Couch Time Podcast

What better way to talk about toxic work environments than to analyze Netflix’s reality show, Selling Sunset? With a plethora of episodes focused on the dynamics among a gorgeous group of LA realtors, the drama never seems to end. We understand that as viewers, we are only privy to a small fraction of the reality stars lives. Therefore, here on Couch Time, we dissect the information given and use realistic inferences so we can learn and share key takeaways that relate to our field of expertise.

Managing relationships within the work environment and personal life can be challenging. While some try to maintain two distinct groups and keep the two separate, many individuals, like in Selling Sunset, balance efforts to blend the two. In this episode we discuss how situations and issues that have come up in the show could have been better handled and how maintaining a neutral position regardless of the drama is always a good place land. 

Listen in and join us on this discussion! If you happen to have other relationships from reality of fictional shows you would like us to analyze, we would love to hear from you!

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi

A hot topic in today’s celebrity media is Kourtney Kardashian’s engagement to Travis Barker. This relationship provides us with some interesting topics that fans have probably noticed during her life in the spotlight. Today we will discuss starting over in your 40’s, how to come out of codependency, cycles of life, and the impact that living your life as a reality TV star can have on your mental health. 

Not only are we talking about Kourtney in this episode on Couch Time, but we are also discussing her ex, Scott Disick. It appears that a lot of work and personal growth is lacking within himself which could be a major player into his inability to truly move on and begin his next chapter in life. We see his inability to grow out of his early 20’s lifestyle and failure to embrace the cycles we see Kourtney having success in. A lot of this probably stems from his early traumas and his life centered around reality TV. 

Listen in and join us on this discussion and if you have other relationships you would like to hear about, please reach out and let us know. 

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi

Suzette Bray is a seasoned LMFT and founder of Village Counseling and Wellness and we are honored to have her on for today’s episode. It’s her years of experience, extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and open mind that guide our conversation in hopes to destigmatize borderline personality disorder. If you are new to the field, studying to become a clinician, or are just wanting to learn more about mental health and private practice, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Suzette shares her beginnings with us and describes how she got into the field and the route traveled to get where she is now. From public mental health to private practice to eventually establishing her own wellness center with a focus on DBT and an intensive outpatient program, Suzette’s field experience is wide-ranging.

Among many successes, there are always challenges and Suzette opens up to our listeners about some of the difficulties she experienced unlearning methods and integrating new concepts and techniques into her practice. Listen in to the full episode to learn more about creating a toolkit for success and how maintaining your individual authenticity is essential for growth in the clinical space.

Connect with Suzette Bray, LMFT

- https://villagecounselingandwellness.com

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi

This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Arguably one of the most iconic popstars of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Britney Spears has been in the media since the beginning. Lately, there has been so much buzz regarding the many documentaries circling her conservatorship and we thought it was a perfect topic to discuss. Fans around the world have joined together to create a ‘Free Britney’ movement due to observed odd behaviors and her potential cry for freedom.

In this episode, we take a look at the possibilities of Britney’s mental health and what sort of impact that could have to justify the extreme measures of her conservatorship. We open this space to have a conversation about what systemic changes should be made to the legality behind conservatorships and the apparent stolen liberties the statutes are authorized to seize. 

As clinicians and individuals, we want to see Britney succeed and be empowered to make her own decisions. How did these documentaries make you feel and what are your instinctual reactions do you have after watching?

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi

Hello listeners! After a teeny, tiny, break to reassess the direction of the podcast, we are happy to announce that we are back with a new look. We are glad to have you along during this journey and also very excited to share this new chapter of Couch Time with you.

Our goal has always been to make mental health more approachable and digestible for everyone and we are now bridging psychology and mental health awareness into other parts of our normal, everyday life. This includes our responses to media, celebrities, and what we see in fictional movies. There is such a draw to drama and the spectacle of reality television. Often this can come from our own comparing and contrasting your personal life with what you see on the screen or maybe you’re simply curious about the reactions we see from others. These are common thoughts for everyone to have and together we want to analyze, react, and better understand the “why” behind the actions. 

Lastly, we want this to be very collaborative with our listeners and we care to hear what you have to say. If you have an interesting or an enjoyable topic that we should cover, please let us know.

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi

Our guest today is Dr. Veronica Eyo, LCSW who opens up about her experience with motherhood and pregnancy during her higher education journey. She shares details about her dissertation and how it related to this very topic.

Additionally, Dr. Eyo shares that it’s important to talk about this underrepresented group of students. She recommends having a support system in place that is understanding. There is such a big community on social media for motherhood and pregnancy while going to school and having those individuals to lean on in can really make a difference to have those to lean on.

Listen to the full episode to hear what else she has to say and share about her agency and private practice experiences.

