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Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT

ShrinkChicks

A Mental Health , Health & Fitness and Education podcast Explicit

#138 in Mental Health · 🇨🇦 #147 in Mental Health · 🇺🇸
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About the show

Emmalee Bierly, LMFT and Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT, owners and co-founders of The Therapy Group (@thetherapygrp), bring you the ShrinkChicks Podcast. ShrinkChicks is on a mission to make therapy and therapeutic topics more relatable and accessible. Each Monday, Emmalee and Jen will explore different mental health topics and invite you to sit in on their insight, humor, and knowledge, leaving the psychobabble behind.

Newest episodes

Do I Actually Like Them, or Am I Just Anxious?

40 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dive into relationship anxiety and the question so many people find themselves asking: Do I actually like this person, or am I just anxious? They explore how to tell the difference between genuine red flags and anxiety-driven fears, how anxious attachment can influence who we're attracted to, and why we sometimes mistake the relief of getting someone's attention for actual connection. They also unpack relationship OCD, reassurance seeking, and why our past experiences can shape what feels familiar in relationships. They answer listener questions about chasing emotionally unavailable people, confusing butterflies with anxiety, losing interest when someone is actually nice to you, and needing validation or reassurance from a partner. They also get into how to communicate without blaming, why we fantasize about exes when we're unhappy or stressed, and how to recognize when you're trying to make a relationship work because of the time you've already invested rather than what it's actually giving you. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Give the gift of Zenni this holiday season: glasses, sunglasses, whatever they need. Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freest...

The Mental Load: Parental Burnout and the Default Parent

42 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dive into mental load, parental burnout, and what it means to be the default parent. They explore the invisible work of running a family, from anticipating everyone’s needs to remembering, planning, and making sure things actually get done. They also unpack why saying “just give me a list” doesn’t always solve the problem, how overfunctioning can lead to underfunctioning, and why dividing responsibilities equitably means more than simply splitting tasks. They answer listener questions about coparenting when one person carries most of the mental load, splitting responsibilities when one partner stays home or works remotely, and getting your partner to take ownership without being reminded. They also discuss maternal gatekeeping, navigating in-laws who don’t see the imbalance, and how personal growth can bring up complicated feelings about your own family and friendships in this week’s Dear Em & Jen. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Give the gift of Zenni this holiday season: glasses, sunglasses, whatever they need. Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchi...

Dear Em & Jen: Real-Life Advice on Love, Loss, and Family

39 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are bringing you a full episode of Dear Em & Jen listener questions, diving into topics from career setbacks and complicated relationships to divorce, family tension, and trying to conceive after sexual trauma. They share what they’ve learned from building their own therapy practice, why failure is part of growth, and how comparison can get in the way not only of joy, but of growth too. They discuss falling for someone who may not be compatible with your long-term goals, grieving a marriage while feeling hopeful about the future, and navigating family relationships that feel more performative than genuine. Along the way, they explore how to hold two seemingly conflicting feelings at once, stay grounded in your values, and build relationships that leave room for honesty, vulnerability, and change. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 8 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Tumble: For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at Tumbleliving.com/SHRINKCHICKS Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com...

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 340 episodes

Do I Actually Like Them, or Am I Just Anxious?

40 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dive into relationship anxiety and the question so many people find themselves asking: Do I actually like this person, or am I just anxious? They explore how to tell the difference between genuine red flags and anxiety-driven fears, how anxious attachment can influence who we're attracted to, and why we sometimes mistake the relief of getting someone's attention for actual connection. They also unpack relationship OCD, reassurance seeking, and why our past experiences can shape what feels familiar in relationships. They answer listener questions about chasing emotionally unavailable people, confusing butterflies with anxiety, losing interest when someone is actually nice to you, and needing validation or reassurance from a partner. They also get into how to communicate without blaming, why we fantasize about exes when we're unhappy or stressed, and how to recognize when you're trying to make a relationship work because of the time you've already invested rather than what it's actually giving you. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Give the gift of Zenni this holiday season: glasses, sunglasses, whatever they need. Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freest...

The Mental Load: Parental Burnout and the Default Parent

42 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dive into mental load, parental burnout, and what it means to be the default parent. They explore the invisible work of running a family, from anticipating everyone’s needs to remembering, planning, and making sure things actually get done. They also unpack why saying “just give me a list” doesn’t always solve the problem, how overfunctioning can lead to underfunctioning, and why dividing responsibilities equitably means more than simply splitting tasks. They answer listener questions about coparenting when one person carries most of the mental load, splitting responsibilities when one partner stays home or works remotely, and getting your partner to take ownership without being reminded. They also discuss maternal gatekeeping, navigating in-laws who don’t see the imbalance, and how personal growth can bring up complicated feelings about your own family and friendships in this week’s Dear Em & Jen. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Give the gift of Zenni this holiday season: glasses, sunglasses, whatever they need. Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchi...

Dear Em & Jen: Real-Life Advice on Love, Loss, and Family

39 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are bringing you a full episode of Dear Em & Jen listener questions, diving into topics from career setbacks and complicated relationships to divorce, family tension, and trying to conceive after sexual trauma. They share what they’ve learned from building their own therapy practice, why failure is part of growth, and how comparison can get in the way not only of joy, but of growth too. They discuss falling for someone who may not be compatible with your long-term goals, grieving a marriage while feeling hopeful about the future, and navigating family relationships that feel more performative than genuine. Along the way, they explore how to hold two seemingly conflicting feelings at once, stay grounded in your values, and build relationships that leave room for honesty, vulnerability, and change. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 8 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Tumble: For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at Tumbleliving.com/SHRINKCHICKS Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com...

Overwhelmed vs. Overstimulated: What Your Nervous System Is Actually Telling You

40 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dive into the difference between feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated, and what’s actually happening in your nervous system when everything suddenly feels like too much. They explore why some people become overstimulated more easily than others, how things like sleep, hunger, noise, stress, and hormones can affect your capacity, and why it can show up as anxiety, rage, panic, or shutdown. They answer listener questions about what to do when your usual coping skills stop working, how to feel less scattered, managing a job that leaves you overwhelmed every day, and explaining overstimulation to a partner. They also discuss what to do when you’re on the verge of a panic attack, how to avoid taking your feelings out on other people, and why recognizing your own warning signs can help you step away before you reach your breaking point. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Cozy Earth: Head to CozyEarth.com and use our code SHRINKCHICKS for an exclusive 20% off home and sleepwear  Tumble:...

The Sex Recession: Why Everyone's Too Stressed for Intimacy

40 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, we’re talking about sex, baby, and why everyone seems to be having less of it. The “sex recession” is a real thing, and Em and Jen are exploring how stress, lack of sleep, work, social media, and the constant stream of bad news can affect libido. Plus, the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, and why improving your sex life might be less about adding more “gas” and more about taking your foot off the brakes. They answer listener questions about mismatched sex drives, separating sex from emotional intimacy, navigating intimacy during pregnancy and while trying to conceive, and friends with benefits. They also discuss rebuilding a healthy sex life after an affair, sexual side effects from antidepressants, and why communication about what sex and intimacy actually mean to each partner matters. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Cozy Earth: Head to CozyEarth.com and use our code SHRINKCHICKS for an exclusive 20% off home and sleepwear  Tumble: For a limited time only, our li...

Emotional Flooding: Why You Shut Down Mid-Argument

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk all about emotional flooding and why you might shut down, go blank, or struggle to find your words when you’re flooded. They explain what happens in your brain and body when your nervous system becomes overwhelmed, why shutting down can be a protective response, and how patterns that helped you growing up can follow you into adult relationships. Your hosts answer listener questions about emotional flooding in therapy, functioning when you’re overwhelmed, and how to work on preventing shut down without relying on willpower alone. They also explore the difference between emotional flooding and stonewalling, how to communicate what’s happening to your partner, and discuss why taking a break during conflict can be an important part of staying connected. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Cozy Earth: Head to CozyEarth.com and use our code SHRINKCHICKS for an exclusive 20% off home and sleepwear  Tumble: For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at Tumb...

Why AI Can’t Replace Human Connection with Mike Blanche

44 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are joined by licensed clinical social worker and addiction expert Mike Blanche from Ethos Treatment to talk about how technology, social media, and AI are quickly changing our mental health and relationships. Mike shares what he’s seeing after more than 20 years in the field, including why turning to AI for emotional support or relationship advice can leave us missing the vulnerability, nuance, and connection that come from interacting with real people. They explore how to recognize when technology use becomes an addiction, the impact of social media on our expectations of ourselves, and why constant digital distractions can make us miss the small moments that build relationships. Mike also shares how parents can teach kids healthier technology habits, why shame makes these conversations harder, and what AI can, and can’t, offer when it comes to therapy and human connection. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! Mentioned in today’s episode: The Anxious GenerationThe Social Dilemma documentary You can find today’s guest by visiting ethostreatment.com. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Cozy Earth: Head...

Mother-Daughter Relationships: Why Are They So Complicated?

38 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dive into mother-daughter relationships and why they can bring up some of our biggest emotions, even well into adulthood. They explore attachment, childhood wounds, differentiation, seeking your mom’s approval, and why one comment from your mother can somehow ruin your entire week. They answer listener questions about setting boundaries, feeling guilty for not wanting a close relationship, dealing with a mother’s anxiety, accepting a relationship that isn’t emotionally intimate, and why we can feel both suffocated by and deeply attached to our moms. Your hosts also unpack why we’re often meanest to the people we feel safest with, how to handle a defensive mom, and what it looks like to stop seeking something from your mother that she may never be able to give you. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

What Does It Mean to Practice Radical Acceptance?

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk all about radical acceptance, a core DBT skill that involves fully acknowledging reality as it is, even when you don’t like it, agree with it, or think it’s fair. They explore how acceptance can actually create more freedom and make change possible, rather than meaning you’re giving up. They answer listener questions about radical acceptance vs. settling and minimization, accepting something you’re still angry about, and whether you can accept someone without accepting or condoning their behavior. They also discuss patience, grief, anxiety, panic, and what it means to accept a reality that wasn’t your fault but is still yours to navigate. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 7:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rewind: Building Self-Confidence

36 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen are throwing it back to an episode from 2024, Building Self-Confidence. This was one of their top episodes, and during this holiday weekend, they wanted to re-release it to share tips and tricks that can help you build self-confidence and self-esteem. They discuss why doing something new can trigger feelings of insecurity, self-confidence and mastery, how to know if your inner critic is right or wrong, building self-confidence with a core wound of unworthiness, how to validate yourself, when people's opinions matter vs. when they don’t, and so much more! Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6:45 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65 Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How to Cope With Emotionally Immature Family Relationships

37 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk all about emotionally immature parents and in-laws, the boundaries that can get blurry in family relationships, and how to protect your peace without losing yourself. They explore why understanding emotional immaturity and childhood emotional neglect can be so validating, especially when family members see the relationship very differently than you do. They answer listener questions about setting boundaries with in-laws, navigating a partner’s relationship with their parents, witnessing unhealthy family dynamics, and breaking patterns when both partners grew up with emotionally immature parents. Along the way, they get into lowering expectations, sharing less, and figuring out what parts of yourself feel safe to bring into difficult family relationships. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5:45 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and use code SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off your order Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Tumble: For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at tumbleliving.com/SHRINKCHICKS Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fo...

Navigating Mental Health Struggles in a Relationship

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about being the partner of someone struggling with mental health, or being the partner struggling, and what it’s like to navigate mental illness within a relationship. They explore the balance between supporting a partner and overfunctioning for them, while recognizing that fairness doesn’t always mean doing the same exact things. They also discuss how relationships can evolve as each person’s needs, capacity, and mental health change over time. They answer listener questions about depression, ADHD, BPD, mental load, guilt, and boundaries, and discuss how to ask for more progress without making your partner feel unsupported. Along the way, they explore why support and expectations can coexist, how to recognize when you’re becoming someone’s treatment plan, and how to protect your own needs while showing up for someone you love. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5:15 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and use code SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off your order Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Tumble: For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at tumbleliving.com/SHRINKCHICK...

Jealousy in Romantic Relationships & Beyond

38 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, we’re talking all about jealousy. Where does it actually come from, and what do you do with it? Your hosts dive into jealousy at every angle; anxious attachment and reassurance-seeking, why checking a partner's ex's Instagram feeds the monster instead of starving it, and how to build real security instead of chasing a certainty that doesn't exist. Some people barely feel jealousy at all, and that gets explored too, including whether it might tie back to avoidant attachment. Listener questions cover picking fights over an ex, the fear of being "replaceable" with a partner's friends or coworkers, jealousy tied to fertility and IVF, and the sting of being treated differently than a sibling-in-law. There's a breakdown of Sue Johnson's A.R.E. framework for building security in a relationship, plus what to do when a parent's infidelity makes it hard to trust a partner who's never given a reason not to be trusted. Dear Em & Jen goes past jealousy entirely: the shame of not feeling happy for other people, and where that reflex really comes from. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 3:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and use code SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off yo...

When Is It Time to Say Enough in a Relationship?

38 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen take on a common yet difficult relationship question: how do you know when it's time to stay and fight for a relationship, versus when it's time to leave? They break down discernment counseling, a specific, structured approach to help you get clarity, and explore why "enough" is rarely one big event. The hosts dig into the difference between loyalty and self-erosion, why "if you can't handle me at my worst" is a myth we should retire, and what it actually means to love someone with accountability. Plus, Em and Jen answer listener questions on emotional neglect without an obvious "problem," discuss why healthy relationships are sometimes boring in the best way, how to gently tell a friend they deserve better, and how to support someone through infidelity or a years-long fence-sit. In Dear Em & Jen, they respond to a listener carrying decade-old shame over an affair and how to navigate moving forward.  Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 8 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and use code SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off your order Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order plus free shipping on all US ord...

Why Therapy Works: Real Wins From the ShrinkChicks Community

37 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen celebrate the many ways therapy can change your life by sharing powerful stories and wins from the ShrinkChicks community as well as themselves. From learning to regulate emotions and set healthier boundaries to receiving long-awaited diagnoses and building stronger relationships, this episode highlights the lasting impact that therapy can have. They discuss why the relationship with your therapist matters so much, how therapy creates the space to respond instead of react, and why healing often opens doors far beyond your mental health. Listener stories touch on OCD diagnoses, finding self-acceptance, becoming a better partner, pursuing careers in therapy, and simply surviving life's hardest moments. The episode wraps with a conversation about grieving a former career while still feeling confident in the life you've chosen today. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and use code SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off your order Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy N...

Navigating Conversations Through Relationship Milestones

38 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about the hard conversations that come with every stage of a relationship and why they're never just a one-time discussion. From marriage and finances to kids, careers, family dynamics, and major life transitions, they explore how healthy relationships require ongoing communication as life continues changing. They answer listener questions about bringing up a prenup, navigating seasons of sacrifice, deciding whether you're ready for kids, asking for help during uncertain life transitions, and telling a partner you want to leave a stable, high-paying job. Along the way, they discuss how fear shapes relationship decisions, why sacrifice only works when it's appreciated, and how to approach difficult conversations as teammates instead of opponents. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 7:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and use code SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off your order Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...

How to Argue Without Ruining Your Relationship

38 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dive into what it really means to fight fairly in relationships and how conflict can actually bring couples closer when it’s handled well. They explore the difference between productive conflict and escalation, and why learning how you and your partner argue is just as important as learning how you love. The conversation breaks down common conflict mistakes like bringing up the past, using blame or contempt, and not taking a pause when feeling activated. Em and Jen also discuss how to regulate your nervous system in real time, when to take a break during a fight, and how to repair after disagreement, especially in front of kids or when emotions are high. Listener questions cover how to stay grounded when you feel unheard, how to introduce healthier conflict tools to a partner who isn’t used to them, and what to do when insecurities get activated in the middle of an argument. The episode centers on one core question: in moments of conflict, do you want to be right, or do you want to be close? Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. Book mentioned in today’s episode: How to Be an Adult in Relationships ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and u...

