The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy https://therapyreimagined.com/podcast/ en The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide: Where Therapists Live, Breathe, and Practice as Human Beings It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when clinicians must develop a personal brand to market their private practices, and are connecting over social media, engaging in social activism, pushing back against mental health stigma, and facing a whole new style of entrepreneurship. To support you as a whole person, a business owner, and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/652afa5a-690e-11ed-8058-874130407439/image/cf657d2d5c7ee2741fcc46cf7c733767.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy https://therapyreimagined.com/podcast/ no episodic Therapy Reimagined Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide: Where Therapists Live, Breathe, and Practice as Human Beings It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when clinicians must develop a personal brand to market their private practices, and are connecting over social media, engaging in social activism, pushing back against mental health stigma, and facing a whole new style of entrepreneurship. To support you as a whole person, a business owner, and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide: Where Therapists Live, Breathe, and Practice as Human Beings It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when clinicians must develop a personal brand to market their private practices, and are connecting over social media, engaging in social activism, pushing back against mental health stigma, and facing a whole new style of entrepreneurship. To support you as a whole person, a business owner, and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

]]> Katie Vernoy mtsgpodcast@gmail.com What Therapists Need to Know About Neurodivergent Clients and Families: An Interview with David Smith, LCSW What Therapists Need to Know About Neurodivergent Clients and Families: An Interview with David Smith, LCSW Curt and Katie talk with David Smith about neurodiversity-affirming therapy, autism, ADHD, PDA, family systems, and burnout for neurodivergent therapists. David shares both clinical expertise and lived experience as an autistic therapist, offering practical guidance for working more effectively with neurodivergent clients and the families around them. About Our Guest: K. David Smith, LCSW K. David Smith, LCSW, is an autistic therapist who provides neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed therapy online in 5 states (Oregon, California, Idaho, Vermont, and Florida). He also provides clinical supervision for therapists working toward LCSW or LPC licensure in Oregon, particularly those who are neurodivergent themselves or who are passionate about supporting neurodivergent clients. In addition, he provides consultation, training, and workshops for medical practices and professionals, other therapists, employers, and school districts about ways to become more neurodiversity-affirming and supportive of neurodivergent people. Key Takeaways - Therapists often miss neurodivergence entirely and may treat anxiety, depression, or “thought errors” without considering whether a client is struggling in environments that were not built for their nervous system. - Neurotypical therapists can work well with neurodivergent clients when they lead with curiosity, attunement, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt how therapy is structured. - PDA can look like defiance, but David reframes it as an anxiety- and threat-based response to demands. Traditional rewards and consequences may backfire. - Neurodivergence in families is often intergenerational, with different neurotypes shaping attachment, communication, expectations, and family roles. - Neurodivergent therapists need more than generic self-care. Sustainable practice may require reducing demands, grounding, rest, and nervous-system-informed regulation. Full show notes and transcript will be available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Therapists Need to Know About Neurodivergent Clients and Families: An Interview with David Smith, LCSW Curt and Katie talk with David Smith about neurodiversity-affirming therapy, autism, ADHD, PDA, family systems, and burnout for neurodivergent therapists. David shares both clinical expertise and lived experience as an autistic therapist, offering practical guidance for working more effectively with neurodivergent clients and the families around them. About Our Guest: K. David Smith, LCSW K. David Smith, LCSW, is an autistic therapist who provides neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed therapy online in 5 states (Oregon, California, Idaho, Vermont, and Florida). He also provides clinical supervision for therapists working toward LCSW or LPC licensure in Oregon, particularly those who are neurodivergent themselves or who are passionate about supporting neurodivergent clients. In addition, he provides consultation, training, and workshops for medical practices and professionals, other therapists, employers, and school districts about ways to become more neurodiversity-affirming and supportive of neurodivergent people. Key Takeaways - Therapists often miss neurodivergence entirely and may treat anxiety, depression, or “thought errors” without considering whether a client is struggling in environments that were not built for their nervous system. - Neurotypical therapists can work well with neurodivergent clients when they lead with curiosity, attunement, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt how therapy is structured. - PDA can look like defiance, but David reframes it as an anxiety- and threat-based response to demands. Traditional rewards and consequences may backfire. - Neurodivergence in families is often intergenerational, with different neurotypes shaping attachment, communication, expectations, and family roles. - Neurodivergent therapists need more than generic self-care. Sustainable practice may require reducing demands, grounding, rest, and nervous-system-informed regulation. Full show notes and transcript will be available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Therapists Need to Know About Neurodivergent Clients and Families: An Interview with David Smith, LCSW

Curt and Katie talk with David Smith about neurodiversity-affirming therapy, autism, ADHD, PDA, family systems, and burnout for neurodivergent therapists. David shares both clinical expertise and lived experience as an autistic therapist, offering practical guidance for working more effectively with neurodivergent clients and the families around them.

About Our Guest: K. David Smith, LCSW

K. David Smith, LCSW, is an autistic therapist who provides neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed therapy online in 5 states (Oregon, California, Idaho, Vermont, and Florida). He also provides clinical supervision for therapists working toward LCSW or LPC licensure in Oregon, particularly those who are neurodivergent themselves or who are passionate about supporting neurodivergent clients. In addition, he provides consultation, training, and workshops for medical practices and professionals, other therapists, employers, and school districts about ways to become more neurodiversity-affirming and supportive of neurodivergent people.

Key Takeaways

- Therapists often miss neurodivergence entirely and may treat anxiety, depression, or “thought errors” without considering whether a client is struggling in environments that were not built for their nervous system.

- Neurotypical therapists can work well with neurodivergent clients when they lead with curiosity, attunement, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt how therapy is structured.

- PDA can look like defiance, but David reframes it as an anxiety- and threat-based response to demands. Traditional rewards and consequences may backfire.

- Neurodivergence in families is often intergenerational, with different neurotypes shaping attachment, communication, expectations, and family roles.


- Neurodivergent therapists need more than generic self-care. Sustainable practice may require reducing demands, grounding, rest, and nervous-system-informed regulation.


Full show notes and transcript will be available at mtsgpodcast.com.


Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 3039 How Clients Experience Therapy: From First Inquiry to the Waiting Room: An Interview with Michael Ashford How Clients Experience Therapy: From First Inquiry to the Waiting Room: An Interview with Michael Ashford Curt and Katie talk with Michael Ashford about how clients experience therapy before the clinical work even begins. They explore what therapists can learn from customer service, communication, and marketing to create a smoother, more supportive experience from first inquiry through intake, onboarding, waiting room logistics, and practice policies. This conversation looks at how clarity, thoughtful systems, and strong boundaries can improve client experience while also supporting therapists. About the Guest Michael Ashford is the Senior Director of Marketing at Sign In Solutions and has spent the past decade building and leading marketing teams at companies large and small. Michael is a former award-winning journalist, a two-time TEDx speaker, and holds a Master’s degree in Communication from Kansas State University. Michael’s approach to marketing focuses on scaling companies through the power of effective communication, storytelling, and humanizing brands. Key Takeaways Client experience starts before the first session Clear expectations reduce client stress and confusion Website messaging, intake, and onboarding should feel seamless Waiting room and check-in systems matter more than many therapists realize Good customer service includes strong boundaries around time, fees, and cancellations Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Clients Experience Therapy: From First Inquiry to the Waiting Room: An Interview with Michael Ashford Curt and Katie talk with Michael Ashford about how clients experience therapy before the clinical work even begins. They explore what therapists can learn from customer service, communication, and marketing to create a smoother, more supportive experience from first inquiry through intake, onboarding, waiting room logistics, and practice policies. This conversation looks at how clarity, thoughtful systems, and strong boundaries can improve client experience while also supporting therapists. About the Guest Michael Ashford is the Senior Director of Marketing at Sign In Solutions and has spent the past decade building and leading marketing teams at companies large and small. Michael is a former award-winning journalist, a two-time TEDx speaker, and holds a Master’s degree in Communication from Kansas State University. Michael’s approach to marketing focuses on scaling companies through the power of effective communication, storytelling, and humanizing brands. Key Takeaways Client experience starts before the first session Clear expectations reduce client stress and confusion Website messaging, intake, and onboarding should feel seamless Waiting room and check-in systems matter more than many therapists realize Good customer service includes strong boundaries around time, fees, and cancellations Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/ How Clients Experience Therapy: From First Inquiry to the Waiting Room: An Interview with Michael Ashford

Curt and Katie talk with Michael Ashford about how clients experience therapy before the clinical work even begins. They explore what therapists can learn from customer service, communication, and marketing to create a smoother, more supportive experience from first inquiry through intake, onboarding, waiting room logistics, and practice policies. This conversation looks at how clarity, thoughtful systems, and strong boundaries can improve client experience while also supporting therapists.

About the Guest
Michael Ashford is the Senior Director of Marketing at Sign In Solutions and has spent the past decade building and leading marketing teams at companies large and small. Michael is a former award-winning journalist, a two-time TEDx speaker, and holds a Master’s degree in Communication from Kansas State University. Michael’s approach to marketing focuses on scaling companies through the power of effective communication, storytelling, and humanizing brands.

Key Takeaways

  • Client experience starts before the first session
  • Clear expectations reduce client stress and confusion
  • Website messaging, intake, and onboarding should feel seamless
  • Waiting room and check-in systems matter more than many therapists realize
  • Good customer service includes strong boundaries around time, fees, and cancellations

Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2678 Adapting EMDR for Neurodivergent Clients: Parts Work, Attunement, and Affirming Trauma Therapy, An Interview with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis Adapting EMDR for Neurodivergent Clients: Parts Work, Attunement, and Affirming Trauma Therapy, An Interview with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis Curt and Katie talk with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis about how to adapt EMDR for autistic and ADHD clients with more flexibility, safety, and affirming care. They explore why standard protocols can miss important client needs, how parts work can support trauma treatment, and what therapists should consider when working with neurodivergent clients whose trauma is tied to masking, chronic correction, social rejection, and being misunderstood. In this episode, we talk about: Why EMDR often needs adaptation across all eight phases How parts work can support neurodivergent clients in trauma treatment The impact of masking, correction, and misunderstanding as trauma Sensory, communication, and processing differences therapists need to consider Moving away from compliance-based care toward attunement and collaboration About the guests Christine MacInnis, MSed, MS, LMFT owns Transcends Family Therapy in Torrance, California, specializing in neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ affirming, trauma-informed care. She is additionally licensed in Arizona and Ohio, is an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and provides advanced training on neurodiversity-affirming EMDR, ADHD, and autism. Learn more at www.transcendstherapy.com. Cathy Hanville, LCSW (They/She) is a licensed clinical social worker in Pennsylvania and California, an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and a continuing education provider. They help therapists identify blind spots so they can provide gender- and neurodiversity-affirming care. Learn more at www.cathyhanville.com. Cathy and Christine are under contract with Norton Publishing to write Neurodivergent Paths to Healing: Affirming EMDR and Parts Work for Autistic and ADHD Clients, expected in early 2027. Key takeaways Therapists often need to adapt EMDR for every client, not just neurodivergent clients Neurodivergent-affirming EMDR requires flexibility, collaboration, and sensory awareness Parts work can help therapists better understand protection, shame, and responses often mislabeled as resistance Many neurodivergent clients carry trauma tied to masking, chronic correction, and social rejection Full show notes and transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com Join our community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Adapting EMDR for Neurodivergent Clients: Parts Work, Attunement, and Affirming Trauma Therapy, An Interview with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis Curt and Katie talk with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis about how to adapt EMDR for autistic and ADHD clients with more flexibility, safety, and affirming care. They explore why standard protocols can miss important client needs, how parts work can support trauma treatment, and what therapists should consider when working with neurodivergent clients whose trauma is tied to masking, chronic correction, social rejection, and being misunderstood. In this episode, we talk about: Why EMDR often needs adaptation across all eight phases How parts work can support neurodivergent clients in trauma treatment The impact of masking, correction, and misunderstanding as trauma Sensory, communication, and processing differences therapists need to consider Moving away from compliance-based care toward attunement and collaboration About the guests Christine MacInnis, MSed, MS, LMFT owns Transcends Family Therapy in Torrance, California, specializing in neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ affirming, trauma-informed care. She is additionally licensed in Arizona and Ohio, is an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and provides advanced training on neurodiversity-affirming EMDR, ADHD, and autism. Learn more at www.transcendstherapy.com. Cathy Hanville, LCSW (They/She) is a licensed clinical social worker in Pennsylvania and California, an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and a continuing education provider. They help therapists identify blind spots so they can provide gender- and neurodiversity-affirming care. Learn more at www.cathyhanville.com. Cathy and Christine are under contract with Norton Publishing to write Neurodivergent Paths to Healing: Affirming EMDR and Parts Work for Autistic and ADHD Clients, expected in early 2027. Key takeaways Therapists often need to adapt EMDR for every client, not just neurodivergent clients Neurodivergent-affirming EMDR requires flexibility, collaboration, and sensory awareness Parts work can help therapists better understand protection, shame, and responses often mislabeled as resistance Many neurodivergent clients carry trauma tied to masking, chronic correction, and social rejection Full show notes and transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com Join our community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/

Adapting EMDR for Neurodivergent Clients: Parts Work, Attunement, and Affirming Trauma Therapy, An Interview with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis

Curt and Katie talk with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis about how to adapt EMDR for autistic and ADHD clients with more flexibility, safety, and affirming care. They explore why standard protocols can miss important client needs, how parts work can support trauma treatment, and what therapists should consider when working with neurodivergent clients whose trauma is tied to masking, chronic correction, social rejection, and being misunderstood.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Why EMDR often needs adaptation across all eight phases
  • How parts work can support neurodivergent clients in trauma treatment
  • The impact of masking, correction, and misunderstanding as trauma
  • Sensory, communication, and processing differences therapists need to consider
  • Moving away from compliance-based care toward attunement and collaboration

About the guests

Christine MacInnis, MSed, MS, LMFT owns Transcends Family Therapy in Torrance, California, specializing in neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ affirming, trauma-informed care. She is additionally licensed in Arizona and Ohio, is an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and provides advanced training on neurodiversity-affirming EMDR, ADHD, and autism. Learn more at www.transcendstherapy.com.

Cathy Hanville, LCSW (They/She) is a licensed clinical social worker in Pennsylvania and California, an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and a continuing education provider. They help therapists identify blind spots so they can provide gender- and neurodiversity-affirming care. Learn more at www.cathyhanville.com.

Cathy and Christine are under contract with Norton Publishing to write Neurodivergent Paths to Healing: Affirming EMDR and Parts Work for Autistic and ADHD Clients, expected in early 2027.

Key takeaways

  • Therapists often need to adapt EMDR for every client, not just neurodivergent clients
  • Neurodivergent-affirming EMDR requires flexibility, collaboration, and sensory awareness
  • Parts work can help therapists better understand protection, shame, and responses often mislabeled as resistance
  • Many neurodivergent clients carry trauma tied to masking, chronic correction, and social rejection

Full show notes and transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com

Join our community

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

]]> 2543 When Clients Reject Your Diagnosis: How to Handle Pushback Without Losing the Therapeutic Alliance When Clients Reject Your Diagnosis: How to Handle Pushback Without Losing the Therapeutic Alliance What do you do when your client doesn’t agree with your diagnosis? Whether it’s a parent resisting an autism or ADHD diagnosis, a client attached to a different label, or someone overwhelmed by what a diagnosis means for their identity, these conversations can feel high-stakes. In this episode, Curt and Katie explore why clients push back on diagnoses and how to navigate these conversations without damaging the therapeutic relationship. They break down the role of stigma, identity, and real-world consequences, and offer practical strategies for staying collaborative while still doing effective clinical work. Key Takeaways: Why clients resist diagnoses (stigma, identity, and real-world impact) How to respond without arguing or damaging the alliance When disagreement means your assessment isn’t finished How to focus on function and treatment instead of labels Navigating documentation, insurance, and cultural considerations Get the full show notes and resources at mtsgpodcast.com. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT When Clients Reject Your Diagnosis: How to Handle Pushback Without Losing the Therapeutic Alliance What do you do when your client doesn’t agree with your diagnosis? Whether it’s a parent resisting an autism or ADHD diagnosis, a client attached to a different label, or someone overwhelmed by what a diagnosis means for their identity, these conversations can feel high-stakes. In this episode, Curt and Katie explore why clients push back on diagnoses and how to navigate these conversations without damaging the therapeutic relationship. They break down the role of stigma, identity, and real-world consequences, and offer practical strategies for staying collaborative while still doing effective clinical work. Key Takeaways: Why clients resist diagnoses (stigma, identity, and real-world impact) How to respond without arguing or damaging the alliance When disagreement means your assessment isn’t finished How to focus on function and treatment instead of labels Navigating documentation, insurance, and cultural considerations Get the full show notes and resources at mtsgpodcast.com. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ When Clients Reject Your Diagnosis: How to Handle Pushback Without Losing the Therapeutic Alliance

What do you do when your client doesn’t agree with your diagnosis?

Whether it’s a parent resisting an autism or ADHD diagnosis, a client attached to a different label, or someone overwhelmed by what a diagnosis means for their identity, these conversations can feel high-stakes.

In this episode, Curt and Katie explore why clients push back on diagnoses and how to navigate these conversations without damaging the therapeutic relationship. They break down the role of stigma, identity, and real-world consequences, and offer practical strategies for staying collaborative while still doing effective clinical work.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why clients resist diagnoses (stigma, identity, and real-world impact)

  • How to respond without arguing or damaging the alliance

  • When disagreement means your assessment isn’t finished

  • How to focus on function and treatment instead of labels

  • Navigating documentation, insurance, and cultural considerations

Get the full show notes and resources at mtsgpodcast.com.


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2520 The Lasting Harm of Conversion Therapy: An Interview with Samuel Nieves The Lasting Harm of Conversion Therapy: An Interview with Samuel Nieves This interview was recorded in November 2025 in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar and released afterward. Rather than focusing on the legal details of the decision, Curt and Katie talk with Samuel Nieves about the harms of conversion therapy, how change efforts can be disguised as therapy, and what clinicians need to understand when working with survivors. Sam shares from his lived experience as a survivor and explains why the deepest harms often involve identity damage, loss of self-trust, and disconnection from one’s own lived experience. About our guest:Sam Nieves has a Bachelor’s in Psychology. In 2019, he entered grad school to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, but left the field after 6 months of clinical experience. Since 2020, Sam has used his personal, clinical, and educational background to support survivors of conversion therapy. He is now a board member of the non-profit organization Conversion Therapy Survivor Network. Sam uses the online name “CantPrayMeAway” to share his own experiences as a client of conversion therapy and advocates for the end of all conversion practices worldwide. Key takeaways: Conversion therapy is broader than many therapists realize and can show up in subtle, disguised forms SOGIECE (sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts) offers a clearer framework for recognizing sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts The core harm of conversion therapy is often identity damage and loss of self-trust Even well-intentioned therapeutic tools can become retraumatizing when they are used in the service of changing identity Survivors may need therapists to move slowly, stay client-centered, and understand that therapy itself may have been part of the harm Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 bonus Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Lasting Harm of Conversion Therapy: An Interview with Samuel Nieves This interview was recorded in November 2025 in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar and released afterward. Rather than focusing on the legal details of the decision, Curt and Katie talk with Samuel Nieves about the harms of conversion therapy, how change efforts can be disguised as therapy, and what clinicians need to understand when working with survivors. Sam shares from his lived experience as a survivor and explains why the deepest harms often involve identity damage, loss of self-trust, and disconnection from one’s own lived experience. About our guest:Sam Nieves has a Bachelor’s in Psychology. In 2019, he entered grad school to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, but left the field after 6 months of clinical experience. Since 2020, Sam has used his personal, clinical, and educational background to support survivors of conversion therapy. He is now a board member of the non-profit organization Conversion Therapy Survivor Network. Sam uses the online name “CantPrayMeAway” to share his own experiences as a client of conversion therapy and advocates for the end of all conversion practices worldwide. Key takeaways: Conversion therapy is broader than many therapists realize and can show up in subtle, disguised forms SOGIECE (sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts) offers a clearer framework for recognizing sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts The core harm of conversion therapy is often identity damage and loss of self-trust Even well-intentioned therapeutic tools can become retraumatizing when they are used in the service of changing identity Survivors may need therapists to move slowly, stay client-centered, and understand that therapy itself may have been part of the harm Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/ The Lasting Harm of Conversion Therapy: An Interview with Samuel Nieves

This interview was recorded in November 2025 in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar and released afterward. Rather than focusing on the legal details of the decision, Curt and Katie talk with Samuel Nieves about the harms of conversion therapy, how change efforts can be disguised as therapy, and what clinicians need to understand when working with survivors. Sam shares from his lived experience as a survivor and explains why the deepest harms often involve identity damage, loss of self-trust, and disconnection from one’s own lived experience.


About our guest:
Sam Nieves has a Bachelor’s in Psychology. In 2019, he entered grad school to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, but left the field after 6 months of clinical experience. Since 2020, Sam has used his personal, clinical, and educational background to support survivors of conversion therapy. He is now a board member of the non-profit organization Conversion Therapy Survivor Network. Sam uses the online name “CantPrayMeAway” to share his own experiences as a client of conversion therapy and advocates for the end of all conversion practices worldwide.


Key takeaways:

Conversion therapy is broader than many therapists realize and can show up in subtle, disguised forms

SOGIECE (sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts) offers a clearer framework for recognizing sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts

The core harm of conversion therapy is often identity damage and loss of self-trust

Even well-intentioned therapeutic tools can become retraumatizing when they are used in the service of changing identity

Survivors may need therapists to move slowly, stay client-centered, and understand that therapy itself may have been part of the harm

Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2382 The Private Practice Pivot: How Therapists Are Adapting to Platforms, Agency Work, and the Changing Therapy Economy The Private Practice Pivot: How Therapists Are Adapting to Platforms, Agency Work, and the Changing Therapy Economy Are therapists leaving private practice - or simply adapting to a changing mental health economy? Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT discuss a growing shift across the profession as therapists pivot between private practice, agency jobs, group practices, and therapy platforms. As referral patterns change, venture-backed platforms grow, and the economics of therapy evolve, many clinicians are reconsidering how they structure their careers. Curt and Katie explore why therapists are pivoting their practices, how platforms like Headway, Alma, and Rula are shaping the field, and what therapists can do to build sustainable careers in a rapidly changing environment. Key Takeaways • Why many therapists are pivoting their private practices • How therapy platforms and venture capital are reshaping the profession • The role of agency work, group practices, and hybrid careers • Why isolation can undermine sustainability in solo practice • How therapists can design careers that prioritize stability Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Private Practice Pivot: How Therapists Are Adapting to Platforms, Agency Work, and the Changing Therapy Economy Are therapists leaving private practice - or simply adapting to a changing mental health economy? Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT discuss a growing shift across the profession as therapists pivot between private practice, agency jobs, group practices, and therapy platforms. As referral patterns change, venture-backed platforms grow, and the economics of therapy evolve, many clinicians are reconsidering how they structure their careers. Curt and Katie explore why therapists are pivoting their practices, how platforms like Headway, Alma, and Rula are shaping the field, and what therapists can do to build sustainable careers in a rapidly changing environment. Key Takeaways • Why many therapists are pivoting their private practices • How therapy platforms and venture capital are reshaping the profession • The role of agency work, group practices, and hybrid careers • Why isolation can undermine sustainability in solo practice • How therapists can design careers that prioritize stability Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ The Private Practice Pivot: How Therapists Are Adapting to Platforms, Agency Work, and the Changing Therapy Economy

Are therapists leaving private practice - or simply adapting to a changing mental health economy?

Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT discuss a growing shift across the profession as therapists pivot between private practice, agency jobs, group practices, and therapy platforms. As referral patterns change, venture-backed platforms grow, and the economics of therapy evolve, many clinicians are reconsidering how they structure their careers.

Curt and Katie explore why therapists are pivoting their practices, how platforms like Headway, Alma, and Rula are shaping the field, and what therapists can do to build sustainable careers in a rapidly changing environment.

Key Takeaways

• Why many therapists are pivoting their private practices
• How therapy platforms and venture capital are reshaping the profession
• The role of agency work, group practices, and hybrid careers
• Why isolation can undermine sustainability in solo practice
• How therapists can design careers that prioritize stability


Full show notes and resources:
mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann
https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano
https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2208 Is Independent Private Practice Sustainable? Data on Caseloads, Insurance & Income – An Interview with Lindsay Oberleitner, PhD Is Independent Private Practice Sustainable? Data on Caseloads, Insurance & Income Is independent private practice still financially sustainable? Curt and Katie sit down with Lindsay Oberleitner, PhD, Director of Clinical Strategy at SimplePractice, to examine national data on caseload trends, insurance participation, income realities, and therapist burnout. Drawing from Lindsay's research at SimplePractice, they explore whether independent private practice is truly viable long term - and what clinicians need to understand to remain financially and professionally sustainable. In this episode, we discuss: • Why some clinicians are seeing declining caseloads despite high demand for mental health care • Typical full-time caseload ranges in independent private practice • How insurance participation is shifting year over year • The financial impact of reimbursement rates and overhead costs • Why burnout is both a personal and systemic issue • The significant role independent private practice plays in delivering outpatient behavioral health care across the United States Independent private practice represents an estimated 15–20% of outpatient behavioral health services. This episode helps therapists think strategically about income, sustainability, visibility, and long-term viability in today’s healthcare landscape. For full show notes and resources, visit mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined • Podcast Homepage: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapists-survival-guide-podcast-episodes/ Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Is Independent Private Practice Sustainable? Data on Caseloads, Insurance & Income Is independent private practice still financially sustainable? Curt and Katie sit down with Lindsay Oberleitner, PhD, Director of Clinical Strategy at SimplePractice, to examine national data on caseload trends, insurance participation, income realities, and therapist burnout. Drawing from Lindsay's research at SimplePractice, they explore whether independent private practice is truly viable long term - and what clinicians need to understand to remain financially and professionally sustainable. In this episode, we discuss: • Why some clinicians are seeing declining caseloads despite high demand for mental health care • Typical full-time caseload ranges in independent private practice • How insurance participation is shifting year over year • The financial impact of reimbursement rates and overhead costs • Why burnout is both a personal and systemic issue • The significant role independent private practice plays in delivering outpatient behavioral health care across the United States Independent private practice represents an estimated 15–20% of outpatient behavioral health services. This episode helps therapists think strategically about income, sustainability, visibility, and long-term viability in today’s healthcare landscape. For full show notes and resources, visit mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined • Podcast Homepage: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapists-survival-guide-podcast-episodes/ Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Is Independent Private Practice Sustainable? Data on Caseloads, Insurance & Income

Is independent private practice still financially sustainable?

Curt and Katie sit down with Lindsay Oberleitner, PhD, Director of Clinical Strategy at SimplePractice, to examine national data on caseload trends, insurance participation, income realities, and therapist burnout. Drawing from Lindsay's research at SimplePractice, they explore whether independent private practice is truly viable long term - and what clinicians need to understand to remain financially and professionally sustainable.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why some clinicians are seeing declining caseloads despite high demand for mental health care
• Typical full-time caseload ranges in independent private practice
• How insurance participation is shifting year over year
• The financial impact of reimbursement rates and overhead costs
• Why burnout is both a personal and systemic issue
• The significant role independent private practice plays in delivering outpatient behavioral health care across the United States

Independent private practice represents an estimated 15–20% of outpatient behavioral health services. This episode helps therapists think strategically about income, sustainability, visibility, and long-term viability in today’s healthcare landscape.

For full show notes and resources, visit mtsgpodcast.com.

Join the Modern Therapist Community:

• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined
• Podcast Homepage: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapists-survival-guide-podcast-episodes/

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann
https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano
https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2977 Why You’re Exhausted in Private Practice: The Hidden Work Behind the Client Hour Why You’re Exhausted in Private Practice: The Hidden Work Behind the Client Hour Exhausted in private practice - even with a “manageable” caseload? Seeing 20-25 clients a week does not mean you’re working 20-25 hours. Every client hour includes hidden administrative work, financial decisions, emotional labor, and CEO-level responsibility. In this host-led episode, Curt and Katie break down why private practice feels heavier than expected - and how to think strategically about the real math behind your workload. Key Takeaways: • 20 client hours often equals 30+ hours of actual work • Emotional task-switching drains capacity • Burnout often comes from business demands, not just clients • Sustainable practice requires protected CEO time and clear boundaries Full show notes and resources: https://mtsgpodcast.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Why You’re Exhausted in Private Practice: The Hidden Work Behind the Client Hour Exhausted in private practice - even with a “manageable” caseload? Seeing 20-25 clients a week does not mean you’re working 20-25 hours. Every client hour includes hidden administrative work, financial decisions, emotional labor, and CEO-level responsibility. In this host-led episode, Curt and Katie break down why private practice feels heavier than expected - and how to think strategically about the real math behind your workload. Key Takeaways: • 20 client hours often equals 30+ hours of actual work • Emotional task-switching drains capacity • Burnout often comes from business demands, not just clients • Sustainable practice requires protected CEO time and clear boundaries Full show notes and resources: https://mtsgpodcast.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/ Why You’re Exhausted in Private Practice: The Hidden Work Behind the Client Hour

Exhausted in private practice - even with a “manageable” caseload?

Seeing 20-25 clients a week does not mean you’re working 20-25 hours. Every client hour includes hidden administrative work, financial decisions, emotional labor, and CEO-level responsibility.

In this host-led episode, Curt and Katie break down why private practice feels heavier than expected - and how to think strategically about the real math behind your workload.

Key Takeaways:
• 20 client hours often equals 30+ hours of actual work
• Emotional task-switching drains capacity
• Burnout often comes from business demands, not just clients
• Sustainable practice requires protected CEO time and clear boundaries


Full show notes and resources: https://mtsgpodcast.com


Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2535 yes Burnout Recovery in a Failing System: ACT, Moral Injury & Reclaiming Agency – An Interview with Shaina Siber, LCSW Burnout Recovery in a Failing System – An Interview with Shaina Siber, LCSW Therapists are navigating hiring freezes, wage stagnation, insurance instability, identity-level threats, and mounting systemic uncertainty — all while supporting clients experiencing the same instability. What happens when burnout isn’t just about workload, but about working inside a system that feels like it’s failing? Curt and Katie talk with Shaina Siber, LCSW, about moral injury, burnout as a fawning trauma response, and how therapists can move from control strategies to agency using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). Shaina shares how psychological flexibility, compassionate prioritization, and values-based action can help therapists recover from burnout without abandoning their humanity. In this episode, we discuss: • Burnout as a trauma response • Moral injury in modern mental health care • The “K-shaped” labor market and therapist stagnation • Moving from overcontrol to agency • Sustainable contribution without collapsing Guest Bio: Shaina Siber, LCSW is the founder of Affirm Mental Health, host of The Affirming Minds Podcast, and author of the forthcoming Routledge book Using ACT and CFT for Burnout Recovery: The Beyond Burnout Blueprint (available for pre-order February 25, 2026). She brings over 15 years of clinical and leadership experience and specializes in trauma-informed, LGBTQ+, and culturally responsive care. Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join our community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Burnout Recovery in a Failing System – An Interview with Shaina Siber, LCSW Therapists are navigating hiring freezes, wage stagnation, insurance instability, identity-level threats, and mounting systemic uncertainty — all while supporting clients experiencing the same instability. What happens when burnout isn’t just about workload, but about working inside a system that feels like it’s failing? Curt and Katie talk with Shaina Siber, LCSW, about moral injury, burnout as a fawning trauma response, and how therapists can move from control strategies to agency using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). Shaina shares how psychological flexibility, compassionate prioritization, and values-based action can help therapists recover from burnout without abandoning their humanity. In this episode, we discuss: • Burnout as a trauma response • Moral injury in modern mental health care • The “K-shaped” labor market and therapist stagnation • Moving from overcontrol to agency • Sustainable contribution without collapsing Guest Bio: Shaina Siber, LCSW is the founder of Affirm Mental Health, host of The Affirming Minds Podcast, and author of the forthcoming Routledge book Using ACT and CFT for Burnout Recovery: The Beyond Burnout Blueprint (available for pre-order February 25, 2026). She brings over 15 years of clinical and leadership experience and specializes in trauma-informed, LGBTQ+, and culturally responsive care. Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join our community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Burnout Recovery in a Failing System – An Interview with Shaina Siber, LCSW

Therapists are navigating hiring freezes, wage stagnation, insurance instability, identity-level threats, and mounting systemic uncertainty — all while supporting clients experiencing the same instability. What happens when burnout isn’t just about workload, but about working inside a system that feels like it’s failing?

Curt and Katie talk with Shaina Siber, LCSW, about moral injury, burnout as a fawning trauma response, and how therapists can move from control strategies to agency using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT).

Shaina shares how psychological flexibility, compassionate prioritization, and values-based action can help therapists recover from burnout without abandoning their humanity.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Burnout as a trauma response
• Moral injury in modern mental health care
• The “K-shaped” labor market and therapist stagnation
• Moving from overcontrol to agency
• Sustainable contribution without collapsing

Guest Bio:
Shaina Siber, LCSW is the founder of Affirm Mental Health, host of The Affirming Minds Podcast, and author of the forthcoming Routledge book Using ACT and CFT for Burnout Recovery: The Beyond Burnout Blueprint (available for pre-order February 25, 2026). She brings over 15 years of clinical and leadership experience and specializes in trauma-informed, LGBTQ+, and culturally responsive care.

Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com

Join our community:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2457 Should Texas Therapists Stop Treating Kids? Texas SB14, Gender-Affirming Care, and the Risks for Therapists Should Texas Therapists Stop Treating Kids? Texas SB14, Gender-Affirming Care, and the Risks for Therapists In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy discuss a new interpretation of Texas SB14 that may place therapists at risk for providing gender-affirming care to trans youth. They explore how a recent opinion from the Texas Attorney General could broaden the law’s reach beyond medical providers to include mental health professionals. Curt and Katie break down what this interpretation could mean for therapists working with minors, including possible risks related to licensure, malpractice coverage, mandated reporting, and criminal liability. They also discuss the ethical tension between evidence-based care and compliance with state law, and the difficult decisions clinicians may face when considering whether to continue working with kids. Key Takeaways: A new interpretation of Texas SB14 may include mental health professionals as part of the “healthcare pipeline” facilitating gender transition for minors. The legal term “facilitating” could potentially include referrals, letters, or even supportive therapy conversations. Therapists may face risks related to licensure complaints, malpractice coverage exclusions, or legal consequences if their care is interpreted as supporting gender transition. Mandated child abuse reporting requirements could create additional legal and ethical concerns. Clinicians may need to assess their personal risk tolerance when deciding whether to continue working with minors. Full show notes and additional resources will be available at:mtsgpodcast.com Join our community: Modern Therapists Group (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimaginedLink Tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000 bonus Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Should Texas Therapists Stop Treating Kids? Texas SB14, Gender-Affirming Care, and the Risks for Therapists In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy discuss a new interpretation of Texas SB14 that may place therapists at risk for providing gender-affirming care to trans youth. They explore how a recent opinion from the Texas Attorney General could broaden the law’s reach beyond medical providers to include mental health professionals. Curt and Katie break down what this interpretation could mean for therapists working with minors, including possible risks related to licensure, malpractice coverage, mandated reporting, and criminal liability. They also discuss the ethical tension between evidence-based care and compliance with state law, and the difficult decisions clinicians may face when considering whether to continue working with kids. Key Takeaways: A new interpretation of Texas SB14 may include mental health professionals as part of the “healthcare pipeline” facilitating gender transition for minors. The legal term “facilitating” could potentially include referrals, letters, or even supportive therapy conversations. Therapists may face risks related to licensure complaints, malpractice coverage exclusions, or legal consequences if their care is interpreted as supporting gender transition. Mandated child abuse reporting requirements could create additional legal and ethical concerns. Clinicians may need to assess their personal risk tolerance when deciding whether to continue working with minors. Full show notes and additional resources will be available at:mtsgpodcast.com Join our community: Modern Therapists Group (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimaginedLink Tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Should Texas Therapists Stop Treating Kids? Texas SB14, Gender-Affirming Care, and the Risks for Therapists

In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy discuss a new interpretation of Texas SB14 that may place therapists at risk for providing gender-affirming care to trans youth. They explore how a recent opinion from the Texas Attorney General could broaden the law’s reach beyond medical providers to include mental health professionals.

Curt and Katie break down what this interpretation could mean for therapists working with minors, including possible risks related to licensure, malpractice coverage, mandated reporting, and criminal liability. They also discuss the ethical tension between evidence-based care and compliance with state law, and the difficult decisions clinicians may face when considering whether to continue working with kids.

Key Takeaways:

  • A new interpretation of Texas SB14 may include mental health professionals as part of the “healthcare pipeline” facilitating gender transition for minors.

  • The legal term “facilitating” could potentially include referrals, letters, or even supportive therapy conversations.

  • Therapists may face risks related to licensure complaints, malpractice coverage exclusions, or legal consequences if their care is interpreted as supporting gender transition.

  • Mandated child abuse reporting requirements could create additional legal and ethical concerns.

  • Clinicians may need to assess their personal risk tolerance when deciding whether to continue working with minors.

Full show notes and additional resources will be available at:
mtsgpodcast.com


Join our community: Modern Therapists Group (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined
Link Tree:

https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann
https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano
https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2456 The Licensing Racket: Therapist Licensing, Discipline, and Access to Care – An Interview with Rebecca Haw Allensworth The Licensing Racket: Therapist Licensing, Discipline, and Access to Care – An Interview with Rebecca Haw Allensworth Who does licensing protect - the public or the profession? Curt and Katie talk with Rebecca Haw Allensworth, law professor and author of The Licensing Racket, about how professional licensing boards actually function, and what that means for therapists, discipline, and access to care. After attending licensing board meetings across professions and states, Rebecca identified a troubling pattern: entry requirements that continually “ratchet up,” while discipline decisions can lean toward giving professionals the benefit of the doubt. The result? Higher barriers to entry, workforce shortages, and inconsistent public protection. This episode explores therapist licensing reform, self-regulation, professional turf wars, board funding structures, and the tension between prestige, professional identity, and public safety. About Our Guest:Rebecca Haw Allensworth is the David Daniels Allen Professor of Law at Vanderbilt Law School and author of The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work and Why It Goes Wrong. Her research focuses on antitrust and professional licensing and has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. Key Takeaways: • Why licensing requirements tend to increase over time • How self-regulation can create blind spots in discipline • The impact of licensing barriers on workforce shortages and access to care • Why complaints about unlicensed practice may be prioritized over client complaints • How professional identity and funding structures shape board decisions Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join our community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Licensing Racket: Therapist Licensing, Discipline, and Access to Care – An Interview with Rebecca Haw Allensworth Who does licensing protect - the public or the profession? Curt and Katie talk with Rebecca Haw Allensworth, law professor and author of The Licensing Racket, about how professional licensing boards actually function, and what that means for therapists, discipline, and access to care. After attending licensing board meetings across professions and states, Rebecca identified a troubling pattern: entry requirements that continually “ratchet up,” while discipline decisions can lean toward giving professionals the benefit of the doubt. The result? Higher barriers to entry, workforce shortages, and inconsistent public protection. This episode explores therapist licensing reform, self-regulation, professional turf wars, board funding structures, and the tension between prestige, professional identity, and public safety. About Our Guest:Rebecca Haw Allensworth is the David Daniels Allen Professor of Law at Vanderbilt Law School and author of The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work and Why It Goes Wrong. Her research focuses on antitrust and professional licensing and has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. Key Takeaways: • Why licensing requirements tend to increase over time • How self-regulation can create blind spots in discipline • The impact of licensing barriers on workforce shortages and access to care • Why complaints about unlicensed practice may be prioritized over client complaints • How professional identity and funding structures shape board decisions Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join our community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ The Licensing Racket: Therapist Licensing, Discipline, and Access to Care – An Interview with Rebecca Haw Allensworth

Who does licensing protect - the public or the profession?

Curt and Katie talk with Rebecca Haw Allensworth, law professor and author of The Licensing Racket, about how professional licensing boards actually function, and what that means for therapists, discipline, and access to care.

After attending licensing board meetings across professions and states, Rebecca identified a troubling pattern: entry requirements that continually “ratchet up,” while discipline decisions can lean toward giving professionals the benefit of the doubt. The result? Higher barriers to entry, workforce shortages, and inconsistent public protection.

This episode explores therapist licensing reform, self-regulation, professional turf wars, board funding structures, and the tension between prestige, professional identity, and public safety.


About Our Guest:
Rebecca Haw Allensworth is the David Daniels Allen Professor of Law at Vanderbilt Law School and author of The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work and Why It Goes Wrong. Her research focuses on antitrust and professional licensing and has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court.


Key Takeaways: • Why licensing requirements tend to increase over time
• How self-regulation can create blind spots in discipline
• The impact of licensing barriers on workforce shortages and access to care
• Why complaints about unlicensed practice may be prioritized over client complaints
• How professional identity and funding structures shape board decisions


Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com


Join our community:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2938 Training Therapists in the Age of AI: Preventing Deskilling and Teaching Clinical Judgment Training Therapists in the Age of AI: Preventing Deskilling and Teaching Clinical Judgment As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in mental health care, therapists, supervisors, and educators face a critical responsibility: integrating AI tools without eroding clinical judgment, reasoning, and skill development. In this continuing education episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy examine how AI can create the illusion of competence while quietly undermining the processes therapists rely on to learn how to think clinically. They explore therapist deskilling as a systemic issue shaped by training models, supervision practices, and productivity pressures rather than individual failure. This episode focuses on how supervisors, educators, and clinicians can preserve clinical mastery while using AI responsibly, emphasizing learning science, supervision ethics, and the importance of maintaining human judgment in an automated world. In this episode, we discuss: How AI can mask gaps in clinical reasoning The competence paradox and automation bias in therapy Why struggle and ambiguity are essential for learning The role of supervisors and educators in preventing deskilling How to use AI without outsourcing clinical judgment Continuing Education: This episode is eligible for 1 unit of continuing education (CE). To earn CE credit, go to moderntherapistcommunity.com, register for a free profile, purchase the course, complete the post-test and evaluation, and download your certificate. Full show notes, transcript, and course details are available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Home: https://mtsgpodcast.com Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Training Therapists in the Age of AI: Preventing Deskilling and Teaching Clinical Judgment As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in mental health care, therapists, supervisors, and educators face a critical responsibility: integrating AI tools without eroding clinical judgment, reasoning, and skill development. In this continuing education episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy examine how AI can create the illusion of competence while quietly undermining the processes therapists rely on to learn how to think clinically. They explore therapist deskilling as a systemic issue shaped by training models, supervision practices, and productivity pressures rather than individual failure. This episode focuses on how supervisors, educators, and clinicians can preserve clinical mastery while using AI responsibly, emphasizing learning science, supervision ethics, and the importance of maintaining human judgment in an automated world. In this episode, we discuss: How AI can mask gaps in clinical reasoning The competence paradox and automation bias in therapy Why struggle and ambiguity are essential for learning The role of supervisors and educators in preventing deskilling How to use AI without outsourcing clinical judgment Continuing Education: This episode is eligible for 1 unit of continuing education (CE). To earn CE credit, go to moderntherapistcommunity.com, register for a free profile, purchase the course, complete the post-test and evaluation, and download your certificate. Full show notes, transcript, and course details are available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Home: https://mtsgpodcast.com Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Training Therapists in the Age of AI: Preventing Deskilling and Teaching Clinical Judgment

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in mental health care, therapists, supervisors, and educators face a critical responsibility: integrating AI tools without eroding clinical judgment, reasoning, and skill development.

In this continuing education episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy examine how AI can create the illusion of competence while quietly undermining the processes therapists rely on to learn how to think clinically. They explore therapist deskilling as a systemic issue shaped by training models, supervision practices, and productivity pressures rather than individual failure.

This episode focuses on how supervisors, educators, and clinicians can preserve clinical mastery while using AI responsibly, emphasizing learning science, supervision ethics, and the importance of maintaining human judgment in an automated world.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • How AI can mask gaps in clinical reasoning

  • The competence paradox and automation bias in therapy

  • Why struggle and ambiguity are essential for learning

  • The role of supervisors and educators in preventing deskilling

  • How to use AI without outsourcing clinical judgment

Continuing Education:
This episode is eligible for 1 unit of continuing education (CE). To earn CE credit, go to moderntherapistcommunity.com, register for a free profile, purchase the course, complete the post-test and evaluation, and download your certificate.

Full show notes, transcript, and course details are available at mtsgpodcast.com.


Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
Podcast Home: https://mtsgpodcast.com


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano
https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4418 Why Food Anxiety Is Not Always About Dieting: Understanding ARFID and Intuitive Eating An interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Why Food Anxiety Is Not Always About Dieting: Understanding ARFID and Intuitive Eating - An interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Diet culture often dominates conversations about eating disorders, but not all struggles with food are driven by weight, body image, or dieting. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with registered dietitian nutritionist and certified eating disorder specialist Robyn L. Goldberg about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), intuitive eating, and how therapists can recognize when food anxiety requires a different clinical approach. Robyn explains how ARFID differs from more familiar eating disorders, why it is often mislabeled as “picky eating,” and when intuitive eating principles need to be adapted or set aside. This conversation offers therapists practical guidance for assessment, referral, and collaboration with eating-disorder-informed dietitians. Key Takeaways ARFID is not driven by weight or body image concerns and is often rooted in sensory sensitivities, trauma, or fear of aversive consequences Intuitive eating is not a one-size-fits-all model and may require significant structure for some clients Rigid food rules and avoidance can be protective for clients but may also limit functioning and quality of life Exposure-based approaches are often central to ARFID treatment and require specialized training Therapists should refer to eating-disorder-informed dietitians when food restriction significantly impacts health or daily life Guest Bio Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified eating disorder dietitian and consultant with over twenty-eight years of experience. She is the author of The Eating Disorder Trap, host of The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast, and a nationally recognized expert featured in major media outlets. Full Show NotesRead the full show notes and resources at: https://www.mtsgpodcast.com Community and SupportJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimaginedSupport the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voiceover by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Why Food Anxiety Is Not Always About Dieting: Understanding ARFID and Intuitive Eating - An interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Diet culture often dominates conversations about eating disorders, but not all struggles with food are driven by weight, body image, or dieting. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with registered dietitian nutritionist and certified eating disorder specialist Robyn L. Goldberg about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), intuitive eating, and how therapists can recognize when food anxiety requires a different clinical approach. Robyn explains how ARFID differs from more familiar eating disorders, why it is often mislabeled as “picky eating,” and when intuitive eating principles need to be adapted or set aside. This conversation offers therapists practical guidance for assessment, referral, and collaboration with eating-disorder-informed dietitians. Key Takeaways ARFID is not driven by weight or body image concerns and is often rooted in sensory sensitivities, trauma, or fear of aversive consequences Intuitive eating is not a one-size-fits-all model and may require significant structure for some clients Rigid food rules and avoidance can be protective for clients but may also limit functioning and quality of life Exposure-based approaches are often central to ARFID treatment and require specialized training Therapists should refer to eating-disorder-informed dietitians when food restriction significantly impacts health or daily life Guest Bio Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified eating disorder dietitian and consultant with over twenty-eight years of experience. She is the author of The Eating Disorder Trap, host of The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast, and a nationally recognized expert featured in major media outlets. Full Show NotesRead the full show notes and resources at: https://www.mtsgpodcast.com Community and SupportJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimaginedSupport the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voiceover by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Why Food Anxiety Is Not Always About Dieting: Understanding ARFID and Intuitive Eating - An interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C

Diet culture often dominates conversations about eating disorders, but not all struggles with food are driven by weight, body image, or dieting. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with registered dietitian nutritionist and certified eating disorder specialist Robyn L. Goldberg about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), intuitive eating, and how therapists can recognize when food anxiety requires a different clinical approach.

Robyn explains how ARFID differs from more familiar eating disorders, why it is often mislabeled as “picky eating,” and when intuitive eating principles need to be adapted or set aside. This conversation offers therapists practical guidance for assessment, referral, and collaboration with eating-disorder-informed dietitians.

Key Takeaways

  • ARFID is not driven by weight or body image concerns and is often rooted in sensory sensitivities, trauma, or fear of aversive consequences

  • Intuitive eating is not a one-size-fits-all model and may require significant structure for some clients

  • Rigid food rules and avoidance can be protective for clients but may also limit functioning and quality of life

  • Exposure-based approaches are often central to ARFID treatment and require specialized training

  • Therapists should refer to eating-disorder-informed dietitians when food restriction significantly impacts health or daily life

Guest Bio
Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified eating disorder dietitian and consultant with over twenty-eight years of experience. She is the author of The Eating Disorder Trap, host of The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast, and a nationally recognized expert featured in major media outlets.

Full Show Notes
Read the full show notes and resources at: https://www.mtsgpodcast.com


Community and Support
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

Voiceover by DW McCann
https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano
https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2267 The Epstein Files Fallout: Navigating Client Trauma, Justice Fatigue, and Clinical Responsibility The Epstein Files Fallout: Navigating Client Trauma, Justice Fatigue, and Clinical Responsibility In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore the emotional and clinical fallout following the release of the Epstein files. Rather than reacting to breaking news, they focus on what happens after the headlines fade—when trauma resurfaces, justice feels out of reach, and both clients and therapists are left carrying the weight. This conversation examines how trauma responses show up in the therapy room, how therapists can avoid minimization or burnout, and what clinical responsibility looks like when systems fail and outrage turns into numbness. Key takeaways for therapists: How public disclosures can retraumatize survivors and trigger moral injury Why clients may experience numbness, irritability, or hopelessness instead of anger How to ethically hold space without rushing clients toward resolution Ways therapists can manage their own exposure and remain grounded The importance of containment, validation, and agency during collective trauma Full show notes and resources available at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Epstein Files Fallout: Navigating Client Trauma, Justice Fatigue, and Clinical Responsibility In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore the emotional and clinical fallout following the release of the Epstein files. Rather than reacting to breaking news, they focus on what happens after the headlines fade—when trauma resurfaces, justice feels out of reach, and both clients and therapists are left carrying the weight. This conversation examines how trauma responses show up in the therapy room, how therapists can avoid minimization or burnout, and what clinical responsibility looks like when systems fail and outrage turns into numbness. Key takeaways for therapists: How public disclosures can retraumatize survivors and trigger moral injury Why clients may experience numbness, irritability, or hopelessness instead of anger How to ethically hold space without rushing clients toward resolution Ways therapists can manage their own exposure and remain grounded The importance of containment, validation, and agency during collective trauma Full show notes and resources available at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/ The Epstein Files Fallout: Navigating Client Trauma, Justice Fatigue, and Clinical Responsibility

In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore the emotional and clinical fallout following the release of the Epstein files. Rather than reacting to breaking news, they focus on what happens after the headlines fade—when trauma resurfaces, justice feels out of reach, and both clients and therapists are left carrying the weight.

This conversation examines how trauma responses show up in the therapy room, how therapists can avoid minimization or burnout, and what clinical responsibility looks like when systems fail and outrage turns into numbness.

Key takeaways for therapists:

  • How public disclosures can retraumatize survivors and trigger moral injury

  • Why clients may experience numbness, irritability, or hopelessness instead of anger

  • How to ethically hold space without rushing clients toward resolution

  • Ways therapists can manage their own exposure and remain grounded

  • The importance of containment, validation, and agency during collective trauma

Full show notes and resources available at:
https://mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits
Voice Over by DW McCann
https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano
https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2627 yes Why the Math Doesn’t Work: How Student Loan Debt Hits Therapists Harder Than Other Professions – An Interview with Mick MacLaverty Why the Math Doesn’t Work: How Student Loan Debt Hits Therapists Harder Than Other Professions – An Interview with Mick MacLaverty Student loan debt affects nearly every corner of the mental health field, but for therapists, the numbers often don’t add up. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with student loan expert Mick MacLaverty about why therapists carry disproportionately high debt, how inconsistent income makes repayment especially difficult, and the structural factors in higher education and healthcare that created this imbalance. Mick explains how federal student loan policies have evolved, why forgiveness programs have become politically volatile, and what therapists need to understand about repayment options, refinancing, and employer-based student loan benefits. This conversation offers clarity on an issue that directly impacts career sustainability, burnout, and long-term financial health. About the guest:Mick MacLaverty is the CEO and co-founder of Highway Benefits, a company that helps employers offer student loan repayment as a benefit. He has spent thousands of hours researching the student debt crisis and works closely with healthcare and therapy-adjacent organizations to help employees reduce long-term loan burden. Key takeaways for therapists: Therapists often graduate with significantly more student loan debt than the average worker. Income instability makes consistent monthly repayment especially challenging. Student loan debt is driven by structural issues in education and healthcare, not individual failure. Federal loan policies and forgiveness programs can be confusing and politically driven. Employer-based student loan repayment benefits can meaningfully reduce debt and interest over time. Full show notes and transcript:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Why the Math Doesn’t Work: How Student Loan Debt Hits Therapists Harder Than Other Professions – An Interview with Mick MacLaverty Student loan debt affects nearly every corner of the mental health field, but for therapists, the numbers often don’t add up. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with student loan expert Mick MacLaverty about why therapists carry disproportionately high debt, how inconsistent income makes repayment especially difficult, and the structural factors in higher education and healthcare that created this imbalance. Mick explains how federal student loan policies have evolved, why forgiveness programs have become politically volatile, and what therapists need to understand about repayment options, refinancing, and employer-based student loan benefits. This conversation offers clarity on an issue that directly impacts career sustainability, burnout, and long-term financial health. About the guest:Mick MacLaverty is the CEO and co-founder of Highway Benefits, a company that helps employers offer student loan repayment as a benefit. He has spent thousands of hours researching the student debt crisis and works closely with healthcare and therapy-adjacent organizations to help employees reduce long-term loan burden. Key takeaways for therapists: Therapists often graduate with significantly more student loan debt than the average worker. Income instability makes consistent monthly repayment especially challenging. Student loan debt is driven by structural issues in education and healthcare, not individual failure. Federal loan policies and forgiveness programs can be confusing and politically driven. Employer-based student loan repayment benefits can meaningfully reduce debt and interest over time. Full show notes and transcript:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Why the Math Doesn’t Work: How Student Loan Debt Hits Therapists Harder Than Other Professions – An Interview with Mick MacLaverty

Student loan debt affects nearly every corner of the mental health field, but for therapists, the numbers often don’t add up. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with student loan expert Mick MacLaverty about why therapists carry disproportionately high debt, how inconsistent income makes repayment especially difficult, and the structural factors in higher education and healthcare that created this imbalance.

Mick explains how federal student loan policies have evolved, why forgiveness programs have become politically volatile, and what therapists need to understand about repayment options, refinancing, and employer-based student loan benefits. This conversation offers clarity on an issue that directly impacts career sustainability, burnout, and long-term financial health.

About the guest:
Mick MacLaverty is the CEO and co-founder of Highway Benefits, a company that helps employers offer student loan repayment as a benefit. He has spent thousands of hours researching the student debt crisis and works closely with healthcare and therapy-adjacent organizations to help employees reduce long-term loan burden.


Key takeaways for therapists:

Therapists often graduate with significantly more student loan debt than the average worker.
Income instability makes consistent monthly repayment especially challenging.
Student loan debt is driven by structural issues in education and healthcare, not individual failure.
Federal loan policies and forgiveness programs can be confusing and politically driven.
Employer-based student loan repayment benefits can meaningfully reduce debt and interest over time.

Full show notes and transcript:
https://mtsgpodcast.com


Join the community:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 2494 Special Series: Becoming a Therapist - Starting Out After Graduate School: Team-Based Care, Stability, and Early Career Decisions - An Interview with Eden Lathem Starting Out After Graduate School: Team-Based Care, Stability, and Early Career Decisions - An Interview with Eden LathemSpecial Series: Becoming a Therapist In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Eden Lathem for a second-year check-in following her graduation from graduate school. Now working under temporary licensure, Eden shares what it has been like to enter the workforce in an intensive outpatient treatment setting, navigate supervision requirements, and make early career decisions focused on stability, learning, and sustainability. This conversation explores the realities of life after graduate school, including team-based care, financial considerations, and flexibility in building a therapy career. About the GuestEden Lathem is a Marriage and Family Therapist practicing under temporary licensure and working in an intensive outpatient treatment setting. She provides individual and group therapy as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team and works with individuals and families navigating caregiving stress, disability, trauma, anxiety, depression, identity shifts, and major life transitions. Eden is also completing training in Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based approach that uses live coaching and play to support parent-child connection. Key Takeaways • What the transition from graduate school to the workforce can actually look like • Why team-based treatment settings can offer stability and support early in a career • The financial and structural realities of supervision and licensure • How early career clinicians can stay flexible while working toward long-term goals • Choosing learning and sustainability over rushing into private practice Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Starting Out After Graduate School: Team-Based Care, Stability, and Early Career Decisions - An Interview with Eden LathemSpecial Series: Becoming a Therapist In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Eden Lathem for a second-year check-in following her graduation from graduate school. Now working under temporary licensure, Eden shares what it has been like to enter the workforce in an intensive outpatient treatment setting, navigate supervision requirements, and make early career decisions focused on stability, learning, and sustainability. This conversation explores the realities of life after graduate school, including team-based care, financial considerations, and flexibility in building a therapy career. About the GuestEden Lathem is a Marriage and Family Therapist practicing under temporary licensure and working in an intensive outpatient treatment setting. She provides individual and group therapy as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team and works with individuals and families navigating caregiving stress, disability, trauma, anxiety, depression, identity shifts, and major life transitions. Eden is also completing training in Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based approach that uses live coaching and play to support parent-child connection. Key Takeaways • What the transition from graduate school to the workforce can actually look like • Why team-based treatment settings can offer stability and support early in a career • The financial and structural realities of supervision and licensure • How early career clinicians can stay flexible while working toward long-term goals • Choosing learning and sustainability over rushing into private practice Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Starting Out After Graduate School: Team-Based Care, Stability, and Early Career Decisions - An Interview with Eden Lathem
Special Series: Becoming a Therapist

In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Eden Lathem for a second-year check-in following her graduation from graduate school. Now working under temporary licensure, Eden shares what it has been like to enter the workforce in an intensive outpatient treatment setting, navigate supervision requirements, and make early career decisions focused on stability, learning, and sustainability. This conversation explores the realities of life after graduate school, including team-based care, financial considerations, and flexibility in building a therapy career.

About the Guest
Eden Lathem is a Marriage and Family Therapist practicing under temporary licensure and working in an intensive outpatient treatment setting. She provides individual and group therapy as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team and works with individuals and families navigating caregiving stress, disability, trauma, anxiety, depression, identity shifts, and major life transitions. Eden is also completing training in Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based approach that uses live coaching and play to support parent-child connection.

Key Takeaways • What the transition from graduate school to the workforce can actually look like
• Why team-based treatment settings can offer stability and support early in a career
• The financial and structural realities of supervision and licensure
• How early career clinicians can stay flexible while working toward long-term goals
• Choosing learning and sustainability over rushing into private practice

Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community
Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits
Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


]]> 2206 Special Series: Becoming a Therapist - Becoming a Therapist as a First-Generation Clinician-in-Training: An Interview with Marvin Vasquez Becoming a Therapist as a First-Generation Clinician-in-Training: An Interview with Marvin Vasquez Special Series: Becoming a Therapist In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Marvin Vasquez for a second-year check-in as he moves into the clinical phase of his training. Marvin reflects on beginning direct client work as a first-generation clinician-in-training, providing therapy in both English and Spanish, and supporting members of his own community during a time of heightened systemic stress. This conversation explores practicum placement, supervision, self-doubt, and the emotional realities of becoming a therapist while holding personal, cultural, and professional identities at the same time. About the Guest Marvin Vasquez is a first-generation Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student at California State University, Northridge. He is currently completing his clinical training as an intern at Phoenix House, where he works with individuals and families impacted by mental health challenges and systemic barriers, with a focus on Latinx communities. Marvin provides bilingual therapy in English and Spanish and is committed to culturally responsive, strengths-based care and community advocacy. Key Takeaways • What it’s like to move from coursework into direct clinical work as a first-generation clinician • The emotional impact of serving your own community while still in training • How supportive supervision helps reduce self-doubt and “flailing” early in practice • Why bilingual and culturally responsive care can deepen trust and engagement • Navigating systemic stressors while developing confidence as a new therapist Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Becoming a Therapist as a First-Generation Clinician-in-Training: An Interview with Marvin Vasquez Special Series: Becoming a Therapist In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Marvin Vasquez for a second-year check-in as he moves into the clinical phase of his training. Marvin reflects on beginning direct client work as a first-generation clinician-in-training, providing therapy in both English and Spanish, and supporting members of his own community during a time of heightened systemic stress. This conversation explores practicum placement, supervision, self-doubt, and the emotional realities of becoming a therapist while holding personal, cultural, and professional identities at the same time. About the Guest Marvin Vasquez is a first-generation Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student at California State University, Northridge. He is currently completing his clinical training as an intern at Phoenix House, where he works with individuals and families impacted by mental health challenges and systemic barriers, with a focus on Latinx communities. Marvin provides bilingual therapy in English and Spanish and is committed to culturally responsive, strengths-based care and community advocacy. Key Takeaways • What it’s like to move from coursework into direct clinical work as a first-generation clinician • The emotional impact of serving your own community while still in training • How supportive supervision helps reduce self-doubt and “flailing” early in practice • Why bilingual and culturally responsive care can deepen trust and engagement • Navigating systemic stressors while developing confidence as a new therapist Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Becoming a Therapist as a First-Generation Clinician-in-Training: An Interview with Marvin Vasquez
Special Series: Becoming a Therapist

In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Marvin Vasquez for a second-year check-in as he moves into the clinical phase of his training. Marvin reflects on beginning direct client work as a first-generation clinician-in-training, providing therapy in both English and Spanish, and supporting members of his own community during a time of heightened systemic stress. This conversation explores practicum placement, supervision, self-doubt, and the emotional realities of becoming a therapist while holding personal, cultural, and professional identities at the same time.

About the Guest Marvin Vasquez is a first-generation Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student at California State University, Northridge. He is currently completing his clinical training as an intern at Phoenix House, where he works with individuals and families impacted by mental health challenges and systemic barriers, with a focus on Latinx communities. Marvin provides bilingual therapy in English and Spanish and is committed to culturally responsive, strengths-based care and community advocacy.


Key Takeaways
• What it’s like to move from coursework into direct clinical work as a first-generation clinician
• The emotional impact of serving your own community while still in training
• How supportive supervision helps reduce self-doubt and “flailing” early in practice
• Why bilingual and culturally responsive care can deepen trust and engagement
• Navigating systemic stressors while developing confidence as a new therapist


Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community
Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits
Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2502 yes Special Series: Becoming a Therapist - After Graduation: Starting a Therapy Career on a Nontraditional Path - An Interview with Derek Isetti After Graduation: Starting a Therapy Career on a Nontraditional Path - An Interview with Derek Isetti In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy check back in with Derek Isetti one year after his first appearance on the podcast. Now graduated from his MSW program, Derek reflects on the prelicensed phase of the journey, including navigating post-graduation registration requirements, taking the Law and Ethics Exam, and searching for supervised clinical work while maintaining a full-time academic career. This conversation explores what it really looks like to start a therapy career on a nontraditional timeline and path. About the Guest Derek Isetti, MSW, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. With a background in the performing arts, Derek is both a speech-language pathologist and a social worker pursuing licensure as a psychotherapist. His professional work spans academia, healthcare, and clinical training, offering a unique perspective on early-career development and prelicensed practice. Key Takeaways • What the prelicensed phase looks like after graduating from a master’s program • Common challenges with registration, exams, and supervision requirements • Searching for supervised clinical work on a part-time or nontraditional timeline • Balancing another professional career while accumulating hours toward licensure • Why supervision quality and fit matter during the early stages of practice Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT After Graduation: Starting a Therapy Career on a Nontraditional Path - An Interview with Derek Isetti In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy check back in with Derek Isetti one year after his first appearance on the podcast. Now graduated from his MSW program, Derek reflects on the prelicensed phase of the journey, including navigating post-graduation registration requirements, taking the Law and Ethics Exam, and searching for supervised clinical work while maintaining a full-time academic career. This conversation explores what it really looks like to start a therapy career on a nontraditional timeline and path. About the Guest Derek Isetti, MSW, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. With a background in the performing arts, Derek is both a speech-language pathologist and a social worker pursuing licensure as a psychotherapist. His professional work spans academia, healthcare, and clinical training, offering a unique perspective on early-career development and prelicensed practice. Key Takeaways • What the prelicensed phase looks like after graduating from a master’s program • Common challenges with registration, exams, and supervision requirements • Searching for supervised clinical work on a part-time or nontraditional timeline • Balancing another professional career while accumulating hours toward licensure • Why supervision quality and fit matter during the early stages of practice Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ After Graduation: Starting a Therapy Career on a Nontraditional Path - An Interview with Derek Isetti
In this Becoming a Therapist special series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy check back in with Derek Isetti one year after his first appearance on the podcast. Now graduated from his MSW program, Derek reflects on the prelicensed phase of the journey, including navigating post-graduation registration requirements, taking the Law and Ethics Exam, and searching for supervised clinical work while maintaining a full-time academic career. This conversation explores what it really looks like to start a therapy career on a nontraditional timeline and path.


About the Guest
Derek Isetti, MSW, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. With a background in the performing arts, Derek is both a speech-language pathologist and a social worker pursuing licensure as a psychotherapist. His professional work spans academia, healthcare, and clinical training, offering a unique perspective on early-career development and prelicensed practice.


Key Takeaways
• What the prelicensed phase looks like after graduating from a master’s program
• Common challenges with registration, exams, and supervision requirements
• Searching for supervised clinical work on a part-time or nontraditional timeline
• Balancing another professional career while accumulating hours toward licensure
• Why supervision quality and fit matter during the early stages of practice

Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at https://mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community
Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits
Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2683 Special Series: Becoming a Therapist - From Corporate Leadership to Counseling Advocacy: An Interview with Iris Wilson-Farley From Corporate Leadership to Counseling Advocacy: An Interview with Iris Wilson-Farley Special Series: Becoming a Therapist In this special Becoming a Therapist series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Iris Wilson-Farley for a second-year check-in on her journey through graduate school. Iris reflects on how her expectations of training have shifted, what the internship search was really like in an online program, and how she’s preparing to move into primarily in-person clinical work. She also shares how her background in corporate leadership informs her approach to professional development, advocacy, and research, with a growing focus on sexual wellness and gender-affirming care. About the Guest Iris Wilson-Farley is a second-career counselor-in-training and graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The Chicago School. After a 33-year career in corporate Human Resources and executive leadership, Iris is now focused on sexual wellness, gender-affirming care, and advocacy within the counseling profession. She is actively involved in professional organizations including ACA divisions focused on sexology and LGBTQIA+ identities and is working toward sex therapist certification through the Sexual Health Alliance. Key Takeaways How expectations often shift between the first and second year of graduate training What the internship search can look like in online counseling programs Preparing to transition from virtual learning to in-person clinical work How prior professional experience can shape identity and leadership in training The value of early involvement in advocacy, research, and professional organizations You can listen to Iris’s first interview in the Becoming a Therapist series here:https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/finding-alignment-in-a-second-career-special-series-becoming-a-therapist-an-interview-with-iris-wilson-farley/ Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT From Corporate Leadership to Counseling Advocacy: An Interview with Iris Wilson-Farley Special Series: Becoming a Therapist In this special Becoming a Therapist series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Iris Wilson-Farley for a second-year check-in on her journey through graduate school. Iris reflects on how her expectations of training have shifted, what the internship search was really like in an online program, and how she’s preparing to move into primarily in-person clinical work. She also shares how her background in corporate leadership informs her approach to professional development, advocacy, and research, with a growing focus on sexual wellness and gender-affirming care. About the Guest Iris Wilson-Farley is a second-career counselor-in-training and graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The Chicago School. After a 33-year career in corporate Human Resources and executive leadership, Iris is now focused on sexual wellness, gender-affirming care, and advocacy within the counseling profession. She is actively involved in professional organizations including ACA divisions focused on sexology and LGBTQIA+ identities and is working toward sex therapist certification through the Sexual Health Alliance. Key Takeaways How expectations often shift between the first and second year of graduate training What the internship search can look like in online counseling programs Preparing to transition from virtual learning to in-person clinical work How prior professional experience can shape identity and leadership in training The value of early involvement in advocacy, research, and professional organizations You can listen to Iris’s first interview in the Becoming a Therapist series here:https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/finding-alignment-in-a-second-career-special-series-becoming-a-therapist-an-interview-with-iris-wilson-farley/ Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ From Corporate Leadership to Counseling Advocacy: An Interview with Iris Wilson-Farley

Special Series: Becoming a Therapist

In this special Becoming a Therapist series episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy welcome back Iris Wilson-Farley for a second-year check-in on her journey through graduate school. Iris reflects on how her expectations of training have shifted, what the internship search was really like in an online program, and how she’s preparing to move into primarily in-person clinical work. She also shares how her background in corporate leadership informs her approach to professional development, advocacy, and research, with a growing focus on sexual wellness and gender-affirming care.

About the Guest

Iris Wilson-Farley is a second-career counselor-in-training and graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The Chicago School. After a 33-year career in corporate Human Resources and executive leadership, Iris is now focused on sexual wellness, gender-affirming care, and advocacy within the counseling profession. She is actively involved in professional organizations including ACA divisions focused on sexology and LGBTQIA+ identities and is working toward sex therapist certification through the Sexual Health Alliance.

Key Takeaways

  • How expectations often shift between the first and second year of graduate training

  • What the internship search can look like in online counseling programs

  • Preparing to transition from virtual learning to in-person clinical work

  • How prior professional experience can shape identity and leadership in training

  • The value of early involvement in advocacy, research, and professional organizations

You can listen to Iris’s first interview in the Becoming a Therapist series here:
https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/finding-alignment-in-a-second-career-special-series-becoming-a-therapist-an-interview-with-iris-wilson-farley/

Find the full show notes and resources for this episode at:
https://mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2591 When Does Therapy Really Start? Managing Risk and Responsibility Before the First Session When Does Therapy Really Start? Managing Risk and Responsibility Before the First Session When does therapy actually begin—and when does therapist responsibility start? Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore the ethical, legal, and clinical risks that can arise before the first session ever happens, and what therapists can do to protect both their clients and themselves. In this host-led episode, they break down common scenarios involving consultation calls, intake paperwork, crisis disclosures, collateral contacts, and missed first appointments. They offer practical guidance for clarifying client status, setting boundaries early, and reducing risk at the very start of care. Key Takeaways for Therapists Therapy can begin earlier than many clinicians expect Agreeing to treatment may create responsibility even before the first session Intake paperwork disclosures can require timely follow-up Clear communication about availability and crisis procedures reduces risk Collateral contacts are not clients unless explicitly defined as part of treatment Follow-up and documentation matter, even when therapy never fully begins Read the complete show notes and resources for this episode at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over: DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music: Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT When Does Therapy Really Start? Managing Risk and Responsibility Before the First Session When does therapy actually begin—and when does therapist responsibility start? Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore the ethical, legal, and clinical risks that can arise before the first session ever happens, and what therapists can do to protect both their clients and themselves. In this host-led episode, they break down common scenarios involving consultation calls, intake paperwork, crisis disclosures, collateral contacts, and missed first appointments. They offer practical guidance for clarifying client status, setting boundaries early, and reducing risk at the very start of care. Key Takeaways for Therapists Therapy can begin earlier than many clinicians expect Agreeing to treatment may create responsibility even before the first session Intake paperwork disclosures can require timely follow-up Clear communication about availability and crisis procedures reduces risk Collateral contacts are not clients unless explicitly defined as part of treatment Follow-up and documentation matter, even when therapy never fully begins Read the complete show notes and resources for this episode at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over: DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music: Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ When Does Therapy Really Start? Managing Risk and Responsibility Before the First Session

When does therapy actually begin—and when does therapist responsibility start? Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore the ethical, legal, and clinical risks that can arise before the first session ever happens, and what therapists can do to protect both their clients and themselves.

In this host-led episode, they break down common scenarios involving consultation calls, intake paperwork, crisis disclosures, collateral contacts, and missed first appointments. They offer practical guidance for clarifying client status, setting boundaries early, and reducing risk at the very start of care.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Therapy can begin earlier than many clinicians expect

  • Agreeing to treatment may create responsibility even before the first session

  • Intake paperwork disclosures can require timely follow-up

  • Clear communication about availability and crisis procedures reduces risk

  • Collateral contacts are not clients unless explicitly defined as part of treatment

  • Follow-up and documentation matter, even when therapy never fully begins

Read the complete show notes and resources for this episode at:
https://mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

Voice Over: DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music: Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2445 When Therapy Goes Vibe-Forward: The Cost of Losing Clinical Depth - An Interview with TJ Walsh, LPC When Therapy Goes Vibe-Forward: The Cost of Losing Clinical Depth An Interview with TJ Walsh, LPC When therapy becomes more about relatability and “vibes” than clinical depth, what gets lost? Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with TJ Walsh, LPC about how social media culture is shaping therapy expectations, why neutrality and containment still matter, and how supervision and self-work support real therapeutic change. This episode challenges therapists to balance authenticity with professionalism and to clearly orient clients to the slower, relational work that meaningful therapy requires. Key Takeaways for Therapists Why vibe-forward therapy can feel supportive but limit long-term change How neutrality functions as containment, not disengagement The difference between validation and treatment How social media shapes client expectations of therapy Why supervision should continue well beyond licensure Full Show Notes & Transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Creative Credits Voice Over: DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music: Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT When Therapy Goes Vibe-Forward: The Cost of Losing Clinical Depth An Interview with TJ Walsh, LPC When therapy becomes more about relatability and “vibes” than clinical depth, what gets lost? Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with TJ Walsh, LPC about how social media culture is shaping therapy expectations, why neutrality and containment still matter, and how supervision and self-work support real therapeutic change. This episode challenges therapists to balance authenticity with professionalism and to clearly orient clients to the slower, relational work that meaningful therapy requires. Key Takeaways for Therapists Why vibe-forward therapy can feel supportive but limit long-term change How neutrality functions as containment, not disengagement The difference between validation and treatment How social media shapes client expectations of therapy Why supervision should continue well beyond licensure Full Show Notes & Transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Creative Credits Voice Over: DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music: Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ When Therapy Goes Vibe-Forward: The Cost of Losing Clinical Depth

An Interview with TJ Walsh, LPC

When therapy becomes more about relatability and “vibes” than clinical depth, what gets lost? Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with TJ Walsh, LPC about how social media culture is shaping therapy expectations, why neutrality and containment still matter, and how supervision and self-work support real therapeutic change.

This episode challenges therapists to balance authenticity with professionalism and to clearly orient clients to the slower, relational work that meaningful therapy requires.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Why vibe-forward therapy can feel supportive but limit long-term change

  • How neutrality functions as containment, not disengagement

  • The difference between validation and treatment

  • How social media shapes client expectations of therapy

  • Why supervision should continue well beyond licensure

Full Show Notes & Transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast

Creative Credits

Voice Over: DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music: Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2710 REPLAY: Working With Politically Divided Families with Angela Caldwell, LMFT REPLAY: Working With Politically Divided Families with Angela Caldwell, LMFT In this Reprise episode, Curt and Katie revisit their timely conversation with Angela Caldwell, LMFT on working with politically divided families. This episode explores family systems, differentiation, distress tolerance, and therapeutic neutrality when political conflict enters the therapy room. Angela offers a hopeful, clinically grounded framework for helping families tolerate opposing viewpoints, stay in relationship, and navigate discomfort without forcing agreement, making this episode especially relevant during election cycles and holiday family gatherings. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 375 here: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/how-can-therapists-help-politically-divided-families-an-interview-with-angela-caldwell-lmft/ Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT REPLAY: Working With Politically Divided Families with Angela Caldwell, LMFT In this Reprise episode, Curt and Katie revisit their timely conversation with Angela Caldwell, LMFT on working with politically divided families. This episode explores family systems, differentiation, distress tolerance, and therapeutic neutrality when political conflict enters the therapy room. Angela offers a hopeful, clinically grounded framework for helping families tolerate opposing viewpoints, stay in relationship, and navigate discomfort without forcing agreement, making this episode especially relevant during election cycles and holiday family gatherings. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 375 here: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/how-can-therapists-help-politically-divided-families-an-interview-with-angela-caldwell-lmft/ REPLAY: Working With Politically Divided Families with Angela Caldwell, LMFT

In this Reprise episode, Curt and Katie revisit their timely conversation with Angela Caldwell, LMFT on working with politically divided families. This episode explores family systems, differentiation, distress tolerance, and therapeutic neutrality when political conflict enters the therapy room. Angela offers a hopeful, clinically grounded framework for helping families tolerate opposing viewpoints, stay in relationship, and navigate discomfort without forcing agreement, making this episode especially relevant during election cycles and holiday family gatherings.

You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 375 here: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/how-can-therapists-help-politically-divided-families-an-interview-with-angela-caldwell-lmft/


]]> 2613 yes REPLAY - Therapy As a Political Act: An Interview with Dr. Travis Heath Replay Episode: Therapy As a Political Act with Dr. Travis Heath In this reprise episode, Curt and Katie revisit their powerful conversation with Dr. Travis Heath on why therapy is inherently a political act. Originally recorded in June 2020, just days after the murder of George Floyd, this episode examines how therapists navigate racism, systems of oppression, political overwhelm, and community trauma in the therapy room. Curt and Katie reflect on how the cultural landscape has shifted over the past five years, why Travis’s insights still resonate, and what therapists must continue doing to stay engaged in anti racist, decolonizing, and community centered work. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 158 here: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/therapy-as-a-political-act/ Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Replay Episode: Therapy As a Political Act with Dr. Travis Heath In this reprise episode, Curt and Katie revisit their powerful conversation with Dr. Travis Heath on why therapy is inherently a political act. Originally recorded in June 2020, just days after the murder of George Floyd, this episode examines how therapists navigate racism, systems of oppression, political overwhelm, and community trauma in the therapy room. Curt and Katie reflect on how the cultural landscape has shifted over the past five years, why Travis’s insights still resonate, and what therapists must continue doing to stay engaged in anti racist, decolonizing, and community centered work. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 158 here: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/therapy-as-a-political-act/ Replay Episode: Therapy As a Political Act with Dr. Travis Heath

In this reprise episode, Curt and Katie revisit their powerful conversation with Dr. Travis Heath on why therapy is inherently a political act. Originally recorded in June 2020, just days after the murder of George Floyd, this episode examines how therapists navigate racism, systems of oppression, political overwhelm, and community trauma in the therapy room. Curt and Katie reflect on how the cultural landscape has shifted over the past five years, why Travis’s insights still resonate, and what therapists must continue doing to stay engaged in anti racist, decolonizing, and community centered work.


You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 158 here: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/therapy-as-a-political-act/

]]> 3023 yes How Therapists Can Actually Rest During the Holidays: Letting Go of Guilt, Productivity, and Instagram-Worthy Expectations How Therapists Can Actually Rest During the Holidays: Letting Go of Guilt, Productivity, and Instagram-Worthy Expectations Curt and Katie explore how therapists can create a real holiday break - not a performative or productivity-driven one. They discuss the pressure to rest “perfectly,” the guilt of not fully unplugging, how to shift into restorative downtime, and why passive vs. active rest matters. They also highlight anxiety, money scarcity, grief, and family dynamics that often intensify during the season, offering compassionate strategies for caring for yourself as a therapist and a human. Key Takeaways for Therapists You don’t need an Instagram-worthy vacation: real rest is allowed. Rest is a process, not a switch; transition time matters. It’s okay to be partially off and still check in lightly as needed. Passive rest (scrolling) and active rest (movement, nature, connection) serve different purposes. Anxiety, scarcity mindset, or family stress may drive overworking—notice the “why.” The holidays can be hard; grief and emotional complexity deserve compassion. Full show notes at: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann — https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano — https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Therapists Can Actually Rest During the Holidays: Letting Go of Guilt, Productivity, and Instagram-Worthy Expectations Curt and Katie explore how therapists can create a real holiday break - not a performative or productivity-driven one. They discuss the pressure to rest “perfectly,” the guilt of not fully unplugging, how to shift into restorative downtime, and why passive vs. active rest matters. They also highlight anxiety, money scarcity, grief, and family dynamics that often intensify during the season, offering compassionate strategies for caring for yourself as a therapist and a human. Key Takeaways for Therapists You don’t need an Instagram-worthy vacation: real rest is allowed. Rest is a process, not a switch; transition time matters. It’s okay to be partially off and still check in lightly as needed. Passive rest (scrolling) and active rest (movement, nature, connection) serve different purposes. Anxiety, scarcity mindset, or family stress may drive overworking—notice the “why.” The holidays can be hard; grief and emotional complexity deserve compassion. Full show notes at: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann — https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano — https://groomsymusic.com/ How Therapists Can Actually Rest During the Holidays: Letting Go of Guilt, Productivity, and Instagram-Worthy Expectations

Curt and Katie explore how therapists can create a real holiday break - not a performative or productivity-driven one. They discuss the pressure to rest “perfectly,” the guilt of not fully unplugging, how to shift into restorative downtime, and why passive vs. active rest matters. They also highlight anxiety, money scarcity, grief, and family dynamics that often intensify during the season, offering compassionate strategies for caring for yourself as a therapist and a human.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • You don’t need an Instagram-worthy vacation: real rest is allowed.

  • Rest is a process, not a switch; transition time matters.

  • It’s okay to be partially off and still check in lightly as needed.

  • Passive rest (scrolling) and active rest (movement, nature, connection) serve different purposes.

  • Anxiety, scarcity mindset, or family stress may drive overworking—notice the “why.”

  • The holidays can be hard; grief and emotional complexity deserve compassion.

Full show notes at: mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann — https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano — https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1942 Bonus Episode! When Good Intentions Lead to Bad Policy: Why the BBS Needs Therapist Feedback – An Interview with Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell, LMFT When Good Intentions Lead to Bad Policy: Why the BBS Needs Therapist Feedback – An Interview with Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell, LMFT Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell about the California BBS’s new regulatory proposals and why several well-intended ideas may actually undermine therapist education and professional standards. We discuss the proposal to award CE hours simply for providing supervision, giving CE credit for passive activities, concerns about codifying the licensing exam vendor, and the surprising reason behind the upcoming four-year fee reduction. Ben breaks down what therapists need to know—and how to make their voices heard during the public comment period. About Our Guest: Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Adjunct Faculty for California State University Northridge. He is the author of Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs and the lead author of AAMFT’s Best Practices in the Online Practice of Couple and Family Therapy. His company, High Pass Education, provides exam prep and continuing education for mental health professionals. Key Takeaways for Therapists • Why the BBS’s proposed changes matter for therapists in and beyond California • Concerns about awarding CE for providing supervision instead of structured learning • How CE requirements may shift toward passive or non-educational activities • Issues with naming Pearson VUE in regulation • Why BBS fees will be reduced for four years • How therapists can participate in the public comment period to influence policy Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0000 bonus Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT When Good Intentions Lead to Bad Policy: Why the BBS Needs Therapist Feedback – An Interview with Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell, LMFT Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell about the California BBS’s new regulatory proposals and why several well-intended ideas may actually undermine therapist education and professional standards. We discuss the proposal to award CE hours simply for providing supervision, giving CE credit for passive activities, concerns about codifying the licensing exam vendor, and the surprising reason behind the upcoming four-year fee reduction. Ben breaks down what therapists need to know—and how to make their voices heard during the public comment period. About Our Guest: Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Adjunct Faculty for California State University Northridge. He is the author of Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs and the lead author of AAMFT’s Best Practices in the Online Practice of Couple and Family Therapy. His company, High Pass Education, provides exam prep and continuing education for mental health professionals. Key Takeaways for Therapists • Why the BBS’s proposed changes matter for therapists in and beyond California • Concerns about awarding CE for providing supervision instead of structured learning • How CE requirements may shift toward passive or non-educational activities • Issues with naming Pearson VUE in regulation • Why BBS fees will be reduced for four years • How therapists can participate in the public comment period to influence policy Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ When Good Intentions Lead to Bad Policy: Why the BBS Needs Therapist Feedback – An Interview with Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell, LMFT

Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell about the California BBS’s new regulatory proposals and why several well-intended ideas may actually undermine therapist education and professional standards. We discuss the proposal to award CE hours simply for providing supervision, giving CE credit for passive activities, concerns about codifying the licensing exam vendor, and the surprising reason behind the upcoming four-year fee reduction. Ben breaks down what therapists need to know—and how to make their voices heard during the public comment period.

About Our Guest: Dr. Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT

Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Adjunct Faculty for California State University Northridge. He is the author of Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs and the lead author of AAMFT’s Best Practices in the Online Practice of Couple and Family Therapy. His company, High Pass Education, provides exam prep and continuing education for mental health professionals.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

• Why the BBS’s proposed changes matter for therapists in and beyond California
• Concerns about awarding CE for providing supervision instead of structured learning
• How CE requirements may shift toward passive or non-educational activities
• Issues with naming Pearson VUE in regulation
• Why BBS fees will be reduced for four years
• How therapists can participate in the public comment period to influence policy


Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2760 How Therapists Can Help Clients Finally Sleep: An Interview with Jessica Fink, LCSW-S How Therapists Can Help Clients Finally Sleep: An Interview with Jessica Fink, LCSW-S Curt and Katie interview sleep specialist Jessica Fink, LCSW-S, about what therapists often misunderstand about sleep—and what actually helps when clients are stuck in cycles of insomnia, nighttime anxiety, or maladaptive sleep behaviors. Jessica breaks down the limits of sleep hygiene, the fundamentals of CBT-I, what to do when clients wake up at 3 a.m. spiraling, how to distinguish tired vs. sleepy, and why wearables and blue light might be overrated concerns. She also shares how therapists can confidently assess sleep disorders and support behavioral sleep change without overmedicalizing the issue. About Our Guest: Jessica Fink, LCSW-S Jessica Fink, LCSW-S is a Texas-based therapist who specializes in sleep issues, PTSD, OCD, chronic pain and maladaptive overcontrol. As a CBT-oriented provider, Jessica uses structured, data-driven approaches combined with flexibility and creativity to create real, lasting change. Jessica values client independence, designing therapy to equip individuals with their own tools and coping strategies. Jessica's practice is entirely online and accessible to all Texas residents. Key Takeaways for Therapists Sleep hygiene is prevention—not treatment for insomnia. CBT-I is counterintuitive: don’t go to bed until sleepy, and get out of bed if awake too long. A consistent wake time matters more than bedtime. Blue light isn’t the enemy most people think it is. Wearables can increase anxiety and worsen sleep perfectionism (“orthosomnia”). Therapists play a crucial role even in medically driven sleep disorders like sleep apnea. Scheduled “constructive worry” times can reduce nighttime rumination. Full show notes and transcript available at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Voiceover by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Therapists Can Help Clients Finally Sleep: An Interview with Jessica Fink, LCSW-S Curt and Katie interview sleep specialist Jessica Fink, LCSW-S, about what therapists often misunderstand about sleep—and what actually helps when clients are stuck in cycles of insomnia, nighttime anxiety, or maladaptive sleep behaviors. Jessica breaks down the limits of sleep hygiene, the fundamentals of CBT-I, what to do when clients wake up at 3 a.m. spiraling, how to distinguish tired vs. sleepy, and why wearables and blue light might be overrated concerns. She also shares how therapists can confidently assess sleep disorders and support behavioral sleep change without overmedicalizing the issue. About Our Guest: Jessica Fink, LCSW-S Jessica Fink, LCSW-S is a Texas-based therapist who specializes in sleep issues, PTSD, OCD, chronic pain and maladaptive overcontrol. As a CBT-oriented provider, Jessica uses structured, data-driven approaches combined with flexibility and creativity to create real, lasting change. Jessica values client independence, designing therapy to equip individuals with their own tools and coping strategies. Jessica's practice is entirely online and accessible to all Texas residents. Key Takeaways for Therapists Sleep hygiene is prevention—not treatment for insomnia. CBT-I is counterintuitive: don’t go to bed until sleepy, and get out of bed if awake too long. A consistent wake time matters more than bedtime. Blue light isn’t the enemy most people think it is. Wearables can increase anxiety and worsen sleep perfectionism (“orthosomnia”). Therapists play a crucial role even in medically driven sleep disorders like sleep apnea. Scheduled “constructive worry” times can reduce nighttime rumination. Full show notes and transcript available at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Voiceover by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ How Therapists Can Help Clients Finally Sleep: An Interview with Jessica Fink, LCSW-S

Curt and Katie interview sleep specialist Jessica Fink, LCSW-S, about what therapists often misunderstand about sleep—and what actually helps when clients are stuck in cycles of insomnia, nighttime anxiety, or maladaptive sleep behaviors. Jessica breaks down the limits of sleep hygiene, the fundamentals of CBT-I, what to do when clients wake up at 3 a.m. spiraling, how to distinguish tired vs. sleepy, and why wearables and blue light might be overrated concerns. She also shares how therapists can confidently assess sleep disorders and support behavioral sleep change without overmedicalizing the issue.

About Our Guest: Jessica Fink, LCSW-S Jessica Fink, LCSW-S is a Texas-based therapist who specializes in sleep issues, PTSD, OCD, chronic pain and maladaptive overcontrol. As a CBT-oriented provider, Jessica uses structured, data-driven approaches combined with flexibility and creativity to create real, lasting change. Jessica values client independence, designing therapy to equip individuals with their own tools and coping strategies. Jessica's practice is entirely online and accessible to all Texas residents.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Sleep hygiene is prevention—not treatment for insomnia.

  • CBT-I is counterintuitive: don’t go to bed until sleepy, and get out of bed if awake too long.

  • A consistent wake time matters more than bedtime.

  • Blue light isn’t the enemy most people think it is.

  • Wearables can increase anxiety and worsen sleep perfectionism (“orthosomnia”).

  • Therapists play a crucial role even in medically driven sleep disorders like sleep apnea.

  • Scheduled “constructive worry” times can reduce nighttime rumination.

Full show notes and transcript available at:
https://mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/
Voiceover by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

]]> 2620 Navigating Client Crises When Your Own Life Hits Hard Navigating Client Crises When Your Own Life Hits Hard Curt and Katie talk about what therapists can do when client crises show up at the exact wrong time—during holidays, illness, personal stress, or overwhelming seasons of life. They explore capacity, boundaries, communication, safety planning, and how to ethically support clients without becoming a 24/7 crisis line. This is a practical, validating look at the realities therapists face when their own lives get complicated. Key Takeaways Therapists can assess capacity and complete a “busyness audit” to stay realistic about bandwidth. Clear communication about availability helps prevent crisis-time misunderstandings. Clients benefit from learning how to reach out with context so you can triage effectively. Safety plans and community resources reduce client over-reliance on the therapist. Therapists can hold boundaries while still supporting clients through crisis moments. Full show notes and transcript are available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Navigating Client Crises When Your Own Life Hits Hard Curt and Katie talk about what therapists can do when client crises show up at the exact wrong time—during holidays, illness, personal stress, or overwhelming seasons of life. They explore capacity, boundaries, communication, safety planning, and how to ethically support clients without becoming a 24/7 crisis line. This is a practical, validating look at the realities therapists face when their own lives get complicated. Key Takeaways Therapists can assess capacity and complete a “busyness audit” to stay realistic about bandwidth. Clear communication about availability helps prevent crisis-time misunderstandings. Clients benefit from learning how to reach out with context so you can triage effectively. Safety plans and community resources reduce client over-reliance on the therapist. Therapists can hold boundaries while still supporting clients through crisis moments. Full show notes and transcript are available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/ Navigating Client Crises When Your Own Life Hits Hard

Curt and Katie talk about what therapists can do when client crises show up at the exact wrong time—during holidays, illness, personal stress, or overwhelming seasons of life. They explore capacity, boundaries, communication, safety planning, and how to ethically support clients without becoming a 24/7 crisis line. This is a practical, validating look at the realities therapists face when their own lives get complicated.

Key Takeaways

  • Therapists can assess capacity and complete a “busyness audit” to stay realistic about bandwidth.

  • Clear communication about availability helps prevent crisis-time misunderstandings.

  • Clients benefit from learning how to reach out with context so you can triage effectively.

  • Safety plans and community resources reduce client over-reliance on the therapist.

  • Therapists can hold boundaries while still supporting clients through crisis moments.

Full show notes and transcript are available at mtsgpodcast.com.

Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2124 When Crisis Hits Home: How Therapists Can Survive and Support Each Other — An Interview with Jeanine Rousso When Crisis Hits Home: How Therapists Can Survive and Support Each Other — An Interview with Jeanine Rousso Curt and Katie chat with Jeanine Rousso, a licensed counselor and supervisor in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina and founder of Therapist Resource Network, about how therapists can care for themselves when natural disasters or crises directly impact them. They discuss why therapists often push past their limits, how to assess capacity and step back ethically, and the importance of financial preparedness and peer support. About Our Guest:Jeanine Rousso is a licensed counselor and supervisor in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. She founded the nonprofit organization Therapist Resource Network to provide emergency financial support, burnout prevention and recovery, and advocacy for mental health professionals. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Therapists often try to maintain pre-crisis workloads after disasters, leading to burnout. It’s essential to check your own capacity before showing up for clients. Build financial documentation and savings as a personal safety net. Disaster recovery requires both individual resilience and systemic advocacy. Full Show Notes: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree | Patreon | Facebook Group Credits:Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano | Voiceover by DW McCann Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT When Crisis Hits Home: How Therapists Can Survive and Support Each Other — An Interview with Jeanine Rousso Curt and Katie chat with Jeanine Rousso, a licensed counselor and supervisor in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina and founder of Therapist Resource Network, about how therapists can care for themselves when natural disasters or crises directly impact them. They discuss why therapists often push past their limits, how to assess capacity and step back ethically, and the importance of financial preparedness and peer support. About Our Guest:Jeanine Rousso is a licensed counselor and supervisor in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. She founded the nonprofit organization Therapist Resource Network to provide emergency financial support, burnout prevention and recovery, and advocacy for mental health professionals. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Therapists often try to maintain pre-crisis workloads after disasters, leading to burnout. It’s essential to check your own capacity before showing up for clients. Build financial documentation and savings as a personal safety net. Disaster recovery requires both individual resilience and systemic advocacy. Full Show Notes: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree | Patreon | Facebook Group Credits:Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano | Voiceover by DW McCann When Crisis Hits Home: How Therapists Can Survive and Support Each Other — An Interview with Jeanine Rousso

Curt and Katie chat with Jeanine Rousso, a licensed counselor and supervisor in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina and founder of Therapist Resource Network, about how therapists can care for themselves when natural disasters or crises directly impact them. They discuss why therapists often push past their limits, how to assess capacity and step back ethically, and the importance of financial preparedness and peer support.

About Our Guest:
Jeanine Rousso is a licensed counselor and supervisor in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. She founded the nonprofit organization Therapist Resource Network to provide emergency financial support, burnout prevention and recovery, and advocacy for mental health professionals.

Key Takeaways for Therapists:

  • Therapists often try to maintain pre-crisis workloads after disasters, leading to burnout.

  • It’s essential to check your own capacity before showing up for clients.

  • Build financial documentation and savings as a personal safety net.

  • Disaster recovery requires both individual resilience and systemic advocacy.

Full Show Notes: mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree | Patreon | Facebook Group

Credits:
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano | Voiceover by DW McCann

]]> 2078 Surviving Family Gatherings Without Becoming the Family Therapist: Emotional Boundaries for the Holidays Surviving Family Gatherings Without Becoming the Family Therapist: Emotional Boundaries for the Holidays Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore how therapists can navigate family gatherings without slipping into the role of “family therapist.” They discuss emotional boundaries, guilt, codependency, and the importance of authenticity during the holiday season. Learn how to recognize old family patterns, manage emotional triggers, and show up as a whole human (not just a clinician) when family dynamics get complicated. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Therapists often revert to caretaker or mediator roles during family gatherings. Emotional boundaries matter as much as physical ones: protect your energy. “JADE” doesn’t go to Thanksgiving: Don’t Justify, Argue, Defend, or Explain. It’s okay to have emotions and step away from unproductive conversations. Clarify your role (family member, not therapist) and engage authentically. Listen to the full episode and access resources:Full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Patreon Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Surviving Family Gatherings Without Becoming the Family Therapist: Emotional Boundaries for the Holidays Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore how therapists can navigate family gatherings without slipping into the role of “family therapist.” They discuss emotional boundaries, guilt, codependency, and the importance of authenticity during the holiday season. Learn how to recognize old family patterns, manage emotional triggers, and show up as a whole human (not just a clinician) when family dynamics get complicated. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Therapists often revert to caretaker or mediator roles during family gatherings. Emotional boundaries matter as much as physical ones: protect your energy. “JADE” doesn’t go to Thanksgiving: Don’t Justify, Argue, Defend, or Explain. It’s okay to have emotions and step away from unproductive conversations. Clarify your role (family member, not therapist) and engage authentically. Listen to the full episode and access resources:Full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Patreon Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Surviving Family Gatherings Without Becoming the Family Therapist: Emotional Boundaries for the Holidays

Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore how therapists can navigate family gatherings without slipping into the role of “family therapist.” They discuss emotional boundaries, guilt, codependency, and the importance of authenticity during the holiday season. Learn how to recognize old family patterns, manage emotional triggers, and show up as a whole human (not just a clinician) when family dynamics get complicated.

Key Takeaways for Therapists:

  • Therapists often revert to caretaker or mediator roles during family gatherings.

  • Emotional boundaries matter as much as physical ones: protect your energy.

  • “JADE” doesn’t go to Thanksgiving: Don’t Justify, Argue, Defend, or Explain.

  • It’s okay to have emotions and step away from unproductive conversations.

  • Clarify your role (family member, not therapist) and engage authentically.

Listen to the full episode and access resources:
Full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community:

Patreon


Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 2265 Designing a Sustainable Therapy Career: Reflections on Burnout, Legacy, and Letting Go Designing a Sustainable Therapy Career: Reflections on Burnout, Legacy, and Letting Go Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy reflect on what it takes to build and sustain a meaningful therapy career and how to leave the profession well. They explore professional identity, burnout, and how to stay connected to the work without losing yourself in it. Drawing from recent interviews with Lynn Grodzki, Margaret Wehrenberg, and Ofra Obejas, they share insights on sustainability, capacity, and creating a “good finish” for your therapy career. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Therapists need intentional career design. Sustainability doesn’t happen by accident. Burnout can distort your love for the work and your professional identity. Regular reflection helps ensure your career still aligns with your values and capacity. Building community and connection is essential to avoiding isolation in private practice. Planning early for closure allows for a more graceful and fulfilling finish. Link to Full Show Notes:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Designing a Sustainable Therapy Career: Reflections on Burnout, Legacy, and Letting Go Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy reflect on what it takes to build and sustain a meaningful therapy career and how to leave the profession well. They explore professional identity, burnout, and how to stay connected to the work without losing yourself in it. Drawing from recent interviews with Lynn Grodzki, Margaret Wehrenberg, and Ofra Obejas, they share insights on sustainability, capacity, and creating a “good finish” for your therapy career. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Therapists need intentional career design. Sustainability doesn’t happen by accident. Burnout can distort your love for the work and your professional identity. Regular reflection helps ensure your career still aligns with your values and capacity. Building community and connection is essential to avoiding isolation in private practice. Planning early for closure allows for a more graceful and fulfilling finish. Link to Full Show Notes:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Designing a Sustainable Therapy Career: Reflections on Burnout, Legacy, and Letting Go
Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy reflect on what it takes to build and sustain a meaningful therapy career and how to leave the profession well. They explore professional identity, burnout, and how to stay connected to the work without losing yourself in it. Drawing from recent interviews with Lynn Grodzki, Margaret Wehrenberg, and Ofra Obejas, they share insights on sustainability, capacity, and creating a “good finish” for your therapy career.

Key Takeaways for Therapists:

  • Therapists need intentional career design. Sustainability doesn’t happen by accident.

  • Burnout can distort your love for the work and your professional identity.

  • Regular reflection helps ensure your career still aligns with your values and capacity.

  • Building community and connection is essential to avoiding isolation in private practice.

  • Planning early for closure allows for a more graceful and fulfilling finish.

Link to Full Show Notes:
https://mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree


Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 2453 When Burnout Ends Your Therapy Career: An Interview with Ofra Obejas When Burnout Ends Your Therapy Career: An Interview with Ofra Obejas Curt and Katie speak with Ofra Obejas, LCSW (Retired), about what happens when even the most dedicated therapists reach their limits. After 20 years in practice, Ofra recognized she could no longer sustain the emotional and systemic demands of the work and chose to close her practice with integrity. She shares what burnout really looks like, how unrealistic professional expectations fuel it, and what therapists can do to protect themselves before it’s too late. About Our Guest: Ofra Obejas, LCSW (Retired) Ofra Obejas, LCSW Retired, has just closed her practice after 20 years and many letters after her name. Over her career, she provided individual and group therapy to thousands, was on the faculty of a university therapy training program, and presented CEs to hundreds. Despite this clear proof of her expertise, she feels like a failure, a fate she wishes to save newer therapists from. Key Takeaways for Therapists Burnout isn’t a personal weakness—it’s a mismatch between what therapy demands and what clinicians can sustainably give. “Self-care” can’t fix systemic overload or chronic emotional depletion. Therapists must honor their own limits and values to avoid running out of gas. Leaving the field can be an act of integrity, not failure. Listen to the full conversation and find resources at: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT When Burnout Ends Your Therapy Career: An Interview with Ofra Obejas Curt and Katie speak with Ofra Obejas, LCSW (Retired), about what happens when even the most dedicated therapists reach their limits. After 20 years in practice, Ofra recognized she could no longer sustain the emotional and systemic demands of the work and chose to close her practice with integrity. She shares what burnout really looks like, how unrealistic professional expectations fuel it, and what therapists can do to protect themselves before it’s too late. About Our Guest: Ofra Obejas, LCSW (Retired) Ofra Obejas, LCSW Retired, has just closed her practice after 20 years and many letters after her name. Over her career, she provided individual and group therapy to thousands, was on the faculty of a university therapy training program, and presented CEs to hundreds. Despite this clear proof of her expertise, she feels like a failure, a fate she wishes to save newer therapists from. Key Takeaways for Therapists Burnout isn’t a personal weakness—it’s a mismatch between what therapy demands and what clinicians can sustainably give. “Self-care” can’t fix systemic overload or chronic emotional depletion. Therapists must honor their own limits and values to avoid running out of gas. Leaving the field can be an act of integrity, not failure. Listen to the full conversation and find resources at: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano When Burnout Ends Your Therapy Career: An Interview with Ofra Obejas

Curt and Katie speak with Ofra Obejas, LCSW (Retired), about what happens when even the most dedicated therapists reach their limits. After 20 years in practice, Ofra recognized she could no longer sustain the emotional and systemic demands of the work and chose to close her practice with integrity. She shares what burnout really looks like, how unrealistic professional expectations fuel it, and what therapists can do to protect themselves before it’s too late.


About Our Guest: Ofra Obejas, LCSW (Retired)

Ofra Obejas, LCSW Retired, has just closed her practice after 20 years and many letters after her name. Over her career, she provided individual and group therapy to thousands, was on the faculty of a university therapy training program, and presented CEs to hundreds. Despite this clear proof of her expertise, she feels like a failure, a fate she wishes to save newer therapists from.


Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Burnout isn’t a personal weakness—it’s a mismatch between what therapy demands and what clinicians can sustainably give.
  • “Self-care” can’t fix systemic overload or chronic emotional depletion.
  • Therapists must honor their own limits and values to avoid running out of gas.
  • Leaving the field can be an act of integrity, not failure.

Listen to the full conversation and find resources at: mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community

Patreon

Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 2638 How Therapists Retire: Planning, Ethics, and Letting Go of the Work You Love – An Interview with Lynn Grodzki, LCSW and Margaret Wehrenberg, PsyD How Therapists Retire: Planning, Ethics, and Letting Go of the Work You Love – An Interview with Lynn Grodzki, LCSW and Margaret Wehrenberg, PsyD Curt and Katie talk with Lynn Grodzki and Margaret Wehrenberg about how therapists can plan for retirement with intention and integrity. They explore the emotional, ethical, and practical considerations of closing a practice, navigating readiness, and redefining identity after a lifetime of therapeutic work. About Our Guests Lynn Grodzki, LCSW-C, MCC is a pioneer in private practice development and the author of six influential books on therapy and coaching.Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D. is an internationally recognized expert on anxiety and depression and the author of 13 books, including The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques. Together, they offer a rare blend of clinical experience, practical strategies, and heartfelt compassion. Key Takeaways for Therapists Retirement is one of the most consequential transitions in a therapist’s professional life. Lynn and Margaret’s Readiness for Retirement Model helps therapists plan across four stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action. Planning early supports ethical closure and a smoother emotional process for both therapist and client. Common barriers include guilt, grief, and identity shifts—as well as lack of business or financial planning. Creating a professional will and protecting intellectual property are essential parts of ending well. Therapists can honor their legacy by recognizing the lasting impact of their work and embracing new opportunities in retirement. For more information and full show notes Visit: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Therapists Retire: Planning, Ethics, and Letting Go of the Work You Love – An Interview with Lynn Grodzki, LCSW and Margaret Wehrenberg, PsyD Curt and Katie talk with Lynn Grodzki and Margaret Wehrenberg about how therapists can plan for retirement with intention and integrity. They explore the emotional, ethical, and practical considerations of closing a practice, navigating readiness, and redefining identity after a lifetime of therapeutic work. About Our Guests Lynn Grodzki, LCSW-C, MCC is a pioneer in private practice development and the author of six influential books on therapy and coaching.Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D. is an internationally recognized expert on anxiety and depression and the author of 13 books, including The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques. Together, they offer a rare blend of clinical experience, practical strategies, and heartfelt compassion. Key Takeaways for Therapists Retirement is one of the most consequential transitions in a therapist’s professional life. Lynn and Margaret’s Readiness for Retirement Model helps therapists plan across four stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action. Planning early supports ethical closure and a smoother emotional process for both therapist and client. Common barriers include guilt, grief, and identity shifts—as well as lack of business or financial planning. Creating a professional will and protecting intellectual property are essential parts of ending well. Therapists can honor their legacy by recognizing the lasting impact of their work and embracing new opportunities in retirement. For more information and full show notes Visit: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano How Therapists Retire: Planning, Ethics, and Letting Go of the Work You Love – An Interview with Lynn Grodzki, LCSW and Margaret Wehrenberg, PsyD

Curt and Katie talk with Lynn Grodzki and Margaret Wehrenberg about how therapists can plan for retirement with intention and integrity. They explore the emotional, ethical, and practical considerations of closing a practice, navigating readiness, and redefining identity after a lifetime of therapeutic work.

About Our Guests Lynn Grodzki, LCSW-C, MCC is a pioneer in private practice development and the author of six influential books on therapy and coaching.
Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D. is an internationally recognized expert on anxiety and depression and the author of 13 books, including The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques.
Together, they offer a rare blend of clinical experience, practical strategies, and heartfelt compassion.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Retirement is one of the most consequential transitions in a therapist’s professional life.

  • Lynn and Margaret’s Readiness for Retirement Model helps therapists plan across four stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action.

  • Planning early supports ethical closure and a smoother emotional process for both therapist and client.

  • Common barriers include guilt, grief, and identity shifts—as well as lack of business or financial planning.

  • Creating a professional will and protecting intellectual property are essential parts of ending well.

  • Therapists can honor their legacy by recognizing the lasting impact of their work and embracing new opportunities in retirement.

For more information and full show notes

Visit: mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano


]]> 2812 Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide: SimplePractice Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide: SimplePractice Curt and Katie talk with Jonathan Seltzer, CEO of SimplePractice, about how the company continues to evolve to meet the needs of independent mental health professionals. They discuss SimplePractice’s mission to empower clinicians with intuitive tools, transparency around investors, and the responsible use of AI to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining clinical integrity. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide series, where we explore tools and services that help therapists and their clients thrive. Guest Bio Jonathan Seltzer is the CEO of SimplePractice, a software platform built to empower private practice clinicians to run thriving, independent practices. He leads a team of over 550 people supporting more than 225,000 clinicians who use SimplePractice to provide care. Jonathan is passionate about helping therapists operate with greater confidence, ease, and connection to the broader healthcare ecosystem. Key Takeaways SimplePractice remains focused on empowering independent and small-group clinicians. The company prioritizes transparency and clinician trust in how it handles data, investment, and innovation. AI tools are designed to **augment—not replace—**therapists, with high clinical and ethical standards. 🔗 Full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com 🎁 Special Offer: Check out current SimplePractice offers at simplepractice.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0000 bonus Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide: SimplePractice Curt and Katie talk with Jonathan Seltzer, CEO of SimplePractice, about how the company continues to evolve to meet the needs of independent mental health professionals. They discuss SimplePractice’s mission to empower clinicians with intuitive tools, transparency around investors, and the responsible use of AI to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining clinical integrity. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide series, where we explore tools and services that help therapists and their clients thrive. Guest Bio Jonathan Seltzer is the CEO of SimplePractice, a software platform built to empower private practice clinicians to run thriving, independent practices. He leads a team of over 550 people supporting more than 225,000 clinicians who use SimplePractice to provide care. Jonathan is passionate about helping therapists operate with greater confidence, ease, and connection to the broader healthcare ecosystem. Key Takeaways SimplePractice remains focused on empowering independent and small-group clinicians. The company prioritizes transparency and clinician trust in how it handles data, investment, and innovation. AI tools are designed to **augment—not replace—**therapists, with high clinical and ethical standards. 🔗 Full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com 🎁 Special Offer: Check out current SimplePractice offers at simplepractice.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide: SimplePractice

Curt and Katie talk with Jonathan Seltzer, CEO of SimplePractice, about how the company continues to evolve to meet the needs of independent mental health professionals. They discuss SimplePractice’s mission to empower clinicians with intuitive tools, transparency around investors, and the responsible use of AI to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining clinical integrity.

This episode is part of our Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide series, where we explore tools and services that help therapists and their clients thrive.

Guest Bio Jonathan Seltzer is the CEO of SimplePractice, a software platform built to empower private practice clinicians to run thriving, independent practices. He leads a team of over 550 people supporting more than 225,000 clinicians who use SimplePractice to provide care. Jonathan is passionate about helping therapists operate with greater confidence, ease, and connection to the broader healthcare ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

  • SimplePractice remains focused on empowering independent and small-group clinicians.

  • The company prioritizes transparency and clinician trust in how it handles data, investment, and innovation.

  • AI tools are designed to **augment—not replace—**therapists, with high clinical and ethical standards.

🔗 Full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com
🎁 Special Offer: Check out current SimplePractice offers at simplepractice.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon


Creative Credits
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 3786 no Protecting Clients Through Better Notes: An Interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Protecting Clients Through Better Notes: An Interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey about how therapists can document ethically and protectively in a politically charged climate. They explore how to handle sensitive topics like gender identity, reproductive rights, and immigration status while keeping documentation accurate, ethical, and safe for clients. About Our Guest Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey is a licensed psychologist, nail design enthusiast, and author of the book, Stress-Free Documentation for Mental Health Therapists. Through her business QA Prep, she empowers therapists with training and consultation on clinical documentation. Maelisa focuses on the “why” behind the usual recommendations and encourages clinicians to think outside the box, while also keeping their ethics intact. Key Takeaways for Therapists Documentation can carry legal and ethical risks in today’s climate. Use clear but sensitive language when writing notes. Informed consent and collaboration with clients are essential. Focus on clinical themes rather than politically charged terms. Review your own forms and practices for unnecessary information. More Info and Full Show Notes Visit mtsgpodcast.com for the full show notes, transcripts, and resources from this episode. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Protecting Clients Through Better Notes: An Interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey about how therapists can document ethically and protectively in a politically charged climate. They explore how to handle sensitive topics like gender identity, reproductive rights, and immigration status while keeping documentation accurate, ethical, and safe for clients. About Our Guest Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey is a licensed psychologist, nail design enthusiast, and author of the book, Stress-Free Documentation for Mental Health Therapists. Through her business QA Prep, she empowers therapists with training and consultation on clinical documentation. Maelisa focuses on the “why” behind the usual recommendations and encourages clinicians to think outside the box, while also keeping their ethics intact. Key Takeaways for Therapists Documentation can carry legal and ethical risks in today’s climate. Use clear but sensitive language when writing notes. Informed consent and collaboration with clients are essential. Focus on clinical themes rather than politically charged terms. Review your own forms and practices for unnecessary information. More Info and Full Show Notes Visit mtsgpodcast.com for the full show notes, transcripts, and resources from this episode. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano Protecting Clients Through Better Notes: An Interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey

Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey about how therapists can document ethically and protectively in a politically charged climate. They explore how to handle sensitive topics like gender identity, reproductive rights, and immigration status while keeping documentation accurate, ethical, and safe for clients.

About Our Guest Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey is a licensed psychologist, nail design enthusiast, and author of the book, Stress-Free Documentation for Mental Health Therapists. Through her business QA Prep, she empowers therapists with training and consultation on clinical documentation. Maelisa focuses on the “why” behind the usual recommendations and encourages clinicians to think outside the box, while also keeping their ethics intact.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Documentation can carry legal and ethical risks in today’s climate.

  • Use clear but sensitive language when writing notes.

  • Informed consent and collaboration with clients are essential.

  • Focus on clinical themes rather than politically charged terms.

  • Review your own forms and practices for unnecessary information.

More Info and Full Show Notes

Visit mtsgpodcast.com for the full show notes, transcripts, and resources from this episode.

Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree


Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 2494 How Conscious Awareness Shapes Leadership, Therapy, and Collective Healing: An interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD How Conscious Awareness Shapes Leadership, Therapy, and Collective Healing: An Interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD Curt and Katie chat with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD, about how consciousness and intentional awareness can transform therapy, leadership, and community. Pardis shares how cultivating our “inner state," moving from suffering to a “beautiful state,” impacts how we lead, connect, and heal collectively. She offers practical ways therapists can integrate mindfulness, breath mastery, and curiosity into their work to help clients (and themselves) live with greater awareness and alignment. About Our Guest:Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is an author, educator, and entrepreneur. She has written seven non-fiction books and two edited volumes, including Book of Queens (2023) and Riding (2024). A former university president and global human rights expert, Pardis now leads Entheon Journeys, focusing on consciousness, leadership, and transformation. Her work has been featured in Time, Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. Key Takeaways: Consciousness work deepens mindfulness into an ongoing framework for intentional living and healing. Therapists can help clients identify and shift their inner “state” from suffering toward beauty, calm, and connection. Preventive practices such as meditation, journaling, and breath mastery support long-term wellbeing and resilience. Leadership and therapy are energetic processes: awareness of one’s own state affects how others experience us. Community healing grows when curiosity replaces critique and connection transcends identity barriers. More Info & Full Show Notes:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Conscious Awareness Shapes Leadership, Therapy, and Collective Healing: An Interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD Curt and Katie chat with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD, about how consciousness and intentional awareness can transform therapy, leadership, and community. Pardis shares how cultivating our “inner state," moving from suffering to a “beautiful state,” impacts how we lead, connect, and heal collectively. She offers practical ways therapists can integrate mindfulness, breath mastery, and curiosity into their work to help clients (and themselves) live with greater awareness and alignment. About Our Guest:Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is an author, educator, and entrepreneur. She has written seven non-fiction books and two edited volumes, including Book of Queens (2023) and Riding (2024). A former university president and global human rights expert, Pardis now leads Entheon Journeys, focusing on consciousness, leadership, and transformation. Her work has been featured in Time, Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. Key Takeaways: Consciousness work deepens mindfulness into an ongoing framework for intentional living and healing. Therapists can help clients identify and shift their inner “state” from suffering toward beauty, calm, and connection. Preventive practices such as meditation, journaling, and breath mastery support long-term wellbeing and resilience. Leadership and therapy are energetic processes: awareness of one’s own state affects how others experience us. Community healing grows when curiosity replaces critique and connection transcends identity barriers. More Info & Full Show Notes:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano How Conscious Awareness Shapes Leadership, Therapy, and Collective Healing: An Interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD

Curt and Katie chat with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD, about how consciousness and intentional awareness can transform therapy, leadership, and community. Pardis shares how cultivating our “inner state," moving from suffering to a “beautiful state,” impacts how we lead, connect, and heal collectively. She offers practical ways therapists can integrate mindfulness, breath mastery, and curiosity into their work to help clients (and themselves) live with greater awareness and alignment.

About Our Guest:
Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is an author, educator, and entrepreneur. She has written seven non-fiction books and two edited volumes, including Book of Queens (2023) and Riding (2024). A former university president and global human rights expert, Pardis now leads Entheon Journeys, focusing on consciousness, leadership, and transformation. Her work has been featured in Time, Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, and the Los Angeles Times.

Key Takeaways:

  • Consciousness work deepens mindfulness into an ongoing framework for intentional living and healing.

  • Therapists can help clients identify and shift their inner “state” from suffering toward beauty, calm, and connection.

  • Preventive practices such as meditation, journaling, and breath mastery support long-term wellbeing and resilience.

  • Leadership and therapy are energetic processes: awareness of one’s own state affects how others experience us.

  • Community healing grows when curiosity replaces critique and connection transcends identity barriers.

More Info & Full Show Notes:
https://mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano


]]> 2540 The Crisis in College Mental Health: An Interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD The Crisis in College Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Pardis Mahdavi, PhD Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with Dr. Pardis Mahdavi about the growing mental-health crisis among college students. Pardis shares insights from her years in higher education leadership—revealing how rising costs, outdated systems, and lack of purpose are driving student anxiety and burnout. Together they explore what therapists, universities, and communities can do to realign education with meaning, wellbeing, and real-world readiness. About Our Guest: Dr. Pardis Mahdavi, Ph.D. Pardis Mahdavi is an author, educator, and entrepreneur whose work spans human rights, education policy, and consciousness. A former university president and provost, she is the author of seven nonfiction books including The Book of Queens (Hachette Books, 2023) and Riding (Duke University Press, 2024). She currently leads Entheon Journeys and The Bondery House, fostering connection and expanded awareness. Key Takeaways for Therapists College students face unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression—driven by systemic disconnection, financial stress, and unclear purpose. Higher education often fails to evolve with societal change, leaving students feeling unprepared and unseen. Preventive supports like mindfulness and mentorship should be built into the college experience. Therapists can help students find meaning, manage uncertainty, and advocate for collaborative care across campus systems. Full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Our Linktree Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Crisis in College Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Pardis Mahdavi, PhD Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with Dr. Pardis Mahdavi about the growing mental-health crisis among college students. Pardis shares insights from her years in higher education leadership—revealing how rising costs, outdated systems, and lack of purpose are driving student anxiety and burnout. Together they explore what therapists, universities, and communities can do to realign education with meaning, wellbeing, and real-world readiness. About Our Guest: Dr. Pardis Mahdavi, Ph.D. Pardis Mahdavi is an author, educator, and entrepreneur whose work spans human rights, education policy, and consciousness. A former university president and provost, she is the author of seven nonfiction books including The Book of Queens (Hachette Books, 2023) and Riding (Duke University Press, 2024). She currently leads Entheon Journeys and The Bondery House, fostering connection and expanded awareness. Key Takeaways for Therapists College students face unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression—driven by systemic disconnection, financial stress, and unclear purpose. Higher education often fails to evolve with societal change, leaving students feeling unprepared and unseen. Preventive supports like mindfulness and mentorship should be built into the college experience. Therapists can help students find meaning, manage uncertainty, and advocate for collaborative care across campus systems. Full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Our Linktree Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano The Crisis in College Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Pardis Mahdavi, PhD

Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with Dr. Pardis Mahdavi about the growing mental-health crisis among college students. Pardis shares insights from her years in higher education leadership—revealing how rising costs, outdated systems, and lack of purpose are driving student anxiety and burnout. Together they explore what therapists, universities, and communities can do to realign education with meaning, wellbeing, and real-world readiness.


About Our Guest: Dr. Pardis Mahdavi, Ph.D.

Pardis Mahdavi is an author, educator, and entrepreneur whose work spans human rights, education policy, and consciousness. A former university president and provost, she is the author of seven nonfiction books including The Book of Queens (Hachette Books, 2023) and Riding (Duke University Press, 2024). She currently leads Entheon Journeys and The Bondery House, fostering connection and expanded awareness.


Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • College students face unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression—driven by systemic disconnection, financial stress, and unclear purpose.
  • Higher education often fails to evolve with societal change, leaving students feeling unprepared and unseen.
  • Preventive supports like mindfulness and mentorship should be built into the college experience.
  • Therapists can help students find meaning, manage uncertainty, and advocate for collaborative care across campus systems.

Full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community

Our Linktree


Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 2464 Medical Necessity or Personal Growth? Why Documentation Matters in Therapy Medical Necessity or Personal Growth? Why Documentation Matters in Therapy Curt and Katie talk about medical necessity in therapy documentation – what it is, why it matters, and how therapists can navigate the tension between clinical care, insurance requirements, and personal growth. We explore how documentation protects therapists in utilization reviews and disciplinary processes, and how to ethically distinguish therapy from coaching or self-improvement. Key Takeaways for Therapists Why documenting medical necessity matters for insurance, ethics, and liability Risks of over-diagnosing or misrepresenting symptoms The role of treatment plans and progress notes in demonstrating medical necessity Navigating personal growth requests vs. clinical therapy Protecting yourself with clear, consistent documentation About Our Hosts Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com Find the transcript and additional resources at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Medical Necessity or Personal Growth? Why Documentation Matters in Therapy Curt and Katie talk about medical necessity in therapy documentation – what it is, why it matters, and how therapists can navigate the tension between clinical care, insurance requirements, and personal growth. We explore how documentation protects therapists in utilization reviews and disciplinary processes, and how to ethically distinguish therapy from coaching or self-improvement. Key Takeaways for Therapists Why documenting medical necessity matters for insurance, ethics, and liability Risks of over-diagnosing or misrepresenting symptoms The role of treatment plans and progress notes in demonstrating medical necessity Navigating personal growth requests vs. clinical therapy Protecting yourself with clear, consistent documentation About Our Hosts Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com Find the transcript and additional resources at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Medical Necessity or Personal Growth? Why Documentation Matters in Therapy

Curt and Katie talk about medical necessity in therapy documentation – what it is, why it matters, and how therapists can navigate the tension between clinical care, insurance requirements, and personal growth. We explore how documentation protects therapists in utilization reviews and disciplinary processes, and how to ethically distinguish therapy from coaching or self-improvement.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Why documenting medical necessity matters for insurance, ethics, and liability

  • Risks of over-diagnosing or misrepresenting symptoms

  • The role of treatment plans and progress notes in demonstrating medical necessity

  • Navigating personal growth requests vs. clinical therapy

  • Protecting yourself with clear, consistent documentation

About Our Hosts

Find the transcript and additional resources at mtsgpodcast.com.


Join the Modern Therapist Community

Linktree


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 2112 Beyond Coping: Radical Healing in a World Not Built for Us – An Interview with José Rosario Beyond Coping: Radical Healing in a World Not Built for Us – An Interview with José Rosario Curt and Katie chat with José Rosario about radical healing, disability, cultural trauma, and intersectionality. José shares his story as a scholar, practitioner, and activist, and how his lived experience as a disabled person of color who is also queer informs both his clinical work and research. He discusses how healing must move beyond coping, the importance of community engagement, and how therapists can better support clients with marginalized identities. About Our Guest: José Rosario Born to young Puerto Rican parents, José Rosario developed Cerebral Palsy as a premature baby. His family's journey towards equity deeply impacted his mental health. Currently nearing his PhD in Clinical Psychology, his research focuses on cultural trauma in intersectional communities. He is an Interdisciplinary Minority Fellow for the American Psychological Association, member of the Congressional Diversity and Equality Advisory Board for Congressman James Langevin, and member of the Rhode Island Attorney General Community Advisory Board. He has been honored with the Chris Martin Humanitarian Award and the Victoria Lederberg Award for Excellence in Psychology. Key Takeaways for Therapists Radical healing means moving beyond coping to systemic change and community-based healing. Disability, race, and queerness intersect in ways that compound stigma and systemic barriers. Community is both a source of hope and a vital element of healing. Therapists must step outside the therapy room and engage genuinely with the communities they serve. For full show notes and transcripts, visit: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 06 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Beyond Coping: Radical Healing in a World Not Built for Us – An Interview with José Rosario Curt and Katie chat with José Rosario about radical healing, disability, cultural trauma, and intersectionality. José shares his story as a scholar, practitioner, and activist, and how his lived experience as a disabled person of color who is also queer informs both his clinical work and research. He discusses how healing must move beyond coping, the importance of community engagement, and how therapists can better support clients with marginalized identities. About Our Guest: José Rosario Born to young Puerto Rican parents, José Rosario developed Cerebral Palsy as a premature baby. His family's journey towards equity deeply impacted his mental health. Currently nearing his PhD in Clinical Psychology, his research focuses on cultural trauma in intersectional communities. He is an Interdisciplinary Minority Fellow for the American Psychological Association, member of the Congressional Diversity and Equality Advisory Board for Congressman James Langevin, and member of the Rhode Island Attorney General Community Advisory Board. He has been honored with the Chris Martin Humanitarian Award and the Victoria Lederberg Award for Excellence in Psychology. Key Takeaways for Therapists Radical healing means moving beyond coping to systemic change and community-based healing. Disability, race, and queerness intersect in ways that compound stigma and systemic barriers. Community is both a source of hope and a vital element of healing. Therapists must step outside the therapy room and engage genuinely with the communities they serve. For full show notes and transcripts, visit: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Beyond Coping: Radical Healing in a World Not Built for Us – An Interview with José Rosario

Curt and Katie chat with José Rosario about radical healing, disability, cultural trauma, and intersectionality. José shares his story as a scholar, practitioner, and activist, and how his lived experience as a disabled person of color who is also queer informs both his clinical work and research. He discusses how healing must move beyond coping, the importance of community engagement, and how therapists can better support clients with marginalized identities.

About Our Guest: José Rosario Born to young Puerto Rican parents, José Rosario developed Cerebral Palsy as a premature baby. His family's journey towards equity deeply impacted his mental health. Currently nearing his PhD in Clinical Psychology, his research focuses on cultural trauma in intersectional communities. He is an Interdisciplinary Minority Fellow for the American Psychological Association, member of the Congressional Diversity and Equality Advisory Board for Congressman James Langevin, and member of the Rhode Island Attorney General Community Advisory Board. He has been honored with the Chris Martin Humanitarian Award and the Victoria Lederberg Award for Excellence in Psychology.


Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Radical healing means moving beyond coping to systemic change and community-based healing.

  • Disability, race, and queerness intersect in ways that compound stigma and systemic barriers.

  • Community is both a source of hope and a vital element of healing.

  • Therapists must step outside the therapy room and engage genuinely with the communities they serve.

For full show notes and transcripts, visit: mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

]]> 2242 Navigating Food, Body Image, and GLP-1 Medications: An Interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Navigating Food, Body Image, and GLP-1 Medications: An Interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Therapists are seeing more clients struggling with confusing medical advice, new medications, and diet culture messages that impact their relationship with food and body. In this conversation, Curt and Katie talk with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C about how therapists can examine their own biases, support clients navigating restrictive medical guidance, and encourage healthier, more intuitive approaches to eating. About Our Guest: Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Robyn began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as the in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last twenty-eight years she has developed her own private practice in Los Angeles, CA. She is a contributing author and is a nationally and internationally known registered dietitian nutritionist. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and Vogue. She has been on national television as the eating disorder expert on The Insider. Robyn is the author of The Eating Disorder Trap: A Guide for Clinicians and Loved Ones, Co-author of the online course Your Recovery Resource, and the host of The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast. Key Takeaways for Therapists Therapists must examine their own food and body biases to avoid unintentional harm to clients. Many physicians have minimal training in dietetics and may give inadequate advice. Clients can advocate for themselves in medical settings, including refusing to be weighed. GLP-1 medications may reduce appetite but can cause malnutrition, fatigue, and bone/muscle loss. Intuitive eating offers a path back to a healthier, more trusting relationship with food. For full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Navigating Food, Body Image, and GLP-1 Medications: An Interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Therapists are seeing more clients struggling with confusing medical advice, new medications, and diet culture messages that impact their relationship with food and body. In this conversation, Curt and Katie talk with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C about how therapists can examine their own biases, support clients navigating restrictive medical guidance, and encourage healthier, more intuitive approaches to eating. About Our Guest: Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Robyn began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as the in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last twenty-eight years she has developed her own private practice in Los Angeles, CA. She is a contributing author and is a nationally and internationally known registered dietitian nutritionist. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and Vogue. She has been on national television as the eating disorder expert on The Insider. Robyn is the author of The Eating Disorder Trap: A Guide for Clinicians and Loved Ones, Co-author of the online course Your Recovery Resource, and the host of The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast. Key Takeaways for Therapists Therapists must examine their own food and body biases to avoid unintentional harm to clients. Many physicians have minimal training in dietetics and may give inadequate advice. Clients can advocate for themselves in medical settings, including refusing to be weighed. GLP-1 medications may reduce appetite but can cause malnutrition, fatigue, and bone/muscle loss. Intuitive eating offers a path back to a healthier, more trusting relationship with food. For full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Navigating Food, Body Image, and GLP-1 Medications: An Interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C

Therapists are seeing more clients struggling with confusing medical advice, new medications, and diet culture messages that impact their relationship with food and body. In this conversation, Curt and Katie talk with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C about how therapists can examine their own biases, support clients navigating restrictive medical guidance, and encourage healthier, more intuitive approaches to eating.

About Our Guest: Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Robyn began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as the in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last twenty-eight years she has developed her own private practice in Los Angeles, CA.

She is a contributing author and is a nationally and internationally known registered dietitian nutritionist. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and Vogue.

She has been on national television as the eating disorder expert on The Insider. Robyn is the author of The Eating Disorder Trap: A Guide for Clinicians and Loved Ones, Co-author of the online course Your Recovery Resource, and the host of The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Therapists must examine their own food and body biases to avoid unintentional harm to clients.

  • Many physicians have minimal training in dietetics and may give inadequate advice.

  • Clients can advocate for themselves in medical settings, including refusing to be weighed.

  • GLP-1 medications may reduce appetite but can cause malnutrition, fatigue, and bone/muscle loss.

  • Intuitive eating offers a path back to a healthier, more trusting relationship with food.

For full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 2705 Somatic Therapy, Nervous System Regulation, and Expanding Capacity for Rest: An Interview with Linda Thai Somatic Therapy, Nervous System Regulation, and Expanding Capacity for Rest: An Interview with Linda Thai Curt and Katie chat with Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200 about practical, culturally aware somatic tools therapists can use, helping clients (and themselves) expand capacity for rest, and integrating bottom-up work ethically when working with trauma survivors and adult children of refugees and immigrants. Full show notes and transcripts available at mtsgpodcast.com. About Our Guest: Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200 Linda Thai is a trauma therapist and educator specializing in brain- and body-based modalities for addressing complex developmental trauma. She teaches mindfulness, grief tending, and somatic practices with a special focus on adult children of refugees and immigrants. Linda has assisted Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in psychotherapy workshops on attachment trauma and offers trainings and courses worldwide. Key Takeaways for Therapists Gentle rocking and orienting to distance are accessible entry points for regulation. Track SUNs (Subjective Units of Nourishment) as well as distress in sessions. Somatic work expands capacity for rest, not just activation. Therapists must contextualize disembodiment within colonization, hustle culture, and systemic exploitation. Choose teachers and communities that match your style before committing to long trainings. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: DW McCann FacebookMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com Mon, 22 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Somatic Therapy, Nervous System Regulation, and Expanding Capacity for Rest: An Interview with Linda Thai Curt and Katie chat with Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200 about practical, culturally aware somatic tools therapists can use, helping clients (and themselves) expand capacity for rest, and integrating bottom-up work ethically when working with trauma survivors and adult children of refugees and immigrants. Full show notes and transcripts available at mtsgpodcast.com. About Our Guest: Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200 Linda Thai is a trauma therapist and educator specializing in brain- and body-based modalities for addressing complex developmental trauma. She teaches mindfulness, grief tending, and somatic practices with a special focus on adult children of refugees and immigrants. Linda has assisted Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in psychotherapy workshops on attachment trauma and offers trainings and courses worldwide. Key Takeaways for Therapists Gentle rocking and orienting to distance are accessible entry points for regulation. Track SUNs (Subjective Units of Nourishment) as well as distress in sessions. Somatic work expands capacity for rest, not just activation. Therapists must contextualize disembodiment within colonization, hustle culture, and systemic exploitation. Choose teachers and communities that match your style before committing to long trainings. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: DW McCann FacebookMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com Somatic Therapy, Nervous System Regulation, and Expanding Capacity for Rest: An Interview with Linda Thai

Curt and Katie chat with Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200 about practical, culturally aware somatic tools therapists can use, helping clients (and themselves) expand capacity for rest, and integrating bottom-up work ethically when working with trauma survivors and adult children of refugees and immigrants.

Full show notes and transcripts available at mtsgpodcast.com.


About Our Guest: Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200

Linda Thai is a trauma therapist and educator specializing in brain- and body-based modalities for addressing complex developmental trauma. She teaches mindfulness, grief tending, and somatic practices with a special focus on adult children of refugees and immigrants. Linda has assisted Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in psychotherapy workshops on attachment trauma and offers trainings and courses worldwide.


Key Takeaways for Therapists

  • Gentle rocking and orienting to distance are accessible entry points for regulation.

  • Track SUNs (Subjective Units of Nourishment) as well as distress in sessions.

  • Somatic work expands capacity for rest, not just activation.

  • Therapists must contextualize disembodiment within colonization, hustle culture, and systemic exploitation.

  • Choose teachers and communities that match your style before committing to long trainings.

Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann: DW McCann Facebook
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com

]]> 2421 The Initial Consultation Call: Setting the Foundation for Therapy The Initial Consultation Call: Setting the Foundation for Therapy Curt and Katie chat about consultation and intake phone calls — the crucial first step in the client–therapist relationship. They explore how to balance logistics with empathy, set realistic expectations, and create safety and rapport from the very beginning. About our Hosts:Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com Key Takeaways for Therapists: How consultation calls set the tone for therapy Balancing logistics (fees, scheduling, insurance) with rapport-building Exploring referral sources, past therapy experiences, and client expectations Avoiding underselling yourself when discussing fees For more information and full show notes, visit: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Initial Consultation Call: Setting the Foundation for Therapy Curt and Katie chat about consultation and intake phone calls — the crucial first step in the client–therapist relationship. They explore how to balance logistics with empathy, set realistic expectations, and create safety and rapport from the very beginning. About our Hosts:Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com Key Takeaways for Therapists: How consultation calls set the tone for therapy Balancing logistics (fees, scheduling, insurance) with rapport-building Exploring referral sources, past therapy experiences, and client expectations Avoiding underselling yourself when discussing fees For more information and full show notes, visit: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano The Initial Consultation Call: Setting the Foundation for Therapy

Curt and Katie chat about consultation and intake phone calls — the crucial first step in the client–therapist relationship. They explore how to balance logistics with empathy, set realistic expectations, and create safety and rapport from the very beginning.


About our Hosts:
Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.com
Katie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com


Key Takeaways for Therapists:

  • How consultation calls set the tone for therapy

  • Balancing logistics (fees, scheduling, insurance) with rapport-building

  • Exploring referral sources, past therapy experiences, and client expectations

  • Avoiding underselling yourself when discussing fees

For more information and full show notes, visit: mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

]]> 2447 Unmasking Shame, Myths, and Healing for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: An Interview with Jeremy Sachs Unmasking Shame, Myths, and Healing for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: An Interview with Jeremy Sachs Curt and Katie chat with Jeremy Sachs, integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist, about supporting male survivors of sexual abuse. We explore harmful myths and stereotypes, the developmental impacts of sexual trauma, and the systemic and cultural barriers that make healing harder. Jeremy shares therapeutic approaches for early disclosure, building safety, and integrating trauma-specific interventions like Narrative Exposure Therapy, as well as the role of transformative justice in recovery. About Our Guest:Jeremy Sachs is an integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist from London, UK, now based in Glasgow, Scotland. Since the 2010s, he has run services that support individuals living with trauma or marginalisation, helping them to connect and find community. In 2016, he focused on developing therapy services for men, boys, and trans people who have survived sexual abuse and rape. He runs recovery groups and a private practice both online and in-person. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Myths like “men always want sex” or “they must have enjoyed it” are harmful and based on misunderstandings. Sexual abuse rarely occurs in isolation—context and systemic oppression matter. Containment and safety should precede trauma-specific work. Narrative Exposure Therapy can help integrate fragmented memories. Transformative justice offers community-based alternatives to the criminal justice system. Get the full show notes and transcript at: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Patreon Podcast Homepage YouTube Facebook Group Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 08 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Unmasking Shame, Myths, and Healing for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: An Interview with Jeremy Sachs Curt and Katie chat with Jeremy Sachs, integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist, about supporting male survivors of sexual abuse. We explore harmful myths and stereotypes, the developmental impacts of sexual trauma, and the systemic and cultural barriers that make healing harder. Jeremy shares therapeutic approaches for early disclosure, building safety, and integrating trauma-specific interventions like Narrative Exposure Therapy, as well as the role of transformative justice in recovery. About Our Guest:Jeremy Sachs is an integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist from London, UK, now based in Glasgow, Scotland. Since the 2010s, he has run services that support individuals living with trauma or marginalisation, helping them to connect and find community. In 2016, he focused on developing therapy services for men, boys, and trans people who have survived sexual abuse and rape. He runs recovery groups and a private practice both online and in-person. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Myths like “men always want sex” or “they must have enjoyed it” are harmful and based on misunderstandings. Sexual abuse rarely occurs in isolation—context and systemic oppression matter. Containment and safety should precede trauma-specific work. Narrative Exposure Therapy can help integrate fragmented memories. Transformative justice offers community-based alternatives to the criminal justice system. Get the full show notes and transcript at: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Patreon Podcast Homepage YouTube Facebook Group Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Unmasking Shame, Myths, and Healing for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: An Interview with Jeremy Sachs

Curt and Katie chat with Jeremy Sachs, integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist, about supporting male survivors of sexual abuse. We explore harmful myths and stereotypes, the developmental impacts of sexual trauma, and the systemic and cultural barriers that make healing harder. Jeremy shares therapeutic approaches for early disclosure, building safety, and integrating trauma-specific interventions like Narrative Exposure Therapy, as well as the role of transformative justice in recovery.


About Our Guest:
Jeremy Sachs is an integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist from London, UK, now based in Glasgow, Scotland. Since the 2010s, he has run services that support individuals living with trauma or marginalisation, helping them to connect and find community. In 2016, he focused on developing therapy services for men, boys, and trans people who have survived sexual abuse and rape. He runs recovery groups and a private practice both online and in-person.


Key Takeaways for Therapists:

  • Myths like “men always want sex” or “they must have enjoyed it” are harmful and based on misunderstandings.

  • Sexual abuse rarely occurs in isolation—context and systemic oppression matter.

  • Containment and safety should precede trauma-specific work.

  • Narrative Exposure Therapy can help integrate fragmented memories.

  • Transformative justice offers community-based alternatives to the criminal justice system.

Get the full show notes and transcript at: mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community

Creative Credits:

]]> 2618 yes Relational Healing, Neuroplasticity, and the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow Relational Healing, Neuroplasticity, and the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexa Altman, Ph.D. and Shira Myrow, LMFT In this episode, Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, LMFT, about psychedelic-assisted therapy and how it supports trauma healing, neuroplasticity, and relational transformation. They explore how these treatments work, what integration really means, and how therapists can ethically and safely engage with this emerging field. About our guests:Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, MFT, are co-founders of iPsychedelic Therapy. With backgrounds in trauma-informed psychology, spiritual counseling, and relational healing, they offer a holistic approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy that centers ethical care, integration, and transformational growth. Key takeaways: Psychedelics are not shortcuts—they act as amplifiers and accelerants in trauma work. Integration is a crucial part of psychedelic-assisted therapy and often overlooked. Clinicians must examine their own biases and seek robust training. Some clients are not appropriate for these treatments due to fragility or lack of therapeutic background. A safe therapeutic container, rigorous consent, and preparation are essential. Regulatory frameworks are still emerging and need clinician involvement. More info, transcripts, and full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 01 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Relational Healing, Neuroplasticity, and the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexa Altman, Ph.D. and Shira Myrow, LMFT In this episode, Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, LMFT, about psychedelic-assisted therapy and how it supports trauma healing, neuroplasticity, and relational transformation. They explore how these treatments work, what integration really means, and how therapists can ethically and safely engage with this emerging field. About our guests:Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, MFT, are co-founders of iPsychedelic Therapy. With backgrounds in trauma-informed psychology, spiritual counseling, and relational healing, they offer a holistic approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy that centers ethical care, integration, and transformational growth. Key takeaways: Psychedelics are not shortcuts—they act as amplifiers and accelerants in trauma work. Integration is a crucial part of psychedelic-assisted therapy and often overlooked. Clinicians must examine their own biases and seek robust training. Some clients are not appropriate for these treatments due to fragility or lack of therapeutic background. A safe therapeutic container, rigorous consent, and preparation are essential. Regulatory frameworks are still emerging and need clinician involvement. More info, transcripts, and full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Relational Healing, Neuroplasticity, and the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexa Altman, Ph.D. and Shira Myrow, LMFT

In this episode, Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, LMFT, about psychedelic-assisted therapy and how it supports trauma healing, neuroplasticity, and relational transformation. They explore how these treatments work, what integration really means, and how therapists can ethically and safely engage with this emerging field.

About our guests:
Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, MFT, are co-founders of iPsychedelic Therapy. With backgrounds in trauma-informed psychology, spiritual counseling, and relational healing, they offer a holistic approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy that centers ethical care, integration, and transformational growth.

Key takeaways:

  • Psychedelics are not shortcuts—they act as amplifiers and accelerants in trauma work.

  • Integration is a crucial part of psychedelic-assisted therapy and often overlooked.

  • Clinicians must examine their own biases and seek robust training.

  • Some clients are not appropriate for these treatments due to fragility or lack of therapeutic background.

  • A safe therapeutic container, rigorous consent, and preparation are essential.

  • Regulatory frameworks are still emerging and need clinician involvement.

More info, transcripts, and full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community:

Linktree


Creative Credits:


]]> 2858 Advanced Minds, Unique Challenges: Therapeutic Approaches for Gifted Children Advanced Minds, Unique Challenges: Therapeutic Approaches for Gifted Children Gifted children often present with complex needs that are misunderstood or misdiagnosed. In this continuing education episode, Curt and Katie explore how asynchronous development, emotional intensity, and cognitive complexity show up in the therapy room—and what therapists need to build effective therapeutic alliances. They highlight key research, therapist characteristics that support clinical success, and how to work with masking, perfectionism, and challenging behaviors without pathologizing giftedness. Key Takeaways: Giftedness includes uneven cognitive, emotional, and social development Misdiagnosis and masking are common Therapist flexibility, intensity, and curiosity matter more than techniques Gifted children often resist therapy when they feel misunderstood Parents may need education and validation around giftedness About Our Hosts: Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com CE Available for this Episode To earn 1 CE unit, visit moderntherapistcommunity.com More info and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com Join the community: linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Advanced Minds, Unique Challenges: Therapeutic Approaches for Gifted Children Gifted children often present with complex needs that are misunderstood or misdiagnosed. In this continuing education episode, Curt and Katie explore how asynchronous development, emotional intensity, and cognitive complexity show up in the therapy room—and what therapists need to build effective therapeutic alliances. They highlight key research, therapist characteristics that support clinical success, and how to work with masking, perfectionism, and challenging behaviors without pathologizing giftedness. Key Takeaways: Giftedness includes uneven cognitive, emotional, and social development Misdiagnosis and masking are common Therapist flexibility, intensity, and curiosity matter more than techniques Gifted children often resist therapy when they feel misunderstood Parents may need education and validation around giftedness About Our Hosts: Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com CE Available for this Episode To earn 1 CE unit, visit moderntherapistcommunity.com More info and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com Join the community: linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com Advanced Minds, Unique Challenges: Therapeutic Approaches for Gifted Children

Gifted children often present with complex needs that are misunderstood or misdiagnosed. In this continuing education episode, Curt and Katie explore how asynchronous development, emotional intensity, and cognitive complexity show up in the therapy room—and what therapists need to build effective therapeutic alliances. They highlight key research, therapist characteristics that support clinical success, and how to work with masking, perfectionism, and challenging behaviors without pathologizing giftedness.

Key Takeaways:

  • Giftedness includes uneven cognitive, emotional, and social development

  • Misdiagnosis and masking are common

  • Therapist flexibility, intensity, and curiosity matter more than techniques

  • Gifted children often resist therapy when they feel misunderstood

  • Parents may need education and validation around giftedness

About Our Hosts:
Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.com
Katie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com

CE Available for this Episode
To earn 1 CE unit, visit moderntherapistcommunity.com

More info and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com
Join the community: linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com


]]> 4395 Relational Self-Awareness and the Hard Truths of Couples Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexandra Solomon Relational Self-Awareness and the Hard Truths of Couples Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexandra Solomon Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon joins Curt and Katie to discuss what therapists get wrong in couples therapy, how to work with high-conflict dynamics, and the power of relational self-awareness. We explore how therapists can show up better prepared for the real work of helping relationships grow—or gracefully end. About Our Guest:Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, author, and host of the Reimagining Love podcast. Known globally for her relational self-awareness framework, Dr. Solomon bridges clinical wisdom, research, and pop culture in her work with couples. She is the author of Loving Bravely, Taking Sexy Back, and Love Every Day. Key Takeaways: The relationship—not the individuals—is the client in couples therapy Why individual therapist skills don’t always translate to couples work How regulation and self-awareness reduce conflict and promote connection What therapists should know about the "change partner vs. acceptance partner" dynamic Why therapist bias and romantic myths can derail the work More info, transcripts, and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: facebook.com/McCannDW Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Relational Self-Awareness and the Hard Truths of Couples Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexandra Solomon Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon joins Curt and Katie to discuss what therapists get wrong in couples therapy, how to work with high-conflict dynamics, and the power of relational self-awareness. We explore how therapists can show up better prepared for the real work of helping relationships grow—or gracefully end. About Our Guest:Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, author, and host of the Reimagining Love podcast. Known globally for her relational self-awareness framework, Dr. Solomon bridges clinical wisdom, research, and pop culture in her work with couples. She is the author of Loving Bravely, Taking Sexy Back, and Love Every Day. Key Takeaways: The relationship—not the individuals—is the client in couples therapy Why individual therapist skills don’t always translate to couples work How regulation and self-awareness reduce conflict and promote connection What therapists should know about the "change partner vs. acceptance partner" dynamic Why therapist bias and romantic myths can derail the work More info, transcripts, and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: facebook.com/McCannDW Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com Relational Self-Awareness and the Hard Truths of Couples Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexandra Solomon

Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon joins Curt and Katie to discuss what therapists get wrong in couples therapy, how to work with high-conflict dynamics, and the power of relational self-awareness. We explore how therapists can show up better prepared for the real work of helping relationships grow—or gracefully end.


About Our Guest:
Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, author, and host of the Reimagining Love podcast. Known globally for her relational self-awareness framework, Dr. Solomon bridges clinical wisdom, research, and pop culture in her work with couples. She is the author of Loving Bravely, Taking Sexy Back, and Love Every Day.


Key Takeaways:

  • The relationship—not the individuals—is the client in couples therapy

  • Why individual therapist skills don’t always translate to couples work

  • How regulation and self-awareness reduce conflict and promote connection

  • What therapists should know about the "change partner vs. acceptance partner" dynamic

  • Why therapist bias and romantic myths can derail the work

More info, transcripts, and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Creative Credits:


]]> 2674 What Do You Have to Offer? How Describing Your Ideal Client Might Be Repelling Good Enough Clients What Do You Have to Offer? How Describing Your Ideal Client Might Be Repelling Good Enough Clients Curt and Katie chat about common mistakes therapists make when writing their websites and directories — especially using “ideal client” language that may turn away the very clients they want to help. They explore how to write therapist website copy that’s client-centered, inclusive, and more effective for attracting referrals. Key Takeaways: Describing ideal clients too rigidly can unintentionally alienate potential referrals Language should reflect client experiences and therapy process — not just therapist preferences Blog posts are a flexible, strategic way to expand on specialty areas without over-niching Websites should be regularly updated to reflect current practice and make contact easy Listen to the full episode and access resources:https://therapyreimagined.com/podcast Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Do You Have to Offer? How Describing Your Ideal Client Might Be Repelling Good Enough Clients Curt and Katie chat about common mistakes therapists make when writing their websites and directories — especially using “ideal client” language that may turn away the very clients they want to help. They explore how to write therapist website copy that’s client-centered, inclusive, and more effective for attracting referrals. Key Takeaways: Describing ideal clients too rigidly can unintentionally alienate potential referrals Language should reflect client experiences and therapy process — not just therapist preferences Blog posts are a flexible, strategic way to expand on specialty areas without over-niching Websites should be regularly updated to reflect current practice and make contact easy Listen to the full episode and access resources:https://therapyreimagined.com/podcast Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano What Do You Have to Offer? How Describing Your Ideal Client Might Be Repelling Good Enough Clients

Curt and Katie chat about common mistakes therapists make when writing their websites and directories — especially using “ideal client” language that may turn away the very clients they want to help. They explore how to write therapist website copy that’s client-centered, inclusive, and more effective for attracting referrals.

Key Takeaways:

  • Describing ideal clients too rigidly can unintentionally alienate potential referrals

  • Language should reflect client experiences and therapy process — not just therapist preferences

  • Blog posts are a flexible, strategic way to expand on specialty areas without over-niching

  • Websites should be regularly updated to reflect current practice and make contact easy

Listen to the full episode and access resources:
https://therapyreimagined.com/podcast

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano


]]> 2171 Mindfulness, EMDR, and Wearable Tech: An Interview with Dr. Steve Dansiger Mindfulness, EMDR, and Wearable Tech: An Interview with Dr. Steve Dansiger Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Steve Dansiger about integrating mindfulness into EMDR, what therapists often get wrong about mindfulness, and how wearable technology might enhance trauma healing. Steve shares his journey from punk rock drummer to EMDR trainer to tech innovator—and how sound and vibration may support grounding, resourcing, and trauma reprocessing. About Our Guest: Dr. Steve Dansiger Dr. Steve Dansiger is a clinical psychologist, EMDRIA-approved EMDR consultant, longtime mindfulness practitioner, and co-founder of HapTech Holdings. He is the creator of the MET(T)A Protocol and co-author of multiple books on EMDR, trauma, addiction, and mindfulness. Steve’s work spans clinical practice, innovation, and international teaching, bringing together ancient wisdom and cutting-edge tech. Key Takeaways: Therapists and clients often misunderstand mindfulness as “clearing the mind.” Mindfulness is already embedded in EMDR and helps stabilize and prepare for trauma work. Starting with just 1–2 minutes a day can be effective, especially with neurodivergent clients. Wearable tech using sound and vibration may help ground and resource clients in session and beyond. Therapists need to maintain their own mindfulness practice to model and teach it effectively. For full show notes, transcripts, and more episodes: 🔗 www.mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: 🌐 Linktree Creative Credits: 🎙 Voice Over by DW McCann 🎵 Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Mindfulness, EMDR, and Wearable Tech: An Interview with Dr. Steve Dansiger Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Steve Dansiger about integrating mindfulness into EMDR, what therapists often get wrong about mindfulness, and how wearable technology might enhance trauma healing. Steve shares his journey from punk rock drummer to EMDR trainer to tech innovator—and how sound and vibration may support grounding, resourcing, and trauma reprocessing. About Our Guest: Dr. Steve Dansiger Dr. Steve Dansiger is a clinical psychologist, EMDRIA-approved EMDR consultant, longtime mindfulness practitioner, and co-founder of HapTech Holdings. He is the creator of the MET(T)A Protocol and co-author of multiple books on EMDR, trauma, addiction, and mindfulness. Steve’s work spans clinical practice, innovation, and international teaching, bringing together ancient wisdom and cutting-edge tech. Key Takeaways: Therapists and clients often misunderstand mindfulness as “clearing the mind.” Mindfulness is already embedded in EMDR and helps stabilize and prepare for trauma work. Starting with just 1–2 minutes a day can be effective, especially with neurodivergent clients. Wearable tech using sound and vibration may help ground and resource clients in session and beyond. Therapists need to maintain their own mindfulness practice to model and teach it effectively. For full show notes, transcripts, and more episodes: 🔗 www.mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: 🌐 Linktree Creative Credits: 🎙 Voice Over by DW McCann 🎵 Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Mindfulness, EMDR, and Wearable Tech: An Interview with Dr. Steve Dansiger

Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Steve Dansiger about integrating mindfulness into EMDR, what therapists often get wrong about mindfulness, and how wearable technology might enhance trauma healing. Steve shares his journey from punk rock drummer to EMDR trainer to tech innovator—and how sound and vibration may support grounding, resourcing, and trauma reprocessing.

About Our Guest: Dr. Steve Dansiger
Dr. Steve Dansiger is a clinical psychologist, EMDRIA-approved EMDR consultant, longtime mindfulness practitioner, and co-founder of HapTech Holdings. He is the creator of the MET(T)A Protocol and co-author of multiple books on EMDR, trauma, addiction, and mindfulness. Steve’s work spans clinical practice, innovation, and international teaching, bringing together ancient wisdom and cutting-edge tech.

Key Takeaways:

  • Therapists and clients often misunderstand mindfulness as “clearing the mind.”

  • Mindfulness is already embedded in EMDR and helps stabilize and prepare for trauma work.

  • Starting with just 1–2 minutes a day can be effective, especially with neurodivergent clients.

  • Wearable tech using sound and vibration may help ground and resource clients in session and beyond.

  • Therapists need to maintain their own mindfulness practice to model and teach it effectively.

For full show notes, transcripts, and more episodes:
🔗 www.mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
🌐 Linktree

Creative Credits:
🎙 Voice Over by DW McCann
🎵 Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano


]]> 2423 yes Rethinking Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Children reacting to the system around them Rethinking Oppositional Defiant Disorder—Children Reacting to the System Around Them Curt and Katie chat about Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), reframing it as a response to systemic and environmental stressors rather than a characterological flaw in children. They explore diagnostic challenges, systemic bias, and treatment considerations that support children and families more holistically. This episode is designed to help therapists critically assess and intervene when working with oppositional or defiant behaviors. Course Available for CE Credit:One unit of continuing education is available for this episode at moderntherapistcommunity.com. Listen, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and earn your certificate! Key Takeaways: Understand how ODD criteria can be misapplied without systemic context Identify the impact of trauma, neurodivergence, and racism on misdiagnosis Apply a functional, family systems-based approach to treating oppositional behaviors Learn which interventions are evidence-based—and which to avoid Recognize the importance of treating ODD like an adjustment to environment, not a lifelong label Link to Full Show Notes:Full references, transcript, and resource list at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com Voice Over by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Rethinking Oppositional Defiant Disorder—Children Reacting to the System Around Them Curt and Katie chat about Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), reframing it as a response to systemic and environmental stressors rather than a characterological flaw in children. They explore diagnostic challenges, systemic bias, and treatment considerations that support children and families more holistically. This episode is designed to help therapists critically assess and intervene when working with oppositional or defiant behaviors. Course Available for CE Credit:One unit of continuing education is available for this episode at moderntherapistcommunity.com. Listen, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and earn your certificate! Key Takeaways: Understand how ODD criteria can be misapplied without systemic context Identify the impact of trauma, neurodivergence, and racism on misdiagnosis Apply a functional, family systems-based approach to treating oppositional behaviors Learn which interventions are evidence-based—and which to avoid Recognize the importance of treating ODD like an adjustment to environment, not a lifelong label Link to Full Show Notes:Full references, transcript, and resource list at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com Voice Over by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW Rethinking Oppositional Defiant Disorder—Children Reacting to the System Around Them

Curt and Katie chat about Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), reframing it as a response to systemic and environmental stressors rather than a characterological flaw in children. They explore diagnostic challenges, systemic bias, and treatment considerations that support children and families more holistically. This episode is designed to help therapists critically assess and intervene when working with oppositional or defiant behaviors.

Course Available for CE Credit:
One unit of continuing education is available for this episode at moderntherapistcommunity.com. Listen, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and earn your certificate!

Key Takeaways:

  • Understand how ODD criteria can be misapplied without systemic context

  • Identify the impact of trauma, neurodivergence, and racism on misdiagnosis

  • Apply a functional, family systems-based approach to treating oppositional behaviors

  • Learn which interventions are evidence-based—and which to avoid

  • Recognize the importance of treating ODD like an adjustment to environment, not a lifelong label

Link to Full Show Notes:
Full references, transcript, and resource list at mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Creative Credits:
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com
Voice Over by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW


]]> 4449 How Virtual Clinical Supervision is Changing the Field: An Interview with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT How Virtual Clinical Supervision is Changing the Field: An Interview with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT, CEO and Co-Founder of Motivo, about how virtual supervision is transforming therapist training and professional development. We explore how technology can remove barriers for prelicensed clinicians, improve the supervision experience, and create space for mentorship beyond administrative oversight. Rachel also shares insights on the future of AI in mental health and what supervisors can do to better support early career therapists. Guest Bio:Rachel Ledbetter is the CEO and Co-Founder of Motivo Health, a pioneering platform dedicated to transforming the landscape of mental health care by facilitating virtual clinical supervision for behavioral health professionals. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Rachel's personal experiences navigating the licensure process have profoundly influenced her mission to remove barriers for aspiring therapists. Through Motivo, she continues to make a lasting impact by supporting the next generation of therapists and ensuring that quality mental health services are accessible to all. Key Takeaways: Supervision should focus on developing a clinician’s unique identity—not just administrative tasks. Virtual supervision increases access and continuity, especially for rural and underserved areas. Motivo actively tracks licensure requirements and verifies supervisor qualifications. AI can ease therapist burdens (e.g., documentation) but shouldn’t be used to raise productivity quotas. Supervisors are more effective when they support both professional development and self-of-the-therapist work. More info and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com Voiceover by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW Mon, 21 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Virtual Clinical Supervision is Changing the Field: An Interview with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT, CEO and Co-Founder of Motivo, about how virtual supervision is transforming therapist training and professional development. We explore how technology can remove barriers for prelicensed clinicians, improve the supervision experience, and create space for mentorship beyond administrative oversight. Rachel also shares insights on the future of AI in mental health and what supervisors can do to better support early career therapists. Guest Bio:Rachel Ledbetter is the CEO and Co-Founder of Motivo Health, a pioneering platform dedicated to transforming the landscape of mental health care by facilitating virtual clinical supervision for behavioral health professionals. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Rachel's personal experiences navigating the licensure process have profoundly influenced her mission to remove barriers for aspiring therapists. Through Motivo, she continues to make a lasting impact by supporting the next generation of therapists and ensuring that quality mental health services are accessible to all. Key Takeaways: Supervision should focus on developing a clinician’s unique identity—not just administrative tasks. Virtual supervision increases access and continuity, especially for rural and underserved areas. Motivo actively tracks licensure requirements and verifies supervisor qualifications. AI can ease therapist burdens (e.g., documentation) but shouldn’t be used to raise productivity quotas. Supervisors are more effective when they support both professional development and self-of-the-therapist work. More info and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com Voiceover by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW How Virtual Clinical Supervision is Changing the Field: An Interview with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT

Curt and Katie chat with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT, CEO and Co-Founder of Motivo, about how virtual supervision is transforming therapist training and professional development. We explore how technology can remove barriers for prelicensed clinicians, improve the supervision experience, and create space for mentorship beyond administrative oversight. Rachel also shares insights on the future of AI in mental health and what supervisors can do to better support early career therapists.

Guest Bio:
Rachel Ledbetter is the CEO and Co-Founder of Motivo Health, a pioneering platform dedicated to transforming the landscape of mental health care by facilitating virtual clinical supervision for behavioral health professionals. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Rachel's personal experiences navigating the licensure process have profoundly influenced her mission to remove barriers for aspiring therapists. Through Motivo, she continues to make a lasting impact by supporting the next generation of therapists and ensuring that quality mental health services are accessible to all.

Key Takeaways:

  • Supervision should focus on developing a clinician’s unique identity—not just administrative tasks.

  • Virtual supervision increases access and continuity, especially for rural and underserved areas.

  • Motivo actively tracks licensure requirements and verifies supervisor qualifications.

  • AI can ease therapist burdens (e.g., documentation) but shouldn’t be used to raise productivity quotas.

  • Supervisors are more effective when they support both professional development and self-of-the-therapist work.

More info and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Creative Credits:
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com
Voiceover by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW


]]> 2178 Why It’s Hard for Therapists to Be Friends: Understanding Boundaries, Identity, and Reciprocity Why It’s Hard for Therapists to Be Friends Curt and Katie chat about why therapists often struggle with friendships—especially with non-therapists. They explore the impact of emotional labor, overidentifying as caretakers, and the challenges of setting boundaries and expressing needs in personal relationships. Key Takeaways: Therapists often default to caretaking in friendships, especially if they have a history of being “the helper.” Emotional exhaustion from client work can make socializing difficult. Confidentiality and identity boundaries limit what therapists can share about their day. Friendships become healthier when therapists drop the therapist role and prioritize reciprocity. Intentional communication and boundary-setting help create sustainable relationships. More information and transcripts available at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree Creative Credits: Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Voiceover by DW McCann Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Why It’s Hard for Therapists to Be Friends Curt and Katie chat about why therapists often struggle with friendships—especially with non-therapists. They explore the impact of emotional labor, overidentifying as caretakers, and the challenges of setting boundaries and expressing needs in personal relationships. Key Takeaways: Therapists often default to caretaking in friendships, especially if they have a history of being “the helper.” Emotional exhaustion from client work can make socializing difficult. Confidentiality and identity boundaries limit what therapists can share about their day. Friendships become healthier when therapists drop the therapist role and prioritize reciprocity. Intentional communication and boundary-setting help create sustainable relationships. More information and transcripts available at:https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree Creative Credits: Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano Voiceover by DW McCann Why It’s Hard for Therapists to Be Friends

Curt and Katie chat about why therapists often struggle with friendships—especially with non-therapists. They explore the impact of emotional labor, overidentifying as caretakers, and the challenges of setting boundaries and expressing needs in personal relationships.


Key Takeaways:

  • Therapists often default to caretaking in friendships, especially if they have a history of being “the helper.”

  • Emotional exhaustion from client work can make socializing difficult.

  • Confidentiality and identity boundaries limit what therapists can share about their day.

  • Friendships become healthier when therapists drop the therapist role and prioritize reciprocity.

  • Intentional communication and boundary-setting help create sustainable relationships.

More information and transcripts available at:
https://mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree

Creative Credits:
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano
Voiceover by DW McCann


]]> 2161 Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Relias Special Episode: Modern Therapist's Consumer Guide on Relias Curt and Katie talk with Candace Wallace, Chief Customer Officer at Relias, about how this tech-enabled platform supports therapist training, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance. Candace explains how Relias helps practices of all sizes reduce admin burdens, improve staff retention, and compete in a changing behavioral health landscape. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore tools and services designed for therapists and their clients. About Our Guest:Candace Wallace is the Chief Customer Officer at Relias, overseeing Customer Success, Renewals, Support, and Professional Services. Since joining in 2013, she’s led several key teams and now focuses on delivering customer value at scale. With degrees in Archaeology and Religion from Baylor University, Candace’s career path includes both compliance consulting and a deep commitment to healthcare systems transformation. Key Takeaways: Relias reduces administrative burdens to improve patient care Solutions are tailored to solo, small, and large practices alike Training, leadership development, and compliance tracking in one platform Helps therapist-led organizations stay competitive and grow sustainably Started with small providers—continues to focus on accessible, effective tools For full show notes and transcripts, visit:https://www.mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree Creative Credits:Voice Over by DW McCannMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000 bonus Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Special Episode: Modern Therapist's Consumer Guide on Relias Curt and Katie talk with Candace Wallace, Chief Customer Officer at Relias, about how this tech-enabled platform supports therapist training, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance. Candace explains how Relias helps practices of all sizes reduce admin burdens, improve staff retention, and compete in a changing behavioral health landscape. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore tools and services designed for therapists and their clients. About Our Guest:Candace Wallace is the Chief Customer Officer at Relias, overseeing Customer Success, Renewals, Support, and Professional Services. Since joining in 2013, she’s led several key teams and now focuses on delivering customer value at scale. With degrees in Archaeology and Religion from Baylor University, Candace’s career path includes both compliance consulting and a deep commitment to healthcare systems transformation. Key Takeaways: Relias reduces administrative burdens to improve patient care Solutions are tailored to solo, small, and large practices alike Training, leadership development, and compliance tracking in one platform Helps therapist-led organizations stay competitive and grow sustainably Started with small providers—continues to focus on accessible, effective tools For full show notes and transcripts, visit:https://www.mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree Creative Credits:Voice Over by DW McCannMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano Special Episode: Modern Therapist's Consumer Guide on Relias

Curt and Katie talk with Candace Wallace, Chief Customer Officer at Relias, about how this tech-enabled platform supports therapist training, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance. Candace explains how Relias helps practices of all sizes reduce admin burdens, improve staff retention, and compete in a changing behavioral health landscape. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore tools and services designed for therapists and their clients.

About Our Guest:
Candace Wallace is the Chief Customer Officer at Relias, overseeing Customer Success, Renewals, Support, and Professional Services. Since joining in 2013, she’s led several key teams and now focuses on delivering customer value at scale. With degrees in Archaeology and Religion from Baylor University, Candace’s career path includes both compliance consulting and a deep commitment to healthcare systems transformation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Relias reduces administrative burdens to improve patient care

  • Solutions are tailored to solo, small, and large practices alike

  • Training, leadership development, and compliance tracking in one platform

  • Helps therapist-led organizations stay competitive and grow sustainably

  • Started with small providers—continues to focus on accessible, effective tools

For full show notes and transcripts, visit:
https://www.mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

]]> 3244 no How to Launch Therapy Intensives in Private Practice: An Interview with Steffeny Feld, LCSW Title: How to Launch Therapy Intensives in Private Practice: An Interview with Steffeny Feld, LCSW Description:Curt and Katie chat with Steffeny Feld, LCSW, Therapist and Creator of the Intensive Design Lab, about how therapists can bring therapy intensives into private practice. We explore how therapy intensives differ from traditional therapy, how to structure and prepare for intensives, clinical considerations for both clients and clinicians, and why this model can be particularly supportive for highly sensitive or neurodivergent therapists. About Our Guest:Steffeny Feld is a Therapist, Copywriter, and the Creator of the Intensive Design Lab where she supports therapists of all backgrounds and modalities to launch therapy intensives in private practice. Steffeny believes that therapy intensives are powerful and transformative for clients and the clinicians who offer them. She supports therapists to bring intensives into their practice so that they can work less and earn more while helping clients heal. Steffeny lives in St Louis, Missouri with her partner and 4-year-old son, Felix. Key Takeaways: Therapy intensives offer a distinct therapy format, not just longer sessions. Therapists must assess client readiness and window of tolerance carefully. Intensives can support therapist sustainability, especially for highly sensitive and neurodivergent clinicians. Practical considerations include session structure, pacing, and client comfort. Therapy intensives provide an opportunity for deep clinical work and income diversification. Link to Transcripts and Full Show Notes: https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann - https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano - https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Title: How to Launch Therapy Intensives in Private Practice: An Interview with Steffeny Feld, LCSW Description:Curt and Katie chat with Steffeny Feld, LCSW, Therapist and Creator of the Intensive Design Lab, about how therapists can bring therapy intensives into private practice. We explore how therapy intensives differ from traditional therapy, how to structure and prepare for intensives, clinical considerations for both clients and clinicians, and why this model can be particularly supportive for highly sensitive or neurodivergent therapists. About Our Guest:Steffeny Feld is a Therapist, Copywriter, and the Creator of the Intensive Design Lab where she supports therapists of all backgrounds and modalities to launch therapy intensives in private practice. Steffeny believes that therapy intensives are powerful and transformative for clients and the clinicians who offer them. She supports therapists to bring intensives into their practice so that they can work less and earn more while helping clients heal. Steffeny lives in St Louis, Missouri with her partner and 4-year-old son, Felix. Key Takeaways: Therapy intensives offer a distinct therapy format, not just longer sessions. Therapists must assess client readiness and window of tolerance carefully. Intensives can support therapist sustainability, especially for highly sensitive and neurodivergent clinicians. Practical considerations include session structure, pacing, and client comfort. Therapy intensives provide an opportunity for deep clinical work and income diversification. Link to Transcripts and Full Show Notes: https://mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann - https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano - https://groomsymusic.com/ Title: How to Launch Therapy Intensives in Private Practice: An Interview with Steffeny Feld, LCSW

Description:
Curt and Katie chat with Steffeny Feld, LCSW, Therapist and Creator of the Intensive Design Lab, about how therapists can bring therapy intensives into private practice. We explore how therapy intensives differ from traditional therapy, how to structure and prepare for intensives, clinical considerations for both clients and clinicians, and why this model can be particularly supportive for highly sensitive or neurodivergent therapists.

About Our Guest:
Steffeny Feld is a Therapist, Copywriter, and the Creator of the Intensive Design Lab where she supports therapists of all backgrounds and modalities to launch therapy intensives in private practice. Steffeny believes that therapy intensives are powerful and transformative for clients and the clinicians who offer them. She supports therapists to bring intensives into their practice so that they can work less and earn more while helping clients heal. Steffeny lives in St Louis, Missouri with her partner and 4-year-old son, Felix.

Key Takeaways:

  • Therapy intensives offer a distinct therapy format, not just longer sessions.

  • Therapists must assess client readiness and window of tolerance carefully.

  • Intensives can support therapist sustainability, especially for highly sensitive and neurodivergent clinicians.

  • Practical considerations include session structure, pacing, and client comfort.

  • Therapy intensives provide an opportunity for deep clinical work and income diversification.

Link to Transcripts and Full Show Notes: https://mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann - https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano - https://groomsymusic.com/


]]> 2199 Curt’s Guide to Life: Real-World Advice for Therapists Navigating Their Careers Curt’s Guide to Life: Real-World Advice for Therapists Navigating Their Careers Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy chat about the practical and meaningful life lessons Curt has gathered throughout his career as a therapist, supervisor, and leader. From networking and curiosity to flexibility and reputation, this episode offers real-world advice for therapists trying to build sustainable careers. Key Takeaways: Network laterally with peers at similar stages Stay curious—your clinical focus may evolve Learn by doing, not just studying Be kind and human in all professional interactions Protect your reputation—it’s everything Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapists-survival-guide-podcast-episodes/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyReimagined Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined/ Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt’s Guide to Life: Real-World Advice for Therapists Navigating Their Careers Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy chat about the practical and meaningful life lessons Curt has gathered throughout his career as a therapist, supervisor, and leader. From networking and curiosity to flexibility and reputation, this episode offers real-world advice for therapists trying to build sustainable careers. Key Takeaways: Network laterally with peers at similar stages Stay curious—your clinical focus may evolve Learn by doing, not just studying Be kind and human in all professional interactions Protect your reputation—it’s everything Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapists-survival-guide-podcast-episodes/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyReimagined Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined/ Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com Curt’s Guide to Life: Real-World Advice for Therapists Navigating Their Careers

Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy chat about the practical and meaningful life lessons Curt has gathered throughout his career as a therapist, supervisor, and leader. From networking and curiosity to flexibility and reputation, this episode offers real-world advice for therapists trying to build sustainable careers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Network laterally with peers at similar stages

  • Stay curious—your clinical focus may evolve

  • Learn by doing, not just studying

  • Be kind and human in all professional interactions

  • Protect your reputation—it’s everything

Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com


Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mtsgpodcast
Podcast Homepage: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapists-survival-guide-podcast-episodes/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyReimagined
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined/


Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com

]]> 2110 How Therapists Can Responsibly Support Disaster Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Shannon Goodhue, LCSW, PhD How Therapists Can Responsibly Support Disaster Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Shannon Goodhue, LCSW, PhD Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Shannon Goodhue about how therapists can ethically support disaster-impacted communities. We explore how disaster mental health differs from traditional therapy, why most people don’t need long-term services, and how trained professionals can provide stabilization and support in both local and national crises. Shannon outlines the American Red Cross training process, the structure of deployments, and the importance of understanding when to step in—and when not to. About Our Guest:Shannon Goodhue is the Senior Program Manager, Disaster Mental Health at the American Red Cross, overseeing the nationwide DMH team. With a PhD in International Psychology, a background in trauma and grief therapy, and past roles in D.C. disaster planning, Shannon brings deep experience in crisis response and ethical care. She’s also a former volunteer firefighter/EMT and currently lives in Virginia with her family. Key Takeaways: Disaster mental health is not the same as therapy Most survivors recover without mental health services Therapists must be trained and vetted before entering shelters Prevention and resilience-building are critical parts of crisis care Red Cross deployments can be virtual, local, or national More information and transcripts: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits:Hosted by Curt Widhalm and Katie VernoyMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.comVoice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW Mon, 23 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Therapists Can Responsibly Support Disaster Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Shannon Goodhue, LCSW, PhD Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Shannon Goodhue about how therapists can ethically support disaster-impacted communities. We explore how disaster mental health differs from traditional therapy, why most people don’t need long-term services, and how trained professionals can provide stabilization and support in both local and national crises. Shannon outlines the American Red Cross training process, the structure of deployments, and the importance of understanding when to step in—and when not to. About Our Guest:Shannon Goodhue is the Senior Program Manager, Disaster Mental Health at the American Red Cross, overseeing the nationwide DMH team. With a PhD in International Psychology, a background in trauma and grief therapy, and past roles in D.C. disaster planning, Shannon brings deep experience in crisis response and ethical care. She’s also a former volunteer firefighter/EMT and currently lives in Virginia with her family. Key Takeaways: Disaster mental health is not the same as therapy Most survivors recover without mental health services Therapists must be trained and vetted before entering shelters Prevention and resilience-building are critical parts of crisis care Red Cross deployments can be virtual, local, or national More information and transcripts: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits:Hosted by Curt Widhalm and Katie VernoyMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.comVoice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW How Therapists Can Responsibly Support Disaster Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Shannon Goodhue, LCSW, PhD


Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Shannon Goodhue about how therapists can ethically support disaster-impacted communities. We explore how disaster mental health differs from traditional therapy, why most people don’t need long-term services, and how trained professionals can provide stabilization and support in both local and national crises. Shannon outlines the American Red Cross training process, the structure of deployments, and the importance of understanding when to step in—and when not to.

About Our Guest:
Shannon Goodhue is the Senior Program Manager, Disaster Mental Health at the American Red Cross, overseeing the nationwide DMH team. With a PhD in International Psychology, a background in trauma and grief therapy, and past roles in D.C. disaster planning, Shannon brings deep experience in crisis response and ethical care. She’s also a former volunteer firefighter/EMT and currently lives in Virginia with her family.

Key Takeaways:

  • Disaster mental health is not the same as therapy

  • Most survivors recover without mental health services

  • Therapists must be trained and vetted before entering shelters

  • Prevention and resilience-building are critical parts of crisis care

  • Red Cross deployments can be virtual, local, or national

More information and transcripts: mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Creative Credits:
Hosted by Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com
Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW


]]> 2354 How Therapists Can Support Community-Building in Immigrant and Marginalized Populations: An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT How Therapists Can Support Community-Building in Immigrant and Marginalized Populations: An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT, about how therapists can support clients from immigrant and marginalized communities in building and maintaining safe, affirming relationships. They explore cultural responsiveness, identity, risk appetite, and how therapists can expand their awareness and approach beyond individualistic norms. Guest Bio:Adri Rodriguez, LMFT is a therapist, educator, and host of Entre Tías y Amiguis Podcast. Their work focuses on generational healing, identity, and resilience through culturally grounded and justice-oriented approaches. Key Takeaways: Community is built on safety, belonging, and mutual understanding. Risk appetite and intersectionality must shape how clients engage with community. Therapists can use their online presence as a safety signal. Staying informed without burnout is a clinical responsibility. More Info:Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community • Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: facebook.com/McCannDW Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Therapists Can Support Community-Building in Immigrant and Marginalized Populations: An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT, about how therapists can support clients from immigrant and marginalized communities in building and maintaining safe, affirming relationships. They explore cultural responsiveness, identity, risk appetite, and how therapists can expand their awareness and approach beyond individualistic norms. Guest Bio:Adri Rodriguez, LMFT is a therapist, educator, and host of Entre Tías y Amiguis Podcast. Their work focuses on generational healing, identity, and resilience through culturally grounded and justice-oriented approaches. Key Takeaways: Community is built on safety, belonging, and mutual understanding. Risk appetite and intersectionality must shape how clients engage with community. Therapists can use their online presence as a safety signal. Staying informed without burnout is a clinical responsibility. More Info:Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community • Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: facebook.com/McCannDW Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com How Therapists Can Support Community-Building in Immigrant and Marginalized Populations: An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT

Curt and Katie chat with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT, about how therapists can support clients from immigrant and marginalized communities in building and maintaining safe, affirming relationships. They explore cultural responsiveness, identity, risk appetite, and how therapists can expand their awareness and approach beyond individualistic norms.

Guest Bio:
Adri Rodriguez, LMFT is a therapist, educator, and host of Entre Tías y Amiguis Podcast. Their work focuses on generational healing, identity, and resilience through culturally grounded and justice-oriented approaches.

Key Takeaways:

  • Community is built on safety, belonging, and mutual understanding.

  • Risk appetite and intersectionality must shape how clients engage with community.

  • Therapists can use their online presence as a safety signal.

  • Staying informed without burnout is a clinical responsibility.

More Info:
Full show notes and transcript available at mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community • Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Creative Credits:

]]> 2725 The Business of Therapy: Surviving Economic and Industry Disruptions The Business of Therapy: Surviving Economic and Industry Disruptions Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can adapt to the changing business landscape of private practice, including fewer client inquiries, economic challenges, and increased competition. We share practical strategies for maintaining a sustainable therapy practice, improving marketing efforts, and building strong referral networks. Transcripts and additional information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we discuss running a private practice during times of economic uncertainty We’ve heard a lot about the real-time challenges that therapists are facing in a changing business landscape. With a drop in inquiries, increased financial pressures on clients, and greater competition from virtual and AI-based services, private practice clinicians are feeling the pinch. We explore how to adapt your business model, rethink marketing strategies, and prioritize networking and flexibility to weather the storm and build a more resilient practice. What is the current state of private practice therapy businesses? • A drop in referrals and inquiries: Therapists are seeing fewer new client inquiries, especially compared to the pandemic boom. • Economic pressures on clients: Some are requesting fee reductions or shifting to less frequent sessions, even when practices are technically full. • Rising competition: Therapists are competing not just with other clinicians, but also with VC-backed platforms and AI services. What can private practice therapists do to navigate the current business climate? • The need for adaptability: Offering in-person and virtual options, adjusting your fee structure, and being flexible can help retain clients. • Business evolution: It’s more important than ever to regularly assess your practice’s expenses, operations, and marketing strategy. • Standing out in a crowded market: Specializing in specific modalities (like DBT or EMDR) and diversifying your service offerings (e.g., walk-and-talk therapy) can help. • Networking and community support: Building strong referral networks and staying connected with colleagues is essential in today’s climate. • Sustainability for therapists with additional needs: Flexibility can also support therapists who are neurodivergent or living with chronic illness. Key Takeaways from this podcast episode for therapists • Monitor your referral trends and be proactive about filling client gaps—even if your caseload seems full. • Adjust your practice model as needed—offering hybrid sessions or reduced fees may help sustain your income. • Reevaluate your expenses and time investments (marketing, admin, documentation) for a more efficient practice. • Stay current and visible by evaluating SEO, trying Google Ads, and maintaining a strong online presence. • Network consistently—both online and in-person—to build a robust referral stream. • Don’t be afraid to evolve. Practices that are nimble and responsive to change are more likely to succeed long-term. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Business of Therapy: Surviving Economic and Industry Disruptions Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can adapt to the changing business landscape of private practice, including fewer client inquiries, economic challenges, and increased competition. We share practical strategies for maintaining a sustainable therapy practice, improving marketing efforts, and building strong referral networks. Transcripts and additional information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we discuss running a private practice during times of economic uncertainty We’ve heard a lot about the real-time challenges that therapists are facing in a changing business landscape. With a drop in inquiries, increased financial pressures on clients, and greater competition from virtual and AI-based services, private practice clinicians are feeling the pinch. We explore how to adapt your business model, rethink marketing strategies, and prioritize networking and flexibility to weather the storm and build a more resilient practice. What is the current state of private practice therapy businesses? • A drop in referrals and inquiries: Therapists are seeing fewer new client inquiries, especially compared to the pandemic boom. • Economic pressures on clients: Some are requesting fee reductions or shifting to less frequent sessions, even when practices are technically full. • Rising competition: Therapists are competing not just with other clinicians, but also with VC-backed platforms and AI services. What can private practice therapists do to navigate the current business climate? • The need for adaptability: Offering in-person and virtual options, adjusting your fee structure, and being flexible can help retain clients. • Business evolution: It’s more important than ever to regularly assess your practice’s expenses, operations, and marketing strategy. • Standing out in a crowded market: Specializing in specific modalities (like DBT or EMDR) and diversifying your service offerings (e.g., walk-and-talk therapy) can help. • Networking and community support: Building strong referral networks and staying connected with colleagues is essential in today’s climate. • Sustainability for therapists with additional needs: Flexibility can also support therapists who are neurodivergent or living with chronic illness. Key Takeaways from this podcast episode for therapists • Monitor your referral trends and be proactive about filling client gaps—even if your caseload seems full. • Adjust your practice model as needed—offering hybrid sessions or reduced fees may help sustain your income. • Reevaluate your expenses and time investments (marketing, admin, documentation) for a more efficient practice. • Stay current and visible by evaluating SEO, trying Google Ads, and maintaining a strong online presence. • Network consistently—both online and in-person—to build a robust referral stream. • Don’t be afraid to evolve. Practices that are nimble and responsive to change are more likely to succeed long-term. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ The Business of Therapy: Surviving Economic and Industry Disruptions

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can adapt to the changing business landscape of private practice, including fewer client inquiries, economic challenges, and increased competition. We share practical strategies for maintaining a sustainable therapy practice, improving marketing efforts, and building strong referral networks.

Transcripts and additional information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we discuss running a private practice during times of economic uncertainty

We’ve heard a lot about the real-time challenges that therapists are facing in a changing business landscape. With a drop in inquiries, increased financial pressures on clients, and greater competition from virtual and AI-based services, private practice clinicians are feeling the pinch. We explore how to adapt your business model, rethink marketing strategies, and prioritize networking and flexibility to weather the storm and build a more resilient practice.

What is the current state of private practice therapy businesses?

• A drop in referrals and inquiries: Therapists are seeing fewer new client inquiries, especially compared to the pandemic boom.

• Economic pressures on clients: Some are requesting fee reductions or shifting to less frequent sessions, even when practices are technically full.

• Rising competition: Therapists are competing not just with other clinicians, but also with VC-backed platforms and AI services.

What can private practice therapists do to navigate the current business climate?

• The need for adaptability: Offering in-person and virtual options, adjusting your fee structure, and being flexible can help retain clients.

• Business evolution: It’s more important than ever to regularly assess your practice’s expenses, operations, and marketing strategy.

• Standing out in a crowded market: Specializing in specific modalities (like DBT or EMDR) and diversifying your service offerings (e.g., walk-and-talk therapy) can help.

• Networking and community support: Building strong referral networks and staying connected with colleagues is essential in today’s climate.

• Sustainability for therapists with additional needs: Flexibility can also support therapists who are neurodivergent or living with chronic illness.

Key Takeaways from this podcast episode for therapists

• Monitor your referral trends and be proactive about filling client gaps—even if your caseload seems full.

• Adjust your practice model as needed—offering hybrid sessions or reduced fees may help sustain your income.

• Reevaluate your expenses and time investments (marketing, admin, documentation) for a more efficient practice.

• Stay current and visible by evaluating SEO, trying Google Ads, and maintaining a strong online presence.

• Network consistently—both online and in-person—to build a robust referral stream.

• Don’t be afraid to evolve. Practices that are nimble and responsive to change are more likely to succeed long-term.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2033 Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Buying Time, LLC Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Buying Time, LLC Curt and Katie talk with Bibi Goldstein, of Buying Time, who provides virtual assistant services for therapists. Bibi shares her journey from starting a personal assistant service in 2007 to evolving into a comprehensive VA company. She emphasizes the importance of delegating tasks, using systems like QuickBooks and scheduling software, and maintaining consistent social media presence. Bibi's team provides comprehensive support, including bookkeeping, social media management, and email inbox management. Bibi stresses the importance of regular communication and flexibility to meet clients' needs. Curt and Katie highly recommend Buying Time for its efficiency and quality of service. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore innovative tools and services built for therapists and their clients. In this podcast episode we talk about how to effectively incorporate business systems and delegate to a Virtual Assistant company like Buying Time, LLC We talk with Bibi Goldstein about her business philosophy, strategic advice for therapists, and the services offered by her virtual assistant company, Buying Time. Interview with Bibi Goldstein, Buying Time 0:01:00 - Introduction 0:04:06 - Company Origin Story 0:11:46 - Advice for Therapists on Business Operations 0:16:34 - Social Media Strategy vs. Implementation 0:20:00 - Delegation and Task Management 0:34:14 - Virtual EA vs. Virtual Assistant 0:36:17 – How to vet a potential Virtual Assistance Company 0:40:04 - How to Sign Up with Buying Time 0:43:20 - Contact Information Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of Buying Time 0:45:24 – Katie and Curt talk through our impressions of Buying Time: We view Buying Time as an exceptional virtual support service that goes beyond typical administrative assistance, offering strategic guidance and practical solutions for therapists and entrepreneurs. A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from Buying Time Buying Time has put together a free Systems Inventory Checklist to help all of us to uncover hidden expenses and optimize spending in your practice. Go to buyingtimellc.com/mtsg to get your free checklist now! Relevant Links: • Website: buyingtimellc.com/mtsg • Email: service@buyingtimellc.com • Social Media: @buyingtimellc Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000 bonus Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Buying Time, LLC Curt and Katie talk with Bibi Goldstein, of Buying Time, who provides virtual assistant services for therapists. Bibi shares her journey from starting a personal assistant service in 2007 to evolving into a comprehensive VA company. She emphasizes the importance of delegating tasks, using systems like QuickBooks and scheduling software, and maintaining consistent social media presence. Bibi's team provides comprehensive support, including bookkeeping, social media management, and email inbox management. Bibi stresses the importance of regular communication and flexibility to meet clients' needs. Curt and Katie highly recommend Buying Time for its efficiency and quality of service. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore innovative tools and services built for therapists and their clients. In this podcast episode we talk about how to effectively incorporate business systems and delegate to a Virtual Assistant company like Buying Time, LLC We talk with Bibi Goldstein about her business philosophy, strategic advice for therapists, and the services offered by her virtual assistant company, Buying Time. Interview with Bibi Goldstein, Buying Time 0:01:00 - Introduction 0:04:06 - Company Origin Story 0:11:46 - Advice for Therapists on Business Operations 0:16:34 - Social Media Strategy vs. Implementation 0:20:00 - Delegation and Task Management 0:34:14 - Virtual EA vs. Virtual Assistant 0:36:17 – How to vet a potential Virtual Assistance Company 0:40:04 - How to Sign Up with Buying Time 0:43:20 - Contact Information Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of Buying Time 0:45:24 – Katie and Curt talk through our impressions of Buying Time: We view Buying Time as an exceptional virtual support service that goes beyond typical administrative assistance, offering strategic guidance and practical solutions for therapists and entrepreneurs. A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from Buying Time Buying Time has put together a free Systems Inventory Checklist to help all of us to uncover hidden expenses and optimize spending in your practice. Go to buyingtimellc.com/mtsg to get your free checklist now! Relevant Links: • Website: buyingtimellc.com/mtsg • Email: service@buyingtimellc.com • Social Media: @buyingtimellc Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Buying Time, LLC

Curt and Katie talk with Bibi Goldstein, of Buying Time, who provides virtual assistant services for therapists. Bibi shares her journey from starting a personal assistant service in 2007 to evolving into a comprehensive VA company. She emphasizes the importance of delegating tasks, using systems like QuickBooks and scheduling software, and maintaining consistent social media presence. Bibi's team provides comprehensive support, including bookkeeping, social media management, and email inbox management. Bibi stresses the importance of regular communication and flexibility to meet clients' needs. Curt and Katie highly recommend Buying Time for its efficiency and quality of service. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore innovative tools and services built for therapists and their clients.

In this podcast episode we talk about how to effectively incorporate business systems and delegate to a Virtual Assistant company like Buying Time, LLC

We talk with Bibi Goldstein about her business philosophy, strategic advice for therapists, and the services offered by her virtual assistant company, Buying Time.

Interview with Bibi Goldstein, Buying Time

0:01:00 - Introduction

0:04:06 - Company Origin Story

0:11:46 - Advice for Therapists on Business Operations

0:16:34 - Social Media Strategy vs. Implementation

0:20:00 - Delegation and Task Management

0:34:14 - Virtual EA vs. Virtual Assistant

0:36:17 – How to vet a potential Virtual Assistance Company

0:40:04 - How to Sign Up with Buying Time

0:43:20 - Contact Information

Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of Buying Time

0:45:24 – Katie and Curt talk through our impressions of Buying Time: We view Buying Time as an exceptional virtual support service that goes beyond typical administrative assistance, offering strategic guidance and practical solutions for therapists and entrepreneurs.


A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from Buying Time

Buying Time has put together a free Systems Inventory Checklist to help all of us to uncover hidden expenses and optimize spending in your practice. Go to buyingtimellc.com/mtsg to get your free checklist now!

Relevant Links:

• Website: buyingtimellc.com/mtsg

• Email: service@buyingtimellc.com

• Social Media: @buyingtimellc


Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/


]]> 3025 Understanding Sexual Trauma and Hookup Culture in Therapy with Gay Men: An Interview with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT Understanding Sexual Trauma and Hookup Culture in Therapy with Gay Men: An Interview with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT, about providing affirming and trauma-informed therapy for gay men. We explore common misconceptions therapists hold, the complexities of hookup culture, and how sexual trauma often shows up in subtle and misunderstood ways. We also look at how clinicians can better navigate issues of consent, drug use, and boundary violations when working with this population. Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore affirming, trauma-informed therapy for gay men We invited Michael Pezzullo to the podcast to discuss the often-overlooked nuances of working with gay men in therapy. From hookup culture to sexual trauma, Michael breaks down what therapists need to understand to avoid causing harm or misinterpreting client behavior. His perspective emphasizes the importance of clinical humility, cultural knowledge, and a collaborative approach. Common Therapist Mistakes When Working with Gay Men What Therapists Need to Understand About Hookup Culture, Risk, and Drug Use Addressing Sexual Trauma and Boundary Violations in the Gay Community Helping Gay Men in Building and Enforcing Boundaries Navigating Presenting, Shame, and the “Velvet Rage” Creating a Safe and Affirming Space for Gay Clients Using Social Media and Influencers as Cultural Education Therapist Takeaways Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Understanding Sexual Trauma and Hookup Culture in Therapy with Gay Men: An Interview with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT, about providing affirming and trauma-informed therapy for gay men. We explore common misconceptions therapists hold, the complexities of hookup culture, and how sexual trauma often shows up in subtle and misunderstood ways. We also look at how clinicians can better navigate issues of consent, drug use, and boundary violations when working with this population. Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore affirming, trauma-informed therapy for gay men We invited Michael Pezzullo to the podcast to discuss the often-overlooked nuances of working with gay men in therapy. From hookup culture to sexual trauma, Michael breaks down what therapists need to understand to avoid causing harm or misinterpreting client behavior. His perspective emphasizes the importance of clinical humility, cultural knowledge, and a collaborative approach. Common Therapist Mistakes When Working with Gay Men What Therapists Need to Understand About Hookup Culture, Risk, and Drug Use Addressing Sexual Trauma and Boundary Violations in the Gay Community Helping Gay Men in Building and Enforcing Boundaries Navigating Presenting, Shame, and the “Velvet Rage” Creating a Safe and Affirming Space for Gay Clients Using Social Media and Influencers as Cultural Education Therapist Takeaways Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Understanding Sexual Trauma and Hookup Culture in Therapy with Gay Men: An Interview with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT

Curt and Katie chat with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT, about providing affirming and trauma-informed therapy for gay men. We explore common misconceptions therapists hold, the complexities of hookup culture, and how sexual trauma often shows up in subtle and misunderstood ways. We also look at how clinicians can better navigate issues of consent, drug use, and boundary violations when working with this population.

Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we explore affirming, trauma-informed therapy for gay men

We invited Michael Pezzullo to the podcast to discuss the often-overlooked nuances of working with gay men in therapy. From hookup culture to sexual trauma, Michael breaks down what therapists need to understand to avoid causing harm or misinterpreting client behavior. His perspective emphasizes the importance of clinical humility, cultural knowledge, and a collaborative approach.

  • Common Therapist Mistakes When Working with Gay Men
  • What Therapists Need to Understand About Hookup Culture, Risk, and Drug Use
  • Addressing Sexual Trauma and Boundary Violations in the Gay Community
  • Helping Gay Men in Building and Enforcing Boundaries
  • Navigating Presenting, Shame, and the “Velvet Rage”
  • Creating a Safe and Affirming Space for Gay Clients
  • Using Social Media and Influencers as Cultural Education
  • Therapist Takeaways

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


]]> 2127 Therapy Insurance and Billing Trends for Private Practice in 2025: An Interview with Sanjana Sathya Therapy Insurance and Billing Trends for Private Practice in 2025: An Interview with Sanjana Sathya Curt and Katie chat with Sanjana Sathya, co-founder of Thrizer, about the current landscape of mental health billing and insurance. Drawing from the 2025 State of Mental Health Insurance and Marketing report, Sanjana shares insights from hundreds of clinicians on reimbursement trends, hybrid practice models, and strategies for reducing administrative burden. They explore how therapists can make sustainable choices about private pay, insurance, and out-of-network billing — all while preparing for future changes in the mental health field. Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how insurance is working for therapy right now Therapists in private practice must make choices between insurance, private pay, or hybrid billing. They all have pros and cons that can shift as the economy and insurance reimbursement rates change. We talked with our partner, Sanjana Sathya from Thrizer about a survey they conducted to identify what the state of insurance is now. ·       Survey insights on therapist billing models ·       Pros and cons of accepting insurance as a therapist ·       Exploring private pay and hybrid models for therapy practices ·       What is out-of-network billing and how can therapists use this model to best effect? ·       How therapists can choose a trustworthy billing service ·       How to future-proof your therapy practices Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 26 May 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Therapy Insurance and Billing Trends for Private Practice in 2025: An Interview with Sanjana Sathya Curt and Katie chat with Sanjana Sathya, co-founder of Thrizer, about the current landscape of mental health billing and insurance. Drawing from the 2025 State of Mental Health Insurance and Marketing report, Sanjana shares insights from hundreds of clinicians on reimbursement trends, hybrid practice models, and strategies for reducing administrative burden. They explore how therapists can make sustainable choices about private pay, insurance, and out-of-network billing — all while preparing for future changes in the mental health field. Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how insurance is working for therapy right now Therapists in private practice must make choices between insurance, private pay, or hybrid billing. They all have pros and cons that can shift as the economy and insurance reimbursement rates change. We talked with our partner, Sanjana Sathya from Thrizer about a survey they conducted to identify what the state of insurance is now. ·       Survey insights on therapist billing models ·       Pros and cons of accepting insurance as a therapist ·       Exploring private pay and hybrid models for therapy practices ·       What is out-of-network billing and how can therapists use this model to best effect? ·       How therapists can choose a trustworthy billing service ·       How to future-proof your therapy practices Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Therapy Insurance and Billing Trends for Private Practice in 2025: An Interview with Sanjana Sathya Curt and Katie chat with Sanjana Sathya, co-founder of Thrizer, about the current landscape of mental health billing and insurance. Drawing from the 2025 State of Mental Health Insurance and Marketing report, Sanjana shares insights from hundreds of clinicians on reimbursement trends, hybrid practice models, and strategies for reducing administrative burden. They explore how therapists can make sustainable choices about private pay, insurance, and out-of-network billing — all while preparing for future changes in the mental health field.

Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how insurance is working for therapy right now

Therapists in private practice must make choices between insurance, private pay, or hybrid billing. They all have pros and cons that can shift as the economy and insurance reimbursement rates change. We talked with our partner, Sanjana Sathya from Thrizer about a survey they conducted to identify what the state of insurance is now.

·       Survey insights on therapist billing models

·       Pros and cons of accepting insurance as a therapist

·       Exploring private pay and hybrid models for therapy practices

·       What is out-of-network billing and how can therapists use this model to best effect?

·       How therapists can choose a trustworthy billing service

·       How to future-proof your therapy practices

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2589 Navigating Incel Culture: Therapy Approaches for Manosphere Clients Navigating Incel Culture: Therapy Approaches for Manosphere Clients Curt and Katie respond to all the discussions that popped up about the Netflix series Adolescence and its portrayal of a 13-year-old boy accused of murder. We chat about the complexities of working with clients labeled as "incels." We also explore the importance of understanding the impact of that label (especially when clients are not self-identified as “incels”), internet culture - particularly the manosphere, and the challenges therapists can face when working with clients holding these beliefs.  Transcripts and additional information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we discuss working with clients labeled as "incels" Curt and Katie explore the focus on “incels” in the discussions about the Netflix series Adolescence. We dive into the nuances of understanding internet subcultures and how therapists can effectively work with clients influenced by the manosphere, while also addressing concerns about suicidality, homicidality, and therapy strategies. What is an "Incel" and where does that term fit into the evolution of the manosphere internet community? Challenges in therapy with clients from the manosphere (incels, red pill, men's rights groups) The intersection of autism and the incel community in therapy Safety concerns: Suicidality and homicidality in clients from manosphere communities Strategies for effective therapy with clients from the incel/manosphere communities Key treatment goals when working with clients from the incel community Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 19 May 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Navigating Incel Culture: Therapy Approaches for Manosphere Clients Curt and Katie respond to all the discussions that popped up about the Netflix series Adolescence and its portrayal of a 13-year-old boy accused of murder. We chat about the complexities of working with clients labeled as "incels." We also explore the importance of understanding the impact of that label (especially when clients are not self-identified as “incels”), internet culture - particularly the manosphere, and the challenges therapists can face when working with clients holding these beliefs.  Transcripts and additional information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we discuss working with clients labeled as "incels" Curt and Katie explore the focus on “incels” in the discussions about the Netflix series Adolescence. We dive into the nuances of understanding internet subcultures and how therapists can effectively work with clients influenced by the manosphere, while also addressing concerns about suicidality, homicidality, and therapy strategies. What is an "Incel" and where does that term fit into the evolution of the manosphere internet community? Challenges in therapy with clients from the manosphere (incels, red pill, men's rights groups) The intersection of autism and the incel community in therapy Safety concerns: Suicidality and homicidality in clients from manosphere communities Strategies for effective therapy with clients from the incel/manosphere communities Key treatment goals when working with clients from the incel community Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Navigating Incel Culture: Therapy Approaches for Manosphere Clients

Curt and Katie respond to all the discussions that popped up about the Netflix series Adolescence and its portrayal of a 13-year-old boy accused of murder. We chat about the complexities of working with clients labeled as "incels." We also explore the importance of understanding the impact of that label (especially when clients are not self-identified as “incels”), internet culture - particularly the manosphere, and the challenges therapists can face when working with clients holding these beliefs.

 Transcripts and additional information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!


In this podcast episode we discuss working with clients labeled as "incels"

Curt and Katie explore the focus on “incels” in the discussions about the Netflix series Adolescence. We dive into the nuances of understanding internet subcultures and how therapists can effectively work with clients influenced by the manosphere, while also addressing concerns about suicidality, homicidality, and therapy strategies.

  • What is an "Incel" and where does that term fit into the evolution of the manosphere internet community?
  • Challenges in therapy with clients from the manosphere (incels, red pill, men's rights groups)
  • The intersection of autism and the incel community in therapy
  • Safety concerns: Suicidality and homicidality in clients from manosphere communities
  • Strategies for effective therapy with clients from the incel/manosphere communities
  • Key treatment goals when working with clients from the incel community

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


]]> 2844 Planning for Death or Incapacitation - What Therapists Need to Do: An interview with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D. Planning for Death or Incapacitation - What Therapists Need to Do: An interview with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D. Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D., of TheraClosure about professional wills and what therapists need to do to effectively plan for their own incapacity or death. She shares her experience stepping in as a practice executor for colleagues, the trauma that can result when therapists disappear without explanation, and the systems she’s created through her program to provide compassionate and organized transitions for patients. This is a conversation about professional wills, ethical responsibilities, and why planning for the worst brings peace of mind. Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! (Show notes provided in collaboration with Otter.ai and ChatGPT.)   In this podcast episode, we talk about planning for a therapist’s unexpected absence, incapacity, or death Too many therapists avoid thinking about what will happen to their clients if they can no longer practice due to sudden illness, incapacitation, or death. Dr. Robyn Miller joins Curt and Katie to discuss why it’s essential to have a professional will, and how to make sure you’re not leaving your clients without closure or support. Why Therapists Must Plan for Death or Incapacitation What Goes into a Professional Will for Therapists The Role and Burden of a Practice Executor Creating a Plan that’s Clinically Thoughtful Systemic Issues and Professional Responsibility Action Steps for Modern Therapists Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 12 May 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Planning for Death or Incapacitation - What Therapists Need to Do: An interview with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D. Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D., of TheraClosure about professional wills and what therapists need to do to effectively plan for their own incapacity or death. She shares her experience stepping in as a practice executor for colleagues, the trauma that can result when therapists disappear without explanation, and the systems she’s created through her program to provide compassionate and organized transitions for patients. This is a conversation about professional wills, ethical responsibilities, and why planning for the worst brings peace of mind. Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! (Show notes provided in collaboration with Otter.ai and ChatGPT.)   In this podcast episode, we talk about planning for a therapist’s unexpected absence, incapacity, or death Too many therapists avoid thinking about what will happen to their clients if they can no longer practice due to sudden illness, incapacitation, or death. Dr. Robyn Miller joins Curt and Katie to discuss why it’s essential to have a professional will, and how to make sure you’re not leaving your clients without closure or support. Why Therapists Must Plan for Death or Incapacitation What Goes into a Professional Will for Therapists The Role and Burden of a Practice Executor Creating a Plan that’s Clinically Thoughtful Systemic Issues and Professional Responsibility Action Steps for Modern Therapists Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Planning for Death or Incapacitation - What Therapists Need to Do: An interview with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D.

Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D., of TheraClosure about professional wills and what therapists need to do to effectively plan for their own incapacity or death. She shares her experience stepping in as a practice executor for colleagues, the trauma that can result when therapists disappear without explanation, and the systems she’s created through her program to provide compassionate and organized transitions for patients. This is a conversation about professional wills, ethical responsibilities, and why planning for the worst brings peace of mind.

Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

(Show notes provided in collaboration with Otter.ai and ChatGPT.)

 

In this podcast episode, we talk about planning for a therapist’s unexpected absence, incapacity, or death

Too many therapists avoid thinking about what will happen to their clients if they can no longer practice due to sudden illness, incapacitation, or death. Dr. Robyn Miller joins Curt and Katie to discuss why it’s essential to have a professional will, and how to make sure you’re not leaving your clients without closure or support.


  • Why Therapists Must Plan for Death or Incapacitation
  • What Goes into a Professional Will for Therapists
  • The Role and Burden of a Practice Executor
  • Creating a Plan that’s Clinically Thoughtful
  • Systemic Issues and Professional Responsibility
  • Action Steps for Modern Therapists


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2619 Interpersonal Branding - Therapist Marketing That Aligns With Who You Are: An interview with Carrie Wiita Interpersonal Branding - Therapist Marketing That Aligns With Who You Are: An interview with Carrie Wiita Curt and Katie chat with Carrie Wiita about authenticity, first impressions, and why traditional business coaching doesn’t work for most therapists. Carrie critiques traditional business coaching models that rely on anecdotal “success stories” and mindset hype, and instead offers a relational, thoughtful, and research-informed framework to help therapists show up in alignment with their professional identities. We also explore the unique challenges therapists from marginalized communities face in marketing, and how systemic issues influence visibility and access. Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can market themselves ethically, authentically, and effectively Marketing for therapists doesn’t have to feel slimy, manipulative, or one-size-fits-all. Carrie Wiita, a marketing therapist and creator of interpersonal branding, shares how therapists can use their natural strengths, values, and clinical insights to build trust through marketing—without pretending to be someone they’re not. What is Interpersonal Branding for Therapists? The Problem with Traditional Business Coaching for Therapists The Impact of First Impressions on the Therapeutic Relationship Navigating Identity and Professional Boundaries as a Therapist Marketing and Systemic Oppression with the Therapist Profession Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 05 May 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Interpersonal Branding - Therapist Marketing That Aligns With Who You Are: An interview with Carrie Wiita Curt and Katie chat with Carrie Wiita about authenticity, first impressions, and why traditional business coaching doesn’t work for most therapists. Carrie critiques traditional business coaching models that rely on anecdotal “success stories” and mindset hype, and instead offers a relational, thoughtful, and research-informed framework to help therapists show up in alignment with their professional identities. We also explore the unique challenges therapists from marginalized communities face in marketing, and how systemic issues influence visibility and access. Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can market themselves ethically, authentically, and effectively Marketing for therapists doesn’t have to feel slimy, manipulative, or one-size-fits-all. Carrie Wiita, a marketing therapist and creator of interpersonal branding, shares how therapists can use their natural strengths, values, and clinical insights to build trust through marketing—without pretending to be someone they’re not. What is Interpersonal Branding for Therapists? The Problem with Traditional Business Coaching for Therapists The Impact of First Impressions on the Therapeutic Relationship Navigating Identity and Professional Boundaries as a Therapist Marketing and Systemic Oppression with the Therapist Profession Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Interpersonal Branding - Therapist Marketing That Aligns With Who You Are: An interview with Carrie Wiita

Curt and Katie chat with Carrie Wiita about authenticity, first impressions, and why traditional business coaching doesn’t work for most therapists. Carrie critiques traditional business coaching models that rely on anecdotal “success stories” and mindset hype, and instead offers a relational, thoughtful, and research-informed framework to help therapists show up in alignment with their professional identities. We also explore the unique challenges therapists from marginalized communities face in marketing, and how systemic issues influence visibility and access.

Transcripts and more information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!


In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can market themselves ethically, authentically, and effectively

Marketing for therapists doesn’t have to feel slimy, manipulative, or one-size-fits-all. Carrie Wiita, a marketing therapist and creator of interpersonal branding, shares how therapists can use their natural strengths, values, and clinical insights to build trust through marketing—without pretending to be someone they’re not.


  • What is Interpersonal Branding for Therapists?
  • The Problem with Traditional Business Coaching for Therapists
  • The Impact of First Impressions on the Therapeutic Relationship
  • Navigating Identity and Professional Boundaries as a Therapist
  • Marketing and Systemic Oppression with the Therapist Profession


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2547 Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on JotPsych Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on JotPsych Curt and Katie talk with Nate Peereboom, CEO and co-founder of JotPsych, an AI-powered scribe designed to automate therapy notes and save therapists 90–95% of their note-taking time. Jot Psych supports over 30 languages, integrates with many EHRs, and prioritizes security and privacy. In this conversation, we dive into how AI can support clinicians while protecting the integrity of the therapeutic relationship. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore innovative tools and services built for therapists and their clients. In this podcast episode we talk about AI Scribes and making your clinical documentation more efficient and effective with JotPsych We explore how Jot Psych uses artificial intelligence to ease the documentation burden in therapy practices, while maintaining HIPAA compliance and respecting client privacy. Interview with Nate Peereboom, JotPsych 0:01:07 - Nate introduces himself and JotPsych 0:02:18 - Origin story of JotPsych and why they created the company 0:05:34 - Mission, vision, and values of the business 0:09:42 - Process of using JotPsych and note generation 0:12:08 - Business and clinical considerations for using AI scribes 0:16:14 - Privacy concerns and client consent 0:20:30 - Concerns about data training and potential AI therapist replacement 0:31:18 - Multilingual capabilities 0:31:52 - Quality assurance processes 0:34:49 - Onboarding process for new users 0:40:16 - Where to find more information about JotPsych Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of JotPsych 0:42:07 – Katie and Curt talk through our impressions of JotPsych: Considerations for choosing JotPsych, paying attention to scope and accuracy in documentation that is produced, how tools like Jot Psych can serve solo and group practices, the importance of testing AI tools in real-world practice before full adoption A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from JotPsych Try Jot Psych with a 10-day free trial and get 50% off the first two paid months. Visit jotpsych.com/modern-therapist and use code MODERN Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000 bonus Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on JotPsych Curt and Katie talk with Nate Peereboom, CEO and co-founder of JotPsych, an AI-powered scribe designed to automate therapy notes and save therapists 90–95% of their note-taking time. Jot Psych supports over 30 languages, integrates with many EHRs, and prioritizes security and privacy. In this conversation, we dive into how AI can support clinicians while protecting the integrity of the therapeutic relationship. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore innovative tools and services built for therapists and their clients. In this podcast episode we talk about AI Scribes and making your clinical documentation more efficient and effective with JotPsych We explore how Jot Psych uses artificial intelligence to ease the documentation burden in therapy practices, while maintaining HIPAA compliance and respecting client privacy. Interview with Nate Peereboom, JotPsych 0:01:07 - Nate introduces himself and JotPsych 0:02:18 - Origin story of JotPsych and why they created the company 0:05:34 - Mission, vision, and values of the business 0:09:42 - Process of using JotPsych and note generation 0:12:08 - Business and clinical considerations for using AI scribes 0:16:14 - Privacy concerns and client consent 0:20:30 - Concerns about data training and potential AI therapist replacement 0:31:18 - Multilingual capabilities 0:31:52 - Quality assurance processes 0:34:49 - Onboarding process for new users 0:40:16 - Where to find more information about JotPsych Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of JotPsych 0:42:07 – Katie and Curt talk through our impressions of JotPsych: Considerations for choosing JotPsych, paying attention to scope and accuracy in documentation that is produced, how tools like Jot Psych can serve solo and group practices, the importance of testing AI tools in real-world practice before full adoption A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from JotPsych Try Jot Psych with a 10-day free trial and get 50% off the first two paid months. Visit jotpsych.com/modern-therapist and use code MODERN Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on JotPsych

Curt and Katie talk with Nate Peereboom, CEO and co-founder of JotPsych, an AI-powered scribe designed to automate therapy notes and save therapists 90–95% of their note-taking time. Jot Psych supports over 30 languages, integrates with many EHRs, and prioritizes security and privacy. In this conversation, we dive into how AI can support clinicians while protecting the integrity of the therapeutic relationship. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, where we explore innovative tools and services built for therapists and their clients.

In this podcast episode we talk about AI Scribes and making your clinical documentation more efficient and effective with JotPsych

We explore how Jot Psych uses artificial intelligence to ease the documentation burden in therapy practices, while maintaining HIPAA compliance and respecting client privacy.

Interview with Nate Peereboom, JotPsych

0:01:07 - Nate introduces himself and JotPsych

0:02:18 - Origin story of JotPsych and why they created the company

0:05:34 - Mission, vision, and values of the business

0:09:42 - Process of using JotPsych and note generation

0:12:08 - Business and clinical considerations for using AI scribes

0:16:14 - Privacy concerns and client consent

0:20:30 - Concerns about data training and potential AI therapist replacement

0:31:18 - Multilingual capabilities

0:31:52 - Quality assurance processes

0:34:49 - Onboarding process for new users

0:40:16 - Where to find more information about JotPsych

Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of JotPsych

0:42:07 – Katie and Curt talk through our impressions of JotPsych: Considerations for choosing JotPsych, paying attention to scope and accuracy in documentation that is produced, how tools

like Jot Psych can serve solo and group practices, the importance of testing AI tools in real-world practice before full adoption


A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from JotPsych


Try Jot Psych with a 10-day free trial and get 50% off the first two paid months.


Visit jotpsych.com/modern-therapist and use code MODERN


Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2957 no When Laws and Ethics Conflict: Civil Disobedience, Social Justice, and Our Role as Therapists When Laws and Ethics Conflict: Civil Disobedience, Social Justice, and Our Role as Therapists Curt and Katie chat about what happens when legal requirements clash with ethical responsibilities—and how therapists can stay grounded in their values while navigating complex decisions. When you find yourself in a situation where the law seems to contradict your ethics, or even violate your clients’ basic human rights, what do you do? In this deep-dive episode, we explore the tension between law and ethics and the moral courage required to practice in alignment with your values. From post-9/11 changes in APA’s ethics code to current issues like gender-affirming care restrictions, we explore real-world implications and guide you through a framework for ethical decision-making in the face of legal and systemic challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about laws, ethics, and the difficult decisions therapists face in practice Executive orders and nationwide proposed legislative bills that affect mental health have left therapists wondering, “Will my ethics protect me?” This episode and podcourse explores the interplay between laws and ethics, how professional organizations guide therapists when laws and ethics collide and gives a framework for how therapists should proceed. Participants will learn how to identify potential conflicts, understand their legal and ethical obligations, and develop effective decision-making processes. Topics explored will include risk management strategies, consultation best practices, and documentation considerations in conflictual situations. How do Modern Therapists navigate Ethics vs. Law in our practices? ·      Where clinical ethics and legal obligations collide ·      How our ethical codes approach this conflict (APA, ACA, NASW, CAMFT) ·      The importance of understanding your responsibilities beyond compliance Civil Disobedience as Therapists out in the world and in our offices ·      Philosophical roots: Antigone, Nuremberg, and post-9/11 ethics reform ·      When following the law may cause harm to clients or communities ·      How to protect your license while still honoring human rights Real-Life Legal versus Ethical Dilemmas for Modern Therapists ·      What to do when reporting requirements might increase harm ·      How to support trans and gender-diverse clients in states with discriminatory laws ·      Navigating confidentiality, documentation, and advocacy A Therapist’s Decision-Making Process for Civil Disobedience From Knapp, S., Gottlieb, M., Berman, J., & Handelsman, M. M. (2007). When laws and ethics collide: What should psychologists do? ·   Seek consultation to understand your legal requirements (know what the law is actually asking you to do, even if that means taking the time to consult with an attorney) ·      Clearly understand your ethical obligations (read the language of the ethics code and consult with trusted colleagues) ·      Consider alternatives that allow following the law while upholding your values ·      Contemplate violating the law only if no viable alternatives exist, and if so, limit disobedience to the minimum necessary to fulfill the higher goal Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT When Laws and Ethics Conflict: Civil Disobedience, Social Justice, and Our Role as Therapists Curt and Katie chat about what happens when legal requirements clash with ethical responsibilities—and how therapists can stay grounded in their values while navigating complex decisions. When you find yourself in a situation where the law seems to contradict your ethics, or even violate your clients’ basic human rights, what do you do? In this deep-dive episode, we explore the tension between law and ethics and the moral courage required to practice in alignment with your values. From post-9/11 changes in APA’s ethics code to current issues like gender-affirming care restrictions, we explore real-world implications and guide you through a framework for ethical decision-making in the face of legal and systemic challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about laws, ethics, and the difficult decisions therapists face in practice Executive orders and nationwide proposed legislative bills that affect mental health have left therapists wondering, “Will my ethics protect me?” This episode and podcourse explores the interplay between laws and ethics, how professional organizations guide therapists when laws and ethics collide and gives a framework for how therapists should proceed. Participants will learn how to identify potential conflicts, understand their legal and ethical obligations, and develop effective decision-making processes. Topics explored will include risk management strategies, consultation best practices, and documentation considerations in conflictual situations. How do Modern Therapists navigate Ethics vs. Law in our practices? ·      Where clinical ethics and legal obligations collide ·      How our ethical codes approach this conflict (APA, ACA, NASW, CAMFT) ·      The importance of understanding your responsibilities beyond compliance Civil Disobedience as Therapists out in the world and in our offices ·      Philosophical roots: Antigone, Nuremberg, and post-9/11 ethics reform ·      When following the law may cause harm to clients or communities ·      How to protect your license while still honoring human rights Real-Life Legal versus Ethical Dilemmas for Modern Therapists ·      What to do when reporting requirements might increase harm ·      How to support trans and gender-diverse clients in states with discriminatory laws ·      Navigating confidentiality, documentation, and advocacy A Therapist’s Decision-Making Process for Civil Disobedience From Knapp, S., Gottlieb, M., Berman, J., & Handelsman, M. M. (2007). When laws and ethics collide: What should psychologists do? ·   Seek consultation to understand your legal requirements (know what the law is actually asking you to do, even if that means taking the time to consult with an attorney) ·      Clearly understand your ethical obligations (read the language of the ethics code and consult with trusted colleagues) ·      Consider alternatives that allow following the law while upholding your values ·      Contemplate violating the law only if no viable alternatives exist, and if so, limit disobedience to the minimum necessary to fulfill the higher goal Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ When Laws and Ethics Conflict: Civil Disobedience, Social Justice, and Our Role as Therapists

Curt and Katie chat about what happens when legal requirements clash with ethical responsibilities—and how therapists can stay grounded in their values while navigating complex decisions. When you find yourself in a situation where the law seems to contradict your ethics, or even violate your clients’ basic human rights, what do you do? In this deep-dive episode, we explore the tension between law and ethics and the moral courage required to practice in alignment with your values. From post-9/11 changes in APA’s ethics code to current issues like

gender-affirming care restrictions, we explore real-world implications and guide you through a framework for ethical decision-making in the face of legal and systemic challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!


In this podcast episode we talk about laws, ethics, and the difficult decisions therapists face in practice

Executive orders and nationwide proposed legislative bills that affect mental health have left therapists wondering, “Will my ethics protect me?” This episode and podcourse explores the interplay between laws and ethics, how professional organizations guide therapists when laws and ethics collide and gives a framework for how therapists should proceed. Participants will

learn how to identify potential conflicts, understand their legal and ethical obligations, and develop effective decision-making processes. Topics explored will include risk management strategies, consultation best practices, and documentation considerations in conflictual situations.

How do Modern Therapists navigate Ethics vs. Law in our practices?

·      Where clinical ethics and legal obligations collide

·      How our ethical codes approach this conflict (APA, ACA, NASW, CAMFT)

·      The importance of understanding your responsibilities beyond compliance

Civil Disobedience as Therapists out in the world and in our offices

·      Philosophical roots: Antigone, Nuremberg, and post-9/11 ethics reform

·      When following the law may cause harm to clients or communities

·      How to protect your license while still honoring human rights

Real-Life Legal versus Ethical Dilemmas for Modern Therapists

·      What to do when reporting requirements might increase harm

·      How to support trans and gender-diverse clients in states with discriminatory laws

·      Navigating confidentiality, documentation, and advocacy

A Therapist’s Decision-Making Process for Civil Disobedience

From Knapp, S., Gottlieb, M., Berman, J., & Handelsman, M. M. (2007). When laws and ethics collide: What should psychologists do?

·   Seek consultation to understand your legal requirements (know what the law is actually asking you to do, even if that means taking the time to consult with an attorney)

·      Clearly understand your ethical obligations (read the language of the ethics code and consult with trusted colleagues)

·      Consider alternatives that allow following the law while upholding your values

·      Contemplate violating the law only if no viable alternatives exist, and if so, limit disobedience to the minimum necessary to fulfill the higher goal

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined

#TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4189 Reproductive Mental Health, Intersectionality, and Systemic Barriers: An interview with Dr. Loree Johnson Reproductive Mental Health, Intersectionality, and Systemic Barriers: An interview with Dr. Loree Johnson Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Loree Johnson about the intersections of reproductive mental health, race, and systemic injustice. Dr. Johnson shared powerful insights about the shame, grief, and medical trauma that many clients face, especially Black women and other folks from historically marginalized communities. We dive into how therapists can hold safer, more informed spaces for clients experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss, and how systemic racism and historical harm continue to shape reproductive healthcare today. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about reproductive trauma, systemic barriers to care, and the need for cultural humility in therapy We were honored to sit down with Dr. Loree Johnson, LMFT, PhD—an expert in reproductive mental health who brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the conversation. We explore how therapists can better support clients navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and trauma, especially clients from marginalized communities. What do therapists often get wrong about reproductive mental health? ·    Avoiding the conversation about infertility and pregnancy loss because therapists feel undertrained or uncomfortable ·   Therapists overlook the impact of race, history, and oppression in reproductive trauma ·   Assuming fertility issues affect only straight, cisgender couples ·   Minimizing or misunderstanding the grief associated with pregnancy loss and infertility What is the role of systemic racism and historical trauma for Black women seeking reproductive care? ·    Mistrust of the medical system due to real, generational harm (e.g., J. Marion Sims, Henrietta Lacks, Tuskegee) ·    Myths of hyper-fertility in Black women and the erasure of infertility struggles in communities of color ·   Disenfranchised grief and cultural stigma around fertility challenges ·   Weathering: the cumulative impact of chronic stress and racism on physical and reproductive health How can therapists show up better for clients who are experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss? ·   Learn the terminology and processes around fertility treatments and pregnancy loss ·   Create space for conversations around sex, reproduction, and grief—even if it’s uncomfortable ·   Practice cultural humility and intimacy: be willing to be wrong, to sit with pain, and to build trust ·   Acknowledge your own limitations and biases while staying curious and committed to learning ·   Be prepared for these conversations—even if you don’t specialize in reproductive mental health Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Reproductive Mental Health, Intersectionality, and Systemic Barriers: An interview with Dr. Loree Johnson Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Loree Johnson about the intersections of reproductive mental health, race, and systemic injustice. Dr. Johnson shared powerful insights about the shame, grief, and medical trauma that many clients face, especially Black women and other folks from historically marginalized communities. We dive into how therapists can hold safer, more informed spaces for clients experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss, and how systemic racism and historical harm continue to shape reproductive healthcare today. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about reproductive trauma, systemic barriers to care, and the need for cultural humility in therapy We were honored to sit down with Dr. Loree Johnson, LMFT, PhD—an expert in reproductive mental health who brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the conversation. We explore how therapists can better support clients navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and trauma, especially clients from marginalized communities. What do therapists often get wrong about reproductive mental health? ·    Avoiding the conversation about infertility and pregnancy loss because therapists feel undertrained or uncomfortable ·   Therapists overlook the impact of race, history, and oppression in reproductive trauma ·   Assuming fertility issues affect only straight, cisgender couples ·   Minimizing or misunderstanding the grief associated with pregnancy loss and infertility What is the role of systemic racism and historical trauma for Black women seeking reproductive care? ·    Mistrust of the medical system due to real, generational harm (e.g., J. Marion Sims, Henrietta Lacks, Tuskegee) ·    Myths of hyper-fertility in Black women and the erasure of infertility struggles in communities of color ·   Disenfranchised grief and cultural stigma around fertility challenges ·   Weathering: the cumulative impact of chronic stress and racism on physical and reproductive health How can therapists show up better for clients who are experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss? ·   Learn the terminology and processes around fertility treatments and pregnancy loss ·   Create space for conversations around sex, reproduction, and grief—even if it’s uncomfortable ·   Practice cultural humility and intimacy: be willing to be wrong, to sit with pain, and to build trust ·   Acknowledge your own limitations and biases while staying curious and committed to learning ·   Be prepared for these conversations—even if you don’t specialize in reproductive mental health Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Reproductive Mental Health, Intersectionality, and Systemic Barriers: An

interview with Dr. Loree Johnson

Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Loree Johnson about the intersections of reproductive mental health, race, and systemic injustice. Dr. Johnson shared powerful insights about the shame, grief, and medical trauma that many clients face, especially Black women and other folks from

historically marginalized communities. We dive into how therapists can hold safer, more informed spaces for clients experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss, and how systemic racism and historical harm continue to shape reproductive healthcare today.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!


In this podcast episode, we talk about reproductive trauma, systemic barriers to care, and the need for cultural humility in therapy

We were honored to sit down with Dr. Loree Johnson, LMFT, PhD—an expert in reproductive mental health who brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the conversation. We explore how therapists can better support clients navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and trauma, especially clients from marginalized communities.

What do therapists often get wrong about reproductive mental health?

·    Avoiding the conversation about infertility and pregnancy loss because therapists feel undertrained or uncomfortable

·   Therapists overlook the impact of race, history, and oppression in reproductive trauma

·   Assuming fertility issues affect only straight, cisgender couples

·   Minimizing or misunderstanding the grief associated with pregnancy loss and infertility

What is the role of systemic racism and historical trauma for Black women

seeking reproductive care?

·    Mistrust of the medical system due to real, generational harm (e.g., J. Marion Sims, Henrietta Lacks, Tuskegee)

·    Myths of hyper-fertility in Black women and the erasure of infertility struggles in communities of color

·   Disenfranchised grief and cultural stigma around fertility challenges

·   Weathering: the cumulative impact of chronic stress and racism on physical and reproductive health

How can therapists show up better for clients who are experiencing

infertility and pregnancy loss?

·   Learn the terminology and processes around fertility treatments and pregnancy loss

·   Create space for conversations around sex, reproduction, and grief—even if it’s uncomfortable

·   Practice cultural humility and intimacy: be willing to be wrong, to sit with pain, and to build trust

·   Acknowledge your own limitations and biases while staying curious and committed to learning

·   Be prepared for these conversations—even if you don’t specialize in reproductive mental health


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined

#TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1970 What Therapists Need to Know to Support the Trans Community: An interview with Artie Hartsell What Therapists Need to Know to Support the Trans Community: An interview with Artie Hartsell Curt and Katie chat with Artie Hartsell from ACLU North Carolina about how current anti-trans policies are impacting the trans community. We explore the historical erasure of trans identities, the rise of anti-trans legislation, and the real-world impact on housing, medical care, and documentation. Artie also shares resources for legal aid, community support, and how therapists can show up for their trans clients. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore the real-life consequences of anti-trans policies Curt and Katie sit down with Artie Hartsell, MSW, an advocate and organizer with the ACLU of North Carolina, to discuss how recent political changes are affecting the trans community. How are trans rights being threatened today? Over 1,000 anti-trans bills and executive orders have been introduced in the U.S. Passport and documentation delays create barriers for trans individuals. Housing discrimination and increased risks for unhoused trans individuals. Medical care restrictions limit access to gender-affirming treatment. A rise in state and local laws emboldening discrimination against trans people. What can therapists do to support trans clients? Make their practice as welcoming as possible by being transparent about their knowledge and limitations. Partner with local LGBTQ organizations to stay informed and provide accurate resources. Be mindful of documentation practices to protect trans clients from potential harm. Encourage trans clients to build strong communities and mutual aid networks. Resources for Trans Individuals and Allies: Legal Aid and Advocacy: ACLU, Lambda Legal, National Center for Lesbian Rights Medical Resources: Campaign for Southern Equality, Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) Community Support: PFLAG, local LGBTQ centers How can allies and therapists take action to support the trans community? ·   Educate yourself on trans rights and the implications of recent laws. ·   Provide direct support by connecting trans clients to legal and medical resources. ·   Engage in advocacy through organizations like the ACLU and local LGBTQ groups. ·   Encourage trans individuals to document and preserve their community’s history. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Therapists Need to Know to Support the Trans Community: An interview with Artie Hartsell Curt and Katie chat with Artie Hartsell from ACLU North Carolina about how current anti-trans policies are impacting the trans community. We explore the historical erasure of trans identities, the rise of anti-trans legislation, and the real-world impact on housing, medical care, and documentation. Artie also shares resources for legal aid, community support, and how therapists can show up for their trans clients. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore the real-life consequences of anti-trans policies Curt and Katie sit down with Artie Hartsell, MSW, an advocate and organizer with the ACLU of North Carolina, to discuss how recent political changes are affecting the trans community. How are trans rights being threatened today? Over 1,000 anti-trans bills and executive orders have been introduced in the U.S. Passport and documentation delays create barriers for trans individuals. Housing discrimination and increased risks for unhoused trans individuals. Medical care restrictions limit access to gender-affirming treatment. A rise in state and local laws emboldening discrimination against trans people. What can therapists do to support trans clients? Make their practice as welcoming as possible by being transparent about their knowledge and limitations. Partner with local LGBTQ organizations to stay informed and provide accurate resources. Be mindful of documentation practices to protect trans clients from potential harm. Encourage trans clients to build strong communities and mutual aid networks. Resources for Trans Individuals and Allies: Legal Aid and Advocacy: ACLU, Lambda Legal, National Center for Lesbian Rights Medical Resources: Campaign for Southern Equality, Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) Community Support: PFLAG, local LGBTQ centers How can allies and therapists take action to support the trans community? ·   Educate yourself on trans rights and the implications of recent laws. ·   Provide direct support by connecting trans clients to legal and medical resources. ·   Engage in advocacy through organizations like the ACLU and local LGBTQ groups. ·   Encourage trans individuals to document and preserve their community’s history. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Therapists Need to Know to Support the Trans Community: An interview with

Artie Hartsell

Curt and Katie chat with Artie Hartsell from ACLU North Carolina about how current anti-trans policies are impacting the trans community. We explore the historical erasure of trans identities, the rise of anti-trans legislation, and the real-world impact on housing, medical care, and documentation. Artie also shares resources for legal aid, community support, and how therapists can show up for their trans clients.


Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!


In this podcast episode, we explore the real-life consequences of anti-trans policies

Curt and Katie sit down with Artie Hartsell, MSW, an advocate and organizer with the ACLU of North Carolina, to discuss how recent political changes are affecting the trans community.

How are trans rights being threatened today?

  • Over 1,000 anti-trans bills and executive orders have been introduced in the U.S.
  • Passport and documentation delays create barriers for trans individuals.
  • Housing discrimination and increased risks for unhoused trans individuals.
  • Medical care restrictions limit access to gender-affirming treatment.
  • A rise in state and local laws emboldening discrimination against trans people.


What can therapists do to support trans clients?

  • Make their practice as welcoming as possible by being transparent about their knowledge and limitations.
  • Partner with local LGBTQ organizations to stay informed and provide accurate resources.
  • Be mindful of documentation practices to protect trans clients from potential harm.
  • Encourage trans clients to build strong communities and mutual aid networks.


Resources for Trans Individuals and Allies:

  • Legal Aid and Advocacy: ACLU, Lambda Legal, National Center for Lesbian Rights
  • Medical Resources: Campaign for Southern Equality, Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
  • Community Support: PFLAG, local LGBTQ centers


How can allies and therapists take action to support the trans community?

·   Educate yourself on trans rights and the implications of recent laws.

·   Provide direct support by connecting trans clients to legal and medical resources.

·   Engage in advocacy through organizations like the ACLU and local LGBTQ groups.

·   Encourage trans individuals to document and preserve their community’s history.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2160 What Should Not Be Normalized in Our Profession? What Should Not Be Normalized in Our Profession? Curt and Katie chat about a discussion that came up in the Modern Therapists Facebook group – What is something that you wish other therapists would stop pretending is normal. We explore the normalization of waiting until license renewal for CE, balancing accountability without chastising clients, and acknowledging countertransference in therapy. We also tackle the high costs of specialized training, the problems of treating children in isolation without family involvement, and the systemic issue of unpaid internships and low therapist wages.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore frustrations modern therapists have with our profession Curt and Katie dive into some of the things that therapists normalize that maybe they shouldn’t, gathered from discussions in the Modern Therapist Facebook Group. What are struggles that are normalized for therapists? ·      Waiting until right before license renewal to complete continuing education (CE) ·    Not figuring out the difference between holding clients accountable vs. chastising or bullying them ·     Failing to acknowledge countertransference and true emotions in therapy ·      The high costs of specialized training ·      Not recognizing the importance of family involvement in child therapy ·      The impact of unpaid internships and low wages for therapists Is the therapy profession setting itself up for burnout and financial struggle? ·      Many therapists procrastinate CE requirements, leading to unnecessary stress. ·      Holding clients accountable is important, but it shouldn't come at the cost of rapport or shame. ·      Denying countertransference is unrealistic — therapists have emotions too! ·      Expensive training creates barriers to specialization, limiting accessibility. ·      Therapists treating children without involving family may not be setting up the child for success. ·      Unpaid internships and low wages continue to undervalue therapists’ work, making financial stability difficult. What can therapists do to improve their profession? ·      Plan CE credits early to avoid last-minute stress. ·      Frame accountability in a way that supports clients and aligns with their stated goals rather than chastises them. ·      Acknowledge emotions in therapy without making sessions about the therapist. ·      Seek out reasonably priced training options and advocate for more affordable education. ·      Encourage family involvement when working with children (when appropriate). ·      Push for industry-wide changes in pay and internship standards. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Should Not Be Normalized in Our Profession? Curt and Katie chat about a discussion that came up in the Modern Therapists Facebook group – What is something that you wish other therapists would stop pretending is normal. We explore the normalization of waiting until license renewal for CE, balancing accountability without chastising clients, and acknowledging countertransference in therapy. We also tackle the high costs of specialized training, the problems of treating children in isolation without family involvement, and the systemic issue of unpaid internships and low therapist wages.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore frustrations modern therapists have with our profession Curt and Katie dive into some of the things that therapists normalize that maybe they shouldn’t, gathered from discussions in the Modern Therapist Facebook Group. What are struggles that are normalized for therapists? ·      Waiting until right before license renewal to complete continuing education (CE) ·    Not figuring out the difference between holding clients accountable vs. chastising or bullying them ·     Failing to acknowledge countertransference and true emotions in therapy ·      The high costs of specialized training ·      Not recognizing the importance of family involvement in child therapy ·      The impact of unpaid internships and low wages for therapists Is the therapy profession setting itself up for burnout and financial struggle? ·      Many therapists procrastinate CE requirements, leading to unnecessary stress. ·      Holding clients accountable is important, but it shouldn't come at the cost of rapport or shame. ·      Denying countertransference is unrealistic — therapists have emotions too! ·      Expensive training creates barriers to specialization, limiting accessibility. ·      Therapists treating children without involving family may not be setting up the child for success. ·      Unpaid internships and low wages continue to undervalue therapists’ work, making financial stability difficult. What can therapists do to improve their profession? ·      Plan CE credits early to avoid last-minute stress. ·      Frame accountability in a way that supports clients and aligns with their stated goals rather than chastises them. ·      Acknowledge emotions in therapy without making sessions about the therapist. ·      Seek out reasonably priced training options and advocate for more affordable education. ·      Encourage family involvement when working with children (when appropriate). ·      Push for industry-wide changes in pay and internship standards. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Should Not Be Normalized in Our Profession?

Curt and Katie chat about a discussion that came up in the Modern Therapists Facebook group – What is something that you wish other therapists would stop pretending is normal. We explore the normalization of waiting until license renewal for CE, balancing accountability without chastising clients, and acknowledging countertransference in therapy. We also tackle the high costs of specialized training, the problems of treating children in isolation without family involvement, and the systemic issue of unpaid internships and low therapist wages.

 Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!


In this podcast episode we explore frustrations modern therapists have with our profession

Curt and Katie dive into some of the things that therapists normalize that maybe they shouldn’t, gathered from discussions in the Modern Therapist Facebook Group.

What are struggles that are normalized for therapists?

·      Waiting until right before license renewal to complete continuing education (CE)

·    Not figuring out the difference between holding clients accountable vs. chastising or bullying them

·     Failing to acknowledge countertransference and true emotions in therapy

·      The high costs of specialized training

·      Not recognizing the importance of family involvement in child therapy

·      The impact of unpaid internships and low wages for therapists

Is the therapy profession setting itself up for burnout and financial

struggle?

·      Many therapists procrastinate CE requirements, leading to unnecessary stress.

·      Holding clients accountable is important, but it shouldn't come at the cost of rapport or shame.

·      Denying countertransference is unrealistic — therapists have emotions too!

·      Expensive training creates barriers to specialization, limiting accessibility.

·      Therapists treating children without involving family may not be setting up the child for success.

·      Unpaid internships and low wages continue to undervalue therapists’ work, making financial stability difficult.

What can therapists do to improve their profession?

·      Plan CE credits early to avoid last-minute stress.

·      Frame accountability in a way that supports clients and aligns with their stated goals rather than chastises them.

·      Acknowledge emotions in therapy without making sessions about the therapist.

·      Seek out reasonably priced training options and advocate for more affordable education.

·      Encourage family involvement when working with children (when appropriate).

·      Push for industry-wide changes in pay and internship standards.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2159 How Can Therapists Accept (and Impact) Technology?: An interview with Dr. David Cooper How Can Therapists Accept (and Impact) Technology?: An interview with Dr. David Cooper Curt and Katie chat with Dr. David Cooper of Therapists in Tech to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in therapy. Dr. Cooper highlights the importance of tech literacy, privacy, and security in digital mental health while advocating for therapists to use AI as a tool for efficiency rather than replacement. He compares this shift to the transition from paper charts to electronic health records (EHRs) and encourages therapists to stay informed and engaged through communities like Therapists in Tech and the Society for Digital Mental Health. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can engage with technology At the Behavioral Tech Conference, Katie met Dr. David Cooper of therapists in tech. We invited him on to help us understand better how therapists can engage with technology safely and ethically. As AI continues to integrate into mental health care, therapists must embrace innovation while advocating for ethical, client-centered practices. How can therapists engage with AI and digital health responsibly? Use AI tools like ChatGPT for administrative efficiency and tech troubleshooting. Advocate for digital health education in graduate training programs. Seek guidance from digital health experts through groups like Therapists in Tech. Implement technology for administrative tasks, such as automated reminders and billing. Stay informed and connected with digital mental health advancements through professional communities. Key Takeaways from this podcast interview with Dr. David Cooper of Therapists in Tech AI can enhance, not replace, therapy, improving efficiency in practice management. Ethical considerations remain crucial, especially regarding privacy and data security. Tech literacy is a necessary skill for all therapists as the field evolves. Therapists should take an active role in digital health advocacy to maintain the human element in care. Resources for Therapists Adapting to Digital Health: Therapists in Tech – A community for professionals navigating digital mental health. Society for Digital Mental Health – A resource hub for therapists exploring tech solutions. Behavioral Health Tech Conference – A key event for learning and networking in digital health. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Can Therapists Accept (and Impact) Technology?: An interview with Dr. David Cooper Curt and Katie chat with Dr. David Cooper of Therapists in Tech to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in therapy. Dr. Cooper highlights the importance of tech literacy, privacy, and security in digital mental health while advocating for therapists to use AI as a tool for efficiency rather than replacement. He compares this shift to the transition from paper charts to electronic health records (EHRs) and encourages therapists to stay informed and engaged through communities like Therapists in Tech and the Society for Digital Mental Health. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can engage with technology At the Behavioral Tech Conference, Katie met Dr. David Cooper of therapists in tech. We invited him on to help us understand better how therapists can engage with technology safely and ethically. As AI continues to integrate into mental health care, therapists must embrace innovation while advocating for ethical, client-centered practices. How can therapists engage with AI and digital health responsibly? Use AI tools like ChatGPT for administrative efficiency and tech troubleshooting. Advocate for digital health education in graduate training programs. Seek guidance from digital health experts through groups like Therapists in Tech. Implement technology for administrative tasks, such as automated reminders and billing. Stay informed and connected with digital mental health advancements through professional communities. Key Takeaways from this podcast interview with Dr. David Cooper of Therapists in Tech AI can enhance, not replace, therapy, improving efficiency in practice management. Ethical considerations remain crucial, especially regarding privacy and data security. Tech literacy is a necessary skill for all therapists as the field evolves. Therapists should take an active role in digital health advocacy to maintain the human element in care. Resources for Therapists Adapting to Digital Health: Therapists in Tech – A community for professionals navigating digital mental health. Society for Digital Mental Health – A resource hub for therapists exploring tech solutions. Behavioral Health Tech Conference – A key event for learning and networking in digital health. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Can Therapists Accept (and Impact) Technology?: An interview with Dr.

David Cooper

Curt and Katie chat with Dr. David Cooper of Therapists in

Tech to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in therapy.

Dr. Cooper highlights the importance of tech literacy, privacy, and security in

digital mental health while advocating for therapists to use AI as a tool for

efficiency rather than replacement. He compares this shift to the transition

from paper charts to electronic health records (EHRs) and encourages therapists

to stay informed and engaged through communities like Therapists in Tech and

the Society for Digital Mental Health.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can engage with technology

At the Behavioral Tech Conference, Katie met Dr. David

Cooper of therapists in tech. We invited him on to help us understand better how

therapists can engage with technology safely and ethically. As AI continues to

integrate into mental health care, therapists must embrace innovation while

advocating for ethical, client-centered practices.

How can therapists engage with AI and digital health responsibly?

  • Use AI tools like ChatGPT for administrative efficiency and tech troubleshooting.
  • Advocate for digital health education in graduate training programs.
  • Seek guidance from digital health experts through groups like Therapists in Tech.
  • Implement technology for administrative tasks, such as automated reminders and billing.
  • Stay informed and connected with digital mental health advancements through professional communities.

Key Takeaways from this podcast interview with Dr. David Cooper of

Therapists in Tech

  • AI can enhance, not replace, therapy, improving efficiency in practice management.
  • Ethical considerations remain crucial, especially regarding privacy and data security.
  • Tech literacy is a necessary skill for all therapists as the field evolves.
  • Therapists should take an active role in digital health advocacy to maintain the human element in care.

Resources for Therapists Adapting to Digital Health:

  • Therapists in Tech – A community for professionals navigating digital mental health.
  • Society for Digital Mental Health – A resource hub for therapists exploring tech solutions.
  • Behavioral Health Tech Conference – A key event for learning and networking in digital health.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined

#TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2163 Reviewing a Disciplinary Case on Suicidality, Erotic Transference, and Between-Session Communication: How do therapists hold appropriate boundaries? Reviewing a Disciplinary Case on Suicidality, Erotic Transference, and Between-Session Communication: How do therapists hold appropriate boundaries? Curt and Katie chat about a disciplinary case against Dr. Eric Bergeman, highlighting key ethical concerns for therapists. They explore documentation practices, therapist responsibilities, and boundary management, particularly in cases involving suicidality and erotic transference. The conversation underscores the importance of clear treatment planning, proper record-keeping, and ethical decision-making to avoid legal and professional consequences. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about suicidality, erotic transference, between-session communication, and documentation Therapists are given conflicting advice on when their duties to patients begin, how much they are expected to be available to clients outside of sessions, how they are to approach between-session communications, and how to document such communications. This episode explores a disciplinary case where the California Board of Psychology investigated a therapist’s responses to a client that filed a complaint about the therapist’s treatment. What therapists need to know about ethical boundaries and disciplinary actions: The importance of proper documentation and clear treatment planning. How to respond to client suicidality in real-time, including assessment and intervention. Managing erotic transference with ethical boundaries and consultation. The role of Board of Psychology investigations in evaluating therapist conduct. Key Takeaways from Dr. Bergeman’s Disciplinary Case: The Board of Psychology found gross negligence due to poor documentation, inadequate diagnosis, and lack of clear therapeutic boundaries. Dr. Bergeman failed to properly address the client’s suicidality and borderline personality disorder, leading to ethical concerns. Consultation with another therapist revealed concerns about Bergeman’s treatment approach and lack of structured intervention. The Board initially sought a fine of $103,000, later reducing it to $10,363, citing good intentions but significant professional oversights. Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 31 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Reviewing a Disciplinary Case on Suicidality, Erotic Transference, and Between-Session Communication: How do therapists hold appropriate boundaries? Curt and Katie chat about a disciplinary case against Dr. Eric Bergeman, highlighting key ethical concerns for therapists. They explore documentation practices, therapist responsibilities, and boundary management, particularly in cases involving suicidality and erotic transference. The conversation underscores the importance of clear treatment planning, proper record-keeping, and ethical decision-making to avoid legal and professional consequences. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about suicidality, erotic transference, between-session communication, and documentation Therapists are given conflicting advice on when their duties to patients begin, how much they are expected to be available to clients outside of sessions, how they are to approach between-session communications, and how to document such communications. This episode explores a disciplinary case where the California Board of Psychology investigated a therapist’s responses to a client that filed a complaint about the therapist’s treatment. What therapists need to know about ethical boundaries and disciplinary actions: The importance of proper documentation and clear treatment planning. How to respond to client suicidality in real-time, including assessment and intervention. Managing erotic transference with ethical boundaries and consultation. The role of Board of Psychology investigations in evaluating therapist conduct. Key Takeaways from Dr. Bergeman’s Disciplinary Case: The Board of Psychology found gross negligence due to poor documentation, inadequate diagnosis, and lack of clear therapeutic boundaries. Dr. Bergeman failed to properly address the client’s suicidality and borderline personality disorder, leading to ethical concerns. Consultation with another therapist revealed concerns about Bergeman’s treatment approach and lack of structured intervention. The Board initially sought a fine of $103,000, later reducing it to $10,363, citing good intentions but significant professional oversights. Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Reviewing a Disciplinary Case on Suicidality, Erotic

Transference, and Between-Session Communication: How do therapists hold

appropriate boundaries?

Curt and Katie chat about a disciplinary case against Dr. Eric Bergeman,

highlighting key ethical concerns for therapists. They explore documentation

practices, therapist responsibilities, and boundary management, particularly in

cases involving suicidality and erotic transference. The conversation

underscores the importance of clear treatment planning, proper record-keeping,

and ethical decision-making to avoid legal and professional consequences. This

is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts

for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about suicidality,

erotic transference, between-session communication, and documentation

Therapists are given conflicting advice on when their duties

to patients begin, how much they are expected to be available to clients

outside of sessions, how they are to approach between-session communications,

and how to document such communications. This episode explores a disciplinary

case where the California Board of Psychology investigated a therapist’s

responses to a client that filed a complaint about the therapist’s treatment.

What therapists need to know about ethical boundaries and disciplinary

actions:


  • The importance of proper documentation and clear treatment planning.
  • How to respond to client suicidality in real-time, including assessment and intervention.
  • Managing erotic transference with ethical boundaries and consultation.
  • The role of Board of Psychology investigations in evaluating therapist conduct.

Key Takeaways from Dr. Bergeman’s Disciplinary Case:

  • The Board of Psychology found gross negligence due to poor documentation, inadequate diagnosis, and lack of clear therapeutic boundaries.
  • Dr. Bergeman failed to properly address the client’s suicidality and borderline personality disorder, leading to ethical concerns.
  • Consultation with another therapist revealed concerns about Bergeman’s treatment approach and lack of structured intervention.
  • The Board initially sought a fine of $103,000, later reducing it to $10,363, citing good intentions but significant professional oversights.


Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s

Survival Guide


Continuing Education Approvals:

Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined

#TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4427 yes What Therapists Need to Know About Immigration: An interview with Andy Strait What Therapists Need to Know About Immigration: An interview with Andy Strait Curt and Katie chat with Andy R. Strait, Esq., about immigration policies, mental health, and the role of therapists in supporting immigrant clients. They explore legal challenges, asylum cases, and the impact of fear-driven policies on mental health. Strait emphasizes the importance of legal representation, knowing one’s immigration status, and providing accurate resources. Therapists can help by offering pro bono evaluations, connecting clients with legal aid, and creating safe spaces for immigrant communities. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about what therapists need to know about immigration Immigration policies directly impact the mental health of both therapists and their clients. We asked Andy Strait, an immigration attorney and former public advocate, about the challenges immigrants face in the U.S. legal system, the role of therapists in supporting their clients, and practical steps therapists can take to provide assistance. What do therapists need to know about immigration policies? The lack of legal representation for immigrants and how this affects asylum outcomes. How the culture of fear surrounding immigration policies affects mental health. The importance of therapists providing accurate legal resources to clients. The racial profiling and shifting demographic focus of ICE operations. How therapists can help clients plan for potential deportation and protect their families. How Therapists Can Support Clients Facing Immigration Challenges Refer clients to legal experts by connecting with organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Survivors of Torture Network. Consider offering pro bono psychological evaluations for asylum cases, as expert testimony is often crucial. Help clients understand their rights and the importance of legal documentation. Provide safe spaces for immigrants to process their fears and mental health struggles. Be mindful of misinformation and educate clients using accurate, vetted sources. Understanding the Realities of the Immigration System The asylum process is complex and overburdened, leaving many without proper representation. There is no right to an attorney for immigrants, making legal aid essential. Immigrants and their families need proactive strategies to prepare for potential enforcement actions. Therapists can play a critical role in reducing the stigma around seeking legal and mental health support. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 27 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Need to Know About Immigration: An interview with Andy Strait full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Andy R. Strait, Esq., about immigration policies, mental health, and the role of therapists in supporting immigrant clients. They explore legal challenges, asylum cases, and the impact of fear-driven policies on mental health. Strait emphasizes the importance of legal representation, knowing one’s immigration status, and providing accurate resources. Therapists can help by offering pro bono evaluations, connecting clients with legal aid, and creating safe spaces for immigrant communities. What Therapists Need to Know About Immigration: An interview with Andy Strait Curt and Katie chat with Andy R. Strait, Esq., about immigration policies, mental health, and the role of therapists in supporting immigrant clients. They explore legal challenges, asylum cases, and the impact of fear-driven policies on mental health. Strait emphasizes the importance of legal representation, knowing one’s immigration status, and providing accurate resources. Therapists can help by offering pro bono evaluations, connecting clients with legal aid, and creating safe spaces for immigrant communities. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about what therapists need to know about immigration Immigration policies directly impact the mental health of both therapists and their clients. We asked Andy Strait, an immigration attorney and former public advocate, about the challenges immigrants face in the U.S. legal system, the role of therapists in supporting their clients, and practical steps therapists can take to provide assistance. What do therapists need to know about immigration policies? The lack of legal representation for immigrants and how this affects asylum outcomes. How the culture of fear surrounding immigration policies affects mental health. The importance of therapists providing accurate legal resources to clients. The racial profiling and shifting demographic focus of ICE operations. How therapists can help clients plan for potential deportation and protect their families. How Therapists Can Support Clients Facing Immigration Challenges Refer clients to legal experts by connecting with organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Survivors of Torture Network. Consider offering pro bono psychological evaluations for asylum cases, as expert testimony is often crucial. Help clients understand their rights and the importance of legal documentation. Provide safe spaces for immigrants to process their fears and mental health struggles. Be mindful of misinformation and educate clients using accurate, vetted sources. Understanding the Realities of the Immigration System The asylum process is complex and overburdened, leaving many without proper representation. There is no right to an attorney for immigrants, making legal aid essential. Immigrants and their families need proactive strategies to prepare for potential enforcement actions. Therapists can play a critical role in reducing the stigma around seeking legal and mental health support. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Therapists Need to Know About Immigration: An interview with Andy Strait

Curt and Katie chat with Andy R. Strait, Esq., about immigration policies, mental health, and the role of therapists in supporting immigrant clients. They explore legal challenges, asylum cases, and the impact of fear-driven policies on mental health. Strait emphasizes the importance of legal representation, knowing one’s immigration status, and providing accurate resources. Therapists can help by offering pro bono evaluations, connecting clients with legal aid, and creating safe spaces for immigrant communities.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about what therapists need to know about immigration

Immigration policies directly impact the mental health of both therapists and their clients. We asked Andy Strait, an immigration attorney and former public advocate, about the challenges immigrants face in the U.S. legal system, the role of therapists in supporting their clients, and practical steps therapists can take to provide assistance.

What do therapists need to know about immigration policies?

  • The lack of legal representation for immigrants and how this affects asylum outcomes.
  • How the culture of fear surrounding immigration policies affects mental health.
  • The importance of therapists providing accurate legal resources to clients.
  • The racial profiling and shifting demographic focus of ICE operations.
  • How therapists can help clients plan for potential deportation and protect their families.

How Therapists Can Support Clients Facing Immigration Challenges

  • Refer clients to legal experts by connecting with organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Survivors of Torture Network.
  • Consider offering pro bono psychological evaluations for asylum cases, as expert testimony is often crucial.
  • Help clients understand their rights and the importance of legal documentation.
  • Provide safe spaces for immigrants to process their fears and mental health struggles.
  • Be mindful of misinformation and educate clients using accurate, vetted sources.

Understanding the Realities of the Immigration System

  • The asylum process is complex and overburdened, leaving many without proper representation.
  • There is no right to an attorney for immigrants, making legal aid essential.
  • Immigrants and their families need proactive strategies to prepare for potential enforcement actions.
  • Therapists can play a critical role in reducing the stigma around seeking legal and mental health support.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2516 Reacting to Regime Change: How Therapists Can Advocate for our Clients and Communities Reacting to Regime Change: How Therapists Can Advocate for our Clients and Communities Curt and Katie chat about how the United States has shifted since the inauguration of President Trump. We look at how therapists can advocate for their clients and the communities they serve and/or live in. We look at strategies for therapists to stay informed, provide vetted resources, and be present for clients who may be struggling with the changes.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the impact of political shifts on mental health care With ongoing changes in healthcare policy, therapists must navigate how legislative decisions impact their clients and their own practice. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy discuss the Trump administration’s influence on mental health care, the importance of accurate information and advocacy, and strategies for balancing personal well-being with professional responsibilities. What do therapists need to know about political changes in healthcare? The Trump administration’s policies and their impact on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid. The role of therapists in ensuring clients receive accurate healthcare information. How legislative decisions affect funding for mental health services. Why advocacy and political awareness are essential for protecting mental health access. The ethical considerations of discussing politics with clients while maintaining professional boundaries. How Therapists Can Take Action to Protect Healthcare Access Educate yourself and your clients on state-specific programs and available resources. Provide information in your practice on how clients can contact their legislators. Spend 15 minutes a day making calls to representatives to advocate for mental health care. Encourage, but don’t pressure, clients to take action in ways that align with their own values. Share neutral, fact-based sources to help clients stay informed without unnecessary anxiety. The Emotional Toll of Advocacy and How to Manage It Navigating personal feelings while supporting clients through political uncertainty. Avoiding doom-scrolling and setting boundaries around media consumption. Finding support within the therapist community to prevent burnout. Understanding personal capacity and choosing advocacy efforts that are sustainable. The Role of Therapists in Community Support Helping clients feel empowered rather than helpless in the face of policy changes. Creating space in sessions for conversations about uncertainty and anxiety related to healthcare access. Challenging therapists to step outside their comfort zone and take meaningful action. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0000 Reacting to Regime Change: How Therapists Can Advocate for our Clients and Communities full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how the United States has shifted since the inauguration of President Trump. We look at how therapists can advocate for their clients and the communities they serve and/or live in. We look at strategies for therapists to stay informed, provide vetted resources, and be present for clients who may be struggling with the changes. Reacting to Regime Change: How Therapists Can Advocate for our Clients and Communities Curt and Katie chat about how the United States has shifted since the inauguration of President Trump. We look at how therapists can advocate for their clients and the communities they serve and/or live in. We look at strategies for therapists to stay informed, provide vetted resources, and be present for clients who may be struggling with the changes.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the impact of political shifts on mental health care With ongoing changes in healthcare policy, therapists must navigate how legislative decisions impact their clients and their own practice. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy discuss the Trump administration’s influence on mental health care, the importance of accurate information and advocacy, and strategies for balancing personal well-being with professional responsibilities. What do therapists need to know about political changes in healthcare? The Trump administration’s policies and their impact on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid. The role of therapists in ensuring clients receive accurate healthcare information. How legislative decisions affect funding for mental health services. Why advocacy and political awareness are essential for protecting mental health access. The ethical considerations of discussing politics with clients while maintaining professional boundaries. How Therapists Can Take Action to Protect Healthcare Access Educate yourself and your clients on state-specific programs and available resources. Provide information in your practice on how clients can contact their legislators. Spend 15 minutes a day making calls to representatives to advocate for mental health care. Encourage, but don’t pressure, clients to take action in ways that align with their own values. Share neutral, fact-based sources to help clients stay informed without unnecessary anxiety. The Emotional Toll of Advocacy and How to Manage It Navigating personal feelings while supporting clients through political uncertainty. Avoiding doom-scrolling and setting boundaries around media consumption. Finding support within the therapist community to prevent burnout. Understanding personal capacity and choosing advocacy efforts that are sustainable. The Role of Therapists in Community Support Helping clients feel empowered rather than helpless in the face of policy changes. Creating space in sessions for conversations about uncertainty and anxiety related to healthcare access. Challenging therapists to step outside their comfort zone and take meaningful action. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Reacting to Regime Change: How Therapists Can Advocate for our Clients and Communities

Curt and Katie chat about how the United States has shifted since the inauguration of President Trump. We look at how therapists can advocate for their clients and the communities they serve and/or live in. We look at strategies for therapists to stay informed, provide vetted resources, and be present for clients who may be struggling with the changes.

 Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the impact of political shifts on mental health care

With ongoing changes in healthcare policy, therapists must navigate how legislative decisions impact their clients and their own practice. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy discuss the Trump administration’s influence on mental health care, the importance of accurate information and advocacy, and strategies for balancing personal well-being with professional responsibilities.

What do therapists need to know about political changes in healthcare?

  • The Trump administration’s policies and their impact on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid.
  • The role of therapists in ensuring clients receive accurate healthcare information.
  • How legislative decisions affect funding for mental health services.
  • Why advocacy and political awareness are essential for protecting mental health access.
  • The ethical considerations of discussing politics with clients while maintaining professional boundaries.

How Therapists Can Take Action to Protect Healthcare Access

  • Educate yourself and your clients on state-specific programs and available resources.
  • Provide information in your practice on how clients can contact their legislators.
  • Spend 15 minutes a day making calls to representatives to advocate for mental health care.
  • Encourage, but don’t pressure, clients to take action in ways that align with their own values.
  • Share neutral, fact-based sources to help clients stay informed without unnecessary anxiety.

The Emotional Toll of Advocacy and How to Manage It

  • Navigating personal feelings while supporting clients through political uncertainty.
  • Avoiding doom-scrolling and setting boundaries around media consumption.
  • Finding support within the therapist community to prevent burnout.
  • Understanding personal capacity and choosing advocacy efforts that are sustainable.

The Role of Therapists in Community Support

  • Helping clients feel empowered rather than helpless in the face of policy changes.
  • Creating space in sessions for conversations about uncertainty and anxiety related to healthcare access.
  • Challenging therapists to step outside their comfort zone and take meaningful action.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2101 When Your Client Dies By Suicide: An interview with Dr. Nina Gutin When Your Client Dies By Suicide: An interview with Dr. Nina Gutin Curt and Katie chat with Nina J. Gutin, Ph.D. about to discuss the emotional, professional, and systemic impact of client suicide on clinicians. We break down the common reactions of guilt and blame, highlight the importance of postvention support, and explore strategies to navigate grief and maintain clinical confidence. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about the impact of client suicide on clinicians Losing a client to suicide is a devastating and often isolating experience for mental health professionals. We asked suicide expert, Dr. Nina Gutin to join us to talk about how therapists can take care of themselves when they have a client die by suicide. What do therapists need to know about client suicide and its impact on clinicians? The stigma and self-blame clinicians often experience after losing a client. The importance of using “died by suicide” instead of stigmatizing language. Statistics on clinician loss: One in five mental health professionals—and up to one in two psychiatrists—will experience a client suicide. The need for postvention protocols and structured support in mental health workplaces. How reducing caseloads and fostering support networks can help mitigate the long-term professional impact. Processing Guilt and Self-Blame After a Client Suicide How hindsight bias can make clinicians feel responsible for a client’s death. Shifting from guilt to remorse or regret as a healthier perspective. The fear of legal repercussions and how to navigate it after a client suicide. Best practices for reaching out to a client’s family with compassion and professionalism. The Professional and Emotional Toll of Client Suicide on Therapists How losing a client to suicide can shake a clinician’s confidence and clinical identity. The importance of workplace support and structured postvention after a client death. Why systemic change is necessary to ensure therapists receive the help they need. Resources and Support for Clinicians The Coalition of Clinician Survivors – A support network offering: A listserv for peer support. A bibliography of research and clinical resources. Postvention protocols to guide clinicians and organizations. Dr. Nina Gutin’s email – For clinicians seeking consultation (nguten@earthlink.net). Breaking the Stigma and Advocating for Systemic Support How the stigma around suicide impacts both clients and clinicians. The need for better suicide prevention and postvention training in clinical programs. How organizations can prepare for and respond to client suicides to support their clinicians effectively. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 17 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0000 When Your Client Dies By Suicide: An interview with Dr. Nina Gutin full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Nina J. Gutin, Ph.D. about to discuss the emotional, professional, and systemic impact of client suicide on clinicians. We break down the common reactions of guilt and blame, highlight the importance of postvention support, and explore strategies to navigate grief and maintain clinical confidence. When Your Client Dies By Suicide: An interview with Dr. Nina Gutin Curt and Katie chat with Nina J. Gutin, Ph.D. about to discuss the emotional, professional, and systemic impact of client suicide on clinicians. We break down the common reactions of guilt and blame, highlight the importance of postvention support, and explore strategies to navigate grief and maintain clinical confidence. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about the impact of client suicide on clinicians Losing a client to suicide is a devastating and often isolating experience for mental health professionals. We asked suicide expert, Dr. Nina Gutin to join us to talk about how therapists can take care of themselves when they have a client die by suicide. What do therapists need to know about client suicide and its impact on clinicians? The stigma and self-blame clinicians often experience after losing a client. The importance of using “died by suicide” instead of stigmatizing language. Statistics on clinician loss: One in five mental health professionals—and up to one in two psychiatrists—will experience a client suicide. The need for postvention protocols and structured support in mental health workplaces. How reducing caseloads and fostering support networks can help mitigate the long-term professional impact. Processing Guilt and Self-Blame After a Client Suicide How hindsight bias can make clinicians feel responsible for a client’s death. Shifting from guilt to remorse or regret as a healthier perspective. The fear of legal repercussions and how to navigate it after a client suicide. Best practices for reaching out to a client’s family with compassion and professionalism. The Professional and Emotional Toll of Client Suicide on Therapists How losing a client to suicide can shake a clinician’s confidence and clinical identity. The importance of workplace support and structured postvention after a client death. Why systemic change is necessary to ensure therapists receive the help they need. Resources and Support for Clinicians The Coalition of Clinician Survivors – A support network offering: A listserv for peer support. A bibliography of research and clinical resources. Postvention protocols to guide clinicians and organizations. Dr. Nina Gutin’s email – For clinicians seeking consultation (nguten@earthlink.net). Breaking the Stigma and Advocating for Systemic Support How the stigma around suicide impacts both clients and clinicians. The need for better suicide prevention and postvention training in clinical programs. How organizations can prepare for and respond to client suicides to support their clinicians effectively. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   When Your Client Dies By Suicide: An interview with Dr. Nina Gutin

Curt and Katie chat with Nina J. Gutin, Ph.D. about to discuss the emotional, professional, and systemic impact of client suicide on clinicians. We break down the common reactions of guilt and blame, highlight the importance of postvention support, and explore strategies to navigate grief and maintain clinical confidence.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about the impact of client suicide on clinicians

Losing a client to suicide is a devastating and often isolating experience for mental health professionals. We asked suicide expert, Dr. Nina Gutin to join us to talk about how therapists can take care of themselves when they have a client die by suicide.

What do therapists need to know about client suicide and its impact on clinicians?

  • The stigma and self-blame clinicians often experience after losing a client.
  • The importance of using “died by suicide” instead of stigmatizing language.
  • Statistics on clinician loss: One in five mental health professionals—and up to one in two psychiatrists—will experience a client suicide.
  • The need for postvention protocols and structured support in mental health workplaces.
  • How reducing caseloads and fostering support networks can help mitigate the long-term professional impact.

Processing Guilt and Self-Blame After a Client Suicide

  • How hindsight bias can make clinicians feel responsible for a client’s death.
  • Shifting from guilt to remorse or regret as a healthier perspective.
  • The fear of legal repercussions and how to navigate it after a client suicide.
  • Best practices for reaching out to a client’s family with compassion and professionalism.

The Professional and Emotional Toll of Client Suicide on Therapists

  • How losing a client to suicide can shake a clinician’s confidence and clinical identity.
  • The importance of workplace support and structured postvention after a client death.
  • Why systemic change is necessary to ensure therapists receive the help they need.

Resources and Support for Clinicians

  • The Coalition of Clinician Survivors – A support network offering:
  • A listserv for peer support.
  • A bibliography of research and clinical resources.
  • Postvention protocols to guide clinicians and organizations.
  • Dr. Nina Gutin’s email – For clinicians seeking consultation (nguten@earthlink.net).

Breaking the Stigma and Advocating for Systemic Support

  • How the stigma around suicide impacts both clients and clinicians.
  • The need for better suicide prevention and postvention training in clinical programs.
  • How organizations can prepare for and respond to client suicides to support their clinicians effectively.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 2107 Stop Wasting Your Time on Awareness Campaigns Stop Wasting Your Time on Awareness Campaigns Curt and Katie chat about the limitations of performative awareness campaigns and the need for action-oriented advocacy. Inspired by the article Stop Raising Awareness Already by Ann Christiano and Annie Niemand, they critique viral campaigns like Kony 2012 and the CDC’s zombie apocalypse campaign, highlighting the importance of targeting the right audiences, crafting compelling messages, and developing a theory of change.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the limitations of awareness campaigns Curt and Katie talk about what to do instead of focusing precious time, energy, and resources on advocacy that is solely about awareness. We look at what has worked in the past and how to implement that now. Why Awareness Alone Isn’t Enough Performative awareness (social media posts, profile filters) often doesn’t lead to real change. Examples of failed awareness campaigns: Kony 2012: Viral but lacked sustainable action. CDC’s zombie apocalypse: Popular but ineffective at promoting emergency preparedness. HPV vaccine campaign: Faced backlash due to misinterpretation of its message. Some awareness efforts even create harmful counter-movements (e.g., “All Lives Matter” in response to BLM). The Importance of Targeted Advocacy Broad awareness campaigns often miss key decision-makers—advocacy should focus on specific audiences. Examples of effective advocacy efforts: Lobbying for minors' rights to amend therapy records. Medicare reform efforts for mental health providers. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) educating legislators about MFTs. Developing a Theory of Change Advocacy needs clear goals and strategic planning. The story of Rosa Parks demonstrates effective timing and targeting in advocacy. Successful campaigns require repetition, patience, and clear calls to action. Practical Steps for Effective Advocacy: ·      Move beyond awareness—advocate for policy changes, funding, and direct action. ·      Target specific audiences (lawmakers, healthcare providers, educators). ·      Craft messages that resonate—ensure they lead to measurable change. ·      Develop a theory of change—plan advocacy efforts with long-term impact in mind. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0000 Stop Wasting Your Time on Awareness Campaigns full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the limitations of performative awareness campaigns and the need for action-oriented advocacy. Inspired by the article Stop Raising Awareness Already by Ann Christiano and Annie Niemand, they critique viral campaigns like Kony 2012 and the CDC’s zombie apocalypse campaign, highlighting the importance of targeting the right audiences, crafting compelling messages, and developing a theory of change. Stop Wasting Your Time on Awareness Campaigns Curt and Katie chat about the limitations of performative awareness campaigns and the need for action-oriented advocacy. Inspired by the article Stop Raising Awareness Already by Ann Christiano and Annie Niemand, they critique viral campaigns like Kony 2012 and the CDC’s zombie apocalypse campaign, highlighting the importance of targeting the right audiences, crafting compelling messages, and developing a theory of change.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the limitations of awareness campaigns Curt and Katie talk about what to do instead of focusing precious time, energy, and resources on advocacy that is solely about awareness. We look at what has worked in the past and how to implement that now. Why Awareness Alone Isn’t Enough Performative awareness (social media posts, profile filters) often doesn’t lead to real change. Examples of failed awareness campaigns: Kony 2012: Viral but lacked sustainable action. CDC’s zombie apocalypse: Popular but ineffective at promoting emergency preparedness. HPV vaccine campaign: Faced backlash due to misinterpretation of its message. Some awareness efforts even create harmful counter-movements (e.g., “All Lives Matter” in response to BLM). The Importance of Targeted Advocacy Broad awareness campaigns often miss key decision-makers—advocacy should focus on specific audiences. Examples of effective advocacy efforts: Lobbying for minors' rights to amend therapy records. Medicare reform efforts for mental health providers. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) educating legislators about MFTs. Developing a Theory of Change Advocacy needs clear goals and strategic planning. The story of Rosa Parks demonstrates effective timing and targeting in advocacy. Successful campaigns require repetition, patience, and clear calls to action. Practical Steps for Effective Advocacy: ·      Move beyond awareness—advocate for policy changes, funding, and direct action. ·      Target specific audiences (lawmakers, healthcare providers, educators). ·      Craft messages that resonate—ensure they lead to measurable change. ·      Develop a theory of change—plan advocacy efforts with long-term impact in mind. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Stop Wasting Your Time on Awareness Campaigns

Curt and Katie chat about the limitations of performative awareness campaigns and the need for action-oriented advocacy. Inspired by the article Stop Raising Awareness Already by Ann Christiano and Annie Niemand, they critique viral campaigns like Kony 2012 and the CDC’s zombie apocalypse campaign, highlighting the importance of targeting the right audiences, crafting compelling messages, and developing a theory of change.

 Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the limitations of awareness campaigns

Curt and Katie talk about what to do instead of focusing precious time, energy, and resources on advocacy that is solely about awareness. We look at what has worked in the past and how to implement that now.

Why Awareness Alone Isn’t Enough

  • Performative awareness (social media posts, profile filters) often doesn’t lead to real change.
  • Examples of failed awareness campaigns:
  • Kony 2012: Viral but lacked sustainable action.
  • CDC’s zombie apocalypse: Popular but ineffective at promoting emergency preparedness.
  • HPV vaccine campaign: Faced backlash due to misinterpretation of its message.
  • Some awareness efforts even create harmful counter-movements (e.g., “All Lives Matter” in response to BLM).

The Importance of Targeted Advocacy

  • Broad awareness campaigns often miss key decision-makers—advocacy should focus on specific audiences.
  • Examples of effective advocacy efforts:
  • Lobbying for minors' rights to amend therapy records.
  • Medicare reform efforts for mental health providers.
  • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) educating legislators about MFTs.

Developing a Theory of Change

  • Advocacy needs clear goals and strategic planning.
  • The story of Rosa Parks demonstrates effective timing and targeting in advocacy.
  • Successful campaigns require repetition, patience, and clear calls to action.

Practical Steps for Effective Advocacy:

·      Move beyond awareness—advocate for policy changes, funding, and direct action.

·      Target specific audiences (lawmakers, healthcare providers, educators).

·      Craft messages that resonate—ensure they lead to measurable change.

·      Develop a theory of change—plan advocacy efforts with long-term impact in mind.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1771 yes MFTs Providing Therapy Across State Lines Through License Portability in the United States: An interview with Roger Smith MFTs Providing Therapy Across State Lines Through License Portability in the United States: An interview with Roger Smith Curt and Katie chat with Roger Smith, Chief Advocacy Officer and General Counsel for American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, about the challenges and progress in licensure portability for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs). He explains why AAMFT opted for an endorsement model over interstate compacts, the success of the Access MFTs initiative, and what’s next for portability efforts in 2025. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Roger Smith about LMFT License Portability As more and more therapy is happening online, therapists have an opportunity to work with clients from all over the world. In the United States, there have been efforts by social workers, mental health counselors, and psychologists to create inter-state compacts to help regulate these therapists (and provide opportunities to deliver care legally in other states). Marriage and Family Therapists have been left behind and are now seeking a different path (reciprocity or portability) due to the unique characteristics of the LMFT profession. We reached out to Roger Smith of AAMFT to help us understand why this decision was made as well as what it means for MFTs. Why AAMFT Chose the Endorsement Model Over Compacts ·      Interstate compacts were considered but ultimately deemed too costly and unsustainable. ·      Large states like California and New York have not adopted ANY healthcare compacts, limiting effectiveness. ·      Endorsement model: Allows MFTs to practice in other states if they hold an unencumbered license—without having to meet initial requirements again. Success of the "Access MFTs" Model ·      In 2024, 7 out of 10 targeted states passed the Access MFTs model law. ·      States that adopted the model include Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. ·      Efforts continue in Kentucky and North Carolina for 2025. Future of MFT Portability & Barriers California is not pursuing portability legislation but is working with CAMFT on national exam advocacy. Exam requirements can be a barrier to full portability. Expansion plans focus on pro-telehealth states and underserved regions. Member Interest & Cost Considerations for MFTs seeking to practice across state lines A 2022 AAMFT survey showed strong member interest in portability, especially among younger therapists. Costs are a factor—both the Access MFTs model and interstate compacts involve financial considerations for therapists. National Licensure for therapists: Why It’s Not an Option Licensure is a state-level issue, and federal intervention is unlikely. A national exam or license would face constitutional challenges and resistance from state regulatory boards. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000 MFTs Providing Therapy Across State Lines Through License Portability in the United States: An interview with Roger Smith full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Roger Smith, Chief Advocacy Officer and General Counsel for American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, about the challenges and progress in licensure portability for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs). He explains why AAMFT opted for an endorsement model over interstate compacts, the success of the Access MFTs initiative, and what’s next for portability efforts in 2025. MFTs Providing Therapy Across State Lines Through License Portability in the United States: An interview with Roger Smith Curt and Katie chat with Roger Smith, Chief Advocacy Officer and General Counsel for American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, about the challenges and progress in licensure portability for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs). He explains why AAMFT opted for an endorsement model over interstate compacts, the success of the Access MFTs initiative, and what’s next for portability efforts in 2025. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Roger Smith about LMFT License Portability As more and more therapy is happening online, therapists have an opportunity to work with clients from all over the world. In the United States, there have been efforts by social workers, mental health counselors, and psychologists to create inter-state compacts to help regulate these therapists (and provide opportunities to deliver care legally in other states). Marriage and Family Therapists have been left behind and are now seeking a different path (reciprocity or portability) due to the unique characteristics of the LMFT profession. We reached out to Roger Smith of AAMFT to help us understand why this decision was made as well as what it means for MFTs. Why AAMFT Chose the Endorsement Model Over Compacts ·      Interstate compacts were considered but ultimately deemed too costly and unsustainable. ·      Large states like California and New York have not adopted ANY healthcare compacts, limiting effectiveness. ·      Endorsement model: Allows MFTs to practice in other states if they hold an unencumbered license—without having to meet initial requirements again. Success of the "Access MFTs" Model ·      In 2024, 7 out of 10 targeted states passed the Access MFTs model law. ·      States that adopted the model include Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. ·      Efforts continue in Kentucky and North Carolina for 2025. Future of MFT Portability & Barriers California is not pursuing portability legislation but is working with CAMFT on national exam advocacy. Exam requirements can be a barrier to full portability. Expansion plans focus on pro-telehealth states and underserved regions. Member Interest & Cost Considerations for MFTs seeking to practice across state lines A 2022 AAMFT survey showed strong member interest in portability, especially among younger therapists. Costs are a factor—both the Access MFTs model and interstate compacts involve financial considerations for therapists. National Licensure for therapists: Why It’s Not an Option Licensure is a state-level issue, and federal intervention is unlikely. A national exam or license would face constitutional challenges and resistance from state regulatory boards. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ MFTs Providing Therapy Across State Lines Through License Portability in the United States: An interview with Roger Smith

Curt and Katie chat with Roger Smith, Chief Advocacy Officer and General Counsel for American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, about the challenges and progress in licensure portability for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs). He explains why AAMFT opted for an endorsement model over interstate compacts, the success of the Access MFTs initiative, and what’s next for portability efforts in 2025.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk with Roger Smith about LMFT License Portability

As more and more therapy is happening online, therapists have an opportunity to work with clients from all over the world. In the United States, there have been efforts by social workers, mental health counselors, and psychologists to create inter-state compacts to help regulate these therapists (and provide opportunities to deliver care legally in other states). Marriage and Family Therapists have been left behind and are now seeking a different path (reciprocity or portability) due to the unique characteristics of the LMFT profession. We reached out to Roger Smith of AAMFT to help us understand why this decision was made as well as what it means for MFTs.

Why AAMFT Chose the Endorsement Model Over Compacts

·      Interstate compacts were considered but ultimately deemed too costly and unsustainable.

·      Large states like California and New York have not adopted ANY healthcare compacts, limiting effectiveness.

·      Endorsement model: Allows MFTs to practice in other states if they hold an unencumbered license—without having to meet initial requirements again.

Success of the "Access MFTs" Model

·      In 2024, 7 out of 10 targeted states passed the Access MFTs model law.

·      States that adopted the model include Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia.

·      Efforts continue in Kentucky and North Carolina for 2025.

Future of MFT Portability & Barriers

  • California is not pursuing portability legislation but is working with CAMFT on national exam advocacy.
  • Exam requirements can be a barrier to full portability.
  • Expansion plans focus on pro-telehealth states and underserved regions.

Member Interest & Cost Considerations for MFTs seeking to practice across state lines

  • A 2022 AAMFT survey showed strong member interest in portability, especially among younger therapists.
  • Costs are a factor—both the Access MFTs model and interstate compacts involve financial considerations for therapists.

National Licensure for therapists: Why It’s Not an Option

  • Licensure is a state-level issue, and federal intervention is unlikely.
  • A national exam or license would face constitutional challenges and resistance from state regulatory boards.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2178 The Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health: An interview with Dr. Alyssa Dietz The Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health: An interview with Dr. Alyssa Dietz Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alyssa Dietz, a clinical psychologist and digital mental health expert, about the evolving role of AI in therapy. Dr. Dietz discusses how AI can enhance therapy by delivering evidence-based care, particularly in structured approaches like CBT, while acknowledging its limitations with complex, multi-diagnosis cases. She emphasizes the need for collaboration between therapists and AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered innovation in digital mental health. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Dr. Alyssa Dietz about Advances in AI for Therapy Artificial Intelligence has already come for mental healthcare. The question is, what should therapists be doing about it? We dig into what AI therapy looks like from the inside, from a clinician’s perspective. AI’s Growing Role in Therapy AI can enhance therapy but won’t replace human therapists soon. AI is particularly effective in skills-based therapies like CBT. AI currently struggles with complex diagnoses and comorbidities. The most active users of digital mental health tools are 50-60 years old, surprising many industry experts. How AI is Changing the Therapist’s Role AI can automate administrative tasks and support therapists in data-driven decision-making. Although tech and insurance folks say we can use AI to work at the "top of our license," this approach could lead to therapist burnout. Clinicians should work alongside AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered care. AI’s judgment and decision-making remain limited, requiring human oversight. Evaluating AI’s Effectiveness & Ethical Considerations The tension between innovation, regulation, and evaluation in AI-driven therapy. Importance of clear safety protocols and escalation (emergency) measures for client care. AI must be rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness. Understanding how AI products are trained and evaluated is critical for therapists before incorporating these clinical tools into your practice. AI and Complex Diagnoses Current AI models struggle to address comorbidities effectively. Need for personalization and context-driven interventions. Future AI tools must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. How Therapists Can Adapt to AI in Mental Health Educate yourself on AI’s capabilities and limitations. Stay informed through online courses, conferences, and tech-focused therapist groups. Engage with organizations like the Digital Medicine Society to understand responsible AI use. Connect with the "Therapists in Tech" Slack group to network with others in the space. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 24 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000 The Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health: An interview with Dr. Alyssa Dietz full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alyssa Dietz, a clinical psychologist and digital mental health expert, about the evolving role of AI in therapy. Dr. Dietz discusses how AI can enhance therapy by delivering evidence-based care, particularly in structured approaches like CBT, while acknowledging its limitations with complex, multi-diagnosis cases. She emphasizes the need for collaboration between therapists and AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered innovation in digital mental health. The Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health: An interview with Dr. Alyssa Dietz Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alyssa Dietz, a clinical psychologist and digital mental health expert, about the evolving role of AI in therapy. Dr. Dietz discusses how AI can enhance therapy by delivering evidence-based care, particularly in structured approaches like CBT, while acknowledging its limitations with complex, multi-diagnosis cases. She emphasizes the need for collaboration between therapists and AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered innovation in digital mental health. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Dr. Alyssa Dietz about Advances in AI for Therapy Artificial Intelligence has already come for mental healthcare. The question is, what should therapists be doing about it? We dig into what AI therapy looks like from the inside, from a clinician’s perspective. AI’s Growing Role in Therapy AI can enhance therapy but won’t replace human therapists soon. AI is particularly effective in skills-based therapies like CBT. AI currently struggles with complex diagnoses and comorbidities. The most active users of digital mental health tools are 50-60 years old, surprising many industry experts. How AI is Changing the Therapist’s Role AI can automate administrative tasks and support therapists in data-driven decision-making. Although tech and insurance folks say we can use AI to work at the "top of our license," this approach could lead to therapist burnout. Clinicians should work alongside AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered care. AI’s judgment and decision-making remain limited, requiring human oversight. Evaluating AI’s Effectiveness & Ethical Considerations The tension between innovation, regulation, and evaluation in AI-driven therapy. Importance of clear safety protocols and escalation (emergency) measures for client care. AI must be rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness. Understanding how AI products are trained and evaluated is critical for therapists before incorporating these clinical tools into your practice. AI and Complex Diagnoses Current AI models struggle to address comorbidities effectively. Need for personalization and context-driven interventions. Future AI tools must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. How Therapists Can Adapt to AI in Mental Health Educate yourself on AI’s capabilities and limitations. Stay informed through online courses, conferences, and tech-focused therapist groups. Engage with organizations like the Digital Medicine Society to understand responsible AI use. Connect with the "Therapists in Tech" Slack group to network with others in the space. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ The Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health: An interview with Dr. Alyssa Dietz

Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alyssa Dietz, a clinical psychologist and digital mental health expert, about the evolving role of AI in therapy. Dr. Dietz discusses how AI can enhance therapy by delivering evidence-based care, particularly in structured approaches like CBT, while acknowledging its limitations with complex, multi-diagnosis cases. She emphasizes the need for collaboration between therapists and AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered innovation in digital mental health.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk with Dr. Alyssa Dietz about Advances in AI for Therapy

Artificial Intelligence has already come for mental healthcare. The question is, what should therapists be doing about it? We dig into what AI therapy looks like from the inside, from a clinician’s perspective.

AI’s Growing Role in Therapy

  • AI can enhance therapy but won’t replace human therapists soon.
  • AI is particularly effective in skills-based therapies like CBT.
  • AI currently struggles with complex diagnoses and comorbidities.
  • The most active users of digital mental health tools are 50-60 years old, surprising many industry experts.

How AI is Changing the Therapist’s Role

  • AI can automate administrative tasks and support therapists in data-driven decision-making.
  • Although tech and insurance folks say we can use AI to work at the "top of our license," this approach could lead to therapist burnout.
  • Clinicians should work alongside AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered care.
  • AI’s judgment and decision-making remain limited, requiring human oversight.

Evaluating AI’s Effectiveness & Ethical Considerations

  • The tension between innovation, regulation, and evaluation in AI-driven therapy.
  • Importance of clear safety protocols and escalation (emergency) measures for client care.
  • AI must be rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness.
  • Understanding how AI products are trained and evaluated is critical for therapists before incorporating these clinical tools into your practice.

AI and Complex Diagnoses

  • Current AI models struggle to address comorbidities effectively.
  • Need for personalization and context-driven interventions.
  • Future AI tools must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.

How Therapists Can Adapt to AI in Mental Health

  • Educate yourself on AI’s capabilities and limitations.
  • Stay informed through online courses, conferences, and tech-focused therapist groups.
  • Engage with organizations like the Digital Medicine Society to understand responsible AI use.
  • Connect with the "Therapists in Tech" Slack group to network with others in the space.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2591 Exploring Systemic Trauma and Relational Privilege with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples: An interview with Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP Exploring Systemic Trauma and Relational Privilege with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples: An interview with Akilah Riley-Richardson Curt and Katie chat with Akilah Riley Richardson, MSW about the challenges therapists face when working with BIPOC and LGBTQI couples. Akilah discusses the impact of systemic trauma, how it affects relationships, and the importance of creating therapeutic models tailored to marginalized communities. She introduces The PRIDE Model for therapy and The BIOME Stance for therapists, offering actionable strategies for inclusive, trauma-informed care. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Akilah Riley-Richardson about what therapists get wrong when working with BIPOC and LGBTQI couples Too often, couples counselors take traditional models and make slight tweaks for couples from marginalized backgrounds, with little success. Akilah Riley-Richardson has developed a stance and a new model to help support therapists in doing more effective work with these couples.   Understanding Systemic Trauma in Therapy Defining systemic trauma: Chronic, unpredictable, and disenfranchised trauma caused by systemic forces (education, legal, and healthcare systems). Examples of systemic trauma: Microaggressions, mispronounced names, assumptions about authority roles, and misgendering. Effects on individuals and relationships: Reduced sense of safety, rejection sensitivity, emotional disconnect, and difficulty setting boundaries. Challenges in Therapy with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples Common therapist mistakes: Ignoring systemic realities and the impact of privilege. Adapting existing models without acknowledging their white, cishet origins. Failing to create trauma-informed, inclusive frameworks. Importance of relational privilege: Self-acceptance, social acceptance, and feeling protected in relationships. The PRIDE Model & The BIOME Stance from Akilah Riley-Richardson PRIDE Model for Therapy: Relational curiosity: Actively exploring the client's lived experiences. Setting intentions: Creating space for safety and vulnerability. Trauma work: Addressing systemic trauma's long-term impact on relationships. BIOME Stance for Therapists: Bravery: Facing discomfort in recognizing privilege. Intimacy: Fostering deep emotional connections. Openness: Being receptive to client experiences. Micro-liberatory movements: Small but impactful actions toward social justice. Epistemic embracing: Validating client knowledge and lived experiences. How Therapists Can Engage Clients in Systemic Trauma Work Transparency in therapy: Clearly communicating the goal of liberation. Allowing resistance: Accepting client pushback as an assertion of power. Embracing uncertainty: Being comfortable with not having all the answers. Participating in decolonization conversations: Learning through community engagement and allyship. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 17 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000 Exploring Systemic Trauma and Relational Privilege with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples: An interview with Akilah Riley-Richardson. MSW, CCTP full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Akilah Riley Richardson, MSW about the challenges therapists face when working with BIPOC and LGBTQI couples. Akilah discusses the impact of systemic trauma, how it affects relationships, and the importance of creating therapeutic models tailored to marginalized communities. She introduces The PRIDE Model for therapy and The BIOME Stance for therapists, offering actionable strategies for inclusive, trauma-informed care. Exploring Systemic Trauma and Relational Privilege with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples: An interview with Akilah Riley-Richardson Curt and Katie chat with Akilah Riley Richardson, MSW about the challenges therapists face when working with BIPOC and LGBTQI couples. Akilah discusses the impact of systemic trauma, how it affects relationships, and the importance of creating therapeutic models tailored to marginalized communities. She introduces The PRIDE Model for therapy and The BIOME Stance for therapists, offering actionable strategies for inclusive, trauma-informed care. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Akilah Riley-Richardson about what therapists get wrong when working with BIPOC and LGBTQI couples Too often, couples counselors take traditional models and make slight tweaks for couples from marginalized backgrounds, with little success. Akilah Riley-Richardson has developed a stance and a new model to help support therapists in doing more effective work with these couples.   Understanding Systemic Trauma in Therapy Defining systemic trauma: Chronic, unpredictable, and disenfranchised trauma caused by systemic forces (education, legal, and healthcare systems). Examples of systemic trauma: Microaggressions, mispronounced names, assumptions about authority roles, and misgendering. Effects on individuals and relationships: Reduced sense of safety, rejection sensitivity, emotional disconnect, and difficulty setting boundaries. Challenges in Therapy with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples Common therapist mistakes: Ignoring systemic realities and the impact of privilege. Adapting existing models without acknowledging their white, cishet origins. Failing to create trauma-informed, inclusive frameworks. Importance of relational privilege: Self-acceptance, social acceptance, and feeling protected in relationships. The PRIDE Model & The BIOME Stance from Akilah Riley-Richardson PRIDE Model for Therapy: Relational curiosity: Actively exploring the client's lived experiences. Setting intentions: Creating space for safety and vulnerability. Trauma work: Addressing systemic trauma's long-term impact on relationships. BIOME Stance for Therapists: Bravery: Facing discomfort in recognizing privilege. Intimacy: Fostering deep emotional connections. Openness: Being receptive to client experiences. Micro-liberatory movements: Small but impactful actions toward social justice. Epistemic embracing: Validating client knowledge and lived experiences. How Therapists Can Engage Clients in Systemic Trauma Work Transparency in therapy: Clearly communicating the goal of liberation. Allowing resistance: Accepting client pushback as an assertion of power. Embracing uncertainty: Being comfortable with not having all the answers. Participating in decolonization conversations: Learning through community engagement and allyship. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Exploring Systemic Trauma and Relational Privilege with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples: An interview with Akilah Riley-Richardson

Curt and Katie chat with Akilah Riley Richardson, MSW about the challenges therapists face when working with BIPOC and LGBTQI couples. Akilah discusses the impact of systemic trauma, how it affects relationships, and the importance of creating therapeutic models tailored to marginalized communities. She introduces The PRIDE Model for therapy and The BIOME Stance for therapists, offering actionable strategies for inclusive, trauma-informed care.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk with Akilah Riley-Richardson about what therapists get wrong when working with BIPOC and LGBTQI couples

Too often, couples counselors take traditional models and make slight tweaks for couples from marginalized backgrounds, with little success. Akilah Riley-Richardson has developed a stance and a new model to help support therapists in doing more effective work with these couples.  

Understanding Systemic Trauma in Therapy

  • Defining systemic trauma: Chronic, unpredictable, and disenfranchised trauma caused by systemic forces (education, legal, and healthcare systems).
  • Examples of systemic trauma: Microaggressions, mispronounced names, assumptions about authority roles, and misgendering.
  • Effects on individuals and relationships: Reduced sense of safety, rejection sensitivity, emotional disconnect, and difficulty setting boundaries.

Challenges in Therapy with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples

  • Common therapist mistakes:
  • Ignoring systemic realities and the impact of privilege.
  • Adapting existing models without acknowledging their white, cishet origins.
  • Failing to create trauma-informed, inclusive frameworks.
  • Importance of relational privilege: Self-acceptance, social acceptance, and feeling protected in relationships.

The PRIDE Model & The BIOME Stance from Akilah Riley-Richardson

  • PRIDE Model for Therapy:
  • Relational curiosity: Actively exploring the client's lived experiences.
  • Setting intentions: Creating space for safety and vulnerability.
  • Trauma work: Addressing systemic trauma's long-term impact on relationships.
  • BIOME Stance for Therapists:
  • Bravery: Facing discomfort in recognizing privilege.
  • Intimacy: Fostering deep emotional connections.
  • Openness: Being receptive to client experiences.
  • Micro-liberatory movements: Small but impactful actions toward social justice.
  • Epistemic embracing: Validating client knowledge and lived experiences.

How Therapists Can Engage Clients in Systemic Trauma Work

  • Transparency in therapy: Clearly communicating the goal of liberation.
  • Allowing resistance: Accepting client pushback as an assertion of power.
  • Embracing uncertainty: Being comfortable with not having all the answers.
  • Participating in decolonization conversations: Learning through community engagement and allyship.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 2279 How Therapists Can Truly Help After a Disaster How Therapists Can Truly Help After a Disaster Curt and Katie chat about the impact of the recent Los Angeles wild fires on therapists, their clients, and communities. We explore the importance of self-assessment, responsible crisis response, and balancing personal care with providing support. From donating (and marketing) services ethically to understanding trauma timelines, Curt and Katie provide practical advice for therapists navigating community-wide disasters. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through how therapists can help during and after crises Curt and Katie live in Los Angeles, which was recently ravaged by wild fires. We decided it would be important to reflect on our experience and provide support to other therapists seeking ways they may be able to help their own communities. Self-Assessment and Prioritizing Personal Care during a Natural Disaster or Community Crisis Therapists are encouraged to assess their capacity to provide support, ensuring they do not overextend themselves during a crisis. Curt emphasizes radical acceptance and forgiveness for cancellations or temporary service disruptions caused by disasters. Katie highlights the importance of therapists taking care of themselves before offering services, noting the potential for long-term impacts on both providers and clients. How to Market Therapy during a crisis without feeling like an ambulance chaser Curt and Katie stress the importance of donating services ethically, avoiding lead generation tactics or branding during a crisis. They discuss reviewing scheduled marketing campaigns to ensure sensitivity to the current situation. Therapists are encouraged to work with established organizations (like the Red Cross) to maximize the impact of their efforts. Curt and Katie discuss the risks of using disasters to build personal brands and stress focusing solely on service and support. They suggest volunteering with experienced organizations to avoid complications and maximize resources for those in need. Recognizing Individual Needs and Trauma Timelines for disaster survivors Not all clients experience or process trauma in the same way; therapists must tailor their support to individual needs and stages of impact. Curt shares insights from his experience supporting clients after the Boston Marathon bombing, emphasizing the importance of addressing varying levels of trauma severity. Katie highlights the need for long-term care systems to address ongoing trauma responses. How Therapists can balance Caretaking and Personal Needs during a disaster Curt shares his experience of being overwhelmed by personal messages and work demands during the crisis. Katie emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and giving oneself permission to focus on personal care. Therapists are reminded that they are part of the crisis too and should ensure they meet their own needs before taking on the caretaker role. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 10 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000 How Therapists Can Truly Help After a Disaster full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the impact of the recent Los Angeles wild fires on therapists, their clients, and communities. We explore the importance of self-assessment, responsible crisis response, and balancing personal care with providing support. From donating (and marketing) services ethically to understanding trauma timelines, Curt and Katie provide practical advice for therapists navigating community-wide disasters. How Therapists Can Truly Help After a Disaster Curt and Katie chat about the impact of the recent Los Angeles wild fires on therapists, their clients, and communities. We explore the importance of self-assessment, responsible crisis response, and balancing personal care with providing support. From donating (and marketing) services ethically to understanding trauma timelines, Curt and Katie provide practical advice for therapists navigating community-wide disasters. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through how therapists can help during and after crises Curt and Katie live in Los Angeles, which was recently ravaged by wild fires. We decided it would be important to reflect on our experience and provide support to other therapists seeking ways they may be able to help their own communities. Self-Assessment and Prioritizing Personal Care during a Natural Disaster or Community Crisis Therapists are encouraged to assess their capacity to provide support, ensuring they do not overextend themselves during a crisis. Curt emphasizes radical acceptance and forgiveness for cancellations or temporary service disruptions caused by disasters. Katie highlights the importance of therapists taking care of themselves before offering services, noting the potential for long-term impacts on both providers and clients. How to Market Therapy during a crisis without feeling like an ambulance chaser Curt and Katie stress the importance of donating services ethically, avoiding lead generation tactics or branding during a crisis. They discuss reviewing scheduled marketing campaigns to ensure sensitivity to the current situation. Therapists are encouraged to work with established organizations (like the Red Cross) to maximize the impact of their efforts. Curt and Katie discuss the risks of using disasters to build personal brands and stress focusing solely on service and support. They suggest volunteering with experienced organizations to avoid complications and maximize resources for those in need. Recognizing Individual Needs and Trauma Timelines for disaster survivors Not all clients experience or process trauma in the same way; therapists must tailor their support to individual needs and stages of impact. Curt shares insights from his experience supporting clients after the Boston Marathon bombing, emphasizing the importance of addressing varying levels of trauma severity. Katie highlights the need for long-term care systems to address ongoing trauma responses. How Therapists can balance Caretaking and Personal Needs during a disaster Curt shares his experience of being overwhelmed by personal messages and work demands during the crisis. Katie emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and giving oneself permission to focus on personal care. Therapists are reminded that they are part of the crisis too and should ensure they meet their own needs before taking on the caretaker role. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Therapists Can Truly Help After a Disaster

Curt and Katie chat about the impact of the recent Los Angeles wild fires on therapists, their clients, and communities. We explore the importance of self-assessment, responsible crisis response, and balancing personal care with providing support. From donating (and marketing) services ethically to understanding trauma timelines, Curt and Katie provide practical advice for therapists navigating community-wide disasters.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk through how therapists can help during and after crises

Curt and Katie live in Los Angeles, which was recently ravaged by wild fires. We decided it would be important to reflect on our experience and provide support to other therapists seeking ways they may be able to help their own communities.

Self-Assessment and Prioritizing Personal Care during a Natural Disaster or Community Crisis

  • Therapists are encouraged to assess their capacity to provide support, ensuring they do not overextend themselves during a crisis.
  • Curt emphasizes radical acceptance and forgiveness for cancellations or temporary service disruptions caused by disasters.
  • Katie highlights the importance of therapists taking care of themselves before offering services, noting the potential for long-term impacts on both providers and clients.

How to Market Therapy during a crisis without feeling like an ambulance chaser

  • Curt and Katie stress the importance of donating services ethically, avoiding lead generation tactics or branding during a crisis.
  • They discuss reviewing scheduled marketing campaigns to ensure sensitivity to the current situation.
  • Therapists are encouraged to work with established organizations (like the Red Cross) to maximize the impact of their efforts.
  • Curt and Katie discuss the risks of using disasters to build personal brands and stress focusing solely on service and support.
  • They suggest volunteering with experienced organizations to avoid complications and maximize resources for those in need.

Recognizing Individual Needs and Trauma Timelines for disaster survivors

  • Not all clients experience or process trauma in the same way; therapists must tailor their support to individual needs and stages of impact.
  • Curt shares insights from his experience supporting clients after the Boston Marathon bombing, emphasizing the importance of addressing varying levels of trauma severity.
  • Katie highlights the need for long-term care systems to address ongoing trauma responses.

How Therapists can balance Caretaking and Personal Needs during a disaster

  • Curt shares his experience of being overwhelmed by personal messages and work demands during the crisis.
  • Katie emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and giving oneself permission to focus on personal care.
  • Therapists are reminded that they are part of the crisis too and should ensure they meet their own needs before taking on the caretaker role.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1987 Helping Parents Become What They Needed as a Child: An interview with Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT Helping Parents Become What They Needed as a Child: An interview with Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Bryana Kappakunnel, LMFT about conscious parenting, discussing how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healing personal triggers can help parents foster healthier and more connected relationships with their children. With a background in infant and early childhood mental health and her upcoming book Parent Yourself First, Bryana offers valuable insights for therapists and parents alike. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Bryana Kappadakunnel about Conscious Parenting We invited friend of the show, Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT to talk about her work, including her new book, Parent Yourself First.   What is Conscious Parenting? Conscious parenting goes beyond positive parenting by prioritizing self-awareness, personal healing, and understanding the root causes of emotional triggers. Bryana explains how addressing parents’ unresolved issues can create a healthier environment for children, often alleviating behavioral challenges. She highlights the importance of building authentic connections with children and fostering emotional safety through open communication and modeling accountability. Common Pushback and Misconceptions for Conscious Parenting Bryana addresses resistance from parents who view traditional parenting as the norm or feel threatened by relational approaches. She clarifies that conscious parenting is not permissive but a balanced, authoritative style that combines high warmth, nurturance, structure, and boundaries. Bryana emphasizes the need to manage stress and prevent burnout by helping parents regulate their own emotions before addressing their children’s behavior. How to Help Parents Navigate Challenging Parenting Scenarios When parents feel disrespected by their children, Bryana advises focusing on their own emotional reactions and understanding the child’s behavior as a form of communication. She stresses the importance of setting consistent boundaries while staying attuned to the child’s perspective. Bryana shares her own practice of apologizing to her children when she makes mistakes, modeling accountability and respect in the parent-child relationship. How Conscious Parenting Helps Kids During the pandemic, Bryana shifted her focus to working with parents directly, leading to significant improvements in family dynamics in shorter timeframes. Her work underscores the importance of addressing systemic and relational patterns within families rather than focusing solely on child behavior. Bryana highlights the benefits of her approach, including better communication, a deeper sense of connection, and raising compassionate, empathetic, and confident children. Bryana’s Online Presence and Upcoming Book Bryana creates content tailored to the needs of parents and her clients, sharing bite-sized videos that inspire reflection and change. Bryana talks about her decisions on what to post as a licensed therapist with a big following on social media platforms She discusses her book, Parent Yourself First, which helps parents heal their own wounds to raise resilient and empathetic children. The book focuses on empowering parents to become the caregivers they wished they had, fostering healthier and more connected family systems. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000 Helping Parents Become What They Needed as a Child: An interview with Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Bryana Kappakunnel, LMFT about conscious parenting, discussing how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healing personal triggers can help parents foster healthier and more connected relationships with their children. With a background in infant and early childhood mental health and her upcoming book Parent Yourself First, Bryana offers valuable insights for therapists and parents alike. Helping Parents Become What They Needed as a Child: An interview with Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Bryana Kappakunnel, LMFT about conscious parenting, discussing how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healing personal triggers can help parents foster healthier and more connected relationships with their children. With a background in infant and early childhood mental health and her upcoming book Parent Yourself First, Bryana offers valuable insights for therapists and parents alike. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Bryana Kappadakunnel about Conscious Parenting We invited friend of the show, Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT to talk about her work, including her new book, Parent Yourself First.   What is Conscious Parenting? Conscious parenting goes beyond positive parenting by prioritizing self-awareness, personal healing, and understanding the root causes of emotional triggers. Bryana explains how addressing parents’ unresolved issues can create a healthier environment for children, often alleviating behavioral challenges. She highlights the importance of building authentic connections with children and fostering emotional safety through open communication and modeling accountability. Common Pushback and Misconceptions for Conscious Parenting Bryana addresses resistance from parents who view traditional parenting as the norm or feel threatened by relational approaches. She clarifies that conscious parenting is not permissive but a balanced, authoritative style that combines high warmth, nurturance, structure, and boundaries. Bryana emphasizes the need to manage stress and prevent burnout by helping parents regulate their own emotions before addressing their children’s behavior. How to Help Parents Navigate Challenging Parenting Scenarios When parents feel disrespected by their children, Bryana advises focusing on their own emotional reactions and understanding the child’s behavior as a form of communication. She stresses the importance of setting consistent boundaries while staying attuned to the child’s perspective. Bryana shares her own practice of apologizing to her children when she makes mistakes, modeling accountability and respect in the parent-child relationship. How Conscious Parenting Helps Kids During the pandemic, Bryana shifted her focus to working with parents directly, leading to significant improvements in family dynamics in shorter timeframes. Her work underscores the importance of addressing systemic and relational patterns within families rather than focusing solely on child behavior. Bryana highlights the benefits of her approach, including better communication, a deeper sense of connection, and raising compassionate, empathetic, and confident children. Bryana’s Online Presence and Upcoming Book Bryana creates content tailored to the needs of parents and her clients, sharing bite-sized videos that inspire reflection and change. Bryana talks about her decisions on what to post as a licensed therapist with a big following on social media platforms She discusses her book, Parent Yourself First, which helps parents heal their own wounds to raise resilient and empathetic children. The book focuses on empowering parents to become the caregivers they wished they had, fostering healthier and more connected family systems. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Helping Parents Become What They Needed as a Child: An interview with Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT

Curt and Katie chat with Bryana Kappakunnel, LMFT about conscious parenting, discussing how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healing personal triggers can help parents foster healthier and more connected relationships with their children. With a background in infant and early childhood mental health and her upcoming book Parent Yourself First, Bryana offers valuable insights for therapists and parents alike.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk with Bryana Kappadakunnel about Conscious Parenting

We invited friend of the show, Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT to talk about her work, including her new book, Parent Yourself First.  

What is Conscious Parenting?

  • Conscious parenting goes beyond positive parenting by prioritizing self-awareness, personal healing, and understanding the root causes of emotional triggers.
  • Bryana explains how addressing parents’ unresolved issues can create a healthier environment for children, often alleviating behavioral challenges.
  • She highlights the importance of building authentic connections with children and fostering emotional safety through open communication and modeling accountability.

Common Pushback and Misconceptions for Conscious Parenting

  • Bryana addresses resistance from parents who view traditional parenting as the norm or feel threatened by relational approaches.
  • She clarifies that conscious parenting is not permissive but a balanced, authoritative style that combines high warmth, nurturance, structure, and boundaries.
  • Bryana emphasizes the need to manage stress and prevent burnout by helping parents regulate their own emotions before addressing their children’s behavior.

How to Help Parents Navigate Challenging Parenting Scenarios

  • When parents feel disrespected by their children, Bryana advises focusing on their own emotional reactions and understanding the child’s behavior as a form of communication.
  • She stresses the importance of setting consistent boundaries while staying attuned to the child’s perspective.
  • Bryana shares her own practice of apologizing to her children when she makes mistakes, modeling accountability and respect in the parent-child relationship.

How Conscious Parenting Helps Kids

  • During the pandemic, Bryana shifted her focus to working with parents directly, leading to significant improvements in family dynamics in shorter timeframes.
  • Her work underscores the importance of addressing systemic and relational patterns within families rather than focusing solely on child behavior.
  • Bryana highlights the benefits of her approach, including better communication, a deeper sense of connection, and raising compassionate, empathetic, and confident children.

