Therapists aren't superheroes. We scroll too long, we get flustered, we carry our own baggage — and this episode is about stopping pretending otherwise.

The conversation gets into what it actually means to be a human being who also happens to do this work. Vulnerability isn't just something we ask of our clients; it's something we have to reckon with ourselves. The therapist who's never uncomfortable, never distracted, never struggling? That person doesn't exist — and pretending they do is a disservice to everyone in the room.

Authenticity isn't unprofessional. Humanizing yourself doesn't mean oversharing or making sessions about you. It means showing up without the performance. Clients don't need a perfect therapist. They need a real one.

This episode is a honest look at the gap between how therapists are perceived and how we actually live — and why closing that gap makes the work better, not worse.

What happens when two therapists stop filtering and start talking about the things we're taught to avoid? In this first episode, Marcus Lynn sits down with Trinda — a clinical psychology PhD researcher specializing in sex, sexuality, and relationships — for an unfiltered conversation about the gaps in how we're raised to understand ourselves.

From why men struggle to express emotions without being shut down, to what women actually mean when they say they want a "masculine man," to the myths around sexual pleasure that keep people stuck — this episode goes where most conversations won't.

If you've ever wondered why healthy emotional expression feels so hard, why consent is confusing for so many people, or why talking about sex still feels taboo in 2026 — this one's for you.

Timestamps:

• [0:00] — Introduction: Why therapists need to show vulnerability too
• [2:30] — Trinda's journey: From art school to clinical psychology PhD
• [5:30] — How working in sexual assault crisis centers shaped her perspective
• [10:00] — The biggest misconception about sexual assault: arousal & consent
• [16:00] — Why men struggle to understand consent (and why it's not entirely their fault)
• [22:00] — "I want a masculine man" — what does that actually mean?
• [25:00] — The crisis of masculinity: Why men don't know how to be men in 2026
• [29:00] — The Black woman's experience of femininity and the "strong Black woman" stereotype
• [33:00] — Why anger is the only emotion men are "allowed" to feel
• [40:00] — The vicious cycle: When one partner's tears shut down the other's vulnerability
• [53:00] — How to discover sexual pleasure by understanding non-sexual joy
• [61:00] — Why orgasm shouldn't be the goal — and what to focus on instead
• [66:00] — Passion vs. familiarity: Can long-term relationships stay exciting?
• [70:00] — Submission, power dynamics, and what women are actually taught about sex

Connect with me:

• Marcus Lynn: @therealisttherapist

I had a car accident this year that landed me in the hospital. I share my experiences with some friends and professional colleagues in the mental health space.

Tiktok: http://tiktok.com/@realisttherapist

Instagram: http://instagram.com/therealisttherapist/

Therapists bring their own experiences to the therapy space, and that can be a huge asset for clients to receive from previous expertise. This is one of those cases where my classmate and friend, Selene, brings a tremendous experience as a midwife as she transitions into becoming a therapist.

Tons of value in this one and hope you enjoy. As always, would love to hear from you what you think. 🧠💭

A cornerstone of constructive therapy is only possible when professionals have cultural competence regarding their clients' experiences. Without that, therapy can be exceptionally harmful.

A few friends of mine sat down and discussed this, including our own prejudices.

Of course, making and maintaining meaningful relationships as an adult is challenging. But, it's not impossible, nor does it have to be mysterious. I go over some of the scientific findings of what it takes to having quality friendships and connections for adults in the very busy and modern world. I'd love to hear your experiences and insights in the comments to join the conversation (and make another meaningful connection 🙏🏽).

As I prepare for my graduate school interview, I'm taking some time to insulate myself from the pains of rejection--not by hiding my emotions, but by actually constructively facing the rejection head-on. I also share why I want to become a therapist and what I aspire to do as a therapist in my career.

6:00 Why I Want to Be a Therapist

8:27 Skills of a Therapist (In My Opinion)

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@realisttherapist

After having a procedure to abstain from having children, a client discusses the unexpected difficulties and challenges of finding femininity without the ability to have children.  We discuss what it means to redefine one's gender while challenging larger social expectations of what society assumes gender expression to be.

TikTok – https://bit.ly/realistpsychologist

Instagram – http://instagram.com/therealistpsychologist

Life doesn't stop moving, and usually our relationships require change with it. This podcast is an inside look at a call I had with a client discussing how she's navigating through a major life change and how it's impacting her most prized relationships. If you have some changes happening that you know are going to cause some ripple effects in your life, this one is definitely worth listening to.