IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode of 'Out of Session with Kindman and Co.', Paul Kindman, co-founder and clinical director, converses with Lillian Farzan, a psychotherapist, digital nomad, poet, and activist.

SUMMARY:

Paul Kindman, co-founder and clinical director, reconnects with Lillian Farzan, a psychotherapist, digital nomad, poet, and activist. The conversation delves into Lillian's journey from interviewing for a position at Kindman and Co. just before the pandemic to establishing her private practice as a therapist while traveling the world. They discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their professional lives, Lillian's personal experiences, including planning a wedding in Israel amidst geopolitical tensions, and the importance of integrating personal values and activism into therapy. They also explore the significance of organizations like Standing Together, which fosters solidarity between Jews and Palestinians, and the ongoing need to address systemic issues affecting mental health.

TOPICS:

Politics, Digital Nomad, Activism, Grief, Counseling, Personal Journey, Mental Health Support

KEY FIGURES:

Paul Kindman, LMFT

Lillian Farzan, LMFT

Kindman & Co.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

COVID transformed the therapy profession and opened the door to digital nomadism.

Lillian describes how the pandemic fundamentally shifted her career path—allowing her to start a fully remote private practice and eventually build a lifestyle where she can live and work around the world.

Personal grief and global conflict shaped Lillian’s journey.

Her father’s death, reconnecting with family abroad, and being in Israel during and after October 7th created a complex emotional landscape that deeply influenced her worldview and her work.

The mental health field benefits from therapists being transparent about values.

Both Paul and Lillian push back against the “blank slate” model, emphasizing that therapists acknowledging systemic issues—and their own perspectives—can validate clients’ lived experiences rather than pathologizing them.

Systemic context matters in understanding mental health.

They highlight how anxiety, depression, and distress are often natural responses to broken societal systems—not personal failings—and therapy should reflect that broader reality.

Standing Together shows a path to solidarity amid polarization.

Lillian found grounding and clarity with Standing Together, a joint Palestinian–Jewish organization. It offered a place to unlearn biases, hold empathy for both communities, and stay engaged in nuanced activism when the world felt polarized and overwhelming.

“COVID was a complete game changer. Suddenly the idea that therapists had to stay rooted in one place no longer made sense.” — Lillian Farzan

“Recontextualizing what people feel is so important—so many of our struggles are perfectly reasonable responses to a system that’s deeply messed up.” — Paul Kindman

“I felt like I was living in the center of so many extremes, trying to understand what was real and who to believe.” — Lillian Farzan

“When we don’t talk about the systems, people are left thinking something is wrong with them instead of seeing the environment they’re surviving in.” — Paul Kindman

“Finding Standing Together helped me realize I wasn’t alone. It gave me a place to unlearn, to grow, and to hold empathy for both Palestinians and Jews.” — Lillian Farzan
CALL TO ACTION:

Today's episode is bringing you to Standing Together. This is the organization that Lillian refers to several times throughout the conversation. They are a progressive grassroots movement organizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel against the occupation and for peace, equality, and social justice. You can view their website at https://www.standing-together.org/en

You can also find Lillian's website here: https://www.lillianfarzan.com/

Look out for the transcript of this episode on the Kindman & Co. blog and sign up for the Kindman & Co. newsletter to stay connected.