It’s the first episode of 2026, and Melissa and Susan kick off the year with a special guest from their own team: Sarah. She shows up with fidgets, an emotional-support Furby, and a whole lot of honesty about what it’s like to do the thing you’ve been avoiding… even when your therapeutic philosophy is literally “avoid avoidance.”

Together, they unpack why motivation can tank in the winter, how to tell the difference between needing rest and needing a push, and why shame-based “hustle” strategies might work short-term but rarely stick. Sarah shares practical tools she uses with clients (and herself), including the “even if” mindset, body-doubling, and the INCUP framework (interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, pressure) to make hard things more doable.

The conversation also takes some delightful detours—quirky clothes, a Dr. Seuss office, pet crows, and plans for bees at Grove—while staying grounded in one central theme: learning how to move through discomfort with kindness, not punishment.

Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website.

Grove: A Healing Collective

Susan and Melissa wrap up the year with a honest, hopeful conversation about growth, change, and what’s coming next for Grove. They look back on the big projects of the past year—renovations, new partnerships, and a whole lot of hard work—while talking about why they prefer intentions over rigid New Year’s resolutions and how to carry the right things into 2026.

Then they open up about their own experiences with ketamine-assisted therapy: what it actually felt like, why they were skeptical at first, how it connects with trauma work and brain plasticity, and why they now see it as one more powerful tool in the mental health toolbox—not a magic fix, and not something for everyone, but a real option with real impact. They also share how Grove is working toward offering ketamine-assisted therapy in-house and what that could mean for clients in the Upper Cumberland.

If you’ve ever wondered what psychedelic-assisted therapy is really like, or you just need some company as you reflect on your own year, this episode is a grounded, thoughtful place to start.

Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website.

Grove: A Healing Collective

Susan and Melissa kick off the holiday season with a fun — and surprisingly insightful — conversation about common myths surrounding therapy. From the idea that “something must be wrong with you” to the misconception that therapists give advice or can read minds, they break it all down with humor, real talk, and a peek behind the scenes of what counseling is actually like.

Whether you’re already in therapy or have been curious about what it’s like, this episode helps clear up the stereotypes and makes the whole process feel a lot more human. Plus, there’s a little Christmas chaos, some friendly rivalry, and the promise of exciting guest conversations coming in the new year.

Tune in, learn a little, laugh a lot — and Merry Christmas from the “Grows Beyond the Couch” crew!

Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website.

Grove: A Healing Collective