Conversations With a Wounded Healer

What does it mean to be a good friend? If you’re struggling to answer, my next question might help you find the words. How do we learn the skills to maintain genuine, deeply nourishing friendships?  For this special episode, I’ve enlisted a pair of exceptional role models: Mishara D. Winston and Christina Michelle Watkins, two visionary healers and storytellers in conversation—without me. It’s an opportunity to learn from a truly special friendship. Tune into Part II for even more intentionality and inspiration. GUEST BIO Mishara D. Winston is a strategic mental wellness consultant, coach, and pleasure-based therapist with over 18 years in the field. She helps communities design healing experiences rooted in play, sensory connection, and self-compassion. Her work blends body-honesty, ancestral wisdom, and a deep belief in collective healing. Christina Michelle Watkins is a Black, queer, neuroexpansive mystic artist and therapist who weaves story, spirit, and care into all she does. As a writer, performer, Tarot reader, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she supports individuals, groups, and communities in building connection, navigating transition, and imagining new ways of being. She finds joy in thunderstorms, dancing, and talking about popsicles for entirely too long. *** Join the Group Practice (R)evolution! GPR is a new platform and podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future. For a limited time, podcast listeners can get a full year of membership for only $19.99 by using the discount code PODCAST.  Visit: https://tinyurl.com/GPRPodcast and click on “have a coupon” and enter PODCAST to enjoy all the perks of Group Practice (R)evolution for a year!  Get Support! Earn CEs! Care in Chaos: https://tinyurl.com/CareInChaosRec Bridging Heart and Practice: https://tinyurl.com/TheSarahsOnlineSupe  SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review on Apple Podcasts *** Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places… Website Facebook @headheartbiztherapy Instagram @headheartbiztherapy

Good people create great group practices. Eventually. I tacked that adverb on the end not to undermine anyone’s ability to craft cultures of transparency and inclusivity, but to acknowledge that the whole shebang requires constant work.  Amy Zajakowski Uhll, LCPC, founder and director of Chicago Center for Integration and Healing (CCIH), is an excellent example of an accomplished leader and eternal learner, the latter contributing so much heart to the former. Amy and I discuss her 30-year career evolution from nervous newbie to seasoned practice owner. We also explore her strategies for cultivating harmony and opportunity at CCIH, as well as her commitment to community building and healing. *** Join the Group Practice (R)evolution! GPR is a new platform and podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future. For a limited time, podcast listeners can get a full year of membership for only $19.99 by using the discount code PODCAST.  Visit: https://tinyurl.com/GPRPodcast and click on “have a coupon” and enter PODCAST to enjoy all the perks of Group Practice (R)evolution for a year!  Get Support! Earn CEs! Care in Chaos: https://tinyurl.com/CareInChaosRec Bridging Heart and Practice: https://tinyurl.com/TheSarahsOnlineSupe  SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review on Apple Podcasts *** Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places… Website Facebook @headheartbiztherapy Instagram @headheartbiztherapy *** About Our Guest: Amy Zajakowski Uhll, LCPC, is the founder and director of the Chicago Center for Integration and Healing. For more than 30 years, Amy has been committed to exploring the harm caused by traumatic experiences. She helps individuals discover their own unique journey toward healing and supports other therapists in their work with trauma.

If Simon Mont wants to get into a conversation about ego, idols, and the mystical process of birthing new realities, who am I to discourage him? “Whatever you're ultimately concerned with is, definitionally, your God,” he begins. “God comes from the German: that which you invoke. It's what you're invoking in every moment.”  Thus begins the second half of my wide-ranging chat with Simon, a lifelong learner doing his best to remember and respect the sacredness of the world and help others do the same.  GUEST BIO Simon Mont is a life long learner, doing his best to remember and respect the sacredness of the world, and help others do the same.  When he's not helping to keep the movement moving by supporting organizations to bridge the gap between values, vision, and impact with Harmonize Consulting, you can find writing poetry, making music, building furniture, or playing whatever sport someone invites him to. *** Join the Group Practice (R)evolution! GPR is a new platform and podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future. For a limited time, podcast listeners can get a full year of membership for only $19.99 by using the discount code PODCAST.  Visit: https://tinyurl.com/GPRPodcast and click on “have a coupon” and enter PODCAST to enjoy all the perks of Group Practice (R)evolution for a year!  Get Support! Earn CEs! Care in Chaos: https://tinyurl.com/CareInChaosRec Bridging Heart and Practice: https://tinyurl.com/TheSarahsOnlineSupe SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review on Apple Podcasts *** Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places… Website Facebook @headheartbiztherapy Instagram @headheartbiztherapy  

