Our bodies are wired to react to different circumstances in an automatic and intuitive way. Whether this is when we get butterflies in our stomachs while falling in love or sweaty palms when giving a public presentation, our body is designed to mobilize for action, feel safe in a rested state, etc. When we can make sense of the biological systems in place to alert us to excitement, fear, danger, anger, etc., we can empower ourselves to be proactive in self-care, rather than reactive, and normalize our experiences. In this episode, we break down polyvagal theory in easily digestible portions to make sense of the amazing nervous systems we were designed to work with.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

People might assume that having a live-in therapist for a parent makes life easier. However…is this really the case? In this episode, we sit down with Sarah’s oldest child, Dalton, and ask him what it is like having a parent that is a therapist, what he has learned from the relationship, what has been difficult to navigate, if PCM has been helpful in understanding himself and others, and what he is taking with him into the transition off to college. In typical Thome style, the snark flies free, but is wrapped in good natured humor, support, and wisdom.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

Finding the right balance of self-disclosure as a therapist can be tricky. There is technically no “right” way to be a therapist, but there is the absolute necessity of having positive intention when sharing and connecting; to enhance rapport, share relatable conditions to normalize, showcase our own flaws and mess-ups to reduce fear of vulnerability in sessions, etc. Oversharing is annoying and boundaryless, but undersharing creates difficulty for the necessity of rapport building. Listen in as we share the secret sauce of how to appropriately and healthfully build rapport with clients and subsequent safe connection and attachment.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

Change is hard. It is hard for all of us, even those of us who enjoy spontaneity and excitement. Transitions are especially difficult as it often involves changing roles, changing relationships, changing power dynamics, etc. As we unpack several relatable changes, we hope to offer tips and tricks in navigating them, in order to make it more manageable and less stressful. Change is inevitable. If we can learn to embrace the joy of change and the growth opportunities they offer, we can empower ourselves to have more fluidity in navigating them.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

It is 2026 people…Get Your Shit Together! Though this colorful title got my vote, my more professional and appropriate counterpart was correct in dialing it down a notch for our opener of Season 2 Behind the Therapy Door. In this episode, we catch up about our holidays and time off with family and friends, talk about what is currently in our podcast/book queue, what is influencing our growth and curiosity, as well as spit ball ideas of what we hope to bring to our audience for Season 2. It is easy to get bogged down with the stressors of our personal lives and events on a global level. So we hope to bring continued resources, therapeutic ideas to grow personally and in relationship to others, with a heavy helping of inappropriate humor to ease the weary soul. Buckle up peeps…Season 2 is gonna be a banger!

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

Most people have a love/hate relationship with the holiday season, depending on lived experience. We here at Affinity Consultants have much to be grateful for during this holiday season of 2025. Tune in as we reflect on a season of growth, both personally and professionally, and recount many moments of gratitude, both big and small. But do not worry…there will be plenty of humorous WTF’s along the way!

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

Much has been written about and researched regarding effective leadership. The reality is, however, that effective leadership is more about each member of the team and how they impact the whole. Healthy leadership prioritizes a foundation of trust, proactively navigates conflict, encourages commitment and accountability, and utilizes tools to empower and mobilize action, creativity, and curiosity. Affinity Consultations enjoys opportunities to help leadership, in both large and small organizations, solidify what is great to become even greater, and improve areas of weakness by viewing them as opportunities for growth and strength.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame

Fear often gets a bad rap as a toxic and negative emotion that serves little purpose. While it is true that fear can be corrosive when unprocessed and unchecked, it can also serve as a powerful motivator for facing challenges, growing confidence, and rewiring the nervous system. We investigate how fear can hijack each type of personality, using Process Communication Model as a framework, as well as healthy ways to meet our psychological needs and turn fear into potential for self-actualization.

theaffinityconsultants.com

Cover art by Scott Thome

Music composed by Justin Breame