Therapy House

Grief & Loss with Dr. Ramos & Vanessa

Last year we sat down with Jon Tong to explore his experiences related to the death of his godfather and the impact it left behind that inspired him to cherish life, better himself, and foster community. In this episode we revisit the topic of grief from the perspective of a couple, Jeremy & Vanessa, as they tell their emotional story of the pain following the loss of their child. Here they detail the shock, the longing, the unanswered questions, and the ways grief has quietly reshaped identity, relationships, and meaning. This conversation honors the love that never ends, even when a life is tragically ends before birth.  Designed for parents, loved ones, and mental health professionals alike, this episode offers gentle reflections and validation for a grief that is often misunderstood or minimized. Grief & Loss is never an easy topic to explore with family, friends, or even clients. It calls for a certain level of care, courage, and vulnerability in order to reach a place of healing and hope for the future. By producing these episodes we hope to continue to normalize the pain one feels after a loss of a loved one, encourage them embrace the loss, and remind them that they are not alone in their pain.      --------------------------- If you have experienced something similar (stillbirth, miscarriage) and you are looking for support, please explore: Star Legacy Foundation Offers free virtual support groups for pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and infant loss, including groups for bereaved parents, dads, grandparents, and pregnancy-after-loss. - https://starlegacyfoundation.org/family-support/ [https://starlegacyfoundation.org/family-support/]   March of Dimes - Healthy Moms. Strong Babies. Provides grief resources, online communities (like Share Your Story), and information for families after stillbirth. - https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/miscarriage-loss-and-grief [https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/miscarriage-loss-and-grief]   Pregnancy Loss Support Program Offers telephone peer counseling, support groups, and referrals for parents who have experienced stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death. - https://www.pregnancyloss.org/ [https://www.pregnancyloss.org/]   The Tiny Miracles Foundation - Sad Dads A community and support space run by dads who have experienced miscarriages and stillbirths. https://ttmf.org/find-support/after-a-loss/

Therapy’s Next Level: How Video Games Are Changing Therapy

🎮Can this actually work?🎮 In this episode of Therapy House, we sit down with Monet Goldman, LMFT, a trailblazing therapist passionate about a new approach to psychotherapy that inspires healing through the use of video games and virtual reality. Monet details the art of video game therapy, the ups and down of implementing this new approach, and some tips of how it has impacted his clients. Stay tuned and discover how he’s turning play into a path for healing—and why the future of mental health might just be virtual.   You can learn more about Monet Goldman at: - https://www.videogamecounseling.com/ [https://www.videogamecounseling.com/] - www.linkedin.com/in/monet-goldman [http://www.linkedin.com/in/monet-goldman]   If you're interested in learning more about video game therapy check out the links below: * Cognitive Restructuring in Schizophrenia: This video features an interview with Dr. Aaron Beck, the founder of CBT, discussing the use of video games and music to engage clients with schizophrenia. * Video Link [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG0w1Ig3eyA&list=PL_cWxkvZUpdXdhYRW2ZvUJhOtvv9FPD9f] * Using Roblox in Therapy: My 2.0 APT CEU course, "Let's Play Roblox: Using Roblox in Play Therapy," is available on Let's Play Therapy. * Course Link [https://letsplaytherapy.org/courses/let-s-play-roblox-using-roblox-in-play-therapy] * Minecraft in Counseling: Ellie Finch, my friend and colleague in the U.K., recently collaborated with the University of Cambridge to research the use of Minecraft in counseling. * Cambridge Research Project Link [https://playmodeacademy.org/resources-and-publications/university-of-cambridge-research-project-bridging-the-chasm-creating-accessible-services-using-minecraft] * Ellie Finch also demonstrates Minecraft Therapy with video samples: Ellie Finch's Website [https://www.elliefinch.co.uk/counselling-using-minecraft] * Virtual Reality Therapy: I was taught how to use VR in therapy by Dr. Elizabeth McMahon, who sadly passed away in October 2024. I aim to continue her work and help build the field of digital therapeutics. I’m including her book "Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety: A Guide for Therapists (Rutledge 2021)." * Dr. McMahon's Website [https://www.elizabeth-mcmahon.com/] * Dr. K, Healthy Gamer GG * https://www.healthygamer.gg/ [https://www.healthygamer.gg/] * Featured Articles: * Nintendolife: How Nintendo Switch is Being Used by a New Generation of Therapists [https://www.nintendolife.com/features/how-nintendo-switch-is-being-used-by-a-new-generation-of-therapists] * Wired: Online Gaming Is the New Therapists' Office [https://www.wired.com/story/online-gaming-is-the-new-therapists-office/] * Washington Post: Roblox, Online Gaming, Family, Covid [https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/2020/10/14/roblox-online-gaming-family-covid/]

Editorial: When Healers Feel the Heat with Cecilia Sanchez-Cruz

After some time has passed we circle back up with Cecilia to reflect on our discussion of therapist anxiety and how her perceptions has changed since the conversation. She shares her insight how she now supports other clinicians with their anxiety and her continued work on her relationship with her expectations of the future.

Episode 2.2: When the Healer Feels the Heat: Therapist Anxiety - Part II

We continue our discussion with Vidur Malik, LMFT, and Cecilia Sanchez-Cruz, LMFT on their experiences of anxiety in the therapy room. In this half, we share our processes to better manage these challenges and support one another with the ones that remain.

Episode 2: When the Healer Feels the Heat: Therapist Anxiety - Part I

What happens when the heaviest emotions in the room aren’t the client’s, but the therapist’s? In this episode we set down our notepads to share about the quiet battle therapists have with Anxiety. Through candid conversation with Vidur Malik, LMFT, and Cecilia Sanchez-Cruz, LMFT, we explore how the wholesome aspirations of helping professionals can easily become a burden on their minds as they support others through their darkest moments.  Whether you’re a fellow clinician, a client, or simply curious about what lies beneath the surface of the therapy room, this episode invites you to reconsider what it really means to hold space for others… while trying to hold yourself together.