Behind the Therapy Door

How lucky we are to have Tonya Smith, LSCSW, as our guest on today’s episode.  Tonya blends her unique combination of Harmonizer sweetness and Promoter badass into a perfect balance of therapeutic compassion and action oriented treatment goals.  Tonya shares her journey of becoming a therapist and how 911 impacted her on a personal and professional level and led her to understanding the importance of emotional regulation for self and others.  Join in as we explore Tonya’s approach to the therapy journey.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

The term "quiet quitting" was originally coined as a corporate workplace trend on social media in 2022, but relationship experts, therapists, and journalists officially adapted it to marriages and romantic emotional disengagement around 2024 - 2025.  Most especially, a  journalist for New York Magazine took a deep dive to explore how spouses, most especially women, chose to remain married for practical reasons, but disengage from the relationship emotionally, mentally, and physically.  Understanding the various perceptual differences and what motivates us, through the lens of PCM, is a great way to explore the dynamics of how the division in the relationship started in the first place, as well as how to find our way back to active connection within the marriage.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

We love showing off our brilliant friends and colleagues and are excited to showcase Victoria Whitetree, LSCSW.  Victoria brings decades of clinical experience, on both a macro and micro level, as well as cultural nuance and wisdom into her therapeutic approach.  We could spend hours deep diving into various topics with Victoria!  Tune in as she shares her journey into becoming a therapist and what matters most in the therapeutic relationship.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

In a perfect world, all students, teachers, and staff would have the ability to run their individualized PCM assessment in order to find the best way to learn, teach, share perspectives, and invite self and others out of distress.  PCM is a powerful tool that can change the dynamics of a classroom and help shy and introverted students feel seen and hear and help rowdy and extroverted students find options for sharing their energy and social capabilities.  Join us as we explore how to utilize PCM tools in building a successful classroom and in creating engaging environments in the school system.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

Estrangement within families is often riddled with confusion and pain, for both the person who decides to separate from the relationship and the person left behind.  Sometimes it is necessary to create hard lines in abusive dynamics,  However, it can also be an overreaction to miscommunication or unmet expectations that have not been spoken out loud. There is most often no perfect answer to foster peace and reconnection, but these can become more of a possibility through inner reflection, processing with a therapist or trusted friend, family member, and courage to have hard conversations.  Tune in as we unpack a variety of perspectives and tips regarding how to understand and navigate family estrangement.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

Parenting is, by far, one of the best experiences we can have.  It is also difficult and not a “one size fits all” approach.  Balancing the temperaments of children and adults within the family dynamic is a juggling act that requires emotional regulation, consistency, and a healthy dose of humor.  Gentle parenting has been in the news for several years now and developed as a counter measure to authoritarian parenting.  Both of these are extreme types of parenting styles that tend to fall short of what is healthy and balanced.  Learn how to find the middle ground with authoritative parenting, which showcases flexibility and routine, expectations and creative license, and secure attachment.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

If relationships were this easy, no one would ever argue and we would be out of a job!  Expecting your partner to be able to read your mind and know your wants and needs is a fool’s errand.  True connection involves the back and forth exchange of communicating.  Asserting your needs, talking through challenges, learning to balance empathy for your partner’s feelings without getting swept away by them are all skills necessary for healthy relationships.  So stop expecting the mind reading game to work and start practicing the skills that are vital for connected relationships.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

Disappointment might just be the most relatable emotion in the human experience.  Whether on a big scale or small scale, disappointment is about managing negative emotions when expectations do not match up with reality.  We have the power to burn it down in rage and tantrums, turn it inward and spiral into shame, or process it through a healthy perspective and pivot to a new reality.  Follow along for insight into how to regulate through the disappointment cycle and come out on the other side.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

There is truly no win-win in the drama triangle.  This miscommunication pattern is relatable to all of us mere mortals, no matter how we are wired or how we attach to others.  However, we can find the antidote to this pattern by increasing and fostering self-awareness, curiosity, and compassion.  Listen in as we explore how each role of the drama triangle plays out into a losing position and the necessity of leaning into the healthier choices of vulnerability, empowerment, boundaries, etc.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

True to our word, here it is, Part 2 of the impact of burnout and stress on Imaginer, Rebel, and Persister Types.  An important aspect of all 3 of these types is the commonality of how they are motivated to meet their psychological needs in an external fashion.  Looking towards the external environment offers an opportunity for cultivating stress busting strategies that break the stress cycle.  In this episode, we explore several ideas for how to engage in healthy burnout prevention and stress management for our final 3 PCM Types.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame