Libsyn Directory

118: Your Pain Has a Name: Identity, Healing, and Compassion with Monica DiCristina

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

Release Date: 10/02/2025

120: The Phoenix Within: Radical Healing and the Power of Community with José Rosario

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with José Rosario—therapist, human rights speaker, and founder of The Phoenix Empowered—for a powerful and heartfelt conversation about radical healing, identity, and the systems that shape our mental health. Born to young Puerto Rican parents and living with cerebral palsy, José’s story is one of defiance, resilience, and community. From being told as a child that he would “never accomplish anything” to becoming a leading voice in intersectional mental health, José shares his deeply personal journey of finding...

119: Finding Peace of Mind: Courage, Connection, and Healing with Jonathan Kemp

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Jonathan Kemp—mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and author of Finding Peace of Mind—for an honest conversation about living with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, addiction, and dyslexia, and what it means to find healing later in life. Jonathan shares the many twists and turns of his journey—from working in the Australian outback and serving in law enforcement in the UK to completing a master’s degree in international finance—all while navigating systems and self-doubt that told him he couldn’t do...

118: Your Pain Has a Name: Identity, Healing, and Compassion with Monica DiCristina

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Monica DiCristina, LPC, therapist, writer, and podcaster, to explore the healing power of naming our pain. Monica shares her personal journey of living with undiagnosed OCD and intrusive thoughts, and how finding a name for her struggle became the first step toward freedom. Together, Sindee and Monica talk about separating identity from wounding, why coping behaviors don’t define us, and the importance of listening to the “trauma whispers” in our daily lives. They also discuss the cultural pull toward quick...

117: Healing the Helpers: Emotional Labor, Boundaries, and Community with Kara Cruz

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky talks with Kara Cruz, LMFT, PMH-C, a therapist, supervisor, and community builder dedicated to “healing the helpers.” Kara has created spaces like the Supervisor Circle and Therapist Group Bootcamp to support clinicians in their professional and personal growth. They dive into the emotional labor of caregiving professionals, how fear and self-abandonment keep therapists from setting boundaries, and why building supportive communities is essential to prevent burnout. Kara also shares her passion for group work, offering practical...

116: The Human Puzzle: Trauma, Healing, and Psychedelic Therapy with Keith Kurlander

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky talks with Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC, co-founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and a pioneer in psychedelic therapy education. Keith shares his own mental health journey, beginning with a near-suicide at 19, and how decades of healing led him to build innovative training programs that are reshaping the field. They dive into the growing role of psychedelic-assisted therapy, what integration really means after a transformative session, and why trauma is often the common thread in mental health struggles. Keith also explains...

115: Betrayal and Forgiveness: Rebuilding Trust After Deep Hurt with Dr. Bruce Chalmer

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Dr. Bruce Chalmer, a couples therapist, author, and podcaster who has spent more than 30 years helping people navigate intimacy, betrayal, and forgiveness. They explore why communication skills alone won’t save a struggling relationship, how true healing begins with the courage to face intimacy, and what Dr. Chalmer calls the “oh, shit moment” that can change everything for a couple. He also shares insights from his latest book, Betrayal and Forgiveness: How to Navigate the Turmoil and Learn to Trust Again,...

114: Silent Trauma: The Hidden Wounds That Run Your Life with Dr. Shahrzad Jalali

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Dr. Shahrzad Jalali, Psy.D, who brings together Jungian analysis, Persian mysticism, and somatic work in the most fascinating way. We explore "silent trauma" – those sneaky childhood wounds that quietly run our adult lives and relationships. Shahrzad shares how she teaches clients the "somatic alphabet" to heal through the body when the mind feels stuck, and why we're magnetically drawn to our opposite in relationships...only to spend years trying to change them! From her personal journey through crisis to becoming a...

113: Empowering Therapists: Marissa Wells on Building a Purposeful, Cash Pay Private Practice

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

Empowering Therapists: Marissa Wells on Building a Purposeful, Cash Pay Private Practice In this episode of A Simple Therapy podcast, licensed professional counselor and supervisor Marissa Wells returns to focus on helping new therapists find their footing, start their own cash pay private practices, and truly lean into their purpose. Marissa discusses the importance of finding one's niche, aligning business with personal values, and overcoming financial barriers. She highlights the role of financial peace, purpose, and community support in creating a successful practice. The episode...

112: Bridging Connection: Counseling for Aging Families with Marissa Wells

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

Bridging Connection: Counseling for Aging Families with Marissa Wells In this episode of A Simple Therapy podcast, host Sindee Gozansky welcomes Marissa Wells, a licensed professional counselor and aging family educator from Arkansas. Marissa talks about her journey to specializing in counseling for aging families, rooted in her personal experiences with her own family. She highlights the importance of supporting caregivers and addresses the dynamics and challenges faced by families dealing with aging loved ones, including the emotional and practical aspects of role reversals and...

Introducing A Simple Therapy Podcast: Real Conversations, Honest Healing, and the Human Side of Therapy

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

A space for honest dialogue, soulful insights, and meaningful stories from therapists, healing humans, and mental health advocates. This trailer introduces the heart behind the rebrand—from The Heart-Centered Therapist Podcast to A Simple Therapy Podcast. Discover what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and what you can expect moving forward. Whether you're a therapist, on your own healing journey, or passionate about mental health—you’re invited. Let’s keep it simple… and keep showing up. Learn more: asimpletherapypodcast.com

More Episodes

Together, Sindee and Monica talk about separating identity from wounding, why coping behaviors don’t define us, and the importance of listening to the “trauma whispers” in our daily lives. They also discuss the cultural pull toward quick fixes, and why true healing is a slow, compassionate practice rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

This conversation is full of gentle wisdom, rich metaphors, and practical ways to turn toward yourself with curiosity and kindness. Monica’s story and her book, Your Pain Has a Name, remind us that while we can’t avoid pain, we can begin to untangle it—and return to the truth of who we are.

00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:49 - Meet Monica DiCristina: Therapist, Writer, Podcaster

03:10 - Your Pain Has a Name: The Story Behind the Book

08:22 - Naming Pain vs. Labeling: A Compassionate Distinction

10:21 - Separating Identity from Wounds and Coping Behaviors

14:34 - The Myth of Quick Fixes in Mental Health

19:08 - Listening to the Narratives We Believe About Ourselves

22:32 - The Core Questions: Am I Safe? Am I Loved?

27:26 - Sharing Her Story: Why Monica “Went First” in Her Book

31:06 - Redrawing Your Family Map and Boundaries That Heal

36:26 - Therapists’ Takeaway: The Healing Power of Presence

38:40 - A Gentle First Step for Facing Your Pain