Advertise on podcast: RECLAIM with Thais Sky

Are you wondering if therapy is working — or whether your therapist might actually be doing more harm than good? In this episode, I break down the real signs of good therapy, therapist red flags to watch for, and how to find the right therapist for meaningful, lasting change. I also explore why AI therapy can't replace a real therapy relationship, how different therapy modalities affect your progress, and what to do when therapy feels stuck. Whether you're searching for depth psychology and psychoanalytic therapy or just trying to navigate the overwhelming world of mental health support — this episode will help you find the therapy you actually deserve.   To grab the show notes including all the information on today's guest, go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/229.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.

Have you tried every self-worth habit (journaling, affirmations, self-care routines) and still feel fundamentally unworthy? In this episode, I break down why self-worth habits alone can't heal low self-esteem, and what depth psychology reveals about the real roots of the worthiness wound. If you're caught in the self-improvement trap, people pleasing, or struggling with shame and self-worth, this episode will change how you think about relational healing and what inner critic work actually requires. Real talk, no self-help shortcuts — just honest, nuanced psychotherapy wisdom for your healing self-worth journey.   To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/228.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.

Do you need a break — from a relationship, from therapy, or just from life? In this episode, licensed psychotherapist Thaís Sky explores the psychology behind taking a break, unpacking when distance is truly restorative and when it's actually conflict avoidance or fear of intimacy in disguise. Drawing on psychoanalytic therapy principles, she explores how dependency in relationships, attachment issues, and emotional regulation all shape our urge to step away. Whether you're considering a relationship break, a therapy break, or just craving self-awareness around your own relationship patterns, this episode offers thoughts to help you next time you are considering a break.   To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/227.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.

Why does self hate intensify at the start of the new year? In this episode, I explore self hate, the inner critic, and new year's resolutions though a psychoanalytic lens, examining how new year pressure, self improvement burnout, and the worthiness wound shape our inner lives. We'll look at why we hate ourselves, how shame and relational trauma fuel self loathing, and how to begin the year without turning against yourself. This episode is for anyone drawn to depth psychology, therapy conversations, and mental health podcasts that take emotional suffering seriously.   To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/226.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.

In this episode, Thais Sky breaks down intrusive thoughts, rumination, and anxious thoughts from a psychoanalytic therapy perspective so you can finally understand what these repetitive thoughts actually mean. If you struggle with obsessive thinking, intuition vs anxiety, or harsh self-criticism, this episode will help you discern which thoughts matter, why urgency hijacks your mind, and how to think instead of spiral. Perfect for anyone craving depth, clarity, and real tools for navigating the unconscious patterns driving anxiety.   To grab the show notes including all the information on today's guest, go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/225.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.

There are a lot of difficult parts of being human, and all of those things tend to revolve around feelings that arise within us that are hard to tolerate. Feelings that we have never been taught to feel. Feelings that we have been told are bad. Feelings that now, when they arise, overwhelms, paralyzes and collapses us. In this new series on RECLAIM called Reclaiming What Is Hard, I want to break down some of these difficult feelings, shed light on what they may mean, and explore different ways of thinking and relating to them so that you may find wisdom in what is hard. In this episode, I explore embarrassment including why it can paralyze us, why some of us seek it out and how we can relate to it so it stops getting in our way.   To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/224.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michelle Harwell, PsyD, LMFT, a training and supervising analyst, respected instructor, and practicing clinician specializing in trauma, relational psychoanalysis, and personal development. We explore the depth of psychoanalysis, the art of therapy, and the ways relational and contemporary psychoanalytic principles can help us understand our emotions, behaviors, and inner stories. Michelle shares insights on mental health, self-awareness, agency, grief, frustration, and emotional complexity, offering a rare look into the therapeutic process and the mind-body connection. Whether you're curious about psychotherapy, depth psychology, or navigating your own emotional growth, this conversation provides clarity, humor, and profound understanding to support your journey.   To grab the show notes including all the information on today's guest, go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/223.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.

In this episode of RECLAIM, I dive into an exploration around validation in relationships and explore why we seek validation from partners, parents, and others. Learn how to cope with a lack of validation, understand how its connected to childhood wounds, and discover strategies for healing without validation. If you struggle with self worth or crave constant reassurance, this episode offers a psychoanalytic perspective on validation and practical insights for relationship struggles and emotional needs in relationships. To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/222. If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky

In this episode, I dive into the psychoanalytic view of gaslighting, exploring what is gaslighting (and what it's not), and how to recognize it in relationships. I unpack the intricacies of gaslighting dynamics and how you can begin to think about it with more curiosity. Whether it's gaslighting triggers explained or strengthening gaslighting recovery, tune in for insight and ideas for how to build emotional resilience. To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/221.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky

In this episode of the RECLAIM podcast, I offer some thoughts on the viral Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. If you've ever struggled with self-abandonment, people pleasing, or attachment patterns, this breakdown is for you. Learn how emotional difficulties, relational deficits, and the worthiness wound all shape our response to rejection—and the ways this pop psychology phenomenon can both help, and miss the mark, when it comes to unconscious psychoanalytic dynamics underneath our pain.   To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/220.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky

There are a lot of difficult parts of being human, and all of those things tend to revolve around feelings that arise within us that are hard to tolerate. Feelings that we have never been taught to feel. Feelings that we have been told are bad. Feelings that now, when they arise, overwhelms, paralyzes and collapses us. In this new series on RECLAIM called Reclaiming What Is Hard, I want to break down some of these difficult feelings, shed light on what they may mean, and explore different ways of thinking and relating to them so that you may find wisdom in what is hard. In this episode, I explore loneliness and how we can understand what happens within us when we feel so despairingly alone.   To grab the show notes including all the information on today's guest, go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/219.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky

In this episode I explore five important concepts that I believe are important to know as we navigate our hearts and minds so we can foster the types of relationships we want. You may notice that these concepts all come from psychoanalytic ideas and I hope to breathe life into these ideas so you can apply them in your life.   To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/218.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky

Let's talk about self-help. Is it a scam or is it an essential ingredient to a happy life? In this episode I break down the origins of self-help, it's connection with culture, and the ways in which self-help perpetuates the very problem it attempts to solve. Enjoy!   To grab the show notes including all the information on today's guest, go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/217.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky

In this episode I break down the ways the worthiness wound is intertwined with New Year's Resolutions and how we can think about goals and intentions for the new year without self-loathing and shame. I also share three big takeaways from 2024 that I hope will help you think your own goals and reflections.   To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/216.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky

The holidays can bring up a myriad of difficult and complicated feelings, particularly as it relates to our family and family dynamics. In this episode, I share some thoughts on ways to relate to expectations, disappointment, grief and difference in order to foster a more ease-ful holiday season.   To grab the show notes go to www.ThaisSky.com/podcast/215.   If you like what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you took a moment to leave a review and share this podcast with your community.   Thank you for your generous attention. XO Thaís   DISCLAIMER: I am a therapist but I'm not your therapist. My podcast is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for real mental health care. Please get help if you need it and in case of a crisis contact your local mental health hotline or emergency services.   Socials // Website: www.ThaisSky.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IamThaisSky Instagram: www.instagram.com/IamThaisSky