Grove: Beyond The Couch

Bees, Crows, and “Avoid Avoidance”: A Winter Motivation Reset

It’s the first episode of 2026, and Melissa and Susan kick off the year with a special guest from their own team: Sarah. She shows up with fidgets, an emotional-support Furby, and a whole lot of honesty about what it’s like to do the thing you’ve been avoiding… even when your therapeutic philosophy is literally “avoid avoidance.”
Together, they unpack why motivation can tank in the winter, how to tell the difference between needing rest and needing a push, and why shame-based “hustle” strategies might work short-term but rarely stick. Sarah shares practical tools she uses with clients (and herself), including the “even if” mindset, body-doubling, and the INCUP framework (interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, pressure) to make hard things more doable.
The conversation also takes some delightful detours—quirky clothes, a Dr. Seuss office, pet crows, and plans for bees at Grove—while staying grounded in one central theme: learning how to move through discomfort with kindness, not punishment.
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective

New Year, New Paths: Reflections and Psychedelic Possibilities

Susan and Melissa wrap up the year with a honest, hopeful conversation about growth, change, and what’s coming next for Grove. They look back on the big projects of the past year—renovations, new partnerships, and a whole lot of hard work—while talking about why they prefer intentions over rigid New Year’s resolutions and how to carry the right things into 2026.
Then they open up about their own experiences with ketamine-assisted therapy: what it actually felt like, why they were skeptical at first, how it connects with trauma work and brain plasticity, and why they now see it as one more powerful tool in the mental health toolbox—not a magic fix, and not something for everyone, but a real option with real impact. They also share how Grove is working toward offering ketamine-assisted therapy in-house and what that could mean for clients in the Upper Cumberland.
If you’ve ever wondered what psychedelic-assisted therapy is really like, or you just need some company as you reflect on your own year, this episode is a grounded, thoughtful place to start.
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective

Deck the Myths: What Therapy Is (and Isn’t)

Susan and Melissa kick off the holiday season with a fun — and surprisingly insightful — conversation about common myths surrounding therapy. From the idea that “something must be wrong with you” to the misconception that therapists give advice or can read minds, they break it all down with humor, real talk, and a peek behind the scenes of what counseling is actually like.
Whether you’re already in therapy or have been curious about what it’s like, this episode helps clear up the stereotypes and makes the whole process feel a lot more human. Plus, there’s a little Christmas chaos, some friendly rivalry, and the promise of exciting guest conversations coming in the new year.
Tune in, learn a little, laugh a lot — and Merry Christmas from the “Grows Beyond the Couch” crew!
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective

Burnout, Boundaries & Body Work: Therapy Meets Yoga at Grove

In this episode of Grove: Beyond the Couch, Melissa and Susan welcome therapist and yoga instructor Elizabeth Mounts to talk about what it really looks like to blend clinical work with yoga, somatic processing, and sound baths. Elizabeth shares her story of burning out in traditional mental health settings, stepping away from therapy, and then finding her way back with much clearer boundaries: knowing her style, honoring her schedule, and being honest about who she is a good fit for (and who she is not).
They dig into what somatic therapy actually is: tuning into where emotions live in the body, using breath, imagery, parts work, and even sound bowls to help complete the stress cycle and regulate the nervous system. They talk about discomfort in silence, why lying on a couch with your eyes closed can feel like torture at first, and how the body will often tell the truth before the mind catches up.
Elizabeth also tackles common hesitations around yoga, especially from Christians, explaining how yoga can be a neutral, flexible tool for nervous system regulation, pain relief, and spiritual connection (or not), depending on what you bring to the mat. The episode wraps with practical details about her weekly yoga class and monthly sound baths at Grove, plus encouragement to try something “weird,” give it at least three tries, and trust that you already carry more wisdom in your body than you realize.
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective

Domestic Violence, Power & Control, and Why “Just Leaving” Isn’t Simple

In this episode, Melissa and Susan start with some lighter talk - fresh paint on the Grove building, skeletons in Santa hats, and small ways they’re trying to brighten the darker months - before gently shifting into a heavy but necessary conversation: domestic violence. They walk through the Power and Control Wheel, unpacking how abuse isn’t just physical, but can look like emotional abuse, financial control, isolation, gaslighting, threats, and using children as leverage.
They talk about why it’s never as simple as “why doesn’t she just leave,” how trauma bonding and intermittent kindness keep people stuck, and why safety planning and support are so crucial. Melissa and Susan also offer ideas for what to say (and what not to say) when someone you love may be in an abusive relationship, and share both national and local resources like Avalon and Genesis for those in the Upper Cumberland. The episode closes with an invitation to regulate, move your body, find connection, and remember: you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect - always.
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective

Spooky Season & Scared Brains: Why We Like (or Hate) Being Afraid

Happy Halloween! 🎃 Melissa (Halloween superfan) and Susan (hard pass on haunted houses) swap stories about spooky décor, jump scares, and why some of us crave adrenaline while others avoid horror at all costs. Then they get therapist-y about fear: what phobias are, how our brains learn them (sometimes from family or one-off moments), and why finishing the stress cycle matters more than “just breathe” in the moment.
You’ll hear practical ways to discharge that surge (walks, dancing, music, movement), when grounding does help, and how approaches like gradual exposure and EMDR can untangle fears—whether it’s snakes, flying, or scary movies that felt a little too real. They also touch on parenting with anxiety (protecting vs. over-protecting), reframing the parts of Halloween you actually enjoy, and giving yourself permission to skip the rest.
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective

Dr. D in the Making: Fit, Community, and Counseling in a Small Town

Susan and Melissa welcome Grove therapist Desi to celebrate her two-year anniversary on the team. They swap origin stories (and office décor tips), then get real about what actually makes therapy work: the person of the therapist, the culture behind the scenes, and finding the right client–therapist fit—sometimes that means a warm handoff to a different provider. They dig into the unique parts of practicing in a rural/micropolitan community—running into clients at Publix, confidentiality in close-knit towns, and why advocacy and resource-hunting matter here more than ever.
 
Desi shares how she balances a full caseload while nearing completion of her PhD (hello, “Dr. D” 👋) and previews her dissertation on the experiences of Black counselors working in rural areas—why the research gap exists, what she’s learning, and how it can shape better care. The trio also talk groups, community offerings, and why it’s okay (and healthy) to choose the therapist and space that feel right to you.
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective

When the Seasons Shift: Practical Strategies for SAD

As the days get shorter, Susan and Melissa unpack Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—how it differs from “winter blues,” what to watch for (sleep and appetite shifts, low energy, persistent low mood), and why time change and circadian rhythms matter. They talk holiday pressure, grief triggers, and isolation—and share practical ways to buffer the season: light strategies (twinkle lamps to light boxes), cozy routines (hello, crockpots), small social goals, and building regular community touchpoints (coffee shops, gyms, book clubs). They also outline when it’s time to loop in a therapist, primary care, or psychiatrist, and highlight Grove offerings—from yoga and Healing Through Words to upcoming groups.
Listening isn’t therapy, but it can be therapeutic. If seasonal shifts hit hard for you, you’re not alone—and help is close by. Check Grove’s calendar for classes, groups, and counseling options.
We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective
 

From Self-Doubt to Healing with Abby Nesbitt

In this episode of Beyond The Couch, hosts Susan and Melissa sit down with their colleague, Abigail (Abby) Nesbitt, to explore her personal and professional journey into the world of counseling. Abby opens up about her early path toward medicine, her struggles with anxiety and OCD in graduate school, and the life-changing decision to step away from PA school and pursue counseling instead.
The conversation dives deep into Abby’s experiences with EMDR and ERP, modalities that not only helped her heal but now shape the way she walks with her clients. She shares openly about the challenges of perfectionism, intrusive thoughts, and learning to face fear head-on—and how those struggles became the foundation for her compassionate, relatable approach as a therapist.
Together, Susan, Melissa, and Abby discuss the courage it takes to “be on the couch,” the importance of therapists doing their own work, and the power of embracing our humanity—flaws and all. Whether you’re a therapist, someone curious about counseling, or walking your own journey with anxiety or OCD, this episode offers encouragement, honesty, and hope.
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective

Helping Kids Heal with Regina Beach

In this episode, Susan and Melissa talk with therapist Regina Beach about the deep impact therapy can have on children—and the adults they become.
 
Regina shares what it’s like to work with young clients through play therapy, helping them name emotions, build confidence, and develop healthy coping skills. The conversation explores how early experiences shape our beliefs about ourselves and the world, and why giving kids space to feel seen and heard is so powerful.
Grounded in compassion and honesty, this episode offers a glimpse into how healing starts young—and why that work matters more than ever.
Remember that listening to this podcast is not therapy. It might be therapeutic, but it isn’t a replacement for good mental health treatment. We can help with getting you connected with a good therapist. Check out our website. 
Grove: A Healing Collective