Coffee and Counseling Podcast

Coffee and Counseling Podcast

By Stephanie Van Schaick & Rachel SteinhardtHealth & FitnessMental HealthEducationSelf-Improvement
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Coffee and Counseling Podcast episodes

  • Session #24: Therapy Myths that Need to Die
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into the most common myths that keep people from starting therapy—or keep them from getting the most out of it once they do. From the “lying on the couch” stereotype to the idea that your therapist will magically fix you, this episode breaks down the misconceptions that need to go once and for all.
    Whether you're a therapist, someone in therapy, or just curious about mental health, we’re here to challenge conventional perspectives and get real about what healing actually looks like.
    ☕ In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ The “Hollywood couch” myth and what therapy really looks like today
    ✅ Why your therapist can’t (and shouldn’t) “fix you”
    ✅ The truth about needing a diagnosis before seeking therapy
    ✅ The benefits of private-pay therapy and why insurance shouldn’t define your care
    ✅ Quick-fire myths: the effectiveness of online therapy, it’s not all about asking “how does that make you feel,” and more
    ✅ How to identify whether your own expectations of therapy might be holding you back
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "How do I let go of parts of myself that helped me survive, even if they’re hurting me now?"
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    1 hr
  • Session #23: Do Therapists Judge You? And Other Things You’re Dying to Know
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into the most common (and sometimes surprising) questions people have about therapy and therapists. Whether you’ve been in therapy for years, you’re considering your first session, or you’re a therapist yourself, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really goes on in the therapy room.
    In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ Do therapists judge their clients—and what we’re actually thinking in session
    ✅ Why we don’t give direct advice
    ✅ What really happens outside the therapy room: do we think about clients, cry, or talk about you with others?
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is “Why do I attract emotionally unavailable people even though I say I want more?”
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    1 hr 3 min
  • Session #22: Anxious, Avoidant, Secure… Oh My! Understanding Attachment Styles
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into attachment styles — how the way we connected to our caregivers as kids often shows up in our adult relationships. Whether you’ve heard of anxious, avoidant, secure, or disorganized attachment, or this is brand new to you, we’re breaking it down in a way that’s real, practical, and sprinkled with humor.
    Whether you’re a therapist, someone in therapy, or just curious about mental health, we’re here to challenge conventional perspectives and get real about what healing actually looks like.
    In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ Where attachment theory comes from and why it matters today
    ✅ The four main attachment styles — how they develop, what they look like in real life, and how to move toward secure attachment
    ✅ Why over-identifying with your attachment style can keep you stuck
    ✅ Practical and hopeful takeaways for using attachment as a tool for growth — not a label for life
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Why is it so hard for me to accept love or compliments without feeling awkward?"
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    57 min
  • Session #21 Not Your Instagram Nighttime Routine: Sleep, Sanity, and Setting Up Tomorrow
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into the truth about nighttime routines — why they matter, the practical applications of sleep science, and how to build one that actually supports your mental health. Whether you're a therapist, someone in therapy, or just curious about mental health, we’re here to challenge conventional perspectives and get real about what healing actually looks like.
    In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ The science behind blue light, winding down, and signaling your brain it’s time to rest
    ✅ How nighttime routines impact stress, anxiety, and the next morning’s mindset
    ✅ Pitfalls like comparison and rigidity
    ✅ Simple, therapist-approved ways to create a routine that actually works for you
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Is it normal to feel guilty for resting when I could be doing something ‘productive’?"
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Resources & Mentions:
    📌 The blue-light blocking glasses Stephanie uses: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8N1455?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1
    📌 Rachel’s ASMR recommendations:
    On YOUTUBE:
    @GentlewhisperingASMR
    @Relaxingmaleasmr
    @SophieMichelleASMR
    On SPOTIFY:
    GibiASMR
    The “Hey Friend” podcast
    On Instagram:
    @Sleep_asmrtist
    @jojo_asmr_
    📌 Headspace app: ​​https://www.headspace.com/
    📌https://www.calm.com/
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    1 hr 7 min
  • Session # 20: Not Your Instagram Morning Routine: Mental Health Over Aesthetics
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    In this session of Coffee & Counseling, Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC, and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC unpack the hype, the psychology, and the pitfalls of morning routines — and most importantly, how to create one that actually supports your mental health (without adding stress).
    Whether you’re a parent rushing kids out the door, a professional trying to find calm before work, or someone craving a more grounded start to the day, this session will help you rethink what a morning routine really needs to look like.
    In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ Why morning routines get so much attention (and what the science actually says).
    ✅ The mental health connection: routines, self-worth, and keeping promises to yourself.
    ✅ The pitfalls of comparison, rigidity, and toxic productivity.
    ✅ Why you should not start your day on your phone (and what to do instead).
    ✅ How to create a gentle, grounding morning routine that works for you — no 5 a.m. club required.
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Is it normal to feel like healing is isolating me from everyone else in my life?”
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Resources & Mentions:
    📌 Sunlight alarm clock: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081CHLF46?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    1 hr
  • Session # 19 What Do We Really Mean When We Talk About Self-Care?
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dig into the real meaning of self-care—beyond face masks and bubble baths. Whether you're a therapist, someone in therapy, or just curious about mental health, we’re here to challenge conventional perspectives and get real about what healing actually looks like.
    In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ What self-care actually means and why it’s not always indulgent or comfortable
    ✅ The dangers of the Instagram version of self-care and how it can lead to shame or avoidance
    ✅ How to recognize when “self-care” is really self-sabotage
    ✅ Practical, everyday acts of self-care that are often overlooked—but deeply powerful