Now, I can’t promise that a chat with Simon Mont will soothe away the complexities of our current socio-political environment. But, it can reconnect us to the big feelings and deep thoughts that we often abandoned in favor of surviving these "unprecedented times.”  Simon is co-founder of Harmonize, the consulting firm that helps groups bridge the gap between values, vision, and impact. “I help people solve problems,” says Simon matter-of-factly. GUEST BIO Simon Mont is a lifelong learner, doing his best to remember and respect the sacredness of the world, and help others do the same.  When he's not helping to keep the movement moving by supporting organizations to bridge the gap between values, vision, and impact with Harmonize Consulting, you can find him writing poetry, making music, building furniture, or playing whatever sport someone invites him to. *** Join the Group Practice (R)evolution! GPR is a new platform and podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future. For a limited time, podcast listeners can get a full year of membership for only $19.99 by using the discount code PODCAST.  Visit: https://tinyurl.com/GPRPodcast and click on “have a coupon” and enter PODCAST to enjoy all the perks of Group Practice (R)evolution for a year!  Get Support! Earn CEs! Care in Chaos: https://tinyurl.com/CareInChaosRec Bridging Heart and Practice: https://tinyurl.com/TheSarahsOnlineSupe SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review on Apple Podcasts *** Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places… Website Facebook @headheartbiztherapy Instagram @headheartbiztherapy

How can we improve communication between practice owners and employees? Sthefany Alviar reveals insights from the contrast between her current role at Mirjam Quinn and Associates and a previous, less supportive private practice. She and Sarah explore issues such as financial transparency, the challenges of transitioning from salaried to contractual pay, and the importance of clear administrative support. Sthefany emphasizes the value of aligning personal values with those of the practice, noting how Miriam's openness about financials and future plans contributes to a positive workplace culture.  *** Group Practice (R)evolution is a new platform and podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future.  Podcast episodes are available for free in this feed for a limited time. If you want to hear more episodes like this one and access Sarah’s “why do you stay?” interview template… Join other leaders in the Group Practice (R)evolution!  Regular podcast listeners can get a full year of membership for only $19.99 by using the discount code PODCAST. So visit: https://tinyurl.com/GPRPodcast and click on “have a coupon” and enter PODCAST to enjoy all the perks of Group Practice (R)evolution for a year!  Available episodes include: The Ideals of Therapy vs the Limitations of Capitalism with Jeff Levy Sustainable Solutions for Staff Retention and Satisfaction with Jennifer Froemel  Creating Emotional Safety, Belonging, and Buy-In With Your Staff with Mirjam Quinn  *** About Our Guest: Dr. Sthefany Alviar earned her doctorate from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA in 2020 and now serves as a postdoctoral fellow at Mirjam Quinn and Associates (MQA), a thriving private practice. With an integrative approach rooted in attachment and relational frameworks, she provides virtual therapy for clients of all ages. Dr. Alviar specializes in supporting individuals navigating complex trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and behavioral difficulties. Her expertise extends to parent-child dynamics (PCIT), performance anxiety, cultural identity exploration, LGBTQ+ concerns, and neurodivergent experiences. salviar@mqatherapy.com IG: @mirjamquinnandassociates  Practice Website: https://mirjamquinnandassociates.com/sthefany-alviar/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sthefany-alviar-psyd-ms-7b9530113  

