☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC, and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC, as we dive into the big question: what are we actually working toward when we talk about mental health? In this session, we’re rethinking the idea that the goal is to be happy, healed, or perfectly regulated—and talking about what progress can look like when we let go of unrealistic expectations. 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 goal of therapy isn’t to “fix” you

✅ The myth of arriving at a “healed” version of yourself

✅ What emotional growth really looks like (hint: it’s not always pretty)

✅ How to set more grounded, compassionate mental health goals

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is "What are your thoughts on affirmations?"

Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it in a future episode! 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 some of Stephanie’s videos on affirmations

📌How Affirmations Work - What are they and how do they work: https://youtu.be/hi L0EuYfUbD1E

📌 Powerful Affirmations for Intuitive Eating & Improving Food Confidence: https://youtu.be/Goi_777aDAE

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.

Coffee and Counseling Podcast – Introductory Session:

Not Your Average Therapy Podcast

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC, and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC, as we dive into the why behind launching this podcast and what you can expect from future sessions. In this intro, we’re pulling back the curtain on our unfiltered takes, our frustration with surface-level therapy talk, and our hope to bring real, nuanced conversations into the mental health space. 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 we started Coffee and Counseling and what makes this podcast different

✅ The problem with the polished, one-size-fits-all narratives in the therapy world

✅ Why we need to question the conventional narratives surrounding therapy

✅ Get to know us as real people—coffee-loving, slightly sarcastic, passionate-about-this-stuff therapists

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

Stephanie Van Schaick: https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/ or email 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.

☕ Welcome to Coffee and Counseling! ☕

Join Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC, and Stephanie Van Schaick, LMHC, as we dive into the difference between needing therapy and benefiting from it—and why that distinction actually matters. In this session, we’re exploring how the idea that “everyone needs therapy” might be doing more harm than good, and why therapy isn't a magic fix for every situation. 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 needing therapy and benefiting from it

✅ Why therapy isn’t always the answer—and that’s okay

✅ Is it possible to outgrow therapy? Or not need it at all?

✅ How to know if you’re going to therapy because it helps—or just because you feel like you “should”

💬 Listener Question:

The listener question we answer in today’s session is “How do I know if my issues are really ‘big enough’ for therapy?”

Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it on 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:

📌 More on how to find the right therapist for you (applicable wherever you are looking for therapy): https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/blog/finding-a-therapist-on-long-island

📌 More on what to ask a potential therapist (applicable wherever you are looking for therapy): https://www.stateofbalancementalhealthcounseling.com/blog/questions-to-ask-a-therapist-on-long-island

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 it really means to be in survival mode—and why it’s more common than you think. In this session, we’re unpacking how survival mode shows up mentally, emotionally, and physically, and why it’s not a personal failure if you’re just getting through the day. 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 survival mode looks like (and why it’s not always obvious)

✅ The mental and physical toll of being stuck in “just get through it” mode

✅ Why rest and slowing down can feel impossible—even when you’re exhausted

✅ How to recognize survival mode in yourself or others, and what to do with that awareness

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is “What’s your take on social media and mental health? I follow a lot of therapy accounts, and sometimes it’s helpful, but other times it just makes me overanalyze everything I do. How do I find a balance?”

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:

📌 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid: https://images.app.goo.gl/MenhAXbS67digYtZ7

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 elusive idea of “thriving”—and why it might not look the way you think. In this session, we’re breaking down the pressure to perform wellness, redefining what thriving actually means, and exploring whether it’s possible to feel good without chasing constant self-improvement. 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 does it really mean to thrive?

✅ Why “thriving” might look boring, quiet, or messy—and still be valid

✅ Is it okay to just be... content?

✅ How social media and self-help culture distort our expectations of thriving

💬 Listener Question:

The Listener’s Question that we answer in today’s session is “I want to be more open about my mental health, but I worry people will judge me or treat me differently. How do I decide how much to share"

Have a question for us? Send it to [email protected] or on Instagram @CoffeeandCounselingPodcast — we might answer it on 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:

📌Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid: https://images.app.goo.gl/MenhAXbS67digYtZ7

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!