A hyper teenager battling allergies, school drama, heated opinions, and a mother navigating the urge to correct, guide, and connect. Real names have been bleeped out, but the imperfection, love, and heavy sighing are all intact.

This is motherhood: messy, meaningful, and not at all what you had planned.

Enjoy.

In a deeply human conversation, Holly and John uncover the untold stories behind the spreadsheets—how accountants often serve as unseen mediators between collapsing dreams and community survival. From the legacy of mental illness that shaped the profession to the quiet burnout consuming it today, this episode shines a light on the emotional cost of being "the reliable ones.”

In this episode, Holly invites you to join her in a gentle guided visualization created for moments that feel unbearably heavy. If you’re struggling with depression, emotional pain, or thoughts about not wanting to be here anymore, this meditation offers a quiet place to land.

You don’t need to fix anything. You’re invited simply to pause, breathe, and come back to your body—just as you are.

Throughout this visualization, you’ll be reminded:

There is nothing wrong with you. You are hurting. And you want to keep going.

This is a space to reconnect with even the smallest thread of your strength.

Please return to this episode when you’re in a safe, quiet space.

If you're in crisis, reaching out for help is a courageous and human thing to do.

Deb also shares how she incorporates canines into therapy and the surprising ways animals can help us understand ourselves. Plus, Holly shares the important revelation she had about herself—thanks to a dog.

From playful connection to the lessons we learn when we truly listen, this episode highlights the importance of connecting with kids - on their level.

In this very first episode of Therapy in the Open, Holly reconnects with her longtime friend and former colleague, Harrison Schoenfarber. Together, they fumble their way through the podcast equipment, share memories from their early days working involuntary substance use treatment, and dive into Harrison’s work as a Neurofeedback Practitioner. It’s a conversation full of laughs, reflection, and insights—proof that sometimes, the best way to start something new is to just jump in.