In this heartfelt and refreshingly real episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop, host Winifred Akande gets personal about coping skills that actually help—especially during the chaotic, colder, emotionally complex lead-up to the holidays. From simmering chili and Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes to journaling, quilting, chai lattes, and digital detoxes, Wini shares her current go-to ways of managing stress, sadness, and seasonal overwhelm.

Whether you're craving comfort, looking to update your mental health toolkit, or just need a few cozy ideas to get through the day, this episode is for you.

Connect with Me:

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org
• ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (discount code: PODCAST)
• Resources

Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a licensed professional. You are not alone. 💛

When tragedy strikes—again and again—we often hear "thoughts and prayers." But do those words still hold meaning?

In this heartfelt episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop, Winifred Akande unpacks her evolving relationship with prayer, especially in the face of national grief, mental health struggles, and the desire to be a force for good.

Inspired by the timeless Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, she explores how prayer can be more than wishful thinking—it can be a grounding tool for peace, mindfulness, and inner transformation. You’ll learn the surprising history behind this well-loved prayer, why it's still relevant today, and how it invites us to sow love, light, and hope in a hurting world.

Whether you're religious, spiritual, or just curious—this episode offers a gentle invitation to reflect on what you're sowing in your own life.

🎧 Plus: Get your own art print of the prayer on Winifred’s Etsy shop to support the podcast.

Connect with Me:

• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

• ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (discount code: PODCAST)

Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a licensed professional. You are not alone. 💛

In this deeply vulnerable episode of The Therapy Thrift Shop, Winifred Akande opens up about one of her hardest moments—September 15, 2025, the morning she woke up and didn’t want to be here anymore. With compassion and honesty, she walks listeners through the weight of that day: the work stress of an ongoing merger, feelings of disconnection from friends and church, and the painful realization of how overwhelming the world can be.

Winifred shares how she turned a moment of crisis into an act of courage—pouring out the liquor that could have ended her life, texting her therapist, and taking small steps toward safety. She explores the importance of having a mental health safety net, finding strength in therapy, and learning that hope is not a feeling—it’s a practice.

Through reflection on her faith, community, and coping strategies, Winifred reminds listeners that even in chaos, healing begins with one small choice: to stay. She offers encouragement for anyone battling suicidal ideation, reminding us that reaching out for help is not weakness—it’s wisdom.

Connect with Me:

• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

• ⁠Semicolon Pin

Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a licensed professional. You are not alone. 💛

Ever rolled your eyes at affirmations? Same. In this episode of Therapy Thrift Shop, Winifred shares how she went from anti-affirmation skeptic to full believer — realizing affirmations are just the opposite of negative self-talk. She breaks down what affirmations really are, how they rewire the brain (yes, science backs this up), and how to make them actually work in real life.

You’ll hear personal stories from studying for the CPA and PMP exams, creative ways to keep affirmations front and center, and why your brain believes what you tell it — good or bad. Winifred also shares how her love for art and therapy inspired her to create a 2026 Affirmation Calendar, available now in her Etsy shop.

If you’re ready to swap “I’m not enough” for “I can do hard things,” this episode will help you start rewriting the story in your own head — one affirmation at a time.

Resources:

• 2026 Affirmations Calendar
• 2026 Verse Calendar

Connect with Me:

• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

• ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (discount code: PODCAST)

Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a licensed professional. You are not alone. 💛

In this deeply honest comeback episode, Winifred opens up about being diagnosed with dysthymia (a chronic form of depression), navigating intense suicidal ideation, and finding her way back to hope and stability. She also previews what’s ahead this season: affirmations that actually work, prayers that ground her, navigating friendships, managing social batteries, and surviving the holidays with compassion and grace.

Resources:

• https://www.lizkohlerbrown.com/

Connect with Me:

• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

• ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (discount code: PODCAST)

Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a licensed professional. You are not alone. 💛

This week, I’m getting raw and real about what it means to be healing in real time. Inspired by a literal scab on my nose (yep, you read that right), I unpack the emotional weight of unspoken grief, burnout, and the pressure to show up when you’re not okay. I’m hitting pause for the summer—and sharing why sometimes, we need to rest before we’re ready. If you’re in a scabby season too, this one’s for you. 💛

Connect with Me:

• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a licensed professional. You are not alone. 💛

In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, host Winifred Akande shares a personal spiral of catastrophic thinking after starting a new job—and walks us through how to recognize and challenge those “what if everything goes wrong?” thoughts. Learn how to spot catastrophizing, reframe fear-based thoughts, and build mental resilience using real-life examples, humor, and heart. Because sometimes, your anxious brain is just a little too creative.

Connect with Me:

• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

• ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (discount code: PODCAST)

Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a licensed professional. You are not alone. 💛

Ever finish something amazing and instantly downplay it? You're not alone. In this Therapy Thrift Shop Find, Winifred gets honest about how a lifetime of disqualifying the positives—aka brushing off compliments, minimizing achievements, and never letting the good stuff land—has impacted her mental health. She explores where this pattern comes from, what it’s cost her, and how she’s learning to let the good things count. If you’ve ever struggled to accept praise or feel like nothing you do is enough, this one's for you.

Connect with Me:

• IG - @therapythriftshop

• Email - hello@therapythriftshop.org

• ⁠Etsy Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (discount code: PODCAST)

Disclaimer: The resources and content shared here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a licensed professional. You are not alone. 💛