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Perfectionism can look like ambition on the outside, but internally it often feels like pressure, overthinking, anxiety, and the constant belief that nothing is ever quite good enough. In this episode of Thoughts from the Couch, I’m unpacking the mindset shift ambitious female entrepreneurs need to stop letting perfectionism run the show. We explore how perfectionistic thinking develops, why it becomes so deeply tied to achievement and self-worth, and how it quietly contributes to burnout, procrastination, overworking, and emotional exhaustion. Using a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) framework, I walk you through the exact psychological loop that keeps perfectionism alive and the practical steps you can take to start changing it. From thought logging and cognitive restructuring to behavioral experiments like the “80% rule,” time boxing, and exposure to imperfection, this episode is filled with tangible tools you can apply immediately in both business and life. We also dive into the emotional side of perfectionism, including the discomfort of rest, the fear of slowing down, and the deeper work of separating your value as a person from your productivity and achievements. This episode is for the woman who is successful on paper but secretly exhausted from carrying the pressure of always needing to get everything right. If you’re successful on the outside but constantly holding everything together on the inside, The Balanced Boss is private coaching designed to help things feel calmer, steadier, and more sustainable without giving up your ambition.https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss

Building a business can feel incredibly empowering until the pressure to hold everything together starts taking a toll behind the scenes. In this episode of Thoughts from the Couch, I’m joined by Kelly Lorenzen, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Duplicate Myself KLM. Together, we unpack the hidden emotional cost of doing everything yourself and why so many high-achieving women struggle to delegate, ask for help, or step away from their businesses without guilt. Kelly shares her personal journey through burnout, business ownership, and breast cancer, and explains how creating systems, support, and structure allowed her to grow successful businesses without sacrificing her wellbeing. We also explore the deeper psychological patterns that often show up for female entrepreneurs, including perfectionism, control, people-pleasing, and the belief that being “the responsible one” means carrying everything alone. This conversation is both practical and deeply validating. From delegation strategies and hiring advice to redefining balance and sustainable success, this episode offers a refreshing perspective for women who are tired of running on empty while trying to keep up with it all. The Balanced Boss Burnout AssessmentA free tool to help you understand your burnout patterns, gain clarity on your stress levels, and take the first step toward feeling more in control of your life and business. https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss-burnout-assessment About the Guest: Learn more about Kelly Lorenzen: https://duplicatemyselfklm.com Connect on Instagram & Facebook: @duplicatemyselfklm Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellylorenzen/

Divorce is never easy but for female entrepreneurs, it can feel especially overwhelming. When your business is something you’ve built from the ground up, the thought of protecting it during a divorce can bring up fear, uncertainty, and a lot of unanswered questions. In this episode of Thoughts from the Couch, I’m joined by divorce attorney, author, and podcast host Katherine Miller. Together, we explored what it really means to divorce with dignity, especially when you’re balancing the emotional weight of a separation alongside the financial realities of running a business. Katherine breaks down the different pathways to divorce, from mediation to collaborative processes to litigation, and explains how choosing how you divorce can significantly impact your outcome. We also dive into the unique challenges female business owners face, including how businesses are valued, common financial blind spots, and the biggest mistakes to avoid when trying to “protect” what you’ve built. This conversation is both grounding and empowering, helping you approach divorce with clarity, intention, and a deeper understanding of your options. The Balanced Boss Burnout Assessment A free tool to help you understand your burnout patterns, gain clarity on your stress levels, and take the first step toward feeling more in control of your life and business. https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss-burnout-assessment About the Guest: Learn more about Katherine:https://miller-law.com/our-attorneys/new-attorney-bio-katherine-miller/ Listen to Divorce Dialogues:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/divorce-dialogues/id1022959632 Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemiller1/

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck in your head, or disconnected from yourself while trying to build something meaningful, this conversation brings you back to what actually creates lasting confidence. In this episode, Justine sits down with wellness and embodiment practitioner Yvonne Dellos to talk about what it really takes to break cycles of overthinking, burnout, and self-doubt. Yvonne shares her journey from growing up on food stamps and being on her own at 14 to becoming a nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and transformational speaker helping women rewrite their stories. Together, they explore how confidence isn’t just something you think about. It’s something you practice through self-awareness, emotional regulation, and learning how to trust yourself again. This conversation covers embodiment work, inner child healing, releasing limiting beliefs, and how small daily practices can help ambitious women feel more grounded while continuing to grow. Connect with Yvonne: Instagram: @thebestofyvonne Website: www.thebestofyvonne.com Promotion: Two Moons (use code JUSTINESPRING25): https://twomoonshealth.co/ If you’re successful on the outside but constantly holding everything together on the inside, The Balanced Boss is private coaching designed to help things feel calmer, steadier, and more sustainable without giving up your ambition.Learn more here: https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss

In this episode of Thoughts From the Couch, I sit down with healthcare innovator, researcher, and entrepreneur Lisa Marceau to talk about a topic that deserves far more attention: postpartum mental health for self-employed moms. As a business owner preparing for maternity leave myself, this conversation felt deeply personal. We explored the emotional and practical realities that come with postpartum recovery when your income is tied to your ability to keep working. We also talked about the wide range of postpartum mental health challenges women can face, including baby blues, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, postpartum PTSD, and postpartum psychosis. Lisa shares how her own experiences and research led her to create Joyuus, an evidence-based digital health platform designed to help moms identify symptoms early, feel more informed, and connect to support sooner. This episode is both validating and practical. It’s for the mother trying to recover while keeping a business afloat, and for anyone who wants a better understanding of the support postpartum women actually need. Website: www.alphamhealth.comJoyuus: www.joyuus.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamarceau/ Promotion: Two Moons (use code JUSTINESPRING25): https://twomoonshealth.co/ Connect with Lisa Marceau:If you’re successful on the outside but constantly holding everything together on the inside, The Balanced Boss is private coaching designed to help things feel calmer, steadier, and more sustainable without giving up your ambition.Learn more here: https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss

In Episode 104 of the Thoughts From the Couch podcast, host Justine Carino sits down with TEDx speaker and lovescaping founder Irene Greaves for a grounded and practical conversation about where we first learn how to love, and how those early lessons shape our adult relationships. This episode explores the powerful question, “Where did you learn to love?” and unpacks how family of origin, culture, and early experiences quietly form our blueprint for connection. Justine and Irene discuss how love is often misunderstood as a feeling rather than a skill, and how mismatched definitions of love can create conflict in romantic relationships, friendships, and even workplace dynamics. Through clinical insight and real-life examples, Justine connects Irene’s 15 pillars of lovescaping, including humility, empathy, communication, trust, and boundaries, to the patterns she sees in therapy every day. The conversation highlights how a lack of self-awareness, difficulty identifying needs, and struggles with boundaries often stem from early conditioning, not personal failure. Listeners will walk away with a fresh perspective on love as an intentional practice rather than a passive experience. The episode offers tangible tools for building self-respect, strengthening communication, leading with empathy, and creating healthier dynamics at home and at work. Connect with Irene Greaves: Instagram: @lovescaping  Website: www.lovescaping.org  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lovescaping/  Promotion: Two Moons (use code Justine30): https://twomoonshealth.co/ The guide every couple needs: https://www.eliweinsteinlcsw.com/book  Learn more about Balanced Boss Coaching: https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss Take the Balanced Boss Burnout Assessment: https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss-burnout-assessment

In Episode 103 of the Thoughts from the Couch podcast, host Justine Carino shares a powerful solo conversation on the concept of emotional inheritance and how it quietly fuels anxiety and burnout in high-achieving women. This episode explores why success doesn’t automatically create a sense of calm and why so many driven, capable women still feel on edge despite building thriving careers and families. Justine explains how the beliefs absorbed in childhood about achievement, safety, money, rest, and worth shape the nervous system and continue to influence leadership, relationships, and decision-making in adulthood. Through personal stories and client examples, she breaks down how inherited patterns such as perfectionism, over-responsibility, and scarcity thinking show up in modern work life. Listeners are introduced to a three-phase framework for healing: identifying the family blueprint, regulating the nervous system in real-time, and intentionally creating a new definition of success that feels sustainable. If you’re successful on the outside but constantly holding everything together on the inside, The Balanced Boss is private coaching designed to help things feel calmer, steadier, and more sustainable without giving up your ambition.Learn more here: https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss Explore additional podcast resources here:https://www.divinelifestyles.com/resources#podcast

In Episode 102 of the Thoughts from the Couch podcast, host Justine Carino welcomes therapist and meditation teacher Layne Burkette for a practical conversation about nervous system regulation in everyday life. This episode focuses on what to do when stress reactions take over, even when you’re doing everything “right.” Justine and Layne break down why insight and mindset tools aren’t always accessible in moments of overwhelm and how small, body-based resets help bring the nervous system back to safety so you can respond with more clarity and intention. Listeners are guided through several short somatic practices designed for real-life use, including calming resets for stressful moments, transitions between work or parenting tasks, regulating before reacting with others, and winding down at night when the body feels exhausted but wired. Each practice is simple, quick, and easy to integrate into a busy day. Featured Podcast: The Secrets of Supermom Show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secrets-of-supermom-show/id1564021628 Learn more about Layne Burkette: Website: lifebalancebeyou.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/layne-burkette Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifebalancebeyou/ Author Page: amazon.com/author/layneburkette Free Ebook + 5 days to Calm Practice: https://lifebalancebeyou.systeme.io/" If you’re successful on the outside but constantly holding everything together on the inside, The Balanced Boss is private coaching designed to help things feel calmer, steadier, and more sustainable — without giving up your ambition.

In Episode 101 of the Thoughts from the Couch podcast, host Justine Carino, a psychotherapist and anxiety treatment specialist, sits down with Katya Libin, founder, mentor, and embodiment facilitator for a powerful conversation about redefining success, releasing perfectionism, and leading with more softness and alignment. Katya shares the story behind building Hey Mama, a nationwide community for moms in business, and what it really looked like behind the scenes: the nonstop work cycle, blurred boundaries, and the pressure to keep proving herself.  Together, Katya and Justine explore how motherhood can amplify ambition and guilt, why so many high-achieving women tie their worth to productivity, and how perfectionism often acts as a “false sense of control” when fear and uncertainty are high. The episode then shifts into Katya’s personal evolution and the creation of Jadeva, a spiritual business community for conscious women who want both depth and growth without burnout. Katya breaks down what it means to lead from presence instead of pressure, how spirituality informs her decisions as a founder, and why community is often the missing piece that makes receiving, rest, and expansion feel safe. If you’re successful on the outside but constantly holding everything together on the inside, The Balanced Boss is private coaching designed to help things feel calmer, steadier, and more sustainable — without giving up your ambition. Take the Balanced Boss Burnout Assessment: https://www.justinecarino.com/the-balanced-boss-burnout-assessment Connect with Katya Libin: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katyaslife/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katyalibin/ Promotion: Two Moons (use code Justine30): https://twomoonshealth.co/

In Episode 100 of the Thoughts from the Couch podcast, Justine sits down with therapist Renee Litt for a powerful conversation about perfectionism and the “striver” part that so many women lean on to feel safe and in control. Using the Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach, they explore how this part formed, why it works so hard, and what it believes it’s protecting us from. Together, they unpack the key IFS concepts of managers, firefighters, and exiles, and how these inner roles shape the way we think, react, and push ourselves. Renee explains how the striver part often develops from early experiences or inherited patterns, and how it can quietly take over our decisions, leaving us anxious, drained, or overly self-critical. Their conversation offers a hopeful, compassionate path toward healing perfectionism by learning to meet this part with curiosity instead of judgment. Listeners will walk away with a clearer picture of how to reconnect with their grounded Self and ease the pressure of striving so they can move through life with more balance and self-trust. Learn more about how perfectionism could get in the way of your happiness. Learn more about Renee Litt: https://www.reneelitttherapy.com/ Follow Renee Litt on Instagram: @reneelitttherapy

In Episode 99 of the Thoughts from the Couch podcast, Justine sits down with therapist and author Eli Weinstein to unpack the invisible load that so many working couples carry behind the scenes. Together, they break down what this mental load actually looks like in day-to-day family life, why it often falls more heavily on one partner, and how resentment can quietly build when the balance feels off. Justine and Eli explore the patterns that start early in parenthood, how “default parent” roles form, and the subtle ways these habits shape communication, connection, and even a couple’s sex life. They also dive into practical strategies for sharing responsibilities with more ease, including daily check-ins, proactive conversations, and learning to let your partner step in without expecting perfection. This episode offers an honest, hopeful look at how couples can shift from scorekeeping and frustration to teamwork and understanding, creating a home where both partners feel supported rather than overwhelmed. Learn more about how to set effective boundaries as a “people-pleaser”. Pre Order Eli Weinstein’s Book “From I Do to We Do”, it’s the ultimate guide every couple needs: https://www.eliweinsteinlcsw.com/book Follow Eli Weinstein on Instagram: @eliweinstein_lcsw

In Episode 98 of the Thoughts from the Couch podcast, host Justine Carino, a psychotherapist and anxiety treatment specialist, discusses the complex question of whether to stay or leave a marriage. Joined by Andrea Dindinger, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, they explore the factors that lead individuals and couples to question their relationships, the importance of addressing repetitive conflicts, and the role of personal accountability in maintaining a healthy partnership.  The episode also delves into the impact of divorce on children and the financial considerations for women contemplating separation. Learn more about how to set effective boundaries as a “people-pleaser” Learn more about Andrea Dindinger: https://www.andreadindinger.com Follow Andrea Dindinger on Instagram: @andreadindinger

In this episode of Thoughts From the Couch, host Justine Carino sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq, a board-certified neurologist, Chief Wellness Officer at Great Wolf Resorts, and bestselling author of The Busy Brain Cure, to talk about the true impact of burnout on the brain and hormones. Dr. Romie opens up about her own experience with life-threatening burnout and the powerful steps she took to heal. Together, they explore the neurological and hormonal changes caused by chronic stress, how burnout is often misunderstood, and what recovery can actually look like. This episode offers science-backed solutions to help busy, ambitious women restore their focus, energy, and health. Learn more about the Worry Workshop Series at: carinocounseling.com/worry-workshop Learn more about Dr. Romie: http://drromie.com Follow Dr. Romie on Instagram: @drromie

In this episode of Thoughts From the Couch, host Justine Carino speaks with Dr. Jeanette Linder and Michelle Lance, founders of Lance Linder, about the dangers of burnout and the importance of self-care for women in high-performance environments.  They share their personal experiences with burnout, the emotional and physical dangers of overworking, and the tools women can use to lead with power and navigate their careers without sacrificing their well-being.  The conversation emphasizes the significance of authenticity, mentorship, and the mind-body connection in achieving a balanced and fulfilling life. Download my free guide: 6 Signs That Your Perfectionism is Getting In The Way Of Your Happiness  Learn more about Dr. Jeanette Linder and Michelle Lance’s work at:  https://www.LanceLinder.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/lance-linder-llc/

In this episode of Thoughts From the Couch, Justine Carino, LMHC discusses the signs that indicate it's time to consider medication to treat an anxiety disorder with board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Mona Amini. These mental health powerhouses explore the importance of understanding anxiety disorders, the role of medication in treatment, and address common myths surrounding psychiatric medication. Dr. Amini emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to mental health, combining therapy, lifestyle changes, and medication when necessary.  The conversation aims to destigmatize mental health treatment and empower individuals to seek the help they need. Learn more about my Worry Workshop Series at: carinocounseling.com/worry-workshop Learn more about Dr. Mona Amini:  https://monviemindwellness.com/