Motherhood begins with a seismic identity shift that nobody prepares you for. That moment they hand you your baby and you're suddenly "Mom"—before you've even had time to process the transformation happening inside you.

The raw truth? Becoming a mother often begins with grief. Grief for your independence, your rhythms, and the version of yourself who didn't calculate nap windows or feel constantly needed. This profound psychological and emotional metamorphosis has a name: matricence. Like adolescence, it reshapes your entire being, yet society rarely acknowledges its existence or provides grace for women navigating this terrain.

When expectation crashes into reality, the disconnect can feel earth-shattering. You thought you'd feel whole, blissful, and instinctively wise, but instead, you're cracked open, hollow, flooded with self-doubt. You're never alone yet never felt more isolated. Your partner watches helplessly as you transform, creating a new kind of distance when connection feels most vital. And for the 1-in-7 women experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety, the journey becomes even more complex, clouded by intrusive thoughts, numbness, or hypervigilance that have nothing to do with your capacity for love.

Throughout this deeply personal episode, I share insights from my therapy practice and my own unraveling as a new mother. We explore motherhood as three emotional "trimesters"—from the raw beginnings of ages 0-6, through the sweet spot of ages 7-12, to the bittersweet letting go of ages 13-18. Each phase requires a different version of you, different boundaries, different strengths.

Whether you're in the trenches of early parenthood or supporting someone who is, remember this: You are not broken. You are not failing. You are becoming. Subscribe now to continue these unfiltered conversations about the transformations that shape our lives.

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Ever found yourself unexpectedly emotional over a scene from The Office? That odd moment when Jim cuts his tie after Pam tears her veil, or when Michael is the only one who shows up to appreciate Pam's art? There's a psychological reason those moments hit so hard.

Welcome to a therapeutic journey through the halls of Dunder Mifflin, where we're unpacking what makes this workplace comedy secretly one of the most profound character studies on television. Beyond the cringe humor and paper sales lies a masterclass in attachment theory, relationship dynamics, and emotional growth.

Through a therapist's lens, we explore why Michael Scott's desperate need for approval masks deep abandonment wounds, how Jim's sarcasm serves as emotional armor against vulnerability, and why Pam's journey from people-pleaser to self-advocate mirrors the therapeutic process so many of us experience. We'll analyze each character through the framework of Internal Family Systems, revealing how their quirks, flaws, and defense mechanisms protect their most vulnerable parts.

Discover which Office character you most resemble psychologically—whether you're an anxiously attached Michael, an avoidant Jim, a rigid Angela, or somewhere in between. Learn how the show's most tender moments create such powerful emotional responses because they tap into universal human needs for connection, validation, and acceptance.

Whether you're a longtime fan who can quote every "that's what she said" or someone who's curious about how pop culture reflects our psychological patterns, this episode offers fresh insights into both the show and yourself. Because sometimes, the most profound healing doesn't happen in a therapist's office—it happens while watching a fictional paper company that nobody asked for but everybody needed.

Ready to see your favorite workplace comedy in an entirely new light? Grab your World's Best Boss mug and join us for a session of Licensed and Unfiltered.

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© 2025 Licensed and Unfiltered. All rights reserved.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

Sponsored by Northern Arizona Digital Marketing and Therapedia

Dragging yourself out of bed, crying at commercials, and fantasizing about escape while still managing to text people back? You're not lazy—you're burned out. You're compassion-fatigued. You're a full-grown adult running on caffeine, cortisol, and pure determination.

This raw, honest conversation dives deep into what burnout and compassion fatigue really look and feel like, beyond the clinical definitions. We explore the subtle signs your body sends when you're running on empty: becoming resentful when people need you, doom-scrolling instead of decompressing, mentally checking out during meaningful moments, and dreaming about quitting everything to open that bakery in Vermont. Burnout isn't always dramatic; sometimes it's just quiet depletion—the slow fade of joy and engagement that happens when you've been saying "I just need to make it through this week" for 42 weeks straight.

Through the lens of polyvagal theory, we break down how your nervous system operates when overwhelmed. When burned out, you slide down the ladder from "safe and social" into fight-or-flight or freeze modes, leaving your window of tolerance—that space where you feel grounded and regulated—practically nonexistent. Your body isn't broken; it's responding exactly as it should to chronic stress. And contrary to popular wellness culture, you can't bubble-bath your way out of burnout or manifest your way through compassion fatigue.

Real self-care isn't jade rollers and expensive candles—it's boundaries, rest, and the courage to say "I'm not okay" when you're not. It's choosing sleep over people-pleasing and speaking to yourself with the same compassion you'd offer a friend. Because healing doesn't happen when you're waging war on yourself. You don't need to be falling apart before you're allowed to rest. Rest isn't a reward—it's a right.

Listen in, take a breath, and remember: burnout doesn't mean you're broken. It means you're human. Cancel something today, say no without a spreadsheet of reasons why, and be gentle with yourself. You're doing so much better than you think.

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© 2025 Licensed and Unfiltered. All rights reserved.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

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What happens when "toxic" isn't just a trendy buzzword, but your daily reality? Behind closed doors, toxic relationships rarely announce themselves with obvious red flags. Instead, they slowly erode your sense of self through quiet patterns that make you question your reality and shrink your existence.

This deep dive explores what actually makes a relationship toxic—from the subtle gaslighting that makes you doubt your sanity to the trauma bonds that keep you chemically addicted to harmful cycles. Using insights from attachment theory, polyvagal theory, and the Gottman Method, we unpack why intelligent, capable people stay in relationships that hurt them, and why leaving feels like withdrawal rather than relief.

The numbers are staggering: 84% of women and 75% of men report experiencing toxic friendships, while globally, one in three women faces intimate partner violence. These aren't just statistics—they represent millions of everyday people who've normalized relationship pain as the cost of connection.

Whether you're questioning your current relationship, healing from a past one, or supporting someone caught in toxic patterns, this episode offers clarity without judgment. You'll learn the psychological mechanisms behind toxic love, practical boundary scripts that protect your peace, and how to distinguish between relationships worth repairing and those that require the courage to walk away.

Most importantly, you'll discover that your worth was never dependent on someone else choosing you—it's in how you choose yourself. If communication has become warfare, if your needs are consistently dismissed, or if you no longer recognize who you are in the relationship, this is your permission slip to trust your gut and reclaim the self you've been taught to silence.

You deserve more than survival in love. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear they're not crazy—they're just healing.

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© 2025 Licensed and Unfiltered. All rights reserved.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

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Sex. Just reading that word might make your palms sweat or trigger your inner middle schooler to blush. But why? In a world saturated with sexualized images, why do so many women still feel profound shame about their desires, bodies, and pleasure?

This episode tears down the walls of sexual shame, exposing the systems that taught us to silence our needs, question our worth, and disconnect from our bodies. We unpack how inadequate sex education, religious purity culture, and the Madonna-Whore Complex work together to create a perfect storm of confusion and guilt around female sexuality. These aren't just abstract concepts—they're the root causes behind why 60% of women under 35 feel embarrassed about their sexual desires.

We dive deep into the pleasure gap (men orgasm 95% of the time in heterosexual encounters while women reach climax only 65% of the time), the myth of "low libido" women (who often just experience desire differently), and how trauma, childbirth, and relationship dynamics affect our relationship with sex. Through therapeutic frameworks and practical advice, we explore how to close these gaps, communicate needs, and reclaim pleasure without performance pressure.

Whether you're struggling with disconnection from your body, confusion about your desires, or shame about your sexual history, this episode offers something revolutionary: permission. Permission to want, to not want, to explore, to heal, and to come home to your body at your own pace. Because you weren't born feeling shame about sex—you were taught it. And what's learned can be unlearned.

Ready to shake off the shame and reclaim your sexuality on your own terms? Listen now, and remember: your body isn't broken. The system is.

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© 2025 Licensed and Unfiltered. All rights reserved.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

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🎙️ Episode Title: Are you being lied to about having a successful relationship with someone with an addiction?

