What if the hardest chapters of your life became the experience that makes you a steadier presence for others?

Angela Johnson joins Laurie for her first conversation as The Montfort Group’s inaugural practicum fellow — a role shaped by a long, honest road back to herself. Her path into counseling took the scenic route: a career in education, a complicated pregnancy, divorce, blended family challenges, and the quiet shock of the empty nest. The result is a therapist-in-training with an uncommon mix of humility, clarity, and practical wisdom.

In this episode, Laurie and Angela talk openly about what real-life experience brings into the therapy room, especially when clients are navigating the messy spaces between roles like co-parenting, blending families, redefining partnership, or figuring out who they are when the kids leave. Angela offers the kind of insight that comes from living it — slow pacing, healthy boundaries, clarity around discipline, respect for each child’s loyalties, and a deep understanding of what helps a new family system hold.

Angela begins seeing clients this December, and her work is especially supportive for women in transition, parents navigating blended families, and couples trying to protect the foundation they’ve built. If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy or finding a guide for this next chapter, this is a beautiful way to meet her.

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🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

What happens when education is completely reimagined around the individual student? Alexandria Armstrong, Director of Admissions at Fusion Academy in Plano, reveals the transformative power of their one-to-one teaching model where every class consists of just one teacher and one student.

Alexandria draws from her decade of experience in education and her personal journey as a homeschooled student with ADHD to explain why this revolutionary approach works for students who struggle in traditional settings. She shares how Fusion's holistic methodology addresses not just academics, but emotional wellbeing and social development—creating breakthrough moments for students who previously felt misunderstood or overlooked.

The conversation explores how COVID-19 accelerated changes in student socialization that were already underway, while examining the balance between digital communication and essential face-to-face connection. Alexandria offers fascinating insights into how Fusion creates a customized daily experience for each student—from flexible start times to dedicated homework cafes where students complete assignments on campus and connect with like-minded peers.

Most powerfully, Alexandria describes the visible transformation as students find their place at Fusion: "You see their shoulders roll back and their posture change" as they discover an educational environment where they're truly seen and understood. For parents of students with learning differences, social anxiety, unique scheduling needs, or those simply needing a different approach, this episode offers hope that education can be reimagined to help every student thrive.

Ready to learn more about personalized education options? Visit fusionacademy.com to explore their 80 campuses nationwide or contact Alexandria directly.

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🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

Laurie interviews clinical herbalist Nicole Haglund about how Chinese medicine can help women restore balance to their hormones and nervous systems for better mental health. Nicole explains her journey from disordered eating to becoming an expert in women's health after successfully helping her husband overcome Crohn's disease through natural methods.

• Women today are experiencing burnout trying to balance careers, family responsibilities, and personal wellness
• Chinese medicine identifies patterns of symptoms rather than treating isolated complaints
• Magnesium deficiency is a common underlying cause of anxiety and stress
• The nervous system must be regulated before herbs and nutrition can effectively work
• Tongue diagnosis reveals internal health issues by examining color, shape, and coating
• The gut-brain connection plays a crucial role in both emotional and physical wellbeing
• Passion flower is particularly effective for people who struggle with overthinking
• During perimenopause, depleted adrenal glands must take over hormone production
• Nicole's Beauty Reset program provides customized herbal formulas, dietary guidelines, and nervous system support

For more information about working with Nicole, visit her Instagram @FixingYourFlow and DM the word "reset" to learn about her 90-day program.

Send us a text

🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

Can one relationship meet all your needs? In this eye-opening episode of Therapist Unplugged, married couple Leland and McKenzie share how their connection evolved from a casual Tinder hookup to a deeply committed polyamorous marriage.

With raw honesty and humor, they explore what it takes to build trust, communicate openly, and challenge traditional relationship norms. From navigating jealousy to redefining intimacy, their story is full of insights for anyone curious about ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, or simply wanting to improve communication in monogamous relationships.

Whether you're questioning societal expectations or just want a deeper look at what honesty in partnership really means, this conversation will shift your perspective.

Key Topics:

• Ethical non-monogamy & polyamory
• Communication in modern relationships
• Trust and emotional transparency
• Letting go of unrealistic expectations
• Love beyond traditional structures

Quote Highlight:
"Being able to tell your partner ‘I find this person attractive’—just something as simple as that—removes so many barriers of other things to communicate about." — McKenzie

Send us a text

🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

When was the last time you had an honest conversation about sex after 60?

In this episode of Therapist Unplugged, host Laurie Poole is joined by sex therapist Edita Ruzgyte for a candid look at aging, desire, and intimacy in later life. They challenge the idea that good sex requires a perfect body and explore how deeper emotional connection can lead to more fulfilling sexual experiences as we grow older.

You’ll hear:

• How to talk about sex and boundaries—at any age
• What changing bodies mean for intimacy
• Why desire doesn’t expire
• How to reignite connection in long-term relationships

Whether you’re curious about what’s possible or ready to reclaim your sexual vitality, this conversation is your invitation to start.

Send us a text

🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

Ready to reset your nervous system?

In this calming episode, therapist Laurie Poole leads you through a guided Progressive Relaxation practice designed to release physical tension, quiet your mind, and bring your body back to a state of balance.

Progressive Relaxation is a simple yet powerful technique that helps reduce stress, improve sleep, and build long-term emotional resilience. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or just need a moment to breathe—this session is your invitation to pause and reconnect.

By the end, you’ll feel more grounded and better equipped to bring this calming practice into your daily routine.

Ideal for:

• Stress relief and anxiety management
• Transitioning from work to rest
• Mind-body connection and emotional reset

Send us a text

🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

Feeling overwhelmed? Press play and pause the chaos.

In this brief but powerful guided meditation, therapist Laurie Poole walks you through a calming mental reset—designed to help you relax your body, quiet your thoughts, and reconnect with the present moment.

Whether you're new to meditation or just need a quick reset, this practice offers a gentle invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and return to yourself.

Meditation can help:

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Increase emotional awareness
• Improve focus and clarity
• Support long-term nervous system regulation

Let this be your moment of calm in the middle of it all.

Send us a text

🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

What happens when two therapists get real about men in therapy? This candid conversation delivers profound insights about why men struggle with emotions and how therapy can create transformative spaces for authentic expression.

Therapists Laurie Poole and Rhett Smith explore how boys receive messages as early as age five that emotions aren't safe to express, creating lifelong patterns that emerge in relationships and personal identity. They candidly discuss the challenges men face developing emotional vocabulary and navigating societal expectations that often leave them feeling inadequate or ashamed. Through powerful clinical examples, they reveal how failure and shame become central emotional triggers for many men and reframes vulnerability as strength rather than weakness. 

Whether you're a man struggling with emotional expression, someone who loves a man wrestling with these issues, or a therapist working with male clients, this episode offers compassionate understanding and practical wisdom about creating spaces where men can bring their whole selves – emotions included.

Send us a text

🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

What if the key to mental well-being starts in your gut? In this episode, holistic nutrition consultant Morgan Lewis shares her journey from debilitating stomach pain to discovering the powerful link between digestion and mental health.

We explore how 90% of serotonin—the "happy hormone"—is produced in the gut, why the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in stress resilience, and how small changes in diet and lifestyle can transform your energy and mood in just days. Morgan also sheds light on the unique digestive challenges women face and why traditional health approaches often fall short.

Tune in for a fascinating deep dive into the mind-body connection and practical steps to heal from the inside out.

Send us a text

🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup

How do early experiences shape the way we connect as adults? In this episode, Licensed Professional Counselor Courtney Strull from The Montfort Group unravels the mysteries of attachment styles and their profound impact on mental health, from anxiety to relationship struggles. Through Courtney's insights, we explore how attachment influences issues like depression, anxiety, intergenerational trauma, and how family dynamics influence who we choose as partners.

Learn more about the five attachment styles in the How We Love quiz, available at https://howwelove.com/love-style-quiz/

Tune in as we share personal stories and expert insights on attachment work, revealing its transformative role in therapy and how understanding the past can lead to healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

Send us a text

🎙️ Therapist Unplugged is produced by The Montfort Group, a boutique therapy practice based in Plano, Texas, helping individuals, couples, and families build emotionally intelligent, connected lives.

Subscribe for real conversations with real therapists, because healing doesn’t happen in perfect soundbites.

To learn more about our team or schedule a session, visit: www.themontfortgroup.com

Follow us on Instagram: @themontfortgroup