Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Breaking Down
Health & FitnessMental HealthEducationSelf-ImprovementSociety & CultureRelationshipsExplicit

Breaking Down

Jeff Guenther, LPC & Dr. Lindsey Lerner

Curious about what actually happens behind closed therapy doors? Join Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner as they explore different therapy modalities with expert guests, featuring live demonstration sessions and honest clinical breakdowns.

Play
Open in
  • 5 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 52 min
  • English

Episodes 5

NewestOldestLongest
All5Unplayed5In progress0Played0
  • S1 · E5
    Thursday · 42 min

    Polyamory & Non-Monogamy: Jealousy, Dating Apps, and Opening Up

    What happens when your brain is excited to explore non-monogamy, but your nervous system goes into a full panic the second your partner opens a dating app? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner sit down with licensed clinical social worker, polyamory therapist, and relationship coach Heidi Savell to talk about consensual non-monogamy, jealousy, and modern relationships. First, Heidi explains how stepping away from traditional relationship scripts requires a total mindset shift, why feeling jealous does not mean you are bad at polyamory, and how couples can get clear on their deeper "why" before opening up. Next, Jeff and Lindsey step into a playful mock couples session as a newly opened pair running into early friction. Jeff struggles with dating app mismatches, fear of being replaced, and bedtime phone scrolling, while Lindsey feels policed and wants to share her excitement. Heidi steps in to help them turn controlling rules (like "no falling in love") into healthy, vulnerable agreements that protect their bond without trapping their partner. Finally, Heidi, Jeff, and Lindsey debrief the session, breaking down the difference between quality intentional time and just sitting in the same room, why non-monogamy acts like a giant spotlight on existing relationship cracks, and how to talk through uncomfortable feelings without demanding quick fixes. Follow Heidi on Instagram and learn more about here services. Learn more about Dr. Lindsey Lerner Follow Jeff on Tiktok and Instagram

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E4
    September 10 · 1 hr 2 min

    Somatic Experiencing (SE): Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Body

    Why does our body stay locked in stress, tension, and fight-or-flight long after a difficult situation is completely over? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner welcome somatic coach and certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Woodrós Wolford to explore the body-based approach developed by Peter Levine. First, Woodrós breaks down how modern living turns us into "zoo animals" who cannot run, shake, or yell to release survival stress. They explain the core concepts of Somatic Experiencing in simple terms: titration (taking tiny, manageable sips of distress), pendulation (swinging between uncomfortable tension and safe comfort), and why you do not have to retell your trauma story to heal your nervous system. Then, Woodrós guides Jeff through a live, grounding somatic session. Starting with an orienting exercise focused on a beloved Nada Surf concert poster, Jeff traces the physical difference between a painful breakup memory and the empowering sensation of buying the poster for himself, learning to let his chest tension and musical energy coexist. Finally, the group breaks down the physical signs that a nervous system is settling (like deep sighs and digestive releases), the relief of doing therapy without a rigid agenda, and how body awareness brings your vitality back. Learn more about Woodrós Wolford Learn more about Dr. Lindsey Lerner Follow Jeff on Tiktok and Instagram

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E3
    September 3 · 51 min

    Exposure Therapy (ERP): Taming the "Nasty Neighbor" and Panic

    What if the very things you do to calm your anxiety are the exact habits keeping you trapped in fear? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner sit down with clinical psychologist and OCD specialist Dr. Elyse Conterno to unpack the gold standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). First, Elyse explains why OCD is not just about clean hands or organized desks. She dives into mental rituals, relationship anxiety, reassurance seeking, and why thoughts are just thoughts, even when they come with intense dread. She also shares how she pairs ERP with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people live by their values instead of their fears. Next, Elyse leads Lindsey through a live, in-room exposure session targeting food contamination and the fear of accidentally losing control. Lindsey eats a snack that feels contaminated, while Elyse helps her resist all her usual safety habits (like throat-checking, body scanning, and drinking water), allowing Lindsey's nervous system to calm down naturally in under five minutes. Finally, the group breaks down how the exposure worked, why white-knuckling through fear backfires, and how anyone can learn to let anxiety ride in the back seat without letting it drive the car. Learn more about Dr. Elyse Conterno Learn more about Dr. Lindsey Lerner Follow Jeff on Tiktok and Instagram

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E2
    August 27 · 50 min

    Psychedelic Integration: Grounding Ego Death and Life After the Trip

    What happens when you touch pure universal love, dissolve your ego, and experience something completely life-changing, but then have to go home the next morning and do your laundry? In this episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner welcome naturopathic physician, ketamine provider, and psilocybin facilitator Dr. Ali Bigelow, ND to explore the world of psychedelic-assisted therapy and the essential process of integration. First, Ali breaks down how psychedelics quiet our brain's default mode network (the part of our brain running our automatic stories and mental ruts), why one big trip alone will not fix your life, and how to avoid the trap of spiritual bypassing. Next, Ali guides Lindsey through a live, deeply personal integration session following a recent ketamine journey. Lindsey shares what it felt like to let go of her everyday identity, feel surrounded by ancestral motherly love, and work through past birthday grief, while Ali helps her turn those wild, expansive memories into everyday grounding habits. Finally, Jeff, Lindsey, and Ali debrief the session, discussing how facilitators use colors and imagery to anchor memories, why safe support matters so much, and how to stay grounded when talking about the 12th dimension. Learn more about Dr. Bigelow Learn more about Synaptic Institute Learn more about Dr. Lindsey Lerner Follow Jeff on Tiktok and Instagram

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E1
    August 16 · 56 min

    Psychoanalysis: On the Couch with TherapyJeff and Family Ghosts

    What drives us to compulsively search for criticism, obsess over hate comments, and reopen old wounds? In our premiere episode of Breaking Down, hosts Jeff Guenther, LPC and Dr. Lindsey Lerner sit down with psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Dr. Cynthia Ellis Gray to demystify what modern psychoanalysis actually looks like (and why it is way more than just Sigmund Freud and an antique couch). First, Cynthia breaks down the core ideas behind psychoanalysis in plain English: why people still lie on couches 4 days a week, how our unconscious habits run the show, and how we constantly project our childhood relationships onto friends, coworkers, and internet strangers. Then, Jeff jumps into the client chair for a very raw, real-time session. Coming off a viral video with 20 million views and a flood of terrifying death threats, Jeff unpacks his complicated relationship with online fame, his self-doubt, and the painful realization that his online battles are just a stand-in for his estranged family. Finally, the group breaks down the whole session, exploring why Jeff felt the urge to be a "good client," how therapists manage their own emotional reactions, and why we repeat the patterns that hurt us the most.

    • Chapters
Showing 1–5 of 5 episodes