

Nuance Needed
Nuance Needed
In a world obsessed with quick fixes, licensed therapists Amanda White and Sam Dalton cut through black-and-white thinking to explore the messy reality of mental health. Drawing from both evidence-based practices and personal struggles, we have candid conversations about perfectionism, burnout, relationships, and cultural trends. No oversimplified advice—just honest dialogue about what healing actually looks like in our complicated human lives.
For more information check out therapyforwomencenter.com
For more information check out therapyforwomencenter.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 12, 2025 • 32min
51: Is "Therapy Culture" Really to Blame for Estrangement & Child Free Adults?
In this episode, we discuss our thoughts on a recent NYT article claiming a link between therapy culture and childlessness.
In conversation, we explore:
* Why the article misses the mark by focusing on "therapy culture" rather than addressing the real accountability crisis
* The problematic suggestion that having children would fix estranged relationships with parents
* How simple acknowledgment—not even apologies—is often all adult children are asking for
* The critical communication skills many parents are missing that could prevent estrangement
* The difference between explaining your perspective and invalidating someone's experience
* What we really owe each other: listening, compassion, and willingness to take accountability
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Jun 10, 2025 • 48min
50: How Wellness Culture Weaponizes Women's Health & Ferility
In this rant-y episode, we dive into the intersection of wellness culture, toxic positivity, and women's reproductive health after a viral clip from Lauryn Bosstic claiming her positive mindset was the reason she got pregnant on her first try.
In conversation, we tackle:
* The harmful impact of telling women their fertility struggles are due to not being "positive enough"
* How wellness influencers oversimplify complex medical issues and profit from women's desperation
* The "wellness to MAHA pipeline" and how legitimate health concerns are being co-opted by conservative movements
* The historical context of women's healthcare and how medicine has systematically dismissed women's concerns
* The alarming connection between manifesting culture and blaming women for their health struggles
* The evolutionary perspective on childbirth and why it's never been a "natural" or "health-neutral" event
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Jun 5, 2025 • 12min
49: Resting Girl Summer
Feeling exhausted despite your nightly "relaxation" routine? In this episode, Sam challenges our collective delusion about what true rest actually looks like in a world of constant stimulation.
In conversation, we explore:
Why your "cool girl summer" aesthetic might be missing the most important element: actual rest
The uncomfortable truth about how scrolling TikTok is stimulation, not recovery
How we've mistaken digital consumption for downtime and why it's depleting us
The critical difference between brain stimulation and genuine nervous system recovery
Why even "self-care" can become another performance when it's aestheticized for social media
Practical strategies for creating technology boundaries that actually work
How to identify activities that provide true restoration versus those that just look restful
Sam's personal approach to balancing comfort shows with genuine disconnection
Why reading a physical book might be the revolutionary act your brain is craving
This episode invites you to consider a "soft girl self-care, non-technology based aesthetic" for summer—focusing on what nurtures you rather than what looks good online.
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

Jun 3, 2025 • 59min
48: The Truth About Tradwives with Jo Piazza
What’s really happening behind the dreamy farmhouse aesthetic of tradwife content? In this episode with journalist Jo Piazza, we're exploring the complex reality behind the perfectly curated images of traditional womanhood.
In conversation, we tackle:
* Why tradwives are a "political branding machine designed to make women participate in their own oppression"
* How many of these women are renting houses, staging content, and creating fake versions of their lives
* Why conservative groups have been funding and boosting tradwife content for nearly a decade
* The hypocrisy of tradwife influencers benefiting from feminist progress while trying to deny it to others
* How Mormon women became some of the earliest and most successful mom influencers
* What we can all do to combat these dangerous narratives while still respecting women's actual choices
Jo Piazza is a journalist and author. Her new book, EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU, is about Trad Wives and is out next month!
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

May 29, 2025 • 52min
47: The Problem with #ShadowWork
Today we examine the explosion of "shadow work" content on social media and why psychological tools in untrained hands may do more harm than good.
* The commercialization of shadow work through viral journals, courses, and TikTok content
* How spiritual coaches adopt psychological concepts without proper training or oversight
* The origins of shadow work in Jungian psychology and its connection to modern therapy
* Why "opening wounds" without proper guidance for integration can leave people worse off
* The powerful scalpel metaphor: "Just because you have a surgical tool doesn't mean you know how to use it"
* How to approach self-help tools with appropriate caution while seeking proper support
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

May 27, 2025 • 54min
46: Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Ever wanted a therapist's take on reality TV? In this episode, we're breaking down "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”. We discuss-
* The emotional immaturity masked as empowerment
* The missed opportunity to explore the repressive religious culture these women were raised in
* Why claiming to "change the world" while engaging in manufactured drama feels particularly hollow
* How that barbecue scene with Taylor's family perfectly encapsulates Mormon toxicity and gender double standards
* The problem with filming vulnerable moments (like therapy sessions) without proper context or follow-through
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

May 22, 2025 • 51min
45: Raising Resilient Kids: Finding Balance in an Anxious World (Pt 2)
How do we raise children who can navigate life's challenges when our instinct is to protect them from every discomfort? We are not parenting experts, but Amanda is a parent and together we come up with some ideas for how we may be able to parent without losing our minds and falling into intensive parenting.
In this conversation, we tackle:
* The "harbor and ship" metaphor: how parents can provide a safe port while allowing children to venture into the world
* How our cultural fear of risk has limited children's independence and growth opportunities
* Why parenting choices are so much more scrutinized and criminalized for mothers than fathers
* How the erosion of community and third spaces has isolated parents and made raising children harder
* The cruel irony of a society that claims to value families while providing minimal support
This very nuanced episode offers a more balanced vision of parenting—one that acknowledges both the challenges of modern parenthood and the importance of allowing children to develop the skills they need to thrive.
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

May 21, 2025 • 35min
44: Are We All Just Intensive & Anxious Parenting? (Pt 1)
When did raising children become a high-stakes competitive sport? In this extremely nuanced conversation, we are examining the culture of intensive parenting from a parent (Amanda) and a non-parent (Sam). In this conversation, we tackle:
* How social media algorithms reinforce parental anxiety by promoting rigid, conflicting approaches
* The rise of intensive parenting and the pressure to optimize every aspect of childhood
* The confusion around "gentle parenting" and why it often slides into permissive parenting
* Amanda's experience navigating food choices with her toddler while healing from her own eating disorder
* The suffocating pressure on mothers that begins during pregnancy and only intensifies after birth
* How fear of judgment keeps parents from sharing their real experiences and decisions
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

May 14, 2025 • 56min
43: Rethinking Borderline Personality Disorder with Britt Frank
Tired of the stigma and oversimplification around BPD? In this episode with trauma therapist Britt Frank, we're diving into why this controversial diagnosis deserves a complete rethinking.
In conversation, we tackle:
* Why BPD may be better understood as a response to trauma rather than a "personality disorder"
* How clinicians' fear of "difficult clients" perpetuates harmful stigmas
* The problematic gender bias in BPD diagnosis (it's diagnosed predominantly in women)
* The problem with social media creating identity around mental health diagnoses
* Why suicidality needs to be discussed openly rather than feared
* Why Britt believes recovery is possible, despite what clinical wisdom suggests
Britt Frank, MSW, LSCSW, SEP, is a clinician, educator, and trauma specialist. She is the author of the bestselling book, “The Science of Stuck.” GET HER NEW BOOK, “Align Your Mind” anywhere you get books.
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
Skip to minute 11 to get right into burnout content
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

May 7, 2025 • 59min
42: The Illusion of Being Cool & Exhaustion of Pretending Not to Care
Is the 'cool girl’ trope just a patriarchal trap designed to exhaust women? Amanda and Sam tackle this question while sharing their drastically different approaches to being unpopular in school.
In conversation, we explore:
The phenomenon of "coolness" and how it shapes our identities
How social media has created a never-ending popularity contest that extends far beyond high school
Breaking down the iconic Gone Girl monologue that perfectly captured women's impossible balancing act
How maintaining "coolness" requires constant adaptation to rapidly shifting trends
Finding liberation in recognizing these systems and choosing what actually works for you
This revealing discussion examines how we internalize cultural pressures and the freedom that comes when we finally stop trying so hard to fit impossible standards.
WE ARE NOW ON SUBSTACK with bonus episodes, pep talks, episodes guides, and so much more! Join us at nuanceneeded.substack.com
To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.
Want to join the conversation? EMAIL- podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!


