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Ever catch yourself packing everyone’s lunches, smoothing every conflict at work, and composing the perfect text so no one gets upset—then wonder why you’re exhausted and resentful? We dig into the quiet engine behind that burnout: overfunctioning, the reflex to manage other people’s needs, emotions, and outcomes at the expense of your own.

With therapist and maternal mental health specialist Megan MacCutcheon, we map how overfunctioning forms in families, workplaces, and partnerships, and why it always creates its counterpart—underfunctioning in others. No villains here, just patterns. We talk nervous system regulation as the starting line, because clear choices come from a grounded body, not a buzzing one. From there, we trade overexplaining for simple, firm language and introduce boundary stacking: set the limit, don’t re-litigate it, and refuse the pull to repair someone else’s feelings about your choice.

Expect relatable stories: the balloon arch no one photographed, the late-night email drafted ten times, and the lunchbox tailored to every preference. We use them to spot the real “why” behind doing more—validation, control, fear of conflict—and replace it with values-driven decisions and “good enough” standards. We also reframe motherhood and caregiving. Being loving doesn’t mean being limitless; modeling bandwidth, rest, and emotional responsibility teaches kids to function, not lean on you for everything.

You’ll leave with practical tools: a mental load audit to delegate, delay, or drop; quick body checks to prevent anxiety-driven fixes; short scripts that hold the line without drama; and a healthier definition of momentum—forward, intentional, and aligned with your energy. If you’re ready to stop carrying what isn’t yours and reclaim your time, attention, and peace, this conversation will help you take the first honest steps.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs lighter shoulders, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. Your boundaries might be the permission someone else needs to set their own.

This podcast is meant to be a resource for the general public, as well as fellow therapists/psychologists. It is NOT meant to replace the meaningful work of individual or family therapy. Please seek professional help in your area if you are struggling. #breakthestigma #makewordsmatter #thingsyoulearnintherapy #thingsyoulearnintherapypodcast

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, please contact 988 or seek a treatment provider in your area.

If you are a therapist or psychologist and want to be a guest on the show, please complete this form to apply: https://forms.gle/ooy8QirpgL2JSLhP6

Feel free to share your thoughts at www.makewordsmatterforgood.com or email me at Beth@makewordsmatterforgood.com

Support the show

www.bethtrammell.com

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What if the best way to serve clients starts with taking care of the therapist’s body in the room? We sit down with Destiny Davis and Dr. Victoria Rodriguez to challenge one of the field’s quiet myths: that clinician comfort is a distraction. Through lived experience and clinical expertise, they lay out a clearer path where water breaks, seating, pacing, and boundaries aren’t extras—they’re the foundation for sharper attunement, cleaner thinking, and more ethical care.

We dig into the messy middle of practice: how to self-disclose without shifting focus, what to do when a client shares your diagnosis, and why “failed” disclosures can still be gold for treatment. You’ll hear practical strategies for building resilience into your schedule—telehealth setups, three-hour intensives with breaks, tapering from weekly to biweekly to monthly, and batching medical appointments. We also examine continuity of care with fresh eyes: if a client cannot stabilize without weekly sessions, is private outpatient the right level? It’s a tough question that protects both safety and sustainability.

Community is the throughline. High-quality consultation groups, especially with other chronically ill providers, turn isolation into problem-solving. Cross-disciplinary collaboration—bringing PTs, OTs, and RDs into the conversation—helps you navigate the loop between symptoms, function, and mood. Along the way, we surface hidden biases about disability, replace them with a disability justice lens, and offer a humane template for therapists to model self-care that clients can actually use. If you’ve ever powered through pain, ignored a full bladder, or felt guilty canceling for a flare, this conversation hands you language, tools, and permission to practice differently.

Subscribe for more grounded, clinician-centered conversations, share this episode with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your body matters here—and so does your work.

To register for the conference, sign up here: https://www.chronicillnesstherapists.com/

This podcast is meant to be a resource for the general public, as well as fellow therapists/psychologists. It is NOT meant to replace the meaningful work of individual or family therapy. Please seek professional help in your area if you are struggling. #breakthestigma #makewordsmatter #thingsyoulearnintherapy #thingsyoulearnintherapypodcast

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, please contact 988 or seek a treatment provider in your area.

If you are a therapist or psychologist and want to be a guest on the show, please complete this form to apply: https://forms.gle/ooy8QirpgL2JSLhP6

Feel free to share your thoughts at www.makewordsmatterforgood.com or email me at Beth@makewordsmatterforgood.com

Support the show

www.bethtrammell.com

Send us a text

In case you missed it, I'm reposting this episode because it seems to come up over and over and over. Even if you've listened before, maybe hearing it again will bring fresh light.

Ever say the “right thing” and watch it land the wrong way? We unpack three phrases that sound supportive but often sting—calm down, everything happens for a reason, and let me know if you need anything—and trade them for language that actually regulates, validates, and helps. Drawing on real-world therapy experience, we explain why timing and purpose matter more than perfect wording, and how to align what you say with what the moment needs.

We start by exploring how high emotions change what people can hear. Instead of commanding feelings, we focus on co-regulation and presence: I’m here with you, I hear you, let’s take a breath together. You’ll learn simple de-escalation scripts for anger and anxiety, how to avoid accidentally shaming someone for not being “in control,” and when to keep words minimal and concrete if safety is a concern.

Then we tackle platitudes. Meaning-making has a place, but not at the peak of pain. We share alternatives that invite story and honor timing: that sounds really hard, what else happened, where does it hurt most today. Finally, we replace vague offers with specific, doable help that people can accept without planning energy: I can bring dinner Thursday or Saturday; I’ll text Friday to check in; I can watch the kids for two hours this weekend. These small changes turn good intentions into real support.

If you’re ready to make your words matter for good, press play for clear phrases, practical tools, and a kinder way to show up. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s a natural fixer, and leave a quick review telling us which phrase you’re swapping out this week.

This podcast is meant to be a resource for the general public, as well as fellow therapists/psychologists. It is NOT meant to replace the meaningful work of individual or family therapy. Please seek professional help in your area if you are struggling. #breakthestigma #makewordsmatter #thingsyoulearnintherapy #thingsyoulearnintherapypodcast

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, please contact 988 or seek a treatment provider in your area.

If you are a therapist or psychologist and want to be a guest on the show, please complete this form to apply: https://forms.gle/ooy8QirpgL2JSLhP6

Feel free to share your thoughts at www.makewordsmatterforgood.com or email me at Beth@makewordsmatterforgood.com

Support the show

www.bethtrammell.com