In this episode, Baylen and Crystal explore people pleasing from a therapeutic perspective and unpack why so many individuals find themselves prioritizing others' needs at the expense of their own. While being kind and considerate is healthy, people pleasing often goes deeper; rooted in fear of rejection, conflict avoidance, and the desire for approval or safety in relationships.

We discuss how people pleasing behaviors can develop over time, often shaped by early life experiences, family dynamics, and learned patterns about worth, belonging, and acceptance. Listeners will learn how these patterns can show up in everyday life--difficulty saying no, overcommitting, avoiding honest communication, and feeling responsible for other people's emotions.

Listeners will walk away with practical tools to begin recognizing people pleasing habits, understanding the needs driving them, and practicing healthier ways of relating to others without losing themselves in the process.

In our 10th episode of What Your Therapist Wants You To Know, we explore the job search process through a therapeutic lens. Looking for a job can trigger anxiety, self-doubt, rejection sensitivity, and even old narratives about worth and identity. Josh explains his development of The Pipeline Process, which allows people to focus on a framework and not allow the feelings to hijack progress. We also dive into the power of relationships. Connection is a core human need and networking doesn't have to feel transactional or inauthentic. We discuss how to harness existing relationships, reach out with intention, and build meaningful and professional connections rooted in curiosity and mutual respect. Whether you're entering the workforce, changing careers, or rebuilding confidence after a difficult season, this episode offers tools to help you approach the job hunt with clarity, emotional regulation, and connection.

In this episode of What Your Therapist Wants You To Know, Josh and Crystal interview their colleague Gabrielle about her clinical knowledge and experience with trauma. At its core, trauma occurs when an experience overwhelms our nervous system and leaves us feeling unsafe, unsupported, or unable to cope. It's less about the event itself and more about how the body and brain respond. We unpack how trauma lives not just in memory but in the body--shaping our reactions, relationships, and sense of safety. Ultimately, Gabrielle reminds us that trauma is not a life sentence. With awareness, supportive relationships, and the right tools, the nervous system can learn safety again. Recovery and healing is possible!

In this episode of What Your Therapist Wants You To Know, Josh and Crystal break down the idea of love not just being rooted in chemistry but being shaped by attachment. Some of us seek reassurance and fear disconnection, others value independence and pull away when things feel too close.

As you begin to understand your attachment style and triggers, you can learn to pause, communicate more clearly, and choose connection over reaction. Over time, relationships can become places of healing, helping us move towards greater emotional safety and earned secure attachment--the ability to experience closeness with flexibility, boundaries, and self-trust.

In this episode, we explore the definition of self-compassion through Kristin Neff's research, who describes it as treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a close friend. We highlight Neff's 3 key components of self-compassion: self-kindness vs. self-judgment, common humanity vs. isolation and mindfulness vs. over-identification. We also address common myths, such as the idea that self-compassion leads to laziness or self-pity. Josh and Crystal end the episode sharing their own self-compassion assessment scores and invite the audience to discover where they are on the 1 to 5 scale. Ultimately, this episode reframes self-compassion not as indulgence, but as a powerful internal resource that supports growth, healing, and emotional strength.

Depression isn't a personal failure or a lack of willpower. It's a complex experience shaped by biology, life stressors, trauma, relationships, and how the nervous system responds to the world. While it's often described as a "chemical imbalance", therapists know the reality is far more layered.

Crystal and Josh discuss the idea that therapy for depression focuses on understanding patterns, building emotional regulation skills, addressing underlying pain, and reconnecting you with meaning and values. Medication can be helpful for some, but it's not the only--or always the first--path to healing.

Most importantly, depression lies to you. You are not alone and things can change. Join us as we unpack this and provide some immediate takeaways!

This episode of What Your Therapist Wants You To Know explores New Year's Resolutions through a therapy lens, shifting the focus from willpower to better preparing your various environments. Rather than chasing drastic change overnight, the conversation emphasizes grounding resolutions in identity--who you want to become and why--so goals more align with your values. This episode also walks through how to implement SMART goals that are specific, realistic, and flexible rather than rigid or punishing. The core message is that meaningful change comes from consistency, self-trust, and becoming--not just achieving.

On today's episode of What Your Therapist Wants You To Know, Crystal interviews Josh regarding his expertise in AI. This episode explores the growing role of AI therapy tools, and how they can be thoughtfully integrated into mental health care. It explains what AI therapy is, how it can support emotional regulation, reflection, and skill building, and where its limits lie. The conversation emphasizes that AI is best used as a supplement--not a replacement--for human therapists, offering accessibility, consistency, and between session support. This episode ultimately highlights how AI can enhance mental health support when used intentionally and alongside professional care.