In this episode of Project I Am, I interview Dr. Charle Heaton, a career educator and married gay man. From navigating deeply conservative spaces to fully embracing his authentic self, Dr. Charles Heaton’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, identity, and pride. In this inspiring episode, Charlie shares what it was like to live as a married gay man while building a career in education—and how he found the courage to defy societal expectations and choose a life of truth and freedom.

Join us as we explore the complexities of identity, the cost of silence, and the liberating power of acceptance. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to live more boldly, love more openly, and stand more firmly in who they truly are.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/crheaton/

In this intimate interview on Project I AM, Dr. David Schlosz speaks with Diane (a pseudonym) about the unraveling and reweaving of her marriage to Jack following his affair. The conversation delves into the complex emotional journey through betrayal, the challenges of rebuilding trust, and the hard work of transforming their relationship. Diane shares the impact of infidelity on her self-esteem, the reconciliation process, and the practical changes they made to ensure a healthier, stronger marriage. This episode highlights the raw, ongoing evolution of a couple determined to break generational cycles and rebuild a deeply connected partnership.

In this reflective and educational episode of Project I Am, Dr. David Schlosz explores the profound role of transference and countertransference in the therapeutic relationship—unpacking how these often misunderstood dynamics can become powerful tools for growth, insight, and healing.

Through the lens of Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT) and the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), David breaks down how the therapist-client relationship becomes a living classroom—one where old wounds show up in the room and where genuine connection creates the conditions for change. With real clinical vignettes, current research, and candid reflections from his own experience as a therapist and educator, David guides counseling students and emerging therapists through the art of staying present, relationally attuned, and grounded in the “now” of the therapeutic encounter.

This episode challenges listeners to move beyond technique and theory into the heart of the work: the relationship itself. Whether you're navigating the emotional pull of countertransference or helping a client rewrite an old relational story, this episode will inspire you to lean into the complexities of the therapeutic process with humility, courage, and grace.

This episode is ideal for Counseling graduate students, early-career therapists, supervisors, and anyone curious about the transformative potential of authentic therapeutic connection.

Listen now and discover how the relationship is the therapy.

• Miller, J.B. & Stiver, I. (1991). A Relational Reframing of Therapy. Stone Center Colloquium. (Perspectives on reframing transference/countertransference in a relational context)growthinconnection.orggrowthinconnection.org
• Grow Therapy (2024). What is Relational Therapy? – Discussion of transference and countertransference as tools in relational-cultural therapygrowtherapy.comgrowtherapy.com
• Edgewood Health Network (2022). Exploring NARM: A Complementary Model for Healing Developmental Trauma – NARM training insights on the importance of working with transference and countertransference in treating relational traumaedgewoodhealthnetwork.com
• LaPierre, A. & Heller, L. (2018). The Capacity for Connection in Healing Developmental Trauma. (Discussion of the challenge of transference in early trauma therapy and the need for nervous system stabilization)neuroaffectivetouch.com
• Havens, R., et al. (2022). Managing Transference and Countertransference in CBT Supervision. Dove Medical Press. (Contains meta-analytic findings: effective countertransference management linked to better therapy outcomes)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Additional: Various sources on mutuality, therapeutic alliance, and relational therapy principlespmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govgrowtherapy.com

In this vulnerable and powerful episode of Project I Am, Dr. David Schlosz peels back the mask many of us wear—the smile that hides the ache. Centered around his original spoken word poem, David explores how we often live on autopilot, clinging to humor, charm, and control as coping strategies rooted in early survival.

Drawing from Internal Family Systems, trauma research, and personal reflection, this episode unpacks how defensive ego states and old patterns become our default identities—even when they no longer serve us. Through storytelling, insight, and a guided mindfulness practice, David gently invites us to come home to ourselves, reminding us that we don’t have to perform to be loved.

This is an invitation to wake up. To be present. And to know, maybe for the first time, that being here—just as you are—is enough.

In this heartfelt and deeply insightful episode of Project I Am, Dr. David Schlosz sits down with somatically-oriented psychotherapist Whitney Sutherland to explore what it truly means to heal from complex trauma. Drawing from both clinical expertise and personal experience, Whitney shares how early attachment wounds shape our sense of self—and how healing becomes possible through presence, curiosity, and authentic relationship.

Together, they unpack the nuances of C-PTSD, the difference between disconnection and avoidance, and the powerful role of the nervous system in trauma recovery. Whitney also introduces the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), offering a compassionate framework for understanding survival strategies not as pathology, but as brilliant adaptations.

This episode is a must-listen for therapists, trauma survivors, and anyone longing to reclaim their aliveness. It’s a gentle reminder that healing doesn’t require force—just the right relationship, safety, and time.

Topics include:

• The difference between shock trauma and complex trauma
• How childhood survival strategies shape adult relationships
• Why honoring disconnection is essential for building capacity
• The therapeutic power of authenticity and consent
• How healing ripples out from the individual to the collective

Resources Mentioned:

• www.whitneysutherland.com
• www.complextraumatrainingcenter.com
• Transforming Trauma Podcast by the NARM Institute

In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — truths in therapy: the healing lies not in the techniques we use, but in the authentic relationships we build. Drawing from Carl Rogers’ person-centered approach, Relational-Cultural Theory, and current research, we’ll unpack why the therapeutic relationship is more important than any core theory or intervention.

We’ll talk honestly about why therapists sometimes hesitate to prioritize connection, the personal and professional costs of staying guarded, and the courage it takes to lean into real relational work. Through composite case examples, published studies, and reflections from practice, we’ll look at the profound beauty and benefits that unfold when we show up fully — human to human.

Whether you’re a mental health professional, counseling student, or someone passionate about the heart of healing, this episode invites you to deepen your understanding of what truly transforms lives inside the therapy room.

Join me for an encouraging, challenging, and inspiring conversation about the real work behind the work: connection.

In this deeply reflective and empowering episode, Dr. David Schlosz explores the transformative power of sitting in your feelings—fully allowing yourself to feel, process, and move through emotional discomfort rather than escaping it. Drawing on cutting-edge research in psychology, counseling theory, and somatic practice, this episode challenges the cultural and personal habits of avoidance and emotional suppression.

This episode weaves together clinical wisdom, real-life anecdotes, and powerful therapeutic tools from mindfulness, DBT, and somatic experiencing. Listeners will learn why avoidance increases suffering, how emotions live in the body, and what it really means to ride the wave of emotion with courage, self-compassion, and presence.

Whether you’re guiding others through emotional healing or navigating your own inner world, this episode offers a grounded, research-based, and soul-nourishing invitation: feel it fully, and let healing begin.

In this episode of Project I Am, Dr. David Schlosz explores the powerful and often unspoken roles that therapists embody throughout the healing process. Far beyond techniques or treatment plans, effective therapy relies on presence, attunement, and the fluid ability to shift roles as the relationship deepens.

Drawing from recent research in interpersonal neurobiology, attachment theory, and relational-cultural therapy, David reflects on nine core archetypal roles therapists may take on—including midwife, surrogate, mirror, confessor, and sanctuary keeper. Each role invites us into a deeper understanding of the relational alchemy that underpins true transformation.

Whether you’re a counseling student, a practicing therapist, or someone who’s experienced the power of therapy firsthand, this episode will offer rich insight into what makes the therapeutic relationship a sacred, healing space.