Are We Okay? with licensed therapists, Maddy & Jennifer

Happy 2026, all! 

In this final episode of the season, Maddy and Jen reflect on the year and talk honestly about transitions, uncertainty, growth, relationships, work, and identity.

Think of this episode as a reset: part reflection, part Q&A, part gentle chaos. 

To the AWOK listeners -- thank you for listening and growing with the gals! We'll see you on the other side of the pause <3 

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

The gals are back with answers to your most pressing dating and relationship questions. From location sharing and shooting your shot to age gaps and defining the relationship, Maddy and Jen tackle it all with honesty, humor, and therapist-approved insight.

Key Topics: 

• Location sharing: convenience vs. control
• Who should text first (and why waiting doesn’t help)
• Dating someone from work — when it’s risky and when it’s not
• Defining the relationship after a serious breakup
• Age gaps and dating by life stage instead of age
• What to say when your partner asks about weight changes
• Why actions matter more than labels in relationships

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

This week, Jen and Maddy are breaking down what it actually means to fight fair in relationships. 

From everyday disagreements to bigger, emotionally charged conflicts, they explore how couples can navigate tension without saying things they can’t take back.

Whether you’re conflict-avoidant, always the one who caves, or feel like your partner “wins” every argument, this episode offers practical tools for handling disagreements in a way that builds trust instead of resentment.

Key Topics

• Why conflict is a cornerstone of healthy relationships
• The difference between disagreeing and fighting
• How to stay respectful when emotions escalate
• Recognizing when it’s time to pause a conversation
• “Kitchen sinking” and why piling on never helps
• Giving and receiving feedback without defensiveness
• Finding a middle path instead of trying to win
• Repairing after a fight and moving forward
• Navigating conflict after trauma or in high-stress life transitions

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

This week, Jen and Maddy are diving into the full experience of pregnancy -- from the early weeks of simply trying to survive to the big identity shifts that comes with this new chapter. 

They get into the body changes, mood swings, comparison traps, and the moments that feel overwhelming. Plus, they talk about what real support from partners and friends actually looks like, and how to set boundaries as you get ready for a new baby.

**Even if you're not a pregnant girlie -- this episode offers a relatable look at how to stay steady, supported, and self-aware during any major life transition! 

Key Topics:

• The emotional ups and downs of pregnancy
• How to stay connected to yourself as things change
• Why comparing pregnancies never helps
• Managing big feelings and expectations
• Asking for help (and actually accepting it)
• How partners can show up better
• Setting boundaries with family and visitors

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

Today, Jen and Maddy are digging into something they see all the time in their practices... the quiet pressure of never having been in a “real” relationship and why so many people find themselves stuck in situationships instead of something solid.

They unpack the shame, the swipe-culture perfectionism, and the fear of labels —plus how to tell when something isn’t working and how to walk away without losing yourself.

Key Topics: 

• Feeling behind when you’ve never had a boyfriend
• How dating apps feed perfectionism and indecision
• Signs you’re in a situationship (and what that really means)
• Warm-body syndrome, cool-girl traps, and waiting for the other shoe to drop
• How to exit something that isn’t giving you what you want
• Bringing realism, curiosity, and honesty back into dating

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

Today, Jen and Maddy are talking about anxiety... how it impacts your thoughts, your body, and your ability to show up in your life. 

From spiraling about the future to replaying conversations on a loop, Jen and Maddy break down why anxiety shows up the way it does and how to stop letting it take the lead. They explore the patterns, comparison traps, and moments where worry stops being protective and starts being controlling, plus the practical tools that actually help you find your way back to calm.

Key Topics:

• How to recognize when anxiety is taking over
• The difference between everyday worry and full-on spiraling
• What your body cues are trying to tell you before your mind catches up
• DBT strategies for grounding, coping ahead, and interrupting the cycle
• Building joy and connection without feeding anxiety

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

Today, Jen and Maddy get real about breaking up with New York City.

Jen (now suburban and serene) and Maddy (still clinging to city chaos) unpack how money, identity, and timing shape the decision to leave ... and what happens when change feels like giving up.

Key Topics:

• When your zip code becomes part of your identity
• How to know it’s time for a change — and what’s really holding you back
• The emotional side of leaving (or staying)
• Finances, FOMO, and finding peace where you are

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

Happy Halloween! 

Today, Jen and Maddy are giving you some candy — a catch-up episode! 

They’re talking hobbies that have gone by the wayside, finding tiny joys, and why we need to let our kids wave their freak flag loud and proud. 

Plus, they’re answering listener questions about everything from dating someone who has kids to knowing when it might be time to switch up your therapist.

xoxo, 

Maddy & Jen 

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

Today, Jen and Maddy get real about self-care overload.

From $800 facials to 20,000-step goals, the wellness world is louder (and more expensive) than ever. Maddy and Jen dig into what happens when “taking care of ourselves” becomes another pressure, another performance, and even another personality.

Key Topics:

• The difference between self-care and self-obsession — and how to tell when it’s gone too far
• Why the wellness industry thrives on our anxiety and urgency
• Internal vs. external self-care: how to reconnect with what actually helps
• How therapy, healing, and even fitness can become identity traps
• Building flexibility instead of perfection into your routines
• Affordable, real-life ways to care for yourself without the pressure or price tag

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach

In today's episode Jen and Maddy get real about “cutout culture." The growing trend of cutting people off in the name of boundaries and peace. From friendships that fade to relationships that end abruptly, they unpack what’s healthy self-protection and what’s emotional avoidance.

Through personal stories, therapy insights, and listener questions, they dig into why so many of us struggle with discomfort in relationships and how to repair instead of remove when things get hard.

Key Topics:

• The rise of cutout culture and how social media fuels all-or-nothing thinking
• When boundaries become barriers and how to tell the difference 
• What to do when you feel left out or cut off by someone else
• Reconnecting after distance, from old friends to family members
• How discomfort and repair actually build stronger relationships
• Why conversations — not cutoffs — are the real key to protecting your peace

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re protecting your peace or just avoiding discomfort, this episode reminds you that real relationships are messy — and that’s okay. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stay in the conversation.

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Connect with us:

Email us your questions at: [email protected]
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @manhattan.wellness
Follow Maddy on Instagram: @downtownbehavioralwellness

Downtown Behavioral Wellness: Founded by Maddy Ellberger, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is a private therapy practice in NYC specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The practice focuses on providing evidence-based treatments for young adults and middle-aged clients dealing with life transitions, anxiety, and the unique challenges of their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Whether you're grappling with relationship issues, career stress, or emotional regulation, Downtown Behavioral Wellness is there to support you every step of the way.

Manhattan Wellness: Led by Jennifer Teplin, Manhattan Wellness is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to helping young professionals in New York City. Specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and major life transitions like dating, engagements, and new motherhood, the team at Manhattan Wellness provides compassionate, individualized care to help clients navigate the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s.

Co-Host: Maddy Ellberger
Co-Host: Jennifer Teplin
Executive Producer: Wicked Child Studio, Hailey Rovner Malach