Ann and Sue interview psychotherapist Matthias Barker, unpacking how he uses his platform of 11 million + to deliver mental health care responsibly.  They explore the complexities of parent-child estrangement and the often-overlooked generational gaps that shape how families navigate conflict. Matthias delves in to the deep wounds that spiritual harm can leave, and the conversation expands into broader themes of spirituality & the emerging presence of AI.  This wide-ranging conversation also addresses the ethical challenges of the technology and creating meaningful change, whether in family dynamics or the future of mental health care.

In this compelling episode, hosts Ann and Sue sit down with renowned psychotherapist Matthias Barker, who has built a transformative mental health platform reaching over 11 million people. The conversation weaves through several profound themes: the delicate balance of delivering mental health guidance through social media, the complex terrain of parent-child estrangement in modern families, and the lasting impact of religious trauma.

Barker offers unique insights into how generational differences shape family conflicts and healing processes, drawing from his extensive clinical experience. The discussion evolves into an exploration of spirituality in the digital age, including thought-provoking perspectives on artificial intelligence’s role in shaping human consciousness and connection.

They tackle pressing questions about technological ethics, particularly in mental healthcare delivery, while examining how meaningful change occurs—whether in healing fractured family relationships or adapting therapeutic practices for an increasingly digital world. This nuanced conversation bridges practical psychological insights with broader questions about human connection in an evolving technological landscape.

05:54 Generational perspectives on estrangement

Matthias is a psychotherapist recognized for his expertise in making complex mental health concepts accessible, with a special focus on parent-child estrangement. He is the CEO of the Trauma Institute which provides clinical training for psychotherapists and education for the general public on healing from trauma. Matthias is widely recognized for his unique approach to making mental health knowledge and skills accessible to the wider public. His ability to translate complex topics into relatable everyday language has empowered millions to heal from their past, repair relationships, and take control of their mental well-being. Through platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and his top-ranking Spotify podcast, Matthias delivers psychoeducational content to a following of over 4 million people. His innovative blend of engaging content and relevant mental health advice has fostered a vibrant online community centered on healing, personal growth, and moving towards what’s meaningful despite hardship. Aside from his online presence, Matthias is an accomplished author and educator. He has self-published several short books and interactive mental health journals, offering a distinctive trauma-informed approach to topics like grief, motivation, burnout, and gratitude. In addition, he has built a diverse library of interactive general public workshops on themes such as anxiety, relational intimacy, and healing from trauma, further establishing his commitment to sharing knowledge and resources for both clinicians and the general public.

Estrangement.com – Sign up here for The Healing Estrangement

MatthiasJBarker.com – Matthias’ website, with resources and other information

Psychotherapy Networker Symposium – March 20-23, 2025

Rethinking Attachment – Using the Attachment Spectrum in Clinical Practice

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Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

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Ancient Nutrition is offering 25% off your first order when you go to

As we close out another year, Ann and Sue take time to reflect on 2024 while sharing some exciting opportunities for the year ahead. The Vitality Series is an exciting new endeavor, where they emphasize creating safe spaces for dialogue, navigating tough emotions, and bringing therapeutic concepts into everyday life. With an honest look at shame, vulnerability, and the challenges of personal growth, they explore how connection can empower both individuals and communities. Along the way, they celebrate the milestones of their podcast, emphasize the importance of self-reflection, and highlight the role of supportive networks in fostering meaningful change.

00:00 Exciting announcements for 2025

Brewing Vitality Series, Ann & Sue’s NEW Course – Click here to learn more and reserve your spot!!

Psychotherapy Networker Symposium – March 20-23, 2025

Rethinking Attachment – Using the Attachment Spectrum in Clinical Practice

Sign up here!

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

Lee Warren shares her experience of living in an intentional community and how it opened the door to exploring tantra and the sacredness of death. Alongside co-host Sue Marriott, they explore tantra as a way to connect with the divine within ourselves and others, using tools like breath, sound, and movement to navigate the energy in our bodies. They also discuss death as a sacred process and the importance of preparing for it—both practically and spiritually. Learn how tantra and death preparation share a common goal: helping us embrace the impermanence of life and find joy in the present moment.

00:00 Exploring Eco-Village Living and Intentional Community

Lee Warren, founder of Reclaiming Wisdom, helps people embrace life more fully by preparing for death. She sees life and death as inseparable partners, guiding individuals to transform fear into acceptance and empowerment through heartfelt conversations, mindfulness practices, rituals, and personalized care plans. As a mystic, Lee views death as a sacred portal for the soul, and as an embodiment practitioner, she supports the emotional and practical realities of the dying process. Lee believes that contemplating mortality deepens our connection to life, fostering awe, wonder, and a profound sense of purpose. Lee’s mission is to help others achieve clarity and peace about end-of-life wishes while embracing the sacredness of existence and the mystery of the human journey.

ReclaimingWisdom.com – Lee Warren’s website & course information

“Tilda Swinton Would Like a Word with Trump about His Mother” – NYTimes Article

“The Doctor Who Helped Me Understand My Mom’s Choice to Die” – NYTime Article

Psychotherapy Networker Symposium – March 20-23, 2025

Rethinking Attachment – Using the Attachment Spectrum in Clinical Practice

Learn More & Register Here

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

Our favorite skin quencher. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code TU at https://www.oneskin.co/  #oneskinpod

Coffee alternative powered by mushrooms!  Listeners get 20% off plus a free starter kit.  Piquelife.com/tu

Dr. Diana Hill and co-host Dr. Ann Kelley explore the power of process-based therapy to improve relationships and wellbeing. Through various methods like the 6 principles of ACT, the understanding of values, and the family body analogy, they use their personal and professional experience to discuss ways to help resolve conflict and find deeper connection through secure relating. Learn ways to tap into your most deeply connected self to move forward through life’s challenges and nurture healthy relationships.

1:06 – What is ACT?

8:52 – Introduction to cognitive diffusion

10:45 – Exploring the transcendent self and family body analogy of ACT

12:09 – The six processes of ACT

20:54 – Utilizing Diana’s daily journal book method

26:53 – Navigating experiential avoidance

33:57 – Moving through acceptance

50:52 – How to learn more about the ACT principles

Diana Hill, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, and co-author of ACT Daily Commitment Therapy Journal: Get unstuck and live full with Acceptance. She is also a co-host of the popular podcast, Psychologists Off the Clock which has over 1 million downloads, where she has interviewed leaders in the field of psychology, mindfulness, and wellness including Dr. Daniel Goleman, Dr. Rich Hanson, The Psychology of Radical Healing Collective, Dr. Daniel Siegel, and Dr. David Sinclair. She is a regular teacher for the Mindful Hearts Program and Insight LA. Through her online teachings, executive coaching, clinical supervision, and private therapy practice Diana encourages clients to build psychological flexibility so that they can live more meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Dr. Diana Hill – Website & resources

ACT Daily Journal & Card Deck – Dr. Hill’s daily journal book

Psychologists Off the Clock – Dr. Diana Hill’s podcast

The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink – Referenced by Diana Hill when discussing values

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

Go to ZocDoc.com/TU

Compare high quality, in-network doctors, choose the right one for your needs, and click to instantly book an appointment.

Become the best version of yourself and get 15% off Ned products with code TU.

Our favorite skin quencher. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code TU at https://www.oneskin.co/  #oneskinpod

Sue Marriott and Diana Fosha explore the key principles of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and its transformative impact on the field. AEDP begins with the premise of “healing from the get-go,” and fostering change from the first session. It emphasizes “undoing aloneness” by building a supportive therapeutic relationship, while encouraging clients to engage deeply with emotions. Join us as we highlight techniques like metatherapeutic processing, where clients reflect on their healing experience, and integrating neuroscience into clinical practice.

02:55 The importance of healing from the get-go

Diana Fosha PhD is the developer of AEDPTM, a healing-oriented, radically relational experiential psychotherapy to transform trauma, heal attachment wounds and help people connect to their vitality. She is Founder and Director of the AEDP Institute. Her “heightened sensitivity to the promises of life” recognized, she has been also described as having “an extraordinary gift for hope.” For the last 20 years, Diana has been active in promoting a scientific basis for a healing-oriented, attachment-emotion- and transformation-focused trauma treatment model. Fosha’s work focuses on integrating neuroplasticity, recognition science and developmental dyadic research into experiential and transformational clinical work with patients. Her most recent work, Undoing aloneness and the transformation of suffering into flourishing: AEDP 2.0, (APA, 2021), focuses on flourishing as a seamless part of the process of transforming emotional suffering.  She is the author of The transforming power of affect: A model for accelerated change (Basic Books, 2000); co-author, with Natasha Prenn, of Supervision essentials for Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (APA, 2016); 1st editor, with Daniel Siegel and Marion Solomon, of The healing power of emotion: Affective neuroscience, development & clinical practice (Norton, 2009), and editor of the soon to be released AEDP 2.0: Four DVDs of her live AEDP clinical work, including one documenting a complete 6-session treatment, and one on clinical supervision have been issued by the American Psychological Association (APA). Described by psychoanalyst James Grotstein as a “prizefighter of intimacy,” and by David Malan as “the Winnicott of [accelerated experiential] psychotherapy,” Diana Fosha’s writing style is powerful and precise, yet poetic and evocative. Her phrases —“undoing aloneness,” “existing in the heart and mind of the other,” “rigor without shame” and “True Other”  — capture the ethos of AEDP. 

www.aedpinstitute.org  – View some of Dr. Fosha’s papers here 

Metatherapeutic Processing Supports the Emergence of Flourishing in Psychotherapy – by Dr. Diana Fosha

How to be a Transformational Therapist – by Dr. Diana Fosha

Speculations on Emergence: Working the Edge of Transformational Experience and Neuroplasticity – by Dr. Diana Fosha

Healing Attachment Trauma with Attachment (& then some!) – by Dr. Diana Fosha

Click here to learn more!!

Psychotherapy Networker Symposium – March 20-23, 2025

Rethinking Attachment – Using the Attachment Spectrum in Clinical Practice

Learn More & Register Here

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

Coffee alternative powered by mushrooms!  Listeners get 20% off plus a free starter kit.  Piquelife.com/tu

Our favorite skin quencher.  Use the code TU when you checkout at oneskin.co

Families are dividing, couples are blowing up and neighbors are being cut off.  When you are close to someone who didn’t vote with you this year, you are likley in some distress. The shock and pain for some groups after the election and the corresponding lack of understanding is a recipe for dysregulation.

We explore the complexities of political identity, emotional responses, and the impact of political discourse on all of our personal relationships in the wake of a divisive presidential election. Ann and Sue, alongside Michael Hilgers, LPC, emphasize the need for deeper conversations that transcend binary thinking and the significance of co-regulation in healing and fostering unity amidst division. They explore the challenges of navigating relationships where political views differ, emphasizing the value of patience, compassion, and open curiosity to foster understanding.

The conversation touches on the risks of lasting family divides and underscores the importance of creating safe, respectful spaces for meaningful conversations. Ultimately, it encourages empathy and small, thoughtful steps toward more compassionate communication.

Michael Hilgers, LPC is a licensed Professional Counselor who maintains an online Counseling Practice specializing in work with Creatives and Entrepreneurs. After almost 25 years in Austin, Tx, he moved to the mountains of Northern New Mexico where he works with clients from around the globe.

Check out the most anticipated conference for Experiential Dynamic Therapists!! San Diego, CA – November 13th-15th –  IEDTA’s 2024 conference highlights the power of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy. Register here! 

