Ask Kati Anything

In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton addresses why the healing process often feels more overwhelming after a breakthrough or a new diagnosis. We dive deep into the complexities of adult autism, the physical "freeze" response caused by trauma shame, and the frustration of feeling like your mental health journey has stalled.

Kati also shares her perspective on the evolving role of GLP-1 medications in treating "food noise" and why reaching out for help when you’re "doing okay" is actually the best time for deep therapeutic work. Whether you’re navigating a difficult legal trigger like a parole hearing or searching for meaning in the face of depression, this episode provides grounded, empathetic tools to help you move forward.

Shopping today's sponsor helps support Ask Kati Anything.

ZocDoc - ⁠visit https://www.zocdoc.com/KATI⁠ to find and instantly book a doctor you love today!

Key Topics Covered

Autism & "Standard" Therapy: Why therapy can feel like a performance after an adult diagnosis and how to adapt your sessions. 


The Silence of Shame: How to handle the dissociation and urge to "no-show" after disclosing childhood sexual abuse. 


Coping Skill "Hard Stops": Recognizing when weed or restrictive eating shifts from a survival tool to a barrier in your recovery. 


Social Cues & Connection: Practical advice for "reality testing" interactions and distinguishing between friendly and flirty behavior. 


Maintenance vs. Crisis: Why you don't need to be "doing poorly" to benefit from therapy—and why maintenance work is more effective. 


The Search for Meaning: Navigating depression when traditional treatments like CBT or DBT feel out of reach or ineffective.

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She caught herself mid-sentence and realized it wasn't her voice. It was her mother's. This episode is about the patterns you inherited without knowing it, the ones running your parenting, your relationships, and the way you talk to yourself right now.Kati sits down with JoAnn Crohn, parenting educator and founder of No Guilt Mom, for a conversation that starts with mom guilt and lands somewhere much deeper. JoAnn shares how she white-knuckled through breastfeeding because she believed that's what a good mom does, and the single sentence from a therapist that broke the pattern. Kati talks about spending a month with her own mother and watching in real time as her self-talk mirrored thoughts her mom carried decades earlier. Together they trace how the martyrhood pattern gets passed down, why so many women lose themselves in motherhood without noticing, and what it actually takes to come back.They also cover why families that never fought produce adults who think conflict means the relationship is over, what happens when your kid leaves for college and you realize your identity went with them, the journaling practice that rewired JoAnn's thought spirals, why naming your inner critic actually helps you stop believing it, and how JoAnn found herself again through improv comedy at 44. This is the conversation for anyone who has ever heard themselves say something and thought: that wasn't me. That was my mom.

Shopping with our sponsors helps support Ask Kati Anything. Please check out this week's special offers:

For a limited time our listeners are getting 20% off their entire order by using code KATI at https://cheershealth.com/

Visit http://Care.com and use code KATI for 20% off your initial subscription or a Senior Care Advisor plan

Go to https://www.zocdoc.com/KATI to find and instantly book a doctor you love today

Ask Kati Anything ep. 311 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT with guest: JoAnn Crone
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Struggling with treatment-resistant depression or trying to recover from narcissistic parents and a lost sense of identity? In this episode, Katie Morton, LMFT, explores advanced mental health treatments and provides a roadmap for healing from complicated family dynamics. Whether you are dealing with "sticky memories," navigating a schizoaffective disorder diagnosis, or looking for ways to manage the physical toll of trauma on your gut, this deep dive offers practical tools to help you reclaim your life. We also discuss the power of boundaries and the vital role sleep plays in regulating anxiety.

Shopping with our sponsors helps support Ask Kati Anything. Please check out this week's special offers:

• Magnesium promotes relaxation and more restful sleep - visit https://bioptimizers.com/kati for 15% off any order

• Care.com: Get 20% off a subscription or a senior care advisor plan at https://www.care.com/ using code KATI

Chapters

00:00:49 – Q1: Creating Perspective in Severe Depression

A viewer struggling with autism and treatment-resistant depression asks how to find small moments to live for when every task feels like "climbing Mount Everest."

00:14:17 – Q2: Recovering Identity from Narcissistic Parents

A child of divorce seeks advice on building a sense of self after growing up with a narcissistic mother and an emotionally unavailable father.

00:20:50 – Q2 Follow-up: Healing the "Parental Wound"

Addressing a comment on parental isolation, Katie discusses inner child work and letting go of the idealized version of a parent.

00:26:12 – Q3: Understanding "Sticky Memories"

A viewer asks if they are "mixing memories" regarding childhood abuse or if their brain is signaling something real that needs processing.

00:29:24 – Q4: What is Projective Identification?

How to stop taking on other people’s intense emotions and use "inward boundaries" to protect your own mental space.

00:35:24 – Q5: Navigating a Schizoaffective Diagnosis

Katie breaks down the DSM criteria for schizoaffective disorder, explaining the intersection of mood disorders and psychosis.

00:40:38 – Q6: The Connection Between Trauma and the Gut

An exploration of the "gut-brain axis" and how chronic stress and high cortisol can lead to physical abdominal issues.

00:45:11 – Q7: Why Sleep is Essential for Anxiety Relief

A discussion on how sleep "cleans" the brain and provides the emotional regulation needed to weather life's storms.

SchizoKitzo (tiktoker mentioned in episode)
https://www.tiktok.com/@schizokitzo?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Ask Kati Anything ep. 310 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT

Books

Why Do I Keep Doing This? https://geni.us/XoyLSQ

Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j

Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY

ONLINE THERAPY (enjoy 10% off your first month)

While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/kati

PARTNERSHIPS

Nick Freeman | [email protected]

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship.

#podcast #psychology #katimorton
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If you feel like your therapist is speaking a foreign language when they talk about "stability" or "trust," this video is for you. We break down the specific requirements for starting trauma-focused work like EMDR and why your brain might be "pulling the ripcord" through dissociation.

Shopping with our sponsors helps support Ask Kati Anything. Please check out this week's special offers:
• Zocdoc: Find and book top-rated doctors, therapists, or mental health providers near you in minutes https://www.zocdoc.com/kati
• Go to https://kachava.com and use code KATI for 15% off your first order

MY BOOKS

⁠Why Do I Keep Doing This?⁠
⁠Traumatized⁠
⁠Are u ok?⁠

ONLINE THERAPY (enjoy 10% off your first month)

While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: ⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/kati⁠

PARTNERSHIPS
Nick Freeman | [email protected]

Disclaimer
The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt ashamed in therapy because your behaviors aren't changing fast enough? In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton answers 8 listener questions on eating disorders, therapy, intimacy, ego death, depression, and mental health recovery.

Topics covered include eating disorder recovery, higher levels of care (IOP and PHP), what therapists notice about body language and appearance, caregiver burnout, intimacy struggles after trauma, ego death and psychedelics, DASS questionnaires, and returning depression after remission.

This Week's Sponsors:


Care.com — 20% off a subscription or Senior Care Advisor plan using code KATI at https://www.care.com/


Hero Bread — 10% off your order using code KATI at https://www.hero.co/

MY BOOKS

Why Do I Keep Doing This?
Traumatized
Are u ok?

ONLINE THERAPY (enjoy 10% off your first month)

While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: ⁠https://betterhelp.com/kati

PARTNERSHIPS
Nick Freeman | [email protected]

Disclaimer
The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices