In this episode of the Death & Sex Podcast, Stephen Thomas and Dr. Caleb Bradley welcome back author Val Walker for a return conversation that picks up right where they left off.

Author Val Walker, writer of

• Healing Through Wonder — her most recent release, exploring how awe restores us after trauma and loss
• The Art of Comforting
• 400 Friends and No One to Call: Breaking Through Isolation and Building Community

Drawing on over 30 years as a rehabilitation counselor, Val has witnessed firsthand how moments of awe and wonder can pull people out of grief, trauma, and rumination. In this episode, she walks the hosts through researcher Dr. Dacher Keltner's eight categories of awe, from human heroism and collective effervescence to nature, music, and the sacred mystery of life's greatest passages. She also breaks down the six scientifically studied features of an awe moment, including the sense of vastness, the feeling of time stopping, the "small self," and physical sensations like goosebumps that signal your nervous system is resetting.

The conversation moves from solar eclipses and space exploration to comic book art, the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, and why "third places" matter more than we realize. Val makes the case that cultivating awe isn't a luxury, it's an act of resistance against cynicism and the forces that drain us of our humanity. And for those in grief or trauma who feel too numb to experience wonder at all, she offers a gentler entry point: awe doesn't require joy. Sometimes, something simply strange or fascinating is enough to start a reset.

Whether you're a clinician, a griever, or just someone who hasn't felt wonder in a while, this episode is a reminder that your sense of awe is still there and worth protecting.

Visit valwalkerauthor.com to learn more about her, her books, and links to her socials!

Three counselors walk into a podcast... and get really honest about what therapy is actually like.

Stephen, Dr. Kailey, and Raven from Refuge Counseling sit down to talk about all the stuff people get wrong about therapy. The TikTok myths, the "blank slate" therapist trope, why having good rapport with your counselor isn't always enough, and what you should actually be asking before you book that first session.

They also get into some fun stuff, like whether therapists are allowed to cry, how humor fits into heavy conversations, what couples counseling is really like, and why "that's not real" might be the most useful thing a therapist can say to you.

If you've ever been curious about therapy, intimidated by it, or just want to hear counselors talk like actual humans, this one's for you.

Can a blue heron really change the path of your life? It seems so. Today we talk with Val Walker, author of 400 Friends and No One to Call, Healing Through Wonder, and The Art of Comforting, about how a moment with a giant blue heron saved her life and changed its trajectory. Was it the bird that saved her? Or was it the realization of the awe and wonder the world holds?

#counseling #author #birdwatching #podcast #mentalhealthcare

In the first episode of 2026, Stephen Thomas and Dr. Kailey Bradley unpack the HBO series Heated Rivalry and explore why it has struck such a deep chord with viewers. They talk about enthusiastic consent, vulnerability, communication, and what healthy intimacy can look like when it is rooted in care, curiosity, and mutual desire

This conversation is for anyone thinking about consent, relationships, sexuality, identity, or the power of representation in media. If this episode brings up a lot, take care of yourself and go gently.

Listen, share with someone who needs it, and subscribe for more Death and Sex Podcast episodes from Refuge Counseling.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life, love, and loss.

Visit Our Website:

https://allrefuge.com/

Follow Us:

https://www.instagram.com/allrefugecounseling/

https://www.tiktok.com/@allrefugecounseling

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#consent #relationships #sexuality #counseling #mentalhealth

In the first episode of 2026, Stephen Thomas and Dr. Kailey Bradley talk about infertility grief and why it often goes unseen or minimized. They unpack disenfranchised grief, the pain of grieving an expected future, and how grief can show up in waves over time.

This conversation is for anyone navigating infertility, miscarriage, reproductive loss, or any loss that feels hard to name. If this episode brings up a lot, take care of yourself and go gently.

Listen, share with someone who needs it, and subscribe for more Death and Sex Podcast episodes from Refuge Counseling.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more honest conversations about life, love, and loss.

Visit Our Website:

https://allrefuge.com/

Follow Us:

https://www.instagram.com/allrefugecounseling/

https://www.tiktok.com/@allrefugecounseling

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#grief #infertility #counseling #mentalhealth

After a summer break, Stephen Thomas and Dr. Kailey Bradley are back with a candid conversation about what counseling really looks like. Too often, people come into therapy carrying fear, misconceptions, or the belief that something must be “wrong” with them if they’re there. This episode pushes back on those ideas and offers a more grounded perspective.

Stephen and Kailey explore the common anxieties people bring into the counseling process—questions like “Am I broken?” or “Does this mean my relationship is over?” They share why couples often wait until it’s almost too late to seek help, and how getting support earlier can make all the difference.

The episode also digs into the idea that healing isn’t quick or linear. Together, they unpack the unrealistic expectation that one session will “fix everything,” and instead emphasize that counseling is a process that requires time, gentleness, and patience.

Listeners will also hear about:

• The difference between a “safe space” and a “brave space”
• Why validation is one of the most powerful tools in the counseling room
• The role of emotions as messengers, not problems to erase
• How counselors think about when and how therapy ends
• Why it’s okay to seek out the right fit if a particular counselor doesn’t feel like one

Whether you’re new to counseling, supporting someone you love, or just curious about how therapists think about their work, this conversation offers insight, encouragement, and practical takeaways.

Stay tuned for more episodes where Stephen and Kailey bring honesty, humor, and heart to some of the hardest—and most human—parts of life.

Visit Our Website:

https://allrefuge.com/

Follow Us:

https://www.instagram.com/allrefugecounseling/

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In this episode, Dr. Kailey Bradley and Stephen Thomas sit down with Dr. Bethany Fulton—therapist, educator, and advocate for holding space for hard things. Together, they explore what trauma really means, how it shows up in everyday life, and why so many people struggle to identify their experiences as trauma in the first place.

This conversation digs into the heart of trauma work, including:

• Why “it wasn’t that bad” is often a trauma response
• How trauma manifests in the body and nervous system (even in surprising ways)
• The key differences between acute, chronic, and complex trauma
• The danger of advice-giving in therapy—and what actually builds trust
• How meaning-making emerges (and why it can’t be forced)

Whether you’ve experienced trauma yourself or work with people who have, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a whole lot of honesty.

Also inside:

• What The Body Keeps the Score gets right about memory
• Why minimizing your pain might feel safer than naming it
• CBT, DBT, IFS, mindfulness, and the power of presence
• Why there’s “no billing code for gently held space”—and why that matters

In this raw and real episode, Stephen and Dr. Kailey tackle one of the trickiest parts of parenting and caregiving: having honest conversations with kids and teens about death, sex, and everything in between. From the dangers of euphemisms to the importance of consent, grief literacy, and pleasure, this episode is packed with stories, laughs, stats, and hard truths. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, caregiver, or just someone who wants to break the cycle of secrecy and shame—you’ll find validation, insight, and a whole lot of permission here.

Visit Our Website:

https://allrefuge.com/

Follow Us:

https://www.instagram.com/allrefugecounseling/

https://www.tiktok.com/@allrefugecounseling

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