Therapy Thrift Shop

Is it weird that a gritty crime drama is your comfort show? In this playful and insightful episode, Wini unpacks her love for Law & Order: SVU—with help from ChatGPT acting as a pretend therapist. From parasocial Olivia Benson admiration to reflections on trauma, justice, and self-compassion, this episode is part cozy confession, part AI experiment, and all heart. Perfect for anyone who’s ever found healing in unexpected places...

Feeling too low to text back but still want to show you care? In this cozy solo episode, Wini shares a heartwarming (and super practical!) way she stays connected to loved ones, especially during depressive episodes, without leaving the house. Hint: it's part vintage charm, part digital magic, and 100% impactful. Tune in for a tiny mental health tip that’s low effort, high connection, and full of hear

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In this heartfelt and refreshingly real episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop, host Winifred Akande gets personal about coping skills that actually help—especially during the chaotic, colder, emotionally complex lead-up to the holidays. From simmering chili and Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes to journaling, quilting, chai lattes, and digital detoxes, Wini shares her current go-to ways of managing stress, sadness, and seasonal overw...

When tragedy strikes—again and again—we often hear "thoughts and prayers." But do those words still hold meaning?

In this heartfelt episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop, Winifred Akande unpacks her evolving relationship with prayer, especially in the face of national grief, mental health struggles, and the desire to be a force for good.

Inspired by the timeless Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, she explores how prayer can be ...

In this deeply vulnerable episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop, Winifred Akande opens up about one of her hardest moments—September 15, 2025, the morning she woke up and didn’t want to be here anymore. With compassion and honesty, she walks listeners through the weight of that day: the work stress of an ongoing merger, feelings of disconnection from friends and church, and the painful realization of how overwhelming the world can be.

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Ever rolled your eyes at affirmations? Same. In this episode of Therapy Thrift Shop, Winifred shares how she went from anti-affirmation skeptic to full believer — realizing affirmations are just the opposite of negative self-talk. She breaks down what affirmations really are, how they rewire the brain (yes, science backs this up), and how to make them actually work in real life.

You’ll hear personal stories from studying for the CPA...

In this deeply honest comeback episode, Winifred opens up about being diagnosed with dysthymia (a chronic form of depression), navigating intense suicidal ideation, and finding her way back to hope and stability. She also previews what’s ahead this season: affirmations that actually work, prayers that ground her, navigating friendships, managing social batteries, and surviving the holidays with compassion and grace.

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This week, I’m getting raw and real about what it means to be healing in real time. Inspired by a literal scab on my nose (yep, you read that right), I unpack the emotional weight of unspoken grief, burnout, and the pressure to show up when you’re not okay. I’m hitting pause for the summer—and sharing why sometimes, we need to rest before we’re ready. If you’re in a scabby season too, this one’s for you. 💛

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In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, host Winifred Akande shares a personal spiral of catastrophic thinking after starting a new job—and walks us through how to recognize and challenge those “what if everything goes wrong?” thoughts. Learn how to spot catastrophizing, reframe fear-based thoughts, and build mental resilience using real-life examples, humor, and heart. Because sometimes, your anxious brain is just a little too creative.

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Ever finish something amazing and instantly downplay it? You're not alone. In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred gets honest about how a lifetime of disqualifying the positives—aka brushing off compliments, minimizing achievements, and never letting the good stuff land—has impacted her mental health. She explores where this pattern comes from, what it’s cost her, and how she’s learning to let the good things count. If you’ve e...

In this short episode, I share a real moment of mental filtering after co-hosting a baby shower. Even though the event went well, I found myself stuck on the decorations that didn’t meet my expectations. I talk through how this cognitive distortion showed up, what my inner critic was saying, and how I’m learning to reframe those thoughts with self-compassion. If you’ve ever fixated on one small flaw and overlooked everything that w...

In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred unpacks a real-life moment of overgeneralization after oversleeping before work. Join her as she breaks down how our brains turn one off morning into a dramatic narrative ("I'll never get used to this!"), and how to gently challenge that kind of thinking. If your inner monologue is a bit of a drama queen lately, this cozy mental health moment is for you. You're human and ...

A missing piece of fabric sends Winifred into a spiral—but it’s not just about the fabric. It’s about all-or-nothing thinking, that sneaky mental trap that turns small mistakes into big self-blame. In this 5-minute Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred walks through the distortion in real time, offering a funny, gentle reminder that being human is messy—and that’s okay.

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• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@thera...

I tried Tantra Speed Dating hoping for connection—but left before it even started. In this honest (and hilarious) recap, I share what happened, why I walked out, and what it taught me about intuition, loneliness, and dating in your 30s. Spoiler: It involves beads, breathwork, and one very awkward moment.

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• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

• ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (discount code: PODCAS...

In this Therapy Thrift Shop episode, host Winifred Akande dives into the world of cognitive distortions—those pesky mental habits that twist our thinking and fuel negativity. Discover eight common distortions, from all-or-nothing thinking to mind reading, and learn practical tips for spotting and challenging them. Whether you're new to the concept or need a refresher, this episode offers valuable tools to improve your mental well-b...

In this episode, host Winifred Akande opens up about her ongoing struggle with loneliness and how it has shaped recent decisions, including pursuing a new in-person job after years of remote work. She reflects on a recent encounter with her ex-boyfriend "Richard," which reignited old patterns and reminded her of valuable lessons about self-worth, growth, and boundaries. Winifred candidly discusses the challenges of navigating relat...

In this episode of Therapy Thrift Shop, I dive into the unexpected life lessons I learned from sewing my very first quilt. From battling perfectionism and embracing progress to learning patience and finding joy in the process, each stitch taught me something valuable. Tune in to hear how quilting became a metaphor for navigating life’s bumps and why sometimes ripping out mistakes is just part of the journey. Whether you're a crafte...

Feeling the Sunday Scaries creeping in? You're not alone. In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred Akande shares simple mindset shifts and calming rituals that helped her ease anxiety before the workweek. Tune in for a quick, cozy pep talk on how to make Sunday feel less like a countdown and more like a soft landing.

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• IG - @therapythriftshop
• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

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In this deeply personal (and totally unscripted) episode, I sit down and do a live self check-in—no filter, no prep, just honest reflection. I walk through how I’m feeling emotionally, what my body’s telling me, what’s been taking up mental space, and what I actually need right now. If you’ve been meaning to pause and check in with yourself too, this is your gentle invitation to do just that. Real life, real feelings, real time. Le...