The Innovative Therapist

Reciprocity, Creativity, & Work That Feels Alive

What does it actually mean to create work, relationships, and community that feel reciprocal instead of extractive? In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on my recent conversation with Lauren Silverstein and unpacking the idea of reciprocity in a much more personal way. Because the more I lean into work that feels aligned, creative, and alive, the less willing I am to spend my time in ways that drain my nervous system or disconnect me from myself. In this episode, I talk about:✨ reciprocal vs. extractive relationships✨ why creativity and play matter so much in healing✨ over-responsibility, people-pleasing, and helper burnout✨ zone of genius work and embodied leadership✨ the connection between authenticity and nervous system regulation✨ parenting, community, and learning to support each other differently✨ money, self-worth, and charging for work that feels meaningful✨ and why following your soul’s “breadcrumbs” often makes no logical sense at first I also share more personally about: my journey with body trust and healing from binge eating how dance and creativity changed the way I show up in my life and work the mother-daughter experiences I feel called to create and the grief and beauty of becoming more fully yourself later in life This episode is reflective, nuanced, a little messy in the best way, and deeply connected to the heart of what we explore inside The Innovative Therapist community:How do we build lives and work that feel energizing, relational, creative, and fully alive? ✨ Download the free “Uncover Your Zone of Genius” guide:Zone of Genius Guide 💌 Join the newsletter + community updates:The Innovative Therapist Email List Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.

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Work that gives back: Reciprocity is the missing ingredient to work that actually feels good with Dr. Lauren Silverstein

2w ago00:26:38Tap to summarize

Episode 160: Work that gives back: Reciprocity is the missing ingredient to work that actually feels good with Dr. Lauren Silverstein A Gift for Therapists & Helpers If you’re a therapist or helper who feels pulled toward more creative, meaningful, or aligned work, I made something for you. Uncover Your Zone of GeniusThis free guide will help you identify the strengths, interests, and patterns that often point toward your most meaningful and alive work. Grab it here:https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone There are some conversations that feel like they braid together multiple parts of my work at once. This was one of those conversations. I legit listened to it three times already. As a therapist, I care deeply about healing, autonomy, and helping people reconnect with what is already wise and alive inside of them. As a business owner and community builder, I also think a lot about impact, leadership, reciprocity, and what it actually looks like to build things that help without unintentionally causing harm. In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I sat down with my friend Dr. Lauren Silverstein, founder and CEO of Rising Kitchens, to talk about reciprocity, social impact, equity, and what it means to create work, programs, and communities that allow people to truly shine. This conversation felt especially meaningful to me because it connects so deeply to what I care about inside The Innovative Therapist: helping therapists, helpers, and creative humans use their gifts in ways that are life-giving, responsible, and deeply aligned. And frankly, it gave me some cool ideas about how I might build my business moving forward. Listen to the Episode In this episode, Lauren and I explore: what reciprocity really means why good intentions are not always enough how impact should be defined before we jump into action why it matters who gets to sit at the table when we define success how therapists, leaders, educators, and founders can move away from one-directional helping models what happens when people are supported to use their gifts in ways that benefit everyone About Dr. Lauren Silverstein Dr. Lauren Silverstein is the founder and CEO of Rising Kitchens, a platform connecting emerging food entrepreneurs—especially immigrant and women chefs—with real economic opportunity. With a background in social impact strategy and a deep belief in community, she’s building Rising Kitchens into a bridge between local talent and the institutions that need them. A former Chief Impact Officer with a Ph.D. in Education Leadership, Lauren is wired to initiate big ideas, build what doesn’t exist, and push systems to do better. Her work—whether designing impact strategies or creating curriculum for future educators and entrepreneurs—centers on one powerful question: How do we generate equity by unlocking the potential already around us? A Quote That Anchored This Conversation Early in the episode, I shared a quote that has been resonating deeply with me and with members of the Inspired Innovators community: “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” – Dr. Lilla Watson, Educator, Activist Rethinking the “Helper” Role One of the most powerful threads in this conversation was the idea that the traditional “helper” model can sometimes do more harm than good. Lauren shared how early in her career she began questioning something many of us take for granted: the assumption that helping is always helpful. As she worked with mentoring programs and education initiatives, she started noticing something important. When someone enters a relationship believing they are the one who has the knowledge, the answers, or the solutions, it can unintentionally create a power dynamic that disempowers the very people they’re trying to support. That realization led her to study mentoring programs more deeply in her doctoral research. She wanted to understand whether good intentions alone were enough, or whether certain mindsets and structures were needed to ensure that programs actually helped people rather than unintentionally causing harm. It’s a question that applies far beyond education. It applies to therapy.It applies to leadership.It applies to entrepreneurship and social impact work. As therapists, many of us were trained in models that positioned us as the expert in the room. But increasingly, many approaches to therapy (including Internal Family Systems, which I often use) are shifting toward co-creative models that honor the wisdom already inside the client. Instead of “fixing” someone, the work becomes about creating the conditions where people can reconnect with their own inner leadership. The Missing Step: Defining Impact First Another insight Lauren shared that really stuck with me was this: Many people jump straight to actions and strategies without first defining the impact they want to have. For example, someone might start a program, a mentorship initiative, or even a business because they want to help. But if we don’t define the outcome we’re hoping for, it becomes difficult to know whether what we’re doing is actually working. Lauren described three levels of thinking about impact: 1. How muchHow many clients did you see?How many programs did you run? 2. How wellDid the experience actually work?Did people want to come back? 3. Who is better offDid someone’s life actually change?Did behavior, confidence, or opportunity shift? That final question is where real impact lives. And it’s one that can be harder to measure. Reciprocity vs. One-Directional Helping The heart of our conversation centered around the idea of reciprocity. In many traditional helping roles, the relationship flows in one direction: One person gives.The other receives. But reciprocal relationships look different. They recognize that everyone at the table has something to offer and something to learn. Lauren shared a story from a class she was teaching about entrepreneurship. A student asked a question about starting a business without prior experience. Lauren realized that another student in the room had actually built a successful company before. Instead of immediately offering her own answer, she paused and invited that student to share. The result? A powerful exchange where: one student received practical advice another student felt valued and recognized the entire group benefited from shared knowledge That’s reciprocity. And it requires humility. It asks leaders, teachers, therapists, and founders to release the idea that they must be the only source of wisdom in the room. The Power of Unlocking Talent Lauren’s work with Rising Kitchens is built around this principle. She connects talented chefs—many of whom are immigrant women or individuals who lack access to traditional networks—with real economic opportunity. Her model recognizes two barriers many talented people face: Insufficient financial capitalThey don’t have the money to take risks or start a business. Insufficient social capitalThey don’t have the networks that open doors. By connecting talent with opportunity, Lauren helps unlock potential that might otherwise remain unseen. And when that happens, everyone...

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Mother’s Day & Becoming Braver Together

3w ago00:03:00Tap to summarize

There’s a picture from last weekend that I can’t stop thinking about. It’s a snapshot of me performing a dance I choreographed while my 8-year-old daughter watched from the front row. The dance was about finding spaces where we can be fully ourselves instead of shrinking to fit expectations. Creating it required me to face parts of myself I’ve spent years trying to hide: the parts that are bold, emotional, expressive, and deeply longing to be seen. But what moved me most wasn’t the performance itself. It was hearing from friends afterward about the look on my daughter’s face while she watched me. Not because I was “impressive,” but because she was watching her mom come alive. This bonus Mother’s Day episode is a reflection on fear, visibility, creativity, nervous system protection, and what becomes possible when we stop letting fear make all of our decisions. Because I’m realizing more and more that this work isn’t really about the thing we create. It’s about what happens when one person gives themselves permission to become more fully themselves and how that permission ripples outward into families, communities, friendships, and the people quietly watching us. 🎧 In this short bonus episode, I share: The story behind the dance and the photo Why being seen can feel so terrifying The protective parts that still show up for me What my daughter taught me without saying a word Why creating “alongside fear” matters so much right now If you’ve been feeling the pull toward something more alive, more honest, or more creative in your own life, I hope this episode reminds you that you don’t have to wait until you feel fearless to begin. Sometimes bravery looks like simply letting yourself be seen. 🎧 Listen wherever you get podcasts. ✨ Want support reconnecting with your creativity, courage, and Zone of Genius?Download the free guide here:Uncover Your Zone of Genius 💌 Join the newsletter + community updates:The Innovative Therapist Email List Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.

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Why I’m Changing My Business (When Nothing Was Broken)

