In this episode, we explore what it’s really like growing up in chaos — and how those early family dynamics can deeply affect your identity, your faith, and even your relationship with God the Father.We break down the classic roles in an alcoholic family system — the golden child (hero), scapegoat, lost child, and mascot — and how each role shapes the way children learn to survive in a dysfunctional environment. We’ll also look at the long-term impact of being an Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACA): why it can be hard to trust, how faith and prayer life may feel distorted, and why some Catholics struggle with seeing God the Father as loving and safe.But there’s hope. Understanding these patterns through both a clinical and Catholic lens can open the door to healing, freedom, and a deeper relationship with God.If you’ve ever wondered why it feels so hard to pray, to trust God, or to feel at peace as a Catholic adult who grew up in an alcoholic family, this conversation is for you.🔔 Subscribe for more videos on Catholic faith, psychology, and healing from the wounds of the past.
🙏🏼 St. Dymphna, pray for us!
----------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
Do you feel anxious or nervous about bringing your lively Kids to Mass? Are you worried they might be loud and disrupt the Liturgy? Jesus could not have been clearer when he stated, "Let the Little Children come to Me" (Matthew 19:14), and he rebuked the disciples who were trying to hinder the Children from coming to Him. Jesus wants your children at mass. With all their being, noise, tantrum and all! In this video, we discuss different obstacles and fears you might face when bringing your kids to mass, and help you feel confident to never worry about your Little Ones during the Liturgy again - even sitting in the first row!This is for you Mom, Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Godparent, Grandparent... anyone wanting to bring a little one into the presence of Jesus!
We discuss all of this from a Catholic perspective, as well as drawing from our Clinical knowledge and our experience from working as licensed Psychotherapists.
🙏🏼 St. Dymphna, pray for us!
---------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
Do you feel constantly drained, anxious, or like you never quite measure up — no matter how hard you try? As Catholic women, we long to live in God’s peace… but many of our everyday habits are quietly robbing us of it.🌿 Here’s the good news: Peace isn’t out of reach. In this video, we share the simple but powerful habits that help Catholic women reclaim peace of mind and heart — habits that are not only practical, but deeply rooted in our Catholic faith.🙏🏼 St. Dymphna, pray for us!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
As Therapists, we know all the Tips and Tricks, Research and Strategies to overcome Anxiety - and THIS is our Go-To Anxiety Hack that we ourselves use - and it works! In this video, we share an Anxiety Hack that is based on the evidence-based CBT approach combined with scripture. We also share a meditation on relating our anxiety to Jesus instead of ruminating on it, from the book "Rejoice" by Fr. Mark Toups.Jesus clearly tells us in Scripture, "Do not be anxious" ✝️ Matthew 6:25 and Matthew 6:34 ✝️Let's follow this invitation to become free from Anxiety, and live in the Freedom that God has for us!The Two Bible Verses mentioned in this video are:🌿 Philippians 4:6-7🌿 Isaiah 41:10📖 The Meditation mentioned in this video is from the Book "Rejoice" by Fr. Mark Toups.🙏🏼 St. Dymphna, pray for us!0:00 Evidence-based CBT-Approach to replacing thoughts0:39 Replace anxious thoughts with Scripture (It WORKS!)1:20 Two Examples of Bible passages to use when Anxiety hits2:25 Meditation by Fr. Mark Toups on Relating vs. Ruminating -------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
Without realizing it, you might be using your faith to hide from your Father Wound or Mother Wound. We get it, hurtful childhood experiences are very painful to face, so it makes sense that your mind is trying to protect you from them! The problem is, that this keeps you from healing. Many Christians who carry a Mother wound or Father wound unconsciously fall into overspiritualizing or intellectualizing their faith. Instead of facing your deep emotional wounds, you might be relying on religious explanations to keep your pain at a distance.Let's talk about this together!In this episode of Tea with Dymphna, we explore how Parent wounds shape our image of God the Father and how our Faith might become the means to repress our hurt. If your earthly father was experienced as harsh, judgmental, or emotionally unavailable, it’s easy to assume God the Father is the same. This often leads to a faith that becomes rigid, intellectualized, and disconnected from the heart. It might feel as though your Catholic Faith and Scripture are backing you up in your belief that what was done to you (or where you were neglected) was ok. It is not. This isn't about blaming your parents, but about validating and acknowledging your early childhood wounds, and how you can heal from them.