Outside The Therapy Room

Outside The Therapy Room

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Outside The Therapy Room episodes

  • Episode 66 - The Human Side of Your Therapist with Ashley Mariani

    In this episode, we’re having an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about the realities of this work — beyond what we were taught in grad school. From the pressure to be a “blank slate” to questioning old expectations like no self-disclosure or even having personal photos in your office, we explore how therapists have evolved over time and find their own voice in the room.

    Ashley and I also talk about the emotional weight of the work — thinking about clients outside of sessions, not always knowing how they’re doing, and navigating the complexity of caring deeply while maintaining boundaries.

    And for those in private practice, we get into the often-unspoken side of being both a therapist and a business owner — wearing multiple hats, managing a team, and holding the responsibility that comes with it.

    Follow Ashley (The Rogue Therapist)

    Ashley's Website

    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 4 min
  • Episode 65: Triggers, Glimmers and Our Nervous System with Bethany Hanman

    Triggers are something many of us have heard about — moments when our nervous system reacts strongly to something in our environment. But what about the opposite of triggers?

    In this episode, we’re talking about glimmers — small, often overlooked moments that signal safety to our nervous system.

    Bethany returns to explore what actually happens in the body when we get triggered, why some experiences affect us more than others, and how learning to notice glimmers can help regulate our nervous system and bring more moments of calm into our daily lives.

    We discuss the connection between triggers and glimmers, why our brains are wired to notice threats more easily than safety, and simple ways to start identifying the small cues of safety that already exist around us.

    Follow NMC

    Book a Consult with Bethany


    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 64 - The Mental Health Power of Play with Claudia Gracias

    Play isn’t just something children do for fun — it’s actually a critical part of emotional development, communication, and mental health.

    In this episode, child therapist, Claudia joins and together we explore the power of play and why it matters at every stage of life. We break down the difference between play and play therapy, how child-led play supports emotional growth, and how therapists use play to help children express feelings they may not yet have words for.

    We also talk about the role play can have outside the therapy room — not just for kids, but for adults too — and how play can support stress relief, creativity, connection, and overall mental wellbeing.

    Follow New Moon Counselling

    Book a Free Consult

    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!

    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 63 - The Elder Daughter Effect with Aleta Wilson

    In many families, the eldest daughter quietly carries an invisible role — helper, mediator, caregiver, and emotional support system. Over time, this responsibility can shape identity, relationships, and mental health.

    Aleta is back to explore the “elder daughter phenomenon,” the pressure to be responsible and mature too early, and how these expectations can impact boundaries, burnout, and self-worth later in life.

    We discuss parentification, cultural expectations, and how elder daughters can begin to release the pressure of being “the strong one.”

    Follow Aleta!

    Aleta's Website

    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!

    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 28 min
  • Episode 62 - When Desire Doesn’t Match: Sex, Shame, and Relationship Stress with Lindsay Kenna

    Sexual desire discrepancies are one of the most common — and least talked about — challenges in relationships. When one partner wants sex more often than the other, it can quickly become about much more than sex. Feelings of rejection, pressure, shame, resentment, and insecurity can start to take over.

    In this episode, we are joined by Sex Therapist, Lindsay Kenna to explore why differences in sexual desire happen and how they can impact both mental health and relationship dynamics.

    Together they unpack the emotional experiences of both the higher-desire and lower-desire partner, the myths couples often believe about sex, and why many people misunderstand how desire actually works.

    We also discuss practical ways couples can approach these conversations with more curiosity, compassion, and understanding.

    More About Lindsay 

    Follow Bliss

    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!


    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
  • Episode 61 - Outgrowing Yourself: How Women Navigate Identity, Change, and Self-Discovery with Lacey Heels

    In this episode, I sit down with Lacey, a writer and guide in women’s self-discovery, to explore the powerful process of outgrowing old versions of ourselves. We discuss how to recognize the signs that it’s time for change, the challenges of stepping into a new identity, and practical tools for navigating transformation with compassion and intention. Whether you’re in an in-between season, feeling restless, or curious about your next chapter, this conversation offers insight, validation, and inspiration.

    Follow Lacey on Social Media

    Buy The Rebirth Rituals on Amazon

    Contact Lacey to buy her book and see Events she will be at!

    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!

    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 60 - Parenting with ADHD: The Reality No One Talks About with Wendy Gage

    Motherhood comes with an invisible mental load — planning, regulating emotions, staying organized, and constantly responding to others’ needs. For mothers with ADHD, this load can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and deeply misunderstood.

    In this episode, we’re joined by therapist Wendy Gage, who specializes in supporting ADHD moms. We explore how ADHD shows up in motherhood, why many women are diagnosed after having children, and how ADHD can impact postpartum mental health, emotional regulation, and daily parenting.

    We talk about shame, burnout, strengths, and practical ways ADHD moms can find support and compassion for themselves.

    If you’ve ever wondered why parenting feels harder for you — you are not alone.

    About Wendy

    Girls & Women with ADHD (Resource)

    ADHD Mom's Collective Group

    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!

    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 19 min
  • Episode 59 - Infidelity Part 2: Recovery After Infidelity — Do I Stay or Do I Go? With Ashley Mariani

    Content note: This episode discusses infidelity and relational trauma. Please listen at your own pace.

    After infidelity, many people find themselves asking an impossible question: Do I stay, or do I go? In Part 2 of this series, Ashley is back and together we focus on what happens after betrayal — the emotional aftermath, the healing process, and how people begin to make decisions that honour their well-being.

    We talk about rebuilding trust, accountability, transparency, and what real repair looks like when couples choose to stay. We also explore what healing looks like when someone chooses to leave.

    This episode is for anyone navigating heartbreak, uncertainty, or pressure to “move on” before they’re ready.

    Follow Ashley (The Rogue Therapist)

    Ashley's Website

    Single Moms Group Therapy

    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!

    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!

    57 min
  • Episode 58 - The Pelvic Floor & Mental Health: What Your Body Might Be Holding With Laura Holland

    The pelvic floor plays a critical role in bladder and bowel control, sexual function, stability, and core strength — but it also has a profound connection to our nervous system and emotional health.

    In this episode, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist, Laura Holland, joings us to talk about how chronic stress, trauma, anxiety, and shame can influence pelvic floor dysfunction — and how pelvic health concerns can, in turn, impact mental wellbeing.

    Together we discuss the anatomy and function of the pelvic floor, how fight-or flight aggects pelvic tension, why pelvic floor care is important for all genders and children, and practical ways to support regulation and pelvic health.

    • Hypertonic vs. hypotonic pelvic floor patterns
    • How fight-or-flight affects pelvic tension
    • Trauma-informed considerations in pelvic care
    • Why pelvic floor therapy is important for men, women, and all genders
    • Practical ways to support regulation and pelvic health

    This is a powerful reminder that mental health is whole-body health.

    Follow Laura

    Laura's Website

    Laura does not treat men or children, but she recommended A Body in Motion

    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!

    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 3 min
  • Minisode - Why February Feels So Heavy (And What Your Body Needs)

    If you’ve been feeling more tired, unmotivated, or emotionally heavy lately — especially during the winter months — you’re not alone. In this solo episode, we explore why February can feel particularly difficult, especially in colder climates like Ontario, and how your body and nervous system naturally respond to reduced sunlight, colder temperatures, and seasonal changes.

    This episode offers compassionate psychoeducation on winter mood changes, including the science behind seasonal shifts in energy, motivation, and emotional well-being. You’ll learn why these experiences are common, how to reduce self-criticism, and gentle ways to support your mental health during this season.

    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!

    25 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…