Apr 1300:14:29Tap to summarize

Episode 159: Why I’m Changing My Business (When Nothing Was Broken) Following the Pull Toward More Aliveness, Creativity, and Impact A Question I Couldn’t Shake It started with a simple but uncomfortable question: Why am I changing something that’s working? On paper, everything looked good.A solid therapy practice. Meaningful client work. Flexibility. Stability. No crisis. No burnout spiral. No dramatic breaking point. And yet… something in me kept tugging. Not loudly. Not urgently.But persistently. Like a quiet voice sitting in the corner of the room saying:“Not like this. There’s more you can do here.” When “Good” Isn’t the Same as “Aligned” If you’ve ever stayed in something because it was good enough or “fine”… you may relate. I spent years training and working as a clinical health psychologist. I genuinely loved so much of that work. And even now, I still love many parts of therapy. But over time, something became clearer: 👉 I wasn’t able to use my full range of gifts👉 I felt constrained by the container of therapy👉 I kept thinking… if I could design this from scratch, it would look different Not because therapy is bad.But because it wasn’t the whole picture of what I’m here to do. The Moment That Shifted Everything (the First Time) This isn’t my first pivot. Years ago, I left my hospital role after realizing I was spending more and more time doing work that drained me (bariatric evaluations) and less of what energized me. Nothing was “wrong”… until suddenly it was. And that’s often how change works: We tolerate We rationalize We adjust …until something finally pushes us. This time, though? There’s no push. Just a pull. And that’s a different kind of courage. Why I’m Moving Toward Coaching, Community, and Retreats This shift isn’t about leaving something behind. It’s about moving toward something I can’t ignore anymore. 1. I want to connect people, not just work with them individually One of my biggest Zone of Genius gifts is bringing incredible humans together. And in therapy? That’s not really allowed. But I’ve seen what happens when people are in the right room together: ✨ Insight deepens✨ Courage grows✨ Change accelerates There’s a kind of magic in community that I can’t replicate one-on-one. 2. I want to create experiences, not just conversations In therapy, we talk. In my community and retreats, we: write move create reflect experiment witness each other It’s not just insight. It’s embodied change. And honestly? That’s where I see the most lasting transformation happen. 3. I want to work in a way that energizes me (not just serves others) There’s this quiet belief many therapists carry: “If I’m helping, I should be tired.” But what if that’s not actually true? What if the most sustainable, impactful work is mutually energizing? The more I’ve leaned into creativity and Zone of Genius work, the more I’ve experienced: ✨ Sessions that light me up✨ Ideas that flow naturally✨ Work that gives back instead of just taking That’s the kind of work I want to build around. The Deeper Why (The One That Brings Tears) When I really sit with it… this isn’t about business at all. It’s about this: I want to raise humans who feel deeply worthy. Humans who: trust themselves feel agency in their lives know they are held (not alone in everything) can create, play, and express freely And here’s the truth I can’t get around: 👉 I can’t teach that if I’m not living it. This work… this pivot… this discomfort… It’s me practicing that. The Trap of “Waiting Until It Makes Sense” One of the biggest things I see (and have lived): We wait for clarity. We wait for certainty. We wait for the perfect plan. But this kind of change? It rarely makes logical sense at first. It’s more like: a nudge a curiosity a quiet “what if…” And if we ignore it long enough? It usually gets louder. The Shift from Reactive → Proactive Living Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this: We are living in a world with constant uncertainty. And when that happens, our nervous system wants to: 🛑 Pull back🛑 Play it safe🛑 Just “get through” But staying in that mode long-term? It keeps us stuck. Thriving requires something different: 👉 Intentional choices👉 Creative risk👉 Investing in ourselves (time, energy, resources) Not recklessly. But on purpose. If You’re Feeling the Pull Too… Maybe your version isn’t a business pivot. Maybe it’s: a creative project a new way of working a different rhythm of life a conversation you’ve been avoiding a part of yourself you’ve been ignoring Whatever it is… You don’t have to have it all figured out. But you do have to start listening. The Truth Most People Skip You can’t think your way into alignment. You have to feel your way there. That might look like: moving your body for 3 minutes putting on a song and letting yourself feel something writing without editing sitting in quiet and actually listening inward Your next step? It’s not in your head. It’s in your body. Want Support Exploring This? If this episode is hitting something in you… You don’t have to do it alone. <p class="wp-block-p...

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Why Therapists and Helpers Must Reclaim Personal Power with Sarah Buino

Mar 2300:53:47Tap to summarize

Episode 158: Why Therapists and Helpers Must Reclaim Personal Power with Sarah Buino ✨ Free resource: Uncover Your Zone of Geniushttps://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone You can have all the clinical skills in the world, but if you feel disconnected from your own personal power, your work (and your life) will start to shrink. Hey friends. Welcome back to the Innovative Therapist Podcast. I’m so excited about today’s episode because Sarah Buino is back with me for round two. We recorded yesterday for her podcast, and now we get to keep the conversation going here. Also, we have to start where all meaningful professional relationships begin: unhinged laughter at a conference. We met at the Next Level Summit back in September, and I happened to be sitting right next to Sarah during the “humor as healing” portion. It was late. We were tired. We’d come back from dinner. There may have been drinks. And then we did this exercise where you’re instructed to laugh as hard as you possibly can. Sarah absolutely stole the show. Her laugh was so contagious that my mild headache disappeared afterward. Like… fully gone. So yes, this episode may include an unofficial headache cure, but also it includes something I think is even more important: A conversation about personal power, why therapists often lose touch with it, and why reclaiming it is essential if we want to evolve this field without burning ourselves (and each other) to the ground. What we get into in this conversation This episode is for therapists and helpers who feel any of the following: a little numb or constricted lately tired of the drama and harm happening in our professional spaces ready to do “inner work” in a way that actually changes something curious about how power, shame, and agency show up in therapy rooms and workplaces Here are some of the big themes we explored: Sarah’s shift from heavy clinical work to coaching, consulting, speaking, and leadership Why therapists often misunderstand power and accidentally recreate “power over” dynamics The Right Use of Power framework and why it matters so much right now Agency and shame through the lens of NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model) Why your own healing is not optional if you want to do ethical, embodied work How to build workplaces (and communities) that feel more like power with, not “who’s winning?” Sarah’s work right now (and why it matters) One of the most interesting parts of this conversation was hearing how Sarah’s work has evolved. She shared that she only has three clinical clients left, and they’re all healers/helpers. Her primary modality is NARM, which she described as the approach that truly helped her “crack the code” of her own healing. She’s also: Podcasting (a lot) Doing consulting/speaking Serving as Board President of the Right Use of Power Institute Building a platform to help therapists and group practice systems evolve through power-conscious leadership And what I loved most is that she’s not just talking about power as an intellectual concept. She’s talking about it as a lived, nervous-system-level experience. What does “Right Use of Power” actually mean? Sarah broke down a framework that I think every therapist should understand, because it gives language for dynamics we often feel but don’t know how to name. She describes six types of power (and if you’ve ever been confused by power in therapy, leadership, or relationships, this framework is clarifying): 1) Personal Power The power that belongs to you. Everyone has it. We can’t lose it, but we can feel disconnected from it. 2) Role Power Power that comes from your role: therapist, boss, doctor, parent, supervisor. 3) Status Power Power tied to social location: race, gender, age, ability, class, body size, etc. (and how those are valued by culture). 4) Collective Power Power that comes from people organizing together for a shared mission (can be used for harm or good). 5) Systemic Power When power becomes embedded in laws, policies, institutions, and societal norms. 6) Universal Power A sense that something larger holds us: nature, God, spirit, the universe, meaning, life force, whatever resonates. One of my biggest takeaways was how she framed universal power as a necessary anchor in chaotic times:When systems feel enormous and crushing, remembering there’s something larger can restore hope, orientation, and possibility. Why therapists get stuck (and why shame is often the mechanism) We talked about why so many therapists aren’t doing their own work, and Sarah named something that felt really important: Often, it’s fear.Fear of what they’ll find.Fear of what others will think.Fear of losing the pedestal. And then there was this thread that I think matters deeply for helpers: If your identity is fused with being “the strong one,” “the healer,” “the one who has it together,” you might unconsciously use helping as a way to avoid your own pain. Sarah named pathological empathy, and how even therapists who have done a lot of boundary work can still have a deeper layer of: trying to fix taking on others’ pain over-identifying with responsibility staying in outcome-driven helping This is where personal power becomes everything. Not power over others.But power in yourself.The ability to stay present without rescuing. A big invitation from this episode Sarah said something I want to echo here: Your own work is the most powerful healing tool you have. Not your training.Not your next certification.Not the perfect intervention. Your ability to be a clear, grounded, honest channel… is the gift. And that’s not about being perfect.It’s about being willing.It’s about being real. A gift for you If this episode sparks something in you and you’re like, “Okay… but how do I reconnect with myself and what lights me up?” start here: ✨ Uncover Your Zone of Geniushttps://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone It’s a free reflection guide that helps you reconnect with: what energizes you your strengths and gifts the work and creativity that actually makes you feel alive When you download it, you’ll also join my email list, where I share: reflections like this upcoming workshops + gatherings resources on creativity, autonomy, leadership, and healing community invitations Where to find Sarah (and what she shared) Sarah’s main hub: Head Heart Biz TherapyWebsite: (as shared in the episode) headheartbiztherapy.com If you’re in group practice as an owner or employee: Group Practice RevolutionWebsite: (as shared in the episode) grouppracticerevolution.com <p class="wp-block-paragr...

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Creativity, Fear, & Agency for Therapists and Helpers in Uncertain Times

Feb 900:51:55Tap to summarize

Episode 157: Creativity, Fear, & Agency in Uncertain Times (from Conversations with a Wounded Healer with Sarah Buino) ✨ Free resource: Uncover Your Zone of Geniushttps://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone You don’t need to be fearless to live creatively — you just need agency, permission, and space to choose. Hey friends. Welcome back to the Innovative Therapist Podcast. This episode is a little different than usual — it’s a conversation I had as a guest on Conversations with a Wounded Healer, hosted by the brilliant Sarah Buino — and I wanted to share it here because it speaks so directly to what so many therapists and helpers are wrestling with right now. This conversation felt spacious, honest, and deeply human. We talked about healing, creativity, fear, therapy culture, and what it actually means to feel free — not in a performative or Instagrammable way, but in the quiet, embodied, real-life sense. If you’ve been feeling unsettled, reflective, or quietly hungry for something more aligned lately, I think this one will land. A therapist’s origin story (and what we don’t talk about enough) Sarah asked me about my path into psychology — research, grad school, eating disorder work, and eventually private practice — and what emerged was something I think many of us know but don’t always name: A lot of us came into this field while trying to heal ourselves. We talked about: The shame many therapists carry about their own histories Why self-disclosure is still so taboo in some therapy spaces How different fields (like addiction work) normalize lived experience in ways eating disorder and academic spaces often don’t I shared how long it took me to feel less ashamed of my own healing journey — and how naming it publicly became healing in a new way. Not because it was strategic. But because it helped someone feel less alone. Creativity isn’t “being artistic” — it’s being alive One of the biggest themes of this conversation was creativity, and how misunderstood it is — especially among therapists. So many people tell me: “I’m not creative — I just wanted to hang out with cool people in person.” But creativity isn’t about painting, writing, or performing. It’s about authentic expression. It’s about: Listening to the parts of you that want to move, explore, rest, or try something new Reconnecting with desires that were once shut down for safety or approval Letting play exist without needing to turn it into productivity or impact For me, dance has been a powerful entry point — not because it leads to anything impressive, but because it brings me back into my body, my intuition, and my aliveness. Sometimes I dance for no reason at all.And that, in itself, changes everything. Fear, agency, and the difference between pushing and choosing We spent a lot of time talking about fear — and how different people relate to it. Some of us interpret fear as: “Stop. Don’t do this.” Others are wired to: Push straight through it, no matter the cost What I’m learning (and practicing) is something else entirely: fear doesn’t get to decide — but it does get to be acknowledged. Agency isn’t about being fearless.It’s about knowing you have choice. Choice to pause.Choice to move forward.Choice to change your mind. And in a world that feels increasingly uncertain, cultivating that internal sense of agency matters more than ever. Why this matters right now We also talked about the bigger picture — systems, social media, therapy culture, and why everything feels so polarized and intense. Online, it can feel like everyone is angry, rigid, and divided.Offline, when we actually talk to one another, the nuance returns. I shared how getting back into real, in-person spaces — meetups, conversations, movement, community — reminded me that most people want similar things: safety dignity autonomy belonging And that creativity, play, and embodied practices may be one of the ways we reconnect — with ourselves and with each other. What it means to be a “wounded healer” Sarah asked me how I relate to the term wounded healer, and my answer surprised even me. I do believe we are wounded — things happen to us, and they matter.But I don’t believe those wounds define us forever. I think of healing as ongoing, layered, and alive. I’m not someone who heals others.I’m someone who continues healing myself — and shows up in ways that help create the conditions for others to do the same. A gift for you If this conversation stirred something — a curiosity, a longing, a quiet nudge — I want to offer you a place to start. ✨ Uncover Your Zone of Geniushttps://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone This free guide helps you: Identify what lights you up Clarify your natural strengths Reconnect with the kind of work and creativity that feels life-giving It’s gentle, reflective, and designed to support agency over pressure. When you download it, you’ll also join my email list, where I share: reflections like this upcoming workshops and gatherings grounded approaches to creativity, goals, and aligned work community invitations Before you go If you’re feeling afraid, uncertain, or overwhelmed right now — you’re not broken.You’re human, living in a complex moment. But you still have agency.You still have choice.And you still have access to creativity — even if it looks quieter or simpler than you expected. Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is listen inward…and move from there. Disclaimer:This blog and podcast content are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical or mental health advice.

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Goals, Alignment and Mapping Your Magic in Uncertain Times

Jan 500:10:35Tap to summarize

Episode 156: Goals, Alignment and Mapping Your Magic in Uncertain Times You don’t have to abandon goals to live with more joy and purpose — you just need a different way of relating to them. Hey friends. Welcome back to the Innovative Therapist Podcast. I’m so glad you’re here for this one — it’s our first episode of 2026! Today’s episode came from a place of reflection, space, and intention. I recorded this on the Friday before it drops on Monday, January 5th, curled up in sweats with still-wet hair after a long winter walk in the snow — so if you can feel the cozy in this episode, that’s exactly where I was. I just finished mapping out my goals and intentions for 2026, and I also finished designing a brand new workshop I’ve been working on for several weeks: Mapping Your Magic. In today’s episode, I talk about both of those things — not just to promote the workshop, but to share why this work matters so much. Whether or not you join us live on Wednesday, January 14th from 1–2pm Eastern, there are important ideas here about how to move toward what you want without burning out, overthinking, or defaulting to fear-driven striving. A new relationship with goals I’ve spent the last few years unwinding the ways I chase achievement. I’m in what feels like a three-year cycle of slowing down, healing, and relearning how to pursue goals that feel energizing, aligned, and meaningful, rather than fear-based or perfectionistic. I still care about outcomes — I still set goals and move toward things I want — but the why behind them looks very different now. Instead of pushing, proving, or hustling harder, I ask: What feeling states am I trying to create? What values do these goals serve? Who am I becoming in the process? This isn’t about lowering the bar. It’s about pursuing goals in a way that feels fierce and resilient — on your terms. Why this matters right now We live in a world of growing uncertainty — and as things feel less certain, it’s normal to jump straight to strategy: How do I pivot? How do I diversify my income? What’s the next “right move”? Early in my entrepreneurship journey, that’s exactly what I did. The strategy always came before the self-clarity — and it led to exhaustion. What I’m learning now is this: clarity precedes strategy. Before you ask what you should do — ask who you are and what lights you up. When you pursue goals from alignment instead of scarcity, your body, nervous system, creativity, and energy all follow. Introducing: Mapping Your Magic If you need a space to pause before planning, I designed a workshop for that. Mapping Your Magic is happening live on Wednesday, January 14 from 1–2pm Eastern inside our Inspired Innovators community. In this workshop, I walk you through a creative process I’ve been using privately for years to clarify: What you love What you’re uniquely good at What the world needs from you What you can get paid for This is inspired by the ikigai framework, but expanded into something interactive, visual, and personalized. We’ll slow down before we speed up. You’ll receive:✔ A Canva template to visually map your gifts✔ A workbook with reflection prompts✔ The live workshop + replay✔ Tools you can revisit year after year This isn’t a lecture. It’s experiential, interactive, and designed to help you explore your unique zone of genius — not just your marketable skills. 👉 Learn more and register here (full link: https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/products/mapping-your-magic-workshop) What you’ll walk away with This workshop gives you three ways to access your gifts: Reflective questions you can sit with on your own Prompts you can ask trusted people in your life An optional Human Design-informed list of gifts (if that resonates for you) You’ll walk away with clarity, visuals, and a process you can return to again and again — not just a list of to-dos. And if you love a small, intimate container for work that feels alive and generative, this will feel like home. At the end of the workshop, I’ll also share how you can explore our community more deeply — including a discount on your first month if you choose to join us. What goals are really about In the podcast episode I shared a quote that has changed how I think about goals: “Your purpose is not what you do, it’s what happens to people when you do what you do.”— Viola Davis This shift has been profound for me. Goals aren’t just about outcomes. They’re about:✨ autonomy✨ courage✨ agency✨ becoming more of who you truly are When goals are in service of this kind of growth, they don’t deplete you — they enliven you. A gift for you If you want to explore your strengths and creativity further but can’t make the workshop (or want to do both!), I’ve created a free resource called: ✨ Uncover Your Zone of Genius It’s a reflection guide designed to help you begin mapping your gifts and strengths in a grounded, soulful way. 👉 Download it here:https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone This also signs you up for my email list, where I share:✔ reflections like this✔ upcoming workshops✔ grounded approaches to goals, creativity, and entrepreneurship✔ community news and invitations Before you go If you’re feeling that familiar urgency to “figure it out now,” I hear you. That’s the part of you seeking agency, control, safety — and there’s nothing wrong with that. But what if the first step isn’t doing more —but knowing yourself better? Pause. Clarify. Align. Then move. If this resonates, I’d love to see you at Mapping Your Magic on January 14. And if you can’t make it live, you’ll still receive the replay and all workshop materials. Here’s to a year of goals that feel aligned, grounded, and deeply invigorating. Disclaimer:This blog and podcast content are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical or mental health advice.

