Christi's Couch

“I remember looking up at myself for the first time. And my cousin kept saying, ‘I’m going to fix this. I'm going to fix this.’ And I literally looked at her and I was like, ‘How are you going to fix this?’ That was the first time I realized my whole upper lip was not there,” shares Brooklinn Khoury, close family friend and professional skateboarder. In November of 2020, Brooklinn suffered a horrific dog attack that disfigured her face. Following the attack was hours of chaos and continual surgeries to try to fix her face. In spite of enduring life altering trauma when she was only 21 years old, Brooklinn manages to maintain a positive outlook and shares her photos and videos on social media to inspire others in similar situations. In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with Brooklinn Khoury to talk about the attack, the aftermath, and how she manages to stay positive about life.    Brooklinn’s life changed within a matter of seconds when her cousin’s dog, whom she had known for years, suddenly attacked her, biting onto her upper lip and essentially playing tug-of-war with her face. Brooklinn’s cousin did not call for an ambulance or immediately take her to the hospital, but Brooklinn explains that everyone responds to trauma differently and that they were both in shock, not fully understanding the extent of what had just happened. After her initial surgery to close the wounds, she could hardly recognize herself and had to live for years without an upper lip. To this day she is still undergoing corrective surgeries on her nose and lip after searching for a full year for a highly specialized surgeon to take on her case. Prior to the attack, Brooklinn had begun working in modeling for skateboarding companies, appeared in very high profile publications like Vogue, and even was in a music video. After the attack, brands backed out of having her represent them, but even that could not take away her positive outlook. Brooklinn is open about her experiences on social media even in the face of backlash and bullying because if she can inspire even one person, then she is happy.    Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch to hear Brooklinn’s inspirational story. Learn how she managed to stay strong and maintain a positive attitude in the face of life altering trauma.    Quotes “You don't really realize what your instincts are going to say until you're in that type of situation.” (27:42-27:58 | Brooklinn) “She screamed, ‘Oh my God, you're gonna sue me’!” (30:06-30:08 | Brooklinn) “If she would have put the lips on ice within two minutes, I would have had my lip.” (34:09-34:12 | Brooklinn) “I remember looking up at myself for the first time. And she kept saying, ‘I’m going to fix this. I'm going to fix this.’ And I literally looked at her and I was like, ‘How are you going to fix this?’ That was the first time I realized my whole upper lip was not there.” (35:51-36:03 | Brooklinn) “I remember taking off the bandage and looking at myself and I didn't even recognize who I was.” (53:43-53:47 | Brooklinn)  “My doctor said to me, ‘You got into an accident. You can go two ways about this. One, you can feel bad for yourself, sit on the couch, and hide from everyone. Or you can heal and live your life exactly how you were going to do it anyway’.” (56:39-56:50 | Brooklinn) “I wanted to be the person that people could refer to like, ‘Hey, this girl is going through something. I can relate to her, and I'm gonna be okay.’  That's all I wanted to do. And if it helped one person, then I was doing something right.” (1:04:21-1:04:30 | Brooklinn)   Links   FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi 

“We can't ever hate ourselves into a body that we love, but we can love ourselves into a body that we love,” shares Kelley Nemiro, certified holistic health coach, pilates instructor, and founder of Wellness by Kelley. Through her coaching membership program, Kelley helps women live healthier lives by teaching them how to balance their hormones from the inside out. In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with Kelley Nemiro to talk about the role of hormones on overall health and body weight and how changing your mindset can be the most important behavioral shift of all.    Through Kelley’s wellness membership program, she teaches women useful skills including how to do low impact workouts like pilates with slow-controlled movements, how to cook nourishing plant-based meals that balance blood sugar, and how to meditate for stress reduction. People often focus too much on how many calories a food has rather than the impact it has on blood sugar. Kelley explains that blood sugar impacts all of our other hormones, so if it is spiking and dipping constantly, it will be even more difficult to lose weight. When we are super stressed and under a lot of pressure, as is the case for most working women, especially working mothers, our bodies produce more cortisol which in turn slows down our metabolism. By understanding the role of hormones in weight loss and overall health, we can learn better habits that will help us to foster a better relationship with our bodies.    Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a conversation about the role of food, hormones, and stress on our overall health. Learn how to alter your perspective so that you can start loving the body you’re in.   Quotes “A big part of the work that I do is shifting the mindset around not only food, but also around stress, and around how much pressure we put on ourselves.” (16:50-17:01 | Kelley) “A lot of that [perfectionism] comes from looking at Inner Child Trauma and seeing where this belief that I have to be productive all of the time comes from. I love my family, they're amazing human beings, but that's where mine came from and noticing that they're all kind of that Type A personality, then from that place, I can have so much more compassion for myself in saying, ``I'm gonna take a break because this is a learned behavior.” (19:37-20:07 | Kelley) “What you put into your body has probably the biggest impact besides your stress on your weight.” (27:07-27:15 | Kelley) “Hormones are made from fat and protein and so I think focusing each meal on having fat and protein in your diet is really key.” (29:19-29:29 | Kelley) “If we can shift the focus to slowly over time you eating more real whole food, and less of the processed packaged stuff, I promise, you'll start to notice a difference in your hormones.” (30:45-30:56 | Kelley) “It’s not just what you eat, it's also how you eat that really matters.” (31:09-31:11 | Kelley) “You have to create the space for the new habits to exist, because it takes time, it takes effort, it takes brain power to start to implement these things into your life.” (37:10-37:21 | Kelley) “Measuring is what gets things done. So if you can track it, and you can measure it, and you can say, Okay, I have done this for 28 days, I can do this for 28 more, that is a really good way to be able to continue to fuel your motivation is by getting some sort of habit tracker.” (37:40-37:58 | Kelley) Links   Follow Kelley here: https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbykelley/ Check out Kelley's website here: https://wellnessbykelley.com/ FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi

“The more we bring everyone's gifts and potential into the world through giving them the tools that they need, the more we all benefit,” explains Briana Borten, Spiritual Mentor.  In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with Briana Borten to talk about the healing properties of energy work, listening to signs from the universe, and giving back.    After graduating from high school, Briana experienced a horrible accident that broke her neck. She was in a lot of pain and barely able to function until she was gifted three energy working sessions by her step-mother. Energy work changed her life by reducing her pain to the point where she could be functional on her feet again. Through this experience, Brianna learned that when you surrender to the signs the universe sends for you and collaborate along your path, magic happens. She believes in helping others showcase their gifts.    When money and resources are in the hands of spiritually rooted individuals, the world changes in amazing ways. Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a conversation about meditation, spiritual energy, money, and living your authentic life. Learn how to make space, manifest abundance, and become a co-creator with the universe.    Quotes “I was wasting no time, which I think actually came from really thinking I was going to die when I was 18. We are not guaranteed any amount of time.” (13:05-13:18 | Briana) “The universe constantly navigates my path to this very specific thing. And when I veer from that in a way that isn't just to be added, I just get put right back.” (14:43-14:56 | Briana) “If we want something beyond what's predictable, and moving into the potentiality of the world, then we have to learn how to surrender.” (18:07-18:20 | Briana) “When you co-create with the universe so much more magic happens.” (18:35-18:39 | Briana)   “The more we get everyone's gifts and potential into the world through giving them the tools that they need to do that, the more we all benefit.” (24:14-24:25 | Briana)   Links   FOLLOW BRIANA HERE: https://www.instagram.com/brianaborten/?hl=en   CHECK OUT BRIANA HERE: www.brianaborten.com/sacredrelationships FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi 

Every Monday on her Instagram stories, host Christi Lukasiak takes time to do an “Ask Me Anything” with her followers, and this week she’s bringing it to Christi’s Couch. In this episode, Christi answers listener questions and gives her advice on the topics most frequently asked to her.    Take a moment to have a coffee with Christi as she answers some commonly asked questions. She discusses her favorite summer reads, her dislike of cooking, and her advice for choosing the right sorority. Christi does not shy away from more difficult questions like whether it is ever difficult to get out of bed in the morning or how she maintained a healthy marriage during Dance Moms. She gives advice on everything from choosing your first designer handbag to choosing what to do after high school. Her overarching messages for everyone are to be authentic and that anyone can do anything they set their mind to.     Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch to hear Christi answer questions and give advice on situations ranging anywhere from cooking, relaxing after a vacation, and choosing a sorority. Learn Christi’s life motto, whether she still has the Dance Moms costumes, and why she chose to put Clara in dance in spite of Chloe’s traumatic experiences.    Quotes “Do you still have the Dance Moms costumes? I do. I don't have everything for sure.” (16:06-16:12 | Christi) “I feel like cooking is relentless. Because if you're cooking breakfast, then you have to cook lunch, and then you have to cook dinner and you're constantly in a state of cleaning. I remember my grandmother never leaving the kitchen. She was constantly a short order cook. Something about it I just don't like. So honestly, I don't love cooking. But when I do cook, I am a good cook.” (18:17-18:42 | Christi) “I feel like the first thing that you need to do after you travel in order to reset, is get yourself organized back at home. Which means you need to open up your suitcase and empty it. You need to unpack, wash your clothes, and put them away so that you don't have that suitcase sitting there eyeballing you from across the room at all times.” (22:10-22:31 | Christi) “My life motto is ‘I literally can do anything I put my mind to’. That's what I think. I think anyone can do anything you put your mind to.” (29:48-29:59 | Christi) “When you're on a reality show, there's an entire crew of people and all of these producers and everything. Everyone's whole goal is to lie and put you in situations that are going to get visceral reactions from you. So you kind of tend to have trust issues.” (34:28-34:44 | Christi) “My best advice for rushing is do not pretend to be someone you are not because you quote unquote, want to get into the best sorority. Be honest with yourself and choose the sorority that is right for you.” (41:14-41:27 | Christi) “Be as authentically you as possible and find the place that you are comfortable.” (41:55-42:01 | Christi)    Links   FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi

“I just want to encourage anyone out there who struggles, you are not alone. Get therapy. Go seek help. Find the things that work for you,” shares host Christi Lukasiak. In this episode of Christi’s Couch, Christi talks about her personal mental health journey which began with a misdiagnosis and changed dramatically when she was properly diagnosed and given the correct medication.    When Christi first sought help for her depression, she was treated with very minimal doses of generic antidepressants that did not help her. After finding a new doctor, she was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, and began an intensive therapy program. When that did not help, she finally found a doctor who recognized her symptoms for what they were and ultimately diagnosed her with Bipolar Disorder. Since Bipolar is mostly a hereditary chemical imbalance, it requires specific medications to help correct the imbalance, and therapy alone would not have been enough. After her diagnosis, Christi struggled with the stigmas surrounding Bipolar disorder, including having to take medication. She knew in her heart that people would scrutinize her behavior on Dance Moms even worse if they knew. Rather than succumbing to the stigmans, Christi decided to share her story with others in hopes of offering support and encouraging others to seek the help they may need.   Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch to hear more about Christi’s personal mental health journey. Learn more about the importance of finding the right therapist, destigmatizing medication, and exploring different treatment methods such as hypnotherapy, EFT tapping, and meditation.    Quotes “Bipolar disorder is very hereditary. It is a chemical imbalance that is hereditary, so it literally is not my fault. I take responsibility for what I can do for it, but the fact that I have it wasn't because I did something wrong. Once you release yourself from that guilt and assignment to yourself, it's very, very freeing.” (25:32-26:01 | Christi) “Honestly, I think my most helpful work has been my own mental reframe. Instead of looking at it as a death sentence, look at it as an opportunity because you have struggled through things and you've persevered.” (26:53-27:11 | Christi) “I just want to encourage anyone out there who struggles, you are not alone. Get therapy, go seek help, and find the things that work for you.” (28:31-28:42 | Christi) “If you don't like your therapist, find another one. Because that makes all the difference in the world. You have to have somebody you're comfortable with.” (28:42-29:01 | Christi)   Links   FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi

“The only thing that our universe is bringing to us is an amplification of our own thoughts, our own feelings and our own daily behaviors,” shares Allyson Byrd, money mindset strategist. In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with Allyson Byrd to talk about mindset change, imposter syndrome, and unlocking abundance by learning to listen to the signs sent by your universe.    We all have our own universe that is created based on our unique lived experiences, but most of us are playing pretend trying to be part of an existence that matches our friends and neighbors. So many people try to go into manifestation without being honest with themselves, and manifestation will not work unless you are honest about what you are wanting to manifest. In order to combat imposter syndrome and really commit to the mindset shifts that are necessary for manifesting the life you desire, you have to be truthful with yourself and the people you interact with. You must release toxic thoughts and feelings that are holding you back and stop pretending to be happy or satisfied when you aren’t.    Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a conversation about manifesting your best, most authentic life, defeating imposter syndrome, and being open to the signs your universe is trying to send you. Learn how to stop holding yourself back with doubts, fears, and dishonesty and instead live truthfully and openly, so that you can receive all that your universe has to offer you.   Quotes “What most humans are doing as they step into manifestation is pretending that they're pleased. They're pretending that they're happy. They're pretending that they're satisfied. And what stops most of humanity from living a conscious existence is that pretend game.” (24:00-24:17 | Allyson) “One of the greatest resources that we have for manifesting every desire of our hearts are the people around us. But for some reason, we do not tell the truth to the people around us.” (24:27-24:39 | Allyson) “Whenever you feel those signs of ‘I feel like an impostor,’ it's a moment for you to just look around and go, ‘Wait, am I in a new territory? Am I challenging myself at this moment? Is this a moment for me to try something on?’” (30:09-30:27 | Allyson) “People think unlocking abundance is ‘help me know what to do more.’ And you don't need to do anything else. You need to be more yourself by releasing yourself of red light feelings and toxic thoughts.” (33:23-33:39 | Allyson) “Your Universe will always seek confirmation of your desires, and how will your universe do that? Your universe will always help you see the very thing that you've been given to be, do, or have by showing it to you. So jealousy is actually a supernatural template of possibility. It's a life bonus, because you get to see your dream being done right in front of you, and make decisions from the outside looking in.” (37:52-38:28 | Allyson) “The only thing that our universe is bringing to us is an amplification of our own thoughts, our own feelings and our own daily behaviors.” (41:13-41:21 | Allyson)   Connect with Allyson Byrd: Follow Allyson on IG: https://www.instagram.com/iamallysonbyrd/?hl=en Work with Allyson: https://links.allysonbyrd.com/links FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi 

“Communication is so important and it's probably one of the most important things you can do for your safety,” shares Cathy Pedrayes, safety guru, author, and everyone’s favorite TikTok mom friend. In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with Cathy Pedryes to talk about everyday safety and security measures that are easy to do but that you may not have thought of before.    Cathy shares that being the mom friend came naturally to her long before she ever identified as one. She began sharing quick safety tip videos on TikTok and they took off because she was sharing unique ideas such as keeping frosting in the car in case of diabetic emergencies. Cathy got many of her ideas from her background as a scientist working with OSHA regulations and from her time working in TV for QVC.  Often, people will ask questions that are meant to determine your level of vulnerability. They may want to access your financial situation, determine if you are alone, or uncover any resources you are lacking that they can then exploit. Celebrities and anyone whose job puts them in the public eye sometimes receive safety training for how to answer certain fan questions that risk giving away personal information, but these techniques can benefit anyone. By always communicating your location with a loved one, having answers to personal questions prepared ahead of time, being constantly aware of your surroundings, and thinking ahead, you can keep yourself much safer on a daily basis.    Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a conversation about everyday safety. Learn little tips and tricks you can start using right away to keep yourself and your loved ones safe whether you’re in your neighborhood or traveling abroad.   Quotes “I find that oftentimes the types of questions that people ask are questions that speak to your vulnerability.” (36:48-36:55 | Cathy) “When people are asking, ‘Oh, are you traveling alone, you're getting back home alone? Are you going out with friends tonight?’ Yes, yes you are. You are always with a group of people. No, it's not your first time visiting, you have friends that live in town.” (38:47-38:59 | Cathy) “Sometimes people don't realize that the questions they're asking, even if they mean it innocently, it's asking you to give up personal information.” (39:50-39:59 | Cathy) “Communication is so important and it's probably one of the most important things you can do for your safety.” (48:39-48:46 | Cathy)   Links Follow Cathy on TikTok HERE   Grab a copy of her book HERE  FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi

“Our minds will keep us in our comfort zone, no matter how painful that is, because the unknown is so scary and so difficult to conceptualize for all of us,” explains Scout Sobel, founder of Scout’s Agency and author of The Emotional Entrepreneur, a guidebook for navigating the emotional challenges of launching, running, and scaling a business. In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with Scout Sobel to talk about the intersection of mental health and entrepreneurship.    Scout talks openly about being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and how it influenced the course of her life. She shares that until she took radical responsibility for her own life and realized she did have agency over how she was reacting to her depression, she remained stuck in a cycle of victimhood. Scout saw that she was choosing to stay in her depressive episodes, because it was more familiar and comfortable than trying something new. She started taking full responsibility for her life by taking advantage of every self help book, support group, and program she could. Once Scout got into the world of entrepreneurship, she realized that the largest threat to the success of her business was her emotions. This inspired her to write a book of lessons that would guide other women with similar struggles through the emotional roadblocks of starting and running a business.    Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a conversation about mental illness and entrepreneurship. Learn how the dominant narrative in mental health keeps people stuck in a cycle of victimization and how to navigate the anxiety of taking radical responsibility for your life.     Quotes “Our minds will keep us in our comfort zone, no matter how painful that is, because the unknown is so scary and so difficult to conceptualize for all of us.” (40:49-41:00 | Scout) “The narrative that this is out of your control is a highly disempowering narrative that keeps you in the victimhood. It keeps you helpless, it keeps you not inspired to take action.” (43:59-44:09 | Scout) “You do have agency over your life. You do have power over your life. And you don't have to be afraid of yourself.” (44:32-44:38 | Scout) “Whenever I get to a point where I think that I'm hopeless, and there's no beauty in the world, I know that my depression is lying to me and I'm temporarily unable to see beauty.” (47:52-48:01 | Scout) “I saw so many women my age who had the financial means. Who had the resources, the education, who could start businesses at this snap of their fingers, and they weren't doing it not because they didn't have all that, but because they were afraid. And I said, Whoa, this game is so much more emotional than anybody's giving it credit.” (53:03-53:22 | Scout) “You've survived every second of that emotion because you're still listening to me talking, which means you're still surviving. And if you've survived it before, it means you can survive it again and again and again.” (58:39-58:50 | Scout)   Links Follow Scout on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scoutsobel/ Grab a copy of Scout’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578951754   FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi 

“There's this huge market for people that have dual skin concerns, and nothing that addresses it,” shares Kayleigh Clark, co-founder of CLEARstem, a skincare company that combines anti-aging and anti-acne solutions into one product line while also providing skincare education. In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with both co-founders of CLEARstem, Kayleigh Clark and Danielle Gronich, to talk about the combination of acne and aging concerns that many adults struggle with. Acne doesn't just go away when you get older. Unfortunately, many anti-aging products include pore clogging ingredients that trigger breakouts and many acne products are too harsh and leave behind scars. Danielle and Kayleigh created CLEARstem because they saw that there was a need for products that would combine anti-aging properties with ingredients that were safe for acne-prone skin and would also help clear up existing breakouts and scars. With Danielle’s experience running her acne clinic and Kayleigh’s experience as a nutritionist, together they set out to design a skincare line and education platform that empowers people to regain control over their skin.  Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a conversation about skincare. Learn how to check your products for acne triggers and which foods to eliminate from your diet to help you get clearer and healthier skin.   Quotes “There's this huge market for people that have dual concerns, and nothing that addresses it. In fact, one area like anti-aging cancels out the acne and acne products damage your skin and cancel out your anti-aging. So they were really conflicting categories, but we combined them.” (15:29-15:44 | Kayleigh) “When you see these ads that pop up like this is the one thing that cured my acne it’s total bullshit.  Pardon my french, but it's never just one thing. And that's why acne is so difficult for people to clear.” (19:35-19:46 | Danielle) “Never ever assume. Just because something's organic or clean or natural or has a bunch of reviews doesn't mean anything. In fact, a lot of organic skincare is the worst for acne because it uses a ton of shea butter and coconut oil.” (27:09-27:20 | Danielle) “No one else is living your life except for you. You are the only one living it. And so why not create an amazing atmosphere and life that you’re building things in.” (32:37-32:46 | Kayleigh) “We knew if we wanted to actually help people clear their skin, products don't do everything. Products will create so much change and eliminating the pore clogging ingredients will create so much change. But if something's going on with digestion, or they're eating dairy, or they're over-supplementing with wheat, they're never going to get clear. So we create a cascade effect of change by providing additional education that's not only transformed people's skin, but their health as well.” (37:11-37:39 | Kayleigh)    Links Connect with Danielle Gronich and Kayleigh Clark: CLEARstem Website: https://clearstemskincare.com CLEARstem Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearstemskincare Kayleigh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleigh.christina Danielle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.the.acne.guru FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi

“Whatever the space is you're working on, you are emptying it 100%. If you're not emptying first, it’s like you just keep putting a bandaid on it,” shares Ria Safford, CEO of RíOrganize, a luxury home organization business. Ria is the go-to celebrity home organizer with clients all over the United States. In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with Ria to discuss easy tips you can use to reorganize your home.  Home organization can feel particularly overwhelming if you are not a Type A personality. To make things easier for all, Ria breaks home organization into small steps and helps her clients create systems that align with their daily routines. According to Ria, the first step to home organization is making sure you’re in the correct mindset to begin organizing and that you have the appropriate amount of time to dedicate to it. Start with just one space, which can be as small as the junk drawer, and empty it completely. Focus your attention on organizing that one space and deciding if each item in there is still serving a function. This method will help reintroduce you to the items you own and organize them in a way that makes them more accessible to you.  Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a conversation about home organization. Learn simple tips that you can start using today to make the spaces in your home better serve you.  Quotes “Whatever the space is you're working on, you need to empty it 100%. If you're not emptying first, it’s like you just keep putting a bandaid on it.” (39:03-39:12) [Ria] “It's been called a junk drawer forever. One of the little things that we do is we call it an essentials drawer, because that switches your mindset when you're placing things in it.” (41:25-41:35) [Ria] “It doesn't have to be categorized in the way that people just assume it should be.” (45:03-45:07) [Ria] “We want your spaces to be routine ready.” (45:26-45:28) [Ria] “I’ve never been the minimalist that likes to clear all the counters so it looks like no one lives here. People have stuff and that's okay. Let's find a good system for them.” (49:59-50:09) [Ria] Links Connect with Ria Safford:  Ria's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riorganize/ Target collection: https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=riorganize&category=0|All|matchallpartial|all%20categories&tref=typeahead%7Cterm%7Cundefined%7Criorganize%7C%7C%7C%7Cservice%7C%7C%7C%7C&searchTermRaw=rior Amazon line: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/A5897FAE-CA57-4DE2-874F-2DD61733AF82/?_encoding=UTF8&store_ref=SB_A07207722O0DS8QXJJW4A&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=e31bc5415121d926d02e5c30301bf259&hsa_cr_id=2324580130201&lp_asins=B09MV2RB9T%2CB09MV458YF%2CB09MV2P9RW&lp_query=ria%20safford%20collection&lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_lsi4d_hl&pd_rd_w=vkSm0&pf_rd_p=488a18be-6d86-4de0-8607-bd4ea4b560f3&pd_rd_wg=ZJHLw&pf_rd_r=HTXCJASQ13P1YVNK0GHC&pd_rd_r=f9f40eda-ffa9-4899-a091-7179beae7d91 Join me in the Keys to Unlocking Your Dream Life Workshop: https://adulting.christilukasiak.com/signature-8-week-course FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi 

“When good people are doing good things in the world, it ripples out and it touches a lot of people,” shares host Christi Lukasiak. In this episode of Christi’s Couch, Christi introduces the concept of universal laws by explaining the first five laws and how they can work in our favor. Universal laws are energy-related laws that we can’t physically see, but are always happening around us. These laws help us to understand how our subconscious minds act as co-creators alongside the universe. When we understand universal laws, we can make them work for us instead of against us. Christi explains the first five universal laws to be the law of oneness, the law of vibration, the law of attraction, the law of correspondence, and the law of cause and effect. By learning how these laws function and interconnect, we can align our energy to attract good things for our lives.  Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch to learn about the first five universal laws and how to use them in your favor to bring more positive things into your life.  Quotes “When you talk or think about universal laws, and you begin to understand them, then  might wonder, “how can I make them work in my favor?” (27:56-28:09) “Most people honestly work against universal laws in their day-to-day life because they don't understand them. So we're working against these things, and that's when life feels hard. That's when we're struggling.” (28:42-28:54) “When good people are doing good things in the world, it ripples out and it touches a lot of people.” (35:42-35:47) “When you are in a particular frequency, you become a magnet for it. It doesn't have anything to do with sitting on your couch and thinking about things, you have to feel it. Emotion is just energy in motion.” (43:24-43:41) “I still had good things coming to me because my overall dominant vibe is not misery. It was on Dance Moms,and you could see that I had misery attracted to me all the time.” (45:24-45:37) “When you begin to understand universal laws and you begin to leverage them in your life, it really does make things a lot easier because they're working–whether you believe in them or not. So you might as well work with them in your favor because life is tough enough.” (53:21-53:38) Links: Join me for the FREE 5 Biggest Blocks Preventing You From Living Your Dream Life: https://adulting.christilukasiak.com/transformation-workshop-waitlist   FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!    XO, Christi 