As promised, here’s the fantastic part two of my conversation with Tamila Gresham. We delve into the foundational pieces of accountability: knowledge, nuance, relationship, and vulnerability.  You know what to do if you haven’t met her yet: hit play on part one. Tamilia is co-founder of Harmonize, a consulting firm that helps organizations bridge the gap between values, vision, and impact. She’s a lifelong educator with formal education in law, sociology, and philosophy. Tamila centers justice and heart-work in her efforts to change organizations and the world. GUEST BIO Tamila Gresham is a co-founder of Harmonize, a consulting firm helping organizations bridge the gap between values, vision, and impact. She's a life-long educator, with formal education in law, sociology, & philosophy. She centers justice and heart work in her efforts to change organizations to change the world.  *** Join the Group Practice (R)evolution! GPR is a new platform and podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future. For a limited time, podcast listeners can get a full year of membership for only $19.99 by using the discount code PODCAST.  Visit: https://tinyurl.com/GPRPodcast and click on “have a coupon” and enter PODCAST to enjoy all the perks of Group Practice (R)evolution for a year!  SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review on Apple Podcasts *** Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places… Website Facebook @headheartbiztherapy Instagram @headheartbiztherapy

Some advice for therapists and those in adjacent healing professions: This (gestures wildly at everything) is not the time to close ranks. We’re being called to proceed with less ego and more accountability. Lately, however, anger (much of it warranted) and impatience have turned accountability into more of a cudgel than the intended call-in.  Tamila Gresham is here to reconnect us to core strategies that have always worked but may have gotten away from us in the current social climate (see: anger and impatience). Tamila is co-founder of Harmonize, a consulting firm that helps organizations bridge the gap between values, vision, and impact. Tamila centers justice and heart-work in her efforts to change organizations and the world. She’s our people, and you’re gonna love her as much as I do. GUEST BIO Tamila Gresham is a co-founder of Harmonize, a consulting firm helping organizations bridge the gap between values, vision, and impact. She's a life-long educator, with formal education in law, sociology, & philosophy. She centers justice and heart work in her efforts to change organizations to change the world. *** Join the Group Practice (R)evolution! GPR is a new platform and podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future. For a limited time, podcast listeners can get a full year of membership for only $19.99 by using the discount code PODCAST.  Visit: https://tinyurl.com/GPRPodcast and click on “have a coupon” and enter PODCAST to enjoy all the perks of Group Practice (R)evolution for a year!  SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review on Apple Podcasts *** Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places… Website Facebook @headheartbiztherapy Instagram @headheartbiztherapy

How can we learn from past experiences to improve future practices? You may not know this but LGBTQ-focused group practices are a fairly recent development in our field. Jeff Levy recounts his journey from co-founding Live Oak, in Chicago, to his current solo private practice with a focus on virtual therapy and consultations. He and Sarah discuss the evolution of group practices, market shifts post-COVID, and the challenges of maintaining a practice including capital investment, balancing client and staff needs, and transparency in financial operations.  *** Group Practice (R)evolution is a new platform and podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future.  Podcast episodes are available for free in this feed for a limited time. If you want to hear more episodes like this one and access Sarah’s “why do you stay?” interview template… Join other leaders in the Group Practice (R)evolution! Available episodes include: Sustainable Solutions for Staff Retention and Satisfaction with Jennifer Froemel  Creating Emotional Safety, Belonging, and Buy-In With Your Staff with Mirjam Quinn  Regular podcast listeners can get a full year of membership for only $19.99 by using the discount code PODCAST. So visit: https://tinyurl.com/GPRPodcast and click on “have a coupon” and enter PODCAST to enjoy all the perks of Group Practice (R)evolution for a year!  *** About Our Guest: Jeff Levy, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience. For the past six years, he has maintained a private practice, where he offers psychotherapy, consultation, and training to fellow clinicians. Prior to that, he spent over 14 years as co-founder and CEO of Live Oak, Inc., a group practice in Chicago. Jeff began his career as a recreation therapist working with youth in foster care and residential settings—early work that shaped his enduring commitment to trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ affirmative, and relational care. jrlevymsw@gmail.com www.jeffreylevylcsw.com

