A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

Sindee Gozansky, LCPC
  • 4.9 (21)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A Simple Therapy Podcast is where real conversations and soulful insights meet the work of healing—for therapists, mental health professionals, and anyone on a growth journey. Created by a licensed therapist, supervisor, and mentor, each episode blends professional insight with personal honesty. You'll hear solo reflections, therapist education, guest interviews, and mental health journeys that speak to what it means to be human—in and out of the therapy room. Whether you're looking to strengthen your clinical skills, support your own healing, or grow a heart-centered private practice, this podcast is here to support you. 🎙️ We talk about: Therapist life: burnout, imposter syndrome, boundaries & self-care Clinical education and tools for effective, ethical practice Supervision, mentorship & therapist identity Mental health stories, education & advocacy Private practice tips & building a sustainable career This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a space for honest dialogue, shared growth, and compassionate connection. Because whether you're the therapist or the client—we’re all human here. Let’s keep it simple… and keep showing up.

  1. OCT 2

    118: Your Pain Has a Name: Identity, Healing, and Compassion with Monica DiCristina

    In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Monica DiCristina, LPC, therapist, writer, and podcaster, to explore the healing power of naming our pain. Monica shares her personal journey of living with undiagnosed OCD and intrusive thoughts, and how finding a name for her struggle became the first step toward freedom.  Together, Sindee and Monica talk about separating identity from wounding, why coping behaviors don’t define us, and the importance of listening to the “trauma whispers” in our daily lives. They also discuss the cultural pull toward quick fixes, and why true healing is a slow, compassionate practice rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.  This conversation is full of gentle wisdom, rich metaphors, and practical ways to turn toward yourself with curiosity and kindness. Monica’s story and her book, Your Pain Has a Name, remind us that while we can’t avoid pain, we can begin to untangle it—and return to the truth of who we are.   00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome  00:49 - Meet Monica DiCristina: Therapist, Writer, Podcaster  03:10 - Your Pain Has a Name: The Story Behind the Book  08:22 - Naming Pain vs. Labeling: A Compassionate Distinction  10:21 - Separating Identity from Wounds and Coping Behaviors  14:34 - The Myth of Quick Fixes in Mental Health  19:08 - Listening to the Narratives We Believe About Ourselves  22:32 - The Core Questions: Am I Safe? Am I Loved?  27:26 - Sharing Her Story: Why Monica “Went First” in Her Book  31:06 - Redrawing Your Family Map and Boundaries That Heal  36:26 - Therapists’ Takeaway: The Healing Power of Presence  38:40 - A Gentle First Step for Facing Your Pain  40:23 - Where to Find Monica’s Work, Book, and Podcast Check out Berries: https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com   Connect with Monica DiCristina   Monica DiCristina Instagram (@monicadicristina) Your Pain Has a Name: A Therapist’s Invitation to Understanding Your Story and Sorting Out Who You Are from What Hurts Still Becoming Podcast Connect with Sindee Gozansky: Visit my website: asimpletherapypodcast.com/ Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group: facebook.com/groups/478651669638167 Instagram: 
instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/ YouTube: youtube.com/@asimpletherapypodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sindeegozansky/   Want to be a guest on the podcast?  Email Sindee: info@asimpletherapy.com

    43 min

  2. SEP 25

    117: Healing the Helpers: Emotional Labor, Boundaries, and Community with Kara Cruz

    In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky talks with Kara Cruz, LMFT, PMH-C, a therapist, supervisor, and community builder dedicated to “healing the helpers.” Kara has created spaces like the Supervisor Circle and Therapist Group Bootcamp to support clinicians in their professional and personal growth. They dive into the emotional labor of caregiving professionals, how fear and self-abandonment keep therapists from setting boundaries, and why building supportive communities is essential to prevent burnout. Kara also shares her passion for group work, offering practical wisdom for creating groups that expand impact while strengthening connection. This conversation is a reminder that therapists are human too—and caring for ourselves with small steps and simple boundaries is the foundation of sustainable healing work. 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome 02:40 - The Emotional Labor of Caregiving Professionals 05:11 - Fear, Boundaries, and the Cost of Self-Abandonment 07:51 - Kara’s Journey to Supporting Therapists and Healers 14:32 - Building Community Through Supervisor Circle and Therapist’s Night Out 25:05 - Kara’s Path to Group Facilitation and Launching Therapist Group Bootcamp 32:05 - Stepping Out of Comfort Zones and Finding Confidence in Group Work 38:28 - Why Groups Matter for Accessibility and Connection 42:12 - Kara’s Practical Advice: Start Small and Hold One Boundary Check out Berries: https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com   Connect with Kara Cruz Kara Cruz Instagram (@karacruzwellness) https://www.linkedin.com/in/karacruzwellness   Connect with Sindee Gozansky: Visit my website: asimpletherapypodcast.com/ Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group: 
facebook.com/groups/478651669638167 Instagram: 
instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/ YouTube: youtube.com/@asimpletherapypodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sindeegozansky/   Want to be a guest on the podcast?  Email Sindee: info@asimpletherapy.com

    43 min

  3. SEP 18

    116: The Human Puzzle: Trauma, Healing, and Psychedelic Therapy with Keith Kurlander

    In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky talks with Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC, co-founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and a pioneer in psychedelic therapy education. Keith shares his own mental health journey, beginning with a near-suicide at 19, and how decades of healing led him to build innovative training programs that are reshaping the field. They dive into the growing role of psychedelic-assisted therapy, what integration really means after a transformative session, and why trauma is often the common thread in mental health struggles. Keith also explains the roots of integrative psychiatry—addressing physiology, nutrition, trauma, and spirituality together—and why every therapist will need at least a basic understanding of psychedelic therapy in the years ahead. This conversation is a reminder that we all carry puzzles inside of us, and healing isn’t about solving them once and for all—it’s about showing up with compassion, curiosity, and gratitude for the journey. 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome 02:21 - A Near-Suicide that Sparked a Healing Journey 08:31 - Defining Integrative Medicine in Mental Health 12:38 - Psychedelic Therapy as a Disruptive Intervention 18:28 - Integration as the Key to Lasting Change 21:14 - The Evolving Landscape of Psychedelic Education 25:22 - Education and Trainings of Integrative Psychiatry Institution  29:15 - Mystical Experiences in Therapy for Clients and Providers 36:36 - Untangling Mental Health from Spiritual Growth 46:24 - Embracing the Human Puzzle with Gratitude Check out Berries: https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com   Connect with Keith Kurlander:   Integrative Psychiatry Institute Keith Kurlander Higher Practice Podcast https://www.linkedin.com/in/higherpractice  Connect with Sindee Gozansky: Visit my website: asimpletherapypodcast.com/ Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group: 
facebook.com/groups/478651669638167 Instagram:
instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/ YouTube: youtube.com/@asimpletherapypodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sindeegozansky/   Want to be a guest on the podcast?  Email Sindee: info@asimpletherapy.com

    50 min

  4. SEP 15

    115: Betrayal and Forgiveness: Rebuilding Trust After Deep Hurt with Dr. Bruce Chalmer

    In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Dr. Bruce Chalmer, a couples therapist, author, and podcaster who has spent more than 30 years helping people navigate intimacy, betrayal, and forgiveness. They explore why communication skills alone won’t save a struggling relationship, how true healing begins with the courage to face intimacy, and what Dr. Chalmer calls the “oh, shit moment” that can change everything for a couple. He also shares insights from his latest book, Betrayal and Forgiveness: How to Navigate the Turmoil and Learn to Trust Again, offering a compassionate framework for understanding betrayal, releasing self-blame, and finding faith—whether couples choose to stay together or part ways. With stories of couples who rebuilt their marriages stronger than before, a three-step path to forgiveness, and the wisdom of his “meta-serenity prayer,” this conversation is rich with guidance for therapists and couples alike. If you’ve ever wondered how trust can be rebuilt after heartbreak, this episode offers not just answers, but hope—and a simple invitation to live by: be kind, don’t panic, and have faith. 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome 02:52 - Dr. Bruce’s Path to Becoming a Couples Therapist 04:58 - The “Oh, Shit” Moment in Couples Therapy 08:01 - From Psychodynamic Training to a More Human Approach 12:40 - Why Communication Skills Aren’t the Answer 16:08 - When Therapy Ideas Become Harmful Ideologies 20:52 - Defining Betrayal and Forgiveness 25:14 - Forgiveness as an Inside Job 29:15 - Navigating Gray Areas 31:50 - Three Steps to Forgiveness 40:49 - Shame, Apologies, and Real Repair 42:39 - Deal Breakers vs. Growing Pains in Relationships 47:06 - The Meta-Serenity Prayer and Faith in the Unknown 48:59 - Advice for Therapists Supporting Betrayed Couples 53:46 - Guidance for Couples Before and During Therapy Check out Berries: https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com   Connect with Dr. Bruce Chalmer: Dr. Bruce Chalmer Couples Therapy in 7 Words Podcast  https://youtube.com/@brucechalmer   https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-chalmer-95ab70305 https://www.facebook.com/drbrucechalmer  Connect with Sindee Gozansky: Visit my website: asimpletherapypodcast.com/ Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group: 
facebook.com/groups/478651669638167 Instagram:
instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/ YouTube: youtube.com/@asimpletherapypodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sindeegozansky/   Want to be a guest on the podcast?  Email Sindee: info@asimpletherapy.com

    53 min

  5. AUG 15

    114: Silent Trauma: The Hidden Wounds That Run Your Life with Dr. Shahrzad Jalali

    In this episode of A Simple Therapy podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Dr. Shahrzad Jalali, Psy.D, who brings together Jungian analysis, Persian mysticism, and somatic work in the most fascinating way. We explore "silent trauma" – those sneaky childhood wounds that quietly run our adult lives and relationships. Shahrzad shares how she teaches clients the "somatic alphabet" to heal through the body when the mind feels stuck, and why we're magnetically drawn to our opposite in relationships...only to spend years trying to change them! From her personal journey through crisis to becoming a wounded healer, and now to her upcoming book The Fire That Makes Us, Dr. Shahrzad Jalali offers real wisdom about befriending uncomfortable emotions and breaking free from exhausting relationship cycles. It’s a conversation that might just help you rewrite the patterns you thought were permanent and see your story in a whole new light!   00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome 02:24 - Shahrzad's Personal Journey into Psychology 04:54 - Jungian Analysis and Persian Mysticism 07:07 - Understanding Silent Trauma 10:57 - The Somatic Alphabet Approach 14:40 - Working with Cognitive Types 17:01 - Befriending Difficult Emotions 19:39 - Breaking Relationship Cycles 23:04 - Training Interns and Couples Work 29:12 - Personal Growth and Having Options 31:54 - Writing as Healing - "The Fire That Makes Us" 34:16 - Practice Information and Online Courses 37:15 - Starting Your Silent Trauma Work   Check out Berries: https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com   Connect with Dr. Shahrzad Jalali:   Dr. Jalali & Associates Align Remedy @AlignRemedy  https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahrzad-jalali-psyd-2b547320/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Align-Remedy/61567336701015/ Connect with Sindee: Visit my website: asimpletherapypodcast.com/  Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group:
facebook.com/groups/478651669638167 Instagram:
instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/ YouTube: youtube.com/@asimpletherapypodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sindeegozansky/ Want to be a guest on the podcast? Email Sindee: info@asimpletherapy.com

    40 min
  6. Empowering Therapists: Marissa Wells on Building a Purposeful, Cash Pay Private Practice

    JUL 28

    Empowering Therapists: Marissa Wells on Building a Purposeful, Cash Pay Private Practice

    Empowering Therapists: Marissa Wells on Building a Purposeful, Cash Pay Private Practice In this episode of A Simple Therapy podcast, licensed professional counselor and supervisor Marissa Wells returns to focus on helping new therapists find their footing, start their own cash pay private practices, and truly lean into their purpose. Marissa discusses the importance of finding one's niche, aligning business with personal values, and overcoming financial barriers.  She highlights the role of financial peace, purpose, and community support in creating a successful practice. The episode also addresses common misconceptions and fears new therapists face, offering valuable advice on how they can confidently step into cash pay private practice. Marissa’s journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you lead with purpose—in both life and work. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 01:10 Marissa Wells' Journey to Private Practice 02:07 Challenges and Rewards of Cash Pay Practice 03:26 Empowering New Therapists 04:45 Integrating Spirituality in Business 08:49 Financial Freedom and Its Impact 14:12 Helping Therapists Find Their Niche 17:39 Finding Purpose in Your Practice 17:56 Navigating Group Practice Dynamics 18:30 Insurance vs. Cash Pay Practices 18:55 Balancing Accessibility and Specialization 19:44 The Importance of Boundaries and Generosity 21:45 Avoiding Burnout and Finding Your Niche 24:18 Addressing Common Fears and Misconceptions 26:44 The Need for Business Education in Therapy 30:47 Encouragement for Aspiring Private Practitioners 32:22 Resources and Final Thoughts Check out Berries: https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month Connect with Marissa: www.mwells.co Counseling https://www.facebook.com/mwellslpcs/ https://www.instagram.com/mwells_lpcs Coaching https://www.facebook.com/groups/theagingfamily https://www.facebook.com/marissawellscoaching/ https://www.instagram.com/marissawellscoaching Join her FREE Aging Family Group: http://bit.ly/4hk0X14   Connect with Sindee: Visit my website: https://asimpletherapypodcast.com/  Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/478651669638167 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/ Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com Want to be a guest on the podcast? Email Sindee: info@asimpletherapy.com For more information on the Couples Therapy Mentorship Group, email me at info@asimpletherapy.com

