Breaking The Couch
By PlayfulLeigh Psyched
Breaking The CouchFeb 28, 2023
Season 2 Finale: A Forever Goodbye with Dr. Joharchi (Season 2, Episode 22)
In this episode, we wrap up Breaking the Couch with our hopes, intentions, and impact for the work that we have done through this podcast. We take time to recap a few episode, what this time meant to us, and to give thanks to our guest and audience. We also say goodbye to Dr. Joharchi.
Traumatized by Three: Healing Preschool Classrooms (Season 2, Episode 21)
We don't have to wait until adulthood to heal childhood trauma. Ms. Marianela is working hard to heal childhood trauma in preschool settings.
Ms. Marianela S. Rodousakis, LCSW-C, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and
Board-Approved Supervisor. In addition to private practice, she works in a therapeutic preschool
providing Attachment-Centered, Trauma-Informed therapeutic intervention to preschoolers and
their families.
Marianela has worked as an early childhood teacher in various educational settings. She
considers herself to be an early childhood champion, making sure that young children and their
families receive quality education and are treated with dignity and respect no matter where they
come from. Her passion is in developmental trauma, working with the most vulnerable members
of our society, who have experienced adverse childhood experiences.
Marianela also helps adults and couples navigate life transitions, cope with daily stressors,
establish and maintain healthy relationships, and heal from past traumas. Marianela collaborates
with family members, schools, as well as other professionals from various disciplines. As
needed, she can provide school consultation to ensure children can be successful in their
classroom settings.
Books:
https://bookshop.org/lists/breaking-the-couch-podcast
Contact:
Marianela.Rodousakis@gmail.com
or
Marianela@peterbachmantherapy.com
The Movement of Grief: City, County, or Country (Season 2, Episode 20)
In this episode we discuss the joys and pain of immigration. Whether you've never left your hometown or if you changed continents, there's a shared experience in that's validated in this episode. We were joined by Ms. Jila Behnad who is an Iranian American Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, graduated from JFK University. She is adjunct Faculty at Palo Alto University where she teaches Emotionally Focus Therapy to master level students. Jila is certified by the International Center of Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) as a Certified EFT Therapist and Supervisor. She is also trained in EMDR, CBT, ACT and DBT. Jila Behnad is CEO and Founder of Raha Foundation. Raha is a non-profit mental health organization in Northern California: https://RahaFoundation.org Jila is also the director of the Iranian EFT Community, the only ICEEFT affiliated community in Iran.
EMDR Intensives: Fad or Fabulous? (Season 2, Episode 19)
Some people go to therapy once a week for months or years to treat their trauma. More recently, people have been trying EMDR Intensives where you may go to therapy for only 5 to 10 hours spread out across a few days. Get out take on what it is and whether it helps people heal.
It Felt Like a Heart Attack, What Was it Really? (Season 2, Episode 18)
What happens when you mental health goes ignored? Well, you might just end up in the hospital being evaluated for heart complications. At least that is what happened to our guest, Mr. Darius Fennell. Learn what happened next and how you can avoid it happening to you. Darius Fennell is a mental health recovery and therapy advocate. He is a proud HBCU alumni of North Carolina A&T State University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. EE degree from the University of Rochester. Darius is also a passionate published author, mental health life coach, and support group facilitator with a strong desire to break down mental health stigmas especially among African American men. Leveraging from his own past mental health struggles and recovery, Darius desires for those who struggle with their mental health to never lose hope and find the courage to pursue the help and life tools needed to thrive.
Book: Leaving Jupiter https://beyond-anxiety.com/
IG/TikTok: @beyond.anxiety_
Consciously Uncoupled My A** (Season 2, Episode 17)
Breakups are almost always hard, the Netflix show "Uncoupled" took a breakup to another level and we talk about it.
Play Your Way to Healing (Season 2, Episode 16)
What is play therapy, who is it for and how does it help? Drs. Dowtin and Joharchi spill it all.
Books:
How Angry Are You Really? (Season 2, Episode 15)
You've been told that you're too angry, hot tempered, or even that you don't get angry enough. Let's explore all of it.
