The MindSpa Podcast

Batten Media House
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Mental Health

The MindSpa Podcast is your go-to space for meaningful conversations around mental health, healing, and personal growth. Hosted by Michelle Massunken RSW and Tina Wilston RP, co-founders of MindSpa Mental Health Centre, each episode explores key mental health topics through expert interviews and thoughtful roundtable discussions. From managing stress and building stronger relationships to navigating invisible challenges, the MindSpa Podcast offers grounded, professional insights in a warm and accessible way. Tune in weekly for supportive, real-world conversations to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered on your wellness journey.

  1. 5d ago

    S2 · Ep 17: Cognitive Load Reset — Reducing Mental Overwhelm And Decision Fatigue | The MindSpa Podcast

    Your brain is not broken; it may simply be overloaded. In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken unpack cognitive load and why so many people feel mentally exhausted, distracted, and overwhelmed, even after a full night’s sleep. When your attention is stretched too thin, it can show up as brain fog, scattered thinking, forgetfulness, and decision fatigue over everyday tasks. We explore how the five senses contribute to cognitive overwhelm and why visual input can be one of the biggest drains on mental energy. From turning down the radio so you can focus while driving to noticing how hypervigilance pulls in every detail of your environment, we connect common experiences to what is happening behind the scenes in the brain and nervous system. Tina and Michelle also discuss anxiety and nervous system activation, including how panic can heighten sound, smell, touch, and temperature sensitivity until everything feels like too much. They share practical strategies for navigating overstimulating environments such as airports, grocery stores, Walmart, and Costco, along with simple tools that can help reduce sensory overload. The conversation also explores digital overstimulation, screen habits, notifications, and small technology changes that can reduce the constant background demand on your attention. Finally, they discuss flow state, cognitive regulation, and why rebuilding tolerance for boredom may be an important step toward greater focus, presence, and wellbeing. What You’ll Hear In This Episode • What cognitive load is and how it affects daily life  • Why sensory input can contribute to mental exhaustion  • The connection between anxiety, hypervigilance, and overwhelm  • Practical tools for managing overstimulating environments  • How technology and notifications impact attention and energy  • Why boredom may be essential for focus, creativity, and recovery If you’ve been feeling mentally drained, distracted, or overwhelmed by everyday demands, this episode offers a grounded look at why that happens and what may help. 🎧 Listen, follow, and share with someone who might need this conversation. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist  Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn, instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

    34 min

  2. Jun 15

    S2 · Ep 16: AITA Scenarios — Honesty, Boundaries, And The Cost Of People Pleasing | The MindSpa Podcast

    What happens when saying “yes” feels easier than disappointing someone, even when it costs you? In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore a series of AITA-style scenarios that unpack boundaries, honesty, people pleasing, and the emotional pressure that can show up in everyday relationships. Scenario 1: Airplane Seats, Boundaries, And People Pleasing A traveller pays extra for an aisle seat on a long flight, only to be asked to give it up by someone who mocked paying for seat selection in the first place. Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore why seat switching can feel emotionally loaded, the pressure to “just be nice,” and how people pleasing can quietly override our own needs. They also reflect on when holding your boundary is reasonable, not selfish. Scenario 2: Fairness, Conflict, And Saying No The conversation expands into the bigger emotional dynamics behind entitlement, social pressure, and fairness. Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken discuss why the most accommodating person is often expected to absorb inconvenience, how resentment builds, and why saying no can sometimes be an important form of feedback. Scenario 3: Honesty, Loyalty, And A Situationship Secret A roommate discovers wedding planning emails and realizes someone they are casually dating may not be as single as they claimed. Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken unpack lying by omission, accountability, and the difficult balance between honesty and loyalty. When does telling the truth protect someone, and when might disclosure be more about easing guilt? If you enjoy these AITA Therapy Edition conversations exploring boundaries, communication, and emotional wellbeing, follow The MindSpa Podcast and share the episode with someone learning that saying no is allowed. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist  Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn, instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

    23 min

  3. Jun 8

    S2 · Ep 15: AITA Scenarios — Where Do Boundaries Start When Everyone Feels Entitled? | The MindSpa Podcast

