Between a Hot Mess & a Therapist

Between a Hot Mess & a Therapist

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Between a Hot Mess & a Therapist episodes

  • 68. When Life Is Too Loud: Finding Clarity in Burnout, Stress, and the Messy Middle

    Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck between purpose and stability? This episode explores the exhaustion beneath the exhaustion, the quiet clarity that shows up in travel, nature, and stillness, and how understanding your energy can help you navigate life’s messy middle with more presence and alignment.

    Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

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    WORK WITH ME

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    Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

    LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

    Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

    FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

    ——————————————————————————

    FIND ME

    ——————————————————————————

    YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

    Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

    Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

    16 min
  • 67. Thanksgiving Chaos & Real Gratitude: The Art of Owning Your Mental Health

    Thanksgiving has a way of bringing out the best in us… and the parts we’d rather hide.

    The messy family dynamics, the overstimulation, the emotional landmines, the pressure to feel grateful on command.

    In this episode, I’m naming the quiet part out loud: gratitude isn’t always pretty, peaceful, or polished.

    Sometimes it’s gritty. Sometimes it’s tired. Sometimes it’s the shaky breath you take in the bathroom before you walk back into the noise.

    As a mental health therapist, a projector, someone who’s lived through more burnout cycles than I care to admit, I’ve learned that gratitude inside chaos hits different. It becomes less about the “list” and more about the nervous system—what your body can hold, what you’re releasing, and what still needs space.

    Inside this conversation:

    • How to practice gratitude when your life feels loud and your brain feels crowded

    • The nervous system side of the holiday season overwhelm

    • Why chaotic gratitude actually builds more emotional resilience than the curated version

    • The real mental health work that happens behind closed doors—before the table is set

    • How slowing down creates room for the moments you usually miss

    • This is not the “be grateful no matter what” pep talk.

      It’s the reminder that your mental health counts just as much as the holiday expectations.

      And that gratitude can coexist with grief, frustration, exhaustion, and being human.

      If Thanksgiving feels messy this year, you’re not doing it wrong.

      You’re just telling the truth.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      15 min
    • 66. How Slowing Living Brought Me Back Into My Own Life (A Full-Circle Wedding Story)

      In this episode, I share the story of watching my niece—the same little girl who once scattered petals at my wedding—step into her own. This isn’t a story about weddings. It’s about time, presence, identity, and the nervous system capacity required to actually feel your own life.

      If I had still been living inside burnout, emotional overload, and survival pace, I would have missed the meaning of this moment entirely. This episode explores what happens when you slow down enough to take in your own story — and how travel, transitions, and family dynamics can reveal who you’ve become.

      This is an invitation to breathe, remember, and be here for your life.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      13 min
    • 65. A Projector in a Generator World: Stop Proving Your Worth in Systems That’s Built to Burn You

      If you’ve ever been called “inconsistent,” “too emotional,” or “not a team player,” this episode is your mirror. Shawna Lovin, therapist and emotional Projector, unpacks the exhaustion and quiet rebellion of trying to prove your worth inside systems built for endless doing. Learn how resentment becomes your reroute, perfection becomes your poison, and sovereignty starts the moment you stop performing care for a system that can’t see it.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      14 min
    • 64. Healing in Motion: How Travel Is Becoming My Next Chapter for Burnout Prevention

      After 25 years in the mental health field, I’ve witnessed too many helpers—therapists, first responders, teachers, and healers—burn out while trying to hold space for everyone else. In this episode, I share why the next evolution of my own healing isn’t found in the therapy room, but in travel, adventure, and intentional experiences that restore the nervous system and reignite wonder. From curating wellness retreats to reclaiming joy, I explore how stepping outside our daily rhythm can be a powerful act of self-care and burnout prevention for those who spend their lives caring for others.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      15 min
    • 63. Why Adults Need to Feel Wild Too: Halloween, Rituals & the Nervous System of Play

      Halloween isn’t just candy and costumes — it’s a culturally sanctioned invitation to play, to flirt with the shadow, and to shake off the weight of constant caretaking. In this episode, we explore why helpers, healers, and therapists often lose touch with their wildness, what our nervous systems need from ritual and release, and how embodied joy becomes medicine for burnout. This is for anyone who thinks adulting stole their capacity to play and wants a permission slip to reclaim it without shame.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      22 min
    • 62. The Helper’s Marriage: 18 Years of Learning to Love Without Burning Out

      Marriage after 18 years isn’t just anniversaries and celebrations—it’s the messy, quiet, everyday reality of living with someone who, like you, is a helper. In this episode, I explore what it’s like when both partners are therapists, healers, or helpers: juggling nervous systems, energy, and emotional labor while trying to stay connected. We’ll talk about the magic in the mundane, the tension beneath the surface, and how showing up fully—messy, human, and embodied—creates lasting connection, growth, and intimacy.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      15 min
    • 61. When Friendships Shift: Navigating Midlife Connection as a Helper

      You help people navigate rejection, belonging, and boundaries every day — but what happens when you’re the one left out? Midlife friendships are tricky: they start by proximity, convenience, or kids, and then slowly shift. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the quiet shame, hidden hurt, and nervous system impact of realizing your “friend group” isn’t what it used to be. I share the messy middle of staying connected while honoring your needs, and how to show up fully in friendships — not as a fixer or helper, but as a human who belongs as they are.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      17 min
    • 60. You’re Not Locked In, You’re Stuck: How Helpers Sabotage Their Energy

      You’ve been hustling, over-giving, and white-knuckling your way through the last quarter, telling yourself it’s “professionalism,” “dedication,” or just a “finish strong” mindset. But here’s the truth nobody wants to admit: you’re not locked-in—you’re stuck.

      In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the hidden lies that keep therapists, healers, and helpers trapped in exhaustion and survival mode. I’ll break down how overfunctioning, performative boundaries, and chasing one more certification are quietly draining your energy. We’ll talk about the fear beneath it—the terror of losing identity, relevance, or control—and why ignoring your nervous system signals only deepens burnout.

      Most importantly, I’ll share the pivot that finally unlocked my energy: learning to name the lies, tend to my nervous system, choose less instead of more, and show up fully—without forcing, overperforming, or burning out. This isn’t about quitting your profession; it’s about reclaiming your energy, presence, and capacity to serve without sacrificing yourself in the process.

      By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to spot the patterns keeping you stuck and the first steps toward a real-life “great unlock.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      15 min
    • 59. OMG, She Turned 13: Parenting with Emotional Boundaries, Nervous System Awareness & Human Design

      Parenting a teen can feel like starting over. At 13, kids push boundaries, test limits, and suddenly everything you thought you knew about guiding them feels useless. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the messy middle of parenting, the tension between guiding and letting go, and how supporting my daughter through selective mutism and dyslexia has taught me patience, radical listening, and honoring her pace. Plus, we explore tools for showing up authentically without over-controlling, emotional clarity in the nervous system, and how Human Design can help you navigate adolescence with more ease.

      Got a Question? SUBMIT IT HERE

      ——————————————————————————

      WORK WITH ME

      ——————————————————————————

      Practice by Design (for fully licensed clinicians, $497): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/work-with-me

      LPC Supervision (Texas Associates only, $400/mo): https://shawnalovinlpcs.com/lpc-associate-supervision

      Ten Twenty QM (custom tees): www.tentwentyqm.com

      FREE Still Human audio series: https://healingrootswab.myflodesk.com/reset

      ——————————————————————————

      FIND ME

      ——————————————————————————

      YouTube: youtube.com/@heyyallitsshawna

      Website: shawnalovinlpcs.com

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyyallitsshawna

      Disclaimer: Although Shawna is a licensed counselor in the State of Texas, this podcast is not therapy and should not be used as a therapeutic intervention. Many of the practices and products mentioned are for educational and informational purposes only. Should you need support, please seek appropriate, qualified, and licensed professionals.

      16 min

    About Between a Hot Mess & a Therapist

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    Welcome to Between a Hot Mess & a Therapist.