Connection Therapy Podcast

Connection Therapy Podcast

This is a podcast about the craft of psychotherapy. We share research about the science and stories about the art of psychology. Together we explore topics so you can better understand psychology, and if you are a therapist, we share ways you might want to apply these findings to benefit your practice. Listen to the Connection Therapy Podcast today to broaden your skills and community.

Looking for something specific? We cover a wide range of topics, so we’ve created playlists to help you find what interests you.

Recent Episodes

In this week’s episode, Brenda brings listeners into one of her favorite stages in Erikson’s eight-stage model: Stage 3, which focuses on children aged 3 to 5. This is the stage of initiative versus guilt, a time when little ones are beginning to assert their independence and explore the world in new and exciting ways....
Brenda introduces Erikson’s second stage of development, Autonomy vs. Shame, and highlights the importance of supporting a child’s growing sense of independence. Occurring between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, this stage is a pivotal time when toddlers begin to explore their abilities and assert their own choices.    At this stage, children...
In today’s episode, Brenda introduces Erikson’s first stage of development, Trust vs. Mistrust, and explores how to understand a child’s world beyond direct questions. This foundational stage, typically ranging from 0-18 months old, lays the groundwork for their entire emotional and cognitive development, making it essential to tune into behaviors and subtle cues rather than...
In today’s episode, Brenda shares her experience working with children in therapy and how understanding child development can make therapy more effective. Measuring progress with kids can be tricky, as they often can’t express how they feel or recognize changes. What may look like simple play can actually be therapeutic when approached with the right...
This week, Brenda brings listeners into a research-based episode to explore the fascinating concept of social learning and emotional transference, touching on the profound ways these ideas shape our understanding of human and animal behavior.  Social learning—learning through observation—goes beyond simple imitation. It’s about how we absorb emotions, behaviors, and intentions from those around us....
Animals have a unique ability to signal non-verbally, reflecting our internal emotional states. By learning to interpret these signals, therapists can enhance their effectiveness and deepen their understanding of clients.    In today’s episode Brenda highlights transference—the phenomenon where feelings about one person are unconsciously redirected to another. This is especially relevant in therapy settings,...
In today’s episode, Brenda dives into two compelling areas of therapy: the role of projections and non-verbal communication, and the evolving field of animal-assisted therapy. This dual focus provides valuable insights into how therapists can better understand and diagnose their patients. Brenda starts by exploring projections—those non-verbal behaviors that reveal underlying thoughts, feelings, and experiences....
Projections are a powerful dynamic in therapy, revealing the hidden emotions and thoughts that children might not even be aware they’re expressing. While much attention is given to positive projections, today, Brenda is shifting the focus to the negative ones. Negative projections are spontaneous and often unconscious, making them challenging to recognize and address. They...
Brenda has introduced us to the concept of projections, both positive and negative, and how they appear in our interactions with clients. These projections, especially the positive ones, can be subtle and challenging to identify, yet they play a crucial role in the therapeutic process.   Today, Brenda is focusing on positive projections and how...
Children often project their feelings, both positive and negative, onto others as a way to express emotions they cannot fully articulate. These projections are a normal part of development and can provide valuable insights into a child’s inner world. In today’s exploration episode, Brenda shares her findings from her research project on how the children...

Strengthening Relationship Patterns Through Disruption and Repair- Episode #37

In today’s episode, Brenda explores how relationships—whether with clients in our professional lives or in our personal lives—are strengthened not by perfection, but by disruption and repair. Drawing from Beebe and Lachmann’s 1994 paper, she explains how the concept of a “good enough therapist” and the ability to repair mistakes is essential in building trust and deepening connections.

Episode Details

Podcast Apps

Subscribe to our podcast and never miss an episode. New episodes are available to stream or download via these and other podcast apps: