Why Couples Therapy Fails When You're Not Ready | Lara Asous, MA, MFT, CCTP

Why Couples Therapy Fails When You're Not Ready | Lara Asous, MA, MFT, CCTP

In this episode of Therapist Voices @ ReachLink, we speak with Lara Asous, MA, MFT, CCTP, founder of Mindful Growth Therapy, about couples work, trauma healing, and what it means to build a practice rooted in personal experience and cultural awareness. Lara shares her unexpected path into therapy, from switching majors on a whim to finding her calling after navigating divorce and a fibromyalgia diagnosis that led her to her own healing. She opens up about the cultural stigma around therapy in Arab communities, why she chose to become a bridge for that population, and how her own life experiences shaped the specialties she works with today. We explore how she approaches couples who arrive at very different stages of readiness, how trauma stored in the body can quietly shape relationships and partner choices, and why tools like EMDR and genograms are central to her work with clients who feel something but cannot quite name it. Chapters 00:00 – Episode Introduction 00:55 – How Lara Found Her Way to Therapy 02:27 – Serving Arabic-Speaking Clients and Breaking Stigma 04:02 – When Your Own Family Does Not Accept Your Career 05:39 – When Clients Blame the Therapist for Their Partner's Growth 07:35 – How Lara Starts With Couples 09:49 – Reteaching Communication From the Ground Up 11:43 – Individual Therapy During Couples Work 13:45 – Cancer Survivors, Caregivers, and Sliding Scale Support 16:16 – Support Groups for Caregivers 18:22 – Specialties Rooted in Personal Experience 21:40 – How Trauma Shows Up Without a Label 29:07 – Trauma Is Stored in the Body 31:26 – EMDR and Healing Stored Trauma 34:17 – Genograms: A Family Tree for Therapy Guest Bio Lara Asous, MA, MFT, CCTP, is a registered intern marriage and family therapist based in Tampa, Florida, and founder of Mindful Growth Therapy. With over six years of experience, she works with couples, families, and individuals navigating trauma, narcissistic abuse, PTSD, divorce, and major life transitions. Lara integrates trauma-informed care, EMDR, and mindfulness-based approaches within a culturally sensitive framework, offering sessions in both English and Arabic. She also provides school-based counseling for elementary students and facilitates support groups for caregivers of cancer patients. Links Follow Lara Asous and Mindful Growth Therapy Website: https://www.mindful-growth-therapy.org/ [https://www.mindful-growth-therapy.org/] Resources mentioned in this episode: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score [https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score] Genograms (Murray Bowen): a therapeutic mapping tool that traces relational and behavioral patterns across generations Connect with ReachLink Website: https://reachlink.com/ [https://reachlink.com/] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink [https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink] Learn more about therapist opportunities: https://reachlink.com/for-providers/ [https://reachlink.com/for-providers/]

What Qualifies as Intrusive Thoughts? | Kristen McLoud, LCSW

In this episode of Therapist Voices @ ReachLink, we speak with Kristen McLoud, LCSW, owner and psychotherapist at Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy, about three practical ways to deal with intrusive thoughts before they take over your day. Kristen breaks down why suppressing a thought only invites it back in, and walks through the tools she actually uses with clients: logging thoughts to spot patterns, labeling cognitive distortions like catastrophizing and fortune telling, and using mindfulness and breathwork to calm the body before trying to challenge the thought itself. We also talk about where intrusive thoughts tend to show up most, including major life transitions like motherhood and caregiving, why shame keeps so many people from getting help, and how medication and therapy can work together rather than one replacing the other. Chapters 00:00 – Episode Introduction 00:40 – Kristen's Path Into Therapy 01:57 – What Intrusive Thoughts Really Are 03:48 – Where Intrusive Thoughts Come From 05:03 – Shame as a Barrier to Getting Help 06:24 – How Treatment Begins 09:16 – Logging Thoughts and Retraining the Brain 10:58 – Labeling Cognitive Distortions 14:03 – Intrusive Thoughts vs. OCD 16:08 – ReachLink Ad Break 17:24 – How Intrusive Thoughts Impact Daily Life 19:55 – Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques in Session 22:34 – Medication, Therapy, and Working Together 25:06 – Anxiety During Life Transitions Guest Bio Kristen McLoud, LCSW, is the owner and psychotherapist at Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy, licensed in New York, Florida, and South Carolina. Her specialty is anxiety, with a focus on intrusive thoughts and helping clients rewire automatic thinking patterns and build effective tools for emotional regulation. Kristen works extensively with clients navigating sensitive life transitions such as motherhood and caregiving, as well as those experiencing burnout and disconnection from their sense of purpose. She primarily offers telehealth sessions. Links and Resources Follow Kristen McLoud and Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy: Website -> https://www.mentalwholeness.com [https://www.mentalwholeness.com] LinkedIn -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristendmcloud/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristendmcloud/] Therapist Aid (cognitive distortion worksheets) -> https://www.therapistaid.com [https://www.therapistaid.com] Dr. Aaron Beck, founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Dr. Barry Panzer, Kristen's CBT mentor Connect with ReachLink Website -> https://reachlink.com/ [https://reachlink.com/] LinkedIn -> https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink [https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink] Learn more about therapist opportunities -> https://reachlink.com/for-providers/ [https://reachlink.com/for-providers/]

Heal Trauma in 5 Sessions Without Saying a Word | Jenn Mejia, LCSW

In this episode of Therapist Voices @ ReachLink, we speak with Jenn Mejia, LCSW, clinician at Phases of Healing Counseling and Therapy in St. Augustine, Florida, whose holistic approach to mental health looks at every dimension of who a person is. Jenn walks us through Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, an offshoot of EMDR that uses rapid eye movements to rewire how the brain stores traumatic memory. Unlike EMDR, which often leaves clients feeling raw and exposed after a session, ART is designed to end on a positive note. It works in as few as one to five sessions and does not require the client to say a single word about what happened. She explains how ART targets trauma differently from most approaches by going after the foundational memory at the root of the problem rather than the surface-level symptoms. Using a house of cards analogy, she describes what happens when you pull the right card at the base: everything else falls with it. We also explore Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, originally designed for borderline personality disorder and now used far more broadly. Jenn introduces the concept of Wise Mind, the meeting point between emotional experience and rational thinking, and explains why DBT is a structured, skills-based program that takes a full year to complete. This is a clear, jargon-free breakdown of two clinical tools that are changing how therapists and clients approach trauma, emotional regulation, and lasting change. Chapters 00:00 – Episode Introduction 00:48 – Jenn Mejia: Holistic Healing in St. Augustine 03:51 – What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy? 09:29 – How ART Pulls the Foundation Card on Trauma 16:32 – ReachLink Ad Break 17:48 – Who ART Is (and Is Not) For 21:41 – Healing Trauma Without Saying a Word 26:51 – DBT and the Wise Mind Framework Guest Bio Jenn Mejia, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and clinician at Phases of Healing Counseling and Therapy in St. Augustine, Florida. She works with adults, couples, parents, and families, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community and those from diverse cultural backgrounds. Her areas of focus include anxiety, emotion regulation, relationship conflict, trauma, ADHD, and life transitions. Jenn takes a holistic approach that considers not only her clients' psychology but also the influence of environment, culture, and lived experience. She is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, CBT, IFS, EFT, the Gottman Method, and Cognitive Processing Therapy, tailoring each treatment plan to the individual. Links Follow Jenn Mejia: Website → https://www.phasesofhealingcounselingandtherapy.com/jenn-mejia-lcsw.html [https://www.phasesofhealingcounselingandtherapy.com/jenn-mejia-lcsw.html] Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/phasesofhealingtherapy [https://www.instagram.com/phasesofhealingtherapy] Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PhasesofHealing [https://www.facebook.com/PhasesofHealing] Connect with ReachLink Website → https://reachlink.com/ [https://reachlink.com/] LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink [https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink] Learn more about therapist opportunities → https://reachlink.com/for-providers/ [https://reachlink.com/for-providers/]

Therapist Voices @ ReachLink | Naomi Burks, LMFT

In this episode of Therapist Voices @ ReachLink, we speak with Naomi Burks, LMFT, founder of Encouraging Hope Counseling, a therapist whose calling has been embedded in her since she was seven years old and whose work now sits at the intersection of trauma, identity, and faith. Naomi shares her journey from East Oakland to graduate school, how caring for her younger brother at 28 nudged her back into education, and why she knew from the start that spirituality would be woven into everything she does. She walks us through the inner child and EMDR work she does with women, including a powerful case study about a client whose unresolved cultural wound had quietly shaped every relationship in her adult life. This is a deeply personal and clinically rich conversation about healing, purpose, and the courage it takes to sit with what is happening for you and finally acknowledge it. Chapters 00:00 – Episode Introduction 00:52 – Naomi's Journey: From East Oakland to Encouraging Hope 06:31 – Inner Child Work: Healing Wounds Women Carry 10:28 – Recover or Repeat: Breaking Generational Patterns 16:54 – ReachLink Ad Break 18:10 – Restoring the Soul: Bridging Faith and Mental Health 23:13 – Finding Your Identity After Losing Yourself 27:25 – Meeting Clients Where They Are Guest Bio Naomi Burks, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of Encouraging Hope Counseling, a private telehealth practice based in San Leandro, California. Her work sits at the intersection of spiritual care, mental wellness, and trauma-informed support, with a focused commitment to helping women navigate the evolving seasons of their lives. She specializes in supporting women through unresolved trauma, life transitions, and the emotional weight of balancing roles as mothers, partners, professionals, and caretakers, guiding them from survival mode into intentional, empowered living. Certified in Trauma-Focused EMDR, Naomi integrates evidence-based practices with faith-based and spiritually integrative perspectives, drawing on clients' beliefs as a source of strength and healing. She is currently expanding into clinical supervision, mentoring pre-licensed therapists, and her debut book, "Restoring the Soul: A Biblical Guide to Mental Health and Wholeness," bridges faith and mental health for those navigating both. Links Follow Naomi Burks: Website → https://www.encouraging-hope-counseling.com/ [https://www.encouraging-hope-counseling.com/] Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nbmental_health [https://www.instagram.com/nbmental_health] LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-burks-ma-lmft-16b45a75/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-burks-ma-lmft-16b45a75/] Additional Resources: Restoring the Soul: A Biblical Guide to Mental Health and Wholeness → https://www.encouraging-hope-counseling.com/ [https://www.encouraging-hope-counseling.com/] Connect with ReachLink Website → https://reachlink.com/ [https://reachlink.com/] LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink [https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink] Learn more about therapist opportunities → https://reachlink.com/for-providers/ [https://reachlink.com/for-providers/]

Therapist Voices @ ReachLink | Fatema Kapadia, MA Psychology (Clinical Focus)

In this episode of Therapist Voices @ ReachLink, we speak with Fatema Kapadia, Integrative Psychotherapist - MA Psychology (Clinical Focus), an integrative psychotherapist and the founder of Unchaos Living. Fatema opens up about the fragmented, chaotic infrastructure that therapists face globally, from confusing credentialing systems to the financial strain of building a practice. She shares why she started a free, intimate peer support circle where therapists can drop the mask of “professional excellence” and bring their real, messy, human moments. We discuss the hidden costs of becoming a therapist, the guilt around charging for care, and her dream of building a “therapist-first sanctuary” that removes the burden of finding clients. Chapters 00:00 – Episode Introduction 00:25 – Meet Fatema Kapadia & Unchaos Living 02:42 – Why the Mental Health Infrastructure Is Fragmented 05:56 – Moving from Berlin to Dublin: Credentialing Chaos 10:20 – The Pilot Group: A Therapist Who Fainted in Session 16:39 – The Financial Trap of CPD, Supervision, and Licensing 21:00 – A “Therapist First” Platform: Removing the Burden of Finding Clients 26:21 – Small, Intimate Groups vs. Dormant Communities 32:05 – Why Location Doesn’t Matter: Therapists Share the Same Global Problems Guest Bio Fatema Kapadia, MA Psychology (Clinical Focus), is an integrative psychotherapist and the founder of Unchaos Living. She uses multiple modalities to create tailored treatment for her clients while working to fix the infrastructure layer of the mental health landscape. Through Unchaos Living, she offers intimate peer circles where 4-5 therapists meet bi-weekly for 60-90 minutes to share cases, struggles, and the realities of the profession. These are not formal supervision groups but spaces for deep connection. Fatema successfully piloted her first circle on March 28th and has since organized two more groups with a steadily growing community. Links Follow Fatema Kapadia & Unchaos Living: Website → https://www.unchaosliving.com/ [https://www.unchaosliving.com/] LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kapadiafatema [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kapadiafatema] Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/unchaosliving/ [https://www.instagram.com/unchaosliving/] Connect with ReachLink Website → https://reachlink.com/ [https://reachlink.com/] LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink [https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink] Learn more about therapist opportunities → https://reachlink.com/for-providers/ [https://reachlink.com/for-providers/]