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Join Juniper and Laurel in a conversation with fertility coach Shelby VanCleve on the Conscious Mental Health Podcast. We explore the delicate intersection of reproductive health, fertility struggles, and mental well-being. 

With her experience as an acupuncturist, Shelby shares insights on holistic approaches to fertility that honor both Western medical interventions and alternative therapies. 

This episode dives into the emotional complexities of the fertility journey, addressing the monthly grief cycle, anxiety around treatments, and the importance of proper support systems. Shelby also shares common misconceptions in fertility discussions, emphasizes male fertility factors, and concludes with a restorative Chi shower meditation practice. 

Whether you're on your own fertility journey or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers compassionate wisdom and practical guidance.

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Who’s really behind Therapy First and Gender Exploratory Therapy?

In this episode, licensed clinicians Juniper & Laurel discuss the key figures leading the charge against gender-affirming care, diving deep into their backgrounds, affiliations, and influence on trans healthcare policy.

From Stella O’Malley to Sasha Ayad, Lisa Marciano, and the Killarney Group, we investigate how these leaders shape the gender-critical therapy movement, their ties to anti-trans rhetoric, and their opposition to medical standards set by WPATH. 

Gender Exploratory Therapy has been labeled a conversion therapy and we continue to share evidence of why in this part 2 companion piece to the organizations behind Therapy First. 

🔎 In this episode, we break down:

✅ Who’s leading Therapy First, SEGM, and Gender Exploratory Therapy?

✅ The connections between key players and anti-LGBTQ organizations

✅ How their narratives fuel misinformation and policy changes

✅ The controversy over conversion therapy and gender care bans

✅ What you can do to support trans-affirming care & advocacy

🎧 We want to hear from you! Leave a rating & review, and support Advocates for Trans Equality through our merch store: https://24c56f-17.myshopify.com/

💬 What are your thoughts on these figures? Drop us a comment or DM!

 Subscribe for more deep dives into misinformation, trans rights, and the fight for evidence-based care.

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In the second installment of our deep dive into Therapy First and Gender Exploratory Therapy, hosts Juniper and Laurel, both licensed clinicians, expose the growing network of anti-trans organizations operating under the guise of “evidence-based” care.

We break down the interconnected web of groups like GenSpec, the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), and Our Duty, uncovering their ties to conversion therapy, pseudoscience, and policy-driven misinformation. From their influence on anti-LGBTQ legislation to their claims about gender dysphoria treatment, we separate fact from fearmongering.

🔎 In this episode, we discuss:

• The “web farm” strategy used to legitimize anti-trans narratives

• How SEGM is influencing legislation and medical distrust

• The real motivations behind gender-critical organizations like Sex Matters

• Conversion therapy rebranded? How “Therapy First” approaches harm trans individuals

• How you can support trans advocacy efforts and counteract misinformation

We encourage critical thinking, respectful discussion, and supporting pro-trans organizations through advocacy, donations, or purchasing our merch!

🔗 Support trans rights: https://24c56f-17.myshopify.com/

Subscribe, rate, and review to help spread awareness!

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Join hosts Laurel and Juniper as they share candid and semi-unhinged predictions about the mental health landscape (and beyond) in 2025. 

From rejecting toxic wellness and healing narratives to embracing intersectional feminist rage, dIY Zine culture and public grieving, we share our what we say goodbye to our outs and welcome our ins. 

Plus, we even get into some tips for reclaiming rest and identity in hustle culture, share childhood memories of being disagreeable, Juniper is introduced to ACOTAR and Laurel learns about Juniper's Debbie Downer alter ego. 

You don't want to miss this hot and sour episode with a hint of salty goodness. 

🎙️ Introduction and Meme of the Week (00:00 - 09:01)

📅 2025 Outs (09:02 - 19:17)

🔮 2025 Ins (19:17 - 27:26)

🧠 Mental Health Field Changes (27:26 - 36:16)

👥 Diversity in Mental Health (36:16 - 47:32)

🛌 Rest Revolution (47:32 - 58:14)

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Hey friends! In this quick update episode, Laurel drops in to share where she and Juniper are in the process of producing the gender exploratory therapy series (spoiler alert…it’s a lot more of an in-depth and lengthy process than we anticipated!), and lets everyone know about CMH’s winter break.

Don’t forget that our fundraiser for Advocates for Trans Equality is ongoing! See the links below to direct you straight to where you can purchase these merch items.

We hope you have the end to 2024 that you most need, and we will see you in the new year! ✨🪩🧠

Share your thoughts (and please be civil, hate speech will be deleted)!

All profits from our "Protect Trans Kids" Merch will go directly to Advocates for Trans Equailty

Please share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

Record a voice message here.
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Apply to be a guest on this podcast here.

Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

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‼️Content warning for sensitive discussions regarding the LGBTQ community. ⚠️

What is Gender Exploratory Therapy, and why is it raising concern amongst therapists and LGBTQ+ advocates? In part 1 of our series, Juniper and Laurel, delve into Therapy First, the organization behind this controversial model. We examine its claims about "exploratory care", and gender-critical approaches, and discuss its implications for trans and gender-diverse communities.

🎙️ Introduction to Gender Exploratory Therapy (00:58 - 02:11)

📚 Interviews and Perspectives (04:12 - 05:12)

🧐 Exploration of Therapy First (05:12 - 09:23) (05:12 - 09:23)

⚖️ Understanding Gender Affirmative vs. Exploratory Therapy (09:23 - 18:38) (09:23 - 18:38)

🔄 The False Binary in Therapy Approaches (18:38 - 27:36) (18:38 - 27:36)

🚫 Discouragement of Transitioning (27:36 - 37:51) (27:36 - 37:51)

🛑 Conversion Therapy Discussion (37:51 - 47:57) (37:51 - 47:57)

📊 Research and Evidence (or lack thereof) in GET (47:57 - 56:06)

🌐 Conclusion (56:06 - 01:07:12)

Share your thoughts (and please be civil, hate speech will be deleted)!

All profits from our "Protect Trans Kids" Merch will go directly to Advocates for Trans Equailty

We would love to hear from you - Please leave us a review on your listening platform of choice or follow and comment on YouTube!

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Gratitude is great—until it isn’t. 🦃

In this episode, we explore our complicated relationship with gratitude. From the pressure to “stay positive” during the holidays to the rise of forced gratitude culture, we unpack why it’s okay to feel everything all at once.

Random topics explored: 

• Blamesgiving
• National Day of Mourning 
• Critique of manufactured and forced gratitude
• Gratitude in the mental health field

Featuring a rant about the downfall of dystopian fashion in a rhinestone-filled apocalypse, an ode to bald eagles, a poetry-filled Mad Libs game, and some spicy takes on the gratitude journal phenomenon. Join Juniper and Laurel, discussing balanced gratitude and uncovering the holiday hype that leaves some people deflated.

Spoiler: You don’t have to write five things you’re thankful for every morning to live a meaningful life.

🎙️ Intro & Go-To Responses For Social Greetings (00:00 - 07:04)

🍂 Gratitude and Mental Health (07:04 - 19:41)

🧠 Balanced Gratitude Concept (19:42 - 32:03)

🎭 Mad Libs and Closing (32:03 - 39:22)

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From ‘dopamine fasting’ to ‘serotonin diets,’ the internet is full of neurotransmitter misinformation. Is the gut really your "second brain"? Can getting 5 minutes of sunlight "boost" your mood?

Biohacking promises a shortcut to wellness, but what’s the real deal? We bust common myths about neurotransmitters and brain health, shedding light on the science behind these claims. Tune in for a fun, fact-filled conversation with Juniper and Laurel, traveling into the brain and getting to know the "it" neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine.

🧠 Introduction to Neurotransmitters (00:00 - 10:30)
🔬 Debunking Neurotransmitter Myths (10:31 - 21:01)
🧪 Neurotransmitters and Mental Health (21:01 - 29:47)
🌞 Critique of Biohacking and Wellness Trends (29:48 - 40:00)

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Hey everyone! It’s Juniper and Laurel bringing you another episode of After Billable Hours. In this episode, we dive into our memes of the week, share stories from our high school extracurriculars, and play a super fun (and delightfully nerdy) game of assigning famous psychology legends their perfect dishes for the ultimate ‘psychology family dinner.’ Get ready for unserious fun with a side of critical insights and a dash of Psych 101 vibes!

🎙️ Introduction and Context (00:01 - 02:12)

🏆 Highschool Extra Curricular (02:12 - 05:30)

😂 Meme of the Week (05:38 - 08:02)

🧠 Psychology Family Dinner Game (08:28 - 18:18)

🍽️ More Dinner Guests (18:18 - 29:05)

🎓 Final Dinner Guests and Wrap-up (29:05 - 44:46)

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Ever read a therapist’s bio and thought, “What does ‘psychodynamic’ even mean?” Welcome to our first CMH Short, where we (allegedly) try to keep things brief.  Juniper and Laurel, your friendly mental health educators, are here to give you the lowdown on therapy lingo. We tackle everything from ‘CBT’ to ‘parts work,’ and even the mysteriously vague ‘somatic’ approaches. We break down what these terms really mean and how they show up in therapy.   Whether you’re a clinician realizing you might need to simplify your language or a client wondering what you’re getting into, this quick episode has your back.

🎙️ Introduction to CMH Short (00:01 - 05:00)

📚 Therapy Terms Explained (05:00 - 12:07)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness
• Somatic
• Parts work/Internal Family Systems
• Systemic

🧠 More Therapy Terms (12:07 - 23:25)

• Person-centered
• EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing 
• Psychodynamic
• Motivational Interviewing

🗣️ Therapist Phrases Discussion (23:25 - 29:53)

• Laurel and Juniper rate common therapist phrases on an annoyance scale
• Discuss potentially problematic or overused phrases in therapy
• Reflect on the importance of language in therapeutic settings

We would love to hear from you - Please leave us a review on your listening platform of choice or follow and comment on YouTube!