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is “What do you think about dream interpretation?”
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Resources & Mentions:
    📌 Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://a.co/d/0x9VyNG
    📌 30 Unexpected Acts of Self Care: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XvfImqSDdjiQT-OjIHXop7vNsV3G_joE/view?usp=sharing
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    1 hr 9 min
  • Session # 18: Boundaries: Why They're Necessary—and When They're Not
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into the complex world of boundaries—what they are, why they’re so popular in today’s mental health conversations, and why the way we talk about them sometimes misses the mark. Whether you're a therapist, someone in therapy, or just curious about mental health, we’re here to challenge conventional perspectives and get real about what healing actually looks like.
    In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ What boundaries actually are—and the different types you may not realize you're already setting
    ✅ How the rise of “pop psychology” and therapy culture on social media has both helped and harmed the way we think about boundaries
    ✅ When boundaries are empowering, and when they can become a shield for avoidance, control, or disconnection
    ✅ Practical tools to reflect on, communicate, and recalibrate your own boundaries in a healthy and self-aware way
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "You always say healing isn’t linear… but when do I get to feel like I’ve actually healed?"
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Resources & Mentions:
    📌 How to Stop Giving Your F***s video referenced: https://youtu.be/GwRzjFQa_Og?si=G_-Bp4ITQgIHpHpK
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    1 hr 15 min
  • Special Session: When Violence Goes Viral: Social Media and Tragedy in Real Time
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC, and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC, as we sit with the heaviness of recent events and explore how social media has changed the way we encounter violence and tragedy. From the anniversaries we honor to the tragedies unfolding in real time, we’re unpacking what it means to witness so much suffering through our screens—and how that impacts our mental health, our sense of safety, and our collective grief.
    In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ How social media shapes the way we experience tragedy and violence
    ✅ The emotional toll of constant exposure to graphic images and news updates
    ✅ The blurred line between awareness, desensitization, and retraumatization
    ✅ Ways to care for your mental health when the news feels overwhelming
    ✅ Why setting boundaries with social media is not avoidance but self-preservation
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you found this session helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    41 min
  • Session # 17: Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Recognizing and Rewiring Cognitive Distortions
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into how cognitive distortions impact your everyday thinking—and what you can do to stop letting them control your emotions, relationships, and decisions. Whether you're a therapist, someone in therapy, or just curious about mental health, we’re here to challenge conventional perspectives and get real about what healing actually looks like.
    In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ What cognitive distortions are and how they show up in real life
    ✅ How to recognize distorted thinking patterns and shift them using practical tools
    ✅ Why not every thought deserves your trust—and how changing your mindset starts with challenging your mental habits
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Is it bad if I don’t want to tell anyone I’m in therapy?"
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Resources & Mentions:
    📌 Challenge your Cognitive Distortions with our Triple-C worksheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1crH2WC0IcrO1dZugJ_2o36eRMMLwSGrm/view?usp=sharing
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    1 hr 13 min
  • Session # 16: Trauma Isn’t One Size Fits All: Understanding PTSD, Complex Trauma, and New Paths to Healing
    ☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕
    Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into the many faces of trauma — from PTSD to Complex Trauma — and explore how different experiences, symptoms, and paths to healing show up in real life. Whether you're a therapist, someone in therapy, or just curious about mental health, we’re here to challenge conventional perspectives and get real about what healing actually looks like.
    🎙️ In This Session, We Cover:
    ✅ What trauma really is — from both clinical and lived-experience perspectives
    ✅ The key differences between PTSD and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)
    ✅ Why C-PTSD isn’t recognized in the DSM — and why that matters
    ✅ Evidence-based trauma treatments like CPT, EMDR, and Trauma-Focused CBT
    ✅ Alternative and somatic approaches — from nervous system work to creative therapies
    ✅ Why healing is non-linear and how to redefine what “progress” really looks like
    💬 Listener Question:
    The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "I want to change, but how do I stay consistent when I feel stuck?"
    Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future session! You can also send your topic suggestions that you’d like us to cover over to our email or Instagram.
    Interested in working with one of us?
    Visit our individual practice websites here for more information or send us an email to set up a phone consultation call:
    Rachel Steinhardt: Visit Rachel’s Website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit Stephanie’s website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email her at [email protected]
    Resources & Mentions:
    📌 Getting Past Your Past book: https://a.co/d/6zU8KrN
    Connect With Us:
    📲 Follow us on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast
    Rachel’s Instagram: @Steinhardt_Serenity
    Stephanie’s Instagram: @StateofBalanceForLife
    🎧 If you enjoyed this session, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people find Coffee and Counseling and join the conversation.
    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not take the place of therapy.
    1 hr 13 min

About Coffee and Counseling Podcast

From the publisher's feed

At Coffee and Counseling, we are two therapists who's vision is to challenge the conventional narratives surrounding mental health and therapy. We believe in creating an open forum where nuanced conversations can thrive—discussing topics and perspectives that many in the therapy world may shy away from. Our goal is to foster honest dialogues that recognize that therapy isn't a one-size-fits-all solution and that mental health should not be used as an excuse. We aim to destigmatize the therapeutic process while also promoting personal responsibility in mental health discussions. Alongside these discussions, we’ll delve into mental health topics such as diagnoses, therapeutic skills and techniques, and practical ways to improve well-being while challenging the conventional schools of thoughts around these topics. By providing a platform for diverse perspectives, we aspire to empower our listeners to navigate their mental health journeys with clarity, confidence, and a sense of community.