Shows / Outside The Therapy Room
Outside The Therapy Room
Ivonne Hammoud is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and owner of a therapy practice in Waterloo, Ontario. But out of the office, she's a mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend. Join Ivonne as she sits with a special guest to discuss every day things that impact our mental health! Conversations about everything from mental health and relationships, to media and current events, as well as personal experiences and reflections, all in the hopes of normalizing our humanness and helping you see that…
Episodes
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 76 - Avengers Assemble... In Therapy? Part 1 with Destinee Hiscock
In Part 1 of our Marvel mental health deep dive, we're bringing the Avengers into the therapy room to talk about the very human struggles hiding behind the…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 75 - Little Bodies, Big Emotions: Why Kids Melt Down Over the “Small” Things with Mais Haj-Ayoub
Why does a missing snack, the wrong-coloured cup, or being told “no” sometimes turn into a full-blown meltdown? In this episode of Outside The Therapy Room, I…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 74 - Porn, Shame & the Cycle We Get Stuck In with Josh Dale
Porn is often talked about as a behaviour — but what if, for some people, it’s actually being used as a way to cope? This week, I sit down with therapist Josh…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 73 - Money & Mental Health with Kathleen Beech
Money can affect our stress levels, relationships, sense of security, self-worth, and even how we think about the future. And yet, we don't always talk about…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Minisode - Being Bad At New Things: DWTS Edition
In this minisode, I’m talking about the vulnerability that comes with learning something new—and how quickly frustration, disappointment, comparison, and…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 72: The Emotional Side of Buying & Selling a Home with Cheryl Goetz
Buying or selling a home can be exciting, stressful, overwhelming, emotional… sometimes all at the same time. In this episode, Real Estate Agent Cheryl joins…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 71: ADHD & Relationships with Molly Handsaeme
What does ADHD look like in women—and how can it shape the way we experience ourselves and our relationships? In this episode, I sit down with ADHD therapist…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 70: Period Pain & Your Pelvic Floor with Laura Holland
Welcome back! We are on Season 3, and starting off our season with a conversation on Period Pain. Painful periods are often treated as something we simply have…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 69 - Summer Bodies, Body Image & Self-Worth with Amrit Babbra
As summer approaches, so does the pressure to have the “perfect summer body.” In this season finale, we’re having an honest conversation about body image, diet…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 68 - Understanding Your Relationship Patterns with Jordan Hunsberger
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “why do I keep ending up in the same kind of relationship?”—this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 67 - The Small Signs You’re Actually Healing (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It) with Sarah
Healing doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. In this episode, I sit down with Sarah to talk about the small, often overlooked signs that you’re…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 66 - The Human Side of Your Therapist with Ashley Mariani
In this episode, we’re having an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about the realities of this work — beyond what we were taught in grad school. From the…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 65: Triggers, Glimmers and Our Nervous System with Bethany Hanman
Triggers are something many of us have heard about — moments when our nervous system reacts strongly to something in our environment. But what about the…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 64 - The Mental Health Power of Play with Claudia Gracias
Play isn’t just something children do for fun — it’s actually a critical part of emotional development, communication, and mental health. In this episode…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 63 - The Elder Daughter Effect with Aleta Wilson
In many families, the eldest daughter quietly carries an invisible role — helper, mediator, caregiver, and emotional support system. Over time, this…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 62 - When Desire Doesn’t Match: Sex, Shame, and Relationship Stress with Lindsay Kenna
Sexual desire discrepancies are one of the most common — and least talked about — challenges in relationships. When one partner wants sex more often than the…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 61 - Outgrowing Yourself: How Women Navigate Identity, Change, and Self-Discovery with Lacey Heels
In this episode, I sit down with Lacey, a writer and guide in women’s self-discovery, to explore the powerful process of outgrowing old versions of ourselves…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 60 - Parenting with ADHD: The Reality No One Talks About with Wendy Gage
Motherhood comes with an invisible mental load — planning, regulating emotions, staying organized, and constantly responding to others’ needs. For mothers with…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 59 - Infidelity Part 2: Recovery After Infidelity — Do I Stay or Do I Go? With Ashley Mariani