    In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore a new set of AITA-style scenarios through the lens of boundaries, emotional dynamics, trust, and relationship expectations. Rather than asking who is “right” or “wrong,” this conversation looks at what these situations reveal about communication, responsibility, entitlement, and the ways relationships shift under pressure. Scenario 1: Lottery Money, Family Expectations, And Financial Boundaries What happens when a financial win suddenly feels unsafe to share? Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore a lottery dilemma shaped by debt, guilt, and the pressure of “family helps family.” They reflect on financial boundaries, privacy as protection, and how adult relationships with parents and siblings differ from the trust expected within a partnership. Scenario 2: Breakups, Responsibility, And The Dog Left Behind After an ex disappears for six months and leaves a shared dog behind, can they simply come back and demand custody? Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken unpack abandonment, responsibility, attachment, and why care, consistency, and follow-through matter when relationships end. Scenario 3: Dating, Privacy, And Becoming Podcast Content A woman discovers that someone she dated turned their private conversations into dating podcast material. Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore consent, vulnerability, digital boundaries, and why technicalities rarely rebuild trust once privacy has been crossed. Scenario 4: The “Work Wife,” Emotional Boundaries, And Relationship Trust When workplace closeness starts crossing lines, where do emotional affairs begin? Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken reflect on emotional intimacy, boundary violations, blame shifting, and what happens when repeated concerns are minimized in a relationship. This episode offers a thoughtful look at the grey areas of relationships, boundaries, and emotional wellbeing, especially when the people around us expect more than we feel comfortable giving. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist  Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn, instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

    40 min

  4. Jun 1

    S2 · Ep 14: Constantly Overwhelmed? Understanding Emotional Capacity And Stress | The MindSpa Podcast

    Feeling overwhelmed lately? You are not alone. In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore why so many people are feeling emotionally stretched thin and asking themselves: “What’s wrong with me?” Together, they offer a different perspective: maybe nothing is wrong with you. Maybe your emotional capacity has been carrying too much for too long. Tina and Michelle unpack the idea of a “stress bucket” and how overwhelm is often the result of accumulated pressure rather than one single event. They explore how the nervous system responds to prolonged stress, why willpower is not enough to offset emotional overload, and the early signs that capacity may be running low, including irritability, poor sleep, doomscrolling, low tolerance, and difficulty focusing. They also discuss practical ways to reduce overwhelm, from setting boundaries and saying no to slowing down and rethinking unrealistic expectations around productivity and work-life balance. The conversation highlights how overwhelm can sometimes be connected to deeper beliefs, like feeling “not enough,” and when it may be helpful to seek professional support. What You’ll Hear In This Episode • Why overwhelm may be a sign of chronic stress, not personal failure  • How emotional capacity impacts mood, focus, and relationships  • Signs your “stress bucket” may already be overflowing  • Practical ways to reduce emotional overload  • When therapy or additional support may help If overwhelm has been feeling constant lately, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate conversation about stress, emotional resilience, and coping in a demanding world. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist  Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn, instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

    40 min

  5. May 25

    S2 · Ep 13: What If Familiar Love Is Not Safe Love? | Nadine Samaroo | The MindSpa Podcast

    What makes someone feel instantly familiar, and why can intense chemistry sometimes feel difficult to walk away from? In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken sit down with Nadine Samaroo, Registered Psychotherapist at MindSpa Mental Health, to explore attachment theory in practical, everyday terms and how our earliest relationships can quietly shape the way we connect as adults. Together, they unpack secure attachment and the three insecure attachment styles: anxious, dismissive avoidant, and disorganized (fearful avoidant). The conversation explores how attachment patterns can show up in romantic relationships, communication, trust, conflict, and emotional closeness, and why fear of abandonment may look very different depending on the person. They also discuss the common misconception that attachment wounds only come from major trauma. Sometimes, patterns develop through repeated experiences such as inconsistency, emotional dismissal, or unresolved conflict without repair. From dating apps and relationship dynamics to workplace interactions, Tina, Michelle, and Nadine explore how attachment can influence everyday behaviour, including people-pleasing, emotional withdrawal, love bombing, ghosting, and anxious-avoidant relationship cycles. Most importantly, this episode focuses on growth and possibility. The conversation explores concepts such as neuroplasticity, self-awareness, emotional regulation, reparenting, inner child work, and rupture-and-repair in both parenting and adult relationships. Healing attachment patterns is not about blame. It is about understanding ourselves more clearly and building healthier, more secure ways of connecting. What You’ll Hear In This Episode • Understanding secure, anxious, dismissive avoidant, and fearful avoidant attachment • Why familiar love can sometimes feel emotionally complicated • Attachment patterns in dating, relationships, parenting, and work • Love bombing, ghosting, emotional withdrawal, and push-pull relationship dynamics • How self-awareness and repair can support more secure connection What attachment patterns are you beginning to notice in yourself and your relationships? Website  | LinkedIn | The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist  Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn, instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

    38 min

  6. May 18

    S2 · Ep 12: Military Mental Health — Early Support, Readiness, And Recovery | Michelle Massunken | The MindSpa Podcast

    In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore how Canadian Armed Forces culture can shape mental health, help-seeking, and recovery. The conversation looks at operational stress injuries, PTSD, depression, anxiety, addiction, and the pressure many serving members feel around readiness and deployability. Michelle shares how stigma can show up through silence, minimizing symptoms, or only naming concerns that feel more acceptable, such as sleep problems. Tina and Michelle also discuss why insomnia and nightmares are often entry points into care, how avoidance can gradually shrink someone’s world, and why early support can be easier than waiting for a crisis. They reflect on the role spouses and family members often play in noticing changes first, as well as the identity shift that can come with transitioning from military to civilian life. This episode offers a grounded conversation about military mental health, compassionate language, and the importance of support before someone reaches a breaking point. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist  Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn, instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

    41 min

  7. May 11

    S2 · Ep 11: Belonging — What If It Is Something You Build? | Yocabed Semere | The MindSpa Podcast

    In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Michelle Massunken sits down with Yocabed Semere to explore identity, belonging, and the emotional tension many people in immigrant and diaspora communities experience while navigating multiple cultures, expectations, and values. The conversation reflects on how cultural identity, family pressure, and lived experience can shape mental health, relationships, and self-understanding. Yocabed shares her personal journey from Eritrea to Uganda and later to Canada, while also reflecting on what she now sees clinically in her work supporting immigrant youth and young adults. Together, Michelle and Yocabed discuss the “diaspora pull” — the experience of feeling caught between cultures while trying to understand where you belong and how to remain connected to both yourself and your community. The episode explores topics including acculturative stress, code-switching, perfectionism, people-pleasing, anxiety, burnout, and the pressure that can come from balancing personal values with cultural and family expectations. The conversation also looks at mental health stigma within many Black and immigrant communities, and how therapy can create space for reflection, self-compassion, and healthier boundaries without disconnecting from culture or family identity. Rather than framing identity as an all-or-nothing experience, Michelle and Yocabed discuss the possibility of cultural integration — taking meaningful parts of multiple cultures and building a life that aligns more closely with personal values, emotional wellbeing, and connection. Yocabed Semere is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at MindSpa Mental Health, supporting adults navigating anxiety, burnout, emotional regulation, perfectionism, identity challenges, and life transitions. Her approach is culturally informed and grounded in evidence-based therapies including CBT, ACT, DBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Yocabed holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Carleton University and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University.  Connect With Yocabed Semere Website | Psychology Today |LinkedIn  The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist  Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn, instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

    35 min

  8. May 4

    S2 · Ep 10: AITA Scenarios — Boundaries Without Guilt And Navigating Limits | The MindSpa Podcast

    In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore a series of “Am I the A**hole?” scenarios focused on boundaries, communication, guilt, and relationship dynamics. Through real-life dilemmas involving friendships, family expectations, forgiveness, and long-term relationships, they reflect on what it means to protect your emotional well-being while navigating the reactions of others. Scenario 1: Friendship And Red Flags A woman avoids spending time around her friend’s partner due to concerning behaviour. Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken discuss boundaries as self-protection rather than judgment. Scenario 2: Family Expectations And Professional Boundaries A therapist refuses to provide free therapy to a family member and faces backlash. The conversation explores emotional labour, ethics, and family pressure. Scenario 3: Boundaries And Relationship Change A woman tells her partner she cannot stay unless he seeks help. Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken reflect on the difference between ultimatums and boundaries. Scenario 4: Family Gatherings And Emotional Exhaustion A woman stops attending family holidays due to passive aggressive dynamics. The discussion explores guilt, burnout, and self-protection. Scenario 5: Forgiveness Without Reconnection A woman accepts an apology but chooses not to rebuild the friendship. Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken discuss why forgiveness does not always mean renewed access to someone’s life. This episode offers a grounded conversation about holding boundaries, managing relationship expectations, and navigating difficult emotions with clarity and self-respect. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist  Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn, instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

    45 min
See All (47)

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The MindSpa Podcast is your go-to space for meaningful conversations around mental health, healing, and personal growth. Hosted by Michelle Massunken RSW and Tina Wilston RP, co-founders of MindSpa Mental Health Centre, each episode explores key mental health topics through expert interviews and thoughtful roundtable discussions. From managing stress and building stronger relationships to navigating invisible challenges, the MindSpa Podcast offers grounded, professional insights in a warm and accessible way. Tune in weekly for supportive, real-world conversations to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered on your wellness journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Batten Media House
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Batten Media House
  • Show Website
    The MindSpa Podcast

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