Zessions

Ep. 33 - Continuing the Conversation: Creating Community at Your Pace

Continuing the Conversation: Creating Community at Your Pace  A follow-up to Ep. 22 with Paola Ortiz, LMFT 🌟 What’s New in Zessions We love our guest conversations on Zessions—and we’re not stopping those. But in this new “Continuing the Conversation” series, your co-hosts Mandi Roarke, LMFT and Sapna Srivastava, PhD are stepping back in front of the mic together. Here, we get a little more personal. We revisit past episodes, bring in themes that are sticking with us, and share openly about how we are wrestling with, applying, or sometimes struggling with the same ideas that come up in conversation with our guests. Think of these episodes as an after-the-fact reflection circle: less polished, more personal, and always tied to the collective wisdom we’ve built through Zessions. 🔎 Episode at a Glance * Revisiting Ep. 22 with Paola Ortiz, LMFT on building community   * How self-care shifts from season to season (and why it’s not always spa days) * Naming safety as a core ingredient for belonging   * How “community” can be one friend, a book club, your family—or just you * Why protecting capacity helps us sustain the bigger work   ✅ Key Takeaways * Community is fluid. It doesn’t always mean groups; it can be solo time or one close connection.   * Safety shapes belonging. Choose spaces where your nervous system can settle.   * Capacity first. Sustainable care starts with realistic pacing and energy.   * Micro-moves matter. Decluttering a drawer or doing taxes with a show on counts.   * We’re in it too. Even as therapists, we’re learning to live out what we talk about on Zessions.     🔗 Mentions * Ep. 22: Building Community with Paola Ortiz, LMFT   * Silent Book Clubs (low-pressure group reading meetups)   💬 Connect with Us * Follow: @MyZessio (Instagram · TikTok · YouTube)   * Explore resources: zessio.com   If this conversation resonated, please follow, rate, and share—it helps others find Zessions and the community we’re building. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support] Connect with us on Instagram @myzessio or visit our website: https://www.zessio.com. Did you find this information helpful? Support our work here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support]

Ep. 32 - Navigating Intimacy Binds: How We Get Stuck in Relationships

Episode Summary Ever felt like you and your partner are stuck in a loop—each waiting for the other to go first? That’s a bind, and it shows up in relationships far more often than you might think. In this episode of Zessions, hosts Mandi Roarke, LMFT, and Dr. Sapna Srivastava sit down with returning guest Kendall Campbell, LMFT, to unpack the concept of binds—specifically intimacy binds, initiation binds, and the classic double bind. We explore: * Why binds create that “trapped” or “paralyzed” feeling in relationships * How life transitions, shifting needs, and status quo patterns set the stage for them * Why emotional safety—not just comfort—is key to breaking free * The difference between massive change and small, sustainable “micro-moves” * When direct prescriptions from a therapist can help get things moving again Whether you’re a therapist, a partner, or someone reflecting on your own relationships, this conversation will help you spot binds in action and give you a starting point for shifting them. What You’ll Hear in This Episode * The anatomy of a bind — what it is and how it plays out in everyday life. * Intimacy binds vs. initiation binds vs. double binds — and how to tell them apart. * The role of status quo in keeping couples stuck. * How novelty and micro-changes can help disrupt entrenched patterns. * Why safety and comfort are not the same thing in relationship work. * Practical ways to start creating momentum—without overwhelming yourself or your partner. Key Quotes from this Episode “When you’re in a bind, you can want the relationship to work, you can even know exactly what needs to change—but it feels like you can’t move without your partner moving first.” “Binds aren’t just about needs—they’re about safety. I’ll only hand you the water if I trust it won’t be poisoned.” “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to break a bind. Sometimes it’s just about tweaking the routines you already have.” Resources & Links * Learn more about Kendall Campbell, LMFT – KendallCampbell.com [http://kendallcampbell.com] * Follow Zessio on Instagram [https://instagram.com/myzessio] | TikTok | YouTube [https://youtube.com/@myzessio] * Explore more mental health resources at Zessio.com Listen & Subscribe 🎧 Find this episode and more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support] Connect with us on Instagram @myzessio or visit our website: https://www.zessio.com. Did you find this information helpful? Support our work here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support]

Ep. 31 - Untangling Mother-Daugher Relationships

🎙️ Zessions Podcast: "Untangling Mother-Daughter Dynamics"  Guest: Erica Thomas, LCSW – Founder of Vita Nova Mother-Daughter Coaching Mother-daughter relationships can be deeply loving, fiercely complicated, and rich with opportunity for healing — across generations. In this episode, we sit down with therapist and expert Erica Thomas to explore the core dynamics that shape these bonds over time. Whether you’re a therapist, a mom, a daughter — or all of the above — this conversation is full of insight, compassion, and clarity. In this episode, we cover: * Why mother-daughter relationships are so emotionally charged — and powerful * The interplay of autonomy, identity, and generational patterns * What happens when boundaries are misunderstood or unmet * How cultural expectations shape motherhood — and what it means to redefine your role * Ways to hold space for emotional reality without needing to “be right” * How daughters can do healing work even when mom isn’t in the room * Why tending to the whole woman — not just the “mom” — benefits everyone Takeaways you'll carry with you: "When emotionally starved women raise emotionally starved women, the cycle continues. But when we breathe life into all parts of ourselves, we raise daughters who know how to do the same." Meet the Guest: Erica Thomas, LCSW, is the founder of Vita Nova Counseling and Vita Nova Mother-Daughter Coaching. Based just outside of Austin, she brings over 20 years of experience helping families, teen girls, and adult women deepen their self-understanding and heal intergenerational wounds. She also trains other clinicians in the mother-daughter attachment model. 🔗 Connect with Erica: * Vita Nova Counseling [https://vitanovacounseling.com/] * IG: @vita.nova.counseling [https://instagram.com/vita.nova.counseling] * LinkedIn: Erica G. Thomas ✨ Enjoyed this conversation?  Leave us a review, follow @myzessio, and share with someone navigating mother-daughter dynamics. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter [https://zessio.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9dd45e605eb990688c8f1b781&id=ccb228109e] for more therapist-created insights and resources. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support] Connect with us on Instagram @myzessio or visit our website: https://www.zessio.com. Did you find this information helpful? Support our work here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support]

