Say Hello to your Therapist

In this episode, Bethany talks with Kiara Brown who shares about her trauma and anxiety work with adults and has expanded beyond CBT to include EMDR, hypnotherapy, and metaphysical approaches. The discussion explores how trauma often underlies anxiety and depression and the importance of mind-body reconnection for stress-related physical symptoms. She details hypnosis, regression-to-cause, and past life regression processes, emphasizing trust, consent, and client openness.

To learn more about Kiara:

Website

Facebook Page

Kiara's YouTube Channel and Podcast:

KiaraBrown-LunarCounseling

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

Podcast Website

Bethany's Website

Say Hello to Your Therapist Podcast Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook Page

Things we talked about:

Episode 2: Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy with Dr. Monika Sharma

The Soul's Guide to the After Death by Gwenna Laithland

Villain Book Series by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Secrets of the Faerie Crown series by Emberly Ash

00:00 Meet Kiara

00:36 Why She Became Therapist

01:20 Career Path to Practice

02:49 Adults Holistic Modalities

05:08 Telehealth Kids Play

10:53 Therapy Without Rigid Plans

12:31 Trauma Behind Anxiety

20:13 Mind Body Healing

24:20 Past Life Regression

30:48 Sponsor Break

31:49 Past Life Healing Process

32:59 Virtual Sessions and Trust

34:49 Training and Client Readiness

36:48 Who Benefits From Hypnosis

37:57 Regression to Cause Explained

40:15 Trauma Case Breakthrough

42:01 Therapy Tools and Openness

44:30 Human Design and Intuition

48:23 Instincts vs Trauma Patterns

50:39 Wrap Up Licensing and Fees

51:19 Book Talk and Slow Burn Debate

57:38 Comforts Misconceptions and Where to Find Her

Bethany chats with licensed marriage and family therapist Briania Davis who works primarily with people—often moms—experiencing overwhelm, stress, people-pleasing, and perfectionism. Davis shares how identity evolves with life stages, parenting, and cultural influences. They discuss distinguishing “have to/need to/want to,” making choices based on intention, and reframing people-pleasing as dependability while examining motivations like loyalty, obligation, and the need for appreciation. The conversation covers grief for past selves, pacing and pausing, finding “sparkles” of gratitude, using language and metaphors to clarify experience, and how therapy offers support, tools, or information and access to resources.

Learn more about Briania:

Instagram

Facebook 

Website 

Psychology Today

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

Podcast Website

Bethany's Website

Say Hello to Your Therapist Podcast Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook Page

Things we talked about:

Kpop Demon Hunters

Marvel Comics

Iron Man/Tony Stark's Arc Reactor Battery different model evolutions

Nsync Puppets

Pinocchio

Elsa from Frozen: Don’t feel it, don’t let it show 

Sister act 2 

Dave Matthews: The Space Between Lyrics 

Denzel Washington quote: Don’t confuse movement with progress. My mother told me, she said, “Yeah you ‘cause you can run in place all the time and never get anywhere.”  Dillard University 2015 Commencement Address | Denzel Washington: 15 min & 4 min clip

Aesop’s Fable The Tortoise & the Hare

God Wink Movies 

Ashton Kutcher movies: Just Married with Brittany Murphy. I had a moment where I was briefly thinking of What Happens in Vegas, which has Cameron Diaz in it 

00:00 Meet Briania 

00:09 From Detention to Therapy 

02:48 Why Adolescents Changed 

05:47 Pandemic and Digital Life 

08:19 Therapy Ripple Effects 

11:14 Choices and Why Questions 

12:37 Have To Need To Want To 

13:45 Time Management and Breaks 

19:28 Parenting and Expectations 

24:12 Metaphors for Feeling Stuck 

30:47 Sparkles and Gratitude 

39:00 People Pleasing and Worth 

47:09 Invisibility and Identity 

50:16 Grieving Old You 

51:52 Nostalgia And Freedom 

53:34 Reframing Perfectionism 

55:46 Parenthood Identity Shifts 

59:42 Belonging Without Masks 

01:03:59 Too Much Not Enough 

01:06:28 Burnout And The Cost 

01:08:34 Chasing The Right Feeling 

01:13:36 Tools For Emotional Release 

01:15:15 Becoming The Professional 

01:20:31 Therapy As Support And Access 

01:24:44 Wrap Up And Rapid Fire 

01:33:49 Misconceptions About Therapy 

01:35:56 Final Thanks And Goodbye 

Dr. Bethany Valenti interviews Tracy Sisk, a licensed mental health counselor in Florida who specializes in trauma, PTSD, relationship issues, and tinnitus distress. Sisk shares her lived experience developing constant tinnitus and explains that tinnitus presents differently across people. They discuss how distress can be associated with grief, anxiety, and other challenges, as well as individual triggers for higher levels of distress. Sisk describes therapy treatment and lifestyle adjustments, alongside possible ENT/audiology support. She emphasizes communicating about tinnitus, building agency, and the hope of reducing disruption over time.

Learn more about Tracy:

Her website

Her Facebook Page

Her Psychology Today

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

Podcast Website

Bethany's Website

Say Hello to Your Therapist Podcast Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook Page

Things we talked about:

American Tinnitus Association

Loop Earplugs

Bruce Hubbard, PhD

Cicadas

ENT or Otolaryngologist

Audiologist

00:00 Meet the Tracy
01:46 Why She Became a Therapist
03:03 Her Tinnitus Story
06:08 What Tinnitus Is
08:45 Tinnitus Distress Explained
12:56 Habituation and Hope
19:10 Triggers and Sound Tools
28:12 Sponsor Break
29:06 Mindfulness in Practice
31:09 What Progress Looks Like
32:39 Silent Suffering Explained
33:42 Cicadas Tinnitus Analogy
36:40 Communicating With Others
37:47 Habituation In Therapy
41:13 Finding The Right Providers
44:07 Therapist Lived Experience
46:16 Hope And Acceptance
48:44 Wrap Up And Resources

Narcissism & Narcissistic Abuse with Stephanie Lee Say Hello to Your Therapist

Dr. Bethany Valenti opens season two of the Say Hello to Your Therapist podcast with licensed clinical professional counselor Stephanie Lee, who specializes in narcissism and narcissistic abuse. They discuss how “narcissism” is often misused, the difference between narcissistic traits, narcissistic abuse, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and why diagnosis is difficult. Stephanie outlines multiple narcissism subtypes  and defines gaslighting, distinguishing it from lying, and introduces the DARVO pattern. They explore common abuse dynamics such as love bombing, discard, and hoovering, coercive control, and warning signs like chronic blame, lack of accountability, and survivors doubting their own judgment. The episode shares safety guidance, including contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, and notes the discussion is not medical advice.

To learn more about Stephanie:

Mentella Bio Page

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

Podcast Website

Bethany's Website

Say Hello to Your Therapist Podcast Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook Page

Things we talked about:

DARVO: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim & Offender

DSM-5-TR

00:00 Podcast Intro and Safety Notes
02:01 Meet Stephanie Lee
02:13 From Paramedic to Therapist
04:16 Why Narcissistic Abuse
05:48 Narcissism vs NPD
09:21 Patterns and Change
22:16 Emotional Immaturity Overlap
25:39 Subtypes and Insecurity
29:14 Gaslighting and DARVO
37:21 Narcissism Subtypes Tour
46:07 Sponsor Break
46:21 How to Find Me
47:09 Communal Narcissism Explained
48:54 Self Righteous and Neglectful Types
51:11 Seven Subtypes Spectrum Review
54:22 Spotting Narcissistic Red Flags
58:38 Love Bombing Discard Hoovering
01:07:01 When It Becomes Abuse
01:14:05 Can Narcissists Change
01:16:28 DARVO and Self Doubt Signs
01:22:04 Tiger Cage Relationship Test
01:26:59 Wrap Up and Where to Find Stephanie

Trailer for season 2 of the podcast where therapists get real about their work, their specialties, and what actually happens in therapy. First episode drops September 14th!

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD or the podcast:

https://www.bethanyvalenti.com/podcast
www.bethanyvalenti.com
https://www.instagram.com/sayhellotoyourtherapistpodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/bethanyvalentipsyd/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Bethany-Valenti-PsyD-61579092524236/

Helping the Helpers: Maria Zabeti on Fatigue, Boundaries, CBT, and Brainspotting

Dr. Bethany Valenti interviews Maria Zabeti, a California-licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with helping professionals. Maria shares her path to therapy as a second career after years of service-oriented work, including as a medical assistant, and explains her passion for connecting with people and being part of their stories. They discuss common themes among helpers—fatigue, resentment, rumination, stress, anxiety, feeling unappreciated at work and at home, difficulty identifying personal needs and values, and challenges with boundaries that can be rooted in childhood roles and family messages. Maria describes her clinical approach using CBT (including a negative thought journal, feelings charts, evidence for/against thoughts, and alternative thoughts), values clarification, and boundary-setting as gradual “muscle-building,” along with elements of positive psychology focused on self-esteem and self-love. She also explains how and when she introduces brainspotting for trauma and difficult emotions.

