On the Other Side of the Couch: What I Learned Losing My Mom

What happens when the person who usually has the answers finds himself sitting in the unknown? In this deeply personal episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Tony Overbay shares his raw, honest experience of losing his mother - not as a clinician offering guidance, but as a son navigating grief for the first time.

Tony opens with a touching story about his mom's lifelong belief that he was a "real doctor," leading to an unexpectedly profound moment in the ICU. He then sits down with Q&A Files co-host Trisha Jamison for an unfiltered conversation about what it's really like when the helper becomes the one who needs help.

This isn't a clinical discussion about the stages of grief - it's a human exploration of sitting bedside for four days, the humor that emerges in dark moments, the spiritual experiences you hope for but might not get, and why "let me know if you need anything" might not be as helpful as we think.

Whether you're processing your own loss, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about what happens when life flips the script on a mental health professional, this conversation offers something real. It's messy, it's honest, and it's ultimately about being human enough to sit with the questions when you don't have all the answers.

Topics covered: Grief processing, end-of-life care, family dynamics, therapeutic insights, humor as coping mechanism, supporting others in loss, acceptance and commitment therapy in practice.

Content note: This episode contains frank discussions about death, dying, and the physical aspects of end-of-life care.

00:00 Introduction and Announcements

02:25 Personal Loss: The Passing of My Mom

03:44 Understanding the Role of a Therapist

06:05 A Story of Misunderstanding: My Mom Thought I Was a Doctor

15:10 A Therapist's Perspective on Grief

17:58 Conversation with Tricia Jameson: Grief and Grace

34:30 Exploring the Nature of Memory

35:54 Humor as a Coping Mechanism

38:59 Seeking Spiritual Experiences

42:07 Navigating Grief and Loss

48:26 Reflecting on Personal Growth

52:01 Supporting Others Through Grief

58:49 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

Contact Tony at contact@tonyoverbay.com to learn more about his Emotional Architects men's group.

And visit https://julie-dejesus.com/cruise to learn more about Tony and his friend Julie De Jesus's "I See You Living" cruise, a 5-night Western Caribbean Cruise from January 24-29, 2026 aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. 

To learn more about Tony's upcoming re-release of the Magnetic Marriage course, his Pathback Recovery course, and more, sign up for his newsletter through the link at https://linktr.ee/virtualcouch

Available NOW: Tony's "Magnetic Marriage Mini-Course" is only $25. https://magneticmarriage.mykajabi.com/magnetic-marriage-mini-course

You can learn more about Tony's pornography recovery program, The Path Back, by visiting http://pathbackrecovery.com