Unscripted Small Business Podcast - Episode: Understanding Therapy and Mental Health with Kinsey Morgan

Host: Jeremy Rivera
Guest: Kinsey Morgan, LPC-MHSP, Owner of Arise Counseling Services
Episode Focus: Therapy approaches, EMDR, workplace trauma, and breaking mental health stigma

Episode Summary

Join host Jeremy Rivera as he sits down with licensed therapist Kinsey Morgan to explore the world of mental health therapy. Kinsey shares her personal journey into psychology, explains innovative trauma treatment approaches like EMDR, and discusses the rising trend of workplace trauma in post-COVID America. This candid conversation breaks down therapy myths while providing practical insights for anyone considering mental health support.

Key Topics Discussed

Kinsey's Background & Journey (00:24 - 02:04)

• How high school counseling for bullying and family issues sparked her interest in psychology
• The transformative impact of working with a skilled teen therapist
• College experience with professors who maintained private practices
• The unique nature of psychology: "We are all part of psychology, walking around in bodies every day"

Arise Counseling Services Overview (02:20 - 03:01)

• Founded 8-9 years ago in Brentwood, Tennessee
• Specializes in trauma therapy, mood disorders, grief and loss
• Focus on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Deep Dive: EMDR Explained (03:23 - 05:25)

• What EMDR stands for: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
• How traumatic memories get "stuck" in fight-or-flight brain regions
• The movie poster analogy: dimming the brightness of painful memories
• Recreating REM sleep's bilateral stimulation while awake

Therapeutic Approaches & Methods (09:56 - 11:23)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Inner child work and somatic therapy
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• The difference between intellectualizing vs. feeling through emotions
• Reparenting work for adults

Generational Trauma & Cultural Shifts (12:21 - 15:30)

• How Baby Boomer parents' stoic upbringing affects Gen X/Millennial therapy needs
• Cultural generational trauma and its impact on emotional expression
• Why parents "couldn't teach what they didn't know"
• The "both and" approach to understanding family dynamics

Modern Trends in Mental Health (16:06 - 18:27)

• The rise of somatic experience understanding
• Connection between unexpressed emotions and autoimmune diseases
• "The body keeps the score" mentality
• How emotions manifest as physical ailments when not processed

Cultural Acceptance of Therapy (18:27 - 20:02)

• Shifting attitudes toward mental health care
• Younger generations treating therapy like physical health maintenance
• Persistent stigma and fear factors
• Why it wasn't safe to discuss mental health historically

Accessibility & Insurance Challenges (21:16 - 23:49)

• Why many private practice therapists don't accept insurance
• The diagnostic requirement for insurance billing
• Ethical considerations in labeling and insurance history
• Importance of sliding scale and agency options
• Advocacy for connecting clients with affordable resources

Primary Client Challenges (24:11 - 26:49)

• Functioning impairment as the main driver for seeking therapy
• Massive rise in workplace trauma post-COVID
• Work-life balance struggles
• Boundary issues in professional settings
• Job satisfaction and life satisfaction connections

Workplace Trauma Deep Dive (26:49 - 29:02)

• Why workplace environment impacts are often overlooked
• Power dynamics in work settings vs. family dynamics
• COVID's elimination of traditional coping strategies
• Challenges of returning to office environments
• Stress accumulation and its impacts

HR vs. Therapy: A Critical Distinction (29:21 - 30:57)

• Why HR protects the company, not the employee
• Processing workplace issues safely in therapy
• Learning regulation and effective communication skills
• Preparing for difficult workplace conversations

Individual Therapy's Systemic Impact (33:25 - 34:28)

• How changing one person shifts entire relationship systems
• Working on personal regulation to improve interactions
• Boundary work across personal and professional relationships

Key Quotes from the Episode

"Most people who get into this field have a reason for it... The therapist I worked with was phenomenal and really worked with teens extremely well."

"We are all part of psychology, walking around in bodies every day. And we are the subject matter. So we get to kind of study ourselves and other people at the same time."

"Think of EMDR as sort of your button or your dimmer switch to dim down the brightness of that memory so that we can look at it, examine it, walk ourself through it emotionally and not have to live in it every day."

"In our culture, especially in the US, we really love to intellectualize our way around things instead of feeling our way through something."

"They couldn't teach what they didn't know."

"Our body is extremely smart in that way and it takes that and it goes, okay, well, if you're not going to process this and get it out, then I am going to harbor it."

"Most of my clients, it's functioning. Because they put off usually going to therapy until their functioning is inhibited."

"That phone call is the hardest phone call that most people have to make. But on the other end of it is usually a therapist that is really ready and willing to work with somebody."

Guest Information

Kinsey Morgan, LPC-MHSP
Licensed Professional Counselor Mental Health Services Provider
Owner, Arise Counseling Services

Location: Brentwood, Tennessee

Specializations:

• Trauma therapy and EMDR
• Workplace trauma
• Mood disorders
• Grief and loss
• Anxiety and life transitions

Training & Certifications:

• EMDR (Levels 1 & 2)
• TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Bachelor's in Psychology - Harding University
• Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Lipscomb University

Useful Links & Resources

Kinsey Morgan & Arise Counseling Services

• Website: www.arisecounselingservices.net
• Therapy Blog: www.arisecounselingservices.net/therapy-blog

Mental Health Resources & Information

• EMDR International Association: www.emdria.org
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): www.nami.org
• Psychology Today Therapist Directory: www.psychologytoday.com
• Mental Health America: www.mhanational.org

Books Referenced

• "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk

Crisis Resources

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

Key Takeaways for Listeners

1. Therapy is Preventative Care: Just like going to the gym or doctor for physical health, therapy can be maintenance for mental health
2. EMDR is Highly Effective: This trauma therapy approach works like a "laser" compared to traditional talk therapy's "corkscrew" pattern
3. Workplace Trauma is Real: Post-COVID workplace stress is a legitimate reason to seek therapy
4. Individual Change Creates System Change: Working on yourself can positively impact all your relationships
5. The First Call is the Hardest: But there's a passionate, ready therapist on the other end
6. Generational Patterns Can Be Broken: Understanding family emotional patterns helps create healthier responses
7. Your Body Keeps Score: Unexpressed emotions can manifest as physical health issues

Action Steps for Listeners

✅ Reflect: Identify one area of life you'd like to see shift or change
✅ Research: Look into therapists in your area who specialize in your specific needs
✅ Budget: Explore insurance coverage, sliding scale options, or budget for self-pay
✅ Reach Out: Make that first phone call - it's often the hardest but most important step
✅ Normalize: Start conversations about mental health in your circles to reduce stigma