Convos from the Couch by LifeStance Health

In this episode of Convos from the Couch, host Nicholette Leanza sits down with Executive Clinical Director Matt Solit to explore the fascinating connection between food and mental health. Matt shares his journey from culinary enthusiast to mental health professional, explaining how mindful eating practices can reduce anxiety, depression, and binge-eating disorders.
They discuss the importance of viewing "food as a dance, not a fight," and practical ways families can develop healthier relationships with nutrition. Matt offers insights on raising children with positive food associations, lessons from Blue Zone diets where longevity thrives, and how shared family meals correlate with lower rates of eating disorders and improved mental wellbeing. Perfect for National Nutrition Month, this conversation provides practical strategies to transform your relationship with food and enhance both physical and mental health.

Why are we often our own harshest critics? In this insightful episode, Allyson Bence explores the psychology behind self-criticism and how it fuels anxiety and isolation.
She introduces key techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—including thought diffusion, thoughts on a cloud, and thought labeling—to help create distance from negative thinking patterns. Tune in as Allyson shares practical strategies to shift your mindset, break free from self-judgment, and cultivate greater self-compassion.
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In this special Valentine's episode, we talk with licensed marriage and family therapist Leanna Stockard about relationships and dating.
Leanna shares her insights on common barriers to forming meaningful romantic connections, the impact of past relationship experiences, the influence of dating apps and social media, and the importance of self-reflection and vulnerability in dating.
She also discusses practical advice for overcoming toxic relationship patterns and emphasizes that everyone's dating process is unique, urging listeners to avoid comparison traps.
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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Aaliyah Gibbons about mental health within the Black community in honor of Black History Month.
Dr. Gibbons, a licensed clinical psychologist, emphasizes the importance of education and advocacy in underserved populations. They explore the impact of social determinants of health such as housing, jobs, and education on mental health within Black communities. Dr. Gibbons outlines obstacles Black individuals face in accessing mental health support, including the significance of racial concordance between providers and patients.
The conversation also highlights the importance of intersectionality, celebrating diverse Black experiences, and focusing on resilience within the Black community.
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LifeStance therapist Jordon Evander–Williams joins us to discuss the integration of alternative spiritual modalities in therapy. Jordon shares his journey in using spiritual techniques to support diverse communities, insights on distinguishing spiritual experiences from psychosis, and the role of cultural influences in mental health.
Listeners will also learn about tools like grounding exercises, guided meditation, and tuning forks for energy clearing.
The episode concludes with a special guided meditation led by Jordon, offering a moment of mindfulness and healing.
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Quan Bernardine, a licensed clinical social worker at LifeStance Health discusses the critical importance of mindfulness for essential workers. Quan shares her passion for integrating psychotherapy with mindfulness to combat chronic burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma. She emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness, supported by stats from the American Psychological Association, and introduces simple, practical techniques like the 5x5 breathing exercise.
The discussion also covers the unique mental health challenges essential workers face, barriers to maintaining mindfulness practices, and the importance of self-prioritization for overall well-being.
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Dr. Kristen MacGregor joins us to discuss navigating pregnancy after a miscarriage or loss. Dr. MacGregor, a clinical health psychologist specializing in women's health, explores the significant anxiety that often accompanies subsequent pregnancies after a loss, the importance of integrating behavioral health into medical care, and strategies to help women enjoy their pregnancies despite their fears.
We cover the role of loved ones and clinicians in providing support, emphasizing the importance of compassion and understanding. 
 
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In this episode of 'Convos from the Couch' by LifeStance Health, we talk with therapist William Acton about using the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) as a therapeutic tool. Acton shares his background and how his love for storytelling led him to integrate D&D into his practice. He explains the basics of D&D and how he adapts the game for therapy sessions, helping clients address issues like social anxiety, anger, grief, and more.
Acton discusses the therapeutic benefits, such as improved communication and acceptance of failure, and the flexibility of D&D to meet various therapeutic goals. He also describes his training through Geek Therapeutics and mentions the broad applicability of tabletop RPGs in therapy.
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