The Lemon Tree Coaching

Dr. Allison Sucamele
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Welcome to The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast—where emotional depth meets grounded psychology. Hosted by Dr. Allison Sucamele, this podcast is a sanctuary for anyone ready to do the inner work, face their shadow, and cultivate a life that feels authentic, aligned, and alive. Each episode explores the psychology behind emotions, relationships, nervous system healing, and self-awareness. Whether you're navigating heartbreak, burnout, betrayal, people-pleasing, or the desire for deeper meaning, you'll find thoughtful reflections, symbolic storytelling, and powerful insights to help you bloom—one truth at a time. Grab a cup of tea, tune in, and come home to yourself. Follow along on Instagram @thelemontreecoaching and explore free resources on Teachers Pay Teachers at The Lemon Tree by AKS.

  1. 5D AGO · BONUS

    Bonus Episode: Polite Isn’t the Same as Safe - How Social Conditioning Overrides Intuition

    Ask The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast a Question. Text the TLT Pod today. In today’s short bonus episode, we explore a message many of us were taught early and often: be polite, keep the peace, don’t make things uncomfortable. But what happens when politeness comes at the cost of safety? From a psychological and nervous-system perspective, politeness is a learned survival strategy. For many women, children, and people raised in emotionally unpredictable environments, being agreeable once helped maintain connection or reduce harm. It worked - until it didn’t. Your nervous system, however, has always been paying attention. Long before you had language for boundaries, your body learned how to scan for safety through tone of voice, facial expressions, proximity, and unpredictability. When something feels off, the body knows first. Drawing on Polyvagal Theory, the work of Gavin de Becker, and insights from Harriet Lerner, this episode explores how intuition isn’t mystical - it’s pattern recognition - and why overriding it can lead to chronic anxiety, people-pleasing, hypervigilance, and emotional exhaustion. We also break down why a longer exhale matters from a physiological standpoint - how slow breathing directly supports vagal regulation, signals safety to the brainstem, and helps the body settle before the mind can follow. This episode is an invitation to gently ask: Where in my life have I stayed polite when my body was asking for distance? You don’t owe comfort at the expense of safety. A boundary doesn’t require justification. And intuition doesn’t need proof to be valid. Your intuition was never designed to make you likable. It was designed to protect you. 🍋 Connect & Continue the Conversation The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast on Instagram 📚 Resources Mentioned The Gift of Fear by Gavin de BeckerThe Dance of Anger by Harriet LernerPolyvagal Theory — Dr. Stephen PorgesGentle nervous system regulation practices: slow breathing, extended exhales, humming, sighingDisclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Listening to this episode does not establish a therapist–client relationship. If you are experiencing distress, trauma-related symptoms, or feel unsafe, please consider seeking support from a qualified mental health professional or local support services. Always trust your judgment and prioritize your safety.

    7 min

  2. 6D AGO

    # 147 - Authentic Kindness vs. People Pleasing: How to Be Kind Without Losing Yourself

    Ask The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast a Question. Text the TLT Pod today. In this episode of The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast, Dr. Allison Sucamele explores a subtle but powerful distinction that shapes relationships, burnout, and self-worth: the difference between authentic kindness and people pleasing. On the surface, they can look identical - being helpful, agreeable, and generous. But internally, they come from very different places. Authentic kindness is rooted in choice, alignment, and self-respect. People pleasing is driven by fear, survival, and the nervous system’s need for safety. Together, we unpack: How people pleasing often develops as a trauma-informed survival response (including the fawn response)Why women and trauma survivors are especially conditioned to prioritize others over themselvesThe psychological cost of chronic self-abandonmentPractical litmus tests to tell whether your “yes” is grounded or fear-basedGentle ways to begin setting boundaries without guilt or losing connectionThis episode is an invitation to move toward a kinder, more honest way of relating - one where generosity doesn’t require self-erasure, and boundaries and compassion work together. As always, this episode is for education and reflection, not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. If you’re in emotional distress, please reach out to a licensed professional or call/text 988 in the U.S. for 24/7 support. References & Resources People Pleasing, Codependency & Trauma Harriet Braiker, The Disease to Please https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60497.The_Disease_to_Please Psychology Today – The Fawn Response https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/fight-flight-freeze Psych Central – Fawning Trauma Response https://psychcentral.com/health/fawn-response Self-Compassion Kristin Neff, Self-Compassion https://self-compassion.org Free Self-Compassion Scale & practices https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-test Boundaries & Assertiveness Robert Alberti & Michael Emmons, Your Perfect Right https://www.amazon.com/Your-Perfect-Right-Assertiveness/dp/1891280010 Nedra Glover Tawwab, Set Boundaries, Find Peace https://www.nedratawwab.com Additional Mental Health Support U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 https://988lifeline.orgSocial Media Links The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast Instagram Twitter Teacher Resources (really, for anyone) The Lemon Tree by AKS Box Breathing

    24 min

  3. 12/25/2025 · BONUS

    Bonus Episode - Rewriting Old Emotional Rules

    Ask The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast a Question. Text the TLT Pod today. In today’s bonus episode of The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast, Dr. Allison Sucamele offers a short, grounding reflection on something many of us don’t realize we’re still living by: old emotional rules. These are the quiet, unspoken agreements we made early in life about what it takes to stay safe, loved, or accepted - rules like don’t be too much, stay useful, don’t need anyone, keep the peace, or feel later. From a psychological lens, these rules weren’t flaws. They were adaptations. Your nervous system learned them in response to real environments and real constraints, and they helped you survive. But psychology also reminds us of something important: what once protected you can later imprison you. In this gentle reflection, we explore how the brain and nervous system hold onto outdated instructions, why insight alone isn’t enough to create change, and how healing happens through safety, permission, and small corrective emotional experiences. Rewriting emotional rules isn’t about erasing the past - it’s about updating the operating system so it fits the life you’re building now. This episode invites you to slow down, notice which rule might be running in the background, and experiment with offering yourself one small exception. Change doesn’t begin with force. It begins with permission. 🍋 Mental Health Resources (U.S.) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for immediate emotional supportCrisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741SAMHSA National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for mental health and substance use supportIf you are outside the U.S., please check local crisis resources in your country. Brief Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or medical care. Healing and nervous system work are deeply personal, and everyone’s experience is unique. If this episode brings up distress or overwhelming emotions, consider reaching out to a qualified mental health professional or trusted support.

    4 min

  4. 12/24/2025

    # 146 - The Importance of Processing Your Emotions (Not Managing Them Away)

    Ask The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast a Question. Text the TLT Pod today. In today’s episode of The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast, we explore something deeply foundational to mental health, relationships, and identity: emotional processing. Not managing emotions. Not suppressing them. Not intellectualizing them away. But allowing emotions to move through the body so they can integrate rather than accumulate. We talk about why unprocessed emotions don’t disappear - they leak into the body, the nervous system, our thinking, and our relationships - and how chronic emotional suppression is linked to anxiety, burnout, numbness, and cognitive fatigue.  Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, trauma research, and attachment theory, this episode breaks down what emotional processing actually means and why resistance drains more energy than feeling ever could. This episode offers grounded, psychology-informed ways to let emotions like sadness, anger, fear, and grief complete their natural cycles - without overwhelm, avoidance, or self-judgment. If you’ve ever felt emotionally foggy, exhausted from “holding it together,” or disconnected from your body, this conversation is for you.  📚 References & Learning Resources Brown, B. (2021). Atlas of the HeartMay, K. (2020). Winteringvan der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the ScoreLieberman, M. et al. (2007). Putting feelings into words: Affect labeling and the amygdalaPennebaker, J. (1997). Expressive writing and emotional processingPorges, S. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory🧠 Mental Health & Emotional Support Resources 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) – Call or text 988Psychology Today Therapist Directory – https://www.psychologytoday.com Somatic Experiencing International – https://traumahealing.org National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – https://www.nami.org (If you’re outside the U.S., please check local crisis and mental-health services in your country.) ⚠️ Gentle Disclaimer The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or medical treatment. Each listener’s experience is unique. Please take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and care for yourself with compassion. If you’re experiencing significant distress or feel unsafe, seek support from a licensed mental-health professional or local emergency services.

    23 min

  5. 12/18/2025

    Bonus Episode: A One-Minute Boundary Check - Noticing Where Your Energy Is Leaking

    Ask The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast a Question. Text the TLT Pod today. Today’s episode is short, grounding, and practical, a one-minute pause you can return to anytime you feel drained, resentful, scattered, or quietly exhausted without knowing why. In A One-Minute Boundary Check, Dr. Allison Sucamele guides you through a gentle self-inquiry to help you notice where your energy is leaking before burnout forces your nervous system to speak louder. Drawing on Polyvagal Theory, Jungian psychology, and boundary research, this episode explores how boundaries are not just interpersonal, but neurological, and how overriding your limits keeps your body in a chronic state of stress. This is not journaling, confrontation, or fixing. It’s awareness. One breath. One question at a time. A way to reconnect with your body’s signals, identify quiet resistance and resentment, and make small, honest shifts that protect your energy without guilt. Listen when you need grounding, clarity, or permission to pause, and remember: boundaries aren’t walls. They’re doors that let the right energy in. 🌿🍋 Important Note: This episode is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or medical care. If this practice brings up intense emotions, distress, or memories, please consider reaching out to a qualified mental health professional for support. Mental Health Resources: If you are in the United States and need immediate support, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. If you are outside the U.S., please check local emergency services or visit findahelpline.com to locate crisis support in your country.

    5 min

  6. 12/17/2025

    # 145: The Psychology Behind Panic Attacks - What’s Really Happening & What Helps

    Ask The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast a Question. Text the TLT Pod today. Panic attacks can feel terrifying, disorienting, and deeply personal, but they are not a failure of character or strength. In this episode of The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast, we unpack what panic attacks actually are through a neuroscience-informed lens. We explore how the brain’s alarm system misfires, why panic often begins before conscious thought, and how the body’s survival wiring creates sensations that feel life-threatening, even when you’re not in danger. Drawing from research by Dr. Joseph LeDoux, Dr. Stephen Porges, Dr. Alicia Meuret, and others, this episode explains why panic loops form, why some nervous systems are more vulnerable, and why the aftermath can leave you feeling wiped out. We also dive into science-backed, real-time tools that interrupt panic as it’s happening - including breath regulation, orienting, temperature shifts, vagal stimulation, and yes, even sour candy. These are not trends - they’re bottom-up nervous system interventions grounded in research. If panic has ever made you feel broken, weak, or out of control, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical tools to help you understand what your body is trying to communicate, and how healing is possible. ✨ Follow The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast on Instagram for daily reflections, book recommendations, and nervous-system-informed support: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/thelemontreecoaching 📚 References & Resources LeDoux, J. (2015). Anxious: Using the Brain to Understand and Treat Fear and AnxietyClark, D. M., & Salkovskis, P. M. (1988). Catastrophic misinterpretation in panic disorderKendler, K. S. et al. (2001). Genetic epidemiology of panic disordervan der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the ScorePorges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal TheoryMeuret, A. E. et al. (2012). Capnometry-assisted respiratory training for panic disorderLevine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken VoiceCraig, A. D. (2009). Interoception and awareness of bodily states⚠️ Brief Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, medical advice, or diagnosis. If you are struggling or in crisis, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (U.S.). If you are outside the U.S., please seek local support resources.

    15 min

  7. 12/11/2025 · BONUS

    Bonus Episode - When Your Past Isn’t Done Being Felt Yet

    Ask The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast a Question. Text the TLT Pod today. Sometimes an old ache returns - a memory you thought you’d outgrown, a feeling you believed you’d healed, a reaction that surprises you. And the first thought many of us have is, “Why am I still dealing with this? I thought I was past it.” But emotional reactivation isn’t regression. It’s capacity. In this short bonus episode, Dr. Allison Sucamele breaks down the psychology behind why old wounds resurface just when life starts to feel steadier. Drawing on insights from trauma research and nervous system science, she explores how healing happens in layers, not all at once, and why your body often waits until you’re finally safe enough to process the deeper truths. If something from your past is bubbling up again, it doesn’t mean you’re going backward. It means your system trusts you now. You have more bandwidth, more resilience, more internal safety than you once did. This episode is your gentle reminder that you’re not unraveling - you’re unfolding. You’ll learn: 🌿 Why the nervous system releases emotions in stages 🌿 How to understand emotional residue without self-judgment 🌿 What it really means when old patterns, memories, or wounds reappear 🌿 How to meet these moments with curiosity instead of shame 🌿 Why this is a sign of integration—not failure If this bonus episode brings you comfort or clarity, feel free to share it with someone who’s been hard on themselves for “feeling things again.” They might need this reminder too. And if you missed Episode #144, The Library of You: Integrating Every Chapter, go back and give it a listen—it pairs beautifully with today’s message. Take what serves you, leave what doesn’t, and keep blooming in your own time. 💛🌿 Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are struggling, in emotional distress, or concerned for your safety, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the United States for immediate support. You are not alone.

    5 min

  8. 12/10/2025

    # 144 - The Library of You: Integrating Every Chapter

    Ask The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast a Question. Text the TLT Pod today. In this episode, we explore the moment in every healing journey when you realize that life isn’t asking you to erase your past - it’s asking you to integrate it.  Through the lens of trauma psychology, narrative identity, and nervous system science, we unpack what it truly means to weave every chapter of your life into a coherent, compassionate story: the beautiful ones, the devastating ones, the ones that still make your voice shake. We talk about fragmented narratives, emotional memory, betrayal, domestic violence, jealousy, endings, rebirths, and the meanings we unconsciously assign to pain. You’ll learn how integration differs from moving on, forgiveness, or understanding, and why your nervous system can’t fully heal until your past and present finally begin speaking the same language. Most importantly, this episode invites you to reclaim the parts of yourself you’ve tucked away, to tell the truth of what shaped you, and to remember that no chapter was wasted. Integration is not erasing - it’s becoming whole. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for mental health treatment, diagnosis, or professional support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional. If you are in emotional distress or experiencing a crisis, you can call or text 988 in the United States for immediate support. You are not alone.

    14 min
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About

Welcome to The Lemon Tree Coaching Podcast—where emotional depth meets grounded psychology. Hosted by Dr. Allison Sucamele, this podcast is a sanctuary for anyone ready to do the inner work, face their shadow, and cultivate a life that feels authentic, aligned, and alive. Each episode explores the psychology behind emotions, relationships, nervous system healing, and self-awareness. Whether you're navigating heartbreak, burnout, betrayal, people-pleasing, or the desire for deeper meaning, you'll find thoughtful reflections, symbolic storytelling, and powerful insights to help you bloom—one truth at a time. Grab a cup of tea, tune in, and come home to yourself. Follow along on Instagram @thelemontreecoaching and explore free resources on Teachers Pay Teachers at The Lemon Tree by AKS.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Allison Sucamele
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Lemon Tree Coaching
  • Show Website
    The Lemon Tree Coaching