The MindSpa Podcast

Batten Media House
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  • 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 20: Anxiety And Brain Connectivity — When the Nervous System Gets Stuck | Yvonne Burwash | The MindSpa Podcast

    Your brain can appear “fine” on a surface-level map while your day-to-day experience tells a different story. In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken speak with Yvonne Burwash about LORETA neurofeedback, short for low-resolution electromagnetic tomography, and how it uses EEG data to estimate patterns of activity across deeper brain regions and connected networks. The conversation explores how LORETA differs from standard QEEG brain mapping and why clinicians may look beyond individual brain sites when symptoms are not easily explained by one obvious area. Yvonne introduces Brodmann areas and discusses networks commonly associated with anxiety, executive functioning, and the default mode network. They also unpack terms such as asymmetry, coherence, connectivity, and dysregulation, explaining how brain-mapping data, symptom reports, and standard deviations may help inform whether LORETA training is an appropriate option. You will also hear what a LORETA session can involve, from the gel-based EEG cap and longer setup process to the mental fatigue some people experience when training broader brain networks. The discussion covers how session length, difficulty, and timing may be adjusted, along with practical considerations such as sleep, caffeine intake, and allowing time to decompress after training. This episode offers an educational look at personalised neurofeedback and its potential role in supporting concerns related to anxiety, emotional regulation, attention, and sleep. 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

  2. Jul 6

    S2 · Ep 19: HPN Neurofeedback Basics — Understanding Brain Training And Regulation | Yvonne Burwash | The MindSpa Podcast

    Your brain can be brilliant and still get stuck. When it does, more effort is not always the answer, sometimes it needs a nudge. Tina Wilston sits down with Yvonne, our Director of Neurofeedback, to explain Higher Performance Neurofeedback (HPN), a style of neurofeedback that acts more like neuromodulation. We talk about how HPN sends tiny frequencies back to the brain based on what it is already doing, with the aim of interrupting rigid patterns and supporting neuroplasticity. Many clients describe the shift as “clearing out the cobwebs,” especially when stress, trauma, or a head injury knocks them off their baseline. We get practical about what an HPN session actually looks like, including the five-electrode setup, how we choose placements, and how we decide on levels. We also explain over-stimulation (over-stim), what it can feel like, and why it is usually information rather than a disaster. You will hear how we think about dosing with “sites,” why we start gently, and how some people notice changes within 24 to 48 hours, especially around deeper sleep, calmer nervous system regulation, and reduced panic. We also dig into who HPN is best for, when traditional neurofeedback is the better long-game, and how HPN can pair beautifully with therapy to create more capacity for trauma processing and clearer thinking. We cover the QEEG brain map question too: when it is best practice, when HPN can be done without it, and the safety screens we take seriously. Finally, we zoom out to peak performance and the real-world reports we have seen, including focus, clarity, and sensory regulation support. Subscribe for more neurofeedback conversations, share this with someone who is curious about brain-based therapy, and leave a review so more Canadians can find the show. What would you want HPN to help you with? 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

  3. Jun 29

    S2 Ep18 Neurofeedback Basics In Plain English

    Your brain can know a thought is irrational and still react like danger is real. That gap between insight and automatic stress is where neurofeedback gets interesting. We sit down with Yvonne Burwash, Mind Spa’s Director of Neurofeedback, to explain how neurofeedback retrains brainwave activity by using real time feedback so the brain can build balance and flexibility, often making it easier for talk therapy strategies to finally stick. We break down what a QEEG brain map is, why we record eyes open and eyes closed, and how that data turns into a practical training plan. You will hear what “turning the volume up or down” on brainwaves actually means, how clinicians compare patterns to a normative database, and why we never treat a map in isolation from the symptoms and goals you bring to the table. We also explain what can show up when the nervous system does not feel safe, including patterns that relate to sleep quality, alertness shifts, and trauma related activation. Then we get concrete about the brainwaves themselves: delta, theta, alpha, beta, and high beta. We connect each one to real life experiences like fatigue, zoning out, dissociation, calm baseline, low mood, stress, insomnia, and rumination. We also cover asymmetry and coherence, two ways of understanding how different brain regions communicate, plus what a typical neurofeedback schedule looks like, why the first ten sessions matter so much, and how medication can interact with training in ways you should plan for with your prescriber. If you have ever felt stuck between anxiety and depression, frustrated by side effects, or curious about brain based approaches to mental health, this conversation will give you a clear starting point. Subscribe, share this with someone who loves nervous system tools, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next. 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

  4. Jun 22

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Batten Media House
  • Show Website
    The MindSpa Podcast