“It’s so important for us to get to the root of these beliefs,” shares host Christi Lukasiak. In this episode of Christi’s Couch, Christi breaks down common limiting beliefs and misconceptions about money that could be holding you back.  When thinking about limiting beliefs, we have to consider where those beliefs come from. As children, we are constantly observing our parents and soaking everything up like little sponges. It is likely that our relationship with money will be influenced by how our parents think about money, which is influenced by how their parents thought about money and so on. Christi provides compelling evidence that dismantles common limiting beliefs including that you have to go to college to make money, that you have to work really hard to get money, and that credit cards are evil. In examining those beliefs, you’ll recognize that they are not always true.  Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch to learn how to remove the limiting beliefs that may be holding you back so you can reestablish your relationship with money and find financial success. Quotes “Oftentimes, anything that we feel limits us, we can eradicate that belief. Because we'll find supporting evidence that shows that is not always true. And if it's not always true for everyone, why does it need to be true for me, or you?” (12:55-13:18) “We have to take into account that going to college isn't exactly a guarantee that you're going to get a great job and earn a ton of money. There are so many people out there who earn great money that maybe didn't go to college.” (15:32-15:51) “Chances are, you're blocking this from coming to you because you have this limiting belief that you have to work really hard and sacrifice to make money.” (25:12-25:22) “When we are living with these limiting beliefs, we are basically putting up a big fat wall around us that prevents the flow of money for exchanging our gifts with the world.” (27:13-27:27) “We have seen people in our lifetimes go from struggling to maybe having wealth in some way, shape, or form. And it doesn't make them a bad person. It doesn't make them a good person, it magnifies the person that they already are. Because it's the intention behind what is done with that money.” (29:10-29:29) “Money actually is not a limited resource. There is enough out there for everyone.” (32:34-32:38) “It's so important for us to get to the root of these beliefs. When you think something like this, ask yourself, “Where did I learn that from?” (34:10-34:19) Links Join the 5-Day Keys to Unlocking Your Dream Life waitlist HERE Grab Be a Money CEO HERE   FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!  XO, Christi 

“Human design is essentially your energetic blueprint,” explains host Christi Lukasiak. In this episode of Christi’s Couch, Christi explains the basics of human design, a concept that combines astrology, quantum physics, chakras, biochemistry, and the Kabbalah Tree of Life to explain individual human behavior. Human design is evaluated through a body graph which takes into account your date, location, and time of birth to determine your energy type, strategy, signature, authority, and non-self theme. To unlock your human design, you first need to obtain your body graph, which is available online for free. Once you have your graph, you can follow along as Christi goes into detail about each of the five main energy types: manifester, manifester-generator, generator, projector, and reflector. Christi also discusses the strategy and signature affiliated with each energy type and then talks about different authority types and how they influence behavior. When you understand how you work and how you make decisions, it can really help you to understand your place in the world.  Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch to learn how to interpret your own body graph so you can better understand the basics of your human design.  Quotes “When I first read my chart, I realized that it was almost like unlocking a little secret box inside of me. And when I was reading it, I felt like it was really right.” (5:41-5:58) “Human design is essentially your energetic blueprint.” (10:20-10:24) “It essentially is what is imprinted on your systems and your cells at that exact moment of your central nervous system, which becomes your unconscious self, and then your personality or your conscious self at birth. So it takes all of these different things into account.” (12:03-12:18) “We're always told, listen to your gut feeling, but sometimes people struggle with that. And chances are, if you struggle with your gut feeling, it's because your authority is coming from a different place.  We all have intuition, and authority just gives us a way to individualize how we access it.” (51:21-51:43) “We all like peace. We all like satisfaction. We all like success, right? And the more we can start using this to our advantage, the better our lives are going to be.” (1:04:25-1:04:35) Links Join the 5-Day Keys to Unlocking Your Dream Life waitlist HERE   FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!  XO, Christi 

“I feel like my contribution to this ridiculous time we're living in is to give people back a sense of self-love,” says Debra Silverman, Celebrity Astrologer and Psychotherapist.  In today’s episode, host Christi Lukasiak is joined in conversation with Debra to discuss the role astrology plays in psychotherapy.  Over the last 45 years of studying astrology, Debra has recognized the connection between astrology and effective therapy. After realizing that other therapists don’t consider their clients’ astrological charts when drawing up a treatment plan, Debra understood why therapy was not successful for many people. Debra explains that by not integrating astrological charts into a treatment plan, a therapist may try to get their clients to change in ways that are fundamentally opposite of where the stars intended them to be. By using astrology as a tool in her practice, Debra is able to help clients find acceptance, discover their purpose, and befriend their own souls.   Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a conversation about the intricate world of astrology. Learn how understanding your birth chart can teach you about yourself, your purpose, and the world around you.  Quotes   “If you put your soul in the front seat, rather than letting your ego drive your ship, then there's a tandem practice going on. It's like a bicycle built for two, but you can't live without your ego period.” (39:10-39:26) “You have to look at your life to determine ‘what did your soul sign up for?’ And then you need to accept it and stop trying to change it. If therapists let their clients be who they are, and not instruct them to be like them, there would be a great ease.” (41:12-41:33) “I feel like my contribution to this ridiculous time we're living in is to give people back a sense of self-love. It's the medicine that we're all starving for.” (48:47-48:57) “We get programmed with some kind of hardwired for what normal is, which is a setting on the dryer. I have not met normal yet.” (1:04:46-51:04:55) Connect with Debra Silverman  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debrasilverman_astrology/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8h-BJfBv-DzhaUSg_IJzFg?view_as=subscriber Website: https://debrasilvermanastrology.com/ Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/debrasilvermanastrology?_rdc=1&_rdr  Freebies:  https://debrasilvermanastrology.com/freepodcastgift-jp  http://debrasilvermanastrology.com/freegift Get on the waitlist for the 5-Day Keys to Unlocking Your Dream Life Workshop HERE     FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!  XO, Christi