Content note: This episode discusses infidelity and relational trauma. Please listen at your own pace. After infidelity, many people find themselves asking an…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 58 - The Pelvic Floor & Mental Health: What Your Body Might Be Holding With Laura Holland
The pelvic floor plays a critical role in bladder and bowel control, sexual function, stability, and core strength — but it also has a profound connection to…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Minisode - Why February Feels So Heavy (And What Your Body Needs)
If you’ve been feeling more tired, unmotivated, or emotionally heavy lately — especially during the winter months — you’re not alone. In this solo episode, we…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 57: The Emotional Side of Trying to Conceive with Olivia Carvalho
Infertility is often treated as a medical issue — but for those living it, the emotional and mental toll can be just as heavy. In this episode, we’re joined by…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 56: When “I’m Fine” Isn’t Fine - Men’s Mental Health with John Shearer
Men are often taught to push through, stay strong, and keep their emotions to themselves—but that silence comes at a cost. In this episode, we’re joined by…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 55: Infidelity Part 1 - Why do people cheat? with Ashley Mariani
Content note: This episode discusses infidelity and relational betrayal. Please listen with care. Infidelity is one of the most painful and misunderstood…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 54 - When Friendships Feel Hard: Navigating Anxiety and Goodbyes with Bethany Hanman
Friendships can bring joy, support, and meaning—but they can also create anxiety, doubt, and emotional stress. In this episode, Bethany joins us and helps us…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 53 - More Than a Game: The Power of Sports Fanbases with Christopher Mertz
Sports have a unique power to bring people together — packed arenas, shared chants, lifelong traditions, and the electric feeling of belonging to something…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 52 - Caregiving Through the Holidays: Managing Grief & Burnout with Stephanie Muskat
The holidays are often painted as a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for caregivers, this season can bring an entirely different emotional…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 51 - Holiday Overwhelm: Surviving Family, Expectations & Parenthood with Christina Page
The holidays promise joy, connection, and magical memories — but for many parents, they also bring a perfect storm of pressure, expectations, and emotional…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 50 - Why True Crime Captivates Us... and How It Affects Us with Bethany Hanman
***DISCLAIMER: This episode focuses on True Crime, we mention real murders, trials and other subjects that may be sensitive to some listeners.*** Why are we so…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 49 - Tarot as a Mirror: Exploring Self-Reflection with Jenni Evans
In this episode, I sit down with Jenni for a grounded and insightful conversation about tarot—beyond predictions and mystique, and into its power as a tool for…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 48 - New Mom Life: The Real, The Raw, The Unexpected with Destinee Hiscock
Destinee returns to the podcast! Live from maternity leave, she opens up about her experience as a new mom — the expectations, challenges, and surprises that…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 47 - Introduction to Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours with Julie Mason
In this episode, we sit down with Julie Mason, a passionate advocate and lived-experience expert, to explore Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs) —…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 46 - The Power of Peer Support in Postpartum with Lisette Weber
In this episode, I sits down with postpartum doula Lisette to talk about the power of peer support during the postpartum journey. Together we explore why…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 45 - Unmasking The Layers: Understanding Masking in The Neurodivergent Community with Arsh Reddick
In this episode, we sit down with Arsh to explore the complex and often misunderstood experience of masking within the neurodivergent community. Together, we…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 44 - Little Minds, Big Calm: How Meditation Supports Children’s Mental Health with Shefali Bhalla
When we think of meditation, we often picture adults sitting in silence — but children can benefit from mindfulness just as deeply, if not more. In this…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 43 - The Bounce Back Myth: Motherhood, Bodies & Mental Health with Rhonda Chamberlain
In this insightful episode, we’re joined by Rhonda Chamberlain, registered physiotherapist and pelvic health specialist, to unpack the overwhelming pressure…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 42 - Rewiring Trauma: How EMDR Changes Lives with Sarah Moore
What if moving your eyes back and forth could help heal old wounds? In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Moore, a certified EMDR therapist, to break down Eye…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 41 - Romantasy & the Alpha Appeal: The Popularity of Spicy Fantasy Books with Ashley Mariani
Why are so many of us drawn to “spicy” romance novels with powerful, dominant male leads—and what does that do to our expectations of our partners? In this…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 40 - Beyond the Binary: Exploring Gender & Sexuality with Dakota Grass
What’s the difference between gender identity and sexual identity — and how do we figure it all out? In this episode, Dakota joins us for an open, honest, and…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 39: Not Just Mood Swings: Breaking Down PMS and PMDD with Olivia Carvalho
This week we’re diving into a topic that so many experience but few openly talk about—PMS, mental health, and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). I’m…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 38 - Writing Through It: How Journaling and Poetry Heal with Lacey Heels
In this inspiring episode, I fangirl over the one and only Lacey Heels, author, poet and wonderful human, to talk about her brand-new book, The Rebirth…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 37 - Backpacks, Big Feelings & Calm Tricks
Season 2 of Outside The Therapy Room kicks off with one of the biggest transitions of the year—back to school. In this episode, I’m sharing how to spot the…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 36 - The Cost of Being "The Strong One"
In this final episode of Season 1, Ivonne opens up about the hidden toll of always being "the strong one." As a therapist, business owner, and caretaker…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 35 - Rest? Never Heard of Her: Why it can be Hard to Rest with Bethany
In this episode, we explore the surprising challenges many of us face when it comes to simply resting. From the guilt that creeps in when we slow down to the…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 34 - Healing the Nice Girl Within with Aleta Wilson
This week we are joined by Aleta Wilson! She is a registered social worker and has an amazing new program called Nice Girls Club starting May 14th. In this…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 33 - Mind Unlocked: Exploring Psychedelic Assisted Therapy with Melissa Pyne
Melissa Pyne is BACK, and ready to take a deep dive into the world of psychedelic-assisted therapy. In this episode, we're breaking down what psychedelic…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 32 - The Mental Side of Injury Recovery with Chris Michael
Sudden injuries can be painful, scary and a tough mental battle. Chris Michael is an Registered Massage Therapist, and he joins the podcast to share his story…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 31 - Anti-Carceral Approach to Suicidality with Kaitlin Baldwin
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and suicidality briefly. Please take care while listening, and reach out for support if needed. In this…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 30 - Exploring Intimacy: Uncovering Sex in Relationships with Ashley Mariani
In this candid and fruitful episode of Outside The Therapy Room, Ashley Mariani joins us as we explore the intricate dynamics of sex and relationships…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 29 - Befriending Your Inner Critic with Bethany
In this episode of Outside The Therapy Room, Bethany and Ivonne dive into the topic of the inner critic — that nagging, self-doubting voice we all experience…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 28 - Navigating Gender Disappointment: Destinee's Journey
In this insightful podcast episode, Destinee opens up about her personal journey with gender disappointment during pregnancy. She shares her raw and honest…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 27 - Myths of Couples Therapy with Tonya Beattie
Tonya is back to bust some of the myths we hear about couples therapy, like couples therapy is only if you're about to break up; the therapist is always taking…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 26 - Different Types of Rest with Destinee
Did you know there are 7 different types of rest!? It’s true; while the most commonly known is physical rest, there can be times where we are chilling on the…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 25 - What is Validation?
You've heard about validating yours and others emotions, but what the heck does that even mean? Sarah, our registered social worker, joins us to discuss what…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 24 - Maternal Mental Health with Lisette Weber
Lisette Weber is a Postpartum Doula - a sidekick really, and she joins us to talk all things maternal mental health. Lisette explains what a Doula is, what her…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 23 - The Fascination of Reality TV & How It Impacts Our Mental Health with Bethany & Alicia
Reality TV is everywhere, its either our not-so-guilty Guilty Pleasure, our coping show, or the thing that connects you to friends and family. Bethany is back…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 22 - Conflict, Window of Tolerance and How to Fight Fair with Jenni
Jenni is back to talk about conflict. We answer the question "is conflict bad", and we discuss what happens to our bodies and brain when we are in conflict…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 21 - Video Games, Female Gamers and How Games Impact Our Mental Health with Destinee
This is a fun one! Our favourite nerd, Destinee is back to talk about video games and mental health. In this episode we talk about the negative impacts of…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Episode 20 - Getting Back to Routine After the Holidays
Returning back to regular routine after the holiday break can come with some difficulty and adjustment. Going from slower, unplanned days, a lot of festive…
- Outside The Therapy Room
Minisode 3 - Solo Dates: Benefits to Spending Time Alone
Spending time alone, while challenging, can be so beneficial to our mental health, and our relationships. In this minisode, Ivonne talks about her experience…