Mental health language is everywhere, but not everything people call “trauma,” “OCD,” or “narcissism” is actually clinical.

In this episode of Licensed 2 Spill, Kristina Scaglione, LCSW-R, and Julie Stark, LCSW, unpack how therapy terms are often misused in pop culture and why that can make experiences feel more intense, overwhelming, or permanent than they actually are.

This conversation is about clarity, not correction, and about using language that supports healing instead of escalating distress.

This episode wasn’t on the calendar.

In an honest, unrehearsed conversation, Kristina and Julie talk about Julie’s recent diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer and the ripple effects it’s had on her life, work, and sense of self.

They discuss the emotional weight of receiving unexpected health news, the importance of advocating for yourself in medical spaces, and what it’s been like to experience a powerful wave of community support during a time of uncertainty.

This episode explores resilience, recovery, friendship, and the reality of holding space for yourself and allowing others to hold space for you when life interrupts the plan.

🎧 Listen, share, and join the conversation.~Like, Comment, Subscribe~Write in to us to share your story: [email protected] us on TikTok or IG: Licensed2Spill

What’s the difference between a red flag, a green flag, and a beige flag—and why do we ignore the ones we know matter?

In this Licensed 2 Spill bonus episode, Kristina is joined by special guest Christina Scheinberg, LMHC for an honest, unfiltered conversation about:
• Client red flags
• Therapist red flags
• Real stories from inside the therapy room

This episode opens the door to a possible listener-submitted series.

📩 Want to share your experience? Anonymous submissions welcome:
[email protected]

You’re productive. Responsible. Reliable.
And completely exhausted.

In this solo episode of Licensed 2 Spill, Kristina Scaglione, LCSW-R unpacks why so many high-functioning people are actually living in survival mode and why burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you’ve been strong for too long.

This episode explores how over-functioning becomes a coping strategy, why rest feels uncomfortable instead of restorative, and what actually helps when your nervous system has never learned that slowing down is safe.

No toxic positivity.
No “just try harder.”
Just honest, therapist-level truth.

In this episode of Licensed 2 Spill, therapists and co-hosts Julie Stark, LCSW, and Kristina S break down why traditional New Year’s resolutions so often backfire — and how listeners can create real, sustainable change without burning out or blaming themselves.

As co-founders and clinical directors of Root & Rise Clinical Specialists, Julie and Kristina draw from years of clinical work to challenge the cultural pressure to “reinvent yourself” every January. They explore how willpower, shame, and unrealistic expectations sabotage progress, and why nervous system regulation, safety, and small repeatable shifts matter far more than motivation.

This is Episode 2 of Licensed 2 Spill, where therapists get honest about what healing actually looks like beyond clichés, toxic positivity, and hustle culture.

Julie Stark is known for creating The Stark Contrast™, a photography-based therapeutic modality that helps clients explore emotional insight through contrast and reflection. Kristina Scaglione is widely known as the “Rogue Therapist” and is the founder of Limitless Integrative Wellness, home of the MindSpa™ & Wellness Collective in Port Jefferson.

🎙️ New episodes of Licensed 2 Spill drop biweekly, with topic teasers released in between.
💌 Listeners are encouraged to write in, share experiences, and submit questions via our dedicated podcast email: [email protected]

Your stories may shape future episodes.

🎧 Listen on:
YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

🔔 Subscribe, follow, share, and stay tuned — because sustainable change doesn’t come from pressure.

It comes from practice.

The holidays are often portrayed as joyful, but for many, they’re stressful, emotionally charged, and overwhelming.

In the first episode of Licensed 2 Spill, therapists Julie Stark and Kristina Scaglione talk honestly about navigating holiday stress, complicated family dynamics, and the pressure to “hold it together”, even when you’re a therapist.

In this episode, we explore:
• Why the holidays can trigger anxiety and old emotional patterns
• How family dynamics resurface during this time of year
• The importance of setting boundaries for emotional well-being
• Why therapists struggle during the holidays too
• What actually constitutes a mental health crisis
• Practical ways to prepare before the holiday rush

This conversation is for anyone who feels the emotional weight of the holidays, clients, clinicians, and humans alike.

Licensed 2 Spill is a podcast where therapists talk like real people—no fluff, no sugarcoating, just honest conversations about mental health.