Getting to the Couch | Mental Health, Therapy, Psychology & Emotional Wellness
Getting to the Couch is a mental health podcast that helps people overcome the barriers to starting and staying in therapy.
Hosted by Ben Santee, MA, LPC, and Flavio Da Silva, LMSW, CAADC, each episode explores the questions many people have about counseling, mental health, relationships, emotional wellness, trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addiction, LGBTQ+ concerns, child and family therapy, and the real-life challenges that prevent people from getting the help they deserve.
Whether you're considering therapy for the first time, currently working with a therapist, supporting a loved one, or you're a mental health professional looking for practical insights, this podcast offers evidence-informed conversations, expert guests, and honest discussions that make psychology understandable and approachable.
Topics include:
• How to find the right therapist
• What happens during your first therapy session
• Anxiety and depression
• ADHD in children and adults
• Trauma and PTSD
• Relationships and attachment styles
• Parenting and child therapy
• Couples counseling
• Addiction and recovery
• LGBTQ+ mental health
• Telehealth and online therapy
• Hospitalization and transitioning back to outpatient care
• Insurance and financial barriers to treatment
• Mental health myths and stigma
• Therapy techniques and treatment approaches
• Self-advocacy in therapy
• Emotional resilience and personal growth
Our goal is simple: remove the mystery from therapy so more people feel comfortable getting to the couch.
New episodes feature licensed therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other mental health professionals sharing practical advice you can use in everyday life.
If you've ever wondered whether therapy is right for you, this podcast is for you.
Episodes
17 episodes
GTTC S2 E4 Virtual Therapy, Limitations and Considerations
Is virtual therapy truly expanding access to care—or are we overlooking who it may not serve well? In this episode of Getting to the Couch, we take an honest look at the promise and the pitfalls of telehealth. From convenience and acce...
GTTC Season 2, Episode 3: Impacts of Preperation for Therapy
What actually makes therapy work—and what happens before anyone even sits on the couch? In this episode of Getting to the Couch, we dive into how preparation shapes the therapy experience and why what happens between sessions can be ju...
GTTC Season 2, Episode 2 Part1: Challenges to the LGBTQ+ Community
What happens when the very spaces meant to heal become places of uncertainty? When the professionals trained to help become sources of hesitation?Welcome back to Getting to the Couch. In this episode, we're peeling back the layers on a t...
GTTC Season 2, Episode 1: Bridging The Gap: Hospitals to Outpatient Care
In this episode of Getting to the Couch, we take a closer look at what happens when clients move from the structure of hospitalization back into the community. Our conversation explores the essential role medical social workers play in...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 11 Capstone Conversation for Season 1
Season One Wrap-Up: The Conversations That Matter Most In this capstone episode, we reflect on the key themes from Season One—choosing a therapist, first sessions, treatment planning, self-advocacy, and more—while diving into new gro...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 10 Stages of Change
Before someone ever sets foot in a therapist’s office, there’s often a long internal journey already in motion. In this episode, Episode 10, of Getting to the Couch, we explore the Stages of Change model—what it is, why it matters, and...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 9 Confidentiality in Therapy
Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of therapy—but what does it actually mean, and where does it begin and end? In this episode of Getting to the Couch, we break down the purpose of confidentiality, the legal and ethical boundar...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 8 - The Role of Coordination of Care in Therapy
What if the biggest barrier to therapy isn’t motivation—but miscommunication? In this episode, we explore how coordination (or lack of it) between therapists, doctors, schools, and families can deeply impact a person’s ability to access a...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 7 - Barriers to Therapy with Children
In this episode, we’re exploring the real-world challenges and breakthroughs in child therapy and animal-assisted interventions—with insights from our incredible guest, Emily Blazic, a licensed therapist who brings deep e...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 6 - Shame as a Barrier to Therapy
What if something deeper than fear or doubt was keeping you from therapy? What if it’s not just about finding the right time or therapist—but something harder to name? In this episode, we explore the complicated role of shame in getting to ther...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 5 - Self-Advocacy in Therapy
Is therapy something you just ‘go along with,’ or do you have a say in shaping your experience? In this episode, we’re diving into the power of self-advocacy in therapy. Can you request a specific approach? What about switching therapists...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 4 - Understanding Modalities and Their Use in Therapy
This episode discusses common approaches used in therapy and the application of these modalities to client needs. Removing does this help with removing the mystery to the process of therapy? Your support is always appreciated and We...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 3 - Treatment Planning
The episode discusses the improtance of treatment planning in therapy and highlights one of the most important elements to the treatment planning process. Tune in to find out. Your support is always appreciated and Welcomed! Here is...
Getting to the Couch Ep. 2 - What to expect at the first session
This podcast episode discusses what to expect at the first therapy session. Adjusting expectations of what the first session is and understanding the role of self-advocacy.Your support is always appreciated and Welcomed! Her...