Connection Therapy

In this final segment of the conversation with Adam Magers, MA, LPC, he shares his views on how to improve mental health treatment for veterans.  He provides specific steps that practicing clinicians can take immediately to see benefits.

He draws from both perspectives, as a clinician and as a veteran receiving support, in his own work with veterans, first responders, and frontline medical professionals.  In this episode, he shares freely how he works and what any therapist can do to improve their skills in treating veterans.

Connect with our Guest:

Adam Magers, MA, LPC

https://www.odysseusandtheoar.com/

https://www.thebattlewithin.org/team

Contribute to the Conversation!  Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

Sign-up for the February 2026 Course with Adam Magers, MA, LPC

https://connection-therapy.captivate.fm/course-with-adam-magers

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The conversation continues with Adam Magers, MA, LPC who joined the podcast to discuss his work with veterans, first responders, and frontline medical professionals.  He has experience both as a clinician and as a veteran receiving support, and he draws from both perspectives to share his expertise.  This unique and candid discussion offers many engaging insights, and is likely to widen your perspective on the treatment of veterans.

In this part of the interview, Adam shares his personal journey and offers listeners a view into what the return home is really like, and the many ways in which it is a continual process for veterans.

Guest:

Adam Magers, MA, LPC

https://www.odysseusandtheoar.com/

https://www.thebattlewithin.org/team

Contribute to the Conversation!  Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

Sign-up for the February 2026 Course with Adam Magers, MA, LPC

https://connection-therapy.captivate.fm/course-with-adam-magers

Enjoying the podcast?

There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

Adam Magers, MA, LPC joins the podcast to discuss his work with veterans, first responders, and frontline medical professionals.  He has experience both as a clinician and as a veteran receiving support, and he draws from both perspectives to share his expertise.  This unique and candid discussion offers many engaging insights, and is likely to widen your perspective on the treatment of veterans.

Adam wrote the book, Odysseus & the Oar: Healing After War and Military Service (2024) which serves as a guide for veterans, their loved ones, and those who counsel them.  In his book, Adam applies the myth of the Odyssey by Homer to the experiences of war veterans.  He describes this as the ‘archetype of the warrior’s return’ and shares the ways this timeless story can illuminate paths through the pain of homecoming, in order to offer veterans a new perspective on the journey they have undergone during their service.  In this episode, he shares information about how this can be applied to mental health treatment.

Guest:

Adam Magers, MA, LPC

https://www.odysseusandtheoar.com/

https://www.thebattlewithin.org/team

Contribute to the Conversation!  Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

Sign-up for the February 2026 Course with Adam Magers, MA, LPC

https://connection-therapy.captivate.fm/course-with-adam-magers

Enjoying the podcast?

There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

References:

Matthew Bennett, PsyD, Towards an Integrated Analytical Psychology: Return to Freedom and Dignity (2024)

Steenkamp MM, Litz BT, Hoge CW, Marmar CR. Psychotherapy for Military-Related PTSD: A Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA. 2015 Aug 4;314(5):489-500. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.8370. PMID: 26241600. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26241600/)

In this episode, Brenda reviews the links researchers found between self-disgust and avoiding self-gazing, in studies with both veterans and older adults.  While the research is nascent in the ability to make significant conclusions, it does seem to have implications for clinical practice, especially in light of all the other factors associated with gaze and eye-contact.  

Brenda explores the potential considerations for therapy sessions in this novel perspective on the ways body behaviors can be linked to internal experiences.

Contribute to the Conversation!  Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

Enjoying the podcast?

There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

References:

Ypsilanti A, Gettings R, Lazuras L, Robson A, Powell PA and Overton PG (2020) Self-Disgust Is Associated With Loneliness, Mental Health Difficulties, and Eye-Gaze Avoidance in War Veterans With PTSD. Front. Psychol. 11:559883. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.559883

Ypsilanti, A., Robson, A., Lazuras, L., Powell, P. A., and Overton, P. G. (2020). Self-disgust, loneliness and mental health outcomes in older adults: an eye-tracking study. J. Affect. Disord. 266, 646–654. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.166

As a mental health therapist, you probably have had the intuition that there is some type of shared experience between brains, in the therapy session, in a community setting, perhaps in the world.

Today’s research review confirms this notion and even opens up more possibilities in that it appears the shared connections are enhanced by cooperation and amplified with eye contact.  Listen to consider the implications for mental health therapy, and your practice specifically.  There is even an opportunity to contribute to the conversation if you would like to do so.

Contribute to the Conversation! Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

Enjoying the podcast?

There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

Reference:

Luft, C. D. B., Zioga, I., Giannopoulos, A., Di Bona, G., Binetti, N., Civilini, A., Latora, V., & Mareschal, I. (2022). Social synchronization of brain activity increases during eye-contact. Communications Biology, 5(1), 1–15. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03352-6

How does gaze following and responses to vocalizations from cats and dogs apply to the practice of psychology?  This article was published by the American Psychological Association in the Journal of Comparative Psychology in order that mental health therapists would consider that exact question and we explore together in this episode how that might apply to your practice.

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There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

Reference:

Bogese, M. J., Johnston, A. M., & Byosiere, S.-E. (2024). Gaze in cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 138(1), 68–76. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1037/com0000359

Dr. Brenda Murrow reflects on the life and legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall, who recently passed away, leaving behind a world forever changed by her compassion, curiosity, and scientific brilliance. 

In this episode, Dr. Murrow shares how Dr. Goodall’s discovery that chimpanzees use tools reshaped our understanding of what it means to be human and how her presence, kindness, and unwavering curiosity became a model for how to move through the world.

Her passing also coincides with World Animal Day, now celebrating its 100th anniversary. Dr. Murrow shares how this global event connects with the ongoing work of figures like Dr. Temple Grandin, whose research in Animals Make Us Human emphasizes that emotions drive behavior in both animals and humans. 

Bringing these ideas into her own clinical work, Dr. Murrow discusses how conversations about animals can open pathways for connection, especially in therapy with children. By including pets and animal relationships in assessment and treatment, clients often reveal deeper relational patterns, empathy, and comfort, allowing therapy to feel more inclusive and authentic.

This episode is both a tribute to Dr. Goodall and a reflection on how her compassionate way of being continues to inspire how we live, relate, and practice care for humans and animals alike.

Enjoying the podcast?

There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

References:

Dr. Jane Goodall

https://janegoodall.org/

Jane Goodall. (1999). Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey. 

Dr. Temple Grandin & Catherine Johnson. (). Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals

World Animal Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Animal_Day

In this episode, Dr. Brenda Murrow reflects on her journey as a clinician and how her early training shaped her approach to emotion-focused therapy (EFT), developed by Drs. Greenberg and Johnson. She explores the idea that all therapy, no matter the approach, involves emotions—because clients most often seek help in response to emotional challenges.

Dr. Murrow discusses research by Steffen & Anderson (2025) highlighting affect as the “primary appraisal” in decision-making, connecting these findings to her own clinical observations. She reflects on how emotions guide clients’ responses, shape therapeutic interventions, and influence the choices therapists make in session.

Drawing from her early work supporting survivors of sexual assault at a rape crisis center, Dr. Murrow examines how trauma can affect a client’s trust in their own thinking, the role of psychological defenses, and why focusing on emotions—rather than relying only on cognitive strategies—can support healing. She also shares reflections on working with children who have experienced trauma, discussing the benefits and limitations of play therapy, nonverbal communication, and developmental frameworks in guiding interventions.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Murrow encourages therapists to consider their own approach, reflect on the decisions they make in session, and integrate emotion into practice in ways that strengthen the therapeutic relationship and support meaningful outcomes for clients.

Enjoying the podcast?

