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Holding Space with Dr. Barker
Welcome to Holding Space with Dr. Barker—a podcast dedicated to fostering personal growth, emotional healing, and professional development. Hosted by Dr. Christopher Barker, a seasoned psychologist with over two decades of clinical experience, this podcast offers a thoughtful, compassionate space for meaningful conversations about mental health and psychotherapy.
Whether you're on your own path toward greater self-awareness and well-being, or you're a fellow therapist committed to deepening your clinical skills, you’ll find insightful discussions, evidence-based strategies, and expert guidance to support your journey.
Each week, Dr. Barker draws on his extensive training—including a Ph.D. from Seton Hall University, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Radford University, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research—to explore topics like trauma recovery, emotional regulation, therapeutic techniques, and the art of holding space for others.
Join us for educational series, interviews with leading voices in the field, and practical tools designed to inspire personal discovery and professional transformation.
This is your space for reflection, learning, and connection.
Welcome to Holding Space.
Holding Space with Dr. Barker
Hope, Resiliency & Mental Health Recovery: Dr. Barker with Dr. Keith Morgen | Holding Space Podcast
In this episode of Holding Space, Dr. Christopher Barker sits down with mental health expert and author Dr. Keith Morgen to explore the powerful connection between hope, resiliency, and mental health recovery. Dr. Morgen discusses why true healing requires shifting from “recovery from” past trauma or addiction to “recovery toward” meaning, purpose, and a new identity.
Drawing from his work in mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and co-occurring disorders, Dr. Morgen explains how individuals often rely on substances or maladaptive behaviors to escape emotional pain—behaviors that ultimately weaken (“atrophy”) their natural coping abilities. Effective therapy, he argues, requires building hope as the foundation for resiliency, allowing clients to face discomfort, rewrite old narratives, and develop healthier ways to coexist with challenges rather than avoid them.
Dr. Barker and Dr. Morgen discuss the myth of instant change (“the magic wand”), why progress in mental health is nonlinear, and how learning to tolerate discomfort is essential for long-term stability. They connect these themes to existential psychology, addiction recovery models like the 12 steps, and the vital role of meaning-making in mental health. The episode closes with Dr. Morgen’s work as a professor, researcher, and author on addiction and trauma—offering listeners deep insight into how hope fuels growth in all areas of mental health.
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Holding Space For You