A Hero's Welcome Podcast
A Hero’s Welcome Podcast
Hosted by Maria Laquerre Diego, and Liliana Baylon, both LMFT-S and RPT-S
A Hero’s Welcome is a podcast for mental health professionals committed to culturally responsive care. Each episode features in-depth conversations with clinicians, supervisors, and consultants who bring diverse perspectives to the forefront.
We discuss mental health topics including psychotherapy models, clinical interventions, trauma-informed practices, and the role of cultural humility in therapeutic work. Our guests share their experiences serving children, families, and communities impacted by systemic stressors, offering insights and practical tools for fellow practitioners.
Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of culturally competent care or seeking a community that values diversity and inclusion, A Hero’s Welcome offers a space for reflection, learning, and growth.
Hosts:
Maria Laquerre-Diego
maria@anewhopetc.org
Liliana Baylon
liliana@lilianabaylon.com
Episodes
52 episodes
Using D&D as a Healing Tool with Erika Walker
Erika brings Dungeons & Dragons into therapy sessions, creating transformative healing experiences for clients through role-playing games and character development.• Using D&D with clients to build characters and create new ther...
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Season 2
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44:38
Removing Your Armor: Embracing Authenticity with Miranda Stoll
Miranda shares how we can create the life we want by letting go of fear and embracing our authentic selves through the removal of protective armor that no longer serves us.• Exploring how our "armor" protects us from vulnerability but a...
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Season 2
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36:36
Travel Hacking Your Way to Therapist Wellness: A Conversation with Allison Rimland
We explore how pursuing personal passions, such as travel, can serve as a powerful burnout prevention strategy for therapists, with special guest Allison Rimland sharing her journey after losing her father and discovering the world of travel ha...
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Season 2
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40:51
The Therapist's Journey with Maria & Liliana
The secret evolution of therapists that nobody talks about in graduate school - from survival mode to seasoned professional, Maria and Liliana crack open the unspoken developmental journey that shapes our careers and lives as mental health prof...
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Season 2
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19:06
Beyond Burnout: Discovering Your Authentic Professional Self with Madison Duran
Professional identity formation is a crucial yet often overlooked process for preventing burnout and achieving fulfillment in the mental health field.Burnout symptoms closely mirror those of an identity crisisMany clinician...
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Season 2
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35:51
SITH Conference 2025: Join us for a deep dive into Beyond Borders & Supervising with Caution with Liliana Baylon
Liliana joins us to preview her two upcoming workshops at the SITH conference in Las Cruces this October, focusing on cultural humility in mental health and ethical supervision practices. Her unique approach combines her experience as a migrant...
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Season 2
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8:16
SITH Conference 2025: Rooted & Resilient: Healing Ourselves While We Heal Systems with Maria Laquerre-Diego
Maria introduces the SITH (Supportive Innovation for Therapeutic Heroes) conference, taking place in Las Cruces this October, featuring her session, "Rooted and Resilient: Healing Ourselves While we Heal Systems."• SITH conference provi...
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Season 2
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5:03
SITH Conference 2025: The Legal Arena: Playing by the Rules and Advocating for ClientsThrough Play Therapy & Clinical Expertise with Val Bruno
We welcome special guest Val to discuss her upcoming session at the SITH Conference, which focuses on helping clinicians navigate the legal arena with confidence. Val shares her expertise as a translator between the therapeutic world and legal ...
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Season 2
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10:55
SITH Conference 2025 - The Force Within the Family with Jen Shivey
We delve into the upcoming SITH Conference (Supportive Innovations for Therapeutic Heroes) taking place October 9-11 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with a special focus on court-involved cases and family systems work in play therapy.• Jenny...
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Season 2
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11:33
Balancing Ethics and Flexibility Creates Better Therapy with Dr. Dana Wyss
How do we honor therapeutic boundaries while truly meeting clients where they are? In this thought-provoking reunion episode with Dr. Dana Weiss, we explore the delicate dance between ethical practice and therapeutic flexibility.Dana sh...
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Season 2
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36:47
Navigating High-Conflict Divorce Therapy with Berenice Leon-Fonseca
Few therapists willingly choose to work with high-conflict divorce cases. The fear of subpoenas, licensing board complaints, and getting caught in legal crossfire keeps many clinicians from helping the families who may need them most. But Beren...
