How Your Nervous System Impacts Dating

How Your Nervous System Impacts Dating

Why do some relationships feel safe while others leave you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or constantly second-guessing yourself? In this episode of Trauma, Tea, and Tangents, Hannah Guy sits down with therapist Sarah Russ, LCSW, to explore the powerful connection between nervous system regulation, trauma, attachment styles, and modern dating. Together, they break down how past experiences can shape relationship patterns, influence decision-making, and impact your ability to trust yourself when dating. Whether you struggle with dating anxiety, overthinking, people-pleasing, fear of rejection, or finding yourself stuck in unhealthy relationship dynamics, this conversation offers practical tools to help you recognize trauma responses, regulate your nervous system, and build healthier, more secure connections. You'll learn how to identify when your nervous system is driving your dating decisions, improve communication in relationships, navigate pressure and uncertainty, and strengthen self-trust throughout the dating process. If you've ever wondered whether you're following your intuition or reacting from past wounds, this episode is for you. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: • How nervous system regulation impacts dating and relationships • Common trauma responses that show up while dating • The role of attachment styles in relationship patterns • How anxiety can influence decision-making • Building self-trust and confidence in relationships • Recognizing compatibility versus chemistry • Navigating dating pressure and uncertainty • How healthy relationships can support healing CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Introduction to Nervous System Regulation in Dating 02:31 – Understanding Trauma Responses in Relationships 05:28 – Mindfulness and Decision Making in Dating 08:29 – Communication Needs and Compatibility 11:00 – Healing Through Relationships 13:53 – Self-Worth and Negative Self-Talk 16:44 – Navigating Pressure in Dating 19:51 – Surrendering Control in Relationships 22:35 – Dating Detox Workshop Announcement & Practical Guidance 🎟️ Interested in our Dating Detox Workshop? Get your tickets here: Detox Workshop Tickets [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dating-detox-a-workshop-for-navigating-modern-dating-tickets-1988960730085?aff=oddtdtcreator]   ✨ Want more of Sarah Russ? Find her here: Instagram: @mentalhealthformillenials  ✨ Want to work with Hannah and the trauma therapy team at Revive Therapy Services? You’ve gotta be a PA resident—check us out at revivetherapyservices.com And don’t forget to follow along on TikTok & IG: @revivetherapyservices Follow Trauma, Tea, and Tangents for more conversations on trauma healing, mental health, relationships, nervous system regulation, attachment theory, and personal growth. #TraumaTeaAndTangents #DatingAdvice #NervousSystemRegulation #AttachmentStyles #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthPodcast #RelationshipAdvice #DatingAnxiety

Therapist Burnout: How to Build a Sustainable Mental Health Career

In this episode of Trauma, Tea, and Tangents, Hannah Guy sits down with licensed professional counselor Ashley Pettway, LPC, for an honest conversation about therapist burnout, mental health careers, private practice, and the emotional toll of helping professions. Together, they explore why so many therapists, counselors, and social workers experience chronic stress, compassion fatigue, and financial burnout — and what it actually takes to build a sustainable and fulfilling career in mental health. Ashley and Hannah share insights on the realities of graduate school, the pressure placed on new therapists, the challenges of agency work, and the scarcity mindset often embedded in the mental health field. The conversation also dives into entrepreneurship for therapists, creating healthier work boundaries, building resilience, and redefining success in counseling and social work. Whether you’re a therapist, counseling student, social worker, mental health professional, or someone navigating burnout in a helping profession, this episode offers practical insight, validation, and encouragement to create a career and life that feels sustainable. Topics discussed include: • Therapist burnout and compassion fatigue • Mental health career challenges • Burnout in social work and counseling • Private practice realities • Financial stress for therapists • Scarcity vs. abundance mindset • Sustainable careers in mental health • Building boundaries as a therapist • Counseling entrepreneurship • Mental health work culture If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow Trauma, Tea, and Tangents on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a review, and share this episode with someone in the mental health field who needs this conversation. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Professional Burnout 01:07 The Reality of Burnout in Therapy 02:55 The Impact of Graduate School on Burnout 05:13 Challenges Faced by New Therapists 08:29 The Financial Struggles of Mental Health Professionals 09:25 Work Culture and Its Effects on Burnout 10:22 Devaluation of Helping Professions 11:11 Changing the Narrative Around Social Work 13:10 Creating a New Path in Counseling 14:41 Building a Sustainable Practice 16:01 Embracing Abundance Over Scarcity 19:03 Transforming Mindsets: From Scarcity to Abundance 21:27 Navigating Career Paths in Counseling 24:31 The Reality of Private Practice 28:32 Building Resilience and Community 29:47 Empowerment Through Connection and Innovation   ✨ Want more of Ashley Pettway? Find her here: Instagram & TikTok: @theunseriouscounselor ✨ Want to work with Hannah and the trauma therapy team at Revive Therapy Services? You’ve gotta be a PA resident—check us out at revivetherapyservices.com And don’t forget to follow along on TikTok & IG: @revivetherapyservices

