The holidays don’t just bring joy — they can reactivate parentification, attachment patterns, and nervous-system survival responses we’ve carried since childhood.

In this season-ending episode of Deciphering Growth,we explore:• Why parentified children feel exhausted during family gatherings• How attachment styles show up under holiday stress• The neuroscience behind emotional labor, hypervigilance, and “keeping thepeace”• What it actually means to choose peace over performance

The holidays can be loud, overwhelming, and emotionallycomplicated — and that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

In this week’s episode of Deciphering Growth, we break down:• Why holiday stress hits your nervous system so hard• What doesn’t help (over-committing, people-pleasing, pushing through)• Practical, trauma-informed ways to protect your peace

In this week’s Deciphering Growth, Tiffany and Eric unpack what happens when ACA subsidies change, healthinsurance costs rise, and therapy starts to feel like a luxury instead of a basic need. We talk about the real mental health impact, why so many of us are scared about coverage, and some practical options and coping strategies if you’re worried about losing access to care.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app — and get early access + extra soapbox episodes by joining our Patreon!

👉 Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/DecipheringGrowth198

#DecipheringGrowth #MentalHealth #ACA#HealthInsurance #TherapyAccess

In this week’s Soapbox, we’re digging into toxic productivity, hustle culture, and how the “what do you produce?” mindset has seeped into mental health care. From community mental health and private practice to neurodivergence, KPIs, and burnout—we’re unpacking all of it.

🎧 This episode is available publicly on all major platforms.

🌿 If you love our Soapbox episodes, we have more bonus Soapbox conversations available exclusively on Patreon—plus early releases, behind-the-scenes content, and extra discussions we don’t publish anywhere else.

Come grow with us. 👉 Join our Patreon community for deeper dives + extra Soapboxes.

#DecipheringGrowth #SoapboxSeries #MentalHealthPodcast #ToxicProductivity #TherapistLife #HustleCulture #Burnout #NeurodivergentSupport #PatreonCreators

The holidays aren’t easy for everyone — and grief doesn’t care what the calendar says.

In this week’s episode of Deciphering Growth, we sit down with Bethany Valenti to talk about what grief really looks like during the holidays, why the “stages” don’t tell the full story, and how to navigate traditions, boundaries, and emotional waves with compassion.

We’re therapists—and humans. In this episode of Deciphering Growth, we drop the polished scripts and share the exact self-care we use when life (and clinical work) gets heavy. From odd little joys (automation video games, planted shrimp tanks) to parasympathetic resets (Epsom-salt baths, stretching, visual grounding, the Serenity Prayer), we show how we downshift our nervous systems without perfection or guilt.

You’ll hear:

• Micro-habits that stick on busy days (no 2-hour routines).

• A “skill points” self-care reframe—level up one point at a time.
• Introvert-friendly strategies for crowds, schedule changes, and “I’m running late” spikes.
• Why therapists need permission to be human—and how we protect against burnout.

We’re diving into how teen trauma reshapes the developing brain—and why that can look like “bad choices,” emotional whiplash, or substance use. Tiffany breaks down the neurobiology (amygdala, prefrontal cortex, reward systems, HPA axis) while Eric explores real-world patterns in youth vaping, drinking, and self-medication.Key takeaways:• Trauma ≠ destiny—adolescent neuroplasticity means we can rewire toward regulation and resilience.• Dysregulation can mimic ADHD/ODD/depression; zoom out before labeling.• Substance use often signals unmet regulation needs, not moral failure.If this topic hits close to home, pace yourself and come back when ready. #DecipheringGrowth #TeenMentalHealth #TraumaInformed #Neuroscience #ACEs #YouthSubstanceUse #ParentingTeens #Resilience #TherapyPodcast

Trauma doesn’t just live in the past—it shows up in our communication, our tone, and our bodies. In this week’s Deciphering Growth, we unpack trauma-informed couples therapy and how to build safer connection.

We cover: why domestic violence screening must be done individually, how triggers hijack conversations, what polyvagal cues (voice, face, posture) do to our nervous systems, and practical tools—grounding, co-regulation, “Gottman” time-outs, and repair rituals—you can start using today.

Whether you’re curious about EFT/Gottman, want better communication during conflict, or need ways to de-escalate fast, this one’s for you.