Plot Twist

By Laura Devlin, Becky LoucksSociety & Culture Health & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement Relationships

Plot Twist episodes

October 16EP09: The Prescription Plot Twist - It's Not Just About Getting the Right Pill
In this episode we chat with an amazing guest - Stacey D'Angelo. Stacey is a Toronto-based pharmacist behind Your Simple Health, a practice offering personalized medication support to clients virtually across Canada. Her work focuses on medication optimization and deprescribing: helping people safely reduce or stop medications when appropriate. She supports people navigating side effects, complex medication routines, antidepressant tapering, and benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Stacey combines her clinical expertise with attention to each person’s health, lifestyle, and goals, helping them feel more informed and supported in decisions about their care. She shares super interesting and helpful insights into how genetic testing can personalize medication management, reduce trial-and-error, and improve mental health outcomes. She discusses the future of personalized medicine, deprescribing, and empowering individuals to take control of their health.
Key Topics
Pharmacogenomics and its role in medication response
How genetic testing can reduce trial-and-error in prescriptions
The importance of deprescribing and safe medication withdrawal
Genetic influences on hormone therapy and mental health
The future of personalized medicine and integration into healthcare systems
Sound Bites
"Your genes influence how you respond to medications"
"Genetic testing can help reduce trial and error"
"Feel empowered to take control of your health"
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Stacey D'Angelo and her background
02:02 Her journey from pharmacy owner to personalized health advocate
07:04 Understanding pharmacogenetics and how it influences drug response
14:59 The impact of genetic testing on mental health medications
24:02 Using genetic information to guide ADHD medication and dosing
32:54 Genetics and hormone therapy: what you need to know
40:02 Deprescribing: safely reducing and stopping medications
50:00 The future of personalized medicine and healthcare integration
Resources
Stacey’s website: https://www.simplehealthpharmacist.com/
52 min
October 09EP08: The Therapist Plot Twist: What Are They Really Thinking?!
Have you ever sat across from your therapist and wondered, What are they actually thinking about me? Are they judging you, analyzing your every word, or secretly getting frustrated? In this episode of The Plot Twist, psychologists and trauma therapists Laura Devlin and Becky Loucks pull back the curtain on what really happens inside a therapist's mind during a therapy session.
From the fear of being judged to the vulnerability of sharing something you've never told anyone before, Laura and Becky explore the role of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and emotional safety in the therapeutic relationship. They also discuss what happens when therapists experience boredom, frustration, or other human reactions, and how these moments can become opportunities for deeper self-awareness and healing. Along the way, they unpack why the therapeutic alliance matters, how therapy can help repair relationship patterns, and why human connection remains an essential part of the healing process.
In this episode you'll hear...
What therapists are really thinking when you share something shameful or vulnerable, and why their response may be different from what you fear.
Why a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship matters, including Carl Rogers' concept of unconditional positive regard and how compassion can coexist with accountability.
How shame, vulnerability, and emotional safety intersect, and why being witnessed and accepted can help people open up about difficult experiences.
Whether therapists ever feel bored, annoyed, or frustrated with clients, and how therapists can use their emotional reactions to identify patterns that may also appear in clients' everyday relationships.
What therapeutic presence actually feels like, including the role of empathy, attunement, and the flow state therapists sometimes experience while working with clients.
Why therapeutic ruptures, repair, and healthy confrontation can support personal growth, especially when old attachment wounds and relationship patterns emerge in therapy.
Why AI can't fully replace the human therapeutic relationship, plus rapid-fire answers about crying in therapy, client breakthroughs, and whether therapists feel proud of their clients.
Memorable Quotes:
"Shame dissolves when you're not alone in it anymore, and when you can actually be seen in the thing that you feel the most" (06:18)
"But now the armor is feeling heavy." (14:59)
"Therapists do feel bored sometimes, and I know that people are wondering" (17:07)
"We're two human beings in a room, you know? Just connecting." (27:21)
Resources:
Carl Rogers and Person-Centered Therapy: Learn more about unconditional positive regard, empathy, and the foundations of the therapeutic relationship.
The Plot Twist – Previous Episode: Continue exploring common myths and misconceptions about therapy in the preceding episode.
Beaches Therapy Group: Learn more about the practice and its mental health services at beachestherapy.ca.
Have a question for a therapist?
Send us a DM with your question — your story may be featured in a future episode.
Instagram: @beachestherapygroup
Email: [email protected]
30 min
July 29EP07: The Therapy Plot Twist: Everything We've Been Told About Therapy Is Wrong
What if one of the biggest things we've been taught about therapy...is wrong?
Many people believe therapy is simply "talking." Others think it's only for people in crisis or that they should be able to solve their problems on their own.
In this episode, psychologists Laura Devlin and Becky explore the surprising science behind why therapy works—and why the right conversations can literally reshape the brain, strengthen relationships, improve physical health, and change lives.
Through research, real-life clinical observations, and a little friendly quiz competition, they unpack the myths surrounding therapy and reveal what actually creates lasting change.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why therapy is still surrounded by stigma

The biggest misconceptions about therapy

Why talking to a therapist is different from talking to a friend

Whether therapy really changes the brain

How therapy can improve relationships, parenting, and self-esteem

The surprising connection between mental health and physical health

Why the therapeutic relationship matters so much

What to do if therapy hasn't worked for you in the past

Why going to therapy should be viewed like going to the gym—an investment in your long-term health
The Plot Twist: Therapy isn't powerful because someone listens. It's powerful because the right conversations can change the way we think, feel, connect, and live. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's ever wondered whether therapy is really worth it.
30 min
April 27EP06: The Manosphere Plot Twist: It’s Actually About Belonging
In this episode of The Plot Twist, Laura and Becky are joined by Evan Newton, a registered social worker and therapist at Beaches Therapy Group, to unpack the cultural phenomenon of the manosphere and what it reveals about loneliness, shame, identity, and belonging. Sparked by a recent Netflix documentary, the conversation explores why some men and boys are drawn into online spaces that promise confidence, power, and community, but often reinforce rigid, isolating, and harmful ideas about masculinity.
Evan brings his clinical experience working with men, addiction, relationships, and compulsive behaviours to help explain how insecurity, attachment wounds, social disconnection, and shifting gender roles can create vulnerability to these online pipelines. Together, they discuss the need for healthier models of masculinity, more honest conversations about pornography and shame, and communities where men can feel connected, emotionally supported, and fully human.
In this episode you'll hear...
What the “manosphere” is and how it uses identity, belonging, fitness, lifestyle, and dating advice to pull men into more extreme narratives

Why loneliness, shame, anger, and disconnection can make online communities feel compelling to boys and men

How shifting gender roles have created uncertainty around what it means to be a “good man” or a “strong man”

The connection between attachment wounds, compulsive behaviours, pornography, and emotional regulation

Why shame and anger often become linked, and how that can lead to outward blame or harmful behaviour

The importance of healthy male role models, supportive communities, and “third spaces” for men and boys

Evan’s vision of masculinity rooted in care, responsibility, connection, and being a “mensch”
Memorable Quotes:
“I think we need to update what is considered healthy masculinity.” (10:14)

“You can care about the pain being inflicted on women and girls in our society and non-binary and trans folks, but also recognize that the other huge thing that's happening here in the downside of all of this patriarchal bullshit is the pain and suffering that men and boys are experiencing.” (10:47)

“Belonging is, I think it's a big part of this. We know that it's just like this deep seated human need.” (26:08)

“You can be fully human. You don't have to deny your emotions, your needs for closeness, your need for meaning and purpose.” (44:20)
Send us a DM with your question — your story may be featured in a future episode.
@beachestherapygroup
[email protected]
48 min
April 24EP05: The Relationship Plot Twist: It’s Not the Big Things That Break Relationships
In this episode of The Plot Twist, Laura Devlin and Becky Loucks sit down with Liz Weisberg, a registered social worker and Gottman-informed couples therapist with over 20 years of experience working with couples, individuals, and families. Together, they explore why relationships often struggle not because of one major event, but because of repeated small moments of disconnection, missed bids for connection, criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and emotional withdrawal.
The conversation looks at how couples can rebuild relationship satisfaction through small, consistent actions: turning toward each other, practicing curiosity, creating rituals of connection, using softened startups during conflict, and making space for repair. Liz shares practical tools for couples navigating stress, parenting, busy schedules, emotional distance, and the feeling of becoming more like roommates than partners.
In this episode you’ll hear...
Why relationships often “fail quietly” through repeated missed moments of connection

How small bids for connection, like asking about someone’s day or offering a touch, can strengthen emotional intimacy

Why contempt is one of the strongest predictors of relationship breakdown

How Gottman’s “four horsemen” show up in conflict: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling

Why repair matters more than perfect conflict resolution

How “date time” can help couples reconnect without needing elaborate plans or expensive outings

Why curiosity, nervous system regulation, and slowing down reactions can shift conflict patterns
Memorable Quotes:
“Relationships usually fail quietly, right? And it fails over time.” (04:37)

“It’s the accumulation of small disconnections or small missed moments of connecting with each other.” (04:37)

“It’s not really about the laundry. It’s really about feeling maybe unbalanced with the division of chores within the house or feeling taken advantage of.” (14:54)

“Be curious, slow down reactions, and you always have to finish the conversation.” (29:22)
Send us a DM with your question — your story may be featured in a future episode.
@beachestherapygroup

[email protected]
32 min
March 05EP04: The Pain Plot Twist: What Trauma and Attachment Has to Do with Chronic Pain and Functional Neurological Disorder
When someone experiences neurological symptoms like weakness, seizures, cognitive changes, or chronic pain but medical tests show no structural damage, the experience can be confusing, frightening, and deeply invalidating. In this episode of Plot Twist, Laura Devlin and Becky Loucks speak with neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist Dr. Sabrina Lemire-Rodger about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a real neurological condition that affects how the brain communicates with the body.
Dr. Lemire-Rodger explains how FND develops when neural communication breaks down despite the brain’s structure appearing normal on scans. The conversation explores how trauma, attachment experiences, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation can influence symptoms. Together, they unpack why FND is often misunderstood, the emotional toll of delayed diagnosis, and the emerging treatment approaches that combine neuroscience, psychology, and nervous system regulation.
In this episode you'll hear…
What Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is and how it affects brain signaling without structural damage

Why people with FND often wait 6–8 years to receive an accurate diagnosis

How symptoms like seizures, paralysis, dizziness, chronic pain, and cognitive issues can appear without visible abnormalities on scans

The connection between trauma, attachment experiences, chronic stress, and nervous system threat responses

Why high-achieving, driven individuals may be especially vulnerable to developing FND symptoms

How symptom feedback loops and nervous system dysregulation can reinforce physical symptoms over time

Practical approaches to recovery including psychoeducation, pacing, nervous system regulation, and emotional awareness
Memorable Quotes
“It is a disorder of communication and functioning of the neuron… the neurons themselves are intact, but there’s a communication breakdown.” (02:06)

“The symptoms are absolutely real and not under any conscious control.” (04:34)

“It’s not an either/or. It’s a both/and.” (16:04)

“The brain is a creature of habit… it’s going to repeat the same patterns unless we deliberately teach it a new way.” (31:09)
Send us a DM with your question — your story may be featured in a future episode.
@beachestherapygroup

[email protected]
39 min
March 05EP03: The Better Than Yesterday Plot Twist: Rebuilding a Life After Almost Losing It
At 28 years old, Daniel McQueen was living in London and building a promising career in tech when persistent headaches led to a shocking diagnosis and emergency brain surgery. What followed was a devastating brain hemorrhage that left Daniel in a coma for four weeks and forced him to relearn how to walk, talk, and rebuild his life from the ground up.
In this episode, Daniel shares the mindset shifts, small-step strategies, and relentless determination that helped him navigate months of rehabilitation and eventually return to a meaningful career. Now a motivational speaker based in Vancouver, he uses his experience to help others reframe adversity, build resilience, and focus on becoming “better than yesterday,” even when life takes an unexpected turn.
In this episode you'll hear...
How a routine eye appointment led to emergency brain surgery and a life-threatening brain hemorrhage at age 28

What it was like waking up from a coma and beginning the long process of relearning how to walk, talk, and function again

Daniel’s powerful philosophy of “aim small, miss small, and ratchet” to build momentum through tiny, achievable goals

The mindset shift that transformed one of the worst moments of his life into a source of resilience and motivation

Practical mental frameworks Daniel uses to manage adversity, including focusing only on what you can control

How gamifying recovery and everyday life can help build confidence, discipline, and self-trust

Why acceptance is often the first step toward adapting to life’s biggest plot twists
Memorable Quotes:
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you respond to it that matters.” (15:50)

“Aim small, miss small, and ratchet.” (11:28)

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” (17:58)

“I’m not special. I’m not gifted. I’m average. It’s work, mindset, and the relentless pursuit of being better than yesterday.” (47:10)
Send us a DM with your question — your story may be featured in a future episode.
@beachestherapygroup

[email protected]
50 min
March 05EP02: The Rewilding Your Heart Plot Twist: Rebuilding a Life That Feels Like Yours after Divorce
In this episode, Laura and Becky speak with Dr. Lily Briggs, environmental educator and director of the Finca Cántaros Environmental Association in Costa Rica. Lily shares how a series of life decisions—including leaving a marriage, questioning an academic career path, and moving to Costa Rica—led her to rebuild a life that felt more aligned with her values and passions.
Through stories of fieldwork in rural Guatemala, time spent in nature, and difficult moments of self-reflection, Lily describes how she learned to trust her inner voice even when her life appeared successful on paper. The conversation explores how major transitions—such as divorce, career shifts, and relocation—can become opportunities to reconnect with personal purpose, cultivate resilience, and build a life that reflects who you truly are.
In this episode you’ll hear...
How Lily recognized the disconnect between a life that looked successful on paper and one that felt authentic internally

The pivotal moment when conversations about starting a family made her realize she needed to leave her marriage

What living and working in remote Guatemala during her divorce taught her about resilience and self-trust

How time in nature can provide perspective and clarity during periods of uncertainty or personal crisis

Why self-trust is less about getting things right the first time and more about believing you will figure things out

The process of redefining success by letting go of external expectations and reconnecting with personal values

How Lily built a nonprofit environmental education organization in Costa Rica focused on community, conservation, and growing forests
Memorable Quotes
“Your life can still feel like it’s not quite the way you want it to be, even when on paper everything looks perfect.” (14:29)

“Confidence isn’t about what you’ve already achieved. It’s about trusting that if things go wrong, you’ll figure it out.” (27:03)

“Life is both short and long—you can’t get fixated on one moment being the be-all end-all.” (41:53)

“Self-trust isn’t about doing things perfectly. It’s trusting that you’ll support yourself no matter what happens.” (43:34)
Resources
Finca Cántaros Environmental Association

Unf*ck Your Brain Podcast
Send us a DM with your question — your story may be featured in a future episode.
@beachestherapygroup

[email protected]
52 min
March 05EP01: The First Plot Twist: Saying Yes to Being Visible
In the very first episode of Plot Twist, psychologists and longtime friends Laura Devlin and Becky Loucks sit down for their first recorded conversation together. They talk openly about the vulnerability of being visible—sharing ideas publicly, speaking authentically, and showing up even when the internal critic is loud. As therapists, business owners, and humans navigating their own plot twists, they reflect on how difficult it can be to step into the spotlight while still staying true to who you are.
The conversation explores how unexpected life events—diagnoses, relationship ruptures, career shifts, and other destabilizing moments—can shake our sense of identity and safety. Laura and Becky introduce the concept of “plot twists” in life and how resilience often looks messy in real time. They discuss post-traumatic growth, the importance of connection during difficult seasons, and the small steps that help people rebuild meaning and stability after life changes direction.
In this episode you’ll hear…
Why Laura and Becky decided to start the podcast and what “visibility” means in their own journeys

The internal barriers many people face when putting themselves out there, including perfectionism and fear of judgment

How unexpected life events—diagnoses, relationship loss, betrayal, or career changes—can disrupt the narratives we hold about ourselves and the world

The difference between pain and suffering, and how our psychological narratives shape the way we process difficult experiences

What resilience actually looks like in real life (hint: it often looks messy and imperfect)

An introduction to the concept of post-traumatic growth and how people adapt after life’s major plot twists

Why recognizing our shared human experience can reduce isolation and strengthen emotional resilience
Memorable Quotes:
“Handling it and being resilient does not look like you think it’s going to in the moment.” (09:16)

“Sometimes resilience is just showing up, and we don’t even realize we’re doing it.” (08:19)

“Pain is part of life… but suffering is where our mindset and the story we tell ourselves comes in.” (16:44)

“Life is going to be bigger and more beautiful and more complicated than you think—but you can handle it.” (32:03)
Send us a DM with your question — your story may be featured in a future episode.
@beachestherapygroup

[email protected]
34 min
February 09 Start Here
Life doesn’t always follow the script. Plot Twist is a mental health and resilience podcast hosted by psychologist, and trauma therapist, and longtime best friends Laura Devlin and Becky Loucks.
Each episode explores what happens when life takes an unexpected turn,a diagnosis, loss, identity shift, burnout, or major transition, and how people navigate the messy middle. Through real stories, therapist insight, and practical psychological tools, we talk about healing, emotional regulation, resilience, and personal growth when life doesn’t go as planned.
You’ll hear interviews with fascinating guests, honest conversations about navigating hard seasons, and Ask a Therapist episodes where we answer listener questions about anxiety, stress, grief, parenting, and major life changes.
If you’re navigating a plot twist of your own, this podcast is for you.
1 min

About Plot Twist

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Life doesn’t always follow the script. Plot Twist is a mental health and resilience podcast hosted by psychologist, and trauma therapist, and longtime best friends Laura Devlin and Becky Loucks.

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About Plot Twist