Insecurities: Why They Keep You Stuck (and How to Move Forward)

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen unpack insecurities: where they come from, why everyone has them, and how they quietly shape our relationships, careers, and sense of self. They explore the connection between insecurity and hyper-independence, why asking for help can feel so uncomfortable, and how comparison culture can keep us stuck. They also answer listener questions about needing reassurance in relationships, feeling hurt when someone's energy changes, worrying people won't like the "real" you, and what to do when you realize past choices were driven by insecurity instead of authenticity. Along the way, they discuss attachment, vulnerability, self-compassion, and how healing begins by challenging the stories we've carried for years. The Still Face Experiment mentioned in today’s episode: https://www.gottman.com/blog/research-still-face-experiment/ Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and use code SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off your order Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day...

Rewind: Boundaries with Emotionally Immature People

46 min

On this rewind episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen welcome Nedra Glover Tawwab back to the podcast! Nedra is a licensed therapist, a New York Times Bestselling author, and an expert on relationships and boundaries. If you haven’t followed her on Instagram yet, go do it now! They start the episode off by talking about Nedra's book, Consider This. Then, Nedra answers your questions about emotionally immature people and boundaries. She covers topics like navigating the emotionally immature parent/child relationship as an adult, how to know if you're the emotionally immature one, setting boundaries with people who say "it's not that deep," appeasing to avoid conflict, and so much more! Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton and all of our favorite pieces, at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SHRINKCHICKS at https://www.oneskin.co/SHRINKCHICKS #oneskinp Nine to Kind: Go to ninetokind.com and use code SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off your order Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sibling Relationships in Adulthood: Closeness, Conflict, and Boundaries

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about adult sibling relationships and why growing up in the same family doesn't always mean growing up with the same experience. They explore how family roles, parentification, favoritism, and changing family dynamics can shape sibling relationships long after childhood. They answer listener questions about feeling responsible for younger siblings, navigating resentment toward a "golden child" sibling, and having difficult conversations without blame. They also discuss what happens when your emotional growth outpaces your family, how to avoid getting pulled into triangulation, and why siblings often experience the same parents in completely different ways. The conversation also covers the eldest daughter dynamic, repairing relationships after years of distance, and how to let go of roles that may have helped you survive childhood but no longer serve you as an adult. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 10:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. Link to Siblings Without Rivalry book mentioned ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!!= Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perel...

Are You Settling or Just Compromising in Your Relationship?

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen unpack the difference between compromise and settling in relationships, and why the line between them can feel so confusing sometimes. They explore how compromise is typically preference-based and healthy within a relationship, while settling often involves self-abandonment, avoidance, or giving up core parts of yourself. The two answer listener questions about how to tell the difference in real time, what to do if you realize you’ve settled after the fact, and how social media highlight reels can distort our perception of our own relationships. They also dive into patterns of one-sided compromise, unconscious “relationship contracts,” and whether it’s possible to love someone deeply while still grieving what the relationship isn’t. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 8:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first ord...

How Our Assumptions Keep Us Stuck

36 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about how assumptions can quietly keep us stuck in relationships, work, and everyday life. From assuming people are upset with us to deciding how conversations will go before they happen, they unpack why our brains fill in the blanks and how those patterns often start as protection. They answer listener questions about mind reading, assuming a partner doesn’t want connection, putting off hard conversations with friends, worrying your boss is disappointed in you, and feeling like asking for help makes you a burden. They also get into confirmation bias, cognitive distortions, and why the stories we tell ourselves can feel safer than finding out what’s actually true. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5:45 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks and use code 5...

When Life Doesn’t Look the Way You Thought It Would

35 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about expectations versus reality and why life’s biggest moments often don’t feel the way we imagined they would. From marriage and motherhood to careers, birthdays, friendships, and family relationships, they explore what happens when reality doesn’t match the version we pictured in our heads. They answer listener questions about difficult in-law relationships, weddings bringing family dynamics to the surface, feeling disconnected from old versions of yourself, leaving an abusive relationship but not feeling immediate relief, and why even leaving something unhealthy can still bring sadness and grief. They also dive into pregnancy expectations, birthday pressure, and how letting go of the “right” way to experience life can create more room for what’s actually here. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 7 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and us...

How to Build Adult Friendships

37 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about making friends as an adult and why something that used to happen naturally can suddenly feel so difficult. They unpack what actually creates friendship (hint: it’s less chemistry and more repeated proximity), why exclusion feels so dysregulating, and how friendships naturally evolve over time. They answer listener questions about where to meet people, making friends without kids, maintaining self-esteem when you feel left out, navigating friendships that have drifted, and what to do when one friend starts carrying too much emotional weight. They also talk about introversion, political differences in friendship, and how to know when a friendship is changing versus when it’s truly run its course. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order GreenChef: Head to Greenc...

Rewind: How to Respond and Not React

42 min

On today's rewind episode of ShrinkChicks, Emmalee and Jen discuss what it actually looks like to respond, not react. They discuss the practice of responding and not reacting, identifying and understanding your personal triggers, responding vs. reacting with others AND with yourself, why romantic relationships typically trigger us the most, and working toward not absorbing other people’s energy/mood. The episode ends with a Dear Em & Jen about being caught between a parent and a partner. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 7:15 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. Get Matched With One of Our Therapists at The Therapy Group! ShrinkChicks on Instagram Our Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks and use code 50shrinkchicks to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order See Priv...

