Podcast
The Innovative Therapist
Hosted by Dr. Shawn Hondorp, PhD, ABPP · EN
Are you a therapist or helper that likes to think deeply and creatively about ways to build trust with our bodies in and out of the therapy office? Do you want to overcome disordered relationships to food so that you can live a life that feels aligned and amazing, and help inspire others to do the same? Do you hate small talk – your idea of fun is deep and meaningful talks about living more courageous and connected lives? If so, then welcome to the Innovative Therapist podcast where we talk about creative ways to heal and build self-trust, Internal Family Systems theory and Parts Psychology, and unlearning the many messages from oppressive systems that lead us away from body trust. I’m Dr. Shawn Hondorp, clinical psychologist. Let’s work together to create safe learning environments for those who want to explore innovative approaches to healing, one authentic conversation at a time. 🌈✌🏻✌🏽✌🏿🌳
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Can You Be Proud of Yourself Before You Have “Success”?
Yesterday00:21:23Tap to summarize✨ Free Resource: Uncover Your Zone of Genius If you’ve been feeling pulled toward something new but aren’t sure what it is (or you’re struggling to trust it), download my free Zone of Genius Guide. It’s designed to help therapists, helpers, and creatives reconnect with the work that feels most alive and aligned. Download it here:https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone Hey friends, Today I launched something I’ve never created before. A mother-daughter connection event called Color Outside the Lines. As I recorded this podcast, exactly zero people had signed up. And honestly? I still felt incredibly proud. That sentence would have been impossible for me to say five years ago. For most of my life, my confidence, sense of worth, and ability to relax were directly tied to outcomes. Grades. Achievement. Being liked. Podcast downloads. Retreat registrations. Business revenue. In this episode, I’m sharing what’s shifted, why entrepreneurship has become one of the greatest healing experiences of my life, and why I think focusing on identity may be even more powerful than focusing on outcomes. 🎧 In This Episode We Explore: ✨ Why entrepreneurship became one of the deepest healing experiences of my life ✨ The surprising shift from measuring success by outcomes to measuring it by identity ✨ How following “creative breadcrumbs” led me to create a mother-daughter event I never could have planned ✨ Why meaningful work often brings both incredible joy and unexpected grief ✨ Why we need community when we’re building a life that feels aligned ✨ What it really means to trust yourself before you have proof When Success Determines Your Worth For years, I believed I was simply “goal-oriented.” Looking back, I can see that something much deeper was happening. My nervous system only relaxed after receiving external validation. If things were going well, I felt okay. If they weren’t, I questioned everything about myself. Entrepreneurship didn’t create that pattern. It exposed it. And once I could finally see it, I had the opportunity to begin healing it. Identity Is Different Than Outcomes I’ve often encouraged people to enjoy the process rather than obsess over the outcome. Recently, I heard someone describe it a little differently: Focus on identity instead. That language immediately clicked. Instead of asking: “Did this work?” I’ve started asking: “Who am I becoming while I create this?” That simple shift has changed how I show up in my business, my parenting, and honestly, my entire life. Following Creative Breadcrumbs People often ask me how I knew I wanted to create retreats, communities, or now, mother-daughter experiences. The truth is… I didn’t. There wasn’t one defining moment. There were hundreds of tiny ones. Dance. Books like Hunt, Gather, Parent and Dopamine Kids. Watching families in Guatemala. Learning about play. Conversations with other entrepreneurs. Listening to what made me feel more alive. Eventually those breadcrumbs became a path. I didn’t design it. I discovered it. The Part Nobody Talks About Here’s something I don’t hear discussed very often. Doing work that feels deeply aligned doesn’t only bring excitement. It also brings grief. Recently I created a playlist for my upcoming mother-daughter event. Every time I listen to it, I cry. Not because I’m worried about whether the event will sell. Because something about it feels profoundly me. I’ve come to believe that meaningful work shines a light on every place we’ve spent years disconnected from ourselves. The joy is incredible. The grief can be just as powerful. And somehow… Both are signs we’re moving in the right direction. We Weren’t Meant to Do This Alone Whether it’s entrepreneurship, parenting, healing, or creativity… Growth is uncomfortable. That’s why I believe so deeply in community. I’ve experienced firsthand how much easier it is to keep taking aligned action when someone can compassionately hold space for your fear instead of trying to eliminate it. Sometimes we don’t need another strategy. We need someone who can remind us that we’re still worthy while we’re learning. A Powerful Reminder for Therapists, Helpers, & Creatives Maybe the question isn’t: “Will this work?” Maybe the better question is: “Who am I becoming by creating this?” Because at the end of the day, I don’t want my life to be measured only by what I accomplished. I want it to be measured by whether I had the courage to trust my creative instincts. To build things that mattered. To love the people around me well. And to become someone who believes she’s worthy before the results arrive. Connect With Me If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. You can: Download the Zone of Genius Guide Reply to one of my emails Reach out about 1:1 coaching Learn more about the Innovative Therapist Retreat Sometimes one honest conversation is the beginning of everything. Disclaimer This podcast and blog are intended for educational and informational purposes only and are not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical care, or individualized mental health treatment. If you’re struggling with your mental health, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional.
Transcribe →Beyond the Therapy Chair: Leadership, Travel, & Building an Aligned Life with Julia Nepini
1w ago00:42:23Tap to summarize✨ Free Resource: Uncover Your Zone of Genius 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 work. Grab it here:https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone Episode 167: Beyond the Therapy Chair: Leadership, Travel, & Building an Aligned Life with Julia Neppini What If You’re Meant for More Than the Therapy Chair? There’s a quiet question many therapists carry: Is this really the only way I’m allowed to do this work? One client at a time.One room.One role.One version of success. In this conversation with Julia Nepini, we explore what happens when therapists begin listening to the deeper pull toward leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity, travel, teaching, speaking, and building lives that actually fit who they are becoming. To me, this episode felt like a giant permission slip. I hope it does for you too. Meet Julia Nepini Julia Nepini is a clinical and forensic social worker, entrepreneur, consultant, podcast host, and speaker. She is the owner of a Massachusetts-based group practice with a team of approximately 30 people, founder of Compassionate Consulting Company, and host of The Compassionate Climb podcast. Julia helps clinicians at all stages of business growth—from startup to scaling teams and streamlining operations—and has become known for helping therapists build sustainable, aligned businesses rooted in integrity and impact. She’s also an international speaker who has presented in: 🌍 Bali🌍 Costa Rica🌍 Panama🌍 Portugal …and she shared so much wisdom in this conversation about what it actually looks like to build a life and business aligned with your values. Therapists Aren’t Trained to Be Leaders One of the biggest themes we explored was leadership. Because most therapists are trained to: Hold space Care deeply Support others Avoid harm …but we are often not trained to: Set boundaries Lead teams Navigate conflict Talk about money Make hard business decisions Julia spoke vulnerably about how her Enneagram type (Type 1 with a 2 wing) shaped her leadership journey: ✨ High standards✨ Deep empathy✨ Perfectionism✨ Difficulty holding boundaries at times The Healing Power of Finding “Your People” One of the best parts of our conversation centered around belonging. Julia talked about growing up feeling: “Too much” “Not enough” Too loud Too driven Too ambitious Too enthusiastic …and how entrepreneurship and aligned community helped her finally feel: “Right where I need to be.” Because sometimes entrepreneurship isn’t just about business. Sometimes it’s about finally finding spaces where you no longer have to shrink yourself. Travel, Freedom, and Reimagining Success Julia also shared how international travel became part of her vision for success. Not in a flashy way. But in a deeply values-aligned way. She described wanting to create a business that could: ✨ Operate without her constantly present✨ Generate income sustainably✨ Allow her to travel, teach, connect, and experience the world✨ Give her daughter a different model for life and work And I loved her honesty about the guilt that initially surfaced around this. Because so many helpers struggle to receive: Time freedom Financial abundance Spaciousness Joy Even when they help create those things for others. Therapists and Money: The Conversation We Need to Have This part of the episode was 🔥. We talked openly about the messages many therapists receive: “You shouldn’t care about money.” “Helping professionals aren’t supposed to make much.” “It’s selfish to want more.” And Julia shared something I strongly agree with: We HAVE to start talking about money honestly. Because when therapists avoid conversations about: pricing sustainability compensation profitability time and energy costs …it often leads to burnout. Not freedom. One quote that really stood out: “You deserve compensation for your time.” Simple.But powerful. Key Takeaways From This Episode ✨ Therapists are allowed to want more✨ Entrepreneurship can be deeply healing✨ Boundaries support sustainability✨ Multi-passionate people don’t need to fit one box✨ Money conversations matter✨ Alignment creates clarity✨ Your “too muchness” may actually be your gift✨ You can build a life that genuinely fits you A Reflection For You What parts of yourself have you been trying to minimize to fit into a professional mold? And… What might happen if those parts are actually part of your Zone of Genius? Connect with Julia Nepini 🎙 Podcast: The Compassionate Climb📱 Instagram & Facebook: Compassionate Consulting Company 🌟 Upcoming Event:The Therapist’s Evolution Summit📍 Seattle Convention Center🗓 August 19–21, 2027 A conference for therapists exploring: multiple income streams retreats consulting group practice growth books masterminds sustainable entrepreneurship and creative ways to leverage their skills You Belong Here. A space for therapists & creative entrepreneurs who crave a more courageous and connected life. Join my newsletter here:https://drshawnhondorp.com/contact/ 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.
Transcribe →We’ve Been Conditioned to Believe Someone Else Has the Answers
2w ago00:23:04Tap to summarize✨ Free Resource: Uncover Your Zone of Genius https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone Episode 166: We’ve Been Conditioned to Believe Someone Else Has the Answers The problem isn’t that you don’t know what to do. Most of us already know we need better boundaries. We know we need more rest. We know we need to stop people-pleasing. We know we need to spend less time scrolling and more time doing the things that make us feel alive. So why is it still so hard? In this solo episode, I explore a realization that has been changing how I think about healing, leadership, creativity, business, parenting, and personal growth: Most of us don’t need more information. We need the conditions that allow us to hear ourselves. Drawing from my own experiences with therapy, coaching, money, entrepreneurship, parenting, and creativity, I share why I believe many of us have been conditioned to look outside ourselves for answers and what it takes to rebuild self-trust in a world full of noise. In This Episode, We Explore: Why information overload is making self-trust harder, not easier The difference between understanding yourself and becoming the version of yourself you want to be How shame, fear, and unworthiness quietly shape our decisions (without our consent!) The connection between money, worthiness, and leadership Why strategy matters less than we think How to create conditions that help you access your own wisdom The role of community, retreats, coaching, writing, and reflection in personal growth A powerful question that can help you reconnect with what you truly want Key Takeaway We’ve been taught to believe that someone else has the answers. A therapist. A coach. A certification. A book. A podcast. A strategy. And while all of those things can be helpful, the deepest transformation often happens when we stop looking for someone else to tell us what to do and start creating the conditions that allow us to hear and LEAD ourselves. The issue isn’t a lack of information. The issue is access. Access to our own wisdom. Access to our own desires. Access to the parts of ourselves that have been waiting a very long time to be heard. And access to our own leadership energy that we all have, even if it’s been covered up for a long time. Memorable Quotes From This Episode “Most of us don’t need more information. We need help holding the space long enough to hear our deep inner knowing.” “I couldn’t analyze my way out of feeling unworthy.” “The best strategy in the world won’t work if shame is in the driver’s seat.” “What would I do if I deeply trusted myself?” “The people who feel most alive aren’t the people who had certainty. They’re the people who learned how to trust themselves.” Who Should Listen? This episode is for you if: You feel overwhelmed by information and struggle to make decisions. You know what you “should” do but find yourself stuck. You’re a therapist, helper, leader, or entrepreneur who feels exhausted by traditional models of work. You’re exploring what more aligned leadership could look like. You’re navigating questions about worthiness, money, creativity, or visibility. You want more joy, freedom, and self-trust in your life. You’re tired of waiting for certainty before taking action. Ready to Go Deeper? If this conversation resonates, I invite you to explore one of the spaces where we intentionally create the conditions for deeper self-trust, creativity, and aligned action. Inspired Innovators Community A community for therapists, helpers, and creative entrepreneurs who want to create work and lives that feel nourishing instead of depleting. Lake Michigan Retreat | October 5-8, 2026 A three-night immersive retreat plus two months of integration support designed to help you reconnect with your creativity, your desires, and the parts of you that feel most alive. Questions? Reach out anytime info@drshawnhondorp.com. xoxo, Shawn
Transcribe →Building Outside the Box: Therapy Intensives, Creativity, & Following the Breadcrumbs with Steffeny Feld
3w ago00:27:54Tap to summarizeEpisode 165: Building Outside the Box: Therapy Intensives, Creativity, & Following the Breadcrumbs with Steffeny Feld ✨ Free resource: Uncover Your Zone of GeniusDownload the Guide Here What happens when therapists stop trying to force themselves into systems that don’t fit… and start listening to what actually feels aligned? In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I sat down with Steffeny Feld for a deeply honest conversation about therapy intensives, entrepreneurship, creativity, nervous system capacity, and what it really looks like to build an innovative business as a therapist. Steffeny is the founder of Intensive Design Lab, where she helps therapists create intensive models that respect their worth, honor clients’ identities, and create more spaciousness, sustainability, and depth in the therapy process. But honestly? This conversation became about much more than intensives. It became a conversation about: listening to your body trusting your creativity following intuitive “breadcrumbs” redefining leadership and allowing yourself to build work that actually feels good to live inside of In This Episode We Explore: ✨ Why many therapists feel burned out by traditional therapy models✨ Steffeny’s journey from community mental health to private practice to intensives✨ Entrepreneurship as a creative and spiritual growth process✨ Why “aligned action” often feels scary at first✨ The connection between nervous system capacity and business growth✨ Visibility, perfectionism, and the fear of being seen✨ Why therapists need more innovative and sustainable practice models✨ The importance of following what feels energizing, alive, and meaningful Therapy Intensives as a Different Way of Healing One of the biggest themes in this conversation was the idea that healing doesn’t always fit neatly into one-hour weekly sessions. Steffeny shared how, after building a successful private-pay caseload, she realized she still felt deeply exhausted and disconnected from the way she wanted to work. That realization eventually led her toward therapy intensives — longer-form, immersive therapeutic experiences that allow for deeper work, more flexibility, and often more spaciousness for both clients and clinicians. And one thing I deeply appreciated about this conversation is that Steffeny doesn’t approach intensives from a hustle mindset. She approaches them from a place of: sustainability alignment creativity nervous system awareness and honoring both therapist and client humanity Following the Breadcrumbs Another major theme woven throughout this episode was this idea of “following the breadcrumbs.” Not over-planning every step.Not having a perfectly mapped-out business strategy. But noticing: what energizes you what people are asking for what your body is saying yes to and where momentum naturally exists Steffeny shared that many of the most impactful parts of her business emerged organically through conversations, experimentation, and responding to real needs instead of forcing a rigid plan. Honestly, I resonated deeply with this. Because so many therapists are taught to disconnect from intuition, creativity, embodiment, and experimentation in favor of certainty, perfectionism, and “doing it right.” But often the work that feels most alive comes from somewhere much deeper than strategy alone. Visibility, Leadership & Being Human We also had a really honest conversation about visibility and leadership. About: imposter syndrome overworking perfectionism entrepreneurship nervous system crashes after big successes and the vulnerability of creating something innovative and public One of my favorite parts of the conversation was hearing Steffeny talk about leadership not as being the loudest or most polished person in the room… …but as being willing to tell the truth. To say:“This worked on paper, but I was miserable.”“This success didn’t actually feel sustainable.”“This model no longer fits me.”“There may be another way.” I think so many therapists need permission to hear that. Creativity, Reciprocity & Building Work That Feels Alive Toward the end of the conversation, we explored something I’ve been thinking about constantly lately: What if work could feel reciprocal? What if therapists didn’t have to choose between: meaningful impact financial sustainability creativity spaciousness embodiment and joy? What if innovative work actually allowed us to bring more of our humanity into the healing process instead of less? This conversation felt like such an important reminder that there are many ways to help people heal — and many ways to build a meaningful life. About Steffeny Feld Steffeny Feld is a therapist, speaker, and copywriter with a passion for helping therapists create therapy intensive models that respect their worth, honor their clients’ identities, and make room for joy and ease in their own lives. Intensive Design Lab isn’t just a course. It’s a community and movement toward a more sustainable, ethical, and creative way of practicing therapy rooted in equity, respect, and sustainable growth. Connect with Steffeny 🌐 Intensive Design Lab Website👥 Therapy Intensive Community Facebook Group Want More Conversations Like This? ✨ Download the free Uncover Your Zone of Genius guide:Zone of Genius Guide 💌 Join my email list for podcast updates, creative inspiration, and upcoming events:Join the Newsletter 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.
Transcribe →Creativity Didn’t Fix Me. It Helped Me Trust Myself.
4w ago00:11:08Tap to summarizeFor a long time, I thought I just needed better strategies. Better time management.Better business plans.Better systems.More discipline. What I didn’t realize was that underneath so much of my anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, and exhaustion was a nervous system that didn’t actually trust me to lead my own life. In this solo episode, I’m sharing more personally about: my journey from clinical health psychology into creativity-centered community work healing beyond insight and intellectual understanding the role dance and embodiment have played in my life parenting, authenticity, and “Pack Leadership” why creativity and play are not frivolous and how learning to trust myself changed the way I live, parent, work, and lead This episode is a little messy, honest, reflective, and deeply human. It’s less of a polished teaching episode and more of a real conversation about what happens when we stop trying to perform healing and start actually living more fully in our bodies and lives. I also talk about:✨ hyper-independence✨ body trust✨ entrepreneurship and burnout✨ emotional regulation✨ perfectionism and visibility✨ why therapists/helpers often struggle to receive support themselves✨ and why creativity can become a pathway back to ourselves If you’ve ever felt like you’ve done “all the work” but still feel disconnected from yourself, your joy, or your direction, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone. 🎧 Listen wherever you get podcasts. ✨ 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.
Transcribe →The Movement Patterns Keeping You Small
Jun 800:09:57Tap to summarizeWhat if healing isn’t just about changing your thoughts, but practicing entirely new ways of moving through the world? In this solo episode, I reflect on my recent conversation with Erica Hornthal and unpack why dance, movement, creativity, and performance have been so unexpectedly healing in my own life. Over the past four years, returning to dance as an adult has helped me notice something important:many of us have deeply ingrained “movement patterns” that were designed to keep us safe. Patterns like: shrinking back minimizing ourselves apologizing for our gifts avoiding visibility staying small to avoid rejection or shame And while those patterns may have once protected us, they can also quietly disconnect us from the life we actually want. In this episode, I talk about:✨ dance and nervous system healing✨ practicing new movement patterns✨ why creativity can feel emotionally uncomfortable✨ visibility, self-trust, and leadership✨ shrinking, apologizing, and minimizing our value✨ reciprocal relationships and community✨ female friendship, connection, and healing✨ and what it means to follow the “breadcrumbs” of what makes you feel alive I also share: my adult dance journey after taking nearly 20 years off how entrepreneurship has challenged me to stop hiding the subtle ways I still minimize myself and my work and why playful, embodied experiences can help us access more confidence, authenticity, and joy This episode is reflective, honest, and deeply connected to the heart of what we explore inside The Innovative Therapist community: How do we stop shrinking and start becoming more fully ourselves? ✨ 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.
