Deconstructing Therapy
A podcast redefining the way we approach healing, relationships, and mental health. We challenge the status quo and traditional therapy frameworks that often fall short in today’s rapidly evolving society. Through conversations with therapists, activists, and thought leaders, we explore bold, community-centered approaches to mental health that honor the complexities of our world. Together, we’ll uncover how connection, shared stories, and innovative practices can adapt therapy to the needs of our time. Let’s reimagine what healing looks like in the here and now.
Episodes
Deconstructing Therapy – Season 2, Episode 7 Healing Is Not Neutral: Therapy, Power, and the Systems That Shape Us with Maria Fakouri, MA, RP
What happens when therapy can no longer ignore the world we are living in?
In this season finale of Deconstructing Therapy, Alefyah sits down with Maria Fakouri, a Palestinian therapist whose work challenges the limits of Western psychotherapy and calls us into a more honest, relational...
Deconstructing Therapy – Season 2, Episode 6
The Sacred Mess of Becoming: Finding Beauty in Impermanence with Brandon Liu, LMFT
What happens when therapists stop trying to be the expert and instead allow their humanity into the room?
In this episode of Deconstructing Therapy, Alefyah sits down with Brandon Liu, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified Emotionally Focused Therapist whose work centers cultural ide...
Episode 5 | Season 2
Safety Is Not a Feeling: Power, Privilege, and Listening Deeply
Guest: Jay Seiff-Haron, Psy.D
In this expansive and honest conversation, Alefyah sits down with therapist, trainer, and anti-oppression educator Jay Seiff-Haron to explore what happens when we let our clients challenge our worldview—especially around safety, power, and privilege. Jay reflects on growing up Jewish and queer, ...
Episode 4 | Season 2
Bridging Worlds: A Cultural Broker’s Lessons on Migration, Attachment, and Relentless Curiosity
Guest: Liliana Baylon (@lilianabaylon)
In this deeply reflective conversation, Alefyah sits down with therapist, trainer, and cultural bridge Liliana Baylon to explore what it means to live—and heal—between worlds. The eldest daughter in a migrant family, Liliana grew up translating lan...
Episode 3 | Season 2
Wins We’re Not Taught: People Power, Public Power, and Practical Hope
Guest: Jasmine Brown (@jasminebrownformayor)
In this grounded and inspiring conversation, Alefyah sits down with organizer and activist Jasmine Brown to trace her journey from early disillusionment to practical hope. Jasmine shares how watching her parents work without “getting ahead,” moving through low-wage jo...
Episode 2 | Season 2
Rooted in Presence: Authenticity and the Self of the Therapist Guest: Dr. James “Doc Hawk” Hawkins
...
Episode 1 | Season 2
Guest: Dr. Pauline Yeghnazar Peck, Ph.D.
In this rich and moving conversation, Alefyah and Dr. Pauline Yeghnazar Peck explore the ways cultural identity, grief, and healing weave through our personal and professional lives. Together, they look at how therapy can either reinforce harmful narratives—or open the door to reclaiming one’s cultural roots as a source of strength and belonging.
Dr....
Summary
In this conversation, Alefyah Taqui shares her personal journey, exploring her childhood, cultural influences, health challenges, and the transformative experiences that shaped her as a therapist. The discussion delves into her struggles with a severe eye infection, the trauma of navigating the medical system, and the empowering moment of giving birth on her own terms. Through her story, Alefyah reflects on the lessons lear...
Re-Release: Rupture & Repair with Natasha Sandy
In this heartfelt and layered re-release, Alefyah Taqui sits down with Natasha Sandy to explore the complex emotional terrain of the therapeutic relationship. Together, they examine what it means to be authentic, vulnerable, and human—both as therapists and as people doing their own inner work.
This conversation weaves through themes of rupture and repair, decolonization, i...
Summary
In this conversation, Dr. Paul T. Guillory discusses the intersection of culturally informed care and emotionally focused therapy (EFT). He shares his journey from sports psychology to therapy, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultura...
In this conversation, Alefyah Taqui and Tralana Eugene explore the integration of spirituality, particularly astrology, into therapeutic practices. Tralana shares her journey from a Southern Baptist upbringing to embracing her intuitive abilities and the role of astrology in her personal and professional life. They discuss the challenges of navigating traditional mental health frameworks while honoring one's spiritual beliefs and t...
This week, I’m inviting you to revisit Episode 3 of Deconstructing Therapy: Becoming Rooted in Embodied Wisdom with Virginia Walls, LMHC.
I recently returned to this conversation and found myself hearing it differently. Virginia speaks to something so many of us in the therapy world—and beyond—struggle with: the disconnect between what we know intellectually and what we feel and experience in our bodies.
In this e...
EP. 11: Gifts of Struggle: Depression, Substance Abuse, and Becoming Whole with Nalini Calamur, LMFT
Summary
In this conversation, Nalini Calamur shares her journey as a therapist, exploring the complexities of multicultural experiences, family dynamics, and personal struggles. She discusses the importance of self-reflection, community support, and the...
Summary
This conversation explores the concept of mutual aid as a transformative approach to healing and community support. Holly Rose Baker shares her journey from traditional therapy to finding healing through community engagement and activism. The di...
Summary
In this conversation, Alefyah Taqui and Joey Tapia reconnect after years apart, exploring Joey's journey into therapy, his experiences with the deaf community, and the challenges he faced in his professional and personal life. Joey shares ...
Summary
In this conversation, Hale Morissette shares their journey as a social worker, community organizer, and activist. They discuss the importance of organizing work as a matter of life and death, the motivations behind their activism, and the role of transformative justice in mental health. Hale emphasizes the significance of building relationships in organizing, leading with love, and navigating conflict within activist spaces...
Summary
In this conversation, Alefyah Taqui and Bethanie Mangigian explore the complexities of therapy, authenticity, and the profound impact of grief on personal and professional growth. They discuss the importance of dialogue among therapists, the nec...
Summary
In this conversation, Alefyah Taqui and Jean discuss the complexities of Asian identity, cultural nuances, and the importance of affinity groups in providing support and understanding. They explore the challenges of navigating different cultural...
Summary
In this conversation, Alefyah Taqui and Alix Smith explore the intersection of education, therapy, and systemic change. They discuss the challenges faced by educators and therapists in addressing trauma and systemic issues, the importance of vulnerability and self-awareness in therapeutic relationships, and the need for equitable practices in mental health care. Alix shares her personal journey from teaching to counseling, ...
Summary
In this conversation, Alefyah Taqui and Natasha Sandy explore the complexities of the therapeutic relationship, emphasizing authenticity, vulnerability, and the importance of navigating ruptures and repairs. They discuss the impact of social jus...
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