Father’s Day is supposed to feel like appreciation—but what happens when it feels more like an afterthought?

In this episode, Kenzie & Carli respond to a listener letter from a dad who feels unsure about how to address his quiet disappointment around Father's Day. He consistently shows up in big ways for Mother’s Day, but finds himself feeling overlooked when his own day rolls around. Now he’s wondering: should he say something, or just accept it?

The conversation digs into the emotional gap between what we assume our families know we want—and what we actually say out loud. They explore the identity of the “low-maintenance dad,” the discomfort of asking for recognition, and why wanting to feel celebrated isn’t the same as being “needy” or keeping score.

At its core, this episode is about something simple but often hard to say: I want to feel seen in my own family.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

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Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

What happens when you try to do the right thing for a child—but it puts you at odds with their parent?

In this episode, Kenzie & Carli unpack a listener letter from an uncle who found himself in hot water with his brother after explaining Juneteenth to his nephews. The conversation dives into the complicated intersection of intention, identity, and boundaries within families.

They explore the reality that conversations about race aren’t optional for some children—especially those growing up in environments where they may already feel “othered.” At the same time, they hold space for the importance of parental autonomy and the emotional weight of being “the one” to introduce big, meaningful topics to your kids.

Whether you’re a parent, aunt, uncle, or trusted adult in a child’s life, this conversation offers a nuanced look at how to show up with care, honesty, and respect—even when it’s messy.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

This week, we hear from a listener questioning if work they initially deemed to be  meaningful has become compromised. 

We talk about the uneasy space where visibility, marketing, and identity collide. When does representation become performative? What does it mean to be asked to “sign off” on authenticity? And how do you hold onto your values while working within systems that reward optics over substance?

It’s a conversation about compromise, integrity, and what it takes to stay grounded when your work both reflects and reshapes who you are. If you’ve ever felt proud of what you do and uncomfortable with it at the same time, this one’s for you.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

In this episode, we respond to a listener letter from a woman in her 40s who was recently diagnosed with ADHD—and is now trying to navigate what that means for her daily life.

We explore how ADHD often shows up differently in women, including the less visible (but equally challenging) symptoms like mental overload, chronic overwhelm, and internal restlessness. We also talk about why so many women go undiagnosed for years—and the emotional impact of finally having answers.

Most importantly, this episode is packed with practical, realistic strategies to help you work with your brain instead of against it. We cover ways to reduce overwhelm, improve focus, follow through on tasks, and strengthen executive functioning without relying on unrealistic routines or sheer willpower.

Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed, suspect you might have ADHD, or simply feel stuck in cycles of distraction and unfinished projects, this conversation offers tools, validation, and a starting point for change.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

What’s the difference between being open to love… and getting swept up in something that isn’t grounded in reality?

This week, we unpack a listener letter about a friend who falls hard and fast—every time. She calls herself a hopeless romantic, but her pattern raises a deeper question: when does optimism cross into limerence, and how is that connected to anxious attachment?

In this episode, Kenzie & Carli explore why intense early feelings can feel so real, how the brain fills in emotional gaps, and how “seeing the best in people” can sometimes mask a deeper need for reassurance.

We also get into the tricky part: what do you do when you see this pattern in someone you care about? How do you bring it up without sounding judgmental—or pushing them away?

Tune in for a nuanced conversation about love, attachment, and the fine line between hope and overwhelm.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

In this episode, we respond to a listener who’s graduating college—and feeling completely unprepared for what comes next.

With pressure from family, fear about debt, and a job market that feels uncertain, they’re stuck in a question so many people in their 20's face: What am I supposed to do with my life? Add in mixed messages about “following your passion” and the illusion that everyone else has it figured out, and it’s easy to feel behind before you’ve even started.

We unpack the myth of having one clear passion, and discuss why your first job is better viewed as a stepping stone—not a lifelong commitment. This episode offers practical strategies for making decisions without perfect clarity, and building a career that supports your life—not the other way around.

If you’re feeling lost, behind, or overwhelmed about your future, this conversation will help you take the pressure off—and focus on your next step instead of your entire life plan.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

Kicking off season 3, we respond to a listener letter about estrangement from a parent—just in time for Mother’s Day.

Our listener shares the painful decision to cut off contact with her mom after years of repeated boundary violations. Now, as Mother’s Day approaches, she’s facing pressure from loved ones who don’t understand her choice—leaving her questioning whether her boundary is valid or if she’s just avoiding.

We talk about what it really means to set a boundary after patterns of harm, how to tell the difference between avoidance and self-protection, and why other people’s opinions—especially those who haven’t lived your experience—can create so much doubt. We also explore the emotional complexity of estrangement, including grief, guilt, love, and relief coexisting at the same time.

If you’ve ever felt torn between family expectations and your own well-being, this conversation is for you.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

In this episode, we respond to a heartfelt listener question about how to balance self-care with showing up for others while living with your own grief.

Our listener shares her struggle with deciding whether to attend baby showers while still trying to conceive—wanting to support her friends, but fearing that the emotional weight of these events may be more than she can carry. Together, we talk through how to make these decisions with honesty and self-compassion, without guilt or obligation.

We discuss how support doesn’t have to look one way, how to assess emotional capacity in real time, and why opting out—or leaving early—can be an act of wisdom, not failure.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

In this episode, we help a listener learn the dos and don'ts of apologizing. We unpack why so many apologies fall flat—and what it really takes to repair trust after an offense. Whether it’s in your relationships, at work, or in everyday conflicts, knowing how to offer a proper apology is one of the most powerful communication skills you can develop.

We explore the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways people get it wrong—think “I’m sorry you feel that way,” over-explaining, defensiveness, or rushing to be forgiven. Then we break down the key components of a meaningful apology that actually rebuilds connection.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft

High-functioning depression doesn’t always look like sadness. Sometimes it looks like showing up, providing, supporting everyone else—and falling apart quietly behind the scenes.

In this episode, we explore what it means to live with high-functioning depression, particularly as a man who’s expected to be strong, steady, and emotionally unshakeable. We talk about the pressure to be “the rock” for others, and how that expectation can make it harder to acknowledge your own pain—or even recognize it.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on the hidden exhaustion, isolation, and emotional numbness that so many carry while appearing fine on the outside. It’s about naming what often goes unspoken and creating space for honesty, support, and healing.

Have a question? Email us at [email protected], use the link below, or DM us on IG or TikTok at @askatherapist_pod

Submit Your Question Here!

Find Kenzie at therapy-with-kenzie.com or @therapywithkenzie

Find Carli at carlikingtherapy.com or @carlikinglmft