There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

References:

Dr. Les Greenberg information:

Southern California Institute of Emotion-Focused Therapy: https://www.eftsocal.com/

Dr. Sue Johnson information:

https://drsuejohnson.com/

McWilliams, N. (2011). Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding personality structure in the clinical process (2nd ed.)Guilford Press.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org

Panksepp, J. & Biven, L. (2012). The Archaeology of mind: Neuroevolutionary origins of human emotions. New York, NY: Norton.

Piaget’s Stages of Development

https://www.webmd.com/children/piaget-stages-of-development

Steffen, P. R., & Anderson, T. (2025). Primary appraisal is affective not cognitive: Exploring a revised transactional model of stress and coping. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 50(2), 197–211. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s10484-025-09699-w

Welcome back to the Connection Therapy Podcast. In this episode, Brenda shares her reflections on Emotion Focused Therapy and the powerful contributions of Dr. Leslie Greenberg, a tremendous mentor in the field.

Brenda walks through what makes this approach stand out from more traditional models. Rather than moving too quickly into problem-solving, EFT asks therapists to slow down and notice what’s happening in the moment. 

She highlights some of the subtle signs Greenberg points to—like when a client circles around a story, repeats something they’ve said many times before, or suddenly touches on something moving and tender. These moments, though easy to miss, can be invitations into deeper emotions that shift the direction of therapy.

The conversation also touches on the role of voice and tone in picking up on emotions, the importance of therapists paying attention to their own feelings during a session, and the challenges of catching these cues when working virtually. Brenda explains why slowing the pace, listening more closely, and making room for both the client’s and therapist’s emotions can create opportunities for lasting change.

To close, Brenda offers reflection questions that invite listeners to think about how these ideas show up in their own practice. From noticing the small signals in a client’s words to exploring how to stay emotionally attuned, these prompts are designed to spark meaningful reflection whether you’re on your own, in supervision, or sharing with peers.

Enjoying the podcast?

There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

Elliott, R., Watson, J. C., Goldman, R. N., & Greenberg, L. S. (2025). Learning emotion-focused therapy: A comprehensive guide., 2nd ed. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1037/0000458-000

Johnson, S. (2009). Extravagant emotion: Understanding and transforming love relationships in Emotionally Focused Therapy. In D. Fosha, D. J., Siegel,

& M. F. Solomon (Eds.), The healing power of emotion: Affective neuroscience,

development & clinical practice (pp. 1-26). New York, NY: Norton.

Dr. Sue Johnson information:

https://drsuejohnson.com/

Most interventions in our field are taught as cognitive-based. But in practice, what actually works often comes down to emotions, nonverbal cues, and affect. That gap between graduate training and what really helps clients is something every clinician has to navigate.

In this episode, Brenda takes a closer look at why emotions sit at the center of lasting change. She reviews the landmark article The Rise of Affectivism in Nature Human Behaviour and explores how this new paradigm builds on behaviorism and cognitivism while placing emotions, motivations, and moods at the core of human experience. 

Dr. Greenberg’s reminder that “you have to arrive at your emotions before you can leave them” shapes an important way of thinking about emotional change in therapy. Rather than changing emotions through cognition or behavior alone, he shows us that transformation happens when one emotion helps shift another. This idea, along with the growing recognition of affect in research and practice, signals an important shift in how we understand healing.

Brenda reflects on these shifts, considers their impact on child therapy and beyond, and explores what they mean for the future of psychotherapy.

Enjoying the podcast?

There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

References:

Dukes, D., Abrams, K., Adolphs, R., Ahmed, M. E., Beatty, A., Berridge, K. C., Broomhall, S., Brosch, T., Campos, J. J., Clay, Z., Clément, F., Cunningham, W. A., Damasio, A., Damasio, H., D, A. J., Davidson, J. W., de Gelder, B., Deonna, J., de Sousa, R., … Sander, D. (2021). The rise of affectivism. Nature Human Behaviour, 5(7), 816–820. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01130-8

Greenberg, L., & Selvam, R. (2024). The Future of Emotions. International Body Psychotherapy Journal, 23(1), 12–27.

Southern California Institute of Emotion-Focused Therapy: https://www.eftsocal.com/