Convos from the Couch by LifeStance Health

Move Into Self-Care: The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

LifeStance therapist Victoria Benfer joins us in the new year for a thoughtful conversation on exercise as a powerful form of self-care. Together, we reframe movement beyond weight loss, focusing instead on its impact on mental health and overall well-being.
Victoria shares both personal experiences and clinical insights on how exercise can regulate stress, improve emotional and physical health, and bring greater mental clarity. The episode explores a range of accessible movement options—from yoga and strength training to simple activities like walking—while addressing common barriers to getting started and offering practical, realistic tips to overcome them. The conversation closes with tailored advice for mental health professionals on using exercise to prevent and manage burnout.

Navigating Holiday Stress Through Group Therapy

In this episode, we are joined by therapist Bill Franklin-Cromwell to explore the emotional challenges the holiday season can bring and how group therapy can help. Bill shares his background in trauma therapy and the inspiration behind creating his trauma-focused group, highlighting the powerful sense of connection and shared healing it offers participants.
The conversation touches on holiday stress and isolation, the ways group therapy complements individual therapy, and practical strategies for navigating emotionally charged gatherings—underscoring the importance of finding the right therapeutic fit.

Navigating Holiday Loneliness: Tips and Reflections

The holidays can be a lonely time for many—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. In this episode we chat with Adaobi Innocent, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at LifeStance Health, to unpack why the season can feel especially heavy.
We explore common triggers like loss, pressure to meet expectations, financial strain, and illness, while sharing practical, compassionate strategies to cope—from building connection and practicing self-care to embracing hobbies and self-compassion. The conversation also highlights how to spot signs of loneliness in loved ones and when to offer support or encourage professional help.

Reborn Dolls: Finding Comfort and Connection

In this episode, we sit down with LifeStance therapist Victoria Benfer to explore the growing trend of reborn dolls—remarkably lifelike, artist-crafted baby dolls that have captured increasing public interest. Victoria discusses the many roles these dolls play, from offering comfort to those coping with infant loss or loneliness, to supporting connection and calm for older adults in memory care settings, to serving as a creative outlet for dedicated collectors.
She also addresses the importance of maintaining healthy boundaries, noting potential risks such as emotional overdependence or blurred lines between fantasy and reality. This thoughtful conversation offers an empathetic, balanced look at the rise of reborn dolls and the complex emotional needs they can help meet.

Unwrapping Spotify Wrapped: A Musical Reflection

LifeStance therapist Jordan Parmenter joins us to unpack the cultural moment that is Spotify Wrapped. We explore what this end-of-year tradition reveals about our listening habits, why it resonates so strongly, and how it can offer both emotional validation and a sense of connection.
Jordan shares his own experiences with Spotify Wrapped—highlighting the joy, surprises, and occasional self-reflection it brings. The conversation also looks at the impact of social comparison and FOMO when people share their results online, and how these reactions can shape our sense of identity and belonging.
The episode closes with a thoughtful reminder: embracing your own musical tastes—without embarrassment or competition—is a meaningful act of self-acceptance.

Demystifying DBT: A Deep Dive into Dialectical Behavior Therapy

LifeStance therapist Threasa Kluever offers helpful insights on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—an evidence-based approach that helps individuals build skills for managing emotions, navigating relationships, and improving overall well-being.
Tee shares her professional journey and how she came to specialize in DBT, offering accessible explanations of its core components: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. She breaks down foundational DBT skills—like Wise Mind, DEAR MAN, and radical acceptance—and highlights how these tools can support people facing challenges such as borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and depression.
The conversation also touches on what patients can expect from the typical DBT treatment timeline and why this approach can be especially meaningful for those who are just beginning their mental health journey.

The Many Faces of Domestic Violence: What Everyone Should Know

LifeStance therapist Yolanda Frantzich joins us for an in-depth look at domestic violence—its prevalence, its patterns, and the wide range of abusive behaviors it can involve. Yolanda combines her clinical knowledge with personal experience, describing how her own past relationship inspired her to pursue a career in therapy. She breaks down the many forms of abuse, including physical harm, emotional manipulation, sexual coercion, financial control, and the growing impact of technological abuse such as digital monitoring and harassment.
The conversation also delves into the systemic and psychological factors that keep victims trapped, including isolation, shame, and trauma bonding. Yolanda further shares the devastating story of her sister’s death due to domestic violence, underscoring the urgent need for early recognition of warning signs and timely intervention.
This episode provides actionable insights, raises awareness about the complexity of domestic violence, and reinforces the message that support is available—and that no one should feel compelled to stay in an abusive relationship.

Healing from Within: Practical Grounding Tools for Dissociation

Therapist Emily Broad joins the conversation to explore dissociation—what it is, how it manifests, and strategies for managing it. She shares practical grounding tools, including the 5-4-3-2-1 method and personalized breathing exercises. The discussion also covers building body awareness, particularly for trauma survivors, and approaches to gently increase tolerance for challenging emotions. Emily emphasizes that experiencing dissociation is not a personal failing and offers hope for healing and growth.