Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk

Melisa DeMahy and Courtnie Vargas-Rodriguez
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Join therapists Melisa and Courtnie for real, unfiltered conversations about mental health, healing, and the beautifully chaotic mess of everyday life. This is where honesty meets humor, and no topic is off-limits. From professional insights to personal anecdotes, they’ll remind you that you’re not alone—because healing gets a little easier when we do it together.

  1. APR 4

    36. You Broke Up, But You Still Have to Parent Together: The Emotional Reality of Co-Parenting

    Co-parenting after a breakup can be emotionally complicated, especially when unresolved relationship wounds are still present. In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we explore the emotional reality of co-parenting, why communication with an ex can trigger old relationship conflicts, and how parental tension impacts children. We discuss common co-parenting challenges, emotional boundaries, and the mindset shift that helps parents move from relationship conflict to child-focused collaboration. 🎙️ Hosted by therapists from Strong Mind Mental Health. — 📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🎵 INTRO MUSIC: “Good Night” by FASSounds — DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    26 min

  2. MAR 28

    35. Why Anxious and Avoidant People Keep Finding Each Other

    Why do anxious and avoidant people keep ending up together — and why does it feel so intense but exhausting? In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we break down the anxious–avoidant attachment dynamic and why it creates powerful chemistry, push-pull cycles, and chronic emotional burnout. We explore how nervous systems recognize familiarity, why intensity gets mistaken for connection, and how early attachment patterns recreate themselves in adult relationships. This episode helps listeners understand why these dynamics feel addictive, why they’re so hard to leave, and how to begin breaking the cycle. If you’ve ever felt stuck in relationships that feel passionate but painful, deeply familiar but unsafe, this episode offers clarity, validation, and a path forward. In this episode, we discuss: Anxious vs. avoidant attachment stylesPush-pull relationship dynamicsWhy chemistry doesn’t always mean compatibilityHow nervous systems lock into familiar painHow to move toward more secure connection 🎙️ Hosted by therapists from Strong Mind Mental Health. — 📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🎵 INTRO MUSIC: “Good Night” by FASSounds — DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    34 min

  3. MAR 21

    34. Monkey Branching: Emotional Comfort, Emotional Safety, and the Fear of Ending Things

    Is monkey branching really cheating — or is it fear disguised as comfort? In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we break down the viral dating term monkey branching and explore the deeper psychology behind overlapping relationships, avoided endings, and emotional avoidance. We unpack the critical difference between emotional comfort and emotional safety, why comfort can feel like chemistry, and how nervous system relief often gets mistaken for alignment. This episode dives into attachment styles, fear of being alone, grief avoidance, and why clean breakups feel harder than overlapping ones — but are ultimately healthier. If you’ve ever stayed too long, lined someone up before leaving, been blindsided by a breakup, or struggled to tolerate endings without immediately reaching for connection, this episode offers clarity without shame. In this episode, we discuss: Monkey branching and emotional infidelityEmotional comfort vs. emotional safetyWhy relief is not the same as alignmentAttachment styles and avoided griefHow to end relationships without using people as protection 🎙️ Hosted by therapists from Strong Mind Mental Health. — 📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🎵 INTRO MUSIC: “Good Night” by FASSounds — DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    30 min

  4. MAR 14

    33. Feeling Your Age vs. Living Your Age: Ageism, Identity, and the Fear of Falling Behind

    Feeling too old? Too young? Or like you’re behind in life? In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we unpack ageism, timeline anxiety, and the pressure to feel a certain way at a certain age. We explore what people really mean when they say “I feel old,” why internalized ageism affects mental health at every stage of life, and how burnout, trauma, and comparison culture distort our sense of time. We also break down the myth of the “younger mindset” and what actually helps people feel alive, connected, and fulfilled at any age. If you’ve ever felt behind, panicked about your age, disconnected from who you used to be, or pressured to have life figured out by now, this episode is for you. In this episode, we cover: Internalized ageism and mental healthWhy feeling “old” is often nervous system burnoutTimeline anxiety and comparison cultureThe myth of staying young vs. staying aliveHow to reconnect with vitality at any age 🎙️ Hosted by therapists from Strong Mind Mental Health. — 📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🎵 INTRO MUSIC: “Good Night” by FASSounds — DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    32 min

  5. MAR 7

    32. The 24-Hour Rule: Helpful Relationship Tool or Emotional Pressure?

    The “24-hour rule” has taken over relationship TikTok. You’ve probably heard it: couples should resolve conflict within 24 hours… or let it go. It sounds healthy. Clean. Emotionally mature. But is it actually supportive… or is it quietly teaching people to rush their nervous systems, suppress feelings, and call it “communication”? In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, licensed therapists Courtnie and Melissa break down what the 24-hour rule is really trying to solve, why it resonates so deeply, and where it can actually cause harm—especially for people with anxiety, trauma histories, or emotionally sensitive nervous systems. We explore what’s happening in the body during conflict, why you can’t repair relationships from survival mode, and how “talking it out” doesn’t always equal emotional safety. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt rushed to “be over it,” confused about why talking didn’t make things better, or unsure how long healing is “supposed” to take. Because conflict doesn’t need a deadline. It needs safety, regulation, and repair. 🎧 If this episode resonates, share it with your partner, save it for your next hard conversation, or send it to someone who’s stuck in the “we talked, but nothing feels different” cycle. — 📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🎵 INTRO MUSIC: “Good Night” by FASSounds — DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    34 min

  6. FEB 28

    31. Therapy vs TikTok: Mental Health Trends of 2025 We Need to Talk About

    Soft life. Sleepmaxxing. Magnesium culture. Cozymaxxing. Self-diagnosis TikTok. Digital detoxes.  In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we’re unpacking the mental health TikTok trends that dominated 2025 and what they actually reveal about burnout, anxiety, trauma, and nervous system regulation. We explore: Why “soft life” content explodedThe psychology behind sleepmaxxing and supplement trendsComfort culture vs emotional capacityThe rise (and risks) of self-diagnosis TikTokDigital detoxes and scroll fatigueWhat TikTok gets right… and where therapy adds depth This isn’t an episode about judging trends. It’s about understanding them. Because trends don’t come from nowhere. They come from nervous systems trying to survive a very intense world. Whether your algorithm was full of grounding tips, ADHD content, or cozy routines… this episode is for you. 🎧 Hosted by therapists Courtnie and Melissa. 🧠 Trauma-informed. Relationship-focused. Nervous-system honest. — 📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🎵 INTRO MUSIC: “Good Night” by FASSounds — DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    44 min

  7. FEB 21

    30. What’s It Really Like Being Married to a Therapist?

    What’s it actually like to come home to someone who talks about emotions for a living? In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we sit down with the husband of a therapist Co-Host Courtnie to talk about what happens behind the scenes of a therapist’s relationship. From the expectations people have (“Are you in therapy 24/7?”) to the realities of communication, conflict, boundaries, emotional labor, and love, this conversation is honest, funny, and surprisingly grounding. We talk about: What it’s actually like to be married to a therapistWhether therapists really “analyze” their partnersHow conflict, repair, and boundaries show up at homeThe emotional pros and challenges of loving someone who holds space all dayWhat being married to a therapist has taught him about relationships If you’ve ever wondered what therapists are like in real life, this episode pulls the curtain back. Whether you’re a therapist, dating one, married to one, or just curious about emotional dynamics in relationships, this one’s for you. 🎧 New episodes of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk drop weekly. — 📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🎵 INTRO MUSIC: “Good Night” by FASSounds — DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    23 min

  8. FEB 14

    29. Date Night in the Chaos: Love Without the Babysitter

    Who says romance has to mean babysitters, big budgets, or perfectly curated evenings out? In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we’re talking about keeping love alive in the middle of chaos—sticky hands, endless laundry, and no childcare in sight. We’ll dive into: Creative, low-cost, and realistic date ideas for parents who can’t (or don’t want to) hire a sitterWhy micro-moments of connection matter way more than grand gesturesHow to balance romance and responsibilities when you’re both exhausted and running on fumes Because sometimes intimacy looks less like candlelit dinners and more like laughing on the couch after bedtime, reconnecting in the car, or finding joy in 10 stolen minutes. Whether you’re new parents, seasoned pros, or just feeling stretched thin, this episode is your reminder that love doesn’t need perfect conditions—it just needs intention. — 📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — 🎵 INTRO MUSIC: “Good Night” by FASSounds — DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    30 min
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About

Join therapists Melisa and Courtnie for real, unfiltered conversations about mental health, healing, and the beautifully chaotic mess of everyday life. This is where honesty meets humor, and no topic is off-limits. From professional insights to personal anecdotes, they’ll remind you that you’re not alone—because healing gets a little easier when we do it together.

Information

  • Creator
    Melisa DeMahy and Courtnie Vargas-Rodriguez
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Melisa DeMahy and Courtnie Vargas-Rodriguez
  • Show Website
    Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk