This episode of Restoring Us is a roundtable conversation led by Mel and Kevin with Jen Hutchings and Krystal LaCoy. The group explores how to tell gut instinct apart from anxiety or trauma responses, why body awareness matters, and how values, patterns, and community input can help people make better decisions.

Episode Chapters

01:20 - First prompt: when did your gut instinct save you?

09:27 - What is gut instinct?

16:48 - How therapists help clients distinguish intuition from trauma responses

26:33 - Values as a key tool for understanding trusted action

32:28 - The relational tension between selfhood and outside influence

39:35 - Raising kids to trust their instincts and bodily autonomy

48:45 - Final takeaway framework

Recommended Resources

Note: Books mentioned in this episode contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Purchases made through these links support the podcast and independent bookstores!

Learn more about us at www.restoretherapycollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @restoretherapycollective

Connect with the Hosts

Restoring Us is a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore topics related to mental health, therapy, and self-care. In each episode, therapists with Restore Therapy Collective in Grand Rapids, Michigan, explore ways to restore yourself and your relationships. Whether you're navigating a tough chapter, looking to understand how you function in the world, or just need a reminder that you're not alone - you are welcome here.

Please follow us here as well as on our Instagram @restoretherapycollective. You can find out more about our practice at www.restoretherapycollective.com.

Music Attribution: 2.22.2026 - 3 guitars, uplifting buildup by RhysTemple54 -- https://freesound.org/s/846011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

This episode explores how the postpartum period reshapes both the individual and the couple, especially when one partner has given birth and the other has not. Melanie and Kevin are joined by Haley Yatros and Krystal LaCoy to talk about identity shifts, relationship strain, and why postpartum often lasts much longer than people expect. We discuss the emotional and relational realities that can show up after a baby arrives, from sleep deprivation and hormone changes to resentment, attachment shifts, anxiety, and the pressure to “bounce back.” The conversation centers on normalizing how different this stage can look for every couple and why support matters for both partners.

Episode Chapters

08:06 - Rapid fire: “Nobody warned me that postpartum would blank”

10:09 - How parenthood changes both partners in different ways

17:32 - How postpartum changes the identity of the couple itself

27:15 - Mental health concerns can emerge or intensify during pregnancy and postpartum

32:02 - Preparing for mental health struggles during pregnancy

43:14 - Don’t wait if postpartum does not feel right - support and treatment

Recommended Resources

Note: Books mentioned in this episode contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Purchases made through these links support the podcast and independent bookstores!

Learn more about us at www.restoretherapycollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @restoretherapycollective

Connect with the Hosts

Restoring Us is a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore topics related to mental health, therapy, and self-care. In each episode, therapists with Restore Therapy Collective in Grand Rapids, Michigan, explore ways to restore yourself and your relationships. Whether you're navigating a tough chapter, looking to understand how you function in the world, or just need a reminder that you're not alone - you are welcome here.

Please follow us here as well as on our Instagram @restoretherapycollective. You can find out more about our practice at www.restoretherapycollective.com.

Music Attribution: 2.22.2026 - 3 guitars, uplifting buildup by RhysTemple54 -- https://freesound.org/s/846011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

In this episode Melanie and Kevin discuss what real dialogue looks like in relationships. They unpack why many couples and families think they are communicating when they are actually talking past each other, and they offer practical ways to slow down, listen, and stay regulated. Melanie and Kevin focus on two main ideas: avoiding parallel monologue and practicing an I-thou approach to the other person. They also share concrete tools for hard conversations, including structured pauses, checking timing, and even taking notes when needed.

Episode Chapters

05:25 - Parallel monologue: two speakers, no real listener

08:13 - The role of listening as an active practice

17:19 - Family modeling and how communication patterns are learned

22:18 - Introducing the I-thou and I-it framework

26:30 - Dialogue as a skill for seeing another person’s perspective

34:03 - Suggested tools: pauses, notes, and curiosity

Recommended Resources

Note: Books mentioned in this episode contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Purchases made through these links support the podcast and independent bookstores!

Learn more about us at www.restoretherapycollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @restoretherapycollective

Connect with the Hosts

Restoring Us is a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore topics related to mental health, therapy, and self-care. In each episode, therapists with Restore Therapy Collective in Grand Rapids, Michigan, explore ways to restore yourself and your relationships. Whether you're navigating a tough chapter, looking to understand how you function in the world, or just need a reminder that you're not alone - you are welcome here.

Please follow us here as well as on our Instagram @restoretherapycollective. You can find out more about our practice at www.restoretherapycollective.com.

Music Attribution: 2.22.2026 - 3 guitars, uplifting buildup by RhysTemple54 -- https://freesound.org/s/846011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Melanie and Kevin are joined by first-time guest, Restore therapist, Hailey Yatros, for a practical conversation about what actually makes relationships healthy. Hailey breaks down four pillars that show up again and again in couples work: communication, conflict resolution, relationship patterns, and intimacy; plus a useful framework for understanding repair, safety, and vulnerability.

Episode Chapters

11:38 - Naming the four pillars: communication, conflict resolution, patterns, and intimacy 

19:55 - Why healthy conflict matters and why “we never fight” is not always a good sign

23:16 - Repair as a skill: what it is and why it matters for families too 

30:58 - Relationship patterns as recurring cycles, not isolated arguments 

44:21 - A simple self-check for each pillar: what is strong, and what needs attention?

Recommended Resources

Note: Books mentioned in this episode contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Purchases made through these links support the podcast and independent bookstores!

Learn more about us at www.restoretherapycollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @restoretherapycollective

Connect with the Hosts

Restoring Us is a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore topics related to mental health, therapy, and self-care. In each episode, therapists with Restore Therapy Collective in Grand Rapids, Michigan, explore ways to restore yourself and your relationships. Whether you're navigating a tough chapter, looking to understand how you function in the world, or just need a reminder that you're not alone - you are welcome here.

Please follow us here as well as on our Instagram @restoretherapycollective. You can find out more about our practice at www.restoretherapycollective.com.

Music Attribution: 2.22.2026 - 3 guitars, uplifting buildup by RhysTemple54 -- https://freesound.org/s/846011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

In this episode of Restoring Us, hosts Melanie Freeland and Kevin Dykstra delve into the complexities of work-life balance. They discuss the importance of self-awareness, the need for routines, and the various forms of rest, emphasizing that balance is not a one-size-fits-all concept. The conversation encourages listeners to redefine their understanding of work and life, and to find meaning in their activities, whether they are restful or energizing.

Episode Chapters

03:06 - Exploring work-life balance

06:47 - Different perspectives on balance

11:40 - Redefining work and life

18:38 - Understanding rest and activity

26:45 - Practical strategies for balance

37:11 - Resources and key takeaways

Recommended Resources

Note: Books mentioned in this episode contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Purchases made through these links support the podcast and independent bookstores!

Learn more about us at www.restoretherapycollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @restoretherapycollective

Connect with the Hosts

Restoring Us is a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore topics related to mental health, therapy, and self-care. In each episode, therapists with Restore Therapy Collective in Grand Rapids, Michigan, explore ways to restore yourself and your relationships. Whether you're navigating a tough chapter, looking to understand how you function in the world, or just need a reminder that you're not alone - you are welcome here.

Please follow us here as well as on our Instagram @restoretherapycollective. You can find out more about our practice at www.restoretherapycollective.com.

Music Attribution: 2.22.2026 - 3 guitars, uplifting buildup by RhysTemple54 -- https://freesound.org/s/846011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

In this episode of Restoring Us, hosts Melanie Freeland and Kevin Dykstra delve into the experience known as the Sunday Scaries, exploring its psychological implications, strategies for managing anxiety, and the importance of recognizing when these feelings may require professional help. The episode emphasizes the significance of self-care and the need for community support in navigating mental health challenges.

Episode Chapters

02:08 - Understanding the Sunday Scaries

09:59 - Exploring Sunday Neurosis 

15:47 - The role of privilege in Sunday Scaries 

20:13 - Completing the stress cycle

27:16 - Identifying when it's more than Sunday Scaries

Recommended Resources

Note: Books mentioned in this episode contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Purchases made through these links support the podcast and independent bookstores!

Learn more about us at www.restoretherapycollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @restoretherapycollective

Connect with the Hosts

Restoring Us is a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore topics related to mental health, therapy, and self-care. In each episode, therapists with Restore Therapy Collective in Grand Rapids, Michigan, explore ways to restore yourself and your relationships. Whether you're navigating a tough chapter, looking to understand how you function in the world, or just need a reminder that you're not alone - you are welcome here.

Please follow us here as well as on our Instagram @restoretherapycollective. You can find out more about our practice at www.restoretherapycollective.com.

Music Attribution: 2.22.2026 - 3 guitars, uplifting buildup by RhysTemple54 -- https://freesound.org/s/846011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Join Melanie Freeland, Kevin Dykstra, and the founders of Restore Therapy Collective: Jen Hutchings and Lindsey Afton, as they explore the journey of creating a heartfelt mental health practice. Discover how their shared values shape a supportive, trauma-informed environment that aims to reduce stigma and increase accessibility to therapy.

Episode Chapters

01:33 -  The origins of Restore Therapy Collective

18:03 - Challenges and surprises in growing the practice from the ground up - from office aesthetics to snacks

25:07 - Evolution of services at Restore and the systemic approach to therapy

33:00 - The intention behind the podcast and its role in reducing mental health stigma

45:12 - Recommended books on relationships, grief, and trauma

49:00 - Closing remarks and the founders' gratitude for the team 

Recommended Resources

Note: Books mentioned in this episode contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Purchases made through these links support the podcast and independent bookstores!

Learn more about us at www.restoretherapycollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @restoretherapycollective

Connect with the Hosts

Restoring Us is a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore topics related to mental health, therapy, and self-care. In each episode, therapists with Restore Therapy Collective in Grand Rapids, Michigan, explore ways to restore yourself and your relationships. Whether you're navigating a tough chapter, looking to understand how you function in the world, or just need a reminder that you're not alone - you are welcome here.

Please follow us here as well as on our Instagram @restoretherapycollective. You can find out more about our practice at www.restoretherapycollective.com.

Music Attribution: 2.22.2026 - 3 guitars, uplifting buildup by RhysTemple54 -- https://freesound.org/s/846011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0