When I pitched my guest, Shawn, about coming onto the show, my original idea was just talking to her about her career change from being a lawyer to becoming a psychotherapist. She counter-pitched me a story that I couldn’t resist. She said, and I’m paraphrasing, “Let me tell you about that time I drank from a lucky fountain.” And from here our story departs. 

This conversation is about several consequential events in Shawn’s life. The subjects are emotionally heavy, but there is so much joy and levity and emotional wisdom that Shawn brings to her story. This conversation just glows.

Psychology, therapy, mental health, spirituality, travel, family, queer families, marriage, relationships, breakups, parenting, pregnancy, abortion, grief, adoption, adoptee experience, career path, queer, lgbt, lgbtqqia, Bay Area, Hawaii, Spain.

The fountain at Covadonga

Shawn’s Your Fellow Traveler page

Psychology and spiritual frameworks referenced in the episode: 

Attachment theory
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Psychodynamic approach
Wilhelm Reich/Reichian psychotherapy
Core shamanism
Diamond Approach
Judith Blackstone

Thanks so much to all my patrons for the support you give me at any level. You’re doing it! You help make this show happen, and I appreciate you so much! And, as always, a particular shout out goes out to my Failure & Redemption level patrons: Bonita, Barry, Liz, Jen, Melissa, Noah, Elyse, Amy, Jeannie, and Heather, and my Serendipity level patrons: Dorian, Emily and Brittany.

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The banana peel is by Max Ronnersjö.
The theme and interstitial music are by Jon Schwartz.