📝 Episode Description:

This episode of Licensed and Unfiltered dives into the raw and rarely spoken realities of addiction — from the pain and confusion it brings to the people we love, to the internal battles we often hide.

Lina shares personal and clinical reflections on addiction, healing, and what it means to hold space for others while honoring your own mental health. Whether you're a clinician, a loved one, or someone in the thick of recovery, this conversation is for you.

Want to share your story live on the show?
Submit your story or therapy question here:
https://share.hsforms.com/1mooej1eBTlSit-tcWqNT-Qdhorz

💙 Resources for Addiction Support

Veteran-Specific Resources:

• Veterans Crisis Line (24/7): Dial 988, then press 1
  Website: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
• VA Substance Use Treatment Programs: https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/substance-use-problems/
• Vet Center Programs (free counseling for combat veterans & families): https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/

Civilian Addiction & Recovery Resources:

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
  Website: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
• Al-Anon Family Groups (support for loved ones of those with addiction): https://al-anon.org/
• SMART Recovery (science-based addiction support): https://www.smartrecovery.org/
• Recovery.org (rehab locator and resources): https://www.recovery.org/

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Special thanks to our sponsor, Therapedia, for making this podcast possible.

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© 2025 Licensed and Unfiltered. All rights reserved.
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We unpack the top five reasons people get divorced and examine the demographic patterns behind relationship breakdowns. Delving into common causes from infidelity and communication breakdown to financial stress, constant conflict, and growing apart, we discover why "happily ever after" requires actual work.

• Infidelity tops divorce reason lists with 35% of women citing their husband's affairs as the final straw
• Communication breakdown often starts with avoiding conflict and ends with complete disconnection
• Financial stress and power struggles over money rank third in causing relationship dissolution
• Constant conflict transforms couples from fighting for each other to fighting at each other
• "Gray divorce" rates have doubled for ages 55-64 and tripled for those 65+ as people outgrow relationships
• Women initiate 70% of divorces, primarily citing emotional neglect and unequal relationship burdens
• The myth that "real love shouldn't take work" creates unrealistic expectations and encourages abandoning relationships prematurely
• Love is a verb that requires active participation: "You don't find a great relationship. You build one"

Subscribe, leave a review, and text this episode to your constantly-complaining friend - you know who you are.

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© 2025 Licensed and Unfiltered. All rights reserved.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

Sponsored by Northern Arizona Digital Marketing and Therapedia

Ketamine therapy stands at the forefront of mental health innovation, representing the most disruptive advancement since Prozac revolutionized depression treatment decades ago. This powerful approach doesn't just patch over symptoms—it potentially rewires the traumatized brain, offering hope where traditional treatments have failed.

The science behind ketamine therapy reveals why it's so effective. Working as an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine increases glutamate levels in the brain, enhancing neuroplasticity and creating new neural pathways. Unlike conventional antidepressants that might take weeks to show effects, ketamine can deliver noticeable relief within hours or days. During sessions, patients often experience a dissociative state that allows them to process emotions and memories differently, gaining insights that wouldn't be accessible in their normal consciousness. This isn't about numbing feelings—it's about reconnecting with them in healthier ways.

Misconceptions about ketamine therapy abound. Medical ketamine isn't the same as street ketamine, and this treatment isn't exclusively for suicidal patients. It now helps those with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD who haven't responded adequately to conventional approaches. The treatment must be administered by qualified healthcare providers and works best when integrated with traditional psychotherapy. Think of ketamine as a powerful tool—not a miracle cure or dangerous substance—that, when used properly, can help bridge the gap between merely surviving and genuinely thriving. For those feeling stuck after multiple failed medication attempts, ketamine therapy might offer the emotional traction you've been chasing for years.

Ready to explore whether ketamine therapy might be right for you or someone you care about? Subscribe to our podcast for more insights on breakthrough mental health treatments and approaches that go beyond conventional thinking. Your journey toward better mental health might look different than you expected—and that could be exactly what you need.

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© 2025 Licensed and Unfiltered. All rights reserved.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

Sponsored by Northern Arizona Digital Marketing and Therapedia