The Right Fit Podcast: Recent Episodes
Michelle Pomeroy
Rachel Thornton, TRS, CTRS, LCSW specializes in helping people with anxious perfectionism tendencies. In this episode we discuss how to sift out perfectionism and how focusing on plucking this out can actually help people keep relationships, jobs, beliefs they connect with. We explore using the lens of self-compassion rather than perfectionism. Rachel addresses the common fear that being self-compassionate creates lazy unsuccessful people. We also address how shame is often at the root of us being “stuck" and that we can be confident individuals and still carry and perpetuate shame. Michelle shares some personal examples of how perfectionism shows up in her life and Rachel shares how seeing a "cliff effect" pattern in her own life helped her move away from perfectionism.
Trevor Hanson, LAMFT has a very successful instagram account focused on helping couples, but he has a soft spot in his heart for supporting single adult men. Together we talk about his story and what it was like for him as a single adult and how those experiences lead to him changing career paths. While living far away from family, Trevor was laid off by Tesla, broke up with his girlfriend, and had a terrible skiing accident. All the turmoil landed him in a therapy office for the first time. It was life changing. He was smitten by the work and decided to jump into a therapy career. Trevor offers individual therapy sessions and holds a weekly men's support group.
In this episode Michelle interviews Dr. Steve Thayer, a clinical psychologist at Cedar Psychiatry, about his work using psychotherapy in conjunction with ketamine, a legal and safe psychedelic substance. Michelle shares her personal experience with Dr. Thayer when she participated in a pilot ketamine treatment program for frontline healthcare workers. Together they discuss who can benefit from this treatment, what to expect during ketamine treatment and the importance of having a therapist facilitate integration of the ketamine experience.
If this episode piques your interest, listen to Dr. Thayer and Dr. Robison on Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, a podcast dedicated to discussing various mental health topics and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. Please visit https://www.novamind.ca/ for more information on ketamine treatments. Follow Dr. Steve Thayer on Instagram @drstevethayer
In the episode Aimee Clements-Hadfield shares her story of how her experience with addiction in her family and great loss lead to her to make a big career change to become a therapist. Aimee talks about her passion for experiential therapy which gets clients out of their heads and into their bodies in order to heal. Aimee helps clients use creativity and spontaneity to help them live their most authentic lives. Aimee is quirky and real and fun.
In this episode we learn from expert Amy Harman who talks about the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating. Amy shares how the small culturally acceptable comments about dieting and weight can be really harmful. We discuss how to ask friends and family for support in healing from eating disorders and poor body image. I ask Amy how to decrease the amount of mental and emotional real estate disordering eating and poor body image take up. She shares the process of digging deeper to find what the negative thoughts and disordered eating are really about. Amy shares about her online body image course: https://courses.therapynutshell.com/p/body-image-course/?affcode=514306_lm9hjutl
Used discount code: AMY20
In this episode, returning guest Patrick Powers, LAMFT unpacks common fears and anxieties around the use of porn. Patrick believes good information can help alleviate these fears especially for partners and family members and can help reduce shame for porn users. Michelle shares how her father’s porn addiction affects her. If you’re interested in working with Patrick, listen until the end where he gives out his cell number and email address.
In this episode I have a conversation with Jen Cope, LAMFT about her personal experience as a highly sensitive person (HSP), managing OCD and trichotillomania (hair pulling) and healing from trauma. Jen is an expert at looking at all the layers that effect mental health and she allows her personal experience to inform how she practices. I came away from this interview understanding myself better and feeling like I have a new friend, which is how I'm sure many of her clients feel!
Mary Whyte, MA, SCMT, MT-BC is the founder of Pure Progression Music Therapy here in Utah. In this interview with Mary, Michelle is introduced to all things music therapy. Mary is very passionate about the benefits of music therapy. Music can reach people in ways other treatments cannot. She shares how music therapy as an evidence-based approach can be helpful for many populations including kids, teens, the elderly and those with special needs. Michelle comes away feeling inspired to look again at how music can be used as a healing tool in her own life.
Niki Olsen, LCMHC, coaches LDS women and specializes in mind-body bridging to help clients improve their relationship to self and God. In this episode Niki guides Michelle through an exercise where you can follow along! You will take away a tangible skill to move from the "natural man" to the divine self.
Kate Johnson, LAMFT shares three helpful ways to navigate mixed-faith or religion transition in marriage or partnership. She normalizes religious/spiritual development, discusses how slowing things down can be helpful and suggests approaching your partner, whether they are believing or transitioning with curiosity rather than making assumptions. Kate also points out that we are all in mixed-faith relationships, so what she shares here is applicable for everyone!
Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-S is a child and family therapist, author and the founder of attachment-centered play therapy. In this episode Clair talks about her experience growing up in a family of eight children and how international travel as a child gave her a unique world view. As a parent of three teenagers, Clair shares from her personal and professional experience about parenting. She talks about what it's like to let yourself be human in the process, how to like your children more and what to do if you and your partner don't always agree on how to parent. You can learn more about Clair at: https://clairmellenthin.com/
Patrick Powers, LAMFT specializes in treating OCD and issues related to sexual identity and shame. In this episode we talk about the things that aren't being talked about. Patrick doesn't shy away from the taboo topics related to sexuality. We unpack what it means to align our sexual templates and sexual values, how sexual shame develops, and the effects of trying to divorce the sexual part of us through compulsive avoidance. If you are interested in working with Patrick, you can find him at The EFT Clinics in Millcreek and Lehi, UT.
Nathan Watkins, LMFT gives a tour of his play therapy room, shares his story including how a climbing accident lead to becoming a therapist and what it's like to be a new father, talks about how to be present with kids so they feel seen, how to play with kids to help them feel empowered, and how to model and teach emotional intelligence to children.
In this episode Ana Marques, LAMFT shares her personal and professional knowledge about trauma. She even does some live IFS therapy with Michelle helping her understand her anxiety. Learn about trauma and how it might be effecting your life as well as how to manage it through therapy with a professional who is the right fit.
Carina Wolf, CSW shares her story of growing up in Brazil, being abandoned as a newborn, adopted, moving to the US, and losing both her parents before the age of 35. Carina has a big heart and is a giver. We talk about how she was able to find herself after all that loss by using boundaries. Find Carina here: https://theeftclinic.com/carinawolf or on instagram @carinawolf_therapy
In this episode, Ed Peterson, LCSW tells us his story and addresses topics such as addiction, mid-life crisis, rebellion, narcissism, imposter syndrome, and attachment.
Laura Parry, LCSW is certified in perinatal mental health. In this episode Laura discusses treating women-specific issues including PMAD (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders), explains how understanding your attachment to caregivers and self helps you be a better parent, and recommends some great books and resources. Please see notes below.
Recommended Resources: Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Linday Gibson Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Sue Johnson The Assertiveness Guide for Women by Dr. Julie Hanks The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk PostPartum Support International Warm-Line 1-800-944-4773 Maternalmentalhealth.utah.gov PPSI national website https://www.postpartum.net/
The mental health field is really busy right now! In this short episode Michelle talks about how to expand 3 common filters when deciding on a therapist to work with that will give you way more options.
Dani Thurman, LMFT works with all ages. In this interview we learn how to release emotional pain by focusing on the body, why it's important your therapist is vulnerable, and how to encourage your loved ones to change.
Ben shares his story as well as how he works with struggling teens and their families. Ben believes bad behavior is simply a response to pain and often that behavior is the symptom of family dysfunction. He commonly invites family members to join in on the therapy work. Ben also believes physical movement is very important in the healing process. He incorporates movement by walking with his clients during their therapy sessions.