The Brain Love Podcast

SEASON 7 EPI 6 Why do we keep repeating behaviors we desperately want to change? On this episode of The Brain Love Podcast, psychiatrist Dr. Delvena sits down with Stacey Uhrig, Non-Clinical Trauma Care Practitioner, to explore the hidden patterns behind anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, hypervigilance, over-functioning, and burnout.

Stacey's philosophy is simple: behavior always makes sense. We explore how behaviors that create problems in adulthood may have begun as adaptations, why setting boundaries can trigger guilt, why some people feel uncomfortable with peace, and why being “the strong one” can eventually become exhausting. We also challenge some popular mental-health language: Is every difficult experience trauma? And at what point does understanding the origin of our behavior need to become accountability and change?

The goal isn't to ask only: “What's wrong with me?” Maybe a better question is: “Why did I learn to respond this way—and do I still need this response today?”

🎙️ IT MAKES SENSE: The Hidden Why Behind Your Patterns

Learn more about Stacey at Flip Your Mindset Www.flipyourmindset.comand follow @staceyuhrig on Instagram.

The Brain Love Podcast with Dr. Delvena

Are You Ready to Take the Couch?®

SEASON 7 EPI 5 Are You Ready to Take the Couch?®️

SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH.

What happens when pain finds somewhere to go?

My guest on The Brain Love Podcast, singer-songwriter, recording artist, mental health advocate, and award-winning speaker Zack King, turned some of his most difficult experiences with anxiety, depression, and isolation into music, purpose, and connection.

After leaving Minnesota during COVID and betting on himself and his music career, Zack began using his story—and his songs—to help others feel less alone.

We talk about:

🎵 Why music can reach places ordinary conversation sometimes can't
🧠 Anxiety, depression, loneliness, and the artist's brain
❤️ His song “Over & Over” and its message of suicide prevention
🌱 “We're Alright” and finding hope without pretending everything is perfect
🎤 The myth of the “tortured artist”
📱 Social media, rejection, and separating your worth from the numbers
🤝 Why he created The Rebellion, a mental health and music community
💭 And the question: Can music help save a life?

One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation:

Your pain needs somewhere safe to go.

Maybe that's music. Maybe it's therapy. Prayer. Journaling. Exercise. Treatment. Or simply calling someone and finally saying, “I'm not okay.”

Sometimes surviving today gives you the opportunity to discover what comes next.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Brain Love Podcast.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988. Veterans and service members can call 988 and press 1.

Are You Ready to Take the Couch?®

#TheBrainLovePodcast #DrDelvena #ZachKing #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #MusicAndMentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Hope #Resilience #BrainLove #ChooseToStay #988Lifeline #MentalHealthMatters

SEASON 7 EPI 4 Are You Ready to Take the Couch?®️

What happens when someone attends therapy but never feels safe enough to reveal who they truly are?

In this episode of The Brain Love Podcast, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Delvena Thomas welcomes Jay Godfrey, former investment banker and Co-Founder and CEO of Nushama, a psychedelic wellness center with locations in New York and Florida.

Jay describes how people sometimes “wear a mask” in therapy—presenting as though they are doing well, withholding their deepest struggles, or avoiding vulnerability. Dr. Delvena and Jay examine how this can prevent traditional talk therapy from reaching the root of a person’s pain.

Their conversation explores Jay’s personal journey from investment banking into the evolving world of psychedelic-assisted wellness, along with medically supervised ketamine treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and related conditions.

The discussion also addresses:

• Why people may hide their true feelings in therapy
• The difference between gaining insight and experiencing meaningful change
• What patients should know about ketamine-assisted treatment
• The importance of medical screening, supervision, and therapeutic integration
• Who may—or may not—be an appropriate candidate
• Ethical concerns surrounding the commercialization of psychedelic medicine
• Affordability, access, and disparities in mental healthcare
• The potential future of psilocybin-assisted treatment
• Why no treatment can eliminate the need for honesty and vulnerability

This episode is for anyone who has participated in therapy while still feeling unseen, guarded, or stuck—and for anyone curious about how emerging treatments may influence the future of mental healthcare.

This episode is for anyone who has participated in therapy while still feeling unseen, guarded, or stuck—and for anyone curious about how emerging treatments may influence the future of mental healthcare.

Please note: This conversation is for educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized medical advice. Ketamine and other psychedelic-assisted treatments are not appropriate for everyone. Anyone considering treatment should receive a comprehensive evaluation from qualified medical and mental health professionals.

Learn more about Jay Godfrey and Nushama at https://nushama.com.

Subscribe to The Brain Love Podcast and join Dr. Delvena for more honest conversations about mental health, healing, and human behavior.

