Getting to the Couch

Ben Santee & Flavio Da Silva
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“Getting to the Couch” is an informational and educational podcast focused on addressing the process of overcoming barriers in getting to and staying in therapy.  

  1. FEB 13

    GTTC Season 2, Episode 3: Impacts of Preperation for Therapy

    Send a text What actually makes therapy work—and what happens before anyone even sits on the couch? In this episode of Getting to the Couch, we dive into how preparation shapes the therapy experience and why what happens between sessions can be just as important as what happens during them. We explore how clients and therapists both prepare for meaningful work, and how intention, reflection, and follow-through can dramatically influence outcomes. We also unpack the role of therapeutic “homework,” why it matters, and how small actions outside the therapy room can lead to big changes over time. Whether you’re thinking about starting therapy, already in the process, or simply curious about how change really happens, this episode offers practical insights that might transform the way you approach the work. Give it a listen and see what preparation can make possible. Resources:  Kazantzis, N., Deane, F. P., & Ronan, K. R. (2000). Homework assignments in cognitive and behavioral therapy: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 7(2), 189–202. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.7.2.189  de Jong, K., Douglas, S., Wolpert, M., Delgadillo, J., Aas, B., Bovendeerd, B., Carlier, I., Compare, A., Edbrooke-Childs, J., Janse, P., Lutz, W., Moltu, C., Nordberg, S., Poulsen, S., Rubel, J. A., Schiepek, G., Schilling, V. N. L. S., van Sonsbeek, M., & Barkham, M. (2025). Using progress feedback to enhance treatment outcomes: A narrative review. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 52(1), 210–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-024-01381-3 Support the show Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helped you in getting to therapy and utilizing therapy effectively. If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to provide comments or suggestions for its hosts, feel free to use the following links or emails: Benjamin Santee MA, LPC: Website: https://caringmindscounseling.net/ Email: bsantee@caringmindscounseling.net Flavio Da Silva LMSW, CAADC Website: https://growingmindsgr.com/ Email: fdasilva@blueberryhillcounseling.com Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingtothecouchpodcast/?__pwa=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106197406/admin/notifications/all/ X: https://x.com/GettingTTCouch Song Credit: ( for all Season 1, Episodes 5 and higeher) Name: Stronger Together Artist: Evert Zeevalkink License Crtificate #2239378 Courtesy of: bensound.com

    44 min

  2. 11/28/2025

    GTTC Season 2, Episode 2.2: Challenges to the LGBTQ+ Community

    Send us a text Support the show Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helped you in getting to therapy and utilizing therapy effectively. If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to provide comments or suggestions for its hosts, feel free to use the following links or emails: Benjamin Santee MA, LPC: Website: https://caringmindscounseling.net/ Email: bsantee@caringmindscounseling.net Flavio Da Silva LMSW, CAADC Website: https://growingmindsgr.com/ Email: fdasilva@blueberryhillcounseling.com Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingtothecouchpodcast/?__pwa=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106197406/admin/notifications/all/ X: https://x.com/GettingTTCouch Song Credit: ( for all Season 1, Episodes 5 and higeher) Name: Stronger Together Artist: Evert Zeevalkink License Crtificate #2239378 Courtesy of: bensound.com

    1h 3m

  3. 11/01/2025

    GTTC Season 2, Episode 2 Part1: Challenges to the LGBTQ+ Community

    Send us a text What happens when the very spaces meant to heal become places of uncertainty? When the professionals trained to help become sources of hesitation? Welcome back to Getting to the Couch. In this episode, we're peeling back the layers on a troubling reality: mental health care and medical treatment are becoming increasingly complicated terrain for LGBTQ+ individuals.  We're exploring how current socio-political forces are reshaping the landscape of care itself, leaving many wondering—can I trust the person sitting across from me? This is part one of our deep dive into the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community right now. So settle in, because what we're about to discuss matters—not just for those directly affected, but for anyone who believes healthcare should be a safe harbor, not another complication. Support the show Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helped you in getting to therapy and utilizing therapy effectively. If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to provide comments or suggestions for its hosts, feel free to use the following links or emails: Benjamin Santee MA, LPC: Website: https://caringmindscounseling.net/ Email: bsantee@caringmindscounseling.net Flavio Da Silva LMSW, CAADC Website: https://growingmindsgr.com/ Email: fdasilva@blueberryhillcounseling.com Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingtothecouchpodcast/?__pwa=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106197406/admin/notifications/all/ X: https://x.com/GettingTTCouch Song Credit: ( for all Season 1, Episodes 5 and higeher) Name: Stronger Together Artist: Evert Zeevalkink License Crtificate #2239378 Courtesy of: bensound.com

    54 min

  4. 10/03/2025

    GTTC Season 2, Episode 1: Bridging The Gap: Hospitals to Outpatient Care

    Send us a text In this episode of Getting to the Couch, we take a closer look at what happens when clients move from the structure of hospitalization back into the community. Our conversation explores the essential role medical social workers play in coordinating this transition — from doctors assessing medical necessity and discharge readiness to connecting clients with outpatient supports and resources. We discuss how careful planning and communication can prevent gaps in care, reduce readmission risk, and empower clients to continue their recovery journey. Join us as we shine a light on the often-overlooked bridge between crisis and continuity — and the professionals dedicated to helping people successfully cross it. Referrances or Resoures: Articles:  Pollack, A. H., Backonja, U., Miller, A. D., Mishra, S. R., Khelifi, M., Kendall, L., & Pratt, W. (2016, May). Closing the gap: Supporting patients’ transition to self-management after hospitalization. Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 2016, 5324-5336. https://doi.org/10.1145/2858036.2858240; PMCID: PMC4973626 Newton, H., Beetham, T., & Busch, S. H. (2025, January 15). Is access to crisis teams associated with changes in behavioral health mortality? Health Affairs Scholar, 3(1), qxaf003. https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxaf003 (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Recouces: Support the show Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helped you in getting to therapy and utilizing therapy effectively. If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to provide comments or suggestions for its hosts, feel free to use the following links or emails: Benjamin Santee MA, LPC: Website: https://caringmindscounseling.net/ Email: bsantee@caringmindscounseling.net Flavio Da Silva LMSW, CAADC Website: https://growingmindsgr.com/ Email: fdasilva@blueberryhillcounseling.com Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingtothecouchpodcast/?__pwa=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106197406/admin/notifications/all/ X: https://x.com/GettingTTCouch Song Credit: ( for all Season 1, Episodes 5 and higeher) Name: Stronger Together Artist: Evert Zeevalkink License Crtificate #2239378 Courtesy of: bensound.com

    36 min

  5. 09/02/2025

    Getting to the Couch Ep. 11 Capstone Conversation for Season 1

    Send a text Season One Wrap-Up: The Conversations That Matter Most In this capstone episode, we reflect on the key themes from Season One—choosing a therapist, first sessions, treatment planning, self-advocacy, and more—while diving into new ground we haven’t explored yet: navigating insurance, crisis therapy, LGBTQ+ challenges, and gender narratives in mental health. It’s the big-picture discussion that brings it all together and sets the stage for what’s next.  Support the show Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helped you in getting to therapy and utilizing therapy effectively. If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to provide comments or suggestions for its hosts, feel free to use the following links or emails: Benjamin Santee MA, LPC: Website: https://caringmindscounseling.net/ Email: bsantee@caringmindscounseling.net Flavio Da Silva LMSW, CAADC Website: https://growingmindsgr.com/ Email: fdasilva@blueberryhillcounseling.com Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingtothecouchpodcast/?__pwa=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106197406/admin/notifications/all/ X: https://x.com/GettingTTCouch Song Credit: ( for all Season 1, Episodes 5 and higeher) Name: Stronger Together Artist: Evert Zeevalkink License Crtificate #2239378 Courtesy of: bensound.com

    27 min

  6. 06/20/2025

    Getting to the Couch Ep. 10 Stages of Change

    Send us a text Before someone ever sets foot in a therapist’s office, there’s often a long internal journey already in motion. In this episode, Episode 10, of Getting to the Couch, we explore the Stages of Change model—what it is, why it matters, and how it can help us understand the push and pull between wanting change and actually making it happen. From denial to readiness, relapse to action, we break down each stage with real-world examples and clinical insight. Whether you're a provider, a client, or somewhere in between, this episode sheds light on the invisible barriers that keep people stuck—and the subtle shifts that move them forward. Change doesn’t happen in a straight line. Let’s talk about what it really takes to get to the couch. Referrances or Resoures: Articles:  Recouces: 1. https://smartrecovery.org/the-stages-of-change  2. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/health-promotion/2/theories-and-models/stages-of-change  Support the show Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helped you in getting to therapy and utilizing therapy effectively. If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to provide comments or suggestions for its hosts, feel free to use the following links or emails: Benjamin Santee MA, LPC: Website: https://caringmindscounseling.net/ Email: bsantee@caringmindscounseling.net Flavio Da Silva LMSW, CAADC Website: https://growingmindsgr.com/ Email: fdasilva@blueberryhillcounseling.com Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingtothecouchpodcast/?__pwa=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106197406/admin/notifications/all/ X: https://x.com/GettingTTCouch Song Credit: ( for all Season 1, Episodes 5 and higeher) Name: Stronger Together Artist: Evert Zeevalkink License Crtificate #2239378 Courtesy of: bensound.com

