The Innovative Therapist

By Dr. Shawn Hondorp, PhD, ABPPScience Social Sciences Health & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement

The Innovative Therapist episodes

June 22 Building Outside the Box: Therapy Intensives, Creativity, & Following the Breadcrumbs with Steffeny Feld
Episode 165: Building Outside the Box: Therapy Intensives, Creativity, & Following the Breadcrumbs with Steffeny Feld
✨ Free resource: Uncover Your Zone of GeniusDownload the Guide Here
What happens when therapists stop trying to force themselves into systems that don’t fit… and start listening to what actually feels aligned?
In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I sat down with Steffeny Feld for a deeply honest conversation about therapy intensives, entrepreneurship, creativity, nervous system capacity, and what it really looks like to build an innovative business as a therapist.
Steffeny is the founder of Intensive Design Lab, where she helps therapists create intensive models that respect their worth, honor clients’ identities, and create more spaciousness, sustainability, and depth in the therapy process.
But honestly?
This conversation became about much more than intensives.
It became a conversation about:
listening to your body
trusting your creativity
following intuitive “breadcrumbs”
redefining leadership
and allowing yourself to build work that actually feels good to live inside of
In This Episode We Explore:
✨ Why many therapists feel burned out by traditional therapy models✨ Steffeny’s journey from community mental health to private practice to intensives✨ Entrepreneurship as a creative and spiritual growth process✨ Why “aligned action” often feels scary at first✨ The connection between nervous system capacity and business growth✨ Visibility, perfectionism, and the fear of being seen✨ Why therapists need more innovative and sustainable practice models✨ The importance of following what feels energizing, alive, and meaningful
Therapy Intensives as a Different Way of Healing
One of the biggest themes in this conversation was the idea that healing doesn’t always fit neatly into one-hour weekly sessions.
Steffeny shared how, after building a successful private-pay caseload, she realized she still felt deeply exhausted and disconnected from the way she wanted to work.
That realization eventually led her toward therapy intensives — longer-form, immersive therapeutic experiences that allow for deeper work, more flexibility, and often more spaciousness for both clients and clinicians.
And one thing I deeply appreciated about this conversation is that Steffeny doesn’t approach intensives from a hustle mindset.
She approaches them from a place of:
sustainability
alignment
creativity
nervous system awareness
and honoring both therapist and client humanity
Following the Breadcrumbs
Another major theme woven throughout this episode was this idea of “following the breadcrumbs.”
Not over-planning every step.Not having a perfectly mapped-out business strategy.
But noticing:
what energizes you
what people are asking for
what your body is saying yes to
and where momentum naturally exists
Steffeny shared that many of the most impactful parts of her business emerged organically through conversations, experimentation, and responding to real needs instead of forcing a rigid plan.
Honestly, I resonated deeply with this.
Because so many therapists are taught to disconnect from intuition, creativity, embodiment, and experimentation in favor of certainty, perfectionism, and “doing it right.”
But often the work that feels most alive comes from somewhere much deeper than strategy alone.
Visibility, Leadership & Being Human
We also had a really honest conversation about visibility and leadership.
About:
imposter syndrome
overworking
perfectionism
entrepreneurship
nervous system crashes after big successes
and the vulnerability of creating something innovative and public
One of my favorite parts of the conversation was hearing Steffeny talk about leadership not as being the loudest or most polished person in the room…
…but as being willing to tell the truth.
To say:“This worked on paper, but I was miserable.”“This success didn’t actually feel sustainable.”“This model no longer fits me.”“There may be another way.”
I think so many therapists need permission to hear that.
Creativity, Reciprocity & Building Work That Feels Alive
Toward the end of the conversation, we explored something I’ve been thinking about constantly lately:
What if work could feel reciprocal?
What if therapists didn’t have to choose between:
meaningful impact
financial sustainability
creativity
spaciousness
embodiment
and joy?
What if innovative work actually allowed us to bring more of our humanity into the healing process instead of less?
This conversation felt like such an important reminder that there are many ways to help people heal — and many ways to build a meaningful life.
About Steffeny Feld
Steffeny Feld is a therapist, speaker, and copywriter with a passion for helping therapists create therapy intensive models that respect their worth, honor their clients’ identities, and make room for joy and ease in their own lives.
Intensive Design Lab isn’t just a course. It’s a community and movement toward a more sustainable, ethical, and creative way of practicing therapy rooted in equity, respect, and sustainable growth.
Connect with Steffeny
🌐 Intensive Design Lab Website👥 Therapy Intensive Community Facebook Group
Want More Conversations Like This?
✨ Download the free Uncover Your Zone of Genius guide:Zone of Genius Guide
💌 Join my email list for podcast updates, creative inspiration, and upcoming events:Join the Newsletter
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.
28 min
June 15 Creativity Didn’t Fix Me. It Helped Me Trust Myself.
For a long time, I thought I just needed better strategies.
Better time management.Better business plans.Better systems.More discipline.
What I didn’t realize was that underneath so much of my anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, and exhaustion was a nervous system that didn’t actually trust me to lead my own life.
In this solo episode, I’m sharing more personally about:
my journey from clinical health psychology into creativity-centered community work
healing beyond insight and intellectual understanding
the role dance and embodiment have played in my life
parenting, authenticity, and “Pack Leadership”
why creativity and play are not frivolous
and how learning to trust myself changed the way I live, parent, work, and lead
This episode is a little messy, honest, reflective, and deeply human. It’s less of a polished teaching episode and more of a real conversation about what happens when we stop trying to perform healing and start actually living more fully in our bodies and lives.
I also talk about:✨ hyper-independence✨ body trust✨ entrepreneurship and burnout✨ emotional regulation✨ perfectionism and visibility✨ why therapists/helpers often struggle to receive support themselves✨ and why creativity can become a pathway back to ourselves
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve done “all the work” but still feel disconnected from yourself, your joy, or your direction, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone.
🎧 Listen wherever you get podcasts.
✨ Download the free “Uncover Your Zone of Genius” guide:Zone of Genius Guide
💌 Join the newsletter + community updates:The Innovative Therapist Email List
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.
12 min
June 08 The Movement Patterns Keeping You Small
What if healing isn’t just about changing your thoughts, but practicing entirely new ways of moving through the world?
In this solo episode, I reflect on my recent conversation with Erica Hornthal and unpack why dance, movement, creativity, and performance have been so unexpectedly healing in my own life.
Over the past four years, returning to dance as an adult has helped me notice something important:many of us have deeply ingrained “movement patterns” that were designed to keep us safe.
Patterns like:
shrinking back
minimizing ourselves
apologizing for our gifts
avoiding visibility
staying small to avoid rejection or shame
And while those patterns may have once protected us, they can also quietly disconnect us from the life we actually want.
In this episode, I talk about:✨ dance and nervous system healing✨ practicing new movement patterns✨ why creativity can feel emotionally uncomfortable✨ visibility, self-trust, and leadership✨ shrinking, apologizing, and minimizing our value✨ reciprocal relationships and community✨ female friendship, connection, and healing✨ and what it means to follow the “breadcrumbs” of what makes you feel alive
I also share:
my adult dance journey after taking nearly 20 years off
how entrepreneurship has challenged me to stop hiding
the subtle ways I still minimize myself and my work
and why playful, embodied experiences can help us access more confidence, authenticity, and joy
This episode is reflective, honest, and deeply connected to the heart of what we explore inside The Innovative Therapist community:
How do we stop shrinking and start becoming more fully ourselves?
✨ Download the free “Uncover Your Zone of Genius” guide:Zone of Genius Guide
💌 Join the newsletter + community updates:The Innovative Therapist Email List
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.
10 min
June 01 When Insight Isn’t Enough: Dance, Movement, and the Healing Power of the Body with Erica Hornthal
Episode 161: When Insight Isn’t Enough: Dance, Movement, and the Healing Power of the Body with Erica Hornthal
A Gift for Therapists & Helpers
If you’re a therapist or helper who feels pulled toward more creative, meaningful, or aligned work, I made something for you.
Uncover Your Zone of GeniusThis free guide will help you identify the strengths, interests, and patterns that often point toward your most meaningful work.
Grab it here:https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone
If you’ve been following my work lately, you know I’ve been thinking a lot about creativity, embodiment, and what actually creates change, beyond just understanding.
Because here’s the truth I keep coming back to:
Insight alone doesn’t always lead to transformation.
Why Insight Isn’t Always Enough
So many of us have been trained to believe that healing happens through understanding.
We analyze patterns.We make meaning.We connect the dots.
And to be clear, this matters.
But as Erica shared in this conversation:
👉 You can understand something from every angle…👉 and still find yourself stuck in the same patterns.
Why?
Because so many of our patterns live in the body.
They were formed before we had language.They’re reinforced through how we move, react, brace, avoid, and engage with the world.
So if we’re only working at the level of thought…we may be missing the level where change actually happens.
The Missing Piece: Movement
Erica is a dance movement therapist and the developer of Kinesthetic Cognitive Therapy, a framework rooted in a simple but powerful idea:
The way you move influences the way you think, feel, and behave.
When I look back at my own journey, especially over the past few years of returning to dance, I can see this so clearly.
There are things I simply couldn't “think” my way out of. Like chronic shame.
Instead, I've been moving my way into something different.
🌀 What We Talk About in This Episode
Here are a few of the threads we explored together:
✨ Why overanalyzing can actually create more constriction (not more freedom)✨ How movement patterns shape emotional and behavioral patterns✨ Why many therapists and helpers feel stuck despite deep insight✨ The difference between performative movement vs. healing movement✨ How some “somatic” trends can unintentionally reinforce patterns instead of shifting them✨ The importance of variation, choice, and awareness in movement✨ What dance movement therapy actually looks like in practice✨ How to begin noticing your own movement patterns in everyday life
Overthinking as a “Movement Pattern”
We often think of movement as physical. Dancing, walking, exercising.
But Erica reframed this in a way that felt both simple and profound:
Everything is movement.
Even overthinking.
For me, overthinking used to look like:
Freezing
Contracting
Trying to “solve” my way out of discomfort
Avoiding action while staying very mentally busy
That’s a movement pattern.
And here’s the tricky part…
➡️ It can feel productive➡️ It can even feel safe➡️ But it often keeps us stuck
What I’ve been practicing instead (and what we talk about in this episode) is:
Small, different movements.
Not huge leaps.
Just… something new.
Small Movements, Big Shifts
One of my favorite parts of this conversation was how much we normalized starting small.
Not:“Completely change your life.”
But:“Shift one thing.”
Reach for the phone instead of avoiding it
Send the message
Move your body in a way that feels unfamiliar
Slow down when you want to speed up
Speed up when you tend to shut down
These are movement interruptions.
And over time, they create new patterns.
New capacity.New options.New ways of being.
A Nuanced Conversation About Dance & Healing
We also explored something I think is really important:
Not all movement is automatically healing.
Dance can be:
Expressive
Liberating
Joyful
And…
It can also:
Reinforce existing patterns
Become performative
Be driven by external validation
This isn’t about making movement “right” or “wrong.”
It’s about asking:
👉 Why am I doing this?👉 What am I seeking?👉 What does my body actually need right now?
That level of awareness changes everything.
A Question to Sit With
As you listen to this episode (or even just reading this), I’d invite you to gently explore:
🌀 Where in my life am I relying on insight… when what I might need is movement?
🌀 What is one small way I could move differently this week?
Want Support Exploring Your Own Zone of Genius?
If this conversation is stirring something in you, this is the exact kind of work we explore inside my community and offerings.
Start here:
✨ Uncover Your Zone of Genius (Free Guide)https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone
And if you’re not already on my email list, you can join here:https://drshawnhondorp.com/contact/
Final Reflection
This conversation felt like a bridge.
Between thinking and feeling.Between insight and action.Between knowing… and actually changing.
And maybe most importantly:
A reminder that your body is not separate from your healing.
It’s part of it.
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.
31 min
May 25 Reciprocity, Creativity, & Work That Feels Alive
What does it actually mean to create work, relationships, and community that feel reciprocal instead of extractive?
In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on my recent conversation with Lauren Silverstein and unpacking the idea of reciprocity in a much more personal way.
Because the more I lean into work that feels aligned, creative, and alive, the less willing I am to spend my time in ways that drain my nervous system or disconnect me from myself.
In this episode, I talk about:✨ reciprocal vs. extractive relationships✨ why creativity and play matter so much in healing✨ over-responsibility, people-pleasing, and helper burnout✨ zone of genius work and embodied leadership✨ the connection between authenticity and nervous system regulation✨ parenting, community, and learning to support each other differently✨ money, self-worth, and charging for work that feels meaningful✨ and why following your soul’s “breadcrumbs” often makes no logical sense at first
I also share more personally about:
my journey with body trust and healing from binge eating
how dance and creativity changed the way I show up in my life and work
the mother-daughter experiences I feel called to create
and the grief and beauty of becoming more fully yourself later in life
This episode is reflective, nuanced, a little messy in the best way, and deeply connected to the heart of what we explore inside The Innovative Therapist community:How do we build lives and work that feel energizing, relational, creative, and fully alive?
✨ Download the free “Uncover Your Zone of Genius” guide:Zone of Genius Guide
💌 Join the newsletter + community updates:The Innovative Therapist Email List
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.
39 min
May 18 Work that gives back: Reciprocity is the missing ingredient to work that actually feels good with Dr. Lauren Silverstein
Episode 160: Work that gives back: Reciprocity is the missing ingredient to work that actually feels good with Dr. Lauren Silverstein
A Gift for Therapists & Helpers
If you’re a therapist or helper who feels pulled toward more creative, meaningful, or aligned work, I made something for you.
Uncover Your Zone of GeniusThis free guide will help you identify the strengths, interests, and patterns that often point toward your most meaningful and alive work.
Grab it here:https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone
There are some conversations that feel like they braid together multiple parts of my work at once.
This was one of those conversations. I legit listened to it three times already.
As a therapist, I care deeply about healing, autonomy, and helping people reconnect with what is already wise and alive inside of them. As a business owner and community builder, I also think a lot about impact, leadership, reciprocity, and what it actually looks like to build things that help without unintentionally causing harm.
In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I sat down with my friend Dr. Lauren Silverstein, founder and CEO of Rising Kitchens, to talk about reciprocity, social impact, equity, and what it means to create work, programs, and communities that allow people to truly shine.
This conversation felt especially meaningful to me because it connects so deeply to what I care about inside The Innovative Therapist: helping therapists, helpers, and creative humans use their gifts in ways that are life-giving, responsible, and deeply aligned.
And frankly, it gave me some cool ideas about how I might build my business moving forward.
Listen to the Episode
In this episode, Lauren and I explore:
what reciprocity really means
why good intentions are not always enough
how impact should be defined before we jump into action
why it matters who gets to sit at the table when we define success
how therapists, leaders, educators, and founders can move away from one-directional helping models
what happens when people are supported to use their gifts in ways that benefit everyone
About Dr. Lauren Silverstein
Dr. Lauren Silverstein is the founder and CEO of Rising Kitchens, a platform connecting emerging food entrepreneurs—especially immigrant and women chefs—with real economic opportunity. With a background in social impact strategy and a deep belief in community, she’s building Rising Kitchens into a bridge between local talent and the institutions that need them.
A former Chief Impact Officer with a Ph.D. in Education Leadership, Lauren is wired to initiate big ideas, build what doesn’t exist, and push systems to do better. Her work—whether designing impact strategies or creating curriculum for future educators and entrepreneurs—centers on one powerful question:
How do we generate equity by unlocking the potential already around us?
A Quote That Anchored This Conversation
Early in the episode, I shared a quote that has been resonating deeply with me and with members of the Inspired Innovators community:
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." - Dr. Lilla Watson, Educator, Activist
Rethinking the “Helper” Role
One of the most powerful threads in this conversation was the idea that the traditional “helper” model can sometimes do more harm than good.
Lauren shared how early in her career she began questioning something many of us take for granted: the assumption that helping is always helpful.
As she worked with mentoring programs and education initiatives, she started noticing something important. When someone enters a relationship believing they are the one who has the knowledge, the answers, or the solutions, it can unintentionally create a power dynamic that disempowers the very people they’re trying to support.
That realization led her to study mentoring programs more deeply in her doctoral research. She wanted to understand whether good intentions alone were enough, or whether certain mindsets and structures were needed to ensure that programs actually helped people rather than unintentionally causing harm.
It’s a question that applies far beyond education.
It applies to therapy.It applies to leadership.It applies to entrepreneurship and social impact work.
As therapists, many of us were trained in models that positioned us as the expert in the room. But increasingly, many approaches to therapy (including Internal Family Systems, which I often use) are shifting toward co-creative models that honor the wisdom already inside the client.
Instead of “fixing” someone, the work becomes about creating the conditions where people can reconnect with their own inner leadership.
The Missing Step: Defining Impact First
Another insight Lauren shared that really stuck with me was this:
Many people jump straight to actions and strategies without first defining the impact they want to have.
For example, someone might start a program, a mentorship initiative, or even a business because they want to help. But if we don’t define the outcome we’re hoping for, it becomes difficult to know whether what we’re doing is actually working.
Lauren described three levels of thinking about impact:
1. How muchHow many clients did you see?How many programs did you run?
2. How wellDid the experience actually work?Did people want to come back?
3. Who is better offDid someone’s life actually change?Did behavior, confidence, or opportunity shift?
That final question is where real impact lives.
And it’s one that can be harder to measure.
Reciprocity vs. One-Directional Helping
The heart of our conversation centered around the idea of reciprocity.
In many traditional helping roles, the relationship flows in one direction:
One person gives.The other receives.
But reciprocal relationships look different.
They recognize that everyone at the table has something to offer and something to learn.
Lauren shared a story from a class she was teaching about entrepreneurship. A student asked a question about starting a business without prior experience. Lauren realized that another student in the room had actually built a successful company before.
Instead of immediately offering her own answer, she paused and invited that student to share.
The result?
A powerful exchange where:
one student received practical advice
another student felt valued and recognized
the entire group benefited from shared knowledge
That’s reciprocity.
And it requires humility.
It asks leaders, teachers, therapists, and founders to release the idea that they must be the only source of wisdom in the room.
The Power of Unlocking Talent
Lauren’s work with Rising Kitchens is built around this principle.
She connects talented chefs—many of whom are immigrant women or individuals who lack access to traditional networks—with real economic opportunity.
Her model recognizes two barriers many talented people face:
Insufficient financial capitalThey don’t have the money to take risks or start a business.
Insufficient social capitalThey don’t have the networks that open doors.
By connecting talent with opportunity, Lauren helps unlock potential that might otherwise remain unseen.
And when that happens, everyone benefits.
Customers get incredible food.Chefs get economic opportunity.Communities gain access to creativity and culture.
It’s a true win-win model.
Why This Matters for Therapists
As Lauren and I talked, I couldn’t help but see parallels with the therapy world.
I know so many therapists who are brilliant, creative, compassionate humans.
And yet many of them feel stifled inside rigid systems.
They have talents that aren’t being used.
Ideas that aren’t being shared.
Gifts that the world genuinely needs.
When that potential stays locked inside traditional structures, everyone loses.
But when therapists start exploring their Zone of Genius, new possibilities emerge.
New offerings.New partnerships.New forms of healing.
And often, those ideas come alive through community.
When Everyone Gets to Shine
One of the most beautiful parts of our conversation was the reminder that people naturally want to shine.
When we create environments where people feel safe sharing their gifts, something powerful happens.
Lauren described moments when students or young apprentices suddenly realize:
Wait… I have something to teach.
That shift can be transformative.
And honestly, it reminds me of watching kids perform at a dance recital.
When they hear the applause, you can almost see their faces light up with pride.
We don’t lose that desire as adults.
We just sometimes forget it’s allowed.
Final Reflection
The more I reflect on this conversation, the more we come back to a simple truth:
Most people genuinely want to do good in the world.
But good intentions alone aren’t enough.
We need thoughtful design.We need humility.We need reciprocity.
And we need spaces where people are invited to bring their gifts fully forward.
Because as Lauren says in this interview, when people are supported to use their talents, everyone rises.
Connect with Dr. Lauren Silverstein
You can learn more about Lauren and her work here:
Rising Kitchens:https://risingkitchens.com
LinkedIn:Lauren Silverstein
Instagram:@risingkitchens
Join the Innovative Therapist Community
If you’re a therapist, helper, or creative entrepreneur who wants to explore more aligned, meaningful ways of working, there are a few ways to connect:
✨ The Inspired Innovators Community✨ Retreats and local gatherings✨ Coaching and collaborative partnerships
Learn more below or email Shawn/the team directly at info@drshawnhondorp....
27 min
May 10 Mother’s Day & Becoming Braver Together
There’s a picture from last weekend that I can’t stop thinking about.
It’s a snapshot of me performing a dance I choreographed while my 8-year-old daughter watched from the front row.
The dance was about finding spaces where we can be fully ourselves instead of shrinking to fit expectations. Creating it required me to face parts of myself I’ve spent years trying to hide: the parts that are bold, emotional, expressive, and deeply longing to be seen.
But what moved me most wasn’t the performance itself.
It was hearing from friends afterward about the look on my daughter’s face while she watched me.
Not because I was “impressive,” but because she was watching her mom come alive.
This bonus Mother’s Day episode is a reflection on fear, visibility, creativity, nervous system protection, and what becomes possible when we stop letting fear make all of our decisions.
Because I’m realizing more and more that this work isn’t really about the thing we create.
It’s about what happens when one person gives themselves permission to become more fully themselves and how that permission ripples outward into families, communities, friendships, and the people quietly watching us.
🎧 In this short bonus episode, I share:
The story behind the dance and the photo
Why being seen can feel so terrifying
The protective parts that still show up for me
What my daughter taught me without saying a word
Why creating “alongside fear” matters so much right now
If you’ve been feeling the pull toward something more alive, more honest, or more creative in your own life, I hope this episode reminds you that you don’t have to wait until you feel fearless to begin.
Sometimes bravery looks like simply letting yourself be seen.
🎧 Listen wherever you get podcasts.
✨ Want support reconnecting with your creativity, courage, and Zone of Genius?Download the free guide here:Uncover Your Zone of Genius
💌 Join the newsletter + community updates:The Innovative Therapist Email List
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.
3 min
April 13 Why I’m Changing My Business (When Nothing Was Broken)
Episode 159: Why I’m Changing My Business (When Nothing Was Broken)
Following the Pull Toward More Aliveness, Creativity, and Impact
A Question I Couldn’t Shake
It started with a simple but uncomfortable question:
Why am I changing something that’s working?
On paper, everything looked good.A solid therapy practice. Meaningful client work. Flexibility. Stability.
No crisis. No burnout spiral. No dramatic breaking point.
And yet… something in me kept tugging.
Not loudly. Not urgently.But persistently.
Like a quiet voice sitting in the corner of the room saying:“Not like this. There’s more you can do here.”
When “Good” Isn’t the Same as “Aligned”
If you’ve ever stayed in something because it was good enough or "fine"… you may relate.
I spent years training and working as a clinical health psychologist. I genuinely loved so much of that work. And even now, I still love many parts of therapy.
But over time, something became clearer:
👉 I wasn’t able to use my full range of gifts👉 I felt constrained by the container of therapy👉 I kept thinking… if I could design this from scratch, it would look different
Not because therapy is bad.But because it wasn’t the whole picture of what I’m here to do.
The Moment That Shifted Everything (the First Time)
This isn’t my first pivot.
Years ago, I left my hospital role after realizing I was spending more and more time doing work that drained me (bariatric evaluations) and less of what energized me.
Nothing was “wrong”… until suddenly it was.
And that’s often how change works:
We tolerate
We rationalize
We adjust
…until something finally pushes us.
This time, though?
There’s no push.
Just a pull.
And that’s a different kind of courage.
Why I’m Moving Toward Coaching, Community, and Retreats
This shift isn’t about leaving something behind.
It’s about moving toward something I can’t ignore anymore.
1. I want to connect people, not just work with them individually
One of my biggest Zone of Genius gifts is bringing incredible humans together.
