TU135: Holding Your Own Session 3 – Covert Narcissism (3rd in a Series)

Health starts with what we absorb, not just what we eat Dr. Aly Cohen and co-host Dr. Ann Kelley discuss the often-overlooked importance of drinking water quality, the impact of environmental toxins on health, and the connection between gut health and mental well-being. Listen as Dr. Cohen highlights the alarming rise of autoimmune diseases and the role of hormones and chemicals in our health. Learn practical, manageable ways to reduce toxin exposure, while exploring how nutrition, lifestyle choices, education, and community support play a vital role in empowering people to take control of their health. “You don’t have to wait to be saved. You have everything you need to make informed choices and changes that can protect your health now. – Dr. Aly Cohen Time Stamps for Nontoxic Guide to Healthy Living with Dr. Aly Cohen (290) 08:19 The rise of autoimmune diseases 11:17 Understanding gender disparities in autoimmune disorders 13:52 The gut-brain connection 29:10 The impact of environmental chemicals on health 35:03 Practical steps for reducing toxins 41:43 Understanding organic vs. conventional produce 45:14 The dangers of plastics and their effects 56:11 Understanding drinking water safety 01:01:07 Choosing the right water containers About our Guest – Dr. Aly Cohen  Dr. Aly Cohen is a board-certified rheumatologist and integrative medicine physician, recognized nationally for her expertise in environmental health, and medical education. She is the author of Detoxify: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them, which connects the dots between everyday chemicals and the epidemic rise in immune disorders and autoimmune disease…and what we CAN all do about it! She continues to teach, lecture, and practice medicine in Princeton, New Jersey. Resources for Nontoxic Guide to Healthy Living with Dr. Aly Cohen (290) Detoxify: Live Clean, Reduce Inflammation, and Reclaim Your Health – Purchase Dr. Cohen’s new book Instagram  – @TheSmartHuman AlyCohenMd – Dr. Aly Cohen’s official website The Smart Human – The Smart Human official website The Smart Human – Youtube channel How to Protect Your Kids from Toxic Chemicals – TEDx Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Join us again in Washington, DC for the 49th Annual Psychotherapy Networker! March 19-22nd! In person and online options available. Get your discounted seat HERE! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Talkiatry is a 100% online psychiatry practice that provides comprehensive evaluations, diagnoses, and ongoing medication management for conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, insomnia, and more. Head to Talkiatry.com/TU and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in‑network psychiatrist in just a few minutes.

3 Helmi 1h 1min

10 years in and still uncensored In this special 10-year anniversary episode, Sue and Ann reflect on a decade of Therapist Uncensored – how it began, how it’s changed, and how the relationships formed have deepened along the way. They share candidly about the influence from our listeners in keeping them curious, accountable, and grounded, as well as the ways their own thinking has evolved through conversations with leading experts and thoughtful audience feedback. Together they explore the joys and tensions of teaching in the mental health space, including the importance of humility, questioning long-held assumptions, and recognizing the limits of any single perspective. This episode is both a celebration and a recommitment – to inclusivity, to amplifying diverse voices, and to ongoing learning in a field that is constantly evolving. And above all, it’s a heartfelt thank-you to the community that has made the last ten years possible. “The podcast itself was going to be this incredible learning machine for us…and there were times we had to move our butts from expert to ignorant.” Time Stamps for 10 Years of TU: Growth, Reflections & the Future (289) 02:49 The journey of growth and learning 05:29 Bridging knowledge and accessibility 11:09 Challenging the traditional narratives 16:42 Navigating vulnerability in conversations 22:08 Lessons from public mistakes 24:58 The landscape of podcasting and mental health Resources & Action Items Nominate your favorite lightbulb moment or episode with our quick survey – therapistuncensored.com/nominations The Equalizer that Wasn’t – Lessons Learned After Ten Years of Mental Health Podcasting – Sue’s newest blog for an even deeper dive $90,990 DONATED to mental health care for BIPOC communities, LGBQI+, trans and genderqueer individuals, artists, musicians and people experiencing homelessness – View HERE! Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s – Next one is January 23rd! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Join us again in Washington, DC for the 49th Annual Psychotherapy Networker! March 19-22nd! In person and online options available. Get your discounted seat HERE! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Talkiatry is a 100% online psychiatry practice that provides comprehensive evaluations, diagnoses, and ongoing medication management for conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, insomnia, and more. Head to Talkiatry.com/TU and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in‑network psychiatrist in just a few minutes.

20 Tammi 49min

Welcome 2026! Kicking off the new year with a replay episode from our powerful interview with Dr. Stan Tatkin, this discussion dives into inner workings of relationships from a biological and societal perspective, and his book, In Each Other’s Care. Click Here to View the Original Episode Shownotes  Conflict in relationships is inevitable – find out the ins and outs of repair for healthy relationships. We are back with relationship expert, Dr. Stan Tatkin to explore the inner workings of relationships from a biological and societal perspective, and his new book, In Each Other’s Care. All humans are complicated creatures and if we spend enough time with each other, it’s going to get tense.  That part is OK, but what happens after arguing disconnection or tension is what really matters. Sue Marriott & Dr. Tatkin take a deep dive into addressing conflicts, building secure attachments, and abandoning gender stereotypes for a more inclusive discussion. Follow along to explore healthy interdependence, couples’ purpose, and secure functioning. “A secure functioning partnership works on problems, not each other” – Dr. Stan Tatkin Time Stamps for In Each Other’s Care – Healthy Relationships  5:44 – Dr. Tatkin’s view on telehealth & virtual therapy 8:36 – How PACT approaches virtual therapy 16:05 – Understanding procedural memory 19:08 – Break down of insecure attachment 22:53 – What does secure functioning look like? 28:48 – Attachment in polyamorous relationships 37:47 – Exploring healthy interdependence in relationships 44:50 – An example of a couple’s purpose 53:41 – The importance of gender inclusivity when talking about relationships Resources for today’s episode, In Each Other’s Care – Healthy Relationships Stan Tatkin’s Website – Information about his practice, sessions The PACT Institute – Dr. Tatkin’s official website Relationships are Hard, but Why? – Dr. Tatkin’s TedTalk A free excerpt – from Dr. Tatkin’s new book @DrStanTatkin – Instagram account Dr. Stan Tatkin – Facebook Page @DrStanTatkin – Twitter account Dr. Stan Tatkin – LinkedIn account Dr. Tatkin’s newest book. About our Guest – Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT Clinician, author, researcher, PACT developer, and co-founder of the PACT Institute.  Dr. Tatkin is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine.  He maintains a private practice in Southern California and leads PACT programs in the US and internationally. He is the author of We Do, Wired for Love, Your Brain on Love, Relationship Rx, Wired for Dating, What Every Therapist Ought to Know, and co-author of Love and War in Intimate Relationships, and the recent, In Each Other’s Care.   Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s – Next one is January 23rd! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Join us again in Washington, DC for the 49th Annual Psychotherapy Networker! March 19-22nd! In person and online options available. Get your discounted seat HERE!

6 Tammi 54min

A replay episode from our powerful interview with Lisa Kays on how improv can deepen conversations around tough topics like race and oppression. Click Here to View the Original Episode Shownotes 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 Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s – Next one is January 23rd! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!!

16 Joulu 20251h 11min

A replay episode from our powerful interview with Jeff Lutes, this discussion dives into raising families, the evolution of the community, allyship, gender, and the importance of advocacy. Click Here to View the Original Episode Shownotes   “There are a lot of therapists that see themselves as affirming, but I think you have to get actively involved in order to be an ally.” – Jeff Lutes Time Stamps for Advocating for the LGBTQ+ Community  2:00 – Jeff’s anecdotes about religion and sexuality 11:18 – How advocacy can be a thankless job  12:00 – Introduction to the Contemporary Relationships Conference  14:34 – The difference between being trained in accepting versus educated  16:48 – The importance of knowing the correct terminology  20:39 – What we can learn from the polyamorous community  22:58 – Definition of queer and who that represents 24:37 – Let’s talk about pronouns  31:21 – Explanation of dead naming and why it is wrong 42:15 – Conversion therapy research and findings  47:00: Trailblazers in Love, Jeff’s book  Resources for today’s episode Advocating for the LGBTQ+ Community  Jeff Lute’s Website – Information, credentials, presentations and publications Contemporary Relationships Conference – Conference information and proposals Get your copy of his book, Trailblazers in Love, here!! About our Guest – Jeff Lutes, LPC Jeff specializes in creating collaborative conversations with clients that generate new possibilities for change.  Using a postmodern approach, he listens carefully to each client’s story and strives to understand how they might make meaning of themselves, others, and the world around them. He founded the Contemporary Relationships Conference and has presented to audiences around the country, including the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy,  the American Family Therapy Academy, the American Counseling Association, and the Texas Psychological Association. He is also the author of Trailblazers In Love, as well as chapters in three counseling textbooks. Lutes also wrote a children’s book about adoption, deaf culture, and non-traditional families and has been a contributing writer at Bilerico and Therapy Matters. Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s – Next one is January 23rd! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/TU to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

2 Joulu 20251h 25min

A replay episode from our powerful interview with Dr. Shena Young Click Here to View the Original Episode Shownotes  “The more that we unlearn, the more that we decolonize our minds, bodies, hearts and spirits” – Dr. Shena Young Join co-host Sue Marriott and Dr. Shena Young as they dive into liberation psychology and the conflict between intuition and the traditional European model of psychology. Dr. Shena highlights embodying a holistic approach to help heal traumas and deeply root us in our most authentic selves. Whether through connections with nature or the exploration of ancestral traditions, this discussion is enriched with various opportunities to reconnect and liberate our mind, body, heart, and spirit. About our Guest – Dr. Shena Young (She/Her) Affectionately known as Dr. Shena (she/her) & spiritually as Iya Osunbunmi Orisasewa, she is a licensed embodiment-focused psychologist–healer, artist, mental health futurist, on-set wellbeing professional, and priestess in the Isese tradition of Ifa. She holds space internationally for individuals, couples, groups, and organizations committed to the ritual of calling themselves back into their bodies as a freedom practice. She owns a private practice, embodied truth healing & psychological services, rooted in Los Angeles, CA where she offers mind–body–heart–spirit care in healing from sexual, racial, intergenerational, and ancestral traumas. Time Stamps for Embodying Liberation Psychology  1:30 – Dr. Shena’s journey with liberation psychology and decolonization 7:25 – Dr. Shena’s early life and intuition 9:48 – Body language is one of our first languages 18:58 – Understanding the pillars of authenticity  20:52 – Embracing the mind, body, heart, spirit approach 28:21 – Unlearning scarcity and expecting abundance 33:29 – Thinking of currency as seeds 41:37 – New interests in ancient traditions 44:11 – What the act of grounding may look like  51:45 – The decriminalization of psychedelic plant medicines  56:30 – There is power in practicing choice 1:05:01 – Impact of The Color Purple Resources for today’s episode – Embodying Liberation Psychology EmbodiedTruthHealing.com – Dr. Shena’s website Healing Opportunities with Dr. Shena @EmbodiedTruthHealing – Dr. Shena’s Instagram Invest in healing programs for BIPOC Dr. Clenora Hudson-Weems website – Where Dr. Shena first learned about Africana Womanist theory Body Rites – Dr. Shena’s book. Get your copy!! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Whether it’s your first time in therapy or your fiftieth, Grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0, depending on their plan. Visit GrowTherapy.com/TU today to get started. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.

18 Marras 20251h 4min

Behind every family estrangement is a story of love, hurt, and boundaries Dr. Ann Kelley is joined LIVE from Psychotherapy Networker with Dafna Lender, to explore the complex dynamics of parent-child estrangement. Focusing on the emotional and psychological impacts of cutting off family relationships, together they highlight the cultural influences that contribute to these estrangements, the therapeutic perspectives on navigating such situations, and the importance of empathy and boundaries in managing family dynamics. This conversation is about learning to hold both empathy and boundaries – understanding why someone might step away, and how to stay grounded and compassionate in the process. It’s an honest look at the heartbreak, the healing, and the hope that can emerge when families face difficult truths. Time Stamps for Navigating Family Estrangement: The Space Between Love & Self-Protection with Dafna Lender (284) 03:06 Understanding the impact of estrangement 05:58 Cultural influences on family cutoffs 09:14 Therapeutic perspectives on estrangement 17:54 Boundaries and the spectrum of estrangement 32:52 Navigating boundaries and self-protection 46:31 Finding meaning in senselessness 52:21 Exploring values in relationships About our Guest – Dafna Lender  Dafna is a family therapy expert and attachment specialist. Dafna is an international trainer and supervisor for practitioners who work with children and families. She is a certified trainer and supervisor/consultant in both Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), as well as an EMDR therapist. Dafna’s expertise is drawn from 28 years of working with families in many settings: at-risk after school programs, therapeutic foster care, in-home crisis stabilization, residential care and private practice. Dafna is author of Integrative Attachment Family Therapy (2023) and the co-author of Theraplay the Practitioner’s Guide (2020). She teaches and supervises clinicians in 15 countries in 4 languages: English, Hebrew, French and Spanish. Resources for Navigating Family Estrangement: The Space Between Love & Self-Protection with Dafna Lender (284) Dafna’s website – Resources, courses & additional information Integrative Attachment Family Therapy: A Clinical Guide to Heal and Strengthen the Parent-Child Relationship through Play, Co-regulation, and Meaning-Making – Get your copy of her paperback Theraplay the Practitioners Guide – The definitive guide to Theraplay® for practitioners, officially endorsed by the Theraplay® Institute Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/TU to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

4 Marras 202554min

This episode challenges what you thought you knew about autism, attachment, and empathy Join Sue Marriott and Dr. Sean Inderbitzen – an autistic psychotherapist and advocate for neurodiversity – as he shares his powerful personal and professional journey in understanding autism. Together, they explore the evolution of autism diagnosis, the intersections between attachment and neurodivergence, and how polyvagal theory can both illuminate and complicate the autistic experience. Dr. Inderbitzen offers insights on self-diagnosis, identity formation, and what truly person-centered therapy looks like for autistic individuals. This conversation highlights the central role of trust, safety, and authentic connection in helping neurodivergent clients thrive. “…Autism in Polyvagal Terms… is about giving people the tools they need, specifically giving therapists the tools they need to help autistic clients with a lens that really familiar with.” – Sean Inderbitzen, DSW, LCSW Time Stamps for Autism in Polyvagal Terms with Dr. Sean Inderbitzen (283) 01:43 Understanding Autism: A personal journey 03:38 Defining Autism: Perspectives and misconceptions 07:11 The evolution of autism diagnosis 11:31 The debate on ‘disorder’ in autism 24:59 Neuroaffirming Therapy: What does it mean? 31:21 Heart rate variability and autism 37:27 Understanding attachment and autism 41:24 The complexity of autism and parenting 44:09 Navigating the ethical quandaries in autism care 57:28 Upcoming events and future works About our Guest – Sean M. Inderbitzen, DSW, LCSW Sean M. Inderbitzen, DSW, LCSW, an autistic psychotherapist and researcher through Mayo Clinic Health System. He regularly trains healthcare professionals to be more confident when working with people on the spectrum. Resources for Autism in Polyvagal Terms with Dr. Sean Inderbitzen (283) Autism in Polyvagal Terms: New Possibilities and Interventions – Get your copy of his book, here!! Information, resources, books & more! Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s – Next one is November 14th! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!  Whether it’s your first time in therapy or your fiftieth, Grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0, depending on their plan. Visit GrowTherapy.com/TU today to get started. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.

21 Loka 20251h 4min