The Couch: Real Therapists Talk Mental Health and Relationships

Dr. Juan Santos and Jacy King
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to The Couch Podcast — where real therapists talk about real life. Hosted by Jacy King and Dr. Juan Santos, licensed mental health counselors in Greensboro, North Carolina, this podcast gives you practical tools and honest conversations to help you improve your mental health, relationships, and mindset—without the fluff. We cover the topics people struggle with most, including anxiety, stress, overthinking, burnout, ADHD, emotional shutdown, people pleasing, boundaries, communication, trauma, parenting stress, marriage after kids, self-worth, and healing patterns that keep repeating.

  1. 6D AGO

    Why Intimacy Fades in Relationships (And How to Rebuild It) | Episode 54

    Are you feeling distant from your partner? Like the emotional or physical connection just isn’t the same anymore? In this episode of The Couch Podcast, we break down why intimacy fades in relationships and what couples can do to rebuild connection in a healthy, realistic way. We explore:✔️ Emotional vs physical intimacy✔️ Why couples drift apart✔️ The negative cycle that keeps couples stuck✔️ Practical tools to reconnect✔️ Evidence-based approaches from Gottman Therapy, EFT, and CBT Whether you're dating, married, or somewhere in between—this episode will give you real strategies to feel closer again. How to Rebuild Intimacy Daily Emotional Check-In (5 minutes)Turn Toward, Not AwaySlow Down ConflictIntentional Physical TouchWeekly Connection Time Why Intimacy Fades Negative interaction cycleCriticism → defensiveness → withdrawal Unresolved conflictAttachment woundsLack of intentional timeEmotional safety breakdown Connect with Santos Counseling Santos Counseling provides counseling for individuals, couples, and families in Greensboro, North Carolina. 📍 411 Dolley Madison Road, Greensboro, NC 27410 📞 336-663-6570 🌐 ⁠⁠https://www.santoscounseling.com⁠⁠ Listen to The Couch Podcast New episodes explore mental health, relationships, parenting, and emotional wellness. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

    25 min
  2. Nutrition Without Guilt: How Christie RD Helps Greensboro Live Healthier | Episode 53

    MAR 16

    Nutrition Without Guilt: How Christie RD Helps Greensboro Live Healthier | Episode 53

    How Better Nutrition Improves Health and Community Wellness | Christie Hunter, RD Christie shares how her practice helps individuals and families build healthier relationships with food through personalized nutrition plans that are practical, realistic, and sustainable. Her team works with both pediatric and adult clients to address concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, weight management, food allergies, and improving energy levels. Christie also discusses her work supporting the Triad community through nutrition education, insurance-covered counseling services, and local wellness initiatives. If you want to improve your health, better understand nutrition, or learn how dietitians support long-term wellness, this episode offers practical insight and encouragement. How Nutrition Impacts Health and Community Wellness Nutrition plays a critical role in overall health, energy levels, and disease prevention. However, many people feel overwhelmed by conflicting nutrition advice and restrictive diet culture. In this episode of The Couch Podcast, Dr. Juan Santos speaks with Christie Hunter, Registered Dietitian and owner of Christie RD, about how personalized nutrition counseling can help individuals improve their health and build a positive relationship with food. Christie RD focuses on creating nutrition plans that fit into each person’s lifestyle rather than prescribing rigid diets. By removing guilt and shame around food, clients can develop sustainable habits that improve both physical and emotional well-being. Nutrition counseling can support individuals managing: • Diabetes• Heart disease• High blood pressure• Weight management• Food allergies• Low energy levels Many people are surprised to learn that nutrition counseling is often covered at 100% through insurance. Key Questions We Explore in This Episode In this conversation with registered dietitian Christie Hunter, we discuss several important questions many people have about nutrition and wellness: • What does living well through nutrition actually mean?• Why do people feel overwhelmed by nutrition advice today?• How can individuals develop a healthier relationship with food?• What practical steps can improve energy and overall wellness?• How can families make sustainable nutrition changes? About Our Guest Christie Hunter, RD is a Registered Dietitian and the owner of Christie RD, a nutrition private practice located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Her team of dietitians works with individuals of all ages to improve health through practical, personalized nutrition strategies. Christie RD helps clients manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, while also supporting weight management, food allergy education, and improved energy and well-being. The practice believes that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle and focuses on helping clients develop a balanced, positive relationship with food without guilt or shame. Websitehttps://christierd.com FacebookChristie RD InstagramChristie_RDN Connect with Santos Counseling Santos Counseling provides counseling for individuals, couples, and families in Greensboro, North Carolina. 📍 411 Dolley Madison RoadGreensboro, NC 27410 📞 336-663-6570 🌐 ⁠https://www.santoscounseling.com⁠ Listen to The Couch Podcast New episodes explore mental health, relationships, parenting, and emotional wellness. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

