Love, Happiness, and Success For Therapists

Therapists hold the power to transform not only individual lives but the systems that shape mental health care itself. In this episode, I’m joined by Gino Titus-Luciano, a licensed mental health counselor, nationally certified counselor, and the CEO of Kokua Mental Health & Wellness Group. As president of the Hawaii Counselors Association, Gino has spent years advocating for systemic change in mental health, and he brings so much insight into what that actually looks like - from expanding telehealth access to supporting the next generation of therapists. We talk about how systemic issues in mental health (like underfunded internships, rigid policies, and burnout) affect both clients and clinicians, and how meaningful advocacy starts with us. Gino shares examples of how small policy shifts can open big doors for access and equity, and how we can all engage in systemic advocacy in our own ways: through community, policy, education, and mentorship. We also explore how supervision, consultation, and community keep us grounded and ethical in this work. And if you’ve been feeling the weight of isolation in private practice, I think this one will really speak to you. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why a Systemic Lens in Therapy Matters 03:03 When Systems Fail Clients: Beyond Symptom Management 07:09 Policy Win: Expanding Telehealth Access in Hawaii 11:21 Internship & Workforce Reform: Funding, Training, Shortage 15:15 Burnout and Exploitation: Fixing Systemic Issues in Mental Health 21:49 How Therapists Engage in Systemic Advocacy (Orgs, Policy, Culture) 36:18 Supervision That Prevents Burnout: Separate Self vs. Clinician 48:03 Get Involved: Hawaii Counseling Association Trainings & Advocacy 53:00 Join the Growth Collective for Therapists I’d love to invite you to join The Growth Collective For Therapists - a space I created so you don’t have to do this work in isolation anymore. You’ll find a genuine professional home where therapists can show up as real people, not just clinicians. It’s a place for deep consultation, honest connection, and meaningful continuing education that supports your growth in every sense - personally, professionally, and emotionally. If you’ve ever wished for a trusted circle of colleagues to lean on, to talk through hard cases, to celebrate wins, or to simply remind you that you’re not alone in this work, this is that space. The Growth Collective was designed to care for you the way you care for others - with warmth, integrity, and community. And if you’d like to stay connected, come find me on LinkedIn. I love hearing your thoughts, reflections, and ideas about how we can all be part of systemic change in our field. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie BobbyGrowing Self

Your client’s mood might be shaped as much by their gut and their screen as by their thoughts. We talk so much about emotions, attachment, and insight in therapy - but what if physiology and media are quietly steering the wheel? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tatyana El-Kour, a psychologist and registered dietitian who studies how media and technology shape our everyday choices. Together, we’re unpacking how the gut-brain axis and digital exposure affect mental health, and why understanding these forces matters for our work as therapists. Dr. Tatyana shares her “Three Ps” framework (plate, physiology, and platform), a simple, science-backed way to think about how nutrition, stress, and media interact to influence mood and behavior. We explore how inflammation, poor sleep, and doomscrolling can drive anxiety and irritability, and how even small “circuit breakers” like more fiber, deep breathing, or curating your digital feed can help restore balance. This is an invitation to expand your clinical lens - to look beyond the purely psychological and consider the full system your clients live in: body, brain, and the world around them. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Therapists Must Look Beyond Psychology 01:40 The Gut–Brain Axis Explained for Therapists 05:40 The “Three Ps” Framework: Plate, Physiology, and Platform 08:20 How Therapists Can Expand Client Assessments 16:20 Simple Circuit Breakers for the Gut–Brain Loop 21:10 Digital Diets and Algorithmic Hygiene 27:10 The Future of Gut–Brain Research in Mental Health I’d love to keep learning together. You can explore our free CEU trainings library to watch on-demand trainings and sign up for upcoming live webinars. These are my way of supporting you in deepening your work, while also earning CEUs that actually feel meaningful. And if you’d like to stay connected and get updates when new free CEU trainings for therapists are released, come join my For Therapists newsletter. I’ll share resources, reflections, and real conversations about what it means to grow in this field, personally and professionally. Connect with me on LinkedIn - it’s one of my favorite spaces to connect with colleagues, share reflections, and hear what’s inspiring you lately. And if something from this episode is staying with you, I’d love to hear about it. Let’s talk - tell me what came up for you, what questions you’re sitting with, or what you’d love for me to explore in a future episode.  This podcast is for us, and your voice always matters here. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie BobbyGrowing Self

This episode originally aired on May 21, 2025 (Episode 67), and I’m bringing it back because it changes the way we treat our clients’ mental health diagnoses. Metabolic psychiatry invites us to look beyond the mind - to the brain, the body, and the biological energy systems that make healing possible. I’m joined by Nicole Laurent, a licensed mental health counselor, founder of the Brain Fog Recovery Program, and a leading voice in metabolic psychiatry, to explore how chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction may be driving the mental health symptoms we’ve been trying to treat with insight and coping skills alone. Nicole breaks down what a medical ketogenic diet can do that medications can’t, and why more clients with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and even schizophrenia are experiencing full psychiatric recovery when metabolic interventions are part of a coordinated treatment plan. We also talk about her personal recovery journey, what therapists need to know before discussing ketogenic interventions, and how to practice ethically and within scope when clients bring this into the therapy room. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 What Full Psychiatric Recovery Really Looks Like 02:55 Understanding Metabolic Psychiatry: A Clinical Overview 11:20 How Metabolic Dysfunction Drives Mental Health Symptoms 15:43 What Ketogenic Diets Do That Medications Can’t 22:42 Nicole’s Personal Story of Cognitive Recovery 27:07 Real-Life Transformations: From Surviving to Thriving 31:10 Scope of Practice, Ethics, and Building Treatment Teams 43:12 GLP-1 Medications vs. Ketogenic Intervention 46:41 What Makes a Medical Ketogenic Diet Different 50:50 How Nicole’s Nonprofit Expands Access to Care If this topic made you rethink how you understand “treatment resistance,” you’ll want to stay in touch because Nicole is joining me for a free CEU webinar on Metabolic Psychiatry this November. We’ll dig deeper into the science, the ethics, and how to start thinking metabolically in your own clinical practice. It’s one of the most important conversations we can be having right now, and I’d love for you to be part of it! If we’re not already connected on LinkedIn, let’s fix that! I share new opportunities, therapist reflections, and honest behind-the-scenes thoughts on the work we do. I’d also love to stay in touch and hear how these ideas are landing for you. What did it bring up for you? Are you starting to see your clients, or even yourself, through a new lens? Share your reflections with me - let’s talk! xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie BobbyGrowing Self

Are you a therapist struggling to figure out how to run a business? Valid! Most of us became therapists to help people, not to run a business. But, ironically, close to 50% of therapists are doing exactly that. If you’re in private practice without an entrepreneurial mindset, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, overworked, and wonder if this was a terrible idea. Help is here: We’re getting advice from a business legend, and you’re going to love her perspective. In this episode, I’m talking with Melissa Bernstein, the creative force behind Melissa & Doug and now founder of the wellness brand Lifelines, about what it really takes to build a private practice that’s not just sustainable, but joyful and aligned with who you are. We talk about offloading the parts of your business that drain you (yes, even if you’re just starting out), how to build a team as a solo practitioner, and the mindset shift that helps therapists stop trying to be everything to everyone. Melissa also shares her own mental health journey and how it led her to create sensory-based tools that help regulate the nervous system and how therapists are using them to support their clients and expand their practices. This conversation is full of heart, hope, and wisdom for any therapist who’s ready to rethink how they work. If you’ve been feeling stuck or secretly burned out, I hope this episode cracks open a new path for you! Episode Breakdown: 00:00 The Hidden Challenges of Private Practice 05:18 Melissa Bernstein’s Journey to Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship 08:33 Why Therapists Burn Out in Private Practice 10:30 Building a Support Team (Even If You're Solo) 17:20 Regulating the Nervous System with Sensory Tools 29:05 Helping Clients Carry Therapy Into Daily Life 38:22 Creative Revenue Streams for Private Practice 44:00 Tapping Into Your Entrepreneurial Mindset as a Therapist If this episode left you thinking, “I needed to hear that,” come connect with me on LinkedIn where I share behind-the-scenes reflections, resources, and conversations with other therapists who are reimagining what’s possible in this field. Lastly, I’d genuinely love to know what’s on your mind after this one. What part of Melissa’s story resonated with you? What are you dreaming about building next? Let’s talk! Your thoughts and questions shape where we go next, and this space was made for us. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie BobbyGrowing Self

Relationships are breaking under the weight of political differences, and more clients are bringing these divides into the therapy room. So what do we do when values-based conflict becomes the problem in the relationship - and the therapist is part of the system too? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Bill Doherty: Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, creator of the discernment counseling model, and co-founder of Braver Angels - a national initiative that brings liberals and conservatives together to bridge America’s political divide. Together, we unpack what it takes to stay steady and clinically effective when you’re working with couples, individuals, or families caught in ideological conflict. From understanding the macro-forces of affective polarization to the subtle ways therapists may reinforce it in the room, Dr. Doherty offers an honest, deeply human, and skillful path forward. We talk about the self-of-therapist work required to manage our own reactivity, the ethical tension between neutrality and our personal values, and how to avoid misattunement that can subtly harm the very relationships we’re trying to help. You’ll also hear real consultation examples and learn about the free resources Braver Angels offers to therapists ready to deepen their competencies in this area. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 When Political Conflict Enters the Therapy Room 02:10 Understanding Affective Polarization and Its Impact on Relationships 05:26 The Three Therapist Challenges in Politically Charged Cases 10:54 Hidden Bias in Consultation Groups and Clinical Culture 12:57 How Braver Angels Helps Heal Political Division 18:59 Internalized Polarization: What It Is and Why It Matters 21:19 A Real-World Case: Reframing Ideological Conflict with Curiosity 45:31 Setting Boundaries Without Demonizing Clients or Loved Ones 48:53 Courageous Citizenship and the Therapist’s Role in Divided Times 59:19 Free Tools to Support Clients Caught in Political Conflict If you’re still turning this over in your mind (like I have been), you’ll want to keep the conversation going. When you sign up for my For Therapists newsletter, I’ll send you more interviews with thought leaders like Dr. Doherty, along with fresh insights, real tools, and honest reflections to help you grow - both as a clinician and as a person. Come say hi on LinkedIn! I share behind-the-scenes updates, new episodes, and the kind of therapist-to-therapist support I wish more of us had. If something from this conversation is still sitting with you or showing up in your work, I’d truly love to hear about it. Let’s stay in this together. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie BobbyGrowing Self