Bryana’s Online Presence and Upcoming Book

  • Bryana creates content tailored to the needs of parents and her clients, sharing bite-sized videos that inspire reflection and change.
  • Bryana talks about her decisions on what to post as a licensed therapist with a big following on social media platforms
  • She discusses her book, Parent Yourself First, which helps parents heal their own wounds to raise resilient and empathetic children.
  • The book focuses on empowering parents to become the caregivers they wished they had, fostering healthier and more connected family systems.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2468 Identifying the Graduate Program for the Career You Want – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Eden Lathem Identifying the Graduate Program for the Career You Want – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Eden Lathem In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our final interview is with Eden Lathem, a second-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Eden shares her path from working in prison education and with individuals with disabilities to finding her passion for systemic thinking and family therapy. She candidly discusses the challenges of grad school, balancing internships, and navigating financial constraints while exploring her future career aspirations. She also talks through how she did due diligence to find the “right” graduate program. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we meet Eden Lathem, an aspiring therapist We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Eden Lathem, who is a first career professional who has done a lot of due diligence and strategic thinking to plan her trajectory as a therapist and professional.   Eden’s Background and Path to Therapy Eden shares how her experiences in prison education and working with individuals with disabilities shaped her desire to support families and underserved populations. Initially hesitant about becoming a therapist, Eden found her passion for MFT through her commitment to systemic thinking and helping others. She highlights the unique role of MFT in addressing the needs of families with disabled members, a demographic often overlooked. Grad School Expectations vs. Reality Eden discusses her experience in an in-person, cohort-style program that meets weekly. She was surprised by the program’s emphasis on self-awareness and the “self of the therapist” work, which has become a significant focus. While expecting more hands-on training, she found the program leaned heavily on didactic learning with limited opportunities for shadowing and hands-on therapy practice. Balancing Dual Internships and Financial Challenges Eden balances two internships: a paid position at a family therapy center and an unpaid internship, navigating the complexities of these experiences. She shares the financial struggles of grad school, reflecting on the challenges of unpaid internships and the economic realities of the helping professions. Eden highlights the need for strategic financial planning and managing responsibilities while pursuing a meaningful career. Advice for Prospective Therapy Students Eden encourages prospective students to thoroughly research programs by talking to professors and alumni. She stresses the importance of aligning program values with personal goals and considering the broader implications of the chosen education. Her advice emphasizes due diligence in selecting a program that supports future career aspirations. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000 Identifying the Graduate Program for the Career You Want – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Eden Lathem full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our final interview is with Eden Lathem, a second-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Eden shares her path from working in prison education and with individuals with disabilities to finding her passion for systemic thinking and family therapy. She candidly discusses the challenges of grad school, balancing internships, and navigating financial constraints while exploring her future career aspirations. She also talks through how she did due diligence to find the “right” graduate program. Identifying the Graduate Program for the Career You Want – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Eden Lathem In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our final interview is with Eden Lathem, a second-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Eden shares her path from working in prison education and with individuals with disabilities to finding her passion for systemic thinking and family therapy. She candidly discusses the challenges of grad school, balancing internships, and navigating financial constraints while exploring her future career aspirations. She also talks through how she did due diligence to find the “right” graduate program. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we meet Eden Lathem, an aspiring therapist We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Eden Lathem, who is a first career professional who has done a lot of due diligence and strategic thinking to plan her trajectory as a therapist and professional.   Eden’s Background and Path to Therapy Eden shares how her experiences in prison education and working with individuals with disabilities shaped her desire to support families and underserved populations. Initially hesitant about becoming a therapist, Eden found her passion for MFT through her commitment to systemic thinking and helping others. She highlights the unique role of MFT in addressing the needs of families with disabled members, a demographic often overlooked. Grad School Expectations vs. Reality Eden discusses her experience in an in-person, cohort-style program that meets weekly. She was surprised by the program’s emphasis on self-awareness and the “self of the therapist” work, which has become a significant focus. While expecting more hands-on training, she found the program leaned heavily on didactic learning with limited opportunities for shadowing and hands-on therapy practice. Balancing Dual Internships and Financial Challenges Eden balances two internships: a paid position at a family therapy center and an unpaid internship, navigating the complexities of these experiences. She shares the financial struggles of grad school, reflecting on the challenges of unpaid internships and the economic realities of the helping professions. Eden highlights the need for strategic financial planning and managing responsibilities while pursuing a meaningful career. Advice for Prospective Therapy Students Eden encourages prospective students to thoroughly research programs by talking to professors and alumni. She stresses the importance of aligning program values with personal goals and considering the broader implications of the chosen education. Her advice emphasizes due diligence in selecting a program that supports future career aspirations. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Identifying the Graduate Program for the Career You Want – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Eden Lathem

In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our final interview is with Eden Lathem, a second-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Eden shares her path from working in prison education and with individuals with disabilities to finding her passion for systemic thinking and family therapy. She candidly discusses the challenges of grad school, balancing internships, and navigating financial constraints while exploring her future career aspirations. She also talks through how she did due diligence to find the “right” graduate program.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we meet Eden Lathem, an aspiring therapist

We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Eden Lathem, who is a first career professional who has done a lot of due diligence and strategic thinking to plan her trajectory as a therapist and professional.  

Eden’s Background and Path to Therapy

  • Eden shares how her experiences in prison education and working with individuals with disabilities shaped her desire to support families and underserved populations.
  • Initially hesitant about becoming a therapist, Eden found her passion for MFT through her commitment to systemic thinking and helping others.
  • She highlights the unique role of MFT in addressing the needs of families with disabled members, a demographic often overlooked.

Grad School Expectations vs. Reality

  • Eden discusses her experience in an in-person, cohort-style program that meets weekly.
  • She was surprised by the program’s emphasis on self-awareness and the “self of the therapist” work, which has become a significant focus.
  • While expecting more hands-on training, she found the program leaned heavily on didactic learning with limited opportunities for shadowing and hands-on therapy practice.

Balancing Dual Internships and Financial Challenges

  • Eden balances two internships: a paid position at a family therapy center and an unpaid internship, navigating the complexities of these experiences.
  • She shares the financial struggles of grad school, reflecting on the challenges of unpaid internships and the economic realities of the helping professions.
  • Eden highlights the need for strategic financial planning and managing responsibilities while pursuing a meaningful career.

Advice for Prospective Therapy Students

  • Eden encourages prospective students to thoroughly research programs by talking to professors and alumni.
  • She stresses the importance of aligning program values with personal goals and considering the broader implications of the chosen education.
  • Her advice emphasizes due diligence in selecting a program that supports future career aspirations.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1669 Becoming a Therapist as a First Generation Immigrant – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Marvin Vasquez Becoming a Therapist as a First Generation Immigrant – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Marvin Vasquez In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our third interview is with Marvin Vasquez, a first-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), which is an all in-person program. Marvin shares his journey into therapy, shaped by his immigrant background and personal struggles, as well as his passion for serving underserved communities. He opens up about the unexpected sense of community within his cohort, the financial challenges of grad school, and his concerns about the future of therapy in an increasingly technological world. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we meet Marvin Vasquez, an aspiring therapist We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Marvin Vasquez.   Marvin’s Background and Motivation for Becoming a Therapist Marvin reflects on his upbringing in a large immigrant family and how his experiences inspired his desire to help others. He explains how his personal struggles and a passion for underserved communities led him to pursue a career in therapy. His goal is to use his background and understanding to make therapy more accessible and impactful for marginalized groups. The First Semester of his MFT Program: Expectations vs. Reality Marvin discusses his expectations of a theory-heavy and clinical program, contrasting it with the surprising sense of community within his cohort. He highlights the supportive environment, where vulnerability and shared resilience among students foster personal and professional growth. Marvin appreciates the program’s emphasis on creating a safe space for learning and self-awareness. Community and Support in an In-Person Therapy Grad School Marvin contrasts his undergrad experience, which lacked connection, with his current program's close-knit and empathetic cohort. The program’s in-person setup has created a unique intensity and camaraderie among students, helping Marvin grow as both a person and a therapist. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in building strong connections within the cohort. Navigating Family Dynamics and Self-Awareness Marvin shares how the program has deepened his empathy for his parents, particularly their struggles as first-generation immigrants. He reflects on how their survival strategies shaped his upbringing and his understanding of family dynamics. The program has helped Marvin foster greater authenticity and emotional awareness in both his personal and professional life. Balancing Academics, Work, and Relationships during his MFT Masters Program Marvin explains the challenges of balancing his academic workload, job responsibilities, and personal relationships. He discusses the financial stress of grad school, including student loans, and the sacrifices involved in pursuing his degree. Marvin acknowledges the importance of maintaining connections with friends and family to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Financial Concerns and Career Aspirations as an MFT Marvin shares his worries about student debt and the economic realities of being a therapist. He expresses gratitude for his supportive employer, who provides flexibility to balance work and school. Marvin is exploring career options, including the importance of finding fieldwork opportunities that align with his values and schedule. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 27 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000 Becoming a Therapist as a First Generation Immigrant – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Marvin Vasquez full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our third interview is with Marvin Vasquez, a first-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), which is an all in-person program. Marvin shares his journey into therapy, shaped by his immigrant background and personal struggles, as well as his passion for serving underserved communities. He opens up about the unexpected sense of community within his cohort, the financial challenges of grad school, and his concerns about the future of therapy in an increasingly technological world. Becoming a Therapist as a First Generation Immigrant – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Marvin Vasquez In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our third interview is with Marvin Vasquez, a first-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), which is an all in-person program. Marvin shares his journey into therapy, shaped by his immigrant background and personal struggles, as well as his passion for serving underserved communities. He opens up about the unexpected sense of community within his cohort, the financial challenges of grad school, and his concerns about the future of therapy in an increasingly technological world. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we meet Marvin Vasquez, an aspiring therapist We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Marvin Vasquez.   Marvin’s Background and Motivation for Becoming a Therapist Marvin reflects on his upbringing in a large immigrant family and how his experiences inspired his desire to help others. He explains how his personal struggles and a passion for underserved communities led him to pursue a career in therapy. His goal is to use his background and understanding to make therapy more accessible and impactful for marginalized groups. The First Semester of his MFT Program: Expectations vs. Reality Marvin discusses his expectations of a theory-heavy and clinical program, contrasting it with the surprising sense of community within his cohort. He highlights the supportive environment, where vulnerability and shared resilience among students foster personal and professional growth. Marvin appreciates the program’s emphasis on creating a safe space for learning and self-awareness. Community and Support in an In-Person Therapy Grad School Marvin contrasts his undergrad experience, which lacked connection, with his current program's close-knit and empathetic cohort. The program’s in-person setup has created a unique intensity and camaraderie among students, helping Marvin grow as both a person and a therapist. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in building strong connections within the cohort. Navigating Family Dynamics and Self-Awareness Marvin shares how the program has deepened his empathy for his parents, particularly their struggles as first-generation immigrants. He reflects on how their survival strategies shaped his upbringing and his understanding of family dynamics. The program has helped Marvin foster greater authenticity and emotional awareness in both his personal and professional life. Balancing Academics, Work, and Relationships during his MFT Masters Program Marvin explains the challenges of balancing his academic workload, job responsibilities, and personal relationships. He discusses the financial stress of grad school, including student loans, and the sacrifices involved in pursuing his degree. Marvin acknowledges the importance of maintaining connections with friends and family to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Financial Concerns and Career Aspirations as an MFT Marvin shares his worries about student debt and the economic realities of being a therapist. He expresses gratitude for his supportive employer, who provides flexibility to balance work and school. Marvin is exploring career options, including the importance of finding fieldwork opportunities that align with his values and schedule. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Becoming a Therapist as a First Generation Immigrant – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Marvin Vasquez

In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our third interview is with Marvin Vasquez, a first-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), which is an all in-person program. Marvin shares his journey into therapy, shaped by his immigrant background and personal struggles, as well as his passion for serving underserved communities. He opens up about the unexpected sense of community within his cohort, the financial challenges of grad school, and his concerns about the future of therapy in an increasingly technological world.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we meet Marvin Vasquez, an aspiring therapist

We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Marvin Vasquez.  

Marvin’s Background and Motivation for Becoming a Therapist

  • Marvin reflects on his upbringing in a large immigrant family and how his experiences inspired his desire to help others.
  • He explains how his personal struggles and a passion for underserved communities led him to pursue a career in therapy.
  • His goal is to use his background and understanding to make therapy more accessible and impactful for marginalized groups.

The First Semester of his MFT Program: Expectations vs. Reality

  • Marvin discusses his expectations of a theory-heavy and clinical program, contrasting it with the surprising sense of community within his cohort.
  • He highlights the supportive environment, where vulnerability and shared resilience among students foster personal and professional growth.
  • Marvin appreciates the program’s emphasis on creating a safe space for learning and self-awareness.

Community and Support in an In-Person Therapy Grad School

  • Marvin contrasts his undergrad experience, which lacked connection, with his current program's close-knit and empathetic cohort.
  • The program’s in-person setup has created a unique intensity and camaraderie among students, helping Marvin grow as both a person and a therapist.
  • He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in building strong connections within the cohort.

Navigating Family Dynamics and Self-Awareness

  • Marvin shares how the program has deepened his empathy for his parents, particularly their struggles as first-generation immigrants.
  • He reflects on how their survival strategies shaped his upbringing and his understanding of family dynamics.
  • The program has helped Marvin foster greater authenticity and emotional awareness in both his personal and professional life.

Balancing Academics, Work, and Relationships during his MFT Masters Program

  • Marvin explains the challenges of balancing his academic workload, job responsibilities, and personal relationships.
  • He discusses the financial stress of grad school, including student loans, and the sacrifices involved in pursuing his degree.
  • Marvin acknowledges the importance of maintaining connections with friends and family to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Financial Concerns and Career Aspirations as an MFT

  • Marvin shares his worries about student debt and the economic realities of being a therapist.
  • He expresses gratitude for his supportive employer, who provides flexibility to balance work and school.
  • Marvin is exploring career options, including the importance of finding fieldwork opportunities that align with his values and schedule.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 2495 Finding Alignment in a Second Career – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Iris Wilson-Farley Finding Alignment in a Second Career – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Iris Wilson-Farley In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our second interview is with Iris Wilson-Farley, a 54-year-old trans woman and graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Iris shares her journey moving from a 32-year corporate career to becoming a therapist, her passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community, and her reflections on safety, technology, and additional training opportunities. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we meet Iris Wilson-Farley, an aspiring therapist We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Iris Wilson-Farley, who in her process of self-discovery realized that her career was misaligned. She is now pursuing a degree in counseling. The motivation to transition careers from HR to Therapy Iris shares how her personal journey as a transgender woman and her positive counseling experiences inspired her to pursue a more meaningful career in therapy, focusing on giving back to the LGBTQ+ community, particularly older adults. The challenges and surprises in an online graduate program for therapists Iris discusses the challenges of adjusting to an asynchronous online program, balancing studies with her HR job, and the valuable multicultural and social justice emphasis in her curriculum. The perspective gained from entering therapy grad school as a second career clinician She highlights the wisdom, emotional intelligence, and lived experiences she brings as a second-career student, including her unique insights from being a client herself. Discussing safety concerns and multicultural awareness in the mental health profession Iris reflects on addressing safety concerns as a trans therapist, particularly in the face of potential discrimination, and shares her commitment to finding a supportive and affirming work environment. How is AI and technology addressed in therapist graduate school? Drawing from her corporate experience, Iris explores the integration of technology and AI in therapy, advocating for its potential to enhance the field while emphasizing the need for ethical considerations. What additional training can be helpful when starting out as a therapist? Iris expresses interest in pursuing additional certifications in sex therapy and religious trauma to better serve the LGBTQ+ community and address gaps in her training. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Thu, 23 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000 Finding Alignment in a Second Career – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Iris Wilson-Farley full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our second interview is with Iris Wilson-Farley, a 54-year-old transgender woman and graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Iris shares her journey moving from a 32-year corporate career to becoming a therapist, her passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community, and her reflections on safety, technology, and additional training opportunities. Finding Alignment in a Second Career – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Iris Wilson-Farley In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our second interview is with Iris Wilson-Farley, a 54-year-old trans woman and graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Iris shares her journey moving from a 32-year corporate career to becoming a therapist, her passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community, and her reflections on safety, technology, and additional training opportunities. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we meet Iris Wilson-Farley, an aspiring therapist We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Iris Wilson-Farley, who in her process of self-discovery realized that her career was misaligned. She is now pursuing a degree in counseling. The motivation to transition careers from HR to Therapy Iris shares how her personal journey as a transgender woman and her positive counseling experiences inspired her to pursue a more meaningful career in therapy, focusing on giving back to the LGBTQ+ community, particularly older adults. The challenges and surprises in an online graduate program for therapists Iris discusses the challenges of adjusting to an asynchronous online program, balancing studies with her HR job, and the valuable multicultural and social justice emphasis in her curriculum. The perspective gained from entering therapy grad school as a second career clinician She highlights the wisdom, emotional intelligence, and lived experiences she brings as a second-career student, including her unique insights from being a client herself. Discussing safety concerns and multicultural awareness in the mental health profession Iris reflects on addressing safety concerns as a trans therapist, particularly in the face of potential discrimination, and shares her commitment to finding a supportive and affirming work environment. How is AI and technology addressed in therapist graduate school? Drawing from her corporate experience, Iris explores the integration of technology and AI in therapy, advocating for its potential to enhance the field while emphasizing the need for ethical considerations. What additional training can be helpful when starting out as a therapist? Iris expresses interest in pursuing additional certifications in sex therapy and religious trauma to better serve the LGBTQ+ community and address gaps in her training. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Finding Alignment in a Second Career – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Iris Wilson-Farley

In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our second interview is with Iris Wilson-Farley, a 54-year-old trans woman and graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Iris shares her journey moving from a 32-year corporate career to becoming a therapist, her passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community, and her reflections on safety, technology, and additional training opportunities.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we meet Iris Wilson-Farley, an aspiring therapist

We continue our new series on becoming a therapist, with Iris Wilson-Farley, who in her process of self-discovery realized that her career was misaligned. She is now pursuing a degree in counseling.

The motivation to transition careers from HR to Therapy

Iris shares how her personal journey as a transgender woman and her positive counseling experiences inspired her to pursue a more meaningful career in therapy, focusing on giving back to the LGBTQ+ community, particularly older adults.

The challenges and surprises in an online graduate program for therapists

Iris discusses the challenges of adjusting to an asynchronous online program, balancing studies with her HR job, and the valuable multicultural and social justice emphasis in her curriculum.

The perspective gained from entering therapy grad school as a second career clinician

She highlights the wisdom, emotional intelligence, and lived experiences she brings as a second-career student, including her unique insights from being a client herself.

Discussing safety concerns and multicultural awareness in the mental health profession

Iris reflects on addressing safety concerns as a trans therapist, particularly in the face of potential discrimination, and shares her commitment to finding a supportive and affirming work environment.

How is AI and technology addressed in therapist graduate school?

Drawing from her corporate experience, Iris explores the integration of technology and AI in therapy, advocating for its potential to enhance the field while emphasizing the need for ethical considerations.

What additional training can be helpful when starting out as a therapist?

Iris expresses interest in pursuing additional certifications in sex therapy and religious trauma to better serve the LGBTQ+ community and address gaps in her training.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2298 From Broadway to Grad School – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Derek Isetti From Broadway to Grad School – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Derek Isetti In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our first interview is with Derek Isetti, a 50-year-old graduate student in a two-year Master of Social Work program at California State University, Stanislaus. Derek shares his journey from careers in musical theater and speech-language pathology to pursuing a career in therapy. He reflects on the challenges, surprises, and personal factors influencing his decision to return to school, offering insights into navigating graduate education and the mental health profession. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Derek Isetti Derek Isetti, PhD, CCC-SLP earned his bachelor of arts in drama with an emphasis in musical theater from University of California, Irvine in 1996. After traveling the country in four national tours and performing in the musical Cabaret on Broadway, Derek returned to school and in 2008 he earned his master of science in Speech-Language Pathology from University of the Pacific. He later earned his doctor of philosophy in Speech and Hearing Sciences from University of Washington, studying voice disorders under the mentorship of Dr. Tanya Eadie. He joined the Pacific faculty in 2014 and is currently serving as Department Chair. In the Fall of 2023, he returned to school to pursue an MSW degree in hopes of becoming a psychotherapist. Derek is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In this podcast episode, we meet Derek Isetti, an aspiring therapist We are starting a new series to follow graduate students on their journey to become a therapist. We start with Derek Isetti, a third career therapist who is working full-time while attending a MSW program in Northern CA. (summary provided in collaboration with Otter.ai and ChatGPT) The experience of transitioning careers to become a therapist Derek explains his shift from a performer and speech-language pathologist to therapy, motivated by a desire to create supportive, transformative spaces for others. What graduate school can be like for aspiring therapists He details his MSW program structure, designed for working professionals, which includes online courses, in-person classes once a month, and 1,000 hours of fieldwork by graduation. How therapy students can balance academic and personal life Derek shares how his personal circumstances, being single, working in academia, and attending a state university for affordability—helped shape his path. Some challenges and surprises on the path to becoming a therapist He discusses the variability in program lengths (some social work programs are only 1 year, for example), California’s unique licensure process for social workers, and the tension between broad social work education and specialized psychotherapy training. How current events and technology are addressed in therapy grad school Derek highlights the integration of national events and teletherapy technology into his program and the importance of addressing these topics with clients and students. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000 From Broadway to Grad School – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Derek Isetti full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our first interview is with Derek Isetti, a 50-year-old graduate student in a two-year Master of Social Work program at California State University, Stanislaus. Derek shares his journey from careers in musical theater and speech-language pathology to pursuing a career in therapy. He reflects on the challenges, surprises, and personal factors influencing his decision to return to school, offering insights into navigating graduate education and the mental health profession. From Broadway to Grad School – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Derek Isetti In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our first interview is with Derek Isetti, a 50-year-old graduate student in a two-year Master of Social Work program at California State University, Stanislaus. Derek shares his journey from careers in musical theater and speech-language pathology to pursuing a career in therapy. He reflects on the challenges, surprises, and personal factors influencing his decision to return to school, offering insights into navigating graduate education and the mental health profession. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Derek Isetti Derek Isetti, PhD, CCC-SLP earned his bachelor of arts in drama with an emphasis in musical theater from University of California, Irvine in 1996. After traveling the country in four national tours and performing in the musical Cabaret on Broadway, Derek returned to school and in 2008 he earned his master of science in Speech-Language Pathology from University of the Pacific. He later earned his doctor of philosophy in Speech and Hearing Sciences from University of Washington, studying voice disorders under the mentorship of Dr. Tanya Eadie. He joined the Pacific faculty in 2014 and is currently serving as Department Chair. In the Fall of 2023, he returned to school to pursue an MSW degree in hopes of becoming a psychotherapist. Derek is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In this podcast episode, we meet Derek Isetti, an aspiring therapist We are starting a new series to follow graduate students on their journey to become a therapist. We start with Derek Isetti, a third career therapist who is working full-time while attending a MSW program in Northern CA. (summary provided in collaboration with Otter.ai and ChatGPT) The experience of transitioning careers to become a therapist Derek explains his shift from a performer and speech-language pathologist to therapy, motivated by a desire to create supportive, transformative spaces for others. What graduate school can be like for aspiring therapists He details his MSW program structure, designed for working professionals, which includes online courses, in-person classes once a month, and 1,000 hours of fieldwork by graduation. How therapy students can balance academic and personal life Derek shares how his personal circumstances, being single, working in academia, and attending a state university for affordability—helped shape his path. Some challenges and surprises on the path to becoming a therapist He discusses the variability in program lengths (some social work programs are only 1 year, for example), California’s unique licensure process for social workers, and the tension between broad social work education and specialized psychotherapy training. How current events and technology are addressed in therapy grad school Derek highlights the integration of national events and teletherapy technology into his program and the importance of addressing these topics with clients and students. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ From Broadway to Grad School – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Derek Isetti

In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our first interview is with Derek Isetti, a 50-year-old graduate student in a two-year Master of Social Work program at California State University, Stanislaus. Derek shares his journey from careers in musical theater and speech-language pathology to pursuing a career in therapy. He reflects on the challenges, surprises, and personal factors influencing his decision to return to school, offering insights into navigating graduate education and the mental health profession.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Derek Isetti

Derek Isetti, PhD, CCC-SLP earned his bachelor of arts in drama with an emphasis in musical theater from University of California, Irvine in 1996. After traveling the country in four national tours and performing in the musical Cabaret on Broadway, Derek returned to school and in 2008 he earned his master of science in Speech-Language Pathology from University of the Pacific. He later earned his doctor of philosophy in Speech and Hearing Sciences from University of Washington, studying voice disorders under the mentorship of Dr. Tanya Eadie. He joined the Pacific faculty in 2014 and is currently serving as Department Chair. In the Fall of 2023, he returned to school to pursue an MSW degree in hopes of becoming a psychotherapist. Derek is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

In this podcast episode, we meet Derek Isetti, an aspiring therapist

We are starting a new series to follow graduate students on their journey to become a therapist. We start with Derek Isetti, a third career therapist who is working full-time while attending a MSW program in Northern CA. (summary provided in collaboration with Otter.ai and ChatGPT)

The experience of transitioning careers to become a therapist

Derek explains his shift from a performer and speech-language pathologist to therapy, motivated by a desire to create supportive, transformative spaces for others.

What graduate school can be like for aspiring therapists

He details his MSW program structure, designed for working professionals, which includes online courses, in-person classes once a month, and 1,000 hours of fieldwork by graduation.

How therapy students can balance academic and personal life

Derek shares how his personal circumstances, being single, working in academia, and attending a state university for affordability—helped shape his path.

Some challenges and surprises on the path to becoming a therapist

He discusses the variability in program lengths (some social work programs are only 1 year, for example), California’s unique licensure process for social workers, and the tension between broad social work education and specialized psychotherapy training.

How current events and technology are addressed in therapy grad school

Derek highlights the integration of national events and teletherapy technology into his program and the importance of addressing these topics with clients and students.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2317 What if You Hate Private Practice? What if you hate private practice? Curt and Katie chat about the realities of private practice and why it isn’t the idyllic career path it’s often made out to be. We dig into reasons therapists may dislike private practice, like financial instability, isolation, lack of accountability, and ethical concerns. We also share ways therapists can navigate these hurdles and find fulfillment in their work.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through what makes owning a private practice hard We have seen both overly effusive (“living my best life”) and hopeless (“I will never be successful in private practice”) feedback about being in private practice. But what is it really like? AND if you don’t like private practice is that okay? We decided to dig into what makes being a private practitioner challenging. Doesn’t everyone LOVE private practice? ·       There are a lot of reasons people choose private practice as their job ·       Private practice is hard ·       Private practice isn’t for everyone Financial Instability is unavoidable in private practice ·       Private practice income can be unpredictable, often lacking benefits and paid time off ·       Therapists may need outside financial support to mitigate these challenges ·       Starting a private practice easily can rely on financial or able-bodied privilege ·       Charging high fees and navigating ethical dilemmas can challenge therapists’ sense of fulfillment and values. Owning a Private Practice comes with Business Challenges ·       With limited business training in grad school, therapists often struggle with marketing, setting up systems, and attracting clients. ·       Therapists can overthink how they set up their practice, causing delays and inefficiency Many Private Practice Clinicians experience isolation ·       Private practice can feel lonely ·       Networking, consultation groups, and in-person connections are essential for combating isolation. Private practice can be boring or monotonous ·       If you are tightly niched or work only with the worried well, you may encounter little clinical challenge ·       If you are only doing one to one work, you may desire more diversity of tasks to stay interested (like teaching, podcasting, etc.) If you own your own business, figure out how to deal with accountability issues ·       Without structured oversight, therapists may face difficulties staying organized or motivated, which can lead to burnout ·       Depending on who you talk with, you might convince yourself that no one is caught up on notes or paying their taxes on time – which isn’t accurate. What can therapists do to make private practice better? ·       Network and nurture social and professional support ·       Get systems set up (and make them as simple as possible) to streamline your work ·       Think about diversifying what you do, to keep yourself engaged with the work Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000 What if you hate private practice? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the realities of private practice and why it isn’t the idyllic career path it’s often made out to be. We dig into reasons therapists may dislike private practice, like financial instability, isolation, lack of accountability, and ethical concerns. We also share ways therapists can navigate these hurdles and find fulfillment in their work. What if you hate private practice? Curt and Katie chat about the realities of private practice and why it isn’t the idyllic career path it’s often made out to be. We dig into reasons therapists may dislike private practice, like financial instability, isolation, lack of accountability, and ethical concerns. We also share ways therapists can navigate these hurdles and find fulfillment in their work.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through what makes owning a private practice hard We have seen both overly effusive (“living my best life”) and hopeless (“I will never be successful in private practice”) feedback about being in private practice. But what is it really like? AND if you don’t like private practice is that okay? We decided to dig into what makes being a private practitioner challenging. Doesn’t everyone LOVE private practice? ·       There are a lot of reasons people choose private practice as their job ·       Private practice is hard ·       Private practice isn’t for everyone Financial Instability is unavoidable in private practice ·       Private practice income can be unpredictable, often lacking benefits and paid time off ·       Therapists may need outside financial support to mitigate these challenges ·       Starting a private practice easily can rely on financial or able-bodied privilege ·       Charging high fees and navigating ethical dilemmas can challenge therapists’ sense of fulfillment and values. Owning a Private Practice comes with Business Challenges ·       With limited business training in grad school, therapists often struggle with marketing, setting up systems, and attracting clients. ·       Therapists can overthink how they set up their practice, causing delays and inefficiency Many Private Practice Clinicians experience isolation ·       Private practice can feel lonely ·       Networking, consultation groups, and in-person connections are essential for combating isolation. Private practice can be boring or monotonous ·       If you are tightly niched or work only with the worried well, you may encounter little clinical challenge ·       If you are only doing one to one work, you may desire more diversity of tasks to stay interested (like teaching, podcasting, etc.) If you own your own business, figure out how to deal with accountability issues ·       Without structured oversight, therapists may face difficulties staying organized or motivated, which can lead to burnout ·       Depending on who you talk with, you might convince yourself that no one is caught up on notes or paying their taxes on time – which isn’t accurate. What can therapists do to make private practice better? ·       Network and nurture social and professional support ·       Get systems set up (and make them as simple as possible) to streamline your work ·       Think about diversifying what you do, to keep yourself engaged with the work Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What if you hate private practice?

Curt and Katie chat about the realities of private practice and why it isn’t the idyllic career path it’s often made out to be. We dig into reasons therapists may dislike private practice, like financial instability, isolation, lack of accountability, and ethical concerns. We also share ways therapists can navigate these hurdles and find fulfillment in their work.

 Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk through what makes owning a private practice hard

We have seen both overly effusive (“living my best life”) and hopeless (“I will never be successful in private practice”) feedback about being in private practice. But what is it really like? AND if you don’t like private practice is that okay? We decided to dig into what makes being a private practitioner challenging.

Doesn’t everyone LOVE private practice?

·       There are a lot of reasons people choose private practice as their job

·       Private practice is hard

·       Private practice isn’t for everyone

Financial Instability is unavoidable in private practice

·       Private practice income can be unpredictable, often lacking benefits and paid time off

·       Therapists may need outside financial support to mitigate these challenges

·       Starting a private practice easily can rely on financial or able-bodied privilege

·       Charging high fees and navigating ethical dilemmas can challenge therapists’ sense of fulfillment and values.

Owning a Private Practice comes with Business Challenges

·       With limited business training in grad school, therapists often struggle with marketing, setting up systems, and attracting clients.

·       Therapists can overthink how they set up their practice, causing delays and inefficiency

Many Private Practice Clinicians experience isolation

·       Private practice can feel lonely

·       Networking, consultation groups, and in-person connections are essential for combating isolation.

Private practice can be boring or monotonous

·       If you are tightly niched or work only with the worried well, you may encounter little clinical challenge

·       If you are only doing one to one work, you may desire more diversity of tasks to stay interested (like teaching, podcasting, etc.)

If you own your own business, figure out how to deal with accountability issues

·       Without structured oversight, therapists may face difficulties staying organized or motivated, which can lead to burnout

·       Depending on who you talk with, you might convince yourself that no one is caught up on notes or paying their taxes on time – which isn’t accurate.

What can therapists do to make private practice better?

·       Network and nurture social and professional support

·       Get systems set up (and make them as simple as possible) to streamline your work

·       Think about diversifying what you do, to keep yourself engaged with the work


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2437 REPLAY - Outside Obsessions REPLAY - Outside Obsessions   We’re still on vacation, but we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 95: Outside Obsessions. In this episode we talk about how to handle the hobbies and goals in our personal lives that can be all consuming, especially if they come into the therapy room. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 95 here: Outside Obsessions (https://bit.ly/mtsgpodcast95). Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000 REPLAY - Outside Obsessions full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT In this episode we talk about how to handle the hobbies and goals in our personal lives that can be all consuming, especially if they come into the therapy room. REPLAY - Outside Obsessions   We’re still on vacation, but we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 95: Outside Obsessions. In this episode we talk about how to handle the hobbies and goals in our personal lives that can be all consuming, especially if they come into the therapy room. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 95 here: Outside Obsessions (https://bit.ly/mtsgpodcast95). REPLAY - Outside Obsessions

 

We’re still on vacation, but we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 95: Outside Obsessions. In this episode we talk about how to handle the hobbies and goals in our personal lives that can be all consuming, especially if they come into the therapy room.

You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 95 here: Outside Obsessions (https://bit.ly/mtsgpodcast95).

]]> 2341 REPLAY - It’s Time to Think About Your Goals REPLAY - It’s Time to Think About Your Goals  We’re on vacation, but we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 18: It’s Time to Think About Your Goals. This is one of our first episodes and you can see what we were working on for 2018. This episode is timeless and timely. Happy New Year, all! You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 18 here: It’s Time to Think About Your Goals (https://bit.ly/mtsgpodcast18). Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000 REPLAY - It’s Time to Think About Your Goals full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Today’s replay is of Episode 18: It’s Time to Think About Your Goals. This is one of our first episodes and you can see what we were working on for 2018. This episode is timeless and timely. REPLAY - It’s Time to Think About Your Goals  We’re on vacation, but we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 18: It’s Time to Think About Your Goals. This is one of our first episodes and you can see what we were working on for 2018. This episode is timeless and timely. Happy New Year, all! You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 18 here: It’s Time to Think About Your Goals (https://bit.ly/mtsgpodcast18). REPLAY - It’s Time to Think About Your Goals

 We’re on vacation, but we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 18: It’s Time to Think About Your Goals. This is one of our first episodes and you can see what we were working on for 2018. This episode is timeless and timely. Happy New Year, all!

You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 18 here: It’s Time to Think About Your Goals (https://bit.ly/mtsgpodcast18).

]]> 1703 An ER Doctor Reflects on Gun Violence, Health Inequities, and Moral Injury: An interview with Dr. Ruby J. Long An ER Doctor Reflects on Gun Violence, Health Inequities, and Moral Injury: An interview with Dr. Ruby J. Long Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ruby Long, ER doctor and restorative justice advocate, about the devastating impact of gun violence in the U.S. and its designation as a public health crisis. Dr. Long highlights its rise as the leading cause of death for children and adolescents and shares the emotional toll on healthcare providers. She reflects on compassion fatigue and moral injury in the ER, which was exacerbated by health inequity and the covid pandemic. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Dr. Ruby Long about gun violence Dr. Ruby J. Long has been an ER doctor for a long time and has seen a lot of gun violence come through her doors. She is reaching out to help providers understand the specifics, provides a helpful acronym and is sharing her resourceful book.  The Reality of Gun Violence in the U.S. 54% of U.S. adults have been directly affected by firearm violence. Gun violence has surpassed other leading causes of death for children and adolescents. Firearms are the leading cause of death in suicides. It is important that providers are able to identify risk factors, particularly for senior males and veterans, and promoting secure gun storage. How can gun violence impact the medical and mental health providers who are supporting victims? The moral injuries and trauma healthcare professionals face from witnessing the physical and mental health impacts of gun violence. Dr. Long shares her own experiences as an ER doctor and the profound emotional impact of treating gunshot victims. The importance of responsible gun storage and using the "Be SMART" approach: Secure guns. Model responsible behavior. Ask about unsecured guns. Recognize the role of guns in suicide. Tell peers about gun safety. Provider Support and Self-Care: Coping with burnout and moral injuries through personal limits, professional therapy, and systemic support (beyond yoga mats and pizza parties) The importance of small, focused actions in advocating for gun safety and violence prevention. Dr. Long’s Book: Love Letters to Patients Inspired by her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers resources for health challenges like suicide, domestic violence, and overdose. Aims to empower patients and encourage early intervention. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000 An ER Doctor Reflects on Gun Violence, Health Inequities, and Moral Injury: An interview with Dr. Ruby J. Long full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ruby Long, ER doctor and restorative justice advocate, about the devastating impact of gun violence in the U.S. and its designation as a public health crisis. Dr. Long highlights its rise as the leading cause of death for children and adolescents and shares the emotional toll on healthcare providers. She reflects on compassion fatigue and moral injury in the ER, which was exacerbated by health inequity and the covid pandemic. An ER Doctor Reflects on Gun Violence, Health Inequities, and Moral Injury: An interview with Dr. Ruby J. Long Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ruby Long, ER doctor and restorative justice advocate, about the devastating impact of gun violence in the U.S. and its designation as a public health crisis. Dr. Long highlights its rise as the leading cause of death for children and adolescents and shares the emotional toll on healthcare providers. She reflects on compassion fatigue and moral injury in the ER, which was exacerbated by health inequity and the covid pandemic. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Dr. Ruby Long about gun violence Dr. Ruby J. Long has been an ER doctor for a long time and has seen a lot of gun violence come through her doors. She is reaching out to help providers understand the specifics, provides a helpful acronym and is sharing her resourceful book.  The Reality of Gun Violence in the U.S. 54% of U.S. adults have been directly affected by firearm violence. Gun violence has surpassed other leading causes of death for children and adolescents. Firearms are the leading cause of death in suicides. It is important that providers are able to identify risk factors, particularly for senior males and veterans, and promoting secure gun storage. How can gun violence impact the medical and mental health providers who are supporting victims? The moral injuries and trauma healthcare professionals face from witnessing the physical and mental health impacts of gun violence. Dr. Long shares her own experiences as an ER doctor and the profound emotional impact of treating gunshot victims. The importance of responsible gun storage and using the "Be SMART" approach: Secure guns. Model responsible behavior. Ask about unsecured guns. Recognize the role of guns in suicide. Tell peers about gun safety. Provider Support and Self-Care: Coping with burnout and moral injuries through personal limits, professional therapy, and systemic support (beyond yoga mats and pizza parties) The importance of small, focused actions in advocating for gun safety and violence prevention. Dr. Long’s Book: Love Letters to Patients Inspired by her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers resources for health challenges like suicide, domestic violence, and overdose. Aims to empower patients and encourage early intervention. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ An ER Doctor Reflects on Gun Violence, Health Inequities, and Moral Injury: An interview with Dr. Ruby J. Long

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ruby Long, ER doctor and restorative justice advocate, about the devastating impact of gun violence in the U.S. and its designation as a public health crisis. Dr. Long highlights its rise as the leading cause of death for children and adolescents and shares the emotional toll on healthcare providers. She reflects on compassion fatigue and moral injury in the ER, which was exacerbated by health inequity and the covid pandemic.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk with Dr. Ruby Long about gun violence

Dr. Ruby J. Long has been an ER doctor for a long time and has seen a lot of gun violence come through her doors. She is reaching out to help providers understand the specifics, provides a helpful acronym and is sharing her resourceful book. 

The Reality of Gun Violence in the U.S.

  • 54% of U.S. adults have been directly affected by firearm violence.
  • Gun violence has surpassed other leading causes of death for children and adolescents.
  • Firearms are the leading cause of death in suicides.
  • It is important that providers are able to identify risk factors, particularly for senior males and veterans, and promoting secure gun storage.

How can gun violence impact the medical and mental health providers who are supporting victims?

  • The moral injuries and trauma healthcare professionals face from witnessing the physical and mental health impacts of gun violence.
  • Dr. Long shares her own experiences as an ER doctor and the profound emotional impact of treating gunshot victims.

The importance of responsible gun storage and using the "Be SMART" approach:

  • Secure guns.
  • Model responsible behavior.
  • Ask about unsecured guns.
  • Recognize the role of guns in suicide.
  • Tell peers about gun safety.

Provider Support and Self-Care:

  • Coping with burnout and moral injuries through personal limits, professional therapy, and systemic support (beyond yoga mats and pizza parties)
  • The importance of small, focused actions in advocating for gun safety and violence prevention.

Dr. Long’s Book: Love Letters to Patients

  • Inspired by her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Offers resources for health challenges like suicide, domestic violence, and overdose.
  • Aims to empower patients and encourage early intervention.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2031 Reporting Back from the Behavioral Health Tech 2024 Conference Reporting Back from the Behavioral Health Tech 2024 Conference Curt and Katie chat about Katie’s attendance at the 2024 Behavioral Health Teach conference. Katie reported back on investment trends, how Value Based Care is being understood and implemented, and how therapists can navigate these tech disruptors and evolving business models.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we report back on updates in the behavioral health tech space We decided to have Katie go to the Behavioral Health Tech 2024 conference to learn about innovations and leaders in the behavioral health tech space. This episode is an out brief with updates for all clinicians. What is the Behavioral Health Tech conference? ·       This is a newer conference that brings together VCs, founders, insurance payors, and clinicians ·       The focus of this conference is on innovation, especially technology solutions for what they were describing as a broken mental health system Investment trends in the Behavioral Health space ·       AI Therapy ·       Self-help tools ·       VR for social skills (i.e., in the Autism space) ·       Measurement-based care (including wearables, journals, and assessment tools) ·       Integrated EHR systems that include the ability to have “interoperability” between providers What is Value-Based Care and what does that mean for behavioral health providers? ·       There is a stepped or tiered process to implement Value-Based Care ·       First step is enhanced fee for service, with augmented fees for better outcomes ·       The next step is a rate per client model with incentives and penalties (upside/downside) ·       The final step is a fully capitated model where the clinician provides comprehensive care, with potential risk (you underestimated the costs) and potential benefit (you price appropriately and have the opportunity for higher per client reimbursement than in a fee-for-service model) ·       Solo (or “single shingle”) practitioners will have difficulty with the aggregated data that is needed to negotiate these contracts with payors. ·       Larger, potentially VC funded groups are aggregating this data and negotiating higher rates, but may not be passing on much of this increased rate to the clinicians they hire or contract with What are the opportunities and challenges facing therapists with the advances in tech? ·       It is critical for therapists to become more efficient, look for opportunities to collaborate, and incorporate technology effectively to be able to success in VBC models (or in the new marketplace) ·       Group or specialized practices are better-situated to navigate these challenges than individual practitioners ·       Outcome measures may be key to competing in the new marketplace How can mental health clinicians advocate related to these new advances in technology? ·       Clinicians should be involved in these conversations around how therapy and business models are evolving ·       Advocacy to make sure there is clinician and client input on how these systems are put together What should therapists do now to future-proof their practice? ·       Identify and integrate outcome measures into your therapy practice ·       Stay informed about what is up and coming in the field ·       Streamline your operations to increase efficiency and prepare for VBC models ·       Join advocacy groups to make sure therapist perspectives are represented in the new care models. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000 Reporting Back from the Behavioral Health Tech 2024 Conference full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about Katie’s attendance at the 2024 Behavioral Health Teach conference. Katie reported back on investment trends, how Value Based Care is being understood and implemented, and how therapists can navigate these tech disruptors and evolving business models. Reporting Back from the Behavioral Health Tech 2024 Conference Curt and Katie chat about Katie’s attendance at the 2024 Behavioral Health Teach conference. Katie reported back on investment trends, how Value Based Care is being understood and implemented, and how therapists can navigate these tech disruptors and evolving business models.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we report back on updates in the behavioral health tech space We decided to have Katie go to the Behavioral Health Tech 2024 conference to learn about innovations and leaders in the behavioral health tech space. This episode is an out brief with updates for all clinicians. What is the Behavioral Health Tech conference? ·       This is a newer conference that brings together VCs, founders, insurance payors, and clinicians ·       The focus of this conference is on innovation, especially technology solutions for what they were describing as a broken mental health system Investment trends in the Behavioral Health space ·       AI Therapy ·       Self-help tools ·       VR for social skills (i.e., in the Autism space) ·       Measurement-based care (including wearables, journals, and assessment tools) ·       Integrated EHR systems that include the ability to have “interoperability” between providers What is Value-Based Care and what does that mean for behavioral health providers? ·       There is a stepped or tiered process to implement Value-Based Care ·       First step is enhanced fee for service, with augmented fees for better outcomes ·       The next step is a rate per client model with incentives and penalties (upside/downside) ·       The final step is a fully capitated model where the clinician provides comprehensive care, with potential risk (you underestimated the costs) and potential benefit (you price appropriately and have the opportunity for higher per client reimbursement than in a fee-for-service model) ·       Solo (or “single shingle”) practitioners will have difficulty with the aggregated data that is needed to negotiate these contracts with payors. ·       Larger, potentially VC funded groups are aggregating this data and negotiating higher rates, but may not be passing on much of this increased rate to the clinicians they hire or contract with What are the opportunities and challenges facing therapists with the advances in tech? ·       It is critical for therapists to become more efficient, look for opportunities to collaborate, and incorporate technology effectively to be able to success in VBC models (or in the new marketplace) ·       Group or specialized practices are better-situated to navigate these challenges than individual practitioners ·       Outcome measures may be key to competing in the new marketplace How can mental health clinicians advocate related to these new advances in technology? ·       Clinicians should be involved in these conversations around how therapy and business models are evolving ·       Advocacy to make sure there is clinician and client input on how these systems are put together What should therapists do now to future-proof their practice? ·       Identify and integrate outcome measures into your therapy practice ·       Stay informed about what is up and coming in the field ·       Streamline your operations to increase efficiency and prepare for VBC models ·       Join advocacy groups to make sure therapist perspectives are represented in the new care models. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Reporting Back from the Behavioral Health Tech 2024 Conference

Curt and Katie chat about Katie’s attendance at the 2024 Behavioral Health Teach conference. Katie reported back on investment trends, how Value Based Care is being understood and implemented, and how therapists can navigate these tech disruptors and evolving business models. 

 Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we report back on updates in the behavioral health tech space

We decided to have Katie go to the Behavioral Health Tech 2024 conference to learn about innovations and leaders in the behavioral health tech space. This episode is an out brief with updates for all clinicians.

What is the Behavioral Health Tech conference?

·       This is a newer conference that brings together VCs, founders, insurance payors, and clinicians

·       The focus of this conference is on innovation, especially technology solutions for what they were describing as a broken mental health system

Investment trends in the Behavioral Health space

·       AI Therapy

·       Self-help tools

·       VR for social skills (i.e., in the Autism space)

·       Measurement-based care (including wearables, journals, and assessment tools)

·       Integrated EHR systems that include the ability to have “interoperability” between providers

What is Value-Based Care and what does that mean for behavioral health providers?

·       There is a stepped or tiered process to implement Value-Based Care

·       First step is enhanced fee for service, with augmented fees for better outcomes

·       The next step is a rate per client model with incentives and penalties (upside/downside)

·       The final step is a fully capitated model where the clinician provides comprehensive care, with potential risk (you underestimated the costs) and potential benefit (you price appropriately and have the opportunity for higher per client reimbursement than in a fee-for-service model)

·       Solo (or “single shingle”) practitioners will have difficulty with the aggregated data that is needed to negotiate these contracts with payors.

·       Larger, potentially VC funded groups are aggregating this data and negotiating higher rates, but may not be passing on much of this increased rate to the clinicians they hire or contract with

What are the opportunities and challenges facing therapists with the advances in tech?

·       It is critical for therapists to become more efficient, look for opportunities to collaborate, and incorporate technology effectively to be able to success in VBC models (or in the new marketplace)

·       Group or specialized practices are better-situated to navigate these challenges than individual practitioners

·       Outcome measures may be key to competing in the new marketplace

How can mental health clinicians advocate related to these new advances in technology?

·       Clinicians should be involved in these conversations around how therapy and business models are evolving

·       Advocacy to make sure there is clinician and client input on how these systems are put together

What should therapists do now to future-proof their practice?

·       Identify and integrate outcome measures into your therapy practice

·       Stay informed about what is up and coming in the field

·       Streamline your operations to increase efficiency and prepare for VBC models

·       Join advocacy groups to make sure therapist perspectives are represented in the new care models.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2597 Working for 988: Insider Perspectives Working for 988: Insider Perspectives Curt and Katie received feedback on our recent one year follow-up episode on the rollout of 988. We received responses from a person who was working within the 988 system as well as someone who started going through the training for the text crisis hotline. We were able to put more depth into our understanding of how this system works. We explored training, supervision, funding, potential equity issues, and concerns for staff. We also share ideas for advocacy.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we report back on employee experiences within the 988/crisis response system We share two insider experiences working within the crisis response system around 988.  Listeners shared their experiences with training as an emergency worker within the 988 system: For the text crisis hotlines, there were concerns about insufficient, online-only training models that lack supervision and focus on formulaic responses. For the call center, there was a report of extensive initial training (9 full time weeks of training) but minimal supervision post-training. What are 988 insider concerns regarding AI and Data Privacy? Ethical concerns around AI tools used for measuring empathy and issues with data collection practices. Balancing AI integration with trauma-informed care and caller anonymity. How does 988 Funding work and what are potential equity Issues? Fragmented funding models tied to sources like Medicaid lead to inconsistent protocols and potentially inequitable care. Federal funding is needed to standardize practices and improve service quality. An insider report on 988 Call Center challenges: High burnout rates among staff due to limited resources and support. Gaps in follow-up care for callers due to funding and staffing constraints. Takeaways and Solutions for 988 and the full crisis response system: Advocacy is needed for dedicated federal funding to ensure consistent training, equitable care, and trauma-informed practices. It would be best to have standardized protocols to strengthen the 988 crisis hotline system. Thoughtful integration of AI to enhance efficiency while maintaining ethical standards. Support for call center staff to prevent burnout and improve service outcomes. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000 Working for 988: Insider Perspectives full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie received feedback on our recent one year follow-up episode on the rollout of 988. We received responses from a person who was working within the 988 system as well as someone who started going through the training for the text crisis hotline. We were able to put more depth into our understanding of how this system works. We explored training, supervision, funding, potential equity issues, and concerns for staff. We also share ideas for advocacy. Working for 988: Insider Perspectives Curt and Katie received feedback on our recent one year follow-up episode on the rollout of 988. We received responses from a person who was working within the 988 system as well as someone who started going through the training for the text crisis hotline. We were able to put more depth into our understanding of how this system works. We explored training, supervision, funding, potential equity issues, and concerns for staff. We also share ideas for advocacy.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we report back on employee experiences within the 988/crisis response system We share two insider experiences working within the crisis response system around 988.  Listeners shared their experiences with training as an emergency worker within the 988 system: For the text crisis hotlines, there were concerns about insufficient, online-only training models that lack supervision and focus on formulaic responses. For the call center, there was a report of extensive initial training (9 full time weeks of training) but minimal supervision post-training. What are 988 insider concerns regarding AI and Data Privacy? Ethical concerns around AI tools used for measuring empathy and issues with data collection practices. Balancing AI integration with trauma-informed care and caller anonymity. How does 988 Funding work and what are potential equity Issues? Fragmented funding models tied to sources like Medicaid lead to inconsistent protocols and potentially inequitable care. Federal funding is needed to standardize practices and improve service quality. An insider report on 988 Call Center challenges: High burnout rates among staff due to limited resources and support. Gaps in follow-up care for callers due to funding and staffing constraints. Takeaways and Solutions for 988 and the full crisis response system: Advocacy is needed for dedicated federal funding to ensure consistent training, equitable care, and trauma-informed practices. It would be best to have standardized protocols to strengthen the 988 crisis hotline system. Thoughtful integration of AI to enhance efficiency while maintaining ethical standards. Support for call center staff to prevent burnout and improve service outcomes. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Working for 988: Insider Perspectives

Curt and Katie received feedback on our recent one year follow-up episode on the rollout of 988. We received responses from a person who was working within the 988 system as well as someone who started going through the training for the text crisis hotline. We were able to put more depth into our understanding of how this system works. We explored training, supervision, funding, potential equity issues, and concerns for staff. We also share ideas for advocacy.

 Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we report back on employee experiences within the 988/crisis response system

We share two insider experiences working within the crisis response system around 988. 

Listeners shared their experiences with training as an emergency worker within the 988 system:

  • For the text crisis hotlines, there were concerns about insufficient, online-only training models that lack supervision and focus on formulaic responses.
  • For the call center, there was a report of extensive initial training (9 full time weeks of training) but minimal supervision post-training.

What are 988 insider concerns regarding AI and Data Privacy?

  • Ethical concerns around AI tools used for measuring empathy and issues with data collection practices.
  • Balancing AI integration with trauma-informed care and caller anonymity.

How does 988 Funding work and what are potential equity Issues?

  • Fragmented funding models tied to sources like Medicaid lead to inconsistent protocols and potentially inequitable care.
  • Federal funding is needed to standardize practices and improve service quality.

An insider report on 988 Call Center challenges:

  • High burnout rates among staff due to limited resources and support.
  • Gaps in follow-up care for callers due to funding and staffing constraints.

Takeaways and Solutions for 988 and the full crisis response system:

  • Advocacy is needed for dedicated federal funding to ensure consistent training, equitable care, and trauma-informed practices.
  • It would be best to have standardized protocols to strengthen the 988 crisis hotline system.
  • Thoughtful integration of AI to enhance efficiency while maintaining ethical standards.
  • Support for call center staff to prevent burnout and improve service outcomes.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2328 How Do Therapists Get Paid? How Do Therapists Get Paid? Curt and Katie chat about how community mental health as well as insurance, hybrid, or private pay practices get money and pay their workers. We emphasize the importance of recognizing the financial realities of the mental health profession and how advocacy can drive change in the field. We also encourage therapists to understand the systems we work in and engage in conversations about financial transparency and sustainability.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how compensation is set up There have been a lot of conversations about how therapists get paid and whether associates or newer therapists are being exploited. We decided to pull the curtain back to identify how money actually works in this profession. What do therapists need to know about how finances work in mental health? ·      How income is allocated across salaries, rent, insurance, and administrative costs. ·      Why clinicians’ salaries represent just a fraction of total practice income. ·      The impact of government contracts and insurance reimbursements on budgeting. ·      • The Financial Dynamics of Therapy Practices: ·      How income is allocated across salaries, rent, insurance, and administrative costs. ·      Why clinician salaries represent just a portion of what practice owners need to pay. ·      The impact of government contracts and insurance reimbursements on budgeting. What are common misconceptions about group practice owners? ·      There is a view that all group practice owners exploit therapists. This is often very far from the reality of group practice owners sacrificing their own pay for payroll ·      We highlight the financial risks, responsibilities, and long hours owners take on. Understanding Community Mental Health Budgets: ·      Breaking down how agencies allocate funds from government contracts. ·      Challenges like unfunded mandates and balancing clinician pay with program needs. Managing Budgets in Group Practices: ·      The complexities of balancing overhead costs, clinician pay, and sustainable growth. ·      How practice owners often work unpaid hours to cover supervision, billing, and other administrative tasks. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000 How Do Therapists Get Paid? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how community mental health as well as insurance, hybrid, or private pay practices get money and pay their workers. We emphasize the importance of recognizing the financial realities of the mental health profession and how advocacy can drive change in the field. We also encourage therapists to understand the systems we work in and engage in conversations about financial transparency and sustainability. How Do Therapists Get Paid? Curt and Katie chat about how community mental health as well as insurance, hybrid, or private pay practices get money and pay their workers. We emphasize the importance of recognizing the financial realities of the mental health profession and how advocacy can drive change in the field. We also encourage therapists to understand the systems we work in and engage in conversations about financial transparency and sustainability.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how compensation is set up There have been a lot of conversations about how therapists get paid and whether associates or newer therapists are being exploited. We decided to pull the curtain back to identify how money actually works in this profession. What do therapists need to know about how finances work in mental health? ·      How income is allocated across salaries, rent, insurance, and administrative costs. ·      Why clinicians’ salaries represent just a fraction of total practice income. ·      The impact of government contracts and insurance reimbursements on budgeting. ·      • The Financial Dynamics of Therapy Practices: ·      How income is allocated across salaries, rent, insurance, and administrative costs. ·      Why clinician salaries represent just a portion of what practice owners need to pay. ·      The impact of government contracts and insurance reimbursements on budgeting. What are common misconceptions about group practice owners? ·      There is a view that all group practice owners exploit therapists. This is often very far from the reality of group practice owners sacrificing their own pay for payroll ·      We highlight the financial risks, responsibilities, and long hours owners take on. Understanding Community Mental Health Budgets: ·      Breaking down how agencies allocate funds from government contracts. ·      Challenges like unfunded mandates and balancing clinician pay with program needs. Managing Budgets in Group Practices: ·      The complexities of balancing overhead costs, clinician pay, and sustainable growth. ·      How practice owners often work unpaid hours to cover supervision, billing, and other administrative tasks. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Do Therapists Get Paid?

Curt and Katie chat about how community mental health as well as insurance, hybrid, or private pay practices get money and pay their workers. We emphasize the importance of recognizing the financial realities of the mental health profession and how advocacy can drive change in the field. We also encourage therapists to understand the systems we work in and engage in conversations about financial transparency and sustainability.

 Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how compensation is set up

There have been a lot of conversations about how therapists get paid and whether associates or newer therapists are being exploited. We decided to pull the curtain back to identify how money actually works in this profession.

What do therapists need to know about how finances work in mental health?

·      How income is allocated across salaries, rent, insurance, and administrative costs.

·      Why clinicians’ salaries represent just a fraction of total practice income.

·      The impact of government contracts and insurance reimbursements on budgeting.

·      • The Financial Dynamics of Therapy Practices:

·      How income is allocated across salaries, rent, insurance, and administrative costs.

·      Why clinician salaries represent just a portion of what practice owners need to pay.

·      The impact of government contracts and insurance reimbursements on budgeting.

What are common misconceptions about group practice owners?

·      There is a view that all group practice owners exploit therapists. This is often very far from the reality of group practice owners sacrificing their own pay for payroll

·      We highlight the financial risks, responsibilities, and long hours owners take on.

Understanding Community Mental Health Budgets:

·      Breaking down how agencies allocate funds from government contracts.

·      Challenges like unfunded mandates and balancing clinician pay with program needs.

Managing Budgets in Group Practices:

·      The complexities of balancing overhead costs, clinician pay, and sustainable growth.

·      How practice owners often work unpaid hours to cover supervision, billing, and other administrative tasks.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2284 How to Scale Your Therapy Practice to 7 Figures So You Can Sell It: An interview with Nicole McCance How to Scale Your Therapy Practice to 7 Figures So You Can Sell It: An interview with Nicole McCance Curt and Katie interview Nicole McCance about her journey to selling her 7-figure group therapy practice. We look at common challenges therapists face in this process as well as ideas and methods Nicole teaches to help others scale their practice more easily. Nicole shares systems, hiring, and leadership strategies. We also look at some important considerations when planning to sell your practice. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Nicole McCance about scaling your practice Nicole McCance scaled her practice and then sold it. We dug into her systems and thought processes in creating a sellable group practice. What do therapists typically get wrong when growing their group practices? ·      New group practice owners often don’t have their systems written down ·      Unreasonable expectations of the difficulty in hiring clinicians ·      Not knowing which path to take regarding marketing and other group practice decisions What is Nicole McCance’s model for growing a group practice? ·      Systemize your operations ·      Build your dream team (with your first hire being your mini me) ·      Attract clients with digital marketing ·      Converting clients using free consults ·      Retain clients with follow ups What are important steps to get your practice ready to sell? ·      Your branding must not be your name ·      You will need to be able to sell your clinicians and move clients into their caseloads ·      You need to move into the role of CEO and not get stuck in the clinician role ·      Take the time you need to make that transition What should therapists consider when deciding whether to scale their practice to a group? ·      If you’re feeling isolated, find a community ·      There are a lot of steps, systems, and processes that you’ll need to develop (or purchase from someone else) ·      If you don’t like change or don’t do well with pressure, don’t go into group practice ·      You will need to have the ability to read the market to guide hires and growth ·      Focus on excellence and service needs, not growth for growth’s sake ·      Build a culture that supports your clinicians and helps decrease clinician turnover ·      Figuring out how to pay your clinicians may be more complex than you realize Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000 How to Scale Your Therapy Practice to 7 Figures So You Can Sell It: An interview with Nicole McCance full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Nicole McCance about her journey to selling her 7-figure group therapy practice. We look at common challenges therapists face in this process as well as ideas and methods Nicole teaches to help others scale their practice more easily. Nicole shares systems, hiring, and leadership strategies. We also look at some important considerations when planning to sell your practice. How to Scale Your Therapy Practice to 7 Figures So You Can Sell It: An interview with Nicole McCance Curt and Katie interview Nicole McCance about her journey to selling her 7-figure group therapy practice. We look at common challenges therapists face in this process as well as ideas and methods Nicole teaches to help others scale their practice more easily. Nicole shares systems, hiring, and leadership strategies. We also look at some important considerations when planning to sell your practice. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Nicole McCance about scaling your practice Nicole McCance scaled her practice and then sold it. We dug into her systems and thought processes in creating a sellable group practice. What do therapists typically get wrong when growing their group practices? ·      New group practice owners often don’t have their systems written down ·      Unreasonable expectations of the difficulty in hiring clinicians ·      Not knowing which path to take regarding marketing and other group practice decisions What is Nicole McCance’s model for growing a group practice? ·      Systemize your operations ·      Build your dream team (with your first hire being your mini me) ·      Attract clients with digital marketing ·      Converting clients using free consults ·      Retain clients with follow ups What are important steps to get your practice ready to sell? ·      Your branding must not be your name ·      You will need to be able to sell your clinicians and move clients into their caseloads ·      You need to move into the role of CEO and not get stuck in the clinician role ·      Take the time you need to make that transition What should therapists consider when deciding whether to scale their practice to a group? ·      If you’re feeling isolated, find a community ·      There are a lot of steps, systems, and processes that you’ll need to develop (or purchase from someone else) ·      If you don’t like change or don’t do well with pressure, don’t go into group practice ·      You will need to have the ability to read the market to guide hires and growth ·      Focus on excellence and service needs, not growth for growth’s sake ·      Build a culture that supports your clinicians and helps decrease clinician turnover ·      Figuring out how to pay your clinicians may be more complex than you realize Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How to Scale Your Therapy Practice to 7 Figures So You Can Sell It: An interview with Nicole McCance

Curt and Katie interview Nicole McCance about her journey to selling her 7-figure group therapy practice. We look at common challenges therapists face in this process as well as ideas and methods Nicole teaches to help others scale their practice more easily. Nicole shares systems, hiring, and leadership strategies. We also look at some important considerations when planning to sell your practice.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk with Nicole McCance about scaling your practice

Nicole McCance scaled her practice and then sold it. We dug into her systems and thought processes in creating a sellable group practice.

What do therapists typically get wrong when growing their group practices?

·      New group practice owners often don’t have their systems written down

·      Unreasonable expectations of the difficulty in hiring clinicians

·      Not knowing which path to take regarding marketing and other group practice decisions

What is Nicole McCance’s model for growing a group practice?

·      Systemize your operations

·      Build your dream team (with your first hire being your mini me)

·      Attract clients with digital marketing

·      Converting clients using free consults

·      Retain clients with follow ups

What are important steps to get your practice ready to sell?

·      Your branding must not be your name

·      You will need to be able to sell your clinicians and move clients into their caseloads

·      You need to move into the role of CEO and not get stuck in the clinician role

·      Take the time you need to make that transition

What should therapists consider when deciding whether to scale their practice to a group?

·      If you’re feeling isolated, find a community

·      There are a lot of steps, systems, and processes that you’ll need to develop (or purchase from someone else)

·      If you don’t like change or don’t do well with pressure, don’t go into group practice

·      You will need to have the ability to read the market to guide hires and growth

·      Focus on excellence and service needs, not growth for growth’s sake

·      Build a culture that supports your clinicians and helps decrease clinician turnover

·      Figuring out how to pay your clinicians may be more complex than you realize


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2194 Going No Contact, Relationship Recovery, and the NY Times: An interview with Patrick Teahan, LICSW Going No Contact, Relationship Recovery, and the NY Times: An interview with Patrick Teahan, LICSW Curt and Katie interview Patrick Teahan, LICSW after he was featured in an article on going no contact in the New York Times. We explored his experience of his work being sensationalized and the fallout from that article (and the string of duplicates). We also dug into how he actually works. We talked about the Relationship Recovery Process (RRP) and what it can look like when someone makes the challenging decision to cut off their family members. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Patrick Teahan on his NY Times interview on Going No Contact We read and had a big response to a NY Times article on going no contact, reacting to the sensationalized portrayal of Patrick Teahan’s work with adults who come from abusive families. After learning how he really works, we reached out to him to explore the impact of this article as well as what his model is for working with these individuals.  Reflecting on the NY Times Article: Is Cutting Off Your Family Good Therapy? ·      Patrick was interviewed due to his viral videos and online presence on YouTube ·      He talked with the interviewer about the process of Going No Contact and his work with childhood trauma survivors ·      He felt like the process took a turn into his personal story and then sensationalized his work ·      There were a number of duplicate articles (even in different countries) that led to misunderstanding of his work and hurting clients who have made the decision to go no contact with abusive family members What is RRP (the Relationship Recovery Process)? ·      Work to finishing business with family members ·      Reclaim intimacy ·      Group Psychotherapy focused on normalization of the experiences of survivors of abusive families and childhood trauma ·      The work can include individual work prior to joining the group ·      Late in the process (potentially years into the process) a client may make the decision to “get distance” from their family if they are not able to continue their healing process due to ongoing triggers and abuse ·      Patrick is doing research on the RRP model and will be publishing those results soon What is the process for Going No Contact with family members? ·      It is a very complex decision, usually after communication with family members has not led to any work on their part and repeated boundary crossings that make it impossible for a client to continue their work to heal ·      It is better to transparently and clearly communicate the decision to go no contact, rather than ghosting family members, when safe and possible ·      The decision to go no contact does not need to be total or permanent. Clients can seek space without making the decision to never talk to their family member again Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000 Going No Contact, Relationship Recovery, and the NY Times: An interview with Patrick Teahan, LICSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Patrick Teahan, LICSW after he was featured in an article on going no contact in the New York Times. We explored his experience of his work being sensationalized and the fallout from that article (and the string of duplicates). We also dug into how he actually works. We talked about the Relationship Recovery Process (RRP) and what it can look like when someone makes the challenging decision to cut off their family members. Going No Contact, Relationship Recovery, and the NY Times: An interview with Patrick Teahan, LICSW Curt and Katie interview Patrick Teahan, LICSW after he was featured in an article on going no contact in the New York Times. We explored his experience of his work being sensationalized and the fallout from that article (and the string of duplicates). We also dug into how he actually works. We talked about the Relationship Recovery Process (RRP) and what it can look like when someone makes the challenging decision to cut off their family members. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk with Patrick Teahan on his NY Times interview on Going No Contact We read and had a big response to a NY Times article on going no contact, reacting to the sensationalized portrayal of Patrick Teahan’s work with adults who come from abusive families. After learning how he really works, we reached out to him to explore the impact of this article as well as what his model is for working with these individuals.  Reflecting on the NY Times Article: Is Cutting Off Your Family Good Therapy? ·      Patrick was interviewed due to his viral videos and online presence on YouTube ·      He talked with the interviewer about the process of Going No Contact and his work with childhood trauma survivors ·      He felt like the process took a turn into his personal story and then sensationalized his work ·      There were a number of duplicate articles (even in different countries) that led to misunderstanding of his work and hurting clients who have made the decision to go no contact with abusive family members What is RRP (the Relationship Recovery Process)? ·      Work to finishing business with family members ·      Reclaim intimacy ·      Group Psychotherapy focused on normalization of the experiences of survivors of abusive families and childhood trauma ·      The work can include individual work prior to joining the group ·      Late in the process (potentially years into the process) a client may make the decision to “get distance” from their family if they are not able to continue their healing process due to ongoing triggers and abuse ·      Patrick is doing research on the RRP model and will be publishing those results soon What is the process for Going No Contact with family members? ·      It is a very complex decision, usually after communication with family members has not led to any work on their part and repeated boundary crossings that make it impossible for a client to continue their work to heal ·      It is better to transparently and clearly communicate the decision to go no contact, rather than ghosting family members, when safe and possible ·      The decision to go no contact does not need to be total or permanent. Clients can seek space without making the decision to never talk to their family member again Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Going No Contact, Relationship Recovery, and the NY Times: An interview with Patrick Teahan, LICSW

Curt and Katie interview Patrick Teahan, LICSW after he was featured in an article on going no contact in the New York Times. We explored his experience of his work being sensationalized and the fallout from that article (and the string of duplicates). We also dug into how he actually works. We talked about the Relationship Recovery Process (RRP) and what it can look like when someone makes the challenging decision to cut off their family members.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk with Patrick Teahan on his NY Times interview on Going No Contact

We read and had a big response to a NY Times article on going no contact, reacting to the sensationalized portrayal of Patrick Teahan’s work with adults who come from abusive families. After learning how he really works, we reached out to him to explore the impact of this article as well as what his model is for working with these individuals. 

Reflecting on the NY Times Article: Is Cutting Off Your Family Good Therapy?

·      Patrick was interviewed due to his viral videos and online presence on YouTube

·      He talked with the interviewer about the process of Going No Contact and his work with childhood trauma survivors

·      He felt like the process took a turn into his personal story and then sensationalized his work

·      There were a number of duplicate articles (even in different countries) that led to misunderstanding of his work and hurting clients who have made the decision to go no contact with abusive family members

What is RRP (the Relationship Recovery Process)?

·      Work to finishing business with family members

·      Reclaim intimacy

·      Group Psychotherapy focused on normalization of the experiences of survivors of abusive families and childhood trauma

·      The work can include individual work prior to joining the group

·      Late in the process (potentially years into the process) a client may make the decision to “get distance” from their family if they are not able to continue their healing process due to ongoing triggers and abuse

·      Patrick is doing research on the RRP model and will be publishing those results soon

What is the process for Going No Contact with family members?

·      It is a very complex decision, usually after communication with family members has not led to any work on their part and repeated boundary crossings that make it impossible for a client to continue their work to heal

·      It is better to transparently and clearly communicate the decision to go no contact, rather than ghosting family members, when safe and possible

·      The decision to go no contact does not need to be total or permanent. Clients can seek space without making the decision to never talk to their family member again


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 2805 yes How Do Therapists Manage Intense Caseloads? How Do Therapists Manage Intense Caseloads? Curt and Katie chat about how to manage clients with high needs. We look at risk factors as well as how therapists can take care of themselves while working with challenging caseloads. We also talk about clinical strategies and effective risk assessments and safety planning as important elements for effective practice. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can manage high levels of risk in their caseload As part of our “Survival Guide” we have been asked to talk through how to manage high intensity caseloads. What is a high intensity caseload? ·      High levels of suicide ·      Impulsive or aggressive clients ·      Families with a lot of challenges (like trauma, poverty, etc.) What are the risks for therapists who have high intensity caseload? ·      Burnout ·      Vicarious Trauma ·      Moral Injury How can therapists take care of themselves when their caseload is challenging? ·      Scheduling breaks and other self-care practices ·      Timing clients with bigger challenges at times you have more space to address them ·      Managing caseload size (i.e., you may have to see clients more than once a week) ·      Don’t be alone with challenging cases ·      Looking at which problems are structural and which are based on your individual effort ·      Assessing your capacity for seeing clients and working with clients ·      Understanding how your personal life can impact your ability to work with clients ·      Building support and cohesive teams (e.g., DBT Consulting Team) ·      Balancing work and personal life effectively What are clinical strategies for working with high-risk cases? ·      Separating your emotions from your clients ·      Making sure you get yourself into wise mind before you engage with crisis ·      Meet your client where they are, not where they “should be” ·      Creating a treatment team ·      In-between session contact should be structured and boundaried ·      Move away from savior or protector role for clients ·      Effective risk assessment and safety planning Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000 How Do Therapists Manage Intense Caseloads? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how to manage clients with high needs. We look at risk factors as well as how therapists can take care of themselves while working with challenging caseloads. We also talk about clinical strategies and effective risk assessments and safety planning as important elements for effective practice. How Do Therapists Manage Intense Caseloads? Curt and Katie chat about how to manage clients with high needs. We look at risk factors as well as how therapists can take care of themselves while working with challenging caseloads. We also talk about clinical strategies and effective risk assessments and safety planning as important elements for effective practice. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can manage high levels of risk in their caseload As part of our “Survival Guide” we have been asked to talk through how to manage high intensity caseloads. What is a high intensity caseload? ·      High levels of suicide ·      Impulsive or aggressive clients ·      Families with a lot of challenges (like trauma, poverty, etc.) What are the risks for therapists who have high intensity caseload? ·      Burnout ·      Vicarious Trauma ·      Moral Injury How can therapists take care of themselves when their caseload is challenging? ·      Scheduling breaks and other self-care practices ·      Timing clients with bigger challenges at times you have more space to address them ·      Managing caseload size (i.e., you may have to see clients more than once a week) ·      Don’t be alone with challenging cases ·      Looking at which problems are structural and which are based on your individual effort ·      Assessing your capacity for seeing clients and working with clients ·      Understanding how your personal life can impact your ability to work with clients ·      Building support and cohesive teams (e.g., DBT Consulting Team) ·      Balancing work and personal life effectively What are clinical strategies for working with high-risk cases? ·      Separating your emotions from your clients ·      Making sure you get yourself into wise mind before you engage with crisis ·      Meet your client where they are, not where they “should be” ·      Creating a treatment team ·      In-between session contact should be structured and boundaried ·      Move away from savior or protector role for clients ·      Effective risk assessment and safety planning Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Do Therapists Manage Intense Caseloads?

Curt and Katie chat about how to manage clients with high needs. We look at risk factors as well as how therapists can take care of themselves while working with challenging caseloads. We also talk about clinical strategies and effective risk assessments and safety planning as important elements for effective practice.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can manage high levels of risk in their caseload

As part of our “Survival Guide” we have been asked to talk through how to manage high intensity caseloads.

What is a high intensity caseload?

·      High levels of suicide

·      Impulsive or aggressive clients

·      Families with a lot of challenges (like trauma, poverty, etc.)

What are the risks for therapists who have high intensity caseload?

·      Burnout

·      Vicarious Trauma

·      Moral Injury

How can therapists take care of themselves when their caseload is challenging?

·      Scheduling breaks and other self-care practices

·      Timing clients with bigger challenges at times you have more space to address them

·      Managing caseload size (i.e., you may have to see clients more than once a week)

·      Don’t be alone with challenging cases

·      Looking at which problems are structural and which are based on your individual effort

·      Assessing your capacity for seeing clients and working with clients

·      Understanding how your personal life can impact your ability to work with clients

·      Building support and cohesive teams (e.g., DBT Consulting Team)

·      Balancing work and personal life effectively

What are clinical strategies for working with high-risk cases?

·      Separating your emotions from your clients

·      Making sure you get yourself into wise mind before you engage with crisis

·      Meet your client where they are, not where they “should be”

·      Creating a treatment team

·      In-between session contact should be structured and boundaried

·      Move away from savior or protector role for clients

·      Effective risk assessment and safety planning


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2435 Bipolar Disorder - How Can Therapists Support Clients and Their Families?: An interview with Dr. David J. Miklowitz, PhD Bipolar Disorder - How Can Therapists Support Clients and Their Families?: An interview with Dr. David J. Miklowitz, PhD Curt and Katie interview Dr. David Miklowitz about his work with people with Bipolar Disorder and their families. We look at what therapists can often get wrong when working with patients presenting with this disorder. We explore differential diagnosis, treatment options, lifestyle coping strategies, and family support. We also talk about how to walk the line between self-responsibility and accommodation. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we interview an expert on Bipolar Disorder Many clinicians can miss or over-diagnose bipolar disorder. We wanted to make sure that our modern therapists have enough of the basics to identify if it is coming in their offices. We also talked with our guest about non-medication options to supporting bipolar clients and their family members. What makes it hard to diagnose bipolar disorder? ·      Therapists need to get adequate information, which is often self-report or family history ·      There are a number of rule outs and comorbidities such as depression (unipolar), anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, substance use ·      If someone is inaccurately dx, it can lead to the wrong treatments, including the wrong medications ·      It is challenging to differentiate normal adolescent behavior from bipolar, so careful assessment is needed. What can get in the way of treatment compliance for bipolar disorder? ·      Desire to be more creative or feel all of ones emotions can lead to lack of meds compliance ·      Perceptions about productivity during hypomania ·      Substance use and abuse can cause a lack of compliance or efficacy with medications, substances can also lead to exacerbation of symptoms ·      Medication side effects can be challenging, which requires active communication with psychiatrist to adjust dosages What role can the family and loved ones play in supporting someone with bipolar? ·      Family-Focused Therapy (FFT) is a protocol that can be helpful ·      Family members can provide accommodation for client ·      There is a balance to be struck between family support, medication, and personal responsibility ·      Boundaries are very important Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000 Bipolar Disorder - How Can Therapists Support Clients and Their Families?: An interview with Dr. David J. Miklowitz, PhD full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. David Miklowitz about his work with people with Bipolar Disorder and their families. We look at what therapists can often get wrong when working with patients presenting with this disorder. We explore differential diagnosis, treatment options, lifestyle coping strategies, and family support. We also talk about how to walk the line between self-responsibility and accommodation. Bipolar Disorder - How Can Therapists Support Clients and Their Families?: An interview with Dr. David J. Miklowitz, PhD Curt and Katie interview Dr. David Miklowitz about his work with people with Bipolar Disorder and their families. We look at what therapists can often get wrong when working with patients presenting with this disorder. We explore differential diagnosis, treatment options, lifestyle coping strategies, and family support. We also talk about how to walk the line between self-responsibility and accommodation. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we interview an expert on Bipolar Disorder Many clinicians can miss or over-diagnose bipolar disorder. We wanted to make sure that our modern therapists have enough of the basics to identify if it is coming in their offices. We also talked with our guest about non-medication options to supporting bipolar clients and their family members. What makes it hard to diagnose bipolar disorder? ·      Therapists need to get adequate information, which is often self-report or family history ·      There are a number of rule outs and comorbidities such as depression (unipolar), anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, substance use ·      If someone is inaccurately dx, it can lead to the wrong treatments, including the wrong medications ·      It is challenging to differentiate normal adolescent behavior from bipolar, so careful assessment is needed. What can get in the way of treatment compliance for bipolar disorder? ·      Desire to be more creative or feel all of ones emotions can lead to lack of meds compliance ·      Perceptions about productivity during hypomania ·      Substance use and abuse can cause a lack of compliance or efficacy with medications, substances can also lead to exacerbation of symptoms ·      Medication side effects can be challenging, which requires active communication with psychiatrist to adjust dosages What role can the family and loved ones play in supporting someone with bipolar? ·      Family-Focused Therapy (FFT) is a protocol that can be helpful ·      Family members can provide accommodation for client ·      There is a balance to be struck between family support, medication, and personal responsibility ·      Boundaries are very important Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Bipolar Disorder - How Can Therapists Support Clients and Their Families?: An interview with Dr. David J. Miklowitz, PhD

Curt and Katie interview Dr. David Miklowitz about his work with people with Bipolar Disorder and their families. We look at what therapists can often get wrong when working with patients presenting with this disorder. We explore differential diagnosis, treatment options, lifestyle coping strategies, and family support. We also talk about how to walk the line between self-responsibility and accommodation.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we interview an expert on Bipolar Disorder

Many clinicians can miss or over-diagnose bipolar disorder. We wanted to make sure that our modern therapists have enough of the basics to identify if it is coming in their offices. We also talked with our guest about non-medication options to supporting bipolar clients and their family members.

What makes it hard to diagnose bipolar disorder?

·      Therapists need to get adequate information, which is often self-report or family history

·      There are a number of rule outs and comorbidities such as depression (unipolar), anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, substance use

·      If someone is inaccurately dx, it can lead to the wrong treatments, including the wrong medications

·      It is challenging to differentiate normal adolescent behavior from bipolar, so careful assessment is needed.

What can get in the way of treatment compliance for bipolar disorder?

·      Desire to be more creative or feel all of ones emotions can lead to lack of meds compliance

·      Perceptions about productivity during hypomania

·      Substance use and abuse can cause a lack of compliance or efficacy with medications, substances can also lead to exacerbation of symptoms

·      Medication side effects can be challenging, which requires active communication with psychiatrist to adjust dosages

What role can the family and loved ones play in supporting someone with bipolar?

·      Family-Focused Therapy (FFT) is a protocol that can be helpful

·      Family members can provide accommodation for client

·      There is a balance to be struck between family support, medication, and personal responsibility

·      Boundaries are very important


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2553 Is Your Informed Consent Based on Magical Thinking? Is Your Informed Consent Based on Magical Thinking? Curt and Katie chat about the strange, manipulative, or outright illegal and unethical policies that therapists put into their informed consent. We talk through court, payment, and jurisdictional policies (among others), exploring why these policies are so bad. We also give some advice on what to do instead.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the ridiculous things therapists put in their informed consent An old article from our friends over at CPH resurfaced talking about all the ways that therapists try to skirt laws or mandates with their informed consent. We thought some of this stuff sounded a bit like magical thinking.  What goes into an informed consent? ·      Policies and procedures ·      Risks and benefits for treatment ·      Social media and court policies ·      More information here: What are the biggest concerns with therapist informed consent? ·      Forcing clients to sign illegal policies is in fact illegal ·      Putting undue force onto a client is wrong ·      Court avoidance clauses are not realistic and may be illegal ·      There are limits to the fee structures you can have clients agree to ·      You have to complete your legal responsibilities, even if a client signs something that says you do not have to do so ·      You can’t have someone agree to waive jurisdiction when they travel or consent to calling your services something different What do therapists need to do with their informed consent? ·      Make sure you don’t have any illegal or unethical practices in your informed consent ·      Don’t try to “game” the system to protect yourself from your legal and ethical responsibilities Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Is Your Informed Consent Based on Magical Thinking? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the strange, manipulative, or outright illegal and unethical policies that therapists put into their informed consent. We talk through court, payment, and jurisdictional policies (among others), exploring why these policies are so bad. We also give some advice on what to do instead. Is Your Informed Consent Based on Magical Thinking? Curt and Katie chat about the strange, manipulative, or outright illegal and unethical policies that therapists put into their informed consent. We talk through court, payment, and jurisdictional policies (among others), exploring why these policies are so bad. We also give some advice on what to do instead.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the ridiculous things therapists put in their informed consent An old article from our friends over at CPH resurfaced talking about all the ways that therapists try to skirt laws or mandates with their informed consent. We thought some of this stuff sounded a bit like magical thinking.  What goes into an informed consent? ·      Policies and procedures ·      Risks and benefits for treatment ·      Social media and court policies ·      More information here: What are the biggest concerns with therapist informed consent? ·      Forcing clients to sign illegal policies is in fact illegal ·      Putting undue force onto a client is wrong ·      Court avoidance clauses are not realistic and may be illegal ·      There are limits to the fee structures you can have clients agree to ·      You have to complete your legal responsibilities, even if a client signs something that says you do not have to do so ·      You can’t have someone agree to waive jurisdiction when they travel or consent to calling your services something different What do therapists need to do with their informed consent? ·      Make sure you don’t have any illegal or unethical practices in your informed consent ·      Don’t try to “game” the system to protect yourself from your legal and ethical responsibilities Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Is Your Informed Consent Based on Magical Thinking?

Curt and Katie chat about the strange, manipulative, or outright illegal and unethical policies that therapists put into their informed consent. We talk through court, payment, and jurisdictional policies (among others), exploring why these policies are so bad. We also give some advice on what to do instead. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the ridiculous things therapists put in their informed consent

An old article from our friends over at CPH resurfaced talking about all the ways that therapists try to skirt laws or mandates with their informed consent. We thought some of this stuff sounded a bit like magical thinking. 

What goes into an informed consent?

·      Policies and procedures

·      Risks and benefits for treatment

·      Social media and court policies

·      More information here:

What are the biggest concerns with therapist informed consent?

·      Forcing clients to sign illegal policies is in fact illegal

·      Putting undue force onto a client is wrong

·      Court avoidance clauses are not realistic and may be illegal

·      There are limits to the fee structures you can have clients agree to

·      You have to complete your legal responsibilities, even if a client signs something that says you do not have to do so

·      You can’t have someone agree to waive jurisdiction when they travel or consent to calling your services something different

What do therapists need to do with their informed consent?

·      Make sure you don’t have any illegal or unethical practices in your informed consent

·      Don’t try to “game” the system to protect yourself from your legal and ethical responsibilities


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2117 Is Artificial Intelligence Bringing Bias into Mental Health Treatment? Is Artificial Intelligence Bringing Bias into Mental Health Treatment? Curt and Katie chat about the responsibility therapists hold when they use AI applications for their therapy practices. We explore where bias can show up and how AI compares to therapists in acting on biased information. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about whether therapists or AI are more biased With the inclusion of artificial intelligence tools into psychotherapy, there is more access to mental health treatment by a larger portion of the world. This course addresses the question “Do the same biases that exist in in-person delivered psychotherapy exist in AI delivered treatment?” at the awareness, support, and intervention levels of mental health treatment. How is machine learning used in “AI” for therapists? ·       There are different types of AI used in mental health, machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing ·       AI can be used for awareness, support, and/or intervention ·       There is a potential for bias within AI models Where can bias come in when AI models are used in mental health? ·       Source material, like the DSM ·       Human error in the creation ·       Cultural humility and appropriateness Are human therapists less biased than AI models in diagnosis and mental health intervention? ·       The short answer is no ·       A study shows that ChatGPT is significantly more accurate than physicians in diagnosing depression (95% or greater compared to 42%) ·       ChatGPT is less likely to provide biased recommendations for treatment (i.e., they will recommend therapy to people of all socioeconomic statuses) ·       There is still possibility for bias, so diverse datasets and open source models can be used to improve this What is a potential future for mental health treatment that includes AI? ·       Curt described therapy practices being like Pilots and autonomous planes, with the ability to provide oversight, but much less intervention ·       Katie expressed concern about the lack of preparation that therapists have for these dramatic shifts in what our job looks like Key takeaways from this podcast episode (as curated by Otter.ai) ·       Enhance the training and validation of AI algorithms with diverse datasets that consider intersectionality factors ·       Explore the integration of open-source AI systems to allow for more robust identification and addressing of biases and vulnerabilities ·       Develop educational standards and processes to prepare new therapists for the evolving role of AI in mental healthcare ·       Engage in advocacy and oversight efforts to ensure therapists have a voice in the development and implementation of AI-powered mental health tools Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Is Artificial Intelligence Bringing Bias into Mental Health Treatment? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the responsibility therapists hold when they use AI applications for their therapy practices. We explore where bias can show up and how AI compares to therapists in acting on biased information. This is a continuing education podcourse. Is Artificial Intelligence Bringing Bias into Mental Health Treatment? Curt and Katie chat about the responsibility therapists hold when they use AI applications for their therapy practices. We explore where bias can show up and how AI compares to therapists in acting on biased information. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about whether therapists or AI are more biased With the inclusion of artificial intelligence tools into psychotherapy, there is more access to mental health treatment by a larger portion of the world. This course addresses the question “Do the same biases that exist in in-person delivered psychotherapy exist in AI delivered treatment?” at the awareness, support, and intervention levels of mental health treatment. How is machine learning used in “AI” for therapists? ·       There are different types of AI used in mental health, machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing ·       AI can be used for awareness, support, and/or intervention ·       There is a potential for bias within AI models Where can bias come in when AI models are used in mental health? ·       Source material, like the DSM ·       Human error in the creation ·       Cultural humility and appropriateness Are human therapists less biased than AI models in diagnosis and mental health intervention? ·       The short answer is no ·       A study shows that ChatGPT is significantly more accurate than physicians in diagnosing depression (95% or greater compared to 42%) ·       ChatGPT is less likely to provide biased recommendations for treatment (i.e., they will recommend therapy to people of all socioeconomic statuses) ·       There is still possibility for bias, so diverse datasets and open source models can be used to improve this What is a potential future for mental health treatment that includes AI? ·       Curt described therapy practices being like Pilots and autonomous planes, with the ability to provide oversight, but much less intervention ·       Katie expressed concern about the lack of preparation that therapists have for these dramatic shifts in what our job looks like Key takeaways from this podcast episode (as curated by Otter.ai) ·       Enhance the training and validation of AI algorithms with diverse datasets that consider intersectionality factors ·       Explore the integration of open-source AI systems to allow for more robust identification and addressing of biases and vulnerabilities ·       Develop educational standards and processes to prepare new therapists for the evolving role of AI in mental healthcare ·       Engage in advocacy and oversight efforts to ensure therapists have a voice in the development and implementation of AI-powered mental health tools Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Is Artificial Intelligence Bringing Bias into Mental Health Treatment?

Curt and Katie chat about the responsibility therapists hold when they use AI applications for their therapy practices. We explore where bias can show up and how AI compares to therapists in acting on biased information. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about whether therapists or AI are more biased

With the inclusion of artificial intelligence tools into psychotherapy, there is more access to mental health treatment by a larger portion of the world. This course addresses the question “Do the same biases that exist in in-person delivered psychotherapy exist in AI delivered treatment?” at the awareness, support, and intervention levels of mental health treatment.

How is machine learning used in “AI” for therapists?

·       There are different types of AI used in mental health, machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing

·       AI can be used for awareness, support, and/or intervention

·       There is a potential for bias within AI models

Where can bias come in when AI models are used in mental health?

·       Source material, like the DSM

·       Human error in the creation

·       Cultural humility and appropriateness

Are human therapists less biased than AI models in diagnosis and mental health intervention?

·       The short answer is no

·       A study shows that ChatGPT is significantly more accurate than physicians in diagnosing depression (95% or greater compared to 42%)

·       ChatGPT is less likely to provide biased recommendations for treatment (i.e., they will recommend therapy to people of all socioeconomic statuses)

·       There is still possibility for bias, so diverse datasets and open source models can be used to improve this

What is a potential future for mental health treatment that includes AI?

·       Curt described therapy practices being like Pilots and autonomous planes, with the ability to provide oversight, but much less intervention

·       Katie expressed concern about the lack of preparation that therapists have for these dramatic shifts in what our job looks like

Key takeaways from this podcast episode (as curated by Otter.ai)

·       Enhance the training and validation of AI algorithms with diverse datasets that consider intersectionality factors

·       Explore the integration of open-source AI systems to allow for more robust identification and addressing of biases and vulnerabilities

·       Develop educational standards and processes to prepare new therapists for the evolving role of AI in mental healthcare

·       Engage in advocacy and oversight efforts to ensure therapists have a voice in the development and implementation of AI-powered mental health tools


Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Continuing Education Approvals:

Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 3938 Why Are So Many Adults Getting Diagnosed with ADHD and Autism? An interview with Dr. Monica Blied Why Are So Many Adults Getting Diagnosed with ADHD and Autism?: An interview with Dr. Monica Blied Curt and Katie interview Dr. Monica Blied about adults getting diagnosed later in life with Autism and/or ADHD. We look at why people (especially individual assigned female at birth) are getting diagnoses later in life. We also explore skills, strategies, and accommodations to support neurodivergent individuals in navigating life. We also talk about unmasking and helping adults talk with their family members about diagnosis. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look the trend of adults getting diagnosed with ADHD and Autism During a recent conference, Katie saw Dr. Blied talking about later in life ADHD and Autism diagnoses and loved what she had to say. We figured it was time to talk some more about neurodivergent adults. Why is there an uptick in adults getting diagnosed with ADHD and Autism? ·      There is more information that is being shared on social media ·      Therapists and psychologists with ADHD and/or Autism are sharing information more freely ·      Increase in diagnoses in children, leading to other family members getting their own assessments How can therapists support clients who believe they are neurodivergent, but may not meet the criteria? ·      Exploring what a neurodivergent identity means to the client ·      Provide psychoeducation on some differential diagnosis ·      Seek formal assessment for autism or ADHD What strategies can therapists utilize in working with clients diagnosed as neurodivergent as an adult? ·      Confirm and validate experience, normalize ·      Somatic exercises to bring clients into their bodies (and out of their brain) ·      Executive functioning skills (e.g., using timers and the pomodoro technique) ·      Premack principles? ·      Use the principle of inertia (start with something small, to get in motion) ·      Understand available workplace accommodations (and where assessors and therapists can support in that process) ·      Learning how to tease out when skills, accommodations, or self-acceptance are needed ·      Support acceptance and unmasking ·      Help clients walk through the grief process that comes with diagnosis ·      Learn about autistic burnout and the 5 S’s from Dr. Joey Lawrence of Neudle Psychology ·      Provide support to clients to talk about diagnosis with their family members Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 14 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Why Are So Many Adults Getting Diagnosed with ADHD and Autism? An interview with Dr. Monica Blied full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Monica Blied about adults getting diagnosed later in life with Autism and/or ADHD. We look at why people (especially individual assigned female at birth) are getting diagnoses later in life. We also explore skills, strategies, and accommodations to support neurodivergent individuals in navigating life. We also talk about unmasking and helping adults talk with their family members about diagnosis. Why Are So Many Adults Getting Diagnosed with ADHD and Autism?: An interview with Dr. Monica Blied Curt and Katie interview Dr. Monica Blied about adults getting diagnosed later in life with Autism and/or ADHD. We look at why people (especially individual assigned female at birth) are getting diagnoses later in life. We also explore skills, strategies, and accommodations to support neurodivergent individuals in navigating life. We also talk about unmasking and helping adults talk with their family members about diagnosis. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look the trend of adults getting diagnosed with ADHD and Autism During a recent conference, Katie saw Dr. Blied talking about later in life ADHD and Autism diagnoses and loved what she had to say. We figured it was time to talk some more about neurodivergent adults. Why is there an uptick in adults getting diagnosed with ADHD and Autism? ·      There is more information that is being shared on social media ·      Therapists and psychologists with ADHD and/or Autism are sharing information more freely ·      Increase in diagnoses in children, leading to other family members getting their own assessments How can therapists support clients who believe they are neurodivergent, but may not meet the criteria? ·      Exploring what a neurodivergent identity means to the client ·      Provide psychoeducation on some differential diagnosis ·      Seek formal assessment for autism or ADHD What strategies can therapists utilize in working with clients diagnosed as neurodivergent as an adult? ·      Confirm and validate experience, normalize ·      Somatic exercises to bring clients into their bodies (and out of their brain) ·      Executive functioning skills (e.g., using timers and the pomodoro technique) ·      Premack principles? ·      Use the principle of inertia (start with something small, to get in motion) ·      Understand available workplace accommodations (and where assessors and therapists can support in that process) ·      Learning how to tease out when skills, accommodations, or self-acceptance are needed ·      Support acceptance and unmasking ·      Help clients walk through the grief process that comes with diagnosis ·      Learn about autistic burnout and the 5 S’s from Dr. Joey Lawrence of Neudle Psychology ·      Provide support to clients to talk about diagnosis with their family members Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Why Are So Many Adults Getting Diagnosed with ADHD and Autism?: An interview with Dr. Monica Blied

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Monica Blied about adults getting diagnosed later in life with Autism and/or ADHD. We look at why people (especially individual assigned female at birth) are getting diagnoses later in life. We also explore skills, strategies, and accommodations to support neurodivergent individuals in navigating life. We also talk about unmasking and helping adults talk with their family members about diagnosis.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!


In this podcast episode, we look the trend of adults getting diagnosed with ADHD and Autism

During a recent conference, Katie saw Dr. Blied talking about later in life ADHD and Autism diagnoses and loved what she had to say. We figured it was time to talk some more about neurodivergent adults.

Why is there an uptick in adults getting diagnosed with ADHD and Autism?

·      There is more information that is being shared on social media

·      Therapists and psychologists with ADHD and/or Autism are sharing information more freely

·      Increase in diagnoses in children, leading to other family members getting their own assessments

How can therapists support clients who believe they are neurodivergent, but may not meet the criteria?

·      Exploring what a neurodivergent identity means to the client

·      Provide psychoeducation on some differential diagnosis

·      Seek formal assessment for autism or ADHD

What strategies can therapists utilize in working with clients diagnosed as neurodivergent as an adult?

·      Confirm and validate experience, normalize

·      Somatic exercises to bring clients into their bodies (and out of their brain)

·      Executive functioning skills (e.g., using timers and the pomodoro technique)

·      Premack principles?

·      Use the principle of inertia (start with something small, to get in motion)

·      Understand available workplace accommodations (and where assessors and therapists can support in that process)

·      Learning how to tease out when skills, accommodations, or self-acceptance are needed

·      Support acceptance and unmasking

·      Help clients walk through the grief process that comes with diagnosis

·      Learn about autistic burnout and the 5 S’s from Dr. Joey Lawrence of Neudle Psychology

·      Provide support to clients to talk about diagnosis with their family members


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2906 AI Therapy is Already Here: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell AI Therapy is Already Here: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ben Caldwell about the state of Artificial Intelligence in therapy. We look at the “AI Therapists” that are already working as well as how they are being regulated (or not). We talk about how AI therapy chatbots are being received and likely next steps in innovation. We also explore what “human therapists” can do to protect their practices and address the influx of low cost, always available AI therapy. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Our friend Dr. Ben Caldwell has been writing some articles on the current state of AI in therapy. We decided this information needed to come to the podcast, so we invited him back on the podcast. What is the current state of AI in the therapy profession? ·      There are chatbots providing “therapy” or mental health support ·      Some apps are going the path of becoming registered as a medical device with the FDA, some are staying in the coaching space Who is regulating AI therapy? ·      Licensing boards for “human therapists” may have no ability to regulate the use of the term therapy by apps, medical devices, or “AI therapists” ·      State legislators may be the avenue for regulation, but there may not be an appetite to do so ·      FDA can regulate apps that get registered as a medical device Who wants AI therapy? ·      Clients or patients will seek out AI therapy as a very cost-effective and available option for mental health support, also AI therapists will not judge clients and will always remember what clients have said ·      Insurance providers will see AI therapy as a way to expand networks ·      Legislators will likely purchase AI therapy for state and county Medi-caid services as well as support expansion to address mental health shortages ·      Basically, everyone wants AI therapy except for human therapists What are the concerns about AI therapy? ·      It is only approximating the relationship between therapist and client ·      An AI therapist doesn’t have morals and values, ethics ·      The apps are working only from manualized treatments ·      It may be only psychoeducation, without current ability for deeper work What can therapists do to protect their practices now that AI therapy is here? ·      Make sure to vet any AI services or applications that you use ·      Shift to services that AI therapy doesn’t provide (like diagnosis, or more niche services with children, families, and couples) ·      Move to overseeing AI as an adjunct to therapy (i.e., “prescribe” a particular chatbot or AI therapist and check in with clients periodically or when the client is in crisis) ·      Work with AI therapy companies to train the AI therapists Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 07 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000 AI Therapy is Already Here: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ben Caldwell about the state of Artificial Intelligence in therapy. We look at the “AI Therapists” that are already working as well as how they are being regulated (or not). We talk about how AI therapy chatbots are being received and likely next steps in innovation. We also explore what “human therapists” can do to protect their practices and address the influx of low cost, always available AI therapy. AI Therapy is Already Here: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ben Caldwell about the state of Artificial Intelligence in therapy. We look at the “AI Therapists” that are already working as well as how they are being regulated (or not). We talk about how AI therapy chatbots are being received and likely next steps in innovation. We also explore what “human therapists” can do to protect their practices and address the influx of low cost, always available AI therapy. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Our friend Dr. Ben Caldwell has been writing some articles on the current state of AI in therapy. We decided this information needed to come to the podcast, so we invited him back on the podcast. What is the current state of AI in the therapy profession? ·      There are chatbots providing “therapy” or mental health support ·      Some apps are going the path of becoming registered as a medical device with the FDA, some are staying in the coaching space Who is regulating AI therapy? ·      Licensing boards for “human therapists” may have no ability to regulate the use of the term therapy by apps, medical devices, or “AI therapists” ·      State legislators may be the avenue for regulation, but there may not be an appetite to do so ·      FDA can regulate apps that get registered as a medical device Who wants AI therapy? ·      Clients or patients will seek out AI therapy as a very cost-effective and available option for mental health support, also AI therapists will not judge clients and will always remember what clients have said ·      Insurance providers will see AI therapy as a way to expand networks ·      Legislators will likely purchase AI therapy for state and county Medi-caid services as well as support expansion to address mental health shortages ·      Basically, everyone wants AI therapy except for human therapists What are the concerns about AI therapy? ·      It is only approximating the relationship between therapist and client ·      An AI therapist doesn’t have morals and values, ethics ·      The apps are working only from manualized treatments ·      It may be only psychoeducation, without current ability for deeper work What can therapists do to protect their practices now that AI therapy is here? ·      Make sure to vet any AI services or applications that you use ·      Shift to services that AI therapy doesn’t provide (like diagnosis, or more niche services with children, families, and couples) ·      Move to overseeing AI as an adjunct to therapy (i.e., “prescribe” a particular chatbot or AI therapist and check in with clients periodically or when the client is in crisis) ·      Work with AI therapy companies to train the AI therapists Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ AI Therapy is Already Here: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ben Caldwell about the state of Artificial Intelligence in therapy. We look at the “AI Therapists” that are already working as well as how they are being regulated (or not). We talk about how AI therapy chatbots are being received and likely next steps in innovation. We also explore what “human therapists” can do to protect their practices and address the influx of low cost, always available AI therapy.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health

Our friend Dr. Ben Caldwell has been writing some articles on the current state of AI in therapy. We decided this information needed to come to the podcast, so we invited him back on the podcast.

What is the current state of AI in the therapy profession?

·      There are chatbots providing “therapy” or mental health support

·      Some apps are going the path of becoming registered as a medical device with the FDA, some are staying in the coaching space

Who is regulating AI therapy?

·      Licensing boards for “human therapists” may have no ability to regulate the use of the term therapy by apps, medical devices, or “AI therapists”

·      State legislators may be the avenue for regulation, but there may not be an appetite to do so

·      FDA can regulate apps that get registered as a medical device

Who wants AI therapy?

·      Clients or patients will seek out AI therapy as a very cost-effective and available option for mental health support, also AI therapists will not judge clients and will always remember what clients have said

·      Insurance providers will see AI therapy as a way to expand networks

·      Legislators will likely purchase AI therapy for state and county Medi-caid services as well as support expansion to address mental health shortages

·      Basically, everyone wants AI therapy except for human therapists

What are the concerns about AI therapy?

·      It is only approximating the relationship between therapist and client

·      An AI therapist doesn’t have morals and values, ethics

·      The apps are working only from manualized treatments

·      It may be only psychoeducation, without current ability for deeper work

What can therapists do to protect their practices now that AI therapy is here?

·      Make sure to vet any AI services or applications that you use

·      Shift to services that AI therapy doesn’t provide (like diagnosis, or more niche services with children, families, and couples)

·      Move to overseeing AI as an adjunct to therapy (i.e., “prescribe” a particular chatbot or AI therapist and check in with clients periodically or when the client is in crisis)

·      Work with AI therapy companies to train the AI therapists


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2635 Growing Antisemitism in the Therapy Profession: An interview with Halina Brooke, LPC Growing Antisemitism in the Therapy Profession: An interview with Halina Brooke, LPC As part of a double episode release, Curt and Katie interview Halina Brooke, LPC, founder of the Jewish Therapist Collective, about experiences of antisemitism in our profession. We explore the foundations of antisemitism throughout the development and innovation in psychotherapy. We also talk about lived experiences of Jewish therapists of increasing antisemitism since the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the increase in antisemitism in the therapist community In a recent article from Jewish Insider, there are stories about increasing antisemitism in the therapy profession, including in online therapist Facebook groups. We decided to reach out to Jewish Therapist Collective founder, Halina Brooke, LPC, to talk us through what has been happening throughout her time as a therapist as well as the escalation of antisemitism in the past year. Experiences of Antisemitism in the Therapy Profession ·      The Jewish Therapist Collective has received an increase in calls from clients who are seeking Jewish therapists after October 7, 2023 due to cultural incompetence from non-Jewish therapists ·      Jewish therapists have reported being sidelined or fired from their mental health workplaces due to being Jewish ·      Jewish therapy students report being told that their presence is triggering to non-Jewish therapists ·      Jewish therapists and counselor have reported losses of peer groups due to antisemitism, including affinity groups for intersectional identities Antisemitic Incidents Within Therapist Facebook Groups ·      Posts targeting “Zionist” therapists have been used to identify Jewish therapists ·      There are lists of “Zionist Therapists” that include only Jewish therapists, potentially ones who have not made political statements about Zionism, that “antiracist” groups are suggesting should not receive any referrals due to their status as “Zionists” ·      These lists appear to solely be lists of Jewish therapists, without including Christian Zionists or others with Zionist beliefs What do therapists need to know about Jewish Culture and Identity? ·      Multicultural education on Jewish identity in graduate school is insufficient ·      There is as much diversity within the Jewish community as there is between the Jewish and other communities ·      Halina discusses the historical context of Jewish identity and how often they are not seen as part of the dominant majority ·      It is important to seek consultation from Jewish colleagues due to the many nuances and differences ·      Even though many of the founders of psychotherapy are Jewish, there is a lack of inclusion of Jewish identity in multicultural courses What support is available for Jewish Therapists? ·      The Jewish Therapist Collective provides community and training ·      Halina described the steps that she has taken to hide her Jewishness as well as to find support within the community Learn more about these resources: jewishtherapists.org Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Growing Antisemitism in the Therapy Profession: An interview with Halina Brooke, LPC full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT As part of a double episode release, Curt and Katie interview Halina Brooke, LPC, founder of the Jewish Therapist Collective, about experiences of antisemitism in our profession. We explore the foundations of antisemitism throughout the development and innovation in psychotherapy. We also talk about lived experiences of Jewish therapists of increasing antisemitism since the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. Growing Antisemitism in the Therapy Profession: An interview with Halina Brooke, LPC As part of a double episode release, Curt and Katie interview Halina Brooke, LPC, founder of the Jewish Therapist Collective, about experiences of antisemitism in our profession. We explore the foundations of antisemitism throughout the development and innovation in psychotherapy. We also talk about lived experiences of Jewish therapists of increasing antisemitism since the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the increase in antisemitism in the therapist community In a recent article from Jewish Insider, there are stories about increasing antisemitism in the therapy profession, including in online therapist Facebook groups. We decided to reach out to Jewish Therapist Collective founder, Halina Brooke, LPC, to talk us through what has been happening throughout her time as a therapist as well as the escalation of antisemitism in the past year. Experiences of Antisemitism in the Therapy Profession ·      The Jewish Therapist Collective has received an increase in calls from clients who are seeking Jewish therapists after October 7, 2023 due to cultural incompetence from non-Jewish therapists ·      Jewish therapists have reported being sidelined or fired from their mental health workplaces due to being Jewish ·      Jewish therapy students report being told that their presence is triggering to non-Jewish therapists ·      Jewish therapists and counselor have reported losses of peer groups due to antisemitism, including affinity groups for intersectional identities Antisemitic Incidents Within Therapist Facebook Groups ·      Posts targeting “Zionist” therapists have been used to identify Jewish therapists ·      There are lists of “Zionist Therapists” that include only Jewish therapists, potentially ones who have not made political statements about Zionism, that “antiracist” groups are suggesting should not receive any referrals due to their status as “Zionists” ·      These lists appear to solely be lists of Jewish therapists, without including Christian Zionists or others with Zionist beliefs What do therapists need to know about Jewish Culture and Identity? ·      Multicultural education on Jewish identity in graduate school is insufficient ·      There is as much diversity within the Jewish community as there is between the Jewish and other communities ·      Halina discusses the historical context of Jewish identity and how often they are not seen as part of the dominant majority ·      It is important to seek consultation from Jewish colleagues due to the many nuances and differences ·      Even though many of the founders of psychotherapy are Jewish, there is a lack of inclusion of Jewish identity in multicultural courses What support is available for Jewish Therapists? ·      The Jewish Therapist Collective provides community and training ·      Halina described the steps that she has taken to hide her Jewishness as well as to find support within the community Learn more about these resources: jewishtherapists.org Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Growing Antisemitism in the Therapy Profession: An interview with Halina Brooke, LPC

As part of a double episode release, Curt and Katie interview Halina Brooke, LPC, founder of the Jewish Therapist Collective, about experiences of antisemitism in our profession. We explore the foundations of antisemitism throughout the development and innovation in psychotherapy. We also talk about lived experiences of Jewish therapists of increasing antisemitism since the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at the increase in antisemitism in the therapist community

In a recent article from Jewish Insider, there are stories about increasing antisemitism in the therapy profession, including in online therapist Facebook groups. We decided to reach out to Jewish Therapist Collective founder, Halina Brooke, LPC, to talk us through what has been happening throughout her time as a therapist as well as the escalation of antisemitism in the past year.

Experiences of Antisemitism in the Therapy Profession

·      The Jewish Therapist Collective has received an increase in calls from clients who are seeking Jewish therapists after October 7, 2023 due to cultural incompetence from non-Jewish therapists

·      Jewish therapists have reported being sidelined or fired from their mental health workplaces due to being Jewish

·      Jewish therapy students report being told that their presence is triggering to non-Jewish therapists

·      Jewish therapists and counselor have reported losses of peer groups due to antisemitism, including affinity groups for intersectional identities

Antisemitic Incidents Within Therapist Facebook Groups

·      Posts targeting “Zionist” therapists have been used to identify Jewish therapists

·      There are lists of “Zionist Therapists” that include only Jewish therapists, potentially ones who have not made political statements about Zionism, that “antiracist” groups are suggesting should not receive any referrals due to their status as “Zionists”

·      These lists appear to solely be lists of Jewish therapists, without including Christian Zionists or others with Zionist beliefs

What do therapists need to know about Jewish Culture and Identity?

·      Multicultural education on Jewish identity in graduate school is insufficient

·      There is as much diversity within the Jewish community as there is between the Jewish and other communities

·      Halina discusses the historical context of Jewish identity and how often they are not seen as part of the dominant majority

·      It is important to seek consultation from Jewish colleagues due to the many nuances and differences

·      Even though many of the founders of psychotherapy are Jewish, there is a lack of inclusion of Jewish identity in multicultural courses

What support is available for Jewish Therapists?

·      The Jewish Therapist Collective provides community and training

·      Halina described the steps that she has taken to hide her Jewishness as well as to find support within the community

Learn more about these resources: jewishtherapists.org


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2033 Exploring the Danger, Trauma, and Grief for a Palestinian Therapist in the United States: An anonymous interview Exploring the Danger, Trauma, and Grief for a Palestinian Therapist in the United States: An anonymous interview As part of a double episode release, Curt and Katie share an anonymous interview with a Palestinian American therapist about their experience in our profession and in the United States both historically and since the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. We explore what therapists need to know about Palestine, Palestinian culture, and Palestinians in the diaspora. We also identify additional resources for Palestinian therapists in the diaspora. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the challenges Palestinian American Therapists face in our communities and our profession We reached out to Palestinian American colleagues to work to get the perspective of these individuals during the last year as well as historically. Due to safety concerns, our interviewee decided to be interviewed anonymously. Curt and Katie share written interview questions and answers on this episode. What should therapists know about Palestine, Palestinian Culture, and Palestinians in the diaspora? ·      There is a rich and complex history for Palestinians, deeply tied to experiences of displacement, resilience, and a strong sense of community ·      One of the most significant events in Palestinian history is the Nakba (or catastrophe) which saw the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homeland in 1948. This event has led to intergenerational trauma and collective grief. ·      There are generational differences in the Palestinian experience to be aware of What has the experience been like over the past year, with heightened awareness of Palestine and the conflict in Gaza? ·      There has been a heightened sense of dread and the ability to remain invisible or avoid the topic has been taken away ·      Safety, even with therapy clients, has been questioned ·      Difficulty balancing denouncing the violence committed by Hamas, while also advocating for Palestinian human rights without being branded a terrorist sympathizer What do therapists need to know about working with Palestinian clients in the diaspora at this time? ·      Clients may be reluctant to share feelings about the conflict due to the challenges in doing so without judgment or fear for their own safety ·      Therapists need to have an understanding of the conflict and the broader context, to help avoid relying on the emotional labor of the client to educate ·      Palestinians are not a monolith (there are religious, cultural and socioeconomic differences, as well as different reasons for emigration), so it is important to see and connect to the client in front of you How can therapists in the diaspora navigate global tragedies in their homeland? ·      Seek and Accept Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out for support from colleagues or professional networks. It’s crucial to have spaces where you can share and process your experiences. ·      Engage in Personal Therapy: Utilize personal therapy more actively. Having a space to openly discuss and navigate your identity and feelings can be invaluable, especially when faced with such intense global events. ·      Choose Supportive Communities Wisely: Be discerning about the communities and support networks you engage with. Ensure they offer a safe and respectful space for sharing and discussion and be mindful of how public or anonymous these spaces are. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Exploring the Danger, Trauma, and Grief for a Palestinian Therapist in the United States: An anonymous interview full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT As part of a double episode release, Curt and Katie share an anonymous interview with a Palestinian American therapist about their experience in our profession and in the United States both historically and since the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. We explore what therapists need to know about Palestine, Palestinian culture, and Palestinians in the diaspora. We also identify additional resources for Palestinian therapists in the diaspora. Exploring the Danger, Trauma, and Grief for a Palestinian Therapist in the United States: An anonymous interview As part of a double episode release, Curt and Katie share an anonymous interview with a Palestinian American therapist about their experience in our profession and in the United States both historically and since the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. We explore what therapists need to know about Palestine, Palestinian culture, and Palestinians in the diaspora. We also identify additional resources for Palestinian therapists in the diaspora. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the challenges Palestinian American Therapists face in our communities and our profession We reached out to Palestinian American colleagues to work to get the perspective of these individuals during the last year as well as historically. Due to safety concerns, our interviewee decided to be interviewed anonymously. Curt and Katie share written interview questions and answers on this episode. What should therapists know about Palestine, Palestinian Culture, and Palestinians in the diaspora? ·      There is a rich and complex history for Palestinians, deeply tied to experiences of displacement, resilience, and a strong sense of community ·      One of the most significant events in Palestinian history is the Nakba (or catastrophe) which saw the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homeland in 1948. This event has led to intergenerational trauma and collective grief. ·      There are generational differences in the Palestinian experience to be aware of What has the experience been like over the past year, with heightened awareness of Palestine and the conflict in Gaza? ·      There has been a heightened sense of dread and the ability to remain invisible or avoid the topic has been taken away ·      Safety, even with therapy clients, has been questioned ·      Difficulty balancing denouncing the violence committed by Hamas, while also advocating for Palestinian human rights without being branded a terrorist sympathizer What do therapists need to know about working with Palestinian clients in the diaspora at this time? ·      Clients may be reluctant to share feelings about the conflict due to the challenges in doing so without judgment or fear for their own safety ·      Therapists need to have an understanding of the conflict and the broader context, to help avoid relying on the emotional labor of the client to educate ·      Palestinians are not a monolith (there are religious, cultural and socioeconomic differences, as well as different reasons for emigration), so it is important to see and connect to the client in front of you How can therapists in the diaspora navigate global tragedies in their homeland? ·      Seek and Accept Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out for support from colleagues or professional networks. It’s crucial to have spaces where you can share and process your experiences. ·      Engage in Personal Therapy: Utilize personal therapy more actively. Having a space to openly discuss and navigate your identity and feelings can be invaluable, especially when faced with such intense global events. ·      Choose Supportive Communities Wisely: Be discerning about the communities and support networks you engage with. Ensure they offer a safe and respectful space for sharing and discussion and be mindful of how public or anonymous these spaces are. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Exploring the Danger, Trauma, and Grief for a Palestinian Therapist in the United States: An anonymous interview

As part of a double episode release, Curt and Katie share an anonymous interview with a Palestinian American therapist about their experience in our profession and in the United States both historically and since the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. We explore what therapists need to know about Palestine, Palestinian culture, and Palestinians in the diaspora. We also identify additional resources for Palestinian therapists in the diaspora.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at the challenges Palestinian American Therapists face in our communities and our profession

We reached out to Palestinian American colleagues to work to get the perspective of these individuals during the last year as well as historically. Due to safety concerns, our interviewee decided to be interviewed anonymously. Curt and Katie share written interview questions and answers on this episode.

What should therapists know about Palestine, Palestinian Culture, and Palestinians in the diaspora?

·      There is a rich and complex history for Palestinians, deeply tied to experiences of displacement, resilience, and a strong sense of community

·      One of the most significant events in Palestinian history is the Nakba (or catastrophe) which saw the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homeland in 1948. This event has led to intergenerational trauma and collective grief.

·      There are generational differences in the Palestinian experience to be aware of

What has the experience been like over the past year, with heightened awareness of Palestine and the conflict in Gaza?

·      There has been a heightened sense of dread and the ability to remain invisible or avoid the topic has been taken away

·      Safety, even with therapy clients, has been questioned

·      Difficulty balancing denouncing the violence committed by Hamas, while also advocating for Palestinian human rights without being branded a terrorist sympathizer

What do therapists need to know about working with Palestinian clients in the diaspora at this time?

·      Clients may be reluctant to share feelings about the conflict due to the challenges in doing so without judgment or fear for their own safety

·      Therapists need to have an understanding of the conflict and the broader context, to help avoid relying on the emotional labor of the client to educate

·      Palestinians are not a monolith (there are religious, cultural and socioeconomic differences, as well as different reasons for emigration), so it is important to see and connect to the client in front of you

How can therapists in the diaspora navigate global tragedies in their homeland?

·      Seek and Accept Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out for support from colleagues or professional networks. It’s crucial to have spaces where you can share and process your experiences.

·      Engage in Personal Therapy: Utilize personal therapy more actively. Having a space to openly discuss and navigate your identity and feelings can be invaluable, especially when faced with such intense global events.

·      Choose Supportive Communities Wisely: Be discerning about the communities and support networks you engage with. Ensure they offer a safe and respectful space for sharing and discussion and be mindful of how public or anonymous these spaces are.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2091 Navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Lies About God: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich Navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Lies About God: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich about her new book coming out in October 2024, You Lied to Me About God. We explore the impacts of religious abuse, Jamie’s personal story of spiritual trauma, and what therapists can miss when working with clients on these topics. We also dig into the idea that therapists can let their clients down when they don’t do their own internal work, address their bias, and show up effectively. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the impacts of spiritual trauma on therapy clients We invited our friend, Dr. Jamie Marich, back on the podcast to talk about her story (and her upcoming book) that deals with spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and the lies that have been told "in God's name" that lead to shame and isolation for many of our clients.   What are the impacts of spiritual abuse and religious trauma? ·      Definition of shame as the lie someone told you about yourself ·      Spiritual abuse goes deeper because the lies are told in God’s name ·      There are big impacts of religious trauma on those in the LGBTQ+ community as well as those who are seeking deep spiritual connection Looking at the concept of forgiveness within the context of religious and other trauma ·      How forgiveness can be helpful ·      How forgiveness is weaponized within the church and can be harmful ·      Forgiveness is not required, acceptance is a more appropriate goal How can therapists make sure they are not adding to the harm for clients with religious trauma? ·      Do your own work, so you can approach clients where they are ·      Be authentic, don’t lie to your clients, but don’t bring it up unless asked ·      Seek consultation to enhance your understanding of the client’s situation ·      Cultural humility is key, and don’t rely solely on your clients to be the cultural informant ·      Do not impose your spirituality on your clients, but be open to discussing spirituality ·      Be aware of the power dynamics, so you don’t become the client’s new guru ·      Help clients to find their own answers rather than relying on external authority Other ideas we touched on in this podcast episode ·      The importance of critical thinking ·      “Therapy cults” that promote adherence to a specific intervention model ·      The challenges of folks seeking compliance and righteousness, rather than taking a nuanced approach to topics and deciding for themselves Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 23 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Lies About God: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich about her new book coming out in October 2024, You Lied to Me About God. We explore the impacts of religious abuse, Jamie’s personal story of spiritual trauma, and what therapists can miss when working with clients on these topics. We also dig into the idea that therapists can let their clients down when they don’t do their own internal work, address their bias, and show up effectively. Navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Lies About God: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich about her new book coming out in October 2024, You Lied to Me About God. We explore the impacts of religious abuse, Jamie’s personal story of spiritual trauma, and what therapists can miss when working with clients on these topics. We also dig into the idea that therapists can let their clients down when they don’t do their own internal work, address their bias, and show up effectively. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the impacts of spiritual trauma on therapy clients We invited our friend, Dr. Jamie Marich, back on the podcast to talk about her story (and her upcoming book) that deals with spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and the lies that have been told "in God's name" that lead to shame and isolation for many of our clients.   What are the impacts of spiritual abuse and religious trauma? ·      Definition of shame as the lie someone told you about yourself ·      Spiritual abuse goes deeper because the lies are told in God’s name ·      There are big impacts of religious trauma on those in the LGBTQ+ community as well as those who are seeking deep spiritual connection Looking at the concept of forgiveness within the context of religious and other trauma ·      How forgiveness can be helpful ·      How forgiveness is weaponized within the church and can be harmful ·      Forgiveness is not required, acceptance is a more appropriate goal How can therapists make sure they are not adding to the harm for clients with religious trauma? ·      Do your own work, so you can approach clients where they are ·      Be authentic, don’t lie to your clients, but don’t bring it up unless asked ·      Seek consultation to enhance your understanding of the client’s situation ·      Cultural humility is key, and don’t rely solely on your clients to be the cultural informant ·      Do not impose your spirituality on your clients, but be open to discussing spirituality ·      Be aware of the power dynamics, so you don’t become the client’s new guru ·      Help clients to find their own answers rather than relying on external authority Other ideas we touched on in this podcast episode ·      The importance of critical thinking ·      “Therapy cults” that promote adherence to a specific intervention model ·      The challenges of folks seeking compliance and righteousness, rather than taking a nuanced approach to topics and deciding for themselves Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Lies About God: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich about her new book coming out in October 2024, You Lied to Me About God. We explore the impacts of religious abuse, Jamie’s personal story of spiritual trauma, and what therapists can miss when working with clients on these topics. We also dig into the idea that therapists can let their clients down when they don’t do their own internal work, address their bias, and show up effectively.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at the impacts of spiritual trauma on therapy clients

We invited our friend, Dr. Jamie Marich, back on the podcast to talk about her story (and her upcoming book) that deals with spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and the lies that have been told "in God's name" that lead to shame and isolation for many of our clients.  

What are the impacts of spiritual abuse and religious trauma?

·      Definition of shame as the lie someone told you about yourself

·      Spiritual abuse goes deeper because the lies are told in God’s name

·      There are big impacts of religious trauma on those in the LGBTQ+ community as well as those who are seeking deep spiritual connection

Looking at the concept of forgiveness within the context of religious and other trauma

·      How forgiveness can be helpful

·      How forgiveness is weaponized within the church and can be harmful

·      Forgiveness is not required, acceptance is a more appropriate goal

How can therapists make sure they are not adding to the harm for clients with religious trauma?

·      Do your own work, so you can approach clients where they are

·      Be authentic, don’t lie to your clients, but don’t bring it up unless asked

·      Seek consultation to enhance your understanding of the client’s situation

·      Cultural humility is key, and don’t rely solely on your clients to be the cultural informant

·      Do not impose your spirituality on your clients, but be open to discussing spirituality

·      Be aware of the power dynamics, so you don’t become the client’s new guru

·      Help clients to find their own answers rather than relying on external authority

Other ideas we touched on in this podcast episode

·      The importance of critical thinking

·      “Therapy cults” that promote adherence to a specific intervention model

·      The challenges of folks seeking compliance and righteousness, rather than taking a nuanced approach to topics and deciding for themselves


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2738 Do Therapists Lie to Their Clients? Do Therapists Lie to Their Clients? Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists are dishonest and whether they should be. We received a request from a listener to talk about the idea that therapists lie to their clients. We look at what types of lies are common, whether lying is expected or acceptable, what to do instead, and how to decide whether you will lie or not in session. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through how, when, and why therapists lie We received a listener email requesting a discussion on therapist dishonesty and the impact on the therapeutic relationship. What types of lies might a therapist tell? ·      Whoppers (fraud) ·      Fibs (untruths that support the clinical work or the therapeutic relationship) ·      Omission (concealing facts that impact the client) ·      Deflections (bending the truth for therapeutic effect) ·      Denial (rejecting reality, with positive and negative results)  Is it good or bad for a therapist to lie? ·      Fraud is never okay, and is illegal and unethical ·      Fibs may be in the best interest of the client OR could be to protect the therapist (which is human, but not really okay) ·      Professionalism, exaggerating/minimizing emotional responses for therapeutic effect, and “social niceties” may be appropriate, but it is important to think about authenticity and whether it will negatively impact the client if they perceive the deception ·      If a client is asking for the therapist’s opinion of them, the context of the client’s treatment agreements and their needs, as well as the therapeutic relationship impact whether a therapists will be best served by honesty or deflecting or denying the truth What can therapists do when they are tempted to lie to their clients? ·      Make the decision of whether to tell the truth based on the context of the relationship and treatment goals ·      Be more transparent with the client about therapist’s limitations, while also holding hope and accountability to address these limitations ·      Work collaboratively with the client to get to the information or treatment interventions that are needed, rather than working by and for yourself. ·      If you lie to your client and it backfires, work to make repairs (see our episode on “Should Therapists Admit Mistakes?) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Do Therapists Lie to Their Clients? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists are dishonest and whether they should be. We received a request from a listener to talk about the idea that therapists lie to their clients. We look at what types of lies are common, whether lying is expected or acceptable, what to do instead, and how to decide whether you will lie or not in session. Do Therapists Lie to Their Clients? Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists are dishonest and whether they should be. We received a request from a listener to talk about the idea that therapists lie to their clients. We look at what types of lies are common, whether lying is expected or acceptable, what to do instead, and how to decide whether you will lie or not in session. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through how, when, and why therapists lie We received a listener email requesting a discussion on therapist dishonesty and the impact on the therapeutic relationship. What types of lies might a therapist tell? ·      Whoppers (fraud) ·      Fibs (untruths that support the clinical work or the therapeutic relationship) ·      Omission (concealing facts that impact the client) ·      Deflections (bending the truth for therapeutic effect) ·      Denial (rejecting reality, with positive and negative results)  Is it good or bad for a therapist to lie? ·      Fraud is never okay, and is illegal and unethical ·      Fibs may be in the best interest of the client OR could be to protect the therapist (which is human, but not really okay) ·      Professionalism, exaggerating/minimizing emotional responses for therapeutic effect, and “social niceties” may be appropriate, but it is important to think about authenticity and whether it will negatively impact the client if they perceive the deception ·      If a client is asking for the therapist’s opinion of them, the context of the client’s treatment agreements and their needs, as well as the therapeutic relationship impact whether a therapists will be best served by honesty or deflecting or denying the truth What can therapists do when they are tempted to lie to their clients? ·      Make the decision of whether to tell the truth based on the context of the relationship and treatment goals ·      Be more transparent with the client about therapist’s limitations, while also holding hope and accountability to address these limitations ·      Work collaboratively with the client to get to the information or treatment interventions that are needed, rather than working by and for yourself. ·      If you lie to your client and it backfires, work to make repairs (see our episode on “Should Therapists Admit Mistakes?) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Do Therapists Lie to Their Clients?

Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists are dishonest and whether they should be. We received a request from a listener to talk about the idea that therapists lie to their clients. We look at what types of lies are common, whether lying is expected or acceptable, what to do instead, and how to decide whether you will lie or not in session.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk through how, when, and why therapists lie

We received a listener email requesting a discussion on therapist dishonesty and the impact on the therapeutic relationship.

What types of lies might a therapist tell?

·      Whoppers (fraud)

·      Fibs (untruths that support the clinical work or the therapeutic relationship)

·      Omission (concealing facts that impact the client)

·      Deflections (bending the truth for therapeutic effect)

·      Denial (rejecting reality, with positive and negative results)

 Is it good or bad for a therapist to lie?

·      Fraud is never okay, and is illegal and unethical

·      Fibs may be in the best interest of the client OR could be to protect the therapist (which is human, but not really okay)

·      Professionalism, exaggerating/minimizing emotional responses for therapeutic effect, and “social niceties” may be appropriate, but it is important to think about authenticity and whether it will negatively impact the client if they perceive the deception

·      If a client is asking for the therapist’s opinion of them, the context of the client’s treatment agreements and their needs, as well as the therapeutic relationship impact whether a therapists will be best served by honesty or deflecting or denying the truth

What can therapists do when they are tempted to lie to their clients?

·      Make the decision of whether to tell the truth based on the context of the relationship and treatment goals

·      Be more transparent with the client about therapist’s limitations, while also holding hope and accountability to address these limitations

·      Work collaboratively with the client to get to the information or treatment interventions that are needed, rather than working by and for yourself.

·      If you lie to your client and it backfires, work to make repairs (see our episode on “Should Therapists Admit Mistakes?)


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2471 Welcome to Therapist Grad School! Welcome to Therapist Grad School! Curt and Katie chat about what the career is like, what is important to know starting out in grad school. We look at what prospective therapists need to know as they enter school, including hard truths and tips for social support. We also talk about what changes are needed in the profession and how students and new therapists can navigate these challenges. We provide suggestions on how to best take advantage of the opportunities in graduate school. We also unveiled a new project for the podcast. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through what the therapist career is like We decided to talk through what it is like to be a therapist and how to best navigate your grad school education. What do prospective therapists need to know as they enter grad school? ·      Grad school doesn’t cover all that you’ll need to know to be an effective therapist ·      Lived experience is valid and definitely informs your work ·      It is important to assess what you already know, what you need to unlearn, what interventions you can add to what you already know ·      Learning how to be a “safe therapist” is not the same as learning to be a “good therapist” ·      Theories and orientations are foundational, but you can’t know them all ·      Once you graduate, that’s when you actually start learning how to be a therapist What can grad school students and new therapists expect regarding needed changes in the profession? ·      Changes may happen, but slowly ·      There can be times for advocacy to help increase the sustainability of the practice ·      You don’t need to worry about getting a job immediately, but you can start working with clients or in the field, if you would like or need to do so financially ·      There are a number of students who burnout before graduation, so pay attention to your capacity and self-care practices What opportunities are important to take advantage of while you are in grad school for therapy? ·      Consider taking the hardest or more complex practicum sites to learn how to work with the most challenging populations ·      Volunteer to do roll plays and risk making mistakes in your classes ·      Make mistakes while you are a student and prelicensed individual to get the supervision and oversight, to learn from these mistakes What are some hard truths about becoming a therapist? ·      The therapy profession is not for everyone ·      Not all students will make it through to graduation or to licensure (whether by choice or not) ·      Grad schools are not always transparent with how long it will take to get through the program, whether you will have support in getting a practicum site ·      The entry level jobs in the field may not pay very well (i.e., some are at or only slightly above minimum wage) ·      There is a risk of becoming disillusioned by the state of the world and the profession What are the social elements of becoming a therapist? ·      If you’re only friends and socializing with therapists, your view of the world may become more limited ·      There can be echo chambers, especially around social justice topics within mental health ·      Having friends who are therapists, so you can have the validation and understanding of other therapists ·      Socialization can be too focused on alcohol-forward events. It is important to find other ways to socialize to avoid the risks of substance abuse and dependence, especially as therapists are held to a higher standard through licensure ·      Take responsibility for self-care/self-maintenance Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 09 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Welcome to Therapist Grad School! full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about what the career is like, what is important to know starting out in grad school. We look at what prospective therapists need to know as they enter school, including hard truths and tips for social support. We also talk about what changes are needed in the profession and how students and new therapists can navigate these challenges. We provide suggestions on how to best take advantage of the opportunities in graduate school. We also unveiled a new project for the podcast. Welcome to Therapist Grad School! Curt and Katie chat about what the career is like, what is important to know starting out in grad school. We look at what prospective therapists need to know as they enter school, including hard truths and tips for social support. We also talk about what changes are needed in the profession and how students and new therapists can navigate these challenges. We provide suggestions on how to best take advantage of the opportunities in graduate school. We also unveiled a new project for the podcast. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through what the therapist career is like We decided to talk through what it is like to be a therapist and how to best navigate your grad school education. What do prospective therapists need to know as they enter grad school? ·      Grad school doesn’t cover all that you’ll need to know to be an effective therapist ·      Lived experience is valid and definitely informs your work ·      It is important to assess what you already know, what you need to unlearn, what interventions you can add to what you already know ·      Learning how to be a “safe therapist” is not the same as learning to be a “good therapist” ·      Theories and orientations are foundational, but you can’t know them all ·      Once you graduate, that’s when you actually start learning how to be a therapist What can grad school students and new therapists expect regarding needed changes in the profession? ·      Changes may happen, but slowly ·      There can be times for advocacy to help increase the sustainability of the practice ·      You don’t need to worry about getting a job immediately, but you can start working with clients or in the field, if you would like or need to do so financially ·      There are a number of students who burnout before graduation, so pay attention to your capacity and self-care practices What opportunities are important to take advantage of while you are in grad school for therapy? ·      Consider taking the hardest or more complex practicum sites to learn how to work with the most challenging populations ·      Volunteer to do roll plays and risk making mistakes in your classes ·      Make mistakes while you are a student and prelicensed individual to get the supervision and oversight, to learn from these mistakes What are some hard truths about becoming a therapist? ·      The therapy profession is not for everyone ·      Not all students will make it through to graduation or to licensure (whether by choice or not) ·      Grad schools are not always transparent with how long it will take to get through the program, whether you will have support in getting a practicum site ·      The entry level jobs in the field may not pay very well (i.e., some are at or only slightly above minimum wage) ·      There is a risk of becoming disillusioned by the state of the world and the profession What are the social elements of becoming a therapist? ·      If you’re only friends and socializing with therapists, your view of the world may become more limited ·      There can be echo chambers, especially around social justice topics within mental health ·      Having friends who are therapists, so you can have the validation and understanding of other therapists ·      Socialization can be too focused on alcohol-forward events. It is important to find other ways to socialize to avoid the risks of substance abuse and dependence, especially as therapists are held to a higher standard through licensure ·      Take responsibility for self-care/self-maintenance Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Welcome to Therapist Grad School!

Curt and Katie chat about what the career is like, what is important to know starting out in grad school. We look at what prospective therapists need to know as they enter school, including hard truths and tips for social support. We also talk about what changes are needed in the profession and how students and new therapists can navigate these challenges. We provide suggestions on how to best take advantage of the opportunities in graduate school. We also unveiled a new project for the podcast.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk through what the therapist career is like

We decided to talk through what it is like to be a therapist and how to best navigate your grad school education.

What do prospective therapists need to know as they enter grad school?

·      Grad school doesn’t cover all that you’ll need to know to be an effective therapist

·      Lived experience is valid and definitely informs your work

·      It is important to assess what you already know, what you need to unlearn, what interventions you can add to what you already know

·      Learning how to be a “safe therapist” is not the same as learning to be a “good therapist”

·      Theories and orientations are foundational, but you can’t know them all

·      Once you graduate, that’s when you actually start learning how to be a therapist

What can grad school students and new therapists expect regarding needed changes in the profession?

·      Changes may happen, but slowly

·      There can be times for advocacy to help increase the sustainability of the practice

·      You don’t need to worry about getting a job immediately, but you can start working with clients or in the field, if you would like or need to do so financially

·      There are a number of students who burnout before graduation, so pay attention to your capacity and self-care practices

What opportunities are important to take advantage of while you are in grad school for therapy?

·      Consider taking the hardest or more complex practicum sites to learn how to work with the most challenging populations

·      Volunteer to do roll plays and risk making mistakes in your classes

·      Make mistakes while you are a student and prelicensed individual to get the supervision and oversight, to learn from these mistakes

What are some hard truths about becoming a therapist?

·      The therapy profession is not for everyone

·      Not all students will make it through to graduation or to licensure (whether by choice or not)

·      Grad schools are not always transparent with how long it will take to get through the program, whether you will have support in getting a practicum site

·      The entry level jobs in the field may not pay very well (i.e., some are at or only slightly above minimum wage)

·      There is a risk of becoming disillusioned by the state of the world and the profession

What are the social elements of becoming a therapist?

·      If you’re only friends and socializing with therapists, your view of the world may become more limited

·      There can be echo chambers, especially around social justice topics within mental health

·      Having friends who are therapists, so you can have the validation and understanding of other therapists

·      Socialization can be too focused on alcohol-forward events. It is important to find other ways to socialize to avoid the risks of substance abuse and dependence, especially as therapists are held to a higher standard through licensure

·      Take responsibility for self-care/self-maintenance

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2355 Are Therapist Conferences Elitist? An interview with Linda Thai, LMSW Are Therapist Conferences Elitist? An interview with Linda Thai, LMSW Curt and Katie interview Linda Thai on her experiences as a conference attendee, keynote speaker, and educator. We discussed the need for more accessible, community-centric, and culturally humble education as well as how to more effectively share knowledge. The limitations of traditional educational models (which Linda calls the Continuing Education Industrial Complex) are discussed as well as how conferences can be exclusive or elitist. We explore how to best access continuing education and take advantage of all types of educational opportunities. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at how privilege and elitism show up in therapist conferences. Katie recently took one of Linda Thai’s courses and was fascinated by the way that she was able to make an engaging virtual course. We reached out and requested she share her wisdom with us and we found ourselves talking about the nature of continuing education.   Why should therapists attend (or not attend) mental health conferences? ·      If you understand what type of conference you are attending and take advantage of that opportunity (to learn, build community, or something else) attending mental health conferences can be beneficial to therapists ·      There can be an inherent elitism in conferences, both in who is able to comfortably attend as well as who can participate as speakers or in supporting conferences ·      Continuing education can also have bias and privilege white (typically female) therapists, especially those who have been in private practice for many years. ·      Conferences are often events designed to inspire and create community, the learning experiences may not be as deep as therapists need to truly get what they need as clinicians What are the primary concerns in continuing education for mental health professionals? ·      What qualifies as continuing education seems limited (i.e., lived experience is discounted as valid education) ·      There is a bureaucracy within continuing education approval that makes it difficult for speakers and conference hosts to be able to allow for interactivity and emergence within the workshops ·      Too often the same speakers are elevated and there is a need to center lived experience and marginalized voices to co-create collective learning and liberation Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 02 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Are Therapist Conferences Elitist? An interview with Linda Thai, LMSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Linda Thai on her experiences as a conference attendee, keynote speaker, and educator. We discussed the need for more accessible, community-centric, and culturally humble education as well as how to more effectively share knowledge. The limitations of traditional educational models (which Linda calls the Continuing Education Industrial Complex) are discussed as well as how conferences can be exclusive or elitist. We explore how to best access continuing education and take advantage of all types of educational opportunities. Are Therapist Conferences Elitist? An interview with Linda Thai, LMSW Curt and Katie interview Linda Thai on her experiences as a conference attendee, keynote speaker, and educator. We discussed the need for more accessible, community-centric, and culturally humble education as well as how to more effectively share knowledge. The limitations of traditional educational models (which Linda calls the Continuing Education Industrial Complex) are discussed as well as how conferences can be exclusive or elitist. We explore how to best access continuing education and take advantage of all types of educational opportunities. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at how privilege and elitism show up in therapist conferences. Katie recently took one of Linda Thai’s courses and was fascinated by the way that she was able to make an engaging virtual course. We reached out and requested she share her wisdom with us and we found ourselves talking about the nature of continuing education.   Why should therapists attend (or not attend) mental health conferences? ·      If you understand what type of conference you are attending and take advantage of that opportunity (to learn, build community, or something else) attending mental health conferences can be beneficial to therapists ·      There can be an inherent elitism in conferences, both in who is able to comfortably attend as well as who can participate as speakers or in supporting conferences ·      Continuing education can also have bias and privilege white (typically female) therapists, especially those who have been in private practice for many years. ·      Conferences are often events designed to inspire and create community, the learning experiences may not be as deep as therapists need to truly get what they need as clinicians What are the primary concerns in continuing education for mental health professionals? ·      What qualifies as continuing education seems limited (i.e., lived experience is discounted as valid education) ·      There is a bureaucracy within continuing education approval that makes it difficult for speakers and conference hosts to be able to allow for interactivity and emergence within the workshops ·      Too often the same speakers are elevated and there is a need to center lived experience and marginalized voices to co-create collective learning and liberation Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Are Therapist Conferences Elitist? An interview with Linda Thai, LMSW

Curt and Katie interview Linda Thai on her experiences as a conference attendee, keynote speaker, and educator. We discussed the need for more accessible, community-centric, and culturally humble education as well as how to more effectively share knowledge. The limitations of traditional educational models (which Linda calls the Continuing Education Industrial Complex) are discussed as well as how conferences can be exclusive or elitist. We explore how to best access continuing education and take advantage of all types of educational opportunities.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at how privilege and elitism show up in therapist conferences.

Katie recently took one of Linda Thai’s courses and was fascinated by the way that she was able to make an engaging virtual course. We reached out and requested she share her wisdom with us and we found ourselves talking about the nature of continuing education.  

Why should therapists attend (or not attend) mental health conferences?

·      If you understand what type of conference you are attending and take advantage of that opportunity (to learn, build community, or something else) attending mental health conferences can be beneficial to therapists

·      There can be an inherent elitism in conferences, both in who is able to comfortably attend as well as who can participate as speakers or in supporting conferences

·      Continuing education can also have bias and privilege white (typically female) therapists, especially those who have been in private practice for many years.

·      Conferences are often events designed to inspire and create community, the learning experiences may not be as deep as therapists need to truly get what they need as clinicians

What are the primary concerns in continuing education for mental health professionals?

·      What qualifies as continuing education seems limited (i.e., lived experience is discounted as valid education)

·      There is a bureaucracy within continuing education approval that makes it difficult for speakers and conference hosts to be able to allow for interactivity and emergence within the workshops

·      Too often the same speakers are elevated and there is a need to center lived experience and marginalized voices to co-create collective learning and liberation


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2598 How Much is Too Much? Thoughts on therapists being too branded, niched, and political How Much is Too Much? Thoughts on therapists being too branded, niched, and political Curt and Katie chat about the delicate balance between authenticity and influence in therapy, with a focus on avoiding bias and discrimination while still being real people. We also navigate the challenges of political discussions in therapy, emphasizing the need to balance political awareness with client needs and goals. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore the risks of bringing too much of your own beliefs into your work as a therapist We have been rethinking the conversations we’ve had about blank slate and the Brand Called You. We look at the risks of being too branded or niched, or too political. We also talk about what might be more beneficial for clients, without losing the work toward authenticity and real connections as therapists. Do therapists bring too much of themselves into their work? Curt and Katie did a CE presentation and then an episode called the Brand Called You, which talks about how to create personal branding as a therapist to refine who seeks you out for therapy When you bring yourself into the therapy room, you want to assess for bias and discrimination If you’ve advertised a specific type of treatment or, especially, a specific type of outcome, you may be unduly influencing clients who may not know if that outcome is right for them How can therapists be “political” without just talking politics or inappropriately influencing their clients? Therapists can successfully navigate political discussions in therapy to benefit clients. It is important to distinguish between political in therapy (systemic pressures, opportunities, access) vs pushing viewpoints (talking about politics, biased) Discussions about the limitations of resources or systemic pressures are political Conversations about voting for a particular party would be talking politics Helping clients to look at things from a different viewpoint may be helpful, but only if you assess your own bias and the client’s readiness It can be challenging to be a political therapist, clients may feel uncomfortable or resistant to discussing political issues in therapy What can therapists do to balance branding and authenticity with effective client care? Tailor your client sessions to their needs and perspectives and values Consider providing additional referral resources for clients whose goals do not directly align with a therapist's specialized approach. Evaluate whether strongly branding oneself risks prioritizing showing one's values over directly addressing what clients are asking for in therapy. Assess the efficacy of your treatment for the client in front of you. Make sure even clients who resonate strongly with a therapist's approach are empowered to think critically and come to their own conclusions. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0000 How Much is Too Much? Thoughts on therapists being too branded, niched, and political full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the delicate balance between authenticity and influence in therapy, with a focus on avoiding bias and discrimination while still being real people. We also navigate the challenges of political discussions in therapy, emphasizing the need to balance political awareness with client needs and goals. How Much is Too Much? Thoughts on therapists being too branded, niched, and political Curt and Katie chat about the delicate balance between authenticity and influence in therapy, with a focus on avoiding bias and discrimination while still being real people. We also navigate the challenges of political discussions in therapy, emphasizing the need to balance political awareness with client needs and goals. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore the risks of bringing too much of your own beliefs into your work as a therapist We have been rethinking the conversations we’ve had about blank slate and the Brand Called You. We look at the risks of being too branded or niched, or too political. We also talk about what might be more beneficial for clients, without losing the work toward authenticity and real connections as therapists. Do therapists bring too much of themselves into their work? Curt and Katie did a CE presentation and then an episode called the Brand Called You, which talks about how to create personal branding as a therapist to refine who seeks you out for therapy When you bring yourself into the therapy room, you want to assess for bias and discrimination If you’ve advertised a specific type of treatment or, especially, a specific type of outcome, you may be unduly influencing clients who may not know if that outcome is right for them How can therapists be “political” without just talking politics or inappropriately influencing their clients? Therapists can successfully navigate political discussions in therapy to benefit clients. It is important to distinguish between political in therapy (systemic pressures, opportunities, access) vs pushing viewpoints (talking about politics, biased) Discussions about the limitations of resources or systemic pressures are political Conversations about voting for a particular party would be talking politics Helping clients to look at things from a different viewpoint may be helpful, but only if you assess your own bias and the client’s readiness It can be challenging to be a political therapist, clients may feel uncomfortable or resistant to discussing political issues in therapy What can therapists do to balance branding and authenticity with effective client care? Tailor your client sessions to their needs and perspectives and values Consider providing additional referral resources for clients whose goals do not directly align with a therapist's specialized approach. Evaluate whether strongly branding oneself risks prioritizing showing one's values over directly addressing what clients are asking for in therapy. Assess the efficacy of your treatment for the client in front of you. Make sure even clients who resonate strongly with a therapist's approach are empowered to think critically and come to their own conclusions. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Much is Too Much? Thoughts on therapists being too branded, niched, and political

Curt and Katie chat about the delicate balance between authenticity and influence in therapy, with a focus on avoiding bias and discrimination while still being real people. We also navigate the challenges of political discussions in therapy, emphasizing the need to balance political awareness with client needs and goals.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore the risks of bringing too much of your own beliefs into your work as a therapist

We have been rethinking the conversations we’ve had about blank slate and the Brand Called You. We look at the risks of being too branded or niched, or too political. We also talk about what might be more beneficial for clients, without losing the work toward authenticity and real connections as therapists.

Do therapists bring too much of themselves into their work?

  • Curt and Katie did a CE presentation and then an episode called the Brand Called You, which talks about how to create personal branding as a therapist to refine who seeks you out for therapy
  • When you bring yourself into the therapy room, you want to assess for bias and discrimination
  • If you’ve advertised a specific type of treatment or, especially, a specific type of outcome, you may be unduly influencing clients who may not know if that outcome is right for them

How can therapists be “political” without just talking politics or inappropriately influencing their clients?

  • Therapists can successfully navigate political discussions in therapy to benefit clients.
  • It is important to distinguish between political in therapy (systemic pressures, opportunities, access) vs pushing viewpoints (talking about politics, biased)
  • Discussions about the limitations of resources or systemic pressures are political
  • Conversations about voting for a particular party would be talking politics
  • Helping clients to look at things from a different viewpoint may be helpful, but only if you assess your own bias and the client’s readiness
  • It can be challenging to be a political therapist, clients may feel uncomfortable or resistant to discussing political issues in therapy

What can therapists do to balance branding and authenticity with effective client care?

  • Tailor your client sessions to their needs and perspectives and values
  • Consider providing additional referral resources for clients whose goals do not directly align with a therapist's specialized approach.
  • Evaluate whether strongly branding oneself risks prioritizing showing one's values over directly addressing what clients are asking for in therapy.
  • Assess the efficacy of your treatment for the client in front of you.
  • Make sure even clients who resonate strongly with a therapist's approach are empowered to think critically and come to their own conclusions.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1953 How Can Therapists Help Politically Divided Families: An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT How Can Therapists Help Politically Divided Families? : An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Angela Caldwell, LMFT about family therapy for politically divided families. We explore what therapists get wrong when working with these families as well as what works better. Angela talks us through the goals for family therapy, how to move families from trying to convince each other to understanding each other better, and the importance of distress tolerance and finding ways for families to survive, even when members strongly disagree with each other. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can work with politically divided families During the run up to the 2024 US presidential election, we are seeing more and more political division, even in families. We reached out to our good friend Angela Caldwell, LMFT, to talk through how therapists can support families during this challenging time.  What do therapists get wrong when working with politically divided families? ·      Therapists inaccurately agree with families that the goal is either communication skills or getting consensus ·      The goals for family therapy are increasing tolerance for differing opinions and sustaining relationships even when you disagree How can therapists address the societal messages that negatively impact relationships? ·      Modeling holding affection while disagreeing on viewpoints ·      Hold sacred that everyone in the room has come to their viewpoint honestly ·      Focus on the why for the positions people take ·      Listen for and mark trigger words to help “opposing party” to stay with the explanation of viewpoint ·      Soften the relationship through understanding What can therapists do if clients feel frightened of the beliefs of their family members? ·      Explore perspective and increase clarity on the real anxious feelings ·      Find common ground related to hopes for the world ·      Work on distress tolerance with the anxious feelings ·      Hold the moment of anxiety and then move to reassurance (i.e., that the relationship can survive opposing viewpoints) What does the work of family therapy look like with politically divided families? ·      Set reasonable expectations ·      Make sure to give pep talks ·      Plan and promise for the next session before ending the previous session ·      Personal connection between sessions (like short texts) ·      Don’t play “gotcha” when someone is wrong ·      Set ground rules at the beginning of therapy related to showing source material for viewpoints Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 19 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0000 How Can Therapists Help Politically Divided Families: An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Angela Caldwell, LMFT about family therapy for politically divided families. We explore what therapists get wrong when working with these families as well as what works better. Angela talks us through the goals for family therapy, how to move families from trying to convince each other to understanding each other better, and the importance of distress tolerance and finding ways for families to survive, even when members strongly disagree with each other. How Can Therapists Help Politically Divided Families? : An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Angela Caldwell, LMFT about family therapy for politically divided families. We explore what therapists get wrong when working with these families as well as what works better. Angela talks us through the goals for family therapy, how to move families from trying to convince each other to understanding each other better, and the importance of distress tolerance and finding ways for families to survive, even when members strongly disagree with each other. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can work with politically divided families During the run up to the 2024 US presidential election, we are seeing more and more political division, even in families. We reached out to our good friend Angela Caldwell, LMFT, to talk through how therapists can support families during this challenging time.  What do therapists get wrong when working with politically divided families? ·      Therapists inaccurately agree with families that the goal is either communication skills or getting consensus ·      The goals for family therapy are increasing tolerance for differing opinions and sustaining relationships even when you disagree How can therapists address the societal messages that negatively impact relationships? ·      Modeling holding affection while disagreeing on viewpoints ·      Hold sacred that everyone in the room has come to their viewpoint honestly ·      Focus on the why for the positions people take ·      Listen for and mark trigger words to help “opposing party” to stay with the explanation of viewpoint ·      Soften the relationship through understanding What can therapists do if clients feel frightened of the beliefs of their family members? ·      Explore perspective and increase clarity on the real anxious feelings ·      Find common ground related to hopes for the world ·      Work on distress tolerance with the anxious feelings ·      Hold the moment of anxiety and then move to reassurance (i.e., that the relationship can survive opposing viewpoints) What does the work of family therapy look like with politically divided families? ·      Set reasonable expectations ·      Make sure to give pep talks ·      Plan and promise for the next session before ending the previous session ·      Personal connection between sessions (like short texts) ·      Don’t play “gotcha” when someone is wrong ·      Set ground rules at the beginning of therapy related to showing source material for viewpoints Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Can Therapists Help Politically Divided Families? : An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Angela Caldwell, LMFT about family therapy for politically divided families. We explore what therapists get wrong when working with these families as well as what works better. Angela talks us through the goals for family therapy, how to move families from trying to convince each other to understanding each other better, and the importance of distress tolerance and finding ways for families to survive, even when members strongly disagree with each other.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can work with politically divided families

During the run up to the 2024 US presidential election, we are seeing more and more political division, even in families. We reached out to our good friend Angela Caldwell, LMFT, to talk through how therapists can support families during this challenging time. 

What do therapists get wrong when working with politically divided families?

·      Therapists inaccurately agree with families that the goal is either communication skills or getting consensus

·      The goals for family therapy are increasing tolerance for differing opinions and sustaining relationships even when you disagree

How can therapists address the societal messages that negatively impact relationships?

·      Modeling holding affection while disagreeing on viewpoints

·      Hold sacred that everyone in the room has come to their viewpoint honestly

·      Focus on the why for the positions people take

·      Listen for and mark trigger words to help “opposing party” to stay with the explanation of viewpoint

·      Soften the relationship through understanding

What can therapists do if clients feel frightened of the beliefs of their family members?

·      Explore perspective and increase clarity on the real anxious feelings

·      Find common ground related to hopes for the world

·      Work on distress tolerance with the anxious feelings

·      Hold the moment of anxiety and then move to reassurance (i.e., that the relationship can survive opposing viewpoints)

What does the work of family therapy look like with politically divided families?

·      Set reasonable expectations

·      Make sure to give pep talks

·      Plan and promise for the next session before ending the previous session

·      Personal connection between sessions (like short texts)

·      Don’t play “gotcha” when someone is wrong

·      Set ground rules at the beginning of therapy related to showing source material for viewpoints


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2448 yes Beyond Being a Therapist is Hard Work: Curt and Katie respond to listener feedback Beyond "Being a Therapist is Hard Work": Curt and Katie respond to listener feedback Curt and Katie received feedback on a recent episode, Don’t Let Tik Tok Fool You: Being a therapist is hard work, an interview with Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir. We talk through the feedback that the perspective was too one-sided (primarily from the employer angle) and that it was too much in support of the status quo. We share our perspectives as well as how big of a challenge we’re facing as a profession to become sustainable.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the challenges of making the therapy profession more sustainable We received a lot of feedback about our episode with Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir. We decided it was worth addressing the feedback directly and continue the conversation. Why is there a tension between experienced and new mental health professionals? ·      The “necessary” tension between those who support what is and those who advocate for what should be ·      Supervisors or managers who reinforce what has been seen to be unsustainable in the field ·      New clinicians coming in and advocating for things to be better and more sustainable ·      The challenge with innovating when the system has burned someone out What are the primary challenges in the therapy profession in 2024? ·      Burnout ·      Lower pay (that is not keeping up with inflation) ·      A workload that seems unsustainable, especially to newer clinicians What can therapists do to improve their profession? ·      Read Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell ·      Look for opportunities to reimagine the field, by looking at other sectors (or disruptors in the field like technology) ·      Support advocacy efforts through unions, professional associations, or lobbying legislators Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Beyond Being a Therapist is Hard Work: Curt and Katie respond to listener feedback full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie received feedback on a recent episode, Don’t Let Tik Tok Fool You: Being a therapist is hard work, an interview with Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir. We talk through the feedback that the perspective was too one-sided (primarily from the employer angle) and that it was too much in support of the status quo. We share our perspectives as well as how big of a challenge we’re facing as a profession to become sustainable. Beyond "Being a Therapist is Hard Work": Curt and Katie respond to listener feedback Curt and Katie received feedback on a recent episode, Don’t Let Tik Tok Fool You: Being a therapist is hard work, an interview with Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir. We talk through the feedback that the perspective was too one-sided (primarily from the employer angle) and that it was too much in support of the status quo. We share our perspectives as well as how big of a challenge we’re facing as a profession to become sustainable.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the challenges of making the therapy profession more sustainable We received a lot of feedback about our episode with Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir. We decided it was worth addressing the feedback directly and continue the conversation. Why is there a tension between experienced and new mental health professionals? ·      The “necessary” tension between those who support what is and those who advocate for what should be ·      Supervisors or managers who reinforce what has been seen to be unsustainable in the field ·      New clinicians coming in and advocating for things to be better and more sustainable ·      The challenge with innovating when the system has burned someone out What are the primary challenges in the therapy profession in 2024? ·      Burnout ·      Lower pay (that is not keeping up with inflation) ·      A workload that seems unsustainable, especially to newer clinicians What can therapists do to improve their profession? ·      Read Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell ·      Look for opportunities to reimagine the field, by looking at other sectors (or disruptors in the field like technology) ·      Support advocacy efforts through unions, professional associations, or lobbying legislators Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Beyond "Being a Therapist is Hard Work": Curt and Katie respond to listener feedback

Curt and Katie received feedback on a recent episode, Don’t Let Tik Tok Fool You: Being a therapist is hard work, an interview with Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir. We talk through the feedback that the perspective was too one-sided (primarily from the employer angle) and that it was too much in support of the status quo. We share our perspectives as well as how big of a challenge we’re facing as a profession to become sustainable. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the challenges of making the therapy profession more sustainable

We received a lot of feedback about our episode with Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir. We decided it was worth addressing the feedback directly and continue the conversation.

Why is there a tension between experienced and new mental health professionals?

·      The “necessary” tension between those who support what is and those who advocate for what should be

·      Supervisors or managers who reinforce what has been seen to be unsustainable in the field

·      New clinicians coming in and advocating for things to be better and more sustainable

·      The challenge with innovating when the system has burned someone out

What are the primary challenges in the therapy profession in 2024?

·      Burnout

·      Lower pay (that is not keeping up with inflation)

·      A workload that seems unsustainable, especially to newer clinicians

What can therapists do to improve their profession?

·      Read Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell

·      Look for opportunities to reimagine the field, by looking at other sectors (or disruptors in the field like technology)

·      Support advocacy efforts through unions, professional associations, or lobbying legislators


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2005 What is Working Now in Online Marketing: An interview with Katie Read What is Working Now in Online Marketing: An interview with Katie Read Curt and Katie interview Katie Read on how the economy has shifted and what works for marketing has shifted. We look at how things have shifted since the pandemic and what therapists can think about now for their therapy and online businesses. Katie gives us simple strategies and clear insights on what isn’t working anymore and what to do instead. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapist marketing must shift post-pandemic Katie Read has been doing research into what is working in marketing for service providers. We thought we’d ask her back to talk about how the shifting economy is impacting therapists. How have the shifts in the economy changed business for therapists? ·      After the pandemic, people stopped having time for “personal growth” ·      Therapy is seen more as a luxury ·      People have lost patience for content marketing (like a very long webinar) ·      Potential clients are more likely to pay for services for a specific, acute pain point, rather than non-specific pain points or personal growth ·      Big Tech is coming into the space and becoming competitors ·      TikTok has changed attention spans, so we must market in shorter, more concise bullet points What strategies can therapists use to improve their businesses? ·      Assess the market and identify specific niches that are harder to treat by big tech ·      Capture attention by speaking directly to where it hurts, in bullet points and visuals ·      Identify problematic expectations, for example meeting someone when they are in crisis and then keeping them for personal growth (rather than expecting them to seek out personal growth work) Do therapists need to have a big social media presence? ·      Many people have been successful selling their services without a big social media following ·      If you don’t enjoy social media, you don’t need to spend time on it ·      If you enjoy social media and have fun creating compelling content, it can be hugely helpful ·      If you aren’t interested in doing social media, one option is the static 9 grid on Instagram How can therapists get a more specific niche? ·      Understand that your niche may evolve over time, so go for what you know now ·      Look at what lights you up ·      Explore you own story to identify what you’ve learned and what you can share Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 05 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0000 What is Working Now in Online Marketing: An interview with Katie Read full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Katie Read on how the economy has shifted and what works for marketing has shifted. We look at how things have shifted since the pandemic and what therapists can think about now for their therapy and online businesses. Katie gives us simple strategies and clear insights on what isn’t working anymore and what to do instead. What is Working Now in Online Marketing: An interview with Katie Read Curt and Katie interview Katie Read on how the economy has shifted and what works for marketing has shifted. We look at how things have shifted since the pandemic and what therapists can think about now for their therapy and online businesses. Katie gives us simple strategies and clear insights on what isn’t working anymore and what to do instead. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapist marketing must shift post-pandemic Katie Read has been doing research into what is working in marketing for service providers. We thought we’d ask her back to talk about how the shifting economy is impacting therapists. How have the shifts in the economy changed business for therapists? ·      After the pandemic, people stopped having time for “personal growth” ·      Therapy is seen more as a luxury ·      People have lost patience for content marketing (like a very long webinar) ·      Potential clients are more likely to pay for services for a specific, acute pain point, rather than non-specific pain points or personal growth ·      Big Tech is coming into the space and becoming competitors ·      TikTok has changed attention spans, so we must market in shorter, more concise bullet points What strategies can therapists use to improve their businesses? ·      Assess the market and identify specific niches that are harder to treat by big tech ·      Capture attention by speaking directly to where it hurts, in bullet points and visuals ·      Identify problematic expectations, for example meeting someone when they are in crisis and then keeping them for personal growth (rather than expecting them to seek out personal growth work) Do therapists need to have a big social media presence? ·      Many people have been successful selling their services without a big social media following ·      If you don’t enjoy social media, you don’t need to spend time on it ·      If you enjoy social media and have fun creating compelling content, it can be hugely helpful ·      If you aren’t interested in doing social media, one option is the static 9 grid on Instagram How can therapists get a more specific niche? ·      Understand that your niche may evolve over time, so go for what you know now ·      Look at what lights you up ·      Explore you own story to identify what you’ve learned and what you can share Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What is Working Now in Online Marketing: An interview with Katie Read

Curt and Katie interview Katie Read on how the economy has shifted and what works for marketing has shifted. We look at how things have shifted since the pandemic and what therapists can think about now for their therapy and online businesses. Katie gives us simple strategies and clear insights on what isn’t working anymore and what to do instead.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapist marketing must shift post-pandemic

Katie Read has been doing research into what is working in marketing for service providers. We thought we’d ask her back to talk about how the shifting economy is impacting therapists.

How have the shifts in the economy changed business for therapists?

·      After the pandemic, people stopped having time for “personal growth”

·      Therapy is seen more as a luxury

·      People have lost patience for content marketing (like a very long webinar)

·      Potential clients are more likely to pay for services for a specific, acute pain point, rather than non-specific pain points or personal growth

·      Big Tech is coming into the space and becoming competitors

·      TikTok has changed attention spans, so we must market in shorter, more concise bullet points

What strategies can therapists use to improve their businesses?

·      Assess the market and identify specific niches that are harder to treat by big tech

·      Capture attention by speaking directly to where it hurts, in bullet points and visuals

·      Identify problematic expectations, for example meeting someone when they are in crisis and then keeping them for personal growth (rather than expecting them to seek out personal growth work)

Do therapists need to have a big social media presence?

·      Many people have been successful selling their services without a big social media following

·      If you don’t enjoy social media, you don’t need to spend time on it

·      If you enjoy social media and have fun creating compelling content, it can be hugely helpful

·      If you aren’t interested in doing social media, one option is the static 9 grid on Instagram

How can therapists get a more specific niche?

·      Understand that your niche may evolve over time, so go for what you know now

·      Look at what lights you up

·      Explore you own story to identify what you’ve learned and what you can share


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2583 What to do when supervision goes bad? A guide to supervision ruptures and repair What to do when supervision goes bad? A guide to supervision ruptures and repair Curt and Katie chat about what to do when there is a loss of trust in supervision. We explore what has already been researched (and the limitations there). We also look at what can make ruptures more likely, different types of ruptures, and how supervisors can mitigate the risk of rupture and then repair when ruptures inevitably happen. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how to address ruptures in clinical supervision Clinical supervision has the potential for errors and requires management from the supervisor to acknowledge, deal with, and repair from mistakes that could rupture the supervisory alliance. This workshop helps to identify the types of ruptures that can occur and offers a strategy on how to deal with them so that they are no longer a problem. What is the focus within the research base on clinical supervision? ·      Most of the research on supervision is focused on clinical supervision without a consideration of the employment element of the relationship ·      There is not a lot of research on supervision, much less ruptures in supervision ·      Much of the research has been from the supervisee perspective, but that is shifting ·      Without supervisors being involved in research, there is a risk of supervisors dismissing it What can make ruptures more likely in supervisory relationships? ·      Power differential within the clinical supervision relationship may lead to supervisees feeling unable to talk about mistakes that supervisors make ·      Expectations of safety and confidentiality that are not discussed or are assumed to be greater than they are, with a lack of transparency ·      Supervisors are responsible to address ruptures, but may not know about them ·      Supervisors can fall into risk management and punishment or not allowing supervisees to do anything that may challenge their skill level What can supervisors do to avoid supervisory ruptures? ·      Acknowledge the fallibility of both the supervisor and the supervisee ·      Supervisors share when they don’t know something and learn what they need to learn to support their supervisee ·      Understanding the impact of each perspective on expectations (i.e., supervisors in agencies are also impacted by the expectations that they have on them from their own supervisors) ·      Identify confrontation versus avoidance rupture risks ·      Being more transparent on the process of supervision and about the supervisor’s competence and emotional responses ·      Understanding and assessing for cultural ruptures, microaggressions, etc. Can supervisory ruptures also happen based on actions of the supervisee? ·      Yes! ·      Supervisees can misunderstand their role and not complete what is expected of them ·      Supervisees can fail to develop as a clinician ·      Supervisees may ask peers rather than their supervisor for what to do and do the wrong things How can supervisors repair the ruptures that happen in clinical supervision? ·      Setting the stage for the most positive supervisory experience ·      Cultural humility ·      Pause, Consider, Reflect, Act (C.E. Watkins, Jr.’s work) Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 29 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0000 What to do when supervision goes bad? A guide to supervision ruptures and repair full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about what to do when there is a loss of trust in supervision. We explore what has already been researched (and the limitations there). We also look at what can make ruptures more likely, different types of ruptures, and how supervisors can mitigate the risk of rupture and then repair when ruptures inevitably happen. This is a continuing education podcourse. What to do when supervision goes bad? A guide to supervision ruptures and repair Curt and Katie chat about what to do when there is a loss of trust in supervision. We explore what has already been researched (and the limitations there). We also look at what can make ruptures more likely, different types of ruptures, and how supervisors can mitigate the risk of rupture and then repair when ruptures inevitably happen. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how to address ruptures in clinical supervision Clinical supervision has the potential for errors and requires management from the supervisor to acknowledge, deal with, and repair from mistakes that could rupture the supervisory alliance. This workshop helps to identify the types of ruptures that can occur and offers a strategy on how to deal with them so that they are no longer a problem. What is the focus within the research base on clinical supervision? ·      Most of the research on supervision is focused on clinical supervision without a consideration of the employment element of the relationship ·      There is not a lot of research on supervision, much less ruptures in supervision ·      Much of the research has been from the supervisee perspective, but that is shifting ·      Without supervisors being involved in research, there is a risk of supervisors dismissing it What can make ruptures more likely in supervisory relationships? ·      Power differential within the clinical supervision relationship may lead to supervisees feeling unable to talk about mistakes that supervisors make ·      Expectations of safety and confidentiality that are not discussed or are assumed to be greater than they are, with a lack of transparency ·      Supervisors are responsible to address ruptures, but may not know about them ·      Supervisors can fall into risk management and punishment or not allowing supervisees to do anything that may challenge their skill level What can supervisors do to avoid supervisory ruptures? ·      Acknowledge the fallibility of both the supervisor and the supervisee ·      Supervisors share when they don’t know something and learn what they need to learn to support their supervisee ·      Understanding the impact of each perspective on expectations (i.e., supervisors in agencies are also impacted by the expectations that they have on them from their own supervisors) ·      Identify confrontation versus avoidance rupture risks ·      Being more transparent on the process of supervision and about the supervisor’s competence and emotional responses ·      Understanding and assessing for cultural ruptures, microaggressions, etc. Can supervisory ruptures also happen based on actions of the supervisee? ·      Yes! ·      Supervisees can misunderstand their role and not complete what is expected of them ·      Supervisees can fail to develop as a clinician ·      Supervisees may ask peers rather than their supervisor for what to do and do the wrong things How can supervisors repair the ruptures that happen in clinical supervision? ·      Setting the stage for the most positive supervisory experience ·      Cultural humility ·      Pause, Consider, Reflect, Act (C.E. Watkins, Jr.’s work) Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What to do when supervision goes bad? A guide to supervision ruptures and repair

Curt and Katie chat about what to do when there is a loss of trust in supervision. We explore what has already been researched (and the limitations there). We also look at what can make ruptures more likely, different types of ruptures, and how supervisors can mitigate the risk of rupture and then repair when ruptures inevitably happen. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how to address ruptures in clinical supervision

Clinical supervision has the potential for errors and requires management from the supervisor to acknowledge, deal with, and repair from mistakes that could rupture the supervisory alliance. This workshop helps to identify the types of ruptures that can occur and offers a strategy on how to deal with them so that they are no longer a problem.

What is the focus within the research base on clinical supervision?

·      Most of the research on supervision is focused on clinical supervision without a consideration of the employment element of the relationship

·      There is not a lot of research on supervision, much less ruptures in supervision

·      Much of the research has been from the supervisee perspective, but that is shifting

·      Without supervisors being involved in research, there is a risk of supervisors dismissing it

What can make ruptures more likely in supervisory relationships?

·      Power differential within the clinical supervision relationship may lead to supervisees feeling unable to talk about mistakes that supervisors make

·      Expectations of safety and confidentiality that are not discussed or are assumed to be greater than they are, with a lack of transparency

·      Supervisors are responsible to address ruptures, but may not know about them

·      Supervisors can fall into risk management and punishment or not allowing supervisees to do anything that may challenge their skill level

What can supervisors do to avoid supervisory ruptures?

·      Acknowledge the fallibility of both the supervisor and the supervisee

·      Supervisors share when they don’t know something and learn what they need to learn to support their supervisee

·      Understanding the impact of each perspective on expectations (i.e., supervisors in agencies are also impacted by the expectations that they have on them from their own supervisors)

·      Identify confrontation versus avoidance rupture risks

·      Being more transparent on the process of supervision and about the supervisor’s competence and emotional responses

·      Understanding and assessing for cultural ruptures, microaggressions, etc.

Can supervisory ruptures also happen based on actions of the supervisee?

·      Yes!

·      Supervisees can misunderstand their role and not complete what is expected of them

·      Supervisees can fail to develop as a clinician

·      Supervisees may ask peers rather than their supervisor for what to do and do the wrong things

How can supervisors repair the ruptures that happen in clinical supervision?

·      Setting the stage for the most positive supervisory experience

·      Cultural humility

·      Pause, Consider, Reflect, Act (C.E. Watkins, Jr.’s work)

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4652 Should We Stop Badmouthing Evidence Based Practice? An interview with Jessica Tappana, LCSW Should We Stop Badmouthing Evidence Based Practice? An interview with Jessica Tappana, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Jessica Tappana, LCSW about evidence-based practices (EBPs). We talk about what EBPs actually are and how to implement them in clinically sound and ethical ways. We look at what therapists usually get wrong about EBPs and what they can do to improve their practice. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how Evidence Based Practices work in the real world Jessica is a long-time listener of the show and a good friend of ours and has been talking with us about how we have spent too much time bad-mouthing EBPs. We decided it would be good to hash out the ideas around “manualized treatment” and how you can actually bring yourself as a clinician into the work, even when using these interventions that are backed by science. What are Evidence-Based Practices? ·      Using well-researched interventions ·      Using the expertise of the clinician ·      Understanding the needs of the clients What should therapists know about evidence-based practice? ·      There is room to implement EBP without full adherence ·      Contrasting “eclectic” from “meeting a client where they are” and pulling from other evidence-based interventions ·      The ways that EBPs are trained and studied (due to funding sources) lead to strict adherence ·      How you teach or implement the EBP can be unique to the clinicians ·      Contrasting fidelity of the model with adherence to model ·      You can bring yourself as a therapist into the room AND provide evidence-based interventions ·      Training and supervision is more challenging when you are not seeking strict adherence ·      It’s important to have time to practice therapy outside of sessions with clients What data or assessments should therapists use with Evidence Based Practices? ·      Feedback informed care (e.g., FIT) ·      Assessments of depression or anxiety consistently to see progress ·      Screening tools and measurement to track progress ·      It is important for clinicians to believe in and use the data collection Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 22 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Should We Stop Badmouthing Evidence Based Practice? An interview with Jessica Tappana, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Jessica Tappana, LCSW about evidence-based practices (EBPs). We talk about what EBPs actually are and how to implement them in clinically sound and ethical ways. We look at what therapists usually get wrong about EBPs and what they can do to improve their practice. Should We Stop Badmouthing Evidence Based Practice? An interview with Jessica Tappana, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Jessica Tappana, LCSW about evidence-based practices (EBPs). We talk about what EBPs actually are and how to implement them in clinically sound and ethical ways. We look at what therapists usually get wrong about EBPs and what they can do to improve their practice. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how Evidence Based Practices work in the real world Jessica is a long-time listener of the show and a good friend of ours and has been talking with us about how we have spent too much time bad-mouthing EBPs. We decided it would be good to hash out the ideas around “manualized treatment” and how you can actually bring yourself as a clinician into the work, even when using these interventions that are backed by science. What are Evidence-Based Practices? ·      Using well-researched interventions ·      Using the expertise of the clinician ·      Understanding the needs of the clients What should therapists know about evidence-based practice? ·      There is room to implement EBP without full adherence ·      Contrasting “eclectic” from “meeting a client where they are” and pulling from other evidence-based interventions ·      The ways that EBPs are trained and studied (due to funding sources) lead to strict adherence ·      How you teach or implement the EBP can be unique to the clinicians ·      Contrasting fidelity of the model with adherence to model ·      You can bring yourself as a therapist into the room AND provide evidence-based interventions ·      Training and supervision is more challenging when you are not seeking strict adherence ·      It’s important to have time to practice therapy outside of sessions with clients What data or assessments should therapists use with Evidence Based Practices? ·      Feedback informed care (e.g., FIT) ·      Assessments of depression or anxiety consistently to see progress ·      Screening tools and measurement to track progress ·      It is important for clinicians to believe in and use the data collection Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Should We Stop Badmouthing Evidence Based Practice? An interview with Jessica Tappana, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Jessica Tappana, LCSW about evidence-based practices (EBPs). We talk about what EBPs actually are and how to implement them in clinically sound and ethical ways. We look at what therapists usually get wrong about EBPs and what they can do to improve their practice.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how Evidence Based Practices work in the real world

Jessica is a long-time listener of the show and a good friend of ours and has been talking with us about how we have spent too much time bad-mouthing EBPs. We decided it would be good to hash out the ideas around “manualized treatment” and how you can actually bring yourself as a clinician into the work, even when using these interventions that are backed by science.

What are Evidence-Based Practices?

·      Using well-researched interventions

·      Using the expertise of the clinician

·      Understanding the needs of the clients

What should therapists know about evidence-based practice?

·      There is room to implement EBP without full adherence

·      Contrasting “eclectic” from “meeting a client where they are” and pulling from other evidence-based interventions

·      The ways that EBPs are trained and studied (due to funding sources) lead to strict adherence

·      How you teach or implement the EBP can be unique to the clinicians

·      Contrasting fidelity of the model with adherence to model

·      You can bring yourself as a therapist into the room AND provide evidence-based interventions

·      Training and supervision is more challenging when you are not seeking strict adherence

·      It’s important to have time to practice therapy outside of sessions with clients

What data or assessments should therapists use with Evidence Based Practices?

·      Feedback informed care (e.g., FIT)

·      Assessments of depression or anxiety consistently to see progress

·      Screening tools and measurement to track progress

·      It is important for clinicians to believe in and use the data collection


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2168 Two Years In: Is 988 Actually Helping People Facing Mental Health Crises? Two Years In: Is 988 Actually Helping People Facing Mental Health Crises? Curt and Katie check back with the now two-year-old program and identify what’s working and what’s not with the crisis hotline. There is data that it is 98% but there are also concerns that have been raised. We look at reports of data sharing without transparency, increases in police involvement and involuntary hospitalization, and inconsistently (and potentially inadequately) trained hotline workers. We also explore what therapists can do to support clients who might need this resource. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about what is work and what is not working with 988 Katie became concerned about data use and how well 988 is working after seeing some articles from Mad in America. Curt and Katie thought it would be good to dig a little deeper into what is actually happening with this newer crisis hotline. What are concerns being raised about 988 at this point? ·      Data sharing with a lack of transparency ·      Different definitions of confidential and confidentiality ·      There is not really a guarantee that you can remain anonymous ·      Increase of involuntary hospitalization and police involvement ·      Lack of infrastructure and lack of local resources to manage crisis response ·      Callers may be routed to the call center nearest to their area code, not current location ·      Not advertising 988 in high population areas because they will get calls no matter where their community members are due to their area codes ·      Training of the hotline workers is inconsistent and may not be sufficient ·      Lack of funding to make improvements and develop new resources What are the risks when someone calls 988? ·      The call center staff may not have training to deal with the caller’s issues ·      Responses on the call line may be overly focused on psychoeducation ·      Lack of time for each caller (without assurance that callers get time to talk through the concerns that led them to call) ·      There is a possibility that there will be responses that are truly unhelpful to the caller ·      Incarceration or involuntary hospitalization ·      Inconsistent follow up if calls are dropped or callers disengage What should therapists be aware of as they navigate 988 at this time? ·      They are reporting a 98% success rate, so this is a resource worth considering ·      Make sure your clients understand what to use 988 for ·      Help your clients to assess the risks and benefits of calling ·      Work to increase the transparency about data sharing, confidentiality and anonymity ·      There is advocacy needed to improve 988 as a resource Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 15 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Two Years In: Is 988 Actually Helping People Facing Mental Health Crises? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie check back with the now two-year-old program and identify what’s working and what’s not with the crisis hotline. There is data that it is 98% but there are also concerns that have been raised. We look at reports of data sharing without transparency, increases in police involvement and involuntary hospitalization, and inconsistently (and potentially inadequately) trained hotline workers. We also explore what therapists can do to support clients who might need this resource. Two Years In: Is 988 Actually Helping People Facing Mental Health Crises? Curt and Katie check back with the now two-year-old program and identify what’s working and what’s not with the crisis hotline. There is data that it is 98% but there are also concerns that have been raised. We look at reports of data sharing without transparency, increases in police involvement and involuntary hospitalization, and inconsistently (and potentially inadequately) trained hotline workers. We also explore what therapists can do to support clients who might need this resource. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about what is work and what is not working with 988 Katie became concerned about data use and how well 988 is working after seeing some articles from Mad in America. Curt and Katie thought it would be good to dig a little deeper into what is actually happening with this newer crisis hotline. What are concerns being raised about 988 at this point? ·      Data sharing with a lack of transparency ·      Different definitions of confidential and confidentiality ·      There is not really a guarantee that you can remain anonymous ·      Increase of involuntary hospitalization and police involvement ·      Lack of infrastructure and lack of local resources to manage crisis response ·      Callers may be routed to the call center nearest to their area code, not current location ·      Not advertising 988 in high population areas because they will get calls no matter where their community members are due to their area codes ·      Training of the hotline workers is inconsistent and may not be sufficient ·      Lack of funding to make improvements and develop new resources What are the risks when someone calls 988? ·      The call center staff may not have training to deal with the caller’s issues ·      Responses on the call line may be overly focused on psychoeducation ·      Lack of time for each caller (without assurance that callers get time to talk through the concerns that led them to call) ·      There is a possibility that there will be responses that are truly unhelpful to the caller ·      Incarceration or involuntary hospitalization ·      Inconsistent follow up if calls are dropped or callers disengage What should therapists be aware of as they navigate 988 at this time? ·      They are reporting a 98% success rate, so this is a resource worth considering ·      Make sure your clients understand what to use 988 for ·      Help your clients to assess the risks and benefits of calling ·      Work to increase the transparency about data sharing, confidentiality and anonymity ·      There is advocacy needed to improve 988 as a resource Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Two Years In: Is 988 Actually Helping People Facing Mental Health Crises?

Curt and Katie check back with the now two-year-old program and identify what’s working and what’s not with the crisis hotline. There is data that it is 98% but there are also concerns that have been raised. We look at reports of data sharing without transparency, increases in police involvement and involuntary hospitalization, and inconsistently (and potentially inadequately) trained hotline workers. We also explore what therapists can do to support clients who might need this resource.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about what is work and what is not working with 988

Katie became concerned about data use and how well 988 is working after seeing some articles from Mad in America. Curt and Katie thought it would be good to dig a little deeper into what is actually happening with this newer crisis hotline.

What are concerns being raised about 988 at this point?

·      Data sharing with a lack of transparency

·      Different definitions of confidential and confidentiality

·      There is not really a guarantee that you can remain anonymous

·      Increase of involuntary hospitalization and police involvement

·      Lack of infrastructure and lack of local resources to manage crisis response

·      Callers may be routed to the call center nearest to their area code, not current location

·      Not advertising 988 in high population areas because they will get calls no matter where their community members are due to their area codes

·      Training of the hotline workers is inconsistent and may not be sufficient

·      Lack of funding to make improvements and develop new resources

What are the risks when someone calls 988?

·      The call center staff may not have training to deal with the caller’s issues

·      Responses on the call line may be overly focused on psychoeducation

·      Lack of time for each caller (without assurance that callers get time to talk through the concerns that led them to call)

·      There is a possibility that there will be responses that are truly unhelpful to the caller

·      Incarceration or involuntary hospitalization

·      Inconsistent follow up if calls are dropped or callers disengage

What should therapists be aware of as they navigate 988 at this time?

·      They are reporting a 98% success rate, so this is a resource worth considering

·      Make sure your clients understand what to use 988 for

·      Help your clients to assess the risks and benefits of calling

·      Work to increase the transparency about data sharing, confidentiality and anonymity

·      There is advocacy needed to improve 988 as a resource


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2253 Don’t Let TikTok Fool You – Being a Therapist is Hard Work: An interview with Sandra Kushnir, LMFT and Anita Avedian, LMFT Don’t Let TikTok Fool You – Being a Therapist is Hard Work: An interview with Sandra Kushnir, LMFT and Anita Avedian, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Sandra Kushner and Anita Avedian about how the therapy business works now. We talk about how the profession and those who are entering it has changed over the years. We look at what new therapists can expect when they join a group practice, pushing back against some of the broadly held misconceptions of what it is like to be a therapist today. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about what new therapists can expect when entering the field We invited Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir to come talk about their latest endeavor: a course called Degree to Practice. What are the misconceptions new therapists have about what it looks like to work as a therapist? ·      There is a difference between desired caseload and the capacity to earn money and hours toward licensure ·      Expectations don’t seem to be realistic and seem to be impacted by conversations about burnout ·      These expectations are being set by grad school, social media, coaching programs ·      There doesn’t seem to be an understanding about what it takes to build a practice and what group practice owners are doing to create these workplaces ·      Therapists will need to learn how to work with clients that they are not comfortable with ·      Developing expertise is essential for attracting clients – be the best at what you do ·      Part of developing expertise is learning how to address higher risk with all clients What can therapists expect when they join a group private practice? ·      The best group practice owners will have transparency and clarity around expectations ·      Often there will be a minimum caseload (Sandra and Anita both require a minimum of 20 clients per week) ·      There is an overhead for each therapist, so therapists will not earn the full amount they are charging ·      Insurance or sliding fee practices will need to pay therapists less than private pay practices due to the income available ·      In many private practices, it will take some time to build a caseload, which means that it will take time to gain consistent income ·      Some group practices will teach you how to run your own practice, some will just provide a space for doing clinical work ·      Looking at practical limits as “task conflict” rather than “relational conflict” – for example, pay is a factor of the business’ needs and capacity, not a personal evaluation of someone’s worth Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 08 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Don’t Let TikTok Fool You – Being a Therapist is Hard Work: An interview with Sandra Kushnir, LMFT and Anita Avedian, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Sandra Kushner and Anita Avedian about how the therapy business works now. We talk about how the profession and those who are entering it has changed over the years. We look at what new therapists can expect when they join a group practice, pushing back against some of the broadly held misconceptions of what it is like to be a therapist today. Don’t Let TikTok Fool You – Being a Therapist is Hard Work: An interview with Sandra Kushnir, LMFT and Anita Avedian, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Sandra Kushner and Anita Avedian about how the therapy business works now. We talk about how the profession and those who are entering it has changed over the years. We look at what new therapists can expect when they join a group practice, pushing back against some of the broadly held misconceptions of what it is like to be a therapist today. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about what new therapists can expect when entering the field We invited Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir to come talk about their latest endeavor: a course called Degree to Practice. What are the misconceptions new therapists have about what it looks like to work as a therapist? ·      There is a difference between desired caseload and the capacity to earn money and hours toward licensure ·      Expectations don’t seem to be realistic and seem to be impacted by conversations about burnout ·      These expectations are being set by grad school, social media, coaching programs ·      There doesn’t seem to be an understanding about what it takes to build a practice and what group practice owners are doing to create these workplaces ·      Therapists will need to learn how to work with clients that they are not comfortable with ·      Developing expertise is essential for attracting clients – be the best at what you do ·      Part of developing expertise is learning how to address higher risk with all clients What can therapists expect when they join a group private practice? ·      The best group practice owners will have transparency and clarity around expectations ·      Often there will be a minimum caseload (Sandra and Anita both require a minimum of 20 clients per week) ·      There is an overhead for each therapist, so therapists will not earn the full amount they are charging ·      Insurance or sliding fee practices will need to pay therapists less than private pay practices due to the income available ·      In many private practices, it will take some time to build a caseload, which means that it will take time to gain consistent income ·      Some group practices will teach you how to run your own practice, some will just provide a space for doing clinical work ·      Looking at practical limits as “task conflict” rather than “relational conflict” – for example, pay is a factor of the business’ needs and capacity, not a personal evaluation of someone’s worth Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Don’t Let TikTok Fool You – Being a Therapist is Hard Work: An interview with Sandra Kushnir, LMFT and Anita Avedian, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Sandra Kushner and Anita Avedian about how the therapy business works now. We talk about how the profession and those who are entering it has changed over the years. We look at what new therapists can expect when they join a group practice, pushing back against some of the broadly held misconceptions of what it is like to be a therapist today.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about what new therapists can expect when entering the field

We invited Anita Avedian and Sandra Kushnir to come talk about their latest endeavor: a course called Degree to Practice.

What are the misconceptions new therapists have about what it looks like to work as a therapist?

·      There is a difference between desired caseload and the capacity to earn money and hours toward licensure

·      Expectations don’t seem to be realistic and seem to be impacted by conversations about burnout

·      These expectations are being set by grad school, social media, coaching programs

·      There doesn’t seem to be an understanding about what it takes to build a practice and what group practice owners are doing to create these workplaces

·      Therapists will need to learn how to work with clients that they are not comfortable with

·      Developing expertise is essential for attracting clients – be the best at what you do

·      Part of developing expertise is learning how to address higher risk with all clients

What can therapists expect when they join a group private practice?

·      The best group practice owners will have transparency and clarity around expectations

·      Often there will be a minimum caseload (Sandra and Anita both require a minimum of 20 clients per week)

·      There is an overhead for each therapist, so therapists will not earn the full amount they are charging

·      Insurance or sliding fee practices will need to pay therapists less than private pay practices due to the income available

·      In many private practices, it will take some time to build a caseload, which means that it will take time to gain consistent income

·      Some group practices will teach you how to run your own practice, some will just provide a space for doing clinical work

·      Looking at practical limits as “task conflict” rather than “relational conflict” – for example, pay is a factor of the business’ needs and capacity, not a personal evaluation of someone’s worth

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2561 No Cap: It’s Time to Glow Up Your Teen Therapy Skills No Cap: It’s Time to Glow Up Your Teen Therapy Skills Curt and Katie chat about how to work effectively with teen clients. We look at what adults often get wrong about teens as well as how therapists can develop real relationships with their teen clients. We also look at the differences that can show up in how you do therapy with teens. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about effective therapy with teenaged clients Curt and Katie have both specialized in working with teens at different points in their careers and figured they should share what they’ve learned to support other therapists who’d like to work with teens. What do therapists (and caregivers) get wrong about teenagers? ·       You won’t reach teens if you treat them like behavioral problems to solve ·       It is helpful to show teens that they will be listened to, rather than just subject to whatever their parents or caregivers want them to do in therapy ·       Therapists can seem less authentic if they try to be “the cool therapist” What is needed in an effective therapeutic alliance with teen therapy clients? ·       Identifying what the teen needs from the therapist (e.g., confidant, older sibling, parental type) ·       Authenticity is key as teens will often see through it if you’re not ·       Defining boundaries of the relationship ·       Looking toward client autonomy ·       Showing stability and constancy ·       Encouraging safety and agency ·       Being a trusted, consistent adult What are differences in therapy with teens and adults? ·       Having caregivers involved in schedule and decision-making, having a huge impact on teens ·       Therapy for teens is often a relationship where identity can be tested ·       Therapists can be an outside voice for both teens and adults, but teens may need this more ·       Caregivers are more likely to be a part of treatment for teens Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0000 No Cap: It’s Time to Glow Up Your Teen Therapy Skills full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how to work effectively with teen clients. We look at what adults often get wrong about teens as well as how therapists can develop real relationships with their teen clients. We also look at the differences that can show up in how you do therapy with teens. No Cap: It’s Time to Glow Up Your Teen Therapy Skills Curt and Katie chat about how to work effectively with teen clients. We look at what adults often get wrong about teens as well as how therapists can develop real relationships with their teen clients. We also look at the differences that can show up in how you do therapy with teens. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about effective therapy with teenaged clients Curt and Katie have both specialized in working with teens at different points in their careers and figured they should share what they’ve learned to support other therapists who’d like to work with teens. What do therapists (and caregivers) get wrong about teenagers? ·       You won’t reach teens if you treat them like behavioral problems to solve ·       It is helpful to show teens that they will be listened to, rather than just subject to whatever their parents or caregivers want them to do in therapy ·       Therapists can seem less authentic if they try to be “the cool therapist” What is needed in an effective therapeutic alliance with teen therapy clients? ·       Identifying what the teen needs from the therapist (e.g., confidant, older sibling, parental type) ·       Authenticity is key as teens will often see through it if you’re not ·       Defining boundaries of the relationship ·       Looking toward client autonomy ·       Showing stability and constancy ·       Encouraging safety and agency ·       Being a trusted, consistent adult What are differences in therapy with teens and adults? ·       Having caregivers involved in schedule and decision-making, having a huge impact on teens ·       Therapy for teens is often a relationship where identity can be tested ·       Therapists can be an outside voice for both teens and adults, but teens may need this more ·       Caregivers are more likely to be a part of treatment for teens Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ No Cap: It’s Time to Glow Up Your Teen Therapy Skills

Curt and Katie chat about how to work effectively with teen clients. We look at what adults often get wrong about teens as well as how therapists can develop real relationships with their teen clients. We also look at the differences that can show up in how you do therapy with teens.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about effective therapy with teenaged clients

Curt and Katie have both specialized in working with teens at different points in their careers and figured they should share what they’ve learned to support other therapists who’d like to work with teens.

What do therapists (and caregivers) get wrong about teenagers?

·       You won’t reach teens if you treat them like behavioral problems to solve

·       It is helpful to show teens that they will be listened to, rather than just subject to whatever their parents or caregivers want them to do in therapy

·       Therapists can seem less authentic if they try to be “the cool therapist”

What is needed in an effective therapeutic alliance with teen therapy clients?

·       Identifying what the teen needs from the therapist (e.g., confidant, older sibling, parental type)

·       Authenticity is key as teens will often see through it if you’re not

·       Defining boundaries of the relationship

·       Looking toward client autonomy

·       Showing stability and constancy

·       Encouraging safety and agency

·       Being a trusted, consistent adult

What are differences in therapy with teens and adults?

·       Having caregivers involved in schedule and decision-making, having a huge impact on teens

·       Therapy for teens is often a relationship where identity can be tested

·       Therapists can be an outside voice for both teens and adults, but teens may need this more

·       Caregivers are more likely to be a part of treatment for teens

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2336 More Than Cogs in the Machine: Bringing trauma-informed principles into the workplace More Than Cogs in the Machine: Bringing trauma-informed principles into the workplace Curt and Katie chat about trauma-informed workplaces. We explore what a trauma informed workplace is, why it is important to implement, and how best to do so. We also explore some practical challenges to creating a trauma-informed workplace and ideas for how to handle these challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how to create a trauma-informed workplace People affected by trauma are expected to perform in the workplace, but often have difficulty with environments that treat them as replaceable. This can lead to employee underperformance, burnout, and turnover in the workforce. Healthy interactions with the workplace can help both the individual and corporate performance. This workshop addresses principles and practices that allow for employers to create a trauma informed workplace. What is a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Remembering that all workers are human ·       Collaboration and encouraging autonomy for employees ·       Acknowledging that trauma exists for everyone ·       Trauma is addressed in the workplace (e.g., mitigating secondary or vicarious trauma) ·       4 R’s of Trauma can give guidance to how to identify and respond to trauma ·       Supportive policies go beyond self-care ·       There is a systemic mechanism to support staff and improve ·       Based in trust and trustworthiness What are the risks of not having a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Lower employee productivity, lower quality work ·       Higher levels of burnout, absenteeism, presenteeism ·       Recreating past traumas when we’re not aware of the dynamics in play How can therapists create and benefit from a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Create supportive policies and procedures ·       Evaluate how well trauma informed principles are being implemented ·       We discuss an evaluation tool for this purpose ·       CTIPP Toolkit (Campaign for Trauma Informed Practice and Policies) ·       Acknowledge shared humanity ·       Creating connection and collaboration between team members ·       This may be something that needs to be repaired or built within a workplace that has problems ·       Understanding how to build, sustain trust, and effectively take feedback and implement it ·       Transparency and accountability What are some challenges in implementing a Trauma-Informed Workplace? ·       Very challenging conversations needing repeated repair ·       Avoiding conversations about trauma ·       Digging deeply into emotional life of employees (i.e., with the potential of HR violations) ·       Practical limitations to what employers can provide to their employees ·       Us versus them mentalities and not seeing opportunities to collaborate Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0000 More Than Cogs in the Machine: Bringing trauma-informed principles into the workplace full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about trauma-informed workplaces. We explore what a trauma informed workplace is, why it is important to implement, and how best to do so. We also explore some practical challenges to creating a trauma-informed workplace and ideas for how to handle these challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse. More Than Cogs in the Machine: Bringing trauma-informed principles into the workplace Curt and Katie chat about trauma-informed workplaces. We explore what a trauma informed workplace is, why it is important to implement, and how best to do so. We also explore some practical challenges to creating a trauma-informed workplace and ideas for how to handle these challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how to create a trauma-informed workplace People affected by trauma are expected to perform in the workplace, but often have difficulty with environments that treat them as replaceable. This can lead to employee underperformance, burnout, and turnover in the workforce. Healthy interactions with the workplace can help both the individual and corporate performance. This workshop addresses principles and practices that allow for employers to create a trauma informed workplace. What is a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Remembering that all workers are human ·       Collaboration and encouraging autonomy for employees ·       Acknowledging that trauma exists for everyone ·       Trauma is addressed in the workplace (e.g., mitigating secondary or vicarious trauma) ·       4 R’s of Trauma can give guidance to how to identify and respond to trauma ·       Supportive policies go beyond self-care ·       There is a systemic mechanism to support staff and improve ·       Based in trust and trustworthiness What are the risks of not having a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Lower employee productivity, lower quality work ·       Higher levels of burnout, absenteeism, presenteeism ·       Recreating past traumas when we’re not aware of the dynamics in play How can therapists create and benefit from a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Create supportive policies and procedures ·       Evaluate how well trauma informed principles are being implemented ·       We discuss an evaluation tool for this purpose ·       CTIPP Toolkit (Campaign for Trauma Informed Practice and Policies) ·       Acknowledge shared humanity ·       Creating connection and collaboration between team members ·       This may be something that needs to be repaired or built within a workplace that has problems ·       Understanding how to build, sustain trust, and effectively take feedback and implement it ·       Transparency and accountability What are some challenges in implementing a Trauma-Informed Workplace? ·       Very challenging conversations needing repeated repair ·       Avoiding conversations about trauma ·       Digging deeply into emotional life of employees (i.e., with the potential of HR violations) ·       Practical limitations to what employers can provide to their employees ·       Us versus them mentalities and not seeing opportunities to collaborate Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   More Than Cogs in the Machine: Bringing trauma-informed principles into the workplace

Curt and Katie chat about trauma-informed workplaces. We explore what a trauma informed workplace is, why it is important to implement, and how best to do so. We also explore some practical challenges to creating a trauma-informed workplace and ideas for how to handle these challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how to create a trauma-informed workplace

People affected by trauma are expected to perform in the workplace, but often have difficulty with environments that treat them as replaceable. This can lead to employee underperformance, burnout, and turnover in the workforce. Healthy interactions with the workplace can help both the individual and corporate performance. This workshop addresses principles and practices that allow for employers to create a trauma informed workplace.

What is a trauma-informed workplace?

·       Remembering that all workers are human

·       Collaboration and encouraging autonomy for employees

·       Acknowledging that trauma exists for everyone

·       Trauma is addressed in the workplace (e.g., mitigating secondary or vicarious trauma)

·       4 R’s of Trauma can give guidance to how to identify and respond to trauma

·       Supportive policies go beyond self-care

·       There is a systemic mechanism to support staff and improve

·       Based in trust and trustworthiness

What are the risks of not having a trauma-informed workplace?

·       Lower employee productivity, lower quality work

·       Higher levels of burnout, absenteeism, presenteeism

·       Recreating past traumas when we’re not aware of the dynamics in play

How can therapists create and benefit from a trauma-informed workplace?

·       Create supportive policies and procedures

·       Evaluate how well trauma informed principles are being implemented

·       We discuss an evaluation tool for this purpose

·       CTIPP Toolkit (Campaign for Trauma Informed Practice and Policies)

·       Acknowledge shared humanity

·       Creating connection and collaboration between team members

·       This may be something that needs to be repaired or built within a workplace that has problems

·       Understanding how to build, sustain trust, and effectively take feedback and implement it

·       Transparency and accountability

What are some challenges in implementing a Trauma-Informed Workplace?

·       Very challenging conversations needing repeated repair

·       Avoiding conversations about trauma

·       Digging deeply into emotional life of employees (i.e., with the potential of HR violations)

·       Practical limitations to what employers can provide to their employees

·       Us versus them mentalities and not seeing opportunities to collaborate

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 4179 Pursuing Happiness as a Therapist: An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Pursuing Happiness as a Therapist: An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewis, LMFT, about how he makes his career more sustainable. We look at his current philosophies around low effort, alignment, and fun. We also explore how he was able to initially able temper his expectations, work through misaligned paths, and pivot when needed. Finally, we talk about what it looks like behind the scenes to pursue a number of different revenue and marketing streams. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how to make a sustainable therapy career We invited Stevon Lewis back to talk about creating a sustainable career, even if it means pivoting and rebuilding your career or your brand. How can you build a positive and sustainable career as a therapist? ·      It’s important to assess your performance, your level of happiness, etc. ·      Don’t be afraid to pivot ·      Assess if you are working too hard or are misaligned with the work ·      Determine whether your unease is due to lack of skill or misalignment ·      Frame assessment based on practical evaluation versus moving to “I’m a failure” When can you actually make choices that serve you better as a therapist? ·      Initial career choices may not be as ideal as one would like ·      It is important to temper your expectations to your current situation ·      Many therapists start in community mental health and may not be able to choose who we see and what we do ·      Be flexible and open to working with less than ideal clients, identify the learning opportunities ·      There is a ramp up and a building up of a caseload and career that takes time ·      Understand that pivoting is part of the journey because we don’t know what we’re good at or what we’re going to like How do therapist influencers work effectively? ·      There can be a lot of effort behind the scenes ·      Delegating and contracting out elements of the work can be helpful ·      Efficiency is important to be able to do a bunch of different things to be successful ·      Stevon talks about how he does his “low effort” version of social media posting and interaction ·      Looking at the minimum effort for maximum result ·      Accept doing what you need to do to get the results you would like (not comparing to all others) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 17 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Pursuing Happiness as a Therapist: An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewis, LMFT, about how he makes his career more sustainable. We look at his current philosophies around low effort, alignment, and fun. We also explore how he was able to initially able temper his expectations, work through misaligned paths, and pivot when needed. Finally, we talk about what it looks like behind the scenes to pursue a number of different revenue and marketing streams. Pursuing Happiness as a Therapist: An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewis, LMFT, about how he makes his career more sustainable. We look at his current philosophies around low effort, alignment, and fun. We also explore how he was able to initially able temper his expectations, work through misaligned paths, and pivot when needed. Finally, we talk about what it looks like behind the scenes to pursue a number of different revenue and marketing streams. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how to make a sustainable therapy career We invited Stevon Lewis back to talk about creating a sustainable career, even if it means pivoting and rebuilding your career or your brand. How can you build a positive and sustainable career as a therapist? ·      It’s important to assess your performance, your level of happiness, etc. ·      Don’t be afraid to pivot ·      Assess if you are working too hard or are misaligned with the work ·      Determine whether your unease is due to lack of skill or misalignment ·      Frame assessment based on practical evaluation versus moving to “I’m a failure” When can you actually make choices that serve you better as a therapist? ·      Initial career choices may not be as ideal as one would like ·      It is important to temper your expectations to your current situation ·      Many therapists start in community mental health and may not be able to choose who we see and what we do ·      Be flexible and open to working with less than ideal clients, identify the learning opportunities ·      There is a ramp up and a building up of a caseload and career that takes time ·      Understand that pivoting is part of the journey because we don’t know what we’re good at or what we’re going to like How do therapist influencers work effectively? ·      There can be a lot of effort behind the scenes ·      Delegating and contracting out elements of the work can be helpful ·      Efficiency is important to be able to do a bunch of different things to be successful ·      Stevon talks about how he does his “low effort” version of social media posting and interaction ·      Looking at the minimum effort for maximum result ·      Accept doing what you need to do to get the results you would like (not comparing to all others) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Pursuing Happiness as a Therapist: An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewis, LMFT, about how he makes his career more sustainable. We look at his current philosophies around low effort, alignment, and fun. We also explore how he was able to initially able temper his expectations, work through misaligned paths, and pivot when needed. Finally, we talk about what it looks like behind the scenes to pursue a number of different revenue and marketing streams.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how to make a sustainable therapy career

We invited Stevon Lewis back to talk about creating a sustainable career, even if it means pivoting and rebuilding your career or your brand.

How can you build a positive and sustainable career as a therapist?

·      It’s important to assess your performance, your level of happiness, etc.

·      Don’t be afraid to pivot

·      Assess if you are working too hard or are misaligned with the work

·      Determine whether your unease is due to lack of skill or misalignment

·      Frame assessment based on practical evaluation versus moving to “I’m a failure”

When can you actually make choices that serve you better as a therapist?

·      Initial career choices may not be as ideal as one would like

·      It is important to temper your expectations to your current situation

·      Many therapists start in community mental health and may not be able to choose who we see and what we do

·      Be flexible and open to working with less than ideal clients, identify the learning opportunities

·      There is a ramp up and a building up of a caseload and career that takes time

·      Understand that pivoting is part of the journey because we don’t know what we’re good at or what we’re going to like

How do therapist influencers work effectively?

·      There can be a lot of effort behind the scenes

·      Delegating and contracting out elements of the work can be helpful

·      Efficiency is important to be able to do a bunch of different things to be successful

·      Stevon talks about how he does his “low effort” version of social media posting and interaction

·      Looking at the minimum effort for maximum result

·      Accept doing what you need to do to get the results you would like (not comparing to all others)


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2345 yes On The Move: How Run Walk Talk Therapy Reshapes Mental Health An interview with Sepideh Saremi, LCSW On The Move: How Run Walk Talk Therapy Reshapes Mental Health An interview with Sepideh Saremi, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Sepideh Saremi, LCSW, on her therapy model, Run Walk Talk. We look at the practicalities and clinical benefit of including movement (specifically running and walking) in therapy. We talk about the principles of movement as method, movement as modulator, and movement as metaphor. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore running in a therapy session We invited Sepideh Saremi to talk about how she works as a therapist. She started running and walking with her clients in 2014 and is now teaching other therapists how to effectively bring these types of movement into therapy.  How does it work to add running or other forms of movement to therapy? ·      Movement as method (nuts and bolts, practicalities) ·      Movement as modulator (addressing the nervous system) ·      Movement as metaphor How can a therapist explain running or walk and talk therapy to a client? ·      The purpose of running or walking in therapy is not for the cardio benefits ·      Running and walking in therapy can help clients to connect to self and therapist ·      Run Walk Talk can also make therapy more accessible for some clients What are the practicalities and benefits of running in a psychotherapy session? ·      Running at a conversation pace ·      Paying attention to the physical interaction ·      Creating an embodied experience ·      Assessing pace and self-care ·      Mindfulness and awareness ·      How to address confidentiality ·      Using the environment clinically ·      The benefits of being outside ·      The relational elements are important in this type of therapy ·      Handling liability when working with clients outside and movement Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0000 On The Move: How Run Walk Talk Therapy Reshapes Mental Health An interview with Sepideh Saremi, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Sepideh Saremi, LCSW, on her therapy model, Run Walk Talk. We look at the practicalities and clinical benefit of including movement (specifically running and walking) in therapy. We talk about the principles of movement as method, movement as modulator, and movement as metaphor. On The Move: How Run Walk Talk Therapy Reshapes Mental Health An interview with Sepideh Saremi, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Sepideh Saremi, LCSW, on her therapy model, Run Walk Talk. We look at the practicalities and clinical benefit of including movement (specifically running and walking) in therapy. We talk about the principles of movement as method, movement as modulator, and movement as metaphor. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore running in a therapy session We invited Sepideh Saremi to talk about how she works as a therapist. She started running and walking with her clients in 2014 and is now teaching other therapists how to effectively bring these types of movement into therapy.  How does it work to add running or other forms of movement to therapy? ·      Movement as method (nuts and bolts, practicalities) ·      Movement as modulator (addressing the nervous system) ·      Movement as metaphor How can a therapist explain running or walk and talk therapy to a client? ·      The purpose of running or walking in therapy is not for the cardio benefits ·      Running and walking in therapy can help clients to connect to self and therapist ·      Run Walk Talk can also make therapy more accessible for some clients What are the practicalities and benefits of running in a psychotherapy session? ·      Running at a conversation pace ·      Paying attention to the physical interaction ·      Creating an embodied experience ·      Assessing pace and self-care ·      Mindfulness and awareness ·      How to address confidentiality ·      Using the environment clinically ·      The benefits of being outside ·      The relational elements are important in this type of therapy ·      Handling liability when working with clients outside and movement Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ On The Move: How Run Walk Talk Therapy Reshapes Mental Health An interview with Sepideh Saremi, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Sepideh Saremi, LCSW, on her therapy model, Run Walk Talk. We look at the practicalities and clinical benefit of including movement (specifically running and walking) in therapy. We talk about the principles of movement as method, movement as modulator, and movement as metaphor.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we explore running in a therapy session

We invited Sepideh Saremi to talk about how she works as a therapist. She started running and walking with her clients in 2014 and is now teaching other therapists how to effectively bring these types of movement into therapy.

 How does it work to add running or other forms of movement to therapy?

·      Movement as method (nuts and bolts, practicalities)

·      Movement as modulator (addressing the nervous system)

·      Movement as metaphor

How can a therapist explain running or walk and talk therapy to a client?

·      The purpose of running or walking in therapy is not for the cardio benefits

·      Running and walking in therapy can help clients to connect to self and therapist

·      Run Walk Talk can also make therapy more accessible for some clients

What are the practicalities and benefits of running in a psychotherapy session?

·      Running at a conversation pace

·      Paying attention to the physical interaction

·      Creating an embodied experience

·      Assessing pace and self-care

·      Mindfulness and awareness

·      How to address confidentiality

·      Using the environment clinically

·      The benefits of being outside

·      The relational elements are important in this type of therapy

·      Handling liability when working with clients outside and movement

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2341 What Can Therapists Do About the Loneliness Epidemic? What Can Therapists Do About the Loneliness Epidemic? Curt and Katie chat about loneliness as a presenting problem in therapy. We explore the misconceptions about loneliness and how therapists often go to fix the problem rather than understand the problem. We also look at the clinical considerations, including gender differences, the impact of Covid-19, and the changes in how people socialize. Finally, we identify treatment strategies to support individuals struggling with loneliness.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists support clients who are lonely There is a loneliness epidemic that is coming into the therapy room a lot and we’ve heard from clients, colleagues, and friends that the first response is “fix it.” We don’t think that’s the strongest move, so we dive into how therapists can more effectively support individuals who are lonely. What are misconceptions about loneliness? ·      It is a normal human feeling and doesn’t always need to be fixed ·      Loneliness is not always related to major depression ·      Loneliness is not the same as isolation, nor is it the same as solitude What are considerations related to loneliness and socialization? ·      The impact of Covid-19 on individuals and on socialization ·      The changes in how people socialize in the modern age ·      Cognitive distortions when one socializes ·      Attachment wounds and differences in how people relate to others ·      Gender differences in connection and expectations about roles in relationships How can a therapist explore with a client their relationship with loneliness? ·      Looking at what people need when feeling loneliness ·      Exploring how understood and seen one feels within their relationships ·      Sorting how one can get their needs met with what is available to them What are the practical considerations needed to address loneliness? ·      Identifying ways to connect with others that fits into time and money parameters ·      Going beyond similar interests and how to find people to truly connect with ·      Exploring coping skills, rejection sensitivity, and self-confidence to set one up for success ·      Looking at how to test new experiences, fail and rebound or succeed and build Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0000 What Can Therapists Do About the Loneliness Epidemic? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about loneliness as a presenting problem in therapy. We explore the misconceptions about loneliness and how therapists often go to fix the problem rather than understand the problem. We also look at the clinical considerations, including gender differences, the impact of Covid-19, and the changes in how people socialize. Finally, we identify treatment strategies to support individuals struggling with loneliness. What Can Therapists Do About the Loneliness Epidemic? Curt and Katie chat about loneliness as a presenting problem in therapy. We explore the misconceptions about loneliness and how therapists often go to fix the problem rather than understand the problem. We also look at the clinical considerations, including gender differences, the impact of Covid-19, and the changes in how people socialize. Finally, we identify treatment strategies to support individuals struggling with loneliness.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists support clients who are lonely There is a loneliness epidemic that is coming into the therapy room a lot and we’ve heard from clients, colleagues, and friends that the first response is “fix it.” We don’t think that’s the strongest move, so we dive into how therapists can more effectively support individuals who are lonely. What are misconceptions about loneliness? ·      It is a normal human feeling and doesn’t always need to be fixed ·      Loneliness is not always related to major depression ·      Loneliness is not the same as isolation, nor is it the same as solitude What are considerations related to loneliness and socialization? ·      The impact of Covid-19 on individuals and on socialization ·      The changes in how people socialize in the modern age ·      Cognitive distortions when one socializes ·      Attachment wounds and differences in how people relate to others ·      Gender differences in connection and expectations about roles in relationships How can a therapist explore with a client their relationship with loneliness? ·      Looking at what people need when feeling loneliness ·      Exploring how understood and seen one feels within their relationships ·      Sorting how one can get their needs met with what is available to them What are the practical considerations needed to address loneliness? ·      Identifying ways to connect with others that fits into time and money parameters ·      Going beyond similar interests and how to find people to truly connect with ·      Exploring coping skills, rejection sensitivity, and self-confidence to set one up for success ·      Looking at how to test new experiences, fail and rebound or succeed and build Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Can Therapists Do About the Loneliness Epidemic?

Curt and Katie chat about loneliness as a presenting problem in therapy. We explore the misconceptions about loneliness and how therapists often go to fix the problem rather than understand the problem. We also look at the clinical considerations, including gender differences, the impact of Covid-19, and the changes in how people socialize. Finally, we identify treatment strategies to support individuals struggling with loneliness.  

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists support clients who are lonely

There is a loneliness epidemic that is coming into the therapy room a lot and we’ve heard from clients, colleagues, and friends that the first response is “fix it.” We don’t think that’s the strongest move, so we dive into how therapists can more effectively support individuals who are lonely.

What are misconceptions about loneliness?

·      It is a normal human feeling and doesn’t always need to be fixed

·      Loneliness is not always related to major depression

·      Loneliness is not the same as isolation, nor is it the same as solitude

What are considerations related to loneliness and socialization?

·      The impact of Covid-19 on individuals and on socialization

·      The changes in how people socialize in the modern age

·      Cognitive distortions when one socializes

·      Attachment wounds and differences in how people relate to others

·      Gender differences in connection and expectations about roles in relationships

How can a therapist explore with a client their relationship with loneliness?

·      Looking at what people need when feeling loneliness

·      Exploring how understood and seen one feels within their relationships

·      Sorting how one can get their needs met with what is available to them

What are the practical considerations needed to address loneliness?

·      Identifying ways to connect with others that fits into time and money parameters

·      Going beyond similar interests and how to find people to truly connect with

·      Exploring coping skills, rejection sensitivity, and self-confidence to set one up for success

·      Looking at how to test new experiences, fail and rebound or succeed and build


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1963 When Doing “No Harm” Isn’t Good Enough: Bringing beneficence to your clients When Doing “No Harm” Isn’t Good Enough: Bringing beneficence to your clients Curt and Katie chat about ethics again. We look at how therapists decide what is beneficial for clients. We also contrast the concept of “beneficence” (doing good) versus “nonmaleficence” (doing no harm). We specifically explore how to identify when something is in the therapist’s interest versus the client’s interest as well as what therapists can do when clients hold harmful, untrue beliefs. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists do good, beyond “do no harm” Therapist healthcare ethics are often taught from the perspective that the professional’s role is to “do no harm” when providing treatment to clients. Lost in the teachings is that therapists have other obligations to address when providing treatment. This workshop focuses on examples of bringing the principle healthcare ethic of beneficence to therapy to help determine “doing good” for the client’s benefit. What is beneficence in the context of psychotherapy? ·      Do what is good for the client and for treatment ·      “For the benefit if the client” ·      Comparing this with the idea of non-maleficence (“do no harm”) which is don’t do bad things, but also try to prevent bad things from happening How do therapists decide what is “good” for their client? ·      Assessing the risk of overtaking client autonomy and becoming paternal or parental ·      Balancing all of the core ethical principles and putting them in context for the unique situation for each client ·      Looking at whether therapist self-disclosure is in the benefit of the client ·      Identifying what is therapeutic and beneficial ·      Making sure that therapists move beyond what is comfortable (and not “harmful”) to something that may be less comfortable (and more beneficial) ·      Looking at who therapists choose to work with, balancing therapist self-care and self-protection with what is beneficial to the client and society What are specific concerns to consider when deciding whether a therapist is working for the benefit of the client? ·      Therapy dogs (are they certified and registered, is it in the treatment plan) ·      Contact between sessions initiated by the therapist (who is the contact for? What does the treatment model say about this type of contact?) ·      Have a thought process and document that thought process when deciding what to do as a therapist What can therapists do when clients hold distorted beliefs? ·      Identify: Do the distorted beliefs that the client holds cause (or could cause) harm? ·      Understand: What laws or ethics are relevant to whether the distorted belief should be addressed? ·      Get client consent (or not) to talk about the distorted belief and potentially change the course of therapy ·      Is it necessary to discuss the belief at this time? ·      What countertransference issues could impact the efficacy of the conversation with the client? ·      Will the conversation be helpful and potentially change the client’s view? ·      How will the conversation change the course of therapy? ·      Does the therapist have appropriate expertise and training to address the distorted belief? Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 27 May 2024 07:00:00 -0000 When Doing No Harm Is Not Good Enough: Bringing beneficence to your clients full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about ethics again. We look at how therapists decide what is beneficial for clients. We also contrast the concept of “beneficence” (doing good) versus “nonmaleficence” (doing no harm). We specifically explore how to identify when something is in the therapist’s interest versus the client’s interest as well as what therapists can do when clients hold harmful, untrue beliefs. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. When Doing “No Harm” Isn’t Good Enough: Bringing beneficence to your clients Curt and Katie chat about ethics again. We look at how therapists decide what is beneficial for clients. We also contrast the concept of “beneficence” (doing good) versus “nonmaleficence” (doing no harm). We specifically explore how to identify when something is in the therapist’s interest versus the client’s interest as well as what therapists can do when clients hold harmful, untrue beliefs. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists do good, beyond “do no harm” Therapist healthcare ethics are often taught from the perspective that the professional’s role is to “do no harm” when providing treatment to clients. Lost in the teachings is that therapists have other obligations to address when providing treatment. This workshop focuses on examples of bringing the principle healthcare ethic of beneficence to therapy to help determine “doing good” for the client’s benefit. What is beneficence in the context of psychotherapy? ·      Do what is good for the client and for treatment ·      “For the benefit if the client” ·      Comparing this with the idea of non-maleficence (“do no harm”) which is don’t do bad things, but also try to prevent bad things from happening How do therapists decide what is “good” for their client? ·      Assessing the risk of overtaking client autonomy and becoming paternal or parental ·      Balancing all of the core ethical principles and putting them in context for the unique situation for each client ·      Looking at whether therapist self-disclosure is in the benefit of the client ·      Identifying what is therapeutic and beneficial ·      Making sure that therapists move beyond what is comfortable (and not “harmful”) to something that may be less comfortable (and more beneficial) ·      Looking at who therapists choose to work with, balancing therapist self-care and self-protection with what is beneficial to the client and society What are specific concerns to consider when deciding whether a therapist is working for the benefit of the client? ·      Therapy dogs (are they certified and registered, is it in the treatment plan) ·      Contact between sessions initiated by the therapist (who is the contact for? What does the treatment model say about this type of contact?) ·      Have a thought process and document that thought process when deciding what to do as a therapist What can therapists do when clients hold distorted beliefs? ·      Identify: Do the distorted beliefs that the client holds cause (or could cause) harm? ·      Understand: What laws or ethics are relevant to whether the distorted belief should be addressed? ·      Get client consent (or not) to talk about the distorted belief and potentially change the course of therapy ·      Is it necessary to discuss the belief at this time? ·      What countertransference issues could impact the efficacy of the conversation with the client? ·      Will the conversation be helpful and potentially change the client’s view? ·      How will the conversation change the course of therapy? ·      Does the therapist have appropriate expertise and training to address the distorted belief? Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ When Doing “No Harm” Isn’t Good Enough: Bringing beneficence to your clients

Curt and Katie chat about ethics again. We look at how therapists decide what is beneficial for clients. We also contrast the concept of “beneficence” (doing good) versus “nonmaleficence” (doing no harm). We specifically explore how to identify when something is in the therapist’s interest versus the client’s interest as well as what therapists can do when clients hold harmful, untrue beliefs. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists do good, beyond “do no harm”

Therapist healthcare ethics are often taught from the perspective that the professional’s role is to “do no harm” when providing treatment to clients. Lost in the teachings is that therapists have other obligations to address when providing treatment. This workshop focuses on examples of bringing the principle healthcare ethic of beneficence to therapy to help determine “doing good” for the client’s benefit.

What is beneficence in the context of psychotherapy?

·      Do what is good for the client and for treatment

·      “For the benefit if the client”

·      Comparing this with the idea of non-maleficence (“do no harm”) which is don’t do bad things, but also try to prevent bad things from happening

How do therapists decide what is “good” for their client?

·      Assessing the risk of overtaking client autonomy and becoming paternal or parental

·      Balancing all of the core ethical principles and putting them in context for the unique situation for each client

·      Looking at whether therapist self-disclosure is in the benefit of the client

·      Identifying what is therapeutic and beneficial

·      Making sure that therapists move beyond what is comfortable (and not “harmful”) to something that may be less comfortable (and more beneficial)

·      Looking at who therapists choose to work with, balancing therapist self-care and self-protection with what is beneficial to the client and society

What are specific concerns to consider when deciding whether a therapist is working for the benefit of the client?

·      Therapy dogs (are they certified and registered, is it in the treatment plan)

·      Contact between sessions initiated by the therapist (who is the contact for? What does the treatment model say about this type of contact?)

·      Have a thought process and document that thought process when deciding what to do as a therapist

What can therapists do when clients hold distorted beliefs?

·      Identify: Do the distorted beliefs that the client holds cause (or could cause) harm?

·      Understand: What laws or ethics are relevant to whether the distorted belief should be addressed?

·      Get client consent (or not) to talk about the distorted belief and potentially change the course of therapy

·      Is it necessary to discuss the belief at this time?

·      What countertransference issues could impact the efficacy of the conversation with the client?

·      Will the conversation be helpful and potentially change the client’s view?

·      How will the conversation change the course of therapy?

·      Does the therapist have appropriate expertise and training to address the distorted belief?


Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Continuing Education Approvals:

When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4034 Is Seeking an “Abundance Mindset” Toxic? Is Seeking an “Abundance Mindset” Toxic? Curt and Katie chat about abundance and scarcity mindsets, looking at what the research actually says about these often-used terms. We explore the dangers of how the abundance mindset is often weaponized against entrepreneurs (like private practitioners) in how they think and how much they should pay for coaching services. We also look at the role of privilege in how these mindsets are often talked about. Finally, we explore what might be better to focus on instead: practical or growth mindsets as well as wise mind.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk the dangers of striving for abundance mindset We’ve heard a lot of people in a lot of different settings talk about the ideas of abundance and scarcity mindsets. We see some problems in how these concepts are used within popular culture. What does the research say about scarcity and abundance mindsets? ·      When you have scarce resources, you will work to protect yourself and avoid death ·      There is research done on actual “scarcity” that is being inaccurately applied to people who do not have scarce resources (like some of the coaches and entrepreneurs who use this term) ·      People who have more resources think more abundantly (the finding is correlational, not directional) What are the dangers of the “abundance mindset?” ·      The unrealistic nature of “thinking” your way out of poverty or practical challenges (without the reality of action) ·      The blaming the victim that can happen when someone is having trouble reframing their situation more positively ·      Weaponizing “abundance” to imply that you are sabotaging your practice ·      Using “abundance” as a sales tactic What should therapists do instead of “being abundant?” ·      A strategic or problem-solving mindset ·      Learning practical strategies to do the work necessary ·      Allowing time to grow into the vision of your practice ·      Growth versus fixed mindset Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 20 May 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Is Seeking an Abundance Mindset Toxic? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about abundance and scarcity mindsets, looking at what the research actually says about these often-used terms. We explore the dangers of how the abundance mindset is often weaponized against entrepreneurs (like private practitioners) in how they think and how much they should pay for coaching services. We also look at the role of privilege in how these mindsets are often talked about. Finally, we explore what might be better to focus on instead: practical or growth mindsets as well as wise mind. Is Seeking an “Abundance Mindset” Toxic? Curt and Katie chat about abundance and scarcity mindsets, looking at what the research actually says about these often-used terms. We explore the dangers of how the abundance mindset is often weaponized against entrepreneurs (like private practitioners) in how they think and how much they should pay for coaching services. We also look at the role of privilege in how these mindsets are often talked about. Finally, we explore what might be better to focus on instead: practical or growth mindsets as well as wise mind.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk the dangers of striving for abundance mindset We’ve heard a lot of people in a lot of different settings talk about the ideas of abundance and scarcity mindsets. We see some problems in how these concepts are used within popular culture. What does the research say about scarcity and abundance mindsets? ·      When you have scarce resources, you will work to protect yourself and avoid death ·      There is research done on actual “scarcity” that is being inaccurately applied to people who do not have scarce resources (like some of the coaches and entrepreneurs who use this term) ·      People who have more resources think more abundantly (the finding is correlational, not directional) What are the dangers of the “abundance mindset?” ·      The unrealistic nature of “thinking” your way out of poverty or practical challenges (without the reality of action) ·      The blaming the victim that can happen when someone is having trouble reframing their situation more positively ·      Weaponizing “abundance” to imply that you are sabotaging your practice ·      Using “abundance” as a sales tactic What should therapists do instead of “being abundant?” ·      A strategic or problem-solving mindset ·      Learning practical strategies to do the work necessary ·      Allowing time to grow into the vision of your practice ·      Growth versus fixed mindset Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Is Seeking an “Abundance Mindset” Toxic?

Curt and Katie chat about abundance and scarcity mindsets, looking at what the research actually says about these often-used terms. We explore the dangers of how the abundance mindset is often weaponized against entrepreneurs (like private practitioners) in how they think and how much they should pay for coaching services. We also look at the role of privilege in how these mindsets are often talked about. Finally, we explore what might be better to focus on instead: practical or growth mindsets as well as wise mind.  

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk the dangers of striving for abundance mindset

We’ve heard a lot of people in a lot of different settings talk about the ideas of abundance and scarcity mindsets. We see some problems in how these concepts are used within popular culture.

What does the research say about scarcity and abundance mindsets?

·      When you have scarce resources, you will work to protect yourself and avoid death

·      There is research done on actual “scarcity” that is being inaccurately applied to people who do not have scarce resources (like some of the coaches and entrepreneurs who use this term)

·      People who have more resources think more abundantly (the finding is correlational, not directional)

What are the dangers of the “abundance mindset?”

·      The unrealistic nature of “thinking” your way out of poverty or practical challenges (without the reality of action)

·      The blaming the victim that can happen when someone is having trouble reframing their situation more positively

·      Weaponizing “abundance” to imply that you are sabotaging your practice

·      Using “abundance” as a sales tactic

What should therapists do instead of “being abundant?”

·      A strategic or problem-solving mindset

·      Learning practical strategies to do the work necessary

·      Allowing time to grow into the vision of your practice

·      Growth versus fixed mindset

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2473 How to Navigate Shifts in the Mental Health Field and Your Career Path: An interview with Dr. Melvin Varghese How to Navigate Shifts in the Mental Health Field and Your Career Path: An interview with Dr. Melvin Varghese Curt and Katie interview Dr. Melvin Varghese about how he’s navigated his career path. We look at a life changing event that helped him to get perspective on what is most important to him. We also explore practicalities of prioritizing personal life as an entrepreneur.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how to prioritize your personal life while having a successful career We invited our friend Melvin Varghese back to the podcast to talk about how he is navigating shifts in the profession and his life.  What do therapists get wrong when creating their career? ·      Doing too much and not doing things deeply enough ·      Shifting too quickly when things get hard ·      Failing to look at season of life issues when planning your business ·      Having trouble defining success based on what is resonant to oneself How can therapists prioritize themselves and sustain a therapy career? ·      Pace yourself based on your own life story, not a mentor’s or the “shoulds” from the profession ·      Be willing to “fail forward” ·      Pushing back against “curated authenticity” and look at how to be real, with boundaries ·      Aligning career with morals and values ·      Focus on “decades over days” ·      Sustainable content creation What are Melvin’s predictions about the future of the profession? ·      Authenticity and real conversations will succeed where AI posting will not ·      Finding content platforms where effort compounds over time ·      Discovery platforms leading to relationship-deepening platforms ·      Navigating a lot of tech and insurance companies ·      People have less discretionary money, so diversifying your income is valuable Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 13 May 2024 07:00:00 -0000 How to Navigate Shifts in the Mental Health Field and Your Career Path: An interview with Dr. Melvin Varghese full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Melvin Varghese about how he’s navigated his career path. We look at a life changing event that helped him to get perspective on what is most important to him. We also explore practicalities of prioritizing personal life as an entrepreneur. How to Navigate Shifts in the Mental Health Field and Your Career Path: An interview with Dr. Melvin Varghese Curt and Katie interview Dr. Melvin Varghese about how he’s navigated his career path. We look at a life changing event that helped him to get perspective on what is most important to him. We also explore practicalities of prioritizing personal life as an entrepreneur.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how to prioritize your personal life while having a successful career We invited our friend Melvin Varghese back to the podcast to talk about how he is navigating shifts in the profession and his life.  What do therapists get wrong when creating their career? ·      Doing too much and not doing things deeply enough ·      Shifting too quickly when things get hard ·      Failing to look at season of life issues when planning your business ·      Having trouble defining success based on what is resonant to oneself How can therapists prioritize themselves and sustain a therapy career? ·      Pace yourself based on your own life story, not a mentor’s or the “shoulds” from the profession ·      Be willing to “fail forward” ·      Pushing back against “curated authenticity” and look at how to be real, with boundaries ·      Aligning career with morals and values ·      Focus on “decades over days” ·      Sustainable content creation What are Melvin’s predictions about the future of the profession? ·      Authenticity and real conversations will succeed where AI posting will not ·      Finding content platforms where effort compounds over time ·      Discovery platforms leading to relationship-deepening platforms ·      Navigating a lot of tech and insurance companies ·      People have less discretionary money, so diversifying your income is valuable Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How to Navigate Shifts in the Mental Health Field and Your Career Path: An interview with Dr. Melvin Varghese

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Melvin Varghese about how he’s navigated his career path. We look at a life changing event that helped him to get perspective on what is most important to him. We also explore practicalities of prioritizing personal life as an entrepreneur. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how to prioritize your personal life while having a successful career

We invited our friend Melvin Varghese back to the podcast to talk about how he is navigating shifts in the profession and his life.

 What do therapists get wrong when creating their career?

·      Doing too much and not doing things deeply enough

·      Shifting too quickly when things get hard

·      Failing to look at season of life issues when planning your business

·      Having trouble defining success based on what is resonant to oneself

How can therapists prioritize themselves and sustain a therapy career?

·      Pace yourself based on your own life story, not a mentor’s or the “shoulds” from the profession

·      Be willing to “fail forward”

·      Pushing back against “curated authenticity” and look at how to be real, with boundaries

·      Aligning career with morals and values

·      Focus on “decades over days”

·      Sustainable content creation

What are Melvin’s predictions about the future of the profession?

·      Authenticity and real conversations will succeed where AI posting will not

·      Finding content platforms where effort compounds over time

·      Discovery platforms leading to relationship-deepening platforms

·      Navigating a lot of tech and insurance companies

·      People have less discretionary money, so diversifying your income is valuable

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2515 Are Therapy and Coaching All That Different? Are Therapy and Coaching All That Different? Curt and Katie chat about the differences between coaching and therapy, for a second time. We look at some common myths (and how coaches continue to share this misinformation). We also look at how therapists can effectively incorporate coaching into their therapy sessions, with client consent. Finally, we discuss the challenges inherent in coaching and in therapy, and why therapists may feel they need to choose one or the other.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk the differences between coaching and therapy We’ve come back around to exploring coaching. We look at the differences, the pros and cons, and what therapists can incorporate into therapy. What are the differences between coaching and therapy? ·      There are no regulations for coaching ·      Therapists are limited to providing services where they are licensed or have practicing privileges ·      Coaching is often more directive (but therapy can be directive as well) ·      Coaching has flexibility to work outside of session (although therapists can do coaching calls and more experiential work) ·      Therapy often requires “medical necessity,” and can treat more serious concerns ·      There are sometimes different structures between how therapy and coaching are set up (i.e., coaching has more room for asynchronous courses) ·      There is a false story that therapy always looks at the past or sees clients as broken What parts of coaching can therapists incorporate into therapy? ·      Therapists can use a more directive, coaching style, even though not all therapists do ·      Therapists, within a treatment agreement, can (and should) hold clients accountable and have more specific goals ·      Lived experience informing the work ·      Marketing with specificity and focused expertise Why do therapists feel they need to choose between therapy and coaching? ·      It is more complicated to provide different services to your clients ·      There is a potential for dual relationships and the rules are different within coaching ·      The need for informed consent can hinder some of the other types of services that fit into coaching ·      Coaching is for the “worried well” whereas therapy can include folks with deeper issues Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 06 May 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Are Therapy and Coaching All That Different? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the differences between coaching and therapy, for a second time. We look at some common myths (and how coaches continue to share this misinformation). We also look at how therapists can effectively incorporate coaching into their therapy sessions, with client consent. Finally, we discuss the challenges inherent in coaching and in therapy, and why therapists may feel they need to choose one or the other. Are Therapy and Coaching All That Different? Curt and Katie chat about the differences between coaching and therapy, for a second time. We look at some common myths (and how coaches continue to share this misinformation). We also look at how therapists can effectively incorporate coaching into their therapy sessions, with client consent. Finally, we discuss the challenges inherent in coaching and in therapy, and why therapists may feel they need to choose one or the other.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk the differences between coaching and therapy We’ve come back around to exploring coaching. We look at the differences, the pros and cons, and what therapists can incorporate into therapy. What are the differences between coaching and therapy? ·      There are no regulations for coaching ·      Therapists are limited to providing services where they are licensed or have practicing privileges ·      Coaching is often more directive (but therapy can be directive as well) ·      Coaching has flexibility to work outside of session (although therapists can do coaching calls and more experiential work) ·      Therapy often requires “medical necessity,” and can treat more serious concerns ·      There are sometimes different structures between how therapy and coaching are set up (i.e., coaching has more room for asynchronous courses) ·      There is a false story that therapy always looks at the past or sees clients as broken What parts of coaching can therapists incorporate into therapy? ·      Therapists can use a more directive, coaching style, even though not all therapists do ·      Therapists, within a treatment agreement, can (and should) hold clients accountable and have more specific goals ·      Lived experience informing the work ·      Marketing with specificity and focused expertise Why do therapists feel they need to choose between therapy and coaching? ·      It is more complicated to provide different services to your clients ·      There is a potential for dual relationships and the rules are different within coaching ·      The need for informed consent can hinder some of the other types of services that fit into coaching ·      Coaching is for the “worried well” whereas therapy can include folks with deeper issues Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Are Therapy and Coaching All That Different?

Curt and Katie chat about the differences between coaching and therapy, for a second time. We look at some common myths (and how coaches continue to share this misinformation). We also look at how therapists can effectively incorporate coaching into their therapy sessions, with client consent. Finally, we discuss the challenges inherent in coaching and in therapy, and why therapists may feel they need to choose one or the other. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk the differences between coaching and therapy

We’ve come back around to exploring coaching. We look at the differences, the pros and cons, and what therapists can incorporate into therapy.

What are the differences between coaching and therapy?

·      There are no regulations for coaching

·      Therapists are limited to providing services where they are licensed or have practicing privileges

·      Coaching is often more directive (but therapy can be directive as well)

·      Coaching has flexibility to work outside of session (although therapists can do coaching calls and more experiential work)

·      Therapy often requires “medical necessity,” and can treat more serious concerns

·      There are sometimes different structures between how therapy and coaching are set up (i.e., coaching has more room for asynchronous courses)

·      There is a false story that therapy always looks at the past or sees clients as broken

What parts of coaching can therapists incorporate into therapy?

·      Therapists can use a more directive, coaching style, even though not all therapists do

·      Therapists, within a treatment agreement, can (and should) hold clients accountable and have more specific goals

·      Lived experience informing the work

·      Marketing with specificity and focused expertise

Why do therapists feel they need to choose between therapy and coaching?

·      It is more complicated to provide different services to your clients

·      There is a potential for dual relationships and the rules are different within coaching

·      The need for informed consent can hinder some of the other types of services that fit into coaching

·      Coaching is for the “worried well” whereas therapy can include folks with deeper issues


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2176 Are You Too Burned Out to Work? An ethical assessment of therapist burnout and impairment Are You Too Burned Out to Work? An ethical assessment of therapist burnout and impairment Curt and Katie chat about the ethics of working while burned out. We look at what burnout is, how it develops and what the impacts are on clients and treatment outcomes. We also explore individual and systemic strategies to mitigate the risks of burnout. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapist burnout So many therapists complain that they are burned out, but then continue to work. Is this ethical? In this continuing education podcourse, we explore what therapist burnout is, how therapists get burned out, potential impacts on the therapeutic work with clients, and when (and whether) it moves into the threshold of unethical behavior. We talk specifically about what makes a therapist impaired and how therapists can assess their own capacity to ethically care for their clients. We also look at how to respond to signs of burnout appropriately. Finally, we dig into systemic concerns that lead to burnout and who really is responsible for a therapist’s burnout and potential impairment. Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our learning platform Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 29 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Are You Too Burned Out to Work? An ethical assessment of therapist burnout and impairment full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the ethics of working while burned out. We look at what burnout is, how it develops and what the impacts are on clients and treatment outcomes. We also explore individual and systemic strategies to mitigate the risks of burnout. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Are You Too Burned Out to Work? An ethical assessment of therapist burnout and impairment Curt and Katie chat about the ethics of working while burned out. We look at what burnout is, how it develops and what the impacts are on clients and treatment outcomes. We also explore individual and systemic strategies to mitigate the risks of burnout. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapist burnout So many therapists complain that they are burned out, but then continue to work. Is this ethical? In this continuing education podcourse, we explore what therapist burnout is, how therapists get burned out, potential impacts on the therapeutic work with clients, and when (and whether) it moves into the threshold of unethical behavior. We talk specifically about what makes a therapist impaired and how therapists can assess their own capacity to ethically care for their clients. We also look at how to respond to signs of burnout appropriately. Finally, we dig into systemic concerns that lead to burnout and who really is responsible for a therapist’s burnout and potential impairment. Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our learning platform Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Are You Too Burned Out to Work? An ethical assessment of therapist burnout and impairment

Curt and Katie chat about the ethics of working while burned out. We look at what burnout is, how it develops and what the impacts are on clients and treatment outcomes. We also explore individual and systemic strategies to mitigate the risks of burnout. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about therapist burnout

So many therapists complain that they are burned out, but then continue to work. Is this ethical? In this continuing education podcourse, we explore what therapist burnout is, how therapists get burned out, potential impacts on the therapeutic work with clients, and when (and whether) it moves into the threshold of unethical behavior. We talk specifically about what makes a therapist impaired and how therapists can assess their own capacity to ethically care for their clients. We also look at how to respond to signs of burnout appropriately. Finally, we dig into systemic concerns that lead to burnout and who really is responsible for a therapist’s burnout and potential impairment.


Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our learning platform

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4234 What Therapists Need to Know About Menopause and Perimenopause: An interview with Dr. Sharon Malone, MD What Therapists Need to Know About Menopause and Perimenopause: An interview with Dr. Sharon Malone, MD Curt and Katie interview Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, author of Grown Woman Talk, about menopause and perimenopause. We explore the mental health impacts as well as the differential diagnosis when assessing a woman over 40 who might be experiencing this phase of life. We also talk about what good treatment can look like, including discussing the debate about hormone therapies. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about mental health impacts of (peri)menopause After Katie was diagnosed with perimenopause, she began looking for sources of information on this seldom-talked-about phase of women’s lives. She found Dr. Sharon Malone’s work and was so excited that she agreed to come on to talk about menopause and perimenopause as well as her new book, Grown Woman Talk! What is perimenopause and menopause? ·      Life stages for women in midlife and beyond ·      Hormonal shifts (not just dropping, but inconsistent through ·      Remodeling of the brain ·      Perimenopause is not short, it can be up to a decade ·      Too often women think they can power through, but it can and should be treated What are the psychological impacts of perimenopause and menopause? ·      Feeling different or more emotional due to hormonal shifts during up to a decade prior to menopause (when hormones drop) ·      During perimenopause there is an uptick in depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, late onset ADHD, rage, brain fog ·      Perimenopausal mood and psychological changes may be better treated by hormones than by typical psychotropics ·      The differential diagnosis should start with ruling out perimenopause for any woman 40+ What does good perimenopause treatment look like? ·      The most effective treatment of perimenopausal symptoms is estrogen or menopause hormone treatment ·      Too often, women get individual symptoms treated by individual specialists rather than a more global impact of hormone imbalances ·      Hormone treatments can potentiate antidepressant (synergistic effect) for mood concerns ·      We also address the concerns related to hormone treatment (the study was misrepresented) ·      Women should be armed with the questions to ask and collaborate and agree on treatment with their doctors Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Need to Know About Menopause and Perimenopause: An interview with Dr. Sharon Malone, MD full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, author of Grown Woman Talk, about menopause and perimenopause. We explore the mental health impacts as well as the differential diagnosis when assessing a woman over 40 who might be experiencing this phase of life. We also talk about what good treatment can look like, including discussing the debate about hormone therapies. What Therapists Need to Know About Menopause and Perimenopause: An interview with Dr. Sharon Malone, MD Curt and Katie interview Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, author of Grown Woman Talk, about menopause and perimenopause. We explore the mental health impacts as well as the differential diagnosis when assessing a woman over 40 who might be experiencing this phase of life. We also talk about what good treatment can look like, including discussing the debate about hormone therapies. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about mental health impacts of (peri)menopause After Katie was diagnosed with perimenopause, she began looking for sources of information on this seldom-talked-about phase of women’s lives. She found Dr. Sharon Malone’s work and was so excited that she agreed to come on to talk about menopause and perimenopause as well as her new book, Grown Woman Talk! What is perimenopause and menopause? ·      Life stages for women in midlife and beyond ·      Hormonal shifts (not just dropping, but inconsistent through ·      Remodeling of the brain ·      Perimenopause is not short, it can be up to a decade ·      Too often women think they can power through, but it can and should be treated What are the psychological impacts of perimenopause and menopause? ·      Feeling different or more emotional due to hormonal shifts during up to a decade prior to menopause (when hormones drop) ·      During perimenopause there is an uptick in depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, late onset ADHD, rage, brain fog ·      Perimenopausal mood and psychological changes may be better treated by hormones than by typical psychotropics ·      The differential diagnosis should start with ruling out perimenopause for any woman 40+ What does good perimenopause treatment look like? ·      The most effective treatment of perimenopausal symptoms is estrogen or menopause hormone treatment ·      Too often, women get individual symptoms treated by individual specialists rather than a more global impact of hormone imbalances ·      Hormone treatments can potentiate antidepressant (synergistic effect) for mood concerns ·      We also address the concerns related to hormone treatment (the study was misrepresented) ·      Women should be armed with the questions to ask and collaborate and agree on treatment with their doctors Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Therapists Need to Know About Menopause and Perimenopause: An interview with Dr. Sharon Malone, MD

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, author of Grown Woman Talk, about menopause and perimenopause. We explore the mental health impacts as well as the differential diagnosis when assessing a woman over 40 who might be experiencing this phase of life. We also talk about what good treatment can look like, including discussing the debate about hormone therapies.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about mental health impacts of (peri)menopause

After Katie was diagnosed with perimenopause, she began looking for sources of information on this seldom-talked-about phase of women’s lives. She found Dr. Sharon Malone’s work and was so excited that she agreed to come on to talk about menopause and perimenopause as well as her new book, Grown Woman Talk!

What is perimenopause and menopause?

·      Life stages for women in midlife and beyond

·      Hormonal shifts (not just dropping, but inconsistent through

·      Remodeling of the brain

·      Perimenopause is not short, it can be up to a decade

·      Too often women think they can power through, but it can and should be treated

What are the psychological impacts of perimenopause and menopause?

·      Feeling different or more emotional due to hormonal shifts during up to a decade prior to menopause (when hormones drop)

·      During perimenopause there is an uptick in depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, late onset ADHD, rage, brain fog

·      Perimenopausal mood and psychological changes may be better treated by hormones than by typical psychotropics

·      The differential diagnosis should start with ruling out perimenopause for any woman 40+

What does good perimenopause treatment look like?

·      The most effective treatment of perimenopausal symptoms is estrogen or menopause hormone treatment

·      Too often, women get individual symptoms treated by individual specialists rather than a more global impact of hormone imbalances

·      Hormone treatments can potentiate antidepressant (synergistic effect) for mood concerns

·      We also address the concerns related to hormone treatment (the study was misrepresented)

·      Women should be armed with the questions to ask and collaborate and agree on treatment with their doctors

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2524 Conscious and Trauma-Informed Leadership: An interview with Kelly L. Campbell Conscious and Trauma-Informed Leadership: An interview with Kelly L. Campbell Curt and Katie interview Kelly Campbell about her work with leaders. We explore the ways in which trauma can impact leaders, their teams, and their organizations. We also look at what trauma-informed leadership coaching can look like, including overarching goals for trauma-informed and high conscious leadership.      Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore trauma-informed leadership While writing her book, Kelly Campbell reached out to Curt and Katie to connect with a previous interviewee, Dr. Sidney Stone -Brown. We loved that she is talking about trauma-informed leadership, so we invited her to come on the podcast to talk with us about it.     What is trauma-informed leadership coaching? ·      Recognizing that past traumas can impact how someone leads a group ·      Identifying impacts of trauma on a client’s ability to perform the tasks of leadership ·      Working to shift dynamics within leaders (and their teams) based on impacts of past trauma What are the common impacts of trauma on leaders and their leadership skills? ·      People-controlling behaviors (like micromanagement) ·      People-pleasing behaviors (like not holding people accountable) ·      Lack of trust ·      Impostor Syndrome ·      Attrition of employees ·      Lower profitability (as a lagging indicator) What is the goal for trauma-informed leadership? ·      High conscious leaders ·      Vulnerability and trust ·      Healing the impacts of trauma on the workplace ·      Refraining from people-controlling or people-pleasing behaviors ·      Modeling a new way of being to shift the company culture ·      Self-advocacy, clear boundaries, and improved communication Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Conscious and Trauma-Informed Leadership: An interview with Kelly L. Campbell full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Kelly Campbell about her work with leaders. We explore the ways in which trauma can impact leaders, their teams, and their organizations. We also look at what trauma-informed leadership coaching can look like, including overarching goals for trauma-informed and high conscious leadership. Conscious and Trauma-Informed Leadership: An interview with Kelly L. Campbell Curt and Katie interview Kelly Campbell about her work with leaders. We explore the ways in which trauma can impact leaders, their teams, and their organizations. We also look at what trauma-informed leadership coaching can look like, including overarching goals for trauma-informed and high conscious leadership.      Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore trauma-informed leadership While writing her book, Kelly Campbell reached out to Curt and Katie to connect with a previous interviewee, Dr. Sidney Stone -Brown. We loved that she is talking about trauma-informed leadership, so we invited her to come on the podcast to talk with us about it.     What is trauma-informed leadership coaching? ·      Recognizing that past traumas can impact how someone leads a group ·      Identifying impacts of trauma on a client’s ability to perform the tasks of leadership ·      Working to shift dynamics within leaders (and their teams) based on impacts of past trauma What are the common impacts of trauma on leaders and their leadership skills? ·      People-controlling behaviors (like micromanagement) ·      People-pleasing behaviors (like not holding people accountable) ·      Lack of trust ·      Impostor Syndrome ·      Attrition of employees ·      Lower profitability (as a lagging indicator) What is the goal for trauma-informed leadership? ·      High conscious leaders ·      Vulnerability and trust ·      Healing the impacts of trauma on the workplace ·      Refraining from people-controlling or people-pleasing behaviors ·      Modeling a new way of being to shift the company culture ·      Self-advocacy, clear boundaries, and improved communication Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Conscious and Trauma-Informed Leadership: An interview with Kelly L. Campbell

Curt and Katie interview Kelly Campbell about her work with leaders. We explore the ways in which trauma can impact leaders, their teams, and their organizations. We also look at what trauma-informed leadership coaching can look like, including overarching goals for trauma-informed and high conscious leadership.     

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we explore trauma-informed leadership

While writing her book, Kelly Campbell reached out to Curt and Katie to connect with a previous interviewee, Dr. Sidney Stone -Brown. We loved that she is talking about trauma-informed leadership, so we invited her to come on the podcast to talk with us about it.   

 What is trauma-informed leadership coaching?

·      Recognizing that past traumas can impact how someone leads a group

·      Identifying impacts of trauma on a client’s ability to perform the tasks of leadership

·      Working to shift dynamics within leaders (and their teams) based on impacts of past trauma

What are the common impacts of trauma on leaders and their leadership skills?

·      People-controlling behaviors (like micromanagement)

·      People-pleasing behaviors (like not holding people accountable)

·      Lack of trust

·      Impostor Syndrome

·      Attrition of employees

·      Lower profitability (as a lagging indicator)

What is the goal for trauma-informed leadership?

·      High conscious leaders

·      Vulnerability and trust

·      Healing the impacts of trauma on the workplace

·      Refraining from people-controlling or people-pleasing behaviors

·      Modeling a new way of being to shift the company culture

·      Self-advocacy, clear boundaries, and improved communication

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1998 Is It Worth It? Analyzing return on investment for your therapy practice Is It Worth It? Analyzing return on investment for your therapy practice Curt and Katie chat about different types of return on investment (ROI) for a therapist in private practice. We look at what therapists often get wrong when deciding how to invest their time, money, or energy. We also give some ideas of what can be more effective in getting the highest ROI (of all types) for your therapy business and career. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk return on investment In response to last week’s episode on managing your money, we had additional ideas on the concept of a return on investment. What are the different types of return on investment that therapists have in their practice? ·      The financial ROI of money in versus money out ·      How much time spent versus the benefit to your practice and yourself ·      The amount of energy spent (or saved) or the type of energy you have available at different types of day ·      Connections made while networking and how they can be valuable to a therapist (e.g., referral sources, friends, support system, business collaboration) ·      Learning and expertise, continuing education ·      Enjoyment and fun ·      Supporting mission, vision, and/or values, legacy What do therapists typically invest time, money, or energy in, that don’t have a good ROI? ·      Saying yes to everyone and every opportunity ·      Going to networking with only financial ROI (getting referrals for your therapy practice) as a goal ·      Insufficient marketing (i.e., not staying consistent through enough touch points before someone refers or signs up as a client) ·      Not assessing return on investment for the different types of activities you perform for your practice ·      Getting additional certifications without a clear ROI for your practice Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Is It Worth It? Analyzing return on investment for your therapy practice full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about different types of return on investment (ROI) for a therapist in private practice. We look at what therapists often get wrong when deciding how to invest their time, money, or energy. We also give some ideas of what can be more effective in getting the highest ROI (of all types) for your therapy business and career. Is It Worth It? Analyzing return on investment for your therapy practice Curt and Katie chat about different types of return on investment (ROI) for a therapist in private practice. We look at what therapists often get wrong when deciding how to invest their time, money, or energy. We also give some ideas of what can be more effective in getting the highest ROI (of all types) for your therapy business and career. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk return on investment In response to last week’s episode on managing your money, we had additional ideas on the concept of a return on investment. What are the different types of return on investment that therapists have in their practice? ·      The financial ROI of money in versus money out ·      How much time spent versus the benefit to your practice and yourself ·      The amount of energy spent (or saved) or the type of energy you have available at different types of day ·      Connections made while networking and how they can be valuable to a therapist (e.g., referral sources, friends, support system, business collaboration) ·      Learning and expertise, continuing education ·      Enjoyment and fun ·      Supporting mission, vision, and/or values, legacy What do therapists typically invest time, money, or energy in, that don’t have a good ROI? ·      Saying yes to everyone and every opportunity ·      Going to networking with only financial ROI (getting referrals for your therapy practice) as a goal ·      Insufficient marketing (i.e., not staying consistent through enough touch points before someone refers or signs up as a client) ·      Not assessing return on investment for the different types of activities you perform for your practice ·      Getting additional certifications without a clear ROI for your practice Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Is It Worth It? Analyzing return on investment for your therapy practice

Curt and Katie chat about different types of return on investment (ROI) for a therapist in private practice. We look at what therapists often get wrong when deciding how to invest their time, money, or energy. We also give some ideas of what can be more effective in getting the highest ROI (of all types) for your therapy business and career.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk return on investment

In response to last week’s episode on managing your money, we had additional ideas on the concept of a return on investment.

What are the different types of return on investment that therapists have in their practice?

·      The financial ROI of money in versus money out

·      How much time spent versus the benefit to your practice and yourself

·      The amount of energy spent (or saved) or the type of energy you have available at different types of day

·      Connections made while networking and how they can be valuable to a therapist (e.g., referral sources, friends, support system, business collaboration)

·      Learning and expertise, continuing education

·      Enjoyment and fun

·      Supporting mission, vision, and/or values, legacy

What do therapists typically invest time, money, or energy in, that don’t have a good ROI?

·      Saying yes to everyone and every opportunity

·      Going to networking with only financial ROI (getting referrals for your therapy practice) as a goal

·      Insufficient marketing (i.e., not staying consistent through enough touch points before someone refers or signs up as a client)

·      Not assessing return on investment for the different types of activities you perform for your practice

·      Getting additional certifications without a clear ROI for your practice


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2349 Don’t Forget to Pay Yourself and Other Money Planning Strategies: An interview with Carla Titus Don’t Forget to Pay Yourself and Other Money Planning Strategies: An interview with Carla Titus Curt and Katie interview Carla Titus, Fractional CFO about what therapists get wrong when budgeting for their private practice. We explore financial strategies to maintain a viable business as well as how you can grow your business responsibly. We talk about making sure to pay yourself first, then set up a rainy-day fund, and follow that with saving additional extra funds for hiring or new services before you scale.     Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore what therapists need to know about financial planning for their business Curt and Katie talk with Carla Titus about financially planning for your business. We look at common mistakes as well as how you can grow while still paying yourself.    What does financial planning look like for a therapy practice? ·      Managing cash flow ·      Understanding the Return on Investment for new ventures ·      Running the numbers on costs and revenue, the gross margin ·      Calculating the profitability of adding clinicians or trying new programs ·      Working to get a total profit margin of 10-20% ·      Creating a reserve fund and saving profit to reinvest, when needed Common Mistakes therapists make when financially planning for their practice ·      Not paying attention to their expenses ·      Not tracking cash flow (i.e., not getting billables timely and having expenses that are due before you have the money on hand) ·      Therapists often avoid looking at numbers ·      Scaling before you have another reserve of money to fund it (2-3 payroll runs for a new employee for example) What should therapists do before hiring a clinician into their private practice? ·      Save money from profit to reinvest into the business ·      Making sure you have your rainy-day fund prior to adding additional funds to float a new person as they get up to speed ·      Make sure you’re able to pay yourself while bringing on the new hire ·      Order of priority: pay yourself, save for a rainy-day, then save for scaling How can a therapist manage their “money,” even when they are just starting out? ·      If you’re taking out a business loan or grant, have a plan for how you’re going to use that money ·      Focus on revenue generating ideas to be able to get money and/or pay back loans ·      Expenses should also have a high return on investment for the business longevity and the bottom line ·      Try to avoid shiny object syndrome ·      Know the expectation of the outcome for the money you are spending (for example on marketing) ·      Evaluate outcomes and course correct when needed ·      Beware the sunk cost fallacy Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Don’t Forget to Pay Yourself and Other Money Planning Strategies: An interview with Carla Titus full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Carla Titus, Fractional CFO about what therapists get wrong when budgeting for their private practice. We explore financial strategies to maintain a viable business as well as how you can grow your business responsibly. We talk about making sure to pay yourself first, then set up a rainy-day fund, and follow that with saving additional extra funds for hiring or new services before you scale. Don’t Forget to Pay Yourself and Other Money Planning Strategies: An interview with Carla Titus Curt and Katie interview Carla Titus, Fractional CFO about what therapists get wrong when budgeting for their private practice. We explore financial strategies to maintain a viable business as well as how you can grow your business responsibly. We talk about making sure to pay yourself first, then set up a rainy-day fund, and follow that with saving additional extra funds for hiring or new services before you scale.     Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore what therapists need to know about financial planning for their business Curt and Katie talk with Carla Titus about financially planning for your business. We look at common mistakes as well as how you can grow while still paying yourself.    What does financial planning look like for a therapy practice? ·      Managing cash flow ·      Understanding the Return on Investment for new ventures ·      Running the numbers on costs and revenue, the gross margin ·      Calculating the profitability of adding clinicians or trying new programs ·      Working to get a total profit margin of 10-20% ·      Creating a reserve fund and saving profit to reinvest, when needed Common Mistakes therapists make when financially planning for their practice ·      Not paying attention to their expenses ·      Not tracking cash flow (i.e., not getting billables timely and having expenses that are due before you have the money on hand) ·      Therapists often avoid looking at numbers ·      Scaling before you have another reserve of money to fund it (2-3 payroll runs for a new employee for example) What should therapists do before hiring a clinician into their private practice? ·      Save money from profit to reinvest into the business ·      Making sure you have your rainy-day fund prior to adding additional funds to float a new person as they get up to speed ·      Make sure you’re able to pay yourself while bringing on the new hire ·      Order of priority: pay yourself, save for a rainy-day, then save for scaling How can a therapist manage their “money,” even when they are just starting out? ·      If you’re taking out a business loan or grant, have a plan for how you’re going to use that money ·      Focus on revenue generating ideas to be able to get money and/or pay back loans ·      Expenses should also have a high return on investment for the business longevity and the bottom line ·      Try to avoid shiny object syndrome ·      Know the expectation of the outcome for the money you are spending (for example on marketing) ·      Evaluate outcomes and course correct when needed ·      Beware the sunk cost fallacy Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Don’t Forget to Pay Yourself and Other Money Planning Strategies: An interview with Carla Titus

Curt and Katie interview Carla Titus, Fractional CFO about what therapists get wrong when budgeting for their private practice. We explore financial strategies to maintain a viable business as well as how you can grow your business responsibly. We talk about making sure to pay yourself first, then set up a rainy-day fund, and follow that with saving additional extra funds for hiring or new services before you scale.    

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!


In this podcast episode, we explore what therapists need to know about financial planning for their business

Curt and Katie talk with Carla Titus about financially planning for your business. We look at common mistakes as well as how you can grow while still paying yourself.  

 What does financial planning look like for a therapy practice?

·      Managing cash flow

·      Understanding the Return on Investment for new ventures

·      Running the numbers on costs and revenue, the gross margin

·      Calculating the profitability of adding clinicians or trying new programs

·      Working to get a total profit margin of 10-20%

·      Creating a reserve fund and saving profit to reinvest, when needed

Common Mistakes therapists make when financially planning for their practice

·      Not paying attention to their expenses

·      Not tracking cash flow (i.e., not getting billables timely and having expenses that are due before you have the money on hand)

·      Therapists often avoid looking at numbers

·      Scaling before you have another reserve of money to fund it (2-3 payroll runs for a new employee for example)

What should therapists do before hiring a clinician into their private practice?

·      Save money from profit to reinvest into the business

·      Making sure you have your rainy-day fund prior to adding additional funds to float a new person as they get up to speed

·      Make sure you’re able to pay yourself while bringing on the new hire

·      Order of priority: pay yourself, save for a rainy-day, then save for scaling

How can a therapist manage their “money,” even when they are just starting out?

·      If you’re taking out a business loan or grant, have a plan for how you’re going to use that money

·      Focus on revenue generating ideas to be able to get money and/or pay back loans

·      Expenses should also have a high return on investment for the business longevity and the bottom line

·      Try to avoid shiny object syndrome

·      Know the expectation of the outcome for the money you are spending (for example on marketing)

·      Evaluate outcomes and course correct when needed

·      Beware the sunk cost fallacy

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2333 An Expert Witness Weighs in on Therapist Malpractice: An interview with Dr. Frederic Reamer An Expert Witness Weighs in on Therapist Malpractice: An interview with Dr. Frederic Reamer Curt and Katie interview Dr. Frederic Reamer about his perspective as an expert witness opining on therapist conduct. We talk about the three types of cases he sees (mistakes, challenging decisions, and misconduct) as well as what therapists can do to protect and set themselves up for success.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we share an expert witness perspective on therapist mistakes Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Frederic Reamer about how therapists can get in trouble as well as what an expert witness does when evaluating these therapist mistakes.   What do Expert Witness do for cases involving therapists? ·      Evaluate malpractice and standard of care ·      Opine on whether therapists have acted appropriately in their role as professionals ·      Reviewing records, reports, depositions, and testifying on trial What are the different types of cases that are brought against therapists? ·      Good people making mistakes ·      Challenging ethical dilemmas (i.e., making a decision that is not wrong, but leads to a bad outcome) ·      Misconduct (e.g., having sex with clients, inappropriate dual relationships, impaired therapists) How can therapists set themselves up to avoid getting sued or licensing board complaints? ·      Appropriate documentation ·      Consultation with colleagues or supervisors (and document this consultation) ·      Have sufficient malpractice insurance Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0000 An Expert Witness Weighs in on Therapist Malpractice: An interview with Dr. Frederic Reamer full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Frederic Reamer about his perspective as an expert witness opining on therapist conduct. We talk about the three types of cases he sees (mistakes, challenging decisions, and misconduct) as well as what therapists can do to protect and set themselves up for success. An Expert Witness Weighs in on Therapist Malpractice: An interview with Dr. Frederic Reamer Curt and Katie interview Dr. Frederic Reamer about his perspective as an expert witness opining on therapist conduct. We talk about the three types of cases he sees (mistakes, challenging decisions, and misconduct) as well as what therapists can do to protect and set themselves up for success.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we share an expert witness perspective on therapist mistakes Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Frederic Reamer about how therapists can get in trouble as well as what an expert witness does when evaluating these therapist mistakes.   What do Expert Witness do for cases involving therapists? ·      Evaluate malpractice and standard of care ·      Opine on whether therapists have acted appropriately in their role as professionals ·      Reviewing records, reports, depositions, and testifying on trial What are the different types of cases that are brought against therapists? ·      Good people making mistakes ·      Challenging ethical dilemmas (i.e., making a decision that is not wrong, but leads to a bad outcome) ·      Misconduct (e.g., having sex with clients, inappropriate dual relationships, impaired therapists) How can therapists set themselves up to avoid getting sued or licensing board complaints? ·      Appropriate documentation ·      Consultation with colleagues or supervisors (and document this consultation) ·      Have sufficient malpractice insurance Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ An Expert Witness Weighs in on Therapist Malpractice: An interview with Dr. Frederic Reamer

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Frederic Reamer about his perspective as an expert witness opining on therapist conduct. We talk about the three types of cases he sees (mistakes, challenging decisions, and misconduct) as well as what therapists can do to protect and set themselves up for success.   

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we share an expert witness perspective on therapist mistakes

Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Frederic Reamer about how therapists can get in trouble as well as what an expert witness does when evaluating these therapist mistakes. 

 What do Expert Witness do for cases involving therapists?

·      Evaluate malpractice and standard of care

·      Opine on whether therapists have acted appropriately in their role as professionals

·      Reviewing records, reports, depositions, and testifying on trial

What are the different types of cases that are brought against therapists?

·      Good people making mistakes

·      Challenging ethical dilemmas (i.e., making a decision that is not wrong, but leads to a bad outcome)

·      Misconduct (e.g., having sex with clients, inappropriate dual relationships, impaired therapists)

How can therapists set themselves up to avoid getting sued or licensing board complaints?

·      Appropriate documentation

·      Consultation with colleagues or supervisors (and document this consultation)

·      Have sufficient malpractice insurance

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2707 Are You Burned Out or Are You Bored? Are You Burned Out or Are You Bored? Curt and Katie chat about another type of burnout, “bore out.” We explore the difference between burnout and boredom. We talk about what might be unique to therapists’ jobs that would lead to boredom. We also dig into how dissociation can show up as either burnout or boredom. Finally, we share ideas on how modern therapists can mitigate some of the impacts of burnout, boredom, and vicarious trauma. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about both burnout and “bore out” Katie has been feeling a little bit bored lately, so she decided to do some research on what might be happening. She uncovered a concept “bore out” which seems to be the opposite of burnout, but with similar consequences. We decided to dig into this topic to see what therapists can do to try to avoid (or address) burnout. What are the differences between burnout and boredom? ·       Burnout is overstimulation to the point of running out of energy ·       Boredom is under-stimulation to the point of lack of creativity and stagnation ·       Burnout is a pretty common topic, but “bore out” never really took off ·       People more likely to leave a job due to boredom What are the types of boredom that therapists face? ·       Clinical boredom (repeated stories, lack of progress) ·       Repetitive clinical work (due to niche, evidence-based practice) ·       Notes and documentation are frequently described as boring ·       Trauma therapists may become cynical ·       Vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and moral injury ·       Desensitization and disengagement of vicarious trauma can feel like boredom ·       Dissociation may also be part of this disengagement What can therapists do to address boredom? ·       Clinical consultation and your own therapy ·       Professional development and continuing education ·       Refreshing your knowledge and bringing new techniques into session ·       Adequate stimulation to get work done ·       Doing things in small doses ·       Reframing things to make them more positive (not “onerous” or “boring”) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Are You Burned Out or Are You Bored? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about another type of burnout, “bore out.” We explore the difference between burnout and boredom. We talk about what might be unique to therapists’ jobs that would lead to boredom. We also dig into how dissociation can show up as either burnout or boredom. Finally, we share ideas on how modern therapists can mitigate some of the impacts of burnout, boredom, and vicarious trauma. Are You Burned Out or Are You Bored? Curt and Katie chat about another type of burnout, “bore out.” We explore the difference between burnout and boredom. We talk about what might be unique to therapists’ jobs that would lead to boredom. We also dig into how dissociation can show up as either burnout or boredom. Finally, we share ideas on how modern therapists can mitigate some of the impacts of burnout, boredom, and vicarious trauma. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about both burnout and “bore out” Katie has been feeling a little bit bored lately, so she decided to do some research on what might be happening. She uncovered a concept “bore out” which seems to be the opposite of burnout, but with similar consequences. We decided to dig into this topic to see what therapists can do to try to avoid (or address) burnout. What are the differences between burnout and boredom? ·       Burnout is overstimulation to the point of running out of energy ·       Boredom is under-stimulation to the point of lack of creativity and stagnation ·       Burnout is a pretty common topic, but “bore out” never really took off ·       People more likely to leave a job due to boredom What are the types of boredom that therapists face? ·       Clinical boredom (repeated stories, lack of progress) ·       Repetitive clinical work (due to niche, evidence-based practice) ·       Notes and documentation are frequently described as boring ·       Trauma therapists may become cynical ·       Vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and moral injury ·       Desensitization and disengagement of vicarious trauma can feel like boredom ·       Dissociation may also be part of this disengagement What can therapists do to address boredom? ·       Clinical consultation and your own therapy ·       Professional development and continuing education ·       Refreshing your knowledge and bringing new techniques into session ·       Adequate stimulation to get work done ·       Doing things in small doses ·       Reframing things to make them more positive (not “onerous” or “boring”) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Are You Burned Out or Are You Bored?

Curt and Katie chat about another type of burnout, “bore out.” We explore the difference between burnout and boredom. We talk about what might be unique to therapists’ jobs that would lead to boredom. We also dig into how dissociation can show up as either burnout or boredom. Finally, we share ideas on how modern therapists can mitigate some of the impacts of burnout, boredom, and vicarious trauma.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about both burnout and “bore out”

Katie has been feeling a little bit bored lately, so she decided to do some research on what might be happening. She uncovered a concept “bore out” which seems to be the opposite of burnout, but with similar consequences. We decided to dig into this topic to see what therapists can do to try to avoid (or address) burnout.

What are the differences between burnout and boredom?

·       Burnout is overstimulation to the point of running out of energy

·       Boredom is under-stimulation to the point of lack of creativity and stagnation

·       Burnout is a pretty common topic, but “bore out” never really took off

·       People more likely to leave a job due to boredom

What are the types of boredom that therapists face?

·       Clinical boredom (repeated stories, lack of progress)

·       Repetitive clinical work (due to niche, evidence-based practice)

·       Notes and documentation are frequently described as boring

·       Trauma therapists may become cynical

·       Vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and moral injury

·       Desensitization and disengagement of vicarious trauma can feel like boredom

·       Dissociation may also be part of this disengagement

What can therapists do to address boredom?

·       Clinical consultation and your own therapy

·       Professional development and continuing education

·       Refreshing your knowledge and bringing new techniques into session

·       Adequate stimulation to get work done

·       Doing things in small doses

·       Reframing things to make them more positive (not “onerous” or “boring”)


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2160 Seeking Purpose Beyond Accomplishment: An interview with Kasey Compton Seeking Purpose Beyond Accomplishment: An interview with Kasey Compton Curt and Katie interview Kasey Compton, LPCC, on her new book, In Search of You. We explore her journey of healing and what it was like to put that healing into a public space. We also talk about Kasey’s challenges with being bullied in her home town due to the choices she has made (getting divorced and then choosing a same-sex relationship) and how her “hard head” has helped her to get through it all. She also shares some ideas for therapists in their own healing journeys.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how even successful therapists may need their own healing journey Curt and Katie talk with Kasey Compton about her new book, In Search of You: When Doing More Isn’t Doing It Anymore.  What is “In Search of You” about? ·       Kasey wrote a book while going through therapy about her healing process ·       Looking at moving away from accomplishment and toward making meaning ·       Getting to a place of self-love ·       Using Kasey’s stories she wrote during therapy, in real time How can a high achiever, people pleaser, or “seeker” move toward self-love? ·       Understanding the relationship between love and accomplishment (or lack of relationship between these two) ·       Understanding the difference between authenticity and vulnerability ·       Shifting one’s relationship with shame What is it like to heal in public? ·       Coming to terms with vulnerability ·       For Kasey, her hometown is religiously conservative who were very judgmental about her stages of healing (including her divorce, a new relationship with a woman, and now writing this book) ·       Putting on emotional armor in unsafe places ·       Finding community support ·       Moving forward with boldness and self-acceptance ·       Detaching from outcomes How do these lessons apply for therapists? ·       Taking a holistic, full person look at who you are professionally ·       Using a timeline to understand ourselves and how our lives have impacted us ·       Doing our own work with a therapist or through journaling and doing a timeline ·       Finding balance ·       Moving away from self-sacrifice as a mechanism toward accomplishment Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0000 Seeking Purpose Beyond Accomplishment: An interview with Kasey Compton full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Kasey Compton, LPCC, on her new book, In Search of You. We explore her journey of healing and what it was like to put that healing into a public space. We also talk about Kasey’s challenges with being bullied in her home town due to the choices she has made (getting divorced and then choosing a same-sex relationship) and how her “hard head” has helped her to get through it all. She also shares some ideas for therapists in their own healing journeys. Seeking Purpose Beyond Accomplishment: An interview with Kasey Compton Curt and Katie interview Kasey Compton, LPCC, on her new book, In Search of You. We explore her journey of healing and what it was like to put that healing into a public space. We also talk about Kasey’s challenges with being bullied in her home town due to the choices she has made (getting divorced and then choosing a same-sex relationship) and how her “hard head” has helped her to get through it all. She also shares some ideas for therapists in their own healing journeys.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how even successful therapists may need their own healing journey Curt and Katie talk with Kasey Compton about her new book, In Search of You: When Doing More Isn’t Doing It Anymore.  What is “In Search of You” about? ·       Kasey wrote a book while going through therapy about her healing process ·       Looking at moving away from accomplishment and toward making meaning ·       Getting to a place of self-love ·       Using Kasey’s stories she wrote during therapy, in real time How can a high achiever, people pleaser, or “seeker” move toward self-love? ·       Understanding the relationship between love and accomplishment (or lack of relationship between these two) ·       Understanding the difference between authenticity and vulnerability ·       Shifting one’s relationship with shame What is it like to heal in public? ·       Coming to terms with vulnerability ·       For Kasey, her hometown is religiously conservative who were very judgmental about her stages of healing (including her divorce, a new relationship with a woman, and now writing this book) ·       Putting on emotional armor in unsafe places ·       Finding community support ·       Moving forward with boldness and self-acceptance ·       Detaching from outcomes How do these lessons apply for therapists? ·       Taking a holistic, full person look at who you are professionally ·       Using a timeline to understand ourselves and how our lives have impacted us ·       Doing our own work with a therapist or through journaling and doing a timeline ·       Finding balance ·       Moving away from self-sacrifice as a mechanism toward accomplishment Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Seeking Purpose Beyond Accomplishment: An interview with Kasey Compton

Curt and Katie interview Kasey Compton, LPCC, on her new book, In Search of You. We explore her journey of healing and what it was like to put that healing into a public space. We also talk about Kasey’s challenges with being bullied in her home town due to the choices she has made (getting divorced and then choosing a same-sex relationship) and how her “hard head” has helped her to get through it all. She also shares some ideas for therapists in their own healing journeys.  

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how even successful therapists may need their own healing journey

Curt and Katie talk with Kasey Compton about her new book, In Search of You: When Doing More Isn’t Doing It Anymore.

 What is “In Search of You” about?

·       Kasey wrote a book while going through therapy about her healing process

·       Looking at moving away from accomplishment and toward making meaning

·       Getting to a place of self-love

·       Using Kasey’s stories she wrote during therapy, in real time

How can a high achiever, people pleaser, or “seeker” move toward self-love?

·       Understanding the relationship between love and accomplishment (or lack of relationship between these two)

·       Understanding the difference between authenticity and vulnerability

·       Shifting one’s relationship with shame

What is it like to heal in public?

·       Coming to terms with vulnerability

·       For Kasey, her hometown is religiously conservative who were very judgmental about her stages of healing (including her divorce, a new relationship with a woman, and now writing this book)

·       Putting on emotional armor in unsafe places

·       Finding community support

·       Moving forward with boldness and self-acceptance

·       Detaching from outcomes

How do these lessons apply for therapists?

·       Taking a holistic, full person look at who you are professionally

·       Using a timeline to understand ourselves and how our lives have impacted us

·       Doing our own work with a therapist or through journaling and doing a timeline

·       Finding balance

·       Moving away from self-sacrifice as a mechanism toward accomplishment

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2383 yes When Your Clients are Wealthy and Well Known: An interview with Dr. Holly Daniels, LMFT When Your Clients are Wealthy and Well Known: An interview with Dr. Holly Daniels, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Holly Daniels about working with high profile clients. We talk about the lifestyle factors (like isolation and dehumanization) that come with celebrity as well as the differences when working with famous and powerful people who bring in more common concerns like relationship challenges. We also explore the skills and trustworthiness required to be able to succeed with these clients. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about what it’s like to work with the rich and famous Curt and Katie asked Dr. Holly Daniels to talk about her work as a therapist, relationship coach, and consultant for the wealthy and well-known.  What is it like working as a therapist or a coach with the wealthy and well-known? ·      Seeing the isolation and the reality of their lives ·      Making sure to avoid being swept up in the fame ·      Understanding the countertransference tendencies (to agree, to be critical) ·      Don’t get sucked into aligning with them if it isn’t in their best interest (everyone around them agrees with them) ·      Don’t join the power struggle when clients become very dismissive ·      Therapists must be emotionally very boundaried and logistically very flexible ·      When people are this wealthy or well-known, they have to be very cautious and they have a very high bar related to trust – therapists need to know how the difficulty with trust impacts the relationship ·      Allow the client to bring the public information into the session, don’t assume their response to what is in the news How can therapists support clients who have an influential public persona? ·      Separating your personal self from your public persona ·      Looking at these two selves as related, but not the same ·      Helping clients to let go of public approval or hate as related to who you are ·      The commodity is the public persona, not you What are the family systems and relationship concerns that come with fame? ·      There is a closed, isolated bubble where there can be a lot of enmeshment ·      There are different challenges and dynamics unique to being part of a famous person’s life ·      Looking at the full family system, including the kids ·      Feeling guilty for having mental health concerns because they have so much ·      It is important for therapists not to bring in their own political or social agenda ·      People dehumanize famous people Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000 When Your Clients are Wealthy and Well Known: An interview with Dr. Holly Daniels, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Holly Daniels about working with high profile clients. We talk about the lifestyle factors (like isolation and dehumanization) that come with celebrity as well as the differences when working with famous and powerful people who bring in more common concerns like relationship challenges. We also explore the skills and trustworthiness required to be able to succeed with these clients. When Your Clients are Wealthy and Well Known: An interview with Dr. Holly Daniels, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Holly Daniels about working with high profile clients. We talk about the lifestyle factors (like isolation and dehumanization) that come with celebrity as well as the differences when working with famous and powerful people who bring in more common concerns like relationship challenges. We also explore the skills and trustworthiness required to be able to succeed with these clients. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about what it’s like to work with the rich and famous Curt and Katie asked Dr. Holly Daniels to talk about her work as a therapist, relationship coach, and consultant for the wealthy and well-known.  What is it like working as a therapist or a coach with the wealthy and well-known? ·      Seeing the isolation and the reality of their lives ·      Making sure to avoid being swept up in the fame ·      Understanding the countertransference tendencies (to agree, to be critical) ·      Don’t get sucked into aligning with them if it isn’t in their best interest (everyone around them agrees with them) ·      Don’t join the power struggle when clients become very dismissive ·      Therapists must be emotionally very boundaried and logistically very flexible ·      When people are this wealthy or well-known, they have to be very cautious and they have a very high bar related to trust – therapists need to know how the difficulty with trust impacts the relationship ·      Allow the client to bring the public information into the session, don’t assume their response to what is in the news How can therapists support clients who have an influential public persona? ·      Separating your personal self from your public persona ·      Looking at these two selves as related, but not the same ·      Helping clients to let go of public approval or hate as related to who you are ·      The commodity is the public persona, not you What are the family systems and relationship concerns that come with fame? ·      There is a closed, isolated bubble where there can be a lot of enmeshment ·      There are different challenges and dynamics unique to being part of a famous person’s life ·      Looking at the full family system, including the kids ·      Feeling guilty for having mental health concerns because they have so much ·      It is important for therapists not to bring in their own political or social agenda ·      People dehumanize famous people Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ When Your Clients are Wealthy and Well Known: An interview with Dr. Holly Daniels, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Holly Daniels about working with high profile clients. We talk about the lifestyle factors (like isolation and dehumanization) that come with celebrity as well as the differences when working with famous and powerful people who bring in more common concerns like relationship challenges. We also explore the skills and trustworthiness required to be able to succeed with these clients.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about what it’s like to work with the rich and famous

Curt and Katie asked Dr. Holly Daniels to talk about her work as a therapist, relationship coach, and consultant for the wealthy and well-known.

 What is it like working as a therapist or a coach with the wealthy and well-known?

·      Seeing the isolation and the reality of their lives

·      Making sure to avoid being swept up in the fame

·      Understanding the countertransference tendencies (to agree, to be critical)

·      Don’t get sucked into aligning with them if it isn’t in their best interest (everyone around them agrees with them)

·      Don’t join the power struggle when clients become very dismissive

·      Therapists must be emotionally very boundaried and logistically very flexible

·      When people are this wealthy or well-known, they have to be very cautious and they have a very high bar related to trust – therapists need to know how the difficulty with trust impacts the relationship

·      Allow the client to bring the public information into the session, don’t assume their response to what is in the news

How can therapists support clients who have an influential public persona?

·      Separating your personal self from your public persona

·      Looking at these two selves as related, but not the same

·      Helping clients to let go of public approval or hate as related to who you are

·      The commodity is the public persona, not you

What are the family systems and relationship concerns that come with fame?

·      There is a closed, isolated bubble where there can be a lot of enmeshment

·      There are different challenges and dynamics unique to being part of a famous person’s life

·      Looking at the full family system, including the kids

·      Feeling guilty for having mental health concerns because they have so much

·      It is important for therapists not to bring in their own political or social agenda

·      People dehumanize famous people


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2379 When Your Client is a Little Bit Famous: The unique needs and perspectives for working with content creators in therapy When Your Client is a Little Bit Famous: The unique needs and perspectives for working with content creators in therapy Curt and Katie chat about the unique needs that content creators (youtubers, podcasters, onlyfans performers) bring to session. We look at the development stages of being a creator, what exactly a “content creator” is, pros and cons (for mental health) of being a content creator, and how therapists can work more effectively with these folks. We also talk about the safety concerns and ways that therapist scan support content creators in protecting themselves. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapy with content creators Content creators and influencers have their own sets of mental health challenges. Therapists working with content creators have many factors to consider when it comes to the particularly unique influences that this occupation has on a person’s mental health. This workshop explores how content creation, streaming, and parasocial relationships affect the mental health and worldview of creators in ways that are both similar and different to other types of performers. Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://moderntherapistcommunity.com/podcourse/ Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000 When Your Client is a Little Bit Famous: The unique needs and perspectives for working with content creators in therapy full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the unique needs that content creators (youtubers, podcasters, onlyfans performers) bring to session. We look at the development stages of being a creator, what exactly a “content creator” is, pros and cons (for mental health) of being a content creator, and how therapists can work more effectively with these folks. We also talk about the safety concerns and ways that therapist scan support content creators in protecting themselves. This is a continuing education podcourse. When Your Client is a Little Bit Famous: The unique needs and perspectives for working with content creators in therapy Curt and Katie chat about the unique needs that content creators (youtubers, podcasters, onlyfans performers) bring to session. We look at the development stages of being a creator, what exactly a “content creator” is, pros and cons (for mental health) of being a content creator, and how therapists can work more effectively with these folks. We also talk about the safety concerns and ways that therapist scan support content creators in protecting themselves. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapy with content creators Content creators and influencers have their own sets of mental health challenges. Therapists working with content creators have many factors to consider when it comes to the particularly unique influences that this occupation has on a person’s mental health. This workshop explores how content creation, streaming, and parasocial relationships affect the mental health and worldview of creators in ways that are both similar and different to other types of performers. Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://moderntherapistcommunity.com/podcourse/ Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   When Your Client is a Little Bit Famous: The unique needs and perspectives for working with content creators in therapy

Curt and Katie chat about the unique needs that content creators (youtubers, podcasters, onlyfans performers) bring to session. We look at the development stages of being a creator, what exactly a “content creator” is, pros and cons (for mental health) of being a content creator, and how therapists can work more effectively with these folks. We also talk about the safety concerns and ways that therapist scan support content creators in protecting themselves. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about therapy with content creators

Content creators and influencers have their own sets of mental health challenges. Therapists working with content creators have many factors to consider when it comes to the particularly unique influences that this occupation has on a person’s mental health. This workshop explores how content creation, streaming, and parasocial relationships affect the mental health and worldview of creators in ways that are both similar and different to other types of performers.

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://moderntherapistcommunity.com/podcourse/

Continuing Education Approvals:

Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 4360 yes The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology Curt and Katie chat about pop psychology. We look at what it is, how it influences society, the dangers of leaving it unchecked, and how therapists can support their clients in navigating through all the different self-help content. We also challenge the use of Enneagram and Myers Briggs as “identity” and talk about using pop psychology as a starting point for conversation rather than taking it all at face value. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the dangers of pop psychology Curt has had a bee in his bonnet about pop psychology and the potential harms of watering down psychology for the public. We decided we’d take a critical look at what’s out there, including self-help, business, and news content that may be harming the public. What is pop psychology? ·      Researchers sharing their findings through popular media using lay language ·      Applied psychology – practical self-help created by psychology practitioners geared toward improving your life ·      Targeting people with mental health concerns to decrease suffering – may be created by people with lived experience and is self-help in the place of therapy ·      Applying psychology to other realms (like business or sales, spirituality) What are concerns with pop psychology? ·      Overemphasizing the importance of specific pop psychology principles and claiming these things as identity ·      Not going back to the evidence base or looking at who the authors are (is it their research or is it a good storyteller who is extrapolating) ·      The impact of the audience on which stories or psychological findings are shared How does Malcolm Gladwell fit into this conversation about the dangers of pop psychology? ·      He was enamored with the “Broken Windows” theory of policing and his writings influenced the use type of policing in New York (including Stop and Frisk) ·      He ignored the criticism of these policies, like the racial bias that was seen ·      He chose not to write about policies that were working to decrease the over prescribing opioids ·      He has not recognized the influence on those who read his work What role can therapists play in supporting our clients around pop psychology? ·      Talk with our clients about what they are reading and use it as a starting point ·      Bring the evidence-based science into the conversation ·      Help them to create a unique, tailored plan for your client to use what works for them ·      Correcting misinformation (e.g., the stages of grief) ·      Putting out content that is accurate ·      Staying current on what is being talked about in popular media Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 19 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000 The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about pop psychology. We look at what it is, how it influences society, the dangers of leaving it unchecked, and how therapists can support their clients in navigating through all the different self-help content. We also challenge the use of Enneagram and Myers Briggs as “identity” and talk about using pop psychology as a starting point for conversation rather than taking it all at face value. The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology Curt and Katie chat about pop psychology. We look at what it is, how it influences society, the dangers of leaving it unchecked, and how therapists can support their clients in navigating through all the different self-help content. We also challenge the use of Enneagram and Myers Briggs as “identity” and talk about using pop psychology as a starting point for conversation rather than taking it all at face value. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the dangers of pop psychology Curt has had a bee in his bonnet about pop psychology and the potential harms of watering down psychology for the public. We decided we’d take a critical look at what’s out there, including self-help, business, and news content that may be harming the public. What is pop psychology? ·      Researchers sharing their findings through popular media using lay language ·      Applied psychology – practical self-help created by psychology practitioners geared toward improving your life ·      Targeting people with mental health concerns to decrease suffering – may be created by people with lived experience and is self-help in the place of therapy ·      Applying psychology to other realms (like business or sales, spirituality) What are concerns with pop psychology? ·      Overemphasizing the importance of specific pop psychology principles and claiming these things as identity ·      Not going back to the evidence base or looking at who the authors are (is it their research or is it a good storyteller who is extrapolating) ·      The impact of the audience on which stories or psychological findings are shared How does Malcolm Gladwell fit into this conversation about the dangers of pop psychology? ·      He was enamored with the “Broken Windows” theory of policing and his writings influenced the use type of policing in New York (including Stop and Frisk) ·      He ignored the criticism of these policies, like the racial bias that was seen ·      He chose not to write about policies that were working to decrease the over prescribing opioids ·      He has not recognized the influence on those who read his work What role can therapists play in supporting our clients around pop psychology? ·      Talk with our clients about what they are reading and use it as a starting point ·      Bring the evidence-based science into the conversation ·      Help them to create a unique, tailored plan for your client to use what works for them ·      Correcting misinformation (e.g., the stages of grief) ·      Putting out content that is accurate ·      Staying current on what is being talked about in popular media Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology

Curt and Katie chat about pop psychology. We look at what it is, how it influences society, the dangers of leaving it unchecked, and how therapists can support their clients in navigating through all the different self-help content. We also challenge the use of Enneagram and Myers Briggs as “identity” and talk about using pop psychology as a starting point for conversation rather than taking it all at face value.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the dangers of pop psychology

Curt has had a bee in his bonnet about pop psychology and the potential harms of watering down psychology for the public. We decided we’d take a critical look at what’s out there, including self-help, business, and news content that may be harming the public.

What is pop psychology?

·      Researchers sharing their findings through popular media using lay language

·      Applied psychology – practical self-help created by psychology practitioners geared toward improving your life

·      Targeting people with mental health concerns to decrease suffering – may be created by people with lived experience and is self-help in the place of therapy

·      Applying psychology to other realms (like business or sales, spirituality)

What are concerns with pop psychology?

·      Overemphasizing the importance of specific pop psychology principles and claiming these things as identity

·      Not going back to the evidence base or looking at who the authors are (is it their research or is it a good storyteller who is extrapolating)

·      The impact of the audience on which stories or psychological findings are shared

How does Malcolm Gladwell fit into this conversation about the dangers of pop psychology?

·      He was enamored with the “Broken Windows” theory of policing and his writings influenced the use type of policing in New York (including Stop and Frisk)

·      He ignored the criticism of these policies, like the racial bias that was seen

·      He chose not to write about policies that were working to decrease the over prescribing opioids

·      He has not recognized the influence on those who read his work

What role can therapists play in supporting our clients around pop psychology?

·      Talk with our clients about what they are reading and use it as a starting point

·      Bring the evidence-based science into the conversation

·      Help them to create a unique, tailored plan for your client to use what works for them

·      Correcting misinformation (e.g., the stages of grief)

·      Putting out content that is accurate

·      Staying current on what is being talked about in popular media

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2326 Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Curt and Katie interview Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey of QA Prep about her assessment of the AI tools available for therapists. We chat about the high expectations many clinicians have for note writing tools (and whether these expectations are really reasonable right now). We also look at what therapists are getting wrong when starting to use these tools, exploring some concerns related to HIPAA compliance and who is actually putting together these tech tools. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about the development of AI tools for therapists Curt and Katie asked Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey to come on and talk about what she thinks about AI for documentation. What are therapists getting wrong about AI? ·      Therapists believe that AI can do their notes, but it is often a lot of work and/or is an expensive application is required ·      There is a choice when using a free platform and/or an untrusted platform is that you are either writing an insufficient note or adding PHI, which causes you to break HIPAA ·      AI for notes takes a very long time due to how slowly they process the information as well as your need to review and edit each note ·       Some platforms are claiming to be HIPAA compliant and are not What are the different ways that AI works to provide documentation? ·      AI listens to the session and/or you upload the recording or a transcript ·      You enter the information on what happened in the session and AI writes the formal notes What do therapists need to know about an AI platform before using it? ·      Checking for actual HIPAA compliance versus a false statement about HIPAA compliance ·      Understand how it is telling you to use the software ·      Do they give you a BAA? ·      The pricing is relatively similar to an EHR - $10-$40 per month ·      This is not an electronic health record or practice management system ·      Some of the AI applications do not have access to the diagnosis, assessment, treatment plans, so you will have to insure that you prove medical necessity and demonstrate the clinical loop Are these AI platforms really ready for therapists? ·      The tech experts are taking care of data security ·      Many companies are still figuring these things out ·      All of the platforms Maelisa tested created fake elements of sessions (i.e., put things in the notes that did not happen) What else can therapists use AI for? ·      Creating templates for progress notes (i.e., not for a specific client, no PHI) ·      Creating resources for clients What do therapists need to do for their clients if they are using AI? ·      You must inform your client that you are using AI (informed consent) ·      AI is experimental, so it must be optional for your clients to opt in ·      You must insure that the platform is actually secure and HIPAA compliant ·      Ethics codes aren’t really saying anything, but some statements could be coming out soon on the ethics of how to use AI with or for clients What do therapists need to know about AI? ·      It is very new and changing constantly ·      This is going to happen, so we need to understand and participate in this transition ·      New resources will be created through AI Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000 Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey of QA Prep about her assessment of the AI tools available for therapists. We chat about the high expectations many clinicians have for note writing tools (and whether these expectations are really reasonable right now). We also look at what therapists are getting wrong when starting to use these tools, exploring some concerns related to HIPAA compliance and who is actually putting together these tech tools. Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Curt and Katie interview Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey of QA Prep about her assessment of the AI tools available for therapists. We chat about the high expectations many clinicians have for note writing tools (and whether these expectations are really reasonable right now). We also look at what therapists are getting wrong when starting to use these tools, exploring some concerns related to HIPAA compliance and who is actually putting together these tech tools. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about the development of AI tools for therapists Curt and Katie asked Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey to come on and talk about what she thinks about AI for documentation. What are therapists getting wrong about AI? ·      Therapists believe that AI can do their notes, but it is often a lot of work and/or is an expensive application is required ·      There is a choice when using a free platform and/or an untrusted platform is that you are either writing an insufficient note or adding PHI, which causes you to break HIPAA ·      AI for notes takes a very long time due to how slowly they process the information as well as your need to review and edit each note ·       Some platforms are claiming to be HIPAA compliant and are not What are the different ways that AI works to provide documentation? ·      AI listens to the session and/or you upload the recording or a transcript ·      You enter the information on what happened in the session and AI writes the formal notes What do therapists need to know about an AI platform before using it? ·      Checking for actual HIPAA compliance versus a false statement about HIPAA compliance ·      Understand how it is telling you to use the software ·      Do they give you a BAA? ·      The pricing is relatively similar to an EHR - $10-$40 per month ·      This is not an electronic health record or practice management system ·      Some of the AI applications do not have access to the diagnosis, assessment, treatment plans, so you will have to insure that you prove medical necessity and demonstrate the clinical loop Are these AI platforms really ready for therapists? ·      The tech experts are taking care of data security ·      Many companies are still figuring these things out ·      All of the platforms Maelisa tested created fake elements of sessions (i.e., put things in the notes that did not happen) What else can therapists use AI for? ·      Creating templates for progress notes (i.e., not for a specific client, no PHI) ·      Creating resources for clients What do therapists need to do for their clients if they are using AI? ·      You must inform your client that you are using AI (informed consent) ·      AI is experimental, so it must be optional for your clients to opt in ·      You must insure that the platform is actually secure and HIPAA compliant ·      Ethics codes aren’t really saying anything, but some statements could be coming out soon on the ethics of how to use AI with or for clients What do therapists need to know about AI? ·      It is very new and changing constantly ·      This is going to happen, so we need to understand and participate in this transition ·      New resources will be created through AI Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey of QA Prep about her assessment of the AI tools available for therapists. We chat about the high expectations many clinicians have for note writing tools (and whether these expectations are really reasonable right now). We also look at what therapists are getting wrong when starting to use these tools, exploring some concerns related to HIPAA compliance and who is actually putting together these tech tools.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about the development of AI tools for therapists

Curt and Katie asked Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey to come on and talk about what she thinks about AI for documentation.

What are therapists getting wrong about AI?

·      Therapists believe that AI can do their notes, but it is often a lot of work and/or is an expensive application is required

·      There is a choice when using a free platform and/or an untrusted platform is that you are either writing an insufficient note or adding PHI, which causes you to break HIPAA

·      AI for notes takes a very long time due to how slowly they process the information as well as your need to review and edit each note

·       Some platforms are claiming to be HIPAA compliant and are not

What are the different ways that AI works to provide documentation?

·      AI listens to the session and/or you upload the recording or a transcript

·      You enter the information on what happened in the session and AI writes the formal notes

What do therapists need to know about an AI platform before using it?

·      Checking for actual HIPAA compliance versus a false statement about HIPAA compliance

·      Understand how it is telling you to use the software

·      Do they give you a BAA?

·      The pricing is relatively similar to an EHR - $10-$40 per month

·      This is not an electronic health record or practice management system

·      Some of the AI applications do not have access to the diagnosis, assessment, treatment plans, so you will have to insure that you prove medical necessity and demonstrate the clinical loop

Are these AI platforms really ready for therapists?

·      The tech experts are taking care of data security

·      Many companies are still figuring these things out

·      All of the platforms Maelisa tested created fake elements of sessions (i.e., put things in the notes that did not happen)

What else can therapists use AI for?

·      Creating templates for progress notes (i.e., not for a specific client, no PHI)

·      Creating resources for clients

What do therapists need to do for their clients if they are using AI?

·      You must inform your client that you are using AI (informed consent)

·      AI is experimental, so it must be optional for your clients to opt in

·      You must insure that the platform is actually secure and HIPAA compliant

·      Ethics codes aren’t really saying anything, but some statements could be coming out soon on the ethics of how to use AI with or for clients

What do therapists need to know about AI?

·      It is very new and changing constantly

·      This is going to happen, so we need to understand and participate in this transition

·      New resources will be created through AI

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2547 Are Therapists to Blame for Ineffective Workplace Wellness Programs? Are Therapists to Blame for Ineffective Workplace Wellness Programs? Curt and Katie chat about a recent New York Times article that claims that individual mental health interventions are not effective in the workplace. We explore that and other studies on workplace wellness programs, looking at what is ineffective, what actually works, and what roles therapists can play in improving outcomes for employees (and employers). We also take a quick look at the ethical or moral questions therapists face when being paid to do these programs. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about a recent study on workplace wellness programs In a recent New York Times article, they talked about a study that shows little efficacy of workplace wellness programs in the UK. We decided to dig deeper into the research and see what therapists need to know when signing on to provide these programs. What does the research say about workplace wellness or individual-level mental health interventions on outcomes for employees and employers? ·      People in these programs are not better off than people who are not ·      Some desired outcomes (health markers, absenteeism, job performance) are not significantly better ·      Some positive clinical and employment outcomes from actual mental health programs ·      Individual solutions don’t solve systemic problems What are the dynamics at play in employee well-being? ·      Things that do work: more compensation, more say in how their work looks ·      The difference between convenience and work-place wellness ·      Typically, organizations are not assessing efficacy of their own wellness programs What is the therapist role in workplace wellness? ·      We know that many of these programs are ineffective – should we still continue to do them? ·      How should consumers of these products and programs inquire about efficacy or even completion? ·      Should therapists be concerned about whether people complete their course or find benefit from it? ·      Understanding what resources are available (and being encouraged to use them) may help folks to better benefit from them (as extrapolated from Curt’s undergraduate research) What can clinicians do to support actual workplace wellness? ·      Don’t co-sign on the idea that the onus is on the individual to fix the system ·      Provide actual mental health interventions for mental health needs ·      Facilitate conversations about systemic problems and solutions ·      Support positive interventions for individuals that are doable and effective ·      Exploring the ethics of providing these programs Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000 Are Therapists to Blame for Ineffective Workplace Wellness Programs? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about a recent New York Times article that claims that individual mental health interventions are not effective in the workplace. We explore that and other studies on workplace wellness programs, looking at what is ineffective, what actually works, and what roles therapists can play in improving outcomes for employees (and employers). We also take a quick look at the ethical or moral questions therapists face when being paid to do these programs. Are Therapists to Blame for Ineffective Workplace Wellness Programs? Curt and Katie chat about a recent New York Times article that claims that individual mental health interventions are not effective in the workplace. We explore that and other studies on workplace wellness programs, looking at what is ineffective, what actually works, and what roles therapists can play in improving outcomes for employees (and employers). We also take a quick look at the ethical or moral questions therapists face when being paid to do these programs. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about a recent study on workplace wellness programs In a recent New York Times article, they talked about a study that shows little efficacy of workplace wellness programs in the UK. We decided to dig deeper into the research and see what therapists need to know when signing on to provide these programs. What does the research say about workplace wellness or individual-level mental health interventions on outcomes for employees and employers? ·      People in these programs are not better off than people who are not ·      Some desired outcomes (health markers, absenteeism, job performance) are not significantly better ·      Some positive clinical and employment outcomes from actual mental health programs ·      Individual solutions don’t solve systemic problems What are the dynamics at play in employee well-being? ·      Things that do work: more compensation, more say in how their work looks ·      The difference between convenience and work-place wellness ·      Typically, organizations are not assessing efficacy of their own wellness programs What is the therapist role in workplace wellness? ·      We know that many of these programs are ineffective – should we still continue to do them? ·      How should consumers of these products and programs inquire about efficacy or even completion? ·      Should therapists be concerned about whether people complete their course or find benefit from it? ·      Understanding what resources are available (and being encouraged to use them) may help folks to better benefit from them (as extrapolated from Curt’s undergraduate research) What can clinicians do to support actual workplace wellness? ·      Don’t co-sign on the idea that the onus is on the individual to fix the system ·      Provide actual mental health interventions for mental health needs ·      Facilitate conversations about systemic problems and solutions ·      Support positive interventions for individuals that are doable and effective ·      Exploring the ethics of providing these programs Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Are Therapists to Blame for Ineffective Workplace Wellness Programs?

Curt and Katie chat about a recent New York Times article that claims that individual mental health interventions are not effective in the workplace. We explore that and other studies on workplace wellness programs, looking at what is ineffective, what actually works, and what roles therapists can play in improving outcomes for employees (and employers). We also take a quick look at the ethical or moral questions therapists face when being paid to do these programs.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about a recent study on workplace wellness programs

In a recent New York Times article, they talked about a study that shows little efficacy of workplace wellness programs in the UK. We decided to dig deeper into the research and see what therapists need to know when signing on to provide these programs.

What does the research say about workplace wellness or individual-level mental health interventions on outcomes for employees and employers?

·      People in these programs are not better off than people who are not

·      Some desired outcomes (health markers, absenteeism, job performance) are not significantly better

·      Some positive clinical and employment outcomes from actual mental health programs

·      Individual solutions don’t solve systemic problems

What are the dynamics at play in employee well-being?

·      Things that do work: more compensation, more say in how their work looks

·      The difference between convenience and work-place wellness

·      Typically, organizations are not assessing efficacy of their own wellness programs

What is the therapist role in workplace wellness?

·      We know that many of these programs are ineffective – should we still continue to do them?

·      How should consumers of these products and programs inquire about efficacy or even completion?

·      Should therapists be concerned about whether people complete their course or find benefit from it?

·      Understanding what resources are available (and being encouraged to use them) may help folks to better benefit from them (as extrapolated from Curt’s undergraduate research)

What can clinicians do to support actual workplace wellness?

·      Don’t co-sign on the idea that the onus is on the individual to fix the system

·      Provide actual mental health interventions for mental health needs

·      Facilitate conversations about systemic problems and solutions

·      Support positive interventions for individuals that are doable and effective

·      Exploring the ethics of providing these programs

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2584 When Your Client is a Super Fan: Exploring parasocial relationships and their effects on mental health When Your Client is a Super Fan: Exploring parasocial relationships and their effects on mental health Curt and Katie chat about parasocial relationships. We talk about what parasocial relationships (and break ups) are, who is most likely to engage in these relationships, and the positive and negative impacts of these one-sided relationships. We also look at how to use these relationships within therapy. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about parasocial relationships People develop relationships with celebrities, TV personalities, and others in the public eye. But do therapists assess the impact these relationships have on their clients and their mental health? This episode explores the ways that clients interact in one-sided relationships, the mental health benefits and drawbacks to engaging in these relationships, and ways for therapists to assess the potential impacts on client mental health and behavior. How can parasocial relationships show up (and be utilized) in therapy? ·      How to help clients identify appropriate role models ·      Using parasocial relationships as practice for social relationships ·      Ask what content clients are consuming to identify what messages they are receiving ·      Get very direct: ask about all of the content they regularly consume ·      Look especially at the content or influencers talking about things relevant to their presenting problems ·      Explore how clients with social anxiety are interacting with potential parasocial relationships ·      Staying abreast of news stories related to parasocial objects ·      Listening for certain types of unhealthy messages (like toxic masculinity) ·      Helping to expand your clients’ critical thinking and influences in their lives ·      Understanding why they are choosing these relationships and the meaning they are making from them ·      Using these relationships as practice or places to seek self-awareness and insight, especially related to identity and values ·      Grief work when there are parasocial breakups Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide  Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000 When Your Client is a Super Fan: Exploring parasocial relationships and their effects on mental health full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about parasocial relationships. We talk about what parasocial relationships (and break ups) are, who is most likely to engage in these relationships, and the positive and negative impacts of these one-sided relationships. We also look at how to use these relationships within therapy. This is a continuing education podcourse. When Your Client is a Super Fan: Exploring parasocial relationships and their effects on mental health Curt and Katie chat about parasocial relationships. We talk about what parasocial relationships (and break ups) are, who is most likely to engage in these relationships, and the positive and negative impacts of these one-sided relationships. We also look at how to use these relationships within therapy. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about parasocial relationships People develop relationships with celebrities, TV personalities, and others in the public eye. But do therapists assess the impact these relationships have on their clients and their mental health? This episode explores the ways that clients interact in one-sided relationships, the mental health benefits and drawbacks to engaging in these relationships, and ways for therapists to assess the potential impacts on client mental health and behavior. How can parasocial relationships show up (and be utilized) in therapy? ·      How to help clients identify appropriate role models ·      Using parasocial relationships as practice for social relationships ·      Ask what content clients are consuming to identify what messages they are receiving ·      Get very direct: ask about all of the content they regularly consume ·      Look especially at the content or influencers talking about things relevant to their presenting problems ·      Explore how clients with social anxiety are interacting with potential parasocial relationships ·      Staying abreast of news stories related to parasocial objects ·      Listening for certain types of unhealthy messages (like toxic masculinity) ·      Helping to expand your clients’ critical thinking and influences in their lives ·      Understanding why they are choosing these relationships and the meaning they are making from them ·      Using these relationships as practice or places to seek self-awareness and insight, especially related to identity and values ·      Grief work when there are parasocial breakups Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide  Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   When Your Client is a Super Fan: Exploring parasocial relationships and their effects on mental health

Curt and Katie chat about parasocial relationships. We talk about what parasocial relationships (and break ups) are, who is most likely to engage in these relationships, and the positive and negative impacts of these one-sided relationships. We also look at how to use these relationships within therapy. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about parasocial relationships

People develop relationships with celebrities, TV personalities, and others in the public eye. But do therapists assess the impact these relationships have on their clients and their mental health? This episode explores the ways that clients interact in one-sided relationships, the mental health benefits and drawbacks to engaging in these relationships, and ways for therapists to assess the potential impacts on client mental health and behavior.

How can parasocial relationships show up (and be utilized) in therapy?

·      How to help clients identify appropriate role models

·      Using parasocial relationships as practice for social relationships

·      Ask what content clients are consuming to identify what messages they are receiving

·      Get very direct: ask about all of the content they regularly consume

·      Look especially at the content or influencers talking about things relevant to their presenting problems

·      Explore how clients with social anxiety are interacting with potential parasocial relationships

·      Staying abreast of news stories related to parasocial objects

·      Listening for certain types of unhealthy messages (like toxic masculinity)

·      Helping to expand your clients’ critical thinking and influences in their lives

·      Understanding why they are choosing these relationships and the meaning they are making from them

·      Using these relationships as practice or places to seek self-awareness and insight, especially related to identity and values

·      Grief work when there are parasocial breakups

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

 Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 4283 What Is It Like To Be a Medicare Therapist? An interview with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW What Is It Like To Be a Medicare Therapist? An interview with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW, about what it looks like to take Medicare. We talk about common myths and what the actual experience is like. We also explore the business case for taking Medicare and why (and how) therapists can grow their practice by opting in as a Medicare provider. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about taking Medicare as a therapist Curt and Katie asked Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW to come in to talk about what it is like to take Medicare as a therapist.  What is involved in being a Medicare provider? ·       Clientele on Medicare include elderly and disabled ·       There is a huge need to clinicians to take Medicare ·       You will get a lot of referrals – Gabrielle filled up her caseload and made 6 figures in her first year in private practice What types of clinical expertise is necessary for therapists who take Medicare? ·       Loss of independence and aging issues ·       Grief and loss ·       Chronic health conditions and illnesses ·       Loss of mobility ·       Dementia and cognitive issues ·       Family dynamics and estrangement ·       Understanding later in life logistics ·       Caregiver concerns What are the business or day-to-day elements of taking Medicare? ·       Referral sources are medical doctors, care managers, and other therapists ·       Website content designed with caregiver or family member in mind (who would be searching for the services) ·       Sorting through Medicare and Medicare Advantage (i.e., commercial insurance Medicare replacement) plans – clients don’t know the difference between Medicare and Medicare Advantage ·       Ask to see all of their insurance cards to identify what coverage they have: o  Bill Medicare directly for patients with Medicare – you are a Part B provider (outpatient) – you will get 80% from Medicare and the other 20% from the patient, a supplemental plan, or Medicaid o  Bill the commercial insurance plan for Medicare Advantage patients (like regular insurance billing) ·       Audits are not common and are navigable with good notes and ability to make corrections ·       Audits are more likely if you’re doing unusual billing practices ·       The application process is probably the most challenging part of taking Medicare Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000 What Is It Like To Be a Medicare Therapist? An interview with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW, about what it looks like to take Medicare. We talk about common myths and what the actual experience is like. We also explore the business case for taking Medicare and why (and how) therapists can grow their practice by opting in as a Medicare provider. What Is It Like To Be a Medicare Therapist? An interview with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW, about what it looks like to take Medicare. We talk about common myths and what the actual experience is like. We also explore the business case for taking Medicare and why (and how) therapists can grow their practice by opting in as a Medicare provider. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about taking Medicare as a therapist Curt and Katie asked Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW to come in to talk about what it is like to take Medicare as a therapist.  What is involved in being a Medicare provider? ·       Clientele on Medicare include elderly and disabled ·       There is a huge need to clinicians to take Medicare ·       You will get a lot of referrals – Gabrielle filled up her caseload and made 6 figures in her first year in private practice What types of clinical expertise is necessary for therapists who take Medicare? ·       Loss of independence and aging issues ·       Grief and loss ·       Chronic health conditions and illnesses ·       Loss of mobility ·       Dementia and cognitive issues ·       Family dynamics and estrangement ·       Understanding later in life logistics ·       Caregiver concerns What are the business or day-to-day elements of taking Medicare? ·       Referral sources are medical doctors, care managers, and other therapists ·       Website content designed with caregiver or family member in mind (who would be searching for the services) ·       Sorting through Medicare and Medicare Advantage (i.e., commercial insurance Medicare replacement) plans – clients don’t know the difference between Medicare and Medicare Advantage ·       Ask to see all of their insurance cards to identify what coverage they have: o  Bill Medicare directly for patients with Medicare – you are a Part B provider (outpatient) – you will get 80% from Medicare and the other 20% from the patient, a supplemental plan, or Medicaid o  Bill the commercial insurance plan for Medicare Advantage patients (like regular insurance billing) ·       Audits are not common and are navigable with good notes and ability to make corrections ·       Audits are more likely if you’re doing unusual billing practices ·       The application process is probably the most challenging part of taking Medicare Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Is It Like To Be a Medicare Therapist? An interview with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW, about what it looks like to take Medicare. We talk about common myths and what the actual experience is like. We also explore the business case for taking Medicare and why (and how) therapists can grow their practice by opting in as a Medicare provider.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about taking Medicare as a therapist

Curt and Katie asked Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW to come in to talk about what it is like to take Medicare as a therapist.

 What is involved in being a Medicare provider?

·       Clientele on Medicare include elderly and disabled

·       There is a huge need to clinicians to take Medicare

·       You will get a lot of referrals – Gabrielle filled up her caseload and made 6 figures in her first year in private practice

What types of clinical expertise is necessary for therapists who take Medicare?

·       Loss of independence and aging issues

·       Grief and loss

·       Chronic health conditions and illnesses

·       Loss of mobility

·       Dementia and cognitive issues

·       Family dynamics and estrangement

·       Understanding later in life logistics

·       Caregiver concerns

What are the business or day-to-day elements of taking Medicare?

·       Referral sources are medical doctors, care managers, and other therapists

·       Website content designed with caregiver or family member in mind (who would be searching for the services)

·       Sorting through Medicare and Medicare Advantage (i.e., commercial insurance Medicare replacement) plans – clients don’t know the difference between Medicare and Medicare Advantage

·       Ask to see all of their insurance cards to identify what coverage they have:

o  Bill Medicare directly for patients with Medicare – you are a Part B provider (outpatient) – you will get 80% from Medicare and the other 20% from the patient, a supplemental plan, or Medicaid

o  Bill the commercial insurance plan for Medicare Advantage patients (like regular insurance billing)

·       Audits are not common and are navigable with good notes and ability to make corrections

·       Audits are more likely if you’re doing unusual billing practices

·       The application process is probably the most challenging part of taking Medicare


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2283 yes What Can Therapists Do When They Get a Life-Threatening Diagnosis? An interview with Patricia Ravitz, LMFT What Can Therapists Do When They Get a Life-Threatening Diagnosis? An interview with Patricia Ravitz, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Patricia Ravitz, LMFT, on how she navigated her pancreatic cancer diagnosis as a therapist. We talk about what happens when a therapist must take time away from their practice without notice, what therapists can do to navigate seeing clients while in treatment, and how you and your clinical work can change when you’re facing mortality. We also talk about support and resources.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can manage their practice when facing a potentially life-threatening diagnosis Curt and Katie asked their dear friend, Patricia Ravitz, LMFT to come talk about how she handled her practice after getting a cancer diagnosis.  What happens when a therapist must suddenly take time away from their practice for medical treatment? Determining how long will be needed to take time off (if that can be predicted) Identifying how to notify patients and what to share with patients Understanding whether you can have these conversations with patients (or not) Choosing a method for notification  Consulting with a colleague who can help with notification and/or follow up What can therapists do to continue to see clients while in chemotherapy? Assessing your response to chemotherapy and when you might be able to work Identifying days that you typically are able to be present and focused for your clients Determining who you can effectively see as a therapist and who you need to refer out Scheduling therapy around your treatment schedule as well as their clinical needs How might your clinical work change when you’re facing mortality as a therapist? The reality of the precariousness of life can impact the sense of urgency Sorting through what each client wanted to hear about or needed to talk about Focus and sharpening the therapy, moving away from complacency The emotions and care from the clients to the therapist Processing the relationship in a different way What kind of support or resources should therapists use when facing a challenging diagnosis? Personal support, therapy, consultation groups A professional will Understanding how this impacts other relationships and how you look at the world These types of experiences transform how we operate Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000 What Can Therapists Do When They Get a Life-Threatening Diagnosis? An interview with Patricia Ravitz, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Patricia Ravitz, LMFT, on how she navigated her pancreatic cancer diagnosis as a therapist. We talk about what happens when a therapist must take time away from their practice without notice, what therapists can do to navigate seeing clients while in treatment, and how you and your clinical work can change when you’re facing mortality. We also talk about support and resources. What Can Therapists Do When They Get a Life-Threatening Diagnosis? An interview with Patricia Ravitz, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Patricia Ravitz, LMFT, on how she navigated her pancreatic cancer diagnosis as a therapist. We talk about what happens when a therapist must take time away from their practice without notice, what therapists can do to navigate seeing clients while in treatment, and how you and your clinical work can change when you’re facing mortality. We also talk about support and resources.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can manage their practice when facing a potentially life-threatening diagnosis Curt and Katie asked their dear friend, Patricia Ravitz, LMFT to come talk about how she handled her practice after getting a cancer diagnosis.  What happens when a therapist must suddenly take time away from their practice for medical treatment? Determining how long will be needed to take time off (if that can be predicted) Identifying how to notify patients and what to share with patients Understanding whether you can have these conversations with patients (or not) Choosing a method for notification  Consulting with a colleague who can help with notification and/or follow up What can therapists do to continue to see clients while in chemotherapy? Assessing your response to chemotherapy and when you might be able to work Identifying days that you typically are able to be present and focused for your clients Determining who you can effectively see as a therapist and who you need to refer out Scheduling therapy around your treatment schedule as well as their clinical needs How might your clinical work change when you’re facing mortality as a therapist? The reality of the precariousness of life can impact the sense of urgency Sorting through what each client wanted to hear about or needed to talk about Focus and sharpening the therapy, moving away from complacency The emotions and care from the clients to the therapist Processing the relationship in a different way What kind of support or resources should therapists use when facing a challenging diagnosis? Personal support, therapy, consultation groups A professional will Understanding how this impacts other relationships and how you look at the world These types of experiences transform how we operate Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Can Therapists Do When They Get a Life-Threatening Diagnosis? An interview with Patricia Ravitz, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Patricia Ravitz, LMFT, on how she navigated her pancreatic cancer diagnosis as a therapist. We talk about what happens when a therapist must take time away from their practice without notice, what therapists can do to navigate seeing clients while in treatment, and how you and your clinical work can change when you’re facing mortality. We also talk about support and resources. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can manage their practice when facing a potentially life-threatening diagnosis

Curt and Katie asked their dear friend, Patricia Ravitz, LMFT to come talk about how she handled her practice after getting a cancer diagnosis. 

What happens when a therapist must suddenly take time away from their practice for medical treatment?

  • Determining how long will be needed to take time off (if that can be predicted)
  • Identifying how to notify patients and what to share with patients
  • Understanding whether you can have these conversations with patients (or not)
  • Choosing a method for notification 
  • Consulting with a colleague who can help with notification and/or follow up

What can therapists do to continue to see clients while in chemotherapy?

  • Assessing your response to chemotherapy and when you might be able to work
  • Identifying days that you typically are able to be present and focused for your clients
  • Determining who you can effectively see as a therapist and who you need to refer out
  • Scheduling therapy around your treatment schedule as well as their clinical needs

How might your clinical work change when you’re facing mortality as a therapist?

  • The reality of the precariousness of life can impact the sense of urgency
  • Sorting through what each client wanted to hear about or needed to talk about
  • Focus and sharpening the therapy, moving away from complacency
  • The emotions and care from the clients to the therapist
  • Processing the relationship in a different way

What kind of support or resources should therapists use when facing a challenging diagnosis?

  • Personal support, therapy, consultation groups
  • A professional will
  • Understanding how this impacts other relationships and how you look at the world
  • These types of experiences transform how we operate

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2588 Want to Fix Mental Health Workforce Shortages? Speed up the Licensing Boards: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell Want to Fix Mental Health Workforce Shortages? Speed up the Licensing Boards: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell Curt and Katie interview Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, about licensing board inefficiencies leading to incredible delays in folks getting licensed. We talk about the impacts of paperwork processing delays as well the inadequate infrastructure of most licensing boards. We also explore policy and individual options to mitigate or address these problems. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how the mental health workforce shortages are exacerbated by licensing boards Curt and Katie decided to invite Dr. Ben Caldwell back onto the podcast to talk about how licensing board inefficiencies are exacerbating mental health workforce shortages. Impacts of delays of paperwork processing on clients and clinicians ·   Delays of folks increasing income as a licensed clinician ·   Lack of mental health clinicians in the work force ·   Prospective clinicians dropping out of the process to become licensed due to the time and financial burden Licensing board infrastructure is often inadequate to get individuals licensed timely ·   Computer systems that licensing boards use are not typically modern ·   The contracts for streamlining processes are often restrictive to specific systems or to how quickly these improvements can move ·   There is little that is automated, but rather includes manual entry which is inefficient and introduces opportunities for error What are potential solutions for the pervasive inefficiency found in licensing boards? ·   Scanning and using optical recognition software for applications and counting hours ·   Contracting with private technology companies that are already gathering this data ·   Finding automated systems that are set up properly from the beginning to minimize training needs ·   Legislation to put pressure on state licensing boards to update computer systems ·   Hiring more people to take on these tasks ·   Using financial reserves to improve systems ·   Mitigating the effects of the delays on the workers (i.e., being able to take required exams for licensure while accruing your hours) ·   Simplifying processes wherever possible (i.e., less buckets of hours with minimum and maximum hours that need to be met) ·   Simplifying applications to make them more understandable for both applicants and reviewers ·   Policy analysis related to the rules – boards make the inaccurate assumption that if a rule exists it must be good ·   Using the legislative process to hold licensing boards accountable for not getting through applications timely and potentially even giving folks provisional licenses while waiting for the application to be reviewed What can individual therapists do to address the delays in processing licensing paperwork? ·   Be as clear as possible in applications and communication to the board to decrease confusion ·   Don’t apply for licensure early (i.e., before requirements are completed) ·   Show up to board meetings and let the licensing board know that delays are a huge problem ·   Advocate with your professional org and/or to your legislators Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000 Want to Fix Mental Health Workforce Shortages? Speed up the Licensing Boards: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, about licensing board inefficiencies leading to incredible delays in folks getting licensed. We talk about the impacts of paperwork processing delays as well the inadequate infrastructure of most licensing boards. We also explore policy and individual options to mitigate or address these problems. Want to Fix Mental Health Workforce Shortages? Speed up the Licensing Boards: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell Curt and Katie interview Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, about licensing board inefficiencies leading to incredible delays in folks getting licensed. We talk about the impacts of paperwork processing delays as well the inadequate infrastructure of most licensing boards. We also explore policy and individual options to mitigate or address these problems. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how the mental health workforce shortages are exacerbated by licensing boards Curt and Katie decided to invite Dr. Ben Caldwell back onto the podcast to talk about how licensing board inefficiencies are exacerbating mental health workforce shortages. Impacts of delays of paperwork processing on clients and clinicians ·   Delays of folks increasing income as a licensed clinician ·   Lack of mental health clinicians in the work force ·   Prospective clinicians dropping out of the process to become licensed due to the time and financial burden Licensing board infrastructure is often inadequate to get individuals licensed timely ·   Computer systems that licensing boards use are not typically modern ·   The contracts for streamlining processes are often restrictive to specific systems or to how quickly these improvements can move ·   There is little that is automated, but rather includes manual entry which is inefficient and introduces opportunities for error What are potential solutions for the pervasive inefficiency found in licensing boards? ·   Scanning and using optical recognition software for applications and counting hours ·   Contracting with private technology companies that are already gathering this data ·   Finding automated systems that are set up properly from the beginning to minimize training needs ·   Legislation to put pressure on state licensing boards to update computer systems ·   Hiring more people to take on these tasks ·   Using financial reserves to improve systems ·   Mitigating the effects of the delays on the workers (i.e., being able to take required exams for licensure while accruing your hours) ·   Simplifying processes wherever possible (i.e., less buckets of hours with minimum and maximum hours that need to be met) ·   Simplifying applications to make them more understandable for both applicants and reviewers ·   Policy analysis related to the rules – boards make the inaccurate assumption that if a rule exists it must be good ·   Using the legislative process to hold licensing boards accountable for not getting through applications timely and potentially even giving folks provisional licenses while waiting for the application to be reviewed What can individual therapists do to address the delays in processing licensing paperwork? ·   Be as clear as possible in applications and communication to the board to decrease confusion ·   Don’t apply for licensure early (i.e., before requirements are completed) ·   Show up to board meetings and let the licensing board know that delays are a huge problem ·   Advocate with your professional org and/or to your legislators Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Want to Fix Mental Health Workforce Shortages? Speed up the Licensing Boards: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell

Curt and Katie interview Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, about licensing board inefficiencies leading to incredible delays in folks getting licensed. We talk about the impacts of paperwork processing delays as well the inadequate infrastructure of most licensing boards. We also explore policy and individual options to mitigate or address these problems.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how the mental health workforce shortages are exacerbated by licensing boards

Curt and Katie decided to invite Dr. Ben Caldwell back onto the podcast to talk about how licensing board inefficiencies are exacerbating mental health workforce shortages.

Impacts of delays of paperwork processing on clients and clinicians

·   Delays of folks increasing income as a licensed clinician

·   Lack of mental health clinicians in the work force

·   Prospective clinicians dropping out of the process to become licensed due to the time and financial burden

Licensing board infrastructure is often inadequate to get individuals licensed timely

·   Computer systems that licensing boards use are not typically modern

·   The contracts for streamlining processes are often restrictive to specific systems or to how quickly these improvements can move

·   There is little that is automated, but rather includes manual entry which is inefficient and introduces opportunities for error

What are potential solutions for the pervasive inefficiency found in licensing boards?

·   Scanning and using optical recognition software for applications and counting hours

·   Contracting with private technology companies that are already gathering this data

·   Finding automated systems that are set up properly from the beginning to minimize training needs

·   Legislation to put pressure on state licensing boards to update computer systems

·   Hiring more people to take on these tasks

·   Using financial reserves to improve systems

·   Mitigating the effects of the delays on the workers (i.e., being able to take required exams for licensure while accruing your hours)

·   Simplifying processes wherever possible (i.e., less buckets of hours with minimum and maximum hours that need to be met)

·   Simplifying applications to make them more understandable for both applicants and reviewers

·   Policy analysis related to the rules – boards make the inaccurate assumption that if a rule exists it must be good

·   Using the legislative process to hold licensing boards accountable for not getting through applications timely and potentially even giving folks provisional licenses while waiting for the application to be reviewed

What can individual therapists do to address the delays in processing licensing paperwork?

·   Be as clear as possible in applications and communication to the board to decrease confusion

·   Don’t apply for licensure early (i.e., before requirements are completed)

·   Show up to board meetings and let the licensing board know that delays are a huge problem

·   Advocate with your professional org and/or to your legislators


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2589 REPLAY Structuring Self-Care REPLAY - Structuring Self-Care  We’re still on vacation, but wanted to share another one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 141: Structuring Self-Care. We talk about structuring self-care into your business practices. We look at how to incorporate self-care best practices into the way you build your work day. We also talk about common challenges to taking this advice. You can find the original show notes and transcripts here: Structuring Self-Care. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000 REPLAY Structuring Self-Care full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Today’s replay is of Episode 141: Structuring Self-Care. We talk about structuring self-care into your business practices. We look at how to incorporate self-care best practices into the way you build your work day. REPLAY - Structuring Self-Care  We’re still on vacation, but wanted to share another one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 141: Structuring Self-Care. We talk about structuring self-care into your business practices. We look at how to incorporate self-care best practices into the way you build your work day. We also talk about common challenges to taking this advice. You can find the original show notes and transcripts here: Structuring Self-Care. REPLAY - Structuring Self-Care

 We’re still on vacation, but wanted to share another one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 141: Structuring Self-Care. We talk about structuring self-care into your business practices. We look at how to incorporate self-care best practices into the way you build your work day. We also talk about common challenges to taking this advice. You can find the original show notes and transcripts here: Structuring Self-Care.

]]> 2595 REPLAY Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room REPLAY - Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room We’re on vacation, but wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 255: Therapists Are Not Robots: How we can show humanity in the room. We talk vulnerably about how we have managed some pretty challenging life crises while also being therapists. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 255 here: Therapists are Not Robots. Mon, 25 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000 REPLAY Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT We’re on vacation, but wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 255: Therapists Are Not Robots: How we can show humanity in the room. We talk vulnerably about how we have managed some pretty challenging life crises while also being therapists. REPLAY - Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room We’re on vacation, but wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 255: Therapists Are Not Robots: How we can show humanity in the room. We talk vulnerably about how we have managed some pretty challenging life crises while also being therapists. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 255 here: Therapists are Not Robots. REPLAY - Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room

We’re on vacation, but wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with all of you. We start with a quick reflection on the episode and what we’ve learned since it originally aired. Today’s replay is of Episode 255: Therapists Are Not Robots: How we can show humanity in the room. We talk vulnerably about how we have managed some pretty challenging life crises while also being therapists. You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 255 here: Therapists are Not Robots.

]]> 2475 What Do Therapists Need To Do About Medicare? Opting in or out for 2024: An interview with Joy Alafia, CAE What Do Therapists Need To Do About Medicare? Opting in or out for 2024: An interview with Joy Alafia, CAE Curt and Katie interview Joy Alafia, Executive Director of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, on the journey for MFTs and Counselors to become eligible to be Medicare providers. We look at the high-level tasks that every therapist needs to take. We also talk about the decision-making process for whether you should opt in or opt out, providing some basic guidance and resources on the steps you need to take now. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about MFTs and Counselors becoming Medicare Providers Curt and Katie have spent hours in advocacy efforts for MFTs and Counselors to become Medicare providers through their past involvement in the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). And it’s finally gone through! We asked Joy Alafia to come join us to discuss this journey as well as what therapists need to do now that we’re eligible to be Medicare providers. We answer the following questions and have a step by step guide in our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com: What was the process for MFTs and Counselors to be included in Medicare? Now that Marriage and Family Therapists and Counselors are eligible to bill Medicare, what do we need to do? What do therapists need to do if they would like to Opt In to provide Medicare services? What do therapists need to do if they would like to Opt Out of billing Medicare? What should therapists consider when deciding whether to take Medicare? ·      Clinical specialty – if you work with folks 65 and older or with disabled folks, you will want to strongly consider taking Medicare as these clients are typically eligible and would like to use their insurance ·      Access – if you have the ability (i.e., space in your caseload) to see Medicare patients, there is a huge need for providers who accept this insurance ·      Credibility – there is increased credibility as a provider when you are able to take Medicare ·      Rates – check out what the rates are for the areas where you see clients. To do so, look for your locality on the Physician Fee Schedule and multiply the rates by 75% if you are a masters level provider. If the rates are sufficient, you will consistently get clients and will consistently get paid. If the rates are not sufficient for your business, you will want to consider opting out and remaining private pay for these clients. ·      Documentation requirements – the documentation requirements are similar for most insurance plans, especially Medicaid. If you’re able to keep clean, efficient documentation, this should not be a deterrent for taking Medicare ·      Billing complexity – you will want to make sure to take trainings available (see below) to understand how you will need to bill this insurance plan and/or hire a biller who does ·      Consistency and recession-proofing your practice – Medicare is known to pay consistently and provide a lot of clients for your practice. As the population ages, this will be a larger and larger portion of the folks seeking mental health services. You may want to consider taking Medicare. Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together LOTS of resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) CAMFT’s Medicare Corner (for CAMFT members) CAMFT’s Medicare Webinars A TON of other Resources can be found on our website at mtsgpodcast.com. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000 What Do Therapists Need To Do About Medicare? Opting in or out for 2024: An interview with Joy Alafia, CAE full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Joy Alafia, Executive Director of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, on the journey for MFTs and Counselors to become eligible to be Medicare providers. We look at the high-level tasks that every therapist needs to take. We also talk about the decision-making process for whether you should opt in or opt out, providing some basic guidance and resources on the steps you need to take now. What Do Therapists Need To Do About Medicare? Opting in or out for 2024: An interview with Joy Alafia, CAE Curt and Katie interview Joy Alafia, Executive Director of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, on the journey for MFTs and Counselors to become eligible to be Medicare providers. We look at the high-level tasks that every therapist needs to take. We also talk about the decision-making process for whether you should opt in or opt out, providing some basic guidance and resources on the steps you need to take now. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about MFTs and Counselors becoming Medicare Providers Curt and Katie have spent hours in advocacy efforts for MFTs and Counselors to become Medicare providers through their past involvement in the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). And it’s finally gone through! We asked Joy Alafia to come join us to discuss this journey as well as what therapists need to do now that we’re eligible to be Medicare providers. We answer the following questions and have a step by step guide in our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com: What was the process for MFTs and Counselors to be included in Medicare? Now that Marriage and Family Therapists and Counselors are eligible to bill Medicare, what do we need to do? What do therapists need to do if they would like to Opt In to provide Medicare services? What do therapists need to do if they would like to Opt Out of billing Medicare? What should therapists consider when deciding whether to take Medicare? ·      Clinical specialty – if you work with folks 65 and older or with disabled folks, you will want to strongly consider taking Medicare as these clients are typically eligible and would like to use their insurance ·      Access – if you have the ability (i.e., space in your caseload) to see Medicare patients, there is a huge need for providers who accept this insurance ·      Credibility – there is increased credibility as a provider when you are able to take Medicare ·      Rates – check out what the rates are for the areas where you see clients. To do so, look for your locality on the Physician Fee Schedule and multiply the rates by 75% if you are a masters level provider. If the rates are sufficient, you will consistently get clients and will consistently get paid. If the rates are not sufficient for your business, you will want to consider opting out and remaining private pay for these clients. ·      Documentation requirements – the documentation requirements are similar for most insurance plans, especially Medicaid. If you’re able to keep clean, efficient documentation, this should not be a deterrent for taking Medicare ·      Billing complexity – you will want to make sure to take trainings available (see below) to understand how you will need to bill this insurance plan and/or hire a biller who does ·      Consistency and recession-proofing your practice – Medicare is known to pay consistently and provide a lot of clients for your practice. As the population ages, this will be a larger and larger portion of the folks seeking mental health services. You may want to consider taking Medicare. Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together LOTS of resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) CAMFT’s Medicare Corner (for CAMFT members) CAMFT’s Medicare Webinars A TON of other Resources can be found on our website at mtsgpodcast.com. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Do Therapists Need To Do About Medicare? Opting in or out for 2024: An interview with Joy Alafia, CAE

Curt and Katie interview Joy Alafia, Executive Director of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, on the journey for MFTs and Counselors to become eligible to be Medicare providers. We look at the high-level tasks that every therapist needs to take. We also talk about the decision-making process for whether you should opt in or opt out, providing some basic guidance and resources on the steps you need to take now.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about MFTs and Counselors becoming Medicare Providers

Curt and Katie have spent hours in advocacy efforts for MFTs and Counselors to become Medicare providers through their past involvement in the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). And it’s finally gone through! We asked Joy Alafia to come join us to discuss this journey as well as what therapists need to do now that we’re eligible to be Medicare providers. We answer the following questions and have a step by step guide in our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com:

What was the process for MFTs and Counselors to be included in Medicare?

Now that Marriage and Family Therapists and Counselors are eligible to bill Medicare, what do we need to do?

What do therapists need to do if they would like to Opt In to provide Medicare services?

What do therapists need to do if they would like to Opt Out of billing Medicare?

What should therapists consider when deciding whether to take Medicare?

·      Clinical specialty – if you work with folks 65 and older or with disabled folks, you will want to strongly consider taking Medicare as these clients are typically eligible and would like to use their insurance

·      Access – if you have the ability (i.e., space in your caseload) to see Medicare patients, there is a huge need for providers who accept this insurance

·      Credibility – there is increased credibility as a provider when you are able to take Medicare

·      Rates – check out what the rates are for the areas where you see clients. To do so, look for your locality on the Physician Fee Schedule and multiply the rates by 75% if you are a masters level provider. If the rates are sufficient, you will consistently get clients and will consistently get paid. If the rates are not sufficient for your business, you will want to consider opting out and remaining private pay for these clients.

·      Documentation requirements – the documentation requirements are similar for most insurance plans, especially Medicaid. If you’re able to keep clean, efficient documentation, this should not be a deterrent for taking Medicare

·      Billing complexity – you will want to make sure to take trainings available (see below) to understand how you will need to bill this insurance plan and/or hire a biller who does

·      Consistency and recession-proofing your practice – Medicare is known to pay consistently and provide a lot of clients for your practice. As the population ages, this will be a larger and larger portion of the folks seeking mental health services. You may want to consider taking Medicare.

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together LOTS of resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

CAMFT’s Medicare Corner (for CAMFT members)

CAMFT’s Medicare Webinars

A TON of other Resources can be found on our website at mtsgpodcast.com.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2921 How Can Therapists Take a Real Vacation? How Can Therapists Take a Real Vacation? Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can take extended time away from their therapy practices. We talk about how to budget time and money for vacation as well as what therapists need to have covered when they’re gone. We also look at how to mitigate foreseeable risk and manage continuity of care. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can get time away from work We’ve heard too many people talking about the challenges of taking time off when you’re working as a therapist. How can therapists budget for time off? ·      Determining fees based on time you’re actually working (i.e., charging more or determining number of weekly sessions based on when you can be away) ·      Scheduling based on diminishing the number of actual missed sessions (i.e., scheduling vacations when your clients are on vacation and/or taking long weekends and moving clients within the week to take partial weeks off) What do therapists need to cover when they go on vacation? ·      Clinical coverage within your practice or with colleagues ·      Identify when you’re on-call and how you navigate that within your vacation ·      Supervision coverage planning ·      Understanding when you can respond to clients or supervisees (i.e., being in wise mind) ·      Safety planning with clients, including coverage plan and/or when you’re available How can therapists mitigate the clinical risks for taking longer vacations? ·      Determining when you should stop taking new clients before a longer vacation ·      Teaching your clients to be okay without you ·      Flexibility on when you take time away and how to take time away from the office ·      Planning for foreseeable risks ·      Homework or other resources What does a hybrid work vacation look like? ·      Virtual work as needed ·      Creating times/spaces for clinical sessions and follow up ·      Make sure you have sufficient wifi or cell reception and privacy ·      It’s important to make sure you get downtime and aren’t constantly working Why is it important to take time off when you’re a therapist? ·      Getting rejuvenated and living life ·      Working to prevent burnout ·      Renewed sense of energy within the profession ·      Our job is to talk about pain and suffering and there is so much pain and suffering in the world, so it is important to get restorative breaks Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000 How Can Therapists Take a Real Vacation? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can take extended time away from their therapy practices. We talk about how to budget time and money for vacation as well as what therapists need to have covered when they’re gone. We also look at how to mitigate foreseeable risk and manage continuity of care. How Can Therapists Take a Real Vacation? Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can take extended time away from their therapy practices. We talk about how to budget time and money for vacation as well as what therapists need to have covered when they’re gone. We also look at how to mitigate foreseeable risk and manage continuity of care. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can get time away from work We’ve heard too many people talking about the challenges of taking time off when you’re working as a therapist. How can therapists budget for time off? ·      Determining fees based on time you’re actually working (i.e., charging more or determining number of weekly sessions based on when you can be away) ·      Scheduling based on diminishing the number of actual missed sessions (i.e., scheduling vacations when your clients are on vacation and/or taking long weekends and moving clients within the week to take partial weeks off) What do therapists need to cover when they go on vacation? ·      Clinical coverage within your practice or with colleagues ·      Identify when you’re on-call and how you navigate that within your vacation ·      Supervision coverage planning ·      Understanding when you can respond to clients or supervisees (i.e., being in wise mind) ·      Safety planning with clients, including coverage plan and/or when you’re available How can therapists mitigate the clinical risks for taking longer vacations? ·      Determining when you should stop taking new clients before a longer vacation ·      Teaching your clients to be okay without you ·      Flexibility on when you take time away and how to take time away from the office ·      Planning for foreseeable risks ·      Homework or other resources What does a hybrid work vacation look like? ·      Virtual work as needed ·      Creating times/spaces for clinical sessions and follow up ·      Make sure you have sufficient wifi or cell reception and privacy ·      It’s important to make sure you get downtime and aren’t constantly working Why is it important to take time off when you’re a therapist? ·      Getting rejuvenated and living life ·      Working to prevent burnout ·      Renewed sense of energy within the profession ·      Our job is to talk about pain and suffering and there is so much pain and suffering in the world, so it is important to get restorative breaks Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   How Can Therapists Take a Real Vacation?

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can take extended time away from their therapy practices. We talk about how to budget time and money for vacation as well as what therapists need to have covered when they’re gone. We also look at how to mitigate foreseeable risk and manage continuity of care.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can get time away from work

We’ve heard too many people talking about the challenges of taking time off when you’re working as a therapist.

How can therapists budget for time off?

·      Determining fees based on time you’re actually working (i.e., charging more or determining number of weekly sessions based on when you can be away)

·      Scheduling based on diminishing the number of actual missed sessions (i.e., scheduling vacations when your clients are on vacation and/or taking long weekends and moving clients within the week to take partial weeks off)

What do therapists need to cover when they go on vacation?

·      Clinical coverage within your practice or with colleagues

·      Identify when you’re on-call and how you navigate that within your vacation

·      Supervision coverage planning

·      Understanding when you can respond to clients or supervisees (i.e., being in wise mind)

·      Safety planning with clients, including coverage plan and/or when you’re available

How can therapists mitigate the clinical risks for taking longer vacations?

·      Determining when you should stop taking new clients before a longer vacation

·      Teaching your clients to be okay without you

·      Flexibility on when you take time away and how to take time away from the office

·      Planning for foreseeable risks

·      Homework or other resources

What does a hybrid work vacation look like?

·      Virtual work as needed

·      Creating times/spaces for clinical sessions and follow up

·      Make sure you have sufficient wifi or cell reception and privacy

·      It’s important to make sure you get downtime and aren’t constantly working

Why is it important to take time off when you’re a therapist?

·      Getting rejuvenated and living life

·      Working to prevent burnout

·      Renewed sense of energy within the profession

·      Our job is to talk about pain and suffering and there is so much pain and suffering in the world, so it is important to get restorative breaks


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2122 Religious Trauma and High-Control Religion: An Interview with Anna Clark Miller, LPC, LMHC Religious Trauma and High-Control Religion: An Interview with Anna Clark Miller, LPC, LMHC Curt and Katie interview Anna Clark Miller about religious trauma. We explore what religious trauma and high-control religions are. We look at common mistakes therapists can make when working with religious trauma survivors as well as what therapy and healing can look like for these folks. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about religious trauma and high-control religion We were interested to learn more about how therapists can support religious trauma survivors, so we reached out to an expert, Anna Clark Miller, to share her wisdom. What is religious trauma? ·      Complex trauma over a long period of time ·      Impacts to the nervous system ·      Traumatic beliefs about religion and the after life ·      Following rules and conforming to a religious group’s idea of how someone should live What mistakes do therapists make when working with religious trauma survivors? ·      Therapists becoming the client’s new spiritual authority ·      Clients using therapy to tell them how to think and live ·      Clients need to own themselves and their own minds, not work to please the therapist What does healing after leaving a “high control” religion look like? ·      The loss of so much, including social support, identity, etc. ·      Complex PTSD healing ·      How will I fit into the world? How will I talk with people? ·      Building hope for someone who is needing to completely remake their life and identity ·      The client needs to create a sense of safety within themselves ·      You can’t “rip off the Band-Aid” with leaving a high control religious group ·      Helping clients with their judgment around their emotions (starting with observation before judging if it is good or bad) ·      Working with clients to examine their beliefs (over time) What is included in the treatment for religious trauma survivors ·      Noticing one’s body ·      Exploring and reimagining healthy relationships ·      Identity work ·      Deconstruction of topics based on what the client is thinking, feeling, etc. ·      Addressing spiritual bypassing ·      Not just “mindfulness” due to concerns about secular psychology Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Religious Trauma and High-Control Religion: An Interview with Anna Clark Miller, LPC, LMHC full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Anna Clark Miller about religious trauma. We explore what religious trauma and high-control religions are. We look at common mistakes therapists can make when working with religious trauma survivors as well as what therapy and healing can look like for these folks. Religious Trauma and High-Control Religion: An Interview with Anna Clark Miller, LPC, LMHC Curt and Katie interview Anna Clark Miller about religious trauma. We explore what religious trauma and high-control religions are. We look at common mistakes therapists can make when working with religious trauma survivors as well as what therapy and healing can look like for these folks. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about religious trauma and high-control religion We were interested to learn more about how therapists can support religious trauma survivors, so we reached out to an expert, Anna Clark Miller, to share her wisdom. What is religious trauma? ·      Complex trauma over a long period of time ·      Impacts to the nervous system ·      Traumatic beliefs about religion and the after life ·      Following rules and conforming to a religious group’s idea of how someone should live What mistakes do therapists make when working with religious trauma survivors? ·      Therapists becoming the client’s new spiritual authority ·      Clients using therapy to tell them how to think and live ·      Clients need to own themselves and their own minds, not work to please the therapist What does healing after leaving a “high control” religion look like? ·      The loss of so much, including social support, identity, etc. ·      Complex PTSD healing ·      How will I fit into the world? How will I talk with people? ·      Building hope for someone who is needing to completely remake their life and identity ·      The client needs to create a sense of safety within themselves ·      You can’t “rip off the Band-Aid” with leaving a high control religious group ·      Helping clients with their judgment around their emotions (starting with observation before judging if it is good or bad) ·      Working with clients to examine their beliefs (over time) What is included in the treatment for religious trauma survivors ·      Noticing one’s body ·      Exploring and reimagining healthy relationships ·      Identity work ·      Deconstruction of topics based on what the client is thinking, feeling, etc. ·      Addressing spiritual bypassing ·      Not just “mindfulness” due to concerns about secular psychology Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Religious Trauma and High-Control Religion: An Interview with Anna Clark Miller, LPC, LMHC

Curt and Katie interview Anna Clark Miller about religious trauma. We explore what religious trauma and high-control religions are. We look at common mistakes therapists can make when working with religious trauma survivors as well as what therapy and healing can look like for these folks.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about religious trauma and high-control religion

We were interested to learn more about how therapists can support religious trauma survivors, so we reached out to an expert, Anna Clark Miller, to share her wisdom.

What is religious trauma?

·      Complex trauma over a long period of time

·      Impacts to the nervous system

·      Traumatic beliefs about religion and the after life

·      Following rules and conforming to a religious group’s idea of how someone should live

What mistakes do therapists make when working with religious trauma survivors?

·      Therapists becoming the client’s new spiritual authority

·      Clients using therapy to tell them how to think and live

·      Clients need to own themselves and their own minds, not work to please the therapist

What does healing after leaving a “high control” religion look like?

·      The loss of so much, including social support, identity, etc.

·      Complex PTSD healing

·      How will I fit into the world? How will I talk with people?

·      Building hope for someone who is needing to completely remake their life and identity

·      The client needs to create a sense of safety within themselves

·      You can’t “rip off the Band-Aid” with leaving a high control religious group

·      Helping clients with their judgment around their emotions (starting with observation before judging if it is good or bad)

·      Working with clients to examine their beliefs (over time)

What is included in the treatment for religious trauma survivors

·      Noticing one’s body

·      Exploring and reimagining healthy relationships

·      Identity work

·      Deconstruction of topics based on what the client is thinking, feeling, etc.

·      Addressing spiritual bypassing

·      Not just “mindfulness” due to concerns about secular psychology

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2499 How Much Autonomy Do Therapy Clients Deserve? Balancing client autonomy with therapist skill How Much Autonomy Do Therapy Clients Deserve? Balancing client autonomy with therapist skill Curt and Katie chat about client autonomy. We look at what patient autonomy is and what therapists need to understand about this very complex topic. We explore how therapists can overstep or abdicate their role in supporting their clients in making decisions. We also look at what true informed consent is and the dimensions of client autonomy. This is an ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about client autonomy Therapists are faced with balancing their professional knowledge with the needs and desires of clients. At the core of this issue is the principle ethic of client autonomy. How much autonomy do therapists need to give clients? What do therapists do when clients don’t have the capacity for autonomy in the first place? This workshop explores the considerations that therapists must face when balancing the needs of clients with professional mental health services.hen What is patient or client autonomy in mental health? ·      Clients making decisions about their treatment based on solid information and an understanding of that information ·      There is a debate related to whether we defer to clients’ decisions no matter what versus standing in the role of professional therapist What do therapists need to understand about client autonomy? ·      There is a lot of complexity and nuance related to therapist responsibility as professionals versus when therapists can become too paternalistic ·      There is a not a lot of discussion within the ethics codes related to client autonomy, they are usually in the preamble, so it is more important while also be less discussed ·      Freedom (or liberty) to make choices versus agency (or capacity) to understand the choices ·      Therapists need to clarify for clients the options and make sure they can make informed decisions How is informed consent related to client autonomy? ·      If clients don’t know what their therapists are doing, do they have client autonomy? ·      Evaluation of whether someone has the capacity to make treatment decisions can be impacted by bias, but is the role of the therapist within the mental health treatment ·      We don’t want to equate autonomy with autonomous decision-making Dimensions of client autonomy and the therapist’s responsibility ·      Decisional dimension – being able to plan and make decisions about their mental health treatment ·      Executive dimension - being able to follow through on the plans made ·      Therapists need to be able to step forward and provide additional support to clients to bring them back to autonomy or hold a line in treatment that will and will not be offered ·      Informed dimension - understanding the difference between informed consent and informed assent and being able to give instructions ahead of time if have a mental health crises ·      Looking at a “Mental Health Advanced Directive” – one example is the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (see the resources section in the show notes). Paternalism and client autonomy ·      Not all “paternalism” is wrong – when clients are unable to care for self, they may need some paternalism to be able to be safe or get the treatment that they need ·      Asymmetrical versus libertarian paternalism is discussed ·      The importance of understanding your own bias and how the way you frame options can be manipulative Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000 How Much Autonomy Do Therapy Clients Deserve? Balancing client autonomy with therapist skill full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about client autonomy. We look at what patient autonomy is and what therapists need to understand about this very complex topic. We explore how therapists can overstep or abdicate their role in supporting their clients in making decisions. We also look at what true informed consent is and the dimensions of client autonomy. This is an ethics continuing education podcourse. How Much Autonomy Do Therapy Clients Deserve? Balancing client autonomy with therapist skill Curt and Katie chat about client autonomy. We look at what patient autonomy is and what therapists need to understand about this very complex topic. We explore how therapists can overstep or abdicate their role in supporting their clients in making decisions. We also look at what true informed consent is and the dimensions of client autonomy. This is an ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about client autonomy Therapists are faced with balancing their professional knowledge with the needs and desires of clients. At the core of this issue is the principle ethic of client autonomy. How much autonomy do therapists need to give clients? What do therapists do when clients don’t have the capacity for autonomy in the first place? This workshop explores the considerations that therapists must face when balancing the needs of clients with professional mental health services.hen What is patient or client autonomy in mental health? ·      Clients making decisions about their treatment based on solid information and an understanding of that information ·      There is a debate related to whether we defer to clients’ decisions no matter what versus standing in the role of professional therapist What do therapists need to understand about client autonomy? ·      There is a lot of complexity and nuance related to therapist responsibility as professionals versus when therapists can become too paternalistic ·      There is a not a lot of discussion within the ethics codes related to client autonomy, they are usually in the preamble, so it is more important while also be less discussed ·      Freedom (or liberty) to make choices versus agency (or capacity) to understand the choices ·      Therapists need to clarify for clients the options and make sure they can make informed decisions How is informed consent related to client autonomy? ·      If clients don’t know what their therapists are doing, do they have client autonomy? ·      Evaluation of whether someone has the capacity to make treatment decisions can be impacted by bias, but is the role of the therapist within the mental health treatment ·      We don’t want to equate autonomy with autonomous decision-making Dimensions of client autonomy and the therapist’s responsibility ·      Decisional dimension – being able to plan and make decisions about their mental health treatment ·      Executive dimension - being able to follow through on the plans made ·      Therapists need to be able to step forward and provide additional support to clients to bring them back to autonomy or hold a line in treatment that will and will not be offered ·      Informed dimension - understanding the difference between informed consent and informed assent and being able to give instructions ahead of time if have a mental health crises ·      Looking at a “Mental Health Advanced Directive” – one example is the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (see the resources section in the show notes). Paternalism and client autonomy ·      Not all “paternalism” is wrong – when clients are unable to care for self, they may need some paternalism to be able to be safe or get the treatment that they need ·      Asymmetrical versus libertarian paternalism is discussed ·      The importance of understanding your own bias and how the way you frame options can be manipulative Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   How Much Autonomy Do Therapy Clients Deserve? Balancing client autonomy with therapist skill

Curt and Katie chat about client autonomy. We look at what patient autonomy is and what therapists need to understand about this very complex topic. We explore how therapists can overstep or abdicate their role in supporting their clients in making decisions. We also look at what true informed consent is and the dimensions of client autonomy. This is an ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about client autonomy

Therapists are faced with balancing their professional knowledge with the needs and desires of clients. At the core of this issue is the principle ethic of client autonomy. How much autonomy do therapists need to give clients? What do therapists do when clients don’t have the capacity for autonomy in the first place? This workshop explores the considerations that therapists must face when balancing the needs of clients with professional mental health services.hen

What is patient or client autonomy in mental health?

·      Clients making decisions about their treatment based on solid information and an understanding of that information

·      There is a debate related to whether we defer to clients’ decisions no matter what versus standing in the role of professional therapist

What do therapists need to understand about client autonomy?

·      There is a lot of complexity and nuance related to therapist responsibility as professionals versus when therapists can become too paternalistic

·      There is a not a lot of discussion within the ethics codes related to client autonomy, they are usually in the preamble, so it is more important while also be less discussed

·      Freedom (or liberty) to make choices versus agency (or capacity) to understand the choices

·      Therapists need to clarify for clients the options and make sure they can make informed decisions

How is informed consent related to client autonomy?

·      If clients don’t know what their therapists are doing, do they have client autonomy?

·      Evaluation of whether someone has the capacity to make treatment decisions can be impacted by bias, but is the role of the therapist within the mental health treatment

·      We don’t want to equate autonomy with autonomous decision-making

Dimensions of client autonomy and the therapist’s responsibility

·      Decisional dimension – being able to plan and make decisions about their mental health treatment

·      Executive dimension - being able to follow through on the plans made

·      Therapists need to be able to step forward and provide additional support to clients to bring them back to autonomy or hold a line in treatment that will and will not be offered

·      Informed dimension - understanding the difference between informed consent and informed assent and being able to give instructions ahead of time if have a mental health crises

·      Looking at a “Mental Health Advanced Directive” – one example is the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (see the resources section in the show notes).

Paternalism and client autonomy

·      Not all “paternalism” is wrong – when clients are unable to care for self, they may need some paternalism to be able to be safe or get the treatment that they need

·      Asymmetrical versus libertarian paternalism is discussed

·      The importance of understanding your own bias and how the way you frame options can be manipulative

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 4151 What’s Confidential and What’s a Secret? Navigating “No Secrets” Policies What’s Confidential and What’s a Secret? Navigating “No Secrets” Policies Curt and Katie chat about no secret policies. We look at what they are, what needs to be in these policies, how to navigate secrets in therapy, the importance of these policies in relational therapy, and the complexity of “no secrets” when working with kids and teens. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about no secrets policies in therapy In our continuing efforts to touch on all the topics that therapists need to know about, we decided to dig deeply on no secrets policies. What is a no secrets policy? ·      Typically, these types of policies are created for relational therapy ·      “No secrets” means that the therapist will not keep a secret that is clinically relevant from a member of the treatment unit, even when someone contacts the therapist outside of session ·      This policy needs to be understood by all the members of the treatment unit How can therapists navigate secrets in therapy? ·      If there is communication outside of therapy, it is important to hold the boundaries within your no secrets policy ·      Flexibility related to when and how secrets are shared (versus rigidity and immediacy) ·      Explicit discussion around exceptions of the “no secrets” policy related to intimate partner violence ·      It is important to have a clinical evaluation of when and how the secret is shared into the treatment unit and whether the secret is clinically relevant to the treatment unit ·      Clarify the treatment unit and clinical orientation to sort through what needs to be in your secrets policy ·      Determining how not to be triangulated by members of the couple or family What needs to be in a therapist’s secrets policy? ·      Clear guidance on who is included in the treatment unit ·      What secrets will be kept or not kept (e.g., intimate partner violence) ·      How secrets will be handled as they come up ·      Assessment of the capacity of each member of the treatment unit to participate in these conversations about confidentiality and secrets What about no secrets when you’re working with kids and teens? ·      Clarity on the treatment unit (individual kid or family, etc.) ·      Identifying how confidentiality is held for kids and teens ·      Working with the kids and teens to plan for disclosure to caregivers ·      For parents of young/school-aged children, there may be work to help caregivers to disclose information appropriately over time (thus the therapist holds the secret for a period of time) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000 What's Confidential and Whats a Secret? Navigating No Secrets Policies full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about no secret policies. We look at what they are, what needs to be in these policies, how to navigate secrets in therapy, the importance of these policies in relational therapy, and the complexity of “no secrets” when working with kids and teens. What’s Confidential and What’s a Secret? Navigating “No Secrets” Policies Curt and Katie chat about no secret policies. We look at what they are, what needs to be in these policies, how to navigate secrets in therapy, the importance of these policies in relational therapy, and the complexity of “no secrets” when working with kids and teens. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about no secrets policies in therapy In our continuing efforts to touch on all the topics that therapists need to know about, we decided to dig deeply on no secrets policies. What is a no secrets policy? ·      Typically, these types of policies are created for relational therapy ·      “No secrets” means that the therapist will not keep a secret that is clinically relevant from a member of the treatment unit, even when someone contacts the therapist outside of session ·      This policy needs to be understood by all the members of the treatment unit How can therapists navigate secrets in therapy? ·      If there is communication outside of therapy, it is important to hold the boundaries within your no secrets policy ·      Flexibility related to when and how secrets are shared (versus rigidity and immediacy) ·      Explicit discussion around exceptions of the “no secrets” policy related to intimate partner violence ·      It is important to have a clinical evaluation of when and how the secret is shared into the treatment unit and whether the secret is clinically relevant to the treatment unit ·      Clarify the treatment unit and clinical orientation to sort through what needs to be in your secrets policy ·      Determining how not to be triangulated by members of the couple or family What needs to be in a therapist’s secrets policy? ·      Clear guidance on who is included in the treatment unit ·      What secrets will be kept or not kept (e.g., intimate partner violence) ·      How secrets will be handled as they come up ·      Assessment of the capacity of each member of the treatment unit to participate in these conversations about confidentiality and secrets What about no secrets when you’re working with kids and teens? ·      Clarity on the treatment unit (individual kid or family, etc.) ·      Identifying how confidentiality is held for kids and teens ·      Working with the kids and teens to plan for disclosure to caregivers ·      For parents of young/school-aged children, there may be work to help caregivers to disclose information appropriately over time (thus the therapist holds the secret for a period of time) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What’s Confidential and What’s a Secret? Navigating “No Secrets” Policies

Curt and Katie chat about no secret policies. We look at what they are, what needs to be in these policies, how to navigate secrets in therapy, the importance of these policies in relational therapy, and the complexity of “no secrets” when working with kids and teens.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about no secrets policies in therapy

In our continuing efforts to touch on all the topics that therapists need to know about, we decided to dig deeply on no secrets policies.

What is a no secrets policy?

·      Typically, these types of policies are created for relational therapy

·      “No secrets” means that the therapist will not keep a secret that is clinically relevant from a member of the treatment unit, even when someone contacts the therapist outside of session

·      This policy needs to be understood by all the members of the treatment unit

How can therapists navigate secrets in therapy?

·      If there is communication outside of therapy, it is important to hold the boundaries within your no secrets policy

·      Flexibility related to when and how secrets are shared (versus rigidity and immediacy)

·      Explicit discussion around exceptions of the “no secrets” policy related to intimate partner violence

·      It is important to have a clinical evaluation of when and how the secret is shared into the treatment unit and whether the secret is clinically relevant to the treatment unit

·      Clarify the treatment unit and clinical orientation to sort through what needs to be in your secrets policy

·      Determining how not to be triangulated by members of the couple or family

What needs to be in a therapist’s secrets policy?

·      Clear guidance on who is included in the treatment unit

·      What secrets will be kept or not kept (e.g., intimate partner violence)

·      How secrets will be handled as they come up

·      Assessment of the capacity of each member of the treatment unit to participate in these conversations about confidentiality and secrets

What about no secrets when you’re working with kids and teens?

·      Clarity on the treatment unit (individual kid or family, etc.)

·      Identifying how confidentiality is held for kids and teens

·      Working with the kids and teens to plan for disclosure to caregivers

·      For parents of young/school-aged children, there may be work to help caregivers to disclose information appropriately over time (thus the therapist holds the secret for a period of time)

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2216 Is This My Stuff? How therapists can sort through countertransference: An Interview with Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW Is This My Stuff? How therapists can sort through countertransference: An Interview with Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Meyers on countertransference. We talk about what countertransference is, how therapists typically struggle when working in the transference and countertransference, how the profession’s relationship to countertransference has changed, and what therapists can do to better understand themselves. We also talk a bit about the blank slate. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at countertransference We’re talking about a topic we haven’t touched on yet: countertransference. We are joined by an expert in countertransference, Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW What is countertransference? ·      Beyond self-awareness and understanding oneself ·      We have experiences and make them our own and expect people to respond to me in the same way as others have in the past What do therapists struggle with when addressing transference and countertransference? ·      When therapists don’t know themselves well enough, they will not be able to identify when countertransference is coming up ·      Therapists will often avoid conflict or put too much of themselves in the room without full assessment ·      Therapists misunderstand the utility of countertransference and try to avoid it ·      Simplification of the blank slate. Dr. Meyers’ understanding is that it is avoiding unintentionally putting your emotions in the session, which gets in the way of clients’ projecting emotions on the therapist (transference) How should therapists be taught to use countertransference? ·      Looking at how you feel about the interactions with your clients and your feelings about your clients as individuals ·      Treating therapists as human beings with emotions and explore how their humanity interacts with their work with their clients How has the field changed its relationship with countertransference? ·      People have moved into quicker therapy and more manualized treatments ·      There is less focus on longer term, relationship based treatment rather than tools and strategies ·      Supervisors and trainers are less focused on training therapists in this element of the work What can therapists do when they become aware of their countertransference reactions ·      Considering other options rather than what is familiar ·      Using the relationship in therapy as a corrective emotional experience ·      We discuss a couple of case examples to explore how to work with countertransference with real clients ·      Sorting out what is self-disclosure versus use of self in session and how are each can be helpful ·      Go to therapy ·      Go to supervision ·      Learn and read more about countertransference Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Is This My Stuff? How therapists can sort through countertransference: An Interview with Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Meyers on countertransference. We talk about what countertransference is, how therapists typically struggle when working in the transference and countertransference, how the profession’s relationship to countertransference has changed, and what therapists can do to better understand themselves. We also talk a bit about the blank slate. Is This My Stuff? How therapists can sort through countertransference: An Interview with Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Meyers on countertransference. We talk about what countertransference is, how therapists typically struggle when working in the transference and countertransference, how the profession’s relationship to countertransference has changed, and what therapists can do to better understand themselves. We also talk a bit about the blank slate. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at countertransference We’re talking about a topic we haven’t touched on yet: countertransference. We are joined by an expert in countertransference, Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW What is countertransference? ·      Beyond self-awareness and understanding oneself ·      We have experiences and make them our own and expect people to respond to me in the same way as others have in the past What do therapists struggle with when addressing transference and countertransference? ·      When therapists don’t know themselves well enough, they will not be able to identify when countertransference is coming up ·      Therapists will often avoid conflict or put too much of themselves in the room without full assessment ·      Therapists misunderstand the utility of countertransference and try to avoid it ·      Simplification of the blank slate. Dr. Meyers’ understanding is that it is avoiding unintentionally putting your emotions in the session, which gets in the way of clients’ projecting emotions on the therapist (transference) How should therapists be taught to use countertransference? ·      Looking at how you feel about the interactions with your clients and your feelings about your clients as individuals ·      Treating therapists as human beings with emotions and explore how their humanity interacts with their work with their clients How has the field changed its relationship with countertransference? ·      People have moved into quicker therapy and more manualized treatments ·      There is less focus on longer term, relationship based treatment rather than tools and strategies ·      Supervisors and trainers are less focused on training therapists in this element of the work What can therapists do when they become aware of their countertransference reactions ·      Considering other options rather than what is familiar ·      Using the relationship in therapy as a corrective emotional experience ·      We discuss a couple of case examples to explore how to work with countertransference with real clients ·      Sorting out what is self-disclosure versus use of self in session and how are each can be helpful ·      Go to therapy ·      Go to supervision ·      Learn and read more about countertransference Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Is This My Stuff? How therapists can sort through countertransference: An Interview with Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Meyers on countertransference. We talk about what countertransference is, how therapists typically struggle when working in the transference and countertransference, how the profession’s relationship to countertransference has changed, and what therapists can do to better understand themselves. We also talk a bit about the blank slate.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at countertransference

We’re talking about a topic we haven’t touched on yet: countertransference. We are joined by an expert in countertransference, Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW

What is countertransference?

·      Beyond self-awareness and understanding oneself

·      We have experiences and make them our own and expect people to respond to me in the same way as others have in the past

What do therapists struggle with when addressing transference and countertransference?

·      When therapists don’t know themselves well enough, they will not be able to identify when countertransference is coming up

·      Therapists will often avoid conflict or put too much of themselves in the room without full assessment

·      Therapists misunderstand the utility of countertransference and try to avoid it

·      Simplification of the blank slate. Dr. Meyers’ understanding is that it is avoiding unintentionally putting your emotions in the session, which gets in the way of clients’ projecting emotions on the therapist (transference)

How should therapists be taught to use countertransference?

·      Looking at how you feel about the interactions with your clients and your feelings about your clients as individuals

·      Treating therapists as human beings with emotions and explore how their humanity interacts with their work with their clients

How has the field changed its relationship with countertransference?

·      People have moved into quicker therapy and more manualized treatments

·      There is less focus on longer term, relationship based treatment rather than tools and strategies

·      Supervisors and trainers are less focused on training therapists in this element of the work

What can therapists do when they become aware of their countertransference reactions

·      Considering other options rather than what is familiar

·      Using the relationship in therapy as a corrective emotional experience

·      We discuss a couple of case examples to explore how to work with countertransference with real clients

·      Sorting out what is self-disclosure versus use of self in session and how are each can be helpful

·      Go to therapy

·      Go to supervision

·      Learn and read more about countertransference


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2681 Decolonizing Therapy: A Movement - An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Mullan Decolonizing Therapy: A Movement - An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Mullan Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jennifer Mullan about decolonizing therapy. We discuss what it means to decolonize therapy and the importance of doing so, as well as the challenges therapists face when they are looking to decolonize their practices and incorporate cultural and community healing. We also explore rage, the tendency to pathologize big emotions, and the impact of historical trauma. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at what it means to decolonize therapy Over time we’ve talked with innovators who are pushing back against the status quo and the medical model. We were so excited to dig more deeply into Decolonizing Therapy with Dr. Jennifer Mullan. What does “decolonizing therapy” mean? ·      Looking at accessibility to therapy and how lack of access impacts individuals ·      Decolonizing therapy doesn’t work for everyone, especially folks in the global majority and/or who have the most need ·      The way that therapy is practiced is not sufficiently addressing the mental health crisis ·      Shifting therapy to include cultural healing practices, community healing and support ·      Moving the “blame” for poor mental health away from the individual to the individual’s context What can therapists do if they would like to decolonize their own therapy practice? ·      Make sure you are doing your own work and have support while working in the role of healer ·      Identifying and accepting that all individuals have social, political and other frames that come in with them to the therapy room ·      Unlearning and embracing new knowledge, being okay with not knowing ·      Looking at historical trauma and colonization as core attachment wounds ·      Understanding how historical events impact your clients (and yourself) ·      Looking at how historical trauma is transmitted directly and indirectly ·      Learn in community ·      Rethink diagnosis What can therapists get wrong when they are working to decolonize their therapy practice? ·      Struggling to see where compliance can conflict with the needs of clients at times ·      The impact of diagnosis on clients (especially behavioral diagnoses frequently given to Black and brown boys that often lead a child into the school to prison pipeline) ·      Not understanding larger concepts around what is political and big questions like why are people poor? ·      Deflecting questions from clients as being clinical material rather than understanding that clients are seeking a human connection ·      Holding to firmly to rigid “rules” around attendance and coming on time, for example How can therapists work with rage and other big emotions? ·      It’s important to recognize that we are not receiving sufficient education around rage ·      It is important to understand what rage and what it is not ·      Grief, shame, and trauma lead to rage Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Decolonizing Therapy: A Movement - An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Mullan full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jennifer Mullan about decolonizing therapy. We discuss what it means to decolonize therapy and the importance of doing so, as well as the challenges therapists face when they are looking to decolonize their practices and incorporate cultural and community healing. We also explore rage, the tendency to pathologize big emotions, and the impact of historical trauma. Decolonizing Therapy: A Movement - An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Mullan Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jennifer Mullan about decolonizing therapy. We discuss what it means to decolonize therapy and the importance of doing so, as well as the challenges therapists face when they are looking to decolonize their practices and incorporate cultural and community healing. We also explore rage, the tendency to pathologize big emotions, and the impact of historical trauma. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at what it means to decolonize therapy Over time we’ve talked with innovators who are pushing back against the status quo and the medical model. We were so excited to dig more deeply into Decolonizing Therapy with Dr. Jennifer Mullan. What does “decolonizing therapy” mean? ·      Looking at accessibility to therapy and how lack of access impacts individuals ·      Decolonizing therapy doesn’t work for everyone, especially folks in the global majority and/or who have the most need ·      The way that therapy is practiced is not sufficiently addressing the mental health crisis ·      Shifting therapy to include cultural healing practices, community healing and support ·      Moving the “blame” for poor mental health away from the individual to the individual’s context What can therapists do if they would like to decolonize their own therapy practice? ·      Make sure you are doing your own work and have support while working in the role of healer ·      Identifying and accepting that all individuals have social, political and other frames that come in with them to the therapy room ·      Unlearning and embracing new knowledge, being okay with not knowing ·      Looking at historical trauma and colonization as core attachment wounds ·      Understanding how historical events impact your clients (and yourself) ·      Looking at how historical trauma is transmitted directly and indirectly ·      Learn in community ·      Rethink diagnosis What can therapists get wrong when they are working to decolonize their therapy practice? ·      Struggling to see where compliance can conflict with the needs of clients at times ·      The impact of diagnosis on clients (especially behavioral diagnoses frequently given to Black and brown boys that often lead a child into the school to prison pipeline) ·      Not understanding larger concepts around what is political and big questions like why are people poor? ·      Deflecting questions from clients as being clinical material rather than understanding that clients are seeking a human connection ·      Holding to firmly to rigid “rules” around attendance and coming on time, for example How can therapists work with rage and other big emotions? ·      It’s important to recognize that we are not receiving sufficient education around rage ·      It is important to understand what rage and what it is not ·      Grief, shame, and trauma lead to rage Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Decolonizing Therapy: A Movement - An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Mullan

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jennifer Mullan about decolonizing therapy. We discuss what it means to decolonize therapy and the importance of doing so, as well as the challenges therapists face when they are looking to decolonize their practices and incorporate cultural and community healing. We also explore rage, the tendency to pathologize big emotions, and the impact of historical trauma.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at what it means to decolonize therapy

Over time we’ve talked with innovators who are pushing back against the status quo and the medical model. We were so excited to dig more deeply into Decolonizing Therapy with Dr. Jennifer Mullan.

What does “decolonizing therapy” mean?

·      Looking at accessibility to therapy and how lack of access impacts individuals

·      Decolonizing therapy doesn’t work for everyone, especially folks in the global majority and/or who have the most need

·      The way that therapy is practiced is not sufficiently addressing the mental health crisis

·      Shifting therapy to include cultural healing practices, community healing and support

·      Moving the “blame” for poor mental health away from the individual to the individual’s context

What can therapists do if they would like to decolonize their own therapy practice?

·      Make sure you are doing your own work and have support while working in the role of healer

·      Identifying and accepting that all individuals have social, political and other frames that come in with them to the therapy room

·      Unlearning and embracing new knowledge, being okay with not knowing

·      Looking at historical trauma and colonization as core attachment wounds

·      Understanding how historical events impact your clients (and yourself)

·      Looking at how historical trauma is transmitted directly and indirectly

·      Learn in community

·      Rethink diagnosis

What can therapists get wrong when they are working to decolonize their therapy practice?

·      Struggling to see where compliance can conflict with the needs of clients at times

·      The impact of diagnosis on clients (especially behavioral diagnoses frequently given to Black and brown boys that often lead a child into the school to prison pipeline)

·      Not understanding larger concepts around what is political and big questions like why are people poor?

·      Deflecting questions from clients as being clinical material rather than understanding that clients are seeking a human connection

·      Holding to firmly to rigid “rules” around attendance and coming on time, for example

How can therapists work with rage and other big emotions?

·      It’s important to recognize that we are not receiving sufficient education around rage

·      It is important to understand what rage and what it is not

·      Grief, shame, and trauma lead to rage


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2588 Should Therapists Admit to Making Mistakes in Therapy? Should Therapists Admit to Making Mistakes in Therapy? Curt and Katie chat about what therapists can do to effectively navigate their own mistakes in the therapy room. We look at what constitutes a mistake in therapy, the types of mistakes that therapists make, and considerations on how to address mistakes. This is an ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how modern therapists can navigate making mistakes When therapists make mistakes, clients can prematurely terminate treatment or fail to meet their goals. Most research on effective therapy looks at factors that minimize the therapist’s tendency to make mistakes, rather than what to do when they happen. However, focusing on the effectiveness of handling mistakes is one of the factors that clinicians can actually control. This workshop focuses on how effectively handling mistakes made by therapists and the mental health system can lead to better outcomes for clients. What should therapists do when they make a mistake? ·       Looking at the humanity of the therapist ·       It is important to define what is actually a mistake ·       Looking at where mistakes can happen within treatment ·       Mistakes can be defined based on the definition of success What types of mistakes do therapists make in therapy? ·       Incorrect or mismatched treatment without adjustment ·       Treatment failures happen for many different reasons – what is a mistake versus a work in progress? ·       Mistakes can be based on the individual client or therapist factors and the focus of the therapist in the therapeutic work and relationship When should therapists admit mistakes? ·       Consideration of whether admitting the mistake will harm the client ·       Going beyond “non-malfeasance” ·       Exploring how clients like to handle a mistake ·       Paying attention to therapist’s own preferences or bias ·       Understanding when and how to take responsibility for what you’ve done as a therapist ·       Avoiding the impact on the client that they believe that they have made the mistake ·       Making sure therapists are resourced when they engage in this process What are the systemic errors in mental health treatment? ·       Taking a global view to therapy can allow for seeing the other elements and systems ·       Recognizing the limits of what therapists can do to solve clients’ concerns, including due to agency policies ·       Harm caused by the profession and professional associations (statements made, research completed, etc.) Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 30 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Should Therapists Admit to Making Mistakes in Therapy? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about what therapists can do to effectively navigate their own mistakes in the therapy room. We look at what constitutes a mistake in therapy, the types of mistakes that therapists make, and considerations on how to address mistakes. This is an ethics continuing education podcourse. Should Therapists Admit to Making Mistakes in Therapy? Curt and Katie chat about what therapists can do to effectively navigate their own mistakes in the therapy room. We look at what constitutes a mistake in therapy, the types of mistakes that therapists make, and considerations on how to address mistakes. This is an ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how modern therapists can navigate making mistakes When therapists make mistakes, clients can prematurely terminate treatment or fail to meet their goals. Most research on effective therapy looks at factors that minimize the therapist’s tendency to make mistakes, rather than what to do when they happen. However, focusing on the effectiveness of handling mistakes is one of the factors that clinicians can actually control. This workshop focuses on how effectively handling mistakes made by therapists and the mental health system can lead to better outcomes for clients. What should therapists do when they make a mistake? ·       Looking at the humanity of the therapist ·       It is important to define what is actually a mistake ·       Looking at where mistakes can happen within treatment ·       Mistakes can be defined based on the definition of success What types of mistakes do therapists make in therapy? ·       Incorrect or mismatched treatment without adjustment ·       Treatment failures happen for many different reasons – what is a mistake versus a work in progress? ·       Mistakes can be based on the individual client or therapist factors and the focus of the therapist in the therapeutic work and relationship When should therapists admit mistakes? ·       Consideration of whether admitting the mistake will harm the client ·       Going beyond “non-malfeasance” ·       Exploring how clients like to handle a mistake ·       Paying attention to therapist’s own preferences or bias ·       Understanding when and how to take responsibility for what you’ve done as a therapist ·       Avoiding the impact on the client that they believe that they have made the mistake ·       Making sure therapists are resourced when they engage in this process What are the systemic errors in mental health treatment? ·       Taking a global view to therapy can allow for seeing the other elements and systems ·       Recognizing the limits of what therapists can do to solve clients’ concerns, including due to agency policies ·       Harm caused by the profession and professional associations (statements made, research completed, etc.) Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Should Therapists Admit to Making Mistakes in Therapy?

Curt and Katie chat about what therapists can do to effectively navigate their own mistakes in the therapy room. We look at what constitutes a mistake in therapy, the types of mistakes that therapists make, and considerations on how to address mistakes. This is an ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how modern therapists can navigate making mistakes

When therapists make mistakes, clients can prematurely terminate treatment or fail to meet their goals. Most research on effective therapy looks at factors that minimize the therapist’s tendency to make mistakes, rather than what to do when they happen. However, focusing on the effectiveness of handling mistakes is one of the factors that clinicians can actually control. This workshop focuses on how effectively handling mistakes made by therapists and the mental health system can lead to better outcomes for clients.

What should therapists do when they make a mistake?

·       Looking at the humanity of the therapist

·       It is important to define what is actually a mistake

·       Looking at where mistakes can happen within treatment

·       Mistakes can be defined based on the definition of success

What types of mistakes do therapists make in therapy?

·       Incorrect or mismatched treatment without adjustment

·       Treatment failures happen for many different reasons – what is a mistake versus a work in progress?

·       Mistakes can be based on the individual client or therapist factors and the focus of the therapist in the therapeutic work and relationship

When should therapists admit mistakes?

·       Consideration of whether admitting the mistake will harm the client

·       Going beyond “non-malfeasance”

·       Exploring how clients like to handle a mistake

·       Paying attention to therapist’s own preferences or bias

·       Understanding when and how to take responsibility for what you’ve done as a therapist

·       Avoiding the impact on the client that they believe that they have made the mistake

·       Making sure therapists are resourced when they engage in this process

What are the systemic errors in mental health treatment?

·       Taking a global view to therapy can allow for seeing the other elements and systems

·       Recognizing the limits of what therapists can do to solve clients’ concerns, including due to agency policies

·       Harm caused by the profession and professional associations (statements made, research completed, etc.)


Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 4226 Is BPD a Genuine Diagnosis or a Dismissive Label? Is BPD a Genuine Diagnosis or a Dismissive Label? Curt and Katie chat about whether (or not) Borderline Personality Disorder is a useful diagnosis. We look at the difficulty in differential diagnosis, the huge overlaps with other diagnoses, and the harm caused by misdiagnosis and dismissal of these clients. We also explore whether BPD is just complex PTSD in disguise. We don’t come to total agreement, but we get a little bit closer on how we can move past the harmful elements of the BPD label.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder After reading an article that suggests that there is no clinical utility to the BPD diagnosis, we decided to dig into whether or not BPD is a diagnosis worth using. We struggled to get this episode recorded as we started from a place of deep disagreement. We were able to get to a helpful conversation, we think. Why is Borderline Personality Disorder controversial? ·       It is heterogeneous ·       There are a lot of rule outs and overlap with other diagnoses ·       There may not be clinical utility in using this diagnosis ·       There is bias and judgment related to having this diagnosis ·       There is a lot of harm from misdiagnosis What are the problems and challenges in diagnosing “BPD?” ·       Overlap with autism, psychosis, complex or chronic trauma and others ·       Must look at the causes rather than solely the symptoms ·       The ongoing complexity of how trauma interacts with other elements of a person’s experience and personality make it hard to tease out what is really going on How is Borderline Personality Disorder distinct from Chronic PTSD? ·       First you must understand the relationship between PTSD and Chronic or Complex PTSD ·       A theory is that Chronic PTSD has more relational avoidance than BPD ·       Another theory is that BPD has an absence of sense of self, which CPTSD does not ·       There is literature that shows that not all patients with BPD have trauma history Should BPD remain as a recognized diagnosis in clinical practice? ·       We’re still not sure and don’t completely agree ·       At the very least, it needs to be renamed Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Is BPD a Genuine Diagnosis or a Dismissive Label? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about whether (or not) Borderline Personality Disorder is a useful diagnosis. We look at the difficulty in differential diagnosis, the huge overlaps with other diagnoses, and the harm caused by misdiagnosis and dismissal of these clients. We also explore whether BPD is just complex PTSD in disguise. We don’t come to total agreement, but we get a little bit closer on how we can move past the harmful elements of the BPD label. Is BPD a Genuine Diagnosis or a Dismissive Label? Curt and Katie chat about whether (or not) Borderline Personality Disorder is a useful diagnosis. We look at the difficulty in differential diagnosis, the huge overlaps with other diagnoses, and the harm caused by misdiagnosis and dismissal of these clients. We also explore whether BPD is just complex PTSD in disguise. We don’t come to total agreement, but we get a little bit closer on how we can move past the harmful elements of the BPD label.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder After reading an article that suggests that there is no clinical utility to the BPD diagnosis, we decided to dig into whether or not BPD is a diagnosis worth using. We struggled to get this episode recorded as we started from a place of deep disagreement. We were able to get to a helpful conversation, we think. Why is Borderline Personality Disorder controversial? ·       It is heterogeneous ·       There are a lot of rule outs and overlap with other diagnoses ·       There may not be clinical utility in using this diagnosis ·       There is bias and judgment related to having this diagnosis ·       There is a lot of harm from misdiagnosis What are the problems and challenges in diagnosing “BPD?” ·       Overlap with autism, psychosis, complex or chronic trauma and others ·       Must look at the causes rather than solely the symptoms ·       The ongoing complexity of how trauma interacts with other elements of a person’s experience and personality make it hard to tease out what is really going on How is Borderline Personality Disorder distinct from Chronic PTSD? ·       First you must understand the relationship between PTSD and Chronic or Complex PTSD ·       A theory is that Chronic PTSD has more relational avoidance than BPD ·       Another theory is that BPD has an absence of sense of self, which CPTSD does not ·       There is literature that shows that not all patients with BPD have trauma history Should BPD remain as a recognized diagnosis in clinical practice? ·       We’re still not sure and don’t completely agree ·       At the very least, it needs to be renamed Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Is BPD a Genuine Diagnosis or a Dismissive Label?

Curt and Katie chat about whether (or not) Borderline Personality Disorder is a useful diagnosis. We look at the difficulty in differential diagnosis, the huge overlaps with other diagnoses, and the harm caused by misdiagnosis and dismissal of these clients. We also explore whether BPD is just complex PTSD in disguise. We don’t come to total agreement, but we get a little bit closer on how we can move past the harmful elements of the BPD label. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder

After reading an article that suggests that there is no clinical utility to the BPD diagnosis, we decided to dig into whether or not BPD is a diagnosis worth using. We struggled to get this episode recorded as we started from a place of deep disagreement. We were able to get to a helpful conversation, we think.

Why is Borderline Personality Disorder controversial?

·       It is heterogeneous

·       There are a lot of rule outs and overlap with other diagnoses

·       There may not be clinical utility in using this diagnosis

·       There is bias and judgment related to having this diagnosis

·       There is a lot of harm from misdiagnosis

What are the problems and challenges in diagnosing “BPD?”

·       Overlap with autism, psychosis, complex or chronic trauma and others

·       Must look at the causes rather than solely the symptoms

·       The ongoing complexity of how trauma interacts with other elements of a person’s experience and personality make it hard to tease out what is really going on

How is Borderline Personality Disorder distinct from Chronic PTSD?

·       First you must understand the relationship between PTSD and Chronic or Complex PTSD

·       A theory is that Chronic PTSD has more relational avoidance than BPD

·       Another theory is that BPD has an absence of sense of self, which CPTSD does not

·       There is literature that shows that not all patients with BPD have trauma history

Should BPD remain as a recognized diagnosis in clinical practice?

·       We’re still not sure and don’t completely agree

·       At the very least, it needs to be renamed


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1988 Dealing with “Therapy Doesn’t Work” Dealing with “Therapy Doesn’t Work” Curt and Katie chat how to engage with people who doubt the efficacy of therapy. We look at how to address general skeptics, mandated clients, hesitant prospective clients, and uncertain longer-standing clients. Spoiler alert: validation, understanding, and coming back to the relationship go far. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore how to talk with folks who don’t believe in therapy In response to a Reddit thread asking how therapists can respond when someone says they don’t believe in therapy or that therapy doesn’t work. How can therapists respond when someone says, “therapy doesn’t work?” ·      Therapy is not for everyone ·      Validating concerns ·      Work to understand their previous experiences in therapy ·      Acknowledge problematic elements in therapy How do you approach clients who are mandated or forced into treatment? ·      Working with resistance ·      Going back to the relationship and shared goals ·      Meeting client where they are What can therapists do when parents don’t believe in therapy for their kid? ·      Understanding fear or concerns ·      Joining and building rapport ·      Exploring their goals for their child ·      Seeking engagement and involvement ·      Don’t throw evidence-base at them ·      Explaining how therapy works for kids ·      Avoiding defensiveness on the part of the therapist How can you explain therapy to a hesitant client considering therapy for the first time? ·      Validation of fears and concerns ·      Acknowledging challenges in coming into therapy ·      Identifying what would be most helpful to address in therapy ·      Trying to break through preconceived worries about it not working ·      Exploring how to find a good match ·      Describing what therapy can look like ·      Explain that therapy might not be the only answer (e.g., coaching, social work, meds, etc.) The importance of being able to describe what therapy is like with you ·      Curt’s suggestion of having a casual conversation with a colleague to describe what your therapy look like ·      Know how to describe your approach to people who don’t know what therapy is ·      Not every client is best for you ·      Focusing on the relationship you will provide to the client What are the options for talking with long term clients who are doubting therapy? ·      Use the concerns clinically ·      Validating concerns ·      Coming together related to expectations and goals ·      Acknowledging when therapy isn’t working ·      Reframing incremental progress ·      Therapists seeking consultation and supervision, so these conversations don’t feel painful Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Dealing with “Therapy Doesn’t Work” full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat how to engage with people who doubt the efficacy of therapy. We look at how to address general skeptics, mandated clients, hesitant prospective clients, and uncertain longer-standing clients. Spoiler alert: validation, understanding, and coming back to the relationship go far. Dealing with “Therapy Doesn’t Work” Curt and Katie chat how to engage with people who doubt the efficacy of therapy. We look at how to address general skeptics, mandated clients, hesitant prospective clients, and uncertain longer-standing clients. Spoiler alert: validation, understanding, and coming back to the relationship go far. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore how to talk with folks who don’t believe in therapy In response to a Reddit thread asking how therapists can respond when someone says they don’t believe in therapy or that therapy doesn’t work. How can therapists respond when someone says, “therapy doesn’t work?” ·      Therapy is not for everyone ·      Validating concerns ·      Work to understand their previous experiences in therapy ·      Acknowledge problematic elements in therapy How do you approach clients who are mandated or forced into treatment? ·      Working with resistance ·      Going back to the relationship and shared goals ·      Meeting client where they are What can therapists do when parents don’t believe in therapy for their kid? ·      Understanding fear or concerns ·      Joining and building rapport ·      Exploring their goals for their child ·      Seeking engagement and involvement ·      Don’t throw evidence-base at them ·      Explaining how therapy works for kids ·      Avoiding defensiveness on the part of the therapist How can you explain therapy to a hesitant client considering therapy for the first time? ·      Validation of fears and concerns ·      Acknowledging challenges in coming into therapy ·      Identifying what would be most helpful to address in therapy ·      Trying to break through preconceived worries about it not working ·      Exploring how to find a good match ·      Describing what therapy can look like ·      Explain that therapy might not be the only answer (e.g., coaching, social work, meds, etc.) The importance of being able to describe what therapy is like with you ·      Curt’s suggestion of having a casual conversation with a colleague to describe what your therapy look like ·      Know how to describe your approach to people who don’t know what therapy is ·      Not every client is best for you ·      Focusing on the relationship you will provide to the client What are the options for talking with long term clients who are doubting therapy? ·      Use the concerns clinically ·      Validating concerns ·      Coming together related to expectations and goals ·      Acknowledging when therapy isn’t working ·      Reframing incremental progress ·      Therapists seeking consultation and supervision, so these conversations don’t feel painful Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Dealing with “Therapy Doesn’t Work”

Curt and Katie chat how to engage with people who doubt the efficacy of therapy. We look at how to address general skeptics, mandated clients, hesitant prospective clients, and uncertain longer-standing clients. Spoiler alert: validation, understanding, and coming back to the relationship go far.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore how to talk with folks who don’t believe in therapy

In response to a Reddit thread asking how therapists can respond when someone says they don’t believe in therapy or that therapy doesn’t work.

How can therapists respond when someone says, “therapy doesn’t work?”

·      Therapy is not for everyone

·      Validating concerns

·      Work to understand their previous experiences in therapy

·      Acknowledge problematic elements in therapy

How do you approach clients who are mandated or forced into treatment?

·      Working with resistance

·      Going back to the relationship and shared goals

·      Meeting client where they are

What can therapists do when parents don’t believe in therapy for their kid?

·      Understanding fear or concerns

·      Joining and building rapport

·      Exploring their goals for their child

·      Seeking engagement and involvement

·      Don’t throw evidence-base at them

·      Explaining how therapy works for kids

·      Avoiding defensiveness on the part of the therapist

How can you explain therapy to a hesitant client considering therapy for the first time?

·      Validation of fears and concerns

·      Acknowledging challenges in coming into therapy

·      Identifying what would be most helpful to address in therapy

·      Trying to break through preconceived worries about it not working

·      Exploring how to find a good match

·      Describing what therapy can look like

·      Explain that therapy might not be the only answer (e.g., coaching, social work, meds, etc.)

The importance of being able to describe what therapy is like with you

·      Curt’s suggestion of having a casual conversation with a colleague to describe what your therapy look like

·      Know how to describe your approach to people who don’t know what therapy is

·      Not every client is best for you

·      Focusing on the relationship you will provide to the client

What are the options for talking with long term clients who are doubting therapy?

·      Use the concerns clinically

·      Validating concerns

·      Coming together related to expectations and goals

·      Acknowledging when therapy isn’t working

·      Reframing incremental progress

·      Therapists seeking consultation and supervision, so these conversations don’t feel painful


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2404 Is Your Therapist Website ADA Compliant? An Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT Is Your Therapist Website ADA Compliant? An Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Anita Avedian, LMFT about her recent experiences related to an ADA complaint on her website. Anita shares with us how she has navigated this lawsuit and what she’s learned about ADA Compliance for websites. We also talk about the predatory lawsuits on small businesses in California and the benefits of becoming ADA compliant for therapists. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at what therapists should know about ADA compliant websites Our friend, Anita Avedian, LMFT, just went through a legal complaint related to her website. It was found to not be ADA compliant, meaning that she had to pay some fines and update her website. She wanted to share what she learned, so we thought – let’s bring this conversation to the podcast!  What is needed for a website to be ADA compliant? ·      Images have to have alt text ·      Videos have to have closed captioned at 95% accurate ·      Videos need both closed captions and transcripts ·      Contrast colors need to be far enough apart for visibility ·      Appropriate font sizes ·      Buttons and navigation system have to be ADA compliant ·      You cannot have PDFs on your website, you must have documents ·      When you are cited, you have to make corrections and keep it up What goes into an ADA compliance lawsuit against a website (including therapist websites)? ·      There are predatory lawyers who are seeking out noncompliance to open lawsuits with small businesses ·      There are thousands of lawsuits ·      Your liability insurance doesn’t cover these claims because it is considered discriminatory ·      Oftentimes you don’t know that you’re being sued ·      There is not an opportunity to make corrections, you are fined and must make corrections immediately ·      There is usually oversight and monitoring for 5 years How can therapists make their websites more accessible? ·      Accurate transcripts and closed captioning for videos ·      Making sure that you are at least 95% compliant by doing a free scan ·      Using some of the resources listed in the show notes on our website at mtsgpodcast.com (in the resources section) ·      Having a deep scan to identify how close you are to compliance ·      Making sure that your web developers know how to make your website ADA compliant ·      There are attorneys to help with this process and can provide training on how to make a website ADA compliant ·      Side benefits of improved SEO and Google standing ·      There isn’t currently a widget to make your website ADA compliant and website themes and templates do not have these requirements built in structurally Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Is Your Therapist Website ADA Compliant? An Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Anita Avedian, LMFT about her recent experiences related to an ADA complaint on her website. Anita shares with us how she has navigated this lawsuit and what she’s learned about ADA Compliance for websites. We also talk about the predatory lawsuits on small businesses in California and the benefits of becoming ADA compliant for therapists. Is Your Therapist Website ADA Compliant? An Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Anita Avedian, LMFT about her recent experiences related to an ADA complaint on her website. Anita shares with us how she has navigated this lawsuit and what she’s learned about ADA Compliance for websites. We also talk about the predatory lawsuits on small businesses in California and the benefits of becoming ADA compliant for therapists. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at what therapists should know about ADA compliant websites Our friend, Anita Avedian, LMFT, just went through a legal complaint related to her website. It was found to not be ADA compliant, meaning that she had to pay some fines and update her website. She wanted to share what she learned, so we thought – let’s bring this conversation to the podcast!  What is needed for a website to be ADA compliant? ·      Images have to have alt text ·      Videos have to have closed captioned at 95% accurate ·      Videos need both closed captions and transcripts ·      Contrast colors need to be far enough apart for visibility ·      Appropriate font sizes ·      Buttons and navigation system have to be ADA compliant ·      You cannot have PDFs on your website, you must have documents ·      When you are cited, you have to make corrections and keep it up What goes into an ADA compliance lawsuit against a website (including therapist websites)? ·      There are predatory lawyers who are seeking out noncompliance to open lawsuits with small businesses ·      There are thousands of lawsuits ·      Your liability insurance doesn’t cover these claims because it is considered discriminatory ·      Oftentimes you don’t know that you’re being sued ·      There is not an opportunity to make corrections, you are fined and must make corrections immediately ·      There is usually oversight and monitoring for 5 years How can therapists make their websites more accessible? ·      Accurate transcripts and closed captioning for videos ·      Making sure that you are at least 95% compliant by doing a free scan ·      Using some of the resources listed in the show notes on our website at mtsgpodcast.com (in the resources section) ·      Having a deep scan to identify how close you are to compliance ·      Making sure that your web developers know how to make your website ADA compliant ·      There are attorneys to help with this process and can provide training on how to make a website ADA compliant ·      Side benefits of improved SEO and Google standing ·      There isn’t currently a widget to make your website ADA compliant and website themes and templates do not have these requirements built in structurally Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Is Your Therapist Website ADA Compliant? An Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Anita Avedian, LMFT about her recent experiences related to an ADA complaint on her website. Anita shares with us how she has navigated this lawsuit and what she’s learned about ADA Compliance for websites. We also talk about the predatory lawsuits on small businesses in California and the benefits of becoming ADA compliant for therapists.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at what therapists should know about ADA compliant websites

Our friend, Anita Avedian, LMFT, just went through a legal complaint related to her website. It was found to not be ADA compliant, meaning that she had to pay some fines and update her website. She wanted to share what she learned, so we thought – let’s bring this conversation to the podcast! 

What is needed for a website to be ADA compliant?

·      Images have to have alt text

·      Videos have to have closed captioned at 95% accurate

·      Videos need both closed captions and transcripts

·      Contrast colors need to be far enough apart for visibility

·      Appropriate font sizes

·      Buttons and navigation system have to be ADA compliant

·      You cannot have PDFs on your website, you must have documents

·      When you are cited, you have to make corrections and keep it up

What goes into an ADA compliance lawsuit against a website (including therapist websites)?

·      There are predatory lawyers who are seeking out noncompliance to open lawsuits with small businesses

·      There are thousands of lawsuits

·      Your liability insurance doesn’t cover these claims because it is considered discriminatory

·      Oftentimes you don’t know that you’re being sued

·      There is not an opportunity to make corrections, you are fined and must make corrections immediately

·      There is usually oversight and monitoring for 5 years

How can therapists make their websites more accessible?

·      Accurate transcripts and closed captioning for videos

·      Making sure that you are at least 95% compliant by doing a free scan

·      Using some of the resources listed in the show notes on our website at mtsgpodcast.com (in the resources section)

·      Having a deep scan to identify how close you are to compliance

·      Making sure that your web developers know how to make your website ADA compliant

·      There are attorneys to help with this process and can provide training on how to make a website ADA compliant

·      Side benefits of improved SEO and Google standing

·      There isn’t currently a widget to make your website ADA compliant and website themes and templates do not have these requirements built in structurally


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2188 We Answer the Question: Is EMDR a Pyramid Scheme? We Answer the Question: Is EMDR a Pyramid Scheme? Curt and Katie chat about an episode of Very Bad Therapy that asks the question, Is EMDR a Cultish Pyramid Scheme. This is our response to that question. We talk about what EMDR is, common misconceptions of the model, the concerns with people doing EMDR poorly, and the benefits of this model. We also talk about clinician factors that impact whether someone can do EMDR well.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore EMDR We decided to respond to an episode of Very Bad Therapy. Curt is an EMDR clinician and consultant in training, so he wanted to respond to the criticisms of EMDR that were brought forward in that episode as well as a related article in The Therapist magazine. What is EMDR? ·      Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing ·      The mechanism of action is hard to study due to not being able to cut open the brain ·      EMDR is a well-defined 8-stage protocol ·      The “greatest hits” of other theories put together What are the misconceptions related to EMDR? ·      “It’s expensive,” but the training (which is intensive and comprehensive) breaks down to $35 per CE – a usual and customary rate for continuing education ·      There is an argument that the only things that are different from other theories are the eye movements or bilateral stimulation, but it is more of an integrative model ·      “EMDR” is manualized and only taught in one way – which is not true. There are a number of stages in the protocol that are taught very differently and there is more nuance ·      The criticisms about EMDR may be related to clinician factors, not necessarily model factors What are the concerns with people doing EMDR poorly? ·      Only getting the EMDR certification to be marketable ·      Not doing EMDR soon enough and forgetting the model ·      Lack of confidence that leads them to revert back to theories they are comfortable with ·      Not fully learning the theory and trying to use it outside of the model ·      Clinicians with less training or less experience may struggle to adapt the model to complex trauma or relational trauma What are the benefits of EMDR? ·      Intensive training with deliberate practice being built into the certification ·      Consultation and support in learning the model ·      Strong research base for single incident trauma ·      For stronger or more experienced clinicians, there are uses of EMDR for complex trauma and/or transdiagnostic purposes Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 02 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000 We Answer the Question: Is EMDR a Pyramid Scheme? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about an episode of Very Bad Therapy that asks the question, Is EMDR a Cultish Pyramid Scheme. This is our response to that question. We talk about what EMDR is, common misconceptions of the model, the concerns with people doing EMDR poorly, and the benefits of this model. We also talk about clinician factors that impact whether someone can do EMDR well. We Answer the Question: Is EMDR a Pyramid Scheme? Curt and Katie chat about an episode of Very Bad Therapy that asks the question, Is EMDR a Cultish Pyramid Scheme. This is our response to that question. We talk about what EMDR is, common misconceptions of the model, the concerns with people doing EMDR poorly, and the benefits of this model. We also talk about clinician factors that impact whether someone can do EMDR well.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore EMDR We decided to respond to an episode of Very Bad Therapy. Curt is an EMDR clinician and consultant in training, so he wanted to respond to the criticisms of EMDR that were brought forward in that episode as well as a related article in The Therapist magazine. What is EMDR? ·      Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing ·      The mechanism of action is hard to study due to not being able to cut open the brain ·      EMDR is a well-defined 8-stage protocol ·      The “greatest hits” of other theories put together What are the misconceptions related to EMDR? ·      “It’s expensive,” but the training (which is intensive and comprehensive) breaks down to $35 per CE – a usual and customary rate for continuing education ·      There is an argument that the only things that are different from other theories are the eye movements or bilateral stimulation, but it is more of an integrative model ·      “EMDR” is manualized and only taught in one way – which is not true. There are a number of stages in the protocol that are taught very differently and there is more nuance ·      The criticisms about EMDR may be related to clinician factors, not necessarily model factors What are the concerns with people doing EMDR poorly? ·      Only getting the EMDR certification to be marketable ·      Not doing EMDR soon enough and forgetting the model ·      Lack of confidence that leads them to revert back to theories they are comfortable with ·      Not fully learning the theory and trying to use it outside of the model ·      Clinicians with less training or less experience may struggle to adapt the model to complex trauma or relational trauma What are the benefits of EMDR? ·      Intensive training with deliberate practice being built into the certification ·      Consultation and support in learning the model ·      Strong research base for single incident trauma ·      For stronger or more experienced clinicians, there are uses of EMDR for complex trauma and/or transdiagnostic purposes Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   We Answer the Question: Is EMDR a Pyramid Scheme?

Curt and Katie chat about an episode of Very Bad Therapy that asks the question, Is EMDR a Cultish Pyramid Scheme. This is our response to that question. We talk about what EMDR is, common misconceptions of the model, the concerns with people doing EMDR poorly, and the benefits of this model. We also talk about clinician factors that impact whether someone can do EMDR well. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore EMDR

We decided to respond to an episode of Very Bad Therapy. Curt is an EMDR clinician and consultant in training, so he wanted to respond to the criticisms of EMDR that were brought forward in that episode as well as a related article in The Therapist magazine.

What is EMDR?

·      Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

·      The mechanism of action is hard to study due to not being able to cut open the brain

·      EMDR is a well-defined 8-stage protocol

·      The “greatest hits” of other theories put together

What are the misconceptions related to EMDR?

·      “It’s expensive,” but the training (which is intensive and comprehensive) breaks down to $35 per CE – a usual and customary rate for continuing education

·      There is an argument that the only things that are different from other theories are the eye movements or bilateral stimulation, but it is more of an integrative model

·      “EMDR” is manualized and only taught in one way – which is not true. There are a number of stages in the protocol that are taught very differently and there is more nuance

·      The criticisms about EMDR may be related to clinician factors, not necessarily model factors

What are the concerns with people doing EMDR poorly?

·      Only getting the EMDR certification to be marketable

·      Not doing EMDR soon enough and forgetting the model

·      Lack of confidence that leads them to revert back to theories they are comfortable with

·      Not fully learning the theory and trying to use it outside of the model

·      Clinicians with less training or less experience may struggle to adapt the model to complex trauma or relational trauma

What are the benefits of EMDR?

·      Intensive training with deliberate practice being built into the certification

·      Consultation and support in learning the model

·      Strong research base for single incident trauma

·      For stronger or more experienced clinicians, there are uses of EMDR for complex trauma and/or transdiagnostic purposes


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2023 yes Your Modern Therapist Ethics Questions Answered: Digging into the mail bag to identify how to behave ethically in modern times Your Modern Therapist Ethics Questions Answered: Digging into the mail bag to identify how to behave ethically in modern times Curt and Katie discuss tricky ethics questions we’ve received from listeners and colleagues over the years. We look at dual relationships, documentation, therapists in the public eye, fee setting, and when (and whether) we should report each other to the board. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we answer complex ethics questions from modern therapists Too often in groups of therapists, you’ll hear confusing situations being described as “unethical” or illegal without any other explanations. Big feelings about complex situations often lead to therapists avoiding them all together. We dug into our listener mail bag (and gathered our own questions) to sort through more complicated and modern questions that don’t often get talked about in grad school or ethics courses. We discuss dual relationships, documentation, therapist performers and influencers, fee-setting, and our responsibility to correct each other. We look at ethics codes and the philosophy behind ethical decision-making to sort through complex situations. What do therapist ethical codes say around less typical dual relationships? ·       Ethical codes do vary, so it is important to look at your own code ·       We must avoid harmful dual relationships ·       It is important to address foreseeable concerns ·       Concerns related to muddying the mechanism of change (the relationship) What is actually required in therapist documentation? ·       Electronic documentation is recommended, but probably not required ·       We need to accurately reflect what is happening in therapy ·       Diagnosis may not be required if you’re not using insurance and don’t need to prove medical necessity How can therapists show up in public spaces? ·       Therapists can have public personas and will need to navigate how what is public may impact the therapeutic relationship ·       Therapists can be influencers – you want to make sure you’re aware of how it is impacting your brand and relationships with your clients ·       How you interact with your clients around your public persona becomes very context dependent What are the special rules for therapists setting fees? ·       You have to come to an agreement with your client on your fee before services start ·       Looking at sliding scale, pro bono expectations ·       There are so many interpretations on what is expected by your ethics ·       We cannot take advantage of clients What is a therapist’s responsibility when they believe another therapist has done something wrong? ·       There is a strong recommendation in most ethics codes to go to the other therapist first ·       It is difficult to get proof and/or get actual records and be able to release them ·       There are potentials for confidentiality breaches if therapists move forward with concerns ·       Supporting clients to report concerns if it comes up in session Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 25 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Your Modern Therapist Ethics Questions Answered: Mail Bag! full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie discuss tricky ethics questions we’ve received from listeners and colleagues over the years. We look at dual relationships, documentation, therapists in the public eye, fee setting, and when (and whether) we should report each other to the board. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Your Modern Therapist Ethics Questions Answered: Digging into the mail bag to identify how to behave ethically in modern times Curt and Katie discuss tricky ethics questions we’ve received from listeners and colleagues over the years. We look at dual relationships, documentation, therapists in the public eye, fee setting, and when (and whether) we should report each other to the board. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we answer complex ethics questions from modern therapists Too often in groups of therapists, you’ll hear confusing situations being described as “unethical” or illegal without any other explanations. Big feelings about complex situations often lead to therapists avoiding them all together. We dug into our listener mail bag (and gathered our own questions) to sort through more complicated and modern questions that don’t often get talked about in grad school or ethics courses. We discuss dual relationships, documentation, therapist performers and influencers, fee-setting, and our responsibility to correct each other. We look at ethics codes and the philosophy behind ethical decision-making to sort through complex situations. What do therapist ethical codes say around less typical dual relationships? ·       Ethical codes do vary, so it is important to look at your own code ·       We must avoid harmful dual relationships ·       It is important to address foreseeable concerns ·       Concerns related to muddying the mechanism of change (the relationship) What is actually required in therapist documentation? ·       Electronic documentation is recommended, but probably not required ·       We need to accurately reflect what is happening in therapy ·       Diagnosis may not be required if you’re not using insurance and don’t need to prove medical necessity How can therapists show up in public spaces? ·       Therapists can have public personas and will need to navigate how what is public may impact the therapeutic relationship ·       Therapists can be influencers – you want to make sure you’re aware of how it is impacting your brand and relationships with your clients ·       How you interact with your clients around your public persona becomes very context dependent What are the special rules for therapists setting fees? ·       You have to come to an agreement with your client on your fee before services start ·       Looking at sliding scale, pro bono expectations ·       There are so many interpretations on what is expected by your ethics ·       We cannot take advantage of clients What is a therapist’s responsibility when they believe another therapist has done something wrong? ·       There is a strong recommendation in most ethics codes to go to the other therapist first ·       It is difficult to get proof and/or get actual records and be able to release them ·       There are potentials for confidentiality breaches if therapists move forward with concerns ·       Supporting clients to report concerns if it comes up in session Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Your Modern Therapist Ethics Questions Answered: Digging into the mail bag to identify how to behave ethically in modern times

Curt and Katie discuss tricky ethics questions we’ve received from listeners and colleagues over the years. We look at dual relationships, documentation, therapists in the public eye, fee setting, and when (and whether) we should report each other to the board. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we answer complex ethics questions from modern therapists

Too often in groups of therapists, you’ll hear confusing situations being described as “unethical” or illegal without any other explanations. Big feelings about complex situations often lead to therapists avoiding them all together. We dug into our listener mail bag (and gathered our own questions) to sort through more complicated and modern questions that don’t often get talked about in grad school or ethics courses. We discuss dual relationships, documentation, therapist performers and influencers, fee-setting, and our responsibility to correct each other. We look at ethics codes and the philosophy behind ethical decision-making to sort through complex situations.

What do therapist ethical codes say around less typical dual relationships?

·       Ethical codes do vary, so it is important to look at your own code

·       We must avoid harmful dual relationships

·       It is important to address foreseeable concerns

·       Concerns related to muddying the mechanism of change (the relationship)

What is actually required in therapist documentation?

·       Electronic documentation is recommended, but probably not required

·       We need to accurately reflect what is happening in therapy

·       Diagnosis may not be required if you’re not using insurance and don’t need to prove medical necessity

How can therapists show up in public spaces?

·       Therapists can have public personas and will need to navigate how what is public may impact the therapeutic relationship

·       Therapists can be influencers – you want to make sure you’re aware of how it is impacting your brand and relationships with your clients

·       How you interact with your clients around your public persona becomes very context dependent

What are the special rules for therapists setting fees?

·       You have to come to an agreement with your client on your fee before services start

·       Looking at sliding scale, pro bono expectations

·       There are so many interpretations on what is expected by your ethics

·       We cannot take advantage of clients

What is a therapist’s responsibility when they believe another therapist has done something wrong?

·       There is a strong recommendation in most ethics codes to go to the other therapist first

·       It is difficult to get proof and/or get actual records and be able to release them

·       There are potentials for confidentiality breaches if therapists move forward with concerns

·       Supporting clients to report concerns if it comes up in session

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4257 Family Therapy: Not Just for Kids - An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT Family Therapy: Not Just for Kids - An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT about the tendency of therapists (even Marriage and Family Therapists) to avoid working with couples and families. We talk about the challenges in working with groups rather than individuals, how to identify the most appropriate treatment unit, and the benefits of working with adult families. We also discuss the importance of assessing power, privilege, intersectionality, and global context when working with both individuals and families. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at relationship therapy Our friend, Adriana Rodriguez is returning to the podcast to talk about therapy for relationships, including couples and adult families. Why do therapists avoid working with families and only work with individuals?  ·      There seems to be an aversion to working with groups rather than individuals ·      Avoiding overstimulation and conflict ·      Concerns about a lack of training ·      Not seeing adult family therapy as a typical treatment unit ·      Insurance and the medical model suggest that treatment is for an individual ·      Individualistic society of western culture How can a therapist identify the most appropriate treatment unit? ·      Making sure to recognize that everyone has people that impact them ·      Working to identify the context and root causes of current concerns ·      Gathering the people around for accountability and vicarious healing ·      Identifying intergenerational transmission of trauma and of gifts What can therapists do to support their clients most effectively? ·      Understanding the systems within which clients move ·      Looking at privilege, power, marginalization, and intersectionality ·      Understanding what is typically missed in treatment: that the system needs to be addressed before change can really occur ·      Looking for opportunities to engage family members in treatment How can therapists better understand adult families? ·      Move away from compartmentalizing couples or family work ·      More in-depth genograms, with more context and self-reflection ·      Looking at how we interact with our clients and how we interact with the systems ·      Eco-map – the context around the client ·      Timeline – historic events happening during your client’s life around them ·      Incorporating accountability and compassion ·      Increasing understanding and compassion before inviting in the family members into session ·      Recognizing that many cultures have a strong focus and value related to family and honoring that in their healing process ·      Helping families and couples come together as “team” members rather than opponents Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 18 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Family Therapy: Not Just for Kids - An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT about the tendency of therapists (even Marriage and Family Therapists) to avoid working with couples and families. We talk about the challenges in working with groups rather than individuals, how to identify the most appropriate treatment unit, and the benefits of working with adult families. We also discuss the importance of assessing power, privilege, intersectionality, and global context when working with both individuals and families. Family Therapy: Not Just for Kids - An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT about the tendency of therapists (even Marriage and Family Therapists) to avoid working with couples and families. We talk about the challenges in working with groups rather than individuals, how to identify the most appropriate treatment unit, and the benefits of working with adult families. We also discuss the importance of assessing power, privilege, intersectionality, and global context when working with both individuals and families. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at relationship therapy Our friend, Adriana Rodriguez is returning to the podcast to talk about therapy for relationships, including couples and adult families. Why do therapists avoid working with families and only work with individuals?  ·      There seems to be an aversion to working with groups rather than individuals ·      Avoiding overstimulation and conflict ·      Concerns about a lack of training ·      Not seeing adult family therapy as a typical treatment unit ·      Insurance and the medical model suggest that treatment is for an individual ·      Individualistic society of western culture How can a therapist identify the most appropriate treatment unit? ·      Making sure to recognize that everyone has people that impact them ·      Working to identify the context and root causes of current concerns ·      Gathering the people around for accountability and vicarious healing ·      Identifying intergenerational transmission of trauma and of gifts What can therapists do to support their clients most effectively? ·      Understanding the systems within which clients move ·      Looking at privilege, power, marginalization, and intersectionality ·      Understanding what is typically missed in treatment: that the system needs to be addressed before change can really occur ·      Looking for opportunities to engage family members in treatment How can therapists better understand adult families? ·      Move away from compartmentalizing couples or family work ·      More in-depth genograms, with more context and self-reflection ·      Looking at how we interact with our clients and how we interact with the systems ·      Eco-map – the context around the client ·      Timeline – historic events happening during your client’s life around them ·      Incorporating accountability and compassion ·      Increasing understanding and compassion before inviting in the family members into session ·      Recognizing that many cultures have a strong focus and value related to family and honoring that in their healing process ·      Helping families and couples come together as “team” members rather than opponents Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Family Therapy: Not Just for Kids - An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT about the tendency of therapists (even Marriage and Family Therapists) to avoid working with couples and families. We talk about the challenges in working with groups rather than individuals, how to identify the most appropriate treatment unit, and the benefits of working with adult families. We also discuss the importance of assessing power, privilege, intersectionality, and global context when working with both individuals and families.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at relationship therapy

Our friend, Adriana Rodriguez is returning to the podcast to talk about therapy for relationships, including couples and adult families.

Why do therapists avoid working with families and only work with individuals? 

·      There seems to be an aversion to working with groups rather than individuals

·      Avoiding overstimulation and conflict

·      Concerns about a lack of training

·      Not seeing adult family therapy as a typical treatment unit

·      Insurance and the medical model suggest that treatment is for an individual

·      Individualistic society of western culture

How can a therapist identify the most appropriate treatment unit?

·      Making sure to recognize that everyone has people that impact them

·      Working to identify the context and root causes of current concerns

·      Gathering the people around for accountability and vicarious healing

·      Identifying intergenerational transmission of trauma and of gifts

What can therapists do to support their clients most effectively?

·      Understanding the systems within which clients move

·      Looking at privilege, power, marginalization, and intersectionality

·      Understanding what is typically missed in treatment: that the system needs to be addressed before change can really occur

·      Looking for opportunities to engage family members in treatment

How can therapists better understand adult families?

·      Move away from compartmentalizing couples or family work

·      More in-depth genograms, with more context and self-reflection

·      Looking at how we interact with our clients and how we interact with the systems

·      Eco-map – the context around the client

·      Timeline – historic events happening during your client’s life around them

·      Incorporating accountability and compassion

·      Increasing understanding and compassion before inviting in the family members into session

·      Recognizing that many cultures have a strong focus and value related to family and honoring that in their healing process

·      Helping families and couples come together as “team” members rather than opponents


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Podcast Homepage


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2525 yes Modern Therapist Reflections on Preventing a School Shooting Modern Therapist Reflections on Preventing a School Shooting Curt and Katie chat about an incident within Curt’s practice. We look at how therapists are called upon to make challenging risk assessments. We look at threat to other assessments including threats of serious violence. We explore the therapist’s experience during these intense risk assessments and the tasks that follow. We identify action steps for trauma informed support. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore a therapist’s role in preventing a school shooting Recently, Curt was called upon to make an intense risk assessment that required administrative steps to prevent threats of violence. We thought it would be helpful for other modern therapists to understand the experience from a therapist’s perspective, so we can support each other and get the support we need. What is involved for therapists to complete risk assessments for threats to self and others, including threats of serious violence? ·      Both harm to self and others assessments are indicated ·      How to determine whether a homicide assessment is appropriate ·      Calming the situation, decreasing dysregulation ·      Understanding plans and current thought processes ·      Going through the protocol related to duty to warn, including calling law enforcement and the school What is the experience of a therapist during and after an intense risk assessment? ·      Deep mindfulness ·      Goal driven conversation (toward safety planning) ·      Frustration and overwhelm related to required reporting to law enforcement ·      Having to switch gears for the next session ·      Potential rupture and loss of client ·      Trauma response, anger, frustration What kind of support is important for therapists when they have responded to threats of a school shooting? ·      The question of “how are you doing” is less effective in these crisis situations than “what are you going through?” ·      Using a trauma informed approach to provide adequate, planned support ·      The tendency of therapists to compartmentalize that requires more attention from colleagues than others facing these types of crisis situations ·      Plans and best practices for managing these types of incidents Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Modern Therapist Reflections on Preventing a School Shooting full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about an incident within Curt’s practice. We look at how therapists are called upon to make challenging risk assessments. We look at threat to other assessments including threats of serious violence. We explore the therapist’s experience during these intense risk assessments and the tasks that follow. We identify action steps for trauma informed support. Modern Therapist Reflections on Preventing a School Shooting Curt and Katie chat about an incident within Curt’s practice. We look at how therapists are called upon to make challenging risk assessments. We look at threat to other assessments including threats of serious violence. We explore the therapist’s experience during these intense risk assessments and the tasks that follow. We identify action steps for trauma informed support. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore a therapist’s role in preventing a school shooting Recently, Curt was called upon to make an intense risk assessment that required administrative steps to prevent threats of violence. We thought it would be helpful for other modern therapists to understand the experience from a therapist’s perspective, so we can support each other and get the support we need. What is involved for therapists to complete risk assessments for threats to self and others, including threats of serious violence? ·      Both harm to self and others assessments are indicated ·      How to determine whether a homicide assessment is appropriate ·      Calming the situation, decreasing dysregulation ·      Understanding plans and current thought processes ·      Going through the protocol related to duty to warn, including calling law enforcement and the school What is the experience of a therapist during and after an intense risk assessment? ·      Deep mindfulness ·      Goal driven conversation (toward safety planning) ·      Frustration and overwhelm related to required reporting to law enforcement ·      Having to switch gears for the next session ·      Potential rupture and loss of client ·      Trauma response, anger, frustration What kind of support is important for therapists when they have responded to threats of a school shooting? ·      The question of “how are you doing” is less effective in these crisis situations than “what are you going through?” ·      Using a trauma informed approach to provide adequate, planned support ·      The tendency of therapists to compartmentalize that requires more attention from colleagues than others facing these types of crisis situations ·      Plans and best practices for managing these types of incidents Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Modern Therapist Reflections on Preventing a School Shooting

Curt and Katie chat about an incident within Curt’s practice. We look at how therapists are called upon to make challenging risk assessments. We look at threat to other assessments including threats of serious violence. We explore the therapist’s experience during these intense risk assessments and the tasks that follow. We identify action steps for trauma informed support.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore a therapist’s role in preventing a school shooting

Recently, Curt was called upon to make an intense risk assessment that required administrative steps to prevent threats of violence. We thought it would be helpful for other modern therapists to understand the experience from a therapist’s perspective, so we can support each other and get the support we need.

What is involved for therapists to complete risk assessments for threats to self and others, including threats of serious violence?

·      Both harm to self and others assessments are indicated

·      How to determine whether a homicide assessment is appropriate

·      Calming the situation, decreasing dysregulation

·      Understanding plans and current thought processes

·      Going through the protocol related to duty to warn, including calling law enforcement and the school

What is the experience of a therapist during and after an intense risk assessment?

·      Deep mindfulness

·      Goal driven conversation (toward safety planning)

·      Frustration and overwhelm related to required reporting to law enforcement

·      Having to switch gears for the next session

·      Potential rupture and loss of client

·      Trauma response, anger, frustration

What kind of support is important for therapists when they have responded to threats of a school shooting?

·      The question of “how are you doing” is less effective in these crisis situations than “what are you going through?”

·      Using a trauma informed approach to provide adequate, planned support

·      The tendency of therapists to compartmentalize that requires more attention from colleagues than others facing these types of crisis situations

·      Plans and best practices for managing these types of incidents

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Podcast Homepage

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2119 yes Why Do Therapists Feel They NEED to be Coaches? An Interview with Jo Muirhead Why Do Therapists Feel They NEED to be Coaches? An Interview with Jo Muirhead Curt and Katie interview Jo Muirhead about the increasingly common trend of therapists becoming coaches for other therapists. We talk about what coaching actually is, mistakes therapists make when pursuing coaching, how therapists can identify if someone is a good (or bad) coach, problems with some coaching for therapists, and how therapists can future-proof their business (rather than turning to coaching for the answer).  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the therapist-coaching-other-therapists trend We’ve received feedback from listeners that they are overwhelmed and disillusioned by some of the business coaching available for therapists. We reached out to our friend, Jo Muirhead, to talk through the current landscape and how therapists can find (and be) better business coaches.  What is coaching? ·        Coaching is working with someone to help them become the person, professional, etc. they would like to be ·        A Coach is someone who helps you with your mindset or helps you with how you think ·        Coaching is not training ·        Mentorship What are mistakes that therapists make when pursuing coaching for themselves? ·        Unreasonable expectations ·        Lack of implementation support ·        Seeking out lots of free consultation (versus paid consultation) How can therapists identify whether someone is a good or bad coach? ·        You need to know how you learn, so you can find someone who matches your learning style ·        Coaching should make you feel uncomfortable ·        Understand whether you’d like a done with you approach versus a done to you or for you type of program ·        Avoid people who focus only on themselves and what they’ve accomplished versus helping you find the right path ·        Find someone who can help you think (not tell you what to think) What are some problems with coaches who work with therapists? ·        They create a program based on a single success ·        They believe that they have to tell people what to do ·        Marketing practices, manipulation ·        Urgency as a tactic works, but can feel manipulative at times ·        Fake friending is not effective and pretty awful ·        Failing to deliver on promises ·        Becoming a business coach because they are tired of listening to peoples’ pain ·        If you’re too tired to be a therapist, don’t coach ·        There is a problem with their relationship to work ·        Needing coaching clients rather than identifying best match clients How can therapists future-proof their businesses? ·        We need to listen to the experts who are focusing attention on how the business is advancing ·        Understand that we’re not “fit for purpose” based on the changes in the industry Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 04 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Why Do Therapists Feel They NEED to be Coaches? An Interview with Jo Muirhead full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Jo Muirhead about the increasingly common trend of therapists becoming coaches for other therapists. We talk about what coaching actually is, mistakes therapists make when pursuing coaching, how therapists can identify if someone is a good (or bad) coach, problems with some coaching for therapists, and how therapists can future-proof their business (rather than turning to coaching for the answer). Why Do Therapists Feel They NEED to be Coaches? An Interview with Jo Muirhead Curt and Katie interview Jo Muirhead about the increasingly common trend of therapists becoming coaches for other therapists. We talk about what coaching actually is, mistakes therapists make when pursuing coaching, how therapists can identify if someone is a good (or bad) coach, problems with some coaching for therapists, and how therapists can future-proof their business (rather than turning to coaching for the answer).  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the therapist-coaching-other-therapists trend We’ve received feedback from listeners that they are overwhelmed and disillusioned by some of the business coaching available for therapists. We reached out to our friend, Jo Muirhead, to talk through the current landscape and how therapists can find (and be) better business coaches.  What is coaching? ·        Coaching is working with someone to help them become the person, professional, etc. they would like to be ·        A Coach is someone who helps you with your mindset or helps you with how you think ·        Coaching is not training ·        Mentorship What are mistakes that therapists make when pursuing coaching for themselves? ·        Unreasonable expectations ·        Lack of implementation support ·        Seeking out lots of free consultation (versus paid consultation) How can therapists identify whether someone is a good or bad coach? ·        You need to know how you learn, so you can find someone who matches your learning style ·        Coaching should make you feel uncomfortable ·        Understand whether you’d like a done with you approach versus a done to you or for you type of program ·        Avoid people who focus only on themselves and what they’ve accomplished versus helping you find the right path ·        Find someone who can help you think (not tell you what to think) What are some problems with coaches who work with therapists? ·        They create a program based on a single success ·        They believe that they have to tell people what to do ·        Marketing practices, manipulation ·        Urgency as a tactic works, but can feel manipulative at times ·        Fake friending is not effective and pretty awful ·        Failing to deliver on promises ·        Becoming a business coach because they are tired of listening to peoples’ pain ·        If you’re too tired to be a therapist, don’t coach ·        There is a problem with their relationship to work ·        Needing coaching clients rather than identifying best match clients How can therapists future-proof their businesses? ·        We need to listen to the experts who are focusing attention on how the business is advancing ·        Understand that we’re not “fit for purpose” based on the changes in the industry Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Why Do Therapists Feel They NEED to be Coaches? An Interview with Jo Muirhead

Curt and Katie interview Jo Muirhead about the increasingly common trend of therapists becoming coaches for other therapists. We talk about what coaching actually is, mistakes therapists make when pursuing coaching, how therapists can identify if someone is a good (or bad) coach, problems with some coaching for therapists, and how therapists can future-proof their business (rather than turning to coaching for the answer). 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we look at the therapist-coaching-other-therapists trend

We’ve received feedback from listeners that they are overwhelmed and disillusioned by some of the business coaching available for therapists. We reached out to our friend, Jo Muirhead, to talk through the current landscape and how therapists can find (and be) better business coaches. 

What is coaching?

·        Coaching is working with someone to help them become the person, professional, etc. they would like to be

·        A Coach is someone who helps you with your mindset or helps you with how you think

·        Coaching is not training

·        Mentorship

What are mistakes that therapists make when pursuing coaching for themselves?

·        Unreasonable expectations

·        Lack of implementation support

·        Seeking out lots of free consultation (versus paid consultation)

How can therapists identify whether someone is a good or bad coach?

·        You need to know how you learn, so you can find someone who matches your learning style

·        Coaching should make you feel uncomfortable

·        Understand whether you’d like a done with you approach versus a done to you or for you type of program

·        Avoid people who focus only on themselves and what they’ve accomplished versus helping you find the right path

·        Find someone who can help you think (not tell you what to think)

What are some problems with coaches who work with therapists?

·        They create a program based on a single success

·        They believe that they have to tell people what to do

·        Marketing practices, manipulation

·        Urgency as a tactic works, but can feel manipulative at times

·        Fake friending is not effective and pretty awful

·        Failing to deliver on promises

·        Becoming a business coach because they are tired of listening to peoples’ pain

·        If you’re too tired to be a therapist, don’t coach

·        There is a problem with their relationship to work

·        Needing coaching clients rather than identifying best match clients

How can therapists future-proof their businesses?

·        We need to listen to the experts who are focusing attention on how the business is advancing

·        Understand that we’re not “fit for purpose” based on the changes in the industry


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 2693 yes Humor in Psychotherapy Humor in Psychotherapy Curt and Katie chat about the benefits and challenges of using humor in the therapy room. We look at the research exploring how humor is used, potential risks, and best practices. We work to infuse humor, even as we take our therapeutic humor pretty seriously. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can best work within treatment teams Anecdotal evidence suggests that humor can have positive effects on therapeutic relationship development and as a skill that can be used for interventions. Concerns that humor may be used incorrectly or be potentially harmful make many clinicians wary of utilizing humor in therapy and empirical research is in its infancy about how it can be used effectively. This podcast episode explores the themes of therapeutic humor, which populations might present with different humor styles, and cultural considerations when using humor. What are the beneficial uses of humor in therapy? ·      Authenticity versus rigidity ·      Serious versus humorous interactions ·      Irreverence in DBT ·      Humor must come from within your own personality, it is not something that is teachable ·      Within the relationship and the therapeutic alliance, humor can increase connection ·      Using humor as a therapist can address power imbalances ·      Opportunities to challenge beliefs and shift behavior with a lighter touch ·      Diffusing situations, gallows humor, and moving on from challenging situations What are the risks of using humor in therapy? ·      When clients don’t understand the humor, it can cause iatrogenic harm ·      Confusion on the intent of humor ·      Confusion regarding the connection fostered by humor (i.e., could be seen as seduction) ·      Humor can be a distraction or a way to deflect from the therapeutic work ·      Humor can be seen as reinforcing power imbalances, especially when the client sees the humor as an insult, criticism, or the therapist putting the client down ·      Clients may not be able to give feedback on their reactions to humor ·      Self-deprecating or self-pitying humor is not recommended in therapy What is in the research on using humor in therapy? ·      Not a lot of research ·      Research on humor in therapy is usually done with western therapists and clients ·      It is important to understand the different cultural impacts on humor ·      There is research on the 7 stages and themes of humor within therapy ·      Assessing the use of banter in therapy ·      Identifying whether aggressive humor can improve outcomes in therapy ·      Misapplication of humor as confrontation versus using it for facilitation How can therapists use humor effectively in therapy? ·      Assess jokes and humorous interactions from the lens of it being for the benefit of the client ·      Focus on “reading the room,” so you’re not using humor inappropriately ·      Connecting and affirming your understanding of the client’s experience ·      Balancing activities in session (business time versus fun time) ·      Using humor as a diagnostic tool ·      Addressing ruptures or potential ruptures caused by humor Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 28 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Humor in Psychotherapy full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the benefits and challenges of using humor in the therapy room. We look at the research exploring how humor is used, potential risks, and best practices. We work to infuse humor, even as we take our therapeutic humor pretty seriously. This is a continuing education podcourse. Humor in Psychotherapy Curt and Katie chat about the benefits and challenges of using humor in the therapy room. We look at the research exploring how humor is used, potential risks, and best practices. We work to infuse humor, even as we take our therapeutic humor pretty seriously. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can best work within treatment teams Anecdotal evidence suggests that humor can have positive effects on therapeutic relationship development and as a skill that can be used for interventions. Concerns that humor may be used incorrectly or be potentially harmful make many clinicians wary of utilizing humor in therapy and empirical research is in its infancy about how it can be used effectively. This podcast episode explores the themes of therapeutic humor, which populations might present with different humor styles, and cultural considerations when using humor. What are the beneficial uses of humor in therapy? ·      Authenticity versus rigidity ·      Serious versus humorous interactions ·      Irreverence in DBT ·      Humor must come from within your own personality, it is not something that is teachable ·      Within the relationship and the therapeutic alliance, humor can increase connection ·      Using humor as a therapist can address power imbalances ·      Opportunities to challenge beliefs and shift behavior with a lighter touch ·      Diffusing situations, gallows humor, and moving on from challenging situations What are the risks of using humor in therapy? ·      When clients don’t understand the humor, it can cause iatrogenic harm ·      Confusion on the intent of humor ·      Confusion regarding the connection fostered by humor (i.e., could be seen as seduction) ·      Humor can be a distraction or a way to deflect from the therapeutic work ·      Humor can be seen as reinforcing power imbalances, especially when the client sees the humor as an insult, criticism, or the therapist putting the client down ·      Clients may not be able to give feedback on their reactions to humor ·      Self-deprecating or self-pitying humor is not recommended in therapy What is in the research on using humor in therapy? ·      Not a lot of research ·      Research on humor in therapy is usually done with western therapists and clients ·      It is important to understand the different cultural impacts on humor ·      There is research on the 7 stages and themes of humor within therapy ·      Assessing the use of banter in therapy ·      Identifying whether aggressive humor can improve outcomes in therapy ·      Misapplication of humor as confrontation versus using it for facilitation How can therapists use humor effectively in therapy? ·      Assess jokes and humorous interactions from the lens of it being for the benefit of the client ·      Focus on “reading the room,” so you’re not using humor inappropriately ·      Connecting and affirming your understanding of the client’s experience ·      Balancing activities in session (business time versus fun time) ·      Using humor as a diagnostic tool ·      Addressing ruptures or potential ruptures caused by humor Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Humor in Psychotherapy

Curt and Katie chat about the benefits and challenges of using humor in the therapy room. We look at the research exploring how humor is used, potential risks, and best practices. We work to infuse humor, even as we take our therapeutic humor pretty seriously. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can best work within treatment teams

Anecdotal evidence suggests that humor can have positive effects on therapeutic relationship development and as a skill that can be used for interventions. Concerns that humor may be used incorrectly or be potentially harmful make many clinicians wary of utilizing humor in therapy and empirical research is in its infancy about how it can be used effectively. This podcast episode explores the themes of therapeutic humor, which populations might present with different humor styles, and cultural considerations when using humor.

What are the beneficial uses of humor in therapy?

·      Authenticity versus rigidity

·      Serious versus humorous interactions

·      Irreverence in DBT

·      Humor must come from within your own personality, it is not something that is teachable

·      Within the relationship and the therapeutic alliance, humor can increase connection

·      Using humor as a therapist can address power imbalances

·      Opportunities to challenge beliefs and shift behavior with a lighter touch

·      Diffusing situations, gallows humor, and moving on from challenging situations

What are the risks of using humor in therapy?

·      When clients don’t understand the humor, it can cause iatrogenic harm

·      Confusion on the intent of humor

·      Confusion regarding the connection fostered by humor (i.e., could be seen as seduction)

·      Humor can be a distraction or a way to deflect from the therapeutic work

·      Humor can be seen as reinforcing power imbalances, especially when the client sees the humor as an insult, criticism, or the therapist putting the client down

·      Clients may not be able to give feedback on their reactions to humor

·      Self-deprecating or self-pitying humor is not recommended in therapy

What is in the research on using humor in therapy?

·      Not a lot of research

·      Research on humor in therapy is usually done with western therapists and clients

·      It is important to understand the different cultural impacts on humor

·      There is research on the 7 stages and themes of humor within therapy

·      Assessing the use of banter in therapy

·      Identifying whether aggressive humor can improve outcomes in therapy

·      Misapplication of humor as confrontation versus using it for facilitation

How can therapists use humor effectively in therapy?

·      Assess jokes and humorous interactions from the lens of it being for the benefit of the client

·      Focus on “reading the room,” so you’re not using humor inappropriately

·      Connecting and affirming your understanding of the client’s experience

·      Balancing activities in session (business time versus fun time)

·      Using humor as a diagnostic tool

·      Addressing ruptures or potential ruptures caused by humor


Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals:

Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 3951 How Therapists Can Deal with the Crisis of the Week How Therapists Can Deal with the Crisis of the Week Curt and Katie chat about a typical dynamic that can happen in therapy sessions, namely the “crisis of the week.” We look at how this dynamic comes up and what therapists can do to deal with it more effectively. We identify both clinician and client factors and suggest strategies to improve therapy sessions. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore how therapy can get stuck responding to the crisis of the week During one of our Patreon coffee hour/Q+A sessions, we got a request from a patron to talk about how to navigate client sessions that were mostly focused on worrisome incidences from the week, rather than on treatment goals. What is “Crisis of the Week?” ·      When therapy gets stuck with only talking about what has happened in the week ·      Crises take precedent over treatment goals ·      There are also biases in how this topic has been brought up during training or supervision for early career clinicians How do therapists determine whether the “crisis of the week” conversations are helpful ·      If conversations are repetitive or there is little progress made, these conversations are likely not helpful ·      “Crisis of the week” can be conversations from clients and (for kids) their parents ·      If the conversations align with treatment goals, they are more likely to be helpful How can therapists mitigate the concerns related to “crisis of the week”? ·      Making sure to talk about the therapy and determine whether the treatment goals are appropriate for the client ·      Providing structure on how to work on therapy goals can help make therapy more effective ·      Making sure that you’re hearing the client and then redirect to treatment goals or the client’s hopes for therapy ·      Making sure that everyone is on the same page with how the treatment progresses ·      Insight into why there is a tendency to go to the crisis of the week What are the clinician factors in getting stuck in a “crisis of the week” conversation? ·      Feeling uncomfortable with structuring therapy ·      Allowing the client to lead, when they are not ready to do so ·      Potentially not taking responsibility for the session due to laziness, burnout, or other concern ·      Therapists not clarifying expectations early enough in treatment What are the client factors in getting stuck in a “crisis of the week” conversation? ·      Clients are fearful and potentially using a decoy issue to avoid discussing a more relevant ·      Clients may be having a trauma response that leads to speaking about safer topics ·      Clients are not yet comfortable enough with the therapist to dig deeper ·      Clients do not have the skills to manage the topic ·      Cultural factors could impact communication and expectations What conversations can therapists have with clients related to avoiding crisis of the week? ·      Setting up structure for sessions ·      Addressing the relational elements related to attachment and getting to the clinical work ·      Identifying how to address it when “crisis of the week” happens ·      Determining how best to start your session with each client Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 21 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000 How Therapists Can Deal with the Crisis of the Week full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about a typical dynamic that can happen in therapy sessions, namely the “crisis of the week.” We look at how this dynamic comes up and what therapists can do to deal with it more effectively. We identify both clinician and client factors and suggest strategies to improve therapy sessions. How Therapists Can Deal with the Crisis of the Week Curt and Katie chat about a typical dynamic that can happen in therapy sessions, namely the “crisis of the week.” We look at how this dynamic comes up and what therapists can do to deal with it more effectively. We identify both clinician and client factors and suggest strategies to improve therapy sessions. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore how therapy can get stuck responding to the crisis of the week During one of our Patreon coffee hour/Q+A sessions, we got a request from a patron to talk about how to navigate client sessions that were mostly focused on worrisome incidences from the week, rather than on treatment goals. What is “Crisis of the Week?” ·      When therapy gets stuck with only talking about what has happened in the week ·      Crises take precedent over treatment goals ·      There are also biases in how this topic has been brought up during training or supervision for early career clinicians How do therapists determine whether the “crisis of the week” conversations are helpful ·      If conversations are repetitive or there is little progress made, these conversations are likely not helpful ·      “Crisis of the week” can be conversations from clients and (for kids) their parents ·      If the conversations align with treatment goals, they are more likely to be helpful How can therapists mitigate the concerns related to “crisis of the week”? ·      Making sure to talk about the therapy and determine whether the treatment goals are appropriate for the client ·      Providing structure on how to work on therapy goals can help make therapy more effective ·      Making sure that you’re hearing the client and then redirect to treatment goals or the client’s hopes for therapy ·      Making sure that everyone is on the same page with how the treatment progresses ·      Insight into why there is a tendency to go to the crisis of the week What are the clinician factors in getting stuck in a “crisis of the week” conversation? ·      Feeling uncomfortable with structuring therapy ·      Allowing the client to lead, when they are not ready to do so ·      Potentially not taking responsibility for the session due to laziness, burnout, or other concern ·      Therapists not clarifying expectations early enough in treatment What are the client factors in getting stuck in a “crisis of the week” conversation? ·      Clients are fearful and potentially using a decoy issue to avoid discussing a more relevant ·      Clients may be having a trauma response that leads to speaking about safer topics ·      Clients are not yet comfortable enough with the therapist to dig deeper ·      Clients do not have the skills to manage the topic ·      Cultural factors could impact communication and expectations What conversations can therapists have with clients related to avoiding crisis of the week? ·      Setting up structure for sessions ·      Addressing the relational elements related to attachment and getting to the clinical work ·      Identifying how to address it when “crisis of the week” happens ·      Determining how best to start your session with each client Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   How Therapists Can Deal with the Crisis of the Week

Curt and Katie chat about a typical dynamic that can happen in therapy sessions, namely the “crisis of the week.” We look at how this dynamic comes up and what therapists can do to deal with it more effectively. We identify both clinician and client factors and suggest strategies to improve therapy sessions.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore how therapy can get stuck responding to the crisis of the week

During one of our Patreon coffee hour/Q+A sessions, we got a request from a patron to talk about how to navigate client sessions that were mostly focused on worrisome incidences from the week, rather than on treatment goals.

What is “Crisis of the Week?”

·      When therapy gets stuck with only talking about what has happened in the week

·      Crises take precedent over treatment goals

·      There are also biases in how this topic has been brought up during training or supervision for early career clinicians

How do therapists determine whether the “crisis of the week” conversations are helpful

·      If conversations are repetitive or there is little progress made, these conversations are likely not helpful

·      “Crisis of the week” can be conversations from clients and (for kids) their parents

·      If the conversations align with treatment goals, they are more likely to be helpful

How can therapists mitigate the concerns related to “crisis of the week”?

·      Making sure to talk about the therapy and determine whether the treatment goals are appropriate for the client

·      Providing structure on how to work on therapy goals can help make therapy more effective

·      Making sure that you’re hearing the client and then redirect to treatment goals or the client’s hopes for therapy

·      Making sure that everyone is on the same page with how the treatment progresses

·      Insight into why there is a tendency to go to the crisis of the week

What are the clinician factors in getting stuck in a “crisis of the week” conversation?

·      Feeling uncomfortable with structuring therapy

·      Allowing the client to lead, when they are not ready to do so

·      Potentially not taking responsibility for the session due to laziness, burnout, or other concern

·      Therapists not clarifying expectations early enough in treatment

What are the client factors in getting stuck in a “crisis of the week” conversation?

·      Clients are fearful and potentially using a decoy issue to avoid discussing a more relevant

·      Clients may be having a trauma response that leads to speaking about safer topics

·      Clients are not yet comfortable enough with the therapist to dig deeper

·      Clients do not have the skills to manage the topic

·      Cultural factors could impact communication and expectations

What conversations can therapists have with clients related to avoiding crisis of the week?

·      Setting up structure for sessions

·      Addressing the relational elements related to attachment and getting to the clinical work

·      Identifying how to address it when “crisis of the week” happens

·      Determining how best to start your session with each client


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2087 Making Sense of Insurance Billing and Client Referral Services for Therapists Making Sense of Insurance Billing and Client Referral Services for Therapists Curt and Katie chat about a lot of the different services that therapists can sign up for to provide therapy. We talk about Alma, Headway, TalkSpace, BetterHelp, etc. We also look at what therapists should consider when deciding which service to sign up for (or whether they should).  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore therapist insurance referral services like Alma and Headway We’ve been asked to weigh in on insurance referral services like Alma and Headway. We explore the different things to consider when choosing a service to sign up for. What client referral services should therapists sign up for? ·      Betterhelp and TalkSpace models do not include insurance billing and pay therapists very little. We do not recommend therapists sign up as providers on BetterHelp and TalkSpace. ·      Alma, Headway, and other similar models get therapists credentialed, bill insurance, etc. ·      These services are very different and there are a lot of choices for therapists to make What are questions therapists should consider when deciding which therapist referral service to sign up for? ·      Can I actually use these platforms? ·      How quickly am I credentialed and how many different panels can I sign up for? ·      Will this service get me clients? ·      How many clients are they going to get you? ·      Are the insurance benefits checks accurate? ·      What does customer service look like? ·      What are the rates they pay therapists? ·      Is there a minimum number of clients you’re expected to see? ·      What benefits are included for therapists (like CEs, group meetings, EHR, etc.) ·      What do you want your practice to look like? ·      What purpose will this platform serve for my practice? For example, are you wanting to get more clients or are you wanting to add insurance billing capacity (or both)? Concerns about digital therapy platforms and insurance referral services ·      The tendency for things to change as startups grow ·       Privacy concerns from app-based therapy apps (like BetterHelp and TalkSpace, etc.) ·      Systemic impacts of tech companies negotiating with insurance companies instead of therapists ·      Most are set up as 1099 businesses versus W2 employee models and seem to skirt some labor laws and put liability on the therapist Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Making Sense of Insurance Billing and Client Referral Services for Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about a lot of the different services that therapists can sign up for to provide therapy. We talk about Alma, Headway, TalkSpace, BetterHelp, etc. We also look at what therapists should consider when deciding which service to sign up for (or whether they should). Making Sense of Insurance Billing and Client Referral Services for Therapists Curt and Katie chat about a lot of the different services that therapists can sign up for to provide therapy. We talk about Alma, Headway, TalkSpace, BetterHelp, etc. We also look at what therapists should consider when deciding which service to sign up for (or whether they should).  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore therapist insurance referral services like Alma and Headway We’ve been asked to weigh in on insurance referral services like Alma and Headway. We explore the different things to consider when choosing a service to sign up for. What client referral services should therapists sign up for? ·      Betterhelp and TalkSpace models do not include insurance billing and pay therapists very little. We do not recommend therapists sign up as providers on BetterHelp and TalkSpace. ·      Alma, Headway, and other similar models get therapists credentialed, bill insurance, etc. ·      These services are very different and there are a lot of choices for therapists to make What are questions therapists should consider when deciding which therapist referral service to sign up for? ·      Can I actually use these platforms? ·      How quickly am I credentialed and how many different panels can I sign up for? ·      Will this service get me clients? ·      How many clients are they going to get you? ·      Are the insurance benefits checks accurate? ·      What does customer service look like? ·      What are the rates they pay therapists? ·      Is there a minimum number of clients you’re expected to see? ·      What benefits are included for therapists (like CEs, group meetings, EHR, etc.) ·      What do you want your practice to look like? ·      What purpose will this platform serve for my practice? For example, are you wanting to get more clients or are you wanting to add insurance billing capacity (or both)? Concerns about digital therapy platforms and insurance referral services ·      The tendency for things to change as startups grow ·       Privacy concerns from app-based therapy apps (like BetterHelp and TalkSpace, etc.) ·      Systemic impacts of tech companies negotiating with insurance companies instead of therapists ·      Most are set up as 1099 businesses versus W2 employee models and seem to skirt some labor laws and put liability on the therapist Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Making Sense of Insurance Billing and Client Referral Services for Therapists

Curt and Katie chat about a lot of the different services that therapists can sign up for to provide therapy. We talk about Alma, Headway, TalkSpace, BetterHelp, etc. We also look at what therapists should consider when deciding which service to sign up for (or whether they should). 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore therapist insurance referral services like Alma and Headway

We’ve been asked to weigh in on insurance referral services like Alma and Headway. We explore the different things to consider when choosing a service to sign up for.

What client referral services should therapists sign up for?

·      Betterhelp and TalkSpace models do not include insurance billing and pay therapists very little. We do not recommend therapists sign up as providers on BetterHelp and TalkSpace.

·      Alma, Headway, and other similar models get therapists credentialed, bill insurance, etc.

·      These services are very different and there are a lot of choices for therapists to make

What are questions therapists should consider when deciding which therapist referral service to sign up for?

·      Can I actually use these platforms?

·      How quickly am I credentialed and how many different panels can I sign up for?

·      Will this service get me clients?

·      How many clients are they going to get you?

·      Are the insurance benefits checks accurate?

·      What does customer service look like?

·      What are the rates they pay therapists?

·      Is there a minimum number of clients you’re expected to see?

·      What benefits are included for therapists (like CEs, group meetings, EHR, etc.)

·      What do you want your practice to look like?

·      What purpose will this platform serve for my practice? For example, are you wanting to get more clients or are you wanting to add insurance billing capacity (or both)?

Concerns about digital therapy platforms and insurance referral services

·      The tendency for things to change as startups grow

·       Privacy concerns from app-based therapy apps (like BetterHelp and TalkSpace, etc.)

·      Systemic impacts of tech companies negotiating with insurance companies instead of therapists

·      Most are set up as 1099 businesses versus W2 employee models and seem to skirt some labor laws and put liability on the therapist


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2699 Choosing Yourself as a Therapist: Strategies to address burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, An Interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C Choosing Yourself as a Therapist: Strategies to address burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma Curt and Katie interview Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, of the Trauma Therapist Network. We engage in real talk about burnout and compassion fatigue. We look at why therapists are especially susceptible to burnout, what therapists can do to take care of themselves, and what systems we can set up to try to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue. Laura also shared some ideas for group practice owners who want to support their clinicians.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, Trauma Therapist Network Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is an integrative trauma therapist who owns a group psychotherapy practice in the greater Baltimore area. Laura also hosts Therapy Chat and Trauma Chat Podcasts, and she founded Trauma Therapist Network in 2021. Laura trains trauma therapists around the world in using bottom-up therapy methods and accessing their highest selves while doing meaningful psychotherapy work for sustainable careers. In this podcast episode, we take a deeper look at therapist burnout work We’ve spoken many times about burnout and compassion fatigue. We decided to revisit this important topic with our friend, Laura Reagan. What do therapists need to know about “burnout” and “compassion fatigue?” ·      Burnout isn’t necessarily us not wanting to work, but feeling that the world will fall apart if we aren’t there for our clients ·      Not paying attention and ending up losing our clients’ trust ·      You forget you have agency Why are therapists at particular risk for burnout? ·      Our stuff coming up and not being there for ourselves ·      Not metabolizing our own trauma triggers ·      Getting dissociated and numb due to our compassion fatigue and moral injury ·      There are different levels of risk based on developmental stages What can therapists do to take care of themselves? ·      Identify whether there is space for experiencing emotions as well as being present for clients ·      Step away when needed, even when that could mean stopping see clients ·      Exploring other options to take care of yourself financially ·      Learning to choose yourself What can therapists do to prevent deep burnout and compassion fatigue? ·      Being in tune with yourself and your body ·      Paying attention to your responses to a client session, day, week ·      Understanding what is happening inside yourself to identify what you need to be well ·      Making sure to move in between sessions to recalibrate your nervous system ·      Being in community while also working to stay in connection with yourself ·      Specific suggestions for group practice owners Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Choosing Yourself as a Therapist: Strategies to address burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, An Interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, of the Trauma Therapist Network. We engage in real talk about burnout and compassion fatigue. We look at why therapists are especially susceptible to burnout, what therapists can do to take care of themselves, and what systems we can set up to try to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue. Laura also shared some ideas for group practice owners who want to support their clinicians. Choosing Yourself as a Therapist: Strategies to address burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma Curt and Katie interview Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, of the Trauma Therapist Network. We engage in real talk about burnout and compassion fatigue. We look at why therapists are especially susceptible to burnout, what therapists can do to take care of themselves, and what systems we can set up to try to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue. Laura also shared some ideas for group practice owners who want to support their clinicians.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, Trauma Therapist Network Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is an integrative trauma therapist who owns a group psychotherapy practice in the greater Baltimore area. Laura also hosts Therapy Chat and Trauma Chat Podcasts, and she founded Trauma Therapist Network in 2021. Laura trains trauma therapists around the world in using bottom-up therapy methods and accessing their highest selves while doing meaningful psychotherapy work for sustainable careers. In this podcast episode, we take a deeper look at therapist burnout work We’ve spoken many times about burnout and compassion fatigue. We decided to revisit this important topic with our friend, Laura Reagan. What do therapists need to know about “burnout” and “compassion fatigue?” ·      Burnout isn’t necessarily us not wanting to work, but feeling that the world will fall apart if we aren’t there for our clients ·      Not paying attention and ending up losing our clients’ trust ·      You forget you have agency Why are therapists at particular risk for burnout? ·      Our stuff coming up and not being there for ourselves ·      Not metabolizing our own trauma triggers ·      Getting dissociated and numb due to our compassion fatigue and moral injury ·      There are different levels of risk based on developmental stages What can therapists do to take care of themselves? ·      Identify whether there is space for experiencing emotions as well as being present for clients ·      Step away when needed, even when that could mean stopping see clients ·      Exploring other options to take care of yourself financially ·      Learning to choose yourself What can therapists do to prevent deep burnout and compassion fatigue? ·      Being in tune with yourself and your body ·      Paying attention to your responses to a client session, day, week ·      Understanding what is happening inside yourself to identify what you need to be well ·      Making sure to move in between sessions to recalibrate your nervous system ·      Being in community while also working to stay in connection with yourself ·      Specific suggestions for group practice owners Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Choosing Yourself as a Therapist: Strategies to address burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma

Curt and Katie interview Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, of the Trauma Therapist Network. We engage in real talk about burnout and compassion fatigue. We look at why therapists are especially susceptible to burnout, what therapists can do to take care of themselves, and what systems we can set up to try to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue. Laura also shared some ideas for group practice owners who want to support their clinicians. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, Trauma Therapist Network

Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is an integrative trauma therapist who owns a group psychotherapy practice in the greater Baltimore area. Laura also hosts Therapy Chat and Trauma Chat Podcasts, and she founded Trauma Therapist Network in 2021. Laura trains trauma therapists around the world in using bottom-up therapy methods and accessing their highest selves while doing meaningful psychotherapy work for sustainable careers.

In this podcast episode, we take a deeper look at therapist burnout work

We’ve spoken many times about burnout and compassion fatigue. We decided to revisit this important topic with our friend, Laura Reagan.

What do therapists need to know about “burnout” and “compassion fatigue?”

·      Burnout isn’t necessarily us not wanting to work, but feeling that the world will fall apart if we aren’t there for our clients

·      Not paying attention and ending up losing our clients’ trust

·      You forget you have agency

Why are therapists at particular risk for burnout?

·      Our stuff coming up and not being there for ourselves

·      Not metabolizing our own trauma triggers

·      Getting dissociated and numb due to our compassion fatigue and moral injury

·      There are different levels of risk based on developmental stages

What can therapists do to take care of themselves?

·      Identify whether there is space for experiencing emotions as well as being present for clients

·      Step away when needed, even when that could mean stopping see clients

·      Exploring other options to take care of yourself financially

·      Learning to choose yourself

What can therapists do to prevent deep burnout and compassion fatigue?

·      Being in tune with yourself and your body

·      Paying attention to your responses to a client session, day, week

·      Understanding what is happening inside yourself to identify what you need to be well

·      Making sure to move in between sessions to recalibrate your nervous system

·      Being in community while also working to stay in connection with yourself

·      Specific suggestions for group practice owners


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2198 Building Your Treatment Team in Private Practice: Essential Networking Skills for Therapists Building Your Treatment Team in Private Practice: Essential Networking Skills for Therapists Curt and Katie chat about treatment teaming, especially for clinicians in private practice. We look at the benefits of a treatment team, how to effectively create an interdisciplinary treatment team (including some networking skills), the qualities of a strong team, and the practicalities for therapists to collaborate effectively in treatment teams. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can best work within treatment teams Clients are often best served by a robust treatment team. Specific diagnoses (like Eating Disorders or Serious Mental Illness) require treatment teaming as a best practice and many others are best served when you are collaborating with the other health and wellness professionals in your clients’ lives. Creating and working within treatment teams in private practice creates a unique challenge. How do you find these professionals and how do you best work with them? The meetings in the hall in treatment centers and agencies can’t happen when you’re at your own office or working virtually. What can modern therapists do? This episode will explore the importance of treatment teams, how to identify who belongs on your treatment teams, and the essential networking skills to create these important relationships. We answer the following questions: What do treatment teams look like in private practice? What are the benefits of treatment teams, especially for lower acuity cases? How can therapists create treatment teams when they are in private practice? How do therapists vet the people they are meeting with? What are the qualities of strong treatment teams? How can therapists collaborate effectively with other professionals in private practice? Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit. Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: *The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Building Your Treatment Team in Private Practice: Essential Networking Skills for Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about treatment teaming, especially for clinicians in private practice. We look at the benefits of a treatment team, how to effectively create an interdisciplinary treatment team (including some networking skills), the qualities of a strong team, and the practicalities for therapists to collaborate effectively in treatment teams. This is a continuing education podcourse. Building Your Treatment Team in Private Practice: Essential Networking Skills for Therapists Curt and Katie chat about treatment teaming, especially for clinicians in private practice. We look at the benefits of a treatment team, how to effectively create an interdisciplinary treatment team (including some networking skills), the qualities of a strong team, and the practicalities for therapists to collaborate effectively in treatment teams. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can best work within treatment teams Clients are often best served by a robust treatment team. Specific diagnoses (like Eating Disorders or Serious Mental Illness) require treatment teaming as a best practice and many others are best served when you are collaborating with the other health and wellness professionals in your clients’ lives. Creating and working within treatment teams in private practice creates a unique challenge. How do you find these professionals and how do you best work with them? The meetings in the hall in treatment centers and agencies can’t happen when you’re at your own office or working virtually. What can modern therapists do? This episode will explore the importance of treatment teams, how to identify who belongs on your treatment teams, and the essential networking skills to create these important relationships. We answer the following questions: What do treatment teams look like in private practice? What are the benefits of treatment teams, especially for lower acuity cases? How can therapists create treatment teams when they are in private practice? How do therapists vet the people they are meeting with? What are the qualities of strong treatment teams? How can therapists collaborate effectively with other professionals in private practice? Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit. Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: *The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Building Your Treatment Team in Private Practice: Essential Networking Skills for Therapists

Curt and Katie chat about treatment teaming, especially for clinicians in private practice. We look at the benefits of a treatment team, how to effectively create an interdisciplinary treatment team (including some networking skills), the qualities of a strong team, and the practicalities for therapists to collaborate effectively in treatment teams. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can best work within treatment teams

Clients are often best served by a robust treatment team. Specific diagnoses (like Eating Disorders or Serious Mental Illness) require treatment teaming as a best practice and many others are best served when you are collaborating with the other health and wellness professionals in your clients’ lives. Creating and working within treatment teams in private practice creates a unique challenge. How do you find these professionals and how do you best work with them? The meetings in the hall in treatment centers and agencies can’t happen when you’re at your own office or working virtually. What can modern therapists do? This episode will explore the importance of treatment teams, how to identify who belongs on your treatment teams, and the essential networking skills to create these important relationships.

We answer the following questions:

What do treatment teams look like in private practice?

What are the benefits of treatment teams, especially for lower acuity cases?

How can therapists create treatment teams when they are in private practice?

How do therapists vet the people they are meeting with?

What are the qualities of strong treatment teams?

How can therapists collaborate effectively with other professionals in private practice?



Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals:

When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.

CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit.

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

*The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 3988 Revisiting SEO and AI – Ethics and best practices: An Interview with Danica Wolf Revisiting SEO and AI – Ethics and best practices: An Interview with Danica Wolf Curt and Katie interview Danica Wolf, COO of Simplified SEO Consulting, on the basics of SEO and how AI is being used in marketing. We look at best practices and ethics for both SEO and AI. We also talk through the potential pitfalls and cautions in the current state of AI for marketing.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Danica Wolf, MSW, Simplified SEO Consulting Danica is a not-so-secret strategy nerd who loves coffee and conversations about all things entrepreneurial. Especially when helping professionals are ready to dive into the world of ethical marketing strategies that actually work. As COO of Simplified SEO Consulting, Danica gets to spend most of her time helping therapists and other mental health professionals build the business of their dreams with dream clients who are already searching for them. As a birth business owner, former trauma advocate, University instructor, and single mom, Danica knows how important it is for busy practice owners to get the info they need quickly with action steps to implement right away. In this podcast episode, we return to our discussions about SEO and AI We’ve talked with caution about AI for your therapy practice but thought it would be helpful to talk to a marketing pro about effective ways to consider AI for your practice marketing. We also look at SEO best practices. What is SEO? What are best practices for on-page optimization? ·      Search Engine Optimization ·      Using keywords and content to get better ranked on Google ·      Content needs to be specific and aligned to ideal client ·      It is important to use ethical practices in your SEO What are the best practices for making marketing activities more efficient? ·      We talk about ways that AI is being used for marketing, including cautions and best practices ·      Google wants to see original content and wants folks to identify that AI has been used ·      There may be a google penalty for using AI generated content ·      When using AI for writing, make sure it actually sounds like you, you are editing it, and is accurate information ·      A better strategy with AI is using thoughtful prompts, your own examples, etc. as well as re-prompting and iterating on the content ·      Always check and read through things before putting anything on your website ·      Accessibility and simpler language (e.g., 3 am trauma brain) What are some good resources for writing content? ·      Jasper.ai ·      Copy.ai ·      Previous recommendation was originality.ai (which has had problems recently) ·      https://hemingwayapp.com/ What are concerns with using AI for your business at this point? ·      There is a shift in how AI content is being viewed, so initial dopamine hits may be leading you down the wrong path ·      You will need to be able to keep up with the evolution of AI, not just use it as a shortcut ·      It needs to be done strategically, intentionally, and ethically Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Revisiting SEO and AI – Ethics and best practices: An Interview with Danica Wolf full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Danica Wolf, COO of Simplified SEO Consulting, on the basics of SEO and how AI is being used in marketing. We look at best practices and ethics for both SEO and AI. We also talk through the potential pitfalls and cautions in the current state of AI for marketing. Revisiting SEO and AI – Ethics and best practices: An Interview with Danica Wolf Curt and Katie interview Danica Wolf, COO of Simplified SEO Consulting, on the basics of SEO and how AI is being used in marketing. We look at best practices and ethics for both SEO and AI. We also talk through the potential pitfalls and cautions in the current state of AI for marketing.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Danica Wolf, MSW, Simplified SEO Consulting Danica is a not-so-secret strategy nerd who loves coffee and conversations about all things entrepreneurial. Especially when helping professionals are ready to dive into the world of ethical marketing strategies that actually work. As COO of Simplified SEO Consulting, Danica gets to spend most of her time helping therapists and other mental health professionals build the business of their dreams with dream clients who are already searching for them. As a birth business owner, former trauma advocate, University instructor, and single mom, Danica knows how important it is for busy practice owners to get the info they need quickly with action steps to implement right away. In this podcast episode, we return to our discussions about SEO and AI We’ve talked with caution about AI for your therapy practice but thought it would be helpful to talk to a marketing pro about effective ways to consider AI for your practice marketing. We also look at SEO best practices. What is SEO? What are best practices for on-page optimization? ·      Search Engine Optimization ·      Using keywords and content to get better ranked on Google ·      Content needs to be specific and aligned to ideal client ·      It is important to use ethical practices in your SEO What are the best practices for making marketing activities more efficient? ·      We talk about ways that AI is being used for marketing, including cautions and best practices ·      Google wants to see original content and wants folks to identify that AI has been used ·      There may be a google penalty for using AI generated content ·      When using AI for writing, make sure it actually sounds like you, you are editing it, and is accurate information ·      A better strategy with AI is using thoughtful prompts, your own examples, etc. as well as re-prompting and iterating on the content ·      Always check and read through things before putting anything on your website ·      Accessibility and simpler language (e.g., 3 am trauma brain) What are some good resources for writing content? ·      Jasper.ai ·      Copy.ai ·      Previous recommendation was originality.ai (which has had problems recently) ·      https://hemingwayapp.com/ What are concerns with using AI for your business at this point? ·      There is a shift in how AI content is being viewed, so initial dopamine hits may be leading you down the wrong path ·      You will need to be able to keep up with the evolution of AI, not just use it as a shortcut ·      It needs to be done strategically, intentionally, and ethically Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Revisiting SEO and AI – Ethics and best practices: An Interview with Danica Wolf

Curt and Katie interview Danica Wolf, COO of Simplified SEO Consulting, on the basics of SEO and how AI is being used in marketing. We look at best practices and ethics for both SEO and AI. We also talk through the potential pitfalls and cautions in the current state of AI for marketing.  

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Danica Wolf, MSW, Simplified SEO Consulting

Danica is a not-so-secret strategy nerd who loves coffee and conversations about all things entrepreneurial. Especially when helping professionals are ready to dive into the world of ethical marketing strategies that actually work. As COO of Simplified SEO Consulting, Danica gets to spend most of her time helping therapists and other mental health professionals build the business of their dreams with dream clients who are already searching for them. As a birth business owner, former trauma advocate, University instructor, and single mom, Danica knows how important it is for busy practice owners to get the info they need quickly with action steps to implement right away.

In this podcast episode, we return to our discussions about SEO and AI

We’ve talked with caution about AI for your therapy practice but thought it would be helpful to talk to a marketing pro about effective ways to consider AI for your practice marketing. We also look at SEO best practices.

What is SEO? What are best practices for on-page optimization?

·      Search Engine Optimization

·      Using keywords and content to get better ranked on Google

·      Content needs to be specific and aligned to ideal client

·      It is important to use ethical practices in your SEO

What are the best practices for making marketing activities more efficient?

·      We talk about ways that AI is being used for marketing, including cautions and best practices

·      Google wants to see original content and wants folks to identify that AI has been used

·      There may be a google penalty for using AI generated content

·      When using AI for writing, make sure it actually sounds like you, you are editing it, and is accurate information

·      A better strategy with AI is using thoughtful prompts, your own examples, etc. as well as re-prompting and iterating on the content

·      Always check and read through things before putting anything on your website

·      Accessibility and simpler language (e.g., 3 am trauma brain)

What are some good resources for writing content?

·      Jasper.ai

·      Copy.ai

·      Previous recommendation was originality.ai (which has had problems recently)

·      https://hemingwayapp.com/

What are concerns with using AI for your business at this point?

·      There is a shift in how AI content is being viewed, so initial dopamine hits may be leading you down the wrong path

·      You will need to be able to keep up with the evolution of AI, not just use it as a shortcut

·      It needs to be done strategically, intentionally, and ethically

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2447 How Can You Create an Ethical Faith-Based Practice? An Interview with Whitney Owens, LPC How Can You Create an Ethical Faith-Based Practice? An Interview with Whitney Owens, LPC Curt and Katie interview Whitney Owens, LPC of Wise Practice, about faith-based practice. We look at what therapists can get wrong when considering incorporating faith into therapy. We also talk about what to do (and NOT do) when creating a faith-based therapy practice, specifically talking about ethics, using faith as a tool when requested, and the harm caused when therapists have a religious agenda in session.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about faith-based therapy practices Faith is a big part of many people’s lives. It is important for therapists to understand how to use faith as a resource in therapy. Further, there are Christian, faith-based therapists who can identify how best to remain within their ethics as a therapist when incorporating faith into therapy. What can therapists get wrong when creating a faith-based therapy practice? ·      Therapists become unethical when they try to convert clients to Christianity in therapy ·      When therapists mismatch how much clients want to include faith and belief ·      Therapists are not supposed to have an agenda for how their clients grow and change ·      Conversion Therapy (e.g., Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Anti-trans therapy) are illegal and wrong, regardless of your beliefs or faith ·      Telling clients what to do about “moral” issues ·      Refusing to work with people based on “morals” What can therapists do to create an ethical faith-based practice? ·      Using faith as a tool in therapy ·      Letting clients dictate how faith is incorporated in therapy ·      Providing clients space to interpret the bible or create the lives that they want to create ·      Addressing our own bias ·      Helping clients to make their own decisions ·      Getting supervision and even joining secular consultation groups ·      Doing the work to overcome bias and increase inclusion and affirmative practices What are the benefits of incorporating faith into therapy and therapy practices? ·      When therapists and clients share faith and beliefs, there can be an alignment of lived experience ·      Therapists can extend their faith into the work to be more aligned (as long as they remain ethical in how they incorporate it into practice) ·      Making business decisions that are both faith-based and ethical Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Wise Practice Summit Wise Practice Podcast Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Am I Honoring My Personal Values OR Am I Discriminating? An exploration of ethics for modern therapists What Therapists Need to Know About Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong, LCSW The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care Has Therapy Become the New Religion? Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000 How Can You Create an Ethical Faith-Based Practice? An Interview with Whitney Owens, LPC full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Whitney Owens, LPC of Wise Practice, about faith-based practice. We look at what therapists can get wrong when considering incorporating faith into therapy. We also talk about what to do (and NOT do) when creating a faith-based therapy practice, specifically talking about ethics, using faith as a tool when requested, and the harm caused when therapists have a religious agenda in session. How Can You Create an Ethical Faith-Based Practice? An Interview with Whitney Owens, LPC Curt and Katie interview Whitney Owens, LPC of Wise Practice, about faith-based practice. We look at what therapists can get wrong when considering incorporating faith into therapy. We also talk about what to do (and NOT do) when creating a faith-based therapy practice, specifically talking about ethics, using faith as a tool when requested, and the harm caused when therapists have a religious agenda in session.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about faith-based therapy practices Faith is a big part of many people’s lives. It is important for therapists to understand how to use faith as a resource in therapy. Further, there are Christian, faith-based therapists who can identify how best to remain within their ethics as a therapist when incorporating faith into therapy. What can therapists get wrong when creating a faith-based therapy practice? ·      Therapists become unethical when they try to convert clients to Christianity in therapy ·      When therapists mismatch how much clients want to include faith and belief ·      Therapists are not supposed to have an agenda for how their clients grow and change ·      Conversion Therapy (e.g., Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Anti-trans therapy) are illegal and wrong, regardless of your beliefs or faith ·      Telling clients what to do about “moral” issues ·      Refusing to work with people based on “morals” What can therapists do to create an ethical faith-based practice? ·      Using faith as a tool in therapy ·      Letting clients dictate how faith is incorporated in therapy ·      Providing clients space to interpret the bible or create the lives that they want to create ·      Addressing our own bias ·      Helping clients to make their own decisions ·      Getting supervision and even joining secular consultation groups ·      Doing the work to overcome bias and increase inclusion and affirmative practices What are the benefits of incorporating faith into therapy and therapy practices? ·      When therapists and clients share faith and beliefs, there can be an alignment of lived experience ·      Therapists can extend their faith into the work to be more aligned (as long as they remain ethical in how they incorporate it into practice) ·      Making business decisions that are both faith-based and ethical Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Wise Practice Summit Wise Practice Podcast Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Am I Honoring My Personal Values OR Am I Discriminating? An exploration of ethics for modern therapists What Therapists Need to Know About Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong, LCSW The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care Has Therapy Become the New Religion? Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Can You Create an Ethical Faith-Based Practice? An Interview with Whitney Owens, LPC

Curt and Katie interview Whitney Owens, LPC of Wise Practice, about faith-based practice. We look at what therapists can get wrong when considering incorporating faith into therapy. We also talk about what to do (and NOT do) when creating a faith-based therapy practice, specifically talking about ethics, using faith as a tool when requested, and the harm caused when therapists have a religious agenda in session. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about faith-based therapy practices

Faith is a big part of many people’s lives. It is important for therapists to understand how to use faith as a resource in therapy. Further, there are Christian, faith-based therapists who can identify how best to remain within their ethics as a therapist when incorporating faith into therapy.

What can therapists get wrong when creating a faith-based therapy practice?

·      Therapists become unethical when they try to convert clients to Christianity in therapy

·      When therapists mismatch how much clients want to include faith and belief

·      Therapists are not supposed to have an agenda for how their clients grow and change

·      Conversion Therapy (e.g., Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Anti-trans therapy) are illegal and wrong, regardless of your beliefs or faith

·      Telling clients what to do about “moral” issues

·      Refusing to work with people based on “morals”

What can therapists do to create an ethical faith-based practice?

·      Using faith as a tool in therapy

·      Letting clients dictate how faith is incorporated in therapy

·      Providing clients space to interpret the bible or create the lives that they want to create

·      Addressing our own bias

·      Helping clients to make their own decisions

·      Getting supervision and even joining secular consultation groups

·      Doing the work to overcome bias and increase inclusion and affirmative practices

What are the benefits of incorporating faith into therapy and therapy practices?

·      When therapists and clients share faith and beliefs, there can be an alignment of lived experience

·      Therapists can extend their faith into the work to be more aligned (as long as they remain ethical in how they incorporate it into practice)

·      Making business decisions that are both faith-based and ethical

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Wise Practice Summit

Wise Practice Podcast

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Am I Honoring My Personal Values OR Am I Discriminating? An exploration of ethics for modern therapists

What Therapists Need to Know About Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong, LCSW

The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW

What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care

Has Therapy Become the New Religion?


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2239 What Can Therapists Do When Clients Don’t Getting Better? What Can Therapists Do When Clients Don’t Getting Better? Curt and Katie chat about what modern therapists can do when their clients don’t (or can’t) get better. We explore what “getting better" looks like in therapy, what can get in the way of clients improving, how we can support clients who are unable to reach traditional treatment goals, and how clinicians can take care of ourselves while doing this longer-term work. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can happen when clients aren’t improving At a recent talk, we got the question – what if my clients aren’t getting better? We decided it was time to look at how goals are set, what “getting better” actually looks like, and how therapists can cope with clients whose treatment goals are "not getting worse." What does “getting better” look like in therapy? ·      Treatment goals are often set based on functionality, independence, and productivity ·      Outcome measures can be used to track improvement on mood, anxiety, etc. ·      Goals of “not getting worse” or prevention of future concerns are often hard to quantify or are unsatisfying for therapists (and potentially for their clients) What can get in the way of clients improving in therapy? ·      Situational concerns that are not changed ·      Longer-standing diagnoses that don’t go away, but can be stabilized ·      When improvement is defined as reaching goals, rather than avoiding relapse How can therapists support clients who are unable to reach traditional treatment goals? ·      Collaborative treatment goal setting ·      Identifying appropriate expectations ·      Quality of Life goals ·      Showing ongoing medical necessity and documenting appropriate need for ongoing care ·      Higher acuity and relevant diagnoses documented How can clinicians take care of ourselves when we have longer term clients who don’t show dramatic improvement? ·      Getting clear on client’s capacity for growth ·      Be clear on your own skills and capacity as a therapist ·      On-going conversations with the client to determine whether other help is needed ·      Exploring quality of life goals ·      Identifying incremental gains and reframing to build hope ·      Deepening the therapeutic relationship, focusing on the attachment ·      Redefining success and understanding the pieces that are still uncomfortable ·      Making sure that therapists do not define their own success based on client outcomes ·      Destigmatizing long-term weekly therapy as a coping strategy Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000 What Can Therapists Do When Clients Don’t Getting Better? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about what modern therapists can do when their clients don’t (or can’t) get better. We explore what “getting better" looks like in therapy, what can get in the way of clients improving, how we can support clients who are unable to reach traditional treatment goals, and how clinicians can take care of ourselves while doing this longer-term work. What Can Therapists Do When Clients Don’t Getting Better? Curt and Katie chat about what modern therapists can do when their clients don’t (or can’t) get better. We explore what “getting better" looks like in therapy, what can get in the way of clients improving, how we can support clients who are unable to reach traditional treatment goals, and how clinicians can take care of ourselves while doing this longer-term work. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can happen when clients aren’t improving At a recent talk, we got the question – what if my clients aren’t getting better? We decided it was time to look at how goals are set, what “getting better” actually looks like, and how therapists can cope with clients whose treatment goals are "not getting worse." What does “getting better” look like in therapy? ·      Treatment goals are often set based on functionality, independence, and productivity ·      Outcome measures can be used to track improvement on mood, anxiety, etc. ·      Goals of “not getting worse” or prevention of future concerns are often hard to quantify or are unsatisfying for therapists (and potentially for their clients) What can get in the way of clients improving in therapy? ·      Situational concerns that are not changed ·      Longer-standing diagnoses that don’t go away, but can be stabilized ·      When improvement is defined as reaching goals, rather than avoiding relapse How can therapists support clients who are unable to reach traditional treatment goals? ·      Collaborative treatment goal setting ·      Identifying appropriate expectations ·      Quality of Life goals ·      Showing ongoing medical necessity and documenting appropriate need for ongoing care ·      Higher acuity and relevant diagnoses documented How can clinicians take care of ourselves when we have longer term clients who don’t show dramatic improvement? ·      Getting clear on client’s capacity for growth ·      Be clear on your own skills and capacity as a therapist ·      On-going conversations with the client to determine whether other help is needed ·      Exploring quality of life goals ·      Identifying incremental gains and reframing to build hope ·      Deepening the therapeutic relationship, focusing on the attachment ·      Redefining success and understanding the pieces that are still uncomfortable ·      Making sure that therapists do not define their own success based on client outcomes ·      Destigmatizing long-term weekly therapy as a coping strategy Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Can Therapists Do When Clients Don’t Getting Better?

Curt and Katie chat about what modern therapists can do when their clients don’t (or can’t) get better. We explore what “getting better" looks like in therapy, what can get in the way of clients improving, how we can support clients who are unable to reach traditional treatment goals, and how clinicians can take care of ourselves while doing this longer-term work.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can happen when clients aren’t improving

At a recent talk, we got the question – what if my clients aren’t getting better? We decided it was time to look at how goals are set, what “getting better” actually looks like, and how therapists can cope with clients whose treatment goals are "not getting worse."

What does “getting better” look like in therapy?

·      Treatment goals are often set based on functionality, independence, and productivity

·      Outcome measures can be used to track improvement on mood, anxiety, etc.

·      Goals of “not getting worse” or prevention of future concerns are often hard to quantify or are unsatisfying for therapists (and potentially for their clients)

What can get in the way of clients improving in therapy?

·      Situational concerns that are not changed

·      Longer-standing diagnoses that don’t go away, but can be stabilized

·      When improvement is defined as reaching goals, rather than avoiding relapse

How can therapists support clients who are unable to reach traditional treatment goals?

·      Collaborative treatment goal setting

·      Identifying appropriate expectations

·      Quality of Life goals

·      Showing ongoing medical necessity and documenting appropriate need for ongoing care

·      Higher acuity and relevant diagnoses documented

How can clinicians take care of ourselves when we have longer term clients who don’t show dramatic improvement?

·      Getting clear on client’s capacity for growth

·      Be clear on your own skills and capacity as a therapist

·      On-going conversations with the client to determine whether other help is needed

·      Exploring quality of life goals

·      Identifying incremental gains and reframing to build hope

·      Deepening the therapeutic relationship, focusing on the attachment

·      Redefining success and understanding the pieces that are still uncomfortable

·      Making sure that therapists do not define their own success based on client outcomes

·      Destigmatizing long-term weekly therapy as a coping strategy


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Podcast Homepage


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2254 Are You Actually Neurodivergent Affirming? An Interview with Sonny Jane Wise Are You Actually Neurodivergent Affirming? An Interview with Sonny Jane Wise Curt and Katie interview Sonny Jane Wise, the Lived Experience Educator. We chat about therapists getting stuck in neuro-normative expectations and norms or refusing to accept medication or accommodations as neurodivergent affirming. We look at how you can get more creative and individualized to support neurodivergent individuals more effectively. We also look specifically at neurodivergent friendly DBT and whether skills-deficit models are inherently ableist. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about creating neurodivergent affirmative therapy practices Too often, therapists create goals and engage in practices that are neuro-normative. When working with neurodivergent clients and their families, these practices can be harmful. We asked Sonny Jane Wise, the Lived Experience Educator, to talk with us about how to best incorporate neurodivergent affirming practices for therapy. What do therapists get wrong when moving toward neurodiversity affirming practice? ·      Removing medication or accommodations as an acceptable option ·      Failing to allow for individual differences and preferences ·      Neuro-normativity shows up in goals, especially looking at independence and productivity ·      Setting expectations inappropriately How can therapists become more neurodivergent affirming? ·      Understanding the impacts of intersectionality on how someone chooses how they navigate their neurodivergence ·      Moving away from independence as the goal of therapy ·      Understanding that a neurodivergent person’s needs are more important than neuro-normative norms ·      Getting creative with problem-solving and communication ·      Recognizing differences, learning to work with them and not try to change them or work against them Are skills-deficit based models (like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) inherently ableist? ·      When the model states that the problem lies with the individual, then it is ableist ·      Adjusting the environment and the external factors is more appropriate ·      DBT skills can be helpful to learn emotions regulation that wasn’t learned when growing up ·      It is important to recognize differences and giving opportunities to work with differences ·      Letting go of the one size fits all and moving toward options What is an ideal for neurodiversity affirming spaces? ·      Viewing differences as differences and not something to be fixed or changed ·      Needs based system (not diagnosis-based system) ·      Understanding that everyone needs different things and accommodations, not just those with ·      Removing neuro-normative standards and expectations Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Are You Actually Neurodivergent Affirming? An Interview with Sonny Jane Wise full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Sonny Jane Wise, the Lived Experience Educator. We chat about therapists getting stuck in neuro-normative expectations and norms or refusing to accept medication or accommodations as neurodivergent affirming. We look at how you can get more creative and individualized to support neurodivergent individuals more effectively. We also look specifically at neurodivergent friendly DBT and whether skills-deficit models are inherently ableist. Are You Actually Neurodivergent Affirming? An Interview with Sonny Jane Wise Curt and Katie interview Sonny Jane Wise, the Lived Experience Educator. We chat about therapists getting stuck in neuro-normative expectations and norms or refusing to accept medication or accommodations as neurodivergent affirming. We look at how you can get more creative and individualized to support neurodivergent individuals more effectively. We also look specifically at neurodivergent friendly DBT and whether skills-deficit models are inherently ableist. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about creating neurodivergent affirmative therapy practices Too often, therapists create goals and engage in practices that are neuro-normative. When working with neurodivergent clients and their families, these practices can be harmful. We asked Sonny Jane Wise, the Lived Experience Educator, to talk with us about how to best incorporate neurodivergent affirming practices for therapy. What do therapists get wrong when moving toward neurodiversity affirming practice? ·      Removing medication or accommodations as an acceptable option ·      Failing to allow for individual differences and preferences ·      Neuro-normativity shows up in goals, especially looking at independence and productivity ·      Setting expectations inappropriately How can therapists become more neurodivergent affirming? ·      Understanding the impacts of intersectionality on how someone chooses how they navigate their neurodivergence ·      Moving away from independence as the goal of therapy ·      Understanding that a neurodivergent person’s needs are more important than neuro-normative norms ·      Getting creative with problem-solving and communication ·      Recognizing differences, learning to work with them and not try to change them or work against them Are skills-deficit based models (like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) inherently ableist? ·      When the model states that the problem lies with the individual, then it is ableist ·      Adjusting the environment and the external factors is more appropriate ·      DBT skills can be helpful to learn emotions regulation that wasn’t learned when growing up ·      It is important to recognize differences and giving opportunities to work with differences ·      Letting go of the one size fits all and moving toward options What is an ideal for neurodiversity affirming spaces? ·      Viewing differences as differences and not something to be fixed or changed ·      Needs based system (not diagnosis-based system) ·      Understanding that everyone needs different things and accommodations, not just those with ·      Removing neuro-normative standards and expectations Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Are You Actually Neurodivergent Affirming? An Interview with Sonny Jane Wise

Curt and Katie interview Sonny Jane Wise, the Lived Experience Educator. We chat about therapists getting stuck in neuro-normative expectations and norms or refusing to accept medication or accommodations as neurodivergent affirming. We look at how you can get more creative and individualized to support neurodivergent individuals more effectively. We also look specifically at neurodivergent friendly DBT and whether skills-deficit models are inherently ableist.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about creating neurodivergent affirmative therapy practices

Too often, therapists create goals and engage in practices that are neuro-normative. When working with neurodivergent clients and their families, these practices can be harmful. We asked Sonny Jane Wise, the Lived Experience Educator, to talk with us about how to best incorporate neurodivergent affirming practices for therapy.

What do therapists get wrong when moving toward neurodiversity affirming practice?

·      Removing medication or accommodations as an acceptable option

·      Failing to allow for individual differences and preferences

·      Neuro-normativity shows up in goals, especially looking at independence and productivity

·      Setting expectations inappropriately

How can therapists become more neurodivergent affirming?

·      Understanding the impacts of intersectionality on how someone chooses how they navigate their neurodivergence

·      Moving away from independence as the goal of therapy

·      Understanding that a neurodivergent person’s needs are more important than neuro-normative norms

·      Getting creative with problem-solving and communication

·      Recognizing differences, learning to work with them and not try to change them or work against them

Are skills-deficit based models (like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) inherently ableist?

·      When the model states that the problem lies with the individual, then it is ableist

·      Adjusting the environment and the external factors is more appropriate

·      DBT skills can be helpful to learn emotions regulation that wasn’t learned when growing up

·      It is important to recognize differences and giving opportunities to work with differences

·      Letting go of the one size fits all and moving toward options

What is an ideal for neurodiversity affirming spaces?

·      Viewing differences as differences and not something to be fixed or changed

·      Needs based system (not diagnosis-based system)

·      Understanding that everyone needs different things and accommodations, not just those with

·      Removing neuro-normative standards and expectations

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Podcast Homepage


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2118 yes Liability Hot Potato: Defensive Therapy practices that give clients inadequate care Liability Hot Potato: Defensive Therapy practices that give clients inadequate care Curt and Katie chat about defensive therapy practices. We talk about how therapists avoid liability by practicing defensively, which can harm our clients. We look at common defensive therapy practices, like refusing to see clients with certain types of risk or too quickly hospitalizing someone. We explore the risks to our clients when we practice this way and how we can navigate risk to avoid practicing defensively. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapists minimizing their own liability without benefitting their clients Therapists facing difficult decisions in therapeutic treatment are presented with the competing tasks of providing quality care to clients while also trying to minimize their legal risks. This can lead to therapists who may choose courses of action that do not benefit clients while doing things to protect the therapist. This podcourse explores the types of defensive practices that therapists take, how to recognize them, what steps can be done to protect therapists, and how to maximize client outcomes. What are defensive therapy practices? ·       Actions taken by a therapist that don’t benefit the client, but are done to protect the legal liability of the therapist ·       Avoidant versus Assurant defensive therapy practices ·       Responding to very scary law and ethics classes ·       Avoiding lawyers and subpoenas What are examples of Defensive Therapy practices? ·       Avoidant: Avoiding talking about anything that is even related to things outside of our scope of practice (e.g., medical or legal advice); refusing to see clients with specific types of risk ·       Assurant: Sending clients to the hospital quickly based on risk rather than on treatment efficacy, over-reporting abuse and engaging clients with systems ·       Therapists are employing defensive therapy practices when making sure to shift liability elsewhere How do I navigate the risk that often leads to defensive therapy practices? ·       Make clear the limitations on your knowledge, but respond to questions and needs in the best way you can, referring to experts as appropriate ·       Prescriptive Assurant practices (taking action based on laws, rules, and/or ethical decision-making) ·       Documentation of ethical decision-making process and the decision and actions made ·       Documentation of the conversations with the client related to the action or inaction ·       Also, documentation of the ongoing evaluation procedure for the action taken Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 26 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Liability Hot Potato: Defensive Therapy practices that give clients inadequate care full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about defensive therapy practices. We talk about how therapists avoid liability by practicing defensively, which can harm our clients. We look at common defensive therapy practices, like refusing to see clients with certain types of risk or too quickly hospitalizing someone. We explore the risks to our clients when we practice this way and how we can navigate risk to avoid practicing defensively. This is a continuing education podcourse. Liability Hot Potato: Defensive Therapy practices that give clients inadequate care Curt and Katie chat about defensive therapy practices. We talk about how therapists avoid liability by practicing defensively, which can harm our clients. We look at common defensive therapy practices, like refusing to see clients with certain types of risk or too quickly hospitalizing someone. We explore the risks to our clients when we practice this way and how we can navigate risk to avoid practicing defensively. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapists minimizing their own liability without benefitting their clients Therapists facing difficult decisions in therapeutic treatment are presented with the competing tasks of providing quality care to clients while also trying to minimize their legal risks. This can lead to therapists who may choose courses of action that do not benefit clients while doing things to protect the therapist. This podcourse explores the types of defensive practices that therapists take, how to recognize them, what steps can be done to protect therapists, and how to maximize client outcomes. What are defensive therapy practices? ·       Actions taken by a therapist that don’t benefit the client, but are done to protect the legal liability of the therapist ·       Avoidant versus Assurant defensive therapy practices ·       Responding to very scary law and ethics classes ·       Avoiding lawyers and subpoenas What are examples of Defensive Therapy practices? ·       Avoidant: Avoiding talking about anything that is even related to things outside of our scope of practice (e.g., medical or legal advice); refusing to see clients with specific types of risk ·       Assurant: Sending clients to the hospital quickly based on risk rather than on treatment efficacy, over-reporting abuse and engaging clients with systems ·       Therapists are employing defensive therapy practices when making sure to shift liability elsewhere How do I navigate the risk that often leads to defensive therapy practices? ·       Make clear the limitations on your knowledge, but respond to questions and needs in the best way you can, referring to experts as appropriate ·       Prescriptive Assurant practices (taking action based on laws, rules, and/or ethical decision-making) ·       Documentation of ethical decision-making process and the decision and actions made ·       Documentation of the conversations with the client related to the action or inaction ·       Also, documentation of the ongoing evaluation procedure for the action taken Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Liability Hot Potato: Defensive Therapy practices that give clients inadequate care

Curt and Katie chat about defensive therapy practices. We talk about how therapists avoid liability by practicing defensively, which can harm our clients. We look at common defensive therapy practices, like refusing to see clients with certain types of risk or too quickly hospitalizing someone. We explore the risks to our clients when we practice this way and how we can navigate risk to avoid practicing defensively. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about therapists minimizing their own liability without benefitting their clients

Therapists facing difficult decisions in therapeutic treatment are presented with the competing tasks of providing quality care to clients while also trying to minimize their legal risks. This can lead to therapists who may choose courses of action that do not benefit clients while doing things to protect the therapist. This podcourse explores the types of defensive practices that therapists take, how to recognize them, what steps can be done to protect therapists, and how to maximize client outcomes.

What are defensive therapy practices?

·       Actions taken by a therapist that don’t benefit the client, but are done to protect the legal liability of the therapist

·       Avoidant versus Assurant defensive therapy practices

·       Responding to very scary law and ethics classes

·       Avoiding lawyers and subpoenas

What are examples of Defensive Therapy practices?

·       Avoidant: Avoiding talking about anything that is even related to things outside of our scope of practice (e.g., medical or legal advice); refusing to see clients with specific types of risk

·       Assurant: Sending clients to the hospital quickly based on risk rather than on treatment efficacy, over-reporting abuse and engaging clients with systems

·       Therapists are employing defensive therapy practices when making sure to shift liability elsewhere

How do I navigate the risk that often leads to defensive therapy practices?

·       Make clear the limitations on your knowledge, but respond to questions and needs in the best way you can, referring to experts as appropriate

·       Prescriptive Assurant practices (taking action based on laws, rules, and/or ethical decision-making)

·       Documentation of ethical decision-making process and the decision and actions made

·       Documentation of the conversations with the client related to the action or inaction

·       Also, documentation of the ongoing evaluation procedure for the action taken

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals:

When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 3995 Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Thrizer Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Thrizer Curt and Katie talk with Raunak Sharma, owner of Thrizer, a modern payment processing app for private pay therapists. Thrizer is a modern payments solution built for therapists. You can charge clients securely, receive payments seamlessly, and enable insurance reimbursements automatically. We chat with Raunak about Thrizer as well as his perspective on the finances of therapy, specifically out of network billing. We explore the challenges (and ineffectiveness) of super bills as well as a new solution (ThrizerPlus) that will help clients only pay what they owe. This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients. Transcripts will be available on mtsgpodcast.com. Interview with Raunak Sharma, Founder and CEO of Thrizer Raunak is the Founder and CEO of Thrizer, a payments app for private pay therapists. A therapy-goer himself, he got tired of the struggle to leverage his out-of-network benefits and get reimbursed for his sessions, and wanted to build a solution to help both therapists and their clients. Thousands of therapists now use Thrizer daily to securely charge for appointments and upgrade their client experience. In this podcast episode we talk about out of network billing and payment processing with Thrizer Interview with Raunak Sharma, Thrizer 2:04 How did you decide to create Thrizer? How did you put together the business? 3:08 What are the values that guide your business and business decisions? 4:51 When therapists are putting together their private pay practice, what should they consider when designing their financial systems? (i.e., Private pay, Insurance-based, Out of network billing) 8:14 What does out of network billing involve? 10:34 What does out of network billing look like when using Thrizer? 12:59 What kind of out of network rates are people getting? 15:33 How often are clients wanting and able to use their out of network benefits? 18:49 How does Thrizer work? 21:22 How do you actually have enough information to create a claim? 24:22 How can you make a profit if you are only charging the 3% processing fee? 26:40 What is ThrizerPlus? 31:21 What makes Thrizer different than other payment processors and/or other out of network billers? 32:40 What’s still a work in progress at Thrizer? 34:04 Special offer from Thrizer for our Modern Therapist audience Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of Thrizer 36:19 What do you see as the deciding factors when deciding whether to use Thrizer for payment processing and out of network billing (or not)? A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from Thrizer Go to bit.ly/moderntherapists and use the code MODERNTHERAPISTS for free payment processing on your first $2,500 of payments. Relevant Links: Thrizer Website Email: Raunak at thrizer.com Social Media: Thrizer on Instagram Thrizer on Facebook Thrizer on LinkedIn Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Thrizer full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk with Raunak Sharma, owner of Thrizer, a modern payment processing app for private pay therapists. Thrizer is a modern payments solution built for therapists. You can charge clients securely, receive payments seamlessly, and enable insurance reimbursements automatically. We chat with Raunak about Thrizer as well as his perspective on the finances of therapy, specifically out of network billing. We explore the challenges (and ineffectiveness) of super bills as well as a new solution (ThrizerPlus) that will help clients only pay what they owe. Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Thrizer Curt and Katie talk with Raunak Sharma, owner of Thrizer, a modern payment processing app for private pay therapists. Thrizer is a modern payments solution built for therapists. You can charge clients securely, receive payments seamlessly, and enable insurance reimbursements automatically. We chat with Raunak about Thrizer as well as his perspective on the finances of therapy, specifically out of network billing. We explore the challenges (and ineffectiveness) of super bills as well as a new solution (ThrizerPlus) that will help clients only pay what they owe. This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients. Transcripts will be available on mtsgpodcast.com. Interview with Raunak Sharma, Founder and CEO of Thrizer Raunak is the Founder and CEO of Thrizer, a payments app for private pay therapists. A therapy-goer himself, he got tired of the struggle to leverage his out-of-network benefits and get reimbursed for his sessions, and wanted to build a solution to help both therapists and their clients. Thousands of therapists now use Thrizer daily to securely charge for appointments and upgrade their client experience. In this podcast episode we talk about out of network billing and payment processing with Thrizer Interview with Raunak Sharma, Thrizer 2:04 How did you decide to create Thrizer? How did you put together the business? 3:08 What are the values that guide your business and business decisions? 4:51 When therapists are putting together their private pay practice, what should they consider when designing their financial systems? (i.e., Private pay, Insurance-based, Out of network billing) 8:14 What does out of network billing involve? 10:34 What does out of network billing look like when using Thrizer? 12:59 What kind of out of network rates are people getting? 15:33 How often are clients wanting and able to use their out of network benefits? 18:49 How does Thrizer work? 21:22 How do you actually have enough information to create a claim? 24:22 How can you make a profit if you are only charging the 3% processing fee? 26:40 What is ThrizerPlus? 31:21 What makes Thrizer different than other payment processors and/or other out of network billers? 32:40 What’s still a work in progress at Thrizer? 34:04 Special offer from Thrizer for our Modern Therapist audience Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of Thrizer 36:19 What do you see as the deciding factors when deciding whether to use Thrizer for payment processing and out of network billing (or not)? A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from Thrizer Go to bit.ly/moderntherapists and use the code MODERNTHERAPISTS for free payment processing on your first $2,500 of payments. Relevant Links: Thrizer Website Email: Raunak at thrizer.com Social Media: Thrizer on Instagram Thrizer on Facebook Thrizer on LinkedIn Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Thrizer

Curt and Katie talk with Raunak Sharma, owner of Thrizer, a modern payment processing app for private pay therapists. Thrizer is a modern payments solution built for therapists. You can charge clients securely, receive payments seamlessly, and enable insurance reimbursements automatically. We chat with Raunak about Thrizer as well as his perspective on the finances of therapy, specifically out of network billing. We explore the challenges (and ineffectiveness) of super bills as well as a new solution (ThrizerPlus) that will help clients only pay what they owe.

This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients.

Transcripts will be available on mtsgpodcast.com.

Interview with Raunak Sharma, Founder and CEO of Thrizer

Raunak is the Founder and CEO of Thrizer, a payments app for private pay therapists. A therapy-goer himself, he got tired of the struggle to leverage his out-of-network benefits and get reimbursed for his sessions, and wanted to build a solution to help both therapists and their clients. Thousands of therapists now use Thrizer daily to securely charge for appointments and upgrade their client experience.

In this podcast episode we talk about out of network billing and payment processing with Thrizer

Interview with Raunak Sharma, Thrizer

2:04 How did you decide to create Thrizer? How did you put together the business?

3:08 What are the values that guide your business and business decisions?

4:51 When therapists are putting together their private pay practice, what should they consider when designing their financial systems? (i.e., Private pay, Insurance-based, Out of network billing)

8:14 What does out of network billing involve?

10:34 What does out of network billing look like when using Thrizer?

12:59 What kind of out of network rates are people getting?

15:33 How often are clients wanting and able to use their out of network benefits?

18:49 How does Thrizer work?

21:22 How do you actually have enough information to create a claim?

24:22 How can you make a profit if you are only charging the 3% processing fee?

26:40 What is ThrizerPlus?

31:21 What makes Thrizer different than other payment processors and/or other out of network billers?

32:40 What’s still a work in progress at Thrizer?

34:04 Special offer from Thrizer for our Modern Therapist audience

Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of Thrizer

36:19 What do you see as the deciding factors when deciding whether to use Thrizer for payment processing and out of network billing (or not)?


A Special Offer for the listeners of Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast from Thrizer

Go to bit.ly/moderntherapists and use the code MODERNTHERAPISTS for free payment processing on your first $2,500 of payments.

Relevant Links:

Thrizer Website

Email: Raunak at thrizer.com

Social Media:

Thrizer on Instagram

Thrizer on Facebook

Thrizer on LinkedIn


Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/


Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2561 How to Provide Culturally Appropriate Care for African American Families: An interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW How to Provide Culturally Appropriate Care for African American Families, An Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, about working with African American Families. We talk about what therapists typically get wrong when working with these families, what therapists need to know about working with African American families, how to work cross culturally, and how both conscious and unconscious bias impact therapy. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can work with African American families more effectively Our friend, Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, is researching how therapists can best support African American families. She is looking at how these clients are treated and how they traverse the mental health system to get healing. What do therapists get wrong when working with African American Families? ·      Therapists will apply therapy universally to diverse groups that require nuance and different interventions ·      Therapists don't understand enough about African American families to understand the differences What do therapists need to know about African American families? ·      There are differences between “Black” and “African American” ·      The impacts of the transatlantic slave trade ·      Cultural differences based on which country one is living in as well as how one travels as a human in their country of residence How can therapists work cross-culturally with African American families? ·      Specialized training like Mercedes’ training: Engaging African American Families ·      Work with people who have expertise ·      Google alerts for ·      Understanding how you show up in the world, create an identity statement for all of the identities you have that are relevant to you, your social location ·      Talking about conscious and unconscious bias and identities throughout the therapy process ·      Understanding generational differences How do conscious and unconscious bias impact therapy? ·      What we know we don’t like about people (conscious) ·      What may influence us from before we understand labels and differences ·      Prejudices that influence how we show up in the therapy room can cause conflict ·      Explore the conflict, explore the potential biases ·      Use tentative language (I wonder if this is showing up here or impacting our relationship) ·      Understanding how your identity often shows up socially can provide the therapist with fodder for exploring what bias may be present in the room What are best practices for working with African American families? ·      Genograms are helpful to explore how everything impacts the family members and who they say are included in their families ·      Understanding how these families fit within their communities and who is involved with each of these families Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! https://shameproofparenting.com/ Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 19 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0000 How to Provide Culturally Appropriate Care for African American Families, An Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, about working with African American Families. We talk about what therapists typically get wrong when working with these families, what therapists need to know about working with African American families, how to work cross culturally, and how both conscious and unconscious bias impact therapy. How to Provide Culturally Appropriate Care for African American Families, An Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, about working with African American Families. We talk about what therapists typically get wrong when working with these families, what therapists need to know about working with African American families, how to work cross culturally, and how both conscious and unconscious bias impact therapy. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can work with African American families more effectively Our friend, Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, is researching how therapists can best support African American families. She is looking at how these clients are treated and how they traverse the mental health system to get healing. What do therapists get wrong when working with African American Families? ·      Therapists will apply therapy universally to diverse groups that require nuance and different interventions ·      Therapists don't understand enough about African American families to understand the differences What do therapists need to know about African American families? ·      There are differences between “Black” and “African American” ·      The impacts of the transatlantic slave trade ·      Cultural differences based on which country one is living in as well as how one travels as a human in their country of residence How can therapists work cross-culturally with African American families? ·      Specialized training like Mercedes’ training: Engaging African American Families ·      Work with people who have expertise ·      Google alerts for ·      Understanding how you show up in the world, create an identity statement for all of the identities you have that are relevant to you, your social location ·      Talking about conscious and unconscious bias and identities throughout the therapy process ·      Understanding generational differences How do conscious and unconscious bias impact therapy? ·      What we know we don’t like about people (conscious) ·      What may influence us from before we understand labels and differences ·      Prejudices that influence how we show up in the therapy room can cause conflict ·      Explore the conflict, explore the potential biases ·      Use tentative language (I wonder if this is showing up here or impacting our relationship) ·      Understanding how your identity often shows up socially can provide the therapist with fodder for exploring what bias may be present in the room What are best practices for working with African American families? ·      Genograms are helpful to explore how everything impacts the family members and who they say are included in their families ·      Understanding how these families fit within their communities and who is involved with each of these families Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! https://shameproofparenting.com/ Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   How to Provide Culturally Appropriate Care for African American Families, An Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, about working with African American Families. We talk about what therapists typically get wrong when working with these families, what therapists need to know about working with African American families, how to work cross culturally, and how both conscious and unconscious bias impact therapy.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can work with African American families more effectively

Our friend, Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, is researching how therapists can best support African American families. She is looking at how these clients are treated and how they traverse the mental health system to get healing.

What do therapists get wrong when working with African American Families?

·      Therapists will apply therapy universally to diverse groups that require nuance and different interventions

·      Therapists don't understand enough about African American families to understand the differences

What do therapists need to know about African American families?

·      There are differences between “Black” and “African American”

·      The impacts of the transatlantic slave trade

·      Cultural differences based on which country one is living in as well as how one travels as a human in their country of residence

How can therapists work cross-culturally with African American families?

·      Specialized training like Mercedes’ training: Engaging African American Families

·      Work with people who have expertise

·      Google alerts for

·      Understanding how you show up in the world, create an identity statement for all of the identities you have that are relevant to you, your social location

·      Talking about conscious and unconscious bias and identities throughout the therapy process

·      Understanding generational differences

How do conscious and unconscious bias impact therapy?

·      What we know we don’t like about people (conscious)

·      What may influence us from before we understand labels and differences

·      Prejudices that influence how we show up in the therapy room can cause conflict

·      Explore the conflict, explore the potential biases

·      Use tentative language (I wonder if this is showing up here or impacting our relationship)

·      Understanding how your identity often shows up socially can provide the therapist with fodder for exploring what bias may be present in the room

What are best practices for working with African American families?

·      Genograms are helpful to explore how everything impacts the family members and who they say are included in their families

·      Understanding how these families fit within their communities and who is involved with each of these families

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

https://shameproofparenting.com/


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 2152 The Future is Now! Chatbots are Replacing Mental Health Workers The Future Is Now: Chatbots are Replacing Mental Health Workers Curt and Katie chat about what happened with the National Eating Disorder Association and their chatbot, Tessa, as well as new prompts to make ChatGPT act like a CBT therapist. We also look at the risks related to chatbots taking over mental health and crisis services. We also discuss what therapists can do to safeguard their practices in the wake of the robot revolution. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about Tessa, the chatbot replacing NEDA hotline workers After their hotline workers unionized, National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) fired all of their hotline workers and replaced that service with Tessa, an AI chatbot. This chatbot quickly started telling folks seeking eating disorder assistance that dieting could be a good idea. There are already prompts folks are using to have ChatGPT act as your therapist. We decided we needed to talk about how the chatbots are coming for our jobs. What happened with National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and Tessa? ·      The hotline workers unionized and were fired by the association and replaced with Tessa ·      Tessa is a prevention chatbot that was created to provide support to folk waiting for resources ·      Tessa was launched and when tried, provided harmful advice, and then was taken down ·      Now there is no crisis hotline or back up chat support offered by NEDA What is the Tessa Chatbot? ·      An evidence-based practice was redesigned as conversations ·      Writing prompts and infographics to break up the text ·      Studies were done to see how it works and to fix some of the errors What are the risks related to chatbots taking over mental health services? ·      There are now instructions for prompts to have ChatGPT act as a CBT therapist ·      As people interact with chatbots, they will add to the dataset, theoretically improving it ·      The concerns about the iterations, if unchecked, will become more and more harmful as it adopts human disordered thinking and language ·      Evidence-based practices are prime to be put into chatbots ·      The utility of the resources that chatbots can provide (including coping strategies and writing prompts) What can therapists do to address the concerns of the robot revolution? ·      Understand the technology and pay attention to the innovation process ·      Look at where AI may not be able to replace immediately, focus your attention there in developing your skills ·      Intuitive leaps that humans make that AI may find too risky ·      Higher level risk assessment and more challenging diagnoses may be reserved for humans Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 12 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0000 The Future is Now! Chatbots are Replacing Mental Health Workers full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about what happened with the National Eating Disorder Association and their chatbot, Tessa, as well as new prompts to make ChatGPT act like a CBT therapist. We also look at the risks related to chatbots taking over mental health and crisis services. We also discuss what therapists can do to safeguard their practices in the wake of the robot revolution. The Future Is Now: Chatbots are Replacing Mental Health Workers Curt and Katie chat about what happened with the National Eating Disorder Association and their chatbot, Tessa, as well as new prompts to make ChatGPT act like a CBT therapist. We also look at the risks related to chatbots taking over mental health and crisis services. We also discuss what therapists can do to safeguard their practices in the wake of the robot revolution. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about Tessa, the chatbot replacing NEDA hotline workers After their hotline workers unionized, National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) fired all of their hotline workers and replaced that service with Tessa, an AI chatbot. This chatbot quickly started telling folks seeking eating disorder assistance that dieting could be a good idea. There are already prompts folks are using to have ChatGPT act as your therapist. We decided we needed to talk about how the chatbots are coming for our jobs. What happened with National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and Tessa? ·      The hotline workers unionized and were fired by the association and replaced with Tessa ·      Tessa is a prevention chatbot that was created to provide support to folk waiting for resources ·      Tessa was launched and when tried, provided harmful advice, and then was taken down ·      Now there is no crisis hotline or back up chat support offered by NEDA What is the Tessa Chatbot? ·      An evidence-based practice was redesigned as conversations ·      Writing prompts and infographics to break up the text ·      Studies were done to see how it works and to fix some of the errors What are the risks related to chatbots taking over mental health services? ·      There are now instructions for prompts to have ChatGPT act as a CBT therapist ·      As people interact with chatbots, they will add to the dataset, theoretically improving it ·      The concerns about the iterations, if unchecked, will become more and more harmful as it adopts human disordered thinking and language ·      Evidence-based practices are prime to be put into chatbots ·      The utility of the resources that chatbots can provide (including coping strategies and writing prompts) What can therapists do to address the concerns of the robot revolution? ·      Understand the technology and pay attention to the innovation process ·      Look at where AI may not be able to replace immediately, focus your attention there in developing your skills ·      Intuitive leaps that humans make that AI may find too risky ·      Higher level risk assessment and more challenging diagnoses may be reserved for humans Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   The Future Is Now: Chatbots are Replacing Mental Health Workers

Curt and Katie chat about what happened with the National Eating Disorder Association and their chatbot, Tessa, as well as new prompts to make ChatGPT act like a CBT therapist. We also look at the risks related to chatbots taking over mental health and crisis services. We also discuss what therapists can do to safeguard their practices in the wake of the robot revolution.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about Tessa, the chatbot replacing NEDA hotline workers

After their hotline workers unionized, National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) fired all of their hotline workers and replaced that service with Tessa, an AI chatbot. This chatbot quickly started telling folks seeking eating disorder assistance that dieting could be a good idea. There are already prompts folks are using to have ChatGPT act as your therapist. We decided we needed to talk about how the chatbots are coming for our jobs.

What happened with National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and Tessa?

·      The hotline workers unionized and were fired by the association and replaced with Tessa

·      Tessa is a prevention chatbot that was created to provide support to folk waiting for resources

·      Tessa was launched and when tried, provided harmful advice, and then was taken down

·      Now there is no crisis hotline or back up chat support offered by NEDA

What is the Tessa Chatbot?

·      An evidence-based practice was redesigned as conversations

·      Writing prompts and infographics to break up the text

·      Studies were done to see how it works and to fix some of the errors

What are the risks related to chatbots taking over mental health services?

·      There are now instructions for prompts to have ChatGPT act as a CBT therapist

·      As people interact with chatbots, they will add to the dataset, theoretically improving it

·      The concerns about the iterations, if unchecked, will become more and more harmful as it adopts human disordered thinking and language

·      Evidence-based practices are prime to be put into chatbots

·      The utility of the resources that chatbots can provide (including coping strategies and writing prompts)

What can therapists do to address the concerns of the robot revolution?

·      Understand the technology and pay attention to the innovation process

·      Look at where AI may not be able to replace immediately, focus your attention there in developing your skills

·      Intuitive leaps that humans make that AI may find too risky

·      Higher level risk assessment and more challenging diagnoses may be reserved for humans


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/


 

]]> 2328 The Sky is Falling: How Therapists Can Protect Our Industry, Patient-Centered Care, and Our Businesses, An Interview with Dr. Ajita Robinson The Sky is Falling: How Therapists Can Protect Our Industry, Patient-Centered Care, and Our Businesses, An Interview with Dr. Ajita Robinson Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ajita Robinson about innovation within the mental health industry that could threaten therapists in private practice. We chat about Value Based Care in insurance, insurance credentialing companies, and big tech disruptors. We also talk with Dr. Ajita (an income strategist) about ways that therapists can diversify their income leveraging both their license AND their knowledge, to try to mitigate these risks to our businesses. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can protect our profession With the changes to our industry, we thought it would be important to talk with Dr. Ajita Robinson, an income strategist and insurance expert, about how therapists can weather the storm.  What are the threats to the mental health industry? ·      Big tech companies innovating in our space, with a focus on efficiency ·      Value-based insurance billing ·      Credentialing and billing services (like Alma and Headway) moving us out of direct communication with insurance companies How can therapists leverage their skills for alternative revenue streams? ·      Understanding what other types of services can therapists provide ·      Clarifying when we’re leveraging our knowledge versus leveraging our license ·      Identifying problems that we’re best situated to solve ·      Entering the self-help industry How can therapists get started when they are ready to leverage alternative revenue? ·      Identifying the problem you solve rather than the transformation you want to provide ·      Understanding what your target client has already tried ·      Knowing what the barriers are for them to solve their problem ·      Clarifying who is the customer and who is the consumer ·      Contracting with schools, cities, etc. is possible for therapists to increase income ·      Accessing resources and experts to help you do what you need to do ·      Distinguishing when to start a separate business Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Ajita’s website Dr. Ajita Robinson’s book: The Gift Of Grief: A Practical Guide On Grief And Loss​ Facebook: facebook.com/drajita Instagram: instagram.com/dr.ajitarobinson LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ajitarobinson Facebook group: Purposeful & Profitable Therapist Community Purposeful and Profitable Summit in July Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Private Practice Planning for the Future of Mental Healthcare: An interview with Maureen Werrbach Post-Pandemic Practice Is AI Smart for Your Therapy Practice? Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 05 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0000 The Sky is Falling: How Therapists Can Protect Our Industry, Patient-Centered Care, and Our Businesses, An Interview with Dr. Ajita Robinson full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ajita Robinson about innovation within the mental health industry that could threaten therapists in private practice. We chat about Value Based Care in insurance, insurance credentialing companies, and big tech disruptors. We also talk with Dr. Ajita (an income strategist) about ways that therapists can diversify their income leveraging both their license AND their knowledge, to try to mitigate these risks to our businesses. The Sky is Falling: How Therapists Can Protect Our Industry, Patient-Centered Care, and Our Businesses, An Interview with Dr. Ajita Robinson Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ajita Robinson about innovation within the mental health industry that could threaten therapists in private practice. We chat about Value Based Care in insurance, insurance credentialing companies, and big tech disruptors. We also talk with Dr. Ajita (an income strategist) about ways that therapists can diversify their income leveraging both their license AND their knowledge, to try to mitigate these risks to our businesses. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can protect our profession With the changes to our industry, we thought it would be important to talk with Dr. Ajita Robinson, an income strategist and insurance expert, about how therapists can weather the storm.  What are the threats to the mental health industry? ·      Big tech companies innovating in our space, with a focus on efficiency ·      Value-based insurance billing ·      Credentialing and billing services (like Alma and Headway) moving us out of direct communication with insurance companies How can therapists leverage their skills for alternative revenue streams? ·      Understanding what other types of services can therapists provide ·      Clarifying when we’re leveraging our knowledge versus leveraging our license ·      Identifying problems that we’re best situated to solve ·      Entering the self-help industry How can therapists get started when they are ready to leverage alternative revenue? ·      Identifying the problem you solve rather than the transformation you want to provide ·      Understanding what your target client has already tried ·      Knowing what the barriers are for them to solve their problem ·      Clarifying who is the customer and who is the consumer ·      Contracting with schools, cities, etc. is possible for therapists to increase income ·      Accessing resources and experts to help you do what you need to do ·      Distinguishing when to start a separate business Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Ajita’s website Dr. Ajita Robinson’s book: The Gift Of Grief: A Practical Guide On Grief And Loss​ Facebook: facebook.com/drajita Instagram: instagram.com/dr.ajitarobinson LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ajitarobinson Facebook group: Purposeful & Profitable Therapist Community Purposeful and Profitable Summit in July Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Private Practice Planning for the Future of Mental Healthcare: An interview with Maureen Werrbach Post-Pandemic Practice Is AI Smart for Your Therapy Practice? Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   The Sky is Falling: How Therapists Can Protect Our Industry, Patient-Centered Care, and Our Businesses, An Interview with Dr. Ajita Robinson

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ajita Robinson about innovation within the mental health industry that could threaten therapists in private practice. We chat about Value Based Care in insurance, insurance credentialing companies, and big tech disruptors. We also talk with Dr. Ajita (an income strategist) about ways that therapists can diversify their income leveraging both their license AND their knowledge, to try to mitigate these risks to our businesses.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can protect our profession

With the changes to our industry, we thought it would be important to talk with Dr. Ajita Robinson, an income strategist and insurance expert, about how therapists can weather the storm. 

What are the threats to the mental health industry?

·      Big tech companies innovating in our space, with a focus on efficiency

·      Value-based insurance billing

·      Credentialing and billing services (like Alma and Headway) moving us out of direct communication with insurance companies

How can therapists leverage their skills for alternative revenue streams?

·      Understanding what other types of services can therapists provide

·      Clarifying when we’re leveraging our knowledge versus leveraging our license

·      Identifying problems that we’re best situated to solve

·      Entering the self-help industry

How can therapists get started when they are ready to leverage alternative revenue?

·      Identifying the problem you solve rather than the transformation you want to provide

·      Understanding what your target client has already tried

·      Knowing what the barriers are for them to solve their problem

·      Clarifying who is the customer and who is the consumer

·      Contracting with schools, cities, etc. is possible for therapists to increase income

·      Accessing resources and experts to help you do what you need to do

·      Distinguishing when to start a separate business

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Dr. Ajita’s website

Dr. Ajita Robinson’s book: The Gift Of Grief: A Practical Guide On Grief And Loss​

Facebook: facebook.com/drajita

Instagram: instagram.com/dr.ajitarobinson

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ajitarobinson

Facebook group: Purposeful & Profitable Therapist Community

Purposeful and Profitable Summit in July


Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Private Practice Planning for the Future of Mental Healthcare: An interview with Maureen Werrbach

Post-Pandemic Practice

Is AI Smart for Your Therapy Practice?


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 2130 How Do Therapists Develop? How Do Therapists Develop? Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can be rigid in their thinking at times and then seem to be performing mental gymnastics at other times. We look at the developmental stages of therapists (drawing from William Perry’s work) and identify where therapists get stuck, where they often regress, rebel, or sink into compliance. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about what typical development looks like for therapists Therapists go through developmental stages just like everyone else. We thought it would be good to look at how therapists can get stuck in rigidity (or do mental gymnastics) at early stages of development. How can therapists be both rigid AND do mental gymnastics? ·      Therapists employ mental gymnastics when they are trying to put together conflicting ideas and solve all of the problems in the field, individually ·      Rigidity can happen when people have “figured out” their own choices and believe that everyone should do what they do ·      Under-resourced and under-motivated folks can often get very rigid How do William Perry’s developmental stages apply to therapist development? ·      First stage is dualism (i.e., right or wrong), everything is fixable or solvable (grad school students wanting to know what to do) ·      Second stage is about finding the right authority to listen to (i.e., sticking very tightly to a specific modality) ·      Third stage, early multiplicity, which is getting to the stage where therapists start to know what they don’t know ·      Fourth stage, late multiplicity, most problems have solutions we don’t know, people can have their own opinions, and some problems can’t be solved. This is a very uncomfortable stage. ·      There are additional stages mentioned in the episode, we focus on Stage 4 ·      When people get stuck at stage 4, they are likely to regress to early stages (and become more rigid) or they are likely to rebel, or play the game What are the concerns with therapists at earlier stages not moving through to later stages? ·      Therapist Facebook groups may support stage 4 and earlier therapists providing dualistic or simplistic questions and answers leading to shortsighted ·      Difficulty looking at any opposing voices due to rigidity or rebellion or compliance How can therapists avoid rigidity in their thinking (or rebellion, or compliance)? ·      Providing space to understand the options ·      Employing critical thinking ·      Deeper thought about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it ·      Explore context and have conversations with folks further along in their development Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! William Perry’s Scheme of Intellectual and Mental Development Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 29 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000 How Do Therapists Develop? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can be rigid in their thinking at times and then seem to be performing mental gymnastics at other times. We look at the developmental stages of therapists (drawing from William Perry’s work) and identify where therapists get stuck, where they often regress, rebel, or sink into compliance. How Do Therapists Develop? Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can be rigid in their thinking at times and then seem to be performing mental gymnastics at other times. We look at the developmental stages of therapists (drawing from William Perry’s work) and identify where therapists get stuck, where they often regress, rebel, or sink into compliance. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about what typical development looks like for therapists Therapists go through developmental stages just like everyone else. We thought it would be good to look at how therapists can get stuck in rigidity (or do mental gymnastics) at early stages of development. How can therapists be both rigid AND do mental gymnastics? ·      Therapists employ mental gymnastics when they are trying to put together conflicting ideas and solve all of the problems in the field, individually ·      Rigidity can happen when people have “figured out” their own choices and believe that everyone should do what they do ·      Under-resourced and under-motivated folks can often get very rigid How do William Perry’s developmental stages apply to therapist development? ·      First stage is dualism (i.e., right or wrong), everything is fixable or solvable (grad school students wanting to know what to do) ·      Second stage is about finding the right authority to listen to (i.e., sticking very tightly to a specific modality) ·      Third stage, early multiplicity, which is getting to the stage where therapists start to know what they don’t know ·      Fourth stage, late multiplicity, most problems have solutions we don’t know, people can have their own opinions, and some problems can’t be solved. This is a very uncomfortable stage. ·      There are additional stages mentioned in the episode, we focus on Stage 4 ·      When people get stuck at stage 4, they are likely to regress to early stages (and become more rigid) or they are likely to rebel, or play the game What are the concerns with therapists at earlier stages not moving through to later stages? ·      Therapist Facebook groups may support stage 4 and earlier therapists providing dualistic or simplistic questions and answers leading to shortsighted ·      Difficulty looking at any opposing voices due to rigidity or rebellion or compliance How can therapists avoid rigidity in their thinking (or rebellion, or compliance)? ·      Providing space to understand the options ·      Employing critical thinking ·      Deeper thought about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it ·      Explore context and have conversations with folks further along in their development Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! William Perry’s Scheme of Intellectual and Mental Development Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Do Therapists Develop?

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can be rigid in their thinking at times and then seem to be performing mental gymnastics at other times. We look at the developmental stages of therapists (drawing from William Perry’s work) and identify where therapists get stuck, where they often regress, rebel, or sink into compliance.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about what typical development looks like for therapists

Therapists go through developmental stages just like everyone else. We thought it would be good to look at how therapists can get stuck in rigidity (or do mental gymnastics) at early stages of development.

How can therapists be both rigid AND do mental gymnastics?

·      Therapists employ mental gymnastics when they are trying to put together conflicting ideas and solve all of the problems in the field, individually

·      Rigidity can happen when people have “figured out” their own choices and believe that everyone should do what they do

·      Under-resourced and under-motivated folks can often get very rigid

How do William Perry’s developmental stages apply to therapist development?

·      First stage is dualism (i.e., right or wrong), everything is fixable or solvable (grad school students wanting to know what to do)

·      Second stage is about finding the right authority to listen to (i.e., sticking very tightly to a specific modality)

·      Third stage, early multiplicity, which is getting to the stage where therapists start to know what they don’t know

·      Fourth stage, late multiplicity, most problems have solutions we don’t know, people can have their own opinions, and some problems can’t be solved. This is a very uncomfortable stage.

·      There are additional stages mentioned in the episode, we focus on Stage 4

·      When people get stuck at stage 4, they are likely to regress to early stages (and become more rigid) or they are likely to rebel, or play the game

What are the concerns with therapists at earlier stages not moving through to later stages?

·      Therapist Facebook groups may support stage 4 and earlier therapists providing dualistic or simplistic questions and answers leading to shortsighted

·      Difficulty looking at any opposing voices due to rigidity or rebellion or compliance

How can therapists avoid rigidity in their thinking (or rebellion, or compliance)?

·      Providing space to understand the options

·      Employing critical thinking

·      Deeper thought about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it

·      Explore context and have conversations with folks further along in their development

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

William Perry’s Scheme of Intellectual and Mental Development

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2285 Teaching Wisdom: Best practices for decision-making to support your clients Teaching Wisdom: Best practices for decision-making to support your clients Curt and Katie chat about decision-making best practices. We look at how we make decisions, what the decision-making process looks like, what can get in the way of effective decision-making, and how therapists can support their clients in making the best possible decisions. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can support clients in decision-making When therapists are asked “what do I do?!?” by their clients, we can often redirect our clients back and encourage them to make their own decisions. But what if we could provide them with best practices to support their decision-making process? This workshop is designed to help therapists learn more about how people typically make decisions, the cultural differences that can show up in the decision-making process, and best practices to support clients in making informed decisions. How do we make decisions? ·      We don’t often choose what is in our best interest ·      Emotions, mood, bias impact how we make decisions ·      The DBT concept of Wise Mind, is a strong space to make decision ·      Individual differences, including age, generation, family structures ·      Cultural differences, including individualistic versus collectivist, tight or loose cultures (how many norms and how strictly they are enforced), cognitive style (wholistic versus analytic) ·      Intersectionality also plays a part in how these factors can impact decision-making What does the decision-making process look like? ·      Does a decision need to be made? ·      Who/what makes this decision? ·      How is the decision? ·      How much time and energy are invested in the decision-making? ·      What are the alternatives? ·      What could happen if the decision is implemented? ·      What would happen if I make this decision? ·      What values are relevant? ·      What are the tradeoffs? ·      How acceptable is this decision to the people around me? ·      Implementation What can get in the way of effective decision-making? ·      How someone has been parented ·      Mental health concerns like anxiety ·      Cognitive biases like confirmation bias, anchoring, and availability bias ·      Misalignment with values ·      Errors from Decisive by Dan and Chip Heath: narrow framing, confirmation bias, short-term emotions, overconfidence ·      Defensive decision-making when there is a lack of resources or safety ·      Low sleep impacts both at overall cognitive and metacognitive levels What are best practices for decision-making? ·      Looking at opportunities for moral development when there are misalignments or conflicts between core values when making a decision ·      From Decisive: WRAP techniques to improve decision-making Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 22 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Teaching Wisdom: Best practices for decision-making to support your clients full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about decision-making best practices. We look at how we make decisions, what the decision-making process looks like, what can get in the way of effective decision-making, and how therapists can support their clients in making the best possible decisions. Teaching Wisdom: Best practices for decision-making to support your clients Curt and Katie chat about decision-making best practices. We look at how we make decisions, what the decision-making process looks like, what can get in the way of effective decision-making, and how therapists can support their clients in making the best possible decisions. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can support clients in decision-making When therapists are asked “what do I do?!?” by their clients, we can often redirect our clients back and encourage them to make their own decisions. But what if we could provide them with best practices to support their decision-making process? This workshop is designed to help therapists learn more about how people typically make decisions, the cultural differences that can show up in the decision-making process, and best practices to support clients in making informed decisions. How do we make decisions? ·      We don’t often choose what is in our best interest ·      Emotions, mood, bias impact how we make decisions ·      The DBT concept of Wise Mind, is a strong space to make decision ·      Individual differences, including age, generation, family structures ·      Cultural differences, including individualistic versus collectivist, tight or loose cultures (how many norms and how strictly they are enforced), cognitive style (wholistic versus analytic) ·      Intersectionality also plays a part in how these factors can impact decision-making What does the decision-making process look like? ·      Does a decision need to be made? ·      Who/what makes this decision? ·      How is the decision? ·      How much time and energy are invested in the decision-making? ·      What are the alternatives? ·      What could happen if the decision is implemented? ·      What would happen if I make this decision? ·      What values are relevant? ·      What are the tradeoffs? ·      How acceptable is this decision to the people around me? ·      Implementation What can get in the way of effective decision-making? ·      How someone has been parented ·      Mental health concerns like anxiety ·      Cognitive biases like confirmation bias, anchoring, and availability bias ·      Misalignment with values ·      Errors from Decisive by Dan and Chip Heath: narrow framing, confirmation bias, short-term emotions, overconfidence ·      Defensive decision-making when there is a lack of resources or safety ·      Low sleep impacts both at overall cognitive and metacognitive levels What are best practices for decision-making? ·      Looking at opportunities for moral development when there are misalignments or conflicts between core values when making a decision ·      From Decisive: WRAP techniques to improve decision-making Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Teaching Wisdom: Best practices for decision-making to support your clients

Curt and Katie chat about decision-making best practices. We look at how we make decisions, what the decision-making process looks like, what can get in the way of effective decision-making, and how therapists can support their clients in making the best possible decisions.

This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can support clients in decision-making

When therapists are asked “what do I do?!?” by their clients, we can often redirect our clients back and encourage them to make their own decisions. But what if we could provide them with best practices to support their decision-making process? This workshop is designed to help therapists learn more about how people typically make decisions, the cultural differences that can show up in the decision-making process, and best practices to support clients in making informed decisions.

How do we make decisions?

·      We don’t often choose what is in our best interest

·      Emotions, mood, bias impact how we make decisions

·      The DBT concept of Wise Mind, is a strong space to make decision

·      Individual differences, including age, generation, family structures

·      Cultural differences, including individualistic versus collectivist, tight or loose cultures (how many norms and how strictly they are enforced), cognitive style (wholistic versus analytic)

·      Intersectionality also plays a part in how these factors can impact decision-making

What does the decision-making process look like?

·      Does a decision need to be made?

·      Who/what makes this decision?

·      How is the decision?

·      How much time and energy are invested in the decision-making?

·      What are the alternatives?

·      What could happen if the decision is implemented?

·      What would happen if I make this decision?

·      What values are relevant?

·      What are the tradeoffs?

·      How acceptable is this decision to the people around me?

·      Implementation

What can get in the way of effective decision-making?

·      How someone has been parented

·      Mental health concerns like anxiety

·      Cognitive biases like confirmation bias, anchoring, and availability bias

·      Misalignment with values

·      Errors from Decisive by Dan and Chip Heath: narrow framing, confirmation bias, short-term emotions, overconfidence

·      Defensive decision-making when there is a lack of resources or safety

·      Low sleep impacts both at overall cognitive and metacognitive levels

What are best practices for decision-making?

·      Looking at opportunities for moral development when there are misalignments or conflicts between core values when making a decision

·      From Decisive: WRAP techniques to improve decision-making

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals:

Continuing Education Information

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4234 yes Does Your Social Media Make You Look Like a Bad Therapist? Does Your Social Media Make You Look Like a Bad Therapist? Curt and Katie chat about therapists putting out advice on social media. We look at how bad this advice can be and when it can even be harmful. We talk about what makes this advice bad and what to do instead.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapist influencers giving advice on social media We look at really bad relationship advice that seems to proliferate on social media by therapist influencers. Why is the advice oftentimes bad from therapists on social media? ·      Micro-validation of what clients are already believing about themselves or their partners ·      Lack of context and very specific related to your target client (but seen by all folks) ·      Focusing on the people around the person reading the post, rather than the reader themselves ·      Single posts that go viral or reach wider audiences may be misconstrued or taken out of context What is the potential for harm for the therapy profession? ·      Bad advice = bad therapist, which can be generalized to all therapists ·      Harmful advice can lead to harm in the wider population ·      Saying that you’re speaking for all of mental health (when it is actually not grounded in the evidence base) ·      It is hard to distill nuanced information in very short timeframes What should therapists do to improve their social media posts? ·      Citing sources rather than standing out as a sole expert ·      Grounding self in the evidence base or recognized psychological knowledge ·      Talking to clients about what they can do, rather than how to judge the people around them ·      Designing the content to be engaging, but also tie back to longer form content that can have more nuance and context ·      Each post has to stand alone, with sufficient context ·      Identifying questions or considerations for folks to look at (versus definitive statements) What are the concerns with therapists being too limited with what they share on social media? ·      Not providing information that can help folks in abusive relationships ·      Coaches and “fake therapists” may be the only people in the space, putting out even worse advice What are the characteristics of very bad social media advice? ·      Rigidity in perspective ·      Equating hurt and abuse ·      Overusing pop psychology terms like “trauma bond” ·      Giving overarching, single tactic coping advice that can be harmful for many folks ·      Putting things very definitively, without nuance related Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend Has Therapy Become the New Religion What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities: The ethics of public statements Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 15 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Does Your Social Media Make You Look Like a Bad Therapist? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about therapists putting out advice on social media. We look at how bad this advice can be and when it can even be harmful. We talk about what makes this advice bad and what to do instead. Does Your Social Media Make You Look Like a Bad Therapist? Curt and Katie chat about therapists putting out advice on social media. We look at how bad this advice can be and when it can even be harmful. We talk about what makes this advice bad and what to do instead.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapist influencers giving advice on social media We look at really bad relationship advice that seems to proliferate on social media by therapist influencers. Why is the advice oftentimes bad from therapists on social media? ·      Micro-validation of what clients are already believing about themselves or their partners ·      Lack of context and very specific related to your target client (but seen by all folks) ·      Focusing on the people around the person reading the post, rather than the reader themselves ·      Single posts that go viral or reach wider audiences may be misconstrued or taken out of context What is the potential for harm for the therapy profession? ·      Bad advice = bad therapist, which can be generalized to all therapists ·      Harmful advice can lead to harm in the wider population ·      Saying that you’re speaking for all of mental health (when it is actually not grounded in the evidence base) ·      It is hard to distill nuanced information in very short timeframes What should therapists do to improve their social media posts? ·      Citing sources rather than standing out as a sole expert ·      Grounding self in the evidence base or recognized psychological knowledge ·      Talking to clients about what they can do, rather than how to judge the people around them ·      Designing the content to be engaging, but also tie back to longer form content that can have more nuance and context ·      Each post has to stand alone, with sufficient context ·      Identifying questions or considerations for folks to look at (versus definitive statements) What are the concerns with therapists being too limited with what they share on social media? ·      Not providing information that can help folks in abusive relationships ·      Coaches and “fake therapists” may be the only people in the space, putting out even worse advice What are the characteristics of very bad social media advice? ·      Rigidity in perspective ·      Equating hurt and abuse ·      Overusing pop psychology terms like “trauma bond” ·      Giving overarching, single tactic coping advice that can be harmful for many folks ·      Putting things very definitively, without nuance related Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend Has Therapy Become the New Religion What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities: The ethics of public statements Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Does Your Social Media Make You Look Like a Bad Therapist?

Curt and Katie chat about therapists putting out advice on social media. We look at how bad this advice can be and when it can even be harmful. We talk about what makes this advice bad and what to do instead.  

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about therapist influencers giving advice on social media

We look at really bad relationship advice that seems to proliferate on social media by therapist influencers.

Why is the advice oftentimes bad from therapists on social media?

·      Micro-validation of what clients are already believing about themselves or their partners

·      Lack of context and very specific related to your target client (but seen by all folks)

·      Focusing on the people around the person reading the post, rather than the reader themselves

·      Single posts that go viral or reach wider audiences may be misconstrued or taken out of context

What is the potential for harm for the therapy profession?

·      Bad advice = bad therapist, which can be generalized to all therapists

·      Harmful advice can lead to harm in the wider population

·      Saying that you’re speaking for all of mental health (when it is actually not grounded in the evidence base)

·      It is hard to distill nuanced information in very short timeframes

What should therapists do to improve their social media posts?

·      Citing sources rather than standing out as a sole expert

·      Grounding self in the evidence base or recognized psychological knowledge

·      Talking to clients about what they can do, rather than how to judge the people around them

·      Designing the content to be engaging, but also tie back to longer form content that can have more nuance and context

·      Each post has to stand alone, with sufficient context

·      Identifying questions or considerations for folks to look at (versus definitive statements)

What are the concerns with therapists being too limited with what they share on social media?

·      Not providing information that can help folks in abusive relationships

·      Coaches and “fake therapists” may be the only people in the space, putting out even worse advice

What are the characteristics of very bad social media advice?

·      Rigidity in perspective

·      Equating hurt and abuse

·      Overusing pop psychology terms like “trauma bond”

·      Giving overarching, single tactic coping advice that can be harmful for many folks

·      Putting things very definitively, without nuance related

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend

Has Therapy Become the New Religion

What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities: The ethics of public statements


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1959 Oklahoma Bureaucrats Want Your Mental Health Records Oklahoma Bureaucrats Want Your Mental Health Records Curt and Katie chat about some Oklahoma legislation about health information exchange. We talk about what a health information exchange is, the concerns with Oklahoma’s legislation related to health information exchange, and how therapists can advocate effectively (as modern therapists in Oklahoma have done).    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about new Oklahoma legislation We look at “coordinated care” and the problems that could ensue if therapists are required to participate in the health information exchange. What are health information exchanges? ·       A central location for all health providers to chart to help with coordination of care ·       Psychotherapy notes are not required to be put into these systems, but diagnosis, treatment dates, and prescriptions seem to be required. ·       Patients can opt out of this information being shared, but it will still be stored in these databases What are the concerns with the new Oklahoma legislation related to health information exchange? ·       Oklahoma is now asking to put medical information into a system regardless of whether they are on Medicaid or any other type of service as well as for folks who are paying out of pocket ·       The price tag of connecting to this system is high ·       The confusion around whether therapists are “medical providers” or not ·       Interstate practice can be impacted What can therapists do to understand and impact legislation? ·       Acknowledge that we’re healthcare providers to stay aware of responsibilities ·       Watching legislation that is relevant ·       Being involved in your professional organization or member benefit organization, so you know that there is someone watching for these types of legislation and prepped for advocacy ·       Advocacy and activism within these orgs as well as individual and small group advocacy ·       Understanding the concerns related to lack of privacy for clients ·       All 50 states have a health information exchange, so all clinicians need to pay attention ·       Paying attention from the bill writing process all the way through implementation ·       Going to public meetings to provide feedback on implementation ·       Donate to your professional association’s Political Action Committees Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Oklahoma Providers for Privacy Keeping Oklahomans' Mental Health Records Confidential Lawmaker says concerns about Oklahoma health information exchange 'unfounded' State board approves health information exchange rules despite pushback Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: What Goes in Your Notes (About Abortion and Gender Affirming Care)? The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Is the Counseling Compact Good For Therapists? Joining Your Association Let’s Get Political: An interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT Now Modern Therapists Have to Document Every F-ing Thing? Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 08 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Oklahoma Bureaucrats Want Your Mental Health Records full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about some Oklahoma legislation about health information exchange. We talk about what a health information exchange is, the concerns with Oklahoma’s legislation related to health information exchange, and how therapists can advocate effectively (as modern therapists in Oklahoma have done). Oklahoma Bureaucrats Want Your Mental Health Records Curt and Katie chat about some Oklahoma legislation about health information exchange. We talk about what a health information exchange is, the concerns with Oklahoma’s legislation related to health information exchange, and how therapists can advocate effectively (as modern therapists in Oklahoma have done).    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about new Oklahoma legislation We look at “coordinated care” and the problems that could ensue if therapists are required to participate in the health information exchange. What are health information exchanges? ·       A central location for all health providers to chart to help with coordination of care ·       Psychotherapy notes are not required to be put into these systems, but diagnosis, treatment dates, and prescriptions seem to be required. ·       Patients can opt out of this information being shared, but it will still be stored in these databases What are the concerns with the new Oklahoma legislation related to health information exchange? ·       Oklahoma is now asking to put medical information into a system regardless of whether they are on Medicaid or any other type of service as well as for folks who are paying out of pocket ·       The price tag of connecting to this system is high ·       The confusion around whether therapists are “medical providers” or not ·       Interstate practice can be impacted What can therapists do to understand and impact legislation? ·       Acknowledge that we’re healthcare providers to stay aware of responsibilities ·       Watching legislation that is relevant ·       Being involved in your professional organization or member benefit organization, so you know that there is someone watching for these types of legislation and prepped for advocacy ·       Advocacy and activism within these orgs as well as individual and small group advocacy ·       Understanding the concerns related to lack of privacy for clients ·       All 50 states have a health information exchange, so all clinicians need to pay attention ·       Paying attention from the bill writing process all the way through implementation ·       Going to public meetings to provide feedback on implementation ·       Donate to your professional association’s Political Action Committees Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Oklahoma Providers for Privacy Keeping Oklahomans' Mental Health Records Confidential Lawmaker says concerns about Oklahoma health information exchange 'unfounded' State board approves health information exchange rules despite pushback Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: What Goes in Your Notes (About Abortion and Gender Affirming Care)? The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Is the Counseling Compact Good For Therapists? Joining Your Association Let’s Get Political: An interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT Now Modern Therapists Have to Document Every F-ing Thing? Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Oklahoma Bureaucrats Want Your Mental Health Records

Curt and Katie chat about some Oklahoma legislation about health information exchange. We talk about what a health information exchange is, the concerns with Oklahoma’s legislation related to health information exchange, and how therapists can advocate effectively (as modern therapists in Oklahoma have done).   

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about new Oklahoma legislation

We look at “coordinated care” and the problems that could ensue if therapists are required to participate in the health information exchange.

What are health information exchanges?

·       A central location for all health providers to chart to help with coordination of care

·       Psychotherapy notes are not required to be put into these systems, but diagnosis, treatment dates, and prescriptions seem to be required.

·       Patients can opt out of this information being shared, but it will still be stored in these databases

What are the concerns with the new Oklahoma legislation related to health information exchange?

·       Oklahoma is now asking to put medical information into a system regardless of whether they are on Medicaid or any other type of service as well as for folks who are paying out of pocket

·       The price tag of connecting to this system is high

·       The confusion around whether therapists are “medical providers” or not

·       Interstate practice can be impacted

What can therapists do to understand and impact legislation?

·       Acknowledge that we’re healthcare providers to stay aware of responsibilities

·       Watching legislation that is relevant

·       Being involved in your professional organization or member benefit organization, so you know that there is someone watching for these types of legislation and prepped for advocacy

·       Advocacy and activism within these orgs as well as individual and small group advocacy

·       Understanding the concerns related to lack of privacy for clients

·       All 50 states have a health information exchange, so all clinicians need to pay attention

·       Paying attention from the bill writing process all the way through implementation

·       Going to public meetings to provide feedback on implementation

·       Donate to your professional association’s Political Action Committees

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Oklahoma Providers for Privacy

Keeping Oklahomans' Mental Health Records Confidential

Lawmaker says concerns about Oklahoma health information exchange 'unfounded'

State board approves health information exchange rules despite pushback

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

What Goes in Your Notes (About Abortion and Gender Affirming Care)?

The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates

Is the Counseling Compact Good For Therapists?

Joining Your Association

Let’s Get Political: An interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT

Now Modern Therapists Have to Document Every F-ing Thing?


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2377 Making Every Therapy Practice Profitable: An Interview with Julie Herres Making Every Therapy Practice Profitable: An Interview with Julie Herres Curt and Katie interview Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting about her new book, Profit First for Therapists. We explore what profit first is, the unique challenges that therapist face in implementing profit first, the core principles of profit first, mistakes therapists make in implementation, and the benefits of using this bookkeeping model. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about the profit first method specific to therapy practices Therapists often struggle with their money, oftentimes forgetting to pull out profit or paying themselves. One accounting system that helps therapists to better manage their money is Profit First. Our friend, Julie Herres, has written a book about this system with specific information for how this accounting system applies to therapists. What is Profit First? ·      Focusing on profit as a given number in your accounting ·      You identify the profit you need FIRST to determine what you can spend on your expenses ·      An accounting system created by Mike Michalowicz What are the unique challenges that therapists face in implementing profit first? ·      Therapist guilt and emotional processes that get in the way of therapists mastering the money in their businesses ·      The stages of change that go into realigning your budget to stabilize your finances in your business and personal life The core principles of Profit First ·      “Use a smaller plate” so you spend less money. You add bank accounts, so each is smaller to divide out your profit, expenses, pay, and taxes. ·      “Serve sequentially” – to the different bank accounts ·      “Remove temptation” – the idea is that you won’t use money that is in a labeled account for something else. ·      “Enforce a rhythm” – moving money consistently, to help see the ebb and flow of money in the business. Mistakes therapists often make in implementing Profit First ·      Not changing spending habits ·      Changing too much too quickly ·      Not creating separate bank accounts (this is a key to success) The benefits of using Profit First in your therapy practice ·      Understanding where your money is going ·      Planning for scaling into a group practice ·      Looking at finances in a structured and consistent way ·      Understanding the percentages for all the money in the business ·      Making sure that you are paying yourself and taking profit in your business Thoughts about group practices ·      The different phases of growth ·      The benefits of using a more structured system to weather the emotional challenges of growth in your business ·      Reverse engineering your practice to support your life Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Book: Profit First for Therapists by Julie Herres https://www.profitfirstfortherapists.com/mtsg @Julie.Herres on Instagram GreenOak Accounting Facebook Group: Profit First for Therapists Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Don’t Take Tax Advice From Therapists: An interview with Julie Herres Financial Therapy: An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin Asking for Money Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 01 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Making Every Therapy Practice Profitable: An Interview with Julie Herres full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting about her new book, Profit First for Therapists. We explore what profit first is, the unique challenges that therapist face in implementing profit first, the core principles of profit first, mistakes therapists make in implementation, and the benefits of using this bookkeeping model. Making Every Therapy Practice Profitable: An Interview with Julie Herres Curt and Katie interview Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting about her new book, Profit First for Therapists. We explore what profit first is, the unique challenges that therapist face in implementing profit first, the core principles of profit first, mistakes therapists make in implementation, and the benefits of using this bookkeeping model. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about the profit first method specific to therapy practices Therapists often struggle with their money, oftentimes forgetting to pull out profit or paying themselves. One accounting system that helps therapists to better manage their money is Profit First. Our friend, Julie Herres, has written a book about this system with specific information for how this accounting system applies to therapists. What is Profit First? ·      Focusing on profit as a given number in your accounting ·      You identify the profit you need FIRST to determine what you can spend on your expenses ·      An accounting system created by Mike Michalowicz What are the unique challenges that therapists face in implementing profit first? ·      Therapist guilt and emotional processes that get in the way of therapists mastering the money in their businesses ·      The stages of change that go into realigning your budget to stabilize your finances in your business and personal life The core principles of Profit First ·      “Use a smaller plate” so you spend less money. You add bank accounts, so each is smaller to divide out your profit, expenses, pay, and taxes. ·      “Serve sequentially” – to the different bank accounts ·      “Remove temptation” – the idea is that you won’t use money that is in a labeled account for something else. ·      “Enforce a rhythm” – moving money consistently, to help see the ebb and flow of money in the business. Mistakes therapists often make in implementing Profit First ·      Not changing spending habits ·      Changing too much too quickly ·      Not creating separate bank accounts (this is a key to success) The benefits of using Profit First in your therapy practice ·      Understanding where your money is going ·      Planning for scaling into a group practice ·      Looking at finances in a structured and consistent way ·      Understanding the percentages for all the money in the business ·      Making sure that you are paying yourself and taking profit in your business Thoughts about group practices ·      The different phases of growth ·      The benefits of using a more structured system to weather the emotional challenges of growth in your business ·      Reverse engineering your practice to support your life Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Book: Profit First for Therapists by Julie Herres https://www.profitfirstfortherapists.com/mtsg @Julie.Herres on Instagram GreenOak Accounting Facebook Group: Profit First for Therapists Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Don’t Take Tax Advice From Therapists: An interview with Julie Herres Financial Therapy: An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin Asking for Money Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Making Every Therapy Practice Profitable: An Interview with Julie Herres

Curt and Katie interview Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting about her new book, Profit First for Therapists. We explore what profit first is, the unique challenges that therapist face in implementing profit first, the core principles of profit first, mistakes therapists make in implementation, and the benefits of using this bookkeeping model.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about the profit first method specific to therapy practices

Therapists often struggle with their money, oftentimes forgetting to pull out profit or paying themselves. One accounting system that helps therapists to better manage their money is Profit First. Our friend, Julie Herres, has written a book about this system with specific information for how this accounting system applies to therapists.

What is Profit First?

·      Focusing on profit as a given number in your accounting

·      You identify the profit you need FIRST to determine what you can spend on your expenses

·      An accounting system created by Mike Michalowicz

What are the unique challenges that therapists face in implementing profit first?

·      Therapist guilt and emotional processes that get in the way of therapists mastering the money in their businesses

·      The stages of change that go into realigning your budget to stabilize your finances in your business and personal life

The core principles of Profit First

·      “Use a smaller plate” so you spend less money. You add bank accounts, so each is smaller to divide out your profit, expenses, pay, and taxes.

·      “Serve sequentially” – to the different bank accounts

·      “Remove temptation” – the idea is that you won’t use money that is in a labeled account for something else.

·      “Enforce a rhythm” – moving money consistently, to help see the ebb and flow of money in the business.

Mistakes therapists often make in implementing Profit First

·      Not changing spending habits

·      Changing too much too quickly

·      Not creating separate bank accounts (this is a key to success)

The benefits of using Profit First in your therapy practice

·      Understanding where your money is going

·      Planning for scaling into a group practice

·      Looking at finances in a structured and consistent way

·      Understanding the percentages for all the money in the business

·      Making sure that you are paying yourself and taking profit in your business

Thoughts about group practices

·      The different phases of growth

·      The benefits of using a more structured system to weather the emotional challenges of growth in your business

·      Reverse engineering your practice to support your life

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

The Book: Profit First for Therapists by Julie Herres

https://www.profitfirstfortherapists.com/mtsg

@Julie.Herres on Instagram

GreenOak Accounting

Facebook Group: Profit First for Therapists

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Don’t Take Tax Advice From Therapists: An interview with Julie Herres

Financial Therapy: An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin

Asking for Money


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2243 What is Our Fascination with Anything Vaguely Neuroscience? What is Our Fascination with Anything Vaguely Neuroscience? Curt and Katie chat about our profession’s fascination with neuroscience. We explore the myths about the brain, why therapists lean on neuroscience (even when they really shouldn’t), and how “neuro” is misused and can actually be harmful to our clients.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about neuroscience Curt has started to get frustrated with all of the ways that neuroscience is misused. Curt is frustrated with the ongoing use of “neuro” information that may be myth. What are the most common neuromyths? Humans only use 10% of our brains Left/Right Brain preference Learning style (i.e., auditory, visual, or kinetic learners) If you don’t drink enough water, your brain will shrink Why do therapists often privilege “neuroscience” over everything else? The fascination with brain scans The belief that explanations including neuroscience are more effective (even if they are not) Interest in data and the scientific explanations The Misuse of “Neuro” to increase the credibility of other concepts The “neuroscience” of the power of attraction Overusing neuroscience explanations for interventions that don’t help The potential for clients to feel incompetent due to trying to access parts of the brain versus understanding the interventions in a basic and complete manner Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article: The Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations by Deena Skolnick Weisberg, Frank C. Keil, Joshua Goodstein, Elizabeth Rawson, and Jeremy R. Gray Article: Dispelling the Myth: Training in Education or Neuroscience Decreases but Does Not Eliminate Beliefs in Neuromyths by Kelly Macdonald, Laura Germine, Alida Anderson, Joanna Christodoulou and Lauren M. McGrath Article: Brain Images Make Cognitive Research More Believable Article: Neuroscience and education: myths and messages Article: Brain images make the article seem more reliable The manifested article that has not been vetted for scientific accuracy, but I can’t believe I found it: The Neuroscience of The Secret Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 24 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000 What is Our Fascination with Anything Vaguely Neuroscience? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about our profession’s fascination with neuroscience. We explore the myths about the brain, why therapists lean on neuroscience (even when they really shouldn’t), and how “neuro” is misused and can actually be harmful to our clients. What is Our Fascination with Anything Vaguely Neuroscience? Curt and Katie chat about our profession’s fascination with neuroscience. We explore the myths about the brain, why therapists lean on neuroscience (even when they really shouldn’t), and how “neuro” is misused and can actually be harmful to our clients.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about neuroscience Curt has started to get frustrated with all of the ways that neuroscience is misused. Curt is frustrated with the ongoing use of “neuro” information that may be myth. What are the most common neuromyths? Humans only use 10% of our brains Left/Right Brain preference Learning style (i.e., auditory, visual, or kinetic learners) If you don’t drink enough water, your brain will shrink Why do therapists often privilege “neuroscience” over everything else? The fascination with brain scans The belief that explanations including neuroscience are more effective (even if they are not) Interest in data and the scientific explanations The Misuse of “Neuro” to increase the credibility of other concepts The “neuroscience” of the power of attraction Overusing neuroscience explanations for interventions that don’t help The potential for clients to feel incompetent due to trying to access parts of the brain versus understanding the interventions in a basic and complete manner Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article: The Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations by Deena Skolnick Weisberg, Frank C. Keil, Joshua Goodstein, Elizabeth Rawson, and Jeremy R. Gray Article: Dispelling the Myth: Training in Education or Neuroscience Decreases but Does Not Eliminate Beliefs in Neuromyths by Kelly Macdonald, Laura Germine, Alida Anderson, Joanna Christodoulou and Lauren M. McGrath Article: Brain Images Make Cognitive Research More Believable Article: Neuroscience and education: myths and messages Article: Brain images make the article seem more reliable The manifested article that has not been vetted for scientific accuracy, but I can’t believe I found it: The Neuroscience of The Secret Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What is Our Fascination with Anything Vaguely Neuroscience?

Curt and Katie chat about our profession’s fascination with neuroscience. We explore the myths about the brain, why therapists lean on neuroscience (even when they really shouldn’t), and how “neuro” is misused and can actually be harmful to our clients.   

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about neuroscience

Curt has started to get frustrated with all of the ways that neuroscience is misused. Curt is frustrated with the ongoing use of “neuro” information that may be myth.

What are the most common neuromyths?

  • Humans only use 10% of our brains
  • Left/Right Brain preference
  • Learning style (i.e., auditory, visual, or kinetic learners)
  • If you don’t drink enough water, your brain will shrink

Why do therapists often privilege “neuroscience” over everything else?

  • The fascination with brain scans
  • The belief that explanations including neuroscience are more effective (even if they are not)
  • Interest in data and the scientific explanations

The Misuse of “Neuro” to increase the credibility of other concepts

  • The “neuroscience” of the power of attraction
  • Overusing neuroscience explanations for interventions that don’t help
  • The potential for clients to feel incompetent due to trying to access parts of the brain versus understanding the interventions in a basic and complete manner

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Article: The Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations by Deena Skolnick Weisberg, Frank C. Keil, Joshua Goodstein, Elizabeth Rawson, and Jeremy R. Gray

Article: Dispelling the Myth: Training in Education or Neuroscience Decreases but Does Not Eliminate Beliefs in Neuromyths by Kelly Macdonald, Laura Germine, Alida Anderson, Joanna Christodoulou and Lauren M. McGrath

Article: Brain Images Make Cognitive Research More Believable

Article: Neuroscience and education: myths and messages

Article: Brain images make the article seem more reliable

The manifested article that has not been vetted for scientific accuracy, but I can’t believe I found it: The Neuroscience of The Secret

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2126 Clinical Work with Sex Workers: An Interview with Jamila Dawson, LMFT and Dr. Theo Burnes, PhD Clinical Work with Sex Workers: An Interview with Jamila Dawson, LMFT and Dr. Theo Burnes, PhD Curt and Katie interview Dr. Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson on their new book Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers. We talk about what therapists get wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers, what common biases therapists hold about sex work, what sex work looks like now, and how clinicians can work effectively with sex workers. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about sex workers seeking therapy There are number of client populations that we just don’t talk about in grad school. Sex Workers are an important group that we find continue to face bias and ignorance in the therapy room. We reached out to Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson to learn more about this often forgotten client population. What are therapists getting wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers? Clinicians often are focused on saving people, which is misguided We lose opportunities as change agents Not understanding sex work and the complexity of any job There is a bias about the relationships between sex and work and what sex is What are common biases that therapists hold related to sex work? The bias that there must be trauma if someone chooses to do sex work The bias that they must hate their job and want to get out of this work The lack of awareness about immigration’s intersection with sex work The additional bias related to racism, sexism, and genderism Anti-erotophobia Anti-neurodivergence – there are more folks in sex work who are neurodivergent due to the flexibility and other characteristics of the job Entertainment bias is pervasive with the rescue theme (e.g., Pretty Woman) What does sex work look like now? The “Whorearchy” or hierarchy within sex worker communities (outside vs inside, independent or employee, safety level) – for example working independently in the safest environments (i.e., inside, virtually) is seen higher up the whorearchy Different types of sex work including courtesan/girlfriend experience versus other types that are less heterosexual normative Understanding the pros and cons of each type of sex work is important for clinicians working with sex workers The opportunities related to innovation (sex and porn often drive innovation) and creativity How can a clinician work effectively with sex workers? Getting curious to fully understand the unique situation for the client Assessments availability in the book: Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers Pay attention to how you talk about sex work as clients will test whether they can talk about their sex work Sex work may not be the presenting issue, but it is relevant to identify whether they are self-identifying as a sex worker to the therapist Holding space for clients not disclosing everything at the beginning of therapy Showing sex positivity and openness to hear about any sensitive topics (sex, drug use, etc.) Understanding the fears and myths that are floating around (e.g., the myth that therapists will call law enforcement or CPS solely because someone reports being a sex worker) Being an agent for social change and advocating for systemic change Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 17 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Clinical Work with Sex Workers: An Interview with Jamila Dawson, LMFT and Dr. Theo Burnes, PhD full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson on their new book Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers. We talk about what therapists get wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers, what common biases therapists hold about sex work, what sex work looks like now, and how clinicians can work effectively with sex workers. Clinical Work with Sex Workers: An Interview with Jamila Dawson, LMFT and Dr. Theo Burnes, PhD Curt and Katie interview Dr. Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson on their new book Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers. We talk about what therapists get wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers, what common biases therapists hold about sex work, what sex work looks like now, and how clinicians can work effectively with sex workers. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about sex workers seeking therapy There are number of client populations that we just don’t talk about in grad school. Sex Workers are an important group that we find continue to face bias and ignorance in the therapy room. We reached out to Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson to learn more about this often forgotten client population. What are therapists getting wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers? Clinicians often are focused on saving people, which is misguided We lose opportunities as change agents Not understanding sex work and the complexity of any job There is a bias about the relationships between sex and work and what sex is What are common biases that therapists hold related to sex work? The bias that there must be trauma if someone chooses to do sex work The bias that they must hate their job and want to get out of this work The lack of awareness about immigration’s intersection with sex work The additional bias related to racism, sexism, and genderism Anti-erotophobia Anti-neurodivergence – there are more folks in sex work who are neurodivergent due to the flexibility and other characteristics of the job Entertainment bias is pervasive with the rescue theme (e.g., Pretty Woman) What does sex work look like now? The “Whorearchy” or hierarchy within sex worker communities (outside vs inside, independent or employee, safety level) – for example working independently in the safest environments (i.e., inside, virtually) is seen higher up the whorearchy Different types of sex work including courtesan/girlfriend experience versus other types that are less heterosexual normative Understanding the pros and cons of each type of sex work is important for clinicians working with sex workers The opportunities related to innovation (sex and porn often drive innovation) and creativity How can a clinician work effectively with sex workers? Getting curious to fully understand the unique situation for the client Assessments availability in the book: Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers Pay attention to how you talk about sex work as clients will test whether they can talk about their sex work Sex work may not be the presenting issue, but it is relevant to identify whether they are self-identifying as a sex worker to the therapist Holding space for clients not disclosing everything at the beginning of therapy Showing sex positivity and openness to hear about any sensitive topics (sex, drug use, etc.) Understanding the fears and myths that are floating around (e.g., the myth that therapists will call law enforcement or CPS solely because someone reports being a sex worker) Being an agent for social change and advocating for systemic change Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Clinical Work with Sex Workers: An Interview with Jamila Dawson, LMFT and Dr. Theo Burnes, PhD

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson on their new book Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers. We talk about what therapists get wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers, what common biases therapists hold about sex work, what sex work looks like now, and how clinicians can work effectively with sex workers.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about sex workers seeking therapy

There are number of client populations that we just don’t talk about in grad school. Sex Workers are an important group that we find continue to face bias and ignorance in the therapy room. We reached out to Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson to learn more about this often forgotten client population.

What are therapists getting wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers?

  • Clinicians often are focused on saving people, which is misguided
  • We lose opportunities as change agents
  • Not understanding sex work and the complexity of any job
  • There is a bias about the relationships between sex and work and what sex is

What are common biases that therapists hold related to sex work?

  • The bias that there must be trauma if someone chooses to do sex work
  • The bias that they must hate their job and want to get out of this work
  • The lack of awareness about immigration’s intersection with sex work
  • The additional bias related to racism, sexism, and genderism
  • Anti-erotophobia
  • Anti-neurodivergence – there are more folks in sex work who are neurodivergent due to the flexibility and other characteristics of the job
  • Entertainment bias is pervasive with the rescue theme (e.g., Pretty Woman)

What does sex work look like now?

  • The “Whorearchy” or hierarchy within sex worker communities (outside vs inside, independent or employee, safety level) – for example working independently in the safest environments (i.e., inside, virtually) is seen higher up the whorearchy
  • Different types of sex work including courtesan/girlfriend experience versus other types that are less heterosexual normative
  • Understanding the pros and cons of each type of sex work is important for clinicians working with sex workers
  • The opportunities related to innovation (sex and porn often drive innovation) and creativity

How can a clinician work effectively with sex workers?

  • Getting curious to fully understand the unique situation for the client
  • Assessments availability in the book: Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers
  • Pay attention to how you talk about sex work as clients will test whether they can talk about their sex work
  • Sex work may not be the presenting issue, but it is relevant to identify whether they are self-identifying as a sex worker to the therapist
  • Holding space for clients not disclosing everything at the beginning of therapy
  • Showing sex positivity and openness to hear about any sensitive topics (sex, drug use, etc.)
  • Understanding the fears and myths that are floating around (e.g., the myth that therapists will call law enforcement or CPS solely because someone reports being a sex worker)
  • Being an agent for social change and advocating for systemic change

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2228 Is AI Smart for Your Therapy Practice? The ethics of artificial intelligence in therapy Is AI Smart for Your Therapy Practice? The ethics of artificial intelligence in therapy Curt and Katie chat about the use of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence as part of your therapy practice. We look at what uses therapists are considering, the differences between chatbots and search engines, and basic information on how chatbots work. We explore ethical implications for using chatbots within different aspects of a therapist practice. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapists using ChatGPT in their practices How are ChatGPT and other chatbots being used by modern therapists? Writing blog posts and other marketing content Getting suggestions for writing progress notes Potentially case consultation and differential diagnosis? What is the difference between ChatGPT (or other AI chatbots) and Search Engines? The goals are different – developing human-sounding language versus information retrieval Primary sources and raw data versus interpretation and an answer that sounds good What are the legal and ethical uses of ChatGPT? The user agreement allows all uses of the content developed based on your prompts There is not a guarantee of unique output between different users which calls into question ownership on content and plagiarism Citing authorship, publication credits, and whose ideas are being included in your content Suggestions from ethical bodies on how to cite chatbots The importance of transparency and accountability  What is the harm in using ChatGPT without transparency on a therapist website? The impact on pretreatment role expectations and the digital therapeutic alliance A lack of transparency and potential for misleading prospective clients on your personality and/or expertise If you don’t check accuracy, especially when you have someone else creating your content, you may actually create outdated information that is heavily influenced by the medical model and potentially biased What are thoughts about using ChatGPT in clinical work for therapists? Please use caution when using AI in any clinical work What are recommendations for modern therapists who would like to use ChatGPT? Use with caution: check primary sources and completely review Transparently cite that AI was used, which app was used, how it was used, and the date when information was pulled Be aware of SEO impacts, lack of branding, whether it adds value, and that the content is accurate and is helpful rather than harmful Do not input any confidential information Do not overly rely on the clinical suggestions due to bias and accuracy concerns Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! ChatGPT *The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Is AI Smart for Your Therapy Practice? The ethics of artificial intelligence in therapy full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the use of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence as part of your therapy practice. We look at what uses therapists are considering, the differences between chatbots and search engines, and basic information on how chatbots work. We explore ethical implications for using chatbots within different aspects of a therapist practice. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Is AI Smart for Your Therapy Practice? The ethics of artificial intelligence in therapy Curt and Katie chat about the use of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence as part of your therapy practice. We look at what uses therapists are considering, the differences between chatbots and search engines, and basic information on how chatbots work. We explore ethical implications for using chatbots within different aspects of a therapist practice. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about therapists using ChatGPT in their practices How are ChatGPT and other chatbots being used by modern therapists? Writing blog posts and other marketing content Getting suggestions for writing progress notes Potentially case consultation and differential diagnosis? What is the difference between ChatGPT (or other AI chatbots) and Search Engines? The goals are different – developing human-sounding language versus information retrieval Primary sources and raw data versus interpretation and an answer that sounds good What are the legal and ethical uses of ChatGPT? The user agreement allows all uses of the content developed based on your prompts There is not a guarantee of unique output between different users which calls into question ownership on content and plagiarism Citing authorship, publication credits, and whose ideas are being included in your content Suggestions from ethical bodies on how to cite chatbots The importance of transparency and accountability  What is the harm in using ChatGPT without transparency on a therapist website? The impact on pretreatment role expectations and the digital therapeutic alliance A lack of transparency and potential for misleading prospective clients on your personality and/or expertise If you don’t check accuracy, especially when you have someone else creating your content, you may actually create outdated information that is heavily influenced by the medical model and potentially biased What are thoughts about using ChatGPT in clinical work for therapists? Please use caution when using AI in any clinical work What are recommendations for modern therapists who would like to use ChatGPT? Use with caution: check primary sources and completely review Transparently cite that AI was used, which app was used, how it was used, and the date when information was pulled Be aware of SEO impacts, lack of branding, whether it adds value, and that the content is accurate and is helpful rather than harmful Do not input any confidential information Do not overly rely on the clinical suggestions due to bias and accuracy concerns Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! ChatGPT *The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Is AI Smart for Your Therapy Practice? The ethics of artificial intelligence in therapy

Curt and Katie chat about the use of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence as part of your therapy practice. We look at what uses therapists are considering, the differences between chatbots and search engines, and basic information on how chatbots work. We explore ethical implications for using chatbots within different aspects of a therapist practice. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about therapists using ChatGPT in their practices

How are ChatGPT and other chatbots being used by modern therapists?

  • Writing blog posts and other marketing content
  • Getting suggestions for writing progress notes
  • Potentially case consultation and differential diagnosis?

What is the difference between ChatGPT (or other AI chatbots) and Search Engines?

  • The goals are different – developing human-sounding language versus information retrieval
  • Primary sources and raw data versus interpretation and an answer that sounds good

What are the legal and ethical uses of ChatGPT?

  • The user agreement allows all uses of the content developed based on your prompts
  • There is not a guarantee of unique output between different users which calls into question ownership on content and plagiarism
  • Citing authorship, publication credits, and whose ideas are being included in your content
  • Suggestions from ethical bodies on how to cite chatbots
  • The importance of transparency and accountability

 What is the harm in using ChatGPT without transparency on a therapist website?

  • The impact on pretreatment role expectations and the digital therapeutic alliance
  • A lack of transparency and potential for misleading prospective clients on your personality and/or expertise
  • If you don’t check accuracy, especially when you have someone else creating your content, you may actually create outdated information that is heavily influenced by the medical model and potentially biased

What are thoughts about using ChatGPT in clinical work for therapists?

  • Please use caution when using AI in any clinical work

What are recommendations for modern therapists who would like to use ChatGPT?

  • Use with caution: check primary sources and completely review
  • Transparently cite that AI was used, which app was used, how it was used, and the date when information was pulled
  • Be aware of SEO impacts, lack of branding, whether it adds value, and that the content is accurate and is helpful rather than harmful
  • Do not input any confidential information
  • Do not overly rely on the clinical suggestions due to bias and accuracy concerns

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information


Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

ChatGPT

*The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform.


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4416 What Therapists Should Know About Code-Switching: An Interview with Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow What Therapists Should Know About Code-Switching: An Interview with Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow on code-switching. We explore what code-switching is, the mental health impacts of code-switching, and how therapists can support clients who code-switch. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about code-switching An important conversation about code-switching for therapists. What do we need to know and what can we do to support people who need to code switch? What is code-switching? Shifting how one speaks or behaves to fit into the current situation Often occurs with people who do not look like you or are culturally different from you Learning to operate differently in different spaces due to being judged based on appearance, behavior, and language Choosing which words to use, which has additional layers for multilingual folks Much deeper than just linguistic shifts Responding to the potential for violent harm when how you typically show up doesn’t fit the current situation’s prescribed norms The concept of “professionalism” and who set the standards Needing to push back on the norms What are the mental health effects of Code-switching? Anxiety and depression Not bringing full self into most spaces Hesitation, lack of learning and sharing Chronic health diseases connected to cortisol Identity concerns, unraveling of identity over time Fear of being found out or not being accepted High mental load Not everyone code switches Why are people code-switching in professional settings? Or is it still happening? Shifts in behaviors during the pandemic Letting go of certain social mores on zoom Not having to go to work and putting on a professional persona when working remotely What can mental health professionals due to support clients who code-switch? There are not enough Black therapists to see all of the Black clients, so therapists of other demographics need to make sure that they are addressing it Going beyond the client having to explain all of their experience or be a cultural translator Stay present to the story and clarify later, to allow client to stay in the vulnerability Being authentic yourself as a therapist, to create space for imperfection Providing reinforcement for the client showing up authentically, their accomplishments Getting to IDGAF attitude and testing it out in different spaces How does Dr. Jameta Barlow push back against the status quo related to code-switching? Land acknowledgement Grounding in family and cultural history Focusing on the history and the experiences of Black women No code-switching or requirement for being anything but your full self Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Barlow’s Website: JametaBarlow.com Twitter: @allaboutafya Email: JametaWrites @ gmail.com Information on the concept of Double Consciousness from W.E.B. Du Bois Article on PsychCentral: Code-Switching: What it is and What it Costs Us Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   Mon, 03 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Should Know About Code-Switching: An Interview with Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow on code-switching. We explore what code-switching is, the mental health impacts of code-switching, and how therapists can support clients who code-switch. What Therapists Should Know About Code-Switching: An Interview with Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow on code-switching. We explore what code-switching is, the mental health impacts of code-switching, and how therapists can support clients who code-switch. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about code-switching An important conversation about code-switching for therapists. What do we need to know and what can we do to support people who need to code switch? What is code-switching? Shifting how one speaks or behaves to fit into the current situation Often occurs with people who do not look like you or are culturally different from you Learning to operate differently in different spaces due to being judged based on appearance, behavior, and language Choosing which words to use, which has additional layers for multilingual folks Much deeper than just linguistic shifts Responding to the potential for violent harm when how you typically show up doesn’t fit the current situation’s prescribed norms The concept of “professionalism” and who set the standards Needing to push back on the norms What are the mental health effects of Code-switching? Anxiety and depression Not bringing full self into most spaces Hesitation, lack of learning and sharing Chronic health diseases connected to cortisol Identity concerns, unraveling of identity over time Fear of being found out or not being accepted High mental load Not everyone code switches Why are people code-switching in professional settings? Or is it still happening? Shifts in behaviors during the pandemic Letting go of certain social mores on zoom Not having to go to work and putting on a professional persona when working remotely What can mental health professionals due to support clients who code-switch? There are not enough Black therapists to see all of the Black clients, so therapists of other demographics need to make sure that they are addressing it Going beyond the client having to explain all of their experience or be a cultural translator Stay present to the story and clarify later, to allow client to stay in the vulnerability Being authentic yourself as a therapist, to create space for imperfection Providing reinforcement for the client showing up authentically, their accomplishments Getting to IDGAF attitude and testing it out in different spaces How does Dr. Jameta Barlow push back against the status quo related to code-switching? Land acknowledgement Grounding in family and cultural history Focusing on the history and the experiences of Black women No code-switching or requirement for being anything but your full self Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Barlow’s Website: JametaBarlow.com Twitter: @allaboutafya Email: JametaWrites @ gmail.com Information on the concept of Double Consciousness from W.E.B. Du Bois Article on PsychCentral: Code-Switching: What it is and What it Costs Us Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/   What Therapists Should Know About Code-Switching: An Interview with Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow on code-switching. We explore what code-switching is, the mental health impacts of code-switching, and how therapists can support clients who code-switch.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about code-switching

An important conversation about code-switching for therapists. What do we need to know and what can we do to support people who need to code switch?

What is code-switching?

  • Shifting how one speaks or behaves to fit into the current situation
  • Often occurs with people who do not look like you or are culturally different from you
  • Learning to operate differently in different spaces due to being judged based on appearance, behavior, and language
  • Choosing which words to use, which has additional layers for multilingual folks
  • Much deeper than just linguistic shifts
  • Responding to the potential for violent harm when how you typically show up doesn’t fit the current situation’s prescribed norms
  • The concept of “professionalism” and who set the standards
  • Needing to push back on the norms

What are the mental health effects of Code-switching?

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Not bringing full self into most spaces
  • Hesitation, lack of learning and sharing
  • Chronic health diseases connected to cortisol
  • Identity concerns, unraveling of identity over time
  • Fear of being found out or not being accepted
  • High mental load
  • Not everyone code switches

Why are people code-switching in professional settings? Or is it still happening?

  • Shifts in behaviors during the pandemic
  • Letting go of certain social mores on zoom
  • Not having to go to work and putting on a professional persona when working remotely

What can mental health professionals due to support clients who code-switch?

  • There are not enough Black therapists to see all of the Black clients, so therapists of other demographics need to make sure that they are addressing it
  • Going beyond the client having to explain all of their experience or be a cultural translator
  • Stay present to the story and clarify later, to allow client to stay in the vulnerability
  • Being authentic yourself as a therapist, to create space for imperfection
  • Providing reinforcement for the client showing up authentically, their accomplishments
  • Getting to IDGAF attitude and testing it out in different spaces

How does Dr. Jameta Barlow push back against the status quo related to code-switching?

  • Land acknowledgement
  • Grounding in family and cultural history
  • Focusing on the history and the experiences of Black women
  • No code-switching or requirement for being anything but your full self

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Dr. Barlow’s Website: JametaBarlow.com

Twitter: @allaboutafya

Email: JametaWrites @ gmail.com

Information on the concept of Double Consciousness from W.E.B. Du Bois

Article on PsychCentral: Code-Switching: What it is and What it Costs Us


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

]]> 2409 Why Is Therapy Taking So Long? The causes and solutions for therapeutic drift Why Is Therapy Taking So Long? The causes and solutions for therapeutic drift Curt and Katie chat about the tendency for therapists to drift clinically – meaning that they fail to use evidence-based practices that they have been trained to do. We explore the phenomenon of therapeutic drift, contributing factors, ways to mitigate risk, and what therapists can do to address this tendency that leads to poorer therapeutic outcomes. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore why therapists stray from using evidence-based practices In order for therapy to be successful, both the therapist and client need to stay invested in the therapeutic process. We explore the reasons that therapy can stall, how to identify the causes, and how to get back on track toward achieving client goals. What is therapist drift and why is it bad? Therapists will fail to use evidence-based treatment even when they have the tools and training May be seen as pushing back on manualized treatments that do not seem to focus on the relationship sufficiently Therapeutic drift can happen when the therapist and client are not in agreement or clear on the goals for treatment Not sticking to the plan for treatment and failing to make progress Mislabeling of treatment interventions What factors contribute to therapeutic drift? Client factors include avoiding talking about treatment goals Lack of adherent training and understanding of the models Therapist factors include not identifying optimal treatment methods or structures upon which to build creative intervention Therapists doing what feels good to them versus what is best for the client Systemic factors including teaching too many theories without sufficient depth How can we mitigate the risks of therapeutic drift? Practice-based evidence Setting treatment plans and single session agendas Outcome measures and client feedback Intentionality versus convenience Assessing bias and where our negative feelings about EBPs come from Collaborating with the client Deliberate practice Consultation, ongoing supervision Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Very Bad Therapy Podcast You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information References mentioned in this continuing education podcast can be found in the course on our learning platform. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 27 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Why Is Therapy Taking So Long? The causes and solutions for therapeutic drift full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the tendency for therapists to drift clinically – meaning that they fail to use evidence-based practices that they have been trained to do. We explore the phenomenon of therapeutic drift, contributing factors, ways to mitigate risk, and what therapists can do to address this tendency that leads to poorer therapeutic outcomes. This is a continuing education podcourse. Why Is Therapy Taking So Long? The causes and solutions for therapeutic drift Curt and Katie chat about the tendency for therapists to drift clinically – meaning that they fail to use evidence-based practices that they have been trained to do. We explore the phenomenon of therapeutic drift, contributing factors, ways to mitigate risk, and what therapists can do to address this tendency that leads to poorer therapeutic outcomes. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore why therapists stray from using evidence-based practices In order for therapy to be successful, both the therapist and client need to stay invested in the therapeutic process. We explore the reasons that therapy can stall, how to identify the causes, and how to get back on track toward achieving client goals. What is therapist drift and why is it bad? Therapists will fail to use evidence-based treatment even when they have the tools and training May be seen as pushing back on manualized treatments that do not seem to focus on the relationship sufficiently Therapeutic drift can happen when the therapist and client are not in agreement or clear on the goals for treatment Not sticking to the plan for treatment and failing to make progress Mislabeling of treatment interventions What factors contribute to therapeutic drift? Client factors include avoiding talking about treatment goals Lack of adherent training and understanding of the models Therapist factors include not identifying optimal treatment methods or structures upon which to build creative intervention Therapists doing what feels good to them versus what is best for the client Systemic factors including teaching too many theories without sufficient depth How can we mitigate the risks of therapeutic drift? Practice-based evidence Setting treatment plans and single session agendas Outcome measures and client feedback Intentionality versus convenience Assessing bias and where our negative feelings about EBPs come from Collaborating with the client Deliberate practice Consultation, ongoing supervision Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Very Bad Therapy Podcast You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information References mentioned in this continuing education podcast can be found in the course on our learning platform. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Why Is Therapy Taking So Long? The causes and solutions for therapeutic drift

Curt and Katie chat about the tendency for therapists to drift clinically – meaning that they fail to use evidence-based practices that they have been trained to do. We explore the phenomenon of therapeutic drift, contributing factors, ways to mitigate risk, and what therapists can do to address this tendency that leads to poorer therapeutic outcomes. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore why therapists stray from using evidence-based practices

In order for therapy to be successful, both the therapist and client need to stay invested in the therapeutic process. We explore the reasons that therapy can stall, how to identify the causes, and how to get back on track toward achieving client goals.

What is therapist drift and why is it bad?

  • Therapists will fail to use evidence-based treatment even when they have the tools and training
  • May be seen as pushing back on manualized treatments that do not seem to focus on the relationship sufficiently
  • Therapeutic drift can happen when the therapist and client are not in agreement or clear on the goals for treatment
  • Not sticking to the plan for treatment and failing to make progress
  • Mislabeling of treatment interventions

What factors contribute to therapeutic drift?

  • Client factors include avoiding talking about treatment goals
  • Lack of adherent training and understanding of the models
  • Therapist factors include not identifying optimal treatment methods or structures upon which to build creative intervention
  • Therapists doing what feels good to them versus what is best for the client
  • Systemic factors including teaching too many theories without sufficient depth

How can we mitigate the risks of therapeutic drift?

  • Practice-based evidence
  • Setting treatment plans and single session agendas
  • Outcome measures and client feedback
  • Intentionality versus convenience
  • Assessing bias and where our negative feelings about EBPs come from
  • Collaborating with the client
  • Deliberate practice
  • Consultation, ongoing supervision

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Very Bad Therapy Podcast

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals:

When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information


References mentioned in this continuing education podcast can be found in the course on our learning platform.


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4379 What Therapists Should Know About Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Jamie Marich What Therapists Should Know About Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Jamie Marich Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich, author of Dissociation Made Simple, about dissociation and dissociative identities. We talk with Jamie about what therapists often get wrong as well as some basics on what dissociation is and how best to understand and treat it (when it actually needs treating). Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can support clients navigating dissociation A friend of the show, Dr. Jamie Marich, wrote a book Dissociation Made Simple, and we wanted to talk about it! What are therapists getting wrong when learning about and treating dissociation? Not believing in dissociative identities or dissociative systems Fear of and misunderstanding of dissociation Thinking of dissociation as a dirt word and something to avoid Believing that dissociation must always be healed (when in fact it could be useful at times) What is dissociation? What is dissociative identity disorder or dissociative experience? Exploring different definitions and conceptualizations It is a lot of different things Severing/separating from the present moment or from aspects of ourselves Disaggregation or dividing your self into parts Purposeful, meeting a need or protection The shift to thinking about elements of dissociation as adaptive or maladaptive situationally How can therapists support clients in understanding and managing their own dissociation? Helping clients to identify what purpose their dissociation is serving Assessing dissociative profile through an inventory in the book (triggers, how we dissociate, adaptive/maladaptive) All dissociative behaviors can be assessed as adaptive or maladaptive How can a therapist assess for dissociative identities or systems? Language may vary (parts, defenders, team, selves, side, aspect, etc.) Previous diagnosis or self-diagnosis Listen for the experience (a “part of me” wants this, a “side of me” wants this) Speaking in a parts-informed way Exploring for thinking from different parts of self, potentially even already with names Dissociative Identities inventories What are clinical goals with clients who have dissociative experiences and/or identities? When working with someone with a system, will need to get buy in from all elements of the team for treatment goals Goals may not align across different parts The theory that you’re working with a family Many clients have Chronic PTSD and the focus of treatment may be trauma The importance of being trauma informed Grounding, anchoring, or settling into the present moment The goal is usually NOT integration Cohesion, communication, or cooperation How can therapists overcome their fear about dissociation? Identifying your own dissociation Overcoming the “us versus them” related to dissociation Moving away from bias and stereotypes of folks who dissociate Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dissociation Made Simple (the book) Jamie’s website: redefinetherapy.com Jamie’s social media:  Trauma Therapist Rants on Twitter Trauma Therapist Rants on TikTok Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 20 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Should Know About Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Jamie Marich full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich, author of Dissociation Made Simple, about dissociation and dissociative identities. We talk with Jamie about what therapists often get wrong as well as some basics on what dissociation is and how best to understand and treat it (when it actually needs treating). What Therapists Should Know About Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Jamie Marich Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich, author of Dissociation Made Simple, about dissociation and dissociative identities. We talk with Jamie about what therapists often get wrong as well as some basics on what dissociation is and how best to understand and treat it (when it actually needs treating). Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can support clients navigating dissociation A friend of the show, Dr. Jamie Marich, wrote a book Dissociation Made Simple, and we wanted to talk about it! What are therapists getting wrong when learning about and treating dissociation? Not believing in dissociative identities or dissociative systems Fear of and misunderstanding of dissociation Thinking of dissociation as a dirt word and something to avoid Believing that dissociation must always be healed (when in fact it could be useful at times) What is dissociation? What is dissociative identity disorder or dissociative experience? Exploring different definitions and conceptualizations It is a lot of different things Severing/separating from the present moment or from aspects of ourselves Disaggregation or dividing your self into parts Purposeful, meeting a need or protection The shift to thinking about elements of dissociation as adaptive or maladaptive situationally How can therapists support clients in understanding and managing their own dissociation? Helping clients to identify what purpose their dissociation is serving Assessing dissociative profile through an inventory in the book (triggers, how we dissociate, adaptive/maladaptive) All dissociative behaviors can be assessed as adaptive or maladaptive How can a therapist assess for dissociative identities or systems? Language may vary (parts, defenders, team, selves, side, aspect, etc.) Previous diagnosis or self-diagnosis Listen for the experience (a “part of me” wants this, a “side of me” wants this) Speaking in a parts-informed way Exploring for thinking from different parts of self, potentially even already with names Dissociative Identities inventories What are clinical goals with clients who have dissociative experiences and/or identities? When working with someone with a system, will need to get buy in from all elements of the team for treatment goals Goals may not align across different parts The theory that you’re working with a family Many clients have Chronic PTSD and the focus of treatment may be trauma The importance of being trauma informed Grounding, anchoring, or settling into the present moment The goal is usually NOT integration Cohesion, communication, or cooperation How can therapists overcome their fear about dissociation? Identifying your own dissociation Overcoming the “us versus them” related to dissociation Moving away from bias and stereotypes of folks who dissociate Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dissociation Made Simple (the book) Jamie’s website: redefinetherapy.com Jamie’s social media:  Trauma Therapist Rants on Twitter Trauma Therapist Rants on TikTok Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Therapists Should Know About Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Jamie Marich

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich, author of Dissociation Made Simple, about dissociation and dissociative identities. We talk with Jamie about what therapists often get wrong as well as some basics on what dissociation is and how best to understand and treat it (when it actually needs treating).

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can support clients navigating dissociation

A friend of the show, Dr. Jamie Marich, wrote a book Dissociation Made Simple, and we wanted to talk about it!

What are therapists getting wrong when learning about and treating dissociation?

  • Not believing in dissociative identities or dissociative systems
  • Fear of and misunderstanding of dissociation
  • Thinking of dissociation as a dirt word and something to avoid
  • Believing that dissociation must always be healed (when in fact it could be useful at times)

What is dissociation? What is dissociative identity disorder or dissociative experience?

  • Exploring different definitions and conceptualizations
  • It is a lot of different things
  • Severing/separating from the present moment or from aspects of ourselves
  • Disaggregation or dividing your self into parts
  • Purposeful, meeting a need or protection
  • The shift to thinking about elements of dissociation as adaptive or maladaptive situationally

How can therapists support clients in understanding and managing their own dissociation?

  • Helping clients to identify what purpose their dissociation is serving
  • Assessing dissociative profile through an inventory in the book (triggers, how we dissociate, adaptive/maladaptive)
  • All dissociative behaviors can be assessed as adaptive or maladaptive

How can a therapist assess for dissociative identities or systems?

  • Language may vary (parts, defenders, team, selves, side, aspect, etc.)
  • Previous diagnosis or self-diagnosis
  • Listen for the experience (a “part of me” wants this, a “side of me” wants this)
  • Speaking in a parts-informed way
  • Exploring for thinking from different parts of self, potentially even already with names
  • Dissociative Identities inventories

What are clinical goals with clients who have dissociative experiences and/or identities?

  • When working with someone with a system, will need to get buy in from all elements of the team for treatment goals
  • Goals may not align across different parts
  • The theory that you’re working with a family
  • Many clients have Chronic PTSD and the focus of treatment may be trauma
  • The importance of being trauma informed
  • Grounding, anchoring, or settling into the present moment
  • The goal is usually NOT integration
  • Cohesion, communication, or cooperation

How can therapists overcome their fear about dissociation?

  • Identifying your own dissociation
  • Overcoming the “us versus them” related to dissociation
  • Moving away from bias and stereotypes of folks who dissociate


Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Dissociation Made Simple (the book)

Jamie’s website: redefinetherapy.com

Jamie’s social media:

 Trauma Therapist Rants on Twitter

Trauma Therapist Rants on TikTok


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2475 Understanding Your Money in Private Practice: An Interview with Jennie Schottmiller Understanding Your Money in Private Practice: An Interview with Jennie Schottmiller Curt and Katie interview Jennie Schottmiller, LMFT, CPA, about understanding your numbers when starting a private practice. We explore the simple math that can help you create consistent income and decrease your anxiety about running a business.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can handle their private practice finances We reached out to our friend, Jennie Schottmiller, to talk about the basics of bookkeeping in private practice.  What are the business decisions therapists need to make when starting a private practice? Bookkeeping platforms Types of business How to stabilize their income What to pay themselves How do therapists create consistent income? Understanding the ebb and flow of the business Identifying how to pay a consistent income every month What are the fears that many private practice owners have? (And how can they deal with them?) What do I need to plan for (i.e., rational fears) What do I need to talk myself of the ledge about (i.e., irrational fears) The fear of math can keep folks from figuring out how to make the money work The benefits of starting slow and managing your expenses from the beginning Creating financial cushions to avoid freaking out What are best practices for addressing your books in private practice? How often should you look at your books? What numbers are you looking at? When should you hire a bookkeeper? What should you know about your books before you hire a bookkeeper? How to design your books to best monitor your unique business Managing expenses and understanding what you’re paying for Looking at year over year changes and trends to plan How can a therapist navigate their neurodivergence and starting a business? Understanding your capacities and what your challenges are Creating a plan to get stuff done Putting systems in place to address your challenges that works for how your brain works Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Simple Profit website Simple Profit on Instagram Simple Profit on Facebook Free Facebook group: Simple Profit for Mental Health Clinicians Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0000 Understanding Your Money in Private Practice: An Interview with Jennie Schottmiller full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Jennie Schottmiller, LMFT, CPA, about understanding your numbers when starting a private practice. We explore the simple math that can help you create consistent income and decrease your anxiety about running a business. Understanding Your Money in Private Practice: An Interview with Jennie Schottmiller Curt and Katie interview Jennie Schottmiller, LMFT, CPA, about understanding your numbers when starting a private practice. We explore the simple math that can help you create consistent income and decrease your anxiety about running a business.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can handle their private practice finances We reached out to our friend, Jennie Schottmiller, to talk about the basics of bookkeeping in private practice.  What are the business decisions therapists need to make when starting a private practice? Bookkeeping platforms Types of business How to stabilize their income What to pay themselves How do therapists create consistent income? Understanding the ebb and flow of the business Identifying how to pay a consistent income every month What are the fears that many private practice owners have? (And how can they deal with them?) What do I need to plan for (i.e., rational fears) What do I need to talk myself of the ledge about (i.e., irrational fears) The fear of math can keep folks from figuring out how to make the money work The benefits of starting slow and managing your expenses from the beginning Creating financial cushions to avoid freaking out What are best practices for addressing your books in private practice? How often should you look at your books? What numbers are you looking at? When should you hire a bookkeeper? What should you know about your books before you hire a bookkeeper? How to design your books to best monitor your unique business Managing expenses and understanding what you’re paying for Looking at year over year changes and trends to plan How can a therapist navigate their neurodivergence and starting a business? Understanding your capacities and what your challenges are Creating a plan to get stuff done Putting systems in place to address your challenges that works for how your brain works Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Simple Profit website Simple Profit on Instagram Simple Profit on Facebook Free Facebook group: Simple Profit for Mental Health Clinicians Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Understanding Your Money in Private Practice: An Interview with Jennie Schottmiller

Curt and Katie interview Jennie Schottmiller, LMFT, CPA, about understanding your numbers when starting a private practice. We explore the simple math that can help you create consistent income and decrease your anxiety about running a business. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can handle their private practice finances

We reached out to our friend, Jennie Schottmiller, to talk about the basics of bookkeeping in private practice. 

What are the business decisions therapists need to make when starting a private practice?

  • Bookkeeping platforms
  • Types of business
  • How to stabilize their income
  • What to pay themselves

How do therapists create consistent income?

  • Understanding the ebb and flow of the business
  • Identifying how to pay a consistent income every month

What are the fears that many private practice owners have? (And how can they deal with them?)

  • What do I need to plan for (i.e., rational fears)
  • What do I need to talk myself of the ledge about (i.e., irrational fears)
  • The fear of math can keep folks from figuring out how to make the money work
  • The benefits of starting slow and managing your expenses from the beginning
  • Creating financial cushions to avoid freaking out

What are best practices for addressing your books in private practice?

  • How often should you look at your books?
  • What numbers are you looking at?
  • When should you hire a bookkeeper?
  • What should you know about your books before you hire a bookkeeper?
  • How to design your books to best monitor your unique business
  • Managing expenses and understanding what you’re paying for
  • Looking at year over year changes and trends to plan

How can a therapist navigate their neurodivergence and starting a business?

  • Understanding your capacities and what your challenges are
  • Creating a plan to get stuff done
  • Putting systems in place to address your challenges that works for how your brain works

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Simple Profit website

Simple Profit on Instagram

Simple Profit on Facebook

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Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

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Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2264 Has Therapy Become the New Religion? Has Therapy Become the New Religion? Curt and Katie chat about op ed pieces from the New York Times, where there are a lot of opinions on what therapy is and should be. We explore comparisons of therapy to religion, the notion that going to therapy makes one good, safe and dateable, and how therapy seems to have invaded our lives.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the opinion that therapy has become morally good Katie likes reading New York Times Op Ed pieces on what therapy is now. We decided to explore some of the questions these articles raise. What does the New York Times have to say about therapy and therapists? Going to therapy makes you a good person Putting that you’re going to therapy on your dating app is a cheat code – meaning that you are safe to date We have reached a point where we’re more focused on “mental health” than on mental illness Therapy-speak has invaded everything It is toxic to tell everyone to go to therapy What is leading to comparisons of therapy to religion? Decreased membership in organized religion Finding your own morals and values outside of organized religion Finding meaning and purpose through the work you do in therapy A fear of the degradation of social contracts and a rise of moral relativism How are people framing the role of the therapist? Potential for individual exploration of how to live one’s life that is individualized and less tied to specific doctrine Another potential to be seen as giving direction on how to live life The role of community care versus individualized healing Relationship versus individual focus The nuance of what therapy is versus the fears of what is being done What is the fear about therapy being so central in our lives? The worry that people are too self-focused and not sufficiently other focused Pushing back on the status quo and established systems The notion that “therapy is good” and “all people need therapy” Therapy as a status symbol or a designation that I’m a good person Lack of access for folks with mental illness due to “worried well” and “personal growth” clients taking all of the spots Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! New York Times’ Articles: Why Do People Think Going to Therapy Makes You A Good Person? By Mychal Denzel Smith We Have Reached Peak ‘Mental Health’ by Huw Green Is it Toxic to Tell Everyone to Get Therapy? By Zachary Siegel How the Language of Therapy Took Over Dating by Dani Blum The Problem with Letting Therapy-Speak Invade Everything by Tara Isabella Burton Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses? Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 06 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Has Therapy Become the New Religion? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about op ed pieces from the New York Times, where there are a lot of opinions on what therapy is and should be. We explore comparisons of therapy to religion, the notion that going to therapy makes one good, safe and dateable, and how therapy seems to have invaded our lives. Has Therapy Become the New Religion? Curt and Katie chat about op ed pieces from the New York Times, where there are a lot of opinions on what therapy is and should be. We explore comparisons of therapy to religion, the notion that going to therapy makes one good, safe and dateable, and how therapy seems to have invaded our lives.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the opinion that therapy has become morally good Katie likes reading New York Times Op Ed pieces on what therapy is now. We decided to explore some of the questions these articles raise. What does the New York Times have to say about therapy and therapists? Going to therapy makes you a good person Putting that you’re going to therapy on your dating app is a cheat code – meaning that you are safe to date We have reached a point where we’re more focused on “mental health” than on mental illness Therapy-speak has invaded everything It is toxic to tell everyone to go to therapy What is leading to comparisons of therapy to religion? Decreased membership in organized religion Finding your own morals and values outside of organized religion Finding meaning and purpose through the work you do in therapy A fear of the degradation of social contracts and a rise of moral relativism How are people framing the role of the therapist? Potential for individual exploration of how to live one’s life that is individualized and less tied to specific doctrine Another potential to be seen as giving direction on how to live life The role of community care versus individualized healing Relationship versus individual focus The nuance of what therapy is versus the fears of what is being done What is the fear about therapy being so central in our lives? The worry that people are too self-focused and not sufficiently other focused Pushing back on the status quo and established systems The notion that “therapy is good” and “all people need therapy” Therapy as a status symbol or a designation that I’m a good person Lack of access for folks with mental illness due to “worried well” and “personal growth” clients taking all of the spots Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! New York Times’ Articles: Why Do People Think Going to Therapy Makes You A Good Person? By Mychal Denzel Smith We Have Reached Peak ‘Mental Health’ by Huw Green Is it Toxic to Tell Everyone to Get Therapy? By Zachary Siegel How the Language of Therapy Took Over Dating by Dani Blum The Problem with Letting Therapy-Speak Invade Everything by Tara Isabella Burton Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses? Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Has Therapy Become the New Religion?

Curt and Katie chat about op ed pieces from the New York Times, where there are a lot of opinions on what therapy is and should be. We explore comparisons of therapy to religion, the notion that going to therapy makes one good, safe and dateable, and how therapy seems to have invaded our lives.   

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the opinion that therapy has become morally good

Katie likes reading New York Times Op Ed pieces on what therapy is now. We decided to explore some of the questions these articles raise.

What does the New York Times have to say about therapy and therapists?

  • Going to therapy makes you a good person
  • Putting that you’re going to therapy on your dating app is a cheat code – meaning that you are safe to date
  • We have reached a point where we’re more focused on “mental health” than on mental illness
  • Therapy-speak has invaded everything
  • It is toxic to tell everyone to go to therapy

What is leading to comparisons of therapy to religion?

  • Decreased membership in organized religion
  • Finding your own morals and values outside of organized religion
  • Finding meaning and purpose through the work you do in therapy
  • A fear of the degradation of social contracts and a rise of moral relativism

How are people framing the role of the therapist?

  • Potential for individual exploration of how to live one’s life that is individualized and less tied to specific doctrine
  • Another potential to be seen as giving direction on how to live life
  • The role of community care versus individualized healing
  • Relationship versus individual focus
  • The nuance of what therapy is versus the fears of what is being done

What is the fear about therapy being so central in our lives?

  • The worry that people are too self-focused and not sufficiently other focused
  • Pushing back on the status quo and established systems
  • The notion that “therapy is good” and “all people need therapy”
  • Therapy as a status symbol or a designation that I’m a good person
  • Lack of access for folks with mental illness due to “worried well” and “personal growth” clients taking all of the spots


Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

New York Times’ Articles:

Why Do People Think Going to Therapy Makes You A Good Person? By Mychal Denzel Smith

We Have Reached Peak ‘Mental Health’ by Huw Green

Is it Toxic to Tell Everyone to Get Therapy? By Zachary Siegel

How the Language of Therapy Took Over Dating by Dani Blum

The Problem with Letting Therapy-Speak Invade Everything by Tara Isabella Burton


Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined


Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses?

Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2142 Understanding Impostor Syndrome in High Achievers: An Interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Understanding Impostor Syndrome in High Achievers: An Interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewison working with high achievers who struggle with impostor syndrome. We explored what impostor syndrome is, how society contributes to impostor syndrome, how you can differentiate impostor syndrome from internalized racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, etc., the emotional impacts of impostor syndrome, and how therapists can work effectively with these clients.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how impostor syndrome shows up in high achievers We reached out to our friend, Stevon Lewis, to explore impostor syndrome.  What do therapists miss related to treating impostor syndrome in high achievers? Looking at the symptoms versus the root cause Understanding the common patterns How does society contribute to impostor syndrome?  Productivity and detail-orientation are praised The role of humility and Stevon’s difficulty with the accepted definition of humility Subcultures that are hyper-focused on achievement and competition The impact of a marginalized identity or identities on impostor syndrome How can therapists support high achievers with impostor syndrome in therapy? Slowing down the conversation Shifting the language related to goal-setting Finding a path to celebrating wins Perspective taking on how you treat yourself versus how you treat others Self-compassion and self-understanding How do you sort out impostor syndrome from internalized racism, sexism, ableism, etc.? Contending with stereotypes and unreasonable expectations Looking at the environment within which someone is working or living The impact of parenting and what you’ve grown up with Emotional impacts of Impostor Syndrome Description of the inner bully Fear of being found out, not belonging Fear of being a disappointment or of being too successful The danger of exploitation, especially for folks who have traditionally been marginalized The pushback when you are being different What does healing look like for high achievers with impostor syndrome? Radical acceptance of self Getting freedom Self-compassion Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Stevon’s Website Stevon’s Journal: Silencing Your Inner Bully Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: LinkTree Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 27 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Understanding Impostor Syndrome in High Achievers: An Interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewison working with high achievers who struggle with impostor syndrome. We explored what impostor syndrome is, how society contributes to impostor syndrome, how you can differentiate impostor syndrome from internalized racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, etc., the emotional impacts of impostor syndrome, and how therapists can work effectively with these clients. Understanding Impostor Syndrome in High Achievers: An Interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewison working with high achievers who struggle with impostor syndrome. We explored what impostor syndrome is, how society contributes to impostor syndrome, how you can differentiate impostor syndrome from internalized racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, etc., the emotional impacts of impostor syndrome, and how therapists can work effectively with these clients.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how impostor syndrome shows up in high achievers We reached out to our friend, Stevon Lewis, to explore impostor syndrome.  What do therapists miss related to treating impostor syndrome in high achievers? Looking at the symptoms versus the root cause Understanding the common patterns How does society contribute to impostor syndrome?  Productivity and detail-orientation are praised The role of humility and Stevon’s difficulty with the accepted definition of humility Subcultures that are hyper-focused on achievement and competition The impact of a marginalized identity or identities on impostor syndrome How can therapists support high achievers with impostor syndrome in therapy? Slowing down the conversation Shifting the language related to goal-setting Finding a path to celebrating wins Perspective taking on how you treat yourself versus how you treat others Self-compassion and self-understanding How do you sort out impostor syndrome from internalized racism, sexism, ableism, etc.? Contending with stereotypes and unreasonable expectations Looking at the environment within which someone is working or living The impact of parenting and what you’ve grown up with Emotional impacts of Impostor Syndrome Description of the inner bully Fear of being found out, not belonging Fear of being a disappointment or of being too successful The danger of exploitation, especially for folks who have traditionally been marginalized The pushback when you are being different What does healing look like for high achievers with impostor syndrome? Radical acceptance of self Getting freedom Self-compassion Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Stevon’s Website Stevon’s Journal: Silencing Your Inner Bully Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: LinkTree Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Understanding Impostor Syndrome in High Achievers: An Interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewison working with high achievers who struggle with impostor syndrome. We explored what impostor syndrome is, how society contributes to impostor syndrome, how you can differentiate impostor syndrome from internalized racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, etc., the emotional impacts of impostor syndrome, and how therapists can work effectively with these clients. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how impostor syndrome shows up in high achievers

We reached out to our friend, Stevon Lewis, to explore impostor syndrome. 

What do therapists miss related to treating impostor syndrome in high achievers?

  • Looking at the symptoms versus the root cause
  • Understanding the common patterns

How does society contribute to impostor syndrome?

  •  Productivity and detail-orientation are praised
  • The role of humility and Stevon’s difficulty with the accepted definition of humility
  • Subcultures that are hyper-focused on achievement and competition
  • The impact of a marginalized identity or identities on impostor syndrome

How can therapists support high achievers with impostor syndrome in therapy?

  • Slowing down the conversation
  • Shifting the language related to goal-setting
  • Finding a path to celebrating wins
  • Perspective taking on how you treat yourself versus how you treat others
  • Self-compassion and self-understanding

How do you sort out impostor syndrome from internalized racism, sexism, ableism, etc.?

  • Contending with stereotypes and unreasonable expectations
  • Looking at the environment within which someone is working or living
  • The impact of parenting and what you’ve grown up with

Emotional impacts of Impostor Syndrome

  • Description of the inner bully
  • Fear of being found out, not belonging
  • Fear of being a disappointment or of being too successful
  • The danger of exploitation, especially for folks who have traditionally been marginalized
  • The pushback when you are being different

What does healing look like for high achievers with impostor syndrome?

  • Radical acceptance of self
  • Getting freedom
  • Self-compassion


Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Stevon’s Website

Stevon’s Journal: Silencing Your Inner Bully


Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

LinkTree


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2256 Supervision in the Real World: Understanding what makes an effective supervisory alliance Supervision in the Real World: Understanding what makes an effective supervisory alliance Curt and Katie chat about the relationship between supervisor and supervisee in clinical supervision. We explore what makes up a good supervisory alliance, what the research says (and why it is problematic), as well the practicalities of how to create a good relationship and set up a strong supervision meeting. We also look at the challenges in the real world, especially related to addressing business or administrative needs.   This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore the clinical supervisory alliance for therapists We know that the relationship is very important in therapy, but what about supervision? We dig into what makes an effective supervisory alliance (and what can hurt it). What makes up a good clinical supervision relationship for therapists? Teaching within a learning alliance Having a shared view of what is being worked on Rapport, shared supervisory goals, shared tasks by which those goals are pursued Research on clinical supervision is problematic Mechanisms by which efficacy is measured Poor timing of research (developmental stage of the supervisee as well as after supervision is done) What does an effective clinical supervisory alliance look like, practically? Strong relationship that holds space for an assessment of what the supervisee needs at their particular developmental stage Supervisory Alliance measures can help to identify how well this relationship is developing Using feedback to inform the conversations in supervision Cultural and gender impacts on the supervisory alliance Supervisor humility and openness Intentionality with how the relationship is developed Regular evaluations for supervisees, including the FASIT (Functional Assessment of Skills for Interpersonal Therapists) system from Behavioral Analysts to assess their skills Setting up an effective supervisory session Navigating the business and clinical needs within the supervisory relationship Creating an agenda and goals Balancing case presentation with other supervisory needs Clear about expectations at every stage, especially relevant at hiring Pulling administrative conversations out of clinical supervision meetings Finding agreed upon path to address clinical work Cultural humility within the supervisory relationship Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Please check continuing education approval bodies: Continuing Education Information Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Sign up to get on the list for Curt’s supervision workshop Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell A Few Thoughts on Impostor Syndrome by Dr. Jordan Harris *The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 20 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Supervision in the Real World: Understanding what makes an effective supervisory alliance full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the relationship between supervisor and supervisee in clinical supervision. We explore what makes up a good supervisory alliance, what the research says (and why it is problematic), as well the practicalities of how to create a good relationship and set up a strong supervision meeting. We also look at the challenges in the real world, especially related to addressing business or administrative needs. Supervision in the Real World: Understanding what makes an effective supervisory alliance Curt and Katie chat about the relationship between supervisor and supervisee in clinical supervision. We explore what makes up a good supervisory alliance, what the research says (and why it is problematic), as well the practicalities of how to create a good relationship and set up a strong supervision meeting. We also look at the challenges in the real world, especially related to addressing business or administrative needs.   This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore the clinical supervisory alliance for therapists We know that the relationship is very important in therapy, but what about supervision? We dig into what makes an effective supervisory alliance (and what can hurt it). What makes up a good clinical supervision relationship for therapists? Teaching within a learning alliance Having a shared view of what is being worked on Rapport, shared supervisory goals, shared tasks by which those goals are pursued Research on clinical supervision is problematic Mechanisms by which efficacy is measured Poor timing of research (developmental stage of the supervisee as well as after supervision is done) What does an effective clinical supervisory alliance look like, practically? Strong relationship that holds space for an assessment of what the supervisee needs at their particular developmental stage Supervisory Alliance measures can help to identify how well this relationship is developing Using feedback to inform the conversations in supervision Cultural and gender impacts on the supervisory alliance Supervisor humility and openness Intentionality with how the relationship is developed Regular evaluations for supervisees, including the FASIT (Functional Assessment of Skills for Interpersonal Therapists) system from Behavioral Analysts to assess their skills Setting up an effective supervisory session Navigating the business and clinical needs within the supervisory relationship Creating an agenda and goals Balancing case presentation with other supervisory needs Clear about expectations at every stage, especially relevant at hiring Pulling administrative conversations out of clinical supervision meetings Finding agreed upon path to address clinical work Cultural humility within the supervisory relationship Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: Please check continuing education approval bodies: Continuing Education Information Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Sign up to get on the list for Curt’s supervision workshop Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell A Few Thoughts on Impostor Syndrome by Dr. Jordan Harris *The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Supervision in the Real World: Understanding what makes an effective supervisory alliance

Curt and Katie chat about the relationship between supervisor and supervisee in clinical supervision. We explore what makes up a good supervisory alliance, what the research says (and why it is problematic), as well the practicalities of how to create a good relationship and set up a strong supervision meeting. We also look at the challenges in the real world, especially related to addressing business or administrative needs.  

This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore the clinical supervisory alliance for therapists

We know that the relationship is very important in therapy, but what about supervision? We dig into what makes an effective supervisory alliance (and what can hurt it).

What makes up a good clinical supervision relationship for therapists?

  • Teaching within a learning alliance
  • Having a shared view of what is being worked on
  • Rapport, shared supervisory goals, shared tasks by which those goals are pursued

Research on clinical supervision is problematic

  • Mechanisms by which efficacy is measured
  • Poor timing of research (developmental stage of the supervisee as well as after supervision is done)

What does an effective clinical supervisory alliance look like, practically?

  • Strong relationship that holds space for an assessment of what the supervisee needs at their particular developmental stage
  • Supervisory Alliance measures can help to identify how well this relationship is developing
  • Using feedback to inform the conversations in supervision
  • Cultural and gender impacts on the supervisory alliance
  • Supervisor humility and openness
  • Intentionality with how the relationship is developed
  • Regular evaluations for supervisees, including the FASIT (Functional Assessment of Skills for Interpersonal Therapists) system from Behavioral Analysts to assess their skills

Setting up an effective supervisory session

  • Navigating the business and clinical needs within the supervisory relationship
  • Creating an agenda and goals
  • Balancing case presentation with other supervisory needs
  • Clear about expectations at every stage, especially relevant at hiring
  • Pulling administrative conversations out of clinical supervision meetings
  • Finding agreed upon path to address clinical work
  • Cultural humility within the supervisory relationship

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals: Please check continuing education approval bodies: Continuing Education Information


Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Sign up to get on the list for Curt’s supervision workshop

Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell

A Few Thoughts on Impostor Syndrome by Dr. Jordan Harris

*The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 4308 Sex Therapy with Perfectionists: An Interview with Dr. Tom Murray Sex Therapy with Perfectionists: An Interview with Dr. Tom Murray Curt and Katie interview Dr. Tom Murray about sex therapy for clients with the overcontrolled temperament. We talk about how temperament can affect one’s sex life, what therapists often miss in conversations about sex, and what good sex therapy can look like for these clients.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Dr. Tom Murray Dr. Tom Murray, author, international trainer, educator, and couples and sex therapist-supervisor, is a widely sought-after expert in sexuality and intimate relationships. For 20+ years, Murray has worked with everyday folks to embrace their weirdness, shed labels and shame, lean into anxiety, and build better and stronger relationships. Murray has appeared in numerous venues, including the Huffington Post and The Daily Mail, as well as radio, television and podcasts, including the Practice of Being Seen and Shrink Rap Radio. Murray directs A Path to Wellness, a multidisciplinary practice providing sex therapy, couples counseling, and general psychotherapy. He authored "Making Nice with Naughty: An intimacy guide for the rule-following, organized, perfectionist, practical, and color-within-the-line types." In this podcast episode, we talk about how temperament can impact your sex life We reached out to Dr. Tom Murray to share with us about his new book, Making Nice with Naughty, and how therapists can understand how to help perfectionists (and other over-controlled types) can improve their sex life. What is the overcontrolled personality and how does it impact sex and sexuality? Personality characteristics and mindset (introspective, fixed or fatalistic mindset) Perfectionism, rigidity, and hypervigilance Sexual deficits (low receptivity, avoidance of novel situations, need for ritual) Typically choose monogamy as overarching rule for sexual relationships The impact of trauma on those who are predisposed to the overcontrolled temperament The complication of past trauma on current relationships The challenge and the work of helping clients show up as the sexual being they would like to be How can therapists help overcontrolled adults to improve their sexual functioning? The goal of self-acceptance and the importance of learning about sex as an adult The rights and responsibilities of monogamy Sexual discrepancy and forced celibacy Looking at the difference between “want” and “willing” to have sex Understanding the different types of desire (spontaneous, responsive, contextual) and what is typical for each partner How to overcome low sexual desire in relationships Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The book: Making Nice with Naughty: An Intimacy Guide for the Rule-Following, Organized, Perfectionist, Practical, and Color-Within-The-Line Types by Dr. Thomas L. Murray Jr Tom’s website: drtommurray.com Dr. Tom Murray on Instagram Dr. Tom Murray on TikTok Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Sex and Shame: An interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT Let’s Talk about Sex: An interview with Liz Dube, LMFT What Therapists Should Know About Sexual Health, Monkey Pox, and the Echoes of the AIDS Epidemic: An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 13 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Sex Therapy with Perfectionists: An Interview with Dr. Tom Murray full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Tom Murray about sex therapy for clients with the overcontrolled temperament. We talk about how temperament can affect one’s sex life, what therapists often miss in conversations about sex, and what good sex therapy can look like for these clients. Sex Therapy with Perfectionists: An Interview with Dr. Tom Murray Curt and Katie interview Dr. Tom Murray about sex therapy for clients with the overcontrolled temperament. We talk about how temperament can affect one’s sex life, what therapists often miss in conversations about sex, and what good sex therapy can look like for these clients.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Dr. Tom Murray Dr. Tom Murray, author, international trainer, educator, and couples and sex therapist-supervisor, is a widely sought-after expert in sexuality and intimate relationships. For 20+ years, Murray has worked with everyday folks to embrace their weirdness, shed labels and shame, lean into anxiety, and build better and stronger relationships. Murray has appeared in numerous venues, including the Huffington Post and The Daily Mail, as well as radio, television and podcasts, including the Practice of Being Seen and Shrink Rap Radio. Murray directs A Path to Wellness, a multidisciplinary practice providing sex therapy, couples counseling, and general psychotherapy. He authored "Making Nice with Naughty: An intimacy guide for the rule-following, organized, perfectionist, practical, and color-within-the-line types." In this podcast episode, we talk about how temperament can impact your sex life We reached out to Dr. Tom Murray to share with us about his new book, Making Nice with Naughty, and how therapists can understand how to help perfectionists (and other over-controlled types) can improve their sex life. What is the overcontrolled personality and how does it impact sex and sexuality? Personality characteristics and mindset (introspective, fixed or fatalistic mindset) Perfectionism, rigidity, and hypervigilance Sexual deficits (low receptivity, avoidance of novel situations, need for ritual) Typically choose monogamy as overarching rule for sexual relationships The impact of trauma on those who are predisposed to the overcontrolled temperament The complication of past trauma on current relationships The challenge and the work of helping clients show up as the sexual being they would like to be How can therapists help overcontrolled adults to improve their sexual functioning? The goal of self-acceptance and the importance of learning about sex as an adult The rights and responsibilities of monogamy Sexual discrepancy and forced celibacy Looking at the difference between “want” and “willing” to have sex Understanding the different types of desire (spontaneous, responsive, contextual) and what is typical for each partner How to overcome low sexual desire in relationships Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The book: Making Nice with Naughty: An Intimacy Guide for the Rule-Following, Organized, Perfectionist, Practical, and Color-Within-The-Line Types by Dr. Thomas L. Murray Jr Tom’s website: drtommurray.com Dr. Tom Murray on Instagram Dr. Tom Murray on TikTok Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Sex and Shame: An interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT Let’s Talk about Sex: An interview with Liz Dube, LMFT What Therapists Should Know About Sexual Health, Monkey Pox, and the Echoes of the AIDS Epidemic: An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Sex Therapy with Perfectionists: An Interview with Dr. Tom Murray

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Tom Murray about sex therapy for clients with the overcontrolled temperament. We talk about how temperament can affect one’s sex life, what therapists often miss in conversations about sex, and what good sex therapy can look like for these clients. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Dr. Tom Murray

Dr. Tom Murray, author, international trainer, educator, and couples and sex therapist-supervisor, is a widely sought-after expert in sexuality and intimate relationships. For 20+ years, Murray has worked with everyday folks to embrace their weirdness, shed labels and shame, lean into anxiety, and build better and stronger relationships. Murray has appeared in numerous venues, including the Huffington Post and The Daily Mail, as well as radio, television and podcasts, including the Practice of Being Seen and Shrink Rap Radio. Murray directs A Path to Wellness, a multidisciplinary practice providing sex therapy, couples counseling, and general psychotherapy. He authored "Making Nice with Naughty: An intimacy guide for the rule-following, organized, perfectionist, practical, and color-within-the-line types."

In this podcast episode, we talk about how temperament can impact your sex life

We reached out to Dr. Tom Murray to share with us about his new book, Making Nice with Naughty, and how therapists can understand how to help perfectionists (and other over-controlled types) can improve their sex life.

What is the overcontrolled personality and how does it impact sex and sexuality?

  • Personality characteristics and mindset (introspective, fixed or fatalistic mindset)
  • Perfectionism, rigidity, and hypervigilance
  • Sexual deficits (low receptivity, avoidance of novel situations, need for ritual)
  • Typically choose monogamy as overarching rule for sexual relationships

The impact of trauma on those who are predisposed to the overcontrolled temperament

  • The complication of past trauma on current relationships
  • The challenge and the work of helping clients show up as the sexual being they would like to be

How can therapists help overcontrolled adults to improve their sexual functioning?

  • The goal of self-acceptance and the importance of learning about sex as an adult
  • The rights and responsibilities of monogamy
  • Sexual discrepancy and forced celibacy
  • Looking at the difference between “want” and “willing” to have sex
  • Understanding the different types of desire (spontaneous, responsive, contextual) and what is typical for each partner
  • How to overcome low sexual desire in relationships

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

The book: Making Nice with Naughty: An Intimacy Guide for the Rule-Following, Organized, Perfectionist, Practical, and Color-Within-The-Line Types by Dr. Thomas L. Murray Jr

Tom’s website: drtommurray.com

Dr. Tom Murray on Instagram

Dr. Tom Murray on TikTok

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Sex and Shame: An interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT

Let’s Talk about Sex: An interview with Liz Dube, LMFT

What Therapists Should Know About Sexual Health, Monkey Pox, and the Echoes of the AIDS Epidemic: An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2212 yes What Actually is Therapy? What Actually is Therapy? Curt and Katie chat about the confusing laws related to telehealth and other technologies that open up questions of how therapy is actually defined. We look at what is not therapy, what constitutes a therapy session, what differentiates therapy from coaching, and how therapists can navigate confusing laws related to texting, telehealth, and interstate communication with their clients.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about what therapy is and what it is not Curt identified some laws that don’t quite work because what is considered therapy is changing. What time does therapy happen if you are texting? Where is it located? And what actually is therapy and needs to be held under the laws of the profession AND the laws regulating telehealth and technology? Why does Curt want to fix the telehealth laws? Rules surrounding knowing where your client is and safety depend on therapy happening concurrently. New types of therapy (like texting and asynchronous messaging) don’t have the same parameters to be able to identify what is supposed to be documented in therapy sessions. What is therapy and what is not therapy? Therapy versus coaching Therapy versus coping skills training What is therapy versus what is therapeutic Does the presence of a therapist make something therapy? What about continuity of care or coping/coaching calls when someone is traveling? Things that are called therapy and are not: retail therapy, conversion therapy What is billable to insurance? How do we differentiate what we do from non-therapists? Deeper emotional work within psychological principles Legal responsibilities of confidentiality What is a therapy session? Therapy sessions versus coaching calls Therapists define what is a therapy session (according to CAMFT) We need to make sure that we clarify with clients what therapy is with each of us Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article from Stephen P. Becker – Wilderness Therapy: Ethical Considerations for Mental Health Professionals Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Rage and Client Self-Harm: An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT It's the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision-Making in Dual Relationships Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0000 What Actually is Therapy? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the confusing laws related to telehealth and other technologies that open up questions of how therapy is actually defined. We look at what is not therapy, what constitutes a therapy session, what differentiates therapy from coaching, and how therapists can navigate confusing laws related to texting, telehealth, and interstate communication with their clients. What Actually is Therapy? Curt and Katie chat about the confusing laws related to telehealth and other technologies that open up questions of how therapy is actually defined. We look at what is not therapy, what constitutes a therapy session, what differentiates therapy from coaching, and how therapists can navigate confusing laws related to texting, telehealth, and interstate communication with their clients.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about what therapy is and what it is not Curt identified some laws that don’t quite work because what is considered therapy is changing. What time does therapy happen if you are texting? Where is it located? And what actually is therapy and needs to be held under the laws of the profession AND the laws regulating telehealth and technology? Why does Curt want to fix the telehealth laws? Rules surrounding knowing where your client is and safety depend on therapy happening concurrently. New types of therapy (like texting and asynchronous messaging) don’t have the same parameters to be able to identify what is supposed to be documented in therapy sessions. What is therapy and what is not therapy? Therapy versus coaching Therapy versus coping skills training What is therapy versus what is therapeutic Does the presence of a therapist make something therapy? What about continuity of care or coping/coaching calls when someone is traveling? Things that are called therapy and are not: retail therapy, conversion therapy What is billable to insurance? How do we differentiate what we do from non-therapists? Deeper emotional work within psychological principles Legal responsibilities of confidentiality What is a therapy session? Therapy sessions versus coaching calls Therapists define what is a therapy session (according to CAMFT) We need to make sure that we clarify with clients what therapy is with each of us Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article from Stephen P. Becker – Wilderness Therapy: Ethical Considerations for Mental Health Professionals Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Rage and Client Self-Harm: An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT It's the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision-Making in Dual Relationships Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ What Actually is Therapy?

Curt and Katie chat about the confusing laws related to telehealth and other technologies that open up questions of how therapy is actually defined. We look at what is not therapy, what constitutes a therapy session, what differentiates therapy from coaching, and how therapists can navigate confusing laws related to texting, telehealth, and interstate communication with their clients. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about what therapy is and what it is not

Curt identified some laws that don’t quite work because what is considered therapy is changing. What time does therapy happen if you are texting? Where is it located? And what actually is therapy and needs to be held under the laws of the profession AND the laws regulating telehealth and technology?

Why does Curt want to fix the telehealth laws?

  • Rules surrounding knowing where your client is and safety depend on therapy happening concurrently.
  • New types of therapy (like texting and asynchronous messaging) don’t have the same parameters to be able to identify what is supposed to be documented in therapy sessions.

What is therapy and what is not therapy?

  • Therapy versus coaching
  • Therapy versus coping skills training
  • What is therapy versus what is therapeutic
  • Does the presence of a therapist make something therapy?
  • What about continuity of care or coping/coaching calls when someone is traveling?
  • Things that are called therapy and are not: retail therapy, conversion therapy
  • What is billable to insurance?

How do we differentiate what we do from non-therapists?

  • Deeper emotional work within psychological principles
  • Legal responsibilities of confidentiality

What is a therapy session?