    28 min
  3. Is It Defiance or PDA? Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance in Kids | Dr. Amber Collins | Episode 52

    MAR 13

    Is It Defiance or PDA? Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance in Kids | Dr. Amber Collins | Episode 52

    Many parents struggle to understand why their child resists everyday requests like getting dressed, doing homework, or following simple routines. While it can look like defiance, for some children the root cause may be something deeper. In this episode of The Couch Podcast, Dr. Juan Santos sits down with Dr. Amber Collins of Wayfinder Psychiatric Wellness to discuss Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)—a profile often associated with autism that involves an extreme anxiety-driven need to avoid everyday demands. Dr. Collins explains how PDA can show up in children, why traditional parenting approaches may not work, and what parents can do instead to reduce conflict and better support their child. Together, we explore practical strategies families can use at home, how schools can respond more effectively, and why understanding the anxiety behind PDA can transform how parents approach challenging behaviors. If you are a parent, educator, or mental health professional trying to better understand children who resist demands in intense ways, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and actionable insight. • What Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is• Why PDA behaviors are often misunderstood as defiance• The role anxiety plays in demand avoidance• Signs that may suggest a child is experiencing PDA• Parenting strategies that reduce power struggles• How schools and caregivers can better support these children• Why understanding the child’s nervous system is key Dr. Amber Collins a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and the owner of Wayfinder Psychiatric Wellness. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families with diverse challenges and needs. She has experience with anxiety, depression, attention/focus concerns, or other mental health challenges. Connect with Dr. Amber Collins Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Santos Counseling Santos Counseling provides counseling for individuals, couples, and families in Greensboro, North Carolina. 📍 411 Dolley Madison RoadGreensboro, NC 27410 📞 336-663-6570 🌐 https://www.santoscounseling.com Listen to The Couch Podcast New episodes explore mental health, relationships, parenting, and emotional wellness. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

    28 min

  4. FEB 1

    Depression and Being at Home Too Long: Why It Hits Harder Than You Expect | Episode 51

    Depression doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like staying home too long, losing structure, and feeling emotionally stuck. In this episode, we break down why that happens—and what actually helps. In this episode, we talk about why depression can feel heavier when you’re home too long, especially when structure, routine, and connection start to fade. This isn’t about laziness or lack of motivation—it’s about how the brain and nervous system respond to isolation and unstructured time. We explore: Why depression often shows up as numbness, fatigue, or “stuckness” How loss of routine impacts mood and motivation The nervous system’s role in depression and emotional shutdown Why rest alone doesn’t always lead to relief Small, realistic ways to re-anchor your day without pressure or guilt If you’ve found yourself feeling disconnected, unmotivated, or emotionally flat while spending more time at home, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Whether you’re working from home, unemployed, recovering, caregiving, or just stuck in a long stretch of unstructured days—you’re not broken. You’re human. 📍 In-person & telehealth therapy available 📍 411 Dolley Madison Road, Greensboro, NC 27410 📞 336-663-6570 Connect with Dr. Juan Santos 💻 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Santos Counseling Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Couch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠

    14 min

  5. JAN 23

    How Social Media Impacts Kids’ Mental Health (And What Parents Can Do) | Episode 50

    Practical therapist strategies to reduce anxiety, comparison, bullying, and screen addiction — without constant fights. Social media isn’t going away — and neither is the impact it’s having on kids’ mental health. In this episode, Dr. Juan Santos (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, practice owner of Santos Counseling in Greensboro, NC) breaks down how social media affects kids and teens emotionally, socially, and psychologically — and what parents can do starting today to protect their child’s mental wellbeing without turning the home into a constant power struggle. You’ll learn: The biggest mental health risks social media creates for kids and teens How to spot warning signs like anxiety, depression, isolation, and irritability Why comparison culture is damaging self-esteem (and how to interrupt it) Therapist-approved boundary strategies that reduce fights and improve cooperation How to teach your child emotional resilience and healthy identity in the digital age If you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or someone who works with youth — this episode will help you build a safer, healthier relationship between kids and social media. 📍 Santos Counseling PLLC 411 Dolley Madison Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410 📞 336-663-6570 ✅ Want support? Our clinicians offer therapy for kids, teens, parents, and families (in-person + telehealth). Call today or visit our website to schedule. Connect with Dr. Juan Santos 💻 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Santos Counseling Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Couch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠

    20 min

  6. JAN 17

    Is It Anxiety or Intuition? How to Tell the Difference | Episode 49

    Anxiety vs Intuition (How to Tell the Difference) When you’re overthinking, spiraling, or stuck in fear—how do you know if it’s a warning… or anxiety? Have you ever said: “I don’t know… I just have a feeling.” But then you wonder… Is this my intuition trying to protect me? Or is this anxiety hijacking my brain? In this episode of The Couch, therapist Dr. Juan Santos shares the real difference between anxiety and intuition—especially in relationships. We’ll explain why anxiety feels urgent and obsessive, why intuition is usually calm and clear, and how to stop confusing fear with truth. If you’ve been stuck overthinking and second-guessing yourself, this episode will help you reconnect with clarity—without spiraling. Anxiety and intuition can feel similar—but they come from different places. Dr. Juan Santos explains how to tell the difference, especially in relationships, and share practical tools to stop spiraling and make decisions from clarity instead of fear. Connect with Dr. Juan Santos 💻 ⁠⁠⁠Santos Counseling Website⁠⁠⁠ 📱 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Couch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ Your anxiety might be loud—but it’s not always true. Intuition doesn’t create panic… it creates clarity. The goal isn’t to never feel fear—it’s to learn how to listen to yourself without spiraling. If you want help with anxiety and trust, Santos Counseling is here for you. And if this episode helped, follow The Couch, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs this reminder

    18 min

  7. JAN 17

    Why Men Shut Down in Relationships (And What They Need Instead) |Episode 48

    Why Men Shut Down (And How to Break the Cycle Without Fighting) The real reasons men withdraw during conflict—stress, shame, overwhelm, and emotional safety. Have you ever tried to talk about something important—and your partner suddenly goes quiet, gets defensive, or walks away? It can feel cold. It can feel dismissive. But most of the time, shutdown isn’t about not caring—it’s about overload. In this episode of The Couch, therapist Dr. Juan Santos shares why many men shut down emotionally in relationships, especially during conflict. We break down the nervous system response, the social conditioning men grow up with, why communication gets stuck in a pursue–withdraw cycle, and what helps couples reconnect without turning it into a fight. Men often shut down during conflict due to stress, nervous system overload, emotional conditioning, and fear of failure. Dr. Juan Santos explains the pursue–withdraw cycle and share practical communication tools that rebuild connection without escalating arguments. Connect with Dr. Juan Santos 💻 ⁠⁠⁠Santos Counseling Website⁠⁠⁠ 📱 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Couch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ If you’re the one shutting down—you’re not a bad partner. You’re overwhelmed and your body is protecting you. And if you’re the one feeling abandoned—your needs matter too. This isn’t about blame… it’s about building safety. If you want help breaking this pattern, Santos Counseling is here for you. And if this episode helped, follow The Couch, leave a rating, and share it with a couple who needs it

    16 min

  8. JAN 17

    ADHD and Time Management: Why You’re Always Running Late (And How to Fix It) | Episode 47

    ADHD & Time Management (Why It’s So Hard + What Actually Works) Practical ADHD strategies for planning, focus, procrastination, and getting things done without burnout. If you have ADHD (or think you might), time management can feel impossible. You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. Your brain processes time differently—and traditional productivity advice often doesn’t work. In this episode of The Couch, therapist Dr. Juan Santos breaks down why ADHD impacts planning, follow-through, and punctuality. We’ll explain the science behind “time blindness,” procrastination, overwhelm, and burnout—and we’ll give you practical strategies that actually work in real life. ADHD impacts time management through time blindness, overwhelm, and executive functioning challenges. Dr. Juan Santos explains why “normal” productivity tips fail and share practical tools to plan, start tasks, and finish without burnout Connect with Dr. Juan Santos 💻 ⁠⁠⁠Santos Counseling Website⁠⁠⁠ 📱 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Couch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ The New Mental Health Podcast Episode aimed to be a resource helping you improve your mental health. To schedule a counseling appointment with Santos Counseling, click the link below: If you have ADHD, you don’t need more shame—you need better systems. You’re not lazy. Your brain just needs tools that match how it actually works. If you want support with ADHD coping skills, routines, and relationships, Santos Counseling is here for you. And if this episode helped, follow The Couch, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs hope

    15 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Couch Podcast — where real therapists talk about real life. Hosted by Jacy King and Dr. Juan Santos, licensed mental health counselors in Greensboro, North Carolina, this podcast gives you practical tools and honest conversations to help you improve your mental health, relationships, and mindset—without the fluff. We cover the topics people struggle with most, including anxiety, stress, overthinking, burnout, ADHD, emotional shutdown, people pleasing, boundaries, communication, trauma, parenting stress, marriage after kids, self-worth, and healing patterns that keep repeating.

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