Episodi

  • 77. What a Regulated Nervous System State Looks and Sounds Like in a Therapy Session
    Jan 21 2026

    At this time of the year, it is common for patients to be interested in New Year’s Resolutions or other goals and aspirations. Mental health therapists are typically skilled in interventions to support crises and problems, but what about when things are calm for the moment and the main need is to observe and endorse a good outcome?

    This episode highlights non-verbal communication that signals a regulated nervous system state, in order to support the treating clinician in determining when their patients are experiencing these and makes suggestions for how to respond.

    We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

    Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast

    Enjoying the podcast?

    There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

    References:

    How Horses Move:

    https://mechse.illinois.edu/news/blogs/mechanics-motion-nature

    Prochaska’s Transtheoretical Change Model:

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556005/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transtheoretical_model

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    18 min
  • 76. Observing Non-Verbal Signals to Understand How to Reduce Anxious Responses During Times of Change
    Jan 14 2026

    It is so natural to want changes at this time of the year, and as mental health therapists we are very likely going to support someone with a significant change that makes them anxious. Knowing how to support their exploration of possibilities while intervening non-verbally can help keep the momentum going in a way that simultaneously encourages a more regulated response that sustains the change process.

    Listen now for some potential ways to work in this way!

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    27 min
  • 75. How to View Non-Verbal Signals to Determine Readiness for Change
    Jan 7 2026

    As mental health therapists, it is common to hear someone speak of New Year’s Resolutions or other big changes they hope to see in the New Year. The challenge is sometimes people are not fully bought into the anticipated changes, despite their discussions of wanting them to happen.

    Learning to view nonverbal signals, such as eye-contact, can support the mental health therapist in best supporting their patient. That is, if there is consistency across the stated intentions in verbal and nonverbal communication, then typical mental health interventions usually work. However, when there is inconsistency, the mental health therapist can learn to assess these discrepancies in order to better support their patients.

    We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

    Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast

    Enjoying the podcast?

    There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

    References:

    Pew Research on New Year’s Resolutions:

    Who makes New Year’s resolutions, and why? | Pew Research Center

    Prochaska’s Transtheoretical Change Model:

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556005/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transtheoretical_model

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    32 min
  • 74. Highlights from the Year
    Dec 30 2025

    Brenda reflects on the highlights from the year on the podcast, including guest interviews and her own explorations. This year, episodes integrated the works of scholars including Stephen Porges, PhD and Jaak Panksepp, PhD, as well as reviewed many clinical research articles in the pursuit of improving the practice of mental health. As she reviews in the highlights, the podcast strives to find a balance between the art and science of practice, that is integrating theory and research while always recognizing and honoring what happens during the session as profoundly insightful.

    Highlights are from these episodes:

    Episode 28: Brenda and Kinsey Rone on the Power of Therapist Connection

    Episode 27: More Than a Profession: Brenda’s Love for Psychology

    Episode 36: How Animals Detect Human Nervous System States Through Scent

    Episode 44: How Embarrassment Builds Trust in Relationships

    Episode 49: From Fear to Curiosity: Exploring the Seeking System with Dr. Rachaël Draaisma

    Episode 63: Gazes between Species and the Application to Mental Health Practice

    Episode 68: How to Provide Better Mental Health Treatment for Veterans with Adam Magers, MA, LPC

    Episode 71: Expecting Great Outcomes - A Look at the Pygmalion (Rosenthal) Effect

    We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

    Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast

    Enjoying the podcast?

    There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

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    37 min
  • 73. Reflections with Kinsey Rone, LCPC: What Works & What’s in the Works
    Dec 23 2025

    Kinsey Rone returns to the podcast for some reflections on the year. She and Brenda consider what interventions worked in their own practices. Brenda also shares feedback she has heard, particularly in the discussions across disciplines with the practice of equine-assisted services.

    And, the invitation is enthusiastically extended for listeners to share their feedback and questions, which will be shared and answered in future episodes. See below for ways to send in yours!

    We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

    Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast

    Enjoying the podcast?

    There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

    For More Information about our Guest:

    Kinsey Rone, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

    https://www.arrowcreekcounseling.com


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    44 min
  • 72. Not Always Jolly: Nature’s Lessons for the Holidays
    Dec 17 2025

    This episode begins by normalizing difficulties over the holidays by sharing national statistics that demonstrate the commonness of this experience. Supporting patients with concerns over the holidays can be a challenge, in part because of the difficulties themselves and also because of the strong tendency to isolate these concerns at this time.

    Brenda then considers how nature operates during this time of winter as a helpful example for supporting these experiences.

    Enjoying the podcast?

    There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

    Contribute to the Conversation! Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us


    References:

    American Psychiatric Association

    https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/americans-more-anxious-about-the-holidays

    American Psychological Association

    https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress

    National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)

    https://www.nami.org/press-releases/mental-health-and-the-holiday-blues/

    https://www.nami.org/blog-post/surviving-painful-holiday-emotions/

    https://www.nami.org/from-the-ceo/the-most-difficult-time-of-the-year-mental-health-during-the-holidays/


    Old Farmer’s Almanac (information about the Winter Solstice):

    https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-winter-winter-solstice#:~:text=The%20first%20day%20of%20winter%20in%20the,December%2021%2C%202025%2C%20at%2010:03%20AM%20(EST).

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    18 min
  • 71. Expecting Great Outcomes - A Look at the Pygmalion (Rosenthal) Effect
    Dec 10 2025

    In this episode, Dr. Brenda Murrow goes back to one of the foundational studies in psychology that still has resonance today. The Pygmalion or Rosenthal effect is from research that explored how when teachers viewed their students as having high-potential, the students did better. It speaks to the uncanny experience that when we expect greatness from others, especially young children in grade school as this study originally investigated, it sometimes becomes reality.

    Brenda combines the concepts from this foundational study with the idea of Winnicott’s potential space and incorporates recent real-life and timely examples from guests on the podcast to have an important discussion. Essentially, she illustrates that we can do the simplest of therapeutic acts, that is looking at someone with expectations for great things, and see results.

    Enjoying the podcast?

    There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

    Contribute to the Conversation! Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us


    References:

    Pygmalion (Rosenthal) Effect:

    https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/education/pygmalion-effect-rosenthal-effect

    D.W. Winnicott’s idea of “potential space” in Playing and Reality. (1971, Penguin).

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    9 min
  • 70. Supporting Veterans? Learn about the Research History that Drives Current Treatments
    Dec 3 2025

    Brenda continues the discussion about the research on mental health treatment with veterans, as referenced in earlier podcasts in order to assist practitioners in understanding the implications for practice. She provides historical context to some of the current treatments for PTSD and invites consideration for future possibilities.

    Enjoying the podcast?

    There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist

    Contribute to the Conversation! Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us

    Sign-up for the February 2026 Course with Adam Magers, MA, LPC

    https://connection-therapy.captivate.fm/course-with-adam-magers


    References:

    Adam Magers, MA, LPC

    https://www.odysseusandtheoar.com/

    https://www.thebattlewithin.org/team


    More information about classical conditioning, prolonged exposure, Pavlov & Seligman:

    https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/learned-helplessness


    Monroe, M., Whitworth, J. D., Wharton, T., & Turner, J. (2021). Effects of an Equine-Assisted Therapy Program for Military Veterans with Self-Reported PTSD. Society & Animals, 29(5/6), 577–590. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1163/15685306-12341572

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Feb 2026 Course with Adam Magers, MA, LPC

    Learn more about the Feb 2026 course with Adam Magers, MA, LPC

    Course with Adam Magers, MA, LPC

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    14 min