  • Therapy sessions versus coaching calls
  • Therapists define what is a therapy session (according to CAMFT)
  • We need to make sure that we clarify with clients what therapy is with each of us

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Article from Stephen P. Becker – Wilderness Therapy: Ethical Considerations for Mental Health Professionals

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Rage and Client Self-Harm: An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT

It's the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision-Making in Dual Relationships

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2164 yes Am I Honoring My Personal Values OR Am I Discriminating? An exploration of ethics for modern therapists Am I Honoring My Personal Values OR Am I Discriminating? An exploration of ethics for modern therapists Curt and Katie chat about what therapists should be considering when their strongly held personal values or moral beliefs conflict with a client’s demographics, lifestyle, or choices. We dig deeply into when it’s okay to make a “values-based referral” and when referring out is discrimination.   This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore the difference between honoring our personal values and discrimination Therapists are people who have their own identities, beliefs, values, and approaches to life. But what happens when those identities come into conflict with the clients that they serve? This CE podcourse explores the ethics behind therapist personal values, when personal values should dictate a client being referred to another treatment provider, and when that referral is actually discriminatory. What is Julia Ward vs. Eastern Michigan University? An Orthodox Christian, master’s student in counseling requested referring out a LGBTQ+ client This student was dismissed from school because it was seen as discrimination and referrals were not allowed at that school There was a summary judgment and an appeal, leading to further lack of clarity The State of Tennessee has a law that allows therapists to deny services to clients The law trying to overcome ethics codes The ACA protested by moving their annual convention out of the state Tennessee How do ethics codes handle the conflict between discrimination and holding to personal values? Do no harm, be truthful, practice within your competence Equity, fidelity and the call to not discriminate with a call to learn and expand competence with clients, and avoid abandoning clients How do we decide whether we can or should refer out a client based on our firmly held beliefs? Ethical decision-making and our responsibility based on our license Sorting out client need, competence, and the benefit of the therapeutic relationship (i.e., common factors) Referral is a last resort and should be based on client need (not therapist preference) Advertising and branding for clients to self-select What happens when clients disclose things later in treatment The differences in the task for clinicians in private practice versus clients in organizations Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. Continuing Education Approvals: You can verify CE approvals here: Continuing Education Information Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD *The full reference list can be found in our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com as well as on the course on our learning platform. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Mon, 30 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Am I Honoring My Personal Values OR Am I Discriminating? An exploration of ethics for modern therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about what therapists should be considering when their strongly held personal values or moral beliefs conflict with a client’s demographics, lifestyle, or choices. We dig deeply into when it’s okay to make a “values-based referral” and when referring out is discrimination. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Am I Honoring My Personal Values OR Am I Discriminating? An exploration of ethics for modern therapists Curt and Katie chat about what therapists should be considering when their strongly held personal values or moral beliefs conflict with a client’s demographics, lifestyle, or choices. We dig deeply into when it’s okay to make a “values-based referral” and when referring out is discrimination.   This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore the difference between honoring our personal values and discrimination Therapists are people who have their own identities, beliefs, values, and approaches to life. But what happens when those identities come into conflict with the clients that they serve? This CE podcourse explores the ethics behind therapist personal values, when personal values should dictate a client being referred to another treatment provider, and when that referral is actually discriminatory. What is Julia Ward vs. Eastern Michigan University? An Orthodox Christian, master’s student in counseling requested referring out a LGBTQ+ client This student was dismissed from school because it was seen as discrimination and referrals were not allowed at that school There was a summary judgment and an appeal, leading to further lack of clarity The State of Tennessee has a law that allows therapists to deny services to clients The law trying to overcome ethics codes The ACA protested by moving their annual convention out of the state Tennessee How do ethics codes handle the conflict between discrimination and holding to personal values? Do no harm, be truthful, practice within your competence Equity, fidelity and the call to not discriminate with a call to learn and expand competence with clients, and avoid abandoning clients How do we decide whether we can or should refer out a client based on our firmly held beliefs? Ethical decision-making and our responsibility based on our license Sorting out client need, competence, and the benefit of the therapeutic relationship (i.e., common factors) Referral is a last resort and should be based on client need (not therapist preference) Advertising and branding for clients to self-select What happens when clients disclose things later in treatment The differences in the task for clinicians in private practice versus clients in organizations Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. Continuing Education Approvals: You can verify CE approvals here: Continuing Education Information Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD *The full reference list can be found in our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com as well as on the course on our learning platform. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Am I Honoring My Personal Values OR Am I Discriminating? An exploration of ethics for modern therapists

Curt and Katie chat about what therapists should be considering when their strongly held personal values or moral beliefs conflict with a client’s demographics, lifestyle, or choices. We dig deeply into when it’s okay to make a “values-based referral” and when referring out is discrimination.  

This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore the difference between honoring our personal values and discrimination

Therapists are people who have their own identities, beliefs, values, and approaches to life. But what happens when those identities come into conflict with the clients that they serve? This CE podcourse explores the ethics behind therapist personal values, when personal values should dictate a client being referred to another treatment provider, and when that referral is actually discriminatory.

What is Julia Ward vs. Eastern Michigan University?

  • An Orthodox Christian, master’s student in counseling requested referring out a LGBTQ+ client
  • This student was dismissed from school because it was seen as discrimination and referrals were not allowed at that school
  • There was a summary judgment and an appeal, leading to further lack of clarity

The State of Tennessee has a law that allows therapists to deny services to clients

  • The law trying to overcome ethics codes
  • The ACA protested by moving their annual convention out of the state Tennessee

How do ethics codes handle the conflict between discrimination and holding to personal values?

  • Do no harm, be truthful, practice within your competence
  • Equity, fidelity and the call to not discriminate with a call to learn and expand competence with clients, and avoid abandoning clients

How do we decide whether we can or should refer out a client based on our firmly held beliefs?

  • Ethical decision-making and our responsibility based on our license
  • Sorting out client need, competence, and the benefit of the therapeutic relationship (i.e., common factors)
  • Referral is a last resort and should be based on client need (not therapist preference)
  • Advertising and branding for clients to self-select
  • What happens when clients disclose things later in treatment
  • The differences in the task for clinicians in private practice versus clients in organizations

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records.

Continuing Education Approvals:

You can verify CE approvals here: Continuing Education Information

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD

*The full reference list can be found in our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com as well as on the course on our learning platform.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

]]> 4259 Addressing Racism in Clinical Licensing Exams: An Interview with Ben Caldwell and Tony Rousmaniere Addressing Racism in Clinical Licensing Exams: An Interview with Ben Caldwell and Tony Rousmaniere Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ben Caldwell and Dr. Tony Rousmaniere about the problems with the Clinical Licensing exams for therapists. We discuss the recent report from ASWB on their pass rates as well as the concerns about the EPPP2 implementation, the poor predictive validity and utility of these licensing exams, and suggestions for what to do with our licensing processes given these concerns. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about recent data that licensing exams are racist Friends of the show, Dr. Ben Caldwell and Dr. Tony Rousmaniere wrote a white paper in response to a recent report from the ASWB that shows their licensing exams appear to be racist. We wanted to talk with them about their calls to discontinue these exams. How are the clinical exams racist? ·      The number one predictor of whether you pass the exam is your race ·      The structure of the exam seems to advantage those with more affinity to these types of tests (i.e., those who are educationally privileged) ·      There may also be content or language concerns leading to these disparities What is the purpose of the clinical exams for therapists? ·      Said that it is to be an assessment of knowledge and training, consumer protection, etc. ·      Little predictive validity (of competence or consumer safety) for these tests ·      The test is an unfair hurdle for folks without academic privilege ·      There does not seem to be a need for this test (due to the rigor of training and supervised experience) What would be better alternatives to requiring a clinical exam? ·      Alternate pathways that some states have taken ·      Addressing workforce shortages by allowing folks who have gotten through every other requirement (aside from the clinical exam) to be licensed ·      Just don’t require a clinical exam What can therapists do to try to get rid of licensing exams? ·      Advocacy to state boards to not implement EPPP2 ·      Other advocacy related to master’s level clinical exams ·      Organizations to #StopASWB and address the EPPP2 Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! White Paper: Clinical Licensing Exams in Mental Health Care by Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD and Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD ASWB Report on Social Work Licensing Exam Pass Rates Very Bad Therapy BenCaldwellLabs.com SentioCC.org Stop the Adoption of EPPP2 Website ASWB: End Discriminatory Social Work Licensing Exams A sample letter you can send to your licensing board will be on our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com. Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America Unlearning Very Bad Therapy Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Therapy Reimagined Homepage Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 23 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Addressing Racism in Clinical Licensing Exams: An Interview with Ben Caldwell and Tony Rousmaniere full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ben Caldwell and Dr. Tony Rousmaniere about the problems with the Clinical Licensing exams for therapists. We discuss the recent report from ASWB on their pass rates as well as the concerns about the EPPP2 implementation, the poor predictive validity and utility of these licensing exams, and suggestions for what to do with our licensing processes given these concerns. Addressing Racism in Clinical Licensing Exams: An Interview with Ben Caldwell and Tony Rousmaniere Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ben Caldwell and Dr. Tony Rousmaniere about the problems with the Clinical Licensing exams for therapists. We discuss the recent report from ASWB on their pass rates as well as the concerns about the EPPP2 implementation, the poor predictive validity and utility of these licensing exams, and suggestions for what to do with our licensing processes given these concerns. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about recent data that licensing exams are racist Friends of the show, Dr. Ben Caldwell and Dr. Tony Rousmaniere wrote a white paper in response to a recent report from the ASWB that shows their licensing exams appear to be racist. We wanted to talk with them about their calls to discontinue these exams. How are the clinical exams racist? ·      The number one predictor of whether you pass the exam is your race ·      The structure of the exam seems to advantage those with more affinity to these types of tests (i.e., those who are educationally privileged) ·      There may also be content or language concerns leading to these disparities What is the purpose of the clinical exams for therapists? ·      Said that it is to be an assessment of knowledge and training, consumer protection, etc. ·      Little predictive validity (of competence or consumer safety) for these tests ·      The test is an unfair hurdle for folks without academic privilege ·      There does not seem to be a need for this test (due to the rigor of training and supervised experience) What would be better alternatives to requiring a clinical exam? ·      Alternate pathways that some states have taken ·      Addressing workforce shortages by allowing folks who have gotten through every other requirement (aside from the clinical exam) to be licensed ·      Just don’t require a clinical exam What can therapists do to try to get rid of licensing exams? ·      Advocacy to state boards to not implement EPPP2 ·      Other advocacy related to master’s level clinical exams ·      Organizations to #StopASWB and address the EPPP2 Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! White Paper: Clinical Licensing Exams in Mental Health Care by Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD and Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD ASWB Report on Social Work Licensing Exam Pass Rates Very Bad Therapy BenCaldwellLabs.com SentioCC.org Stop the Adoption of EPPP2 Website ASWB: End Discriminatory Social Work Licensing Exams A sample letter you can send to your licensing board will be on our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com. Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America Unlearning Very Bad Therapy Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Therapy Reimagined Homepage Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Addressing Racism in Clinical Licensing Exams: An Interview with Ben Caldwell and Tony Rousmaniere

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Ben Caldwell and Dr. Tony Rousmaniere about the problems with the Clinical Licensing exams for therapists. We discuss the recent report from ASWB on their pass rates as well as the concerns about the EPPP2 implementation, the poor predictive validity and utility of these licensing exams, and suggestions for what to do with our licensing processes given these concerns.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about recent data that licensing exams are racist

Friends of the show, Dr. Ben Caldwell and Dr. Tony Rousmaniere wrote a white paper in response to a recent report from the ASWB that shows their licensing exams appear to be racist. We wanted to talk with them about their calls to discontinue these exams.

How are the clinical exams racist?

·      The number one predictor of whether you pass the exam is your race

·      The structure of the exam seems to advantage those with more affinity to these types of tests (i.e., those who are educationally privileged)

·      There may also be content or language concerns leading to these disparities

What is the purpose of the clinical exams for therapists?

·      Said that it is to be an assessment of knowledge and training, consumer protection, etc.

·      Little predictive validity (of competence or consumer safety) for these tests

·      The test is an unfair hurdle for folks without academic privilege

·      There does not seem to be a need for this test (due to the rigor of training and supervised experience)

What would be better alternatives to requiring a clinical exam?

·      Alternate pathways that some states have taken

·      Addressing workforce shortages by allowing folks who have gotten through every other requirement (aside from the clinical exam) to be licensed

·      Just don’t require a clinical exam

What can therapists do to try to get rid of licensing exams?

·      Advocacy to state boards to not implement EPPP2

·      Other advocacy related to master’s level clinical exams

·      Organizations to #StopASWB and address the EPPP2

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

White Paper: Clinical Licensing Exams in Mental Health Care by Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD and Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD

ASWB Report on Social Work Licensing Exam Pass Rates

Very Bad Therapy

BenCaldwellLabs.com

SentioCC.org

Stop the Adoption of EPPP2 Website

ASWB: End Discriminatory Social Work Licensing Exams

A sample letter you can send to your licensing board will be on our show notes at mtsgpodcast.com.

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Fixing Mental Healthcare in America

Unlearning Very Bad Therapy

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Podcast Homepage

Therapy Reimagined Homepage

Link tree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2364 Private Practice Planning for the Future of Mental Healthcare: An Interview with Maureen Werrbach Private Practice Planning for the Future of Mental Healthcare: An Interview with Maureen Werrbach Curt and Katie interview Maureen Werrbach of the Group Practice Exchange on upcoming trends for mental healthcare. We talk about what is predicted, how to prepare your private practice for success in 2023, and how to plan for unexpected changes to our profession. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Maureen Werrbach, LCPC, The Group Practice Exchange Maureen Werrbach established The Group Practice Exchange after starting her private practice, Urban Wellness, and growing it into successful group practices in various locations. Spending countless hours researching how to start a private practice (the legal and procedural steps) and then so many more hours learning how to grow it into a group (again trying to figure out the appropriate steps), she remembers wishing there was a place that she could go, or a book that she could read, that would explain not only the steps it would take to launch a group practice, but also discuss topics that relate to group practice ownership. A degree in the social service field doesn’t offer any training on the business side of running a group practice! Maureen learned through trial and error what works and what doesn’t in running a counseling group practice. She enjoys helping others reach their full potential and feel confident in running their business. In this podcast episode, we talk about upcoming trends in Mental Health and what it means for your therapy practice We reached out to our friend Maureen Werrbach of the Group Practice Exchange about where our field is moving and how we can plan for success. The way therapy is provided and paid for will be changing ·      Insurance: Fee for service versus value-based pricing ·      Large tech companies and one-stop shops ·      Ease of access and diminished costs via telehealth What therapists can do to future-proof their practice ·      Strong niche and branding ·      Doing what we do best ·      Addressing fees, profit margins, hiring ·      Dedicate time to researching upcoming trends ·      Diversifying offerings ·      Determining the best fit for your business, your career, your employment Special considerations for Group Practice Owners in 2023 ·      The concerns related to large group therapist mills taking employees ·      Focus on people, culture, and innovation ·      Intentionality related to values, mission, vision ·      Avoiding divisiveness and conflict between employers and employees ·      The importance of transparency and clarity on how you’ve set up your practice ·      Pathways for employees to grow and creative employment opportunities Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Group Practice Exchange Membership The Group Practice Exchange Facebook Group Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Maureen’s previous interview: Becoming a Group Practice Owner Fixing Mental Healthcare in America Beyond Reimagination: What is right (and wrong) with mental health apps Post Pandemic Practice All Things Group Therapy: An interview with Katie K. May, LPC Online Therapy Apps Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Therapy Reimagined Homepage Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 16 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Private Practice Planning for the Future of Mental Healthcare: An Interview with Maureen Werrbach full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Maureen Werrbach of the Group Practice Exchange on upcoming trends for mental healthcare. We talk about what is predicted, how to prepare your private practice for success in 2023, and how to plan for unexpected changes to our profession. Private Practice Planning for the Future of Mental Healthcare: An Interview with Maureen Werrbach Curt and Katie interview Maureen Werrbach of the Group Practice Exchange on upcoming trends for mental healthcare. We talk about what is predicted, how to prepare your private practice for success in 2023, and how to plan for unexpected changes to our profession. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Maureen Werrbach, LCPC, The Group Practice Exchange Maureen Werrbach established The Group Practice Exchange after starting her private practice, Urban Wellness, and growing it into successful group practices in various locations. Spending countless hours researching how to start a private practice (the legal and procedural steps) and then so many more hours learning how to grow it into a group (again trying to figure out the appropriate steps), she remembers wishing there was a place that she could go, or a book that she could read, that would explain not only the steps it would take to launch a group practice, but also discuss topics that relate to group practice ownership. A degree in the social service field doesn’t offer any training on the business side of running a group practice! Maureen learned through trial and error what works and what doesn’t in running a counseling group practice. She enjoys helping others reach their full potential and feel confident in running their business. In this podcast episode, we talk about upcoming trends in Mental Health and what it means for your therapy practice We reached out to our friend Maureen Werrbach of the Group Practice Exchange about where our field is moving and how we can plan for success. The way therapy is provided and paid for will be changing ·      Insurance: Fee for service versus value-based pricing ·      Large tech companies and one-stop shops ·      Ease of access and diminished costs via telehealth What therapists can do to future-proof their practice ·      Strong niche and branding ·      Doing what we do best ·      Addressing fees, profit margins, hiring ·      Dedicate time to researching upcoming trends ·      Diversifying offerings ·      Determining the best fit for your business, your career, your employment Special considerations for Group Practice Owners in 2023 ·      The concerns related to large group therapist mills taking employees ·      Focus on people, culture, and innovation ·      Intentionality related to values, mission, vision ·      Avoiding divisiveness and conflict between employers and employees ·      The importance of transparency and clarity on how you’ve set up your practice ·      Pathways for employees to grow and creative employment opportunities Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Group Practice Exchange Membership The Group Practice Exchange Facebook Group Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Maureen’s previous interview: Becoming a Group Practice Owner Fixing Mental Healthcare in America Beyond Reimagination: What is right (and wrong) with mental health apps Post Pandemic Practice All Things Group Therapy: An interview with Katie K. May, LPC Online Therapy Apps Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Therapy Reimagined Homepage Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Private Practice Planning for the Future of Mental Healthcare: An Interview with Maureen Werrbach

Curt and Katie interview Maureen Werrbach of the Group Practice Exchange on upcoming trends for mental healthcare. We talk about what is predicted, how to prepare your private practice for success in 2023, and how to plan for unexpected changes to our profession.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Maureen Werrbach, LCPC, The Group Practice Exchange

Maureen Werrbach established The Group Practice Exchange after starting her private practice, Urban Wellness, and growing it into successful group practices in various locations.

Spending countless hours researching how to start a private practice (the legal and procedural steps) and then so many more hours learning how to grow it into a group (again trying to figure out the appropriate steps), she remembers wishing there was a place that she could go, or a book that she could read, that would explain not only the steps it would take to launch a group practice, but also discuss topics that relate to group practice ownership.

A degree in the social service field doesn’t offer any training on the business side of running a group practice! Maureen learned through trial and error what works and what doesn’t in running a counseling group practice. She enjoys helping others reach their full potential and feel confident in running their business.

In this podcast episode, we talk about upcoming trends in Mental Health and what it means for your therapy practice

We reached out to our friend Maureen Werrbach of the Group Practice Exchange about where our field is moving and how we can plan for success.

The way therapy is provided and paid for will be changing

·      Insurance: Fee for service versus value-based pricing

·      Large tech companies and one-stop shops

·      Ease of access and diminished costs via telehealth

What therapists can do to future-proof their practice

·      Strong niche and branding

·      Doing what we do best

·      Addressing fees, profit margins, hiring

·      Dedicate time to researching upcoming trends

·      Diversifying offerings

·      Determining the best fit for your business, your career, your employment

Special considerations for Group Practice Owners in 2023

·      The concerns related to large group therapist mills taking employees

·      Focus on people, culture, and innovation

·      Intentionality related to values, mission, vision

·      Avoiding divisiveness and conflict between employers and employees

·      The importance of transparency and clarity on how you’ve set up your practice

·      Pathways for employees to grow and creative employment opportunities

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

The Group Practice Exchange Membership

The Group Practice Exchange Facebook Group

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Maureen’s previous interview: Becoming a Group Practice Owner

Fixing Mental Healthcare in America

Beyond Reimagination: What is right (and wrong) with mental health apps

Post Pandemic Practice

All Things Group Therapy: An interview with Katie K. May, LPC

Online Therapy Apps

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Podcast Homepage

Therapy Reimagined Homepage

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2416 Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Thoughts on investing and getting paid as a therapist Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Thoughts on investing and getting paid as a therapist Curt and Katie chat about money: considerations for investing and getting paid as a therapist.  We look at typical unpaid opportunities and how to decide whether to do them. We also talk about client care practices that may take time, but could keep clients.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about money mistakes that many therapists make We talk a lot about making sure that therapists get paid, but thought it was worth talking about when therapists should invest in their business and when they may want to work for free.   What are the lessons Curt and Katie learned around investing in their businesses? ·      Electronic Health Records/Practice Management systems are very helpful ·      Automation helps your business to run without you ·      Sometimes visibility is worth working for free How do you decide if you should do something for your business? “I gave a presentation, it's gotta be more than 10 years ago at this point, for a group of students. I think, like five people showed up… But I still get referrals from one of the people who came there. And it turned into a really wonderful relationship, because I sounded like I knew what I was talking about.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT ·      What are the practical benefits and challenges? ·      What are the other potential benefits (like enjoyment)? ·      What is the investment of time, money, and expertise? ·      What is the return on investment? Specifics on deciding to take unpaid work “There are elements of this where it's really looking at is the audience strong enough? Is there any money eventually? And do you actually want the referrals from the audience that you're going to be in front of? Because if all of those things are yes… I would consider – at least the first time out – doing some content creation (because I love content creation) without getting paid to see does it actually pan out. But you want to make sure you track that to determine: am I going to actually get anything from this this relationship and from this work that I'm doing?” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT ·      What new relationships will be developed? ·      Will you get visibility with the audience you’re seeking? ·      Will you obtain access to relevant learning? ·      Is the entity that is asking you legit and established? ·      Are there other forms of compensation (like photos or videos)? ·      Are you able to get clients from this work? (And what are new clients worth to you?) Client care versus getting paid “I don't think it's helpful, at least not for customer service purposes, to view your client as trying to take advantage of you.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT ·      Setting up appropriate boundaries and policies ·      Avoiding additional costs, if you can (i.e., setting fees in a private pay practice to include these extras) Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Why You Shouldn’t Just Do It All Yourself: An interview with Bibi Goldstein Why You Shouldn't Sell Out to Better Help: An interview with Jeff Guenther I Just Graduated, Now What? Career Advice for New Clinicians Mon, 09 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Thoughts on investing and getting paid as a therapist full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about money: considerations for investing and getting paid as a therapist. We look at typical unpaid opportunities and how to decide whether to do them. We also talk about client care practices that may take time, but could keep clients. Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Thoughts on investing and getting paid as a therapist Curt and Katie chat about money: considerations for investing and getting paid as a therapist.  We look at typical unpaid opportunities and how to decide whether to do them. We also talk about client care practices that may take time, but could keep clients.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about money mistakes that many therapists make We talk a lot about making sure that therapists get paid, but thought it was worth talking about when therapists should invest in their business and when they may want to work for free.   What are the lessons Curt and Katie learned around investing in their businesses? ·      Electronic Health Records/Practice Management systems are very helpful ·      Automation helps your business to run without you ·      Sometimes visibility is worth working for free How do you decide if you should do something for your business? “I gave a presentation, it's gotta be more than 10 years ago at this point, for a group of students. I think, like five people showed up… But I still get referrals from one of the people who came there. And it turned into a really wonderful relationship, because I sounded like I knew what I was talking about.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT ·      What are the practical benefits and challenges? ·      What are the other potential benefits (like enjoyment)? ·      What is the investment of time, money, and expertise? ·      What is the return on investment? Specifics on deciding to take unpaid work “There are elements of this where it's really looking at is the audience strong enough? Is there any money eventually? And do you actually want the referrals from the audience that you're going to be in front of? Because if all of those things are yes… I would consider – at least the first time out – doing some content creation (because I love content creation) without getting paid to see does it actually pan out. But you want to make sure you track that to determine: am I going to actually get anything from this this relationship and from this work that I'm doing?” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT ·      What new relationships will be developed? ·      Will you get visibility with the audience you’re seeking? ·      Will you obtain access to relevant learning? ·      Is the entity that is asking you legit and established? ·      Are there other forms of compensation (like photos or videos)? ·      Are you able to get clients from this work? (And what are new clients worth to you?) Client care versus getting paid “I don't think it's helpful, at least not for customer service purposes, to view your client as trying to take advantage of you.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT ·      Setting up appropriate boundaries and policies ·      Avoiding additional costs, if you can (i.e., setting fees in a private pay practice to include these extras) Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Why You Shouldn’t Just Do It All Yourself: An interview with Bibi Goldstein Why You Shouldn't Sell Out to Better Help: An interview with Jeff Guenther I Just Graduated, Now What? Career Advice for New Clinicians Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Thoughts on investing and getting paid as a therapist

Curt and Katie chat about money: considerations for investing and getting paid as a therapist.  We look at typical unpaid opportunities and how to decide whether to do them. We also talk about client care practices that may take time, but could keep clients.  

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about money mistakes that many therapists make

We talk a lot about making sure that therapists get paid, but thought it was worth talking about when therapists should invest in their business and when they may want to work for free.  

What are the lessons Curt and Katie learned around investing in their businesses?

·      Electronic Health Records/Practice Management systems are very helpful

·      Automation helps your business to run without you

·      Sometimes visibility is worth working for free

How do you decide if you should do something for your business?

“I gave a presentation, it's gotta be more than 10 years ago at this point, for a group of students. I think, like five people showed up… But I still get referrals from one of the people who came there. And it turned into a really wonderful relationship, because I sounded like I knew what I was talking about.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

·      What are the practical benefits and challenges?

·      What are the other potential benefits (like enjoyment)?

·      What is the investment of time, money, and expertise?

·      What is the return on investment?

Specifics on deciding to take unpaid work

“There are elements of this where it's really looking at is the audience strong enough? Is there any money eventually? And do you actually want the referrals from the audience that you're going to be in front of? Because if all of those things are yes… I would consider – at least the first time out – doing some content creation (because I love content creation) without getting paid to see does it actually pan out. But you want to make sure you track that to determine: am I going to actually get anything from this this relationship and from this work that I'm doing?” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

·      What new relationships will be developed?

·      Will you get visibility with the audience you’re seeking?

·      Will you obtain access to relevant learning?

·      Is the entity that is asking you legit and established?

·      Are there other forms of compensation (like photos or videos)?

·      Are you able to get clients from this work? (And what are new clients worth to you?)

Client care versus getting paid

“I don't think it's helpful, at least not for customer service purposes, to view your client as trying to take advantage of you.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

·      Setting up appropriate boundaries and policies

·      Avoiding additional costs, if you can (i.e., setting fees in a private pay practice to include these extras)

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Why You Shouldn’t Just Do It All Yourself: An interview with Bibi Goldstein

Why You Shouldn't Sell Out to Better Help: An interview with Jeff Guenther

I Just Graduated, Now What? Career Advice for New Clinicians

]]> 2598 How to Manage Your Practice as a Traveling Therapist: An Interview with Kym Tolson, LCSW How to Manage Your Practice as a Traveling Therapist: An Interview with Kym Tolson, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Kym Tolson, the traveling therapist. We look at how a modern therapist can be a digital nomad, including what business logistics to consider as well as how to travel well. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about working as a therapist when traveling We reached out to our friend Kym Tolson who lives and works as a digital nomad.  “It's kind of like being on vacation every day.” – Kym Tolson, LCSW What are the most important considerations when working as a digital nomad? ·      Checking the Wi-Fi before booking your accommodations ·      How long to stay in each place (Kym says about 2.5 weeks) ·      Finding a schedule that works and only takes small tweaks when you change time zones ·      Planning around the seasons and ideal locations What are the business considerations for traveling therapists? ·      Consult with tax attorney and accountant, where to register your business ·      Reach out to boards for the state you are traveling to (to determine if you can practice within the state) ·      Considerations for business write offs and expenses Managing work-life balance as a digital nomad ·      Finding the right times for work ·      Setting a schedule ·      Compartmentalize fun and work separately What are the necessities when traveling as a digital nomad? ·      Specific creature comforts or life necessities (for Kym it’s pots/pans to manage Celiac disease) ·      Computer ·      Numerous Wi-Fi options (different carriers for cell-phone coverage and portable mobile hotspot) ·      Understanding of the impacts of mode of travel and type of accommodations How do clients react to therapists who are on the road? ·      Decide on the level of transparency on traveling or location ·      Virtual background for continuity ·      Clients are usually pretty flexible with traveling therapist Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! www.thetravelingtherapist.com www.privatepracticeinsurancebilling.com Kym’s Facebook Group  The Expert’s Guide to Becoming a Traveling Therapist Course coupon code for 25% off is MODERNTHERAPIST Bill Like a Boss – Kym’s Insurance Billing Membership Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: How Can Therapists Actually Retire: An interview with David Frank Partners of Therapists Thriving Over Surviving – Growing a Practice Without Burning Out: An interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW Post Pandemic Practice Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Therapy Reimagined Homepage Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 26 Dec 2022 08:00:00 -0000 How to Manage Your Practice as a Traveling Therapist: An Interview with Kym Tolson, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Kym Tolson, the traveling therapist. We look at how a modern therapist can be a digital nomad, including what business logistics to consider as well as how to travel well. How to Manage Your Practice as a Traveling Therapist: An Interview with Kym Tolson, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Kym Tolson, the traveling therapist. We look at how a modern therapist can be a digital nomad, including what business logistics to consider as well as how to travel well. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about working as a therapist when traveling We reached out to our friend Kym Tolson who lives and works as a digital nomad.  “It's kind of like being on vacation every day.” – Kym Tolson, LCSW What are the most important considerations when working as a digital nomad? ·      Checking the Wi-Fi before booking your accommodations ·      How long to stay in each place (Kym says about 2.5 weeks) ·      Finding a schedule that works and only takes small tweaks when you change time zones ·      Planning around the seasons and ideal locations What are the business considerations for traveling therapists? ·      Consult with tax attorney and accountant, where to register your business ·      Reach out to boards for the state you are traveling to (to determine if you can practice within the state) ·      Considerations for business write offs and expenses Managing work-life balance as a digital nomad ·      Finding the right times for work ·      Setting a schedule ·      Compartmentalize fun and work separately What are the necessities when traveling as a digital nomad? ·      Specific creature comforts or life necessities (for Kym it’s pots/pans to manage Celiac disease) ·      Computer ·      Numerous Wi-Fi options (different carriers for cell-phone coverage and portable mobile hotspot) ·      Understanding of the impacts of mode of travel and type of accommodations How do clients react to therapists who are on the road? ·      Decide on the level of transparency on traveling or location ·      Virtual background for continuity ·      Clients are usually pretty flexible with traveling therapist Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! www.thetravelingtherapist.com www.privatepracticeinsurancebilling.com Kym’s Facebook Group  The Expert’s Guide to Becoming a Traveling Therapist Course coupon code for 25% off is MODERNTHERAPIST Bill Like a Boss – Kym’s Insurance Billing Membership Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: How Can Therapists Actually Retire: An interview with David Frank Partners of Therapists Thriving Over Surviving – Growing a Practice Without Burning Out: An interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW Post Pandemic Practice Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Podcast Homepage Therapy Reimagined Homepage Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How to Manage Your Practice as a Traveling Therapist: An Interview with Kym Tolson, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Kym Tolson, the traveling therapist. We look at how a modern therapist can be a digital nomad, including what business logistics to consider as well as how to travel well.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about working as a therapist when traveling

We reached out to our friend Kym Tolson who lives and works as a digital nomad. 

“It's kind of like being on vacation every day.” – Kym Tolson, LCSW

What are the most important considerations when working as a digital nomad?

·      Checking the Wi-Fi before booking your accommodations

·      How long to stay in each place (Kym says about 2.5 weeks)

·      Finding a schedule that works and only takes small tweaks when you change time zones

·      Planning around the seasons and ideal locations

What are the business considerations for traveling therapists?

·      Consult with tax attorney and accountant, where to register your business

·      Reach out to boards for the state you are traveling to (to determine if you can practice within the state)

·      Considerations for business write offs and expenses

Managing work-life balance as a digital nomad

·      Finding the right times for work

·      Setting a schedule

·      Compartmentalize fun and work separately

What are the necessities when traveling as a digital nomad?

·      Specific creature comforts or life necessities (for Kym it’s pots/pans to manage Celiac disease)

·      Computer

·      Numerous Wi-Fi options (different carriers for cell-phone coverage and portable mobile hotspot)

·      Understanding of the impacts of mode of travel and type of accommodations

How do clients react to therapists who are on the road?

·      Decide on the level of transparency on traveling or location

·      Virtual background for continuity

·      Clients are usually pretty flexible with traveling therapist

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

www.thetravelingtherapist.com

www.privatepracticeinsurancebilling.com

Kym’s Facebook Group

 The Expert’s Guide to Becoming a Traveling Therapist Course coupon code for 25% off is MODERNTHERAPIST

Bill Like a Boss – Kym’s Insurance Billing Membership

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

How Can Therapists Actually Retire: An interview with David Frank

Partners of Therapists

Thriving Over Surviving – Growing a Practice Without Burning Out: An interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW

Post Pandemic Practice

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Podcast Homepage

Therapy Reimagined Homepage

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube


Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2143 yes Smarter than SMART: How therapists can improve goal-setting with clients Smarter than SMART: How therapists can improve goal-setting with clients Curt and Katie chat about setting goals. We look at why goals are important to therapists, SMART goals (what they are, what works and what doesn’t), and how to move beyond SMART goals to more robust goal setting and behavior design. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how to strengthen your goal-setting skills We're looking at SMART goals and how to make them better. AND Katie helps Curt with his goal setting! Why is goal-setting important to therapists? Therapeutic benefit, Ethical responsibility, Ability to achieve goals What are SMART Goals? Do they work? Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound; The benefits of effort or progress goals versus outcome goals, May need to add steps to create a more robust plan How can you improve SMART goals? Using the Grip on Life model, Digging deeper into the elements of SMART goals, Finding life skills that help to reach the goal What is the key difference between setting goals and behavior design? Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, Motivation is fickle, Finding the smallest behavior change that can move you toward the goal, Create a habit, put it into something you’re already doing, and celebrate the accomplishment Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com. Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit. Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Tiny Habits: The small changes that change everything by BJ Fogg, PhD References mentioned in this continuing education podcast: Bertelsen, P. & Ozer, S. (2021). Grip on life as a possible antecedent for self-control beliefs interacts with well-being and perceived stress. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 62, 185–192. Fogg, B. J. (2020). Tiny habits: the small changes that change everything. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. *The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform.  Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Structuring Self-Care All Kinds of Burned Out Thriving Over Surviving – Growing a Practice Without Burnout: An interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW Why You Shouldn’t Just Do It All Yourself: An interview with Bibi Goldstein Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders Mon, 19 Dec 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Smarter than SMART: How therapists can improve goal-setting with clients full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about setting goals. We look at why goals are important to therapists, SMART goals (what they are, what works and what doesn’t), and how to move beyond SMART goals to more robust goal setting and behavior design. This is a continuing education podcourse. Smarter than SMART: How therapists can improve goal-setting with clients Curt and Katie chat about setting goals. We look at why goals are important to therapists, SMART goals (what they are, what works and what doesn’t), and how to move beyond SMART goals to more robust goal setting and behavior design. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how to strengthen your goal-setting skills We're looking at SMART goals and how to make them better. AND Katie helps Curt with his goal setting! Why is goal-setting important to therapists? Therapeutic benefit, Ethical responsibility, Ability to achieve goals What are SMART Goals? Do they work? Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound; The benefits of effort or progress goals versus outcome goals, May need to add steps to create a more robust plan How can you improve SMART goals? Using the Grip on Life model, Digging deeper into the elements of SMART goals, Finding life skills that help to reach the goal What is the key difference between setting goals and behavior design? Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, Motivation is fickle, Finding the smallest behavior change that can move you toward the goal, Create a habit, put it into something you’re already doing, and celebrate the accomplishment Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com. Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit. Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Tiny Habits: The small changes that change everything by BJ Fogg, PhD References mentioned in this continuing education podcast: Bertelsen, P. & Ozer, S. (2021). Grip on life as a possible antecedent for self-control beliefs interacts with well-being and perceived stress. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 62, 185–192. Fogg, B. J. (2020). Tiny habits: the small changes that change everything. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. *The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform.  Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Structuring Self-Care All Kinds of Burned Out Thriving Over Surviving – Growing a Practice Without Burnout: An interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW Why You Shouldn’t Just Do It All Yourself: An interview with Bibi Goldstein Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders Smarter than SMART: How therapists can improve goal-setting with clients

Curt and Katie chat about setting goals. We look at why goals are important to therapists, SMART goals (what they are, what works and what doesn’t), and how to move beyond SMART goals to more robust goal setting and behavior design. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how to strengthen your goal-setting skills

We're looking at SMART goals and how to make them better. AND Katie helps Curt with his goal setting!

Why is goal-setting important to therapists?

Therapeutic benefit, Ethical responsibility, Ability to achieve goals

What are SMART Goals? Do they work?

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound; The benefits of effort or progress goals versus outcome goals, May need to add steps to create a more robust plan

How can you improve SMART goals?

Using the Grip on Life model, Digging deeper into the elements of SMART goals, Finding life skills that help to reach the goal

What is the key difference between setting goals and behavior design?

Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, Motivation is fickle, Finding the smallest behavior change that can move you toward the goal, Create a habit, put it into something you’re already doing, and celebrate the accomplishment

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com.

Continuing Education Approvals:

When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information

CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit.

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Tiny Habits: The small changes that change everything by BJ Fogg, PhD

References mentioned in this continuing education podcast:

Bertelsen, P. & Ozer, S. (2021). Grip on life as a possible antecedent for self-control beliefs interacts with well-being and perceived stress. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 62, 185–192.

Fogg, B. J. (2020). Tiny habits: the small changes that change everything. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

*The full reference list can be found in the course on our learning platform.

 Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Structuring Self-Care

All Kinds of Burned Out

Thriving Over Surviving – Growing a Practice Without Burnout: An interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW

Why You Shouldn’t Just Do It All Yourself: An interview with Bibi Goldstein

Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders


]]> 4834 Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend Curt and Katie chat about the TikTok Mental Health and the self-diagnosis trend. We dig into what diagnosis is (and what is actually useful about diagnosis). We also explore the concerns with social media self-diagnosis as well as how we can support our clients with getting accurate assessment and treatment.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about self-diagnosis and the impact of social media We have both heard about TikTok diagnoses in our practices and wanted to talk about how therapists might navigate this new trend.  What are concerns with social media self-diagnosis? “The point of having a professional be able to properly evaluate is looking through that more nuanced clinical eye in order to look at where the threshold is that actually meets diagnostic [criteria] versus actually just having some characteristics in common with [the diagnosis]. Somebody can be nervous, does not mean that they have anxiety… What is pathologizing normal feelings?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Focusing in on small elements and then having that frame their full life experience Seeking only confirmatory diagnosis versus allowing for differential diagnosis Clinicians who are not doing full assessments to support clients who have self-diagnosed Clients who do not need treatment taking slots from those who do need assessment and treatment Lack of nuance in the social media content that doesn’t include information on differential diagnosis Inaccurate treatments based on inaccurate self-diagnosis Malingering and factitious disorder risk Pathologizing normal feelings Being inundated with so much information Confirmatory bias How to support clients who have sought diagnostic information on social media and google? “What started the whole thing… clinicians under diagnosing, undervaluing client feedback, not asking all the right questions. And so, folks are feeling dissatisfied with what we're doing and heading to the interweb to understand better what it is that's going on.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Therapists need to listen to their clients, so they don’t feel the need to go elsewhere for information Identify what is resonating for clients and explore what it means to them Educate clients about differential diagnosis Walk through their research (to listen and to help vet sources) Take your client seriously and support them in getting the help they need   Mon, 12 Dec 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the TikTok Mental Health and the self-diagnosis trend. We dig into what diagnosis is (and what is actually useful about diagnosis). We also explore the concerns with social media self-diagnosis as well as how we can support our clients with getting accurate assessment and treatment. Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend Curt and Katie chat about the TikTok Mental Health and the self-diagnosis trend. We dig into what diagnosis is (and what is actually useful about diagnosis). We also explore the concerns with social media self-diagnosis as well as how we can support our clients with getting accurate assessment and treatment.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about self-diagnosis and the impact of social media We have both heard about TikTok diagnoses in our practices and wanted to talk about how therapists might navigate this new trend.  What are concerns with social media self-diagnosis? “The point of having a professional be able to properly evaluate is looking through that more nuanced clinical eye in order to look at where the threshold is that actually meets diagnostic [criteria] versus actually just having some characteristics in common with [the diagnosis]. Somebody can be nervous, does not mean that they have anxiety… What is pathologizing normal feelings?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Focusing in on small elements and then having that frame their full life experience Seeking only confirmatory diagnosis versus allowing for differential diagnosis Clinicians who are not doing full assessments to support clients who have self-diagnosed Clients who do not need treatment taking slots from those who do need assessment and treatment Lack of nuance in the social media content that doesn’t include information on differential diagnosis Inaccurate treatments based on inaccurate self-diagnosis Malingering and factitious disorder risk Pathologizing normal feelings Being inundated with so much information Confirmatory bias How to support clients who have sought diagnostic information on social media and google? “What started the whole thing… clinicians under diagnosing, undervaluing client feedback, not asking all the right questions. And so, folks are feeling dissatisfied with what we're doing and heading to the interweb to understand better what it is that's going on.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Therapists need to listen to their clients, so they don’t feel the need to go elsewhere for information Identify what is resonating for clients and explore what it means to them Educate clients about differential diagnosis Walk through their research (to listen and to help vet sources) Take your client seriously and support them in getting the help they need   Navigating the Social Media Self-Diagnosis Trend

Curt and Katie chat about the TikTok Mental Health and the self-diagnosis trend. We dig into what diagnosis is (and what is actually useful about diagnosis). We also explore the concerns with social media self-diagnosis as well as how we can support our clients with getting accurate assessment and treatment. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about self-diagnosis and the impact of social media

We have both heard about TikTok diagnoses in our practices and wanted to talk about how therapists might navigate this new trend. 

What are concerns with social media self-diagnosis?

“The point of having a professional be able to properly evaluate is looking through that more nuanced clinical eye in order to look at where the threshold is that actually meets diagnostic [criteria] versus actually just having some characteristics in common with [the diagnosis]. Somebody can be nervous, does not mean that they have anxiety… What is pathologizing normal feelings?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • Focusing in on small elements and then having that frame their full life experience
  • Seeking only confirmatory diagnosis versus allowing for differential diagnosis
  • Clinicians who are not doing full assessments to support clients who have self-diagnosed
  • Clients who do not need treatment taking slots from those who do need assessment and treatment
  • Lack of nuance in the social media content that doesn’t include information on differential diagnosis
  • Inaccurate treatments based on inaccurate self-diagnosis
  • Malingering and factitious disorder risk
  • Pathologizing normal feelings
  • Being inundated with so much information
  • Confirmatory bias

How to support clients who have sought diagnostic information on social media and google?

“What started the whole thing… clinicians under diagnosing, undervaluing client feedback, not asking all the right questions. And so, folks are feeling dissatisfied with what we're doing and heading to the interweb to understand better what it is that's going on.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

  • Therapists need to listen to their clients, so they don’t feel the need to go elsewhere for information
  • Identify what is resonating for clients and explore what it means to them
  • Educate clients about differential diagnosis
  • Walk through their research (to listen and to help vet sources)
  • Take your client seriously and support them in getting the help they need

 


]]> 2036 What Therapists Should Know About Sexual Health, Monkey Pox, and the Echoes of the AIDS Epidemic: An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT What Therapists Should Know About Sexual Health, Monkey Pox, and the Echoes of the AIDS Epidemic: An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Mallory Garrett about sexual health as well as the current concerns related to Monkey Pox. We discuss what therapists usually get wrong when working with sexual health, what therapists need to know about STIs, as well as Monkey Pox. We talk about the relevant history of the HIV/AIDs epidemic and the community responses to Monkey Pox. We also look at how therapists can be most helpful to clients within our scope of practice. Resources to stay up to date with Monkey Pox and sexual health are also included in the show notes.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT Mallory Garrett is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and New York. She graduated with a BA in Comparative Literature from UCLA and an MS in Counseling from CSU-Northridge. She began working in the social services sector as a Resident Services Intern with a low-income housing corporation for people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic health conditions. She continued working in this field during her traineeship and internships as she worked towards licensure. She loves speaking to therapists about destigmatizing HIV/AIDS and STIs and has co-facilitated a workshop through Simple Practice Learning. When not working she enjoys going to the theater and traveling. In this podcast episode, we talk about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) We talk about sexual health broadly as well as the recent concerns about Monkey Pox and the historical context of HIV/AIDs.  What do therapists need to know about sexual health, STIs, and Monkey Pox? Monkey Pox is not technically a STI, but is primarily transmitted sexually in the US The stigma and concerns of being ignored, especially from those who lived through the HIV/AIDS epidemic Gay Rights and Sexual Liberation has relevance to these diseases The extreme societal bias toward the gay community during that time, medical neglect The emergence of Monkey Pox brought back the fears, stigma, and neglect Mon, 05 Dec 2022 08:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Should Know About Sexual Health, Monkey Pox, and the Echoes of the AIDS Epidemic: An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Mallory Garrett about sexual health as well as the current concerns related to Monkey Pox. We discuss what therapists usually get wrong when working with sexual health, what therapists need to know about STIs, as well as Monkey Pox. We talk about the relevant history of the HIV/AIDs epidemic and the community responses to Monkey Pox. We also look at how therapists can be most helpful to clients within our scope of practice. Resources to stay up to date with Monkey Pox and sexual health are also included in the show notes. What Therapists Should Know About Sexual Health, Monkey Pox, and the Echoes of the AIDS Epidemic: An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Mallory Garrett about sexual health as well as the current concerns related to Monkey Pox. We discuss what therapists usually get wrong when working with sexual health, what therapists need to know about STIs, as well as Monkey Pox. We talk about the relevant history of the HIV/AIDs epidemic and the community responses to Monkey Pox. We also look at how therapists can be most helpful to clients within our scope of practice. Resources to stay up to date with Monkey Pox and sexual health are also included in the show notes.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT Mallory Garrett is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and New York. She graduated with a BA in Comparative Literature from UCLA and an MS in Counseling from CSU-Northridge. She began working in the social services sector as a Resident Services Intern with a low-income housing corporation for people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic health conditions. She continued working in this field during her traineeship and internships as she worked towards licensure. She loves speaking to therapists about destigmatizing HIV/AIDS and STIs and has co-facilitated a workshop through Simple Practice Learning. When not working she enjoys going to the theater and traveling. In this podcast episode, we talk about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) We talk about sexual health broadly as well as the recent concerns about Monkey Pox and the historical context of HIV/AIDs.  What do therapists need to know about sexual health, STIs, and Monkey Pox? Monkey Pox is not technically a STI, but is primarily transmitted sexually in the US The stigma and concerns of being ignored, especially from those who lived through the HIV/AIDS epidemic Gay Rights and Sexual Liberation has relevance to these diseases The extreme societal bias toward the gay community during that time, medical neglect The emergence of Monkey Pox brought back the fears, stigma, and neglect What Therapists Should Know About Sexual Health, Monkey Pox, and the Echoes of the AIDS Epidemic: An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Mallory Garrett about sexual health as well as the current concerns related to Monkey Pox. We discuss what therapists usually get wrong when working with sexual health, what therapists need to know about STIs, as well as Monkey Pox. We talk about the relevant history of the HIV/AIDs epidemic and the community responses to Monkey Pox. We also look at how therapists can be most helpful to clients within our scope of practice. Resources to stay up to date with Monkey Pox and sexual health are also included in the show notes. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Mallory Garrett, LMFT

Mallory Garrett is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and New York. She graduated with a BA in Comparative Literature from UCLA and an MS in Counseling from CSU-Northridge. She began working in the social services sector as a Resident Services Intern with a low-income housing corporation for people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic health conditions. She continued working in this field during her traineeship and internships as she worked towards licensure. She loves speaking to therapists about destigmatizing HIV/AIDS and STIs and has co-facilitated a workshop through Simple Practice Learning. When not working she enjoys going to the theater and traveling.

In this podcast episode, we talk about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

We talk about sexual health broadly as well as the recent concerns about Monkey Pox and the historical context of HIV/AIDs. 

What do therapists need to know about sexual health, STIs, and Monkey Pox?

  • Monkey Pox is not technically a STI, but is primarily transmitted sexually in the US
  • The stigma and concerns of being ignored, especially from those who lived through the HIV/AIDS epidemic
  • Gay Rights and Sexual Liberation has relevance to these diseases
  • The extreme societal bias toward the gay community during that time, medical neglect
  • The emergence of Monkey Pox brought back the fears, stigma, and neglect
]]> 2226 yes It’s the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision Making in Dual Relationships It’s the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision Making in Dual Relationships Curt and Katie chat about dual relationships. We talk about the types of dual relationships, how often therapists get in trouble for these types of relationships, how to manage dual relationships, and the ethical decision making process to go through to decide whether to engage in a dual relationship. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about ethical decision making to navigate dual relationships We take a deeper dive into the complex relationships that we can have with our clients, our supervisors and our supervisees. What are dual relationships? Therapists know a lot about a very specific dual relationship: having sex with your clients, which is not acceptable There are many different types of potential dual relationships (we talk about the definitions of each type) The different hats we may wear with clients and colleagues What is a strong formal process for ethical decision making? Pope and Vasquez have a 17 Step Process for ethical decision making Deeply examining the question, the impact, and exploring any bias Identifying and understanding relevant laws and ethics Consultation, documentation, and evaluation We walk through a specific dual relationship question: what happens if your client refers a friend and colleague to you? How do you decide whether to take the client or not? For more information about the podcourse: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse   Mon, 28 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0000 It’s the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision Making in Dual Relationships full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about dual relationships. We talk about the types of dual relationships, how often therapists get in trouble for these types of relationships, how to manage dual relationships, and the ethical decision making process to go through to decide whether to engage in a dual relationship. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. It’s the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision Making in Dual Relationships Curt and Katie chat about dual relationships. We talk about the types of dual relationships, how often therapists get in trouble for these types of relationships, how to manage dual relationships, and the ethical decision making process to go through to decide whether to engage in a dual relationship. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about ethical decision making to navigate dual relationships We take a deeper dive into the complex relationships that we can have with our clients, our supervisors and our supervisees. What are dual relationships? Therapists know a lot about a very specific dual relationship: having sex with your clients, which is not acceptable There are many different types of potential dual relationships (we talk about the definitions of each type) The different hats we may wear with clients and colleagues What is a strong formal process for ethical decision making? Pope and Vasquez have a 17 Step Process for ethical decision making Deeply examining the question, the impact, and exploring any bias Identifying and understanding relevant laws and ethics Consultation, documentation, and evaluation We walk through a specific dual relationship question: what happens if your client refers a friend and colleague to you? How do you decide whether to take the client or not? For more information about the podcourse: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse   It’s the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision Making in Dual Relationships

Curt and Katie chat about dual relationships. We talk about the types of dual relationships, how often therapists get in trouble for these types of relationships, how to manage dual relationships, and the ethical decision making process to go through to decide whether to engage in a dual relationship. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about ethical decision making to navigate dual relationships

We take a deeper dive into the complex relationships that we can have with our clients, our supervisors and our supervisees.

What are dual relationships?

  • Therapists know a lot about a very specific dual relationship: having sex with your clients, which is not acceptable
  • There are many different types of potential dual relationships (we talk about the definitions of each type)
  • The different hats we may wear with clients and colleagues

What is a strong formal process for ethical decision making?

  • Pope and Vasquez have a 17 Step Process for ethical decision making
  • Deeply examining the question, the impact, and exploring any bias
  • Identifying and understanding relevant laws and ethics
  • Consultation, documentation, and evaluation
  • We walk through a specific dual relationship question: what happens if your client refers a friend and colleague to you? How do you decide whether to take the client or not?


For more information about the podcourse: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

 

]]> 5012 How Can Therapists Help Couples Recover from Infidelity?: An Interview with Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem How Can Therapists Help Couples Recover from Infidelity?: An Interview with Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem Curt and Katie interview Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem, Psy.D, LMFT about System Affair Recovery Treatment (SART) and how therapists can better address infidelity in treatment. We discuss what therapists usually get wrong when working with infidelity, the difference between typical couples counseling and affair recovery, and why infidelity happens. We also look at the SART Model as well as tactics and treatment teaming. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem, PsyD, LMFT Award-winning marriage counselor and researcher, Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem is recognized as a leading expert in the field of infidelity counseling. He is the author of the acclaimed book, Infidelity: The Best Worst Thing that Could Happen to Your Marriage, and the founder of the Infidelity Counseling Center. His research interests and clinical work are focused on identifying the causes of infidelity and providing the best treatment for recovery from its impact. He developed Systematic Affair Recovery Therapy (SART) ™, a method of infidelity counseling that has helped hundreds of couples navigate the challenges of the healing journey from affairs. Dr. Alsaleem is an international lecturer and speaker. His engaging talks have helped many counselors broaden their understanding of infidelity and gain the necessary clinical tools to help their clients recover from affairs. Learn more at TalalAlsaleem.com. In this podcast episode, we talk about Infidelity We explore with Dr. Talal Alsaleem what good infidelity counseling can look like and what therapists often get wrong when approaching this type of therapy.  What is the Systemic Affair Recovery Treatment (SART) Model? “So in their quest to understand why the infidelity happened, we have to accept that the unfaithful is 100% responsible for the decision that they make for being unfaithful. So even in the worst case scenario, whether there was a huge relationship deficit, and you have the worst partner in the universe, that doesn't give you permission to cheat, you can take them to counseling, you can end the relationship before you cross those lines.” – Dr. Talal Alsaleem Seven milestones with clinical objectives and interventions Setting the stage for healing Getting the narrative of the affair Acknowledging the impact of the affair Choosing a path of recovery (individual or within the relationship) Creating an action plan Implementation Sustainability Infidelity can be the “best worst thing” that happens because you directly address what has happened Mon, 21 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0000 How Can Therapists Help Couples Recover from Infidelity?: An Interview with Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem, Psy.D, LMFT about System Affair Recovery Treatment (SART) and how therapists can better address infidelity in treatment. We discuss what therapists usually get wrong when working with infidelity, the difference between typical couples counseling and affair recovery, and why infidelity happens. We also look at the SART Model as well as tactics and treatment teaming. How Can Therapists Help Couples Recover from Infidelity?: An Interview with Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem Curt and Katie interview Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem, Psy.D, LMFT about System Affair Recovery Treatment (SART) and how therapists can better address infidelity in treatment. We discuss what therapists usually get wrong when working with infidelity, the difference between typical couples counseling and affair recovery, and why infidelity happens. We also look at the SART Model as well as tactics and treatment teaming. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem, PsyD, LMFT Award-winning marriage counselor and researcher, Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem is recognized as a leading expert in the field of infidelity counseling. He is the author of the acclaimed book, Infidelity: The Best Worst Thing that Could Happen to Your Marriage, and the founder of the Infidelity Counseling Center. His research interests and clinical work are focused on identifying the causes of infidelity and providing the best treatment for recovery from its impact. He developed Systematic Affair Recovery Therapy (SART) ™, a method of infidelity counseling that has helped hundreds of couples navigate the challenges of the healing journey from affairs. Dr. Alsaleem is an international lecturer and speaker. His engaging talks have helped many counselors broaden their understanding of infidelity and gain the necessary clinical tools to help their clients recover from affairs. Learn more at TalalAlsaleem.com. In this podcast episode, we talk about Infidelity We explore with Dr. Talal Alsaleem what good infidelity counseling can look like and what therapists often get wrong when approaching this type of therapy.  What is the Systemic Affair Recovery Treatment (SART) Model? “So in their quest to understand why the infidelity happened, we have to accept that the unfaithful is 100% responsible for the decision that they make for being unfaithful. So even in the worst case scenario, whether there was a huge relationship deficit, and you have the worst partner in the universe, that doesn't give you permission to cheat, you can take them to counseling, you can end the relationship before you cross those lines.” – Dr. Talal Alsaleem Seven milestones with clinical objectives and interventions Setting the stage for healing Getting the narrative of the affair Acknowledging the impact of the affair Choosing a path of recovery (individual or within the relationship) Creating an action plan Implementation Sustainability Infidelity can be the “best worst thing” that happens because you directly address what has happened How Can Therapists Help Couples Recover from Infidelity?: An Interview with Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem, Psy.D, LMFT about System Affair Recovery Treatment (SART) and how therapists can better address infidelity in treatment. We discuss what therapists usually get wrong when working with infidelity, the difference between typical couples counseling and affair recovery, and why infidelity happens. We also look at the SART Model as well as tactics and treatment teaming.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem, PsyD, LMFT

Award-winning marriage counselor and researcher, Dr. Talal H. Alsaleem is recognized as a leading expert in the field of infidelity counseling. He is the author of the acclaimed book, Infidelity: The Best Worst Thing that Could Happen to Your Marriage, and the founder of the Infidelity Counseling Center. His research interests and clinical work are focused on identifying the causes of infidelity and providing the best treatment for recovery from its impact. He developed Systematic Affair Recovery Therapy (SART) ™, a method of infidelity counseling that has helped hundreds of couples navigate the challenges of the healing journey from affairs. Dr. Alsaleem is an international lecturer and speaker. His engaging talks have helped many counselors broaden their understanding of infidelity and gain the necessary clinical tools to help their clients recover from affairs. Learn more at TalalAlsaleem.com.

In this podcast episode, we talk about Infidelity

We explore with Dr. Talal Alsaleem what good infidelity counseling can look like and what therapists often get wrong when approaching this type of therapy. 

What is the Systemic Affair Recovery Treatment (SART) Model?

“So in their quest to understand why the infidelity happened, we have to accept that the unfaithful is 100% responsible for the decision that they make for being unfaithful. So even in the worst case scenario, whether there was a huge relationship deficit, and you have the worst partner in the universe, that doesn't give you permission to cheat, you can take them to counseling, you can end the relationship before you cross those lines.” – Dr. Talal Alsaleem

  • Seven milestones with clinical objectives and interventions
  • Setting the stage for healing
  • Getting the narrative of the affair
  • Acknowledging the impact of the affair
  • Choosing a path of recovery (individual or within the relationship)
  • Creating an action plan
  • Implementation
  • Sustainability
  • Infidelity can be the “best worst thing” that happens because you directly address what has happened
]]> 2422 Why Aren’t Men Becoming Therapists Anymore? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/why-arent-men-becoming-therapists-anymore Why Aren’t Men Becoming Therapists Anymore? Curt and Katie chat about the lack of male therapists and the decreasing number of male students in the profession. We look at current statistics and reported experiences of men in the field. We also dig into what needs to change to balance gender representation and increase the number of men becoming therapists.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about male therapists Continuing forward within men’s health month, we are looking at the state of the profession for male therapists.  Statistics on men in the mental health profession Depending on license type, mental health professionals are between 60-90% female Men and women have fairly equal parity on compensation (especially when looking at similar roles) Men are less likely to seek out these jobs as the wages stagnate, the requirements become more onerous, and due to a lack of male representation and role models What needs to change to balance gender representation within the mental health field? “Men typically have privilege in other spaces… And yet I recognize in our field, that's not the case. And so, it's this weird, complex understanding of societal privilege, but not privilege within the field.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Understanding the difference between societal privilege versus professional privilege Identifying why the number of men is dramatically decreasing within graduate programs and all stages of licensure The impact of feminism on the conversations about the impact of white men on the field The perception of “male bashing” and the need to nurture male voices within the profession The challenge of identifying when men are being ignored or “soloed out” The problem of stereotyping, ignoring, or isolating male therapists and students Men being automatically pushed into leadership due to mentorship by male faculty and bias toward men as leaders How do we get more men into the mental health profession? “If we're identifying that men need to go and get mental health treatment, and there's no men to get it from, this then has the potential for reaching critical failure as a profession in being able to provide services.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Reaching critical failure in trying to provide services to men (if men no longer enter the profession) Recruitment strategies for graduate programs Making the profession sustainable for all individuals Pushing back against wage stagnation due to feminization of the profession Looking at retention and commitment for male therapists The importance of representation across the mental health profession Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Clinical Therapist Demographics and Statistics In The US Number of women vs men in grad programs: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/12/datapoint Men’s experiences in the field: https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/01/cover-men https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-021-01960-9 Faculty experiences of teaching male students: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-015-0473-1 Recruiting men into the field: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259538918_A_Mixed_Methods_Study_of_Male_Recruitment_in_the_Counseling_Profession   Mon, 14 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Why Aren’t Men Becoming Therapists Anymore? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Why Aren’t Men Becoming Therapists Anymore? Curt and Katie chat about the lack of male therapists and the decreasing number of male students in the profession. We look at current statistics and reported experiences of men in the field. We also dig... Why Aren’t Men Becoming Therapists Anymore? Curt and Katie chat about the lack of male therapists and the decreasing number of male students in the profession. We look at current statistics and reported experiences of men in the field. We also dig into what needs to change to balance gender representation and increase the number of men becoming therapists.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about male therapists Continuing forward within men’s health month, we are looking at the state of the profession for male therapists.  Statistics on men in the mental health profession Depending on license type, mental health professionals are between 60-90% female Men and women have fairly equal parity on compensation (especially when looking at similar roles) Men are less likely to seek out these jobs as the wages stagnate, the requirements become more onerous, and due to a lack of male representation and role models What needs to change to balance gender representation within the mental health field? “Men typically have privilege in other spaces… And yet I recognize in our field, that's not the case. And so, it's this weird, complex understanding of societal privilege, but not privilege within the field.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Understanding the difference between societal privilege versus professional privilege Identifying why the number of men is dramatically decreasing within graduate programs and all stages of licensure The impact of feminism on the conversations about the impact of white men on the field The perception of “male bashing” and the need to nurture male voices within the profession The challenge of identifying when men are being ignored or “soloed out” The problem of stereotyping, ignoring, or isolating male therapists and students Men being automatically pushed into leadership due to mentorship by male faculty and bias toward men as leaders How do we get more men into the mental health profession? “If we're identifying that men need to go and get mental health treatment, and there's no men to get it from, this then has the potential for reaching critical failure as a profession in being able to provide services.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Reaching critical failure in trying to provide services to men (if men no longer enter the profession) Recruitment strategies for graduate programs Making the profession sustainable for all individuals Pushing back against wage stagnation due to feminization of the profession Looking at retention and commitment for male therapists The importance of representation across the mental health profession Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Clinical Therapist Demographics and Statistics In The US Number of women vs men in grad programs: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/12/datapoint Men’s experiences in the field: https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/01/cover-men https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-021-01960-9 Faculty experiences of teaching male students: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-015-0473-1 Recruiting men into the field: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259538918_A_Mixed_Methods_Study_of_Male_Recruitment_in_the_Counseling_Profession   Why Aren’t Men Becoming Therapists Anymore?

Curt and Katie chat about the lack of male therapists and the decreasing number of male students in the profession. We look at current statistics and reported experiences of men in the field. We also dig into what needs to change to balance gender representation and increase the number of men becoming therapists.   

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about male therapists

Continuing forward within men’s health month, we are looking at the state of the profession for male therapists. 

Statistics on men in the mental health profession

  • Depending on license type, mental health professionals are between 60-90% female
  • Men and women have fairly equal parity on compensation (especially when looking at similar roles)
  • Men are less likely to seek out these jobs as the wages stagnate, the requirements become more onerous, and due to a lack of male representation and role models

What needs to change to balance gender representation within the mental health field?

“Men typically have privilege in other spaces… And yet I recognize in our field, that's not the case. And so, it's this weird, complex understanding of societal privilege, but not privilege within the field.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

  • Understanding the difference between societal privilege versus professional privilege
  • Identifying why the number of men is dramatically decreasing within graduate programs and all stages of licensure
  • The impact of feminism on the conversations about the impact of white men on the field
  • The perception of “male bashing” and the need to nurture male voices within the profession
  • The challenge of identifying when men are being ignored or “soloed out”
  • The problem of stereotyping, ignoring, or isolating male therapists and students
  • Men being automatically pushed into leadership due to mentorship by male faculty and bias toward men as leaders

How do we get more men into the mental health profession?

“If we're identifying that men need to go and get mental health treatment, and there's no men to get it from, this then has the potential for reaching critical failure as a profession in being able to provide services.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • Reaching critical failure in trying to provide services to men (if men no longer enter the profession)
  • Recruitment strategies for graduate programs
  • Making the profession sustainable for all individuals
  • Pushing back against wage stagnation due to feminization of the profession
  • Looking at retention and commitment for male therapists
  • The importance of representation across the mental health profession


Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Clinical Therapist Demographics and Statistics In The US

Number of women vs men in grad programs: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/12/datapoint

Men’s experiences in the field:

https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/01/cover-men

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-021-01960-9

Faculty experiences of teaching male students: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-015-0473-1

Recruiting men into the field: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259538918_A_Mixed_Methods_Study_of_Male_Recruitment_in_the_Counseling_Profession

 

]]> 2328 no Why Men Don’t Stay in Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/why-men-dont-stay-in-therapy Why Men Don’t Stay in Therapy Curt and Katie chat about men’s mental health. We look at why men typically go to therapy, their experiences while in therapy, what therapists get wrong when working with men, and how therapists better support the needs of men seeking mental health treatment.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about men seeking therapy For Men’s Health Awareness month, we want to explore men seeking mental health services. Why do men typically go to therapy? Others telling men to go to therapy Career or relationship issues Depression, which looks like irritability and hostility (externalized behaviors) What is the experience of men in therapy? “Some of this research [on men accessing mental healthcare] shows that while men are increasing in the numbers presenting for mental health treatment, they tend to drop out earlier than women and they tend to drop out at a lot faster rate than women. So that to me says that we as a field are doing something wrong, that we are not able to meet the needs of men. All of that great advice out of ‘hey, go and seek mental health treatment,’ is falling on people who are trying it out and finding bad experiences with it. “– Curt Widhalm, LMFT Therapy seems to try to get men to emote like women Invalidating masculine presentations and behaviors Equating masculinity with toxic masculinity Not feeling safe to express emotions beyond confidence, neutrality, or anger How can therapists better serve men seeking therapy? Understanding and honoring a range of masculinities (even within the same client) Helping men to broaden their range of emotional expression Problem-solving, solution-focused can be helpful for men who want to have a clearly defined goal to work toward Collaboratively creating treatment goals Identity work that supports self-definition of masculinity What can therapists get wrong when working with men in therapy? “There is such a broad array of understandings at this point of what masculinity and what ‘real men do’ that I think we need to be aware that whether it's traditional gender roles, or more current… there's some need for an understanding of where your client sits.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Framing masculinity and toxic masculinity solely as “bad” Not digging more deeply into individual development around masculinity Taking offense at their client’s gender identity or ignoring their own bias around “traditional gender roles” How therapists characterize men’s presenting problems (assigning blame, like depression being seen as anger or hostility, men being described as violent rather than traumatized) Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Men’s mental health: Spaces and places that work for men Why it’s time to focus on masculinity in mental health training and clinical practice Men’s Dropout From Mental Health Services: Results From a Survey of Australian Men Across the Life Span Improving Mental Health Service Utilization Among Men: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Behavior Change Techniques Within Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy: The Fifty-Minute Hour Connect with the Modern Therapist Community: Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Why Men Don’t Stay in Therapy full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Why Men Don’t Stay in Therapy Curt and Katie chat about men’s mental health. We look at why men typically go to therapy, their experiences while in therapy, what therapists get wrong when working with men, and how therapists better support the... Why Men Don’t Stay in Therapy Curt and Katie chat about men’s mental health. We look at why men typically go to therapy, their experiences while in therapy, what therapists get wrong when working with men, and how therapists better support the needs of men seeking mental health treatment.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about men seeking therapy For Men’s Health Awareness month, we want to explore men seeking mental health services. Why do men typically go to therapy? Others telling men to go to therapy Career or relationship issues Depression, which looks like irritability and hostility (externalized behaviors) What is the experience of men in therapy? “Some of this research [on men accessing mental healthcare] shows that while men are increasing in the numbers presenting for mental health treatment, they tend to drop out earlier than women and they tend to drop out at a lot faster rate than women. So that to me says that we as a field are doing something wrong, that we are not able to meet the needs of men. All of that great advice out of ‘hey, go and seek mental health treatment,’ is falling on people who are trying it out and finding bad experiences with it. “– Curt Widhalm, LMFT Therapy seems to try to get men to emote like women Invalidating masculine presentations and behaviors Equating masculinity with toxic masculinity Not feeling safe to express emotions beyond confidence, neutrality, or anger How can therapists better serve men seeking therapy? Understanding and honoring a range of masculinities (even within the same client) Helping men to broaden their range of emotional expression Problem-solving, solution-focused can be helpful for men who want to have a clearly defined goal to work toward Collaboratively creating treatment goals Identity work that supports self-definition of masculinity What can therapists get wrong when working with men in therapy? “There is such a broad array of understandings at this point of what masculinity and what ‘real men do’ that I think we need to be aware that whether it's traditional gender roles, or more current… there's some need for an understanding of where your client sits.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Framing masculinity and toxic masculinity solely as “bad” Not digging more deeply into individual development around masculinity Taking offense at their client’s gender identity or ignoring their own bias around “traditional gender roles” How therapists characterize men’s presenting problems (assigning blame, like depression being seen as anger or hostility, men being described as violent rather than traumatized) Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Men’s mental health: Spaces and places that work for men Why it’s time to focus on masculinity in mental health training and clinical practice Men’s Dropout From Mental Health Services: Results From a Survey of Australian Men Across the Life Span Improving Mental Health Service Utilization Among Men: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Behavior Change Techniques Within Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy: The Fifty-Minute Hour Connect with the Modern Therapist Community: Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Why Men Don’t Stay in Therapy

Curt and Katie chat about men’s mental health. We look at why men typically go to therapy, their experiences while in therapy, what therapists get wrong when working with men, and how therapists better support the needs of men seeking mental health treatment.   

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about men seeking therapy

For Men’s Health Awareness month, we want to explore men seeking mental health services.

Why do men typically go to therapy?

  • Others telling men to go to therapy
  • Career or relationship issues
  • Depression, which looks like irritability and hostility (externalized behaviors)

What is the experience of men in therapy?

“Some of this research [on men accessing mental healthcare] shows that while men are increasing in the numbers presenting for mental health treatment, they tend to drop out earlier than women and they tend to drop out at a lot faster rate than women. So that to me says that we as a field are doing something wrong, that we are not able to meet the needs of men. All of that great advice out of ‘hey, go and seek mental health treatment,’ is falling on people who are trying it out and finding bad experiences with it. “– Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • Therapy seems to try to get men to emote like women
  • Invalidating masculine presentations and behaviors
  • Equating masculinity with toxic masculinity
  • Not feeling safe to express emotions beyond confidence, neutrality, or anger

How can therapists better serve men seeking therapy?

  • Understanding and honoring a range of masculinities (even within the same client)
  • Helping men to broaden their range of emotional expression
  • Problem-solving, solution-focused can be helpful for men who want to have a clearly defined goal to work toward
  • Collaboratively creating treatment goals
  • Identity work that supports self-definition of masculinity

What can therapists get wrong when working with men in therapy?

“There is such a broad array of understandings at this point of what masculinity and what ‘real men do’ that I think we need to be aware that whether it's traditional gender roles, or more current… there's some need for an understanding of where your client sits.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

  • Framing masculinity and toxic masculinity solely as “bad”
  • Not digging more deeply into individual development around masculinity
  • Taking offense at their client’s gender identity or ignoring their own bias around “traditional gender roles”
  • How therapists characterize men’s presenting problems (assigning blame, like depression being seen as anger or hostility, men being described as violent rather than traumatized)

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Men’s mental health: Spaces and places that work for men

Why it’s time to focus on masculinity in mental health training and clinical practice

Men’s Dropout From Mental Health Services: Results From a Survey of Australian Men Across the Life Span

Improving Mental Health Service Utilization Among Men: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Behavior Change Techniques Within Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking

Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Connect with the Modern Therapist Community:

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2298 no What is Play Therapy?: An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-is-play-therapy-an-interview-with-ofra-obejas-lcsw What is Play Therapy?: An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Ofra Obejas, LCSW, RPT-S, about working with children in therapy. We look at what therapists often get wrong, important factors to understand, specialized training required (including play therapy), and what you actually do in therapy session with children.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor Ofra Obejas, Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor level, is a professional player. She works with elementary- to middle-school aged children. She’s been called by some of her clients a “kid grownup.” (That’s her rapper name.) She’s taught at the University of San Diego Play Therapy program and presents webinars and courses on clinical topics related to children’s issues. In this podcast episode, we talk about Play Therapy We reached out to our friend, Ofra Obejas to talk with us about how to work with kiddos and what additional training is needed to work effectively with children. What do therapists get wrong when working with children? Treating children like mini-adults Not understanding the skill involved in play therapy What are important factors for therapists to understand when working with children? Children have a different culture (i.e., the tooth fairy is real) The therapist’s role as translator for what children are saying Children will make you feel what they feel (e.g., powerlessness, never getting anything right) The importance of showing feelings to children as a therapist (versus remaining a blank slate) What do you do with children in therapy sessions? Psychodrama and re-enacting situations Therapists can use any theoretical orientation Ways to interact with the child Paying attention to transference and countertransference Case conceptualization, including family therapy and work with parents What specialized training is most effective for working with children? There are specialized protocols for working with children with many different orientations Identifying which orientation suits you How to understand what is being reenacted and how to respond: Notice it, sit with it, make meaning of it; Observe it, name it, model how to cope with it What boundaries should therapists set when working with children and families? Unit of treatment (family, individual, who was showing up to the session?) Treatment goals (what are we working on?) What children are allowed to do in the session Interactions with caregivers and the responsibilities caregivers have during sessions What does online therapy look like with children? The challenges with working with children online Online sand tray, online dollhouse, online puppet theater Creating a virtual play room New trainings for VR therapy for children Watching children play video games online How has the pandemic impacted children? This was dependent on how well parents were able to self-regulate and stay within the window of tolerance (was there someone who could help the child to regulate) Lack of socialization and difficulty in having conversations Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Ofra Obejas’ website: redondovillagecounseling.com Ofra on YouTube UCSD - Play Therapy Program   Mon, 31 Oct 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What is Play Therapy?: An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What is Play Therapy?: An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Ofra Obejas, LCSW, RPT-S, about working with children in therapy. We look at what therapists often get wrong, important factors to understand, specialized training... What is Play Therapy?: An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Ofra Obejas, LCSW, RPT-S, about working with children in therapy. We look at what therapists often get wrong, important factors to understand, specialized training required (including play therapy), and what you actually do in therapy session with children.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor Ofra Obejas, Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor level, is a professional player. She works with elementary- to middle-school aged children. She’s been called by some of her clients a “kid grownup.” (That’s her rapper name.) She’s taught at the University of San Diego Play Therapy program and presents webinars and courses on clinical topics related to children’s issues. In this podcast episode, we talk about Play Therapy We reached out to our friend, Ofra Obejas to talk with us about how to work with kiddos and what additional training is needed to work effectively with children. What do therapists get wrong when working with children? Treating children like mini-adults Not understanding the skill involved in play therapy What are important factors for therapists to understand when working with children? Children have a different culture (i.e., the tooth fairy is real) The therapist’s role as translator for what children are saying Children will make you feel what they feel (e.g., powerlessness, never getting anything right) The importance of showing feelings to children as a therapist (versus remaining a blank slate) What do you do with children in therapy sessions? Psychodrama and re-enacting situations Therapists can use any theoretical orientation Ways to interact with the child Paying attention to transference and countertransference Case conceptualization, including family therapy and work with parents What specialized training is most effective for working with children? There are specialized protocols for working with children with many different orientations Identifying which orientation suits you How to understand what is being reenacted and how to respond: Notice it, sit with it, make meaning of it; Observe it, name it, model how to cope with it What boundaries should therapists set when working with children and families? Unit of treatment (family, individual, who was showing up to the session?) Treatment goals (what are we working on?) What children are allowed to do in the session Interactions with caregivers and the responsibilities caregivers have during sessions What does online therapy look like with children? The challenges with working with children online Online sand tray, online dollhouse, online puppet theater Creating a virtual play room New trainings for VR therapy for children Watching children play video games online How has the pandemic impacted children? This was dependent on how well parents were able to self-regulate and stay within the window of tolerance (was there someone who could help the child to regulate) Lack of socialization and difficulty in having conversations Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Ofra Obejas’ website: redondovillagecounseling.com Ofra on YouTube UCSD - Play Therapy Program   What is Play Therapy?: An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Ofra Obejas, LCSW, RPT-S, about working with children in therapy. We look at what therapists often get wrong, important factors to understand, specialized training required (including play therapy), and what you actually do in therapy session with children. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Ofra Obejas, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor

Ofra Obejas, Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor level, is a professional player. She works with elementary- to middle-school aged children. She’s been called by some of her clients a “kid grownup.” (That’s her rapper name.) She’s taught at the University of San Diego Play Therapy program and presents webinars and courses on clinical topics related to children’s issues.

In this podcast episode, we talk about Play Therapy

We reached out to our friend, Ofra Obejas to talk with us about how to work with kiddos and what additional training is needed to work effectively with children.

What do therapists get wrong when working with children?

  • Treating children like mini-adults
  • Not understanding the skill involved in play therapy

What are important factors for therapists to understand when working with children?

  • Children have a different culture (i.e., the tooth fairy is real)
  • The therapist’s role as translator for what children are saying
  • Children will make you feel what they feel (e.g., powerlessness, never getting anything right)
  • The importance of showing feelings to children as a therapist (versus remaining a blank slate)

What do you do with children in therapy sessions?

  • Psychodrama and re-enacting situations
  • Therapists can use any theoretical orientation
  • Ways to interact with the child
  • Paying attention to transference and countertransference
  • Case conceptualization, including family therapy and work with parents

What specialized training is most effective for working with children?

  • There are specialized protocols for working with children with many different orientations
  • Identifying which orientation suits you
  • How to understand what is being reenacted and how to respond: Notice it, sit with it, make meaning of it; Observe it, name it, model how to cope with it

What boundaries should therapists set when working with children and families?

  • Unit of treatment (family, individual, who was showing up to the session?)
  • Treatment goals (what are we working on?)
  • What children are allowed to do in the session
  • Interactions with caregivers and the responsibilities caregivers have during sessions

What does online therapy look like with children?

  • The challenges with working with children online
  • Online sand tray, online dollhouse, online puppet theater
  • Creating a virtual play room
  • New trainings for VR therapy for children
  • Watching children play video games online

How has the pandemic impacted children?

  • This was dependent on how well parents were able to self-regulate and stay within the window of tolerance (was there someone who could help the child to regulate)
  • Lack of socialization and difficulty in having conversations


Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Ofra Obejas’ website: redondovillagecounseling.com

Ofra on YouTube

UCSD - Play Therapy Program

 

]]> 2270 no How Therapists Can Really Help Kids Who Are Being Bullied https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-therapists-can-really-help-kids-who-are-being-bullied How Therapists Can Really Help Kids Who Are Being Bullied Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can support the targets of bullying. We explore what bullying actually is as well as what can be problematic in how it is typically addressed. We also discuss individual therapy strategies for kids who have been bullied. Curt and Katie also debate about whether the targets of bullying should change what makes them different to avoid getting bullied.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can effectively treat bullying in therapy For Bullying Prevention month, we decided to dig into what bullying actually is and how therapists can treat bullying in therapy. What is bullying actually? The definition of bullying and how it is described currently (i.e., teasing versus bullying) Target and aggressor (versus victim and bully) as more appropriate language to describe participants Three essential elements of bullying: ongoing behavior, behavior is intended to be harmful, and there is a power differential between the aggressor and the target The relevance of impact versus intention of behavior Numerous types of power imbalances that can be present Types: physical, verbal, social or covert, cyber bullying What is problematic in how bullying is typically addressed? “Aggressors have a more robust set of social skills. And it's being able to adapt more quickly to things that are socially changing, even in the moment. This also plays a role in the reporting on the people teasing them because the more socially adept kids are then better able to convince the adults around them. Oh, no, we were just playing. We were teasing back and forth.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Most bullying is not observed by adults Not moving past holding space Looking toward community interventions rather than individual Lack of understanding of what cyber bullying actually looks like (when you haven’t grown up as a digital native) Aggressors have a more robust set of social skills Strategies for kids who have been bullied “I think we also need to recognize that if we go too far in telling people not to be different, we are invalidating their identity. And if we don't go far enough, and we don't help them to be part of society, they may continue to get really harshly bullied, but either one is damaging.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Beyond ignoring (especially if there is an audience) Understanding what the target’s response means to the aggressor Not playing into what the aggressor is doing, escalating to forceful “stop,” seeking out a trusted adult (or multiple adults) Debate on whether a target should shift their behavior and change what makes them different Building confidence versus masking Safety now versus identity development Practicing responses to potential bullying statements in session Including targets in the planning process with adults The challenges with mediation within school settings (and the importance of follow up) Systemic or prevention programs that also address bystanders O Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article: Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training to Improve Friendships in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders Article: The 411 on Bullying Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy: The Fifty-Minute Hour Connect with the Modern Therapist Community: Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 24 Oct 2022 07:00:00 -0000 How Therapists Can Really Help Kids Who Are Being Bullied full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Therapists Can Really Help Kids Who Are Being Bullied Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can support the targets of bullying. We explore what bullying actually is as well as what can be problematic in how it is typically addressed. We also... How Therapists Can Really Help Kids Who Are Being Bullied Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can support the targets of bullying. We explore what bullying actually is as well as what can be problematic in how it is typically addressed. We also discuss individual therapy strategies for kids who have been bullied. Curt and Katie also debate about whether the targets of bullying should change what makes them different to avoid getting bullied.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can effectively treat bullying in therapy For Bullying Prevention month, we decided to dig into what bullying actually is and how therapists can treat bullying in therapy. What is bullying actually? The definition of bullying and how it is described currently (i.e., teasing versus bullying) Target and aggressor (versus victim and bully) as more appropriate language to describe participants Three essential elements of bullying: ongoing behavior, behavior is intended to be harmful, and there is a power differential between the aggressor and the target The relevance of impact versus intention of behavior Numerous types of power imbalances that can be present Types: physical, verbal, social or covert, cyber bullying What is problematic in how bullying is typically addressed? “Aggressors have a more robust set of social skills. And it's being able to adapt more quickly to things that are socially changing, even in the moment. This also plays a role in the reporting on the people teasing them because the more socially adept kids are then better able to convince the adults around them. Oh, no, we were just playing. We were teasing back and forth.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Most bullying is not observed by adults Not moving past holding space Looking toward community interventions rather than individual Lack of understanding of what cyber bullying actually looks like (when you haven’t grown up as a digital native) Aggressors have a more robust set of social skills Strategies for kids who have been bullied “I think we also need to recognize that if we go too far in telling people not to be different, we are invalidating their identity. And if we don't go far enough, and we don't help them to be part of society, they may continue to get really harshly bullied, but either one is damaging.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Beyond ignoring (especially if there is an audience) Understanding what the target’s response means to the aggressor Not playing into what the aggressor is doing, escalating to forceful “stop,” seeking out a trusted adult (or multiple adults) Debate on whether a target should shift their behavior and change what makes them different Building confidence versus masking Safety now versus identity development Practicing responses to potential bullying statements in session Including targets in the planning process with adults The challenges with mediation within school settings (and the importance of follow up) Systemic or prevention programs that also address bystanders O Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article: Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training to Improve Friendships in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders Article: The 411 on Bullying Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy: The Fifty-Minute Hour Connect with the Modern Therapist Community: Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Therapists Can Really Help Kids Who Are Being Bullied

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can support the targets of bullying. We explore what bullying actually is as well as what can be problematic in how it is typically addressed. We also discuss individual therapy strategies for kids who have been bullied. Curt and Katie also debate about whether the targets of bullying should change what makes them different to avoid getting bullied.   

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can effectively treat bullying in therapy

For Bullying Prevention month, we decided to dig into what bullying actually is and how therapists can treat bullying in therapy.

What is bullying actually?

  • The definition of bullying and how it is described currently (i.e., teasing versus bullying)
  • Target and aggressor (versus victim and bully) as more appropriate language to describe participants
  • Three essential elements of bullying: ongoing behavior, behavior is intended to be harmful, and there is a power differential between the aggressor and the target
  • The relevance of impact versus intention of behavior
  • Numerous types of power imbalances that can be present
  • Types: physical, verbal, social or covert, cyber bullying

What is problematic in how bullying is typically addressed?

“Aggressors have a more robust set of social skills. And it's being able to adapt more quickly to things that are socially changing, even in the moment. This also plays a role in the reporting on the people teasing them because the more socially adept kids are then better able to convince the adults around them. Oh, no, we were just playing. We were teasing back and forth.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • Most bullying is not observed by adults
  • Not moving past holding space
  • Looking toward community interventions rather than individual
  • Lack of understanding of what cyber bullying actually looks like (when you haven’t grown up as a digital native)
  • Aggressors have a more robust set of social skills

Strategies for kids who have been bullied

“I think we also need to recognize that if we go too far in telling people not to be different, we are invalidating their identity. And if we don't go far enough, and we don't help them to be part of society, they may continue to get really harshly bullied, but either one is damaging.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

  • Beyond ignoring (especially if there is an audience)
  • Understanding what the target’s response means to the aggressor
  • Not playing into what the aggressor is doing, escalating to forceful “stop,” seeking out a trusted adult (or multiple adults)
  • Debate on whether a target should shift their behavior and change what makes them different
  • Building confidence versus masking
  • Safety now versus identity development
  • Practicing responses to potential bullying statements in session
  • Including targets in the planning process with adults
  • The challenges with mediation within school settings (and the importance of follow up)
  • Systemic or prevention programs that also address bystanders

O

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Article: Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training to Improve Friendships in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Article: The 411 on Bullying

Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Connect with the Modern Therapist Community:

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2711 no What Modern Therapists Should Know About Law Enforcement Mental Health: An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-modern-therapists-should-know-about-law-enforcement-mental-health-an-interview-with-cyndi-doyle-lpc What Modern Therapists Should Know About Law Enforcement Mental Health: An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC Curt and Katie interview Cyndi Doyle on the mental health of law enforcement officers. We look at how being a cop impacts their mental health as well as specific incidents and the chronic desensitization. We also explore the feelings in law enforcement related to calls to defund the police and how society views the cops. Content warning: potentially traumatic incidents (violence, death) Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC Cyndi Doyle is a Licensed Professional Counselor, group practice co-owner, founder of Code4Couples®, podcaster, and author of Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship. She has spoken nationally and internationally including at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conferences (IACP), the FBI National Academy Association (FBINAA) Conference, keynoted at police spouse conferences throughout the country, and at trained various police departments. While much of her work focuses on first responders, Cyndi’s stories of embracing and wrestling with living her own bold and authentic life have resulted in her being a sought-after speaker for other mental health professionals. Her message of humanizing struggle, compassion, courage, and resilience has resulted in her speaking nationally and even keynoting at the 2020 Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference. That same year, the American Counseling Association awarded her the Samuel Gladding Unsung Heroes Award for her work with first responders and contribution to the field of counseling. In this podcast episode, we talk about Law Enforcement Mental Health We reached out to our friend, Cyndi Doyle to explore a population of folks who we typically don’t think about as our patients: Law Enforcement Officers (LEO). What should modern therapists know about the mental health of Law Enforcement Officers and their families? Different dynamics than typical couples The definition of cynicism How training impacts the mental health of officers Misinterpretation of control versus abuse Over diagnosis of trauma The negative impacts on police officers of the heightened scrutiny and criticism Hypervigilance and the impact of cameras on police offers performing their jobs The lack of support from the community (or the legislators or even law enforcement leadership) for officers Lack of compassion satisfaction, considering quitting their job, PTSD The impact on Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) families Exploration of the calls to defund the police and fund other resources Looking at the law enforcement response to defunding the police Exploring community policing and how that could help decrease abuses The cultural shifts and education happening at police departments The potential for mental health resources being added to policing When staffing is down, there is less time to recuperate and be prepared for work Mental Health Concerns that bring law enforcement officers and their families into therapy Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction Relationships, family and couple Incident, critical incident, trauma Desensitization to violent incidents, injuries, and death The personalization in incidents that can cause more of a trauma response The insufficient training to build resilience for law enforcement officers The shifting culture that is now recognizing mental health as health, but the ongoing stigma for seeking support Cynicism, lack of empathy, and bias in Law Enforcement The mindset that narrows down to “everyone” behaves Working to make officers more human, so they can see more good in the world The importance of supporting the resilience and empathy within LEO (while recognizing that some of these things are not helpful “on the job”) Cyndi Doyle.com Mon, 17 Oct 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What Modern Therapists Should Know About Law Enforcement Mental Health: An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Modern Therapists Should Know About Law Enforcement Mental Health: An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC Curt and Katie interview Cyndi Doyle on the mental health of law enforcement officers. We look at how being a cop impacts their mental health as... What Modern Therapists Should Know About Law Enforcement Mental Health: An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC Curt and Katie interview Cyndi Doyle on the mental health of law enforcement officers. We look at how being a cop impacts their mental health as well as specific incidents and the chronic desensitization. We also explore the feelings in law enforcement related to calls to defund the police and how society views the cops. Content warning: potentially traumatic incidents (violence, death) Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC Cyndi Doyle is a Licensed Professional Counselor, group practice co-owner, founder of Code4Couples®, podcaster, and author of Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship. She has spoken nationally and internationally including at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conferences (IACP), the FBI National Academy Association (FBINAA) Conference, keynoted at police spouse conferences throughout the country, and at trained various police departments. While much of her work focuses on first responders, Cyndi’s stories of embracing and wrestling with living her own bold and authentic life have resulted in her being a sought-after speaker for other mental health professionals. Her message of humanizing struggle, compassion, courage, and resilience has resulted in her speaking nationally and even keynoting at the 2020 Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference. That same year, the American Counseling Association awarded her the Samuel Gladding Unsung Heroes Award for her work with first responders and contribution to the field of counseling. In this podcast episode, we talk about Law Enforcement Mental Health We reached out to our friend, Cyndi Doyle to explore a population of folks who we typically don’t think about as our patients: Law Enforcement Officers (LEO). What should modern therapists know about the mental health of Law Enforcement Officers and their families? Different dynamics than typical couples The definition of cynicism How training impacts the mental health of officers Misinterpretation of control versus abuse Over diagnosis of trauma The negative impacts on police officers of the heightened scrutiny and criticism Hypervigilance and the impact of cameras on police offers performing their jobs The lack of support from the community (or the legislators or even law enforcement leadership) for officers Lack of compassion satisfaction, considering quitting their job, PTSD The impact on Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) families Exploration of the calls to defund the police and fund other resources Looking at the law enforcement response to defunding the police Exploring community policing and how that could help decrease abuses The cultural shifts and education happening at police departments The potential for mental health resources being added to policing When staffing is down, there is less time to recuperate and be prepared for work Mental Health Concerns that bring law enforcement officers and their families into therapy Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction Relationships, family and couple Incident, critical incident, trauma Desensitization to violent incidents, injuries, and death The personalization in incidents that can cause more of a trauma response The insufficient training to build resilience for law enforcement officers The shifting culture that is now recognizing mental health as health, but the ongoing stigma for seeking support Cynicism, lack of empathy, and bias in Law Enforcement The mindset that narrows down to “everyone” behaves Working to make officers more human, so they can see more good in the world The importance of supporting the resilience and empathy within LEO (while recognizing that some of these things are not helpful “on the job”) Cyndi Doyle.com What Modern Therapists Should Know About Law Enforcement Mental Health: An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC

Curt and Katie interview Cyndi Doyle on the mental health of law enforcement officers. We look at how being a cop impacts their mental health as well as specific incidents and the chronic desensitization. We also explore the feelings in law enforcement related to calls to defund the police and how society views the cops. Content warning: potentially traumatic incidents (violence, death)

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Cyndi Doyle, LPC

Cyndi Doyle is a Licensed Professional Counselor, group practice co-owner, founder of Code4Couples®, podcaster, and author of Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship. She has spoken nationally and internationally including at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conferences (IACP), the FBI National Academy Association (FBINAA) Conference, keynoted at police spouse conferences throughout the country, and at trained various police departments. While much of her work focuses on first responders, Cyndi’s stories of embracing and wrestling with living her own bold and authentic life have resulted in her being a sought-after speaker for other mental health professionals. Her message of humanizing struggle, compassion, courage, and resilience has resulted in her speaking nationally and even keynoting at the 2020 Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference. That same year, the American Counseling Association awarded her the Samuel Gladding Unsung Heroes Award for her work with first responders and contribution to the field of counseling.

In this podcast episode, we talk about Law Enforcement Mental Health

We reached out to our friend, Cyndi Doyle to explore a population of folks who we typically don’t think about as our patients: Law Enforcement Officers (LEO).

What should modern therapists know about the mental health of Law Enforcement Officers and their families?

  • Different dynamics than typical couples
  • The definition of cynicism
  • How training impacts the mental health of officers
  • Misinterpretation of control versus abuse
  • Over diagnosis of trauma

The negative impacts on police officers of the heightened scrutiny and criticism

  • Hypervigilance and the impact of cameras on police offers performing their jobs
  • The lack of support from the community (or the legislators or even law enforcement leadership) for officers
  • Lack of compassion satisfaction, considering quitting their job, PTSD
  • The impact on Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) families

Exploration of the calls to defund the police and fund other resources

  • Looking at the law enforcement response to defunding the police
  • Exploring community policing and how that could help decrease abuses
  • The cultural shifts and education happening at police departments
  • The potential for mental health resources being added to policing
  • When staffing is down, there is less time to recuperate and be prepared for work

Mental Health Concerns that bring law enforcement officers and their families into therapy

  • Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction
  • Relationships, family and couple
  • Incident, critical incident, trauma
  • Desensitization to violent incidents, injuries, and death
  • The personalization in incidents that can cause more of a trauma response
  • The insufficient training to build resilience for law enforcement officers
  • The shifting culture that is now recognizing mental health as health, but the ongoing stigma for seeking support

Cynicism, lack of empathy, and bias in Law Enforcement

  • The mindset that narrows down to “everyone” behaves
  • Working to make officers more human, so they can see more good in the world
  • The importance of supporting the resilience and empathy within LEO (while recognizing that some of these things are not helpful “on the job”)

Cyndi Doyle.com

]]> 2416 yes Medical Assistance in Death (MAiD) in Canada: Mental Illness and Assisted Suicide https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/medical-assistance-in-death-maid-in-canada-mental-illness-and-assisted-suicide Medical Assistance in Death (MAiD) in Canada: Mental Illness and Assisted Suicide Curt and Katie chat about assisted suicide related to an upcoming expansion of the MAiD laws in Canada to include mental illness. We discuss what these laws seems to say as well as how they might impact patients, medical providers, and therapists. We explore the moral and ethical questions as well as what other countries have done to put in further safeguards to protect patients and doctors.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the expansion of Medical Assistance in Death laws in Canada We have been watching the MAiD laws in Canada that are soon going to include assistance in death for folks with mental illness. We talk about the law and the concerns we have related to the safeguards (or lack of safeguards). What are the updates coming to the Medical Assistance in Death laws in Canada? With the approval of 2 medical professionals and a 24-month waiting period (for psychological illness), individuals can get medication or an injection from a medical provider to end their lives Requirements for application include chronic, “grievous and irremediable” conditions Information on requirements are here: Final Report of the Expert Panel on MAiD and Mental Illness The differences in laws in other countries that seem to have more safeguards in place What are the moral and ethical questions facing medical and mental health providers? “Do we have the right – the moral right – as therapists, mental health professionals of any sort of background or license, to tell clients that they must live or that it is okay for them to end their life?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT What responsibilities do mental health providers have to their clients related to end of life? Who will be negatively impacted versus who will be positively impacted? Who would qualify and who would seek out assistance in dying? “I'm not worried that someone that's a little depressed is going to decide they want to die by suicide… I think it's more that there are going to be folks [diagnosed with serious mental illness who are receiving insufficient mental health care] … who really don't feel like they have options (and maybe they don't) and they choose to die by suicide versus advocating for stronger treatment.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT What is mental illness? Is it only what is in the ICD or DSM? What are the impacts of these laws on physicians? Concerns raised by First Nations groups in Canada Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Final Report of the Expert Panel on MAiD and Mental Illness NY Times: Is Choosing Death Too Easy in Canada? Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Too Much, Too Fast?  Canadian and Dutch doctors’ roles in assistance in dying Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Part 1: Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults Part 2: What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention What's new in the DSM 5-T-R? An interview with Dr. Michael B. First When Clients Die: An interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT Therapists Struggling with Darkness Suicidal Therapists: An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW Therapist Suicide Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy: The Fifty-Minute Hour Connect with the Modern Therapist Community: Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 10 Oct 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Medical Assistance in Death (MAiD) in Canada: Mental Illness and Assisted Suicide full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Medical Assistance in Death (MAiD) in Canada: Mental Illness and Assisted Suicide Curt and Katie chat about assisted suicide related to an upcoming expansion of the MAiD laws in Canada to include mental illness. We discuss what these laws seems to say... Medical Assistance in Death (MAiD) in Canada: Mental Illness and Assisted Suicide Curt and Katie chat about assisted suicide related to an upcoming expansion of the MAiD laws in Canada to include mental illness. We discuss what these laws seems to say as well as how they might impact patients, medical providers, and therapists. We explore the moral and ethical questions as well as what other countries have done to put in further safeguards to protect patients and doctors.   Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the expansion of Medical Assistance in Death laws in Canada We have been watching the MAiD laws in Canada that are soon going to include assistance in death for folks with mental illness. We talk about the law and the concerns we have related to the safeguards (or lack of safeguards). What are the updates coming to the Medical Assistance in Death laws in Canada? With the approval of 2 medical professionals and a 24-month waiting period (for psychological illness), individuals can get medication or an injection from a medical provider to end their lives Requirements for application include chronic, “grievous and irremediable” conditions Information on requirements are here: Final Report of the Expert Panel on MAiD and Mental Illness The differences in laws in other countries that seem to have more safeguards in place What are the moral and ethical questions facing medical and mental health providers? “Do we have the right – the moral right – as therapists, mental health professionals of any sort of background or license, to tell clients that they must live or that it is okay for them to end their life?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT What responsibilities do mental health providers have to their clients related to end of life? Who will be negatively impacted versus who will be positively impacted? Who would qualify and who would seek out assistance in dying? “I'm not worried that someone that's a little depressed is going to decide they want to die by suicide… I think it's more that there are going to be folks [diagnosed with serious mental illness who are receiving insufficient mental health care] … who really don't feel like they have options (and maybe they don't) and they choose to die by suicide versus advocating for stronger treatment.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT What is mental illness? Is it only what is in the ICD or DSM? What are the impacts of these laws on physicians? Concerns raised by First Nations groups in Canada Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Final Report of the Expert Panel on MAiD and Mental Illness NY Times: Is Choosing Death Too Easy in Canada? Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Too Much, Too Fast?  Canadian and Dutch doctors’ roles in assistance in dying Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Part 1: Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults Part 2: What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention What's new in the DSM 5-T-R? An interview with Dr. Michael B. First When Clients Die: An interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT Therapists Struggling with Darkness Suicidal Therapists: An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW Therapist Suicide Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy: The Fifty-Minute Hour Connect with the Modern Therapist Community: Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Medical Assistance in Death (MAiD) in Canada: Mental Illness and Assisted Suicide

Curt and Katie chat about assisted suicide related to an upcoming expansion of the MAiD laws in Canada to include mental illness. We discuss what these laws seems to say as well as how they might impact patients, medical providers, and therapists. We explore the moral and ethical questions as well as what other countries have done to put in further safeguards to protect patients and doctors.  

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the expansion of Medical Assistance in Death laws in Canada

We have been watching the MAiD laws in Canada that are soon going to include assistance in death for folks with mental illness. We talk about the law and the concerns we have related to the safeguards (or lack of safeguards).

What are the updates coming to the Medical Assistance in Death laws in Canada?

  • With the approval of 2 medical professionals and a 24-month waiting period (for psychological illness), individuals can get medication or an injection from a medical provider to end their lives
  • Requirements for application include chronic, “grievous and irremediable” conditions
  • Information on requirements are here: Final Report of the Expert Panel on MAiD and Mental Illness
  • The differences in laws in other countries that seem to have more safeguards in place

What are the moral and ethical questions facing medical and mental health providers?

“Do we have the right – the moral right – as therapists, mental health professionals of any sort of background or license, to tell clients that they must live or that it is okay for them to end their life?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • What responsibilities do mental health providers have to their clients related to end of life?
  • Who will be negatively impacted versus who will be positively impacted?
  • Who would qualify and who would seek out assistance in dying?

“I'm not worried that someone that's a little depressed is going to decide they want to die by suicide… I think it's more that there are going to be folks [diagnosed with serious mental illness who are receiving insufficient mental health care] … who really don't feel like they have options (and maybe they don't) and they choose to die by suicide versus advocating for stronger treatment.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

  • What is mental illness? Is it only what is in the ICD or DSM?
  • What are the impacts of these laws on physicians?
  • Concerns raised by First Nations groups in Canada


Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Final Report of the Expert Panel on MAiD and Mental Illness

NY Times: Is Choosing Death Too Easy in Canada?

Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Too Much, Too Fast?

 Canadian and Dutch doctors’ roles in assistance in dying

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Part 1: Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults

Part 2: What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention

What's new in the DSM 5-T-R? An interview with Dr. Michael B. First

When Clients Die: An interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT

Therapists Struggling with Darkness

Suicidal Therapists: An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW

Therapist Suicide

Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Connect with the Modern Therapist Community:

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 2168 yes What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-therapists-should-actually-do-for-suicidal-clients-assessment-safety-planning-and-least-intrusive-intervention What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention Curt and Katie chat about suicide assessment, safety planning, and how to keep clients out of the hospital. We reviewed the Integrated Motivational Volitional Model for Suicide, we talked about what therapists should be assessing for in every session, what strong assessment looks like (and suggested suicide assessment protocols), and why the least restrictive environment is so important when you are designing interventions and safety planning. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about suicide assessment, safety planning, and intervention We continue our conversation on suicide, progressing from risk factors (from last week’s episode) to how to assess and safety plan with the least intrusive interventions at the earliest stages.  Review of the Suicide Model: Integrated Motivational Volitional Model by O’Connor and Kirtley   Continued to review the IMV model (graphic in the show notes at mtsgpodcast.com) What should therapists assess for in every session, related to suicide? “When clinicians are burnt out, when we have caseloads that are too big, when we aren't taking care of ourselves, we tend to [think], “Okay, this client is at a six, they can live at a six for a while,” which is absolutely true. And if they can [live with this level of suicidality], and they have the good factors that allow them to live there – great. It's just how close are they to that 7, 8, 9?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Moderating motivational factors, which move clients from passive to more active suicidality (or the reverse) Looking at what is keeping someone from being at risk for suicide (protective factors) The importance of knowing our clients well before they move into the volitional phase Understanding the clinician factors and putting structure around assessment Assessment for Suicide “Assessment is intervention.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT SAMHSA’s GATE protocol Gather information using a structured assessment tool (Columbia Scale, LRAMP) Looking at intention, means, plan as well as risk and protective factors Moving into a safety plan The importance of recognizing the human during the assessment (versus focusing only on the protocol or your liability) Seeking supervision or consultation – don’t do this alone The importance of using the least restrictive intervention for suicide “There is a rupture in the therapeutic relationship when you are sending your client or facilitating a hospitalization against their will. It can save their lives …but that may not always be the case.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT The idea of “responsible” action The range of options for keeping a client safe Having a conversation with the client on how to avoid attempting suicide The potential impacts of hospitalization, including trauma The danger of hospitalizing someone who does not need this level of intervention Additional intervention between sessions The practicalities to set up your schedule and your practice to support your clients and your self Additional risk factors (transition phases between providers)   Mon, 03 Oct 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention Curt and Katie chat about suicide assessment, safety planning, and how to keep clients out of the hospital. We reviewed the... What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention Curt and Katie chat about suicide assessment, safety planning, and how to keep clients out of the hospital. We reviewed the Integrated Motivational Volitional Model for Suicide, we talked about what therapists should be assessing for in every session, what strong assessment looks like (and suggested suicide assessment protocols), and why the least restrictive environment is so important when you are designing interventions and safety planning. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about suicide assessment, safety planning, and intervention We continue our conversation on suicide, progressing from risk factors (from last week’s episode) to how to assess and safety plan with the least intrusive interventions at the earliest stages.  Review of the Suicide Model: Integrated Motivational Volitional Model by O’Connor and Kirtley   Continued to review the IMV model (graphic in the show notes at mtsgpodcast.com) What should therapists assess for in every session, related to suicide? “When clinicians are burnt out, when we have caseloads that are too big, when we aren't taking care of ourselves, we tend to [think], “Okay, this client is at a six, they can live at a six for a while,” which is absolutely true. And if they can [live with this level of suicidality], and they have the good factors that allow them to live there – great. It's just how close are they to that 7, 8, 9?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Moderating motivational factors, which move clients from passive to more active suicidality (or the reverse) Looking at what is keeping someone from being at risk for suicide (protective factors) The importance of knowing our clients well before they move into the volitional phase Understanding the clinician factors and putting structure around assessment Assessment for Suicide “Assessment is intervention.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT SAMHSA’s GATE protocol Gather information using a structured assessment tool (Columbia Scale, LRAMP) Looking at intention, means, plan as well as risk and protective factors Moving into a safety plan The importance of recognizing the human during the assessment (versus focusing only on the protocol or your liability) Seeking supervision or consultation – don’t do this alone The importance of using the least restrictive intervention for suicide “There is a rupture in the therapeutic relationship when you are sending your client or facilitating a hospitalization against their will. It can save their lives …but that may not always be the case.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT The idea of “responsible” action The range of options for keeping a client safe Having a conversation with the client on how to avoid attempting suicide The potential impacts of hospitalization, including trauma The danger of hospitalizing someone who does not need this level of intervention Additional intervention between sessions The practicalities to set up your schedule and your practice to support your clients and your self Additional risk factors (transition phases between providers)   What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention

Curt and Katie chat about suicide assessment, safety planning, and how to keep clients out of the hospital. We reviewed the Integrated Motivational Volitional Model for Suicide, we talked about what therapists should be assessing for in every session, what strong assessment looks like (and suggested suicide assessment protocols), and why the least restrictive environment is so important when you are designing interventions and safety planning. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about suicide assessment, safety planning, and intervention

We continue our conversation on suicide, progressing from risk factors (from last week’s episode) to how to assess and safety plan with the least intrusive interventions at the earliest stages. 

Review of the Suicide Model: Integrated Motivational Volitional Model by O’Connor and Kirtley

 

  • Continued to review the IMV model (graphic in the show notes at mtsgpodcast.com)

What should therapists assess for in every session, related to suicide?

“When clinicians are burnt out, when we have caseloads that are too big, when we aren't taking care of ourselves, we tend to [think], “Okay, this client is at a six, they can live at a six for a while,” which is absolutely true. And if they can [live with this level of suicidality], and they have the good factors that allow them to live there – great. It's just how close are they to that 7, 8, 9?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • Moderating motivational factors, which move clients from passive to more active suicidality (or the reverse)
  • Looking at what is keeping someone from being at risk for suicide (protective factors)
  • The importance of knowing our clients well before they move into the volitional phase
  • Understanding the clinician factors and putting structure around assessment

Assessment for Suicide

“Assessment is intervention.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • SAMHSA’s GATE protocol
  • Gather information using a structured assessment tool (Columbia Scale, LRAMP)
  • Looking at intention, means, plan as well as risk and protective factors
  • Moving into a safety plan
  • The importance of recognizing the human during the assessment (versus focusing only on the protocol or your liability)
  • Seeking supervision or consultation – don’t do this alone

The importance of using the least restrictive intervention for suicide

“There is a rupture in the therapeutic relationship when you are sending your client or facilitating a hospitalization against their will. It can save their lives …but that may not always be the case.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

  • The idea of “responsible” action
  • The range of options for keeping a client safe
  • Having a conversation with the client on how to avoid attempting suicide
  • The potential impacts of hospitalization, including trauma
  • The danger of hospitalizing someone who does not need this level of intervention
  • Additional intervention between sessions
  • The practicalities to set up your schedule and your practice to support your clients and your self
  • Additional risk factors (transition phases between providers)

 

]]> 4505 yes Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/risk-factors-for-suicide-what-therapists-should-know-when-treating-teens-and-adults Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults Curt and Katie chat about suicide risk factors. Suicide rates have been increasing across the nation and there is an increasing need for the mental health workforce to be prepared to assess and intervene with clients of all ages. We take an in-depth look at the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideology and behaviors in both teens and adults. We also lay the beginning foundations of a suicide model to help clinicians better understand and intervene with clients exhibiting suicidal thoughts. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore what makes someone more likely to attempt suicide We’ve talked frequently about suicide, but thought it would be important, especially during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, to go more deeply into the risk factors that make someone more likely to attempt and complete suicide.  What are the highest risk factors for suicide? “Anxiety Sensitivity… the fear of the feelings of being anxious… is even more so correlated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than depression is.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Defining acute, active suicidality (versus passive or chronic suicidality or non-suicidal self-Injury) Going beyond the list of risk factors to how big of a risk each factor is for attempting or completing suicide Exploring how impactful a previous attempt is on whether someone is likely to attempt of complete suicide The importance of getting a complete history of suicidality and suicide attempts at intake The impact of family members who have attempted or died by suicide Alcohol and other substance use and abuse as an additive risk factor Cooccurring mental disorders (eating disorders, psychosis and serious mental illness, depression, anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, personality disorders) Child abuse history, especially folks with a history of sexual abuse history Life transitions, especially unplanned and sudden life transitions Owning a firearm makes you 50 times more likely to die by suicide Racial differences in who is more likely to attempt or complete suicide Living at a high elevation What are additional risk factors for suicide specific to teens? Early onset of mental illness Environmental factors Exposure to other suicides (social media, contagion) Not being able to identify other options Seeking control over their lives and lacking impulse control leading to suicide attempts The importance of communication and the potential for a lack of communication Bullying and lack of social support, without a way to escape due to social media and cell phones What are protective factors when assessing for suicidality? “Just because protective factors are present doesn't mean that they balance out risk factors [for suicide].”– Curt Widhalm, LMFT Reasons for living, responsibility to others Spirituality or attending a place of worship that teaches against suicide Where you live based on cultural or societal factors Having a children or child-rearing responsibilities, intact marriage Strong social support, employment Relationship with a therapist   Suicide Model: Integrated Motivational Volitional Model by O’Connor and Kirtley Mon, 26 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults Curt and Katie chat about suicide risk factors.  Suicide rates have been increasing across the nation and there is an increasing need for the mental health... Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults Curt and Katie chat about suicide risk factors. Suicide rates have been increasing across the nation and there is an increasing need for the mental health workforce to be prepared to assess and intervene with clients of all ages. We take an in-depth look at the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideology and behaviors in both teens and adults. We also lay the beginning foundations of a suicide model to help clinicians better understand and intervene with clients exhibiting suicidal thoughts. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore what makes someone more likely to attempt suicide We’ve talked frequently about suicide, but thought it would be important, especially during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, to go more deeply into the risk factors that make someone more likely to attempt and complete suicide.  What are the highest risk factors for suicide? “Anxiety Sensitivity… the fear of the feelings of being anxious… is even more so correlated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than depression is.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Defining acute, active suicidality (versus passive or chronic suicidality or non-suicidal self-Injury) Going beyond the list of risk factors to how big of a risk each factor is for attempting or completing suicide Exploring how impactful a previous attempt is on whether someone is likely to attempt of complete suicide The importance of getting a complete history of suicidality and suicide attempts at intake The impact of family members who have attempted or died by suicide Alcohol and other substance use and abuse as an additive risk factor Cooccurring mental disorders (eating disorders, psychosis and serious mental illness, depression, anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, personality disorders) Child abuse history, especially folks with a history of sexual abuse history Life transitions, especially unplanned and sudden life transitions Owning a firearm makes you 50 times more likely to die by suicide Racial differences in who is more likely to attempt or complete suicide Living at a high elevation What are additional risk factors for suicide specific to teens? Early onset of mental illness Environmental factors Exposure to other suicides (social media, contagion) Not being able to identify other options Seeking control over their lives and lacking impulse control leading to suicide attempts The importance of communication and the potential for a lack of communication Bullying and lack of social support, without a way to escape due to social media and cell phones What are protective factors when assessing for suicidality? “Just because protective factors are present doesn't mean that they balance out risk factors [for suicide].”– Curt Widhalm, LMFT Reasons for living, responsibility to others Spirituality or attending a place of worship that teaches against suicide Where you live based on cultural or societal factors Having a children or child-rearing responsibilities, intact marriage Strong social support, employment Relationship with a therapist   Suicide Model: Integrated Motivational Volitional Model by O’Connor and Kirtley Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults

Curt and Katie chat about suicide risk factors. Suicide rates have been increasing across the nation and there is an increasing need for the mental health workforce to be prepared to assess and intervene with clients of all ages. We take an in-depth look at the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideology and behaviors in both teens and adults. We also lay the beginning foundations of a suicide model to help clinicians better understand and intervene with clients exhibiting suicidal thoughts. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore what makes someone more likely to attempt suicide

We’ve talked frequently about suicide, but thought it would be important, especially during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, to go more deeply into the risk factors that make someone more likely to attempt and complete suicide. 

What are the highest risk factors for suicide?

“Anxiety Sensitivity… the fear of the feelings of being anxious… is even more so correlated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than depression is.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • Defining acute, active suicidality (versus passive or chronic suicidality or non-suicidal self-Injury)
  • Going beyond the list of risk factors to how big of a risk each factor is for attempting or completing suicide
  • Exploring how impactful a previous attempt is on whether someone is likely to attempt of complete suicide
  • The importance of getting a complete history of suicidality and suicide attempts at intake
  • The impact of family members who have attempted or died by suicide
  • Alcohol and other substance use and abuse as an additive risk factor
  • Cooccurring mental disorders (eating disorders, psychosis and serious mental illness, depression, anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, personality disorders)
  • Child abuse history, especially folks with a history of sexual abuse history
  • Life transitions, especially unplanned and sudden life transitions
  • Owning a firearm makes you 50 times more likely to die by suicide
  • Racial differences in who is more likely to attempt or complete suicide
  • Living at a high elevation

What are additional risk factors for suicide specific to teens?

  • Early onset of mental illness
  • Environmental factors
  • Exposure to other suicides (social media, contagion)
  • Not being able to identify other options
  • Seeking control over their lives and lacking impulse control leading to suicide attempts
  • The importance of communication and the potential for a lack of communication
  • Bullying and lack of social support, without a way to escape due to social media and cell phones

What are protective factors when assessing for suicidality?

“Just because protective factors are present doesn't mean that they balance out risk factors [for suicide].”– Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • Reasons for living, responsibility to others
  • Spirituality or attending a place of worship that teaches against suicide
  • Where you live based on cultural or societal factors
  • Having a children or child-rearing responsibilities, intact marriage
  • Strong social support, employment
  • Relationship with a therapist

 

Suicide Model: Integrated Motivational Volitional Model by O’Connor and Kirtley

]]> 4324 no How Therapists Can Manage a Sedentary Job: An interview with Celina Caovan, DPT https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-therapists-can-manage-a-sedentary-job-an-interview-with-celina-caovan-dpt How Therapists Can Manage a Sedentary Job: An interview with Celina Caovan, DPT Curt and Katie interview Celina Caovan about physical self-care for therapists. We talk about how to mitigate the impacts of a sedentary job as well as the benefits of physical therapy and consistent physical activity. We also look into what physical therapy is, how clients can advocate for it, and how therapists might collaborate to support the physical and mental health of their patients. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Celina Caovan, DPT Celina Caovan received both her undergraduate degree and Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Southern California. She has been practicing in an outpatient orthopedic setting in the South Bay in California for the last two years and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can take care of their bodies while working in a sedentary job Many therapist friends of ours have described low back pain and challenges in maintaining physical health when much of the work we do is while sitting. What should therapists know about physical activity and physical therapy? “Physical therapists are trained movement experts… we can diagnose, we can treat using hands on skills, patient education, and then we prescribe individual exercise for a bunch of different injuries, the ultimate goal being to improve the way someone moves and emphasize injury prevention. And the cool thing about physical therapy: it can be an alternative to pain medication, in a society where they prescribe a lot of a lot of pain medication, and then surgery as well.” – Celina Caovan, DPT There are a number of subspecialties in physical therapy to support all different elements of improving movement The importance of moving outside of a sedentary job US Department of Health guidelines on activity levels What can therapists do to take care of themselves during the work week? Getting out of the chair, some chair exercises Stretching and gentle movements during the breaks between sessions No drastic differences in activity from the work week to the weekend (i.e., avoid weekend warrior behavior, especially when extremely sedentary during the week_ Slowly increase activity and gradually increase cardio or resistance training Stretching (static and dynamic), warming up, and cooling down How can therapists think about physical therapy for their clients? “Someone's physical and mental health – that’s interconnected… that mind body connection. And I think this would be a really great opportunity for us to create this interdisciplinary relationship where we can approach it from a physical and mental standpoint.” – Celina Caovan, DPT Referrals and direct access to physical therapy Psychoeducation and support for advocacy to obtain physical therapy Chiropractors versus physical therapists How physical and mental health therapists can collaborate to support patients  Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the US Department of Health and Human Services Beach Cities Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Reach out to Celina Caovan, DPT: celinaDPT at gmail.com Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy: The Fifty-Minute Hour Connect with the Modern Therapist Community: Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ Mon, 19 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -0000 How Therapists Can Manage a Sedentary Job: An interview with Celina Caovan, DPT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Therapists Can Manage a Sedentary Job: An interview with Celina Caovan, DPT Curt and Katie interview Celina Caovan about physical self-care for therapists. We talk about how to mitigate the impacts of a sedentary job as well as the benefits of... How Therapists Can Manage a Sedentary Job: An interview with Celina Caovan, DPT Curt and Katie interview Celina Caovan about physical self-care for therapists. We talk about how to mitigate the impacts of a sedentary job as well as the benefits of physical therapy and consistent physical activity. We also look into what physical therapy is, how clients can advocate for it, and how therapists might collaborate to support the physical and mental health of their patients. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Celina Caovan, DPT Celina Caovan received both her undergraduate degree and Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Southern California. She has been practicing in an outpatient orthopedic setting in the South Bay in California for the last two years and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can take care of their bodies while working in a sedentary job Many therapist friends of ours have described low back pain and challenges in maintaining physical health when much of the work we do is while sitting. What should therapists know about physical activity and physical therapy? “Physical therapists are trained movement experts… we can diagnose, we can treat using hands on skills, patient education, and then we prescribe individual exercise for a bunch of different injuries, the ultimate goal being to improve the way someone moves and emphasize injury prevention. And the cool thing about physical therapy: it can be an alternative to pain medication, in a society where they prescribe a lot of a lot of pain medication, and then surgery as well.” – Celina Caovan, DPT There are a number of subspecialties in physical therapy to support all different elements of improving movement The importance of moving outside of a sedentary job US Department of Health guidelines on activity levels What can therapists do to take care of themselves during the work week? Getting out of the chair, some chair exercises Stretching and gentle movements during the breaks between sessions No drastic differences in activity from the work week to the weekend (i.e., avoid weekend warrior behavior, especially when extremely sedentary during the week_ Slowly increase activity and gradually increase cardio or resistance training Stretching (static and dynamic), warming up, and cooling down How can therapists think about physical therapy for their clients? “Someone's physical and mental health – that’s interconnected… that mind body connection. And I think this would be a really great opportunity for us to create this interdisciplinary relationship where we can approach it from a physical and mental standpoint.” – Celina Caovan, DPT Referrals and direct access to physical therapy Psychoeducation and support for advocacy to obtain physical therapy Chiropractors versus physical therapists How physical and mental health therapists can collaborate to support patients  Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the US Department of Health and Human Services Beach Cities Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Reach out to Celina Caovan, DPT: celinaDPT at gmail.com Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy: The Fifty-Minute Hour Connect with the Modern Therapist Community: Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/ How Therapists Can Manage a Sedentary Job: An interview with Celina Caovan, DPT

Curt and Katie interview Celina Caovan about physical self-care for therapists. We talk about how to mitigate the impacts of a sedentary job as well as the benefits of physical therapy and consistent physical activity. We also look into what physical therapy is, how clients can advocate for it, and how therapists might collaborate to support the physical and mental health of their patients.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Celina Caovan, DPT

Celina Caovan received both her undergraduate degree and Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Southern California. She has been practicing in an outpatient orthopedic setting in the South Bay in California for the last two years and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can take care of their bodies while working in a sedentary job

Many therapist friends of ours have described low back pain and challenges in maintaining physical health when much of the work we do is while sitting.

What should therapists know about physical activity and physical therapy?

“Physical therapists are trained movement experts… we can diagnose, we can treat using hands on skills, patient education, and then we prescribe individual exercise for a bunch of different injuries, the ultimate goal being to improve the way someone moves and emphasize injury prevention. And the cool thing about physical therapy: it can be an alternative to pain medication, in a society where they prescribe a lot of a lot of pain medication, and then surgery as well.” – Celina Caovan, DPT

  • There are a number of subspecialties in physical therapy to support all different elements of improving movement
  • The importance of moving outside of a sedentary job
  • US Department of Health guidelines on activity levels

What can therapists do to take care of themselves during the work week?

  • Getting out of the chair, some chair exercises
  • Stretching and gentle movements during the breaks between sessions
  • No drastic differences in activity from the work week to the weekend (i.e., avoid weekend warrior behavior, especially when extremely sedentary during the week_
  • Slowly increase activity and gradually increase cardio or resistance training
  • Stretching (static and dynamic), warming up, and cooling down

How can therapists think about physical therapy for their clients?

“Someone's physical and mental health – that’s interconnected… that mind body connection. And I think this would be a really great opportunity for us to create this interdisciplinary relationship where we can approach it from a physical and mental standpoint.” – Celina Caovan, DPT

  • Referrals and direct access to physical therapy
  • Psychoeducation and support for advocacy to obtain physical therapy
  • Chiropractors versus physical therapists
  • How physical and mental health therapists can collaborate to support patients

 Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the US Department of Health and Human Services

Beach Cities Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Reach out to Celina Caovan, DPT: celinaDPT at gmail.com

Consultation services with Curt Widhalm or Katie Vernoy:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Connect with the Modern Therapist Community:

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

]]> 1865 no Therapists on the Hostage Negotiation Team and Supporting Police Work: An interview with Dr. Andy Young https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapists-on-the-hostage-negotiation-team-and-supporting-police-work-an-interview-with-dr-andy-young Therapists on the Hostage Negotiation Team and Supporting Police Work: An interview with Dr. Andy Young Curt and Katie interview Andy Young about hostage (crisis) negotiation and his work with SWAT and crisis negotiation in Lubbock, TX. Content warning: discussion of violence, suicide, and homicide. We talk about what therapists can do within police departments, the interplay between mental health and law enforcement, what that work looks like – especially when involved in crisis negotiation, and skills therapists need when working in these settings. We also look at trauma response and how it is handled when things go south. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Dr. Andy Young Dr. Andy Young has been a Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Lubbock Christian University since 1996 and a negotiator and psychological consultant with the Lubbock Police Department’s SWAT team since 2000. He also heads LPD’s Victim Services Unit and is the director of the department’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team. He has been on the negotiating team at the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office since 2008 and is on the team at the Texas Department of Public Safety (Texas Rangers, Special Operations, Region 5). He is the author of, “Fight or Flight: Negotiating Crisis on the Frontline” and “When Every Word Counts: An Insider’s View of Crisis Negotiations.” He was recently added as a third author for the 6th Edition of “Crisis Negotiations: Managing Critical Incidents and Hostage Situations in Law Enforcement and Corrections”. In this podcast episode, we talk about the role therapists can play in crisis negotiation There have been many calls to defund the police and create roles for mental health professionals in law enforcement. Dr. Andy Young has already been doing this for 20 years. We talked with him about what that experience looks like. What can therapists do for law enforcement? Crisis counseling Hostage or Crisis Negotiation support (advising on the negotiation) Psychiatric consultation Predicting violence or suicide, assessing subjects’ mental health What is the interplay between mental health and law enforcement? Police officers get 40 hours of active listening and mental health Officers started out a bit stand-offish, reported increased mental load due to needing to protect mental health professionals at the scene Finding value in taking mental health out of scope of law enforcement There is a huge importance in developing relationship with the officers Specialized training needed that can support integrating mental health providers into law enforcement teams What does work look like for therapists in law enforcement and crisis negotiation? Coaching on communication Assessing the situation and the subject Strategizing interventions to de-escalate the situation Provide context and reassurance to law enforcement professionals Hostage Negotiation calls are typically once to twice a month (and not every month). There are successful outcomes 97% of the time How do these law enforcement and mental health providers handle things when they go south? Crisis support Critical Incident Stress Management Mental health providers who are accepted within the law enforcement culture The political, investigative and personal elements of a lethal force incident Processing and debriefing within the team What skills should therapists have to work with law enforcement and hostage negotiation? Pragmatic and understanding the situation you’re in Practical, knowing your own limits Ability to manage emotional situations calmly Navigating the extreme stakes out in the streets Understanding law enforcement The benefit of having a mental health provider on a hostage negotiation team Training the team on mental health concerns Improving “batting average” on successful outcomes The importance of a well-trained team Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: Mon, 12 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Therapists on the Hostage Negotiation Team and Supporting Police Work: An interview with Dr. Andy Young full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Therapists on the Hostage Negotiation Team and Supporting Police Work: An interview with Dr. Andy Young Curt and Katie interview Andy Young about hostage (crisis) negotiation and his work with SWAT and crisis negotiation in Lubbock, TX. Content... Therapists on the Hostage Negotiation Team and Supporting Police Work: An interview with Dr. Andy Young Curt and Katie interview Andy Young about hostage (crisis) negotiation and his work with SWAT and crisis negotiation in Lubbock, TX. Content warning: discussion of violence, suicide, and homicide. We talk about what therapists can do within police departments, the interplay between mental health and law enforcement, what that work looks like – especially when involved in crisis negotiation, and skills therapists need when working in these settings. We also look at trauma response and how it is handled when things go south. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Dr. Andy Young Dr. Andy Young has been a Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Lubbock Christian University since 1996 and a negotiator and psychological consultant with the Lubbock Police Department’s SWAT team since 2000. He also heads LPD’s Victim Services Unit and is the director of the department’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team. He has been on the negotiating team at the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office since 2008 and is on the team at the Texas Department of Public Safety (Texas Rangers, Special Operations, Region 5). He is the author of, “Fight or Flight: Negotiating Crisis on the Frontline” and “When Every Word Counts: An Insider’s View of Crisis Negotiations.” He was recently added as a third author for the 6th Edition of “Crisis Negotiations: Managing Critical Incidents and Hostage Situations in Law Enforcement and Corrections”. In this podcast episode, we talk about the role therapists can play in crisis negotiation There have been many calls to defund the police and create roles for mental health professionals in law enforcement. Dr. Andy Young has already been doing this for 20 years. We talked with him about what that experience looks like. What can therapists do for law enforcement? Crisis counseling Hostage or Crisis Negotiation support (advising on the negotiation) Psychiatric consultation Predicting violence or suicide, assessing subjects’ mental health What is the interplay between mental health and law enforcement? Police officers get 40 hours of active listening and mental health Officers started out a bit stand-offish, reported increased mental load due to needing to protect mental health professionals at the scene Finding value in taking mental health out of scope of law enforcement There is a huge importance in developing relationship with the officers Specialized training needed that can support integrating mental health providers into law enforcement teams What does work look like for therapists in law enforcement and crisis negotiation? Coaching on communication Assessing the situation and the subject Strategizing interventions to de-escalate the situation Provide context and reassurance to law enforcement professionals Hostage Negotiation calls are typically once to twice a month (and not every month). There are successful outcomes 97% of the time How do these law enforcement and mental health providers handle things when they go south? Crisis support Critical Incident Stress Management Mental health providers who are accepted within the law enforcement culture The political, investigative and personal elements of a lethal force incident Processing and debriefing within the team What skills should therapists have to work with law enforcement and hostage negotiation? Pragmatic and understanding the situation you’re in Practical, knowing your own limits Ability to manage emotional situations calmly Navigating the extreme stakes out in the streets Understanding law enforcement The benefit of having a mental health provider on a hostage negotiation team Training the team on mental health concerns Improving “batting average” on successful outcomes The importance of a well-trained team Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: Therapists on the Hostage Negotiation Team and Supporting Police Work: An interview with Dr. Andy Young

Curt and Katie interview Andy Young about hostage (crisis) negotiation and his work with SWAT and crisis negotiation in Lubbock, TX. Content warning: discussion of violence, suicide, and homicide. We talk about what therapists can do within police departments, the interplay between mental health and law enforcement, what that work looks like – especially when involved in crisis negotiation, and skills therapists need when working in these settings. We also look at trauma response and how it is handled when things go south.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Dr. Andy Young

Dr. Andy Young has been a Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Lubbock Christian University since 1996 and a negotiator and psychological consultant with the Lubbock Police Department’s SWAT team since 2000. He also heads LPD’s Victim Services Unit and is the director of the department’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team. He has been on the negotiating team at the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office since 2008 and is on the team at the Texas Department of Public Safety (Texas Rangers, Special Operations, Region 5). He is the author of, “Fight or Flight: Negotiating Crisis on the Frontline” and “When Every Word Counts: An Insider’s View of Crisis Negotiations.” He was recently added as a third author for the 6th Edition of “Crisis Negotiations: Managing Critical Incidents and Hostage Situations in Law Enforcement and Corrections”.

In this podcast episode, we talk about the role therapists can play in crisis negotiation

There have been many calls to defund the police and create roles for mental health professionals in law enforcement. Dr. Andy Young has already been doing this for 20 years. We talked with him about what that experience looks like.

What can therapists do for law enforcement?

  • Crisis counseling
  • Hostage or Crisis Negotiation support (advising on the negotiation)
  • Psychiatric consultation
  • Predicting violence or suicide, assessing subjects’ mental health

What is the interplay between mental health and law enforcement?

  • Police officers get 40 hours of active listening and mental health
  • Officers started out a bit stand-offish, reported increased mental load due to needing to protect mental health professionals at the scene
  • Finding value in taking mental health out of scope of law enforcement
  • There is a huge importance in developing relationship with the officers
  • Specialized training needed that can support integrating mental health providers into law enforcement teams

What does work look like for therapists in law enforcement and crisis negotiation?

  • Coaching on communication
  • Assessing the situation and the subject
  • Strategizing interventions to de-escalate the situation
  • Provide context and reassurance to law enforcement professionals
  • Hostage Negotiation calls are typically once to twice a month (and not every month).
  • There are successful outcomes 97% of the time

How do these law enforcement and mental health providers handle things when they go south?

  • Crisis support
  • Critical Incident Stress Management
  • Mental health providers who are accepted within the law enforcement culture
  • The political, investigative and personal elements of a lethal force incident
  • Processing and debriefing within the team

What skills should therapists have to work with law enforcement and hostage negotiation?

  • Pragmatic and understanding the situation you’re in
  • Practical, knowing your own limits
  • Ability to manage emotional situations calmly
  • Navigating the extreme stakes out in the streets
  • Understanding law enforcement

The benefit of having a mental health provider on a hostage negotiation team

  • Training the team on mental health concerns
  • Improving “batting average” on successful outcomes
  • The importance of a well-trained team

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

]]> 1933 yes Why Therapists Shouldn’t Be Taught Business in Grad School https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/why-therapists-shouldnt-be-taught-business-in-grad-school Why Therapists Shouldn’t Be Taught Business in Grad School Curt and Katie debate whether graduate school programs for therapists should include business education. We look at the pros and cons for including business education for students, specifically identifying a mismatched developmental level, bloated curriculums, and underutilized career resources. We also look at the responsibility graduate schools have to their students to be employable or to be able to create a sustainable business.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about whether clinical grad programs should include business education We have seen marketing that highlights that business isn’t taught in grad school (and have done a lot of it ourselves). We discuss whether it actually should be included. What is already included in grad school for therapists? A large number of clinical courses required for graduation Career centers and other business resources may be available, but not used What career or business resources should therapists get through graduate school? Career centers with up-to-date relevant employment resources Potentially an optional class or workshop for how to run a business Why shouldn’t business education be added to clinical programs? “The timing of it just isn't right. Like, yeah, these are ideas that can be introduced, but the practicalities of it, in my experience, just aren't developmentally where a lot of grad students are… I don't think that [teaching someone to run a business] at a developmental time when people aren't capable for it or aren't ready for it – or legally not allowed to put those things in place – it just ends up being so far off that it's not a practical sort of training thing.” – Curt Widhalm Accreditation bodies don’t access for employability, so programs won’t focus their attention The increasing number of credits required to become a therapist Developmentally inappropriate timing for what therapists are able to do when they graduate What would business education look like if it were included in graduate programs? “I'm not ready to let the grad schools off the hook for their responsibility to students. I feel like they are responsible to students to adequately prepare them for the job.” – Katie Vernoy Potentially lackluster participation due to overwhelm The importance of introducing what clinicians will actually face Seminar versus a full course Orientation to job options and business basics Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell Mon, 05 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Why Therapists Shouldn’t Be Taught Business in Grad School full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Why Therapists Shouldn’t Be Taught Business in Grad School Curt and Katie debate whether graduate school programs for therapists should include business education. We look at the pros and cons for including business education for students,... Why Therapists Shouldn’t Be Taught Business in Grad School Curt and Katie debate whether graduate school programs for therapists should include business education. We look at the pros and cons for including business education for students, specifically identifying a mismatched developmental level, bloated curriculums, and underutilized career resources. We also look at the responsibility graduate schools have to their students to be employable or to be able to create a sustainable business.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about whether clinical grad programs should include business education We have seen marketing that highlights that business isn’t taught in grad school (and have done a lot of it ourselves). We discuss whether it actually should be included. What is already included in grad school for therapists? A large number of clinical courses required for graduation Career centers and other business resources may be available, but not used What career or business resources should therapists get through graduate school? Career centers with up-to-date relevant employment resources Potentially an optional class or workshop for how to run a business Why shouldn’t business education be added to clinical programs? “The timing of it just isn't right. Like, yeah, these are ideas that can be introduced, but the practicalities of it, in my experience, just aren't developmentally where a lot of grad students are… I don't think that [teaching someone to run a business] at a developmental time when people aren't capable for it or aren't ready for it – or legally not allowed to put those things in place – it just ends up being so far off that it's not a practical sort of training thing.” – Curt Widhalm Accreditation bodies don’t access for employability, so programs won’t focus their attention The increasing number of credits required to become a therapist Developmentally inappropriate timing for what therapists are able to do when they graduate What would business education look like if it were included in graduate programs? “I'm not ready to let the grad schools off the hook for their responsibility to students. I feel like they are responsible to students to adequately prepare them for the job.” – Katie Vernoy Potentially lackluster participation due to overwhelm The importance of introducing what clinicians will actually face Seminar versus a full course Orientation to job options and business basics Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell Why Therapists Shouldn’t Be Taught Business in Grad School

Curt and Katie debate whether graduate school programs for therapists should include business education. We look at the pros and cons for including business education for students, specifically identifying a mismatched developmental level, bloated curriculums, and underutilized career resources. We also look at the responsibility graduate schools have to their students to be employable or to be able to create a sustainable business. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about whether clinical grad programs should include business education

We have seen marketing that highlights that business isn’t taught in grad school (and have done a lot of it ourselves). We discuss whether it actually should be included.

What is already included in grad school for therapists?

  • A large number of clinical courses required for graduation
  • Career centers and other business resources may be available, but not used

What career or business resources should therapists get through graduate school?

  • Career centers with up-to-date relevant employment resources
  • Potentially an optional class or workshop for how to run a business

Why shouldn’t business education be added to clinical programs?

“The timing of it just isn't right. Like, yeah, these are ideas that can be introduced, but the practicalities of it, in my experience, just aren't developmentally where a lot of grad students are… I don't think that [teaching someone to run a business] at a developmental time when people aren't capable for it or aren't ready for it – or legally not allowed to put those things in place – it just ends up being so far off that it's not a practical sort of training thing.” – Curt Widhalm

  • Accreditation bodies don’t access for employability, so programs won’t focus their attention
  • The increasing number of credits required to become a therapist
  • Developmentally inappropriate timing for what therapists are able to do when they graduate

What would business education look like if it were included in graduate programs?

“I'm not ready to let the grad schools off the hook for their responsibility to students. I feel like they are responsible to students to adequately prepare them for the job.” – Katie Vernoy

  • Potentially lackluster participation due to overwhelm
  • The importance of introducing what clinicians will actually face
  • Seminar versus a full course
  • Orientation to job options and business basics

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Saving Psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Caldwell

]]> 2340 no What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-goes-in-your-notes-interstate-therapy-practice-and-documentation-for-clients-considering-abortion-or-gender-affirming-care What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care Curt and Katie chat about documentation and practice questions related to abortion or gender affirming care when providing therapy to folks in states where these types of medical care are banned or will be banned soon. We look at medical documentation privacy concerns (related to HIPAA and the 21st Century Cures Act), how therapists avoid “aiding and abetting” a client to get an abortion, what to include in your notes, and special considerations related to duty to warn and child abuse reporting. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore post-Roe documentation for therapists We’ve heard a lot of questions about what therapists should do now that Roe has been overturned. We decided to dig into practice and documentation guidelines to help modern therapists navigate the changing times. Medical documentation privacy concerns with interstate practice and the new abortion bans HIPAA and the 21st Century Cures Act The impact on clients who move from safe haven states to states with abortion bans The impact of the Counseling Compact (and similar mental health compacts) and how many participating states have trigger laws to ban or limit abortion Paying attention to jurisdictional differences and where the client lives Who qualifies as a HIPAA covered entity? Psychotherapy (Process) Notes versus Progress Notes Psychotherapy notes are not defined the same and/or protected in every state The impact of civil law suits on confidentiality of process notes The huge challenge of information blocking and who may pass along your treatment information Talk to an attorney or your professional organization when subpoenaed How do you avoid “aiding and abetting” a client to get an abortion during mental health treatment? Processing feelings and helping client to make their own decisions Aiding and abetting can include telling them where to go, encouraging them to get an abortion, or providing practical support (like money or a ride) How to provide resources without aiding and abetting Self-empowerment and clients making their own decisions Liability and risk in practice (check with your malpractice insurance) Whether/how you let your clients know where you stand on the overturn of Roe v Wade What do you include in your notes when talking about abortion and gender affirming care? What is relevant to your treatment goals? Documenting progress toward treatment goals Creating a policy related to medical decision-making Phrases that you can use to briefly describe what is happening in session How much to document and the recommendation to be less specific in progress notes when discussing medical decisions The special considerations related to duty to warn and child abuse reporting when talking about abortion and gender affirming care No case law to guide us here The difference between permissive versus required reporting Vast differences across the states with all of the different pieces HIPAA says that we should not report, but we will be impacted by state laws Recommendations to pay attention to what is happening in the states where you practice and to identify advocacy opportunities to protect information, safe haven laws Mon, 29 Aug 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care Curt and Katie chat about documentation and practice questions related to abortion or gender affirming care when providing... What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care Curt and Katie chat about documentation and practice questions related to abortion or gender affirming care when providing therapy to folks in states where these types of medical care are banned or will be banned soon. We look at medical documentation privacy concerns (related to HIPAA and the 21st Century Cures Act), how therapists avoid “aiding and abetting” a client to get an abortion, what to include in your notes, and special considerations related to duty to warn and child abuse reporting. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore post-Roe documentation for therapists We’ve heard a lot of questions about what therapists should do now that Roe has been overturned. We decided to dig into practice and documentation guidelines to help modern therapists navigate the changing times. Medical documentation privacy concerns with interstate practice and the new abortion bans HIPAA and the 21st Century Cures Act The impact on clients who move from safe haven states to states with abortion bans The impact of the Counseling Compact (and similar mental health compacts) and how many participating states have trigger laws to ban or limit abortion Paying attention to jurisdictional differences and where the client lives Who qualifies as a HIPAA covered entity? Psychotherapy (Process) Notes versus Progress Notes Psychotherapy notes are not defined the same and/or protected in every state The impact of civil law suits on confidentiality of process notes The huge challenge of information blocking and who may pass along your treatment information Talk to an attorney or your professional organization when subpoenaed How do you avoid “aiding and abetting” a client to get an abortion during mental health treatment? Processing feelings and helping client to make their own decisions Aiding and abetting can include telling them where to go, encouraging them to get an abortion, or providing practical support (like money or a ride) How to provide resources without aiding and abetting Self-empowerment and clients making their own decisions Liability and risk in practice (check with your malpractice insurance) Whether/how you let your clients know where you stand on the overturn of Roe v Wade What do you include in your notes when talking about abortion and gender affirming care? What is relevant to your treatment goals? Documenting progress toward treatment goals Creating a policy related to medical decision-making Phrases that you can use to briefly describe what is happening in session How much to document and the recommendation to be less specific in progress notes when discussing medical decisions The special considerations related to duty to warn and child abuse reporting when talking about abortion and gender affirming care No case law to guide us here The difference between permissive versus required reporting Vast differences across the states with all of the different pieces HIPAA says that we should not report, but we will be impacted by state laws Recommendations to pay attention to what is happening in the states where you practice and to identify advocacy opportunities to protect information, safe haven laws What Goes in Your Notes? Interstate therapy practice and documentation for clients considering abortion or gender affirming care

Curt and Katie chat about documentation and practice questions related to abortion or gender affirming care when providing therapy to folks in states where these types of medical care are banned or will be banned soon. We look at medical documentation privacy concerns (related to HIPAA and the 21st Century Cures Act), how therapists avoid “aiding and abetting” a client to get an abortion, what to include in your notes, and special considerations related to duty to warn and child abuse reporting. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore post-Roe documentation for therapists

We’ve heard a lot of questions about what therapists should do now that Roe has been overturned. We decided to dig into practice and documentation guidelines to help modern therapists navigate the changing times.

Medical documentation privacy concerns with interstate practice and the new abortion bans

  • HIPAA and the 21st Century Cures Act
  • The impact on clients who move from safe haven states to states with abortion bans
  • The impact of the Counseling Compact (and similar mental health compacts) and how many participating states have trigger laws to ban or limit abortion
  • Paying attention to jurisdictional differences and where the client lives
  • Who qualifies as a HIPAA covered entity?
  • Psychotherapy (Process) Notes versus Progress Notes
  • Psychotherapy notes are not defined the same and/or protected in every state
  • The impact of civil law suits on confidentiality of process notes
  • The huge challenge of information blocking and who may pass along your treatment information
  • Talk to an attorney or your professional organization when subpoenaed

How do you avoid “aiding and abetting” a client to get an abortion during mental health treatment?

  • Processing feelings and helping client to make their own decisions
  • Aiding and abetting can include telling them where to go, encouraging them to get an abortion, or providing practical support (like money or a ride)
  • How to provide resources without aiding and abetting
  • Self-empowerment and clients making their own decisions
  • Liability and risk in practice (check with your malpractice insurance)
  • Whether/how you let your clients know where you stand on the overturn of Roe v Wade

What do you include in your notes when talking about abortion and gender affirming care?

  • What is relevant to your treatment goals?
  • Documenting progress toward treatment goals
  • Creating a policy related to medical decision-making
  • Phrases that you can use to briefly describe what is happening in session
  • How much to document and the recommendation to be less specific in progress notes when discussing medical decisions

The special considerations related to duty to warn and child abuse reporting when talking about abortion and gender affirming care

  • No case law to guide us here
  • The difference between permissive versus required reporting
  • Vast differences across the states with all of the different pieces
  • HIPAA says that we should not report, but we will be impacted by state laws
  • Recommendations to pay attention to what is happening in the states where you practice and to identify advocacy opportunities to protect information, safe haven laws
]]> 4169 no Speaking Up for Mental Health Awareness: An Interview with Metta World Peace https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/speaking-up-for-mental-health-awareness-an-interview-with-metta-world-peace An Interview with Metta World Peace Metta World Peace played professional basketball for 19 years. He won the NBA World Championship with the LA Lakers in June 2010 and received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award – the NBA’s highest citizenship and community service honor – in April 2011. He was selected to the 2005-06 NBA’s All-Defensive Team, was voted by the media as 2003-04 NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and was the only man with 271 steals in his first two seasons in the NBA, breaking Michael Jordan’s record. His autobiography, “No Malice: My Life in Basketball” was released in May 2018 with Triumph Publishing and a documentary on his life in basketball, “Ron Artest: The Quiet Storm” was released on Showtime in May 2019. World Peace is currently pursuing entrepreneurial projects including the XvsX Sports project he cofounded in 2017 and an NFT project, Meta Panda Club, to bring decentralized basketball community to the masses. World Peace is also known as a prominent mental health advocate, pop culture personality, philanthropist, and media favorite. He raffled off his 2010 NBA World Championship Ring with the proceeds going to his nonprofit, Xcel University (now known as Artest University). The online ring raffle raised more than $650,000. Funds were donated to nonprofits in 5 cities that provide mental health therapists and mental health services to their communities, and to provide scholarships to underprivileged youth in the New York City area. World Peace was part of the 13th season of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, a contestant on CBS’s first edition of Celebrity Big Brother, as well as the CBS competition show, Beyond The Edge. He is active in entrepreneurial endeavors, serves as an advisor to several tech start ups, and seeks to help other basketball players who have aspirations for a pro career with his app and league, XvsX Sports. For more information, please visit https://www.xvsxsports.com/, https://metapandaclub.com/, and https://artestuniversity.org/. Why did Metta World Peace start speaking about his mental health? Metta shared his story growing up The Crack Epidemic and the impact on his neighborhood The challenges of incarceration, lack of education, and access to resources Building a shell to protect yourself on the streets What you learn and practice in the neighborhood he grew up in The role of history and the impact of slavery on mental health of generations of Black people The number of friends who are incarcerated The role of “chemical imbalance” in the mental health landscape and the family members who have dealt with more serious mental illness Metta’s desire to give back to the mental health community How Metta World Peace is working to solve the problems that lead to poor mental health The meaning of his name and why he changed it Coming together with all types of people Pushing back on separation and division or divisive statements No guns or drugs allowed in my neighborhood Challenging what has been defined as “life” in his neighborhood The lack of connecting resources (like parks) in all neighborhoods The importance of play and letting kids be kids The challenges that Metta World Peace faces in putting forward his message Describing self as emotional and colorful Needing to boost his confidence Mental health stigma before his first disclosure (thanking his therapist in 2010) How people perceive Metta versus how he sees himself interacting in the world Metta World Peace’s vision for the future Everyone has access to mental healthcare Everyone has a chance to have a good life We try to understand each other and what motivates them, what they are going through People coming together to improve society Parenting and partnership training in schools Putting parks in every neighborhood so kids can play, connect, and be kids Mon, 22 Aug 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Speaking Up for Mental Health Awareness: An Interview with Metta World Peace full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Speaking Up for Mental Health Awareness: An Interview with Metta World Peace Curt and Katie interview Metta World Peace about his efforts toward mental health advocacy, awareness, and access. We explore what led him to speak up, the challenges he’s... An Interview with Metta World Peace Metta World Peace played professional basketball for 19 years. He won the NBA World Championship with the LA Lakers in June 2010 and received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award – the NBA’s highest citizenship and community service honor – in April 2011. He was selected to the 2005-06 NBA’s All-Defensive Team, was voted by the media as 2003-04 NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and was the only man with 271 steals in his first two seasons in the NBA, breaking Michael Jordan’s record. His autobiography, “No Malice: My Life in Basketball” was released in May 2018 with Triumph Publishing and a documentary on his life in basketball, “Ron Artest: The Quiet Storm” was released on Showtime in May 2019. World Peace is currently pursuing entrepreneurial projects including the XvsX Sports project he cofounded in 2017 and an NFT project, Meta Panda Club, to bring decentralized basketball community to the masses. World Peace is also known as a prominent mental health advocate, pop culture personality, philanthropist, and media favorite. He raffled off his 2010 NBA World Championship Ring with the proceeds going to his nonprofit, Xcel University (now known as Artest University). The online ring raffle raised more than $650,000. Funds were donated to nonprofits in 5 cities that provide mental health therapists and mental health services to their communities, and to provide scholarships to underprivileged youth in the New York City area. World Peace was part of the 13th season of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, a contestant on CBS’s first edition of Celebrity Big Brother, as well as the CBS competition show, Beyond The Edge. He is active in entrepreneurial endeavors, serves as an advisor to several tech start ups, and seeks to help other basketball players who have aspirations for a pro career with his app and league, XvsX Sports. For more information, please visit https://www.xvsxsports.com/, https://metapandaclub.com/, and https://artestuniversity.org/. Why did Metta World Peace start speaking about his mental health? Metta shared his story growing up The Crack Epidemic and the impact on his neighborhood The challenges of incarceration, lack of education, and access to resources Building a shell to protect yourself on the streets What you learn and practice in the neighborhood he grew up in The role of history and the impact of slavery on mental health of generations of Black people The number of friends who are incarcerated The role of “chemical imbalance” in the mental health landscape and the family members who have dealt with more serious mental illness Metta’s desire to give back to the mental health community How Metta World Peace is working to solve the problems that lead to poor mental health The meaning of his name and why he changed it Coming together with all types of people Pushing back on separation and division or divisive statements No guns or drugs allowed in my neighborhood Challenging what has been defined as “life” in his neighborhood The lack of connecting resources (like parks) in all neighborhoods The importance of play and letting kids be kids The challenges that Metta World Peace faces in putting forward his message Describing self as emotional and colorful Needing to boost his confidence Mental health stigma before his first disclosure (thanking his therapist in 2010) How people perceive Metta versus how he sees himself interacting in the world Metta World Peace’s vision for the future Everyone has access to mental healthcare Everyone has a chance to have a good life We try to understand each other and what motivates them, what they are going through People coming together to improve society Parenting and partnership training in schools Putting parks in every neighborhood so kids can play, connect, and be kids An Interview with Metta World Peace

Metta World Peace played professional basketball for 19 years. He won the NBA World Championship with the LA Lakers in June 2010 and received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award – the NBA’s highest citizenship and community service honor – in April 2011. He was selected to the 2005-06 NBA’s All-Defensive Team, was voted by the media as 2003-04 NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and was the only man with 271 steals in his first two seasons in the NBA, breaking Michael Jordan’s record. His autobiography, “No Malice: My Life in Basketball” was released in May 2018 with Triumph Publishing and a documentary on his life in basketball, “Ron Artest: The Quiet Storm” was released on Showtime in May 2019. World Peace is currently pursuing entrepreneurial projects including the XvsX Sports project he cofounded in 2017 and an NFT project, Meta Panda Club, to bring decentralized basketball community to the masses.

World Peace is also known as a prominent mental health advocate, pop culture personality, philanthropist, and media favorite. He raffled off his 2010 NBA World Championship Ring with the proceeds going to his nonprofit, Xcel University (now known as Artest University). The online ring raffle raised more than $650,000. Funds were donated to nonprofits in 5 cities that provide mental health therapists and mental health services to their communities, and to provide scholarships to underprivileged youth in the New York City area.

World Peace was part of the 13th season of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, a contestant on CBS’s first edition of Celebrity Big Brother, as well as the CBS competition show, Beyond The Edge. He is active in entrepreneurial endeavors, serves as an advisor to several tech start ups, and seeks to help other basketball players who have aspirations for a pro career with his app and league, XvsX Sports. For more information, please visit https://www.xvsxsports.com/, https://metapandaclub.com/, and https://artestuniversity.org/.

Why did Metta World Peace start speaking about his mental health?

  • Metta shared his story growing up
  • The Crack Epidemic and the impact on his neighborhood
  • The challenges of incarceration, lack of education, and access to resources
  • Building a shell to protect yourself on the streets
  • What you learn and practice in the neighborhood he grew up in
  • The role of history and the impact of slavery on mental health of generations of Black people
  • The number of friends who are incarcerated
  • The role of “chemical imbalance” in the mental health landscape and the family members who have dealt with more serious mental illness
  • Metta’s desire to give back to the mental health community

How Metta World Peace is working to solve the problems that lead to poor mental health

  • The meaning of his name and why he changed it
  • Coming together with all types of people
  • Pushing back on separation and division or divisive statements
  • No guns or drugs allowed in my neighborhood
  • Challenging what has been defined as “life” in his neighborhood
  • The lack of connecting resources (like parks) in all neighborhoods
  • The importance of play and letting kids be kids

The challenges that Metta World Peace faces in putting forward his message

  • Describing self as emotional and colorful
  • Needing to boost his confidence
  • Mental health stigma before his first disclosure (thanking his therapist in 2010)
  • How people perceive Metta versus how he sees himself interacting in the world

Metta World Peace’s vision for the future

  • Everyone has access to mental healthcare
  • Everyone has a chance to have a good life
  • We try to understand each other and what motivates them, what they are going through
  • People coming together to improve society
  • Parenting and partnership training in schools
  • Putting parks in every neighborhood so kids can play, connect, and be kids
]]> 3621 no Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/infant-and-early-childhood-mental-health-an-interview-with-dr-barbara-stroud Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud Barbara Stroud, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with over three decades worth of culturally informed clinical practice in early childhood development and mental health. She is a founding organizer and the inaugural president (2017-2019) of the California Association for Infant Mental Health, a ZERO TO THREE Fellow, and holds prestigious endorsements as an Infant and Family Mental Health Specialist/Reflective Practice Facilitator Mentor. In 2018 Dr. Stroud was honored with the Bruce D. Perry Spirit of the Child Award. Embedded in all of her trainings and consultations are the activities of reflective practice, demonstrating cultural attunement, and holding a social justice lens in the work. Dr. Stroud’s book “How to Measure a Relationship” [published 2012] is improving infant mental health practices around the globe and is now available in Spanish. Her second book, an Amazon best seller, “Intentional Living: finding the inner peace to create successful relationships” walks the reader through a deeper understanding of how their brain influences relationships. Both volumes are currently available on Amazon. Additionally, Dr. Stroud is a contributing author to the text “Infant and early childhood mental health: Core concepts and clinical practice” edited by Kristie Brandt, Bruce Perry, Steve Seligman, & Ed Tronick. Dr. Stroud received her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from Nova Southeastern University, and she has worked largely with children in urban communities with severe emotional disturbance.  Dr. Stroud’s professional career path has allowed her to work across service delivery silos supporting professionals in mental health, early intervention (part c), child welfare, early care and education, family court staff, primary care, and other arenas. She is highly regarded and has been a key player in the inception and implementation of cutting-edge service delivery to children Prenatal to five and their families; her innovative approaches have won national awards. More specifically, Dr. Stroud is a former preschool director, a non-public school administrator, director of infant mental health services and agency training coordinator. She has held an adjunct faculty position at California State Long Beach and maintained a faculty position in the Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowship for 12 years. Currently, Dr. Stroud’s primary focus is professional training and private consultation from an anti-racist lens, with a focus on social justice, in the field of infant mental health. Dr. Stroud remains steadfast in her mission to ‘changing the world – one relationship at a time’. What is infant and early childhood mental health? Looking at big feelings and social and emotional development The current brain science that is impacting infant and early childhood mental health How adults impact infant developing brains What are the basics that therapists should know when working with children under 5 years old? The importance of dyadic therapy Parent training Social emotional developmental stages The damage of punishment on the development of an authentic self What infants need to love themselves, have healthy development Infants want to be safe, seen, heard, and helped Co-regulation and holding the big feeling with the child The impacts of this work on adults Transgenerational work – we treat the parent in the way that we would like the parent to treat the child How to support parents in healing their own wounds Therapy Interventions for infants and children under five years old Play therapy is complex and advanced and requires training and supervision Before children can think symbolically or have words, play is not effective Attunement and attachment work Mon, 15 Aug 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud Curt and Katie interview Dr. Barbara Stroud on infant and early childhood mental health. We explore what therapists need to know about working with very young children,... Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud Barbara Stroud, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with over three decades worth of culturally informed clinical practice in early childhood development and mental health. She is a founding organizer and the inaugural president (2017-2019) of the California Association for Infant Mental Health, a ZERO TO THREE Fellow, and holds prestigious endorsements as an Infant and Family Mental Health Specialist/Reflective Practice Facilitator Mentor. In 2018 Dr. Stroud was honored with the Bruce D. Perry Spirit of the Child Award. Embedded in all of her trainings and consultations are the activities of reflective practice, demonstrating cultural attunement, and holding a social justice lens in the work. Dr. Stroud’s book “How to Measure a Relationship” [published 2012] is improving infant mental health practices around the globe and is now available in Spanish. Her second book, an Amazon best seller, “Intentional Living: finding the inner peace to create successful relationships” walks the reader through a deeper understanding of how their brain influences relationships. Both volumes are currently available on Amazon. Additionally, Dr. Stroud is a contributing author to the text “Infant and early childhood mental health: Core concepts and clinical practice” edited by Kristie Brandt, Bruce Perry, Steve Seligman, & Ed Tronick. Dr. Stroud received her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from Nova Southeastern University, and she has worked largely with children in urban communities with severe emotional disturbance.  Dr. Stroud’s professional career path has allowed her to work across service delivery silos supporting professionals in mental health, early intervention (part c), child welfare, early care and education, family court staff, primary care, and other arenas. She is highly regarded and has been a key player in the inception and implementation of cutting-edge service delivery to children Prenatal to five and their families; her innovative approaches have won national awards. More specifically, Dr. Stroud is a former preschool director, a non-public school administrator, director of infant mental health services and agency training coordinator. She has held an adjunct faculty position at California State Long Beach and maintained a faculty position in the Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowship for 12 years. Currently, Dr. Stroud’s primary focus is professional training and private consultation from an anti-racist lens, with a focus on social justice, in the field of infant mental health. Dr. Stroud remains steadfast in her mission to ‘changing the world – one relationship at a time’. What is infant and early childhood mental health? Looking at big feelings and social and emotional development The current brain science that is impacting infant and early childhood mental health How adults impact infant developing brains What are the basics that therapists should know when working with children under 5 years old? The importance of dyadic therapy Parent training Social emotional developmental stages The damage of punishment on the development of an authentic self What infants need to love themselves, have healthy development Infants want to be safe, seen, heard, and helped Co-regulation and holding the big feeling with the child The impacts of this work on adults Transgenerational work – we treat the parent in the way that we would like the parent to treat the child How to support parents in healing their own wounds Therapy Interventions for infants and children under five years old Play therapy is complex and advanced and requires training and supervision Before children can think symbolically or have words, play is not effective Attunement and attachment work Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud

An Interview with Dr. Barbara Stroud

Barbara Stroud, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with over three decades worth of culturally informed clinical practice in early childhood development and mental health. She is a founding organizer and the inaugural president (2017-2019) of the California Association for Infant Mental Health, a ZERO TO THREE Fellow, and holds prestigious endorsements as an Infant and Family Mental Health Specialist/Reflective Practice Facilitator Mentor. In 2018 Dr. Stroud was honored with the Bruce D. Perry Spirit of the Child Award. Embedded in all of her trainings and consultations are the activities of reflective practice, demonstrating cultural attunement, and holding a social justice lens in the work. Dr. Stroud’s book “How to Measure a Relationship” [published 2012] is improving infant mental health practices around the globe and is now available in Spanish. Her second book, an Amazon best seller, “Intentional Living: finding the inner peace to create successful relationships” walks the reader through a deeper understanding of how their brain influences relationships. Both volumes are currently available on Amazon. Additionally, Dr. Stroud is a contributing author to the text “Infant and early childhood mental health: Core concepts and clinical practice” edited by Kristie Brandt, Bruce Perry, Steve Seligman, & Ed Tronick.

Dr. Stroud received her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from Nova Southeastern University, and she has worked largely with children in urban communities with severe emotional disturbance.  Dr. Stroud’s professional career path has allowed her to work across service delivery silos supporting professionals in mental health, early intervention (part c), child welfare, early care and education, family court staff, primary care, and other arenas. She is highly regarded and has been a key player in the inception and implementation of cutting-edge service delivery to children Prenatal to five and their families; her innovative approaches have won national awards. More specifically, Dr. Stroud is a former preschool director, a non-public school administrator, director of infant mental health services and agency training coordinator. She has held an adjunct faculty position at California State Long Beach and maintained a faculty position in the Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowship for 12 years. Currently, Dr. Stroud’s primary focus is professional training and private consultation from an anti-racist lens, with a focus on social justice, in the field of infant mental health. Dr. Stroud remains steadfast in her mission to ‘changing the world – one relationship at a time’.

What is infant and early childhood mental health?

  • Looking at big feelings and social and emotional development
  • The current brain science that is impacting infant and early childhood mental health
  • How adults impact infant developing brains

What are the basics that therapists should know when working with children under 5 years old?

  • The importance of dyadic therapy
  • Parent training
  • Social emotional developmental stages
  • The damage of punishment on the development of an authentic self

What infants need to love themselves, have healthy development

  • Infants want to be safe, seen, heard, and helped
  • Co-regulation and holding the big feeling with the child
  • The impacts of this work on adults
  • Transgenerational work – we treat the parent in the way that we would like the parent to treat the child
  • How to support parents in healing their own wounds

Therapy Interventions for infants and children under five years old

  • Play therapy is complex and advanced and requires training and supervision
  • Before children can think symbolically or have words, play is not effective
  • Attunement and attachment work
]]> 2306 no What Maslow Missed in his Hierarchy of Needs - The Native Self Actualization Model: An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-maslow-missed-in-his-hierarchy-of-needs-the-native-self-actualization-model-an-interview-with-dr-sidney-stone-brown What Maslow Missed in his Hierarchy of Needs - The Native Self Actualization Model: An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown, LPC Sidney Stone Brown was born in Kalispell Montana, and is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Indian Nation of Browning Montana. She was raised on / near her reservation until 1955, living in her great grandmother’s log house with her parents, great uncle, brother and older sisters. They had no running water or indoor toilets; the house was heated with oil and light by kerosene lanterns until 1950. Dr. Brown’s family relocated to Coos Bay Oregon when their reservation faced termination in 1955. Thereafter Dr. Brown attended west coast schools. She attended 30 different schools between first grade and graduation at Oregon State University in 1974. Dr. Brown worked her way through college and was employed by her tribe as an employment counselor, where she met a resident psychologist working at the tribal Hospital and became interested in Psychology. Near completion of her master’s program she contracted with 1) the University of Minnesota developing community action teams for the Red Cliff Reservation, 2) a Lakota CAP agency in Rapid City South Dakota acting alcohol program director and 3) the University of Utah (Montana Wyoming) Alcohol Counselor Trainer and 4) became permanent employment as director of NARA 1974. The program was originally funded at $81,000 and in ten years was 1.2 million. NARA (1981) won a national recognition award for program excellence and it was noted at the presentation in New Orleans that the model (Native Self Actualization) she developed was the most innovative cross-cultural model ever submitted to the National Council on Alcoholism since the awards began in 1946. She has served on many other non-profit boards, appointed a member of the (ADAMHA) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Mental Health Administration Minority Advisory Committee (1974-1976). She lobbied for Indian and minority services at the Oregon State Legislature subcommittees, and before the US Senate. she helped form the board and helped develop the certification criteria for NW Indian Alcohol Drug Counselor Certification Board. In this podcast episode, we talk about The Native Self-Actualization Model How has native teaching impacted psychology? Erickson and Jung studied with different tribes Maslow studied with the Blackfoot people before creating his Hierarchy of Needs Maslow did not publish or acknowledge the work of the Blackfoot tribe Maslow’s work was for corporations What did Maslow find when studying Native people? Most people were secure (versus the high percentage of folks in poverty on the East Coast) He moved from behaviorist to humanist Learned the way of life with the Blackfoot Tribe What is the Native Self-Actualization Model? Inverted Lodge or Teepee (turning Maslow’s hierarchy of needs upside down) The inherent purpose or promise babies come into the world with The philosophy of Indigenous People The importance of culture and altruism What has impacted Native mental health? Clement Bear Chief’s concept of the holes torn through Native communities The sexualization and objectification of Native women The need for protection people, earth, animals The story of the Blackfoot relationship with the buffalo The commonality of the indigenous experience Everything that was taken from Native people creating holes How to incorporate indigenous practices and teachings to support mental health treatment Important Takeaways The importance of intergenerational knowledge It is essential that indigenous wisdom and way of life survive The power of altruism and reciprocity We all are human beings and need to take care of each other Mon, 08 Aug 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What Maslow Missed in his Hierarchy of Needs - The Native Self Actualization Model: An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Maslow Missed in his Hierarchy of Needs - The Native Self Actualization Model: An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown Curt and Katie interview Dr. Sidney Stone Brown on the Native Self-Actualization Model. We look at Abraham Maslow’s work,... What Maslow Missed in his Hierarchy of Needs - The Native Self Actualization Model: An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown, LPC Sidney Stone Brown was born in Kalispell Montana, and is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Indian Nation of Browning Montana. She was raised on / near her reservation until 1955, living in her great grandmother’s log house with her parents, great uncle, brother and older sisters. They had no running water or indoor toilets; the house was heated with oil and light by kerosene lanterns until 1950. Dr. Brown’s family relocated to Coos Bay Oregon when their reservation faced termination in 1955. Thereafter Dr. Brown attended west coast schools. She attended 30 different schools between first grade and graduation at Oregon State University in 1974. Dr. Brown worked her way through college and was employed by her tribe as an employment counselor, where she met a resident psychologist working at the tribal Hospital and became interested in Psychology. Near completion of her master’s program she contracted with 1) the University of Minnesota developing community action teams for the Red Cliff Reservation, 2) a Lakota CAP agency in Rapid City South Dakota acting alcohol program director and 3) the University of Utah (Montana Wyoming) Alcohol Counselor Trainer and 4) became permanent employment as director of NARA 1974. The program was originally funded at $81,000 and in ten years was 1.2 million. NARA (1981) won a national recognition award for program excellence and it was noted at the presentation in New Orleans that the model (Native Self Actualization) she developed was the most innovative cross-cultural model ever submitted to the National Council on Alcoholism since the awards began in 1946. She has served on many other non-profit boards, appointed a member of the (ADAMHA) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Mental Health Administration Minority Advisory Committee (1974-1976). She lobbied for Indian and minority services at the Oregon State Legislature subcommittees, and before the US Senate. she helped form the board and helped develop the certification criteria for NW Indian Alcohol Drug Counselor Certification Board. In this podcast episode, we talk about The Native Self-Actualization Model How has native teaching impacted psychology? Erickson and Jung studied with different tribes Maslow studied with the Blackfoot people before creating his Hierarchy of Needs Maslow did not publish or acknowledge the work of the Blackfoot tribe Maslow’s work was for corporations What did Maslow find when studying Native people? Most people were secure (versus the high percentage of folks in poverty on the East Coast) He moved from behaviorist to humanist Learned the way of life with the Blackfoot Tribe What is the Native Self-Actualization Model? Inverted Lodge or Teepee (turning Maslow’s hierarchy of needs upside down) The inherent purpose or promise babies come into the world with The philosophy of Indigenous People The importance of culture and altruism What has impacted Native mental health? Clement Bear Chief’s concept of the holes torn through Native communities The sexualization and objectification of Native women The need for protection people, earth, animals The story of the Blackfoot relationship with the buffalo The commonality of the indigenous experience Everything that was taken from Native people creating holes How to incorporate indigenous practices and teachings to support mental health treatment Important Takeaways The importance of intergenerational knowledge It is essential that indigenous wisdom and way of life survive The power of altruism and reciprocity We all are human beings and need to take care of each other What Maslow Missed in his Hierarchy of Needs - The Native Self Actualization Model: An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown

An Interview with Dr. Sidney Stone Brown, LPC

Sidney Stone Brown was born in Kalispell Montana, and is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Indian Nation of Browning Montana. She was raised on / near her reservation until 1955, living in her great grandmother’s log house with her parents, great uncle, brother and older sisters. They had no running water or indoor toilets; the house was heated with oil and light by kerosene lanterns until 1950. Dr. Brown’s family relocated to Coos Bay Oregon when their reservation faced termination in 1955. Thereafter Dr. Brown attended west coast schools. She attended 30 different schools between first grade and graduation at Oregon State University in 1974.

Dr. Brown worked her way through college and was employed by her tribe as an employment counselor, where she met a resident psychologist working at the tribal Hospital and became interested in Psychology. Near completion of her master’s program she contracted with 1) the University of Minnesota developing community action teams for the Red Cliff Reservation, 2) a Lakota CAP agency in Rapid City South Dakota acting alcohol program director and 3) the University of Utah (Montana Wyoming) Alcohol Counselor Trainer and 4) became permanent employment as director of NARA 1974. The program was originally funded at $81,000 and in ten years was 1.2 million. NARA (1981) won a national recognition award for program excellence and it was noted at the presentation in New Orleans that the model (Native Self Actualization) she developed was the most innovative cross-cultural model ever submitted to the National Council on Alcoholism since the awards began in 1946.

She has served on many other non-profit boards, appointed a member of the (ADAMHA) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Mental Health Administration Minority Advisory Committee (1974-1976). She lobbied for Indian and minority services at the Oregon State Legislature subcommittees, and before the US Senate. she helped form the board and helped develop the certification criteria for NW Indian Alcohol Drug Counselor Certification Board.

In this podcast episode, we talk about The Native Self-Actualization Model

How has native teaching impacted psychology?

  • Erickson and Jung studied with different tribes
  • Maslow studied with the Blackfoot people before creating his Hierarchy of Needs
  • Maslow did not publish or acknowledge the work of the Blackfoot tribe
  • Maslow’s work was for corporations

What did Maslow find when studying Native people?

  • Most people were secure (versus the high percentage of folks in poverty on the East Coast)
  • He moved from behaviorist to humanist
  • Learned the way of life with the Blackfoot Tribe

What is the Native Self-Actualization Model?

  • Inverted Lodge or Teepee (turning Maslow’s hierarchy of needs upside down)
  • The inherent purpose or promise babies come into the world with
  • The philosophy of Indigenous People
  • The importance of culture and altruism

What has impacted Native mental health?

  • Clement Bear Chief’s concept of the holes torn through Native communities
  • The sexualization and objectification of Native women
  • The need for protection people, earth, animals
  • The story of the Blackfoot relationship with the buffalo
  • The commonality of the indigenous experience
  • Everything that was taken from Native people creating holes
  • How to incorporate indigenous practices and teachings to support mental health treatment

Important Takeaways

  • The importance of intergenerational knowledge
  • It is essential that indigenous wisdom and way of life survive
  • The power of altruism and reciprocity
  • We all are human beings and need to take care of each other
]]> 3527 no What Therapists Need to Know about Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-therapists-need-to-know-about-abortion-and-termination-for-medical-reasons-an-interview-with-jane-armstrong What Therapists Need to Know about Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong Curt and Katie interview Jane Armstrong, LCSW, a clinical social worker in Texas, about terminating a wanted pregnancy for medical reasons. We look at the impacts of the overturn of Roe v Wade on reproductive care. We also dig into what termination for medical reasons (TFMR) is, how society stigmatizes these parents, and what therapists can do to effectively support clients facing this decision and the outcome of TFMR. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Jane Armstrong, LCSW-S, PMH-C Jane is a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) mom, native Texan, & clinical social worker certified in perinatal mental health. Following the birth & death of her first child, Frankie, through TFMR, Jane opened Both/And Therapy, PLLC to provide individual therapy & support groups to other TFMR parents. These services aim to support clients through the unique barriers & grief of ending a wanted pregnancy, particularly in the state of Texas where such care is no longer accessible. She’s passionate about building community, eliminating shame, & honoring grief for TFMR families.  In this podcast episode, we talk about Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR) In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, we reached out to Jane Armstrong, LCSW-S, PMH-C who specializes in TFMR and is based out of Texas, a state with some of the biggest barriers to this type of medical, reproductive care. What are the clinical impacts on individuals who are considering or who have had an abortion? Trauma related to pregnancy as well as abortion The differences between ending wanted and unwanted pregnancies The shame – societal and internalized What therapists can get wrong when interacting with the topic of abortion Unexamined bias related to abortion TFMR – is baby loss and TFMR parents are entitled to grief Disenfranchised grief and traumatic loss The impact of anti-abortion legislation on patients considering abortion and TFMR Lack of access to all types of medical care Logistics related to getting access to medical care The emotional impact of continuing to carry a pregnancy when it is known that the baby will die How late parents can find out about medical concerns that mean that TFMR is indicated The lack of time to make a decision What is Termination For Medical Reasons (TFMR)? Terminating a pregnancy due to health issues with the pregnant person or with the baby For the pregnant person: fatal Hyperemesis Gravidarum, requirement for treatment, mental health conditions For the baby: 12 week genetic screenings or subsequent testing, scans, etc. can point out chromosomal abnormalities, neural tube deficits How can therapists work with TFMR clients? The conflict between the laws and a clinician’s own ethics Make sure your clients know you will be a support resource to them The importance of the client being able to tell their story Recognizing that TFMR is typically not talked about and opening space for these clients Trauma, grief, loss – sitting with the client with their hard stuff Helping clients to make this impossible decision Affirming parenthood and the challenge of the decision Decision versus “choice” and the ways in which bias can enter the conversation about decision-making Mon, 01 Aug 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Need to Know about Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Therapists Need to Know about Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong Curt and Katie interview Jane Armstrong, LCSW, a clinical social worker in Texas, about terminating a wanted pregnancy for medical... What Therapists Need to Know about Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong Curt and Katie interview Jane Armstrong, LCSW, a clinical social worker in Texas, about terminating a wanted pregnancy for medical reasons. We look at the impacts of the overturn of Roe v Wade on reproductive care. We also dig into what termination for medical reasons (TFMR) is, how society stigmatizes these parents, and what therapists can do to effectively support clients facing this decision and the outcome of TFMR. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Jane Armstrong, LCSW-S, PMH-C Jane is a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) mom, native Texan, & clinical social worker certified in perinatal mental health. Following the birth & death of her first child, Frankie, through TFMR, Jane opened Both/And Therapy, PLLC to provide individual therapy & support groups to other TFMR parents. These services aim to support clients through the unique barriers & grief of ending a wanted pregnancy, particularly in the state of Texas where such care is no longer accessible. She’s passionate about building community, eliminating shame, & honoring grief for TFMR families.  In this podcast episode, we talk about Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR) In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, we reached out to Jane Armstrong, LCSW-S, PMH-C who specializes in TFMR and is based out of Texas, a state with some of the biggest barriers to this type of medical, reproductive care. What are the clinical impacts on individuals who are considering or who have had an abortion? Trauma related to pregnancy as well as abortion The differences between ending wanted and unwanted pregnancies The shame – societal and internalized What therapists can get wrong when interacting with the topic of abortion Unexamined bias related to abortion TFMR – is baby loss and TFMR parents are entitled to grief Disenfranchised grief and traumatic loss The impact of anti-abortion legislation on patients considering abortion and TFMR Lack of access to all types of medical care Logistics related to getting access to medical care The emotional impact of continuing to carry a pregnancy when it is known that the baby will die How late parents can find out about medical concerns that mean that TFMR is indicated The lack of time to make a decision What is Termination For Medical Reasons (TFMR)? Terminating a pregnancy due to health issues with the pregnant person or with the baby For the pregnant person: fatal Hyperemesis Gravidarum, requirement for treatment, mental health conditions For the baby: 12 week genetic screenings or subsequent testing, scans, etc. can point out chromosomal abnormalities, neural tube deficits How can therapists work with TFMR clients? The conflict between the laws and a clinician’s own ethics Make sure your clients know you will be a support resource to them The importance of the client being able to tell their story Recognizing that TFMR is typically not talked about and opening space for these clients Trauma, grief, loss – sitting with the client with their hard stuff Helping clients to make this impossible decision Affirming parenthood and the challenge of the decision Decision versus “choice” and the ways in which bias can enter the conversation about decision-making What Therapists Need to Know about Abortion and Termination for Medical Reasons: An Interview with Jane Armstrong

Curt and Katie interview Jane Armstrong, LCSW, a clinical social worker in Texas, about terminating a wanted pregnancy for medical reasons. We look at the impacts of the overturn of Roe v Wade on reproductive care. We also dig into what termination for medical reasons (TFMR) is, how society stigmatizes these parents, and what therapists can do to effectively support clients facing this decision and the outcome of TFMR.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Jane Armstrong, LCSW-S, PMH-C

Jane is a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) mom, native Texan, & clinical social worker certified in perinatal mental health. Following the birth & death of her first child, Frankie, through TFMR, Jane opened Both/And Therapy, PLLC to provide individual therapy & support groups to other TFMR parents. These services aim to support clients through the unique barriers & grief of ending a wanted pregnancy, particularly in the state of Texas where such care is no longer accessible. She’s passionate about building community, eliminating shame, & honoring grief for TFMR families. 

In this podcast episode, we talk about Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR)

In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, we reached out to Jane Armstrong, LCSW-S, PMH-C who specializes in TFMR and is based out of Texas, a state with some of the biggest barriers to this type of medical, reproductive care.

What are the clinical impacts on individuals who are considering or who have had an abortion?

  • Trauma related to pregnancy as well as abortion
  • The differences between ending wanted and unwanted pregnancies
  • The shame – societal and internalized

What therapists can get wrong when interacting with the topic of abortion

  • Unexamined bias related to abortion
  • TFMR – is baby loss and TFMR parents are entitled to grief
  • Disenfranchised grief and traumatic loss

The impact of anti-abortion legislation on patients considering abortion and TFMR

  • Lack of access to all types of medical care
  • Logistics related to getting access to medical care
  • The emotional impact of continuing to carry a pregnancy when it is known that the baby will die
  • How late parents can find out about medical concerns that mean that TFMR is indicated
  • The lack of time to make a decision

What is Termination For Medical Reasons (TFMR)?

  • Terminating a pregnancy due to health issues with the pregnant person or with the baby
  • For the pregnant person: fatal Hyperemesis Gravidarum, requirement for treatment, mental health conditions
  • For the baby: 12 week genetic screenings or subsequent testing, scans, etc. can point out chromosomal abnormalities, neural tube deficits

How can therapists work with TFMR clients?

  • The conflict between the laws and a clinician’s own ethics
  • Make sure your clients know you will be a support resource to them
  • The importance of the client being able to tell their story
  • Recognizing that TFMR is typically not talked about and opening space for these clients
  • Trauma, grief, loss – sitting with the client with their hard stuff
  • Helping clients to make this impossible decision
  • Affirming parenthood and the challenge of the decision
  • Decision versus “choice” and the ways in which bias can enter the conversation about decision-making
]]> 2528 yes Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapy-for-executives-and-emerging-leaders Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can support leaders. We look at optimal leadership, leadership identity development, barriers for emerging leaders, challenges that executives face, and how therapists can support these leaders. We explore specific interventions and career assessment questions. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore how therapists can help leaders During times of turmoil - like a global pandemic, an unstable economy, and social unrest - we want to be able to rely on our leaders to help us weather the storm. We look to our employers, our legislators, and our community leaders to solve problems and remain calm. But who supports our leaders? It’s important for therapists to understand leadership and the unique challenges that leaders face, so they can help. Further, therapists must be available to provide support to emerging leaders who are coming from much more diverse backgrounds and perspectives who may need help navigating a system that doesn’t always accept them or align with their lived experiences. We talk about leader identity development and how leaders develop over time. We look at common barriers and challenges for leaders at all stages of development as well as suggested interventions to address these needs. What do therapists get wrong when working with leaders? Therapists don’t include career assessments and leadership assessment Understanding the interrelation between work and mental health Bias related to stereotypical leaders and not seeing leadership where it shows up outside of able-bodied, tall, white men The calm, peaceful, work-life balance versus optimal performance and ambition Cosigning on poor work behavior and overwork What is good leadership? Leadership can be taught and can be beneficial for every client Concepts of leadership as a process and a position Interdependent, collaborative Servant Leadership Transformational Leadership What does leadership identity development look like? The 6 stages of the model created by Komives, et al. Moving from identifying leaders, understanding positional leadership, then moving to more of a process and interdependent relationship How leadership identity development impacts adult clients What impacts emerging leaders? Identities, especially marginalized identities Relationships with authority figures Resources, privilege within typical leadership development opportunities during childhood and early adulthood Relational trauma, boundaries, communication Marginalized identities and stereotypes with no sure-fire way to perform acceptably Lack of safety and empowerment Career and Leadership Assessment Leadership identity development stage Current employment Work/life balance Role of work in client’s life and within family system Therapists Working with Leaders Life experience that therapists can draw upon Identifying what you don’t know Understand your own work trauma and leadership development The CHAT Model (or Katie’s model: clarify, imagine, simplify, act) Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!  Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com. You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com Mon, 25 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can support leaders. We look at optimal leadership, leadership identity development, barriers for emerging leaders, challenges that executives face, and how... Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can support leaders. We look at optimal leadership, leadership identity development, barriers for emerging leaders, challenges that executives face, and how therapists can support these leaders. We explore specific interventions and career assessment questions. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore how therapists can help leaders During times of turmoil - like a global pandemic, an unstable economy, and social unrest - we want to be able to rely on our leaders to help us weather the storm. We look to our employers, our legislators, and our community leaders to solve problems and remain calm. But who supports our leaders? It’s important for therapists to understand leadership and the unique challenges that leaders face, so they can help. Further, therapists must be available to provide support to emerging leaders who are coming from much more diverse backgrounds and perspectives who may need help navigating a system that doesn’t always accept them or align with their lived experiences. We talk about leader identity development and how leaders develop over time. We look at common barriers and challenges for leaders at all stages of development as well as suggested interventions to address these needs. What do therapists get wrong when working with leaders? Therapists don’t include career assessments and leadership assessment Understanding the interrelation between work and mental health Bias related to stereotypical leaders and not seeing leadership where it shows up outside of able-bodied, tall, white men The calm, peaceful, work-life balance versus optimal performance and ambition Cosigning on poor work behavior and overwork What is good leadership? Leadership can be taught and can be beneficial for every client Concepts of leadership as a process and a position Interdependent, collaborative Servant Leadership Transformational Leadership What does leadership identity development look like? The 6 stages of the model created by Komives, et al. Moving from identifying leaders, understanding positional leadership, then moving to more of a process and interdependent relationship How leadership identity development impacts adult clients What impacts emerging leaders? Identities, especially marginalized identities Relationships with authority figures Resources, privilege within typical leadership development opportunities during childhood and early adulthood Relational trauma, boundaries, communication Marginalized identities and stereotypes with no sure-fire way to perform acceptably Lack of safety and empowerment Career and Leadership Assessment Leadership identity development stage Current employment Work/life balance Role of work in client’s life and within family system Therapists Working with Leaders Life experience that therapists can draw upon Identifying what you don’t know Understand your own work trauma and leadership development The CHAT Model (or Katie’s model: clarify, imagine, simplify, act) Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!  Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com. You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can support leaders. We look at optimal leadership, leadership identity development, barriers for emerging leaders, challenges that executives face, and how therapists can support these leaders. We explore specific interventions and career assessment questions. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore how therapists can help leaders

During times of turmoil - like a global pandemic, an unstable economy, and social unrest - we want to be able to rely on our leaders to help us weather the storm. We look to our employers, our legislators, and our community leaders to solve problems and remain calm. But who supports our leaders? It’s important for therapists to understand leadership and the unique challenges that leaders face, so they can help. Further, therapists must be available to provide support to emerging leaders who are coming from much more diverse backgrounds and perspectives who may need help navigating a system that doesn’t always accept them or align with their lived experiences. We talk about leader identity development and how leaders develop over time. We look at common barriers and challenges for leaders at all stages of development as well as suggested interventions to address these needs.

What do therapists get wrong when working with leaders?

  • Therapists don’t include career assessments and leadership assessment
  • Understanding the interrelation between work and mental health
  • Bias related to stereotypical leaders and not seeing leadership where it shows up outside of able-bodied, tall, white men
  • The calm, peaceful, work-life balance versus optimal performance and ambition
  • Cosigning on poor work behavior and overwork

What is good leadership?

  • Leadership can be taught and can be beneficial for every client
  • Concepts of leadership as a process and a position
  • Interdependent, collaborative
  • Servant Leadership
  • Transformational Leadership

What does leadership identity development look like?

  • The 6 stages of the model created by Komives, et al.
  • Moving from identifying leaders, understanding positional leadership, then moving to more of a process and interdependent relationship
  • How leadership identity development impacts adult clients

What impacts emerging leaders?

  • Identities, especially marginalized identities
  • Relationships with authority figures
  • Resources, privilege within typical leadership development opportunities during childhood and early adulthood
  • Relational trauma, boundaries, communication
  • Marginalized identities and stereotypes with no sure-fire way to perform acceptably
  • Lack of safety and empowerment

Career and Leadership Assessment

  • Leadership identity development stage
  • Current employment
  • Work/life balance
  • Role of work in client’s life and within family system

Therapists Working with Leaders

  • Life experience that therapists can draw upon
  • Identifying what you don’t know
  • Understand your own work trauma and leadership development
  • The CHAT Model (or Katie’s model: clarify, imagine, simplify, act)

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!

 Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com.

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com

]]> 4671 yes I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health Clinicians https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/i-just-graduated-now-what-career-advice-for-new-mental-health-clinicians I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health Clinicians Curt and Katie discuss how clinicians can decide what types of jobs to pursue when they first graduate from their clinical program. We look at whether you should go into a community mental health organization or a private practice. We also dig into what you might want to consider when making these choices and looking for these jobs. Curt and Katie share their own perspective and experiences to help you consider many different options at this stage in your career. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about a new therapist’s career path  We received a listener email asking advice for how to approach getting their first job after graduating. We decided to answer that listener and to address the question of how to start your career more broadly.  Should you go into a community mental health organization or private practice? “I'm of the philosophy that, especially if where you imagine yourself being is in private practice at some point, my recommendation is start doing that as soon as reasonably possible” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Considerations related to longer term goals Practical and logistical factors related to compensation, benefits, and time Clinical training and opportunities What to consider when looking to join a group private practice “When you are looking for a group practice, don’t look for something that’s just a duplication of a community mental health organization… there is a discernment that needs to happen to identify: is this actually preparing you for the private practice that you want to have in five years? Or is it a mill, where you're churning through insurance clients that don't align or… you're working for a fee that you wouldn't be able to sustain?” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Caseload and pay expectations Training and supervision opportunities What you are willing to do to obtain your own clients Whether you will stay at an agency while building a caseload What are the job options for therapists when they graduate? The importance of informational interviews to understand the options The benefits (and detriments) to different types of work settings Community mental health versus private practice Moving around and getting different experiences versus starting in a niche Identifying what is right for you Mon, 18 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000 I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health Clinicians full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health Clinicians Curt and Katie discuss how clinicians can decide what types of jobs to pursue when they first graduate from their clinical program. We look at whether you should go into a... I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health Clinicians Curt and Katie discuss how clinicians can decide what types of jobs to pursue when they first graduate from their clinical program. We look at whether you should go into a community mental health organization or a private practice. We also dig into what you might want to consider when making these choices and looking for these jobs. Curt and Katie share their own perspective and experiences to help you consider many different options at this stage in your career. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about a new therapist’s career path  We received a listener email asking advice for how to approach getting their first job after graduating. We decided to answer that listener and to address the question of how to start your career more broadly.  Should you go into a community mental health organization or private practice? “I'm of the philosophy that, especially if where you imagine yourself being is in private practice at some point, my recommendation is start doing that as soon as reasonably possible” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT Considerations related to longer term goals Practical and logistical factors related to compensation, benefits, and time Clinical training and opportunities What to consider when looking to join a group private practice “When you are looking for a group practice, don’t look for something that’s just a duplication of a community mental health organization… there is a discernment that needs to happen to identify: is this actually preparing you for the private practice that you want to have in five years? Or is it a mill, where you're churning through insurance clients that don't align or… you're working for a fee that you wouldn't be able to sustain?” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT Caseload and pay expectations Training and supervision opportunities What you are willing to do to obtain your own clients Whether you will stay at an agency while building a caseload What are the job options for therapists when they graduate? The importance of informational interviews to understand the options The benefits (and detriments) to different types of work settings Community mental health versus private practice Moving around and getting different experiences versus starting in a niche Identifying what is right for you I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health Clinicians

Curt and Katie discuss how clinicians can decide what types of jobs to pursue when they first graduate from their clinical program. We look at whether you should go into a community mental health organization or a private practice. We also dig into what you might want to consider when making these choices and looking for these jobs. Curt and Katie share their own perspective and experiences to help you consider many different options at this stage in your career.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about a new therapist’s career path 

We received a listener email asking advice for how to approach getting their first job after graduating. We decided to answer that listener and to address the question of how to start your career more broadly. 

Should you go into a community mental health organization or private practice?

“I'm of the philosophy that, especially if where you imagine yourself being is in private practice at some point, my recommendation is start doing that as soon as reasonably possible” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

  • Considerations related to longer term goals
  • Practical and logistical factors related to compensation, benefits, and time
  • Clinical training and opportunities

What to consider when looking to join a group private practice

“When you are looking for a group practice, don’t look for something that’s just a duplication of a community mental health organization… there is a discernment that needs to happen to identify: is this actually preparing you for the private practice that you want to have in five years? Or is it a mill, where you're churning through insurance clients that don't align or… you're working for a fee that you wouldn't be able to sustain?” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

  • Caseload and pay expectations
  • Training and supervision opportunities
  • What you are willing to do to obtain your own clients
  • Whether you will stay at an agency while building a caseload

What are the job options for therapists when they graduate?

  • The importance of informational interviews to understand the options
  • The benefits (and detriments) to different types of work settings
  • Community mental health versus private practice
  • Moving around and getting different experiences versus starting in a niche
  • Identifying what is right for you
]]> 1806 yes What Therapists Should Know about the Rollout of 988 https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-therapists-should-know-about-the-rollout-of-988 What Therapists Should Know about the Rollout of 988 Curt and Katie discuss the new suicide hotline, 988, that is set to roll out July 16, 2022. We talk about the legislation for 988 as well as what the primary concerns are for the launch. We explore the resources and infrastructure that is promised (but not ready) as well as ideas that might improve the success of this new initiative. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about what is already going wrong with the 988 roll out.  We have been paying attention to the 988 roll out and are concerned by the lack of preparation and funding for its implementation. We talk about why we’re freaked out about the upcoming roll out. What is 988? Legislation (from 2020) makes the national suicide hotline easier to access, using the phone number 988 – set to launch on July 16, 2022 Crisis, Suicide, or Lifeline phone number Replaces the previous numbers: 800-273-8255 (phone) or text to 741741 Connecting local resources to local callers An entry point into the local crisis response system Opportunities for call, text, or messaging support during times of crisis What are the primary concerns with the launch of 988? Lack of infrastructure (calls are being sent out of state or not being answered at all) Lack of local resources to handle crisis response Lack of funding to develop these resources (potentially NO funding for staff, text, chat) Huge gaps in the crisis response system that will be exposed by increased access to this system Challenges with training hotline workers, who are likely going to be volunteers Inadequate training for inclusive services and linguistically responsive services. Ideas to improve 988 and the United States Mental Healthcare program Funding streams through Medicaid, combining forces with 911 Using the implementation to identifying gaps RAND suggestions to coordinate with local organizations for strategic planning and identifying stable funding sources, needs assessments related to personnel Advocacy at the state level to make sure state legislatures are making this work Curt’s idea: have hotlines staffed with prelicensed or provisionally licensed folks (earning double hours toward licensure) Advocacy at the federal level to increase funding across the whole country Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! SAMHSA 988 webpage RAND Report: How to Transform the US Mental Health System RAND Working Paper – Preparedness for 988 Throughout the United States: The New Mental Health Emergency Hotline Find Your Legislators Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America A Living Wage for Prelicensees Episodes on Suicide Mon, 11 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Should Know about the Rollout of 988 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Therapists Should Know about the Rollout of 988 Curt and Katie discuss the new suicide hotline, 988, that is set to roll out July 16, 2022. We talk about the legislation for 988 as well as what the primary concerns are for the launch. We explore... What Therapists Should Know about the Rollout of 988 Curt and Katie discuss the new suicide hotline, 988, that is set to roll out July 16, 2022. We talk about the legislation for 988 as well as what the primary concerns are for the launch. We explore the resources and infrastructure that is promised (but not ready) as well as ideas that might improve the success of this new initiative. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about what is already going wrong with the 988 roll out.  We have been paying attention to the 988 roll out and are concerned by the lack of preparation and funding for its implementation. We talk about why we’re freaked out about the upcoming roll out. What is 988? Legislation (from 2020) makes the national suicide hotline easier to access, using the phone number 988 – set to launch on July 16, 2022 Crisis, Suicide, or Lifeline phone number Replaces the previous numbers: 800-273-8255 (phone) or text to 741741 Connecting local resources to local callers An entry point into the local crisis response system Opportunities for call, text, or messaging support during times of crisis What are the primary concerns with the launch of 988? Lack of infrastructure (calls are being sent out of state or not being answered at all) Lack of local resources to handle crisis response Lack of funding to develop these resources (potentially NO funding for staff, text, chat) Huge gaps in the crisis response system that will be exposed by increased access to this system Challenges with training hotline workers, who are likely going to be volunteers Inadequate training for inclusive services and linguistically responsive services. Ideas to improve 988 and the United States Mental Healthcare program Funding streams through Medicaid, combining forces with 911 Using the implementation to identifying gaps RAND suggestions to coordinate with local organizations for strategic planning and identifying stable funding sources, needs assessments related to personnel Advocacy at the state level to make sure state legislatures are making this work Curt’s idea: have hotlines staffed with prelicensed or provisionally licensed folks (earning double hours toward licensure) Advocacy at the federal level to increase funding across the whole country Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! SAMHSA 988 webpage RAND Report: How to Transform the US Mental Health System RAND Working Paper – Preparedness for 988 Throughout the United States: The New Mental Health Emergency Hotline Find Your Legislators Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America A Living Wage for Prelicensees Episodes on Suicide What Therapists Should Know about the Rollout of 988

Curt and Katie discuss the new suicide hotline, 988, that is set to roll out July 16, 2022. We talk about the legislation for 988 as well as what the primary concerns are for the launch. We explore the resources and infrastructure that is promised (but not ready) as well as ideas that might improve the success of this new initiative.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about what is already going wrong with the 988 roll out. 

We have been paying attention to the 988 roll out and are concerned by the lack of preparation and funding for its implementation. We talk about why we’re freaked out about the upcoming roll out.

What is 988?

  • Legislation (from 2020) makes the national suicide hotline easier to access, using the phone number 988 – set to launch on July 16, 2022
  • Crisis, Suicide, or Lifeline phone number
  • Replaces the previous numbers: 800-273-8255 (phone) or text to 741741
  • Connecting local resources to local callers
  • An entry point into the local crisis response system
  • Opportunities for call, text, or messaging support during times of crisis

What are the primary concerns with the launch of 988?

  • Lack of infrastructure (calls are being sent out of state or not being answered at all)
  • Lack of local resources to handle crisis response
  • Lack of funding to develop these resources (potentially NO funding for staff, text, chat)
  • Huge gaps in the crisis response system that will be exposed by increased access to this system
  • Challenges with training hotline workers, who are likely going to be volunteers
  • Inadequate training for inclusive services and linguistically responsive services.

Ideas to improve 988 and the United States Mental Healthcare program

  • Funding streams through Medicaid, combining forces with 911
  • Using the implementation to identifying gaps
  • RAND suggestions to coordinate with local organizations for strategic planning and identifying stable funding sources, needs assessments related to personnel
  • Advocacy at the state level to make sure state legislatures are making this work
  • Curt’s idea: have hotlines staffed with prelicensed or provisionally licensed folks (earning double hours toward licensure)
  • Advocacy at the federal level to increase funding across the whole country

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

SAMHSA 988 webpage

RAND Report: How to Transform the US Mental Health System

RAND Working Paper – Preparedness for 988 Throughout the United States: The New Mental Health Emergency Hotline

Find Your Legislators

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Fixing Mental Healthcare in America

A Living Wage for Prelicensees

Episodes on Suicide

]]> 1988 yes The Clinical Supervision Crisis for Early Career Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-clinical-supervision-crisis-for-early-career-therapists-an-interview-with-dr-amy-parks The Clinical Supervision Crisis for Early Career Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks Curt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Parks about the lack of resources for pre- and provisionally licensed mental health professionals to find a clinical supervisor. We discuss the current state of clinical supervision, the barriers for folks becoming clinical supervisors, what makes a good supervisor, navigating online supervision, and what licensed folks might consider when seeking consultation. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks, Founder of the Clinical Supervision Directory Dr. Amy Fortney Parks brings with her over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents and families as both an educator and psychologist. She is a passionate “BRAIN -ENTHUSIAST” and strives to help everyone she works with understand the brain science of communication, activation and relationships. Dr. Parks has a Doctorate in Educational Psychology with a specialty in developmental neuroscience. She is a Child & Adolescent Psychologist as well as the founder and Clinical Director of WISE Mind Solutions LLC and The Wise Family Counseling, Assessment & Education in Virginia. She is also the founder of the Clinical Supervision Directory – a connection super-highway for supervision-seekers working towards licensure in counseling and social work across the US. Dr. Parks serves as a Clinical Supervisor for Virginia LPC Residents, as well as Dominion Psychiatric Hospital. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at George Washington University & The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Parks is a frequently sought-after parent coach and speaker for families and groups around the world.  In this podcast episode, we talk about clinical supervision for modern therapists We look at the gap in clinical supervision for prelicensed or provisionally licensed mental health professionals. What is the state of clinical supervision for mental health professionals? No consistent resources for newly graduated clinicians to find supervisors Different state to state or area to area Lack of supervisors and a lack of a mechanism to connect supervisors and supervisees What are the barriers to folks becoming clinical supervisors? Different standards in different states Sometimes becoming a supervisor is too overwhelming, complicated, or too much responsibility The need for advanced training in supervision What makes a good supervisor? Training Diverse experience Understanding the boundaries between supervision and counseling Supervisor, consultant, teacher roles Cultural humility, bias – looking at clients and supervisees Navigating Online Supervision Video supervision (rather than phone) Have supervisees record (video) their sessions for feedback Research shows that telesupervision is as effective as in person Laws related to in-person versus virtual supervision Supervision or Consultation After Licensure The value of getting consultation after you’re licensed The importance of a beginner’s mind The challenges of finding good consultation Finding the right match when seeking supervision or consultation Mon, 04 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000 The Clinical Supervision Crisis for Early Career Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Clinical Supervision Crisis for Early Career Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks Curt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Parks about the lack of resources for pre- and provisionally licensed mental health professionals to find a clinical... The Clinical Supervision Crisis for Early Career Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks Curt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Parks about the lack of resources for pre- and provisionally licensed mental health professionals to find a clinical supervisor. We discuss the current state of clinical supervision, the barriers for folks becoming clinical supervisors, what makes a good supervisor, navigating online supervision, and what licensed folks might consider when seeking consultation. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks, Founder of the Clinical Supervision Directory Dr. Amy Fortney Parks brings with her over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents and families as both an educator and psychologist. She is a passionate “BRAIN -ENTHUSIAST” and strives to help everyone she works with understand the brain science of communication, activation and relationships. Dr. Parks has a Doctorate in Educational Psychology with a specialty in developmental neuroscience. She is a Child & Adolescent Psychologist as well as the founder and Clinical Director of WISE Mind Solutions LLC and The Wise Family Counseling, Assessment & Education in Virginia. She is also the founder of the Clinical Supervision Directory – a connection super-highway for supervision-seekers working towards licensure in counseling and social work across the US. Dr. Parks serves as a Clinical Supervisor for Virginia LPC Residents, as well as Dominion Psychiatric Hospital. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at George Washington University & The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Parks is a frequently sought-after parent coach and speaker for families and groups around the world.  In this podcast episode, we talk about clinical supervision for modern therapists We look at the gap in clinical supervision for prelicensed or provisionally licensed mental health professionals. What is the state of clinical supervision for mental health professionals? No consistent resources for newly graduated clinicians to find supervisors Different state to state or area to area Lack of supervisors and a lack of a mechanism to connect supervisors and supervisees What are the barriers to folks becoming clinical supervisors? Different standards in different states Sometimes becoming a supervisor is too overwhelming, complicated, or too much responsibility The need for advanced training in supervision What makes a good supervisor? Training Diverse experience Understanding the boundaries between supervision and counseling Supervisor, consultant, teacher roles Cultural humility, bias – looking at clients and supervisees Navigating Online Supervision Video supervision (rather than phone) Have supervisees record (video) their sessions for feedback Research shows that telesupervision is as effective as in person Laws related to in-person versus virtual supervision Supervision or Consultation After Licensure The value of getting consultation after you’re licensed The importance of a beginner’s mind The challenges of finding good consultation Finding the right match when seeking supervision or consultation The Clinical Supervision Crisis for Early Career Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Parks about the lack of resources for pre- and provisionally licensed mental health professionals to find a clinical supervisor. We discuss the current state of clinical supervision, the barriers for folks becoming clinical supervisors, what makes a good supervisor, navigating online supervision, and what licensed folks might consider when seeking consultation.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks, Founder of the Clinical Supervision Directory

Dr. Amy Fortney Parks brings with her over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents and families as both an educator and psychologist. She is a passionate “BRAIN -ENTHUSIAST” and strives to help everyone she works with understand the brain science of communication, activation and relationships.

Dr. Parks has a Doctorate in Educational Psychology with a specialty in developmental neuroscience. She is a Child & Adolescent Psychologist as well as the founder and Clinical Director of WISE Mind Solutions LLC and The Wise Family Counseling, Assessment & Education in Virginia. She is also the founder of the Clinical Supervision Directory – a connection super-highway for supervision-seekers working towards licensure in counseling and social work across the US.

Dr. Parks serves as a Clinical Supervisor for Virginia LPC Residents, as well as Dominion Psychiatric Hospital. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at George Washington University & The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Parks is a frequently sought-after parent coach and speaker for families and groups around the world. 

In this podcast episode, we talk about clinical supervision for modern therapists

We look at the gap in clinical supervision for prelicensed or provisionally licensed mental health professionals.

What is the state of clinical supervision for mental health professionals?

  • No consistent resources for newly graduated clinicians to find supervisors
  • Different state to state or area to area
  • Lack of supervisors and a lack of a mechanism to connect supervisors and supervisees

What are the barriers to folks becoming clinical supervisors?

  • Different standards in different states
  • Sometimes becoming a supervisor is too overwhelming, complicated, or too much responsibility
  • The need for advanced training in supervision

What makes a good supervisor?

  • Training
  • Diverse experience
  • Understanding the boundaries between supervision and counseling
  • Supervisor, consultant, teacher roles
  • Cultural humility, bias – looking at clients and supervisees

Navigating Online Supervision

  • Video supervision (rather than phone)
  • Have supervisees record (video) their sessions for feedback
  • Research shows that telesupervision is as effective as in person
  • Laws related to in-person versus virtual supervision

Supervision or Consultation After Licensure

  • The value of getting consultation after you’re licensed
  • The importance of a beginner’s mind
  • The challenges of finding good consultation
  • Finding the right match when seeking supervision or consultation
]]> 2218 no What is Parental Alienation and How Can Therapists Successfully Treat it? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-is-parental-alienation-and-how-can-therapists-successfully-treat-it What is Parental Alienation and How Can Therapists Successfully Treat it? Curt and Katie chat about a controversial topic: Parental Alienation. We look at what parental alienation is, the controversies and complexities surrounding this process, how to assess for parental alienation, and how to effectively treat the family system. We talk about how traditional therapy methods are inadequate and potentially harmful in these cases and what to do instead. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore Parental Alienation We both have worked with families that  What is Parental Alienation? The impact a parent/guardian has over how a child interacts with another parent/guardian Complex dynamic within a family where conflict is present Breakdown of relationship based on behavior of alienating parent toward targeted parent The Four Factor Model from Baker (2020) How do you assess for Parental Alienation? Challenges with correctly identifying this process/dynamic Controversies and lack of recognition of Parental Alienation as a separate diagnosis from Parent-Child Relational Problem Identifying what Parental Alienation is not Clues that stories from kids are manufactured versus authentic stories of child abuse The need for access to the full family system to obtain sufficient information Exploring: What is alienating behavior? How does it work? Effective Case Conceptualization and Treatment for Parental Alienation The importance of a family systems approach Involvement of government systems Uncovering the generational or individual trauma for all members of the system How to engage the tools available to advocate for important treatment elements to be in place The importance of understanding scope and how to write recommendations to court Preventing therapist shopping and treatment avoidance Harmful recommendations that can hinder progress within these systems Treatment teaming and avoiding isolation Educating about Parental Alienation Supporting the targeted parent to improve the relationship with the child Working with alienating parent to prepare for improvement in child’s relationship with targeted parenting Co-parenting and conflict resolution Therapist communication with all members of the system Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!  Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com. You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information Mon, 27 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What is Parental Alienation and How Can Therapists Successfully Treat it? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What is Parental Alienation and How Can Therapists Successfully Treat it? Curt and Katie chat about a controversial topic: Parental Alienation. We look at what parental alienation is, the controversies and complexities surrounding this process, how to... What is Parental Alienation and How Can Therapists Successfully Treat it? Curt and Katie chat about a controversial topic: Parental Alienation. We look at what parental alienation is, the controversies and complexities surrounding this process, how to assess for parental alienation, and how to effectively treat the family system. We talk about how traditional therapy methods are inadequate and potentially harmful in these cases and what to do instead. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we explore Parental Alienation We both have worked with families that  What is Parental Alienation? The impact a parent/guardian has over how a child interacts with another parent/guardian Complex dynamic within a family where conflict is present Breakdown of relationship based on behavior of alienating parent toward targeted parent The Four Factor Model from Baker (2020) How do you assess for Parental Alienation? Challenges with correctly identifying this process/dynamic Controversies and lack of recognition of Parental Alienation as a separate diagnosis from Parent-Child Relational Problem Identifying what Parental Alienation is not Clues that stories from kids are manufactured versus authentic stories of child abuse The need for access to the full family system to obtain sufficient information Exploring: What is alienating behavior? How does it work? Effective Case Conceptualization and Treatment for Parental Alienation The importance of a family systems approach Involvement of government systems Uncovering the generational or individual trauma for all members of the system How to engage the tools available to advocate for important treatment elements to be in place The importance of understanding scope and how to write recommendations to court Preventing therapist shopping and treatment avoidance Harmful recommendations that can hinder progress within these systems Treatment teaming and avoiding isolation Educating about Parental Alienation Supporting the targeted parent to improve the relationship with the child Working with alienating parent to prepare for improvement in child’s relationship with targeted parenting Co-parenting and conflict resolution Therapist communication with all members of the system Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!  Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com. You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information What is Parental Alienation and How Can Therapists Successfully Treat it?

Curt and Katie chat about a controversial topic: Parental Alienation. We look at what parental alienation is, the controversies and complexities surrounding this process, how to assess for parental alienation, and how to effectively treat the family system. We talk about how traditional therapy methods are inadequate and potentially harmful in these cases and what to do instead. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore Parental Alienation

We both have worked with families that 

What is Parental Alienation?

  • The impact a parent/guardian has over how a child interacts with another parent/guardian
  • Complex dynamic within a family where conflict is present
  • Breakdown of relationship based on behavior of alienating parent toward targeted parent
  • The Four Factor Model from Baker (2020)

How do you assess for Parental Alienation?

  • Challenges with correctly identifying this process/dynamic
  • Controversies and lack of recognition of Parental Alienation as a separate diagnosis from Parent-Child Relational Problem
  • Identifying what Parental Alienation is not
  • Clues that stories from kids are manufactured versus authentic stories of child abuse
  • The need for access to the full family system to obtain sufficient information
  • Exploring: What is alienating behavior? How does it work?

Effective Case Conceptualization and Treatment for Parental Alienation

  • The importance of a family systems approach
  • Involvement of government systems
  • Uncovering the generational or individual trauma for all members of the system
  • How to engage the tools available to advocate for important treatment elements to be in place
  • The importance of understanding scope and how to write recommendations to court
  • Preventing therapist shopping and treatment avoidance
  • Harmful recommendations that can hinder progress within these systems
  • Treatment teaming and avoiding isolation
  • Educating about Parental Alienation
  • Supporting the targeted parent to improve the relationship with the child
  • Working with alienating parent to prepare for improvement in child’s relationship with targeted parenting
  • Co-parenting and conflict resolution
  • Therapist communication with all members of the system

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!

 Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com.

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals:

When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information

]]> 4442 no The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-practicalities-of-mental-health-and-gender-affirming-care-for-trans-youth-an-interview-with-jordan-held-lcsw The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW Jordan Held (he/him/his), LCSW is a Primary Therapist and Gender Specialist at Visions Adolescent Treatment Center. Prior to Visions, Jordan was a Therapist and Intake Coordinator at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in the Center for Trans Youth Health and Development, the largest trans youth health clinic in the USA. Jordan’s mental health practice centers around creating a trauma-informed and healing-centered space for both adolescents and their families. Jordan’s expertise is working with gender and sexual minority youth with complex histories of PTSD and trauma. Jordan speaks internationally about creating and supporting affirmative LGBTQ+ environments with an emphasis on informed consent and enhanced family communication. As a queer-identified, transgender man, Jordan brings an important dual perspective to his work as a mental health provider. Prior to social work, Jordan worked extensively in secondary school education, with a decade of experience teaching, coaching, and developing health and wellness curricula. Jordan’s work focuses on gender violence prevention, diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultivating strength and belonging for teens. Jordan is on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Laurel Foundation, JQ International, and Mental Health America of Los Angeles. Jordan is also a long-time facilitator at Transforming Family, a support group for gender-diverse youth and their family.  In this podcast episode, we talk about trans mental health What is gender-affirmative care? The way that “gender affirming care” is being taken out of context What is actually happening, how it has been politicized The misinformation related to what is available to children who are exploring their gender (i.e., parental consent and youth care) The role of therapists versus the role of medical providers Discussion of gender norms Different types of transition for trans individuals Social transition (name, pronouns, clothes, haircut) Medical interventions that may start during puberty (i.e., puberty blockers, progesterone only birth control) Cross sex hormones and surgeries (which actually require a long process) States are very specific for what they require for gender care (as do insurance companies) Conversations in therapy for trans youth Gender journey Meeting the kids where they’re at Lying to get what they need Letters and recommendations for surgery The gender dysphoria diagnosis and sorting that out from depression, anxiety, etc. Supporting trans youth with social transition and getting the support they need The concerns with maladaptive coping skills available online Positive resources for trans youth (scroll down to resources) Identity and impacts The Politicization of Trans Individuals Jordan grew in privilege when he transitioned Legislation Schools removing conversations related to gender and sexuality Play and sports being withheld from trans kids Bias and how being trans is perceived The actual numbers of trans folks who want to play sports or want to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity Advice for trans kids and families where gender care is illegal, advice for therapists Age limits and laws that don’t align with logic Culture, privilege, and being trans Increasing or decreasing privilege when one transitions Getting used to the changed dynamic within society based on external experience The complexity of the experience and the changing of the experience The concept of “passing” and how it taps into bias Mon, 20 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0000 The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Jordan Held, LCSW, about gender affirming care, trans mental health, the practicalities of transition (as well... The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW Jordan Held (he/him/his), LCSW is a Primary Therapist and Gender Specialist at Visions Adolescent Treatment Center. Prior to Visions, Jordan was a Therapist and Intake Coordinator at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in the Center for Trans Youth Health and Development, the largest trans youth health clinic in the USA. Jordan’s mental health practice centers around creating a trauma-informed and healing-centered space for both adolescents and their families. Jordan’s expertise is working with gender and sexual minority youth with complex histories of PTSD and trauma. Jordan speaks internationally about creating and supporting affirmative LGBTQ+ environments with an emphasis on informed consent and enhanced family communication. As a queer-identified, transgender man, Jordan brings an important dual perspective to his work as a mental health provider. Prior to social work, Jordan worked extensively in secondary school education, with a decade of experience teaching, coaching, and developing health and wellness curricula. Jordan’s work focuses on gender violence prevention, diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultivating strength and belonging for teens. Jordan is on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Laurel Foundation, JQ International, and Mental Health America of Los Angeles. Jordan is also a long-time facilitator at Transforming Family, a support group for gender-diverse youth and their family.  In this podcast episode, we talk about trans mental health What is gender-affirmative care? The way that “gender affirming care” is being taken out of context What is actually happening, how it has been politicized The misinformation related to what is available to children who are exploring their gender (i.e., parental consent and youth care) The role of therapists versus the role of medical providers Discussion of gender norms Different types of transition for trans individuals Social transition (name, pronouns, clothes, haircut) Medical interventions that may start during puberty (i.e., puberty blockers, progesterone only birth control) Cross sex hormones and surgeries (which actually require a long process) States are very specific for what they require for gender care (as do insurance companies) Conversations in therapy for trans youth Gender journey Meeting the kids where they’re at Lying to get what they need Letters and recommendations for surgery The gender dysphoria diagnosis and sorting that out from depression, anxiety, etc. Supporting trans youth with social transition and getting the support they need The concerns with maladaptive coping skills available online Positive resources for trans youth (scroll down to resources) Identity and impacts The Politicization of Trans Individuals Jordan grew in privilege when he transitioned Legislation Schools removing conversations related to gender and sexuality Play and sports being withheld from trans kids Bias and how being trans is perceived The actual numbers of trans folks who want to play sports or want to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity Advice for trans kids and families where gender care is illegal, advice for therapists Age limits and laws that don’t align with logic Culture, privilege, and being trans Increasing or decreasing privilege when one transitions Getting used to the changed dynamic within society based on external experience The complexity of the experience and the changing of the experience The concept of “passing” and how it taps into bias The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW

An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW

Jordan Held (he/him/his), LCSW is a Primary Therapist and Gender Specialist at Visions Adolescent Treatment Center. Prior to Visions, Jordan was a Therapist and Intake Coordinator at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in the Center for Trans Youth Health and Development, the largest trans youth health clinic in the USA.

Jordan’s mental health practice centers around creating a trauma-informed and healing-centered space for both adolescents and their families. Jordan’s expertise is working with gender and sexual minority youth with complex histories of PTSD and trauma. Jordan speaks internationally about creating and supporting affirmative LGBTQ+ environments with an emphasis on informed consent and enhanced family communication. As a queer-identified, transgender man, Jordan brings an important dual perspective to his work as a mental health provider.

Prior to social work, Jordan worked extensively in secondary school education, with a decade of experience teaching, coaching, and developing health and wellness curricula. Jordan’s work focuses on gender violence prevention, diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultivating strength and belonging for teens. Jordan is on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Laurel Foundation, JQ International, and Mental Health America of Los Angeles. Jordan is also a long-time facilitator at Transforming Family, a support group for gender-diverse youth and their family.

 In this podcast episode, we talk about trans mental health

What is gender-affirmative care?

  • The way that “gender affirming care” is being taken out of context
  • What is actually happening, how it has been politicized
  • The misinformation related to what is available to children who are exploring their gender (i.e., parental consent and youth care)
  • The role of therapists versus the role of medical providers
  • Discussion of gender norms

Different types of transition for trans individuals

  • Social transition (name, pronouns, clothes, haircut)
  • Medical interventions that may start during puberty (i.e., puberty blockers, progesterone only birth control)
  • Cross sex hormones and surgeries (which actually require a long process)
  • States are very specific for what they require for gender care (as do insurance companies)

Conversations in therapy for trans youth

  • Gender journey
  • Meeting the kids where they’re at
  • Lying to get what they need
  • Letters and recommendations for surgery
  • The gender dysphoria diagnosis and sorting that out from depression, anxiety, etc.
  • Supporting trans youth with social transition and getting the support they need
  • The concerns with maladaptive coping skills available online
  • Positive resources for trans youth (scroll down to resources)
  • Identity and impacts

The Politicization of Trans Individuals

  • Jordan grew in privilege when he transitioned
  • Legislation
  • Schools removing conversations related to gender and sexuality
  • Play and sports being withheld from trans kids
  • Bias and how being trans is perceived
  • The actual numbers of trans folks who want to play sports or want to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity
  • Advice for trans kids and families where gender care is illegal, advice for therapists
  • Age limits and laws that don’t align with logic

Culture, privilege, and being trans

  • Increasing or decreasing privilege when one transitions
  • Getting used to the changed dynamic within society based on external experience
  • The complexity of the experience and the changing of the experience
  • The concept of “passing” and how it taps into bias
]]> 2822 yes Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy in the Media: An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/portrayals-of-mental-health-and-therapy-in-the-media-an-interview-with-danah-davis-williams-lmft Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy in the Media: An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Danah Davis Williams, LMFT on the portrayals of mental health and therapy in the media. We explore responsible portrayals as well as the harmful practices that some writers and studios engage in. We also talk about the opportunities for modern therapists to have an impact on how diagnoses and mental health treatment are represented on film and television. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT Danah Davis Williams is a Licensed Psychotherapist, an Actor, a Psychological Creative Consultant, a Podcast Host and current Past President of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). As a therapist, Danah is in private practice in Santa Barbara, California (California Coastal Counseling) where she specializes in helping people break destructive patterns of coping through the use of practical, evidenced-based coping skills and personal process. She is extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). As a consultant, Danah provides personalized psychological consultation for filmmakers, executives and creatives committed to socially responsible, captivating storytelling through authentic characterization of mental health, its treatment and interpersonal impact. She runs a psychological consulting business helping entertainment industry leaders ensure accurate representation of mental health: working with filmmakers, writers, execs, and high-profile actors from networks like FX, CBS, ABC, NBC, Freeform and MGM. What does the media get wrong when portraying mental health and therapy? Inaccurate portrayals of diagnoses Manipulative or unethical therapists The problems with “guilty pleasures” that include inaccurate or harmful portrayals The opportunities for therapists to be creators and consultants Translating clinical work into consulting and creating Vulnerability when sharing journey as a therapist Using skills from practice building to create opportunities as a creator The process of consultation for scripts and what to consider when providing feedback Ethical thoughts related to representations How to build a network and consulting business How the storytellers look at mental health and healing The silver bullet that “heals” the client Inaccurate portrayals of therapy or healing and the impact on clients Ethics to consider (especially given you’re not acting within your profession with an ethical code) The challenges of unscripted shows Shows that get it right when it comes to mental health and treatment This is us – Toby Comprehensive and realistic, tapping into lived experience within actors and/or writers The attempts to portray diversity and the experience of marginalized communities and their interaction in the mental health system Diversifying Media and the Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy Ava Duvernay’s Array program Michael B Jordan hiring students and mentoring the next generation Decreasing stigma for folks who have not typically sought mental health services How to advocate for accurate mental health portrayals in the media Calling things out on social media that are good and things that are done poorly (or are harmful) Content creation about shows you watch (like blogs, articles, etc.) Discussing content in sessions to help process what folks are viewing or their own experience Not watching or purchasing tickets to content that is harmful (not reinforcing “guilty pleasures”) Mon, 13 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy in the Media: An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy in the Media: An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Danah Davis Williams, LMFT on the portrayals of mental health and therapy in the media. We explore responsible portrayals as... Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy in the Media: An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Danah Davis Williams, LMFT on the portrayals of mental health and therapy in the media. We explore responsible portrayals as well as the harmful practices that some writers and studios engage in. We also talk about the opportunities for modern therapists to have an impact on how diagnoses and mental health treatment are represented on film and television. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT Danah Davis Williams is a Licensed Psychotherapist, an Actor, a Psychological Creative Consultant, a Podcast Host and current Past President of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). As a therapist, Danah is in private practice in Santa Barbara, California (California Coastal Counseling) where she specializes in helping people break destructive patterns of coping through the use of practical, evidenced-based coping skills and personal process. She is extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). As a consultant, Danah provides personalized psychological consultation for filmmakers, executives and creatives committed to socially responsible, captivating storytelling through authentic characterization of mental health, its treatment and interpersonal impact. She runs a psychological consulting business helping entertainment industry leaders ensure accurate representation of mental health: working with filmmakers, writers, execs, and high-profile actors from networks like FX, CBS, ABC, NBC, Freeform and MGM. What does the media get wrong when portraying mental health and therapy? Inaccurate portrayals of diagnoses Manipulative or unethical therapists The problems with “guilty pleasures” that include inaccurate or harmful portrayals The opportunities for therapists to be creators and consultants Translating clinical work into consulting and creating Vulnerability when sharing journey as a therapist Using skills from practice building to create opportunities as a creator The process of consultation for scripts and what to consider when providing feedback Ethical thoughts related to representations How to build a network and consulting business How the storytellers look at mental health and healing The silver bullet that “heals” the client Inaccurate portrayals of therapy or healing and the impact on clients Ethics to consider (especially given you’re not acting within your profession with an ethical code) The challenges of unscripted shows Shows that get it right when it comes to mental health and treatment This is us – Toby Comprehensive and realistic, tapping into lived experience within actors and/or writers The attempts to portray diversity and the experience of marginalized communities and their interaction in the mental health system Diversifying Media and the Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy Ava Duvernay’s Array program Michael B Jordan hiring students and mentoring the next generation Decreasing stigma for folks who have not typically sought mental health services How to advocate for accurate mental health portrayals in the media Calling things out on social media that are good and things that are done poorly (or are harmful) Content creation about shows you watch (like blogs, articles, etc.) Discussing content in sessions to help process what folks are viewing or their own experience Not watching or purchasing tickets to content that is harmful (not reinforcing “guilty pleasures”) Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy in the Media: An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Danah Davis Williams, LMFT on the portrayals of mental health and therapy in the media. We explore responsible portrayals as well as the harmful practices that some writers and studios engage in. We also talk about the opportunities for modern therapists to have an impact on how diagnoses and mental health treatment are represented on film and television.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT

Danah Davis Williams is a Licensed Psychotherapist, an Actor, a Psychological Creative Consultant, a Podcast Host and current Past President of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).

As a therapist, Danah is in private practice in Santa Barbara, California (California Coastal Counseling) where she specializes in helping people break destructive patterns of coping through the use of practical, evidenced-based coping skills and personal process. She is extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).

As a consultant, Danah provides personalized psychological consultation for filmmakers, executives and creatives committed to socially responsible, captivating storytelling through authentic characterization of mental health, its treatment and interpersonal impact. She runs a psychological consulting business helping entertainment industry leaders ensure accurate representation of mental health: working with filmmakers, writers, execs, and high-profile actors from networks like FX, CBS, ABC, NBC, Freeform and MGM.

What does the media get wrong when portraying mental health and therapy?

  • Inaccurate portrayals of diagnoses
  • Manipulative or unethical therapists
  • The problems with “guilty pleasures” that include inaccurate or harmful portrayals

The opportunities for therapists to be creators and consultants

  • Translating clinical work into consulting and creating
  • Vulnerability when sharing journey as a therapist
  • Using skills from practice building to create opportunities as a creator
  • The process of consultation for scripts and what to consider when providing feedback
  • Ethical thoughts related to representations
  • How to build a network and consulting business

How the storytellers look at mental health and healing

  • The silver bullet that “heals” the client
  • Inaccurate portrayals of therapy or healing and the impact on clients
  • Ethics to consider (especially given you’re not acting within your profession with an ethical code)
  • The challenges of unscripted shows

Shows that get it right when it comes to mental health and treatment

  • This is us – Toby
  • Comprehensive and realistic, tapping into lived experience within actors and/or writers
  • The attempts to portray diversity and the experience of marginalized communities and their interaction in the mental health system

Diversifying Media and the Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy

  • Ava Duvernay’s Array program
  • Michael B Jordan hiring students and mentoring the next generation
  • Decreasing stigma for folks who have not typically sought mental health services

How to advocate for accurate mental health portrayals in the media

  • Calling things out on social media that are good and things that are done poorly (or are harmful)
  • Content creation about shows you watch (like blogs, articles, etc.)
  • Discussing content in sessions to help process what folks are viewing or their own experience
  • Not watching or purchasing tickets to content that is harmful (not reinforcing “guilty pleasures”)
]]> 2158 no Beware of Scams Targeting Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/beware-of-scams-targeting-therapists Beware of Scams Targeting Therapists Curt and Katie discuss common scams that specifically target therapists. We look at how to identify scams or sketchy business practices that can be very confusing as well as dangerous to clinicians. We also talk about how to protect yourself as well as solid business practices that you can implement to stave off some of these scammers.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about scams that target therapists We have heard about a lot of scams in our careers. We figured it was time to do another “survival guide” episode on how to protect ourselves as therapists. What are the most common scams targeting therapists? Information used from popular therapist directories Claiming to be a law enforcement professional, missed court date, or the IRS Image copyright infringement Businesses that target you to charge them for things that are free or with another company Clients or people seeking therapy for family members and then overpay and ask for a refund Text messages or emails with unsolicited links that can leave malware on your computer Phishing schemes Testing stolen credit cards or stolen identities How can modern therapists protect ourselves from these scams? Get into wise mind (avoid responding to false urgency) Go through official channels (contact actual officials) Contact an attorney if unsure Understand how legal notices are properly delivered Caution with financial systems and not allowing people to pay upfront Requiring person seeking services to contact therapist Cyber security trainings Communicating appropriately and consistently Holding to systems and boundaries Make sure to share these scams with professional organizations, the official entity, or your licensing board Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Abundance Practice Building Article on Copyright Infringement From Joe Borders: Currently Active Scams Targeting Therapists From APA: Protect your practice from scams targeting psychologists From APA: More reports surface of telephone scammers targeting psychologists From the SF Chronicle: ‘He held me hostage with no gun but with his words’: The phone scam gaslighting therapists From Counseling Today: Technology Tutor: Scams aimed at counselors From Psych Today: The Phone Scam That Targets Psychologists From CPH & Associates: Scam Targeting Therapists: What You Need to Know From 10News.Com: The jury duty scam you should know about Mon, 06 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Beware of Scams Targeting Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Beware of Scams Targeting Therapists Curt and Katie discuss common scams that specifically target therapists. We look at how to identify scams or sketchy business practices that can be very confusing as well as dangerous to clinicians. We also talk... Beware of Scams Targeting Therapists Curt and Katie discuss common scams that specifically target therapists. We look at how to identify scams or sketchy business practices that can be very confusing as well as dangerous to clinicians. We also talk about how to protect yourself as well as solid business practices that you can implement to stave off some of these scammers.  Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about scams that target therapists We have heard about a lot of scams in our careers. We figured it was time to do another “survival guide” episode on how to protect ourselves as therapists. What are the most common scams targeting therapists? Information used from popular therapist directories Claiming to be a law enforcement professional, missed court date, or the IRS Image copyright infringement Businesses that target you to charge them for things that are free or with another company Clients or people seeking therapy for family members and then overpay and ask for a refund Text messages or emails with unsolicited links that can leave malware on your computer Phishing schemes Testing stolen credit cards or stolen identities How can modern therapists protect ourselves from these scams? Get into wise mind (avoid responding to false urgency) Go through official channels (contact actual officials) Contact an attorney if unsure Understand how legal notices are properly delivered Caution with financial systems and not allowing people to pay upfront Requiring person seeking services to contact therapist Cyber security trainings Communicating appropriately and consistently Holding to systems and boundaries Make sure to share these scams with professional organizations, the official entity, or your licensing board Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Abundance Practice Building Article on Copyright Infringement From Joe Borders: Currently Active Scams Targeting Therapists From APA: Protect your practice from scams targeting psychologists From APA: More reports surface of telephone scammers targeting psychologists From the SF Chronicle: ‘He held me hostage with no gun but with his words’: The phone scam gaslighting therapists From Counseling Today: Technology Tutor: Scams aimed at counselors From Psych Today: The Phone Scam That Targets Psychologists From CPH & Associates: Scam Targeting Therapists: What You Need to Know From 10News.Com: The jury duty scam you should know about Beware of Scams Targeting Therapists

Curt and Katie discuss common scams that specifically target therapists. We look at how to identify scams or sketchy business practices that can be very confusing as well as dangerous to clinicians. We also talk about how to protect yourself as well as solid business practices that you can implement to stave off some of these scammers. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about scams that target therapists

We have heard about a lot of scams in our careers. We figured it was time to do another “survival guide” episode on how to protect ourselves as therapists.

What are the most common scams targeting therapists?

  • Information used from popular therapist directories
  • Claiming to be a law enforcement professional, missed court date, or the IRS
  • Image copyright infringement
  • Businesses that target you to charge them for things that are free or with another company
  • Clients or people seeking therapy for family members and then overpay and ask for a refund
  • Text messages or emails with unsolicited links that can leave malware on your computer
  • Phishing schemes
  • Testing stolen credit cards or stolen identities

How can modern therapists protect ourselves from these scams?

  • Get into wise mind (avoid responding to false urgency)
  • Go through official channels (contact actual officials)
  • Contact an attorney if unsure
  • Understand how legal notices are properly delivered
  • Caution with financial systems and not allowing people to pay upfront
  • Requiring person seeking services to contact therapist
  • Cyber security trainings
  • Communicating appropriately and consistently
  • Holding to systems and boundaries
  • Make sure to share these scams with professional organizations, the official entity, or your licensing board

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Abundance Practice Building Article on Copyright Infringement

From Joe Borders: Currently Active Scams Targeting Therapists

From APA: Protect your practice from scams targeting psychologists

From APA: More reports surface of telephone scammers targeting psychologists

From the SF Chronicle: ‘He held me hostage with no gun but with his words’: The phone scam gaslighting therapists

From Counseling Today: Technology Tutor: Scams aimed at counselors

From Psych Today: The Phone Scam That Targets Psychologists

From CPH & Associates: Scam Targeting Therapists: What You Need to Know

From 10News.Com: The jury duty scam you should know about

]]> 1844 no Beyond Reimagination: Improving your client outcomes by understanding what big tech is doing right (and wrong) with mental health apps https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/beyond-reimagination-improving-your-client-outcomes-by-understanding-what-big-tech-is-doing-right-and-wrong-with-mental-health-apps Beyond Reimagination: Improving your client outcomes by understanding what big tech is doing right (and wrong) with mental health apps Curt and Katie chat about the big tech “disruptors” in the mental health space and what therapists can learn from their tactics to support clients. We look at who is using mental health apps, what mental health apps are getting right (and wrong), and how therapists can take what is working and work differently to more effectively serve our own clients. This is a continuing education podcourse. Looking at the gaps in mental health treatment and how big tech is working to “fix” them Exploring the goals from the Rand report on fixing mental healthcare in the United States Mental Health apps (with many broad definitions) Access to lots of different types of services and self-help A one stop shop with a full range of services Direct negotiation with insurance companies The types of technology used in mental health apps and the risks and benefits of these advances Algorithms Geo location data Complex payment structures Outcomes and feedback What mental health apps are doing well for clients Getting clients into therapy much more quickly Decreasing costs for consumers Increasing flexibility and availability Not requiring for things to happen in real time (asynchronous therapy) What mental health apps are getting wrong McDonaldization and commoditization Proprietary treatment methods and incentives for specific worksheets or staying within the app Misalignment between the goals of the client and the goals of the corporation Self-driven, leading to folks to potentially getting insufficient resources Individual versus community focus Caseloads and potential for therapist income (as well as burnout and poor care) Concerns about the additional risks that can happen with mental health apps The apps are not bound by HIPAA, but instead the SEC Data sharing and Alexa suggesting supplements to address client mental health concerns Additional legal and ethical risks Who is using app-based mental health services? Therapy veterans are moving to apps Access is not actually improved The reasons that clients are moving from a traditional therapist to therapy apps Outcomes across different types of apps and different types of clients Niche apps are more effective than generalist apps What we can do to move our therapist practices forward? Using the benefits of technology to decrease friction for your clients accessing therapists Increasing flexibility and creativity Be a better therapist and understanding the digital therapeutic alliance Paying attention to laws and ethics, scope of practice, and treatment planning Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!  Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com. You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information Mon, 30 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Beyond Reimagination: Improving your client outcomes by understanding what big tech is doing right (and wrong) with mental health apps full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Beyond Reimagination: Improving your client outcomes by understanding what big tech is doing right (and wrong) with mental health apps Curt and Katie chat about the big tech “disruptors” in the mental health space and what therapists can learn... Beyond Reimagination: Improving your client outcomes by understanding what big tech is doing right (and wrong) with mental health apps Curt and Katie chat about the big tech “disruptors” in the mental health space and what therapists can learn from their tactics to support clients. We look at who is using mental health apps, what mental health apps are getting right (and wrong), and how therapists can take what is working and work differently to more effectively serve our own clients. This is a continuing education podcourse. Looking at the gaps in mental health treatment and how big tech is working to “fix” them Exploring the goals from the Rand report on fixing mental healthcare in the United States Mental Health apps (with many broad definitions) Access to lots of different types of services and self-help A one stop shop with a full range of services Direct negotiation with insurance companies The types of technology used in mental health apps and the risks and benefits of these advances Algorithms Geo location data Complex payment structures Outcomes and feedback What mental health apps are doing well for clients Getting clients into therapy much more quickly Decreasing costs for consumers Increasing flexibility and availability Not requiring for things to happen in real time (asynchronous therapy) What mental health apps are getting wrong McDonaldization and commoditization Proprietary treatment methods and incentives for specific worksheets or staying within the app Misalignment between the goals of the client and the goals of the corporation Self-driven, leading to folks to potentially getting insufficient resources Individual versus community focus Caseloads and potential for therapist income (as well as burnout and poor care) Concerns about the additional risks that can happen with mental health apps The apps are not bound by HIPAA, but instead the SEC Data sharing and Alexa suggesting supplements to address client mental health concerns Additional legal and ethical risks Who is using app-based mental health services? Therapy veterans are moving to apps Access is not actually improved The reasons that clients are moving from a traditional therapist to therapy apps Outcomes across different types of apps and different types of clients Niche apps are more effective than generalist apps What we can do to move our therapist practices forward? Using the benefits of technology to decrease friction for your clients accessing therapists Increasing flexibility and creativity Be a better therapist and understanding the digital therapeutic alliance Paying attention to laws and ethics, scope of practice, and treatment planning Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!  Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com. You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information Beyond Reimagination: Improving your client outcomes by understanding what big tech is doing right (and wrong) with mental health apps

Curt and Katie chat about the big tech “disruptors” in the mental health space and what therapists can learn from their tactics to support clients. We look at who is using mental health apps, what mental health apps are getting right (and wrong), and how therapists can take what is working and work differently to more effectively serve our own clients. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Looking at the gaps in mental health treatment and how big tech is working to “fix” them

  • Exploring the goals from the Rand report on fixing mental healthcare in the United States
  • Mental Health apps (with many broad definitions)
  • Access to lots of different types of services and self-help
  • A one stop shop with a full range of services
  • Direct negotiation with insurance companies

The types of technology used in mental health apps and the risks and benefits of these advances

  • Algorithms
  • Geo location data
  • Complex payment structures
  • Outcomes and feedback

What mental health apps are doing well for clients

  • Getting clients into therapy much more quickly
  • Decreasing costs for consumers
  • Increasing flexibility and availability
  • Not requiring for things to happen in real time (asynchronous therapy)

What mental health apps are getting wrong

  • McDonaldization and commoditization
  • Proprietary treatment methods and incentives for specific worksheets or staying within the app
  • Misalignment between the goals of the client and the goals of the corporation
  • Self-driven, leading to folks to potentially getting insufficient resources
  • Individual versus community focus
  • Caseloads and potential for therapist income (as well as burnout and poor care)

Concerns about the additional risks that can happen with mental health apps

  • The apps are not bound by HIPAA, but instead the SEC
  • Data sharing and Alexa suggesting supplements to address client mental health concerns
  • Additional legal and ethical risks

Who is using app-based mental health services?

  • Therapy veterans are moving to apps
  • Access is not actually improved
  • The reasons that clients are moving from a traditional therapist to therapy apps
  • Outcomes across different types of apps and different types of clients
  • Niche apps are more effective than generalist apps

What we can do to move our therapist practices forward?

Using the benefits of technology to decrease friction for your clients accessing therapists

  • Increasing flexibility and creativity
  • Be a better therapist and understanding the digital therapeutic alliance
  • Paying attention to laws and ethics, scope of practice, and treatment planning

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

Hey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community!

 Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com.

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals:

When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information

]]> 4603 no The Risks and Consequences of Failing to Report Child Abuse https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-risks-and-consequences-of-failing-to-report-child-abuse The Risks and Consequences of Failing to Report Child Abuse Curt and Katie discuss the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences case against Barbara Dixon, LMFT who failed to report child abuse for Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos who both subsequently died from abuse by caregivers. We look at what this therapist missed as well as appropriate child abuse reporting, including the nuance of when to report. CW: details of child abuse discussed. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the importance of child abuse reporting We talk about the failure to report abuse by Barbara Dixon, LMFT that has recently been in the news related to the deaths of Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos. The case related to the child abuse death of Gabriel Fernandez Content Warning: Details of the case, including the actions taken (and not taken) by Barbara Dixon, LMFT The decision-making process with child abuse reporting Who is responsible to decide to report child abuse – the clinician or the supervisor? When supervisors or agencies tell clinicians under supervision not to report child abuse report The individual responsibility that each clinician holds The myth that you’re working “under” your supervisor’s license How do you decide whether you should report child abuse? Clarity from child abuse reporting laws Hesitation based on systemic response, the therapeutic relationship, and the paperwork hassle Where there are gray areas and nuance The consequences of failing to report child abuse or adequately document services or risks Your agency or supervisor may not be held liable for your actions (especially if you don’t document what you did) Incomplete documentation hurts – it doesn’t help you hide from liability Appropriate Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting Interviewing the child separately Following up on what you’ve asked for Understanding at what point it becomes our responsibility (i.e., having sufficient information) Documenting each stage and make sure to appropriately close out treatment file when needed Consultation and not making the decision on your own Defining the injury and assess from there Understanding normal childhood response to typical life events (and noting changes) Navigating the gray areas in child abuse assessment Looking at impact, intent, and injury Using the context to help decide when there isn’t a definitive line Adequately documenting, even when you aren’t sure you’re making the right decision, is important and necessary Looking at what needs systemic intervention and what needs family therapy Getting past the discomfort to report child abuse report It is your responsibility Taking a moment to understand the purpose of reporting Reducing your own liability Obtaining resources for families Understanding the risk for families of systems getting involved Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Los Angeles Times Article: Counselor who didn’t report abuse of Gabriel Fernandez, Anthony Avalos put on 4-year probation Citation/Enforcement Decision on Barbara Dixon LA Times Article: Charges dismissed against social workers linked to Gabriel Fernandez’s killing Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Now Modern Therapists Have to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes? Do Therapists Curse in Session? Toxic Work Environments Giving and Getting Good Supervision Make Your Paperwork Meaningful: An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Hall Noteworthy Documentation: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT CYA for Court: An interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW Mon, 23 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000 The Risks and Consequences of Failing to Report Child Abuse full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Risks and Consequences of Failing to Report Child Abuse Curt and Katie discuss the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences case against Barbara Dixon, LMFT who failed to report child abuse for Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos who both subsequently... The Risks and Consequences of Failing to Report Child Abuse Curt and Katie discuss the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences case against Barbara Dixon, LMFT who failed to report child abuse for Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos who both subsequently died from abuse by caregivers. We look at what this therapist missed as well as appropriate child abuse reporting, including the nuance of when to report. CW: details of child abuse discussed. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about the importance of child abuse reporting We talk about the failure to report abuse by Barbara Dixon, LMFT that has recently been in the news related to the deaths of Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos. The case related to the child abuse death of Gabriel Fernandez Content Warning: Details of the case, including the actions taken (and not taken) by Barbara Dixon, LMFT The decision-making process with child abuse reporting Who is responsible to decide to report child abuse – the clinician or the supervisor? When supervisors or agencies tell clinicians under supervision not to report child abuse report The individual responsibility that each clinician holds The myth that you’re working “under” your supervisor’s license How do you decide whether you should report child abuse? Clarity from child abuse reporting laws Hesitation based on systemic response, the therapeutic relationship, and the paperwork hassle Where there are gray areas and nuance The consequences of failing to report child abuse or adequately document services or risks Your agency or supervisor may not be held liable for your actions (especially if you don’t document what you did) Incomplete documentation hurts – it doesn’t help you hide from liability Appropriate Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting Interviewing the child separately Following up on what you’ve asked for Understanding at what point it becomes our responsibility (i.e., having sufficient information) Documenting each stage and make sure to appropriately close out treatment file when needed Consultation and not making the decision on your own Defining the injury and assess from there Understanding normal childhood response to typical life events (and noting changes) Navigating the gray areas in child abuse assessment Looking at impact, intent, and injury Using the context to help decide when there isn’t a definitive line Adequately documenting, even when you aren’t sure you’re making the right decision, is important and necessary Looking at what needs systemic intervention and what needs family therapy Getting past the discomfort to report child abuse report It is your responsibility Taking a moment to understand the purpose of reporting Reducing your own liability Obtaining resources for families Understanding the risk for families of systems getting involved Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Los Angeles Times Article: Counselor who didn’t report abuse of Gabriel Fernandez, Anthony Avalos put on 4-year probation Citation/Enforcement Decision on Barbara Dixon LA Times Article: Charges dismissed against social workers linked to Gabriel Fernandez’s killing Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Now Modern Therapists Have to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes? Do Therapists Curse in Session? Toxic Work Environments Giving and Getting Good Supervision Make Your Paperwork Meaningful: An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Hall Noteworthy Documentation: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT CYA for Court: An interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW The Risks and Consequences of Failing to Report Child Abuse

Curt and Katie discuss the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences case against Barbara Dixon, LMFT who failed to report child abuse for Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos who both subsequently died from abuse by caregivers. We look at what this therapist missed as well as appropriate child abuse reporting, including the nuance of when to report. CW: details of child abuse discussed.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the importance of child abuse reporting

We talk about the failure to report abuse by Barbara Dixon, LMFT that has recently been in the news related to the deaths of Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos.

The case related to the child abuse death of Gabriel Fernandez

  • Content Warning: Details of the case, including the actions taken (and not taken) by Barbara Dixon, LMFT
  • The decision-making process with child abuse reporting

Who is responsible to decide to report child abuse – the clinician or the supervisor?

  • When supervisors or agencies tell clinicians under supervision not to report child abuse report
  • The individual responsibility that each clinician holds
  • The myth that you’re working “under” your supervisor’s license

How do you decide whether you should report child abuse?

  • Clarity from child abuse reporting laws
  • Hesitation based on systemic response, the therapeutic relationship, and the paperwork hassle
  • Where there are gray areas and nuance

The consequences of failing to report child abuse or adequately document services or risks

  • Your agency or supervisor may not be held liable for your actions (especially if you don’t document what you did)
  • Incomplete documentation hurts – it doesn’t help you hide from liability

Appropriate Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting

  • Interviewing the child separately
  • Following up on what you’ve asked for
  • Understanding at what point it becomes our responsibility (i.e., having sufficient information)
  • Documenting each stage and make sure to appropriately close out treatment file when needed
  • Consultation and not making the decision on your own
  • Defining the injury and assess from there
  • Understanding normal childhood response to typical life events (and noting changes)

Navigating the gray areas in child abuse assessment

  • Looking at impact, intent, and injury
  • Using the context to help decide when there isn’t a definitive line
  • Adequately documenting, even when you aren’t sure you’re making the right decision, is important and necessary
  • Looking at what needs systemic intervention and what needs family therapy

Getting past the discomfort to report child abuse report

  • It is your responsibility
  • Taking a moment to understand the purpose of reporting
  • Reducing your own liability
  • Obtaining resources for families
  • Understanding the risk for families of systems getting involved

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Los Angeles Times Article: Counselor who didn’t report abuse of Gabriel Fernandez, Anthony Avalos put on 4-year probation

Citation/Enforcement Decision on Barbara Dixon

LA Times Article: Charges dismissed against social workers linked to Gabriel Fernandez’s killing

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Now Modern Therapists Have to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes?

Do Therapists Curse in Session?

Toxic Work Environments

Giving and Getting Good Supervision

Make Your Paperwork Meaningful: An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Hall

Noteworthy Documentation: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT

CYA for Court: An interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW

]]> 2392 yes Should Therapists Correct Clients? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/should-therapists-correct-clients Should Therapists Correct Clients? Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should correct clients who use offensive language. We look at what we should consider when addressing what clients say (including treatment goals and the relationship), how therapists can take care of themselves to be able to treat clients who hold a different worldview, and how (and when) therapists can address problematic language appropriately. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about whether therapists should call out their clients on words they find inappropriate We decided to address the language that clients use in session and what to do when we find the language offensive or harmful. Should therapists correct clients when they use language we find offensive or harmful? Blank slate or “join your clients” approaches Whether the language should be addressed when it doesn’t align with a client’s stated treatment goals Showing up as a human and addressing the therapeutic relationship Judgment or shaming that can happen with clients What should therapists consider when addressing what clients say? The relationship between the therapist and client Relevance to clinical goals The impact on trust in the therapeutic alliance The importance of using the client’s language to affirm their experience The power differential between therapist and client How can therapists show up with clients who see the world differently than they do? Addressing objectification of therapist’s identities Assessing when therapists are centering their own experience versus responding to what is in the room Using the relationship to process client’s perspective What can therapists do to appropriately address problematic language with their clients? Process what is being said before correcting specific words Address within the relationship and within the treatment goals Using our own coping skills to be able to navigate what our clients bring to session Where social justice plays a role (and maybe shouldn’t) Education and supporting the client’s whole development Assessing the impact of these interventions (both positive and negative) Assessing the harm in not pointing out bias or harmful language    Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Therapist–Client Language Matching: Initial Promise as a Measure of Therapist–Client Relationship Quality Feedback Informed Treatment   Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Do Therapists Curse in Session? How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) part 1.5 When is it Discrimination? Conspiracy Theories in Your Office Mon, 16 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Should Therapists Correct Clients? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Should Therapists Correct Clients? Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should correct clients who use offensive language. We look at what we should consider when addressing what clients say (including treatment goals and the relationship),... Should Therapists Correct Clients? Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should correct clients who use offensive language. We look at what we should consider when addressing what clients say (including treatment goals and the relationship), how therapists can take care of themselves to be able to treat clients who hold a different worldview, and how (and when) therapists can address problematic language appropriately. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about whether therapists should call out their clients on words they find inappropriate We decided to address the language that clients use in session and what to do when we find the language offensive or harmful. Should therapists correct clients when they use language we find offensive or harmful? Blank slate or “join your clients” approaches Whether the language should be addressed when it doesn’t align with a client’s stated treatment goals Showing up as a human and addressing the therapeutic relationship Judgment or shaming that can happen with clients What should therapists consider when addressing what clients say? The relationship between the therapist and client Relevance to clinical goals The impact on trust in the therapeutic alliance The importance of using the client’s language to affirm their experience The power differential between therapist and client How can therapists show up with clients who see the world differently than they do? Addressing objectification of therapist’s identities Assessing when therapists are centering their own experience versus responding to what is in the room Using the relationship to process client’s perspective What can therapists do to appropriately address problematic language with their clients? Process what is being said before correcting specific words Address within the relationship and within the treatment goals Using our own coping skills to be able to navigate what our clients bring to session Where social justice plays a role (and maybe shouldn’t) Education and supporting the client’s whole development Assessing the impact of these interventions (both positive and negative) Assessing the harm in not pointing out bias or harmful language    Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Therapist–Client Language Matching: Initial Promise as a Measure of Therapist–Client Relationship Quality Feedback Informed Treatment   Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Do Therapists Curse in Session? How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) part 1.5 When is it Discrimination? Conspiracy Theories in Your Office Should Therapists Correct Clients?

Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should correct clients who use offensive language. We look at what we should consider when addressing what clients say (including treatment goals and the relationship), how therapists can take care of themselves to be able to treat clients who hold a different worldview, and how (and when) therapists can address problematic language appropriately.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about whether therapists should call out their clients on words they find inappropriate

We decided to address the language that clients use in session and what to do when we find the language offensive or harmful.

Should therapists correct clients when they use language we find offensive or harmful?

  • Blank slate or “join your clients” approaches
  • Whether the language should be addressed when it doesn’t align with a client’s stated treatment goals
  • Showing up as a human and addressing the therapeutic relationship
  • Judgment or shaming that can happen with clients

What should therapists consider when addressing what clients say?

  • The relationship between the therapist and client
  • Relevance to clinical goals
  • The impact on trust in the therapeutic alliance
  • The importance of using the client’s language to affirm their experience
  • The power differential between therapist and client

How can therapists show up with clients who see the world differently than they do?

  • Addressing objectification of therapist’s identities
  • Assessing when therapists are centering their own experience versus responding to what is in the room
  • Using the relationship to process client’s perspective

What can therapists do to appropriately address problematic language with their clients?

  • Process what is being said before correcting specific words
  • Address within the relationship and within the treatment goals
  • Using our own coping skills to be able to navigate what our clients bring to session
  • Where social justice plays a role (and maybe shouldn’t)
  • Education and supporting the client’s whole development
  • Assessing the impact of these interventions (both positive and negative)
  • Assessing the harm in not pointing out bias or harmful language

 

 Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Therapist–Client Language Matching: Initial Promise as a Measure of Therapist–Client Relationship Quality

Feedback Informed Treatment

 

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Do Therapists Curse in Session?

How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically)

How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) part 1.5

When is it Discrimination?

Conspiracy Theories in Your Office

]]> 2279 yes Is the Counseling Compact Good for Therapists? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/is-the-counseling-compact-good-for-therapists Is the Counseling Compact Good for Therapists? Curt and Katie chat about the brand-new Counseling Compact and what therapists may not know or understand about these interstate agreements. We explore the proposed benefits as well as the potential risks and complications like regulatory discrepancies and a lack of consumer protections. We also look at how big tech can benefit while individual clinicians may be left unable to compete in a larger market. In this podcast episode we talk about the new Counseling Compact and Psypact The counselors got their 10th state and officially have Counseling Compact to practice in other states. We thought it would be a good idea to talk about what that means (and what we might want to pay attention to). What is the Counseling Compact? Opportunities for practicing privileges (not licensure) in other states The complexity of putting together these interstate compacts Implementation and regulation hurdles Scope of practice discrepancies and concerns Law and Ethics practices across states Benefits of Interstate Compacts for Mental Health Providers Continuity of care Ease of meeting with clients who are moving around the country Bringing clinicians to areas where there is a workforce shortage Potential Problems with the Counseling Compact Not bringing more clinicians, if only states with workforce shortages join Doesn’t solve the infrastructure problems (i.e., stable Wi-Fi) for rural areas that typically don’t have local therapists The people who most benefit: the big tech companies like Better Help The FBI is opposing this legislation due to lack of federal background checks Lack of consumer protection or consistency in what consumers can expect from their therapist Costs for the therapists to get practicing privileges Large gigantic group practices and tech solutions will contract with insurance and leave smaller practices unable to compete and required to be private pay Solving the Problems with the Counseling Compact Overarching regulation and expectations at a national level Federal bodies to oversee background checks and consumer protections Expensive, time-intensive We don’t have universal healthcare, so insurance parity will need to be addressed (and not just by big tech) Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Counseling Compact Psypact Very Bad Therapy Podcast Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Special Series: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America Fixing Mental Health in America: An interview with Dr. Nicole Eberhart, Senior Behavioral Scientist, and Dr. Ryan McBain, Policy Researcher, The RAND Corporation Online Therapy Apps Why You Shouldn’t Sell Out to Better Help   Mon, 09 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Is the Counseling Compact Good for Therapists? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Is the Counseling Compact Good for Therapists? Curt and Katie chat about the brand-new Counseling Compact and what therapists may not know or understand about these interstate agreements. We explore the proposed benefits as well as the potential risks... Is the Counseling Compact Good for Therapists? Curt and Katie chat about the brand-new Counseling Compact and what therapists may not know or understand about these interstate agreements. We explore the proposed benefits as well as the potential risks and complications like regulatory discrepancies and a lack of consumer protections. We also look at how big tech can benefit while individual clinicians may be left unable to compete in a larger market. In this podcast episode we talk about the new Counseling Compact and Psypact The counselors got their 10th state and officially have Counseling Compact to practice in other states. We thought it would be a good idea to talk about what that means (and what we might want to pay attention to). What is the Counseling Compact? Opportunities for practicing privileges (not licensure) in other states The complexity of putting together these interstate compacts Implementation and regulation hurdles Scope of practice discrepancies and concerns Law and Ethics practices across states Benefits of Interstate Compacts for Mental Health Providers Continuity of care Ease of meeting with clients who are moving around the country Bringing clinicians to areas where there is a workforce shortage Potential Problems with the Counseling Compact Not bringing more clinicians, if only states with workforce shortages join Doesn’t solve the infrastructure problems (i.e., stable Wi-Fi) for rural areas that typically don’t have local therapists The people who most benefit: the big tech companies like Better Help The FBI is opposing this legislation due to lack of federal background checks Lack of consumer protection or consistency in what consumers can expect from their therapist Costs for the therapists to get practicing privileges Large gigantic group practices and tech solutions will contract with insurance and leave smaller practices unable to compete and required to be private pay Solving the Problems with the Counseling Compact Overarching regulation and expectations at a national level Federal bodies to oversee background checks and consumer protections Expensive, time-intensive We don’t have universal healthcare, so insurance parity will need to be addressed (and not just by big tech) Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Counseling Compact Psypact Very Bad Therapy Podcast Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Special Series: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America Fixing Mental Health in America: An interview with Dr. Nicole Eberhart, Senior Behavioral Scientist, and Dr. Ryan McBain, Policy Researcher, The RAND Corporation Online Therapy Apps Why You Shouldn’t Sell Out to Better Help   Is the Counseling Compact Good for Therapists?

Curt and Katie chat about the brand-new Counseling Compact and what therapists may not know or understand about these interstate agreements. We explore the proposed benefits as well as the potential risks and complications like regulatory discrepancies and a lack of consumer protections. We also look at how big tech can benefit while individual clinicians may be left unable to compete in a larger market.

In this podcast episode we talk about the new Counseling Compact and Psypact

The counselors got their 10th state and officially have Counseling Compact to practice in other states. We thought it would be a good idea to talk about what that means (and what we might want to pay attention to).

What is the Counseling Compact?

  • Opportunities for practicing privileges (not licensure) in other states
  • The complexity of putting together these interstate compacts
  • Implementation and regulation hurdles
  • Scope of practice discrepancies and concerns
  • Law and Ethics practices across states

Benefits of Interstate Compacts for Mental Health Providers

  • Continuity of care
  • Ease of meeting with clients who are moving around the country
  • Bringing clinicians to areas where there is a workforce shortage

Potential Problems with the Counseling Compact

  • Not bringing more clinicians, if only states with workforce shortages join
  • Doesn’t solve the infrastructure problems (i.e., stable Wi-Fi) for rural areas that typically don’t have local therapists
  • The people who most benefit: the big tech companies like Better Help
  • The FBI is opposing this legislation due to lack of federal background checks
  • Lack of consumer protection or consistency in what consumers can expect from their therapist
  • Costs for the therapists to get practicing privileges
  • Large gigantic group practices and tech solutions will contract with insurance and leave smaller practices unable to compete and required to be private pay

Solving the Problems with the Counseling Compact

  • Overarching regulation and expectations at a national level
  • Federal bodies to oversee background checks and consumer protections
  • Expensive, time-intensive
  • We don’t have universal healthcare, so insurance parity will need to be addressed (and not just by big tech)

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Counseling Compact

Psypact

Very Bad Therapy Podcast

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Special Series: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America

Fixing Mental Health in America: An interview with Dr. Nicole Eberhart, Senior Behavioral Scientist, and Dr. Ryan McBain, Policy Researcher, The RAND Corporation

Online Therapy Apps

Why You Shouldn’t Sell Out to Better Help

 

]]> 2288 no Clinical Considerations When Working with Asian Immigrants, Refugees, and Dreamers: An Interview with Soo Jin Lee https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/clinical-considerations-when-working-with-asian-immigrants-refugees-and-dreamers-an-interview-with-soo-jin-lee Clinical Considerations When Working with Asian Immigrants, Refugees, and Dreamers: An Interview with Soo Jin Lee Curt and Katie interview Soo Jin Lee, LMFT on the clinical implications of working with Asian American immigrants, refugees, and dreamers. We explore how best to assess these clients, specific clinical considerations related to the immigration experience (and legal status in the country), and ideas for working with these clients clinically. We also talk about the impact of societal views, media portrayals, and representation on AAPI clients. An Interview with Soo Jin Lee, LMFT Soo Jin Lee is a co-director of Yellow Chair Collective and co-founder of Entwine Community. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in CA and has a special focus on training and consulting on Asian mental health related issues. She is passionate about assisting individuals find a sense of belonging and identity through reckoning of intersectional identity work and those that are navigating through difficult life changes.   In this podcast episode, we talk about what therapists should know about Asian American immigrants, refugees, and dreamers In preparation for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month, we wanted to dig more deeply into specific issues relevant to the AAPI community that are often not discussed in grad school or therapist training programs. What assessment questions should be included for AAPI immigrant clients? How to assess and ask about the immigration story (including about whether someone is documented or undocumented) The assumption of citizenship status during the assessment Exploration of cultural values and family dynamics The definitions for refugee, asylum seekers, immigrant, undocumented immigrant, dreamer Looking at reasons behind coming to the United States as well as legal status in the country   What is the impact of societal views and media portrayals of Asians on AAPI clients? The common stereotypes and the gap in the representation in the Asian diaspora The typical portrayal of undocumented immigrants from Latin America, Mexico, etc. Lack of representation in the media of the broad experience of being an undocumented immigrant or refugee The misrepresentation of families being all documented or undocumented (it’s actually a mix of statuses) Language, cultural and values differences between the generations   What are the unique clinical issues for refugees and undocumented immigrants? The uncertainty of staying in the country The hidden traumas and the fear of being kicked out The lack of planning for the future Education and financial barriers to pursuing the future Trauma and PTSD are key elements, but sharing the story means that their survival is at risk   How do therapists more effectively work with refugees and undocumented immigrants in therapy? The fear and risk involved in disclosure and the challenge of talking about identity Exploring their story creatively, without nitpicking or having to interrogate or make them verbalize their story The importance of building trust and building a safe space within therapy Bringing the mainstream media into the session Addressing fear and decision-making Soo Jin Lee’s healing journey to become a therapist and advice for other dreamers  Mon, 02 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Clinical Considerations When Working with Asian Immigrants, Refugees, and Dreamers: An Interview with Soo Jin Lee full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Clinical Considerations When Working with Asian Immigrants, Refugees, and Dreamers: An Interview with Soo Jin Lee Curt and Katie interview Soo Jin Lee, LMFT on the clinical implications of working with Asian American immigrants, refugees, and... Clinical Considerations When Working with Asian Immigrants, Refugees, and Dreamers: An Interview with Soo Jin Lee Curt and Katie interview Soo Jin Lee, LMFT on the clinical implications of working with Asian American immigrants, refugees, and dreamers. We explore how best to assess these clients, specific clinical considerations related to the immigration experience (and legal status in the country), and ideas for working with these clients clinically. We also talk about the impact of societal views, media portrayals, and representation on AAPI clients. An Interview with Soo Jin Lee, LMFT Soo Jin Lee is a co-director of Yellow Chair Collective and co-founder of Entwine Community. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in CA and has a special focus on training and consulting on Asian mental health related issues. She is passionate about assisting individuals find a sense of belonging and identity through reckoning of intersectional identity work and those that are navigating through difficult life changes.   In this podcast episode, we talk about what therapists should know about Asian American immigrants, refugees, and dreamers In preparation for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month, we wanted to dig more deeply into specific issues relevant to the AAPI community that are often not discussed in grad school or therapist training programs. What assessment questions should be included for AAPI immigrant clients? How to assess and ask about the immigration story (including about whether someone is documented or undocumented) The assumption of citizenship status during the assessment Exploration of cultural values and family dynamics The definitions for refugee, asylum seekers, immigrant, undocumented immigrant, dreamer Looking at reasons behind coming to the United States as well as legal status in the country   What is the impact of societal views and media portrayals of Asians on AAPI clients? The common stereotypes and the gap in the representation in the Asian diaspora The typical portrayal of undocumented immigrants from Latin America, Mexico, etc. Lack of representation in the media of the broad experience of being an undocumented immigrant or refugee The misrepresentation of families being all documented or undocumented (it’s actually a mix of statuses) Language, cultural and values differences between the generations   What are the unique clinical issues for refugees and undocumented immigrants? The uncertainty of staying in the country The hidden traumas and the fear of being kicked out The lack of planning for the future Education and financial barriers to pursuing the future Trauma and PTSD are key elements, but sharing the story means that their survival is at risk   How do therapists more effectively work with refugees and undocumented immigrants in therapy? The fear and risk involved in disclosure and the challenge of talking about identity Exploring their story creatively, without nitpicking or having to interrogate or make them verbalize their story The importance of building trust and building a safe space within therapy Bringing the mainstream media into the session Addressing fear and decision-making Soo Jin Lee’s healing journey to become a therapist and advice for other dreamers  Clinical Considerations When Working with Asian Immigrants, Refugees, and Dreamers: An Interview with Soo Jin Lee

Curt and Katie interview Soo Jin Lee, LMFT on the clinical implications of working with Asian American immigrants, refugees, and dreamers. We explore how best to assess these clients, specific clinical considerations related to the immigration experience (and legal status in the country), and ideas for working with these clients clinically. We also talk about the impact of societal views, media portrayals, and representation on AAPI clients.

An Interview with Soo Jin Lee, LMFT

Soo Jin Lee is a co-director of Yellow Chair Collective and co-founder of Entwine Community. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in CA and has a special focus on training and consulting on Asian mental health related issues. She is passionate about assisting individuals find a sense of belonging and identity through reckoning of intersectional identity work and those that are navigating through difficult life changes.

 

In this podcast episode, we talk about what therapists should know about Asian American immigrants, refugees, and dreamers

In preparation for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month, we wanted to dig more deeply into specific issues relevant to the AAPI community that are often not discussed in grad school or therapist training programs.

What assessment questions should be included for AAPI immigrant clients?

  • How to assess and ask about the immigration story (including about whether someone is documented or undocumented)
  • The assumption of citizenship status during the assessment
  • Exploration of cultural values and family dynamics
  • The definitions for refugee, asylum seekers, immigrant, undocumented immigrant, dreamer
  • Looking at reasons behind coming to the United States as well as legal status in the country

 

What is the impact of societal views and media portrayals of Asians on AAPI clients?

  • The common stereotypes and the gap in the representation in the Asian diaspora
  • The typical portrayal of undocumented immigrants from Latin America, Mexico, etc.
  • Lack of representation in the media of the broad experience of being an undocumented immigrant or refugee
  • The misrepresentation of families being all documented or undocumented (it’s actually a mix of statuses)
  • Language, cultural and values differences between the generations

 

What are the unique clinical issues for refugees and undocumented immigrants?

  • The uncertainty of staying in the country
  • The hidden traumas and the fear of being kicked out
  • The lack of planning for the future
  • Education and financial barriers to pursuing the future
  • Trauma and PTSD are key elements, but sharing the story means that their survival is at risk

 

How do therapists more effectively work with refugees and undocumented immigrants in therapy?

  • The fear and risk involved in disclosure and the challenge of talking about identity
  • Exploring their story creatively, without nitpicking or having to interrogate or make them verbalize their story
  • The importance of building trust and building a safe space within therapy
  • Bringing the mainstream media into the session
  • Addressing fear and decision-making
  • Soo Jin Lee’s healing journey to become a therapist and advice for other dreamers 
]]> 2485 no Reflections on Content Creation and the Therapy Profession https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/reflections-on-content-creation-and-the-therapy-profession Reflections on Content Creation and the Therapy Profession Curt and Katie chat about our principles and philosophies as they relate to the work we do, including podcast creation. We also reflect on the feedback we’ve received on episodes with large listenership as well as other typical responses we get to the work we do. Considering content creation as part of your business? This isn’t a how-to, but it certainly can give you things to consider before you dive in. In this podcast episode we talk about how we put together the podcast We’ve received a lot of feedback recently about our episodes and we wanted to talk about how we make decisions on what we talk about, who we interview, whether we call folks out on the podcast, and how we edit the episodes. Our Philosophy and Principles for creating content for the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide How to navigate the career as is (tools and strategies to survive in this field) The importance of advocacy in moving forward with our field How to strategically time advocacy for best effect How we take in feedback and respond Responding to Feedback from our Audience on our “What’s New in the DSM-5-TR?” Episode The concern about the Autism diagnosis changes Whether we should have called out Dr. Michael B. First and the impressions of what was said Grappling with the tension between protecting our audience and getting our guests on record and/or advocating for change in the larger systems How people can impact what becomes DSM 6 (and the efforts we are advocating for) The feedback we received and how we sort through it and improve The limits of our capacity Our plans for additional interviews to address the changes A Broader View of the Feedback We Receive on the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Podcast The depth of the conversation and our ability to deepen conversations with additional episodes Audience members anchoring on the title or episode artwork and not looking at the whole episode when pieces of the content resonate in a different way Our Plan Going Forward with the Podcast Advocacy, information, and focus on the profession Not as much of a focus on business building, money mindset, and side hustles Real conversations about the realities of working in this profession Working to leave the profession better than we find it  Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Therapy Reimagined Mission Our Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: What’s New in the DSM-5-TR? A Living Wage for Prelicensees Mission Driven Work Therapists are Not Robots Why You Shouldn’t Sell Out to Better Help Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Healthcare Shortages Mon, 25 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Reflections on Content Creation and the Therapy Profession full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Reflections on Content Creation and the Therapy Profession Curt and Katie chat about our principles and philosophies as they relate to the work we do, including podcast creation. We also reflect on the feedback we’ve received on episodes with large... Reflections on Content Creation and the Therapy Profession Curt and Katie chat about our principles and philosophies as they relate to the work we do, including podcast creation. We also reflect on the feedback we’ve received on episodes with large listenership as well as other typical responses we get to the work we do. Considering content creation as part of your business? This isn’t a how-to, but it certainly can give you things to consider before you dive in. In this podcast episode we talk about how we put together the podcast We’ve received a lot of feedback recently about our episodes and we wanted to talk about how we make decisions on what we talk about, who we interview, whether we call folks out on the podcast, and how we edit the episodes. Our Philosophy and Principles for creating content for the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide How to navigate the career as is (tools and strategies to survive in this field) The importance of advocacy in moving forward with our field How to strategically time advocacy for best effect How we take in feedback and respond Responding to Feedback from our Audience on our “What’s New in the DSM-5-TR?” Episode The concern about the Autism diagnosis changes Whether we should have called out Dr. Michael B. First and the impressions of what was said Grappling with the tension between protecting our audience and getting our guests on record and/or advocating for change in the larger systems How people can impact what becomes DSM 6 (and the efforts we are advocating for) The feedback we received and how we sort through it and improve The limits of our capacity Our plans for additional interviews to address the changes A Broader View of the Feedback We Receive on the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Podcast The depth of the conversation and our ability to deepen conversations with additional episodes Audience members anchoring on the title or episode artwork and not looking at the whole episode when pieces of the content resonate in a different way Our Plan Going Forward with the Podcast Advocacy, information, and focus on the profession Not as much of a focus on business building, money mindset, and side hustles Real conversations about the realities of working in this profession Working to leave the profession better than we find it  Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Therapy Reimagined Mission Our Patreon Buy Me A Coffee Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: What’s New in the DSM-5-TR? A Living Wage for Prelicensees Mission Driven Work Therapists are Not Robots Why You Shouldn’t Sell Out to Better Help Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Healthcare Shortages Reflections on Content Creation and the Therapy Profession

Curt and Katie chat about our principles and philosophies as they relate to the work we do, including podcast creation. We also reflect on the feedback we’ve received on episodes with large listenership as well as other typical responses we get to the work we do. Considering content creation as part of your business? This isn’t a how-to, but it certainly can give you things to consider before you dive in.

In this podcast episode we talk about how we put together the podcast

We’ve received a lot of feedback recently about our episodes and we wanted to talk about how we make decisions on what we talk about, who we interview, whether we call folks out on the podcast, and how we edit the episodes.

Our Philosophy and Principles for creating content for the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

  • How to navigate the career as is (tools and strategies to survive in this field)
  • The importance of advocacy in moving forward with our field
  • How to strategically time advocacy for best effect
  • How we take in feedback and respond

Responding to Feedback from our Audience on our “What’s New in the DSM-5-TR?” Episode

  • The concern about the Autism diagnosis changes
  • Whether we should have called out Dr. Michael B. First and the impressions of what was said
  • Grappling with the tension between protecting our audience and getting our guests on record and/or advocating for change in the larger systems
  • How people can impact what becomes DSM 6 (and the efforts we are advocating for)
  • The feedback we received and how we sort through it and improve
  • The limits of our capacity
  • Our plans for additional interviews to address the changes

A Broader View of the Feedback We Receive on the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Podcast

  • The depth of the conversation and our ability to deepen conversations with additional episodes
  • Audience members anchoring on the title or episode artwork and not looking at the whole episode when pieces of the content resonate in a different way

Our Plan Going Forward with the Podcast

  • Advocacy, information, and focus on the profession
  • Not as much of a focus on business building, money mindset, and side hustles
  • Real conversations about the realities of working in this profession
  • Working to leave the profession better than we find it

 Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

The Therapy Reimagined Mission

Our Patreon

Buy Me A Coffee

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

What’s New in the DSM-5-TR?

A Living Wage for Prelicensees

Mission Driven Work

Therapists are Not Robots

Why You Shouldn’t Sell Out to Better Help

Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Healthcare Shortages

]]> 2127 yes What is Eco Anxiety? An Interview with Dr. Thomas Doherty https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-is-eco-anxiety-an-interview-with-dr-thomas-doherty What is Eco Anxiety? An Interview with Dr. Thomas Doherty Curt and Katie interview Dr. Thomas Doherty about Eco Anxiety. We look at the history of eco anxiety, what therapists should know about the environment, the concept of environmental identity, and how we can support clients with Eco Anxiety in therapy. We look at ways to bring these topics up with our clients as well as empower them to take action. An Interview with Dr. Thomas J. Doherty Thomas is a clinical and environmental psychologist based in Portland, Oregon, USA. His multiple publications on nature and mental health include the groundbreaking paper “The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change,” co-authored by Susan Clayton, cited over 700 times. Thomas is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), Past President of the Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology, and Founding Editor of the academic journal Ecopsychology. Thomas was a member of the APA’s first Task Force on Global Climate Change and founded one of the first environmentally-focused certificate programs for mental health counselors in the US at Lewis & Clark Graduate School. Thomas is originally from Buffalo, New York. In this podcast episode we talk about what therapists should know about Eco Anxiety In preparation for Earth Day, we wanted to understand more about Eco Anxiety and what therapists can do to support our clients and the planet. What is Eco Anxiety? The history of Eco Anxiety, including worry about the use of chemicals, climate change The importance of words, personal experiences, how the client sees the world The diagnoses that align with this area, the types of impacts on clients What Should Therapists Know About the Environment? Resources related to climate change How to explore Environmental Identity Understand our own Environmental Identity The 3 basic psychological impacts from the environment (disaster, chronic, or ambient) The benefits of nature and how people in all environments can access them What is your Environmental Identity? Relationship to the natural world Significant experiences in the outdoors The nuance of bringing these ideas up in Urban areas What “nature” means to each of us How Can We Support Clients with Eco Anxiety in Therapy? Understanding the basics on the environment and climate change Building capacity to be with these issues Reeling in the anxiety, imagination Understanding the waves of emotions and completing the anxiety cycle Giving clients permission to talk about the environment and how to open up the conversations Coping strategies specific to Eco Anxiety Suggestions for activism and what clients can do to improve the environment Helping clients to identify if they are doing enough Where to find resources on environmental efforts How therapists can employ climate awareness in their practices Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Thomas Doherty's Practice Sustainable Self Climate Change and Happiness Podcast Dr. Thomas Doherty’s Consultation and Training Program on the Environment The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change by Thomas J. Doherty and Susan Clayton NY Times: Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room Climate Psychology Alliance Project Draw Down Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: What’s New in the DSM-5-TR with Dr. Michael B. First What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy part 1 What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy part 2 (Law and Ethics) Shared Traumatic Experiences Mon, 18 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What is Eco Anxiety? An Interview with Dr. Thomas Doherty full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What is Eco Anxiety? An Interview with Dr. Thomas Doherty Curt and Katie interview Dr. Thomas Doherty about Eco Anxiety. We look at the history of eco anxiety, what therapists should know about the environment, the concept of environmental... What is Eco Anxiety? An Interview with Dr. Thomas Doherty Curt and Katie interview Dr. Thomas Doherty about Eco Anxiety. We look at the history of eco anxiety, what therapists should know about the environment, the concept of environmental identity, and how we can support clients with Eco Anxiety in therapy. We look at ways to bring these topics up with our clients as well as empower them to take action. An Interview with Dr. Thomas J. Doherty Thomas is a clinical and environmental psychologist based in Portland, Oregon, USA. His multiple publications on nature and mental health include the groundbreaking paper “The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change,” co-authored by Susan Clayton, cited over 700 times. Thomas is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), Past President of the Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology, and Founding Editor of the academic journal Ecopsychology. Thomas was a member of the APA’s first Task Force on Global Climate Change and founded one of the first environmentally-focused certificate programs for mental health counselors in the US at Lewis & Clark Graduate School. Thomas is originally from Buffalo, New York. In this podcast episode we talk about what therapists should know about Eco Anxiety In preparation for Earth Day, we wanted to understand more about Eco Anxiety and what therapists can do to support our clients and the planet. What is Eco Anxiety? The history of Eco Anxiety, including worry about the use of chemicals, climate change The importance of words, personal experiences, how the client sees the world The diagnoses that align with this area, the types of impacts on clients What Should Therapists Know About the Environment? Resources related to climate change How to explore Environmental Identity Understand our own Environmental Identity The 3 basic psychological impacts from the environment (disaster, chronic, or ambient) The benefits of nature and how people in all environments can access them What is your Environmental Identity? Relationship to the natural world Significant experiences in the outdoors The nuance of bringing these ideas up in Urban areas What “nature” means to each of us How Can We Support Clients with Eco Anxiety in Therapy? Understanding the basics on the environment and climate change Building capacity to be with these issues Reeling in the anxiety, imagination Understanding the waves of emotions and completing the anxiety cycle Giving clients permission to talk about the environment and how to open up the conversations Coping strategies specific to Eco Anxiety Suggestions for activism and what clients can do to improve the environment Helping clients to identify if they are doing enough Where to find resources on environmental efforts How therapists can employ climate awareness in their practices Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Thomas Doherty's Practice Sustainable Self Climate Change and Happiness Podcast Dr. Thomas Doherty’s Consultation and Training Program on the Environment The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change by Thomas J. Doherty and Susan Clayton NY Times: Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room Climate Psychology Alliance Project Draw Down Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: What’s New in the DSM-5-TR with Dr. Michael B. First What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy part 1 What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy part 2 (Law and Ethics) Shared Traumatic Experiences What is Eco Anxiety? An Interview with Dr. Thomas Doherty

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Thomas Doherty about Eco Anxiety. We look at the history of eco anxiety, what therapists should know about the environment, the concept of environmental identity, and how we can support clients with Eco Anxiety in therapy. We look at ways to bring these topics up with our clients as well as empower them to take action.

An Interview with Dr. Thomas J. Doherty

Thomas is a clinical and environmental psychologist based in Portland, Oregon, USA. His multiple publications on nature and mental health include the groundbreaking paper “The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change,” co-authored by Susan Clayton, cited over 700 times. Thomas is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), Past President of the Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology, and Founding Editor of the academic journal Ecopsychology. Thomas was a member of the APA’s first Task Force on Global Climate Change and founded one of the first environmentally-focused certificate programs for mental health counselors in the US at Lewis & Clark Graduate School. Thomas is originally from Buffalo, New York.

In this podcast episode we talk about what therapists should know about Eco Anxiety

In preparation for Earth Day, we wanted to understand more about Eco Anxiety and what therapists can do to support our clients and the planet.

What is Eco Anxiety?

  • The history of Eco Anxiety, including worry about the use of chemicals, climate change
  • The importance of words, personal experiences, how the client sees the world
  • The diagnoses that align with this area, the types of impacts on clients

What Should Therapists Know About the Environment?

  • Resources related to climate change
  • How to explore Environmental Identity
  • Understand our own Environmental Identity
  • The 3 basic psychological impacts from the environment (disaster, chronic, or ambient)
  • The benefits of nature and how people in all environments can access them

What is your Environmental Identity?

  • Relationship to the natural world
  • Significant experiences in the outdoors
  • The nuance of bringing these ideas up in Urban areas
  • What “nature” means to each of us

How Can We Support Clients with Eco Anxiety in Therapy?

  • Understanding the basics on the environment and climate change
  • Building capacity to be with these issues
  • Reeling in the anxiety, imagination
  • Understanding the waves of emotions and completing the anxiety cycle
  • Giving clients permission to talk about the environment and how to open up the conversations
  • Coping strategies specific to Eco Anxiety
  • Suggestions for activism and what clients can do to improve the environment
  • Helping clients to identify if they are doing enough
  • Where to find resources on environmental efforts
  • How therapists can employ climate awareness in their practices

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Thomas Doherty's Practice Sustainable Self

Climate Change and Happiness Podcast

Dr. Thomas Doherty’s Consultation and Training Program on the Environment

The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change by Thomas J. Doherty and Susan Clayton

NY Times: Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room

Climate Psychology Alliance

Project Draw Down

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

What’s New in the DSM-5-TR with Dr. Michael B. First

What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy part 1

What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy part 2 (Law and Ethics)

Shared Traumatic Experiences

]]> 2573 no Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapists-are-not-robots-how-we-can-show-humanity-in-the-room Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room Curt and Katie discuss how big life events (a big diagnosis, a huge personal loss, injuries and medical conditions) can show up in the room. We explore how much humanity is okay to share with our clients. How do we decide what we tell our clients (and how do we manage their reactions)? We also look at how we take care of ourselves while also taking care of our clients. Therapists aren't robots, but we certainly need to be aware of our clients when life happens.  In this podcast episode we talk about appropriate self-disclosure practices for modern therapists going through life events As therapists it’s important that we hold a professional exterior during therapy. But can it be helpful to share with clients the big moments in our lives? How can we be human in the room? What are some considerations for therapists when deciding to self-disclose? Showing your humanity can help bond a client with the therapist. Self-disclosure may be different for planned or unplanned life events and whether they come into the room or private/hidden and in the background of your life Deciding when and whether to tell clients Clients often will use the therapist as an example on how to handle big life events. Not all settings are appropriate for therapist disclosure. Clients do not have the same confidentiality requirements as therapists; if you self-disclose to a client, it could be known by others or other treatment team members. In self-disclosing, the therapist will need to process the disclosure with the client. Processing difficult personal material with multiple clients could be difficult for the therapist. How much you disclose will depend on the client, but you might share more with a long-term client than a newer client. Are there ethical considerations for therapists sharing about our lives? There are no BBS outlined ethical considerations for sharing personal disclosures in therapy. The therapeutic environment should encourage a client to question the therapist. The therapeutic environment should encourage clients to participate in self-advocacy. Remember that certain self-disclosures might be triggering for clients; be mindful of what you share with who. Document all ruptures in relationships in your note and what you did to help heal the rupture. Be mindful - clients could be retraumatized or try to care take after a therapist’s disclosure. Not all clients need to know everything; know your population. What should new counselors and therapists know? Therapists are human! Life will continue to affect you even while working. It is important for therapists to take time off when they need it. Ruptures in the therapeutic relationship will happen; it’s all about how you handle it. New counselors often want hard rules for how to act, but it gets easier with experience. The most damage happens from not acknowledging or apologizing for ruptures. When ruptures occur, be honest and accountable to your clients. Sharing our human moments with clients can create a deeper and richer relationship. Don’t forget you don’t have to do this alone – always consult if unsure on disclosures! Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Struggles of the Novice Counselor and Therapist by Thomas M. Skovholt and Michael H. Rønnestad Abstract: Shared Trauma: The Therapist’s Increased Vulnerability by Dr. Karen W. Saakvitne Mon, 11 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room Curt and Katie discuss how big life events (a big diagnosis, a huge personal loss, injuries and medical conditions) can show up in the room. We explore how much humanity is okay to share... Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room Curt and Katie discuss how big life events (a big diagnosis, a huge personal loss, injuries and medical conditions) can show up in the room. We explore how much humanity is okay to share with our clients. How do we decide what we tell our clients (and how do we manage their reactions)? We also look at how we take care of ourselves while also taking care of our clients. Therapists aren't robots, but we certainly need to be aware of our clients when life happens.  In this podcast episode we talk about appropriate self-disclosure practices for modern therapists going through life events As therapists it’s important that we hold a professional exterior during therapy. But can it be helpful to share with clients the big moments in our lives? How can we be human in the room? What are some considerations for therapists when deciding to self-disclose? Showing your humanity can help bond a client with the therapist. Self-disclosure may be different for planned or unplanned life events and whether they come into the room or private/hidden and in the background of your life Deciding when and whether to tell clients Clients often will use the therapist as an example on how to handle big life events. Not all settings are appropriate for therapist disclosure. Clients do not have the same confidentiality requirements as therapists; if you self-disclose to a client, it could be known by others or other treatment team members. In self-disclosing, the therapist will need to process the disclosure with the client. Processing difficult personal material with multiple clients could be difficult for the therapist. How much you disclose will depend on the client, but you might share more with a long-term client than a newer client. Are there ethical considerations for therapists sharing about our lives? There are no BBS outlined ethical considerations for sharing personal disclosures in therapy. The therapeutic environment should encourage a client to question the therapist. The therapeutic environment should encourage clients to participate in self-advocacy. Remember that certain self-disclosures might be triggering for clients; be mindful of what you share with who. Document all ruptures in relationships in your note and what you did to help heal the rupture. Be mindful - clients could be retraumatized or try to care take after a therapist’s disclosure. Not all clients need to know everything; know your population. What should new counselors and therapists know? Therapists are human! Life will continue to affect you even while working. It is important for therapists to take time off when they need it. Ruptures in the therapeutic relationship will happen; it’s all about how you handle it. New counselors often want hard rules for how to act, but it gets easier with experience. The most damage happens from not acknowledging or apologizing for ruptures. When ruptures occur, be honest and accountable to your clients. Sharing our human moments with clients can create a deeper and richer relationship. Don’t forget you don’t have to do this alone – always consult if unsure on disclosures! Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Struggles of the Novice Counselor and Therapist by Thomas M. Skovholt and Michael H. Rønnestad Abstract: Shared Trauma: The Therapist’s Increased Vulnerability by Dr. Karen W. Saakvitne Therapists Are Not Robots: How We Can Show Humanity in the Room

Curt and Katie discuss how big life events (a big diagnosis, a huge personal loss, injuries and medical conditions) can show up in the room. We explore how much humanity is okay to share with our clients. How do we decide what we tell our clients (and how do we manage their reactions)? We also look at how we take care of ourselves while also taking care of our clients. Therapists aren't robots, but we certainly need to be aware of our clients when life happens. 

In this podcast episode we talk about appropriate self-disclosure practices for modern therapists going through life events

As therapists it’s important that we hold a professional exterior during therapy. But can it be helpful to share with clients the big moments in our lives? How can we be human in the room?

What are some considerations for therapists when deciding to self-disclose?

  • Showing your humanity can help bond a client with the therapist.
  • Self-disclosure may be different for planned or unplanned life events and whether they come into the room or private/hidden and in the background of your life
  • Deciding when and whether to tell clients
  • Clients often will use the therapist as an example on how to handle big life events.
  • Not all settings are appropriate for therapist disclosure.
  • Clients do not have the same confidentiality requirements as therapists; if you self-disclose to a client, it could be known by others or other treatment team members.
  • In self-disclosing, the therapist will need to process the disclosure with the client.
  • Processing difficult personal material with multiple clients could be difficult for the therapist.
  • How much you disclose will depend on the client, but you might share more with a long-term client than a newer client.

Are there ethical considerations for therapists sharing about our lives?

  • There are no BBS outlined ethical considerations for sharing personal disclosures in therapy.
  • The therapeutic environment should encourage a client to question the therapist.
  • The therapeutic environment should encourage clients to participate in self-advocacy.
  • Remember that certain self-disclosures might be triggering for clients; be mindful of what you share with who.
  • Document all ruptures in relationships in your note and what you did to help heal the rupture.
  • Be mindful - clients could be retraumatized or try to care take after a therapist’s disclosure.
  • Not all clients need to know everything; know your population.

What should new counselors and therapists know?

  • Therapists are human! Life will continue to affect you even while working.
  • It is important for therapists to take time off when they need it.
  • Ruptures in the therapeutic relationship will happen; it’s all about how you handle it.
  • New counselors often want hard rules for how to act, but it gets easier with experience.
  • The most damage happens from not acknowledging or apologizing for ruptures.
  • When ruptures occur, be honest and accountable to your clients.
  • Sharing our human moments with clients can create a deeper and richer relationship.
  • Don’t forget you don’t have to do this alone – always consult if unsure on disclosures!

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Struggles of the Novice Counselor and Therapist by Thomas M. Skovholt and Michael H. Rønnestad

Abstract: Shared Trauma: The Therapist’s Increased Vulnerability by Dr. Karen W. Saakvitne

]]> 2169 no What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings – Part 2 https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-you-should-know-about-walk-and-talk-therapy-and-other-non-traditional-counseling-settings-part-2 What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings – Part 2 Curt and Katie chat about non-traditional therapy settings like outdoor walk and talk therapy as well as home-based counseling. In the second of a two-part, continuing education podcourse series, we look at law and ethics, accessibility, informed consent, navigating confidentiality, dual relationships, and what therapist might want to consider before getting started. In this continuing education podcast episode, we look at the laws and ethics related to non-traditional therapy settings For our fourth CE-worthy podcourse, we’re looking at the laws and ethics of bringing therapy into non-traditional settings, including walk and talk therapy and home visits. We cover a lot of topics in this episode: Debunking the hesitations of using non-traditional therapy settings Minimizing liability and concerns related to these environments Is it unethical to not consider these environments? Access and payment, including insurance/managed health care concerns and fee setting Unpredictability in the environment Scheduling and permission for services Business practices and systems that support this type of dynamic practice Accessibility of walk & talk and home-based therapies Financial, physical or other types of accessibility (and navigating those) Ways to make sure you clients can access the service and are prepared for the environment Extending boundaries and the consequences of these situations Documentation of any concerns that arise Clinician comfort and preference, do no harm, and do good Informed Consent for non-traditional therapies Client choice and appropriateness, including informed opt-in (and opt out) Health conditions, screening or attestation related to risk and liability Clinician safety and how to talk with your client about these concerns Cancellation policies and back up plans Ability to terminate (both passively and actively) Collaboration and communication Confidentiality when you’re meeting outside of the therapy office Managing the risks of the limits of confidentiality in these other settings Collateral consent forms for additional members of the treatment Release forms for others in the home Co-creating the plan to manage these situations Ideas for how to explain the relationship, if needed Active and passive loss of confidentiality (and how to talk about these risks) Boundaries versus confidentiality (for example where in someone’s home to meet) Documentation and consultation Dual Relationships that can happen during walk and talk or home-based therapies Professional therapy never includes sex Casual nature of the relationship in these settings and the threat of friendship vibes Not all dual relationships are problematic Host/guest dynamics as something to pay attention to, but not necessarily harmful Navigating the potential medical needs of home-bound clients (helping and/or advocating for more help) What therapists should assess before getting started Liability and malpractice Logistics and planning Assessing client vs clinician benefit Assessing competency for these types of services Training, consultation, supervision, documentation Mon, 04 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings – Part 2 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings – Part 2 Curt and Katie chat about non-traditional therapy settings like outdoor walk and talk therapy as well as home-based counseling. In the second of... What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings – Part 2 Curt and Katie chat about non-traditional therapy settings like outdoor walk and talk therapy as well as home-based counseling. In the second of a two-part, continuing education podcourse series, we look at law and ethics, accessibility, informed consent, navigating confidentiality, dual relationships, and what therapist might want to consider before getting started. In this continuing education podcast episode, we look at the laws and ethics related to non-traditional therapy settings For our fourth CE-worthy podcourse, we’re looking at the laws and ethics of bringing therapy into non-traditional settings, including walk and talk therapy and home visits. We cover a lot of topics in this episode: Debunking the hesitations of using non-traditional therapy settings Minimizing liability and concerns related to these environments Is it unethical to not consider these environments? Access and payment, including insurance/managed health care concerns and fee setting Unpredictability in the environment Scheduling and permission for services Business practices and systems that support this type of dynamic practice Accessibility of walk & talk and home-based therapies Financial, physical or other types of accessibility (and navigating those) Ways to make sure you clients can access the service and are prepared for the environment Extending boundaries and the consequences of these situations Documentation of any concerns that arise Clinician comfort and preference, do no harm, and do good Informed Consent for non-traditional therapies Client choice and appropriateness, including informed opt-in (and opt out) Health conditions, screening or attestation related to risk and liability Clinician safety and how to talk with your client about these concerns Cancellation policies and back up plans Ability to terminate (both passively and actively) Collaboration and communication Confidentiality when you’re meeting outside of the therapy office Managing the risks of the limits of confidentiality in these other settings Collateral consent forms for additional members of the treatment Release forms for others in the home Co-creating the plan to manage these situations Ideas for how to explain the relationship, if needed Active and passive loss of confidentiality (and how to talk about these risks) Boundaries versus confidentiality (for example where in someone’s home to meet) Documentation and consultation Dual Relationships that can happen during walk and talk or home-based therapies Professional therapy never includes sex Casual nature of the relationship in these settings and the threat of friendship vibes Not all dual relationships are problematic Host/guest dynamics as something to pay attention to, but not necessarily harmful Navigating the potential medical needs of home-bound clients (helping and/or advocating for more help) What therapists should assess before getting started Liability and malpractice Logistics and planning Assessing client vs clinician benefit Assessing competency for these types of services Training, consultation, supervision, documentation What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings – Part 2

Curt and Katie chat about non-traditional therapy settings like outdoor walk and talk therapy as well as home-based counseling. In the second of a two-part, continuing education podcourse series, we look at law and ethics, accessibility, informed consent, navigating confidentiality, dual relationships, and what therapist might want to consider before getting started.

In this continuing education podcast episode, we look at the laws and ethics related to non-traditional therapy settings

For our fourth CE-worthy podcourse, we’re looking at the laws and ethics of bringing therapy into non-traditional settings, including walk and talk therapy and home visits. We cover a lot of topics in this episode:

Debunking the hesitations of using non-traditional therapy settings

  • Minimizing liability and concerns related to these environments
  • Is it unethical to not consider these environments?
  • Access and payment, including insurance/managed health care concerns and fee setting
  • Unpredictability in the environment
  • Scheduling and permission for services
  • Business practices and systems that support this type of dynamic practice

Accessibility of walk & talk and home-based therapies

  • Financial, physical or other types of accessibility (and navigating those)
  • Ways to make sure you clients can access the service and are prepared for the environment
  • Extending boundaries and the consequences of these situations
  • Documentation of any concerns that arise
  • Clinician comfort and preference, do no harm, and do good

Informed Consent for non-traditional therapies

  • Client choice and appropriateness, including informed opt-in (and opt out)
  • Health conditions, screening or attestation related to risk and liability
  • Clinician safety and how to talk with your client about these concerns
  • Cancellation policies and back up plans
  • Ability to terminate (both passively and actively)
  • Collaboration and communication

Confidentiality when you’re meeting outside of the therapy office

  • Managing the risks of the limits of confidentiality in these other settings
  • Collateral consent forms for additional members of the treatment
  • Release forms for others in the home
  • Co-creating the plan to manage these situations
  • Ideas for how to explain the relationship, if needed
  • Active and passive loss of confidentiality (and how to talk about these risks)
  • Boundaries versus confidentiality (for example where in someone’s home to meet)
  • Documentation and consultation

Dual Relationships that can happen during walk and talk or home-based therapies

  • Professional therapy never includes sex
  • Casual nature of the relationship in these settings and the threat of friendship vibes
  • Not all dual relationships are problematic
  • Host/guest dynamics as something to pay attention to, but not necessarily harmful
  • Navigating the potential medical needs of home-bound clients (helping and/or advocating for more help)

What therapists should assess before getting started

  • Liability and malpractice
  • Logistics and planning
  • Assessing client vs clinician benefit
  • Assessing competency for these types of services
  • Training, consultation, supervision, documentation
]]> 4025 no What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-you-should-know-about-walk-and-talk-therapy-and-other-non-traditional-counseling-settings What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings Curt and Katie chat about non-traditional therapy settings like outdoor walk and talk therapy as well as home-based counseling. In the first of a two-part, continuing education podcourse series, we look at the basics, including why therapists should consider these settings (and may not), clinical and cultural considerations, and best practices. In this continuing education podcast episode, we look at non-traditional therapy settings For our third CE-worthy podcourse, we’re looking at the basics of bringing therapy into non-traditional settings, including walk and talk therapy and home visits. We cover a lot of topics in this episode: What are non-traditional therapy settings? The focus of this episode is walk and talk and home-based therapy Client’s locations like home, school, or work; community-based settings Anything beyond the typical therapy office or telehealth settings are worthy of consideration Creativity and collaboration in creating the space How different the therapy can be when opening up more settings as possibilities Why should therapists consider these non-traditional therapy settings? Logistical considerations that can lead to these settings being the ideal choice (or only choice) Clinical indications that walk and talk or home-based therapy is a better choice The impact on changing settings on the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic work Specific modalities that are best served by client-centered spaces Assessment, treatment teaming How access, attendance, and attrition are impacted The therapeutic impact of the settings and movement What are the hesitations therapists have in considering alternative settings for therapy? The challenges in creating systems and managing the logistics Lack of alignment with the medical model Lack of training and guidance Legal and Ethical considerations (that will be talked about in next week’s episode) What are the clinical and cultural considerations when doing therapy outside or in someone’s home? Navigating the shifting relationship and boundaries Cultural differences between therapist and client, and assumptions made about the relationship The importance of leading the conversation about these relationships Hospitality and others who may be present at a client’s home The unusual space, the level of confidentiality, and emotional containment and depth of conversation Treatment planning based on where you meet and how the client interacts with the space The importance of the clinician holding the therapeutic space and attention Creating the space and the contract for how therapy will happen Cultural norms for the activities and for the client and family – more complexity to discuss Clinical How-To for Non-traditional Settings Assessment considerations Client and clinician characteristics Alignment with treatment goals and presenting concerns Presenting issues can vary and assessment can be important Initial assessment appointments and making the decision early in treatment Treatment Formulation related to active versus passive interaction with the space The importance of true informed consent and the dynamic nature of process contracting Introducing predictability Risk assessment Knowing your scope and what types of professionals you might consider consulting Mon, 28 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000 What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings Curt and Katie chat about non-traditional therapy settings like outdoor walk and talk therapy as well as home-based counseling. In the first of a two-part,... What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings Curt and Katie chat about non-traditional therapy settings like outdoor walk and talk therapy as well as home-based counseling. In the first of a two-part, continuing education podcourse series, we look at the basics, including why therapists should consider these settings (and may not), clinical and cultural considerations, and best practices. In this continuing education podcast episode, we look at non-traditional therapy settings For our third CE-worthy podcourse, we’re looking at the basics of bringing therapy into non-traditional settings, including walk and talk therapy and home visits. We cover a lot of topics in this episode: What are non-traditional therapy settings? The focus of this episode is walk and talk and home-based therapy Client’s locations like home, school, or work; community-based settings Anything beyond the typical therapy office or telehealth settings are worthy of consideration Creativity and collaboration in creating the space How different the therapy can be when opening up more settings as possibilities Why should therapists consider these non-traditional therapy settings? Logistical considerations that can lead to these settings being the ideal choice (or only choice) Clinical indications that walk and talk or home-based therapy is a better choice The impact on changing settings on the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic work Specific modalities that are best served by client-centered spaces Assessment, treatment teaming How access, attendance, and attrition are impacted The therapeutic impact of the settings and movement What are the hesitations therapists have in considering alternative settings for therapy? The challenges in creating systems and managing the logistics Lack of alignment with the medical model Lack of training and guidance Legal and Ethical considerations (that will be talked about in next week’s episode) What are the clinical and cultural considerations when doing therapy outside or in someone’s home? Navigating the shifting relationship and boundaries Cultural differences between therapist and client, and assumptions made about the relationship The importance of leading the conversation about these relationships Hospitality and others who may be present at a client’s home The unusual space, the level of confidentiality, and emotional containment and depth of conversation Treatment planning based on where you meet and how the client interacts with the space The importance of the clinician holding the therapeutic space and attention Creating the space and the contract for how therapy will happen Cultural norms for the activities and for the client and family – more complexity to discuss Clinical How-To for Non-traditional Settings Assessment considerations Client and clinician characteristics Alignment with treatment goals and presenting concerns Presenting issues can vary and assessment can be important Initial assessment appointments and making the decision early in treatment Treatment Formulation related to active versus passive interaction with the space The importance of true informed consent and the dynamic nature of process contracting Introducing predictability Risk assessment Knowing your scope and what types of professionals you might consider consulting What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy and Other Non-Traditional Counseling Settings

Curt and Katie chat about non-traditional therapy settings like outdoor walk and talk therapy as well as home-based counseling. In the first of a two-part, continuing education podcourse series, we look at the basics, including why therapists should consider these settings (and may not), clinical and cultural considerations, and best practices.

In this continuing education podcast episode, we look at non-traditional therapy settings

For our third CE-worthy podcourse, we’re looking at the basics of bringing therapy into non-traditional settings, including walk and talk therapy and home visits. We cover a lot of topics in this episode:

What are non-traditional therapy settings?

  • The focus of this episode is walk and talk and home-based therapy
  • Client’s locations like home, school, or work; community-based settings
  • Anything beyond the typical therapy office or telehealth settings are worthy of consideration
  • Creativity and collaboration in creating the space
  • How different the therapy can be when opening up more settings as possibilities

Why should therapists consider these non-traditional therapy settings?

  • Logistical considerations that can lead to these settings being the ideal choice (or only choice)
  • Clinical indications that walk and talk or home-based therapy is a better choice
  • The impact on changing settings on the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic work
  • Specific modalities that are best served by client-centered spaces
  • Assessment, treatment teaming
  • How access, attendance, and attrition are impacted
  • The therapeutic impact of the settings and movement

What are the hesitations therapists have in considering alternative settings for therapy?

  • The challenges in creating systems and managing the logistics
  • Lack of alignment with the medical model
  • Lack of training and guidance
  • Legal and Ethical considerations (that will be talked about in next week’s episode)

What are the clinical and cultural considerations when doing therapy outside or in someone’s home?

  • Navigating the shifting relationship and boundaries
  • Cultural differences between therapist and client, and assumptions made about the relationship
  • The importance of leading the conversation about these relationships
  • Hospitality and others who may be present at a client’s home
  • The unusual space, the level of confidentiality, and emotional containment and depth of conversation
  • Treatment planning based on where you meet and how the client interacts with the space
  • The importance of the clinician holding the therapeutic space and attention
  • Creating the space and the contract for how therapy will happen
  • Cultural norms for the activities and for the client and family – more complexity to discuss

Clinical How-To for Non-traditional Settings

  • Assessment considerations
  • Client and clinician characteristics
  • Alignment with treatment goals and presenting concerns
  • Presenting issues can vary and assessment can be important
  • Initial assessment appointments and making the decision early in treatment
  • Treatment Formulation related to active versus passive interaction with the space
  • The importance of true informed consent and the dynamic nature of process contracting
  • Introducing predictability
  • Risk assessment
  • Knowing your scope and what types of professionals you might consider consulting
]]> 4024 no Now Modern Therapists Need to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes?!? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/now-modern-therapists-need-to-document-every-fcking-thing-in-our-progress-notes Now Modern Therapists Need to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes?!? Curt and Katie discuss a recent citation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to a therapist for cursing while in session. We explore: How do we document ruptures during the therapy session? Is the BBS over-reaching by controlling what therapists document? What are the best practices for note taking? All of this and more in the episode. In this podcast episode we talk about appropriate documentation practices for modern therapists As therapists it’s important that we take accurate notes. But what is important to include in the notes, and how much should we really be documenting? Wait – Is it alright to use curse words in session? Therapists should be first and foremost aware of the client and their potential reaction. Note the therapeutic relationship with the client, their history, and how the client empowers themself when making language selections. If considering using casual language, consider the client’s vernacular. Follow the client’s lead when it comes to their language in session, including cursing. The BBS has no specific statute related to cursing or swearing. What should modern therapists document in clinical notes? It is important to document any bold interventions or ruptures in the therapeutic relationship and repair attempts for ruptures. In note taking, it is important to follow the clinical loop: assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan, intervention, use of intervention, and the client’s reaction and progress. Your notes will be a balance of covering your liability and creating notes that help you remember the session. Therapists should consider documenting the use of any language that could be deemed not clinically appropriate, even positive statements like “I’m proud of you,” or “Yes, my dear.” Does the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) outline what we should say in our notes? In the 300-page PDF outlining the statutes for LPCCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and Educational Psychologists, notes are only mentioned 10 times. There is no mention in the statutes of what can be said and what can’t be said in notes. Some agencies and institutions will stress writing very little to ensure protection from liability, but as this citation showcases, this might not be best practice. The BBS wants to ensure the protection of clients and you might need to justify your words, just as you would justify the use of an intervention. This is a reminder that the BBS can and do look at therapist’s notes. Support The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide on Patreon! If you love our content and would like to bring the conversations deeper, please support us on our Patreon. For as little as $2 per month we're able to bring you more content, exclusive offerings, and more opportunities to engage in our growing modern therapist community. These contributions help us to expand our offerings for continuing education events and a whole lot more. If you don't think you can make a monthly contribution – no worries – we also have a buy me a coffee profile for one-time donations support us at whatever level you can today it really helps us out. You can find us at patreon.com/mtsgpodcast or buymeacoffee.com/moderntherapist. Thanks everyone. Mon, 21 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000 Now Modern Therapists Need to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes?!? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Now Modern Therapists Need to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes?!? Curt and Katie discuss a recent citation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to a therapist for cursing while in session. We explore: How do we... Now Modern Therapists Need to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes?!? Curt and Katie discuss a recent citation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to a therapist for cursing while in session. We explore: How do we document ruptures during the therapy session? Is the BBS over-reaching by controlling what therapists document? What are the best practices for note taking? All of this and more in the episode. In this podcast episode we talk about appropriate documentation practices for modern therapists As therapists it’s important that we take accurate notes. But what is important to include in the notes, and how much should we really be documenting? Wait – Is it alright to use curse words in session? Therapists should be first and foremost aware of the client and their potential reaction. Note the therapeutic relationship with the client, their history, and how the client empowers themself when making language selections. If considering using casual language, consider the client’s vernacular. Follow the client’s lead when it comes to their language in session, including cursing. The BBS has no specific statute related to cursing or swearing. What should modern therapists document in clinical notes? It is important to document any bold interventions or ruptures in the therapeutic relationship and repair attempts for ruptures. In note taking, it is important to follow the clinical loop: assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan, intervention, use of intervention, and the client’s reaction and progress. Your notes will be a balance of covering your liability and creating notes that help you remember the session. Therapists should consider documenting the use of any language that could be deemed not clinically appropriate, even positive statements like “I’m proud of you,” or “Yes, my dear.” Does the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) outline what we should say in our notes? In the 300-page PDF outlining the statutes for LPCCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and Educational Psychologists, notes are only mentioned 10 times. There is no mention in the statutes of what can be said and what can’t be said in notes. Some agencies and institutions will stress writing very little to ensure protection from liability, but as this citation showcases, this might not be best practice. The BBS wants to ensure the protection of clients and you might need to justify your words, just as you would justify the use of an intervention. This is a reminder that the BBS can and do look at therapist’s notes. Support The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide on Patreon! If you love our content and would like to bring the conversations deeper, please support us on our Patreon. For as little as $2 per month we're able to bring you more content, exclusive offerings, and more opportunities to engage in our growing modern therapist community. These contributions help us to expand our offerings for continuing education events and a whole lot more. If you don't think you can make a monthly contribution – no worries – we also have a buy me a coffee profile for one-time donations support us at whatever level you can today it really helps us out. You can find us at patreon.com/mtsgpodcast or buymeacoffee.com/moderntherapist. Thanks everyone. Now Modern Therapists Need to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes?!?

Curt and Katie discuss a recent citation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to a therapist for cursing while in session. We explore: How do we document ruptures during the therapy session? Is the BBS over-reaching by controlling what therapists document? What are the best practices for note taking? All of this and more in the episode.

In this podcast episode we talk about appropriate documentation practices for modern therapists

As therapists it’s important that we take accurate notes. But what is important to include in the notes, and how much should we really be documenting?

Wait – Is it alright to use curse words in session?

  • Therapists should be first and foremost aware of the client and their potential reaction.
  • Note the therapeutic relationship with the client, their history, and how the client empowers themself when making language selections.
  • If considering using casual language, consider the client’s vernacular.
  • Follow the client’s lead when it comes to their language in session, including cursing.
  • The BBS has no specific statute related to cursing or swearing.

What should modern therapists document in clinical notes?

  • It is important to document any bold interventions or ruptures in the therapeutic relationship and repair attempts for ruptures.
  • In note taking, it is important to follow the clinical loop: assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan, intervention, use of intervention, and the client’s reaction and progress.
  • Your notes will be a balance of covering your liability and creating notes that help you remember the session.
  • Therapists should consider documenting the use of any language that could be deemed not clinically appropriate, even positive statements like “I’m proud of you,” or “Yes, my dear.”

Does the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) outline what we should say in our notes?

  • In the 300-page PDF outlining the statutes for LPCCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and Educational Psychologists, notes are only mentioned 10 times.
  • There is no mention in the statutes of what can be said and what can’t be said in notes.
  • Some agencies and institutions will stress writing very little to ensure protection from liability, but as this citation showcases, this might not be best practice.
  • The BBS wants to ensure the protection of clients and you might need to justify your words, just as you would justify the use of an intervention.
  • This is a reminder that the BBS can and do look at therapist’s notes.

Support The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide on Patreon!

If you love our content and would like to bring the conversations deeper, please support us on our Patreon. For as little as $2 per month we're able to bring you more content, exclusive offerings, and more opportunities to engage in our growing modern therapist community. These contributions help us to expand our offerings for continuing education events and a whole lot more. If you don't think you can make a monthly contribution – no worries – we also have a buy me a coffee profile for one-time donations support us at whatever level you can today it really helps us out. You can find us at patreon.com/mtsgpodcast or buymeacoffee.com/moderntherapist. Thanks everyone.

]]> 2182 no Do Therapists Curse in Session? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/do-therapists-curse-in-session Do Therapists Curse in Session? Curt and Katie discuss a recent citation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to a therapist for cursing while in session. We explore: Can therapists swear in session? Should they? Are there times when cursing is appropriate in session? Are therapists allowed to make errors without the fear of citation from their board? We explore these and more in this episode.  In this podcast episode we talk about the ethics and responsibilities of cursing in session. After hearing about the citation for a clinician who had cursed in session, we wanted to explore what is acceptable related to using curse words in session. We know as therapists that what we say matters, and now more than ever our choice of language matters. Who is allowed to curse in the therapy room? We tackle this question in depth: Is swearing or cursing ever appropriate in session? Both Curt and Katie swear in session when appropriate Swearing in session can create a more authentic therapeutic rapport with some clients Sometimes clients will ask for permission to swear in session Follow the client’s lead when it comes to their language in session, including cursing It is mostly important to reflect the client’s language without judgement Clients might be looking for more humanity in their therapists Therapists are people; curses can slip out when therapists feel depleted and without resource Cursing based on your own humanity can cause therapeutic rupture and clinicians should be mindful of the therapeutic alliance and make repair attempts What does the research show us about swearing? Some research suggests that cursing out loud decreases pain “Professional language” is often rooted in whiteness with a goal of excluding people of color When not accurately reflecting a client’s language, you run the risk of editing them Swearing speech is primarily meant to convey connotative or emotional meaning with emphasis What do professional organizations say now about cursing in session? The BBS recently cited a therapist for swearing in session as unprofessional language Only one professional organization, The National Association of Social Workers, officially bars cursing in session – specifically derogatory language Swearing speech is primarily meant to convey connotative or emotional meaning with emphasis Therapists have a responsibility to make sure they are emotionally equipped to deal with clients Is there an ideal language for therapists to use? … I caution against blanket rules. – Curt Widhalm Slurs are never acceptable to use during session, especially when there are cultural differences between client and therapist Considerations related to expressing your humanity, using curse words, and the clients you see Ethically, we have guidelines of client beneficence and avoiding maleficence, meaning don’t harm the client Technically cursing is allowed, but only with reason and while remembering that some folks are litigious Support The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide on Patreon! If you love our content and would like to bring the conversations deeper, please support us on our Patreon. For as little as $2 per month we're able to bring you more content, exclusive offerings, and more opportunities to engage in our growing modern therapist community. These contributions help us to expand our offerings for continuing education events and a whole lot more. If you don't think you can make a monthly contribution – no worries – we also have a buy me a coffee profile for one time donations support us at whatever level you can today it really helps us out. You can find us at patreon.com/mtsgpodcast or buymeacoffee.com/moderntherapist. Thanks everyone. Mon, 14 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Do Therapists Curse in Session? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Do Therapists Curse in Session? Curt and Katie discuss a recent citation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to a therapist for cursing while in session. We explore: Can therapists swear in session? Should they? Are there times when... Do Therapists Curse in Session? Curt and Katie discuss a recent citation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to a therapist for cursing while in session. We explore: Can therapists swear in session? Should they? Are there times when cursing is appropriate in session? Are therapists allowed to make errors without the fear of citation from their board? We explore these and more in this episode.  In this podcast episode we talk about the ethics and responsibilities of cursing in session. After hearing about the citation for a clinician who had cursed in session, we wanted to explore what is acceptable related to using curse words in session. We know as therapists that what we say matters, and now more than ever our choice of language matters. Who is allowed to curse in the therapy room? We tackle this question in depth: Is swearing or cursing ever appropriate in session? Both Curt and Katie swear in session when appropriate Swearing in session can create a more authentic therapeutic rapport with some clients Sometimes clients will ask for permission to swear in session Follow the client’s lead when it comes to their language in session, including cursing It is mostly important to reflect the client’s language without judgement Clients might be looking for more humanity in their therapists Therapists are people; curses can slip out when therapists feel depleted and without resource Cursing based on your own humanity can cause therapeutic rupture and clinicians should be mindful of the therapeutic alliance and make repair attempts What does the research show us about swearing? Some research suggests that cursing out loud decreases pain “Professional language” is often rooted in whiteness with a goal of excluding people of color When not accurately reflecting a client’s language, you run the risk of editing them Swearing speech is primarily meant to convey connotative or emotional meaning with emphasis What do professional organizations say now about cursing in session? The BBS recently cited a therapist for swearing in session as unprofessional language Only one professional organization, The National Association of Social Workers, officially bars cursing in session – specifically derogatory language Swearing speech is primarily meant to convey connotative or emotional meaning with emphasis Therapists have a responsibility to make sure they are emotionally equipped to deal with clients Is there an ideal language for therapists to use? … I caution against blanket rules. – Curt Widhalm Slurs are never acceptable to use during session, especially when there are cultural differences between client and therapist Considerations related to expressing your humanity, using curse words, and the clients you see Ethically, we have guidelines of client beneficence and avoiding maleficence, meaning don’t harm the client Technically cursing is allowed, but only with reason and while remembering that some folks are litigious Support The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide on Patreon! If you love our content and would like to bring the conversations deeper, please support us on our Patreon. For as little as $2 per month we're able to bring you more content, exclusive offerings, and more opportunities to engage in our growing modern therapist community. These contributions help us to expand our offerings for continuing education events and a whole lot more. If you don't think you can make a monthly contribution – no worries – we also have a buy me a coffee profile for one time donations support us at whatever level you can today it really helps us out. You can find us at patreon.com/mtsgpodcast or buymeacoffee.com/moderntherapist. Thanks everyone. Do Therapists Curse in Session?

Curt and Katie discuss a recent citation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to a therapist for cursing while in session. We explore: Can therapists swear in session? Should they? Are there times when cursing is appropriate in session? Are therapists allowed to make errors without the fear of citation from their board? We explore these and more in this episode. 

In this podcast episode we talk about the ethics and responsibilities of cursing in session.

After hearing about the citation for a clinician who had cursed in session, we wanted to explore what is acceptable related to using curse words in session. We know as therapists that what we say matters, and now more than ever our choice of language matters. Who is allowed to curse in the therapy room? We tackle this question in depth:

Is swearing or cursing ever appropriate in session?

  • Both Curt and Katie swear in session when appropriate
  • Swearing in session can create a more authentic therapeutic rapport with some clients
  • Sometimes clients will ask for permission to swear in session
  • Follow the client’s lead when it comes to their language in session, including cursing
  • It is mostly important to reflect the client’s language without judgement
  • Clients might be looking for more humanity in their therapists
  • Therapists are people; curses can slip out when therapists feel depleted and without resource
  • Cursing based on your own humanity can cause therapeutic rupture and clinicians should be mindful of the therapeutic alliance and make repair attempts

What does the research show us about swearing?

  • Some research suggests that cursing out loud decreases pain
  • “Professional language” is often rooted in whiteness with a goal of excluding people of color
  • When not accurately reflecting a client’s language, you run the risk of editing them
  • Swearing speech is primarily meant to convey connotative or emotional meaning with emphasis

What do professional organizations say now about cursing in session?

  • The BBS recently cited a therapist for swearing in session as unprofessional language
  • Only one professional organization, The National Association of Social Workers, officially bars cursing in session – specifically derogatory language
  • Swearing speech is primarily meant to convey connotative or emotional meaning with emphasis
  • Therapists have a responsibility to make sure they are emotionally equipped to deal with clients

Is there an ideal language for therapists to use? … I caution against blanket rules. – Curt Widhalm

  • Slurs are never acceptable to use during session, especially when there are cultural differences between client and therapist
  • Considerations related to expressing your humanity, using curse words, and the clients you see
  • Ethically, we have guidelines of client beneficence and avoiding maleficence, meaning don’t harm the client
  • Technically cursing is allowed, but only with reason and while remembering that some folks are litigious

Support The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide on Patreon!

If you love our content and would like to bring the conversations deeper, please support us on our Patreon. For as little as $2 per month we're able to bring you more content, exclusive offerings, and more opportunities to engage in our growing modern therapist community. These contributions help us to expand our offerings for continuing education events and a whole lot more. If you don't think you can make a monthly contribution – no worries – we also have a buy me a coffee profile for one time donations support us at whatever level you can today it really helps us out. You can find us at patreon.com/mtsgpodcast or buymeacoffee.com/moderntherapist. Thanks everyone.

]]> 2043 yes Thriving Over Surviving: Growing a Practice without Burn Out https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/thriving-over-surviving-growing-a-practice-without-burn-out Thriving Over Surviving: Growing a Practice without Burn Out Curt and Katie interview Megan Gunnell, LMSW, coach, and Founder and Director of Thriving Well Institute. We explore: What changes are therapists facing as they grow their practice in the telehealth age? How do therapists scale their businesses and what should they be aware of? Can a therapist and their practice thrive, or does something have to give? All of this and more in the episode. Interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW and Founder & Director of Thriving Well Institute Megan Gunnell LMSW, is Founder and Director of Thriving Well Institute which aids therapist in building the private practices of their dreams. Megan offers a series of courses and individual coaching to aid therapists in expanding their private practices through building group therapy programs, building online courses, creating in person retreats, and even how to build a group practice. Megan teaches therapists how to build not only their practices but themselves up. Megan has been a practicing clinician for over 20 years working as an individual therapist in addition to her coaching and advisory work. Megan started her work as a music therapist, a passion which she still carries to this day.  In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can build their practices without burning out. With the increase in telehealth therapy options, therapists are confronted with a unique problem. How does a therapist build their practice with so many therapeutic options out there, while simultaneously avoiding burn out? Curt and Katie connect with Megan Gunnell to discuss how therapists can make sure they, and their practices, thrive. How can therapists’ network as telehealth therapists? Your potential client base has now become the whole state. Focus on designing your online real estate and increase your SEO. Joining local Facebook groups of therapists can help expand your referral base. Speak to specific client issues on your website that you specialize in. Avoid template and more generalized language in websites and marketing material. Make your website unique but clear in what you work with. What is scaling and how does it avoid burn out? For many therapists, caseloads have increased dramatically over the past couple years Scaling is more about pivoting than it is creating passive income. Looking to expand your practice into a group practice can help alleviate referral loads. Some therapists can avoid burn out by diversifying their workload and reintegrating natural talents such as creativity. Getting into community, especially with other therapists, is a great way to avoid burn out. There is still a need for single-focus private practices. What can therapists do to scale their businesses? Be in tune with out motivated you are to scale your business; ask how committed am I? Consistency is key. Have a willingness to make mistakes and take risks. Don’t be afraid of failing; use moments of failure to motivate you. Be open to learning new things like tech, marketing, or automation. Be realistic of your capacity to take on learning sometimes complicated or frustrating systems that might help your business. Don’t be afraid of showing who you are as a person as you build out your practice. It can be scary to expand your practice, and many therapists want assurance, but there is no one way to expand – it’s individual to your unique practice. It can take support to expand your practice; reach out to your community for help. Mon, 07 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Thriving Over Surviving: Growing a Practice without Burn Out. An interview Megan Gunnell. full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Megan Gunnell, LMSW, coach, and Founder and Director of Thriving Well Institute. Thriving Over Surviving: Growing a Practice without Burn Out Curt and Katie interview Megan Gunnell, LMSW, coach, and Founder and Director of Thriving Well Institute. We explore: What changes are therapists facing as they grow their practice in the telehealth age? How do therapists scale their businesses and what should they be aware of? Can a therapist and their practice thrive, or does something have to give? All of this and more in the episode. Interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW and Founder & Director of Thriving Well Institute Megan Gunnell LMSW, is Founder and Director of Thriving Well Institute which aids therapist in building the private practices of their dreams. Megan offers a series of courses and individual coaching to aid therapists in expanding their private practices through building group therapy programs, building online courses, creating in person retreats, and even how to build a group practice. Megan teaches therapists how to build not only their practices but themselves up. Megan has been a practicing clinician for over 20 years working as an individual therapist in addition to her coaching and advisory work. Megan started her work as a music therapist, a passion which she still carries to this day.  In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can build their practices without burning out. With the increase in telehealth therapy options, therapists are confronted with a unique problem. How does a therapist build their practice with so many therapeutic options out there, while simultaneously avoiding burn out? Curt and Katie connect with Megan Gunnell to discuss how therapists can make sure they, and their practices, thrive. How can therapists’ network as telehealth therapists? Your potential client base has now become the whole state. Focus on designing your online real estate and increase your SEO. Joining local Facebook groups of therapists can help expand your referral base. Speak to specific client issues on your website that you specialize in. Avoid template and more generalized language in websites and marketing material. Make your website unique but clear in what you work with. What is scaling and how does it avoid burn out? For many therapists, caseloads have increased dramatically over the past couple years Scaling is more about pivoting than it is creating passive income. Looking to expand your practice into a group practice can help alleviate referral loads. Some therapists can avoid burn out by diversifying their workload and reintegrating natural talents such as creativity. Getting into community, especially with other therapists, is a great way to avoid burn out. There is still a need for single-focus private practices. What can therapists do to scale their businesses? Be in tune with out motivated you are to scale your business; ask how committed am I? Consistency is key. Have a willingness to make mistakes and take risks. Don’t be afraid of failing; use moments of failure to motivate you. Be open to learning new things like tech, marketing, or automation. Be realistic of your capacity to take on learning sometimes complicated or frustrating systems that might help your business. Don’t be afraid of showing who you are as a person as you build out your practice. It can be scary to expand your practice, and many therapists want assurance, but there is no one way to expand – it’s individual to your unique practice. It can take support to expand your practice; reach out to your community for help. Thriving Over Surviving: Growing a Practice without Burn Out

Curt and Katie interview Megan Gunnell, LMSW, coach, and Founder and Director of Thriving Well Institute. We explore: What changes are therapists facing as they grow their practice in the telehealth age? How do therapists scale their businesses and what should they be aware of? Can a therapist and their practice thrive, or does something have to give? All of this and more in the episode.

Interview with Megan Gunnell, LMSW and Founder & Director of Thriving Well Institute

Megan Gunnell LMSW, is Founder and Director of Thriving Well Institute which aids therapist in building the private practices of their dreams. Megan offers a series of courses and individual coaching to aid therapists in expanding their private practices through building group therapy programs, building online courses, creating in person retreats, and even how to build a group practice. Megan teaches therapists how to build not only their practices but themselves up. Megan has been a practicing clinician for over 20 years working as an individual therapist in addition to her coaching and advisory work. Megan started her work as a music therapist, a passion which she still carries to this day. 

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can build their practices without burning out.

With the increase in telehealth therapy options, therapists are confronted with a unique problem. How does a therapist build their practice with so many therapeutic options out there, while simultaneously avoiding burn out? Curt and Katie connect with Megan Gunnell to discuss how therapists can make sure they, and their practices, thrive.

How can therapists’ network as telehealth therapists?

  • Your potential client base has now become the whole state.
  • Focus on designing your online real estate and increase your SEO.
  • Joining local Facebook groups of therapists can help expand your referral base.
  • Speak to specific client issues on your website that you specialize in.
  • Avoid template and more generalized language in websites and marketing material.
  • Make your website unique but clear in what you work with.

What is scaling and how does it avoid burn out?

  • For many therapists, caseloads have increased dramatically over the past couple years
  • Scaling is more about pivoting than it is creating passive income.
  • Looking to expand your practice into a group practice can help alleviate referral loads.
  • Some therapists can avoid burn out by diversifying their workload and reintegrating natural talents such as creativity.
  • Getting into community, especially with other therapists, is a great way to avoid burn out.
  • There is still a need for single-focus private practices.

What can therapists do to scale their businesses?

  • Be in tune with out motivated you are to scale your business; ask how committed am I?
  • Consistency is key.
  • Have a willingness to make mistakes and take risks.
  • Don’t be afraid of failing; use moments of failure to motivate you.
  • Be open to learning new things like tech, marketing, or automation.
  • Be realistic of your capacity to take on learning sometimes complicated or frustrating systems that might help your business.
  • Don’t be afraid of showing who you are as a person as you build out your practice.
  • It can be scary to expand your practice, and many therapists want assurance, but there is no one way to expand – it’s individual to your unique practice.
  • It can take support to expand your practice; reach out to your community for help.
]]> 2334 no What’s New in the DSM-5-TR? An interview with Dr. Michael B. First https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/whats-new-in-the-dsm-5-tr-an-interview-with-dr-michael-b-first What’s New in the DSM-5-TR? Curt and Katie interview Dr. Michael B. First, MD, editor and co-chair of the American Psychiatric Associations’ DSM-5 Text revision, coming out March 2022. We explore: What are the differences between a full update and a text revision? What changes have been made (and how were these changes decided)? What new diagnoses can we expect? Can clinicians continue to use the older DSM-5? How can clinicians advocate for changes in future versions of the DSM? All of this and more in the episode. Interview with Dr. Michael B. First, MD What changes have been made in the new DSM-5-TR? Text revisions occur to avoid letting the text become stale while supporting ongoing updates. New disorders, specifically Prolonged Grief Disorder, have been added. New codes, modeled off symptom codes, created for documenting suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury with another diagnosis. New categories of Unspecified Mood Disorder. New Criteria set for Autism Spectrum Disorder which is more conservative. How are cultural differences addressed in the DSM-5-TR? Starting with DSM-IV, there has been a special committee created for culture and culture related issues Hypothetically, the criteria sets should apply to everyone, but in the text, there is a section on Culture Related Features which is more specific. The impact of the George Floyd protests inspired the creation of a new committee to look for systemic racism, lack of nuances, and prevalence issues within the DSM. There are conflicting opinions if “transness” should be included in the DSM and if it’s even a mental disorder. As the DSM is a diagnostic tool to code for insurance, the DSM takes the stance that the Gender Dysphoria diagnosis stay included so individuals can have access to medical intervention and treatment. The Steering Committee for new diagnosis is small, but there is diversity. Before a diagnosis is approved, it is posted for 45 days on the DSM website for all, including people with lived experience, to comment and advocate for diversity What is the Process for Accepting New Diagnose? The steering committee accepts proposals through the DSM portal for new diagnosis Some diagnoses are qualified based on the United States’ continued use of ICD-10, whereas the ICD-11 is more progressive. With Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, some of the criteria from the ICD have been incorporated into the DSM diagnosis of PTSD Proposals are floated around often, but they often don’t have enough empirical research yet. Proposals need to show a pool of patients who don’t fit other diagnoses, a gap in treatment, and a difference from other possible similar diagnoses. New diagnoses will be approved on a continuum, making the electronic DSM-V-TR the most up to date resource. Mon, 28 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0000 What’s New in the DSM-5-TR? An interview with Dr. Michael B. First full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What’s New in the DSM-5-TR? Curt and Katie interview Dr. Michael B. First, MD, editor and co-chair of the American Psychiatric Associations’ DSM-5 Text revision, coming out March 2022. We explore: What are the differences between a full update and... What’s New in the DSM-5-TR? Curt and Katie interview Dr. Michael B. First, MD, editor and co-chair of the American Psychiatric Associations’ DSM-5 Text revision, coming out March 2022. We explore: What are the differences between a full update and a text revision? What changes have been made (and how were these changes decided)? What new diagnoses can we expect? Can clinicians continue to use the older DSM-5? How can clinicians advocate for changes in future versions of the DSM? All of this and more in the episode. Interview with Dr. Michael B. First, MD What changes have been made in the new DSM-5-TR? Text revisions occur to avoid letting the text become stale while supporting ongoing updates. New disorders, specifically Prolonged Grief Disorder, have been added. New codes, modeled off symptom codes, created for documenting suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury with another diagnosis. New categories of Unspecified Mood Disorder. New Criteria set for Autism Spectrum Disorder which is more conservative. How are cultural differences addressed in the DSM-5-TR? Starting with DSM-IV, there has been a special committee created for culture and culture related issues Hypothetically, the criteria sets should apply to everyone, but in the text, there is a section on Culture Related Features which is more specific. The impact of the George Floyd protests inspired the creation of a new committee to look for systemic racism, lack of nuances, and prevalence issues within the DSM. There are conflicting opinions if “transness” should be included in the DSM and if it’s even a mental disorder. As the DSM is a diagnostic tool to code for insurance, the DSM takes the stance that the Gender Dysphoria diagnosis stay included so individuals can have access to medical intervention and treatment. The Steering Committee for new diagnosis is small, but there is diversity. Before a diagnosis is approved, it is posted for 45 days on the DSM website for all, including people with lived experience, to comment and advocate for diversity What is the Process for Accepting New Diagnose? The steering committee accepts proposals through the DSM portal for new diagnosis Some diagnoses are qualified based on the United States’ continued use of ICD-10, whereas the ICD-11 is more progressive. With Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, some of the criteria from the ICD have been incorporated into the DSM diagnosis of PTSD Proposals are floated around often, but they often don’t have enough empirical research yet. Proposals need to show a pool of patients who don’t fit other diagnoses, a gap in treatment, and a difference from other possible similar diagnoses. New diagnoses will be approved on a continuum, making the electronic DSM-V-TR the most up to date resource. What’s New in the DSM-5-TR?

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Michael B. First, MD, editor and co-chair of the American Psychiatric Associations’ DSM-5 Text revision, coming out March 2022. We explore: What are the differences between a full update and a text revision? What changes have been made (and how were these changes decided)? What new diagnoses can we expect? Can clinicians continue to use the older DSM-5? How can clinicians advocate for changes in future versions of the DSM? All of this and more in the episode.

Interview with Dr. Michael B. First, MD

What changes have been made in the new DSM-5-TR?

  • Text revisions occur to avoid letting the text become stale while supporting ongoing updates.
  • New disorders, specifically Prolonged Grief Disorder, have been added.
  • New codes, modeled off symptom codes, created for documenting suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury with another diagnosis.
  • New categories of Unspecified Mood Disorder.
  • New Criteria set for Autism Spectrum Disorder which is more conservative.

How are cultural differences addressed in the DSM-5-TR?

  • Starting with DSM-IV, there has been a special committee created for culture and culture related issues
  • Hypothetically, the criteria sets should apply to everyone, but in the text, there is a section on Culture Related Features which is more specific.
  • The impact of the George Floyd protests inspired the creation of a new committee to look for systemic racism, lack of nuances, and prevalence issues within the DSM.
  • There are conflicting opinions if “transness” should be included in the DSM and if it’s even a mental disorder.
  • As the DSM is a diagnostic tool to code for insurance, the DSM takes the stance that the Gender Dysphoria diagnosis stay included so individuals can have access to medical intervention and treatment.
  • The Steering Committee for new diagnosis is small, but there is diversity.
  • Before a diagnosis is approved, it is posted for 45 days on the DSM website for all, including people with lived experience, to comment and advocate for diversity

What is the Process for Accepting New Diagnose?

  • The steering committee accepts proposals through the DSM portal for new diagnosis
  • Some diagnoses are qualified based on the United States’ continued use of ICD-10, whereas the ICD-11 is more progressive.
  • With Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, some of the criteria from the ICD have been incorporated into the DSM diagnosis of PTSD
  • Proposals are floated around often, but they often don’t have enough empirical research yet.
  • Proposals need to show a pool of patients who don’t fit other diagnoses, a gap in treatment, and a difference from other possible similar diagnoses.
  • New diagnoses will be approved on a continuum, making the electronic DSM-V-TR the most up to date resource.
]]> 2786 no How Therapists Promote Diet Culture: An interview with Rachel Coleman https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-therapists-promote-diet-culture-an-interview-with-rachel-coleman How Therapists Promote Diet Culture: An interview with Rachel Coleman Curt and Katie speak with Rachel Coleman, LMFT, CEDS about what therapists should consider in working with clients who have eating disorders, the impact of society on body image, and how clinicians can increase their competency in an area many feel they are lacking. Why do so many clinicians feel under trained in treating eating disorders? How do societal views impact our client’s body image and what is the impact of diet culture? Does a lack of graduate education in eating disorders ethically impact our ability to treat eat disorders in a non-specialized practice? What’s missing from our understanding of eating disorders? All of this and more in the episode. Interview with Rachel Coleman, LMFT, CEDS What do clinicians do when therapeutic interventions might trigger eating disorder behavior? Many interventions call for physical activity that might trigger eating disorder behavior or feelings in clients. If a client wants to participate in a physical activity intervention, consider their motivation. Ensure that a client has multiple tools in their anxiety toolbox. Be mindful if the modalities and treatment recommendations are based in fat phobia or weight stigma. How can clinicians assess their clients for an eating disorder? Eating disorders can present meeting full DSM-V criteria or, in many cases, seem at the “subclinical” or mildly clinical level. Evaluate how your client feels about societal messaging and the impact it might have on them. In assessing clients, look to determine the impact of behaviors and patterns on daily functioning. If client’s are sacrificing other values to focus on weight or body, it should be discussed. How can clinicians increase their education in treating eating disorders? Clinicians need to do their own work surrounding their bodies and internalized messaging. Therapists should focus on learning about the complexities of eating disorders and the social justice movements that surround weight stigma and fat phobia. Familiarize yourself with the ideas of body trust, body neutrality, and health at every size. Many treatment centers offer free webinars to educate clinicians in eating disorder treatment. What are the ethical and legal considerations in treating eating disorders in a non-specialized private practice? Always get consultation. Some clients might present with “subclinical” or mildly clinical levels of an eating disorder. There is a difference between asking questions and treating the answers. Clinicians should encourage clients to see a medical doctor when necessary. Working with dieticians and medical doctors to create a holistic team, best serves the client. Clinicians should be aware when to refer to a higher level of care. Therapists should limit self-disclosures How does Diet Culture impact our clients? Diet culture is a mindset and system of theories we all exist in, that credits a person’s shape and size as the primary indicators of health and moral superiority. When bodies don’t meet these “standards” of beauty as societally defined, they are often oppressed. Messaging about dieting and our bodies is inescapable in our society, so it’s easy for subconscious beliefs about food and bodies to infiltrate sessions. Therapists’ self-disclosures should be limited and focus on affirming client’s experience. Mon, 21 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0000 How Therapists Promote Diet Culture: An interview with Rachel Coleman full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How Therapists Promote Diet Culture: An interview with Rachel Coleman Curt and Katie speak with Rachel Coleman, LMFT, CEDS about what therapists should consider in working with clients who have eating disorders, the impact of society on body image,... How Therapists Promote Diet Culture: An interview with Rachel Coleman Curt and Katie speak with Rachel Coleman, LMFT, CEDS about what therapists should consider in working with clients who have eating disorders, the impact of society on body image, and how clinicians can increase their competency in an area many feel they are lacking. Why do so many clinicians feel under trained in treating eating disorders? How do societal views impact our client’s body image and what is the impact of diet culture? Does a lack of graduate education in eating disorders ethically impact our ability to treat eat disorders in a non-specialized practice? What’s missing from our understanding of eating disorders? All of this and more in the episode. Interview with Rachel Coleman, LMFT, CEDS What do clinicians do when therapeutic interventions might trigger eating disorder behavior? Many interventions call for physical activity that might trigger eating disorder behavior or feelings in clients. If a client wants to participate in a physical activity intervention, consider their motivation. Ensure that a client has multiple tools in their anxiety toolbox. Be mindful if the modalities and treatment recommendations are based in fat phobia or weight stigma. How can clinicians assess their clients for an eating disorder? Eating disorders can present meeting full DSM-V criteria or, in many cases, seem at the “subclinical” or mildly clinical level. Evaluate how your client feels about societal messaging and the impact it might have on them. In assessing clients, look to determine the impact of behaviors and patterns on daily functioning. If client’s are sacrificing other values to focus on weight or body, it should be discussed. How can clinicians increase their education in treating eating disorders? Clinicians need to do their own work surrounding their bodies and internalized messaging. Therapists should focus on learning about the complexities of eating disorders and the social justice movements that surround weight stigma and fat phobia. Familiarize yourself with the ideas of body trust, body neutrality, and health at every size. Many treatment centers offer free webinars to educate clinicians in eating disorder treatment. What are the ethical and legal considerations in treating eating disorders in a non-specialized private practice? Always get consultation. Some clients might present with “subclinical” or mildly clinical levels of an eating disorder. There is a difference between asking questions and treating the answers. Clinicians should encourage clients to see a medical doctor when necessary. Working with dieticians and medical doctors to create a holistic team, best serves the client. Clinicians should be aware when to refer to a higher level of care. Therapists should limit self-disclosures How does Diet Culture impact our clients? Diet culture is a mindset and system of theories we all exist in, that credits a person’s shape and size as the primary indicators of health and moral superiority. When bodies don’t meet these “standards” of beauty as societally defined, they are often oppressed. Messaging about dieting and our bodies is inescapable in our society, so it’s easy for subconscious beliefs about food and bodies to infiltrate sessions. Therapists’ self-disclosures should be limited and focus on affirming client’s experience. How Therapists Promote Diet Culture: An interview with Rachel Coleman Curt and Katie speak with Rachel Coleman, LMFT, CEDS about what therapists should consider in working with clients who have eating disorders, the impact of society on body image, and how clinicians can increase their competency in an area many feel they are lacking. Why do so many clinicians feel under trained in treating eating disorders? How do societal views impact our client’s body image and what is the impact of diet culture? Does a lack of graduate education in eating disorders ethically impact our ability to treat eat disorders in a non-specialized practice? What’s missing from our understanding of eating disorders? All of this and more in the episode. Interview with Rachel Coleman, LMFT, CEDS

What do clinicians do when therapeutic interventions might trigger eating disorder behavior?

  • Many interventions call for physical activity that might trigger eating disorder behavior or feelings in clients.
  • If a client wants to participate in a physical activity intervention, consider their motivation.
  • Ensure that a client has multiple tools in their anxiety toolbox.
  • Be mindful if the modalities and treatment recommendations are based in fat phobia or weight stigma.

How can clinicians assess their clients for an eating disorder?

  • Eating disorders can present meeting full DSM-V criteria or, in many cases, seem at the “subclinical” or mildly clinical level.
  • Evaluate how your client feels about societal messaging and the impact it might have on them.
  • In assessing clients, look to determine the impact of behaviors and patterns on daily functioning. If client’s are sacrificing other values to focus on weight or body, it should be discussed.

How can clinicians increase their education in treating eating disorders?

  • Clinicians need to do their own work surrounding their bodies and internalized messaging.
  • Therapists should focus on learning about the complexities of eating disorders and the social justice movements that surround weight stigma and fat phobia.
  • Familiarize yourself with the ideas of body trust, body neutrality, and health at every size.
  • Many treatment centers offer free webinars to educate clinicians in eating disorder treatment.

What are the ethical and legal considerations in treating eating disorders in a non-specialized private practice?

  • Always get consultation.
  • Some clients might present with “subclinical” or mildly clinical levels of an eating disorder.
  • There is a difference between asking questions and treating the answers.
  • Clinicians should encourage clients to see a medical doctor when necessary.
  • Working with dieticians and medical doctors to create a holistic team, best serves the client.
  • Clinicians should be aware when to refer to a higher level of care.
  • Therapists should limit self-disclosures

How does Diet Culture impact our clients?

  • Diet culture is a mindset and system of theories we all exist in, that credits a person’s shape and size as the primary indicators of health and moral superiority.
  • When bodies don’t meet these “standards” of beauty as societally defined, they are often oppressed.
  • Messaging about dieting and our bodies is inescapable in our society, so it’s easy for subconscious beliefs about food and bodies to infiltrate sessions.
  • Therapists’ self-disclosures should be limited and focus on affirming client’s experience.
]]> 2375 no What to Know When Providing Therapy for Elite Athletes https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-to-know-when-providing-therapy-for-elite-athletes What to Know When Providing Therapy for Elite Athletes Curt and Katie chat about the specific competence required to work with elite athletes. We explore how elite athletes present (including diagnosis) as well as what treatment looks like for elite athletes. We also talk about the training cycles and periodization, developmental stages, and identity formation for competitive athletes. We also look at what healthy training environments include and how athletes can take care of their own well-being.  In this podcast episode we look at what therapists need to know about working with elite athletes For our second continuing education worthy podcast, we wanted to support therapists in understanding what they need to know (or know that they don’t know) about working with elite athletes. The differences between being a fan and being competent to work with elite athletes The types of competence needed to support athletes who are at an elite level Sports psychology and other areas of specialty to support athletes The stringent criteria to be called a sports psychologist What diagnoses do athletes present with when they enter therapy? Not necessarily anxiety, but it can be anxiety related or unrelated to sport Diagnoses can be related to the sport due to body, substance, or changes in circumstances Diagnoses can also be related to other elements of their life and transitions What does treatment look like for elite athletes? High school and college athletes are most likely the clients we’ll see The integral nature of their team and who is best to be included in the treatment team Logistics and scheduling due to games and practices, obtaining required consents Training schedules, food information is relevant to therapeutic work The different goals for elite athletes than for other folks who enjoy sports Looking at in the moment frustrations versus a desire to leave the sport Sports assessments to identify athletic coping skills Helping athletes to make decisions for themselves and identify when it’s burnout and when it’s a mismatch Understanding training cycles and the impact on athlete clients Specific language that athletes may use Periodization, micro, meso, and macro cycles in training The importance of planned growth and rest as well as peaking at the right time The focus of timing for everything How injuries or changes in schedule (like with covid) can impact this timing and what that means for athletes Developmental factors for young athletes The focus of training for younger children as well as the investment phase for youth Developing one’s identity as an athlete What can positively impact and negatively impact the future commitment to sport Other developmental factors related to being a teen interacting with these developmental elements What a balanced life looks like for elite athletes Who athletes spend time with, share their life with The hobbies that complement the sport Understanding how maintenance impacts the rest of the schedule The factors that improve an athlete’s well-being Myths related to the tangential benefits of being an elite athlete (i.e., I’ll get college paid for) The importance of having a therapist who isn’t just a “fan” The differences between team and individual sports The competency needed related to understanding the sport to understand all of the dynamics What good social systems around athletes have in common The understanding of how each person in the athlete’s circle interacts with the goals The culture created within the team and with the people around the athlete Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka – a look at how they have been taking care of themselves The transition out of being an elite athlete Injury and unplanned retirement Planning for an intentional retirement Moving out of the athlete identity into something new Mon, 14 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0000 What to Know When Providing Therapy for Elite Athletes full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What to Know When Providing Therapy for Elite Athletes Curt and Katie chat about the specific competence required to work with elite athletes. We explore how elite athletes present (including diagnosis) as well as what treatment looks like for elite... What to Know When Providing Therapy for Elite Athletes Curt and Katie chat about the specific competence required to work with elite athletes. We explore how elite athletes present (including diagnosis) as well as what treatment looks like for elite athletes. We also talk about the training cycles and periodization, developmental stages, and identity formation for competitive athletes. We also look at what healthy training environments include and how athletes can take care of their own well-being.  In this podcast episode we look at what therapists need to know about working with elite athletes For our second continuing education worthy podcast, we wanted to support therapists in understanding what they need to know (or know that they don’t know) about working with elite athletes. The differences between being a fan and being competent to work with elite athletes The types of competence needed to support athletes who are at an elite level Sports psychology and other areas of specialty to support athletes The stringent criteria to be called a sports psychologist What diagnoses do athletes present with when they enter therapy? Not necessarily anxiety, but it can be anxiety related or unrelated to sport Diagnoses can be related to the sport due to body, substance, or changes in circumstances Diagnoses can also be related to other elements of their life and transitions What does treatment look like for elite athletes? High school and college athletes are most likely the clients we’ll see The integral nature of their team and who is best to be included in the treatment team Logistics and scheduling due to games and practices, obtaining required consents Training schedules, food information is relevant to therapeutic work The different goals for elite athletes than for other folks who enjoy sports Looking at in the moment frustrations versus a desire to leave the sport Sports assessments to identify athletic coping skills Helping athletes to make decisions for themselves and identify when it’s burnout and when it’s a mismatch Understanding training cycles and the impact on athlete clients Specific language that athletes may use Periodization, micro, meso, and macro cycles in training The importance of planned growth and rest as well as peaking at the right time The focus of timing for everything How injuries or changes in schedule (like with covid) can impact this timing and what that means for athletes Developmental factors for young athletes The focus of training for younger children as well as the investment phase for youth Developing one’s identity as an athlete What can positively impact and negatively impact the future commitment to sport Other developmental factors related to being a teen interacting with these developmental elements What a balanced life looks like for elite athletes Who athletes spend time with, share their life with The hobbies that complement the sport Understanding how maintenance impacts the rest of the schedule The factors that improve an athlete’s well-being Myths related to the tangential benefits of being an elite athlete (i.e., I’ll get college paid for) The importance of having a therapist who isn’t just a “fan” The differences between team and individual sports The competency needed related to understanding the sport to understand all of the dynamics What good social systems around athletes have in common The understanding of how each person in the athlete’s circle interacts with the goals The culture created within the team and with the people around the athlete Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka – a look at how they have been taking care of themselves The transition out of being an elite athlete Injury and unplanned retirement Planning for an intentional retirement Moving out of the athlete identity into something new What to Know When Providing Therapy for Elite Athletes

Curt and Katie chat about the specific competence required to work with elite athletes. We explore how elite athletes present (including diagnosis) as well as what treatment looks like for elite athletes. We also talk about the training cycles and periodization, developmental stages, and identity formation for competitive athletes. We also look at what healthy training environments include and how athletes can take care of their own well-being. 

In this podcast episode we look at what therapists need to know about working with elite athletes

For our second continuing education worthy podcast, we wanted to support therapists in understanding what they need to know (or know that they don’t know) about working with elite athletes.

The differences between being a fan and being competent to work with elite athletes

  • The types of competence needed to support athletes who are at an elite level
  • Sports psychology and other areas of specialty to support athletes
  • The stringent criteria to be called a sports psychologist

What diagnoses do athletes present with when they enter therapy?

  • Not necessarily anxiety, but it can be anxiety related or unrelated to sport
  • Diagnoses can be related to the sport due to body, substance, or changes in circumstances
  • Diagnoses can also be related to other elements of their life and transitions

What does treatment look like for elite athletes?

  • High school and college athletes are most likely the clients we’ll see
  • The integral nature of their team and who is best to be included in the treatment team
  • Logistics and scheduling due to games and practices, obtaining required consents
  • Training schedules, food information is relevant to therapeutic work
  • The different goals for elite athletes than for other folks who enjoy sports
  • Looking at in the moment frustrations versus a desire to leave the sport
  • Sports assessments to identify athletic coping skills
  • Helping athletes to make decisions for themselves and identify when it’s burnout and when it’s a mismatch

Understanding training cycles and the impact on athlete clients

  • Specific language that athletes may use
  • Periodization, micro, meso, and macro cycles in training
  • The importance of planned growth and rest as well as peaking at the right time
  • The focus of timing for everything
  • How injuries or changes in schedule (like with covid) can impact this timing and what that means for athletes

Developmental factors for young athletes

  • The focus of training for younger children as well as the investment phase for youth
  • Developing one’s identity as an athlete
  • What can positively impact and negatively impact the future commitment to sport
  • Other developmental factors related to being a teen interacting with these developmental elements

What a balanced life looks like for elite athletes

  • Who athletes spend time with, share their life with
  • The hobbies that complement the sport
  • Understanding how maintenance impacts the rest of the schedule

The factors that improve an athlete’s well-being

  • Myths related to the tangential benefits of being an elite athlete (i.e., I’ll get college paid for)
  • The importance of having a therapist who isn’t just a “fan”
  • The differences between team and individual sports
  • The competency needed related to understanding the sport to understand all of the dynamics
  • What good social systems around athletes have in common
  • The understanding of how each person in the athlete’s circle interacts with the goals
  • The culture created within the team and with the people around the athlete
  • Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka – a look at how they have been taking care of themselves

The transition out of being an elite athlete

  • Injury and unplanned retirement
  • Planning for an intentional retirement
  • Moving out of the athlete identity into something new
]]> 4598 yes Antiracist Practices in the Room: An Interview with Dr. Allen Lipscomb https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/antiracist-practices-in-the-room-an-interview-with-dr-allen-lipscomb Antiracist Practices in the Room: An Interview with Dr. Allen Lipscomb Curt and Katie speak with Dr. Allen Lipscomb, PsyD, LCSW about what therapists should consider in working with Black clients, common mistakes, and implementing anti-racist procedures into practice. What can therapists do better? Where is graduate education lacking? How do we respect and explore our Black client’s narratives? Who can work with Black clients? How can therapists help clients heal from race-based trauma? How can we do better with our Black male clients? Black male grief shows up in different ways than other client’s grief might show up. When assessing Black males for psychosis or conspiracy theories, ensure that you look at the context of their lived experience before determining psychosis The traumatic experiences of racialization, trauma, and mistreatment that many Black people can sound like lead to thoughts that might sound psychotic to an uneducated clinician. Listen to the client’s narratives. Question what the themes and patterns are and if the thought is maladaptive to their functioning and well-being. Utilize FIDO: frequency, intensity, duration and onset in questioning clients If a clinician is unsure if a thought is a conspiracy or legitimate threat, assess for how the client’s community is responding to the client’s narrative Ask clients how the session was for them. How was it for you to meet with me? Acknowledge your cultural limitations and create an invitation for the client to let you know when you can do better. Be mindful, Black male clients might be minimizing their experiences to be “less threatening.” This is the cultural congruency dichotomy that clients often have to take to avoid further potential trauma. What does it mean to be antiracist? Clients might be resistant to bringing up a clinician’s whiteness in the space. Black clients might not think that a white clinician has the capability or desire to talk about race. It is the responsibility of the clinician to actively establish the openness of the space to discuss race and the client’s lived experience. This should be a continuous conversation that is led by therapists, to make the topic open until it feels naturally open. It’s affirming to have someone who is white in a position of power to say to me – hey I recognize we’re racially different and we could have a different experience how that shows up in this space. You can catch moments where anti-racist action could’ve been taken or acknowledged in the next session, if missed during a session. The need to revamp our graduate programs to be anti-oppressive and anti-racist How to show up as an ally in the room, without centering your own experience What is Dr. Allen Lipscomb’s BRuH Method? The BRuH Method, or BAT, stands for BRuH Approach to Therapy. BRuH stands for Bonding through Recognition to promote Understanding in Healing when providing therapeutic services to Black men specifically. The approach is modeled off of other therapeutic approaches like CBT and DBT Phases include: Bonding Phase, Recognition Phase, Understanding Phase, Healing Phase The clinician is always doing aspects of the various phases throughout the course of treatment This is not an evidence-based practice but an honoring based practice The evidence of efficacy in this practice comes when you see your clients continuously returning to receive more sessions, from the feedback they give you, and the improvements in day-to-day life. Who can work with Black male clients? There can be an urge for white therapists to refer clients of color, especially Black men, to Black clinicians These referrals are unnecessary. A therapist of any background, if holding the space correctly and connecting with the client’s felt experience, can work with a client of color, specifically Black men. It’s important to be mindful that questions asked to clients are not investigative or for the purpose of educating the therapist. Mon, 07 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Antiracist Practices in the Room: An Interview with Dr. Allen Lipscomb full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Antiracist Practices in the Room: An Interview with Dr. Allen Lipscomb Curt and Katie speak with Dr. Allen Lipscomb, PsyD, LCSW about what therapists should consider in working with Black clients, common mistakes, and implementing anti-racist... Antiracist Practices in the Room: An Interview with Dr. Allen Lipscomb Curt and Katie speak with Dr. Allen Lipscomb, PsyD, LCSW about what therapists should consider in working with Black clients, common mistakes, and implementing anti-racist procedures into practice. What can therapists do better? Where is graduate education lacking? How do we respect and explore our Black client’s narratives? Who can work with Black clients? How can therapists help clients heal from race-based trauma? How can we do better with our Black male clients? Black male grief shows up in different ways than other client’s grief might show up. When assessing Black males for psychosis or conspiracy theories, ensure that you look at the context of their lived experience before determining psychosis The traumatic experiences of racialization, trauma, and mistreatment that many Black people can sound like lead to thoughts that might sound psychotic to an uneducated clinician. Listen to the client’s narratives. Question what the themes and patterns are and if the thought is maladaptive to their functioning and well-being. Utilize FIDO: frequency, intensity, duration and onset in questioning clients If a clinician is unsure if a thought is a conspiracy or legitimate threat, assess for how the client’s community is responding to the client’s narrative Ask clients how the session was for them. How was it for you to meet with me? Acknowledge your cultural limitations and create an invitation for the client to let you know when you can do better. Be mindful, Black male clients might be minimizing their experiences to be “less threatening.” This is the cultural congruency dichotomy that clients often have to take to avoid further potential trauma. What does it mean to be antiracist? Clients might be resistant to bringing up a clinician’s whiteness in the space. Black clients might not think that a white clinician has the capability or desire to talk about race. It is the responsibility of the clinician to actively establish the openness of the space to discuss race and the client’s lived experience. This should be a continuous conversation that is led by therapists, to make the topic open until it feels naturally open. It’s affirming to have someone who is white in a position of power to say to me – hey I recognize we’re racially different and we could have a different experience how that shows up in this space. You can catch moments where anti-racist action could’ve been taken or acknowledged in the next session, if missed during a session. The need to revamp our graduate programs to be anti-oppressive and anti-racist How to show up as an ally in the room, without centering your own experience What is Dr. Allen Lipscomb’s BRuH Method? The BRuH Method, or BAT, stands for BRuH Approach to Therapy. BRuH stands for Bonding through Recognition to promote Understanding in Healing when providing therapeutic services to Black men specifically. The approach is modeled off of other therapeutic approaches like CBT and DBT Phases include: Bonding Phase, Recognition Phase, Understanding Phase, Healing Phase The clinician is always doing aspects of the various phases throughout the course of treatment This is not an evidence-based practice but an honoring based practice The evidence of efficacy in this practice comes when you see your clients continuously returning to receive more sessions, from the feedback they give you, and the improvements in day-to-day life. Who can work with Black male clients? There can be an urge for white therapists to refer clients of color, especially Black men, to Black clinicians These referrals are unnecessary. A therapist of any background, if holding the space correctly and connecting with the client’s felt experience, can work with a client of color, specifically Black men. It’s important to be mindful that questions asked to clients are not investigative or for the purpose of educating the therapist. Antiracist Practices in the Room: An Interview with Dr. Allen Lipscomb

Curt and Katie speak with Dr. Allen Lipscomb, PsyD, LCSW about what therapists should consider in working with Black clients, common mistakes, and implementing anti-racist procedures into practice. What can therapists do better? Where is graduate education lacking? How do we respect and explore our Black client’s narratives? Who can work with Black clients? How can therapists help clients heal from race-based trauma?

How can we do better with our Black male clients?

  • Black male grief shows up in different ways than other client’s grief might show up.
  • When assessing Black males for psychosis or conspiracy theories, ensure that you look at the context of their lived experience before determining psychosis
  • The traumatic experiences of racialization, trauma, and mistreatment that many Black people can sound like lead to thoughts that might sound psychotic to an uneducated clinician.
  • Listen to the client’s narratives. Question what the themes and patterns are and if the thought is maladaptive to their functioning and well-being.
  • Utilize FIDO: frequency, intensity, duration and onset in questioning clients
  • If a clinician is unsure if a thought is a conspiracy or legitimate threat, assess for how the client’s community is responding to the client’s narrative
  • Ask clients how the session was for them. How was it for you to meet with me? Acknowledge your cultural limitations and create an invitation for the client to let you know when you can do better.
  • Be mindful, Black male clients might be minimizing their experiences to be “less threatening.” This is the cultural congruency dichotomy that clients often have to take to avoid further potential trauma.

What does it mean to be antiracist?

  • Clients might be resistant to bringing up a clinician’s whiteness in the space.
  • Black clients might not think that a white clinician has the capability or desire to talk about race. It is the responsibility of the clinician to actively establish the openness of the space to discuss race and the client’s lived experience.
  • This should be a continuous conversation that is led by therapists, to make the topic open until it feels naturally open.
  • It’s affirming to have someone who is white in a position of power to say to me – hey I recognize we’re racially different and we could have a different experience how that shows up in this space.
  • You can catch moments where anti-racist action could’ve been taken or acknowledged in the next session, if missed during a session.
  • The need to revamp our graduate programs to be anti-oppressive and anti-racist
  • How to show up as an ally in the room, without centering your own experience

What is Dr. Allen Lipscomb’s BRuH Method?

  • The BRuH Method, or BAT, stands for BRuH Approach to Therapy.
  • BRuH stands for Bonding through Recognition to promote Understanding in Healing when providing therapeutic services to Black men specifically.
  • The approach is modeled off of other therapeutic approaches like CBT and DBT
  • Phases include: Bonding Phase, Recognition Phase, Understanding Phase, Healing Phase
  • The clinician is always doing aspects of the various phases throughout the course of treatment
  • This is not an evidence-based practice but an honoring based practice
  • The evidence of efficacy in this practice comes when you see your clients continuously returning to receive more sessions, from the feedback they give you, and the improvements in day-to-day life.

Who can work with Black male clients?

  • There can be an urge for white therapists to refer clients of color, especially Black men, to Black clinicians
  • These referrals are unnecessary. A therapist of any background, if holding the space correctly and connecting with the client’s felt experience, can work with a client of color, specifically Black men.
  • It’s important to be mindful that questions asked to clients are not investigative or for the purpose of educating the therapist.
]]> 2676 no What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-can-therapists-say-about-celebrities-the-ethics-of-public-statements What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should make public statements and diagnose public figures. This is our first continuing education eligible podcast, discussing the ethics of speaking out about the mental health of people in the public eye. We explore the origins of the Goldwater rule, a group of psychiatrists who purposefully broke it, and how masters level organizations address this concern. We also provide you with some ideas about how you can make this decision for yourself. In this podcast episode we look at the ethics of modern therapists diagnosing public figures For our first continuing education worthy podcast, we wanted to address something that is becoming more and more prevalent in our field: therapists speaking out about the mental health of public figures. What is the Goldwater Rule? The history of the Goldwater Rule The impact of DSM II (and the update to DSM III) The original intention of the rule versus the current interpretation of the Goldwater Rule Fears from the American Psychiatric Association that seems to have driven the development of (and on-going commitment to) this rule How the Goldwater Rule (and Similar Ethical Principles) Have Shifted Over Time Perspective from one of the original framers of the Goldwater Rule Moving from teleological to deontological interpretations How the internet and social media has changed the landscape The American Psychiatric Association expanding their commitment to the Goldwater Rule, stating reasons psychiatrists should not assess The Goldwater “Caveat” or “Principle” versus Goldwater “Rule” or even Goldwater “Doctrine” Beyond diagnosis to restricting any comment on the behavior or mental health of a public figure The stance on this ethic from American Psychological Association and the large Masters Level Organizations (AAMFT, ACA, NASW, and CAMFT, for example) The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump – the Public Diagnosis of an American President The group of psychiatrists who pushed back on the Goldwater Rule The Duty to Warn – does it apply here? What are the challenges of accurately diagnosing Trump? Where expertise is helpful (and how the public can water down diagnosis) Current Guidelines for Modern Therapists Whether diagnosis is required for a duty to warn The tactic of putting forward information without drawing conclusions (and why we don’t like this strategy) Specific guidance from the professional organizations on what therapists can and cannot do Taking special care in how one decides what they say about an individual in public settings Using one’s professional judgement and special care Cautions When Using Your Professional Judgment The potential harm of discussing diagnosis on social media Bias, cultural factors, and other information that could make an inaccurate or harmful diagnosis Mental health stigma and other concerns related to diagnostic language (ICD-10, DSM-V) Speaking outside of your professional expertise Questions to ask yourself before making a public statement Mon, 31 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0000 What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should make public statements and diagnose public figures. This is our first continuing education eligible podcast, discussing the... What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should make public statements and diagnose public figures. This is our first continuing education eligible podcast, discussing the ethics of speaking out about the mental health of people in the public eye. We explore the origins of the Goldwater rule, a group of psychiatrists who purposefully broke it, and how masters level organizations address this concern. We also provide you with some ideas about how you can make this decision for yourself. In this podcast episode we look at the ethics of modern therapists diagnosing public figures For our first continuing education worthy podcast, we wanted to address something that is becoming more and more prevalent in our field: therapists speaking out about the mental health of public figures. What is the Goldwater Rule? The history of the Goldwater Rule The impact of DSM II (and the update to DSM III) The original intention of the rule versus the current interpretation of the Goldwater Rule Fears from the American Psychiatric Association that seems to have driven the development of (and on-going commitment to) this rule How the Goldwater Rule (and Similar Ethical Principles) Have Shifted Over Time Perspective from one of the original framers of the Goldwater Rule Moving from teleological to deontological interpretations How the internet and social media has changed the landscape The American Psychiatric Association expanding their commitment to the Goldwater Rule, stating reasons psychiatrists should not assess The Goldwater “Caveat” or “Principle” versus Goldwater “Rule” or even Goldwater “Doctrine” Beyond diagnosis to restricting any comment on the behavior or mental health of a public figure The stance on this ethic from American Psychological Association and the large Masters Level Organizations (AAMFT, ACA, NASW, and CAMFT, for example) The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump – the Public Diagnosis of an American President The group of psychiatrists who pushed back on the Goldwater Rule The Duty to Warn – does it apply here? What are the challenges of accurately diagnosing Trump? Where expertise is helpful (and how the public can water down diagnosis) Current Guidelines for Modern Therapists Whether diagnosis is required for a duty to warn The tactic of putting forward information without drawing conclusions (and why we don’t like this strategy) Specific guidance from the professional organizations on what therapists can and cannot do Taking special care in how one decides what they say about an individual in public settings Using one’s professional judgement and special care Cautions When Using Your Professional Judgment The potential harm of discussing diagnosis on social media Bias, cultural factors, and other information that could make an inaccurate or harmful diagnosis Mental health stigma and other concerns related to diagnostic language (ICD-10, DSM-V) Speaking outside of your professional expertise Questions to ask yourself before making a public statement What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements

Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should make public statements and diagnose public figures. This is our first continuing education eligible podcast, discussing the ethics of speaking out about the mental health of people in the public eye. We explore the origins of the Goldwater rule, a group of psychiatrists who purposefully broke it, and how masters level organizations address this concern. We also provide you with some ideas about how you can make this decision for yourself.

In this podcast episode we look at the ethics of modern therapists diagnosing public figures

For our first continuing education worthy podcast, we wanted to address something that is becoming more and more prevalent in our field: therapists speaking out about the mental health of public figures.

What is the Goldwater Rule?

  • The history of the Goldwater Rule
  • The impact of DSM II (and the update to DSM III)
  • The original intention of the rule versus the current interpretation of the Goldwater Rule
  • Fears from the American Psychiatric Association that seems to have driven the development of (and on-going commitment to) this rule

How the Goldwater Rule (and Similar Ethical Principles) Have Shifted Over Time

  • Perspective from one of the original framers of the Goldwater Rule
  • Moving from teleological to deontological interpretations
  • How the internet and social media has changed the landscape
  • The American Psychiatric Association expanding their commitment to the Goldwater Rule, stating reasons psychiatrists should not assess
  • The Goldwater “Caveat” or “Principle” versus Goldwater “Rule” or even Goldwater “Doctrine”
  • Beyond diagnosis to restricting any comment on the behavior or mental health of a public figure
  • The stance on this ethic from American Psychological Association and the large Masters Level Organizations (AAMFT, ACA, NASW, and CAMFT, for example)

The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump – the Public Diagnosis of an American President

  • The group of psychiatrists who pushed back on the Goldwater Rule
  • The Duty to Warn – does it apply here?
  • What are the challenges of accurately diagnosing Trump?
  • Where expertise is helpful (and how the public can water down diagnosis)

Current Guidelines for Modern Therapists

  • Whether diagnosis is required for a duty to warn
  • The tactic of putting forward information without drawing conclusions (and why we don’t like this strategy)
  • Specific guidance from the professional organizations on what therapists can and cannot do
  • Taking special care in how one decides what they say about an individual in public settings
  • Using one’s professional judgement and special care

Cautions When Using Your Professional Judgment

  • The potential harm of discussing diagnosis on social media
  • Bias, cultural factors, and other information that could make an inaccurate or harmful diagnosis
  • Mental health stigma and other concerns related to diagnostic language (ICD-10, DSM-V)
  • Speaking outside of your professional expertise
  • Questions to ask yourself before making a public statement
]]> 3934 no Working with Trans Clients: Trans Resilience and Gender Euphoria https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/working-with-trans-clients-trans-resilience-and-gender-euphoria Working with Trans Clients: Trans Resilience and Gender Euphoria An interview with Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II, about how therapists can be better clinicians for trans people. Curt and Katie talk to Beck about gender identity (and why every therapist should do their own work around gender), historical perspectives on masculinity and femininity, the concepts of trans resilience and gender euphoria, the real problems with the DSM diagnosis of gender dysphoria and considerations for providing therapy to trans clients.  Interview with Beck Gee-Cohen MA CADC-II Director of LGBTQ+ Programming In this podcast episode we talk about trans mental health We invited Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II to come talk with us about providing therapy for trans individuals. Modern therapists need to keep learning when working with trans clients Getting pronouns correct is a basic expectation at this point Finding the balance between focusing on a client’s trans identity and other elements of their identity and experience Understanding trans identity 101 is a basic level of knowledge that all therapists should have What you do need to learn from your trans clients Therapists need to do their own work around gender The work that therapists must do around gender The role that society plays in defining gender and the binary The privilege cis folks have in not being asked to assess/address their gender “Women’s” and “men’s” issues Societal expectations related to gender The history of gender expression and how what is acceptable has shifted Cultural and generational differences related to gender  The Concept of Trans Resilience The tendency to focus on the pain of being trans The bias and hate that trans folks face, and how they continue to show up The importance of celebrating who you are as a trans person “You’re so brave” doesn’t see the full picture How hard it is to show up – and what it means that trans folks continue to do so Moving away from just focusing on gender dysphoria versus looking at gender euphoria   Gender Dysphoria versus Gender Euphoria and the problems with the DSM How the DSM is used for the medical needs of trans folks The problem with assigning the diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria to an individual Internalized gender dysphoria (it is not my dysphoria, it is the dysphoria of the people around me about my gender) Playing around with gender shouldn’t be a diagnosis, it is so culturally bound Trans individuals have to know what to report so they can get hormones (i.e., they may have to lie about being dysphoric in order to “check the boxes”) The problem with gatekeeping and the hope that trans folks being in work groups to help shift these guidelines   Better Therapy for Trans Clients Therapeutic alliance is the most important How therapists can appropriately use vulnerability when a client comes out as trans The likelihood of someone coming out initially versus after trust is built and how to handle it Sharing the therapeutic process and how you will learn and educate yourself The problem of signaling that you are capable of working with LGBTQ+ people when you are not trained Awareness of how being trans impacts the client in front of you When the client is coming into therapy due to their gender identity Understanding the back story and how someone identified that “something is different” Looking at what they want to do next (which may be very little or a full plan on how they handle being trans). Mon, 24 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Working with Trans Clients: Trans Resilience and Gender Euphoria full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Working with Trans Clients: Trans Resilience and Gender Euphoria An interview with Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II, about how therapists can be better clinicians for trans people. Curt and Katie talk to Beck about gender identity (and why every therapist... Working with Trans Clients: Trans Resilience and Gender Euphoria An interview with Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II, about how therapists can be better clinicians for trans people. Curt and Katie talk to Beck about gender identity (and why every therapist should do their own work around gender), historical perspectives on masculinity and femininity, the concepts of trans resilience and gender euphoria, the real problems with the DSM diagnosis of gender dysphoria and considerations for providing therapy to trans clients.  Interview with Beck Gee-Cohen MA CADC-II Director of LGBTQ+ Programming In this podcast episode we talk about trans mental health We invited Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II to come talk with us about providing therapy for trans individuals. Modern therapists need to keep learning when working with trans clients Getting pronouns correct is a basic expectation at this point Finding the balance between focusing on a client’s trans identity and other elements of their identity and experience Understanding trans identity 101 is a basic level of knowledge that all therapists should have What you do need to learn from your trans clients Therapists need to do their own work around gender The work that therapists must do around gender The role that society plays in defining gender and the binary The privilege cis folks have in not being asked to assess/address their gender “Women’s” and “men’s” issues Societal expectations related to gender The history of gender expression and how what is acceptable has shifted Cultural and generational differences related to gender  The Concept of Trans Resilience The tendency to focus on the pain of being trans The bias and hate that trans folks face, and how they continue to show up The importance of celebrating who you are as a trans person “You’re so brave” doesn’t see the full picture How hard it is to show up – and what it means that trans folks continue to do so Moving away from just focusing on gender dysphoria versus looking at gender euphoria   Gender Dysphoria versus Gender Euphoria and the problems with the DSM How the DSM is used for the medical needs of trans folks The problem with assigning the diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria to an individual Internalized gender dysphoria (it is not my dysphoria, it is the dysphoria of the people around me about my gender) Playing around with gender shouldn’t be a diagnosis, it is so culturally bound Trans individuals have to know what to report so they can get hormones (i.e., they may have to lie about being dysphoric in order to “check the boxes”) The problem with gatekeeping and the hope that trans folks being in work groups to help shift these guidelines   Better Therapy for Trans Clients Therapeutic alliance is the most important How therapists can appropriately use vulnerability when a client comes out as trans The likelihood of someone coming out initially versus after trust is built and how to handle it Sharing the therapeutic process and how you will learn and educate yourself The problem of signaling that you are capable of working with LGBTQ+ people when you are not trained Awareness of how being trans impacts the client in front of you When the client is coming into therapy due to their gender identity Understanding the back story and how someone identified that “something is different” Looking at what they want to do next (which may be very little or a full plan on how they handle being trans). Working with Trans Clients: Trans Resilience and Gender Euphoria

An interview with Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II, about how therapists can be better clinicians for trans people. Curt and Katie talk to Beck about gender identity (and why every therapist should do their own work around gender), historical perspectives on masculinity and femininity, the concepts of trans resilience and gender euphoria, the real problems with the DSM diagnosis of gender dysphoria and considerations for providing therapy to trans clients. 

Interview with Beck Gee-Cohen MA CADC-II Director of LGBTQ+ Programming

In this podcast episode we talk about trans mental health

We invited Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II to come talk with us about providing therapy for trans individuals.

Modern therapists need to keep learning when working with trans clients

  • Getting pronouns correct is a basic expectation at this point
  • Finding the balance between focusing on a client’s trans identity and other elements of their identity and experience
  • Understanding trans identity 101 is a basic level of knowledge that all therapists should have
  • What you do need to learn from your trans clients
  • Therapists need to do their own work around gender

The work that therapists must do around gender

  • The role that society plays in defining gender and the binary
  • The privilege cis folks have in not being asked to assess/address their gender
  • “Women’s” and “men’s” issues
  • Societal expectations related to gender
  • The history of gender expression and how what is acceptable has shifted
  • Cultural and generational differences related to gender

 The Concept of Trans Resilience

  • The tendency to focus on the pain of being trans
  • The bias and hate that trans folks face, and how they continue to show up
  • The importance of celebrating who you are as a trans person
  • “You’re so brave” doesn’t see the full picture
  • How hard it is to show up – and what it means that trans folks continue to do so
  • Moving away from just focusing on gender dysphoria versus looking at gender euphoria

 

Gender Dysphoria versus Gender Euphoria and the problems with the DSM

  • How the DSM is used for the medical needs of trans folks
  • The problem with assigning the diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria to an individual
  • Internalized gender dysphoria (it is not my dysphoria, it is the dysphoria of the people around me about my gender)
  • Playing around with gender shouldn’t be a diagnosis, it is so culturally bound
  • Trans individuals have to know what to report so they can get hormones (i.e., they may have to lie about being dysphoric in order to “check the boxes”)
  • The problem with gatekeeping and the hope that trans folks being in work groups to help shift these guidelines

 

Better Therapy for Trans Clients

  • Therapeutic alliance is the most important
  • How therapists can appropriately use vulnerability when a client comes out as trans
  • The likelihood of someone coming out initially versus after trust is built and how to handle it
  • Sharing the therapeutic process and how you will learn and educate yourself
  • The problem of signaling that you are capable of working with LGBTQ+ people when you are not trained
  • Awareness of how being trans impacts the client in front of you
  • When the client is coming into therapy due to their gender identity
  • Understanding the back story and how someone identified that “something is different”
  • Looking at what they want to do next (which may be very little or a full plan on how they handle being trans).
]]> 2709 yes Who’s in the Room? Siri, Alexa, and Confidentiality https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/whos-in-the-room-siri-alexa-and-confidentiality Who’s in the Room? Siri, Alexa, and Confidentiality Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain confidentiality in a world of AI assistants and smart devices. What duty do clinicians have to inform clients? How can we balance confidentiality with the reality of how commonly these devices are involved in therapy? Can telehealth therapy be completely confidential and data secure? We discuss our shift in clinical responsibility, best practices, and how we can minimize exposure of clinical data to ensure the confidentiality our clients expect and deserve. In this podcast episode we talk about something therapists might not consider: smart devices and AI assistants We received a couple of requests to talk about the impact of smart devices on confidentiality and their compliance with HIPAA within a therapeutic environment. We tackle this question in depth: What are best practices for protecting client confidentiality with smart devices? Turning off the phone, or placing the phone on “airplane mode” Warning clients about their own smart devices and confidentiality risks The ethical responsibilities to inform about limits of confidentiality and take precautions It’s all about giving clients choice and information What should therapists consider when smart devices and AI assistants are in the room?  – Curt Widhalm Whistle-blower reports on how often these devices are actually listening Turning off your phone is a lot cheaper than identity theft Consider your contacts, geolocation, and Wi-Fi connection Some of this, as we progress into a more technological world, might be unavoidable How do Alexa and Siri impact HIPAA compliance for therapists? The importance of end-to-end encryption for all HIPAA activities (and your smart device may not be compliant) The cost of HIPAA violations if identity theft can be traced back Understand the risks you are taking, do what you can, and remember no one is perfect What can modern therapists do with their smart devices? GPS location services can be left on for a safety reason, emergency services use GPS location Adjusting settings for voice activation, data sharing, when apps are running, locations, etc. Turning off and airplane mode are also options Always let the client know the limits of confidentiality Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Psychotherapy in Ontario: How Confidential is my Therapy? By Beth Mares, Registered Psychotherapist The Privacy Problem with Digital Assistants by Kaveh Waddell Hey Siri and Alexa: Let's Talk Privacy Practices by Elizabeth Weise, USA Today Patient and Consumer Safety Risks When Using Conversational Assistants for Medical Information: An Observational Study of Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, 2018 Hey Siri: Did you Break Confidentiality, or did I? By Nicole M. Arcuri Sanders, Counseling Today Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant Not HIPAA Compliant, Psychiatry Advisor Hey Alexa, are you HIPAA compliant? 2018 Person-Centered Tech   Mon, 17 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Who’s in the Room? Siri, Alexa, and Confidentiality full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Who’s in the Room? Siri, Alexa, and Confidentiality Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain confidentiality in a world of AI assistants and smart devices. What duty do clinicians have to inform clients? How can we balance... Who’s in the Room? Siri, Alexa, and Confidentiality Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain confidentiality in a world of AI assistants and smart devices. What duty do clinicians have to inform clients? How can we balance confidentiality with the reality of how commonly these devices are involved in therapy? Can telehealth therapy be completely confidential and data secure? We discuss our shift in clinical responsibility, best practices, and how we can minimize exposure of clinical data to ensure the confidentiality our clients expect and deserve. In this podcast episode we talk about something therapists might not consider: smart devices and AI assistants We received a couple of requests to talk about the impact of smart devices on confidentiality and their compliance with HIPAA within a therapeutic environment. We tackle this question in depth: What are best practices for protecting client confidentiality with smart devices? Turning off the phone, or placing the phone on “airplane mode” Warning clients about their own smart devices and confidentiality risks The ethical responsibilities to inform about limits of confidentiality and take precautions It’s all about giving clients choice and information What should therapists consider when smart devices and AI assistants are in the room?  – Curt Widhalm Whistle-blower reports on how often these devices are actually listening Turning off your phone is a lot cheaper than identity theft Consider your contacts, geolocation, and Wi-Fi connection Some of this, as we progress into a more technological world, might be unavoidable How do Alexa and Siri impact HIPAA compliance for therapists? The importance of end-to-end encryption for all HIPAA activities (and your smart device may not be compliant) The cost of HIPAA violations if identity theft can be traced back Understand the risks you are taking, do what you can, and remember no one is perfect What can modern therapists do with their smart devices? GPS location services can be left on for a safety reason, emergency services use GPS location Adjusting settings for voice activation, data sharing, when apps are running, locations, etc. Turning off and airplane mode are also options Always let the client know the limits of confidentiality Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Psychotherapy in Ontario: How Confidential is my Therapy? By Beth Mares, Registered Psychotherapist The Privacy Problem with Digital Assistants by Kaveh Waddell Hey Siri and Alexa: Let's Talk Privacy Practices by Elizabeth Weise, USA Today Patient and Consumer Safety Risks When Using Conversational Assistants for Medical Information: An Observational Study of Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, 2018 Hey Siri: Did you Break Confidentiality, or did I? By Nicole M. Arcuri Sanders, Counseling Today Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant Not HIPAA Compliant, Psychiatry Advisor Hey Alexa, are you HIPAA compliant? 2018 Person-Centered Tech   Who’s in the Room? Siri, Alexa, and Confidentiality

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain confidentiality in a world of AI assistants and smart devices. What duty do clinicians have to inform clients? How can we balance confidentiality with the reality of how commonly these devices are involved in therapy? Can telehealth therapy be completely confidential and data secure? We discuss our shift in clinical responsibility, best practices, and how we can minimize exposure of clinical data to ensure the confidentiality our clients expect and deserve.

In this podcast episode we talk about something therapists might not consider: smart devices and AI assistants

We received a couple of requests to talk about the impact of smart devices on confidentiality and their compliance with HIPAA within a therapeutic environment. We tackle this question in depth:

What are best practices for protecting client confidentiality with smart devices?

  • Turning off the phone, or placing the phone on “airplane mode”
  • Warning clients about their own smart devices and confidentiality risks
  • The ethical responsibilities to inform about limits of confidentiality and take precautions
  • It’s all about giving clients choice and information

What should therapists consider when smart devices and AI assistants are in the room?

 – Curt Widhalm

  • Whistle-blower reports on how often these devices are actually listening
  • Turning off your phone is a lot cheaper than identity theft
  • Consider your contacts, geolocation, and Wi-Fi connection
  • Some of this, as we progress into a more technological world, might be unavoidable

How do Alexa and Siri impact HIPAA compliance for therapists?

  • The importance of end-to-end encryption for all HIPAA activities (and your smart device may not be compliant)
  • The cost of HIPAA violations if identity theft can be traced back
  • Understand the risks you are taking, do what you can, and remember no one is perfect

What can modern therapists do with their smart devices?

  • GPS location services can be left on for a safety reason, emergency services use GPS location
  • Adjusting settings for voice activation, data sharing, when apps are running, locations, etc.
  • Turning off and airplane mode are also options
  • Always let the client know the limits of confidentiality

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Psychotherapy in Ontario: How Confidential is my Therapy? By Beth Mares, Registered Psychotherapist The Privacy Problem with Digital Assistants by Kaveh Waddell

Hey Siri and Alexa: Let's Talk Privacy Practices by Elizabeth Weise, USA Today

Patient and Consumer Safety Risks When Using Conversational Assistants for Medical Information: An Observational Study of Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, 2018

Hey Siri: Did you Break Confidentiality, or did I? By Nicole M. Arcuri Sanders, Counseling Today

Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant Not HIPAA Compliant, Psychiatry Advisor

Hey Alexa, are you HIPAA compliant? 2018

Person-Centered Tech

 

]]> 1887 no How to Understand and Treat Psychosis https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-to-understand-and-treat-psychosis How to Understand and Treat Psychosis: An interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Maggie Mullen, LCSW, a national trainer on culturally responsive, evidence-based care for psychotic spectrum disorders. We talk with Maggie about their anti-racist and disability justice framework of psychosis, understanding psychosis on a spectrum, what to do when psychosis enters the treatment picture, assessment of psychosis, and treatment using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). We also talk about how society defines “normal” and pathology, exploring cultural differences in these definitions. Interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW In this podcast episode we talk about looking at psychosis differently Maggie Mullen’s anti-racist and disability justice framework of psychosis Maggie came from a community organizing background Inequity and lack of resources for people who experience chronic psychosis The focus on medication rather than other forms of treatment for psychosis BIPOC individuals being shot by police when psychosis shows up in a public space “Psychotic spectrum” versus the segregation of psychosis as “other” “We are often the least prepared to deal with our most acute clients” The continued segregation of psychotic disorders Cultural considerations when determining what is psychosis or other types of experiences The lack of inclusion of psychosis in the research Psychosis is not “other” but is actually a spectrum of behaviors and are very common The symptoms of psychosis are not constant, they fluctuate for every individual The importance of following the model and voices of the disability justice movement Including education on the treatment for psychosis, rather than allowing therapists to opt out Folks with psychosis are often not included in the research, which needs to change What to do when psychosis comes into the treatment picture for our clients We need more training on psychosis to feel confident Normalizing the experience of psychosis Helping to make peace with psychotic symptoms (i.e., making friends with the voices) to decrease distress Looking at treatments beyond medication How to identify psychosis and assess for impact and impairment The myth that all elements of psychosis are distressing and bad Why Maggie Mullen is using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to treat psychosis “People with psychosis deal with emotion dysregulation, actually more so than the average person…that's where we know DBT is really effective” We frequently underestimate the ability to help folks with psychosis Using DBT skills for emotion regulation concerns that frequently come up in psychosis Psychosis and PTSD oftentimes occur together and aren’t always diagnosed Trauma can influence the onset of psychosis AND psychosis can be traumatic Maggie’s pilot program with DBT for psychosis The concrete and straight forward nature of DBT skills make them very accessible Understanding psychosis differently, including the cultural differences of what is “normal” How to identify what is “real” and what is psychosis How do you define what is normal for someone? What do we decide what we pathologize? Breaking up the binary of normal or not normal – reframing as “experience” The importance of understanding what is negatively impacting the client and how to keep clients safe Take the lead of your client and trust that they know themselves best The tension between taking the lead of the client and mandates and requirements as a therapist The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Psychosis by Maggie Mullen, LCSW Maggie wrote a book to democratize DBT skills Using DBT, but making the skills more concrete and accessible  Mon, 10 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0000 How to Understand and Treat Psychosis: An interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW How to Understand and Treat Psychosis: An interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW Curt and Katie interview Maggie Mullen, LCSW, a national trainer on culturally responsive, evidence-based care for psychotic spectrum disorders. We talk with Maggie about their anti-racist and disability justice framework of psychosis, understanding psychosis on a spectrum, what to do when psychosis enters the treatment picture, assessment of psychosis, and treatment using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). We also talk about how society defines “normal” and pathology, exploring cultural differences in these definitions. Interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW In this podcast episode we talk about looking at psychosis differently Maggie Mullen’s anti-racist and disability justice framework of psychosis Maggie came from a community organizing background Inequity and lack of resources for people who experience chronic psychosis The focus on medication rather than other forms of treatment for psychosis BIPOC individuals being shot by police when psychosis shows up in a public space “Psychotic spectrum” versus the segregation of psychosis as “other” “We are often the least prepared to deal with our most acute clients” The continued segregation of psychotic disorders Cultural considerations when determining what is psychosis or other types of experiences The lack of inclusion of psychosis in the research Psychosis is not “other” but is actually a spectrum of behaviors and are very common The symptoms of psychosis are not constant, they fluctuate for every individual The importance of following the model and voices of the disability justice movement Including education on the treatment for psychosis, rather than allowing therapists to opt out Folks with psychosis are often not included in the research, which needs to change What to do when psychosis comes into the treatment picture for our clients We need more training on psychosis to feel confident Normalizing the experience of psychosis Helping to make peace with psychotic symptoms (i.e., making friends with the voices) to decrease distress Looking at treatments beyond medication How to identify psychosis and assess for impact and impairment The myth that all elements of psychosis are distressing and bad Why Maggie Mullen is using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to treat psychosis “People with psychosis deal with emotion dysregulation, actually more so than the average person…that's where we know DBT is really effective” We frequently underestimate the ability to help folks with psychosis Using DBT skills for emotion regulation concerns that frequently come up in psychosis Psychosis and PTSD oftentimes occur together and aren’t always diagnosed Trauma can influence the onset of psychosis AND psychosis can be traumatic Maggie’s pilot program with DBT for psychosis The concrete and straight forward nature of DBT skills make them very accessible Understanding psychosis differently, including the cultural differences of what is “normal” How to identify what is “real” and what is psychosis How do you define what is normal for someone? What do we decide what we pathologize? Breaking up the binary of normal or not normal – reframing as “experience” The importance of understanding what is negatively impacting the client and how to keep clients safe Take the lead of your client and trust that they know themselves best The tension between taking the lead of the client and mandates and requirements as a therapist The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Psychosis by Maggie Mullen, LCSW Maggie wrote a book to democratize DBT skills Using DBT, but making the skills more concrete and accessible  How to Understand and Treat Psychosis: An interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Maggie Mullen, LCSW, a national trainer on culturally responsive, evidence-based care for psychotic spectrum disorders. We talk with Maggie about their anti-racist and disability justice framework of psychosis, understanding psychosis on a spectrum, what to do when psychosis enters the treatment picture, assessment of psychosis, and treatment using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). We also talk about how society defines “normal” and pathology, exploring cultural differences in these definitions.

Interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW

In this podcast episode we talk about looking at psychosis differently

Maggie Mullen’s anti-racist and disability justice framework of psychosis

  • Maggie came from a community organizing background
  • Inequity and lack of resources for people who experience chronic psychosis
  • The focus on medication rather than other forms of treatment for psychosis
  • BIPOC individuals being shot by police when psychosis shows up in a public space

“Psychotic spectrum” versus the segregation of psychosis as “other”

“We are often the least prepared to deal with our most acute clients”

  • The continued segregation of psychotic disorders
  • Cultural considerations when determining what is psychosis or other types of experiences
  • The lack of inclusion of psychosis in the research
  • Psychosis is not “other” but is actually a spectrum of behaviors and are very common
  • The symptoms of psychosis are not constant, they fluctuate for every individual
  • The importance of following the model and voices of the disability justice movement
  • Including education on the treatment for psychosis, rather than allowing therapists to opt out
  • Folks with psychosis are often not included in the research, which needs to change

What to do when psychosis comes into the treatment picture for our clients

  • We need more training on psychosis to feel confident
  • Normalizing the experience of psychosis
  • Helping to make peace with psychotic symptoms (i.e., making friends with the voices) to decrease distress
  • Looking at treatments beyond medication
  • How to identify psychosis and assess for impact and impairment
  • The myth that all elements of psychosis are distressing and bad

Why Maggie Mullen is using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to treat psychosis

“People with psychosis deal with emotion dysregulation, actually more so than the average person…that's where we know DBT is really effective”

  • We frequently underestimate the ability to help folks with psychosis
  • Using DBT skills for emotion regulation concerns that frequently come up in psychosis
  • Psychosis and PTSD oftentimes occur together and aren’t always diagnosed
  • Trauma can influence the onset of psychosis AND psychosis can be traumatic
  • Maggie’s pilot program with DBT for psychosis
  • The concrete and straight forward nature of DBT skills make them very accessible

Understanding psychosis differently, including the cultural differences of what is “normal”

  • How to identify what is “real” and what is psychosis
  • How do you define what is normal for someone?
  • What do we decide what we pathologize?
  • Breaking up the binary of normal or not normal – reframing as “experience”
  • The importance of understanding what is negatively impacting the client and how to keep clients safe
  • Take the lead of your client and trust that they know themselves best
  • The tension between taking the lead of the client and mandates and requirements as a therapist

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Psychosis by Maggie Mullen, LCSW

  • Maggie wrote a book to democratize DBT skills
  • Using DBT, but making the skills more concrete and accessible 
]]> 2423 no Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/which-theoretical-orientation-should-you-choose Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose? Curt and Katie chat about how therapists typically select their clinical theoretical orientation for treatment. We look at the different elements of theoretical orientation (including case conceptualization, treatment interventions, and common factors), what impacts our choices, the importance of having a variety of clinical models to draw from, the types of practices that focus on only one clinical theory, and suggestions about how to approach choosing your theories for treatment, including some helpful assessments. In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists pick their theoretical orientation We received a couple of requests to talk about clinical theoretical orientation and how Curt and Katie chose their own. We tackle this question in depth: Choosing a clinical theoretical orientation The problem with the term “eclectic” when describing a clinical orientation How Curt and Katie each define their clinical orientations “Multi-modal” therapy The different elements of clinical orientations Case conceptualization Treatment interventions Common Factors and what actually makes therapy work What impacts which theoretical orientation we choose as therapists Clinical supervision Training Personal values and alignment with a theoretical orientation Common sense (what makes sense to you logically) Choosing interventions that you like The importance of having a variety of clinical theories that you can draw from Comprehensive understanding is required to be able to apply and know when not to apply a clinical orientation Avoid fitting a client’s presentation into your one clinical orientation Deliberate, intentional use of different orientations Why some therapy practices operate with a single clinical model Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) therapists run their practices and their lives with DBT principals Going deeply into a very specific theory (like DBT, EMDR, EFT, etc.) while you learn it Researchers are more likely to be singularly focused on one theory Suggestions on How to Approach Choosing Your Clinical Theoretical Orientation Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical orientation Understand the theory behind the interventions Recognizing when to use a very specific theory or when you can be more “eclectic” in your approach Deciding how fluid you’d like to be with your theoretical orientation Find what gels with you and do more of that The ability to pretty dramatically shift your theoretical orientation later in your career Instruments for Choosing a Theoretical Orientation Theoretical Orientation Scale (Smith, 2010) Counselor Theoretical Position Scale Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Institute for Creative Mindfulness Very Bad Therapy Podcast Petko, Kendrick and Young (2016): Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What influences a counseling student to choose? What is the Best Type of Therapy Elimination Game The Practice of Multimodal Therapy by Arnold A. Lazarus Poznanski and McClennan (2007): Measuring Counsellor Theoretical Orientation Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Unlearning Very Bad Therapy Interview with Dr. Diane Gehart: An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education   Mon, 03 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose? Curt and Katie chat about how therapists typically select their clinical theoretical orientation for treatment. We look at the different elements of theoretical orientation (including case... Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose? Curt and Katie chat about how therapists typically select their clinical theoretical orientation for treatment. We look at the different elements of theoretical orientation (including case conceptualization, treatment interventions, and common factors), what impacts our choices, the importance of having a variety of clinical models to draw from, the types of practices that focus on only one clinical theory, and suggestions about how to approach choosing your theories for treatment, including some helpful assessments. In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists pick their theoretical orientation We received a couple of requests to talk about clinical theoretical orientation and how Curt and Katie chose their own. We tackle this question in depth: Choosing a clinical theoretical orientation The problem with the term “eclectic” when describing a clinical orientation How Curt and Katie each define their clinical orientations “Multi-modal” therapy The different elements of clinical orientations Case conceptualization Treatment interventions Common Factors and what actually makes therapy work What impacts which theoretical orientation we choose as therapists Clinical supervision Training Personal values and alignment with a theoretical orientation Common sense (what makes sense to you logically) Choosing interventions that you like The importance of having a variety of clinical theories that you can draw from Comprehensive understanding is required to be able to apply and know when not to apply a clinical orientation Avoid fitting a client’s presentation into your one clinical orientation Deliberate, intentional use of different orientations Why some therapy practices operate with a single clinical model Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) therapists run their practices and their lives with DBT principals Going deeply into a very specific theory (like DBT, EMDR, EFT, etc.) while you learn it Researchers are more likely to be singularly focused on one theory Suggestions on How to Approach Choosing Your Clinical Theoretical Orientation Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical orientation Understand the theory behind the interventions Recognizing when to use a very specific theory or when you can be more “eclectic” in your approach Deciding how fluid you’d like to be with your theoretical orientation Find what gels with you and do more of that The ability to pretty dramatically shift your theoretical orientation later in your career Instruments for Choosing a Theoretical Orientation Theoretical Orientation Scale (Smith, 2010) Counselor Theoretical Position Scale Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Institute for Creative Mindfulness Very Bad Therapy Podcast Petko, Kendrick and Young (2016): Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What influences a counseling student to choose? What is the Best Type of Therapy Elimination Game The Practice of Multimodal Therapy by Arnold A. Lazarus Poznanski and McClennan (2007): Measuring Counsellor Theoretical Orientation Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Unlearning Very Bad Therapy Interview with Dr. Diane Gehart: An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education   Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose?

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists typically select their clinical theoretical orientation for treatment. We look at the different elements of theoretical orientation (including case conceptualization, treatment interventions, and common factors), what impacts our choices, the importance of having a variety of clinical models to draw from, the types of practices that focus on only one clinical theory, and suggestions about how to approach choosing your theories for treatment, including some helpful assessments.

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists pick their theoretical orientation

We received a couple of requests to talk about clinical theoretical orientation and how Curt and Katie chose their own. We tackle this question in depth:

Choosing a clinical theoretical orientation

  • The problem with the term “eclectic” when describing a clinical orientation
  • How Curt and Katie each define their clinical orientations
  • “Multi-modal” therapy

The different elements of clinical orientations

  • Case conceptualization
  • Treatment interventions
  • Common Factors and what actually makes therapy work

What impacts which theoretical orientation we choose as therapists

  • Clinical supervision
  • Training
  • Personal values and alignment with a theoretical orientation
  • Common sense (what makes sense to you logically)
  • Choosing interventions that you like

The importance of having a variety of clinical theories that you can draw from

  • Comprehensive understanding is required to be able to apply and know when not to apply a clinical orientation
  • Avoid fitting a client’s presentation into your one clinical orientation
  • Deliberate, intentional use of different orientations

Why some therapy practices operate with a single clinical model

  • Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) therapists run their practices and their lives with DBT principals
  • Going deeply into a very specific theory (like DBT, EMDR, EFT, etc.) while you learn it
  • Researchers are more likely to be singularly focused on one theory

Suggestions on How to Approach Choosing Your Clinical Theoretical Orientation

  • Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical orientation
  • Understand the theory behind the interventions
  • Recognizing when to use a very specific theory or when you can be more “eclectic” in your approach
  • Deciding how fluid you’d like to be with your theoretical orientation
  • Find what gels with you and do more of that
  • The ability to pretty dramatically shift your theoretical orientation later in your career

Instruments for Choosing a Theoretical Orientation

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Institute for Creative Mindfulness

Very Bad Therapy Podcast

Petko, Kendrick and Young (2016): Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What influences a counseling student to choose?

What is the Best Type of Therapy Elimination Game

The Practice of Multimodal Therapy by Arnold A. Lazarus

Poznanski and McClennan (2007): Measuring Counsellor Theoretical Orientation

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Unlearning Very Bad Therapy

Interview with Dr. Diane Gehart: An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education

 

]]> 2075 no The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Requirements https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-january-2022-surprise-of-good-faith-estimates-requirements The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Requirements Curt and Katie chat about the No Surprises Act, specifically how to navigate the requirement for clinicians to provide Good Faith Estimates to clients. We talk about the impact of Good Faith Estimates on the intake process, potential complications when providing these estimates to your patients, and suggestions for how to simplify and systemize this requirement.     In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide we talk about the No Surprises Act and the Good Faith Estimate Requirement When we heard about the planned implementation of these new requirements, we decided to dive into the legislation and articles from professional associations to understand what we actually need to do starting January 1, 2022. What is the No Surprises Act and the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Requirement? The goal of the No Surprises legislation is to avoid surprising patients with large medical bills There are benefits and challenges with the requirement to provide good faith estimates to our clients The Good Faith Estimate requirement is to provide the estimated cost of services (fee times number of sessions) at the beginning of treatment (if asked) and at least annually, if needed How will the Good Faith Estimate Requirement impact the Intake Process for Therapy? We are required to determine whether someone is hoping to get insurance reimbursement We must communicate the ability to obtain a written good faith estimate from providers We are required to estimate the number of sessions and total cost of treatment We talk about when you may need to provide a new good faith estimate (and explain changes) We provided a suggestion to start with a GFE for the intake session and then provide a second GFE after that initial session Potential Complications Curt and Katie see for Therapists Providing Good Faith Estimates The requirement for diagnosis very early in treatment The requirement for a diagnosis written on paper – both for folks who don’t know or have not asked before, as well as for folks who do not want a written diagnosis Concerns related to putting forward the total cost of therapy for the year The elements of bureaucracy that could negatively impact the therapeutic relationship The No Surprises Act legislation isn’t finalized and may have additional components or changes Our Suggestions to Systematize the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Requirement for Therapists Consider coordinating the timeline for updating GFEs, treatment plans, frequency of sessions, progress in treatment, and a reassessment of the sliding scale Think through how you talk about diagnosis and treatment planning ahead of time The idea to create some sort of mechanism for folks to either decline a GFE or to request an oral versus paper GFE Use recommended language to create your notice for your office as well as on your website Create your own template to simplify the process, including a boiler plate GFE for your intake Create a template for GFEs for on-going treatment Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! APA Article: New Billing Disclosure Requirements Take Effect in 2022 Suggested Notification Language for Good Faith Estimates Template for a Good Faith Estimate Good Faith Estimate Legislation Language from the No Surprises Act Federal Register: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II CMS.gov: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II, Interim Final Rule with comment period Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance? Make your Paperwork Meaningful Mon, 27 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0000 The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Requirements full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Requirements Curt and Katie chat about the No Surprises Act, specifically how to navigate the requirement for clinicians to provide Good Faith Estimates to clients. We talk about the impact of Good... The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Requirements Curt and Katie chat about the No Surprises Act, specifically how to navigate the requirement for clinicians to provide Good Faith Estimates to clients. We talk about the impact of Good Faith Estimates on the intake process, potential complications when providing these estimates to your patients, and suggestions for how to simplify and systemize this requirement.     In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide we talk about the No Surprises Act and the Good Faith Estimate Requirement When we heard about the planned implementation of these new requirements, we decided to dive into the legislation and articles from professional associations to understand what we actually need to do starting January 1, 2022. What is the No Surprises Act and the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Requirement? The goal of the No Surprises legislation is to avoid surprising patients with large medical bills There are benefits and challenges with the requirement to provide good faith estimates to our clients The Good Faith Estimate requirement is to provide the estimated cost of services (fee times number of sessions) at the beginning of treatment (if asked) and at least annually, if needed How will the Good Faith Estimate Requirement impact the Intake Process for Therapy? We are required to determine whether someone is hoping to get insurance reimbursement We must communicate the ability to obtain a written good faith estimate from providers We are required to estimate the number of sessions and total cost of treatment We talk about when you may need to provide a new good faith estimate (and explain changes) We provided a suggestion to start with a GFE for the intake session and then provide a second GFE after that initial session Potential Complications Curt and Katie see for Therapists Providing Good Faith Estimates The requirement for diagnosis very early in treatment The requirement for a diagnosis written on paper – both for folks who don’t know or have not asked before, as well as for folks who do not want a written diagnosis Concerns related to putting forward the total cost of therapy for the year The elements of bureaucracy that could negatively impact the therapeutic relationship The No Surprises Act legislation isn’t finalized and may have additional components or changes Our Suggestions to Systematize the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Requirement for Therapists Consider coordinating the timeline for updating GFEs, treatment plans, frequency of sessions, progress in treatment, and a reassessment of the sliding scale Think through how you talk about diagnosis and treatment planning ahead of time The idea to create some sort of mechanism for folks to either decline a GFE or to request an oral versus paper GFE Use recommended language to create your notice for your office as well as on your website Create your own template to simplify the process, including a boiler plate GFE for your intake Create a template for GFEs for on-going treatment Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! APA Article: New Billing Disclosure Requirements Take Effect in 2022 Suggested Notification Language for Good Faith Estimates Template for a Good Faith Estimate Good Faith Estimate Legislation Language from the No Surprises Act Federal Register: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II CMS.gov: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II, Interim Final Rule with comment period Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance? Make your Paperwork Meaningful The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Requirements

Curt and Katie chat about the No Surprises Act, specifically how to navigate the requirement for clinicians to provide Good Faith Estimates to clients. We talk about the impact of Good Faith Estimates on the intake process, potential complications when providing these estimates to your patients, and suggestions for how to simplify and systemize this requirement.    

In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide we talk about the No Surprises Act and the Good Faith Estimate Requirement

When we heard about the planned implementation of these new requirements, we decided to dive into the legislation and articles from professional associations to understand what we actually need to do starting January 1, 2022.

What is the No Surprises Act and the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Requirement?

  • The goal of the No Surprises legislation is to avoid surprising patients with large medical bills
  • There are benefits and challenges with the requirement to provide good faith estimates to our clients
  • The Good Faith Estimate requirement is to provide the estimated cost of services (fee times number of sessions) at the beginning of treatment (if asked) and at least annually, if needed

How will the Good Faith Estimate Requirement impact the Intake Process for Therapy?

  • We are required to determine whether someone is hoping to get insurance reimbursement
  • We must communicate the ability to obtain a written good faith estimate from providers
  • We are required to estimate the number of sessions and total cost of treatment
  • We talk about when you may need to provide a new good faith estimate (and explain changes)
  • We provided a suggestion to start with a GFE for the intake session and then provide a second GFE after that initial session

Potential Complications Curt and Katie see for Therapists Providing Good Faith Estimates

  • The requirement for diagnosis very early in treatment
  • The requirement for a diagnosis written on paper – both for folks who don’t know or have not asked before, as well as for folks who do not want a written diagnosis
  • Concerns related to putting forward the total cost of therapy for the year
  • The elements of bureaucracy that could negatively impact the therapeutic relationship
  • The No Surprises Act legislation isn’t finalized and may have additional components or changes

Our Suggestions to Systematize the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Requirement for Therapists

  • Consider coordinating the timeline for updating GFEs, treatment plans, frequency of sessions, progress in treatment, and a reassessment of the sliding scale
  • Think through how you talk about diagnosis and treatment planning ahead of time
  • The idea to create some sort of mechanism for folks to either decline a GFE or to request an oral versus paper GFE
  • Use recommended language to create your notice for your office as well as on your website
  • Create your own template to simplify the process, including a boiler plate GFE for your intake
  • Create a template for GFEs for on-going treatment

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

APA Article: New Billing Disclosure Requirements Take Effect in 2022

Suggested Notification Language for Good Faith Estimates

Template for a Good Faith Estimate

Good Faith Estimate Legislation Language from the No Surprises Act

Federal Register: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II

CMS.gov: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II, Interim Final Rule with comment period

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance?

Make your Paperwork Meaningful

]]> 2364 no How Can Therapists Actually Retire? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-can-therapists-actually-retire How Can Therapists Actually Retire? - An interview with David Frank, financial planner for therapists Curt and Katie talk with David about managing finances, including student loan debt and retirement. We look at when to start saving, what to do when you’re starting to save for retirement later in life, and how much is too much to save. David also shares his concept of a Money Date and how you should start looking at your financial picture. He also talks about financial planning and when to seek a professional for support. Interview with David Frank, Turning Point Financial Life Planning In this podcast episode we talk about: Managing Personal and Professional Finances How perfectionism can get in the way of saving The importance of “just getting started” in saving for retirement Saving money is a practice, not something you figure out once Why it is important to save money as soon as you can Navigating Student Loan Debt Student loan debt and how overwhelming it is to look at these debts The desire to pay off this debt as quickly as possible David’s advice to save at least one time your annual income before aggressively paying off your student loan debt The comparison of interest rates on your debt versus returns on investing money Retirement and Investing in your Future “Starting to save and invest young is such great advice… and… it’s advice for time travelers” For younger folks, the advice is to save as soon as possible What to do if you are closer to retirement age and you haven’t started saving for retirement How to determine when you can retire “No one does this money thing perfectly, even if we start out of the gate pretty strong.” What to do when life happens and you have to start over David’s own story of having to start over Societal fear due to 2008 and the Great Recession David Frank’s Concept of “Money Dates” Reserve time each week to look at your money Start understanding how much you need to save Idea: go to the Social Security Administration Website to see what you’re entitled to in social security How Much Money to Save The money mindset concerns that can get in the way of saving (or even looking at) your money How much money is too much money to save? Emergency funds and the feeling of safety and security The risks of saving too much money Quality of life questions when you are underspending Online tools to identify what you need in retirement, so you know when you’ve saved enough Actual numbers of what to save for retirement and what you can spend now Financial Planning – When and why to seek help with your money The complexity of the decisions related to paying debt versus investing The number of options available to each person when making decisions on our money Get feedback on how well you are doing on your practice financials and saving for retirement Risk planning, financial planning, estate and incapacity planning The importance of understanding your values when you look at how to spend your money Financial planning when you don’t have a lot of money Choosing what you sacrifice when you decide to invest in shiny objects The problem of “shoulds” and getting financial advice from other therapists Mon, 20 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0000 How Can Therapists Actually Retire? - An interview with David Frank full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with David Frank, financial planner for therapists How Can Therapists Actually Retire? - An interview with David Frank, financial planner for therapists Curt and Katie talk with David about managing finances, including student loan debt and retirement. We look at when to start saving, what to do when you’re starting to save for retirement later in life, and how much is too much to save. David also shares his concept of a Money Date and how you should start looking at your financial picture. He also talks about financial planning and when to seek a professional for support. Interview with David Frank, Turning Point Financial Life Planning In this podcast episode we talk about: Managing Personal and Professional Finances How perfectionism can get in the way of saving The importance of “just getting started” in saving for retirement Saving money is a practice, not something you figure out once Why it is important to save money as soon as you can Navigating Student Loan Debt Student loan debt and how overwhelming it is to look at these debts The desire to pay off this debt as quickly as possible David’s advice to save at least one time your annual income before aggressively paying off your student loan debt The comparison of interest rates on your debt versus returns on investing money Retirement and Investing in your Future “Starting to save and invest young is such great advice… and… it’s advice for time travelers” For younger folks, the advice is to save as soon as possible What to do if you are closer to retirement age and you haven’t started saving for retirement How to determine when you can retire “No one does this money thing perfectly, even if we start out of the gate pretty strong.” What to do when life happens and you have to start over David’s own story of having to start over Societal fear due to 2008 and the Great Recession David Frank’s Concept of “Money Dates” Reserve time each week to look at your money Start understanding how much you need to save Idea: go to the Social Security Administration Website to see what you’re entitled to in social security How Much Money to Save The money mindset concerns that can get in the way of saving (or even looking at) your money How much money is too much money to save? Emergency funds and the feeling of safety and security The risks of saving too much money Quality of life questions when you are underspending Online tools to identify what you need in retirement, so you know when you’ve saved enough Actual numbers of what to save for retirement and what you can spend now Financial Planning – When and why to seek help with your money The complexity of the decisions related to paying debt versus investing The number of options available to each person when making decisions on our money Get feedback on how well you are doing on your practice financials and saving for retirement Risk planning, financial planning, estate and incapacity planning The importance of understanding your values when you look at how to spend your money Financial planning when you don’t have a lot of money Choosing what you sacrifice when you decide to invest in shiny objects The problem of “shoulds” and getting financial advice from other therapists How Can Therapists Actually Retire? - An interview with David Frank, financial planner for therapists

Curt and Katie talk with David about managing finances, including student loan debt and retirement. We look at when to start saving, what to do when you’re starting to save for retirement later in life, and how much is too much to save. David also shares his concept of a Money Date and how you should start looking at your financial picture. He also talks about financial planning and when to seek a professional for support.

Interview with David Frank, Turning Point Financial Life Planning

In this podcast episode we talk about: Managing Personal and Professional Finances

  • How perfectionism can get in the way of saving
  • The importance of “just getting started” in saving for retirement
  • Saving money is a practice, not something you figure out once
  • Why it is important to save money as soon as you can

Navigating Student Loan Debt

  • Student loan debt and how overwhelming it is to look at these debts
  • The desire to pay off this debt as quickly as possible
  • David’s advice to save at least one time your annual income before aggressively paying off your student loan debt
  • The comparison of interest rates on your debt versus returns on investing money

Retirement and Investing in your Future “Starting to save and invest young is such great advice… and… it’s advice for time travelers”

  • For younger folks, the advice is to save as soon as possible
  • What to do if you are closer to retirement age and you haven’t started saving for retirement
  • How to determine when you can retire

“No one does this money thing perfectly, even if we start out of the gate pretty strong.”

  • What to do when life happens and you have to start over
  • David’s own story of having to start over
  • Societal fear due to 2008 and the Great Recession

David Frank’s Concept of “Money Dates”

  • Reserve time each week to look at your money
  • Start understanding how much you need to save
  • Idea: go to the Social Security Administration Website to see what you’re entitled to in social security

How Much Money to Save

  • The money mindset concerns that can get in the way of saving (or even looking at) your money
  • How much money is too much money to save?
  • Emergency funds and the feeling of safety and security
  • The risks of saving too much money
  • Quality of life questions when you are underspending
  • Online tools to identify what you need in retirement, so you know when you’ve saved enough
  • Actual numbers of what to save for retirement and what you can spend now

Financial Planning – When and why to seek help with your money

  • The complexity of the decisions related to paying debt versus investing
  • The number of options available to each person when making decisions on our money
  • Get feedback on how well you are doing on your practice financials and saving for retirement
  • Risk planning, financial planning, estate and incapacity planning
  • The importance of understanding your values when you look at how to spend your money
  • Financial planning when you don’t have a lot of money
  • Choosing what you sacrifice when you decide to invest in shiny objects
  • The problem of “shoulds” and getting financial advice from other therapists
]]> 2456 no Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/should-private-practice-therapists-take-insurance Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance? Curt and Katie chat about the latest data from SimplePractice on private practice clinicians billing insurance. We explore the most common set up for clinicians (a hybrid insurance/private pay practice) as well as how therapists bill insurance, the disparity between private pay fees and insurance rates (and how different these disparities are across the United States), how strategies for growing private practices are affected by who is paying, and how to set yourself up for a successful hybrid insurance practice. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Demystifying the most Common CPT Codes E-Book from SimplePractice Looking at the most common make up of therapists’ private practices (hybrid: insurance and private pay) The theories about whether to take insurance of not The process of starting a practice (credentialing timeline, marketing, etc.) The benefits of being on an insurance panel (e.g., nearly 100% close rate) The income differences for clinicians at different stages of practice development The average number of appointments per week by type of practice (insurance, hybrid, or private pay) and what that means for your income How well insurance reimburses in different states (and comparing these rates to typical private pay fees) Financial considerations when looking at the insurance rates you will get in your area How to set up your practice if you choose to take insurance The most frequently billed CPT code (as well as others to consider) The controversy around 90837 and how to make sure you get paid Different strategies to build a sustainable business with an insurance or hybrid private practice Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Demystifying the Most Commonly Used CPT® Codes for Mental Health   Relevant Episodes: Busting Insurance Myths Make Your Paperwork Meaningful Noteworthy Documentation Negotiating Sliding Scale Special Interview: Open Path Psychotherapy Collective   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Mon, 13 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance? Curt and Katie chat about the latest data from SimplePractice on private practice clinicians billing insurance. We explore the most common set up for clinicians (a hybrid insurance/private pay... Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance? Curt and Katie chat about the latest data from SimplePractice on private practice clinicians billing insurance. We explore the most common set up for clinicians (a hybrid insurance/private pay practice) as well as how therapists bill insurance, the disparity between private pay fees and insurance rates (and how different these disparities are across the United States), how strategies for growing private practices are affected by who is paying, and how to set yourself up for a successful hybrid insurance practice. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Demystifying the most Common CPT Codes E-Book from SimplePractice Looking at the most common make up of therapists’ private practices (hybrid: insurance and private pay) The theories about whether to take insurance of not The process of starting a practice (credentialing timeline, marketing, etc.) The benefits of being on an insurance panel (e.g., nearly 100% close rate) The income differences for clinicians at different stages of practice development The average number of appointments per week by type of practice (insurance, hybrid, or private pay) and what that means for your income How well insurance reimburses in different states (and comparing these rates to typical private pay fees) Financial considerations when looking at the insurance rates you will get in your area How to set up your practice if you choose to take insurance The most frequently billed CPT code (as well as others to consider) The controversy around 90837 and how to make sure you get paid Different strategies to build a sustainable business with an insurance or hybrid private practice Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Demystifying the Most Commonly Used CPT® Codes for Mental Health   Relevant Episodes: Busting Insurance Myths Make Your Paperwork Meaningful Noteworthy Documentation Negotiating Sliding Scale Special Interview: Open Path Psychotherapy Collective   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance?

Curt and Katie chat about the latest data from SimplePractice on private practice clinicians billing insurance. We explore the most common set up for clinicians (a hybrid insurance/private pay practice) as well as how therapists bill insurance, the disparity between private pay fees and insurance rates (and how different these disparities are across the United States), how strategies for growing private practices are affected by who is paying, and how to set yourself up for a successful hybrid insurance practice.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Demystifying the most Common CPT Codes E-Book from SimplePractice
  • Looking at the most common make up of therapists’ private practices (hybrid: insurance and private pay)
  • The theories about whether to take insurance of not
  • The process of starting a practice (credentialing timeline, marketing, etc.)
  • The benefits of being on an insurance panel (e.g., nearly 100% close rate)
  • The income differences for clinicians at different stages of practice development
  • The average number of appointments per week by type of practice (insurance, hybrid, or private pay) and what that means for your income
  • How well insurance reimburses in different states (and comparing these rates to typical private pay fees)
  • Financial considerations when looking at the insurance rates you will get in your area
  • How to set up your practice if you choose to take insurance
  • The most frequently billed CPT code (as well as others to consider)
  • The controversy around 90837 and how to make sure you get paid
  • Different strategies to build a sustainable business with an insurance or hybrid private practice

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Demystifying the Most Commonly Used CPT® Codes for Mental Health

 

Relevant Episodes:

Busting Insurance Myths

Make Your Paperwork Meaningful

Noteworthy Documentation

Negotiating Sliding Scale

Special Interview: Open Path Psychotherapy Collective

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

]]> 2333 no When Clients Have to Manage Their Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/when-clients-have-to-manage-their-therapists When Clients Have to Manage Their Therapists Curt and Katie chat about the work (or mental load) therapists often give to clients that is really ours. We talk about requiring our clients to do things that are not helpful to treatment like: manage our time, do excessive paperwork, negotiate through our money stuff, be guinea pigs, or teach us about their culture or other differences. We also look at the impact of these abdications of responsibility on the therapeutic relationship and the clinical work.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: When we give more work to clients (that isn’t really good therapy) The mental load or emotional labor that therapists can unwittingly add for clients Time management and the impact of poor practices on clients Being late, managing the shape of the session, scheduling The difference between being authentic and being irresponsible The care you show when managing rescheduling and the impact on the relationship What can come up, especially related to attachment wounds The problem when you consistently forget to get back to your clients Paperwork as a burden on clients, especially when clinicians don’t read the paperwork The message you give when you don’t follow up on a client’s homework When outcome measures feel like paperwork that is solely for the benefit of the therapist, rather than something that feels relevant to the client Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) poorly implemented Delayed billing, not providing superbills timely Allowing a balance to accrue The power dynamic and power imbalance when clients owe therapists a sizable amount The labor we’re giving to our clients when don’t have structure on payment (sliding scale fees and payment plans) How our own money stuff might come into these conversations Adding new theories or trying new interventions on clients without a strong clinical rationale The danger to the client’s trust in the process if we throw new interventions in each week The mental load of asking our clients to teach about their own experience or navigating therapist bias Identifying a lack of fit or when treatment is over (rather than forcing our clients to do so) Own our humanness and set ourselves up for success Why this work sometimes gets handed to clients (rigidity, therapy culture) Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0000 When Clients Have to Manage Their Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT When Clients Have to Manage Their Therapists Curt and Katie chat about the work (or mental load) therapists often give to clients that is really ours. We talk about requiring our clients to do things that are not helpful to treatment like: manage our... When Clients Have to Manage Their Therapists Curt and Katie chat about the work (or mental load) therapists often give to clients that is really ours. We talk about requiring our clients to do things that are not helpful to treatment like: manage our time, do excessive paperwork, negotiate through our money stuff, be guinea pigs, or teach us about their culture or other differences. We also look at the impact of these abdications of responsibility on the therapeutic relationship and the clinical work.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: When we give more work to clients (that isn’t really good therapy) The mental load or emotional labor that therapists can unwittingly add for clients Time management and the impact of poor practices on clients Being late, managing the shape of the session, scheduling The difference between being authentic and being irresponsible The care you show when managing rescheduling and the impact on the relationship What can come up, especially related to attachment wounds The problem when you consistently forget to get back to your clients Paperwork as a burden on clients, especially when clinicians don’t read the paperwork The message you give when you don’t follow up on a client’s homework When outcome measures feel like paperwork that is solely for the benefit of the therapist, rather than something that feels relevant to the client Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) poorly implemented Delayed billing, not providing superbills timely Allowing a balance to accrue The power dynamic and power imbalance when clients owe therapists a sizable amount The labor we’re giving to our clients when don’t have structure on payment (sliding scale fees and payment plans) How our own money stuff might come into these conversations Adding new theories or trying new interventions on clients without a strong clinical rationale The danger to the client’s trust in the process if we throw new interventions in each week The mental load of asking our clients to teach about their own experience or navigating therapist bias Identifying a lack of fit or when treatment is over (rather than forcing our clients to do so) Own our humanness and set ourselves up for success Why this work sometimes gets handed to clients (rigidity, therapy culture) When Clients Have to Manage Their Therapists

Curt and Katie chat about the work (or mental load) therapists often give to clients that is really ours. We talk about requiring our clients to do things that are not helpful to treatment like: manage our time, do excessive paperwork, negotiate through our money stuff, be guinea pigs, or teach us about their culture or other differences. We also look at the impact of these abdications of responsibility on the therapeutic relationship and the clinical work.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • When we give more work to clients (that isn’t really good therapy)
  • The mental load or emotional labor that therapists can unwittingly add for clients
  • Time management and the impact of poor practices on clients
  • Being late, managing the shape of the session, scheduling
  • The difference between being authentic and being irresponsible
  • The care you show when managing rescheduling and the impact on the relationship
  • What can come up, especially related to attachment wounds
  • The problem when you consistently forget to get back to your clients
  • Paperwork as a burden on clients, especially when clinicians don’t read the paperwork
  • The message you give when you don’t follow up on a client’s homework
  • When outcome measures feel like paperwork that is solely for the benefit of the therapist, rather than something that feels relevant to the client
  • Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) poorly implemented
  • Delayed billing, not providing superbills timely
  • Allowing a balance to accrue
  • The power dynamic and power imbalance when clients owe therapists a sizable amount
  • The labor we’re giving to our clients when don’t have structure on payment (sliding scale fees and payment plans)
  • How our own money stuff might come into these conversations
  • Adding new theories or trying new interventions on clients without a strong clinical rationale
  • The danger to the client’s trust in the process if we throw new interventions in each week
  • The mental load of asking our clients to teach about their own experience or navigating therapist bias
  • Identifying a lack of fit or when treatment is over (rather than forcing our clients to do so)
  • Own our humanness and set ourselves up for success
  • Why this work sometimes gets handed to clients (rigidity, therapy culture)
]]> 2250 yes How to Be Accessible Beyond the Sliding Scale https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-to-be-accessible-beyond-the-sliding-scale How to Be Accessible Beyond the Sliding Scale An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, about how therapy can be accessible (and not just financially). Curt and Katie chat with Lindsay about capitalism versus money exchange, the social enterprise model, and how therapists can make a good living without feeling like greedy capitalists. We also explore the many different types of accessibility and the importance of setting your fees based on your needs and values rather than as a mechanism to single-handedly fix the broken system or to meet an artificial money goal.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, Mind Money Balance Lindsay Bryan-Podvin (she/her) is a biracial financial therapist, speaker, and author of the book "The Financial Anxiety Solution." In her therapy practice, Mind Money Balance, she uses shame-free financial therapy to help people get their minds and money in balance. She's expanded her services to help private practice therapists with their money mindset, sustainable pricing, and authentic marketing so they can include financial self-care in their work. She lives with her partner and their dog on the traditional land of the Fox, Peoria, Potawatomi, and Anishinabewaki peoples also known as Michigan. In this episode we talk about: How therapy can be more accessible (and not just monetarily) The money “shit” that gets in the way of us thinking about other options for accessibility Decreasing stigma and the notion that therapy is by and for white folks Are we making our practices accessible for all sorts of folks? ADA compliance, supporting neurodivergent and disabled folks Cultural competence, the ability to apply that in sessions with clients who are different than us Being embedded in our communities Taking therapy out of the shadows The challenges in getting out and having a larger voice How accessibility is intertwined with therapist visibility How to become part of your community in effective and impactful ways Financial ways to make your practice more accessible beyond sliding scale Social Enterprise Model: intersection of what you do well, what values you stand for, and what can you get paid well to do Feeling like a greedy capitalist What it means to be paid well How to think about setting your fees Fee-setting based on what you need to survive and thrive (not capitalist principles) The problem with “know your worth” The big cognitive shift required to move from community mental health pricing and work-life balance, fees Tying money to quality of life, not specific monetary goals Getting to “enough” not more and more Capitalism versus money exchange The wealth of knowledge we have as therapists (and how therapists take it for granted and/or devalue it) Sharing your knowledge as a mechanism of accessibility to your whole community To practice self-care, you have to be able to afford it Mon, 29 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0000 How to Be Accessible Beyond the Sliding Scale: An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin How to Be Accessible Beyond the Sliding Scale An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, about how therapy can be accessible (and not just financially). Curt and Katie chat with Lindsay about capitalism versus money exchange, the social enterprise model, and how therapists can make a good living without feeling like greedy capitalists. We also explore the many different types of accessibility and the importance of setting your fees based on your needs and values rather than as a mechanism to single-handedly fix the broken system or to meet an artificial money goal.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, Mind Money Balance Lindsay Bryan-Podvin (she/her) is a biracial financial therapist, speaker, and author of the book "The Financial Anxiety Solution." In her therapy practice, Mind Money Balance, she uses shame-free financial therapy to help people get their minds and money in balance. She's expanded her services to help private practice therapists with their money mindset, sustainable pricing, and authentic marketing so they can include financial self-care in their work. She lives with her partner and their dog on the traditional land of the Fox, Peoria, Potawatomi, and Anishinabewaki peoples also known as Michigan. In this episode we talk about: How therapy can be more accessible (and not just monetarily) The money “shit” that gets in the way of us thinking about other options for accessibility Decreasing stigma and the notion that therapy is by and for white folks Are we making our practices accessible for all sorts of folks? ADA compliance, supporting neurodivergent and disabled folks Cultural competence, the ability to apply that in sessions with clients who are different than us Being embedded in our communities Taking therapy out of the shadows The challenges in getting out and having a larger voice How accessibility is intertwined with therapist visibility How to become part of your community in effective and impactful ways Financial ways to make your practice more accessible beyond sliding scale Social Enterprise Model: intersection of what you do well, what values you stand for, and what can you get paid well to do Feeling like a greedy capitalist What it means to be paid well How to think about setting your fees Fee-setting based on what you need to survive and thrive (not capitalist principles) The problem with “know your worth” The big cognitive shift required to move from community mental health pricing and work-life balance, fees Tying money to quality of life, not specific monetary goals Getting to “enough” not more and more Capitalism versus money exchange The wealth of knowledge we have as therapists (and how therapists take it for granted and/or devalue it) Sharing your knowledge as a mechanism of accessibility to your whole community To practice self-care, you have to be able to afford it How to Be Accessible Beyond the Sliding Scale

An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, about how therapy can be accessible (and not just financially). Curt and Katie chat with Lindsay about capitalism versus money exchange, the social enterprise model, and how therapists can make a good living without feeling like greedy capitalists. We also explore the many different types of accessibility and the importance of setting your fees based on your needs and values rather than as a mechanism to single-handedly fix the broken system or to meet an artificial money goal.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, Mind Money Balance

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin (she/her) is a biracial financial therapist, speaker, and author of the book "The Financial Anxiety Solution." In her therapy practice, Mind Money Balance, she uses shame-free financial therapy to help people get their minds and money in balance. She's expanded her services to help private practice therapists with their money mindset, sustainable pricing, and authentic marketing so they can include financial self-care in their work. She lives with her partner and their dog on the traditional land of the Fox, Peoria, Potawatomi, and Anishinabewaki peoples also known as Michigan.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How therapy can be more accessible (and not just monetarily)
  • The money “shit” that gets in the way of us thinking about other options for accessibility
  • Decreasing stigma and the notion that therapy is by and for white folks
  • Are we making our practices accessible for all sorts of folks?
  • ADA compliance, supporting neurodivergent and disabled folks
  • Cultural competence, the ability to apply that in sessions with clients who are different than us
  • Being embedded in our communities
  • Taking therapy out of the shadows
  • The challenges in getting out and having a larger voice
  • How accessibility is intertwined with therapist visibility
  • How to become part of your community in effective and impactful ways
  • Financial ways to make your practice more accessible beyond sliding scale
  • Social Enterprise Model: intersection of what you do well, what values you stand for, and what can you get paid well to do
  • Feeling like a greedy capitalist
  • What it means to be paid well
  • How to think about setting your fees
  • Fee-setting based on what you need to survive and thrive (not capitalist principles)
  • The problem with “know your worth”
  • The big cognitive shift required to move from community mental health pricing and work-life balance, fees
  • Tying money to quality of life, not specific monetary goals
  • Getting to “enough” not more and more
  • Capitalism versus money exchange
  • The wealth of knowledge we have as therapists (and how therapists take it for granted and/or devalue it)
  • Sharing your knowledge as a mechanism of accessibility to your whole community
  • To practice self-care, you have to be able to afford it
]]> 2143 yes Peer Support Specialists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/peer-support-specialists Peer Support Specialists It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kemisha Fields, MSW, Amparo Ostojic, MPA, and Jeff Kashou, LMFT Kemisha Fields, MSW: Kemisha Fields was born and raised in South Los Angeles, CA. As a former foster youth, she has taken a professional interest in the commitment to serving the needs of children and families as a Children’s Social Worker working in Dependency Investigations. She has studied many modalities to bring healing to those in need. Kemisha is a life, long learner inspired by the abundance of opportunities available to enrich the lives of the people she serves. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California. Currently, Kemisha is a Doctoral Student of Business Administration with an emphasis in organizational leadership. Jeff Kashou, LMFT: Jeff Kashou, LMFT is a manager of clinical product and service design for a mental health tech company that provides telemedicine to those with serious mental illness. Previously, he ran a county mental health program where he helped develop the role fo peers for adolescent programs county-wide and collaborated with peers to create management practices to support their professional development. In this position, Jeff developed a practice guideline for the utilization of peers in behavioral health settings for the County of Orange. Jeff has also served on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, where he helped lead the association to support the field of Marriage and Family Therapy and those with mental health issues. He consults as experts in mental health for television productions, to ensure the accurate and helpful portrayal of mental illness and treatment in the media. Most recently, Jeff and his wife Sheila wrote a children's book, The Proudest Color, that helps children of color cope with racism that will be on shelves this Fall. In this episode we talk about: What a peer support specialist is, how they work What peers can uniquely bring The hiring process, qualifications, and what that means for individuals seeking these jobs The difference in perspective that peer and parent partners can bring to treatment teams The importance of lived experience Comparing holistic versus medical model treatment The medical model and the recovery model complement each other The importance of advocacy for individuals (with the support of the peer support specialist) How peer support specialists are best integrated into treatment teams and programs The potential problems when the peer support specialist role is not understood How someone can become a Peer Support Specialist Certification and standardization of the peer support specialist role SB803 – CA certification for Peer Support Specialists Legislation Ideal training for these professionals How best to collaborate with a peer support specialist What it is like to implement one of these programs The challenges of hiring a peer support specialist Exploring whether there are systems in place to support peer support specialists with their unique needs The recommendation for a tool kit and a consultant to support programs in implementing best practices The Recovery Model and peer support specialists in practice Multidisciplinary teams may have pre-existing bias and prejudice against folks with lived experience, the role of stigma in the interactions Mon, 22 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Peer Support Specialists: An interview with Kemisha Fields, MSW, Amparo Ostojic, MPA, and Jeff Kashou, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Kemisha Fields, MSW, Amparo Ostojic, MPA, and Jeff Kashou, LMFT Peer Support Specialists It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kemisha Fields, MSW, Amparo Ostojic, MPA, and Jeff Kashou, LMFT Kemisha Fields, MSW: Kemisha Fields was born and raised in South Los Angeles, CA. As a former foster youth, she has taken a professional interest in the commitment to serving the needs of children and families as a Children’s Social Worker working in Dependency Investigations. She has studied many modalities to bring healing to those in need. Kemisha is a life, long learner inspired by the abundance of opportunities available to enrich the lives of the people she serves. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California. Currently, Kemisha is a Doctoral Student of Business Administration with an emphasis in organizational leadership. Jeff Kashou, LMFT: Jeff Kashou, LMFT is a manager of clinical product and service design for a mental health tech company that provides telemedicine to those with serious mental illness. Previously, he ran a county mental health program where he helped develop the role fo peers for adolescent programs county-wide and collaborated with peers to create management practices to support their professional development. In this position, Jeff developed a practice guideline for the utilization of peers in behavioral health settings for the County of Orange. Jeff has also served on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, where he helped lead the association to support the field of Marriage and Family Therapy and those with mental health issues. He consults as experts in mental health for television productions, to ensure the accurate and helpful portrayal of mental illness and treatment in the media. Most recently, Jeff and his wife Sheila wrote a children's book, The Proudest Color, that helps children of color cope with racism that will be on shelves this Fall. In this episode we talk about: What a peer support specialist is, how they work What peers can uniquely bring The hiring process, qualifications, and what that means for individuals seeking these jobs The difference in perspective that peer and parent partners can bring to treatment teams The importance of lived experience Comparing holistic versus medical model treatment The medical model and the recovery model complement each other The importance of advocacy for individuals (with the support of the peer support specialist) How peer support specialists are best integrated into treatment teams and programs The potential problems when the peer support specialist role is not understood How someone can become a Peer Support Specialist Certification and standardization of the peer support specialist role SB803 – CA certification for Peer Support Specialists Legislation Ideal training for these professionals How best to collaborate with a peer support specialist What it is like to implement one of these programs The challenges of hiring a peer support specialist Exploring whether there are systems in place to support peer support specialists with their unique needs The recommendation for a tool kit and a consultant to support programs in implementing best practices The Recovery Model and peer support specialists in practice Multidisciplinary teams may have pre-existing bias and prejudice against folks with lived experience, the role of stigma in the interactions Peer Support Specialists

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Kemisha Fields, MSW, Amparo Ostojic, MPA, and Jeff Kashou, LMFT

Kemisha Fields, MSW: Kemisha Fields was born and raised in South Los Angeles, CA. As a former foster youth, she has taken a professional interest in the commitment to serving the needs of children and families as a Children’s Social Worker working in Dependency Investigations. She has studied many modalities to bring healing to those in need. Kemisha is a life, long learner inspired by the abundance of opportunities available to enrich the lives of the people she serves. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California. Currently, Kemisha is a Doctoral Student of Business Administration with an emphasis in organizational leadership.

Jeff Kashou, LMFT: Jeff Kashou, LMFT is a manager of clinical product and service design for a mental health tech company that provides telemedicine to those with serious mental illness. Previously, he ran a county mental health program where he helped develop the role fo peers for adolescent programs county-wide and collaborated with peers to create management practices to support their professional development. In this position, Jeff developed a practice guideline for the utilization of peers in behavioral health settings for the County of Orange. Jeff has also served on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, where he helped lead the association to support the field of Marriage and Family Therapy and those with mental health issues. He consults as experts in mental health for television productions, to ensure the accurate and helpful portrayal of mental illness and treatment in the media. Most recently, Jeff and his wife Sheila wrote a children's book, The Proudest Color, that helps children of color cope with racism that will be on shelves this Fall.

In this episode we talk about:

  • What a peer support specialist is, how they work
  • What peers can uniquely bring
  • The hiring process, qualifications, and what that means for individuals seeking these jobs
  • The difference in perspective that peer and parent partners can bring to treatment teams
  • The importance of lived experience
  • Comparing holistic versus medical model treatment
  • The medical model and the recovery model complement each other
  • The importance of advocacy for individuals (with the support of the peer support specialist)
  • How peer support specialists are best integrated into treatment teams and programs
  • The potential problems when the peer support specialist role is not understood
  • How someone can become a Peer Support Specialist
  • Certification and standardization of the peer support specialist role
  • SB803 – CA certification for Peer Support Specialists Legislation
  • Ideal training for these professionals
  • How best to collaborate with a peer support specialist
  • What it is like to implement one of these programs
  • The challenges of hiring a peer support specialist
  • Exploring whether there are systems in place to support peer support specialists with their unique needs
  • The recommendation for a tool kit and a consultant to support programs in implementing best practices
  • The Recovery Model and peer support specialists in practice
  • Multidisciplinary teams may have pre-existing bias and prejudice against folks with lived experience, the role of stigma in the interactions
]]> 3328 no Is Your Practice Ready for Paid Digital Marketing? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/is-your-practice-ready-for-paid-digital-marketing Is Your Practice Ready for Paid Digital Marketing? An interview with John Sanders, owner of RevKey, about Google and Social Media Ads. Curt and Katie talk with John about the importance of a solid website, effective sales process, and metrics when considering paid digital advertising. We also explore what to expect when you create Google or Facebook Ads. We also talk about why you may want to outsource this and the financial risks for getting this marketing wrong.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with John Sanders, RevKey John is an expert in paid search, specifically, Google Ads (which used to be called Google AdWords). He holds a BBA and MBA, and he has put this education to work in a variety of positions in the marketing field, including inside sales, purchasing, E-Commerce, and marketing management. Once he found Google Ads, John was hooked. He enjoys helping businesses generate leads through Google Ads that will help their companies grow, and he has partnered with businesses in a range of professions, including medical offices, B2B companies, and national product brands. John can help your business achieve its full potential. In this episode we talk about: Google Ads and other digital advertising (social media for example) The mistakes folks make in purchasing digital ads, typical pitfalls Specific to Google Search Ads: why not to use smart or dynamic ads Keywords and negative keywords The importance of tracking your results and what results you’re looking for The difference between social media and Google ads What a good ad looks like and what page it goes to What’s needed on a website before starting Google Ads (sufficient, relevant content and pages) Service pages and the specificity of the search How social media ads work (e.g., Facebook and Instagram) Building an audience within social media to target with your ads The value of an ideal client or niche when using social media ads Social media is more of a branding exercise than Google Ads Facebook has a lot of specific rules for advertising What return on investment you should expect, the goal of placing ads How to assess what is not working Looking through the full sales cycle to determine where to improve efforts (including answering your phone) The technical savvy that is needed to run and assess these ads The usefulness of Google analytics Determining DIY versus hiring out advertising How to outsource paid digital advertising How to determine the average value of a client Advantage of paid digital advertising versus Search Engine Optimization (SEO) The potential to lose money if this is done wrong The benefit if it is set up properly Setting up a multitier marketing plan including Google Ads and SEO  Mon, 15 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Is Your Practice Ready for Paid Digital Marketing? An interview with John Sanders full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with John Sanders, owner of RevKey Is Your Practice Ready for Paid Digital Marketing? An interview with John Sanders, owner of RevKey, about Google and Social Media Ads. Curt and Katie talk with John about the importance of a solid website, effective sales process, and metrics when considering paid digital advertising. We also explore what to expect when you create Google or Facebook Ads. We also talk about why you may want to outsource this and the financial risks for getting this marketing wrong.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with John Sanders, RevKey John is an expert in paid search, specifically, Google Ads (which used to be called Google AdWords). He holds a BBA and MBA, and he has put this education to work in a variety of positions in the marketing field, including inside sales, purchasing, E-Commerce, and marketing management. Once he found Google Ads, John was hooked. He enjoys helping businesses generate leads through Google Ads that will help their companies grow, and he has partnered with businesses in a range of professions, including medical offices, B2B companies, and national product brands. John can help your business achieve its full potential. In this episode we talk about: Google Ads and other digital advertising (social media for example) The mistakes folks make in purchasing digital ads, typical pitfalls Specific to Google Search Ads: why not to use smart or dynamic ads Keywords and negative keywords The importance of tracking your results and what results you’re looking for The difference between social media and Google ads What a good ad looks like and what page it goes to What’s needed on a website before starting Google Ads (sufficient, relevant content and pages) Service pages and the specificity of the search How social media ads work (e.g., Facebook and Instagram) Building an audience within social media to target with your ads The value of an ideal client or niche when using social media ads Social media is more of a branding exercise than Google Ads Facebook has a lot of specific rules for advertising What return on investment you should expect, the goal of placing ads How to assess what is not working Looking through the full sales cycle to determine where to improve efforts (including answering your phone) The technical savvy that is needed to run and assess these ads The usefulness of Google analytics Determining DIY versus hiring out advertising How to outsource paid digital advertising How to determine the average value of a client Advantage of paid digital advertising versus Search Engine Optimization (SEO) The potential to lose money if this is done wrong The benefit if it is set up properly Setting up a multitier marketing plan including Google Ads and SEO  Is Your Practice Ready for Paid Digital Marketing?

An interview with John Sanders, owner of RevKey, about Google and Social Media Ads. Curt and Katie talk with John about the importance of a solid website, effective sales process, and metrics when considering paid digital advertising. We also explore what to expect when you create Google or Facebook Ads. We also talk about why you may want to outsource this and the financial risks for getting this marketing wrong.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with John Sanders, RevKey

John is an expert in paid search, specifically, Google Ads (which used to be called Google AdWords). He holds a BBA and MBA, and he has put this education to work in a variety of positions in the marketing field, including inside sales, purchasing, E-Commerce, and marketing management. Once he found Google Ads, John was hooked. He enjoys helping businesses generate leads through Google Ads that will help their companies grow, and he has partnered with businesses in a range of professions, including medical offices, B2B companies, and national product brands. John can help your business achieve its full potential.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Google Ads and other digital advertising (social media for example)
  • The mistakes folks make in purchasing digital ads, typical pitfalls
  • Specific to Google Search Ads: why not to use smart or dynamic ads
  • Keywords and negative keywords
  • The importance of tracking your results and what results you’re looking for
  • The difference between social media and Google ads
  • What a good ad looks like and what page it goes to
  • What’s needed on a website before starting Google Ads (sufficient, relevant content and pages)
  • Service pages and the specificity of the search
  • How social media ads work (e.g., Facebook and Instagram)
  • Building an audience within social media to target with your ads
  • The value of an ideal client or niche when using social media ads
  • Social media is more of a branding exercise than Google Ads
  • Facebook has a lot of specific rules for advertising
  • What return on investment you should expect, the goal of placing ads
  • How to assess what is not working
  • Looking through the full sales cycle to determine where to improve efforts (including answering your phone)
  • The technical savvy that is needed to run and assess these ads
  • The usefulness of Google analytics
  • Determining DIY versus hiring out advertising
  • How to outsource paid digital advertising
  • How to determine the average value of a client
  • Advantage of paid digital advertising versus Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • The potential to lose money if this is done wrong
  • The benefit if it is set up properly
  • Setting up a multitier marketing plan including Google Ads and SEO 
]]> 2162 no Conspiracy Theories in Your Office https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/conspiracy-theories-in-your-office Conspiracy Theories in Your Office Curt and Katie chat about clients who bring conspiracy theories into therapy. We talk about differentiating between psychosis and believing in conspiracy theories, the characteristics of folks who may be likely to subscribe to these theories, and the importance of the relationship in working with these folks. We also look at steps we would like professional organizations to take to support clinicians. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How to handle when clients bring conspiracy theories into your office Distinguishing between delusions, shared psychosis, and conspiracy theories Reality testing, obsessive research, and other factors that may distinguish between psychosis and conspiracy theory The impact of internet research and social media algorithms The characteristics of folks who are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories How fear of uncertainty, lack of trust can play into this dynamic Societal impacts like advertising certainty The different responsibility that therapists have when someone brings in a conspiracy theory Hesitation in addressing these theories both in the room and at the professional org level The continuum of engagement with conspiracy theories (from “entertainment” to going down the rabbit hole) The level of investment in the theory, groups forming around these theories, and cults The risk factors and legal/ethical responsibilities related to harm Allen Lipscomb’s BRUH modality (Bonding Recognition Understanding and Healing) The problem with direct challenging The importance of identifying is it a conspiracy theory or is someone actually out to get you, especially with clients who are in traditionally marginalized communities Building trust within the relationship through deep understanding of the client’s experiences Societal measures that can help (like deplatforming leaders of the theories) Starting from compassion and curiosity; managing reactions Exploring the nuance of challenging irrational fears versus conspiracy theories Seeking common ground and identifying impacts The call to action to professional organizations for guidance and taking a stance (and the understanding of why they balk at doing so) Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Conspiracy Theories in Your Office full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Conspiracy Theories in Your Office Curt and Katie chat about clients who bring conspiracy theories into therapy. We talk about differentiating between psychosis and believing in conspiracy theories, the characteristics of folks who may be likely to... Conspiracy Theories in Your Office Curt and Katie chat about clients who bring conspiracy theories into therapy. We talk about differentiating between psychosis and believing in conspiracy theories, the characteristics of folks who may be likely to subscribe to these theories, and the importance of the relationship in working with these folks. We also look at steps we would like professional organizations to take to support clinicians. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How to handle when clients bring conspiracy theories into your office Distinguishing between delusions, shared psychosis, and conspiracy theories Reality testing, obsessive research, and other factors that may distinguish between psychosis and conspiracy theory The impact of internet research and social media algorithms The characteristics of folks who are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories How fear of uncertainty, lack of trust can play into this dynamic Societal impacts like advertising certainty The different responsibility that therapists have when someone brings in a conspiracy theory Hesitation in addressing these theories both in the room and at the professional org level The continuum of engagement with conspiracy theories (from “entertainment” to going down the rabbit hole) The level of investment in the theory, groups forming around these theories, and cults The risk factors and legal/ethical responsibilities related to harm Allen Lipscomb’s BRUH modality (Bonding Recognition Understanding and Healing) The problem with direct challenging The importance of identifying is it a conspiracy theory or is someone actually out to get you, especially with clients who are in traditionally marginalized communities Building trust within the relationship through deep understanding of the client’s experiences Societal measures that can help (like deplatforming leaders of the theories) Starting from compassion and curiosity; managing reactions Exploring the nuance of challenging irrational fears versus conspiracy theories Seeking common ground and identifying impacts The call to action to professional organizations for guidance and taking a stance (and the understanding of why they balk at doing so) Conspiracy Theories in Your Office

Curt and Katie chat about clients who bring conspiracy theories into therapy. We talk about differentiating between psychosis and believing in conspiracy theories, the characteristics of folks who may be likely to subscribe to these theories, and the importance of the relationship in working with these folks. We also look at steps we would like professional organizations to take to support clinicians.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How to handle when clients bring conspiracy theories into your office
  • Distinguishing between delusions, shared psychosis, and conspiracy theories
  • Reality testing, obsessive research, and other factors that may distinguish between psychosis and conspiracy theory
  • The impact of internet research and social media algorithms
  • The characteristics of folks who are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories
  • How fear of uncertainty, lack of trust can play into this dynamic
  • Societal impacts like advertising certainty
  • The different responsibility that therapists have when someone brings in a conspiracy theory
  • Hesitation in addressing these theories both in the room and at the professional org level
  • The continuum of engagement with conspiracy theories (from “entertainment” to going down the rabbit hole)
  • The level of investment in the theory, groups forming around these theories, and cults
  • The risk factors and legal/ethical responsibilities related to harm
  • Allen Lipscomb’s BRUH modality (Bonding Recognition Understanding and Healing)
  • The problem with direct challenging
  • The importance of identifying is it a conspiracy theory or is someone actually out to get you, especially with clients who are in traditionally marginalized communities
  • Building trust within the relationship through deep understanding of the client’s experiences
  • Societal measures that can help (like deplatforming leaders of the theories)
  • Starting from compassion and curiosity; managing reactions
  • Exploring the nuance of challenging irrational fears versus conspiracy theories
  • Seeking common ground and identifying impacts
  • The call to action to professional organizations for guidance and taking a stance (and the understanding of why they balk at doing so)
]]> 2281 no Therapists Shaming Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapists-shaming-therapists Therapists Shaming Therapists An interview with Katie Read about therapists shaming each other when they raise their fees or start playing bigger. Curt and Katie talk with Katie about the puritanical culture within the therapist community that leads to group think, public shaming, and milquetoast messaging to mitigate their fear that anything different will be attacked. We look at reasons behind this (jealousy, guilt, shame, and moralism) as well as what therapists can do to step outside of this culture to create more success.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Katie Read, LMFT, Six Figure Flagship Katie takes lessons from her nearly-20 successful years in the field to help clinicians grow...then OUTgrow...their practices. Immediately upon licensure, Katie was made Director of a large Transitional Aged Youth program in Oakland, CA. Later, she was recruited to Direct one of Sacramento’s largest Wraparound Programs, and from there she moved into the role of Director of Clinical Supervision, personally supervising 40+ interns towards licensure. Concurrently, Katie had private practices in multiple cities, taught graduate psychology students, and wrote and created therapist training materials. Katie is also a special needs mom and loves helping other moms tune into their own intuition and lead their best-possible lives by taking the sometimes-scary leap into following what’s best for them, deep down. She is the creator of: The Clinician to Coach® Academy, The Clini-Coach® Certification, and the Six-Figure Flagship™ Program. She’s a little bit obsessed with helping therapists get profitable doing the creative, out-of-the-box, authentic work you're called to do! In this episode we talk about: How therapists are treating each other The concept of trolling, piling on, shame The Article in the Atlantic – New Puritans – and the concept of the illiberal left How identity plays a role and the group dynamics within therapist Facebook groups The shaming related to increasing your fees Katie Read’s origin story as an on the street social work The value placed on sacrifice and avoiding guilt for the difference in privilege when working with clients who are impoverished Socially-prescribed perfectionism, self-imposed perfectionism The fine line about what is acceptable to charge or make as a therapist Cancel culture and the lack of allowance for errors Echo chambers, factions, and exclusion The fear of dissenting opinions The low context of the internet paired with the high context nature of a therapist’s job Milquetoast messaging to avoid getting attacked Dialing down authenticity to fit into what is acceptable Challenging our financial mindset Cultural and societal factors that frame us as cheap labor The seeming requirement for therapists to suffer in order to understand our clients The reality of therapists as business owners Therapist guilt for “earning money” Feminized professions and the expectation of doing things out the goodness of our hearts Rapidly changing social rules versus entrenchment in what has been How this identity shift is spilling over into real life Jealousy, guilt, and shame, and moralism The best therapists have the worst impostor syndrome How to navigate when you’re a therapist going against the grain The importance of every therapist doing their own money mindset work Mon, 01 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Therapists Shaming Therapists: An interview with Katie Read full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Katie Read Therapists Shaming Therapists An interview with Katie Read about therapists shaming each other when they raise their fees or start playing bigger. Curt and Katie talk with Katie about the puritanical culture within the therapist community that leads to group think, public shaming, and milquetoast messaging to mitigate their fear that anything different will be attacked. We look at reasons behind this (jealousy, guilt, shame, and moralism) as well as what therapists can do to step outside of this culture to create more success.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Katie Read, LMFT, Six Figure Flagship Katie takes lessons from her nearly-20 successful years in the field to help clinicians grow...then OUTgrow...their practices. Immediately upon licensure, Katie was made Director of a large Transitional Aged Youth program in Oakland, CA. Later, she was recruited to Direct one of Sacramento’s largest Wraparound Programs, and from there she moved into the role of Director of Clinical Supervision, personally supervising 40+ interns towards licensure. Concurrently, Katie had private practices in multiple cities, taught graduate psychology students, and wrote and created therapist training materials. Katie is also a special needs mom and loves helping other moms tune into their own intuition and lead their best-possible lives by taking the sometimes-scary leap into following what’s best for them, deep down. She is the creator of: The Clinician to Coach® Academy, The Clini-Coach® Certification, and the Six-Figure Flagship™ Program. She’s a little bit obsessed with helping therapists get profitable doing the creative, out-of-the-box, authentic work you're called to do! In this episode we talk about: How therapists are treating each other The concept of trolling, piling on, shame The Article in the Atlantic – New Puritans – and the concept of the illiberal left How identity plays a role and the group dynamics within therapist Facebook groups The shaming related to increasing your fees Katie Read’s origin story as an on the street social work The value placed on sacrifice and avoiding guilt for the difference in privilege when working with clients who are impoverished Socially-prescribed perfectionism, self-imposed perfectionism The fine line about what is acceptable to charge or make as a therapist Cancel culture and the lack of allowance for errors Echo chambers, factions, and exclusion The fear of dissenting opinions The low context of the internet paired with the high context nature of a therapist’s job Milquetoast messaging to avoid getting attacked Dialing down authenticity to fit into what is acceptable Challenging our financial mindset Cultural and societal factors that frame us as cheap labor The seeming requirement for therapists to suffer in order to understand our clients The reality of therapists as business owners Therapist guilt for “earning money” Feminized professions and the expectation of doing things out the goodness of our hearts Rapidly changing social rules versus entrenchment in what has been How this identity shift is spilling over into real life Jealousy, guilt, and shame, and moralism The best therapists have the worst impostor syndrome How to navigate when you’re a therapist going against the grain The importance of every therapist doing their own money mindset work Therapists Shaming Therapists

An interview with Katie Read about therapists shaming each other when they raise their fees or start playing bigger. Curt and Katie talk with Katie about the puritanical culture within the therapist community that leads to group think, public shaming, and milquetoast messaging to mitigate their fear that anything different will be attacked. We look at reasons behind this (jealousy, guilt, shame, and moralism) as well as what therapists can do to step outside of this culture to create more success. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Katie Read, LMFT, Six Figure Flagship

Katie takes lessons from her nearly-20 successful years in the field to help clinicians grow...then OUTgrow...their practices.

Immediately upon licensure, Katie was made Director of a large Transitional Aged Youth program in Oakland, CA. Later, she was recruited to Direct one of Sacramento’s largest Wraparound Programs, and from there she moved into the role of Director of Clinical Supervision, personally supervising 40+ interns towards licensure.

Concurrently, Katie had private practices in multiple cities, taught graduate psychology students, and wrote and created therapist training materials.

Katie is also a special needs mom and loves helping other moms tune into their own intuition and lead their best-possible lives by taking the sometimes-scary leap into following what’s best for them, deep down.

She is the creator of:

The Clinician to Coach® Academy,

The Clini-Coach® Certification,

and the Six-Figure Flagship™ Program.

She’s a little bit obsessed with helping therapists get profitable doing the creative, out-of-the-box, authentic work you're called to do!

In this episode we talk about:

  • How therapists are treating each other
  • The concept of trolling, piling on, shame
  • The Article in the Atlantic – New Puritans – and the concept of the illiberal left
  • How identity plays a role and the group dynamics within therapist Facebook groups
  • The shaming related to increasing your fees
  • Katie Read’s origin story as an on the street social work
  • The value placed on sacrifice and avoiding guilt for the difference in privilege when working with clients who are impoverished
  • Socially-prescribed perfectionism, self-imposed perfectionism
  • The fine line about what is acceptable to charge or make as a therapist
  • Cancel culture and the lack of allowance for errors
  • Echo chambers, factions, and exclusion
  • The fear of dissenting opinions
  • The low context of the internet paired with the high context nature of a therapist’s job
  • Milquetoast messaging to avoid getting attacked
  • Dialing down authenticity to fit into what is acceptable
  • Challenging our financial mindset
  • Cultural and societal factors that frame us as cheap labor
  • The seeming requirement for therapists to suffer in order to understand our clients
  • The reality of therapists as business owners
  • Therapist guilt for “earning money”
  • Feminized professions and the expectation of doing things out the goodness of our hearts
  • Rapidly changing social rules versus entrenchment in what has been
  • How this identity shift is spilling over into real life
  • Jealousy, guilt, and shame, and moralism
  • The best therapists have the worst impostor syndrome
  • How to navigate when you’re a therapist going against the grain
  • The importance of every therapist doing their own money mindset work
]]> 2557 no Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Mental Healthcare Workforce Shortages https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/advocacy-in-the-wake-of-looming-mental-healthcare-workforce-shortages Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Mental Healthcare Workforce Shortages Curt and Katie chat about the looming (and current) mental health workforce shortages. We talk about the exodus of mental health providers, legislation and proposed bills that seek to address these shortages, and what modern therapists can do to advocate for the needed changes. We also talk about inadequate or harmful strategies (like cheering, scholarships, and subway sandwiches) that are often implemented by agencies and legislatures. We provide individual and collective calls to action.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Recent data that shows that there will be huge workforce shortages in coming years The difficulty for folks in accessing mental health services in all sectors The reasons that mental health workers are leaving the profession High caseloads, higher acuity Systemic burnout, jaded supervisors The inadequate “support” of mental health workers with subway sandwiches, cheering heroes Legislation that has gone through to support healthcare workers in receiving mental health Legislation that funds hiring more workers Bills addressing scholarships to increase folks going to school for mental health The problem with scholarship bills versus loan forgiveness bills Bills working to decrease wait times for those seeking services Creating and filling in mental health treatment needs with paraprofessionals, peer counselors Navigating funding and worker shortages with new treatment planning The challenge in “steeling our hearts” to make choices in how we work and who we work for Both individual and systemic action that we can take to address these issues A request for the National Guard to come in and staff residential treatment centers The importance of taking action now to get involved in legislative advocacy Mon, 25 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Mental Healthcare Workforce Shortages full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Mental Healthcare Workforce Shortages Curt and Katie chat about the looming (and current) mental health workforce shortages. We talk about the exodus of mental health providers, legislation and proposed bills that seek... Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Mental Healthcare Workforce Shortages Curt and Katie chat about the looming (and current) mental health workforce shortages. We talk about the exodus of mental health providers, legislation and proposed bills that seek to address these shortages, and what modern therapists can do to advocate for the needed changes. We also talk about inadequate or harmful strategies (like cheering, scholarships, and subway sandwiches) that are often implemented by agencies and legislatures. We provide individual and collective calls to action.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Recent data that shows that there will be huge workforce shortages in coming years The difficulty for folks in accessing mental health services in all sectors The reasons that mental health workers are leaving the profession High caseloads, higher acuity Systemic burnout, jaded supervisors The inadequate “support” of mental health workers with subway sandwiches, cheering heroes Legislation that has gone through to support healthcare workers in receiving mental health Legislation that funds hiring more workers Bills addressing scholarships to increase folks going to school for mental health The problem with scholarship bills versus loan forgiveness bills Bills working to decrease wait times for those seeking services Creating and filling in mental health treatment needs with paraprofessionals, peer counselors Navigating funding and worker shortages with new treatment planning The challenge in “steeling our hearts” to make choices in how we work and who we work for Both individual and systemic action that we can take to address these issues A request for the National Guard to come in and staff residential treatment centers The importance of taking action now to get involved in legislative advocacy Advocacy in the Wake of Looming Mental Healthcare Workforce Shortages

Curt and Katie chat about the looming (and current) mental health workforce shortages. We talk about the exodus of mental health providers, legislation and proposed bills that seek to address these shortages, and what modern therapists can do to advocate for the needed changes. We also talk about inadequate or harmful strategies (like cheering, scholarships, and subway sandwiches) that are often implemented by agencies and legislatures. We provide individual and collective calls to action. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Recent data that shows that there will be huge workforce shortages in coming years
  • The difficulty for folks in accessing mental health services in all sectors
  • The reasons that mental health workers are leaving the profession
  • High caseloads, higher acuity
  • Systemic burnout, jaded supervisors
  • The inadequate “support” of mental health workers with subway sandwiches, cheering heroes
  • Legislation that has gone through to support healthcare workers in receiving mental health
  • Legislation that funds hiring more workers
  • Bills addressing scholarships to increase folks going to school for mental health
  • The problem with scholarship bills versus loan forgiveness bills
  • Bills working to decrease wait times for those seeking services
  • Creating and filling in mental health treatment needs with paraprofessionals, peer counselors
  • Navigating funding and worker shortages with new treatment planning
  • The challenge in “steeling our hearts” to make choices in how we work and who we work for
  • Both individual and systemic action that we can take to address these issues
  • A request for the National Guard to come in and staff residential treatment centers
  • The importance of taking action now to get involved in legislative advocacy
]]> 2115 no Waiving Goodbye to Telehealth Progress https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/waiving-goodbye-to-telehealth-progress Waiving Goodbye to Telehealth Progress An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT about the impacts of rolling back the covid telehealth waivers. Curt and Katie talk with Ben about how the expiration of emergency orders will impact the profession. As a case study, we talk through how the California professional boards and associations are navigating these challenges, including looking at disciplinary action that has caused alarm (although we don’t think it should). We also talk about calls to action to get involved now, so you can shape future policy on telehealth, tele-supervision, and remote work. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT Dr. Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Continuing Education Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the User’s Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs. In this episode we talk about: As a case study: the California Board of Behavioral Sciences rolling back covid waivers and losing the progress made during the pandemic The emergency orders - covid waivers - that are expiring related to telehealth, tele-supervision The specifics of remote supervision when emergency orders are rescinded. Looking at permanent legislation concerns as well as the best-case timeline for when remote supervision can come back The concerns about moving backward and losing all progress made during the pandemic related to electronic and telehealth efforts The short-sightedness of requiring an in-person meeting when starting telehealth or tele-supervision Disciplinary action case regarding remote supervision and a prelicensed individual working from home – but there’s so much more nuance than that Current legislation related to where mental health employees can work (which is actually quite flexible in CA) Equity and access issues related to not allowing clinicians to provide mental health from home On-going responsibilities for supervisors to ensure confidentiality and data security The requirements that supervisors have regardless of where supervisees are working Calls to Action to attend Board meetings for your licensing board, so you can be informed and help to shape future policy. Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Waiving Goodbye to Telehealth Progress: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT Waiving Goodbye to Telehealth Progress An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT about the impacts of rolling back the covid telehealth waivers. Curt and Katie talk with Ben about how the expiration of emergency orders will impact the profession. As a case study, we talk through how the California professional boards and associations are navigating these challenges, including looking at disciplinary action that has caused alarm (although we don’t think it should). We also talk about calls to action to get involved now, so you can shape future policy on telehealth, tele-supervision, and remote work. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT Dr. Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Continuing Education Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the User’s Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs. In this episode we talk about: As a case study: the California Board of Behavioral Sciences rolling back covid waivers and losing the progress made during the pandemic The emergency orders - covid waivers - that are expiring related to telehealth, tele-supervision The specifics of remote supervision when emergency orders are rescinded. Looking at permanent legislation concerns as well as the best-case timeline for when remote supervision can come back The concerns about moving backward and losing all progress made during the pandemic related to electronic and telehealth efforts The short-sightedness of requiring an in-person meeting when starting telehealth or tele-supervision Disciplinary action case regarding remote supervision and a prelicensed individual working from home – but there’s so much more nuance than that Current legislation related to where mental health employees can work (which is actually quite flexible in CA) Equity and access issues related to not allowing clinicians to provide mental health from home On-going responsibilities for supervisors to ensure confidentiality and data security The requirements that supervisors have regardless of where supervisees are working Calls to Action to attend Board meetings for your licensing board, so you can be informed and help to shape future policy. Waiving Goodbye to Telehealth Progress

An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT about the impacts of rolling back the covid telehealth waivers. Curt and Katie talk with Ben about how the expiration of emergency orders will impact the profession. As a case study, we talk through how the California professional boards and associations are navigating these challenges, including looking at disciplinary action that has caused alarm (although we don’t think it should). We also talk about calls to action to get involved now, so you can shape future policy on telehealth, tele-supervision, and remote work.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT

Dr. Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Continuing Education Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the User’s Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs.

In this episode we talk about:

  • As a case study: the California Board of Behavioral Sciences rolling back covid waivers and losing the progress made during the pandemic
  • The emergency orders - covid waivers - that are expiring related to telehealth, tele-supervision
  • The specifics of remote supervision when emergency orders are rescinded. Looking at permanent legislation concerns as well as the best-case timeline for when remote supervision can come back
  • The concerns about moving backward and losing all progress made during the pandemic related to electronic and telehealth efforts
  • The short-sightedness of requiring an in-person meeting when starting telehealth or tele-supervision
  • Disciplinary action case regarding remote supervision and a prelicensed individual working from home – but there’s so much more nuance than that
  • Current legislation related to where mental health employees can work (which is actually quite flexible in CA)
  • Equity and access issues related to not allowing clinicians to provide mental health from home
  • On-going responsibilities for supervisors to ensure confidentiality and data security
  • The requirements that supervisors have regardless of where supervisees are working
  • Calls to Action to attend Board meetings for your licensing board, so you can be informed and help to shape future policy.
]]> 2382 no Reimagining Therapy Reimagined https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/reimagining-therapy-reimagined Reimagining Therapy Reimagined Curt and Katie chat about their decision to step back from the Therapy Reimagined Conference and what they will be focusing their energy on moving forward. We explore how we came to this decision and the importance of examining what is working in your business practice. We also talk about how other Modern Therapists can get involved in the Therapy Reimagined movement. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Taking a step back and looking at what the mission for Therapy Reimagined is. Why we decided to take a step back from the Therapy Reimagined Conference. What we will be focusing our energy on in place of the conference. How and what you can begin advocating for to help improve the field. Factors that get in the way of advocacy. Ways to get involved with Therapy Reimagined. Mon, 11 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Reimagining Therapy Reimagined full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about their decision to step back from the Therapy Reimagined Conference and what they will be focusing their energy on moving forward. Reimagining Therapy Reimagined Curt and Katie chat about their decision to step back from the Therapy Reimagined Conference and what they will be focusing their energy on moving forward. We explore how we came to this decision and the importance of examining what is working in your business practice. We also talk about how other Modern Therapists can get involved in the Therapy Reimagined movement. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Taking a step back and looking at what the mission for Therapy Reimagined is. Why we decided to take a step back from the Therapy Reimagined Conference. What we will be focusing our energy on in place of the conference. How and what you can begin advocating for to help improve the field. Factors that get in the way of advocacy. Ways to get involved with Therapy Reimagined. Reimagining Therapy Reimagined

Curt and Katie chat about their decision to step back from the Therapy Reimagined Conference and what they will be focusing their energy on moving forward. We explore how we came to this decision and the importance of examining what is working in your business practice. We also talk about how other Modern Therapists can get involved in the Therapy Reimagined movement.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Taking a step back and looking at what the mission for Therapy Reimagined is.
  • Why we decided to take a step back from the Therapy Reimagined Conference.
  • What we will be focusing our energy on in place of the conference.
  • How and what you can begin advocating for to help improve the field.
  • Factors that get in the way of advocacy.
  • Ways to get involved with Therapy Reimagined.
]]> 1684 no Why You Shouldn’t Just Do it All Yourself https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/why-you-shouldnt-just-do-it-all-yourself Why You Shouldn’t Just Do it All Yourself An interview with Bibi Goldstein, on how clinicians can grow their business by assessing what they can automate, delegate, or eliminate. We explore the importance of getting rid of the tasks you don’t enjoy doing and benefit of creating more time for things you do enjoy (including getting some rest!). We also talk about how to balance spending money to outsource responsibilities in order to make revenue.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Bibi Goldstein, Founder of Buying Time, LLC Buying Time, LLC founder, Bibi Goldstein is a time management and systems expert, speaker, co-author of Get Organized Today, Navigating Entrepreneurship and Business Success with Ease, where she provides information on establishing systems in every size business. She is an Infusionsoft Certified Partner and works with many entrepreneurs to automate and systemize their businesses in order to maximize their time. Her team proudly launched www.virtualassistantsuniversity.com in 2021 to provide an opportunity for the millions of people finding themselves needing alternatives to a traditional work environment due to the pandemic. She is an active member of her business community in the South Bay. Bibi is current chair for the South Bay Women’s Conference, Board Member at the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, Community Chair/Board Member at the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board Member for Walk With Sally, a mentoring program and Past President and current Vice President of the South Bay Business Women’s Association, she served as a committee member and past chair for the Manhattan Beach Women In Business, past President of the Kiwanis Club of Manhattan Beach, and a member of the 2011 class of Leadership Redondo. Bibi has strong lifelong ties to the South Bay community, she lives in Redondo Beach with her husband Mark and has a daughter Julie who is a hairstylist and a local entrepreneur.   In this episode we talk about: Who Bibi Goldstein is and what she puts out in the world. What people, specifically healers, get wrong in scaling their businesses. How clinicians can figure out what to outsource for their business and what to manage themselves. Understanding how to balance what outsourcing will cost you and how much it will make you. Important things new clinicians should know about scaling their business and action steps they can take now. The things clinicians should not outsource. How clinicians can do a quick assessment of what they need to automate, delegate, or eliminate. Understanding the importance of rest and doing the things you enjoy to help grow your practice. Getting over not wanting to outsource because of anxiety about how “bad” you’ve been doing it thus far. What Buying Time and Virtual Assistant University are all about. Mon, 04 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Why You Shouldn’t Just Do it All Yourself full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Bibi Goldstein, on how clinicians can grow their business by assessing what they can automate, delegate, or eliminate. Why You Shouldn’t Just Do it All Yourself An interview with Bibi Goldstein, on how clinicians can grow their business by assessing what they can automate, delegate, or eliminate. We explore the importance of getting rid of the tasks you don’t enjoy doing and benefit of creating more time for things you do enjoy (including getting some rest!). We also talk about how to balance spending money to outsource responsibilities in order to make revenue.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Bibi Goldstein, Founder of Buying Time, LLC Buying Time, LLC founder, Bibi Goldstein is a time management and systems expert, speaker, co-author of Get Organized Today, Navigating Entrepreneurship and Business Success with Ease, where she provides information on establishing systems in every size business. She is an Infusionsoft Certified Partner and works with many entrepreneurs to automate and systemize their businesses in order to maximize their time. Her team proudly launched www.virtualassistantsuniversity.com in 2021 to provide an opportunity for the millions of people finding themselves needing alternatives to a traditional work environment due to the pandemic. She is an active member of her business community in the South Bay. Bibi is current chair for the South Bay Women’s Conference, Board Member at the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, Community Chair/Board Member at the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board Member for Walk With Sally, a mentoring program and Past President and current Vice President of the South Bay Business Women’s Association, she served as a committee member and past chair for the Manhattan Beach Women In Business, past President of the Kiwanis Club of Manhattan Beach, and a member of the 2011 class of Leadership Redondo. Bibi has strong lifelong ties to the South Bay community, she lives in Redondo Beach with her husband Mark and has a daughter Julie who is a hairstylist and a local entrepreneur.   In this episode we talk about: Who Bibi Goldstein is and what she puts out in the world. What people, specifically healers, get wrong in scaling their businesses. How clinicians can figure out what to outsource for their business and what to manage themselves. Understanding how to balance what outsourcing will cost you and how much it will make you. Important things new clinicians should know about scaling their business and action steps they can take now. The things clinicians should not outsource. How clinicians can do a quick assessment of what they need to automate, delegate, or eliminate. Understanding the importance of rest and doing the things you enjoy to help grow your practice. Getting over not wanting to outsource because of anxiety about how “bad” you’ve been doing it thus far. What Buying Time and Virtual Assistant University are all about. Why You Shouldn’t Just Do it All Yourself

An interview with Bibi Goldstein, on how clinicians can grow their business by assessing what they can automate, delegate, or eliminate. We explore the importance of getting rid of the tasks you don’t enjoy doing and benefit of creating more time for things you do enjoy (including getting some rest!). We also talk about how to balance spending money to outsource responsibilities in order to make revenue. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 

Interview with Bibi Goldstein, Founder of Buying Time, LLC

Buying Time, LLC founder, Bibi Goldstein is a time management and systems expert, speaker, co-author of Get Organized Today, Navigating Entrepreneurship and Business Success with Ease, where she provides information on establishing systems in every size business. She is an Infusionsoft Certified Partner and works with many entrepreneurs to automate and systemize their businesses in order to maximize their time. Her team proudly launched www.virtualassistantsuniversity.com in 2021 to provide an opportunity for the millions of people finding themselves needing alternatives to a traditional work environment due to the pandemic.

She is an active member of her business community in the South Bay. Bibi is current chair for the South Bay Women’s Conference, Board Member at the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, Community Chair/Board Member at the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board Member for Walk With Sally, a mentoring program and Past President and current Vice President of the South Bay Business Women’s Association, she served as a committee member and past chair for the Manhattan Beach Women In Business, past President of the Kiwanis Club of Manhattan Beach, and a member of the 2011 class of Leadership Redondo.

Bibi has strong lifelong ties to the South Bay community, she lives in Redondo Beach with her husband Mark and has a daughter Julie who is a hairstylist and a local entrepreneur.

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Who Bibi Goldstein is and what she puts out in the world.
  • What people, specifically healers, get wrong in scaling their businesses.
  • How clinicians can figure out what to outsource for their business and what to manage themselves.
  • Understanding how to balance what outsourcing will cost you and how much it will make you.
  • Important things new clinicians should know about scaling their business and action steps they can take now.
  • The things clinicians should not outsource.
  • How clinicians can do a quick assessment of what they need to automate, delegate, or eliminate.
  • Understanding the importance of rest and doing the things you enjoy to help grow your practice.
  • Getting over not wanting to outsource because of anxiety about how “bad” you’ve been doing it thus far.
  • What Buying Time and Virtual Assistant University are all about.
]]> 2340 no The Return of Why Therapists Quit https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-return-of-why-therapists-quit The Return of Why Therapists Quit Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain joy in their practice when they begin to feel burned out. We explore different ways to incorporate self-care into your life and practice, including making future plans and developing your whole identity. We also talk about how privilege impacts therapists’ ability to engage in self-care and career opportunities. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Discussion of why Katie has not quit the field. Fighting burnout by focusing on what brings you joy in your practice (the Marie Kondo approach). The importance of self-care and incorporating new hobbies/interests into your life. Assessing the distinction between “not great days” and a “not great workplace”. Considering privilege in the ability for therapists to engage in self-care as well as career opportunities. The impact COVID has had on therapist’s being able to participate in self-care. Learning how to incorporate time to make plans for future career goals. How to notice burnout and sacrificial helping. The importance of fostering all aspects of your identity (because you are not your job). Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Marie Kondo Steven Covey's Big Rocks Relevant Episodes: Why Therapists Quit Why Therapists Quit Part 2 Burnout or Depression We Can’t Help Ourselves Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists Negotiating Sliding Scale Overcoming Your Poverty Mindset Career Trekking with MTSG Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000 The Return of Why Therapists Quit full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain joy in their practice when they begin to feel burned out. The Return of Why Therapists Quit Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain joy in their practice when they begin to feel burned out. We explore different ways to incorporate self-care into your life and practice, including making future plans and developing your whole identity. We also talk about how privilege impacts therapists’ ability to engage in self-care and career opportunities. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Discussion of why Katie has not quit the field. Fighting burnout by focusing on what brings you joy in your practice (the Marie Kondo approach). The importance of self-care and incorporating new hobbies/interests into your life. Assessing the distinction between “not great days” and a “not great workplace”. Considering privilege in the ability for therapists to engage in self-care as well as career opportunities. The impact COVID has had on therapist’s being able to participate in self-care. Learning how to incorporate time to make plans for future career goals. How to notice burnout and sacrificial helping. The importance of fostering all aspects of your identity (because you are not your job). Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Marie Kondo Steven Covey's Big Rocks Relevant Episodes: Why Therapists Quit Why Therapists Quit Part 2 Burnout or Depression We Can’t Help Ourselves Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists Negotiating Sliding Scale Overcoming Your Poverty Mindset Career Trekking with MTSG Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021 The Return of Why Therapists Quit

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain joy in their practice when they begin to feel burned out. We explore different ways to incorporate self-care into your life and practice, including making future plans and developing your whole identity. We also talk about how privilege impacts therapists’ ability to engage in self-care and career opportunities.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Discussion of why Katie has not quit the field.
  • Fighting burnout by focusing on what brings you joy in your practice (the Marie Kondo approach).
  • The importance of self-care and incorporating new hobbies/interests into your life.
  • Assessing the distinction between “not great days” and a “not great workplace”.
  • Considering privilege in the ability for therapists to engage in self-care as well as career opportunities.
  • The impact COVID has had on therapist’s being able to participate in self-care.
  • Learning how to incorporate time to make plans for future career goals.
  • How to notice burnout and sacrificial helping.
  • The importance of fostering all aspects of your identity (because you are not your job).

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Marie Kondo

Steven Covey's Big Rocks

Relevant Episodes:

Why Therapists Quit

Why Therapists Quit Part 2

Burnout or Depression

We Can’t Help Ourselves

Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists

The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists

Negotiating Sliding Scale

Overcoming Your Poverty Mindset

Career Trekking with MTSG

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021

]]> 1873 no How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Part 1.5 https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-to-fire-your-clients-ethically-part-15 Episode 226: How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Part 1.5 Curt and Katie chat about different therapist-client mismatches and how to manage them. We explore how to balance dealing with discomfort in therapy and seeking consultation with knowing when and how to refer out clients. We also talk about how to incorporate ideas of redefining and decolonizing therapy. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How to manage situations when the client having a clinical need that the therapist does not feel capable to treat. Different kinds of therapist-client mismatches. Cultural considerations in therapist-client matching and incorporating ideas of redefining and decolonizing therapy. How to refer out clients when there is a mismatch and what to do if the client doesn’t want to be referred out. What to do when you have different ideologies than your clients. The benefit of sitting with discomfort when you disagree with your client and knowing when to seek consultation. How to support clients when they aren’t aware that a different therapeutic style (e.g., direct vs. indirect) may be beneficial to them. The importance of reviewing treatment plans with client (even when not required). Revisiting how to address therapy interfering behaviors and how to appropriately terminate with clients when necessary. Barriers in referring clients out. Mon, 20 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000 How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Part 1.5 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about different therapist-client mismatches and how to manage them. Episode 226: How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Part 1.5 Curt and Katie chat about different therapist-client mismatches and how to manage them. We explore how to balance dealing with discomfort in therapy and seeking consultation with knowing when and how to refer out clients. We also talk about how to incorporate ideas of redefining and decolonizing therapy. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How to manage situations when the client having a clinical need that the therapist does not feel capable to treat. Different kinds of therapist-client mismatches. Cultural considerations in therapist-client matching and incorporating ideas of redefining and decolonizing therapy. How to refer out clients when there is a mismatch and what to do if the client doesn’t want to be referred out. What to do when you have different ideologies than your clients. The benefit of sitting with discomfort when you disagree with your client and knowing when to seek consultation. How to support clients when they aren’t aware that a different therapeutic style (e.g., direct vs. indirect) may be beneficial to them. The importance of reviewing treatment plans with client (even when not required). Revisiting how to address therapy interfering behaviors and how to appropriately terminate with clients when necessary. Barriers in referring clients out. Episode 226: How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Part 1.5

Curt and Katie chat about different therapist-client mismatches and how to manage them. We explore how to balance dealing with discomfort in therapy and seeking consultation with knowing when and how to refer out clients. We also talk about how to incorporate ideas of redefining and decolonizing therapy.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How to manage situations when the client having a clinical need that the therapist does not feel capable to treat.
  • Different kinds of therapist-client mismatches.
  • Cultural considerations in therapist-client matching and incorporating ideas of redefining and decolonizing therapy.
  • How to refer out clients when there is a mismatch and what to do if the client doesn’t want to be referred out.
  • What to do when you have different ideologies than your clients.
  • The benefit of sitting with discomfort when you disagree with your client and knowing when to seek consultation.
  • How to support clients when they aren’t aware that a different therapeutic style (e.g., direct vs. indirect) may be beneficial to them.
  • The importance of reviewing treatment plans with client (even when not required).
  • Revisiting how to address therapy interfering behaviors and how to appropriately terminate with clients when necessary.
  • Barriers in referring clients out.
]]> 2410 no What to do When Clients Get in Their Own Way https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-to-do-when-clients-get-in-their-own-way What to do When Clients Get in Their Own Way Curt and Katie chat about what therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how to address them in therapy. We explore the balance between reducing barriers for clients while also holding them accountable for their behavior. We also talk about how to identify if it is the therapist or the client engaging in a TIB. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: What therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how TIBs show up in the therapy room. How to address TIBs in therapy (we may disagree a little here). The balance between reducing barriers for clients and holding them accountable. If you should still have session when a client shows up late. Using appropriate self-disclosure to address TIBs. Should you fire clients for TIBs? When therapists engage in TIBs. How to evaluate if it’s a client TIB or therapist TIB. Managing imposter syndrome when a client becomes hostile because the therapist cannot provide what the client wants. Mon, 13 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000 What to do When Clients Get in Their Own Way full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about what therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how to address them in therapy. We explore the balance between reducing barriers for clients while also holding them accountable for their behavior. We also talk about how to iden What to do When Clients Get in Their Own Way Curt and Katie chat about what therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how to address them in therapy. We explore the balance between reducing barriers for clients while also holding them accountable for their behavior. We also talk about how to identify if it is the therapist or the client engaging in a TIB. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: What therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how TIBs show up in the therapy room. How to address TIBs in therapy (we may disagree a little here). The balance between reducing barriers for clients and holding them accountable. If you should still have session when a client shows up late. Using appropriate self-disclosure to address TIBs. Should you fire clients for TIBs? When therapists engage in TIBs. How to evaluate if it’s a client TIB or therapist TIB. Managing imposter syndrome when a client becomes hostile because the therapist cannot provide what the client wants. What to do When Clients Get in Their Own Way

Curt and Katie chat about what therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how to address them in therapy. We explore the balance between reducing barriers for clients while also holding them accountable for their behavior. We also talk about how to identify if it is the therapist or the client engaging in a TIB.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • What therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how TIBs show up in the therapy room.
  • How to address TIBs in therapy (we may disagree a little here).
  • The balance between reducing barriers for clients and holding them accountable.
  • If you should still have session when a client shows up late.
  • Using appropriate self-disclosure to address TIBs.
  • Should you fire clients for TIBs?
  • When therapists engage in TIBs.
  • How to evaluate if it’s a client TIB or therapist TIB.
  • Managing imposter syndrome when a client becomes hostile because the therapist cannot provide what the client wants.
]]> 2782 no Are You Even Trauma-Informed? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/are-you-even-trauma-informed Episode 224: Are You Even Trauma-Informed? An interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, on trauma-informed care, including what it looks like in practice. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the barriers clients face when trying to find a good trauma therapist and how trauma therapists can advertise in a trauma-informed way. We also explore how COVID is impacting trauma treatment and tips for providing virtual trauma therapy. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Laura Reagan LCSW-C, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is an integrative trauma therapist, clinical supervisor, consultant and coach. Since 2015 she has hosted Therapy Chat Podcast, where she interviews therapists, authors, researchers and other experts about psychotherapy, trauma, attachment, creativity, mindfulness, relationships and self compassion. In 2021 she launched a new podcast entitled Trauma Chat for anyone who is curious about what trauma is, how it shows up in our lives and how to find the right kind of help for your specific experience. She is the founder of Trauma Therapist Network, a website providing information and resources on trauma and a membership community for therapists. Learn more at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com.  In this episode we talk about: Who Laura Reagan is and what she puts out in the world. What therapists get wrong with trauma-informed care in regard to advertising. How trauma therapists can be trauma-informed in their advertising. Factors that make it difficult for clients to find a good trauma therapist. What is trauma and what is trauma therapy? How COVID is playing a role in trauma treatment. Tips on how to provide effective virtual trauma therapy. What therapists can do to support clients that do not have an ideal virtual environment. If therapists should obtain more trauma training due to the impact of COVID. Considerations therapists can make when deciding to specialize in trauma.     Mon, 06 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Are You Even Trauma-Informed? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, on trauma-informed care, including what it looks like in practice. Episode 224: Are You Even Trauma-Informed? An interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, on trauma-informed care, including what it looks like in practice. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the barriers clients face when trying to find a good trauma therapist and how trauma therapists can advertise in a trauma-informed way. We also explore how COVID is impacting trauma treatment and tips for providing virtual trauma therapy. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Laura Reagan LCSW-C, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is an integrative trauma therapist, clinical supervisor, consultant and coach. Since 2015 she has hosted Therapy Chat Podcast, where she interviews therapists, authors, researchers and other experts about psychotherapy, trauma, attachment, creativity, mindfulness, relationships and self compassion. In 2021 she launched a new podcast entitled Trauma Chat for anyone who is curious about what trauma is, how it shows up in our lives and how to find the right kind of help for your specific experience. She is the founder of Trauma Therapist Network, a website providing information and resources on trauma and a membership community for therapists. Learn more at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com.  In this episode we talk about: Who Laura Reagan is and what she puts out in the world. What therapists get wrong with trauma-informed care in regard to advertising. How trauma therapists can be trauma-informed in their advertising. Factors that make it difficult for clients to find a good trauma therapist. What is trauma and what is trauma therapy? How COVID is playing a role in trauma treatment. Tips on how to provide effective virtual trauma therapy. What therapists can do to support clients that do not have an ideal virtual environment. If therapists should obtain more trauma training due to the impact of COVID. Considerations therapists can make when deciding to specialize in trauma.     Episode 224: Are You Even Trauma-Informed?

An interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, on trauma-informed care, including what it looks like in practice. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the barriers clients face when trying to find a good trauma therapist and how trauma therapists can advertise in a trauma-informed way. We also explore how COVID is impacting trauma treatment and tips for providing virtual trauma therapy.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 

Interview with Laura Reagan LCSW-C,

Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is an integrative trauma therapist, clinical supervisor, consultant and coach. Since 2015 she has hosted Therapy Chat Podcast, where she interviews therapists, authors, researchers and other experts about psychotherapy, trauma, attachment, creativity, mindfulness, relationships and self compassion. In 2021 she launched a new podcast entitled Trauma Chat for anyone who is curious about what trauma is, how it shows up in our lives and how to find the right kind of help for your specific experience. She is the founder of Trauma Therapist Network, a website providing information and resources on trauma and a membership community for therapists. Learn more at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com.

 In this episode we talk about:

  • Who Laura Reagan is and what she puts out in the world.
  • What therapists get wrong with trauma-informed care in regard to advertising.
  • How trauma therapists can be trauma-informed in their advertising.
  • Factors that make it difficult for clients to find a good trauma therapist.
  • What is trauma and what is trauma therapy?
  • How COVID is playing a role in trauma treatment.
  • Tips on how to provide effective virtual trauma therapy.
  • What therapists can do to support clients that do not have an ideal virtual environment.
  • If therapists should obtain more trauma training due to the impact of COVID.
  • Considerations therapists can make when deciding to specialize in trauma.

 

 

]]> 2407 no The Balance Between Boundaries and Humanity https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-balance-between-boundaries-and-humanity The Balance Between Boundaries and Humanity An interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D, on what it means to redefine therapy and how therapists can incorporate this idea into their practice. Curt and Katie talk with Jamie about the importance of therapists being vulnerable both with clients and publicly about their own mental health struggles to reduce the mental health stigma. We also explore factors that keep therapists from being vulnerable as well as other therapeutic and cultural considerations when doing so. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D, Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they) is a clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, writer, yogini, performer, short filmmaker, Reiki master, TEDx speaker, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to inspire healing in others. Jamie maintains a private practice and online education operations in her home base of Warren, OH. Marich is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness approach to expressive arts therapy. Marich is the author of several books, including EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012), Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors, and Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015). NALGAP: The Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their esteemed President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) granted Jamie the 2019 Advocacy in EMDR Award for her using her public platform in media and in the addiction field to advance awareness about EMDR therapy. Marich is in long-term addiction recovery and is actively living with a Dissociative Disorder. In this episode we talk about: Who Jamie Marich is and what she puts out in the world. The story behind #RedefineTherapy. A look at what needs to be redefined in therapy and why. Discussion about balancing the art and science of therapy to allow for more flexibility within our field. Factors that contribute to clinicians rigidly adhering to evidenced based practices. How clinicians can make changes at a societal level to redefine therapy. The importance of clinicians being vulnerable and sharing their own struggles with mental health. An exploration of the balance between being authentic/vulnerable with clients and setting appropriate boundaries. Cultural considerations in redefining therapy. What keeps therapist from being vulnerable in therapy. Using a both/and approach to merge how therapy has been done in the past and how it will be done in the future as therapy continues to be redefined and reimagined. Mon, 30 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000 The Balance Between Boundaries and Humanity full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D, on what it means to redefine therapy and how therapists can incorporate this idea into their practice. The Balance Between Boundaries and Humanity An interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D, on what it means to redefine therapy and how therapists can incorporate this idea into their practice. Curt and Katie talk with Jamie about the importance of therapists being vulnerable both with clients and publicly about their own mental health struggles to reduce the mental health stigma. We also explore factors that keep therapists from being vulnerable as well as other therapeutic and cultural considerations when doing so. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D, Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they) is a clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, writer, yogini, performer, short filmmaker, Reiki master, TEDx speaker, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to inspire healing in others. Jamie maintains a private practice and online education operations in her home base of Warren, OH. Marich is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness approach to expressive arts therapy. Marich is the author of several books, including EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012), Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors, and Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015). NALGAP: The Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their esteemed President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) granted Jamie the 2019 Advocacy in EMDR Award for her using her public platform in media and in the addiction field to advance awareness about EMDR therapy. Marich is in long-term addiction recovery and is actively living with a Dissociative Disorder. In this episode we talk about: Who Jamie Marich is and what she puts out in the world. The story behind #RedefineTherapy. A look at what needs to be redefined in therapy and why. Discussion about balancing the art and science of therapy to allow for more flexibility within our field. Factors that contribute to clinicians rigidly adhering to evidenced based practices. How clinicians can make changes at a societal level to redefine therapy. The importance of clinicians being vulnerable and sharing their own struggles with mental health. An exploration of the balance between being authentic/vulnerable with clients and setting appropriate boundaries. Cultural considerations in redefining therapy. What keeps therapist from being vulnerable in therapy. Using a both/and approach to merge how therapy has been done in the past and how it will be done in the future as therapy continues to be redefined and reimagined. The Balance Between Boundaries and Humanity

An interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D, on what it means to redefine therapy and how therapists can incorporate this idea into their practice. Curt and Katie talk with Jamie about the importance of therapists being vulnerable both with clients and publicly about their own mental health struggles to reduce the mental health stigma. We also explore factors that keep therapists from being vulnerable as well as other therapeutic and cultural considerations when doing so.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 

Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D,

Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they) is a clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, writer, yogini, performer, short filmmaker, Reiki master, TEDx speaker, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to inspire healing in others. Jamie maintains a private practice and online education operations in her home base of Warren, OH. Marich is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness approach to expressive arts therapy. Marich is the author of several books, including EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012), Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors, and Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015). NALGAP: The Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their esteemed President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) granted Jamie the 2019 Advocacy in EMDR Award for her using her public platform in media and in the addiction field to advance awareness about EMDR therapy. Marich is in long-term addiction recovery and is actively living with a Dissociative Disorder.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Who Jamie Marich is and what she puts out in the world.
  • The story behind #RedefineTherapy.
  • A look at what needs to be redefined in therapy and why.
  • Discussion about balancing the art and science of therapy to allow for more flexibility within our field.
  • Factors that contribute to clinicians rigidly adhering to evidenced based practices.
  • How clinicians can make changes at a societal level to redefine therapy.
  • The importance of clinicians being vulnerable and sharing their own struggles with mental health.
  • An exploration of the balance between being authentic/vulnerable with clients and setting appropriate boundaries.
  • Cultural considerations in redefining therapy.
  • What keeps therapist from being vulnerable in therapy.
  • Using a both/and approach to merge how therapy has been done in the past and how it will be done in the future as therapy continues to be redefined and reimagined.
]]> 2288 no Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 2: Afghan Americans https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/understanding-the-psychological-impacts-of-leaving-afghanistan-part-2-afghan-americans Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 2: Afghan Americans An interview with Sara Stanizai, LMFT, on how Afghan Americans are responding as the US leaves Afghanistan. Curt and Katie talk with Sara about her experience as an Afghan American therapist, looking at the misconceptions, lack of knowledge, and bias that can harm Afghan American clients. We look at clinical best practices for immigrants to the US, as well as some of the history and cultural norms of the country, the uniqueness of the experience, and the importance of finding primary sources to understand what is really going on. Sara also shares ideas for what we can do to support the Afghan people in Afghanistan and the diaspora at this time. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Sara Stanizai, LMFT Sara Stanizai, LMFT (she/her) is a licensed therapist, clinical supervisor, and the owner of Prospect Therapy, a queer- and trans-affirming therapy practice based in Long Beach, CA, with a special focus on serving first-generation American and immigrant communities. A queer first-gen herself, Sara’s clinical and professional work focuses on serving the Afghan diaspora, specifically, fellow Afghan-American women, and bicultural communities in general. She runs a weekly Afghan-American women's group and will be offering this free of charge in the coming weeks to meet the mental health needs of her community.  In this episode we talk about: Sara’s experience being an Afghan American, especially since 9/11; as well as her response to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan Afghan Americans: the displaced among the displaced The real issues that folks in Afghanistan are facing, separate from the perspective of western cultural and the differences in the Afghan American experience Historical context for Afghanistan and the memories of Afghan Americans that shape their views: Culture, art, progressive, beautiful, diverse Not feeling Afghan enough or American enough The value of hospitality and how Afghanistan will always welcome Afghan Americans How Islam intertwines (but is not equivalent) to the Afghan culture Modesty and values and the bias toward Muslim women who wear headscarves Bias and misperceptions that can negatively impact clients The complexity of Islam and how it can be perceived both as beautiful and nature-loving as well as dangerous and militant The challenge to identity being an Afghan American The danger of pity coming into the therapy room The importance and nuance of educating yourself outside of the therapy room, while also encouraging the client of sharing their own experience. Not: What does this mean? Instead: What does this mean to you? The Afghan culture requires offering 3 times before determining that the answer is no Collectivism and the importance of family Impact of intergenerational trauma and military involvement in a home country Seeking out primary sources, with a focus on Afghan voices as the experience is truly unique Avoid sensationalized headlines and images Challenging what has been “truth” especially when looking at these sensationalized stories Ways of healing and clinical practice that are better aligned to these clients Prayer and healing within safe community spaces Considerations on scheduling session around prayer time and understanding fasting The lack of language for what is being experienced Offering connection, even when you don’t know what to say The focus on trying to get family and friends out of Afghanistan, constantly watching the news Ideas for what you can do to support the people of Afghanistan The importance of legal support, translation services, and advocacy at this time The support group for Afghan women that Sara runs Tue, 24 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 2: Afghan Americans - An interview with Sara Stanizai, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Sara Stanizai, LMFT Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 2: Afghan Americans An interview with Sara Stanizai, LMFT, on how Afghan Americans are responding as the US leaves Afghanistan. Curt and Katie talk with Sara about her experience as an Afghan American therapist, looking at the misconceptions, lack of knowledge, and bias that can harm Afghan American clients. We look at clinical best practices for immigrants to the US, as well as some of the history and cultural norms of the country, the uniqueness of the experience, and the importance of finding primary sources to understand what is really going on. Sara also shares ideas for what we can do to support the Afghan people in Afghanistan and the diaspora at this time. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Sara Stanizai, LMFT Sara Stanizai, LMFT (she/her) is a licensed therapist, clinical supervisor, and the owner of Prospect Therapy, a queer- and trans-affirming therapy practice based in Long Beach, CA, with a special focus on serving first-generation American and immigrant communities. A queer first-gen herself, Sara’s clinical and professional work focuses on serving the Afghan diaspora, specifically, fellow Afghan-American women, and bicultural communities in general. She runs a weekly Afghan-American women's group and will be offering this free of charge in the coming weeks to meet the mental health needs of her community.  In this episode we talk about: Sara’s experience being an Afghan American, especially since 9/11; as well as her response to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan Afghan Americans: the displaced among the displaced The real issues that folks in Afghanistan are facing, separate from the perspective of western cultural and the differences in the Afghan American experience Historical context for Afghanistan and the memories of Afghan Americans that shape their views: Culture, art, progressive, beautiful, diverse Not feeling Afghan enough or American enough The value of hospitality and how Afghanistan will always welcome Afghan Americans How Islam intertwines (but is not equivalent) to the Afghan culture Modesty and values and the bias toward Muslim women who wear headscarves Bias and misperceptions that can negatively impact clients The complexity of Islam and how it can be perceived both as beautiful and nature-loving as well as dangerous and militant The challenge to identity being an Afghan American The danger of pity coming into the therapy room The importance and nuance of educating yourself outside of the therapy room, while also encouraging the client of sharing their own experience. Not: What does this mean? Instead: What does this mean to you? The Afghan culture requires offering 3 times before determining that the answer is no Collectivism and the importance of family Impact of intergenerational trauma and military involvement in a home country Seeking out primary sources, with a focus on Afghan voices as the experience is truly unique Avoid sensationalized headlines and images Challenging what has been “truth” especially when looking at these sensationalized stories Ways of healing and clinical practice that are better aligned to these clients Prayer and healing within safe community spaces Considerations on scheduling session around prayer time and understanding fasting The lack of language for what is being experienced Offering connection, even when you don’t know what to say The focus on trying to get family and friends out of Afghanistan, constantly watching the news Ideas for what you can do to support the people of Afghanistan The importance of legal support, translation services, and advocacy at this time The support group for Afghan women that Sara runs Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 2: Afghan Americans

An interview with Sara Stanizai, LMFT, on how Afghan Americans are responding as the US leaves Afghanistan. Curt and Katie talk with Sara about her experience as an Afghan American therapist, looking at the misconceptions, lack of knowledge, and bias that can harm Afghan American clients. We look at clinical best practices for immigrants to the US, as well as some of the history and cultural norms of the country, the uniqueness of the experience, and the importance of finding primary sources to understand what is really going on. Sara also shares ideas for what we can do to support the Afghan people in Afghanistan and the diaspora at this time.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Sara Stanizai, LMFT

Sara Stanizai, LMFT (she/her) is a licensed therapist, clinical supervisor, and the owner of Prospect Therapy, a queer- and trans-affirming therapy practice based in Long Beach, CA, with a special focus on serving first-generation American and immigrant communities. A queer first-gen herself, Sara’s clinical and professional work focuses on serving the Afghan diaspora, specifically, fellow Afghan-American women, and bicultural communities in general. She runs a weekly Afghan-American women's group and will be offering this free of charge in the coming weeks to meet the mental health needs of her community. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Sara’s experience being an Afghan American, especially since 9/11; as well as her response to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan
  • Afghan Americans: the displaced among the displaced
  • The real issues that folks in Afghanistan are facing, separate from the perspective of western cultural and the differences in the Afghan American experience
  • Historical context for Afghanistan and the memories of Afghan Americans that shape their views: Culture, art, progressive, beautiful, diverse
  • Not feeling Afghan enough or American enough
  • The value of hospitality and how Afghanistan will always welcome Afghan Americans
  • How Islam intertwines (but is not equivalent) to the Afghan culture
  • Modesty and values and the bias toward Muslim women who wear headscarves
  • Bias and misperceptions that can negatively impact clients
  • The complexity of Islam and how it can be perceived both as beautiful and nature-loving as well as dangerous and militant
  • The challenge to identity being an Afghan American
  • The danger of pity coming into the therapy room
  • The importance and nuance of educating yourself outside of the therapy room, while also encouraging the client of sharing their own experience. Not: What does this mean? Instead: What does this mean to you?
  • The Afghan culture requires offering 3 times before determining that the answer is no
  • Collectivism and the importance of family
  • Impact of intergenerational trauma and military involvement in a home country
  • Seeking out primary sources, with a focus on Afghan voices as the experience is truly unique
  • Avoid sensationalized headlines and images
  • Challenging what has been “truth” especially when looking at these sensationalized stories
  • Ways of healing and clinical practice that are better aligned to these clients
  • Prayer and healing within safe community spaces
  • Considerations on scheduling session around prayer time and understanding fasting
  • The lack of language for what is being experienced
  • Offering connection, even when you don’t know what to say
  • The focus on trying to get family and friends out of Afghanistan, constantly watching the news
  • Ideas for what you can do to support the people of Afghanistan
  • The importance of legal support, translation services, and advocacy at this time
  • The support group for Afghan women that Sara runs
]]> 2367 no Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/understanding-the-psychological-impacts-of-leaving-afghanistan Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 1: Military Veterans An interview with Rob Bates, SFC IN USA ret., MA, LMHC, on how veterans may be responding to the US leaving Afghanistan after 20 years at war. Curt and Katie talk with Rob about his service in the military and how it has impacted his view on therapy and being a therapist. He explains how he typically works with veterans, decreasing perfectionism and shifting dehumanization to self-compassion. We also look at the unique experiences of US Veterans who have served in Afghanistan and how therapists can support these individuals more effectively during this time. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Rob Bates, SFC IN USA ret., MA, LMHC, MHP, DCR From Rob: We can all use a little help now and then. I bring a diverse skill set of life and counseling experience. I grew up with a tumultuous household in a small community. I joined the military at a young age and have lived and worked throughout the world. I have had my own family, raising children weathering many successes and failures in the process. I continue to experience counseling as a client working with the emotions of my past and present to improve my future. My personal experience in therapy enhances my great respect for my clients' vulnerability in our sessions. I am a fellow traveler in life, as my clients learn and grow so do I. As a soldier I spent 20 years living and working throughout the conflict regions of the world as a combat infantryman. Starting as a young Airborne Ranger with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Regiment and finishing my career as a senior leader in the 2nd Battalion 1rst Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. I have experienced combat in the First Iraq War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Second Iraq War, and Afghanistan. I am proud of my service and my work wherever I have been asked to go by my country. In this episode we talk about: Rob’s experiences in the military and afterwards that led to his becoming a therapist for vets The different language that therapists speak from military personnel The unique skill sets, knowledge, concerns that therapists should have or be aware of when working with military members and vets How military members live in a zero-defect environment and how therapists can consider working with vets to decrease this mindset when returning to civilian life The bias and judgment that can negatively impact work with folks in the military, especially around life and death decisions The importance of military clients understanding therapist’s ability to manage secondary traumatization Typical responses to the decision around the drawdown in Afghanistan after the peace agreement as well as the very recent chaotic evacuation The moral injury related to walking away from Afghanistan The relationships that were developed between US military personnel and Afghan military personnel and civilians and how “abandoning” them to the danger of the Taliban is impacting veterans and those who are evacuating The impact of social media and commentary on perception and meaning-making The ethical and moral decision-making that is happening at all levels The process of dehumanization during wartime, creating psychological safety during combat The complicated grief that is further complicated by the US leaving Afghanistan and the complex trauma and survivor’s guilt The importance of helping veterans to develop self-compassion Identity issues that may be challenged with the withdrawal from Afghanistan A fuller picture of service in Afghanistan (including humanitarian missions) What may happen when the news cycle shifts to the next big news story Creating new purpose and meaning to mitigate tendency toward suicidality Mon, 23 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 1: Military Veterans - An interview with Rob Bates, SFC IN USA ret., MA, LMHC full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Part 1: Military Veterans - An interview with Rob Bates, SFC IN USA ret., MA, LMHC Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 1: Military Veterans An interview with Rob Bates, SFC IN USA ret., MA, LMHC, on how veterans may be responding to the US leaving Afghanistan after 20 years at war. Curt and Katie talk with Rob about his service in the military and how it has impacted his view on therapy and being a therapist. He explains how he typically works with veterans, decreasing perfectionism and shifting dehumanization to self-compassion. We also look at the unique experiences of US Veterans who have served in Afghanistan and how therapists can support these individuals more effectively during this time. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Rob Bates, SFC IN USA ret., MA, LMHC, MHP, DCR From Rob: We can all use a little help now and then. I bring a diverse skill set of life and counseling experience. I grew up with a tumultuous household in a small community. I joined the military at a young age and have lived and worked throughout the world. I have had my own family, raising children weathering many successes and failures in the process. I continue to experience counseling as a client working with the emotions of my past and present to improve my future. My personal experience in therapy enhances my great respect for my clients' vulnerability in our sessions. I am a fellow traveler in life, as my clients learn and grow so do I. As a soldier I spent 20 years living and working throughout the conflict regions of the world as a combat infantryman. Starting as a young Airborne Ranger with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Regiment and finishing my career as a senior leader in the 2nd Battalion 1rst Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. I have experienced combat in the First Iraq War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Second Iraq War, and Afghanistan. I am proud of my service and my work wherever I have been asked to go by my country. In this episode we talk about: Rob’s experiences in the military and afterwards that led to his becoming a therapist for vets The different language that therapists speak from military personnel The unique skill sets, knowledge, concerns that therapists should have or be aware of when working with military members and vets How military members live in a zero-defect environment and how therapists can consider working with vets to decrease this mindset when returning to civilian life The bias and judgment that can negatively impact work with folks in the military, especially around life and death decisions The importance of military clients understanding therapist’s ability to manage secondary traumatization Typical responses to the decision around the drawdown in Afghanistan after the peace agreement as well as the very recent chaotic evacuation The moral injury related to walking away from Afghanistan The relationships that were developed between US military personnel and Afghan military personnel and civilians and how “abandoning” them to the danger of the Taliban is impacting veterans and those who are evacuating The impact of social media and commentary on perception and meaning-making The ethical and moral decision-making that is happening at all levels The process of dehumanization during wartime, creating psychological safety during combat The complicated grief that is further complicated by the US leaving Afghanistan and the complex trauma and survivor’s guilt The importance of helping veterans to develop self-compassion Identity issues that may be challenged with the withdrawal from Afghanistan A fuller picture of service in Afghanistan (including humanitarian missions) What may happen when the news cycle shifts to the next big news story Creating new purpose and meaning to mitigate tendency toward suicidality Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Leaving Afghanistan, Part 1: Military Veterans

An interview with Rob Bates, SFC IN USA ret., MA, LMHC, on how veterans may be responding to the US leaving Afghanistan after 20 years at war. Curt and Katie talk with Rob about his service in the military and how it has impacted his view on therapy and being a therapist. He explains how he typically works with veterans, decreasing perfectionism and shifting dehumanization to self-compassion. We also look at the unique experiences of US Veterans who have served in Afghanistan and how therapists can support these individuals more effectively during this time.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Rob Bates, SFC IN USA ret., MA, LMHC, MHP, DCR

From Rob: We can all use a little help now and then. I bring a diverse skill set of life and counseling experience. I grew up with a tumultuous household in a small community. I joined the military at a young age and have lived and worked throughout the world. I have had my own family, raising children weathering many successes and failures in the process. I continue to experience counseling as a client working with the emotions of my past and present to improve my future. My personal experience in therapy enhances my great respect for my clients' vulnerability in our sessions. I am a fellow traveler in life, as my clients learn and grow so do I.

As a soldier I spent 20 years living and working throughout the conflict regions of the world as a combat infantryman. Starting as a young Airborne Ranger with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Regiment and finishing my career as a senior leader in the 2nd Battalion 1rst Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. I have experienced combat in the First Iraq War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Second Iraq War, and Afghanistan. I am proud of my service and my work wherever I have been asked to go by my country.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Rob’s experiences in the military and afterwards that led to his becoming a therapist for vets
  • The different language that therapists speak from military personnel
  • The unique skill sets, knowledge, concerns that therapists should have or be aware of when working with military members and vets
  • How military members live in a zero-defect environment and how therapists can consider working with vets to decrease this mindset when returning to civilian life
  • The bias and judgment that can negatively impact work with folks in the military, especially around life and death decisions
  • The importance of military clients understanding therapist’s ability to manage secondary traumatization
  • Typical responses to the decision around the drawdown in Afghanistan after the peace agreement as well as the very recent chaotic evacuation
  • The moral injury related to walking away from Afghanistan
  • The relationships that were developed between US military personnel and Afghan military personnel and civilians and how “abandoning” them to the danger of the Taliban is impacting veterans and those who are evacuating
  • The impact of social media and commentary on perception and meaning-making
  • The ethical and moral decision-making that is happening at all levels
  • The process of dehumanization during wartime, creating psychological safety during combat
  • The complicated grief that is further complicated by the US leaving Afghanistan and the complex trauma and survivor’s guilt
  • The importance of helping veterans to develop self-compassion
  • Identity issues that may be challenged with the withdrawal from Afghanistan
  • A fuller picture of service in Afghanistan (including humanitarian missions)
  • What may happen when the news cycle shifts to the next big news story
  • Creating new purpose and meaning to mitigate tendency toward suicidality
]]> 2440 no What the Grief Just Happened? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-the-grief-just-happened What the Grief Just Happened? An interview with Sonya Lott, Ph.D, on how COVID has impacted our experience of grief. Curt and Katie talk with Sonya about the types of grief people are experiencing and how people have been coping thus far. We explore what prolonged grief is and the risk factors that contribute to it as well as tips to support clients. We also talk about the need for therapists to be informed on grief processes and the importance of meeting clients where they are.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Sonya Lott, Ph.D, Founder of CEMPSYCH, LLC Sonya Lott has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. She been licensed as a psychologist in PA since 1991. Since 2020, she has been licensed to provide telepsychology in more than 16 states through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board’s (ASPPB) PSYPACT program. She maintains a private online practice devoted to helping individuals transform their experiences of traumatic and prolonged grief. She is trained in Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT), an evidence-based treatment for prolonged grief and is also a certified brainspotting practitioner. She is also the founder of CEMPSYCH, LLC, which offers continuing education in multicultural psychology to mental health professionals. CEMPSYCH, LLC is approved as a sponsor by the APA to provide continuing education to psychologists.   In this episode we talk about: Who Sonya Lott is and what she puts out in the world. Looking at how COVID has impacted our experience of grief (i.e., death and non-death losses). How the uncertainty COVID created has added to our difficulty in acknowledging losses in our lives. Discussion of how clinicians can help their clients (and themselves) recognize and process their grief. Examining how losses to previous COVID, attachment styles, and other risk factors have influenced the way people manage their grief. Defining prolonged grief and recognizing when it is a problem, while making cultural considerations. Factors that have contributed to people developing prolonged grief (e.g., isolation, previous mental health challenges, etc). What clinicians can expect to see from clients as we move into the next phase of our lives. The need for clinicians to be able to differentiate from grief, prolonged grief, and major depression and address each accordingly. Recognizing that the grief people are experiencing is inherently traumatic and integrating this into treatment. Tips for clinicians to help clients who are stuck. Being a grief informed therapist (knowing there are no stages to grief). The importance of meeting people where they at to help them process their grief.  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Sonya Lott Website CEMPSYCH LLC Relevant Episodes: Death, Dying, and Grief Compassion Fatigue Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000 What the Grief Just Happened? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Sonya Lott, Ph.D, on how COVID has impacted our experience of grief. What the Grief Just Happened? An interview with Sonya Lott, Ph.D, on how COVID has impacted our experience of grief. Curt and Katie talk with Sonya about the types of grief people are experiencing and how people have been coping thus far. We explore what prolonged grief is and the risk factors that contribute to it as well as tips to support clients. We also talk about the need for therapists to be informed on grief processes and the importance of meeting clients where they are.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Sonya Lott, Ph.D, Founder of CEMPSYCH, LLC Sonya Lott has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. She been licensed as a psychologist in PA since 1991. Since 2020, she has been licensed to provide telepsychology in more than 16 states through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board’s (ASPPB) PSYPACT program. She maintains a private online practice devoted to helping individuals transform their experiences of traumatic and prolonged grief. She is trained in Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT), an evidence-based treatment for prolonged grief and is also a certified brainspotting practitioner. She is also the founder of CEMPSYCH, LLC, which offers continuing education in multicultural psychology to mental health professionals. CEMPSYCH, LLC is approved as a sponsor by the APA to provide continuing education to psychologists.   In this episode we talk about: Who Sonya Lott is and what she puts out in the world. Looking at how COVID has impacted our experience of grief (i.e., death and non-death losses). How the uncertainty COVID created has added to our difficulty in acknowledging losses in our lives. Discussion of how clinicians can help their clients (and themselves) recognize and process their grief. Examining how losses to previous COVID, attachment styles, and other risk factors have influenced the way people manage their grief. Defining prolonged grief and recognizing when it is a problem, while making cultural considerations. Factors that have contributed to people developing prolonged grief (e.g., isolation, previous mental health challenges, etc). What clinicians can expect to see from clients as we move into the next phase of our lives. The need for clinicians to be able to differentiate from grief, prolonged grief, and major depression and address each accordingly. Recognizing that the grief people are experiencing is inherently traumatic and integrating this into treatment. Tips for clinicians to help clients who are stuck. Being a grief informed therapist (knowing there are no stages to grief). The importance of meeting people where they at to help them process their grief.  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Sonya Lott Website CEMPSYCH LLC Relevant Episodes: Death, Dying, and Grief Compassion Fatigue Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences What the Grief Just Happened?

An interview with Sonya Lott, Ph.D, on how COVID has impacted our experience of grief. Curt and Katie talk with Sonya about the types of grief people are experiencing and how people have been coping thus far. We explore what prolonged grief is and the risk factors that contribute to it as well as tips to support clients. We also talk about the need for therapists to be informed on grief processes and the importance of meeting clients where they are. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 

Interview with Sonya Lott, Ph.D, Founder of CEMPSYCH, LLC

Sonya Lott has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. She been licensed as a psychologist in PA since 1991. Since 2020, she has been licensed to provide telepsychology in more than 16 states through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board’s (ASPPB) PSYPACT program. She maintains a private online practice devoted to helping individuals transform their experiences of traumatic and prolonged grief. She is trained in Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT), an evidence-based treatment for prolonged grief and is also a certified brainspotting practitioner. She is also the founder of CEMPSYCH, LLC, which offers continuing education in multicultural psychology to mental health professionals. CEMPSYCH, LLC is approved as a sponsor by the APA to provide continuing education to psychologists.

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Who Sonya Lott is and what she puts out in the world.
  • Looking at how COVID has impacted our experience of grief (i.e., death and non-death losses).
  • How the uncertainty COVID created has added to our difficulty in acknowledging losses in our lives.
  • Discussion of how clinicians can help their clients (and themselves) recognize and process their grief.
  • Examining how losses to previous COVID, attachment styles, and other risk factors have influenced the way people manage their grief.
  • Defining prolonged grief and recognizing when it is a problem, while making cultural considerations.
  • Factors that have contributed to people developing prolonged grief (e.g., isolation, previous mental health challenges, etc).
  • What clinicians can expect to see from clients as we move into the next phase of our lives.
  • The need for clinicians to be able to differentiate from grief, prolonged grief, and major depression and address each accordingly.
  • Recognizing that the grief people are experiencing is inherently traumatic and integrating this into treatment.
  • Tips for clinicians to help clients who are stuck.
  • Being a grief informed therapist (knowing there are no stages to grief).
  • The importance of meeting people where they at to help them process their grief.

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Dr. Sonya Lott Website

CEMPSYCH LLC

Relevant Episodes:

Death, Dying, and Grief

Compassion Fatigue

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences

]]> 2217 no Episode 219: Asian American Mental Health https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-219-asian-american-mental-health Asian American Mental Health An interview with Linda Yoon, LCSW, on specific mental health needs of Asian American clients. Curt and Katie talk with Linda about what therapists often get wrong when working with Asian clients and colleagues. We explore the model minority myth, fetishization of Asian women, and the complexity of the heterogeneous group that falls under the term “Asian American.” We also talk about steps therapists can take to better support Asian American people.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Linda Yoon, LCSW, Founder and Co-Director of Yellow Chair Collective Linda is the founder and the co-director of Yellow Chair Collective, a multicultural psychotherapy group with a special focus on Asian mental health. Linda has over 10 years of experience in the field of social work and mental health. Before starting Yellow Chair Collective, she worked in residential and outpatient mental health clinics, domestic and intimate relationship violence programs, and affordable and inclusive housing services, often serving Asian and Asian Pacific Islanders and the immigrant/refugee population. Linda is passionate about community outreach and provides workshops on social and mental health topics including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), cultural sensitivity, parenting, self and community care, family violence, refugee/immigrant issues, and Asian American mental health. Her work has been featured in the LA Times, KXN, CBS Radio, KPBS, Al Dia Politics, and Crushing the Myth. Linda also has been a panelist for KQED Forum, NPR Podcast, and USC Center for Health Journalism speaking about Asian Mental Health needs during the pandemic and anti-Asian hate crime surge. Linda is also an active committee member of NASW-CA Asian Pacific Islander Council - Southern California. In this episode we talk about: Why Asian American Mental Health is so important What therapists are getting wrong when working with Asian clients and colleagues The Model Minority myth, bias and stereotypes The lack of understanding of who Asian Americans are (and the heterogeneity of this group – there’s over 20 Asian countries with different languages and characteristics) Self-gaslighting, dismissal of Asian American racism experiences Accurate assessment and important questions to ask Looking at different immigration stories, languages spoken, what culture they relate to if their families come from more than one culture The barriers Asian Americans face in seeking mental health treatment The different perspective on mental health and the understanding of body and mind Collectivism and the impact on an individual seeking mental health services How different generations may perceive mental health treatment Culturally and linguistically appropriate services The potential missing data due to Asian Americans not reporting to or trusting the census The current spotlight on Asian hate and racism, and the history of violence against Asian people Common microaggressions The importance of educating oneself and avoiding assumptions, the value of consultation Ways to help with antiracism relevant to Asian Americans Questions to ask yourself to support Asian clients and colleagues Mon, 09 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Episode 219: Asian American Mental Health full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Linda Yoon, LCSW, on specific mental health needs of Asian American clients. Asian American Mental Health An interview with Linda Yoon, LCSW, on specific mental health needs of Asian American clients. Curt and Katie talk with Linda about what therapists often get wrong when working with Asian clients and colleagues. We explore the model minority myth, fetishization of Asian women, and the complexity of the heterogeneous group that falls under the term “Asian American.” We also talk about steps therapists can take to better support Asian American people.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Linda Yoon, LCSW, Founder and Co-Director of Yellow Chair Collective Linda is the founder and the co-director of Yellow Chair Collective, a multicultural psychotherapy group with a special focus on Asian mental health. Linda has over 10 years of experience in the field of social work and mental health. Before starting Yellow Chair Collective, she worked in residential and outpatient mental health clinics, domestic and intimate relationship violence programs, and affordable and inclusive housing services, often serving Asian and Asian Pacific Islanders and the immigrant/refugee population. Linda is passionate about community outreach and provides workshops on social and mental health topics including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), cultural sensitivity, parenting, self and community care, family violence, refugee/immigrant issues, and Asian American mental health. Her work has been featured in the LA Times, KXN, CBS Radio, KPBS, Al Dia Politics, and Crushing the Myth. Linda also has been a panelist for KQED Forum, NPR Podcast, and USC Center for Health Journalism speaking about Asian Mental Health needs during the pandemic and anti-Asian hate crime surge. Linda is also an active committee member of NASW-CA Asian Pacific Islander Council - Southern California. In this episode we talk about: Why Asian American Mental Health is so important What therapists are getting wrong when working with Asian clients and colleagues The Model Minority myth, bias and stereotypes The lack of understanding of who Asian Americans are (and the heterogeneity of this group – there’s over 20 Asian countries with different languages and characteristics) Self-gaslighting, dismissal of Asian American racism experiences Accurate assessment and important questions to ask Looking at different immigration stories, languages spoken, what culture they relate to if their families come from more than one culture The barriers Asian Americans face in seeking mental health treatment The different perspective on mental health and the understanding of body and mind Collectivism and the impact on an individual seeking mental health services How different generations may perceive mental health treatment Culturally and linguistically appropriate services The potential missing data due to Asian Americans not reporting to or trusting the census The current spotlight on Asian hate and racism, and the history of violence against Asian people Common microaggressions The importance of educating oneself and avoiding assumptions, the value of consultation Ways to help with antiracism relevant to Asian Americans Questions to ask yourself to support Asian clients and colleagues Asian American Mental Health

An interview with Linda Yoon, LCSW, on specific mental health needs of Asian American clients. Curt and Katie talk with Linda about what therapists often get wrong when working with Asian clients and colleagues. We explore the model minority myth, fetishization of Asian women, and the complexity of the heterogeneous group that falls under the term “Asian American.” We also talk about steps therapists can take to better support Asian American people. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Linda Yoon, LCSW, Founder and Co-Director of Yellow Chair Collective

Linda is the founder and the co-director of Yellow Chair Collective, a multicultural psychotherapy group with a special focus on Asian mental health. Linda has over 10 years of experience in the field of social work and mental health. Before starting Yellow Chair Collective, she worked in residential and outpatient mental health clinics, domestic and intimate relationship violence programs, and affordable and inclusive housing services, often serving Asian and Asian Pacific Islanders and the immigrant/refugee population.

Linda is passionate about community outreach and provides workshops on social and mental health topics including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), cultural sensitivity, parenting, self and community care, family violence, refugee/immigrant issues, and Asian American mental health. Her work has been featured in the LA Times, KXN, CBS Radio, KPBS, Al Dia Politics, and Crushing the Myth. Linda also has been a panelist for KQED Forum, NPR Podcast, and USC Center for Health Journalism speaking about Asian Mental Health needs during the pandemic and anti-Asian hate crime surge. Linda is also an active committee member of NASW-CA Asian Pacific Islander Council - Southern California.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why Asian American Mental Health is so important
  • What therapists are getting wrong when working with Asian clients and colleagues
  • The Model Minority myth, bias and stereotypes
  • The lack of understanding of who Asian Americans are (and the heterogeneity of this group – there’s over 20 Asian countries with different languages and characteristics)
  • Self-gaslighting, dismissal of Asian American racism experiences
  • Accurate assessment and important questions to ask
  • Looking at different immigration stories, languages spoken, what culture they relate to if their families come from more than one culture
  • The barriers Asian Americans face in seeking mental health treatment
  • The different perspective on mental health and the understanding of body and mind
  • Collectivism and the impact on an individual seeking mental health services
  • How different generations may perceive mental health treatment
  • Culturally and linguistically appropriate services
  • The potential missing data due to Asian Americans not reporting to or trusting the census
  • The current spotlight on Asian hate and racism, and the history of violence against Asian people
  • Common microaggressions
  • The importance of educating oneself and avoiding assumptions, the value of consultation
  • Ways to help with antiracism relevant to Asian Americans
  • Questions to ask yourself to support Asian clients and colleagues
]]> 2385 no How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-to-fire-your-clients-ethically How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Curt and Katie chat about how to appropriately terminate with clients when icky situations arise. We explore how therapists can develop an ethical decision-making process to protect themselves against possible complaints to ethics boards. We also talk about how privilege plays a role in icky terminations and how therapists can work to balance their safety and self-care with their responsibilities. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How ethics are discussed in social media groups (ethical concerns vs. I don’t like this) When we can terminate with clients, why can we do it, when we cannot terminate with clients, and what our responsibilities are in these situations. How therapist’s personal feelings can influence premature terminations and the problems this can lead to (e.g., client abandonment, continuity of care). Feelings that arise for both the therapist and client when icky terminations happen. How ethics committees think about complaints and disciplinary actions. Developing an ethical decision-making process that demonstrates professionalism. Explore how therapists are held to a higher standard than the general public. Discuss how privilege (or lack thereof) impacts perceptions professionalism. How to maintain professional standards when your safety is at risk. Developing plans for possible icky terminations. We look at how many therapists are actually reported to ethics boards and how this information is unhelpful. Managing racist, homophobic, sexist, etc. comments in session and taking care of yourself. Explore how the structure of ethics committees create barriers to therapists being their authentic self, while also needing these committees to protect the field. Balancing therapist safety and self-care with therapist responsibilities. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! CPH Article: Duty to the Patient – Termination of Treatment and Understanding Your Patient Relevant Episodes: Therapist Safety Managing Vicarious Trauma Bad Business Practices Ending Therapy Noteworthy Documentation Irrational Ethics That’s Unethical Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Mon, 02 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000 How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how to appropriately terminate with clients when icky situations arise. How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Curt and Katie chat about how to appropriately terminate with clients when icky situations arise. We explore how therapists can develop an ethical decision-making process to protect themselves against possible complaints to ethics boards. We also talk about how privilege plays a role in icky terminations and how therapists can work to balance their safety and self-care with their responsibilities. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How ethics are discussed in social media groups (ethical concerns vs. I don’t like this) When we can terminate with clients, why can we do it, when we cannot terminate with clients, and what our responsibilities are in these situations. How therapist’s personal feelings can influence premature terminations and the problems this can lead to (e.g., client abandonment, continuity of care). Feelings that arise for both the therapist and client when icky terminations happen. How ethics committees think about complaints and disciplinary actions. Developing an ethical decision-making process that demonstrates professionalism. Explore how therapists are held to a higher standard than the general public. Discuss how privilege (or lack thereof) impacts perceptions professionalism. How to maintain professional standards when your safety is at risk. Developing plans for possible icky terminations. We look at how many therapists are actually reported to ethics boards and how this information is unhelpful. Managing racist, homophobic, sexist, etc. comments in session and taking care of yourself. Explore how the structure of ethics committees create barriers to therapists being their authentic self, while also needing these committees to protect the field. Balancing therapist safety and self-care with therapist responsibilities. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! CPH Article: Duty to the Patient – Termination of Treatment and Understanding Your Patient Relevant Episodes: Therapist Safety Managing Vicarious Trauma Bad Business Practices Ending Therapy Noteworthy Documentation Irrational Ethics That’s Unethical Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically)

Curt and Katie chat about how to appropriately terminate with clients when icky situations arise. We explore how therapists can develop an ethical decision-making process to protect themselves against possible complaints to ethics boards. We also talk about how privilege plays a role in icky terminations and how therapists can work to balance their safety and self-care with their responsibilities.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How ethics are discussed in social media groups (ethical concerns vs. I don’t like this)
  • When we can terminate with clients, why can we do it, when we cannot terminate with clients, and what our responsibilities are in these situations.
  • How therapist’s personal feelings can influence premature terminations and the problems this can lead to (e.g., client abandonment, continuity of care).
  • Feelings that arise for both the therapist and client when icky terminations happen.
  • How ethics committees think about complaints and disciplinary actions.
  • Developing an ethical decision-making process that demonstrates professionalism.
  • Explore how therapists are held to a higher standard than the general public.
  • Discuss how privilege (or lack thereof) impacts perceptions professionalism.
  • How to maintain professional standards when your safety is at risk.
  • Developing plans for possible icky terminations.
  • We look at how many therapists are actually reported to ethics boards and how this information is unhelpful.
  • Managing racist, homophobic, sexist, etc. comments in session and taking care of yourself.
  • Explore how the structure of ethics committees create barriers to therapists being their authentic self, while also needing these committees to protect the field.
  • Balancing therapist safety and self-care with therapist responsibilities.

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

CPH Article: Duty to the Patient – Termination of Treatment and Understanding Your Patient

Relevant Episodes:

Therapist Safety

Managing Vicarious Trauma

Bad Business Practices

Ending Therapy

Noteworthy Documentation

Irrational Ethics

That’s Unethical

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

]]> 1936 no How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome to Leave Your Agency Job https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-to-overcome-impostor-syndrome-to-leave-your-agency-job How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome to Leave Your Agency Job An interview with Patrick Casale, LCMHC, LCAS, about how impostor syndrome and other barriers can get in the way of therapists moving forward into private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Patrick about what it takes to make the leap from negative work situations and become a “therapist wizard.” We also look at lots of creative ideas on how to step into fear to confront impostor syndrome as well as how to build a private practice that’s right for you.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Patrick Casale, MA, LCMHC, LCAS Patrick currently works as a private practice coach and strategist and private practice owner. He lives in Asheville NC with his wife Ariel and two dogs, Hudson and Hazel. He’s worked in the helping profession since 2008. In the last 12 years, he’s worked in several different arenas in community mental health. From a qualified professional to the program director, he found himself constantly being promoted to middle management roles where he was able to see both sides of the coin. It was hard watching his staff work so hard for so little while trying to appease the powers that be who typically were out of touch with day-to-day operations. He has worked full time as a private practice therapist for the last three years. In those three years, he’s traveled to 8 different countries, taken lots of vacations, grown his business to a point where it feels easy and routine, and has helped other therapists in the area do the same. In this episode we talk about: The ideas around impostor syndrome and how it impacts therapists Common mistakes therapists make when moving from community mental health to private practice How therapists can consistently negatively evaluate their own competence Entrepreneurial anxiety and missteps based on lack of confidence The early messages and attachment issues that impact self-esteem, perception of competence Embracing fear to move forward, accepting that mistakes are inevitable Vulnerability and authenticity, perfectionism Taking power back through making impostor syndrome playful Looking at how different identities are impacted by “impostor syndrome” Conflicting and negative messages that therapists get Entitlement and pessimism from more seasoned clinicians Abundance versus scarcity mindset How to become a therapist wizard Moving from an agency to private practice The danger of staying in an agency when you’re at the point of no return The lack of specific numbers or exact instructions on when you should make the leap The importance of networking when building a private practice Ideas for overcoming anxiety and still move forward on starting your private practice The importance of having an exit plan and steps in place Making decisions on what is needed versus what is desired, what values can be considered The goals that are possible once you move into your own private practice Creativity in how you set up your practice Understanding what you need to set yourself up for success Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! https://casalecoaching.com/ Patrick’s All Things Private Practice Facebook group Mon, 26 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000 How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome to Leave Your Agency Job: An interview with Patrick Casale full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Patrick Casale, LCMHC, LCAS How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome to Leave Your Agency Job An interview with Patrick Casale, LCMHC, LCAS, about how impostor syndrome and other barriers can get in the way of therapists moving forward into private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Patrick about what it takes to make the leap from negative work situations and become a “therapist wizard.” We also look at lots of creative ideas on how to step into fear to confront impostor syndrome as well as how to build a private practice that’s right for you.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Patrick Casale, MA, LCMHC, LCAS Patrick currently works as a private practice coach and strategist and private practice owner. He lives in Asheville NC with his wife Ariel and two dogs, Hudson and Hazel. He’s worked in the helping profession since 2008. In the last 12 years, he’s worked in several different arenas in community mental health. From a qualified professional to the program director, he found himself constantly being promoted to middle management roles where he was able to see both sides of the coin. It was hard watching his staff work so hard for so little while trying to appease the powers that be who typically were out of touch with day-to-day operations. He has worked full time as a private practice therapist for the last three years. In those three years, he’s traveled to 8 different countries, taken lots of vacations, grown his business to a point where it feels easy and routine, and has helped other therapists in the area do the same. In this episode we talk about: The ideas around impostor syndrome and how it impacts therapists Common mistakes therapists make when moving from community mental health to private practice How therapists can consistently negatively evaluate their own competence Entrepreneurial anxiety and missteps based on lack of confidence The early messages and attachment issues that impact self-esteem, perception of competence Embracing fear to move forward, accepting that mistakes are inevitable Vulnerability and authenticity, perfectionism Taking power back through making impostor syndrome playful Looking at how different identities are impacted by “impostor syndrome” Conflicting and negative messages that therapists get Entitlement and pessimism from more seasoned clinicians Abundance versus scarcity mindset How to become a therapist wizard Moving from an agency to private practice The danger of staying in an agency when you’re at the point of no return The lack of specific numbers or exact instructions on when you should make the leap The importance of networking when building a private practice Ideas for overcoming anxiety and still move forward on starting your private practice The importance of having an exit plan and steps in place Making decisions on what is needed versus what is desired, what values can be considered The goals that are possible once you move into your own private practice Creativity in how you set up your practice Understanding what you need to set yourself up for success Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! https://casalecoaching.com/ Patrick’s All Things Private Practice Facebook group How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome to Leave Your Agency Job

An interview with Patrick Casale, LCMHC, LCAS, about how impostor syndrome and other barriers can get in the way of therapists moving forward into private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Patrick about what it takes to make the leap from negative work situations and become a “therapist wizard.” We also look at lots of creative ideas on how to step into fear to confront impostor syndrome as well as how to build a private practice that’s right for you. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Patrick Casale, MA, LCMHC, LCAS

Patrick currently works as a private practice coach and strategist and private practice owner. He lives in Asheville NC with his wife Ariel and two dogs, Hudson and Hazel. He’s worked in the helping profession since 2008. In the last 12 years, he’s worked in several different arenas in community mental health. From a qualified professional to the program director, he found himself constantly being promoted to middle management roles where he was able to see both sides of the coin. It was hard watching his staff work so hard for so little while trying to appease the powers that be who typically were out of touch with day-to-day operations. He has worked full time as a private practice therapist for the last three years. In those three years, he’s traveled to 8 different countries, taken lots of vacations, grown his business to a point where it feels easy and routine, and has helped other therapists in the area do the same.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The ideas around impostor syndrome and how it impacts therapists
  • Common mistakes therapists make when moving from community mental health to private practice
  • How therapists can consistently negatively evaluate their own competence
  • Entrepreneurial anxiety and missteps based on lack of confidence
  • The early messages and attachment issues that impact self-esteem, perception of competence
  • Embracing fear to move forward, accepting that mistakes are inevitable
  • Vulnerability and authenticity, perfectionism
  • Taking power back through making impostor syndrome playful
  • Looking at how different identities are impacted by “impostor syndrome”
  • Conflicting and negative messages that therapists get
  • Entitlement and pessimism from more seasoned clinicians
  • Abundance versus scarcity mindset
  • How to become a therapist wizard
  • Moving from an agency to private practice
  • The danger of staying in an agency when you’re at the point of no return
  • The lack of specific numbers or exact instructions on when you should make the leap
  • The importance of networking when building a private practice
  • Ideas for overcoming anxiety and still move forward on starting your private practice
  • The importance of having an exit plan and steps in place
  • Making decisions on what is needed versus what is desired, what values can be considered
  • The goals that are possible once you move into your own private practice
  • Creativity in how you set up your practice
  • Understanding what you need to set yourself up for success

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

https://casalecoaching.com/

Patrick’s All Things Private Practice Facebook group

]]> 2440 no An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/an-incomplete-list-of-everything-wrong-with-therapist-education-3 An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education An interview with Diane Gehart, LMFT, on what works in therapy and where the field is headed. Curt and Katie talk with Diane about the overwhelming amount of information new therapists must learn in school and how this impacts their confidence. We also explore how the field is moving towards synthesizing theories and how this will impact future clinicians. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Diane Gehart, LMFT Diane Gehart, Ph.D. is Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Programs at California State University, Northridge and has a private practice in Agoura Hills, California. She has authored several professional books including Mindfulness for Chocolate Lovers: A Lighthearted Way to Stress Less and Savor More Each Day, Mindfulness and Acceptance in Couple and Family Therapy Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy, Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy. In this episode we talk about: Who Diane Gehart is and what she has (and continues) to contribute to the field. Diane discusses what is wrong with therapist education and how it impacts newer therapists. How we can help students feel more confident when they enter the field, while still providing a good education. The abundance of theories students need to learn in graduate school and how the future of the field will be synthesis of theories. How the synthesis of theories will impact testing for licensure. Diane discusses how focusing on client outcomes and finding quality training can support confidence in new clinicians. How cultural considerations can be included in the synthesis of theories. Using the client’s reality/perspective to make therapy work, rather than focusing on interventions. Explore how different parts of the field (e.g., clinicians, researchers, educators) contribute to what is wrong with therapist education. The need for synthesized information to be more widely available to make more competent therapists. Balancing helping clinicians to feel more confident while also encouraging them to be self-motivated to learn. What are the best things clinicians can do right now to improve their confidence? Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Diane Gehart Therapy That Works Mastering Competencies Mindfulness at Our Schools Diane on YouTube Mon, 19 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000 An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education: An Interview Diane Gehart full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Diane Gehart, LMFT, on what works in therapy and where the field is headed. An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education An interview with Diane Gehart, LMFT, on what works in therapy and where the field is headed. Curt and Katie talk with Diane about the overwhelming amount of information new therapists must learn in school and how this impacts their confidence. We also explore how the field is moving towards synthesizing theories and how this will impact future clinicians. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Diane Gehart, LMFT Diane Gehart, Ph.D. is Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Programs at California State University, Northridge and has a private practice in Agoura Hills, California. She has authored several professional books including Mindfulness for Chocolate Lovers: A Lighthearted Way to Stress Less and Savor More Each Day, Mindfulness and Acceptance in Couple and Family Therapy Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy, Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy. In this episode we talk about: Who Diane Gehart is and what she has (and continues) to contribute to the field. Diane discusses what is wrong with therapist education and how it impacts newer therapists. How we can help students feel more confident when they enter the field, while still providing a good education. The abundance of theories students need to learn in graduate school and how the future of the field will be synthesis of theories. How the synthesis of theories will impact testing for licensure. Diane discusses how focusing on client outcomes and finding quality training can support confidence in new clinicians. How cultural considerations can be included in the synthesis of theories. Using the client’s reality/perspective to make therapy work, rather than focusing on interventions. Explore how different parts of the field (e.g., clinicians, researchers, educators) contribute to what is wrong with therapist education. The need for synthesized information to be more widely available to make more competent therapists. Balancing helping clinicians to feel more confident while also encouraging them to be self-motivated to learn. What are the best things clinicians can do right now to improve their confidence? Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Diane Gehart Therapy That Works Mastering Competencies Mindfulness at Our Schools Diane on YouTube An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education

An interview with Diane Gehart, LMFT, on what works in therapy and where the field is headed. Curt and Katie talk with Diane about the overwhelming amount of information new therapists must learn in school and how this impacts their confidence. We also explore how the field is moving towards synthesizing theories and how this will impact future clinicians.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 

Interview with Diane Gehart, LMFT

Diane Gehart, Ph.D. is Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Programs at California State University, Northridge and has a private practice in Agoura Hills, California. She has authored several professional books including Mindfulness for Chocolate Lovers: A Lighthearted Way to Stress Less and Savor More Each Day, Mindfulness and Acceptance in Couple and Family Therapy Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy, Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Who Diane Gehart is and what she has (and continues) to contribute to the field.
  • Diane discusses what is wrong with therapist education and how it impacts newer therapists.
  • How we can help students feel more confident when they enter the field, while still providing a good education.
  • The abundance of theories students need to learn in graduate school and how the future of the field will be synthesis of theories.
  • How the synthesis of theories will impact testing for licensure.
  • Diane discusses how focusing on client outcomes and finding quality training can support confidence in new clinicians.
  • How cultural considerations can be included in the synthesis of theories.
  • Using the client’s reality/perspective to make therapy work, rather than focusing on interventions.
  • Explore how different parts of the field (e.g., clinicians, researchers, educators) contribute to what is wrong with therapist education.
  • The need for synthesized information to be more widely available to make more competent therapists.
  • Balancing helping clinicians to feel more confident while also encouraging them to be self-motivated to learn.
  • What are the best things clinicians can do right now to improve their confidence?

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Diane Gehart

Therapy That Works

Mastering Competencies

Mindfulness at Our Schools

Diane on YouTube

]]> 2342 no Psychiatric Crises in the Emergency Room https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/psychiatric-crises-in-the-emergency-room Psychiatric Crises in the Emergency Room Interview with Kesy Yoon, LMHC and James McMahill, LMFT Kesy Yoon, LMHC: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), I am dedicated to helping my clients understand who they are and how they fit into the world around them. Over the past six years, I have worked in a variety of mental health settings with individuals from all walks of life. Currently, I work with clients struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, and major life transitions. Over the course of my career, I have developed a specialty in working with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) 1st generation population. My work in this area is informed by my own personal experience with navigating the differences between an American upbringing and traditional Asian values. I enjoy working with AAPI clients to identify solutions to improve quality of life while honoring important cultural values and needs. Therapy is dynamic and my style is centered upon empowerment and hope. I show up as a human first, therapist second. As a counselor, I believe that every individual is a unique and complicated being; therefore, I do not have one uniform approach. I draw inspiration from several evidence-based modalities such as EMDR, Solution Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I am also trained in the EMDR modality and I am currently in the process of EMDR Certification. James McMahill, LMFT: I am an LMFT in CA and MN specializing in crisis care for those struggling with psychosis, severe depression, PTSD and suicidality. The majority of my clinical experience has been in crisis work and includes all ages, from children and adolescents in inpatient, TAY and adults in county outpatient clinics, and as a member of a Geri Psyche urgent response team. While in San Diego, I was the Program Director for Heartland Wellness Recovery Center, a county outpatient program serving SPMI clients in East County, San Diego. Currently, I am a team member for a CRT (Crisis Response Team) in Carver County, MN, and spend much of my clinical time in Emergency Rooms or responding to community or Law Enforcement mental health crises. I may also be commonly found co moderating Therapists in Private Practice (TIPP) on Facebook, with my wife Namrata. In this episode we talk about: Continuing our special series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America How emergency rooms become a part of the mental health system The role of emergency rooms as the first door for folks with a mental health crisis It can be a catchall and revolving door for some with longer term mental health concerns The challenges and overwhelm when someone comes into the ER The goals that emergency rooms can have when someone comes in with a psychiatric crisis The differences in ERs (whether they have psychiatric facilities or whether they transfer to other facilities) The challenges in placing clients in psychiatric inpatient care The revolving door – developing relationships and losing hope Potential legislation changes that could increase time for care Conflicting goals at different levels of the hospital and the hot potato syndrome Training of the emergency room staff, medical staff, law enforcement, fire services The criminogenic interpretation of behavior that can hinder law enforcement and seeing a patient as someone needing help The importance of patience in managing psychiatric crises Interacting with Law Enforcement in these situations Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Psychiatric Crises in the Emergency Room full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Special Series: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America Psychiatric Crises in the Emergency Room Interview with Kesy Yoon, LMHC and James McMahill, LMFT Kesy Yoon, LMHC: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), I am dedicated to helping my clients understand who they are and how they fit into the world around them. Over the past six years, I have worked in a variety of mental health settings with individuals from all walks of life. Currently, I work with clients struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, and major life transitions. Over the course of my career, I have developed a specialty in working with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) 1st generation population. My work in this area is informed by my own personal experience with navigating the differences between an American upbringing and traditional Asian values. I enjoy working with AAPI clients to identify solutions to improve quality of life while honoring important cultural values and needs. Therapy is dynamic and my style is centered upon empowerment and hope. I show up as a human first, therapist second. As a counselor, I believe that every individual is a unique and complicated being; therefore, I do not have one uniform approach. I draw inspiration from several evidence-based modalities such as EMDR, Solution Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I am also trained in the EMDR modality and I am currently in the process of EMDR Certification. James McMahill, LMFT: I am an LMFT in CA and MN specializing in crisis care for those struggling with psychosis, severe depression, PTSD and suicidality. The majority of my clinical experience has been in crisis work and includes all ages, from children and adolescents in inpatient, TAY and adults in county outpatient clinics, and as a member of a Geri Psyche urgent response team. While in San Diego, I was the Program Director for Heartland Wellness Recovery Center, a county outpatient program serving SPMI clients in East County, San Diego. Currently, I am a team member for a CRT (Crisis Response Team) in Carver County, MN, and spend much of my clinical time in Emergency Rooms or responding to community or Law Enforcement mental health crises. I may also be commonly found co moderating Therapists in Private Practice (TIPP) on Facebook, with my wife Namrata. In this episode we talk about: Continuing our special series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America How emergency rooms become a part of the mental health system The role of emergency rooms as the first door for folks with a mental health crisis It can be a catchall and revolving door for some with longer term mental health concerns The challenges and overwhelm when someone comes into the ER The goals that emergency rooms can have when someone comes in with a psychiatric crisis The differences in ERs (whether they have psychiatric facilities or whether they transfer to other facilities) The challenges in placing clients in psychiatric inpatient care The revolving door – developing relationships and losing hope Potential legislation changes that could increase time for care Conflicting goals at different levels of the hospital and the hot potato syndrome Training of the emergency room staff, medical staff, law enforcement, fire services The criminogenic interpretation of behavior that can hinder law enforcement and seeing a patient as someone needing help The importance of patience in managing psychiatric crises Interacting with Law Enforcement in these situations Psychiatric Crises in the Emergency Room

Interview with Kesy Yoon, LMHC and James McMahill, LMFT

Kesy Yoon, LMHC: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), I am dedicated to helping my clients understand who they are and how they fit into the world around them. Over the past six years, I have worked in a variety of mental health settings with individuals from all walks of life. Currently, I work with clients struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, and major life transitions. Over the course of my career, I have developed a specialty in working with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) 1st generation population. My work in this area is informed by my own personal experience with navigating the differences between an American upbringing and traditional Asian values. I enjoy working with AAPI clients to identify solutions to improve quality of life while honoring important cultural values and needs. Therapy is dynamic and my style is centered upon empowerment and hope. I show up as a human first, therapist second. As a counselor, I believe that every individual is a unique and complicated being; therefore, I do not have one uniform approach. I draw inspiration from several evidence-based modalities such as EMDR, Solution Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I am also trained in the EMDR modality and I am currently in the process of EMDR Certification.

James McMahill, LMFT: I am an LMFT in CA and MN specializing in crisis care for those struggling with psychosis, severe depression, PTSD and suicidality. The majority of my clinical experience has been in crisis work and includes all ages, from children and adolescents in inpatient, TAY and adults in county outpatient clinics, and as a member of a Geri Psyche urgent response team. While in San Diego, I was the Program Director for Heartland Wellness Recovery Center, a county outpatient program serving SPMI clients in East County, San Diego. Currently, I am a team member for a CRT (Crisis Response Team) in Carver County, MN, and spend much of my clinical time in Emergency Rooms or responding to community or Law Enforcement mental health crises. I may also be commonly found co moderating Therapists in Private Practice (TIPP) on Facebook, with my wife Namrata.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Continuing our special series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America
  • How emergency rooms become a part of the mental health system
  • The role of emergency rooms as the first door for folks with a mental health crisis
  • It can be a catchall and revolving door for some with longer term mental health concerns
  • The challenges and overwhelm when someone comes into the ER
  • The goals that emergency rooms can have when someone comes in with a psychiatric crisis
  • The differences in ERs (whether they have psychiatric facilities or whether they transfer to other facilities)
  • The challenges in placing clients in psychiatric inpatient care
  • The revolving door – developing relationships and losing hope
  • Potential legislation changes that could increase time for care
  • Conflicting goals at different levels of the hospital and the hot potato syndrome
  • Training of the emergency room staff, medical staff, law enforcement, fire services
  • The criminogenic interpretation of behavior that can hinder law enforcement and seeing a patient as someone needing help
  • The importance of patience in managing psychiatric crises
  • Interacting with Law Enforcement in these situations
]]> 3104 no Why YOU Shouldn’t Sell Out to BetterHelp https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/why-you-shouldnt-sell-out-to-betterhelp Why YOU Shouldn’t Sell Out to BetterHelp An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC from TherapyDen about the ins and outs of affiliate partnerships. Curt and Katie talk with Jeff about the offer he received from BetterHelp and why he turned it down – taking some time to discuss the therapist businesses and influencers who have chosen this partnership and the subsequent backlash from the online therapist communities. We look at how these types of partnerships can be formed, what you should consider when you are approached to collaborate with another company, and how much money it would take for us to sell out. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC, TherapyDen Jeff Guenther, LPC, is a therapist in Portland, OR. He has been in private practice since 2005 and currently leads workshops on how health and wellness practitioners can build their digital brand and attract more clients online. Jeff is the creator and owner of two highly ranked healthcare directory sites, Portland Therapy Center and TherapyDen.  In this episode we talk about: Jeff’s TherapyDen story – why/how he started it and the different types of partnerships and other business arrangements that he’s been approached with How to sift out what is being offered and whether a partnership is beneficial or harmful The salesy approaches that Jeff just does not respond to The common origin stories and connections made with tech startups Why Brighter Vision and others have gotten so much backlash when they partnered with BetterHelp The movement from the online therapists’ groups to respond to Brighter Vision and the resulting discontinuation of the partnership with BetterHelp The importance of taking care of the individuals in the profession The corporate focus on commoditization of therapy The different ways that companies like BetterHelp may be making money off of therapy clients and therapists (e.g., data mining) BetterHelp’s plan to take over therapist directories and all of the entry points for therapy The consequences of BetterHelp’s success and how they are changing the expectations Ideas about larger provider networks that can be done well to support therapists and clients The specifics of Jeff’s offer from BetterHelp and why he turned it down The morals and values questions that come up when facing one of these offers The practical reasons not to take these kinds of deals, no matter the money involved The importance of being able to stand behind your partners   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! TherapyDen Create a Free Therapist Profile on TherapyDen Contact Jeff: hello@therapyden.com Swoon Podcast and Jeff's TherapyDen Blog Mon, 05 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Why YOU Shouldn’t Sell Out to BetterHelp: An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC from TherapyDen full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC from TherapyDen Why YOU Shouldn’t Sell Out to BetterHelp An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC from TherapyDen about the ins and outs of affiliate partnerships. Curt and Katie talk with Jeff about the offer he received from BetterHelp and why he turned it down – taking some time to discuss the therapist businesses and influencers who have chosen this partnership and the subsequent backlash from the online therapist communities. We look at how these types of partnerships can be formed, what you should consider when you are approached to collaborate with another company, and how much money it would take for us to sell out. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC, TherapyDen Jeff Guenther, LPC, is a therapist in Portland, OR. He has been in private practice since 2005 and currently leads workshops on how health and wellness practitioners can build their digital brand and attract more clients online. Jeff is the creator and owner of two highly ranked healthcare directory sites, Portland Therapy Center and TherapyDen.  In this episode we talk about: Jeff’s TherapyDen story – why/how he started it and the different types of partnerships and other business arrangements that he’s been approached with How to sift out what is being offered and whether a partnership is beneficial or harmful The salesy approaches that Jeff just does not respond to The common origin stories and connections made with tech startups Why Brighter Vision and others have gotten so much backlash when they partnered with BetterHelp The movement from the online therapists’ groups to respond to Brighter Vision and the resulting discontinuation of the partnership with BetterHelp The importance of taking care of the individuals in the profession The corporate focus on commoditization of therapy The different ways that companies like BetterHelp may be making money off of therapy clients and therapists (e.g., data mining) BetterHelp’s plan to take over therapist directories and all of the entry points for therapy The consequences of BetterHelp’s success and how they are changing the expectations Ideas about larger provider networks that can be done well to support therapists and clients The specifics of Jeff’s offer from BetterHelp and why he turned it down The morals and values questions that come up when facing one of these offers The practical reasons not to take these kinds of deals, no matter the money involved The importance of being able to stand behind your partners   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! TherapyDen Create a Free Therapist Profile on TherapyDen Contact Jeff: hello@therapyden.com Swoon Podcast and Jeff's TherapyDen Blog Why YOU Shouldn’t Sell Out to BetterHelp

An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC from TherapyDen about the ins and outs of affiliate partnerships. Curt and Katie talk with Jeff about the offer he received from BetterHelp and why he turned it down – taking some time to discuss the therapist businesses and influencers who have chosen this partnership and the subsequent backlash from the online therapist communities. We look at how these types of partnerships can be formed, what you should consider when you are approached to collaborate with another company, and how much money it would take for us to sell out.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC, TherapyDen

Jeff Guenther, LPC, is a therapist in Portland, OR. He has been in private practice since 2005 and currently leads workshops on how health and wellness practitioners can build their digital brand and attract more clients online. Jeff is the creator and owner of two highly ranked healthcare directory sites, Portland Therapy Center and TherapyDen. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Jeff’s TherapyDen story – why/how he started it and the different types of partnerships and other business arrangements that he’s been approached with
  • How to sift out what is being offered and whether a partnership is beneficial or harmful
  • The salesy approaches that Jeff just does not respond to
  • The common origin stories and connections made with tech startups
  • Why Brighter Vision and others have gotten so much backlash when they partnered with BetterHelp
  • The movement from the online therapists’ groups to respond to Brighter Vision and the resulting discontinuation of the partnership with BetterHelp
  • The importance of taking care of the individuals in the profession
  • The corporate focus on commoditization of therapy
  • The different ways that companies like BetterHelp may be making money off of therapy clients and therapists (e.g., data mining)
  • BetterHelp’s plan to take over therapist directories and all of the entry points for therapy
  • The consequences of BetterHelp’s success and how they are changing the expectations
  • Ideas about larger provider networks that can be done well to support therapists and clients
  • The specifics of Jeff’s offer from BetterHelp and why he turned it down
  • The morals and values questions that come up when facing one of these offers
  • The practical reasons not to take these kinds of deals, no matter the money involved
  • The importance of being able to stand behind your partners

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

TherapyDen

Create a Free Therapist Profile on TherapyDen

Contact Jeff: hello@therapyden.com

Swoon Podcast and Jeff's TherapyDen Blog

]]> 2522 yes The State of the Profession in a COVID World https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-state-of-the-profession-in-a-covid-world The State of the Profession in a COVID World Curt and Katie chat about the current state of the Mental Health Profession. We give our opinion on a recent report from SimplePractice, looking at what they included as well as what we think is missing. We explore how COVID has impacted burnout rates and give action steps professionals can take to support each other as we continue to move forward as a field. We also talk about barriers in our field and what is coming next. This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients. In this episode we talk about: 0:53: What do Curt and Katie think about the report? And how do demographics and length of time in the field impact how long clinicians stay in the profession? 2:27: Who feels burned out the most and what are action steps professionals can take to help each other with this problem? 7:44: How do financial burdens and parental burnout impact a clinician’s ability to work in this field? 10:50: How do insurance regulations create barriers for clinicians and clients? 15:38: How has COVID impacted use of technology in the field and accessibility to care? 18:55: Who are the therapists in the field and who are they working with (demographics)? 23:18: How do social justice issues impact burnout rates? 24:56: What comes next for our profession?. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! State of the Mental Health Profession: Impact of COVID-19 Teletherapy Good Enough Therapy For A Crisis…and Beyond!   Mon, 28 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000 The State of the Profession in a COVID World full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the current state of the Mental Health Profession. The State of the Profession in a COVID World Curt and Katie chat about the current state of the Mental Health Profession. We give our opinion on a recent report from SimplePractice, looking at what they included as well as what we think is missing. We explore how COVID has impacted burnout rates and give action steps professionals can take to support each other as we continue to move forward as a field. We also talk about barriers in our field and what is coming next. This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients. In this episode we talk about: 0:53: What do Curt and Katie think about the report? And how do demographics and length of time in the field impact how long clinicians stay in the profession? 2:27: Who feels burned out the most and what are action steps professionals can take to help each other with this problem? 7:44: How do financial burdens and parental burnout impact a clinician’s ability to work in this field? 10:50: How do insurance regulations create barriers for clinicians and clients? 15:38: How has COVID impacted use of technology in the field and accessibility to care? 18:55: Who are the therapists in the field and who are they working with (demographics)? 23:18: How do social justice issues impact burnout rates? 24:56: What comes next for our profession?. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! State of the Mental Health Profession: Impact of COVID-19 Teletherapy Good Enough Therapy For A Crisis…and Beyond!   The State of the Profession in a COVID World

Curt and Katie chat about the current state of the Mental Health Profession. We give our opinion on a recent report from SimplePractice, looking at what they included as well as what we think is missing. We explore how COVID has impacted burnout rates and give action steps professionals can take to support each other as we continue to move forward as a field. We also talk about barriers in our field and what is coming next.

This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients.

In this episode we talk about:

  • 0:53: What do Curt and Katie think about the report? And how do demographics and length of time in the field impact how long clinicians stay in the profession?
  • 2:27: Who feels burned out the most and what are action steps professionals can take to help each other with this problem?
  • 7:44: How do financial burdens and parental burnout impact a clinician’s ability to work in this field?
  • 10:50: How do insurance regulations create barriers for clinicians and clients?
  • 15:38: How has COVID impacted use of technology in the field and accessibility to care?
  • 18:55: Who are the therapists in the field and who are they working with (demographics)?
  • 23:18: How do social justice issues impact burnout rates?
  • 24:56: What comes next for our profession?.

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

State of the Mental Health Profession: Impact of COVID-19

Teletherapy Good Enough Therapy For A Crisis…and Beyond!

 

]]> 1960 no Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on SimplePractice https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/special-episode-modern-therapists-consumer-guide-on-simplepractice-0 Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on SimplePractice Curt and Katie talk with Howard Spector, CEO and Diana Stepner, VP of Product for SimplePractice. We look at how SimplePractice has been envisioned, the company values, and the details of the product, so you can decide if SimplePractice is the Practice Management System for your private practice. This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients.   Interview with Howard Spector, CEO and Diana Stepner, VP of Product, SimplePractice Howard is the CEO and Co-founder of SimplePractice. Howard has over 20 years of experience in the information technology industry. He is proud to have earned his MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Diana joined SimplePractice from Pearson where she was the VP of Innovative Learning Solutions, a portfolio of products that provide value anytime, anywhere for learners by increasing confidence & outcomes associated with a specific learning activity or skill. Previously Diana headed up Future Technologies and Innovation Partnerships at Pearson. She also worked in Emerging Media at Razorfish and User Experience at Salesforce.com. In addition, Diana led Product Management in Western Europe for Monster Worldwide. She has a MIMS from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Boston University. When not doing Product, Diana can be found exercising, listening to podcasts, nutrition / health / wellness, and travel (someday). She lives in San Francisco with her husband and attack puppy.  In this episode we talk about: Interview with Howard Spector, CEO, SimplePractice 2:12: How did the vision for SimplePractice (SP) come into being? 4:17: What is the trajectory for SimplePractice? 6:25: How does SP take in feedback and remain true to their principles and values from which it began? 9:12: What is SP’s response to feedback about customer service? 15:31: How does the team atmosphere and culture play out for customers? 19:41: How does SimplePractice support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? 22:12: What is in the future for SP? 23:18: What is Howard most proud for about SP? 25:10: What does Howard want everyone considering SP for their practice management system need to know? Interview with Diana Stepner, VP of Product, SimplePractice 26:32: What does it look like when someone signs up for SimplePractice? 28:54: What are the strongest elements of SimplePractice? 30:24: What are SP’s paperwork customization features? 34:04: What is the professional website feature? 35:07: What is Monarch? 38:01 What are some areas SimplePractice is looking to improve? 40:17: How has SP taken suggestions from the community and incorporated them into SimplePractice? 41:56: Who is SimplePractice NOT right for? 44:35: What is coming up next for SimplePractice’s development? 45:54: How do you sign up for SimplePractice? (includes information on our special offer) 46:19: How would you recommend people investigating if SimplePractice is a good fit for them? Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of SimplePractice 47:31: Who would we recommend SimplePractice for? 52:05: Who we think would not be a good match for SimplePractice Thu, 24 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on SimplePractice bonus Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk with Howard Spector, CEO and Diana Stepner, VP of Product for SimplePractice Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on SimplePractice Curt and Katie talk with Howard Spector, CEO and Diana Stepner, VP of Product for SimplePractice. We look at how SimplePractice has been envisioned, the company values, and the details of the product, so you can decide if SimplePractice is the Practice Management System for your private practice. This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients.   Interview with Howard Spector, CEO and Diana Stepner, VP of Product, SimplePractice Howard is the CEO and Co-founder of SimplePractice. Howard has over 20 years of experience in the information technology industry. He is proud to have earned his MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Diana joined SimplePractice from Pearson where she was the VP of Innovative Learning Solutions, a portfolio of products that provide value anytime, anywhere for learners by increasing confidence & outcomes associated with a specific learning activity or skill. Previously Diana headed up Future Technologies and Innovation Partnerships at Pearson. She also worked in Emerging Media at Razorfish and User Experience at Salesforce.com. In addition, Diana led Product Management in Western Europe for Monster Worldwide. She has a MIMS from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Boston University. When not doing Product, Diana can be found exercising, listening to podcasts, nutrition / health / wellness, and travel (someday). She lives in San Francisco with her husband and attack puppy.  In this episode we talk about: Interview with Howard Spector, CEO, SimplePractice 2:12: How did the vision for SimplePractice (SP) come into being? 4:17: What is the trajectory for SimplePractice? 6:25: How does SP take in feedback and remain true to their principles and values from which it began? 9:12: What is SP’s response to feedback about customer service? 15:31: How does the team atmosphere and culture play out for customers? 19:41: How does SimplePractice support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? 22:12: What is in the future for SP? 23:18: What is Howard most proud for about SP? 25:10: What does Howard want everyone considering SP for their practice management system need to know? Interview with Diana Stepner, VP of Product, SimplePractice 26:32: What does it look like when someone signs up for SimplePractice? 28:54: What are the strongest elements of SimplePractice? 30:24: What are SP’s paperwork customization features? 34:04: What is the professional website feature? 35:07: What is Monarch? 38:01 What are some areas SimplePractice is looking to improve? 40:17: How has SP taken suggestions from the community and incorporated them into SimplePractice? 41:56: Who is SimplePractice NOT right for? 44:35: What is coming up next for SimplePractice’s development? 45:54: How do you sign up for SimplePractice? (includes information on our special offer) 46:19: How would you recommend people investigating if SimplePractice is a good fit for them? Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of SimplePractice 47:31: Who would we recommend SimplePractice for? 52:05: Who we think would not be a good match for SimplePractice Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on SimplePractice

Curt and Katie talk with Howard Spector, CEO and Diana Stepner, VP of Product for SimplePractice. We look at how SimplePractice has been envisioned, the company values, and the details of the product, so you can decide if SimplePractice is the Practice Management System for your private practice.

This is the Modern Therapist Consumer Guide, a series of special episodes to help modern therapists navigate products and services specifically designed for therapists and their clients. We dig deeply into the companies, the people, and the products and services so you can make smart decisions in building your practice and serving your clients.

 

Interview with Howard Spector, CEO and Diana Stepner, VP of Product, SimplePractice

Howard is the CEO and Co-founder of SimplePractice. Howard has over 20 years of experience in the information technology industry. He is proud to have earned his MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Diana joined SimplePractice from Pearson where she was the VP of Innovative Learning Solutions, a portfolio of products that provide value anytime, anywhere for learners by increasing confidence & outcomes associated with a specific learning activity or skill. Previously Diana headed up Future Technologies and Innovation Partnerships at Pearson. She also worked in Emerging Media at Razorfish and User Experience at Salesforce.com. In addition, Diana led Product Management in Western Europe for Monster Worldwide. She has a MIMS from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Boston University. When not doing Product, Diana can be found exercising, listening to podcasts, nutrition / health / wellness, and travel (someday). She lives in San Francisco with her husband and attack puppy.

 In this episode we talk about: Interview with Howard Spector, CEO, SimplePractice

  • 2:12: How did the vision for SimplePractice (SP) come into being?
  • 4:17: What is the trajectory for SimplePractice?
  • 6:25: How does SP take in feedback and remain true to their principles and values from which it began?
  • 9:12: What is SP’s response to feedback about customer service?
  • 15:31: How does the team atmosphere and culture play out for customers?
  • 19:41: How does SimplePractice support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?
  • 22:12: What is in the future for SP?
  • 23:18: What is Howard most proud for about SP?
  • 25:10: What does Howard want everyone considering SP for their practice management system need to know?

Interview with Diana Stepner, VP of Product, SimplePractice

  • 26:32: What does it look like when someone signs up for SimplePractice?
  • 28:54: What are the strongest elements of SimplePractice?
  • 30:24: What are SP’s paperwork customization features?
  • 34:04: What is the professional website feature?
  • 35:07: What is Monarch?
  • 38:01 What are some areas SimplePractice is looking to improve?
  • 40:17: How has SP taken suggestions from the community and incorporated them into SimplePractice?
  • 41:56: Who is SimplePractice NOT right for?
  • 44:35: What is coming up next for SimplePractice’s development?
  • 45:54: How do you sign up for SimplePractice? (includes information on our special offer)
  • 46:19: How would you recommend people investigating if SimplePractice is a good fit for them?

Curt and Katie Chat – Our review of SimplePractice

  • 47:31: Who would we recommend SimplePractice for?
  • 52:05: Who we think would not be a good match for SimplePractice


]]> 3363 no Being a Therapist on Both Sides of the Couch https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/being-a-therapist-on-both-sides-of-the-couch-0 Being a Therapist on Both Sides of the Couch An interview with Rwenshaun Miller, LCMHC, where he shares what therapists get wrong when understanding the client perspective and how to genuinely connect with clients. Curt and Katie chat with Rwenshaun about tough questions on racial bias in diagnosing and the impact of systemic structures in Black and brown communities. They also discuss a vision for an ideal mental health system and suggestions for how to start advocating for change. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Rwenshaun Miller, MA, LCMHC, NCC Rwenshaun Miller is an accomplished author, motivational speaker, counselor, consultant and philanthropist who has dedicated his life and career to, not only reshaping the negative connotations often associated with mental health, but also directly impacting the lives of those living with mental health challenges. Of all his accolades and roles, Mr. Miller proudly first serves as a Mental Health Change Agent. As a result, Mr. Miller has globally impacted the lives of many through his awareness efforts. Mr. Miller’s relentless passion and commitment derived from his personal experience living with Bipolar Disorder. Through his journey, Mr. Miller initially encountered similar challenges many face, including that of acceptance of a mental health diagnosis. Eventually, Mr. Miller decided to not allow this diagnosis to define and debilitate him realizing that Bipolar Disorder is not what defines who he is. Thus, he embarked on a path to help uplift, empower, encourage and teach others who live with mental health challenges how to “thrive” in life. In this episode we talk about: Rwenshaun’s story of encountering systemic barriers while facing his own mental health challenges and how he uses his experience as a client to inform his work as a therapist as well as educate other therapists. Looking at “both sides of the couch” and bridging the differences between what we learn as clients and what we are taught to do as therapists. Discussion of what therapists do wrong when it comes to understanding the client perspective. The utility of diagnosing as well as problems with treating someone like a diagnosis (impact on self-perspective, living up to the diagnosis, etc.) Examining how inherent white bias shows up in diagnosing and how to consider environmental factors when conceptualizing a client’s behavior. Exploration of how systemic structures impact the mental health of BIPOC youth and the need to challenge the systems that hold these individuals back. Looking at ways to step outside the box of conventional therapy techniques to meet client’s where they are at and connect with them as a person (engaging clients in video games, basketball, yoga, etc.). Discussion of how to set the stage for therapy to ensure it is comfortable for the therapist and client. Exploration of how the stigma of mental health has changed in BIPOC communities and what is needed to change systemically to continue reducing the stigma. Envisioning an ideal for how therapists and systemic structures can support the mental health needs of society, along with examining current barriers and how work to reduce them. The importance of advocating for preventative care to improve mental health care.  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Rwenshaun’s website Eustress Inc. Eustressin Journal Injured Reserve: A Black Man's Playbook To Manage Being Sidelined By Mental Illness Twitter: @Rwenshaun Facebook: Rwenshaun Miller Instagram: @Rwenshaun Mon, 21 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Being a Therapist on Both Sides of the Couch: An interview with Rwenshaun Miller, LCMHC full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Rwenshaun Miller, LCMHC Being a Therapist on Both Sides of the Couch An interview with Rwenshaun Miller, LCMHC, where he shares what therapists get wrong when understanding the client perspective and how to genuinely connect with clients. Curt and Katie chat with Rwenshaun about tough questions on racial bias in diagnosing and the impact of systemic structures in Black and brown communities. They also discuss a vision for an ideal mental health system and suggestions for how to start advocating for change. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Rwenshaun Miller, MA, LCMHC, NCC Rwenshaun Miller is an accomplished author, motivational speaker, counselor, consultant and philanthropist who has dedicated his life and career to, not only reshaping the negative connotations often associated with mental health, but also directly impacting the lives of those living with mental health challenges. Of all his accolades and roles, Mr. Miller proudly first serves as a Mental Health Change Agent. As a result, Mr. Miller has globally impacted the lives of many through his awareness efforts. Mr. Miller’s relentless passion and commitment derived from his personal experience living with Bipolar Disorder. Through his journey, Mr. Miller initially encountered similar challenges many face, including that of acceptance of a mental health diagnosis. Eventually, Mr. Miller decided to not allow this diagnosis to define and debilitate him realizing that Bipolar Disorder is not what defines who he is. Thus, he embarked on a path to help uplift, empower, encourage and teach others who live with mental health challenges how to “thrive” in life. In this episode we talk about: Rwenshaun’s story of encountering systemic barriers while facing his own mental health challenges and how he uses his experience as a client to inform his work as a therapist as well as educate other therapists. Looking at “both sides of the couch” and bridging the differences between what we learn as clients and what we are taught to do as therapists. Discussion of what therapists do wrong when it comes to understanding the client perspective. The utility of diagnosing as well as problems with treating someone like a diagnosis (impact on self-perspective, living up to the diagnosis, etc.) Examining how inherent white bias shows up in diagnosing and how to consider environmental factors when conceptualizing a client’s behavior. Exploration of how systemic structures impact the mental health of BIPOC youth and the need to challenge the systems that hold these individuals back. Looking at ways to step outside the box of conventional therapy techniques to meet client’s where they are at and connect with them as a person (engaging clients in video games, basketball, yoga, etc.). Discussion of how to set the stage for therapy to ensure it is comfortable for the therapist and client. Exploration of how the stigma of mental health has changed in BIPOC communities and what is needed to change systemically to continue reducing the stigma. Envisioning an ideal for how therapists and systemic structures can support the mental health needs of society, along with examining current barriers and how work to reduce them. The importance of advocating for preventative care to improve mental health care.  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Rwenshaun’s website Eustress Inc. Eustressin Journal Injured Reserve: A Black Man's Playbook To Manage Being Sidelined By Mental Illness Twitter: @Rwenshaun Facebook: Rwenshaun Miller Instagram: @Rwenshaun Being a Therapist on Both Sides of the Couch

An interview with Rwenshaun Miller, LCMHC, where he shares what therapists get wrong when understanding the client perspective and how to genuinely connect with clients. Curt and Katie chat with Rwenshaun about tough questions on racial bias in diagnosing and the impact of systemic structures in Black and brown communities. They also discuss a vision for an ideal mental health system and suggestions for how to start advocating for change.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Rwenshaun Miller, MA, LCMHC, NCC

Rwenshaun Miller is an accomplished author, motivational speaker, counselor, consultant and philanthropist who has dedicated his life and career to, not only reshaping the negative connotations often associated with mental health, but also directly impacting the lives of those living with mental health challenges. Of all his accolades and roles, Mr. Miller proudly first serves as a Mental Health Change Agent. As a result, Mr. Miller has globally impacted the lives of many through his awareness efforts.

Mr. Miller’s relentless passion and commitment derived from his personal experience living with Bipolar Disorder. Through his journey, Mr. Miller initially encountered similar challenges many face, including that of acceptance of a mental health diagnosis. Eventually, Mr. Miller decided to not allow this diagnosis to define and debilitate him realizing that Bipolar Disorder is not what defines who he is. Thus, he embarked on a path to help uplift, empower, encourage and teach others who live with mental health challenges how to “thrive” in life.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Rwenshaun’s story of encountering systemic barriers while facing his own mental health challenges and how he uses his experience as a client to inform his work as a therapist as well as educate other therapists.
  • Looking at “both sides of the couch” and bridging the differences between what we learn as clients and what we are taught to do as therapists.
  • Discussion of what therapists do wrong when it comes to understanding the client perspective.
  • The utility of diagnosing as well as problems with treating someone like a diagnosis (impact on self-perspective, living up to the diagnosis, etc.)
  • Examining how inherent white bias shows up in diagnosing and how to consider environmental factors when conceptualizing a client’s behavior.
  • Exploration of how systemic structures impact the mental health of BIPOC youth and the need to challenge the systems that hold these individuals back.
  • Looking at ways to step outside the box of conventional therapy techniques to meet client’s where they are at and connect with them as a person (engaging clients in video games, basketball, yoga, etc.).
  • Discussion of how to set the stage for therapy to ensure it is comfortable for the therapist and client.
  • Exploration of how the stigma of mental health has changed in BIPOC communities and what is needed to change systemically to continue reducing the stigma.
  • Envisioning an ideal for how therapists and systemic structures can support the mental health needs of society, along with examining current barriers and how work to reduce them.
  • The importance of advocating for preventative care to improve mental health care. 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Rwenshaun’s website

Eustress Inc.

Eustressin Journal

Injured Reserve: A Black Man's Playbook To Manage Being Sidelined By Mental Illness

Twitter: @Rwenshaun

Facebook: Rwenshaun Miller

Instagram: @Rwenshaun

]]> 2314 no At Least 3 Reasons Continuing Education Sucks (Usually) https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/at-least-3-reasons-continuing-education-sucks-usually At Least 3 Reasons Continuing Education Sucks Curt and Katie chat about why continuing education is usually pretty ineffective. We dig into a listener question related to repackaged, introductory level, uninspiring presentations. We look at the systemic concerns related to CE standards as well as the difficulty balancing high quality education with affordability. We explore research that shows that continuing education (especially when it is solely didactic) does not impact client outcomes. We also share ideas to improve continuing education for the next generation of clinicians.       It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The problems with continuing education rules and what that means for the types of education modern therapists often can find The ways in which presenters repackage others’ material Continuing education is not proven to improve client outcomes CE standards that limit the innovation and interactive capability How most CE is very general and appropriate for all levels of clinicians (not solely intermediate to advanced therapists) The type of didactic training that might be impactful or effective (but may not be CE worthy) The problem with not having practical applications involved in presentations Learning, practicing and then doing Why effective continuing education is expensive and whether they make a difference in being better therapists Deliberate practice and the effectiveness of spending time outside of session (and training) practicing skills Practice-based evidence (measuring how well our clients are doing) and why this is the strongest way to do better work The importance of giving accurate feedback to CE providers The acknowledgement and acceptance within the system that CE doesn’t really work – and the push back and reasons why people within the system don’t want to fix it Assessing competence and engagement in training (pros and cons) The balance between accessibility and accountability The shelf-life of graduate education and the need for continuing education Our vision related to continuing education and learning Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Cycle of Excellence by Tony Rousmaniere Dr. Joy DeGruy Why TED Talks don't change people's behaviors: Tom Asacker at TEDxCambridge 2014 Scott Miller, PhD: Deliberate Practice Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT – Ben Caldwell Labs Articles: Impact of Formal Continuing Medical Education Does Professional Training Make a Therapist More Effective? Mon, 14 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000 At Least 3 Reasons Continuing Education Sucks (Usually) full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about why continuing education is usually pretty ineffective At Least 3 Reasons Continuing Education Sucks Curt and Katie chat about why continuing education is usually pretty ineffective. We dig into a listener question related to repackaged, introductory level, uninspiring presentations. We look at the systemic concerns related to CE standards as well as the difficulty balancing high quality education with affordability. We explore research that shows that continuing education (especially when it is solely didactic) does not impact client outcomes. We also share ideas to improve continuing education for the next generation of clinicians.       It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The problems with continuing education rules and what that means for the types of education modern therapists often can find The ways in which presenters repackage others’ material Continuing education is not proven to improve client outcomes CE standards that limit the innovation and interactive capability How most CE is very general and appropriate for all levels of clinicians (not solely intermediate to advanced therapists) The type of didactic training that might be impactful or effective (but may not be CE worthy) The problem with not having practical applications involved in presentations Learning, practicing and then doing Why effective continuing education is expensive and whether they make a difference in being better therapists Deliberate practice and the effectiveness of spending time outside of session (and training) practicing skills Practice-based evidence (measuring how well our clients are doing) and why this is the strongest way to do better work The importance of giving accurate feedback to CE providers The acknowledgement and acceptance within the system that CE doesn’t really work – and the push back and reasons why people within the system don’t want to fix it Assessing competence and engagement in training (pros and cons) The balance between accessibility and accountability The shelf-life of graduate education and the need for continuing education Our vision related to continuing education and learning Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Cycle of Excellence by Tony Rousmaniere Dr. Joy DeGruy Why TED Talks don't change people's behaviors: Tom Asacker at TEDxCambridge 2014 Scott Miller, PhD: Deliberate Practice Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT – Ben Caldwell Labs Articles: Impact of Formal Continuing Medical Education Does Professional Training Make a Therapist More Effective? At Least 3 Reasons Continuing Education Sucks

Curt and Katie chat about why continuing education is usually pretty ineffective. We dig into a listener question related to repackaged, introductory level, uninspiring presentations. We look at the systemic concerns related to CE standards as well as the difficulty balancing high quality education with affordability. We explore research that shows that continuing education (especially when it is solely didactic) does not impact client outcomes. We also share ideas to improve continuing education for the next generation of clinicians.      

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The problems with continuing education rules and what that means for the types of education modern therapists often can find
  • The ways in which presenters repackage others’ material
  • Continuing education is not proven to improve client outcomes
  • CE standards that limit the innovation and interactive capability
  • How most CE is very general and appropriate for all levels of clinicians (not solely intermediate to advanced therapists)
  • The type of didactic training that might be impactful or effective (but may not be CE worthy)
  • The problem with not having practical applications involved in presentations
  • Learning, practicing and then doing
  • Why effective continuing education is expensive and whether they make a difference in being better therapists
  • Deliberate practice and the effectiveness of spending time outside of session (and training) practicing skills
  • Practice-based evidence (measuring how well our clients are doing) and why this is the strongest way to do better work
  • The importance of giving accurate feedback to CE providers
  • The acknowledgement and acceptance within the system that CE doesn’t really work – and the push back and reasons why people within the system don’t want to fix it
  • Assessing competence and engagement in training (pros and cons)
  • The balance between accessibility and accountability
  • The shelf-life of graduate education and the need for continuing education
  • Our vision related to continuing education and learning

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

The Cycle of Excellence by Tony Rousmaniere

Dr. Joy DeGruy

Why TED Talks don't change people's behaviors: Tom Asacker at TEDxCambridge 2014

Scott Miller, PhD: Deliberate Practice

Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT – Ben Caldwell Labs

Articles:

Impact of Formal Continuing Medical Education

Does Professional Training Make a Therapist More Effective?

]]> 2242 no How to Stay in Your Lane to Support Diversity and Inclusion https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-to-stay-in-your-lane-to-support-diversity-and-inclusion How to Stay in Your Lane to Support Diversity and Inclusion An interview with Dr. Joy Cox, PhD, on tapping into the strength of community and genuine relationships to understand and address systemic oppression. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Joy about intersectionality, the harmful stories we can tell ourselves about people who are different from us, and what we can do to best support diversity and inclusion in all the spaces we inhabit. We also address why it is important to do some of this work privately (rather than working it out publicly through statements on social media). It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Joy Cox, PhD Dr. Joy Cox is a body justice advocate using her skill set in research and leadership to foster social change through the promotion of fat acceptance and diversity and inclusion. With 37 years living as a fat, Black cisgendered woman and 7+ years of professional experience under her belt, Dr. Cox draws on her own experiences and skill set to amplify the voices of those most marginalized in society, bringing attention to matters of intersectionality addressing race, body size, accessibility, and “health.” Joy has been featured on several podcasts and media productions such as Food Pysch with Christy Harrison, Nalgona Positivity Pride with Gloria Lucas, Fat Women of Color with Ivy Felicia, and Huffington Post’s piece, “Everything You Know About Obesity is Wrong.” She also just authored her first book, Fat Girls in Black Bodies: Creating Communities of Our Own. She is the voice of an overcomer, looking to propel others into a place of freedom designed by their desires. In this episode we talk about: What Dr. Joy is putting out into the world Intersectionality and bias, stigma How to take an intersectional approach The importance of genuine relationships in understanding others Discussing the panel discussion in the conference when addressing learning about others The harm of putting work on individuals with lived experience Why and when you should pay for expert consultation The challenge of googling to learn (when it works and when to seek expert guidance) The importance of saying no when someone is asking you to become a spokesperson The exponential impact of intersectionality of marginalized identities How intersectional identities compound to create narratives Anything that is heavily stigmatized in society – racism is not far behind it Knowledge without learning to implement Why you should find your lane and move accordingly How to identify what you can and should do to support inclusion The importance of identifying where to do the work, it doesn’t have to be public Why individuals need to learn themselves, understand their heart, and identify who they are Getting it right is better than getting it fast Having the important conversations and checking in with the people who matter The unreasonable expectation to have an opinion on everything The benefits of community with each person staying in their lane Creating community that includes all people and the strength that provides Pushing back on the idea that everyone has to be able to do all of the roles We need to change how we think and we need to change how we feel to uncover more space than we knew was available for all people Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Joy Cox's Website Jabbie App Dr. Joy on Instagram: FreshOutTheCocoon Dr. Joy on Twitter Dr. Joy's Book: Fat Girls in Black Bodies Creating a New Space of Belonging The Care Bear Stare Mon, 07 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000 How to Stay in Your Lane to Support Diversity and Inclusion: An interview with Dr. Joy Cox, PhD full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Joy Cox, PhD How to Stay in Your Lane to Support Diversity and Inclusion An interview with Dr. Joy Cox, PhD, on tapping into the strength of community and genuine relationships to understand and address systemic oppression. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Joy about intersectionality, the harmful stories we can tell ourselves about people who are different from us, and what we can do to best support diversity and inclusion in all the spaces we inhabit. We also address why it is important to do some of this work privately (rather than working it out publicly through statements on social media). It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Joy Cox, PhD Dr. Joy Cox is a body justice advocate using her skill set in research and leadership to foster social change through the promotion of fat acceptance and diversity and inclusion. With 37 years living as a fat, Black cisgendered woman and 7+ years of professional experience under her belt, Dr. Cox draws on her own experiences and skill set to amplify the voices of those most marginalized in society, bringing attention to matters of intersectionality addressing race, body size, accessibility, and “health.” Joy has been featured on several podcasts and media productions such as Food Pysch with Christy Harrison, Nalgona Positivity Pride with Gloria Lucas, Fat Women of Color with Ivy Felicia, and Huffington Post’s piece, “Everything You Know About Obesity is Wrong.” She also just authored her first book, Fat Girls in Black Bodies: Creating Communities of Our Own. She is the voice of an overcomer, looking to propel others into a place of freedom designed by their desires. In this episode we talk about: What Dr. Joy is putting out into the world Intersectionality and bias, stigma How to take an intersectional approach The importance of genuine relationships in understanding others Discussing the panel discussion in the conference when addressing learning about others The harm of putting work on individuals with lived experience Why and when you should pay for expert consultation The challenge of googling to learn (when it works and when to seek expert guidance) The importance of saying no when someone is asking you to become a spokesperson The exponential impact of intersectionality of marginalized identities How intersectional identities compound to create narratives Anything that is heavily stigmatized in society – racism is not far behind it Knowledge without learning to implement Why you should find your lane and move accordingly How to identify what you can and should do to support inclusion The importance of identifying where to do the work, it doesn’t have to be public Why individuals need to learn themselves, understand their heart, and identify who they are Getting it right is better than getting it fast Having the important conversations and checking in with the people who matter The unreasonable expectation to have an opinion on everything The benefits of community with each person staying in their lane Creating community that includes all people and the strength that provides Pushing back on the idea that everyone has to be able to do all of the roles We need to change how we think and we need to change how we feel to uncover more space than we knew was available for all people Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Joy Cox's Website Jabbie App Dr. Joy on Instagram: FreshOutTheCocoon Dr. Joy on Twitter Dr. Joy's Book: Fat Girls in Black Bodies Creating a New Space of Belonging The Care Bear Stare How to Stay in Your Lane to Support Diversity and Inclusion

An interview with Dr. Joy Cox, PhD, on tapping into the strength of community and genuine relationships to understand and address systemic oppression. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Joy about intersectionality, the harmful stories we can tell ourselves about people who are different from us, and what we can do to best support diversity and inclusion in all the spaces we inhabit. We also address why it is important to do some of this work privately (rather than working it out publicly through statements on social media).

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Joy Cox, PhD

Dr. Joy Cox is a body justice advocate using her skill set in research and leadership to foster social change through the promotion of fat acceptance and diversity and inclusion. With 37 years living as a fat, Black cisgendered woman and 7+ years of professional experience under her belt, Dr. Cox draws on her own experiences and skill set to amplify the voices of those most marginalized in society, bringing attention to matters of intersectionality addressing race, body size, accessibility, and “health.”

Joy has been featured on several podcasts and media productions such as Food Pysch with Christy Harrison, Nalgona Positivity Pride with Gloria Lucas, Fat Women of Color with Ivy Felicia, and Huffington Post’s piece, “Everything You Know About Obesity is Wrong.” She also just authored her first book, Fat Girls in Black Bodies: Creating Communities of Our Own. She is the voice of an overcomer, looking to propel others into a place of freedom designed by their desires.

In this episode we talk about:

  • What Dr. Joy is putting out into the world
  • Intersectionality and bias, stigma
  • How to take an intersectional approach
  • The importance of genuine relationships in understanding others
  • Discussing the panel discussion in the conference when addressing learning about others
  • The harm of putting work on individuals with lived experience
  • Why and when you should pay for expert consultation
  • The challenge of googling to learn (when it works and when to seek expert guidance)
  • The importance of saying no when someone is asking you to become a spokesperson
  • The exponential impact of intersectionality of marginalized identities
  • How intersectional identities compound to create narratives
  • Anything that is heavily stigmatized in society – racism is not far behind it
  • Knowledge without learning to implement
  • Why you should find your lane and move accordingly
  • How to identify what you can and should do to support inclusion
  • The importance of identifying where to do the work, it doesn’t have to be public
  • Why individuals need to learn themselves, understand their heart, and identify who they are
  • Getting it right is better than getting it fast
  • Having the important conversations and checking in with the people who matter
  • The unreasonable expectation to have an opinion on everything
  • The benefits of community with each person staying in their lane
  • Creating community that includes all people and the strength that provides
  • Pushing back on the idea that everyone has to be able to do all of the roles
  • We need to change how we think and we need to change how we feel to uncover more space than we knew was available for all people

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Dr. Joy Cox's Website

Jabbie App

Dr. Joy on Instagram: FreshOutTheCocoon

Dr. Joy on Twitter

Dr. Joy's Book: Fat Girls in Black Bodies Creating a New Space of Belonging

The Care Bear Stare

]]> 2669 no Why You Should Stop Trying to Convince Clients to Change https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/why-you-should-stop-trying-to-convince-clients-to-change Why You Should Stop Trying to Convince Clients to Change An interview with Hillary Bolter, LCSW, on Motivational Interviewing. Curt and Katie chat with Hillary about what MI really is, what therapists often get wrong when supporting clients in making changes, and the importance of how therapists show up for this evidence-based model.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Hillary Bolter, MSW, LCSW, LCAS Hillary is one of those folks that inherently thinks they have great ideas and solutions for people upon first encounter (Enneagram 1!). She’s ready to jump in and FIX! When she began her MI learning process, she realized just how essential MI was going to be for her energy, effectiveness, and longevity in the helping profession! She has been a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2011. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Addiction Therapist and absolutely delights in helping individuals, groups, and organizations learn the essential skills of Motivational Interviewing. She has worked as a helping professional for 20 years, ranging from working in wilderness therapy to community mental health, providing in home & school-based services, as a therapist with specialties including working with anxiety, trauma, addiction, and veterans. In this episode we talk about: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is simple but not easy The righting reflex – the tendency for therapists to try to persuade toward change The differences between MI and the stages of change What does “using MI” really mean? The spirit of MI – the attitude we bring to our clients – empathy, collaboration, evocation, acceptance and compassion OARS skills: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries Change talk – the more people talk about change, the more likely they are to change Focusing on why people would like to change When we focus on why TO change, clients may argue against change (voicing the ambivalence) How therapists may want to navigate changes that feel urgent (unsafe behaviors, for example) Three styles of communication: following, guiding, directing The ways to move from directing or educating back into a more collaborative stance Why MI isn’t more widely used The ways that MI skills could intermingle with other theoretical orientation The idea around walking with your clients Looking at the myth that motivational interviewing is manipulative How to assess whether the change is in the client’s best interest The focusing process as a way to ensure client participation Motivational Interviewing is a communication technique Distinguishing between the motivations that drive the change – focusing on the best interest of the client is the only one that really is MI The importance of experiential training for MI Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Hillary’s website: bolterconsulting.com Special offer: use “MTSG” for 10% off a foundations of MI course Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillarybolter/ Hillary's Facebook Group Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Mon, 31 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Why You Should Stop Trying to Convince Clients to Change: An interview with Hillary Bolter, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Hillary Bolter, LCSW, on Motivational Interviewing Why You Should Stop Trying to Convince Clients to Change An interview with Hillary Bolter, LCSW, on Motivational Interviewing. Curt and Katie chat with Hillary about what MI really is, what therapists often get wrong when supporting clients in making changes, and the importance of how therapists show up for this evidence-based model.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Hillary Bolter, MSW, LCSW, LCAS Hillary is one of those folks that inherently thinks they have great ideas and solutions for people upon first encounter (Enneagram 1!). She’s ready to jump in and FIX! When she began her MI learning process, she realized just how essential MI was going to be for her energy, effectiveness, and longevity in the helping profession! She has been a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2011. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Addiction Therapist and absolutely delights in helping individuals, groups, and organizations learn the essential skills of Motivational Interviewing. She has worked as a helping professional for 20 years, ranging from working in wilderness therapy to community mental health, providing in home & school-based services, as a therapist with specialties including working with anxiety, trauma, addiction, and veterans. In this episode we talk about: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is simple but not easy The righting reflex – the tendency for therapists to try to persuade toward change The differences between MI and the stages of change What does “using MI” really mean? The spirit of MI – the attitude we bring to our clients – empathy, collaboration, evocation, acceptance and compassion OARS skills: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries Change talk – the more people talk about change, the more likely they are to change Focusing on why people would like to change When we focus on why TO change, clients may argue against change (voicing the ambivalence) How therapists may want to navigate changes that feel urgent (unsafe behaviors, for example) Three styles of communication: following, guiding, directing The ways to move from directing or educating back into a more collaborative stance Why MI isn’t more widely used The ways that MI skills could intermingle with other theoretical orientation The idea around walking with your clients Looking at the myth that motivational interviewing is manipulative How to assess whether the change is in the client’s best interest The focusing process as a way to ensure client participation Motivational Interviewing is a communication technique Distinguishing between the motivations that drive the change – focusing on the best interest of the client is the only one that really is MI The importance of experiential training for MI Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Hillary’s website: bolterconsulting.com Special offer: use “MTSG” for 10% off a foundations of MI course Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillarybolter/ Hillary's Facebook Group Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Why You Should Stop Trying to Convince Clients to Change

An interview with Hillary Bolter, LCSW, on Motivational Interviewing. Curt and Katie chat with Hillary about what MI really is, what therapists often get wrong when supporting clients in making changes, and the importance of how therapists show up for this evidence-based model.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Hillary Bolter, MSW, LCSW, LCAS

Hillary is one of those folks that inherently thinks they have great ideas and solutions for people upon first encounter (Enneagram 1!). She’s ready to jump in and FIX! When she began her MI learning process, she realized just how essential MI was going to be for her energy, effectiveness, and longevity in the helping profession!

She has been a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2011. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Addiction Therapist and absolutely delights in helping individuals, groups, and organizations learn the essential skills of Motivational Interviewing. She has worked as a helping professional for 20 years, ranging from working in wilderness therapy to community mental health, providing in home & school-based services, as a therapist with specialties including working with anxiety, trauma, addiction, and veterans.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Motivational Interviewing (MI) is simple but not easy
  • The righting reflex – the tendency for therapists to try to persuade toward change
  • The differences between MI and the stages of change
  • What does “using MI” really mean?
  • The spirit of MI – the attitude we bring to our clients – empathy, collaboration, evocation, acceptance and compassion
  • OARS skills: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries
  • Change talk – the more people talk about change, the more likely they are to change
  • Focusing on why people would like to change
  • When we focus on why TO change, clients may argue against change (voicing the ambivalence)
  • How therapists may want to navigate changes that feel urgent (unsafe behaviors, for example)
  • Three styles of communication: following, guiding, directing
  • The ways to move from directing or educating back into a more collaborative stance
  • Why MI isn’t more widely used
  • The ways that MI skills could intermingle with other theoretical orientation
  • The idea around walking with your clients
  • Looking at the myth that motivational interviewing is manipulative
  • How to assess whether the change is in the client’s best interest
  • The focusing process as a way to ensure client participation
  • Motivational Interviewing is a communication technique
  • Distinguishing between the motivations that drive the change – focusing on the best interest of the client is the only one that really is MI
  • The importance of experiential training for MI

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Hillary’s website: bolterconsulting.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillarybolter/

Hillary's Facebook Group

Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)

]]> 2252 no Post Pandemic Practice https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/post-pandemic-practice Post Pandemic Practice Curt and Katie chat about what our practices can look like post pandemic. We explore the creativity that the pandemic has inspired and what the clinical and business implications might be for continuing in flexible modalities. We talk about logistics, clinical evaluation, and ethics related to the options available for the clients. We also talk about how to take care of yourself while taking care of clients.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How creativity can be used in practice Different options for therapy (telehealth, outdoor/walk and talk, in-person, concierge) The logistical challenges of having different options for your clients (different locations, different modalities, etc.) The flexibility required during the pandemic and how to adjust schedules after returning The benefits of having so many options Boundaries and flexibility needed to manage a multimodal practice The importance of communication and teamwork The benefits of this flexibility to clinicians The considerations of cost and charging different fees, and rationale for how you set fees The clinical benefits and challenges for different modalities The necessary documentation of rationale Clinical considerations for in-person sessions Some CYA advice The importance of taking this time to deliberately design the practice you want Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! APA Article - COVID-19: When is it OK to provide more in-person services? Outdoor therapy: Jennifer Deacon, MBACP Leadership article – Checklist for Post Pandemic Reentry Mon, 24 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Post Pandemic Practice full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about opportunities to build the practice you want Post Pandemic Practice Curt and Katie chat about what our practices can look like post pandemic. We explore the creativity that the pandemic has inspired and what the clinical and business implications might be for continuing in flexible modalities. We talk about logistics, clinical evaluation, and ethics related to the options available for the clients. We also talk about how to take care of yourself while taking care of clients.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How creativity can be used in practice Different options for therapy (telehealth, outdoor/walk and talk, in-person, concierge) The logistical challenges of having different options for your clients (different locations, different modalities, etc.) The flexibility required during the pandemic and how to adjust schedules after returning The benefits of having so many options Boundaries and flexibility needed to manage a multimodal practice The importance of communication and teamwork The benefits of this flexibility to clinicians The considerations of cost and charging different fees, and rationale for how you set fees The clinical benefits and challenges for different modalities The necessary documentation of rationale Clinical considerations for in-person sessions Some CYA advice The importance of taking this time to deliberately design the practice you want Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! APA Article - COVID-19: When is it OK to provide more in-person services? Outdoor therapy: Jennifer Deacon, MBACP Leadership article – Checklist for Post Pandemic Reentry Post Pandemic Practice

Curt and Katie chat about what our practices can look like post pandemic. We explore the creativity that the pandemic has inspired and what the clinical and business implications might be for continuing in flexible modalities. We talk about logistics, clinical evaluation, and ethics related to the options available for the clients. We also talk about how to take care of yourself while taking care of clients.     

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How creativity can be used in practice
  • Different options for therapy (telehealth, outdoor/walk and talk, in-person, concierge)
  • The logistical challenges of having different options for your clients (different locations, different modalities, etc.)
  • The flexibility required during the pandemic and how to adjust schedules after returning
  • The benefits of having so many options
  • Boundaries and flexibility needed to manage a multimodal practice
  • The importance of communication and teamwork
  • The benefits of this flexibility to clinicians
  • The considerations of cost and charging different fees, and rationale for how you set fees
  • The clinical benefits and challenges for different modalities
  • The necessary documentation of rationale
  • Clinical considerations for in-person sessions
  • Some CYA advice
  • The importance of taking this time to deliberately design the practice you want

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

APA Article - COVID-19: When is it OK to provide more in-person services?

Outdoor therapy: Jennifer Deacon, MBACP

Leadership article – Checklist for Post Pandemic Reentry

]]> 2278 no Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/psychedelic-assisted-therapy Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy An interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D., about innovative treatments in psychiatry. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Heacock about psychedelic-assisted therapy – looking at efficacy, safety, and risks for these promising treatments (ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA) for depression and trauma. We also discuss the debate about medicalization versus legalization of these substances.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D. Dr. Craig Heacock is an adolescent/adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado as well as the co-producer and host of the psychiatric storytelling podcast Back from the Abyss. He was a therapist in the Phase 3 trial of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD and has particular interest in the use of ketamine and other psychedelics to treat severe mood disorders and PTSD. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and did his psychiatry training at Brown University. In this episode we talk about: The innovations in psychedelic-assisted therapy Why it is so hard to find a good psychiatrist, especially one that goes beyond med checks How psychiatry is changing, as well as how little has changed in medication since 1994 Treatment-resistant may mean deep-seated trauma Definitions of psychedelics, psychedelic-assisted treatment Ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin Efficacy for treatment with ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin for trauma and depression The speed of building trust and moving into the working phase with these treatments Safety concerns and side effects with ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA Boundaries and safety for therapists (as well as clients) during these treatments The vulnerability during these treatments Self-assessment for mental health providers whether they should work in this space The importance of doing your own psychedelic treatment before being a therapist in this work Client-perceptions of clinicians doing their own psychedelic work (or publicly owning their story) The increasing acceptance of these types of treatments – the treatments becoming more mainstream Psilocybin – in trials for FDA approval for trauma treatment, but may be legalized before it is medicalized and used for treatment Medicalization versus legalization conversation The problems with medical THC (including making symptoms worse and psychotic breaks) Micro-dosing efficacy and risks and whether they should be managed by a doctor The importance of assessing sleep and substance use/abuse Abyss stories – how Dr. Heacock started telling these stories and the power of these stories Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Craig Heacock, MD Website Back from the Abyss Podcast Interview with Lisa Ling Laura Northrup Inside Eyes Podcast Article: Self-admitted psychedelic use and association with psychedelic culture harm perceptions of researchers’ scientific integrit Mon, 17 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D. full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy An interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D., about innovative treatments in psychiatry. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Heacock about psychedelic-assisted therapy – looking at efficacy, safety, and risks for these promising treatments (ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA) for depression and trauma. We also discuss the debate about medicalization versus legalization of these substances.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D. Dr. Craig Heacock is an adolescent/adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado as well as the co-producer and host of the psychiatric storytelling podcast Back from the Abyss. He was a therapist in the Phase 3 trial of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD and has particular interest in the use of ketamine and other psychedelics to treat severe mood disorders and PTSD. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and did his psychiatry training at Brown University. In this episode we talk about: The innovations in psychedelic-assisted therapy Why it is so hard to find a good psychiatrist, especially one that goes beyond med checks How psychiatry is changing, as well as how little has changed in medication since 1994 Treatment-resistant may mean deep-seated trauma Definitions of psychedelics, psychedelic-assisted treatment Ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin Efficacy for treatment with ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin for trauma and depression The speed of building trust and moving into the working phase with these treatments Safety concerns and side effects with ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA Boundaries and safety for therapists (as well as clients) during these treatments The vulnerability during these treatments Self-assessment for mental health providers whether they should work in this space The importance of doing your own psychedelic treatment before being a therapist in this work Client-perceptions of clinicians doing their own psychedelic work (or publicly owning their story) The increasing acceptance of these types of treatments – the treatments becoming more mainstream Psilocybin – in trials for FDA approval for trauma treatment, but may be legalized before it is medicalized and used for treatment Medicalization versus legalization conversation The problems with medical THC (including making symptoms worse and psychotic breaks) Micro-dosing efficacy and risks and whether they should be managed by a doctor The importance of assessing sleep and substance use/abuse Abyss stories – how Dr. Heacock started telling these stories and the power of these stories Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Craig Heacock, MD Website Back from the Abyss Podcast Interview with Lisa Ling Laura Northrup Inside Eyes Podcast Article: Self-admitted psychedelic use and association with psychedelic culture harm perceptions of researchers’ scientific integrit Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

An interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D., about innovative treatments in psychiatry. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Heacock about psychedelic-assisted therapy – looking at efficacy, safety, and risks for these promising treatments (ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA) for depression and trauma. We also discuss the debate about medicalization versus legalization of these substances. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D.

Dr. Craig Heacock is an adolescent/adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado as well as the co-producer and host of the psychiatric storytelling podcast Back from the Abyss. He was a therapist in the Phase 3 trial of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD and has particular interest in the use of ketamine and other psychedelics to treat severe mood disorders and PTSD. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and did his psychiatry training at Brown University.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The innovations in psychedelic-assisted therapy
  • Why it is so hard to find a good psychiatrist, especially one that goes beyond med checks
  • How psychiatry is changing, as well as how little has changed in medication since 1994
  • Treatment-resistant may mean deep-seated trauma
  • Definitions of psychedelics, psychedelic-assisted treatment
  • Ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin
  • Efficacy for treatment with ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin for trauma and depression
  • The speed of building trust and moving into the working phase with these treatments
  • Safety concerns and side effects with ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA
  • Boundaries and safety for therapists (as well as clients) during these treatments
  • The vulnerability during these treatments
  • Self-assessment for mental health providers whether they should work in this space
  • The importance of doing your own psychedelic treatment before being a therapist in this work
  • Client-perceptions of clinicians doing their own psychedelic work (or publicly owning their story)
  • The increasing acceptance of these types of treatments – the treatments becoming more mainstream
  • Psilocybin – in trials for FDA approval for trauma treatment, but may be legalized before it is medicalized and used for treatment
  • Medicalization versus legalization conversation
  • The problems with medical THC (including making symptoms worse and psychotic breaks)
  • Micro-dosing efficacy and risks and whether they should be managed by a doctor
  • The importance of assessing sleep and substance use/abuse
  • Abyss stories – how Dr. Heacock started telling these stories and the power of these stories


Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Craig Heacock, MD Website

Back from the Abyss Podcast

Interview with Lisa Ling

Laura Northrup Inside Eyes Podcast

Article: Self-admitted psychedelic use and association with psychedelic culture harm perceptions of researchers’ scientific integrit

]]> 2277 no Serious Mental Illness and Homelessness https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/serious-mental-illness-and-homelessness Serious Mental Illness and Homelessness An interview with California State Senator Henry Stern and Dr. Curley Bonds, Chief Medical Officer for Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health about legislation and programmatic changes needed to better serve highly vulnerable individuals. Curt and Katie talk with both Senator Stern and Dr. Bonds about the limitations of Laura’s Law and the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act as well as the hope for stronger, more collaborative mental health initiatives for individuals grappling with serious mental illness and homelessness. We talk about the practical funding and workforce concerns as well as how to fix them while also supporting mental health professionals.  Curley L. Bonds, M.D., oversees all clinical practices for the Los Angeles Country Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) as well as the full range of programs that function to engage and stabilize clients by bringing them into the Department’s community-based system of care. In this episode we talk about: Continuing our special series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America What the ideal mental health care can look like for individuals with serious mental illness, substance abuse treatment, and navigating homelessness The siloed nature of services at present The importance of consistent engagement and familiarity Recovery-oriented and person-centered care The importance of self-directed care Wraparound services The importance of engaging people with lived experience Culturally responsive services The current laws protect autonomy without the means to support people without capacity The bureaucracy that is keeping people from getting the services they need Changes to Laura’s Law and LPS Act that are needed to better serve individuals with grave disability or require conservatorship Engagement, rights, and how to better serve individuals Assisted Outpatient Treatment – how it can be best utilized and most effective The ability to shift things through budget and regulatory changes The understanding that current caseloads that are too high and the need to add resources Alternatives to long term conservatorship The willingness to invest in services and solutions Balancing the tension between self-advocacy/self-determination versus providing care Mental Health Advanced Directives as a tool to help with making these decisions Who can and should be at the table in making these decisions The desire to invest in people to provide services Whether to invest and how to assess efficacy The problem of the fragmented systems and communication about mental health advanced directives The importance of education for people needing and providing care on the options Looking at the benefits and “selling” the positive elements of assisted treatment Letting clinicians do clinical work – why that’s important and ideas of how to make it work Tracking outcomes effectively while diminishing bureaucracy Looking at the most effective goals and outcomes for clients Looking at unfunded mandates and how to support therapists and clients to get services without so much paper pushing and complicated outcomes Having service providers at the table to create the programs effectively Results-driven metrics and payment (the pros and cons) Addressing policy and stigma Looking at the problems with the current process for services and conservatorship Ideas for redirecting funding and working in collaboration with law enforcement How to take part in these efforts and weigh in on legislation, especially early in the process Our reflections on the interviews and the next steps Mon, 10 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Serious Mental Illness and Homelessness: An Interview with Senator Henry Stern and Dr. Curley Bonds, MD full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with California State Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) and Dr. Curley Bonds, Chief Medical Officer for Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Serious Mental Illness and Homelessness An interview with California State Senator Henry Stern and Dr. Curley Bonds, Chief Medical Officer for Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health about legislation and programmatic changes needed to better serve highly vulnerable individuals. Curt and Katie talk with both Senator Stern and Dr. Bonds about the limitations of Laura’s Law and the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act as well as the hope for stronger, more collaborative mental health initiatives for individuals grappling with serious mental illness and homelessness. We talk about the practical funding and workforce concerns as well as how to fix them while also supporting mental health professionals.  Curley L. Bonds, M.D., oversees all clinical practices for the Los Angeles Country Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) as well as the full range of programs that function to engage and stabilize clients by bringing them into the Department’s community-based system of care. In this episode we talk about: Continuing our special series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America What the ideal mental health care can look like for individuals with serious mental illness, substance abuse treatment, and navigating homelessness The siloed nature of services at present The importance of consistent engagement and familiarity Recovery-oriented and person-centered care The importance of self-directed care Wraparound services The importance of engaging people with lived experience Culturally responsive services The current laws protect autonomy without the means to support people without capacity The bureaucracy that is keeping people from getting the services they need Changes to Laura’s Law and LPS Act that are needed to better serve individuals with grave disability or require conservatorship Engagement, rights, and how to better serve individuals Assisted Outpatient Treatment – how it can be best utilized and most effective The ability to shift things through budget and regulatory changes The understanding that current caseloads that are too high and the need to add resources Alternatives to long term conservatorship The willingness to invest in services and solutions Balancing the tension between self-advocacy/self-determination versus providing care Mental Health Advanced Directives as a tool to help with making these decisions Who can and should be at the table in making these decisions The desire to invest in people to provide services Whether to invest and how to assess efficacy The problem of the fragmented systems and communication about mental health advanced directives The importance of education for people needing and providing care on the options Looking at the benefits and “selling” the positive elements of assisted treatment Letting clinicians do clinical work – why that’s important and ideas of how to make it work Tracking outcomes effectively while diminishing bureaucracy Looking at the most effective goals and outcomes for clients Looking at unfunded mandates and how to support therapists and clients to get services without so much paper pushing and complicated outcomes Having service providers at the table to create the programs effectively Results-driven metrics and payment (the pros and cons) Addressing policy and stigma Looking at the problems with the current process for services and conservatorship Ideas for redirecting funding and working in collaboration with law enforcement How to take part in these efforts and weigh in on legislation, especially early in the process Our reflections on the interviews and the next steps Serious Mental Illness and Homelessness

An interview with California State Senator Henry Stern and Dr. Curley Bonds, Chief Medical Officer for Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health about legislation and programmatic changes needed to better serve highly vulnerable individuals. Curt and Katie talk with both Senator Stern and Dr. Bonds about the limitations of Laura’s Law and the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act as well as the hope for stronger, more collaborative mental health initiatives for individuals grappling with serious mental illness and homelessness. We talk about the practical funding and workforce concerns as well as how to fix them while also supporting mental health professionals. 

Curley L. Bonds, M.D., oversees all clinical practices for the Los Angeles Country Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) as well as the full range of programs that function to engage and stabilize clients by bringing them into the Department’s community-based system of care.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Continuing our special series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America
  • What the ideal mental health care can look like for individuals with serious mental illness, substance abuse treatment, and navigating homelessness
  • The siloed nature of services at present
  • The importance of consistent engagement and familiarity
  • Recovery-oriented and person-centered care
  • The importance of self-directed care
  • Wraparound services
  • The importance of engaging people with lived experience
  • Culturally responsive services
  • The current laws protect autonomy without the means to support people without capacity
  • The bureaucracy that is keeping people from getting the services they need
  • Changes to Laura’s Law and LPS Act that are needed to better serve individuals with grave disability or require conservatorship
  • Engagement, rights, and how to better serve individuals
  • Assisted Outpatient Treatment – how it can be best utilized and most effective
  • The ability to shift things through budget and regulatory changes
  • The understanding that current caseloads that are too high and the need to add resources
  • Alternatives to long term conservatorship
  • The willingness to invest in services and solutions
  • Balancing the tension between self-advocacy/self-determination versus providing care
  • Mental Health Advanced Directives as a tool to help with making these decisions
  • Who can and should be at the table in making these decisions
  • The desire to invest in people to provide services
  • Whether to invest and how to assess efficacy
  • The problem of the fragmented systems and communication about mental health advanced directives
  • The importance of education for people needing and providing care on the options
  • Looking at the benefits and “selling” the positive elements of assisted treatment
  • Letting clinicians do clinical work – why that’s important and ideas of how to make it work
  • Tracking outcomes effectively while diminishing bureaucracy
  • Looking at the most effective goals and outcomes for clients
  • Looking at unfunded mandates and how to support therapists and clients to get services without so much paper pushing and complicated outcomes
  • Having service providers at the table to create the programs effectively
  • Results-driven metrics and payment (the pros and cons)
  • Addressing policy and stigma
  • Looking at the problems with the current process for services and conservatorship
  • Ideas for redirecting funding and working in collaboration with law enforcement
  • How to take part in these efforts and weigh in on legislation, especially early in the process
  • Our reflections on the interviews and the next steps
]]> 3735 no Fixing Mental Healthcare in America https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/fixing-mental-healthcare-in-america Fixing Mental Healthcare in America An interview with Dr. Nicole Eberhart and Dr. Ryan McBain from the RAND Corporation. Curt and Katie kick of their special series related to the problems and potential solutions in the mental healthcare system. We interview Drs. Eberhart and McBain about the study they authored related to the structural concerns in the mental health system as it is currently built and their recommendations for solutions and best practices going forward. Nicole Eberhart, PhD is a Senior Behavioral Scientist at the RAND Corporation and a licensed clinical psychologist whose research and evaluation focuses on mental health. She has expertise in health program evaluation, prevention and early intervention, health services and systems, and innovative care models including those that integrate primary and behavioral health care. Dr. Eberhart been evaluating mental health programs and policies in California and nationally for over a decade. Ryan K. McBain is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. He focuses on the design and evaluation of health policies and programs meant to reach vulnerable populations—including those coping with mental health conditions, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and poverty. To achieve this, McBain has utilized a wide range of methodologies, including econometric approaches for quasi-experimental analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and decision analytic models, as well as key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Internationally, McBain has worked with the World Bank, World Health Organization, Harvard University and Partners In Health, where he has focused on evaluating mental health, HIV, and primary care service delivery systems, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. McBain holds a Ph.D. and M.P.H. in global health with concentrations in health economics and health policy analysis from Harvard University, as well as a B.A. in psychology from Gordon College and Oxford University in the United Kingdom. In this episode we talk about: Introducing our new series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America RAND corporation report on the mental health system Structural issues in the current mental health system Work force issues, lack of professionals, poor distribution across communities Payment issues – Mental Health providers are not paid as well as other medical providers The problem of fee for service, government insurance programs, and private pay Culture problem – historical lack of value of mental health, stigma and de-prioritization of mental health Lack of educational programs for mental health, lack of consistent, effective crisis response The idea of increasing wages for entry level positions Peer Support Specialists as another way to expand mental health workforce The importance of lived experience and the professionalization of the peer support specialist profession (for example certification) The idea of paying for value rather than paying for services Focusing on prevention rather than costly emergency services The need for legislators to make changes The costs of not fixing the mental healthcare system An evidence-based continuum of care Taking a big picture approach (looking at the cost for services and the cost for society) Mon, 03 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Fixing Mental Healthcare in America: An interview with Dr. Ryan McBain and Dr. Nicole Eberhart from the RAND Corporation full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Nicole Eberhart and Dr. Ryan McBain from the RAND Corporation Fixing Mental Healthcare in America An interview with Dr. Nicole Eberhart and Dr. Ryan McBain from the RAND Corporation. Curt and Katie kick of their special series related to the problems and potential solutions in the mental healthcare system. We interview Drs. Eberhart and McBain about the study they authored related to the structural concerns in the mental health system as it is currently built and their recommendations for solutions and best practices going forward. Nicole Eberhart, PhD is a Senior Behavioral Scientist at the RAND Corporation and a licensed clinical psychologist whose research and evaluation focuses on mental health. She has expertise in health program evaluation, prevention and early intervention, health services and systems, and innovative care models including those that integrate primary and behavioral health care. Dr. Eberhart been evaluating mental health programs and policies in California and nationally for over a decade. Ryan K. McBain is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. He focuses on the design and evaluation of health policies and programs meant to reach vulnerable populations—including those coping with mental health conditions, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and poverty. To achieve this, McBain has utilized a wide range of methodologies, including econometric approaches for quasi-experimental analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and decision analytic models, as well as key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Internationally, McBain has worked with the World Bank, World Health Organization, Harvard University and Partners In Health, where he has focused on evaluating mental health, HIV, and primary care service delivery systems, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. McBain holds a Ph.D. and M.P.H. in global health with concentrations in health economics and health policy analysis from Harvard University, as well as a B.A. in psychology from Gordon College and Oxford University in the United Kingdom. In this episode we talk about: Introducing our new series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America RAND corporation report on the mental health system Structural issues in the current mental health system Work force issues, lack of professionals, poor distribution across communities Payment issues – Mental Health providers are not paid as well as other medical providers The problem of fee for service, government insurance programs, and private pay Culture problem – historical lack of value of mental health, stigma and de-prioritization of mental health Lack of educational programs for mental health, lack of consistent, effective crisis response The idea of increasing wages for entry level positions Peer Support Specialists as another way to expand mental health workforce The importance of lived experience and the professionalization of the peer support specialist profession (for example certification) The idea of paying for value rather than paying for services Focusing on prevention rather than costly emergency services The need for legislators to make changes The costs of not fixing the mental healthcare system An evidence-based continuum of care Taking a big picture approach (looking at the cost for services and the cost for society) Fixing Mental Healthcare in America

An interview with Dr. Nicole Eberhart and Dr. Ryan McBain from the RAND Corporation. Curt and Katie kick of their special series related to the problems and potential solutions in the mental healthcare system. We interview Drs. Eberhart and McBain about the study they authored related to the structural concerns in the mental health system as it is currently built and their recommendations for solutions and best practices going forward.

Nicole Eberhart, PhD is a Senior Behavioral Scientist at the RAND Corporation and a licensed clinical psychologist whose research and evaluation focuses on mental health. She has expertise in health program evaluation, prevention and early intervention, health services and systems, and innovative care models including those that integrate primary and behavioral health care. Dr. Eberhart been evaluating mental health programs and policies in California and nationally for over a decade.

Ryan K. McBain is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. He focuses on the design and evaluation of health policies and programs meant to reach vulnerable populations—including those coping with mental health conditions, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and poverty. To achieve this, McBain has utilized a wide range of methodologies, including econometric approaches for quasi-experimental analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and decision analytic models, as well as key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Internationally, McBain has worked with the World Bank, World Health Organization, Harvard University and Partners In Health, where he has focused on evaluating mental health, HIV, and primary care service delivery systems, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. McBain holds a Ph.D. and M.P.H. in global health with concentrations in health economics and health policy analysis from Harvard University, as well as a B.A. in psychology from Gordon College and Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Introducing our new series on Fixing Mental Healthcare in America
  • RAND corporation report on the mental health system
  • Structural issues in the current mental health system
  • Work force issues, lack of professionals, poor distribution across communities
  • Payment issues – Mental Health providers are not paid as well as other medical providers
  • The problem of fee for service, government insurance programs, and private pay
  • Culture problem – historical lack of value of mental health, stigma and de-prioritization of mental health
  • Lack of educational programs for mental health, lack of consistent, effective crisis response
  • The idea of increasing wages for entry level positions
  • Peer Support Specialists as another way to expand mental health workforce
  • The importance of lived experience and the professionalization of the peer support specialist profession (for example certification)
  • The idea of paying for value rather than paying for services
  • Focusing on prevention rather than costly emergency services
  • The need for legislators to make changes
  • The costs of not fixing the mental healthcare system
  • An evidence-based continuum of care
  • Taking a big picture approach (looking at the cost for services and the cost for society)
]]> 3031 no It’s NOT a Chemical Imbalance https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/its-not-a-chemical-imbalance It’s NOT a Chemical Imbalance An interview with Dr. Kristen Syme on the situational and cultural impacts on depression. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Syme about the role anthropology can play in helping to challenge long held assumptions in psychology. We look at conceptualizations for depression and suicidality and how the over focus (in the Western world) on the individual as the agent for mental health and wellness. We talk about how the chemical imbalance model doesn’t hold up as well as better explanations for depression and suicidality.   In this episode we talk about: Syme’s research and how she is working to challenging assumptions The lack of attention on networks and systems and an over-focus on “the self” as an agent for mental health and wellness How psychological pain is signaling us that there are things in our environment that are unhealthy for us Depression and psychological pain are not just within us, but also around us What is wrong with the idea of “chemical imbalance” model Adversity causes depression The problem of saying “there’s a pill for that” The work case for depression research Ethical issues related to medicating away depression or psychological pain How non-western cultures address psychological pain There is “not a direct translation for depression in any other language” – Kristen Syme The internal idea of the imbalance of black bile that leads directly through the ages to the concept of imbalance of serotonin How other cultures talk about depression and situations, with more refined, specific language How our language creates our reality around depression and how broadly we define it How common depression (as broadly defined) is in the modern world The lack of evidence for a “chemical imbalance” How big pharma has impacted the conceptualization of depression The inadequacy of treatment based on this conceptualization The causes of suicidality: sexual assault, forced marriages, abuse The problem of trivializing “seeking attention” The tendency of coming up with “the theory” Looking at how people might be better served by the mental health system The importance of creativity and novelty in identifying better treatment Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article: Mental health is biological health: Why tackling “diseases of the mind” is an imperative for biological anthropology in the 21st century Dr. Kristen Syme on Twitter Dr. Kristen Syme on Google Scholar   Relevant Episodes: Burnout or Depression Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses?   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 26 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0000 It’s NOT a Chemical Imbalance: An interview with Dr. Kristen Syme full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Kristen Syme It’s NOT a Chemical Imbalance An interview with Dr. Kristen Syme on the situational and cultural impacts on depression. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Syme about the role anthropology can play in helping to challenge long held assumptions in psychology. We look at conceptualizations for depression and suicidality and how the over focus (in the Western world) on the individual as the agent for mental health and wellness. We talk about how the chemical imbalance model doesn’t hold up as well as better explanations for depression and suicidality.   In this episode we talk about: Syme’s research and how she is working to challenging assumptions The lack of attention on networks and systems and an over-focus on “the self” as an agent for mental health and wellness How psychological pain is signaling us that there are things in our environment that are unhealthy for us Depression and psychological pain are not just within us, but also around us What is wrong with the idea of “chemical imbalance” model Adversity causes depression The problem of saying “there’s a pill for that” The work case for depression research Ethical issues related to medicating away depression or psychological pain How non-western cultures address psychological pain There is “not a direct translation for depression in any other language” – Kristen Syme The internal idea of the imbalance of black bile that leads directly through the ages to the concept of imbalance of serotonin How other cultures talk about depression and situations, with more refined, specific language How our language creates our reality around depression and how broadly we define it How common depression (as broadly defined) is in the modern world The lack of evidence for a “chemical imbalance” How big pharma has impacted the conceptualization of depression The inadequacy of treatment based on this conceptualization The causes of suicidality: sexual assault, forced marriages, abuse The problem of trivializing “seeking attention” The tendency of coming up with “the theory” Looking at how people might be better served by the mental health system The importance of creativity and novelty in identifying better treatment Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article: Mental health is biological health: Why tackling “diseases of the mind” is an imperative for biological anthropology in the 21st century Dr. Kristen Syme on Twitter Dr. Kristen Syme on Google Scholar   Relevant Episodes: Burnout or Depression Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses?   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s NOT a Chemical Imbalance

An interview with Dr. Kristen Syme on the situational and cultural impacts on depression. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Syme about the role anthropology can play in helping to challenge long held assumptions in psychology. We look at conceptualizations for depression and suicidality and how the over focus (in the Western world) on the individual as the agent for mental health and wellness. We talk about how the chemical imbalance model doesn’t hold up as well as better explanations for depression and suicidality.  

In this episode we talk about:

  • Syme’s research and how she is working to challenging assumptions
  • The lack of attention on networks and systems and an over-focus on “the self” as an agent for mental health and wellness
  • How psychological pain is signaling us that there are things in our environment that are unhealthy for us
  • Depression and psychological pain are not just within us, but also around us
  • What is wrong with the idea of “chemical imbalance” model
  • Adversity causes depression
  • The problem of saying “there’s a pill for that”
  • The work case for depression research
  • Ethical issues related to medicating away depression or psychological pain
  • How non-western cultures address psychological pain
  • There is “not a direct translation for depression in any other language” – Kristen Syme
  • The internal idea of the imbalance of black bile that leads directly through the ages to the concept of imbalance of serotonin
  • How other cultures talk about depression and situations, with more refined, specific language
  • How our language creates our reality around depression and how broadly we define it
  • How common depression (as broadly defined) is in the modern world
  • The lack of evidence for a “chemical imbalance”
  • How big pharma has impacted the conceptualization of depression
  • The inadequacy of treatment based on this conceptualization
  • The causes of suicidality: sexual assault, forced marriages, abuse
  • The problem of trivializing “seeking attention”
  • The tendency of coming up with “the theory”
  • Looking at how people might be better served by the mental health system
  • The importance of creativity and novelty in identifying better treatment

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Article: Mental health is biological health: Why tackling “diseases of the mind” is an imperative for biological anthropology in the 21st century

Dr. Kristen Syme on Twitter

Dr. Kristen Syme on Google Scholar

 

Relevant Episodes:

Burnout or Depression

Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses?

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2241 yes Partners of Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/partners-of-therapists Partners of Therapists Curt and Katie chat about how our job and training can impact our partners. We look at the benefits like emotional intelligence, resilience, and perspective. We also look at the challenges therapists and their partners face when trying to navigate being in relationship while one partner is navigating this career. Suggestions about how to navigate conversations and confidentiality as well as possibilities for improving relationships are discussed.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The impact of being a therapist on long-term relationships/partnerships The insight into people and relationships that can be a benefit of partnering with a therapist Expecting that the therapist will be the expert or do the emotional lifting The concern that therapists overanalyze their relationships (don’t therapize me!) Therapists breaking down characters in movies and books and ruining things for our partners Positive communication and being able to navigate challenging conversations The desire to talk about the relationship more frequently than our partners The potential of differences when you start a relationship as a therapist or whether you start prior to becoming a therapist Using our training to do what “successful couples” do What might be different if one were to approach dating or starting relationships later The challenge of not being able to talk about work at the end of the day (confidentiality) Specific parameters around how to talk about one’s day (process versus content) When partners aren’t part of our field, they don’t understand how our field works or what our job entails The difficulty of processing trauma, countertransference, empathy fatigue Gaps in the relationships with our partners related to partners not being able to process and handle challenging material The challenge of leaving work at work, being able to relate to other people at the end of the day The impact of the pandemic on childcare and balance of parenting and coparenting Therapist dissociation and self-care When our profession is overtaxed and we are overtaxed, our partners and kids can get pushed to the side What therapists’ partners might need to be successful in these relationships The lack of resources and resilience during the pandemic The difficulty those who are in relationships with therapists understanding that they are human and that we are not always able to cope. How our knowledge and resourcefulness can help with us taking care of ourselves and meeting the needs of our partners The gratitude and love that we can share with our partners when we see how things go wrong Our capacity to have challenging conversations to improve relationships Emotional intelligence and perspective, self-awareness Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Our Facebook Group Relevant Episodes: Dating as a Therapist Therapy with an Audience Off Duty Therapist   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 19 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Partners of Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how our job and training can impact our partners Partners of Therapists Curt and Katie chat about how our job and training can impact our partners. We look at the benefits like emotional intelligence, resilience, and perspective. We also look at the challenges therapists and their partners face when trying to navigate being in relationship while one partner is navigating this career. Suggestions about how to navigate conversations and confidentiality as well as possibilities for improving relationships are discussed.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The impact of being a therapist on long-term relationships/partnerships The insight into people and relationships that can be a benefit of partnering with a therapist Expecting that the therapist will be the expert or do the emotional lifting The concern that therapists overanalyze their relationships (don’t therapize me!) Therapists breaking down characters in movies and books and ruining things for our partners Positive communication and being able to navigate challenging conversations The desire to talk about the relationship more frequently than our partners The potential of differences when you start a relationship as a therapist or whether you start prior to becoming a therapist Using our training to do what “successful couples” do What might be different if one were to approach dating or starting relationships later The challenge of not being able to talk about work at the end of the day (confidentiality) Specific parameters around how to talk about one’s day (process versus content) When partners aren’t part of our field, they don’t understand how our field works or what our job entails The difficulty of processing trauma, countertransference, empathy fatigue Gaps in the relationships with our partners related to partners not being able to process and handle challenging material The challenge of leaving work at work, being able to relate to other people at the end of the day The impact of the pandemic on childcare and balance of parenting and coparenting Therapist dissociation and self-care When our profession is overtaxed and we are overtaxed, our partners and kids can get pushed to the side What therapists’ partners might need to be successful in these relationships The lack of resources and resilience during the pandemic The difficulty those who are in relationships with therapists understanding that they are human and that we are not always able to cope. How our knowledge and resourcefulness can help with us taking care of ourselves and meeting the needs of our partners The gratitude and love that we can share with our partners when we see how things go wrong Our capacity to have challenging conversations to improve relationships Emotional intelligence and perspective, self-awareness Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Our Facebook Group Relevant Episodes: Dating as a Therapist Therapy with an Audience Off Duty Therapist   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Partners of Therapists

Curt and Katie chat about how our job and training can impact our partners. We look at the benefits like emotional intelligence, resilience, and perspective. We also look at the challenges therapists and their partners face when trying to navigate being in relationship while one partner is navigating this career. Suggestions about how to navigate conversations and confidentiality as well as possibilities for improving relationships are discussed.    

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The impact of being a therapist on long-term relationships/partnerships
  • The insight into people and relationships that can be a benefit of partnering with a therapist
  • Expecting that the therapist will be the expert or do the emotional lifting
  • The concern that therapists overanalyze their relationships (don’t therapize me!)
  • Therapists breaking down characters in movies and books and ruining things for our partners
  • Positive communication and being able to navigate challenging conversations
  • The desire to talk about the relationship more frequently than our partners
  • The potential of differences when you start a relationship as a therapist or whether you start prior to becoming a therapist
  • Using our training to do what “successful couples” do
  • What might be different if one were to approach dating or starting relationships later
  • The challenge of not being able to talk about work at the end of the day (confidentiality)
  • Specific parameters around how to talk about one’s day (process versus content)
  • When partners aren’t part of our field, they don’t understand how our field works or what our job entails
  • The difficulty of processing trauma, countertransference, empathy fatigue
  • Gaps in the relationships with our partners related to partners not being able to process and handle challenging material
  • The challenge of leaving work at work, being able to relate to other people at the end of the day
  • The impact of the pandemic on childcare and balance of parenting and coparenting
  • Therapist dissociation and self-care
  • When our profession is overtaxed and we are overtaxed, our partners and kids can get pushed to the side
  • What therapists’ partners might need to be successful in these relationships
  • The lack of resources and resilience during the pandemic
  • The difficulty those who are in relationships with therapists understanding that they are human and that we are not always able to cope.
  • How our knowledge and resourcefulness can help with us taking care of ourselves and meeting the needs of our partners
  • The gratitude and love that we can share with our partners when we see how things go wrong
  • Our capacity to have challenging conversations to improve relationships
  • Emotional intelligence and perspective, self-awareness

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Our Facebook Group

Relevant Episodes:

Dating as a Therapist

Therapy with an Audience

Off Duty Therapist

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2033 no Bilingual Supervision https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/bilingual-supervision Bilingual Supervision An interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT, about how to support bilingual, bicultural therapists. Curt and Katie talk with Adriana about her experiences as a clinician as well as her perception of the systemic concerns that bilingual/bicultural therapists face. We also dig into common work challenges for these clinicians, the ethical and competency concerns monolingual supervisors face, and specific action steps for individuals and organizations to increase the quality of supervision and training for these clinicians.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT (She/Her/Ella) Adriana Rodriguez (She/Her/Ella) is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she obtained a BA in Sociology from Sacramento State and a MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco. Adriana is a bilingual, queer, Salvadorian immigrant woman who is passionate about destigmatizing mental health. Adriana’s lens is intersectional, she is passionate about understanding how intergenerational trauma compounded with personal trauma impacts the mental health of first-generation adult children of immigrants and QTBIPOC. Adriana works with individuals and dyads in private practice in Sacramento, CA. In this episode we talk about: Adriana’s story as a bilingual, bicultural therapist who immigrated from El Salvador Experiences of immigration, learning English, and trauma Criticism, bias, and navigating a different culture The impacts of uninformed supervision on bilingual or monolingual clients The requirement to build one’s own tools (i.e., translating documents) What is getting lost in translation – linguistic, cultural, etc. The importance of understanding context The power differential within the clinical supervision How do I level the playing field and share the power? Sharing knowledge (rather than seeing the supervisor as the only person who has knowledge in the relationship) Acknowledging and talking about differences Ethical concerns and supervisor responsibility The systemic challenges that bilingual clinicians can face in getting hired or promoted The need for greater diversity in leadership roles The idea of “first generation everything” The make up of the job for bilingual clinicians Survivor guilt – immigrating, learning English, education, and making it professionally The identification and desire to empower clients that remind you of yourself, your family members The exploitation of that desire by agencies who do not have sufficient bilingual clinicians How frequently bilingual clinicians have large caseloads and not sufficient compensation or matching or curating of caseloads The risk for burnout for these clinicians The complexity of translation The need for more research around the impacts of monolingual supervisors providing supervision on bilingual clinicians (as well as the impacts on monolingual or bilingual clients) The constant need for self-awareness and re-examining your bias Making sure to understand the differences between personality and culture Adjusting case conceptualization, looking at the triad of supervisor-clinician-client Mon, 12 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Bilingual Supervision: An interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT Bilingual Supervision An interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT, about how to support bilingual, bicultural therapists. Curt and Katie talk with Adriana about her experiences as a clinician as well as her perception of the systemic concerns that bilingual/bicultural therapists face. We also dig into common work challenges for these clinicians, the ethical and competency concerns monolingual supervisors face, and specific action steps for individuals and organizations to increase the quality of supervision and training for these clinicians.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT (She/Her/Ella) Adriana Rodriguez (She/Her/Ella) is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she obtained a BA in Sociology from Sacramento State and a MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco. Adriana is a bilingual, queer, Salvadorian immigrant woman who is passionate about destigmatizing mental health. Adriana’s lens is intersectional, she is passionate about understanding how intergenerational trauma compounded with personal trauma impacts the mental health of first-generation adult children of immigrants and QTBIPOC. Adriana works with individuals and dyads in private practice in Sacramento, CA. In this episode we talk about: Adriana’s story as a bilingual, bicultural therapist who immigrated from El Salvador Experiences of immigration, learning English, and trauma Criticism, bias, and navigating a different culture The impacts of uninformed supervision on bilingual or monolingual clients The requirement to build one’s own tools (i.e., translating documents) What is getting lost in translation – linguistic, cultural, etc. The importance of understanding context The power differential within the clinical supervision How do I level the playing field and share the power? Sharing knowledge (rather than seeing the supervisor as the only person who has knowledge in the relationship) Acknowledging and talking about differences Ethical concerns and supervisor responsibility The systemic challenges that bilingual clinicians can face in getting hired or promoted The need for greater diversity in leadership roles The idea of “first generation everything” The make up of the job for bilingual clinicians Survivor guilt – immigrating, learning English, education, and making it professionally The identification and desire to empower clients that remind you of yourself, your family members The exploitation of that desire by agencies who do not have sufficient bilingual clinicians How frequently bilingual clinicians have large caseloads and not sufficient compensation or matching or curating of caseloads The risk for burnout for these clinicians The complexity of translation The need for more research around the impacts of monolingual supervisors providing supervision on bilingual clinicians (as well as the impacts on monolingual or bilingual clients) The constant need for self-awareness and re-examining your bias Making sure to understand the differences between personality and culture Adjusting case conceptualization, looking at the triad of supervisor-clinician-client Bilingual Supervision

An interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT, about how to support bilingual, bicultural therapists. Curt and Katie talk with Adriana about her experiences as a clinician as well as her perception of the systemic concerns that bilingual/bicultural therapists face. We also dig into common work challenges for these clinicians, the ethical and competency concerns monolingual supervisors face, and specific action steps for individuals and organizations to increase the quality of supervision and training for these clinicians.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT (She/Her/Ella)

Adriana Rodriguez (She/Her/Ella) is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she obtained a BA in Sociology from Sacramento State and a MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco. Adriana is a bilingual, queer, Salvadorian immigrant woman who is passionate about destigmatizing mental health. Adriana’s lens is intersectional, she is passionate about understanding how intergenerational trauma compounded with personal trauma impacts the mental health of first-generation adult children of immigrants and QTBIPOC. Adriana works with individuals and dyads in private practice in Sacramento, CA.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Adriana’s story as a bilingual, bicultural therapist who immigrated from El Salvador
  • Experiences of immigration, learning English, and trauma
  • Criticism, bias, and navigating a different culture
  • The impacts of uninformed supervision on bilingual or monolingual clients
  • The requirement to build one’s own tools (i.e., translating documents)
  • What is getting lost in translation – linguistic, cultural, etc.
  • The importance of understanding context
  • The power differential within the clinical supervision
  • How do I level the playing field and share the power?
  • Sharing knowledge (rather than seeing the supervisor as the only person who has knowledge in the relationship)
  • Acknowledging and talking about differences
  • Ethical concerns and supervisor responsibility
  • The systemic challenges that bilingual clinicians can face in getting hired or promoted
  • The need for greater diversity in leadership roles
  • The idea of “first generation everything”
  • The make up of the job for bilingual clinicians
  • Survivor guilt – immigrating, learning English, education, and making it professionally
  • The identification and desire to empower clients that remind you of yourself, your family members
  • The exploitation of that desire by agencies who do not have sufficient bilingual clinicians
  • How frequently bilingual clinicians have large caseloads and not sufficient compensation or matching or curating of caseloads
  • The risk for burnout for these clinicians
  • The complexity of translation
  • The need for more research around the impacts of monolingual supervisors providing supervision on bilingual clinicians (as well as the impacts on monolingual or bilingual clients)
  • The constant need for self-awareness and re-examining your bias
  • Making sure to understand the differences between personality and culture
  • Adjusting case conceptualization, looking at the triad of supervisor-clinician-client
]]> 2536 no Therapy with an Audience https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapy-with-an-audience Therapy with an Audience An interview with Doug Friedman, LCSW, the host of Your Mental Breakdown, on why he chose to record therapy sessions for his podcast. Curt and Katie talk with Doug about the logistics and benefits of publicly providing therapy. We also look at how podcasting can decrease stigma and open up flexibility to learn as a therapist (rather than rigidly holding to a modality or to an expert status that doesn’t allow for mistakes). It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Doug Friedman, LCSW Doug Friedman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Los Angeles. He has spent nearly 20 years working with adults, adolescents and families with issues ranging from depression and anxiety to substance abuse, bipolar disorder and PTSD. He has supervised programs in community mental health settings and he continues to provide clinical supervision to therapists in his private group practice, Clear Mind Full Heart. Doug is the creator and co-host of the mental health/entertainment podcast, Your Mental Breakdown. Doug received a Masters in Social Work from The Catholic University of America and a BA in Study of Religion from UCLA. Before becoming a psychotherapist, Doug worked for a music management company that oversaw bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, and Bonnie Raitt. Doug is also the artist and songwriter behind all the music heard on the podcast, Your Mental Breakdown. In this episode we talk about: Doug’s mission of normalizing therapy and decreasing mental health stigma The importance of learning as a therapist and exploring mistakes or alternatives The experience of being a therapist on a public-facing podcast Why Doug doesn’t hold a modality sacred How therapy serves the client as a focus for treatment The logistics of setting up the podcast (laws, ethics, etc.) Navigating the relationship with the client on the podcast (dual relationships, confidentiality) The benefit of recording sessions and reviewing them later Exploration of opportunities and different choices that we can make in the room Cohost rapport and trust, inquiry, love, disagreement, calling out The comfort level in being recorded for a podcast: shifting from one on one to a public audience Creating a system to keep the work of making the podcast sustainable Being vulnerable and authentic as a value Being an expert does not mean having the right answer in the room, but knowing how to find the answer and seek additional advice How other clients respond to Doug’s podcast The possibility of the public persona and “fame” Mon, 05 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Therapy with an Audience: An interview with Doug Friedman, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Doug Friedman, LCSW, host of Your Mental Breakdown Therapy with an Audience An interview with Doug Friedman, LCSW, the host of Your Mental Breakdown, on why he chose to record therapy sessions for his podcast. Curt and Katie talk with Doug about the logistics and benefits of publicly providing therapy. We also look at how podcasting can decrease stigma and open up flexibility to learn as a therapist (rather than rigidly holding to a modality or to an expert status that doesn’t allow for mistakes). It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Doug Friedman, LCSW Doug Friedman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Los Angeles. He has spent nearly 20 years working with adults, adolescents and families with issues ranging from depression and anxiety to substance abuse, bipolar disorder and PTSD. He has supervised programs in community mental health settings and he continues to provide clinical supervision to therapists in his private group practice, Clear Mind Full Heart. Doug is the creator and co-host of the mental health/entertainment podcast, Your Mental Breakdown. Doug received a Masters in Social Work from The Catholic University of America and a BA in Study of Religion from UCLA. Before becoming a psychotherapist, Doug worked for a music management company that oversaw bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, and Bonnie Raitt. Doug is also the artist and songwriter behind all the music heard on the podcast, Your Mental Breakdown. In this episode we talk about: Doug’s mission of normalizing therapy and decreasing mental health stigma The importance of learning as a therapist and exploring mistakes or alternatives The experience of being a therapist on a public-facing podcast Why Doug doesn’t hold a modality sacred How therapy serves the client as a focus for treatment The logistics of setting up the podcast (laws, ethics, etc.) Navigating the relationship with the client on the podcast (dual relationships, confidentiality) The benefit of recording sessions and reviewing them later Exploration of opportunities and different choices that we can make in the room Cohost rapport and trust, inquiry, love, disagreement, calling out The comfort level in being recorded for a podcast: shifting from one on one to a public audience Creating a system to keep the work of making the podcast sustainable Being vulnerable and authentic as a value Being an expert does not mean having the right answer in the room, but knowing how to find the answer and seek additional advice How other clients respond to Doug’s podcast The possibility of the public persona and “fame” Therapy with an Audience

An interview with Doug Friedman, LCSW, the host of Your Mental Breakdown, on why he chose to record therapy sessions for his podcast. Curt and Katie talk with Doug about the logistics and benefits of publicly providing therapy. We also look at how podcasting can decrease stigma and open up flexibility to learn as a therapist (rather than rigidly holding to a modality or to an expert status that doesn’t allow for mistakes).

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Doug Friedman, LCSW

Doug Friedman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Los Angeles. He has spent nearly 20 years working with adults, adolescents and families with issues ranging from depression and anxiety to substance abuse, bipolar disorder and PTSD. He has supervised programs in community mental health settings and he continues to provide clinical supervision to therapists in his private group practice, Clear Mind Full Heart. Doug is the creator and co-host of the mental health/entertainment podcast, Your Mental Breakdown.

Doug received a Masters in Social Work from The Catholic University of America and a BA in Study of Religion from UCLA. Before becoming a psychotherapist, Doug worked for a music management company that oversaw bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, and Bonnie Raitt. Doug is also the artist and songwriter behind all the music heard on the podcast, Your Mental Breakdown.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Doug’s mission of normalizing therapy and decreasing mental health stigma
  • The importance of learning as a therapist and exploring mistakes or alternatives
  • The experience of being a therapist on a public-facing podcast
  • Why Doug doesn’t hold a modality sacred
  • How therapy serves the client as a focus for treatment
  • The logistics of setting up the podcast (laws, ethics, etc.)
  • Navigating the relationship with the client on the podcast (dual relationships, confidentiality)
  • The benefit of recording sessions and reviewing them later
  • Exploration of opportunities and different choices that we can make in the room
  • Cohost rapport and trust, inquiry, love, disagreement, calling out
  • The comfort level in being recorded for a podcast: shifting from one on one to a public audience
  • Creating a system to keep the work of making the podcast sustainable
  • Being vulnerable and authentic as a value
  • Being an expert does not mean having the right answer in the room, but knowing how to find the answer and seek additional advice
  • How other clients respond to Doug’s podcast
  • The possibility of the public persona and “fame”
]]> 2331 yes Episode 200 https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-200 Episode 200: Mail Bag! Curt and Katie reflect on 200 episodes, answer questions and respond to feedback from listeners. We explore the tension between making a good living and providing affordable mental health care to consumers. We dig into paying prelicensed individuals, antitrust concerns, training centers, ethics codes, app therapy, setting fees, and therapist career trajectories.         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Celebrating 200 episodes! Question about how to make money and help to provide affordable access to clients Systemic challenges and the phases of change to the system Individual responsibility and the problems of this individual responsibility to therapists The way in which we can take action to make our careers more sustainable, while also advocating for change The debate about unpaid internships, training centers, and free labor (which is against the law) Online App Therapy – whether it is hurting the field and gaslighting therapists Sliding scale, setting fees, and why therapists’ rates vary so widely Why people don’t stay therapists, feel the need to become a thought leader Reflections on 200 episodes  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! CAMFT’s statement on Paying Prelicensees as a Best Practice Department of Labor Statement on Internship Programs Robert Casares Jr. (2020): Embracing the Podcast Era: Trends, Opportunities, & Implications for Counselors, Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2020.1816865 Mon, 29 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Episode 200: Mail Bag full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Mail Bag Episode 200: Mail Bag! Curt and Katie reflect on 200 episodes, answer questions and respond to feedback from listeners. We explore the tension between making a good living and providing affordable mental health care to consumers. We dig into paying prelicensed individuals, antitrust concerns, training centers, ethics codes, app therapy, setting fees, and therapist career trajectories.         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Celebrating 200 episodes! Question about how to make money and help to provide affordable access to clients Systemic challenges and the phases of change to the system Individual responsibility and the problems of this individual responsibility to therapists The way in which we can take action to make our careers more sustainable, while also advocating for change The debate about unpaid internships, training centers, and free labor (which is against the law) Online App Therapy – whether it is hurting the field and gaslighting therapists Sliding scale, setting fees, and why therapists’ rates vary so widely Why people don’t stay therapists, feel the need to become a thought leader Reflections on 200 episodes  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! CAMFT’s statement on Paying Prelicensees as a Best Practice Department of Labor Statement on Internship Programs Robert Casares Jr. (2020): Embracing the Podcast Era: Trends, Opportunities, & Implications for Counselors, Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2020.1816865 Episode 200: Mail Bag!

Curt and Katie reflect on 200 episodes, answer questions and respond to feedback from listeners. We explore the tension between making a good living and providing affordable mental health care to consumers. We dig into paying prelicensed individuals, antitrust concerns, training centers, ethics codes, app therapy, setting fees, and therapist career trajectories.        

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Celebrating 200 episodes!
  • Question about how to make money and help to provide affordable access to clients
  • Systemic challenges and the phases of change to the system
  • Individual responsibility and the problems of this individual responsibility to therapists
  • The way in which we can take action to make our careers more sustainable, while also advocating for change
  • The debate about unpaid internships, training centers, and free labor (which is against the law)
  • Online App Therapy – whether it is hurting the field and gaslighting therapists
  • Sliding scale, setting fees, and why therapists’ rates vary so widely
  • Why people don’t stay therapists, feel the need to become a thought leader
  • Reflections on 200 episodes

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

CAMFT’s statement on Paying Prelicensees as a Best Practice

Department of Labor Statement on Internship Programs

  1. Robert Casares Jr. (2020): Embracing the Podcast Era: Trends, Opportunities, & Implications for Counselors, Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2020.1816865
]]> 2261 no Why Therapists Quit Part 2 https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/why-therapists-quit-part-2 Why Therapists Quit Part 2 Curt and Katie chat about the response from listeners to our episode on why therapists quit. We look at the differences in responses (those who felt angry and those who felt validated) as well as our reasons for doubling down. We also dig into the differences between pessimism and realism, pairing our realistic take on the current problems with a call to action that aspires to change the systemic problems we’ve started to outline.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Responding to listener feedback on Why Therapists Quit The critical feedback we received related to the “negative tone” we put forward The positive feedback from listeners who felt seen The different stages of individuals’ careers and how they responded Assessing whether we are doing the profession a disservice by speaking the truth of our experiences and the problems we see in the profession How the knowledge of the information that this job is hard can impact the relationships with our clients, consultees, supervisees, etc. “Saving Psychotherapy” by Dr. Ben Caldwell The individual responsibility that clinicians are taking for systemic issues The problem when we don’t understand the system before we’re deep into the career The expectation that therapists must be good all of the time – which is unrealistic How we’re looking for ways to improve the therapy system, the mental health profession, etc. The responsibility we feel to help change How critical it is to frame the problem before you can solve Why it is important to opt in to a job, warts and all The problem of idealizing the profession Our plan for a new series that talks about the state of mental health care Differentiating between realism and pessimism The values systems for therapists that can be challenged by the system The response from therapists who may be more pessimistic than Curt and Katie are at this time A call to action to reach critical mass in order to make a change The people who don’t make it into the profession for many different reasons The shifts in the smaller systems (improving work environments) Whether our clients listen and what they might think about what we’re talking about Our responsibility in our role in this podcast, to make the profession better How we’ll be moving forward in an upcoming series, looking for solutions Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Why Therapists Quit Part 2 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the response from listeners Why Therapists Quit Part 2 Curt and Katie chat about the response from listeners to our episode on why therapists quit. We look at the differences in responses (those who felt angry and those who felt validated) as well as our reasons for doubling down. We also dig into the differences between pessimism and realism, pairing our realistic take on the current problems with a call to action that aspires to change the systemic problems we’ve started to outline.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Responding to listener feedback on Why Therapists Quit The critical feedback we received related to the “negative tone” we put forward The positive feedback from listeners who felt seen The different stages of individuals’ careers and how they responded Assessing whether we are doing the profession a disservice by speaking the truth of our experiences and the problems we see in the profession How the knowledge of the information that this job is hard can impact the relationships with our clients, consultees, supervisees, etc. “Saving Psychotherapy” by Dr. Ben Caldwell The individual responsibility that clinicians are taking for systemic issues The problem when we don’t understand the system before we’re deep into the career The expectation that therapists must be good all of the time – which is unrealistic How we’re looking for ways to improve the therapy system, the mental health profession, etc. The responsibility we feel to help change How critical it is to frame the problem before you can solve Why it is important to opt in to a job, warts and all The problem of idealizing the profession Our plan for a new series that talks about the state of mental health care Differentiating between realism and pessimism The values systems for therapists that can be challenged by the system The response from therapists who may be more pessimistic than Curt and Katie are at this time A call to action to reach critical mass in order to make a change The people who don’t make it into the profession for many different reasons The shifts in the smaller systems (improving work environments) Whether our clients listen and what they might think about what we’re talking about Our responsibility in our role in this podcast, to make the profession better How we’ll be moving forward in an upcoming series, looking for solutions Why Therapists Quit Part 2

Curt and Katie chat about the response from listeners to our episode on why therapists quit. We look at the differences in responses (those who felt angry and those who felt validated) as well as our reasons for doubling down. We also dig into the differences between pessimism and realism, pairing our realistic take on the current problems with a call to action that aspires to change the systemic problems we’ve started to outline.    

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Responding to listener feedback on Why Therapists Quit
  • The critical feedback we received related to the “negative tone” we put forward
  • The positive feedback from listeners who felt seen
  • The different stages of individuals’ careers and how they responded
  • Assessing whether we are doing the profession a disservice by speaking the truth of our experiences and the problems we see in the profession
  • How the knowledge of the information that this job is hard can impact the relationships with our clients, consultees, supervisees, etc.
  • “Saving Psychotherapy” by Dr. Ben Caldwell
  • The individual responsibility that clinicians are taking for systemic issues
  • The problem when we don’t understand the system before we’re deep into the career
  • The expectation that therapists must be good all of the time – which is unrealistic
  • How we’re looking for ways to improve the therapy system, the mental health profession, etc.
  • The responsibility we feel to help change
  • How critical it is to frame the problem before you can solve
  • Why it is important to opt in to a job, warts and all
  • The problem of idealizing the profession
  • Our plan for a new series that talks about the state of mental health care
  • Differentiating between realism and pessimism
  • The values systems for therapists that can be challenged by the system
  • The response from therapists who may be more pessimistic than Curt and Katie are at this time
  • A call to action to reach critical mass in order to make a change
  • The people who don’t make it into the profession for many different reasons
  • The shifts in the smaller systems (improving work environments)
  • Whether our clients listen and what they might think about what we’re talking about
  • Our responsibility in our role in this podcast, to make the profession better
  • How we’ll be moving forward in an upcoming series, looking for solutions
]]> 2224 no Infertility and Pregnancy Loss https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/infertility-and-pregnancy-loss Infertility and Pregnancy Loss An interview with Tracy Gilmour-Nimoy, LMFT, on understanding infertility as well as pregnancy and infant loss. Curt and Katie interview Tracy, a certified perinatal mental health professional, on what the medical and mental health professions often miss related to reproductive health and pregnancy. We dig into the basics and common mistakes as well as the harm caused when therapists are uninformed. We explore trauma, grief, and the invisibility of these common struggles faced by some who want to have children.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Tracy Gilmour-Nimoy, LMFT and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional Tracy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional. She has a group practice in San Diego, CA, where she specializes in working with individuals who have experiences of trauma, depression, anxiety, reproductive mental health, perinatal mental health, maternal mental health, paternal mental health, grief, loss, life transitions, and relational challenges, to name a few. In addition to her love of mental health, Tracy is an avid reader and writer. Her articles have appeared on her mental health blog and other public forums, such as Scary Mommy. She writes about varying mental health topics, as well as her personal experiences of infant loss, grief, and trauma. To learn more about Tracy, connect with her on Instagram @TGNtherapy In this episode we talk about: What we missed in our episode about navigating pregnancy How hidden infertility and pregnancy loss is in society, how the conversation is taboo The lack of trauma-informed care within the medical field The problems of assumptions around fertility and whether people want children The way that common questions can be triggering and traumatizing How dismissive of the grief people are when it deals with infant and pregnancy loss The rose-tinted lenses that hurt women during the whole process of getting pregnant and having a baby How hidden it is and how little discussed are all the stages of women’s development The gaps in therapist training related to infertility and pregnancy/infant loss The focus on the baby versus the parent Ideas for advocacy within the educational and medical systems The discomfort with sitting with these types of experiences and losses The tendency of people wanting to fix it and move forward without accounting for loss and recognizing when it cannot be fixed The shadow losses and losses of an absence Holding space for grief and loss, for how horrible it is What therapists need to know about infertility The importance of understanding the medical terminology, the financial burden, the emotional implications of the fertility process The internal focus on how the body works and what to do for your body The identity aspects related to motherhood or not becoming a mother What therapists need to know about pregnancy and infancy loss The perception of the death of their child Traditions to honor the child who didn’t come home The importance of remembering dates for individuals who have infant and pregnancy loss Acknowledging loss, using language or names that are relevant Honoring how they view their parental status after a loss Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0000 Infertility and Pregnancy Loss: An interview with Tracy Gilmour-Nimoy, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Tracy Gilmour-Nimoy, LMFT Infertility and Pregnancy Loss An interview with Tracy Gilmour-Nimoy, LMFT, on understanding infertility as well as pregnancy and infant loss. Curt and Katie interview Tracy, a certified perinatal mental health professional, on what the medical and mental health professions often miss related to reproductive health and pregnancy. We dig into the basics and common mistakes as well as the harm caused when therapists are uninformed. We explore trauma, grief, and the invisibility of these common struggles faced by some who want to have children.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Tracy Gilmour-Nimoy, LMFT and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional Tracy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional. She has a group practice in San Diego, CA, where she specializes in working with individuals who have experiences of trauma, depression, anxiety, reproductive mental health, perinatal mental health, maternal mental health, paternal mental health, grief, loss, life transitions, and relational challenges, to name a few. In addition to her love of mental health, Tracy is an avid reader and writer. Her articles have appeared on her mental health blog and other public forums, such as Scary Mommy. She writes about varying mental health topics, as well as her personal experiences of infant loss, grief, and trauma. To learn more about Tracy, connect with her on Instagram @TGNtherapy In this episode we talk about: What we missed in our episode about navigating pregnancy How hidden infertility and pregnancy loss is in society, how the conversation is taboo The lack of trauma-informed care within the medical field The problems of assumptions around fertility and whether people want children The way that common questions can be triggering and traumatizing How dismissive of the grief people are when it deals with infant and pregnancy loss The rose-tinted lenses that hurt women during the whole process of getting pregnant and having a baby How hidden it is and how little discussed are all the stages of women’s development The gaps in therapist training related to infertility and pregnancy/infant loss The focus on the baby versus the parent Ideas for advocacy within the educational and medical systems The discomfort with sitting with these types of experiences and losses The tendency of people wanting to fix it and move forward without accounting for loss and recognizing when it cannot be fixed The shadow losses and losses of an absence Holding space for grief and loss, for how horrible it is What therapists need to know about infertility The importance of understanding the medical terminology, the financial burden, the emotional implications of the fertility process The internal focus on how the body works and what to do for your body The identity aspects related to motherhood or not becoming a mother What therapists need to know about pregnancy and infancy loss The perception of the death of their child Traditions to honor the child who didn’t come home The importance of remembering dates for individuals who have infant and pregnancy loss Acknowledging loss, using language or names that are relevant Honoring how they view their parental status after a loss Infertility and Pregnancy Loss

An interview with Tracy Gilmour-Nimoy, LMFT, on understanding infertility as well as pregnancy and infant loss. Curt and Katie interview Tracy, a certified perinatal mental health professional, on what the medical and mental health professions often miss related to reproductive health and pregnancy. We dig into the basics and common mistakes as well as the harm caused when therapists are uninformed. We explore trauma, grief, and the invisibility of these common struggles faced by some who want to have children. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Tracy Gilmour-Nimoy, LMFT and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional

Tracy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional. She has a group practice in San Diego, CA, where she specializes in working with individuals who have experiences of trauma, depression, anxiety, reproductive mental health, perinatal mental health, maternal mental health, paternal mental health, grief, loss, life transitions, and relational challenges, to name a few. In addition to her love of mental health, Tracy is an avid reader and writer. Her articles have appeared on her mental health blog and other public forums, such as Scary Mommy. She writes about varying mental health topics, as well as her personal experiences of infant loss, grief, and trauma. To learn more about Tracy, connect with her on Instagram @TGNtherapy

In this episode we talk about:

  • What we missed in our episode about navigating pregnancy
  • How hidden infertility and pregnancy loss is in society, how the conversation is taboo
  • The lack of trauma-informed care within the medical field
  • The problems of assumptions around fertility and whether people want children
  • The way that common questions can be triggering and traumatizing
  • How dismissive of the grief people are when it deals with infant and pregnancy loss
  • The rose-tinted lenses that hurt women during the whole process of getting pregnant and having a baby
  • How hidden it is and how little discussed are all the stages of women’s development
  • The gaps in therapist training related to infertility and pregnancy/infant loss
  • The focus on the baby versus the parent
  • Ideas for advocacy within the educational and medical systems
  • The discomfort with sitting with these types of experiences and losses
  • The tendency of people wanting to fix it and move forward without accounting for loss and recognizing when it cannot be fixed
  • The shadow losses and losses of an absence
  • Holding space for grief and loss, for how horrible it is
  • What therapists need to know about infertility
  • The importance of understanding the medical terminology, the financial burden, the emotional implications of the fertility process
  • The internal focus on how the body works and what to do for your body
  • The identity aspects related to motherhood or not becoming a mother
  • What therapists need to know about pregnancy and infancy loss
  • The perception of the death of their child
  • Traditions to honor the child who didn’t come home
  • The importance of remembering dates for individuals who have infant and pregnancy loss
  • Acknowledging loss, using language or names that are relevant
  • Honoring how they view their parental status after a loss
]]> 2700 no Why Therapists Quit https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/why-therapists-quit Why Therapists Quit Curt and Katie chat about the systemic reasons that therapists leave the profession. We look at the work environment, the infrastructure of community mental health, as well as the frequent ways that therapists set up their own private practices. We also identify changes on a systems level as well as calls to actions for individuals who would like to continue as a therapist.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Challenges in the mental health system leading to therapists quitting the profession Why therapists don’t stay therapists when they wanted to stay therapists Obstacles and lack of opportunities The lack of quality of supervision or inadequate training for other elements of the job The lack of research on therapist workforce issues Not a lot of empathy for therapists as we “chose” to do this Caseload sizes, the weight of carrying the challenges of many people Niche fatigue and hearing the same story over and over The challenge of holding the hope for clients and communities The heaviness and the boredom of hearing so many similar conversations The full workload including paperwork and other consultations, case management and advocacy Who is drawn to the work, the desire for deep and meaningful work, and the problems of the bureaucratic system in providing meaningful work The training doesn’t match the actual job The status quo and inertia in the work, while at the same time that all the changes that happen in the other pieces of the profession Productivity standards and billing, differences in philosophy Systemic problems with under and unpaid services and requirements What we’re asking from the professional organizations and the challenges that professional organizations may have in advocating for these types of systemic changes What could actually move forward in legislation The issues related to antitrust People are more concerned about our patients than about therapists Why clinicians in all settings (including community mental health, private practice, etc.) The sameness of the workload when you’re in private practice The isolation as a therapist Increased demands with higher demand, less delineated work/life balance The appeal of a job where you can just show up The weight we carry as business owners, including decision-making and responsibility to generate income The benefit of diversifying your caseload Calls to action: advocating for quality workplaces, finding peer support, setting boundaries for yourself throughout your professional journey, what we can do if enough of us make these changes The time is now to address mental health systemic problems – shining a light on how we are well-situated, making sure we are paid, and sharing messages to support the community Mon, 08 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Why Therapists Quit full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the reasons therapists leave the profession Why Therapists Quit Curt and Katie chat about the systemic reasons that therapists leave the profession. We look at the work environment, the infrastructure of community mental health, as well as the frequent ways that therapists set up their own private practices. We also identify changes on a systems level as well as calls to actions for individuals who would like to continue as a therapist.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Challenges in the mental health system leading to therapists quitting the profession Why therapists don’t stay therapists when they wanted to stay therapists Obstacles and lack of opportunities The lack of quality of supervision or inadequate training for other elements of the job The lack of research on therapist workforce issues Not a lot of empathy for therapists as we “chose” to do this Caseload sizes, the weight of carrying the challenges of many people Niche fatigue and hearing the same story over and over The challenge of holding the hope for clients and communities The heaviness and the boredom of hearing so many similar conversations The full workload including paperwork and other consultations, case management and advocacy Who is drawn to the work, the desire for deep and meaningful work, and the problems of the bureaucratic system in providing meaningful work The training doesn’t match the actual job The status quo and inertia in the work, while at the same time that all the changes that happen in the other pieces of the profession Productivity standards and billing, differences in philosophy Systemic problems with under and unpaid services and requirements What we’re asking from the professional organizations and the challenges that professional organizations may have in advocating for these types of systemic changes What could actually move forward in legislation The issues related to antitrust People are more concerned about our patients than about therapists Why clinicians in all settings (including community mental health, private practice, etc.) The sameness of the workload when you’re in private practice The isolation as a therapist Increased demands with higher demand, less delineated work/life balance The appeal of a job where you can just show up The weight we carry as business owners, including decision-making and responsibility to generate income The benefit of diversifying your caseload Calls to action: advocating for quality workplaces, finding peer support, setting boundaries for yourself throughout your professional journey, what we can do if enough of us make these changes The time is now to address mental health systemic problems – shining a light on how we are well-situated, making sure we are paid, and sharing messages to support the community Why Therapists Quit

Curt and Katie chat about the systemic reasons that therapists leave the profession. We look at the work environment, the infrastructure of community mental health, as well as the frequent ways that therapists set up their own private practices. We also identify changes on a systems level as well as calls to actions for individuals who would like to continue as a therapist.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Challenges in the mental health system leading to therapists quitting the profession
  • Why therapists don’t stay therapists when they wanted to stay therapists
  • Obstacles and lack of opportunities
  • The lack of quality of supervision or inadequate training for other elements of the job
  • The lack of research on therapist workforce issues
  • Not a lot of empathy for therapists as we “chose” to do this
  • Caseload sizes, the weight of carrying the challenges of many people
  • Niche fatigue and hearing the same story over and over
  • The challenge of holding the hope for clients and communities
  • The heaviness and the boredom of hearing so many similar conversations
  • The full workload including paperwork and other consultations, case management and advocacy
  • Who is drawn to the work, the desire for deep and meaningful work, and the problems of the bureaucratic system in providing meaningful work
  • The training doesn’t match the actual job
  • The status quo and inertia in the work, while at the same time that all the changes that happen in the other pieces of the profession
  • Productivity standards and billing, differences in philosophy
  • Systemic problems with under and unpaid services and requirements
  • What we’re asking from the professional organizations and the challenges that professional organizations may have in advocating for these types of systemic changes
  • What could actually move forward in legislation
  • The issues related to antitrust
  • People are more concerned about our patients than about therapists
  • Why clinicians in all settings (including community mental health, private practice, etc.)
  • The sameness of the workload when you’re in private practice
  • The isolation as a therapist
  • Increased demands with higher demand, less delineated work/life balance
  • The appeal of a job where you can just show up
  • The weight we carry as business owners, including decision-making and responsibility to generate income
  • The benefit of diversifying your caseload
  • Calls to action: advocating for quality workplaces, finding peer support, setting boundaries for yourself throughout your professional journey, what we can do if enough of us make these changes
  • The time is now to address mental health systemic problems – shining a light on how we are well-situated, making sure we are paid, and sharing messages to support the community
]]> 2397 no Mental Health Entrepreneurship https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/mental-health-entrepreneurship Mental Health Entrepreneurship An interview with Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D. about lessons learned through serial entrepreneurship. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Shapiro about how to identify whether your idea for a product or service is good, the importance of solving a problem, and what business models are strongest for therapists. He also talks with us about why we shouldn’t fall in love with our products, why we shouldn't expect to make money writing books, and why building apps don’t make sense.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Lawrence E. Shapiro, PhD Lawrence E. Shapiro is an internationally known psychologist, recognized for his innovative and practical approach to helping people with mental health problems. Dr Shapiro has written more than 75 books and developed more than 100 therapeutic board and card games. His work has been published in 28 languages. Dr. Shapiro has developed a broad understanding of mental health problems in various professional positions as a teacher of emotionally disturbed teens, a school psychologist, a Director at the National Children’s Center in Washington D.C., and in private practice in Washington DC and Philadelphia. Dr. Shapiro is also considered a pioneer in using technology to address mental health problems. He has developed a number of apps for mobile devices, including an award-winning app to help prevent suicide among military personnel. He is the Founder and President of Between Sessions Resources, a company that develops clinical software for therapists and counselors and publishes therapeutic homework that professionals give to their clients to accelerate their growth. Dr. Shapiro’s books include: For Parents: How to Raise a Child with a High EQ: A Parents’ Guide to Emotional Intelligence; The Secret Language of Children; The Baby Emergency Handbook For Kids and Teens: The ADHD Workbook for Kids; I’m Not Bad, I’m Just Mad, Stopping the Pain: A Workbook for Teens Who Cut and Self-Injure For Adults: Overcoming Depression, The Panic Disorder Workbook, Taking Care of Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Dr. Shapiro is a frequent media guest, and has appeared on CNN, NPR, The Today Show, and many other national and local outlets. In this episode we talk about: Shapiro’s forays into entrepreneurship and alternate revenue streams The importance of getting used to making mistakes The lack of follow through that leave ideas as ideas (and not businesses or products) The need to actually be solving a problem, not pursuing an interest Finding something that has value to other people Writing books and self-publishing The goal for self-publishing a book (it’s not the profit) A book as a business card Strongest business models The need for on-going work and learning as an entrepreneur Protecting your work (copywriting, registered copywriting, trademarking) Ideas are just ideas and may not actually need protecting The perspective of improving on what others have done, rather than coming up with a unique idea or doing what has “never been done before” An iterative process to find your product, incremental innovation Leveraging the success of others How to learn what to do, following the recipe of what is worked Selling a business and moving onto the next idea Different places that people can shine – ideas, implementation, marketing The benefit of having partners to have different skill sets Marketing as building your platform and audience Why Dr. Shapiro advocates for email marketing The concept of a sales funnel and adding value along the way Mon, 01 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Mental Health Entrepreneurship: An interview with Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D. full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D. Mental Health Entrepreneurship An interview with Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D. about lessons learned through serial entrepreneurship. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Shapiro about how to identify whether your idea for a product or service is good, the importance of solving a problem, and what business models are strongest for therapists. He also talks with us about why we shouldn’t fall in love with our products, why we shouldn't expect to make money writing books, and why building apps don’t make sense.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Lawrence E. Shapiro, PhD Lawrence E. Shapiro is an internationally known psychologist, recognized for his innovative and practical approach to helping people with mental health problems. Dr Shapiro has written more than 75 books and developed more than 100 therapeutic board and card games. His work has been published in 28 languages. Dr. Shapiro has developed a broad understanding of mental health problems in various professional positions as a teacher of emotionally disturbed teens, a school psychologist, a Director at the National Children’s Center in Washington D.C., and in private practice in Washington DC and Philadelphia. Dr. Shapiro is also considered a pioneer in using technology to address mental health problems. He has developed a number of apps for mobile devices, including an award-winning app to help prevent suicide among military personnel. He is the Founder and President of Between Sessions Resources, a company that develops clinical software for therapists and counselors and publishes therapeutic homework that professionals give to their clients to accelerate their growth. Dr. Shapiro’s books include: For Parents: How to Raise a Child with a High EQ: A Parents’ Guide to Emotional Intelligence; The Secret Language of Children; The Baby Emergency Handbook For Kids and Teens: The ADHD Workbook for Kids; I’m Not Bad, I’m Just Mad, Stopping the Pain: A Workbook for Teens Who Cut and Self-Injure For Adults: Overcoming Depression, The Panic Disorder Workbook, Taking Care of Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Dr. Shapiro is a frequent media guest, and has appeared on CNN, NPR, The Today Show, and many other national and local outlets. In this episode we talk about: Shapiro’s forays into entrepreneurship and alternate revenue streams The importance of getting used to making mistakes The lack of follow through that leave ideas as ideas (and not businesses or products) The need to actually be solving a problem, not pursuing an interest Finding something that has value to other people Writing books and self-publishing The goal for self-publishing a book (it’s not the profit) A book as a business card Strongest business models The need for on-going work and learning as an entrepreneur Protecting your work (copywriting, registered copywriting, trademarking) Ideas are just ideas and may not actually need protecting The perspective of improving on what others have done, rather than coming up with a unique idea or doing what has “never been done before” An iterative process to find your product, incremental innovation Leveraging the success of others How to learn what to do, following the recipe of what is worked Selling a business and moving onto the next idea Different places that people can shine – ideas, implementation, marketing The benefit of having partners to have different skill sets Marketing as building your platform and audience Why Dr. Shapiro advocates for email marketing The concept of a sales funnel and adding value along the way Mental Health Entrepreneurship

An interview with Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D. about lessons learned through serial entrepreneurship. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Shapiro about how to identify whether your idea for a product or service is good, the importance of solving a problem, and what business models are strongest for therapists. He also talks with us about why we shouldn’t fall in love with our products, why we shouldn't expect to make money writing books, and why building apps don’t make sense. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Lawrence E. Shapiro, PhD

Lawrence E. Shapiro is an internationally known psychologist, recognized for his innovative and practical approach to helping people with mental health problems. Dr Shapiro has written more than 75 books and developed more than 100 therapeutic board and card games. His work has been published in 28 languages.

Dr. Shapiro has developed a broad understanding of mental health problems in various professional positions as a teacher of emotionally disturbed teens, a school psychologist, a Director at the National Children’s Center in Washington D.C., and in private practice in Washington DC and Philadelphia.

Dr. Shapiro is also considered a pioneer in using technology to address mental health problems. He has developed a number of apps for mobile devices, including an award-winning app to help prevent suicide among military personnel. He is the Founder and President of Between Sessions Resources, a company that develops clinical software for therapists and counselors and publishes therapeutic homework that professionals give to their clients to accelerate their growth.

Dr. Shapiro’s books include:

For Parents: How to Raise a Child with a High EQ: A Parents’ Guide to Emotional Intelligence; The Secret Language of Children; The Baby Emergency Handbook

For Kids and Teens: The ADHD Workbook for Kids; I’m Not Bad, I’m Just Mad, Stopping the Pain: A Workbook for Teens Who Cut and Self-Injure

For Adults: Overcoming Depression, The Panic Disorder Workbook, Taking Care of Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dr. Shapiro is a frequent media guest, and has appeared on CNN, NPR, The Today Show, and many other national and local outlets.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Shapiro’s forays into entrepreneurship and alternate revenue streams
  • The importance of getting used to making mistakes
  • The lack of follow through that leave ideas as ideas (and not businesses or products)
  • The need to actually be solving a problem, not pursuing an interest
  • Finding something that has value to other people
  • Writing books and self-publishing
  • The goal for self-publishing a book (it’s not the profit)
  • A book as a business card
  • Strongest business models
  • The need for on-going work and learning as an entrepreneur
  • Protecting your work (copywriting, registered copywriting, trademarking)
  • Ideas are just ideas and may not actually need protecting
  • The perspective of improving on what others have done, rather than coming up with a unique idea or doing what has “never been done before”
  • An iterative process to find your product, incremental innovation
  • Leveraging the success of others
  • How to learn what to do, following the recipe of what is worked
  • Selling a business and moving onto the next idea
  • Different places that people can shine – ideas, implementation, marketing
  • The benefit of having partners to have different skill sets
  • Marketing as building your platform and audience
  • Why Dr. Shapiro advocates for email marketing
  • The concept of a sales funnel and adding value along the way
]]> 2440 no Negotiating Sliding Scale https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/negotiating-sliding-scale Negotiating Sliding Scale Curt and Katie chat about the pros and cons of sliding your fee for therapy services. We look at the theories around fee-setting, sliding fee scales, and conversations around money. We discuss what actually makes a difference in determining if clients are invested and will benefit from your services. We also dig into the laws, ethics, and practicalities if you choose to offer sliding scale in your practice.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Feedback from our conversation with Tiffany McLain Clinical theories on how fee impacts the clinical relationship The different ways that people enter into therapy, different financial situations, etc. A more nuanced conversation about sliding scale fee Freud’s views on having direct conversations with clients on fee How clinical orientation can impact how therapists view fee-setting The idea that fee must be set at an “uncomfortable enough” that clients invest in therapy How fee paid impacts attending the last session Different types of investments that might impact how much people benefit of treatment Practical ways to assess what fee would be in the sweet spot for sliding scale (e.g., written out scale, financials, etc.) Do therapists show up differently for clients who pay more or less? How fees average out among larger caseloads Incorporating outcome measures and practice-based evidence to assess whether you are showing up differently for clients who pay more or less Mythology around what we have to do and what is best to do Laws and ethics, practical considerations Usual and Customary fees Advertised fees Philosophy related to how you set your fees The impact of insurance on our profession related to sliding scale Ethical codes on fee setting related to services provided and client ability to pay Models of subsidy for mental health services The need for a standard justification The risks for insurance fraud related to fee-setting and accepting copays The ability to adjust usual and customary fee as needed as long as it doesn’t violate state law What we have to do and what the softer, virtue ethics might recommend The importance of accurate billing and justification The tension between the equity argument and the practicalities of business Are you unfairly treating clients who are paying less? The need for pro bono work, but not sliding scale work The need for clinician-led discussions and opt-in from the client Check your insurance contracts, advertise your fees correctly, written basis for a range of fees Options for sliding scale Other models for addressing access How to create a sliding scale practically Why you need to identify what you need to make on average per session Moving your sliding scale or pro bono work outside of your practice Our recommendations for Open Path Psychotherapy Collective and Give an Hour Mon, 22 Feb 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Negotiating Sliding Scale full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the pros and cons of sliding your fee for therapy services Negotiating Sliding Scale Curt and Katie chat about the pros and cons of sliding your fee for therapy services. We look at the theories around fee-setting, sliding fee scales, and conversations around money. We discuss what actually makes a difference in determining if clients are invested and will benefit from your services. We also dig into the laws, ethics, and practicalities if you choose to offer sliding scale in your practice.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Feedback from our conversation with Tiffany McLain Clinical theories on how fee impacts the clinical relationship The different ways that people enter into therapy, different financial situations, etc. A more nuanced conversation about sliding scale fee Freud’s views on having direct conversations with clients on fee How clinical orientation can impact how therapists view fee-setting The idea that fee must be set at an “uncomfortable enough” that clients invest in therapy How fee paid impacts attending the last session Different types of investments that might impact how much people benefit of treatment Practical ways to assess what fee would be in the sweet spot for sliding scale (e.g., written out scale, financials, etc.) Do therapists show up differently for clients who pay more or less? How fees average out among larger caseloads Incorporating outcome measures and practice-based evidence to assess whether you are showing up differently for clients who pay more or less Mythology around what we have to do and what is best to do Laws and ethics, practical considerations Usual and Customary fees Advertised fees Philosophy related to how you set your fees The impact of insurance on our profession related to sliding scale Ethical codes on fee setting related to services provided and client ability to pay Models of subsidy for mental health services The need for a standard justification The risks for insurance fraud related to fee-setting and accepting copays The ability to adjust usual and customary fee as needed as long as it doesn’t violate state law What we have to do and what the softer, virtue ethics might recommend The importance of accurate billing and justification The tension between the equity argument and the practicalities of business Are you unfairly treating clients who are paying less? The need for pro bono work, but not sliding scale work The need for clinician-led discussions and opt-in from the client Check your insurance contracts, advertise your fees correctly, written basis for a range of fees Options for sliding scale Other models for addressing access How to create a sliding scale practically Why you need to identify what you need to make on average per session Moving your sliding scale or pro bono work outside of your practice Our recommendations for Open Path Psychotherapy Collective and Give an Hour Negotiating Sliding Scale

Curt and Katie chat about the pros and cons of sliding your fee for therapy services. We look at the theories around fee-setting, sliding fee scales, and conversations around money. We discuss what actually makes a difference in determining if clients are invested and will benefit from your services. We also dig into the laws, ethics, and practicalities if you choose to offer sliding scale in your practice. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Feedback from our conversation with Tiffany McLain
  • Clinical theories on how fee impacts the clinical relationship
  • The different ways that people enter into therapy, different financial situations, etc.
  • A more nuanced conversation about sliding scale fee
  • Freud’s views on having direct conversations with clients on fee
  • How clinical orientation can impact how therapists view fee-setting
  • The idea that fee must be set at an “uncomfortable enough” that clients invest in therapy
  • How fee paid impacts attending the last session
  • Different types of investments that might impact how much people benefit of treatment
  • Practical ways to assess what fee would be in the sweet spot for sliding scale (e.g., written out scale, financials, etc.)
  • Do therapists show up differently for clients who pay more or less?
  • How fees average out among larger caseloads
  • Incorporating outcome measures and practice-based evidence to assess whether you are showing up differently for clients who pay more or less
  • Mythology around what we have to do and what is best to do
  • Laws and ethics, practical considerations
  • Usual and Customary fees
  • Advertised fees
  • Philosophy related to how you set your fees
  • The impact of insurance on our profession related to sliding scale
  • Ethical codes on fee setting related to services provided and client ability to pay
  • Models of subsidy for mental health services
  • The need for a standard justification
  • The risks for insurance fraud related to fee-setting and accepting copays
  • The ability to adjust usual and customary fee as needed as long as it doesn’t violate state law
  • What we have to do and what the softer, virtue ethics might recommend
  • The importance of accurate billing and justification
  • The tension between the equity argument and the practicalities of business
  • Are you unfairly treating clients who are paying less?
  • The need for pro bono work, but not sliding scale work
  • The need for clinician-led discussions and opt-in from the client
  • Check your insurance contracts, advertise your fees correctly, written basis for a range of fees
  • Options for sliding scale
  • Other models for addressing access
  • How to create a sliding scale practically
  • Why you need to identify what you need to make on average per session
  • Moving your sliding scale or pro bono work outside of your practice
  • Our recommendations for Open Path Psychotherapy Collective and Give an Hour
]]> 2809 no Invisible and Scrutinized https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/invisible-and-scrutinized Invisible and Scrutinized An interview with Dr. Sheila Modir on racial trauma and identity within the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) population. Curt and Katie talk with Sheila about how MENA individuals are impacted by racial profiling, prejudice, and the lack of data on the MENA community. We also explore typical coping strategies as well as how therapists can support MENA clients.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Sheila Modir Dr. Sheila Modir is a pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). She obtained a combined doctoral degree in Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and her master’s degree in social welfare at UCLA. Prior to coming to CHOC, Dr. Modir completed her doctoral internship at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior where she worked at the UCLA Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Clinic. Her research interests include racial trauma and understanding risk and resilience factors in the context of trauma, and she has presented at conferences and published articles on this topic. Most recently, she has written a children’s book (coming fall 2021) called The Proudest Color, which is a timely and sensitive introduction to race, racism, and racial pride for children. In this episode we talk about: MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) clients The common mistake of assuming that all MENA clients are Muslim A lack of data on immigration and the demographics of these clients The lack of clinical research and education on MENA clients An invisible community that is greatly scrutinized due to profiling The layers of racial trauma Bronson Brenner’s ecological model: Sociopolitical discrimination, Institutional discrimination, Relational discrimination due to “cultural ignorance” The consistent portrayal of MENA individuals as terrorists, the Middle East as war-torn MENA individuals called terrorists versus white individuals called “lone wolves” who are “mentally ill” The impact of how the insurrection in January is viewed as “white terrorism” What influences racism and bias against MENA clients The typical coping strategies for MENA clients related to racial trauma Resignation, cowering, “getting used to it” leading to depression and anxiety Coping strategies, including education and being a cultural representative The contrast between the Asian American community pushing back against the “model minority” while MENA clients are aspiring to be a model minority The importance of identification of MENA individuals on the census How the Muslim Ban has impacted MENA individuals’ relationship with the government Clients minimizing, denying, not disclosing racial trauma The thirst for appropriate and accurate information on culture The benefit of affinity groups How non-MENA therapists can best support MENA clients The nuance of asking a MENA client to educate you as a therapist Collectivist culture and how it shows up in the room, how it can be complicated The challenge of cultural sensitivity when there is little research A call to action regarding research and education Mon, 15 Feb 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Invisible and Scrutinized: An interview with Dr. Sheila Modir full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Sheila Modir on Racial Trauma within the MENA community Invisible and Scrutinized An interview with Dr. Sheila Modir on racial trauma and identity within the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) population. Curt and Katie talk with Sheila about how MENA individuals are impacted by racial profiling, prejudice, and the lack of data on the MENA community. We also explore typical coping strategies as well as how therapists can support MENA clients.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Sheila Modir Dr. Sheila Modir is a pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). She obtained a combined doctoral degree in Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and her master’s degree in social welfare at UCLA. Prior to coming to CHOC, Dr. Modir completed her doctoral internship at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior where she worked at the UCLA Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Clinic. Her research interests include racial trauma and understanding risk and resilience factors in the context of trauma, and she has presented at conferences and published articles on this topic. Most recently, she has written a children’s book (coming fall 2021) called The Proudest Color, which is a timely and sensitive introduction to race, racism, and racial pride for children. In this episode we talk about: MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) clients The common mistake of assuming that all MENA clients are Muslim A lack of data on immigration and the demographics of these clients The lack of clinical research and education on MENA clients An invisible community that is greatly scrutinized due to profiling The layers of racial trauma Bronson Brenner’s ecological model: Sociopolitical discrimination, Institutional discrimination, Relational discrimination due to “cultural ignorance” The consistent portrayal of MENA individuals as terrorists, the Middle East as war-torn MENA individuals called terrorists versus white individuals called “lone wolves” who are “mentally ill” The impact of how the insurrection in January is viewed as “white terrorism” What influences racism and bias against MENA clients The typical coping strategies for MENA clients related to racial trauma Resignation, cowering, “getting used to it” leading to depression and anxiety Coping strategies, including education and being a cultural representative The contrast between the Asian American community pushing back against the “model minority” while MENA clients are aspiring to be a model minority The importance of identification of MENA individuals on the census How the Muslim Ban has impacted MENA individuals’ relationship with the government Clients minimizing, denying, not disclosing racial trauma The thirst for appropriate and accurate information on culture The benefit of affinity groups How non-MENA therapists can best support MENA clients The nuance of asking a MENA client to educate you as a therapist Collectivist culture and how it shows up in the room, how it can be complicated The challenge of cultural sensitivity when there is little research A call to action regarding research and education Invisible and Scrutinized

An interview with Dr. Sheila Modir on racial trauma and identity within the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) population. Curt and Katie talk with Sheila about how MENA individuals are impacted by racial profiling, prejudice, and the lack of data on the MENA community. We also explore typical coping strategies as well as how therapists can support MENA clients.    

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Sheila Modir

Dr. Sheila Modir is a pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). She obtained a combined doctoral degree in Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and her master’s degree in social welfare at UCLA. Prior to coming to CHOC, Dr. Modir completed her doctoral internship at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior where she worked at the UCLA Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Clinic. Her research interests include racial trauma and understanding risk and resilience factors in the context of trauma, and she has presented at conferences and published articles on this topic. Most recently, she has written a children’s book (coming fall 2021) called The Proudest Color, which is a timely and sensitive introduction to race, racism, and racial pride for children.

In this episode we talk about:

  • MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) clients
  • The common mistake of assuming that all MENA clients are Muslim
  • A lack of data on immigration and the demographics of these clients
  • The lack of clinical research and education on MENA clients
  • An invisible community that is greatly scrutinized due to profiling
  • The layers of racial trauma
  • Bronson Brenner’s ecological model: Sociopolitical discrimination, Institutional discrimination, Relational discrimination due to “cultural ignorance”
  • The consistent portrayal of MENA individuals as terrorists, the Middle East as war-torn
  • MENA individuals called terrorists versus white individuals called “lone wolves” who are “mentally ill”
  • The impact of how the insurrection in January is viewed as “white terrorism”
  • What influences racism and bias against MENA clients
  • The typical coping strategies for MENA clients related to racial trauma
  • Resignation, cowering, “getting used to it” leading to depression and anxiety
  • Coping strategies, including education and being a cultural representative
  • The contrast between the Asian American community pushing back against the “model minority” while MENA clients are aspiring to be a model minority
  • The importance of identification of MENA individuals on the census
  • How the Muslim Ban has impacted MENA individuals’ relationship with the government
  • Clients minimizing, denying, not disclosing racial trauma
  • The thirst for appropriate and accurate information on culture
  • The benefit of affinity groups
  • How non-MENA therapists can best support MENA clients
  • The nuance of asking a MENA client to educate you as a therapist
  • Collectivist culture and how it shows up in the room, how it can be complicated
  • The challenge of cultural sensitivity when there is little research
  • A call to action regarding research and education
]]> 2263 no Understanding Polyamory https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/understanding-polyamory Understanding Polyamory An interview with Dana McNeil, LMFT, about polyamory and ethical non-monogamy. Curt and Katie talk with Dana about the basics that every therapist should understand about polyamory. We cover some of the vocabulary, the values and perspectives within the polyamory community, as well as the biases many therapists hold and what therapists often get wrong when working with polyamorous clients.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dana McNeil Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Co-Founder of Confident Couples Therapist Dana McNeil is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is the founder The Relationship Place, a group practice located in San Diego, California. Dana’s practice specializes in couples’ therapy and utilizes an evidence-based type of couples’ therapy which is known as the Gottman Method. Dana is a certified Gottman Method therapist and Bringing Home Baby instructor. Dana’s practice works with all types of relationship issues from pre-marital counseling, dealing with the aftermath of extramarital affairs, partners working through addiction recovery, military deployed families, parents of special needs children, LGBTQ, and polyamorous clients. Dana has been featured on many relationship podcasts and in publications such as the Business Insider, Authority Magazine, Eat This-Not That, Parade, Oprah Living, Martha Stewart Living, Ladders, AARP, and is the resident relationship expert on the Cox Communications show “I Do.” Dana is also the co-founder of Confident Couples Therapist, a consultation and training program. She and her partner Nancy Ryan teach the tips and techniques to build a successful cash pay practice working with couples. In this episode we talk about: Polyamory and ethical non-monogamy (ENM) The faulty assumption that therapists don’t have skills to work with polyamorous clients The complexity of the non-monogamous relationships Jealousy versus compersion Metamour, Polycule, and new relationship energy The goals and aspirations within the polyamorous community The underlying reasons for entering into polyamorous relationships The poly identity and lifestyle Typical biases therapists hold related to ethical non-monogamy The difference between boundaries and rules and agreements The negative tone that can express bias to client Dana’s use of the Gottman method with ENM clients The reality of how ENM relationships – emotional and practical logistics The importance of transparency, clear communication within these relationships Considerations related to when members of the polycule are parents, who and how they are introduced to children Sex, fluid bonding, protection and testing Swingers have sex as sport, open relationships are sexual, poly relationships may be for love and romance and not sex The stigma and misunderstanding that these individuals may face Mon, 08 Feb 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Understanding Polyamory: An interview with Dana McNeil, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dana McNeil, LMFT Understanding Polyamory An interview with Dana McNeil, LMFT, about polyamory and ethical non-monogamy. Curt and Katie talk with Dana about the basics that every therapist should understand about polyamory. We cover some of the vocabulary, the values and perspectives within the polyamory community, as well as the biases many therapists hold and what therapists often get wrong when working with polyamorous clients.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dana McNeil Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Co-Founder of Confident Couples Therapist Dana McNeil is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is the founder The Relationship Place, a group practice located in San Diego, California. Dana’s practice specializes in couples’ therapy and utilizes an evidence-based type of couples’ therapy which is known as the Gottman Method. Dana is a certified Gottman Method therapist and Bringing Home Baby instructor. Dana’s practice works with all types of relationship issues from pre-marital counseling, dealing with the aftermath of extramarital affairs, partners working through addiction recovery, military deployed families, parents of special needs children, LGBTQ, and polyamorous clients. Dana has been featured on many relationship podcasts and in publications such as the Business Insider, Authority Magazine, Eat This-Not That, Parade, Oprah Living, Martha Stewart Living, Ladders, AARP, and is the resident relationship expert on the Cox Communications show “I Do.” Dana is also the co-founder of Confident Couples Therapist, a consultation and training program. She and her partner Nancy Ryan teach the tips and techniques to build a successful cash pay practice working with couples. In this episode we talk about: Polyamory and ethical non-monogamy (ENM) The faulty assumption that therapists don’t have skills to work with polyamorous clients The complexity of the non-monogamous relationships Jealousy versus compersion Metamour, Polycule, and new relationship energy The goals and aspirations within the polyamorous community The underlying reasons for entering into polyamorous relationships The poly identity and lifestyle Typical biases therapists hold related to ethical non-monogamy The difference between boundaries and rules and agreements The negative tone that can express bias to client Dana’s use of the Gottman method with ENM clients The reality of how ENM relationships – emotional and practical logistics The importance of transparency, clear communication within these relationships Considerations related to when members of the polycule are parents, who and how they are introduced to children Sex, fluid bonding, protection and testing Swingers have sex as sport, open relationships are sexual, poly relationships may be for love and romance and not sex The stigma and misunderstanding that these individuals may face Understanding Polyamory

An interview with Dana McNeil, LMFT, about polyamory and ethical non-monogamy. Curt and Katie talk with Dana about the basics that every therapist should understand about polyamory. We cover some of the vocabulary, the values and perspectives within the polyamory community, as well as the biases many therapists hold and what therapists often get wrong when working with polyamorous clients. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dana McNeil Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Co-Founder of Confident Couples Therapist

Dana McNeil is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is the founder The Relationship Place, a group practice located in San Diego, California. Dana’s practice specializes in couples’ therapy and utilizes an evidence-based type of couples’ therapy which is known as the Gottman Method. Dana is a certified Gottman Method therapist and Bringing Home Baby instructor. Dana’s practice works with all types of relationship issues from pre-marital counseling, dealing with the aftermath of extramarital affairs, partners working through addiction recovery, military deployed families, parents of special needs children, LGBTQ, and polyamorous clients.

Dana has been featured on many relationship podcasts and in publications such as the Business Insider, Authority Magazine, Eat This-Not That, Parade, Oprah Living, Martha Stewart Living, Ladders, AARP, and is the resident relationship expert on the Cox Communications show “I Do.”

Dana is also the co-founder of Confident Couples Therapist, a consultation and training program. She and her partner Nancy Ryan teach the tips and techniques to build a successful cash pay practice working with couples.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Polyamory and ethical non-monogamy (ENM)
  • The faulty assumption that therapists don’t have skills to work with polyamorous clients
  • The complexity of the non-monogamous relationships
  • Jealousy versus compersion
  • Metamour, Polycule, and new relationship energy
  • The goals and aspirations within the polyamorous community
  • The underlying reasons for entering into polyamorous relationships
  • The poly identity and lifestyle
  • Typical biases therapists hold related to ethical non-monogamy
  • The difference between boundaries and rules and agreements
  • The negative tone that can express bias to client
  • Dana’s use of the Gottman method with ENM clients
  • The reality of how ENM relationships – emotional and practical logistics
  • The importance of transparency, clear communication within these relationships
  • Considerations related to when members of the polycule are parents, who and how they are introduced to children
  • Sex, fluid bonding, protection and testing
  • Swingers have sex as sport, open relationships are sexual, poly relationships may be for love and romance and not sex
  • The stigma and misunderstanding that these individuals may face
]]> 2173 no Overcoming Your Poverty Mindset https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/overcoming-your-poverty-mindset Overcoming Your Poverty Mindset An interview with Tiffany McLain about how therapists deserve to make a good living and often do not. Curt and Katie interview Tiffany regarding her perspectives related to how sliding scale fees can perpetuate racist and classist systems, the problem with therapists sacrificing themselves and acting as saviors, and the impact you can make if you amass wealth and seek luxury.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Tiffany McLain, LMFT Tiffany McLain, LMFT is a therapist & consultant whose mantra is, “Full fees are the new black.” Via her program, The Lean In. MAKE BANK. Academy, she helps therapists ethically earn 30 to 50% more per month while seeing fewer clients by showing them how to think about and directly address fees in a clinically appropriate manner. In this episode we talk about: Tiffany’s Lean In Make Bank Academy How current events are impacting therapists making money The belief system that we are hurting clients by charging them Why therapists are so susceptible to these messages How women and minorities are external reinforced to sacrifice ourselves The stigma of building wealth, living life more fully, seeking luxury Grappling with raising fees, with people needing help The internal dialogue that comes in when trying to raise fees How luxury has been sustained on the backs of others The misguided attempt to fix the system through self-sacrifice What the cost is when you self-sacrificing The problem with Saviorism How a sliding scale can encourage racism and classism Negating self-efficacy and fostering dependency, through lowering our fees Sliding scale = subsidizing our client’s treatment Tiffany’s experience with a sliding scale therapist How gratitude for a therapist sliding their fee can lead to clients hiding themselves, not fully showing up or engaging in treatment effectively The value issue related to people asking for a sliding fee or balking at paying the full fee How these issues may come in at the beginning of a therapist’s career Talking about your fee as a clinical intervention Unconscious dynamics that keep us from acting on what we know re: setting fees and money Money is a representation of the therapist’s need and desire Processing emotional reactions to fee changes with clients. For example: “When I raise my fees, it hurts you” without collapsing, lowering the fee, or losing boundaries The challenge of looking at financial capacity for individuals The idea that we do not have to take care of individuals who cannot afford our fee in order to create access – and ideas of how we can increase impact once we’ve had the ability to create financial stability and wealth The benefit to society of women gaining wealth, with the ability to make a bigger impact The importance of setting your fee appropriately from the beginning Mon, 01 Feb 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Overcoming Your Poverty Mindset: An interview with Tiffany McLain full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Tiffany McLain Overcoming Your Poverty Mindset An interview with Tiffany McLain about how therapists deserve to make a good living and often do not. Curt and Katie interview Tiffany regarding her perspectives related to how sliding scale fees can perpetuate racist and classist systems, the problem with therapists sacrificing themselves and acting as saviors, and the impact you can make if you amass wealth and seek luxury.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Tiffany McLain, LMFT Tiffany McLain, LMFT is a therapist & consultant whose mantra is, “Full fees are the new black.” Via her program, The Lean In. MAKE BANK. Academy, she helps therapists ethically earn 30 to 50% more per month while seeing fewer clients by showing them how to think about and directly address fees in a clinically appropriate manner. In this episode we talk about: Tiffany’s Lean In Make Bank Academy How current events are impacting therapists making money The belief system that we are hurting clients by charging them Why therapists are so susceptible to these messages How women and minorities are external reinforced to sacrifice ourselves The stigma of building wealth, living life more fully, seeking luxury Grappling with raising fees, with people needing help The internal dialogue that comes in when trying to raise fees How luxury has been sustained on the backs of others The misguided attempt to fix the system through self-sacrifice What the cost is when you self-sacrificing The problem with Saviorism How a sliding scale can encourage racism and classism Negating self-efficacy and fostering dependency, through lowering our fees Sliding scale = subsidizing our client’s treatment Tiffany’s experience with a sliding scale therapist How gratitude for a therapist sliding their fee can lead to clients hiding themselves, not fully showing up or engaging in treatment effectively The value issue related to people asking for a sliding fee or balking at paying the full fee How these issues may come in at the beginning of a therapist’s career Talking about your fee as a clinical intervention Unconscious dynamics that keep us from acting on what we know re: setting fees and money Money is a representation of the therapist’s need and desire Processing emotional reactions to fee changes with clients. For example: “When I raise my fees, it hurts you” without collapsing, lowering the fee, or losing boundaries The challenge of looking at financial capacity for individuals The idea that we do not have to take care of individuals who cannot afford our fee in order to create access – and ideas of how we can increase impact once we’ve had the ability to create financial stability and wealth The benefit to society of women gaining wealth, with the ability to make a bigger impact The importance of setting your fee appropriately from the beginning Overcoming Your Poverty Mindset

An interview with Tiffany McLain about how therapists deserve to make a good living and often do not. Curt and Katie interview Tiffany regarding her perspectives related to how sliding scale fees can perpetuate racist and classist systems, the problem with therapists sacrificing themselves and acting as saviors, and the impact you can make if you amass wealth and seek luxury. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Tiffany McLain, LMFT

Tiffany McLain, LMFT is a therapist & consultant whose mantra is, “Full fees are the new black.” Via her program, The Lean In. MAKE BANK. Academy, she helps therapists ethically earn 30 to 50% more per month while seeing fewer clients by showing them how to think about and directly address fees in a clinically appropriate manner.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Tiffany’s Lean In Make Bank Academy
  • How current events are impacting therapists making money
  • The belief system that we are hurting clients by charging them
  • Why therapists are so susceptible to these messages
  • How women and minorities are external reinforced to sacrifice ourselves
  • The stigma of building wealth, living life more fully, seeking luxury
  • Grappling with raising fees, with people needing help
  • The internal dialogue that comes in when trying to raise fees
  • How luxury has been sustained on the backs of others
  • The misguided attempt to fix the system through self-sacrifice
  • What the cost is when you self-sacrificing
  • The problem with Saviorism
  • How a sliding scale can encourage racism and classism
  • Negating self-efficacy and fostering dependency, through lowering our fees
  • Sliding scale = subsidizing our client’s treatment
  • Tiffany’s experience with a sliding scale therapist
  • How gratitude for a therapist sliding their fee can lead to clients hiding themselves, not fully showing up or engaging in treatment effectively
  • The value issue related to people asking for a sliding fee or balking at paying the full fee
  • How these issues may come in at the beginning of a therapist’s career
  • Talking about your fee as a clinical intervention
  • Unconscious dynamics that keep us from acting on what we know re: setting fees and money
  • Money is a representation of the therapist’s need and desire
  • Processing emotional reactions to fee changes with clients. For example: “When I raise my fees, it hurts you” without collapsing, lowering the fee, or losing boundaries
  • The challenge of looking at financial capacity for individuals
  • The idea that we do not have to take care of individuals who cannot afford our fee in order to create access – and ideas of how we can increase impact once we’ve had the ability to create financial stability and wealth
  • The benefit to society of women gaining wealth, with the ability to make a bigger impact
  • The importance of setting your fee appropriately from the beginning
]]> 2802 yes Navigating Pregnancy as a Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/navigating-pregnancy-as-a-therapist-0 Navigating Pregnancy as a Therapist An interview with Emily Sanders, LMFT about how to navigate being a therapist while pregnant. Curt and Katie talk with Emily about when and how to disclose to clients, what it means to integrate the pregnancy into the clinical work, the transference and the richness that is available in the clinical work. We also look at practical, business, and clinical logistics for pregnant therapists (with a couple of thoughts for therapists with pregnant partners).         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Emily Sanders, LMFT Emily Sanders is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California who works in a solo private practice in Orange County seeing individuals and couples. Her areas of focus are anxiety, perfectionism, attachment wounds, and relationship issues. In addition to her 8+ years of clinical practice, Emily has taught Human Development and Advanced Counseling at Life Pacific University, speaks for retreats and workshops, and contributed to leadership health and readiness assessment teams. Of all the roles she plays, she most loves being wife to her husband, Michael, of 13 years and mother to their three children Liv, Ellis, and Arlin. In this episode we talk about: The challenges facing therapists when navigating pregnancy Whether or not to hide pregnancies as long as you can How to integrate the pregnancy into the clinical work The fear of bringing your parenting journey into the work Navigating client infertility while pregnant The individual differences that could impact disclosure, transference and the clinical work Considerations for when and how to disclose to each client Themes of abandonment that can come up Desires that clients can express related to wanting to be your partner or your baby The connection clients may feel and what they can witness, the curiosity they can experience Assessing the level of self-disclosure Seeking the stories related to considerations related to parenting and the parenting journey Integrating self into the room as a whole person therapist Planning for taking time away from your practice The business considerations (including finances) Clinical coverage and whether clients return to you after a maternity leave Idea for notifying clients when the baby is born The importance of looking put together when you return and challenging the notion that you might be fragile Transference when you return Looking at the timing of how long you can be gone (financial consideration) The fear that people will decide on their leave based on financial concerns Opportunities afforded when you are going to be out for maternity Business considerations to make sure you’ve addressed prior to maternity leave The logistics of breast feeding when you return to work Considerations when your partner is pregnant Logistic versus comfort-seeking questions you can get from clients both before and after pregnancy Mon, 25 Jan 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Navigating Pregnancy as a Therapist: An interview with Emily Sanders, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Emily Sanders, LMFT Navigating Pregnancy as a Therapist An interview with Emily Sanders, LMFT about how to navigate being a therapist while pregnant. Curt and Katie talk with Emily about when and how to disclose to clients, what it means to integrate the pregnancy into the clinical work, the transference and the richness that is available in the clinical work. We also look at practical, business, and clinical logistics for pregnant therapists (with a couple of thoughts for therapists with pregnant partners).         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Emily Sanders, LMFT Emily Sanders is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California who works in a solo private practice in Orange County seeing individuals and couples. Her areas of focus are anxiety, perfectionism, attachment wounds, and relationship issues. In addition to her 8+ years of clinical practice, Emily has taught Human Development and Advanced Counseling at Life Pacific University, speaks for retreats and workshops, and contributed to leadership health and readiness assessment teams. Of all the roles she plays, she most loves being wife to her husband, Michael, of 13 years and mother to their three children Liv, Ellis, and Arlin. In this episode we talk about: The challenges facing therapists when navigating pregnancy Whether or not to hide pregnancies as long as you can How to integrate the pregnancy into the clinical work The fear of bringing your parenting journey into the work Navigating client infertility while pregnant The individual differences that could impact disclosure, transference and the clinical work Considerations for when and how to disclose to each client Themes of abandonment that can come up Desires that clients can express related to wanting to be your partner or your baby The connection clients may feel and what they can witness, the curiosity they can experience Assessing the level of self-disclosure Seeking the stories related to considerations related to parenting and the parenting journey Integrating self into the room as a whole person therapist Planning for taking time away from your practice The business considerations (including finances) Clinical coverage and whether clients return to you after a maternity leave Idea for notifying clients when the baby is born The importance of looking put together when you return and challenging the notion that you might be fragile Transference when you return Looking at the timing of how long you can be gone (financial consideration) The fear that people will decide on their leave based on financial concerns Opportunities afforded when you are going to be out for maternity Business considerations to make sure you’ve addressed prior to maternity leave The logistics of breast feeding when you return to work Considerations when your partner is pregnant Logistic versus comfort-seeking questions you can get from clients both before and after pregnancy Navigating Pregnancy as a Therapist

An interview with Emily Sanders, LMFT about how to navigate being a therapist while pregnant. Curt and Katie talk with Emily about when and how to disclose to clients, what it means to integrate the pregnancy into the clinical work, the transference and the richness that is available in the clinical work. We also look at practical, business, and clinical logistics for pregnant therapists (with a couple of thoughts for therapists with pregnant partners).        

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Emily Sanders, LMFT

Emily Sanders is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California who works in a solo private practice in Orange County seeing individuals and couples. Her areas of focus are anxiety, perfectionism, attachment wounds, and relationship issues. In addition to her 8+ years of clinical practice, Emily has taught Human Development and Advanced Counseling at Life Pacific University, speaks for retreats and workshops, and contributed to leadership health and readiness assessment teams. Of all the roles she plays, she most loves being wife to her husband, Michael, of 13 years and mother to their three children Liv, Ellis, and Arlin.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The challenges facing therapists when navigating pregnancy
  • Whether or not to hide pregnancies as long as you can
  • How to integrate the pregnancy into the clinical work
  • The fear of bringing your parenting journey into the work
  • Navigating client infertility while pregnant
  • The individual differences that could impact disclosure, transference and the clinical work
  • Considerations for when and how to disclose to each client
  • Themes of abandonment that can come up
  • Desires that clients can express related to wanting to be your partner or your baby
  • The connection clients may feel and what they can witness, the curiosity they can experience
  • Assessing the level of self-disclosure
  • Seeking the stories related to considerations related to parenting and the parenting journey
  • Integrating self into the room as a whole person therapist
  • Planning for taking time away from your practice
  • The business considerations (including finances)
  • Clinical coverage and whether clients return to you after a maternity leave
  • Idea for notifying clients when the baby is born
  • The importance of looking put together when you return and challenging the notion that you might be fragile
  • Transference when you return
  • Looking at the timing of how long you can be gone (financial consideration)
  • The fear that people will decide on their leave based on financial concerns
  • Opportunities afforded when you are going to be out for maternity
  • Business considerations to make sure you’ve addressed prior to maternity leave
  • The logistics of breast feeding when you return to work
  • Considerations when your partner is pregnant
  • Logistic versus comfort-seeking questions you can get from clients both before and after pregnancy
]]> 2278 no White Terrorism and Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/white-terrorism-and-therapy White Terrorism and Therapy Curt and Katie chat about the attack on the US Capitol by radicalized Trump supporters. We talk about the role therapists play in addressing white supremacist terrorism, how to support clients in responding to a domestic terror attack, and what therapy looks like for clients who are impacted by Trump supporters or radical rhetoric. We also talk about the challenge of finding compassion, the need for thoughtful communication, and ideas about how to move forward. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: White Supremacy Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism, and the definition of Terrorism The evolving threat of White Supremacy Our responses to the domestic terrorism activity, the insurrection at the Capitol Processing the event in real time during sessions, with clients with double screen The lack of definition in the role of therapists during this time Thoughts related to people connecting violence to mental illness QAnon, other groups and the need to understand what they are, the signs The different types of clients coming into our office and how to support them Dealing with the “white stuff” like white apathy, being further removed from the events Susceptibility to political reactionism Trauma around safety, responses to the lack of equity, vulnerability, marginalization The importance of opening conversations and allowing clients to fully express their experience Supporting clients who have been pushed away from Trump supporters among family or friends Self-Identity versus Family-Identity Responding to divisive messages The complexity of interacting with someone who has been radicalized The need for community and connection to shift the culture What to do when a client who is in the process of being radicalized enters your therapy office The harm of “what about-ism” Risk factors for radicalization Conversations beyond Tarasoff and safety planning Desire for connection, attachment needs Simplicity of radicalized rhetoric and the goal to dig deeper into underlying needs and goal The possibility of therapy as a counter to the division Societal change, needed messaging, taking care of disenfranchised folks We are pro-human The need for compassionate communication Making things real to people who are disconnected and have the option to opt out, so they choose and can re-engage in the societal change that is needed A reminder to take care of yourselves as therapists during this time  Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:00:00 -0000 White Terrorism and Therapy full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the attack on the US Capitol by radicalized Trump supporters White Terrorism and Therapy Curt and Katie chat about the attack on the US Capitol by radicalized Trump supporters. We talk about the role therapists play in addressing white supremacist terrorism, how to support clients in responding to a domestic terror attack, and what therapy looks like for clients who are impacted by Trump supporters or radical rhetoric. We also talk about the challenge of finding compassion, the need for thoughtful communication, and ideas about how to move forward. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: White Supremacy Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism, and the definition of Terrorism The evolving threat of White Supremacy Our responses to the domestic terrorism activity, the insurrection at the Capitol Processing the event in real time during sessions, with clients with double screen The lack of definition in the role of therapists during this time Thoughts related to people connecting violence to mental illness QAnon, other groups and the need to understand what they are, the signs The different types of clients coming into our office and how to support them Dealing with the “white stuff” like white apathy, being further removed from the events Susceptibility to political reactionism Trauma around safety, responses to the lack of equity, vulnerability, marginalization The importance of opening conversations and allowing clients to fully express their experience Supporting clients who have been pushed away from Trump supporters among family or friends Self-Identity versus Family-Identity Responding to divisive messages The complexity of interacting with someone who has been radicalized The need for community and connection to shift the culture What to do when a client who is in the process of being radicalized enters your therapy office The harm of “what about-ism” Risk factors for radicalization Conversations beyond Tarasoff and safety planning Desire for connection, attachment needs Simplicity of radicalized rhetoric and the goal to dig deeper into underlying needs and goal The possibility of therapy as a counter to the division Societal change, needed messaging, taking care of disenfranchised folks We are pro-human The need for compassionate communication Making things real to people who are disconnected and have the option to opt out, so they choose and can re-engage in the societal change that is needed A reminder to take care of yourselves as therapists during this time  White Terrorism and Therapy

Curt and Katie chat about the attack on the US Capitol by radicalized Trump supporters. We talk about the role therapists play in addressing white supremacist terrorism, how to support clients in responding to a domestic terror attack, and what therapy looks like for clients who are impacted by Trump supporters or radical rhetoric. We also talk about the challenge of finding compassion, the need for thoughtful communication, and ideas about how to move forward.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • White Supremacy Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism, and the definition of Terrorism
  • The evolving threat of White Supremacy
  • Our responses to the domestic terrorism activity, the insurrection at the Capitol
  • Processing the event in real time during sessions, with clients with double screen
  • The lack of definition in the role of therapists during this time
  • Thoughts related to people connecting violence to mental illness
  • QAnon, other groups and the need to understand what they are, the signs
  • The different types of clients coming into our office and how to support them
  • Dealing with the “white stuff” like white apathy, being further removed from the events
  • Susceptibility to political reactionism
  • Trauma around safety, responses to the lack of equity, vulnerability, marginalization
  • The importance of opening conversations and allowing clients to fully express their experience
  • Supporting clients who have been pushed away from Trump supporters among family or friends
  • Self-Identity versus Family-Identity
  • Responding to divisive messages
  • The complexity of interacting with someone who has been radicalized
  • The need for community and connection to shift the culture
  • What to do when a client who is in the process of being radicalized enters your therapy office
  • The harm of “what about-ism”
  • Risk factors for radicalization
  • Conversations beyond Tarasoff and safety planning
  • Desire for connection, attachment needs
  • Simplicity of radicalized rhetoric and the goal to dig deeper into underlying needs and goal
  • The possibility of therapy as a counter to the division
  • Societal change, needed messaging, taking care of disenfranchised folks
  • We are pro-human
  • The need for compassionate communication
  • Making things real to people who are disconnected and have the option to opt out, so they choose and can re-engage in the societal change that is needed
  • A reminder to take care of yourselves as therapists during this time 
]]> 2556 no Taking a Shot at Vaccinations https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/taking-a-shot-at-vaccinations Taking a Shot at Vaccinations Curt and Katie chat about Covid vaccinations and how that will impact your work as a therapist. We look at who can be required to get a vaccine, what accommodations can be made for people who do not want to (or cannot) get vaccinated, and the clinical implications of the vaccine conversation coming into the therapy room. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Laws and ethics related to requiring vaccinations for clients and employees Vaccine exemptions and who/how they need to be honored The best practices of encouraging Accommodations for people who are not vaccinated The complexities of following the health advice Different considerations for employees and employers What the implications are for requiring clients to get vaccines The challenges of talking with clients about vaccines Other options related to telehealth, masks, timelines for vaccines When you may need to refer out Strategies for working with insurance in the transition What to do when you’re working at an agency Implications for mental health access Protecting yourself and managing your own risk Clinical Implications of the vaccine and how to talk with your clients Respecting the different reasons why people may be hesitant or refuse to get vaccinated The cultural differences relevant to interaction with the medical system The power differential and clinical ramifications Helping clients making decisions around vaccination Scope of practice and medical decision-making The challenge to physical health being out of our scope of practice The importance of having adequate knowledge of the science of the vaccines and the health decisions that clients often make Where ethics come in – forcing our clients to follow “science” is unethical Navigating the power differential Additional considerations that we were not able to talk about Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:00:00 -0000 Taking a Shot at Vaccinations full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how Covid vaccines will impact your work as a therapist Taking a Shot at Vaccinations Curt and Katie chat about Covid vaccinations and how that will impact your work as a therapist. We look at who can be required to get a vaccine, what accommodations can be made for people who do not want to (or cannot) get vaccinated, and the clinical implications of the vaccine conversation coming into the therapy room. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Laws and ethics related to requiring vaccinations for clients and employees Vaccine exemptions and who/how they need to be honored The best practices of encouraging Accommodations for people who are not vaccinated The complexities of following the health advice Different considerations for employees and employers What the implications are for requiring clients to get vaccines The challenges of talking with clients about vaccines Other options related to telehealth, masks, timelines for vaccines When you may need to refer out Strategies for working with insurance in the transition What to do when you’re working at an agency Implications for mental health access Protecting yourself and managing your own risk Clinical Implications of the vaccine and how to talk with your clients Respecting the different reasons why people may be hesitant or refuse to get vaccinated The cultural differences relevant to interaction with the medical system The power differential and clinical ramifications Helping clients making decisions around vaccination Scope of practice and medical decision-making The challenge to physical health being out of our scope of practice The importance of having adequate knowledge of the science of the vaccines and the health decisions that clients often make Where ethics come in – forcing our clients to follow “science” is unethical Navigating the power differential Additional considerations that we were not able to talk about Taking a Shot at Vaccinations

Curt and Katie chat about Covid vaccinations and how that will impact your work as a therapist. We look at who can be required to get a vaccine, what accommodations can be made for people who do not want to (or cannot) get vaccinated, and the clinical implications of the vaccine conversation coming into the therapy room.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Laws and ethics related to requiring vaccinations for clients and employees
  • Vaccine exemptions and who/how they need to be honored
  • The best practices of encouraging
  • Accommodations for people who are not vaccinated
  • The complexities of following the health advice
  • Different considerations for employees and employers
  • What the implications are for requiring clients to get vaccines
  • The challenges of talking with clients about vaccines
  • Other options related to telehealth, masks, timelines for vaccines
  • When you may need to refer out
  • Strategies for working with insurance in the transition
  • What to do when you’re working at an agency
  • Implications for mental health access
  • Protecting yourself and managing your own risk
  • Clinical Implications of the vaccine and how to talk with your clients
  • Respecting the different reasons why people may be hesitant or refuse to get vaccinated
  • The cultural differences relevant to interaction with the medical system
  • The power differential and clinical ramifications
  • Helping clients making decisions around vaccination
  • Scope of practice and medical decision-making
  • The challenge to physical health being out of our scope of practice
  • The importance of having adequate knowledge of the science of the vaccines and the health decisions that clients often make
  • Where ethics come in – forcing our clients to follow “science” is unethical
  • Navigating the power differential
  • Additional considerations that we were not able to talk about
]]> 2214 no You Do NOT Have to Be a Thought Leader https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/you-do-not-have-to-be-a-thought-leader You Don’t Have to Be A Thought Leader Curt and Katie chat about the latest pressures on therapists to become “thought leaders.” We look at how thought leadership is defined, what it typically is trying to solve, and other options therapists can take if they aren’t ready to be in the spotlight, start a side hustle, or leave the profession. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definitions of thought leader Why you must earn the title of thought leader Thought leadership as content marketing Repackaging content, predicting the future, or sharing a brand-new perspective The role of luck in thought leadership The importance of doing “you” whether you choose to use thought leadership or not The option to be a therapist in private practice without doing thought leadership as your form of content marketing Assessing values, skills, and energy in your decision whether you focus on thought leadership Challenging the notion that you have to leave the career if you’re burned out The ability to have hobbies and not monetizing everything Other options to address burnout or financial needs or lack of meaning in your work The myth of passive income and thought leadership as a mechanism to a better life The idea of fixing your business as an alternative The focus on the thoughts as the strongest, most aligned type of thought leadership Force of personality and Cult-like leadership Take an uncomfortable look at where you’re at to determine what you can do going forward Identifying a path forward that doesn’t get you stuck (stepping outside of shoulds) How to assess what is missing or what you’d like to get rid of The concept of self-leadership Mon, 04 Jan 2021 08:00:00 -0000 You Do NOT Have to Be a Thought Leader full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about thought leadership for therapists You Don’t Have to Be A Thought Leader Curt and Katie chat about the latest pressures on therapists to become “thought leaders.” We look at how thought leadership is defined, what it typically is trying to solve, and other options therapists can take if they aren’t ready to be in the spotlight, start a side hustle, or leave the profession. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definitions of thought leader Why you must earn the title of thought leader Thought leadership as content marketing Repackaging content, predicting the future, or sharing a brand-new perspective The role of luck in thought leadership The importance of doing “you” whether you choose to use thought leadership or not The option to be a therapist in private practice without doing thought leadership as your form of content marketing Assessing values, skills, and energy in your decision whether you focus on thought leadership Challenging the notion that you have to leave the career if you’re burned out The ability to have hobbies and not monetizing everything Other options to address burnout or financial needs or lack of meaning in your work The myth of passive income and thought leadership as a mechanism to a better life The idea of fixing your business as an alternative The focus on the thoughts as the strongest, most aligned type of thought leadership Force of personality and Cult-like leadership Take an uncomfortable look at where you’re at to determine what you can do going forward Identifying a path forward that doesn’t get you stuck (stepping outside of shoulds) How to assess what is missing or what you’d like to get rid of The concept of self-leadership You Don’t Have to Be A Thought Leader

Curt and Katie chat about the latest pressures on therapists to become “thought leaders.” We look at how thought leadership is defined, what it typically is trying to solve, and other options therapists can take if they aren’t ready to be in the spotlight, start a side hustle, or leave the profession.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The definitions of thought leader
  • Why you must earn the title of thought leader
  • Thought leadership as content marketing
  • Repackaging content, predicting the future, or sharing a brand-new perspective
  • The role of luck in thought leadership
  • The importance of doing “you” whether you choose to use thought leadership or not
  • The option to be a therapist in private practice without doing thought leadership as your form of content marketing
  • Assessing values, skills, and energy in your decision whether you focus on thought leadership
  • Challenging the notion that you have to leave the career if you’re burned out
  • The ability to have hobbies and not monetizing everything
  • Other options to address burnout or financial needs or lack of meaning in your work
  • The myth of passive income and thought leadership as a mechanism to a better life
  • The idea of fixing your business as an alternative
  • The focus on the thoughts as the strongest, most aligned type of thought leadership
  • Force of personality and Cult-like leadership
  • Take an uncomfortable look at where you’re at to determine what you can do going forward
  • Identifying a path forward that doesn’t get you stuck (stepping outside of shoulds)
  • How to assess what is missing or what you’d like to get rid of
  • The concept of self-leadership
]]> 1986 no Malpractice is No Joke https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/malpractice-is-no-joke Malpractice is No Joke An interview with Rachel Warners of CPH & Associates on the ins and outs of liability insurance. Curt and Katie talk with Rachel about some myths related to therapist liability, the best practices in getting (and keeping yourself) insured. We also talk about the types of claims and the services that are covered when you’re insured. We look at how you can best protect yourself from malpractice claims and what the most common complaints (and consequences) are.        It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Rachel Warners, CPH & Associates Rachel Warners is the Director of Operations at CPH & Associates, a leading provider of Professional Liability Insurance for mental health provider. Having been with CPH for 10 years, she understands the importance and unique nature of a therapists work and is proud to partner with them in protecting their career. In this episode we talk about: Why you need liability insurance The benefit of keeping liability insurance continuously through your whole career Why you may need a policy while working as a W-2 with an employer who is covering you Debunking some myths about your liability The problem with letting your policy lapse or having a gap in coverage The benefits of continuously coverage (especially if you’d like to get credentialed with insurance) The types of services you’re entitled to when you’re covered The ability consult when you get subpoenaed Common board complaints and lawsuits, like practicing outside the scope of licensure, negligent supervision, boundary and dual relationship issues, custody conflicts, unprofessional conduct When you are not covered, even when you have insurance The consequences of having a board complaint whether the complaint is dismissed or not (and how to navigate reporting this to your insurance carrier, etc) How often complaints are founded or unfounded The cost of protecting yourself from complaints Other types of insurance you may want to consider as a practice owner (general liability - slip and fall, personal property coverage, cyber liability) Insuring your corporate name The importance of protecting yourself and using insurance to cover costs of handling your defense or the required steps to repair what is broken The ways that you can avoid liability, including accessing the resources availability to you Considerations for Telehealth Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! CPH & Associates: www.cphins.com CPH phone line: 312-987-9823 | 800-875-1911 Articles on Avoiding Liability Relevant Episodes: Toxic Work Environments Joining Your Association Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 28 Dec 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Malpractice is No Joke full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Rachel Warners of CPH & Associates Malpractice is No Joke An interview with Rachel Warners of CPH & Associates on the ins and outs of liability insurance. Curt and Katie talk with Rachel about some myths related to therapist liability, the best practices in getting (and keeping yourself) insured. We also talk about the types of claims and the services that are covered when you’re insured. We look at how you can best protect yourself from malpractice claims and what the most common complaints (and consequences) are.        It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Rachel Warners, CPH & Associates Rachel Warners is the Director of Operations at CPH & Associates, a leading provider of Professional Liability Insurance for mental health provider. Having been with CPH for 10 years, she understands the importance and unique nature of a therapists work and is proud to partner with them in protecting their career. In this episode we talk about: Why you need liability insurance The benefit of keeping liability insurance continuously through your whole career Why you may need a policy while working as a W-2 with an employer who is covering you Debunking some myths about your liability The problem with letting your policy lapse or having a gap in coverage The benefits of continuously coverage (especially if you’d like to get credentialed with insurance) The types of services you’re entitled to when you’re covered The ability consult when you get subpoenaed Common board complaints and lawsuits, like practicing outside the scope of licensure, negligent supervision, boundary and dual relationship issues, custody conflicts, unprofessional conduct When you are not covered, even when you have insurance The consequences of having a board complaint whether the complaint is dismissed or not (and how to navigate reporting this to your insurance carrier, etc) How often complaints are founded or unfounded The cost of protecting yourself from complaints Other types of insurance you may want to consider as a practice owner (general liability - slip and fall, personal property coverage, cyber liability) Insuring your corporate name The importance of protecting yourself and using insurance to cover costs of handling your defense or the required steps to repair what is broken The ways that you can avoid liability, including accessing the resources availability to you Considerations for Telehealth Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! CPH & Associates: www.cphins.com CPH phone line: 312-987-9823 | 800-875-1911 Articles on Avoiding Liability Relevant Episodes: Toxic Work Environments Joining Your Association Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Malpractice is No Joke

An interview with Rachel Warners of CPH & Associates on the ins and outs of liability insurance. Curt and Katie talk with Rachel about some myths related to therapist liability, the best practices in getting (and keeping yourself) insured. We also talk about the types of claims and the services that are covered when you’re insured. We look at how you can best protect yourself from malpractice claims and what the most common complaints (and consequences) are.       

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Rachel Warners, CPH & Associates

Rachel Warners is the Director of Operations at CPH & Associates, a leading provider of Professional Liability Insurance for mental health provider. Having been with CPH for 10 years, she understands the importance and unique nature of a therapists work and is proud to partner with them in protecting their career.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why you need liability insurance
  • The benefit of keeping liability insurance continuously through your whole career
  • Why you may need a policy while working as a W-2 with an employer who is covering you
  • Debunking some myths about your liability
  • The problem with letting your policy lapse or having a gap in coverage
  • The benefits of continuously coverage (especially if you’d like to get credentialed with insurance)
  • The types of services you’re entitled to when you’re covered
  • The ability consult when you get subpoenaed
  • Common board complaints and lawsuits, like practicing outside the scope of licensure, negligent supervision, boundary and dual relationship issues, custody conflicts, unprofessional conduct
  • When you are not covered, even when you have insurance
  • The consequences of having a board complaint whether the complaint is dismissed or not (and how to navigate reporting this to your insurance carrier, etc)
  • How often complaints are founded or unfounded
  • The cost of protecting yourself from complaints
  • Other types of insurance you may want to consider as a practice owner (general liability - slip and fall, personal property coverage, cyber liability)
  • Insuring your corporate name
  • The importance of protecting yourself and using insurance to cover costs of handling your defense or the required steps to repair what is broken
  • The ways that you can avoid liability, including accessing the resources availability to you
  • Considerations for Telehealth

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

CPH & Associates: www.cphins.com

CPH phone line: 312-987-9823 | 800-875-1911

Articles on Avoiding Liability

Relevant Episodes:

Toxic Work Environments

Joining Your Association

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1931 no Marketing with Empathy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/marketing-with-empathy Marketing with Empathy An interview with Kat Love, on the hurdles therapists face when marketing their practices. Curt and Katie talk with Kat about how to develop relationships with referral sources on social media, advice on writing website copy, and the great importance of knowing yourself (and processing some of your stuff) when making a marketing plan. We also talk about some data you’ll want to review to adjust your planning and writing prompts to help get you started.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kat Love Therapists helped Kat heal from childhood sexual abuse, so now they specialize in helping therapists with their marketing. From helping you find the words to write to implementing the marketing strategies you need, Kat helps therapists get more clients, more referrals, and start making an impact. Check out Kat’s services that help with copywriting for therapists and marketing and business coaching for therapists. In this episode we talk about: The hurdles that therapists have to jump over to market their practice How mindset blocks keep therapists from creating a marketing plan The confusion and overwhelm in the DIY marketing space When you don’t know how to execute your marketing plan The problem of doing too many social media channels at once How to network on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter Building relationships with people on social media You can even do cold outreach and warm up the relationship within the digital world The importance of doing things that align with your natural talents and interests The type of data you should be looking at to adjust your marketing plan Ideas for how to market based on who you are Advice on writing website copy How journaling and blocking out time for self-discovery can move you past your blocks Understanding what works for you Vulnerability and self-awareness required for building a business and a website Your website isn’t about you What you may need to process before you can get your marketing on point The key things that need to come through in website copy Speaking to clients’ pain points so they feel seen Writing about the benefits of therapy in general as well as specifically with you Listening to your clients and asking your family and friends to understand how you show up as a helper, listener, and therapist Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! katlove.com empathycopy.com Group Practice Owner’s Summit Relevant Episodes: Clinical Marketing The Brand Called You Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 21 Dec 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Marketing with Empathy: An interview with Kat Love full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Kat Love Marketing with Empathy An interview with Kat Love, on the hurdles therapists face when marketing their practices. Curt and Katie talk with Kat about how to develop relationships with referral sources on social media, advice on writing website copy, and the great importance of knowing yourself (and processing some of your stuff) when making a marketing plan. We also talk about some data you’ll want to review to adjust your planning and writing prompts to help get you started.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kat Love Therapists helped Kat heal from childhood sexual abuse, so now they specialize in helping therapists with their marketing. From helping you find the words to write to implementing the marketing strategies you need, Kat helps therapists get more clients, more referrals, and start making an impact. Check out Kat’s services that help with copywriting for therapists and marketing and business coaching for therapists. In this episode we talk about: The hurdles that therapists have to jump over to market their practice How mindset blocks keep therapists from creating a marketing plan The confusion and overwhelm in the DIY marketing space When you don’t know how to execute your marketing plan The problem of doing too many social media channels at once How to network on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter Building relationships with people on social media You can even do cold outreach and warm up the relationship within the digital world The importance of doing things that align with your natural talents and interests The type of data you should be looking at to adjust your marketing plan Ideas for how to market based on who you are Advice on writing website copy How journaling and blocking out time for self-discovery can move you past your blocks Understanding what works for you Vulnerability and self-awareness required for building a business and a website Your website isn’t about you What you may need to process before you can get your marketing on point The key things that need to come through in website copy Speaking to clients’ pain points so they feel seen Writing about the benefits of therapy in general as well as specifically with you Listening to your clients and asking your family and friends to understand how you show up as a helper, listener, and therapist Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! katlove.com empathycopy.com Group Practice Owner’s Summit Relevant Episodes: Clinical Marketing The Brand Called You Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Marketing with Empathy

An interview with Kat Love, on the hurdles therapists face when marketing their practices. Curt and Katie talk with Kat about how to develop relationships with referral sources on social media, advice on writing website copy, and the great importance of knowing yourself (and processing some of your stuff) when making a marketing plan. We also talk about some data you’ll want to review to adjust your planning and writing prompts to help get you started.     

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Kat Love

Therapists helped Kat heal from childhood sexual abuse, so now they specialize in helping therapists with their marketing. From helping you find the words to write to implementing the marketing strategies you need, Kat helps therapists get more clients, more referrals, and start making an impact. Check out Kat’s services that help with copywriting for therapists and marketing and business coaching for therapists.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The hurdles that therapists have to jump over to market their practice
  • How mindset blocks keep therapists from creating a marketing plan
  • The confusion and overwhelm in the DIY marketing space
  • When you don’t know how to execute your marketing plan
  • The problem of doing too many social media channels at once
  • How to network on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter
  • Building relationships with people on social media
  • You can even do cold outreach and warm up the relationship within the digital world
  • The importance of doing things that align with your natural talents and interests
  • The type of data you should be looking at to adjust your marketing plan
  • Ideas for how to market based on who you are
  • Advice on writing website copy
  • How journaling and blocking out time for self-discovery can move you past your blocks
  • Understanding what works for you
  • Vulnerability and self-awareness required for building a business and a website
  • Your website isn’t about you
  • What you may need to process before you can get your marketing on point
  • The key things that need to come through in website copy
  • Speaking to clients’ pain points so they feel seen
  • Writing about the benefits of therapy in general as well as specifically with you
  • Listening to your clients and asking your family and friends to understand how you show up as a helper, listener, and therapist

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

katlove.com

empathycopy.com

Group Practice Owner’s Summit

Relevant Episodes:

Clinical Marketing

The Brand Called You

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2153 no Don’t Take Tax Advice from Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/dont-take-tax-advice-from-therapists Don’t Take Tax Advice from Therapists An interview with Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting on why you shouldn’t take tax advice from random therapists in a Facebook Group. Curt and Katie talk with Julie about common mistakes therapists make while trying to do their own bookkeeping and accounting, a new way to look at expenses, what is (and is not) tax deductible, what business entity you might consider, and why the picture is extra complex right now, meaning expert advice is especially important.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Julie Herres, GreenOak Accounting Julie Herres is an accountant and the owner of GreenOak Accounting. Her firm provides accounting, bookkeeping & tax services to private practice owners throughout the United States. Their mission is for every practice to be profitable! Julie and her team have worked with hundreds of private practice owners, so they are uniquely positioned to be a trusted advisor to clients. Julie also hosts the Therapy For Your Money Podcast, where she talks about all things money & finance for private practice. In this episode we talk about: The common mistake of not saving enough for taxes Bookkeeping mistakes How to look at your numbers, what numbers you should know about Expenses that may be outsized for your need Problem-solving for when your numbers are out of whack The importance of planning and having a conversation with an expert Being a good steward of the money that is coming into your therapy business What you can do proactively to plan for your business and taxes What you can do to clean up your books and then plan ahead going forward The value of basic budgeting and forecasting, even for 2021 Uncertainty and luck can be navigated Covid expenses and plans for investing in growth What you can still do to address 2020 taxes (including quarterly tax payments) What to spend money on when you have extra money at the end of the year The possibility of maximizing retirement accounts, etc. What you can do into 2021 that still impact 2020 taxes The need for really good advice based on the complexity of income, loans, etc. Which experts to go to for advice, which to go to implement your plan The danger of taking tax advice from a FB group and other questionable advice Personal expenses are not typically tax deductible (therapy, clothes, makeup, etc.) What you can deduct related to gifts Marketing expenses and usual and necessary expenses for business. Different business entities and some of the things to consider when deciding (spoiler alert: get advice because these things are so complex and depend on your full financial picture Things to consider in becoming a corporation and who to get help from How to prepare for changes (or potential changes) expected for 2021 The way in which having an accountant can support you in staying abreast of what you need to know as a business owner Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Julie’s website: GreenOak Accounting Therapy for Your Money Podcast Free tax planning checklist: greenoakaccounting.com/tax Relevant Episodes: The 4-1-1 on your 401K Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 14 Dec 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Don’t Take Tax Advice from Therapists: An interview with Julie Herres full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting Don’t Take Tax Advice from Therapists An interview with Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting on why you shouldn’t take tax advice from random therapists in a Facebook Group. Curt and Katie talk with Julie about common mistakes therapists make while trying to do their own bookkeeping and accounting, a new way to look at expenses, what is (and is not) tax deductible, what business entity you might consider, and why the picture is extra complex right now, meaning expert advice is especially important.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Julie Herres, GreenOak Accounting Julie Herres is an accountant and the owner of GreenOak Accounting. Her firm provides accounting, bookkeeping & tax services to private practice owners throughout the United States. Their mission is for every practice to be profitable! Julie and her team have worked with hundreds of private practice owners, so they are uniquely positioned to be a trusted advisor to clients. Julie also hosts the Therapy For Your Money Podcast, where she talks about all things money & finance for private practice. In this episode we talk about: The common mistake of not saving enough for taxes Bookkeeping mistakes How to look at your numbers, what numbers you should know about Expenses that may be outsized for your need Problem-solving for when your numbers are out of whack The importance of planning and having a conversation with an expert Being a good steward of the money that is coming into your therapy business What you can do proactively to plan for your business and taxes What you can do to clean up your books and then plan ahead going forward The value of basic budgeting and forecasting, even for 2021 Uncertainty and luck can be navigated Covid expenses and plans for investing in growth What you can still do to address 2020 taxes (including quarterly tax payments) What to spend money on when you have extra money at the end of the year The possibility of maximizing retirement accounts, etc. What you can do into 2021 that still impact 2020 taxes The need for really good advice based on the complexity of income, loans, etc. Which experts to go to for advice, which to go to implement your plan The danger of taking tax advice from a FB group and other questionable advice Personal expenses are not typically tax deductible (therapy, clothes, makeup, etc.) What you can deduct related to gifts Marketing expenses and usual and necessary expenses for business. Different business entities and some of the things to consider when deciding (spoiler alert: get advice because these things are so complex and depend on your full financial picture Things to consider in becoming a corporation and who to get help from How to prepare for changes (or potential changes) expected for 2021 The way in which having an accountant can support you in staying abreast of what you need to know as a business owner Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Julie’s website: GreenOak Accounting Therapy for Your Money Podcast Free tax planning checklist: greenoakaccounting.com/tax Relevant Episodes: The 4-1-1 on your 401K Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Don’t Take Tax Advice from Therapists

An interview with Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting on why you shouldn’t take tax advice from random therapists in a Facebook Group. Curt and Katie talk with Julie about common mistakes therapists make while trying to do their own bookkeeping and accounting, a new way to look at expenses, what is (and is not) tax deductible, what business entity you might consider, and why the picture is extra complex right now, meaning expert advice is especially important.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Julie Herres, GreenOak Accounting

Julie Herres is an accountant and the owner of GreenOak Accounting. Her firm provides accounting, bookkeeping & tax services to private practice owners throughout the United States. Their mission is for every practice to be profitable! Julie and her team have worked with hundreds of private practice owners, so they are uniquely positioned to be a trusted advisor to clients. Julie also hosts the Therapy For Your Money Podcast, where she talks about all things money & finance for private practice.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The common mistake of not saving enough for taxes
  • Bookkeeping mistakes
  • How to look at your numbers, what numbers you should know about
  • Expenses that may be outsized for your need
  • Problem-solving for when your numbers are out of whack
  • The importance of planning and having a conversation with an expert
  • Being a good steward of the money that is coming into your therapy business
  • What you can do proactively to plan for your business and taxes
  • What you can do to clean up your books and then plan ahead going forward
  • The value of basic budgeting and forecasting, even for 2021
  • Uncertainty and luck can be navigated
  • Covid expenses and plans for investing in growth
  • What you can still do to address 2020 taxes (including quarterly tax payments)
  • What to spend money on when you have extra money at the end of the year
  • The possibility of maximizing retirement accounts, etc.
  • What you can do into 2021 that still impact 2020 taxes
  • The need for really good advice based on the complexity of income, loans, etc.
  • Which experts to go to for advice, which to go to implement your plan
  • The danger of taking tax advice from a FB group and other questionable advice
  • Personal expenses are not typically tax deductible (therapy, clothes, makeup, etc.)
  • What you can deduct related to gifts
  • Marketing expenses and usual and necessary expenses for business.
  • Different business entities and some of the things to consider when deciding (spoiler alert: get advice because these things are so complex and depend on your full financial picture
  • Things to consider in becoming a corporation and who to get help from
  • How to prepare for changes (or potential changes) expected for 2021
  • The way in which having an accountant can support you in staying abreast of what you need to know as a business owner

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Julie’s website: GreenOak Accounting

Therapy for Your Money Podcast

Free tax planning checklist: greenoakaccounting.com/tax

Relevant Episodes:

The 4-1-1 on your 401K

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2319 no Therapists Struggling with Darkness https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapists-struggling-with-darkness Therapists Struggling with Darkness Curt and Katie chat about how therapists are struggling during the pandemic. We looked at how client material impacts therapists. We also explored unique risk factors and protective factors. We talked about the stigma for therapists to admit that something is not okay as well as the tendency to move that conversation out of the public space (just go to therapy). We have some ideas about how we can better take care of ourselves and each other. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How we are struggling during the pandemic Sitting with client’s darkness and how that impacts therapists even before the pandemic The impact client material can have on therapists The stigma around therapists having mental health concerns Anxiety contagion, energy drain of working with depression Impacts on libido, mood, suicidality Unique risk factors for therapists Risk factors for suicidality The heaviness and suicidality that can enter thought processes The shame and the simplification when therapy is the only suggestion “We deal with some heavy shit.” Taking the conversation about therapists struggles out of the social space (“go to therapy”) The lack of research about therapists as a workforce, the client impact on therapist, or therapists as clients Therapists as human beings in both private and public ways The feeling of being stuck and not being able to talk about it when you’re a therapist How legal and ethical concerns play a part Having a job, having people around you can be protective factors Isolation and lack of social support Boundary issues, vagueness to keep others at bay How therapists support each other (and the importance of social support) The danger of feeling trapped, especially if you’re isolated Practices to incorporate to reinforce resilience How we consume information and how the people around you are perceiving the news can impact you Self-assessment of risk factors, identification of protective factors What actually helps when someone is struggling The group responsibility as well as our individual responsibilities How to manage community care without overburdening yourself The importance of assessing capacity to support and give to our colleagues and friends Creating reinforcements and structure for regular support Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Signing up for our newsletter Relevant Episodes: Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists Therapist Suicide Suicidal Therapists Therapists in Therapy Toxic Work Environments The Mental Load of Therapists Structuring Self-Care   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 07 Dec 2020 08:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the unique risk factors (including client material) that impact therapists Therapists Struggling with Darkness Curt and Katie chat about how therapists are struggling during the pandemic. We looked at how client material impacts therapists. We also explored unique risk factors and protective factors. We talked about the stigma for therapists to admit that something is not okay as well as the tendency to move that conversation out of the public space (just go to therapy). We have some ideas about how we can better take care of ourselves and each other. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How we are struggling during the pandemic Sitting with client’s darkness and how that impacts therapists even before the pandemic The impact client material can have on therapists The stigma around therapists having mental health concerns Anxiety contagion, energy drain of working with depression Impacts on libido, mood, suicidality Unique risk factors for therapists Risk factors for suicidality The heaviness and suicidality that can enter thought processes The shame and the simplification when therapy is the only suggestion “We deal with some heavy shit.” Taking the conversation about therapists struggles out of the social space (“go to therapy”) The lack of research about therapists as a workforce, the client impact on therapist, or therapists as clients Therapists as human beings in both private and public ways The feeling of being stuck and not being able to talk about it when you’re a therapist How legal and ethical concerns play a part Having a job, having people around you can be protective factors Isolation and lack of social support Boundary issues, vagueness to keep others at bay How therapists support each other (and the importance of social support) The danger of feeling trapped, especially if you’re isolated Practices to incorporate to reinforce resilience How we consume information and how the people around you are perceiving the news can impact you Self-assessment of risk factors, identification of protective factors What actually helps when someone is struggling The group responsibility as well as our individual responsibilities How to manage community care without overburdening yourself The importance of assessing capacity to support and give to our colleagues and friends Creating reinforcements and structure for regular support Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Signing up for our newsletter Relevant Episodes: Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists Therapist Suicide Suicidal Therapists Therapists in Therapy Toxic Work Environments The Mental Load of Therapists Structuring Self-Care   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Therapists Struggling with Darkness

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists are struggling during the pandemic. We looked at how client material impacts therapists. We also explored unique risk factors and protective factors. We talked about the stigma for therapists to admit that something is not okay as well as the tendency to move that conversation out of the public space (just go to therapy). We have some ideas about how we can better take care of ourselves and each other.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How we are struggling during the pandemic
  • Sitting with client’s darkness and how that impacts therapists even before the pandemic
  • The impact client material can have on therapists
  • The stigma around therapists having mental health concerns
  • Anxiety contagion, energy drain of working with depression
  • Impacts on libido, mood, suicidality
  • Unique risk factors for therapists
  • Risk factors for suicidality
  • The heaviness and suicidality that can enter thought processes
  • The shame and the simplification when therapy is the only suggestion
  • “We deal with some heavy shit.”
  • Taking the conversation about therapists struggles out of the social space (“go to therapy”)
  • The lack of research about therapists as a workforce, the client impact on therapist, or therapists as clients
  • Therapists as human beings in both private and public ways
  • The feeling of being stuck and not being able to talk about it when you’re a therapist
  • How legal and ethical concerns play a part
  • Having a job, having people around you can be protective factors
  • Isolation and lack of social support
  • Boundary issues, vagueness to keep others at bay
  • How therapists support each other (and the importance of social support)
  • The danger of feeling trapped, especially if you’re isolated
  • Practices to incorporate to reinforce resilience
  • How we consume information and how the people around you are perceiving the news can impact you
  • Self-assessment of risk factors, identification of protective factors
  • What actually helps when someone is struggling
  • The group responsibility as well as our individual responsibilities
  • How to manage community care without overburdening yourself
  • The importance of assessing capacity to support and give to our colleagues and friends
  • Creating reinforcements and structure for regular support

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Signing up for our newsletter

Relevant Episodes:

Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists

Therapist Suicide

Suicidal Therapists

Therapists in Therapy

Toxic Work Environments

The Mental Load of Therapists

Structuring Self-Care

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2099 no Noteworthy Documentation https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/noteworthy-documentation Noteworthy Documentation An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT about some basic documentation information as well as updates relevant to the 21st Century Cures Act. Curt and Katie talk with Ben about what to consider when writing your notes including what to include and what should not be included. We look at who can see your progress notes as well as other considerations related to records requests and confidentiality.       It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT Dr. Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Education and Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs. In this episode we talk about: Documentation as our favorite thing ever Excitement about Ben breaking the record on number of interviews on this podcast What needs to go into your documentation Accurate, adequate, and timely Standard of care How much information to put into your notes Who is the audience for your documentation Who might request records The importance documentation in continuity of care Where to put client quotes The difference between progress and process or psychotherapy notes What can be subpoenaed (including psychotherapy notes) How much information you include based on what is advisable to protect self The benefit of doing documentation for yourself as well as for treatment efficacy The 21st Century Cures Act – Open Notes (deadline now extended through April 2021) Optional certification process that requires clients to have access to all the information in their chart without charging them) Most mental health providers have no changes required from this change Most private practice EHRs are not on these systems Hospitals may have this requirement, but individual practitioners are not responsible for the mechanism to provide documentation to clients How to make sure you’re ready for clients to see your documentation The communication is going on for people who are required to comply with this open notes mandate, including how to access information and who to contact with questions In most states, clients have a fundamental right to request their records Confidentiality and access to records for family members, especially parents of minor children Conversations to have at the beginning of treatment in these situations regarding what will be included in the chart (and what will not be put into the chart) What not to include in your chart (specifically written reports from child abuse reports) A debate of who owns the record – who can see them is different from who owns them Mon, 30 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Noteworthy Documentation: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell on clinical documentation basics and the 21st Century Cures Act Noteworthy Documentation An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT about some basic documentation information as well as updates relevant to the 21st Century Cures Act. Curt and Katie talk with Ben about what to consider when writing your notes including what to include and what should not be included. We look at who can see your progress notes as well as other considerations related to records requests and confidentiality.       It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT Dr. Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Education and Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs. In this episode we talk about: Documentation as our favorite thing ever Excitement about Ben breaking the record on number of interviews on this podcast What needs to go into your documentation Accurate, adequate, and timely Standard of care How much information to put into your notes Who is the audience for your documentation Who might request records The importance documentation in continuity of care Where to put client quotes The difference between progress and process or psychotherapy notes What can be subpoenaed (including psychotherapy notes) How much information you include based on what is advisable to protect self The benefit of doing documentation for yourself as well as for treatment efficacy The 21st Century Cures Act – Open Notes (deadline now extended through April 2021) Optional certification process that requires clients to have access to all the information in their chart without charging them) Most mental health providers have no changes required from this change Most private practice EHRs are not on these systems Hospitals may have this requirement, but individual practitioners are not responsible for the mechanism to provide documentation to clients How to make sure you’re ready for clients to see your documentation The communication is going on for people who are required to comply with this open notes mandate, including how to access information and who to contact with questions In most states, clients have a fundamental right to request their records Confidentiality and access to records for family members, especially parents of minor children Conversations to have at the beginning of treatment in these situations regarding what will be included in the chart (and what will not be put into the chart) What not to include in your chart (specifically written reports from child abuse reports) A debate of who owns the record – who can see them is different from who owns them Noteworthy Documentation

An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT about some basic documentation information as well as updates relevant to the 21st Century Cures Act. Curt and Katie talk with Ben about what to consider when writing your notes including what to include and what should not be included. We look at who can see your progress notes as well as other considerations related to records requests and confidentiality.      

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT

Dr. Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Education and Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Documentation as our favorite thing ever
  • Excitement about Ben breaking the record on number of interviews on this podcast
  • What needs to go into your documentation
  • Accurate, adequate, and timely
  • Standard of care
  • How much information to put into your notes
  • Who is the audience for your documentation
  • Who might request records
  • The importance documentation in continuity of care
  • Where to put client quotes
  • The difference between progress and process or psychotherapy notes
  • What can be subpoenaed (including psychotherapy notes)
  • How much information you include based on what is advisable to protect self
  • The benefit of doing documentation for yourself as well as for treatment efficacy
  • The 21st Century Cures Act – Open Notes (deadline now extended through April 2021)
  • Optional certification process that requires clients to have access to all the information in their chart without charging them)
  • Most mental health providers have no changes required from this change
  • Most private practice EHRs are not on these systems
  • Hospitals may have this requirement, but individual practitioners are not responsible for the mechanism to provide documentation to clients
  • How to make sure you’re ready for clients to see your documentation
  • The communication is going on for people who are required to comply with this open notes mandate, including how to access information and who to contact with questions
  • In most states, clients have a fundamental right to request their records
  • Confidentiality and access to records for family members, especially parents of minor children
  • Conversations to have at the beginning of treatment in these situations regarding what will be included in the chart (and what will not be put into the chart)
  • What not to include in your chart (specifically written reports from child abuse reports)
  • A debate of who owns the record – who can see them is different from who owns them
]]> 2595 no Grad Programs Moving Online https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/grad-programs-moving-online Grad Programs Moving Online Curt and Katie chat about the quick move to online learning when the pandemic hit. We talk about the challenges with virtual platforms – what has worked and what has not. We look at the decisions related to starting or continuing therapist education at this time. We also talk about the opportunities that have been gained and ideas for students and professors on how to more effectively approach online graduate programs. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Graduate programs for therapists moving online during the pandemic The education one applied for is vastly different from what you’re getting right now The rapid shift to online education and lack of deliberate choices to shift how to teach Synchronous and asynchronous elements of education The requirement for faculty to learn and utilize technology effectively A lack of interaction due to polite students keeping their mics off The spoke and wheel conversations that impact how learning happens The lack of guidance on how to create truly effective online education Navigating time on screens Role plays translating into learning telehealth, rather than in-person therapy The lack of interaction with the material, more passive learning Developing clinical efficacy for telehealth The uncertainty of the efficacy of clinical work in the newer space of telehealth The impact on discussions social justice, racial and cultural identity, due to the ability to opt out of the conversation in online education The importance of figuring out how people learn and how it applies to the online space Should people delay or pause education? What the impacts on the workforce might be Opportunities within the online learning space, especially when the technology is well used Theoretical versus practical base The need to have more deliberate and direct conversations to create connections that may have happened organically The adjustments and planning that may improve the situation Different factors that impact each student’s and each professor’s ability to engage Looking at expectations, support, and needed infrastructure What students can do to better access education during this time Developing personal relationships with professors Putting together options to increase connection and interaction with peers Seeking career mentorship and synchronous conversations Moving from venting and commiserating to advocacy within the system The ability to make changes, be nimble, and put forward a collective voice Mon, 23 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Grad Programs Moving Online full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the quick move to online learning for therapist education Grad Programs Moving Online Curt and Katie chat about the quick move to online learning when the pandemic hit. We talk about the challenges with virtual platforms – what has worked and what has not. We look at the decisions related to starting or continuing therapist education at this time. We also talk about the opportunities that have been gained and ideas for students and professors on how to more effectively approach online graduate programs. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Graduate programs for therapists moving online during the pandemic The education one applied for is vastly different from what you’re getting right now The rapid shift to online education and lack of deliberate choices to shift how to teach Synchronous and asynchronous elements of education The requirement for faculty to learn and utilize technology effectively A lack of interaction due to polite students keeping their mics off The spoke and wheel conversations that impact how learning happens The lack of guidance on how to create truly effective online education Navigating time on screens Role plays translating into learning telehealth, rather than in-person therapy The lack of interaction with the material, more passive learning Developing clinical efficacy for telehealth The uncertainty of the efficacy of clinical work in the newer space of telehealth The impact on discussions social justice, racial and cultural identity, due to the ability to opt out of the conversation in online education The importance of figuring out how people learn and how it applies to the online space Should people delay or pause education? What the impacts on the workforce might be Opportunities within the online learning space, especially when the technology is well used Theoretical versus practical base The need to have more deliberate and direct conversations to create connections that may have happened organically The adjustments and planning that may improve the situation Different factors that impact each student’s and each professor’s ability to engage Looking at expectations, support, and needed infrastructure What students can do to better access education during this time Developing personal relationships with professors Putting together options to increase connection and interaction with peers Seeking career mentorship and synchronous conversations Moving from venting and commiserating to advocacy within the system The ability to make changes, be nimble, and put forward a collective voice Grad Programs Moving Online

Curt and Katie chat about the quick move to online learning when the pandemic hit. We talk about the challenges with virtual platforms – what has worked and what has not. We look at the decisions related to starting or continuing therapist education at this time. We also talk about the opportunities that have been gained and ideas for students and professors on how to more effectively approach online graduate programs.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Graduate programs for therapists moving online during the pandemic
  • The education one applied for is vastly different from what you’re getting right now
  • The rapid shift to online education and lack of deliberate choices to shift how to teach
  • Synchronous and asynchronous elements of education
  • The requirement for faculty to learn and utilize technology effectively
  • A lack of interaction due to polite students keeping their mics off
  • The spoke and wheel conversations that impact how learning happens
  • The lack of guidance on how to create truly effective online education
  • Navigating time on screens
  • Role plays translating into learning telehealth, rather than in-person therapy
  • The lack of interaction with the material, more passive learning
  • Developing clinical efficacy for telehealth
  • The uncertainty of the efficacy of clinical work in the newer space of telehealth
  • The impact on discussions social justice, racial and cultural identity, due to the ability to opt out of the conversation in online education
  • The importance of figuring out how people learn and how it applies to the online space
  • Should people delay or pause education?
  • What the impacts on the workforce might be
  • Opportunities within the online learning space, especially when the technology is well used
  • Theoretical versus practical base
  • The need to have more deliberate and direct conversations to create connections that may have happened organically
  • The adjustments and planning that may improve the situation
  • Different factors that impact each student’s and each professor’s ability to engage
  • Looking at expectations, support, and needed infrastructure
  • What students can do to better access education during this time
  • Developing personal relationships with professors
  • Putting together options to increase connection and interaction with peers
  • Seeking career mentorship and synchronous conversations
  • Moving from venting and commiserating to advocacy within the system
  • The ability to make changes, be nimble, and put forward a collective voice
]]> 2314 no Career Trekking with MTSG https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/career-trekking-with-mtsg Career Trekking with MTSG An interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT on her journey from community mental health to private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how she used the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast to shift her mindset and change her career trajectory. Marissa highlights the benefits of belief, guidance, and community.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT “Though she be but little, she is fierce.” – Shakespeare Marissa Esquibel is not like a regular therapist, she’s a cool therapist. With her practice located near Los Angeles, Marissa is on a one-woman mission to empower young women to stop playing small and to start taking up space. She works exclusively with young adults, 20-something’s, who are checking off all the boxes of “success,” and yet, they feel like failures internally. They often come to Marissa dealing with depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, or codependency. As an undergraduate, she attended UC Santa Barbara and then received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. In September of 2018, she became licensed and opened-up shop to her virtual therapy practice in March 2020. When Marissa is not in session with patients, she spends her time reading, hanging out with friends and family, binging on podcasts and audiobooks, attending her own therapy, and making sure to get her 10,000 steps a day. She loves her work, job, and life and looks forward to connecting with you.  Learn more about Marissa at therapywithmarissa.com In this episode we talk about: Marissa’s burnout story and how she made the trek from community mental health to private practice Reflections on the question: what do therapists get wrong (and the self-analysis and feedback informed nature of the question) The idea of self-sacrifice and hard work being required to be a good therapist The importance of critical thinking regarding what is effective, what is healthy for me How Marissa made the decision to move to a group practice and then her own private practice Marissa’s experience at Therapy Reimagined 2019 and her follow up with speakers The need for belief, guidance, and community Marissa talks about the episodes that helped her to move forward How Marissa implemented a new plan for her career “I choose this agony, this heart ache, this effort” – Marissa Esquibel, LMFT Marissa’s choice to be vulnerable at this time and to keep on going The determination and belief that has kept Marissa moving forward on her vision and mission The need to hear from (and connecting with) people at each stage of career development Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Career Trekking with MTSG: An interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT on her journey from community mental health to private practice. Career Trekking with MTSG An interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT on her journey from community mental health to private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how she used the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast to shift her mindset and change her career trajectory. Marissa highlights the benefits of belief, guidance, and community.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT “Though she be but little, she is fierce.” – Shakespeare Marissa Esquibel is not like a regular therapist, she’s a cool therapist. With her practice located near Los Angeles, Marissa is on a one-woman mission to empower young women to stop playing small and to start taking up space. She works exclusively with young adults, 20-something’s, who are checking off all the boxes of “success,” and yet, they feel like failures internally. They often come to Marissa dealing with depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, or codependency. As an undergraduate, she attended UC Santa Barbara and then received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. In September of 2018, she became licensed and opened-up shop to her virtual therapy practice in March 2020. When Marissa is not in session with patients, she spends her time reading, hanging out with friends and family, binging on podcasts and audiobooks, attending her own therapy, and making sure to get her 10,000 steps a day. She loves her work, job, and life and looks forward to connecting with you.  Learn more about Marissa at therapywithmarissa.com In this episode we talk about: Marissa’s burnout story and how she made the trek from community mental health to private practice Reflections on the question: what do therapists get wrong (and the self-analysis and feedback informed nature of the question) The idea of self-sacrifice and hard work being required to be a good therapist The importance of critical thinking regarding what is effective, what is healthy for me How Marissa made the decision to move to a group practice and then her own private practice Marissa’s experience at Therapy Reimagined 2019 and her follow up with speakers The need for belief, guidance, and community Marissa talks about the episodes that helped her to move forward How Marissa implemented a new plan for her career “I choose this agony, this heart ache, this effort” – Marissa Esquibel, LMFT Marissa’s choice to be vulnerable at this time and to keep on going The determination and belief that has kept Marissa moving forward on her vision and mission The need to hear from (and connecting with) people at each stage of career development Career Trekking with MTSG

An interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT on her journey from community mental health to private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how she used the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast to shift her mindset and change her career trajectory. Marissa highlights the benefits of belief, guidance, and community.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT

“Though she be but little, she is fierce.”

– Shakespeare

Marissa Esquibel is not like a regular therapist, she’s a cool therapist. With her practice located near Los Angeles, Marissa is on a one-woman mission to empower young women to stop playing small and to start taking up space. She works exclusively with young adults, 20-something’s, who are checking off all the boxes of “success,” and yet, they feel like failures internally. They often come to Marissa dealing with depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, or codependency. As an undergraduate, she attended UC Santa Barbara and then received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. In September of 2018, she became licensed and opened-up shop to her virtual therapy practice in March 2020. When Marissa is not in session with patients, she spends her time reading, hanging out with friends and family, binging on podcasts and audiobooks, attending her own therapy, and making sure to get her 10,000 steps a day. She loves her work, job, and life and looks forward to connecting with you. 

Learn more about Marissa at therapywithmarissa.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • Marissa’s burnout story and how she made the trek from community mental health to private practice
  • Reflections on the question: what do therapists get wrong (and the self-analysis and feedback informed nature of the question)
  • The idea of self-sacrifice and hard work being required to be a good therapist
  • The importance of critical thinking regarding what is effective, what is healthy for me
  • How Marissa made the decision to move to a group practice and then her own private practice
  • Marissa’s experience at Therapy Reimagined 2019 and her follow up with speakers
  • The need for belief, guidance, and community
  • Marissa talks about the episodes that helped her to move forward
  • How Marissa implemented a new plan for her career
  • “I choose this agony, this heart ache, this effort” – Marissa Esquibel, LMFT
  • Marissa’s choice to be vulnerable at this time and to keep on going
  • The determination and belief that has kept Marissa moving forward on her vision and mission
  • The need to hear from (and connecting with) people at each stage of career development
]]> 2260 no Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/quarantine-self-care-for-therapists Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists Curt and Katie chat about the challenges for therapists during the pandemic. We look at what is unique to therapists’ experiences, causes of burnout, and ways in which therapists can work to protect their mental health and wellness during this time. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How therapists can take care of themselves during this time The risks for burnout during COVID – study in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry Taking on clients’ emotions, reacting together in real time Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma The strain of “in this together” Lack of the usual go-to self-care practices Lack of in-person community and connection Difficulty in getting feedback related to how we’re being received Not knowing if we’re providing effective therapy The concept of stasis, and just waiting for things to go back to normal Longer term therapy due to lack of progress or on-going stressors The lack of distraction from work or other responsibilities The danger of filling time with work The struggle or concern related to raising fees during a pandemic How work may have become more of a grind Lack of creativity or inspiration The importance of taking a self-assessment Realistic expectations Priorities and values All the roles we are playing right now What resources do we have available to us? Creating separation between work and personal space (through physical separation, ritual, structure) How to identify opportunities with what is happening now Identifying new challenges and risks, how to mitigate risks Creating a sustainable situation even if it is just for now Managing your schedule Connecting with your community, so you don’t feel so isolated The importance of breaks Mon, 09 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about burnout during the pandemic Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists Curt and Katie chat about the challenges for therapists during the pandemic. We look at what is unique to therapists’ experiences, causes of burnout, and ways in which therapists can work to protect their mental health and wellness during this time. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How therapists can take care of themselves during this time The risks for burnout during COVID – study in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry Taking on clients’ emotions, reacting together in real time Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma The strain of “in this together” Lack of the usual go-to self-care practices Lack of in-person community and connection Difficulty in getting feedback related to how we’re being received Not knowing if we’re providing effective therapy The concept of stasis, and just waiting for things to go back to normal Longer term therapy due to lack of progress or on-going stressors The lack of distraction from work or other responsibilities The danger of filling time with work The struggle or concern related to raising fees during a pandemic How work may have become more of a grind Lack of creativity or inspiration The importance of taking a self-assessment Realistic expectations Priorities and values All the roles we are playing right now What resources do we have available to us? Creating separation between work and personal space (through physical separation, ritual, structure) How to identify opportunities with what is happening now Identifying new challenges and risks, how to mitigate risks Creating a sustainable situation even if it is just for now Managing your schedule Connecting with your community, so you don’t feel so isolated The importance of breaks Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists

Curt and Katie chat about the challenges for therapists during the pandemic. We look at what is unique to therapists’ experiences, causes of burnout, and ways in which therapists can work to protect their mental health and wellness during this time.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How therapists can take care of themselves during this time
  • The risks for burnout during COVID – study in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry
  • Taking on clients’ emotions, reacting together in real time
  • Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma
  • The strain of “in this together”
  • Lack of the usual go-to self-care practices
  • Lack of in-person community and connection
  • Difficulty in getting feedback related to how we’re being received
  • Not knowing if we’re providing effective therapy
  • The concept of stasis, and just waiting for things to go back to normal
  • Longer term therapy due to lack of progress or on-going stressors
  • The lack of distraction from work or other responsibilities
  • The danger of filling time with work
  • The struggle or concern related to raising fees during a pandemic
  • How work may have become more of a grind
  • Lack of creativity or inspiration
  • The importance of taking a self-assessment
  • Realistic expectations
  • Priorities and values
  • All the roles we are playing right now
  • What resources do we have available to us?
  • Creating separation between work and personal space (through physical separation, ritual, structure)
  • How to identify opportunities with what is happening now
  • Identifying new challenges and risks, how to mitigate risks
  • Creating a sustainable situation even if it is just for now
  • Managing your schedule
  • Connecting with your community, so you don’t feel so isolated
  • The importance of breaks
]]> 2381 no All Things Group Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/all-things-group-therapy-0 All Things Group Therapy An interview with Katie K. May, of Become a Group Guru, about creating effective therapy groups. Curt and Katie talk with Katie May about the clinical elements of group creation as well as the business elements that support effective groups. We look at screening, developing the group container, and curriculum considerations.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Katie K. May, LPC, The Group Guru Katie K. May is a licensed therapist and online course creator. She helps therapists market and fill groups and online group programs so that they can scale their impact and increase their income, without adding more hours in the office. To learn more and gain access to free trainings and resources to generate new clients like magic, visit www.becomeagroupguru.com In this episode we talk about: Building and running therapy groups Why therapists wait too long to build their therapy groups The challenge of knowing when to actually start a group Language to use in marketing a group you’ve not started The different types of groups you can provide The importance of aligning your client and your curriculum How to create your own curriculum The group container that is built The anxiety that many therapists face when looking to develop a group How group therapy can align with treatment goals How to talk with your individual therapy clients to move into group Overcoming imposter syndrome when moving into providing group therapy Innovative ways to start to develop group norms, goals, and cohesion The skills we have from other elements of being a therapist that we can use within group Different activity ideas that support group members talking to each other Screening criteria for inclusion and exclusion How to navigate clients who may not be appropriate for group, or may show up differently in the group versus how they show up for initial screening Navigating to online group therapy during the pandemic Consciously talking about how to be together online Looking at the logistics of telehealth groups (i.e., platforms that work for groups) How to start a group – clarity on who the group is for, what group members are experiencing, and what outcomes are you offering Providing group to your individual clients How to assess interest for group Different ways to learn about doing group and the power of learning by doing Mon, 02 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0000 All Things Group Therapy: An interview with Katie K. May full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Katie K. May All Things Group Therapy An interview with Katie K. May, of Become a Group Guru, about creating effective therapy groups. Curt and Katie talk with Katie May about the clinical elements of group creation as well as the business elements that support effective groups. We look at screening, developing the group container, and curriculum considerations.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Katie K. May, LPC, The Group Guru Katie K. May is a licensed therapist and online course creator. She helps therapists market and fill groups and online group programs so that they can scale their impact and increase their income, without adding more hours in the office. To learn more and gain access to free trainings and resources to generate new clients like magic, visit www.becomeagroupguru.com In this episode we talk about: Building and running therapy groups Why therapists wait too long to build their therapy groups The challenge of knowing when to actually start a group Language to use in marketing a group you’ve not started The different types of groups you can provide The importance of aligning your client and your curriculum How to create your own curriculum The group container that is built The anxiety that many therapists face when looking to develop a group How group therapy can align with treatment goals How to talk with your individual therapy clients to move into group Overcoming imposter syndrome when moving into providing group therapy Innovative ways to start to develop group norms, goals, and cohesion The skills we have from other elements of being a therapist that we can use within group Different activity ideas that support group members talking to each other Screening criteria for inclusion and exclusion How to navigate clients who may not be appropriate for group, or may show up differently in the group versus how they show up for initial screening Navigating to online group therapy during the pandemic Consciously talking about how to be together online Looking at the logistics of telehealth groups (i.e., platforms that work for groups) How to start a group – clarity on who the group is for, what group members are experiencing, and what outcomes are you offering Providing group to your individual clients How to assess interest for group Different ways to learn about doing group and the power of learning by doing All Things Group Therapy

An interview with Katie K. May, of Become a Group Guru, about creating effective therapy groups. Curt and Katie talk with Katie May about the clinical elements of group creation as well as the business elements that support effective groups. We look at screening, developing the group container, and curriculum considerations.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Katie K. May, LPC, The Group Guru

Katie K. May is a licensed therapist and online course creator. She helps therapists market and fill groups and online group programs so that they can scale their impact and increase their income, without adding more hours in the office. To learn more and gain access to free trainings and resources to generate new clients like magic, visit www.becomeagroupguru.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • Building and running therapy groups
  • Why therapists wait too long to build their therapy groups
  • The challenge of knowing when to actually start a group
  • Language to use in marketing a group you’ve not started
  • The different types of groups you can provide
  • The importance of aligning your client and your curriculum
  • How to create your own curriculum
  • The group container that is built
  • The anxiety that many therapists face when looking to develop a group
  • How group therapy can align with treatment goals
  • How to talk with your individual therapy clients to move into group
  • Overcoming imposter syndrome when moving into providing group therapy
  • Innovative ways to start to develop group norms, goals, and cohesion
  • The skills we have from other elements of being a therapist that we can use within group
  • Different activity ideas that support group members talking to each other
  • Screening criteria for inclusion and exclusion
  • How to navigate clients who may not be appropriate for group, or may show up differently in the group versus how they show up for initial screening
  • Navigating to online group therapy during the pandemic
  • Consciously talking about how to be together online
  • Looking at the logistics of telehealth groups (i.e., platforms that work for groups)
  • How to start a group – clarity on who the group is for, what group members are experiencing, and what outcomes are you offering
  • Providing group to your individual clients
  • How to assess interest for group
  • Different ways to learn about doing group and the power of learning by doing
]]> 2363 no Online Therapy Apps https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/online-therapy-apps Online Therapy Apps Curt and Katie chat about online platforms that hire clinicians to provide therapy through their apps. We look at how companies like Talkspace and BetterHelp operate related to their workforce, customer data use, and effective client care. We look at the potential for increased mental health access. We also talk about the risks as well as ethical and legal concerns that clinicians may face if they choose to provide services through these apps.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The different telehealth platforms that hire therapists The boundary and privacy issues identified at Talkspace from a NY Times article The use of customer data Clinical efficacy Risk and liability issues related to incorporating Artificial Intelligence into treatment How the platforms work on the clinician side, how clinician gets paid The packages that clients get on word limits, etc. where they may have to renew early to continue treatment The potential clinical issues with how therapists get paid in these apps What is incentivized for therapists on these platforms The boon to mental health access and treatment flexibility from these apps, including text, phone, and video (synchronous and asynchronous communication) The caution about these apps growing beyond their capacity to serve clients The types of clients who are good candidates for these platforms The concern about clients being anonymous to their therapists Managing escalating risk without sufficient information “Counselor” versus “Counseling” services, which provides some cover related to requirements for therapy services and for employee concerns The potential for practicing across state lines The Talkspace memo about practicing across state lines and the app paying for legal fees The legal and ethical risks for practicing across state lines, no matter the help from Talkspace Rating manipulation – false reviews Mon, 26 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Online Therapy Apps full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie dig into the good, the bad, and the ugly of online therapy platforms like Talkspace and BetterHelp Online Therapy Apps Curt and Katie chat about online platforms that hire clinicians to provide therapy through their apps. We look at how companies like Talkspace and BetterHelp operate related to their workforce, customer data use, and effective client care. We look at the potential for increased mental health access. We also talk about the risks as well as ethical and legal concerns that clinicians may face if they choose to provide services through these apps.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The different telehealth platforms that hire therapists The boundary and privacy issues identified at Talkspace from a NY Times article The use of customer data Clinical efficacy Risk and liability issues related to incorporating Artificial Intelligence into treatment How the platforms work on the clinician side, how clinician gets paid The packages that clients get on word limits, etc. where they may have to renew early to continue treatment The potential clinical issues with how therapists get paid in these apps What is incentivized for therapists on these platforms The boon to mental health access and treatment flexibility from these apps, including text, phone, and video (synchronous and asynchronous communication) The caution about these apps growing beyond their capacity to serve clients The types of clients who are good candidates for these platforms The concern about clients being anonymous to their therapists Managing escalating risk without sufficient information “Counselor” versus “Counseling” services, which provides some cover related to requirements for therapy services and for employee concerns The potential for practicing across state lines The Talkspace memo about practicing across state lines and the app paying for legal fees The legal and ethical risks for practicing across state lines, no matter the help from Talkspace Rating manipulation – false reviews Online Therapy Apps

Curt and Katie chat about online platforms that hire clinicians to provide therapy through their apps. We look at how companies like Talkspace and BetterHelp operate related to their workforce, customer data use, and effective client care. We look at the potential for increased mental health access. We also talk about the risks as well as ethical and legal concerns that clinicians may face if they choose to provide services through these apps.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The different telehealth platforms that hire therapists
  • The boundary and privacy issues identified at Talkspace from a NY Times article
  • The use of customer data
  • Clinical efficacy
  • Risk and liability issues related to incorporating Artificial Intelligence into treatment
  • How the platforms work on the clinician side, how clinician gets paid
  • The packages that clients get on word limits, etc. where they may have to renew early to continue treatment
  • The potential clinical issues with how therapists get paid in these apps
  • What is incentivized for therapists on these platforms
  • The boon to mental health access and treatment flexibility from these apps, including text, phone, and video (synchronous and asynchronous communication)
  • The caution about these apps growing beyond their capacity to serve clients
  • The types of clients who are good candidates for these platforms
  • The concern about clients being anonymous to their therapists
  • Managing escalating risk without sufficient information
  • “Counselor” versus “Counseling” services, which provides some cover related to requirements for therapy services and for employee concerns
  • The potential for practicing across state lines
  • The Talkspace memo about practicing across state lines and the app paying for legal fees
  • The legal and ethical risks for practicing across state lines, no matter the help from Talkspace

Rating manipulation – false reviews

]]> 2535 no Biden and Trump on Mental Health https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/biden-and-trump-on-mental-health Biden and Trump on Mental Health Curt and Katie chat about policies, promises, and actions taken by President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden related to mental health. We look at mental health parity, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, prisons, funding priorities, as well as the importance of voting. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The promises and the actions taken by President Trump and Vice President Biden on mental health Mental Health Parity and the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Funding and Social Services Prison and Jail Systems Mental Health workforce The difference between budget allotments and how much money actually gets to the programs The opioid epidemic Suicide prevention and veterans How the candidates talk about mental health and drug abuse Trumps attack on Hunter Biden and desire to reopen mental institutions Control and punishment versus prevention and support Biden normalizing mental health care The importance of voting Mon, 19 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Biden and Trump on Mental Health full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about policies, promises and actions from each of the presidential candidates related to mental health Biden and Trump on Mental Health Curt and Katie chat about policies, promises, and actions taken by President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden related to mental health. We look at mental health parity, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, prisons, funding priorities, as well as the importance of voting. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The promises and the actions taken by President Trump and Vice President Biden on mental health Mental Health Parity and the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Funding and Social Services Prison and Jail Systems Mental Health workforce The difference between budget allotments and how much money actually gets to the programs The opioid epidemic Suicide prevention and veterans How the candidates talk about mental health and drug abuse Trumps attack on Hunter Biden and desire to reopen mental institutions Control and punishment versus prevention and support Biden normalizing mental health care The importance of voting Biden and Trump on Mental Health

Curt and Katie chat about policies, promises, and actions taken by President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden related to mental health. We look at mental health parity, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, prisons, funding priorities, as well as the importance of voting.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The promises and the actions taken by President Trump and Vice President Biden on mental health
  • Mental Health Parity and the Affordable Care Act
  • Medicaid Funding and Social Services
  • Prison and Jail Systems
  • Mental Health workforce
  • The difference between budget allotments and how much money actually gets to the programs
  • The opioid epidemic
  • Suicide prevention and veterans
  • How the candidates talk about mental health and drug abuse
  • Trumps attack on Hunter Biden and desire to reopen mental institutions
  • Control and punishment versus prevention and support
  • Biden normalizing mental health care
  • The importance of voting
]]> 2016 no Treating Political Reactionism and the War on Science https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/treating-political-reactionism-and-the-war-on-science Treating Political Reactionism and the War on Science An interview with Dr. Tereza Capelos on why people become politically reactionary, as well as how this orientation also leads to an anti-science and anti-progress stance. Curt and Katie talk with Tereza about the research behind political reactionism, looking at the characteristics of someone who is primed to be politically reactive. We also talk about how therapists can help clients address this harmful dynamic.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Tereza Capelos, Director of the Institute for Conflict Cooperation and Security at the University of Birmingham, and Senior Lecturer in Political Psychology Dr Tereza Capelos is Senior Lecturer in Political Psychology, Director at the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham (UoB), President Elect of the International Society of Political Psychology, and co-chair of the Political Psychology Standing Group of the European Consortium of Political Research. Tereza’s research examines the psychological determinants of political preferences with particular focus on political reactionism, resentful affect and political radicalization during crises and tensions. She is currently co-editing a special issue titled “Reactionary Politics and Resentful Affect in Populist Times”. She has a PhD from Stony Brook University (USA) and worked at the University of Leiden and the University of Surrey. She serves on the editorial board of five international journals, and co-edits the Palgrave Series in Political Psychology. Tereza founded and directed the Summer Academy training program of the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP, 2011-2016) and currently directs two graduate programs (MSc Political Psychology of IR, and MSc Global Cooperation and Security) at UoB. In this episode we talk about: Intersection between psychology and politics Research on voters who are politically reactive Political Reactionism – how it is created and what it looks like The role of shame, fear, resentment, and anger in voting Anti-preference – to want to move backward, rather than forward Uncertainty, feelings of resentment, perception of injustice Populism as a mechanism to devalue what you cannot have, find who is at fault, how to turn things back to a better time The lure of the idealized or fictional past Reactionism is not related to a specific ideology – can happen on the left or right Feelings and beliefs are more likely to drive decisions than ideology The way that a reactionary orientation can lead to problematic behaviors The problem with being anti-progress, especially related to solving the problems we are facing The difficulty reactionaries with engaging with science Seeking to prove, with confirmation bias – rather than to testing hypotheses The anti-expert sentiment that is based in this problem with science and with uncertainty The insight required to identify when we become reactionary How people label the emotions related to reactionism (and the problem with not knowing how to identify and label our emotions) What therapists can do to help vent emotions related to the resentment that leads to a reactionary orientation Helping people to see neutral and positive uncertainty – rather than only negative uncertainty Bringing people into the scientific method, disappointing them that they will not be “proving” or “confirming,” but rather “testing” Mon, 12 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Treating Political Reactionism and the War on Science: An interview with Dr. Tereza Capelos full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Tereza Capelos Treating Political Reactionism and the War on Science An interview with Dr. Tereza Capelos on why people become politically reactionary, as well as how this orientation also leads to an anti-science and anti-progress stance. Curt and Katie talk with Tereza about the research behind political reactionism, looking at the characteristics of someone who is primed to be politically reactive. We also talk about how therapists can help clients address this harmful dynamic.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Tereza Capelos, Director of the Institute for Conflict Cooperation and Security at the University of Birmingham, and Senior Lecturer in Political Psychology Dr Tereza Capelos is Senior Lecturer in Political Psychology, Director at the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham (UoB), President Elect of the International Society of Political Psychology, and co-chair of the Political Psychology Standing Group of the European Consortium of Political Research. Tereza’s research examines the psychological determinants of political preferences with particular focus on political reactionism, resentful affect and political radicalization during crises and tensions. She is currently co-editing a special issue titled “Reactionary Politics and Resentful Affect in Populist Times”. She has a PhD from Stony Brook University (USA) and worked at the University of Leiden and the University of Surrey. She serves on the editorial board of five international journals, and co-edits the Palgrave Series in Political Psychology. Tereza founded and directed the Summer Academy training program of the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP, 2011-2016) and currently directs two graduate programs (MSc Political Psychology of IR, and MSc Global Cooperation and Security) at UoB. In this episode we talk about: Intersection between psychology and politics Research on voters who are politically reactive Political Reactionism – how it is created and what it looks like The role of shame, fear, resentment, and anger in voting Anti-preference – to want to move backward, rather than forward Uncertainty, feelings of resentment, perception of injustice Populism as a mechanism to devalue what you cannot have, find who is at fault, how to turn things back to a better time The lure of the idealized or fictional past Reactionism is not related to a specific ideology – can happen on the left or right Feelings and beliefs are more likely to drive decisions than ideology The way that a reactionary orientation can lead to problematic behaviors The problem with being anti-progress, especially related to solving the problems we are facing The difficulty reactionaries with engaging with science Seeking to prove, with confirmation bias – rather than to testing hypotheses The anti-expert sentiment that is based in this problem with science and with uncertainty The insight required to identify when we become reactionary How people label the emotions related to reactionism (and the problem with not knowing how to identify and label our emotions) What therapists can do to help vent emotions related to the resentment that leads to a reactionary orientation Helping people to see neutral and positive uncertainty – rather than only negative uncertainty Bringing people into the scientific method, disappointing them that they will not be “proving” or “confirming,” but rather “testing” Treating Political Reactionism and the War on Science

An interview with Dr. Tereza Capelos on why people become politically reactionary, as well as how this orientation also leads to an anti-science and anti-progress stance. Curt and Katie talk with Tereza about the research behind political reactionism, looking at the characteristics of someone who is primed to be politically reactive. We also talk about how therapists can help clients address this harmful dynamic. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Tereza Capelos, Director of the Institute for Conflict Cooperation and Security at the University of Birmingham, and Senior Lecturer in Political Psychology

Dr Tereza Capelos is Senior Lecturer in Political Psychology, Director at the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham (UoB), President Elect of the International Society of Political Psychology, and co-chair of the Political Psychology Standing Group of the European Consortium of Political Research. Tereza’s research examines the psychological determinants of political preferences with particular focus on political reactionism, resentful affect and political radicalization during crises and tensions. She is currently co-editing a special issue titled “Reactionary Politics and Resentful Affect in Populist Times”. She has a PhD from Stony Brook University (USA) and worked at the University of Leiden and the University of Surrey. She serves on the editorial board of five international journals, and co-edits the Palgrave Series in Political Psychology. Tereza founded and directed the Summer Academy training program of the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP, 2011-2016) and currently directs two graduate programs (MSc Political Psychology of IR, and MSc Global Cooperation and Security) at UoB.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Intersection between psychology and politics
  • Research on voters who are politically reactive
  • Political Reactionism – how it is created and what it looks like
  • The role of shame, fear, resentment, and anger in voting
  • Anti-preference – to want to move backward, rather than forward
  • Uncertainty, feelings of resentment, perception of injustice
  • Populism as a mechanism to devalue what you cannot have, find who is at fault, how to turn things back to a better time
  • The lure of the idealized or fictional past
  • Reactionism is not related to a specific ideology – can happen on the left or right
  • Feelings and beliefs are more likely to drive decisions than ideology
  • The way that a reactionary orientation can lead to problematic behaviors
  • The problem with being anti-progress, especially related to solving the problems we are facing
  • The difficulty reactionaries with engaging with science
  • Seeking to prove, with confirmation bias – rather than to testing hypotheses
  • The anti-expert sentiment that is based in this problem with science and with uncertainty
  • The insight required to identify when we become reactionary
  • How people label the emotions related to reactionism (and the problem with not knowing how to identify and label our emotions)
  • What therapists can do to help vent emotions related to the resentment that leads to a reactionary orientation
  • Helping people to see neutral and positive uncertainty – rather than only negative uncertainty
  • Bringing people into the scientific method, disappointing them that they will not be “proving” or “confirming,” but rather “testing”
]]> 2577 no Therapy for Intercountry Transracial Adoptees https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapy-for-intercountry-transracial-adoptees Therapy for Intercountry Transracial Adoptees An interview with Moses Farrow, LMFT on adoption, mental health and the experiences as an adoptee doing adoption therapy. Curt and Katie explore with Moses key aspects of being an intercountry transracial adoptee, implications for therapy, the importance of race and culture and addressing racism. We also discuss the importance of being an adoptee as an adoption therapist and the biggest issues facing adoptees including suicide and what is being done to help. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Moses Farrow, LMFT Moses Farrow, LMFT is a Korean adoptee adoption-focused therapist in private practice. In his capacities as an advocate, program coordinator, and direct service provider, Moses has supported adoption reform, child abuse prevention, anti-racism, and the destigmatization of mental health. Currently, one of his primary interests is to educate and promote suicide prevention among adoptees. As the lead for the mental health team at the Gide Foundation, he is developing projects that bring mental health to the forefront within the intercountry transracial adoptee community. Research has shown that the rate of suicide attempts is 4 times higher among adoptees than people who are not adopted. In recent years, Moses has written about his personal experience including the loss of three adopted siblings who died by suicide. In previous years, he has worked in community-based programs, hospital settings and outpatient practices. He has advocated for adoptees to have access to their original birth certificates and presented nationally on the need for post adoption services. Moses believes in empowering people to speak their truth in order to be seen and heard. It’s about saving lives. In this episode we talk about: Lack of knowledge around adoptees’ mental health and suicide rate The process of coming out of the adoptee fog Adoption as an industry rather than a way to create families Different types of adoption The narrative that adoptive parents get, regardless of the demographics of the parents or the adoptee – “Forever Families” Internal conflict related to how one is raised and how one looks (i.e., native culture) Looking at our own biases and blind spots related to intercountry transracial adoptees The importance of educating ourselves about the adoptee experience Each adoption experience is unique – there is a range of adjustment, mental health concerns, connection with adoptive family Looking at the identity and how does one define oneself when they don’t fit here or in the country where one was born. Identity formation when one is an intercountry, transracial adoptee Internalized racism, lack of connection to native country, lack of acknowledgment of native culture Places to get support with other adoptees facing similar struggles Suggestions for working with parents of adoptees The history of the adoption industry and why it is problematic Ideas for advocacy related to adoption The recommendation for adoptive parents to do their own therapeutic work #InvisibleElephant The complexity of racism as an intercountry transracial adoptee The importance of solidarity with BLM Mon, 05 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Therapy for Intercountry Transracial Adoptees: An interview with Moses Farrow full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Moses Farrow, LMFT Therapy for Intercountry Transracial Adoptees An interview with Moses Farrow, LMFT on adoption, mental health and the experiences as an adoptee doing adoption therapy. Curt and Katie explore with Moses key aspects of being an intercountry transracial adoptee, implications for therapy, the importance of race and culture and addressing racism. We also discuss the importance of being an adoptee as an adoption therapist and the biggest issues facing adoptees including suicide and what is being done to help. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Moses Farrow, LMFT Moses Farrow, LMFT is a Korean adoptee adoption-focused therapist in private practice. In his capacities as an advocate, program coordinator, and direct service provider, Moses has supported adoption reform, child abuse prevention, anti-racism, and the destigmatization of mental health. Currently, one of his primary interests is to educate and promote suicide prevention among adoptees. As the lead for the mental health team at the Gide Foundation, he is developing projects that bring mental health to the forefront within the intercountry transracial adoptee community. Research has shown that the rate of suicide attempts is 4 times higher among adoptees than people who are not adopted. In recent years, Moses has written about his personal experience including the loss of three adopted siblings who died by suicide. In previous years, he has worked in community-based programs, hospital settings and outpatient practices. He has advocated for adoptees to have access to their original birth certificates and presented nationally on the need for post adoption services. Moses believes in empowering people to speak their truth in order to be seen and heard. It’s about saving lives. In this episode we talk about: Lack of knowledge around adoptees’ mental health and suicide rate The process of coming out of the adoptee fog Adoption as an industry rather than a way to create families Different types of adoption The narrative that adoptive parents get, regardless of the demographics of the parents or the adoptee – “Forever Families” Internal conflict related to how one is raised and how one looks (i.e., native culture) Looking at our own biases and blind spots related to intercountry transracial adoptees The importance of educating ourselves about the adoptee experience Each adoption experience is unique – there is a range of adjustment, mental health concerns, connection with adoptive family Looking at the identity and how does one define oneself when they don’t fit here or in the country where one was born. Identity formation when one is an intercountry, transracial adoptee Internalized racism, lack of connection to native country, lack of acknowledgment of native culture Places to get support with other adoptees facing similar struggles Suggestions for working with parents of adoptees The history of the adoption industry and why it is problematic Ideas for advocacy related to adoption The recommendation for adoptive parents to do their own therapeutic work #InvisibleElephant The complexity of racism as an intercountry transracial adoptee The importance of solidarity with BLM Therapy for Intercountry Transracial Adoptees

An interview with Moses Farrow, LMFT on adoption, mental health and the experiences as an adoptee doing adoption therapy. Curt and Katie explore with Moses key aspects of being an intercountry transracial adoptee, implications for therapy, the importance of race and culture and addressing racism. We also discuss the importance of being an adoptee as an adoption therapist and the biggest issues facing adoptees including suicide and what is being done to help.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Moses Farrow, LMFT

Moses Farrow, LMFT is a Korean adoptee adoption-focused therapist in private practice. In his capacities as an advocate, program coordinator, and direct service provider, Moses has supported adoption reform, child abuse prevention, anti-racism, and the destigmatization of mental health. Currently, one of his primary interests is to educate and promote suicide prevention among adoptees. As the lead for the mental health team at the Gide Foundation, he is developing projects that bring mental health to the forefront within the intercountry transracial adoptee community. Research has shown that the rate of suicide attempts is 4 times higher among adoptees than people who are not adopted. In recent years, Moses has written about his personal experience including the loss of three adopted siblings who died by suicide. In previous years, he has worked in community-based programs, hospital settings and outpatient practices. He has advocated for adoptees to have access to their original birth certificates and presented nationally on the need for post adoption services. Moses believes in empowering people to speak their truth in order to be seen and heard. It’s about saving lives.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Lack of knowledge around adoptees’ mental health and suicide rate
  • The process of coming out of the adoptee fog
  • Adoption as an industry rather than a way to create families
  • Different types of adoption
  • The narrative that adoptive parents get, regardless of the demographics of the parents or the adoptee – “Forever Families”
  • Internal conflict related to how one is raised and how one looks (i.e., native culture)
  • Looking at our own biases and blind spots related to intercountry transracial adoptees
  • The importance of educating ourselves about the adoptee experience
  • Each adoption experience is unique – there is a range of adjustment, mental health concerns, connection with adoptive family
  • Looking at the identity and how does one define oneself when they don’t fit here or in the country where one was born.
  • Identity formation when one is an intercountry, transracial adoptee
  • Internalized racism, lack of connection to native country, lack of acknowledgment of native culture
  • Places to get support with other adoptees facing similar struggles
  • Suggestions for working with parents of adoptees
  • The history of the adoption industry and why it is problematic
  • Ideas for advocacy related to adoption
  • The recommendation for adoptive parents to do their own therapeutic work
  • #InvisibleElephant
  • The complexity of racism as an intercountry transracial adoptee
  • The importance of solidarity with BLM
]]> 2554 no Niche Burnout https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/niche-burnout Niche Burnout An interview with Laura Long of YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com about creating a niche and identifying your ideal client. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about common myths as well as what happens when you burnout on your niche and how your niche can evolve. Laura also offers practical insight into what you can do to market your new niche. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Laura Long, LMFT/S Laura Long, LMFT/S, is a business coach and the lead badass at YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com, where she helps ambitious, driven, Type-A therapists push through their fears and unleash their inner badass.  Laura offers free practice-building tools (and hilariously obscene emails) through her mailing list, and her flagship e-course has successfully graduated over 300 therapists. She also runs small mastermind groups as well as a private online community reserved for her students. Laura is best known for her off-the-cuff coaching style that includes colorful language, a witty sense of humor, and an uncanny ability to keep it real. Her unique approach to marketing and customer service challenges the status quo and helps therapists to become better business owners. She shows therapists how to grow and scale their practices without losing their minds - because building your private practice should be fun! You can read Laura’s blog at www.YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com and follow her antics at www.Facebook.com/YourBadAssTherapyPractice. In this episode we talk about: The mistakes therapists make in niche – myths and fears around narrowing down a niche The fear of excluding people when you narrow your niche The difference between a niche and an ideal client Ideal client is about the way a person shows up on the planet, who they are inside Niche – is a focus on the external, like presenting problems The reasons why you should exclude people Scarcity fears – that there are not enough clients or that there are too many therapists Impostor Myth – the deeply held belief that we don’t know what we’re doing Being a generalist out of fear when you’d rather be a specialist Confinement Myth – I can only serve these type of folks for the rest of my career How niches can evolve Niche burnout – signs you’re burning out on your niche The importance of self-awareness and self-assessment What forgetfulness has to do with empathy The difference between niche burnout and career burnout How to change your niche, especially when you have the same ideal client The shifts to make and the story to tell to make sense to your referral sources and ideal clients Mon, 28 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Niche Burnout: An Interview with Laura Long full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Laura Long Niche Burnout An interview with Laura Long of YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com about creating a niche and identifying your ideal client. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about common myths as well as what happens when you burnout on your niche and how your niche can evolve. Laura also offers practical insight into what you can do to market your new niche. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Laura Long, LMFT/S Laura Long, LMFT/S, is a business coach and the lead badass at YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com, where she helps ambitious, driven, Type-A therapists push through their fears and unleash their inner badass.  Laura offers free practice-building tools (and hilariously obscene emails) through her mailing list, and her flagship e-course has successfully graduated over 300 therapists. She also runs small mastermind groups as well as a private online community reserved for her students. Laura is best known for her off-the-cuff coaching style that includes colorful language, a witty sense of humor, and an uncanny ability to keep it real. Her unique approach to marketing and customer service challenges the status quo and helps therapists to become better business owners. She shows therapists how to grow and scale their practices without losing their minds - because building your private practice should be fun! You can read Laura’s blog at www.YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com and follow her antics at www.Facebook.com/YourBadAssTherapyPractice. In this episode we talk about: The mistakes therapists make in niche – myths and fears around narrowing down a niche The fear of excluding people when you narrow your niche The difference between a niche and an ideal client Ideal client is about the way a person shows up on the planet, who they are inside Niche – is a focus on the external, like presenting problems The reasons why you should exclude people Scarcity fears – that there are not enough clients or that there are too many therapists Impostor Myth – the deeply held belief that we don’t know what we’re doing Being a generalist out of fear when you’d rather be a specialist Confinement Myth – I can only serve these type of folks for the rest of my career How niches can evolve Niche burnout – signs you’re burning out on your niche The importance of self-awareness and self-assessment What forgetfulness has to do with empathy The difference between niche burnout and career burnout How to change your niche, especially when you have the same ideal client The shifts to make and the story to tell to make sense to your referral sources and ideal clients Niche Burnout

An interview with Laura Long of YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com about creating a niche and identifying your ideal client. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about common myths as well as what happens when you burnout on your niche and how your niche can evolve. Laura also offers practical insight into what you can do to market your new niche.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Laura Long, LMFT/S

Laura Long, LMFT/S, is a business coach and the lead badass at YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com, where she helps ambitious, driven, Type-A therapists push through their fears and unleash their inner badass. 

Laura offers free practice-building tools (and hilariously obscene emails) through her mailing list, and her flagship e-course has successfully graduated over 300 therapists. She also runs small mastermind groups as well as a private online community reserved for her students.

Laura is best known for her off-the-cuff coaching style that includes colorful language, a witty sense of humor, and an uncanny ability to keep it real. Her unique approach to marketing and customer service challenges the status quo and helps therapists to become better business owners. She shows therapists how to grow and scale their practices without losing their minds - because building your private practice should be fun!

You can read Laura’s blog at www.YourBadAssTherapyPractice.com and follow her antics at www.Facebook.com/YourBadAssTherapyPractice.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The mistakes therapists make in niche – myths and fears around narrowing down a niche
  • The fear of excluding people when you narrow your niche
  • The difference between a niche and an ideal client
  • Ideal client is about the way a person shows up on the planet, who they are inside
  • Niche – is a focus on the external, like presenting problems
  • The reasons why you should exclude people
  • Scarcity fears – that there are not enough clients or that there are too many therapists
  • Impostor Myth – the deeply held belief that we don’t know what we’re doing
  • Being a generalist out of fear when you’d rather be a specialist
  • Confinement Myth – I can only serve these type of folks for the rest of my career
  • How niches can evolve
  • Niche burnout – signs you’re burning out on your niche
  • The importance of self-awareness and self-assessment
  • What forgetfulness has to do with empathy
  • The difference between niche burnout and career burnout
  • How to change your niche, especially when you have the same ideal client
  • The shifts to make and the story to tell to make sense to your referral sources and ideal clients
]]> 2744 yes Showing Up for Your Clients https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/showing-up-for-your-clients Showing Up for Your Clients Curt and Katie chat about the importance of therapists in the therapeutic process. We look at how the medical model, upon which the continuing education and ethical guidelines are built, is flawed leading to solely client-facing training and rules. We talk about the importance of optimizing your practices as well as the negative clinical outcomes when you aren’t taking care of yourself. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The case for self-care as continuing education The problem with looking at consumer protection bodies rather than the research The goals of helping people and the problem with sacrificing ourselves in those efforts How we protect consumers by taking care of ourselves The importance of being strong clinicians, optimizing our performance The problem with the medical model and framing ourselves as inconsequential to therapeutic outcomes When we aim models or regulations around the minimally acceptable competence or performance The benefit of seeing therapy as art versus as a science How non-specific effects (therapist effects, client effects and effects of the therapeutic relationship) are more important than the specific treatment modality or adherence Common factors and the Contextual Model The requirement for a Bond for successful treatment Pathways to change according to the Contextual Model: Real Relationship, Expectations, Specific Ingredients How we practice at being better humans Why we need to have more in our lives than being therapists Showing up in resourced ways Elements of burnout as specific predictors for clients having worse outcomes, dropping out, or not engaging actively in treatment The importance of optimal performance in creating a therapeutic alliance How we aren’t trained on optimal performance, focus, setting up our environment The need to refocus our graduate programs to support the education that is needed to be a good therapist How self-awareness can impact clinical work The lack of humanity in the medical model and research based on it Who we are makes a difference The need to understand how to take care of ourselves and structure our practice Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Showing Up for Our Clients full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how therapists impact clinical outcomes Showing Up for Your Clients Curt and Katie chat about the importance of therapists in the therapeutic process. We look at how the medical model, upon which the continuing education and ethical guidelines are built, is flawed leading to solely client-facing training and rules. We talk about the importance of optimizing your practices as well as the negative clinical outcomes when you aren’t taking care of yourself. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The case for self-care as continuing education The problem with looking at consumer protection bodies rather than the research The goals of helping people and the problem with sacrificing ourselves in those efforts How we protect consumers by taking care of ourselves The importance of being strong clinicians, optimizing our performance The problem with the medical model and framing ourselves as inconsequential to therapeutic outcomes When we aim models or regulations around the minimally acceptable competence or performance The benefit of seeing therapy as art versus as a science How non-specific effects (therapist effects, client effects and effects of the therapeutic relationship) are more important than the specific treatment modality or adherence Common factors and the Contextual Model The requirement for a Bond for successful treatment Pathways to change according to the Contextual Model: Real Relationship, Expectations, Specific Ingredients How we practice at being better humans Why we need to have more in our lives than being therapists Showing up in resourced ways Elements of burnout as specific predictors for clients having worse outcomes, dropping out, or not engaging actively in treatment The importance of optimal performance in creating a therapeutic alliance How we aren’t trained on optimal performance, focus, setting up our environment The need to refocus our graduate programs to support the education that is needed to be a good therapist How self-awareness can impact clinical work The lack of humanity in the medical model and research based on it Who we are makes a difference The need to understand how to take care of ourselves and structure our practice Showing Up for Your Clients

Curt and Katie chat about the importance of therapists in the therapeutic process. We look at how the medical model, upon which the continuing education and ethical guidelines are built, is flawed leading to solely client-facing training and rules. We talk about the importance of optimizing your practices as well as the negative clinical outcomes when you aren’t taking care of yourself.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The case for self-care as continuing education
  • The problem with looking at consumer protection bodies rather than the research
  • The goals of helping people and the problem with sacrificing ourselves in those efforts
  • How we protect consumers by taking care of ourselves
  • The importance of being strong clinicians, optimizing our performance
  • The problem with the medical model and framing ourselves as inconsequential to therapeutic outcomes
  • When we aim models or regulations around the minimally acceptable competence or performance
  • The benefit of seeing therapy as art versus as a science
  • How non-specific effects (therapist effects, client effects and effects of the therapeutic relationship) are more important than the specific treatment modality or adherence
  • Common factors and the Contextual Model
  • The requirement for a Bond for successful treatment
  • Pathways to change according to the Contextual Model: Real Relationship, Expectations, Specific Ingredients
  • How we practice at being better humans
  • Why we need to have more in our lives than being therapists
  • Showing up in resourced ways
  • Elements of burnout as specific predictors for clients having worse outcomes, dropping out, or not engaging actively in treatment
  • The importance of optimal performance in creating a therapeutic alliance
  • How we aren’t trained on optimal performance, focus, setting up our environment
  • The need to refocus our graduate programs to support the education that is needed to be a good therapist
  • How self-awareness can impact clinical work
  • The lack of humanity in the medical model and research based on it
  • Who we are makes a difference
  • The need to understand how to take care of ourselves and structure our practice
]]> 2081 no Irrational Ethics https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/irrational-ethics Irrational Ethics Curt and Katie chat about how current ethical standards fail to recognize culture and humanity. We talk about how the ethics codes were initially created, looking at the racist, sexist, classist roots. We also discuss the problems in how ethics are usually taught and the lack of focus on ethical thinking and decision-making, rather than rigidly following rules based in oppression. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The gaps in the ethics codes, looking at the historical roots of the current codes How ethics codes were initially created – racist, sexist, classist roots The systemic implications related to continuing to refine the codes, rather than re-norming or recreating starting with the current people in the profession Thoughts around fixing the codes to be more representative and inclusive The challenges that ethics committees face in considering a new ethics code The aspirational aspects of the “shared values” The problems with how we teach ethics in grad school “We were taught ethics as laws.” The need to think ethically, not blindly follow rules out of context The problem with rigidly holding to imperfect ethical codes Authoritarian practices of holding each other to ethics codes “We’re perpetuating oppression and disguising it as morality” – Curt Widhalm Principle ethics – bare-minimum guidelines to protect against the lowest common denominator Aspirational ethics – and why we should move in this direction The willing ignorance of other cultures within the ethical codes Our requirement to hold to white Eurocentric ideals What we can do to improve the codes Looking at ourselves as individuals and having guidance on how we can be better The failure of the codes to consider how therapists show up in the room The importance of having best practices for optimizing performance for therapists The problem with not clearly distinguishing between principle versus aspirational codes Posing the question on what an ethics code would look like when it isn’t tied to a professional association Mon, 14 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Irrational Ethics full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how ethical standards fail to recognize culture and humanity Irrational Ethics Curt and Katie chat about how current ethical standards fail to recognize culture and humanity. We talk about how the ethics codes were initially created, looking at the racist, sexist, classist roots. We also discuss the problems in how ethics are usually taught and the lack of focus on ethical thinking and decision-making, rather than rigidly following rules based in oppression. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The gaps in the ethics codes, looking at the historical roots of the current codes How ethics codes were initially created – racist, sexist, classist roots The systemic implications related to continuing to refine the codes, rather than re-norming or recreating starting with the current people in the profession Thoughts around fixing the codes to be more representative and inclusive The challenges that ethics committees face in considering a new ethics code The aspirational aspects of the “shared values” The problems with how we teach ethics in grad school “We were taught ethics as laws.” The need to think ethically, not blindly follow rules out of context The problem with rigidly holding to imperfect ethical codes Authoritarian practices of holding each other to ethics codes “We’re perpetuating oppression and disguising it as morality” – Curt Widhalm Principle ethics – bare-minimum guidelines to protect against the lowest common denominator Aspirational ethics – and why we should move in this direction The willing ignorance of other cultures within the ethical codes Our requirement to hold to white Eurocentric ideals What we can do to improve the codes Looking at ourselves as individuals and having guidance on how we can be better The failure of the codes to consider how therapists show up in the room The importance of having best practices for optimizing performance for therapists The problem with not clearly distinguishing between principle versus aspirational codes Posing the question on what an ethics code would look like when it isn’t tied to a professional association Irrational Ethics

Curt and Katie chat about how current ethical standards fail to recognize culture and humanity. We talk about how the ethics codes were initially created, looking at the racist, sexist, classist roots. We also discuss the problems in how ethics are usually taught and the lack of focus on ethical thinking and decision-making, rather than rigidly following rules based in oppression.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The gaps in the ethics codes, looking at the historical roots of the current codes
  • How ethics codes were initially created – racist, sexist, classist roots
  • The systemic implications related to continuing to refine the codes, rather than re-norming or recreating starting with the current people in the profession
  • Thoughts around fixing the codes to be more representative and inclusive
  • The challenges that ethics committees face in considering a new ethics code
  • The aspirational aspects of the “shared values”
  • The problems with how we teach ethics in grad school
  • “We were taught ethics as laws.”
  • The need to think ethically, not blindly follow rules out of context
  • The problem with rigidly holding to imperfect ethical codes
  • Authoritarian practices of holding each other to ethics codes
  • “We’re perpetuating oppression and disguising it as morality” – Curt Widhalm
  • Principle ethics – bare-minimum guidelines to protect against the lowest common denominator
  • Aspirational ethics – and why we should move in this direction
  • The willing ignorance of other cultures within the ethical codes
  • Our requirement to hold to white Eurocentric ideals
  • What we can do to improve the codes
  • Looking at ourselves as individuals and having guidance on how we can be better
  • The failure of the codes to consider how therapists show up in the room
  • The importance of having best practices for optimizing performance for therapists
  • The problem with not clearly distinguishing between principle versus aspirational codes
  • Posing the question on what an ethics code would look like when it isn’t tied to a professional association
]]> 2167 no Therapy with an Accent https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapy-with-an-accent Therapy with an Accent An interview with Namrata Rindani, LMFT on her experiences as an immigrant from India getting re-trained as a therapist in the United States. Curt and Katie talk with Nam about the systemic problems in the American graduate education system, her insight into how education can improve, and how she navigates having an accent with other professionals and potential clients. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Namrata Rindani, LMFT Nam Rindani is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in working with men and therapists in California through her teletherapy practice as well as owner and Relationship Coach at Ebonessence Coaching and Consulting for Men. Her 17-year clinical experience spans two continents and multiple languages as she practiced therapy in India serving the marginalized before moving to the United States. Nam served as Prelicensed Chair of San Diego CAMFT in 2015 and is also founder and comoderator of large online community, Therapists In Private Practice, where she found her passion for engaging and moderating difficult yet necessary conversations about topics of systemic injustice, marginalization and oppression within and outside the therapy field. Nam believes that by opening up conversations where the marginalized are heard and the unassuming oppressive groups are informed, we can begin to build bridges and close gaps that have plagued communities for generations.  In this episode we talk about: Nam’s journey to becoming a therapist in the US after practicing in India The training differences between India and the US The gatekeeping and barriers to practicing when moving to the US The differences she found between herself and her colleagues in her program Balancing how much to speak up with how to avoid dimming her own light The view of expert status and humanity within the therapy relationship The fear in the American system related to the person of the therapist and the relationship Nam’s experience as a graduate student in the American system and the pressure to be the “good immigrant” How to navigate the system as an international student The problems of an oppressive system keeping students from achieving their goals as therapists “We need you to edit who you are and then we will accept what it is that you have to say.” – Nam Rindani The challenges of not having support to walk through requirements of the US system “When it comes to places and space where our immigrant identity is going to be a problem – the way you respond to that is where the change needs to occur.” How to address an accent or a foreign background – taking a leadership role in the difference you come into the room with “For those of us who have accents and we come from other countries, YOU are the ones who have an accent.” Why it is safer to call out difference in the beginning of a conversation “When does my supervision begin and I stop being a museum specimen?” Immigrant trauma within the profession Looking at the framework of each person’s view of relationships within the training (both in how it is trained and who is performing treatment) How people define normal is very culturally bound and the need to check in with each person’s perspective A grassroots approach to systemic change How she has shaped her practice to align with her identity and to support the work while also avoiding working with people who are unsafe for her as a therapist Mon, 07 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Therapy with an Accent: An interview with Nam Rindani full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Nam Rindani Therapy with an Accent An interview with Namrata Rindani, LMFT on her experiences as an immigrant from India getting re-trained as a therapist in the United States. Curt and Katie talk with Nam about the systemic problems in the American graduate education system, her insight into how education can improve, and how she navigates having an accent with other professionals and potential clients. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Namrata Rindani, LMFT Nam Rindani is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in working with men and therapists in California through her teletherapy practice as well as owner and Relationship Coach at Ebonessence Coaching and Consulting for Men. Her 17-year clinical experience spans two continents and multiple languages as she practiced therapy in India serving the marginalized before moving to the United States. Nam served as Prelicensed Chair of San Diego CAMFT in 2015 and is also founder and comoderator of large online community, Therapists In Private Practice, where she found her passion for engaging and moderating difficult yet necessary conversations about topics of systemic injustice, marginalization and oppression within and outside the therapy field. Nam believes that by opening up conversations where the marginalized are heard and the unassuming oppressive groups are informed, we can begin to build bridges and close gaps that have plagued communities for generations.  In this episode we talk about: Nam’s journey to becoming a therapist in the US after practicing in India The training differences between India and the US The gatekeeping and barriers to practicing when moving to the US The differences she found between herself and her colleagues in her program Balancing how much to speak up with how to avoid dimming her own light The view of expert status and humanity within the therapy relationship The fear in the American system related to the person of the therapist and the relationship Nam’s experience as a graduate student in the American system and the pressure to be the “good immigrant” How to navigate the system as an international student The problems of an oppressive system keeping students from achieving their goals as therapists “We need you to edit who you are and then we will accept what it is that you have to say.” – Nam Rindani The challenges of not having support to walk through requirements of the US system “When it comes to places and space where our immigrant identity is going to be a problem – the way you respond to that is where the change needs to occur.” How to address an accent or a foreign background – taking a leadership role in the difference you come into the room with “For those of us who have accents and we come from other countries, YOU are the ones who have an accent.” Why it is safer to call out difference in the beginning of a conversation “When does my supervision begin and I stop being a museum specimen?” Immigrant trauma within the profession Looking at the framework of each person’s view of relationships within the training (both in how it is trained and who is performing treatment) How people define normal is very culturally bound and the need to check in with each person’s perspective A grassroots approach to systemic change How she has shaped her practice to align with her identity and to support the work while also avoiding working with people who are unsafe for her as a therapist Therapy with an Accent

An interview with Namrata Rindani, LMFT on her experiences as an immigrant from India getting re-trained as a therapist in the United States. Curt and Katie talk with Nam about the systemic problems in the American graduate education system, her insight into how education can improve, and how she navigates having an accent with other professionals and potential clients.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Namrata Rindani, LMFT

Nam Rindani is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in working with men and therapists in California through her teletherapy practice as well as owner and Relationship Coach at Ebonessence Coaching and Consulting for Men. Her 17-year clinical experience spans two continents and multiple languages as she practiced therapy in India serving the marginalized before moving to the United States. Nam served as Prelicensed Chair of San Diego CAMFT in 2015 and is also founder and comoderator of large online community, Therapists In Private Practice, where she found her passion for engaging and moderating difficult yet necessary conversations about topics of systemic injustice, marginalization and oppression within and outside the therapy field. Nam believes that by opening up conversations where the marginalized are heard and the unassuming oppressive groups are informed, we can begin to build bridges and close gaps that have plagued communities for generations. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Nam’s journey to becoming a therapist in the US after practicing in India
  • The training differences between India and the US
  • The gatekeeping and barriers to practicing when moving to the US
  • The differences she found between herself and her colleagues in her program
  • Balancing how much to speak up with how to avoid dimming her own light
  • The view of expert status and humanity within the therapy relationship
  • The fear in the American system related to the person of the therapist and the relationship
  • Nam’s experience as a graduate student in the American system and the pressure to be the “good immigrant”
  • How to navigate the system as an international student
  • The problems of an oppressive system keeping students from achieving their goals as therapists
  • “We need you to edit who you are and then we will accept what it is that you have to say.” – Nam Rindani
  • The challenges of not having support to walk through requirements of the US system
  • “When it comes to places and space where our immigrant identity is going to be a problem – the way you respond to that is where the change needs to occur.”
  • How to address an accent or a foreign background – taking a leadership role in the difference you come into the room with
  • “For those of us who have accents and we come from other countries, YOU are the ones who have an accent.”
  • Why it is safer to call out difference in the beginning of a conversation
  • “When does my supervision begin and I stop being a museum specimen?”
  • Immigrant trauma within the profession
  • Looking at the framework of each person’s view of relationships within the training (both in how it is trained and who is performing treatment)
  • How people define normal is very culturally bound and the need to check in with each person’s perspective
  • A grassroots approach to systemic change
  • How she has shaped her practice to align with her identity and to support the work while also avoiding working with people who are unsafe for her as a therapist
]]> 2524 no Rage and Client Self-Harm https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/rage-and-client-self-harm Rage and Client Self-Harm An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT on cutting and non-suicidal self-injury. Curt and Katie talk with Angela about the causes of self-harm, the mistakes therapists make in addressing self-harm as well as how to identify reasons behind this harmful coping mechanism and how to identify when suicidality is a risk. We also look at how rage within nice families can lead to self-injury. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT Angela Caldwell is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Family Coach. She is the Founder and Director of the Self-Injury Institute, where her practice focuses on the treatment of self-injury from a family systems perspective, as well as the Caldwell Family Institute, where she offers out-of-the-box coaching for families that are looking for something other than therapy to help them reach their growth potential. Angela is currently on the adjunct faculty for the MFT graduate program at California State University Northridge, where she teaches family systems theories and couples therapy. She has been teaching graduate students for over a decade at four different universities, and previously taught assessment for a large majority of her teaching career. She was selected by Antioch University to design a curriculum for a new Counselor Assessment class, and has offered consultation on assessments for the last eight years. Angela has served in MFT leadership for much of her career, including holding executive offices in CAMFT and AAMFT. She has worked side by side with Ben Caldwell and other leaders on various advocacy efforts in California, most notably on the passage of SB 1172, which banned reparative therapy for minors in 2012. In this episode we talk about: Angela’s perspective on family systems and champions of families and dinner tables The mistakes in treatment planning and way of being related to self-injury What not to do when clients disclose self-harm The intrusive nature of liability-focused treatment planning and interventions in the room The need to render cutting irrelevant The role of the family treatment for addressing self-injury Non-suicidal self-injury versus suicidal self-injury (the difference is intent) “It’s important for therapists to be able to talk about suicide – to use the word suicide with the same emphasis that we use the word hamburger.” Angela Caldwell, LMFT It’s important to be direct in asking about intent “I’m cautious to link self-injury with suicide in such a short, abrupt way.” Angela Caldwell, LMFT Rage in families who are too nice leading to self-injury The profiles in non-suicidal self-injury: peer-based and rage-based Social media self-injury and mental illness competitions How rage is often misunderstood – looking at how rage and anger are very different Rage is animalistic and limbic Self-injury is rage (when anger is not useful) when you do not want to be a burden Rage comes with tactile stimulus seeking, seeking destruction Discovery is mortifying The problem with group treatment for cutting The contagion factor – Barent Walsh Co-rumination – looking at adolescent female relationships Family Therapy as the most effective treatment for non- Rewrite the family constitution around anger and anger expression Family assertiveness training, teaching families how to disagree and hurt each other’s feelings Angela’s strategy to provoke fights within the families that she sees and conducts repair Mon, 31 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Rage and Client Self-Harm: An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT Rage and Client Self-Harm An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT on cutting and non-suicidal self-injury. Curt and Katie talk with Angela about the causes of self-harm, the mistakes therapists make in addressing self-harm as well as how to identify reasons behind this harmful coping mechanism and how to identify when suicidality is a risk. We also look at how rage within nice families can lead to self-injury. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT Angela Caldwell is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Family Coach. She is the Founder and Director of the Self-Injury Institute, where her practice focuses on the treatment of self-injury from a family systems perspective, as well as the Caldwell Family Institute, where she offers out-of-the-box coaching for families that are looking for something other than therapy to help them reach their growth potential. Angela is currently on the adjunct faculty for the MFT graduate program at California State University Northridge, where she teaches family systems theories and couples therapy. She has been teaching graduate students for over a decade at four different universities, and previously taught assessment for a large majority of her teaching career. She was selected by Antioch University to design a curriculum for a new Counselor Assessment class, and has offered consultation on assessments for the last eight years. Angela has served in MFT leadership for much of her career, including holding executive offices in CAMFT and AAMFT. She has worked side by side with Ben Caldwell and other leaders on various advocacy efforts in California, most notably on the passage of SB 1172, which banned reparative therapy for minors in 2012. In this episode we talk about: Angela’s perspective on family systems and champions of families and dinner tables The mistakes in treatment planning and way of being related to self-injury What not to do when clients disclose self-harm The intrusive nature of liability-focused treatment planning and interventions in the room The need to render cutting irrelevant The role of the family treatment for addressing self-injury Non-suicidal self-injury versus suicidal self-injury (the difference is intent) “It’s important for therapists to be able to talk about suicide – to use the word suicide with the same emphasis that we use the word hamburger.” Angela Caldwell, LMFT It’s important to be direct in asking about intent “I’m cautious to link self-injury with suicide in such a short, abrupt way.” Angela Caldwell, LMFT Rage in families who are too nice leading to self-injury The profiles in non-suicidal self-injury: peer-based and rage-based Social media self-injury and mental illness competitions How rage is often misunderstood – looking at how rage and anger are very different Rage is animalistic and limbic Self-injury is rage (when anger is not useful) when you do not want to be a burden Rage comes with tactile stimulus seeking, seeking destruction Discovery is mortifying The problem with group treatment for cutting The contagion factor – Barent Walsh Co-rumination – looking at adolescent female relationships Family Therapy as the most effective treatment for non- Rewrite the family constitution around anger and anger expression Family assertiveness training, teaching families how to disagree and hurt each other’s feelings Angela’s strategy to provoke fights within the families that she sees and conducts repair Rage and Client Self-Harm

An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT on cutting and non-suicidal self-injury. Curt and Katie talk with Angela about the causes of self-harm, the mistakes therapists make in addressing self-harm as well as how to identify reasons behind this harmful coping mechanism and how to identify when suicidality is a risk. We also look at how rage within nice families can lead to self-injury.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT

Angela Caldwell is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Family Coach. She is the Founder and Director of the Self-Injury Institute, where her practice focuses on the treatment of self-injury from a family systems perspective, as well as the Caldwell Family Institute, where she offers out-of-the-box coaching for families that are looking for something other than therapy to help them reach their growth potential.

Angela is currently on the adjunct faculty for the MFT graduate program at California State University Northridge, where she teaches family systems theories and couples therapy. She has been teaching graduate students for over a decade at four different universities, and previously taught assessment for a large majority of her teaching career. She was selected by Antioch University to design a curriculum for a new Counselor Assessment class, and has offered consultation on assessments for the last eight years.

Angela has served in MFT leadership for much of her career, including holding executive offices in CAMFT and AAMFT. She has worked side by side with Ben Caldwell and other leaders on various advocacy efforts in California, most notably on the passage of SB 1172, which banned reparative therapy for minors in 2012.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Angela’s perspective on family systems and champions of families and dinner tables
  • The mistakes in treatment planning and way of being related to self-injury
  • What not to do when clients disclose self-harm
  • The intrusive nature of liability-focused treatment planning and interventions in the room
  • The need to render cutting irrelevant
  • The role of the family treatment for addressing self-injury
  • Non-suicidal self-injury versus suicidal self-injury (the difference is intent)
  • “It’s important for therapists to be able to talk about suicide – to use the word suicide with the same emphasis that we use the word hamburger.” Angela Caldwell, LMFT
  • It’s important to be direct in asking about intent
  • “I’m cautious to link self-injury with suicide in such a short, abrupt way.” Angela Caldwell, LMFT
  • Rage in families who are too nice leading to self-injury
  • The profiles in non-suicidal self-injury: peer-based and rage-based
  • Social media self-injury and mental illness competitions
  • How rage is often misunderstood – looking at how rage and anger are very different
  • Rage is animalistic and limbic
  • Self-injury is rage (when anger is not useful) when you do not want to be a burden
  • Rage comes with tactile stimulus seeking, seeking destruction
  • Discovery is mortifying
  • The problem with group treatment for cutting
  • The contagion factor – Barent Walsh
  • Co-rumination – looking at adolescent female relationships
  • Family Therapy as the most effective treatment for non-
  • Rewrite the family constitution around anger and anger expression
  • Family assertiveness training, teaching families how to disagree and hurt each other’s feelings
  • Angela’s strategy to provoke fights within the families that she sees and conducts repair
]]> 2393 no Cultural Humility and White Fatigue https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/cultural-humility-and-white-fatigue Cultural Humility and White Fatigue An interview with Dr. Sonya Lott about a multicultural orientation to therapy and the work to understand yourself, how you’re perceived, and who the client is in front of you. Curt and Katie talk with Sonya about cultural humility in particular as well as the fatigue (including the concept of “white fatigue”) that can come with this work. We look at self-compassion and education as promising steps for improvement.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Sonya Lott, Ph.D. Sonya Lott earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University and has been licensed as a psychologist in Pennsylvania since 1991. She is also a registered in Florida as out-of-state telehealth provider. She is the founder and CEO of CEMPSYCH, LLC (Continuing Education in Multicultural Psychology), which offers continuing education that supports mental health professionals in cultivating a multicultural orientation, and is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Whites Confronting Racism, an organization in Philadelphia that works with White people who desire to challenge the racism within and around them and who are searching for a way to strengthen their work for racial justice. In addition to this work, she maintains a private practice devoted to helping individuals transform their experience of acute and prolonged grief. She is an associate of the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia University's School of Social Work, where she completed advanced training in Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT). You can learn more about her work at cempsych.com and drsonyalott.com. In this episode we talk about: Multicultural approach – looking at all elements of cultural identity Dominance, privilege, and bias The importance of seeing beyond their lived The multicultural orientation is a way of being Cultural Humility – organizing virtue Recognizing cultural opportunities Invitation for discussion Microaggressions in the therapy room Comfort in making repairs Being aware of who you are and where you sit with marginalization and with privilege “Every experience is a multicultural experience” – Dr. Sonya Lott Know who you are to yourself and to others – it is important to understand how you are perceived by others The difference between white fragility and white fatigue With privilege you have an opt-out card The work of healing marginalization is a felt process “It’s more than ‘what’s a good book to read?’” – Dr. Sonya Lott Self-compassion and self-care needed for doing this work Seeing ourselves as human and recognizing that we don’t have all of the answers Recognizing what is relevant in the room Self-Compassion: shared humanity, mindfulness, and loving kindness “It’s not just for your clients, it’s not just to make a living, it’s to transform your way of being – period – that benefits you and everybody you’re in relationship with.” Why the therapy profession doesn’t get this right – because they don’t have to. The fifty years of literature on this topic that is often ignored due to people not being informed, not comfortable, and not having done their own work Mon, 24 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Cultural Humility and White Fatigue: An interview with Dr. Sonya Lott full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Sonya Lott Cultural Humility and White Fatigue An interview with Dr. Sonya Lott about a multicultural orientation to therapy and the work to understand yourself, how you’re perceived, and who the client is in front of you. Curt and Katie talk with Sonya about cultural humility in particular as well as the fatigue (including the concept of “white fatigue”) that can come with this work. We look at self-compassion and education as promising steps for improvement.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Sonya Lott, Ph.D. Sonya Lott earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University and has been licensed as a psychologist in Pennsylvania since 1991. She is also a registered in Florida as out-of-state telehealth provider. She is the founder and CEO of CEMPSYCH, LLC (Continuing Education in Multicultural Psychology), which offers continuing education that supports mental health professionals in cultivating a multicultural orientation, and is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Whites Confronting Racism, an organization in Philadelphia that works with White people who desire to challenge the racism within and around them and who are searching for a way to strengthen their work for racial justice. In addition to this work, she maintains a private practice devoted to helping individuals transform their experience of acute and prolonged grief. She is an associate of the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia University's School of Social Work, where she completed advanced training in Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT). You can learn more about her work at cempsych.com and drsonyalott.com. In this episode we talk about: Multicultural approach – looking at all elements of cultural identity Dominance, privilege, and bias The importance of seeing beyond their lived The multicultural orientation is a way of being Cultural Humility – organizing virtue Recognizing cultural opportunities Invitation for discussion Microaggressions in the therapy room Comfort in making repairs Being aware of who you are and where you sit with marginalization and with privilege “Every experience is a multicultural experience” – Dr. Sonya Lott Know who you are to yourself and to others – it is important to understand how you are perceived by others The difference between white fragility and white fatigue With privilege you have an opt-out card The work of healing marginalization is a felt process “It’s more than ‘what’s a good book to read?’” – Dr. Sonya Lott Self-compassion and self-care needed for doing this work Seeing ourselves as human and recognizing that we don’t have all of the answers Recognizing what is relevant in the room Self-Compassion: shared humanity, mindfulness, and loving kindness “It’s not just for your clients, it’s not just to make a living, it’s to transform your way of being – period – that benefits you and everybody you’re in relationship with.” Why the therapy profession doesn’t get this right – because they don’t have to. The fifty years of literature on this topic that is often ignored due to people not being informed, not comfortable, and not having done their own work Cultural Humility and White Fatigue

An interview with Dr. Sonya Lott about a multicultural orientation to therapy and the work to understand yourself, how you’re perceived, and who the client is in front of you. Curt and Katie talk with Sonya about cultural humility in particular as well as the fatigue (including the concept of “white fatigue”) that can come with this work. We look at self-compassion and education as promising steps for improvement. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Sonya Lott, Ph.D.

Sonya Lott earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University and has been licensed as a psychologist in Pennsylvania since 1991. She is also a registered in Florida as out-of-state telehealth provider.

She is the founder and CEO of CEMPSYCH, LLC (Continuing Education in Multicultural Psychology), which offers continuing education that supports mental health professionals in cultivating a multicultural orientation, and is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Whites Confronting Racism, an organization in Philadelphia that works with White people who desire to challenge the racism within and around them and who are searching for a way to strengthen their work for racial justice.

In addition to this work, she maintains a private practice devoted to helping individuals transform their experience of acute and prolonged grief. She is an associate of the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia University's School of Social Work, where she completed advanced training in Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT).

You can learn more about her work at cempsych.com and drsonyalott.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Multicultural approach – looking at all elements of cultural identity
  • Dominance, privilege, and bias
  • The importance of seeing beyond their lived
  • The multicultural orientation is a way of being
  • Cultural Humility – organizing virtue
  • Recognizing cultural opportunities
  • Invitation for discussion
  • Microaggressions in the therapy room
  • Comfort in making repairs
  • Being aware of who you are and where you sit with marginalization and with privilege
  • “Every experience is a multicultural experience” – Dr. Sonya Lott
  • Know who you are to yourself and to others – it is important to understand how you are perceived by others
  • The difference between white fragility and white fatigue
  • With privilege you have an opt-out card
  • The work of healing marginalization is a felt process
  • “It’s more than ‘what’s a good book to read?’” – Dr. Sonya Lott
  • Self-compassion and self-care needed for doing this work
  • Seeing ourselves as human and recognizing that we don’t have all of the answers
  • Recognizing what is relevant in the room
  • Self-Compassion: shared humanity, mindfulness, and loving kindness
  • “It’s not just for your clients, it’s not just to make a living, it’s to transform your way of being – period – that benefits you and everybody you’re in relationship with.”
  • Why the therapy profession doesn’t get this right – because they don’t have to.
  • The fifty years of literature on this topic that is often ignored due to people not being informed, not comfortable, and not having done their own work
]]> 2220 no Wear a Mask as a Therapy Directive https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/wear-a-mask-as-a-therapy-directive “Wear a Mask” as a Therapy Directive Curt and Katie chat about COVID, science, and critical thinking in an anti-intellectual, post-truth era. We look at what therapists’ responsibilities are to the greater good, whether we should tell our clients to wear masks, and how to help clients navigate very challenging decisions that must balance mental versus physical health as well as individual versus societal needs. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Should we tell our clients to wear masks? How do we help our clients navigate the complex decisions related to risk Client autonomy, transparency of goals, decreasing therapist bias How science and the greater good come into the equation Is there a duty to warn? Or duty to protect? Imminence, privacy issues Should we try to change behavior around wearing masks in public? How we address risky behavior with clients The impact of the presenting problem on deciding what we do Our responsibility to society, to our communities versus our clients Psychoeducation and alternate facts The process of making decisions around health and safety Sorting through and gaining agreement on what is truth Therapists needing to be informed and be able to sort through expert information The importance of critical thinking and the scientific method Anti-science, anti-intellectualism, and cognitive dissonance How to meet your client where they are while also not colluding with unhealthy beliefs Helping our clients to navigate the current challenges to balance physical vs mental health needs, individual vs societal needs The responsibility to bring up healthy decisions for our clients through psychoeducation The complexity of decision-making during these times Mon, 17 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Wear a Mask as a Therapy Directive full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about COVID, science, and critical thinking “Wear a Mask” as a Therapy Directive Curt and Katie chat about COVID, science, and critical thinking in an anti-intellectual, post-truth era. We look at what therapists’ responsibilities are to the greater good, whether we should tell our clients to wear masks, and how to help clients navigate very challenging decisions that must balance mental versus physical health as well as individual versus societal needs. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Should we tell our clients to wear masks? How do we help our clients navigate the complex decisions related to risk Client autonomy, transparency of goals, decreasing therapist bias How science and the greater good come into the equation Is there a duty to warn? Or duty to protect? Imminence, privacy issues Should we try to change behavior around wearing masks in public? How we address risky behavior with clients The impact of the presenting problem on deciding what we do Our responsibility to society, to our communities versus our clients Psychoeducation and alternate facts The process of making decisions around health and safety Sorting through and gaining agreement on what is truth Therapists needing to be informed and be able to sort through expert information The importance of critical thinking and the scientific method Anti-science, anti-intellectualism, and cognitive dissonance How to meet your client where they are while also not colluding with unhealthy beliefs Helping our clients to navigate the current challenges to balance physical vs mental health needs, individual vs societal needs The responsibility to bring up healthy decisions for our clients through psychoeducation The complexity of decision-making during these times “Wear a Mask” as a Therapy Directive

Curt and Katie chat about COVID, science, and critical thinking in an anti-intellectual, post-truth era. We look at what therapists’ responsibilities are to the greater good, whether we should tell our clients to wear masks, and how to help clients navigate very challenging decisions that must balance mental versus physical health as well as individual versus societal needs.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Should we tell our clients to wear masks?
  • How do we help our clients navigate the complex decisions related to risk
  • Client autonomy, transparency of goals, decreasing therapist bias
  • How science and the greater good come into the equation
  • Is there a duty to warn? Or duty to protect?
  • Imminence, privacy issues
  • Should we try to change behavior around wearing masks in public?
  • How we address risky behavior with clients
  • The impact of the presenting problem on deciding what we do
  • Our responsibility to society, to our communities versus our clients
  • Psychoeducation and alternate facts
  • The process of making decisions around health and safety
  • Sorting through and gaining agreement on what is truth
  • Therapists needing to be informed and be able to sort through expert information
  • The importance of critical thinking and the scientific method
  • Anti-science, anti-intellectualism, and cognitive dissonance
  • How to meet your client where they are while also not colluding with unhealthy beliefs
  • Helping our clients to navigate the current challenges to balance physical vs mental health needs, individual vs societal needs
  • The responsibility to bring up healthy decisions for our clients through psychoeducation
  • The complexity of decision-making during these times
]]> 2327 no Starting a Therapist Podcast https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/starting-a-therapist-podcast Starting a Therapist Podcast An interview with Joe Sanok, host of the Practice of the Practice podcast, on why, how, and when to start a podcast. Curt and Katie talk with Joe about what to consider when you’re a therapist with a bigger message. We get into some practical steps for podcasting. We also look at how you can create space for creativity, making a bigger impact, and slowing down. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Joe Sanok Joe Sanok is a thought leader, productivity researcher, and speaker. As a TEDx speaker, HarperCollin author, business consultant, and podcaster Joe helps people to slow down to spark more innovation. Joe has the #1 podcast for counselors, The Practice of the Practice Podcast. With interviews with Pat Flynn, John Lee Dumas, and Jaime Masters, Joe is a rising star in the speaking world! Joe is a writer for PsychCentral, has been featured on the Huffington Post, Forbes, GOOD Magazine, Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur on Fire, and Yahoo News. He is author of five books and has been named the Therapist Resource top podcast, consultant, and blogger. In this episode we talk about: The mistakes that Joe made that informs his work The need to listen to their audience prior to launching products How to listen to your audience “Fall in love with the pain and the people before you ever pitch a product.” Identifying pain points and the transformation Applying the therapeutic process to content creation Building your audience to the point that you can ask what the pain points are Why it would be a good idea to start a podcast Pod-fading - most podcasts stop releasing episodes within 12 episodes How to choose your topic The importance of being yourself Understanding the goals of your podcast The surprising things that happen when you have a podcast Visibility and connection that comes from podcasting Figuring out your next step and jumping before you’re ready The importance of setting limits around your time – how that impacts your performance The problem with over-thinking The benefit of delegating tasks and dramatically decreasing your time at work The process of refining your business to better support you and the problem of perfectionism Mon, 10 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Starting a Therapist Podcast: An interview with Joe Sanok full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Joe Sanok Starting a Therapist Podcast An interview with Joe Sanok, host of the Practice of the Practice podcast, on why, how, and when to start a podcast. Curt and Katie talk with Joe about what to consider when you’re a therapist with a bigger message. We get into some practical steps for podcasting. We also look at how you can create space for creativity, making a bigger impact, and slowing down. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Joe Sanok Joe Sanok is a thought leader, productivity researcher, and speaker. As a TEDx speaker, HarperCollin author, business consultant, and podcaster Joe helps people to slow down to spark more innovation. Joe has the #1 podcast for counselors, The Practice of the Practice Podcast. With interviews with Pat Flynn, John Lee Dumas, and Jaime Masters, Joe is a rising star in the speaking world! Joe is a writer for PsychCentral, has been featured on the Huffington Post, Forbes, GOOD Magazine, Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur on Fire, and Yahoo News. He is author of five books and has been named the Therapist Resource top podcast, consultant, and blogger. In this episode we talk about: The mistakes that Joe made that informs his work The need to listen to their audience prior to launching products How to listen to your audience “Fall in love with the pain and the people before you ever pitch a product.” Identifying pain points and the transformation Applying the therapeutic process to content creation Building your audience to the point that you can ask what the pain points are Why it would be a good idea to start a podcast Pod-fading - most podcasts stop releasing episodes within 12 episodes How to choose your topic The importance of being yourself Understanding the goals of your podcast The surprising things that happen when you have a podcast Visibility and connection that comes from podcasting Figuring out your next step and jumping before you’re ready The importance of setting limits around your time – how that impacts your performance The problem with over-thinking The benefit of delegating tasks and dramatically decreasing your time at work The process of refining your business to better support you and the problem of perfectionism Starting a Therapist Podcast

An interview with Joe Sanok, host of the Practice of the Practice podcast, on why, how, and when to start a podcast. Curt and Katie talk with Joe about what to consider when you’re a therapist with a bigger message. We get into some practical steps for podcasting. We also look at how you can create space for creativity, making a bigger impact, and slowing down.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Joe Sanok

Joe Sanok is a thought leader, productivity researcher, and speaker. As a TEDx speaker, HarperCollin author, business consultant, and podcaster Joe helps people to slow down to spark more innovation. Joe has the #1 podcast for counselors, The Practice of the Practice Podcast. With interviews with Pat Flynn, John Lee Dumas, and Jaime Masters, Joe is a rising star in the speaking world!

Joe is a writer for PsychCentral, has been featured on the Huffington Post, Forbes, GOOD Magazine, Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur on Fire, and Yahoo News. He is author of five books and has been named the Therapist Resource top podcast, consultant, and blogger.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The mistakes that Joe made that informs his work
  • The need to listen to their audience prior to launching products
  • How to listen to your audience
  • “Fall in love with the pain and the people before you ever pitch a product.”
  • Identifying pain points and the transformation
  • Applying the therapeutic process to content creation
  • Building your audience to the point that you can ask what the pain points are
  • Why it would be a good idea to start a podcast
  • Pod-fading - most podcasts stop releasing episodes within 12 episodes
  • How to choose your topic
  • The importance of being yourself
  • Understanding the goals of your podcast
  • The surprising things that happen when you have a podcast
  • Visibility and connection that comes from podcasting
  • Figuring out your next step and jumping before you’re ready
  • The importance of setting limits around your time – how that impacts your performance
  • The problem with over-thinking
  • The benefit of delegating tasks and dramatically decreasing your time at work
  • The process of refining your business to better support you and the problem of perfectionism
]]> 2307 no Financial Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/financial-therapy Financial Therapy An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, about therapists talking about money with their clients. Curt and Katie talk with Lindsay about what therapists miss if they don’t bring money into the room. We look at the importance of financial therapy both for clients who are struggling financially as well as for clients who might be making more than you (and everyone in between).  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Lindsay Bryan Podvin, LMSW, Financial Therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin is a biracial financial therapist, speaker, and author. As the first financial therapist in Michigan, she combines financial literacy with the emotional and psychological side of money. She's passionate about helping couples and individuals learn how to have a healthy relationship with money by removing shame from it. She helps her clients navigate financial wellness in a way that works for them. In this episode we talk about: Talking about money in the therapy room beyond budgeting How frequently therapists avoid talking about money Bias that therapists bring into the room around money The challenge therapists face when money becomes an issue in session How money issues come up for people who have money (not just people who have a lack of money) The irony of therapists being told we shouldn’t make money Myths surrounding financial therapy Therapists already have the skills they need to do this work The Four Financial Archetypes that Lindsay adapted from Dr. Brad Klontz’s work The work needed to address your Financial Archetype The types of conversations that can happen when you open up money as a topic of conversation in therapy Looking at cultural and gender roles within the money conversation The intervention of “money dates” The importance of recognizing limitations in talking about money Mon, 03 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Financial Therapy: An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, Financial Therapist Financial Therapy An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, about therapists talking about money with their clients. Curt and Katie talk with Lindsay about what therapists miss if they don’t bring money into the room. We look at the importance of financial therapy both for clients who are struggling financially as well as for clients who might be making more than you (and everyone in between).  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Lindsay Bryan Podvin, LMSW, Financial Therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin is a biracial financial therapist, speaker, and author. As the first financial therapist in Michigan, she combines financial literacy with the emotional and psychological side of money. She's passionate about helping couples and individuals learn how to have a healthy relationship with money by removing shame from it. She helps her clients navigate financial wellness in a way that works for them. In this episode we talk about: Talking about money in the therapy room beyond budgeting How frequently therapists avoid talking about money Bias that therapists bring into the room around money The challenge therapists face when money becomes an issue in session How money issues come up for people who have money (not just people who have a lack of money) The irony of therapists being told we shouldn’t make money Myths surrounding financial therapy Therapists already have the skills they need to do this work The Four Financial Archetypes that Lindsay adapted from Dr. Brad Klontz’s work The work needed to address your Financial Archetype The types of conversations that can happen when you open up money as a topic of conversation in therapy Looking at cultural and gender roles within the money conversation The intervention of “money dates” The importance of recognizing limitations in talking about money Financial Therapy

An interview with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, about therapists talking about money with their clients. Curt and Katie talk with Lindsay about what therapists miss if they don’t bring money into the room. We look at the importance of financial therapy both for clients who are struggling financially as well as for clients who might be making more than you (and everyone in between). 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Lindsay Bryan Podvin, LMSW, Financial Therapist

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin is a biracial financial therapist, speaker, and author. As the first financial therapist in Michigan, she combines financial literacy with the emotional and psychological side of money. She's passionate about helping couples and individuals learn how to have a healthy relationship with money by removing shame from it. She helps her clients navigate financial wellness in a way that works for them.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Talking about money in the therapy room beyond budgeting
  • How frequently therapists avoid talking about money
  • Bias that therapists bring into the room around money
  • The challenge therapists face when money becomes an issue in session
  • How money issues come up for people who have money (not just people who have a lack of money)
  • The irony of therapists being told we shouldn’t make money
  • Myths surrounding financial therapy
  • Therapists already have the skills they need to do this work
  • The Four Financial Archetypes that Lindsay adapted from Dr. Brad Klontz’s work
  • The work needed to address your Financial Archetype
  • The types of conversations that can happen when you open up money as a topic of conversation in therapy
  • Looking at cultural and gender roles within the money conversation
  • The intervention of “money dates”
  • The importance of recognizing limitations in talking about money
]]> 2162 no Greater Impact as a Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/greater-impact-as-a-therapist-0 Greater Impact as a Therapist An interview with Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT about how to grow a big impact through personal branding, speaking, and breaking into larger media channels. Curt and Katie talk with Kiaundra about the importance of authenticity, owning your credibility, and diversifying your income through alternate methods to get your message out there. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT Kiaundra Jackson is known as America's #1 Relationship Therapist. She has been seen on OWN’s new hit TV Show, Love Goals and as a reoccurring expert on The Doctors. She has been recently featured in Oprah’s Magazine, Essence, The New York Times, FOX, The CW, BET, Vice and The Huffington Post as one of the ‘10 Black Female Therapists You Should Know.’ She is an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, TV Personality and a trusted Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that gets results. She is a noted expert on healthy relationships and mental health. Kiaundra is the visionary of KW Couples Therapy and the Co-Founder of Black Speakers Rock. Through her early work, she discovered the importance of having healthy relationships. From that point on, she chose to specialize in helping couples strengthen and repair their relationships. She helps to improve intimacy with couples by increasing effective two­-way communication. She is dedicated to helping couples increase sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy. Kiaundra specializes in working with couples who truly desire to maintain a healthy, long-lasting relationship and uncover their true potential. Kiaundra’s vision is to help ONE MILLION couples heal their relationships, prevent divorce, and keep families together.  In this episode we talk about: Kiaundra’s goal of helping therapists create an impact beyond the therapy room The importance of being authentic and showing up the same way wherever you are (on a stage or in the therapy room) Intentional effort to make your public persona through your expertise, your credibility, and your self – based on the story people might tell about you when you’re not there, living out loud How to claim your credibility, even when you’re not ready to believe it Therapists have a huge wealth of knowledge, so we need to identify what we want to talk about The vulnerability of putting yourself on a larger stage Combatting the haters by focusing on those people who do love you or resonate with you Impostor Syndrome based on being vulnerable and in the public eye “People don’t always watch you because they want to see you to win, they’re waiting for that one moment for you to mess up.” – Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT We have to put this aside and show up every time The importance of showing up more consistently on social media, especially with live videos Showing up in your community – speaking at smaller events, giving back to our community The ability to give more information to your applications for conferences or podcast interviews, if you have a social media presence How to use a larger brand to impact others, serve others, and diversify income Things to consider when making a decision on what you do – core values, financial compensation, and connection – as well as sorting through what is beneficial There is nothing wrong with doing free speaking engagements – but you need to be strategic about it The additional benefits you can ask for when getting a free or lower paid speaking offer Make sure your target audience is in the audience where you are speaking (and you’re talking about what you’d like to work on, your expertise, and how you’d like to grow) Mon, 27 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Greater Impact as a Therapist: An interview with Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT Greater Impact as a Therapist An interview with Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT about how to grow a big impact through personal branding, speaking, and breaking into larger media channels. Curt and Katie talk with Kiaundra about the importance of authenticity, owning your credibility, and diversifying your income through alternate methods to get your message out there. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT Kiaundra Jackson is known as America's #1 Relationship Therapist. She has been seen on OWN’s new hit TV Show, Love Goals and as a reoccurring expert on The Doctors. She has been recently featured in Oprah’s Magazine, Essence, The New York Times, FOX, The CW, BET, Vice and The Huffington Post as one of the ‘10 Black Female Therapists You Should Know.’ She is an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, TV Personality and a trusted Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that gets results. She is a noted expert on healthy relationships and mental health. Kiaundra is the visionary of KW Couples Therapy and the Co-Founder of Black Speakers Rock. Through her early work, she discovered the importance of having healthy relationships. From that point on, she chose to specialize in helping couples strengthen and repair their relationships. She helps to improve intimacy with couples by increasing effective two­-way communication. She is dedicated to helping couples increase sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy. Kiaundra specializes in working with couples who truly desire to maintain a healthy, long-lasting relationship and uncover their true potential. Kiaundra’s vision is to help ONE MILLION couples heal their relationships, prevent divorce, and keep families together.  In this episode we talk about: Kiaundra’s goal of helping therapists create an impact beyond the therapy room The importance of being authentic and showing up the same way wherever you are (on a stage or in the therapy room) Intentional effort to make your public persona through your expertise, your credibility, and your self – based on the story people might tell about you when you’re not there, living out loud How to claim your credibility, even when you’re not ready to believe it Therapists have a huge wealth of knowledge, so we need to identify what we want to talk about The vulnerability of putting yourself on a larger stage Combatting the haters by focusing on those people who do love you or resonate with you Impostor Syndrome based on being vulnerable and in the public eye “People don’t always watch you because they want to see you to win, they’re waiting for that one moment for you to mess up.” – Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT We have to put this aside and show up every time The importance of showing up more consistently on social media, especially with live videos Showing up in your community – speaking at smaller events, giving back to our community The ability to give more information to your applications for conferences or podcast interviews, if you have a social media presence How to use a larger brand to impact others, serve others, and diversify income Things to consider when making a decision on what you do – core values, financial compensation, and connection – as well as sorting through what is beneficial There is nothing wrong with doing free speaking engagements – but you need to be strategic about it The additional benefits you can ask for when getting a free or lower paid speaking offer Make sure your target audience is in the audience where you are speaking (and you’re talking about what you’d like to work on, your expertise, and how you’d like to grow) Greater Impact as a Therapist

An interview with Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT about how to grow a big impact through personal branding, speaking, and breaking into larger media channels. Curt and Katie talk with Kiaundra about the importance of authenticity, owning your credibility, and diversifying your income through alternate methods to get your message out there.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT

Kiaundra Jackson is known as America's #1 Relationship Therapist. She has been seen on OWN’s new hit TV Show, Love Goals and as a reoccurring expert on The Doctors. She has been recently featured in Oprah’s Magazine, Essence, The New York Times, FOX, The CW, BET, Vice and The Huffington Post as one of the ‘10 Black Female Therapists You Should Know.’ She is an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, TV Personality and a trusted Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that gets results. She is a noted expert on healthy relationships and mental health. Kiaundra is the visionary of KW Couples Therapy and the Co-Founder of Black Speakers Rock.

Through her early work, she discovered the importance of having healthy relationships. From that point on, she chose to specialize in helping couples strengthen and repair their relationships. She helps to improve intimacy with couples by increasing effective two­-way communication. She is dedicated to helping couples increase sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy. Kiaundra specializes in working with couples who truly desire to maintain a healthy, long-lasting relationship and uncover their true potential.

Kiaundra’s vision is to help ONE MILLION couples heal their relationships, prevent divorce, and keep families together. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Kiaundra’s goal of helping therapists create an impact beyond the therapy room
  • The importance of being authentic and showing up the same way wherever you are (on a stage or in the therapy room)
  • Intentional effort to make your public persona through your expertise, your credibility, and your self – based on the story people might tell about you when you’re not there, living out loud
  • How to claim your credibility, even when you’re not ready to believe it
  • Therapists have a huge wealth of knowledge, so we need to identify what we want to talk about
  • The vulnerability of putting yourself on a larger stage
  • Combatting the haters by focusing on those people who do love you or resonate with you
  • Impostor Syndrome based on being vulnerable and in the public eye
  • “People don’t always watch you because they want to see you to win, they’re waiting for that one moment for you to mess up.” – Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT
  • We have to put this aside and show up every time
  • The importance of showing up more consistently on social media, especially with live videos
  • Showing up in your community – speaking at smaller events, giving back to our community
  • The ability to give more information to your applications for conferences or podcast interviews, if you have a social media presence
  • How to use a larger brand to impact others, serve others, and diversify income
  • Things to consider when making a decision on what you do – core values, financial compensation, and connection – as well as sorting through what is beneficial
  • There is nothing wrong with doing free speaking engagements – but you need to be strategic about it
  • The additional benefits you can ask for when getting a free or lower paid speaking offer
  • Make sure your target audience is in the audience where you are speaking (and you’re talking about what you’d like to work on, your expertise, and how you’d like to grow)
]]> 2334 no Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/is-therapy-an-opiate-of-the-masses Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses? Curt and Katie chat about how therapy can collude with the status quo and has historically failed to serve marginalized populations. We talk about the risks of therapy that doesn’t honor the context and systems within which people and families operate. We look at how therapists can create complacence and obedience if not careful. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Criticisms of therapy as an opiate of the masses Does therapy reinforce the status quo? “Normal” as a culture bound concept Feminist Therapy, Liberation Psychology, Decolonized Therapy The history of pathologizing or demonizing LGBTQ+ Therapy as a white construct Bias in MMPI and re-norming How bias toward “normal” permeates clinical work How therapists reinforce systems norms, encouraging placating the system First, Second, and Third Order change – Individual within family within the systems within which the family operates Individual versus collective change The challenge of assessing and treating within the complex overlay of systems The limitations of evidence-based treatments The vision of acceptance of diversity Therapist training gaps The Seven-Eyed Model of Supervision Impacts for case conceptualization Looking at clients as agents of change, as impacted by their context Validating experiences, increasing resilience and capacity, empowering client to make larger changes Suggesting coping skills without diminishing systemic impacts Therapy as a bandaid “As therapists, we can do a really good job of moving people to complacence if we’re not careful.” – Katie Helping individuals to heal, then moving to “now that” The requirement for therapists to be advocates for change within their communities Mon, 20 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about how therapy can collude with the status quo Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses? Curt and Katie chat about how therapy can collude with the status quo and has historically failed to serve marginalized populations. We talk about the risks of therapy that doesn’t honor the context and systems within which people and families operate. We look at how therapists can create complacence and obedience if not careful. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Criticisms of therapy as an opiate of the masses Does therapy reinforce the status quo? “Normal” as a culture bound concept Feminist Therapy, Liberation Psychology, Decolonized Therapy The history of pathologizing or demonizing LGBTQ+ Therapy as a white construct Bias in MMPI and re-norming How bias toward “normal” permeates clinical work How therapists reinforce systems norms, encouraging placating the system First, Second, and Third Order change – Individual within family within the systems within which the family operates Individual versus collective change The challenge of assessing and treating within the complex overlay of systems The limitations of evidence-based treatments The vision of acceptance of diversity Therapist training gaps The Seven-Eyed Model of Supervision Impacts for case conceptualization Looking at clients as agents of change, as impacted by their context Validating experiences, increasing resilience and capacity, empowering client to make larger changes Suggesting coping skills without diminishing systemic impacts Therapy as a bandaid “As therapists, we can do a really good job of moving people to complacence if we’re not careful.” – Katie Helping individuals to heal, then moving to “now that” The requirement for therapists to be advocates for change within their communities Is Therapy an Opiate of the Masses?

Curt and Katie chat about how therapy can collude with the status quo and has historically failed to serve marginalized populations. We talk about the risks of therapy that doesn’t honor the context and systems within which people and families operate. We look at how therapists can create complacence and obedience if not careful.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Criticisms of therapy as an opiate of the masses
  • Does therapy reinforce the status quo?
  • “Normal” as a culture bound concept
  • Feminist Therapy, Liberation Psychology, Decolonized Therapy
  • The history of pathologizing or demonizing LGBTQ+
  • Therapy as a white construct
  • Bias in MMPI and re-norming
  • How bias toward “normal” permeates clinical work
  • How therapists reinforce systems norms, encouraging placating the system
  • First, Second, and Third Order change – Individual within family within the systems within which the family operates
  • Individual versus collective change
  • The challenge of assessing and treating within the complex overlay of systems
  • The limitations of evidence-based treatments
  • The vision of acceptance of diversity
  • Therapist training gaps
  • The Seven-Eyed Model of Supervision
  • Impacts for case conceptualization
  • Looking at clients as agents of change, as impacted by their context
  • Validating experiences, increasing resilience and capacity, empowering client to make larger changes
  • Suggesting coping skills without diminishing systemic impacts
  • Therapy as a bandaid
  • “As therapists, we can do a really good job of moving people to complacence if we’re not careful.” – Katie
  • Helping individuals to heal, then moving to “now that”
  • The requirement for therapists to be advocates for change within their communities
]]> 2099 no Exploring Trauma and the 12 Steps https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/exploring-trauma-and-the-12-steps Exploring Trauma and the 12 Steps An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich, on her revised book: Trauma and the 12 Steps, exploring how 12 Step programs can be trauma-informed. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Marich about how to interweave a trauma-focus into substance abuse self-help and treatment centers. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-500, RMT Dr. Jamie Marich describes herself as a facilitator of transformative experiences. A clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, writer, yogini, performer, short filmmaker, Reiki master, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to inspire healing in others. She began her career as a humanitarian aid worker in Bosnia-Hercegovina from 2000-2003, primarily teaching English and music while freelancing with other projects. Jamie travels internationally teaching on topics related to trauma, EMDR therapy, expressive arts, mindfulness, and yoga, while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Warren, OH. Marich is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice to expressive arts therapy. She is also the co-creator of the Yoga Unchained approach to trauma-informed yoga, and the developer of Yoga for Clinicians. Marich is the author of EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012), Creative Mindfulness (2013), Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors, and Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015). Marich co-authored EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care along with colleague Dr. Stephen Dansiger, which was released with Springer Publishing in 2017. Her newest title, Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery, released in April 2019. North Atlantic Books is publishing a second and expanded edition of Trauma and the 12 Steps, due for release in the Summer of 2020. Marich’s writing and work on Dancing Mindfulness was featured in the New York Times in 2017. In 2015, she had the privilege of delivering a TEDx talk on trauma. NALGAP: The Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their esteemed President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) granted Jamie the 2019 Advocacy in EMDR Award for her using her public platform in media and in the addiction field to advance awareness about EMDR therapy and to reduce stigma around mental health. In this episode we talk about: Jamie Marich’s return to the podcast The Revised and Expanded Trauma and the 12 Steps The large variation in the programs for substance abuse treatment in whether they are able to include a trauma-informed lens What it looks like to actually interweave the trauma-informed structure to substance abuse tx The power and impact of one alcoholic talking to another The importance of connection, community and relationships The changing face of recovery (including starting with 2 white men and becoming more diverse and inclusive) Attraction rather than promotion Validating strife and struggle then challenging it The bridge between trauma mental health treatment and recovery The fear about trauma work within the addiction community Mon, 13 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Exploring Trauma and the 12 Steps: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich Exploring Trauma and the 12 Steps An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich, on her revised book: Trauma and the 12 Steps, exploring how 12 Step programs can be trauma-informed. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Marich about how to interweave a trauma-focus into substance abuse self-help and treatment centers. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-500, RMT Dr. Jamie Marich describes herself as a facilitator of transformative experiences. A clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, writer, yogini, performer, short filmmaker, Reiki master, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to inspire healing in others. She began her career as a humanitarian aid worker in Bosnia-Hercegovina from 2000-2003, primarily teaching English and music while freelancing with other projects. Jamie travels internationally teaching on topics related to trauma, EMDR therapy, expressive arts, mindfulness, and yoga, while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Warren, OH. Marich is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice to expressive arts therapy. She is also the co-creator of the Yoga Unchained approach to trauma-informed yoga, and the developer of Yoga for Clinicians. Marich is the author of EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012), Creative Mindfulness (2013), Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors, and Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015). Marich co-authored EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care along with colleague Dr. Stephen Dansiger, which was released with Springer Publishing in 2017. Her newest title, Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery, released in April 2019. North Atlantic Books is publishing a second and expanded edition of Trauma and the 12 Steps, due for release in the Summer of 2020. Marich’s writing and work on Dancing Mindfulness was featured in the New York Times in 2017. In 2015, she had the privilege of delivering a TEDx talk on trauma. NALGAP: The Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their esteemed President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) granted Jamie the 2019 Advocacy in EMDR Award for her using her public platform in media and in the addiction field to advance awareness about EMDR therapy and to reduce stigma around mental health. In this episode we talk about: Jamie Marich’s return to the podcast The Revised and Expanded Trauma and the 12 Steps The large variation in the programs for substance abuse treatment in whether they are able to include a trauma-informed lens What it looks like to actually interweave the trauma-informed structure to substance abuse tx The power and impact of one alcoholic talking to another The importance of connection, community and relationships The changing face of recovery (including starting with 2 white men and becoming more diverse and inclusive) Attraction rather than promotion Validating strife and struggle then challenging it The bridge between trauma mental health treatment and recovery The fear about trauma work within the addiction community Exploring Trauma and the 12 Steps

An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich, on her revised book: Trauma and the 12 Steps, exploring how 12 Step programs can be trauma-informed. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Marich about how to interweave a trauma-focus into substance abuse self-help and treatment centers.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-500, RMT

Dr. Jamie Marich describes herself as a facilitator of transformative experiences. A clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, writer, yogini, performer, short filmmaker, Reiki master, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to inspire healing in others. She began her career as a humanitarian aid worker in Bosnia-Hercegovina from 2000-2003, primarily teaching English and music while freelancing with other projects. Jamie travels internationally teaching on topics related to trauma, EMDR therapy, expressive arts, mindfulness, and yoga, while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Warren, OH. Marich is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice to expressive arts therapy. She is also the co-creator of the Yoga Unchained approach to trauma-informed yoga, and the developer of Yoga for Clinicians. Marich is the author of EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012), Creative Mindfulness (2013), Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors, and Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015). Marich co-authored EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care along with colleague Dr. Stephen Dansiger, which was released with Springer Publishing in 2017. Her newest title, Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery, released in April 2019. North Atlantic Books is publishing a second and expanded edition of Trauma and the 12 Steps, due for release in the Summer of 2020. Marich’s writing and work on Dancing Mindfulness was featured in the New York Times in 2017. In 2015, she had the privilege of delivering a TEDx talk on trauma. NALGAP: The Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their esteemed President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) granted Jamie the 2019 Advocacy in EMDR Award for her using her public platform in media and in the addiction field to advance awareness about EMDR therapy and to reduce stigma around mental health.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Jamie Marich’s return to the podcast
  • The Revised and Expanded Trauma and the 12 Steps
  • The large variation in the programs for substance abuse treatment in whether they are able to include a trauma-informed lens
  • What it looks like to actually interweave the trauma-informed structure to substance abuse tx
  • The power and impact of one alcoholic talking to another
  • The importance of connection, community and relationships
  • The changing face of recovery (including starting with 2 white men and becoming more diverse and inclusive)
  • Attraction rather than promotion
  • Validating strife and struggle then challenging it
  • The bridge between trauma mental health treatment and recovery
  • The fear about trauma work within the addiction community
]]> 2333 no Work Harder Than Your Clients https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/work-harder-than-your-clients Work Harder Than Your Clients Curt and Katie chat about why and when you should ignore the advice to “not work harder than your clients.” We look at bias in goal-setting, managing risk, focusing on the client’s needs, and the importance of continuing education as well as on-going work outside of session. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The adage that you shouldn’t work harder than your clients The concern that it gives permission to be lazy. The importance of working hard as a therapist Simplification of the concept of being more invested in the outcome than the client Bad therapy practices – bias, lack of client determination, focusing on traditional treatment outcomes, investment in a specific outcome that may or may not align with clients’ values Be present with your client on purpose, working hard Deliberate practice versus complacency Preparing for the situations that may come up, not just one specific concern The “how” of therapy – looking at language, understanding, and relationship with the client Consultation, self-assessment, case formulation Better understanding of what the true workload is compared to your caseload What you shouldn’t be doing to work harder within session The business implications of working harder Dismantling the truisms and oversimplified statements that get passed around Clinical situations that require you to work harder than the clients Working harder than a check box (clinical implications rather than liability check box) Self-management – understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing Questions to consider when looking at your efforts Collaborative treatment planning (both overt and covert) The impact of doing anti-racist work with clients who are not ready for it The importance of identifying whose goal is being pursued in the room The benefits of supervision and consultation How to set covert goals, looking at work outside of session and timing Dismantling assumptions and meeting clients where they are The harder work we have to do is the work we need to do on ourselves Responding to clients with curiosity, professionality, comfort, and authenticity Mon, 06 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Work Harder Than Your Clients full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about common advice therapists get (and why it's wrong) Work Harder Than Your Clients Curt and Katie chat about why and when you should ignore the advice to “not work harder than your clients.” We look at bias in goal-setting, managing risk, focusing on the client’s needs, and the importance of continuing education as well as on-going work outside of session. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The adage that you shouldn’t work harder than your clients The concern that it gives permission to be lazy. The importance of working hard as a therapist Simplification of the concept of being more invested in the outcome than the client Bad therapy practices – bias, lack of client determination, focusing on traditional treatment outcomes, investment in a specific outcome that may or may not align with clients’ values Be present with your client on purpose, working hard Deliberate practice versus complacency Preparing for the situations that may come up, not just one specific concern The “how” of therapy – looking at language, understanding, and relationship with the client Consultation, self-assessment, case formulation Better understanding of what the true workload is compared to your caseload What you shouldn’t be doing to work harder within session The business implications of working harder Dismantling the truisms and oversimplified statements that get passed around Clinical situations that require you to work harder than the clients Working harder than a check box (clinical implications rather than liability check box) Self-management – understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing Questions to consider when looking at your efforts Collaborative treatment planning (both overt and covert) The impact of doing anti-racist work with clients who are not ready for it The importance of identifying whose goal is being pursued in the room The benefits of supervision and consultation How to set covert goals, looking at work outside of session and timing Dismantling assumptions and meeting clients where they are The harder work we have to do is the work we need to do on ourselves Responding to clients with curiosity, professionality, comfort, and authenticity Work Harder Than Your Clients

Curt and Katie chat about why and when you should ignore the advice to “not work harder than your clients.” We look at bias in goal-setting, managing risk, focusing on the client’s needs, and the importance of continuing education as well as on-going work outside of session.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The adage that you shouldn’t work harder than your clients
  • The concern that it gives permission to be lazy.
  • The importance of working hard as a therapist
  • Simplification of the concept of being more invested in the outcome than the client
  • Bad therapy practices – bias, lack of client determination, focusing on traditional treatment outcomes, investment in a specific outcome that may or may not align with clients’ values
  • Be present with your client on purpose, working hard
  • Deliberate practice versus complacency
  • Preparing for the situations that may come up, not just one specific concern
  • The “how” of therapy – looking at language, understanding, and relationship with the client
  • Consultation, self-assessment, case formulation
  • Better understanding of what the true workload is compared to your caseload
  • What you shouldn’t be doing to work harder within session
  • The business implications of working harder
  • Dismantling the truisms and oversimplified statements that get passed around
  • Clinical situations that require you to work harder than the clients
  • Working harder than a check box (clinical implications rather than liability check box)
  • Self-management – understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing
  • Questions to consider when looking at your efforts
  • Collaborative treatment planning (both overt and covert)
  • The impact of doing anti-racist work with clients who are not ready for it
  • The importance of identifying whose goal is being pursued in the room
  • The benefits of supervision and consultation
  • How to set covert goals, looking at work outside of session and timing
  • Dismantling assumptions and meeting clients where they are
  • The harder work we have to do is the work we need to do on ourselves
  • Responding to clients with curiosity, professionality, comfort, and authenticity
]]> 2083 no Bi+ Erasure https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/bi-erasure Bi+ Erasure An interview with Dr. Mimi Hoang, Ph.D., about Bi+ Affirmative therapy and what therapists often get wrong about working with Bi+ people. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Mimi about how often Bi+ people are left out of the conversation (and training) regarding LGBTQ+ people, the consistent erasure and exclusion Bi+ people face, the biases that show up in the therapy room, and how therapists can better prepare themselves for working with the largest segment of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Mimi Hoang, Ph.D. (she/her/hers), Psychologist, Author, and Activist Dr. Mimi Hoang is a nationally-recognized psychologist, educator, author, and grassroots activist specializing in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) and Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities. Since the 1990s, she has co-founded three organizations in Los Angeles for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and other nonmonosexual (AKA "bi+") individuals, authored multiple publications, and earned a seat at the landmark 2013 White House Bisexual Community Roundtable. Dr. Mimi's steadfast leadership has earned her multiple awards, a feature in Jan Dee Gordon's LGBTQ of Steel photography book, mentions in Cosmopolitan and HuffPost, and being named “One of the Most Significant Women in the Bisexual Movement.” She currently works as a Staff Psychologist at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Student Psychological Services, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Antioch University Los Angeles, and is the creator of the "Bi on Life" self-empowerment series. Learn more at www.drmimihoang.com. In this episode we talk about: The tendency for conversations around LGBTQ+ training often leaves out information bisexuality Mimi’s story, including the organizations she has created to support people who are bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and other nonmonosexual individuals The challenge of identifying within a binary of gay or straight and heteronormativity What therapists often get wrong when working with Bi+ clients How likely it is that your client will come out to you The biases against bisexuality in the therapy room Misunderstanding, over simplification, quantification, and other problems in exploring sexuality with Bi+ people Bi-Phobia from the gay community and code switching to “fit in” The concept of Bi Erasure The reasons for Bi+ erasure and exclusion The doubt of existence of bisexuality The huge gap in psychotherapist education related to bisexuality The importance of getting more training on bisexuality Asking the sexual orientation question, exploring sexuality Neutralizing your language when talking about partners Best practices for treating Bi+ people Mon, 29 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Bi+ Erasure: An Interview with Dr. Mimi Hoang full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Mimi Hoang Bi+ Erasure An interview with Dr. Mimi Hoang, Ph.D., about Bi+ Affirmative therapy and what therapists often get wrong about working with Bi+ people. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Mimi about how often Bi+ people are left out of the conversation (and training) regarding LGBTQ+ people, the consistent erasure and exclusion Bi+ people face, the biases that show up in the therapy room, and how therapists can better prepare themselves for working with the largest segment of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Mimi Hoang, Ph.D. (she/her/hers), Psychologist, Author, and Activist Dr. Mimi Hoang is a nationally-recognized psychologist, educator, author, and grassroots activist specializing in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) and Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities. Since the 1990s, she has co-founded three organizations in Los Angeles for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and other nonmonosexual (AKA "bi+") individuals, authored multiple publications, and earned a seat at the landmark 2013 White House Bisexual Community Roundtable. Dr. Mimi's steadfast leadership has earned her multiple awards, a feature in Jan Dee Gordon's LGBTQ of Steel photography book, mentions in Cosmopolitan and HuffPost, and being named “One of the Most Significant Women in the Bisexual Movement.” She currently works as a Staff Psychologist at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Student Psychological Services, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Antioch University Los Angeles, and is the creator of the "Bi on Life" self-empowerment series. Learn more at www.drmimihoang.com. In this episode we talk about: The tendency for conversations around LGBTQ+ training often leaves out information bisexuality Mimi’s story, including the organizations she has created to support people who are bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and other nonmonosexual individuals The challenge of identifying within a binary of gay or straight and heteronormativity What therapists often get wrong when working with Bi+ clients How likely it is that your client will come out to you The biases against bisexuality in the therapy room Misunderstanding, over simplification, quantification, and other problems in exploring sexuality with Bi+ people Bi-Phobia from the gay community and code switching to “fit in” The concept of Bi Erasure The reasons for Bi+ erasure and exclusion The doubt of existence of bisexuality The huge gap in psychotherapist education related to bisexuality The importance of getting more training on bisexuality Asking the sexual orientation question, exploring sexuality Neutralizing your language when talking about partners Best practices for treating Bi+ people Bi+ Erasure

An interview with Dr. Mimi Hoang, Ph.D., about Bi+ Affirmative therapy and what therapists often get wrong about working with Bi+ people. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Mimi about how often Bi+ people are left out of the conversation (and training) regarding LGBTQ+ people, the consistent erasure and exclusion Bi+ people face, the biases that show up in the therapy room, and how therapists can better prepare themselves for working with the largest segment of the LGBTQ+ community.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Mimi Hoang, Ph.D. (she/her/hers), Psychologist, Author, and Activist

Dr. Mimi Hoang is a nationally-recognized psychologist, educator, author, and grassroots activist specializing in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) and Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities. Since the 1990s, she has co-founded three organizations in Los Angeles for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and other nonmonosexual (AKA "bi+") individuals, authored multiple publications, and earned a seat at the landmark 2013 White House Bisexual Community Roundtable. Dr. Mimi's steadfast leadership has earned her multiple awards, a feature in Jan Dee Gordon's LGBTQ of Steel photography book, mentions in Cosmopolitan and HuffPost, and being named “One of the Most Significant Women in the Bisexual Movement.” She currently works as a Staff Psychologist at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Student Psychological Services, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Antioch University Los Angeles, and is the creator of the "Bi on Life" self-empowerment series. Learn more at www.drmimihoang.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The tendency for conversations around LGBTQ+ training often leaves out information bisexuality
  • Mimi’s story, including the organizations she has created to support people who are bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and other nonmonosexual individuals
  • The challenge of identifying within a binary of gay or straight and heteronormativity
  • What therapists often get wrong when working with Bi+ clients
  • How likely it is that your client will come out to you
  • The biases against bisexuality in the therapy room
  • Misunderstanding, over simplification, quantification, and other problems in exploring sexuality with Bi+ people
  • Bi-Phobia from the gay community and code switching to “fit in”
  • The concept of Bi Erasure
  • The reasons for Bi+ erasure and exclusion
  • The doubt of existence of bisexuality
  • The huge gap in psychotherapist education related to bisexuality
  • The importance of getting more training on bisexuality
  • Asking the sexual orientation question, exploring sexuality
  • Neutralizing your language when talking about partners
  • Best practices for treating Bi+ people
]]> 2271 no Reigniting Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/reigniting-therapy Reigniting Therapy An interview with Dr. Daryl Chow regarding how to do effective therapy. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Chow about the ways in which therapists can improve clinically – looking at the relationship, the expectations of clients, and what we each uniquely bring to the room. We also discuss deliberate practice, lifelong learning, and the difference between confidence and competence. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Daryl Chow, MA, PhD (Psych) Daryl Chow, MA, PhD (Psych) is a practicing psychologist and trainer. He is a senior associate of the International Center for Clinical Excellence (ICCE). He devotes his time to workshops, consultations and researches the development of expertise and highly effective psychotherapists, helping practitioners to achieve better results. Daryl is the author of The First Kiss: Undoing the Intake Model and Igniting First Sessions in Psychotherapy. His work has also appeared in edited books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and he is a co-editor of The Write to Recovery: Personal Stories & Lessons about Recovery from Mental Health Concerns. Daryl’s blog, Frontiers of Psychotherapist Development is aimed at inspiring and sustaining practitioners’ individualized professional development. His highly personalized in-depth online course for supervisors, Reigniting Clinical Supervision, serves as a leading light to help raise the bar of effectiveness in psychotherapy. Currently, Daryl maintains a private practice with a vibrant team at Henry Street Centre, Fremantle, and continues to serve as a senior psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. In this episode we talk about: Chow describing himself as a slow learner The value of deep learning The problems with therapist education Banking versus kindling model of education Learning conversation versus theory The importance of practical learning How we get in the way as therapists How to manage first sessions (what you are gifting, versus what you are taking) Undoing the intake perspective We are not in the business of fast food Trajectory of change, continuity of services 20-30% of people come only for one session “Sufficing” our information rather than deep probing “Information is not transformation” – Dr. Daryl Chow First principles and the hero’s journey Evidence-based therapy versus developing good therapists Deliberate practice as a verb “It is so much easier to buy tools than to get good” What is NOT deliberate practice “Confidence is not competence” We get worse as therapists over time if we don’t practice deliberately The importance of lifelong learning The systemic challenges to maintaining skills and getting better What to work on that has leverage for you – finding your own growth edges Measuring growth versus measuring performance Mon, 22 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Reigniting Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Daryl Chow full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Daryl Chow, PhD Reigniting Therapy An interview with Dr. Daryl Chow regarding how to do effective therapy. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Chow about the ways in which therapists can improve clinically – looking at the relationship, the expectations of clients, and what we each uniquely bring to the room. We also discuss deliberate practice, lifelong learning, and the difference between confidence and competence. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Daryl Chow, MA, PhD (Psych) Daryl Chow, MA, PhD (Psych) is a practicing psychologist and trainer. He is a senior associate of the International Center for Clinical Excellence (ICCE). He devotes his time to workshops, consultations and researches the development of expertise and highly effective psychotherapists, helping practitioners to achieve better results. Daryl is the author of The First Kiss: Undoing the Intake Model and Igniting First Sessions in Psychotherapy. His work has also appeared in edited books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and he is a co-editor of The Write to Recovery: Personal Stories & Lessons about Recovery from Mental Health Concerns. Daryl’s blog, Frontiers of Psychotherapist Development is aimed at inspiring and sustaining practitioners’ individualized professional development. His highly personalized in-depth online course for supervisors, Reigniting Clinical Supervision, serves as a leading light to help raise the bar of effectiveness in psychotherapy. Currently, Daryl maintains a private practice with a vibrant team at Henry Street Centre, Fremantle, and continues to serve as a senior psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. In this episode we talk about: Chow describing himself as a slow learner The value of deep learning The problems with therapist education Banking versus kindling model of education Learning conversation versus theory The importance of practical learning How we get in the way as therapists How to manage first sessions (what you are gifting, versus what you are taking) Undoing the intake perspective We are not in the business of fast food Trajectory of change, continuity of services 20-30% of people come only for one session “Sufficing” our information rather than deep probing “Information is not transformation” – Dr. Daryl Chow First principles and the hero’s journey Evidence-based therapy versus developing good therapists Deliberate practice as a verb “It is so much easier to buy tools than to get good” What is NOT deliberate practice “Confidence is not competence” We get worse as therapists over time if we don’t practice deliberately The importance of lifelong learning The systemic challenges to maintaining skills and getting better What to work on that has leverage for you – finding your own growth edges Measuring growth versus measuring performance Reigniting Therapy

An interview with Dr. Daryl Chow regarding how to do effective therapy. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Chow about the ways in which therapists can improve clinically – looking at the relationship, the expectations of clients, and what we each uniquely bring to the room. We also discuss deliberate practice, lifelong learning, and the difference between confidence and competence.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Daryl Chow, MA, PhD (Psych)

Daryl Chow, MA, PhD (Psych) is a practicing psychologist and trainer. He is a senior associate of the International Center for Clinical Excellence (ICCE). He devotes his time to workshops, consultations and researches the development of expertise and highly effective psychotherapists, helping practitioners to achieve better results.

Daryl is the author of The First Kiss: Undoing the Intake Model and Igniting First Sessions in Psychotherapy. His work has also appeared in edited books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and he is a co-editor of The Write to Recovery: Personal Stories & Lessons about Recovery from Mental Health Concerns.

Daryl’s blog, Frontiers of Psychotherapist Development is aimed at inspiring and sustaining practitioners’ individualized professional development. His highly personalized in-depth online course for supervisors, Reigniting Clinical Supervision, serves as a leading light to help raise the bar of effectiveness in psychotherapy.

Currently, Daryl maintains a private practice with a vibrant team at Henry Street Centre, Fremantle, and continues to serve as a senior psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Chow describing himself as a slow learner
  • The value of deep learning
  • The problems with therapist education
  • Banking versus kindling model of education
  • Learning conversation versus theory
  • The importance of practical learning
  • How we get in the way as therapists
  • How to manage first sessions (what you are gifting, versus what you are taking)
  • Undoing the intake perspective
  • We are not in the business of fast food
  • Trajectory of change, continuity of services
  • 20-30% of people come only for one session
  • “Sufficing” our information rather than deep probing
  • “Information is not transformation” – Dr. Daryl Chow
  • First principles and the hero’s journey
  • Evidence-based therapy versus developing good therapists
  • Deliberate practice as a verb
  • “It is so much easier to buy tools than to get good”
  • What is NOT deliberate practice
  • “Confidence is not competence”
  • We get worse as therapists over time if we don’t practice deliberately
  • The importance of lifelong learning
  • The systemic challenges to maintaining skills and getting better
  • What to work on that has leverage for you – finding your own growth edges
  • Measuring growth versus measuring performance
]]> 2798 no Mission Driven Work https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/mission-driven-work Mission Driven Work Curt and Katie chat about walking your talk, sticking to your mission, and being strategic in how you incorporate new initiatives and perspectives into your work. We look at the tendency to take action without thinking about where you fit into the conversation and without tying those actions back to your mission and why you do what you do. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The importance of focusing on your mission when making decisions in your business Looking at why you do what you do Implementing your mission within your business Practical applications and systems to support new initiatives aligned with mission-driven work Times when following your personal mission may be hard to do as a therapist The importance of staying true to yourself and aligned with your mission and expertise The difference between branding, marketing, and mission What are you putting out into the world? The danger of putting out something quickly in response to the zeitgeist versus aligning with your mission and your expertise What is a mission and how do you develop one? Getting strategic in how you incorporate new information into mission-driven work The need for thinking and analysis before taking action Sitting with discomfort and avoiding reacting too quickly Intentional pathway guided by thought and strategy Mission is not just a goal, it is how you work, who you want to work with, how you want to work, the guiding principles, how you make decisions Broad, vague missions that are just “help people” or “do good things” do not support making a decision on how you respond to crises Tying your actions to your mission will allow it to sustain momentum past the news cycle How to incorporate antiracism into a business that is focused on addressing something else The assessment of how you can leverage your resources to help something change The ability to add antiracism practices internally that have a bigger impact than having an externally focused product or service The importance to staying within your purview and yield the floor to those whose work and mission should be central Ineffective ways to do ally work, burning out and arguing with people who will not change Tweet Thread from Ijeoma Oluo Our mission and how we are recommitting to each of the changes we see needed in therapy and therapist education Mon, 15 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Mission Driven Work full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the tendency to take action without thinking about where you fit into the conversation Mission Driven Work Curt and Katie chat about walking your talk, sticking to your mission, and being strategic in how you incorporate new initiatives and perspectives into your work. We look at the tendency to take action without thinking about where you fit into the conversation and without tying those actions back to your mission and why you do what you do. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The importance of focusing on your mission when making decisions in your business Looking at why you do what you do Implementing your mission within your business Practical applications and systems to support new initiatives aligned with mission-driven work Times when following your personal mission may be hard to do as a therapist The importance of staying true to yourself and aligned with your mission and expertise The difference between branding, marketing, and mission What are you putting out into the world? The danger of putting out something quickly in response to the zeitgeist versus aligning with your mission and your expertise What is a mission and how do you develop one? Getting strategic in how you incorporate new information into mission-driven work The need for thinking and analysis before taking action Sitting with discomfort and avoiding reacting too quickly Intentional pathway guided by thought and strategy Mission is not just a goal, it is how you work, who you want to work with, how you want to work, the guiding principles, how you make decisions Broad, vague missions that are just “help people” or “do good things” do not support making a decision on how you respond to crises Tying your actions to your mission will allow it to sustain momentum past the news cycle How to incorporate antiracism into a business that is focused on addressing something else The assessment of how you can leverage your resources to help something change The ability to add antiracism practices internally that have a bigger impact than having an externally focused product or service The importance to staying within your purview and yield the floor to those whose work and mission should be central Ineffective ways to do ally work, burning out and arguing with people who will not change Tweet Thread from Ijeoma Oluo Our mission and how we are recommitting to each of the changes we see needed in therapy and therapist education Mission Driven Work

Curt and Katie chat about walking your talk, sticking to your mission, and being strategic in how you incorporate new initiatives and perspectives into your work. We look at the tendency to take action without thinking about where you fit into the conversation and without tying those actions back to your mission and why you do what you do.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The importance of focusing on your mission when making decisions in your business
  • Looking at why you do what you do
  • Implementing your mission within your business
  • Practical applications and systems to support new initiatives aligned with mission-driven work
  • Times when following your personal mission may be hard to do as a therapist
  • The importance of staying true to yourself and aligned with your mission and expertise
  • The difference between branding, marketing, and mission
  • What are you putting out into the world?
  • The danger of putting out something quickly in response to the zeitgeist versus aligning with your mission and your expertise
  • What is a mission and how do you develop one?
  • Getting strategic in how you incorporate new information into mission-driven work
  • The need for thinking and analysis before taking action
  • Sitting with discomfort and avoiding reacting too quickly
  • Intentional pathway guided by thought and strategy
  • Mission is not just a goal, it is how you work, who you want to work with, how you want to work, the guiding principles, how you make decisions
  • Broad, vague missions that are just “help people” or “do good things” do not support making a decision on how you respond to crises
  • Tying your actions to your mission will allow it to sustain momentum past the news cycle
  • How to incorporate antiracism into a business that is focused on addressing something else
  • The assessment of how you can leverage your resources to help something change
  • The ability to add antiracism practices internally that have a bigger impact than having an externally focused product or service
  • The importance to staying within your purview and yield the floor to those whose work and mission should be central
  • Ineffective ways to do ally work, burning out and arguing with people who will not change
  • Tweet Thread from Ijeoma Oluo
  • Our mission and how we are recommitting to each of the changes we see needed in therapy and therapist education
]]> 2339 no Therapy as a Political Act https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapy-as-a-political-act Therapy as a Political Act An interview with Dr. Travis Heath, PhD, regarding the myth that therapists can remain neutral and be considered not “political”. Curt and Katie talk with Travis about how he perceives effective therapy and how to interrogate the ways in which people interact within the systems where they live and work (and what they consider to be absolute truths). We also look at decolonizing therapy and honoring preferred, culturally relevant methods of healing. Finally, we look at being a therapist (and especially a BIPOC therapist) during this time – the ways we can support each other and the opportunities we have to impact real change with our clients. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Travis Heath, PhD Travis Heath is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He has worked in Los Angeles, California and is currently a licensed psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado. The work he has been focused on includes shifting from a multicultural approach to counseling to one of cultural democracy that invites people to heal in mediums that are culturally near. Writing he has contributed to has focused on the use of rap music in narrative therapy, working with persons entangled in the criminal justice system in ways that maintain their dignity, narrative practice stories as pedagogy, a co-created questioning practice called reunion questions, and community healing strategies. He is currently co-authoring the first book on Contemporary Narrative Therapy with David Epston. His practice has been apprenticed by David Epston, substantially influenced by the work of Makungu Akinyela, and inspired by collaborators such as marcela polanco, Tom Carlson, Sasha Pilkington, and Kay Ingamells. He has been fortunate enough to run workshops and speak about his work in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, and United States. In this episode we talk about: Travis’s personal history and its relevance to the current conversation Therapy as a political act How neutrality fits into the idea of politics-free therapy – “Neutrality is a political position” Narrative therapy’s role in anti-racism Interrogating systems at play in clients’ decision-making Challenging assumptions and “absolute truths” How therapists are impacted by the stories and perspectives of their clients How to manage clients who have held positions that are threatening to you as an individual The systems perspective on how people behave and how systems shape their beliefs The place for antiracism work within therapy “We don’t need more social justice theories; we’ve got many of those. We need more social justice practices” A framework to carry social justice in therapy beyond the current news cycle The problem with multicultural counseling Decolonizing therapy – looking at how to restore culturally relevant methods of healing The problem with CBT for non-Eurocentric clients Preferred mediums of healing and cultural democracy The mediocracy of typical therapy prescriptions Elevating the knowledge of the other Expertise in asking the right questions and elevating the expertise of the other Co-creation of tools and strategies The liberating effect of asking your client for their inherent knowledge Where to use your role as expert Mon, 08 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Therapy as a Political Act: An interview with Dr. Travis Heath, PhD full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Travis Heath, PhD Therapy as a Political Act An interview with Dr. Travis Heath, PhD, regarding the myth that therapists can remain neutral and be considered not “political”. Curt and Katie talk with Travis about how he perceives effective therapy and how to interrogate the ways in which people interact within the systems where they live and work (and what they consider to be absolute truths). We also look at decolonizing therapy and honoring preferred, culturally relevant methods of healing. Finally, we look at being a therapist (and especially a BIPOC therapist) during this time – the ways we can support each other and the opportunities we have to impact real change with our clients. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Travis Heath, PhD Travis Heath is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He has worked in Los Angeles, California and is currently a licensed psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado. The work he has been focused on includes shifting from a multicultural approach to counseling to one of cultural democracy that invites people to heal in mediums that are culturally near. Writing he has contributed to has focused on the use of rap music in narrative therapy, working with persons entangled in the criminal justice system in ways that maintain their dignity, narrative practice stories as pedagogy, a co-created questioning practice called reunion questions, and community healing strategies. He is currently co-authoring the first book on Contemporary Narrative Therapy with David Epston. His practice has been apprenticed by David Epston, substantially influenced by the work of Makungu Akinyela, and inspired by collaborators such as marcela polanco, Tom Carlson, Sasha Pilkington, and Kay Ingamells. He has been fortunate enough to run workshops and speak about his work in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, and United States. In this episode we talk about: Travis’s personal history and its relevance to the current conversation Therapy as a political act How neutrality fits into the idea of politics-free therapy – “Neutrality is a political position” Narrative therapy’s role in anti-racism Interrogating systems at play in clients’ decision-making Challenging assumptions and “absolute truths” How therapists are impacted by the stories and perspectives of their clients How to manage clients who have held positions that are threatening to you as an individual The systems perspective on how people behave and how systems shape their beliefs The place for antiracism work within therapy “We don’t need more social justice theories; we’ve got many of those. We need more social justice practices” A framework to carry social justice in therapy beyond the current news cycle The problem with multicultural counseling Decolonizing therapy – looking at how to restore culturally relevant methods of healing The problem with CBT for non-Eurocentric clients Preferred mediums of healing and cultural democracy The mediocracy of typical therapy prescriptions Elevating the knowledge of the other Expertise in asking the right questions and elevating the expertise of the other Co-creation of tools and strategies The liberating effect of asking your client for their inherent knowledge Where to use your role as expert Therapy as a Political Act

An interview with Dr. Travis Heath, PhD, regarding the myth that therapists can remain neutral and be considered not “political”. Curt and Katie talk with Travis about how he perceives effective therapy and how to interrogate the ways in which people interact within the systems where they live and work (and what they consider to be absolute truths). We also look at decolonizing therapy and honoring preferred, culturally relevant methods of healing. Finally, we look at being a therapist (and especially a BIPOC therapist) during this time – the ways we can support each other and the opportunities we have to impact real change with our clients.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Travis Heath, PhD

Travis Heath is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He has worked in Los Angeles, California and is currently a licensed psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado. The work he has been focused on includes shifting from a multicultural approach to counseling to one of cultural democracy that invites people to heal in mediums that are culturally near. Writing he has contributed to has focused on the use of rap music in narrative therapy, working with persons entangled in the criminal justice system in ways that maintain their dignity, narrative practice stories as pedagogy, a co-created questioning practice called reunion questions, and community healing strategies. He is currently co-authoring the first book on Contemporary Narrative Therapy with David Epston. His practice has been apprenticed by David Epston, substantially influenced by the work of Makungu Akinyela, and inspired by collaborators such as marcela polanco, Tom Carlson, Sasha Pilkington, and Kay Ingamells. He has been fortunate enough to run workshops and speak about his work in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, and United States.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Travis’s personal history and its relevance to the current conversation
  • Therapy as a political act
  • How neutrality fits into the idea of politics-free therapy – “Neutrality is a political position”
  • Narrative therapy’s role in anti-racism
  • Interrogating systems at play in clients’ decision-making
  • Challenging assumptions and “absolute truths”
  • How therapists are impacted by the stories and perspectives of their clients
  • How to manage clients who have held positions that are threatening to you as an individual
  • The systems perspective on how people behave and how systems shape their beliefs
  • The place for antiracism work within therapy
  • “We don’t need more social justice theories; we’ve got many of those. We need more social justice practices”
  • A framework to carry social justice in therapy beyond the current news cycle
  • The problem with multicultural counseling
  • Decolonizing therapy – looking at how to restore culturally relevant methods of healing
  • The problem with CBT for non-Eurocentric clients
  • Preferred mediums of healing and cultural democracy
  • The mediocracy of typical therapy prescriptions
  • Elevating the knowledge of the other
  • Expertise in asking the right questions and elevating the expertise of the other
  • Co-creation of tools and strategies
  • The liberating effect of asking your client for their inherent knowledge
  • Where to use your role as expert
]]> 2728 no Ally is a Verb https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/ally-is-a-verb Ally is a Verb Curt and Katie chat about how to engage in ally work. We look at white fragility, helpful and harmful responses during times of crisis, and how to leverage privilege appropriately to work to address systemic racism and oppression. We encourage people to step beyond keyboard warriorship and focusing on ourselves to taking actions that can impact real change. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Latest incidences of systemic oppression (George Floyd, Christian Cooper) and how they have impacted the current conversations about racism, ally work, and therapy White Fragility and how it can show up during times of crisis How white women in distress distract ALLY (from Kayla Reed): A- always center the impacted L- listen & learn from those who live in the oppression L- leverage your privilege Y-yield the floor The need to identify positive ways to do anti-racist, ally work Assessing your motivation to say things publicly The lure of taking actions that only check a box or make us feel better Discomfort and pain that we must sit in, if we’re going to really do the work What can actually move the needle for systemic change Amplifying voices versus shifting the focus or stepping in front of people who need to be heard Bullying and bystanders Learning and researching on our own, versus requiring clinicians of color to do the emotional labor of teaching us Myths of being an ally Therapists who are invested in the status quo and the white washing that happens when those types of comments are erased The importance of acknowledging history (including racism) and whiteness The difference between “all racists are bad people” and we are in a racist system and thus are all racist The damage done when denying the past, gaslighting communities of color Showing up as a white therapist with a client who is in a marginalized community The need for cultural humility and awareness of what is going on Recognizing reality and how we cannot just “cope” hard enough to make this goes away Crisis management when you are working with risk factors (suicidality, homicidality, abuse) and the importance to understand the additional risk calling police or other government agencies on your clients within the black community Alternatives for managing risk, looking at community resources The challenges of doing ally work as a therapist The slow and arduous process of treating overtly racist clients: listening to fears and perspective Mon, 01 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Ally is a Verb full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie look at white fragility and how to ally with marginalized communities against systemic racism Ally is a Verb Curt and Katie chat about how to engage in ally work. We look at white fragility, helpful and harmful responses during times of crisis, and how to leverage privilege appropriately to work to address systemic racism and oppression. We encourage people to step beyond keyboard warriorship and focusing on ourselves to taking actions that can impact real change. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Latest incidences of systemic oppression (George Floyd, Christian Cooper) and how they have impacted the current conversations about racism, ally work, and therapy White Fragility and how it can show up during times of crisis How white women in distress distract ALLY (from Kayla Reed): A- always center the impacted L- listen & learn from those who live in the oppression L- leverage your privilege Y-yield the floor The need to identify positive ways to do anti-racist, ally work Assessing your motivation to say things publicly The lure of taking actions that only check a box or make us feel better Discomfort and pain that we must sit in, if we’re going to really do the work What can actually move the needle for systemic change Amplifying voices versus shifting the focus or stepping in front of people who need to be heard Bullying and bystanders Learning and researching on our own, versus requiring clinicians of color to do the emotional labor of teaching us Myths of being an ally Therapists who are invested in the status quo and the white washing that happens when those types of comments are erased The importance of acknowledging history (including racism) and whiteness The difference between “all racists are bad people” and we are in a racist system and thus are all racist The damage done when denying the past, gaslighting communities of color Showing up as a white therapist with a client who is in a marginalized community The need for cultural humility and awareness of what is going on Recognizing reality and how we cannot just “cope” hard enough to make this goes away Crisis management when you are working with risk factors (suicidality, homicidality, abuse) and the importance to understand the additional risk calling police or other government agencies on your clients within the black community Alternatives for managing risk, looking at community resources The challenges of doing ally work as a therapist The slow and arduous process of treating overtly racist clients: listening to fears and perspective Ally is a Verb

Curt and Katie chat about how to engage in ally work. We look at white fragility, helpful and harmful responses during times of crisis, and how to leverage privilege appropriately to work to address systemic racism and oppression. We encourage people to step beyond keyboard warriorship and focusing on ourselves to taking actions that can impact real change.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Latest incidences of systemic oppression (George Floyd, Christian Cooper) and how they have impacted the current conversations about racism, ally work, and therapy
  • White Fragility and how it can show up during times of crisis
  • How white women in distress distract
  • ALLY (from Kayla Reed):
  • A- always center the impacted
  • L- listen & learn from those who live in the oppression
  • L- leverage your privilege
  • Y-yield the floor
  • The need to identify positive ways to do anti-racist, ally work
  • Assessing your motivation to say things publicly
  • The lure of taking actions that only check a box or make us feel better
  • Discomfort and pain that we must sit in, if we’re going to really do the work
  • What can actually move the needle for systemic change
  • Amplifying voices versus shifting the focus or stepping in front of people who need to be heard
  • Bullying and bystanders
  • Learning and researching on our own, versus requiring clinicians of color to do the emotional labor of teaching us
  • Myths of being an ally
  • Therapists who are invested in the status quo and the white washing that happens when those types of comments are erased
  • The importance of acknowledging history (including racism) and whiteness
  • The difference between “all racists are bad people” and we are in a racist system and thus are all racist
  • The damage done when denying the past, gaslighting communities of color
  • Showing up as a white therapist with a client who is in a marginalized community
  • The need for cultural humility and awareness of what is going on
  • Recognizing reality and how we cannot just “cope” hard enough to make this goes away
  • Crisis management when you are working with risk factors (suicidality, homicidality, abuse) and the importance to understand the additional risk calling police or other government agencies on your clients within the black community
  • Alternatives for managing risk, looking at community resources
  • The challenges of doing ally work as a therapist
  • The slow and arduous process of treating overtly racist clients: listening to fears and perspective
]]> 2209 no Authentic Side Hustles https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/authentic-side-hustels Authentic Side Hustles An interview with Annie Schuessler about when and how to consider adding a business outside the therapy room. Curt and Katie explore with Annie about how someone can actually succeed in developing a side hustle, looking at the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and effective products and services. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Annie Schuessler, MFT, Rebel Therapist Annie Schuessler is a business coach and the host of the podcast Rebel Therapist® where she shares stories of people creating unique and innovative businesses. She’s been a therapist in private practice for 20 years, and a business coach for over 10 years. Her mission is to help people trained as therapists create and launch exceptional programs beyond the therapy room. She lives in San Francisco with her wife and two children. When she’s not recording a podcast or working with her clients, you can find her trying to convince her family to play Catan with her. You can find her resources at rebeltherapist.me. In this episode we talk about: The mistakes therapists make in developing their side hustles Why it doesn’t make sense to go for passive income right away The importance of creativity and passion for the impact you want to have The role burnout should (or should not) play in what you decide to do Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs Why you need grit and perseverance The problem with cookie cutter programs or programs from people one step ahead of you Where to focus and how to initially develop your offering The need for identifying what you have to offer and how to develop authority Owning your experience and standing out Selling a process versus expert information The challenges of marketing and some ideas about how to address these challenges Authentic relational approach for therapists turned coaches The considerations for starting another business now during the COVID pandemic and the global economic crisis Why fluff won’t sell, especially now Creation of free resources to provide value to your community The risk of repurposing others’ work for your own The need to articulate your unique viewpoint, understand your mission and purpose The fear of being bold and standing out Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Rebel Therapist Rebel Therapist Podcast Relevant Episodes: Creating Opportunities Clinical Marketing Beyond Selling the Couch Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 25 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Authentic Side Hustles: Interview with Rebel Therapist Annie Schuessler full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Annie Schuessler, Rebel Therapist Authentic Side Hustles An interview with Annie Schuessler about when and how to consider adding a business outside the therapy room. Curt and Katie explore with Annie about how someone can actually succeed in developing a side hustle, looking at the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and effective products and services. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Annie Schuessler, MFT, Rebel Therapist Annie Schuessler is a business coach and the host of the podcast Rebel Therapist® where she shares stories of people creating unique and innovative businesses. She’s been a therapist in private practice for 20 years, and a business coach for over 10 years. Her mission is to help people trained as therapists create and launch exceptional programs beyond the therapy room. She lives in San Francisco with her wife and two children. When she’s not recording a podcast or working with her clients, you can find her trying to convince her family to play Catan with her. You can find her resources at rebeltherapist.me. In this episode we talk about: The mistakes therapists make in developing their side hustles Why it doesn’t make sense to go for passive income right away The importance of creativity and passion for the impact you want to have The role burnout should (or should not) play in what you decide to do Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs Why you need grit and perseverance The problem with cookie cutter programs or programs from people one step ahead of you Where to focus and how to initially develop your offering The need for identifying what you have to offer and how to develop authority Owning your experience and standing out Selling a process versus expert information The challenges of marketing and some ideas about how to address these challenges Authentic relational approach for therapists turned coaches The considerations for starting another business now during the COVID pandemic and the global economic crisis Why fluff won’t sell, especially now Creation of free resources to provide value to your community The risk of repurposing others’ work for your own The need to articulate your unique viewpoint, understand your mission and purpose The fear of being bold and standing out Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Rebel Therapist Rebel Therapist Podcast Relevant Episodes: Creating Opportunities Clinical Marketing Beyond Selling the Couch Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Authentic Side Hustles

An interview with Annie Schuessler about when and how to consider adding a business outside the therapy room. Curt and Katie explore with Annie about how someone can actually succeed in developing a side hustle, looking at the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and effective products and services.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Annie Schuessler, MFT, Rebel Therapist

Annie Schuessler is a business coach and the host of the podcast Rebel Therapist® where she shares stories of people creating unique and innovative businesses. She’s been a therapist in private practice for 20 years, and a business coach for over 10 years. Her mission is to help people trained as therapists create and launch exceptional programs beyond the therapy room. She lives in San Francisco with her wife and two children. When she’s not recording a podcast or working with her clients, you can find her trying to convince her family to play Catan with her. You can find her resources at rebeltherapist.me.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The mistakes therapists make in developing their side hustles
  • Why it doesn’t make sense to go for passive income right away
  • The importance of creativity and passion for the impact you want to have
  • The role burnout should (or should not) play in what you decide to do
  • Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
  • Why you need grit and perseverance
  • The problem with cookie cutter programs or programs from people one step ahead of you
  • Where to focus and how to initially develop your offering
  • The need for identifying what you have to offer and how to develop authority
  • Owning your experience and standing out
  • Selling a process versus expert information
  • The challenges of marketing and some ideas about how to address these challenges
  • Authentic relational approach for therapists turned coaches
  • The considerations for starting another business now during the COVID pandemic and the global economic crisis
  • Why fluff won’t sell, especially now
  • Creation of free resources to provide value to your community
  • The risk of repurposing others’ work for your own
  • The need to articulate your unique viewpoint, understand your mission and purpose
  • The fear of being bold and standing out

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Rebel Therapist

Rebel Therapist Podcast

Relevant Episodes:

Creating Opportunities

Clinical Marketing

Beyond Selling the Couch

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2354 no Shared Traumatic Experiences https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/shared-traumatic-experiences Shared Traumatic Experiences Curt and Katie chat about the potential that clients will take care of us because we’re all going through the global pandemic. We look at the humanization and boundary shifts that can happen. We also talk about how to handle the nuance of the changes in the therapeutic relationship to help sustain stronger clinical efficacy. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How clients may become more aware of their therapist’s own challenges due to the pandemic Clients testing to see if we have capacity to manage what is happening AND their issues as well The reality of the additional disclosure that is happening with telehealth How we’re managing the conversations about the human experience, the unique situations we’re facing, and our clients’ concerns The disinhibition effect for both clients and therapists via telehealth Discussions about availability and flexibility with clients Research on Shared Traumatic Experiences Boundary shifts that need to be discussed How to handle the shifts in the relationship with nuance The need for therapists to take care of themselves – more deliberately and differently than we might have done prior to the pandemic The added stressors that are being put on therapists that our clients are likely aware of The importance of not pathologizing our clients wanting to take care of us during this time The positives for telehealth and some of the boundary shifts The importance of community for therapists right now Acknowledging that therapists who have stayed in the office require support as well Risk factors for therapists who wear different hats and have different projects Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article by Lori Gottlieb in the Atlantic Article about the Disinhibition Effect Article: Therapeutic Intervention in a Continuous Shared Traumatic Reality: An Example from the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict Article: Negative consequences of helping and the length of work experience Article: Shared Traumatic Reality and Boundary Theory: How Mental Health Professionals Cope With the Home/Work Conflict During Continuous Security Threats     Therapy Reimagined 2020: Therapy Reimagined 2020 Conference: Speakers!! Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors   Relevant Episodes: The Brand Called You Recession-Proofing Your Practice Systems of Self-Care Impaired Therapists Trauma Informed Work Place The Mental Load of Therapists Vulnerability, the News, and You   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 18 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Shared Traumatic Experiences full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about clients wanting to take care of us Shared Traumatic Experiences Curt and Katie chat about the potential that clients will take care of us because we’re all going through the global pandemic. We look at the humanization and boundary shifts that can happen. We also talk about how to handle the nuance of the changes in the therapeutic relationship to help sustain stronger clinical efficacy. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How clients may become more aware of their therapist’s own challenges due to the pandemic Clients testing to see if we have capacity to manage what is happening AND their issues as well The reality of the additional disclosure that is happening with telehealth How we’re managing the conversations about the human experience, the unique situations we’re facing, and our clients’ concerns The disinhibition effect for both clients and therapists via telehealth Discussions about availability and flexibility with clients Research on Shared Traumatic Experiences Boundary shifts that need to be discussed How to handle the shifts in the relationship with nuance The need for therapists to take care of themselves – more deliberately and differently than we might have done prior to the pandemic The added stressors that are being put on therapists that our clients are likely aware of The importance of not pathologizing our clients wanting to take care of us during this time The positives for telehealth and some of the boundary shifts The importance of community for therapists right now Acknowledging that therapists who have stayed in the office require support as well Risk factors for therapists who wear different hats and have different projects Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Article by Lori Gottlieb in the Atlantic Article about the Disinhibition Effect Article: Therapeutic Intervention in a Continuous Shared Traumatic Reality: An Example from the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict Article: Negative consequences of helping and the length of work experience Article: Shared Traumatic Reality and Boundary Theory: How Mental Health Professionals Cope With the Home/Work Conflict During Continuous Security Threats     Therapy Reimagined 2020: Therapy Reimagined 2020 Conference: Speakers!! Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors   Relevant Episodes: The Brand Called You Recession-Proofing Your Practice Systems of Self-Care Impaired Therapists Trauma Informed Work Place The Mental Load of Therapists Vulnerability, the News, and You   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Shared Traumatic Experiences

Curt and Katie chat about the potential that clients will take care of us because we’re all going through the global pandemic. We look at the humanization and boundary shifts that can happen. We also talk about how to handle the nuance of the changes in the therapeutic relationship to help sustain stronger clinical efficacy.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How clients may become more aware of their therapist’s own challenges due to the pandemic
  • Clients testing to see if we have capacity to manage what is happening AND their issues as well
  • The reality of the additional disclosure that is happening with telehealth
  • How we’re managing the conversations about the human experience, the unique situations we’re facing, and our clients’ concerns
  • The disinhibition effect for both clients and therapists via telehealth
  • Discussions about availability and flexibility with clients
  • Research on Shared Traumatic Experiences
  • Boundary shifts that need to be discussed
  • How to handle the shifts in the relationship with nuance
  • The need for therapists to take care of themselves – more deliberately and differently than we might have done prior to the pandemic
  • The added stressors that are being put on therapists that our clients are likely aware of
  • The importance of not pathologizing our clients wanting to take care of us during this time
  • The positives for telehealth and some of the boundary shifts
  • The importance of community for therapists right now
  • Acknowledging that therapists who have stayed in the office require support as well
  • Risk factors for therapists who wear different hats and have different projects

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Article by Lori Gottlieb in the Atlantic

Article about the Disinhibition Effect

Article: Therapeutic Intervention in a Continuous Shared Traumatic Reality: An Example from the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict

Article: Negative consequences of helping and the length of work experience

Article: Shared Traumatic Reality and Boundary Theory: How Mental Health Professionals Cope With the Home/Work Conflict During Continuous Security Threats

 

 

Therapy Reimagined 2020:

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Conference: Speakers!!

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors

 

Relevant Episodes:

The Brand Called You

Recession-Proofing Your Practice

Systems of Self-Care

Impaired Therapists

Trauma Informed Work Place

The Mental Load of Therapists

Vulnerability, the News, and You

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2167 no The Person of the Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-person-of-the-therapist The Person of the Therapist An interview with Dr. Harry Aponte about challenging the idea that therapists can be blank screens or “surgeons.” We talk with Dr. Aponte about the importance of the self of the therapist in creating the relationship and doing effective clinical work. We also look into his Person of the Therapist Training and much of his body of work supporting therapists as well as communities of color.  Interview with Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT, is a family therapist known for his writings and workshops on the person of the therapist, spirituality in therapy, therapy with disadvantaged and culturally diverse families, and structural family therapy. Dr. Aponte was a staff member and teacher of family therapy at the Menninger Clinic, and subsequently Director of the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center. Currently, Dr. Aponte is clinical associate professor in the Couple & Family Therapy Program of Drexel University in Philadelphia. He has a private practice in Philadelphia, and conducts training and workshops throughout the country and abroad. Dr. Aponte published Bread & Spirit through Norton, a book that speaks to therapy with today’s poor in the context of ethnicity, culture and spirituality. Dr. Aponte and Dr. Karni Kissil have edited a book entitled The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self, published by Routledge (2016). In this episode we talk about: Aponte’s story, including his work with Salvador Minuchin, Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen Debunking the idea that therapists act as surgeons and that clients from marginalized communities “don’t talk.” Aponte’s racial background interacting with the work that he did The reasons he was asked so frequently asked to work with families in poverty-stricken areas How the ideas in The Person of the Therapist came to be Bringing mental health into communities of color Social justice and advocacy within the therapist’s purview Working with Jim Lester, an activist in Philadelphia, to bridge the gap between education, mental health services for kids who were truant The ideas of structural therapy being translated into the communities The difference of lived experience in bringing oneself into the therapeutic relationship The Person of the Therapist training at Drexel University How Harry’s personal experiences continue to impact his work What is missing in most clinical training The use of self in therapy The importance of knowing yourself before you become a therapist The idea that you must also know your hang ups and challenges and what you’ll be bringing into the room, so you can recognize and be “with” your clients “Therapy is not a conversation; it is an experience.” – Dr. Harry Aponte The vulnerability of being a therapist and the need to do work your work early in your training The importance of doing versus reading about what should be done Reasons that understanding yourself and bringing yourself into room provides better therapy Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Family Therapy Pioneer Salvador Minuchin on the Therapist’s Self (article in Psychotherapy Networker) The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self (book)   Relevant Episodes: How to BE a Therapist   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 11 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000 The Person of the Therapist: An interview with Dr. Harry Aponte full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Harry Aponte The Person of the Therapist An interview with Dr. Harry Aponte about challenging the idea that therapists can be blank screens or “surgeons.” We talk with Dr. Aponte about the importance of the self of the therapist in creating the relationship and doing effective clinical work. We also look into his Person of the Therapist Training and much of his body of work supporting therapists as well as communities of color.  Interview with Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT, is a family therapist known for his writings and workshops on the person of the therapist, spirituality in therapy, therapy with disadvantaged and culturally diverse families, and structural family therapy. Dr. Aponte was a staff member and teacher of family therapy at the Menninger Clinic, and subsequently Director of the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center. Currently, Dr. Aponte is clinical associate professor in the Couple & Family Therapy Program of Drexel University in Philadelphia. He has a private practice in Philadelphia, and conducts training and workshops throughout the country and abroad. Dr. Aponte published Bread & Spirit through Norton, a book that speaks to therapy with today’s poor in the context of ethnicity, culture and spirituality. Dr. Aponte and Dr. Karni Kissil have edited a book entitled The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self, published by Routledge (2016). In this episode we talk about: Aponte’s story, including his work with Salvador Minuchin, Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen Debunking the idea that therapists act as surgeons and that clients from marginalized communities “don’t talk.” Aponte’s racial background interacting with the work that he did The reasons he was asked so frequently asked to work with families in poverty-stricken areas How the ideas in The Person of the Therapist came to be Bringing mental health into communities of color Social justice and advocacy within the therapist’s purview Working with Jim Lester, an activist in Philadelphia, to bridge the gap between education, mental health services for kids who were truant The ideas of structural therapy being translated into the communities The difference of lived experience in bringing oneself into the therapeutic relationship The Person of the Therapist training at Drexel University How Harry’s personal experiences continue to impact his work What is missing in most clinical training The use of self in therapy The importance of knowing yourself before you become a therapist The idea that you must also know your hang ups and challenges and what you’ll be bringing into the room, so you can recognize and be “with” your clients “Therapy is not a conversation; it is an experience.” – Dr. Harry Aponte The vulnerability of being a therapist and the need to do work your work early in your training The importance of doing versus reading about what should be done Reasons that understanding yourself and bringing yourself into room provides better therapy Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Family Therapy Pioneer Salvador Minuchin on the Therapist’s Self (article in Psychotherapy Networker) The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self (book)   Relevant Episodes: How to BE a Therapist   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ The Person of the Therapist

An interview with Dr. Harry Aponte about challenging the idea that therapists can be blank screens or “surgeons.” We talk with Dr. Aponte about the importance of the self of the therapist in creating the relationship and doing effective clinical work. We also look into his Person of the Therapist Training and much of his body of work supporting therapists as well as communities of color. 

Interview with Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT

Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT, is a family therapist known for his writings and workshops on the person of the therapist, spirituality in therapy, therapy with disadvantaged and culturally diverse families, and structural family therapy. Dr. Aponte was a staff member and teacher of family therapy at the Menninger Clinic, and subsequently Director of the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center. Currently, Dr. Aponte is clinical associate professor in the Couple & Family Therapy Program of Drexel University in Philadelphia. He has a private practice in Philadelphia, and conducts training and workshops throughout the country and abroad.

Dr. Aponte published Bread & Spirit through Norton, a book that speaks to therapy with today’s poor in the context of ethnicity, culture and spirituality.

Dr. Aponte and Dr. Karni Kissil have edited a book entitled The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self, published by Routledge (2016).

In this episode we talk about:

  • Aponte’s story, including his work with Salvador Minuchin, Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen
  • Debunking the idea that therapists act as surgeons and that clients from marginalized communities “don’t talk.”
  • Aponte’s racial background interacting with the work that he did
  • The reasons he was asked so frequently asked to work with families in poverty-stricken areas
  • How the ideas in The Person of the Therapist came to be
  • Bringing mental health into communities of color
  • Social justice and advocacy within the therapist’s purview
  • Working with Jim Lester, an activist in Philadelphia, to bridge the gap between education, mental health services for kids who were truant
  • The ideas of structural therapy being translated into the communities
  • The difference of lived experience in bringing oneself into the therapeutic relationship
  • The Person of the Therapist training at Drexel University
  • How Harry’s personal experiences continue to impact his work
  • What is missing in most clinical training
  • The use of self in therapy
  • The importance of knowing yourself before you become a therapist
  • The idea that you must also know your hang ups and challenges and what you’ll be bringing into the room, so you can recognize and be “with” your clients
  • “Therapy is not a conversation; it is an experience.” – Dr. Harry Aponte
  • The vulnerability of being a therapist and the need to do work your work early in your training
  • The importance of doing versus reading about what should be done
  • Reasons that understanding yourself and bringing yourself into room provides better therapy

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Family Therapy Pioneer Salvador Minuchin on the Therapist’s Self (article in Psychotherapy Networker)

The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self (book)

 

Relevant Episodes:

How to BE a Therapist

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 3088 no Returning to the Office https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/returning-to-the-office Returning to the Office Curt and Katie chat about the considerations for reopening offices closed during shelter in place orders. We talk through the specific logistical, clinical, and legal and ethical elements of the decision-making process for those who shifted to telehealth in response to the pandemic. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The importance of therapists assessing their own needs prior to returning to in-person work The proposed phased reopening of California The unique elements of different practices that might impact your timing (logistics, populations treated, coordination with other clinicians in the same space, etc.) Clinical considerations for how therapy is delivered during this time The challenge of managing a waiting room Ideas how to apply recommendations from the CDC or WHO to a therapy office Systems to put into place, policies to consider (especially related to employees and wage replacement for ill workers) How to communicate with your clients The need to identify what boundaries you will hold and how you will address them clinically The ability to have these conversations ahead of time, the additional time you can use to move back to the office, if you decide to Telehealth insurance reimbursement – ideas and advocacy recommendations Shortening the work week, using your office for as few days as possible, staggering shifts in group practices Removing items that don’t need to be in the waiting room or any other spaces ADA accessibility that decreases contact with door knobs Cleaning protocols HEPA filters – mixed feedback and things to think about Requirements for clinicians and clients to stay home if sick, to wear a mask if entering the building Waiving late cancel fees for illness, or strong recommendations for shifting to telehealth in those situations Potential liability if taking temperatures of clients, other ideas, etc. Physical distancing, keeping telehealth going when possible, contactless sessions Tracing contacts – the ability (or mandate) to disclose who has come to your office Updating your office policies and consents Strategically planning for reopening an office Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Phases for Reopening California CDC Resource Page Recommendations from CDC CDC Guidance on Cleaning and Disinfecting Recommendations from WHO Recommendations from OSHA   Therapy Reimagined 2020: Therapy Reimagined 2020 Conference: Speakers!! Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors   Relevant Episodes: The Viral Episode Confidential Communications   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 04 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Returning to the Office full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie chat about the specific logistical, clinical, and legal and ethical considerations Returning to the Office Curt and Katie chat about the considerations for reopening offices closed during shelter in place orders. We talk through the specific logistical, clinical, and legal and ethical elements of the decision-making process for those who shifted to telehealth in response to the pandemic. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The importance of therapists assessing their own needs prior to returning to in-person work The proposed phased reopening of California The unique elements of different practices that might impact your timing (logistics, populations treated, coordination with other clinicians in the same space, etc.) Clinical considerations for how therapy is delivered during this time The challenge of managing a waiting room Ideas how to apply recommendations from the CDC or WHO to a therapy office Systems to put into place, policies to consider (especially related to employees and wage replacement for ill workers) How to communicate with your clients The need to identify what boundaries you will hold and how you will address them clinically The ability to have these conversations ahead of time, the additional time you can use to move back to the office, if you decide to Telehealth insurance reimbursement – ideas and advocacy recommendations Shortening the work week, using your office for as few days as possible, staggering shifts in group practices Removing items that don’t need to be in the waiting room or any other spaces ADA accessibility that decreases contact with door knobs Cleaning protocols HEPA filters – mixed feedback and things to think about Requirements for clinicians and clients to stay home if sick, to wear a mask if entering the building Waiving late cancel fees for illness, or strong recommendations for shifting to telehealth in those situations Potential liability if taking temperatures of clients, other ideas, etc. Physical distancing, keeping telehealth going when possible, contactless sessions Tracing contacts – the ability (or mandate) to disclose who has come to your office Updating your office policies and consents Strategically planning for reopening an office Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! The Phases for Reopening California CDC Resource Page Recommendations from CDC CDC Guidance on Cleaning and Disinfecting Recommendations from WHO Recommendations from OSHA   Therapy Reimagined 2020: Therapy Reimagined 2020 Conference: Speakers!! Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors   Relevant Episodes: The Viral Episode Confidential Communications   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Returning to the Office

Curt and Katie chat about the considerations for reopening offices closed during shelter in place orders. We talk through the specific logistical, clinical, and legal and ethical elements of the decision-making process for those who shifted to telehealth in response to the pandemic.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The importance of therapists assessing their own needs prior to returning to in-person work
  • The proposed phased reopening of California
  • The unique elements of different practices that might impact your timing (logistics, populations treated, coordination with other clinicians in the same space, etc.)
  • Clinical considerations for how therapy is delivered during this time
  • The challenge of managing a waiting room
  • Ideas how to apply recommendations from the CDC or WHO to a therapy office
  • Systems to put into place, policies to consider (especially related to employees and wage replacement for ill workers)
  • How to communicate with your clients
  • The need to identify what boundaries you will hold and how you will address them clinically
  • The ability to have these conversations ahead of time, the additional time you can use to move back to the office, if you decide to
  • Telehealth insurance reimbursement – ideas and advocacy recommendations
  • Shortening the work week, using your office for as few days as possible, staggering shifts in group practices
  • Removing items that don’t need to be in the waiting room or any other spaces
  • ADA accessibility that decreases contact with door knobs
  • Cleaning protocols
  • HEPA filters – mixed feedback and things to think about
  • Requirements for clinicians and clients to stay home if sick, to wear a mask if entering the building
  • Waiving late cancel fees for illness, or strong recommendations for shifting to telehealth in those situations
  • Potential liability if taking temperatures of clients, other ideas, etc.
  • Physical distancing, keeping telehealth going when possible, contactless sessions
  • Tracing contacts – the ability (or mandate) to disclose who has come to your office
  • Updating your office policies and consents
  • Strategically planning for reopening an office

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

The Phases for Reopening California

CDC Resource Page

Recommendations from CDC

CDC Guidance on Cleaning and Disinfecting

Recommendations from WHO

Recommendations from OSHA

 

Therapy Reimagined 2020:

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Conference: Speakers!!

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors

 

Relevant Episodes:

The Viral Episode

Confidential Communications

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2394 no Gaslighting Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/gaslighting-therapists Curt and Katie talk about the concern that therapists will be gaslit as therapist workforce takes on the next epidemic – the mental health pandemic. We discuss how mental health workers are seen as essential, but are not paid or are underpaid. We dig into the dangerous “Hero Narrative” and its specific impacts on the health and livelihood. We also provide some calls to action to move our profession in the right direction, especially during these times.              It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The concern that mental health workers are seen as essential, but are often not paid The stagnation of wages already present in our profession The opportunity to stand up and improve our profession The call for volunteers that has already started The challenge of considering volunteerism relative to the needs of your clients and your family The other opportunities to give back and serve clients for free and increase access to mental health services The public demonization of therapists pushing back on requests to provide free mental health services The danger of the Hero Narrative The specific impact of the feminization of caring and helping professions The fallacy of “getting paid” in supervised hours How this work is like jumping on a grenade for the greater good (and you can only jump on one grenade) Ways to pull out the idea that “Sacrificing” yourself is necessary or even acceptable as a therapist – looking at ourselves as the instruments of change requiring us to protect ourselves Call to Action – the need to stand up for self-protection, refrain from taking unpaid positions, positions without proper protections, and from taking supervisory positions that support these types of organizations Call to Action – Contacting legislators to support only legislation that provides protections for the therapists, demand language that only provides funding to agencies that already pay their workers Call to Action – Pressure professional organizations to support and write these types of bills The importance of asking for a living wage for mental health workers How to give back and volunteer responsibly and thoughtfully Mon, 27 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Gaslighting Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to navigate as mental health professionals in the next epidemic - mental health Curt and Katie talk about the concern that therapists will be gaslit as therapist workforce takes on the next epidemic – the mental health pandemic. We discuss how mental health workers are seen as essential, but are not paid or are underpaid. We dig into the dangerous “Hero Narrative” and its specific impacts on the health and livelihood. We also provide some calls to action to move our profession in the right direction, especially during these times.              It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The concern that mental health workers are seen as essential, but are often not paid The stagnation of wages already present in our profession The opportunity to stand up and improve our profession The call for volunteers that has already started The challenge of considering volunteerism relative to the needs of your clients and your family The other opportunities to give back and serve clients for free and increase access to mental health services The public demonization of therapists pushing back on requests to provide free mental health services The danger of the Hero Narrative The specific impact of the feminization of caring and helping professions The fallacy of “getting paid” in supervised hours How this work is like jumping on a grenade for the greater good (and you can only jump on one grenade) Ways to pull out the idea that “Sacrificing” yourself is necessary or even acceptable as a therapist – looking at ourselves as the instruments of change requiring us to protect ourselves Call to Action – the need to stand up for self-protection, refrain from taking unpaid positions, positions without proper protections, and from taking supervisory positions that support these types of organizations Call to Action – Contacting legislators to support only legislation that provides protections for the therapists, demand language that only provides funding to agencies that already pay their workers Call to Action – Pressure professional organizations to support and write these types of bills The importance of asking for a living wage for mental health workers How to give back and volunteer responsibly and thoughtfully Curt and Katie talk about the concern that therapists will be gaslit as therapist workforce takes on the next epidemic – the mental health pandemic. We discuss how mental health workers are seen as essential, but are not paid or are underpaid. We dig into the dangerous “Hero Narrative” and its specific impacts on the health and livelihood. We also provide some calls to action to move our profession in the right direction, especially during these times.             

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The concern that mental health workers are seen as essential, but are often not paid
  • The stagnation of wages already present in our profession
  • The opportunity to stand up and improve our profession
  • The call for volunteers that has already started
  • The challenge of considering volunteerism relative to the needs of your clients and your family
  • The other opportunities to give back and serve clients for free and increase access to mental health services
  • The public demonization of therapists pushing back on requests to provide free mental health services
  • The danger of the Hero Narrative
  • The specific impact of the feminization of caring and helping professions
  • The fallacy of “getting paid” in supervised hours
  • How this work is like jumping on a grenade for the greater good (and you can only jump on one grenade)
  • Ways to pull out the idea that “Sacrificing” yourself is necessary or even acceptable as a therapist – looking at ourselves as the instruments of change requiring us to protect ourselves
  • Call to Action – the need to stand up for self-protection, refrain from taking unpaid positions, positions without proper protections, and from taking supervisory positions that support these types of organizations
  • Call to Action – Contacting legislators to support only legislation that provides protections for the therapists, demand language that only provides funding to agencies that already pay their workers
  • Call to Action – Pressure professional organizations to support and write these types of bills
  • The importance of asking for a living wage for mental health workers
  • How to give back and volunteer responsibly and thoughtfully
]]> 2110 no Confidential Communications https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/confidential-communications-0 An interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager at Hushmail, about how to appropriately comply with HIPAA in how you communicate with your clients. Curt and Katie talk with Jarrod about encryption, security considerations, and how (and why) to create a HIPAA compliant office, even now. Interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager, Hushmail Jarred Bolen joined Hushmail in 2016 with over five years of support experience for software and telecommunications companies and a longtime interest in internet security. Starting in Customer Care, he moved to the Sales team as a Technical Account Manager in 2019, and now helps new Hushmail customers connect with their clients and colleagues. In this episode we talk about: How to use email (even your normal email) in a HIPAA compliant manner The benefits of encryption, what it is, and types of encryption available Going beyond what is required to address the ethics of keeping your client’s information safe Who is required to be HIPAA compliant, e.g., covered entities The argument against the complaint that it is an inconvenience to clients to remain compliant The consideration related what is (or is not) Protected Health Information (PHI) How to create a HIPAA-compliant office The importance of documentation of your processes Potential legislation asking for back doors into encrypted services – concerns and potential risks Staying up-to-date with updates within the tech sector Setting yourself up for success from the beginning (even if you start this type of secure communication during the global pandemic) What is included in Hushmail service, how Hushmail has evolved from the beginning Our Generous Sponsor: Therapy Reimagined So…you’re wondering how to make it through this. Worried about finances, what’s next, how to keep doing your best therapy, continued adjusting to telehealth, etc. Now, more than ever, it may be worth it to invest in your clinical and business decisions to improve your practice. We recognize that getting help is better than going at it alone. During overwhelming or uncertain times (like these) it can be especially helpful to seek supervision or consultation. When you can’t get out of your own panic or concrete thinking, we’d like to be your thinking partner. But we know that money is uncertain, so we’re offering our 50-minute-hour at half price. That’s right - a consultation with Curt or Katie (while we’re stuck in quarantine) for only $100. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Special offer from Hushmail: Hushmail is a secure email, web form, and e-signature service that lets you send and receive private, encrypted emails, attachments, and web forms to and from anyone, even people who don't use Hushmail. With easy-to-use webmail, a secure message center, drag-and-drop form builder, and iPhone app, there's no complicated installation. Just sign up and start sending securely. Our Healthcare plans come configured for HIPAA compliance, and our legally binding e-signatures comply with ESIGN and UETA. New Hushmail for Healthcare customers who sign up through Therapy Reimagined receive a 10 percent lifetime discount!   HHS Risk Assessment Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 20 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Confidential Communications: An Interview with Jarred full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager at Hushmail An interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager at Hushmail, about how to appropriately comply with HIPAA in how you communicate with your clients. Curt and Katie talk with Jarrod about encryption, security considerations, and how (and why) to create a HIPAA compliant office, even now. Interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager, Hushmail Jarred Bolen joined Hushmail in 2016 with over five years of support experience for software and telecommunications companies and a longtime interest in internet security. Starting in Customer Care, he moved to the Sales team as a Technical Account Manager in 2019, and now helps new Hushmail customers connect with their clients and colleagues. In this episode we talk about: How to use email (even your normal email) in a HIPAA compliant manner The benefits of encryption, what it is, and types of encryption available Going beyond what is required to address the ethics of keeping your client’s information safe Who is required to be HIPAA compliant, e.g., covered entities The argument against the complaint that it is an inconvenience to clients to remain compliant The consideration related what is (or is not) Protected Health Information (PHI) How to create a HIPAA-compliant office The importance of documentation of your processes Potential legislation asking for back doors into encrypted services – concerns and potential risks Staying up-to-date with updates within the tech sector Setting yourself up for success from the beginning (even if you start this type of secure communication during the global pandemic) What is included in Hushmail service, how Hushmail has evolved from the beginning Our Generous Sponsor: Therapy Reimagined So…you’re wondering how to make it through this. Worried about finances, what’s next, how to keep doing your best therapy, continued adjusting to telehealth, etc. Now, more than ever, it may be worth it to invest in your clinical and business decisions to improve your practice. We recognize that getting help is better than going at it alone. During overwhelming or uncertain times (like these) it can be especially helpful to seek supervision or consultation. When you can’t get out of your own panic or concrete thinking, we’d like to be your thinking partner. But we know that money is uncertain, so we’re offering our 50-minute-hour at half price. That’s right - a consultation with Curt or Katie (while we’re stuck in quarantine) for only $100. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Special offer from Hushmail: Hushmail is a secure email, web form, and e-signature service that lets you send and receive private, encrypted emails, attachments, and web forms to and from anyone, even people who don't use Hushmail. With easy-to-use webmail, a secure message center, drag-and-drop form builder, and iPhone app, there's no complicated installation. Just sign up and start sending securely. Our Healthcare plans come configured for HIPAA compliance, and our legally binding e-signatures comply with ESIGN and UETA. New Hushmail for Healthcare customers who sign up through Therapy Reimagined receive a 10 percent lifetime discount!   HHS Risk Assessment Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager at Hushmail, about how to appropriately comply with HIPAA in how you communicate with your clients. Curt and Katie talk with Jarrod about encryption, security considerations, and how (and why) to create a HIPAA compliant office, even now.

Interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager, Hushmail

Jarred Bolen joined Hushmail in 2016 with over five years of support experience for software and telecommunications companies and a longtime interest in internet security. Starting in Customer Care, he moved to the Sales team as a Technical Account Manager in 2019, and now helps new Hushmail customers connect with their clients and colleagues.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How to use email (even your normal email) in a HIPAA compliant manner
  • The benefits of encryption, what it is, and types of encryption available
  • Going beyond what is required to address the ethics of keeping your client’s information safe
  • Who is required to be HIPAA compliant, e.g., covered entities
  • The argument against the complaint that it is an inconvenience to clients to remain compliant
  • The consideration related what is (or is not) Protected Health Information (PHI)
  • How to create a HIPAA-compliant office
  • The importance of documentation of your processes
  • Potential legislation asking for back doors into encrypted services – concerns and potential risks
  • Staying up-to-date with updates within the tech sector
  • Setting yourself up for success from the beginning (even if you start this type of secure communication during the global pandemic)
  • What is included in Hushmail service, how Hushmail has evolved from the beginning

Our Generous Sponsor: Therapy Reimagined

So…you’re wondering how to make it through this. Worried about finances, what’s next, how to keep doing your best therapy, continued adjusting to telehealth, etc. Now, more than ever, it may be worth it to invest in your clinical and business decisions to improve your practice. We recognize that getting help is better than going at it alone.

During overwhelming or uncertain times (like these) it can be especially helpful to seek supervision or consultation. When you can’t get out of your own panic or concrete thinking, we’d like to be your thinking partner. But we know that money is uncertain, so we’re offering our 50-minute-hour at half price. That’s right - a consultation with Curt or Katie (while we’re stuck in quarantine) for only $100.


Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Special offer from Hushmail: Hushmail is a secure email, web form, and e-signature service that lets you send and receive private, encrypted emails, attachments, and web forms to and from anyone, even people who don't use Hushmail. With easy-to-use webmail, a secure message center, drag-and-drop form builder, and iPhone app, there's no complicated installation. Just sign up and start sending securely. Our Healthcare plans come configured for HIPAA compliance, and our legally binding e-signatures comply with ESIGN and UETA.

New Hushmail for Healthcare customers who sign up through Therapy Reimagined receive a 10 percent lifetime discount!

 

HHS Risk Assessment

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2094 no CAMFT Ethics Code Update https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/camft-ethics-code-update Curt and Katie talk about the updates to the Ethics Code for CAMFT that was approved in December, 2019. We talk about the new guidance on testimonials, marketing to each other’s clients, and duplication of services. We look at what we can do and what we probably still shouldn’t do.          It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Code of Ethics Update Solicitation of testimonials – clarifying who you can ask for testimonials Re-evaluating clients, looking at how they have their own agency and autonomy Defining “undue influence,” seeking legal definition to aid the understanding what should be considered within the ethics code change Looking at how the perceived or actual power differential impact can be considered Even if we can, should we solicit testimonials? Appropriate tactics for asking for testimonials Looking at antitrust and other reasons for these changes Why we can now compete for each other’s clients How we can see each other’s clients Do what makes sense and don’t be a jerk Mon, 13 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000 CAMFT Ethics Code Update full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about interesting changes like testimonials and marketing practices Curt and Katie talk about the updates to the Ethics Code for CAMFT that was approved in December, 2019. We talk about the new guidance on testimonials, marketing to each other’s clients, and duplication of services. We look at what we can do and what we probably still shouldn’t do.          It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Code of Ethics Update Solicitation of testimonials – clarifying who you can ask for testimonials Re-evaluating clients, looking at how they have their own agency and autonomy Defining “undue influence,” seeking legal definition to aid the understanding what should be considered within the ethics code change Looking at how the perceived or actual power differential impact can be considered Even if we can, should we solicit testimonials? Appropriate tactics for asking for testimonials Looking at antitrust and other reasons for these changes Why we can now compete for each other’s clients How we can see each other’s clients Do what makes sense and don’t be a jerk Curt and Katie talk about the updates to the Ethics Code for CAMFT that was approved in December, 2019. We talk about the new guidance on testimonials, marketing to each other’s clients, and duplication of services. We look at what we can do and what we probably still shouldn’t do.         

