What drives us to compulsively search for criticism, obsess over hate comments, and reopen old wounds? In our premiere episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner sit down with psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Dr. Cynthia Ellis Gray to demystify what modern psychoanalysis actually looks like (and why it is way more than just Sigmund Freud and an antique couch). First, Cynthia breaks down the core ideas behind psychoanalysis in plain English: why people still lie on couches 4 days a week, how our unconscious habits run the show, and how we constantly project our childhood relationships onto friends, coworkers, and internet strangers. Then, Jeff jumps into the client chair for a very raw, real-time session. Coming off a viral video with 20 million views and a flood of terrifying death threats, Jeff unpacks his complicated relationship with online fame, his self-doubt, and the painful realization that his online battles are just a stand-in for his estranged family. Finally, the group breaks down the whole session, exploring why Jeff felt the urge to be a "good client," how therapists manage their own emotional reactions, and why we repeat the patterns that hurt us the most.

What happens when you touch pure universal love, dissolve your ego, and experience something completely life-changing, but then have to go home the next morning and do your laundry? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner welcome naturopathic physician, ketamine provider, and psilocybin facilitator Dr. Ali Bigelow, ND to explore the world of psychedelic-assisted therapy and the essential process of integration. First, Ali breaks down how psychedelics quiet our brain's default mode network (the part of our brain running our automatic stories and mental ruts), why one big trip alone will not fix your life, and how to avoid the trap of spiritual bypassing. Next, Ali guides Lindsey through a live, deeply personal integration session following a recent ketamine journey. Lindsey shares what it felt like to let go of her everyday identity, feel surrounded by ancestral motherly love, and work through past birthday grief, while Ali helps her turn those wild, expansive memories into everyday grounding habits. Finally, Jeff, Lindsey, and Ali debrief the session, discussing how facilitators use colors and imagery to anchor memories, why safe support matters so much, and how to stay grounded when talking about the 12th dimension.

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What if the very things you do to calm your anxiety are the exact habits keeping you trapped in fear? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner sit down with clinical psychologist and OCD specialist Dr. Elyse Conterno to unpack the gold standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). First, Elyse explains why OCD is not just about clean hands or organized desks. She dives into mental rituals, relationship anxiety, reassurance seeking, and why thoughts are just thoughts, even when they come with intense dread. She also shares how she pairs ERP with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people live by their values instead of their fears. Next, Elyse leads Lindsey through a live, in-room exposure session targeting food contamination and the fear of accidentally losing control. Lindsey eats a snack that feels contaminated, while Elyse helps her resist all her usual safety habits (like throat-checking, body scanning, and drinking water), allowing Lindsey's nervous system to calm down naturally in under five minutes. Finally, the group breaks down how the exposure worked, why white-knuckling through fear backfires, and how anyone can learn to let anxiety ride in the back seat without letting it drive the car.

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