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Episode 87: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is one of the most misunderstood mental health diagnoses. In this remixed episode, Dr. Alisa Brady and guest Clay Whitten—who lives with DID—offer an inside look at the condition that separates myth from reality. The conversation explores how DID develops, the challenges of misdiagnosis, and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can support healing.

Episode 86: Writing can be a powerful tool for healing. This episode explores how storytelling, poetry, and journaling help people clarify emotions, process trauma, and make meaning from life experiences — both painful and joyful. It opens with a powerful Holocaust survival story that highlights writing as an act of healing, and continues with reflections on identity, resilience, and self-discovery, including a personal story about turning inward during the pandemic and finding a voice through poetry.

Episode 85: Hormonal changes and perimenopause can start earlier than many women expect — sometimes in the 30s — bringing shifts that deeply affect mental health. Anxiety, irritability, depression, headaches, and brain fog are common, yet often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. We’re joined by psychotherapist and hormone expert Helen Bennett, BACP, and experiencer Liz Ryan to share both clinical and personal insights into how hormonal changes impact daily life and emotional well-being. Liz’s partner, Casey, also reflects on navigating this transition together and its effects on their relationship and family. Tune in to recognize the signs, find support, and feel less alone during this transition.

Episode 84: Psychosis is more common than most realize—affecting up to 3 in 100 people in the U.S.—and early treatment not only improves recovery but also reduces negative impacts on the brain and leads to better outcomes. In this remixed episode, host Debra Sloss talks with Dr. Jennifer Davis, psychiatrist, Tim Beveridge and Kenah Roberts about understanding and recovering from psychotic symptoms. This new version also includes a heartfelt “In Your Voice” story contributed by Angela, who shares a powerful personal view of living with psychosis and finding hope in recovery.

Episode 83: Guest host Youssef Hassanein talks with therapist Lisa Slede and Harvard health communications expert Amanda Yarnell about how personal and cultural narratives can heal, connect, or mislead us. Amanda offers tips for navigating digital misinformation, and storyteller John A. Jacobs reflects on how creative expression has shaped his life. It leaves listeners with the question: What stories guide your life, and how might crafting them more intentionally support your well-being?

Episode 82: Guest host Patrice Vecchione explores the mental health challenges of living with a terminal illness. Featuring the late Megan Myers’s moving story, insights from palliative care physician Dr. John Hausdorff, and reflections from Kevin Christine Kennedy, who is now nearing the end of her life. Together, they share how people face loss while also finding courage, hope, and meaning at life’s end. Find resources from this episode in the show notes.

Episode 81: In this episode, we explore how self-care can sustain us through hard times. Host Debra Sloss and psychotherapist Kara Bowman reflect on a series of moving listener-submitted stories that reveal how simple, soulful practices can nourish resilience. From music to movement, these everyday acts offer powerful ways to stay grounded amid adversity. Tune in for wisdom, inspiration, and gentle reminders that self-care is essential.

Episode 80: What happens after a loved one dies by suicide? In this poignant episode, Leslie Nielsen shares the loss of her adult son, while another woman reflects on losing her mother. Former suicide prevention director Carly Memoli offers insight into the unique grief that follows and how healing can begin—a raw and hopeful glimpse into learning to live with unimaginable pain and grief.

Episode 79: Guest host Patrice Vecchione leads a heartfelt conversation with three vibrant elders—Barbara Stark, Alice Tao, and Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts—about how they’ve embraced aging with purpose and adaptability. Plus senior care specialist Ruth Nickens offers practical insights from her 40-year career. Whether you’re 25 or 95, this rich discussion will reshape how you think about aging.

Episode 78: More men are embracing therapy and challenging old stigmas. In this remixed episode, Guest Host Lisa Herendeen, LMFT talks with Joey Fino, Mark Vanderhoof, and psychotherapist Tim Hartnett, PhD about how therapy can transform men’s lives. We’ve also added a powerful “In Your Voice” story, reflecting on how therapy supported Daniel’s journey from adolescence to adulthood. Tune in for a compelling conversation on healing, connection, and emotional growth.

Episode 77: Awe isn’t just a beautiful emotion—it’s a powerful tool for well-being. Research shows it can reduce stress, ease anxiety, lift mood, and even relieve chronic pain. Host Debra Sloss is joined by Dr. Michael Amster, co-author of The Power of Awe, and Jaime Garcia to explore how awe regulates the nervous system, enhances mental health, and simple ways to cultivate it in just one minute a day.

Episode 76: Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) allows terminally ill, mentally capable adults to self-ingest prescribed medication to pass peacefully on their own terms. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, end-of-life choices are more relevant than ever. Psychotherapist and host Debra Sloss is joined by Dr. Lisa Segnitz, a palliative care physician, Kim Stokely, who supported her sister through MAID, and Neil Vargas-Gladen, a chaplain offering spiritual insights. Together, they explore MAID’s ethical, medical, mental health and emotional dimensions.

Episode 75: This episode unpacks the differences between codependent and interdependent relationships, focusing on setting healthy boundaries and recognizing what you can and cannot control. Psychotherapist Kat Zwick, LMFT, and Jill, a Co-Dependents Anonymous member, share insights and strategies for managing anxious or imbalanced dynamics—with a loved one facing mental health challenges, substance abuse, or other difficulties. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, spouse, or friend, this conversation offers valuable tools to navigate relationships and foster personal well-being.

Episode 74: Over 70% of U.S. adults have experienced trauma, which can deeply impact mental and physical health by altering the brain and nervous system. Fortunately, recovery is possible. Yoga teacher Abbey Asher shares how she maintained her mental health while caring for her terminally ill husband, and trauma specialist Karen Ouse, LMFT, provides strategies to heal, calm the nervous system, and build resilience. This episode offers tools and hope for rebuilding after trauma.

Episode 73: This episode sheds light on the overlooked struggles of mothers supporting adult children with mental health or addiction challenges. Balancing unconditional love with setting boundaries and preserving their own well-being requires immense resilience. Psychotherapist and author Judith Smith, PhD, shares research on mothers navigating these challenges later in life, while Cathy Pereyra, a mother and a mental health education and support group leader, offers her lived experience and practical insights. Together, our guests and several contributing mothers discuss the support needed to help these mothers not just survive, but thrive.