New year. Same pressure to “do better.”

In this episode of Deciphering Growth, we unpack why New Year’s resolutions often fall apart—and what actually helps change stick.

We talk about momentum over motivation, why setbacks are part of growth (not failure), and how treating mental health like a productivity checklist quietly fuels burnout and shame.

If you’ve felt behind, discouraged, or stuck restarting the same goals every year—this episode is for you.

New Year’s resolutions often fail—not because you lackdiscipline, but because shame and pressure don’t create sustainable change.

In this week’s episode of Deciphering Growth, we unpack why resolution culture burns people out, how all-or-nothing thinking keeps us stuck, and what actually supports long-term growth from a trauma-informed lens.

If you’re tired of “new year, new you” messaging and ready for realistic, nervous-system-safe change—this one’s for you.

The holidays don’t just bring joy — they can reactivate parentification, attachment patterns, and nervous-system survival responses we’ve carried since childhood.

In this season-ending episode of Deciphering Growth,we explore:• Why parentified children feel exhausted during family gatherings• How attachment styles show up under holiday stress• The neuroscience behind emotional labor, hypervigilance, and “keeping thepeace”• What it actually means to choose peace over performance

The holidays can be loud, overwhelming, and emotionallycomplicated — and that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

In this week’s episode of Deciphering Growth, we break down:• Why holiday stress hits your nervous system so hard• What doesn’t help (over-committing, people-pleasing, pushing through)• Practical, trauma-informed ways to protect your peace

In this week’s Deciphering Growth, Tiffany and Eric unpack what happens when ACA subsidies change, healthinsurance costs rise, and therapy starts to feel like a luxury instead of a basic need. We talk about the real mental health impact, why so many of us are scared about coverage, and some practical options and coping strategies if you’re worried about losing access to care.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app — and get early access + extra soapbox episodes by joining our Patreon!

👉 Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/DecipheringGrowth198

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In this week’s Soapbox, we’re digging into toxic productivity, hustle culture, and how the “what do you produce?” mindset has seeped into mental health care. From community mental health and private practice to neurodivergence, KPIs, and burnout—we’re unpacking all of it.

🎧 This episode is available publicly on all major platforms.

🌿 If you love our Soapbox episodes, we have more bonus Soapbox conversations available exclusively on Patreon—plus early releases, behind-the-scenes content, and extra discussions we don’t publish anywhere else.

Come grow with us. 👉 Join our Patreon community for deeper dives + extra Soapboxes.

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The holidays aren’t easy for everyone — and grief doesn’t care what the calendar says.

In this week’s episode of Deciphering Growth, we sit down with Bethany Valenti to talk about what grief really looks like during the holidays, why the “stages” don’t tell the full story, and how to navigate traditions, boundaries, and emotional waves with compassion.

We’re therapists—and humans. In this episode of Deciphering Growth, we drop the polished scripts and share the exact self-care we use when life (and clinical work) gets heavy. From odd little joys (automation video games, planted shrimp tanks) to parasympathetic resets (Epsom-salt baths, stretching, visual grounding, the Serenity Prayer), we show how we downshift our nervous systems without perfection or guilt.

You’ll hear:

• Micro-habits that stick on busy days (no 2-hour routines).

• A “skill points” self-care reframe—level up one point at a time.
• Introvert-friendly strategies for crowds, schedule changes, and “I’m running late” spikes.
• Why therapists need permission to be human—and how we protect against burnout.