Between Sessions

Between Sessions

By Bethany Blankenheim & Barbie HumbleHealth & FitnessMental Health
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Between Sessions episodes

  • Pop Psychology Misconceptions
    Psychology has officially entered the chat. And while it’s great that people are talking more openly about mental health, social media has also turned therapy language into everyday slang. Suddenly, every bad date is a narcissist, every difficult relationship is a trauma bond, and every distracted moment is ADHD.
    In this episode of Between Sessions, we’re unpacking some of the most common pop psychology misconceptions and talking about what can get lost when mental health terms become buzzwords. We’ll explore the difference between relating to a symptom and meeting criteria for a diagnosis, why self-diagnosis can be complicated, and how to approach your own experiences with curiosity rather than immediately reaching for a label.
    We’ll also talk about what to consider before diagnosing yourself from a TikTok, Instagram post, or “10 signs you might have…” checklist, and why recognizing yourself in a mental health description can still be meaningful even when you don’t have that diagnosis.
    43 min
  • Aging Parents Continued
    In this episode, we continue getting honest about one of the most exhausting seasons of adult life. Being sandwiched between raising your own kids and caring for aging parents, all while trying to hold down a career, a marriage, and your own sanity. We share our own real, messy, sometimes funny experiences navigating this.
    In this episode, we talk about:
    Why some siblings go MIA when parents need care — and how to understand avoidance without letting resentment take over
    How to have the hard conversations with your parents before a crisis forces your hand
    Why time is your most valuable asset (and why it's okay to step back from work to protect it)
    The honest truth about finding quality care — assisted living, in-home care, and how to know what's actually sustainable for your family
    Death with dignity, closure, and why the "kumbaya moment" doesn't always come.
    Why putting your oxygen mask on first isn't selfish, it's the only way this works.
    We also get into why even we, as therapists, fall right back into our family roles the second we walk through our parents' front doors. Because knowledge doesn't make you immune. It just gives you better words for what you're feeling.
    31 min
  • Caring for Aging Parents
    As our parents age, many of us find ourselves in the middle, balancing careers, relationships, children, and the growing responsibility of caring for the people who once cared for us.
    In this episode, we explore the emotional, practical, and relational challenges of supporting aging parents while juggling the demands of everyday life. We also discuss how this season can bring unresolved childhood wounds to the surface, inviting us to confront old family dynamics and the complicated mix of love, grief, guilt, and obligation that often accompanies caregiving.
    Whether you're navigating difficult conversations, setting healthy boundaries, or trying to care for others without losing yourself, this conversation strategies for moving through this chapter with intention.
    39 min
  • Never Underestimate the Pathology of the People Around You
    Kindness and empathy are strengths, but they don't require you to ignore harmful behavior. In this episode, we explore what it means to lead with compassion while maintaining healthy boundaries, especially when the people around you are struggling with patterns that can be emotionally unhealthy.
    We'll discuss why understanding someone's pain doesn't mean accepting their behavior, how empathy and accountability can coexist, and why boundaries are one of the most compassionate things you can offer. Learning to recognize unhealthy dynamics without becoming cynical is difficult work, but it's work that protects your peace and strengthens your relationships.
    38 min
  • What Makes A Healthy Relationship?
    In this episode, we unpack one of the most common questions we hear in therapy: Is this normal? We explore the Power and Control Wheel to identify subtle and overt signs of emotional, psychological, financial, and physical abuse, while also discussing what healthy love looks like in everyday life.
    Healthy relationships aren't perfect but they are built on mutual respect, accountability, and safety. We'll talk about the green flags that matter most, partners who can tolerate boundaries, take responsibility when they've hurt someone, repair conflict instead of avoiding it, and support each other's individuality rather than trying to control it.
    Whether you're dating, married, healing from a past relationship, or simply wanting to better understand relationship dynamics, this episode will help you recognize the difference between love and control and give you a framework for building relationships that feel safe, secure, and genuinely healthy.
    Power and Control Wheel: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yb3i8sjChWsQVulPQ5Sd9LmbQGcuU6vrVAl454WifBE/edit?usp=sharing
    42 min
  • Parenting the Child You Have
    Parenting is one of life's greatest adventures, but it's also one of the hardest jobs to prepare for. When you're raising a child who has experienced trauma or is navigating mental health challenges, the parenting journey can feel even more complex. In this episode, we explore the reality that there is no universal parenting manual because every child is different. The goal isn't to parent the child you imagined or expected, it's to learn how to parent the child you have.
    We discuss how parenting has a way of bringing our own unresolved experiences, wounds, and triggers to the surface, and why self-awareness is one of the most important tools a parent can develop. We also examine the challenges of breaking generational patterns, how many parents are working to move away from the ways they were raised while being mindful not to let the pendulum swing too far in the opposite direction.
    Join us for an honest conversation about trauma, mental health, co-regulation, resilience, and the ongoing process of growing alongside our children. Parenting isn't about perfection, it's about connection, flexibility, and learning to meet our kids where they are.
    46 min
  • Men's Mental Health
    In this episode, we sit down with a special guest to have an honest conversation about men’s mental health, emotional isolation, and the pressures many men silently carry. We explore the alarming statistics surrounding male suicide, substance use, and violence, while looking deeper at the cultural expectations that teach men to suppress emotion, avoid vulnerability, and equate worth with performance or stoicism.
    Together, we unpack how patriarchy harms men too, limiting emotional expression, discouraging help-seeking, and contributing to loneliness, shame, and fractured relationships. This episode creates space for a more nuanced conversation about masculinity, connection, healing, and what it means to build communities where men can safely be human.
    45 min
  • Parenting: A Journey of Co-Regulation
    Folks often feel pressure to appear perfect when it comes to parenting, but real life tells a different story. In this episode, we explore why parenting can feel so overwhelming even when (and often because) you care deeply for your child.
    We discuss the importance of emotional regulation and co-regulation, how children borrow our calm when they don't yet have the skills to manage big emotions on their own, and why parenting is often less about controlling behavior and more about building connection. We also unpack the unrealistic expectations created by social media and the pressure many parents feel to get everything "right."
    Most importantly, we talk about the reality that there is no one-size-fits-all parenting approach. Every child is different, every family is different, and effective parenting often means learning your child's unique needs, temperament, and communication style rather than following the latest trend or parenting hack.
    39 min
  • Brain Talk: Chronic Stress and Disease
    In this episode, Barbie dives into her area of expertise- the powerful connection between chronic stress and disease. She breaks down the neurobiology behind how prolonged stress can actually shorten telomeres, accelerating cellular aging and impacting long-term health.
    We also explore what it means to “hack” the brain, the epicenter of the body, and how small, intentional shifts can support regulation, resilience, and overall well-being.
    As clinicians, our work goes far beyond the psychological. Every time we help clients regulate their nervous systems, we’re also supporting healthier immune responses and long-term physical health.
    39 min
  • Executive Functioning
    Executive functioning…we hear it everywhere, but what does it mean in real life?
    This week on Between Sessions, Bethany and Barbie laugh and share personal stories as they break down what executive functioning really is (beyond the buzzword) and how it affects all of us. We talk about the connection between executive functioning and ADHD, but also explore the neurobiology behind executive functioning for folks who don't have ADHD.
    If you’ve ever called yourself lazy, unmotivated, or “bad at life,” this episode might shift how you understand yourself.
    38 min

About Between Sessions

From the publisher's feed

Between Sessions is a podcast hosted by two therapists sitting in a room, having the conversations that usually happen between sessions. We talk openly and honestly about mental health, therapy, relationships, trauma, ADHD, anxiety, burnout, boundaries, and the very human experiences that bring people into therapy in the first place.