But I am back for some more discussion around leadership! This episode is about the differences, challenges, and hope that comes from being a healthy and intentional leader despite the lack of good representation of those types of leaders in our modern society.

I offer personal, vulnerable experiences as well as tips for bringing your own healthy leadership qualities to the surface so that healthy and intentional leadership grows and reaches communities where it is highly needed!

The time is now to own our gifts of being a good leader and not shy away from embodying and owning these gifts.

Point of Pride:

If you have any capacity or means to support this wonderful organization, please do so! You can help provide life saving access to care for our queer community!

https://www.pointofpride.org/

Alyssa used components of the book, What White People Can Do Next: From Allyship to Coalition by Emma Dabiri to form speaking points in this episode. Thank you to all of those who offer their voices to educate others.

Abby Esquivel & Marshall Lyle's Work

• 9 Month Program: Rebody the Self of the Healer: https://www.marshalllyles.com/event-details/rebodying-the-self-of-the-healer-9-month-program
• South Africa Retreat: https://www.globaltherapyconnect.com/march-retreat-2027-south-africa
• Substack, The Poetics of Belonging: https://thepoeticsofbelonging.substack.com/

Abby's Podcast- The Whole Therapist Podcast

• https://wholetherapistinstitute.com/the-whole-therapist-podcast-episodes/

Abby's Group Practice

• https://beandbelongcounseling.com/

Show References:

Bonnie Badenoch

• https://www.nurturingtheheart.com/
• The Heart of Trauma: https://wwnorton.com/books/The-Heart-of-Trauma

Brian Swimme Cosmologist

• https://storyoftheuniverse.org/

Zoë Schlanger, Light Eaters book

• https://www.zoeschlanger.com/the-light-eatersLight Eaters book

Robin Wall Kimmerer

• https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/

Adrienne Maree Brown Solstice Spell:

• https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2021/12/20/adrienne-maree-brown-winter-solstice-spell

Some reflection questions for this episode:

• What counts as meaningful action for me in this season?
• What does the "next best step" look like for me?
• Who helps me feel less alone and do I need to seek more belonging?

Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health treatment. Although I am a licensed mental health professional, I am not your therapist, and this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please seek the care of a qualified therapist in your area. If you are in crisis, please call your local emergency number or the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Drawing from a grounded, therapeutic lens, we explore why dating feels so exhausting, how we all burnout, and what it actually means to show up with integrity, self-compassion, and curiosity. We talk about reframing connection, finding your unique flow of energy, and how to take a new perspective with modern dating.

Because despite the chaos, the ghosting, and the emotional rollercoaster of hoping you will finally find someone who gives you those lasting butterflies, there is a point. There is growth. And there is a way to date that doesn’t require abandoning yourself.

This episode is both a reality check and a love letter to anyone who’s still trying. Hope isn’t naive or silly, it’s a practice. And dating, believe it or not, can still be a place where that practice actually matters.

We talk about the grief that comes with loss, the support found in the chosen family, and the quiet power of rebuilding when the dust settles. This isn’t about pretending it’s all okay. It’s about learning to hold both the heartbreak and the possibility. Whether you’re in the middle of a breakup, years past it, or supporting someone through theirs, this conversation is about reclaiming your story, your worth, and your hope — even when life doesn’t look like you thought it would.

Because sometimes the fucking point... is starting over and finally finding yourself.

Our guest today is Jess Grant and she is a therapist who specializes in helping individuals navigate many life transitions and struggles such as trauma, perinatal care, and women transitioning in relationships and with their bodies. She is a trained EMDR therapist and also hosts many trainings for other therapists. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, Jess offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on healing, growth, and rediscovering self-trust after major life transitions. She is growing her practice and will be starting a group practice, Cultivate & Connect, so if you are in need of a therapist and are located in Colorado, please reach out to Jess!

Places you can find therapists!

In the United States and other Countries you can go to Psychology Today and place your criteria that you would want in a therapist and the site will give you options of providers in your area: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

If you are in Colorado, my practice Integrated Counseling and Wellness is taking new clients, accepts insurance and can see anyone in the state of Colorado virtually and in person. Go to our website to learn more! www.integratedwellnessfc.com

About Our Guest:

Carrie Haynes, LPC, is a psychotherapist, educator, and facilitator with more than two decades of experience guiding individuals and groups. Her career has included private practice, directing group services at Colorado State University’s Counseling Center, and teaching counseling and psychology at CSU and the University of Northern Colorado.

Carrie has spent much of her career mentoring therapists and healing professionals in the art of group facilitation, blending her clinical background with a deep respect for the human need for connection and belonging.

Today, she leads retreats, trainings, and mentorship programs that integrate psychology with soulful, embodied group experiences. Her work helps professionals cultivate confidence and presence while offering participants the chance to experience the profound healing that emerges in community.

She can be found at: https://carriehayneslpc.com/ and see all of her offers to learn and experience Circles with her and others!

Content Note: This episode includes discussion of spirituality, religion, and personal emotional journeys. We also briefly discuss domestic violence. For some, these topics may feel sensitive or triggering, especially if you’ve experienced spiritual or religious harm. Please take care of yourself as you listen and pause if you need to.

Resources:

• If you're in Colorado you can connect with someone to talk to at 1-844-493-8255 or you can Text “TALK” to 38255
• If you’re in the U.S. and struggling with your mental health, you can call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• If you’re outside the U.S., please look up local crisis hotlines in your area or visit findahelpline.com to locate support near you.
• For those navigating religious or spiritual trauma, resources like the Religious Trauma Institute (religioustraumainstitute.com) and Recovering from Religion (recoveringfromreligion.org) may offer additional support.

To find more of what Alex/Alexi (she/they) is up to, please visit their Instagram @oftheriver. She offers free tarot spreads, opportunities to join women circles, and is taking new therapy clients in Washington and Colorado.

Let’s get honest about what it really means to hope while holding the dark.

Cited content: Fauna Inspiration Cards by Rebecca Lefebvre https://www.rebeccalefebvre.art/avec-la-vie

We also touch on the impact of trauma and abuse, and how these experiences shape our relationship to hope, worthiness, and the will to live. This conversation isn’t about toxic positivity—it’s about telling the truth, honoring pain, and staying connected when everything in you wants to disappear.

Whether you’ve lived this experience or love someone who has, this episode holds space for the heaviness and the humanity of it all.

Content Warning:

This episode contains open discussions about suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, emotional despair, abuse, and self-harm. Please listen with care. If you're in crisis or need someone to talk to, you're not alone. Help is available.

If you’re in Colorado:

• Colorado Crisis Services
• Call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255
• Available 24/7. You can also visit a walk-in crisis center. coloradocrisisservices.org

If you’re in the United States:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Call or text 988
• Available 24/7 for free, confidential support.

You are not a burden. You matter. There is space for you here.

Hope isn’t just an emotion—it’s a practice. And some days, it’s a fucking exhausting one. Especially when the world keeps handing us more than we’re built to carry.

Together, we’ll explore:

• Why sensory overload isn’t just a tech problem—it’s a soul problem
• How the 24/7 media cycle messes with our ability to access grounded hope
• The difference between informed and overwhelmed
• Tiny, doable ways to build hope when everything feels like too much

This episode is a breath, a boundary, and a call to remember that numbing out isn’t your only option. You’re not broken. You’re just tired—and there are gentler ways back to what matters.

Alyssa shares her background, her hopes for this space, and what listeners can expect in upcoming episodes: conversations on burnout and belonging, decolonizing mental health, creative clinical practices, and how we hold onto hope when things fall apart. If you’re craving thoughtful, grounded dialogue that honors both nuance and humanity, you’re in the right place.

Together, we explore:

• The difference between grounded hope and toxic positivity
• How hope can coexist with grief, anger, and fear
• The impact of collective struggles like global unrest, climate anxiety, and cultural trauma
• Why hope isn’t about pretending everything’s fine—it’s about choosing to care anyway
• A short guided practice to help you reconnect with a felt sense of hope

Plus: A reflective question to carry with you—What does hope mean to you right now?

Whether you’re a therapist, a healer, or someone simply trying to make it through these times with your integrity intact, this episode is a gentle invitation to reimagine what it means to hope.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Embodied visualization practice
• Personal reflection prompt
• Acknowledgment of collective emotional landscapes

Tune in, breathe deep, and know: Hope can live even here.