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

The political events in the United States have been a major contributor to our anxieties these past years, and with our significant presidential election looming over us this week – Ann and Sue are here to talk about the hard things. While the world feels unpredictable on the outside, one thing we can do is focus on the intricate relationship between our nervous systems and the emotional responses triggered by political events. They discuss how fear and anxiety are often manipulated through political rhetoric, leading to division and polarization, the importance of understanding how personal relationships amidst these tensions are emphasized, and the need for secure relating and accountability from leaders. There is power in recognizing the complexity of political opinions and the necessity of maintaining open dialogue to foster connection rather than division. Join us as we explore how to navigate differences, the importance of empathy and community, and the need for resilience during uncertain times.

00:00 Understanding the Nervous System’s Role in Fear

Check out the most anticipated conference for Experiential Dynamic Therapists!! San Diego, CA – November 13th-15th –  IEDTA’s 2024 conference highlights the power of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy. Register here! 

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

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Alongside Pam Benson Owens, Ann and Sue explore a variety of topics with a live audience at the KUYA Wellness center in Austin, TX. Referencing their book, Secure Relating: Holding Your Own in an Insecure World, they delve into the neuroscience behind relationships, discussing attachment styles and emotional regulation, and emphasize the importance of creating safe spaces for dialogue. They highlight the significance of understanding generational trauma and the complexities of navigating relationships in a diverse society. Through personal stories and insightful discussions, they shine a light on the power of self-awareness, encouraging listeners to explore their own emotional landscapes with compassion and curiosity. Learn how creating safe spaces for open dialogue can deepen connections, while understanding the role of pauses and curiosity in everyday conversations.

07:05 Understanding Neuroscience in Relationships

Pamela Benson Owens is the President and CEO of Edge of Your Seat Consulting, Inc and is also serving as the CEO of Six Square. For 25+ years Pam has owned Edge of Your Seat Consulting, a unique consulting firm that is dedicated to assisting for-profit, nonprofit, and faith-based entities. The major focus of Edge of Your Seat Consulting, Inc., is to provide methodologies that help manage perceptions and narratives about complex and challenging issues with courage and strategic passion. Pam leverages humor and honest storytelling to create memorable and applicable strategies for sustainable and substantive change. Pam serves on several non-profit boards, is the co-chair of the Black Fund a partnership with Austin Community Foundation, joyfully serves on the faculty of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Austin Community College, is often a guest lecturer at institutions of higher learning and thrives on the opportunities her consultancy work paves the way to assist organizations to be stronger by navigating the nuances of organizational culture.

Click here to view Pam’s website – Edge of Your Seat Consulting

KUYA  – Mental Health & Wellness Center in Austin, TX & host of our recording

Practices – Register now for the Holistic Attachment Summit!! – This summit will explore the most essential ideas in attachment theory, research, and how they can be applied to create deep and lasting healing for clients — enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based care. Click here to register!!

Check out the most anticipated conference for Experiential Dynamic Therapists!! San Diego, CA – November 13th-15th –  IEDTA’s 2024 conference highlights the power of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy. Register here! 

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

Our favorite skin quencher.  Use the code TU when you checkout at oneskin.co

James Ochoa and co-host Sue Marriott explore the different subtypes of ADHD, and the impact on adults who are navigating a diagnosis later in life. As an ADHD expert, Ochoa shares insights on the emotional and mental stress that accompanies ADHD, as well as provides different techniques for managing symptoms. With an emphasis on the importance of self-care, communication, and personalized strategies, he provides resources and training for adults with ADHD, professionals who work with ADHD clients, and family members of individuals with ADHD.

02:05 Stumbling Upon an Adult ADHD Diagnosis

For over thirty years, James Ochoa, LPC, has combined counseling, coaching, mentoring, and intuition to help adults with ADHD overcome challenges, pursue passions, and live meaningful lives. Most of his clients seek help beyond ADHD organization and time-management strategies. As valuable as those skills can be, James’ key concepts involve working with his clients’ imagination, life history and inner resources. His insight-and-action-based counseling style has helped clients from all walks of life, including executives, indie film producers, college students, religious leaders and beyond. He welcomes individuals, couples, and family members, whether from Austin, Texas, or points beyond. James is also working on his second book, When the Shiny Wears Off, Navigating the Lifetime Storms of Adult ADHD, which focuses on how to handle the chronic stress of ADHD that never completely stops wreaking havoc. The book will offer ample strategies to help mitigate the impact this disruption has on relationships, career, self-care, and mental health.

Living Well With ADHD – 10/19 live, in-person training in Austin, TX – This is a great resource for ADHD awareness month that is happening the entire month of October! (Use code TU30OFF for 30% off)

JamesOchoa.com – James’s Website

Focused Forward – James’s Book

ADHD Town Hall – Webinar Series

Storm Team – 12 -Topic ADHD series

Professional Trailblazing – Training for Professionals

Focused Forward – James Ochoa’s Book – Get your copy here!!

Mind, Body, Social, & Spiritual Approaches for Healing Attachment: 30 World-Leading Pioneers Share Their Best Practices – Register now for the Holistic Attachment Summit!! – This summit will explore the most essential ideas in attachment theory, research, and how they can be applied to create deep and lasting healing for clients — enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based care. Click here to register!!

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

Go to ZocDoc.com/TU

Compare high quality, in-network doctors, choose the right one for your needs, and click to instantly book an appointment.

Become the best version of yourself and get 15% off Ned products with code TU.

00:00 Introduction to Experiential Dynamic Therapies

Dr. Deborah Pollack is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Utica University and a clinical

Margaret Martin, LCSW is an individual and couple therapist practicing in Austin, Texas,

Margaret Martin, LCSW – Margaret Martin’s website

Deborah Pollack, PhD – Dr. Deborah Pollack’s website

Check out the most anticipated conference for Experiential Dynamic Therapists!! San Diego, CA – November 13th-15th –  IEDTA’s 2024 conference highlights the power of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy. Register here! 

IEDTA Certified Training –  Info on training in Experiential Dynamic Therapies

Application to join the EDT List

Additional resources on ISTDP and Experiential Dynamic Therapies

Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy by Patricia Coughlin – Recommended by Margaret Martin

Reaching Through Resistance by Allan Abbass – Recommended by Margaret Martin

Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: A Reference by Nat Kuhn MD – Recommended by Margaret Martin

Treating Affect Phobia: A Manual for Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy by Leigh McCullough, et al – Recommended by Margaret Martin

Healing through Relating: A Skill-Building Book for Therapists by Jon Frederickson – Recommended by Margaret Martin

Changing Character: Short-term Anxiety-regulating Psychotherapy For Restructuring Defenses, Affects, And Attachment by Leigh Mccullough Vaillant – Recommended by Margaret Martin

Mastering Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: A Roadmap to the Unconscious by Josette ten Have-de Labije and Robert J. Neborsky – Recommended by Margaret Martin

The Lies We Tell Ourselves by Jon Frederickson – Recommended by Margaret Martin

The Transforming Power Of Affect: A Model For Accelerated Change by Diana Fosha – Recommended by Margaret Martin

A Therapist’s Handbook to Dissolve Shame and Defense and Master the Moment by Susan Warren Warshow – Recommended by Margaret Martin

Hidden From View: A clinician’s guide to psychophysiologic disorders by Allan Abbass – Recommended by Margaret Martin

https://istdpinstitute.com/resources/intensive-short-term-dynamic-psychotherapy-an-introduction/

Mind, Body, Social, & Spiritual Approaches for Healing Attachment: 30 World-Leading Pioneers Share Their Best Practices – Register now for the Holistic Attachment Summit!! – This summit will explore the most essential ideas in attachment theory, research, and how they can be applied to create deep and lasting healing for clients — enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based care. Click here to register!!

Trauma Therapy Directory – Resources for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD – Created by our friends at the Trauma Therapy Network!

Our favorite skin quencher.  Use the code TU when you checkout at oneskin.co

Become the best version of yourself and get 15% off Ned products with code TU.