🎙️ Why We Crave Control—and How to Let Go with Kati Morton, LMFT

Why do we cling to control even when it keeps us stuck?

In this powerful episode of The Dude Therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist and bestselling author Kati Morton joins me to break down the psychology of control, the root of self-sabotaging habits, and how we can start unlearning patterns that no longer serve us.

Kati opens up about her own mental health journey, including her recovery from an eating disorder and what inspired her to become a therapist. We explore how control shows up in our lives—especially during times of anxiety, trauma, or uncertainty—and how letting go can actually be the first step toward healing.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone struggling with perfectionism, disordered eating, emotional overwhelm, or a constant need to "keep it together."

• How control becomes a coping mechanism—and a barrier to growth

• Kati Morton’s personal story of healing and becoming a mental health advocate

• The link between eating disorders, anxiety, and control

• Signs you're stuck in unhelpful patterns (and how to break them)

• Why vulnerability is a powerful tool for personal transformation

• Practical mental health strategies for creating change and building emotional resilience

Kati Morton, LMFT, is a leading voice in mental health education. With millions of followers across YouTube and Instagram, she’s known for making mental health conversations accessible, relatable, and empowering. Kati has been featured on The TODAY Show, Dr. Phil, Call Her Daddy, CBS The Doctors, and more.

🔗 Follow Kati on Instagram: @katimorton
🌐 Website: www.katimorton.com

• Are u ok?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health

• Traumatized: Identify, Understand, and Cope with PTSD and Emotional Stress

• Why Do I Keep Doing This?: Unlearn the Habits Keeping You Stuck and Unhappy (Coming soon!)

If you’re looking for real tools to understand your mental health, improve your relationship with control, and finally feel unstuck—this episode is your starting point.

🎧 Tune in now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:📘 About Kati Morton📚 Kati Morton’s Books:

Episode Summary:
In this eye-opening episode of The Dude Therapist, Eli Weinstein sits down with clinical child psychologist and trauma expert Dr. Robyn Koslowitz to explore the powerful concept of Post-Traumatic Parenting. As the founder of the Post-Traumatic Parenting model and author of the acclaimed book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle, Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be, Dr. Koslowitz shares how unresolved childhood trauma affects parenting—and how healing is possible, not just for you, but for your entire family.

With warmth, wisdom, and clarity, Dr. Koslowitz breaks down how your “trauma app”—the invisible programming left over from your own childhood—can shape your reactions, parenting style, and relationships. She offers actionable strategies for identifying these patterns, shifting your responses, and building deeper, more secure connections with your kids and partner.

Whether you're a new parent, navigating your own healing, or trying to break generational cycles, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and empowered.

👓 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What “Post-Traumatic Parenting” really means

• How your inner child can affect your ability to parent effectively

• The neuroscience of trauma and how to update your “trauma app”

• Why children are mirrors, not triggers

• Tools for breaking inherited emotional patterns

• How to co-parent with awareness and compassion

• The difference between reacting from wounds and responding from healing

🧠 About Dr. Robyn Koslowitz:
Dr. Robyn Koslowitz is a clinical child psychologist and trauma treatment expert who has helped thousands of parents break free from inherited trauma and become the emotionally attuned caregivers their children—and their inner child—need. She is the creator of the Post-Traumatic Parenting framework and the host of the Post-Traumatic Parenting Podcast.

Her message is simple but profound:
👉 Your inner child can’t raise a child. But raising your child can help heal your inner child.

📚 Resources & Links:
🔗 Book: Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle, Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be
🌐 Website: posttraumaticparenting.com
🎧 Podcast: Post-Traumatic Parenting Podcast
📲 Social Media:

• Instagram: @dr.koslowitzpsychology

• Threads: @dr.koslowitzpsychology

• YouTube: @PostTraumaticParenting

• LinkedIn: Dr. Robyn Koslowitz

Struggling to stay grounded during emotional storms? This week on The Dude Therapist, we’re diving deep into the world of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with the brilliant Dr. Kiki Fehling licensed psychologist, author, and Linehan-Board-Certified DBT expert.

We explore how DBT empowers individuals to regulate emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and navigate life's chaos with more resilience and calm. Whether you're a mental health professional, someone navigating intense emotions, or just DBT-curious, this episode delivers.

What You'll Learn:

✅ What DBT actually is and why it works
✅ How DBT helps with emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness
✅ Real-world applications for anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and beyond
✅ LGBTQ+ mental health insights and how DBT can be adapted across identities
✅ Dr. Fehling’s personal journey into the field and why DBT is her life’s work

Meet the Guest: Dr. Kiki Fehling

Dr. Kiki Fehling is a licensed psychologist, author, and Linehan Board-Certified DBT expert. She specializes in suicide prevention, self-harm, borderline personality disorder, and LGBTQ+ mental health. She's the author of Self-Directed DBT Skills: A 3-Month Workbook and DBT Cards for Coping Skills, with a forthcoming book on LGBTQ+ mental health. Dr. Fehling is a passionate educator and content creator known for breaking down complex mental health concepts on Instagram @dbtkiki and through her writing on Psychology Today.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Fehling:
Website: https://www.dbtkiki.com
Instagram: @dbtkiki
Books: Self-Directed DBT Skills & DBT Cards for Coping Skills

What if real resilience isn’t about pushing through, but knowing when to pause, adapt, and reconnect with what matters?

Clinical psychologist and global mental health expert Dr. Ross White joins Eli to discuss psychological flexibility, athlete mental health, and why success should include well-being not just achievement.

Together, they explore what it means to thrive in high-performance environments without sacrificing mental well-being. Whether you're an athlete, a parent, or someone feeling stretched thin by life, this conversation invites you to rethink resilience not as rigid toughness, but as the ability to bend with purpose.

Inspired by his book The Tree That Bends, this episode is packed with insights for anyone navigating high-pressure environments, from sports to everyday life.

🔗 Learn more: rossgwhite.com

👤 About Dr. Ross White:
Professor Ross White is a clinical psychologist who specializes in supporting mental health in high-performance environments, including elite athletes in rugby, football, athletics, and tennis. He is a global mental health expert with collaborations across the WHO and UNHCR, focused on reducing distress among refugees post-crisis. He’s currently Professor of Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast and director of Strive2Thrive, a training and consultancy organization.

📲 Let’s keep the conversation going—tag @thedudetherapist with your biggest takeaways and thoughts on what resilience means to you.

Why do high achievers often struggle in relationships? It’s not about success—it’s about unresolved emotional patterns.

In this episode of The Dude Therapist, licensed psychologist Dr. Sarah Schewitz, founder of Couples Learn, breaks down why high-achieving individuals often bring attachment wounds, emotional avoidance, and miscommunication into their relationships.

We dive deep into how therapy, self-awareness, and co-regulation can transform the way high performers love and connect.

🔍 In this episode, we explore:

• Why high achievers struggle in relationships and where it stems from

• How attachment styles and past emotional wounds affect communication and intimacy

• The truth about co-regulation and why it’s crucial during conflict

• Why “being nice” can actually harm emotional intimacy

• How therapy helps address avoidance, conflict cycles, and generational trauma

• What couples therapy actually looks like and what it’s not

Dr. Sarah Schewitz is the founder of Couples Learn, one of Forbes Health’s top-rated online couples therapy platforms. Her mission? Help couples heal attachment wounds and create emotionally secure relationships. She’s been featured on CNN, Women’s Health, Bravo, and Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown.

🎧 Tune in to learn how emotional healing, not more effort, may be the key to a thriving relationship, especially for high achievers.

🔗 Helpful Links:

• Website: coupleslearn.com

• Online Courses: coupleslearn.com/online-courses

• Relationship Quizzes: coupleslearn.com/quizzes

• IG: @coupleslearn

If you’ve ever felt like your child is carrying the weight of the world or maybe just your own stress, you’re not alone. And this episode is precisely what you need.

Eli Weinstein sits down with powerhouse parenting coaches and psychotherapists Maria Evans and Ashley Graber, authors of the groundbreaking new book, Raising Calm Kids in a World of Worry. These two have trained over 8,000 mental health professionals and worked with families across the globe, and now they’re breaking it all down for you.

This isn’t your typical “just breathe and stay positive” advice. We’re talking fundamental tools for real parents dealing with real chaos.

💥 In this episode, we dive into:

• How your calm becomes their calm

• What anxiety actually looks like in kids (it’s not always obvious)

• The one thing most parents skip after a blow-up—and why it matters

• The art of validating without over-accommodating

• How to raise confident kids in an anxious world without losing yourself in the process

Personal. Practical. Powerful.
Ashley and Maria blend science, mindfulness, and personal experience into simple, effective strategies that can be applied at home. You’ll walk away feeling seen, supported, and ready to show up not perfectly, but powerfully.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to parent with more calm, clarity, and confidence—even when anxiety is in the room.
👉 Grab their book here: Raising Calm Kids in a World of Worry

In this powerful episode of The Dude Therapist, Eli Weinstein sits down with Olympic boxer Ginny Fuchs to unpack her incredible journey through the ring and her mind. From Houston to the Olympics, Ginny has not only faced opponents in the ring but also wrestled with OCD, anxiety, and anorexia behind the scenes. She opens up about the emotional and mental toll of being an elite athlete, the evolution of women’s roles in boxing, and how she’s using her platform to break stigma and inspire strength beyond the sport.

Ginny shares raw insights on navigating the relentless pressure for perfection, the challenges of disrupted routines, and how she’s learning to balance fierce ambition with deep vulnerability. Whether you're an athlete, a parent of a child with OCD, or someone striving to live authentically, you'll find courage, connection, and inspiration in Ginny's story.

