Mental Nesting

Barbara Guimaraes, LMSW

Mental Nesting is the gentle space for sensitive adults who've outgrown the "hustle through your healing" mentality. Hosted by licensed therapist and writer Barbara Guimaraes, this podcast explores the messy, nonlinear reality of rebuilding your life after trauma, heartbreak, and the kind of personal upheaval that leaves you questioning everything. If you're someone who's done therapy, read the books, and tried all the self-help strategies but still feel like you're figuring it out as you go—this podcast is for you. Barbara brings both her clinical expertise and lived experience of navigating bipolar disorder, relationship trauma, coming out later in life, and the quiet courage it takes to choose yourself when no one taught you how. Each episode feels like a conversation with your most emotionally intelligent friend—the one who sees your sensitivity as a superpower, not a flaw. Through vulnerable storytelling, practical frameworks, and her signature "soft but unfiltered" approach, Barbara helps you reconnect with your inner child, build unshakable self-trust, and create a life that feels authentically yours. This isn't about optimizing or fixing yourself. It's about learning to be human—messily, beautifully, exactly as you are. Because sometimes the most radical thing you can do is slow down, turn inward, and remember that healing doesn't have to hurt to be real. Perfect for highly sensitive people, therapy graduates, late bloomers, and anyone who's ever felt "too much" in a world that demands you be less. Welcome to your emotional homecoming.

Episodes

  1. 8H AGO

    Articulating Pain as Survival: Why Being “Good at Explaining” Isn’t a Gift

    Send us a text What does it mean when people tell you that you “articulate your pain so well”?  In this episode of Mental Nesting, licensed therapist and nervous system coach Barb reflects on how clearly explaining pain is often not a strength, but a survival adaptation formed in environments where belief was conditional. This episode explores the emotional and nervous system cost of having to translate suffering into language that others can tolerate. From invisible illness and mental health diagnoses to childhood exhaustion and adulthood burnout, Barb unpacks the difference between being validated and being required to prove pain in order to receive care. This is a reflective, non-instructional episode about being believed versus performing pain, the grief of conditional support, and what changes when you no longer have to collapse to be taken seriously. If you have ever felt pressure to stay calm, reasonable, or articulate while explaining something that hurts deeply, this episode is for you. Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    12 min
  2. 11/13/2025

    Dating with Bipolar Disorder: Medication, Intimacy, and Finding Partners Who Understand

    Send us a text What happens when the medication that stabilizes your mood kills your sex drive? How do you explain invisible symptoms to someone who's never experienced mental health challenges? In this deeply personal episode, I share my journey of dating with bipolar disorder—from misdiagnosis and lithium toxicity to learning what "safe touch" really means. I walk you through the medication roller coaster that nobody warns you about, the impossible conversations about physical intimacy versus sexual touch, and why explaining executive dysfunction to a partner can feel like speaking different languages. If you've ever felt "too much" for wanting emotional understanding, or guilty for medication side effects you can't control, this episode is for you. You'll learn: How bipolar medication affects intimacy and sex drive in relationshipsThe difference between physical touch for comfort and sexual expectationsWhy explaining invisible disabilities requires emotional labor partners don't always understandHow to advocate for your needs without feeling demandingWhat to look for in partners who can hold space for mental health complexityWhy sensitivity isn't a flaw—it's precisionHow relationship structures can expand as you grow and understand yourself betterThis isn't about finding perfect partners. It's about recognizing fundamental differences in communication styles, trusting patterns over promises, and learning that messy healing is still healing. Whether you're navigating bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD, or loving someone who is—this conversation will help you understand what real support looks like in the 167 hours between therapy sessions. Content note: This episode medication side effects, panic attacks, and relationship challenges. Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    19 min
  3. 11/03/2025

