Tell Me About Your Mother

Evan Miller and Melissa Martin
  • 4.5 (14)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Tell Me About Your Mother is a podcast guided by a psychotherapist duo-- Evan Miller and Melissa Martin. If you are a therapist, enjoy learning from experts, or curious as to how therapists conceptualize complex characters, this is your podcast. If you'd like to connect further, we are on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. You can also send us an email-- contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run.

  1. JAN 21

    Episode 56: Neurodivergence, Labels, and the Cost of Oversimplified Psychology

    Send us a text Guest Elizabeth Morrison is a licensed therapist, MS, LPC, in Texas, that specializes in treating Neurodivergent individuals. We talk through what’s happening as mental health language goes mainstream: it’s helping more people seek support, but it’s also creating confusion, oversimplification, and “pop psychology” that gets repeated as fact. We unpack what neurodivergence and neurodivergent actually mean, why traits aren’t the same thing as diagnoses, and how real clinical work depends on nuance, context, and felt safety. The conversation also zooms out to schools and families, exploring how kids’ behavior often reflects unmet needs, overstimulation, and a lack of support rather than “badness.” Why social media spreads both awareness and misinformation about mental healthNeurodivergence vs. neurodivergent vs. neuroinclusive (and why the labels matter)Bottom-up vs. top-down processing and how that changes therapy approachesCommon neurodivergent presentations discussed: autism, ADHD, OCD (and the broader spectrum)Stimming and fidgets as regulation tools, not “bad habits”Burnout, dopamine/energy drain, and why everyday tasks can cost more for ND brainsThe difference between having traits and meeting diagnostic criteria (clinical significance)Limits of assessments: masking, self-awareness gaps, and the nuance tests can missMedication basics: what it should and shouldn’t do, and when to revisit dosage/prescriptionsSchool systems, missed support, and why behavior is often communicationPractical parenting ideas: reducing demands after school and asking better questionsHow family patterns repeat across generations and how therapy helps revise the “old contract” Support the show Have any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run

    1h 9m

  2. 12/05/2025

    Episode 55: Blame Throwers and Party Hats | Guest Sandra Killebrew

    Send us a text Welcome back our guest Sandra Killebrew, a therapist specializing in high-conflict couples therapy in Seattle, WA. This episode dives into the messy, magical work of being a therapist. We unpack what happens when clients come in with chaos—blame throwers in hand—and how playfulness, props, and presence can shift the energy in the room. From adolescent therapy and couples work to private pay dilemmas and therapist boundaries, we explore the art of staying human while holding space. Topics include: The “blame thrower” metaphor and how to manage chaotic energyUsing props and playfulness to disarm resistance and build trustWorking with teens: safety, attunement, and how to not take the baitCouples therapy, contempt, and staying grounded in the stormTherapist self-awareness: when over-identifying does more harm than goodNavigating private pay vs. insurance expectationsWhat happens when clients want therapy to “fix” someone elseThe loneliness of solo practice and the beauty of professional communityEnergetic integrity: how we show up when the room feels off Support the show Have any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run

    1h 7m

  3. 11/06/2025

    Episode 54: Genocide, Murder, and Therapists’ Humanity | Rhiana Turner | International Psychology

    Send us a text Welcome our guest, Rhiana Holmes Turner, LPC, LAC, is a licensed mental health professional and Approved Clinical Supervisor based in Denver, Colorado, with multi-state licensure across Colorado, Florida, Texas, and Kansas. She has expertise in trauma-informed, care and a career spanning community advocacy, international mental health work, and psychopharmacology education, Turner brings a unique lens to this raw and resonant conversation. In this episode of Tell Me About Your Mother, Evan and Rhiana open up about their work with some of the most misunderstood populations — from genocide survivors in Cambodia to clients who have committed murder. The discussion explores what it means to show up authentically as a therapist, the projections therapists carry, and the radical empathy required to do the work well. Topics include: Working with genocide survivors in Cambodia and unintentional publicationNarrative therapy and reintegration between victims and perpetratorsCoercion, moral ambiguity, and the psychology of violenceTreating clients who have killed someone — and confronting therapist biasRejection-prevention behaviors and shame in clinical relationshipsBlank slate therapists vs. authenticity and immediacyAttachment dynamics, regulation, and what actually makes couples therapy workThe universal human need to feel loved, accepted, and safe — even for therapists Support the show Have any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run

    55 min

  4. 10/06/2025

    Episode 53: Let Them Fail | Therapists, Adolescents, and the Audacity to Be Human

    Send us a text In this raw and wide-ranging episode of Tell Me About Your Mother, Evan and Melissa explore what it means to be a therapist, parent, and human being—flawed, opinionated, and under pressure to perform. From setting boundaries on the soccer field to navigating adolescent risk-taking and drug use, the conversation covers the deep discomfort of losing control, the power of regulation, and the dangers of sanitized professionalism. Topics include: Why regulating yourself is the most powerful parenting moveThe limits of behavioral control in adolescenceThe dark side of data, AI, and digital permanenceWhy therapists shouldn’t have to apologize for being humanSelf-diagnosis trends and the loss of clinical nuanceWhether you’re a clinician, a parent, or just someone trying not to lose it in public—this episode is your permission slip. Support the show Have any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run

    1h 9m

  5. 09/12/2025

    Episode 52: Is EMDR Magic or Marketing? Debunking Therapy Buzzwords

    Send us a text In this fiery and insightful episode of Tell Me About Your Mother: Evan and Melissa respond to the backlash after their viral EMDR TikTok clip (24k+ views).They clarify what EMDR is actually doing in the brain—hint: it’s not magic or hypnosis.The hosts tackle common misunderstandings about working memory theory, bilateral stimulation, and exposure therapy.Evan shares a powerful campfire story involving a dysregulated parent and shame spirals.Melissa explores how trauma theory intersects with parenting, cultural expectations, and body image.Together, they reflect on the ethical tightrope therapists walk when navigating social situations with clinical awareness.Whether you’re a therapist, client, or just trauma-curious—this episode blends science, snark, and soul in classic TMAYM fashion. Support the show Have any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run

    1h 9m

  6. 08/22/2025

    Episode 51: Rethinking EMDR | Working Memory, Trauma, Culture

    Send us a text In this episode, we dive into a fresh look at EMDR therapy and how new research reframes it as “working memory therapy.” We explore the cultural differences in how trauma and sexuality are discussed in clinical training, the challenges of certification in our field, and the ways client conversations about sex, cursing, and honesty become litmus tests for therapeutic trust. Along the way, we swap stories on therapy frustrations, parenting young adults, and how history and culture shape our work as clinicians. The hidden costs of certifications and ROI in therapy careers How Dutch researchers approach EMDR and trauma treatment differently Why EMDR might be better understood as “working memory therapy” Cultural contrasts: bluntness about sex/trauma in Dutch trainings vs U.S. squeamishness Therapy rapport: clients opening up about sex and cursing as signs of safety Parenting struggles: guiding a 20-year-old through clutter, college, and career choices Therapy frustrations: reflections clients resist, accountability, and ego defenses Books and history: Comanche Nation, whitewashed history, and cultural imperialism  Support the show Have any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run

    1h 2m

  7. 07/23/2025

    Episode 50: Guest Sandra Killebrew | High-Conflict Couples Therapy, Boundaries & Telling Hard Truths

    Send us a text Sandra Killebrew is a high-conflict couple therapist with a boutique private practice in Tacoma, WA. She offers therapy intensives for couples in addition to weekly therapy. She likes to get on her soapbox about excellence in therapy, boundaries, telling the truth, even when it hurts, and is not afraid to say f**k. She hosts networking groups in Tacoma & Seattle and is on the board of the International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association. Guest intro: Sandra’s unique style—therapy intensives, strong boundaries, focus on truth-telling, and comfort with conflict.Silence in therapy: Why awkward pauses can disarm clients and reveal vulnerability.Public scandal discussion: Reflections on power, privilege, and societal judgment (cancel culture parallels).Therapist self-disclosure & marketing: Debate over labeling as a “Christian therapist” and how identity marketing affects client expectations.Client boundary issues: Stories of invasive consultation questions (“Are you married?” / “Do you believe in God?”) and how they reflect couple dynamics.High-acuity training: How early experience with high-crisis clients shapes private practice work.Couples therapy dynamics: Why consultations often feel like stepping into a “war zone” and how to hold boundaries.Toxic industry norms: Discussion of underqualified providers and the importance of skilled clinical work. Support the show Have any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run

    2h 1m

  8. 06/18/2025

    Episode 49: Sexuality, Shame, and Therapist Bias

    Send us a text Evan shares a personal story from a therapy group where power and bias were misusedHow therapists can be abusive — even to other therapistsThe danger of bringing personal values, beliefs, or shame agendas into the therapy roomWhy opacity (not transparency) can be safer and more ethical for clientsReader bias and how it distorts perception in clinical workThe myth of sexuality as a binary on/off switchThe shame response and how it gets used as a tool of controlWhy many men feel disempowered in therapyConcerns about therapists vetting clients based on values, appearance, or assumptionsQuestions around what “aggressive therapy” really means and who defines itReflections on transference, group process, and emotional safetyReminder: Therapy is the client’s space, not the therapist’s platform Support the show Have any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run

    54 min
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4.5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Tell Me About Your Mother is a podcast guided by a psychotherapist duo-- Evan Miller and Melissa Martin. If you are a therapist, enjoy learning from experts, or curious as to how therapists conceptualize complex characters, this is your podcast. If you'd like to connect further, we are on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. You can also send us an email-- contactus@tellmeaboutyourmother.run.

Information

  • Creator
    Evan Miller and Melissa Martin
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tell Me About Your Mother
  • Show Website
    Tell Me About Your Mother