Transcribe →When Insight Isn’t Enough: Dance, Movement, and the Healing Power of the Body with Erica Hornthal
Jun 100:30:35Tap to summarizeEpisode 161: When Insight Isn’t Enough: Dance, Movement, and the Healing Power of the Body with Erica Hornthal 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 work. Grab it here:https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone If you’ve been following my work lately, you know I’ve been thinking a lot about creativity, embodiment, and what actually creates change, beyond just understanding. Because here’s the truth I keep coming back to: Insight alone doesn’t always lead to transformation. Why Insight Isn’t Always Enough So many of us have been trained to believe that healing happens through understanding. We analyze patterns.We make meaning.We connect the dots. And to be clear, this matters. But as Erica shared in this conversation: 👉 You can understand something from every angle…👉 and still find yourself stuck in the same patterns. Why? Because so many of our patterns live in the body. They were formed before we had language.They’re reinforced through how we move, react, brace, avoid, and engage with the world. So if we’re only working at the level of thought…we may be missing the level where change actually happens. The Missing Piece: Movement Erica is a dance movement therapist and the developer of Kinesthetic Cognitive Therapy, a framework rooted in a simple but powerful idea: The way you move influences the way you think, feel, and behave. When I look back at my own journey, especially over the past few years of returning to dance, I can see this so clearly. There are things I simply couldn’t “think” my way out of. Like chronic shame. Instead, I’ve been moving my way into something different. 🌀 What We Talk About in This Episode Here are a few of the threads we explored together: ✨ Why overanalyzing can actually create more constriction (not more freedom)✨ How movement patterns shape emotional and behavioral patterns✨ Why many therapists and helpers feel stuck despite deep insight✨ The difference between performative movement vs. healing movement✨ How some “somatic” trends can unintentionally reinforce patterns instead of shifting them✨ The importance of variation, choice, and awareness in movement✨ What dance movement therapy actually looks like in practice✨ How to begin noticing your own movement patterns in everyday life Overthinking as a “Movement Pattern” We often think of movement as physical. Dancing, walking, exercising. But Erica reframed this in a way that felt both simple and profound: Everything is movement. Even overthinking. For me, overthinking used to look like: Freezing Contracting Trying to “solve” my way out of discomfort Avoiding action while staying very mentally busy That’s a movement pattern. And here’s the tricky part… ➡️ It can feel productive➡️ It can even feel safe➡️ But it often keeps us stuck What I’ve been practicing instead (and what we talk about in this episode) is: Small, different movements. Not huge leaps. Just… something new. Small Movements, Big Shifts One of my favorite parts of this conversation was how much we normalized starting small. Not:“Completely change your life.” But:“Shift one thing.” Reach for the phone instead of avoiding it Send the message Move your body in a way that feels unfamiliar Slow down when you want to speed up Speed up when you tend to shut down These are movement interruptions. And over time, they create new patterns. New capacity.New options.New ways of being. A Nuanced Conversation About Dance & Healing We also explored something I think is really important: Not all movement is automatically healing. Dance can be: Expressive Liberating Joyful And… It can also: Reinforce existing patterns Become performative Be driven by external validation This isn’t about making movement “right” or “wrong.” It’s about asking: 👉 Why am I doing this?👉 What am I seeking?👉 What does my body actually need right now? That level of awareness changes everything. A Question to Sit With As you listen to this episode (or even just reading this), I’d invite you to gently explore: 🌀 Where in my life am I relying on insight… when what I might need is movement? 🌀 What is one small way I could move differently this week? Want Support Exploring Your Own Zone of Genius? If this conversation is stirring something in you, this is the exact kind of work we explore inside my community and offerings. Start here: ✨ Uncover Your Zone of Genius (Free Guide)https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone And if you’re not already on my email list, you can join here:https://drshawnhondorp.com/contact/ Final Reflection This conversation felt like a bridge. Between thinking and feeling.Between insight and action.Between knowing… and actually changing. And maybe most importantly: A reminder that your body is not separate from your healing. It’s part of it. 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.
Transcribe →Reciprocity, Creativity, & Work That Feels Alive
May 2500:38:33Tap to summarizeWhat 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.
Transcribe →Work that gives back: Reciprocity is the missing ingredient to work that actually feels good with Dr. Lauren Silverstein
May 1800:26:38Tap to summarizeEpisode 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...
Transcribe →Mother’s Day & Becoming Braver Together
May 1000:03:00Tap to summarizeThere’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.
Transcribe →