Mental Health Dumpster Fire

Recorded November 10, 2025

CW: substance use, pregnancy, severe mental illness

This week Taylor Ryan, LCSW joins us to talk about her work in emergency psychiatric services, her experience working with individuals with severe mental illness, and her research on mental health for first-time parents. We go into systems that need to change and the process for getting help for a loved one experiencing a mental health emergency.

Check out Taylor’s practice here: nexuscounselingclinic.com

Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)

Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)

Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/

This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.

Recorded November 3, 2025

This week Jenny Townsend, LCSW explains some of the services she offers in her practice, including Induced After Death Communication, Reiki, and Walk-and-Talk Sessions. Check out Jenny’s info below!

https://www.jennytownsendlcsw.com

https://www.instagram.com/jenny_townsend_lcsw?igsh=MTE2ajFyM3V0ejBpaA==

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fpyx8nJvg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)

Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)

Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)

https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/

This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.

Recorded October 20, 2025Before you use the words “gaslighting,” “triggered,” or “OCD” in casual conversation, learn what they actually mean with Jess and Courtney, two actual therapists. What pop psychology “therapy speak” words should we define next? References:@igototherapy on InstagramFollow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/ This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.

Our first guest of the season! Thanks so much to Calli Weis, LCSW for joining us to talk about self-diagnosis and TikTok therapy advice. Let us know what you thought of this episode!Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/ This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.

This week we look at random therapists' online biographies and break down the language used to help you find the right therapist for you. Let us know about your experiences with finding a new therapist!

Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)

Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)

Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/

This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.

This week, Jess teaches us about the history and process of art therapy! If you have any questions about art therapy, let us know in the comments so Jess can continue to share her knowledge. Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/ This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.

This week we talk about the dangers of using AI as a substitute for therapy.Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/ This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.Sources for todays episode:https://youtu.be/lfEJ4DbjZYg?si=hhub7_x-4Kz2hOvohttps://hai.stanford.edu/news/exploring-the-dangers-of-ai-in-mental-health-care\https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-ai-therapy-can-be-so-dangerous/https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5351312/artificial-intelligence-mental-health-therapyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/202507/the-emerging-problem-of-ai-psychosishttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-to-know-about-ai-psychosis-and-the-effect-of-ai-chatbots-on-mental-healthhttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/study-says-chatgpt-giving-teens-dangerous-advice-on-drugs-alcohol-and-suicidehttps://theconversation.com/in-a-lonely-world-widespread-ai-chatbots-and-companions-pose-unique-psychological-risks-263615#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAI%20psychosis%E2%80%9D%20There's%20also%20been%20a%20rise,fantasies%2C%20or%20even%20delusions%20of%20being%20superpowered.https://time.com/7291048/ai-chatbot-therapy-kids/

CW: SA, narcissism, human traffickingIn part 2 of our deep dive on toxic masculinity, Courtney reviews Andrew Tate's trip to "therapy." Here is Dr. Kirk Honda's first video covering this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA1DsHKkIy4Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/ This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.

This week Jess teaches Courtney about Dungeons & Dragons and how to create a character to represent your strengths and personality. More D&D content in 2 weeks!Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/ This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.

Content Warning: This episode discusses misogyny, incels, racism, and transphobiaWe're back for season 2!!! We kick off our new season with a new format. Courtney talks about the psychology of toxic masculinity and incel culture. Then Jess reads reddit stories for today's theme.Let us know what you think of the new format and what we should cover this season!Follow us on Instagram (@mental.health.dumpster.fire) and TikTok (@mentalhealthdumpsterfire)Follow Jess on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@TheArtsyBrain)Follow Courtney on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook (@LauverListens)https://www.courtneylauvercounseling.com/ This podcast is not a substitution for therapy and we cannot provide you with therapeutic services or advice via this podcast or social media.