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ShrinkChicks

When Opposite Feelings Coexist

ShrinkChicks

Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT

Mental Health, Education, Health & Fitness, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Relationships

5717 Ratings

🗓️ 8 September 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen dive into the messy, complicated, and oh-so-human world of duality: how two things can be true at once. From being grateful but still wanting more, to setting boundaries and feeling both relief and grief, they explore why holding contradictions feels so uncomfortable, and why it can also be a sign of growth. They answer listener questions on everything from navigating personal struggles when others seem to have it “worse,” to holding both excitement and fear in big life changes, to grieving the loss of a therapist while still feeling grateful for the work you’ve done together. Along the way, Em and Jen remind us that pain is not a competition, gratitude doesn’t have to equal complacency, and your feelings don’t need to cancel each other out to be real. Whether you’re moving through a divorce, starting a new job, or simply facing the daily contradictions of being human, this episode offers compassion, validation, and some much-needed relief in knowing you don’t have to pick just one truth. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 9 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. Get Matched With One of Our Therapists at The Therapy Group! ShrinkChicks on Instagram Our Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Wildgrain: Get $30 off your first box - PLUS free croissants in every box - when you go to⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wildgrain.com/SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your subscription or use code SHRINKCHICKS at checkout Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Greenlight: Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenlight.com/shrinkchicks⁠ Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at ⁠SKIMS.com⁠. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in thesurvey, and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Mabē: Visit ⁠⁠mabeproducts.com⁠⁠ and use code: SHRINKCHICKS for an automatic $10 discount on your first purchase Green Chef: Head to⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Greenchef.com/50SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50SHRINKCHICKS to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping goPure: For a limited time, our listeners get 25% off at ⁠⁠gopurebeauty.com⁠⁠ with code SHRINKCHICKS at checkout

Transcript

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0:00.0

This podcast is brought to you by Podcast Nation. I've heard people since you ever heard this people say this term of like, well, it's what you wanted. Yeah. Isn't that what you wanted? Like you're not allowed to feel both things. I think that is said to a lot of moms. Yes. Well, you chose this. You wanted to be a parent. Right.

0:23.6

Okay, I can't feel both things. Yes, I can't feel both things the same time.

0:25.7

So you can make the decision to like end a relationship because you know it's the best thing for you.

0:30.1

And be incredibly upset.

0:33.7

Yeah.

0:34.2

And have so much grief around this.

0:46.4

Yeah. And have so much grief around this. Welcome back to another episode of shrink chicks.

0:49.2

Take a seat on our virtual therapy couch and get ready to learn all about, well, you.

0:54.3

I'm Emily Beirley.

0:55.4

And I'm Jennifer Chakin.

0:56.7

And we're both licensed, marriage and family therapist and relationship experts.

1:00.6

We're the owners and founders of the therapy group, a nationwide psychotherapy practice

1:05.4

with down-to-earth therapists just like us.

1:08.1

Your session is starting.

1:09.4

So get ready to know yourself and grow yourself.

1:15.9

Hey, Jen.

1:17.0

Hey, Ev.

1:17.6

I was picking my face.

1:18.8

I didn't know we were recording.

1:20.5

It's okay.

1:21.4

I think it's part of the fun.

1:25.5

What fun?

...

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