What Your Therapist Wants You To Know

In this episode, Josh and Crystal unpack Mark Manson's bestselling book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck from the perspective of mental health and emotional well-being. While the title is provocative, the core message isn't about becoming indifferent--it's about becoming intentional. They explore the idea that emotional discomfort isn't something to eliminate, it's something to understand. Another key theme is personal responsibility. Taking ownership of your healing can be empowering rather than shaming. 
Whether you've read the book or are simply feeling overwhelmed by life's endless demands, this conversation offers a balanced therapeutic perspective on choosing what truly matters and letting go of the rest. Find your takeaways from the discussion and then decide if it is a book that you will pick up and read fully!

In this episode, Josh and Crystal explore their second book In the summer reading series, Atomic Habits by James Clear. They break down the book going over key concepts and takeaways and discuss who would benefit most from reading this book. They unpack why small, consistent changes often lead to the greatest transformation and how our habits reinforce our identity. Whether you're trying to improve your physical health, strengthen your relationships, reduce anxiety, or simply be more intentional in your daily life, this conversation offers practical strategies grounded in both behavioral science and therapeutic insight. Join us as we discuss how lasting change begins one small step at a time and why becoming the person you want to be starts long before you see the results. 

Join Josh and Crystal as they discuss the first book in the summer book series! In this episode, they discuss the book Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller. They define the three primary attachment styles: secure, anxious, and avoidant. They explore common relationship patterns, including fear of abandonment, emotional distancing, mixed signals, and the pursuit-withdraw cycle that many couples experience. Most importantly, they talk about the hope found in developing greater self-awareness and moving toward more secure relationships. Whether you're dating, married, healing from a breakup, or simply curious about your relationship patterns, this conversation offers practical insights from the book and a therapeutic perspective on connection. Stay tuned until the end to hear the next book in our summer book series! 

Crystal gives a brief intro for our summer book series. Join us as we work through 6 popular self-help books this summer and discover what we like and find helpful. Read along with us or just join us for the discussion on each episode! 

In this episode, Josh and Crystal discuss the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, how perfectionism and overwhelm can quietly drain your energy, and why waiting to "feel motivated" often keeps people stuck. Sometimes the goal isn't pushing harder, it's identifying what's emotionally weighing you down, reconnecting with your values, and learning how to take small, sustainable steps forward. They end with reminding you that action precedes motivation and to remember that motivation always ebbs and flows. 

In this episode, Josh and Crystal interview Mallory, a local dietician who runs The Gut Edit, who helps us set the framework for our relationship to food. We explore what it really means to build a healthy relationship with food--not through guilt, restriction, or perfection, but through curiosity, balance, and self-compassion. She helps us unpack the diet culture, which often shapes the way we view our bodies and why so many people feel stuck in cycles of shame around food.
This conversation offers a therapeutic perspective on learning to listen to your body, honor your needs, and separate your worth from what you eat. Whether you struggle with emotional eating, food guilt, all or nothing thinking, or simply want more peace around meals, this episode is a reminder that healing often begins when we examine our rules and adjust accordingly. 

Graduation is often described as a joyful milestone filled with celebration, accomplishment, and anticipation for the future. But in this episode, Crystal and Josh explore the quieter side of graduation that many people experience but rarely talk about: grief. 
Whether it's leaving behind friendships, saying goodbye to familiar routines, grieving unmet expectations, or navigating major life transitions, graduation can bring a surprising mix of emotions. Listeners are reminded that grief is not limited to death or tragedy-it can also emerge during moments of growth and change. 
This episode emphasizes importance of acknowledging emotions rather than minimizing or ignoring them. Crystal and Josh reframe graduation not simply as an ending or beginning, but as a complex emotional transition that deserves compassion, reflection, and support. 

In this special episode, Crystal interviews Josh and his wife Elizabeth on how to build a healthy marriage. We explore what it really took for them to create and sustain a relationship, not just in the good seasons, but through stress, conflict, loss, and change. Rather than focusing on perfection, the conversation centers on intentional connection, communication, and growth over time. They are honest about the challenges they endured and the mistakes they made early on. This episode emphasizes that strong marriages are not found, they are built intentionally through assigning positive intent, flexibility, commitment, and shared values. Growth comes from being willing to learn, adapt, and show up for one another, even when it's difficult and maybe even counterintuitive. 

In this episode, Crystal interviews Baylen and Josh on their lived experience with chronic illness. We explore what's it's really like to live day in and day out with the burden and fear of carrying something that no one can really see. This episode highlights the mental and emotional side of living with chronic allergies, including frustration, isolation, and the need for constant planning. Listeners will learn to advocate for themselves and their body safety, the importance of boundaries, and the necessity of informed support systems. We encourage a shift in perspective, instead of focusing only on limitations or restrictions, we emphasize resilience, adaptability, and truly discovering the ability to still thrive. 

In today's episode of What Your Therapist Wants You To Know, we explore the emotional and practical realities of career transitions--whether you're changing jobs, accepting a promotion, shifting industries, or rethinking your long-term path.
Career transitions can often be seen as exciting opportunities, but they can also bring uncertainty, self-doubt, grief, and fear of the unknown. From a therapeutic perspective, these moments are not just professional shifts...they're identity shifts. Letting go of a familiar role can feel like losing part of yourself, even when you're moving toward something better. 
Josh and Crystal remind listeners that growth often requires change--and while transitions can feel uncomfortable, they are often the doorway to greater clarity, purpose, and fulfillment.