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How To Respond When Someone Discloses Suicidal Thoughts

In this deeply resonant episode of Therapists Unhinged, Tiffanie Trudeau, LMHC from Connected Thriving Counseling and Wellness joins the show during Suicide Prevention Month to discuss one of the most misunderstood and important topics in mental health. Tiffanie shares her expertise and lived experience around how to hold space when someone discloses suicidal thoughts. This is not about fixing or saving. It’s about listening with compassion, dropping the performance, and showing up in truth. Raw, wise, and totally unfiltered, this conversation is for anyone who wants to be a safe place for someone in pain.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Silence is not neutrality, it’s danger
• People disclosing suicidal thoughts do not expect you to fix it
• Listening and presence are more powerful than solutions
• Nonverbal empathy is a core part of holding space
• Not all signs of suicidality look like the checklist
• “I’m tired” or “I wish I could sleep forever” are often flags
• Asking directly about suicidal thoughts does not plant the idea
• Loved ones must resist the urge to personalize or panic
• Faith communities can sometimes shut down emotional honesty
• Safe spaces are built through consistent, authentic connection

BEST MOMENTS
00:00:03. “They’re not coming to you for a solution.”
00:00:58. “Silence is the real killer here and we need to talk about it.”
00:05:11. “I’m just so tired. I’m tired of doing this.”
00:09:31. “Thank you for trusting me with that part of your heart.”
00:14:47. “Secrets keep you sick. So we don’t keep anybody’s secrets.”
00:21:36. “Emotions are messengers. And even though they’re messy, they’re coming with a message.”
00:26:48. “Your siblings had a different experience in the same family.”
00:35:11. “They don’t feel like the world can withstand the messy wall behind the mask.”
00:40:05. “Silence increases the chances it will happen, not talking about it.”
00:50:14. “We don’t fear it so much that we push it away. We welcome it into the room.”

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Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come unhinge with us.

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An Apology Without Change is Manipulation

In this raw and relatable episode, the Therapists Unhinged hosts, Robin and Nella, get real about relationships and emotional intelligence (or the lack thereof). They share personal stories and professional insights on navigating the complexities of modern dating, divorce, and the patterns we often repeat. From the dysregulated nervous system that mistakes attachment for love to the importance of self-awareness, they offer a candid conversation that’s more conversational than clinical and packed with wit and wisdom.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• An apology without change is manipulation.
• A lot of people are confused about what is actually real in dating and relationships.
• People who get divorced and jump right back into the dating game are looking for something to fill a void instead of sitting in the loneliness.
• It is not my job to babysit your emotions.
• You can use the three C's from Al-Anon classes (I did not create it, I cannot change it, and I cannot control it) to help in a relationship.
• A person who is constantly talking about themselves is a red flag in a relationship.
• A red flag can be a person who wants to get serious very quickly.
• There's a difference between lust and love.
• If you have a lot of red flags, you're going to get a circus.

BEST MOMENTS:

00:00:28. "We are at episode 1919."
00:02:31. "It was tough because what we have to deal with and how people present themselves in the beginning are not always who they are."
00:05:09. "And the catfishing stuff too, you know, people oh my gosh, I'm catfishing now."
00:08:40. "This is the way I am. Yeah. There are certain things about you and about everybody as an adult that may not change."
00:13:43. "But now it's me pouring into, you know, people who are starting off relationships, no matter if they're young, middle age or old."
00:17:24. "And it won't find you in the broken spaces that the other relationship left you in."
00:21:26. "Yeah, absolutely. Because you do have to know who you are."
00:25:27. "They go through that cycle and and it's sad to hear and to listen, but to understand it, to allow them to understand and dissect where that comes from, a lot of that is, you know, comes from like their childhood and experiences and stuff."
00:32:05. "You're going to sit there and eat it till it's done. Yeah. See, that's traumatizing."
00:37:49. "I had no right then here when you come back, they're telling you exactly who they are 100%."

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Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come unhinge with us.

