Therapy, Culture & Breaking Stigmas with Phonz the Therapist

What happens when the therapist gets on the couch?

On this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, licensed psychotherapist Coach LA (Lakisha R. Austin, LICSW, MSW, MBA) sits down with Alphonso Nathan, MS, LPC — better known as Phonz the Therapist — for an unfiltered Therapist Spotlight conversation about therapy, Black mental health, culture, vulnerability, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health care.

Phonz is a licensed therapist, speaker, author, futurist, and mental health advocate who uses therapy, humor, media, and culturally relevant conversations to make mental wellness more accessible—particularly within Black and Brown communities.

But this conversation goes beyond credentials.

Therapists are human, too.

Coach LA and Phonz pull back the curtain on what it means to be the person helping others heal while navigating your own emotions, relationships, boundaries, stress, and personal growth.

Together, they explore:

🛋️ What does therapy really mean?

🧠 Why mental health stigma continues to impact Black and Brown communities

✊🏾 Black men, vulnerability, emotional wellness, and asking for help

💭 Mental health stigma vs. legitimate mistrust of systems

❤️ Why culturally responsive therapy and representation matter