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Listen to this Before You Pivot Your Career or Diversify Your Income

Dec 1500:13:01Tap to summarize

Therapists, helpers, and creatives — you weren’t made to burn out. You were made to create from your Zone of Genius.💛 Grab the free guide and start crafting work that energizes (not drains) you.👉 https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone Episode 155: Listen to This Before You Pivot Your Career or Diversify Your Income If you’re a therapist or helper feeling the pressure to pivot, niche down, diversify your income, or “future-proof” your career, this episode is an invitation to pause before jumping to strategy. AI is evolving everything rapidly. The field of therapy is shifting fast. Economic uncertainty is real. And it makes total sense that many of us feel a sense of urgency to figure out what’s next. But in this impromptu solo episode, I want to offer a gentle counterbalance: Before you pivot, diversify, or commit to a new strategy — listen to this. Because when uncertainty rises, it’s incredibly easy to skip the most important step: Asking yourself what actually feels alive, aligned, and right for you. Why This Conversation Matters Right Now Recently, I read a Substack article by Dr. Chris Hoff (host of The Radical Therapist Podcast) outlining predictions about the field of therapy in 2026. I’ll link it here because it sparked a lot of reflection and conversation for me, my friends, and members of our online community. There were so many interesting ideas — therapists as consultants, architects, innovators, leaders outside the traditional therapy room. And while those ideas are exciting, they also highlight something I see over and over: When the world feels uncertain, we rush to pushing, doing, and strategy. We jump to questions like: How do I diversify my income? Should I raise my rates or niche down? Do I need to consult, teach, create a course, or pivot entirely? Those are smart questions. But if we skip over desire, creativity, and embodied knowing, we risk building something that looks good on paper and feels deeply wrong in our bodies. The Step We’re Rarely Taught to Take Most of our systems don’t encourage us to ask: What do I want? They encourage us to: push through sacrifice now for later prioritize productivity over aliveness disconnect from our bodies and intuition So when we start tapping into creativity, play, and desire, it can feel… unsettling. Even threatening. But in my experience, that discomfort is often a sign that something real is waking up. What Play, Creativity, and Joy Actually Do Creativity isn’t just a “nice extra.” It’s how we: tolerate uncertainty build resilience adapt to change strengthen intuition stay connected to ourselves in a rapidly shifting world I see this every day with kids. When they play, they’re not “wasting time.” They’re honing skills — conflict resolution, storytelling, problem-solving, frustration tolerance — because play is engaging enough to keep them trying. As adults, play works the same way. Why Pivoting Too Fast Can Backfire Here’s what I’ve learned personally and through years of working with therapists and helpers: When we pivot from fear, we often recreate the same burnout in a new form. When we pivot from creativity and clarity, we’re far more likely to build something sustainable. This doesn’t mean you quit your stable income overnight. In fact, I’ve intentionally kept my one-on-one therapy work as a grounding foundation while exploring podcasting, community, retreats, writing, and collaborations. And I know that this creative work has made me a better therapist — more present, more energized, more engaged. Mapping Your Magic (The Workshop I’m Teaching in January) Inside the Inspired Innovators Community, I teach a workshop every other month. That rhythm works well for me — I love teaching on topics like these. In January, I’m leading a workshop called: Mapping Your Magic (Wednesday, January 14th 1-2pm EST) This workshop walks you through a process I did for myself: Creating a visual map of your unique gifts and strengths. Not just what you can do — but: what actually brings you alive what feels natural and energizing what the world consistently reflects back to you Including… what parts of you tend to block those gifts Some of this process was inspired by Human Design — not because you need to “believe” in it, I’m still not 100% sure I do, but because it helped me put language to my lived experience in a surprisingly accurate way. And if Human Design isn’t your thing, there are many other ways we’ll explore this: Reflection prompts, feedback from trusted people, and pattern-spotting from your own history. A Gift I Used to Try to Hide One of my gifts is being deeply moved by life and art. I can tear up listening to the same song over and over. That sensitivity didn’t feel like a gift for most of my life — it felt like something to suppress. But naming it changed everything. Because that sensitivity helps me: connect deeply with people create emotionally resonant spaces lead small groups with authenticity create work that actually lands And so often, the very things we’ve tried to quiet are the exact gifts the world needs from us. Before You Pivot, Ask Yourself This Before you jump to strategy, try sitting with these questions: ✨ What actually makes me come alive?✨ What creative impulses keep returning?✨ What am I curious about, even if it “doesn’t make sense”?✨ What parts of me show up when I imagine changing directions?✨ What would it look like to build from clarity instead of fear? Because when you come alive, that is part of your contribution. Main Takeaways from Episode 154 🧭 Uncertainty makes us want quick answers — but clarity takes listening.🧠 Strategy without desire often leads to misalignment and burnout.🎭 Play and creativity help us tolerate uncertainty and change.🔥 Your gifts aren’t random — they’re clues.🌿 You don’t need to rush a pivot to be evolving responsibly.💛 Before diversifying your income, reconnect with what actually energizes you. Final Reflection I don’t know exactly what I’m building — and I’m more comfortable with that than I used to be. What I do know is what I love:deep conversations, podcasting, small-group community, creativity, play, retreats, and helping therapists and helpers reconnect with what makes them feel alive. And I trust that continuing to follow those breadcrumbs will keep revealing the next right step. <p class="wp-bloc...

