The MindSpa Podcast

The MindSpa Podcast is your go-to space for meaningful conversations around mental health, healing, and personal growth. Hosted by Michelle Massunken RSW and Tina Wilston RP, co-founders of MindSpa Mental Health Centre, each episode explores key mental health topics through expert interviews and thoughtful roundtable discussions. From managing stress and building stronger relationships to navigating invisible challenges, the MindSpa Podcast offers grounded, professional insights in a warm and accessible way. Tune in weekly for supportive, real-world conversations to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered on your wellness journey.

The MindSpa Podcast is a health podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 54 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The MindSpa Podcast, a health show with 54 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #25

  S2 · Ep 25: AITA Scenarios — Difficult Conversations, Boundaries, And Communication | The MindSpa Podcast

  Aug 17, 202631 minS2

  In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast , Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore two AITA scenarios that raise questions about conflict avoidance, friendship boundaries, communication, and trust. Rather than focusing on who is right or wrong, the conversation looks at what happens when people avoid difficult conversations, leave expectations unspoken, or assume others will understand boundaries without being told. ⸻ Scenario 1: When A Friend Takes Over The Plans A friend becomes the unofficial cruise director, creating detailed itineraries and schedules for the group. Instead of addressing the dynamic directly, the other friends quietly book a separate cabin without her. When she discovers what happened, the conversation shifts toward a deeper question: what happens when people repeatedly communicate that they are comfortable with someone taking the lead, then respond negatively when that person continues doing so? Tina and Michelle discuss conflict avoidance, unspoken expectations, accountability, and how clearer communication might change the dynamic. ⸻ Scenario 2: When A Friend Is Quietly Excluded A friend group decides to distance themselves from Daniel, who sometimes makes awkward jokes and misses social cues, but also shows genuine kindness toward the group. Without having a direct conversation with him, the group gradually excludes him while expecting everyone to accept the decision. This scenario explores friendship boundaries, social expectations, honest feedback, and the emotional impact of being excluded without understanding why. The conversation considers how direct and respectful communication can create more clarity before resentment builds. These two AITA scenarios offer a reflective look at the conversations people often avoid—and how clearer communication can create greater understanding in friendships and group relationships. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston , M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinawilston/ https://www.instagram.com/tinawilstontherapy/ https://www.facebook.com/tinawilstontherapy/ Michelle Massunken , MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-massunken-msw-rsw/ https://www.instagram.com/michellemassunken.therapy/ https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMassunken/ MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca https://www.linkedin.com/company/themindspa/ https://www.instagram.com/themindspa.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/themindspa.ca/ Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

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  Episode #24

  S2 · Ep 24: AITA Scenarios — Who Gets to Decide What Looks “Normal”? | The MindSpa Podcast

  Aug 10, 202631 minS2

  In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast , Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken explore two Am I the A**hole? scenarios that raise a shared question: what happens when someone else’s expectations come at the expense of your dignity, comfort, or boundaries? Through conversations about disability, friendship, family expectations, and emotional labour, Tina and Michelle look beyond who is “right” or “wrong” to consider the communication patterns, accountability, and relationship dynamics underneath each situation. Scenario 1: The Wheelchair and the Wedding A maid of honour with permanent nerve damage is asked by her best friend to walk down the aisle, sit in a regular chair, and keep her wheelchair out of wedding photos so the ceremony will look “timeless.” Tina and Michelle explore the ableism behind the request and why comments such as “but you can walk a little” can minimize someone’s pain, safety, and lived experience. The conversation also looks at setting firm boundaries, navigating guilt and blame-shifting, and what meaningful accountability and apology can look like when someone has caused harm. Scenario 2: The Family Holiday Spreadsheet After repeatedly taking on the work of hosting family holidays, a woman discovers a private “Holiday Operations” spreadsheet where her siblings have been rating everything from the food to her mood. The conversation turns to the often-unseen emotional and practical labour involved in being the reliable family host. Tina and Michelle consider what happens when that effort begins to feel expected rather than appreciated, and where the line might fall between setting a reasonable boundary and responding out of frustration. Together, these scenarios offer a grounded look at boundaries, communication, emotional labour, accountability, and the pressure to keep the peace when doing so comes at a personal cost. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston , M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinawilston/ https://www.instagram.com/tinawilstontherapy/ https://www.facebook.com/tinawilstontherapy/ Michelle Massunken , MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-massunken-msw-rsw/ https://www.instagram.com/michellemassunken.therapy/ https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMassunken/ MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca https://www.linkedin.com/company/themindspa/ https://www.instagram.com/themindspa.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/themindspa.ca/ Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

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  Episode #23

  S2 Ep23 When A Family Favour Becomes A House Rule

  Aug 3, 202633 minS2

  A late-night call turns into a promise: a brother in a brutal divorce is told he can move into the guest room. Months later, everything is different. There’s a long-awaited pregnancy after infertility and miscarriage, a partner who needs predictability, and warning signs that the “few weeks” houseguest could easily become months. We talk through the real tension behind family conflict: what you meant when you said yes, what you know now, and how guilt can push you into choices that create resentment at home. From a therapy lens, we unpack the skill that keeps relationships intact when circumstances change: naming the shift early and clearly. We lean on a simple phrase that gives people permission to be honest without being cruel: “Upon further consideration, I have a different conclusion.” We also look at how avoidance makes everything worse, why families pile on pressure without sharing responsibility, and how offering financial help can be generous without turning into an “owed” debt. Then we shift to a second dilemma that hits hard for parents: grandparents who shower one grandchild with big-ticket gifts and trips while the others get noticeably less, justified by “carrying on the family name.” We explore how favouritism affects kids’ self-esteem, why “it’s not hurting anybody” is rarely true, and what boundaries parents can set by focusing on what they can control, like changing how celebrations and gift-opening happen. If you’ve ever felt stuck between loyalty to family and protecting your household, this one will land. Subscribe for more real-life boundary talk, share this with someone navigating family pressure, and leave a review with your take: when is it okay to change a promise? The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston , M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinawilston/ https://www.instagram.com/tinawilstontherapy/ https://www.facebook.com/tinawilstontherapy/ Michelle Massunken , MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-massunken-msw-rsw/ https://www.instagram.com/michellemassunken.therapy/ https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMassunken/ MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca https://www.linkedin.com/company/themindspa/ https://www.instagram.com/themindspa.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/themindspa.ca/ Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

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  Episode #21

  S2 Ep21 Single And Two-Channel Neurofeedback Explained For Real Life Goals

  Jul 20, 202641 minS2

  Neurofeedback sounds futuristic until you see how practical it really is: sensors, brainwave data, and a learning loop that helps your brain practise a better default. We sit down with Yvonne Burwash, our director of neurofeedback, to clear up one of the most common points of confusion we hear from clients and curious listeners alike: what people mean by single-channel training versus two-channel training, and why the same approach can be described with different names like EEG biofeedback. We walk through how we choose training sites using QEEG brain mapping, then get specific about the real mechanics such as the 10-20 measurement system, electrode placement, and why prep work on the scalp helps us get a clean signal. From there we dig into when two sites make sense, when we split time between protocols, and how coherence training works, including monopolar versus bipolar setups for interhemispheric communication. We also touch on the theta beta ratio and ADHD, plus how this surface-level style of neurofeedback compares with deeper-network approaches like LORETA. We keep it honest about the process: what to expect around 10 sessions, why consistency matters, why progress can feel like it “plateaus,” and how pausing or remapping can prevent overtraining. We also cover common side effects people report when a protocol is off, and why your day-to-day feedback (stress, breakups, job changes, medication shifts, even weather) is essential data. We finish with a practical look at home neurofeedback options, including Muse hardware and MindLift software, and who is or is not a good candidate for that level of convenience. If you want a clear, Canadian-clinic grounded explanation of personalised neurofeedback training, hit play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the series. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston , M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook Michelle Massunken , MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn , instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

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  Episode #20

  S2 · Ep 20: Anxiety And Brain Connectivity — When the Nervous System Gets Stuck | Yvonne Burwash | The MindSpa Podcast

  Jul 13, 202630 minS2

  Your brain can appear “fine” on a surface-level map while your day-to-day experience tells a different story. In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast , Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken speak with Yvonne Burwash about LORETA neurofeedback, short for low-resolution electromagnetic tomography, and how it uses EEG data to estimate patterns of activity across deeper brain regions and connected networks. The conversation explores how LORETA differs from standard QEEG brain mapping and why clinicians may look beyond individual brain sites when symptoms are not easily explained by one obvious area. Yvonne introduces Brodmann areas and discusses networks commonly associated with anxiety, executive functioning, and the default mode network. They also unpack terms such as asymmetry, coherence, connectivity, and dysregulation, explaining how brain-mapping data, symptom reports, and standard deviations may help inform whether LORETA training is an appropriate option. You will also hear what a LORETA session can involve, from the gel-based EEG cap and longer setup process to the mental fatigue some people experience when training broader brain networks. The discussion covers how session length, difficulty, and timing may be adjusted, along with practical considerations such as sleep, caffeine intake, and allowing time to decompress after training. This episode offers an educational look at personalised neurofeedback and its potential role in supporting concerns related to anxiety, emotional regulation, attention, and sleep. The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston , M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook Michelle Massunken , MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca LinkedIn , instagram Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

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