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Season 2
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39:39
Beyond Control: How Behavior Speaks with Robyn Gobbel
Demystifying the complex world of childhood trauma behaviors demands more than clinical knowledge—it requires a profound shift in how we view challenging behaviors altogether. Robin, a seasoned former therapist who specialized in supporting fam...
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Season 2
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38:24
The Role of Attachment and Mentorship with Clair Mellenthin
Discover the transformative power of earned security in attachment theory with the insightful Clair Mellenthin, the brilliant mind behind Attachment-Centered Play Therapy. Clair unveils her pioneering research on the journey of registered play ...
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Season 2
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40:14
Officers' Path to Personal Growth and Well-being with Anjuli R. Thompson
Ever wonder how law enforcement officers manage their roles' immense stress while maintaining their identities? Our insightful guest, Anjuli Raven Thompson, a licensed professional counselor supervisor, steps into the spotlight to share her fas...
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Season 2
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40:24
Embracing Cultural Sensitivity and Early Relational Health with Dr. Meyleen Velasquez
Dr. Meyleen Velasquez, an inspiring Latina clinician, joins us to share her profound journey in mental health, shaped by her own life with vitiligo and her dedication to working with perinatal and early relational health. Embarking on this path...
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Season 2
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42:14
Understanding Intergenerational Trauma with Mili Shoemaker
Unlock the secrets of intergenerational trauma with Milagros "Mili" Sarmiento Shoemaker, a distinguished therapist who bridges cultures from Argentina to the United States. Have you ever wondered how the experiences of your ancestors shape your...
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Season 2
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39:23
Unpacking Domestic Violence: Beyond Physical Abuse with Sybil Cummin
Join us for a compelling conversation with Sybil Cummin, a licensed professional counselor whose expertise in domestic violence sheds light on a topic often misunderstood. Sybil takes us beyond the physical aspects of abuse, highlighting the mo...
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Season 2
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38:31
Navigating Neurodiversity in Mental Health with Dr. Robert Jason Grant
What happens when the professional world of mental health meets the personal journey of neurodivergence? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Robert Jason Grant, who shares his profound experience of being diagnosed with sensory processing disorder ...
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Season 2
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37:31
🎙️ Bonus Episode: Challenging Hustle Culture with Maria Diego and Liliana Baylon
What if the relentless drive for success is harming you? Join Maria Diego and Liliana Baylon as they critically examine the hustle culture that saturates the mental health field. Inspired by their recent book club reading, "Dynamic Drive," they...
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Season 1
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31:05
Trauma Response: Supporting Mental Health Clinicians in Crisis
When tragedy strikes a community, mental health professionals rush to provide support—but who supports them? This candid conversation explores the often-overlooked challenges faced by therapists in the aftermath of a recent mass shooting in Las...
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Season 2
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26:12
Choosing Your Battles: Mental Health Activism
What happens when the cost of having your voice heard threatens your wellbeing? In this raw, unplanned conversation, we explore the painful reality many professionals face: choosing which battles to fight and which to walk away from.The...
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Season 2
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19:55
The Transformative Power of Play with Jackie Flynn
Explore the transformative world of play therapy with our insightful guest, Jackie Flynn, a passionate mental health counselor and play therapist from Central Florida. In this enlightening episode, we unpack the power of play therapy to heal ps...
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Season 2
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35:51
Transforming Mental Health Experiences for BIPOC Communities with Joy Ewing
What if mental health care could be as inviting as a spa day? We sit down with Joy Ewing, a trailblazer in holistic therapy and owner of Joy Life Counseling, to uncover how she's transforming mental health support for the BIPOC community in Aur...
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Season 2
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32:37
📖 The Latinx Guide to Liberation: Healing from Historical, Generational, and Individual Trauma with Vanessa Pezo
What happens when the pressure to be "twice as perfect" meets the complexities of cultural identity? Join us as trauma therapist and author
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Season 2
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28:36
The Journey to Mindfulness Self Compassion with Rose LaPiere
What if embracing your own imperfections could not only enhance your life but also positively impact those around you? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Rose Lapierre as we unravel the art of mindful self-compassion. Inspired by tho...
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Season 2
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33:58