This podcast has been brought to you by APodcastGeek. https://www.apodcastgeek.com

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Why Self-Care ISN'T Optional, It’s NECESSARY

In this honest and unfiltered episode of Therapists Unhinged, co-hosts Nella and TJ take the mic without Dr. Robin and dive deep into what self-care actually means. They call out how society has glamorized and twisted self-care into wine nights and massages while ignoring the deeper emotional, mental, and spiritual work it takes to truly show up for yourself. From burnout and boundaries to parenting guilt and season-of-life shifts, they keep it all the way real. If you’ve ever said “I don’t have time,” this episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Self-care is not a checklist
• Culture often turns self-care into a toxic cycle
• Saying “no” is one of the most powerful self-care tools
• Everyone’s self-care package looks different
• Comparison creates unnecessary pressure
• Burnout happens when you don’t refill your own cup
• Spiritual self-care is just as critical as physical and emotional
• It’s okay to shift your self-care with each life season
• Moms especially need to stop sacrificing themselves
• You don’t need permission to prioritize yourself

BEST MOMENTS

00:01:12. “We’re actually kind of debunking some of the myths and things that society has really taught us to do.”
00:02:15. “For me, self-care is a lifestyle. It's not checking boxes.”
00:03:11. “Self-care starts in the mind first, and then it manifests in other ways.”
00:04:23. “You have to kind of look at all four of those layers and incorporate what you want your self-care to look like.”
00:06:05. “Sometimes I have to be like, you know what? I need my time.”
00:10:07. “I’m so big on taking little mini vacations because I have to check out of work mode.”
00:12:14. “Part of self-care is saying no to.”
00:15:19. “Creating that self-care package for you, designed just for you.”
00:25:00. “You may be doing really good with your mind and body, but what about your spirit?”

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Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come unhinge with us.

This podcast has been brought to you by APodcastGeek. https://www.apodcastgeek.com

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On this episode of Therapists Unhinged, Nella, Dr. Robin, and TJ return from summer break with an honest and timely conversation about the realities of back-to-school season. With Dr. Robin’s decades of teaching experience and Nella’s raw parenting perspective, they explore how school success starts at home, what support teachers actually need, and how to reset expectations on all sides. This is the episode every overwhelmed parent and burned-out teacher needs before that first bell rings.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Back-to-school season means more than buying supplies
• Teachers are facing burnout from overwork and lack of support
• Parents must mentally and emotionally prepare kids for the school year
• A strong parent-teacher relationship makes all the difference
• Clear communication prevents blame and builds trust
• Helicopter parenting can do more harm than good
• Parents must meet their kids where they are, not where they wish they were
• Teachers cannot do the parenting too
• Family structure and routines directly impact school success
• Success isn’t just straight A’s, it’s growth, maturity, and effort

BEST MOMENTS:
00:00:50. “The bell is going to start 8 a.m., but your parenting bell starts way before the bell.”
00:02:23. “Teachers are getting burnt out just like us, just like a lot of people in different fields.”
00:04:08. “Start talking to your children about the expectations.”
00:06:01. “Everybody’s kind of on a learning curve.”
00:08:15. “I’m worried that we’re going to burn them out too.”
00:09:48. “When you take the human factor out of a human experience, it doesn’t work.”
00:13:06. “We cannot keep pointing fingers at these teachers.”
00:20:09. “That would be a really good thing for teachers—to make sure they’re in contact with at least one parent in the home.”
00:25:19. “If I don’t know, I can’t help you.”
00:34:47. “People learn the most from failure. And your children will too.”

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Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come unhinge with us.

This podcast has been brought to you by APodcastGeek. https://www.apodcastgeek.com

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We Are Human Before We’re Therapists

In this episode of Therapists Unhinged, Nella, Dr. Robin, and TJ unpack what it means to be therapists who also happen to be human. From setting personal boundaries to dodging therapy questions at family barbecues, the hosts candidly share the very real, very human side of their professional lives. This unfiltered conversation dives deep into what happens when personal and professional lines blur, and why it’s essential for mental health professionals to disconnect, decompress, and just be.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Therapists are not on call outside the session room
• Boundaries are crucial for mental health professionals
• Family and friends often blur the line between personal and professional roles
• Being a therapist doesn’t mean being immune to life struggles
• Therapeutic relationships are not the same as therapy
• Travel and leisure can be therapeutic but aren’t substitutes for therapy
• TikTok is not a qualified therapist
• Therapy looks different now than it did 20 years ago
• Self-acceptance is the gateway to self-advocacy
• “Who we are” is not the same as “what we do”

BEST MOMENTS
00:00:01. “We're not always your therapists. We are human first.”
00:02:38. “It is a unhinged Friday today because once again, our beautiful boss lady... she's been, you know, siesta in.”
00:03:52. “Imagine me, your therapist.”
00:05:09. “Yeah, I'm a therapist, but I'm not yours.”
00:05:57. “No, I'm not on duty. You're not paying me by the hour.”
00:10:06. “We need to disconnect from our jobs... like we need to do that to be able to focus on our families.”
00:17:07. “Sometimes stuff hurts your feelings. Oh therapist we're not... we're supposed to tell you what is right.”
00:21:21. “What you think is your biggest weakness is actually your biggest strength, but you’ve got to understand it.”
00:25:00. “That's what I do. That's not who I am.”
00:36:00. “I just love to just like, look at trash TV... reality shows. Okay. That helps me. So therapeutic.”

Support the show

Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come unhinge with us.

This podcast has been brought to you by APodcastGeek. https://www.apodcastgeek.com

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For today’s episode, TJ, Nella, and Dr. Robin dive deep into one of the most emotionally charged life transitions: divorce. But this isn’t just about paperwork or custody. It’s about identity, healing, and the children caught in between.

The hosts share hard-earned insights from personal experience and years of therapy practice, guiding listeners through what happens to your sense of self when a marriage ends, why co-parenting often starts with parallel parenting, and how to protect your child’s emotional world, even when yours is falling apart.

Whether you’re in the thick of divorce, navigating custody, or supporting someone else, this episode offers honest, unfiltered wisdom to help you find clarity, calm, and confidence again.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Divorce is not just a breakup. It often brings an identity crisis.
• Many people lose themselves in the role of spouse or parent and don’t know who they are outside of it.
• Letting go of anger is essential for healing and personal growth.
• Divorce is grief. It’s normal to cycle through anger, sadness, confusion, and numbness.
• Just because someone was a bad partner doesn’t mean they’re a bad parent.
• Children should never be used as emotional crutches or messengers during divorce.
• Parallel parenting is a powerful tool when cooperative co-parenting isn’t possible.
• Kids feel the energy. Protecting their nervous system should come before “winning.”
• Don’t compare your children’s reactions. Every child processes divorce differently.
• Boundaries are essential, especially when toxic communication happens through phones or text.
• Support your kids’ autonomy. One day they’ll reflect on how you handled this.

BEST MOMENTS

1.05 “You can actually lose your own identity during divorce.”
7.18 “Divorce is grief… It’s going to be an emotional roller coaster.”
10.59 “When I stopped being angry at my husband, I swear my healing was so much faster.”
15.26 “Just because you’re divorced doesn’t mean that person suddenly became a bad parent.”
21.28 “You are playing Russian roulette with your child when you talk bad about their other parent.”
22.54 “Your primary goal should be to protect your child’s nervous system.”
26.47 “Co-parenting takes two. Parallel parenting works when one of you is still stuck in conflict.”
42.23 “This will be a drop of sand in your life. What matters is the relationship your child will have with you later.”
48.40 “I never wanted my child to say, ‘Why didn’t you stand up for me?’”

Support the show

Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come unhinge with us.

This podcast has been brought to you by APodcastGeek. https://www.apodcastgeek.com

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Friendships CHANGE… But THIS Is How You Protect Your Peace

This week on Therapists Unhinged, we’re getting raw, real, and unfiltered about one of life’s toughest topics: friendships and boundaries.

Dr. Robin, TJ, and Nella get vulnerable about:
✔ What healthy friendships actually look like (spoiler: it’s not the front-door friends)
✔ How to spot a backdoor friend vs. an energy taker
✔ The hidden grief of outgrowing friendships
✔ When to set boundaries, when to walk away, and when to fight for a friendship
✔ Navigating adult friendships, who stays, who goes, and why it’s OK

You’ll laugh, reflect, and probably rethink some friendships after this one. Whether you have struggled with toxic friendships, felt guilty about cutting people off, or wondered why some people drain you, this episode gives you the real talk you have been needing.

Support the show

Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come unhinge with us.

This podcast has been brought to you by APodcastGeek. https://www.apodcastgeek.com

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She’s Only 18... But What She Says About Mental Health Will Leave You Speechless

This week, the Therapists Unhinged crew gets real with a powerful new voice: 18-year-old Aniah, recent graduate, elite all-star cheerleader, and daughter of co-host Nella.

In this raw and emotional conversation, Aniah opens up about:

• How cheerleading saved her mental health
• The pressure teens feel from social media and parents
• Her honest take on therapy, trauma, and what actually helps
• Losing a friend to suicide, and the importance of support at home
• Becoming a coach at 18 and what it taught her about leadership

With Nella, TJ, and Dr. Robin holding space and sharing laughs, this is one of our most important episodes yet. If you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or just want to understand Gen Z better, this one is a must-listen.

Support the show

Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come unhinge with us.

This podcast has been brought to you by APodcastGeek. https://www.apodcastgeek.com