Ryan M. Sheade, LCSW

12/29/2025

Here comes our marriage retreat: "Marriage, It's Not for The Faint of Heart" where Dr. Erica Tatum-Sheade, LCSW and I delve deep into the realities (and struggles) of marriage through the lenses of CBT, Adlerian theory, Family Systems, and more! We cap it at 15 couples so we can stay intimate and connected - last I knew we had 2-3 spots left.

January 30th-February 1st at the GORGEOUS Franciscan Renewal Center - you can stay on campus (my suggestion) or commute in each day. See you there?

12/26/2025

I’m sure there’s a therapy metaphor in here somewhere about maturity, regulation, and appreciating what actually keeps you grounded. Or… socks are just a great gift at this point in my life. Hope your holidays have gone well, and that you’ve got everything you want for the end of 2025!

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas, all! 🎄🎅 🎁

12/24/2025

And when God came, he came as a child born to a poor family looking for a place to stay.

Image: “José y Maria,” by Everett Patterson http://www.everettpatterson.com/?p=1835

12/17/2025

In the busy-ness of the holidays, don't forget to sign up for the Discover the Vision tour at the Franciscan Renewal Center followed by a mental health professional networking lunch: 11am-1pm on January 8th! Email me at counseling@thecasa.org for registration details!

12/14/2025

How do we stay calm? Just like a muscle, it's a skill that needs to be built through resistance.

"Calm seas do not make for skillful sailors." -African ProverbMost people think calm is a personality trait.You either have it or you don’t. You’re naturally grounded or you’re not. Some people just stay steady. Others fall apart.That story is comforting if you’re already calm. It’s brutal...

12/12/2025

CBT gets talked about a lot.

But practicing it well - consistently, flexibly, and with intention - is harder than most people admit.

Many clinicians use CBT techniques without a clear framework for why they’re choosing an intervention or how to adapt it in real time. That’s usually not a motivation problem. It’s a training gap.

I’m leading my annual CBT Intensive that was designed in 2018 to help clinicians sharpen case conceptualization, clinical decision-making, and in-session skills - so CBT feels clear, grounded, and responsive to the person in front of you.

This isn’t a manual walkthrough or a checklist course.

It’s a skills-focused training built around how CBT actually functions in real therapy rooms.

If you want CBT to feel less mechanical and more precise, I’d love to have you join us.

🔗 Learn more here:
https://www.aziapt.com/event-details/2026-cbt-intensive-w-ryan-m-sheade-lcsw

If you’ve been wanting to take your Cognitive Behavioral Therapy skills beyond theory and into confident, real-world application—this is your moment. Join Ryan M. Sheade, LCSW, for the 2026 CBT Intensive, a practical, interactive training designed to help clinicians strengthen their ability to c...

12/10/2025

I need your help!

I started my Doctorate in Social Work with this INCREDIBLE cohort in 2022... and I finally have approval to recruit for my research. Can I ask for your support, to either schedule and interview with me (if you meet the eligibility criteria below) or to share this post with someone who might?

I am recruiting Arizona-licensed clinical social workers who currently provide couples therapy for a research interview about how clinicians use concepts like differentiation of self in practice. Participation will include one Zoom interview, about 60 to 90 minutes, audio and video recorded with permission. There is no compensation offered for your participation.

Eligibility Criteria: Arizona LCSW, at least 800 lifetime couples sessions, at least 10 couples sessions in the past month, fluent in English.

Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time. If interested, message me here or email me at rmsheade@upenn.edu for the brief eligibility screen and consent information. Thanks!

12/09/2025

When you've determined that you've truly messed up in a relationship, how do you repair?

I feel that I need to start this post with a caveat: you do not always need to repair just because someone else is upset. A part of internal self-esteem and sense of self is knowing oneself well enough to determine the difference between when we are truly in the wrong versus when someone else is ups...

12/07/2025

For the past decade, our family has hosted a Cookies and Cocktails party on the Friday before Christmas. A food truck in the driveway. Music drifting into the night. Seventy-plus people packed together in our home, laughing and eating and reminding us what community feels like.

This year, a lot of folks have reached out wondering why they didn’t get an invite. Truth is, there wasn’t one. We’re not holding the party this year.

It didn’t fall apart. It just caught up with us. Between Matthew graduating from Brophy and Erica earning her doctorate from USC, plus the celebration that followed, our year has been full in all the best and most exhausting ways. And the planning energy for a big December event simply wasn’t there.

We’re taking a breath. Letting this season be a little quieter. And honestly, looking forward to the next chapters. In May 2026, we get to celebrate Eliana’s graduation from Xavier. And somewhere on the horizon is my own graduation from UPenn once I wrestle this dissertation into shape.

We’ll bring Cookies and Cocktails back when we can do it with joy, intention, and the energy it deserves. Until then, we’re grateful for everyone who has been part of this tradition with us. The pause isn’t the end. It’s just the space we needed to let the next celebration rise.

12/06/2025

Thanksgiving morning, we slipped away from the noise and stepped into the pines up north. No rushing. No agenda. Just the four people who make my life make sense, moving at a slow pace on a quiet trail.

There’s something sacred about walking side by side with the people you love. The world feels softer. Time stretches out a little. You remember what actually matters.

The day wasn’t about a perfect holiday. It was about presence. Breath. Laughter. The crunch of leaves under our feet. The gift of being together.

I’m grateful for a lot this year, but especially for this. My favorite people. A little stillness. And the reminder that the good stuff is almost always found when we slow down enough to notice it.