Project I Am

In this deeply relevant and encouraging episode of Project I Am, Dr. David J. Schlosz explores the modern, secular wisdom behind the age-old phrase, "Forsake not the gathering together of the brethren lest you be deceived." Drawing from current psychological research, real-world stories, and lived experience, this episode uncovers how isolation leaves us vulnerable to believing lies about our worth, our value, and our place in the world—and how gathering in authentic community can offer clarity, healing, and strength.

You’ll learn:

· Why isolation is a serious mental and physical health risk

· The specific false beliefs that thrive in disconnection

· How community helps protect us from distorted self-narratives

· Practical, modern ways to build and sustain meaningful connection

· Real examples from around the world of people overcoming loneliness

Whether you’ve been feeling disconnected or simply want to deepen your experience of belonging, this episode offers both insight and hope.

Listen now—and take one small step toward gathering. May you be well.

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In this deeply grounding and inspirational episode, Dr. David J Schlosz guides you through a 20-minute meditation focused on resilience — the quiet, powerful strength that allows us to bend without breaking, to keep going even when life feels overwhelming.

Whether you're walking through a season of challenge or simply needing a moment of rest, this practice invites you to reconnect with your inner capacity to endure, heal, and grow. With gentle breathwork, self-compassion exercises, and imagery rooted in research-backed principles of resilience, this meditation offers both calm and encouragement.

You’ll be reminded: “You are stronger than you think. You will rise from this.”

No prior meditation experience is needed — just an open heart and a few moments of stillness.

What you’ll experience in this episode:

• A calming guided meditation to center your mind and body
• Reflections on real resilience and what it truly looks like
• Affirmations and visualizations to strengthen inner resolve
• Insights grounded in psychological research (APA, 2012; Bonanno, 2004)
• A supportive space to breathe, reset, and remember your strength

Tune in now and take a moment to return to yourself. Share it with someone who needs encouragement today.

A calm, grounding practice for counselors. In this episode, I guide you through “I” statements designed to help you arrive in the room, hold spacious, compassionate presence, and loosen the grip of impostor thoughts. Use this as a pre-session centering, a between-clients reset, or an evening debrief to return to yourself. No fixing, no perfection—just breath, awareness, and the reminder that you are enough for the work in front of you.

What you’ll get

• A paced, breath-aligned sequence of affirmations
• Language for holding space with humility, clarity, and care
• Gentle reframes for self-doubt and performance pressure

How to use Press play, sit or walk, and repeat each line silently (or out loud if private). If an affirmation doesn’t land, let it pass; linger where it does.

For therapists, supervisors, trainees, and anyone who serves others from a human, present heart.

Loneliness and isolation are spiking worldwide—but connection is medicine. In this episode, Dr. David explores Relational-Cultural Theory’s Five Good Things—zest, clarity, worth, empowered action, and a desire for more connection—and shows how they function as vital signs of relational health. You’ll hear the origin story from the Stone Center, research linking social connection to better mental and physical health, and simple practices to track and grow the good. Come learn how to be seen for who you really are—and to build relationships that repair, energize, and last.

In this episode of Project I Am, I have a conversation with Phoebe Cocetti and Julia Berg about Limerence. These two Austin based therapists provide group therapy to people experiencing Limerence.

Limerence is often described as an intense, involuntary state of romantic infatuation. It goes beyond having a crush—it’s a powerful emotional and physiological experience characterized by obsessive thoughts about another person, longing for reciprocation, and a deep need for emotional connection. People experiencing limerence often find themselves replaying interactions, daydreaming, or feeling heightened anxiety and euphoria depending on how the relationship—or even perceived signals—are going.

Unlike healthy attraction or love, limerence can sometimes feel overwhelming and even disruptive to daily life. It can affect focus, relationships, and overall well-being, because the person’s attention is so consumed by the object of their affection.

That’s why support groups like the one our guests lead are so important. They provide a safe space to talk openly about this experience, reduce shame, and explore healthier ways of relating.

You can get in touch with Julia and Phoebe here:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/limerence-support-group-austin-tx/264051

https://www.instagram.com/limerencegirlsatx/

In this episode of Project I Am, I interview Dr. Charle Heaton, a career educator and married gay man. From navigating deeply conservative spaces to fully embracing his authentic self, Dr. Charles Heaton’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, identity, and pride. In this inspiring episode, Charlie shares what it was like to live as a married gay man while building a career in education—and how he found the courage to defy societal expectations and choose a life of truth and freedom.

Join us as we explore the complexities of identity, the cost of silence, and the liberating power of acceptance. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to live more boldly, love more openly, and stand more firmly in who they truly are.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/crheaton/

In this intimate interview on Project I AM, Dr. David Schlosz speaks with Diane (a pseudonym) about the unraveling and reweaving of her marriage to Jack following his affair. The conversation delves into the complex emotional journey through betrayal, the challenges of rebuilding trust, and the hard work of transforming their relationship. Diane shares the impact of infidelity on her self-esteem, the reconciliation process, and the practical changes they made to ensure a healthier, stronger marriage. This episode highlights the raw, ongoing evolution of a couple determined to break generational cycles and rebuild a deeply connected partnership.

In this reflective and educational episode of Project I Am, Dr. David Schlosz explores the profound role of transference and countertransference in the therapeutic relationship—unpacking how these often misunderstood dynamics can become powerful tools for growth, insight, and healing.

Through the lens of Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT) and the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), David breaks down how the therapist-client relationship becomes a living classroom—one where old wounds show up in the room and where genuine connection creates the conditions for change. With real clinical vignettes, current research, and candid reflections from his own experience as a therapist and educator, David guides counseling students and emerging therapists through the art of staying present, relationally attuned, and grounded in the “now” of the therapeutic encounter.

This episode challenges listeners to move beyond technique and theory into the heart of the work: the relationship itself. Whether you're navigating the emotional pull of countertransference or helping a client rewrite an old relational story, this episode will inspire you to lean into the complexities of the therapeutic process with humility, courage, and grace.

This episode is ideal for Counseling graduate students, early-career therapists, supervisors, and anyone curious about the transformative potential of authentic therapeutic connection.

Listen now and discover how the relationship is the therapy.

• Miller, J.B. & Stiver, I. (1991). A Relational Reframing of Therapy. Stone Center Colloquium. (Perspectives on reframing transference/countertransference in a relational context)growthinconnection.orggrowthinconnection.org
• Grow Therapy (2024). What is Relational Therapy? – Discussion of transference and countertransference as tools in relational-cultural therapygrowtherapy.comgrowtherapy.com
• Edgewood Health Network (2022). Exploring NARM: A Complementary Model for Healing Developmental Trauma – NARM training insights on the importance of working with transference and countertransference in treating relational traumaedgewoodhealthnetwork.com
• LaPierre, A. & Heller, L. (2018). The Capacity for Connection in Healing Developmental Trauma. (Discussion of the challenge of transference in early trauma therapy and the need for nervous system stabilization)neuroaffectivetouch.com
• Havens, R., et al. (2022). Managing Transference and Countertransference in CBT Supervision. Dove Medical Press. (Contains meta-analytic findings: effective countertransference management linked to better therapy outcomes)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Additional: Various sources on mutuality, therapeutic alliance, and relational therapy principlespmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govgrowtherapy.com

In this vulnerable and powerful episode of Project I Am, Dr. David Schlosz peels back the mask many of us wear—the smile that hides the ache. Centered around his original spoken word poem, David explores how we often live on autopilot, clinging to humor, charm, and control as coping strategies rooted in early survival.

Drawing from Internal Family Systems, trauma research, and personal reflection, this episode unpacks how defensive ego states and old patterns become our default identities—even when they no longer serve us. Through storytelling, insight, and a guided mindfulness practice, David gently invites us to come home to ourselves, reminding us that we don’t have to perform to be loved.

This is an invitation to wake up. To be present. And to know, maybe for the first time, that being here—just as you are—is enough.

In this heartfelt and deeply insightful episode of Project I Am, Dr. David Schlosz sits down with somatically-oriented psychotherapist Whitney Sutherland to explore what it truly means to heal from complex trauma. Drawing from both clinical expertise and personal experience, Whitney shares how early attachment wounds shape our sense of self—and how healing becomes possible through presence, curiosity, and authentic relationship.

Together, they unpack the nuances of C-PTSD, the difference between disconnection and avoidance, and the powerful role of the nervous system in trauma recovery. Whitney also introduces the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), offering a compassionate framework for understanding survival strategies not as pathology, but as brilliant adaptations.

This episode is a must-listen for therapists, trauma survivors, and anyone longing to reclaim their aliveness. It’s a gentle reminder that healing doesn’t require force—just the right relationship, safety, and time.

Topics include:

• The difference between shock trauma and complex trauma
• How childhood survival strategies shape adult relationships
• Why honoring disconnection is essential for building capacity
• The therapeutic power of authenticity and consent
• How healing ripples out from the individual to the collective

Resources Mentioned:

• www.whitneysutherland.com
• www.complextraumatrainingcenter.com
• Transforming Trauma Podcast by the NARM Institute