We talk with Dr. Greg Obert about client-centered therapy and why real change often starts when a therapist shows up as a genuine human being. We dig into deep listening, the power of presence, and how relationship-first work strengthens outcomes even in structured trauma treatment.
• Greg’s journey from early psychology classes to clinical practice and podcasting
• why an overly rigid CBT introduction can miss the person behind the symptoms
• what the Gloria therapy tapes teach about empathy and therapeutic presence
• training that builds listening skills by naming the underlying message
• client-centered therapy as collaborative rather than directive
• unconditional positive regard as nonjudgment rather than approval
• how authenticity lowers client resistance and builds trust
• trauma work with PTSD and veterans while keeping the person ahead of protocol
• why scripts work best as templates customized to the relationship
• Greg’s book The Man On The Bench and the impact of unexpected human connection
Visit the Royal Oasis Psychotherapy Institute, RoyalOasisPI.com.

I talk with Ed Tilton from Begin Again Institute about what sex addiction actually looks like in real life and why so many people miss it until relationships are on the brink. We connect compulsive sexual behavior to trauma, digital exposure, and shame, then lay out concrete ways to assess risk and start real recovery for both partners.

In this Episode:

• how sex addiction presents as porn addiction, infidelity, emotional affairs, and fantasy
• why the “predator or pleasure” framing misses the suffering middle
• vacancy wounds and violation wounds as early drivers of compulsive sexual behavior
• the “three As” of online porn and why escalation happens fast
• sextortion and sexploitation risks for teens and adults
• mental health signals like anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, and suicidality risk
• clinical screening options including the Porn Addiction Use Survey and PATHOS
• referral paths to CSATs through ITAP
• trauma-informed recovery using brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, and somatic work
• partner betrayal trauma support and why relational repair needs its own track
• practical parenting boundaries for phones plus age-appropriate sex education

Visit begingaininstitute.com for more information and resources.

Sabrina talk candidly with LCSW and author Beth Canalichio about why therapists need consistent self-reflection and why getting our own therapy can make us more effective and less reactive with clients. We unpack blind spots, burnout, and the ethics of staying client-centered when our feelings, beliefs, or the broader culture get loud.
• the case for therapists doing their own therapy
• noticing reactions as signals to slow down
• blind spots, biases, and cultural assumptions
• countertransference, discomfort, and when to seek supervision
• ethical duty to refer out when needed
• burnout risks, boundaries, time off, and caseload limits
• practical tools like journaling, mindfulness, and peer consult
• using reflection to strengthen rapport and the therapeutic alliance
• staying as neutral as possible amid politics, faith differences, and social media pressure