Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into the emotional complexities of healing — especially when your diagnosis or coping strategies have become part of your identity. 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 it means to over-identify with a diagnosis and why it can feel safe to stay “the sick one”

✅ How once-helpful coping strategies can evolve into harmful patterns or even new disorders

✅ The identity crisis that can happen during recovery — and how to rebuild a fuller, more authentic self on the other side

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "I always hear people talking about attachment styles…is this really something I need to educate myself on?”

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:

📌 Check out our prior session about accountability and mental health - “Don’t Hand Someone Else Your Healing Work” - https://youtu.be/oA1p_REBv80

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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into one of the most misunderstood topics in mental health: depression. 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 clinical depression really is—and how it differs from sadness

✅ The key symptoms and types of depression, including MDD, PDD, bipolar depression, postpartum depression, SAD, and situational depression

✅ How to recognize when grief or life stress becomes something more

✅ The risks of untreated depression and what can actually help

✅ Gentle reflection questions to help you better understand your own experience

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Why do I keep ending up in one-sided friendships?"

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]

🆘 If You’re Struggling or in Crisis:

If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, you're not alone — and help is available.

In the U.S.: Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Outside the U.S.: Please contact your local emergency number or mental health crisis line. You can find international resources here: https://findahelpline.com/

Your life matters. Support is out there, and you don’t have to go through this alone.

Resources & Mentions:

📌 On Grief and Grieving book: https://a.co/d/egzUILJ

📌 Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy book: https://a.co/d/8oUyVTP

📌 App to measure light: LightMeter

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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into what really happens behind closed doors in a therapy session—and why it might not look the way you expect. From media myths to the emotional “hangover” some clients feel afterward, we’re unpacking the realities of talk therapy. 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 a typical talk therapy session actually looks like—from the first session to ongoing work

✅ Why therapy doesn’t always feel “good” or productive, and how that’s often a sign of progress

✅ Key insights to help you reframe your expectations and stay committed to the therapy process—even when it’s uncomfortable

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Is it normal to feel worse after a therapy session?"

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: (if applicable)

📌 Stephanie’s video on breathing techniques: https://youtu.be/kzF83yP7-pY

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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into what happiness really means—and why so many of us feel like we’re doing life wrong when we don’t feel it all the time. In this episode, we explore how to build a more sustainable, grounded sense of joy that goes beyond instant gratification and aligns with your values. 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 difference between true joy and short-term pleasure

✅ How the “I’ll be happy when…” mindset keeps us disconnected

✅ The role of gratitude, alignment, and values in creating lasting happiness

✅ Barriers to joy—and how to find small, meaningful moments even in hard seasons

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Is it okay if I don’t want to feel my feelings all the time?”"

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:

📌 Stephanie’s video on how to start a gratitude journal: https://youtu.be/Oq8lK0LbzH4

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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into why therapy might not be working—and what to do about it. 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:

✅ Why the therapist-client relationship is everything—and how to know when it’s not the right fit

✅ The hard truth about doing the work outside the therapy room

✅ What to do if your therapist isn’t trained—or simply isn’t effective

✅ Why you might be stuck in survival mode and not ready to dive into deeper work

✅ When therapy alone isn’t enough and what to consider instead

✅ How long therapy can really take—and why that doesn’t mean it’s not working

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "I see a lot of therapists on Instagram talking about how they don’t have it all together. It’s hard for me to understand how therapists, who seem to know everything, may also struggle in certain ways. How do I make sense of this?"

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:

📌 Check out Stephanie’s blog post about what questions to ask a potential therapist before beginning therapy (don’t worry, this applies even outside of NYC!): https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/blog/questions-to-ask-psychotherapy-nyc

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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into the hidden ways people avoid their emotions—and why facing them is essential for real healing. 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 emotional avoidance looks like and why it shows up in everyday life

✅ The subtle ways people avoid feelings—like intellectualizing, staying busy, or numbing out

✅ How to stop avoiding emotions in a safe, supportive way

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Is it okay that I don’t want to forgive someone?"

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:

📌 Stephanie’s video on a grounding techniques: https://youtu.be/2rfts5inWAQ

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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

In this session of Coffee and Counseling, Rachel and Stephanie explore the often misunderstood topic of psychiatric medication. From breaking down common myths to discussing when medication might be helpful, they offer insight into how medication fits into a broader mental health treatment plan. While they’re not medical doctors, they draw from their clinical experience and collaborations with prescribers to help listeners better understand how, when, and why medication may be considered. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or currently navigating medication decisions, this episode is here to offer clarity—not judgment.

In This Session, We Cover:

✅Understanding the role of medication in mental health treatment and why it’s not a standalone solution.

✅Medication may be necessary in some cases, but it's most effective when combined with therapy, lifestyle changes, and consistent support.

✅Decisions about medication should always be made in collaboration with a qualified provider

✅Ongoing monitoring, open conversations with prescribers, and self-awareness are essential

✅Using medication doesn’t mean you’re “weak”—it can be a powerful, informed choice

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Why do people act like going to therapy makes you morally superior?"

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 her website at https://www.steinhardtserenity.com/ or email her at [email protected]

Stephanie Van Schaick: Visit her website at https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com or email her at [email protected]

Resources & Mentions:

📌 Stephanie’s video on When Medication is Needed for Mental Health: https://youtu.be/tk6azF_2d6k

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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC as we dive into the importance of accountability in mental health and not using it as an excuse. 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:

✅Taking accountability for your own mental health without making it the responsibility of others

✅ Exploring the difference between setting healthy boundaries and using mental health struggles as a way to justify avoidant or harmful behavior

✅Mental health is deeply valid and deserving of care — but that care starts with you

✅Expecting the world to conform to your healing needs often creates more harm than good

✅True healing involves both compassion and ownership — you can ask for support while still doing the work

✅Accountability isn't shame — it's empowerment

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Is it possible to outgrow your therapist?”

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:

📌 Processing Criticism Tree: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10vSPfDfI4Xgpey2pr17xRaLpWY33b-dH/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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC, and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC, as we dive into the complex relationship between social media and mental health. In this session, we’re exploring how curated content, therapy buzzwords, and influencer culture are reshaping the way we think about healing—and why we need to take it all with a grain of salt. 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:

✅ How social media impacts our self-image, relationships, and mental health

✅ The double-edged sword of mental health content online

✅ Is therapy on TikTok helping—or confusing people?

✅ How to stay grounded in real life when you’re constantly scrolling

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "How can I tell if I need a break from social media?”

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:

📌 Check out Stephanie’s blog on How Social Media Affects Body Image: https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/blog/how-social-media-affects-body-image-body-image-therapy

📌 Watch Stephanie’s video for more on How to Detox from Social Media: https://youtu.be/Oyo_1jvKw-o

📌Stolen Focus book by Johann Hari: https://a.co/d/eDarQ1R

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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC, and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC, as we dive into the messy reality of body image—how we see ourselves, how we’re taught to feel, and what healing from body shame actually involves. In this session, we’re unpacking common misconceptions about body image and offering a more realistic, human approach to feeling at home in your body. 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:

✅ Why “just love your body” isn’t realistic advice

✅ The difference between body positivity, body neutrality, and body respect

✅ How body image struggles show up beyond the mirror

✅ Why healing body image is about more than changing how you look

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "Is it weird that I’ve learned more on TikTok than from my therapist?”

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:

📌 Free Email Course – Finally Food Freedom: If this session on body image resonated with you and you're ready to take the next step in unlearning toxic diet culture and building a better relationship with food, check out Stephanie’s free email course on unlocking food freedom. It’s a short and supportive series designed to help you feel more grounded, empowered, and at peace in your body—on your own time, in your own space. Sign up for Stephanie’s free 5-day email course to immediately unlock your first step to food freedom: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/f0xt9j6/foodfreedomcourse

📌Check out Stephanie’s blog post on body image therapy and how it can help heal your body image: https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/blog/body-image-therapy-how-to-stop-hating-your-body

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.