Ep. 50 - How Somatic Therapy Heals Trauma & Anxiety: A Deep Dive with Amy Hagerstrom, LCSW
Release Date: 04/02/2025
Ep. 68 - Is It Autism or Trauma? Diagnosing Adults on the Spectrum with Dr. Benson Fox, Psy.D.
The Holistic Counselor
What does it really mean to be “on the spectrum”—and why are so many adults just now getting diagnosed? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Diana sits down with Dr. Benson Fox, Psy.D., an Orthodox Jewish psychologist, school counselor, professor, and group leader of Adulting on the Spectrum, to explore the truths, myths, and real-life challenges of navigating adult life as a neurodivergent person. They unpack the confusion around late diagnoses, the overlap with trauma, and how stigma shows up—especially in faith-based, immigrant, and culturally...
info_outline
Ep. 67 - Psychiatric Deprescribing & Women’s Mental Health: A Holistic Approach with Dr. Amy O’Donnell, M.D.
The Holistic Counselor
Feeling stuck on psychiatric meds and wondering if there's another way? This episode will change the game. Today I’m joined by Dr. Amy O’Donnell, a brilliant integrative psychiatrist who specializes in psychiatric deprescribing and women’s mental health. She’s helping clients move from surviving on scripts to thriving in mind, body, and spirit. Amy and I get real about the limits of traditional psychiatry, the risks of long-term medication use, and how integrative care offers hope and healing—especially for women navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and...
info_outline
Ep. 66 - Escaping Spiritual Abuse & Church Trauma: Healing After High-Control Religion w/ Sowania Germain, LMHC-D, PMHC
The Holistic Counselor
Hello there, fearfully and wonderfully made human—and welcome to another episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast. I’m your host, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS—founder of and . Today’s guest is the powerful and compassionate Sowania Germain, LMHC-D, PMHC—also known as The Mama Therapist. Sowania joins us to share her courageous story of escaping a spiritually abusive, cult-like church and how her healing journey led her to become a trauma-informed therapist and ministry leader. We unpack how faith can be weaponized, the signs...
info_outline
Special Episode: When the Unthinkable Happens — Mental Health Support After Tragedy
The Holistic Counselor
Host: Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, Qualified Supervisor Moderator & Founder: Through the Valley Therapy & Transformed Mind Consulting and Coaching Release Date: July 21, 2025 Event: A live webinar hosted by , created in response to the devastating Central Texas flood and sudden loss of a beloved colleague in a hit-and-run. Episode Experts: (D.Min., LMHC, QS) — Featured in Episode 10: “Untangling the Threads: Insights on Biblical and Clinical Healing” (LMHC, QS; Certified Addiction Professional; EMDR Consultant)...
info_outline
Ep. 65 - Healing Trauma Through Faith: How to Reclaim Identity and Hope with Rebecca Medina Stewart, Author of "SEEN"
The Holistic Counselor
Content Warning: This episode includes sensitive discussions around sexual assault, suicidal ideation, religious trauma, and faith deconstruction. Please listen with care and refer to the support resources listed below if needed. In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS welcomes Emmy Award-nominated journalist and author Rebecca Medina Stewart, whose devotional book SEEN: Experiencing God’s Tenderness After Trauma offers survivors of sexual assault, grief, depression, and addiction a...
info_outline
Ep. 64 - Dr. Corey Keyes on Languishing, Flourishing, and the Mental Health Continuum: Redefining What It Means to Be Mentally Well
The Holistic Counselor
In this powerful conversation, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, sits down with renowned sociologist and author Dr. Corey Keyes — the pioneer who coined the term languishing. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the fog between burnout and depression but weren’t sure how to name it, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Keyes unpacks the groundbreaking Mental Health Continuum model and the five daily “vitamins” of flourishing — evidence-based habits that promote resilience, emotional healing, and a renewed sense of purpose. Diana and Dr. Keyes dive into the role...
info_outline
Ep. 63 - Why You Crave Junk Food When You're Stressed: The Gut-Brain Link Behind Anxiety & Emotional Eating with Sarah Weiss, RD, LDN, IFNCP
The Holistic Counselor
Welcome back, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made friend! In this powerful episode, I sit down with functional dietitian Sarah Weiss, founder of Weiss Choices, to explore the often-overlooked connection between food, mood, and emotional well-being. Sarah shares her personal journey of emotional eating, healing her gut, and leaving behind a high-stress career as a stockbroker to help others reclaim their health through functional nutrition. We break down the gut-brain axis, emotional eating cycles, blood sugar crashes, and the inflammation-anxiety link—plus share real-life...
info_outline
Ep. 62 - Breaking the Silence: Healing Porn Addiction, Shame, and Identity Loss in High-Functioning Men with Daniel Rubin, LMHC
The Holistic Counselor
In this powerful episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, sits down with Daniel Rubin, LMHC, LPC, founder of Transcend Wellness IOP, for an unfiltered and deeply healing conversation about men’s mental health, emotional isolation, porn addiction recovery, and the impact of unresolved trauma. We explore the hidden struggles of high-performing men who silently carry shame, spiritual confusion, and emotional neglect. This episode is a call to wholeness, vulnerability, and kingdom-centered healing. Key Topics We Cover: The...
info_outline
Ep. 61 - Overcoming Fear of Success, Burnout, and Money Mindset Blocks as a Faith-Based Therapist or Coach with Laura Long, LMFT, MBA
The Holistic Counselor
In today's soul-stirring episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS, sits down with her business coach, the dynamic Laura Long, LMFT, MBA. Together, they dive deep into topics that most entrepreneurs quietly wrestle with: the fear of success, financial mindset struggles (especially for faith-filled women), burnout recovery, and what it really takes to sustain a practice without losing your mind—or your mission. You'll hear raw truths, lots of laughter (and maybe a tear or two), and real-life tools you can start using today. Whether...
info_outline
Ep. 60 - Healing Trauma at the Root: EMDR, Addiction, and Shame with Brian Gong, LMHC
The Holistic Counselor
In this deeply personal and powerful episode, Diana welcomes Brian Gong, LMHC, EMDRIA-Approved Consultant and co-owner of Mangrove Therapy Group, to explore how trauma, shame, and addiction are intricately linked—and how EMDR therapy offers a pathway to healing for even the deepest wounds. Diana first heard Brian speak at the NSU/MSD Strong event in 2020—two years after the tragic Parkland shooting—and was so impacted by what he shared that she began her own EMDR journey. In this conversation, they dive into: The science and soul of EMDR therapy ...
info_outlineWelcome back, my fearfully and wonderfully made humans! In this episode, Diana explores the increasingly popular term somatic with expert Amy Hagerstrom, LCSW. Amy specializes in somatic experiencing and the Safe and Sound Protocol, helping adults struggling with anxiety, trauma, and midlife stress. She shares her personal journey, how somatic therapy transformed her mental health, and practical ways it can help individuals process stored trauma and regulate their nervous systems.
If you've ever felt like traditional talk therapy wasn't enough or wondered how trauma gets stored in the body, this episode is for you.
Key Topics Covered:
-
Amy’s personal story and how she found somatic therapy
-
The difference between talk therapy and somatic therapy
-
Understanding the mind-body connection and its impact on trauma
-
How chronic pain, anxiety, and depression relate to stored trauma
-
Practical exercises to help regulate the nervous system
-
The role of polyvagal theory in healing trauma
-
Grounding techniques and their importance in daily life
-
Safe and Sound Protocol and how it aids in nervous system regulation
Practical Exercises & Takeaways:
-
Grounding Exercise: Focus on feeling the chair beneath you, your feet on the ground, and how your body makes contact with surfaces.
-
Pendulation Technique: Shift attention between areas of discomfort and areas that feel neutral or good in the body.
-
Mindful Check-ins: Ask yourself: Am I thirsty? Hungry? Holding tension? Bringing awareness to bodily sensations can help improve self-regulation.
Recommended Resources:
-
Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine
-
In an Unspoken Voice by Peter Levine (for clinicians)
-
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
-
Polyvagal Theory in Therapy by Deb Dana
-
TraumaHealing.org (for more on Somatic Experiencing)
-
The Embody Lab (for body-based courses and workshops)
Connect with Amy Hagerstrom:
-
Website: www.amyhagerstrom.com
Connect with Diana S. Rice:
-
Website: www.throughthevalleytherapy.
com -
Podcast: The Holistic Counselor Podcast
-
Instagram: @TheHolisticCounselorPodcast
Closing Message:
Be kind to yourself. Our bodies endure so much in this world, and learning to trust and regulate our nervous systems is a journey. Remember to trust in the Lord, guard your heart, and renew your mind. See you next time!