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When Play Feels Scary — What Guilt, Grief, and the Fear of Being Lazy Are Really Trying to Tell You

Dec 1Tap to summarize

Therapists, helpers, and creatives — you weren’t made to burn out. You were made to create from your Zone of Genius.💛 Grab the free guide and start crafting work that energizes (not drains) you.👉 https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone Episode 154: When Play Feels Scary — What Guilt, Grief, and the Fear of Being Lazy Are Really Trying to Tell You If you’ve ever felt pulled toward creativity or play — and immediately felt guilt, fear, or the worry you’re being “lazy” — this episode is for you. Following joy should feel simple… but most of us quickly discover it’s incredibly vulnerable.Because reconnecting with play doesn’t just open the door to joy — it also awakens grief, old protective parts, and long-buried fears about productivity, worth, and being “too much.” In this solo episode, I’m sharing what I’ve been exploring inside the Inspired Innovators online community, in recent talks with psychology interns, and in my own journey with creativity and dance. This one is tender, honest, and very real. Why Play Feels Scary (Even When We Want It) Play looks lighthearted on the outside…but internally, it stirs everything. When we try on a new color, order something different for dinner, sign up for a dance class, or say yes to a creative urge, we bump into old beliefs: “People will judge me.” “This is silly.” “We don’t have time for this.” “You’re being unproductive.” “Remember when you slacked off as a kid and it cost you?” These messages come from protector parts — loyal, hardworking, and terrified of vulnerability. Play isn’t just fun.It’s revealing. Where Grief Shows Up No one talks about the grief that surfaces when we start playing again. The sadness of: realizing how long it’s been noticing what we lost touch with seeing our younger parts resurface feeling regret for the years we muted this part of ourselves remembering the joy we denied or postponed Grief doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.It means the joy is real. As Brené Brown teaches, we can’t selectively numb.When joy returns, grief is often sitting right beside it. For me, returning to dance brought both: pure aliveness and deep tenderness for the years I didn’t let myself have it. The Fear of Being “Lazy” This came up inside our community and in conversations with clients: “What if I start following my joy and I can’t stop?”“What if I lose all structure?”“What if play makes me irresponsible?” These fears make total sense. When you’ve been starved of play, rest, or joy, it’s normal for the playful parts to want freedom. They’re not trying to derail your life — they’re trying to catch up. You’re not lazy.You’re under-nourished. And the only way to build trust with your playful parts is by actually letting them out — in small, safe doses. Creativity Isn’t Optional — It’s Survival Creative practice is how we: build resilience enhance problem-solving reconnect with embodiment tolerate frustration navigate change stay mentally alive Especially in a world where AI is shifting the landscape of therapy and helping professions, our uniquely human capacities — empathy, intuition, creativity, storytelling — matter more than ever. Lessons from Watching My Kids Play Watching my kids play recently reminded me: Play is not just fun — it’s how we learn. Kids problem-solve, negotiate, switch roles, and move through discomfort because the play matters enough to keep going. As adults, we need that space too: non-performative messy intuitive embodied alive It strengthens courage, presence, clarity, and connection — all things our field desperately needs. What to Ask Yourself When Play Feels Scary Try these as gentle starting points: ✨ How did I love to play as a kid?✨ What tiny “joy breadcrumb” is calling to me right now?✨ Which protector shows up when I consider doing it?✨ What grief does this joy uncover?✨ Who are the people who can hold this with me? Because play requires safety — and community is where that safety grows. Main Takeaways from This Episode 🎭 Play feels vulnerable because it reconnects us with long-silenced parts.🌧️ Grief naturally arises when joy returns — it’s part of the healing.🧠 Fear of being “lazy” is a protector trying to keep you safe, not a truth.🌿 Creativity strengthens your resilience, intuition, and capacity to adapt.🧩 You don’t have to choose between productivity and joy — both matter.🔥 Play helps you tolerate the hard things, just like it does for kids.💛 You’re not behind. You’re awakening. Final Reflection If play feels scary, that’s not a sign to stop. It’s a sign something alive inside you is waking up. This is the work:Following tiny breadcrumbs, saying yes to what lights you up, holding the parts who feel afraid, and letting yourself feel joy and grief without making either wrong. That’s how we return to ourselves.And that’s the journey we’re on together. Want to explore this more deeply? The Inspired Innovators Community is a small, intimate group of therapists and helpers co-creating joyful, courageous, aligned lives — together. We gather on Voxer, meet on Zoom, and will come together in person at the next Innovative Therapist Retreat along Lake Michigan in October 2026. If you want to join us or get more info: 📩 Email me: info@drshawnhondorp.com(or just reply to any email — it goes straight to me) Disclaimer This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment. ✨ Want to explore your own breadcrumbs?Download my free guide: Uncover Your Zone of GeniusJoin my newsletter: https://drshawnhondorp.com/contact/

