Through a Therapist's Eyes Podcast

In Episode 377 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, "Loving Someone With Addiction: When Does Helping Become Enabling?", we tackle one of the most agonizing dilemmas families face: how to offer meaningful support without inadvertently shielding a loved one from the natural consequences of their substance use. Exploring the clinical distinctions between healthy boundaries, consequences, and control, this episode breaks down why the same supportive action can foster recovery in one context while fueling active addiction in another.

We look at how these dynamics differ when setting limits with an addicted spouse versus a child across different life stages, challenge the dangerous myth that someone must "hit rock bottom" to recover, and introduce evidence-based frameworks like CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) and Motivational Interviewing. If you've felt torn between the fear of enabling and the guilt of abandonment, tune in for compassionate, actionable guidance on protecting your own emotional well-being while maintaining unconditional love and connection.

Tune in to see When Helping Becomes Enabling Through a Therapist's Eyes.

If you and your partner are trapped in a cycle of repeated arguments, lingering resentment, or broken trust, saying "I'm sorry" often isn't enough. In Episode 376 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, we break down what it actually takes to heal a damaged relationship when both of you are hurting. We explore why defensiveness gets in the way of genuine connection, how to shift from empty apologies to real behavioral change, and how to navigate deep attachment injuries using Emotionally Focused Therapy. Whether you're struggling to rebuild trust after a betrayal, fighting to be heard, or trying to decide if your relationship can truly recover, this episode offers compassionate, practical guidance to help you find emotional safety and clarity.

Tune in to see Rebuilding Trust Through a Therapist's Eyes.

In Episode 375 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, we step past the sensationalized headlines to examine the painful reality of adult child-parent estrangement in an increasingly disconnected world. Driven by changing therapy culture, social media narratives, and evolving definitions of emotional safety, the choice to go "no contact" is often framed as a clear-cut boundary—but clinical data and family systems theory reveal a far more complex picture of relational ruptures, intergenerational patterns, and unexpressed grief. Together, we explore whether modern psychology is empowering individuals to leave genuinely toxic environments or inadvertently giving us tools to bypass the messy discomfort of relational repair, offering practical reflections for both adult children and parents seeking clarity, health, and a way forward.

Tune in to see Why Adult Children are Cutting Off Their Parents Through a Therapist's Eyes

In Episode 374 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, we dismantle the common myth that romantic relationships exist to make us happy, exploring why prioritizing temporary emotional states over long-term emotional health can sabotage even the strongest connections. By contrasting the features of a "happy" relationship with a "healthy" one, this episode dives into the vital concepts of differentiation, identity, and secure attachment—examining how to balance deep interpersonal connection with true selfhood without falling into co-dependency or extreme independence. Listeners will be challenged to reflect on whether they are expecting their partners to fix internal unhappiness, offering actionable insights on how to cultivate emotional safety, establish boundaries, and maintain a strong sense of self while building a thriving relationship.

Tune in to see Yourself in a Disconnected World Through a Therapist's Eyes.

In the September 2026 month-in-review episode of Through a Therapist's Eyes, host Chris Gazdik and the panel reflect on three major topics previously covered on the show. They revisit their conversation on weed normalization (Ep. 370), breaking down common myths, physical risks like Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, and whether public perception has moved faster than the science. Next, they re-examine the tragic Lindsay Clancy case (Ep. 371) to look back at the realities of postpartum psychosis, exploring how severe mental illness impacts accountability and where clinicians draw the line between crisis and legal responsibility. Finally, the team recaps their discussion on deportation anxiety (Ep. 372), reviewing practical ways families cope when living under chronic fear and how to stay grounded when a threat is real rather than imaginary.

Tune in to see the September Month in Review.

In Episode 372 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, we take an unvarnished look at the psychological toll of deportation anxiety in an era of surging interior ICE enforcement. When the threat of detention is a grounded reality rather than an irrational catastrophization, traditional advice like "stop worrying" falls completely flat. Bridging hard policy data with clinical wisdom, this episode explores how chronic hypervigilance reshapes daily life—from children carrying hidden attachment fears to families shrinking their worlds to stay safe. Join our panel of therapists as we unpack the delicate balance between realistic preparation and emotional regulation, offering practical insight on how to navigate high-stakes uncertainty, distinguish risk management from life-altering avoidance, and continue living when the fear is very real.

Tune in to see Deportation Anxiety Through a Therapist's Eyes.

In Episode 371 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, we examine the tragic case of Lindsay Clancy following the September 2026 mistrial declaration—where a jury split 11–1 over whether the Massachusetts mother was criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children during what her defense argued was an acute break from reality. We break down the vital clinical distinction between common postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis—a severe, highly unpredictable psychiatric emergency marked by delusions, hallucinations, and severely compromised reality testing. Merging legal and psychological frameworks, the panel explores how a diagnosis alone doesn't resolve criminal responsibility, tackling the complex question of whether deliberate planning refutes the presence of psychosis. Finally, we speak directly to listeners about recognizing early warning signs, overcoming the shame surrounding frightening post-birth thoughts, and balancing empathy for devastating psychiatric illness with the difficult demands of justice.

Tune in to see Criminal Responsibility Through a Therapist's Eyes.

Has our cultural normalization of marijuana moved faster than our actual understanding of its health risks? In this provocative episode of Through a Therapist's Eyes, the panel tackles the shifting landscape of cannabis use—starting with surprising CDC data on Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, a condition linked to frequent use that causes severe vomiting and has sent nearly 200,000 people to the emergency room. From busting common myths about driving, addiction, and anxiety to debating whether "legal" actually means "safe," the hosts bypass the tired "good vs. bad" debate to offer a compassionate, clinical lens on your relationship with weed. Whether you are a casual user, using it medically, or relying on it to manage daily stress, tune in for a nuanced, eye-opening conversation designed to help you reflect on whether cannabis is truly serving your health or subtly driving your life.

Tune in to see Weed Through a Therapist's Eyes.

In Episode 369 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, we look back at August 2026 to tackle complex intersections of mental health, physical well-being, and human resilience. We break down the heavy legal and clinical questions surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case—examining where severe mental illness meets legal responsibility—and explore the troubling rise of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome alongside the nuanced debate over Kratom and harm reduction. Finally, we pull key insights from our recent conversations with music producer Hunter Davidsohn on finding hope while living with chronic pain, paired with the science of post-traumatic growth, to offer actionable guidance on building genuine emotional resilience through life's hardest seasons.

Tune in to see the August Month in Review Through a Therapist's Eyes.

In Episode 368 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, host Chris Gazdik sits down with acclaimed music producer and engineer Hunter Davidsohn - the creative mind behind releases for Frankie Cosmos, Porches, and Sheer Mag - to explore a poignant, often overlooked reality: professional success cannot insulate us from severe physical suffering. Despite reaching career milestones many only dream of, Hunter opens up about his daily fight with debilitating chronic back pain and how it has reshaped his relationship with his craft, identity, and independence. Together, they dive deep into the psychology of persistent pain, separating the myth of instant healing from the nuanced work of genuine emotional resilience, attachment, and acceptance. This grounded, deeply honest conversation reframes hope not as a guarantee that everything will be fixed, but as a deliberate daily choice to pursue meaning, connection, and creation alongside life's greatest hard struggles.

Tune in to see Living with Chronic Pain and Choosing Hope Through a Therapist's Eyes.