The Struggle of Parenting

Struggling to stay grounded during emotional storms? This week on The Dude Therapist, we’re diving deep into the world of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with the brilliant Dr. Kiki Fehling licensed psychologist, author, and Linehan-Board-Certified DBT expert.We explore how DBT empowers individuals to regulate emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and navigate life's chaos with more resilience and calm. Whether you're a mental health professional, someone navigating intense emotions, or just DBT-curious, this episode delivers.What You'll Learn:✅ What DBT actually is and why it works✅ How DBT helps with emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness✅ Real-world applications for anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and beyond✅ LGBTQ+ mental health insights and how DBT can be adapted across identities✅ Dr. Fehling’s personal journey into the field and why DBT is her life’s workMeet the Guest: Dr. Kiki FehlingDr. Kiki Fehling is a licensed psychologist, author, and Linehan Board-Certified DBT expert. She specializes in suicide prevention, self-harm, borderline personality disorder, and LGBTQ+ mental health. She's the author of Self-Directed DBT Skills: A 3-Month Workbook and DBT Cards for Coping Skills, with a forthcoming book on LGBTQ+ mental health. Dr. Fehling is a passionate educator and content creator known for breaking down complex mental health concepts on Instagram @dbtkiki and through her writing on Psychology Today.🔗 Connect with Dr. Fehling:Website: https://www.dbtkiki.comInstagram: @dbtkikiBooks: Self-Directed DBT Skills & DBT Cards for Coping Skills

What if real resilience isn’t about pushing through, but knowing when to pause, adapt, and reconnect with what matters?Clinical psychologist and global mental health expert Dr. Ross White joins Eli to discuss psychological flexibility, athlete mental health, and why success should include well-being not just achievement. Together, they explore what it means to thrive in high-performance environments without sacrificing mental well-being. Whether you're an athlete, a parent, or someone feeling stretched thin by life, this conversation invites you to rethink resilience not as rigid toughness, but as the ability to bend with purpose.Inspired by his book The Tree That Bends, this episode is packed with insights for anyone navigating high-pressure environments, from sports to everyday life.🔗 Learn more: rossgwhite.com👤 About Dr. Ross White:Professor Ross White is a clinical psychologist who specializes in supporting mental health in high-performance environments, including elite athletes in rugby, football, athletics, and tennis. He is a global mental health expert with collaborations across the WHO and UNHCR, focused on reducing distress among refugees post-crisis. He’s currently Professor of Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast and director of Strive2Thrive, a training and consultancy organization.📲 Let’s keep the conversation going—tag @thedudetherapist with your biggest takeaways and thoughts on what resilience means to you.

Why do high achievers often struggle in relationships? It’s not about success—it’s about unresolved emotional patterns.In this episode of The Dude Therapist, licensed psychologist Dr. Sarah Schewitz, founder of Couples Learn, breaks down why high-achieving individuals often bring attachment wounds, emotional avoidance, and miscommunication into their relationships.We dive deep into how therapy, self-awareness, and co-regulation can transform the way high performers love and connect.🔍 In this episode, we explore:Why high achievers struggle in relationships and where it stems fromHow attachment styles and past emotional wounds affect communication and intimacyThe truth about co-regulation and why it’s crucial during conflictWhy “being nice” can actually harm emotional intimacyHow therapy helps address avoidance, conflict cycles, and generational traumaWhat couples therapy actually looks like and what it’s notDr. Sarah Schewitz is the founder of Couples Learn, one of Forbes Health’s top-rated online couples therapy platforms. Her mission? Help couples heal attachment wounds and create emotionally secure relationships. She’s been featured on CNN, Women’s Health, Bravo, and Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown.🎧 Tune in to learn how emotional healing, not more effort, may be the key to a thriving relationship, especially for high achievers.🔗 Helpful Links:Website: coupleslearn.comOnline Courses: coupleslearn.com/online-coursesRelationship Quizzes: coupleslearn.com/quizzesIG: @coupleslearn

If you’ve ever felt like your child is carrying the weight of the world or maybe just your own stress, you’re not alone. And this episode is precisely what you need.Eli Weinstein sits down with powerhouse parenting coaches and psychotherapists Maria Evans and Ashley Graber, authors of the groundbreaking new book, Raising Calm Kids in a World of Worry. These two have trained over 8,000 mental health professionals and worked with families across the globe, and now they’re breaking it all down for you.This isn’t your typical “just breathe and stay positive” advice. We’re talking fundamental tools for real parents dealing with real chaos.💥 In this episode, we dive into:How your calm becomes their calmWhat anxiety actually looks like in kids (it’s not always obvious)The one thing most parents skip after a blow-up—and why it mattersThe art of validating without over-accommodatingHow to raise confident kids in an anxious world without losing yourself in the processPersonal. Practical. Powerful.Ashley and Maria blend science, mindfulness, and personal experience into simple, effective strategies that can be applied at home. You’ll walk away feeling seen, supported, and ready to show up not perfectly, but powerfully.🎧 Tune in now and learn how to parent with more calm, clarity, and confidence—even when anxiety is in the room.👉 Grab their book here: Raising Calm Kids in a World of Worry

In this powerful episode of The Dude Therapist, Eli Weinstein sits down with Olympic boxer Ginny Fuchs to unpack her incredible journey through the ring and her mind. From Houston to the Olympics, Ginny has not only faced opponents in the ring but also wrestled with OCD, anxiety, and anorexia behind the scenes. She opens up about the emotional and mental toll of being an elite athlete, the evolution of women’s roles in boxing, and how she’s using her platform to break stigma and inspire strength beyond the sport.Ginny shares raw insights on navigating the relentless pressure for perfection, the challenges of disrupted routines, and how she’s learning to balance fierce ambition with deep vulnerability. Whether you're an athlete, a parent of a child with OCD, or someone striving to live authentically, you'll find courage, connection, and inspiration in Ginny's story.What You'll Learn:How Ginny transitioned from long-distance running to boxing—and found her true passionThe hidden toll of mental health struggles in elite sportsWhy OCD is more than just a “clean freak” stereotypeHow anorexia and OCD intertwined in Ginny’s journeyThe reality of maintaining mental health while traveling as a pro athleteDating, routines, and relationships in the life of an Olympic contenderWhy vulnerability is Ginny’s greatest strength and how it deepened her connectionsPractical advice for parents supporting kids with OCDHow Ginny’s aiming for world championship glory while staying grounded in her valuesConnect with Ginny Fuchs:📲 Follow her on Instagram: @ginnyfuchsusaIf you or someone you love is navigating OCD or anxiety, know that you're not alone. This episode is your reminder that even champions need support, and there is strength in seeking help.

In this powerful episode, Eli sits down with Carrie Berk, an NYC-based journalist, content creator, and bestselling author, to explore her personal journey with anxiety and OCD. Carrie opens up about the inspiration behind her book Mindfire and how she’s helping young adults feel seen, understood, and less alone in their mental health struggles.With a career that started at just eight years old, Carrie has written 21 books, including My Real-Life Rom-Com, a Barnes & Noble bestseller and Amazon chart-topper. Her work has been featured in the New York Post, HuffPost, Women’s Health, and Newsweek. She’s also built a massive digital presence, with over 3.8 million followers on TikTok and nearly a million on Instagram.In this conversation, Carrie gets real about therapy, coping strategies, and the power of sharing your story. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t mean perfection and community is everything.Follow Carrie on social @carrieberkk

In this powerful and candid episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Kate Balestrieri—clinical psychologist, certified sex therapist, and author of What Happened to My Sex Life?—to explore the often misunderstood terrain of intimacy, desire, and sexual satisfaction in modern relationships.you'reTogether, they unpack everything from emotional labor and betrayal to the myths that still dominate conversations about sex. Dr. Kate shares why pleasure is a human right, how sexual entitlement erodes intimacy, and why sex is rarely just about sex. Whether you're navigating a dry spell, rebuilding after betrayal, or just trying to better understand your partner's needs, this conversation is your no-BS roadmap to reconnecting—physically and emotionally.We also get into how parents can better prepare their kids for healthy sexuality, why social media has a complicated connection, and what therapists need to know before wading into sex talk with clients.one'swho's "isn'tThisone'swho's"one'swho's"isn'tThis one’s for anyone who’s ever asked, “Why isn't our sex life what it used to be?"—and is ready for answers that go deeper than surface-level advice.Key Takeaways:Sex ebbs and flows—and that's normal.Communication, not spontaneity, is the real foreplay.Betrayal recovery is possible, but it requires ownership and intention.There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fidelity or sexual norms.Emotional and domestic labor deeply impact desire.Parents have a powerful role in shaping healthy sex education.Pleasure is not selfish—it's self-care and resistance.Stop shaming your partner's desires. Start talking about them.About Our Guest:Dr. Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, certified sex therapist, and founder of Modern Intimacy, a therapy practice focused on relational and sexual wellness. She's the author of What Happened to My Sex Life? and host of Get Naked with Dr. Kate. Dr. Kate is passionate about helping people move from pain to thriving, and she's here to make conversations about sex less taboo and more transformational.Resources & Links:📘 What Happened to My Sex Life? – Buy the book🎧 Get Naked with Dr. Kate – Listen to the podcast🌐 Dr. Kate's Practice – Modern Intimacy📱 Follow Dr. Kate on IG – @drkatebalestrieri

