Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk

Do you equate self-care with face masks and wine nights? In this episode, we break down the real meaning of self-care—and spoiler alert—it’s not always cute or Instagram-worthy. From setting boundaries and saying "no" without guilt, to recognizing rest as productive, we're diving into the deeper, sustainable habits that actually support your mental health.

We explore why glamorized self-care can sometimes feel like a b...

Ever felt like a fraud—even with the degrees, experience, and glowing reviews to back you up? In this episode, we unpack impostor syndrome—what it is, how it shows up (especially in helping professions), and what it really takes to move through it.

We’re getting real about:

• Therapist panic moments (aka: “I have no idea what I’m doing”)

• The pressure to be everything in therapy culture

• Why social media feeds our comparison trap

• Pe...

When you’re raising kids, it’s easy to forget you’re also growing a marriage. Between school drop-offs, late-night tantrums, and laundry mountains, quality time as a couple can feel like a luxury — but it’s actually a necessity. In this episode, we unpack how parenthood changes your relationship dynamic, why micro-moments of connection matter, and how to keep your partnership strong without adding more to your plate.

We’re shari...

"Daddy Issues, We All Got 'Em"

You’ve heard the phrase. You’ve laughed at the memes. But today, we’re going deeper — way deeper.

In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we’re unpacking “daddy issues” through a clinical lens. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about dating older men or absentee fathers. We’re talking about emotional wounds, attachment patterns, and how early paternal dynamics shape how we love,...

"Why Healthy Habits Are So Hard: Diet Culture, Mental Health, and Sustainable Wellness"

Binge cycles, burnout, and the truth about 'lifestyle changes' that don’t work for everyone

Do you struggle to stick to a “healthy lifestyle”? Ever start a new diet, workout plan, or morning routine… and feel like a failure when it doesn’t last?You’re not lazy or undisciplined — you’re probably exhausted by a system that doesn’t ...

🎙️ Welcome back to Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk — where we embrace the chaos of being mental health professionals and keep it as real as your last 8 a.m. client.

In this episode, we're diving into the awkward gap between what grad school told us therapy would be like vs. what it's actually like in the room. Spoiler alert: textbooks didn’t prepare us for clients ghosting, crying in parking lots, or watching someon...

🎙️ This Mother’s Day, I Just Want to Be Left Alone

Mother’s Day isn’t always brunches, flower deliveries, and heartfelt Instagram captions. Sometimes, it’s wanting nothing more than to not be touched, talked to, or needed for 24 hours—and that’s what we’re talking about in this honest, validating episode.

In this episode, your co-hosts Melisa DeMahy, LMHC and Courtnie Vargas-Rodriguez, LMFT, both therapists and very real humans, di...

🎙️ Unpacking the Motherload: Mommy Issues, Reparenting, and Mental Health

Mother’s Day isn’t just flowers and brunch—it can be messy, complicated, beautiful, and painful, all at once. In this raw and relatable episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, your co-hosts Courtnie and Melisa hold space for the truth behind the Hallmark holiday: the complexity of mother relationships, the unspoken pain of the “mother wound,” and the ...

Join therapists Melisa and Courtnie for real, unfiltered conversations about mental health, healing, and the beautifully chaotic mess of everyday life.

This is where honesty meets humor, and no topic is off-limits. From professional insights to personal anecdotes, they’ll remind you that you’re not alone—because healing gets a little easier when we do it together.

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🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:
We talk about starting our practice and busin...