Spoiler alert for ALL episodes of Stranger Things. Shayna and Kathy are joined by Megan, a social worker, and Erika, a student pursuing her MSW. The Netflix show, Stranger Things, that took the world by storm almost 10 years ago has come to an end and we talked about our love of the show and many of the mental health themes. We touch on grief and trauma and the importance of supportive relationships and, of course, DnD. Citations, resources and credits Artwork by Matthew Gwaltney-...

One of Shayna's favorite games to play in therapy is a card game called, FLUXX. It is a unique and fun game with ever changing rules. And what makes it even better is that there are many different versions, so anyone can find a version they love! In this episode, Shayna and Kathy interviewed the creators of FLUXX, Andy and Kristin Looney. Learn more about them, their games, how they can be used in therapy, and how they are just plain fun to play for everyone. Looney Labs was founded in ...

Age of Ultron, Terminator, I, Robot, The Matrix, and R2D2. What do they all have in common? Yup- they are all movies about AI. Most of the books, movies, and television shows about AI seem to be about machines rising up to take over the world. Well, except R2. Having an R2 may just be worth the risk. But the fact is, AI is here and touches on almost every aspect of modern life. Shayna and Kathy touch on how AI is already being used related to mental health. They explore the history, the...

Shayna and Kathy are joined by Ana, a clinical social worker who you may remember from the Steven Universe episode (7). Ana discusses what it was like growing up with Percy Jackson and with ADHD, and how those two things are related. Her cat, Percy, also provides some entertainment. Citations, resources and credits Percy and ADHD Artwork by Matthew Gwaltney- https://www.bdbumblebee.com Editing by Ryan Merrill- https://www.instagram.com/the_nerdyeditor Intro Music is...

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a celebration of life, death, and family that is typically celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. Shayna and Kathy are joined by Jose, a Mexican American mental health therapist, and Yessica, a Mexican American student intern studying to become a mental health therapist, as they discuss this holiday. Citations, resources and credits Day of the Dead Traditions Artwork by Matthew Gwaltney- https://www.bdbumblebee.com Editing by ...

Shayna and Kathy talk with Kaitlyn, a Florida based artist, cosplayer, and convention meetup host, who is better known as NerdyNostalgia. Kaitlyn talks about how she got into cosplaying, making the it more accessible to beginners like herself, social media, mental health and, of course, Critical Role. Kaitlyn first caught Shayna's eye when they were both at a convention cosplaying characters from Vox Machina (Critical Role). Citations, resources and credits Artwork by Matthew Gwaltney-...

Shayna and Kathy visit another dimension and discuss the classic television show, The Twilight Zone. The Twilight Zone debuted in 1959 and still influences much of the culture today. The creator, Rod Serling, developed the show in part to explore social issues in a way that could buck the censors. His trauma symptoms from his experiences in WWII also played a part in his writing. The Twilight Zone was an anthology sci-fi show that at times delved into horror, fantasy, and the absurd. Many of ...

On this episode Shayna and Kathy talk to Angel- a pediatric mental health expert, and Kayla- a Bluey expert, to talk about the immensely popular children's television show, Bluey. Bluey is a cartoon focusing on an anthropomorphic family of dogs. This show is beloved by children and parents alike- for good reasons! It is relatable and heartwarming and funny. We delve into some of the ways that Bluey supports healthy attachment and social-emotional development in young children. You also...

Shayna shares her top 10 favorite therapy interventions that integrate pop culture references. From Steven Universe to The Twighlight Zone to SpongeBob and more, get a glimpse into how geeky therapists like us integrate pop culture into our work with clients. Plus- WE STARTED A PATREON!! Citations, resources and credits Steven Universe- Here Comes a Thought video Spongebob- Procrastination video Steven Universe- Kiki's Pizza Delivery Service clip Home- "You are Sad Mad" scene Steven U...

**Spoiler alert for Inside Out and Inside Out 2. Inside out 2 has already crossed the billion dollar mark at the box office. This is pretty incredible for a sequel released 9 years after the first movie. And there's a reason these movies are so popular. The movies enlisted psychologists, as well as teenaged girls, to literally get into the mind of our protagonist, Riley. The result is a really touching exploration of our emotions and what drives us. Shayna and Kathy are joined by Alyssa, a M...