The Calm Cast

The Calm Place
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  • Mental Health

The Calm Cast is hosted by Alison Petten, Registered Psychologist and Co-Director of The Calm Place, alongside Ashley MacLellan. Together, they create a space for honest, down-to-earth conversations about mental health and wellness. With the support of expert guests, they break down stigma, explore the topics we don’t talk about enough, and share practical tools—making healing feel more approachable, relatable, and even a little bit fun.

Episodes

  1. What If It Could Be Better? A Conversation About Therapy and Healing

    19 Jun

    What If It Could Be Better? A Conversation About Therapy and Healing

    In this episode of The Calm Cast, Allison and Ashley dive into one of the most common questions in mental health: How do I know if therapy is right for me? Whether you're considering therapy for the first time, wondering if your struggles are "serious enough," or simply curious about what happens in a therapy session, this conversation offers a compassionate and practical look at the role therapy can play in our lives. In this episode, we discuss: ✨ Why therapy doesn't have to be reserved for moments of crisis ✨ The difference between reactive and proactive mental health care ✨ How unresolved childhood experiences can continue to impact us as adults ✨ The connection between trauma, anxiety, depression, and the fight-or-flight response ✨ Why understanding your life story is often more important than focusing solely on symptoms ✨ What to expect during your first therapy sessions ✨ Why it's never too late to begin your healing journey One of the most powerful concepts discussed in this episode is the shift from asking "What's wrong with me?" to asking "What happened to me?" Our experiences—both the things that happened and the things that didn't—shape how we move through the world. Therapy can help us better understand those experiences, increase our capacity to handle life's challenges, and create meaningful change, even when we think we're doing "fine." Connect With Us If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may benefit from the conversation. To learn more about therapy services, reduced-rate counselling options, or the wellness services available at The Calm Place, visit our website or reach out to our team. Remember: calm isn't something you find—it's something you practice.

    31 min
  2. Is it Me or ADHD?

    5 Jun

    Is it Me or ADHD?

    In Episode 2 of The Calm Cast, Alison, Ashley and Stephanie Keezer explore one of the most common questions people are asking today: "Do I have ADHD?" With ADHD conversations becoming increasingly common online, it can be difficult to know whether symptoms like forgetfulness, overwhelm, difficulty concentrating, or emotional dysregulation point to ADHD—or something else entirely. Stephanie shares her expertise as a psychologist specializing in both ADHD and trauma, helping listeners understand the complex relationship between brain development, childhood experiences, and mental health. In this episode, we discuss: ✨What ADHD actually is—and what it isn't ✨Why ADHD is often misunderstood and over-simplified online ✨The connection between trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and ADHD-like symptoms ✨How childhood experiences shape brain development ✨Why ADHD assessments require more than a checklist ✨The differences between ADHD symptoms and trauma responses ✨How ADHD often presents differently in women ✨The role genetics play in ADHD ✨The importance of comprehensive assessment and accurate diagnosis About Our Guest Stephanie Keezer, Psychologist Stephanie is a psychologist here at The Calm Place in St. John's, Newfoundland. She specializes in comprehensive adult ADHD assessments, with expertise in identifying subtle and internalized presentations across high-functioning adults, including women, whose symptoms are frequently overlooked in standard evaluations. Her approach is collaborative and relational, focused on creating a safe space to understand patterns and explore how unprocessed stress, trauma, and early experiences may shape emotional and cognitive functioning. Her practice is grounded in genuine connection, thoughtful assessment, and clear, practical guidance. Connect With Us Have questions you'd like us to cover in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Follow The Calm Place on social media and send us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas for future episodes of The Calm Cast @thecalmplace_nl Remember: Calm isn't something you find. It's something you practice. 💜

    38 min
  3. Two Best Friends Walk Into a Wellness Podcast

    22 May

    Two Best Friends Walk Into a Wellness Podcast

    Welcome to the very first episode of The Calm Cast! 🎙️ In this introductory episode, Alison and Ashley sit down (with energy drinks in hand) to kick off the podcast and share what listeners can expect this season. From honest conversations about mental wellness to learning how therapy actually works, this episode is all about getting comfortable in the world of healing — no therapy couch required. Ashley brings the curiosity and questions many people have when entering the wellness space for the first time, while Alison shares insight from her work as a psychologist and director of The Calm Place. Together, they dive into conversations around: ✨ What really happens in therapy ✨ Why therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all ✨ The difference between talk therapy and approaches like EMDR ✨ Trauma, PTSD, and healing ✨ Nervous system regulation ✨ A preview of upcoming topics this season Plus, hear a few behind-the-scenes laughs, some best-friend banter, and why Ashley may—or may not—be the “personality hire.” Whether you're already on a healing journey or just curious about wellness, we're so happy you're here. Remember: calm isn't something you find — it's something you practice. Follow along and subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes. Connect with us: @thecalmplace_nl Have a topic you want us to cover? Send us a message — we'd love to hear from you.

    39 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

The Calm Cast is hosted by Alison Petten, Registered Psychologist and Co-Director of The Calm Place, alongside Ashley MacLellan. Together, they create a space for honest, down-to-earth conversations about mental health and wellness. With the support of expert guests, they break down stigma, explore the topics we don’t talk about enough, and share practical tools—making healing feel more approachable, relatable, and even a little bit fun.

Information

  • Creator
    The Calm Place
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Calm Place
  • Show Website
    The Calm Cast