PSYCHO THERAPIST

Jay breaks our long run of fabulous female guests, and we are here for it. He came to the show after finding one of Renée's Instagram posts about anxiety in the hopes she can help him with his. After a lifetime of intermittent anxiety and depression, Jay felt his symptoms intensify last fall, and they haven't let up since. He is new to therapy and desperate to understand why he suddenly feels so bad. Renee traces his symptoms over the last few decades and - spoiler alert! - they figure it out. Jay's relief is palpable by the end, and he leaves with hope and a plan. And, of course, Renee and Josh manage to keep the tomfoolery alive.

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Natallia came to the podcast after reading one of Renée's posts on anger in the hopes that Renée could help her understand why she is often angry at her children for "no reason." So while the conversation started out as a rescue mission for an overworked mom, it evolved into a much more complex and at times shocking case. Renée traces Natallia's path from an abusive, poverty stricken childhood in Belarus to her current life as a married mom with two master's degrees. In a mind-blowing twist, Renée finds that Natallia's trauma is not limited to her childhood. As always, the episode ends with answers and hope, and there are plenty of laughs along the way.

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Molly had, in her words, "a rare, special, trauma-free childhood." She currently lives a beautiful life. Plus, she has done extensive work in therapy and with other healing practices. Then why she is experiencing a long list of distressing symptoms? Her days are plagued by anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, headaches, insomnia, and more. She asks Renée to help her figure out what is going on and what to do about it, which means sorting through a complicated conglomeration of content. Spoiler alert: it's a happy ending. Plus, Josh is extra funny. 

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When Marcella was 12 years old, her mother woke her in the middle of the night and forced her to make a life and death decision for her entire family. That was neither the first nor the last time that young Marcella would be charged with adult responsibilities, and decades later, her sleep is still disrupted by recurring dreams fueled by the fear she has stuffed away since childhood. Even with these reminders, it has been only in the last year that Marcella has begun to unpack the realities of her childhood, which she describes as "a piece of origami that keeps unfolding." Renee helps Marcella sort through an absolutely astonishing narrative, one that leaves Josh nearly speechless. Marcella's wisdom and resilience are stunning throughout, and her irrepressible life force leaves room for a whole lot of laughing. And speaking of laughter: Josh is NOT speechless during the intro to this episode, catching Renee off guard. You think you've heard her laugh before? Just wait.

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To use her own words, Kes is currently "cracking open." As a younger person, she was taught to avoid vulnerability and ignore her own needs. Lately, though, her system has been revolting against these positions - so much so that she recently dropped an F-Bomb on her very conservative father. So, what's going on? How can she best navigate this expansion? Can she really put herself first? And what about the persistent anxiety that plagues her daily? Renee answers these questions and more in a lively conversation that traces the transition from trauma to truth.

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Cee Cee has been experiencing intrusive, violent images and sensations so intense that she has taken time off of work to address them. But because of the severe depression that is almost always present, along with the many obstacles to getting the right therapy, she has not yet untangled her debilitating symptoms. Renee shows Cee Cee the connections between her current experiences and her past and develops a plan to get Cee Cee out of the house and into healing.  Cee Cee's story is heavy, but Renee manages to infuse the conversation with humor and hope, which is buoyed by Cee Cee's incredible resilience and commitment.

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Regan was diagnosed with Lupus when she was 9 years old. Three decades later, Regan has finally resolved the medical mysteries that defined her childhood, though she is still reckoning with the trauma of growing up in a chaotic home with a mentally ill parent. Renee gives a developmental frame to Regan's endlessly compelling narrative and helps Regan chart the next steps in reclaiming her life from the intersecting traumatic experiences under which it began. (Plus some laughing, naturally.)

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Kimberly and her daughter, Ella, have been struggling with tension and distance in their relationship. Now that Ella is a mom herself, both she and Kimberly want to forge a healthier relationship, but they can't seem to untangle the misunderstandings and resentments - and this is where Renee comes in. At first, Renee thinks boundaries are the issue, but as she finds out, the story goes much deeper.  As with all things mother-daughter related, it isn't easy and the minefields are many! Renee untangles the multi-generational mess, helping Kimberly and Ella find a path back to the closeness and unity they crave.  

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Maya is, in her own words, from a "lineage of fucked-up women." After losing her mother decades ago to a tragic accident, Maya was left with a case of arrested development as well as the gripping fear that she, too, will die young with a body full of unresolved trauma. Renee helps her forge a path out of the existential anxiety and physical distress that have recently dominated her days. Maya's brilliant dark humor and unflappable spirit transcend the many layers of trauma she holds, and somehow she and Renée have a blast as they figure out how to harness hope and heal generations of pain.

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