    34 min

  7. JUL 25

    112: Bridging Connection: Counseling for Aging Families with Marissa Wells

    Bridging Connection: Counseling for Aging Families with Marissa Wells In this episode of A Simple Therapy podcast, host Sindee Gozansky welcomes Marissa Wells, a licensed professional counselor and aging family educator from Arkansas. Marissa talks about her journey to specializing in counseling for aging families, rooted in her personal experiences with her own family. She highlights the importance of supporting caregivers and addresses the dynamics and challenges faced by families dealing with aging loved ones, including the emotional and practical aspects of role reversals and caregiving.  The episode explores communication within families and proactive planning for aging to ensure values-based decision-making. Additionally, Marissa talks about her efforts to extend support beyond her local area through a free Facebook group called 'The Aging Family,' where she provides resources and fostering connections. Sindee and Marissa also discuss the emotional weight carried by caregivers and the importance of seeking help. This episode is a treasure trove of insights and practical advice for anyone navigating the complexities of aging within families. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:35 Marissa's Journey into Aging Family Counseling 05:42 Challenges and Solutions in Aging Family Counseling 08:51 Role Reversals and Family Dynamics 17:25 The Impact of COVID-19 on Aging Families 19:18 Support for Caregivers and Final Thoughts 31:33 Resources and Conclusion Check out Berries: https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month Connect with Marissa: www.mwells.co Counseling https://www.facebook.com/mwellslpcs/ https://www.instagram.com/mwells_lpcs Coaching https://www.facebook.com/groups/theagingfamily https://www.facebook.com/marissawellscoaching/ https://www.instagram.com/marissawellscoaching Join her FREE Aging Family Group: http://bit.ly/4hk0X14   Connect with Sindee: Visit my website: https://asimpletherapypodcast.com/  Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/478651669638167 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/ Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com Want to be a guest on the podcast? Email Sindee: info@asimpletherapy.com For more information on the Couples Therapy Mentorship Group, email me at info@asimpletherapy.com

    36 min
  8. Introducing A Simple Therapy Podcast: Real Conversations, Honest Healing, and the Human Side of Therapy

    JUL 24

    Introducing A Simple Therapy Podcast: Real Conversations, Honest Healing, and the Human Side of Therapy

    A space for honest dialogue, soulful insights, and meaningful stories from therapists, healing humans, and mental health advocates. This trailer introduces the heart behind the rebrand—from The Heart-Centered Therapist Podcast to A Simple Therapy Podcast. Discover what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and what you can expect moving forward. Whether you're a therapist, on your own healing journey, or passionate about mental health—you’re invited. Let’s keep it simple… and keep showing up.  Learn more: asimpletherapypodcast.com

    1 min
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4.9
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

A Simple Therapy Podcast is where real conversations and soulful insights meet the work of healing—for therapists, mental health professionals, and anyone on a growth journey. Created by a licensed therapist, supervisor, and mentor, each episode blends professional insight with personal honesty. You'll hear solo reflections, therapist education, guest interviews, and mental health journeys that speak to what it means to be human—in and out of the therapy room. Whether you're looking to strengthen your clinical skills, support your own healing, or grow a heart-centered private practice, this podcast is here to support you. 🎙️ We talk about: Therapist life: burnout, imposter syndrome, boundaries & self-care Clinical education and tools for effective, ethical practice Supervision, mentorship & therapist identity Mental health stories, education & advocacy Private practice tips & building a sustainable career This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a space for honest dialogue, shared growth, and compassionate connection. Because whether you're the therapist or the client—we’re all human here. Let’s keep it simple… and keep showing up.

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