Podcast · Health

Mentally Flexible

by Tom Parkes, LCSW · English · Health

Join psychotherapist Tom Parkes as he has meaningful conversations to help you build mental flexibility. Each episode will explore topics related to psychology, mental health, and creativity. With an open mind and a sense of curiosity these conversations will help you better understand yourself,…

New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 56 min
Latest: 10 Aug 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

10 Aug 2026 · 51 min

Paige Rome, RPsych | CBT-I Meets ACT: A More Flexible Approach to Insomnia

My guest today is Paige Rome, RPsych. Paige is a Registered Psychologist and founder of Common Thread Psychology in Airdrie, Alberta. Paige is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), the leading evidence-based psychological treatment for chronic insomnia, and brings both professional expertise and personal experience with insomnia to her work. Her broader approach to therapy is collaborative, compassionate, and evidence-based, drawing particularly from Acceptance a...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E89 · 14 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

Steven C Hayes, PhD | Reimagining ACT

My guest today is Steven C. Hayes, PhD. Steve is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and one of the most influential figures in modern psychotherapy. He is the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), developer of Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. An Emeritus Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Hayes has authored more than 45 books and over 700 scientific publications, making him one of the most cited psychologists in the wor...
E88 · 8 May 2026 · 52 min

Tamara Hubbard, LCPC | Parenting Through Food Allergy Anxiety with ACT

Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor with more than 20 years of clinical experience. She specializes in helping parents of children with food allergies find the balance between managing anxiety and living fully. An active allied health member of professional allergy and immunology organizations, Tamara is a national speaker and has created several widely used resources within the allergy community. She is also the author of May Contain Anxiety: Managing the ...
2 Apr 2026 · 54 min

Paul Eastwick PhD | Rethinking Attraction: Why Your “Type” Isn’t What You Think

My guest today is Paul Eastwick, a social psychologist and professor at the University of California, Davis, whose research focuses on attraction, romantic relationships, and the gap between what we think we want and what actually unfolds in real life. His latest book, Bonded by Evolution, challenges a lot of common assumptions about dating and compatibility. In this episode, we explore: Why many of our inherited “rules” about attraction—like mate value, having a type, or alpha/beta dyn...
E86 · 5 Mar 2026 · 52 min

Jason Luoma, PhD | ACT & Psychedelic Science

Today’s guest is Jason Luoma, PhD. Jason is a clinical psychologist, researcher, entrepreneur, and psychotherapy trainer based in Portland, Oregon. For over two decades, Jason’s research has focused on shame, stigma, and the interpersonal functions of emotion, with more recent work centered on psychedelic science. He served as Principal Investigator on one of the first MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trials in the Pacific Northwest and has contributed to multiple NIH-funded clinical trials in rol...
E85 · 16 Feb 2026 · 1 hr

Jennifer Bohle, LPC | Letting Values Guide the Creative Process

My guest today is Jennifer Bohle, LPC. Jennifer is a trauma-informed therapist, content creator, and high-achieving creative based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She works with perfectionistic women to build self-trust, confidence, and worthiness while learning to relate to perfectionism as a strength. Through content creation, Jennifer blends humor, education, and real life -- using creativity as a way to make therapy more human and accessible, and to stay connected to the playful, cur...
E84 · 29 Jan 2026 · 57 min

Erin Jones, LCMHC | Perinatal OCD and Anxiety

My guest today is Erin Jones, LCMHC. Erin is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor providing evidence-based treatment for individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related diagnoses. She works at Bull City Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center, where she sees individual clients, manages an intensive Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) program, and runs groups. She is the treasurer for OCD North Carolina, local affiliate of the International OCD Foundation. Erin is pas...
E83 · 22 Dec 2025 · 56 min

Dr. Diana Hill | Focusing Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most

Diana Hill, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, international trainer, and sought-out speaker on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion. Diana is the host of the podcast Wise Effort and author of The Self-Compassion Daily Journal, The ACT Daily Journal, I Know I Should Exercise But…, and her newest book Wise Effort. Diana works with organizations and individuals to develop psychological flexibility so that they can grow fulfilling and impactful lives. Some of the topics...
E82 · 21 Nov 2025 · 56 min

Marisa Mazza, PsyD | Treating OCD and Anxiety with Psychological Flexibility

Dr. Marisa T. Mazza is a clinical psychologist and founder of choicetherapy psychological services, inc. Dr. Mazza is passionate about providing evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindful Self-Compassion, to teens and adults struggling with OCD or Anxiety. She enjoys supporting individuals in learning new ways of interacting with thoughts and feelings. Her approach allows individuals to ...
E81 · 6 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

Laura Knouse, PhD | ADHD: Expanding the Clinical Lens

My guest today is Laura Knouse, PhD. Laura is a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Richmond. Her research and clinical expertise focus on the nature, assessment, and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults.. Her recent research aims to better understand the self-regulation and motivation difficulties of college students with ADHD in order to develop effective interventions. Recent collaborative work with faculty in other disciplines focuses...
E80 · 10 Oct 2025 · 52 min

A Conversation with Ralph De La Rosa - Shared in Loving Memory

Today’s episode features Ralph De La Rosa. Ralph was the author of three books, including Outshining Trauma: A New Vision of Radical Compassion (foreword by Richard Schwartz). He was a psychotherapist in private practice and a longtime meditation teacher known for his radically honest and humorous approach. His work was featured in GQ, CNN, NY Post, Tricycle, Mindful Magazine, and beyond. Perhaps most crucial is that Ralph walked the path of outshining trauma alongside the people he worked ...
E79 · 22 Sep 2025 · 56 min

Rikke Kjelgaard | Vulnerability, Scars, and Bringing ACT Into Life

My guest today is Rikke Kjelgaard. Rikke is a licensed psychologist, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, and author. Rikke is on a mission to help therapists thrive and to be brave and authentic helpers. Trained as a clinical psychologist, she has a 15 year background in the science of human behavior and the practice of behavior change. Rikke is a popular speaker internationally, and she is known to bring both passion and vulnerability to her talks. She transforms the lives of her audience by bringing...
E78 · 3 Sep 2025 · 54 min

Jessica Borushok, PhD | The ACT Therapist

My guest today is Dr. Jessica Borushok, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice specializing in anxiety disorders and health-related concerns, including insomnia, chronic pain, and coping with chronic medical conditions. In addition to clinical work, Dr. Borushok provides acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) training and consultation to other mental health professionals. Dr. Borushok is the co-author of numerous books, including her most recent, The Complete Guide to Acceptanc...
E77 · 25 Jul 2025 · 53 min

Dr. Robyn Walser | Presence and Authenticity in the Therapy Room

My guest today is Dr. Robyn Walser. Robyn is a clinical psychologist, educator, and author of several influential books on ACT for professionals and general readers. She is Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Director of Research at Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services. She is also on the staff of the National Center for PTSD at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Internationally known for her compassionate, client-centered approach, Dr. Walser h...
E76 · 14 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

Noelle McWard Aquino, LCSW | Anxiety Unpacked

My guest today is Noelle McWard Aquino. Noelle is a Chicago-based therapist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders. She is the author of Anxiety Unpacked: Discover Your Type and Recover Your Peace, a bestselling book that helps readers identify and work with the specific patterns driving their anxiety. Her work has been featured in publications including Psychology Today and Psychotherapy Networker. Noelle speaks regularly to both clinical and general audiences, training therap...
E75 · 20 Jun 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

Alissa Jerud, PhD | Emotion-Savvy Parenting

My guest today is Alissa Jerud, PhD. Alissa is a licensed clinical psychologist working in private practice and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In her private practice, Dr. Jerud specializes in exposure-based treatment of anxiety-related disorders and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training. She particularly enjoys helping other parents learn to accept, regulate, and tolerate their emotions, as well as their children's. Alissa is the author of a ne...
E74 · 26 May 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

Holly Yates, LCMHC | Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP)

My guest today is Holly Yates, LCMHC. Holly has been in private practice in North Carolina since 2004. Her specialty areas are working with adults both individually and in groups as well as couples addressing depression, anxiety, mood disorders and life stressors through clinical intervention and skills training. Holly's practice centers on third wave therapies most specifically Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is a founding facilitator ...
E73 · 18 Apr 2025 · 54 min

Dr. Joe Oliver | ACTivate Your Life

My guest today is Dr. Joe Oliver. Joe is a consultant clinical psychologist, author, and the founder of Contextual Consulting, a leading international training provider that has trained over 60,000 practitioners in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He also serves as an associate professor and the programme director for the University College London’s postgraduate programme in CBT for Severe Mental Health Problems. Joe is an active member of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Scie...
E72 · 30 Mar 2025 · 54 min

Pepper Stetler | One Mother’s Reckoning with the IQ Test

My guest today is Pepper Stetler. Pepper is the author of A Measure of Intelligence: One Mother’s Reckoning with the IQ Test, which we discuss in this episode. She is also a professor of art history at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She has written extensively on issues facing people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers, in publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Slate. She lives in Oxford, Ohio. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: Wha...
E71 · 2 Mar 2025 · 1 hr

Dr. Emily Edlynn | Parenting with Nuance, Flexibility, and Compassion

My guest today is Dr. Emily Edlynn. Emily is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in pediatric health psychology who works in private practice with children, teens, and adults. Emily spent almost ten years working in children’s hospitals before pivoting to private practice, which allowed her to start a writing career. Emily’s writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Parents, Scary Mommy, Good Housekeeping, Motherly, Psychology Today, and more. Her first book, Autonomy-Supportive ...
E70 · 9 Feb 2025 · 59 min

Trevor Jones | Bringing the Heart of ACT into Performance

My guest today is Trevor Jones. Trevor is a Mental Performance Coach with the Aware Performance Group and has spent the last nine years studying and training in ACT and its underlying theories. A former professional golfer, he won a national championship and competed on the European Tour. Now, he works with high-performance clients across various domains, including golf, water polo, baseball, and stock market investing. He is currently co-authoring a book with sports psychiatrist Jorge Aguila...
E69 · 12 Jan 2025 · 53 min

Lou Lasprugato, MFT | Yearnings and Vulnerabilities in Relationships

My guest today is Lou Lasprugato, MFT. Lou is an internationally recognized trainer and behavioral health provider. He’s a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with private practices in both California and Virginia (United States), and Peer-Reviewed Trainer in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, for which he also serves as chair of the Training Committee. Lou has taught mindfulness meditation to health care practitioners and facil...
E68 · 29 Dec 2024 · 57 min

Dr. Russ Harris | ACT: Misconceptions & Innovations

My guest today is Dr. Russ Harris. Russ is a world-renowned trainer of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and author of the international best-selling self-help book The Happiness Trap. Since 2005, Russ has run over 700 two-day workshops and provided ACT training for almost 50,000 health professionals. He has authored four ACT textbooks (ACT Made Simple, Trauma Focused ACT, Getting Unstuck in ACT, ACT Questions & Answers), and four ACT-based self-help books (The Happiness Tra...
E67 · 15 Dec 2024 · 51 min

Dr. Ronald Asiimwe | Emotionally Focused Healing in a Cross-Cultural Context

My guest today is Dr. Ronald Asiimwe. Dr. Ron is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota in the College of Education and Human Development. He has research and clinical experience in both the U.S. and in his home country of Uganda. His research integrates multicultural perspectives to understand and explore the mental and relational health needs of African families and communities. Driven by his passion for cross-cultural exchange knowledge of evidence-based interventions, Dr. R...
1 Dec 2024 · 56 min

Donna Jackson Nakazawa | Neuroscience-Based Practices for Trauma

My guest today is Donna Jackson Nakazawa. Donna is an award-winning science journalist and author of eight books exploring the connections between emotions, trauma, and health, offering you new pathways to healing. Her book, Girls on the Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media, was named a best book of 2022 by The Washington Post. Her newest book, The Adverse Childhood Experiences Guided Journal (foreword by Nedra Glover Tawwab), offers...
E65 · 17 Nov 2024 · 57 min

Jennifer Kemp, MPsych | Understanding Neurodiversity & Living Authentically

My guest today is Jennifer Kemp MPsych. Jennifer Kemp is a clinical psychologist based in Adelaide, Australia. Her neurodiversity-affirming approach is founded on her own experience of being late-diagnosed as Autistic and an ADHDer with the experiences of her clients and the latest research. In her therapeutic practice and when training other therapists, Jennifer recognises and accepts the unique differences and strengths of people with different neurotypes. Building on the social and human r...
E64 · 3 Nov 2024 · 55 min

Professor Ross White | How A Flexible Mind Can Help You Thrive

My guest today is Professor Ross White. Ross is award-winning clinical psychologist who specializes in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of adults working in high-performance environments. He is also an expert in global mental health and has conducted research in collaborations with the World Health Organization and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. He is currently Professor of Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast, and is a director of Strive2Thrive, a tra...
E63 · 20 Oct 2024 · 1 hr

Dr. Charles Schaeffer | When Panic Happens

My guest today is Dr. Charles Schaeffer aka Dr Chuck. Dr. Chuck is a clinical psychologist and author of the new book, When Panic Happens: Short Circuit Anxiety & Fear in the Moment. Dr. Chuck completed his training at New York University and is in private practice in New York City. He has over 15 years of experience providing strength-focused, evidence-based therapy to help individuals overcome sleep, mood, and anxiety disorders to thrive at work and at home. He has be...
E62 · 6 Oct 2024 · 58 min

Cory Richards | From Climbing Mountains to Consciously Healing

My guest today is Cory Richards. Cory is an internationally renowned photographer, filmmaker, and author of new memoir, The Color of Everything. He is the first and only American to climb one of the world’s 8000m peaks in winter. His documentation of the climb and aftermath of the experience was made into the award-winning documentary COLD and appeared on the cover of the 125th anniversary issue of National Geographic. Richards is a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Photographer Fel...
E61 · 22 Sep 2024 · 1 hr

Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD | Hunt, Gather, Parent

My guest today is Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD. Michaeleen is a global health correspondent for NPR’s Science Desk and the author of the New York Times bestseller Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans. Michaeleen has a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Berkeley, California, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Caltech. For the past decade, Doucleff has reported on disease outbreaks and children’s health f...

About Mentally Flexible

Mentally Flexible is a English health podcast from Tom Parkes, LCSW. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Tom Parkes, LCSW
Language: English
Category: Health
New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 56 min
Latest episode: 10 Aug 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1539933988
Website: buzzsprout.com/1441156

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