Overcoming Decision Paralysis

What if the hardest part of decision-making isn’t choosing wrong — but learning to trust yourself enough to choose at all? In this episode of Trauma, Tea, and Tangents, Hannah Guy sits down with former life coach Sam Pillsbury for an honest conversation about decision paralysis, anxiety around making the “right” choice, and how to build confidence in yourself one small decision at a time. Together, they explore how nervous system regulation impacts decision-making, why so many people struggle with uncertainty, and how learning to trust your future self can completely change the way you navigate life. Sam also shares practical tools, mindset shifts, and spiritual perspectives that help create more peace, clarity, and confidence when life feels overwhelming. Whether you constantly overthink, fear making mistakes, struggle with self-trust, or feel stuck in indecision, this episode offers grounded and relatable insight to help you move forward with more confidence. In this episode, we discuss: * How to overcome decision paralysis * Why anxiety and overthinking keep us stuck * Building self-trust through everyday decisions * Nervous system regulation and emotional safety * Letting go of perfectionism and control * Spiritual perspectives on uncertainty and faith * Practical tools for making empowered decisions If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so more people can find these conversations around mental health, healing, trauma, and personal growth. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and the Impact of Coaching 02:47 Navigating Decision-Making Challenges 11:10 Building Confidence in Decision-Making 16:49 Embracing Uncertainty and Trusting the Process 22:58 Faith, Perspective, and Life Decisions 27:38 Conclusion and New Beginnings   ✨ Want more of  Sam Pillsbury? Find her here: Website: https://exhaleoperations.com IG: @exhaleoperations Tiktok: @samanthapillsbury   Youtube: : youtube.com/@samanthapillsbury [http://youtube.com/@samanthapillsbury]  ✨ Want to work with Hannah and the trauma therapy team at Revive Therapy Services? You’ve gotta be a PA resident—check us out at revivetherapyservices.com And don’t forget to follow along on TikTok & IG: @revivetherapyservices

Emotional Eating Explained by a Dietitian & Therapist: How to Break the Cycle

In this episode of Trauma, Tea, and Tangents, Hannah Guy sits down with non-diet dietitian Rachel Meyer to explore the psychology behind emotional eating, overeating, and the restrict-binge cycle. Together, they unpack how stress, emotional triggers, and deeply wired neural pathways can shape our relationship with food — and what it actually takes to create sustainable change. Rachel shares practical tools for managing emotional eating, building mindfulness, increasing self-awareness, and developing healthier coping skills without shame or extreme restriction. This conversation dives into habit formation, relapse, self-compassion, intuitive eating, and why healing isn’t about perfection — it’s about consistency and small wins over time. Whether you struggle with binge eating, stress eating, or feeling out of control around food, this episode offers compassionate, realistic strategies to help you better understand your behaviors and begin breaking the cycle. Topics Covered: • Emotional eating and overeating • The restrict-binge cycle • Neural pathways and habit formation • Intuitive eating and mindfulness • Stress management and coping skills • Self-compassion in recovery • Sustainable behavior change CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Introduction to Emotional Eating 02:41 – Understanding Emotional Triggers 05:38 – The Restrict-Binge Cycle 08:20 – Change, Relapse & Recovery 10:59 – Building Awareness & Mindfulness 13:49 – Why Small Wins Matter 16:47 – Final Thoughts & Support If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow Trauma, Tea, and Tangents on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may need it. ✨ Want more of Rachel Meyer? Find her here: Website: www.prolifestylenutrition.com IG: @the.nondiet.dietitian FB Page: Pro Lifestyle Nutrition    ✨ Want to work with Hannah and the trauma therapy team at Revive Therapy Services? You’ve gotta be a PA resident—check us out at revivetherapyservices.com And don’t forget to follow along on TikTok & IG: @revivetherapyservices

Brain Spotting Explained: How Trauma Is Stored in the Body & Brain

What if healing trauma wasn’t about talking more — but about helping the brain process what words can’t reach? In this episode of Trauma, Tea, and Tangents, Hannah Guy sits down with licensed therapist Ashley Pettway, LPC, to explore Brain Spotting — an innovative trauma therapy modality often compared to EMDR that helps clients process unresolved trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and deeply stored emotional experiences. Ashley breaks down how Brain Spotting works, why traditional talk therapy sometimes falls short for trauma healing, and how this brain-body approach can help people process experiences that feel “stuck.” Together, they discuss complex trauma, emotional processing, the role of the therapist during sessions, and why individualized treatment matters in trauma therapy. Whether you’re curious about Brain Spotting for yourself, are already in trauma therapy, or simply want to better understand how trauma impacts the brain and body, this episode offers an accessible and insightful introduction to one of the fastest-growing trauma modalities. In this episode, we cover: • What Brain Spotting is and how it works • The difference between Brain Spotting and EMDR • Why trauma is often stored in the body • The limitations of traditional talk therapy • Complex trauma and nervous system healing • Emotional processing and regulation • What a Brain Spotting session actually looks like • Integrating Brain Spotting with other therapy approaches • Accessibility, insurance, and trauma therapy costs If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone interested in trauma healing, EMDR, Brain Spotting, somatic therapy, and mental health. Watch the full episode on YouTube and follow along for more conversations around trauma recovery, nervous system healing, therapy, and mental wellness. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction to Brain Spotting 01:00 – Understanding Brain Spotting 02:17 – Why Talk Therapy Sometimes Isn’t Enough 05:05 – The Role of Emotions in Healing 06:48 – The Iceberg of Therapy 09:31 – Insurance & Accessibility in Therapy 12:18 – Navigating Trauma Therapy Funding 15:16 – Client Engagement During Brain Spotting 15:41 – Trauma, Memory & Brain Processing 16:45 – Complex Trauma Explained 18:35 – The Therapist’s Role in Brain Spotting 20:30 – Brain Spotting Techniques & Tools 24:15 – Combining Brain Spotting with Other Modalities 27:18 – Final Thoughts on Healing & Recovery #BrainSpotting #TraumaTherapy #EMDR #MentalHealthPodcast #TraumaHealing #SomaticTherapy #NervousSystemHealing #ComplexTrauma #TherapyPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness ✨ Want more of Ashley Pettway? Find her here: Instagram & TikTok: @theunseriouscounselor ✨ Want to work with Hannah and the trauma therapy team at Revive Therapy Services? You’ve gotta be a PA resident—check us out at revivetherapyservices.com And don’t forget to follow along on TikTok & IG: @revivetherapyservices If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow Trauma, Tea, and Tangents and share it with a fellow therapist or someone considering private practice.