To learn more about Maria:

Website

Psychology Today

Facebook

LinkedIn

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

Bethany's Website

Say Hello to Your Therapist Podcast Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook Page

Things we talked about:

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Feelings Wheel
Brainspotting

00:00 Welcome + Meet Maria Zabeti (Helping the Helpers)
01:12 Maria’s Path to Therapy: From Medical Assistant to MFT
04:13 Why Psychology Over HR: The Need for Real Connection
06:00 Who Are “Helping Professionals”? Defining the Umbrella
09:24 The Appreciation Gap: Stress at Work and at Home
10:39 Over-Functioning, Exhaustion & Resentment (The Push-Pull)
17:05 Losing Yourself: Needs, Hobbies, and Values Clarification
19:47 Tools in Session: Feelings Charts to Unlock Emotions
24:42 CBT for Helpers: Negative Thought Journal + Reality Testing
28:11 CBT Example: “My Boss Doesn’t Appreciate Me” Reframed
33:16 Pros, Cons, and Next Steps When Work Isn’t Meeting Your Needs
34:20 Your Worth Isn’t Your Job: Meaning, Identity, and Self-Esteem
35:30 Setting Boundaries at Work (After-Hours Calls & Saying No)
37:28 Where People-Pleasing Starts: Childhood Roles and Learned Beliefs
39:45 Roadblocks to Change: Spouse Expectations, Pressure, and Feeling Trapped
41:39 When to Use Brainspotting: Trauma, Loss, and Toxic Relationship Stress
46:52 How Brainspotting Works: Eye Position, Body Sensations, and Debriefing
54:43 Wrap-Up Q&A: Practice Details, Self-Care, Misconceptions, and Where to Find Her

Welcome to the Say Hello to your therapist podcast hosted by Dr. Bethany Valenti. In this episode, Dr. Valenti interviews Dr. Kimberly Richards, a therapist specializing in anxiety, trauma, and EMDR therapy. They discuss their experiences with community mental health and how trauma often manifests in various ways such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Dr. Richards shares her journey to becoming a therapist, the challenges faced, and her transition to private practice. The conversation delves into the intricacies of trauma therapy, including the use of EMDR, understanding dissociative symptoms, and the importance of addressing trauma for effective mental health treatment. The episode offers insights into how EMDR therapy works, its effectiveness, and the protocols involved. Listeners are encouraged to take care of themselves as the discussion involves heavy topics such as sexual abuse and trauma.

To learn more about Kim:

https://www.birchrunpsych.com/

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

Bethany's Website

Say Hello to Your Therapist Podcast Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook Page

Things we talked about:
Dr. Amber Lyda and her episode on the podcast (Episode 1!)
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
Married with Children show
DSM 5
The Living Legacy of Trauma Flipchart by Janina Fisher
Got Your Six service dogs
Coulda Had a V8
PsyPact Map
Fiona Baker Marigold Island Series

00:00 Introduction and Content Warning
01:18 Kim's Journey to Becoming a Therapist
02:00 Challenges and Experiences in Education
05:31 Working in the Prison System
09:50 Transition to Private Practice
13:35 Understanding Trauma and Anxiety
20:19 Exploring Covert Trauma
31:33 Dissociation and Trauma Responses
44:41 Exploring Trauma and EMDR Therapy
45:13 Virtual EMDR: Tools and Techniques
47:12 The Science Behind EMDR
49:33 Explaining EMDR to Clients
52:38 EMDR Protocols and Phases
55:22 Using Olfactory Cues in EMDR
58:11 Client Experiences and Feedback
01:18:32 Concluding Thoughts and Resources

Join Dr. Bethany Valenti on the 'Say Hello to Your Therapist' podcast as she interviews Keely Rodriguez. Keely shares her journey from various careers to becoming a therapist specializing in trauma, anxiety, and grief for middle-aged and perimenopausal women. The discussion also delves into therapeutic techniques like EMDR and brain spotting, comparing their uses and benefits. Additionally, the conversation touches on the unique challenges faced by midlife women and the importance of addressing mental health during this transitional phase.

To learn more about Keely:
Website

Keely's Instagram

Keely's Blog Therapy for Grown Ass Women

Keely's YouTube Channel

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

Bethany's Website

Say Hello to Your Therapist Podcast Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook Page

Things we talked about:
We Do Not Care Club aka Melani Sanders

EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Brainspotting and Dr. David Grand

Dr. Dan Siegel Hand Model of the Brain

Perimenopause

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:17 Meet Keely Rodriguez: A Journey to Becoming a Therapist
02:27 Keely's Career Transition and Early Experiences
04:27 Specializing in Women's Mental Health
09:53 Working with the Hispanic Community
13:51 Exploring Brainspotting and EMDR
38:44 Session Structure and Client Follow-Up
40:15 The Importance of Therapeutic Relationships
42:36 Brainspotting and EMDR Techniques
43:41 Impact of COVID on Therapy
44:22 Understanding Midlife and Perimenopause
46:11 Emotional and Physical Challenges of Midlife
56:39 Addressing Anxiety and Depression in Midlife
58:46 Biological and Lifestyle Factors in Mental Health
01:10:30 Therapist's Personal Insights and Practices
01:17:13 Contact Information and Final Thoughts

Join Bethany Valenti as she chats with Nicole Byrne, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in people pleasing and burnout. In this episode, they discuss the signs of people pleasing, the impact of being a people pleaser on personal fulfillment, and the role of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Nicole shares her five-point checklist for identifying trustworthy relationships and offers insights into managing people pleasing behaviors. They explore actionable strategies for self-compassion, setting boundaries, and fostering authentic connections.

To learn more about Nicole:

Website: https://counselingwithnicole.com/

Is This Person Trustworthy? A 5-Point Checklist for People-Pleasers: https://counselingwithnicole.com/new-blog/2025/9/17/is-this-person-trustworthy-a-5-point-checklist-for-people-pleasers

YouTube video: 5 traits of trustworthy people https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNmb17LUdG8

General blog page: https://counselingwithnicole.com/new-blog

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NicoleByrne-LMFT

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

Bethany's Website

Say Hello to Your Therapist Podcast Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook Page

Things we talked about:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

The Resident on Netflix

Kpop Demon Hunters on Netflix

The Big Year Film

Surface Pressure from Encanto

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

House of the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:07 Meet Nicole Byrne: Journey to Becoming a Therapist

03:31 Understanding People Pleasing and Burnout

05:19 Defining People Pleasing

10:35 Challenges of People Pleasing in Motherhood

14:30 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Insights

24:30 Balancing Kindness and Self-Care

35:20 Distinguishing Between Good and Kind

35:53 The Hollow Nature of Niceness

36:31 Authenticity in Relationships

37:37 The Challenge of Simple Truths

38:28 Recovering from People Pleasing

39:57 Building Balanced Relationships

40:17 Traits of Trustworthy People

40:52 The Importance of Consideration

49:33 Sincerity and Responsibility

51:58 Reliability and Competence

55:06 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Therapy for Christian Women: Navigating Faith and Trauma with Christian Counselor Michelle Coyle

Join Bethany as she chats with Michelle Coyle, a licensed professional counselor specializing in EMDR treatment for Christian women. In this episode, they discuss Michelle's journey into therapy, her work with Christian women dealing with trauma, religious abuse, and self-esteem issues, and how she integrates faith into her practice. They explore common themes in Michelle's therapy sessions, how faith and psychology can work together, and tools like prayer and medication for healing. Michelle shares her approach to intensive therapy and the importance of kindness, boundaries, and empowering clients to take control of their mental health.

To learn more about Michelle:

Emdrpittsburgh.com

Mental Health for Christian Women Podcast

Instagram

Things we talked about:

How We Love By Milan and Kay Yerkovich

Holy Disruptor by Amy Duggar King

Monte Mader Instagram

To learn more about Bethany Valenti, PsyD:

www.bethanyvalenti.com

Say Hello to Your Therapist Instagram

Bethany's Instagram

Bethany's Facebook

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:48 Meet Michelle Coyle: Journey to Becoming a Therapist
03:33 Specializing in Christian Counseling
07:36 Addressing Church Hurt and Abuse
11:22 Empowering Christian Women
29:57 Balancing Science and Spirituality
31:33 The Intersection of Psychology and Faith
32:34 Therapists' Views on Spirituality in Therapy
34:00 Challenges in Integrating Faith and Therapy
35:05 Personal Experiences with Faith and Mental Health
38:25 Tools and Techniques in Therapy
45:31 Incorporating Faith in EMDR Therapy
49:31 The Rise of Intensive Therapy Sessions
51:33 Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts