I had an incredible therapist years ago before COVID and I miss her every day. This podcast is so close to those sessions that it’s been incredibly moving and healing. Working on grounding, body work, connecting parts of ourselves, listening to our internal stories, “stay with that feeling,” and holding emotions together—-it’s so gentle and warm and missing in so many of our lives. My only criticism: the low, soft voice in session is probably great in person but makes it harder to hear as a podcast; you’ll hear some vocal fry and near-whisper.. Otherwise, incredible & important work.

Pretentious and annoying host fr pls stop

If you identify with American Mary and find the voice annoying, please consider this “resistance”. Sometimes we react with annoyance to something that triggers us at an unconscious level because it activates our inner cynic. Many of use cynicism to avoid vulnerability. I challenge you to sit with annoyance and befriend it while listening to this fabulous host.

I couldn’t make it through five minutes of this podcast because the host is SO annoying, holy cow. She puts on the most blatantly artificial “therapist voice” that makes her sound like a first-year masters student trying to do reflective listening. Her responses feel so contrived and insincere. If I had a therapist who spoke to me like this I would be out that door so fast.

this podcast is truly a blessing

I love how compassionate Hilary is and how she explains what’s going on with their emotions in the bodies. It’s soooo helpful for my own healing journey!!

I am a psychotherapist in the US and I love this podcast. Her approach and understanding to trauma in particular is impressive. I actually just recommend this podcast on a podcast I was recently featured in. Really wonderful.

I love the fact that each session is so relatable in some ways. But I also love that I can learn different ways others handle the situations…. Funny how we all can relate to “Other Peoples Problems “

This show helped immensely in feeling less alone and misunderstood. Having been in therapy for years, it’s an entirely new experience to hear how others have such similar and different experiences, and how ultimately we all want connection and psychological safety. This show reminds me that I’m not the only one “going through it,” and that’s something I find I’m carrying throughout my day.

Love hearing these episodes. It makes me feel “normal”

I really do enjoy this show. Hillary is so good at being able to verbalize in summary what she hears and is great at prompting conversation. The amount of times per episode she says mmmmmmm or ahhhhhh or hhmmmm is very annoying. I know it’s a soothing and supporting prompt for the patient to continue but good lord it’s annoying.

I enjoy this podcast a lot. Hillary is so very kind, and gentle in a way that is comforting. At the same time she can be tough but gentle. She is in my opinion one of the best counselors I’ve heard. She genuinely cares, and it just shines through! Five stars!

Thank you Hillary and the clients in this show for opening your hearts to us and letting us see what healing looks like ❤️

I’ve been really impressed by this podcast and by Hillary. It really reinforces my own work in therapy, and it’s nice to know other people struggle with the same things.

This podcast is one of my favorites I have ever stumbled upon. I am in therapy and have an amazing therapist but sometimes it’s easy to forget conversations and themes present in therapy after the fact. It is so helpful to hear others stories and relate to my own story. I feel validated and connected with this podcast. AMAZING!

I’m a therapist and I believe this is a realistic glimpse into what happens in therapy. It’s not an exercise in just venting...it takes real skill to identify thought and behavior patterns that aren’t working well, and to slowly and kindly help a person focus on what’s meaningful in their life. Hilary is a skilled therapist who demonstrates compassion for and confidence in her clients.

Fascinating & helpful. Something to be gleaned from most every episode. Love Hillary’s empathy & warmth. I’d want her to be my therapist if I lived in BC.

I can not listen to this, I can’t even listen to what y’all are saying when it sounds like pornography? I love the idea of the podcast I just think the “ooh’s, aaah’s, and other noises” are very unnecessary

This is such an important podcast. To hear that others have gone through similar stuff that I have. It's sad but important to know I'm not alone.

I admire the clients/patients for their strengths and willingness to lean in. Dr.Hillary is asking the questions I seek to be asked so I listen to every episode multiple times and answer the questions myself. I learn to also sit in the feelings. Thank you.

I’ve learned so many life skills by listening to this podcast. I hear myself in the clients and I internalize Hillary’s kindness as a good voice in my head. I’m healing in part thanks to this pod.

Here to say GO LOUISE GO!!!! Such an inspiring story. Hillary is so delicate yet diligent in her work I leave each episode feeling more inspired. All around a great podcast and a must listen every week!

Love this podcast, feel like it gives an insight to what therapy sessions are actually like I’m just wondering why the sessions are so short

But I guess that is what it is all about!!!! I love this podcast and sometimes I feel like Hilary is talking to and about me! BUT - I am soooooo triggered by her tone of voice when she is trying to sound empathetic- it sounds like fake pity to me and really makes me angry- must be something from my past and I guess that is something for me to work on lol

Finally! Someone who understands me. I feel like Im finally heard, through others. Thank you so much. #SSDGM

I love the grace and compassion Hillary shares with her clients. Just such a soothing show where I can learn a few things about myself too. I’m so glad there’s another season.

People want and need to unpack their very serious and important problems. They want to be listened to and they don’t need you “oh’ing” and “ah’ing” between every single word they say. It literally sounds like pornography mixed with someone trying articulate their issues. Cool it McBride “oh oh/awe, oh,ah”

Hillary’s ability to model communicating compassion, respect, grace, and love for her clients is unique. She makes it a little easier to extend those positive truths to ourselves. Keep up the amazing work.

And I say that as a therapist myself. Seriously, if she has openings take them like yesterday.

I’ve been listening to Hillary on the liturgists and just love her and what’s she brought to that podcast. I just listened to the first episode of this podcast and I’m seriously contemplating getting my passport just to go visit her as a client in B.C.

I enjoyed this podcast SO much! It was amazing to relate to these brave individuals on a regular basis. Not everyone’s story is the same, but we often experience the same feelings associated with our story. This podcast accomplished what it set out to do...now for more episodes?!?!

Hillary is a gifted therapist. The vulnerability her clients show in these sessions is so profound and everyone can take away something from each session regardless of your age or stage in life. I really enjoy Hillary’s voice, her compassion and her genuine connection to her clients. The diversity among Hillary’s clients is also refreshing and reflective of society. Well done to everyone in this podcast.

I listened to every episode, hoping to heal vicariously. It did help, but more importantly, it gave me the courage to finally call my therapist—life changer.

I really appreciate getting this window into therapy, but most of all appreciate Hillary’s compassion and knowledge surrounding trauma.

It breaks down the walls that curated, social media squares have created for us. Hillary speaks with such gentleness and kindness, it’s refreshing! And, although, it is not therapy or advice intended for anyone by the client in the episode, it allows for listeners to be empowered by truth. Would recommend, 100%!

truly touching, hillary is so kind and understanding and is a wonderful sherpa to her clients. this is beautiful to listen to and to feel, thank you for the insight into your work and to those who shared, how brave they are 🙏🏼

Hi my name is Tracey when I stumbled upon this podcast I was genuinely surprised by the compassion you have for your patients!!! I worked at a Family practice office for many years and there were 6 Dr’S some of them did not have any compassion so over the many years I just accepted the lack of compassion in physicians. With my own life growing up I had an absent mom she was there physically but through my own research I believe she is an emotionally immature parent and now I am the adult child of such parent. Somehow I was not that to my own child thankfully. After leaving my sons dad I stayed single I wanted him to have the best life I could give him I never wanted him to see me cry over anyone or get attached to someone and then they left I didn’t want anyone to treat him like a red headed step child. He is now 24 and amazing. A few years back I finally got involved in a relationship I would have been better off single I was in a narcissistic relationship talk about text book he was and the aftermath Was me it was crazy still is. I never saw a therapist I went into a funk scared of everything and my whole life I never had anyone to talk to I always felt nobody cared about what I had to say even now nobody understands CPTSD everyone says move on get over it. If I new that I would get a therapist such as yourself someone that cares and has compassion I would go I need to go but I won’t I can’t be that vulnerable to someone and feel like they are looking at the clock because I will cry ugly and to feel like I am still alone it would kill me more inside. You are the greatest I wish I lived closer

I want to address the concerns that a few people have expressed about Hillary's tone of voice seeming fake or condescending. I can see how upon first listen it might come across this way, as it is not the most typical way of reacting to others. However, after spending many hours listening to her speak on multiple podcasts (the liturgists, ask science mike, you made it weird with pete holmes) I have come to know that her reactions to her clients' pain are genuine and empathetic. She simply cares THAT deeply about her clients as humans, not just because it is her job. Keep up the extraordinary work!

I need more episodes!!!

I love this podcast. It’s valuable information. My only frustration is you can hear the counselors voice versus the patients voice

Hillary is SO good at explaining how emotions register in the body and are connected to past experiences. This is such a good podcast as I work to support my husband in his own struggles with a toxic family situation. Please add more episodes!

Are you going to add more?

I feel these brave souls are going to help so many who can now see that therapy can be a helpful and supportive choice. Find the person who will understand you and care enough to help you through!

There’s a reason therapy should be private.

These are life changing episodes for people to hear. Thank you to Hillary for having the courage to be transparent and to her clients who are saving lives by helping people see they are never alone in their suffering. This feels like God’s work through Hillary as an instrument of love to beautiful souls.

Hillary is exceptionally articulate and able. Her ability to hold safe space for others is inspiring and allows the listener to feel vulnerable in tandem with the episode. There is such an opportunity to learn here that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Listening to an episode of OPP is like lifting a mirror to my soul — I’m deeply moved every time. Thank you.

Listening to this show can almost be considered free therapy. The clients on the podcasts all reflect some aspect of a problem or insecurity within myself or someone I know. I would recommend wearing sunglasses while listening if you're outside your home because I cry almost every episode. It's very affirming to hear you're not the only one who feels a certain way about something. Thank you to Hillary for making this podcast and all the participants who were brave in sharing their stories. I'm really happy to have found this podcast.

Love this podcast. So authentic, so transparent! Love every minute of it!

Each episode has been a gem. I learn. I am challenged. I am taken forward in my own journey. Hillary is great. I wish I could get guidance on how to find a good therapist.