    What I Know For Sure: Why Understanding Your Patterns Isn't Enough

    Send us a text You've done the therapy. You know why you people-please, why you say yes when you mean no, why Tuesday at 3pm your nervous system floods and you abandon yourself. You understand your attachment style, your childhood patterns, all of it. So why can't you stop? In this episode, I'm sharing what I know for sure after living on both sides of the therapy room: self-awareness doesn't equal self-trust. Understanding your patterns and actually changing them in the moment are two completely different things. I'm getting real about my own journey—from thinking my deep empathy was my biggest weakness to learning how to use it as precision. From performing "I'm fine" while drowning to actually trusting myself in those messy in-between moments. This isn't about replacing therapy. It's about what happens in the 167 hours between your weekly sessions when triggers hit, spirals happen, and you need support but your therapist isn't available. If you've ever left therapy feeling hopeful only to spiral a few days later, if you know your patterns but watch yourself repeat them anyway, if you're tired of feeling like you "should be over this by now"—this episode is for you. Join The Nest, our free community for therapy-experienced women navigating the gap between knowing and doing. Find us at mentalnesting.com or on Instagram @mentalnesting_ Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    9 min
  4. 10/22/2025

    The Y2K Cure: How Your Inner Teenager Can Heal Your Adult Self

    Send us a text What if the version of yourself you're trying to heal isn't broken—she's just forgotten? In this nostalgic episode, Barbara explores something that's been at the core of her Mental Nesting brand from the beginning: using nostalgia as a healing tool. Specifically, how connecting with your inner teenager—that Y2K, MySpace-era version of yourself—can unlock healing that traditional "adult" self-care never quite reaches. While writing her ebook "Healing with Nostalgia: Using Your Past to Comfort Your Present," Barbara noticed something profound: she feels most like herself when she creates content that teenage Barbara would love. When she follows what she "should" post, she scatters and loses herself. But when she leans into that early 2000s aesthetic, everything flows naturally. This isn't just sentimentality—there's actual science behind why nostalgia works as a nervous system regulator. Your teenage years were a time of active identity discovery, when you were trying on who you were, finding your people, discovering what music spoke to you. And accessing those memories now isn't dwelling on the past—it's reconnecting with the version of yourself who knew what you loved before you learned to edit yourself for others. You'll discover: The neuroscience of why nostalgia calms your nervous systemThe difference between inner child work (healing wounds) and inner teenager work (reclaiming joy)How artists like Bad Bunny and Young Miko use nostalgia to create collective healing experiencesThe power of cultural nostalgia for reclaiming parts of your identity you downplayed to fit inFive practical steps to connect with your inner teenager without getting stuck in the pastA journaling prompt to access what your 15-year-old self wants you to rememberThis is for anyone who's ever felt more authentic scrolling through old photos than doing "proper" self-care, people who've lost touch with what genuinely excites them, and sensitive souls learning that healing isn't just about resolving wounds—it's about reclaiming joy. Because your inner teenager isn't a phase you outgrew. She's a part of you holding crucial information about who you are when you're not performing for anyone. Brief mentions of childhood experiences and cultural identity Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    14 min
  5. 10/15/2025

    Creating Home: From Occupying Space to Belonging in Your Own Life

    Send us a text What's the difference between occupying a space and truly being at home? In this reflective episode, Barbara shares a profound realization that hit her on her 30th birthday: for the first time in 30 years, she finally feels at home. Not just in her apartment, but in her own life, her own skin, her own existence. Growing up, she lived in many places. She had her own apartments where she was the only one on the lease. But she never felt at home in any of them. She was occupying space, but she wasn't belonging. And she couldn't figure out why every new place felt temporary, unsettled, like she was still waiting for something—or someone—to make her feel like she could finally exhale. Then she spent her 30th birthday in her family's kitchen, sharing stories and just being present. Her dad called her "titas" and joked that she looked 29. And something clicked: the reason she'd never felt at home before wasn't about the spaces she lived in. It was about not feeling at home within herself. You'll discover: The crucial difference between occupying space and creating homeWhy external spaces can't feel safe until you build internal safety firstHow three years of self-knowledge became the foundation for belongingWhy being protective of your peace is wisdom, not gatekeepingHow creating home within yourself transforms your ability to hold space for othersFive practical steps to build that internal sense of home right nowThis is for anyone who's ever felt like they're just passing through their own life, people who've moved hoping the next place would finally feel right, and anyone learning that belonging starts from within. Because home isn't something you find or earn or wait for permission to have. It's something you create—starting with yourself. Brief mentions of family dynamics and 30th birthday reflections Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    13 min
  6. 10/08/2025

    The Window Gets Shorter: Learning to Trust Your Filter Over Your Fear

    Send us a text What if that instant gut-punch feeling when someone criticizes you isn't the problem—but what you do with it is? In this deeply practical episode, Barbara shares her journey from being someone who would change her entire life based on criticism to learning how to filter feedback through self-knowledge instead of fear. For most of her life, criticism felt like survival. When someone said she was too loud, too curious, or too much, she'd immediately reshape herself to "correct" the mistake. She traced this pattern back to her mom's critical parenting style and realized she'd been recreating that energy everywhere—in friendships, relationships, and even how she saw herself. But grad school changed everything. For the first time, Barbara was surrounded by people who genuinely wanted her around—not a perfected version of her, but her actual personality, stories, and curiosity. That experience sparked a 3-4 year journey of building self-knowledge through journaling, self-dates, and exploration that became her protection against unhelpful criticism. You'll discover: Why your instant anxiety about criticism is normal (and might never fully disappear)The "window" between reactive panic and thoughtful filtering—and how it gets shorterHow to distinguish between constructive feedback and uninformed opinionsFour practical steps to build the self-knowledge that protects youWhy the goal isn't to stop feeling, but to start filteringThis is for anyone who's ever changed themselves to fit someone else's expectations, people-pleasers learning to trust their own judgment, and sensitive souls tired of making everyone else's opinion mean something about their worth. Because here's the truth: you don't have to wait until criticism doesn't affect you to start trusting yourself. You just have to notice the window between fear and choice—and keep shortening it. Brief mentions of family dynamics and past relationship patterns Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    12 min
  7. 10/02/2025

    Empathy as Data: From Feeling Everything Twice to Reading the Room

    Send us a text What if the reason empathy hurts so much isn't because you feel too deeply—but because you haven't learned to work with what you're feeling? In this deeply personal episode, Barbara shares her journey from experiencing empathy as a "double pain" to transforming it into her greatest professional asset. Growing up, understanding why someone hurt her only made the hurt worse—she'd feel her own pain and absorb theirs too, twisting herself into different shapes trying to be worthy of love on their terms. But when she started her work as a social worker and therapist, something shifted. That same sensitivity that had wounded her in personal relationships became a profound tool for connection and healing. The difference? Learning to treat emotional responses as data rather than damage to her self-worth. You'll discover: Why understanding someone's "why" used to break her twice—and how that changedThe critical distinction between being triggered and being attackedHow to maintain deep empathy while setting protective boundariesWhen understanding someone's pain obligates you to nothingPractical tools for reading emotional data without absorbing it as your ownThis is for empaths, highly sensitive people, therapists, and anyone who's ever made someone else's reaction mean something about their worth. Because your sensitivity isn't a flaw—it's a sophisticated data collection system that just needs to be calibrated differently. Perfect for people-pleasers learning to set boundaries, helping professionals navigating their own healing, and anyone tired of feeling everything twice. Brief mentions of past relationship pain and emotional processing Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    13 min
  8. 09/24/2025

    Transitions and the Curse of Incompleteness

    Send us a text What if the reason transitions feel so uncomfortable isn't because they're hard, but because we've been taught we're only allowed to feel settled once we reach some imaginary finish line? In this vulnerable episode, Barbara shares her ongoing struggle with an unfinished move and the realization that she won't feel "at home" until every single box is unpacked and every task is complete. After pushing through exhaustion to clean for her father's visit, then staying up until 11pm cleaning again with her partner, she discovered a pattern that goes much deeper than organization. If you've ever felt like you're living in limbo, waiting for the next thing to be finished before you can actually rest, this episode will help you see the "curse of incompleteness" for what it really is. You'll explore: Why we tie our worth to completion and what that costs usHow physical spaces mirror our internal states during transitionsThe myth that healing has a clear endpoint you can reachWhy your body's signals matter more than your mental timelineHow to create "home" in the middle of ongoing changeThis is for anyone who's ever said "once this is done, then I can rest" and found themselves constantly moving the goalpost. Because maybe the real curse isn't incompleteness—maybe it's believing you have to be complete to deserve peace. Perfect for people in the middle of life transitions, recovering perfectionists, and anyone learning that rest isn't something you earn through finishing everything. Brief mentions of family dynamics and physical exhaustion Connect with Barbara: @mentalnesting_ on Instagram Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    15 min
  9. 09/17/2025

    When Peace Feels Boring: Adjusting to Life After Chaos

    Send us a text What happens when your nervous system has been living on high alert for so long that peace feels like a problem to solve? In this deeply honest episode, Barbara shares the unexpected challenge of adjusting to calm after a lifetime of chaos. After moving back home following grad school, she found herself in the strangest predicament: finally safe, finally stable, and completely uncomfortable with both. If you've ever felt guilty for having a good day, wondered who you are when you're not constantly overcoming something, or found yourself looking for problems when there aren't any—this episode will make you feel so much less alone. You'll discover: Why your nervous system treats peace like a threat (and how to gently retrain it)The difference between thriving under pressure and just being addicted to stressHow to tolerate good feelings without waiting for the other shoe to dropWhy boredom might actually be a sign that you're finally safePractical tools for adjusting to the life you've worked so hard to buildThis is for anyone who's done the hard work of creating stability and now feels lost without the familiar rhythm of crisis. Because sometimes the most radical thing you can do is learn how to just... be okay. Perfect for therapy graduates, recovering perfectionists, and anyone who's discovered that getting better comes with its own surprising challenges. Brief mentions of chronic stress symptoms and past trauma Connect with Barbara: @mentalnesting_ on Instagram Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    12 min
  10. 09/10/2025

    The Construction Site Metaphor: Why Your Mess is Actually Progress

    Send us a text What if the chaos in your life isn't evidence that you're broken, but proof that you're building something beautiful? In this deeply personal episode, Barbara shares the metaphor that transformed how she sees her healing journey - and why thinking of yourself as "under construction" instead of "falling apart" changes everything. After her relationship ended and a medication poisoning left her unable to walk, Barbara felt like all her progress had vanished. But a simple observation at a construction site revealed a profound truth: sometimes what looks like destruction is actually the foundation for something stronger. You'll learn: Why healing phases mirror construction phases (and why the "messy middle" is necessary)How to celebrate milestone moments instead of waiting to be "finished"The difference between being broken and being under renovationPractical ways to honor your construction timeline without apologyWhy your sensitivity isn't a flaw in the blueprint - it's a featurePerfect for anyone who's tired of apologizing for still figuring things out, this episode offers a gentle reframe that honors both your progress and your process. Because messy healing is still healing. And under construction is still moving forward. Trigger warning: Brief mentions of medication side effects and relationship endings Connect with Barbara: @mentalnesting_ on Instagram Support the show Thank you for being here, beautiful soul. If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review—it helps other sensitive souls find this gentle space we're creating together. Connect with me: Instagram: @mentalnesting_ Substack: mentalnesting.substack.com Email: hello@mentalnesting.com Join The Nest The Nest is my free community where we have conversations like this and you don’t have to explain yourself as much. Want to work together? I offer gentle, nervous-system-informed support for therapy-experienced and sensitive adults. Learn more about coaching and community offerings at homecoming.mentalnesting.com. Remember: Messy healing is still healing. You don't have to be done to be enough. Mental Nesting Podcast: For sensitive adults who've outgrown the hustle

    13 min

Ratings & Reviews

About

Mental Nesting is the gentle space for sensitive adults who've outgrown the "hustle through your healing" mentality. Hosted by licensed therapist and writer Barbara Guimaraes, this podcast explores the messy, nonlinear reality of rebuilding your life after trauma, heartbreak, and the kind of personal upheaval that leaves you questioning everything. If you're someone who's done therapy, read the books, and tried all the self-help strategies but still feel like you're figuring it out as you go—this podcast is for you. Barbara brings both her clinical expertise and lived experience of navigating bipolar disorder, relationship trauma, coming out later in life, and the quiet courage it takes to choose yourself when no one taught you how. Each episode feels like a conversation with your most emotionally intelligent friend—the one who sees your sensitivity as a superpower, not a flaw. Through vulnerable storytelling, practical frameworks, and her signature "soft but unfiltered" approach, Barbara helps you reconnect with your inner child, build unshakable self-trust, and create a life that feels authentically yours. This isn't about optimizing or fixing yourself. It's about learning to be human—messily, beautifully, exactly as you are. Because sometimes the most radical thing you can do is slow down, turn inward, and remember that healing doesn't have to hurt to be real. Perfect for highly sensitive people, therapy graduates, late bloomers, and anyone who's ever felt "too much" in a world that demands you be less. Welcome to your emotional homecoming.