The Dr. Sylvia K Show

This is a very special and heartfelt episode focused on depression, hope, recovery, and healing.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Lisa Zielbauer, PharmD, also known as Dr. Z, owner of Root Cause Rx and the voice behind Instagram accounts @RootCauseRx and @theMINDfulFARMacist. A Doctor of Pharmacy and Functional Medicine Consultant, Dr. Z courageously shares her personal journey with depression and anxiety, which b...

Dara’s perspective on sensitivity as physiology rather than personality offers a powerful and refreshing conversation that so many women need to hear. In this deeply informative and supportive episode of The Dr. Sylvia K Show, I sit down with Dara Steinberg to explore what it truly means to be a highly sensitive woman and how understanding your nervous system can become the foundation for healing, self-trust, and deeper conne...

In this episode, we dive into the powerful insights of Dr. Kim, also known as “The Parentologist,” and her transformative approach to raising emotionally connected, confident children. Drawing from her clinical work and her new book Parenting Through Play, we explore how play is truly the language of childhood—and how, as adults, we often forget its importance.

Dr. Kim reminds us that while parents tend to rely on ...

In this deeply meaningful episode, I sit down with Dr. Vanessa Scaringi—licensed psychologist, certified eating disorder specialist, and co-owner of CALM Counseling in Austin, Texas—for a conversation that feels both grounding and transformative.

Vanessa brings her relational approach to the forefront as we explore what it really means to feel connected—to ourselves, to others, and to our relationship with ...

What if you could calm your nervous system in minutes—without overthinking, forcing positivity, or “figuring it all out”?

In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Jessica Ortner, New York Times bestselling author and co-creator of The Tapping Solution, to explore how Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), also known as tapping, can help you regulate your nervous system, release emotional blocks, ...

In this solo episode, I explore something we all crave but rarely practice deeply enough: truly listening.

I dive into the art of listening—not just to respond, but to understand. From reflective listening to the simple (but powerful) act of putting your phone down, I share practical ways we can show up more fully for the people in our lives. And when we can’t? How to communicate that honestly, without disconnecting.

At t...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, we sit down with author and grief specialist Ashley Olivia Nelson to celebrate the release of her debut book, The Identity Reset, publishing March 16, 2026.

Ashley’s story is one of extraordinary resilience. A two-time widow who has walked through profound personal loss, she has transformed her lived experience with grief into compassionate guidance for others navigating life&rsq...

What if the Beckham family “feud” isn’t about drama, entitlement, or ingratitude—but about something much deeper?

In this episode, we unpack emotionally immature parents, family enmeshment, and differentiation using simple, everyday language anyone can understand. Through the lens of Bowen family systems theory (don’t worry—we keep it sixth-grade friendly), we explore how growing up too fast, carr...

Why does family stress hit so differently than anything else?
Why can love and anxiety exist at the same time in the same family?

In this episode of The Dr. Sylvia K Show, I break down Bowen Family Systems Theory in simple, everyday language—no therapy jargon required. You’ll learn how families operate as emotional ecosystems, why anxiety spreads through relationships, and how one person often ends up carrying the emo...

This is not your usual podcast episode.

This is a guided meditation designed to meet you in the quiet places—the tiredness that lingers in your body, the loneliness that doesn’t always have words, and the moment in life where something old no longer fits, but something new hasn’t fully arrived yet.

This episode is part of a special meditation series created to complement the work inside Lonely AF: A Therapist’...

This is not a traditional podcast episode—it’s a guided meditation experience.

In this special installment from my ongoing meditation series, I guide you through The Seven-Minute Meditation That Changed My Life—a short but powerful practice designed to help you slow down, reconnect with yourself, and release the family roles and self-limiting beliefs that may be keeping you stuck.

Many of us grow up taking on roles ...

This is not a typical podcast episode.

This is a guided meditation.

Breaking Up With Shame is part of a growing meditation series designed to support personal growth, emotional healing, and awareness of the family and relational systems that shape how we see ourselves.

In this short, no-BS meditation, you’ll be guided to gently notice shame-based patterns and self-defeating behaviors that may have once helped you cope, belong, o...

This is not your ordinary podcast episode.

This is a guided meditation created to support your healing.

In this meditation, you’ll be gently guided to bring awareness to the family roles you may have learned to play—consciously or unconsciously—such as the rescuer, the scapegoat, the caretaker, the peacemaker, or the one who stayed unseen. These roles often begin as survival strategies in our early systems and can q...

In this incredibly real and compassionate conversation, I’m joined by breakup coach Cole Zesiger, whose down-to-earth wisdom and lived experience make him one of the most relatable voices in the breakup and healing space. Cole just wrote his first book, Ex’s and No’s: The Breakup Advice You Don't Want to Hear, and wow… this episode delivers exactly the kind of clarity, comfort, and practical guidance you&rs...

What if your struggle with food isn’t about food at all?

In this raw and revealing episode of The Dr. Sylvia K Show, licensed psychotherapist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Mary Dobson, LMFT, joins us to explore Family Systems Theory and hidden roots of disordered eating—childhood emotional neglect (CEN) and emotional loneliness. We unpack family systems theory, the roles we play in our families, and why so man...

In this episode of The Dr. Sylvia K Show, we explore the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi, a powerful metaphor for healing and growth. Kintsugi, meaning “to join with gold,” teaches us to embrace our cracks and imperfections, turning them into sources of strength and beauty. 

Dr. Sylvia dives into how this philosophy can help us better understand family dynamics, navigate feelings of loneliness within relati...

In this raw and eye-opening episode of The Dr. Sylvia K Show, we dive deep into the often-hidden loneliness that can exist within family structures. Joining me today is Stacey Dorenfeld, author of the powerful memoir Kosher Crack, who bravely shares her personal story of feeling isolated and disconnected in her own family. Together, we explore themes of abuse, survival, and the difficult journey of healing. Trigger Warnings: Sensit...

In this intimate episode, we delve into the intricate world of storytelling, guided by the insightful and multi-talented Kristen McGuiness. From her early days at Shakespeare & Co. in New York to becoming a revered author, editor, and publisher, Kristen's journey is a testament to the power of narrative in our lives.

The Power of Story:
Kristen shares her deep-seated passion for storytelling, tracing it back to her childhood ...

Are you or someone you know struggling with OCD or anxiety? 

In this episode, I sit down with Madina Alam, M.A., LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor and certified yoga instructor, who specializes in treating OCD and anxiety.

Madina is also the Director of Operations at NOCD, a company dedicated to treating individuals with OCD using exposure response prevention (ERP), a research-backed type of treatment.
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