And in therapy?
That’s not really allowed.
But I’ve seen what happens when people are in the right room together:
✨ Insight deepens✨ Courage grows✨ Change accelerates
There’s a kind of magic in community that I can’t replicate one-on-one.
2. I want to create experiences, not just conversations
In therapy, we talk.
In my community and retreats, we:
write
move
create
reflect
experiment
witness each other
It’s not just insight.
It’s embodied change.
And honestly?
That’s where I see the most lasting transformation happen.
3. I want to work in a way that energizes me (not just serves others)
There’s this quiet belief many therapists carry:
“If I’m helping, I should be tired.”
But what if that’s not actually true?
What if the most sustainable, impactful work is mutually energizing?
The more I’ve leaned into creativity and Zone of Genius work, the more I’ve experienced:
✨ Sessions that light me up✨ Ideas that flow naturally✨ Work that gives back instead of just taking
That’s the kind of work I want to build around.
The Deeper Why (The One That Brings Tears)
When I really sit with it… this isn’t about business at all.
It’s about this:
I want to raise humans who feel deeply worthy.
Humans who:
trust themselves
feel agency in their lives
know they are held (not alone in everything)
can create, play, and express freely
And here’s the truth I can’t get around:
👉 I can’t teach that if I’m not living it.
This work… this pivot… this discomfort…
It’s me practicing that.
The Trap of “Waiting Until It Makes Sense”
One of the biggest things I see (and have lived):
We wait for clarity.
We wait for certainty.
We wait for the perfect plan.
But this kind of change?
It rarely makes logical sense at first.
It’s more like:
a nudge
a curiosity
a quiet “what if…”
And if we ignore it long enough?
It usually gets louder.
The Shift from Reactive → Proactive Living
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this:
We are living in a world with constant uncertainty.
And when that happens, our nervous system wants to:
🛑 Pull back🛑 Play it safe🛑 Just “get through”
But staying in that mode long-term?
It keeps us stuck.
Thriving requires something different:
👉 Intentional choices👉 Creative risk👉 Investing in ourselves (time, energy, resources)
Not recklessly.
But on purpose.
If You’re Feeling the Pull Too…
Maybe your version isn’t a business pivot.
Maybe it’s:
a creative project
a new way of working
a different rhythm of life
a conversation you’ve been avoiding
a part of yourself you’ve been ignoring
Whatever it is…
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
But you do have to start listening.
The Truth Most People Skip
You can’t think your way into alignment.
You have to feel your way there.
That might look like:
moving your body for 3 minutes
putting on a song and letting yourself feel something
writing without editing
sitting in quiet and actually listening inward
Your next step?
It’s not in your head.
It’s in your body.
Want Support Exploring This?
If this episode is hitting something in you…
You don’t have to do it alone.
Inside my world, I support therapists, helpers, and creative humans in:
✨ Reconnecting with their Zone of Genius✨ Building work that feels aligned and alive✨ Moving beyond overthinking into action
You can explore current offerings here:👉 https://drshawnhondorp.com/offers
Or just reach out (my direct email is info@[email protected]) and tell me what’s been on your mind.
No pressure. Just a conversation.
A Closing Reflection
There’s a version of you that already knows.
Not the strategic one.Not the analyzing one.
The quieter one.
The one that lights up when you imagine something different.
You don’t have to burn your life down to follow it.
But you do have to stop ignoring it.
🎁 A Gift for You
Uncover Your Zone of GeniusA free guide to help you identify the work and life that actually energizes you:
👉 https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone
💌 Stay Connected
Join my Insider's community for reflections, resources, and invitations to upcoming experiences:👉 https://drshawnhondorp.com/contact/
Disclaimer
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.
15 min
March 23 Why Therapists and Helpers Must Reclaim Personal Power with Sarah Buino
Episode 158: Why Therapists and Helpers Must Reclaim Personal Power with Sarah Buino
✨ Free resource: Uncover Your Zone of Geniushttps://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone
You can have all the clinical skills in the world, but if you feel disconnected from your own personal power, your work (and your life) will start to shrink.
Hey friends. Welcome back to the Innovative Therapist Podcast. I’m so excited about today’s episode because Sarah Buino is back with me for round two. We recorded yesterday for her podcast, and now we get to keep the conversation going here.
Also, we have to start where all meaningful professional relationships begin: unhinged laughter at a conference.
We met at the Next Level Summit back in September, and I happened to be sitting right next to Sarah during the “humor as healing” portion. It was late. We were tired. We’d come back from dinner. There may have been drinks. And then we did this exercise where you’re instructed to laugh as hard as you possibly can.
Sarah absolutely stole the show. Her laugh was so contagious that my mild headache disappeared afterward. Like… fully gone. So yes, this episode may include an unofficial headache cure, but also it includes something I think is even more important:
A conversation about personal power, why therapists often lose touch with it, and why reclaiming it is essential if we want to evolve this field without burning ourselves (and each other) to the ground.
What we get into in this conversation
This episode is for therapists and helpers who feel any of the following:
a little numb or constricted lately
tired of the drama and harm happening in our professional spaces
ready to do “inner work” in a way that actually changes something
curious about how power, shame, and agency show up in therapy rooms and workplaces
Here are some of the big themes we explored:
Sarah’s shift from heavy clinical work to coaching, consulting, speaking, and leadership
Why therapists often misunderstand power and accidentally recreate “power over” dynamics
The Right Use of Power framework and why it matters so much right now
Agency and shame through the lens of NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model)
Why your own healing is not optional if you want to do ethical, embodied work
How to build workplaces (and communities) that feel more like power with, not “who’s winning?”
Sarah’s work right now (and why it matters)
One of the most interesting parts of this conversation was hearing how Sarah’s work has evolved.
She shared that she only has three clinical clients left, and they’re all healers/helpers. Her primary modality is NARM, which she described as the approach that truly helped her “crack the code” of her own healing.
She’s also:
Podcasting (a lot)
Doing consulting/speaking
Serving as Board President of the Right Use of Power Institute
Building a platform to help therapists and group practice systems evolve through power-conscious leadership
And what I loved most is that she’s not just talking about power as an intellectual concept. She’s talking about it as a lived, nervous-system-level experience.
What does “Right Use of Power” actually mean?
Sarah broke down a framework that I think every therapist should understand, because it gives language for dynamics we often feel but don’t know how to name.
She describes six types of power (and if you’ve ever been confused by power in therapy, leadership, or relationships, this framework is clarifying):
1) Personal Power
The power that belongs to you. Everyone has it. We can’t lose it, but we can feel disconnected from it.
2) Role Power
Power that comes from your role: therapist, boss, doctor, parent, supervisor.
3) Status Power
Power tied to social location: race, gender, age, ability, class, body size, etc. (and how those are valued by culture).
4) Collective Power
Power that comes from people organizing together for a shared mission (can be used for harm or good).
5) Systemic Power
When power becomes embedded in laws, policies, institutions, and societal norms.
6) Universal Power
A sense that something larger holds us: nature, God, spirit, the universe, meaning, life force, whatever resonates.
One of my biggest takeaways was how she framed universal power as a necessary anchor in chaotic times:When systems feel enormous and crushing, remembering there’s something larger can restore hope, orientation, and possibility.
Why therapists get stuck (and why shame is often the mechanism)
We talked about why so many therapists aren’t doing their own work, and Sarah named something that felt really important:
Often, it’s fear.Fear of what they’ll find.Fear of what others will think.Fear of losing the pedestal.
And then there was this thread that I think matters deeply for helpers:
If your identity is fused with being “the strong one,” “the healer,” “the one who has it together,” you might unconsciously use helping as a way to avoid your own pain.
Sarah named pathological empathy, and how even therapists who have done a lot of boundary work can still have a deeper layer of:
trying to fix
taking on others’ pain
over-identifying with responsibility
staying in outcome-driven helping
This is where personal power becomes everything.
Not power over others.But power in yourself.The ability to stay present without rescuing.
A big invitation from this episode
Sarah said something I want to echo here:
Your own work is the most powerful healing tool you have.
Not your training.Not your next certification.Not the perfect intervention.
Your ability to be a clear, grounded, honest channel… is the gift.
And that’s not about being perfect.It’s about being willing.It’s about being real.
A gift for you
If this episode sparks something in you and you’re like, “Okay… but how do I reconnect with myself and what lights me up?” start here:
✨ Uncover Your Zone of Geniushttps://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone
It’s a free reflection guide that helps you reconnect with:
what energizes you
your strengths and gifts
the work and creativity that actually makes you feel alive
When you download it, you’ll also join my email list, where I share:
reflections like this
upcoming workshops + gatherings
resources on creativity, autonomy, leadership, and healing
community invitations
Where to find Sarah (and what she shared)
Sarah’s main hub: Head Heart Biz TherapyWebsite: (as shared in the episode) headheartbiztherapy.com
If you’re in group practice as an owner or employee: Group Practice RevolutionWebsite: (as shared in the episode) grouppracticerevolution.com
And her podcast: Conversations with a Wounded Healer(If you search that, you’ll find the embedded Group Practice Revolution episodes too.)
🎁 Also: Sarah mentioned she’s going to create a training code/discount for listeners.
For listeners of the podcast: INNOVATE will give 20% off of any Basics training.
To redeem the coupon codes:
Visit: https://rightuseofpower.org/events/ and select the Basics training you'd like to attend. Choose the REDUCED RATE ticket and enter the code at checkout.
I already attended this and it was excellent.
Your listeners can also get a copy of Dr. Amanda's new book Shaping Power For Good at this link: https://rightuseofpower.org/product/shaping-power-for-good-wayfinding-to-right-relationship-pre-sale/
Before you go
If you’ve felt yourself shrinking lately, second-guessing yourself, or getting pulled into professional dynamics that feel reactive, rigid, or dehumanizing…
This is your reminder:
You don’t need more self-improvement.You need reconnection.You need agency.You need your power back.
And it doesn’t have to look flashy.It can start with one honest moment of noticing what’s happening inside you, and choosing differently.
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast content are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical or mental health advice.
54 min
February 09 Creativity, Fear, & Agency for Therapists and Helpers in Uncertain Times
Episode 157: Creativity, Fear, & Agency in Uncertain Times
(from Conversations with a Wounded Healer with Sarah Buino)
✨ Free resource: Uncover Your Zone of Geniushttps://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone
You don’t need to be fearless to live creatively — you just need agency, permission, and space to choose.
Hey friends. Welcome back to the Innovative Therapist Podcast.
This episode is a little different than usual — it’s a conversation I had as a guest on Conversations with a Wounded Healer, hosted by the brilliant Sarah Buino — and I wanted to share it here because it speaks so directly to what so many therapists and helpers are wrestling with right now.
This conversation felt spacious, honest, and deeply human. We talked about healing, creativity, fear, therapy culture, and what it actually means to feel free — not in a performative or Instagrammable way, but in the quiet, embodied, real-life sense.
If you’ve been feeling unsettled, reflective, or quietly hungry for something more aligned lately, I think this one will land.
A therapist’s origin story (and what we don’t talk about enough)
Sarah asked me about my path into psychology — research, grad school, eating disorder work, and eventually private practice — and what emerged was something I think many of us know but don’t always name:
A lot of us came into this field while trying to heal ourselves.
We talked about:
The shame many therapists carry about their own histories
Why self-disclosure is still so taboo in some therapy spaces
How different fields (like addiction work) normalize lived experience in ways eating disorder and academic spaces often don’t
I shared how long it took me to feel less ashamed of my own healing journey — and how naming it publicly became healing in a new way.
Not because it was strategic.
But because it helped someone feel less alone.
Creativity isn’t “being artistic” — it’s being alive
One of the biggest themes of this conversation was creativity, and how misunderstood it is — especially among therapists.
So many people tell me:
“I’m not creative — I just wanted to hang out with cool people in person.”
But creativity isn’t about painting, writing, or performing.
It’s about authentic expression.
It’s about:
Listening to the parts of you that want to move, explore, rest, or try something new
Reconnecting with desires that were once shut down for safety or approval
Letting play exist without needing to turn it into productivity or impact
For me, dance has been a powerful entry point — not because it leads to anything impressive, but because it brings me back into my body, my intuition, and my aliveness.
Sometimes I dance for no reason at all.And that, in itself, changes everything.
Fear, agency, and the difference between pushing and choosing
We spent a lot of time talking about fear — and how different people relate to it.
Some of us interpret fear as:
“Stop. Don’t do this.”
Others are wired to:
Push straight through it, no matter the cost
What I’m learning (and practicing) is something else entirely:
fear doesn’t get to decide — but it does get to be acknowledged.
Agency isn’t about being fearless.It’s about knowing you have choice.
Choice to pause.Choice to move forward.Choice to change your mind.
And in a world that feels increasingly uncertain, cultivating that internal sense of agency matters more than ever.
Why this matters right now
We also talked about the bigger picture — systems, social media, therapy culture, and why everything feels so polarized and intense.
Online, it can feel like everyone is angry, rigid, and divided.Offline, when we actually talk to one another, the nuance returns.
I shared how getting back into real, in-person spaces — meetups, conversations, movement, community — reminded me that most people want similar things:
safety
dignity
autonomy
belonging
And that creativity, play, and embodied practices may be one of the ways we reconnect — with ourselves and with each other.
What it means to be a “wounded healer”
Sarah asked me how I relate to the term wounded healer, and my answer surprised even me.
I do believe we are wounded — things happen to us, and they matter.But I don’t believe those wounds define us forever.
I think of healing as ongoing, layered, and alive.
I’m not someone who heals others.I’m someone who continues healing myself — and shows up in ways that help create the conditions for others to do the same.
A gift for you
If this conversation stirred something — a curiosity, a longing, a quiet nudge — I want to offer you a place to start.
✨ Uncover Your Zone of Geniushttps://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone
This free guide helps you:
Identify what lights you up
Clarify your natural strengths
Reconnect with the kind of work and creativity that feels life-giving
It’s gentle, reflective, and designed to support agency over pressure.
When you download it, you’ll also join my email list, where I share:
reflections like this
upcoming workshops and gatherings
grounded approaches to creativity, goals, and aligned work
community invitations
Before you go
If you’re feeling afraid, uncertain, or overwhelmed right now — you’re not broken.You’re human, living in a complex moment.
But you still have agency.You still have choice.And you still have access to creativity — even if it looks quieter or simpler than you expected.
Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is listen inward…and move from there.
Disclaimer:This blog and podcast content are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical or mental health advice.
52 min

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