🎥 Watch our Episode on ✨ How Father & Mother Wounds Distort Your Relationship with God the Father: https://youtu.be/K7pOUemWa0g ✨🙏🏼 St. Dymphna, pray for us!0:00 Case Example of Suppressing Anger in Christian (Alcoholic) Family System1:31 Difficulty Setting Boundaries as a Result of Emotionally Absent or Rageful Father2:52 How Mother and Father Wounds lead to Overspiritualizing our Pain (e.g. Intellectualizing, Repression)6:38 How using Faith to justify our Childhood Wounds keeps us Distant from God7:10 How Hiding your Pain behind the Catholic Faith hinders Healing8:40 Repression of Anger9:58 Using Scripture in Therapy to untangle Mother and Father Wound from our Faith and find Healing -------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
Many Catholics misunderstand boundaries, seeing them as uncharitable, selfish, or even un-Christian. But the truth is: healthy boundaries are biblical and are essential for growing in humility, charity, and holiness.In this episode of Tea with Dymphna, we break down:✅ Why Catholics often struggle with boundaries✅ The difference between holy suffering vs. unhealthy suffering✅ How setting boundaries actually fosters humility✅ The connection between boundaries, relationships, and holiness✅ Why boundaries aren’t selfish — they’re Christ-likeIf you’ve ever wondered “Are boundaries Catholic?” or felt guilty for setting limits in relationships, this conversation is for you.Boundaries aren’t about shutting people out — they’re about loving rightly, living the Gospel authentically, and becoming freer to grow in holiness.🙏🏼 St. Dymphna, pray for us!0:00 Lack of boundaries in the name of Christian Charity0:35 Humility and Healthy Boundaries1:42 Holy Suffering vs. Unhealthy Suffering3:11 Healthy Boundaries in Relationships points to the Worth and Dignity of Humans4:30 Healthy Boundaries Help you Grow in Humility and Holiness5:55 Misconception of Jesus as a "Nice Guy"7:08 Quote from Jane Eyre-------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
Have you ever wondered why your relationship with God the Father feels distant, confusing, or even painful? Many of us unknowingly project our Mother wounds and Father wounds onto God, seeing Him through the lens of our early experiences with parents.In this episode of Tea with Dymphna, we explore how parent wounds—both Mother and Father—can distort your image of God the Father. Drawing from both psychology and Catholic theology, we unpack how childhood experiences shape your faith, and how healing these wounds can restore intimacy and trust in your relationship with God.If you’ve wrestled with seeing God as “just Daddy with a mask on” or wondered how your past impacts your faith, this conversation is for you.🙏🏼 St. Dymphna, pray for us!
------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
If you struggle with OCD, you know how easy it is to fall into habits, apps, and websites that actually make symptoms worse instead of better. In this video, two licensed therapists break down the things you should avoid if you have OCD — from health apps and Reddit rabbit holes to WebMD searches and even home security cameras.Whether you’re living with OCD, in therapy, or just curious about the psychology behind obsessions and compulsions, this video is a mix of professional insight and practical advice — with a touch of humor along the way.
---------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
❄️ Why couldn't Elsa just “let it go”? In this episode, we dive deep into the hidden psychological layers of Disney’s Frozen and unpack the trauma, emotional repression, and attachment dynamics behind Elsa’s icy exterior.As two licensed psychotherapists, we analyze Elsa’s character through a clinical lens—exploring how early childhood experiences, fear-based messaging, and isolation contribute to her struggles with emotional regulation and identity. We discuss how she develops a strong Super-Ego and the symptoms that develop, as well as her (in our opinion) PTSD diagnosis. And we also share our theory on Olaf's role in Elsa's psychology, diving into what an "inner child" is and how Trauma can suppress it. And finally, we discuss what ultimately brought about her healing - or at least a first step in her healing journey.Whether you're a mental health professional, a Disney fan, or just curious about the real-world psychology behind beloved characters, this video is for you!
Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
We asked ChatGPT to help someone with OCD and, uh... it kinda crushed it? 😳In this episode, two licensed therapists (that’s us 👋) pretend to be a client with OCD and see how well AI handles it. Spoiler: we were not ready for how it's response!So… should we be worried about our jobs? (Kidding. Mostly.)Join us for laughs, insights, and a little therapist existential crisis. 😅Great for anyone curious about OCD, AI in mental health, or just here for some nerdy fun.-------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
Can Therapy and Mental Health become too spiritualized? Join us as we dive into this question and share our thoughts on how abusing spirituality to "fix" ourselves on the one hand, or becoming overly passive in putting our hands into our laps and reducing our efforts to "just praying about it more". As Catholic licensed psychotherapists, we believe in the deep integration of faith and mental health. But sometimes, spiritual practices can unintentionally be used to avoid emotional pain, bypass real healing, or even shame those who are struggling. Whether you're a therapist or someone seeking healing yourself — this conversation is for you. We discuss all of this from a Clinical as well as Catholic perspective. Join us for another episode of Tea with Dymphna!------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
We dive into why Catholic/Christian women might find themselves romantically attracted to Catholic priests or seminarians. We explore how your God-given nature, the consequences of the Fall, and past wounds can all contribute to you falling in love with someone part of the Clergy. You will also gain tools, techniques, and strategies to overcome these feelings and thoughts so that they don't drive a wedge between you and God. Learn what might help you heal in a deeper way and redirect this attraction back to Jesus, your eternal spouse. And Finally, we hope to drive home the message that THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. Don't condemn or judge yourself for these feelings. We don't!We are two licensed Catholic psychotherapists and talk about all of this from a Clinical and Catholic perspective, combining the evidence-based knowledge from CBT (= Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as well as Psychodynamic theories with Christian faith. Join us for another episode of Tea with Dymphna!---------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
In this episode we discuss why our God-given desire to be beautiful often makes us feel guilty, shameful, and anxious. We explore how past wounds, messages we received, and underlying beliefs shape our view of ourselves and our Beauty. We also discuss how you can heal and overcome these feelings of guilt, shame, and fear, and embrace your God-given Beauty as wonderful. Find healing and encouragement knowing that you are made Beautiful and God delights in your Beauty!We are two licensed Catholic psychotherapists and talk about all of this from a Clinical and Catholic perspective, combining the evidence-based knowledge from CBT (= Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as well as Psychodynamic theories with Christian faith. Join us for another episode of Tea with Dymphna!--------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
Join us as we discuss why dating, getting engaged and getting married will likely trigger your OCD and what you can do about it. We dive into the special circumstances that dating and getting married pose to the anxious part of your brain and how you can calm the OCD down. Don't let OCD come between you and your significant other! We talk about why "general" dating advice (even well meant, Christian or Catholic dating advice) is usually NOT helpful for someone with OCD, and what we recommend doing (and not doing!) instead.We are two licensed Catholic psychotherapists and talk about all of this from a Clinical and Catholic perspective, combining the evidence-based knowledge from CBT (= Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as well as Psychodynamic theories with Christian faith. Join us for another episode of Tea with Dymphna!0:00 Intro0:55 Why Dating might excite your OCD5:19 There is no 100% certainty with marriage6:33 The fear of missing "Red Flags"7:33 Obsessing about Flaws8:15 Avoid general dating advice10:59 Resist the urge to seek reassurance13:38 Be ok with being "certain enough"14:56 Embrace your partner's imperfections-------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
We, two Catholic licensed Psychotherapists, explore the psychological and theological reasons why Scrupulosity is so prevalent in the Catholic Church. We talk about why our faith can become the perfect petri dish for OCD and Scrupulosity to develop. But most importantly, we want to spread the hope that healing is possible, and that OCD and Scrupulosity are very treatable through psychotherapy, e.g. by using the CBT (=Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) approach. We discuss all of this from a clinical and Catholic perspective. Join us for another episode of Tea with Dymphna!
------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
In this episode we discuss why a healthy Self-Esteem is so important to overcome anxiety, depression, OCD, and other emotional disorders. Hear our defense on why having Self-Esteem is absolutely in line with Christian values, and how you can improve it. We are two licensed Catholic psychotherapists and talk about all of this from a Clinical and Catholic perspective, combining the evidence-based knowledge from CBT (= Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as well as Psychodynamic theories with Christian faith. Join us for another episode of Tea with Dymphna!
----------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
Join us as we share with you how you can overcome Intrusive Thoughts once and for all. We are two licensed Catholic Psychotherapists and these are the methods and tools we use with our clients, and they WORK! Start using them today and begin to feel more peaceful. The tools and strategies are mainly from CBT (= Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). Everything we share is through a clinical lens as well as a Catholic perspective.
---------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
We (Lauren and Elisabeth, two Catholic licensed therapists) share the surprising truths about Scrupulosity and how to overcome it. Becoming free from Scrupulosity is not only possible, but it usually happens fairly quickly once you start implementing the strategies we talk about in this video, ideally with the help of a licensed psychotherapist.
➡️ Link mentioned in this episode:Fr. Santa's Scrupulous Anonymoushttps://scrupulousanonymous.org
------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
We (Lauren and Elisabeth, two Catholic licensed therapists) share the surprising truths about Scrupulosity and how to overcome it. Becoming free from Scrupulosity is not only possible, but it usually happens fairly quickly once you start implementing the strategies we talk about in this video, ideally with the help of a licensed psychotherapist.
➡️ Link mentioned in this episode:Fr. Santa's Scrupulous Anonymoushttps://scrupulousanonymous.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.
We (Lauren and Elisabeth, two Catholic licensed therapists) put ChatGPT to the test and ask it to help us with our "anxiety". We share our thoughts on how well it is able to "help us", and whether or not we think it can do our job (spoiler alert: obviously not). In between we share tidbits on how we as therapists would respond to someone seeking advice on how to overcome anxiety as well as discuss the "therapeutic techniques" ChatGPT uses on us. We had a lot of fun filming this episode and hope you enjoy it too!-------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: These videos are meant to inform and share our experiences. They do not replace seeing a licensed therapist. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help.