boy meets therapy

By Dustin OliverHealth & Fitness Mental Health

boy meets therapy episodes

April 28, 2025 Beyond Abstinence: Rethinking Substance Use Treatment, Boundaries, and Recovery with Julie River
What if recovery wasn’t just about stopping the use of a substance — but about understanding why it was there in the first place?
In this episode, I speak with Julie River, LPC, NCC, clinical director and therapist at ⁠Atlas Behavioral Health⁠, about what truly person-centered substance use treatment can look like. We explore the daily experience of clients in recovery programs, the role of group therapy, and how therapists can support emotional sobriety, boundary-setting, and harm reduction with empathy and nuance.
Whether you’re a clinician, student, or someone navigating their own healing journey, Julie brings thoughtful insight into how treatment can move beyond stereotypes — and toward connection, curiosity, and lasting change.
Each week we talk with clinicians about their areas of expertise, their connections to therapy, and how they use their tools in session.
Connect with Julie River:
Therapy
Atlas Behavioral Health
Connect with boy meets therapy:
Instagram: ⁠⁠@boymeetstherapy⁠⁠
TikTok: ⁠@boymeetstherapy⁠
Website with Free Resources: ⁠boymeetstherapy.com
Episode Guide & Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
02:59 Understanding Substance Use Disorder Treatment
05:51 Daily Life in Treatment Programs
09:08 Innovative Therapeutic Approaches
12:04 Client Reactions to Alternative Therapies
14:53 Co-occurring Disorders and Their Impact
17:46 The Complexity of Diagnosing Disorders
20:58 Interpersonal Dynamics in Group Therapy
23:53 Managing Resentments and Emotions
26:53 Facilitating Group Interactions
30:06 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
35:45 Understanding Boundaries in Relationships
40:10 The Concept of Emotional Sobriety
45:05 Navigating Sober Curiosity
49:49 The Spectrum of Addiction
54:26 Harm Reduction in Substance Use Treatment
58:24 The Misconceptions of Addiction Treatment
1 hr 11 min
April 18, 2025 Healing Beyond the Surface: Trauma, Attachment, and Anti-Oppressive Therapy with Sakinaa Rock
This episode focuses on trauma-informed therapy and working with survivors of abuse. We explore how to build trust, address denial, and apply attachment theory in clinical practice. The conversation also highlights the role of supervision, therapeutic alliances, and navigating power dynamics. Special attention is given to supporting trans and gender non-conforming clients through anti-oppressive, empathetic, and empowering approaches.
Each week we talk with clinicians about their areas of expertise, their connections to therapy, and how they use their tools in session.
Connect with Sakinaa Rock:
Sakinaa Rock Therapy
Connect with boy meets therapy:
Instagram: ⁠@boymeetstherapy⁠
TikTok: @boymeetstherapy
Website with Free Resources: boymeetstherapy.com
Episode Guide & Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:08 Theoretical Perspectives in Social Work
05:58 Understanding Client Populations
08:58 Building Trust and Safety in Therapy
11:55 Working with Survivors of Abuse
14:57 Navigating Denial and Confrontation
17:59 The Role of Supervision in Therapy
20:49 Attachment Theory and Its Impact
23:59 Unlearning Harmful Relational Patterns
31:03 Navigating Client Emotions and Healthy Responses
32:03 Confronting Disagreements in Therapy
32:51 The Role of Power and Oppression in Therapy
33:51 Addressing Misogyny in Client Interactions
36:14 Challenging Heteronormative Dynamics in Queer Relationships
37:00 Exploring Power Dynamics in Kink Relationships
41:02 Understanding Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Experiences
49:57 The Therapist's Responsibility in Anti-Oppressive Practice
Created and Produced by Dustin Oliver
57 min

About boy meets therapy

From the publisher's feed

Hosted by therapist Dustin Oliver, MHC-LP, boy meets therapy blends clinical research with real conversations about vulnerability, relationships, friendship, identity, and culture with an emphasis…