“You do what you need to do to keep yourself sane and you do what you need to do to keep that baby alive and healthy,” says host Christi Lukasiak. In this episode of Christi’s Couch, Christi reflects back on her experience of the early days of motherhood and shares with listeners some of the viable lessons she learned along the way.  Becoming a mom changes everything and it’s important to allow yourself the grace to learn from and accept any mistakes that you make along the way. As a new mother, you must understand that you are doing the best that you can with the resources you have. The most important thing to do as a mom is to take care of yourself and your baby. Don’t compare yourself to all the picture perfect moms on Instagram, because that is not real life.    Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for an honest conversation about being a new mom. Learn more about the importance of asking for help, how to recognize the “baby blues”, and why you need to stop comparing yourself to other moms on social media. Quotes “As you're experiencing things as a new parent, I think that a really important point to keep in mind is you always have to give yourself some grace.” (16:29-16:37)  “You have to eliminate expectations of what other people are telling you you should or shouldn't do.” (21:58-22:04) “At the end of the day, you just need to keep your baby alive. That's the biggest piece of advice. It doesn't matter if you have the best Instagram posts, if they're wearing the best outfit, if you look perfect, or if you have bounced back in your body. You do what you need to do to keep yourself sane and keep that baby alive and healthy.” (27:21-27:48) “At the end of the day, you're living real life, you're not living in an Instagram post.” (32:56-33:02) “The number one thing you can do for your kids is to hold space for them. Hold space for them to let them know that it's okay to figure things out.” (44:39-44:54) Links CLICK HERE FOR THE 5-DAY HUMAN DESIGN WORKSHOP FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!  XO, Christi 

“If you really loved me, you would do this.” These bone-chilling words were said by David Brown to his daughter Cinnamon as he tried to convince her to shoot his wife. David was a master manipulator with a long history of grooming and abusing young girls. In this episode of Christi’s Couch, host Christi Lukasiak takes listeners on a true crime journey through the grizzly and complicated murder of Linda Brown. If you don’t remember the case of Linda Brown, the infamous name of Cinnamon Brown might ring a bell. At the time of Linda’s murder, Cinnamon was only 14 years old living part-time with her father David, his new wife Linda, and Linda’s 17-year-old little sister Patty. The original story presented to the police about a child murderer was horrific enough, however, police knew there was more to it. While Cinnamon was initially the only person charged for the crime, it was later revealed that there were two people involved.  Tune into this week's episode of Christi’s Couch for a dive into a truly fascinating and disturbing true-crime story that will leave you on your seat.  Quotes • “I respect your opinion, please respect mine. That’s the thing here is everybody’s opinion is safe. We all are entitled to it. We’re all from different backgrounds and different walks of life and we are clearly going to have different opinions on things. That’s the beauty of the world, especially the United States.” (6:49-7:11) • “If you really loved me you would do this.” (57:57-58:01) “• She said, ‘I’m ashamed that I loved my father enough to shoot Linda and I didn’t want to admit it or to accept it.’ David had also told Linda after she took the pills, that he thought it was a good idea if she shot herself in the head, just to make the police think she really did try to kill herself. When she’s telling this story to the police, it does not dawn on her that David really wanted her to die. It actually doesn’t dawn on her until she’s testifying in court. When Linda has that moment of realization that she was expendable to her father, you could see her whole spirit drain out of her.” (1:06:04-1:06:58) Links FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY TIK TOK WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!  XO, Christi

“We are going to put your best foot forward and we are going to create this peace around your day instead of being in this reactive, jumping up, making a coffee, running out the door vibe,” shares host Christi Lukasiak. In this episode of Christi’s Couch, Christi explains the six steps to creating a morning routine that will change your life. The way you start and end your day can have a big influence on your mood and overall success. Christi shares tips for how to ensure a better day by creating a morning routine. Get a jump on your day by putting your alarm clock across the room, drinking water first thing to wake up your body, and putting on some comfortable clothes. Then, you’ll be motivated to start your day with SAVERS, the six steps to the “miracle morning.” Christi explains each step of SAVERS: silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, read, and scribe in detail to help you start each day with intention instead of reaction.  Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a motivational conversation with host Christi Lukasiak on how to establish a morning routine that will help you meet each day with your best foot forward. Learn more about each step of SAVERS and start building your perfect morning routine. Quotes: “Your last thought that you have at night actually is your first thought that you have in the morning.” (22:15-22:23) “You're going to take this extra time that you now have carved out for yourself, and we’re going to do things that are going to create such a massive shift in your everyday life that it is going to cause ripple effects throughout the day, and throughout the week, throughout the month. We are going to put your best foot forward and we are going to create this peace around your day instead of being in this reactive, jumping up, making a coffee, running out the door vibe.” (27:32-28:07) “That silence opened me up to letting my brain rest and bringing me centered in my being, but it also allowed me to listen to my inner intuition and start to pick up on little messages and ideas that I might not have had time for during the day because I never shut the fuck up and listened.” (29:20-29:43) “When you say the words ‘I am,’ whatever follows those words ‘I am’ dictates your identity.” (32:41-32:48) “I encourage you to start by visualizing your day to go as smoothly and effortlessly as possible, so that when the day is over you’re like ‘that was a really great day.’ Anything that you’re worried about, visualize it going as perfectly as possible.” (39:29-39:44)  “There is a lot to be said about the benefits of putting pen to paper and seeing what comes out.” (44:11-44:18) Crush Your Goals: https://adulting.christilukasiak.com/crush-your-goals-like-a-boss-df Follow Christi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christilukasiak Check out Christi's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christilukasiak Watch Christi's latest YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/christilukasiak If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message! XO, Christi  Get 15% off your purchase of the Greens & Superfoods blend at https://bloomnu.com/couch More podcasts at WAVE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/artist/wave-podcast-network/1437831426

