Breaking Down

What does it mean to take true ownership of your life when you are carrying unexpressed grief, old regrets, and the pain of relationships that did not work out? In our Season 1 finale of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner welcome psychotherapist and author Bob Edelstein, LMFT to explore the grounding framework of Existential-Humanistic (E-H) psychotherapy. First, Bob unpacks the heart of existential-humanistic theory: Carl Rogers' core conditions of empathy and pos...

Why is it that the harder we try to force ourselves to change, the more stuck, frustrated, and disconnected we feel? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner sit down with veteran Gestalt psychologist, author, and trainer Dr. Eva Gold to explore the relational power of Gestalt therapy. First, Eva breaks down Gestalt as a philosophy of health rather than brokenness. She explains how we adapt to childhood neglect by shutting off our natural balance, how ...

What if the critical, anxious, or defensive thoughts inside your head are not flaws you need to destroy, but protective parts trying their hardest to keep you safe? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner welcome certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist Beth Magee to demystify one of the most popular and powerful therapy models in the world today. First, Beth breaks down the fundamentals of IFS: the idea that our mind is naturally made of man...

What happens when your brain is excited to explore non-monogamy, but your nervous system goes into a full panic the second your partner opens a dating app? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner sit down with licensed clinical social worker, polyamory therapist, and relationship coach Heidi Savell to talk about consensual non-monogamy, jealousy, and modern relationships. First, Heidi explains how stepping away from traditional relationship scripts re...

Why does our body stay locked in stress, tension, and fight-or-flight long after a difficult situation is completely over? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner welcome somatic coach and certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Woodrós Wolford to explore the body-based approach developed by Peter Levine. First, Woodrós breaks down how modern living turns us into "zoo animals" who cannot run, shake, or yell to release survival stress. They explain...

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 an...

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 ...

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...