Coffee with Ashley C. and Morgen V.: Stop Calling It Self-Care When the System Is the Problem
You’ve been told to take care of yourself. Set boundaries. Prevent burnout. But what happens when the system you work in pushes back every time you do?
In this episode of Coffee with Ashley C. and Morgen V., therapists Ashley Charbonneau and Morgen Villegas share their highs and lows from the week. Ashley talks about finally becoming the family black sheep, and the strange freedom that comes with gray rocking. Morgen shares a surprising family reconnection she credits to her own IFS work. She also explains the card deck she uses each night to have hard talks with her son about patriarchy, body image, and friendship.
They also look at how the news cycle weighs on your nervous system, and how to become an informed voter without getting stuck in an echo chamber. Ashley walks through what’s actually on a Colorado ballot, from amendments to judicial retention. She also explains why funding a fire department can mean a two-minute response time instead of 15 minutes.
Then they get to the weekly thumbs up, thumbs down, and middle finger: certification red tape, a payment system that undervalues therapists, and calling it self-care when the real problem is the system.
Grab your coffee and listen in. If this one hits home, follow, like, and share it with a therapist friend who needs it.
Your Hosts:
Ashley Charbonneau, LCSW, LAC, ACS, is a therapist, evaluator, clinical supervisor, consultant, and educator. She works with people affected by the legal system, with a focus on offender accountability, survivor healing, and restorative justice. She trains professionals across the country on restorative justice, addiction, clinical supervision, sexual offending, therapy boundaries, and mandatory reporting and is the author of The Resilient Therapist (Bloomsbury, 2026) and Supporting Clients of Sexual Trauma (PESI, 2026). Learn more at https://www.ensopllc.com/
Morgen Villegas, LCSW, LAC, ACS, is a therapist, consultant, EMDRIA Consultant, and author of Shadows to Light. Through her practice, Vida Idílica Therapy & Consulting, she specializes in helping women heal from trauma, attachment wounds, emotional neglect, and the lasting effects of overfunctioning and caregiving. Morgen also provides consultation to EMDR therapists seeking greater confidence and nuance in working with complex trauma. You can reach Morgen at https://www.vida-idilica.com
