A Little Help For Our Friends

How can experiences from childhood continue to shape our relationships decades later? And can trauma responses actually be changed?
In this episode, Dr. Kibby McMahon sits down with psychotherapist and executive coach Jessica Connell, LCSW, to explore developmental trauma, EMDR, and the ways our early experiences can influence how we connect with others.
Jessica explains what developmental trauma can look like, from major experiences of abuse or instability to moments of shame, rejection, or emotional disconnection that stay with us over time. They discuss how these experiences can show up later as difficulty trusting, fear of conflict, emotional reactivity, withdrawal, or feeling unsafe even in otherwise healthy relationships.
They also take a closer look at EMDR: what happens during a session, how bilateral stimulation is used, and how trauma-focused work can help people respond differently to triggers in the present.
In this episode:
• What developmental trauma actually means
• How childhood experiences shape adult relationships
• Why certain situations can trigger surprisingly intense reactions
• The “tiger and turtle” dynamic in relationships
• What it means to feel emotionally safe with another person
• How EMDR works and what a session can look like
• Why healing doesn’t mean never getting triggered again
• How understanding our patterns can help us communicate differently
Jessica Connell is a psychotherapist, executive coach, and owner of Confident Mind Psychotherapy and Coaching in New York City.
If you’ve ever wondered why certain relationship dynamics affect you so deeply, or how experiences from your past might still be influencing your reactions today, this conversation offers a compassionate look at where those patterns come from and how they can begin to change.

When someone you love gets sober, it can feel like everything should finally be okay. But addiction recovery isn’t an on/off switch, and for loved ones, this stage can bring its own fear, uncertainty, and challenges.
In this episode, Dr. Kibby McMahon shares six research-backed ways you can support someone in addiction recovery while also protecting your own well-being.
We cover:
• How to make treatment and recovery easier to access
• Why reinforcing healthy recovery behaviors matters
• How to communicate without escalating shame or conflict
• How to prepare for the possibility of an overdose
• Why your own mental health and safety matter too
• How to recognize underlying mental health and relationship issues during recovery
Dr. Kibby also shares her own experience supporting her mother through alcoholism, relapse, and long-term sobriety, and why recovery required healing not only for her mother, but for their relationship too.
We’re also excited to share that KulaMind, in partnership with researchers at Brown University, is studying KulaMind Recovery, a program specifically designed to support loved ones of people recovering from substance use disorders.
If you or someone you love is in addiction recovery and you’re interested in participating, check the link in the show notes to learn more.
Learn more about KulaMind and get support for yourself and your loved one.

Link for study: https://studies.buildclinical.com/bcfs002065-rih-ramsey-131/

#AddictionRecovery #SubstanceUseRecovery #FamilySupport #MentalHealth #AddictionSupport #Recovery

In the season 6 finale of A Little Help for Our Friends, Dr. Kibby McMahon looks back on a year of major change, both personally and professionally, and shares the three biggest lessons she’s taking with her into the next chapter.
Kibby talks about what it means to let go of roles and relationship patterns that no longer fit, why real growth often comes from consistency and the right support, and what she’s learned from working with families affected by mental illness and addiction.
She also reflects on stepping into a new role after a major change to the podcast, building KulaMind, growing an online community from scratch, and learning to become more comfortable being seen and leading.
Most importantly, this episode explores something that has become increasingly clear through this work: mental illness is rarely a one-person problem. It affects partners, parents, children, caregivers, and entire family systems.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in an old version of yourself, struggled to support someone you love, or wondered how to keep going when change feels uncomfortable, this episode is for you.
A Little Help for Our Friends will be back for Season 7 after a short break.

Most people think therapy means talking about your past for years. But what if that's not always true?
In this episode, Dr. Kibby is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Chandler Chang, founder of Therapy Lab, to explore how mental health treatment is changing. They discuss why many people expect therapy to last indefinitely, how targeted, evidence-based treatments can often help much more quickly, and why matching the right treatment to the right problem matters.
Dr. Chandler explains Therapy Lab's unique approach of creating focused treatment plans for specific challenges like panic attacks, insomnia, breakups, self-esteem, and anxiety. Together, they discuss the difference between long-term supportive therapy and goal-oriented treatment, why exposure therapy is so effective for anxiety disorders, and how setting clear expectations can improve outcomes.
They also dive into the future of mental health, including AI, personalized treatment, and whether technology will replace therapists or simply make therapy more effective. Along the way, they explore what makes human connection so valuable, where AI can genuinely help, and where it may unintentionally make things worse.
Whether you've been curious about therapy, wondered if it has to take years, or are interested in where mental health care is headed, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at what the future could look like.

Resources:
Check out Therapy Lab
Follow Dr. Chandler Chang on IG
If you need help dealing with a loved one with mental illness or addiction, apply to work with Dr. Kibby in KulaMind

This episode breaks down practical strategies for getting more out of therapy and the common mistakes that can quietly get in the way of real progress.

Have you ever left a therapy session feeling better for an hour, only to find yourself stuck in the exact same patterns a week later? Or wondered why someone can spend years in therapy without seeming to change?

In this episode, Dr. Kibby explores the habits that often prevent therapy from being effective. She talks about emotional avoidance, people pleasing, staying in "problem talk" instead of focusing on change, and why honesty with your therapist matters more than trying to be the "perfect" client. She also explains how to choose the right therapist, what questions to ask before starting treatment, and why the work that happens between sessions is just as important as what happens during them.

Whether you're in therapy yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers practical ways to make treatment more meaningful and increase the chances that it leads to lasting change.

Resources:
- Chapman, A. L., & Rosenthal, M. Z. (2016). Managing therapy-interfering behavior: Strategies from dialectical behavior therapy. American Psychological Association.