Risso Counseling

After a decade and a half at Apple and Facebook, my guest left her career in high tech to find "Down to There". Married for nearly 20 years, she had always struggled with sex and intimacy in her relationship. After undergoing a transformational experience through coaching and therapy, she decided to share her story in order to inspire others to seek out improved intimacy and connection in their own relationships. Through her writing, coaching and workshops, Pam Costa hope to cultivate a safe space where cultural beliefs, social norms and our own habits around sex and relationships can be challenged. And through this exploration and beginner’s curiosity, she hopes to encourage individuals and couples of all configurations to openly, honestly and wholeheartedly live the erotic and intimate lives they want to live. Pam Costa is a Somatica® sex and relationship coach and Conscious Sexual Self group guide. Her ongoing studies include training with San Francisco Sex Information (SFSI), American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and JFK University's holistic counseling program.

Many of us feel stressed out, disconnected, and overwhelmed in our lives. We worry that we are not good enough, we don’t have enough, that we will never get enough or be enough. This often leads to the experience of shame. In this podcast, Holly LaBarbera shares with Melissa Risso how she helps people learn to develop shame resilience. We will explore how she teaches people about cultivating authenticity, self-compassion, resilience, gratitude, joy, intuition, faith, creativity, play, calm, rest and laughter. We will discuss courage in relationships and day-to-day life. We will talk about those feelings of “never enough,” about striving for perfection. Holly will also talk about the myth that vulnerability is weakness and how, in fact, it is our best measure of courage and the birthplace of love, connection, and belonging. Holly is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#84042) with a private practice in Fremont. She has experience working with individual adults, adolescents, children, parents, families and groups. She has helped her clients learn to manage anxiety and depression, cope with grief and trauma, develop social skills and problem-solving skills, explore sexual identity issues, address academic problems and relationship issues, and build self-esteem. She has helped couples improve communication and develop deeper connections with each other. She received her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. She has received training from Brené Brown and is a Daring Way Facilitator Candidate. She has also received training from the Gottman Institute for couples counseling. Join the discussion by visiting www.RissoCounseling.com. 18 & over due to language content. PODCAST DISCLAIMER: While every effort will be made to broadcast correct information, mental and sexual health are a constantly changing science and art. Therapists often differ in their treatment techniques. The views expressed on this podcast are solely those of the individual giving them, and suggestions on how to workup common mental and sexual health complaints are based on the best available evidence. Comments, suggestions, or correction of errors are welcomed. No money from drug or device companies were used to support this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, including, but not limited to, patients that you are treating. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors on the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Melissa Risso, Risso Counseling, Inc., any guests or contributors to the podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Risso Counseling, Inc. be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast. ADDITIONAL LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including, but not limited to, establishing “standard of care,” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.

Life can be pretty stressful at times. With all that we have going on, we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves through the midst of what can often feel like chaos in our lives. In this podcast, Melissa Risso interviews Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Bindu Khurana, on stress management. Useful tips and tricks are suggested to help you or someone you know manage stress in a healthy manner and begin to live a fulfilling life! Bindu is a Licensed and Marriage Family therapist whose career has worked with individuals of every age. She joined this field to help others work towards the life they want to live. She aims to make conversations about mental health topics easy to understand and relatable to any audience. Bindu has been a guest on several news programs and enjoys conversations towards wellness. To learn more, please visit: www.RissoCounseling.com Twitter: @MelissaRisso Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissarisso

Internet addiction is described as an impulse control disorder that is on the rise today. Many people turn towards electronics where professionals are beginning to see an increase in porn addiction, social skills & parenting styles beginning to evolve in new ways to adapt to the internet use and more! Tune in to listen to Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Melissa Risso, interview Ann Langley, a leading therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area with extensive knowledge in the growing field of internet addiction. Join the discussion by visiting www.RissoCounseling.com. PODCAST DISCLAIMER: While every effort will be made to broadcast correct information, mental and sexual health are a constantly changing science and art. Therapists often differ in their treatment techniques. The views expressed on this podcast are solely those of the individual giving them, and suggestions on how to workup common mental and sexual health complaints are based on the best available evidence. Comments, suggestions, or correction of errors are welcomed. No money from drug or device companies were used to support this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, including, but not limited to, patients that you are treating. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors on the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Melissa Risso, Risso Counseling, Inc., any guests or contributors to the podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Risso Counseling, Inc. be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast. ADDITIONAL LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including, but not limited to, establishing “standard of care,” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.

Infidelity is one of the most life-altering events a person can ever experience. Not only a person's faith and trust in his or her partner is shattered, but often a person feels as though his or her entire life's foundation has been greatly altered. People have described their reactions as ranging from total despair, unspeakable rage to an inability to function at all. But people can survive this trauma, regardless of whether they stay married or get divorced. The realization that "I'm not alone – I can do this!" can be very empowering for a person in his or her journey toward healing and strength. Melissa's show guest, Infidelity Counseling Network, helps women heal from the pain of infidelity through free, confidential, one-to-one telephone peer counseling. Their trained volunteer peer counselors are women who have themselves survived infidelity, and they support each client in her personal recovery from this trauma whether her relationship ends or mends. Learn more at www.InfidelityCounselingNetwork.org. PODCAST DISCLAIMER: While every effort will be made to broadcast correct information, mental and sexual health are a constantly changing science and art. Therapists often differ in their treatment techniques. The views expressed on this podcast are solely those of the individual giving them, and suggestions on how to workup common mental and sexual health complaints are based on the best available evidence. Comments, suggestions, or correction of errors are welcomed. No money from drug or device companies were used to support this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, including, but not limited to, patients that you are treating. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors on the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Melissa Risso, Risso Counseling, Inc., any guests or contributors to the podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Risso Counseling, Inc. be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast. ADDITIONAL LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including, but not limited to, establishing “standard of care,” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.