.A. She holds an M.A. in Education from New York University. She has lived in the U.K. and spent a decade of research in India incorporating energetic, yogic and psychotherapeutic methods as well as developing her own variety based on her experience and keen perception of the human energetic structure.

Zulma is an intense and vital speaker who has delved deeply into sources of wisdom to reveal the very essence of the human being and the nexus that embraces extremes, considered by her to form part of a unique and indivisible reality. Creator of various methods of meditation and human development that integrate Western and Eastern paradigms, she is also the founder of the Zulma Reyo School of Consciousness.

Resources

Zulma's website: www.zulmareyoschoolofconsciousness.com

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community. Learn more here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Thank you for listening to Therapy Chat! Please be sure to go to iTunes and leave a rating and review, subscribe and download episodes.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

521: Marginalized Couples In Therapy with Akilah Riley Richardson Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm welcoming back a guest who was first on Therapy Chat a few years ago - Akilah Riley Richardson, MSW, CCTP.

Akilah is a therapist specializing in relationships who is the author of the new book, "Marginalized Couples in Therapy: Interventions for Healing From Systemic Trauma" with WW Norton Mental Health publishing. Akilah shares that those who carry marginalized identities often face systemic trauma from various societal structures, including education, judicial, and religious systems.

She emphasizes the need for therapists to understand the complexities of identity and systemic oppression in order to better support their clients. She offers resources to support therapists in this important work. If you're a therapist, even if you work with individuals, responsiveness to the experiences of those who are marginalized by the dominant culture is imperative to ethical practice.

Resources Mentioned:

Akilah Riley Richardson's Website: https://akilahrileyrichardson.com/

Find Akilah's book, "Marginalized Couples in Therapy: Interventions for Healing from Systemic Trauma" here and save 20% using coupon code: REAGAN20

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community. Learn more here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more.

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

520: Integrating The Family Into Child Therapy with Dafna Lender Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I’m sharing my conversation with attachment expert and author Dafna Lender about how she works with parents to help their children.

As a family therapist, Dafna explains she spends at least 50% of the work with the parents, learning about what they experience physiologically and emotionally during stressful interactions with their kids. She talks about how some of the perfectionistic modern ideas about parenting make things more difficult for families, and how she uses EMDR and Somatic Experiencing in her work with parents.

Dafna, the author of “Integrative Attachment Family Therapy: A Clinical Guide to Heal and Strengthen the Parent-Child Relationship through Play, Co-regulation, and Meaning-Making” shares about her Integrative Attachment Family Therapy (IAFT) model and her “Anti-Perfect Parent” program.

Dafna Lender, LCSW, is an international speaker, trainer, and author with over 30 years of experience working with children and families. She is a certified trainer and supervisor in both Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) and specializes in helping families heal from trauma and attachment disruptions.

Resources Mentioned:

Dafna’s Website: www.dafnalender.com

Find Dafna's book, "Integrative Attachment Family Therapy: A Clinical Guide to Heal and Strengthen the Parent-Child Relationship through Play, Co-regulation, and Meaning-Making" here.

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community. Learn more here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more.

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

519: Expressive Arts Therapy + Trauma | Dr. Cathy Malchiodi Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

This week I'm sharing my recent interview with Dr. Cathy Malchiodi, a leader in the trauma, expressive arts and art therapy fields. In our conversation Cathy explores the transformative power of expressive arts therapy in healing from traumatic experiences.She discusses the evolution of arts-based approaches, the importance of movement and sensory processing, and the distinctions between art therapy and expressive arts therapy. Cathy Malchiodi emphasizes the need for therapists to create safe environments and engage in expressive practices themselves. She discusses the Circle of Capacity, a concept she created in response to the Window of Tolerance concept from Dr. Daniel Siegel's work. The discussion also touches on the role of mindfulness and the significance of small moments of safety in therapeutic settings.

An internationally known psychotherapist and expressive arts therapist, Dr. Cathy Malchiodi has helped shape the field of traumatic stress through her decades of work with children, adults, families, and communities. Cathy is the author of numerous publications including several bestselling books that have become standards in the fields of expressive arts therapy, art therapy, trauma recovery, and creative approaches to clinical practice. She is the founder and executive director of the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute, a source of education and professional development for over 30,000 psychotherapists, counselors, creative arts therapists, somatic educators, and coaches. Cathy has held seven academic appointments and is the recipient of many awards including Kennedy Center Honors, research grants, and several university fellowships. Dr. Malchiodi promotes a capacity-focused, neurodiversity-affirming approach to traumatic stress grounded in evidence-informed expressive arts therapy and sensory integration. Drawing on principles of EMDR, somatic therapy, arts therapies, and sensory processing, she developed Bilateral Movement Desensitization and Resensitization, an innovative model to facilitate trauma recovery and restore health and well-being.

Resources from this episode:

Learn about Trauma-informed Expressive Arts Therapy here

Dr. Cathy Malchiodi writes on Substack - read it here

Dr. Cathy Malchiodi's website is found here

Find Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy: Brain, Body and Imagination in the Healing Process on the publisher's website here.

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community. Learn more here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more.

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

518: Harmonic Brain Healing with Cynthia Schwartzberg Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I interviewed Cynthia Schwartzberg about her innovative approach to therapy known as Harmonic Brain Healing™. Cynthia, the author of The Curious Voyage to Authenticity: A Rule-Breaking Guide for Personal Growth," is a Brainspotting trainer with whom I took my Phase 2 training.

We talked about the impact of trauma on memory and the importance of rhythm in healing. Cynthia discusses how Harmonic Brain Healingcan help clients who feel stuck in their trauma and emphasizes the role of imagination in creating new possibilities for healing. She shared insights on memory reconsolidation and practical applications for therapists in this fascinating conversation.

Cynthia Schwartzberg, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, trainer, and speaker with a passion for making deep healing practical, experiential, and human. She is the creator of Harmonic Brain Healing™—an integrative approach that blends focused attention, imagery, and nervous-system support to help people shift stuck patterns and move toward a more grounded, connected life. Cynthia leads Brainspotting trainings for clinicians (with CE credits) and offers programs for both professionals and personal growth seekers through Cynthasis.

Find Cynthia's Curious Voyage class here.

Learn about everything Cynthia offers at her website here.

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community. Learn more here.

Are you a helping professional who wants to learn more about the Safe + Sound Protocol (SSP)? On behalf of our friends at Unyte Health, we are pleased to share this Trauma Recovery Toolkit, a free resource aimed to support you as you work with clients who present with trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Download the toolkit and access an exclusive discount code for the SSP training!

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more.

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

517: Counseling Black Women with Dr. LaNail R. Plummer Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

As Black History month ends and Women's History month begins, this week's episode is a conversation with Dr. LaNail R. Plummer, author of The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women. Dr. Plummer, the Counseling Department Chair at Trinity University, explains that while many Black women seek therapists who look like them, with only 4% of the mental health workforce made up of Black women, there was a need for a book for white clinicians and others who are not Black to learn how best to serve this group. As Dr. Plummer points out, Black women are not a monolithic group, and rather than the burden being on them to educate their therapists about culturally competent therapy, clinicians can pick up this book and learn for themselves the best ways to support Black women. Dr. Plummer adds that she hopes Black women will also find her book to be a valuable resource in their healing journeys.

Dr. LaNail R. Plummer is a visionary mental health expert, educator, speaker, and author dedicated to redefining how minorities are seen, supported, and healed in clinical spaces. Her book, The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women (WW Norton & Co), is her first of three serving as both a professional resource for educators and mental health providers, and an accessible guide for Black women looking to heal. For Dr. Plummer, the book is more than theory but a response to a gap she witnessed her entire career; the need for healthcare (especially within mental health) that affirms and reflects the real lived experiences of Black women. A wife, mother of two adult children, U.S. Military Veteran, proud Howard University graduate, and lifelong member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc., Dr. Plummer brings two decades of clinical expertise and lived experience to inform her work.

Resources from this Episode:

Save 20% on The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women at the WW.Norton website using code REAGAN20

Find Dr. LaNail R. Plummer's website here. Find Dr. Plummer on social media:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/@mahoganysunshine https://instagram.com/@onyxtherapygroup

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/@dr-lanail-r-plummer https://linkedin.com/@onyxtherapygroup

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community. Learn more here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more.

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

516: Clinician Self Care - A Form Of Social Justice with Dr. Rebecca Eldredge Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

Therapists and other helping professionals are being stretched to our limits during these stressful times, and this episode is intended to support us, so we can maintain our capacity to support our clients. This week I'm replaying my previous conversation with Dr. Rebecca Eldredge about why rather than being self-indulgent, self care is an ethical imperative for all of us in the helping professions.

My guest, Dr. Rebecca Eldredge is a licensed psychologist who guides fellow therapists, healthcare professionals, and socially conscious leaders on how to support social justice, navigate courageous conversations, and expand emotional well-being to create compassionate, just spaces for themselves, their teams, and the clients they support. She and I spoke about the importance of standing up for one's values, and the imperative for social justice advocates to focus on self-care in order to sustain their capacity to continue in the work.

In addition to offering culturally sensitive therapy, Rebecca emphasizes the integration of mental health, compassion, and social justice throughout her work. Over the past 20 years, she has taught Multicultural Counseling graduate courses, developed and delivered support services for refugees, and facilitated numerous cultural trainings and consultations while feeling deeply honored by the trust of amazing and diverse clients.

Resources

Visit Dr. Rebecca Eldredge's website here: https://rebeccaephd.com

Contact Dr. Rebecca Eldredge via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-a-eldredge-phd/

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community. Learn more here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more.

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

515: Burnout Recovery In Healthcare With Dr. Gail Gazelle Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

This week's episode is a replay of a previous conversation with Dr. Gail Gazelle, a former hospice physician, part-time Harvard Medical School Assistant Professor, and a Master Certified Coach for physicians. Gail discusses her own experiences with burnout and how all exhausted and burned out physicians, healthcare professionals and other leaders can cultivate resilience for long, fulfilling careers. After working in the field of end-of-life care for most of her professional career, Dr. Gazelle shifted her focus to another vulnerable population: physicians in the modern American healthcare system.

\Whether you are there, or wanting to prevent getting to that point, you will find hope and resources for healing in this episode. And if you are a therapist seeking support, learn about Trauma Therapist Network and find all the resources from this episode below.

Resources for this episode:

Visit Dr. Gail Gazelle's website: https://gailgazelle.com/

More Resources:

Also, new members are being accepted in the Trauma Therapist Network membership community. Learn more here.

Watch Therapy Chat episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcast

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more.

Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network.

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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