“Life is like swimming across an ocean. You’re never gonna make it if you never have time to take a moment to stop and relax,” explains Christi Lukasiak, Dance Moms star, motivational speaker, and mindset coach. In this episode of Christi’s Couch, host Christi shares the top seven things she knows now that she wishes she had known when she was younger.   Whether you’re a college student starting your first job or an established adult looking to switch things up, Christi has tips to help reshape how you approach your career, your relationships, and your personal life. From how to best battle imposter syndrome to how to carve more time for yourself into your busy schedule, Christi shares how you can make meaningful changes that improve your life. Never be afraid to try new things and take risks. You deserve to live your life to the fullest.    Tune into this week’s episode of Christi’s Couch for a motivational conversation with host Christi Lukasiak about how to chase your dreams and live the life you want. Come away with tips Christi wishes she had known when she graduated from college.    Quotes “The number one thing that you need to remember about a job interview and feeling competent in getting rid of that imposter syndrome is these are working professionals. They have a job to do. They only have a set amount of hours in a day to dedicate to interviewing people for a role or a position. If you were not qualified, they would not waste their time with you.” (18:28-18:53) “Even if you are doing a Zoom interview…get dressed the whole way down to your shoes in your outfit. Don’t just cop out and put on the top if it’s a serious interview. You hold yourself differently. It is amazing how different you can approach things just by changing your posture. You don’t need a million dollars. You don’t need a 10,000 dollar suit. Just having that confidence will change everything for you.” (21:01-21:33) “When you allow yourself to be creative… that is the time when you’re actually closest to your higher self and all of the universal knowledge that’s available to you. Because you’re being creative and creativity comes from the subconscious.” (28:14-28:32) “Life is like swimming across an ocean. You’re never gonna make it if you never have time to take a moment to stop and relax. So, the way I explain work life balance is we need to have buoys or we need to have life preservers in the water that we are swimming to. Maybe every single day on your calendar you have something that is 10, 15 minutes just for you. Maybe it’s a bath. Maybe it’s reading a book…I’m saying you do something that you enjoy and you look forward to. 15 minutes. If you have 30 or an hour, great.  But you need to have something on your list every single day or time in your schedule cause that’s a life preserver. That’s a little one. And then you need to have a slightly larger life preserver on the weekends…And then once a month you have something slightly bigger.” (28:52-30:03)  “Do not be afraid to try things. Move to a new city. If that’s your dream. Move. Go. You’re only young once. You’re only going to be that free once…The worst thing that could happen is it doesn’t work out and you go home…Take those risks. Take those chances.” (31:15-31:38) “If you’re always looking for someone else to complete you, you’re always going to feel a little bit empty because it’s not their job. Your job is to complete you. Their job is to complete themselves so that you can be the best version of you for the other person.” (36:04-36:16)  Follow Christi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christilukasiak Check out Christi's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christilukasiak Watch Christi's latest YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/christilukasiak If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message!  Get yourself & your loved ones the perfect gift with 20% off. Check out Ana Luisa at https://shop.analuisa.com/christiscouch - I know you’ll LOVE them! More podcasts at WAVE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/artist/wave-podcast-network/1437831426

In 1983, Dianne Downs claimed a "bushy-haired stranger" shot her and her three children, killing her 7-year old daughter. What we find is an underlying story about a mother so selfish, she would attempt to murder her own children for her own selfish reasons. If you've benefited from this episode be sure to tag me @christilukasiak on Instagram and share this episode with your community to spread the word! Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes. And if you want a question answered on the couch, call 1-800-988-8155 and leave a message! XO, Christi  Buy your 2022 Begin Planner: https://www.christilukasiak.com/begin Follow Christi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christilukasiak Check out Christi's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christilukasiak Watch Christi's latest YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/christilukasiak Call Christi's Couch 1-800-988-8155 Go to https://greenchef.com/couch130 & use code: couch130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping! Get 20% off at https://www.littlepassports.com/couch More podcasts at WAVE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/artist/wave-podcast-network/1437831426

Christi is getting personal this week as she shares an unexpected life update. Buy your 2022 Begin Planner: https://www.christilukasiak.com/begin Follow Christi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christilukasiak Check out Christi's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christilukasiak Watch Christi's latest YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/christilukasiak Go to https://greenchef.com/couch130 & use code: couch130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping! More podcasts at WAVE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/artist/wave-podcast-network/1437831426