What happens psychologically when moving doesn’t “fix it”?

In this episode of Therapy Talk, Johanne Schwensen speaks with clinical psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist Julia Wysokowsky about the emotional impact of moving.

Together they explore how mobility shapes identity, belonging, and emotional continuity, from the early euphoria of relocation to grief, loss of grounding, and the challenge of staying connected while always on the move. The conversation touches on unconscious motivations for moving, mobility as a defense against intimacy, and how cultivating rituals and relationships can help create an inner sense of home across changing environments.

A thoughtful listen for anyone who has lived between places or cultures.

Interested in exploring these themes further? Join the Rupture & Repair Conference in Berlin and online, where therapists and practitioners come together to explore how rupture, breakdown, and reconnection show up not only in therapy rooms, but in relationships, communities, and the wider world. Learn more and apply to contribute here.

In this Therapy Talk episode, Johanne sits down with Dr. Andrea Jungaberle — Chief Medical Officer at OVID Clinic and co-founder of the MIND Foundation — for a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at how psychedelic-assisted therapy is actually making its way into clinical practice. They talk about Germany’s first compassionate use program with psilocybin, why the real work happens before and after the dosing session, and what it takes to responsibly scale these treatments in everyday mental healthcare.

Psychotherapist and author Roland Evans joins Johanne Schwensen to talk about his book Surface and Depths: A Story of Adolescence with Reflections on the Inner Journey. Together they explore adolescence, family, and the lifelong process of becoming ourselves — and how therapy can help us revisit and repair the patterns formed early in life.

Therapy Talk is back! Johanne speaks with psychologist and researcher Lea Schäfer about how AI is showing up in therapy – for clients, therapists, and the future of mental health care. They explore the promises, pitfalls, and ethical questions of bringing technology into the therapeutic space.

Full conversation here.

*The BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) was first published in 1961 by Dr. Aaron T. Beck.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/lea-schäfer-1b3894103?originalSubdomain=de

ResearchGate

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lea-Schaefer-10

Literature

Schäfer, L. M., Krause, T., & Köhler, S. (2025). Exploring user characteristics, motives, and expectations and the therapeutic alliance in the mental health conversational AI Clare®: a baseline study. Frontiers in Digital Health, 7, 1576135.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1576135/full

Schäfer, Lea Maria. "Künstliche Intelligenz als Dritte Instanz in der Psychotherapie: Wie eine sinnvolle Integration von Künstlicher Intelligenz in den psychotherapeutischen Binnenraum aussehen könnte". Was machen Digitalisierung und Künstliche Intelligenz mit der Psychotherapie?: Einwürfe und Provokationen, edited by Bert te Wildt, Gerhard Lauer and Robin Schmidt, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Oldenbourg, 2024, pp. 111-128. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111509341-007

In this episode, therapist Dariia Milinchuk shares her expertise on working with survivors of narcissistic abuse. We explore how narcissistic traits differ from narcissistic personality disorder, why even trained professionals can miss the signs of manipulation, and the subtle but powerful ways narcissistic behaviour shows up in relationships. Dariia also discusses the long-term impact of narcissistic abuse and why regaining trust in oneself can be a complex but transformative journey.

Full conversation here.

In Breaking Negative Cycles in Relationships, Sára Ritter explains:

• Her journey into couples therapy and her passion for Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) 
• How conflicts in relationships are often rooted in unmet attachment needs
• The pursuer-withdrawer cycle and why we fall into predictable relationship patterns
• How couples can reconnect and shift their dynamic

Join us as we unpack these themes and learn how deeper emotional understanding can transform relationships.
Watch the full interview here. 

In this episode, Johanne speaks with Matias Castagnola, a clinical psychologist and psychodrama facilitator, about the transformative power of psychodrama. Matias shares how this therapeutic approach uses role-playing, sociometry, and group dynamics to explore possibilities, expand roles, and create meaningful change in a safe and playful environment. We also discuss the balance of creativity and structure in psychodrama sessions and how this method integrates personal growth with group collaboration.

Website: https://matiascastagnola.com/

In this episode, host Johanne Schwensen sits down with psychological counsellor Aranja Berkmüller to explore the fascinating and often misunderstood role of kink in the therapy space.

This thought-provoking conversation challenges societal norms and encourages deeper reflection. Johanne and Aranja discuss:

• Common misconceptions about kink and its presence in therapeutic settings.
• The healing potential of exploring power dynamics and psychological layers within kink.
• Practical ways therapists can create nonjudgmental and supportive spaces for these discussions.

Read more about Aranja here: https://www.amplified-humanity.com. 

To celebrate ADHD Awareness month, we're diving into the ADHD brain and the struggles that come with it. In this episode, Johanne speaks with clinical psychologist Anna Bellack, who not only researched ADHD in women for her thesis but also received her own ADHD diagnosis during her studies. Anna provides insight into the neurological workings of ADHD and sheds light on common challenges faced by people with ADHD, including some that often go overlooked. Whether you’re personally affected by ADHD or just curious, this conversation offers a deep and relatable perspective.

Resources

• A list of therapists specialising in ADHD
• The full Mind Mingles interview with Anne Bellack
• A community space where you can sign up and ask for ADHD advice
• A great podcast about the ADHD brain (and beyond) called ADHD Chatter

In this episode of our mini-series on dreams, clinical psychologist and dream expert Roland Evans explores how we can better understand our dreams by working with them in altered states of consciousness (ASCs). From naturalistic trance and EMDR to active imagination and hypnosis, Roland looks into how these non-ordinary states of awareness help us access deeper layers of dream meaning that are often inaccessible in waking life. Whether you're new to dreamwork or looking to deepen your practice, this episode offers fascinating perspectives on working with dreams using ASCs.