Are You Ready to Take the Couch?®️

#TheBrainLovePodcast #DrDelvena #JayGodfrey #Nushama #KetamineTreatment #PsychedelicTherapy #MentalHealth #Therapy #Vulnerability #Depression #Anxiety #PTSD

The Big O — Part 2 is HERE! 🎙️🔥

Season 7, Epi 3

Dr. Delvena and Jenn are back for Part 2, taking the conversation even deeper with more unfiltered questions, real talk, laughs, and grown-folks conversation. Nothing is off limits when Jenn brings the questions to the couch!

🎧 Listen now on all podcast platforms.

Are You Ready to Take the Couch?®

#TheBigO #TheBrainLovePodcast #TakeTheCouch #drdelvena #orgasms #womenshealth

SEASON 7 EPI 2

In the PSYCHIATRY space you really should be able to discuss all things with your patients and encourage them to PROCESS these topics with you. I always share with people that I discuss ALL THINGS BRAIN. 
Tonight’s audio podcast episode is about a sensitive matter. My guest on the couch is a professional, is sensual and fabulous and has never had an orgasm.
Join us on the 
ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE COUCH®️??
 SOMETHING BIG IS COMING TO THE COUCH! 
The Brain Love Podcast is turning up the volume — and this conversation is definitely NOT for the timid. 
I’m sitting down with JENN, host of the unapologetically titled podcast “I Have a Muthafuckin Question!” — and trust me, she has QUESTIONS.  No rehearsed answers.
No pretending. No judgment. Just TWO BIG personalities having ONE BIG conversation.
We’re talking life, love, relationships, mental health, womanhood, the things we think but don’t always say out loud… and whatever else happens once the microphones come on.
And y’all already know… once you Take the Couch®, you never quite know where the conversation is going to go! 
 COMING SOON TO YOUTUBE but dropping on audio platforms TONIGHT at 8 pm.
Who’s ready for THE BIG “O”? 
#TheBrainLovePodcast #TheBigO #AreYouReadytoTakeTheCouch #MentalHealthMatters #RealConversations #WomenWhoPodcast #PodcastLife #BrainLove #drdelvena

SEASON 7 EPI 1

What do the stories dominating our timelines reveal about grief, relationships, major life transitions, and the way we treat one another?

In this return episode of The Brain Love Podcast, Dr. Delvena takes us beyond the headlines to explore the mental-health lessons within today’s trending conversations. She reflects on the heartbreaking death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, the dangers of online speculation and harassment, the public debate surrounding Scottie Pippen’s rumored age-gap relationship.

Dr. Delvena also shares highlights from her past 30 days—including her work in youth suicide prevention, military mental health, faith, leadership, and the importance of responding to children’s behavioral challenges with early intervention instead of damaging labels.

This episode challenges us to pause before commenting, verify before sharing, check on the people around us, and remember that every headline involves real human beings. It is a timely conversation about compassion, accountability, identity, emotional safety, protecting our peace, and having the courage to embrace a new season.

Are you ready to take the couch?

Follow @DrDelvena and @TheBrainLovePodcast, and share this episode with someone who could use a little Brain Love today.

#TheBrainLovePodcast #DrDelvena #BrainLove #Me

SEASON 6 EPI 14

You can’t save him. I said what I said. Too many women—especially Black women—are out here loving potential…while ignoring patterns that are loud, consistent, and dangerous.

🚨 Red flags are not challenges to overcome. They are warnings to pay attention to.

In this episode of The Brain Love Podcast, Dr. Delvena will break down:

✨ The psychology behind “I can save him”✨ Why women stay in unhealthy (and sometimes unsafe) relationships✨ How substance use, financial instability, and emotional dysregulation can escalate risk✨ And the hard truth: some situations don’t get better… they get worse

Using real-life context—including the situation involving Justin Fairfax—we take a deeper look at what happens when red flags are ignored for too long.

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness. It’s about protection. It’s about Brain Love. 💛

SiS, you are not his therapist. You are not his rehabilitation center. And you are not his savior.

You can’t save a man who doesn’t want to be saved.
But you can save yourself.

🎧 Listen now on all platforms
(@thebrainlovepodcast)

👇🏾 Let’s talk in the comments:
What’s one red flag you’ll never ignore again?

#drdelvena #BrainLove #TheBrainLovePodcast #MentalHealthMatters #BlackWomenHeal #SelfWorth #RelationshipHealth #RedFlags #ChooseYou #EmotionalWellness #ProtectYourPeace #ToxicRelationships #WomensMentalHealth #HealthyBoundaries #LoveShouldntHurt #Accountability

SEASON 6 EPI 13

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ADREANA JACKSON FOR HAVING DR. DELVENA ON HER SHOW, "THE BALANCE". "The Brain Love Podcast" is replaying an episode from, "The Balance" hosted by Andreana Jackson.
COPIED FROM ADREANA'S BLOG:
There’s a quiet truth many of us are living with but rarely pause to examine: stress is no longer occasional—it’s constant.
This conversation brings together two medical experts, Dr. Delvena Thomas, Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Lieutenant Colonel, and Dr. Heather Britton, Board-Certified Neurologist, to explore how stress is not only experienced—but processed, stored, and expressed within the brain and body.
What unfolds is both scientific and deeply human.
The nervous system is divided into two key parts: the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system, which includes the autonomic system responsible for regulating involuntary functions.
The sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight)
The parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest)
When the body perceives stress, it activates the sympathetic system—releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
“Stress affects the hypothalamus and amygdala… it produces cortisol and adrenaline, leading to rapid heart rate, anxiety, and elevated blood pressure.” — Dr. Heather Britton
“Prolonged stress can affect memory, concentration, and even your personality—because it impacts the prefrontal cortex.” — Dr. Heather Britton
“Stress in small doses is protective. But prolonged stress tears the body down.” Dr. Delvena Thomas
“We’ve been conditioned to believe constant stress is normal—but it’s one of the reasons we see higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and anxiety.” — Dr. Delvena Thomas
Over time, stress can lead to:
Anxiety and depression
High blood pressure
Sleep disturbances
Cognitive decline
The body, quite literally, was never designed to stay in survival mode.
From childhood environments to cultural norms, the way we process stress is often shaped early in life.
“You often learn how to manage stress based on how you saw your family handle it.” — Dr. Heather Britton
Dr. Thomas expands further, introducing the concept of vicarious trauma—how historical experiences, systemic challenges, and lived environments can contribute to elevated stress levels across generations.
This adds an important layer: stress is not always individual—it can be collective.
Interrupting Stress in Real Time
Understanding stress is one thing. Managing it is another.
When asked how to regulate stress in the moment, Dr. Thomas offers a practical and immediate solution: breathing.
“You have to break the cycle. Engage your parasympathetic system through breathing—that’s what calms the body.” — Dr. Delvena Thomas
It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful tools are also the simplest.
The result? A state of continuous stimulation that can disrupt focus, sleep, and emotional balance.
Mindfulness—being present and intentional—becomes increasingly difficult in a world designed for distraction.
Dr. Britton highlights several ways to protect cognitive function and reduce the risk of conditions like dementia:
Maintain a nutrient-rich diet (Mediterranean-style)
Stay physically active
Engage socially
Continue learning new skills
“You have to keep your brain active—learning new skills creates new neural connections.” — Dr. Heather Britton
Stress management, once again, plays a central role—reinforcing how interconnected mental and physical health truly are.
Living in Balance
At its core, this episode reflects what The Balance has always been about: awareness.
Not eliminating stress—but understanding it.
Not avoiding life—but learning how to move through it with intention.
Because balance isn’t something we find once.
It’s something we practice—daily.
Final Thought
Stress may be inevitable—but living in a constant state of it is not.
And sometimes, the most powerful reset begins with something as simple as a breath.

Season 6 EPI 12

Are you ready to take the couch? ®️

Welcome back to The Brain Love Podcast, where we unpack the mind, challenge the narrative, and get to the truth about mental health… and human behavior.

Today’s conversation is a tough one—but an important one.

Dr. Delvena is on the couch solo.

Nancy Metayer Bowen, Vice Mayor of Coral Springs, was found dead in her home on April 1, 2026. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was arrested and charged with premeditated murder and evidence tampering. According to police reports, he allegedly shot her multiple times, then attempted to conceal the crime. He reportedly told a relative he did it because he “couldn’t take it anymore.”

The case is being investigated as domestic violence, and there is no confirmed motive publicly established yet.

People are saying “mental illness.”Evil is not synonymous with mental illness.Planning a murder, carrying it out, and attempting to conceal it reflects awareness, intent, and choice.We have to stop labeling every horrific act as mental illness simply because it makes us uncomfortable to call it what it is.

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE COUCH? ®️ SEASON 6 EPI 11

What if I told you…everything you’ve been feeling…

everything you’ve been seeing…everything your mind has been telling you……might not be the full truth?

 We live by our five senses, but God calls us to live by something higher. On this episode of The Brain Love Podcast, I step into a different kind of conversation—where psychiatry meets Scripture and science meets faith. Because let’s be real,

your mind will convince you to worry, magnify what you see, and misinterpret what you don’t understand. But the Word says: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

The real question is:

Are you trusting what you see or who God is?

 From a mental health perspective, we’re diving into:

1. Why your senses can mislead you

2. How fear distorts perception

3. The psychological power of faith

4. And how to anchor yourself when life doesn’t make sense

Healing isn’t just about what you experience, it’s about what you choose to believe.

 Tap in for this powerful episode and ask yourself: Am I living by my senses or by my faith?

The Brain Love Podcast

Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Pandora | iHeartRadio

 @drdelvena | @thebrainlovepodcast