Men’s Therapy Podcast

Meeting the Sheriff of Me Town

Standing up for yourself takes courage, boldness, and practice. At a young age Dr. Julia Bain learned to defend herself and her friends against the bullies in her school. She stepped into conflict in order to protect those who were less fortunate than her - she wanted her friends to know that they were never alone. These early experiences with bullying inspired Julia to study mental health and focus on violence in the workplace. She now teaches people to stand up for themselves, set boundaries, and practice being the sheriff's of their own Me Town.

Facing Uncertainty

We are unafraid of the unknown. How do you make a plan when you can't see the entirety of the problem? How do you confront the void when you're not sure what's in there? With courage. Facing uncertainty requires surrender, adaptation, and confidence. In this episode, we'll talk with Francesco Marsili about how he faced a dramatic job change coupled with the diagnosis of a chronic disease of his partner. You'll hear how he leaned into meditation, stoicism, and chaos theory in order to find the tools and the strength to face the unknown.

Coming Back to Jesus

Qiana was drawn to the ritual of Catholicism but did not agree with it's positions on social issues so she explored other avenues for her spiritual practice. She tried Wicca, Paganism, and a spiritual yoga community but none of them quite fit. Then, after the loss of a dear friend to cancer her views about life and death were challenged. She found herself adrift, without an anchor. This inspired her to seek out a Christian community, reconcile her religious beliefs, and get back in touch with her spiritual center. Join us this week as we take a journey down one woman's spiritual path.

Do I Even Work Here?

It's staggering to me how common Imposter Syndrome is! Almost all of my clients under 40 feel like they don't belong at their jobs, their families, or even their culture. They feel as though they are faking it until they make it every day of their lives. So, today on the show we've found a real-life Millennial to tell us all about Imposter Syndrome. Jordan is a nice midwesterner who has charmed her way into an interesting, upper-middle class life. She’s accomplished this by being unwaveringly friendly, and just hard working enough to accrue a couple of postsecondary degrees. She followed a non-traditional trajectory to arrive at her current role and reluctant identity as a “tech bro”. This semi-retired hairstylist and former bar maven shares tales of hard earned personal growth through the humiliating moments that come with functional imposter syndrome.

Relapse: When it all comes crashing down

Randy is one of the most spiritual people I've ever met - no exaggeration. He lives his life with a sense of unity, connection, and presence that is staggering to behold. He is in constant relationship and communication with the world around him. But, it didn't used to always be this way, for much of his life Randy was a wanderer. He ran with a biker gang, a truck driver, and a musician. While he recovered from alcoholism early on it was a relapse 7 years later that brought him to his knees. That later relapse made him question the life that he built for himself and challenged his thoughts about substances, mental health, and even reality as he knew it. Even through Randy was sober, he wasn't yet recovered. Join us as we take a trip through Randy's life and, more profoundly, through his mind.

Living Childfree and Regret Free

At a young age, Adi knew that she would be be childfree. She wasn't drawn to motherhood or to starting a family. However, even though she was clear in her convictions she walked head first into society's expectations, pressures, and messaging. She was confronted with the questions: What does it mean to have a regret? Who will take care of me when I'm old? and What is my statement around no having children? This early childhood decision challenged her to look more deeply into her own internal landscape and to grow. Join us on this week's episode of From the Ashes where we'll talk about regret, social conditioning, and one woman's journey to be child free.

Deep Undercover in Corporate America

Disappointment is an experience that just doesn't get spoken about enough. Investing our hopes and dreams into the future only to have it fall apart. In these moments we can be reminded about how fragile we are and how much we depend on others to get by. In this episode of the podcast I'll be talking to Donna Peters, executive coach and organizational developer, about her dark night of the soul. She'll share the story of when her consulting career and her life started falling apart. This sobering experience forced her to question her values, purpose, and meaning. She choose to rise from the ashes and create a new life that was more in line with who she is and what she wanted to bring into the world.

Living a Lie - A Story of Closeted Sex Addiction

Imagine keeping a secret so big that you couldn't even admit it to yourself. Something so scary that if it was even hinted at it could destroy the fabric of your life. Secrets like that can control your life, secrets like that can make you act out in self-destructive ways. Our guest, Rick Tivers, kept his sexuality a secret due to significant losses early in life which led him to believe he would be punished for being gay. This distortion caused him to be in an inauthentic marriage for 18yrs to a woman, which then triggered a severe sex addition. After some traumas, he tackled his closeted fears and sex addiction. Now, Rick Tivers is a highly sought after therapist and speaker based in Chicago and Palm Springs California. He is married to the man of his dreams. In this powerful interview, we will be unravelling the impulse control, shame and addiction recovery that is the fabric of Rick's journey.

Encore Confessions of a Cheater

In this episode of From the Ashes Marc will be interviewing Marian Salley, his long-time friend, colleague, and work wife. Marian is a social worker in Boulder, Colorado that specializes in working with trauma, attachment and neurobiology. She carries every professional license under the sun: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA) Certified Therapist. Her clinical style is a blend of modern psychoanalysis, contemplative psychology, and group work.
We'll be talking about infidelity and cheating in relationships with Marian speaking both as an expert and as an past cheater herself. She discuss what factors led up to her cheating on her partner, what that experience was like, and how she recovered and learned from it. Be prepared for a deep dive into the darker side of relationships. We'll be addressing jealousy, insecurity, and loneliness.
Also, as the premier episode of From the Ashes you'll hear from Marc about his background and intentions for the show. Join us as we embark on this journey!

Catholicism, Combat, and Couples Counseling

I met Melissa during my internship at the start of my career. We were working at a court-mandated treatment center with clients who were charged with DUIs and drug possession charges. We were both starting out on our journeys to be psychotherapists and working in that intense environment was a wakeup call to us! We were confronted by the brokenness of the justice system and the corruption of the treatment industry. We bonded immediately while trying to make progressive change and to stick to our ethics. In this episode you'll hear about Melissa's past experiences with substance abuse and PTSD. Coming from a military family, Melissa had a very rigid childhood and grew up with her father and brother who have PTSD. She'll share how that experience shaped her and broke her heart wide open so that she could be able to help others. Growing up in an unhealthy family dynamic, Melissa had to find ways to survive and connect with others. Throughout all of that she maintained her incredible sense of humor, razor sharp intellect, and disciplined focus. She's now a couples counselor in Boulder, CO who helps her clients create powerful and intimate bonds that can last a lifetime. Join us as we take a trip through the darkness of addiction and into the hopefulness of love.