What You'll Learn:

• How Ginny transitioned from long-distance running to boxing—and found her true passion

• The hidden toll of mental health struggles in elite sports

• Why OCD is more than just a “clean freak” stereotype

• How anorexia and OCD intertwined in Ginny’s journey

• The reality of maintaining mental health while traveling as a pro athlete

• Dating, routines, and relationships in the life of an Olympic contender

• Why vulnerability is Ginny’s greatest strength and how it deepened her connections

• Practical advice for parents supporting kids with OCD

• How Ginny’s aiming for world championship glory while staying grounded in her values

Connect with Ginny Fuchs:
📲 Follow her on Instagram: @ginnyfuchsusa

If you or someone you love is navigating OCD or anxiety, know that you're not alone. This episode is your reminder that even champions need support, and there is strength in seeking help.

In this powerful episode, Eli sits down with Carrie Berk, an NYC-based journalist, content creator, and bestselling author, to explore her personal journey with anxiety and OCD. Carrie opens up about the inspiration behind her book Mindfire and how she’s helping young adults feel seen, understood, and less alone in their mental health struggles.

With a career that started at just eight years old, Carrie has written 21 books, including My Real-Life Rom-Com, a Barnes & Noble bestseller and Amazon chart-topper. Her work has been featured in the New York Post, HuffPost, Women’s Health, and Newsweek. She’s also built a massive digital presence, with over 3.8 million followers on TikTok and nearly a million on Instagram.

In this conversation, Carrie gets real about therapy, coping strategies, and the power of sharing your story. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t mean perfection and community is everything.

Follow Carrie on social @carrieberkk

In this powerful and candid episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Kate Balestrieri—clinical psychologist, certified sex therapist, and author of What Happened to My Sex Life?—to explore the often misunderstood terrain of intimacy, desire, and sexual satisfaction in modern relationships.

you'reTogether, they unpack everything from emotional labor and betrayal to the myths that still dominate conversations about sex. Dr. Kate shares why pleasure is a human right, how sexual entitlement erodes intimacy, and why sex is rarely just about sex. Whether you're navigating a dry spell, rebuilding after betrayal, or just trying to better understand your partner's needs, this conversation is your no-BS roadmap to reconnecting—physically and emotionally.

We also get into how parents can better prepare their kids for healthy sexuality, why social media has a complicated connection, and what therapists need to know before wading into sex talk with clients.

one'swho's "isn'tThisone'swho's"one'swho's"isn'tThis one’s for anyone who’s ever asked, “Why isn't our sex life what it used to be?"—and is ready for answers that go deeper than surface-level advice.

Key Takeaways:

• Sex ebbs and flows—and that's normal.

• Communication, not spontaneity, is the real foreplay.

• Betrayal recovery is possible, but it requires ownership and intention.

• There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fidelity or sexual norms.

• Emotional and domestic labor deeply impact desire.

• Parents have a powerful role in shaping healthy sex education.

• Pleasure is not selfish—it's self-care and resistance.

• Stop shaming your partner's desires. Start talking about them.

About Our Guest:
Dr. Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, certified sex therapist, and founder of Modern Intimacy, a therapy practice focused on relational and sexual wellness. She's the author of What Happened to My Sex Life? and host of Get Naked with Dr. Kate. Dr. Kate is passionate about helping people move from pain to thriving, and she's here to make conversations about sex less taboo and more transformational.

Resources & Links:
📘 What Happened to My Sex Life? – Buy the book
🎧 Get Naked with Dr. Kate – Listen to the podcast
🌐 Dr. Kate's Practice – Modern Intimacy
📱 Follow Dr. Kate on IG – @drkatebalestrieri

What if settling isn’t giving up—but leaning into what actually serves you?

In this episode of The Dude Therapist, Eli sits down with Case Kenny—author, mindfulness mentor, and host of the hit podcast New Mindset, Who Dis?—for a no-fluff, eye-opening conversation on redefining love, vulnerability, and the art of staying true to yourself in a world that’s always trying to shape you.

Together, they dive into:

• Why hope isn’t wishful thinking—it’s a practice.

• How journaling and writing can cut through the noise of self-doubt.

• Why your partner should amplify your happiness, not be the source of it.

• The truth about being single (hint: it’s not a waiting room for love).

• Why settling isn't about lowering the bar—it's about knowing what actually matters.

Case unpacks the power of language, habit, and reflection in building a mindful, confident life—and offers practical tools for showing up authentically in both relationships and solitude. If you've ever questioned if you're too much, not enough, or stuck in the wrong chapter—this one’s for you.

💬 Quote of the Episode:
“Vulnerability is admired in others—but feared in ourselves. That’s where the work starts.”

🔗 Links + Mentions:

• 🧠 Podcast: New Mindset, Who Dis?

• 📕 Upcoming Book: The Opposite of Settling (pre-order on Amazon)

• 📘 Debut Book: That's Bold of You

• 🖊️ Instagram Journals & Writing: @case.kenny

🔔 Subscribe to The Dude Therapist wherever you get your podcasts and follow @thedudetherapist for more real talk on relationships, parenting, and mental health.