What if settling isn’t giving up—but leaning into what actually serves you?In this episode of The Dude Therapist, Eli sits down with Case Kenny—author, mindfulness mentor, and host of the hit podcast New Mindset, Who Dis?—for a no-fluff, eye-opening conversation on redefining love, vulnerability, and the art of staying true to yourself in a world that’s always trying to shape you.Together, they dive into:Why hope isn’t wishful thinking—it’s a practice.How journaling and writing can cut through the noise of self-doubt.Why your partner should amplify your happiness, not be the source of it.The truth about being single (hint: it’s not a waiting room for love).Why settling isn't about lowering the bar—it's about knowing what actually matters.Case unpacks the power of language, habit, and reflection in building a mindful, confident life—and offers practical tools for showing up authentically in both relationships and solitude. If you've ever questioned if you're too much, not enough, or stuck in the wrong chapter—this one’s for you.💬 Quote of the Episode:“Vulnerability is admired in others—but feared in ourselves. That’s where the work starts.”🔗 Links + Mentions:🧠 Podcast: New Mindset, Who Dis?📕 Upcoming Book: The Opposite of Settling (pre-order on Amazon)📘 Debut Book: That's Bold of You🖊️ Instagram Journals & Writing: @case.kenny🔔 Subscribe to The Dude Therapist wherever you get your podcasts and follow @thedudetherapist for more real talk on relationships, parenting, and mental health.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Adam Woolard—a former banker turned holistic health advocate—who opens up about his transformative path from the world of finance to functional medicine. Adam shares how understanding your body through blood work and proactive care can radically shift your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.He gets real about the challenges of public relationships, the beauty of vulnerability, and how therapy has shaped his personal growth. With wisdom rooted in both experience and his role at Blokes/Joi, Adam reminds us why community matters, why routines are underrated, and how change is always possible—both in your relationships and your health.Key Takeaways:You can’t pour from an empty cup—prioritize your wellness first.Information is power, especially when it comes to your health.Nothing is set in stone—growth is always an option.Physical health and mental health are deeply connected.Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the way forward.We thrive in community—don’t go it alone.Whether you’re deep into your health journey or just starting out, this episode will leave you inspired to take control, lean into connection, and fill your cup—so you can pour into others.🎧 Tune in now for an honest, empowering conversation that bridges business, wellness, and the human experience.

Can someone seem totally fine — successful, social, high-achieving — and still be deeply struggling? Absolutely. In this eye-opening episode, psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph breaks down the concept of high functioning depression — a condition that often flies under the radar but affects so many people.We talk about why this kind of depression is so often dismissed, and how societal pressure pushes people to keep going, even when they’re hurting inside. Dr. Joseph shares practical tools to spot the signs early, prioritize your mental health before it becomes a crisis, and create more joy in your daily life.She also dives into what it means to understand your own unique mental health makeup — and how doing so can lead to real, lasting change.🔑 What You’ll Learn:Why high functioning depression often goes unnoticedThe power of preventative mental health careHow people can be struggling even when they seem okayThe impact of societal and cultural pressure on our well-beingHow to prioritize joy (yes, you can actually schedule it!)Why self-care is more than bubble baths — it’s knowing your needsThat happiness isn’t a destination — it’s made up of small, joyful momentsThe importance of checking in on friends who “have it all together”Dr. Joseph’s work is a powerful reminder that we all deserve to feel seen, supported, and well — not just to function, but to thrive.✨ Learn more about Dr. Judith Joseph:Website: drjudithjoseph.comInstagram: @drjudithjosephHer new book: The High Functioning Book🎧 Listen now and share this one with a friend who might need to hear it. You never know who’s quietly carrying a heavy load.