Anger Meditation with Dr. Dowtin of PlayfulLeigh Psyched: https://insig.ht/FYHrW4uT5vb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=live_stream_share
Hospitalized & Traumatized (Season 2, Episode 14)
Medical trauma is very common, yet most people don't talk about it and other times, people tell you to "be glad that you survived." Tune to learn about some of the different types of medical trauma.
Creating New Year's Resolutions that Stick (Season 2, Episode 13)
You've created New Year's Resolutions in the past that haven't made it past January 31st. Tune it to learn how to make sure your next resolution works for you!
Your House, My Rules: Parenting Across DIfferent Households
Parenting is hard with and without a partner. However, parenting with someone with whom you do not like, can be a nightmare. Dr. Joharchi and Dr. Dowtin dive deeper into helping you avoid common pitfalls in co-parenting.
I Refuse to Raise My Child Like That!
How to respond to unwanted parenting or caregiving feedback provided by the previous generations. For closed captions, please find us on YouTube!
EMDR Didn't Work. Why?
Often people report having no reaction or a bad reaction to Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). We explore why that happens and provide examples about how to prevent it from happening in the future. For video captions, please visit us on YouTube!
Bye Bullies: Saying Hello to Boundaries and Goodbye to Bulllies!
In this unique episode Drs. Joharchi and Dowtin explore the journey of boundary setting and help you unpack you earliest memories of setting boundaries.
Home for the Holidays: What to Do When Auntie Says You're Too Fat
For millions of people "family" gatherings are stressful. Here are some tips for making these interactions less stressful.
BFFR: Healing, Happily Ever After and Then What?
Having the wrong perception about healing has scared some people away from the journey. We're here to dispel the myth while giving an honest exploration into what healing is like - even the bad parts.
Eek! There's A Mouse in My Office! Helping A Friend Through Panic
Learn how to help someone through panic. To stay connected or to have your questions answered on our show please leave a comment here and on Instagram.
Why Am I Not Enough? Exploring Enoughness
No matter how much work you do, you still feel lazy. You believe that you are not worthy of rest and you are unsure what rest would even be like in your life. Tune in to explore what to do about how you are feeling. To stay connected or to have your questions answered on our show please leave a comment here or on Instagram,
Adult Meltdowns: How to Recover
A rare episode that shows the vulnerability of adults when things get overwhelming. Sometimes, it's the littlest thing that brings everything to a halt. What can you do with that happens? Watch and find out. To stay connected or to have your questions answered on our show please leave a comment here, on Instagram.
Bra or Braless: Does What I Wear to Therapy Matter?
On TikTok a creator posted a question at about therapists confronting patients who don't wear a bra to session. Drs. Joharchi and Dowtin discuss what you can do if your therapist brings this up with you in session.
The Reference Video: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdowtin.at.play/video/7137033542990712107?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7145867205720327723
What is Inner Child Work?
Therapy isn't the only way to work towards healing from difficult events. Attending to your inner child is one way. In this episode, Dr. Joharchi and Dr. Dowtin provide examples of inner child healing activities you can try at home.
Books: https://bookshop.org/lists/breaking-the-couch-podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakingthecouch/?hl=en
Therapy: https://playfulleighpsyched.com
Therapy: https://softheartpsychology.com
Dr. Dowtin: https://beacons.ai/drdowtinatplay
Copyright Free Music: https://pixabay.com/users/coma-media-24399569/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-
Is It Ever Okay To Use Distraction?
We are back with the first episode in season 2, our farewell season. What is distraction and is it okay to use to get you through your day? Dr. Hannah Alia Joharchi and Dr. LaTrice L. Dowtin answer those questions and more!
Books: https://bookshop.org/lists/breaking-the-couch-podcast
Institutional Trauma & the Black Millennial (Season 1 Finale, Episode 21)
To round out our season 1, we finish with an episode about the impact of institutional level trauma on Black millennials in the US. We go there as we are joined by the esteemed Dr. Angelina Nortey is a licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of Sage Wellness and Consulting. As a former school-based practitioner, she quickly learned that child and adolescent work was really adult work. Angelina has extensive experience working within and consulting with public, public charter and private schools. Her clinical interests are in wholistic and healing psychological approaches for addressing childhood trauma in adults. She specializes in working with Black and Brown millennial professionals to claim their authentic selves. Her clinical practice also has an emphasis on interpersonal relationships and identity development. She also enjoys clinical supervision of graduate students and unlicensed clinicians. Angelina’s research relies on Black Feminist and critical theories to explore issues of race and disability. Her primary research interests are in school discipline and early career school psychologists’ social justice needs, with an emphasis in qualitative methodology. Angelina has varied teaching experiences and was most recently a Clinical Assistant professor. She is currently the Co-Chair of Social Justice Initiatives for the National Association of School Psychologist (NASP) Early Career Committee. She earned her doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Florida.
Dr. Nortey's website: https://sagewellness.co
Dr. Nortey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/_angelinanortey
Dr. Nortey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_angelinanortey/?hl=en OR https://www.instagram.com/sagewellness.co/
Love, Relationships, & Trauma
We break it apart and discuss toxic characteristics of unhealthy relationships and explore how to make moves that promote healing. We are joined by Devaney Knight who is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the states of Texas and California. She is the Clinical Director at West Lake Houston Counseling in Kingwood, Texas where she serves in the therapist role with individuals, couples, and families with a specialization in the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Devaney's background in community mental health includes working with transitional age youth, incarcerated youth, families involved in social services, and court-mandated clients. Devaney is also an adjunct psychology instructor, speaker, and clinical supervisor. Join us, Dr. Dowtin and Dr. Joharchi for the second to last episode of the season as we chat with Devaney.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westlakehoustoncounseling
Instagram: @westlakehoustoncounseling
Why Does Trauma Keep Coming Back?
Trauma reactions can come back for many reasons. We explore them in this episode to help you learn how to reduce this from happening to you.
When Sex Hurts: A Conversation about Sex Therapy
This one is for adults only folks. Dr. Li joins us to discuss sex, sex therapy and vaginismus, a psychological disorder that is commonly related to trauma. Dr. Margaret Li is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Ray Psychology. She specializes in couple therapy and sex therapy. As an Asian American immigrant herself, she is passionate in fighting the shame and stigma of sex in mainstream society. As a certified sex therapist, she specializes in working with individuals and couples struggling with physical and emotional sexual pain, sexual dysfunction, mismatched libido, porn concerns, as well as sexual trauma. Aside from her clinical practice, Dr. Li also hosts a YouTube Chanel to provide sex education in Mandarin Chinese. Website: www.raypsychology.com Sex Education Youtube in Chinese: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4t3zdBsULgYqHKjbZ9GkFQ/featured
Disclaimer: This episode is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content provided on this epsidoe is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this Youtube channel should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The statements made about specific products throughout this podcast are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All the sex education provided by this podcast are based on consensual sex among adults. This channel strongly condemn sexual behaviors based on non-consensual sex including but not limited to forced sex, transactional sex, cross-generational sex, unwanted touch, and molestation. Please seek help if you are experiencing non-consensual sex.
Why Do I Procrastinate?
Procrastination is a common experience, but why? And, what does procrastination have to do with a trauma podcast? We answer these questions and provide useful ways to potentially reduce your tendency to procrastinate. To stay connected or to have your questions answered on our show please leave a comment here, or on Instagram.
Could That Be From Trauma (Part 2)
We're back with a part two allowing you to explore mysterious behaviors that are sometimes associated with trauma. Get ready to explore early childhood trauma and experiences that likely led to why you do the things that you do now.
Preventing Gender Trauma (Part 2)
As promised, we returned wih a part two of "What is Gender Affirming Mental Healthcare". This time, we focus examples of gender trauma and ways to prevent them. Dr. Hannah Alia Joharchi, gender therapist, explores how to use cisgender privilege to combat systems that were designed to oppress people based on gender. Parents may want to visit the article on inviting in for children in the LGBTQ community. https://www.playfulleighpsyched.com/post/5-ways-to-support-your-lgbtq-child-inviting-in
It Didn't Happen to Me, Why Am I Traumatized?
Ever wonder how your world view can change simply from listening to or learning about a trauma that happened to someone else? Well, neuropsychologist in training, Dr. Jesús O. Barreto Abrams joined us to explore the definition of vicarious trauma, what it looks like among helping professions such as therapists, lawyers, and interpreters, and how you can support your loved ones when they are recounting traumatic events.
Dr. Jesús O. Barreto Abrams is a white Latino, cisgender male licensed psychologist from Isabela, Puerto Rico. He graduated with his doctoral degree in clinical psychology and with a graduate certificate in early intervention (ages 0-3) for Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families from Gallaudet University. At Gallaudet, he specialized in the provision of psychotherapy, assessment, and consultation services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations. Dr. Barreto Abrams is currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship in cultural clinical neuropsychology at UCLA’s Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior. He plans to continue working with traditionally underserved and marginalized communities in the United States with the goal of continuing to dismantle racist, audist, xenophobic, and heteronormative systems. In addition to being a psychologist, Dr. Barreto Abrams is a nationally certified interpreter working in Spanish, American Sign Language, and English. His research has explored vicarious trauma in interpreters, early intervention for deaf children and their families in Puerto Rico, and verbal memory in healthy Deaf college students. He has also taught psychology, interpreting, and early intervention. He is the curator of @aslbrainhealth on Instagram, a page that attempts to make mental health and brain health accessible in ASL.
Dr. Barreto Abrams email: jesus@interneuronas.com
What is Gender Affirming Mental Healthcare? Part 1
What is the difference between man and male? Are the labels of gay and bi terms that can be used for women or are they for men only? This episode was inspired by an audience member who sent us a message. You asked, and we're answering. Join the conversation as we discuss gender identity, sex assigned at birth, and how those things can affect mental health. Trauma therapists, Dr. Dowtin and Dr. Joharchi discuss the basics and provide practical definitions for gender affirming mental healthcare. If you learned something new, make sure to share the knowledge, and add us to your playlist to you catch part 2!
How To Find a Therapist
In this episode of Breaking the Couch, Drs. Dowtin and Joharchi discuss helpful tips for how you can find a therapist that meets your needs. They discuss questions to ask potential therapists and how to approach seemingly taboo questions during your consultation. To access a full article on this topic you can visit Dr. Joharchi's website. If you have questions for us or want to leave a comment, please send us a message here, on Instagram @breakingthecouch or on our website https://breakingthecouch.com
How Trauma Changes You
How does trauma change you? This week Drs. Dowtin and Joharchi discuss behaviors that can be trauma responses. Sometimes a behavior is formed due as survival strategy following a traumatic event. However, just because the threat is no longer present doesn't mean the behavior disappears. Have a topic, comment, or question you want featured on our show? Please leave a comment here, on Instagram @breakingthecouch, on YouTube, or on our website. Books related to this episode can be found by visiting https://bookshop.org/lists/breaking-the-couch-podcast
Whose Body It Is Really?: The Overturning of Roe V Wade
Join us for this special bonus epsiode as today is exactly one week since we all learned of the overturning of landmark case Roe v. Wade. As two trauma therapists with uteruses, we has to take time to make space for you to engage in this conversation. It's impactful, powerful, and needed. Now is the time to allow yourself to grieve, find and bulid community, and rally for change. We provide a few tips on how to do just that. Be invited to visit our websites for additional resources or to find a therapist that is right for you at PlayfulLeigh Psyched or Soft Heart Psychology.
Can I Get Treatment If The Trauma is Still Happening?
In the 10th episode of Breaking the Couch, Drs. Dowtin & Joharchi answer a common question about whether you can benefit from trauma therapy while you are still experiencing traumatic events. Have a topic, comment, or question you want featured on our show? Please leave a comment here, on Instagram, on YouTube, or on our website. Books related to this episode can be found by visiting https://bookshop.org/lists/breaking-the-couch-podcast
What Not to Say to Trauma Survivors
Dr. Dowtin & Dr. Joharchi explore common statements that can cause more harm than good when supporting the needs of trauma survivors. This episode gives a few suggestions on what to say, do, and what not to say and do when you are with someone on their trauma recovery journey. To stay connected or to have your questions answered on our show please leave a voicemail here, comment on Instagram, or YouTube, or on our website. The book mentioned in this episode can be found by visiting https://bookshop.org/lists/breaking-the-couch-podcast
What is Family Mental Health & Fitness?
Family Health and Fitness Day just passed recently, but it is likely that most people did not include a focus on mental health and mental fitness. Drs. Dowtin and Joharchi explore how family can work towards family mental health and fitness as a trauma healing or even trauma prevention act. For resources and to learn more please follow us on Instagram @breakingthecouch and on our website https://breakingthecouch.com
Philadelphia ACE Project: https://www.philadelphiaaces.org/philadelphia-ace-survey 1998 ACEs Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9635069/ Anxiety Apps for Child, families and adults: https://www.playfulleighpsyched.com/post/quiet-the-panic-in-a-pandemic-phone-based-apps-for-everyone Breathing Butterfly: https://elffound.org/butterfly.php
Ruptures & Repairs in Therapy
In this episode, Drs. Dowtin & Joharchi dislose what it can be like for therapists when there is a relationship injury during the therapeutic process. This is an open an honest discussion from two of your favorite trauma therapists. To continue this conversation, send us a message here, on Instagram @breakingthecouch or on https://breakingthecouch.com
Social Media & Vicarious Trauma
Can you experience trauma symptoms simply from watching a video? Is it common to become from alarming events that you learn about from social media? In this episode we will answer that question for you and then some. This episode was recorded in May 2022, during the week of a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. While Drs. Dowtin and Joharchi do not go into details of the events, they do discuss how viewing videos of that nature can impact us. In this episode, trauma therapists share practical strategies for managing vicarious trauma. Visit us on Instagram @breakingthecouch or YouTube to stay connected and checkout our bookshop!
Are You Self-Sabotaging Your Love?
In this episode, Drs. Dowtin and Joharchi explore what if can look when people get in their own way and unintentionally create barriers within relationshps. Dr. Joharchi shares discusses love in the context of romantic relationships, while Dr. Dowtin shares her take on platonic and familial relationships and her observations as a Black woman therapist. To continue this conversation call in with questions, follow @breakingthecouch on Instagram, or submit questions via our website https://breakingthecouch.com
Generational Trauma
In this episode hosts, Dr. Dowtin, and Dr. Hannah Alia Joharchi, define and discuss dealing the onset of generational, intergenerational and transgenerational trauma, and how to start healing from it. For resources and to learn more please visit our website: https://breakingthecouch.com and find us on Instagram @breakingthecouch
How Do Therapists Keep Showing Up?
In this episode the hosts, Dr. Dowtin, and Dr. Hannah Alia Joharchi, discuss what comes up for therapists when working with trauma cases and how they stay grounded. For resources and to learn more please follow us on Instagram @breakingthecouch and on our website https://breakingthecouch.com Books purchased via this link https://bookshop.org/lists/breaking-the-couch-podcast, help support future episodes of this podcast
Trauma & the Body
In this episode, Drs. Dowtin & Joharchi discuss one of several definitions of psychological trauma and provide listeners with a few examples of how trauma shows up in the body. The hosts reference two books that can be used to better understand trauma healing whether you are a clinician or survivor, and one book that is specifically designed for trauma practitioners. To find these books, please visit our Bookshop https://bookshop.org/lists/breaking-the-couch-podcast For resources and to learn more please follow us on Instagram @breakingthecouch and on our website https://breakingthecouch.com
Welcome to Breaking the Couch
In this episode the hosts, Dr. LaTrice L. Dowtin, and Dr. Hannah Alia Joharchi, introduce the origin of this podcast and what they hope listeners will gain from engaging with this content. Therapists Drs. Dowtin and Joharchi also discuss how they came to trauma consultation together. For resources and to learn more please follow us on Instagram @breakingthecouch and on our website https://breakingthecouch.com
Introducing Dr. Dowtin
Spend a few minutes getting to know one of your cohosts, Dr. LaTrice L. Dowtin, better known as, Dr. Dowtin - a trauma therapist. In this preseason bonus episode, Dr. Dowtin shares a tiny peak into her background and what you can expect by becoming an engaged listener of the Breaking the Couch. Remember to hit that like but, and more importantly make sure you subscribe and tap they little bell so that you never miss an episode! Join Dr. Dowtin and Dr. Joharchi as they aim to break the couch with you every Tuesday to dive into a behind the scenes look at therapy and the intricacies of trauma recovery. For resources and to learn more please follow us on Instagram @breakingthecouch and on our website https://breakingthecouch.com
Breaking the Couch Teaser
Get ready to explore the behind the scenes of therapy with two trama therapists, Dr. Dowtin and Dr. Joharchi. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Visit https://breakingthecouch.com to learn more and get access to captions.