Therapist Uncensored Podcast

Margaret Martin, an expert in Experiential Dynamic Therapies, and Dr. Deb Pollack, who specializes in mental health therapy science, dive into the intricacies of recognizing and challenging psychological defenses. They discuss the importance of distinguishing between ego-syntonic and ego-dystonic defenses for emotional healing. The pair emphasizes how turning against these defenses can facilitate change, explore advanced therapeutic models, and highlight the transformative journey clients experience by confronting their past traumas.

Centering voices and perspectives of marginalized couples is crucial in therapy Co-host Sue Marriott and Akilah Riley Richardson dive into a wide-ranging discussion about the vital need to center marginalized voices of clients – and therapists. They explore how Western perspectives have shaped therapy practices globally, often overlooking diverse cultural approaches. Akilah brings a fresh, challenging perspective to the table. She pushes for a real shake-up in how we approach therapy, especially when working with marginalized couples. It’s not just about tweaking existing methods – she’s calling for a fundamental rethinking of our assumptions. The conversation tackles some heavy topics, from unpacking the concept of relational privilege to developing strategies that help couples see beyond their individual struggles to the bigger picture of systemic trauma. What really stands out is their focus on the deep impact of systemic trauma. They don’t just acknowledge it – they dig into why it’s so crucial for therapists to truly understand and address it in their work. Ultimately, this discussion isn’t just academic. It’s a call to action for therapists to step up, broaden their perspectives, and find new ways to help couples break free from systemic constraints. It’s about empowering relationships and, in the process, maybe changing the face of therapy itself. “Our ways of understanding healing are not always in the traditionally confined space of therapy. Dance is healing, drumming is healing, movement is healing…” – Akilah Riley-Richardson Time Stamps for Liberating Marginalized Couples from Systemic Trauma 00:00 Introduction and Akilah’s background 02:15 The influence of the global north on therapy practices in the global south 06:24 Understanding relational privilege in marginalized couples 28:36 The impact of systemic trauma on marginalized couples 30:50 The theater of oppression: Mapping themes onto relationships 36:51 Learning about relationships through systemic trauma 40:59 Challenging the therapy profession 46:13 The bubble of psychotherapy 48:43 Redefining and reclaiming narratives of survival 53:28 The urgency of addressing systemic trauma 56:16 Challenging the profession and implementing systemic change 59:04 Taking action and being part of the work About our Guest – Akilah Riley-Richardson MSW, CCTP Akilah Riley-Richardson is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Facilitator and Trainer, as well as a Couples Therapist, certified in the STAIR Method. She has received training in various areas including Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, Playback Theatre, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Neuroscience, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Relational Life Therapy, Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems Therapy. She is the founder of the  Relational Healing Institute, which is dedicated to the healing of relationships, especially those of marginalized people, and is also the creator of the P.R.I.D.E model which is an approach that is useful when working with clients and in clinical supervision. P.R.I.D.E stands for Pivot, Rumble, Imagine, Develop and Evolve. Resources for this Episode – Liberating Marginalized Couples from Systemic Trauma Akilah Riley-Richardson’s Website – Information & Resources Indigenous Social Work Around the World by Towards Culturally Relevant Education and Practice by John Coates & Mel Grey – Book referenced by Akilah Riley-Richardson And of course, our book is also a great resource – it’s for professionals and life-long learners of all kinds. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! If you’ve read it we’d love to hear from you and if you support it, PLEASE please please leave a review on either Amazon or Goodreads. Tk you!! Related episodes: Navigating Racial Trauma and identity with Debra Chapman-Finley and Gliceria Perez part 1: TU203 AND Part 2: TU204 In each other’s Care Building and Sustaining Healthy Relationships with Stan Tatkin TU TU112 Mind Body Heart Spirit Embodying Liberation Psychology with Dr. Shena YoungTU230 Couples Therapy with Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson TU 140 Events, Announcements & Resource Links  Integrative Attachment Therapy Course Information Therapists: THIS is our recommended class for the most comprehensive training on attachment out there. It just so happens it is also Dennings recommended program as discussed in this. episode!   Use our link for a discount!  Mind, Body, Social, & Spiritual Approaches for Healing Attachment: 30 World-Leading Pioneers Share Their Best Practices – Register now for the Holistic Attachment Summit!! – This summit will explore the most essential ideas in attachment theory, research, and how they can be applied to create deep and lasting healing for clients — enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based care. Click here to register!! Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network! Austin Women’s professional development summit – it’s a huge networking event 9/13/24!  Get your tickets now! Support this library of content at TU staying FREE and TOTALLY ACCESSIBLE by supporting our partners and the sponsors of today’s episode –  ARMRA Colostrum is a proprietary concentrate of bovine colostrum that harnesses over 400 living, bioactive nutrients that strengthen the barriers of your body and fuel cellular health for thousands of research-backed health benefits. Go to ARMRA.com and use code TU at checkout!   Go to ZocDoc.com/TU Compare high quality, in-network doctors, choose the right one for your needs, and click to instantly book an appointment. Purity Woods is on a mission is to provide people with the cleanest, most effective, and healthy products available – formulated by skin care chemists at the top of their field.  Go to puritywoods.com/TU or enter code TU at checkout Thanks for listening, friends, & for being on this journey with us! 

Nigel Denning, a pioneer in therapeutic psychedelics, discusses the transformative potential of MDMA and psilocybin in treating mental health issues. He raises concerns about the proper implementation and training in psychedelic-assisted therapy, emphasizing the need for structured treatment and integration. The conversation highlights Australia's recent legalization journey, the importance of community support, and collaboration in therapy. Denning also addresses skepticism about the science behind psychedelics and advocates for a personalized approach in therapeutic practices.

Improv in Therapy and in Life – Explore the power – and sheer fun – of using improvisation in therapy! Dr. Ann Kelley and Lisa Kays discuss how improv can deepen conversations around tough topics like race and oppression. They examine white supremacy culture and show how improv values like collaboration, slowing down, and embracing complexity can challenge these norms. Improv fosters creativity, playfulness, and self-reflection to help reduce defensiveness and strengthen relationships in everyday life, at work, or in our closest relationships. By creating a supportive, collaborative environment, improv deepens connections and helps people tap into a wider range of emotions. “A culture of improvisation is collaborative – it is nature – you cannot do it by yourself.” – Lisa Kays Time Stamps for Improv in Therapy & Life 03:30 The integration of improv and tough conversations 10:03 The origins of improv and its connection to social justice 14:27 Contrasting white supremacy culture and improv culture 19:20 Questioning cultural norms and valuing relationships 25:29 The power of the ‘And’ in joining and connecting 38:27 The power of improv in building secure relationships 53:25 Embracing creativity and letting go of perfectionism 58:12 Creating a culture of support and collaboration 01:05:04 Applying improv in everyday life 01:09:10 Deepening connections and accessing different emotions About our Guest for Improv Therapy – Lisa Kays LICSW, LCSW, LCSW-C Lisa Kays, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, is an independently licensed clinical social worker in Washington, D.C, Maryland, Virginia, Oregon and New Jersey. She obtained her MSW from Catholic University in 2011 and has worked in a variety of clinical settings. Since 2013, she has been in private practice, providing individual, couples and group therapy to adults. She has interest in social work ethic and has published on and leads ethics training on the intersection of technology, social media and social work ethics as well as anti-racism and systemic oppression. Her practice also provides opportunities for other presenters to develop CE trainings on under-taught topics linked to social justice, systemic racism, and oppression. In addition to her traditional psychotherapy work, Lisa was a performing improviser from 2007-2019 and was on the faculty of Washington Improv Theatre from 2008-2016. She developed Washington Improv Theater’s first Improv for Therapist’s class and has offered Improv for Therapists courses, workshops and trainings to individual clinicians, pastors, life coaches, and psychiatrists, as well as clinical agencies. Since its inception, Lisa has trained more than 500 people in the application of improvisation to foster personal growth and stronger and more cohesive groups. Lisa has been invited to lead trainings in improv-informed therapy at the American Academy of Psychotherapists, the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Association, the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and at The Psychotherapy Networker, among others. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post and on NBC4. Recently, Lisa launched a humor, humility-infused podcast, “What if Nothing’s Wrong With You?” with co-host Paula D. Atkinson on themes related to therapy, mental health, oppression, patriarchy and how it’s all interconnected. Resources for Improv Therapy –  Lisa Kay’s – Website & Resources The Fierce Urgency of Now: Improvisation, Rights, and the Ethics of Cocreation (Improvisation, Community, and Social Practice) – by Fischlin, Daniel; Heble, Ajah; Lipsitz, George Theater Games – Viola Spolin Resources Rehearsals for Growth – Website and Educational Resources Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice – book by Jennifer Mullan, PsyD The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron – Book and Resources Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art – Nachmanovitch, Stephen And of course, our book is also a great resource – it’s for professionals and life-long learners of all kinds. If you’ve read it we’d love to hear from you and if you support it, PLEASE leave a review on either Amazon or Goodreads. Tk you!! Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! Therapists: This is our recommended class for going deeper and learning the most. You will not be disappointed! Use our link for a discount!  Dr. Elliott’s Integrative Attachment Therapy Course Information   Support this show staying FREE and TOTALLY ACCESSIBLE by supporting our partners and the sponsors of today’s episode Go to puritywoods.com/TU or enter code TU at checkout for 27% off.   Go to helloned.com/TU or enter code TU at checkout for a discount.   Go to ZocDoc.com/TU This is a no-brainer – use it to find just about any specialist you are looking for. Thanks for listening, friends! 

Ann Kelley, a nervous system expert, and Sue Marriott, a professional in interpersonal dynamics, dive into the concepts of protection versus connection. They discuss how our bodies react faster than our minds and the impact of internal narratives on emotional regulation. Explore the importance of self-awareness and recognizing physiological cues that indicate defensiveness. They emphasize fostering deeper connections by slowing down interactions and consciously choosing positive interpretations of our experiences.

“Being Asian American means living in two worlds, and finding your place in both.” Dr. Ann Kelley and Hyeseung Song, a first-generation Korean American discuss Hyeseung’s experiences growing up as an Asian minority in America, touching on topics like racial stereotypes, assimilation, and the model minority myth. Hyeseung shares her journey of finding her voice and identity, highlighting the mental health challenges of navigating different cultures and the path to self-acceptance. “…realizing that I was kind of a third distinct thing, maybe not completely Korean, maybe not completely American, but Korean American – something very special that I was learning and etching out for myself.” – Hyeseung Song Time Stamps for Journey to Self-Discovery: Navigating Identity and Mental Health as a Korean American Immigrant  5:17 – Growing up as Korean American 9:23 – The impact of racial stereotypes and assimilation 23:23 – Code-Switching and Balancing Cultural Expectations 26:24 – The Toll of Hypervigilance on Mental Health 29:14 – Finding Voice and Identity as a Korean American 36:58 – The Importance of Culturally Competent Mental Health Care 41:17 – Asian American Collaboration and Advocacy 46:13 – Embracing Identity and Fighting Racial Stereotypes: The Role of Younger Generations 56:22 – Finding Support and Being Seen 59:27 – The Importance of a Common Language in Therapy 01:06:57 –  Curiosity and Connection in Conversations about Race and Identity About our Guest – Hyeseung Song  Photo by Jack Sorokin   Hyeseung Song is a first-generation Korean American painter and the author of Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl (Simon & Schuster). She lives in Brooklyn and upstate New York. Learn more about her at hyeseungsong.com. Resources for today’s episode –  Click here to visit Hyeseung’s website “They Called Us Exceptional” – Prachi Gupta’s Memoir “The Body Keeps the Score”  Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy – Author, Professor & Director of the Eikenberg Institute Suicide statistic: #1 cause of death among young AAPI adults 15-24 is suicide   Check out Hyeseung Song’s book – Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl     Instagram @hyeseungs Twitter @hyeseungs Tiktok @noturdocile Other Relevant Therapist Uncensored Episodes https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/healing-intergenerational-ancestral-trauma-with-linda-thai/ _______ Get your copy of Secure Relating here!!   Support the show by supporting our partners and the sponsors of today’s episode Go to ARMRA.com and use code TU at checkout!   Go to Piquelife.com/tu Dr. Elliott’s Integrative Attachment Therapy Course Information – Follow this link for 5% off enrollment!     Please consider giving to Mental Health Liberation We support mental health access to those traditionally left out of mainstream healthcare and use a portion of the income we receive from corporate sponsors to do just that!  We can only do that with the help of our Patrons – joining as a TU Neuronerd Podsquad premium subscriber, you support this mission and get a dedicated ad-free feed plus occasional very cool and unique study opportunities, reading groups, and unique surprises!  We invite you to join our community. Click here to join!                Thanks for listening!  If you haven’t yet please do drop us a rating/review wherever you get your podcasts.  It helps us spread the word about secure relating far and wide – thanks friends for being on this journey with us! 

Let’s revisit the “Felt Sense” Polyvagal model Enjoy this replay episode with Jan Winhall, as we explore how our bodies can guide us towards healing and growth through the concept of “felt sense.” This approach integrates neuroscience and focuses on our innate ability to perceive and respond to our experiences. Winhall’s work challenges conventional views on navigating challenges influenced by culture and trauma. Click here to view Jan Winhall’s original shownotes  Get your copy of Secure Relating here!!   Interest in David Elliot’s Integrative Attachment Training? Click here!! Support the show by supporting our partners and the sponsors of today’s episode with Jan Winhall  Go to ARMRA.com and use code TU at checkout!   ‘ Go to ZocDoc.com/TU   Please consider giving to Mental Health Liberatio   We support mental health access to those traditionally left out of mainstream healthcare and use a portion of the income we receive from corporate sponsors to do just that!  We can only do that with the help of our Patrons – joining as a TU Neuronerd Podsquad premium subscriber, you support this mission and get a dedicated ad-free feed plus occasional very cool and unique study opportunities, reading groups, and unique surprises!  We invite you to join our communit Thanks for listening!  If you haven’t yet please do drop us a rating/review wherever you get your podcasts.  It helps us spread the word about secure relating far and wide – thanks friends for being on this journey with us! 

Robyn Gobbel joins Ann & Sue to discuss secure relating on The Baffling Behavior Show. Topics include attachment patterns, brain pathways in relationships, societal impact on marginalized communities, self-care, emotional regulation, and the power of building supportive communities.

Part 3 of 3 – Let’s talk about deepening security relationally Curiosity, emotional honesty and discernment… magic ingredients to preserve and express your security. Ann and Sue focus on context over the intrapsychic in this episode, which expands on the last thrid of the ideas from their book, Secure Relating Holding Your Own in an Insecure World. Moving from individual to interpersonal and then societal levels, we discuss the complexities of human connection. Ann and Sue touch on the dark side of empathy and oxytocin, explore leadership and the need for nuance in navigating today’s challenges while aiming to expand beyond just the Western lens. Whether it be with your partner or even how you navigate your community – building security helps every single one of us.  They hope to help you do your part in this crucial work of deepening your connection to the goodness of yourself and others and mobilizing your voice to stand up for those who need us. “Our growth does not just happen in the therapy office, it happens through all of our relational experiences and is enhanced by interpersonal risk we take safe people throughout our lives.”  – Sue Marriott Time Stamps for Security Individually, Relationally, and in Community  1:55 – Deeping security among us  4:23 – What is a primary? 9:31 – Why we don’t use the word “treatment” 18:37 – Empathy and Oxitocyn aren’t always good  24:19 – Why receiving opposing feedback is important Resources for Security Individually, Relationally, and in Community  Click here to secure your spot in the Secure Relating Reading Pod – starting soon! You can get your copy here!!   Please consider giving to Mental Health Liberation We support mental health access to those traditionally left out of mainstream healthcare and use a portion of the income we receive from corporate sponsors to do just that!  We can only do that with the help of our Patrons – joining as a TU Neuronerd Podsquad premium subscriber, you support this mission and get a dedicated ad-free feed plus occasional very cool and unique study opportunities, reading groups, and unique surprises!  We invite you to join our community. Click here to join!          Thanks for listening!  If you haven’t yet please do drop us a rating/review wherever you get your podcasts.  It helps us spread the word about secure relating far and wide – thanks friends for being on this journey with us!