Beyond the Window – by La Ventana Treatment Programs

About Beyond the Window – by La Ventana Treatment Programs

Recovery isn’t just about stepping through the window—it’s about what lies beyond it. Join clinicians, staff, and special guests as we explore addiction recovery, mental health, trauma, and breaking stigmas with honesty, hope, and expert insight. Through raw conversations and transformative stories, we shed light on the journey of healing—because every voice matters, and no one walks this path alone. La Ventana means "The Window" in Spanish—and this podcast is your invitation to look beyond it.

Publisher

La Ventana Treatment Programs

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 May 2025

Latest episode

26 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Oct 2026

   OCD Explained: Intrusive Thoughts, Compulsions & ERP Therapy

   OCD Explained: Intrusive Thoughts, Compulsions & ERP Therapy What if everything you thought you knew about OCD was only part of the story? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is often misunderstood, reduced to excessive cleaning, organizing, or checking. But for many people, the most exhausting battles are the ones nobody can see. In this episode of Beyond the Window, La Ventana's Chief Clinical Officer, Sharon Wolner, welcomes Andrew Cohen, LMFT, founder of Cohen OCD Therapy, for an eye-opening conversation about intrusive thoughts, hidden compulsions, and the surprising ways OCD can influence everyday life. Drawing from his own personal experience and years of clinical work, Andrew challenges common misconceptions and explores why OCD is so frequently misdiagnosed, how loved ones can unknowingly reinforce the cycle, and what makes effective treatment different. Whether you're navigating OCD yourself, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about how the mind works, this is a conversation worth hearing. About Our Guest: Andrew Cohen, LMFT Founder of Cohen OCD Therapy, specializing in OCD, anxiety, and evidence-based treatments. Website: https://www.cohenocdtherapy.com/ (https://www.cohenocdtherapy.com/) Phone: (805) 464-6865 About La Ventana Treatment Programs La Ventana provides compassionate, individualized treatment for mental health challenges, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. Website: https://laventanatreatment.com/ (https://laventanatreatment.com/) Phone: (800) 560-8518 *Beyond the Window: Real conversations. Deeper understanding. A different per

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   The Truth About Addiction Recovery Nobody Talks About with Gwendolyn Casella

   What really happens behind the closed doors of addiction treatment? And what happens when saving someone's life becomes more important than following the rules? In this unfiltered episode of Beyond the Window, La Ventana Treatment Programs' Chief Clinical Officer Sharon Volner sits down with longtime colleague and Director of Detox and Chemical Dependency Services Gwendolyn Cassella for a conversation filled with raw honesty, laughter, heartbreak, and unexpected revelations. After more than a decade of working side by side, these two women are pulling back the curtain on the realities of addiction recovery and mental health treatment. Gwendalyn shares unforgettable experiences from her time working as a sober coach on reality television, including moments when the demands of production collided with the realities of helping someone struggling with addiction. Together, they explore the growing dangers of fentanyl, the complicated relationship between trauma and substance use, and why completing treatment doesn't necessarily mean the journey to recovery is over. They also share deeply personal experiences that shaped their careers, the emotional challenges of working in the recovery field, and the surprising ways music can help people reconnect with themselves. What does it really take to help someone who has lost hope? And how do the people doing this work find the strength to keep going? This isn't a polished conversation about recovery. It's an honest look at the people, experiences, and difficulties

3. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Can’t Sleep? Your Nervous System May Be Stuck in Fight-or-Flight

   What if your insomnia isn’t only a sleep problem? In this episode of Beyond the Window Podcast, La Ventana Treatment Programs Chief Clinical Officer Sharon Volner, LMFT, sits down with longtime colleague Anita Kaplan, LCSW, to explore the connection between trauma, chronic insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, and the nervous system. Anita specializes in trauma work using EMDR and shares how experiences we may not traditionally label as “trauma” can continue affecting us years later. Emotional neglect, not feeling seen or loved, an overly critical parent, relationship loss, work stress, divorce, and other major life transitions can sometimes leave lasting emotional and physiological patterns. They discuss why two people can experience similar events and respond very differently, why comparing your trauma to someone else’s can interfere with healing, and why making space for painful experiences can be an important part of recovery. The conversation then turns to chronic insomnia and what may be happening when traditional sleep-hygiene advice isn’t enough. Anita explains how anxiety about sleep can become part of the problem itself. Tossing and turning, watching the clock, worrying about how you’ll function tomorrow, and trying to force yourself to sleep can further activate an already stressed nervous system. Sharon and Anita also discuss CBT-I, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, EMDR, nervous-system regulation, consistent sleep routines, and practical techniques for creating a healthier relationship with sleep. Anita even walks Sharon through an EMDR-inspired resourcing exercise using the butterfly hug, bilateral tapping, visualization, breathing, the container exercise, and a peaceful-place exercise to demonstrate ways people can practice calming the nervous system. In This Episode • What trauma can look like beyond major catastrophic events • Childhood emotional neglect and attachment wounds • Why people sometimes minimize their own trauma • PTSD and complex PTSD • How EMDR therapy works with difficult or “stuck” experiences • Traditional EMDR sessions versus longer EMDR intensives • The connection between trauma and chronic insomnia • Why the nervous system can become stuck in fight-or-flight • How anxiety about sleep can perpetuate insomnia • What CBT-I is and how it approaches sleep difficulties • Why your bed can become associated with wakefulness and anxiety • The “half-hour rule” for getting out of bed when you can’t sleep • The importance of consistent sleep and wake routines • Negative thoughts and beliefs surrounding sleep • EMDR resourcing skills for calming the nervous system • The butterfly hug and bilateral stimulation • The container and peaceful-place visualization exercises • Why practicing regulation skills before you desperately need them matters • The importance of healing through connection • Anita’s upcoming women’s trauma group About Anita Kaplan, LCSW Anita Kaplan is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Westlake Village, California. She works with adults experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, complex PTSD, trauma, and insomnia. Her practice incorporates EMDR therapy, trauma-focused treatment, insomnia work, individual therapy, and longer EMDR intensive sessions. Learn more about Anita at: AnitaKaplanLCSW.com About La Ventana Treatment Programs If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health challenges, trauma, or substance use, you don’t have to navigate it alone. La Ventana Treatment Programs provides personalized, compassionate care focused on the whole person. 🌐 Learn more: https://laventanatreatment.com (https://laventanatreatment.com) 📞 Call (800) 560-8518 Real people answer 8am–8pm, seven days a week. About Beyond the Window Beyond the Window Podcast explores mental health, trauma, recovery, relationships, treatment, and the experiences that shape the way we think, feel, and heal. Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Who has been a guest on Beyond the Window – by La Ventana Treatment Programs

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Carla DiCandia
• Sharon Volner
• Debi Jenkins Frankle
• Carla Fernandez
• Alex Acerboni

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

87

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.