Outside The Therapy Room

Outside The Therapy Room

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Outside The Therapy Room episodes

  • Episode 75 - Little Bodies, Big Emotions: Why Kids Melt Down Over the “Small” Things with Mais Haj-Ayoub

    Why does a missing snack, the wrong-coloured cup, or being told “no” sometimes turn into a full-blown meltdown? 

    In this episode of Outside The Therapy Room, I am joined by Mais, a child and teen therapist at New Moon Counselling, to talk about why kids can have such BIG emotions over things that seem small to us. We explore what's happening beneath the meltdowns, how things like tiredness, overstimulation, and built-up stress can play a role, and why emotional regulation is a skill children are still learning.

    We also get into the practical side of parenting through these moments, including what to say when your child is overwhelmed, how to set boundaries while validating their feelings, and how to help kids build emotional regulation skills over time.

    If this conversation resonates with you and you're looking for additional support, Mais is accepting new clients! She works with children, teens, and parents to help navigate big emotions, build coping skills, and support the whole family through life's challenges. If you'd like to explore whether therapy might be a good fit for your family, we encourage you to book a consultation with Mais!

    Learn more about Mais

    Book a consultation with Mais

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    1 hr 6 min
  • Episode 74 - Porn, Shame & the Cycle We Get Stuck In with Josh Dale

    Porn is often talked about as a behaviour — but what if, for some people, it’s actually being used as a way to cope?

    This week, I sit down with therapist Josh Dale to talk about the connection between porn, emotions, mental health and shame. We explore why someone might turn to porn when they're stressed, lonely, bored, anxious or overwhelmed, why it can provide temporary relief, and how that relief can become part of a cycle that keeps repeating.

    We also unpack the role of secrecy and shame, how problematic porn use can impact relationships and intimacy, how faith and personal values can add another layer to the conversation, and what breaking the cycle can actually look like.

    Plus, we talk about what partners can do when porn becomes a source of hurt or conflict, and how parents can begin having honest conversations about porn with their sons without creating shame.

    This isn't a conversation about judging people or telling everyone what they should believe. It's about understanding the why behind the behaviour — and what can happen when coping, shame and secrecy become a cycle.

    Josh's Website

    Follow Josh 

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    1 hr 34 min
  • Episode 73 - Money & Mental Health with Kathleen Beech

    Money can affect our stress levels, relationships, sense of security, self-worth, and even how we think about the future. And yet, we don't always talk about the emotional side of our finances.

    In this episode, I am joined by financial advisor Kathleen Beech, to talk about the connection between money and mental health — from the anxiety of opening your bank account to the pressure of feeling like you're financially “behind.”

    Kathleen shares tips on how to actually build a budget, and financial tips you might not know, saving vs. investing, navigating money differences in relationships, and what to do when financial stress has you feeling completely overwhelmed.

    Because getting your finances in order isn't just about having more money — sometimes it's about creating more clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

    Connect with Kathleen

    Follow Kathleen on Socials

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    1 hr 6 min
  • Minisode - Being Bad At New Things: DWTS Edition

    In this minisode, I’m talking about the vulnerability that comes with learning something new—and how quickly frustration, disappointment, comparison, and performance pressure can creep in.

    Using a few moments from this season of Dancing With the Stars as a jumping-off point, I’m exploring why being a beginner can feel so uncomfortable, what happens when we put pressure on ourselves to perform, and how we can learn to enjoy the process a little more.

    Because you’re allowed to be a beginner... and be completely terrible for a while ;)

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    30 min
  • Episode 72: The Emotional Side of Buying & Selling a Home with Cheryl Goetz

    Buying or selling a home can be exciting, stressful, overwhelming, emotional… sometimes all at the same time.

    In this episode, Real Estate Agent Cheryl joins me to talk about what happens emotionally when a house becomes more than just a house. We explore the stress of today's housing market, the excitement and anxiety of making an offer, the grief that can come with losing out on a home, and the complicated emotions that can come with selling.

    Because sometimes we're not just buying or selling a house — you're navigating a major life transition.

    Cheryl's Website

    Follow Cheryl

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    56 min
  • Episode 71: ADHD & Relationships with Molly Handsaeme

    What does ADHD look like in women—and how can it shape the way we experience ourselves and our relationships?

    In this episode, I sit down with ADHD therapist Molly to explore the often-overlooked experience of ADHD in women. We talk about the ways ADHD can show up in friendships, dating, intimate relationships, and the relationship we have with ourselves.

    We also explore rejection sensitivity, shame, perfectionism, people-pleasing, masking, and the pressure so many women feel to be organized, productive, emotionally regulated, and somehow “have it all together.”

    Together, we unpack how societal expectations and messages from media can influence the way women with ADHD see themselves—and what can happen when we begin replacing self-criticism with understanding and compassion.

    Whether you have an ADHD diagnosis, have wondered if ADHD might explain some of your experiences, or simply want to better understand the women in your life, this conversation offers validation, insight, and a reminder that struggling doesn't mean you're failing.

    More about Molly

    Follow Molly on Instragram

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    1 hr 16 min
  • Episode 70: Period Pain & Your Pelvic Floor with Laura Holland

    Welcome back! We are on Season 3, and starting off our season with a conversation on Period Pain. Painful periods are often treated as something we simply have to live with—but how much pain is actually "normal"?

    In this episode of Outside the Therapy Room, I sits down with Laura, a pelvic floor specialist, to talk about the connection between period pain, pelvic floor health, and the mind-body connection.

    We explore what the pelvic floor actually does, how tension and chronic pain can affect it, when period pain may be a sign of something more, and how pelvic floor physiotherapy can help. Laura also shares insight into endometriosis and PCOS, what symptoms shouldn't be ignored, and practical ways to support your pelvic health.

    Whether you've experienced painful periods yourself, live with pelvic pain, or simply want to better understand your body, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to normalize pain or suffer in silence.

    More about Laura

    Follow Laura on Instagram

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    1 hr 5 min
  • Episode 69 - Summer Bodies, Body Image & Self-Worth with Amrit Babbra

    As summer approaches, so does the pressure to have the “perfect summer body.” In this season finale, we’re having an honest conversation about body image, diet culture, self-worth, and the emotional impact of constantly feeling like we need to change ourselves to be accepted.

    Joined by therapist Amrit, we explore why this time of year can feel especially triggering, how social media and comparison affect our mental health, and healthier ways to think about our bodies beyond appearance alone. We also talk about weight loss, confidence, body neutrality, and how to stop putting life on pause while waiting to feel “good enough.”

    This episode is a reminder that your worth is not measured by your size, and you deserve joy, connection, and self-compassion exactly as you are.

    Thank you for being part of season 2 — we’ll see you after the summer break for season 3.

    Follow NMC

    Book a Consult with Amrit

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    1 hr 1 min
  • Episode 68 - Understanding Your Relationship Patterns with Jordan Hunsberger

    If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “why do I keep ending up in the same kind of relationship?”—this episode is for you.

    In this conversation, I sit down with Jordan, a couples psychotherapist, to unpack why these patterns happen in the first place. From attachment styles to nervous system familiarity, we explore how our past experiences shape who we’re drawn to—and why unhealthy dynamics can sometimes feel like “chemistry.”

    Most importantly, we talk about how to start breaking these cycles. What does it actually look like to choose differently? And how can you begin building something that actually feels secure and fulfilling?

    Follow NMC

    Book a Consult with Jordan

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    56 min
  • Episode 67 - The Small Signs You’re Actually Healing (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It) with Sarah

    Healing doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.

    In this episode, I sit down with Sarah to talk about the small, often overlooked signs that you’re actually healing—even if it doesn’t feel like it. Because growth isn’t always loud or obvious… sometimes it’s quiet, uncomfortable, and easy to dismiss.

    We explore the subtle shifts that signal real change—like pausing before reacting, setting boundaries (even when it feels hard), outgrowing old patterns, and learning to sit with emotions you used to avoid.

    Remember, just because it doesn’t feel like progress, doesn’t mean it isn’t.

    Follow NMC

    Book a Consult with Sarah

    Follow us on social media:
    @outisdethetherapyroompod

    If you're looking for a therapist and live in Ontario, feel free to visit our website here or contact us at [email protected] to work with one of our team members. If you reside outside of Ontario, a quick Google search will help you find a therapist near you!

    32 min

About Outside The Therapy Room

From the publisher's feed

Ivonne Hammoud is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and owner of a therapy practice in Waterloo, Ontario. But out of the office, she's a mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend. Join Ivonne as she…