Once Upon a Session

Some characters die in battle.Others become the reason people keep fighting.In this Memorial Day episode of Once Upon a Session, we explore the psychology of sacrifice, loyalty, and what it means to be remembered through two fallen warriors: Gavriel from Thrones of Glass and Liam from Fourth Wing.Together, we unpack the emotional weight carried by the protectors, the ones who love quietly, fight fiercely, and often give everything before they ever ask for anything in return.Because grief doesn’t just come from losing someone.Sometimes it comes from finally realizing how much they carried for everyone else.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for reflection and conversation, not a substitute for therapy.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Some friendships feel bigger than the story itself.In this episode of Once Upon a Session, we explore the psychology behind deep friendship, loyalty, and the people who become part of our identity through connection.From Ron and Harry in Harry Potter to the Padavano sisters in Hello Beautiful, we unpack what makes certain relationships feel unbreakable—and what happens when love, jealousy, grief, and growing up begin to complicate those bonds.Because sometimes the relationships that shape us most aren’t romantic at all.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for reflection and conversation, not a substitute for therapy.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Why do maternal relationships shape us so deeply—and why are they so hard to untangle?In this episode of Once Upon a Session, we break down the psychology behind “mommy issues”—the ways early maternal dynamics influence identity, attachment, and the relationships we find ourselves in later.From Little Fires Everywhere to The Plated Prisoner, we explore how love can blur into control, how protection can impact autonomy, and why these early bonds leave such a lasting imprint.Because sometimes the way we were loved… becomes the blueprint for everything that follows.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for reflection and conversation, not a substitute for therapy.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

In this special episode of Once Upon a Session, Vanessa and Nareesa break down the emotional and psychological layers behind some of the most iconic characters in Star Wars. From complicated parent-child dynamics to identity, loss, and the pull between light and dark, nothing is off-limits.Because let’s be honest… this isn’t just a space opera.It’s trauma, attachment, and generational patterns in a cloak. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just here for the chaos, this episode brings clinical insight, relatable moments, and just enough banter to keep things grounded.Because even in a galaxy far, far away…the patterns still follow.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for reflection and conversation, not a substitute for therapy.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Why do side characters so often become the ones we love most?This week on Once Upon a Session, Vanessa and Nareesa explore the psychology behind fan-favorite supporting characters and why the people in the background sometimes leave the biggest impact.Featuring Ruhn Danaan (Crescent City) and Manon Blackbeak (Throne of Glass), we unpack loyalty, hidden depth, resilience, identity, and the emotional complexity that makes certain characters impossible to ignore.From the quiet protector to the underestimated powerhouse, this episode looks at why side characters often feel more relatable, more layered, and sometimes more unforgettable than the main character.Because sometimes the best character was never the lead.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for reflection and conversation, not a substitute for therapy.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Some love stories are easy to root for. Others… make you pause.In this episode of Once Upon a Session, Vanessa and Nareesa explore the psychology behind forbidden love — the pull toward relationships that exist between desire and consequence.Why do we want what we can’t have? And when does love cross the line from exciting to harmful?Tune in as we break down the emotional, psychological, and relational dynamics behind the love stories we can’t look away from.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but we’re not your therapists. Everything shared here is for conversation, reflection, and entertainment.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Why do plot twists hit so hard—and why do we kind of love them?In this episode of Once Upon a Session, we break down the psychology behind emotional whiplash—those shocking, unpredictable moments in books and relationships that leave you reeling.From The Housemaid to The Perfect Marriage, we explore how twists create emotional intensity, why unpredictability can feel addictive, and what it says about how we connect, attach, and stay invested.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for reflection and conversation, not a substitute for therapy.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Some characters are easy to love.Nesta Archeron and Jaime Lannister aren’t.In this episode, we unpack what it really means when someone is labeled “hard to love”—and how trauma, shame, identity, and self-protection can push people away from the very connection they need most.Because sometimes… the people who seem the hardest to love are the ones hurting the most.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for reflection and conversation, not a substitute for therapy.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Closure… we talk about it like it’s something we’re owed. Like if we just get the right conversation, the right apology, the right ending everything will finally make sense.But what if closure isn’t something we receive… What if it’s something we create?In this episode, we explore the psychology behind our need for closure through the lens of storytelling and complex characters. We unpack why we chase resolution, how unresolved experiences stay with us, and what it actually looks like to move forward when the ending we wanted never comes.Because sometimes the real shift isn’t getting answers. It’s learning how to live without them.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but we’re not your therapists. Everything shared here is for conversation, reflection, and entertainment.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

In this episode of Once Upon a Session, Vanessa and Nareesa explore the psychology behind sibling relationships in fantasy and fiction. From fierce loyalty to painful rivalry, siblings often shape the emotional core of the stories we love. Through a therapeutic lens, the hosts unpack how sibling bonds influence identity, trauma, protection, and growth—and why these relationships resonate so deeply with readers.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but we’re not your therapists. Everything shared here is for conversation, reflection, and entertainment.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Welcome back to Once Upon a Session — where stories meet healing.Let’s be honest: fantasy men have been setting the bar way too high… or maybe exactly where it should be.In this session, Vanessa and Nareesa unpack why we fall for fictional archetypes — and what those crushes actually reveal about our real-world desires and emotional needs.We’re talking attraction, projection, and the psychology behind our favorite literary love interests. Consider this a guided conversation on attachment styles, fantasy fulfillment, and why we deserve soft love off the page, too.Because it’s not that our standards are unrealistic — it’s that real men could stand to read more fiction.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but we’re not your therapists. Everything shared here is for conversation, reflection, and entertainment.✨ Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Welcome back to Once Upon a Session — where stories meet healing.You know that moment when someone’s energy starts to feel… expensive? That’s the emotional cover charge.In this episode, Vanessa and Nareesa unpack what it means to protect your peace without guilt, how to recognize when emotional labor becomes transactional, and why boundaries aren’t walls — they’re invitations for healthy access.From therapy rooms to friendships to fantasy worlds, we explore self-worth, emotional reciprocity, and the art of saying, “You can’t afford admission right now” — with clarity, compassion, and a little humor.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for conversation, reflection, and inspiration.Follow Once Upon a Session for new exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Welcome back to Once Upon a Session — where stories meet healing.Some villains just needed a session — or ten.In this episode, Nareesa and Vanessa unpack the psychology of literary and fantasy antagonists: the misunderstood, the morally gray, and the ones who were one good therapist away from redemption.From trauma responses to origin stories, we explore what makes a “villain,” why context matters, and how storytelling shapes who gets labeled the bad guy.Insightful, funny, and just a little unhinged — because even villains deserve reflection.Disclaimer: We're licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for education, reflection, and inspiration.Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Welcome back to Once Upon a Session — where stories meet healing.We’re pulling back the curtain on life inside a psych ward — not the movie version, but the human one.Vanessa and Nareesa talk about the realities of inpatient care, the stigma around psychiatric treatment, and how fiction gets mental health right (and wrong).Disclaimer: We're licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for education, reflection, and inspiration.

Welcome to Once Upon a Session.In our intake episode, we’re introducing ourselves—two therapists who love a good book, a messy main character, and meaningful conversations about healing, burnout, boundaries, and growth.This episode is part origin story, part vibe check, and a little oversharing (because of course).Settle in—this is where the story begins.Disclaimer: We’re licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for education, reflection, and inspiration.