David Allen is quietly and thoroughly advancing the notion of masculinity into a new era. He’s a tattoo artist working with post-mastectomy clients in Chicago. David is also a father who, despite his childhood wounds, has devoted himself to raising emotionally intelligent kids. It’s a path informed by his work with cancer patients, his ancestral lineage, and his commitment to therapy.  If you missed the first half of our conversation, go back one episode where you’ll learn about David’s artistry and quest for self-awareness. GUEST BIO David Allen is a Chicago-based tattoo artist known for his bespoke floral designs that transform mastectomy scars into powerful expressions of healing and renewal. With a deep respect for each client’s voice and story, David approaches tattooing as a collaborative process — one that centers agency, artistry, and emotional care. His work is rooted in compassion, intention, and connection. Authentic Leaders Group  Are you a therapist stepping into leadership for the first time? Or maybe you've been in a leadership position for a while, but are bumping up against new struggles? Our Authentic Leaders Group is here to help you become the authentic and wholehearted leader you aspire to be. And we believe this journey is best undertaken with the guidance of experienced mentors alongside fellow learners. Join Sarah in this journey of self-discovery and leadership mastery, where you'll enhance your leadership skills and forge meaningful connections with fellow therapists who are committed to their own growth and the betterment of the therapy field. Join the waitlist now to be part of the next Authentic Leaders Group! 1:1 With Sarah Wounded healers need supervision too. Sarah is passionate about fostering therapists’ personal and professional growth through mentoring, supervision, and consultation. Mentoring options are available for therapists who are looking for a transformative supervision experience and practice owners who are looking for customized support. Supervision not only plays a crucial role in the professional development and ethical practice of therapists, but also provides parallel process for our own healing. In consultations, Sarah helps practice owners align their business with their lifestyle goals. Together, we'll look at both the concrete business practices as well as the emotional stuff that complicates business ownership.   Reach out to find out more and book! SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review on Apple Podcasts *** Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places… Website Facebook @headheartbiztherapy Instagram @headheartbiztherapy  

Look for the helpers. It’s a simple axiom meant to comfort small children, a reminder to find supportive adults in times of distress. But good advice doesn’t stop being good just because we’ve aged out of the original target audience. Adults need helpers, too. David Allen is an absolute gem of a helper, an art director turned tattoo artist who works with post-mastectomy clients in Chicago. While breast cancer survivors aren’t the whole of his business, David gratefully acknowledges the indelible mark that these warriors have left on his personal life and professional outlook. GUEST BIO David Allen is a Chicago-based tattoo artist known for his bespoke floral designs that transform mastectomy scars into powerful expressions of healing and renewal. With a deep respect for each client’s voice and story, David approaches tattooing as a collaborative process — one that centers agency, artistry, and emotional care. His work is rooted in compassion, intention, and connection. Authentic Leaders Group  Are you a therapist stepping into leadership for the first time? Or maybe you've been in a leadership position for a while, but are bumping up against new struggles? Our Authentic Leaders Group is here to help you become the authentic and wholehearted leader you aspire to be. And we believe this journey is best undertaken with the guidance of experienced mentors alongside fellow learners. Join Sarah in this journey of self-discovery and leadership mastery, where you'll enhance your leadership skills and forge meaningful connections with fellow therapists who are committed to their own growth and the betterment of the therapy field. Join the waitlist now to be part of the next Authentic Leaders Group! 1:1 With Sarah Wounded healers need supervision too. Sarah is passionate about fostering therapists’ personal and professional growth through mentoring, supervision, and consultation. Mentoring options are available for therapists who are looking for a transformative supervision experience and practice owners who are looking for customized support. Supervision not only plays a crucial role in the professional development and ethical practice of therapists, but also provides parallel process for our own healing. In consultations, Sarah helps practice owners align their business with their lifestyle goals. Together, we'll look at both the concrete business practices as well as the emotional stuff that complicates business ownership.   Reach out to find out more and book! SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review on Apple Podcasts *** Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places… Website Facebook @headheartbiztherapy Instagram @headheartbiztherapy