Shrinking Heads

Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 10 - License to Heal, Not to Feel

In this episode, Shannon joins us once again as we navigate a difficult and often unspoken part of the jungle of mental health: the double standards faced by mental health professionals when it comes to seeking care for themselves. As therapists, social workers, counselors, and other providers spend their careers supporting others through trauma, burnout, and emotional struggle, many quietly face a painful reality of their own—the fear that seeking help could impact how they are perceived professionally, or even threaten their license and career. Together, we explore questions like: * Why is there still stigma around mental health treatment for mental health providers? * How does fear of professional consequences become a barrier to care? * What messages do clinicians internalize about vulnerability and competence? * How can the field move toward a healthier, more sustainable culture for providers themselves? This conversation examines the emotional toll of carrying others while feeling pressure to appear endlessly stable, capable, and unaffected. We also discuss the importance of creating systems where clinicians can access support without shame, fear, or professional risk. Whether you’re a mental health professional, student, or someone curious about the realities behind the therapy room, this episode offers an honest look at the humanity of the people tasked with caring for others. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion about therapist mental health, burnout in helping professions, stigma in mental healthcare, clinician self-care, licensing fears, professional identity, and navigating the mental health jungle from both sides of the couch. #shrinkingheads #prismaticcounseling #mentalhealthpodcast #mentalhealthstigma #burnout

Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 9 - Forgiveness for Me, Reconciliation For You.

In this episode, we continue navigating the jungle of mental health with Shannon as we explore a common—but often misunderstood—distinction: forgiveness vs. reconciliation. These terms are frequently used interchangeably, but they represent very different parts of the mental health jungle. One is internal, personal, and doesn’t require the other person. The other involves rebuilding trust, safety, and connection. So how do you know where in the jungle you need to head? Together, we explore questions like: * What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? * Do you need to forgive someone to heal? * When is reconciliation healthy—and when is it not? * How do boundaries fit into both processes? This conversation sheds light on different crevices of the jungle - emotional, relational, and psychological layers of letting go, holding boundaries, and making intentional choices about connection after harm. Whether you’re working through a difficult relationship or trying to better understand your own healing process, this episode offers clarity and nuance in a space that’s rarely black and white. Tune in for an honest discussion about forgiveness, reconciliation, boundaries, trust, relationship healing, emotional processing, and navigating the mental health jungle of connection and repair. #shrinkingheads #prismaticcounseling #mentalheathpodcast #forgiveness #reconciliation

Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 8 - Relationship Repair & Apologies: Finding Your Way Through the Jungle of Conflict

In this episode, we step further into the jungle of mental health to explore one of the most difficult—and most necessary—paths in relationships: repairing harm through meaningful apologies. Apologies are often seen as simple words, but real repair requires much more than “I’m sorry.” We unpack what makes an apology effective, why some attempts at repair fall short, and how accountability, empathy, and timing all play a role in rebuilding trust. Together, we explore questions like: * What separates a genuine apology from an empty one? * Why is it so hard to take full accountability? * How do you repair trust once it’s been broken? * What does healing actually look like for both sides of the relationship? Whether you’re working to repair a relationship, processing an apology you’ve received, or trying to better understand your own patterns, this conversation offers a thoughtful guide through the complexity of connection and repair. Tune in for an honest discussion about apologies, relationship repair, accountability, emotional intelligence, communication in relationships, trust-building, and navigating the mental health jungle of human connection. #shrinkingheads #mentalhealthpodcast #apologies #prismaticcounseling

Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 7 - Through the Jungle of Sports Social Work with Cody Smith, LCSW-BACS

In this episode, your host Elizabeth continues navigating the jungle of mental health by exploring an emerging and often overlooked path: sports social work. Joined by Cody Smith, LCSW-BACS, join them as they unpack what sports social work actually is and why it matters in today’s athletic landscape. From supporting athletes’ mental health to addressing systemic challenges within sports culture, this conversation sheds light on the critical role social workers can play both on and off the field. Together, we explore questions like: * What is sports social work, and how does it differ from sports psychology? * What unique challenges do athletes face that call for this kind of support? * How can social workers advocate for healthier, more sustainable sports environments? * What does holistic care for athletes really look like? Whether you’re an athlete, clinician, coach, or someone curious about the intersection of mental health and sports, this episode offers insight into a field that’s expanding how we think about care, performance, and well-being. Tune in for a grounded conversation about sports social work, athlete mental health, trauma-informed care, sports culture, advocacy in athletics, and navigating the mental health jungle within competitive environments. #shrinkingheads #prismaticcounseling #sportsocialwork

Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 6 - Through the Jungle Online: Mental Health Labels and Social Media Influence with Doc Ryan

In this episode, your host Elizabeth is joined by Dr. Ryan Hildebrand to continue navigating the jungle of mental health. This week, they explore a growing and complex phenomenon: the rise of self-diagnosing and labeling in the age of social media. From TikTok trends to Instagram infographics, mental health language is more visible—and more accessible—than ever. But what happens when awareness blurs into overidentification? We unpack the psychological impact of adopting labels, the appeal of self-diagnosis, and how online content can both empower and mislead. Together, we explore questions like: * When does self-awareness become self-diagnosis? * How do labels shape identity—for better or worse? * What role should social media play in mental health education? * What are some of the nuances of ethical diagnosing? Whether you’re someone exploring your own mental health, a clinician, or simply trying to make sense of what you see online, this conversation brings thoughtful perspective to a nuanced and often misunderstood topic. Tune in for an honest discussion about mental health awareness, self-diagnosis, social media psychology, identity and labels, misinformation, and navigating the mental health jungle in a digital world.#shrinkingheads #mentalhealthpodcast #prismaticcounseling #labels #mentalhealthandsocialmedia