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Dancing Myself Back to Life: What a Solo Taught Me About Healing and Aliveness

Nov 1701:00:35Tap to summarize

Therapists, helpers, and creatives — you weren’t made to burn out.You were made to create from your Zone of Genius.💛 Grab the free guide and start crafting work that energizes (not drains) you. Episode 153. Dancing Myself Back to Life: What a Solo Taught Me About Healing and Aliveness It’s not every day that you feel yourself come fully alive on stage. This past Sunday at ArtPrize, I had the chance to perform a solo I choreographed — and it turned out to be one of the most healing, transformative experiences of my life. For 3 minutes and 41 seconds, I told my story through movement. I wasn’t muted, apologetic, or self-conscious. I was calm, confident, strong, and excited. Most of all, I felt so incredibly alive. Following the Breadcrumbs This moment didn’t come out of nowhere. Four years ago, I followed a tiny nudge and signed up for a beginner tap class. After nearly two decades away from dance, I quickly noticed how self-consciousness and perfectionism crept in on stage. My body felt stiff, my anxiety was high, and though the stage was exciting, true playfulness felt distant. But I kept following the breadcrumbs. I said yes to more classes, even when they scared me. I performed in shows even when I worried about looking awkward. I danced with friends and noticed my confidence slowly growing. I began experimenting with choreography, movement, and self-expression in ways that felt both terrifying and exhilarating. And step by step, those breadcrumbs led me here: creating a solo to a song by my middle school friend, Courtney Gayle, the incredible voice of the band Gritty Sunset. The Surprise of Calm Confidence Here’s what I told myself while preparing for ArtPrize: Even if I get on stage and feel nervous and stiff, it’s okay. The healing has already come from creating the dance and sharing it with my friends. But then something unexpected happened. When it was time to perform, the nerves I’d been bracing for never came. I didn’t need my grounding notes. I didn’t need the paper I had tucked into my pocket. Instead, I felt calm. Confident. Excited. It was as if a fierce young part of me — a protector who had been muted early in life — finally had permission to come back out and shine. The True Gift The video of my actual performance wasn’t captured — but it doesn’t matter. Because I know what happened. I know how I felt. And most importantly: I believe myself above all else. That, my friends, is the true gift. This experience reminded me that aliveness doesn’t come from waiting for external validation, or perfect conditions, or even a flawless recording. It comes from listening to our inner breadcrumbs, saying yes to what lights us up, and allowing ourselves to be seen. Watch & Support I was honored to be part of a lineup of nine incredible pieces my teacher Amber put together. You can watch them all here:👉 Watch the performances Follow Gritty Sunset I can’t close without pointing you to the voice that carried me through this piece: my friend Courtney Gayle of @iamcourtneygayle and @grittysunset. She is living proof of what it looks like to follow your dreams and share your unique gifts with the world. Main Takeaways from this Convo with Randi Rubenstein This conversation with Randi Rubenstein, parent coach and dear friend, was part reflection, part Internal Family Systems parts processing, and part celebration. Randi has been on the podcast several times before—talking about Pack Leadership and play—and in this episode, we explored what it looks like to bring that same grounded, confident leadership into creative expression and business. Main Takeaways 🎭 Creativity and play are pathways to reclaiming confidence and self-trust. 🌿 Our protector parts can soften when they sense safety, allowing joy to surface. 💫 Embodiment—feeling fully alive in our bodies—is not frivolous; it’s sacred. 🧭 True leadership (in parenting, work, or art) begins with self-connection and curiosity. 🔥 Aliveness is contagious—when we allow ourselves to shine, we invite others to do the same. Final Reflection Whether through dance, writing, therapy, or entrepreneurship — we all have breadcrumbs to follow. They might feel small, awkward, or even scary. But when we keep saying yes, step by step, they can lead us back to aliveness. And that’s the work I want for myself, for my clients, and for you. Disclaimer:This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment. ✨ Want to explore your own breadcrumbs?Download my free guide: Uncover Your Zone of GeniusOr join my newsletter to stay connected: Sign up here

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When Play Feels Scary — What Guilt, Grief, and the Fear of Being Lazy Are Really Trying to Tell You

Dancing Myself Back to Life: What a Solo Taught Me About Healing and Aliveness