Ep. 30 - Let's Talk About (Talking About) Sex

🎙️ Zessions Episode: Let’s Talk About Talking About Sex Sex is everywhere — except in the conversations we actually have. Why is that? In this episode of Zessions, we sit down with Zessio Partner and sex therapist Jess Worthington, LMFT, to explore why talking about sex is so hard — and how we can start doing it better. From early childhood messaging to religious shame, from performance anxiety to partnership pressure, we unpack it all. Together, we explore: * Why most of us were never taught how to talk about sex — and why that matters * How childhood messages shape our adult sexual communication * What to do when desire feels mismatched or intimacy gets stuck * A real-life case study on rebuilding sexual connection without focusing on intercourse * Playful, affirming ways to reintroduce pleasure, curiosity, and consent into the conversation * The link between emotional safety and sexual satisfaction * How to start sex talks that don’t feel heavy, critical, or awkward Whether you're a clinician supporting couples or someone navigating your own relationship, this conversation will help you rethink what it means to be intimate — and how to talk about it, on purpose. 💡 Featured resources: * Come As You Are, by Emily Nagoski * How to Have the Best Fight of Your Life [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLNPDC18?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XEZ97W2YA179P8QC73HY&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XEZ97W2YA179P8QC73HY&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XEZ97W2YA179P8QC73HY&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1] by Jess Worthington & Lindley Gentile OMGYes.com Mojo Upgrade quiz: https://mojoupgrade.com/ [https://mojoupgrade.com/] * BEDucated - https://beducated.com/ [https://beducated.com/]  * Shameless Parenting, by Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers * It’s Not the Stork, By Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley 🔗 Connect with Jess:  Instagram @JessWorthingtonATX [https://www.instagram.com/jessworthingtonatx] jessicaworthingtoncounseling.com [http://jessicaworthingtoncounseling.com] | https://www.austincouplesconcierge.com/ [http://austencouplesconcierge.com] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support] Connect with us on Instagram @myzessio or visit our website: https://www.zessio.com. Did you find this information helpful? Support our work here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support]

Ep. 29 - Dating with Intention: Becoming the Partner You Seek

Dating with Intention: Becoming the Partner You Seek Episode Summary: In this lively and insightful conversation, co-hosts (and Zessio Co-Founders) Mandi Roarke, LMFT, and Dr. Sapna Srivastava welcome special guest Dr. Sarah Kyle—licensed therapist, dating coach, and co-host of the podcast Dateable AF. Together, they dive into the complexities of dating with intention, building self-awareness, and becoming "relationship ready." Drawing from both clinical expertise and real-life experiences, they explore how internal work, nervous system awareness, character discernment, and authentic communication can all shape healthier dating experiences—and ultimately lead to more fulfilling relationships. Key Topics Discussed: * What it means to "date with intention" * How to become the partner you’re seeking * Decoding nervous system cues: butterflies, anxiety, and green flags * The difference between chemistry and character * The myth of the "perfect partner" and avoiding settling out of fatigue * Redefining your dating "list": what’s truly a dealbreaker vs. a preference * Recognizing limerence (infatuation) vs. sustainable love * Building self-trust after heartbreak or bad relationships * The power of maintaining friendship and kindness in long-term relationships * Why growth is a lifelong, spiraling process—not a final destination * Actionable ways to "do the work" outside of therapy * Why being your authentic self is the ultimate dating strategy Resources Mentioned: * Book: You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For by Dr. Richard Schwartz (IFS founder) * Book: Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel * Book: Wired for Dating by Stan Tatkin * Concepts: Spiral staircase of growth, sound relationship house by John Gottman, the importance of kindness and generosity in maintaining connection Guest Links: * Website:  www.sarahkyle.com [https://sarahkyle.com] * Podcast: Dateable AF (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more) * Dateability Assessment & Resources: getdateable.com [https://getdateable.com] Connect with Zessio: * Instagram: @myzessio [https://instagram.com/myzessio] * Website & Resources: zessio.com [https://zessio.com] If you enjoyed this episode: Please rate, review, and subscribe! Sharing helps more people find our content and supports us in continuing to create conversations that uplift, empower, and connect. Thank you for being part of the Zessions community! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support] Connect with us on Instagram @myzessio or visit our website: https://www.zessio.com. Did you find this information helpful? Support our work here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2177169/support]