What's The F*%@ing Point?

In this first episode, Alyssa unpacks the quiet power of hope—not as blind optimism, but as a grounded, embodied practice. When the world feels heavy with grief, anger, fear, or uncertainty, it can feel naive or even dangerous to “hope.” But what if hope isn't about denying hardship… but staying rooted in possibility because of it?Together, we explore:The difference between grounded hope and toxic positivityHow hope can coexist with grief, anger, and fearThe impact of collective struggles like global unrest, climate anxiety, and cultural traumaWhy hope isn’t about pretending everything’s fine—it’s about choosing to care anywayA short guided practice to help you reconnect with a felt sense of hopePlus: A reflective question to carry with you—What does hope mean to you right now?Whether you’re a therapist, a healer, or someone simply trying to make it through these times with your integrity intact, this episode is a gentle invitation to reimagine what it means to hope.Mentioned in this episode:Embodied visualization practicePersonal reflection promptAcknowledgment of collective emotional landscapesTune in, breathe deep, and know: Hope can live even here.

In this first episode, host Alyssa Wright—a licensed clinical social worker, educator, supervisor and consultant—introduces herself and the heart behind this podcast. Grounded in realness, reflection, and deep care, this show is for therapists, healers, and anyone seeking meaning in uncertain times.Alyssa shares her background, her hopes for this space, and what listeners can expect in upcoming episodes: conversations on burnout and belonging, decolonizing mental health, creative clinical practices, and how we hold onto hope when things fall apart. If you’re craving thoughtful, grounded dialogue that honors both nuance and humanity, you’re in the right place.

In this special mini episode, I’m joined by a very special guest—my daughter—who shares her own beautiful, unfiltered perspective on what hope means to her. Through the eyes of a child, we get a tender reminder of the simplicity, honesty, and wisdom that hope can carry when it’s not weighed down by the complexities of adulthood. Whether you’re a parent, a seeker, or simply someone needing a fresh take, this sweet conversation is sure to stir something inside you.

In this episode, Alyssa dives into the overstimulating reality of modern life—where the scroll never ends, the headlines keep getting louder, and everyone has an urgent take. We talk about how our constant exposure to news, social media, and global crises can quietly erode our nervous systems, our attention spans, and our sense of what’s even possible.Hope isn’t just an emotion—it’s a practice. And some days, it’s a fucking exhausting one. Especially when the world keeps handing us more than we’re built to carry.Together, we’ll explore:Why sensory overload isn’t just a tech problem—it’s a soul problemHow the 24/7 media cycle messes with our ability to access grounded hopeThe difference between informed and overwhelmedTiny, doable ways to build hope when everything feels like too muchThis episode is a breath, a boundary, and a call to remember that numbing out isn’t your only option. You’re not broken. You’re just tired—and there are gentler ways back to what matters.

In this powerful and raw episode of What’s the Fucking Point?, we dive deep into the lived experience of suicidal ideation and the complex emotional terrain that comes with it—despair, silence, and survival. Alyssa Wright (she/her) is joined by Seth Tyra (they/them) and together explore what hope actually looks like in the darkest moments—not as a shiny promise, but as a gritty, often defiant act. We talk about what resilience really means when the goal isn’t thriving, but simply staying. Sometimes that’s enough. Sometimes that’s everything.We also touch on the impact of trauma and abuse, and how these experiences shape our relationship to hope, worthiness, and the will to live. This conversation isn’t about toxic positivity—it’s about telling the truth, honoring pain, and staying connected when everything in you wants to disappear.Whether you’ve lived this experience or love someone who has, this episode holds space for the heaviness and the humanity of it all.Content Warning: This episode contains open discussions about suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, emotional despair, abuse, and self-harm. Please listen with care. If you're in crisis or need someone to talk to, you're not alone. Help is available.If you’re in Colorado:Colorado Crisis Services Call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 Available 24/7. You can also visit a walk-in crisis center. coloradocrisisservices.orgIf you’re in the United States:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 Available 24/7 for free, confidential support.You are not a burden. You matter. There is space for you here.

In this episode of What’s the Fucking Point?, we dive into the messy, raw, and necessary reality of duality when it comes to hope. Hope isn’t all light, love, and Pinterest quotes—it’s also grief, rage, despair, and complexity. We talk about the importance of holding both/and—joy and sorrow, clarity and confusion, light and shadow—without needing to resolve one into the other. Because real hope, the kind that can survive a crisis or carry us through the unthinkable, lives in that tension. This episode invites you to stop bypassing the hard shit and start embracing the full, contradictory, fucking human experience.Let’s get honest about what it really means to hope while holding the dark.Cited content: Fauna Inspiration Cards by Rebecca Lefebvre https://www.rebeccalefebvre.art/avec-la-vie

In this episode of What’s the Fucking Point, we dive into the messy, complicated, and sometimes beautiful intersection of spirituality and emotional expression. We’ll explore how different spiritual practices can open the door to actually feeling our feelings—grief, anger, joy, all of it—and how that process can lead us toward hope in the here and now. This isn’t about quick fixes or bypassing pain with good vibes only; it’s about finding real, grounded meaning through spiritual connection, even when life feels like chaos.Content Note: This episode includes discussion of spirituality, religion, and personal emotional journeys. We also briefly discuss domestic violence. For some, these topics may feel sensitive or triggering, especially if you’ve experienced spiritual or religious harm. Please take care of yourself as you listen and pause if you need to.Resources:If you're in Colorado you can connect with someone to talk to at 1-844-493-8255 or you can Text “TALK” to 38255If you’re in the U.S. and struggling with your mental health, you can call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.If you’re outside the U.S., please look up local crisis hotlines in your area or visit findahelpline.com to locate support near you.For those navigating religious or spiritual trauma, resources like the Religious Trauma Institute (religioustraumainstitute.com) and Recovering from Religion (recoveringfromreligion.org) may offer additional support.To find more of what Alex/Alexi (she/they) is up to, please visit their Instagram @oftheriver. She offers free tarot spreads, opportunities to join women circles, and is taking new therapy clients in Washington and Colorado.

In this episode of What’s the Fucking Point, we dive into the ancient yet deeply relevant practice of Circle Work and the transformative power of community when navigating life’s hardest moments. Circles remind us that hope is not built in isolation, it’s sustained through witness, connection, and shared humanity. Together, we explore how intentional gathering can soften despair, hold complexity, and ignite a collective sense of possibility.About Our Guest:Carrie Haynes, LPC, is a psychotherapist, educator, and facilitator with more than two decades of experience guiding individuals and groups. Her career has included private practice, directing group services at Colorado State University’s Counseling Center, and teaching counseling and psychology at CSU and the University of Northern Colorado.Carrie has spent much of her career mentoring therapists and healing professionals in the art of group facilitation, blending her clinical background with a deep respect for the human need for connection and belonging.Today, she leads retreats, trainings, and mentorship programs that integrate psychology with soulful, embodied group experiences. Her work helps professionals cultivate confidence and presence while offering participants the chance to experience the profound healing that emerges in community.She can be found at: https://carriehayneslpc.com/ and see all of her offers to learn and experience Circles with her and others!

In this episode of What’s the Fucking Point, we dive into the transformative practice of reparenting through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) or "parts work". We explore what it means to tend to the younger, wounded parts of ourselves with compassion, curiosity, and care—and how this process can unlock a deeper sense of wholeness and hope. Whether you’re a therapist, healer, or simply someone navigating your own inner world, this conversation shines a light on how honoring our parts and building an inner secure base can lead to profound healing and self-trust.Places you can find therapists!In the United States and other Countries you can go to Psychology Today and place your criteria that you would want in a therapist and the site will give you options of providers in your area: https://www.psychologytoday.com/usIf you are in Colorado, my practice Integrated Counseling and Wellness is taking new clients, accepts insurance and can see anyone in the state of Colorado virtually and in person. Go to our website to learn more! www.integratedwellnessfc.com

Divorce can feel like the end of everything you thought you knew: your relationship, your identity, your plans for the future. But what if it’s also the beginning of something more honest, more grounded, and more you? In this episode of What’s the Fucking Point, we dive into the messy, painful, and sometimes liberating process of finding hope after divorce.We talk about the grief that comes with loss, the support found in the chosen family, and the quiet power of rebuilding when the dust settles. This isn’t about pretending it’s all okay. It’s about learning to hold both the heartbreak and the possibility. Whether you’re in the middle of a breakup, years past it, or supporting someone through theirs, this conversation is about reclaiming your story, your worth, and your hope — even when life doesn’t look like you thought it would.Because sometimes the fucking point... is starting over and finally finding yourself.Our guest today is Jess Grant and she is a therapist who specializes in helping individuals navigate many life transitions and struggles such as trauma, perinatal care, and women transitioning in relationships and with their bodies. She is a trained EMDR therapist and also hosts many trainings for other therapists. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, Jess offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on healing, growth, and rediscovering self-trust after major life transitions. She is growing her practice and will be starting a group practice, Cultivate & Connect, so if you are in need of a therapist and are located in Colorado, please reach out to Jess!

In this episode, we stare directly into the existential dread of modern dating and then dare to find hope inside it. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re still putting on real pants for strangers, downloading to just undownload another dating app, or trying to stay calm as all your triggers get magnified, this conversation is for you.Drawing from a grounded, therapeutic lens, we explore why dating feels so exhausting, how we all burnout, and what it actually means to show up with integrity, self-compassion, and curiosity. We talk about reframing connection, finding your unique flow of energy, and how to take a new perspective with modern dating.Because despite the chaos, the ghosting, and the emotional rollercoaster of hoping you will finally find someone who gives you those lasting butterflies, there is a point. There is growth. And there is a way to date that doesn’t require abandoning yourself.This episode is both a reality check and a love letter to anyone who’s still trying. Hope isn’t naive or silly, it’s a practice. And dating, believe it or not, can still be a place where that practice actually matters.

In this episode of What's the Fucking Point, we begin the journey of unpacking ways to sustain action when the world feels overwhelming, scary, and uncertain. This season 2 opener brings up topics around community building, making action a necessary part of living in this world, and turning inward when uncertainty is so loud.Some reflection questions for this episode:What counts as meaningful action for me in this season?What does the "next best step" look like for me?Who helps me feel less alone and do I need to seek more belonging?Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health treatment. Although I am a licensed mental health professional, I am not your therapist, and this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please seek the care of a qualified therapist in your area. If you are in crisis, please call your local emergency number or the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.