    28 min

  7. 06/06/2025

    Getting to the Couch Ep. 9 Confidentiality in Therapy

    Send a text Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of therapy—but what does it actually mean, and where does it begin and end? In this episode of Getting to the Couch, we break down the purpose of confidentiality, the legal and ethical boundaries around it, and how breaches—intentional or not—can shake a client's sense of safety and trust. We talk about what therapists are required to protect, when they're legally obligated to break that promise, and why these boundaries matter more than most people realize. Whether you're in therapy, considering it, or providing it, this episode explores how the privacy of the therapeutic space can make or break the healing process. Because before change can happen, safety has to come first. Referrances or Resoures: Articles:  Mina. (2024, February 12). Collaborative care and patient satisfaction: What the data says. Medium. https://medium.com/@mina_5584/collaborative-care-and-patient-satisfaction-what-the-data-says-9a533a6b9d3f Agarwal, R., Connors, E., Mauriello, A., Gutierrez, D., & Fuhlbrigge, A. (2024). Care coordination engagement patterns in long-term patients: A 9-year cohort study. The American Journal of Managed Care. Retrieved from https://www.ajmc.com/view/care-coordination-engagement-patterns-in-long-term-patients Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.). Care coordination. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.ahrq.gov/ncepcr/care/coordination.html Olfson, M., Mojtabai, R., Sampson, N. A., Hwang, I., Druss, B., Wang, P. S., & Kessler, R. C. (2009). Dropout from outpatient mental health care in the United States. Psychiatric Services, 60(7), 898–907. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2774713/ Recouces: HIPAA: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/privacysummary.pdf  Support the show Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helped you in getting to therapy and utilizing therapy effectively. If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to provide comments or suggestions for its hosts, feel free to use the following links or emails: Benjamin Santee MA, LPC: Website: https://caringmindscounseling.net/ Email: bsantee@caringmindscounseling.net Flavio Da Silva LMSW, CAADC Website: https://growingmindsgr.com/ Email: fdasilva@blueberryhillcounseling.com Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingtothecouchpodcast/?__pwa=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106197406/admin/notifications/all/ X: https://x.com/GettingTTCouch Song Credit: ( for all Season 1, Episodes 5 and higeher) Name: Stronger Together Artist: Evert Zeevalkink License Crtificate #2239378 Courtesy of: bensound.com

    35 min

  8. 05/16/2025

    Getting to the Couch Ep. 8 - The Role of Coordination of Care in Therapy

    Send a text  What if the biggest barrier to therapy isn’t motivation—but miscommunication? In this episode, we explore how coordination (or lack of it) between therapists, doctors, schools, and families can deeply impact a person’s ability to access and stay in therapy. How does behind-the-scenes collaboration support healing—and what happens when it’s missing? Join us as we uncover why connecting the dots outside the therapy room is just as crucial as the work done within it.  Referrances or Resoures: Articles:  Mina. (2024, February 12). Collaborative care and patient satisfaction: What the data says. Medium. https://medium.com/@mina_5584/collaborative-care-and-patient-satisfaction-what-the-data-says-9a533a6b9d3f Agarwal, R., Connors, E., Mauriello, A., Gutierrez, D., & Fuhlbrigge, A. (2024). Care coordination engagement patterns in long-term patients: A 9-year cohort study. The American Journal of Managed Care. Retrieved from https://www.ajmc.com/view/care-coordination-engagement-patterns-in-long-term-patients Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.). Care coordination. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.ahrq.gov/ncepcr/care/coordination.html Olfson, M., Mojtabai, R., Sampson, N. A., Hwang, I., Druss, B., Wang, P. S., & Kessler, R. C. (2009). Dropout from outpatient mental health care in the United States. Psychiatric Services, 60(7), 898–907. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2774713/ Support the show Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helped you in getting to therapy and utilizing therapy effectively. If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to provide comments or suggestions for its hosts, feel free to use the following links or emails: Benjamin Santee MA, LPC: Website: https://caringmindscounseling.net/ Email: bsantee@caringmindscounseling.net Flavio Da Silva LMSW, CAADC Website: https://growingmindsgr.com/ Email: fdasilva@blueberryhillcounseling.com Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingtothecouchpodcast/?__pwa=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106197406/admin/notifications/all/ X: https://x.com/GettingTTCouch Song Credit: ( for all Season 1, Episodes 5 and higeher) Name: Stronger Together Artist: Evert Zeevalkink License Crtificate #2239378 Courtesy of: bensound.com

    39 min
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About

“Getting to the Couch” is an informational and educational podcast focused on addressing the process of overcoming barriers in getting to and staying in therapy.  

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Santee & Flavio Da Silva
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Getting to the Couch
  • Show Website
    Getting to the Couch