People often think that being “nice” means you will be “safe” in the world, and others won’t hurt you or take advantage of you. Unfortunately, being nice is often a people-pleasing tendency that seeks to pacify what we believe others want at the expense of our needs, honesty, and healthy relationship.

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/US2LfZpdS0I

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

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*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

You can’t change the world around you but when YOU change, the world around you begins to adjust. As you get healthier, set better boundaries, and become more peaceful, your world will become calmer, safer, and more positive. Bad things will still happen, because that’s a part of life, but the world around you will always be a reflection of what’s in you.

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/US2LfZpdS0I

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

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*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

Going to therapy is about self-exploration and self-understanding. You learn more about yourself as your therapist reflects you back to yourself. If you’re focused on trying to earn your therapist’s approval by being a “good client,” then you’re missing the point and not getting what you need out of therapy.

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

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*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

Can psychology and spirituality play nice together? Many people believe they cannot mix but we argue they can - and should. Whether a client wants to involve their spiritual beliefs or not, therapy should make space for it without forcing it upon anyone so this important part of life can be addressed.

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/5lHC5hMRxTM

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

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*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

Without advocating for or against medication, we address the importance of understanding how it can play a part in the direction therapy goes. As therapists, we don’t need to know as much as prescribers (Primary Care Docs or Psychiatrists) do, but we should be familiar with medication so therapy can include this critical piece of the puzzle.

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/itDFsJHafXg

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

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*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

Saying “I’m fine” to people when asked how you’re doing, may not be the emotionally honest answer. Sure, there are times and places to give a socially acceptable answer. But with people close to you, this answer blocks connection and prevents closeness in relationships.

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/US2LfZpdS0I

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

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*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

If there’s something in your life you keep doing that it’s healthy and you know you need to change but can’t seem to get started, this episode is for you. We often cling to unhealthy patterns because they’re familiar and changing means walking into the unknown-which is hard to do!

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/sheCzwfPVY0

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

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*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

If you’ve ever thought you’re too much, crazy, too boring, or too dumb when you share with your therapist, you might have a specific wound that the therapeutic relationship an help heal.

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/US2LfZpdS0I

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

--------------

*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

Amber Drake is a current graduate student attending UH at Hilo, studying clinical mental health counseling and graduating in May 2025. She’s doing an internship at Aloha House, a partial hospitalization program, volunteers with NAMI Maui, sits on the state board of directors with NAMI Hawaii, is a NAMI Maui affiliate leader, and is certified as a youth mental health first aid instructor. Amber sat down with us to share her story about how NAMI helped her recover from mental illness, which led her to a career in the mental health field and active participation with the organization that helped her.

Nat'l Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

--------------

*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/

Many people go to therapy because they struggle to feel emotions. Intellectualizing problems is a common way of coping with overwhelming feelings, but it prevents you from feeling. If this is you, here's what you can do about it.

Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins are behavioral health experts, licensed counselors, and clinical supervisors with over 35 years of experience. They each own a private group therapy practice and co-own a third one together. Aaron is also a business consultant for therapists in private practice wanting to start, grow, or expand their business.

*Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/gH1-rKsXj30

*Now on YouTube: @shrink-think

*Sign up for our FREE email course on overcoming fear and insecurity at:

https://www.shrinkthink.com/podcast

--------------

*Member of the PsychCraft Podcast Network*

https://psychcraftnetwork.com/