301: The Magic of Metaphor with Psychotherapist and Author Kate Robson
- Diana Varma
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
I’m really, really excited for you to hear today’s conversation with author, Kate Robson, about the magic of using metaphor. This is episode 301, and as I’ve been inching closer towards the 300 episode mark, I’ve been thinking a lot about how this podcast has evolved and how I might describe it using metaphor. Here’s my best try…
This podcast has become a space not unlike a community garden. I collect the necessary components, tend to space, plant seeds that allow for great conversation, and I often get to harvest insights, but it’s a space for gathering and contribution from many, many individuals, never just me. And much like a garden, nothing stays the same for long; ideas aren’t static as they grow, intertwine, and sometimes take on a life of their own. Thank you to everyone over the last 300 episodes who has contributed to this space in any way. I’m so thankful we get to collaborate. I can’t wait to see how and with whom we continue to cultivate in the future.
Our guest today is Kate Robson who is a registered psychotherapist in Toronto, Ontario. Inspired by her own experiences with her children in a neonatal intensive care unit, she worked with babies, parents, and families for more than twelve years as a NICU family support specialist. She’s travelled all over the world educating parents and clinicians about family-centred care and trauma informed care practices. Her workshops focus on cultivating attachment in relationships and creating emotion-friendly homes and workplaces. Her first book, the bestselling Something to Hold Onto, is a collection of the most inspiring images and experiences from her time in the NICU and in private practice.
Also joining us in conversation today is my friend and colleague, Donna Cormier. Donna’s work intersects creativity and technology through packaging and print innovation. She is an award-winning instructor in the School of Graphic Communications Management at Toronto Metropolitan University, teaching courses in packaging, technical design and business management.
In this conversation, we talk to Kate about her beautiful new book that I plucked from the ‘New and Noteworthy’ section of my local library. And it was so good that I needed my own copy that I could mark up and devour and hold onto for longer than the 3 week window in which it was due back. Her book is an incredible resource where she shares her ideas about complex human problems through a therapeutic lens to help make challenging moments a little less challenging.
You’ll hear about the power of metaphor, through metaphors, to get out of thought ruts. It’s deep, it’s gentle, it’s eye, mind and heart opening. I hope you come away from this conversation realizing that you are, in fact, a cake and I encourage you to wear your invisible raincoat when needed. You’ll see what I mean. Please enjoy…
About Our Guest:
Kate Robson is a registered psychotherapist in Toronto, Ontario. Inspired by her own experiences with her children in a neonatal intensive care unit, she worked with babies, parents, and families for more than twelve years as a NICU family support specialist. She’s travelled all over the world educating parents and clinicians about family-centred care and trauma informed care practices. Her workshops focus on cultivating attachment in relationships and creating emotion-friendly homes and workplaces. In her private practice she supports individuals and couples experiencing infertility, high risk pregnancies, NICU hospitalizations, major life transitions, and bereavement. She has degrees from McGill University and OISE/UT, completed her psychotherapy training at the Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy, and has also studied modalities such as ACT, the Internal Family Systems Model, EMDR, PACT, and Somatic Embodiment. Her first book, the bestselling Something to Hold Onto, is a collection of the most inspiring images and experiences from her time in the NICU and in private practice.
A link to find an indie bookstore with STHO: https://www.indiebookstores.ca/book/9781668091876/
About Our Co-Host:
Donna Cormier, MS, intersects creativity and technology through packaging and print innovation. She is an award-winning instructor in the School of Graphic Communications Management at Toronto Metropolitan University, teaching courses in packaging, technical design and business management. Donna creates sponsored experiential learning opportunities that give students a chance to work on meaningful projects with industry partners and oversees the internship program, preparing the next generation with the confidence and curiosity they need to thrive.
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Music:
Bubbles ( Lofi , Bright , Relaxed ) by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.
Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle
