A Therapist and Her Inner Circle
by Aven Barbosa
A Therapist and Her Inner Circle offers real, unscripted conversations at the intersection of therapy, relationships, and being human. Each episode invites you into thoughtful dialogue with people from the host’s inner circle, blending therapeutic insight with lived experience. This podcast is about connection over perfection, curiosity over certainty, and the real work of being in a relationship—with ourselves and others.
Episodes
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Healing People Pleasing & Becoming Your Authentic Self w/ Courtney Buchanan
In this episode of A Therapist and Her Inner Circle, I sit down with Courtney Buchanan for an honest conversation about identity, people-pleasing, authenticity, and the long road to healing. Courtney shares how years of therapy and intentional inner work helped her move from surviving to truly...
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The Wounds We Carry, The Work We Do
In this episode, I sat down with another therapist for a conversation that felt honest, reflective, educational, and deeply human. We talked about our different journeys into the therapy field, what shaped us personally before we ever became clinicians, and how our own life experiences continue…
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Emotions, Needs, Boundaries & Growth: A 10 Episode Podcast Check-In
Ten episodes in and I’m taking a minute to pause, reflect, and check in. In this short solo episode, I share where I am in the podcast journey, what I’m learning, and where I hope to take it next. I also spend some time talking through the real-life overlap of emotions, needs, expectations, and...
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Love Across Cultures: Navigating Race, Identity & Real Couple Dynamics
What happens when two people from different cultures come together—and how does that shape the way they experience the world, and each other? In this episode of A Therapist and Her Inner Circle, I’m joined by Josh and Sarah—musicians, partners, and friends—for a really honest and layered...
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Cousins & Friendship: Motherhood, Identity & Life Transitions
In this episode, I’m joined by my cousin, Halee, someone who has known me through so many seasons of life—for a real and honest conversation about how we grow, change, and stay connected along the way. We talk about what it was like growing up together six years apart, how our bond evolved into a...
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Real Talk with My Sister: Motherhood, Mental Health & New Beginnings
In part two of the sibling mini-series on A Therapist and Her Inner Circle, I’m joined by my middle sister, Amanda, for an honest conversation about life’s unexpected transitions. We talk about what it was like growing up close in age but not always feeling close developmentally, and how our...
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Adult ADHD Diagnosis in Women: A Sister Conversation About Motherhood & Identity
In this episode, I’m sitting down with my youngest sister for an honest, laughter-filled conversation about growing up seven years apart and how our relationship has evolved over time. We talk about who we were as kids, how our personalities showed up early, and what it’s been like reconnecting…
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Rest & Recharge
This week’s episode is a simple check-in. No guest, no deep dive — just a conversation about something I’ve been noticing lately: how often we push through instead of allowing ourselves to rest. I’m sharing the seven types of rest (because rest is more than sleep) and inviting you to consider…
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Same Internship, Different Chairs
We interned together for a year—side by side, learning how to sit with stories we’d never heard before, practicing sand tray on each other, and quietly wondering if we were actually cut out for this work. Now, we work with different populations—adolescents on one side, adults and couples on the...
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Hot Flashes, Hormones, and the Season Nobody Prepared Us For
Perimenopause affects far more than menstrual cycles—it has a profound impact on mental health, emotional regulation, and overall well-being, especially for women in their late 30s and 40s. In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked connection between perimenopause and mental health,...
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Barbie Has Feelings Too
In this episode of A Therapist and Her Inner Circle, I sit down with my longtime hairstylist of over eight years for a real, heartfelt conversation about mental health, vulnerability, and the unexpected healing that happens outside the therapy room. We explore why the salon chair often becomes a...
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The Space Between Mind and Body
In this episode of A Therapist and Her Inner Circle, we explore the space between mind and body—where stress, safety, and healing often unfold. I’m joined by my friend and event partner, a pelvic floor physical therapist, for a grounded conversation about how the nervous system shapes both...
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The First Inner Circle
Inside the Inner Circle: My Husband In the first real episode of A Therapist and Her Inner Circle, I sit down with the person who’s been closest to me through it all—my husband. We talk about who we were before therapy language, how we’ve grown side by side, and what it’s really like loving each...
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Welcome to the Inner Circle
This first episode is less of a polished introduction and more of a “pull up a chair and let’s see where this goes.” I talk about why I started this podcast, what the inner circle actually means, and how I plan to figure things out as I go—bumps, missteps, and hopefully minimal bruising included....
About this show
A Therapist and Her Inner Circle offers real, unscripted conversations at the intersection of therapy, relationships, and being human. Each episode invites you into thoughtful dialogue with people from the host’s inner circle, blending therapeutic insight with lived experience. This podcast is about connection over perfection, curiosity over certainty, and the real work of being in a relationship—with ourselves and others.
Hosted by
Aven Barbosa