FULFILLMENT THERAPY - Marriage & Family Therapy, Self Mastery, Self Actualization, Unmet Needs, LDS Parent, Family Connection

325 | What If Your Spiritual Life Didn’t Have to Look “Perfect”?: Part 2, with Faith Freed

Show Notes:
Part 2 of this episode further speaks to parents who feel spiritually hungry yet emotionally exhausted, stuck between people pleasing, perfectionism, and the pressure to be the “good” mom or dad. Together we explore how overgiving, resentment, and chronic burnout often signal a deeper need for soul care, not more self-criticism or rigid rules. You’ll hear practical, grace-filled ways to create a more personal, DIY spiritual life—using nature, mindfulness, movement, and honest self-reflection—that fits your real season of parenting and mental health.
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Faith’s links:
https://www.instagram.com/faithfreed/?hl=en , https://faithfreed.com/

324 | What If Your Spiritual Life Didn’t Have to Look “Perfect”? with Faith Freed

Show Notes:
This episode speaks to parents who feel spiritually hungry yet emotionally exhausted, stuck between people pleasing, perfectionism, and the pressure to be the “good” mom or dad. Together we explore how overgiving, resentment, and chronic burnout often signal a deeper need for soul care, not more self-criticism or rigid rules. You’ll hear practical, grace-filled ways to create a more personal, DIY spiritual life—using nature, mindfulness, movement, and honest self-reflection—that fits your real season of parenting and mental health. Listeners will walk away with permission to question, to rest, and to build a more authentic, peaceful relationship with God and themselves, without abandoning their family or their values.
 
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Faith’s links:
https://www.instagram.com/faithfreed/?hl=en , https://faithfreed.com/

323 | Is Your Morning Chaos Sabotaging Your Mental Health? The Truth About Morning Rituals Part 2

Show Notes:
In Part 2 of today's episode, you'll learn the biggest mistakes parents make when trying to establish morning routines, how to create a ritual that actually fits your life (even if you're not a morning person), and why winning your morning means winning your day. This isn't about adding more to your plate—it's about reclaiming those precious first minutes to set an intention that carries you through the chaos. Whether you have 5 minutes or 50, this episode offers practical, compassionate guidance for parents ready to prioritize their mental wellness, model healthy self-care for their children, and build a more fulfilling life starting tomorrow morning. Perfect for parents seeking stress management techniques, anxiety relief, better work-life balance, and proven strategies to improve mental health and overall wellness while raising a family.
 
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Quotes:
Hal Elrod, author of The Miracle Morning: "How you wake up each day and your morning routine (or lack thereof) dramatically affects your levels of success in every single area of your life. Focused, productive, successful mornings generate focused, productive, successful days."
Dr. Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist and professor at Stanford: "The first 0 to 8 hours of your day are really the time in which you're setting your mental and physical health trajectory for the entire day and perhaps for your entire life."
Robin Sharma, leadership expert and author: "Own your morning. Elevate your life."
Tim Ferriss, author and productivity expert: "If you win the morning, you win the day."

322 | Is Your Morning Chaos Sabotaging Your Mental Health? The Truth About Morning Rituals

Show Notes:
Are you exhausted before your day even starts, pouring from an empty cup while everyone else's needs come first? In this episode of Fulfillment Therapy, licensed therapist and mom Kendra Nielson breaks down the powerful connection between morning rituals and mental health for overwhelmed parents. Drawing from neuroscience research and her personal journey with seasonal affective disorder, Kendra shares exactly how she built a sustainable morning routine that reduced her anxiety by 28%, improved her mood, and helped her stop merely surviving.
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests

321 | What If Helping Everyone Is Actually Harming You? The Truth About Toxic Empathy: Part 2, with Karen Bates

Show Notes:
Karen Tavares Bates moved her family of ten to Mexico to build a home for abandoned teens, but quickly discovered that endless empathy without healthy boundaries was destroying her mental health and ability to parent effectively. In part 2 of this powerful two-part conversation, she further shares how recognizing toxic empathy patterns, learning assertiveness, and releasing shame transformed her approach to family life and purposeful living. Further discover how to model wholeness for your children, let go of approval-seeking behaviors, and build a life driven by authentic purpose instead of external pressure.
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Karen’s links:
KarenTavaresBates.com (book and program) Find Your Path Mission (service trips and donations). Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.t.bates.77
IG: https://www.instagram.com/karenbates10/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@karenbatesfyp

320 | What If Helping Everyone Is Actually Harming You? The Truth About Toxic Empathy, with Karen Bates

Show Notes:
Karen Tavares Bates moved her family of ten to Mexico to build a home for abandoned teens, but quickly discovered that endless empathy without healthy boundaries was destroying her mental health and ability to parent effectively. In this powerful two-part conversation, she shares how recognizing toxic empathy patterns, learning assertiveness, and releasing shame transformed her approach to family life and purposeful living. Parents struggling with overwhelm, people-pleasing, and the exhaustion of constantly putting others first will find practical wisdom for setting boundaries that protect their energy without losing their compassion. Discover how to model wholeness for your children, let go of approval-seeking behaviors, and build a life driven by authentic purpose instead of external pressure.
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Karen’s links:
KarenTavaresBates.com (book and program) Find Your Path Mission (service trips and donations). Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.t.bates.77
IG: https://www.instagram.com/karenbates10/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@karenbatesfyp

319 | Why Quick Fixes Are Failing Your Mental Health: Building a Foundation That Actually Lasts, with Celeste Birkhofer Part 2

Show Notes:
What if the exhaustion you feel isn't about doing more, but about building something stronger within yourself? In part 2 of this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Celeste Birkhofer further shares how profound loss taught her that real mental health isn't found in productivity or perfection—it's built on self-compassion, authentic living, and learning to tolerate life's pain without running from it. If you're a parent struggling to balance caring for everyone else while feeling empty inside, this conversation offers practical wisdom on developing the inner resources that create lasting fulfillment and emotional resilience, even through grief and stress.
 
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Celeste’s links:
email: dr.cbirkhofer@me.com
https://www.celestebirkhofer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/celestebirkhofer
https://www.facebook.com/celeste.birkhofer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-birkhofer-phd-psyd-85525a9/
https://drcelestebirkhofer.substack.com/
https://www.brainzmagazine.com/executive-contributor/celeste-birkhofer

318 | Why Quick Fixes Are Failing Your Mental Health: Building a Foundation That Actually Lasts, with Celeste Birkhofer

Show Notes:
What if the exhaustion you feel isn't about doing more, but about building something stronger within yourself? Clinical psychologist Dr. Celeste Birkhofer shares how profound loss taught her that real mental health isn't found in productivity or perfection—it's built on self-compassion, authentic living, and learning to tolerate life's pain without running from it. If you're a parent struggling to balance caring for everyone else while feeling empty inside, this conversation offers practical wisdom on developing the inner resources that create lasting fulfillment and emotional resilience, even through grief and stress.
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Celeste’s links:
email: dr.cbirkhofer@me.com
https://www.celestebirkhofer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/celestebirkhofer
https://www.facebook.com/celeste.birkhofer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-birkhofer-phd-psyd-85525a9/
https://drcelestebirkhofer.substack.com/
https://www.brainzmagazine.com/executive-contributor/celeste-birkhofer

317 | Can 10 Minutes Change Your Relationship With Your Kids? Practical Tools to Be Present, Repair, and Raise More Resilient Children: Part 2, with Jeff Hittner

Show Notes:
Part 2 of this episode further follows Jeff’s personal journey into fatherhood after infertility and how redefining what it means to be a dad changed everything for him and his boys. Listeners will learn simple, realistic ways to shift from reactive, shame-filled parenting into emotionally regulated, intentional fatherhood that supports both kids’ resilience and parents’ mental health. You’ll hear practical strategies for being present in short, meaningful bursts, repairing after you lose it, and creating family rituals—like a gratitude tree and kitchen dance parties—that build connection and fulfillment over time. Parents who feel alone, exhausted, or unsure how to model growth and vulnerability will find hope, language, and tools to create a more purposeful, emotionally healthy home.
 
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Jeff’s links:
Website: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/
Podcast: https://ambitiousdads.transistor.fm/
Substack: https://ambitiousdads.substack.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousdads/

316 | Can 10 Minutes Change Your Relationship With Your Kids? Practical Tools to Be Present, Repair, and Raise More Resilient Children, with Jeff Hittner

Show Notes:
This episode follows Jeff’s personal journey into fatherhood after infertility and how redefining what it means to be a dad changed everything for him and his boys. Listeners will learn simple, realistic ways to shift from reactive, shame-filled parenting into emotionally regulated, intentional fatherhood that supports both kids’ resilience and parents’ mental health. You’ll hear practical strategies for being present in short, meaningful bursts, repairing after you lose it, and creating family rituals—like a gratitude tree and kitchen dance parties—that build connection and fulfillment over time. Parents who feel alone, exhausted, or unsure how to model growth and vulnerability will find hope, language, and tools to create a more purposeful, emotionally healthy home.
Enjoy!
-Kendra
 
ALL LINKS → https://linktr.ee/fulfillmenttherapy 
Website → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org
Contact → hello@fulfillmenttherapy.org 
Instagram → @fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Community → http://bit.ly/fulfillmenttherapy 
Facebook Group → Private FB Group
YouTube → Podcast Episode Videos 
Schedule 1:1 Coaching → https://fulfillmenttherapy.org/1-on-1-coaching 
Chat → 1-986-910-5172 *text questions & topic requests
 
Jeff’s links:
Website: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/
Podcast: https://ambitiousdads.transistor.fm/
Substack: https://ambitiousdads.substack.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousDads
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousdads/