Welcome! To become a client or connect visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

In today's episode, we sit with the hidden reality of kratom dependence and how something marketed as natural relief can quietly reshape a life. We talk with Chad Womack about Feel Free, high-functioning addiction, rehab, and the slow return to clarity, responsibility, and self-respect.

• Kratom basics and why dose changes the experience
• How “legal” and “easy to buy” can speed up dependence
• Chad’s first experience with Feel Free and why it felt like support
• The quiet ramp from two bottles to eight
• Personality shifts that show up as anger, coldness and isolation
• The financial cost and the sneaky behaviors addiction creates
• A non-moral question that helps clarify any coping habit
• The breaking point that leads to rehab and what firm boundaries can do
• What a day in rehab actually looks like and why it feels brutal
• Coming home after treatment and living with consequences
• Purpose shame and the slow work of self-forgiveness
• What Chad says to someone quietly struggling

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Show Guest:

Chad Womack is a real estate professional, investor, and business owner with more than 25 years of experience building and managing successful ventures. Over the course of his career, he built and sold a company of 25 years while developing a strong portfolio of rental properties, giving him deep insight into long-term investment and sustainable business growth.

Behind that success, however, Chad faced a deeply personal challenge—an addiction to kratom, specifically the widely available “Feel Free” tonic. What began as a legal, easily accessible source of relief gradually turned into a dependency that led him to spend 45 days in rehab and nearly cost him his 20-year marriage.

Today, Chad shares his story with honesty and humility, offering a window into the reality of high-functioning addiction, the impact it can have on relationships and identity, and the ongoing work of recovery. His journey is one of accountability, resilience, and the slow return to clarity, purpose, and self-respect.

Outside of his professional life, Chad finds his greatest joy in spending time with his wife, daughter, and their two dogs.

You can connect with Chad Womack here.

You can connect with Dillon Womack here.

Support the show

Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward.

Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com

Welcome!! To connect or become a client, visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

In today's episode, we sit with the question of whether relationship conflict is really about love or about emotional language that never got translated. With therapist Emily Pierce, we name how neurodivergence shapes communication and we share tools for building compassion, safety, and clarity in neurodiverse couples.
• neurodivergence as a broad umbrella including ADHD, autism, OCD, PTSD, learning differences, and acquired differences
• executive functioning, sensory processing, and emotion regulation differences that change how partners respond
• why “everyone is a little ADHD” language feels invalidating
• late diagnosis in adults, masking, and why tools can stop working during life transitions like perimenopause or parenting
• stigma, fear, and shame that can block support and assessment
• how to find more reliable education, including Neurodivergent Insights by Dr Anna Neff
• what makes a couple “neurodiverse” and why every pairing needs a custom approach
• common miscommunication loops like forgotten tasks, rejection sensitivity, and tone differences
• masking versus adapting, and how to build safety for both partners
• “support swapping” so both partners do meaningful work
• acceptance and grief after a late diagnosis, plus over-communication as a path to repair
• hope for stronger foundations once couples learn a shared language

Show Guest:

Emily Pearce is a passionate LMFT-A specializing in neurodivergent couples, with a deep commitment to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by these relationships. Over the past three years, Emily has achieved remarkable success in helping neurodivergent couples and individuals navigate common relationship issues through the unique lens of neurodiversity. Drawing from a lifetime of being surrounded by a neurodiverse circle and understanding her own neurodivergent brain, Emily integrates personal experiences with professional expertise to offer empathetic and effective counseling. Emily is dedicated to filling the growing need for specialized training, advocacy, and education in neurodiverse counseling.

You can connect with her at her website and on Instagram.

Support the show

Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward.

Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com

Welcome!! To connect or become a client visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

In today's episode, we break down the science and hope of neuroplasticity and why your most repeated thoughts can feel like fixed roads even when they are just well-worn trails. We share simple tools to build healthier neural pathways through repetition, nervous system safety, and supportive connection.

• thoughts as mental trails that can change over time
• what neuroplasticity means in plain language
• “neurons that fire together wire together” and why practice matters
• why the brain defaults to efficiency and predictability
• survival patterns that help us cope but block thriving
• using awareness to step out of autopilot and into agency
• externalizing fear loops so a pattern does not become identity
• tiny consistent shifts that build lasting change
• regulating the nervous system with breathing, walking, mindfulness, and grounding
• why healing rarely happens in isolation and how safe relationships rewire us
• the “catch and redirect” exercise for kinder self-talk
• journal prompts to spot patterns, find origins, and choose a new path

Support the show

Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward.

Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com

Welcome!! To connect or become a client visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

In this episode, we talk about confidence the way it actually shows up, not as loud perfection but as small brave choices made while you’re still nervous. We hear from my daughters, Alexandra (11) and Luciana (9), as they explain what helps them feel brave, what makes confidence drop, and how being yourself can be enough.

• defining confidence as being different without shrinking
• feeling confident through friends, family, and true belonging
• how anxiety shows up as butterflies and shaky nerves
• “fly in formation” as a simple way to steady yourself
• theater, singing, jiu-jitsu, and finding what fits your brain and body
• the three building blocks of confidence: trying, recovering, acceptance
• pre-stage self-talk and what we’re really afraid of
• singing on air as a practice of bravery
• validating fear while still encouraging action
• the brave step tool for everyday courage
• my own confidence struggles with running speed and finishing strong
• what I worry about as a parent and how I cope by teaching skills

Support the show

Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward.

Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com

Welcome!! To connect or become a client, visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

In this episode we talk about the quiet ways perfectionism and approval-seeking shape our lives, then practice a kinder truth: we are already enough. Andrea Markusich shares how “enoughness” can change parenting, emotional regulation, and the way we show up at home, school, and work.

• perfectionism linked to anxiety, depression, and burnout
• self-compassion as the antidote, not more striving
• Andrea’s turning point and the creation of The Enough Company
• approval and validation as a hidden driver of overdoing
• boundaries that protect alignment and family time
• Ivy The Snail as a tool for teaching comparison and jealousy
• jealousy as a messenger that points toward growth
• sitting with hard emotions instead of projecting them outward
• parenting without fixing, holding a safe container for big feelings
• tending to our inner child before responding to a child’s pain
• affirmation bandages as tiny moments of connection and healing
• school murals that support emotional intelligence and regulation

Show Guest:

Andrea is the founder of The Enough Company, a heart-centered initiative devoted to helping children, parents, and schools remember that we are already worthy of love and belonging.

She’s a Certified Conscious Parenting Coach and a Certified Soul Psychology Coach, and her work grew not from a childhood dream but from her own lived experience of feeling not enough—and the exhaustion that comes from constantly trying to prove our worth.

Through workshops, classroom visits, creative projects, and her book featuring the lovable character Ivy the Snail (buy book on Amazon), Andrea helps children explore big emotions like jealousy, comparison, and shyness with compassion rather than shame.

She also created one of the most creative ideas I’ve seen in a long time: affirmation bandages.

Because when children get hurt, that moment of care can become a moment of connection.

A message right on their arm reminding them:

You are loved. You are enough.

Andrea also spends time connecting with families and reflecting on parenting with her adult children—something she describes as one of the most meaningful seasons of life. You can connect with Andrea on Instagram at The Enough Company or at her website, The Enough Company.

Support the show

Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward.

Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com

Welcome!! To become a client or connect, visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

We name the quiet burnout that hides behind competence and show what it costs when being the responsible one becomes your identity. We break down emotional labor, nervous system depletion, and simple practices that help you care deeply without carrying everything alone.

• quiet burnout as slow depletion rather than a dramatic collapse
• chronic responsibility plus low emotional recovery leading to functional overdrive
• emotional labor as invisible work in families and workplaces
• subtle signals like irritability, guilt while resting, and overwhelm from small tasks
• reflection prompts to spot overfunctioning and borrowed responsibility
• grounding through breath and noticing support in the body
• self-compassion as emotional sustainability rather than indulgence
• a personal story about dialing back effort to regain presence and energy
• daily end-of-day questions to build awareness and shift patterns

Support the show

Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward.

Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com

Welcome to Couch Time! To connect, visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

In today's episode, we explore therapeutic ketamine through the lens of Internal Family Systems and somatic integration, asking what becomes possible when science and soul sit down together. Grace Laurie, LPC, shares practical insight on safety, structure, and why honoring protective parts is central to lasting change.

• how ketamine reduces rumination and opens neuroplasticity
• why IFS and compassionate parts work deepen integration
• who benefits most: TRD, PTSD, CPTSD, OCD, burnout
• postpartum depression potential and safety considerations
• dosing routes, timelines, and what a session looks like
• preparation, ritual, and the importance of a steady container
• cost transparency and realistic expectations for outcomes
• using novelty and small changes to reinforce new pathways
• hope, resistance, and inviting protective parts to the table

Show Guest:

Meet Grace Lawrie, LPC – Therapist, Healing Partner, and Advocate for Neurodivergent & LGBTQIA+ Communities

Grace is a deeply intuitive and compassionate therapist who brings a holistic, embodied approach to healing. Rooted in the belief that the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of transformation, Grace creates a space of safety, curiosity, and collaboration where clients can explore their inner landscapes and reconnect with their inherent wisdom.

With training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gestalt therapy, somatic practices, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), Grace supports clients in aligning their emotional, physical, and psychological selves. Her work is anchored in anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming frameworks—making her a trusted guide for neurodivergent individuals, LGBTQIA+ clients, and those navigating complex trauma, identity exploration, and non-traditional relationships.

As a clinician for queer and neurodivergent folks, Grace brings lived experience, deep empathy, and authenticity into every session. Whether supporting clients through emotional healing, relationship dynamics, or psychedelic integration, she empowers them to move from surviving to thriving—on their own terms.

To contact Grace Lawrie

Email: grace@movingpartspsychotherapy.com

Psychology Today Profile - Grace Lawrie

Support the show

Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward.

Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com

To become a client visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

We explore marriage as a living container rather than a fixed destiny, tracing how history, attachment, and modern expectations shape what partners ask of each other. We share practical tools to repair, reconnect, and choose each other with open eyes.

In this episode we talk about:

• redefining marriage as legal, economic, spiritual, social and psychological container
• modern expectations concentrated on one partner
• attachment patterns shaping conflict and triggers
• moving from blame to humility and repair
• Gottman insights on bids, ratios and repair
• reflective prompts to surface inherited beliefs
• divorce context, cultural shifts and success metrics
• marriage as a holy container for growth
• weekly state of us ritual for repair
• updating love maps through curiosity
• book recommendations for deeper learning

Thank you for listening and subscribing!

Support the show

Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

Follow the show and share it with someone who’s ready for healing, hope, and a more empowered way forward.

Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com