Couch Time With Cat

Healing Takes Time with Lauren Mitchell

Welcome! To become a client or connect visit catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/] or call/text 956-249-7930. In today's episode, we slow down the urge to “fix it” and talk about why healing often takes longer than we want, especially when our nervous systems have been carrying stress for years. With therapist Lauren Mitchell, we explore holistic healing as an embodied and relational practice that helps us come back home to ourselves with more compassion.  • reframing exhaustion as rest rather than laziness  • noticing overwhelm as a nervous system signal, not weakness  • challenging productivity culture and chronic stress normalization  • treating healing as physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual  • Lauren’s shift from hustling to holistic practices that work  • how culture and upbringing shape the drive to overfunction  • choosing brave change to find what feels missing  • letting go of the A through Z misconception  • accepting nonlinear healing and perspective shifts over time  • holding trauma with support instead of trying to erase it  • using community and belonging for co-regulation  • simple regulation tools like breath movement, sunlight, and boundaries  Show Guest: Lauren Mitchell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and the Director of the Youth Crisis Respite Center at Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers in San Marcos. [https://hillcountry.org/youth-crisis-respite/] What I love about Lauren’s work is that she approaches mental health through a deeply relational and human lens. Her background spans family therapy, crisis stabilization, trauma-informed care, leadership in community mental health systems, and family-centered support programs. But beyond the credentials—and there are many—what stands out about Lauren is her presence. She has this grounded, collaborative way of helping people feel safe enough to breathe again during some of their hardest moments. She believes healing happens through connection, dignity, and meeting people exactly where they are. You can contact Lauren at: lauren@brightlightmft.com, or find her on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/the_rising_sol/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2515440/support] Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like: * US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) * UK: Samaritans at 116 123 * Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14 * Or find local resources through findahelpline.com [https://findahelpline.com/] You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time. Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward. Show hosted by:  Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A  Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com  [https://couchtimewithcat.com/] and  To become a client visit- catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/]

Inside A Free Youth Crisis Respite Program In Texas with Lauren Mitchell

Welcome!! To connect or become a client visit catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/] or call/text 956-249-7930.  In today's episode, Inside A Free Youth Crisis Respite Program In Texas with Lauren Mitchell, we sit with the reality of the youth mental health crisis and what it feels like when a family runs out of ideas and energy. Lauren Mitchell breaks down how a Youth Crisis Respite Center offers a free, trauma-informed pause that helps kids recenter and helps families reconnect with hope.  • what a youth crisis respite center is and why it exists  • how Hill Country MHDD supports 19 Texas counties with community mental health resources  • why a home-like setting can feel safer than institutional care  • how the 7-day, 24/7 model works for ages 12 to 17  • what “low risk of harm” means and when higher care is needed  • why kids cannot be mandated to attend and how autonomy builds buy-in  • the “Coke bottle” approach to slowing down crisis conversations  • what teens wish adults understood about social media and emotional overload  • how backing off as a parent can build resilience and self-efficacy  Show Guest: Lauren Mitchell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and the Director of the Youth Crisis Respite Center at Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers in San Marcos. [https://hillcountry.org/youth-crisis-respite/] What I love about Lauren’s work is that she approaches mental health through a deeply relational and human lens. Her background spans family therapy, crisis stabilization, trauma-informed care, leadership in community mental health systems, and family-centered support programs. But beyond the credentials—and there are many—what stands out about Lauren is her presence. She has this grounded, collaborative way of helping people feel safe enough to breathe again during some of their hardest moments. She believes healing happens through connection, dignity, and meeting people exactly where they are. You can contact Lauren at: lauren@brightlightmft.com, or find her on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/the_rising_sol/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2515440/support] Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like: * US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) * UK: Samaritans at 116 123 * Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14 * Or find local resources through findahelpline.com [https://findahelpline.com/] You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time. Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward. Show hosted by:  Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A  Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com  [https://couchtimewithcat.com/] and  To become a client visit- catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/]

You Were Never Meant To Carry It Alone with Pastor Gaylon Clark

Welcome! To become a client or connect visit catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/] or call/text 956-249-7930. In this episode, we explore why healing happens faster when we stop carrying everything alone and let safe people and safe faith practices hold some of the weight. Pastor Gaylon Clark joins me to connect neuroscience, worship, mental health, and real-world support into a picture of community that feels loving and practical.  • nervous system safety through presence and attunement  • why isolation increases stress and anxiety  • worship as humility that opens us to God and others  • the pull of rugged individualism and how it distorts perspective  • why success can tempt us to drift from what centers us  • letting go of shame-based messages and trusting God’s love  • how a church can show up in crisis with tangible help  • leadership loneliness and the need for mutually supportive relationships  • making space for therapy and faith to coexist  • finding belonging beyond the crowd through small groups  • simple practices for connection like kindness and curiosity c  Show Guest: Pastor Gaylon Clark is the Lead Pastor of Greater Mt. Zion Church in Austin, Texas, where he has faithfully served for over 25 years. With a heart for both spiritual growth and community impact, he has led the church in expanding its outreach locally and globally—launching initiatives that address poverty, education, economic empowerment, and mental health. A passionate advocate for community transformation, Pastor Clark plays a key leadership role in citywide efforts such as Dream Together 2030, where he helps guide mental health initiatives aimed at building a more compassionate Austin. Under his leadership, Greater Mt. Zion has become a hub of support and connection, offering resources like food and clothing pantries, financial assistance programs, and educational partnerships. Pastor Clark holds degrees from Dallas Baptist University and Dallas Theological Seminary, and is deeply committed to fostering meaningful relationships, spiritual belonging, and holistic well-being. He lives in Austin with his wife, Kathy, and is the proud father of their son, Michael. You can connect with Pastor Clark at Greater Mt. Zion [https://gmzaustin.org/], on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/greatermtzion/], or on Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/gmzaustin] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2515440/support] Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like: * US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) * UK: Samaritans at 116 123 * Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14 * Or find local resources through findahelpline.com [https://findahelpline.com/] You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time. Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward. Show hosted by:  Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A  Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com  [https://couchtimewithcat.com/] and  To become a client visit- catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/]

How Language Shapes Identity And Emotion with Bia Berlitz

Welcome! To connect or become a client, visit catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/] or call/text 956-249-7930. In today's episode, we talk with strategic communication mentor Bia Berlitz about why our feelings can be bigger than our vocabulary and why that gap can make us feel alone. We connect language, identity, and mental wellness so we can communicate with more clarity, self-trust, and compassion. • linguistic relativity and how language shapes emotion • why some feelings feel clearer in certain languages • accessing different layers of self through multilingual life • frustration and shame when you cannot find words • “where communication fails, health pays the price” and the mind-body cost of repression • confidence gains that come with learning and being understood • quick fixes like translation apps versus long-term language growth • journal prompt on where you feel understood and where you search for words Show Guest: Bia Berlitz is a Strategic Communication Mentor who helps people find their voice—and use it with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Fluent in five languages and working in both English and Portuguese, Bia brings more than 30 years of experience teaching and mentoring clients across Brazil and around the world. With a background in Portuguese and English Language Studies, Bia has worked with executives, actors, and professionals from all walks of life. Her passion lies in helping people expand beyond what they thought was possible—whether that’s speaking a new language, stepping into leadership, or expressing themselves more authentically. At her core, Bia believes communication is about connection. Her mission is to bridge worlds and transform voices through language and oratory, creating space for people to be seen, heard, and understood. Off the mic, Bia is a devoted, down-to-earth mom who treasures her family deeply and finds joy in the simple things—especially time by the beach. You can connect with Bia on Instagram at Brigida Berlitz. [https://www.instagram.com/brigida.berlitz/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2515440/support] Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like: * US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) * UK: Samaritans at 116 123 * Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14 * Or find local resources through findahelpline.com [https://findahelpline.com/] You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time. Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward. Show hosted by:  Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A  Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com  [https://couchtimewithcat.com/] and  To become a client visit- catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/]

Coming Back: Clarity After Addiction with Chad Womack

Welcome! To become a client or connect visit catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/]or call/text 956-249-7930. In today's episode, we sit with the hidden reality of kratom dependence and how something marketed as natural relief can quietly reshape a life. We talk with Chad Womack about Feel Free, high-functioning addiction, rehab, and the slow return to clarity, responsibility, and self-respect.  • Kratom basics and why dose changes the experience  • How “legal” and “easy to buy” can speed up dependence  • Chad’s first experience with Feel Free and why it felt like support  • The quiet ramp from two bottles to eight  • Personality shifts that show up as anger, coldness and isolation  • The financial cost and the sneaky behaviors addiction creates  • A non-moral question that helps clarify any coping habit  • The breaking point that leads to rehab and what firm boundaries can do  • What a day in rehab actually looks like and why it feels brutal  • Coming home after treatment and living with consequences  • Purpose shame and the slow work of self-forgiveness  • What Chad says to someone quietly struggling  -- Show Guest: Chad Womack is a real estate professional, investor, and business owner with more than 25 years of experience building and managing successful ventures. Over the course of his career, he built and sold a company of 25 years while developing a strong portfolio of rental properties, giving him deep insight into long-term investment and sustainable business growth. Behind that success, however, Chad faced a deeply personal challenge—an addiction to kratom, specifically the widely available “Feel Free” tonic. What began as a legal, easily accessible source of relief gradually turned into a dependency that led him to spend 45 days in rehab and nearly cost him his 20-year marriage. Today, Chad shares his story with honesty and humility, offering a window into the reality of high-functioning addiction, the impact it can have on relationships and identity, and the ongoing work of recovery. His journey is one of accountability, resilience, and the slow return to clarity, purpose, and self-respect. Outside of his professional life, Chad finds his greatest joy in spending time with his wife, daughter, and their two dogs.  You can connect with Chad Womack here. [https://www.womackrealestate.com/connect] You can connect with Dillon Womack here. [https://www.womackrealestate.com/agents/dillon-womack/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2515440/support] Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like: * US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) * UK: Samaritans at 116 123 * Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14 * Or find local resources through findahelpline.com [https://findahelpline.com/] You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time. Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward. Show hosted by:  Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A  Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com  [https://couchtimewithcat.com/] and  To become a client visit- catiaholm.com [https://www.catiaholm.com/]