Feeling Lonely in a Relationship and How to Fix It

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about feeling lonely in a relationship: why it happens, how common it is, and what actually helps you reconnect. They explore loneliness during different life stages, especially after having kids, why expecting one partner to meet every emotional need is a recipe for failure, and how differences in emotional depth or love languages can contribute to disconnection. Listener questions cover the “roommate phase,” busy seasons of life, mismatched hobbies, and how to bring back playfulness and excitement in long-term relationships. Their conversation focuses on practical ways to rebuild connection through curiosity, communication, and creating moments of aliveness, even when life feels full. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:15 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shri...

Kids or Childfree: How to Decide What’s Right for You with Keltie Maguire

47 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are joined by Keltie Maguire, host of The Kids or Childfree Podcast and a clarity coach who helps people decide between parenthood or a childfree life. Together, they unpack the often overwhelming “in-between” of not knowing what you want, why that gray area can feel so hard to sit in, and how to get out of it.  Keltie shares her own experience of being on the fence for years, why clarity doesn’t always “arrive,” and how decision-making around kids often comes with anxiety, pressure, and fear of regret. They explore how to tell the difference between not wanting kids vs. fear of the unknown, how to talk to a partner about the decision, and why “if it’s not a 100% yes, it’s a no” isn’t actually helpful advice. The conversation also covers financial fears, the reality of parenting, and how to think about regret in a more nuanced way, because no matter what you choose, there will be hard parts. You can find Keltie on Instagram @kidsorchildfree, at kidsorchildfree.com, and on The Kids or Childfree Podcast. Book mentioned in this episode: The Baby Decision Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-mont...

Why Relationships Change Over Time

37 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen break down the phases of relationships and how couples evolve over time, from the honeymoon stage to deeper intimacy. Using a developmental model from couples therapy, they explain why conflict often comes from partners being in different stages at the same time. They walk through each phase and explain why the shift out of the honeymoon stage can feel so jarring. Listener questions cover when to seek couples therapy, what premarital counseling actually looks like, and how to navigate major life transitions like job loss or having kids. They also get into how to have more meaningful and authentic conversations, why relationship skills aren’t innate, and how to move through each stage with more awareness and connection. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. Book mentioned: How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/shrinkchicks with code shrinkchicks. Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks #skimspartner Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks. Zenni: Go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order. Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: H...

When to Go No Contact: Boundaries vs. Cutting Someone Off

37 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about estrangement and going no contact, a topic that’s more common than we think but still carries a lot of stigma. They unpack why people choose cutoff, the difference between setting boundaries and full estrangement, and why there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. They explore when hard conversations should come first, how to decide between taking space versus cutting someone off, and how to make these decisions from a grounded place. Listener questions cover navigating different timelines with a partner, deciding whether to reconnect, and handling outsiders who take sides. The conversation also touches on guilt, grief, and resentment, and why you don’t owe anyone an explanation for the boundaries you choose. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks #skimspartner Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks. Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks and use code 50shrinkchicks to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-n...

Navigating Your “What Am I Doing?” Era

36 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about navigating the “what am I doing with my life” era, those moments when your path, career, or identity no longer feels as clear as it once did. Whether it’s a career pivot, life transition, or just a general sense of uncertainty, this stage can bring up doubt, anxiety, and a lot of second-guessing. They explore the difference between burnout and being in the wrong career, how the sunk-cost fallacy keeps people stuck, and why feeling lost in the middle of something is more common than we think. Listener questions cover career changes, grad school panic, losing motivation after major life shifts like having kids, and the pressure to find a “passion.” The conversation also gets into imposter syndrome in adulthood, trusting yourself versus being in denial, and how to make decisions when you don’t feel 100% certain. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 9:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks #skimspartner Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks. Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks and use code 50shrinkchic...

Why Childhood Pain Shows Up in Adult Life

39 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen explore healing your inner child and advice to give to the kid who lives within your adult self. They talk about why revisiting younger versions of ourselves can bring both compassion and anger, and how learning to care for your inner child can help break patterns that still show up in adult relationships. Listener questions dive into projection and unresolved childhood pain, how to hold empathy for your parents while still honoring anger or grief, and why becoming a parent can suddenly activate deeper feelings about how you were raised. Em and Jen also discuss the concept of the “adaptive child,” how childhood survival strategies show up in adulthood, and what it looks like to reparent yourself by identifying and meeting your own needs. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5:15 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks #skimspartner Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks. Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks and use code 50shrinkchicks to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping...

The Vulnerability of Joy

36 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about why joy and anxiety often show up together, especially when something good is happening. When positive moments arrive, the nervous system can start scanning for what might go wrong, making it hard to fully relax or enjoy the experience. They explore why happiness can feel vulnerable, why some people try to dampen joy to avoid disappointment, and how anxiety can act as protection against potential loss. Listener questions cover guilt about feeling happy when others are struggling, the fear of “jinxing” good things, worst-case thinking during positive moments, and why intense joy can sometimes trigger tears or tension instead of pleasure. The conversation also looks at practical ways to help your nervous system stay present during good experiences, how healthy caution differs from anxiety hijacking the moment, and how to hold both gratitude and uncertainty at the same time. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 7 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of our favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/shrinkchicks #skimspartner Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/shrinkchicks Perelel: New customers can use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 20% off their first order at perelelhealth.com/shrinkchicks. Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Gree...

Nicole Pellegrino on Becoming a Mom, Grieving a Mom, and Mental Health

52 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen continue their storytelling series where notable guests share the real emotional journey behind their success. Today’s guest is Nicole Pellegrino, content creator and host of the Long Story Short with Nicole Pellegrino podcast, who Em and Jen first connected with years ago when she was engaged and navigating the loss of her mother. Now married and newly a mom, Nicole opens up about the identity shifts that come with becoming a parent, how postpartum anxiety led her back to therapy, and the ways motherhood has reshaped her priorities, career, and sense of self. She reflects on raising a daughter without her own mom, the grief that still shows up in everyday moments, and the support system helping her navigate this new chapter. Nicole also shares what it’s like balancing motherhood with content creation, why flexibility in work has been life-changing, and what she’s learning about giving herself grace during one of the biggest transitions of her life. You can find Nicole on TikTok and Instagram @nicolepellegrin0 and listen to her podcast Long Story Short with Nicole Pellegrino. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 for FREE in your AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1subscription order Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks and use cod...

Understanding the Many Forms of Grief

38 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen explore grief; not just the kind that follows death, but the many forms of loss that shape our lives. From pregnancy loss to complicated family relationships to the life you imagined but didn’t get, grief can surface in ways people don’t always expect or understand. They talk through different types of grief, including anticipatory grief, ambiguous grief, traumatic grief, and disenfranchised grief, and why many people feel guilty grieving something that others might not recognize as a “real” loss. The conversation also touches on how grief resurfaces during milestones, why long-term grief is normal, and how a culture focused on positivity can make it harder to honor what hurts. Listener questions include coping with miscarriage, grieving a parent who is still alive but emotionally unavailable, navigating suicide loss, and mourning the future you thought you’d have. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 3:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 for FREE in your AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1subscription order Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks and use code 50shrinkchicks to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping Pique Life: Unlock 20% off and...

The Hidden Cost of Being the “Good Kid” with Maggie Nick

48 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are joined by trauma therapist, parenting educator, and cycle-breaking advocate Maggie Nick (AKA Maggie with Perspectacles) to talk about the hidden cost of being the “good kid.” Maggie shares her own story of growing up as the easy, responsible child no one had to worry about, and how perfectionism, people-pleasing, and self-criticism often grow out of that role. They unpack why being praised for being easy can quietly turn into pressure, how approval tied to performance shapes identity, and why many “good kids” become adults who struggle with boundaries, self-worth, and showing their real selves. Maggie also explains how these patterns show up in parenting today and how parents can shift from raising compliant kids to raising emotionally secure ones. The conversation explores curiosity over criticism, staying connected to your child when they struggle, and why loving your child sometimes means letting go of your ego as a parent. You can learn more about Maggie’s work, her book, and her community Camp Loveable at MaggieNick.com and by following @maggiewithperspectacles on social media. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 for FREE in your AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1subscription order Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks...

Trauma Responses: Understanding The Fawn Response

44 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen wrap up their trauma response mini-series with a deep dive into the fawn response, the often-overlooked survival strategy rooted in people-pleasing and conflict avoidance. While many people are familiar with fight or flight, fawning happens when your nervous system moves quickly to smooth things over, keep the peace, and protect the connection. They explore how the fawn response can look like saying yes too fast, minimizing your needs, avoiding conflict, or feeling resentful after people-pleasing. Em and Jen break down how fawning develops, why culture rewards it, and how it can slowly lead to self-abandonment and shaky intimacy if left unchecked. Listener questions cover the difference between genuine flexibility and fawning, how to practice assertiveness without triggering your nervous system, what to do when someone is fawning to you, and how resentment signals crossed boundaries. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 5 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 for FREE in your AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1subscription order Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50shrinkchicks and use code 50shrinkchicks to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping Pique L...

Trauma Responses: Understanding The Flight Response

39 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen continue their trauma response series with a deep dive into the flight response: what it is, how it shows up, and why it can feel so productive while still being avoidant. Unlike fight or freeze, flight often looks subtle in daily life: staying busy, overworking, changing the subject, scrolling, researching, or emotionally distancing when things feel intense. They explore how the flight response is a nervous system survival strategy, why society often rewards it, and how it can quietly prevent intimacy, resolution, and emotional depth. Listener questions cover flight during conflict, overworking as avoidance, the urge to fix instead of feel, and how avoidant attachment patterns often overlap with flight behaviors. Em and Jen also discuss why unhealthy coping feels better in the moment, how collective trauma keeps our nervous systems activated, and how understanding your response helps you make choices aligned with your values, not just your survival instincts. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SHRINKCHICKS to get UP TO $300 off today Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Right now, go to GreenChef.com/shrinkchicksgraza and use code sh...

Cameron Rogers on Motherhood, Mental Health, and Motivation

44 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen launch a new storytelling series featuring notable voices sharing the real emotional journey behind their success. First up: content creator, author, and host of Conversations with Cam, Cameron Rogers. Cameron opens up about transitioning careers, building a brand in motherhood and mental health, and how becoming a mom reshaped her relationship with work. She shares how people-pleasing showed up early in her career, why saying no became essential after having kids, and how boundaries, therapy, and intentionality changed everything. They talk about juggling entrepreneurship and parenting, navigating PMDD while creating content, handling postpartum visibility, and learning to let go of control when stress tightens its grip. Cameron also reflects on personal growth, political identity shifts, embracing being misunderstood, and what it really means to trust your intuition while building a life and business. Find Cameron @cameronoaksrogers on Instagram and TikTok, listen to her podcast Conversations with Cam, get her journal at Quiet-Your-Mind.com, and join her Substack: Fill Your Cup.  ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Bobbie: If you want to feed with confidence too, head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Right now, go to GreenChef.com/shrinkchick...

Trauma Responses: Understanding The Fight Response

46 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen continue their trauma response series with a deep dive into the fight response: what it is, why it develops, and how it shows up in everyday life. Often misunderstood and heavily judged, the fight response is a nervous system survival strategy rooted in mobilization, power, and protection. They explore how fight can look like anger, defensiveness, control, irritability, or needing to win, especially for people who learned early on that being loud or strong was the only way to be heard. Em shares how fight shows up in her own body, why it’s often reinforced by systems that reward dominance, and how neglecting basic needs can lower the threshold for activation. Listener questions focus on recognizing when you’re in a fight state, coming down from it in real time, and unlearning the belief that conflict is the only path to safety. Em and Jen offer practical tools for regulating the body, slowing conversations, and building new relational pathways without shaming a response that once served a purpose. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Bobbie: If you want to feed with confidence too, head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Gree...

Trauma Responses: Understanding The Freeze Response

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen break down the freeze response, one of the most misunderstood trauma responses. They explain how freezing is an involuntary nervous system reaction to overwhelming threat, often linked to trauma, and why so many people carry shame for something their body chose automatically. They explore what freeze can look like in daily life (numbness, dissociation, procrastination, avoidance, shutdown), as well as “functional freeze,” where you’re moving through life on autopilot. The conversation covers why freezing happens, how it differs from feeling stuck or avoidant, and practical ways to gently come out of a freeze state by activating the nervous system. Listener questions dive into freezing in relationships, with authority figures, and during conflict; plus, how to explain the freeze response to a partner who misreads it as disengagement. Em and Jen also talk about slowing relational tempo, understanding what your nervous system learned about safety, and how awareness can reduce shame and increase choice. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6:45 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Bobbie: If you want to feed with confidence too, head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Gr...

Reimagining Healthy Relationships

43 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are joined by one of their all-time favorite guests, Alexandra Solomon, licensed clinical psychologist, adjunct professor at Northwestern University, and host of the Reimagining Love podcast, for a conversation about healthy relationships and the patterns we carry from our families of origin. Together, they explore why it’s so hard to break old dynamics even when you can name them, why change happens in degrees, and how learning to receive (kindness, consistency, care) can feel just as vulnerable as giving. The discussion also touches on embodiment, tolerating discomfort, and the grief that can surface when you start doing relationships differently. Plus, feeling turned off by healthy love, staying open without waiting for things to fall apart, and navigating big relational shifts…like when a partner changes their mind about family. You can find everything about today’s guest by visiting DrAlexandraSolomon.com! Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Bobbie: If you want to feed with confidence too, head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Right now, go to GreenChef.com/shrinkchicksgraza and use code shrinkchicksgraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd bo...

“Ready” Is Not a Feeling

40 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen unpack a belief that keeps a lot of people stuck: the idea that you need to feel ready before making a big decision. They talk about why “ready” is not actually a feeling, and how waiting for certainty can quietly turn into avoidance. They explore the difference between readiness and willingness, how to make decisions that align with your values (not other people’s opinions), and why clarity often comes after movement, not before. Listener questions cover fear of regret, feeling “not grown up enough,” knowing when to trust yourself, and how to move forward when readiness and fear show up together. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 8 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Bobbie: If you want to feed with confidence too, head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Right now, go to GreenChef.com/shrinkchicksgraza and use code shrinkchicksgraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes David Protein: David is offering our listeners a special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to davidprotein.com/SHRINKCHICKS Olive & June: Visit OliveandJune.com/SHRINKCHICKS for 20% off your first System...

Breaking Free from Diet Culture

43 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are joined by Johanna Kulp, licensed therapist, speaker, and body image specialist, who helps individuals and families break free from diet culture and rebuild trust in their bodies. Johanna shares how her own eating disorder recovery shaped her work, and why so many of today’s “wellness” trends still keep people stuck. They talk about raising kids in a world where diet messages are unavoidable, how to find balance without swinging to extremes, and what it actually takes to reconnect with your body through intuitive eating. Topics cover GLP-1s and body autonomy, accepting a postpartum body in “bounce-back” culture, and small daily practices that interrupt generational body shame; plus, how to handle relatives who comment on food or bodies around your kids. Johanna also shares her VIRR framework (Validate, Inquire, Refute, Reinforce) and calls BS on the idea that there’s a “perfect” body or finish line to reach. Find Johanna @johannakulp.lcsw and make sure to get her book, Finding Peace with Your Body: A Body Image Guide for Women Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Bobbie: If you want to feed with confidence too, head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Right now, go to GreenChef.com/shrinkchicksgra...

When Everything Feels Personal

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about how to take things less personally…and why that’s harder than it sounds. After one of their posts went viral, they unpack why giving people the benefit of the doubt isn’t the same as abandoning boundaries, and how expectations, context, and insecurity shape what hits us the hardest. They explore how self-knowledge makes it easier to stop internalizing everything, how comparison fuels reactivity, and when something actually is personal versus when it’s about the other person entirely. The conversation also covers honest feedback, moodiness, and why it’s not your job to manage everyone else’s emotions, especially if you learned to do that early on. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:40 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Bobbie: If you want to feed with confidence too, head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Right now, go to GreenChef.com/shrinkchicksgraza and use code shrinkchicksgraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes David Protein: David is offering our listeners a special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to davidprotein.com/SHRINKCHICKS Olive & June: Visit Oliv...

The Difference Between Anxiety & Intuition

40 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen delve into a question that many people struggle with: How do I distinguish between anxiety and intuition? They break down how each shows up (urgency versus steadiness, fear versus values, repetitive spirals versus one-time clarity) and how anxiety and intuition can sometimes be linked. Listener questions explore whether it gets easier to tell the two apart, how anxious people can learn to trust their gut, what to do when intuition feels uncomfortable, and how to know when anxiety should actually be taken seriously. In Dear Em & Jen, they respond to a newly married listener navigating real family dynamics and discuss how to honor valid concerns without letting anxiety take over. Episode of Invisibilia mentioned in today’s episode: https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/377515477/fearless Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 7 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: AG1: Go to DRINKAG1.com/SHRINKCHICKS to get their best offer, and for a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order Bobbie: If you want to feed with confidence too, head to hibobbie.com to find the formula trusted by parents and loved by their babies Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Right now, go to GreenChef.com/shrinkchicksgraza and use code shrinkchicksgraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes David Protein: David is offe...

Do I Need Therapy in the New Year?

37 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em & Jen wrap up 2025 with a topic that might just be on all of our minds: Do I need therapy going into the new year? They talk about how tough this year felt for many people, how finances and burnout impact mental health care, and what “needing” therapy even means. They answer questions about feeling lost professionally, the fear of crying in therapy, worrying that starting therapy will make things worse, and how to tell the difference between pausing therapy and running from it. They also discuss how therapists can gauge whether they need consultation, supervision, or their own therapy, and what to do when a therapist simply isn’t a fit. In Dear Em & Jen, they respond to a listener navigating a shared mental illness with their partner, and conflicting opinions within their treatment teams. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 8:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50SHRINKCHICKS and use code 50SHRINKCHICKS to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Holiday Boundaries Episode

40 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em & Jen break down the pressure, guilt, and expectations that can make the holidays feel so overwhelming. Jen shares what it was like growing up without big holiday pressure, while Em talks about navigating the mental load of parenting and splitting time between families. They delve into why holidays affect everyone differently, how media influences expectations, and why saying no can feel impossible. Listener questions cover sick kids during big events, first-year-with-a-newborn boundaries, telling people you’re not hosting, coping when someone tells you no, and handling emotionally immature in-laws. They also touch on financial pressure, overstimulation, and telling kids you can’t do it all. Em & Jen explore how to keep the fulfillment without losing the joy…or yourself. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6:45 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows GreenChef: Head to Greenchef.com/50SHRINKCHICKS and use code 50SHRINKCHICKS to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI vs. Your Therapist

45 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dig into a topic that’s becoming impossible to ignore: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in therapy, including how it’s showing up in clinical work, where it can help, and where it crosses the line. They discuss AI’s usefulness for administrative tasks or late-night coping support, while exploring the risks of replacing human connection, losing touch with a client’s story, and handing sensitive data to unregulated tech. They also break down recent research showing why AI tends to validate endlessly and keep you coming back, and why true healing relies on nonverbal attunement and the therapeutic relationship (something technology can’t replicate). Listener questions cover bringing ChatGPT answers into sessions, whether AI makes us more or less lonely, and how therapists can stay curious about clients’ AI use while keeping the work grounded in real connection. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 2:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Uncommon Goods: Shop early, have fun, and cross some names off your list at UncommonGoods.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Introversion, Extroversion, and Your Social Battery

37 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen plug into the world of social battery: how much emotional energy we have for connection before we start feeling depleted. They talk through why some people can socialize endlessly while others need significant downtime, and how much factors like temperament, stress load, and basic needs (sleep, food, overstimulation) shape our capacity. Em shares how her battery stays strong when her needs are met, while Jen talks about her natural rhythm of engaging deeply and then requiring real time to recharge. They explore how to recognize when your social battery is running low and why neither introversion nor extroversion protects you from shame, awkwardness, or the realities of social battery. Listener questions cover topics like explaining low social energy to extroverted family members, navigating the guilt of not matching someone else’s pace, and distinguishing between needing rest versus anxiety pulling you away from connection. They also address how chronic pain can shrink social bandwidth and offer ways to bring joy back into social experiences in a sustainable way. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6:30 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Uncommon Goods: Shop early, h...

Rewind: Improving Communication in Your Relationship

41 min

This week on ShrinkChicks, we’re rewinding to one of our most beloved episodes: Improving Communication. Em and Jen revisit what it really means to communicate and how to do it better. From meta-communication (talking about how you talk) to learning the difference between honesty and harshness, they unpack the tools that make conversations actually productive. They answer listener questions about over-communicating, getting stuck in the same argument, and balancing communication styles when one partner processes differently. Em and Jen also share why anger often hides something deeper, how to approach tough talks as a team, and the simple trick that helps you name what you’re feeling before it spirals. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 9:45 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows Seed: Get ahead of the New Year with a routine that helps you now by going to Seed.com/shrinkchicks and use code ShrinkChicks25 to get 25% off your first month GreenChef: Head to⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Greenchef.com/50SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50SHRINKCHICKS to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping Greenlight: Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenlight.com/shrinkchi...

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