Ep. 11 Starting Therapy

Ep. 11 Starting Therapy

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel incredibly daunting—even if you happen to be a therapist yourself. In this solo episode, Amie opens up about her own early fears of judgment before diving into a transparent, reassuring guide on what it actually looks like to begin therapy. Whether you are feeling stuck in your head, navigating a massive life transition, or noticing that your nervous system is trapped in a fight-or-flight response to everyday stressors, Amie breaks down the myths of the therapeutic process. She explores how childhood dynamics shape us, why you absolutely do not need a formal diagnosis or a mental health crisis to deserve support, and how to safely maintain your autonomy and boundaries with a practitioner. Therapy isn't an expensive friendship or a life sentence; it’s a dynamic tool you can return to whenever life changes. Tune in for an honest "vibe check" on what a safe, supportive therapeutic relationship should look like. Key Takeaways You Don’t Need a Crisis: You don't have to be at rock bottom to seek help. As Amie notes, "Drowning is drowning, whether you're in 12 feet of water or two inches of water." Therapy is One-Directional: Unlike a friendship, therapy is a professional relationship solely focused on your growth. A skilled therapist is a trained professional, not just an expensive confidant. The Power of the Vibe Check: Utilize free consultations to see if a therapist's approach and personality align with yours. You Set the Pace: You are never required to layout all your trauma on day one. You have full autonomy to set boundaries and say, "I'm not ready to talk about that yet." Values & The Nervous System: Learn how big life stressors shrink our "window of tolerance," causing mismatched emotional responses to daily occurrences, and how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps realign us. Connect with Amie Clinic: Two Rivers Therapy Email: amie@tworiverstherapy.ca Phone: 403-383-1711 Note: If you have a personal history or friendship with Amie, she happily provides ethical referrals to other qualified clinicians.

Ep. 10 Body image and Eating Disorders with RCSW Jordan Burness

In this powerful episode of What We Carry, Amie sits down with Registered Clinical Social Worker Jordan for a deeply moving master class on the complexities of eating disorders, self-esteem, and body image. Jordan shares her profound personal journey of being born with a cleft lip and palate. Growing up in a high-visibility, appearance-focused family, she navigated intense isolation, surgeries, and bullying. She opens up about how that lived experience ultimately led her to a vicious cycle of trying to find control through restriction and weight—and how a single, compassionate check-in from someone who noticed her pain changed the trajectory of her life. In this episode, we dive into: The Function of Disordered Eating: Understanding restriction and binge-eating as adaptive coping mechanisms for grief, trauma, and a lack of control. Self-Esteem vs. Body Image: How therapists often miss the root of low self-esteem and how it bleeds into our relationships, attachment styles, and intimacy. The Myth of "Just Be Positive": Why traditional "positive thinking" fails, and how to practice realistic "micro-shifts" toward body neutrality. The Three Tenets of Self-Compassion: Dr. Kristin Neff’s framework of mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity. Breaking the Silence: Why "secrets keep us sick" and how caregivers, partners, and friends can gently disrupt the cycle of suffering. Whether you are navigating your own relationship with food and body image, or trying to understand how to best support a loved one, Jordan’s blend of clinical expertise and radical vulnerability offers a roadmap back to self-connection. Connect with Jordan: Instagram: Follow her journey and insights @thebodyimagetherapist Work with Jordan: Book a session at www.yourcounselling.ca Connect with Amie & Two Rivers Therapy: Work with Amie: Ready to take the next step? Book a free consultation at www.tworiverstherapy.ca Stay Connected: Register for our newsletter, Notes Between Sessions, at www.tworiverstherapy.ca Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please reach out to local medical and mental health professionals. Help is available, and you do not have to carry this alone.

Ep. 9 Cycle Aware Partnerships

In this deeply personal episode, Host Amie is joined by a surprise guest: her husband, Cole. Together, they pull back the curtain on what it actually looks like to navigate a "cycle-aware partnership." If you haven’t listened to Episode 8: Mindful Cycles with MC Decker, head there first! That conversation set the stage for this one, and you’ll want that context before diving into Amie and Cole’s reflection. In this episode, we discuss: •How Cole went from thinking Amie’s cycle was "just her thing to deal with" to realizing it’s a team effort that impacts the entire home. •How using language like luteal phase and progesterone replaces frustration with compassion and stops the "filling in the gaps" stories. •Amie hits Cole with a massive question about whether men learning about cycles can actually dismantle the patriarchy—and his answer might surprise you. •We tackle the "irrational" narrative used to keep women out of leadership why this is about power and control, not biology. This isn’t just a "women’s issue." As Cole says, it’s a team effort. Whether you have a cycle or you love someone who does, this episode is an invitation to stop walking on eggshells and start building a more solid, connected relationship. Resources & Ways to Support: As mentioned in the episode, silence and stigma carry a global cost. Here are ways to learn more and take action: • Moon Time Connections: An Indigenous-led group supporting menstrual equity across Turtle Island. • Free Periods Canada: Grassroots advocacy and education to end period poverty in Canada. • The Menstrual Equity Fund: Learn about Canada’s national pilot project to address barriers to access. • Plan International Canada: Read the reports on period stigma and how it impacts safety and education. • World Economic Forum: Closing the women’s health gap and the economic power of menstrual equity. Work With Amie: If you’re feeling a disconnect in your partnership or struggling to navigate your cycle and grief, you don’t have to do it alone. Amie works with individuals and couples to find stability and connection. • Book a Consultation: www.tworiverstherapy.ca

Ep. 8 Mindful Cycles with R. Psych MC Decker

Have you ever felt like a different person from one week to the next? One moment you’re moving through the world with ease and energy, and the next, you’re met with a heavy wave of what we call biological whiplash. Today on What We Carry, I’m joined by MC Decker, a Registered Psychologist and the founder of Mindful Cycles. MC’s work is a bridge between the clinical and the deeply personal, helping us understand that our hormonal shifts aren't "glitches" in our personality—they are part of the very rhythm of our lives. In this episode, we sit with the complexities of the cycling body, exploring: • Why we feel a sudden shift in the second half of our month, and how to stop viewing our natural "protection mode" as a flaw. • Anger as an Invitation: Moving away from the shame of "PMS" and toward the wisdom of our irritability—what is our body trying to tell us about our boundaries? • The Silence of the System: A look at why we weren’t taught these fundamentals of our own anatomy and how we can begin to reclaim that missing narrative. • The Living Spiral: How cycle awareness acts as a physical mirror to the Spiral of Integration, helping us live in harmony with the things that shape us. Whether you have a cycle or you are walking alongside someone who does, this conversation is an invitation to move out of resistance and into a radical, compassionate acceptance of your own biology. Resources for the Journey: • Connect with MC Decker: Explore her work at www.mindfulcycles.com. • The Red School: Dive into the practice of Menstrual Cycle Awareness at www.redschool.net. • Sarah Hill’s Research: Learn more about the "Period Brain" at www.sarahehill.com. Work With Me: If you’re navigating your own spiral and looking for a therapeutic space that honors both your mental health and your biological reality, I would love to support you. I am currently accepting new clients for cycle-informed therapy at Two Rivers Therapy. You can book a consultation or learn more at www.tworiverstherapy.ca. Connect with the Show: • Host: Amie Nelson • Podcast: What We Carry • Listen & Subscribe: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you get your podcasts. If this episode moved you, please consider sharing it with a friend. Let's keep carrying the conversation together.

Ep. 7 The Spiral of Integration

In this raw solo reflection, Amie Nelson revisit's the conversation she had with her husband just before hitting 'publish' on Episode 1—and the realization that while putting ourselves out there gets easier, it never truly becomes easy. Amie dives into the difference between "Healing" and "Integration," offering a powerful reframe for those who feel like they are "failing" because old triggers have resurfaced. Using the metaphors of the Growth Spiral and the Closed Door, she explores the physical and emotional cost of perfectionism and shares a hard-won lesson in self-compassion from her time as a social worker in a high-stakes Emergency Department. If you’ve ever felt like you’re circling the same pain points, this episode is a reminder: You aren’t back at square one. You’re just seeing the view from a higher floor. Connect with Amie: • Work with me: I am currently accepting new clients. If you are looking for a therapeutic space to explore your own "spiral" and start the work of integration, please reach out for a consultation through my website www.tworiverstherapy.ca or email me at amie@tworiverstherapy.ca • Instagram: Hang out with me for more reflections on art, reading, and the messy process of living at @therapywithamie • Clinic Updates: Stay connected with the practice at @tworiver.therapy Coming in April: Keep an ear out for a series of exciting announcements dropping throughout this month! Make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss the new resources and ways to connect. Next Time: Amie sits down with registered psychologist M.C. Decker for a deep dive into Menstrual Cycle Awareness and the visceral impact of hormonal cycles on our mental health.