Connect with Dr. Veronica Eyo, LCSW

- https://www.drveronicalcsw.com

- @drveronicaeyo

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi

If anyone embodies our slogan “Keeping it Real” more than us, it’s Lauren Ruth Martin, LPC-MHSP. We had the pleasure of having her on our show and she served up some great advice along with a few belly laughs on the side! So, be sure to listen in for information on niching down your specialty and how it’s more important than ever to show up for your clients as an authentic human FIRST, and then as a clinician.

Today we cover the first of many discussions related to our recommended PRIVATE PRACTICE MUST-HAVES. There is so much we wish we would have known before taking the journey on the road to licensure and then to start our very own private practices. We want to open up our experiences for other clinicians to learn from in hopes to provide better guidance for those wanting to take a similar path. Although we are still trying to navigate obstacles of owning a business, there is much to be shared so far!

Here is our TOP 4 PRIVATE PRACTICE MUST-HAVES!

Define Your Space

Determine if you will be seeing clients virtually, in person, or a hybrid approach. Having dedicated office space, even if it’s within your home, is key. Consider how accessible in-person office space will be for clients when doing your search. 

Network, Network, Network

You never know who you will meet and where that connection will take you. Look for groups of other therapists in your area and don’t be afraid to ask for help. We are all a mass of helpers looking to help one another out in the field and other clinicians may have some great recommendations for professional services they use to help manage their own private practices. 

Consult With The Professionals

Just as we are professionals in our field, and clients come to us for help, it is essential it’s important to consider consulting with those well versed in the business language and necessities of operating a practice in your state. Accountants and lawyers are both great professional tools to reference that will help determine what information is required to start your private practice, tax related information, and ensuring you have a NPI number. Remember, you can find many great points of contact when you’re networking!

Keep A Strong Records Management System

Keep track of your records with an electronic health record or if you prefer the old school method of paper and chunky filing system. We are huge advocates of using an electronic health record because some systems help manage client appointments, have transaction components for billing, insurance forms, all while maintaining HIPA compliance. Just don’t forget to back up your files on external hard drive!

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi

We are in great company with Andrew Susskind, LCSW during this exclusive interview. Every clinician has their own story and today Andrew shares his background, experiences, and how he keeps a growing edge to fulfill his lifelong commitment to providing therapy all while the clinical field continues to evolve. 

4 Tips to keep a growing edge:

• Constantly learn by attending post graduate trainings and find the trainings that are fun for you and speak to you.

• Your own therapy is primary and pay top dollar for that experience even if that means stretching to make that experience happen.

• Continue the best consultation and supervision out there because we learn from one another. 

• Give back to the clinical community and share your learnings and extending your knowledge to help other therapists grow.

Andrew has found a calling as an author to share his personal and professional experiences to help others end compulsive sexual behavior and addition recovery. In both publications, he coaches with strategy to help find clear direction to healing and recovery. Andrew’s books can be found on Amazon with the links below.

Publications: 

It's Not About the Sex: Moving from Isolation to Intimacy after Sexual Addiction

https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-Sex-Isolation/dp/1949481069/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=andrew+susskind&qid=1555180896&s=gateway&sr=8-1

From Now On: Seven Keys to Purposeful Recovery

https://www.amazon.com/Now-Seven-Keys-Purposeful-Recovery/dp/0991306805/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=andrew+susskind&qid=1555181860&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Connect with Andrew Susskind, LCSW:

- https://westsidetherapist.com

- @andrewsusskind

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi

Join us today for a very special guest, Aileen Uy, LCSW who is also a certified life coach specializing in women’s coaching and mentorship. She is going to unwrap the stigma around coaching and the common misconceptions with therapy as well as the practice of being a coach. 

Aileen gives a lot of insight into the guidelines, frameworks, and their perspective expectations and ethics that coaches are expected to adhere to. Although coaching is very unregulated with no formal process, training, or licensing, there are some accreditations for different kinds of coaching beyond the basics that can be found on the International Coaching Federations website referenced below. Both coaching and therapy promote wellness on a spectrum, but Aileen highlights that therapy and coaching do have some differences.

3 key points to help distinguish coaching from therapy:

• There is a lot of coaching that goes on in therapy but no therapy that goes on in coaching. 

• Coaching often focuses on solutions through encouragement where therapy has a focus on recovery with more severe distress and requires intense healing through treatment. 

• Clinical psychotherapy can be related to physical therapy where distress and discomfort or limited awareness with a heavy focus on treatment for that disorder. A personal trainer who focuses on physical upkeep, a coach would similarly help with maintaining optimal mental wellness.

Want to learn more about today’s topic? Here are the references from today’s episode:

- https://coachingfederation.org

- https://www.jrni.co

Connect with Aileen Uy, LCSW:

- https://www.autherapy.life

@aileen.therapycoaching

Let’s Connect! We want to hear from you!

Visit us at our websites:

-  https://road2wellness.co

-  www.suzihalajyan.com

Connect with us on Instagram: 

@therapy_with_janetb

@sessionswithsuzi