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Code of Ethics Update
  • Solicitation of testimonials – clarifying who you can ask for testimonials
  • Re-evaluating clients, looking at how they have their own agency and autonomy
  • Defining “undue influence,” seeking legal definition to aid the understanding what should be considered within the ethics code change
  • Looking at how the perceived or actual power differential impact can be considered
  • Even if we can, should we solicit testimonials?
  • Appropriate tactics for asking for testimonials
  • Looking at antitrust and other reasons for these changes
  • Why we can now compete for each other’s clients
  • How we can see each other’s clients
  • Do what makes sense and don’t be a jerk
]]> 2593 no Treating First Responders https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/treating-first-responders Episode 149: Treating First Responders An interview with Yael Shuman, LMFT, on the unique challenges that First Responders face and treatment considerations. Curt and Katie talk with Yael about what therapists get wrong working with first responders, especially when therapists are unable to keep their stuff together when these clients disclose their traumatic experiences. We look at resources, resilience, and preparing for trauma (rather than waiting for it to occur).        It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Yael Shuman, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, EMDR and EA-EMDR trained Yael Shuman, is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with more than 25 years’ experience working with individuals, couples, and organizations. Yael is passionate about helping people to live a fulfilling life. Trauma interrupts life by creating a stuck place that is uncomfortable and distressing. Without the right knowledge and skills, you cannot move beyond the distress. With skills development in emotional stability and resiliency, people can reduce the impact of a traumatic situation and have improved coping skills to help them move forward and process the trauma from distress to fulfillment. She maintains a private practice in Denver, Colorado. She has experience in PTSD/ trauma, and specializes with Military and Veteran and First Responders issues, and how to express the experiences through communication. Her practice includes providing EMDR for trauma treatment, supervises interns, and working with life issues including developing healthy relationships, stress management, anxiety, depression (including PPD) and divorce recovery. It is well researched that people living with trauma are likely to experience more of these life issues and, if they are left unaddressed, then further disruption in life is likely to occur. Yael has years of experience and believes it is incredibly important to assist clients with emotional stability, for them to feel safe and secure, before processing their trauma. Prior to her work as a Marriage & Family Therapist, Mrs. Shuman spent 5 years working with Los Angeles County Child Protective Services (Family Preservation Unit) and foster care. She holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from California Family Study Center and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California State University Northridge. She is trained in EMDR and Equine-assisted EMDR. Additionally, she is a member of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapists, EMDRIA, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. In this episode we talk about: Unique challenges of working with First Responders and the unique culture Training that first responders typically get (and don’t get) The lack of training on trauma responses and developing resilience The culture of silence related to first responders – they don’t report distress or trauma responses – you can’t take it, you’re broken The risk of first responders who die by suicide The impacts of lack of therapist training and experience on individual clients The challenge of holding space for traumatic experiences of first responders The disturbing events that first responders regularly experience A perspective on how to interact with trauma with our clients The importance of specific training on working with first responders Mon, 06 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Treating First Responders: An Interview with Yael Shuman, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Yael Shuman, LMFT Episode 149: Treating First Responders An interview with Yael Shuman, LMFT, on the unique challenges that First Responders face and treatment considerations. Curt and Katie talk with Yael about what therapists get wrong working with first responders, especially when therapists are unable to keep their stuff together when these clients disclose their traumatic experiences. We look at resources, resilience, and preparing for trauma (rather than waiting for it to occur).        It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Yael Shuman, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, EMDR and EA-EMDR trained Yael Shuman, is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with more than 25 years’ experience working with individuals, couples, and organizations. Yael is passionate about helping people to live a fulfilling life. Trauma interrupts life by creating a stuck place that is uncomfortable and distressing. Without the right knowledge and skills, you cannot move beyond the distress. With skills development in emotional stability and resiliency, people can reduce the impact of a traumatic situation and have improved coping skills to help them move forward and process the trauma from distress to fulfillment. She maintains a private practice in Denver, Colorado. She has experience in PTSD/ trauma, and specializes with Military and Veteran and First Responders issues, and how to express the experiences through communication. Her practice includes providing EMDR for trauma treatment, supervises interns, and working with life issues including developing healthy relationships, stress management, anxiety, depression (including PPD) and divorce recovery. It is well researched that people living with trauma are likely to experience more of these life issues and, if they are left unaddressed, then further disruption in life is likely to occur. Yael has years of experience and believes it is incredibly important to assist clients with emotional stability, for them to feel safe and secure, before processing their trauma. Prior to her work as a Marriage & Family Therapist, Mrs. Shuman spent 5 years working with Los Angeles County Child Protective Services (Family Preservation Unit) and foster care. She holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from California Family Study Center and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California State University Northridge. She is trained in EMDR and Equine-assisted EMDR. Additionally, she is a member of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapists, EMDRIA, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. In this episode we talk about: Unique challenges of working with First Responders and the unique culture Training that first responders typically get (and don’t get) The lack of training on trauma responses and developing resilience The culture of silence related to first responders – they don’t report distress or trauma responses – you can’t take it, you’re broken The risk of first responders who die by suicide The impacts of lack of therapist training and experience on individual clients The challenge of holding space for traumatic experiences of first responders The disturbing events that first responders regularly experience A perspective on how to interact with trauma with our clients The importance of specific training on working with first responders Episode 149: Treating First Responders

An interview with Yael Shuman, LMFT, on the unique challenges that First Responders face and treatment considerations. Curt and Katie talk with Yael about what therapists get wrong working with first responders, especially when therapists are unable to keep their stuff together when these clients disclose their traumatic experiences. We look at resources, resilience, and preparing for trauma (rather than waiting for it to occur).       

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Yael Shuman, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, EMDR and EA-EMDR trained

Yael Shuman, is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with more than 25 years’ experience working with individuals, couples, and organizations. Yael is passionate about helping people to live a fulfilling life. Trauma interrupts life by creating a stuck place that is uncomfortable and distressing. Without the right knowledge and skills, you cannot move beyond the distress. With skills development in emotional stability and resiliency, people can reduce the impact of a traumatic situation and have improved coping skills to help them move forward and process the trauma from distress to fulfillment.

She maintains a private practice in Denver, Colorado. She has experience in PTSD/ trauma, and specializes with Military and Veteran and First Responders issues, and how to express the experiences through communication. Her practice includes providing EMDR for trauma treatment, supervises interns, and working with life issues including developing healthy relationships, stress management, anxiety, depression (including PPD) and divorce recovery. It is well researched that people living with trauma are likely to experience more of these life issues and, if they are left unaddressed, then further disruption in life is likely to occur. Yael has years of experience and believes it is incredibly important to assist clients with emotional stability, for them to feel safe and secure, before processing their trauma.

Prior to her work as a Marriage & Family Therapist, Mrs. Shuman spent 5 years working with Los Angeles County Child Protective Services (Family Preservation Unit) and foster care. She holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from California Family Study Center and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California State University Northridge. She is trained in EMDR and Equine-assisted EMDR. Additionally, she is a member of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapists, EMDRIA, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Unique challenges of working with First Responders and the unique culture
  • Training that first responders typically get (and don’t get)
  • The lack of training on trauma responses and developing resilience
  • The culture of silence related to first responders – they don’t report distress or trauma responses – you can’t take it, you’re broken
  • The risk of first responders who die by suicide
  • The impacts of lack of therapist training and experience on individual clients
  • The challenge of holding space for traumatic experiences of first responders
  • The disturbing events that first responders regularly experience
  • A perspective on how to interact with trauma with our clients
  • The importance of specific training on working with first responders
]]> 2324 no COVID-19 Legal and Ethical Updates https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/covid-19-legal-and-ethical-updates An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell about the rapidly changing directives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Curt and Katie interview Ben about telehealth, HIPAA, and all of the efforts of continuity of care during quarantine, shelter-in-place orders. We look at legal, ethical, and clinical responsibilities during these uncertain times.         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Education and Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California Statue University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs. In this episode we talk about: How to identify what to do and how to respond to all the changing instructions from officials about practicing therapy during these times The debate around telehealth versus in person treatment The legal and ethical responsibilities therapists hold regarding continuity of care Client opt-in and preference, fears about client abandonment The myth that you are required to keep seeing clients no matter what The moral aspect of choices made during treatment, especially during uncertain times like these Clinical considerations for clients who are not appropriate for telehealth The importance of identifying and managing all types of risks during these times The fallacy that you can now practice across state lines without any restrictions The possibilities for seeing clients who have returned home to other states, the reasonable argument for continuity of care Advice for implementing telehealth quickly, including choosing a HIPAA compliant platform The benefits of complying with telehealth training requirements Misinformation that can confuse folks within the Facebook Therapist Groups The challenges that licensing boards are facing related to testing and licensing delays and related laws or regulations Professional wills – basic requirements and legal/ethical responsibilities Connecting with clients, human to human related to illness and emergency The growing importance of communication in this new era of health awareness The requirements for “essential workers” Mon, 30 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0000 COVID-19 Legal and Ethical Updates: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell about the rapidly changing directives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Curt and Katie interview Ben about telehealth, HIPAA, and all of the efforts of continuity of care during quarantine, shelter-in-place orders. We look at legal, ethical, and clinical responsibilities during these uncertain times.         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Education and Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California Statue University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs. In this episode we talk about: How to identify what to do and how to respond to all the changing instructions from officials about practicing therapy during these times The debate around telehealth versus in person treatment The legal and ethical responsibilities therapists hold regarding continuity of care Client opt-in and preference, fears about client abandonment The myth that you are required to keep seeing clients no matter what The moral aspect of choices made during treatment, especially during uncertain times like these Clinical considerations for clients who are not appropriate for telehealth The importance of identifying and managing all types of risks during these times The fallacy that you can now practice across state lines without any restrictions The possibilities for seeing clients who have returned home to other states, the reasonable argument for continuity of care Advice for implementing telehealth quickly, including choosing a HIPAA compliant platform The benefits of complying with telehealth training requirements Misinformation that can confuse folks within the Facebook Therapist Groups The challenges that licensing boards are facing related to testing and licensing delays and related laws or regulations Professional wills – basic requirements and legal/ethical responsibilities Connecting with clients, human to human related to illness and emergency The growing importance of communication in this new era of health awareness The requirements for “essential workers” An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell about the rapidly changing directives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Curt and Katie interview Ben about telehealth, HIPAA, and all of the efforts of continuity of care during quarantine, shelter-in-place orders. We look at legal, ethical, and clinical responsibilities during these uncertain times.        

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT

Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Education and Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California Statue University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How to identify what to do and how to respond to all the changing instructions from officials about practicing therapy during these times
  • The debate around telehealth versus in person treatment
  • The legal and ethical responsibilities therapists hold regarding continuity of care
  • Client opt-in and preference, fears about client abandonment
  • The myth that you are required to keep seeing clients no matter what
  • The moral aspect of choices made during treatment, especially during uncertain times like these
  • Clinical considerations for clients who are not appropriate for telehealth
  • The importance of identifying and managing all types of risks during these times
  • The fallacy that you can now practice across state lines without any restrictions
  • The possibilities for seeing clients who have returned home to other states, the reasonable argument for continuity of care
  • Advice for implementing telehealth quickly, including choosing a HIPAA compliant platform
  • The benefits of complying with telehealth training requirements
  • Misinformation that can confuse folks within the Facebook Therapist Groups
  • The challenges that licensing boards are facing related to testing and licensing delays and related laws or regulations
  • Professional wills – basic requirements and legal/ethical responsibilities
  • Connecting with clients, human to human related to illness and emergency
  • The growing importance of communication in this new era of health awareness
  • The requirements for “essential workers”
]]> 2599 no Recession-Proofing Your Practice https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/recession-proofing-your-practice Curt and Katie talk about how to prepare for economic uncertainty as one of the ripple effects from COVID-19. We talk about practical suggestions of what you can do now to weather a recession as well as continue forward with the practice you’d like to build.         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The economic uncertainty as a ripple effect from COVID-19 Looking at the research after the Great Recession The importance of self-assessment and business-assessment, being thoughtful about the decisions you make about your business Moving beyond scrambling to telehealth into changes you want to incorporate longer-term How to prepare for a changing world How critical cash flow can be during these times Tightening your financial practices (e.g., timely invoicing and charging credit cards, billing insurance, collecting copays) Focusing on profit, not growing your business Looking at your numbers (revenue, expenses, profit) How to be agile without taking on too much risk Understanding what you do that is the highest value offering (highest profit margin) and do more of that – maximizing your most profitable services Pay off and minimize debt, cutting costs to improve financial position Setting yourself with a rainy-day fund Navigating to weather uncertainty Exploring different business models that are focused on need versus luxury Being intentional with how you adjust offerings and how you are flexible in your practice Therapists’ requirement to manage their own needs (in therapy or otherwise) to sustain their therapy practice – clients need guidance and feel like they are getting what they are paying for Pay attention to your numbers to continue monitoring what you need to do The importance of the customer experience and maintaining your current clients Communicating clearly with your clients and prospects How to increase the quality of your offerings to sustain current clients and get new ones Plan for the long-term of your practice Mon, 23 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Recession-Proofing Your Practice full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to prepare for economic uncertainty Curt and Katie talk about how to prepare for economic uncertainty as one of the ripple effects from COVID-19. We talk about practical suggestions of what you can do now to weather a recession as well as continue forward with the practice you’d like to build.         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The economic uncertainty as a ripple effect from COVID-19 Looking at the research after the Great Recession The importance of self-assessment and business-assessment, being thoughtful about the decisions you make about your business Moving beyond scrambling to telehealth into changes you want to incorporate longer-term How to prepare for a changing world How critical cash flow can be during these times Tightening your financial practices (e.g., timely invoicing and charging credit cards, billing insurance, collecting copays) Focusing on profit, not growing your business Looking at your numbers (revenue, expenses, profit) How to be agile without taking on too much risk Understanding what you do that is the highest value offering (highest profit margin) and do more of that – maximizing your most profitable services Pay off and minimize debt, cutting costs to improve financial position Setting yourself with a rainy-day fund Navigating to weather uncertainty Exploring different business models that are focused on need versus luxury Being intentional with how you adjust offerings and how you are flexible in your practice Therapists’ requirement to manage their own needs (in therapy or otherwise) to sustain their therapy practice – clients need guidance and feel like they are getting what they are paying for Pay attention to your numbers to continue monitoring what you need to do The importance of the customer experience and maintaining your current clients Communicating clearly with your clients and prospects How to increase the quality of your offerings to sustain current clients and get new ones Plan for the long-term of your practice Curt and Katie talk about how to prepare for economic uncertainty as one of the ripple effects from COVID-19. We talk about practical suggestions of what you can do now to weather a recession as well as continue forward with the practice you’d like to build.        

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The economic uncertainty as a ripple effect from COVID-19
  • Looking at the research after the Great Recession
  • The importance of self-assessment and business-assessment, being thoughtful about the decisions you make about your business
  • Moving beyond scrambling to telehealth into changes you want to incorporate longer-term
  • How to prepare for a changing world
  • How critical cash flow can be during these times
  • Tightening your financial practices (e.g., timely invoicing and charging credit cards, billing insurance, collecting copays)
  • Focusing on profit, not growing your business
  • Looking at your numbers (revenue, expenses, profit)
  • How to be agile without taking on too much risk
  • Understanding what you do that is the highest value offering (highest profit margin) and do more of that – maximizing your most profitable services
  • Pay off and minimize debt, cutting costs to improve financial position
  • Setting yourself with a rainy-day fund
  • Navigating to weather uncertainty
  • Exploring different business models that are focused on need versus luxury
  • Being intentional with how you adjust offerings and how you are flexible in your practice
  • Therapists’ requirement to manage their own needs (in therapy or otherwise) to sustain their therapy practice – clients need guidance and feel like they are getting what they are paying for
  • Pay attention to your numbers to continue monitoring what you need to do
  • The importance of the customer experience and maintaining your current clients
  • Communicating clearly with your clients and prospects
  • How to increase the quality of your offerings to sustain current clients and get new ones
  • Plan for the long-term of your practice
]]> 2650 no Burnout or Depression https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/burnout-or-depression Curt and Katie talk about the idea that burnout and depression could actually be the same thing. We look at how stigma and a sense of superiority may inhibit clinicians from reporting that they’re actually experiencing depression rather than “burnout.”         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The blog article that sparked the conversation about why doctors don’t get depressed The idea that burnout and depression may be the same thing The functionality of diagnosis in treatment and how it impacts what one is diagnosed The definitions of burnout and depression and the different schools of thought The place of elitism both in the definition and the treatment of burnout A sense of superiority and or a feeling of higher level on the hierarchy leading to less burnout and depression Katie’s ideas around simple burnout or complicated burnout and the overuse of that word Where the ideas around burnout actually came from and whether it is a sound foundation The medical model divorcing depression from situational factors The concern that pop psychology may have invaded the space The idea that when people have sought the situation that has led to burnout or depression – there is an existential crisis The rationale that it is “worth it” because we have sacrificed to move forward in our career Tips from Freudenberger (who introduced the concept of Burnout) on how to avoid or treat burnout: hiring, work culture, thoughtfulness about work and work day, breaks and vacations, staff development and feeling time, sharing experiences, time off to learn, adequate staffing, balance of physical exercise Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0000 Burnout or Depression full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Are they actually different? Curt and Katie talk about the idea that burnout and depression could actually be the same thing. We look at how stigma and a sense of superiority may inhibit clinicians from reporting that they’re actually experiencing depression rather than “burnout.”         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The blog article that sparked the conversation about why doctors don’t get depressed The idea that burnout and depression may be the same thing The functionality of diagnosis in treatment and how it impacts what one is diagnosed The definitions of burnout and depression and the different schools of thought The place of elitism both in the definition and the treatment of burnout A sense of superiority and or a feeling of higher level on the hierarchy leading to less burnout and depression Katie’s ideas around simple burnout or complicated burnout and the overuse of that word Where the ideas around burnout actually came from and whether it is a sound foundation The medical model divorcing depression from situational factors The concern that pop psychology may have invaded the space The idea that when people have sought the situation that has led to burnout or depression – there is an existential crisis The rationale that it is “worth it” because we have sacrificed to move forward in our career Tips from Freudenberger (who introduced the concept of Burnout) on how to avoid or treat burnout: hiring, work culture, thoughtfulness about work and work day, breaks and vacations, staff development and feeling time, sharing experiences, time off to learn, adequate staffing, balance of physical exercise Curt and Katie talk about the idea that burnout and depression could actually be the same thing. We look at how stigma and a sense of superiority may inhibit clinicians from reporting that they’re actually experiencing depression rather than “burnout.”        

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The blog article that sparked the conversation about why doctors don’t get depressed
  • The idea that burnout and depression may be the same thing
  • The functionality of diagnosis in treatment and how it impacts what one is diagnosed
  • The definitions of burnout and depression and the different schools of thought
  • The place of elitism both in the definition and the treatment of burnout
  • A sense of superiority and or a feeling of higher level on the hierarchy leading to less burnout and depression
  • Katie’s ideas around simple burnout or complicated burnout and the overuse of that word
  • Where the ideas around burnout actually came from and whether it is a sound foundation
  • The medical model divorcing depression from situational factors
  • The concern that pop psychology may have invaded the space
  • The idea that when people have sought the situation that has led to burnout or depression – there is an existential crisis
  • The rationale that it is “worth it” because we have sacrificed to move forward in our career
  • Tips from Freudenberger (who introduced the concept of Burnout) on how to avoid or treat burnout: hiring, work culture, thoughtfulness about work and work day, breaks and vacations, staff development and feeling time, sharing experiences, time off to learn, adequate staffing, balance of physical exercise
]]> 2262 no The Viral Episode https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-viral-episode Curt and Katie talk about the Corona Virus scare. We look at how to take care of ourselves, our clients, and our businesses during the current outbreak. We also look at the mental health impacts and the legal and ethical responsibilities we have to our clients.          It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The current concerns about the Corona Virus The impacts of the virus on therapists How to identify our responsibilities as therapists Info from the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control on COVID-19 The reactions that we are seeing in society as mental healthcare professionals Looking at practical steps to increase safety in your office How to think about your cancellation policy Incorporating telehealth into your practice The complexity of insurance companies covering telehealth session Xenophobia toward individuals of Asian descent, and the mental health impact on these clients The impact on the individuals (or their caregivers) who have compromised immune systems of needing to remain home or in isolation The legal and ethical considerations When we can tell our clients that they must stay home and when it could be discrimination The problems with self-quarantines The importance of therapists refraining from contributing to the anxiety and sharing accurate information from reputable sources Mon, 09 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0000 The Viral Episode full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the impact of the Corona Virus scare on therapists Curt and Katie talk about the Corona Virus scare. We look at how to take care of ourselves, our clients, and our businesses during the current outbreak. We also look at the mental health impacts and the legal and ethical responsibilities we have to our clients.          It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The current concerns about the Corona Virus The impacts of the virus on therapists How to identify our responsibilities as therapists Info from the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control on COVID-19 The reactions that we are seeing in society as mental healthcare professionals Looking at practical steps to increase safety in your office How to think about your cancellation policy Incorporating telehealth into your practice The complexity of insurance companies covering telehealth session Xenophobia toward individuals of Asian descent, and the mental health impact on these clients The impact on the individuals (or their caregivers) who have compromised immune systems of needing to remain home or in isolation The legal and ethical considerations When we can tell our clients that they must stay home and when it could be discrimination The problems with self-quarantines The importance of therapists refraining from contributing to the anxiety and sharing accurate information from reputable sources Curt and Katie talk about the Corona Virus scare. We look at how to take care of ourselves, our clients, and our businesses during the current outbreak. We also look at the mental health impacts and the legal and ethical responsibilities we have to our clients.         

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The current concerns about the Corona Virus
  • The impacts of the virus on therapists
  • How to identify our responsibilities as therapists
  • Info from the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control on COVID-19
  • The reactions that we are seeing in society as mental healthcare professionals
  • Looking at practical steps to increase safety in your office
  • How to think about your cancellation policy
  • Incorporating telehealth into your practice
  • The complexity of insurance companies covering telehealth session
  • Xenophobia toward individuals of Asian descent, and the mental health impact on these clients
  • The impact on the individuals (or their caregivers) who have compromised immune systems of needing to remain home or in isolation
  • The legal and ethical considerations
  • When we can tell our clients that they must stay home and when it could be discrimination
  • The problems with self-quarantines
  • The importance of therapists refraining from contributing to the anxiety and sharing accurate information from reputable sources
]]> 2163 no Dissociation in Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/dissociation-in-therapy An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich on how to navigate through dissociation in the therapy room. Curt and Katie interview Jamie about her own experiences with dissociation and what she does to cope as a dissociative professional. We discuss the importance of mindfulness and other strategies to take care of ourselves as well as treating dissociative clients. We also chat about how to navigate professional organizations as someone who likes to challenge the status quo. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-200, RMT Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-200, RMT travels internationally speaking on topics related to EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, expressive arts and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Warren, OH. She is the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice to expressive arts therapy and co-creator of the Yoga Unchained approach to trauma-informed yoga. Jamie is the author of seven books, including the popular EMDR Made Simple and EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma Focused Care (Springer Publishing in 2018), written in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Dansiger. Her newest title, Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery, released in April 2019. North Atlantic Books is publishing a second and expanded edition of Trauma and the 12 Steps, due for release in the Summer of 2020. In this episode we talk about: Creative mindfulness Joy in facilitating transformation Jamie’s experience with trauma, addiction, dissociation, and how that led to her work EMDR and “the weird stuff” that has led to improved outcomes The power of embodied healing Jamie coming out as being in recovery, bisexual, and struggling with dissociation The response of other therapists to Jamie coming out as a dissociative professional The importance of being candid to remain present and to combat the label of impaired therapist Shame about dissociation and the difficulty therapists have in treating dissociation How to navigate through dissociation as a therapist – we all dissociate, just at different degrees The importance of mindfulness in combatting dissociation Rituals and routines to ground and return to the present Learning the models for treatment and then “breaking the rules elegantly” to innovate How institutes develop effectively and the struggles of bringing treatment to the mainstream Jamie’s standing up and pushing away from the mainstream – and some of the consequences Why Jamie and Curt love EMDR Mon, 02 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Dissociation in Therapy: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich on how to navigate through dissociation in the therapy room. Curt and Katie interview Jamie about her own experiences with dissociation and what she does to cope as a dissociative professional. We discuss the importance of mindfulness and other strategies to take care of ourselves as well as treating dissociative clients. We also chat about how to navigate professional organizations as someone who likes to challenge the status quo. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-200, RMT Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-200, RMT travels internationally speaking on topics related to EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, expressive arts and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Warren, OH. She is the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice to expressive arts therapy and co-creator of the Yoga Unchained approach to trauma-informed yoga. Jamie is the author of seven books, including the popular EMDR Made Simple and EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma Focused Care (Springer Publishing in 2018), written in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Dansiger. Her newest title, Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery, released in April 2019. North Atlantic Books is publishing a second and expanded edition of Trauma and the 12 Steps, due for release in the Summer of 2020. In this episode we talk about: Creative mindfulness Joy in facilitating transformation Jamie’s experience with trauma, addiction, dissociation, and how that led to her work EMDR and “the weird stuff” that has led to improved outcomes The power of embodied healing Jamie coming out as being in recovery, bisexual, and struggling with dissociation The response of other therapists to Jamie coming out as a dissociative professional The importance of being candid to remain present and to combat the label of impaired therapist Shame about dissociation and the difficulty therapists have in treating dissociation How to navigate through dissociation as a therapist – we all dissociate, just at different degrees The importance of mindfulness in combatting dissociation Rituals and routines to ground and return to the present Learning the models for treatment and then “breaking the rules elegantly” to innovate How institutes develop effectively and the struggles of bringing treatment to the mainstream Jamie’s standing up and pushing away from the mainstream – and some of the consequences Why Jamie and Curt love EMDR An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich on how to navigate through dissociation in the therapy room. Curt and Katie interview Jamie about her own experiences with dissociation and what she does to cope as a dissociative professional. We discuss the importance of mindfulness and other strategies to take care of ourselves as well as treating dissociative clients. We also chat about how to navigate professional organizations as someone who likes to challenge the status quo.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-200, RMT

Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-200, RMT travels internationally speaking on topics related to EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, expressive arts and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Warren, OH. She is the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice to expressive arts therapy and co-creator of the Yoga Unchained approach to trauma-informed yoga. Jamie is the author of seven books, including the popular EMDR Made Simple and EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma Focused Care (Springer Publishing in 2018), written in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Dansiger. Her newest title, Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery, released in April 2019. North Atlantic Books is publishing a second and expanded edition of Trauma and the 12 Steps, due for release in the Summer of 2020.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Creative mindfulness
  • Joy in facilitating transformation
  • Jamie’s experience with trauma, addiction, dissociation, and how that led to her work
  • EMDR and “the weird stuff” that has led to improved outcomes
  • The power of embodied healing
  • Jamie coming out as being in recovery, bisexual, and struggling with dissociation
  • The response of other therapists to Jamie coming out as a dissociative professional
  • The importance of being candid to remain present and to combat the label of impaired therapist
  • Shame about dissociation and the difficulty therapists have in treating dissociation
  • How to navigate through dissociation as a therapist – we all dissociate, just at different degrees
  • The importance of mindfulness in combatting dissociation
  • Rituals and routines to ground and return to the present
  • Learning the models for treatment and then “breaking the rules elegantly” to innovate
  • How institutes develop effectively and the struggles of bringing treatment to the mainstream
  • Jamie’s standing up and pushing away from the mainstream – and some of the consequences
  • Why Jamie and Curt love EMDR
]]> 2774 no You Can't Trust Your Gut https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/you-cant-trust-your-gut Curt and Katie talk about the ins and outs of intuition. We look at when you can trust your gut feelings and when you cannot. We sort through how to actually develop and use clinical intuition as well as the problems that can come into play when you do not follow the appropriate steps.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Definitions of the 4 types of intuition: mystical, spurious, inferential, wholistic Confirmatory bias – how it can be known, but go unrecognized How operant conditioning might be supporting your feeling of being able to trust your gut Discounting affect (ignoring when your assumptions were wrong) Whether or not we should pay attention to Mercury in Retrograde The challenge of looking for evidence that both supports and challenges your assumptions The different individual characteristics that get in the way of evaluating things appropriately The importance of deliberate practice The two different thinking processes described by Daniel Kahneman in Thinking Fast and Slow The need to test our assumptions, even though it is potentially laborious or threatening Using the scientific method The problem with “mindbugs” like the availability heuristic and the misinformation effect in trying to actively improve our ability to assess data Deductive intuition versus inductive intuition Conditions required to use clinical intuition: regularity, practice, immediate feedback Looking for things that prove you wrong, hearing and sorting through both positive and negative feedback A danger of specialization where you fit every client into your area of focus The left brain/right brain fallacy When case examples or individual stories don’t honor all of the times that clinicians are wrong Unexamined bias is a constant challenge in trying to make sure you are evaluating the actual data and not what you are expecting to see Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Glyn Brokensha – Clinical Intuition: more than rational? Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Awakening Intuition by Terry Marks-Tarlow   Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors   Relevant Episodes and Blog Posts: Saying “Trust Your Gut” Is Bad Advice Deliberate Practice episodes: Be a Better Therapist Finding Your Blindspots   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 24 Feb 2020 08:00:00 -0000 You Can't Trust Your Gut: The ins and outs of intuition full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the ins and outs of clinical intuition. Curt and Katie talk about the ins and outs of intuition. We look at when you can trust your gut feelings and when you cannot. We sort through how to actually develop and use clinical intuition as well as the problems that can come into play when you do not follow the appropriate steps.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Definitions of the 4 types of intuition: mystical, spurious, inferential, wholistic Confirmatory bias – how it can be known, but go unrecognized How operant conditioning might be supporting your feeling of being able to trust your gut Discounting affect (ignoring when your assumptions were wrong) Whether or not we should pay attention to Mercury in Retrograde The challenge of looking for evidence that both supports and challenges your assumptions The different individual characteristics that get in the way of evaluating things appropriately The importance of deliberate practice The two different thinking processes described by Daniel Kahneman in Thinking Fast and Slow The need to test our assumptions, even though it is potentially laborious or threatening Using the scientific method The problem with “mindbugs” like the availability heuristic and the misinformation effect in trying to actively improve our ability to assess data Deductive intuition versus inductive intuition Conditions required to use clinical intuition: regularity, practice, immediate feedback Looking for things that prove you wrong, hearing and sorting through both positive and negative feedback A danger of specialization where you fit every client into your area of focus The left brain/right brain fallacy When case examples or individual stories don’t honor all of the times that clinicians are wrong Unexamined bias is a constant challenge in trying to make sure you are evaluating the actual data and not what you are expecting to see Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Glyn Brokensha – Clinical Intuition: more than rational? Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Awakening Intuition by Terry Marks-Tarlow   Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors   Relevant Episodes and Blog Posts: Saying “Trust Your Gut” Is Bad Advice Deliberate Practice episodes: Be a Better Therapist Finding Your Blindspots   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about the ins and outs of intuition. We look at when you can trust your gut feelings and when you cannot. We sort through how to actually develop and use clinical intuition as well as the problems that can come into play when you do not follow the appropriate steps.     

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Definitions of the 4 types of intuition: mystical, spurious, inferential, wholistic
  • Confirmatory bias – how it can be known, but go unrecognized
  • How operant conditioning might be supporting your feeling of being able to trust your gut
  • Discounting affect (ignoring when your assumptions were wrong)
  • Whether or not we should pay attention to Mercury in Retrograde
  • The challenge of looking for evidence that both supports and challenges your assumptions
  • The different individual characteristics that get in the way of evaluating things appropriately
  • The importance of deliberate practice
  • The two different thinking processes described by Daniel Kahneman in Thinking Fast and Slow
  • The need to test our assumptions, even though it is potentially laborious or threatening
  • Using the scientific method
  • The problem with “mindbugs” like the availability heuristic and the misinformation effect in trying to actively improve our ability to assess data
  • Deductive intuition versus inductive intuition
  • Conditions required to use clinical intuition: regularity, practice, immediate feedback
  • Looking for things that prove you wrong, hearing and sorting through both positive and negative feedback
  • A danger of specialization where you fit every client into your area of focus
  • The left brain/right brain fallacy
  • When case examples or individual stories don’t honor all of the times that clinicians are wrong
  • Unexamined bias is a constant challenge in trying to make sure you are evaluating the actual data and not what you are expecting to see

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Glyn Brokensha – Clinical Intuition: more than rational?

Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Awakening Intuition by Terry Marks-Tarlow

 

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors

 

Relevant Episodes and Blog Posts:

Saying “Trust Your Gut” Is Bad Advice

Deliberate Practice episodes:

Be a Better Therapist

Finding Your Blindspots

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2158 no Unlearning Very Bad Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/unlearning-very-bad-therapy An interview with Carrie Wiita and Ben Fineman, MFT Trainees and the co-hosts of the Very Bad Therapy podcast. Curt and Katie interview Ben and Carrie about their experience as graduate students and mental health advocates. We look at the short-falls of the educational system as well as the mythologies that stagnate the profession. We talk about how to improve therapy and the training we receive. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Carrie Wiita and Ben Fineman, Marriage and Family Therapist Trainees and Co-Hosts of the Very Bad Therapy podcast Very Bad Therapy gives voice to the stores that begin with an exasperated "You would not believe what happened with my therapist." Weekly episodes explore real-life stories of very bad therapy experiences as hosts Caroline Wiita and Ben Fineman seek to learn from diverse guests and experts in the field who help shed light on how things could have gone better. Supported by scientific research and a mission to bring out the best in psychotherapy through discussion of its worst moments, Very Bad Therapy is a corrective emotional experience for clinicians and clients alike.   In this episode we talk about: How Curt is responsible for Carrie and Ben meeting (and how proud he is of that fact) What is missing in therapist education and how to look at the profession of therapy critically What we are told when we enter into the field and what the reality actually is How going to grad school and listening to MTSG Podcast can be super confusing The research that says therapists do not get better with experience The mythologies in the profession that stop us from being curious The disappointment in the status quo and the failure to move into the cutting edge The stagnation of the field when we have the same people talking about the same things The inconsistency of the faculty and their ability/desire to teach graduate students in therapy Problems with graduate programs related to the bureaucracy and misinformation Ben Caldwell’s Saving Psychotherapy (of course) Feedback on the Very Bad Therapy podcast (and how Carrie and Ben have taken it in) The importance of research, grounding in laws, ethics, clinical excellence, when challenging the status quo The willingness to make mistakes publicly and be transparent with accountability to normalize mistakes and reinforce that we are not perfect and cannot be perfect as therapists The role of defensiveness in very bad therapy The problem of perfectionism in the field Minimizing risk and maximizing “joining” or developing the therapeutic relationship How harmful the communication between therapists can be The impact of bias on the work How to improve your training Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Unlearning Very Bad Therapy: An interview with Carrie Wiita and Ben Fineman full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Carrie Wiita and Ben Fineman, MFT Trainees and co-hosts of the Very Bad Therapy podcast An interview with Carrie Wiita and Ben Fineman, MFT Trainees and the co-hosts of the Very Bad Therapy podcast. Curt and Katie interview Ben and Carrie about their experience as graduate students and mental health advocates. We look at the short-falls of the educational system as well as the mythologies that stagnate the profession. We talk about how to improve therapy and the training we receive. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.   Interview with Carrie Wiita and Ben Fineman, Marriage and Family Therapist Trainees and Co-Hosts of the Very Bad Therapy podcast Very Bad Therapy gives voice to the stores that begin with an exasperated "You would not believe what happened with my therapist." Weekly episodes explore real-life stories of very bad therapy experiences as hosts Caroline Wiita and Ben Fineman seek to learn from diverse guests and experts in the field who help shed light on how things could have gone better. Supported by scientific research and a mission to bring out the best in psychotherapy through discussion of its worst moments, Very Bad Therapy is a corrective emotional experience for clinicians and clients alike.   In this episode we talk about: How Curt is responsible for Carrie and Ben meeting (and how proud he is of that fact) What is missing in therapist education and how to look at the profession of therapy critically What we are told when we enter into the field and what the reality actually is How going to grad school and listening to MTSG Podcast can be super confusing The research that says therapists do not get better with experience The mythologies in the profession that stop us from being curious The disappointment in the status quo and the failure to move into the cutting edge The stagnation of the field when we have the same people talking about the same things The inconsistency of the faculty and their ability/desire to teach graduate students in therapy Problems with graduate programs related to the bureaucracy and misinformation Ben Caldwell’s Saving Psychotherapy (of course) Feedback on the Very Bad Therapy podcast (and how Carrie and Ben have taken it in) The importance of research, grounding in laws, ethics, clinical excellence, when challenging the status quo The willingness to make mistakes publicly and be transparent with accountability to normalize mistakes and reinforce that we are not perfect and cannot be perfect as therapists The role of defensiveness in very bad therapy The problem of perfectionism in the field Minimizing risk and maximizing “joining” or developing the therapeutic relationship How harmful the communication between therapists can be The impact of bias on the work How to improve your training An interview with Carrie Wiita and Ben Fineman, MFT Trainees and the co-hosts of the Very Bad Therapy podcast. Curt and Katie interview Ben and Carrie about their experience as graduate students and mental health advocates. We look at the short-falls of the educational system as well as the mythologies that stagnate the profession. We talk about how to improve therapy and the training we receive.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 

Interview with Carrie Wiita and Ben Fineman, Marriage and Family Therapist Trainees and Co-Hosts of the Very Bad Therapy podcast

Very Bad Therapy gives voice to the stores that begin with an exasperated "You would not believe what happened with my therapist." Weekly episodes explore real-life stories of very bad therapy experiences as hosts Caroline Wiita and Ben Fineman seek to learn from diverse guests and experts in the field who help shed light on how things could have gone better. Supported by scientific research and a mission to bring out the best in psychotherapy through discussion of its worst moments, Very Bad Therapy is a corrective emotional experience for clinicians and clients alike.

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • How Curt is responsible for Carrie and Ben meeting (and how proud he is of that fact)
  • What is missing in therapist education and how to look at the profession of therapy critically
  • What we are told when we enter into the field and what the reality actually is
  • How going to grad school and listening to MTSG Podcast can be super confusing
  • The research that says therapists do not get better with experience
  • The mythologies in the profession that stop us from being curious
  • The disappointment in the status quo and the failure to move into the cutting edge
  • The stagnation of the field when we have the same people talking about the same things
  • The inconsistency of the faculty and their ability/desire to teach graduate students in therapy
  • Problems with graduate programs related to the bureaucracy and misinformation
  • Ben Caldwell’s Saving Psychotherapy (of course)
  • Feedback on the Very Bad Therapy podcast (and how Carrie and Ben have taken it in)
  • The importance of research, grounding in laws, ethics, clinical excellence, when challenging the status quo
  • The willingness to make mistakes publicly and be transparent with accountability to normalize mistakes and reinforce that we are not perfect and cannot be perfect as therapists
  • The role of defensiveness in very bad therapy
  • The problem of perfectionism in the field
  • Minimizing risk and maximizing “joining” or developing the therapeutic relationship
  • How harmful the communication between therapists can be
  • The impact of bias on the work
  • How to improve your training
]]> 2228 no Structuring Self-Care https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/structuring-self-care Curt and Katie talk about structuring self-care into your business practices. We look at how to incorporate self-care best practices into the way you build your work day. We also talk about common challenges to taking this advice.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Creating a cohesive plan for self-care in all aspects of your work Incorporating the concept of Flow into your work practices Defining Flow – the thoughts about losing yourself or being incredibly mindful The absence of mental load that occurs when you are doing the things that you are good at and enjoy most Decision fatigue, spoon theory Identifying how to set up your day strategically Studying your energy and motivation at different times of day The importance of rest, balancing of stress and rest to increase stamina The times when creativity comes are not when you’re working Working to prevent burnout, rather than manage it after it happens Intentionally scheduling rest and rejuvenating activities What types of rest are effective and what types of rest are ineffective The danger of the ideas of productivity and hustle The inefficiency of continuous running How to structure your schedule effectively Ritual and routine, grounding and mindfulness Creating systems to decrease the required number of decisions you need to make each day How the people around you elevate you or pull you down Intentionally separating “work” from home Closing out, decompression, and consultation Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! 2020 Kauai Continuing Education Retreat for Therapists Hosted by CAV Academy Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness  Spoon Theory Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors   Relevant Episodes: Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Awareness for Therapists The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists Compassion Fatigue Therapists in Therapy Toxic Work Environments Managing Vicarious Trauma The Burnout System Addressing the Burnout System The Mental Load of Therapists All Kinds of Burned Out   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 10 Feb 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Structuring Self-Care full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about structuring self-care into your business practices Curt and Katie talk about structuring self-care into your business practices. We look at how to incorporate self-care best practices into the way you build your work day. We also talk about common challenges to taking this advice.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Creating a cohesive plan for self-care in all aspects of your work Incorporating the concept of Flow into your work practices Defining Flow – the thoughts about losing yourself or being incredibly mindful The absence of mental load that occurs when you are doing the things that you are good at and enjoy most Decision fatigue, spoon theory Identifying how to set up your day strategically Studying your energy and motivation at different times of day The importance of rest, balancing of stress and rest to increase stamina The times when creativity comes are not when you’re working Working to prevent burnout, rather than manage it after it happens Intentionally scheduling rest and rejuvenating activities What types of rest are effective and what types of rest are ineffective The danger of the ideas of productivity and hustle The inefficiency of continuous running How to structure your schedule effectively Ritual and routine, grounding and mindfulness Creating systems to decrease the required number of decisions you need to make each day How the people around you elevate you or pull you down Intentionally separating “work” from home Closing out, decompression, and consultation Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! 2020 Kauai Continuing Education Retreat for Therapists Hosted by CAV Academy Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness  Spoon Theory Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors   Relevant Episodes: Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Awareness for Therapists The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists Compassion Fatigue Therapists in Therapy Toxic Work Environments Managing Vicarious Trauma The Burnout System Addressing the Burnout System The Mental Load of Therapists All Kinds of Burned Out   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about structuring self-care into your business practices. We look at how to incorporate self-care best practices into the way you build your work day. We also talk about common challenges to taking this advice.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Creating a cohesive plan for self-care in all aspects of your work
  • Incorporating the concept of Flow into your work practices
  • Defining Flow – the thoughts about losing yourself or being incredibly mindful
  • The absence of mental load that occurs when you are doing the things that you are good at and enjoy most
  • Decision fatigue, spoon theory
  • Identifying how to set up your day strategically
  • Studying your energy and motivation at different times of day
  • The importance of rest, balancing of stress and rest to increase stamina
  • The times when creativity comes are not when you’re working
  • Working to prevent burnout, rather than manage it after it happens
  • Intentionally scheduling rest and rejuvenating activities
  • What types of rest are effective and what types of rest are ineffective
  • The danger of the ideas of productivity and hustle
  • The inefficiency of continuous running
  • How to structure your schedule effectively
  • Ritual and routine, grounding and mindfulness
  • Creating systems to decrease the required number of decisions you need to make each day
  • How the people around you elevate you or pull you down
  • Intentionally separating “work” from home
  • Closing out, decompression, and consultation

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

2020 Kauai Continuing Education Retreat for Therapists Hosted by CAV Academy

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink

Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness 

Spoon Theory

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors

 

Relevant Episodes:

Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Awareness for Therapists

The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists

Compassion Fatigue

Therapists in Therapy

Toxic Work Environments

Managing Vicarious Trauma

The Burnout System

Addressing the Burnout System

The Mental Load of Therapists

All Kinds of Burned Out

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2269 no Suicidal Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/suicidal-therapists-0 An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW about therapists who become suicidal. Curt and Katie interview Norine on the risk factors that therapists face as well as how we can support each other in our community. We talk about prevention, interventions with a colleague, and how to manage when a colleague dies by suicide.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW Norine Vander Hooven is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in practice for 32 years. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, suicide prevention, and life transitions. Norine is also certified in EMDR therapy, and is in training to be an EMDR therapy consultant. She uses this to work with people with PTSD, anxiety, and traumatic life events. Norine provides clinical consultation for therapists, as well as she works with young adults and adults in her private practice. Learn more at norinevanderhooven.com In this episode we talk about: Following up on a previous episode, Therapist Suicide. Looking at supervisors who have died by suicide The lack of research and data regarding therapist suicide (both ideation and completion) The fear and stigma about disclosing suicidal ideation and attempts for therapists The difference between therapists and others in suicide risk Heightened risk factors for therapists How therapists take in the work with their clients The isolation and lack of support that can happen with therapists Suggestions for therapists to address suicidal thoughts, isolation, loneliness Belonging, Burden, and Capability The importance of community and consultation The suggestion to be in your own therapy Incorporating self-care even down to the small moments during the work day How to incorporate knowledge about the challenge of the profession into our educational system The shame therapists feel (both perceived and actual) about mental health challenges How to support therapists who might be experiencing suicidal thoughts How to provide therapy to therapists, incorporating conversations and assessment about suicide from the beginning, normalizing the experience and challenge of being a therapist Supporting therapists in our community Planning for postvention – comprehensive conversations after therapists have clients die by suicide or other big events in our colleagues’ lives The importance of normalizing the feelings that therapists could be presenting with in consultation groups What can we do when one of our colleagues die by suicide The typical reactions and responses from colleagues, clients, and community members Preparing to have a conversation with a client whose therapist has died by suicide Mon, 03 Feb 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Suicidal Therapists: An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW about therapists who become suicidal. Curt and Katie interview Norine on the risk factors that therapists face as well as how we can support each other in our community. We talk about prevention, interventions with a colleague, and how to manage when a colleague dies by suicide.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW Norine Vander Hooven is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in practice for 32 years. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, suicide prevention, and life transitions. Norine is also certified in EMDR therapy, and is in training to be an EMDR therapy consultant. She uses this to work with people with PTSD, anxiety, and traumatic life events. Norine provides clinical consultation for therapists, as well as she works with young adults and adults in her private practice. Learn more at norinevanderhooven.com In this episode we talk about: Following up on a previous episode, Therapist Suicide. Looking at supervisors who have died by suicide The lack of research and data regarding therapist suicide (both ideation and completion) The fear and stigma about disclosing suicidal ideation and attempts for therapists The difference between therapists and others in suicide risk Heightened risk factors for therapists How therapists take in the work with their clients The isolation and lack of support that can happen with therapists Suggestions for therapists to address suicidal thoughts, isolation, loneliness Belonging, Burden, and Capability The importance of community and consultation The suggestion to be in your own therapy Incorporating self-care even down to the small moments during the work day How to incorporate knowledge about the challenge of the profession into our educational system The shame therapists feel (both perceived and actual) about mental health challenges How to support therapists who might be experiencing suicidal thoughts How to provide therapy to therapists, incorporating conversations and assessment about suicide from the beginning, normalizing the experience and challenge of being a therapist Supporting therapists in our community Planning for postvention – comprehensive conversations after therapists have clients die by suicide or other big events in our colleagues’ lives The importance of normalizing the feelings that therapists could be presenting with in consultation groups What can we do when one of our colleagues die by suicide The typical reactions and responses from colleagues, clients, and community members Preparing to have a conversation with a client whose therapist has died by suicide An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW about therapists who become suicidal. Curt and Katie interview Norine on the risk factors that therapists face as well as how we can support each other in our community. We talk about prevention, interventions with a colleague, and how to manage when a colleague dies by suicide. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW

Norine Vander Hooven is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in practice for 32 years. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, suicide prevention, and life transitions. Norine is also certified in EMDR therapy, and is in training to be an EMDR therapy consultant. She uses this to work with people with PTSD, anxiety, and traumatic life events. Norine provides clinical consultation for therapists, as well as she works with young adults and adults in her private practice. Learn more at norinevanderhooven.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • Following up on a previous episode, Therapist Suicide.
  • Looking at supervisors who have died by suicide
  • The lack of research and data regarding therapist suicide (both ideation and completion)
  • The fear and stigma about disclosing suicidal ideation and attempts for therapists
  • The difference between therapists and others in suicide risk
  • Heightened risk factors for therapists
  • How therapists take in the work with their clients
  • The isolation and lack of support that can happen with therapists
  • Suggestions for therapists to address suicidal thoughts, isolation, loneliness
  • Belonging, Burden, and Capability
  • The importance of community and consultation
  • The suggestion to be in your own therapy
  • Incorporating self-care even down to the small moments during the work day
  • How to incorporate knowledge about the challenge of the profession into our educational system
  • The shame therapists feel (both perceived and actual) about mental health challenges
  • How to support therapists who might be experiencing suicidal thoughts
  • How to provide therapy to therapists, incorporating conversations and assessment about suicide from the beginning, normalizing the experience and challenge of being a therapist
  • Supporting therapists in our community
  • Planning for postvention – comprehensive conversations after therapists have clients die by suicide or other big events in our colleagues’ lives
  • The importance of normalizing the feelings that therapists could be presenting with in consultation groups
  • What can we do when one of our colleagues die by suicide
  • The typical reactions and responses from colleagues, clients, and community members
  • Preparing to have a conversation with a client whose therapist has died by suicide
]]> 2420 no Preventing Client Suicide https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/preventing-client-suicide An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW about assessing suicide appropriately for our clients from the beginning of treatment. Curt and Katie talk with Norine about what therapists often miss with their clients and how to treat suicidality when it comes up. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW Norine Vander Hooven is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in practice for 32 years. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, suicide prevention, and life transitions. Norine is also certified in EMDR therapy, and is in training to be an EMDR therapy consultant. She uses this to work with people with PTSD, anxiety, and traumatic life events. Norine provides clinical consultation for therapists, as well as she works with young adults and adults in her private practice. Learn more at norinevanderhooven.com In this episode we talk about: Norine’s story and how she entered into suicidology How to appropriately assess for Suicide Risk from the beginning of treatment What needs to be asked in your intake The fear that therapists have in deeply looking at suicide with clients The importance of exploring traumas from birth for clients Why “die by suicide” is so much better than “committed” suicide What #notsix means (how many people are actually affected by a single suicide) Risk factors for suicidality: lack of belonging, feeling of being a burden, capability What therapists often miss when assessing for suicide The need to understand the client’s perception of the level of crisis around suicidality Old school assessments and safety contracts that are not useful, and what to use instead Who is most at risk for suicidal thoughts What to consider in assessing for suicidality with clients who don’t appear to be at risk Different types of suicidal thoughts Searching for hope and forward thinking in life Types of treatment modalities to address all types of suicidal thoughts How to successfully assess, safety plan, and address suicide head on Mon, 27 Jan 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Preventing Client Suicide full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW about assessing suicide appropriately for our clients from the beginning of treatment. Curt and Katie talk with Norine about what therapists often miss with their clients and how to treat suicidality when it comes up. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW Norine Vander Hooven is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in practice for 32 years. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, suicide prevention, and life transitions. Norine is also certified in EMDR therapy, and is in training to be an EMDR therapy consultant. She uses this to work with people with PTSD, anxiety, and traumatic life events. Norine provides clinical consultation for therapists, as well as she works with young adults and adults in her private practice. Learn more at norinevanderhooven.com In this episode we talk about: Norine’s story and how she entered into suicidology How to appropriately assess for Suicide Risk from the beginning of treatment What needs to be asked in your intake The fear that therapists have in deeply looking at suicide with clients The importance of exploring traumas from birth for clients Why “die by suicide” is so much better than “committed” suicide What #notsix means (how many people are actually affected by a single suicide) Risk factors for suicidality: lack of belonging, feeling of being a burden, capability What therapists often miss when assessing for suicide The need to understand the client’s perception of the level of crisis around suicidality Old school assessments and safety contracts that are not useful, and what to use instead Who is most at risk for suicidal thoughts What to consider in assessing for suicidality with clients who don’t appear to be at risk Different types of suicidal thoughts Searching for hope and forward thinking in life Types of treatment modalities to address all types of suicidal thoughts How to successfully assess, safety plan, and address suicide head on An interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW about assessing suicide appropriately for our clients from the beginning of treatment. Curt and Katie talk with Norine about what therapists often miss with their clients and how to treat suicidality when it comes up.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Norine Vander Hooven, LCSW

Norine Vander Hooven is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in practice for 32 years. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, suicide prevention, and life transitions. Norine is also certified in EMDR therapy, and is in training to be an EMDR therapy consultant. She uses this to work with people with PTSD, anxiety, and traumatic life events. Norine provides clinical consultation for therapists, as well as she works with young adults and adults in her private practice. Learn more at norinevanderhooven.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • Norine’s story and how she entered into suicidology
  • How to appropriately assess for Suicide Risk from the beginning of treatment
  • What needs to be asked in your intake
  • The fear that therapists have in deeply looking at suicide with clients
  • The importance of exploring traumas from birth for clients
  • Why “die by suicide” is so much better than “committed” suicide
  • What #notsix means (how many people are actually affected by a single suicide)
  • Risk factors for suicidality: lack of belonging, feeling of being a burden, capability
  • What therapists often miss when assessing for suicide
  • The need to understand the client’s perception of the level of crisis around suicidality
  • Old school assessments and safety contracts that are not useful, and what to use instead
  • Who is most at risk for suicidal thoughts
  • What to consider in assessing for suicidality with clients who don’t appear to be at risk
  • Different types of suicidal thoughts
  • Searching for hope and forward thinking in life
  • Types of treatment modalities to address all types of suicidal thoughts
  • How to successfully assess, safety plan, and address suicide head on
]]> 2395 no Therapists on Your Couch https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapists-on-your-couch Curt and Katie talk about the nuance of treating therapists in therapy. We look at the unique dynamics in the therapeutic relationship as well as common traps to avoid.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The lack of research or guidance on how to treat therapists in therapy How different are therapists as therapy clients What it is like to have a therapist for a therapy client What to assess for with therapists The importance of looking at what the presenting problem is The expectation that therapists would be different that other clients The therapeutic alliance and dual relationship conversations The dynamic of making assumptions about therapists as clients The theme of competition between client and therapist Therapists overidentifying with therapist clients and making inaccurate assumptions A different type of presenting problem and length of treatment Common coping strategies (i.e., rationalization, focusing on cognition, non-judgmental, disconnect from feelings) that need to be overcome more with therapist clients Clarifying the role and rules in the room, so we can take off the armor Avoiding the temptation of staying in intellect and insight Pushing for some comparison to other clients – reassurance, validation, vulnerability, trying to please or take care of the therapist The importance of the therapist holding the container, so the therapist-client can do their work How to navigate the differences between being a therapist and a supervisor or a manager How therapists are like other clients, but totally different Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers   Relevant Episodes: Therapists in Therapy   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 20 Jan 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Therapists on Your Couch full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the nuance of treating therapists in therapy Curt and Katie talk about the nuance of treating therapists in therapy. We look at the unique dynamics in the therapeutic relationship as well as common traps to avoid.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The lack of research or guidance on how to treat therapists in therapy How different are therapists as therapy clients What it is like to have a therapist for a therapy client What to assess for with therapists The importance of looking at what the presenting problem is The expectation that therapists would be different that other clients The therapeutic alliance and dual relationship conversations The dynamic of making assumptions about therapists as clients The theme of competition between client and therapist Therapists overidentifying with therapist clients and making inaccurate assumptions A different type of presenting problem and length of treatment Common coping strategies (i.e., rationalization, focusing on cognition, non-judgmental, disconnect from feelings) that need to be overcome more with therapist clients Clarifying the role and rules in the room, so we can take off the armor Avoiding the temptation of staying in intellect and insight Pushing for some comparison to other clients – reassurance, validation, vulnerability, trying to please or take care of the therapist The importance of the therapist holding the container, so the therapist-client can do their work How to navigate the differences between being a therapist and a supervisor or a manager How therapists are like other clients, but totally different Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers   Relevant Episodes: Therapists in Therapy   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about the nuance of treating therapists in therapy. We look at the unique dynamics in the therapeutic relationship as well as common traps to avoid.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The lack of research or guidance on how to treat therapists in therapy
  • How different are therapists as therapy clients
  • What it is like to have a therapist for a therapy client
  • What to assess for with therapists
  • The importance of looking at what the presenting problem is
  • The expectation that therapists would be different that other clients
  • The therapeutic alliance and dual relationship conversations
  • The dynamic of making assumptions about therapists as clients
  • The theme of competition between client and therapist
  • Therapists overidentifying with therapist clients and making inaccurate assumptions
  • A different type of presenting problem and length of treatment
  • Common coping strategies (i.e., rationalization, focusing on cognition, non-judgmental, disconnect from feelings) that need to be overcome more with therapist clients
  • Clarifying the role and rules in the room, so we can take off the armor
  • Avoiding the temptation of staying in intellect and insight
  • Pushing for some comparison to other clients – reassurance, validation, vulnerability, trying to please or take care of the therapist
  • The importance of the therapist holding the container, so the therapist-client can do their work
  • How to navigate the differences between being a therapist and a supervisor or a manager
  • How therapists are like other clients, but totally different

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers

 

Relevant Episodes:

Therapists in Therapy

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2051 no Iran, The News, and Your Clients https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/iran-the-news-and-your-clients An interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD, and Negeen Moussavian, AMFT, regarding Iran, current events, and how the news might impact Iranian clients. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.  Interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD and Negeen Moussavian, AMFT Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is currently Director of the School for Social Transformation at Arizona State University. Before coming to Arizona, she was Acting Dean of the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver (2017-2019), after spending eleven years at Pomona College from 2006-2017 where she most recently served as professor and chair of anthropology and director of the Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College as well as Dean of Women. Her research interests include gendered labor, human trafficking, migration, sexuality, human rights, transnational feminism, and public health in the context of changing global and political structures. She has published four single authored books and one edited volume in addition to numerous journal and news articles. She has been a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. In 2018 she was appointed by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and re-appointed by Governor Jared Polis to serve on the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Negeen Moussavian is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#107771) working under the supervision of Curt Widhalm LMFT (#47333) in Encino, CA. She received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. She works with clients dealing with relationships, dating, infidelity, and trauma. Additionally, she works with Iranian-American clients on issues surrounding identity, generational trauma, and other culture specific topics. She implements a combination of holistic and traditional therapy practices, including EMDR therapy. In this episode we talk about: Current events in Iran as well as historical context Liminality – the feeling of not belonging here or there The importance of being informed The uncertainty that can lead to fear and then to hate The crushing tsunami wave of islamophobia that is coming in the United States How significant events related to Iran impact Iranian-Americans The dramatic changes within Iran How therapists can help Iranian families to cope with the impacts of current events Mon, 13 Jan 2020 08:00:00 -0000 Iran, The News, and Your Clients full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD, and Negeen Moussavian, AMFT An interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD, and Negeen Moussavian, AMFT, regarding Iran, current events, and how the news might impact Iranian clients. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.  Interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD and Negeen Moussavian, AMFT Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is currently Director of the School for Social Transformation at Arizona State University. Before coming to Arizona, she was Acting Dean of the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver (2017-2019), after spending eleven years at Pomona College from 2006-2017 where she most recently served as professor and chair of anthropology and director of the Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College as well as Dean of Women. Her research interests include gendered labor, human trafficking, migration, sexuality, human rights, transnational feminism, and public health in the context of changing global and political structures. She has published four single authored books and one edited volume in addition to numerous journal and news articles. She has been a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. In 2018 she was appointed by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and re-appointed by Governor Jared Polis to serve on the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Negeen Moussavian is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#107771) working under the supervision of Curt Widhalm LMFT (#47333) in Encino, CA. She received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. She works with clients dealing with relationships, dating, infidelity, and trauma. Additionally, she works with Iranian-American clients on issues surrounding identity, generational trauma, and other culture specific topics. She implements a combination of holistic and traditional therapy practices, including EMDR therapy. In this episode we talk about: Current events in Iran as well as historical context Liminality – the feeling of not belonging here or there The importance of being informed The uncertainty that can lead to fear and then to hate The crushing tsunami wave of islamophobia that is coming in the United States How significant events related to Iran impact Iranian-Americans The dramatic changes within Iran How therapists can help Iranian families to cope with the impacts of current events An interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD, and Negeen Moussavian, AMFT, regarding Iran, current events, and how the news might impact Iranian clients.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 Interview with Pardis Mahdavi, PhD and Negeen Moussavian, AMFT

Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is currently Director of the School for Social Transformation at Arizona State University. Before coming to Arizona, she was Acting Dean of the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver (2017-2019), after spending eleven years at Pomona College from 2006-2017 where she most recently served as professor and chair of anthropology and director of the Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College as well as Dean of Women. Her research interests include gendered labor, human trafficking, migration, sexuality, human rights, transnational feminism, and public health in the context of changing global and political structures. She has published four single authored books and one edited volume in addition to numerous journal and news articles. She has been a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. In 2018 she was appointed by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and re-appointed by Governor Jared Polis to serve on the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.

Negeen Moussavian is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#107771) working under the supervision of Curt Widhalm LMFT (#47333) in Encino, CA. She received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. She works with clients dealing with relationships, dating, infidelity, and trauma. Additionally, she works with Iranian-American clients on issues surrounding identity, generational trauma, and other culture specific topics. She implements a combination of holistic and traditional therapy practices, including EMDR therapy.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Current events in Iran as well as historical context
  • Liminality – the feeling of not belonging here or there
  • The importance of being informed
  • The uncertainty that can lead to fear and then to hate
  • The crushing tsunami wave of islamophobia that is coming in the United States
  • How significant events related to Iran impact Iranian-Americans
  • The dramatic changes within Iran
  • How therapists can help Iranian families to cope with the impacts of current events
]]> 2624 no We Can't Help Ourselves https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/we-cant-help-ourselves Curt and Katie talk about how difficult it is for therapists to take care of ourselves. We look at why we struggle with the self-care that we teach our clients, including shaming in our field, lack of connection to our shadow-self, and where we seek support. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Why the Giving Tree is a bad role model Road blocks therapists put in their own way Katie’s notion of Sacrificial Helping The wounded healer concept The reasons we do not take care of ourselves How we define our value, especially related to the idea that our value is to help others The harm of valuing productivity over all else The search for meaning – what we do is meaningful to us Volunteering on top of the work we do The idea that you can be impacted by the therapy you do The role that the shadow self plays The strict, externalized parent and oppositionality The shame for not “self-caring” enough or believing in the “right” form or health from our field Burnout’s effect on decision-making The lack of training on how to use the coping strategies on yourself How to make decisions better about self-care as a therapist Opening space for mistakes in our field How relational therapies can be a solution for therapists who are grappling with their own stuff Where to seek support (and where not to seek support) Intention versus reactivity Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Lori Gottlieb, MFT Irvin Yalom, MD Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers   Relevant Episodes: Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Awareness for Therapists Vulnerability, Mistakes, and The Imposter Syndrome The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists Compassion Fatigue Therapists in Therapy Toxic Work Environments Managing Vicarious Trauma The Burnout System Addressing the Burnout System The Mental Load of Therapists All Kinds of Burned Out Impaired Therapists Therapist Suicide When is it Discrimination?   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 06 Jan 2020 08:00:00 -0000 We Can't Help Ourselves full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how difficult self-care is for therapists Curt and Katie talk about how difficult it is for therapists to take care of ourselves. We look at why we struggle with the self-care that we teach our clients, including shaming in our field, lack of connection to our shadow-self, and where we seek support. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Why the Giving Tree is a bad role model Road blocks therapists put in their own way Katie’s notion of Sacrificial Helping The wounded healer concept The reasons we do not take care of ourselves How we define our value, especially related to the idea that our value is to help others The harm of valuing productivity over all else The search for meaning – what we do is meaningful to us Volunteering on top of the work we do The idea that you can be impacted by the therapy you do The role that the shadow self plays The strict, externalized parent and oppositionality The shame for not “self-caring” enough or believing in the “right” form or health from our field Burnout’s effect on decision-making The lack of training on how to use the coping strategies on yourself How to make decisions better about self-care as a therapist Opening space for mistakes in our field How relational therapies can be a solution for therapists who are grappling with their own stuff Where to seek support (and where not to seek support) Intention versus reactivity Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Lori Gottlieb, MFT Irvin Yalom, MD Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers   Relevant Episodes: Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Awareness for Therapists Vulnerability, Mistakes, and The Imposter Syndrome The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists Compassion Fatigue Therapists in Therapy Toxic Work Environments Managing Vicarious Trauma The Burnout System Addressing the Burnout System The Mental Load of Therapists All Kinds of Burned Out Impaired Therapists Therapist Suicide When is it Discrimination?   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about how difficult it is for therapists to take care of ourselves. We look at why we struggle with the self-care that we teach our clients, including shaming in our field, lack of connection to our shadow-self, and where we seek support.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why the Giving Tree is a bad role model
  • Road blocks therapists put in their own way
  • Katie’s notion of Sacrificial Helping
  • The wounded healer concept
  • The reasons we do not take care of ourselves
  • How we define our value, especially related to the idea that our value is to help others
  • The harm of valuing productivity over all else
  • The search for meaning – what we do is meaningful to us
  • Volunteering on top of the work we do
  • The idea that you can be impacted by the therapy you do
  • The role that the shadow self plays
  • The strict, externalized parent and oppositionality
  • The shame for not “self-caring” enough or believing in the “right” form or health from our field
  • Burnout’s effect on decision-making
  • The lack of training on how to use the coping strategies on yourself
  • How to make decisions better about self-care as a therapist
  • Opening space for mistakes in our field
  • How relational therapies can be a solution for therapists who are grappling with their own stuff
  • Where to seek support (and where not to seek support)
  • Intention versus reactivity

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Lori Gottlieb, MFT

Irvin Yalom, MD

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers

 

Relevant Episodes:

Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Awareness for Therapists

Vulnerability, Mistakes, and The Imposter Syndrome

The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists

Compassion Fatigue

Therapists in Therapy

Toxic Work Environments

Managing Vicarious Trauma

The Burnout System

Addressing the Burnout System

The Mental Load of Therapists

All Kinds of Burned Out

Impaired Therapists

Therapist Suicide

When is it Discrimination?

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1959 no Special Episode: Striking for the Future of Mental Healthcare https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/special-episode-striking-for-the-future-of-mental-healthcare Special Episode: Curt and Katie talk about the recent NUHW- Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Worker Strike. Katie interviews a National Union of Healthcare Workers representative, Dr. Kenneth Rogers. We then both reflect on the interview and a statement from Kaiser Permanente, especially related to the implications for the profession as a whole. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The implications of the strike for all mental healthcare workers A statement from Kaiser Permanente An interview with Dr. Kenneth Rogers, shop steward and member of the bargaining team for NUHW The focus of the strike – looking at what the Union is requesting What a shop steward is, how the union works, what the bargaining table looks like The bureaucracy and distance that impacts the bargaining The different perspectives of each side The complexity of the decision making, the strategy of Kaiser Permanente The possibilities that Katie sees related to state-of-the-art mental health services The goal of transforming the model of care The inefficiencies that lead to lower productivity, the focus needed to improve care The positives in the current Kaiser proposal The hope of coming together to work on the future of mental healthcare The lack of parity in how mental healthcare workers are treated versus other professionals in Kaiser, looking at the perceived payment philosophy NUHW goal for the mental health system of care – solely getting to the basic standard of care The lack of trust between Kaiser and NUHW and the complexity of the decision-making Rogers’ reflections on the survival guide tips and the impact of the strike on clinicians and patients, advice for the striking clinicians The impact of Kaiser’s payment philosophy on other workplaces (Curt busting out some economic theory from Richard Thayler) The importance of the union work on wages in other workplaces Parity for mental health professionals and what that means for mental health parity Call to action to stay informed, step up and advocacy   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. National Union of Healthcare Workers: NUHW NUHW Facebook Page Kaiser Don’t Deny Union Representative Dr. Kenneth Rogers bio: Kenneth Rogers, Psy.D. is a psychologist who has worked with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group for the past 16 years. He has worked at the Fremont, Santa Clara, and Campbell Medical Centers in the past and currently works at the Elk Grove clinic near South Sacramento. He has been a shop steward for NUHW since its inception in 2009 and has been on the NUHW Executive Board since 2015. Dr. Rogers was a member of the 2010-2015 contract bargaining team and he remains a member of the current bargaining committee since July, 2018. Los Angeles Times Article The Kaiser Permanente ACE Study Economic Theory: Nobel Prize Winning Economist Richard Thayler – Anomalies: Inter-industry Wage Differentials   Relevant Episodes: Modern Therapists Strike Back   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 23 Dec 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Special Episode: Striking for the Future of Mental Healthcare full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the recent NUHW- Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Worker Strike Special Episode: Curt and Katie talk about the recent NUHW- Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Worker Strike. Katie interviews a National Union of Healthcare Workers representative, Dr. Kenneth Rogers. We then both reflect on the interview and a statement from Kaiser Permanente, especially related to the implications for the profession as a whole. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The implications of the strike for all mental healthcare workers A statement from Kaiser Permanente An interview with Dr. Kenneth Rogers, shop steward and member of the bargaining team for NUHW The focus of the strike – looking at what the Union is requesting What a shop steward is, how the union works, what the bargaining table looks like The bureaucracy and distance that impacts the bargaining The different perspectives of each side The complexity of the decision making, the strategy of Kaiser Permanente The possibilities that Katie sees related to state-of-the-art mental health services The goal of transforming the model of care The inefficiencies that lead to lower productivity, the focus needed to improve care The positives in the current Kaiser proposal The hope of coming together to work on the future of mental healthcare The lack of parity in how mental healthcare workers are treated versus other professionals in Kaiser, looking at the perceived payment philosophy NUHW goal for the mental health system of care – solely getting to the basic standard of care The lack of trust between Kaiser and NUHW and the complexity of the decision-making Rogers’ reflections on the survival guide tips and the impact of the strike on clinicians and patients, advice for the striking clinicians The impact of Kaiser’s payment philosophy on other workplaces (Curt busting out some economic theory from Richard Thayler) The importance of the union work on wages in other workplaces Parity for mental health professionals and what that means for mental health parity Call to action to stay informed, step up and advocacy   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. National Union of Healthcare Workers: NUHW NUHW Facebook Page Kaiser Don’t Deny Union Representative Dr. Kenneth Rogers bio: Kenneth Rogers, Psy.D. is a psychologist who has worked with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group for the past 16 years. He has worked at the Fremont, Santa Clara, and Campbell Medical Centers in the past and currently works at the Elk Grove clinic near South Sacramento. He has been a shop steward for NUHW since its inception in 2009 and has been on the NUHW Executive Board since 2015. Dr. Rogers was a member of the 2010-2015 contract bargaining team and he remains a member of the current bargaining committee since July, 2018. Los Angeles Times Article The Kaiser Permanente ACE Study Economic Theory: Nobel Prize Winning Economist Richard Thayler – Anomalies: Inter-industry Wage Differentials   Relevant Episodes: Modern Therapists Strike Back   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Special Episode: Curt and Katie talk about the recent NUHW- Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Worker Strike. Katie interviews a National Union of Healthcare Workers representative, Dr. Kenneth Rogers. We then both reflect on the interview and a statement from Kaiser Permanente, especially related to the implications for the profession as a whole.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The implications of the strike for all mental healthcare workers
  • A statement from Kaiser Permanente
  • An interview with Dr. Kenneth Rogers, shop steward and member of the bargaining team for NUHW
  • The focus of the strike – looking at what the Union is requesting
  • What a shop steward is, how the union works, what the bargaining table looks like
  • The bureaucracy and distance that impacts the bargaining
  • The different perspectives of each side
  • The complexity of the decision making, the strategy of Kaiser Permanente
  • The possibilities that Katie sees related to state-of-the-art mental health services
  • The goal of transforming the model of care
  • The inefficiencies that lead to lower productivity, the focus needed to improve care
  • The positives in the current Kaiser proposal
  • The hope of coming together to work on the future of mental healthcare
  • The lack of parity in how mental healthcare workers are treated versus other professionals in Kaiser, looking at the perceived payment philosophy
  • NUHW goal for the mental health system of care – solely getting to the basic standard of care
  • The lack of trust between Kaiser and NUHW and the complexity of the decision-making
  • Rogers’ reflections on the survival guide tips and the impact of the strike on clinicians and patients, advice for the striking clinicians
  • The impact of Kaiser’s payment philosophy on other workplaces (Curt busting out some economic theory from Richard Thayler)
  • The importance of the union work on wages in other workplaces
  • Parity for mental health professionals and what that means for mental health parity
  • Call to action to stay informed, step up and advocacy

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

National Union of Healthcare Workers: NUHW

NUHW Facebook Page

Kaiser Don’t Deny

Union Representative Dr. Kenneth Rogers bio:

Kenneth Rogers, Psy.D. is a psychologist who has worked with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group for the past 16 years. He has worked at the Fremont, Santa Clara, and Campbell Medical Centers in the past and currently works at the Elk Grove clinic near South Sacramento. He has been a shop steward for NUHW since its inception in 2009 and has been on the NUHW Executive Board since 2015. Dr. Rogers was a member of the 2010-2015 contract bargaining team and he remains a member of the current bargaining committee since July, 2018.

Los Angeles Times Article

The Kaiser Permanente ACE Study

Economic Theory: Nobel Prize Winning Economist Richard Thayler – Anomalies: Inter-industry Wage Differentials

 

Relevant Episodes:

Modern Therapists Strike Back

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 4443 no A Living Wage for Prelicensees https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/a-living-wage-for-prelicensees Curt and Katie talk about the advocacy efforts to make paying prelicensed individuals a best practice. We talk about a statement recently approved by CAMFT, looking at the process, the implications, and a call to action. In this episode we talk about: A public statement approved at the most recent meeting of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists The supporting information that suggests that paying prelicensed individuals is a best practice of supervision The importance of a living wage, benefits, and meaningful work Curt’s journey in support of this statement The ability (and the challenge) for each of us in these types of advocacy efforts. The call to action to take this statement to your own professional organization The type of push back to expect and how to address it Laws and best practices versus implementation and accountability Addressing bad actors and the goal of keeping good actors good How a single voice can be silenced, but a movement can make a difference The mission of the #therapymovement to leave our profession better A second call to action for you to stand up and advocate for the necessary changes you see Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists The Public Board book from the December CAMFT board meeting (statement on pg. 204-206) References: Abel, J. R., Deitz, R., & Su, Y. (2014) Are recent college graduates finding good jobs? Current Issues in Economics and Finance, 20(1). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2378472 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). Trauma Informed Care in Behavioral Health Service: Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 57. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD. Crain, A. (2016). Understanding the impact of unpaid internships on college student career development and employment outcomes. NACE Journal. Available at https://www.naceweb.org/job-market/internships/exploring-the-implications-of-unpaidinternships/. Eby, L. T., Burk, H., & Maher, C. P. (2010). How serious of a problem is staff turnover in substance abuse treatment? A longitudinal study of actual turnover. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 39, 264–271. Hickman, B. (2014, July 23). What we learned exploring unpaid internships. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/what-we-learned-investigating-unpaid-internships Hoge, M. A., Morris, J. A., Daniels, A. S., Stuart, G. W., Huey, L. Y., & Adams, N. (2007). An action plan for behavioral health workforce development. Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce: Cincinnati, OH. Knudsen, H. K., Johnson, J. A., & Roman, P. M. (2003). Retaining counseling staff at substance abuse treatment centers: Effects of management practices. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 24(2), 129- 135.   Relevant Episodes: Defining the Therapy Movement Trauma Informed Work Place Joining Your Association Modern Therapists Strike Back Let’s Get Political Building Hope for the Next Generation of Therapists The Fight to Save Psychotherapy Getting Personal to Advocate for Compassion, Understanding, and Social Justice   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 16 Dec 2019 08:00:00 -0000 A Living Wage for Prelicensees full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the advocacy efforts to make paying prelicensed individuals a best practice. Curt and Katie talk about the advocacy efforts to make paying prelicensed individuals a best practice. We talk about a statement recently approved by CAMFT, looking at the process, the implications, and a call to action. In this episode we talk about: A public statement approved at the most recent meeting of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists The supporting information that suggests that paying prelicensed individuals is a best practice of supervision The importance of a living wage, benefits, and meaningful work Curt’s journey in support of this statement The ability (and the challenge) for each of us in these types of advocacy efforts. The call to action to take this statement to your own professional organization The type of push back to expect and how to address it Laws and best practices versus implementation and accountability Addressing bad actors and the goal of keeping good actors good How a single voice can be silenced, but a movement can make a difference The mission of the #therapymovement to leave our profession better A second call to action for you to stand up and advocate for the necessary changes you see Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists The Public Board book from the December CAMFT board meeting (statement on pg. 204-206) References: Abel, J. R., Deitz, R., & Su, Y. (2014) Are recent college graduates finding good jobs? Current Issues in Economics and Finance, 20(1). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2378472 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). Trauma Informed Care in Behavioral Health Service: Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 57. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD. Crain, A. (2016). Understanding the impact of unpaid internships on college student career development and employment outcomes. NACE Journal. Available at https://www.naceweb.org/job-market/internships/exploring-the-implications-of-unpaidinternships/. Eby, L. T., Burk, H., & Maher, C. P. (2010). How serious of a problem is staff turnover in substance abuse treatment? A longitudinal study of actual turnover. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 39, 264–271. Hickman, B. (2014, July 23). What we learned exploring unpaid internships. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/what-we-learned-investigating-unpaid-internships Hoge, M. A., Morris, J. A., Daniels, A. S., Stuart, G. W., Huey, L. Y., & Adams, N. (2007). An action plan for behavioral health workforce development. Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce: Cincinnati, OH. Knudsen, H. K., Johnson, J. A., & Roman, P. M. (2003). Retaining counseling staff at substance abuse treatment centers: Effects of management practices. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 24(2), 129- 135.   Relevant Episodes: Defining the Therapy Movement Trauma Informed Work Place Joining Your Association Modern Therapists Strike Back Let’s Get Political Building Hope for the Next Generation of Therapists The Fight to Save Psychotherapy Getting Personal to Advocate for Compassion, Understanding, and Social Justice   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about the advocacy efforts to make paying prelicensed individuals a best practice. We talk about a statement recently approved by CAMFT, looking at the process, the implications, and a call to action.

In this episode we talk about:

  • A public statement approved at the most recent meeting of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
  • The supporting information that suggests that paying prelicensed individuals is a best practice of supervision
  • The importance of a living wage, benefits, and meaningful work
  • Curt’s journey in support of this statement
  • The ability (and the challenge) for each of us in these types of advocacy efforts.
  • The call to action to take this statement to your own professional organization
  • The type of push back to expect and how to address it
  • Laws and best practices versus implementation and accountability
  • Addressing bad actors and the goal of keeping good actors good
  • How a single voice can be silenced, but a movement can make a difference
  • The mission of the #therapymovement to leave our profession better
  • A second call to action for you to stand up and advocate for the necessary changes you see

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

The Public Board book from the December CAMFT board meeting (statement on pg. 204-206)

References:

Abel, J. R., Deitz, R., & Su, Y. (2014) Are recent college graduates finding good jobs? Current Issues in Economics and Finance, 20(1). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2378472

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). Trauma Informed Care in Behavioral Health Service: Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 57. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.

Crain, A. (2016). Understanding the impact of unpaid internships on college student career development and employment outcomes. NACE Journal. Available at https://www.naceweb.org/job-market/internships/exploring-the-implications-of-unpaidinternships/.

Eby, L. T., Burk, H., & Maher, C. P. (2010). How serious of a problem is staff turnover in substance abuse treatment? A longitudinal study of actual turnover. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 39, 264–271.

Hickman, B. (2014, July 23). What we learned exploring unpaid internships. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/what-we-learned-investigating-unpaid-internships

Hoge, M. A., Morris, J. A., Daniels, A. S., Stuart, G. W., Huey, L. Y., & Adams, N. (2007). An action plan for behavioral health workforce development. Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce: Cincinnati, OH.

Knudsen, H. K., Johnson, J. A., & Roman, P. M. (2003). Retaining counseling staff at substance abuse treatment centers: Effects of management practices. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 24(2), 129- 135.

 

Relevant Episodes:

Defining the Therapy Movement

Trauma Informed Work Place

Joining Your Association

Modern Therapists Strike Back

Let’s Get Political

Building Hope for the Next Generation of Therapists

The Fight to Save Psychotherapy

Getting Personal to Advocate for Compassion, Understanding, and Social Justice

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2068 no Get Paid to Speak https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/get-paid-to-speak An interview with Dr. Laura Louis, CEO of Couch to Podium, on how to move into public speaking as a therapist. We look at best practices, what therapists get wrong, and how to get started. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.  Interview with Dr. Laura Louis, CEO of Couch to Podium. Dr. Laura Louis is the founder of the Couch to Podium academy which consists of a Facebook community, Courses Retreats, Seminars and a Mastermind. Dr. Louis teaches therapists and counselors all about the business side of speaking. She was able to book over 40 speaking engagements last year alone AND build a steady stream of speaking engagements. Dr. Louis has conducted over one hundred paid speaking engagements nationally and internationally. She has negotiated travel, and expenses along with $3000 speaking fees. Dr. Louis' clients have launched paid speaking gigs, developed retreats and launched programs.   Dr. Louis has been featured on NBC, has been asked to speak for the American Psychological Association Conference and The National Sales Conference.  In this episode we talk about: Laura’s program that teaches therapists how to move from doing therapy to booking paid speaking engagements Speaking as an option to scale your business The importance of you identifying your ideal client and what you teach them – that’s a talk Identifying how to create the talk and who to pitch speaking to Supporting your own dreams by being within a circle that is supportive The benefit of getting unpaid experience in speaking (visibility, becoming comfortable, flowing through your talk, etc.) Toastmasters as a great training ground Building your list while speaking, so you can continue to support your audience after the talk Social proof and understanding the experience – photos and videos – help you book speaking engagements Monetizing your speaking through other offerings, back of room sales, licensing, etc. Speaking to your target market to increase clients Understanding how to assess what you can get out of speaking Mindset changes needed to ask for pay or other benefits from speaking Looking at the whole experience and benefits to determine whether you would like to take a speaking engagement How to find paid speaking engagements The need to adjust language to pitch to decision-making (pain points, solutions, without psycho-jargon) The different types of applications, best practices The differences between putting your own events on versus speaking for other people’s events The ability to make money if you master the details of putting on your own live events The need to understand sales and marketing to move forward with speaking The time investment required when becoming a paid speaker Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers Couch to Podium website Couch to Podium Membership Program Dr. Louis’ Facebook Group: Paid to Speak (Mental Health Speakers Group) Dr. Louis’ Facebook Page: Couch to Podium Dr. Louis’ Instragram Dr. Louis’ website: https://www.atlantacoupletherapy.com/ Dr. Louis’ training: https://drlouis.clickfunnels.com/booked-to-speak32977293  Relevant Episodes: Clinical Marketing Beyond Selling the Couch Open to Opportunity So You Want to Plan a Conference   Connect with us: The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference) Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 09 Dec 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Get Paid to Speak full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Laura Louis CEO of Couch to Podium An interview with Dr. Laura Louis, CEO of Couch to Podium, on how to move into public speaking as a therapist. We look at best practices, what therapists get wrong, and how to get started. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.  Interview with Dr. Laura Louis, CEO of Couch to Podium. Dr. Laura Louis is the founder of the Couch to Podium academy which consists of a Facebook community, Courses Retreats, Seminars and a Mastermind. Dr. Louis teaches therapists and counselors all about the business side of speaking. She was able to book over 40 speaking engagements last year alone AND build a steady stream of speaking engagements. Dr. Louis has conducted over one hundred paid speaking engagements nationally and internationally. She has negotiated travel, and expenses along with $3000 speaking fees. Dr. Louis' clients have launched paid speaking gigs, developed retreats and launched programs.   Dr. Louis has been featured on NBC, has been asked to speak for the American Psychological Association Conference and The National Sales Conference.  In this episode we talk about: Laura’s program that teaches therapists how to move from doing therapy to booking paid speaking engagements Speaking as an option to scale your business The importance of you identifying your ideal client and what you teach them – that’s a talk Identifying how to create the talk and who to pitch speaking to Supporting your own dreams by being within a circle that is supportive The benefit of getting unpaid experience in speaking (visibility, becoming comfortable, flowing through your talk, etc.) Toastmasters as a great training ground Building your list while speaking, so you can continue to support your audience after the talk Social proof and understanding the experience – photos and videos – help you book speaking engagements Monetizing your speaking through other offerings, back of room sales, licensing, etc. Speaking to your target market to increase clients Understanding how to assess what you can get out of speaking Mindset changes needed to ask for pay or other benefits from speaking Looking at the whole experience and benefits to determine whether you would like to take a speaking engagement How to find paid speaking engagements The need to adjust language to pitch to decision-making (pain points, solutions, without psycho-jargon) The different types of applications, best practices The differences between putting your own events on versus speaking for other people’s events The ability to make money if you master the details of putting on your own live events The need to understand sales and marketing to move forward with speaking The time investment required when becoming a paid speaker Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers Couch to Podium website Couch to Podium Membership Program Dr. Louis’ Facebook Group: Paid to Speak (Mental Health Speakers Group) Dr. Louis’ Facebook Page: Couch to Podium Dr. Louis’ Instragram Dr. Louis’ website: https://www.atlantacoupletherapy.com/ Dr. Louis’ training: https://drlouis.clickfunnels.com/booked-to-speak32977293  Relevant Episodes: Clinical Marketing Beyond Selling the Couch Open to Opportunity So You Want to Plan a Conference   Connect with us: The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference) Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Dr. Laura Louis, CEO of Couch to Podium, on how to move into public speaking as a therapist. We look at best practices, what therapists get wrong, and how to get started.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 Interview with Dr. Laura Louis, CEO of Couch to Podium.

Dr. Laura Louis is the founder of the Couch to Podium academy which consists of a Facebook community, Courses Retreats, Seminars and a Mastermind. Dr. Louis teaches therapists and counselors all about the business side of speaking. She was able to book over 40 speaking engagements last year alone AND build a steady stream of speaking engagements.

Dr. Louis has conducted over one hundred paid speaking engagements nationally and internationally. She has negotiated travel, and expenses along with $3000 speaking fees. Dr. Louis' clients have launched paid speaking gigs, developed retreats and launched programs. 

 Dr. Louis has been featured on NBC, has been asked to speak for the American Psychological Association Conference and The National Sales Conference. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Laura’s program that teaches therapists how to move from doing therapy to booking paid speaking engagements
  • Speaking as an option to scale your business
  • The importance of you identifying your ideal client and what you teach them – that’s a talk
  • Identifying how to create the talk and who to pitch speaking to
  • Supporting your own dreams by being within a circle that is supportive
  • The benefit of getting unpaid experience in speaking (visibility, becoming comfortable, flowing through your talk, etc.)
  • Toastmasters as a great training ground
  • Building your list while speaking, so you can continue to support your audience after the talk
  • Social proof and understanding the experience – photos and videos – help you book speaking engagements
  • Monetizing your speaking through other offerings, back of room sales, licensing, etc.
  • Speaking to your target market to increase clients
  • Understanding how to assess what you can get out of speaking
  • Mindset changes needed to ask for pay or other benefits from speaking
  • Looking at the whole experience and benefits to determine whether you would like to take a speaking engagement
  • How to find paid speaking engagements
  • The need to adjust language to pitch to decision-making (pain points, solutions, without psycho-jargon)
  • The different types of applications, best practices
  • The differences between putting your own events on versus speaking for other people’s events
  • The ability to make money if you master the details of putting on your own live events
  • The need to understand sales and marketing to move forward with speaking
  • The time investment required when becoming a paid speaker

Relevant Resources:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:

Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Speakers

Couch to Podium website

Couch to Podium Membership Program

Dr. Louis’ Facebook Group: Paid to Speak (Mental Health Speakers Group)

Dr. Louis’ Facebook Page: Couch to Podium

Dr. Louis’ Instragram

Dr. Louis’ website: https://www.atlantacoupletherapy.com/

Dr. Louis’ training: https://drlouis.clickfunnels.com/booked-to-speak32977293

 Relevant Episodes:

Clinical Marketing

Beyond Selling the Couch

Open to Opportunity

So You Want to Plan a Conference

 

Connect with us:

The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2438 no Branding for Your Ideal Client https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/branding-for-your-ideal-client An interview with Kate Campbell, PhD, LMFT, and Katie Lemieux, LMFT from The Private Practice Startup. Curt and Katie talk with Kate and Katie about the differences between marketing and branding, what therapists should consider when developing their personal brand, and common mistakes therapists make.  Interview with Kate and Katie from the Private Practice Startup The Private Practice Startup is co-owned by Kate Campbell, PhD, LMFT and Katie Lemieux, LMFT. They’re two therapists with entrepreneurial spirits who are crazy about business, branding and marketing. They live, work and play in South Florida.  They both built their 6-Figure private practices in less than 2 years from the ground up and inspire other ambitious mental health professionals to brand themselves, grow their dream private practices and live into their dream lifestyles. They have a hunger for business, branding and marketing.   They love helping private practitioners work with the clients they love, profit more in business, and create the freedom to truly enjoy a lifestyle business.   Kate is a food and wine aficionado who loves to travel and create new memories with her husband and son. She also loves the beach, pilates, riding horses, concerts, and of course the occasional “retail therapy”. Thanks to Kate, Katie is a wine snob in the making. Katie is an avid pitbull lover and has 2 of her own, she loves travel, new and fun adventures, reading, the ID channel, Halloween, sparkles, taking pictures, random silly things, family time and taking time to just be.   They are the creators of Private Practice Marketing E-Course and Coaching, provide FREE podcasts, and customizable Attorney Approved Private Practice Paperwork for therapists. Visit PrivatePracticeStartup.com for more info!      In this episode we talk about: The shear number of Kate/Katies that Curt had to deal with on the episode. The difference between marketing and branding The importance of marketing in developing a business Relationships, ownership as part of the branding process How to stand out, become distinctive What therapists should consider when developing a brand How your unique selling proposition relates to the development of your branding and marketing How therapists’ goals for their lifestyle and their individual picture impacts ideal client Niche and saying no to the clients who are not in your wheel house The challenge of being a generalist, fear of repelling too many clients Why you need to have a brand that clearly inspires your ideal clients The mistakes therapists often make in branding and connecting with your ideal clients Clear planning, following up, and tracking for your marketing Taking ownership of how you are perceived by your ideal clients How brands evolve, especially as you add businesses, business partners, side hustles, etc. How to become business partners and clarify how you work together The mission, values, and operations ties to the brand How your personal brand can be logistically experienced by the public (aka make sure you keep track of all of your websites)   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Kate and Katie’s website = www.privatepracticestartup.com  The A to Z Cheatsheet: Essentials for Building and Growing Your Dream Private Practice - https://a-z-cheat-sheet-download.gr8.com/ Donald Miller – Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen Jeff Walker - Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula to Sell Almost Anything Online, Build a Business You Love, and Live the Life of Your Dreams Russell Brunson Gary Vaynerchuck   Connect with us: The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference) Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 02 Dec 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Branding for Your Ideal Client full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Kate and Katie An interview with Kate Campbell, PhD, LMFT, and Katie Lemieux, LMFT from The Private Practice Startup. Curt and Katie talk with Kate and Katie about the differences between marketing and branding, what therapists should consider when developing their personal brand, and common mistakes therapists make.  Interview with Kate and Katie from the Private Practice Startup The Private Practice Startup is co-owned by Kate Campbell, PhD, LMFT and Katie Lemieux, LMFT. They’re two therapists with entrepreneurial spirits who are crazy about business, branding and marketing. They live, work and play in South Florida.  They both built their 6-Figure private practices in less than 2 years from the ground up and inspire other ambitious mental health professionals to brand themselves, grow their dream private practices and live into their dream lifestyles. They have a hunger for business, branding and marketing.   They love helping private practitioners work with the clients they love, profit more in business, and create the freedom to truly enjoy a lifestyle business.   Kate is a food and wine aficionado who loves to travel and create new memories with her husband and son. She also loves the beach, pilates, riding horses, concerts, and of course the occasional “retail therapy”. Thanks to Kate, Katie is a wine snob in the making. Katie is an avid pitbull lover and has 2 of her own, she loves travel, new and fun adventures, reading, the ID channel, Halloween, sparkles, taking pictures, random silly things, family time and taking time to just be.   They are the creators of Private Practice Marketing E-Course and Coaching, provide FREE podcasts, and customizable Attorney Approved Private Practice Paperwork for therapists. Visit PrivatePracticeStartup.com for more info!      In this episode we talk about: The shear number of Kate/Katies that Curt had to deal with on the episode. The difference between marketing and branding The importance of marketing in developing a business Relationships, ownership as part of the branding process How to stand out, become distinctive What therapists should consider when developing a brand How your unique selling proposition relates to the development of your branding and marketing How therapists’ goals for their lifestyle and their individual picture impacts ideal client Niche and saying no to the clients who are not in your wheel house The challenge of being a generalist, fear of repelling too many clients Why you need to have a brand that clearly inspires your ideal clients The mistakes therapists often make in branding and connecting with your ideal clients Clear planning, following up, and tracking for your marketing Taking ownership of how you are perceived by your ideal clients How brands evolve, especially as you add businesses, business partners, side hustles, etc. How to become business partners and clarify how you work together The mission, values, and operations ties to the brand How your personal brand can be logistically experienced by the public (aka make sure you keep track of all of your websites)   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Kate and Katie’s website = www.privatepracticestartup.com  The A to Z Cheatsheet: Essentials for Building and Growing Your Dream Private Practice - https://a-z-cheat-sheet-download.gr8.com/ Donald Miller – Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen Jeff Walker - Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula to Sell Almost Anything Online, Build a Business You Love, and Live the Life of Your Dreams Russell Brunson Gary Vaynerchuck   Connect with us: The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference) Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Kate Campbell, PhD, LMFT, and Katie Lemieux, LMFT from The Private Practice Startup. Curt and Katie talk with Kate and Katie about the differences between marketing and branding, what therapists should consider when developing their personal brand, and common mistakes therapists make.

 Interview with Kate and Katie from the Private Practice Startup

The Private Practice Startup is co-owned by Kate Campbell, PhD, LMFT and Katie Lemieux, LMFT. They’re two therapists with entrepreneurial spirits who are crazy about business, branding and marketing. They live, work and play in South Florida. 

They both built their 6-Figure private practices in less than 2 years from the ground up and inspire other ambitious mental health professionals to brand themselves, grow their dream private practices and live into their dream lifestyles. They have a hunger for business, branding and marketing.  

They love helping private practitioners work with the clients they love, profit more in business, and create the freedom to truly enjoy a lifestyle business.  

Kate is a food and wine aficionado who loves to travel and create new memories with her husband and son. She also loves the beach, pilates, riding horses, concerts, and of course the occasional “retail therapy”.

Thanks to Kate, Katie is a wine snob in the making. Katie is an avid pitbull lover and has 2 of her own, she loves travel, new and fun adventures, reading, the ID channel, Halloween, sparkles, taking pictures, random silly things, family time and taking time to just be.  

They are the creators of Private Practice Marketing E-Course and Coaching, provide FREE podcasts, and customizable Attorney Approved Private Practice Paperwork for therapists. Visit PrivatePracticeStartup.com for more info!   

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • The shear number of Kate/Katies that Curt had to deal with on the episode.
  • The difference between marketing and branding
  • The importance of marketing in developing a business
  • Relationships, ownership as part of the branding process
  • How to stand out, become distinctive
  • What therapists should consider when developing a brand
  • How your unique selling proposition relates to the development of your branding and marketing
  • How therapists’ goals for their lifestyle and their individual picture impacts ideal client
  • Niche and saying no to the clients who are not in your wheel house
  • The challenge of being a generalist, fear of repelling too many clients
  • Why you need to have a brand that clearly inspires your ideal clients
  • The mistakes therapists often make in branding and connecting with your ideal clients
  • Clear planning, following up, and tracking for your marketing
  • Taking ownership of how you are perceived by your ideal clients
  • How brands evolve, especially as you add businesses, business partners, side hustles, etc.
  • How to become business partners and clarify how you work together
  • The mission, values, and operations ties to the brand
  • How your personal brand can be logistically experienced by the public (aka make sure you keep track of all of your websites)

 

Relevant Resources:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:

Kate and Katie’s website = www.privatepracticestartup.com 

The A to Z Cheatsheet: Essentials for Building and Growing Your Dream Private Practice - https://a-z-cheat-sheet-download.gr8.com/

Donald Miller – Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

Jeff Walker - Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula to Sell Almost Anything Online, Build a Business You Love, and Live the Life of Your Dreams

Russell Brunson

Gary Vaynerchuck 

 Connect with us:

The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)


Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2287 no How to BE a Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-to-be-a-therapist Curt and Katie talk about Person of the Therapist training. We talk about a revolutionary training model that starts with who a therapist is and what will come up for them as a therapist – rather than setting unreasonable expectations of blank, neutral, perfect therapists.           It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Person of the Therapist training – addressing the whole person therapist The work of Dr. Harry Aponte at Drexel University Looking at how pulling from your own history can impact how you approach the work in the room The importance of finding your own personal themes and challenges, owning your own story Innovative classes that start graduate programs with personal growth and insight Normalizing reactions and individual differences from the beginning of our education How close the line can be between education and therapy The fallacy that therapists can be blank or neutral The drive toward Evidence Based Practices The depth of supervision that occurs when focusing on the person of the therapist The problem of siloed areas of the field and how bringing it back into the same room The vulnerability required for the depth of this work The ability to increase maturity of the therapist more quickly through this type of work The importance of structure and containment to do this type of work Teaching self-awareness and self-monitoring The power of building supportive community to do work more in the open, to decrease shame and perfectionism Learning how to give respectful, structured, effective feedback – exercising your empathy muscle How building resilience and connection can improve the profession as a whole Increasing distress tolerance and capacity for taking feedback Looking at the benefit of doing this work at all stages in your career   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Dr. Harry J Aponte Person of the Therapist Training Model by Dr. Harry Aponte Claudio & Watson: Perceived impact of the Person of the Therapist Training model on Drexel University Master of Family Therapy postgraduates’ clinical work Kissil, Carneiro, & Aponte: Beyond duality: The relationship between the personal and the professional selves of the therapist in the Person of the Therapist Training Watson: Doing it right: Branding the Person of the Therapist Training model in Drexel University’s Master of Family Therapy program Aponte & Ingram: Person of the Therapist supervision: Reflections of a therapist and supervisor on empathic-identification and differentiation     Relevant Episodes: Therapists in Therapy Impaired Therapists That’s Unethical Therapist Haters and Trolls   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:00:00 -0000 How to BE a Therapist full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about Person of the Therapist training Curt and Katie talk about Person of the Therapist training. We talk about a revolutionary training model that starts with who a therapist is and what will come up for them as a therapist – rather than setting unreasonable expectations of blank, neutral, perfect therapists.           It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Person of the Therapist training – addressing the whole person therapist The work of Dr. Harry Aponte at Drexel University Looking at how pulling from your own history can impact how you approach the work in the room The importance of finding your own personal themes and challenges, owning your own story Innovative classes that start graduate programs with personal growth and insight Normalizing reactions and individual differences from the beginning of our education How close the line can be between education and therapy The fallacy that therapists can be blank or neutral The drive toward Evidence Based Practices The depth of supervision that occurs when focusing on the person of the therapist The problem of siloed areas of the field and how bringing it back into the same room The vulnerability required for the depth of this work The ability to increase maturity of the therapist more quickly through this type of work The importance of structure and containment to do this type of work Teaching self-awareness and self-monitoring The power of building supportive community to do work more in the open, to decrease shame and perfectionism Learning how to give respectful, structured, effective feedback – exercising your empathy muscle How building resilience and connection can improve the profession as a whole Increasing distress tolerance and capacity for taking feedback Looking at the benefit of doing this work at all stages in your career   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Dr. Harry J Aponte Person of the Therapist Training Model by Dr. Harry Aponte Claudio & Watson: Perceived impact of the Person of the Therapist Training model on Drexel University Master of Family Therapy postgraduates’ clinical work Kissil, Carneiro, & Aponte: Beyond duality: The relationship between the personal and the professional selves of the therapist in the Person of the Therapist Training Watson: Doing it right: Branding the Person of the Therapist Training model in Drexel University’s Master of Family Therapy program Aponte & Ingram: Person of the Therapist supervision: Reflections of a therapist and supervisor on empathic-identification and differentiation     Relevant Episodes: Therapists in Therapy Impaired Therapists That’s Unethical Therapist Haters and Trolls   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about Person of the Therapist training. We talk about a revolutionary training model that starts with who a therapist is and what will come up for them as a therapist – rather than setting unreasonable expectations of blank, neutral, perfect therapists.          

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Person of the Therapist training – addressing the whole person therapist
  • The work of Dr. Harry Aponte at Drexel University
  • Looking at how pulling from your own history can impact how you approach the work in the room
  • The importance of finding your own personal themes and challenges, owning your own story
  • Innovative classes that start graduate programs with personal growth and insight
  • Normalizing reactions and individual differences from the beginning of our education
  • How close the line can be between education and therapy
  • The fallacy that therapists can be blank or neutral
  • The drive toward Evidence Based Practices
  • The depth of supervision that occurs when focusing on the person of the therapist
  • The problem of siloed areas of the field and how bringing it back into the same room
  • The vulnerability required for the depth of this work
  • The ability to increase maturity of the therapist more quickly through this type of work
  • The importance of structure and containment to do this type of work
  • Teaching self-awareness and self-monitoring
  • The power of building supportive community to do work more in the open, to decrease shame and perfectionism
  • Learning how to give respectful, structured, effective feedback – exercising your empathy muscle
  • How building resilience and connection can improve the profession as a whole
  • Increasing distress tolerance and capacity for taking feedback
  • Looking at the benefit of doing this work at all stages in your career

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Dr. Harry J Aponte

Person of the Therapist Training Model by Dr. Harry Aponte

Claudio & Watson: Perceived impact of the Person of the Therapist Training model on Drexel University Master of Family Therapy postgraduates’ clinical work

Kissil, Carneiro, & Aponte: Beyond duality: The relationship between the personal and the professional selves of the therapist in the Person of the Therapist Training

Watson: Doing it right: Branding the Person of the Therapist Training model in Drexel University’s Master of Family Therapy program

Aponte & Ingram: Person of the Therapist supervision: Reflections of a therapist and supervisor on empathic-identification and differentiation

 

 

Relevant Episodes:

Therapists in Therapy

Impaired Therapists

That’s Unethical

Therapist Haters and Trolls

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2249 no Making Access More Affordable https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/making-access-more-affordable An interview with Michael Blumberg, LCPC, about mental health care as a basic human right. Curt and Katie talk with Michael about the tension between access and therapist financial stability. We look at ideas to support access while being thoughtful about your own financial needs. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.  Interview with Michael Blumberg, LCPC Michael Blumberg is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and group practice owner in the Chicago suburb of Glenview. Michael founded and manages Glenview Counseling Group, a multi-disciplinary psychotherapy group practice, where he treats clients with OCD & complex anxiety and manages the daily operations of the practice. Michael also co-founded a business focused solely on the business aspects of group practice ownership called Group Practice Builders with his friend and colleague Maureen Werrbach. Together they plan and facilitate an annual conference called the Group Practice Owners Summit which draws attendees from across the US and abroad.   In this episode we talk about: How Michael defines Mental Health Care as a Human Right The idea that all people, regardless of ability to pay, have the right to be emotionally and psychologically well Pushing back against mental health and wellness as an extravagance The conflict between access and running a private practice The concern that if this is a human right, clinicians might be conscripted into service If large organizations can’t make access available, how can small therapy practices do anything? Ideas for how small therapy practices can make a difference in providing mental health access How to make the choices in how much you make, how you increase access The importance of individuals making these decisions for themselves based on their own needs. Advocacy as another way to increase access and work in prevention The tension between access and time or financial stability for individual clinicians The Starfish Thrower How the education system promotes sacrifice by the therapist Do what YOU can do and be thoughtful about it How to get creative and dismiss preconceived notions of what SHOULD be done The balancing act if you open yourself to the idea that you should personally provide access How these principles fit into the #moderntherapist ideas Mon, 18 Nov 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Making Access More Affordable full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Michael Blumberg, LCPC An interview with Michael Blumberg, LCPC, about mental health care as a basic human right. Curt and Katie talk with Michael about the tension between access and therapist financial stability. We look at ideas to support access while being thoughtful about your own financial needs. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.  Interview with Michael Blumberg, LCPC Michael Blumberg is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and group practice owner in the Chicago suburb of Glenview. Michael founded and manages Glenview Counseling Group, a multi-disciplinary psychotherapy group practice, where he treats clients with OCD & complex anxiety and manages the daily operations of the practice. Michael also co-founded a business focused solely on the business aspects of group practice ownership called Group Practice Builders with his friend and colleague Maureen Werrbach. Together they plan and facilitate an annual conference called the Group Practice Owners Summit which draws attendees from across the US and abroad.   In this episode we talk about: How Michael defines Mental Health Care as a Human Right The idea that all people, regardless of ability to pay, have the right to be emotionally and psychologically well Pushing back against mental health and wellness as an extravagance The conflict between access and running a private practice The concern that if this is a human right, clinicians might be conscripted into service If large organizations can’t make access available, how can small therapy practices do anything? Ideas for how small therapy practices can make a difference in providing mental health access How to make the choices in how much you make, how you increase access The importance of individuals making these decisions for themselves based on their own needs. Advocacy as another way to increase access and work in prevention The tension between access and time or financial stability for individual clinicians The Starfish Thrower How the education system promotes sacrifice by the therapist Do what YOU can do and be thoughtful about it How to get creative and dismiss preconceived notions of what SHOULD be done The balancing act if you open yourself to the idea that you should personally provide access How these principles fit into the #moderntherapist ideas An interview with Michael Blumberg, LCPC, about mental health care as a basic human right. Curt and Katie talk with Michael about the tension between access and therapist financial stability. We look at ideas to support access while being thoughtful about your own financial needs.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 Interview with Michael Blumberg, LCPC

Michael Blumberg is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and group practice owner in the Chicago suburb of Glenview. Michael founded and manages Glenview Counseling Group, a multi-disciplinary psychotherapy group practice, where he treats clients with OCD & complex anxiety and manages the daily operations of the practice. Michael also co-founded a business focused solely on the business aspects of group practice ownership called Group Practice Builders with his friend and colleague Maureen Werrbach. Together they plan and facilitate an annual conference called the Group Practice Owners Summit which draws attendees from across the US and abroad.

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • How Michael defines Mental Health Care as a Human Right
  • The idea that all people, regardless of ability to pay, have the right to be emotionally and psychologically well
  • Pushing back against mental health and wellness as an extravagance
  • The conflict between access and running a private practice
  • The concern that if this is a human right, clinicians might be conscripted into service
  • If large organizations can’t make access available, how can small therapy practices do anything?
  • Ideas for how small therapy practices can make a difference in providing mental health access
  • How to make the choices in how much you make, how you increase access
  • The importance of individuals making these decisions for themselves based on their own needs.
  • Advocacy as another way to increase access and work in prevention
  • The tension between access and time or financial stability for individual clinicians
  • The Starfish Thrower
  • How the education system promotes sacrifice by the therapist
  • Do what YOU can do and be thoughtful about it
  • How to get creative and dismiss preconceived notions of what SHOULD be done
  • The balancing act if you open yourself to the idea that you should personally provide access
  • How these principles fit into the #moderntherapist ideas
]]> 2061 no Therapist Suicide https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapist-suicide Curt and Katie talk about a recent news story related to Dr. Gregory Eells, the Executive Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services at University of Pennsylvania, who died by suicide in September 2019. We talk about how the understanding of risk factors, the changing face of our profession, and calls for self-care are insufficient to address the mental health needs of mental health professionals.           It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Therapist death by suicide The life and work of Dr. Gregory Eells The risk factors for therapist suicide: our own mental health concerns, highly challenging our work is, the changing work environments, burnout and isolation. The insufficiency of “self-care” as a solution and what it infers about the mental health professionals who are unable to employ it The systemic issues leading to poor mental health in the professionals University counseling centers – the increasing percentage utilization, a look at how access and services have been affected How new legislation that could improve the situation is still insufficient A call for early intervention, comprehensive services How caseloads are impacted by limiting services to clients with the highest level of need Moral injury in addition to “burnout” Suggested solutions for individuals and for systems The importance of assessing capacity and need What types of things to assess: (culture, demographics, etc.) Getting creative, while assessing true capacity (time, energy, personnel, space, mental/emotional, sustainability of effort)   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Your Tango Article: Head of UPenn’s Mental Health Services Dies By Suicide Psychologist suicide: Incidence, impact, and suggestions for prevention, intervention, and postvention Dr. Eells’ TEDx talk on Resilience Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2015 Annual Report AUCCCD Survey 2018 Who helps the caregiver? Penn counselor’s suicide highlights how experts aren’t immune from struggles It’s Not Burnout, It’s Moral Injury by Dr. Zubin Damania Center for Collegiate Mental Health 2018 – Clinical Load Index Penn Today: A Conversation with new CAPS Director Gregory Eells   Relevant Episodes: The Burnout System Addressing the Burnout System All Kinds of Burned Out Impaired Therapists   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 11 Nov 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Therapist Suicide full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie discuss the news of the death of Dr. Gregory Eells from UPenn Curt and Katie talk about a recent news story related to Dr. Gregory Eells, the Executive Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services at University of Pennsylvania, who died by suicide in September 2019. We talk about how the understanding of risk factors, the changing face of our profession, and calls for self-care are insufficient to address the mental health needs of mental health professionals.           It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Therapist death by suicide The life and work of Dr. Gregory Eells The risk factors for therapist suicide: our own mental health concerns, highly challenging our work is, the changing work environments, burnout and isolation. The insufficiency of “self-care” as a solution and what it infers about the mental health professionals who are unable to employ it The systemic issues leading to poor mental health in the professionals University counseling centers – the increasing percentage utilization, a look at how access and services have been affected How new legislation that could improve the situation is still insufficient A call for early intervention, comprehensive services How caseloads are impacted by limiting services to clients with the highest level of need Moral injury in addition to “burnout” Suggested solutions for individuals and for systems The importance of assessing capacity and need What types of things to assess: (culture, demographics, etc.) Getting creative, while assessing true capacity (time, energy, personnel, space, mental/emotional, sustainability of effort)   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Your Tango Article: Head of UPenn’s Mental Health Services Dies By Suicide Psychologist suicide: Incidence, impact, and suggestions for prevention, intervention, and postvention Dr. Eells’ TEDx talk on Resilience Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2015 Annual Report AUCCCD Survey 2018 Who helps the caregiver? Penn counselor’s suicide highlights how experts aren’t immune from struggles It’s Not Burnout, It’s Moral Injury by Dr. Zubin Damania Center for Collegiate Mental Health 2018 – Clinical Load Index Penn Today: A Conversation with new CAPS Director Gregory Eells   Relevant Episodes: The Burnout System Addressing the Burnout System All Kinds of Burned Out Impaired Therapists   Connect with us! Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about a recent news story related to Dr. Gregory Eells, the Executive Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services at University of Pennsylvania, who died by suicide in September 2019. We talk about how the understanding of risk factors, the changing face of our profession, and calls for self-care are insufficient to address the mental health needs of mental health professionals.          

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Therapist death by suicide
  • The life and work of Dr. Gregory Eells
  • The risk factors for therapist suicide: our own mental health concerns, highly challenging our work is, the changing work environments, burnout and isolation.
  • The insufficiency of “self-care” as a solution and what it infers about the mental health professionals who are unable to employ it
  • The systemic issues leading to poor mental health in the professionals
  • University counseling centers – the increasing percentage utilization, a look at how access and services have been affected
  • How new legislation that could improve the situation is still insufficient
  • A call for early intervention, comprehensive services
  • How caseloads are impacted by limiting services to clients with the highest level of need
  • Moral injury in addition to “burnout”
  • Suggested solutions for individuals and for systems
  • The importance of assessing capacity and need
  • What types of things to assess: (culture, demographics, etc.)
  • Getting creative, while assessing true capacity (time, energy, personnel, space, mental/emotional, sustainability of effort)

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Your Tango Article: Head of UPenn’s Mental Health Services Dies By Suicide

Psychologist suicide: Incidence, impact, and suggestions for prevention, intervention, and postvention

Dr. Eells’ TEDx talk on Resilience

Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2015 Annual Report

AUCCCD Survey 2018

Who helps the caregiver? Penn counselor’s suicide highlights how experts aren’t immune from struggles

It’s Not Burnout, It’s Moral Injury by Dr. Zubin Damania

Center for Collegiate Mental Health 2018 – Clinical Load Index

Penn Today: A Conversation with new CAPS Director Gregory Eells

 

Relevant Episodes:

The Burnout System

Addressing the Burnout System

All Kinds of Burned Out

Impaired Therapists

 

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2355 no SEO Guide for Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/seo-guide-for-therapists An interview with Dr. Rachna Jain, of Profitable Popularity, talks with Curt and Katie about SEO best practices as well as things to consider when deciding what level of SEO to employ. We also look at how to proactively protect your online reputation and how to repair it. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.  Interview with Dr. Rachna Jain Dr. Rachna Jain is a clinical psychologist and internet marketing expert who helps service professionals attract new clients from the internet. Her company offers website design, search engine optimization, and other marketing support for therapists- whether they want to build a thriving local practice or a bigger, national platform. Rachna has been quoted in more than 500 major media publications, including Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, has guested on NPR and other top radio, and has also appeared on NBC's Today Show. The author of five books, she is additionally an avid jewelry artist and digital photographer. Her jewelry and photography have been sold nationally. She can be reached at ProfitablePopularity.com.  In this episode we talk about: How Rachna got into SEO The differences that need to be considered in creating an online presence when you’re a therapist versus other service-based businesses The importance of specialization How to decide whether you should do your own SEO The risk of getting a negative review and the importance of knowing what to monitor How SEO has changed, how the internet has changed The difference between organic and paid rankings, the current challenges in getting highly ranked organically Right-sizing your SEO efforts, setting reasonable expectations The reasons to avoid doing SEO when you’re a new business Why to get SEO: capacity, client retention capability, and high enough fee for ROI Things that positively impact ratings on google Pros and Cons of blogging Strategies for reputation management: Own your google results for your name Addressing Yelp (a high authority site) Reputation repair strategies Building profiles at least as place holders to manage reputation Where to invest money on online marketing (and where not to) The problem of the wrong visibility How much time to spend on SEO each week, decision-making on doing SEO or outsourcing When people can shift from looking locally to creating a larger platform (or aim toward thought leadership) What you need to launch a larger platform Mon, 04 Nov 2019 08:00:00 -0000 SEO Guide for Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Dr. Rachna Jain An interview with Dr. Rachna Jain, of Profitable Popularity, talks with Curt and Katie about SEO best practices as well as things to consider when deciding what level of SEO to employ. We also look at how to proactively protect your online reputation and how to repair it. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.  Interview with Dr. Rachna Jain Dr. Rachna Jain is a clinical psychologist and internet marketing expert who helps service professionals attract new clients from the internet. Her company offers website design, search engine optimization, and other marketing support for therapists- whether they want to build a thriving local practice or a bigger, national platform. Rachna has been quoted in more than 500 major media publications, including Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, has guested on NPR and other top radio, and has also appeared on NBC's Today Show. The author of five books, she is additionally an avid jewelry artist and digital photographer. Her jewelry and photography have been sold nationally. She can be reached at ProfitablePopularity.com.  In this episode we talk about: How Rachna got into SEO The differences that need to be considered in creating an online presence when you’re a therapist versus other service-based businesses The importance of specialization How to decide whether you should do your own SEO The risk of getting a negative review and the importance of knowing what to monitor How SEO has changed, how the internet has changed The difference between organic and paid rankings, the current challenges in getting highly ranked organically Right-sizing your SEO efforts, setting reasonable expectations The reasons to avoid doing SEO when you’re a new business Why to get SEO: capacity, client retention capability, and high enough fee for ROI Things that positively impact ratings on google Pros and Cons of blogging Strategies for reputation management: Own your google results for your name Addressing Yelp (a high authority site) Reputation repair strategies Building profiles at least as place holders to manage reputation Where to invest money on online marketing (and where not to) The problem of the wrong visibility How much time to spend on SEO each week, decision-making on doing SEO or outsourcing When people can shift from looking locally to creating a larger platform (or aim toward thought leadership) What you need to launch a larger platform An interview with Dr. Rachna Jain, of Profitable Popularity, talks with Curt and Katie about SEO best practices as well as things to consider when deciding what level of SEO to employ. We also look at how to proactively protect your online reputation and how to repair it.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

 Interview with Dr. Rachna Jain

Dr. Rachna Jain is a clinical psychologist and internet marketing expert who helps service professionals attract new clients from the internet. Her company offers website design, search engine optimization, and other marketing support for therapists- whether they want to build a thriving local practice or a bigger, national platform.

Rachna has been quoted in more than 500 major media publications, including Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, has guested on NPR and other top radio, and has also appeared on NBC's Today Show. The author of five books, she is additionally an avid jewelry artist and digital photographer. Her jewelry and photography have been sold nationally. She can be reached at ProfitablePopularity.com.

 In this episode we talk about:

  • How Rachna got into SEO
  • The differences that need to be considered in creating an online presence when you’re a therapist versus other service-based businesses
  • The importance of specialization
  • How to decide whether you should do your own SEO
  • The risk of getting a negative review and the importance of knowing what to monitor
  • How SEO has changed, how the internet has changed
  • The difference between organic and paid rankings, the current challenges in getting highly ranked organically
  • Right-sizing your SEO efforts, setting reasonable expectations
  • The reasons to avoid doing SEO when you’re a new business
  • Why to get SEO: capacity, client retention capability, and high enough fee for ROI
  • Things that positively impact ratings on google
  • Pros and Cons of blogging
  • Strategies for reputation management: Own your google results for your name
  • Addressing Yelp (a high authority site)
  • Reputation repair strategies
  • Building profiles at least as place holders to manage reputation
  • Where to invest money on online marketing (and where not to)
  • The problem of the wrong visibility
  • How much time to spend on SEO each week, decision-making on doing SEO or outsourcing
  • When people can shift from looking locally to creating a larger platform (or aim toward thought leadership)
  • What you need to launch a larger platform
]]> 2639 no Defining the Therapy Movement https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/defining-the-therapy-movement Live Podcast: Curt and Katie are live at Therapy Reimagined 2019. We talk about what the #therapymovement aspires to accomplish. We talk about the broken educational system, the need for a livable wage, the ways we can improve our profession, and stronger ways that we can show up for our clients.           It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The origin story of the #therapymovement What needs to be changed in our profession The conversations we are having and need to continue having Conversations with #moderntherapists about education and therapist-ways-of-being How continuing education needs to shift to support the actual job The difference between what graduate programs teach and what the work actually looks like What do we do to improve the profession? The importance of a livable wage #postthepay The threat on our scope of practice if we don’t have adequate numbers The need to improve the quality of the therapists that come out of the educational system The importance of getting new voices into the conversation Looking at what therapy has been versus what therapy can be How to step into leadership in this #therapymovement The way to effect change, both in our office and the world The importance of being present to help keep our clients alive Now what? Mon, 28 Oct 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Defining the Therapy Movement full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Live Podcast at Therapy Reimagined 2019 Live Podcast: Curt and Katie are live at Therapy Reimagined 2019. We talk about what the #therapymovement aspires to accomplish. We talk about the broken educational system, the need for a livable wage, the ways we can improve our profession, and stronger ways that we can show up for our clients.           It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The origin story of the #therapymovement What needs to be changed in our profession The conversations we are having and need to continue having Conversations with #moderntherapists about education and therapist-ways-of-being How continuing education needs to shift to support the actual job The difference between what graduate programs teach and what the work actually looks like What do we do to improve the profession? The importance of a livable wage #postthepay The threat on our scope of practice if we don’t have adequate numbers The need to improve the quality of the therapists that come out of the educational system The importance of getting new voices into the conversation Looking at what therapy has been versus what therapy can be How to step into leadership in this #therapymovement The way to effect change, both in our office and the world The importance of being present to help keep our clients alive Now what? Live Podcast: Curt and Katie are live at Therapy Reimagined 2019. We talk about what the #therapymovement aspires to accomplish. We talk about the broken educational system, the need for a livable wage, the ways we can improve our profession, and stronger ways that we can show up for our clients.          

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The origin story of the #therapymovement
  • What needs to be changed in our profession
  • The conversations we are having and need to continue having
  • Conversations with #moderntherapists about education and therapist-ways-of-being
  • How continuing education needs to shift to support the actual job
  • The difference between what graduate programs teach and what the work actually looks like
  • What do we do to improve the profession?
  • The importance of a livable wage
  • #postthepay
  • The threat on our scope of practice if we don’t have adequate numbers
  • The need to improve the quality of the therapists that come out of the educational system
  • The importance of getting new voices into the conversation
  • Looking at what therapy has been versus what therapy can be
  • How to step into leadership in this #therapymovement
  • The way to effect change, both in our office and the world
  • The importance of being present to help keep our clients alive
  • Now what?
]]> 2982 no Impaired Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/impaired-therapists Curt and Katie talk about therapists who become impaired – by substance abuse, cognitive decline, their own mental health concerns, burnout, etc. The challenges of addressing impaired therapists given the ethics codes, the lack of effective means to make complaints, and the difficulty in finding effective solutions.         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definition of Impaired Therapist The lack of recent research on the topic The types of impairment: substance abuse, cognitive decline, mental health concerns, burnout Why and how therapists can become impaired Looking at how therapists are more likely to have these impairments The responsibilities and challenges of observing impairment of others (especially depending on the role, supervisor, supervisee, colleague) The ethical responsibility to pay attention to your own potential impairment The challenge of making a complaint related to an impaired therapist Looking at the ethics code, with the responsibility to approach impaired colleague first How the interaction in the Facebook groups is not necessarily taking care of this responsibility well. The harm of shaming therapists – and the importance of supporting each other The impact of the power differential on having these difficult conversations The negative impacts on clients and treatment team members from impaired therapists What is the difference between impaired therapists and bad therapy? The importance of the response and introspection related to impairment What we’re supposed to do when we identify an impaired colleague, supervisor, or supervisee Who are the gatekeepers? Why is it important? A strange foray into the thoughts on vigilante therapists and the #cardigancartel Mon, 21 Oct 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Impaired Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about therapists who become impaired by substance abuse, cognitive decline, their own mental health concerns, burnout Curt and Katie talk about therapists who become impaired – by substance abuse, cognitive decline, their own mental health concerns, burnout, etc. The challenges of addressing impaired therapists given the ethics codes, the lack of effective means to make complaints, and the difficulty in finding effective solutions.         It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definition of Impaired Therapist The lack of recent research on the topic The types of impairment: substance abuse, cognitive decline, mental health concerns, burnout Why and how therapists can become impaired Looking at how therapists are more likely to have these impairments The responsibilities and challenges of observing impairment of others (especially depending on the role, supervisor, supervisee, colleague) The ethical responsibility to pay attention to your own potential impairment The challenge of making a complaint related to an impaired therapist Looking at the ethics code, with the responsibility to approach impaired colleague first How the interaction in the Facebook groups is not necessarily taking care of this responsibility well. The harm of shaming therapists – and the importance of supporting each other The impact of the power differential on having these difficult conversations The negative impacts on clients and treatment team members from impaired therapists What is the difference between impaired therapists and bad therapy? The importance of the response and introspection related to impairment What we’re supposed to do when we identify an impaired colleague, supervisor, or supervisee Who are the gatekeepers? Why is it important? A strange foray into the thoughts on vigilante therapists and the #cardigancartel Curt and Katie talk about therapists who become impaired – by substance abuse, cognitive decline, their own mental health concerns, burnout, etc. The challenges of addressing impaired therapists given the ethics codes, the lack of effective means to make complaints, and the difficulty in finding effective solutions.        

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The definition of Impaired Therapist
  • The lack of recent research on the topic
  • The types of impairment: substance abuse, cognitive decline, mental health concerns, burnout
  • Why and how therapists can become impaired
  • Looking at how therapists are more likely to have these impairments
  • The responsibilities and challenges of observing impairment of others (especially depending on the role, supervisor, supervisee, colleague)
  • The ethical responsibility to pay attention to your own potential impairment
  • The challenge of making a complaint related to an impaired therapist
  • Looking at the ethics code, with the responsibility to approach impaired colleague first
  • How the interaction in the Facebook groups is not necessarily taking care of this responsibility well.
  • The harm of shaming therapists – and the importance of supporting each other
  • The impact of the power differential on having these difficult conversations
  • The negative impacts on clients and treatment team members from impaired therapists
  • What is the difference between impaired therapists and bad therapy?
  • The importance of the response and introspection related to impairment
  • What we’re supposed to do when we identify an impaired colleague, supervisor, or supervisee
  • Who are the gatekeepers? Why is it important?
  • A strange foray into the thoughts on vigilante therapists and the #cardigancartel
]]> 2174 no Donald Trump in Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/donald-trump-in-therapy Curt and Katie talk about how politics have started coming into the therapy room. We look at how the election of Donald Trump seemed to increase clients (and therapists) actively bringing world events into the therapeutic work.        It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The shift from avoiding politics, religion, etc. in therapy to having it be central in therapy conversations How Donald Trump’s presidency (and the impacts of his administration) show up in the room What can happen when therapists share their political views with their clients The fear, trauma, and grief that has become more present in the conversations about the world at large How an informed client population means that therapists need to be aware of both the events and the potential impacts on individuals (and groups). The importance clients have started placing on political similarity or safety to express their viewpoints, even in the intake phone call Research on political disclosure in therapy, perceived similarity of political views, and the impact on therapeutic alliance The risk of falsely assuming alignment or over-disclosing political views with clients Looking at when political/philosophical conversations are just fun and not helpful The different impacts of the events of the day based on demographics and identity Opening space, using caution, observing to continue to have these conversations be therapeutic How burnout can impact these conversations Counter Transference and whether your own reactions should come into the treatment room with your clients Looking at how true reactions can be used in treatment, the bias of remaining neutral The potential for complex conversations that can heal with our clients The instinct to try to “correct” clients with opposing viewpoints (and the damage that can do) How therapists should prepare for being in the room for these conversations, and take care of themselves in the process. Mon, 14 Oct 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Donald Trump in Therapy full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how politics have started coming into the therapy room Curt and Katie talk about how politics have started coming into the therapy room. We look at how the election of Donald Trump seemed to increase clients (and therapists) actively bringing world events into the therapeutic work.        It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The shift from avoiding politics, religion, etc. in therapy to having it be central in therapy conversations How Donald Trump’s presidency (and the impacts of his administration) show up in the room What can happen when therapists share their political views with their clients The fear, trauma, and grief that has become more present in the conversations about the world at large How an informed client population means that therapists need to be aware of both the events and the potential impacts on individuals (and groups). The importance clients have started placing on political similarity or safety to express their viewpoints, even in the intake phone call Research on political disclosure in therapy, perceived similarity of political views, and the impact on therapeutic alliance The risk of falsely assuming alignment or over-disclosing political views with clients Looking at when political/philosophical conversations are just fun and not helpful The different impacts of the events of the day based on demographics and identity Opening space, using caution, observing to continue to have these conversations be therapeutic How burnout can impact these conversations Counter Transference and whether your own reactions should come into the treatment room with your clients Looking at how true reactions can be used in treatment, the bias of remaining neutral The potential for complex conversations that can heal with our clients The instinct to try to “correct” clients with opposing viewpoints (and the damage that can do) How therapists should prepare for being in the room for these conversations, and take care of themselves in the process. Curt and Katie talk about how politics have started coming into the therapy room. We look at how the election of Donald Trump seemed to increase clients (and therapists) actively bringing world events into the therapeutic work.       

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The shift from avoiding politics, religion, etc. in therapy to having it be central in therapy conversations
  • How Donald Trump’s presidency (and the impacts of his administration) show up in the room
  • What can happen when therapists share their political views with their clients
  • The fear, trauma, and grief that has become more present in the conversations about the world at large
  • How an informed client population means that therapists need to be aware of both the events and the potential impacts on individuals (and groups).
  • The importance clients have started placing on political similarity or safety to express their viewpoints, even in the intake phone call
  • Research on political disclosure in therapy, perceived similarity of political views, and the impact on therapeutic alliance
  • The risk of falsely assuming alignment or over-disclosing political views with clients
  • Looking at when political/philosophical conversations are just fun and not helpful
  • The different impacts of the events of the day based on demographics and identity
  • Opening space, using caution, observing to continue to have these conversations be therapeutic
  • How burnout can impact these conversations
  • Counter Transference and whether your own reactions should come into the treatment room with your clients
  • Looking at how true reactions can be used in treatment, the bias of remaining neutral
  • The potential for complex conversations that can heal with our clients
  • The instinct to try to “correct” clients with opposing viewpoints (and the damage that can do)
  • How therapists should prepare for being in the room for these conversations, and take care of themselves in the process.
]]> 2139 no Sex and Shame https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/sex-and-shame An interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT on what therapists miss when they don’t talk about sex with their clients. Curt and Katie talk with Eliza about how judgment, shame, and discomfort can come into the therapy room and create barriers for patients talking about their sexual health. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT As a Licensed Psychotherapist, Relationship & Sexuality Expert, Eliza Boquin works with couples & individuals to overcome past traumas, emotional pain, and destructive relationship patterns so they can begin to enjoy more healthy, satisfying, and pleasure-filled lives.  You can find her working with clients at her private practice in Houston, TX, hosting workshops, and at public speaking events helping people gain the skills to reach their life & relationship goals. She is also an active mental health advocate & co-founder of Melanin & Mental Health, LLC which promotes mental health awareness in the Black & Latinx communities. She & her business partner, Eboni Harris, are changing the face of therapy with their website, national therapist directory, Between Sessions podcast and "Therapy is Dope" merchandise. She has also been featured in Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, Fatherly, Bustle, ThriveWorks, Good Therapy, Stylecaster, Business Insider, Houstonia Magazine, and on Houston's Amazing 102.5 FM, and KBXX 97.9 FM - The Box.E In this episode we talk about: Eliza’s story and how she got into sex therapy How trauma, shame, misinformation can impact sexual health The importance of removing shame and judgment from conversations about sex How to address the absence of sex in relationship therapy Opening conversations that are safe and non-shaming about sex, in the assessment What therapists miss when they don’t bring sex up with their clients The problem with pathologizing sexual concerns Typical therapist training around sex The importance of education and normalization The types of life events that can impact sex life Additional training for therapists to understand all kinds of sex The types of phone calls a sex therapist might get The amount of misinformation, sexpectations The faulty expectation that partners should know what to do The challenge of not knowing what turns you on, being disconnected from one’s body Societal expectations that impact the sexual experience The shame about bodies entering the sexual relationship Exploring sexual education stories, cultural impacts, messages about sex How people respond to sex therapists What therapists get wrong about sex The impact of bias and the medical model Sex positivity, inclusion Mon, 07 Oct 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Sex and Shame full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT An interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT on what therapists miss when they don’t talk about sex with their clients. Curt and Katie talk with Eliza about how judgment, shame, and discomfort can come into the therapy room and create barriers for patients talking about their sexual health. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT As a Licensed Psychotherapist, Relationship & Sexuality Expert, Eliza Boquin works with couples & individuals to overcome past traumas, emotional pain, and destructive relationship patterns so they can begin to enjoy more healthy, satisfying, and pleasure-filled lives.  You can find her working with clients at her private practice in Houston, TX, hosting workshops, and at public speaking events helping people gain the skills to reach their life & relationship goals. She is also an active mental health advocate & co-founder of Melanin & Mental Health, LLC which promotes mental health awareness in the Black & Latinx communities. She & her business partner, Eboni Harris, are changing the face of therapy with their website, national therapist directory, Between Sessions podcast and "Therapy is Dope" merchandise. She has also been featured in Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, Fatherly, Bustle, ThriveWorks, Good Therapy, Stylecaster, Business Insider, Houstonia Magazine, and on Houston's Amazing 102.5 FM, and KBXX 97.9 FM - The Box.E In this episode we talk about: Eliza’s story and how she got into sex therapy How trauma, shame, misinformation can impact sexual health The importance of removing shame and judgment from conversations about sex How to address the absence of sex in relationship therapy Opening conversations that are safe and non-shaming about sex, in the assessment What therapists miss when they don’t bring sex up with their clients The problem with pathologizing sexual concerns Typical therapist training around sex The importance of education and normalization The types of life events that can impact sex life Additional training for therapists to understand all kinds of sex The types of phone calls a sex therapist might get The amount of misinformation, sexpectations The faulty expectation that partners should know what to do The challenge of not knowing what turns you on, being disconnected from one’s body Societal expectations that impact the sexual experience The shame about bodies entering the sexual relationship Exploring sexual education stories, cultural impacts, messages about sex How people respond to sex therapists What therapists get wrong about sex The impact of bias and the medical model Sex positivity, inclusion An interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT on what therapists miss when they don’t talk about sex with their clients. Curt and Katie talk with Eliza about how judgment, shame, and discomfort can come into the therapy room and create barriers for patients talking about their sexual health.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Eliza Boquin, LMFT

As a Licensed Psychotherapist, Relationship & Sexuality Expert, Eliza Boquin works with couples & individuals to overcome past traumas, emotional pain, and destructive relationship patterns so they can begin to enjoy more healthy, satisfying, and pleasure-filled lives. 

You can find her working with clients at her private practice in Houston, TX, hosting workshops, and at public speaking events helping people gain the skills to reach their life & relationship goals.

She is also an active mental health advocate & co-founder of Melanin & Mental Health, LLC which promotes mental health awareness in the Black & Latinx communities. She & her business partner, Eboni Harris, are changing the face of therapy with their website, national therapist directory, Between Sessions podcast and "Therapy is Dope" merchandise.

She has also been featured in Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, Fatherly, Bustle, ThriveWorks, Good Therapy, Stylecaster, Business Insider, Houstonia Magazine, and on Houston's Amazing 102.5 FM, and KBXX 97.9 FM - The Box.E

In this episode we talk about:

  • Eliza’s story and how she got into sex therapy
  • How trauma, shame, misinformation can impact sexual health
  • The importance of removing shame and judgment from conversations about sex
  • How to address the absence of sex in relationship therapy
  • Opening conversations that are safe and non-shaming about sex, in the assessment
  • What therapists miss when they don’t bring sex up with their clients
  • The problem with pathologizing sexual concerns
  • Typical therapist training around sex
  • The importance of education and normalization
  • The types of life events that can impact sex life
  • Additional training for therapists to understand all kinds of sex
  • The types of phone calls a sex therapist might get
  • The amount of misinformation, sexpectations
  • The faulty expectation that partners should know what to do
  • The challenge of not knowing what turns you on, being disconnected from one’s body
  • Societal expectations that impact the sexual experience
  • The shame about bodies entering the sexual relationship
  • Exploring sexual education stories, cultural impacts, messages about sex
  • How people respond to sex therapists
  • What therapists get wrong about sex
  • The impact of bias and the medical model
  • Sex positivity, inclusion
]]> 2260 no In it for the Money? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/in-it-for-the-money Curt and Katie talk about money. We look at the financial needs of therapists, the perspective of clients and the public that we charge too much OR that we should not want money; the common martyrdom expectation that can negatively impact therapists and the profession.        It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Controversy about therapists wanting money What is expected of therapists - martyrdom and a vow of poverty? Financial stability and needs of therapists The consumer perspective – am I just a paycheck? Or do you really want to help me? The importance of your WHY The perspective of the profession based on how much money is charged by most professionals Providing a social/relational service for money - Are we “emotional prostitutes?” The difficulty in assigning monetary value on what we do The goodness of our hearts and the sympathetic plea of our clients The difficulty in demonstrating and describing the value of therapy The challenge of fee setting in private practice The dynamics of insurance or social service programs impacting the clinical relationship The common questions – Am I just a paycheck? Am I important enough to help? The danger of therapy becoming transactional, especially when you’re burned out and under compensated Therapist perspective on making money, especially given the lower paid and unpaid work at the beginning of the career How the profession’s current set up impacts therapists’ ability to make money Comparison to other similar professions (like doctors) – both in their training and career trajectory, looking at why they end up making more The sliding scale problem - Are we rescuing our clients? The shame of having financial needs Self-worth being conflated with fee-setting Exercise of thinking/feeling into your fee vs practical fee setting based on financial needs The need for therapists to figure this out, so they can become more comfortable with making sufficient money to sustain their careers! Mon, 30 Sep 2019 07:00:00 -0000 In it for the Money? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about perspectives on therapist income Curt and Katie talk about money. We look at the financial needs of therapists, the perspective of clients and the public that we charge too much OR that we should not want money; the common martyrdom expectation that can negatively impact therapists and the profession.        It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Controversy about therapists wanting money What is expected of therapists - martyrdom and a vow of poverty? Financial stability and needs of therapists The consumer perspective – am I just a paycheck? Or do you really want to help me? The importance of your WHY The perspective of the profession based on how much money is charged by most professionals Providing a social/relational service for money - Are we “emotional prostitutes?” The difficulty in assigning monetary value on what we do The goodness of our hearts and the sympathetic plea of our clients The difficulty in demonstrating and describing the value of therapy The challenge of fee setting in private practice The dynamics of insurance or social service programs impacting the clinical relationship The common questions – Am I just a paycheck? Am I important enough to help? The danger of therapy becoming transactional, especially when you’re burned out and under compensated Therapist perspective on making money, especially given the lower paid and unpaid work at the beginning of the career How the profession’s current set up impacts therapists’ ability to make money Comparison to other similar professions (like doctors) – both in their training and career trajectory, looking at why they end up making more The sliding scale problem - Are we rescuing our clients? The shame of having financial needs Self-worth being conflated with fee-setting Exercise of thinking/feeling into your fee vs practical fee setting based on financial needs The need for therapists to figure this out, so they can become more comfortable with making sufficient money to sustain their careers! Curt and Katie talk about money. We look at the financial needs of therapists, the perspective of clients and the public that we charge too much OR that we should not want money; the common martyrdom expectation that can negatively impact therapists and the profession.       

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Controversy about therapists wanting money
  • What is expected of therapists - martyrdom and a vow of poverty?
  • Financial stability and needs of therapists
  • The consumer perspective – am I just a paycheck? Or do you really want to help me?
  • The importance of your WHY
  • The perspective of the profession based on how much money is charged by most professionals
  • Providing a social/relational service for money - Are we “emotional prostitutes?”
  • The difficulty in assigning monetary value on what we do
  • The goodness of our hearts and the sympathetic plea of our clients
  • The difficulty in demonstrating and describing the value of therapy
  • The challenge of fee setting in private practice
  • The dynamics of insurance or social service programs impacting the clinical relationship
  • The common questions – Am I just a paycheck? Am I important enough to help?
  • The danger of therapy becoming transactional, especially when you’re burned out and under compensated
  • Therapist perspective on making money, especially given the lower paid and unpaid work at the beginning of the career
  • How the profession’s current set up impacts therapists’ ability to make money
  • Comparison to other similar professions (like doctors) – both in their training and career trajectory, looking at why they end up making more
  • The sliding scale problem - Are we rescuing our clients?
  • The shame of having financial needs
  • Self-worth being conflated with fee-setting
  • Exercise of thinking/feeling into your fee vs practical fee setting based on financial needs
  • The need for therapists to figure this out, so they can become more comfortable with making sufficient money to sustain their careers!
]]> 2353 no When Clients Die https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/when-clients-die-0 An interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT on how therapists can navigate when clients die. We look at what to do when clients die by suicide, die based on high risk lifestyles, or long-term illnesses. We also talk about the complicated emotions that therapists face in this isolated grief. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT Debi Jenkins Frankle is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Grief Specialist and Trainer. Debi has been working with grievers for over 25 years. She and husband, Mark Frankle LMFT, are the co-founders of the Calabasas Counseling and Grief Recovery Center. Debi is the founder of Private Practice Grief Workshops and Trainings for Mental Health Professionals as well as the FB group for therapists: Private Practice Grief. Debi’s areas of expertise are grief and trauma. Debi has led trainings for grief counseling professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Debi is a past president of San Fernando Valley chapter of CAMFT, past committee co-chair of the Crisis Response Network for SFV CAMFT and a member of the Association for Death Education (ADEC). In her spare time, she plays in dirt and hangs out with dogs (and her husband too!). In this episode we talk about: How therapists can handle when a client dies by suicide Legal and logistical considerations The importance of grounding yourself and seeking out consultation with a trusted colleague The stigma leading to therapists avoiding disclosing when clients die by suicide Considerations in contacting the family of the client and how to handle the conversation The complicated emotions that therapists can face as professionals and as grievers Deciding to go to the funeral The isolated grief that therapists face How grief can be different when a client dies by something preventable, or something they caused - disenfranchised grief or discounted grief The uniqueness of the therapist’s response The different types of losses and the reactions we have to them The emotional reactions that therapists should allow in treatment (and should not allow) The importance of doing your own work regarding your own losses How therapists can defer the conversations in treatment away from the necessary grief work How to manage the rest of the caseload when you’ve experienced a personal loss or a client has died The modeling we can do for our clients What happens when your therapy dog dies and how to manage that with your clients The work we need to do to be better at working with grief overall Mon, 23 Sep 2019 07:00:00 -0000 When Clients Die full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT An interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT on how therapists can navigate when clients die. We look at what to do when clients die by suicide, die based on high risk lifestyles, or long-term illnesses. We also talk about the complicated emotions that therapists face in this isolated grief. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT Debi Jenkins Frankle is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Grief Specialist and Trainer. Debi has been working with grievers for over 25 years. She and husband, Mark Frankle LMFT, are the co-founders of the Calabasas Counseling and Grief Recovery Center. Debi is the founder of Private Practice Grief Workshops and Trainings for Mental Health Professionals as well as the FB group for therapists: Private Practice Grief. Debi’s areas of expertise are grief and trauma. Debi has led trainings for grief counseling professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Debi is a past president of San Fernando Valley chapter of CAMFT, past committee co-chair of the Crisis Response Network for SFV CAMFT and a member of the Association for Death Education (ADEC). In her spare time, she plays in dirt and hangs out with dogs (and her husband too!). In this episode we talk about: How therapists can handle when a client dies by suicide Legal and logistical considerations The importance of grounding yourself and seeking out consultation with a trusted colleague The stigma leading to therapists avoiding disclosing when clients die by suicide Considerations in contacting the family of the client and how to handle the conversation The complicated emotions that therapists can face as professionals and as grievers Deciding to go to the funeral The isolated grief that therapists face How grief can be different when a client dies by something preventable, or something they caused - disenfranchised grief or discounted grief The uniqueness of the therapist’s response The different types of losses and the reactions we have to them The emotional reactions that therapists should allow in treatment (and should not allow) The importance of doing your own work regarding your own losses How therapists can defer the conversations in treatment away from the necessary grief work How to manage the rest of the caseload when you’ve experienced a personal loss or a client has died The modeling we can do for our clients What happens when your therapy dog dies and how to manage that with your clients The work we need to do to be better at working with grief overall An interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT on how therapists can navigate when clients die. We look at what to do when clients die by suicide, die based on high risk lifestyles, or long-term illnesses. We also talk about the complicated emotions that therapists face in this isolated grief.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Debi Frankle, LMFT

Debi Jenkins Frankle is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Grief Specialist and Trainer. Debi has been working with grievers for over 25 years. She and husband, Mark Frankle LMFT, are the co-founders of the Calabasas Counseling and Grief Recovery Center. Debi is the founder of Private Practice Grief Workshops and Trainings for Mental Health Professionals as well as the FB group for therapists: Private Practice Grief.

Debi’s areas of expertise are grief and trauma. Debi has led trainings for grief counseling professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Debi is a past president of San Fernando Valley chapter of CAMFT, past committee co-chair of the Crisis Response Network for SFV CAMFT and a member of the Association for Death Education (ADEC).

In her spare time, she plays in dirt and hangs out with dogs (and her husband too!).

In this episode we talk about:

  • How therapists can handle when a client dies by suicide
  • Legal and logistical considerations
  • The importance of grounding yourself and seeking out consultation with a trusted colleague
  • The stigma leading to therapists avoiding disclosing when clients die by suicide
  • Considerations in contacting the family of the client and how to handle the conversation
  • The complicated emotions that therapists can face as professionals and as grievers
  • Deciding to go to the funeral
  • The isolated grief that therapists face
  • How grief can be different when a client dies by something preventable, or something they caused - disenfranchised grief or discounted grief
  • The uniqueness of the therapist’s response
  • The different types of losses and the reactions we have to them
  • The emotional reactions that therapists should allow in treatment (and should not allow)
  • The importance of doing your own work regarding your own losses
  • How therapists can defer the conversations in treatment away from the necessary grief work
  • How to manage the rest of the caseload when you’ve experienced a personal loss or a client has died
  • The modeling we can do for our clients
  • What happens when your therapy dog dies and how to manage that with your clients
  • The work we need to do to be better at working with grief overall
]]> 2438 no Who Gets to Have Therapy? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/who-gets-to-have-therapy Curt and Katie talk about therapists’ responsibility for mental health access and the (sometimes moral) decision about whether one focuses on income or providing treatment to all. We look at a living wage, the mental health system, entrepreneurship, and capitalism.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Is mental health access a universal right? Group Practice Owner’s Summit 2019 where Katie got some wild ideas, especially during the talk by Maureen Werrbach and Michael Blumberg: Mental Health Access as a Human Right The moral dilemma regarding raising your fees to the point that you are only working with people who can afford it The extremes of martyrdom and pure entrepreneurship/capitalism Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a place to assess where we identify human rights The distinction of the system providing mental health access and individuals providing this access Homelessness, mental illness, and addiction Where systems and social services are best able to take care of mental health and other concerns Larger mission and vision of how to impact the world Taking care of your needs as a therapist/person first before society The systemic issue of not providing all therapists a living wage and therapists needing to go into entrepreneurship to survive The potential impact of universal mental healthcare on entrepreneurship and the field The concern about stagnation and stifled innovation The power of passion and motivation in the work Finding creative ways to increase access, while not negatively impacting your bottom line How to make individual decisions about mental health access versus the therapist’s individual income Self-actualization - #topofthepyramid How the system impacts which therapists are able to continue practicing Draw bridge effect of later career therapists not treating newer therapists how they wished they were treated Locus of Control impacting decision-making The poor treatment of employees, low wages as contributing factors The system impacts on people at all levels Basic Needs - #bottomofthepyramid Profit First versus clients who do not bring revenue in Beyond Basic Needs - #middleofthepyramid The salary needs that connects to optimal happiness Questions about how to address these concerns and which to address first Mon, 16 Sep 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Who Gets to Have Therapy? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about mental health access versus therapist income Curt and Katie talk about therapists’ responsibility for mental health access and the (sometimes moral) decision about whether one focuses on income or providing treatment to all. We look at a living wage, the mental health system, entrepreneurship, and capitalism.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Is mental health access a universal right? Group Practice Owner’s Summit 2019 where Katie got some wild ideas, especially during the talk by Maureen Werrbach and Michael Blumberg: Mental Health Access as a Human Right The moral dilemma regarding raising your fees to the point that you are only working with people who can afford it The extremes of martyrdom and pure entrepreneurship/capitalism Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a place to assess where we identify human rights The distinction of the system providing mental health access and individuals providing this access Homelessness, mental illness, and addiction Where systems and social services are best able to take care of mental health and other concerns Larger mission and vision of how to impact the world Taking care of your needs as a therapist/person first before society The systemic issue of not providing all therapists a living wage and therapists needing to go into entrepreneurship to survive The potential impact of universal mental healthcare on entrepreneurship and the field The concern about stagnation and stifled innovation The power of passion and motivation in the work Finding creative ways to increase access, while not negatively impacting your bottom line How to make individual decisions about mental health access versus the therapist’s individual income Self-actualization - #topofthepyramid How the system impacts which therapists are able to continue practicing Draw bridge effect of later career therapists not treating newer therapists how they wished they were treated Locus of Control impacting decision-making The poor treatment of employees, low wages as contributing factors The system impacts on people at all levels Basic Needs - #bottomofthepyramid Profit First versus clients who do not bring revenue in Beyond Basic Needs - #middleofthepyramid The salary needs that connects to optimal happiness Questions about how to address these concerns and which to address first Curt and Katie talk about therapists’ responsibility for mental health access and the (sometimes moral) decision about whether one focuses on income or providing treatment to all. We look at a living wage, the mental health system, entrepreneurship, and capitalism.     

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Is mental health access a universal right?
  • Group Practice Owner’s Summit 2019 where Katie got some wild ideas, especially during the talk by Maureen Werrbach and Michael Blumberg: Mental Health Access as a Human Right
  • The moral dilemma regarding raising your fees to the point that you are only working with people who can afford it
  • The extremes of martyrdom and pure entrepreneurship/capitalism
  • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a place to assess where we identify human rights
  • The distinction of the system providing mental health access and individuals providing this access
  • Homelessness, mental illness, and addiction
  • Where systems and social services are best able to take care of mental health and other concerns
  • Larger mission and vision of how to impact the world
  • Taking care of your needs as a therapist/person first before society
  • The systemic issue of not providing all therapists a living wage and therapists needing to go into entrepreneurship to survive
  • The potential impact of universal mental healthcare on entrepreneurship and the field
  • The concern about stagnation and stifled innovation
  • The power of passion and motivation in the work
  • Finding creative ways to increase access, while not negatively impacting your bottom line
  • How to make individual decisions about mental health access versus the therapist’s individual income
  • Self-actualization - #topofthepyramid
  • How the system impacts which therapists are able to continue practicing
  • Draw bridge effect of later career therapists not treating newer therapists how they wished they were treated
  • Locus of Control impacting decision-making
  • The poor treatment of employees, low wages as contributing factors
  • The system impacts on people at all levels
  • Basic Needs - #bottomofthepyramid
  • Profit First versus clients who do not bring revenue in
  • Beyond Basic Needs - #middleofthepyramid
  • The salary needs that connects to optimal happiness
  • Questions about how to address these concerns and which to address first
]]> 2459 no Trauma Informed Work Place https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/trauma-informed-work-place An interview with Kristin Martinez, LMFT, about how trauma informed practices apply to the workplace. Curt and Katie talk with Kristin about her person-centered management, the benefits of treating employees well, and the risks of managing individuals as though they were cogs in a machine. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kristin Martinez, LMFT Kristin Martinez is a licensed therapist who developed a process of management coined: Person Centered Management. She developed Person Centered Management through her own experience and expertise in trauma informed psychotherapy and being a leader in several organizations. Kristin owns a consulting firm and a group therapy practice. Prior to being a business owner, Kristin spent over 10 years in the mental health field as case worker, therapist, and administrator in private, contracted, and government entities. She has experience as a Director in Logistics prior to entering the field of mental health and knows the power of good teaming.   In this episode we talk about: The idea of best practices for workplaces – Trauma Informed Workplaces, Person-centered management How Kristin came to identify the need for trauma informed practices not just with clients, but with the therapists and workforce as well Looking at the community mental health perspective How current practices lead to burnout at all levels How to introduce best practices into public mental health The importance of treating employees as people and developing real relationships with employees A primer on trauma informed perspective Look at context of behavior in order to address things like timeliness The idea of “therapy for the work place” Best practices for supervising and managing The myth that this type of work that focuses on the individual takes more time The risk of burnout and turnover for workplaces that don’t take care of their people How to introduce these concepts into the classroom How to infuse hope into the option of working in community mental health The importance of boundaries, asking for help, understanding expectations The attempts of these agencies to improve employee engagement and supporting the staff to stay longer The danger of the silos that different clinicians can be in (i.e., community mental health, private practice, other types of treatment centers) The benefit of connection with other therapists How processing your own stuff, making sure to consult, and taking time for self-care needs to be incorporated into a trauma-informed workplace Suggestions for group or solo practice owners to incorporate these best practices How Kristin puts her money where her mouth is, in her group practice Looking at how the workplace can impact each individual, looking at trauma responses for everyone involved (every client, every employee, everyone) Kristin believes that therapists are too focused on behavior and symptom reduction The importance of training all staff within interdisciplinary teams, taking care of all staff at levels The hope of transforming workplaces to make our career more sustainable Mon, 09 Sep 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Trauma Informed Work Place full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Kristin Martinez, LMFT An interview with Kristin Martinez, LMFT, about how trauma informed practices apply to the workplace. Curt and Katie talk with Kristin about her person-centered management, the benefits of treating employees well, and the risks of managing individuals as though they were cogs in a machine. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kristin Martinez, LMFT Kristin Martinez is a licensed therapist who developed a process of management coined: Person Centered Management. She developed Person Centered Management through her own experience and expertise in trauma informed psychotherapy and being a leader in several organizations. Kristin owns a consulting firm and a group therapy practice. Prior to being a business owner, Kristin spent over 10 years in the mental health field as case worker, therapist, and administrator in private, contracted, and government entities. She has experience as a Director in Logistics prior to entering the field of mental health and knows the power of good teaming.   In this episode we talk about: The idea of best practices for workplaces – Trauma Informed Workplaces, Person-centered management How Kristin came to identify the need for trauma informed practices not just with clients, but with the therapists and workforce as well Looking at the community mental health perspective How current practices lead to burnout at all levels How to introduce best practices into public mental health The importance of treating employees as people and developing real relationships with employees A primer on trauma informed perspective Look at context of behavior in order to address things like timeliness The idea of “therapy for the work place” Best practices for supervising and managing The myth that this type of work that focuses on the individual takes more time The risk of burnout and turnover for workplaces that don’t take care of their people How to introduce these concepts into the classroom How to infuse hope into the option of working in community mental health The importance of boundaries, asking for help, understanding expectations The attempts of these agencies to improve employee engagement and supporting the staff to stay longer The danger of the silos that different clinicians can be in (i.e., community mental health, private practice, other types of treatment centers) The benefit of connection with other therapists How processing your own stuff, making sure to consult, and taking time for self-care needs to be incorporated into a trauma-informed workplace Suggestions for group or solo practice owners to incorporate these best practices How Kristin puts her money where her mouth is, in her group practice Looking at how the workplace can impact each individual, looking at trauma responses for everyone involved (every client, every employee, everyone) Kristin believes that therapists are too focused on behavior and symptom reduction The importance of training all staff within interdisciplinary teams, taking care of all staff at levels The hope of transforming workplaces to make our career more sustainable An interview with Kristin Martinez, LMFT, about how trauma informed practices apply to the workplace. Curt and Katie talk with Kristin about her person-centered management, the benefits of treating employees well, and the risks of managing individuals as though they were cogs in a machine.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Kristin Martinez, LMFT Kristin Martinez is a licensed therapist who developed a process of management coined: Person Centered Management. She developed Person Centered Management through her own experience and expertise in trauma informed psychotherapy and being a leader in several organizations. Kristin owns a consulting firm and a group therapy practice. Prior to being a business owner, Kristin spent over 10 years in the mental health field as case worker, therapist, and administrator in private, contracted, and government entities. She has experience as a Director in Logistics prior to entering the field of mental health and knows the power of good teaming.

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • The idea of best practices for workplaces – Trauma Informed Workplaces, Person-centered management
  • How Kristin came to identify the need for trauma informed practices not just with clients, but with the therapists and workforce as well
  • Looking at the community mental health perspective
  • How current practices lead to burnout at all levels
  • How to introduce best practices into public mental health
  • The importance of treating employees as people and developing real relationships with employees
  • A primer on trauma informed perspective
  • Look at context of behavior in order to address things like timeliness
  • The idea of “therapy for the work place”
  • Best practices for supervising and managing
  • The myth that this type of work that focuses on the individual takes more time
  • The risk of burnout and turnover for workplaces that don’t take care of their people
  • How to introduce these concepts into the classroom
  • How to infuse hope into the option of working in community mental health
  • The importance of boundaries, asking for help, understanding expectations
  • The attempts of these agencies to improve employee engagement and supporting the staff to stay longer
  • The danger of the silos that different clinicians can be in (i.e., community mental health, private practice, other types of treatment centers)
  • The benefit of connection with other therapists
  • How processing your own stuff, making sure to consult, and taking time for self-care needs to be incorporated into a trauma-informed workplace
  • Suggestions for group or solo practice owners to incorporate these best practices
  • How Kristin puts her money where her mouth is, in her group practice
  • Looking at how the workplace can impact each individual, looking at trauma responses for everyone involved (every client, every employee, everyone)
  • Kristin believes that therapists are too focused on behavior and symptom reduction
  • The importance of training all staff within interdisciplinary teams, taking care of all staff at levels
  • The hope of transforming workplaces to make our career more sustainable
]]> 2354 no Millennials as Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/millennials-as-therapists Curt and Katie talk about generational differences in therapists, looking at perceptions (and misperceptions) about Millennials We look at how these differences impact therapy workplaces, supervision, and the future of our field.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Whether or not Curt is a Millennial Looking at how millennials show up as employees and entrepreneurs Generational differences in therapists Common complaint of millennials being entitled Living life now versus earning your stripes and waiting on retirement The Four-Hour Work Week Curt’s theory that Millennials have perfected the dream of the Gen X-ers The impact of technology on growing up in different generations Looking at the impact of the recession on the perspective on how to navigate work The “young upstart” mythology that gets under Boomers’ skin Gaining confidence earlier due to the access to immense amounts of data that wasn’t around when X-ers and Boomers were growing up Teaching as equals versus teaching as a superior, looking at collaborative learning The difference between therapy as work and other professions The further we remove the therapist from having creativity and ownership from the work, the less value they will get from the work. The importance of real application of concepts in our education The tension of enough structured guidance versus enough collaboration/empowerment Avoiding the helicoptering (supervision, management, etc.) How technology is impacting the work The importance of grounding innovation in laws, ethics, and clinical excellence How coaching might impact our profession, whether there is harm with people jumping to coaching without credentials or training Instagram Therapists Different goals for different generations, namely the scourge of selling out Whether or not Gen X-ers have actually sold old How things have changed in marketing and how that has impacted newer therapists When you can claim “expert” status How strong entrepreneurs can potentially harm the profession Mon, 02 Sep 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Millennials as Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about generational differences in therapists Curt and Katie talk about generational differences in therapists, looking at perceptions (and misperceptions) about Millennials We look at how these differences impact therapy workplaces, supervision, and the future of our field.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Whether or not Curt is a Millennial Looking at how millennials show up as employees and entrepreneurs Generational differences in therapists Common complaint of millennials being entitled Living life now versus earning your stripes and waiting on retirement The Four-Hour Work Week Curt’s theory that Millennials have perfected the dream of the Gen X-ers The impact of technology on growing up in different generations Looking at the impact of the recession on the perspective on how to navigate work The “young upstart” mythology that gets under Boomers’ skin Gaining confidence earlier due to the access to immense amounts of data that wasn’t around when X-ers and Boomers were growing up Teaching as equals versus teaching as a superior, looking at collaborative learning The difference between therapy as work and other professions The further we remove the therapist from having creativity and ownership from the work, the less value they will get from the work. The importance of real application of concepts in our education The tension of enough structured guidance versus enough collaboration/empowerment Avoiding the helicoptering (supervision, management, etc.) How technology is impacting the work The importance of grounding innovation in laws, ethics, and clinical excellence How coaching might impact our profession, whether there is harm with people jumping to coaching without credentials or training Instagram Therapists Different goals for different generations, namely the scourge of selling out Whether or not Gen X-ers have actually sold old How things have changed in marketing and how that has impacted newer therapists When you can claim “expert” status How strong entrepreneurs can potentially harm the profession Curt and Katie talk about generational differences in therapists, looking at perceptions (and misperceptions) about Millennials We look at how these differences impact therapy workplaces, supervision, and the future of our field.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Whether or not Curt is a Millennial
  • Looking at how millennials show up as employees and entrepreneurs
  • Generational differences in therapists
  • Common complaint of millennials being entitled
  • Living life now versus earning your stripes and waiting on retirement
  • The Four-Hour Work Week
  • Curt’s theory that Millennials have perfected the dream of the Gen X-ers
  • The impact of technology on growing up in different generations
  • Looking at the impact of the recession on the perspective on how to navigate work
  • The “young upstart” mythology that gets under Boomers’ skin
  • Gaining confidence earlier due to the access to immense amounts of data that wasn’t around when X-ers and Boomers were growing up
  • Teaching as equals versus teaching as a superior, looking at collaborative learning
  • The difference between therapy as work and other professions
  • The further we remove the therapist from having creativity and ownership from the work, the less value they will get from the work.
  • The importance of real application of concepts in our education
  • The tension of enough structured guidance versus enough collaboration/empowerment
  • Avoiding the helicoptering (supervision, management, etc.)
  • How technology is impacting the work
  • The importance of grounding innovation in laws, ethics, and clinical excellence
  • How coaching might impact our profession, whether there is harm with people jumping to coaching without credentials or training
  • Instagram Therapists
  • Different goals for different generations, namely the scourge of selling out
  • Whether or not Gen X-ers have actually sold old
  • How things have changed in marketing and how that has impacted newer therapists
  • When you can claim “expert” status
  • How strong entrepreneurs can potentially harm the profession
]]> 2882 no Therapy of Tomorrow https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapy-of-tomorrow An interview with Paul Puri, M.D., about how we can make therapy better. Curt and Katie interview Dr. Puri about how technology and better clinical training can improve therapy outcomes as well as the responsibility we have as experts to impact social change through education and art. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Paul R. Puri, M.D., Psychiatrist, TV Writer, CMO of OOTify Dr. Puri is a psychiatrist, TV writer, and an entrepreneur. In his private practice in Los Angeles, he practices multiple forms of psychotherapy, including hypnosis, in addition to managing medications. He attended medical school at University of Rochester, and specialty training in psychiatry at UC San Diego. He is currently a clinical Assistant Professor at UCLA, and the president-elect of the Psychiatric Clinical Faculty Association. In his non-clinical time, he consults and writes for TV, and is the Chief Medical Officer for an online mental health hub, OOTify -- OOTify.com In this episode we talk about: How Paul has found the different ways that he is helping transform mental health The history of psychotherapy and psychiatry and how training changed to match the reimbursement model How psychiatry training is shifting to reflect the modern needs How therapy is changing, how technology is entering into the picture, and what is driving research and evidence-based treatments The importance of therapist matching in the success of treatment (and how machine learning can help this process) The internal work that therapists have to do to improve their clinical work The importance of getting different perspectives to become the therapist you are supposed to be rather than becoming a duplicate of your supervisor How Paul is trying to represent our field accurately and well in his writing on Chicago Med The impact of entertainment on mental health stigma The social responsibility of having a larger microphone or platform How much to push beyond the current reality to effect social change How we make therapy and therapists better The noise that has developed in the “personal branding” era of private practice The responsibility we have to help potential clients find the best fit – and how we are frequently failing at it The problem with only seeking out “evidence-based” treatment without considering what the evidence means How to move outside the office and add your voice to the social landscape The Public Health responsibility we have to educate with the expertise we have The balance of making sure you’re not weighing in unsolicited, but rather strategically The nuance of talking about your knowledge without over-disclosing, breaking ethical and legal guidelines, or speaking outside your scope  Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 26 Aug 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Therapy of Tomorrow full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Paul Puri, M.D. An interview with Paul Puri, M.D., about how we can make therapy better. Curt and Katie interview Dr. Puri about how technology and better clinical training can improve therapy outcomes as well as the responsibility we have as experts to impact social change through education and art. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Paul R. Puri, M.D., Psychiatrist, TV Writer, CMO of OOTify Dr. Puri is a psychiatrist, TV writer, and an entrepreneur. In his private practice in Los Angeles, he practices multiple forms of psychotherapy, including hypnosis, in addition to managing medications. He attended medical school at University of Rochester, and specialty training in psychiatry at UC San Diego. He is currently a clinical Assistant Professor at UCLA, and the president-elect of the Psychiatric Clinical Faculty Association. In his non-clinical time, he consults and writes for TV, and is the Chief Medical Officer for an online mental health hub, OOTify -- OOTify.com In this episode we talk about: How Paul has found the different ways that he is helping transform mental health The history of psychotherapy and psychiatry and how training changed to match the reimbursement model How psychiatry training is shifting to reflect the modern needs How therapy is changing, how technology is entering into the picture, and what is driving research and evidence-based treatments The importance of therapist matching in the success of treatment (and how machine learning can help this process) The internal work that therapists have to do to improve their clinical work The importance of getting different perspectives to become the therapist you are supposed to be rather than becoming a duplicate of your supervisor How Paul is trying to represent our field accurately and well in his writing on Chicago Med The impact of entertainment on mental health stigma The social responsibility of having a larger microphone or platform How much to push beyond the current reality to effect social change How we make therapy and therapists better The noise that has developed in the “personal branding” era of private practice The responsibility we have to help potential clients find the best fit – and how we are frequently failing at it The problem with only seeking out “evidence-based” treatment without considering what the evidence means How to move outside the office and add your voice to the social landscape The Public Health responsibility we have to educate with the expertise we have The balance of making sure you’re not weighing in unsolicited, but rather strategically The nuance of talking about your knowledge without over-disclosing, breaking ethical and legal guidelines, or speaking outside your scope  Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Paul Puri, M.D., about how we can make therapy better. Curt and Katie interview Dr. Puri about how technology and better clinical training can improve therapy outcomes as well as the responsibility we have as experts to impact social change through education and art.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Paul R. Puri, M.D., Psychiatrist, TV Writer, CMO of OOTify

Dr. Puri is a psychiatrist, TV writer, and an entrepreneur. In his private practice in Los Angeles, he practices multiple forms of psychotherapy, including hypnosis, in addition to managing medications. He attended medical school at University of Rochester, and specialty training in psychiatry at UC San Diego. He is currently a clinical Assistant Professor at UCLA, and the president-elect of the Psychiatric Clinical Faculty Association. In his non-clinical time, he consults and writes for TV, and is the Chief Medical Officer for an online mental health hub, OOTify -- OOTify.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • How Paul has found the different ways that he is helping transform mental health
  • The history of psychotherapy and psychiatry and how training changed to match the reimbursement model
  • How psychiatry training is shifting to reflect the modern needs
  • How therapy is changing, how technology is entering into the picture, and what is driving research and evidence-based treatments
  • The importance of therapist matching in the success of treatment (and how machine learning can help this process)
  • The internal work that therapists have to do to improve their clinical work
  • The importance of getting different perspectives to become the therapist you are supposed to be rather than becoming a duplicate of your supervisor
  • How Paul is trying to represent our field accurately and well in his writing on Chicago Med
  • The impact of entertainment on mental health stigma
  • The social responsibility of having a larger microphone or platform
  • How much to push beyond the current reality to effect social change
  • How we make therapy and therapists better
  • The noise that has developed in the “personal branding” era of private practice
  • The responsibility we have to help potential clients find the best fit – and how we are frequently failing at it
  • The problem with only seeking out “evidence-based” treatment without considering what the evidence means
  • How to move outside the office and add your voice to the social landscape
  • The Public Health responsibility we have to educate with the expertise we have
  • The balance of making sure you’re not weighing in unsolicited, but rather strategically
  • The nuance of talking about your knowledge without over-disclosing, breaking ethical and legal guidelines, or speaking outside your scope

 Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2422 no Mass Shooters and Mental Illness https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/mass-shooters-and-mental-illness Curt and Katie talk about why mass shootings happen. We look at the complexity of the research and how solely blaming mental illness, doesn’t reflect the research and is stigmatizing. We also talk about how to identify risks and what to do to try to prevent violence.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Looking at why Mass Shootings happen Defining Mass Shooting The harm that blaming mass shootings on mental illness can cause – stigma, lack of seeking mental health treatment The limitations and complexity of the research The dehumanization of others and the role that it can play in the violence Attribution Model, low self-esteem, moving out to fringe groups, radicalization Developmental factors including parenting, culture, gender, coercion, history of violence The difficulty with learning from sound bites The role of violent media, video games The importance of differentiating correlation from causation The most important factor: access to guns “Aggrieved Entitlement” leading to seeking revenge in a violent way for a perceived or actual victimization Multi-systemic solutions and what therapists can do to address the situation Compassion, listening, and connection as a way to intervene prior to radicalization Seeing from a different perspective than what is “acceptable” for you, to help to build alliance and open opportunities for challenging violent beliefs Clarifying therapy versus threat assessment Fighting Fascism in the world and in the therapy room Mon, 19 Aug 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Mass Shootings and Mental Illness full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about factors contributing to mass shootings Curt and Katie talk about why mass shootings happen. We look at the complexity of the research and how solely blaming mental illness, doesn’t reflect the research and is stigmatizing. We also talk about how to identify risks and what to do to try to prevent violence.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Looking at why Mass Shootings happen Defining Mass Shooting The harm that blaming mass shootings on mental illness can cause – stigma, lack of seeking mental health treatment The limitations and complexity of the research The dehumanization of others and the role that it can play in the violence Attribution Model, low self-esteem, moving out to fringe groups, radicalization Developmental factors including parenting, culture, gender, coercion, history of violence The difficulty with learning from sound bites The role of violent media, video games The importance of differentiating correlation from causation The most important factor: access to guns “Aggrieved Entitlement” leading to seeking revenge in a violent way for a perceived or actual victimization Multi-systemic solutions and what therapists can do to address the situation Compassion, listening, and connection as a way to intervene prior to radicalization Seeing from a different perspective than what is “acceptable” for you, to help to build alliance and open opportunities for challenging violent beliefs Clarifying therapy versus threat assessment Fighting Fascism in the world and in the therapy room Curt and Katie talk about why mass shootings happen. We look at the complexity of the research and how solely blaming mental illness, doesn’t reflect the research and is stigmatizing. We also talk about how to identify risks and what to do to try to prevent violence. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Looking at why Mass Shootings happen
  • Defining Mass Shooting
  • The harm that blaming mass shootings on mental illness can cause – stigma, lack of seeking mental health treatment
  • The limitations and complexity of the research
  • The dehumanization of others and the role that it can play in the violence
  • Attribution Model, low self-esteem, moving out to fringe groups, radicalization
  • Developmental factors including parenting, culture, gender, coercion, history of violence
  • The difficulty with learning from sound bites
  • The role of violent media, video games
  • The importance of differentiating correlation from causation
  • The most important factor: access to guns
  • “Aggrieved Entitlement” leading to seeking revenge in a violent way for a perceived or actual victimization
  • Multi-systemic solutions and what therapists can do to address the situation
  • Compassion, listening, and connection as a way to intervene prior to radicalization
  • Seeing from a different perspective than what is “acceptable” for you, to help to build alliance and open opportunities for challenging violent beliefs
  • Clarifying therapy versus threat assessment
  • Fighting Fascism in the world and in the therapy room
]]> 2318 no Responding to Mass Shootings https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/responding-to-mass-shootings Curt and Katie talk about how to take care of your clients, your communities, and yourself after a mass shooting. We look at the types of victims, the different stages of response, and treatment considerations. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Responding to the recent Mass Shootings The different roles that therapists can be expected to play after a Mass Shooting incident The types of victims of these events (from victims radiating out to people who are learning about these events on social media) The different stages of trauma response – and the caution to not assume everyone will end up with PTSD Who is at risk for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder The different factors that can lead to an emotional response to the shooting, regardless of how close you are to the incident The importance of Psychological First Aid (and how Critical Incident Stress Debriefing can be harmful) Vicarious and Re-traumatization, triggers, no response The impact of previous traumas The importance of community supports and types of community interventions Looking at how to assess boundaries and be part in the community healing Post-Traumatic Growth and finding meaning, purpose How often those with mental illness diagnoses might feel stigmatized when they are scape-goated and should also be supported How the role that therapists play can impact therapists The careful assessment of how you can help and what you can offer to people impacted by these events Important self-care reminders for therapists Mon, 12 Aug 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Responding to Mass Shootings full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to take care of your clients, your communities, and yourself Curt and Katie talk about how to take care of your clients, your communities, and yourself after a mass shooting. We look at the types of victims, the different stages of response, and treatment considerations. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Responding to the recent Mass Shootings The different roles that therapists can be expected to play after a Mass Shooting incident The types of victims of these events (from victims radiating out to people who are learning about these events on social media) The different stages of trauma response – and the caution to not assume everyone will end up with PTSD Who is at risk for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder The different factors that can lead to an emotional response to the shooting, regardless of how close you are to the incident The importance of Psychological First Aid (and how Critical Incident Stress Debriefing can be harmful) Vicarious and Re-traumatization, triggers, no response The impact of previous traumas The importance of community supports and types of community interventions Looking at how to assess boundaries and be part in the community healing Post-Traumatic Growth and finding meaning, purpose How often those with mental illness diagnoses might feel stigmatized when they are scape-goated and should also be supported How the role that therapists play can impact therapists The careful assessment of how you can help and what you can offer to people impacted by these events Important self-care reminders for therapists Curt and Katie talk about how to take care of your clients, your communities, and yourself after a mass shooting. We look at the types of victims, the different stages of response, and treatment considerations.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Responding to the recent Mass Shootings
  • The different roles that therapists can be expected to play after a Mass Shooting incident
  • The types of victims of these events (from victims radiating out to people who are learning about these events on social media)
  • The different stages of trauma response – and the caution to not assume everyone will end up with PTSD
  • Who is at risk for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  • The different factors that can lead to an emotional response to the shooting, regardless of how close you are to the incident
  • The importance of Psychological First Aid (and how Critical Incident Stress Debriefing can be harmful)
  • Vicarious and Re-traumatization, triggers, no response
  • The impact of previous traumas
  • The importance of community supports and types of community interventions
  • Looking at how to assess boundaries and be part in the community healing
  • Post-Traumatic Growth and finding meaning, purpose
  • How often those with mental illness diagnoses might feel stigmatized when they are scape-goated and should also be supported
  • How the role that therapists play can impact therapists
  • The careful assessment of how you can help and what you can offer to people impacted by these events
  • Important self-care reminders for therapists
]]> 2418 no Privileged and Biased https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/privileged-and-biased An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC, about how therapy has been whitewashed and biased for a very long time. Curt and Katie talk with Jeff about his efforts to use his privilege to increase inclusion and diversity and to shine a light on biases that we all hold.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC Jeff Guenther, LPC, is a therapist in Portland, OR. He has been in private practice since 2005. Jeff is the creator and owner of Portland Therapy Center, a highly ranked therapist directory. He also hosts a podcast called Say More About That about trending mental health topics. Jeff has launched a new progressive therapist directory at TherapyDen that fights racism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination. Sign up for a profile at TherapyDen and get your first six months free. In this episode we talk about: Jeff’s entrepreneurship and his focus on creating access for mental health Therapy directories and how he came to identify the need to use the directory to fight against racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. Using privilege for good and to support inclusion and access for mental health services Looking at the controversy in developing a progressive therapist directory The goal to be inclusive, not solely politically progressive White privilege and bias The problems with Psychology Today and how this directory is slowly seeming to respond and start addressing racial and gender diversity The white washing of therapy and the fight to increase access and diversity Understanding the bias that is being reinforced by Disney Movies How bias can show up in the therapy room, your marketing, and in your intake Addressing systemic bias The history of therapy and how it continues to influence bias Looking at how implicit bias can be addressed by individual therapists The biases that are less understood or addressed The responsibility of therapists to actively work toward societal inclusion The ability to change things in one generation Mon, 05 Aug 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Privileged and Biased full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC, about how therapy has been whitewashed and biased for a very long time. Curt and Katie talk with Jeff about his efforts to use his privilege to increase inclusion and diversity and to shine a light on biases that we all hold.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC Jeff Guenther, LPC, is a therapist in Portland, OR. He has been in private practice since 2005. Jeff is the creator and owner of Portland Therapy Center, a highly ranked therapist directory. He also hosts a podcast called Say More About That about trending mental health topics. Jeff has launched a new progressive therapist directory at TherapyDen that fights racism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination. Sign up for a profile at TherapyDen and get your first six months free. In this episode we talk about: Jeff’s entrepreneurship and his focus on creating access for mental health Therapy directories and how he came to identify the need to use the directory to fight against racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. Using privilege for good and to support inclusion and access for mental health services Looking at the controversy in developing a progressive therapist directory The goal to be inclusive, not solely politically progressive White privilege and bias The problems with Psychology Today and how this directory is slowly seeming to respond and start addressing racial and gender diversity The white washing of therapy and the fight to increase access and diversity Understanding the bias that is being reinforced by Disney Movies How bias can show up in the therapy room, your marketing, and in your intake Addressing systemic bias The history of therapy and how it continues to influence bias Looking at how implicit bias can be addressed by individual therapists The biases that are less understood or addressed The responsibility of therapists to actively work toward societal inclusion The ability to change things in one generation An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC, about how therapy has been whitewashed and biased for a very long time. Curt and Katie talk with Jeff about his efforts to use his privilege to increase inclusion and diversity and to shine a light on biases that we all hold. 

 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC

Jeff Guenther, LPC, is a therapist in Portland, OR. He has been in private practice since 2005. Jeff is the creator and owner of Portland Therapy Center, a highly ranked therapist directory. He also hosts a podcast called Say More About That about trending mental health topics. Jeff has launched a new progressive therapist directory at TherapyDen that fights racism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination. Sign up for a profile at TherapyDen and get your first six months free.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Jeff’s entrepreneurship and his focus on creating access for mental health
  • Therapy directories and how he came to identify the need to use the directory to fight against racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc.
  • Using privilege for good and to support inclusion and access for mental health services
  • Looking at the controversy in developing a progressive therapist directory
  • The goal to be inclusive, not solely politically progressive
  • White privilege and bias
  • The problems with Psychology Today and how this directory is slowly seeming to respond and start addressing racial and gender diversity
  • The white washing of therapy and the fight to increase access and diversity
  • Understanding the bias that is being reinforced by Disney Movies
  • How bias can show up in the therapy room, your marketing, and in your intake
  • Addressing systemic bias
  • The history of therapy and how it continues to influence bias
  • Looking at how implicit bias can be addressed by individual therapists
  • The biases that are less understood or addressed
  • The responsibility of therapists to actively work toward societal inclusion
  • The ability to change things in one generation
]]> 2413 no All Kinds of Burned Out https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/all-kinds-of-burned-out Curt and Katie talk about the different types of burnout. We look at the differences between employee and entrepreneur burnout, including how to prevent it and how to treat it. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The difference between burnout for employees and entrepreneurs How the different nature of how we work impacts how/why we burn out Employee burnout: cog in the machine, dehumanization, lack of agency Entrepreneur burnout: hustling for income, decision fatigue, facing change with rigidity How to prevent the different types of burnout The importance for putting systems in place to decrease the tendency for entrepreneurial burnout When passion and obsessive efforts can also cause burnout The danger of having a lack of balance between passion and rest or personal life Types of burnout – overload, underchallenged, neglect Moral Injury, locus of control, and the impact of unhealthy work environments The challenges of having to work outside of our “zone of genius” in starting a private practice Different types of shame related to impostor syndrome, “hobby practice,” charging too much How excuses can get in the way Ideas on how to address burnout Mon, 29 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0000 All Kinds of Burned Out full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the different types of burnout Curt and Katie talk about the different types of burnout. We look at the differences between employee and entrepreneur burnout, including how to prevent it and how to treat it. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The difference between burnout for employees and entrepreneurs How the different nature of how we work impacts how/why we burn out Employee burnout: cog in the machine, dehumanization, lack of agency Entrepreneur burnout: hustling for income, decision fatigue, facing change with rigidity How to prevent the different types of burnout The importance for putting systems in place to decrease the tendency for entrepreneurial burnout When passion and obsessive efforts can also cause burnout The danger of having a lack of balance between passion and rest or personal life Types of burnout – overload, underchallenged, neglect Moral Injury, locus of control, and the impact of unhealthy work environments The challenges of having to work outside of our “zone of genius” in starting a private practice Different types of shame related to impostor syndrome, “hobby practice,” charging too much How excuses can get in the way Ideas on how to address burnout Curt and Katie talk about the different types of burnout. We look at the differences between employee and entrepreneur burnout, including how to prevent it and how to treat it.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The difference between burnout for employees and entrepreneurs
  • How the different nature of how we work impacts how/why we burn out
  • Employee burnout: cog in the machine, dehumanization, lack of agency
  • Entrepreneur burnout: hustling for income, decision fatigue, facing change with rigidity
  • How to prevent the different types of burnout
  • The importance for putting systems in place to decrease the tendency for entrepreneurial burnout
  • When passion and obsessive efforts can also cause burnout
  • The danger of having a lack of balance between passion and rest or personal life
  • Types of burnout – overload, underchallenged, neglect
  • Moral Injury, locus of control, and the impact of unhealthy work environments
  • The challenges of having to work outside of our “zone of genius” in starting a private practice
  • Different types of shame related to impostor syndrome, “hobby practice,” charging too much
  • How excuses can get in the way
  • Ideas on how to address burnout
]]> 2379 no Black Mental Health https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/black-mental-health An interview with Patrice Douglas, LMFT, talking about mental health stigma in the Black Community. Curt and Katie talk with Patrice about how she is working to decrease stigma and increase access to competent treatment for African Americans.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Patrice N. Douglas, LMFT, CAMS-I Patrice N. Douglas is a licensed therapist, Certified Anger Management Specialist, and Certified Parent Child Interaction Therapist in California and Texas. She is currently a doctoral candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles. She is the owner of Empire Counseling & Consultation located in CA, NY, and TX where she specializes in anger management, men’s issues, minority mental health, as well as parenting. Patrice is passionate about decreasing stigmas in minority communities by curating initiatives such a t-shirt campaign that spreads awareness about mental health as well as uses the profits to pay for therapy for those who can’t afford it as well as low cost workshops. She has been featured in Bustle, HelloGiggles, Therapy For Black Girls, and other platforms discussing the various topics surrounding mental health. In this episode we talk about: Mental Health Advocacy within the Black Community Reducing Mental Health Stigma How awesome Patrice’s Instagram is The pros and cons about social media and how you can use it to decrease mental health stigma Patrice’s Infographics and how she has used them (and the response that she has gotten) The way Patrice has used social media to provide education and has gotten a lot of visibility Culturally specific impacts of mental health concerns – historical context, religion, lack of trust Barriers to Mental Health Treatment for African American Clients including cultural mistrust The impact of slavery, experimentation, institutionalization on access and perspective The importance of understanding cultural differences, stereotypes, privilege, bias Advice for Allies – hold space, consultation, understand required competence Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome – intergenerational trauma from slavery impacting the current generation of Black people The movement that Patrice is starting to increase awareness and decrease stigma – through t-shirts, infographics The importance of consultation, cultural humility, historical context Mon, 22 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Black Mental Health full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Patrice Douglas, LMFT An interview with Patrice Douglas, LMFT, talking about mental health stigma in the Black Community. Curt and Katie talk with Patrice about how she is working to decrease stigma and increase access to competent treatment for African Americans.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Patrice N. Douglas, LMFT, CAMS-I Patrice N. Douglas is a licensed therapist, Certified Anger Management Specialist, and Certified Parent Child Interaction Therapist in California and Texas. She is currently a doctoral candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles. She is the owner of Empire Counseling & Consultation located in CA, NY, and TX where she specializes in anger management, men’s issues, minority mental health, as well as parenting. Patrice is passionate about decreasing stigmas in minority communities by curating initiatives such a t-shirt campaign that spreads awareness about mental health as well as uses the profits to pay for therapy for those who can’t afford it as well as low cost workshops. She has been featured in Bustle, HelloGiggles, Therapy For Black Girls, and other platforms discussing the various topics surrounding mental health. In this episode we talk about: Mental Health Advocacy within the Black Community Reducing Mental Health Stigma How awesome Patrice’s Instagram is The pros and cons about social media and how you can use it to decrease mental health stigma Patrice’s Infographics and how she has used them (and the response that she has gotten) The way Patrice has used social media to provide education and has gotten a lot of visibility Culturally specific impacts of mental health concerns – historical context, religion, lack of trust Barriers to Mental Health Treatment for African American Clients including cultural mistrust The impact of slavery, experimentation, institutionalization on access and perspective The importance of understanding cultural differences, stereotypes, privilege, bias Advice for Allies – hold space, consultation, understand required competence Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome – intergenerational trauma from slavery impacting the current generation of Black people The movement that Patrice is starting to increase awareness and decrease stigma – through t-shirts, infographics The importance of consultation, cultural humility, historical context An interview with Patrice Douglas, LMFT, talking about mental health stigma in the Black Community. Curt and Katie talk with Patrice about how she is working to decrease stigma and increase access to competent treatment for African Americans.

 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Patrice N. Douglas, LMFT, CAMS-I

Patrice N. Douglas is a licensed therapist, Certified Anger Management Specialist, and Certified Parent Child Interaction Therapist in California and Texas. She is currently a doctoral candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles. She is the owner of Empire Counseling & Consultation located in CA, NY, and TX where she specializes in anger management, men’s issues, minority mental health, as well as parenting. Patrice is passionate about decreasing stigmas in minority communities by curating initiatives such a t-shirt campaign that spreads awareness about mental health as well as uses the profits to pay for therapy for those who can’t afford it as well as low cost workshops. She has been featured in Bustle, HelloGiggles, Therapy For Black Girls, and other platforms discussing the various topics surrounding mental health.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Mental Health Advocacy within the Black Community
  • Reducing Mental Health Stigma
  • How awesome Patrice’s Instagram is
  • The pros and cons about social media and how you can use it to decrease mental health stigma
  • Patrice’s Infographics and how she has used them (and the response that she has gotten)
  • The way Patrice has used social media to provide education and has gotten a lot of visibility
  • Culturally specific impacts of mental health concerns – historical context, religion, lack of trust
  • Barriers to Mental Health Treatment for African American Clients including cultural mistrust
  • The impact of slavery, experimentation, institutionalization on access and perspective
  • The importance of understanding cultural differences, stereotypes, privilege, bias
  • Advice for Allies – hold space, consultation, understand required competence
  • Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome – intergenerational trauma from slavery impacting the current generation of Black people
  • The movement that Patrice is starting to increase awareness and decrease stigma – through t-shirts, infographics
  • The importance of consultation, cultural humility, historical context
]]> 2304 no Therapist Haters and Trolls https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapist-haters-and-trolls Curt and Katie talk about haters, heated online discourse that seems to delight in shaming other therapists, Schadenfreude, and the laziness of taking other people down while squandering the opportunity for creativity and positive discourse. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The backlash from haters that is created when you step out as a therapist The different theories: dehumanizing therapists, protecting the public from bad therapists, pushing back against innovation Characterizing this dynamic as Schadenfreude (and defining it) The irony that therapists are not showing positive, healthy communication online How jealousy and impostor syndrome can show up The ways that therapist training may contribute to these unhealthy conversations Dehumanizing people into brands or when people become intertwined with their concept and the idea is humanized The entitlement that people can feel when interacting with brands, forgetting that there are people behind these brands The emotionality and righteousness in the communication The act of bringing other people down in a public forum, rather than raising up own arguments The plea to bring in alternative perspectives to add to the discourse, rather than focusing on taking the other person down The laziness in just saying that you don’t like something, a passive “take down” The reinforcement that trolls get (likes, comments, arguments) and a call to action to stop feeding the trolls How the bystander role might be relevant Responsibilities of original posters and commenters The impact of social media on professional reputation Curt’s plea to #CitetheStatute The way that social media can feel like we’re talking to ourselves, or to people who are far removed and somehow not impacted by us The lack of emotional resources that can impact how we engage with our community of therapists online The possibilities when we are able to use these social networks for creativity and discourse Mon, 15 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Therapist Trolls and Haters full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the Schadenfreude and righteousness that seems to pop up in therapist communities online Curt and Katie talk about haters, heated online discourse that seems to delight in shaming other therapists, Schadenfreude, and the laziness of taking other people down while squandering the opportunity for creativity and positive discourse. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The backlash from haters that is created when you step out as a therapist The different theories: dehumanizing therapists, protecting the public from bad therapists, pushing back against innovation Characterizing this dynamic as Schadenfreude (and defining it) The irony that therapists are not showing positive, healthy communication online How jealousy and impostor syndrome can show up The ways that therapist training may contribute to these unhealthy conversations Dehumanizing people into brands or when people become intertwined with their concept and the idea is humanized The entitlement that people can feel when interacting with brands, forgetting that there are people behind these brands The emotionality and righteousness in the communication The act of bringing other people down in a public forum, rather than raising up own arguments The plea to bring in alternative perspectives to add to the discourse, rather than focusing on taking the other person down The laziness in just saying that you don’t like something, a passive “take down” The reinforcement that trolls get (likes, comments, arguments) and a call to action to stop feeding the trolls How the bystander role might be relevant Responsibilities of original posters and commenters The impact of social media on professional reputation Curt’s plea to #CitetheStatute The way that social media can feel like we’re talking to ourselves, or to people who are far removed and somehow not impacted by us The lack of emotional resources that can impact how we engage with our community of therapists online The possibilities when we are able to use these social networks for creativity and discourse Curt and Katie talk about haters, heated online discourse that seems to delight in shaming other therapists, Schadenfreude, and the laziness of taking other people down while squandering the opportunity for creativity and positive discourse.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The backlash from haters that is created when you step out as a therapist
  • The different theories: dehumanizing therapists, protecting the public from bad therapists, pushing back against innovation
  • Characterizing this dynamic as Schadenfreude (and defining it)
  • The irony that therapists are not showing positive, healthy communication online
  • How jealousy and impostor syndrome can show up
  • The ways that therapist training may contribute to these unhealthy conversations
  • Dehumanizing people into brands or when people become intertwined with their concept and the idea is humanized
  • The entitlement that people can feel when interacting with brands, forgetting that there are people behind these brands
  • The emotionality and righteousness in the communication
  • The act of bringing other people down in a public forum, rather than raising up own arguments
  • The plea to bring in alternative perspectives to add to the discourse, rather than focusing on taking the other person down
  • The laziness in just saying that you don’t like something, a passive “take down”
  • The reinforcement that trolls get (likes, comments, arguments) and a call to action to stop feeding the trolls
  • How the bystander role might be relevant
  • Responsibilities of original posters and commenters
  • The impact of social media on professional reputation
  • Curt’s plea to #CitetheStatute
  • The way that social media can feel like we’re talking to ourselves, or to people who are far removed and somehow not impacted by us
  • The lack of emotional resources that can impact how we engage with our community of therapists online
  • The possibilities when we are able to use these social networks for creativity and discourse
]]> 2156 no Not Your Typical Psychotherapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/not-your-typical-psychotherapist An interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr., M.S. LMFT about what it means to be “not your typical psychotherapist.” Curt and Katie talk with Ernesto about the overlap with the #moderntherapist and how to navigate the unique challenges of being different as a therapist. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr. M.S. LMFT Ernesto Segismundo is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Ernesto received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Biola University and received his Masters of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University. Ernesto has over 10 years of clinical counseling experience working in settings such as group homes, domestic violence shelters, churches, and outpatient programs. Ernesto treats marriage and family relationship problems. Ernesto also treat individuals suffering from depression, anxiety and addiction.  Along with Ernesto’s counseling experience, he has conducted various classes and seminars concerning relationships and mental health related topics such as parenting, substance abuse, maintaining healthy marriages, private practice social media and video marketing and managed care practices. Ernesto is currently an adjunct professor at Hope International University and owns a group practice called CAV Family Therapy with offices located in Huntington Beach and Fullerton California.   In this episode we talk about: The return of Ernesto Segismundo Ernesto’s vision for traveling continuing education The Not Your Typical Psychotherapist Summit What it means to be a “not the typical psychotherapist” and the cross-over with #moderntherapists The difficulty with have “haters” when you break out of the norm The challenge of trying to do something and then getting shamed for not doing “enough.” The importance of finding support with people who get it The big vision that puts you in front of a large audience and makes you vulnerable What it means to be authentically yourself and keep putting yourself out there How being yourself is the same as branding – you will attract and you will repel The social proof that can strongly contribute to these movements How these movements can contribute to improvements in mental health stigma, mental health access The importance of celebrating differences and accepting each other as atypical therapists The benefits and the draw backs of communication on social media How to effect change or provide feedback to people who are in the public eye The difficulty when someone is shamed on social media How you can take care of yourself as someone who is willing to step outside of the box An Alternate title: Congratulations you now have haters Mon, 08 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Not Your Typical Psychotherapist: An interview with Ernesto Segismundo full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr., LMFT An interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr., M.S. LMFT about what it means to be “not your typical psychotherapist.” Curt and Katie talk with Ernesto about the overlap with the #moderntherapist and how to navigate the unique challenges of being different as a therapist. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr. M.S. LMFT Ernesto Segismundo is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Ernesto received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Biola University and received his Masters of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University. Ernesto has over 10 years of clinical counseling experience working in settings such as group homes, domestic violence shelters, churches, and outpatient programs. Ernesto treats marriage and family relationship problems. Ernesto also treat individuals suffering from depression, anxiety and addiction.  Along with Ernesto’s counseling experience, he has conducted various classes and seminars concerning relationships and mental health related topics such as parenting, substance abuse, maintaining healthy marriages, private practice social media and video marketing and managed care practices. Ernesto is currently an adjunct professor at Hope International University and owns a group practice called CAV Family Therapy with offices located in Huntington Beach and Fullerton California.   In this episode we talk about: The return of Ernesto Segismundo Ernesto’s vision for traveling continuing education The Not Your Typical Psychotherapist Summit What it means to be a “not the typical psychotherapist” and the cross-over with #moderntherapists The difficulty with have “haters” when you break out of the norm The challenge of trying to do something and then getting shamed for not doing “enough.” The importance of finding support with people who get it The big vision that puts you in front of a large audience and makes you vulnerable What it means to be authentically yourself and keep putting yourself out there How being yourself is the same as branding – you will attract and you will repel The social proof that can strongly contribute to these movements How these movements can contribute to improvements in mental health stigma, mental health access The importance of celebrating differences and accepting each other as atypical therapists The benefits and the draw backs of communication on social media How to effect change or provide feedback to people who are in the public eye The difficulty when someone is shamed on social media How you can take care of yourself as someone who is willing to step outside of the box An Alternate title: Congratulations you now have haters An interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr., M.S. LMFT about what it means to be “not your typical psychotherapist.” Curt and Katie talk with Ernesto about the overlap with the #moderntherapist and how to navigate the unique challenges of being different as a therapist.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr. M.S. LMFT

Ernesto Segismundo is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Ernesto received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Biola University and received his Masters of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University. Ernesto has over 10 years of clinical counseling experience working in settings such as group homes, domestic violence shelters, churches, and outpatient programs. Ernesto treats marriage and family relationship problems. Ernesto also treat individuals suffering from depression, anxiety and addiction.

 Along with Ernesto’s counseling experience, he has conducted various classes and seminars concerning relationships and mental health related topics such as parenting, substance abuse, maintaining healthy marriages, private practice social media and video marketing and managed care practices.

Ernesto is currently an adjunct professor at Hope International University and owns a group practice called CAV Family Therapy with offices located in Huntington Beach and Fullerton California.

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • The return of Ernesto Segismundo
  • Ernesto’s vision for traveling continuing education
  • The Not Your Typical Psychotherapist Summit
  • What it means to be a “not the typical psychotherapist” and the cross-over with #moderntherapists
  • The difficulty with have “haters” when you break out of the norm
  • The challenge of trying to do something and then getting shamed for not doing “enough.”
  • The importance of finding support with people who get it
  • The big vision that puts you in front of a large audience and makes you vulnerable
  • What it means to be authentically yourself and keep putting yourself out there
  • How being yourself is the same as branding – you will attract and you will repel
  • The social proof that can strongly contribute to these movements
  • How these movements can contribute to improvements in mental health stigma, mental health access
  • The importance of celebrating differences and accepting each other as atypical therapists
  • The benefits and the draw backs of communication on social media
  • How to effect change or provide feedback to people who are in the public eye
  • The difficulty when someone is shamed on social media
  • How you can take care of yourself as someone who is willing to step outside of the box
  • An Alternate title: Congratulations you now have haters
]]> 2318 no Summer Slow Down https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/summer-slow-down Curt and Katie talk about how to successfully navigate the changes that occur during the summer when you’re in private practice. We look at how to plan for the whole year, sync your vacations with your clients, get business maintenance done during the summer, and make sure you’re incorporating your own self-care. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The change of pace that often happens when the summer hits The importance of taking a bird’s eye view of the full year, rather than focusing month to month How to set your fees to address the time off and missed sessions during the year Planning your vacation at the same time that your clients will be out The need to lead by example, showing self-care and boundaries How to take advantage of down times, so that you are ready for the uptick when the fall hits The types of assessments that you can do on your practice during the summer How to move away from panic, by planning financially for the full year The MTSG challenge: Catch up on your notes in July Setting yourself up for a more lucrative practice with increasing fees or cleaning up practices Taking vacations and getting your practice vacation ready Vacation coverage and helping your practice stay responsive during your vacation The joy of implementing your systems during the slower times (because it takes time) The possibility of having a better schedule when the summer ends – assessing and moving to an ideal schedule after moving people around during the summer Getting training during the summer, so you can actually implement it deliberately Re-evaluating your personal routines and self-care/self-maintenance Putting some effort into getting content (social media, blog posts, marketing, etc.) planned out and created Capitalizing on the creative time out of the office Evaluating your practice and your business planning Mon, 01 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Summer Slow Down full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to navigate the summer in private practice Curt and Katie talk about how to successfully navigate the changes that occur during the summer when you’re in private practice. We look at how to plan for the whole year, sync your vacations with your clients, get business maintenance done during the summer, and make sure you’re incorporating your own self-care. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The change of pace that often happens when the summer hits The importance of taking a bird’s eye view of the full year, rather than focusing month to month How to set your fees to address the time off and missed sessions during the year Planning your vacation at the same time that your clients will be out The need to lead by example, showing self-care and boundaries How to take advantage of down times, so that you are ready for the uptick when the fall hits The types of assessments that you can do on your practice during the summer How to move away from panic, by planning financially for the full year The MTSG challenge: Catch up on your notes in July Setting yourself up for a more lucrative practice with increasing fees or cleaning up practices Taking vacations and getting your practice vacation ready Vacation coverage and helping your practice stay responsive during your vacation The joy of implementing your systems during the slower times (because it takes time) The possibility of having a better schedule when the summer ends – assessing and moving to an ideal schedule after moving people around during the summer Getting training during the summer, so you can actually implement it deliberately Re-evaluating your personal routines and self-care/self-maintenance Putting some effort into getting content (social media, blog posts, marketing, etc.) planned out and created Capitalizing on the creative time out of the office Evaluating your practice and your business planning Curt and Katie talk about how to successfully navigate the changes that occur during the summer when you’re in private practice. We look at how to plan for the whole year, sync your vacations with your clients, get business maintenance done during the summer, and make sure you’re incorporating your own self-care.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The change of pace that often happens when the summer hits
  • The importance of taking a bird’s eye view of the full year, rather than focusing month to month
  • How to set your fees to address the time off and missed sessions during the year
  • Planning your vacation at the same time that your clients will be out
  • The need to lead by example, showing self-care and boundaries
  • How to take advantage of down times, so that you are ready for the uptick when the fall hits
  • The types of assessments that you can do on your practice during the summer
  • How to move away from panic, by planning financially for the full year
  • The MTSG challenge: Catch up on your notes in July
  • Setting yourself up for a more lucrative practice with increasing fees or cleaning up practices
  • Taking vacations and getting your practice vacation ready
  • Vacation coverage and helping your practice stay responsive during your vacation
  • The joy of implementing your systems during the slower times (because it takes time)
  • The possibility of having a better schedule when the summer ends – assessing and moving to an ideal schedule after moving people around during the summer
  • Getting training during the summer, so you can actually implement it deliberately
  • Re-evaluating your personal routines and self-care/self-maintenance
  • Putting some effort into getting content (social media, blog posts, marketing, etc.) planned out and created
  • Capitalizing on the creative time out of the office
  • Evaluating your practice and your business planning
]]> 1915 no Creating Opportunities https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/creating-opportunities An interview with Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor, about creating your own business opportunities when you identify a need in your community (or yourself). Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how to identify what type of entrepreneur you are, how to identify opportunities, and what to consider when adding these businesses to your therapy practice.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor and Scaling Strategist for the Solo-Therapist Marissa Lawton is a licensed counselor, national board-certified counselor, and member of the American Counseling Association. She is also a corporate-trained marketer, girlmom, and brand whisperer who lights up walking solo-therapists through aligned business building strategies. Marissa is the creator of Side Hustle Support Group, a 6-month mentorship that helps therapists capitalize on their experience and education and pair it with their innate stories and superpowers to scale both themselves and their practices through online income. Her upcoming program, Baby Steps Beyond the Couch, teaches her 90-day methodology for therapists to make their first recurring $1000 in non-clinical revenue. Opening them up to the world of possibilities beyond seeing 1:1 clients. You can learn more about Marissa at marissalawton.com In this episode we talk about: Marissa’s background in corporate finance What happened for Marissa when Lehman Brothers died and her husband was stationed in the middle of nowhere Alaska How Marissa recreated herself when it became clear that she couldn’t have a conventional job The entrepreneurial practice of finding a gap to fill and how therapists are actually at an advantage The strengths that therapists bring to their work How therapists can miss opportunities due to fear or lack of confidence How to find your passion and what you need to share When comparison can hold us back How we can find needs in our communities, and figuring out The Four Types of Entrepreneurs and the strengths of each The need for transparency in business and how that impacts therapists How to manage the power dynamic when you are a therapist and have another entrepreneurial pursuit How to talk about determining where clients fit and how to navigate the dual relationships that can develop Mon, 24 Jun 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Creating Opportunities full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Marissa Lawton An interview with Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor, about creating your own business opportunities when you identify a need in your community (or yourself). Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how to identify what type of entrepreneur you are, how to identify opportunities, and what to consider when adding these businesses to your therapy practice.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor and Scaling Strategist for the Solo-Therapist Marissa Lawton is a licensed counselor, national board-certified counselor, and member of the American Counseling Association. She is also a corporate-trained marketer, girlmom, and brand whisperer who lights up walking solo-therapists through aligned business building strategies. Marissa is the creator of Side Hustle Support Group, a 6-month mentorship that helps therapists capitalize on their experience and education and pair it with their innate stories and superpowers to scale both themselves and their practices through online income. Her upcoming program, Baby Steps Beyond the Couch, teaches her 90-day methodology for therapists to make their first recurring $1000 in non-clinical revenue. Opening them up to the world of possibilities beyond seeing 1:1 clients. You can learn more about Marissa at marissalawton.com In this episode we talk about: Marissa’s background in corporate finance What happened for Marissa when Lehman Brothers died and her husband was stationed in the middle of nowhere Alaska How Marissa recreated herself when it became clear that she couldn’t have a conventional job The entrepreneurial practice of finding a gap to fill and how therapists are actually at an advantage The strengths that therapists bring to their work How therapists can miss opportunities due to fear or lack of confidence How to find your passion and what you need to share When comparison can hold us back How we can find needs in our communities, and figuring out The Four Types of Entrepreneurs and the strengths of each The need for transparency in business and how that impacts therapists How to manage the power dynamic when you are a therapist and have another entrepreneurial pursuit How to talk about determining where clients fit and how to navigate the dual relationships that can develop An interview with Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor, about creating your own business opportunities when you identify a need in your community (or yourself). Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how to identify what type of entrepreneur you are, how to identify opportunities, and what to consider when adding these businesses to your therapy practice.

 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor and Scaling Strategist for the Solo-Therapist

Marissa Lawton is a licensed counselor, national board-certified counselor, and member of the American Counseling Association. She is also a corporate-trained marketer, girlmom, and brand whisperer who lights up walking solo-therapists through aligned business building strategies. Marissa is the creator of Side Hustle Support Group, a 6-month mentorship that helps therapists capitalize on their experience and education and pair it with their innate stories and superpowers to scale both themselves and their practices through online income.

Her upcoming program, Baby Steps Beyond the Couch, teaches her 90-day methodology for therapists to make their first recurring $1000 in non-clinical revenue. Opening them up to the world of possibilities beyond seeing 1:1 clients. You can learn more about Marissa at marissalawton.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • Marissa’s background in corporate finance
  • What happened for Marissa when Lehman Brothers died and her husband was stationed in the middle of nowhere Alaska
  • How Marissa recreated herself when it became clear that she couldn’t have a conventional job
  • The entrepreneurial practice of finding a gap to fill and how therapists are actually at an advantage
  • The strengths that therapists bring to their work
  • How therapists can miss opportunities due to fear or lack of confidence
  • How to find your passion and what you need to share
  • When comparison can hold us back
  • How we can find needs in our communities, and figuring out
  • The Four Types of Entrepreneurs and the strengths of each
  • The need for transparency in business and how that impacts therapists
  • How to manage the power dynamic when you are a therapist and have another entrepreneurial pursuit
  • How to talk about determining where clients fit and how to navigate the dual relationships that can develop
]]> 2177 no Off-Duty Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/off-duty-therapist Curt and Katie talk about how therapists can be called into action in their off time. We look at how being a therapist can impact our relationships, how to put boundaries around your therapist role, and the risks of crossing boundaries between personal and professional roles with your friends and family members.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The different things that therapists might complain about with their therapist friends How to identify what role you play with the people in your life How to not do therapy with your friends or others who are seeking “free therapy” Limit-setting, navigating your loved one’s needs Becoming a resource, not a therapist Giving referrals, supporting connection Specific tactics about how to avoid being the “counselor” for your friends and family members The importance of empowering the people around you to soothe themselves When it is hard to take off the therapist hat Determining how you engage, what emotional energy you have to give after a therapy day When you may decide to step across the line Determining which role your friend or family member actually want you to play How perspective-taking can start irritating the people in our lives and may even lead to you losing your sense of self and identity The expectations that others can have of us How to set the boundaries with your friends and family members The impact of how the role we played in our family of origin can mean a bit role shift after we train to be a therapist How being an emotional hub can impact you as a therapist in the room When it is okay to use some of your therapist skills in your relationships How compassion fatigue and bias can make you a less empathic to your loved ones Mon, 17 Jun 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Off-Duty Therapist full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how therapists handle relationships in their off time Curt and Katie talk about how therapists can be called into action in their off time. We look at how being a therapist can impact our relationships, how to put boundaries around your therapist role, and the risks of crossing boundaries between personal and professional roles with your friends and family members.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The different things that therapists might complain about with their therapist friends How to identify what role you play with the people in your life How to not do therapy with your friends or others who are seeking “free therapy” Limit-setting, navigating your loved one’s needs Becoming a resource, not a therapist Giving referrals, supporting connection Specific tactics about how to avoid being the “counselor” for your friends and family members The importance of empowering the people around you to soothe themselves When it is hard to take off the therapist hat Determining how you engage, what emotional energy you have to give after a therapy day When you may decide to step across the line Determining which role your friend or family member actually want you to play How perspective-taking can start irritating the people in our lives and may even lead to you losing your sense of self and identity The expectations that others can have of us How to set the boundaries with your friends and family members The impact of how the role we played in our family of origin can mean a bit role shift after we train to be a therapist How being an emotional hub can impact you as a therapist in the room When it is okay to use some of your therapist skills in your relationships How compassion fatigue and bias can make you a less empathic to your loved ones Curt and Katie talk about how therapists can be called into action in their off time. We look at how being a therapist can impact our relationships, how to put boundaries around your therapist role, and the risks of crossing boundaries between personal and professional roles with your friends and family members.    

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The different things that therapists might complain about with their therapist friends
  • How to identify what role you play with the people in your life
  • How to not do therapy with your friends or others who are seeking “free therapy”
  • Limit-setting, navigating your loved one’s needs
  • Becoming a resource, not a therapist
  • Giving referrals, supporting connection
  • Specific tactics about how to avoid being the “counselor” for your friends and family members
  • The importance of empowering the people around you to soothe themselves
  • When it is hard to take off the therapist hat
  • Determining how you engage, what emotional energy you have to give after a therapy day
  • When you may decide to step across the line
  • Determining which role your friend or family member actually want you to play
  • How perspective-taking can start irritating the people in our lives and may even lead to you losing your sense of self and identity
  • The expectations that others can have of us
  • How to set the boundaries with your friends and family members
  • The impact of how the role we played in our family of origin can mean a bit role shift after we train to be a therapist
  • How being an emotional hub can impact you as a therapist in the room
  • When it is okay to use some of your therapist skills in your relationships
  • How compassion fatigue and bias can make you a less empathic to your loved ones
]]> 1855 no Death, Dying, and Grief https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/death-dying-and-grief An interview with Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW about how we have been trained to handle grief wrong. Curt and Katie talk with Jill about what the Kubler-Ross model is useful for (and what it’s not) as well has how therapists can better deal with grief – for themselves and in their practice.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jill A. Johnson-Young, LCSW, Grief educator, and CEO of Central Counseling Services of Riverside and Murrieta Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW is a dynamic and engaging presenter. She is consistently noted for providing thorough and useful information to meet the needs of the audience. Professional and community seminars have returned reviews thanking her for being the best seminar of the conference, for being personable and including questions from the participants, and for both the lecture content and the interactive portions of the programs. Jill is available for presentations about the following issues: Grief and loss: all ages, all kinds of losses (pets, family, friends, chronic illness and sudden losses, hospice and what to expect, new ways to see grief, coping, how loss impacts the grieving person, others) Dementia: Losses, involved, coping for those with dementia and those impacted by it, recovery after a loss form dementia, family dynamics in coping with dementia When she is not out speaking, which is one of Jill’s favorite parts of her career, she is the CEO and Clinical Director of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California. She is a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator and specializes her private practice work in grief and loss, dementia, trauma, and adoption issues. She has more than a decade of experience with hospice and trains therapists and social workers in areas that include correctly treating childhood trauma, grief and loss, and dementia care. She holds a BA from UC Riverside and her MSW from the University of South Florida. In this episode we talk about: Jill’s story and how she has been nicknamed the grief whisperer, the rebellious widow, and a black widow and how she is a grief rebel disruptor How Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is used incorrectly – it was designed for anticipatory grief The “common knowledge” about grief that is not really common knowledge How our society commonly avoids death, dying, and grief – even therapists are afraid of funerals What normalizing death can do to help your clients, especially children The importance of integrating a lost loved one into your sense of self The unexpected consequences of grief Physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational effects of grief Therapists’ responsibility when treating a griever The concept of reconstructing your life after a loss The differences between typical loss and traumatic loss How people grieve differently, especially related to roles, development, family dynamics Why to pull back from deifying the dead How therapists can handle when their own grief comes up with grieving clients What therapists (and all people) do wrong when interacting with a griever How celebrities dying can impact our clients Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:17:00 -0000 Death, Dying, and Grief full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Jill johnson-Young, LCSW An interview with Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW about how we have been trained to handle grief wrong. Curt and Katie talk with Jill about what the Kubler-Ross model is useful for (and what it’s not) as well has how therapists can better deal with grief – for themselves and in their practice.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jill A. Johnson-Young, LCSW, Grief educator, and CEO of Central Counseling Services of Riverside and Murrieta Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW is a dynamic and engaging presenter. She is consistently noted for providing thorough and useful information to meet the needs of the audience. Professional and community seminars have returned reviews thanking her for being the best seminar of the conference, for being personable and including questions from the participants, and for both the lecture content and the interactive portions of the programs. Jill is available for presentations about the following issues: Grief and loss: all ages, all kinds of losses (pets, family, friends, chronic illness and sudden losses, hospice and what to expect, new ways to see grief, coping, how loss impacts the grieving person, others) Dementia: Losses, involved, coping for those with dementia and those impacted by it, recovery after a loss form dementia, family dynamics in coping with dementia When she is not out speaking, which is one of Jill’s favorite parts of her career, she is the CEO and Clinical Director of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California. She is a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator and specializes her private practice work in grief and loss, dementia, trauma, and adoption issues. She has more than a decade of experience with hospice and trains therapists and social workers in areas that include correctly treating childhood trauma, grief and loss, and dementia care. She holds a BA from UC Riverside and her MSW from the University of South Florida. In this episode we talk about: Jill’s story and how she has been nicknamed the grief whisperer, the rebellious widow, and a black widow and how she is a grief rebel disruptor How Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is used incorrectly – it was designed for anticipatory grief The “common knowledge” about grief that is not really common knowledge How our society commonly avoids death, dying, and grief – even therapists are afraid of funerals What normalizing death can do to help your clients, especially children The importance of integrating a lost loved one into your sense of self The unexpected consequences of grief Physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational effects of grief Therapists’ responsibility when treating a griever The concept of reconstructing your life after a loss The differences between typical loss and traumatic loss How people grieve differently, especially related to roles, development, family dynamics Why to pull back from deifying the dead How therapists can handle when their own grief comes up with grieving clients What therapists (and all people) do wrong when interacting with a griever How celebrities dying can impact our clients An interview with Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW about how we have been trained to handle grief wrong. Curt and Katie talk with Jill about what the Kubler-Ross model is useful for (and what it’s not) as well has how therapists can better deal with grief – for themselves and in their practice.

 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Jill A. Johnson-Young, LCSW, Grief educator, and CEO of Central Counseling Services of Riverside and Murrieta

Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW is a dynamic and engaging presenter. She is consistently noted for providing thorough and useful information to meet the needs of the audience. Professional and community seminars have returned reviews thanking her for being the best seminar of the conference, for being personable and including questions from the participants, and for both the lecture content and the interactive portions of the programs. Jill is available for presentations about the following issues:

  • Grief and loss: all ages, all kinds of losses (pets, family, friends, chronic illness and sudden losses, hospice and what to expect, new ways to see grief, coping, how loss impacts the grieving person, others)
  • Dementia: Losses, involved, coping for those with dementia and those impacted by it, recovery after a loss form dementia, family dynamics in coping with dementia

When she is not out speaking, which is one of Jill’s favorite parts of her career, she is the CEO and Clinical Director of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California. She is a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator and specializes her private practice work in grief and loss, dementia, trauma, and adoption issues. She has more than a decade of experience with hospice and trains therapists and social workers in areas that include correctly treating childhood trauma, grief and loss, and dementia care. She holds a BA from UC Riverside and her MSW from the University of South Florida.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Jill’s story and how she has been nicknamed the grief whisperer, the rebellious widow, and a black widow and how she is a grief rebel disruptor
  • How Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is used incorrectly – it was designed for anticipatory grief
  • The “common knowledge” about grief that is not really common knowledge
  • How our society commonly avoids death, dying, and grief – even therapists are afraid of funerals
  • What normalizing death can do to help your clients, especially children
  • The importance of integrating a lost loved one into your sense of self
  • The unexpected consequences of grief
  • Physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational effects of grief
  • Therapists’ responsibility when treating a griever
  • The concept of reconstructing your life after a loss
  • The differences between typical loss and traumatic loss
  • How people grieve differently, especially related to roles, development, family dynamics
  • Why to pull back from deifying the dead
  • How therapists can handle when their own grief comes up with grieving clients
  • What therapists (and all people) do wrong when interacting with a griever
  • How celebrities dying can impact our clients
]]> 2261 no Interdisciplinary Teams https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/interdisciplinary-teams Curt and Katie talk about treatment teaming as a therapist. We look at why you should do it, things to consider, and what it looks like in different settings.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Treatment teams as the most effective way to work with clients The education gap for people related to creating treatment teams The difficulty with the model of the therapist being the primary agent for change The different roles of treatment team members, especially as a therapist The distinction between diagnosis for medical necessity and for the clinical case conceptualization Specific things related to working with psychiatrists The challenge related to perceived hierarchy within the profession The value of having a treatment team leader and how to identify who should be the leader The importance of having a lot of information and additional perspectives The scope of practice considerations and how to talk with someone who has a different scope Fragmented communication within treatment teams Community Mental Health programs that require treatment teaming The different way that we set up a treatment teams when we’re in private practice Confidentiality and communication concerns when treatment teaming How to interact with the other team members The educational considerations related to treatment teaming The “mercenary” reason to do treatment teaming Our Generous Sponsor: Therapy Reimagined 2019: The Modern Therapist Conference presented by SimplePractice October 18 and 19th in Universal City, CA – Hang out with the cool #moderntherapists! We are sponsoring our own podcast because we are so excited about the conference! Grab your continuing education for the year and get trained up on business building, diversity, technology, self-care and all-around amazing professional development this October! Come join us in-person for the same fun we bring to the podcast!! Use the promo code MTSG50 to get $50 off your full conference ticket. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Wraparound Services within Community Mental Health Article: Hoge MA, Morris J, Daniels A, et al. (2007). An Action Plan on Behavioral Health Workforce Development. Rockville, Md, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration   Relevant Episodes: In-Person Networking   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/     Mon, 03 Jun 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Interdisciplinary Teams full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about treatment teaming as a therapist Curt and Katie talk about treatment teaming as a therapist. We look at why you should do it, things to consider, and what it looks like in different settings.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Treatment teams as the most effective way to work with clients The education gap for people related to creating treatment teams The difficulty with the model of the therapist being the primary agent for change The different roles of treatment team members, especially as a therapist The distinction between diagnosis for medical necessity and for the clinical case conceptualization Specific things related to working with psychiatrists The challenge related to perceived hierarchy within the profession The value of having a treatment team leader and how to identify who should be the leader The importance of having a lot of information and additional perspectives The scope of practice considerations and how to talk with someone who has a different scope Fragmented communication within treatment teams Community Mental Health programs that require treatment teaming The different way that we set up a treatment teams when we’re in private practice Confidentiality and communication concerns when treatment teaming How to interact with the other team members The educational considerations related to treatment teaming The “mercenary” reason to do treatment teaming Our Generous Sponsor: Therapy Reimagined 2019: The Modern Therapist Conference presented by SimplePractice October 18 and 19th in Universal City, CA – Hang out with the cool #moderntherapists! We are sponsoring our own podcast because we are so excited about the conference! Grab your continuing education for the year and get trained up on business building, diversity, technology, self-care and all-around amazing professional development this October! Come join us in-person for the same fun we bring to the podcast!! Use the promo code MTSG50 to get $50 off your full conference ticket. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Wraparound Services within Community Mental Health Article: Hoge MA, Morris J, Daniels A, et al. (2007). An Action Plan on Behavioral Health Workforce Development. Rockville, Md, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration   Relevant Episodes: In-Person Networking   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/     Curt and Katie talk about treatment teaming as a therapist. We look at why you should do it, things to consider, and what it looks like in different settings.     

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Treatment teams as the most effective way to work with clients
  • The education gap for people related to creating treatment teams
  • The difficulty with the model of the therapist being the primary agent for change
  • The different roles of treatment team members, especially as a therapist
  • The distinction between diagnosis for medical necessity and for the clinical case conceptualization
  • Specific things related to working with psychiatrists
  • The challenge related to perceived hierarchy within the profession
  • The value of having a treatment team leader and how to identify who should be the leader
  • The importance of having a lot of information and additional perspectives
  • The scope of practice considerations and how to talk with someone who has a different scope
  • Fragmented communication within treatment teams
  • Community Mental Health programs that require treatment teaming
  • The different way that we set up a treatment teams when we’re in private practice
  • Confidentiality and communication concerns when treatment teaming
  • How to interact with the other team members
  • The educational considerations related to treatment teaming
  • The “mercenary” reason to do treatment teaming

Our Generous Sponsor:

Therapy Reimagined 2019: The Modern Therapist Conference presented by SimplePractice

October 18 and 19th in Universal City, CA – Hang out with the cool #moderntherapists! We are sponsoring our own podcast because we are so excited about the conference!

Grab your continuing education for the year and get trained up on business building, diversity, technology, self-care and all-around amazing professional development this October! Come join us in-person for the same fun we bring to the podcast!!

Use the promo code MTSG50 to get $50 off your full conference ticket.

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Wraparound Services within Community Mental Health

Article: Hoge MA, Morris J, Daniels A, et al. (2007). An Action Plan on Behavioral Health Workforce Development. Rockville, Md, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

 

Relevant Episodes:

In-Person Networking

 

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

 

]]> 2342 no Field-Based Private Practice https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/field-based-private-practice An interview Megan Costello, LMFT on taking the best of Community Mental Health into your private practice. Curt and Katie interview Megan about her very successful private practice that is 100% home and field-based. They talk about how to a field-based practice works, including practical considerations. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Megan Costello, LMFT Megan Costello, LMFT, is a person-centered behaviorist providing in-home counseling for families in Los Angeles. Megan has provided services to clients in their homes or the community for almost 15 years. Megan started her career as a behavioral technician, providing behavioral therapy under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) before she moved into a supervisory role for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) cases (both in- home and school-based cases). Megan continued this work as she obtained her Masters of Science in Counseling at California State University, Long Beach. Megan then added clinical work in community mental health, providing specialized support to children on the autism spectrum with trauma histories. When Megan moved into private practice, she incorporated the best of the in-home and behavioral interventions into her treatment model. She brings practical advice and strategies to her clinical work, providing specialized, comprehensive treatment to higher needs or atypical cases.   In this episode we talk about: Megan’s perspective and a new model for private practice How to make applied behavioral analysis more person-centered The value of being relentlessly client-centered and doing the highest impact work, regardless of how convenient to the therapist The types of clients who would benefit more from in-home and school-based therapy The benefits of in-home therapy over in-office therapy The need to price your services accordingly How to create an office in your car How to manage your scheduling The unique challenges of working in the home, looking at confidentiality, family involvement The model that requires family and parent involvement Safety assessments prior to going out to the home How to assess over the phone prior to starting home-based treatment Getting parent buy-in for active involvement in treatment for their child   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Megan’s website: https://www.megcostello.com/ Megan’s consultation: https://www.megcostello.com/consulting AND WE HAVE A PICTURE OF MEGAN'S TRUNK ON THE WEBSITE!    The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019 Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 27 May 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Field-Based Private Practice full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Megan Costello, LMFT An interview Megan Costello, LMFT on taking the best of Community Mental Health into your private practice. Curt and Katie interview Megan about her very successful private practice that is 100% home and field-based. They talk about how to a field-based practice works, including practical considerations. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Megan Costello, LMFT Megan Costello, LMFT, is a person-centered behaviorist providing in-home counseling for families in Los Angeles. Megan has provided services to clients in their homes or the community for almost 15 years. Megan started her career as a behavioral technician, providing behavioral therapy under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) before she moved into a supervisory role for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) cases (both in- home and school-based cases). Megan continued this work as she obtained her Masters of Science in Counseling at California State University, Long Beach. Megan then added clinical work in community mental health, providing specialized support to children on the autism spectrum with trauma histories. When Megan moved into private practice, she incorporated the best of the in-home and behavioral interventions into her treatment model. She brings practical advice and strategies to her clinical work, providing specialized, comprehensive treatment to higher needs or atypical cases.   In this episode we talk about: Megan’s perspective and a new model for private practice How to make applied behavioral analysis more person-centered The value of being relentlessly client-centered and doing the highest impact work, regardless of how convenient to the therapist The types of clients who would benefit more from in-home and school-based therapy The benefits of in-home therapy over in-office therapy The need to price your services accordingly How to create an office in your car How to manage your scheduling The unique challenges of working in the home, looking at confidentiality, family involvement The model that requires family and parent involvement Safety assessments prior to going out to the home How to assess over the phone prior to starting home-based treatment Getting parent buy-in for active involvement in treatment for their child   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Megan’s website: https://www.megcostello.com/ Megan’s consultation: https://www.megcostello.com/consulting AND WE HAVE A PICTURE OF MEGAN'S TRUNK ON THE WEBSITE!    The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019 Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   An interview Megan Costello, LMFT on taking the best of Community Mental Health into your private practice. Curt and Katie interview Megan about her very successful private practice that is 100% home and field-based. They talk about how to a field-based practice works, including practical considerations.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Megan Costello, LMFT

Megan Costello, LMFT, is a person-centered behaviorist providing in-home counseling for families in Los Angeles. Megan has provided services to clients in their homes or the community for almost 15 years. Megan started her career as a behavioral technician, providing behavioral therapy under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) before she moved into a supervisory role for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) cases (both in- home and school-based cases). Megan continued this work as she obtained her Masters of Science in Counseling at California State University, Long Beach. Megan then added clinical work in community mental health, providing specialized support to children on the autism spectrum with trauma histories. When Megan moved into private practice, she incorporated the best of the in-home and behavioral interventions into her treatment model. She brings practical advice and strategies to her clinical work, providing specialized, comprehensive treatment to higher needs or atypical cases.

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Megan’s perspective and a new model for private practice
  • How to make applied behavioral analysis more person-centered
  • The value of being relentlessly client-centered and doing the highest impact work, regardless of how convenient to the therapist
  • The types of clients who would benefit more from in-home and school-based therapy
  • The benefits of in-home therapy over in-office therapy
  • The need to price your services accordingly
  • How to create an office in your car
  • How to manage your scheduling
  • The unique challenges of working in the home, looking at confidentiality, family involvement
  • The model that requires family and parent involvement
  • Safety assessments prior to going out to the home
  • How to assess over the phone prior to starting home-based treatment
  • Getting parent buy-in for active involvement in treatment for their child

 

Relevant Resources:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:

Megan’s website: https://www.megcostello.com/

Megan’s consultation: https://www.megcostello.com/consulting

AND WE HAVE A PICTURE OF MEGAN'S TRUNK ON THE WEBSITE! 

 

The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook

Therapy Reimagined 2019

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2289 no It's About Time https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/its-about-time Curt and Katie talk about how we value our time, looking at time when we are generating revenue AND the time when we are not generating revenue.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The initial conversations about time: Curt’s FB post, Jo Muirhead’s Article Philosophical musings about the value of time Podcastception: a podcast sparked by a blog post which was sparked by one of our Facebook posts The value of client hours above other hours How to value non-revenue time The types of non-revenue generating time Valuing time in different ways The importance of self-care hours for many of our listeners and the lesser value that Curt places on these type of hours Decision-making when looking at whether hiring someone to do work for your business The different types of time (self-care, self-maintenance, rest, creative, content creation, work time, maintenance, etc.) and the different types of return on investment for those types (monetary, increased efficiency, positioning, strategic advantage, fulfillment, meaning, purpose, sustainability, quality of life, mission-driven, connection, etc.) The importance of balancing these types of time to avoid burnout or washout The unique return of investment for each person Future-proofing your work (being able to plan for sustained work and retirement) Looking at your whole career when you think about how you do your work Burnout or moral injury as risks for clinicians  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Curt’s Facebook Post on the value we place on time Jo Muirhead’s Blog Post: What if Our Time Isn’t Valued in Monetary Terms James Clear Blog on How to Track Money and Time Daniel Pink’s book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing   Relevant Episodes: Jo Muirhead’s Podcast Episode: Clinician and Entrepreuner Howard Spector’s Episode: Investing in Yourself as an Entrepreneur   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/     Mon, 20 May 2019 07:00:00 -0000 It's About Time full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how we value our time Curt and Katie talk about how we value our time, looking at time when we are generating revenue AND the time when we are not generating revenue.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The initial conversations about time: Curt’s FB post, Jo Muirhead’s Article Philosophical musings about the value of time Podcastception: a podcast sparked by a blog post which was sparked by one of our Facebook posts The value of client hours above other hours How to value non-revenue time The types of non-revenue generating time Valuing time in different ways The importance of self-care hours for many of our listeners and the lesser value that Curt places on these type of hours Decision-making when looking at whether hiring someone to do work for your business The different types of time (self-care, self-maintenance, rest, creative, content creation, work time, maintenance, etc.) and the different types of return on investment for those types (monetary, increased efficiency, positioning, strategic advantage, fulfillment, meaning, purpose, sustainability, quality of life, mission-driven, connection, etc.) The importance of balancing these types of time to avoid burnout or washout The unique return of investment for each person Future-proofing your work (being able to plan for sustained work and retirement) Looking at your whole career when you think about how you do your work Burnout or moral injury as risks for clinicians  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Curt’s Facebook Post on the value we place on time Jo Muirhead’s Blog Post: What if Our Time Isn’t Valued in Monetary Terms James Clear Blog on How to Track Money and Time Daniel Pink’s book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing   Relevant Episodes: Jo Muirhead’s Podcast Episode: Clinician and Entrepreuner Howard Spector’s Episode: Investing in Yourself as an Entrepreneur   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019  Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/     Curt and Katie talk about how we value our time, looking at time when we are generating revenue AND the time when we are not generating revenue.    

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The initial conversations about time: Curt’s FB post, Jo Muirhead’s Article
  • Philosophical musings about the value of time
  • Podcastception: a podcast sparked by a blog post which was sparked by one of our Facebook posts
  • The value of client hours above other hours
  • How to value non-revenue time
  • The types of non-revenue generating time
  • Valuing time in different ways
  • The importance of self-care hours for many of our listeners and the lesser value that Curt places on these type of hours
  • Decision-making when looking at whether hiring someone to do work for your business
  • The different types of time (self-care, self-maintenance, rest, creative, content creation, work time, maintenance, etc.) and the different types of return on investment for those types (monetary, increased efficiency, positioning, strategic advantage, fulfillment, meaning, purpose, sustainability, quality of life, mission-driven, connection, etc.)
  • The importance of balancing these types of time to avoid burnout or washout
  • The unique return of investment for each person
  • Future-proofing your work (being able to plan for sustained work and retirement)
  • Looking at your whole career when you think about how you do your work
  • Burnout or moral injury as risks for clinicians 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Curt’s Facebook Post on the value we place on time

Jo Muirhead’s Blog Post: What if Our Time Isn’t Valued in Monetary Terms

James Clear Blog on How to Track Money and Time

Daniel Pink’s book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing

 

Relevant Episodes:

Jo Muirhead’s Podcast Episode: Clinician and Entrepreuner

Howard Spector’s Episode: Investing in Yourself as an Entrepreneur

 

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

 

]]> 2019 no Health At Every Size https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/health-at-every-size An interview Laura Westmoreland, LMFT on addressing body bias, body shaming, and health at every size (HAES) in therapy. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the common mistakes that therapists make when working with clients living in larger bodies. Interview with Laura Westmoreland, LMFT Laura Westmoreland, LMFT identifies as a white woman living in a larger body, cisgender, straight, and able-bodied; her pronouns are she/her. She acknowledges that she has white privilege. She works with individuals, couples, and families who want to explore what is holding them back from leading the life they desire; both personally and professionally. The key to her work is the relationship developed. Together with her clients, she can create a brave space; a brave space requires stepping out of your comfort zone, risking vulnerability, and being curious. Laura believes... what we struggle with provides insight and can help us grow connection is key; reciprocal relationships require effort regularly engaging in pleasurable activities fosters joy and happiness in nourishing mind, body, and soul that self-compassion is vital to wellbeing all bodies are good bodies   In this episode we talk about: The importance of inclusion related to body diversity What body bias looks like in a therapist office Health At Every Size (HAES) The challenges of living in a larger body The war on obesity and walking into a war zone The medicalization of body diversity with words like “overweight” and the pathologizing of different bodies The danger of colluding with the diet culture The controversy that exists within the eating disorder community related to HAES Focusing on the client’s lived experience, rather than the societal expectations Sorting through when larger bodies suggest symptomology of a mental health or trauma concern versus when someone is healthy in a larger body Showing curiosity around what “feeling fat” means, rather than suggesting a diet or fix The danger of prescribing to people living in larger bodies what we would treat in eating disorder clients (i.e., restriction) How a clinician’s body bias can negatively impact treatment efficacy Intuitive eating – paying attention to hunger and satiety cues Joyful movement, rather than trudging to the gym The importance of finding your healthy practices Assessment best practices Harvard Implicit Bias Tests The different biases that Curt and Katie hold around body sizes Bias and microaggressions that can show up in the therapist office What therapists can look for when assessing whether clients feel comfortable in their own bodies   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Laura Westmoreland’s Website FB: Laura Westmoreland Lmft IG: haes_therapist_in_la Twitter: @haestherapistla Intuitive Eating Website Be Nourished Jeffery Hunger’s Publication Harvard Implicit Bias Tests (Association for Size Diversity and Health) ASDAH  Dr, Vincent Felitti talks about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019 Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 13 May 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Health At Every Size full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview Laura Westmoreland, LMFT An interview Laura Westmoreland, LMFT on addressing body bias, body shaming, and health at every size (HAES) in therapy. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the common mistakes that therapists make when working with clients living in larger bodies. Interview with Laura Westmoreland, LMFT Laura Westmoreland, LMFT identifies as a white woman living in a larger body, cisgender, straight, and able-bodied; her pronouns are she/her. She acknowledges that she has white privilege. She works with individuals, couples, and families who want to explore what is holding them back from leading the life they desire; both personally and professionally. The key to her work is the relationship developed. Together with her clients, she can create a brave space; a brave space requires stepping out of your comfort zone, risking vulnerability, and being curious. Laura believes... what we struggle with provides insight and can help us grow connection is key; reciprocal relationships require effort regularly engaging in pleasurable activities fosters joy and happiness in nourishing mind, body, and soul that self-compassion is vital to wellbeing all bodies are good bodies   In this episode we talk about: The importance of inclusion related to body diversity What body bias looks like in a therapist office Health At Every Size (HAES) The challenges of living in a larger body The war on obesity and walking into a war zone The medicalization of body diversity with words like “overweight” and the pathologizing of different bodies The danger of colluding with the diet culture The controversy that exists within the eating disorder community related to HAES Focusing on the client’s lived experience, rather than the societal expectations Sorting through when larger bodies suggest symptomology of a mental health or trauma concern versus when someone is healthy in a larger body Showing curiosity around what “feeling fat” means, rather than suggesting a diet or fix The danger of prescribing to people living in larger bodies what we would treat in eating disorder clients (i.e., restriction) How a clinician’s body bias can negatively impact treatment efficacy Intuitive eating – paying attention to hunger and satiety cues Joyful movement, rather than trudging to the gym The importance of finding your healthy practices Assessment best practices Harvard Implicit Bias Tests The different biases that Curt and Katie hold around body sizes Bias and microaggressions that can show up in the therapist office What therapists can look for when assessing whether clients feel comfortable in their own bodies   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Laura Westmoreland’s Website FB: Laura Westmoreland Lmft IG: haes_therapist_in_la Twitter: @haestherapistla Intuitive Eating Website Be Nourished Jeffery Hunger’s Publication Harvard Implicit Bias Tests (Association for Size Diversity and Health) ASDAH  Dr, Vincent Felitti talks about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019 Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview Laura Westmoreland, LMFT on addressing body bias, body shaming, and health at every size (HAES) in therapy. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the common mistakes that therapists make when working with clients living in larger bodies.

Interview with Laura Westmoreland, LMFT

Laura Westmoreland, LMFT identifies as a white woman living in a larger body, cisgender, straight, and able-bodied; her pronouns are she/her. She acknowledges that she has white privilege.

She works with individuals, couples, and families who want to explore what is holding them back from leading the life they desire; both personally and professionally. The key to her work is the relationship developed. Together with her clients, she can create a brave space; a brave space requires stepping out of your comfort zone, risking vulnerability, and being curious.

Laura believes...

  • what we struggle with provides insight and can help us grow
  • connection is key; reciprocal relationships require effort
  • regularly engaging in pleasurable activities fosters joy and happiness
  • in nourishing mind, body, and soul
  • that self-compassion is vital to wellbeing
  • all bodies are good bodies

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • The importance of inclusion related to body diversity
  • What body bias looks like in a therapist office
  • Health At Every Size (HAES)
  • The challenges of living in a larger body
  • The war on obesity and walking into a war zone
  • The medicalization of body diversity with words like “overweight” and the pathologizing of different bodies
  • The danger of colluding with the diet culture
  • The controversy that exists within the eating disorder community related to HAES
  • Focusing on the client’s lived experience, rather than the societal expectations
  • Sorting through when larger bodies suggest symptomology of a mental health or trauma concern versus when someone is healthy in a larger body
  • Showing curiosity around what “feeling fat” means, rather than suggesting a diet or fix
  • The danger of prescribing to people living in larger bodies what we would treat in eating disorder clients (i.e., restriction)
  • How a clinician’s body bias can negatively impact treatment efficacy
  • Intuitive eating – paying attention to hunger and satiety cues
  • Joyful movement, rather than trudging to the gym
  • The importance of finding your healthy practices
  • Assessment best practices
  • Harvard Implicit Bias Tests
  • The different biases that Curt and Katie hold around body sizes
  • Bias and microaggressions that can show up in the therapist office
  • What therapists can look for when assessing whether clients feel comfortable in their own bodies

 

Relevant Resources:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:

Laura Westmoreland’s Website

FB: Laura Westmoreland Lmft

IG: haes_therapist_in_la

Twitter: @haestherapistla

Intuitive Eating Website

Be Nourished

Jeffery Hunger’s Publication

Harvard Implicit Bias Tests

(Association for Size Diversity and Health) ASDAH

 Dr, Vincent Felitti talks about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study

The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook

Therapy Reimagined 2019

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2131 no Is CBT Crap? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/is-cbt-crap Curt and Katie talk about evidence-based practices, clinician training, and when even the evidence base can go wrong.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How we know better than the evidence The need for evidence-based practice in community mental health Funding, efficiency, and diagnosis The difference between the clientele in public mental health and private practice Evidence-based practices pros and cons The science, the efficacy, replicability of EBPs The pros and cons of EBPs in community mental health The need to include individual factors in EBPs EBPs versus relational style (and how they may not be mutually exclusive) The question about personality characteristics of CBT therapists The opinion about rapport being missing from EBPs How training jumps to EBP, to the detriment of the relationship The problem with people who overuse or oversimplify the need for each orientation Strong clinical orientation versus the “eclectic” or “integrative” psychotherapy The Medical Model The challenge of training therapists in relational skills and how to be a better therapist, rather than teaching specific handful of skills The importance of proving efficacy, getting funding for services Treatment decision-making and collaboration in public mental health versus private practice The complexity of actual clients and the need for more than just one EBP to use for treatment The problems with new clinician training related to EBPs Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Dr. Scott Miller: Feedback Informed Treatment Dr. Ben Caldwell Modern Community Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Approach by Kenneth Yeager, David Cutler, Dale Svendsen, and Grayce M. Sills   Relevant Episodes: Therapist Know Thyself Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019 Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!!   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 06 May 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Is CBT Crap? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about evidence-based practices Curt and Katie talk about evidence-based practices, clinician training, and when even the evidence base can go wrong.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How we know better than the evidence The need for evidence-based practice in community mental health Funding, efficiency, and diagnosis The difference between the clientele in public mental health and private practice Evidence-based practices pros and cons The science, the efficacy, replicability of EBPs The pros and cons of EBPs in community mental health The need to include individual factors in EBPs EBPs versus relational style (and how they may not be mutually exclusive) The question about personality characteristics of CBT therapists The opinion about rapport being missing from EBPs How training jumps to EBP, to the detriment of the relationship The problem with people who overuse or oversimplify the need for each orientation Strong clinical orientation versus the “eclectic” or “integrative” psychotherapy The Medical Model The challenge of training therapists in relational skills and how to be a better therapist, rather than teaching specific handful of skills The importance of proving efficacy, getting funding for services Treatment decision-making and collaboration in public mental health versus private practice The complexity of actual clients and the need for more than just one EBP to use for treatment The problems with new clinician training related to EBPs Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Dr. Scott Miller: Feedback Informed Treatment Dr. Ben Caldwell Modern Community Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Approach by Kenneth Yeager, David Cutler, Dale Svendsen, and Grayce M. Sills   Relevant Episodes: Therapist Know Thyself Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019 Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!!   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Curt and Katie talk about evidence-based practices, clinician training, and when even the evidence base can go wrong.    

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How we know better than the evidence
  • The need for evidence-based practice in community mental health
  • Funding, efficiency, and diagnosis
  • The difference between the clientele in public mental health and private practice
  • Evidence-based practices pros and cons
  • The science, the efficacy, replicability of EBPs
  • The pros and cons of EBPs in community mental health
  • The need to include individual factors in EBPs
  • EBPs versus relational style (and how they may not be mutually exclusive)
  • The question about personality characteristics of CBT therapists
  • The opinion about rapport being missing from EBPs
  • How training jumps to EBP, to the detriment of the relationship
  • The problem with people who overuse or oversimplify the need for each orientation
  • Strong clinical orientation versus the “eclectic” or “integrative” psychotherapy
  • The Medical Model
  • The challenge of training therapists in relational skills and how to be a better therapist, rather than teaching specific handful of skills
  • The importance of proving efficacy, getting funding for services
  • Treatment decision-making and collaboration in public mental health versus private practice
  • The complexity of actual clients and the need for more than just one EBP to use for treatment
  • The problems with new clinician training related to EBPs

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Dr. Scott Miller: Feedback Informed Treatment

Dr. Ben Caldwell

Modern Community Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Approach by Kenneth Yeager, David Cutler, Dale Svendsen, and Grayce M. Sills

 

Relevant Episodes:

Therapist Know Thyself

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019

Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!!

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2187 no Neurodivergence https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/neurodivergence An interview Joel Schwartz, PsyD on neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and neurodivergence. Curt and Katie talk with Joel about how often our natural spectrum of neurodiversity is pathologized. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Joel Schwartz, PsyD Dr. Joel Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. He specializes in therapy and testing for the misunderstood. As a therapist, he is warm, compassionate, and strongly humanistic, allowing for all the oddities and unexplored aspects of his clients to emerge and be validated. As a testing psychologist, Dr. Schwartz specializes in difficult and complex cases. Dr. Schwartz grew up in Southern California. He developed an early interest in psychology, strangely enough, from a childhood filled with science fiction stories. These stories often provided fascinating looks into human psychology and the human spirit. Dr. Schwartz attended UCLA as an undergrad where he conducted research in the field of neurolinguistics. From there, he attended Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf School of Clinical Psychology for his Master’s and Doctorate degree. He has worked in various settings including colleges, clinics, a federal prison, and residential treatment centers. Through his experience with a vast array of individuals he has stuck with one important lesson among many; as the psychoanalyst Harry Stack Sullivan said, “We are all more human than otherwise.” In this episode we talk about: The problem of the medical model Looking at neurodiversity as a spectrum and a natural part of life Defining neurodiversity and neurodivergence Looking at differences as okay, and not disordered Traditional versus neurodiversity affirmative practices The strain of compensatory behaviors when one is neurodivergent and trying to fit in Problematic assumptions that do not welcome neurodivergent folks Practical ways to create an office that supports the full spectrum of neurodiversity The importance of clear instructions, options, and sensitivity to the different Radical acceptance The freedom and relief of not having to learn, when everything is explained. The debate about ABA and behavioral interventions The social justice aspects of working with neuro-minorities The importance of representation of neurodivergent people in all aspects of society Autistic people are demanding representation, are consulting, and are acting in roles Looking at the nuance of radical acceptance – when intervention is required, rather than acceptance The problem of behaviorism leading to repression and dissociation Having the goal of decreasing a behavior, shouldn’t be the final goal The problems of having ABA therapists not address their own emotions The problem with having neurotypical people setting goals for neurodivergent people Looking at the invalidation of modifying behaviors How to balance what society will accept as well as validating the person How do we set them up for success, without pathologizing their behavior Self-regulatory behaviors – comparing them to coffee drinking The need to move toward societal change Mon, 29 Apr 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Neurodivergence full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview Joel Schwartz, PsyD An interview Joel Schwartz, PsyD on neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and neurodivergence. Curt and Katie talk with Joel about how often our natural spectrum of neurodiversity is pathologized. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Joel Schwartz, PsyD Dr. Joel Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. He specializes in therapy and testing for the misunderstood. As a therapist, he is warm, compassionate, and strongly humanistic, allowing for all the oddities and unexplored aspects of his clients to emerge and be validated. As a testing psychologist, Dr. Schwartz specializes in difficult and complex cases. Dr. Schwartz grew up in Southern California. He developed an early interest in psychology, strangely enough, from a childhood filled with science fiction stories. These stories often provided fascinating looks into human psychology and the human spirit. Dr. Schwartz attended UCLA as an undergrad where he conducted research in the field of neurolinguistics. From there, he attended Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf School of Clinical Psychology for his Master’s and Doctorate degree. He has worked in various settings including colleges, clinics, a federal prison, and residential treatment centers. Through his experience with a vast array of individuals he has stuck with one important lesson among many; as the psychoanalyst Harry Stack Sullivan said, “We are all more human than otherwise.” In this episode we talk about: The problem of the medical model Looking at neurodiversity as a spectrum and a natural part of life Defining neurodiversity and neurodivergence Looking at differences as okay, and not disordered Traditional versus neurodiversity affirmative practices The strain of compensatory behaviors when one is neurodivergent and trying to fit in Problematic assumptions that do not welcome neurodivergent folks Practical ways to create an office that supports the full spectrum of neurodiversity The importance of clear instructions, options, and sensitivity to the different Radical acceptance The freedom and relief of not having to learn, when everything is explained. The debate about ABA and behavioral interventions The social justice aspects of working with neuro-minorities The importance of representation of neurodivergent people in all aspects of society Autistic people are demanding representation, are consulting, and are acting in roles Looking at the nuance of radical acceptance – when intervention is required, rather than acceptance The problem of behaviorism leading to repression and dissociation Having the goal of decreasing a behavior, shouldn’t be the final goal The problems of having ABA therapists not address their own emotions The problem with having neurotypical people setting goals for neurodivergent people Looking at the invalidation of modifying behaviors How to balance what society will accept as well as validating the person How do we set them up for success, without pathologizing their behavior Self-regulatory behaviors – comparing them to coffee drinking The need to move toward societal change An interview Joel Schwartz, PsyD on neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and neurodivergence. Curt and Katie talk with Joel about how often our natural spectrum of neurodiversity is pathologized.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Joel Schwartz, PsyD

Dr. Joel Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. He specializes in therapy and testing for the misunderstood. As a therapist, he is warm, compassionate, and strongly humanistic, allowing for all the oddities and unexplored aspects of his clients to emerge and be validated. As a testing psychologist, Dr. Schwartz specializes in difficult and complex cases.

Dr. Schwartz grew up in Southern California. He developed an early interest in psychology, strangely enough, from a childhood filled with science fiction stories. These stories often provided fascinating looks into human psychology and the human spirit. Dr. Schwartz attended UCLA as an undergrad where he conducted research in the field of neurolinguistics. From there, he attended Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf School of Clinical Psychology for his Master’s and Doctorate degree. He has worked in various settings including colleges, clinics, a federal prison, and residential treatment centers. Through his experience with a vast array of individuals he has stuck with one important lesson among many; as the psychoanalyst Harry Stack Sullivan said, “We are all more human than otherwise.”

In this episode we talk about:

  • The problem of the medical model
  • Looking at neurodiversity as a spectrum and a natural part of life
  • Defining neurodiversity and neurodivergence
  • Looking at differences as okay, and not disordered
  • Traditional versus neurodiversity affirmative practices
  • The strain of compensatory behaviors when one is neurodivergent and trying to fit in
  • Problematic assumptions that do not welcome neurodivergent folks
  • Practical ways to create an office that supports the full spectrum of neurodiversity
  • The importance of clear instructions, options, and sensitivity to the different
  • Radical acceptance
  • The freedom and relief of not having to learn, when everything is explained.
  • The debate about ABA and behavioral interventions
  • The social justice aspects of working with neuro-minorities
  • The importance of representation of neurodivergent people in all aspects of society
  • Autistic people are demanding representation, are consulting, and are acting in roles
  • Looking at the nuance of radical acceptance – when intervention is required, rather than acceptance
  • The problem of behaviorism leading to repression and dissociation
  • Having the goal of decreasing a behavior, shouldn’t be the final goal
  • The problems of having ABA therapists not address their own emotions
  • The problem with having neurotypical people setting goals for neurodivergent people
  • Looking at the invalidation of modifying behaviors
  • How to balance what society will accept as well as validating the person
  • How do we set them up for success, without pathologizing their behavior
  • Self-regulatory behaviors – comparing them to coffee drinking
  • The need to move toward societal change
]]> 2348 no One Hundred https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/one-hundred Curt and Katie reflect on 100 podcast episodes, what the experience has been like, and where we want to take the podcast next.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How much we appreciate listener connection and feedback Self-reflection on the previous 99 episodes A new hashtag: #teamcurtie Our switch from 2 episodes per week to 1 episode per week How podcasting has improved our speaking and thought processes The impact of hearing from listeners of the podcast at the conference How we recorded and put out the Therapist Safety episodes Our goal to catalyze the diverse voices in our community to stand up How we have made mistakes publicly in order to have healing conversations publicly The level of disclosure we have on the podcast The surprise that our moms aren’t the only people listening every week The way we talk about our profession in order to improve it How we are going to grow and change the podcast What are #moderntherapist conversations (and what are not) Guiding principles of what we’re talking about How we are different from other groups, other podcasts The origin of the podcast as a marketing plan for a conference, and then it evolved into its own thing Relevant Episodes: So You Want to Plan a Conference Therapist Safety Attracted Clients Let’s Talk About Race Again Vulnerability, the News, and You Toxic Work Environments Take Action Like a BOSS Social Media and Video Marketing with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr M.S. LMFT Becoming a Group Practice Owner with Maureen Werrbach Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019 Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!! Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Mon, 22 Apr 2019 07:00:00 -0000 One Hundred full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie reflect on 100 podcast episodes Curt and Katie reflect on 100 podcast episodes, what the experience has been like, and where we want to take the podcast next.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How much we appreciate listener connection and feedback Self-reflection on the previous 99 episodes A new hashtag: #teamcurtie Our switch from 2 episodes per week to 1 episode per week How podcasting has improved our speaking and thought processes The impact of hearing from listeners of the podcast at the conference How we recorded and put out the Therapist Safety episodes Our goal to catalyze the diverse voices in our community to stand up How we have made mistakes publicly in order to have healing conversations publicly The level of disclosure we have on the podcast The surprise that our moms aren’t the only people listening every week The way we talk about our profession in order to improve it How we are going to grow and change the podcast What are #moderntherapist conversations (and what are not) Guiding principles of what we’re talking about How we are different from other groups, other podcasts The origin of the podcast as a marketing plan for a conference, and then it evolved into its own thing Relevant Episodes: So You Want to Plan a Conference Therapist Safety Attracted Clients Let’s Talk About Race Again Vulnerability, the News, and You Toxic Work Environments Take Action Like a BOSS Social Media and Video Marketing with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr M.S. LMFT Becoming a Group Practice Owner with Maureen Werrbach Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019 Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!! Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Curt and Katie reflect on 100 podcast episodes, what the experience has been like, and where we want to take the podcast next.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How much we appreciate listener connection and feedback
  • Self-reflection on the previous 99 episodes
  • A new hashtag: #teamcurtie
  • Our switch from 2 episodes per week to 1 episode per week
  • How podcasting has improved our speaking and thought processes
  • The impact of hearing from listeners of the podcast at the conference
  • How we recorded and put out the Therapist Safety episodes
  • Our goal to catalyze the diverse voices in our community to stand up
  • How we have made mistakes publicly in order to have healing conversations publicly
  • The level of disclosure we have on the podcast
  • The surprise that our moms aren’t the only people listening every week
  • The way we talk about our profession in order to improve it
  • How we are going to grow and change the podcast
  • What are #moderntherapist conversations (and what are not)
  • Guiding principles of what we’re talking about
  • How we are different from other groups, other podcasts
  • The origin of the podcast as a marketing plan for a conference, and then it evolved into its own thing

Relevant Episodes:

So You Want to Plan a Conference

Therapist Safety

Attracted Clients

Let’s Talk About Race Again

Vulnerability, the News, and You

Toxic Work Environments

Take Action Like a BOSS

Social Media and Video Marketing with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr M.S. LMFT

Becoming a Group Practice Owner with Maureen Werrbach

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019

Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!!

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

]]> 2092 no Let's Talk About Race Again https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/lets-talk-about-race-again An interview Yin Li, LMFT about Asian American and Pacific Islanders in therapy and as therapists. Curt and Katie talk with Yin about how often AAPI individuals are not included in the conversation about racism, culture, and mental health. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Yin Li, MA LMFT Yin Li a marriage and family therapist licensed in California and Oregon and founder of Theralane. She works primarily with Asian Americans on a range of concerns ranging from challenging family dynamics, chronic relationship difficulties (romantic, love, family, work), life transitions, career challenges, identify questions, high functioning depression, and anxiety. Yin is very passionate about normalizing mental health, wellness, and therapy services in Asian communities. She has spoken and provided workshops on Asian American Mental Health and Wellness. For white identified clinicians working with Asian Americans, Yin is available for consultation. Website www.theralane.com Email: yin@theralane.com Instagram: @theralane.counseling   In this episode we talk about: Being called out by listener, Yin Li about not talking about Asian American and Pacific Islanders in our conversations about Race to date. Thoughts on why AAPI individuals are often left out of the conversation or ignored The “Model Minority” myth The problem of using aggregate data Language barriers and self-segregation The problem of not knowing what we don’t know Deep-rooted racism in the United States How do we identify and address our blind spots The factors that might enter into the perspective of AAPI individuals on getting therapy or entering the therapy profession What to do when you identify this blind spot Looking at what can be missed when working with AAPI clients How race might come into the room, even if it is not the primary reason for treatment Family immigration stories, language differences Hoping space for cultural stories and the context in which your client lives The problem of not talking about race with Asian American clients How to get over the nervousness of talking about race with AAPI clients How do the conversations relate to the needs of the client, with intention The problem of addressing race and culture to check a box – which comes from a place of privilege The complexity of mixed race – looking at unique factors How integration as an individual is impacted by where one lives, with whom they live (e.g., AAPI child adopted into a white family, living in 2 cultures) The importance of exploring the individual experience due to the complexity of the conversation Developmental stages of cultural and racial identity The impact of where you live on your sense of self Marriage and Family Therapists: only 0.4% are AAPI The assumption in all of therapeutic education that clients are white The common requirement for AAPI therapists to learn on their own how to effectively treat AAPI clients The value of consultation What educators and professional associations can do to improve the situation Calling out when the education is not enough Messages Yin Li has for Asian American therapists Mon, 15 Apr 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Let's Talk About Race Again: An Interview with Yin Li, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Yin Li, LMFT An interview Yin Li, LMFT about Asian American and Pacific Islanders in therapy and as therapists. Curt and Katie talk with Yin about how often AAPI individuals are not included in the conversation about racism, culture, and mental health. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Yin Li, MA LMFT Yin Li a marriage and family therapist licensed in California and Oregon and founder of Theralane. She works primarily with Asian Americans on a range of concerns ranging from challenging family dynamics, chronic relationship difficulties (romantic, love, family, work), life transitions, career challenges, identify questions, high functioning depression, and anxiety. Yin is very passionate about normalizing mental health, wellness, and therapy services in Asian communities. She has spoken and provided workshops on Asian American Mental Health and Wellness. For white identified clinicians working with Asian Americans, Yin is available for consultation. Website www.theralane.com Email: yin@theralane.com Instagram: @theralane.counseling   In this episode we talk about: Being called out by listener, Yin Li about not talking about Asian American and Pacific Islanders in our conversations about Race to date. Thoughts on why AAPI individuals are often left out of the conversation or ignored The “Model Minority” myth The problem of using aggregate data Language barriers and self-segregation The problem of not knowing what we don’t know Deep-rooted racism in the United States How do we identify and address our blind spots The factors that might enter into the perspective of AAPI individuals on getting therapy or entering the therapy profession What to do when you identify this blind spot Looking at what can be missed when working with AAPI clients How race might come into the room, even if it is not the primary reason for treatment Family immigration stories, language differences Hoping space for cultural stories and the context in which your client lives The problem of not talking about race with Asian American clients How to get over the nervousness of talking about race with AAPI clients How do the conversations relate to the needs of the client, with intention The problem of addressing race and culture to check a box – which comes from a place of privilege The complexity of mixed race – looking at unique factors How integration as an individual is impacted by where one lives, with whom they live (e.g., AAPI child adopted into a white family, living in 2 cultures) The importance of exploring the individual experience due to the complexity of the conversation Developmental stages of cultural and racial identity The impact of where you live on your sense of self Marriage and Family Therapists: only 0.4% are AAPI The assumption in all of therapeutic education that clients are white The common requirement for AAPI therapists to learn on their own how to effectively treat AAPI clients The value of consultation What educators and professional associations can do to improve the situation Calling out when the education is not enough Messages Yin Li has for Asian American therapists An interview Yin Li, LMFT about Asian American and Pacific Islanders in therapy and as therapists. Curt and Katie talk with Yin about how often AAPI individuals are not included in the conversation about racism, culture, and mental health.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Yin Li, MA LMFT

Yin Li a marriage and family therapist licensed in California and Oregon and founder of Theralane. She works primarily with Asian Americans on a range of concerns ranging from challenging family dynamics, chronic relationship difficulties (romantic, love, family, work), life transitions, career challenges, identify questions, high functioning depression, and anxiety. Yin is very passionate about normalizing mental health, wellness, and therapy services in Asian communities. She has spoken and provided workshops on Asian American Mental Health and Wellness. For white identified clinicians working with Asian Americans, Yin is available for consultation.

Website www.theralane.com

Email: yin@theralane.com

Instagram: @theralane.counseling

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Being called out by listener, Yin Li about not talking about Asian American and Pacific Islanders in our conversations about Race to date.
  • Thoughts on why AAPI individuals are often left out of the conversation or ignored
  • The “Model Minority” myth
  • The problem of using aggregate data
  • Language barriers and self-segregation
  • The problem of not knowing what we don’t know
  • Deep-rooted racism in the United States
  • How do we identify and address our blind spots
  • The factors that might enter into the perspective of AAPI individuals on getting therapy or entering the therapy profession
  • What to do when you identify this blind spot
  • Looking at what can be missed when working with AAPI clients
  • How race might come into the room, even if it is not the primary reason for treatment
  • Family immigration stories, language differences
  • Hoping space for cultural stories and the context in which your client lives
  • The problem of not talking about race with Asian American clients
  • How to get over the nervousness of talking about race with AAPI clients
  • How do the conversations relate to the needs of the client, with intention
  • The problem of addressing race and culture to check a box – which comes from a place of privilege
  • The complexity of mixed race – looking at unique factors
  • How integration as an individual is impacted by where one lives, with whom they live (e.g., AAPI child adopted into a white family, living in 2 cultures)
  • The importance of exploring the individual experience due to the complexity of the conversation
  • Developmental stages of cultural and racial identity
  • The impact of where you live on your sense of self
  • Marriage and Family Therapists: only 0.4% are AAPI
  • The assumption in all of therapeutic education that clients are white
  • The common requirement for AAPI therapists to learn on their own how to effectively treat AAPI clients
  • The value of consultation
  • What educators and professional associations can do to improve the situation
  • Calling out when the education is not enough
  • Messages Yin Li has for Asian American therapists
]]> 2310 no Clinical Marketing https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/clinical-marketing An interview with Katie Read, LMFT about what it means to be a Therapreneur and the frequent mistakes that therapists make when writing their websites. Curt and Katie interviewed Katie about the unique challenges for therapist marketing and how to use Motivational Interviewing to improve your website. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Katie Read, LMFT Katie Read, LMFT, helps therapists grow...then OUTgrow...their practices! Katie helps clinicians overcome scarcity-mindset, get clear on their most meaningful work, create highly-converting websites, and create additional income streams in coaching, consulting, course creation, and more! Connect with Katie here: www.katieread.com www.facebook.com/groups/therapreneurs www.facebook.com/therapreneurcoach   In this episode we talk about: How crappy therapist websites are The desire to move beyond the therapist office What a “Therapreneur” is How to outgrow the old ideas of what therapists can be When therapists are pushed down for being “too big” Debunking the idea that therapists are shy and mousy What happens when you look beyond the office The problems most therapists make when writing the copy for your website The importance of using the clients’ language when describing clinical concerns The scourge of psychobabble, academic, or jargon language used in websites How to include your achievements and CV information on your website, if it is relevant for ideal client What therapists bring to the marketing game Why videos are important for your marketing How to use Motivational Interviewing to write your website The awful truth that we all respond to scarcity marketing The unique challenge for marketing therapy (without scarcity as a possibility) Where the marketing questions can go wrong The tendency of therapists to copy other therapists in their marketing and water down their voice Why so many people use Brene Brown quotes Designing your profile to speak to your ideal clients How to find your voice and the language you can use to speak to the clients you serve The importance of Niche for marketing, specialization, training, and efficacy The fear of turning away clients – and why that is short-sighted How to grow by niching down sufficiently for your area Mon, 08 Apr 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Clinical Marketing full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Katie Read, LMFT An interview with Katie Read, LMFT about what it means to be a Therapreneur and the frequent mistakes that therapists make when writing their websites. Curt and Katie interviewed Katie about the unique challenges for therapist marketing and how to use Motivational Interviewing to improve your website. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Katie Read, LMFT Katie Read, LMFT, helps therapists grow...then OUTgrow...their practices! Katie helps clinicians overcome scarcity-mindset, get clear on their most meaningful work, create highly-converting websites, and create additional income streams in coaching, consulting, course creation, and more! Connect with Katie here: www.katieread.com www.facebook.com/groups/therapreneurs www.facebook.com/therapreneurcoach   In this episode we talk about: How crappy therapist websites are The desire to move beyond the therapist office What a “Therapreneur” is How to outgrow the old ideas of what therapists can be When therapists are pushed down for being “too big” Debunking the idea that therapists are shy and mousy What happens when you look beyond the office The problems most therapists make when writing the copy for your website The importance of using the clients’ language when describing clinical concerns The scourge of psychobabble, academic, or jargon language used in websites How to include your achievements and CV information on your website, if it is relevant for ideal client What therapists bring to the marketing game Why videos are important for your marketing How to use Motivational Interviewing to write your website The awful truth that we all respond to scarcity marketing The unique challenge for marketing therapy (without scarcity as a possibility) Where the marketing questions can go wrong The tendency of therapists to copy other therapists in their marketing and water down their voice Why so many people use Brene Brown quotes Designing your profile to speak to your ideal clients How to find your voice and the language you can use to speak to the clients you serve The importance of Niche for marketing, specialization, training, and efficacy The fear of turning away clients – and why that is short-sighted How to grow by niching down sufficiently for your area An interview with Katie Read, LMFT about what it means to be a Therapreneur and the frequent mistakes that therapists make when writing their websites. Curt and Katie interviewed Katie about the unique challenges for therapist marketing and how to use Motivational Interviewing to improve your website.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Katie Read, LMFT

Katie Read, LMFT, helps therapists grow...then OUTgrow...their practices! Katie helps clinicians overcome scarcity-mindset, get clear on their most meaningful work, create highly-converting websites, and create additional income streams in coaching, consulting, course creation, and more!

Connect with Katie here:

www.katieread.com

www.facebook.com/groups/therapreneurs

www.facebook.com/therapreneurcoach

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • How crappy therapist websites are
  • The desire to move beyond the therapist office
  • What a “Therapreneur” is
  • How to outgrow the old ideas of what therapists can be
  • When therapists are pushed down for being “too big”
  • Debunking the idea that therapists are shy and mousy
  • What happens when you look beyond the office
  • The problems most therapists make when writing the copy for your website
  • The importance of using the clients’ language when describing clinical concerns
  • The scourge of psychobabble, academic, or jargon language used in websites
  • How to include your achievements and CV information on your website, if it is relevant for ideal client
  • What therapists bring to the marketing game
  • Why videos are important for your marketing
  • How to use Motivational Interviewing to write your website
  • The awful truth that we all respond to scarcity marketing
  • The unique challenge for marketing therapy (without scarcity as a possibility)
  • Where the marketing questions can go wrong
  • The tendency of therapists to copy other therapists in their marketing and water down their voice
  • Why so many people use Brene Brown quotes
  • Designing your profile to speak to your ideal clients
  • How to find your voice and the language you can use to speak to the clients you serve
  • The importance of Niche for marketing, specialization, training, and efficacy
  • The fear of turning away clients – and why that is short-sighted
  • How to grow by niching down sufficiently for your area
]]> 2388 no Attracted Clients https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/attracted-clients-0 Curt and Katie talk about what to do when your clients report sexual or romantic transference. We look at how to explore these feelings, how to set boundaries, and what you need to be cautious about.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How normal it is that clients become attracted to their therapists. The level of safety and intimacy in therapy can be so attractive to clients that they become romantically attracted to their therapist. Examples of how this type of attraction can show up in the room The caution to wait to jump to “Are you hitting on me?” Looking at what is appropriate and inappropriate, especially given cultural differences How supervisors can advise their supervisees in these situations The difference between a misunderstood connection and physical attraction – and thoughts on how to handle each one How physical appearance can impact the pre-treatment expectations A study on Attractive Business Women – the idea of the Femme Fatale Looking at how being gorgeous might impact your clinical work Be authentically yourself, with the understanding of what societal bias could come up When the clients start responding to the therapist as an individual, rather than the therapist or the therapy relationship – looking at transference/counter-transference How hard it can be to talk about the client’s sexual attraction in the therapy room Holding space – acceptance with clear boundaries Making sure to address safety Exploring the interplay between emotional intimacy and the expectation for sexual intimacy How to set the boundaries in the psychotherapy relationship when attraction has been disclosed by the therapist The caution to avoid shaming the client and how to do so The importance of consultation during these types of situations Factors that can impact these types of interactions in the treatment room The safety factors and risks to be aware of, when facing sexual or romantic transference   Our Generous Sponsor: Thanks again to our sponsor Katie Read! Katie helps therapists grow and they OUTgrow their practices. If you're in GROW mode, she can help you grow faster by knowing exactly how to create your therapist website to get the most possible calls with her two courses, Client Machine and Website Whisperer! If you're ready to OUTgrow your office, Katie helps clinicians know the exact right steps to add big extra income streams in coaching, consulting, or courses! Check out www.katieread.com for more information. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Article: Attractive businesswomen viewed as less trustworthy 'femmes fatales'   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!!   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 01 Apr 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Attracted Clients full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about what to do when your clients report sexual or romantic transference Curt and Katie talk about what to do when your clients report sexual or romantic transference. We look at how to explore these feelings, how to set boundaries, and what you need to be cautious about.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How normal it is that clients become attracted to their therapists. The level of safety and intimacy in therapy can be so attractive to clients that they become romantically attracted to their therapist. Examples of how this type of attraction can show up in the room The caution to wait to jump to “Are you hitting on me?” Looking at what is appropriate and inappropriate, especially given cultural differences How supervisors can advise their supervisees in these situations The difference between a misunderstood connection and physical attraction – and thoughts on how to handle each one How physical appearance can impact the pre-treatment expectations A study on Attractive Business Women – the idea of the Femme Fatale Looking at how being gorgeous might impact your clinical work Be authentically yourself, with the understanding of what societal bias could come up When the clients start responding to the therapist as an individual, rather than the therapist or the therapy relationship – looking at transference/counter-transference How hard it can be to talk about the client’s sexual attraction in the therapy room Holding space – acceptance with clear boundaries Making sure to address safety Exploring the interplay between emotional intimacy and the expectation for sexual intimacy How to set the boundaries in the psychotherapy relationship when attraction has been disclosed by the therapist The caution to avoid shaming the client and how to do so The importance of consultation during these types of situations Factors that can impact these types of interactions in the treatment room The safety factors and risks to be aware of, when facing sexual or romantic transference   Our Generous Sponsor: Thanks again to our sponsor Katie Read! Katie helps therapists grow and they OUTgrow their practices. If you're in GROW mode, she can help you grow faster by knowing exactly how to create your therapist website to get the most possible calls with her two courses, Client Machine and Website Whisperer! If you're ready to OUTgrow your office, Katie helps clinicians know the exact right steps to add big extra income streams in coaching, consulting, or courses! Check out www.katieread.com for more information. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Article: Attractive businesswomen viewed as less trustworthy 'femmes fatales'   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!!   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about what to do when your clients report sexual or romantic transference. We look at how to explore these feelings, how to set boundaries, and what you need to be cautious about.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How normal it is that clients become attracted to their therapists.
  • The level of safety and intimacy in therapy can be so attractive to clients that they become romantically attracted to their therapist.
  • Examples of how this type of attraction can show up in the room
  • The caution to wait to jump to “Are you hitting on me?”
  • Looking at what is appropriate and inappropriate, especially given cultural differences
  • How supervisors can advise their supervisees in these situations
  • The difference between a misunderstood connection and physical attraction – and thoughts on how to handle each one
  • How physical appearance can impact the pre-treatment expectations
  • A study on Attractive Business Women – the idea of the Femme Fatale
  • Looking at how being gorgeous might impact your clinical work
  • Be authentically yourself, with the understanding of what societal bias could come up
  • When the clients start responding to the therapist as an individual, rather than the therapist or the therapy relationship – looking at transference/counter-transference
  • How hard it can be to talk about the client’s sexual attraction in the therapy room
  • Holding space – acceptance with clear boundaries
  • Making sure to address safety
  • Exploring the interplay between emotional intimacy and the expectation for sexual intimacy
  • How to set the boundaries in the psychotherapy relationship when attraction has been disclosed by the therapist
  • The caution to avoid shaming the client and how to do so
  • The importance of consultation during these types of situations
  • Factors that can impact these types of interactions in the treatment room
  • The safety factors and risks to be aware of, when facing sexual or romantic transference

 

Our Generous Sponsor:

Thanks again to our sponsor Katie Read! Katie helps therapists grow and they OUTgrow their practices. If you're in GROW mode, she can help you grow faster by knowing exactly how to create your therapist website to get the most possible calls with her two courses, Client Machine and Website Whisperer! If you're ready to OUTgrow your office, Katie helps clinicians know the exact right steps to add big extra income streams in coaching, consulting, or courses! Check out www.katieread.com for more information.

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Article: Attractive businesswomen viewed as less trustworthy 'femmes fatales'

 

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.

Our CALL FOR SPEAKERS!!

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2121 no The Mental Load of Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-mental-load-of-therapists An interview with Shira Myrow, LMFT about how therapists carry a mental load for their clients, in addition to the load they carry as entrepreneurs and people. Curt and Katie talk with Shira about how to identify (and intervene) when therapists uncover this dangerous burden. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Shira Myrow, LMFT  Shira Myrow is a licensed marriage and family therapist, mindfulness educator and founder of the mindfulness based Yale St. Therapy Group based in Santa Monica where she works in private practice. Shira specializes in relationship intelligence—treating couples and marriages with a focus on rebuilding attunement, improving attachment, and creating emotional literacy. Shira also works with individuals in transition looking for love, in break up recovery or going through divorce. Shira has a special focus on treating adult children of severely mentally ill parents with attachment injuries, including parents with borderline personality disorder, bi-polar and schizophrenia. Shira is also a writer and a regular contributor for Goop online magazine. You can learn more about Shira and contact her here: Website www.shiramyrowtherapy.com/ Email: therapy.smyrow@gmail.com Instagram: @shiramyrowlmft, @yalesstreettherapy In this episode we talk about: The definition of Mental Load, with some of the history of the concept Curt’s admission that Katie is carrying the mental load of this business relationship Invisible emotional labor of managing daily lives and relationships The invisible emotional load that therapists carry for clients and how that might be leading to less respect from other medical professionals How the mental load from work can negatively impact personal life The importance of intentional disconnection from the work when going home. How the mental load can stay in your body, even when you mentally or emotionally disconnect from the work How mindfulness can help address this challenge The danger of privileging productivity above all else The idea of how to incorporate this knowledge into therapist training The complexity of business ownership, modern life, the connectedness afforded by technology The onslaught of information that we get as individuals in the world AND as therapists Attunement and presence in session, with self-regulation, so you can do the work without feeling cold and disconnected Allowing versus suppressing emotions – so you can observe and have emotions pass Tips for identifying when the mental load is having an impact, how to prevent or respond The negative impact of stress on our bodies How society has acclimated to unhealthy levels of stress and technology The unreasonable expectations that come from being plugged in Losing empathy and connection The human struggle to incorporate mindfulness Economy of effort “Life shouldn’t be reduced to a to do list” - Shira Myrow Mon, 25 Mar 2019 07:00:00 -0000 The Mental Load of Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Shira Myrow, LMFT An interview with Shira Myrow, LMFT about how therapists carry a mental load for their clients, in addition to the load they carry as entrepreneurs and people. Curt and Katie talk with Shira about how to identify (and intervene) when therapists uncover this dangerous burden. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Shira Myrow, LMFT  Shira Myrow is a licensed marriage and family therapist, mindfulness educator and founder of the mindfulness based Yale St. Therapy Group based in Santa Monica where she works in private practice. Shira specializes in relationship intelligence—treating couples and marriages with a focus on rebuilding attunement, improving attachment, and creating emotional literacy. Shira also works with individuals in transition looking for love, in break up recovery or going through divorce. Shira has a special focus on treating adult children of severely mentally ill parents with attachment injuries, including parents with borderline personality disorder, bi-polar and schizophrenia. Shira is also a writer and a regular contributor for Goop online magazine. You can learn more about Shira and contact her here: Website www.shiramyrowtherapy.com/ Email: therapy.smyrow@gmail.com Instagram: @shiramyrowlmft, @yalesstreettherapy In this episode we talk about: The definition of Mental Load, with some of the history of the concept Curt’s admission that Katie is carrying the mental load of this business relationship Invisible emotional labor of managing daily lives and relationships The invisible emotional load that therapists carry for clients and how that might be leading to less respect from other medical professionals How the mental load from work can negatively impact personal life The importance of intentional disconnection from the work when going home. How the mental load can stay in your body, even when you mentally or emotionally disconnect from the work How mindfulness can help address this challenge The danger of privileging productivity above all else The idea of how to incorporate this knowledge into therapist training The complexity of business ownership, modern life, the connectedness afforded by technology The onslaught of information that we get as individuals in the world AND as therapists Attunement and presence in session, with self-regulation, so you can do the work without feeling cold and disconnected Allowing versus suppressing emotions – so you can observe and have emotions pass Tips for identifying when the mental load is having an impact, how to prevent or respond The negative impact of stress on our bodies How society has acclimated to unhealthy levels of stress and technology The unreasonable expectations that come from being plugged in Losing empathy and connection The human struggle to incorporate mindfulness Economy of effort “Life shouldn’t be reduced to a to do list” - Shira Myrow An interview with Shira Myrow, LMFT about how therapists carry a mental load for their clients, in addition to the load they carry as entrepreneurs and people. Curt and Katie talk with Shira about how to identify (and intervene) when therapists uncover this dangerous burden.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Shira Myrow, LMFT

 Shira Myrow is a licensed marriage and family therapist, mindfulness educator and founder of the mindfulness based Yale St. Therapy Group based in Santa Monica where she works in private practice. Shira specializes in relationship intelligence—treating couples and marriages with a focus on rebuilding attunement, improving attachment, and creating emotional literacy. Shira also works with individuals in transition looking for love, in break up recovery or going through divorce. Shira has a special focus on treating adult children of severely mentally ill parents with attachment injuries, including parents with borderline personality disorder, bi-polar and schizophrenia. Shira is also a writer and a regular contributor for Goop online magazine.

You can learn more about Shira and contact her here:

Website www.shiramyrowtherapy.com/

Email: therapy.smyrow@gmail.com

Instagram: @shiramyrowlmft, @yalesstreettherapy

In this episode we talk about:

  • The definition of Mental Load, with some of the history of the concept
  • Curt’s admission that Katie is carrying the mental load of this business relationship
  • Invisible emotional labor of managing daily lives and relationships
  • The invisible emotional load that therapists carry for clients and how that might be leading to less respect from other medical professionals
  • How the mental load from work can negatively impact personal life
  • The importance of intentional disconnection from the work when going home.
  • How the mental load can stay in your body, even when you mentally or emotionally disconnect from the work
  • How mindfulness can help address this challenge
  • The danger of privileging productivity above all else
  • The idea of how to incorporate this knowledge into therapist training
  • The complexity of business ownership, modern life, the connectedness afforded by technology
  • The onslaught of information that we get as individuals in the world AND as therapists
  • Attunement and presence in session, with self-regulation, so you can do the work without feeling cold and disconnected
  • Allowing versus suppressing emotions – so you can observe and have emotions pass
  • Tips for identifying when the mental load is having an impact, how to prevent or respond
  • The negative impact of stress on our bodies
  • How society has acclimated to unhealthy levels of stress and technology
  • The unreasonable expectations that come from being plugged in
  • Losing empathy and connection
  • The human struggle to incorporate mindfulness
  • Economy of effort
  • “Life shouldn’t be reduced to a to do list” - Shira Myrow
]]> 2408 no Outside Obsessions https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/outside-obsessions Curt and Katie talk about how therapists’ outside passions and pursuits can come into the therapy room. We talk about the thought, consideration, and intention that can help these elevate your practice, rather than hurt your clients.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Curt’s obsession with running marathons and talking about running in his therapy sessions How your outside identity, hobbies, obsessions, etc. can impact your therapy sessions, your branding How to identify if you can bring your outside stuff into the room Acknowledging things that are obvious to clients, but with sensitivity and conscientiousness When you need to align your niche with your outside passions The possibility of triggering your clients and how to handle that When your outside activities positively impact your work The need to avoid over-identification when sharing hobbies or obsessions with your client Self-disclosure is for the benefit of the client Identifying what is yours and what is your client’s How deliberate practice informs this decision Grounding yourself before session, refocusing and making sure you stay present during session How these activities can make ideas and interventions more tangible The danger of advice giving when you are truly passionate about your activities Making sure to be intentional about your relationship and your treatment by reviewing treatment goals prior to each session Deliberate practice as a mechanism to make sure these obsessions don’t come into session in a negative way Shared interests leading to connection and then short-hand that helps to move the relationship forward Honesty and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship Mon, 18 Mar 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Outside Obsessions full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about therapists’ outside pursuits Curt and Katie talk about how therapists’ outside passions and pursuits can come into the therapy room. We talk about the thought, consideration, and intention that can help these elevate your practice, rather than hurt your clients.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Curt’s obsession with running marathons and talking about running in his therapy sessions How your outside identity, hobbies, obsessions, etc. can impact your therapy sessions, your branding How to identify if you can bring your outside stuff into the room Acknowledging things that are obvious to clients, but with sensitivity and conscientiousness When you need to align your niche with your outside passions The possibility of triggering your clients and how to handle that When your outside activities positively impact your work The need to avoid over-identification when sharing hobbies or obsessions with your client Self-disclosure is for the benefit of the client Identifying what is yours and what is your client’s How deliberate practice informs this decision Grounding yourself before session, refocusing and making sure you stay present during session How these activities can make ideas and interventions more tangible The danger of advice giving when you are truly passionate about your activities Making sure to be intentional about your relationship and your treatment by reviewing treatment goals prior to each session Deliberate practice as a mechanism to make sure these obsessions don’t come into session in a negative way Shared interests leading to connection and then short-hand that helps to move the relationship forward Honesty and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship Curt and Katie talk about how therapists’ outside passions and pursuits can come into the therapy room. We talk about the thought, consideration, and intention that can help these elevate your practice, rather than hurt your clients.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Curt’s obsession with running marathons and talking about running in his therapy sessions
  • How your outside identity, hobbies, obsessions, etc. can impact your therapy sessions, your branding
  • How to identify if you can bring your outside stuff into the room
  • Acknowledging things that are obvious to clients, but with sensitivity and conscientiousness
  • When you need to align your niche with your outside passions
  • The possibility of triggering your clients and how to handle that
  • When your outside activities positively impact your work
  • The need to avoid over-identification when sharing hobbies or obsessions with your client
  • Self-disclosure is for the benefit of the client
  • Identifying what is yours and what is your client’s
  • How deliberate practice informs this decision
  • Grounding yourself before session, refocusing and making sure you stay present during session
  • How these activities can make ideas and interventions more tangible
  • The danger of advice giving when you are truly passionate about your activities
  • Making sure to be intentional about your relationship and your treatment by reviewing treatment goals prior to each session
  • Deliberate practice as a mechanism to make sure these obsessions don’t come into session in a negative way
  • Shared interests leading to connection and then short-hand that helps to move the relationship forward
  • Honesty and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship
]]> 2195 no Integrative Psychiatry https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/integrative-psychiatry An interview with Lana Benedek, MD, integrative psychiatrist, on how psychiatry can be practiced differently (not just prescribing medication). Curt and Katie talk with Lana about the importance of focusing on the whole person and incorporating lifestyle changes and commonsense health practices like diet, exercise, sleep and mindfulness in the quest for sustained wellness.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Lana Benedek, MD  Lana Benedek, MD, is an integrative psychiatrist, consultant and teacher who has worked for more than 15 years with adolescents and adults, helping them to resolve issues of anxiety, depression and addiction. Throughout her career, Lana has been keenly interested in empowering individuals to create long-term healing beyond prescription medication and give them the tools to create lasting well-being. To that end, she has practiced mindfulness meditation and yoga for more than a decade, using it as a foundation for her own life and her approach to treatment. She currently facilitates mindfulness-based therapy groups for individuals with anxiety, depression and addiction throughout Los Angeles, including at the Mind Body Tree House and Resolutions Treatment Center. Additionally, she is on the clinical faculty of the University of Southern California (USC) where she teaches psychiatry trainees about mindfulness and self-care to reduce burnout and stress. Early in her medical career, Lana became interested in the marriage of medicine and other modalities of healing. During medical school while working on the pediatric ward of Howard Hospital in remote Zimbabwe, Lana became attuned to our society’s dependence on external medical treatments, which led her to begin practicing yoga and meditation. Later working with clients in the faculty practice, at USC and within the student health center at University of California at Los Angeles, she saw the benefits of incorporating mindfulness-based practices within her therapy. You can learn more about Lana Benedek, MD at https://drbenedek.com. In this episode we talk about: What Integrative Psychiatry is and what it is not The importance of mind, body, and community Why to focus on root causes and not symptoms How psychiatry can actually focus on least invasive methods, rather than going straight to medication Strengths, individuals’ ability to heal themselves Integrating traditional and alternative methods for healing Walking your talk as a practitioner The goal of sustained wellness, rather than symptom remission Mindfulness and mindfulness-based therapies How the system has evolved to having psychiatrists being the prescribers Risks and benefits of medication How medicine cannot address the underlying causes of symptoms The risk of dependence and withdrawal The importance of the scientific rigor in choosing interventions When clinical experience and values-based medicine are needed The importance of an anti-inflammatory diet: vegetables, good fats, legumes, lean proteins, nuts and seeds, whole grains How your diet can make you depressed Exercise is just as good as an antidepressant for your mood The importance of sleep The commonsense ways to help yourself feel better How to collaborate with an integrative psychiatrist Promoting Mental Wellness Looking at strengths and the whole person, rather than symptoms within a rigid treatment framework Psychoeducation on the causes of your mental health concerns Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:00:00 -0000 Integrative Psychiatry full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Lana Benedek, MD, Integrative Psychiatrist An interview with Lana Benedek, MD, integrative psychiatrist, on how psychiatry can be practiced differently (not just prescribing medication). Curt and Katie talk with Lana about the importance of focusing on the whole person and incorporating lifestyle changes and commonsense health practices like diet, exercise, sleep and mindfulness in the quest for sustained wellness.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Lana Benedek, MD  Lana Benedek, MD, is an integrative psychiatrist, consultant and teacher who has worked for more than 15 years with adolescents and adults, helping them to resolve issues of anxiety, depression and addiction. Throughout her career, Lana has been keenly interested in empowering individuals to create long-term healing beyond prescription medication and give them the tools to create lasting well-being. To that end, she has practiced mindfulness meditation and yoga for more than a decade, using it as a foundation for her own life and her approach to treatment. She currently facilitates mindfulness-based therapy groups for individuals with anxiety, depression and addiction throughout Los Angeles, including at the Mind Body Tree House and Resolutions Treatment Center. Additionally, she is on the clinical faculty of the University of Southern California (USC) where she teaches psychiatry trainees about mindfulness and self-care to reduce burnout and stress. Early in her medical career, Lana became interested in the marriage of medicine and other modalities of healing. During medical school while working on the pediatric ward of Howard Hospital in remote Zimbabwe, Lana became attuned to our society’s dependence on external medical treatments, which led her to begin practicing yoga and meditation. Later working with clients in the faculty practice, at USC and within the student health center at University of California at Los Angeles, she saw the benefits of incorporating mindfulness-based practices within her therapy. You can learn more about Lana Benedek, MD at https://drbenedek.com. In this episode we talk about: What Integrative Psychiatry is and what it is not The importance of mind, body, and community Why to focus on root causes and not symptoms How psychiatry can actually focus on least invasive methods, rather than going straight to medication Strengths, individuals’ ability to heal themselves Integrating traditional and alternative methods for healing Walking your talk as a practitioner The goal of sustained wellness, rather than symptom remission Mindfulness and mindfulness-based therapies How the system has evolved to having psychiatrists being the prescribers Risks and benefits of medication How medicine cannot address the underlying causes of symptoms The risk of dependence and withdrawal The importance of the scientific rigor in choosing interventions When clinical experience and values-based medicine are needed The importance of an anti-inflammatory diet: vegetables, good fats, legumes, lean proteins, nuts and seeds, whole grains How your diet can make you depressed Exercise is just as good as an antidepressant for your mood The importance of sleep The commonsense ways to help yourself feel better How to collaborate with an integrative psychiatrist Promoting Mental Wellness Looking at strengths and the whole person, rather than symptoms within a rigid treatment framework Psychoeducation on the causes of your mental health concerns An interview with Lana Benedek, MD, integrative psychiatrist, on how psychiatry can be practiced differently (not just prescribing medication). Curt and Katie talk with Lana about the importance of focusing on the whole person and incorporating lifestyle changes and commonsense health practices like diet, exercise, sleep and mindfulness in the quest for sustained wellness.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Lana Benedek, MD

 Lana Benedek, MD, is an integrative psychiatrist, consultant and teacher who has worked for more than 15 years with adolescents and adults, helping them to resolve issues of anxiety, depression and addiction. Throughout her career, Lana has been keenly interested in empowering individuals to create long-term healing beyond prescription medication and give them the tools to create lasting well-being. To that end, she has practiced mindfulness meditation and yoga for more than a decade, using it as a foundation for her own life and her approach to treatment. She currently facilitates mindfulness-based therapy groups for individuals with anxiety, depression and addiction throughout Los Angeles, including at the Mind Body Tree House and Resolutions Treatment Center. Additionally, she is on the clinical faculty of the University of Southern California (USC) where she teaches psychiatry trainees about mindfulness and self-care to reduce burnout and stress. Early in her medical career, Lana became interested in the marriage of medicine and other modalities of healing. During medical school while working on the pediatric ward of Howard Hospital in remote Zimbabwe, Lana became attuned to our society’s dependence on external medical treatments, which led her to begin practicing yoga and meditation. Later working with clients in the faculty practice, at USC and within the student health center at University of California at Los Angeles, she saw the benefits of incorporating mindfulness-based practices within her therapy.

You can learn more about Lana Benedek, MD at https://drbenedek.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • What Integrative Psychiatry is and what it is not
  • The importance of mind, body, and community
  • Why to focus on root causes and not symptoms
  • How psychiatry can actually focus on least invasive methods, rather than going straight to medication
  • Strengths, individuals’ ability to heal themselves
  • Integrating traditional and alternative methods for healing
  • Walking your talk as a practitioner
  • The goal of sustained wellness, rather than symptom remission
  • Mindfulness and mindfulness-based therapies
  • How the system has evolved to having psychiatrists being the prescribers
  • Risks and benefits of medication
  • How medicine cannot address the underlying causes of symptoms
  • The risk of dependence and withdrawal
  • The importance of the scientific rigor in choosing interventions
  • When clinical experience and values-based medicine are needed
  • The importance of an anti-inflammatory diet: vegetables, good fats, legumes, lean proteins, nuts and seeds, whole grains
  • How your diet can make you depressed
  • Exercise is just as good as an antidepressant for your mood
  • The importance of sleep
  • The commonsense ways to help yourself feel better
  • How to collaborate with an integrative psychiatrist
  • Promoting Mental Wellness
  • Looking at strengths and the whole person, rather than symptoms within a rigid treatment framework
  • Psychoeducation on the causes of your mental health concerns
]]> 2091 no Antitrust for Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/antitrust-for-therapists Curt and Katie talk about antitrust laws – how they impact therapists, how to avoid concerns, and what to pay attention to when you’re a therapist.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Sherman Antitrust Law Why antitrust laws are important Looking at insurance companies and the discrepancy that therapists are more held to antitrust than insurance companies for complicated reasons Therapy practices are businesses and in competition with each other Price Fixing and Market Share agreements The problem and risk with group boycotts The difference between colluding and discussing publicly available information How competition discussing fees in small Facebook groups can lead to price fixing The Cardigan Cartel How to communicate fees and discuss insurance issues without getting into antitrust issues Individuals on insurance panels are still competitors How Antitrust can be anti-consumer What the risks are for discussing pros and cons of different insurance panels How to avoid anti-trust problems Why you should talk to an attorney if you’re concerned How interstate commerce relates to antitrust and how Insurance Plans can play a game to get out of all of this The differences between employees who can strike and separate businesses banding together How Single-Payer relates to this topic How associations play into this and why they can survey their members on fees and other aspects of their businesses The difference between being responsible as a business owner and following the trends Sharing information, without making decisions and planning together How often therapists or other healthcare providers get in trouble for antitrust concerns, as well as related licenses Publicly available information is safe to discuss Share information, but don’t put a call to action to do something with your colleagues Mon, 04 Mar 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Antitrust Laws for Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about antitrust laws Curt and Katie talk about antitrust laws – how they impact therapists, how to avoid concerns, and what to pay attention to when you’re a therapist.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Sherman Antitrust Law Why antitrust laws are important Looking at insurance companies and the discrepancy that therapists are more held to antitrust than insurance companies for complicated reasons Therapy practices are businesses and in competition with each other Price Fixing and Market Share agreements The problem and risk with group boycotts The difference between colluding and discussing publicly available information How competition discussing fees in small Facebook groups can lead to price fixing The Cardigan Cartel How to communicate fees and discuss insurance issues without getting into antitrust issues Individuals on insurance panels are still competitors How Antitrust can be anti-consumer What the risks are for discussing pros and cons of different insurance panels How to avoid anti-trust problems Why you should talk to an attorney if you’re concerned How interstate commerce relates to antitrust and how Insurance Plans can play a game to get out of all of this The differences between employees who can strike and separate businesses banding together How Single-Payer relates to this topic How associations play into this and why they can survey their members on fees and other aspects of their businesses The difference between being responsible as a business owner and following the trends Sharing information, without making decisions and planning together How often therapists or other healthcare providers get in trouble for antitrust concerns, as well as related licenses Publicly available information is safe to discuss Share information, but don’t put a call to action to do something with your colleagues Curt and Katie talk about antitrust laws – how they impact therapists, how to avoid concerns, and what to pay attention to when you’re a therapist.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Sherman Antitrust Law
  • Why antitrust laws are important
  • Looking at insurance companies and the discrepancy that therapists are more held to antitrust than insurance companies for complicated reasons
  • Therapy practices are businesses and in competition with each other
  • Price Fixing and Market Share agreements
  • The problem and risk with group boycotts
  • The difference between colluding and discussing publicly available information
  • How competition discussing fees in small Facebook groups can lead to price fixing
  • The Cardigan Cartel
  • How to communicate fees and discuss insurance issues without getting into antitrust issues
  • Individuals on insurance panels are still competitors
  • How Antitrust can be anti-consumer
  • What the risks are for discussing pros and cons of different insurance panels
  • How to avoid anti-trust problems
  • Why you should talk to an attorney if you’re concerned
  • How interstate commerce relates to antitrust and how Insurance Plans can play a game to get out of all of this
  • The differences between employees who can strike and separate businesses banding together
  • How Single-Payer relates to this topic
  • How associations play into this and why they can survey their members on fees and other aspects of their businesses
  • The difference between being responsible as a business owner and following the trends
  • Sharing information, without making decisions and planning together
  • How often therapists or other healthcare providers get in trouble for antitrust concerns, as well as related licenses
  • Publicly available information is safe to discuss
  • Share information, but don’t put a call to action to do something with your colleagues
]]> 2108 no Beyond Selling the Couch https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/beyond-selling-the-couch An interview with Melvin Varghese, Ph.D., on how he has created and nurtured three therapist-related businesses. Curt and Katie talk with him about how he decided what to create and how he manages these endeavors.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Melvin Varghese, Ph.D.  Melvin Varghese, PhD is a psychologist in private practice (melvinvarghese.com) in Philadelphia where he works primarily with entrepreneurs and leaders. He's also the founder of Selling The Couch (sellingthecouch.com), a podcast and blog that helps mental health practitioners build careers in and out of the therapy room. He has also started a podcasting course and a community for helpers and healers who podcast, called the Healthcasters (sellingthecouch.com/the-healthcasters). He has also created the STC Directory (sellingthecouch.com/directory), a resource to help private practitioners better connect with one another. In this episode we talk about: How the podcast Selling the Couch got started Additional options for therapists The multiple income stream mindset for therapists Melvin’s transition into being a father and how it impacted his businesses Creating alternative revenue streams when life happens Moving away from only being paid for “butt in seat time.” The guilt when generating income without being present Melvin’s immigration story and how it has impacted his business mindset Deciding on income streams (it is profitable, is it scalable) There is no such thing as “passive” income How to sustain creative energy on new products or services Thinking through the energy and time needed for the sustainability of the alternative income stream Just because you have an idea, doesn’t mean it is a good idea (long-term and sustainable) Building business around family (rather than fitting family in around business) Thinking through how to start and then scale products The upfront mental, emotional, and creative energy for launching alternative income streams Setting an end goal Focusing on one project at a time Solidifying, streamlining, and delegating before moving to the next project Time management, time blocking How Melvin does market research Testing products with Beta Testers Where Melvin gets data, i.e., how do therapists get clients Using and breaking down technology Learning from mistakes The difficulty in sustaining a lot of projects Looking to make an impact and leave a legacy, rather than making money   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Selling the Couch Podcast Katie’s appearance on Melvin’s podcast The Healthcasters Course The STC Directory Apple Insider (books on Steve Jobs) Book: The One Thing Book: 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership The Call for Speakers for Therapy Reimagined 2019 The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019   Relevant Podcast Episodes Open to Opportunities Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 25 Feb 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Beyond Selling the Couch full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Melvin Varghese, Ph.D. An interview with Melvin Varghese, Ph.D., on how he has created and nurtured three therapist-related businesses. Curt and Katie talk with him about how he decided what to create and how he manages these endeavors.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Melvin Varghese, Ph.D.  Melvin Varghese, PhD is a psychologist in private practice (melvinvarghese.com) in Philadelphia where he works primarily with entrepreneurs and leaders. He's also the founder of Selling The Couch (sellingthecouch.com), a podcast and blog that helps mental health practitioners build careers in and out of the therapy room. He has also started a podcasting course and a community for helpers and healers who podcast, called the Healthcasters (sellingthecouch.com/the-healthcasters). He has also created the STC Directory (sellingthecouch.com/directory), a resource to help private practitioners better connect with one another. In this episode we talk about: How the podcast Selling the Couch got started Additional options for therapists The multiple income stream mindset for therapists Melvin’s transition into being a father and how it impacted his businesses Creating alternative revenue streams when life happens Moving away from only being paid for “butt in seat time.” The guilt when generating income without being present Melvin’s immigration story and how it has impacted his business mindset Deciding on income streams (it is profitable, is it scalable) There is no such thing as “passive” income How to sustain creative energy on new products or services Thinking through the energy and time needed for the sustainability of the alternative income stream Just because you have an idea, doesn’t mean it is a good idea (long-term and sustainable) Building business around family (rather than fitting family in around business) Thinking through how to start and then scale products The upfront mental, emotional, and creative energy for launching alternative income streams Setting an end goal Focusing on one project at a time Solidifying, streamlining, and delegating before moving to the next project Time management, time blocking How Melvin does market research Testing products with Beta Testers Where Melvin gets data, i.e., how do therapists get clients Using and breaking down technology Learning from mistakes The difficulty in sustaining a lot of projects Looking to make an impact and leave a legacy, rather than making money   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Selling the Couch Podcast Katie’s appearance on Melvin’s podcast The Healthcasters Course The STC Directory Apple Insider (books on Steve Jobs) Book: The One Thing Book: 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership The Call for Speakers for Therapy Reimagined 2019 The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019   Relevant Podcast Episodes Open to Opportunities Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   An interview with Melvin Varghese, Ph.D., on how he has created and nurtured three therapist-related businesses. Curt and Katie talk with him about how he decided what to create and how he manages these endeavors. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Melvin Varghese, Ph.D.

 Melvin Varghese, PhD is a psychologist in private practice (melvinvarghese.com) in Philadelphia where he works primarily with entrepreneurs and leaders. He's also the founder of Selling The Couch (sellingthecouch.com), a podcast and blog that helps mental health practitioners build careers in and out of the therapy room. He has also started a podcasting course and a community for helpers and healers who podcast, called the Healthcasters (sellingthecouch.com/the-healthcasters). He has also created the STC Directory (sellingthecouch.com/directory), a resource to help private practitioners better connect with one another.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How the podcast Selling the Couch got started
  • Additional options for therapists
  • The multiple income stream mindset for therapists
  • Melvin’s transition into being a father and how it impacted his businesses
  • Creating alternative revenue streams when life happens
  • Moving away from only being paid for “butt in seat time.”
  • The guilt when generating income without being present
  • Melvin’s immigration story and how it has impacted his business mindset
  • Deciding on income streams (it is profitable, is it scalable)
  • There is no such thing as “passive” income
  • How to sustain creative energy on new products or services
  • Thinking through the energy and time needed for the sustainability of the alternative income stream
  • Just because you have an idea, doesn’t mean it is a good idea (long-term and sustainable)
  • Building business around family (rather than fitting family in around business)
  • Thinking through how to start and then scale products
  • The upfront mental, emotional, and creative energy for launching alternative income streams
  • Setting an end goal
  • Focusing on one project at a time
  • Solidifying, streamlining, and delegating before moving to the next project
  • Time management, time blocking
  • How Melvin does market research
  • Testing products with Beta Testers
  • Where Melvin gets data, i.e., how do therapists get clients
  • Using and breaking down technology
  • Learning from mistakes
  • The difficulty in sustaining a lot of projects
  • Looking to make an impact and leave a legacy, rather than making money

 

Relevant Resources:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:

Selling the Couch Podcast

Katie’s appearance on Melvin’s podcast

The Healthcasters Course

The STC Directory

Apple Insider (books on Steve Jobs)

Book: The One Thing

Book: 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

The Call for Speakers for Therapy Reimagined 2019

The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook

Therapy Reimagined 2019

 

Relevant Podcast Episodes

Open to Opportunities

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2385 no Joining Your Association https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/joining-your-association Curt and Katie talk about why to join your professional organization, how to best take advantage of the benefits of your membership, and what associations actually do.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Why to join your professional organization What your membership fees go to Advocacy efforts, legislation Finding the cultural fit for your professional organization Joining based on your license, the focus of the org, education The tools that professional organizations provide to their members The power of numbers in advocacy Networking and getting referrals within your local chapter Community building Learning and growing Relationship building How to assess return on investment on joining Opportunities for leadership, education, networking Creating friendships Differentiating yourself within your local community Decreasing isolation Gaining perspective on your work/business situation Continuing Education Making an impact on how your professional organization operates Communication about the current state of affairs Needed information for both pre-licensed and licensed individuals Magazines, Scholarly Journals How to get involved, show up consistently Committees, projects, volunteering How to approach the situation whether you’re an introvert, ambivert, or extrovert Benefits to your business, network and community, education, advocacy, and fun Vote for Curt Widhalm, LMFT for President-Elect of CAMFT Mon, 18 Feb 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Joining Your Association full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about why to join your professional organization Curt and Katie talk about why to join your professional organization, how to best take advantage of the benefits of your membership, and what associations actually do.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Why to join your professional organization What your membership fees go to Advocacy efforts, legislation Finding the cultural fit for your professional organization Joining based on your license, the focus of the org, education The tools that professional organizations provide to their members The power of numbers in advocacy Networking and getting referrals within your local chapter Community building Learning and growing Relationship building How to assess return on investment on joining Opportunities for leadership, education, networking Creating friendships Differentiating yourself within your local community Decreasing isolation Gaining perspective on your work/business situation Continuing Education Making an impact on how your professional organization operates Communication about the current state of affairs Needed information for both pre-licensed and licensed individuals Magazines, Scholarly Journals How to get involved, show up consistently Committees, projects, volunteering How to approach the situation whether you’re an introvert, ambivert, or extrovert Benefits to your business, network and community, education, advocacy, and fun Vote for Curt Widhalm, LMFT for President-Elect of CAMFT Curt and Katie talk about why to join your professional organization, how to best take advantage of the benefits of your membership, and what associations actually do.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why to join your professional organization
  • What your membership fees go to
  • Advocacy efforts, legislation
  • Finding the cultural fit for your professional organization
  • Joining based on your license, the focus of the org, education
  • The tools that professional organizations provide to their members
  • The power of numbers in advocacy
  • Networking and getting referrals within your local chapter
  • Community building
  • Learning and growing
  • Relationship building
  • How to assess return on investment on joining
  • Opportunities for leadership, education, networking
  • Creating friendships
  • Differentiating yourself within your local community
  • Decreasing isolation
  • Gaining perspective on your work/business situation
  • Continuing Education
  • Making an impact on how your professional organization operates
  • Communication about the current state of affairs
  • Needed information for both pre-licensed and licensed individuals
  • Magazines, Scholarly Journals
  • How to get involved, show up consistently
  • Committees, projects, volunteering
  • How to approach the situation whether you’re an introvert, ambivert, or extrovert
  • Benefits to your business, network and community, education, advocacy, and fun
  • Vote for Curt Widhalm, LMFT for President-Elect of CAMFT
]]> 1953 no Managing Chronic Pain and Illness https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/managing-chronic-pain-and-illness-0 An interview with Daniela Paolone, LMFT about how she treats clients with chronic pain and illnesses while navigating her own diagnosis. Curt and Katie talked with Daniela about how typical therapy doesn’t work for these clients, providing practical strategies for treatment and therapist self-care. Interview with Daniela Paolone, LMFT Daniela Paolone is a Marriage and Family Therapist who is licensed in California and Wyoming and offers support to those impacted by anxiety, depression, life transitions, chronic pain, chronic illness, and medical trauma. She provides online and in-person counseling to California residents and offers online counseling to Wyoming residents.  As a therapist with chronic health conditions, she utilizes her personal experiences and professional training in her counseling work. Daniela’s integrative approach helps her clients learn new ways of coping so that they can live more fulfilling lives and feel empowered as they move through life challenges, such as medical illness and chronic pain.   Daniela also offers workshops and consultation support for mental health professionals. She also provides community presentations focused on pain management, stress management, sleep solutions and more. If you want to learn about where she is presenting next, you can sign up for her newsletter here. When you sign up, you will also receive a free guided meditation as thank you gift.    In this episode we talk about: Why Daniela decided that she wanted to go into working with chronic pain and illness as her area of specialty What was missing in the treatment she had seen for chronic pain and illness sufferers The need for structure and for understanding How she has decided how to disclose about her own diagnosis, medical procedures, etc. based on relevance and relatability The specific challenges of being a younger person who has chronic illness Modeling needs and self-care to clients Themes of isolation and not being understood Being a Spoon-y What therapists often get wrong when working with chronic pain sufferers The need to do a good job of assessing functioning, what they can do in a typical day Understanding the neuroscience of pain and how it impacts their ability to do deeper, insight-oriented work The conversation about attendance, options when someone (client or therapist) are having a flare-up (like online services) The need for a more flexible cancellation policy Understanding their schedule of doctor’s appointments The idea of consulting with the other medical professionals on their team The work in session around navigating doctors, their illness The need for a case management hat at times Putting a focus on building skills and support Looking at scope of practice when you have had your own medical journey and have knowledge. How to share information through a psychoeducational lens   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Daniela’s website: www.westlakevillage-counseling.com Spoon Theory: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ 7 Psychological Stages of Chronic Pain (and it also applies to chronic illness)   Functional Medicine defined: https://drhyman.com/about-2/about-functional-medicine/ Dr. Datis Kharrazian: https://drknews.com/about-dr-datis-kharrazian/   The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 11 Feb 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Managing Chronic Pain and Illness: An interview with Daniela Paolone MFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Daniela Paolone, MFT An interview with Daniela Paolone, LMFT about how she treats clients with chronic pain and illnesses while navigating her own diagnosis. Curt and Katie talked with Daniela about how typical therapy doesn’t work for these clients, providing practical strategies for treatment and therapist self-care. Interview with Daniela Paolone, LMFT Daniela Paolone is a Marriage and Family Therapist who is licensed in California and Wyoming and offers support to those impacted by anxiety, depression, life transitions, chronic pain, chronic illness, and medical trauma. She provides online and in-person counseling to California residents and offers online counseling to Wyoming residents.  As a therapist with chronic health conditions, she utilizes her personal experiences and professional training in her counseling work. Daniela’s integrative approach helps her clients learn new ways of coping so that they can live more fulfilling lives and feel empowered as they move through life challenges, such as medical illness and chronic pain.   Daniela also offers workshops and consultation support for mental health professionals. She also provides community presentations focused on pain management, stress management, sleep solutions and more. If you want to learn about where she is presenting next, you can sign up for her newsletter here. When you sign up, you will also receive a free guided meditation as thank you gift.    In this episode we talk about: Why Daniela decided that she wanted to go into working with chronic pain and illness as her area of specialty What was missing in the treatment she had seen for chronic pain and illness sufferers The need for structure and for understanding How she has decided how to disclose about her own diagnosis, medical procedures, etc. based on relevance and relatability The specific challenges of being a younger person who has chronic illness Modeling needs and self-care to clients Themes of isolation and not being understood Being a Spoon-y What therapists often get wrong when working with chronic pain sufferers The need to do a good job of assessing functioning, what they can do in a typical day Understanding the neuroscience of pain and how it impacts their ability to do deeper, insight-oriented work The conversation about attendance, options when someone (client or therapist) are having a flare-up (like online services) The need for a more flexible cancellation policy Understanding their schedule of doctor’s appointments The idea of consulting with the other medical professionals on their team The work in session around navigating doctors, their illness The need for a case management hat at times Putting a focus on building skills and support Looking at scope of practice when you have had your own medical journey and have knowledge. How to share information through a psychoeducational lens   Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Daniela’s website: www.westlakevillage-counseling.com Spoon Theory: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ 7 Psychological Stages of Chronic Pain (and it also applies to chronic illness)   Functional Medicine defined: https://drhyman.com/about-2/about-functional-medicine/ Dr. Datis Kharrazian: https://drknews.com/about-dr-datis-kharrazian/   The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   An interview with Daniela Paolone, LMFT about how she treats clients with chronic pain and illnesses while navigating her own diagnosis. Curt and Katie talked with Daniela about how typical therapy doesn’t work for these clients, providing practical strategies for treatment and therapist self-care.


Interview with Daniela Paolone, LMFT

Daniela Paolone is a Marriage and Family Therapist who is licensed in California and Wyoming and offers support to those impacted by anxiety, depression, life transitions, chronic pain, chronic illness, and medical trauma. She provides online and in-person counseling to California residents and offers online counseling to Wyoming residents. 

As a therapist with chronic health conditions, she utilizes her personal experiences and professional training in her counseling work. Daniela’s integrative approach helps her clients learn new ways of coping so that they can live more fulfilling lives and feel empowered as they move through life challenges, such as medical illness and chronic pain.  

Daniela also offers workshops and consultation support for mental health professionals. She also provides community presentations focused on pain management, stress management, sleep solutions and more. If you want to learn about where she is presenting next, you can sign up for her newsletter here. When you sign up, you will also receive a free guided meditation as thank you gift. 

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why Daniela decided that she wanted to go into working with chronic pain and illness as her area of specialty
  • What was missing in the treatment she had seen for chronic pain and illness sufferers
  • The need for structure and for understanding
  • How she has decided how to disclose about her own diagnosis, medical procedures, etc. based on relevance and relatability
  • The specific challenges of being a younger person who has chronic illness
  • Modeling needs and self-care to clients
  • Themes of isolation and not being understood
  • Being a Spoon-y
  • What therapists often get wrong when working with chronic pain sufferers
  • The need to do a good job of assessing functioning, what they can do in a typical day
  • Understanding the neuroscience of pain and how it impacts their ability to do deeper, insight-oriented work
  • The conversation about attendance, options when someone (client or therapist) are having a flare-up (like online services)
  • The need for a more flexible cancellation policy
  • Understanding their schedule of doctor’s appointments
  • The idea of consulting with the other medical professionals on their team
  • The work in session around navigating doctors, their illness
  • The need for a case management hat at times
  • Putting a focus on building skills and support
  • Looking at scope of practice when you have had your own medical journey and have knowledge.
  • How to share information through a psychoeducational lens

 

Relevant Resources:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:

Daniela’s website: www.westlakevillage-counseling.com

Spoon Theory: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/

7 Psychological Stages of Chronic Pain (and it also applies to chronic illness)  

Functional Medicine defined: https://drhyman.com/about-2/about-functional-medicine/

Dr. Datis Kharrazian: https://drknews.com/about-dr-datis-kharrazian/

 

The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook

Therapy Reimagined 2019

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2292 no On the APA Guidelines for Boys and Men https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/on-the-apa-guidelines-for-boys-and-men-0 Curt and Katie talk about the 2018 APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. We talk about the definition of masculinity and each of the guidelines, looking at what they explain well and where they miss the mark.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Discussing whether these guidelines would be created The importance of teasing out the differences across demographics, genders, etc. The complexity of men and what the guidelines address The definition of masculinity and Curt’s problem with it The concept of many masculinities The shifting perception of masculinity and femininity Toxic masculinity as the extreme The places where the guidelines miss the mark Comparing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Michael Cerra The stuff that is “no duh.” Discussing intersectionality, the impact of culture, sexism, power, privilege on how men develop Biological, evolutionary, and societal impacts on sexism for men Challenging the idea that we actually value all the different types of masculinity How the educational guidelines miss the need to adjust how schools operate What is missed or misrepresented about bullying How the guidelines address violence The problem with the data on violence – looking at convictions versus how many are committed The concept of “boys will be boys” Physical differences that lead to stand up and be protective The thought that the Guidelines are not acknowledging the biological or physical differences between men and other genders The types of responses men have toward taking care of their health How to embrace masculinity as an element of diversity and not thinking that masculinity is bad Differentiating toxic masculinity from masculinity (i.e., pathologizing masculinity) How this can be perceived in the #metoo era The shifting of what is acceptable for men and potential impacts of these shifts on boys and men How advocacy is addressed in the guidelines, especially looking at intersectionality Relevant Episodes: When is it Discrimination?   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men Podcast: Hardcore History   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 04 Feb 2019 08:00:00 -0000 On the APA Guidelines for Boys and Men full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the 2018 American Psychological Association Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. Curt and Katie talk about the 2018 APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. We talk about the definition of masculinity and each of the guidelines, looking at what they explain well and where they miss the mark.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Discussing whether these guidelines would be created The importance of teasing out the differences across demographics, genders, etc. The complexity of men and what the guidelines address The definition of masculinity and Curt’s problem with it The concept of many masculinities The shifting perception of masculinity and femininity Toxic masculinity as the extreme The places where the guidelines miss the mark Comparing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Michael Cerra The stuff that is “no duh.” Discussing intersectionality, the impact of culture, sexism, power, privilege on how men develop Biological, evolutionary, and societal impacts on sexism for men Challenging the idea that we actually value all the different types of masculinity How the educational guidelines miss the need to adjust how schools operate What is missed or misrepresented about bullying How the guidelines address violence The problem with the data on violence – looking at convictions versus how many are committed The concept of “boys will be boys” Physical differences that lead to stand up and be protective The thought that the Guidelines are not acknowledging the biological or physical differences between men and other genders The types of responses men have toward taking care of their health How to embrace masculinity as an element of diversity and not thinking that masculinity is bad Differentiating toxic masculinity from masculinity (i.e., pathologizing masculinity) How this can be perceived in the #metoo era The shifting of what is acceptable for men and potential impacts of these shifts on boys and men How advocacy is addressed in the guidelines, especially looking at intersectionality Relevant Episodes: When is it Discrimination?   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men Podcast: Hardcore History   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about the 2018 APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. We talk about the definition of masculinity and each of the guidelines, looking at what they explain well and where they miss the mark. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Discussing whether these guidelines would be created
  • The importance of teasing out the differences across demographics, genders, etc.
  • The complexity of men and what the guidelines address
  • The definition of masculinity and Curt’s problem with it
  • The concept of many masculinities
  • The shifting perception of masculinity and femininity
  • Toxic masculinity as the extreme
  • The places where the guidelines miss the mark
  • Comparing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Michael Cerra
  • The stuff that is “no duh.”
  • Discussing intersectionality, the impact of culture, sexism, power, privilege on how men develop
  • Biological, evolutionary, and societal impacts on sexism for men
  • Challenging the idea that we actually value all the different types of masculinity
  • How the educational guidelines miss the need to adjust how schools operate
  • What is missed or misrepresented about bullying
  • How the guidelines address violence
  • The problem with the data on violence – looking at convictions versus how many are committed
  • The concept of “boys will be boys”
  • Physical differences that lead to stand up and be protective
  • The thought that the Guidelines are not acknowledging the biological or physical differences between men and other genders
  • The types of responses men have toward taking care of their health
  • How to embrace masculinity as an element of diversity and not thinking that masculinity is bad
  • Differentiating toxic masculinity from masculinity (i.e., pathologizing masculinity)
  • How this can be perceived in the #metoo era
  • The shifting of what is acceptable for men and potential impacts of these shifts on boys and men
  • How advocacy is addressed in the guidelines, especially looking at intersectionality

Relevant Episodes:

When is it Discrimination?

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men

Podcast: Hardcore History

 

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 3116 no Open to Opportunity https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/open-to-opportunity An interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, about her ability to identify opportunities for entrepreneurship. Curt and Katie talk with her about how she has thrived as a therapist and a business owner, even though she doesn’t see herself as a “visionary” or “strategist.” Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, Executive Director of Avedian Counseling Center, Executive Director of Anger Management Essentials Anita Avedian is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been practicing psychotherapy since 1996. She opened her practice in 2001 and continues to see clients in Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, Glendale, and Woodland Hills. Avedian Marriage and Family Therapy Corporation was formed in 2018, where Anita merged Anger Management 818 and her private practice into a group practice. Her specialties include working with relationships, anger, social anxiety, general anxiety, and addictions. Anita is the Executive Director of Avedian Counseling Center, with 8 locations, helping people work towards improving their daily lives and relationships. Anita is very involved with the professional community. Anita is the co-Founder and President of the California Chapter of NAMA, and the Founder of Toastmasters for Mental Health Professionals. Anita is an active member of the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS) and the Armenian American Mental Health Association (AAMHA). She also volunteers to help organize the mental health segment of the annual Glendale Health Festival. In this episode we talk about: How Anita started and succeeded at a number of different businesses Learning about business and entrepreneurship The importance of networking and building relationships Following the path in front of her, toward leadership, business, entrepreneurship The additional education she engaged in, so that she was able to learn what she needed to do The path toward all the offerings she has created: a book, creating a curriculum and certificate program, multi-location group practice, managing office space, speaking and presenting, new endeavors How collaboration and fun has led her into opportunities that she didn’t expect Anita claiming that she doesn’t have vision, but has made herself available to the possibilities How she now assesses opportunities for time, feasibility, etc. How she is able to let go of ideas or projects that are not working How she makes decisions and identifies needs in her communities The strategy she takes to expand offerings How and why she says no How her work naturally progresses Why some people miss out on opportunities The ability to trust opportunities to be there when they are needed Doing what she enjoys, building the relationships she wants, in order to live a good life (rather than just to get referrals) Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Anita Avedian’s website Anger Management 818 Anger Management Essentials Shrink Sync Avedian Counseling Center Phone number: 818-426-2495   The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019 Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 28 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Open to Opportunity full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, about her ability to identify opportunities for entrepreneurship An interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, about her ability to identify opportunities for entrepreneurship. Curt and Katie talk with her about how she has thrived as a therapist and a business owner, even though she doesn’t see herself as a “visionary” or “strategist.” Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, Executive Director of Avedian Counseling Center, Executive Director of Anger Management Essentials Anita Avedian is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been practicing psychotherapy since 1996. She opened her practice in 2001 and continues to see clients in Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, Glendale, and Woodland Hills. Avedian Marriage and Family Therapy Corporation was formed in 2018, where Anita merged Anger Management 818 and her private practice into a group practice. Her specialties include working with relationships, anger, social anxiety, general anxiety, and addictions. Anita is the Executive Director of Avedian Counseling Center, with 8 locations, helping people work towards improving their daily lives and relationships. Anita is very involved with the professional community. Anita is the co-Founder and President of the California Chapter of NAMA, and the Founder of Toastmasters for Mental Health Professionals. Anita is an active member of the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS) and the Armenian American Mental Health Association (AAMHA). She also volunteers to help organize the mental health segment of the annual Glendale Health Festival. In this episode we talk about: How Anita started and succeeded at a number of different businesses Learning about business and entrepreneurship The importance of networking and building relationships Following the path in front of her, toward leadership, business, entrepreneurship The additional education she engaged in, so that she was able to learn what she needed to do The path toward all the offerings she has created: a book, creating a curriculum and certificate program, multi-location group practice, managing office space, speaking and presenting, new endeavors How collaboration and fun has led her into opportunities that she didn’t expect Anita claiming that she doesn’t have vision, but has made herself available to the possibilities How she now assesses opportunities for time, feasibility, etc. How she is able to let go of ideas or projects that are not working How she makes decisions and identifies needs in her communities The strategy she takes to expand offerings How and why she says no How her work naturally progresses Why some people miss out on opportunities The ability to trust opportunities to be there when they are needed Doing what she enjoys, building the relationships she wants, in order to live a good life (rather than just to get referrals) Relevant Resources: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Anita Avedian’s website Anger Management 818 Anger Management Essentials Shrink Sync Avedian Counseling Center Phone number: 818-426-2495   The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook Therapy Reimagined 2019 Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   An interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, about her ability to identify opportunities for entrepreneurship. Curt and Katie talk with her about how she has thrived as a therapist and a business owner, even though she doesn’t see herself as a “visionary” or “strategist.”

Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, Executive Director of Avedian Counseling Center, Executive Director of Anger Management Essentials

Anita Avedian is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been practicing psychotherapy since 1996. She opened her practice in 2001 and continues to see clients in Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, Glendale, and Woodland Hills. Avedian Marriage and Family Therapy Corporation was formed in 2018, where Anita merged Anger Management 818 and her private practice into a group practice. Her specialties include working with relationships, anger, social anxiety, general anxiety, and addictions. Anita is the Executive Director of Avedian Counseling Center, with 8 locations, helping people work towards improving their daily lives and relationships.

Anita is very involved with the professional community. Anita is the co-Founder and President of the California Chapter of NAMA, and the Founder of Toastmasters for Mental Health Professionals. Anita is an active member of the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS) and the Armenian American Mental Health Association (AAMHA). She also volunteers to help organize the mental health segment of the annual Glendale Health Festival.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How Anita started and succeeded at a number of different businesses
  • Learning about business and entrepreneurship
  • The importance of networking and building relationships
  • Following the path in front of her, toward leadership, business, entrepreneurship
  • The additional education she engaged in, so that she was able to learn what she needed to do
  • The path toward all the offerings she has created: a book, creating a curriculum and certificate program, multi-location group practice, managing office space, speaking and presenting, new endeavors
  • How collaboration and fun has led her into opportunities that she didn’t expect
  • Anita claiming that she doesn’t have vision, but has made herself available to the possibilities
  • How she now assesses opportunities for time, feasibility, etc.
  • How she is able to let go of ideas or projects that are not working
  • How she makes decisions and identifies needs in her communities
  • The strategy she takes to expand offerings
  • How and why she says no
  • How her work naturally progresses
  • Why some people miss out on opportunities
  • The ability to trust opportunities to be there when they are needed
  • Doing what she enjoys, building the relationships she wants, in order to live a good life (rather than just to get referrals)

Relevant Resources:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:

Anita Avedian’s website

Anger Management 818

Anger Management Essentials

Shrink Sync

Avedian Counseling Center

Phone number: 818-426-2495

 

The Modern Therapists Group on Facebook

Therapy Reimagined 2019


Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2241 no When is it Discrimination? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/when-is-it-discrimination-0 Curt and Katie talk about how niche, safety considerations, or competence can be used by therapists to discriminate against specific classes of people. Specifically looking at therapists who decide to no longer work with men.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How therapists might be discriminating when they refuse to work with a specific gender Niche, specialization, scope of competence (or scope of excellence) How to assess whether you are discriminating or providing the highest level of care (i.e., referral) Having a thoughtful process and clear conversation to help clients find the best match Assessing safety in deciding who to take into your practice The importance of good screening tools The problem of refusing to see clients when you are fearful of a whole protected class of individuals Marketing to your ideal client to help the clients you’re best suited to help call you When there is a competence issue to be a therapist when you are not able to work professionally with specific protected classes The role that past traumas and wounding experiences have on our ability to be effective therapists Self-awareness versus discrimination The argument about whether we “have to” serve everyone who reaches out to us for help Options when you don’t feel capable of serving specific issues or specific classes of people Referring out, learning more, working on your own triggers The standard that therapists are held to How not to discriminate – helping clients to make an informed choice, providing professional assistance (referring out) When you must see clients according to the ethics codes How to take care of yourself as a therapist Respecting that we are human beings with limits, while still understanding the higher standard that we are held to Mon, 21 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0000 When is it Discrimination? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how niche, safety considerations, or competence can be used by therapists to discriminate Curt and Katie talk about how niche, safety considerations, or competence can be used by therapists to discriminate against specific classes of people. Specifically looking at therapists who decide to no longer work with men.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How therapists might be discriminating when they refuse to work with a specific gender Niche, specialization, scope of competence (or scope of excellence) How to assess whether you are discriminating or providing the highest level of care (i.e., referral) Having a thoughtful process and clear conversation to help clients find the best match Assessing safety in deciding who to take into your practice The importance of good screening tools The problem of refusing to see clients when you are fearful of a whole protected class of individuals Marketing to your ideal client to help the clients you’re best suited to help call you When there is a competence issue to be a therapist when you are not able to work professionally with specific protected classes The role that past traumas and wounding experiences have on our ability to be effective therapists Self-awareness versus discrimination The argument about whether we “have to” serve everyone who reaches out to us for help Options when you don’t feel capable of serving specific issues or specific classes of people Referring out, learning more, working on your own triggers The standard that therapists are held to How not to discriminate – helping clients to make an informed choice, providing professional assistance (referring out) When you must see clients according to the ethics codes How to take care of yourself as a therapist Respecting that we are human beings with limits, while still understanding the higher standard that we are held to Curt and Katie talk about how niche, safety considerations, or competence can be used by therapists to discriminate against specific classes of people. Specifically looking at therapists who decide to no longer work with men. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How therapists might be discriminating when they refuse to work with a specific gender
  • Niche, specialization, scope of competence (or scope of excellence)
  • How to assess whether you are discriminating or providing the highest level of care (i.e., referral)
  • Having a thoughtful process and clear conversation to help clients find the best match
  • Assessing safety in deciding who to take into your practice
  • The importance of good screening tools
  • The problem of refusing to see clients when you are fearful of a whole protected class of individuals
  • Marketing to your ideal client to help the clients you’re best suited to help call you
  • When there is a competence issue to be a therapist when you are not able to work professionally with specific protected classes
  • The role that past traumas and wounding experiences have on our ability to be effective therapists
  • Self-awareness versus discrimination
  • The argument about whether we “have to” serve everyone who reaches out to us for help
  • Options when you don’t feel capable of serving specific issues or specific classes of people
  • Referring out, learning more, working on your own triggers
  • The standard that therapists are held to
  • How not to discriminate – helping clients to make an informed choice, providing professional assistance (referring out)
  • When you must see clients according to the ethics codes
  • How to take care of yourself as a therapist
  • Respecting that we are human beings with limits, while still understanding the higher standard that we are held to
]]> 2268 no Let’s Talk About Race https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/lets-talk-about-race An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT on Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Privilege and Bias. Curt and Katie talk with Stevon about how white therapists and therapists of color can (and should) open up conversations on these important topics, looking at why it is so hard and why it is critical we do so anyway. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Stevon Lewis is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Torrance, CA. He earned Bachelors of Arts degrees in Psychology and Afro-Ethnic Studies from California State University, Fullerton. He also has a Master’s of Science degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Long Beach. Stevon began his therapy career in 2007 as a therapist at a community mental health agency in Long Beach working with the families of adolescents involved with the juvenile justice system. Currently, Stevon is the Director of Counseling Services at Woodbury University, a small private university in Burbank, CA. There he oversees the psychotherapy for all students, supervises two licensed clinicians, two associates, and provides consultation to faculty and staff. Stevon has a private practice in Torrance where he works with adults struggling with Impostor Syndrome, depression, anxiety and stress, and couples experiencing difficulty in their relationships as a result of poor communication and unmet expectations. In addition, he is the Past President of the Long Beach-South Bay Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. You can learn more about Stevon at: www.stevonlewis.com. In this episode we talk about: Barriers that therapists of color face that white therapists do not How the curriculums of our clinical programs are based on white norms (and thoughts on what we should put in these curriculums to address this bias) The different perspectives that are missed when we rely on these white norms The othering of people of color in these programs How race and ethnicity come into the room How to obtain the information that you need, seeing the world from other perspectives The bias that can come up and turn into microaggressions How to seek knowledge without putting the responsibility of teaching on the people of color around you The value of curiosity and Google, cultural humility Ideas for productive conversations about culture, race, ethnicity How to identify what you are responsible for The impact of historical trauma, racial injustice, and slavery on the conversations now A deeper look at bias and the impact of individual and societal bias on our interactions The pain of shame, defensiveness, and perceived divisiveness that might hinder our progress The importance of white people talking about race, and of white allies How to identify if your program is pushing you to be white-normed Ideas to translate the lessons to apply to you as an individual and calling out “this isn’t going to work for me” Encouraging the conversations about how we are perceived by society and how that can impact the relationship in the room The idea that we can have feelings about the clients we see – the need to be conscious about it and releasing guilt about negative or neutral feelings about our clients Mon, 14 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Let's Talk About Race full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT on Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Privilege and Bias An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT on Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Privilege and Bias. Curt and Katie talk with Stevon about how white therapists and therapists of color can (and should) open up conversations on these important topics, looking at why it is so hard and why it is critical we do so anyway. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Stevon Lewis is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Torrance, CA. He earned Bachelors of Arts degrees in Psychology and Afro-Ethnic Studies from California State University, Fullerton. He also has a Master’s of Science degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Long Beach. Stevon began his therapy career in 2007 as a therapist at a community mental health agency in Long Beach working with the families of adolescents involved with the juvenile justice system. Currently, Stevon is the Director of Counseling Services at Woodbury University, a small private university in Burbank, CA. There he oversees the psychotherapy for all students, supervises two licensed clinicians, two associates, and provides consultation to faculty and staff. Stevon has a private practice in Torrance where he works with adults struggling with Impostor Syndrome, depression, anxiety and stress, and couples experiencing difficulty in their relationships as a result of poor communication and unmet expectations. In addition, he is the Past President of the Long Beach-South Bay Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. You can learn more about Stevon at: www.stevonlewis.com. In this episode we talk about: Barriers that therapists of color face that white therapists do not How the curriculums of our clinical programs are based on white norms (and thoughts on what we should put in these curriculums to address this bias) The different perspectives that are missed when we rely on these white norms The othering of people of color in these programs How race and ethnicity come into the room How to obtain the information that you need, seeing the world from other perspectives The bias that can come up and turn into microaggressions How to seek knowledge without putting the responsibility of teaching on the people of color around you The value of curiosity and Google, cultural humility Ideas for productive conversations about culture, race, ethnicity How to identify what you are responsible for The impact of historical trauma, racial injustice, and slavery on the conversations now A deeper look at bias and the impact of individual and societal bias on our interactions The pain of shame, defensiveness, and perceived divisiveness that might hinder our progress The importance of white people talking about race, and of white allies How to identify if your program is pushing you to be white-normed Ideas to translate the lessons to apply to you as an individual and calling out “this isn’t going to work for me” Encouraging the conversations about how we are perceived by society and how that can impact the relationship in the room The idea that we can have feelings about the clients we see – the need to be conscious about it and releasing guilt about negative or neutral feelings about our clients An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT on Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Privilege and Bias. Curt and Katie talk with Stevon about how white therapists and therapists of color can (and should) open up conversations on these important topics, looking at why it is so hard and why it is critical we do so anyway.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT

Stevon Lewis is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Torrance, CA. He earned Bachelors of Arts degrees in Psychology and Afro-Ethnic Studies from California State University, Fullerton. He also has a Master’s of Science degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Long Beach. Stevon began his therapy career in 2007 as a therapist at a community mental health agency in Long Beach working with the families of adolescents involved with the juvenile justice system. Currently, Stevon is the Director of Counseling Services at Woodbury University, a small private university in Burbank, CA. There he oversees the psychotherapy for all students, supervises two licensed clinicians, two associates, and provides consultation to faculty and staff.

Stevon has a private practice in Torrance where he works with adults struggling with Impostor Syndrome, depression, anxiety and stress, and couples experiencing difficulty in their relationships as a result of poor communication and unmet expectations.

In addition, he is the Past President of the Long Beach-South Bay Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

You can learn more about Stevon at: www.stevonlewis.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Barriers that therapists of color face that white therapists do not
  • How the curriculums of our clinical programs are based on white norms (and thoughts on what we should put in these curriculums to address this bias)
  • The different perspectives that are missed when we rely on these white norms
  • The othering of people of color in these programs
  • How race and ethnicity come into the room
  • How to obtain the information that you need, seeing the world from other perspectives
  • The bias that can come up and turn into microaggressions
  • How to seek knowledge without putting the responsibility of teaching on the people of color around you
  • The value of curiosity and Google, cultural humility
  • Ideas for productive conversations about culture, race, ethnicity
  • How to identify what you are responsible for
  • The impact of historical trauma, racial injustice, and slavery on the conversations now
  • A deeper look at bias and the impact of individual and societal bias on our interactions
  • The pain of shame, defensiveness, and perceived divisiveness that might hinder our progress
  • The importance of white people talking about race, and of white allies
  • How to identify if your program is pushing you to be white-normed
  • Ideas to translate the lessons to apply to you as an individual and calling out “this isn’t going to work for me”
  • Encouraging the conversations about how we are perceived by society and how that can impact the relationship in the room
  • The idea that we can have feelings about the clients we see – the need to be conscious about it and releasing guilt about negative or neutral feelings about our clients
]]> 2342 no Take Action Like a BOSS https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/take-action-like-a-boss Curt and Katie talk about the difference between talking about what’s wrong and actually doing something about it. Katie shares her BOSS acronym for making decisions and taking action.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Taking action rather than just talking about what needs to change Identifying what you want to take action on Experimenting, finding what you’re motivated to actually do The big goals that we have pursued and continue to act on Making commitments to others can help move action forward Vision, goals, and connecting to like-minded people to accomplish goals Creating the structure to be able to accomplish big dreams The challenges in our profession that warrant consideration for taking action A call to action to think about the conversations you’re having and identify actionable steps for creating change Katie’s acronym for making decisions: BOSS (Bold Objective Selective Strategic) Finding your big bold vision Creating your personal mission statement Looking at logistics (time, energy, timing, etc.) Saying yes also means saying no Creating the plan – scheduling tasks, not creating a to do list The importance of structure and support  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Simon Sinek’s Start With Why CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) #therapymovement Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0000 Take Action Like a BOSS full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the difference between talking about what’s wrong and actually doing something about it. Curt and Katie talk about the difference between talking about what’s wrong and actually doing something about it. Katie shares her BOSS acronym for making decisions and taking action.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Taking action rather than just talking about what needs to change Identifying what you want to take action on Experimenting, finding what you’re motivated to actually do The big goals that we have pursued and continue to act on Making commitments to others can help move action forward Vision, goals, and connecting to like-minded people to accomplish goals Creating the structure to be able to accomplish big dreams The challenges in our profession that warrant consideration for taking action A call to action to think about the conversations you’re having and identify actionable steps for creating change Katie’s acronym for making decisions: BOSS (Bold Objective Selective Strategic) Finding your big bold vision Creating your personal mission statement Looking at logistics (time, energy, timing, etc.) Saying yes also means saying no Creating the plan – scheduling tasks, not creating a to do list The importance of structure and support  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Simon Sinek’s Start With Why CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) #therapymovement Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Curt and Katie talk about the difference between talking about what’s wrong and actually doing something about it. Katie shares her BOSS acronym for making decisions and taking action. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Taking action rather than just talking about what needs to change
  • Identifying what you want to take action on
  • Experimenting, finding what you’re motivated to actually do
  • The big goals that we have pursued and continue to act on
  • Making commitments to others can help move action forward
  • Vision, goals, and connecting to like-minded people to accomplish goals
  • Creating the structure to be able to accomplish big dreams
  • The challenges in our profession that warrant consideration for taking action
  • A call to action to think about the conversations you’re having and identify actionable steps for creating change
  • Katie’s acronym for making decisions: BOSS (Bold Objective Selective Strategic)
  • Finding your big bold vision
  • Creating your personal mission statement
  • Looking at logistics (time, energy, timing, etc.)
  • Saying yes also means saying no
  • Creating the plan – scheduling tasks, not creating a to do list
  • The importance of structure and support

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Simon Sinek’s Start With Why

CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)

#therapymovement

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

]]> 2009 no CYA for Court https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/cya-for-court An interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW, BCD, Expert Witness aka The Court Chick, on how to prepare for court, what to put in your court policy for your informed consent, and how she created an alternative revenue stream. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW, BCD is an expert witness as it relates to child abuse, sexual abuse, CPS, family violence and child custody. She worked for CPS for over 11.5 years as an investigator, forensic interviewer and adoptions social worker. Nicol is the founder and director of Kids Court & Counseling Center, 501c3, that helps children prepare for court testimony and appearances if they are victims of crimes, witnesses to crimes, in foster care and/or going through a litigious custody battle where testimony occurs. Nicol is appointed as the court’s expert on family law matters as the designated child custody evaluator. Nicol also enjoys speaking on the concept of “the permission to succeed and the risk of being happy.” Her book is coming out in 2019 and guess what the title is? “The permission to succeed and the risk of being happy.” Nicol also sells Rodan & Fields as an independent consultant and helps other’s build a business of residual income around their families and their lives. This is a complete departure from her “day job” and it brings her joy and inspiration helping other’s build their own business. You can find Nicol at www.therapistcourtprep.com and www.nicol.live.      In this episode we talk about: Nicol’s story of how and why she became interested in court How Nicol created Therapist Court Prep Court Policy to put into Informed Consent What needs to be discussed at the beginning of treatment related to court, writing letters, etc. Do NOT ignore your subpoenas Setting fees for court-related activities (can do flat rate) Going to court is not our job Scope of practice, dual relationships related to court-requirements Do not make a child-custody recommendation unless you are appointed by the court The importance of getting clear on what you can do as a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychologist How the therapeutic alliance causes bias in a legal setting Observation versus Opinion – and how you can get in trouble when you add your opinion into custody cases Imagine reading letter on the stand to determine what you should be putting in that letter The threat of a bench warrant when you ignore subpoenas Litigious times when clients weaponize therapists Subpoena for records does not mean a treatment summary When in court, don’t guess – say I don’t know Don’t try to hide treatment information How to set court rates, rates for writing letters The value of preparation when going to court What to wear for court Success stories from court   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Zynnyme Sherry Shockey-Pope and Therapist Practice in a Box Evidence Code 730 CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Legal Advice Free Court Letter Cheat Sheet on Therapist Court Prep Dr. Pamela Harmell  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 17 Dec 2018 08:00:00 -0000 CYA for Court full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW An interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW, BCD, Expert Witness aka The Court Chick, on how to prepare for court, what to put in your court policy for your informed consent, and how she created an alternative revenue stream. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW, BCD is an expert witness as it relates to child abuse, sexual abuse, CPS, family violence and child custody. She worked for CPS for over 11.5 years as an investigator, forensic interviewer and adoptions social worker. Nicol is the founder and director of Kids Court & Counseling Center, 501c3, that helps children prepare for court testimony and appearances if they are victims of crimes, witnesses to crimes, in foster care and/or going through a litigious custody battle where testimony occurs. Nicol is appointed as the court’s expert on family law matters as the designated child custody evaluator. Nicol also enjoys speaking on the concept of “the permission to succeed and the risk of being happy.” Her book is coming out in 2019 and guess what the title is? “The permission to succeed and the risk of being happy.” Nicol also sells Rodan & Fields as an independent consultant and helps other’s build a business of residual income around their families and their lives. This is a complete departure from her “day job” and it brings her joy and inspiration helping other’s build their own business. You can find Nicol at www.therapistcourtprep.com and www.nicol.live.      In this episode we talk about: Nicol’s story of how and why she became interested in court How Nicol created Therapist Court Prep Court Policy to put into Informed Consent What needs to be discussed at the beginning of treatment related to court, writing letters, etc. Do NOT ignore your subpoenas Setting fees for court-related activities (can do flat rate) Going to court is not our job Scope of practice, dual relationships related to court-requirements Do not make a child-custody recommendation unless you are appointed by the court The importance of getting clear on what you can do as a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychologist How the therapeutic alliance causes bias in a legal setting Observation versus Opinion – and how you can get in trouble when you add your opinion into custody cases Imagine reading letter on the stand to determine what you should be putting in that letter The threat of a bench warrant when you ignore subpoenas Litigious times when clients weaponize therapists Subpoena for records does not mean a treatment summary When in court, don’t guess – say I don’t know Don’t try to hide treatment information How to set court rates, rates for writing letters The value of preparation when going to court What to wear for court Success stories from court   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links: Zynnyme Sherry Shockey-Pope and Therapist Practice in a Box Evidence Code 730 CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Legal Advice Free Court Letter Cheat Sheet on Therapist Court Prep Dr. Pamela Harmell  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW, BCD, Expert Witness aka The Court Chick, on how to prepare for court, what to put in your court policy for your informed consent, and how she created an alternative revenue stream.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW

Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW, BCD is an expert witness as it relates to child abuse, sexual abuse, CPS, family violence and child custody. She worked for CPS for over 11.5 years as an investigator, forensic interviewer and adoptions social worker. Nicol is the founder and director of Kids Court & Counseling Center, 501c3, that helps children prepare for court testimony and appearances if they are victims of crimes, witnesses to crimes, in foster care and/or going through a litigious custody battle where testimony occurs. Nicol is appointed as the court’s expert on family law matters as the designated child custody evaluator.

Nicol also enjoys speaking on the concept of “the permission to succeed and the risk of being happy.” Her book is coming out in 2019 and guess what the title is? “The permission to succeed and the risk of being happy.” Nicol also sells Rodan & Fields as an independent consultant and helps other’s build a business of residual income around their families and their lives. This is a complete departure from her “day job” and it brings her joy and inspiration helping other’s build their own business.

You can find Nicol at www.therapistcourtprep.com and www.nicol.live.     

In this episode we talk about:

  • Nicol’s story of how and why she became interested in court
  • How Nicol created Therapist Court Prep
  • Court Policy to put into Informed Consent
  • What needs to be discussed at the beginning of treatment related to court, writing letters, etc.
  • Do NOT ignore your subpoenas
  • Setting fees for court-related activities (can do flat rate)
  • Going to court is not our job
  • Scope of practice, dual relationships related to court-requirements
  • Do not make a child-custody recommendation unless you are appointed by the court
  • The importance of getting clear on what you can do as a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychologist
  • How the therapeutic alliance causes bias in a legal setting
  • Observation versus Opinion – and how you can get in trouble when you add your opinion into custody cases
  • Imagine reading letter on the stand to determine what you should be putting in that letter
  • The threat of a bench warrant when you ignore subpoenas
  • Litigious times when clients weaponize therapists
  • Subpoena for records does not mean a treatment summary
  • When in court, don’t guess – say I don’t know
  • Don’t try to hide treatment information
  • How to set court rates, rates for writing letters
  • The value of preparation when going to court
  • What to wear for court
  • Success stories from court

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:

Zynnyme

Sherry Shockey-Pope and Therapist Practice in a Box

Evidence Code 730

CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Legal Advice

Free Court Letter Cheat Sheet on Therapist Court Prep

Dr. Pamela Harmell

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2354 no Modern Therapists Strike Back https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/modern-therapists-strike-back Curt and Katie talk about union therapists and a strike in California. We look at antitrust, labor disputes, implications of striking, and how to improve working conditions, treatment, and outcomes. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: A strike by the Union of Health Care Workers at Kaiser Permanente in California Historical perspective on Kaiser Permanente Union statement on why they are striking The Union asks from Kaiser Our desire to be objective The ideas that we support: increased mental health access, improved mental health treatment, and positive work environments, fair wages, and sustainable work standards How union workers increasing wages impacts nonunion clinics The different perspectives on what the discussion is about and why the strike is happening How change can happen, what conversations might be happening Being adversarial, being productive, and when they are mutually exclusive Things to consider while therapists are striking The offer for crossing labor lines and why that can be problematic clinically The current state of Kaiser mental health care and the possibility of what could be The financial priorities that Kaiser has put on their required improvements Reflections on how the strikers may be feeling or handling the situation  Relevant Episodes: The Burnout System Addressing the Burnout System  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Article from San Francisco Examiner Statement from National Union of Healthcare Workers The Statement from Kaiser Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 10 Dec 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Modern Therapists Strike Back full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about union therapists and a strike in California Curt and Katie talk about union therapists and a strike in California. We look at antitrust, labor disputes, implications of striking, and how to improve working conditions, treatment, and outcomes. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: A strike by the Union of Health Care Workers at Kaiser Permanente in California Historical perspective on Kaiser Permanente Union statement on why they are striking The Union asks from Kaiser Our desire to be objective The ideas that we support: increased mental health access, improved mental health treatment, and positive work environments, fair wages, and sustainable work standards How union workers increasing wages impacts nonunion clinics The different perspectives on what the discussion is about and why the strike is happening How change can happen, what conversations might be happening Being adversarial, being productive, and when they are mutually exclusive Things to consider while therapists are striking The offer for crossing labor lines and why that can be problematic clinically The current state of Kaiser mental health care and the possibility of what could be The financial priorities that Kaiser has put on their required improvements Reflections on how the strikers may be feeling or handling the situation  Relevant Episodes: The Burnout System Addressing the Burnout System  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Article from San Francisco Examiner Statement from National Union of Healthcare Workers The Statement from Kaiser Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about union therapists and a strike in California. We look at antitrust, labor disputes, implications of striking, and how to improve working conditions, treatment, and outcomes.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • A strike by the Union of Health Care Workers at Kaiser Permanente in California
  • Historical perspective on Kaiser Permanente
  • Union statement on why they are striking
  • The Union asks from Kaiser
  • Our desire to be objective
  • The ideas that we support: increased mental health access, improved mental health treatment, and positive work environments, fair wages, and sustainable work standards
  • How union workers increasing wages impacts nonunion clinics
  • The different perspectives on what the discussion is about and why the strike is happening
  • How change can happen, what conversations might be happening
  • Being adversarial, being productive, and when they are mutually exclusive
  • Things to consider while therapists are striking
  • The offer for crossing labor lines and why that can be problematic clinically
  • The current state of Kaiser mental health care and the possibility of what could be
  • The financial priorities that Kaiser has put on their required improvements
  • Reflections on how the strikers may be feeling or handling the situation 

Relevant Episodes:

The Burnout System

Addressing the Burnout System

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Article from San Francisco Examiner

Statement from National Union of Healthcare Workers

The Statement from Kaiser

Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2205 no Millennials and Telehealth https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/millennials-and-telehealth An interview with Marquita Johnson, Licensed Professional Counselor and Millennial Dating Coach, on incorporating technology in your clinical work with millennials. We look at tele-mental health and other ways that technology can positively impact therapy. Interview with Marquita Johnson, LPC, MDiv, NCC, BC-TMH, CPCS Marquita Johnson is a graduate of Mercer University with a Master of Science in Community Counseling and Master of Divinity. Marquita received her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University in Psychology & Sociology. Currently, Marquita is pursuing a doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision at Walden University. She is a licensed professional counselor, nationally certified counselor, board certified tele-mental counselor, and certified professional counseling supervisor. Marquita’s specialties include women, dating, divorce, step-families, and grief related to loss in relationships. In an effort to promote healthy relationships, Marquita started offering coaching services to help millennials who are dating. While working as a college counselor she found that students were struggling with intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. Hence, she has embraced the call as Atlanta's "Millennial Dating Coach." Marquita’s private practice is located in the heart of Atlanta: Millennial Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting.   In this episode we talk about: Marquita’s work with millennials and how she incorporates technology in sessions Tele-mental Health Reasons to incorporate telehealth into treatment The differences between in-person and telehealth sessions How to assess and prepare your clients for telehealth How to engage and use the technology to increase the connection over video Transitioning between in person and telehealth The skills needed to assess body language, nonverbals, etc. when you are not getting the in-person experience Connecting with a client’s presence while online Making sure to have environment that is free from distractions, that you have a good internet connection, and that you are working on a HIPAA compliant platform The importance of looking in the camera and how to adjust your communication patterns to address the differences Consciously talking about how technology will impact the conversation How to incorporate your theoretical orientation AND technology into your work The limitations of technology in treatment When telehealth is not indicated The need for separate entities for coaching and therapy The types of continuing education that is helpful to set you up for success   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy  TeleHealth Certification Institute Millennial Dating Coach Website   Our Generous Sponsor: Thanks again to our sponsor, Motivo! Motivo provides clinical supervision online through a HIPAA compliant video platform. Motivo was started by Rachel McCrickard, a LMFT who attended Azusa Pacific University in CA. Rachel had a difficult time finding quality affordable supervision after graduate school. After state licensure boards began allowing online supervision, she became inspired to take action. Therapists are able to search through a directory of quality clinical supervisors, licensed in states throughout the country. Session rates range from only $40-60 per hour. To find out more, go to www.wearemotivo.com or email hello@wearemotivo.com. You can also call them at 470-231-1256. Mention the Modern Therapist podcast and receive your first session for free. Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 03 Dec 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Millennials and Telehealth full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Marquita Johnson, LPC An interview with Marquita Johnson, Licensed Professional Counselor and Millennial Dating Coach, on incorporating technology in your clinical work with millennials. We look at tele-mental health and other ways that technology can positively impact therapy. Interview with Marquita Johnson, LPC, MDiv, NCC, BC-TMH, CPCS Marquita Johnson is a graduate of Mercer University with a Master of Science in Community Counseling and Master of Divinity. Marquita received her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University in Psychology & Sociology. Currently, Marquita is pursuing a doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision at Walden University. She is a licensed professional counselor, nationally certified counselor, board certified tele-mental counselor, and certified professional counseling supervisor. Marquita’s specialties include women, dating, divorce, step-families, and grief related to loss in relationships. In an effort to promote healthy relationships, Marquita started offering coaching services to help millennials who are dating. While working as a college counselor she found that students were struggling with intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. Hence, she has embraced the call as Atlanta's "Millennial Dating Coach." Marquita’s private practice is located in the heart of Atlanta: Millennial Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting.   In this episode we talk about: Marquita’s work with millennials and how she incorporates technology in sessions Tele-mental Health Reasons to incorporate telehealth into treatment The differences between in-person and telehealth sessions How to assess and prepare your clients for telehealth How to engage and use the technology to increase the connection over video Transitioning between in person and telehealth The skills needed to assess body language, nonverbals, etc. when you are not getting the in-person experience Connecting with a client’s presence while online Making sure to have environment that is free from distractions, that you have a good internet connection, and that you are working on a HIPAA compliant platform The importance of looking in the camera and how to adjust your communication patterns to address the differences Consciously talking about how technology will impact the conversation How to incorporate your theoretical orientation AND technology into your work The limitations of technology in treatment When telehealth is not indicated The need for separate entities for coaching and therapy The types of continuing education that is helpful to set you up for success   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy  TeleHealth Certification Institute Millennial Dating Coach Website   Our Generous Sponsor: Thanks again to our sponsor, Motivo! Motivo provides clinical supervision online through a HIPAA compliant video platform. Motivo was started by Rachel McCrickard, a LMFT who attended Azusa Pacific University in CA. Rachel had a difficult time finding quality affordable supervision after graduate school. After state licensure boards began allowing online supervision, she became inspired to take action. Therapists are able to search through a directory of quality clinical supervisors, licensed in states throughout the country. Session rates range from only $40-60 per hour. To find out more, go to www.wearemotivo.com or email hello@wearemotivo.com. You can also call them at 470-231-1256. Mention the Modern Therapist podcast and receive your first session for free. Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   An interview with Marquita Johnson, Licensed Professional Counselor and Millennial Dating Coach, on incorporating technology in your clinical work with millennials. We look at tele-mental health and other ways that technology can positively impact therapy.

Interview with Marquita Johnson, LPC, MDiv, NCC, BC-TMH, CPCS

Marquita Johnson is a graduate of Mercer University with a Master of Science in Community Counseling and Master of Divinity. Marquita received her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University in Psychology & Sociology. Currently, Marquita is pursuing a doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision at Walden University. She is a licensed professional counselor, nationally certified counselor, board certified tele-mental counselor, and certified professional counseling supervisor. Marquita’s specialties include women, dating, divorce, step-families, and grief related to loss in relationships. In an effort to promote healthy relationships, Marquita started offering coaching services to help millennials who are dating. While working as a college counselor she found that students were struggling with intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. Hence, she has embraced the call as Atlanta's "Millennial Dating Coach." Marquita’s private practice is located in the heart of Atlanta: Millennial Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting.  

In this episode we talk about:

  • Marquita’s work with millennials and how she incorporates technology in sessions
  • Tele-mental Health
  • Reasons to incorporate telehealth into treatment
  • The differences between in-person and telehealth sessions
  • How to assess and prepare your clients for telehealth
  • How to engage and use the technology to increase the connection over video
  • Transitioning between in person and telehealth
  • The skills needed to assess body language, nonverbals, etc. when you are not getting the in-person experience
  • Connecting with a client’s presence while online
  • Making sure to have environment that is free from distractions, that you have a good internet connection, and that you are working on a HIPAA compliant platform
  • The importance of looking in the camera and how to adjust your communication patterns to address the differences
  • Consciously talking about how technology will impact the conversation
  • How to incorporate your theoretical orientation AND technology into your work
  • The limitations of technology in treatment
  • When telehealth is not indicated
  • The need for separate entities for coaching and therapy
  • The types of continuing education that is helpful to set you up for success

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy

 TeleHealth Certification Institute

Millennial Dating Coach Website

 

Our Generous Sponsor:

Thanks again to our sponsor, Motivo!

Motivo provides clinical supervision online through a HIPAA compliant video platform. Motivo was started by Rachel McCrickard, a LMFT who attended Azusa Pacific University in CA. Rachel had a difficult time finding quality affordable supervision after graduate school. After state licensure boards began allowing online supervision, she became inspired to take action. Therapists are able to search through a directory of quality clinical supervisors, licensed in states throughout the country. Session rates range from only $40-60 per hour.

To find out more, go to www.wearemotivo.com or email hello@wearemotivo.com. You can also call them at 470-231-1256. Mention the Modern Therapist podcast and receive your first session for free.

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2217 no Clinical Versus Business Decisions https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/clinical-versus-business-decisions Curt and Katie talk about how to make sure that you are making decisions that respect clinical and business principles AND meet the requirements for laws and ethics. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Treatment strategies that are based on evidence-based practices, that may need extra information up front to avoid seeming coercive to families (i.e., required sessions, frequency or length of treatment) The importance of defining the unit of treatment in the initial assessment What needs to happen in the conversations with the clients What is the treatment need? How treatment orientation can impact business decisions What limits you can set related to requirements for parents in treatment for children Addressing treatment within the therapeutic alliance, in the treatment planning process, rather than holding to business parameters that go unaddressed clinically Consciously discussing boundaries and compliance with treatment model, not allowing for clinical drift or an unacknowledged broken frame The fear of challenging clients, fear of losing income Looking at whether you can provide the level of treatment required Whether we should be as flexible as our clients Balancing our needs with the needs of our clients looking at both clinical and business reasons to determine how flexible to be Bad clinical decisions that are based on business inflexibility You don’t want business policies to overshadow the clinical decisions and clinical efficacy Setting pricing strategies – doing bulk pricing or monthly pricing can get very complex and there are a lot of legal and ethical considerations When we must sacrifice for our clients and when we can hold the boundaries Separating assessment from treatment Referring to treatment teams The importance of good consultation to help talk through cases The ethics codes do not require that you keep a client indefinitely Ethical termination and referral options Relevant Episodes: Managing Client Cancellations Asking for Money Ending Therapy Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.  Angela Caldwell, MFT at the Self-Injury Institute DBT   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 26 Nov 2018 08:30:00 -0000 Clinical Versus Business Decisions full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to make sure your practices are sound from a business AND a clinical angle Curt and Katie talk about how to make sure that you are making decisions that respect clinical and business principles AND meet the requirements for laws and ethics. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Treatment strategies that are based on evidence-based practices, that may need extra information up front to avoid seeming coercive to families (i.e., required sessions, frequency or length of treatment) The importance of defining the unit of treatment in the initial assessment What needs to happen in the conversations with the clients What is the treatment need? How treatment orientation can impact business decisions What limits you can set related to requirements for parents in treatment for children Addressing treatment within the therapeutic alliance, in the treatment planning process, rather than holding to business parameters that go unaddressed clinically Consciously discussing boundaries and compliance with treatment model, not allowing for clinical drift or an unacknowledged broken frame The fear of challenging clients, fear of losing income Looking at whether you can provide the level of treatment required Whether we should be as flexible as our clients Balancing our needs with the needs of our clients looking at both clinical and business reasons to determine how flexible to be Bad clinical decisions that are based on business inflexibility You don’t want business policies to overshadow the clinical decisions and clinical efficacy Setting pricing strategies – doing bulk pricing or monthly pricing can get very complex and there are a lot of legal and ethical considerations When we must sacrifice for our clients and when we can hold the boundaries Separating assessment from treatment Referring to treatment teams The importance of good consultation to help talk through cases The ethics codes do not require that you keep a client indefinitely Ethical termination and referral options Relevant Episodes: Managing Client Cancellations Asking for Money Ending Therapy Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.  Angela Caldwell, MFT at the Self-Injury Institute DBT   Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about how to make sure that you are making decisions that respect clinical and business principles AND meet the requirements for laws and ethics.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Treatment strategies that are based on evidence-based practices, that may need extra information up front to avoid seeming coercive to families (i.e., required sessions, frequency or length of treatment)
  • The importance of defining the unit of treatment in the initial assessment
  • What needs to happen in the conversations with the clients
  • What is the treatment need?
  • How treatment orientation can impact business decisions
  • What limits you can set related to requirements for parents in treatment for children
  • Addressing treatment within the therapeutic alliance, in the treatment planning process, rather than holding to business parameters that go unaddressed clinically
  • Consciously discussing boundaries and compliance with treatment model, not allowing for clinical drift or an unacknowledged broken frame
  • The fear of challenging clients, fear of losing income
  • Looking at whether you can provide the level of treatment required
  • Whether we should be as flexible as our clients
  • Balancing our needs with the needs of our clients looking at both clinical and business reasons to determine how flexible to be
  • Bad clinical decisions that are based on business inflexibility
  • You don’t want business policies to overshadow the clinical decisions and clinical efficacy
  • Setting pricing strategies – doing bulk pricing or monthly pricing can get very complex and there are a lot of legal and ethical considerations
  • When we must sacrifice for our clients and when we can hold the boundaries
  • Separating assessment from treatment
  • Referring to treatment teams
  • The importance of good consultation to help talk through cases
  • The ethics codes do not require that you keep a client indefinitely
  • Ethical termination and referral options

Relevant Episodes:

Managing Client Cancellations

Asking for Money

Ending Therapy

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

 Angela Caldwell, MFT at the Self-Injury Institute

DBT

 

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2261 no Clinician AND Entrepreneur https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/clinician-and-entrepreneur Clinician AND Entrepreneur: An interview with Jo Muirhead An interview with Jo Muirhead, chief life changer and business coach, on how self-promotion positively impacts your clinical work. We also talk about how therapists need to invest in their business training to be a successful entrepreneur. Interview with Jo Muirhead Jo is Uber passionate about private practice. You should see the video on her home page of her website. She loves to empower clinicians to build profitable and sustainable businesses through doing more of the work they love, the way they love to do it (www.jomuirhead.com). In this episode we talk about: Jo’s story of being told she couldn’t build her business and doing it anyway Being an entrepreneur and thinking bigger than what is in front of you, thinking ahead of your clients The tendency for therapists to follow “the rules” to their detriment What an entrepreneurial clinician means Self-promotion and marketing How professional organizations and ethical codes are behind the times related to self-promotion The tendency of people to judge others in the FB groups Getting in the head and the heart of your client, so you can give them something of value What we miss in the therapeutic relationship when we stay too clinical How consumers have changed since the dawn of the internet The differences across countries related to practicing therapy The importance of understanding what is going on in the world and how it impacts what you can do as an entrepreneur Looking at the code of conduct or ethics code to determine how you behave as a professional How therapists get in their own way by only “investing” in the free stuff to learn business What to do when you don’t know what you don’t know The trouble with jumping too early into alternative revenue streams Managing expectations around what you can make and how to set up your business The difference between alternative revenue streams and marketing tools The most harmful myths that have been put out there about entrepreneurship How so many people access information and don’t implement it The shocking truth that not everyone needs to be in private practice Working out what works best for you Investing money AND time in building your business What you should invest in first, when building a private practice Getting clarity on who you are, what you do well, and how you move forward Jo’s pushing against the “7-Step System” models that so many coaches use Jo’s best advice for therapists wanting to become entrepreneurial clinicians   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy This is Private Practice Jo on Facebook The Entrepreneurial Clinician by Jo Muirhead PURPLE CO jomuirhead.com Previous Episodes Mentioned: The Brand Called You    Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 19 Nov 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Clinician AND Entrepreneur: An interview with Jo Muirhead full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Jo Muirhead, chief life changer and business coach on how self-promotion positively impacts your clinical work Clinician AND Entrepreneur: An interview with Jo Muirhead An interview with Jo Muirhead, chief life changer and business coach, on how self-promotion positively impacts your clinical work. We also talk about how therapists need to invest in their business training to be a successful entrepreneur. Interview with Jo Muirhead Jo is Uber passionate about private practice. You should see the video on her home page of her website. She loves to empower clinicians to build profitable and sustainable businesses through doing more of the work they love, the way they love to do it (www.jomuirhead.com). In this episode we talk about: Jo’s story of being told she couldn’t build her business and doing it anyway Being an entrepreneur and thinking bigger than what is in front of you, thinking ahead of your clients The tendency for therapists to follow “the rules” to their detriment What an entrepreneurial clinician means Self-promotion and marketing How professional organizations and ethical codes are behind the times related to self-promotion The tendency of people to judge others in the FB groups Getting in the head and the heart of your client, so you can give them something of value What we miss in the therapeutic relationship when we stay too clinical How consumers have changed since the dawn of the internet The differences across countries related to practicing therapy The importance of understanding what is going on in the world and how it impacts what you can do as an entrepreneur Looking at the code of conduct or ethics code to determine how you behave as a professional How therapists get in their own way by only “investing” in the free stuff to learn business What to do when you don’t know what you don’t know The trouble with jumping too early into alternative revenue streams Managing expectations around what you can make and how to set up your business The difference between alternative revenue streams and marketing tools The most harmful myths that have been put out there about entrepreneurship How so many people access information and don’t implement it The shocking truth that not everyone needs to be in private practice Working out what works best for you Investing money AND time in building your business What you should invest in first, when building a private practice Getting clarity on who you are, what you do well, and how you move forward Jo’s pushing against the “7-Step System” models that so many coaches use Jo’s best advice for therapists wanting to become entrepreneurial clinicians   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy This is Private Practice Jo on Facebook The Entrepreneurial Clinician by Jo Muirhead PURPLE CO jomuirhead.com Previous Episodes Mentioned: The Brand Called You    Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Clinician AND Entrepreneur: An interview with Jo Muirhead

An interview with Jo Muirhead, chief life changer and business coach, on how self-promotion positively impacts your clinical work. We also talk about how therapists need to invest in their business training to be a successful entrepreneur.

Interview with Jo Muirhead

Jo is Uber passionate about private practice. You should see the video on her home page of her website. She loves to empower clinicians to build profitable and sustainable businesses through doing more of the work they love, the way they love to do it (www.jomuirhead.com).

In this episode we talk about:

  • Jo’s story of being told she couldn’t build her business and doing it anyway
  • Being an entrepreneur and thinking bigger than what is in front of you, thinking ahead of your clients
  • The tendency for therapists to follow “the rules” to their detriment
  • What an entrepreneurial clinician means
  • Self-promotion and marketing
  • How professional organizations and ethical codes are behind the times related to self-promotion
  • The tendency of people to judge others in the FB groups
  • Getting in the head and the heart of your client, so you can give them something of value
  • What we miss in the therapeutic relationship when we stay too clinical
  • How consumers have changed since the dawn of the internet
  • The differences across countries related to practicing therapy
  • The importance of understanding what is going on in the world and how it impacts what you can do as an entrepreneur
  • Looking at the code of conduct or ethics code to determine how you behave as a professional
  • How therapists get in their own way by only “investing” in the free stuff to learn business
  • What to do when you don’t know what you don’t know
  • The trouble with jumping too early into alternative revenue streams
  • Managing expectations around what you can make and how to set up your business
  • The difference between alternative revenue streams and marketing tools
  • The most harmful myths that have been put out there about entrepreneurship
  • How so many people access information and don’t implement it
  • The shocking truth that not everyone needs to be in private practice
  • Working out what works best for you
  • Investing money AND time in building your business
  • What you should invest in first, when building a private practice
  • Getting clarity on who you are, what you do well, and how you move forward
  • Jo’s pushing against the “7-Step System” models that so many coaches use
  • Jo’s best advice for therapists wanting to become entrepreneurial clinicians

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy

This is Private Practice

Jo on Facebook

The Entrepreneurial Clinician by Jo Muirhead

PURPLE CO

jomuirhead.com

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

The Brand Called You

 

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2398 no Agency and School Drama https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/agency-and-school-drama Curt and Katie talk about how to handle the drama that can happen at your work or school setting. We talk about when to take action and when it is more important to manage the logistics and protect your reputation and employability. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: What to do when your agency or your program closes out or there is DRAMA How it works within a school program that closes Making decisions when you have to face this type of crisis Making sure to get information to help you with your decision making Balancing supporting your peers and taking care of yourself How to do due diligence to move forward Understanding the motivations of all parties involved Looking out for your own best interest Navigating and understanding the rumor mill Understanding how rumors, drama, etc., can impact you personally Sorting through when you should stand up and advocate and when you keep your head down Creating an exit plan Reputation management The problem with getting frozen The caution required when you decide to stand up for someone else (especially when you don’t have all the information) Choosing your battles Protecting your own reputation and employability Managing your resume How the way you talk about what has happened will reflect on you Making sure to remain professional Discussing the reasons that Curt and Katie work for themselves Identifying when you can live with the drama and when you need to move on Handling logistics to take care of your needs Assessing what is worth it   Relevant Episodes Toxic Work Environments Interview Strategies for Therapists Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour   Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 12 Nov 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Agency and School Drama full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to handle the drama that can happen at your work or school setting Curt and Katie talk about how to handle the drama that can happen at your work or school setting. We talk about when to take action and when it is more important to manage the logistics and protect your reputation and employability. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: What to do when your agency or your program closes out or there is DRAMA How it works within a school program that closes Making decisions when you have to face this type of crisis Making sure to get information to help you with your decision making Balancing supporting your peers and taking care of yourself How to do due diligence to move forward Understanding the motivations of all parties involved Looking out for your own best interest Navigating and understanding the rumor mill Understanding how rumors, drama, etc., can impact you personally Sorting through when you should stand up and advocate and when you keep your head down Creating an exit plan Reputation management The problem with getting frozen The caution required when you decide to stand up for someone else (especially when you don’t have all the information) Choosing your battles Protecting your own reputation and employability Managing your resume How the way you talk about what has happened will reflect on you Making sure to remain professional Discussing the reasons that Curt and Katie work for themselves Identifying when you can live with the drama and when you need to move on Handling logistics to take care of your needs Assessing what is worth it   Relevant Episodes Toxic Work Environments Interview Strategies for Therapists Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Group Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour   Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about how to handle the drama that can happen at your work or school setting. We talk about when to take action and when it is more important to manage the logistics and protect your reputation and employability.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • What to do when your agency or your program closes out or there is DRAMA
  • How it works within a school program that closes
  • Making decisions when you have to face this type of crisis
  • Making sure to get information to help you with your decision making
  • Balancing supporting your peers and taking care of yourself
  • How to do due diligence to move forward
  • Understanding the motivations of all parties involved
  • Looking out for your own best interest
  • Navigating and understanding the rumor mill
  • Understanding how rumors, drama, etc., can impact you personally
  • Sorting through when you should stand up and advocate and when you keep your head down
  • Creating an exit plan
  • Reputation management
  • The problem with getting frozen
  • The caution required when you decide to stand up for someone else (especially when you don’t have all the information)
  • Choosing your battles
  • Protecting your own reputation and employability
  • Managing your resume
  • How the way you talk about what has happened will reflect on you
  • Making sure to remain professional
  • Discussing the reasons that Curt and Katie work for themselves
  • Identifying when you can live with the drama and when you need to move on
  • Handling logistics to take care of your needs
  • Assessing what is worth it

 

Relevant Episodes

Toxic Work Environments

Interview Strategies for Therapists

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Group

Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2085 no Vulnerability, The News, and You https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/vulnerability-the-news-and-you Interview with Dr. Abigail Weissman Abigail (“Abi”) Weissman is a California clinical psychologist, earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PSY 27497) with a dissertation on helping psychologists to be supporting, respectful, and effective with their transgender Jewish clients. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Sexuality studies that focused on femme lesbian identity and completed a Certificate in Sex Education. She serves as a Member At Large – Professional Practice, of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Psychological Association. She is also the Chair of the LGBT Committee for the San Diego Psychological Association. A self-proclaimed “super queer” she loves to empower others, especially those who wish they could be their full queer, transgender, religious, liberal, activist, polyamorous, and/or kink selves, but hold themselves back because they are scared they will be unloved, unemployed, and rejected by their loved ones and communities. Abi provides individual and group therapy for LGBTQIQAP-identified clients as well as training for other professionals on how to be more LGBTQIQAP-affirming in clinical practice and in business. Her pronouns are she, her hers. You can learn more about Abi and her group practice Waves, A Psychological Corporation, at www.wavespsych.com. In this episode we talk about: Vulnerability during the recent events as a member of impacted, marginalized communities Abi’s comfort level with talking about being Jewish, queer, lesbian, trans (or “trans-esque” in her parlance) How she decides how to present herself, how she tells her story, her level of safety How Abi “leans in” whenever she feels unsafe – how sharing who she is first, makes her feel safer Civil and social justice advocacy as a therapist Her hesitation to talk about LGBTQ as a single community and the problem with “lumping” them all together. The importance of hearing all the different, unique perspectives. Sitting as a leader in your therapy room and feeling vulnerable as the events in society impact you personally Holding hope for therapy clients as well as for society, and grieving for her own losses and feeling her own fears and her own despair Reflecting on the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue shooting as well as reactions to the memo seeking to make gender binary – both how Abi is reacting personally and what she is hearing (and not hearing) from her clients Where Abi is finding her hope, healing, and getting her support The ways that antisemitism still shows up in daily life (even in small ways) Having to choose how she shows up as an activist with these intersectional needs that aren’t respected How thoughtful she is about where she lives and what she stands up and does for her community What therapists often get wrong related to LGBTQ The frequent problem of othering people within the therapist community who happen to be LGBTQ   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Waves, A Psychological Corporation: www.wavespsych.com Abi’s availability for consultation: https://www.wavespsych.com/contact The book Abi was talking about related to bringing ancestors into the room: Native American Postcolonial Psychology By Eduardo Duran, Bonnie Duran   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 05 Nov 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Vulnerability, The News, and You full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Abigail Weissman, a psychologist and self-proclaimed “super queer” Interview with Dr. Abigail Weissman Abigail (“Abi”) Weissman is a California clinical psychologist, earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PSY 27497) with a dissertation on helping psychologists to be supporting, respectful, and effective with their transgender Jewish clients. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Sexuality studies that focused on femme lesbian identity and completed a Certificate in Sex Education. She serves as a Member At Large – Professional Practice, of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Psychological Association. She is also the Chair of the LGBT Committee for the San Diego Psychological Association. A self-proclaimed “super queer” she loves to empower others, especially those who wish they could be their full queer, transgender, religious, liberal, activist, polyamorous, and/or kink selves, but hold themselves back because they are scared they will be unloved, unemployed, and rejected by their loved ones and communities. Abi provides individual and group therapy for LGBTQIQAP-identified clients as well as training for other professionals on how to be more LGBTQIQAP-affirming in clinical practice and in business. Her pronouns are she, her hers. You can learn more about Abi and her group practice Waves, A Psychological Corporation, at www.wavespsych.com. In this episode we talk about: Vulnerability during the recent events as a member of impacted, marginalized communities Abi’s comfort level with talking about being Jewish, queer, lesbian, trans (or “trans-esque” in her parlance) How she decides how to present herself, how she tells her story, her level of safety How Abi “leans in” whenever she feels unsafe – how sharing who she is first, makes her feel safer Civil and social justice advocacy as a therapist Her hesitation to talk about LGBTQ as a single community and the problem with “lumping” them all together. The importance of hearing all the different, unique perspectives. Sitting as a leader in your therapy room and feeling vulnerable as the events in society impact you personally Holding hope for therapy clients as well as for society, and grieving for her own losses and feeling her own fears and her own despair Reflecting on the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue shooting as well as reactions to the memo seeking to make gender binary – both how Abi is reacting personally and what she is hearing (and not hearing) from her clients Where Abi is finding her hope, healing, and getting her support The ways that antisemitism still shows up in daily life (even in small ways) Having to choose how she shows up as an activist with these intersectional needs that aren’t respected How thoughtful she is about where she lives and what she stands up and does for her community What therapists often get wrong related to LGBTQ The frequent problem of othering people within the therapist community who happen to be LGBTQ   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Waves, A Psychological Corporation: www.wavespsych.com Abi’s availability for consultation: https://www.wavespsych.com/contact The book Abi was talking about related to bringing ancestors into the room: Native American Postcolonial Psychology By Eduardo Duran, Bonnie Duran   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Interview with Dr. Abigail Weissman

Abigail (“Abi”) Weissman is a California clinical psychologist, earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PSY 27497) with a dissertation on helping psychologists to be supporting, respectful, and effective with their transgender Jewish clients. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Sexuality studies that focused on femme lesbian identity and completed a Certificate in Sex Education. She serves as a Member At Large – Professional Practice, of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Psychological Association. She is also the Chair of the LGBT Committee for the San Diego Psychological Association. A self-proclaimed “super queer” she loves to empower others, especially those who wish they could be their full queer, transgender, religious, liberal, activist, polyamorous, and/or kink selves, but hold themselves back because they are scared they will be unloved, unemployed, and rejected by their loved ones and communities. Abi provides individual and group therapy for LGBTQIQAP-identified clients as well as training for other professionals on how to be more LGBTQIQAP-affirming in clinical practice and in business. Her pronouns are she, her hers. You can learn more about Abi and her group practice Waves, A Psychological Corporation, at www.wavespsych.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Vulnerability during the recent events as a member of impacted, marginalized communities
  • Abi’s comfort level with talking about being Jewish, queer, lesbian, trans (or “trans-esque” in her parlance)
  • How she decides how to present herself, how she tells her story, her level of safety
  • How Abi “leans in” whenever she feels unsafe – how sharing who she is first, makes her feel safer
  • Civil and social justice advocacy as a therapist
  • Her hesitation to talk about LGBTQ as a single community and the problem with “lumping” them all together. The importance of hearing all the different, unique perspectives.
  • Sitting as a leader in your therapy room and feeling vulnerable as the events in society impact you personally
  • Holding hope for therapy clients as well as for society, and grieving for her own losses and feeling her own fears and her own despair
  • Reflecting on the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue shooting as well as reactions to the memo seeking to make gender binary – both how Abi is reacting personally and what she is hearing (and not hearing) from her clients
  • Where Abi is finding her hope, healing, and getting her support
  • The ways that antisemitism still shows up in daily life (even in small ways)
  • Having to choose how she shows up as an activist with these intersectional needs that aren’t respected
  • How thoughtful she is about where she lives and what she stands up and does for her community
  • What therapists often get wrong related to LGBTQ
  • The frequent problem of othering people within the therapist community who happen to be LGBTQ

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Waves, A Psychological Corporation: www.wavespsych.com

Abi’s availability for consultation: https://www.wavespsych.com/contact

The book Abi was talking about related to bringing ancestors into the room: Native American Postcolonial Psychology By Eduardo Duran, Bonnie Duran

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2272 no Ending Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/ending-therapy Curt and Katie talk about termination of treatment, both when it is planned and when it is unplanned. We look at best practices, challenges, and how to handle it the best way you can. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: When to start talking about termination during treatment Setting expectations for the end of treatment How to address client’s instinct to “ghost” from treatment Normalizing the different paths to ending treatment Different reasons that you may not be able to complete treatment Planning ahead to diminish negative impacts of abrupt terminations that are out of your control Providing referrals, closure, and understanding that even that doesn’t always create positive outcomes The elements of a positive termination Managing expectations of what health and healing are and what would qualify someone to finish treatment Highlighting strengths and progress as well as on-going goals and challenges Acknowledging the relationship you’ve had with the client Processing your own response to the termination What to look at and learn when your client abruptly terminates Requesting termination sessions when someone decides to end suddenly – things to consider What to do when your client ghosts you Closing the client’s chart Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 29 Oct 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Ending Therapy full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about termination of treatment Curt and Katie talk about termination of treatment, both when it is planned and when it is unplanned. We look at best practices, challenges, and how to handle it the best way you can. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: When to start talking about termination during treatment Setting expectations for the end of treatment How to address client’s instinct to “ghost” from treatment Normalizing the different paths to ending treatment Different reasons that you may not be able to complete treatment Planning ahead to diminish negative impacts of abrupt terminations that are out of your control Providing referrals, closure, and understanding that even that doesn’t always create positive outcomes The elements of a positive termination Managing expectations of what health and healing are and what would qualify someone to finish treatment Highlighting strengths and progress as well as on-going goals and challenges Acknowledging the relationship you’ve had with the client Processing your own response to the termination What to look at and learn when your client abruptly terminates Requesting termination sessions when someone decides to end suddenly – things to consider What to do when your client ghosts you Closing the client’s chart Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about termination of treatment, both when it is planned and when it is unplanned. We look at best practices, challenges, and how to handle it the best way you can.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • When to start talking about termination during treatment
  • Setting expectations for the end of treatment
  • How to address client’s instinct to “ghost” from treatment
  • Normalizing the different paths to ending treatment
  • Different reasons that you may not be able to complete treatment
  • Planning ahead to diminish negative impacts of abrupt terminations that are out of your control
  • Providing referrals, closure, and understanding that even that doesn’t always create positive outcomes
  • The elements of a positive termination
  • Managing expectations of what health and healing are and what would qualify someone to finish treatment
  • Highlighting strengths and progress as well as on-going goals and challenges
  • Acknowledging the relationship you’ve had with the client
  • Processing your own response to the termination
  • What to look at and learn when your client abruptly terminates
  • Requesting termination sessions when someone decides to end suddenly – things to consider
  • What to do when your client ghosts you
  • Closing the client’s chart

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2220 no 21st Century Divorce https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/21st-century-divorce An interview with family law attorney Laura A. Wasser, Esq. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the process of divorce, collaboration among professionals, and the creation of her online divorce mediation platform, it’s over easy. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Laura A. Wasser, Esq. C.E.O. of it’s over easy & Host of The Divorce Sucks! Podcast Attorney Laura Allison Wasser is an author, entrepreneur, and Family Law expert. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the online divorce platform, it’s over easy. Laura has represented celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Ryan Reynolds, Angelina Jolie, Jimmy Iovine, Maria Shriver, and Stevie Wonder, but she maintains that divorce is the great equalizer—it terrifies everyone. Laura’s made it her mission to change that by creating it’s over easy, which gives divorcing couples an easy to use resource to dissolve their marriage that is accessible (and affordable) to everyone. In this episode we talk about: Laura’s background in Family Law, her book It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way How Laura perceives the importing distinctions between being an empathic “divorce” lawyer and being a therapist How people can navigate through divorce by yourselves, without needing to bring in a divorce attorney The different mechanisms to get a divorce and how to decide which referral to make How Laura collaborates with therapists and decides to refer to therapists The importance of handling divorce well for moving forward in your life Her opinions on how to help families get through the process Boundaries that attorneys should set within their work Her referral network, how she develops her referral network The turn off of therapists talking too much about their own experiences Reminding ourselves that we are being observed by those who we are collaborating with The shock of mental health providers breaking confidentiality with her How she launched her product out to the market (online divorce platform) Her logic on how she created the platform, with all the pieces considered The flak she got from some other attorneys Connecting divorcing individuals to all the resources they need to move through the process effectively Addressing the broken, clogged up court system How to create closure when getting divorced The power of helping people get the knowledge they need   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. It Doesn’t Have to be That Way: How to Divorce Without Destroying Your Family or Bankrupting Yourself  by Laura Wasser it’s over easy it’s over easy blog: Co-Parenting with an Asshole Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 22 Oct 2018 07:00:00 -0000 21st Century Divorce: An Interview with Laura A. Wasser, Esq. full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with family law attorney Laura A. Wasser Esq. An interview with family law attorney Laura A. Wasser, Esq. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the process of divorce, collaboration among professionals, and the creation of her online divorce mediation platform, it’s over easy. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Laura A. Wasser, Esq. C.E.O. of it’s over easy & Host of The Divorce Sucks! Podcast Attorney Laura Allison Wasser is an author, entrepreneur, and Family Law expert. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the online divorce platform, it’s over easy. Laura has represented celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Ryan Reynolds, Angelina Jolie, Jimmy Iovine, Maria Shriver, and Stevie Wonder, but she maintains that divorce is the great equalizer—it terrifies everyone. Laura’s made it her mission to change that by creating it’s over easy, which gives divorcing couples an easy to use resource to dissolve their marriage that is accessible (and affordable) to everyone. In this episode we talk about: Laura’s background in Family Law, her book It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way How Laura perceives the importing distinctions between being an empathic “divorce” lawyer and being a therapist How people can navigate through divorce by yourselves, without needing to bring in a divorce attorney The different mechanisms to get a divorce and how to decide which referral to make How Laura collaborates with therapists and decides to refer to therapists The importance of handling divorce well for moving forward in your life Her opinions on how to help families get through the process Boundaries that attorneys should set within their work Her referral network, how she develops her referral network The turn off of therapists talking too much about their own experiences Reminding ourselves that we are being observed by those who we are collaborating with The shock of mental health providers breaking confidentiality with her How she launched her product out to the market (online divorce platform) Her logic on how she created the platform, with all the pieces considered The flak she got from some other attorneys Connecting divorcing individuals to all the resources they need to move through the process effectively Addressing the broken, clogged up court system How to create closure when getting divorced The power of helping people get the knowledge they need   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. It Doesn’t Have to be That Way: How to Divorce Without Destroying Your Family or Bankrupting Yourself  by Laura Wasser it’s over easy it’s over easy blog: Co-Parenting with an Asshole Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with family law attorney Laura A. Wasser, Esq. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the process of divorce, collaboration among professionals, and the creation of her online divorce mediation platform, it’s over easy.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Laura A. Wasser, Esq. C.E.O. of it’s over easy & Host of The Divorce Sucks! Podcast

Attorney Laura Allison Wasser is an author, entrepreneur, and Family Law expert. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the online divorce platform, it’s over easy. Laura has represented celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Ryan Reynolds, Angelina Jolie, Jimmy Iovine, Maria Shriver, and Stevie Wonder, but she maintains that divorce is the great equalizer—it terrifies everyone. Laura’s made it her mission to change that by creating it’s over easy, which gives divorcing couples an easy to use resource to dissolve their marriage that is accessible (and affordable) to everyone.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Laura’s background in Family Law, her book It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way
  • How Laura perceives the importing distinctions between being an empathic “divorce” lawyer and being a therapist
  • How people can navigate through divorce by yourselves, without needing to bring in a divorce attorney
  • The different mechanisms to get a divorce and how to decide which referral to make
  • How Laura collaborates with therapists and decides to refer to therapists
  • The importance of handling divorce well for moving forward in your life
  • Her opinions on how to help families get through the process
  • Boundaries that attorneys should set within their work
  • Her referral network, how she develops her referral network
  • The turn off of therapists talking too much about their own experiences
  • Reminding ourselves that we are being observed by those who we are collaborating with
  • The shock of mental health providers breaking confidentiality with her
  • How she launched her product out to the market (online divorce platform)
  • Her logic on how she created the platform, with all the pieces considered
  • The flak she got from some other attorneys
  • Connecting divorcing individuals to all the resources they need to move through the process effectively
  • Addressing the broken, clogged up court system
  • How to create closure when getting divorced
  • The power of helping people get the knowledge they need

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

It Doesn’t Have to be That Way: How to Divorce Without Destroying Your Family or Bankrupting Yourself  by Laura Wasser

it’s over easy

it’s over easy blog: Co-Parenting with an Asshole


Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2259 no So You Want to Plan a Conference https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/so-you-want-to-plan-a-conference Curt and Katie talk about the ups and downs of planning Therapy Reimagined 2018. We share tips and tricks for planning an event as well as things we’re going to do differently next year. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Reflecting on Therapy Reimagined 2018 The importance of planning ahead Creating time and space to do something extra How to create buzz and excitement throughout a long event Messaging and marketing The importance of creating a cohesive marketing plan from the beginning The loss of creativity and perspective when you are super busy and overwhelmed Delegating when something grows bigger than you can manage on your own The danger of burnout when working TOO much, even when you are doing something you love Taking care of the details and creating templates for the next year Event planning and negotiating with the venue – knowing what you don’t know Planning ahead – not just creating stuff to use now, but actually making templates and structures that are repeatable Getting and supporting sponsors Creating relationships and leveraging them to grow the movement Being very clear with the information that sponsors, speakers, and exhibitors can and should share, and when. How important it is to be specific. Being directive, respectful, and specific on how people can help and participate Understanding that we packed WAY TOO MUCH into 2 days Thinking through your whole schedule from the participants’ perspective Making sure you put forward clear instructions for your participants The challenge we had with continuing education sign in and certificates (#fail) How to vet speakers, working with them earlier in the process, the details that are important Taking care of the technological aspects of presenting multiple speakers Looking at it as a production, versus an “educational event” Getting feedback from everyone who attended to improve (our deliberate practice) Announcing the tentative plans for Therapy Reimagined 2019 How to incorporate feedback and criticism into future decision-making, and how important it is to be responsive Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Katie Read Katie Write #therapymovement Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group   Relevant Previous Episodes: Own Your Awesome Business (with Kelly Higdon) The Burnout System Addressing The Burnout System   Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 15 Oct 2018 07:00:00 -0000 So You Want to Plan a Conference: Curt and Katie talk about the ups and downs of planning Therapy Reimagined 2018 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the ups and downs of planning Therapy Reimagined 2018 Curt and Katie talk about the ups and downs of planning Therapy Reimagined 2018. We share tips and tricks for planning an event as well as things we’re going to do differently next year. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Reflecting on Therapy Reimagined 2018 The importance of planning ahead Creating time and space to do something extra How to create buzz and excitement throughout a long event Messaging and marketing The importance of creating a cohesive marketing plan from the beginning The loss of creativity and perspective when you are super busy and overwhelmed Delegating when something grows bigger than you can manage on your own The danger of burnout when working TOO much, even when you are doing something you love Taking care of the details and creating templates for the next year Event planning and negotiating with the venue – knowing what you don’t know Planning ahead – not just creating stuff to use now, but actually making templates and structures that are repeatable Getting and supporting sponsors Creating relationships and leveraging them to grow the movement Being very clear with the information that sponsors, speakers, and exhibitors can and should share, and when. How important it is to be specific. Being directive, respectful, and specific on how people can help and participate Understanding that we packed WAY TOO MUCH into 2 days Thinking through your whole schedule from the participants’ perspective Making sure you put forward clear instructions for your participants The challenge we had with continuing education sign in and certificates (#fail) How to vet speakers, working with them earlier in the process, the details that are important Taking care of the technological aspects of presenting multiple speakers Looking at it as a production, versus an “educational event” Getting feedback from everyone who attended to improve (our deliberate practice) Announcing the tentative plans for Therapy Reimagined 2019 How to incorporate feedback and criticism into future decision-making, and how important it is to be responsive Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Katie Read Katie Write #therapymovement Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group   Relevant Previous Episodes: Own Your Awesome Business (with Kelly Higdon) The Burnout System Addressing The Burnout System   Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!   Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about the ups and downs of planning Therapy Reimagined 2018. We share tips and tricks for planning an event as well as things we’re going to do differently next year.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Reflecting on Therapy Reimagined 2018
  • The importance of planning ahead
  • Creating time and space to do something extra
  • How to create buzz and excitement throughout a long event
  • Messaging and marketing
  • The importance of creating a cohesive marketing plan from the beginning
  • The loss of creativity and perspective when you are super busy and overwhelmed
  • Delegating when something grows bigger than you can manage on your own
  • The danger of burnout when working TOO much, even when you are doing something you love
  • Taking care of the details and creating templates for the next year
  • Event planning and negotiating with the venue – knowing what you don’t know
  • Planning ahead – not just creating stuff to use now, but actually making templates and structures that are repeatable
  • Getting and supporting sponsors
  • Creating relationships and leveraging them to grow the movement
  • Being very clear with the information that sponsors, speakers, and exhibitors can and should share, and when. How important it is to be specific.
  • Being directive, respectful, and specific on how people can help and participate
  • Understanding that we packed WAY TOO MUCH into 2 days
  • Thinking through your whole schedule from the participants’ perspective
  • Making sure you put forward clear instructions for your participants
  • The challenge we had with continuing education sign in and certificates (#fail)
  • How to vet speakers, working with them earlier in the process, the details that are important
  • Taking care of the technological aspects of presenting multiple speakers
  • Looking at it as a production, versus an “educational event”
  • Getting feedback from everyone who attended to improve (our deliberate practice)
  • Announcing the tentative plans for Therapy Reimagined 2019
  • How to incorporate feedback and criticism into future decision-making, and how important it is to be responsive

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Katie Read Katie Write

#therapymovement

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

 

Relevant Previous Episodes:

Own Your Awesome Business (with Kelly Higdon)

The Burnout System

Addressing The Burnout System

 

Our event this year:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2302 no Busting Insurance Myths https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/busting-insurance-myths An interview with Barbara Griswold, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Barbara about what it is really like to have an insurance-based private practice. We look at the common myths and strategies to navigate taking insurance.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Barbara Griswold, MFT, practice consultant, and author Barbara Griswold, MFT, is a practice consultant and the author of Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance -- And Whether You Should (www.theinsurancemaze.com), now in the newly-updated seventh edition.  She invites therapists to contact her through her website to get answers to insurance questions, for practice-building support, and to subscribe to her free monthly e-newsletter to keep abreast of the ever-changing world of insurance.  In private practice in San Jose, California, Barbara has been interviewed on NPR's “Morning Edition," and her articles have appeared in Psychotherapy Networker and The Therapist magazines.  She is a past member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist’s State Ethics Committee and Board of Directors, and former Oral Licensing Examiner for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. In this episode we talk about: The impressions that we often have about taking insurance Why to take insurance: Accessibility of services, full practice with a waitlist without a waitlist, trade off on costs and fees taken The small marketing steps needed to maximize insurance practices: provider directories, website Expanding your practice beyond wealthy clients – increasing diversity and accessibility, capacity for long-term therapy Taking insurance without selling your soul Barbara never makes a clinical decision based on insurance Sorting through the common myths about taking insurance What makes you appealing to insurance panels Requirements for getting onto panels The online “filing cabinet” for applying for insurance – CAQH The importance of niche and specialization – even for insurance Strategies for pointing out your value to insurance panels Learning what the contracted fee is on an insurance panel and how to negotiate up front How to ask insurance panels for a raise The real truth about the paperwork Improving reimbursement rates and timeline to be paid Using an insurance biller What to do when insurance panels say they are not accepting new providers in your area   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) CAQH Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance -- And Whether You Should (www.theinsurancemaze.com) Office Ally Barbara’s Insurance Billers Referral List Barbara’s Webinar on Progress Notes Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 08 Oct 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Busting Insurance Myths: An interview with Barbara Griswold, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Barbara Griswold, LMFT about navigating an insurance based practice An interview with Barbara Griswold, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Barbara about what it is really like to have an insurance-based private practice. We look at the common myths and strategies to navigate taking insurance.    It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Barbara Griswold, MFT, practice consultant, and author Barbara Griswold, MFT, is a practice consultant and the author of Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance -- And Whether You Should (www.theinsurancemaze.com), now in the newly-updated seventh edition.  She invites therapists to contact her through her website to get answers to insurance questions, for practice-building support, and to subscribe to her free monthly e-newsletter to keep abreast of the ever-changing world of insurance.  In private practice in San Jose, California, Barbara has been interviewed on NPR's “Morning Edition," and her articles have appeared in Psychotherapy Networker and The Therapist magazines.  She is a past member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist’s State Ethics Committee and Board of Directors, and former Oral Licensing Examiner for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. In this episode we talk about: The impressions that we often have about taking insurance Why to take insurance: Accessibility of services, full practice with a waitlist without a waitlist, trade off on costs and fees taken The small marketing steps needed to maximize insurance practices: provider directories, website Expanding your practice beyond wealthy clients – increasing diversity and accessibility, capacity for long-term therapy Taking insurance without selling your soul Barbara never makes a clinical decision based on insurance Sorting through the common myths about taking insurance What makes you appealing to insurance panels Requirements for getting onto panels The online “filing cabinet” for applying for insurance – CAQH The importance of niche and specialization – even for insurance Strategies for pointing out your value to insurance panels Learning what the contracted fee is on an insurance panel and how to negotiate up front How to ask insurance panels for a raise The real truth about the paperwork Improving reimbursement rates and timeline to be paid Using an insurance biller What to do when insurance panels say they are not accepting new providers in your area   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) CAQH Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance -- And Whether You Should (www.theinsurancemaze.com) Office Ally Barbara’s Insurance Billers Referral List Barbara’s Webinar on Progress Notes Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Barbara Griswold, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Barbara about what it is really like to have an insurance-based private practice. We look at the common myths and strategies to navigate taking insurance.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Barbara Griswold, MFT, practice consultant, and author

Barbara Griswold, MFT, is a practice consultant and the author of Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance -- And Whether You Should (www.theinsurancemaze.com), now in the newly-updated seventh edition.  She invites therapists to contact her through her website to get answers to insurance questions, for practice-building support, and to subscribe to her free monthly e-newsletter to keep abreast of the ever-changing world of insurance.  In private practice in San Jose, California, Barbara has been interviewed on NPR's “Morning Edition," and her articles have appeared in Psychotherapy Networker and The Therapist magazines.  She is a past member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist’s State Ethics Committee and Board of Directors, and former Oral Licensing Examiner for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The impressions that we often have about taking insurance
  • Why to take insurance: Accessibility of services, full practice with a waitlist without a waitlist, trade off on costs and fees taken
  • The small marketing steps needed to maximize insurance practices: provider directories, website
  • Expanding your practice beyond wealthy clients – increasing diversity and accessibility, capacity for long-term therapy
  • Taking insurance without selling your soul
  • Barbara never makes a clinical decision based on insurance
  • Sorting through the common myths about taking insurance
  • What makes you appealing to insurance panels
  • Requirements for getting onto panels
  • The online “filing cabinet” for applying for insurance – CAQH
  • The importance of niche and specialization – even for insurance
  • Strategies for pointing out your value to insurance panels
  • Learning what the contracted fee is on an insurance panel and how to negotiate up front
  • How to ask insurance panels for a raise
  • The real truth about the paperwork
  • Improving reimbursement rates and timeline to be paid
  • Using an insurance biller
  • What to do when insurance panels say they are not accepting new providers in your area

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)

CAQH

Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance -- And Whether You Should (www.theinsurancemaze.com)

Office Ally

Barbara’s Insurance Billers Referral List

Barbara’s Webinar on Progress Notes


Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2297 no Addressing the Burnout Machine https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/addressing-the-burnout-machine Curt and Katie talk about taking personal responsibility to decrease the impacts of the “Burnout Machine” that is the mental health profession. We look at what should go into an ideal work place and actions each of us can take to improve our own situation as well as the system as a whole.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Looking at how to create better systems for mental health workplaces Magical places that could provide adequate pay, training, and emotionally-focused supervision The importance of incorporating the appropriate employee support into budgets Employee engagement versus turnover The need for larger conversations with stakeholders to improve things systemically Sorting through the challenges and benefits of efficiency and productivity Looking at training supervisors The faulty notion that therapy isn’t about the therapist The need for the business or administrative aspects – we can’t get rid of them. Employee, employer, or entrepreneur skills are required for the system to work Balancing the focus on the clinician as a member of the system, a professional, and as an individual The risks of human connection within an employment situation The benefits of exploring the emotions and human connection on professional development, client outcomes Looking at the expectations around supervision that are described in graduate school Addressing the parallel process within the supervisor/supervisee and therapist/client The power differential in becoming a supervisor and navigating the relationship Knowing ourselves at all developmental stages The impact of “Supervision of Supervision” groups The unfortunate scenario where people are rushing to licensure without meeting their developmental stages Being able to support prelicensees’ primary needs of survival (providing financial stability) so they can slow down and take care of their developmental stages How to set up a career that works for you How to identify opportunities to move the profession forward Assessing your own capacities to improve your career and the profession The problem of being cynical and complaining about the system instead of taking action Taking a personal look and personal responsibility for your career Mon, 01 Oct 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Addressing the Burnout Machine: Curt and Katie talk about taking personal responsibility full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about taking personal responsibility to decrease the impacts of the “Burnout Machine” that is the mental health profession Curt and Katie talk about taking personal responsibility to decrease the impacts of the “Burnout Machine” that is the mental health profession. We look at what should go into an ideal work place and actions each of us can take to improve our own situation as well as the system as a whole.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Looking at how to create better systems for mental health workplaces Magical places that could provide adequate pay, training, and emotionally-focused supervision The importance of incorporating the appropriate employee support into budgets Employee engagement versus turnover The need for larger conversations with stakeholders to improve things systemically Sorting through the challenges and benefits of efficiency and productivity Looking at training supervisors The faulty notion that therapy isn’t about the therapist The need for the business or administrative aspects – we can’t get rid of them. Employee, employer, or entrepreneur skills are required for the system to work Balancing the focus on the clinician as a member of the system, a professional, and as an individual The risks of human connection within an employment situation The benefits of exploring the emotions and human connection on professional development, client outcomes Looking at the expectations around supervision that are described in graduate school Addressing the parallel process within the supervisor/supervisee and therapist/client The power differential in becoming a supervisor and navigating the relationship Knowing ourselves at all developmental stages The impact of “Supervision of Supervision” groups The unfortunate scenario where people are rushing to licensure without meeting their developmental stages Being able to support prelicensees’ primary needs of survival (providing financial stability) so they can slow down and take care of their developmental stages How to set up a career that works for you How to identify opportunities to move the profession forward Assessing your own capacities to improve your career and the profession The problem of being cynical and complaining about the system instead of taking action Taking a personal look and personal responsibility for your career Curt and Katie talk about taking personal responsibility to decrease the impacts of the “Burnout Machine” that is the mental health profession. We look at what should go into an ideal work place and actions each of us can take to improve our own situation as well as the system as a whole. 

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Looking at how to create better systems for mental health workplaces
  • Magical places that could provide adequate pay, training, and emotionally-focused supervision
  • The importance of incorporating the appropriate employee support into budgets
  • Employee engagement versus turnover
  • The need for larger conversations with stakeholders to improve things systemically
  • Sorting through the challenges and benefits of efficiency and productivity
  • Looking at training supervisors
  • The faulty notion that therapy isn’t about the therapist
  • The need for the business or administrative aspects – we can’t get rid of them.
  • Employee, employer, or entrepreneur skills are required for the system to work
  • Balancing the focus on the clinician as a member of the system, a professional, and as an individual
  • The risks of human connection within an employment situation
  • The benefits of exploring the emotions and human connection on professional development, client outcomes
  • Looking at the expectations around supervision that are described in graduate school
  • Addressing the parallel process within the supervisor/supervisee and therapist/client
  • The power differential in becoming a supervisor and navigating the relationship
  • Knowing ourselves at all developmental stages
  • The impact of “Supervision of Supervision” groups
  • The unfortunate scenario where people are rushing to licensure without meeting their developmental stages
  • Being able to support prelicensees’ primary needs of survival (providing financial stability) so they can slow down and take care of their developmental stages
  • How to set up a career that works for you
  • How to identify opportunities to move the profession forward
  • Assessing your own capacities to improve your career and the profession
  • The problem of being cynical and complaining about the system instead of taking action
  • Taking a personal look and personal responsibility for your career
]]> 2277 no The Burnout System https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-burnout-system Curt and Katie talk about how the mental health system is set up to lead to burnout. We look at how therapists typically develop over their careers and how educational, licensing, regulation, and business factors can get in the way of this development. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The shift from therapist development focus to a focus on client-care Sacrificial Helping Syndrome, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout The systemic problems that lead to burnout (education, licensing, regulation, business practices) The impact of the economy on therapists being able to meet their developmental milestones The standard developmental stages of therapists The typical challenges of each stage and how a broken system can make these challenges even harder (or impossible) to navigate Some of the educational or licensing requirements that seem to go against how people best learn and develop The challenge of constantly being in crisis (whether it is about getting hours timely, financial strain, or working with clients with high risk) and trying to become a therapist How the people around us while we are learning impacts how we develop as therapists The struggle to set up a positive learning environment when you’re starting out as a therapist The most important time of training (prelicensed years, especially the first 70 hours) being plagued with high productivity and clients with high risk, which lead to moving quickly, not becoming stronger clinicians The reasons to slow down your prelicensed years for training and personal development and the challenges in doing so The aspects of training that would be ideal (and seem almost magical and impossible) Recovery-oriented training, crisis management, trauma-informed systems The possibilities for improving public mental health and other workplaces to provide a better environment to start and grow as a clinician EFT-Based Supervision as a good standard The conversations that we need to have with stakeholders across the system to work toward change Mon, 24 Sep 2018 07:00:00 -0000 The Burnout System: Curt and Katie talk about how to mental health system is set up to lead to burnout full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how the mental health system is set up to lead to burnout Curt and Katie talk about how the mental health system is set up to lead to burnout. We look at how therapists typically develop over their careers and how educational, licensing, regulation, and business factors can get in the way of this development. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The shift from therapist development focus to a focus on client-care Sacrificial Helping Syndrome, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout The systemic problems that lead to burnout (education, licensing, regulation, business practices) The impact of the economy on therapists being able to meet their developmental milestones The standard developmental stages of therapists The typical challenges of each stage and how a broken system can make these challenges even harder (or impossible) to navigate Some of the educational or licensing requirements that seem to go against how people best learn and develop The challenge of constantly being in crisis (whether it is about getting hours timely, financial strain, or working with clients with high risk) and trying to become a therapist How the people around us while we are learning impacts how we develop as therapists The struggle to set up a positive learning environment when you’re starting out as a therapist The most important time of training (prelicensed years, especially the first 70 hours) being plagued with high productivity and clients with high risk, which lead to moving quickly, not becoming stronger clinicians The reasons to slow down your prelicensed years for training and personal development and the challenges in doing so The aspects of training that would be ideal (and seem almost magical and impossible) Recovery-oriented training, crisis management, trauma-informed systems The possibilities for improving public mental health and other workplaces to provide a better environment to start and grow as a clinician EFT-Based Supervision as a good standard The conversations that we need to have with stakeholders across the system to work toward change Curt and Katie talk about how the mental health system is set up to lead to burnout. We look at how therapists typically develop over their careers and how educational, licensing, regulation, and business factors can get in the way of this development.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The shift from therapist development focus to a focus on client-care
  • Sacrificial Helping Syndrome, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout
  • The systemic problems that lead to burnout (education, licensing, regulation, business practices)
  • The impact of the economy on therapists being able to meet their developmental milestones
  • The standard developmental stages of therapists
  • The typical challenges of each stage and how a broken system can make these challenges even harder (or impossible) to navigate
  • Some of the educational or licensing requirements that seem to go against how people best learn and develop
  • The challenge of constantly being in crisis (whether it is about getting hours timely, financial strain, or working with clients with high risk) and trying to become a therapist
  • How the people around us while we are learning impacts how we develop as therapists
  • The struggle to set up a positive learning environment when you’re starting out as a therapist
  • The most important time of training (prelicensed years, especially the first 70 hours) being plagued with high productivity and clients with high risk, which lead to moving quickly, not becoming stronger clinicians
  • The reasons to slow down your prelicensed years for training and personal development and the challenges in doing so
  • The aspects of training that would be ideal (and seem almost magical and impossible)
  • Recovery-oriented training, crisis management, trauma-informed systems
  • The possibilities for improving public mental health and other workplaces to provide a better environment to start and grow as a clinician
  • EFT-Based Supervision as a good standard
  • The conversations that we need to have with stakeholders across the system to work toward change
]]> 2141 no The Neuroscience of Stress https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-neuroscience-of-stress A LIVE interview with Celisa Flores, Psy.D. – Curt and Katie talk with Celisa about what stress does to you and your body and what therapists can do to take better care of their bodies, their brains, and their mental health. Celisa also delves into burnout AND the benefits of yoga and meditation.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Celisa Flores, Psy.D. Since obtaining a master’s degree in Counseling in 2007 at CSU Fresno and a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2013, Dr. Flores worked as a therapist in a wide variety of mental health treatment settings, with emphasis on Eating Disorders, Mindfulness and women’s issues. Now proudly with Center for Discovery, providing clinical outreach for Ventura County and the Central California region. With a history of providing individual, group, family, and couples counseling services, as well as therapeutic yoga services, Dr. Flores has focused on evidence-based practices, providing guidance and support in Mindfulness in Recovery, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and other self-empowerment strategies. In addition to training as a therapist, she is a Certified Yoga Teacher, also trained in Mindful Stress Reduction. By integrating a variety of holistic tools into recovery and wellness, she works to create a long-lasting, sustainable wellness plan. Dr. Flores also provides consultation, teaching and training for students, professionals, and community groups, which have included youth conferences, the CSU school systems, international speaking and NASA. In effort to support other therapists and community members with understanding eating disorders and treatment, she is always open to consider future speaking and training opportunities. In this episode we talk about: How (and why) our bodies store trauma The use of yoga (both poses and principles) How the fight or flight response (when we don’t fight or flee) impacts our bodies How our brain has evolved, and how we respond to stressors that are not literally life or death. Yoga – joining body and breath – to calm the fight or flight nervous system The importance of the breath in how we feel Diaphragmatic breathing The importance of getting out of a narrow view AND in getting out of Fight or Flight in order to be best able to support our clients Approachable strategies that make small moments of self-care possible Distress tolerance corners (and activities that are especially good for distress tolerance) Proactively planning for self-care and distress tolerance coping What the real consequences of poor self-care are (including rapid aging and current dangers) Some yoga stretches that you can use in your office (and Curt’s desire to be a yoga therapist) How to remind yourself that yourself to self-care and how to hold yourself accountable How meditation changes your brain and how to make it approachable Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk When by Daniel Pink Gabor Mate Find Celisa online: her website Linked In  Her email: celisa.flores@centerfordiscovery.com Previous Episode mentioned: Being Truly Mindful Mon, 17 Sep 2018 07:00:00 -0000 The Neuroscience of Stress: A LIVE interview with Celisa Flores, Psy.D. full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT A LIVE interview with Celisa Flores, Psy.D. A LIVE interview with Celisa Flores, Psy.D. – Curt and Katie talk with Celisa about what stress does to you and your body and what therapists can do to take better care of their bodies, their brains, and their mental health. Celisa also delves into burnout AND the benefits of yoga and meditation.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Celisa Flores, Psy.D. Since obtaining a master’s degree in Counseling in 2007 at CSU Fresno and a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2013, Dr. Flores worked as a therapist in a wide variety of mental health treatment settings, with emphasis on Eating Disorders, Mindfulness and women’s issues. Now proudly with Center for Discovery, providing clinical outreach for Ventura County and the Central California region. With a history of providing individual, group, family, and couples counseling services, as well as therapeutic yoga services, Dr. Flores has focused on evidence-based practices, providing guidance and support in Mindfulness in Recovery, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and other self-empowerment strategies. In addition to training as a therapist, she is a Certified Yoga Teacher, also trained in Mindful Stress Reduction. By integrating a variety of holistic tools into recovery and wellness, she works to create a long-lasting, sustainable wellness plan. Dr. Flores also provides consultation, teaching and training for students, professionals, and community groups, which have included youth conferences, the CSU school systems, international speaking and NASA. In effort to support other therapists and community members with understanding eating disorders and treatment, she is always open to consider future speaking and training opportunities. In this episode we talk about: How (and why) our bodies store trauma The use of yoga (both poses and principles) How the fight or flight response (when we don’t fight or flee) impacts our bodies How our brain has evolved, and how we respond to stressors that are not literally life or death. Yoga – joining body and breath – to calm the fight or flight nervous system The importance of the breath in how we feel Diaphragmatic breathing The importance of getting out of a narrow view AND in getting out of Fight or Flight in order to be best able to support our clients Approachable strategies that make small moments of self-care possible Distress tolerance corners (and activities that are especially good for distress tolerance) Proactively planning for self-care and distress tolerance coping What the real consequences of poor self-care are (including rapid aging and current dangers) Some yoga stretches that you can use in your office (and Curt’s desire to be a yoga therapist) How to remind yourself that yourself to self-care and how to hold yourself accountable How meditation changes your brain and how to make it approachable Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk When by Daniel Pink Gabor Mate Find Celisa online: her website Linked In  Her email: celisa.flores@centerfordiscovery.com Previous Episode mentioned: Being Truly Mindful A LIVE interview with Celisa Flores, Psy.D. – Curt and Katie talk with Celisa about what stress does to you and your body and what therapists can do to take better care of their bodies, their brains, and their mental health. Celisa also delves into burnout AND the benefits of yoga and meditation.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Celisa Flores, Psy.D.

Since obtaining a master’s degree in Counseling in 2007 at CSU Fresno and a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2013, Dr. Flores worked as a therapist in a wide variety of mental health treatment settings, with emphasis on Eating Disorders, Mindfulness and women’s issues. Now proudly with Center for Discovery, providing clinical outreach for Ventura County and the Central California region.

With a history of providing individual, group, family, and couples counseling services, as well as therapeutic yoga services, Dr. Flores has focused on evidence-based practices, providing guidance and support in Mindfulness in Recovery, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and other self-empowerment strategies. In addition to training as a therapist, she is a Certified Yoga Teacher, also trained in Mindful Stress Reduction. By integrating a variety of holistic tools into recovery and wellness, she works to create a long-lasting, sustainable wellness plan.

Dr. Flores also provides consultation, teaching and training for students, professionals, and community groups, which have included youth conferences, the CSU school systems, international speaking and NASA. In effort to support other therapists and community members with understanding eating disorders and treatment, she is always open to consider future speaking and training opportunities.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How (and why) our bodies store trauma
  • The use of yoga (both poses and principles)
  • How the fight or flight response (when we don’t fight or flee) impacts our bodies
  • How our brain has evolved, and how we respond to stressors that are not literally life or death.
  • Yoga – joining body and breath – to calm the fight or flight nervous system
  • The importance of the breath in how we feel
  • Diaphragmatic breathing
  • The importance of getting out of a narrow view AND in getting out of Fight or Flight in order to be best able to support our clients
  • Approachable strategies that make small moments of self-care possible
  • Distress tolerance corners (and activities that are especially good for distress tolerance)
  • Proactively planning for self-care and distress tolerance coping
  • What the real consequences of poor self-care are (including rapid aging and current dangers)
  • Some yoga stretches that you can use in your office (and Curt’s desire to be a yoga therapist)
  • How to remind yourself that yourself to self-care and how to hold yourself accountable
  • How meditation changes your brain and how to make it approachable

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

When by Daniel Pink

Gabor Mate

Find Celisa online: her website Linked In 

Her email: celisa.flores@centerfordiscovery.com

Previous Episode mentioned:

Being Truly Mindful

]]> 2290 no Therapy is DOPE https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapy-is-dope An interview with Eboni Harris, Co-Founder of Melanin and Mental Health – Curt and Katie talk with Eboni about people of color, both clients and clinicians, and what therapists often get wrong about cultural competence, continuing education, and the uncomfortable conversations we need to be having to decrease mental health stigma, racism, and ignorance. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Eboni Harris, LPC, LMFT Eboni Harris is a licensed relationship therapist, co-founder of Melanin and Mental Health™, Founder of Room for Relations and host of Room for Relations: Sex and Relationship Podcast. Through her education she has learned the skills and techniques to help individuals and couples love better, stronger and longer. Through life she has learned that taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for you and the ones you love. Her goal is to help adults communicate with clarity and honesty, love with passion and intention and teach their little ones the value of boundaries, compassion and trust. In this episode we talk about: Eboni’s story and how she came to co-found Melanin and Mental Health Connecting therapists of color to help decrease mental health stigma and improve the quality of clinical care for people of color Creating a directory for clinicians of color Psychology Today’s lack of ethnic diversity on their magazine How it feels to be leading a movement, especially when people don’t get it The Melanin and Mental Health tag line: Therapy is Dope When You Have a Dope Therapist. The types of training and conversations that need to happen to support the increasingly diverse population of clients Cultural humility and cultural competence What therapists get wrong when working cross culturally The damage done when clinicians dismiss race as a factor Lack of understanding of cultural, ethnic, gender identity and impacts on life and in the therapy room Micro-aggressions that can even happen in treatment The problem with referring out all clients of different ethnicities The institutional concerns within the mental health profession that provide obstacles both for clients entering treatment as well as clinicians entering the profession Mental Health Access and the complexity of hiring clinicians or finding therapists who are culturally competent The role that fear and ignorance that can lead to poor interventions Responding as a human being, not a member of the establishment (calling the police, CPS, etc.) Understanding how passive ignorance can be a bigger problem than overt racism Using privilege and access to help solve the problem and be an ally. What needs to change in our profession to better support people of color Understanding healing with a more diverse lens. The importance of understanding your biases Uncomfortable conversations that lead to positive change Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Melanin and Mental Health™ Petition to demand more diversity from Psychology Today Magazine Mon, 10 Sep 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Therapy is DOPE: An interview with Eboni Harris, Co-founder of Melanin and Mental Health full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Eboni Harris, Co-Founder of Melanin and Mental Health An interview with Eboni Harris, Co-Founder of Melanin and Mental Health – Curt and Katie talk with Eboni about people of color, both clients and clinicians, and what therapists often get wrong about cultural competence, continuing education, and the uncomfortable conversations we need to be having to decrease mental health stigma, racism, and ignorance. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Eboni Harris, LPC, LMFT Eboni Harris is a licensed relationship therapist, co-founder of Melanin and Mental Health™, Founder of Room for Relations and host of Room for Relations: Sex and Relationship Podcast. Through her education she has learned the skills and techniques to help individuals and couples love better, stronger and longer. Through life she has learned that taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for you and the ones you love. Her goal is to help adults communicate with clarity and honesty, love with passion and intention and teach their little ones the value of boundaries, compassion and trust. In this episode we talk about: Eboni’s story and how she came to co-found Melanin and Mental Health Connecting therapists of color to help decrease mental health stigma and improve the quality of clinical care for people of color Creating a directory for clinicians of color Psychology Today’s lack of ethnic diversity on their magazine How it feels to be leading a movement, especially when people don’t get it The Melanin and Mental Health tag line: Therapy is Dope When You Have a Dope Therapist. The types of training and conversations that need to happen to support the increasingly diverse population of clients Cultural humility and cultural competence What therapists get wrong when working cross culturally The damage done when clinicians dismiss race as a factor Lack of understanding of cultural, ethnic, gender identity and impacts on life and in the therapy room Micro-aggressions that can even happen in treatment The problem with referring out all clients of different ethnicities The institutional concerns within the mental health profession that provide obstacles both for clients entering treatment as well as clinicians entering the profession Mental Health Access and the complexity of hiring clinicians or finding therapists who are culturally competent The role that fear and ignorance that can lead to poor interventions Responding as a human being, not a member of the establishment (calling the police, CPS, etc.) Understanding how passive ignorance can be a bigger problem than overt racism Using privilege and access to help solve the problem and be an ally. What needs to change in our profession to better support people of color Understanding healing with a more diverse lens. The importance of understanding your biases Uncomfortable conversations that lead to positive change Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Melanin and Mental Health™ Petition to demand more diversity from Psychology Today Magazine An interview with Eboni Harris, Co-Founder of Melanin and Mental Health – Curt and Katie talk with Eboni about people of color, both clients and clinicians, and what therapists often get wrong about cultural competence, continuing education, and the uncomfortable conversations we need to be having to decrease mental health stigma, racism, and ignorance.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Eboni Harris, LPC, LMFT

Eboni Harris is a licensed relationship therapist, co-founder of Melanin and Mental Health™, Founder of Room for Relations and host of Room for Relations: Sex and Relationship Podcast. Through her education she has learned the skills and techniques to help individuals and couples love better, stronger and longer. Through life she has learned that taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for you and the ones you love. Her goal is to help adults communicate with clarity and honesty, love with passion and intention and teach their little ones the value of boundaries, compassion and trust.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Eboni’s story and how she came to co-found Melanin and Mental Health
  • Connecting therapists of color to help decrease mental health stigma and improve the quality of clinical care for people of color
  • Creating a directory for clinicians of color
  • Psychology Today’s lack of ethnic diversity on their magazine
  • How it feels to be leading a movement, especially when people don’t get it
  • The Melanin and Mental Health tag line: Therapy is Dope When You Have a Dope Therapist.
  • The types of training and conversations that need to happen to support the increasingly diverse population of clients
  • Cultural humility and cultural competence
  • What therapists get wrong when working cross culturally
  • The damage done when clinicians dismiss race as a factor
  • Lack of understanding of cultural, ethnic, gender identity and impacts on life and in the therapy room
  • Micro-aggressions that can even happen in treatment
  • The problem with referring out all clients of different ethnicities
  • The institutional concerns within the mental health profession that provide obstacles both for clients entering treatment as well as clinicians entering the profession
  • Mental Health Access and the complexity of hiring clinicians or finding therapists who are culturally competent
  • The role that fear and ignorance that can lead to poor interventions
  • Responding as a human being, not a member of the establishment (calling the police, CPS, etc.)
  • Understanding how passive ignorance can be a bigger problem than overt racism
  • Using privilege and access to help solve the problem and be an ally.
  • What needs to change in our profession to better support people of color
  • Understanding healing with a more diverse lens.
  • The importance of understanding your biases
  • Uncomfortable conversations that lead to positive change

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Melanin and Mental Health™

Petition to demand more diversity from Psychology Today Magazine

]]> 2458 no Being Truly Mindful https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/being-truly-mindful An interview with Ashley Graber, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Ashley about mindfulness and meditation – how to incorporate into daily life, considerations for teaching your clients, and the things that therapists can get wrong when using mindfulness interventions! It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Ashley Graber, LMFT After 15 years working in Commercial Real Estate in New York City, Ashley Graber changed the direction of her life to the worlds of Psychology and Meditation & Mindfulness. Ashley came to these practices after getting sober and in the decade plus since, she now runs a busy mindfulness-based psychotherapy practice at Yale Street Therapy (www.YaleStreetTherapy.com) in Santa Monica, CA. Ashley is the Director of Curriculum for the next generation meditation app & mindfulness company, Evenflow. Ashley received her clinical degree from Antioch University and has trained extensively in Meditation & Mindfulness practices, earning her certificate in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through The Center for Mindfulness at UC San Diego. She has also trained in Mindful Schools (teaching mindfulness and meditation to children), Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Ashley was recently on Good Morning LaLa Land, spoke on Resilience at this year’s renowned Wisdom. 2.0 Mindfulness & Technology conference, and is putting her psychotherapy and Meditation & Mindfulness skills into print with a “how to” book for families. Learn more at www.AshleyGraberTherapy.com. In this episode we talk about: How Ashley puts her message out widely Meditation and mindfulness tools that can help clients throughout their life. Making meditation and mindfulness accessible The difference between mindfulness and meditation The importance of avoiding judgment to decrease suffering Living in the present moment, without a lens of judgment Shinzen’s equation: Pain X Resistance = Suffering How we are most awake and alive in the present moment How to continue to return to the present moment Important ways to self-assess when thoughts, emotions, behaviors are unhealthy, including looking at the physical sensations in the present moment The importance of being consistent with mindfulness practice The requirements for therapists to have a regular practice before teaching clients How to incorporate practices, getting mentorship and training Different tools for teaching mindfulness and meditation to clients Adjustments for clients who cannot sit in meditation, so they can experience mindfulness (especially those who have complex trauma, anxiety) How therapists can consciously add mindfulness activities to their day. Slow down the pace between sessions, consciously breathing, weaving some slower moments into your life. The importance of using your senses, getting outside Scheduling meditation Setting reminders How mentorship works in meditation The resources of Even Flow (the app, the meditation/mindfulness company) The different types of certifications and training for mindfulness The inquiry process after the mindfulness practice (and its importance)  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Evenflow Meditation app Yale Street Therapy Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Classes Jon Kabat Zinn Chris Crotty at AgainstTheStream, Boston Tue, 04 Sep 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Being Truly Mindful: An Interview with Ashley Graber, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Ashley Graber, LMFT An interview with Ashley Graber, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Ashley about mindfulness and meditation – how to incorporate into daily life, considerations for teaching your clients, and the things that therapists can get wrong when using mindfulness interventions! It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Ashley Graber, LMFT After 15 years working in Commercial Real Estate in New York City, Ashley Graber changed the direction of her life to the worlds of Psychology and Meditation & Mindfulness. Ashley came to these practices after getting sober and in the decade plus since, she now runs a busy mindfulness-based psychotherapy practice at Yale Street Therapy (www.YaleStreetTherapy.com) in Santa Monica, CA. Ashley is the Director of Curriculum for the next generation meditation app & mindfulness company, Evenflow. Ashley received her clinical degree from Antioch University and has trained extensively in Meditation & Mindfulness practices, earning her certificate in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through The Center for Mindfulness at UC San Diego. She has also trained in Mindful Schools (teaching mindfulness and meditation to children), Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Ashley was recently on Good Morning LaLa Land, spoke on Resilience at this year’s renowned Wisdom. 2.0 Mindfulness & Technology conference, and is putting her psychotherapy and Meditation & Mindfulness skills into print with a “how to” book for families. Learn more at www.AshleyGraberTherapy.com. In this episode we talk about: How Ashley puts her message out widely Meditation and mindfulness tools that can help clients throughout their life. Making meditation and mindfulness accessible The difference between mindfulness and meditation The importance of avoiding judgment to decrease suffering Living in the present moment, without a lens of judgment Shinzen’s equation: Pain X Resistance = Suffering How we are most awake and alive in the present moment How to continue to return to the present moment Important ways to self-assess when thoughts, emotions, behaviors are unhealthy, including looking at the physical sensations in the present moment The importance of being consistent with mindfulness practice The requirements for therapists to have a regular practice before teaching clients How to incorporate practices, getting mentorship and training Different tools for teaching mindfulness and meditation to clients Adjustments for clients who cannot sit in meditation, so they can experience mindfulness (especially those who have complex trauma, anxiety) How therapists can consciously add mindfulness activities to their day. Slow down the pace between sessions, consciously breathing, weaving some slower moments into your life. The importance of using your senses, getting outside Scheduling meditation Setting reminders How mentorship works in meditation The resources of Even Flow (the app, the meditation/mindfulness company) The different types of certifications and training for mindfulness The inquiry process after the mindfulness practice (and its importance)  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Evenflow Meditation app Yale Street Therapy Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Classes Jon Kabat Zinn Chris Crotty at AgainstTheStream, Boston An interview with Ashley Graber, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Ashley about mindfulness and meditation – how to incorporate into daily life, considerations for teaching your clients, and the things that therapists can get wrong when using mindfulness interventions!

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Ashley Graber, LMFT

After 15 years working in Commercial Real Estate in New York City, Ashley Graber changed the direction of her life to the worlds of Psychology and Meditation & Mindfulness. Ashley came to these practices after getting sober and in the decade plus since, she now runs a busy mindfulness-based psychotherapy practice at Yale Street Therapy (www.YaleStreetTherapy.com) in Santa Monica, CA. Ashley is the Director of Curriculum for the next generation meditation app & mindfulness company, Evenflow. Ashley received her clinical degree from Antioch University and has trained extensively in Meditation & Mindfulness practices, earning her certificate in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through The Center for Mindfulness at UC San Diego. She has also trained in Mindful Schools (teaching mindfulness and meditation to children), Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Ashley was recently on Good Morning LaLa Land, spoke on Resilience at this year’s renowned Wisdom. 2.0 Mindfulness & Technology conference, and is putting her psychotherapy and Meditation & Mindfulness skills into print with a “how to” book for families. Learn more at www.AshleyGraberTherapy.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How Ashley puts her message out widely
  • Meditation and mindfulness tools that can help clients throughout their life.
  • Making meditation and mindfulness accessible
  • The difference between mindfulness and meditation
  • The importance of avoiding judgment to decrease suffering
  • Living in the present moment, without a lens of judgment
  • Shinzen’s equation: Pain X Resistance = Suffering
  • How we are most awake and alive in the present moment
  • How to continue to return to the present moment
  • Important ways to self-assess when thoughts, emotions, behaviors are unhealthy, including looking at the physical sensations in the present moment
  • The importance of being consistent with mindfulness practice
  • The requirements for therapists to have a regular practice before teaching clients
  • How to incorporate practices, getting mentorship and training
  • Different tools for teaching mindfulness and meditation to clients
  • Adjustments for clients who cannot sit in meditation, so they can experience mindfulness (especially those who have complex trauma, anxiety)
  • How therapists can consciously add mindfulness activities to their day.
  • Slow down the pace between sessions, consciously breathing, weaving some slower moments into your life.
  • The importance of using your senses, getting outside
  • Scheduling meditation
  • Setting reminders
  • How mentorship works in meditation
  • The resources of Even Flow (the app, the meditation/mindfulness company)
  • The different types of certifications and training for mindfulness
  • The inquiry process after the mindfulness practice (and its importance)

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Evenflow Meditation app

Yale Street Therapy

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Classes

Jon Kabat Zinn

Chris Crotty at AgainstTheStream, Boston

]]> 2151 no A Bit of Advice https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/a-bit-of-advice Curt and Katie talk about advice-giving in session, looking at the complexities, pros and cons, and how and when to give advice to clients.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Why, when to give advice in session How to process the other pieces before giving advice Therapeutic techniques that help in problem-solving before giving advice Gender differences in approaching therapy, including who is looking more for “solutions” How to assess because each individual has a different capacity to ask for help and/or seek advice Solution-based advice versus process-oriented advice The difference between clinical and coaching interventions Developmental stages of decision-making and how they can impact when and how to give advice How to assess whether you’ve crossed a boundary with the advice you’re giving Urgency and crisis-related advice The importance of seeing from your client’s perspective Looking at what your advice is based on The downsides of refusing to give an opinion, not self-disclosing – interacting as human beings can be richer therapeutically The complexities as well as the pros and cons of giving advice  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Other Relevant Episodes: What Clients Want Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 27 Aug 2018 07:00:00 -0000 A Bit of Advice full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about advice-giving in session Curt and Katie talk about advice-giving in session, looking at the complexities, pros and cons, and how and when to give advice to clients.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Why, when to give advice in session How to process the other pieces before giving advice Therapeutic techniques that help in problem-solving before giving advice Gender differences in approaching therapy, including who is looking more for “solutions” How to assess because each individual has a different capacity to ask for help and/or seek advice Solution-based advice versus process-oriented advice The difference between clinical and coaching interventions Developmental stages of decision-making and how they can impact when and how to give advice How to assess whether you’ve crossed a boundary with the advice you’re giving Urgency and crisis-related advice The importance of seeing from your client’s perspective Looking at what your advice is based on The downsides of refusing to give an opinion, not self-disclosing – interacting as human beings can be richer therapeutically The complexities as well as the pros and cons of giving advice  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Other Relevant Episodes: What Clients Want Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about advice-giving in session, looking at the complexities, pros and cons, and how and when to give advice to clients.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why, when to give advice in session
  • How to process the other pieces before giving advice
  • Therapeutic techniques that help in problem-solving before giving advice
  • Gender differences in approaching therapy, including who is looking more for “solutions”
  • How to assess because each individual has a different capacity to ask for help and/or seek advice
  • Solution-based advice versus process-oriented advice
  • The difference between clinical and coaching interventions
  • Developmental stages of decision-making and how they can impact when and how to give advice
  • How to assess whether you’ve crossed a boundary with the advice you’re giving
  • Urgency and crisis-related advice
  • The importance of seeing from your client’s perspective
  • Looking at what your advice is based on
  • The downsides of refusing to give an opinion, not self-disclosing – interacting as human beings can be richer therapeutically
  • The complexities as well as the pros and cons of giving advice 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Other Relevant Episodes:

What Clients Want

Our event this year:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our new consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2027 no Let’s Get Political https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/lets-get-political An interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Heather about being a therapist and being an activist as well as the challenges of being in the public eye during a national campaign. Heather’s call to action: step up and use your voice! It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT Heather Janz, LMFT, has established a private practice in California’s central valley serving teens and young adults referred through the Juvenile Justice Center, hospitals, and county mental health crisis centers. Heather inspires her clients and fellow mental health professionals by modeling assertiveness and positive communication through activism and advocacy. She is the current president of her local chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CSJV-CAMFT) and has also been involved in several movements including The Women’s March, Families Belong Together, and March For Our Lives. You can learn more about Heather at www.heatherjanz.com. In this episode we talk about: Being a therapist during a campaign How Heather is navigating the complexities of being visible in the campaign where her husband is a democrat running to be the representative for Congressional District 22 The challenges of being a therapist during a national campaign How Heather has processed her visibility and the campaign with her clients The unexpected benefits of Heather’s personal life being so public, within her clinical work The challenges of having different political views than clients – how to process it with clients The benefits of being on record related to specific more controversial issues How she has transitioned from having no visibility (as directed in school) to being in most of her clients’ mailboxes The idea that clients need us to take care of them by being so invisible How Heather screens new clients in and out to make sure that clients are not sensationalized related to the election The additional steps Heather will take to protect her clients’ confidentiality on social media Heather’s lack of confidentiality and how she relies on her ability to remain genuine in all spaces The surprises that have come during the campaign How to diminish the impact of the external stuff (campaign or personal matters) and the strict boundaries that Heather holds to shift the conversation to the clinical material The supports that Heather has put in place to manage her work, the campaign, her own volunteer work The self-care practices that Heather has put into place, how she has learned to say “no” Advice for others seeking to enter politics as a therapist Why it is so important that we step up, even if we don’t know if we’re ready, we can’t wait How our activism can give our clients hope How therapists as mental health experts interacting with legislators and staffers can decrease mental health stigma   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Heather’s Website Andrew Janz for Congress Mon, 20 Aug 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Let’s Get Political: An interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT An interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Heather about being a therapist and being an activist as well as the challenges of being in the public eye during a national campaign. Heather’s call to action: step up and use your voice! It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT Heather Janz, LMFT, has established a private practice in California’s central valley serving teens and young adults referred through the Juvenile Justice Center, hospitals, and county mental health crisis centers. Heather inspires her clients and fellow mental health professionals by modeling assertiveness and positive communication through activism and advocacy. She is the current president of her local chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CSJV-CAMFT) and has also been involved in several movements including The Women’s March, Families Belong Together, and March For Our Lives. You can learn more about Heather at www.heatherjanz.com. In this episode we talk about: Being a therapist during a campaign How Heather is navigating the complexities of being visible in the campaign where her husband is a democrat running to be the representative for Congressional District 22 The challenges of being a therapist during a national campaign How Heather has processed her visibility and the campaign with her clients The unexpected benefits of Heather’s personal life being so public, within her clinical work The challenges of having different political views than clients – how to process it with clients The benefits of being on record related to specific more controversial issues How she has transitioned from having no visibility (as directed in school) to being in most of her clients’ mailboxes The idea that clients need us to take care of them by being so invisible How Heather screens new clients in and out to make sure that clients are not sensationalized related to the election The additional steps Heather will take to protect her clients’ confidentiality on social media Heather’s lack of confidentiality and how she relies on her ability to remain genuine in all spaces The surprises that have come during the campaign How to diminish the impact of the external stuff (campaign or personal matters) and the strict boundaries that Heather holds to shift the conversation to the clinical material The supports that Heather has put in place to manage her work, the campaign, her own volunteer work The self-care practices that Heather has put into place, how she has learned to say “no” Advice for others seeking to enter politics as a therapist Why it is so important that we step up, even if we don’t know if we’re ready, we can’t wait How our activism can give our clients hope How therapists as mental health experts interacting with legislators and staffers can decrease mental health stigma   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Heather’s Website Andrew Janz for Congress An interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT – Curt and Katie talk with Heather about being a therapist and being an activist as well as the challenges of being in the public eye during a national campaign. Heather’s call to action: step up and use your voice!

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Heather Walker Janz, LMFT

Heather Janz, LMFT, has established a private practice in California’s central valley serving teens and young adults referred through the Juvenile Justice Center, hospitals, and county mental health crisis centers. Heather inspires her clients and fellow mental health professionals by modeling assertiveness and positive communication through activism and advocacy. She is the current president of her local chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CSJV-CAMFT) and has also been involved in several movements including The Women’s March, Families Belong Together, and March For Our Lives. You can learn more about Heather at www.heatherjanz.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Being a therapist during a campaign
  • How Heather is navigating the complexities of being visible in the campaign where her husband is a democrat running to be the representative for Congressional District 22
  • The challenges of being a therapist during a national campaign
  • How Heather has processed her visibility and the campaign with her clients
  • The unexpected benefits of Heather’s personal life being so public, within her clinical work
  • The challenges of having different political views than clients – how to process it with clients
  • The benefits of being on record related to specific more controversial issues
  • How she has transitioned from having no visibility (as directed in school) to being in most of her clients’ mailboxes
  • The idea that clients need us to take care of them by being so invisible
  • How Heather screens new clients in and out to make sure that clients are not sensationalized related to the election
  • The additional steps Heather will take to protect her clients’ confidentiality on social media
  • Heather’s lack of confidentiality and how she relies on her ability to remain genuine in all spaces
  • The surprises that have come during the campaign
  • How to diminish the impact of the external stuff (campaign or personal matters) and the strict boundaries that Heather holds to shift the conversation to the clinical material
  • The supports that Heather has put in place to manage her work, the campaign, her own volunteer work
  • The self-care practices that Heather has put into place, how she has learned to say “no”
  • Advice for others seeking to enter politics as a therapist
  • Why it is so important that we step up, even if we don’t know if we’re ready, we can’t wait
  • How our activism can give our clients hope
  • How therapists as mental health experts interacting with legislators and staffers can decrease mental health stigma

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Heather’s Website

Andrew Janz for Congress

]]> 2021 no Bad Business Practices https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/bad-business-practices Curt and Katie talk about the mistakes that therapists make in their business that can impact their clinical practice, their financial stability, and their reputation both with their colleagues and their clients.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The intersection between business and clinical practices The different mistakes that therapists make like not returning phone calls, being clumsy with intake call and intake process, failing to talk about fees before meeting in person, insurance bait and switch, scheduling snafus in shared offices, lack of control in your space, running late, poor referrals, not getting consent from both parents, clients missing payments and racking up debt How to improve business practices to improve clinical relationships Using therapy skills to improve “sales” Systems to help clients engage in treatment from the beginning The importance of establishing fees and contracts/consents prior to the first session Clear parameters can equal clinical safety Timeliness can equate to trust The handoff from intake or practice owner to the clinician who will work with the client Showing confidence in your own work and any referrals you make Making sure to talk through all of the consents and policies Communication practices with clients Taking notes, remembering what has happened in the session Client experience, customer care Re-engagement Deliberate Practice and Scott Miller’s Feedback Informed Treatment The importance of putting systems in place that support you and your clients Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. SimplePractice Scott Miller’s Feedback Informed Treatment Maureen Werrbach with The Group Practice Exchange Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs Mixing Modern Therapist live networking events – email us for info: events@therapyreimagined.com The conversations happening in Our Facebook Group first.therapyreimaginedconference.com Other Relevant Episodes: Making Bank as a Therapist Deliberate Practice 1: Finding Your Blind Spots Deliberate Practice 2: Be a Better Therapist Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 13 Aug 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Bad Business Practices full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the mistakes that therapists make in their business Curt and Katie talk about the mistakes that therapists make in their business that can impact their clinical practice, their financial stability, and their reputation both with their colleagues and their clients.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The intersection between business and clinical practices The different mistakes that therapists make like not returning phone calls, being clumsy with intake call and intake process, failing to talk about fees before meeting in person, insurance bait and switch, scheduling snafus in shared offices, lack of control in your space, running late, poor referrals, not getting consent from both parents, clients missing payments and racking up debt How to improve business practices to improve clinical relationships Using therapy skills to improve “sales” Systems to help clients engage in treatment from the beginning The importance of establishing fees and contracts/consents prior to the first session Clear parameters can equal clinical safety Timeliness can equate to trust The handoff from intake or practice owner to the clinician who will work with the client Showing confidence in your own work and any referrals you make Making sure to talk through all of the consents and policies Communication practices with clients Taking notes, remembering what has happened in the session Client experience, customer care Re-engagement Deliberate Practice and Scott Miller’s Feedback Informed Treatment The importance of putting systems in place that support you and your clients Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. SimplePractice Scott Miller’s Feedback Informed Treatment Maureen Werrbach with The Group Practice Exchange Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs Mixing Modern Therapist live networking events – email us for info: events@therapyreimagined.com The conversations happening in Our Facebook Group first.therapyreimaginedconference.com Other Relevant Episodes: Making Bank as a Therapist Deliberate Practice 1: Finding Your Blind Spots Deliberate Practice 2: Be a Better Therapist Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about the mistakes that therapists make in their business that can impact their clinical practice, their financial stability, and their reputation both with their colleagues and their clients.  

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The intersection between business and clinical practices
  • The different mistakes that therapists make like not returning phone calls, being clumsy with intake call and intake process, failing to talk about fees before meeting in person, insurance bait and switch, scheduling snafus in shared offices, lack of control in your space, running late, poor referrals, not getting consent from both parents, clients missing payments and racking up debt
  • How to improve business practices to improve clinical relationships
  • Using therapy skills to improve “sales”
  • Systems to help clients engage in treatment from the beginning
  • The importance of establishing fees and contracts/consents prior to the first session
  • Clear parameters can equal clinical safety
  • Timeliness can equate to trust
  • The handoff from intake or practice owner to the clinician who will work with the client
  • Showing confidence in your own work and any referrals you make
  • Making sure to talk through all of the consents and policies
  • Communication practices with clients
  • Taking notes, remembering what has happened in the session
  • Client experience, customer care
  • Re-engagement
  • Deliberate Practice and Scott Miller’s Feedback Informed Treatment
  • The importance of putting systems in place that support you and your clients

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

SimplePractice

Scott Miller’s Feedback Informed Treatment

Maureen Werrbach with The Group Practice Exchange

Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs

Mixing Modern Therapist live networking events – email us for info: events@therapyreimagined.com

The conversations happening in Our Facebook Group

first.therapyreimaginedconference.com

Other Relevant Episodes:

Making Bank as a Therapist

Deliberate Practice 1: Finding Your Blind Spots

Deliberate Practice 2: Be a Better Therapist

Our event this year:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our new consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1937 no Own Your Awesome Business https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/own-your-awesome-business An interview with Kelly Higdon, LMFT of ZynnyMe – Curt and Katie talk with Kelly Higdon about taking ownership as a business owner, creating space and time for play and creativity, defining your own pace, and your own voice – all with the goal of becoming stronger clinicians and increasing mental health access. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kelly Higdon, LMFT Kelly Higdon is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and the other half of ZynnyMe with Miranda Palmer. Together they created the Business School Bootcamp, a lifetime access business program just for therapists who want to start, grow or retool their practices. She operates from the belief that eradicating mental health stigma and improving access to mental wellness starts with each of us. The better we are at business, the better we can be at serving our communities. When Kelly isn't hanging out with bootcampers or coaching clients, you can find her spending time with husband and daughter or rolling on her skates with her roller derby family. In this episode we talk about: The reasons that Kelly joined together with Miranda Palmer, LMFT to create Zynnyme, Business School Bootcamp How the way you live your life is the way you do business How avoiding and “just trusting that everything will work out” can hurt your progress in private practice How therapists recognizing patterns can help us be better business owners The way that therapists have improved how they approach business over the last few years How to choose who you spend time with – people who have a business mindset The importance of accountability and being with people who challenge you Looking at how the business decisions impact your clinical work and training Deciding to grow or maintain your same level Celebrating success rather than constantly looking to grow Choices about eliminating, delegating, automating, prioritizing, and delaying You get to define your success and your pace Kelly’s parking lot method The fears and doubts, grief that can come up when you don’t take action in your business The plague of comparisonitis Finding your own uniqueness, how to avoid being influenced by someone else and entering your own heart space How business development is like childhood development How to be more creative and improve your business How to find your best coach to help you further your business development The integrity of referring out The changes in the profession over the last few years How you can be in private practice and innovate for the whole profession Breaking down barriers and increasing mental health access   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Business School Bootcamp ZynnyMe ZynnyMe Coaching and My Awesome Year Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 06 Aug 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Own Your Awesome Business: An interview with Kelly Higdon, LMFT of ZynnyMe full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Kelly Higdon, LMFT of ZynnyMe An interview with Kelly Higdon, LMFT of ZynnyMe – Curt and Katie talk with Kelly Higdon about taking ownership as a business owner, creating space and time for play and creativity, defining your own pace, and your own voice – all with the goal of becoming stronger clinicians and increasing mental health access. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Kelly Higdon, LMFT Kelly Higdon is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and the other half of ZynnyMe with Miranda Palmer. Together they created the Business School Bootcamp, a lifetime access business program just for therapists who want to start, grow or retool their practices. She operates from the belief that eradicating mental health stigma and improving access to mental wellness starts with each of us. The better we are at business, the better we can be at serving our communities. When Kelly isn't hanging out with bootcampers or coaching clients, you can find her spending time with husband and daughter or rolling on her skates with her roller derby family. In this episode we talk about: The reasons that Kelly joined together with Miranda Palmer, LMFT to create Zynnyme, Business School Bootcamp How the way you live your life is the way you do business How avoiding and “just trusting that everything will work out” can hurt your progress in private practice How therapists recognizing patterns can help us be better business owners The way that therapists have improved how they approach business over the last few years How to choose who you spend time with – people who have a business mindset The importance of accountability and being with people who challenge you Looking at how the business decisions impact your clinical work and training Deciding to grow or maintain your same level Celebrating success rather than constantly looking to grow Choices about eliminating, delegating, automating, prioritizing, and delaying You get to define your success and your pace Kelly’s parking lot method The fears and doubts, grief that can come up when you don’t take action in your business The plague of comparisonitis Finding your own uniqueness, how to avoid being influenced by someone else and entering your own heart space How business development is like childhood development How to be more creative and improve your business How to find your best coach to help you further your business development The integrity of referring out The changes in the profession over the last few years How you can be in private practice and innovate for the whole profession Breaking down barriers and increasing mental health access   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Business School Bootcamp ZynnyMe ZynnyMe Coaching and My Awesome Year Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   An interview with Kelly Higdon, LMFT of ZynnyMe – Curt and Katie talk with Kelly Higdon about taking ownership as a business owner, creating space and time for play and creativity, defining your own pace, and your own voice – all with the goal of becoming stronger clinicians and increasing mental health access.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Kelly Higdon, LMFT

Kelly Higdon is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and the other half of ZynnyMe with Miranda Palmer. Together they created the Business School Bootcamp, a lifetime access business program just for therapists who want to start, grow or retool their practices. She operates from the belief that eradicating mental health stigma and improving access to mental wellness starts with each of us. The better we are at business, the better we can be at serving our communities. When Kelly isn't hanging out with bootcampers or coaching clients, you can find her spending time with husband and daughter or rolling on her skates with her roller derby family.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The reasons that Kelly joined together with Miranda Palmer, LMFT to create Zynnyme, Business School Bootcamp
  • How the way you live your life is the way you do business
  • How avoiding and “just trusting that everything will work out” can hurt your progress in private practice
  • How therapists recognizing patterns can help us be better business owners
  • The way that therapists have improved how they approach business over the last few years
  • How to choose who you spend time with – people who have a business mindset
  • The importance of accountability and being with people who challenge you
  • Looking at how the business decisions impact your clinical work and training
  • Deciding to grow or maintain your same level
  • Celebrating success rather than constantly looking to grow
  • Choices about eliminating, delegating, automating, prioritizing, and delaying
  • You get to define your success and your pace
  • Kelly’s parking lot method
  • The fears and doubts, grief that can come up when you don’t take action in your business
  • The plague of comparisonitis
  • Finding your own uniqueness, how to avoid being influenced by someone else and entering your own heart space
  • How business development is like childhood development
  • How to be more creative and improve your business
  • How to find your best coach to help you further your business development
  • The integrity of referring out
  • The changes in the profession over the last few years
  • How you can be in private practice and innovate for the whole profession
  • Breaking down barriers and increasing mental health access

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Business School Bootcamp

ZynnyMe

ZynnyMe Coaching and My Awesome Year

Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne


Our Next Event:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2156 no Therapy Reimagined https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapy-reimagined Curt and Katie talk about reimagining therapy, starting a #therapymovement, and pulling together a community to put on a conference It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Curt’s love of Legos and the ensuing overuse of this metaphor to describe using building blocks to be creative This conference we’re putting on and why we named it Therapy Reimagined The building blocks that are the foundation of therapy, but how we can use them creatively The individual differences that have been growing the diversity of the profession Sacrificial Helping Syndrome (Katie’s concept about how clinicians can sacrifice their own well-being for the work) How the system isn’t working – it relies on us burning out Why advocacy is important for our profession The irony and sadness about us going into the profession to be a different therapist and then becoming the burned-out therapist What it means when we burn out: lack of resources, mental health stigma, poorer outcomes Creating an action plan for how you will improve the profession Why strong business practices are important for all of us Having a big idea and carrying it through The importance of diversity and our commitment to have diverse faculty and diverse ideas at Therapy Reimagined 2018 How important it is to us to hear from you and develop this community around us for the #therapymovement A secret message from Katie at the very end Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Katie’s article on Sacrificial Helping Syndrome Katie’s writing about avoiding Sacrificial Helping Syndrome Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs Mixing Modern Therapist live networking events – email us for info: events@therapyreimagined.com The conversations happening in Our Facebook Group first.therapyreimaginedconference.com Other Relevant Episodes: Our Therapy Reimagined speakers on the podcast - The Fight to Save Psychotherapy - Benjamin E. Caldwell What Therapists Get Wrong - Paul Gilmartin Social Media and Video Marketing for Therapists - Ernesto Segismundo Jr. Make Your Paperwork Meaningful - Maelisa Hall Be the CEO of your SEO - Perry Rosenbloom Becoming a Group Practice Owner - Maureen Werrbach Building Hope for the Next Generation of Therapists - Robin Andersen Crafting Your Authentic Message - Mercedes Samudio   Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 30 Jul 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Therapy Reimagined: Curt and Katie talk about the #therapymovement full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about reimagining therapy, starting a #therapymovement, and pulling together a community to put on a conference Curt and Katie talk about reimagining therapy, starting a #therapymovement, and pulling together a community to put on a conference It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Curt’s love of Legos and the ensuing overuse of this metaphor to describe using building blocks to be creative This conference we’re putting on and why we named it Therapy Reimagined The building blocks that are the foundation of therapy, but how we can use them creatively The individual differences that have been growing the diversity of the profession Sacrificial Helping Syndrome (Katie’s concept about how clinicians can sacrifice their own well-being for the work) How the system isn’t working – it relies on us burning out Why advocacy is important for our profession The irony and sadness about us going into the profession to be a different therapist and then becoming the burned-out therapist What it means when we burn out: lack of resources, mental health stigma, poorer outcomes Creating an action plan for how you will improve the profession Why strong business practices are important for all of us Having a big idea and carrying it through The importance of diversity and our commitment to have diverse faculty and diverse ideas at Therapy Reimagined 2018 How important it is to us to hear from you and develop this community around us for the #therapymovement A secret message from Katie at the very end Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Katie’s article on Sacrificial Helping Syndrome Katie’s writing about avoiding Sacrificial Helping Syndrome Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs Mixing Modern Therapist live networking events – email us for info: events@therapyreimagined.com The conversations happening in Our Facebook Group first.therapyreimaginedconference.com Other Relevant Episodes: Our Therapy Reimagined speakers on the podcast - The Fight to Save Psychotherapy - Benjamin E. Caldwell What Therapists Get Wrong - Paul Gilmartin Social Media and Video Marketing for Therapists - Ernesto Segismundo Jr. Make Your Paperwork Meaningful - Maelisa Hall Be the CEO of your SEO - Perry Rosenbloom Becoming a Group Practice Owner - Maureen Werrbach Building Hope for the Next Generation of Therapists - Robin Andersen Crafting Your Authentic Message - Mercedes Samudio   Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about reimagining therapy, starting a #therapymovement, and pulling together a community to put on a conference

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Curt’s love of Legos and the ensuing overuse of this metaphor to describe using building blocks to be creative
  • This conference we’re putting on and why we named it Therapy Reimagined
  • The building blocks that are the foundation of therapy, but how we can use them creatively
  • The individual differences that have been growing the diversity of the profession
  • Sacrificial Helping Syndrome (Katie’s concept about how clinicians can sacrifice their own well-being for the work)
  • How the system isn’t working – it relies on us burning out
  • Why advocacy is important for our profession
  • The irony and sadness about us going into the profession to be a different therapist and then becoming the burned-out therapist
  • What it means when we burn out: lack of resources, mental health stigma, poorer outcomes
  • Creating an action plan for how you will improve the profession
  • Why strong business practices are important for all of us
  • Having a big idea and carrying it through
  • The importance of diversity and our commitment to have diverse faculty and diverse ideas at Therapy Reimagined 2018
  • How important it is to us to hear from you and develop this community around us for the #therapymovement
  • A secret message from Katie at the very end

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Katie’s article on Sacrificial Helping Syndrome

Katie’s writing about avoiding Sacrificial Helping Syndrome

Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs

Mixing Modern Therapist live networking events – email us for info: events@therapyreimagined.com

The conversations happening in Our Facebook Group

first.therapyreimaginedconference.com

Other Relevant Episodes:

Our Therapy Reimagined speakers on the podcast -

The Fight to Save Psychotherapy - Benjamin E. Caldwell

What Therapists Get Wrong - Paul Gilmartin

Social Media and Video Marketing for Therapists - Ernesto Segismundo Jr.

Make Your Paperwork Meaningful - Maelisa Hall

Be the CEO of your SEO - Perry Rosenbloom

Becoming a Group Practice Owner - Maureen Werrbach

Building Hope for the Next Generation of Therapists - Robin Andersen

Crafting Your Authentic Message - Mercedes Samudio

 

Our event this year:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our new consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1843 no Making Bank as a Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/making-bank-as-a-therapist Curt and Katie talk with Tiffany McLain about the difficulty therapists have in charging enough to make a living, how ignoring money means you’re missing stuff in the clinical work, and ideas on how to shift your mindset to make bank. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Tiffany McLain, LMFT Tiffany McLain, MFT is a therapist & consultant whose mantra is, “Full fees are the new black.” Via her business, www.heytiffany.com, she helps therapists in private practice overcome their shame about marketing and making bank so they can help the clients they are truly passionate about serving. She’s been featured in Psychology Today Magazine, Psych Central, Huffington Post, KGO Radio, SF Weekly and Forbes. In this episode we talk about: The reasons that therapists have such a hard time charging for therapy How therapists being upwardly mobile can impact their money issues How many therapists are often marginalized and upwardly mobile, which can impact our tendency to sacrifice ourselves and put ourselves into the role of martyr The zero-sum game that a lot of people think is true (but really is not) Working through your money story and your identity around money Shifting your mindset around money Why we have a difficult time charging full fee The culture of shame regarding talking about money Money as a symbol of reality and of death When clinicians are not addressing money stuff they are missing stuff in the clinical work The danger of pretending that we don’t have needs, limitations, etc. and how that leads to unrealistic expectations for the clinician How to give back and still make the living that you want Why not everyone needs to go into private practice Tiffany’s story of not fitting in and creating her own tribe How she navigated having a strong brand in her coaching while doing psychoanalytic work in her therapy practice How Tiffany works with therapy and coaching clients How therapists get in their own way – getting their fees wrong, not leaning in  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Tiffany’s Program: Lean in Make Bank Fun with Fees Calculator Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 23 Jul 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Making Bank as a Therapist: An interview with Tiffany McLain, LMFT full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Tiffany McLain, LMFT Curt and Katie talk with Tiffany McLain about the difficulty therapists have in charging enough to make a living, how ignoring money means you’re missing stuff in the clinical work, and ideas on how to shift your mindset to make bank. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Tiffany McLain, LMFT Tiffany McLain, MFT is a therapist & consultant whose mantra is, “Full fees are the new black.” Via her business, www.heytiffany.com, she helps therapists in private practice overcome their shame about marketing and making bank so they can help the clients they are truly passionate about serving. She’s been featured in Psychology Today Magazine, Psych Central, Huffington Post, KGO Radio, SF Weekly and Forbes. In this episode we talk about: The reasons that therapists have such a hard time charging for therapy How therapists being upwardly mobile can impact their money issues How many therapists are often marginalized and upwardly mobile, which can impact our tendency to sacrifice ourselves and put ourselves into the role of martyr The zero-sum game that a lot of people think is true (but really is not) Working through your money story and your identity around money Shifting your mindset around money Why we have a difficult time charging full fee The culture of shame regarding talking about money Money as a symbol of reality and of death When clinicians are not addressing money stuff they are missing stuff in the clinical work The danger of pretending that we don’t have needs, limitations, etc. and how that leads to unrealistic expectations for the clinician How to give back and still make the living that you want Why not everyone needs to go into private practice Tiffany’s story of not fitting in and creating her own tribe How she navigated having a strong brand in her coaching while doing psychoanalytic work in her therapy practice How Tiffany works with therapy and coaching clients How therapists get in their own way – getting their fees wrong, not leaning in  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Tiffany’s Program: Lean in Make Bank Fun with Fees Calculator Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk with Tiffany McLain about the difficulty therapists have in charging enough to make a living, how ignoring money means you’re missing stuff in the clinical work, and ideas on how to shift your mindset to make bank.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Tiffany McLain, LMFT

Tiffany McLain, MFT is a therapist & consultant whose mantra is, “Full fees are the new black.” Via her business, www.heytiffany.com, she helps therapists in private practice overcome their shame about marketing and making bank so they can help the clients they are truly passionate about serving. She’s been featured in Psychology Today Magazine, Psych Central, Huffington Post, KGO Radio, SF Weekly and Forbes.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The reasons that therapists have such a hard time charging for therapy
  • How therapists being upwardly mobile can impact their money issues
  • How many therapists are often marginalized and upwardly mobile, which can impact our tendency to sacrifice ourselves and put ourselves into the role of martyr
  • The zero-sum game that a lot of people think is true (but really is not)
  • Working through your money story and your identity around money
  • Shifting your mindset around money
  • Why we have a difficult time charging full fee
  • The culture of shame regarding talking about money
  • Money as a symbol of reality and of death
  • When clinicians are not addressing money stuff they are missing stuff in the clinical work
  • The danger of pretending that we don’t have needs, limitations, etc. and how that leads to unrealistic expectations for the clinician
  • How to give back and still make the living that you want
  • Why not everyone needs to go into private practice
  • Tiffany’s story of not fitting in and creating her own tribe
  • How she navigated having a strong brand in her coaching while doing psychoanalytic work in her therapy practice
  • How Tiffany works with therapy and coaching clients
  • How therapists get in their own way – getting their fees wrong, not leaning in 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Tiffany’s Program: Lean in Make Bank

Fun with Fees Calculator

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

Our Next Event:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2071 no That's Unethical! https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/thats-unethical Curt and Katie talk about people who yell “That’s Unethical” whenever they disagree with what someone else is doing. It could be ethics, but it might actually be legal, clinically relevance, values, morals, what “should” be done or what has always been done – and how to navigate messy decisions. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The tendency of people to yell "That's Unethical!" when they disagree with what you're doing (even if it doesn't relate to an ethic) The differences between laws, ethics, clinically relevance, personal morals and values, and “shoulds” or what we’ve always done #citethestatute Being thoughtful about how we make decisions as a therapist Emotional versus wise mind arguments The messiness of reality – things don’t always stack up related to laws, ethics, clinical relevance, etc. The need to discuss these things, so we can make change when needed How to sort through the muddiness of real world scenarios where laws, ethics, and clinical interventions don’t line up. The need to sort through in a case by case basis Developmental stages of navigating the complexity of these differentiations Your own values, limitations The importance of consultation Facebook group consultation – pros and cons Seeking consultation on ethical, legal, and clinical complexity   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs Other Relevant Episodes: Dual Relationships Dating as a Therapist Social Media and Video Marketing for Therapists Managing Your Online Reputation How Much is Too Much? (on limit setting, talking politics with clients, etc.) The Brand Called You What Clients Want (on the therapeutic relationship) Our Take on Texts   Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 16 Jul 2018 07:00:00 -0000 That's Unethical!: Curt and Katie talk about laws, ethics, morals, values, and clinical judgement (and navigating real-life messy decisions) full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about laws, ethics, clinical relevance, morals, values, and how to navigate messy decisions Curt and Katie talk about people who yell “That’s Unethical” whenever they disagree with what someone else is doing. It could be ethics, but it might actually be legal, clinically relevance, values, morals, what “should” be done or what has always been done – and how to navigate messy decisions. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The tendency of people to yell "That's Unethical!" when they disagree with what you're doing (even if it doesn't relate to an ethic) The differences between laws, ethics, clinically relevance, personal morals and values, and “shoulds” or what we’ve always done #citethestatute Being thoughtful about how we make decisions as a therapist Emotional versus wise mind arguments The messiness of reality – things don’t always stack up related to laws, ethics, clinical relevance, etc. The need to discuss these things, so we can make change when needed How to sort through the muddiness of real world scenarios where laws, ethics, and clinical interventions don’t line up. The need to sort through in a case by case basis Developmental stages of navigating the complexity of these differentiations Your own values, limitations The importance of consultation Facebook group consultation – pros and cons Seeking consultation on ethical, legal, and clinical complexity   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs Other Relevant Episodes: Dual Relationships Dating as a Therapist Social Media and Video Marketing for Therapists Managing Your Online Reputation How Much is Too Much? (on limit setting, talking politics with clients, etc.) The Brand Called You What Clients Want (on the therapeutic relationship) Our Take on Texts   Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about people who yell “That’s Unethical” whenever they disagree with what someone else is doing. It could be ethics, but it might actually be legal, clinically relevance, values, morals, what “should” be done or what has always been done – and how to navigate messy decisions.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The tendency of people to yell "That's Unethical!" when they disagree with what you're doing (even if it doesn't relate to an ethic)
  • The differences between laws, ethics, clinically relevance, personal morals and values, and “shoulds” or what we’ve always done
  • #citethestatute
  • Being thoughtful about how we make decisions as a therapist
  • Emotional versus wise mind arguments
  • The messiness of reality – things don’t always stack up related to laws, ethics, clinical relevance, etc.
  • The need to discuss these things, so we can make change when needed
  • How to sort through the muddiness of real world scenarios where laws, ethics, and clinical interventions don’t line up.
  • The need to sort through in a case by case basis
  • Developmental stages of navigating the complexity of these differentiations
  • Your own values, limitations
  • The importance of consultation
  • Facebook group consultation – pros and cons
  • Seeking consultation on ethical, legal, and clinical complexity

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Dr. Ben Caldwell with Ben Caldwell Labs

Other Relevant Episodes:

Dual Relationships

Dating as a Therapist

Social Media and Video Marketing for Therapists

Managing Your Online Reputation

How Much is Too Much? (on limit setting, talking politics with clients, etc.)

The Brand Called You

What Clients Want (on the therapeutic relationship)

Our Take on Texts

 

Our event this year:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our new consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2029 no Therapists Conducting Asylum Evaluations https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapists-conducting-asylum-evaluations An interview with Marc Sadoff, LCSW, about what therapists can do to support refugees seeking asylum in the United States. We talk about the qualifications therapists need to engage in the asylum evaluation process. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Marc Sadoff, LCSW  Marc Sadoff, LCSW was licensed in 1985 and worked with the Program for Torture Victims Los Angeles from 1997 to 2001. Marc and his colleagues did psychological and medical evaluations to corroborate claims of torture for asylum seekers. In 2000, they presented a half-day workshop for Immigration Asylum Officers on the topic of credibility. They were acknowledged as contributors to a book edited by the Physicians for Human Rights called "A Health Professional’s Guide to Medical And Psychological Evaluations Of Torture" published in 2001. Marc has submitted over 100 psychological evaluations for immigration cases, and has been accepted as an ‘expert in traumatic stress’, 60 of the 60 times that he’s testified in court. Marc’s goal in providing training on asylum is to expand the pool of clinicians who can begin doing pro bono and low fee psychological evaluations for those fleeing injustice and terror. You can learn more about Marc here: www.realhope.com In this episode we talk about: Marc’s entry into treating torture and asylum victims The difference between asylum evaluations and treatment What the asylum process looks like from asylee perspective and the clinician perspective The years long process that is asylum seeking, leading to communities requiring sponsorship while waiting for the process to be completed The clinician’s experience in the asylum process What is required to complete evaluations for asylum, looking at the practical steps to completing the report Qualifications for therapists completing asylum evaluations The current state of immigration and how it has impacted Marc’s practice, his personal takes on it The plight of unaccompanied minors who cross the border How therapists can get involved, as a citizen, as a clinician, as an asylum evaluator How therapists and social workers need to be cautious about what they present related to interviews outside of asylum evaluations Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Marc’s 7 hour course - Webinar on Asylum Evaluations: RealHope.com/webinar-training/ Marc’s information: www.RealHope.com/webinar-training/ For info regarding the September training. Email: Marc@RealHope.com Twitter: @MarcSadoff IF YOU’D LIKE THE EXTENSIVE RESOURCES THAT MARC PROVIDED US, PLEASE SEND US A QUICK EMAIL AND WE CAN FORWARD THE MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENT TO YOU: podcast@therapyreimagined.com Professional Organization Statements: APA NASW CAMFT AAMFT America Academy of Pediatrics Child’s World America Petition Diane Feinstein’s Bill: Keep Families Together Act Action Alert from Southern Poverty Law Center RAICES  Immigration Resources: https://www.psychologicalevaluationsforimmigrationcourt.net/blog/   IF YOU’D LIKE THE EXTENSIVE RESOURCES THAT MARC PROVIDED US (INCLUDING THE ONE ABOVE), PLEASE SEND US A QUICK EMAIL AND WE CAN FORWARD THE MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENT TO YOU: podcast@therapyreimagined.com   Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 09 Jul 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Therapists Conducting Asylum Evaluations: An interview with Marc Sadoff, LCSW full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Marc Sadoff, LCSW, about what therapists can do to support refugees seeking asylum in the United States An interview with Marc Sadoff, LCSW, about what therapists can do to support refugees seeking asylum in the United States. We talk about the qualifications therapists need to engage in the asylum evaluation process. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Marc Sadoff, LCSW  Marc Sadoff, LCSW was licensed in 1985 and worked with the Program for Torture Victims Los Angeles from 1997 to 2001. Marc and his colleagues did psychological and medical evaluations to corroborate claims of torture for asylum seekers. In 2000, they presented a half-day workshop for Immigration Asylum Officers on the topic of credibility. They were acknowledged as contributors to a book edited by the Physicians for Human Rights called "A Health Professional’s Guide to Medical And Psychological Evaluations Of Torture" published in 2001. Marc has submitted over 100 psychological evaluations for immigration cases, and has been accepted as an ‘expert in traumatic stress’, 60 of the 60 times that he’s testified in court. Marc’s goal in providing training on asylum is to expand the pool of clinicians who can begin doing pro bono and low fee psychological evaluations for those fleeing injustice and terror. You can learn more about Marc here: www.realhope.com In this episode we talk about: Marc’s entry into treating torture and asylum victims The difference between asylum evaluations and treatment What the asylum process looks like from asylee perspective and the clinician perspective The years long process that is asylum seeking, leading to communities requiring sponsorship while waiting for the process to be completed The clinician’s experience in the asylum process What is required to complete evaluations for asylum, looking at the practical steps to completing the report Qualifications for therapists completing asylum evaluations The current state of immigration and how it has impacted Marc’s practice, his personal takes on it The plight of unaccompanied minors who cross the border How therapists can get involved, as a citizen, as a clinician, as an asylum evaluator How therapists and social workers need to be cautious about what they present related to interviews outside of asylum evaluations Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Marc’s 7 hour course - Webinar on Asylum Evaluations: RealHope.com/webinar-training/ Marc’s information: www.RealHope.com/webinar-training/ For info regarding the September training. Email: Marc@RealHope.com Twitter: @MarcSadoff IF YOU’D LIKE THE EXTENSIVE RESOURCES THAT MARC PROVIDED US, PLEASE SEND US A QUICK EMAIL AND WE CAN FORWARD THE MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENT TO YOU: podcast@therapyreimagined.com Professional Organization Statements: APA NASW CAMFT AAMFT America Academy of Pediatrics Child’s World America Petition Diane Feinstein’s Bill: Keep Families Together Act Action Alert from Southern Poverty Law Center RAICES  Immigration Resources: https://www.psychologicalevaluationsforimmigrationcourt.net/blog/   IF YOU’D LIKE THE EXTENSIVE RESOURCES THAT MARC PROVIDED US (INCLUDING THE ONE ABOVE), PLEASE SEND US A QUICK EMAIL AND WE CAN FORWARD THE MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENT TO YOU: podcast@therapyreimagined.com   Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Marc Sadoff, LCSW, about what therapists can do to support refugees seeking asylum in the United States. We talk about the qualifications therapists need to engage in the asylum evaluation process.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Marc Sadoff, LCSW

 Marc Sadoff, LCSW was licensed in 1985 and worked with the Program for Torture Victims Los Angeles from 1997 to 2001. Marc and his colleagues did psychological and medical evaluations to corroborate claims of torture for asylum seekers. In 2000, they presented a half-day workshop for Immigration Asylum Officers on the topic of credibility. They were acknowledged as contributors to a book edited by the Physicians for Human Rights called "A Health Professional’s Guide to Medical And Psychological Evaluations Of Torture" published in 2001. Marc has submitted over 100 psychological evaluations for immigration cases, and has been accepted as an ‘expert in traumatic stress’, 60 of the 60 times that he’s testified in court. Marc’s goal in providing training on asylum is to expand the pool of clinicians who can begin doing pro bono and low fee psychological evaluations for those fleeing injustice and terror. You can learn more about Marc here: www.realhope.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • Marc’s entry into treating torture and asylum victims
  • The difference between asylum evaluations and treatment
  • What the asylum process looks like from asylee perspective and the clinician perspective
  • The years long process that is asylum seeking, leading to communities requiring sponsorship while waiting for the process to be completed
  • The clinician’s experience in the asylum process
  • What is required to complete evaluations for asylum, looking at the practical steps to completing the report
  • Qualifications for therapists completing asylum evaluations
  • The current state of immigration and how it has impacted Marc’s practice, his personal takes on it
  • The plight of unaccompanied minors who cross the border
  • How therapists can get involved, as a citizen, as a clinician, as an asylum evaluator
  • How therapists and social workers need to be cautious about what they present related to interviews outside of asylum evaluations

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Marc’s 7 hour course - Webinar on Asylum Evaluations: RealHope.com/webinar-training/

Marc’s information:

www.RealHope.com/webinar-training/ For info regarding the September training.

Email: Marc@RealHope.com

Twitter: @MarcSadoff

IF YOU’D LIKE THE EXTENSIVE RESOURCES THAT MARC PROVIDED US, PLEASE SEND US A QUICK EMAIL AND WE CAN FORWARD THE MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENT TO YOU: podcast@therapyreimagined.com

Professional Organization Statements:

APA

NASW

CAMFT

AAMFT

America Academy of Pediatrics

Child’s World America Petition

Diane Feinstein’s Bill: Keep Families Together Act

Action Alert from Southern Poverty Law Center

RAICES 

Immigration Resources:

https://www.psychologicalevaluationsforimmigrationcourt.net/blog/

 

IF YOU’D LIKE THE EXTENSIVE RESOURCES THAT MARC PROVIDED US (INCLUDING THE ONE ABOVE), PLEASE SEND US A QUICK EMAIL AND WE CAN FORWARD THE MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENT TO YOU: podcast@therapyreimagined.com

 

Our Next Event:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our new consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1587 no Getting Accurate Referrals https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/getting-accurate-referrals An interview with Alison Fussell, LMFT, Co-Founder of Advekit, about making her dream of stronger, more accurate referrals a reality through the responsive algorithm on her online platform. Looking at the platform, the vision, and the ups and downs of being a startup. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Alison Fussell, LMFT Alison Fussell is a LMFT and Co-Founder of Advekit - the modern marketing platform for therapists in Southern California. Alison was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended UCLA (Bachelors) and Pepperdine University (Masters). She practiced in a clinical setting for 6 years before starting her company, Advekit. The impetus for Advekit was to bridge the gap between therapists seeking new clients, and clients seeking the right suited therapists per their needs. Alison and her co-founder, Arielle, realized that there was a strong need for an effective platform for both groups to connect, as this concept was lacking in the space. In addition to their matching platform, the Advekit team plans to enhance the therapist and client experience from end to end, with the goal of implementing new tools on the platform and scaling into major cities within the US. In this episode we talk about: Alison’s story Identifying the gap in saturated markets, to help people narrow down and find the right therapist Shifting from your clinical practice to a “side” business The struggles of starting a business Increasing accuracy of referrals Creating an algorithm to improve matches within Advekit Accurately portraying yourself to get better referrals, being specific How you can shoot yourself in the foot when you check off too many boxes on online profiles Leveraging your clinical skills in other areas in business Creating a business partnership with complimentary skillsets Moving from vision to reality Finding the right steps to move forward What you need to know about business to move a big idea forward Reading books and learning on your own Taking risks Finding opportunities beyond clinical work Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Advekit Special Advekit promo code for our listeners: “summer2018” – This will give you 10% off the annual package (normally $270, but for you it will be $243). Enter this code in as you fill out your profile on Advekit.   Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes: Referrals Done Right The Brand Called You Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 02 Jul 2018 07:00:00 -0000 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Alison Fussell, LMFT, Co-Founder of Advekit An interview with Alison Fussell, LMFT, Co-Founder of Advekit, about making her dream of stronger, more accurate referrals a reality through the responsive algorithm on her online platform. Looking at the platform, the vision, and the ups and downs of being a startup. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Alison Fussell, LMFT Alison Fussell is a LMFT and Co-Founder of Advekit - the modern marketing platform for therapists in Southern California. Alison was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended UCLA (Bachelors) and Pepperdine University (Masters). She practiced in a clinical setting for 6 years before starting her company, Advekit. The impetus for Advekit was to bridge the gap between therapists seeking new clients, and clients seeking the right suited therapists per their needs. Alison and her co-founder, Arielle, realized that there was a strong need for an effective platform for both groups to connect, as this concept was lacking in the space. In addition to their matching platform, the Advekit team plans to enhance the therapist and client experience from end to end, with the goal of implementing new tools on the platform and scaling into major cities within the US. In this episode we talk about: Alison’s story Identifying the gap in saturated markets, to help people narrow down and find the right therapist Shifting from your clinical practice to a “side” business The struggles of starting a business Increasing accuracy of referrals Creating an algorithm to improve matches within Advekit Accurately portraying yourself to get better referrals, being specific How you can shoot yourself in the foot when you check off too many boxes on online profiles Leveraging your clinical skills in other areas in business Creating a business partnership with complimentary skillsets Moving from vision to reality Finding the right steps to move forward What you need to know about business to move a big idea forward Reading books and learning on your own Taking risks Finding opportunities beyond clinical work Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Advekit Special Advekit promo code for our listeners: “summer2018” – This will give you 10% off the annual package (normally $270, but for you it will be $243). Enter this code in as you fill out your profile on Advekit.   Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes: Referrals Done Right The Brand Called You Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Alison Fussell, LMFT, Co-Founder of Advekit, about making her dream of stronger, more accurate referrals a reality through the responsive algorithm on her online platform. Looking at the platform, the vision, and the ups and downs of being a startup.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Alison Fussell, LMFT

Alison Fussell is a LMFT and Co-Founder of Advekit - the modern marketing platform for therapists in Southern California. Alison was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended UCLA (Bachelors) and Pepperdine University (Masters). She practiced in a clinical setting for 6 years before starting her company, Advekit. The impetus for Advekit was to bridge the gap between therapists seeking new clients, and clients seeking the right suited therapists per their needs. Alison and her co-founder, Arielle, realized that there was a strong need for an effective platform for both groups to connect, as this concept was lacking in the space. In addition to their matching platform, the Advekit team plans to enhance the therapist and client experience from end to end, with the goal of implementing new tools on the platform and scaling into major cities within the US.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Alison’s story
  • Identifying the gap in saturated markets, to help people narrow down and find the right therapist
  • Shifting from your clinical practice to a “side” business
  • The struggles of starting a business
  • Increasing accuracy of referrals
  • Creating an algorithm to improve matches within Advekit
  • Accurately portraying yourself to get better referrals, being specific
  • How you can shoot yourself in the foot when you check off too many boxes on online profiles
  • Leveraging your clinical skills in other areas in business
  • Creating a business partnership with complimentary skillsets
  • Moving from vision to reality
  • Finding the right steps to move forward
  • What you need to know about business to move a big idea forward
  • Reading books and learning on your own
  • Taking risks
  • Finding opportunities beyond clinical work

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Advekit

Special Advekit promo code for our listeners: “summer2018” – This will give you 10% off the annual package (normally $270, but for you it will be $243). Enter this code in as you fill out your profile on Advekit.

 

Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes:

Referrals Done Right

The Brand Called You

Our Next Event:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our new consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2129 no Hostage Marketing https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/hostage-marketing Curt and Katie talk about ineffective and shady marketing practices that are completely ineffective and bad for your brand. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Laws and best practices related to email marketing The benefit of opt-in and permission marketing List building while providing positive content to the people who have subscribed or opted in Frequency and quality of emails Technological advances that help you send information only to the people who want it Segmented lists: client facing, referral sources, topics, events, etc. The what’s and how’s of the unsubscribe button Unsolicited texts during the election The danger of holding people hostage in any form (in person networking, texting, phone, email) Visibility is not the only goal of marketing Facebook interactions that are not so cool Treating people as a number on a mailing list, a like for a FB page, etc. Excessively marketing – fear based or obsession-based conversations The huge problem of not being able to unsubscribe The dangers of burning out your referral sources with unsolicited emails Creating engaging content Marketing strategy for different platforms Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Permission Marketing by Seth Godin Can-Spam Rule GDPR Other Relevant Episodes: The Brand Called You The Dividing Line Between Coaching and Therapy Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 25 Jun 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Hostage Marketing: Curt and Katie talk about ineffective and shady marketing practices full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about ineffective and shady marketing practices Curt and Katie talk about ineffective and shady marketing practices that are completely ineffective and bad for your brand. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Laws and best practices related to email marketing The benefit of opt-in and permission marketing List building while providing positive content to the people who have subscribed or opted in Frequency and quality of emails Technological advances that help you send information only to the people who want it Segmented lists: client facing, referral sources, topics, events, etc. The what’s and how’s of the unsubscribe button Unsolicited texts during the election The danger of holding people hostage in any form (in person networking, texting, phone, email) Visibility is not the only goal of marketing Facebook interactions that are not so cool Treating people as a number on a mailing list, a like for a FB page, etc. Excessively marketing – fear based or obsession-based conversations The huge problem of not being able to unsubscribe The dangers of burning out your referral sources with unsolicited emails Creating engaging content Marketing strategy for different platforms Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Permission Marketing by Seth Godin Can-Spam Rule GDPR Other Relevant Episodes: The Brand Called You The Dividing Line Between Coaching and Therapy Our event this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about ineffective and shady marketing practices that are completely ineffective and bad for your brand.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Laws and best practices related to email marketing
  • The benefit of opt-in and permission marketing
  • List building while providing positive content to the people who have subscribed or opted in
  • Frequency and quality of emails
  • Technological advances that help you send information only to the people who want it
  • Segmented lists: client facing, referral sources, topics, events, etc.
  • The what’s and how’s of the unsubscribe button
  • Unsolicited texts during the election
  • The danger of holding people hostage in any form (in person networking, texting, phone, email)
  • Visibility is not the only goal of marketing
  • Facebook interactions that are not so cool
  • Treating people as a number on a mailing list, a like for a FB page, etc.
  • Excessively marketing – fear based or obsession-based conversations
  • The huge problem of not being able to unsubscribe
  • The dangers of burning out your referral sources with unsolicited emails
  • Creating engaging content
  • Marketing strategy for different platforms

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Permission Marketing by Seth Godin

Can-Spam Rule

GDPR

Other Relevant Episodes:

The Brand Called You

The Dividing Line Between Coaching and Therapy

Our event this year:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Our new consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2000 no Navigating the Food and Eating Minefield https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/navigating-the-food-and-eating-minefield An interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD, on what all therapists should know about nutrition, disordered eating, and eating disorders, as well as their own biases and relationship with food It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD, began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as the in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last 21 years she has developed her own private practice in Beverly Hills, CA, where she specializes in medical conditions, disordered eating, eating disorders, Health at Every Size, intuitive eating and pre-pregnancy nutrition. Robyn promotes opportunity to excel in developing a new perspective with food in association with several medical groups. She serves as a Nutrition Consultant for the Celiac Disease Foundation. For the last eight years Robyn was the Nutritional Therapist for the Susan Krevoy Eating Disorders Program at Wright Institute Los Angeles was a consultant for Panda Restaurant Group and teaches the nutrition classes for the Motion Picture Wellness Program. Currently Robyn is the Director of Nutrition Service for The Control Center, an addiction IOP, where she sees all the eating disorder patients. She is a contributing author and is a nationally known registered dietitian nutritionist. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Fix, Shape Magazine, Fitness, Oxygen, Pilates Style, Diabetes Forecast, BH Weekly and Life & Style. She has been on national television as the eating disorder expert on The Insider.  Robyn has a body image and eating disorder group at several addiction centers in Los Angeles. Learn more about Robyn at www.askaboutfood.com. In this episode we talk about: Diet Culture HAES: Health at Every Size Food freedom Collaboration between therapists and dietitians Treating eating disorders and disordered eating What to look for in the intake process Looking at your own belief system and bias around “fat” and “thin” Why you can't make assumptions about your clients based on what they look like When to worry about eating patterns of your clients Orthorexia, Anorexia, Bulimia, Restricting, Binging Moving away from the idea that there is a “right weight” What therapists often miss related to eating How to find experts who work with Eating Disorders (what the qualifications are, what the dangers are when you work outside of your scope) Who needs to be on the team to treating EDs. Medical considerations and labs to request How little most people know about how to screen for eating disorders The differences between Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Licensed Dietitians, Nutritionists, Health Coaches Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Robyn’s Website: www.askaboutfood.com Instagram: RobynGoldbergRDN Academy of Eating Disorders: www.aedweb.org International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals: IAEDP Certifications for Eating Disorder Specialties (CEDRD, CEDS, etc.) Medical Care Standards Guide - Eating Disorders: Critical Points for Early Recognition and Medical Risk Management in the Care of Individuals with Eating Disorders Certification in Intuitive Eating Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes: Are You Sure You’re a Specialist Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 18 Jun 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Navigating the Food and Eating Minefield: An interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD An interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD, on what all therapists should know about nutrition, disordered eating, and eating disorders, as well as their own biases and relationship with food It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD, began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as the in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last 21 years she has developed her own private practice in Beverly Hills, CA, where she specializes in medical conditions, disordered eating, eating disorders, Health at Every Size, intuitive eating and pre-pregnancy nutrition. Robyn promotes opportunity to excel in developing a new perspective with food in association with several medical groups. She serves as a Nutrition Consultant for the Celiac Disease Foundation. For the last eight years Robyn was the Nutritional Therapist for the Susan Krevoy Eating Disorders Program at Wright Institute Los Angeles was a consultant for Panda Restaurant Group and teaches the nutrition classes for the Motion Picture Wellness Program. Currently Robyn is the Director of Nutrition Service for The Control Center, an addiction IOP, where she sees all the eating disorder patients. She is a contributing author and is a nationally known registered dietitian nutritionist. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Fix, Shape Magazine, Fitness, Oxygen, Pilates Style, Diabetes Forecast, BH Weekly and Life & Style. She has been on national television as the eating disorder expert on The Insider.  Robyn has a body image and eating disorder group at several addiction centers in Los Angeles. Learn more about Robyn at www.askaboutfood.com. In this episode we talk about: Diet Culture HAES: Health at Every Size Food freedom Collaboration between therapists and dietitians Treating eating disorders and disordered eating What to look for in the intake process Looking at your own belief system and bias around “fat” and “thin” Why you can't make assumptions about your clients based on what they look like When to worry about eating patterns of your clients Orthorexia, Anorexia, Bulimia, Restricting, Binging Moving away from the idea that there is a “right weight” What therapists often miss related to eating How to find experts who work with Eating Disorders (what the qualifications are, what the dangers are when you work outside of your scope) Who needs to be on the team to treating EDs. Medical considerations and labs to request How little most people know about how to screen for eating disorders The differences between Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Licensed Dietitians, Nutritionists, Health Coaches Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Robyn’s Website: www.askaboutfood.com Instagram: RobynGoldbergRDN Academy of Eating Disorders: www.aedweb.org International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals: IAEDP Certifications for Eating Disorder Specialties (CEDRD, CEDS, etc.) Medical Care Standards Guide - Eating Disorders: Critical Points for Early Recognition and Medical Risk Management in the Care of Individuals with Eating Disorders Certification in Intuitive Eating Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes: Are You Sure You’re a Specialist Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ An interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD, on what all therapists should know about nutrition, disordered eating, and eating disorders, as well as their own biases and relationship with food

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD

Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD, began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as the in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last 21 years she has developed her own private practice in Beverly Hills, CA, where she specializes in medical conditions, disordered eating, eating disorders, Health at Every Size, intuitive eating and pre-pregnancy nutrition. Robyn promotes opportunity to excel in developing a new perspective with food in association with several medical groups. She serves as a Nutrition Consultant for the Celiac Disease Foundation. For the last eight years Robyn was the Nutritional Therapist for the Susan Krevoy Eating Disorders Program at Wright Institute Los Angeles was a consultant for Panda Restaurant Group and teaches the nutrition classes for the Motion Picture Wellness Program. Currently Robyn is the Director of Nutrition Service for The Control Center, an addiction IOP, where she sees all the eating disorder patients. She is a contributing author and is a nationally known registered dietitian nutritionist. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Fix, Shape Magazine, Fitness, Oxygen, Pilates Style, Diabetes Forecast, BH Weekly and Life & Style. She has been on national television as the eating disorder expert on The Insider.  Robyn has a body image and eating disorder group at several addiction centers in Los Angeles.

Learn more about Robyn at www.askaboutfood.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Diet Culture
  • HAES: Health at Every Size
  • Food freedom
  • Collaboration between therapists and dietitians
  • Treating eating disorders and disordered eating
  • What to look for in the intake process
  • Looking at your own belief system and bias around “fat” and “thin”
  • Why you can't make assumptions about your clients based on what they look like
  • When to worry about eating patterns of your clients
  • Orthorexia, Anorexia, Bulimia, Restricting, Binging
  • Moving away from the idea that there is a “right weight”
  • What therapists often miss related to eating
  • How to find experts who work with Eating Disorders (what the qualifications are, what the dangers are when you work outside of your scope)
  • Who needs to be on the team to treating EDs.
  • Medical considerations and labs to request
  • How little most people know about how to screen for eating disorders
  • The differences between Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Licensed Dietitians, Nutritionists, Health Coaches

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Robyn’s Website: www.askaboutfood.com

Instagram: RobynGoldbergRDN

Academy of Eating Disorders: www.aedweb.org

International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals: IAEDP

Certifications for Eating Disorder Specialties (CEDRD, CEDS, etc.)

Medical Care Standards Guide - Eating Disorders: Critical Points for Early Recognition and Medical Risk Management in the Care of Individuals with Eating Disorders

Certification in Intuitive Eating

Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes:

Are You Sure You’re a Specialist

Our Next Event:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2338 no What Clients Want https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-clients-want Curt and Katie talk about the therapeutic alliance - challenges of defining it, what clients think about it, and how to incorporate best practices. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definition of therapeutic alliance and the difficult we have in practically defining it What actually matters to clients, that makes up the therapeutic relationship Validating the client’s experience Looking at the client as a whole person Therapist honesty Showing good boundaries Normalizing the client’s experience Making eye contact with our clients Body language, who we present ourselves Clients feeling heard and respected The challenge of getting accurate feedback from clients How to incorporate best practices Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Bedi and Duff Study on Therapeutic Relationship: Client as Expert Scott Miller Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Other Episodes Mentioned: The Brand Called You Our events this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 11 Jun 2018 07:00:00 -0000 What Clients Want: Curt and Katie talk about the therapeutic alliance full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the therapeutic alliance Curt and Katie talk about the therapeutic alliance - challenges of defining it, what clients think about it, and how to incorporate best practices. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definition of therapeutic alliance and the difficult we have in practically defining it What actually matters to clients, that makes up the therapeutic relationship Validating the client’s experience Looking at the client as a whole person Therapist honesty Showing good boundaries Normalizing the client’s experience Making eye contact with our clients Body language, who we present ourselves Clients feeling heard and respected The challenge of getting accurate feedback from clients How to incorporate best practices Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Bedi and Duff Study on Therapeutic Relationship: Client as Expert Scott Miller Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour Other Episodes Mentioned: The Brand Called You Our events this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Curt and Katie talk about the therapeutic alliance - challenges of defining it, what clients think about it, and how to incorporate best practices.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The definition of therapeutic alliance and the difficult we have in practically defining it
  • What actually matters to clients, that makes up the therapeutic relationship
  • Validating the client’s experience
  • Looking at the client as a whole person
  • Therapist honesty
  • Showing good boundaries
  • Normalizing the client’s experience
  • Making eye contact with our clients
  • Body language, who we present ourselves
  • Clients feeling heard and respected
  • The challenge of getting accurate feedback from clients
  • How to incorporate best practices

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Bedi and Duff Study on Therapeutic Relationship: Client as Expert

Scott Miller

Our new consultation services: The Fifty-Minute Hour

Other Episodes Mentioned:

The Brand Called You

Our events this year:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1876 no Dating as a Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/dating-as-a-therapist It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Millen Umoh, LMFT Millen Umoh is a New York State licensed psychotherapist currently practicing in Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of Pepperdine University with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. Millen specializes in working with individuals dealing with relationship break-ups, separation, divorce, unhealthy interpersonal relationship patterns, and other major life transitions. She also has extensive experience treating anxiety and mood disorders. Learn more about Millen on her website: www.millenumoh.com   In this episode we talk about: Millen’s story, her specialty (and her former blog Psych and The Single Girl) Unique challenges for therapists on the dating scene Setting boundaries, having reciprocal conversations, receiving in addition to giving When to talk about your profession while online dating What happened when Millen told people she was unemployed App dating – setting up your bio, what to disclose, how to present yourself Red flags, when to left swipe What to do if coming across clients on the app How to address with clients if they become aware of your dating status Social Media and informed consent to clarify boundaries How to approach seeking long-term relationships, when in your career you might want to date Options for getting out on the dating scene (online dating, app dating, getting out for live events, meeting organically) Self-disclosure about dating – when it might be appropriate or how to show understanding and knowledge The perks of dating when you’re a therapist Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Tinder Bumble Match.com   Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes:  Dual Relationships – Pros and Cons Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 04 Jun 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Dating as a Therapist: An interview with Millen Umoh, LMFT about navigating the single life as a therapist full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Millen Umoh, LMFT about navigating the single life as a therapist It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Millen Umoh, LMFT Millen Umoh is a New York State licensed psychotherapist currently practicing in Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of Pepperdine University with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. Millen specializes in working with individuals dealing with relationship break-ups, separation, divorce, unhealthy interpersonal relationship patterns, and other major life transitions. She also has extensive experience treating anxiety and mood disorders. Learn more about Millen on her website: www.millenumoh.com   In this episode we talk about: Millen’s story, her specialty (and her former blog Psych and The Single Girl) Unique challenges for therapists on the dating scene Setting boundaries, having reciprocal conversations, receiving in addition to giving When to talk about your profession while online dating What happened when Millen told people she was unemployed App dating – setting up your bio, what to disclose, how to present yourself Red flags, when to left swipe What to do if coming across clients on the app How to address with clients if they become aware of your dating status Social Media and informed consent to clarify boundaries How to approach seeking long-term relationships, when in your career you might want to date Options for getting out on the dating scene (online dating, app dating, getting out for live events, meeting organically) Self-disclosure about dating – when it might be appropriate or how to show understanding and knowledge The perks of dating when you’re a therapist Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Tinder Bumble Match.com   Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes:  Dual Relationships – Pros and Cons Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Millen Umoh, LMFT

Millen Umoh is a New York State licensed psychotherapist currently practicing in Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of Pepperdine University with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. Millen specializes in working with individuals dealing with relationship break-ups, separation, divorce, unhealthy interpersonal relationship patterns, and other major life transitions. She also has extensive experience treating anxiety and mood disorders. Learn more about Millen on her website: www.millenumoh.com

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Millen’s story, her specialty (and her former blog Psych and The Single Girl)
  • Unique challenges for therapists on the dating scene
  • Setting boundaries, having reciprocal conversations, receiving in addition to giving
  • When to talk about your profession while online dating
  • What happened when Millen told people she was unemployed
  • App dating – setting up your bio, what to disclose, how to present yourself
  • Red flags, when to left swipe
  • What to do if coming across clients on the app
  • How to address with clients if they become aware of your dating status
  • Social Media and informed consent to clarify boundaries
  • How to approach seeking long-term relationships, when in your career you might want to date
  • Options for getting out on the dating scene (online dating, app dating, getting out for live events, meeting organically)
  • Self-disclosure about dating – when it might be appropriate or how to show understanding and knowledge
  • The perks of dating when you’re a therapist

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Tinder

Bumble

Match.com

 

Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes:

 Dual Relationships – Pros and Cons

Our Next Event:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1982 no Dual Relationships – Pros and Cons https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/dual-relationships-pros-and-cons It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How social media has made the world smaller Personal branding, marketing, and the move away from the blank slate leading to dual relationships Digital natives having extensive social media and digital presence before determining they want to be a therapist Whether to express your opinions on non-therapy stuff Distinguishing personal, private, and professional online, in-person, etc. Showing respect, maintaining confidentiality, and boundaries Encouraging discussions on how to navigate dual relationships correctly (rather than just saying “don’t do it” related to technology) Translating milieu settings and small towns as templates for how to behave on social media Curating personal disclosures online Sharing your personal views does not mean you can discriminate Whether therapists should do yelp reviews or share their opinions on current events Healthy dual relationships Whether or not to google clients or to view their social media Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Ofer Zur’s Article on Googling Clients Other Episodes Mentioned: Our Take on Texts Small Town Sex Therapist Our events this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Tue, 29 May 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Dual Relationships – Pros and Cons: Curt and Katie talk about how to avoid unhealthy and create healthy dual relationships as a therapist full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to avoid unhealthy and create healthy dual relationships as a therapist It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How social media has made the world smaller Personal branding, marketing, and the move away from the blank slate leading to dual relationships Digital natives having extensive social media and digital presence before determining they want to be a therapist Whether to express your opinions on non-therapy stuff Distinguishing personal, private, and professional online, in-person, etc. Showing respect, maintaining confidentiality, and boundaries Encouraging discussions on how to navigate dual relationships correctly (rather than just saying “don’t do it” related to technology) Translating milieu settings and small towns as templates for how to behave on social media Curating personal disclosures online Sharing your personal views does not mean you can discriminate Whether therapists should do yelp reviews or share their opinions on current events Healthy dual relationships Whether or not to google clients or to view their social media Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Ofer Zur’s Article on Googling Clients Other Episodes Mentioned: Our Take on Texts Small Town Sex Therapist Our events this year: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How social media has made the world smaller
  • Personal branding, marketing, and the move away from the blank slate leading to dual relationships
  • Digital natives having extensive social media and digital presence before determining they want to be a therapist
  • Whether to express your opinions on non-therapy stuff
  • Distinguishing personal, private, and professional online, in-person, etc.
  • Showing respect, maintaining confidentiality, and boundaries
  • Encouraging discussions on how to navigate dual relationships correctly (rather than just saying “don’t do it” related to technology)
  • Translating milieu settings and small towns as templates for how to behave on social media
  • Curating personal disclosures online
  • Sharing your personal views does not mean you can discriminate
  • Whether therapists should do yelp reviews or share their opinions on current events
  • Healthy dual relationships
  • Whether or not to google clients or to view their social media

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Ofer Zur’s Article on Googling Clients

Other Episodes Mentioned:

Our Take on Texts

Small Town Sex Therapist

Our events this year:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2087 no Managing Vicarious Trauma https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/managing-vicarious-trauma It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is a clinical social worker specializing in complex trauma in her private practice outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She is also the host of Therapy Chat podcast. Laura offers individual and group consultation with clinicians who work with trauma focusing on addressing the impact of vicarious trauma, as well as creating a trauma-informed practice. Connect with Laura at www.laurareaganlcswc.com. In this episode we talk about: Laura’s story The definition of vicarious trauma Preparation to manage crisis intervention, trauma response work, and being on-call Self-care, debriefing, supportive supervision The cumulative effects of hearing about clients’ traumatic experiences Over-work and negative self-concept due to the need to keep people safe Decreasing feelings of competence and safety Distinction between vicarious trauma, burnout, and countertransference The fight or flight response related to secondary traumatic stress Offsetting the negative impacts of vicarious trauma Building community and connection The limits of incident debriefing and the need for therapists to process their own stuff that is brought up by vicarious trauma The importance of personal therapy, consultation Critical Incident Debriefing Taking care of yourself within a trauma-informed practice The danger of ignoring vicarious trauma (PTSD symptoms) Managing your emotions without shutting down or becoming disregulated Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Therapy Chat Podcast Simple Self-Care for Therapists by Ashley Davis Bush Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky Laura Reagan’s Consultation Laura Reagan’s On-Line Trauma Therapist Community Laura’ Reagan’s In-Person Trauma Community Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes: Therapist Safety The Danger of Poor Self-Care Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Mon, 21 May 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Managing Vicarious Trauma: An interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C about coping with your client’s material as a therapist full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C about coping with your client’s material as a therapist It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is a clinical social worker specializing in complex trauma in her private practice outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She is also the host of Therapy Chat podcast. Laura offers individual and group consultation with clinicians who work with trauma focusing on addressing the impact of vicarious trauma, as well as creating a trauma-informed practice. Connect with Laura at www.laurareaganlcswc.com. In this episode we talk about: Laura’s story The definition of vicarious trauma Preparation to manage crisis intervention, trauma response work, and being on-call Self-care, debriefing, supportive supervision The cumulative effects of hearing about clients’ traumatic experiences Over-work and negative self-concept due to the need to keep people safe Decreasing feelings of competence and safety Distinction between vicarious trauma, burnout, and countertransference The fight or flight response related to secondary traumatic stress Offsetting the negative impacts of vicarious trauma Building community and connection The limits of incident debriefing and the need for therapists to process their own stuff that is brought up by vicarious trauma The importance of personal therapy, consultation Critical Incident Debriefing Taking care of yourself within a trauma-informed practice The danger of ignoring vicarious trauma (PTSD symptoms) Managing your emotions without shutting down or becoming disregulated Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Therapy Chat Podcast Simple Self-Care for Therapists by Ashley Davis Bush Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky Laura Reagan’s Consultation Laura Reagan’s On-Line Trauma Therapist Community Laura’ Reagan’s In-Person Trauma Community Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes: Therapist Safety The Danger of Poor Self-Care Our Next Event: The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C

Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is a clinical social worker specializing in complex trauma in her private practice outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She is also the host of Therapy Chat podcast. Laura offers individual and group consultation with clinicians who work with trauma focusing on addressing the impact of vicarious trauma, as well as creating a trauma-informed practice. Connect with Laura at www.laurareaganlcswc.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Laura’s story
  • The definition of vicarious trauma
  • Preparation to manage crisis intervention, trauma response work, and being on-call
  • Self-care, debriefing, supportive supervision
  • The cumulative effects of hearing about clients’ traumatic experiences
  • Over-work and negative self-concept due to the need to keep people safe
  • Decreasing feelings of competence and safety
  • Distinction between vicarious trauma, burnout, and countertransference
  • The fight or flight response related to secondary traumatic stress
  • Offsetting the negative impacts of vicarious trauma
  • Building community and connection
  • The limits of incident debriefing and the need for therapists to process their own stuff that is brought up by vicarious trauma
  • The importance of personal therapy, consultation
  • Critical Incident Debriefing
  • Taking care of yourself within a trauma-informed practice
  • The danger of ignoring vicarious trauma (PTSD symptoms)
  • Managing your emotions without shutting down or becoming disregulated

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Therapy Chat Podcast

Simple Self-Care for Therapists by Ashley Davis Bush

Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

Laura Reagan’s Consultation

Laura Reagan’s On-Line Trauma Therapist Community

Laura’ Reagan’s In-Person Trauma Community

Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes:

Therapist Safety

The Danger of Poor Self-Care

Our Next Event:

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

]]> 2221 no Toxic Work Environments https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/toxic-work-environments It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How therapists can create toxic work environments for themselves and their teams How therapists can make poor managers (and some suggestions on how to improve) How to change your environment and when to leave it How to assess if it is you, your work culture, or both What makes an environment toxic: unclear or unreasonable expectations, lack of communication, illegal activities, predatory practices toward prelicensed individuals, gas lighting, too much venting How to advocate (when you can) What to do when you feel like you can’t leave Coping strategies when you can’t leave right away (setting boundaries, avoiding the people who are always complaining, asking for what you need) Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Situational Leadership Model Other Episodes Mentioned: Giving and Getting Good Supervision Getting the Supervision You Want Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 14 May 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Toxic Work Environments: Curt and Katie talk about how therapists can create, change, and cope with unhealthy workplaces full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how therapists can create, change, and cope with unhealthy workplaces It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How therapists can create toxic work environments for themselves and their teams How therapists can make poor managers (and some suggestions on how to improve) How to change your environment and when to leave it How to assess if it is you, your work culture, or both What makes an environment toxic: unclear or unreasonable expectations, lack of communication, illegal activities, predatory practices toward prelicensed individuals, gas lighting, too much venting How to advocate (when you can) What to do when you feel like you can’t leave Coping strategies when you can’t leave right away (setting boundaries, avoiding the people who are always complaining, asking for what you need) Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Situational Leadership Model Other Episodes Mentioned: Giving and Getting Good Supervision Getting the Supervision You Want Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How therapists can create toxic work environments for themselves and their teams
  • How therapists can make poor managers (and some suggestions on how to improve)
  • How to change your environment and when to leave it
  • How to assess if it is you, your work culture, or both
  • What makes an environment toxic: unclear or unreasonable expectations, lack of communication, illegal activities, predatory practices toward prelicensed individuals, gas lighting, too much venting
  • How to advocate (when you can)
  • What to do when you feel like you can’t leave
  • Coping strategies when you can’t leave right away (setting boundaries, avoiding the people who are always complaining, asking for what you need)

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Situational Leadership Model

Other Episodes Mentioned:

Giving and Getting Good Supervision

Getting the Supervision You Want

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1849 no Delegating Virtually Anything https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/delegating-virtually-anything It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Uriah Guilford, MFT Uriah Guilford is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, the owner of Guilford Family Counseling and the mastermind behind The Productive Therapist, a business that provides virtual assistants to therapy practice owners. He is a technology enthusiast, productivity nerd and a pretty rad drummer. Uriah is always searching for creative ways to provide counseling to youth and families as well as help therapists to get more done, while working less. You can learn more about Uriah’s businesses here: www.productivetherapist.com and www.guilfordfamilycounseling.com In this episode we talk about: Improving efficiency through automation, delegation, and elimination Differences between an in-person versus a virtual assistant Managing Virtual Assistants (VAs) using technology What therapists should delegate first What to look for in a VA (qualities of successful VAs) What skills to require and what you can train on How to make the transition into delegating to a VA The productivity dip that can happen when you hire someone The issues and the best practices in adding a team member Becoming efficient with templates and processes Getting really good at delegating What we should be doing – working on the business, CEO strategic thinking, client care Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Uriah’s new Virtual Assistant company: The Productive Therapist – mention the podcast to get 2 hours of free VA services Zoom Video Conferencing SimplePractice todoist Quip.com Trello Asana Google Docs Useloom.com Alexa/Amazon Echo   Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 07 May 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Delegating Virtually Anything: An interview with Uriah Guilford, MFT, on becoming a Productive Therapist by hiring a Virtual Assistant full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Uriah Guilford, MFT, on becoming a Productive Therapist by hiring a Virtual Assistant It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Uriah Guilford, MFT Uriah Guilford is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, the owner of Guilford Family Counseling and the mastermind behind The Productive Therapist, a business that provides virtual assistants to therapy practice owners. He is a technology enthusiast, productivity nerd and a pretty rad drummer. Uriah is always searching for creative ways to provide counseling to youth and families as well as help therapists to get more done, while working less. You can learn more about Uriah’s businesses here: www.productivetherapist.com and www.guilfordfamilycounseling.com In this episode we talk about: Improving efficiency through automation, delegation, and elimination Differences between an in-person versus a virtual assistant Managing Virtual Assistants (VAs) using technology What therapists should delegate first What to look for in a VA (qualities of successful VAs) What skills to require and what you can train on How to make the transition into delegating to a VA The productivity dip that can happen when you hire someone The issues and the best practices in adding a team member Becoming efficient with templates and processes Getting really good at delegating What we should be doing – working on the business, CEO strategic thinking, client care Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Uriah’s new Virtual Assistant company: The Productive Therapist – mention the podcast to get 2 hours of free VA services Zoom Video Conferencing SimplePractice todoist Quip.com Trello Asana Google Docs Useloom.com Alexa/Amazon Echo   Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Uriah Guilford, MFT

Uriah Guilford is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, the owner of Guilford Family Counseling and the mastermind behind The Productive Therapist, a business that provides virtual assistants to therapy practice owners. He is a technology enthusiast, productivity nerd and a pretty rad drummer. Uriah is always searching for creative ways to provide counseling to youth and families as well as help therapists to get more done, while working less.

You can learn more about Uriah’s businesses here: www.productivetherapist.com and www.guilfordfamilycounseling.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • Improving efficiency through automation, delegation, and elimination
  • Differences between an in-person versus a virtual assistant
  • Managing Virtual Assistants (VAs) using technology
  • What therapists should delegate first
  • What to look for in a VA (qualities of successful VAs)
  • What skills to require and what you can train on
  • How to make the transition into delegating to a VA
  • The productivity dip that can happen when you hire someone
  • The issues and the best practices in adding a team member
  • Becoming efficient with templates and processes
  • Getting really good at delegating
  • What we should be doing – working on the business, CEO strategic thinking, client care

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Uriah’s new Virtual Assistant company: The Productive Therapist – mention the podcast to get 2 hours of free VA services

Zoom Video Conferencing

SimplePractice

todoist

Quip.com

Trello

Asana

Google Docs

Useloom.com

Alexa/Amazon Echo

 

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2125 no Referrals Done Right https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/referrals-done-right It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Calling people back How much time to spend on making referrals Horrible business and legal considerations like kickbacks, cartels, and antitrust issues What we’re legally and ethically responsible for related to making referrals Call logs and why they are useful Keeping the best interest of the client in mind What to call referrals from on-line directories and Facebook groups Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Other Episodes Mentioned: In-Person Networking The Brand Called You Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 30 Apr 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Referrals Done Right: Curt and Katie talk about the complications when referring out to other therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the complications when referring out to other therapists It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Calling people back How much time to spend on making referrals Horrible business and legal considerations like kickbacks, cartels, and antitrust issues What we’re legally and ethically responsible for related to making referrals Call logs and why they are useful Keeping the best interest of the client in mind What to call referrals from on-line directories and Facebook groups Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Other Episodes Mentioned: In-Person Networking The Brand Called You Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Calling people back
  • How much time to spend on making referrals
  • Horrible business and legal considerations like kickbacks, cartels, and antitrust issues
  • What we’re legally and ethically responsible for related to making referrals
  • Call logs and why they are useful
  • Keeping the best interest of the client in mind
  • What to call referrals from on-line directories and Facebook groups

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Other Episodes Mentioned:

In-Person Networking

The Brand Called You

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1968 no The Brand Called You https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-brand-called-you WE HEARD YOU AND WE’RE MOVING TO ONE EPISODE A WEEK! ALSO… LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW TO HEAR OUR SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEMBER CODE TO GET EXTENDED EARLY BIRD PRICING THROUGH FRIDAY 4/27/18 ON OUR LAW AND ETHICS WORKSHOP MAY 18TH, 2018!! It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definition of Personal Branding and what it means for therapists How to use your authentic voice How to identify how best to present yourself How you come across to others, especially to clients Answering the question, what do I offer? The danger of mimicking others Professional bios versus authentic connection Your professional persona Why it is important to really represent who you are as a therapist Ethical reasons to embrace your style (and communicate it well) How to take off the blank screen or blank slate, looking at the self-exploration that’s needed How our experiences and our values can impact treatment Relevant ethics codes related to choosing who you work with, embracing your skill set, and rejecting clients based on demographics What to put on your website How fear can get in the way of effectively reaching your clients How personal branding is the antidote to being “too niched.” Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Dr. Ben Caldwell’s Book Saving Psychotherapy Other Episodes Mentioned: Bad Marketing Decisions What is a Modern Therapist Are You Sure You’re a Specialist? How Much is Too Much? Building the Psyko Therapist Brand The Fight to Save Psychotherapy Therapists in Therapy     Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/     Mon, 23 Apr 2018 07:00:00 -0000 The Brand Called You: Curt and Katie talk about personal branding for therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about personal branding for therapists WE HEARD YOU AND WE’RE MOVING TO ONE EPISODE A WEEK! ALSO… LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW TO HEAR OUR SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEMBER CODE TO GET EXTENDED EARLY BIRD PRICING THROUGH FRIDAY 4/27/18 ON OUR LAW AND ETHICS WORKSHOP MAY 18TH, 2018!! It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definition of Personal Branding and what it means for therapists How to use your authentic voice How to identify how best to present yourself How you come across to others, especially to clients Answering the question, what do I offer? The danger of mimicking others Professional bios versus authentic connection Your professional persona Why it is important to really represent who you are as a therapist Ethical reasons to embrace your style (and communicate it well) How to take off the blank screen or blank slate, looking at the self-exploration that’s needed How our experiences and our values can impact treatment Relevant ethics codes related to choosing who you work with, embracing your skill set, and rejecting clients based on demographics What to put on your website How fear can get in the way of effectively reaching your clients How personal branding is the antidote to being “too niched.” Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Dr. Ben Caldwell’s Book Saving Psychotherapy Other Episodes Mentioned: Bad Marketing Decisions What is a Modern Therapist Are You Sure You’re a Specialist? How Much is Too Much? Building the Psyko Therapist Brand The Fight to Save Psychotherapy Therapists in Therapy     Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/     WE HEARD YOU AND WE’RE MOVING TO ONE EPISODE A WEEK!

ALSO… LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW TO HEAR OUR SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEMBER CODE TO GET EXTENDED EARLY BIRD PRICING THROUGH FRIDAY 4/27/18 ON OUR LAW AND ETHICS WORKSHOP MAY 18TH, 2018!!

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The definition of Personal Branding and what it means for therapists
  • How to use your authentic voice
  • How to identify how best to present yourself
  • How you come across to others, especially to clients
  • Answering the question, what do I offer?
  • The danger of mimicking others
  • Professional bios versus authentic connection
  • Your professional persona
  • Why it is important to really represent who you are as a therapist
  • Ethical reasons to embrace your style (and communicate it well)
  • How to take off the blank screen or blank slate, looking at the self-exploration that’s needed
  • How our experiences and our values can impact treatment
  • Relevant ethics codes related to choosing who you work with, embracing your skill set, and rejecting clients based on demographics
  • What to put on your website
  • How fear can get in the way of effectively reaching your clients
  • How personal branding is the antidote to being “too niched.”

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Dr. Ben Caldwell’s Book Saving Psychotherapy

Other Episodes Mentioned:

Bad Marketing Decisions

What is a Modern Therapist

Are You Sure You’re a Specialist?

How Much is Too Much?

Building the Psyko Therapist Brand

The Fight to Save Psychotherapy

Therapists in Therapy

 

 

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

 

]]> 2086 no Building Hope for the Next Generation of Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/building-hope-for-the-next-generation-of-therapists It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Robin Andersen, LMFT, the Founder of Prelicensed Robin Andersen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 100070), the Founder of Prelicensed, the Business Development Manager for TrackYourHours and TrackYourCEUs, and the President of the San Diego North County Chapter of CAMFT. She is passionate about supporting prelicensed MFTs and enjoys focusing on numerous aspects of the MFT field, including entrepreneurship, leadership, and advocacy. Robin strives to create resources that serve the MFT community and move the profession forward. You can learn more about her current and upcoming projects (including the Psychotherapy Forums) by visiting her website. In this episode we talk about: Why she started prelicensed.com and explaining her other current projects, trackyourhours and trackyourceus Robin’s assessment of the gaps in the field for students, trainees, and associates The #postthepay campaign and how prelicensed individuals can navigate job searching The different explanations Robin has heard about why people don’t pay interns and associates The importance of getting mentorship Getting and giving support and mentorship How to advocate as a prelicensed individual How prelicensed individuals can get in their own way Robin’s best tips for successfully moving forward in the career Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Prelicensed Job Search Blog Articles, including: "Does Non-Bilingual Mean Non-Employable?" "An Attendee's Guide to BBS Board Meetings" TrackYourCEUs TrackYourHours   Dr. Ben Caldwell CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences)   Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 19 Apr 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Building Hope for the Next Generation of Therapists: An interview with Robin Andersen, LMFT, the Founder of Prelicensed full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Robin Andersen, LMFT, the Founder of Prelicensed It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Robin Andersen, LMFT, the Founder of Prelicensed Robin Andersen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 100070), the Founder of Prelicensed, the Business Development Manager for TrackYourHours and TrackYourCEUs, and the President of the San Diego North County Chapter of CAMFT. She is passionate about supporting prelicensed MFTs and enjoys focusing on numerous aspects of the MFT field, including entrepreneurship, leadership, and advocacy. Robin strives to create resources that serve the MFT community and move the profession forward. You can learn more about her current and upcoming projects (including the Psychotherapy Forums) by visiting her website. In this episode we talk about: Why she started prelicensed.com and explaining her other current projects, trackyourhours and trackyourceus Robin’s assessment of the gaps in the field for students, trainees, and associates The #postthepay campaign and how prelicensed individuals can navigate job searching The different explanations Robin has heard about why people don’t pay interns and associates The importance of getting mentorship Getting and giving support and mentorship How to advocate as a prelicensed individual How prelicensed individuals can get in their own way Robin’s best tips for successfully moving forward in the career Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Prelicensed Job Search Blog Articles, including: "Does Non-Bilingual Mean Non-Employable?" "An Attendee's Guide to BBS Board Meetings" TrackYourCEUs TrackYourHours   Dr. Ben Caldwell CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences)   Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Robin Andersen, LMFT, the Founder of Prelicensed

Robin Andersen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 100070), the Founder of Prelicensed, the Business Development Manager for TrackYourHours and TrackYourCEUs, and the President of the San Diego North County Chapter of CAMFT. She is passionate about supporting prelicensed MFTs and enjoys focusing on numerous aspects of the MFT field, including entrepreneurship, leadership, and advocacy. Robin strives to create resources that serve the MFT community and move the profession forward. You can learn more about her current and upcoming projects (including the Psychotherapy Forums) by visiting her website.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why she started prelicensed.com and explaining her other current projects, trackyourhours and trackyourceus
  • Robin’s assessment of the gaps in the field for students, trainees, and associates
  • The #postthepay campaign and how prelicensed individuals can navigate job searching
  • The different explanations Robin has heard about why people don’t pay interns and associates
  • The importance of getting mentorship
  • Getting and giving support and mentorship
  • How to advocate as a prelicensed individual
  • How prelicensed individuals can get in their own way
  • Robin’s best tips for successfully moving forward in the career

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Prelicensed

TrackYourCEUs

TrackYourHours

 

Dr. Ben Caldwell

CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)

AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)

BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences)

 

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2044 no Therapists In Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapists-in-therapy It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How to find a therapist (and all of the challenges in finding the right therapist) The potential for a dual relationship and making sure that you can navigate it The stigma related to shopping for a new therapist Finding someone who is further along in the career and very skilled to be your therapist Whether or not therapy should be a requirement in grad school Whether you can be a good therapist if you’ve never been a therapy client The importance of using therapy to address current mental health concerns as well as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout, and the stresses of being a private practitioner Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Articles: Counselling psychologists' perceptions of the impact of mandatory personal therapy on professional development--an exploratory study Psychotherapy trainees’ experiences of their own mandatory personal therapy raise “serious ethical considerations” Therapy for Therapists Other Episodes Mentioned: Bad Marketing Decisions Finding Your Blind Spots Be a Better Therapist Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Mon, 16 Apr 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Therapists In Therapy: Curt and Katie talk about the complexity of seeking out your own counseling as a therapist full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about the complexity of seeking out your own counseling as a therapist It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How to find a therapist (and all of the challenges in finding the right therapist) The potential for a dual relationship and making sure that you can navigate it The stigma related to shopping for a new therapist Finding someone who is further along in the career and very skilled to be your therapist Whether or not therapy should be a requirement in grad school Whether you can be a good therapist if you’ve never been a therapy client The importance of using therapy to address current mental health concerns as well as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout, and the stresses of being a private practitioner Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Articles: Counselling psychologists' perceptions of the impact of mandatory personal therapy on professional development--an exploratory study Psychotherapy trainees’ experiences of their own mandatory personal therapy raise “serious ethical considerations” Therapy for Therapists Other Episodes Mentioned: Bad Marketing Decisions Finding Your Blind Spots Be a Better Therapist Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How to find a therapist (and all of the challenges in finding the right therapist)
  • The potential for a dual relationship and making sure that you can navigate it
  • The stigma related to shopping for a new therapist
  • Finding someone who is further along in the career and very skilled to be your therapist
  • Whether or not therapy should be a requirement in grad school
  • Whether you can be a good therapist if you’ve never been a therapy client
  • The importance of using therapy to address current mental health concerns as well as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout, and the stresses of being a private practitioner

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Articles:

Counselling psychologists' perceptions of the impact of mandatory personal therapy on professional development--an exploratory study

Psychotherapy trainees’ experiences of their own mandatory personal therapy raise “serious ethical considerations”

Therapy for Therapists

Other Episodes Mentioned:

Bad Marketing Decisions

Finding Your Blind Spots

Be a Better Therapist

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2129 no The 4-1-1 on Your 401K https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-4-1-1-on-your-401k It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Katrina Soelter, CFP Katrina Strelow Soelter is a Financial Advisor with the Zeutzius, Hutchinson, Sosa Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. She received her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley in Philosophy and German. After graduation, she taught elementary school in the Bay Area, during which time she received her MA from Loyola Marymount University. Motivated by her interest in personal finance and her passion for helping individuals define and achieve the life they want, she changed careers and began working with The Zeutzius, Hutchinson, Sosa Wealth Management Group at Wells Fargo Advisors in 2013. She attended UCLA extension for her CFP® coursework and is a proud CFP® practitioner. She enjoys exploring the different LA neighborhoods, reading a good book, finding local coffee shops, and giving back to her community. She volunteers as a mentor with the Fulfillment Fund and participates with the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, organizations that are close to her heart. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, the Cal Alumni Association, and an activator with SheEO. In this episode we talk about: Why people should invest their money How to prioritize and balance paying down debt (like student loans) with investing early for retirement and purchasing a home Thinking about your savings in buckets (long-term retirement, emergency fund, fun/intermediate planning) Retirement account options, including the advantages of different retirement plans (SEP, Simple) Self-directed investing (like Vanguard, Robo-advisors) and target date funds versus actively managed investing with a professional advisor The differences between stocks and bonds and the importance of understanding the allocation of each within your investments Fees to be aware of when investing How and when to consult a professional financial advisor/certified financial planner Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Getting a hold of Katrina: Katrina.Soelter@wfadvisors.com www.zhswealthmanagementgroup.com Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 12 Apr 2018 07:00:00 -0000 The 4-1-1 on Your 401K: An interview with Katrina Soelter, CFP about how to balance paying for the present and investing in the future full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Katrina Soelter, CFP about how to balance paying for the present and investing in the future It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Katrina Soelter, CFP Katrina Strelow Soelter is a Financial Advisor with the Zeutzius, Hutchinson, Sosa Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. She received her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley in Philosophy and German. After graduation, she taught elementary school in the Bay Area, during which time she received her MA from Loyola Marymount University. Motivated by her interest in personal finance and her passion for helping individuals define and achieve the life they want, she changed careers and began working with The Zeutzius, Hutchinson, Sosa Wealth Management Group at Wells Fargo Advisors in 2013. She attended UCLA extension for her CFP® coursework and is a proud CFP® practitioner. She enjoys exploring the different LA neighborhoods, reading a good book, finding local coffee shops, and giving back to her community. She volunteers as a mentor with the Fulfillment Fund and participates with the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, organizations that are close to her heart. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, the Cal Alumni Association, and an activator with SheEO. In this episode we talk about: Why people should invest their money How to prioritize and balance paying down debt (like student loans) with investing early for retirement and purchasing a home Thinking about your savings in buckets (long-term retirement, emergency fund, fun/intermediate planning) Retirement account options, including the advantages of different retirement plans (SEP, Simple) Self-directed investing (like Vanguard, Robo-advisors) and target date funds versus actively managed investing with a professional advisor The differences between stocks and bonds and the importance of understanding the allocation of each within your investments Fees to be aware of when investing How and when to consult a professional financial advisor/certified financial planner Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Getting a hold of Katrina: Katrina.Soelter@wfadvisors.com www.zhswealthmanagementgroup.com Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Katrina Soelter, CFP

Katrina Strelow Soelter is a Financial Advisor with the Zeutzius, Hutchinson, Sosa Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. She received her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley in Philosophy and German. After graduation, she taught elementary school in the Bay Area, during which time she received her MA from Loyola Marymount University. Motivated by her interest in personal finance and her passion for helping individuals define and achieve the life they want, she changed careers and began working with The Zeutzius, Hutchinson, Sosa Wealth Management Group at Wells Fargo Advisors in 2013. She attended UCLA extension for her CFP® coursework and is a proud CFP® practitioner.

She enjoys exploring the different LA neighborhoods, reading a good book, finding local coffee shops, and giving back to her community. She volunteers as a mentor with the Fulfillment Fund and participates with the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, organizations that are close to her heart. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, the Cal Alumni Association, and an activator with SheEO.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why people should invest their money
  • How to prioritize and balance paying down debt (like student loans) with investing early for retirement and purchasing a home
  • Thinking about your savings in buckets (long-term retirement, emergency fund, fun/intermediate planning)
  • Retirement account options, including the advantages of different retirement plans (SEP, Simple)
  • Self-directed investing (like Vanguard, Robo-advisors) and target date funds versus actively managed investing with a professional advisor
  • The differences between stocks and bonds and the importance of understanding the allocation of each within your investments
  • Fees to be aware of when investing
  • How and when to consult a professional financial advisor/certified financial planner

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Getting a hold of Katrina:

Katrina.Soelter@wfadvisors.com

www.zhswealthmanagementgroup.com

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2256 no Our Take on Texts https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/our-take-on-texts It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: A disciplinary action related to a therapist accidentally texting her client with something the client found offensive An argument made related to whether or not therapists should ever text with their clients Informed consent related to texting (including when your signed consent doesn’t protect you) Why it is important to think closely about anything you’re putting out there in texts, social media, or any written communication How to manage boundaries related to potentially being available 24/7 when your clients text How to discuss with your client any missteps with boundaries Telehealth considerations Password protecting your phone Decreasing your liability by making sure you’re HIPAA compliant Email mistakes that aren’t really protected by your email disclaimer All the nuances that can be misunderstood while texting – emojis, punctuation, abbreviations How to handle private messaging on social media How to engage in our Facebook Group Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Board of Behavioral Sciences Disciplinary Actions by the CA BBS Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group Articles: The Legalities and Ethics of Texting Your Psychotherapy Clients Psychotherapy by emoji: Mental health community wrestles with texting Text therapy: once my therapist sent me an emoji, I knew it was game over Other Episodes Mentioned: Making Your Paperwork Meaningful Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 10 Apr 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Our Take on Texts: Curt and Katie talk about how texting clients can go wrong full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how texting clients can go wrong It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: A disciplinary action related to a therapist accidentally texting her client with something the client found offensive An argument made related to whether or not therapists should ever text with their clients Informed consent related to texting (including when your signed consent doesn’t protect you) Why it is important to think closely about anything you’re putting out there in texts, social media, or any written communication How to manage boundaries related to potentially being available 24/7 when your clients text How to discuss with your client any missteps with boundaries Telehealth considerations Password protecting your phone Decreasing your liability by making sure you’re HIPAA compliant Email mistakes that aren’t really protected by your email disclaimer All the nuances that can be misunderstood while texting – emojis, punctuation, abbreviations How to handle private messaging on social media How to engage in our Facebook Group Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Board of Behavioral Sciences Disciplinary Actions by the CA BBS Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group Articles: The Legalities and Ethics of Texting Your Psychotherapy Clients Psychotherapy by emoji: Mental health community wrestles with texting Text therapy: once my therapist sent me an emoji, I knew it was game over Other Episodes Mentioned: Making Your Paperwork Meaningful Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • A disciplinary action related to a therapist accidentally texting her client with something the client found offensive
  • An argument made related to whether or not therapists should ever text with their clients
  • Informed consent related to texting (including when your signed consent doesn’t protect you)
  • Why it is important to think closely about anything you’re putting out there in texts, social media, or any written communication
  • How to manage boundaries related to potentially being available 24/7 when your clients text
  • How to discuss with your client any missteps with boundaries
  • Telehealth considerations
  • Password protecting your phone
  • Decreasing your liability by making sure you’re HIPAA compliant
  • Email mistakes that aren’t really protected by your email disclaimer
  • All the nuances that can be misunderstood while texting – emojis, punctuation, abbreviations
  • How to handle private messaging on social media
  • How to engage in our Facebook Group

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

California Board of Behavioral Sciences

Disciplinary Actions by the CA BBS

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

Articles:

The Legalities and Ethics of Texting Your Psychotherapy Clients

Psychotherapy by emoji: Mental health community wrestles with texting

Text therapy: once my therapist sent me an emoji, I knew it was game over

Other Episodes Mentioned:

Making Your Paperwork Meaningful

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Group

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2163 no Building the “Psyko Therapist” Brand https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/building-the-psyko-therapist-brand It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Embracing your own personal brand works when you own what you do Using video can be an effective way of promoting mental wellness Video has built therapeutic relationship prior to patients coming in for the first session Pulling in a lot of different identities works best when bringing it together with your passion Everyone has their own relationship with failure Livesteam failures and handling online trolls Therapists and other mental health professionals are the most critical of the crafted brand Advertise where people are: social media Humor eases anxieties around mental health issues Therapists underestimate the power of being themselves Being appropriately authentic Find your social support system to better yourself  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Jax Anderson’s website The Psyko therapist youtube channel The Psyko therapist Instagram A Beautiful Journey Clinic John Mulaney   Previous Episodes Mentioned: Bad Marketing Decisions Social Media and Video Marketing Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 05 Apr 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Building the “Psyko Therapist” Brand: An Interview with Jax Anderson full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Jax Anderson It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Embracing your own personal brand works when you own what you do Using video can be an effective way of promoting mental wellness Video has built therapeutic relationship prior to patients coming in for the first session Pulling in a lot of different identities works best when bringing it together with your passion Everyone has their own relationship with failure Livesteam failures and handling online trolls Therapists and other mental health professionals are the most critical of the crafted brand Advertise where people are: social media Humor eases anxieties around mental health issues Therapists underestimate the power of being themselves Being appropriately authentic Find your social support system to better yourself  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Jax Anderson’s website The Psyko therapist youtube channel The Psyko therapist Instagram A Beautiful Journey Clinic John Mulaney   Previous Episodes Mentioned: Bad Marketing Decisions Social Media and Video Marketing Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Embracing your own personal brand works when you own what you do

Using video can be an effective way of promoting mental wellness

Video has built therapeutic relationship prior to patients coming in for the first session

Pulling in a lot of different identities works best when bringing it together with your passion

Everyone has their own relationship with failure

Livesteam failures and handling online trolls

Therapists and other mental health professionals are the most critical of the crafted brand

Advertise where people are: social media

Humor eases anxieties around mental health issues

Therapists underestimate the power of being themselves

Being appropriately authentic

Find your social support system to better yourself

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Jax Anderson’s website

The Psyko therapist youtube channel

The Psyko therapist Instagram

A Beautiful Journey Clinic

John Mulaney

 

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Bad Marketing Decisions

Social Media and Video Marketing

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2193 yes Interview Strategies for Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/interview-strategies-for-therapists-0 Episode 44: Interview Strategies for Therapists: Curt and Katie talk about Interviewing for Mental Health Jobs It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode, we discuss: -Filling out applications correctly -Phone screening process -Different types of interview structures -How to handle questions about theory or your practice style -What employers are looking for -Professionalism during the interview process -Deal breakers for employers -Extroverted vs introverted answers Previous Episodes Mentioned: Getting a J-O-B Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/     Tue, 03 Apr 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Interview Strategies for Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Interviewing for Mental Health Jobs Episode 44: Interview Strategies for Therapists: Curt and Katie talk about Interviewing for Mental Health Jobs It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode, we discuss: -Filling out applications correctly -Phone screening process -Different types of interview structures -How to handle questions about theory or your practice style -What employers are looking for -Professionalism during the interview process -Deal breakers for employers -Extroverted vs introverted answers Previous Episodes Mentioned: Getting a J-O-B Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/     Episode 44: Interview Strategies for Therapists:

Curt and Katie talk about Interviewing for Mental Health Jobs

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode, we discuss:

-Filling out applications correctly

-Phone screening process

-Different types of interview structures

-How to handle questions about theory or your practice style

-What employers are looking for

-Professionalism during the interview process

-Deal breakers for employers

-Extroverted vs introverted answers

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Getting a J-O-B

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

 

]]> 2303 no Be the CEO of your SEO https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/be-the-ceo-of-your-seo It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. SEO is making sure that search engines understand what your business is about Sign up for Google My Business Make sure that your website has appropriate title tags and descriptions SEO research doesn’t necessarily apply to small businesses Use synonyms for aspects of your business Backlinks to other related websites improves your SEO Guest blogs on others websites should link back to your website Steady increases are more natural to search engines rather than flooding all at once Write specific service pages for each type of different services Links should be spread around to the different service pages Page ranks are boosted by links that determine the importance in search engine rankings Have a strategy for blogging & social media that fits with what you are able to provide Brightervision.com/katiecurt for one month of free website Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Perry Rosenbloom at Brighter Vision Google My Business Free month of Brighter Vision!   Previous Episodes Mentioned: Creating Relevant Ads   Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 29 Mar 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Be the CEO of your SEO An Interview with Perry Rosenbloom of Brighter Vision about Search Engine Optimization full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Perry Rosenbloom of Brighter Vision about Search Engine Optimization It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. SEO is making sure that search engines understand what your business is about Sign up for Google My Business Make sure that your website has appropriate title tags and descriptions SEO research doesn’t necessarily apply to small businesses Use synonyms for aspects of your business Backlinks to other related websites improves your SEO Guest blogs on others websites should link back to your website Steady increases are more natural to search engines rather than flooding all at once Write specific service pages for each type of different services Links should be spread around to the different service pages Page ranks are boosted by links that determine the importance in search engine rankings Have a strategy for blogging & social media that fits with what you are able to provide Brightervision.com/katiecurt for one month of free website Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Perry Rosenbloom at Brighter Vision Google My Business Free month of Brighter Vision!   Previous Episodes Mentioned: Creating Relevant Ads   Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

SEO is making sure that search engines understand what your business is about

Sign up for Google My Business

Make sure that your website has appropriate title tags and descriptions

SEO research doesn’t necessarily apply to small businesses

Use synonyms for aspects of your business

Backlinks to other related websites improves your SEO

Guest blogs on others websites should link back to your website

Steady increases are more natural to search engines rather than flooding all at once

Write specific service pages for each type of different services

Links should be spread around to the different service pages

Page ranks are boosted by links that determine the importance in search engine rankings

Have a strategy for blogging & social media that fits with what you are able to provide

Brightervision.com/katiecurt for one month of free website

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Perry Rosenbloom at Brighter Vision

Google My Business

Free month of Brighter Vision!

 

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Creating Relevant Ads

 

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2287 no Getting a J-O-B https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/getting-a-j-o-b It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode, we discuss: Summer is a good time for job training due to a lesser client load Agencies provide exposure to more clients Check for jobs online and through in-person networking Early private practice presence allows for someone else to cover early overhead expenses Clean up your online presence Resumes and cover letters need to look good, but might not be read in depth Tailor your skills responsibilities from previous jobs to the job you are applying for Thematic experience is stronger…if it fits your plan Resumes and CVs can be multiple pages Make sure that your references are going to be good references for your Not all experience needs to be clinical  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 27 Mar 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Getting a J-O-B Curt and Katie talk about how to approach the therapist job market full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to approach the therapist job market It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode, we discuss: Summer is a good time for job training due to a lesser client load Agencies provide exposure to more clients Check for jobs online and through in-person networking Early private practice presence allows for someone else to cover early overhead expenses Clean up your online presence Resumes and cover letters need to look good, but might not be read in depth Tailor your skills responsibilities from previous jobs to the job you are applying for Thematic experience is stronger…if it fits your plan Resumes and CVs can be multiple pages Make sure that your references are going to be good references for your Not all experience needs to be clinical  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode, we discuss:

Summer is a good time for job training due to a lesser client load

Agencies provide exposure to more clients

Check for jobs online and through in-person networking

Early private practice presence allows for someone else to cover early overhead expenses

Clean up your online presence

Resumes and cover letters need to look good, but might not be read in depth

Tailor your skills responsibilities from previous jobs to the job you are applying for

Thematic experience is stronger…if it fits your plan

Resumes and CVs can be multiple pages

Make sure that your references are going to be good references for your

Not all experience needs to be clinical

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2058 no Let’s Talk About Sex https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/lets-talk-about-sex It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Liz Dube, MA, MS, Certified Sex Therapist Liz Dube – Is a Sex and Relationship Therapist, Speaker, and Blogger who is passionate about helping others increase intimacy and sexual satisfaction in their relationships. She loves speaking on any topic related to sex and intimacy and she has a private practice in Long Beach & Huntington Beach, CA where she helps men, women, and couples get empowered about sex. Please visit her website where she blogs regularly about sex and intimacy: www.talksexwithliz.com. In this episode we talk about: Liz’ story and why she became a sex therapist What therapists get wrong when talking about sex with their therapy clients Myths about sex that even some therapists believe Why people come to sex therapy When therapists should be talking with their clients about their sex lives Assessing sexual functioning Language to use when talking about sex and how to desensitize yourself to common language When to seek consultation and when to refer out How therapists can experience shame and judgment related to impostor syndrome (e.g., the divorced marriage therapist) Common misconceptions about sex therapists Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Liz’s website Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 22 Mar 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Let’s Talk About Sex: An interview with Liz Dube, MA, MS, Certified Sex Therapist on common mistakes therapists related to assessment and treatment of client sexual functioning full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Liz Dube, MA, MS, Certified Sex Therapist on common mistakes therapists related to assessment and treatment of client sexual functioning It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Liz Dube, MA, MS, Certified Sex Therapist Liz Dube – Is a Sex and Relationship Therapist, Speaker, and Blogger who is passionate about helping others increase intimacy and sexual satisfaction in their relationships. She loves speaking on any topic related to sex and intimacy and she has a private practice in Long Beach & Huntington Beach, CA where she helps men, women, and couples get empowered about sex. Please visit her website where she blogs regularly about sex and intimacy: www.talksexwithliz.com. In this episode we talk about: Liz’ story and why she became a sex therapist What therapists get wrong when talking about sex with their therapy clients Myths about sex that even some therapists believe Why people come to sex therapy When therapists should be talking with their clients about their sex lives Assessing sexual functioning Language to use when talking about sex and how to desensitize yourself to common language When to seek consultation and when to refer out How therapists can experience shame and judgment related to impostor syndrome (e.g., the divorced marriage therapist) Common misconceptions about sex therapists Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Liz’s website Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Liz Dube, MA, MS, Certified Sex Therapist

Liz Dube – Is a Sex and Relationship Therapist, Speaker, and Blogger who is passionate about helping others increase intimacy and sexual satisfaction in their relationships. She loves speaking on any topic related to sex and intimacy and she has a private practice in Long Beach & Huntington Beach, CA where she helps men, women, and couples get empowered about sex. Please visit her website where she blogs regularly about sex and intimacy: www.talksexwithliz.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Liz’ story and why she became a sex therapist
  • What therapists get wrong when talking about sex with their therapy clients
  • Myths about sex that even some therapists believe
  • Why people come to sex therapy
  • When therapists should be talking with their clients about their sex lives
  • Assessing sexual functioning
  • Language to use when talking about sex and how to desensitize yourself to common language
  • When to seek consultation and when to refer out
  • How therapists can experience shame and judgment related to impostor syndrome (e.g., the divorced marriage therapist)
  • Common misconceptions about sex therapists

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Liz’s website

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2074 yes Getting the Supervision You Want https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/getting-the-supervision-you-want It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Our fan mail! Conversations happening in the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Facebook Group How to find the best supervisor you can Questions to ask in an interview, to determine their supervision style, the personality fit, and their capabilities Common mistakes supervisors can make in both group and individual supervision The different aspects of supervision: Clinical, Administrative/Logistical, and Professional Development Goal-setting for both individual and group supervision Choosing a supervisor as well as making the best of supervision Speaking about the process in the supervision room The challenges related to the power differential Evaluation and space for feedback Getting live supervision Preparing for supervision Seeking outside supervision when you’re not getting what you need from your assigned supervisor What to settle for and what to advocate for Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Board of Behavioral Sciences Other Episodes Mentioned: Giving and Getting Good Supervision Finding Your Blind Spots (Deliberate Practice Part 1) Be a Better Therapist (Deliberate Practice Part 2)   Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 20 Mar 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Getting the Supervision You Want: Curt and Katie talk about how to get the best supervisor you can and make the most out of supervision full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about how to get the best supervisor you can and make the most out of supervision It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Our fan mail! Conversations happening in the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Facebook Group How to find the best supervisor you can Questions to ask in an interview, to determine their supervision style, the personality fit, and their capabilities Common mistakes supervisors can make in both group and individual supervision The different aspects of supervision: Clinical, Administrative/Logistical, and Professional Development Goal-setting for both individual and group supervision Choosing a supervisor as well as making the best of supervision Speaking about the process in the supervision room The challenges related to the power differential Evaluation and space for feedback Getting live supervision Preparing for supervision Seeking outside supervision when you’re not getting what you need from your assigned supervisor What to settle for and what to advocate for Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Board of Behavioral Sciences Other Episodes Mentioned: Giving and Getting Good Supervision Finding Your Blind Spots (Deliberate Practice Part 1) Be a Better Therapist (Deliberate Practice Part 2)   Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Our fan mail!
  • Conversations happening in the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Facebook Group
  • How to find the best supervisor you can
  • Questions to ask in an interview, to determine their supervision style, the personality fit, and their capabilities
  • Common mistakes supervisors can make in both group and individual supervision
  • The different aspects of supervision: Clinical, Administrative/Logistical, and Professional Development
  • Goal-setting for both individual and group supervision
  • Choosing a supervisor as well as making the best of supervision
  • Speaking about the process in the supervision room
  • The challenges related to the power differential
  • Evaluation and space for feedback
  • Getting live supervision
  • Preparing for supervision
  • Seeking outside supervision when you’re not getting what you need from your assigned supervisor
  • What to settle for and what to advocate for

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

California Board of Behavioral Sciences

Other Episodes Mentioned:

Giving and Getting Good Supervision

Finding Your Blind Spots (Deliberate Practice Part 1)

Be a Better Therapist (Deliberate Practice Part 2)

 

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2237 no Be a Better Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/be-a-better-therapist It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Active vs Passive Learning Continuing Education structure Role plays as a learning tool Working with clients outside of your comfort zone Positive client outcomes How practicing specific steps is necessary to improve Going beyond the minimum continuing education requirements is necessary to become above average Consultants can be found all over the world through technology Cost factors in approaching your learning curve Facebook groups aren’t the safest place to get the best feedback Improving through specific areas comes with an ability to specialize and higher session fees Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Deliberate Practice: Tony Rousmaniere Previous Episodes Mentioned: Saving Psychotherapy with Dr. Ben Caldwell Finding Your Blind Spot: Deliberate Practice Part 1 Are You Sure You’re A Specialist? Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 15 Mar 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Be a Better Therapist: Curt and Katie talk about Deliberate Practice: Part 2 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about Deliberate Practice: Part 2 It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Active vs Passive Learning Continuing Education structure Role plays as a learning tool Working with clients outside of your comfort zone Positive client outcomes How practicing specific steps is necessary to improve Going beyond the minimum continuing education requirements is necessary to become above average Consultants can be found all over the world through technology Cost factors in approaching your learning curve Facebook groups aren’t the safest place to get the best feedback Improving through specific areas comes with an ability to specialize and higher session fees Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Deliberate Practice: Tony Rousmaniere Previous Episodes Mentioned: Saving Psychotherapy with Dr. Ben Caldwell Finding Your Blind Spot: Deliberate Practice Part 1 Are You Sure You’re A Specialist? Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Active vs Passive Learning

Continuing Education structure

Role plays as a learning tool

Working with clients outside of your comfort zone

Positive client outcomes

How practicing specific steps is necessary to improve

Going beyond the minimum continuing education requirements is necessary to become above average

Consultants can be found all over the world through technology

Cost factors in approaching your learning curve

Facebook groups aren’t the safest place to get the best feedback

Improving through specific areas comes with an ability to specialize and higher session fees

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Deliberate Practice:

Tony Rousmaniere

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Saving Psychotherapy with Dr. Ben Caldwell

Finding Your Blind Spot: Deliberate Practice Part 1

Are You Sure You’re A Specialist?

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is the Chief Financial Officer for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2026 no Therapist Safety https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapist-safety It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Information about a recent shooting incident at the Yountville Veteran’s Home Risks that therapists can face Making sure that you take care of your own safety first and foremost! Screening for risk factors from the initial call throughout treatment Best practices for safety in private practice, agencies, and community-based work Field safety for home visits (including safety in numbers) Advocating at your agency, in your community Tarasoff and the interaction between Mental Health and Law Enforcement Setting up your room so everyone feels safe Commonsense practices to keep you safe Grounding yourself for the work once you’ve made sure you’re safe The impact of direct and secondary trauma Take care of yourself Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. CNN Article: Three Women, Suspect Dead After Hostage Standoff in Yountville, California Go Fund Me: Jenn Gonzales Shushereba Memorial Community Members talking about this topic: Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD, CAE, Executive Director of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Lauren Adams - @lcswhatever and her tweet about safety Additional Articles on the Topic: Gun Violence: Prediction, Prevention, and Policy by the American Psychological Association APA Resources for Coping with Mass Shootings, Understanding Gun Violence APA: Stay Safe in Practice National Association of Social Workers Social Justice Brief: Gun Violence in the American Culture American Counseling Association: Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting Mass Shootings and Mental Illness Violence Against Mental Health Professionals: When the Treater Becomes the Victim Homicides of Mental Health Workers by Patients: Review of Cases and Safety Recommendations Active Shooter Resources   Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Mon, 12 Mar 2018 07:00:00 -0000 Therapist Safety: Curt’s and Katie’s call to action after the Yountville Veteran’s Home Shooting full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt’s and Katie’s call to action after the Yountville Veteran’s Home Shooting It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Information about a recent shooting incident at the Yountville Veteran’s Home Risks that therapists can face Making sure that you take care of your own safety first and foremost! Screening for risk factors from the initial call throughout treatment Best practices for safety in private practice, agencies, and community-based work Field safety for home visits (including safety in numbers) Advocating at your agency, in your community Tarasoff and the interaction between Mental Health and Law Enforcement Setting up your room so everyone feels safe Commonsense practices to keep you safe Grounding yourself for the work once you’ve made sure you’re safe The impact of direct and secondary trauma Take care of yourself Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. CNN Article: Three Women, Suspect Dead After Hostage Standoff in Yountville, California Go Fund Me: Jenn Gonzales Shushereba Memorial Community Members talking about this topic: Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD, CAE, Executive Director of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Lauren Adams - @lcswhatever and her tweet about safety Additional Articles on the Topic: Gun Violence: Prediction, Prevention, and Policy by the American Psychological Association APA Resources for Coping with Mass Shootings, Understanding Gun Violence APA: Stay Safe in Practice National Association of Social Workers Social Justice Brief: Gun Violence in the American Culture American Counseling Association: Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting Mass Shootings and Mental Illness Violence Against Mental Health Professionals: When the Treater Becomes the Victim Homicides of Mental Health Workers by Patients: Review of Cases and Safety Recommendations Active Shooter Resources   Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Information about a recent shooting incident at the Yountville Veteran’s Home
  • Risks that therapists can face
  • Making sure that you take care of your own safety first and foremost!
  • Screening for risk factors from the initial call throughout treatment
  • Best practices for safety in private practice, agencies, and community-based work
  • Field safety for home visits (including safety in numbers)
  • Advocating at your agency, in your community
  • Tarasoff and the interaction between Mental Health and Law Enforcement
  • Setting up your room so everyone feels safe
  • Commonsense practices to keep you safe
  • Grounding yourself for the work once you’ve made sure you’re safe
  • The impact of direct and secondary trauma
  • Take care of yourself

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

CNN Article: Three Women, Suspect Dead After Hostage Standoff in Yountville, California

Go Fund Me: Jenn Gonzales Shushereba Memorial

Community Members talking about this topic:

Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD, CAE, Executive Director of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Lauren Adams - @lcswhatever and her tweet about safety

Additional Articles on the Topic:

Gun Violence: Prediction, Prevention, and Policy by the American Psychological Association

APA Resources for Coping with Mass Shootings, Understanding Gun Violence

APA: Stay Safe in Practice

National Association of Social Workers Social Justice Brief: Gun Violence in the American Culture

American Counseling Association: Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting

Mass Shootings and Mental Illness

Violence Against Mental Health Professionals: When the Treater Becomes the Victim

Homicides of Mental Health Workers by Patients: Review of Cases and Safety Recommendations

Active Shooter Resources

 

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2334 no Creating Relevant Ads https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/creating-relevant-ads It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Duane Osterlind, LMFT, CSAT Duane Osterlind is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. He is the founder and Clinical Director of Novus Mindful Life Institute Family Counseling and Recovery Center in Long Beach, California and the creator and host of The Addicted Mind Podcast. Duane’s clinical focus is on treating individuals and couples struggling with process addictions using mindfulness and a task-centered approach. His mission, with all clients and their families, is to help people overcome life's challenges and find joy, happiness, and contentment.  In addition to developing original, ground-breaking individual, couples, and family treatment programs, sharing his passion through public presentations, and conducting staff training workshops at educational and treatment centers, Duane enjoys his "hobby" of online marketing. In helping therapists connect with clients using online marketing he creates more possibilities for having a positive impact in the world. You can find Duane online at novusmindfullife.com, theaddictedmind.com, and adwordsfortherapists.com. In this episode we talk about: Duane’s story and how he got interested in Google Adwords The benefits and risks of using Google Adwords to market your practice How to show up in relevant Google searches How to weed out people who aren’t really looking for you How to get the best return on investment on your ad Targeting by keywords, determining match type for your searches How to write your ad A/B Testing Analytics and how to improve your return over time Typical spends and ROI Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Google Adwords Google Analytics Duane’s Adwords for Therapists Directories that Duane mentioned: Psychology Today Good Therapy Theravive Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 08 Mar 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Creating Relevant Ads: An interview with Duane Osterlind, LMFT, CSAT, about Google Adwords for therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Duane Osterlind, LMFT, CSAT, about Google Adwords for therapists It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Duane Osterlind, LMFT, CSAT Duane Osterlind is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. He is the founder and Clinical Director of Novus Mindful Life Institute Family Counseling and Recovery Center in Long Beach, California and the creator and host of The Addicted Mind Podcast. Duane’s clinical focus is on treating individuals and couples struggling with process addictions using mindfulness and a task-centered approach. His mission, with all clients and their families, is to help people overcome life's challenges and find joy, happiness, and contentment.  In addition to developing original, ground-breaking individual, couples, and family treatment programs, sharing his passion through public presentations, and conducting staff training workshops at educational and treatment centers, Duane enjoys his "hobby" of online marketing. In helping therapists connect with clients using online marketing he creates more possibilities for having a positive impact in the world. You can find Duane online at novusmindfullife.com, theaddictedmind.com, and adwordsfortherapists.com. In this episode we talk about: Duane’s story and how he got interested in Google Adwords The benefits and risks of using Google Adwords to market your practice How to show up in relevant Google searches How to weed out people who aren’t really looking for you How to get the best return on investment on your ad Targeting by keywords, determining match type for your searches How to write your ad A/B Testing Analytics and how to improve your return over time Typical spends and ROI Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Google Adwords Google Analytics Duane’s Adwords for Therapists Directories that Duane mentioned: Psychology Today Good Therapy Theravive Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Duane Osterlind, LMFT, CSAT

Duane Osterlind is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. He is the founder and Clinical Director of Novus Mindful Life Institute Family Counseling and Recovery Center in Long Beach, California and the creator and host of The Addicted Mind Podcast. Duane’s clinical focus is on treating individuals and couples struggling with process addictions using mindfulness and a task-centered approach. His mission, with all clients and their families, is to help people overcome life's challenges and find joy, happiness, and contentment. 

In addition to developing original, ground-breaking individual, couples, and family treatment programs, sharing his passion through public presentations, and conducting staff training workshops at educational and treatment centers, Duane enjoys his "hobby" of online marketing. In helping therapists connect with clients using online marketing he creates more possibilities for having a positive impact in the world. You can find Duane online at novusmindfullife.com, theaddictedmind.com, and adwordsfortherapists.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Duane’s story and how he got interested in Google Adwords
  • The benefits and risks of using Google Adwords to market your practice
  • How to show up in relevant Google searches
  • How to weed out people who aren’t really looking for you
  • How to get the best return on investment on your ad
  • Targeting by keywords, determining match type for your searches
  • How to write your ad
  • A/B Testing
  • Analytics and how to improve your return over time
  • Typical spends and ROI

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Google Adwords

Google Analytics

Duane’s Adwords for Therapists

Directories that Duane mentioned:

Psychology Today

Good Therapy

Theravive

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1794 no Finding Your Blind Spots https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/finding-your-blind-spots It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Finding someone better than you challenge you to improve False Data that often supports our sense of how we good we are How to know how well you’re doing with clients Outcome measures, symptom relief, and clients feeling better Why cases get stuck and why we should be focusing on these cases Recording sessions and reviewing later to learn about your process and identify your blind spots How important it is to continue your active learning How the whole person therapist can bring their growth and training in the room How to navigate when someone want you to be an expert – looking at your efficacy, cultural factors, and structuring your increased knowledge and growth Listening closely to your clients Getting on-going supervision, so someone can continue to push us to grow, identify what you’re missing Asking to be challenged at your level of development Identifying who can best supervise you and consult Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Deliberate Practice studies: Anders Ericcson Scott Miller Previous episodes referenced: Are You Sure You’re a Specialist? Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 06 Mar 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Finding Your Blind Spots: Curt and Katie talk about Deliberate Practice, Part 1 full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about Deliberate Practice, Part 1 It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Finding someone better than you challenge you to improve False Data that often supports our sense of how we good we are How to know how well you’re doing with clients Outcome measures, symptom relief, and clients feeling better Why cases get stuck and why we should be focusing on these cases Recording sessions and reviewing later to learn about your process and identify your blind spots How important it is to continue your active learning How the whole person therapist can bring their growth and training in the room How to navigate when someone want you to be an expert – looking at your efficacy, cultural factors, and structuring your increased knowledge and growth Listening closely to your clients Getting on-going supervision, so someone can continue to push us to grow, identify what you’re missing Asking to be challenged at your level of development Identifying who can best supervise you and consult Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Deliberate Practice studies: Anders Ericcson Scott Miller Previous episodes referenced: Are You Sure You’re a Specialist? Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Finding someone better than you challenge you to improve
  • False Data that often supports our sense of how we good we are
  • How to know how well you’re doing with clients
  • Outcome measures, symptom relief, and clients feeling better
  • Why cases get stuck and why we should be focusing on these cases
  • Recording sessions and reviewing later to learn about your process and identify your blind spots
  • How important it is to continue your active learning
  • How the whole person therapist can bring their growth and training in the room
  • How to navigate when someone want you to be an expert – looking at your efficacy, cultural factors, and structuring your increased knowledge and growth
  • Listening closely to your clients
  • Getting on-going supervision, so someone can continue to push us to grow, identify what you’re missing
  • Asking to be challenged at your level of development
  • Identifying who can best supervise you and consult

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Deliberate Practice studies:

Anders Ericcson

Scott Miller

Previous episodes referenced:

Are You Sure You’re a Specialist?

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2077 no Make Your Paperwork Meaningful https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/make-your-paperwork-meaningful It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Maelisa Hall, Psy.D. Maelisa Hall, Psy.D. specializes in teaching therapists how to connect with their paperwork so it's more simple and more meaningful. The result? Rock solid documentation every therapist can be proud of! Check out her free online Private Practice Paperwork Crash Course, and get tips on improving your documentation today. In this episode we talk about: Maelisa’s story and why she’s so good at paperwork How to make documentation meaningful to your practice What your paperwork says about you What kind of language to use in your progress notes Improving your own quality assurance Progress Note templates Legal and ethical responsibilities for documentation Consent for treatment considerations Different policies you should probably consider Medical necessity and the clinical loop Treatment plan review Thoughtful, deliberate treatment How you’re probably overestimating your memory Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. QA Prep My Biz Bestie Podcast Maelisa’s Free Crash Course Maelisa’s Paperwork Packet Maelisa’s Meaningful Documentation Academy Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 01 Mar 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Make Your Paperwork Meaningful: An interview with Dr. Maelisa Hall about what you absolutely have to do and what you probably don’t need to worry about full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Dr. Maelisa Hall about what you absolutely have to do and what you probably don’t need to worry about It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Maelisa Hall, Psy.D. Maelisa Hall, Psy.D. specializes in teaching therapists how to connect with their paperwork so it's more simple and more meaningful. The result? Rock solid documentation every therapist can be proud of! Check out her free online Private Practice Paperwork Crash Course, and get tips on improving your documentation today. In this episode we talk about: Maelisa’s story and why she’s so good at paperwork How to make documentation meaningful to your practice What your paperwork says about you What kind of language to use in your progress notes Improving your own quality assurance Progress Note templates Legal and ethical responsibilities for documentation Consent for treatment considerations Different policies you should probably consider Medical necessity and the clinical loop Treatment plan review Thoughtful, deliberate treatment How you’re probably overestimating your memory Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. QA Prep My Biz Bestie Podcast Maelisa’s Free Crash Course Maelisa’s Paperwork Packet Maelisa’s Meaningful Documentation Academy Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Maelisa Hall, Psy.D.

Maelisa Hall, Psy.D. specializes in teaching therapists how to connect with their paperwork so it's more simple and more meaningful. The result? Rock solid documentation every therapist can be proud of! Check out her free online Private Practice Paperwork Crash Course, and get tips on improving your documentation today.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Maelisa’s story and why she’s so good at paperwork
  • How to make documentation meaningful to your practice
  • What your paperwork says about you
  • What kind of language to use in your progress notes
  • Improving your own quality assurance
  • Progress Note templates
  • Legal and ethical responsibilities for documentation
  • Consent for treatment considerations
  • Different policies you should probably consider
  • Medical necessity and the clinical loop
  • Treatment plan review
  • Thoughtful, deliberate treatment
  • How you’re probably overestimating your memory

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

QA Prep

My Biz Bestie Podcast

Maelisa’s Free Crash Course

Maelisa’s Paperwork Packet

Maelisa’s Meaningful Documentation Academy

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1989 no Bad Marketing Decisions https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/bad-marketing-decisions It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Similar, non-descript, cliché therapist marketing Duplicating what other therapists do Inauthentic personal branding Ineffective marketing copy Not having a call to action Unclear or incomplete contact information Not having a website or online presence at all Headshots Video missteps Mistakes when creating printed marketing materials How to stand out Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Psychology Today Tiffany McClain – Hey Tiffany Jax Anderson – The Psykotherapist Fylmit.com Previous episodes referenced: In-Person Networking Social Media and Video Marketing Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 27 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Bad Marketing Decisions: Curt and Katie talk about mistakes and missed opportunities for therapists creating a personal brand full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about mistakes and missed opportunities for therapists creating a personal brand It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Similar, non-descript, cliché therapist marketing Duplicating what other therapists do Inauthentic personal branding Ineffective marketing copy Not having a call to action Unclear or incomplete contact information Not having a website or online presence at all Headshots Video missteps Mistakes when creating printed marketing materials How to stand out Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Psychology Today Tiffany McClain – Hey Tiffany Jax Anderson – The Psykotherapist Fylmit.com Previous episodes referenced: In-Person Networking Social Media and Video Marketing Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Similar, non-descript, cliché therapist marketing
  • Duplicating what other therapists do
  • Inauthentic personal branding
  • Ineffective marketing copy
  • Not having a call to action
  • Unclear or incomplete contact information
  • Not having a website or online presence at all
  • Headshots
  • Video missteps
  • Mistakes when creating printed marketing materials
  • How to stand out

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Psychology Today

Tiffany McClain – Hey Tiffany

Jax Anderson – The Psykotherapist

Fylmit.com

Previous episodes referenced:

In-Person Networking

Social Media and Video Marketing

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1886 no Investing in Yourself as an Entrepreneur https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/investing-in-yourself-as-an-entrepreneur It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Howard Spector Howard Spector is the CEO and Co-Founder of SimplePractice. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Howard has been involved with successful technology companies and has developed and established his first product, TrackYourHours. He has his MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from the Pacifica Graduate Institute. In this episode we talk about: Howard’s Story – how he went from a previous career to being a therapist to being a tech entrepreneur with TrackYourHours and SimplePractice Instinctual business decisions, trusting himself, pursuing your own why The perils of not trusting yourself or your gut Making decisions from the inside out (not letting society tell you what to do) Investing in yourself as a small business owner Ways to evolve your business, generating different streams of income Business practices needed to be successful in business Automation and delegation What should I be doing and what shouldn’t I be doing as a business owner The irony of therapists charging for time, but not valuing their time How scary it is to be a business owner and invest in something new Howard’s decision to not provide phone support for SimplePractice, for now Why it’s important to be honest about what you can provide in business What’s coming soon for SimplePractice   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. SimplePractice  Carl Jung Pacifica Graduate Institute TrackYourHours Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 22 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Investing in Yourself as an Entrepreneur: An interview with Howard Spector CEO of SimplePractice about trusting your gut decisions, streamlining your business, and moving past fear full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Howard Spector CEO of SimplePractice about trusting your gut decisions, streamlining your business, and moving past fear It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Howard Spector Howard Spector is the CEO and Co-Founder of SimplePractice. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Howard has been involved with successful technology companies and has developed and established his first product, TrackYourHours. He has his MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from the Pacifica Graduate Institute. In this episode we talk about: Howard’s Story – how he went from a previous career to being a therapist to being a tech entrepreneur with TrackYourHours and SimplePractice Instinctual business decisions, trusting himself, pursuing your own why The perils of not trusting yourself or your gut Making decisions from the inside out (not letting society tell you what to do) Investing in yourself as a small business owner Ways to evolve your business, generating different streams of income Business practices needed to be successful in business Automation and delegation What should I be doing and what shouldn’t I be doing as a business owner The irony of therapists charging for time, but not valuing their time How scary it is to be a business owner and invest in something new Howard’s decision to not provide phone support for SimplePractice, for now Why it’s important to be honest about what you can provide in business What’s coming soon for SimplePractice   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. SimplePractice  Carl Jung Pacifica Graduate Institute TrackYourHours Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Howard Spector

Howard Spector is the CEO and Co-Founder of SimplePractice. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Howard has been involved with successful technology companies and has developed and established his first product, TrackYourHours. He has his MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from the Pacifica Graduate Institute.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Howard’s Story – how he went from a previous career to being a therapist to being a tech entrepreneur with TrackYourHours and SimplePractice
  • Instinctual business decisions, trusting himself, pursuing your own why
  • The perils of not trusting yourself or your gut
  • Making decisions from the inside out (not letting society tell you what to do)
  • Investing in yourself as a small business owner
  • Ways to evolve your business, generating different streams of income
  • Business practices needed to be successful in business
  • Automation and delegation
  • What should I be doing and what shouldn’t I be doing as a business owner
  • The irony of therapists charging for time, but not valuing their time
  • How scary it is to be a business owner and invest in something new
  • Howard’s decision to not provide phone support for SimplePractice, for now
  • Why it’s important to be honest about what you can provide in business
  • What’s coming soon for SimplePractice

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

SimplePractice

 Carl Jung

Pacifica Graduate Institute

TrackYourHours

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2105 no Finding Your Perfect Private Practice Office https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/finding-your-perfect-private-practice-office It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Choosing your location Parking – free and plentiful, street parking, paid parking with and without validation Personal requirements of the therapist Client and marketing considerations Building your referral network Finding property management that understands the needs of therapists Communicating effectively with officemates, neighbors, property managers Awareness of the atmosphere and community Designing your space How to prioritize amenities Waiting rooms Function and design (and how to balance the two) How to have your office reflect you Leasing, subleasing, sharing offices, and contracts Systems needed to share your office Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 20 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Finding Your Perfect Private Practice Office: Curt and Katie talk about location, amenities, subleases, and other considerations full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about location, amenities, subleases, and other considerations It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Choosing your location Parking – free and plentiful, street parking, paid parking with and without validation Personal requirements of the therapist Client and marketing considerations Building your referral network Finding property management that understands the needs of therapists Communicating effectively with officemates, neighbors, property managers Awareness of the atmosphere and community Designing your space How to prioritize amenities Waiting rooms Function and design (and how to balance the two) How to have your office reflect you Leasing, subleasing, sharing offices, and contracts Systems needed to share your office Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Choosing your location
  • Parking – free and plentiful, street parking, paid parking with and without validation
  • Personal requirements of the therapist
  • Client and marketing considerations
  • Building your referral network
  • Finding property management that understands the needs of therapists
  • Communicating effectively with officemates, neighbors, property managers
  • Awareness of the atmosphere and community
  • Designing your space
  • How to prioritize amenities
  • Waiting rooms
  • Function and design (and how to balance the two)
  • How to have your office reflect you
  • Leasing, subleasing, sharing offices, and contracts
  • Systems needed to share your office

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2120 no The Fight to Save Psychotherapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-fight-to-save-psychotherapy It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Benjamin E. Caldwell, Psy.D. Dr. Benjamin Caldwell is the author of five books, including Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs, which is now on its fourth edition, and Saving Psychotherapy, which has been the focus of several invited conference presentations. He serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge and The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. In his role as Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for the California Division of AAMFT, he has been directly involved in California's first-in-the-nation ban on reparative therapy for minors, and he drove the change in title from "intern" to "associate" for prelicensed MFTs and PCCs. For his advocacy work, he was awarded the AAMFT Division Contribution Award in 2013. He is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (#42723) and maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, specializing in working with couples. In this episode we talk about: Why psychotherapy needs to be saved, looking at the huge financial barriers to entering the profession and the diminishing amount of money spent on treatment. The advocacy needed to address training requirements, outdated laws and ethical codes, etc. The importance of being clear in communicating what we do, how we’re different from each other, and why we do what we do Why people don’t like or trust therapists How Evidence Based Practices are impacting the field Why we’ve not become more effective as a profession The need to improve therapists, not treatment protocols The “way of being” of a therapist is more important than the clinical interventions used Deliberate Practice How to improve workplaces to take better care of therapists How to advocate at each stage of your career Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Curt’s almost weekly mention of Scott Miller and his work (and Ben chimes in a lot this time) The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs by Benjamin E. Caldwell Ben Caldwell Labs Psychotherapy Notes Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 15 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0000 The Fight to Save Psychotherapy: An interview with Benjamin E. Caldwell, Psy.D. about critical issues in the profession, why people hate us, and how to advocate for change full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Benjamin E. Caldwell, Psy.D. about critical issues in the profession, why people hate us, and how to advocate for change It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Benjamin E. Caldwell, Psy.D. Dr. Benjamin Caldwell is the author of five books, including Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs, which is now on its fourth edition, and Saving Psychotherapy, which has been the focus of several invited conference presentations. He serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge and The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. In his role as Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for the California Division of AAMFT, he has been directly involved in California's first-in-the-nation ban on reparative therapy for minors, and he drove the change in title from "intern" to "associate" for prelicensed MFTs and PCCs. For his advocacy work, he was awarded the AAMFT Division Contribution Award in 2013. He is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (#42723) and maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, specializing in working with couples. In this episode we talk about: Why psychotherapy needs to be saved, looking at the huge financial barriers to entering the profession and the diminishing amount of money spent on treatment. The advocacy needed to address training requirements, outdated laws and ethical codes, etc. The importance of being clear in communicating what we do, how we’re different from each other, and why we do what we do Why people don’t like or trust therapists How Evidence Based Practices are impacting the field Why we’ve not become more effective as a profession The need to improve therapists, not treatment protocols The “way of being” of a therapist is more important than the clinical interventions used Deliberate Practice How to improve workplaces to take better care of therapists How to advocate at each stage of your career Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Curt’s almost weekly mention of Scott Miller and his work (and Ben chimes in a lot this time) The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs by Benjamin E. Caldwell Ben Caldwell Labs Psychotherapy Notes Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Benjamin E. Caldwell, Psy.D. Dr. Benjamin Caldwell is the author of five books, including Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs, which is now on its fourth edition, and Saving Psychotherapy, which has been the focus of several invited conference presentations. He serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge and The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. In his role as Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for the California Division of AAMFT, he has been directly involved in California's first-in-the-nation ban on reparative therapy for minors, and he drove the change in title from "intern" to "associate" for prelicensed MFTs and PCCs. For his advocacy work, he was awarded the AAMFT Division Contribution Award in 2013. He is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (#42723) and maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, specializing in working with couples. In this episode we talk about:

  • Why psychotherapy needs to be saved, looking at the huge financial barriers to entering the profession and the diminishing amount of money spent on treatment.
  • The advocacy needed to address training requirements, outdated laws and ethical codes, etc.
  • The importance of being clear in communicating what we do, how we’re different from each other, and why we do what we do
  • Why people don’t like or trust therapists
  • How Evidence Based Practices are impacting the field
  • Why we’ve not become more effective as a profession
  • The need to improve therapists, not treatment protocols
  • The “way of being” of a therapist is more important than the clinical interventions used
  • Deliberate Practice
  • How to improve workplaces to take better care of therapists
  • How to advocate at each stage of your career

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Curt’s almost weekly mention of Scott Miller and his work (and Ben chimes in a lot this time)

The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference

Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell

Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs by Benjamin E. Caldwell

Ben Caldwell Labs

Psychotherapy Notes

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2238 no Are You Sure You are a Specialist? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/are-you-sure-you-are-a-specialist It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: What does it mean to be a “specialist” or an “expert”? The difference between competence and special skills or expertise Contrasting between clinical focus (or niche or target market) and specialization How to become a specialist when you start out as a generalist The ethical imperative to accurately portray your clinical training Language you can use in marketing when you’re working toward specialization Certifications – the benefits as well as the challenge to identify legitimate certificate programs Not allowing the feeling of being “not good enough” to drive you to get a million certificates Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Richard Leslie’s Article Advertising Reminders Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 13 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Are You Sure You are a Specialist? Curt and Katie clarify labels related to competence, specialization, and expertise full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie clarify labels related to competence, specialization, and expertise It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: What does it mean to be a “specialist” or an “expert”? The difference between competence and special skills or expertise Contrasting between clinical focus (or niche or target market) and specialization How to become a specialist when you start out as a generalist The ethical imperative to accurately portray your clinical training Language you can use in marketing when you’re working toward specialization Certifications – the benefits as well as the challenge to identify legitimate certificate programs Not allowing the feeling of being “not good enough” to drive you to get a million certificates Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Richard Leslie’s Article Advertising Reminders Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • What does it mean to be a “specialist” or an “expert”?
  • The difference between competence and special skills or expertise
  • Contrasting between clinical focus (or niche or target market) and specialization
  • How to become a specialist when you start out as a generalist
  • The ethical imperative to accurately portray your clinical training
  • Language you can use in marketing when you’re working toward specialization
  • Certifications – the benefits as well as the challenge to identify legitimate certificate programs
  • Not allowing the feeling of being “not good enough” to drive you to get a million certificates

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Richard Leslie’s Article Advertising Reminders

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1566 no Compassion Fatigue https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/compassion-fatigue It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jennifer Blough, LPC Jennifer Blough is a licensed professional counselor, certified compassion fatigue therapist, certified pet loss grief recovery specialist, and the owner of Deepwater Counseling in southeast Michigan. In addition to counseling individuals and couples, she presents compassion fatigue workshops to animal welfare and veterinary organizations. She is the author of the book To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior, and the host of The Compassion Fatigue Podcast. In this episode we talk about: The symptoms of compassion fatigue and how to recognize it Jen’s story and how she became a therapist for animal welfare professionals The buffers for “the normal cost of caring” Self-care and support Compassion satisfaction (getting joy from your work) Focusing her practice on animal welfare professionals and pet loss, without closing herself off to others who she can help The unique challenges of animal welfare professionals and how to support these people with the constant grief and loss associated with caring for animals Considerations for therapists working with animal welfare professionals The vegan lifestyle and how it intersects with the clinical work Suggestions for self-care and coping with compassion fatigue Animal rights activism How to empower yourself rather than traumatize yourself in doing the research and work to support your passion and mission How anger, depression, guilt, and isolation can increase the impact of compassion fatigue Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Green Cross Compassion Fatigue Therapist Certification Pet Loss Grief Recovery Specialist Certification The Compassion Fatigue Podcast Deepwater Counseling  Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 08 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Compassion Fatigue: An interview with Jennifer Blough, LPC about the “normal cost of caring” for helping professionals and how to cope full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Jennifer Blough, LPC about the “normal cost of caring” for helping professionals and how to cope It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jennifer Blough, LPC Jennifer Blough is a licensed professional counselor, certified compassion fatigue therapist, certified pet loss grief recovery specialist, and the owner of Deepwater Counseling in southeast Michigan. In addition to counseling individuals and couples, she presents compassion fatigue workshops to animal welfare and veterinary organizations. She is the author of the book To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior, and the host of The Compassion Fatigue Podcast. In this episode we talk about: The symptoms of compassion fatigue and how to recognize it Jen’s story and how she became a therapist for animal welfare professionals The buffers for “the normal cost of caring” Self-care and support Compassion satisfaction (getting joy from your work) Focusing her practice on animal welfare professionals and pet loss, without closing herself off to others who she can help The unique challenges of animal welfare professionals and how to support these people with the constant grief and loss associated with caring for animals Considerations for therapists working with animal welfare professionals The vegan lifestyle and how it intersects with the clinical work Suggestions for self-care and coping with compassion fatigue Animal rights activism How to empower yourself rather than traumatize yourself in doing the research and work to support your passion and mission How anger, depression, guilt, and isolation can increase the impact of compassion fatigue Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Green Cross Compassion Fatigue Therapist Certification Pet Loss Grief Recovery Specialist Certification The Compassion Fatigue Podcast Deepwater Counseling  Our events: The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Jennifer Blough, LPC

Jennifer Blough is a licensed professional counselor, certified compassion fatigue therapist, certified pet loss grief recovery specialist, and the owner of Deepwater Counseling in southeast Michigan. In addition to counseling individuals and couples, she presents compassion fatigue workshops to animal welfare and veterinary organizations. She is the author of the book To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior, and the host of The Compassion Fatigue Podcast.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The symptoms of compassion fatigue and how to recognize it
  • Jen’s story and how she became a therapist for animal welfare professionals
  • The buffers for “the normal cost of caring”
  • Self-care and support
  • Compassion satisfaction (getting joy from your work)
  • Focusing her practice on animal welfare professionals and pet loss, without closing herself off to others who she can help
  • The unique challenges of animal welfare professionals and how to support these people with the constant grief and loss associated with caring for animals
  • Considerations for therapists working with animal welfare professionals
  • The vegan lifestyle and how it intersects with the clinical work
  • Suggestions for self-care and coping with compassion fatigue
  • Animal rights activism
  • How to empower yourself rather than traumatize yourself in doing the research and work to support your passion and mission
  • How anger, depression, guilt, and isolation can increase the impact of compassion fatigue

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The Green Cross Compassion Fatigue Therapist Certification

Pet Loss Grief Recovery Specialist Certification

The Compassion Fatigue Podcast

Deepwater Counseling 

Our events:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!


Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1953 no Giving and Getting Good Supervision https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/giving-and-getting-good-supervision It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Why people become supervisors Models of supervision The importance of good supervision What makes supervision ineffective The problem with the notion of “training the competition” or seeing supervisees money making machines How to nurture the next generation Finding the right supervisor/supervisee match The different aspects of supervision: administrative, clinical, professional development, consumer protection Differences between public mental health and private practice supervision Our anger about people taking advantage of prelicensees The importance of following employment law How supervision impacts the profession The difference between therapy and supervision What supervisees are responsible for (and what they shouldn’t be responsible for, but often are) School and supervisors passing the buck – you should learn about this in school, they should train you in supervision Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Certified Supervision Program The Developmental Model of Supervision Reflective Supervision Recovery-Oriented Supervision Trauma-Informed Supervision Seven-Eyed Supervision Model by Hawkins and Shohet Curt’s Supervision Workshop: Supervision in Private Practice: Legal & Ethical Issues Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 06 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Giving and Getting Good Supervision: Curt and Katie talk about all things supervision full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about all things supervision It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Why people become supervisors Models of supervision The importance of good supervision What makes supervision ineffective The problem with the notion of “training the competition” or seeing supervisees money making machines How to nurture the next generation Finding the right supervisor/supervisee match The different aspects of supervision: administrative, clinical, professional development, consumer protection Differences between public mental health and private practice supervision Our anger about people taking advantage of prelicensees The importance of following employment law How supervision impacts the profession The difference between therapy and supervision What supervisees are responsible for (and what they shouldn’t be responsible for, but often are) School and supervisors passing the buck – you should learn about this in school, they should train you in supervision Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Certified Supervision Program The Developmental Model of Supervision Reflective Supervision Recovery-Oriented Supervision Trauma-Informed Supervision Seven-Eyed Supervision Model by Hawkins and Shohet Curt’s Supervision Workshop: Supervision in Private Practice: Legal & Ethical Issues Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why people become supervisors
  • Models of supervision
  • The importance of good supervision
  • What makes supervision ineffective
  • The problem with the notion of “training the competition” or seeing supervisees money making machines
  • How to nurture the next generation
  • Finding the right supervisor/supervisee match
  • The different aspects of supervision: administrative, clinical, professional development, consumer protection
  • Differences between public mental health and private practice supervision
  • Our anger about people taking advantage of prelicensees
  • The importance of following employment law
  • How supervision impacts the profession
  • The difference between therapy and supervision
  • What supervisees are responsible for (and what they shouldn’t be responsible for, but often are)
  • School and supervisors passing the buck – you should learn about this in school, they should train you in supervision

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Certified Supervision Program

The Developmental Model of Supervision

Reflective Supervision

Recovery-Oriented Supervision

Trauma-Informed Supervision

Seven-Eyed Supervision Model by Hawkins and Shohet

Curt’s Supervision Workshop:

Supervision in Private Practice: Legal & Ethical Issues

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2249 no What Therapists Get Wrong https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-therapists-get-wrong It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Paul Gilmartin We so enjoyed talking with Paul! From 1995 to 2011 Paul Gilmartin co-hosted TBS’ Dinner and a Movie and has been a stand-up comedian since 1987. His credits include Comedy Central Presents: Paul Gilmartin, numerous Bob and Tom albums, comedy festivals and the Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Paul is a recovering alcoholic/addict and has been sober since 2003. He is also an incest survivor and has been in treatment for depression since 1999. He is a big believer in therapy and support groups. Paul hosts a weekly audio podcast, The Mental Illness Happy Hour, consisting of interviews with artists, friends, listeners and the occasional mental health professional about all the battles in our heads; from medically diagnosed conditions, past traumas and sexual dysfunction to everyday compulsive, negative thinking.  It gets about 600,000 downloads per month, has a 5/5 iTunes rating where it frequently occupies the top spot in Self-Help, was chosen by Esquire as one of the best podcasts of 2016 and is featured in the 2013 PBS Documentary "A New State of Mind." You can learn more about Paul and The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast here: www.mentalpod.com. In this episode we talk about: How Paul’s experience of covert incest and battle with depression led to creating The Mental Illness Happy Hour Paul’s mission to decrease mental health stigma and provide a virtual support group The power of conversation and community The importance of empathy and validation How therapists connect best with their clients The survey Paul has on his website about what therapists are doing right and what they are really doing wrong. What therapists are often missing when they become distracted or forgetful How damaging it is when therapists minimize their client’s feelings, trauma, and abuse The importance of overcoming “you’re only nice to me because I pay you” for therapists  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Mental Illness Happy Hour Podcast (Katie’s Episode on Mental Pod) The First Day in Therapy Survey Curt’s almost weekly mention of Scott Miller and his work The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Thu, 01 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0000 What Therapists Get Wrong: An Interview with Paul Gilmartin of The Mental Illness Happy Hour Podcast full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Paul Gilmartin of The Mental Illness Happy Hour Podcast It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Paul Gilmartin We so enjoyed talking with Paul! From 1995 to 2011 Paul Gilmartin co-hosted TBS’ Dinner and a Movie and has been a stand-up comedian since 1987. His credits include Comedy Central Presents: Paul Gilmartin, numerous Bob and Tom albums, comedy festivals and the Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Paul is a recovering alcoholic/addict and has been sober since 2003. He is also an incest survivor and has been in treatment for depression since 1999. He is a big believer in therapy and support groups. Paul hosts a weekly audio podcast, The Mental Illness Happy Hour, consisting of interviews with artists, friends, listeners and the occasional mental health professional about all the battles in our heads; from medically diagnosed conditions, past traumas and sexual dysfunction to everyday compulsive, negative thinking.  It gets about 600,000 downloads per month, has a 5/5 iTunes rating where it frequently occupies the top spot in Self-Help, was chosen by Esquire as one of the best podcasts of 2016 and is featured in the 2013 PBS Documentary "A New State of Mind." You can learn more about Paul and The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast here: www.mentalpod.com. In this episode we talk about: How Paul’s experience of covert incest and battle with depression led to creating The Mental Illness Happy Hour Paul’s mission to decrease mental health stigma and provide a virtual support group The power of conversation and community The importance of empathy and validation How therapists connect best with their clients The survey Paul has on his website about what therapists are doing right and what they are really doing wrong. What therapists are often missing when they become distracted or forgetful How damaging it is when therapists minimize their client’s feelings, trauma, and abuse The importance of overcoming “you’re only nice to me because I pay you” for therapists  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Mental Illness Happy Hour Podcast (Katie’s Episode on Mental Pod) The First Day in Therapy Survey Curt’s almost weekly mention of Scott Miller and his work The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Paul Gilmartin

We so enjoyed talking with Paul!

From 1995 to 2011 Paul Gilmartin co-hosted TBS’ Dinner and a Movie and has been a stand-up comedian since 1987. His credits include Comedy Central Presents: Paul Gilmartin, numerous Bob and Tom albums, comedy festivals and the Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

Paul is a recovering alcoholic/addict and has been sober since 2003. He is also an incest survivor and has been in treatment for depression since 1999. He is a big believer in therapy and support groups.

Paul hosts a weekly audio podcast, The Mental Illness Happy Hour, consisting of interviews with artists, friends, listeners and the occasional mental health professional about all the battles in our heads; from medically diagnosed conditions, past traumas and sexual dysfunction to everyday compulsive, negative thinking.  It gets about 600,000 downloads per month, has a 5/5 iTunes rating where it frequently occupies the top spot in Self-Help, was chosen by Esquire as one of the best podcasts of 2016 and is featured in the 2013 PBS Documentary "A New State of Mind."

You can learn more about Paul and The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast here: www.mentalpod.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How Paul’s experience of covert incest and battle with depression led to creating The Mental Illness Happy Hour
  • Paul’s mission to decrease mental health stigma and provide a virtual support group
  • The power of conversation and community
  • The importance of empathy and validation
  • How therapists connect best with their clients
  • The survey Paul has on his website about what therapists are doing right and what they are really doing wrong.
  • What therapists are often missing when they become distracted or forgetful
  • How damaging it is when therapists minimize their client’s feelings, trauma, and abuse
  • The importance of overcoming “you’re only nice to me because I pay you” for therapists

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The Mental Illness Happy Hour Podcast

(Katie’s Episode on Mental Pod)

The First Day in Therapy Survey

Curt’s almost weekly mention of Scott Miller and his work

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 2015 yes The Dividing Line Between Coaching and Therapy https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-dividing-line-between-coaching-and-therapy It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Regulation of therapy versus the “wild west” of coaching The differences between therapy and coaching How to have both a therapy and a coaching practice The confusion that can come from using clinical language to describe coaching Drawing the line to protect your license (especially for those therapists who are working across state lines) Telehealth versus coaching in another state Personal development versus healing The pros and cons of regulation What is the recourse for bad coaches Holding the frame for each type of relationship Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. International Coaching Federation Consumer Affairs Better Business Bureau California Board of Behavioral Sciences Katie’s Websites: www.evolvetothriveconsulting.com www.katievernoy.com Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 30 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 The Dividing Line Between Coaching and Therapy: Curt and Katie debate differences, regulation, and appropriate business practices full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie debate differences, regulation, and appropriate business practices It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Regulation of therapy versus the “wild west” of coaching The differences between therapy and coaching How to have both a therapy and a coaching practice The confusion that can come from using clinical language to describe coaching Drawing the line to protect your license (especially for those therapists who are working across state lines) Telehealth versus coaching in another state Personal development versus healing The pros and cons of regulation What is the recourse for bad coaches Holding the frame for each type of relationship Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. International Coaching Federation Consumer Affairs Better Business Bureau California Board of Behavioral Sciences Katie’s Websites: www.evolvetothriveconsulting.com www.katievernoy.com Our events this year: The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Regulation of therapy versus the “wild west” of coaching
  • The differences between therapy and coaching
  • How to have both a therapy and a coaching practice
  • The confusion that can come from using clinical language to describe coaching
  • Drawing the line to protect your license (especially for those therapists who are working across state lines)
  • Telehealth versus coaching in another state
  • Personal development versus healing
  • The pros and cons of regulation
  • What is the recourse for bad coaches
  • Holding the frame for each type of relationship

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

International Coaching Federation

Consumer Affairs

Better Business Bureau

California Board of Behavioral Sciences

Katie’s Websites:

www.evolvetothriveconsulting.com

www.katievernoy.com

Our events this year:

The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal Brand

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2237 no Small Town Sex Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/small-town-sex-therapist It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jeanette Tolson, LCSW, CASAC We so enjoyed talking with Jeanette Tolson! Jeanette Tolson is the founder of Transcendent Counseling and Consulting. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor in New York. She earned her Masters in Social Work at SUNY Albany and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Sex Therapy and Sexuality Education at the University of Michigan. Prior to opening her private practice in 2015, she was the Executive Director for a not for profit community recovery organization. Ms. Tolson currently has an academic appointment at SUNY Delhi and has been teaching there continuously since 2009. Ms. Tolson has worked in a variety of outpatient settings. Her clinical interests include working with relationships from an attachment perspective, LGBTQ issues, recovery from infidelity, and substance use disorders. You can learn more about Jeanette on her website: www.jeanettetolsonlcsw.com In this episode we talk about: Jeanette’s success (and bravery) in having the strong niche of sex therapy in a small town, while filling a private pay practice Increasing mental health access The gap related to healthy sexual relationships within typical addiction treatment Creating a strong niche and getting creative about how you do services and fill your practice Navigating dual relationships in a town where everyone knows your name Advanced assessment and decision-making related to who you should see, especially related to inevitable dual relationships in a small town Leveraging close relationships in business networking Having a clear vision for your practice, being creative and standing your ground  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Thu, 25 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Small Town Sex Therapist: Talking with Jeanette Tolson, LCSW, CASAC, about Niche, Dual Relationships, and Filling a Private Pay Practice full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Talking with Jeanette Tolson, LCSW, CASAC, about Niche, Dual Relationships, and Filling a Private Pay Practice It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Jeanette Tolson, LCSW, CASAC We so enjoyed talking with Jeanette Tolson! Jeanette Tolson is the founder of Transcendent Counseling and Consulting. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor in New York. She earned her Masters in Social Work at SUNY Albany and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Sex Therapy and Sexuality Education at the University of Michigan. Prior to opening her private practice in 2015, she was the Executive Director for a not for profit community recovery organization. Ms. Tolson currently has an academic appointment at SUNY Delhi and has been teaching there continuously since 2009. Ms. Tolson has worked in a variety of outpatient settings. Her clinical interests include working with relationships from an attachment perspective, LGBTQ issues, recovery from infidelity, and substance use disorders. You can learn more about Jeanette on her website: www.jeanettetolsonlcsw.com In this episode we talk about: Jeanette’s success (and bravery) in having the strong niche of sex therapy in a small town, while filling a private pay practice Increasing mental health access The gap related to healthy sexual relationships within typical addiction treatment Creating a strong niche and getting creative about how you do services and fill your practice Navigating dual relationships in a town where everyone knows your name Advanced assessment and decision-making related to who you should see, especially related to inevitable dual relationships in a small town Leveraging close relationships in business networking Having a clear vision for your practice, being creative and standing your ground  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Jeanette Tolson, LCSW, CASAC

We so enjoyed talking with Jeanette Tolson!

Jeanette Tolson is the founder of Transcendent Counseling and Consulting. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor in New York. She earned her Masters in Social Work at SUNY Albany and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Sex Therapy and Sexuality Education at the University of Michigan. Prior to opening her private practice in 2015, she was the Executive Director for a not for profit community recovery organization. Ms. Tolson currently has an academic appointment at SUNY Delhi and has been teaching there continuously since 2009.

Ms. Tolson has worked in a variety of outpatient settings. Her clinical interests include working with relationships from an attachment perspective, LGBTQ issues, recovery from infidelity, and substance use disorders.

You can learn more about Jeanette on her website: www.jeanettetolsonlcsw.com

In this episode we talk about:

  • Jeanette’s success (and bravery) in having the strong niche of sex therapy in a small town, while filling a private pay practice
  • Increasing mental health access
  • The gap related to healthy sexual relationships within typical addiction treatment
  • Creating a strong niche and getting creative about how you do services and fill your practice
  • Navigating dual relationships in a town where everyone knows your name
  • Advanced assessment and decision-making related to who you should see, especially related to inevitable dual relationships in a small town
  • Leveraging close relationships in business networking
  • Having a clear vision for your practice, being creative and standing your ground

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 1721 yes Asking for Money https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/asking-for-money It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Setting Fees Ethical codes related to setting fees such as community standards Anti-trust laws, including The Sherman Act Solid business practices The effect of martyrdom and the culture of humility on therapists asking for money Talking about fees in a hybrid (insurance, private pay) as well as private pay only practices Considerations for posting your fees on your website Accepting credit cards, fees and the cash discount Curt’s argument for accepting Bitcoin (and Katie’s argument for why that is ridiculous) Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Sherman Antitrust Act Bitcoin The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 23 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Asking for Money: Curt and Katie talk about setting fees, taking payments, credit card charges, and Bitcoin full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about setting fees, taking payments, credit card charges, and Bitcoin It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Setting Fees Ethical codes related to setting fees such as community standards Anti-trust laws, including The Sherman Act Solid business practices The effect of martyrdom and the culture of humility on therapists asking for money Talking about fees in a hybrid (insurance, private pay) as well as private pay only practices Considerations for posting your fees on your website Accepting credit cards, fees and the cash discount Curt’s argument for accepting Bitcoin (and Katie’s argument for why that is ridiculous) Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Sherman Antitrust Act Bitcoin The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Setting Fees
  • Ethical codes related to setting fees such as community standards
  • Anti-trust laws, including The Sherman Act
  • Solid business practices
  • The effect of martyrdom and the culture of humility on therapists asking for money
  • Talking about fees in a hybrid (insurance, private pay) as well as private pay only practices
  • Considerations for posting your fees on your website
  • Accepting credit cards, fees and the cash discount
  • Curt’s argument for accepting Bitcoin (and Katie’s argument for why that is ridiculous)

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The Sherman Antitrust Act

Bitcoin

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2255 no Crafting Your Authentic Message https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/crafting-your-authentic-message It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, Parent Coach We so enjoyed talking with Mercedes Samudio! Mercedes Samudio, LCSW is a parent coach, speaker, and bestselling author who helps parents and children communicate with each other, manage emotional trauma, navigate social media and technology together, and develop healthy parent-child relationships. Over the course of her career, she has worked with adoptive families, foster families, teen parents, parents navigating the child protective services system, and children living with mental illness. Mercedes started the #EndParentShaming movement as well as coined the term Shame-Proof Parenting (check out the bestselling book here) – using both to bring awareness to ending parent shame. Mercedes is a leading parenting expert and has an amazing following on social media that allows her to reach the hearts of thousands of parents who feel heard and seen on their parenting journey. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, US News and Report, Woman’s Day, LA Parent Magazine, CBS LA, and Kids In The House. Mercedes seeks to empower parents to believe that they are already great guides for raising healthy and happy children. You can read more about her parenting expertise at https://shameproofparenting.com. In this episode we talk about: Shame-Proof Parenting and how therapists can shame the parents they serve Having a big message and crafting it for your audience Becoming an Amazon best-seller Being both a coach and a clinician Being a geek and using sci-fi and fantasy (especially Star Wars and the Marvel Universe) to talk about family dynamics Being authentic and vulnerable with your story Managing vulnerability through a strong sense of self and a supportive community  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Shame-Proof Parenting by Mercedes Samudio Homework Wars by Mercedes Samudio Paper Raven Books   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 18 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Crafting Your Authentic Message: An Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, Parent Coach of Shame Proof Parenting full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, Parent Coach of Shame Proof Parenting It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, Parent Coach We so enjoyed talking with Mercedes Samudio! Mercedes Samudio, LCSW is a parent coach, speaker, and bestselling author who helps parents and children communicate with each other, manage emotional trauma, navigate social media and technology together, and develop healthy parent-child relationships. Over the course of her career, she has worked with adoptive families, foster families, teen parents, parents navigating the child protective services system, and children living with mental illness. Mercedes started the #EndParentShaming movement as well as coined the term Shame-Proof Parenting (check out the bestselling book here) – using both to bring awareness to ending parent shame. Mercedes is a leading parenting expert and has an amazing following on social media that allows her to reach the hearts of thousands of parents who feel heard and seen on their parenting journey. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, US News and Report, Woman’s Day, LA Parent Magazine, CBS LA, and Kids In The House. Mercedes seeks to empower parents to believe that they are already great guides for raising healthy and happy children. You can read more about her parenting expertise at https://shameproofparenting.com. In this episode we talk about: Shame-Proof Parenting and how therapists can shame the parents they serve Having a big message and crafting it for your audience Becoming an Amazon best-seller Being both a coach and a clinician Being a geek and using sci-fi and fantasy (especially Star Wars and the Marvel Universe) to talk about family dynamics Being authentic and vulnerable with your story Managing vulnerability through a strong sense of self and a supportive community  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Shame-Proof Parenting by Mercedes Samudio Homework Wars by Mercedes Samudio Paper Raven Books   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, Parent Coach

We so enjoyed talking with Mercedes Samudio!

Mercedes Samudio, LCSW is a parent coach, speaker, and bestselling author who helps parents and children communicate with each other, manage emotional trauma, navigate social media and technology together, and develop healthy parent-child relationships. Over the course of her career, she has worked with adoptive families, foster families, teen parents, parents navigating the child protective services system, and children living with mental illness. Mercedes started the #EndParentShaming movement as well as coined the term Shame-Proof Parenting (check out the bestselling book here) – using both to bring awareness to ending parent shame. Mercedes is a leading parenting expert and has an amazing following on social media that allows her to reach the hearts of thousands of parents who feel heard and seen on their parenting journey. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, US News and Report, Woman’s Day, LA Parent Magazine, CBS LA, and Kids In The House. Mercedes seeks to empower parents to believe that they are already great guides for raising healthy and happy children.

You can read more about her parenting expertise at https://shameproofparenting.com.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Shame-Proof Parenting and how therapists can shame the parents they serve
  • Having a big message and crafting it for your audience
  • Becoming an Amazon best-seller
  • Being both a coach and a clinician
  • Being a geek and using sci-fi and fantasy (especially Star Wars and the Marvel Universe) to talk about family dynamics
  • Being authentic and vulnerable with your story
  • Managing vulnerability through a strong sense of self and a supportive community

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Shame-Proof Parenting by Mercedes Samudio

Homework Wars by Mercedes Samudio

Paper Raven Books

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1888 no Managing Client Cancellations https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/managing-client-cancellations It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Typical cancellation policies Informed consent What ethical problems to consider when scheduling your clients How respect in the relationship plays into attendance Clinical considerations for cancellation policies The pros and cons of different lengths of time required for cancellation (24-hour, 48-hour, etc.) What to do when YOU cancel a session due to illness or emergency Collecting no show or late cancellation fees The importance of consistency in following your policies Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 16 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Managing Client Cancellations: Curt and Katie talk about No-Show and Late Cancellation Policies and Collecting Fees full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about No-Show and Late Cancellation Policies and Collecting Fees It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Typical cancellation policies Informed consent What ethical problems to consider when scheduling your clients How respect in the relationship plays into attendance Clinical considerations for cancellation policies The pros and cons of different lengths of time required for cancellation (24-hour, 48-hour, etc.) What to do when YOU cancel a session due to illness or emergency Collecting no show or late cancellation fees The importance of consistency in following your policies Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Typical cancellation policies
  • Informed consent
  • What ethical problems to consider when scheduling your clients
  • How respect in the relationship plays into attendance
  • Clinical considerations for cancellation policies
  • The pros and cons of different lengths of time required for cancellation (24-hour, 48-hour, etc.)
  • What to do when YOU cancel a session due to illness or emergency
  • Collecting no show or late cancellation fees
  • The importance of consistency in following your policies

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.com

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.com

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2156 no The New Tax Bill and Planning for Taxes in 2018 https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-new-tax-bill-and-planning-for-taxes-in-2018 It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Michael Jurenka, CPA We so enjoyed talking with Mike Jurenka! Mike has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2006. After graduating from Montana State University, he moved to Seattle and spent the first five years of his career working for Clark Nuber, PS, in Bellevue, WA. His areas of expertise include commercial and individual income tax. His strongest expertise is working with closely held businesses and their owners on tax issues that arise throughout the course of running a business. He consulted with clients at Clark Nuber on accounting for income taxes for large private and smaller publicly traded clients. In this episode we talk about: How the New Tax Bill for 2018 in the United States impacts private practice businesses New limits on deductions and the cap on deductions Solid business practices Different business entities and what the heck a pass-through corporation is The complication of pass-through deductions Business expenses versus deductions When and why to incorporate How to choose an accountant How to plan for taxes in 2018  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. You can learn more about Michael Jurenka, CPA at www.fjcpas.com The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide NEW Facebook Group!! https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 11 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 The New Tax Bill and Planning for Taxes in 2018: An Interview with Michael Jurenka, CPA full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Michael Jurenka, CPA It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Michael Jurenka, CPA We so enjoyed talking with Mike Jurenka! Mike has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2006. After graduating from Montana State University, he moved to Seattle and spent the first five years of his career working for Clark Nuber, PS, in Bellevue, WA. His areas of expertise include commercial and individual income tax. His strongest expertise is working with closely held businesses and their owners on tax issues that arise throughout the course of running a business. He consulted with clients at Clark Nuber on accounting for income taxes for large private and smaller publicly traded clients. In this episode we talk about: How the New Tax Bill for 2018 in the United States impacts private practice businesses New limits on deductions and the cap on deductions Solid business practices Different business entities and what the heck a pass-through corporation is The complication of pass-through deductions Business expenses versus deductions When and why to incorporate How to choose an accountant How to plan for taxes in 2018  Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. You can learn more about Michael Jurenka, CPA at www.fjcpas.com The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide NEW Facebook Group!! https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Michael Jurenka, CPA

We so enjoyed talking with Mike Jurenka!

Mike has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2006. After graduating from Montana State University, he moved to Seattle and spent the first five years of his career working for Clark Nuber, PS, in Bellevue, WA. His areas of expertise include commercial and individual income tax. His strongest expertise is working with closely held businesses and their owners on tax issues that arise throughout the course of running a business. He consulted with clients at Clark Nuber on accounting for income taxes for large private and smaller publicly traded clients.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How the New Tax Bill for 2018 in the United States impacts private practice businesses
  • New limits on deductions and the cap on deductions
  • Solid business practices
  • Different business entities and what the heck a pass-through corporation is
  • The complication of pass-through deductions
  • Business expenses versus deductions
  • When and why to incorporate
  • How to choose an accountant
  • How to plan for taxes in 2018

 Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

You can learn more about Michael Jurenka, CPA at www.fjcpas.com

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide NEW Facebook Group!!

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1872 no Managing Your Online Reputation https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/managing-your-online-reputation It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How to proactively create a positive online reputation Managing Google – considering what people will find under your name Clinical mechanisms to get consistent feedback (and of course, Curt talks about Scott Miller) Claiming your profiles to track reviews and ensure accurate information How to professionally address negative feedback Making sure to do self-assessment when getting constructive criticism Managing One Star reviews on Yelp, Healthgrades, etc. Engaging appropriately in Therapist Facebook groups The Screenshot Test from TIPP The internet is forever and all of your interactions can potentially impact your online rep Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Rate and Review our Podcast on iTunes!! APA (American Psychological Association) article: One-Star Therapy? by Jamie Chamberlain CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) article: You, Yelp, and Social Media by Alain Montgomery, JD (requires CAMFT member access) TIPP (Therapists in Private Practice) Facebook Group The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide NEW Facebook Group!! The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!   Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Tue, 09 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Managing Your Online Reputation: Curt and Katie talk about navigating through negative Yelp Reviews, Google Searches, and Therapist Facebook Groups full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about navigating through negative Yelp Reviews, Google Searches, and Therapist Facebook Groups It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: How to proactively create a positive online reputation Managing Google – considering what people will find under your name Clinical mechanisms to get consistent feedback (and of course, Curt talks about Scott Miller) Claiming your profiles to track reviews and ensure accurate information How to professionally address negative feedback Making sure to do self-assessment when getting constructive criticism Managing One Star reviews on Yelp, Healthgrades, etc. Engaging appropriately in Therapist Facebook groups The Screenshot Test from TIPP The internet is forever and all of your interactions can potentially impact your online rep Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Rate and Review our Podcast on iTunes!! APA (American Psychological Association) article: One-Star Therapy? by Jamie Chamberlain CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) article: You, Yelp, and Social Media by Alain Montgomery, JD (requires CAMFT member access) TIPP (Therapists in Private Practice) Facebook Group The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide NEW Facebook Group!! The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!   Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com www.therapyreimagined.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How to proactively create a positive online reputation
  • Managing Google – considering what people will find under your name
  • Clinical mechanisms to get consistent feedback (and of course, Curt talks about Scott Miller)
  • Claiming your profiles to track reviews and ensure accurate information
  • How to professionally address negative feedback
  • Making sure to do self-assessment when getting constructive criticism
  • Managing One Star reviews on Yelp, Healthgrades, etc.
  • Engaging appropriately in Therapist Facebook groups
  • The Screenshot Test from TIPP
  • The internet is forever and all of your interactions can potentially impact your online rep

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Rate and Review our Podcast on iTunes!!

APA (American Psychological Association) article: One-Star Therapy? by Jamie Chamberlain

CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) article: You, Yelp, and Social Media by Alain Montgomery, JD (requires CAMFT member access)

TIPP (Therapists in Private Practice) Facebook Group

The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide NEW Facebook Group!!

The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

 

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: curtwidhalm.com.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: katievernoy.com.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

www.therapyreimagined.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 1905 no Getting Personal to Advocate for Compassion, Understanding, and Social Justice https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/getting-personal-to-advocate-for-compassion-understanding-and-social-justice It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with James Guay, LMFT We so enjoyed talking with James Guay! James Guay is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#39252) inspired by seeing his clients transform from being perfectionistic, constantly on the go, feeling empty despite their successes to a place where they can finally truly relax, create a better work/life balance, and be more kind to themselves and others. He’s also a social justice activist with a mission to help bring more compassion into the world — especially for oppressed minorities. To advance this cause, he’s testified against conversion therapy at California’s State Capital, appeared on Lisa Ling’s Our America show, appeared on various documentaries including VICE, and has been interviewed and/or written articles for Time, NY Times, LA Times, Huffington Post, Rage Magazine and the Advocate.   In this episode we talk about: Creating understanding and compassion Overcoming perfectionism James talks about becoming a “gay activist” and sharing his own story of conversion therapy How to handle clients googling you when you’ve been real and shared your own story in a real way, especially when it comes into the room Working within your own community How advocacy is good marketing Prevention efforts through social advocacy Raising your voice to empower your clients Aligning your work with your mission to stay energized and rejuvenated Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train by Howard Zinn www.lynda.com To learn more about James Guay, LMFT: www.livingmorefully.com Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 04 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 Getting Personal to Advocate for Compassion, Understanding, and Social Justice: An Interview with James Guay, LMFT full 19 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with James Guay, LMFT It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with James Guay, LMFT We so enjoyed talking with James Guay! James Guay is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#39252) inspired by seeing his clients transform from being perfectionistic, constantly on the go, feeling empty despite their successes to a place where they can finally truly relax, create a better work/life balance, and be more kind to themselves and others. He’s also a social justice activist with a mission to help bring more compassion into the world — especially for oppressed minorities. To advance this cause, he’s testified against conversion therapy at California’s State Capital, appeared on Lisa Ling’s Our America show, appeared on various documentaries including VICE, and has been interviewed and/or written articles for Time, NY Times, LA Times, Huffington Post, Rage Magazine and the Advocate.   In this episode we talk about: Creating understanding and compassion Overcoming perfectionism James talks about becoming a “gay activist” and sharing his own story of conversion therapy How to handle clients googling you when you’ve been real and shared your own story in a real way, especially when it comes into the room Working within your own community How advocacy is good marketing Prevention efforts through social advocacy Raising your voice to empower your clients Aligning your work with your mission to stay energized and rejuvenated Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train by Howard Zinn www.lynda.com To learn more about James Guay, LMFT: www.livingmorefully.com Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with James Guay, LMFT

We so enjoyed talking with James Guay!

James Guay is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#39252) inspired by seeing his clients transform from being perfectionistic, constantly on the go, feeling empty despite their successes to a place where they can finally truly relax, create a better work/life balance, and be more kind to themselves and others.

He’s also a social justice activist with a mission to help bring more compassion into the world — especially for oppressed minorities. To advance this cause, he’s testified against conversion therapy at California’s State Capital, appeared on Lisa Ling’s Our America show, appeared on various documentaries including VICE, and has been interviewed and/or written articles for Time, NY Times, LA Times, Huffington Post, Rage Magazine and the Advocate. 

 In this episode we talk about:

  • Creating understanding and compassion
  • Overcoming perfectionism
  • James talks about becoming a “gay activist” and sharing his own story of conversion therapy
  • How to handle clients googling you when you’ve been real and shared your own story in a real way, especially when it comes into the room
  • Working within your own community
  • How advocacy is good marketing
  • Prevention efforts through social advocacy
  • Raising your voice to empower your clients
  • Aligning your work with your mission to stay energized and rejuvenated

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train by Howard Zinn

www.lynda.com

To learn more about James Guay, LMFT: www.livingmorefully.com

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more about Curt at www.curtwidhalm.com.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katievernoy.com.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1711 no It’s Time to Think About Your Goals https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/its-time-to-think-about-your-goals It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Sorting through New Year’s Resolutions, developing goals, and creating habits SMART goals Why it’s important to have big goals, but also identify the small steps to get there Paying attention to the context of your life when creating goals Assessing what’s realistic and what is an appropriate stretch goal The importance of accountability How to balance what you put out there and what you keep under wraps Celebrating accomplishment How specific you need to be to create true life-style changes (and how long they really take) The strategy of goal setting – asking for help, delegating, and deciding what you can just stop doing Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Profit from the Positive by Greenberg and Maymin Katie’s Embrace Your Leadership Event (in January 2018 in Los Angeles, CA) Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Tue, 02 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0000 It’s Time to Think About Your Goals: Curt and Katie talk about SMART goals, habits, and life-style changes full 18 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Curt and Katie talk about SMART goals, habits, and life-style changes It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Sorting through New Year’s Resolutions, developing goals, and creating habits SMART goals Why it’s important to have big goals, but also identify the small steps to get there Paying attention to the context of your life when creating goals Assessing what’s realistic and what is an appropriate stretch goal The importance of accountability How to balance what you put out there and what you keep under wraps Celebrating accomplishment How specific you need to be to create true life-style changes (and how long they really take) The strategy of goal setting – asking for help, delegating, and deciding what you can just stop doing Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Profit from the Positive by Greenberg and Maymin Katie’s Embrace Your Leadership Event (in January 2018 in Los Angeles, CA) Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: curtwidhalm.com. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: katievernoy.com. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Sorting through New Year’s Resolutions, developing goals, and creating habits
  • SMART goals
  • Why it’s important to have big goals, but also identify the small steps to get there
  • Paying attention to the context of your life when creating goals
  • Assessing what’s realistic and what is an appropriate stretch goal
  • The importance of accountability
  • How to balance what you put out there and what you keep under wraps
  • Celebrating accomplishment
  • How specific you need to be to create true life-style changes (and how long they really take)
  • The strategy of goal setting – asking for help, delegating, and deciding what you can just stop doing

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Profit from the Positive by Greenberg and Maymin

Katie’s Embrace Your Leadership Event (in January 2018 in Los Angeles, CA)

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: curtwidhalm.com.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: katievernoy.com.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 1536 no The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-danger-of-poor-self-care-for-therapists It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definitions of self-care Legal and ethical codes require clinician self-care Why self-care is hard for therapists Active versus passive self-care Proactive versus reactive self-care Specific risks and strategies to overcome them Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Netflix Wine Napping Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Thu, 28 Dec 2017 08:00:00 -0000 The Danger of Poor Self-Care for Therapists: Unique challenges and strategies for therapists to avoid the legal, ethical, and other consequences of burning out full 17 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Unique challenges and strategies for therapists to avoid the legal, ethical, and other consequences of burning out It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The definitions of self-care Legal and ethical codes require clinician self-care Why self-care is hard for therapists Active versus passive self-care Proactive versus reactive self-care Specific risks and strategies to overcome them Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Netflix Wine Napping Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The definitions of self-care
  • Legal and ethical codes require clinician self-care
  • Why self-care is hard for therapists
  • Active versus passive self-care
  • Proactive versus reactive self-care
  • Specific risks and strategies to overcome them

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

Netflix

Wine

Napping

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 1854 no Bridging Cultural and Communication Differences in a Bilingual Psychotherapy Practice https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/bridging-cultural-and-communication-differences-in-a-bilingual-psychotherapy-practice It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Carmen Roman We enjoyed talking with Dr. Carmen Roman! Dr. Carmen Roman is a bilingual and bicultural psychotherapist with 25 years of experience working in both Mexico and in California. She combines both cultures and both worlds in the session. She specializes in creative expression as a form of treatment for sexual abuse, trauma, and immigration related stress. Some clinical issues she works with are: anxiety, depression, fear, severe trauma, or low self-esteem. Her clients are psychologists, counselors, religious leaders, and people in the entertainment industry. Based on Gestalt therapy she helps her clients to live with awareness, responsibility and in the here-and-now. Aided by the transpersonal psychology she addresses issues of spirituality, the use of meditation and shamanic experiences. She is a specialist in creative expression in therapy at master's and PhD levels. In this episode we talk about: Navigating a therapy practice serving 2 countries as well as numerous cultures and languages Bringing psychotherapy to rural areas and indigenous people Staying current with the Latino perspective, the language, and what is happening in Mexico Cultural implications of diverse clientele – not assuming you understand and asking the right questions The integration of philosophy, anthropology, and psychology Unique challenges of a bilingual practice The importance of social justice and “rescuing the dignity” of your clients The implications of unplanned, unplugged time. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. To learn more about Dr. Carmen Roman: Website www.emotionsinharmony.com Email her at carmen@armoniaemocional.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DraCarmenRoman/ Twitter https://twitter.com/DraCarmenRoman YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/cafecitovirtual  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 26 Dec 2017 08:00:00 -0000 Bridging Cultural and Communication Differences in a Bilingual Psychotherapy Practice: An Interview with Dr. Carmen Roman of Emotions in Harmony full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Dr. Carmen Roman of Emotions in Harmony It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Carmen Roman We enjoyed talking with Dr. Carmen Roman! Dr. Carmen Roman is a bilingual and bicultural psychotherapist with 25 years of experience working in both Mexico and in California. She combines both cultures and both worlds in the session. She specializes in creative expression as a form of treatment for sexual abuse, trauma, and immigration related stress. Some clinical issues she works with are: anxiety, depression, fear, severe trauma, or low self-esteem. Her clients are psychologists, counselors, religious leaders, and people in the entertainment industry. Based on Gestalt therapy she helps her clients to live with awareness, responsibility and in the here-and-now. Aided by the transpersonal psychology she addresses issues of spirituality, the use of meditation and shamanic experiences. She is a specialist in creative expression in therapy at master's and PhD levels. In this episode we talk about: Navigating a therapy practice serving 2 countries as well as numerous cultures and languages Bringing psychotherapy to rural areas and indigenous people Staying current with the Latino perspective, the language, and what is happening in Mexico Cultural implications of diverse clientele – not assuming you understand and asking the right questions The integration of philosophy, anthropology, and psychology Unique challenges of a bilingual practice The importance of social justice and “rescuing the dignity” of your clients The implications of unplanned, unplugged time. Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. To learn more about Dr. Carmen Roman: Website www.emotionsinharmony.com Email her at carmen@armoniaemocional.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DraCarmenRoman/ Twitter https://twitter.com/DraCarmenRoman YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/cafecitovirtual  Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Carmen Roman

We enjoyed talking with Dr. Carmen Roman!

Dr. Carmen Roman is a bilingual and bicultural psychotherapist with 25 years of experience working in both Mexico and in California. She combines both cultures and both worlds in the session. She specializes in creative expression as a form of treatment for sexual abuse, trauma, and immigration related stress. Some clinical issues she works with are: anxiety, depression, fear, severe trauma, or low self-esteem. Her clients are psychologists, counselors, religious leaders, and people in the entertainment industry. Based on Gestalt therapy she helps her clients to live with awareness, responsibility and in the here-and-now. Aided by the transpersonal psychology she addresses issues of spirituality, the use of meditation and shamanic experiences. She is a specialist in creative expression in therapy at master's and PhD levels.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Navigating a therapy practice serving 2 countries as well as numerous cultures and languages
  • Bringing psychotherapy to rural areas and indigenous people
  • Staying current with the Latino perspective, the language, and what is happening in Mexico
  • Cultural implications of diverse clientele – not assuming you understand and asking the right questions
  • The integration of philosophy, anthropology, and psychology
  • Unique challenges of a bilingual practice
  • The importance of social justice and “rescuing the dignity” of your clients
  • The implications of unplanned, unplugged time.

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

To learn more about Dr. Carmen Roman:

Website www.emotionsinharmony.com

Email her at carmen@armoniaemocional.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DraCarmenRoman/

Twitter https://twitter.com/DraCarmenRoman

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/cafecitovirtual

 Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1655 no A Brief Chat with Dr. Philip Zimbardo https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/a-brief-chat-with-dr-philip-zimbardo It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Philip Zimbardo We were so honored to talk with Dr. Philip Zimbardo at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference! Philip G. Zimbardo is an internationally recognized scholar, educator, researcher and media personality, winning numerous awards and honors in each of these domains. He has been a Stanford University professor since 1968, having taught previously at Yale, NYU and Columbia. Zimbardo's career is noted for giving psychology away to the public through his popular PBS-TV series, Discovering Psychology, along with many text and trade books, among his 300 publications. He was recently president of the American Psychological Association. In this episode we talk about: Positive Psychology Becoming a modern-day hero Zimbardo’s wife, Christina Maslach and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Rebranding from working on evil Curt and Katie geeking out Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. To learn more about Dr. Philip Zimbardo: http://www.zimbardo.com He was also open for questions: drzimbardo@gmail.com The Heroic Imagination Project: https://www.heroicimagination.org Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Thu, 21 Dec 2017 08:00:00 -0000 A Brief Chat with Dr. Philip Zimbardo: Becoming a Modern-Day Hero, Positive Psychology, and Addressing Burnout full 15 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Becoming a Modern-Day Hero, Positive Psychology, and Addressing Burnout It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Philip Zimbardo We were so honored to talk with Dr. Philip Zimbardo at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference! Philip G. Zimbardo is an internationally recognized scholar, educator, researcher and media personality, winning numerous awards and honors in each of these domains. He has been a Stanford University professor since 1968, having taught previously at Yale, NYU and Columbia. Zimbardo's career is noted for giving psychology away to the public through his popular PBS-TV series, Discovering Psychology, along with many text and trade books, among his 300 publications. He was recently president of the American Psychological Association. In this episode we talk about: Positive Psychology Becoming a modern-day hero Zimbardo’s wife, Christina Maslach and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Rebranding from working on evil Curt and Katie geeking out Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. To learn more about Dr. Philip Zimbardo: http://www.zimbardo.com He was also open for questions: drzimbardo@gmail.com The Heroic Imagination Project: https://www.heroicimagination.org Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Philip Zimbardo

We were so honored to talk with Dr. Philip Zimbardo at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference!

Philip G. Zimbardo is an internationally recognized scholar, educator, researcher and media personality, winning numerous awards and honors in each of these domains. He has been a Stanford University professor since 1968, having taught previously at Yale, NYU and Columbia. Zimbardo's career is noted for giving psychology away to the public through his popular PBS-TV series, Discovering Psychology, along with many text and trade books, among his 300 publications. He was recently president of the American Psychological Association.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Positive Psychology
  • Becoming a modern-day hero
  • Zimbardo’s wife, Christina Maslach and the Maslach Burnout Inventory
  • Rebranding from working on evil
  • Curt and Katie geeking out

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

To learn more about Dr. Philip Zimbardo: http://www.zimbardo.com

He was also open for questions: drzimbardo@gmail.com

The Heroic Imagination Project: https://www.heroicimagination.org

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

]]> 477 no A Brief Chat with Dr. Michael Yapko https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/a-brief-chat-with-dr-michael-yapko It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Michael Yapko We were so honored to talk with Dr. Michael Yapko at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference! Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist residing in Fallbrook, California. He is internationally recognized for his work in developing strategic, outcome-focused psychotherapies, the advanced clinical applications of hypnosis, and active, short-term non-pharmacological treatments of depression. He routinely teaches to professional audiences all over the world. To date, he has been invited to present his ideas and methods to colleagues in more than 30 countries across six continents, and all over the United States. Dr. Yapko has been a passionate advocate for redefining how we think about and treat peoples’ problems, especially the most common ones of anxiety and depression. He has been a vocal critic of medicalizing such problems by calling them illnesses when there is substantial evidence that they are about much more than biology alone. He further questions the all-too-common treatment approach of simply medicating people with drugs whose safety and efficacy are highly questionable. In this episode we talk about: Additional reflections on The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference The importance of psychotherapy How therapists have shot themselves in the foot The problem of bioreductionism (we are not only our brains) Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. To learn more about Dr. Michael Yapko: https://yapko.com/michael-yapko/   Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Wed, 20 Dec 2017 17:15:00 -0000 A Brief Chat with Dr. Michael Yapko: The Importance of Psychotherapy and the Problem of Bioreductionism full 14 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT The Importance of Psychotherapy and the Problem of Bioreductionism It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. Interview with Dr. Michael Yapko We were so honored to talk with Dr. Michael Yapko at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference! Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist residing in Fallbrook, California. He is internationally recognized for his work in developing strategic, outcome-focused psychotherapies, the advanced clinical applications of hypnosis, and active, short-term non-pharmacological treatments of depression. He routinely teaches to professional audiences all over the world. To date, he has been invited to present his ideas and methods to colleagues in more than 30 countries across six continents, and all over the United States. Dr. Yapko has been a passionate advocate for redefining how we think about and treat peoples’ problems, especially the most common ones of anxiety and depression. He has been a vocal critic of medicalizing such problems by calling them illnesses when there is substantial evidence that they are about much more than biology alone. He further questions the all-too-common treatment approach of simply medicating people with drugs whose safety and efficacy are highly questionable. In this episode we talk about: Additional reflections on The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference The importance of psychotherapy How therapists have shot themselves in the foot The problem of bioreductionism (we are not only our brains) Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. To learn more about Dr. Michael Yapko: https://yapko.com/michael-yapko/   Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

Interview with Dr. Michael Yapko

We were so honored to talk with Dr. Michael Yapko at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference!

Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist residing in Fallbrook, California. He is internationally recognized for his work in developing strategic, outcome-focused psychotherapies, the advanced clinical applications of hypnosis, and active, short-term non-pharmacological treatments of depression. He routinely teaches to professional audiences all over the world. To date, he has been invited to present his ideas and methods to colleagues in more than 30 countries across six continents, and all over the United States.

Dr. Yapko has been a passionate advocate for redefining how we think about and treat peoples’ problems, especially the most common ones of anxiety and depression. He has been a vocal critic of medicalizing such problems by calling them illnesses when there is substantial evidence that they are about much more than biology alone. He further questions the all-too-common treatment approach of simply medicating people with drugs whose safety and efficacy are highly questionable.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Additional reflections on The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference
  • The importance of psychotherapy
  • How therapists have shot themselves in the foot
  • The problem of bioreductionism (we are not only our brains)

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

To learn more about Dr. Michael Yapko: https://yapko.com/michael-yapko/

 

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 541 no Reflections on The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/reflections-on-the-evolution-of-psychotherapy-conference It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: We reflect on our experiences during the conference as well as share perspectives from a wide array of participants and fellow exhibitors: Amelia Mosley, Amethyst Kianipur, Arlen Grajeda, Boonie Sripom, Felician Douville, Frances Robbins, Jennie Steinberg, Karin Matthews, Katrina Watkins, Kenneth Rudnicki, Khali Koetting, Mercedes Samudio, and Robyn D’Angelo, Amanda Schaeffer (Good Therapy), Anita Avedian (Anger Management 818), Dana Schwartz (Center for Discovery), Heather Potter (Thera-Link), Howard Spector (SimplePractice), Jo Muirhead, Nancy Milazzo (CAMFT), Nicol Stolar-Peterson (Therapist Court Prep), and Perry Rosenblum (Brighter Vision) Topics discussed: #ModernTherapistProblems #EvolveMore And how amazing and rejuvenating it can be to go to the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference and connect with other clinicians!   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. No specific resources this episode, but stay tuned because we have a couple more special episodes from this conference coming this week! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Tue, 19 Dec 2017 08:32:00 -0000 Reflections on The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference: Modern Therapist Problems and the Question of Diversity full 13 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Modern Therapist Problems and the Question of Diversity It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: We reflect on our experiences during the conference as well as share perspectives from a wide array of participants and fellow exhibitors: Amelia Mosley, Amethyst Kianipur, Arlen Grajeda, Boonie Sripom, Felician Douville, Frances Robbins, Jennie Steinberg, Karin Matthews, Katrina Watkins, Kenneth Rudnicki, Khali Koetting, Mercedes Samudio, and Robyn D’Angelo, Amanda Schaeffer (Good Therapy), Anita Avedian (Anger Management 818), Dana Schwartz (Center for Discovery), Heather Potter (Thera-Link), Howard Spector (SimplePractice), Jo Muirhead, Nancy Milazzo (CAMFT), Nicol Stolar-Peterson (Therapist Court Prep), and Perry Rosenblum (Brighter Vision) Topics discussed: #ModernTherapistProblems #EvolveMore And how amazing and rejuvenating it can be to go to the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference and connect with other clinicians!   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. No specific resources this episode, but stay tuned because we have a couple more special episodes from this conference coming this week! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it. Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

We reflect on our experiences during the conference as well as share perspectives from a wide array of participants and fellow exhibitors:

Amelia Mosley, Amethyst Kianipur, Arlen Grajeda, Boonie Sripom, Felician Douville, Frances Robbins, Jennie Steinberg, Karin Matthews, Katrina Watkins, Kenneth Rudnicki, Khali Koetting, Mercedes Samudio, and Robyn D’Angelo, Amanda Schaeffer (Good Therapy), Anita Avedian (Anger Management 818), Dana Schwartz (Center for Discovery), Heather Potter (Thera-Link), Howard Spector (SimplePractice), Jo Muirhead, Nancy Milazzo (CAMFT), Nicol Stolar-Peterson (Therapist Court Prep), and Perry Rosenblum (Brighter Vision)

Topics discussed:

#ModernTherapistProblems

#EvolveMore

And how amazing and rejuvenating it can be to go to the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference and connect with other clinicians!

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

No specific resources this episode, but stay tuned because we have a couple more special episodes from this conference coming this week!

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

https://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1940 no Having Fun at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/having-fun-at-the-evolution-of-psychotherapy-conference Episode 12: Having Fun at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference Survival Guide Tips, Tools, and Name Dropping It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: We’re having a great time at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference!! We sat down and talked with so many of the exhibitors and participants. Adam Luke, Alise Bartley, Ben Caldwell, Chris Williams, Cori Rosenthal, Douglas Evans, Ernesto Segismundo, Frances J. Harvey, Jason Odegaard, Jean Penilla, Jill Johnson-Young, Jo Muirhead, Joanne Holbert, Joey Tapia-Fuselier, Kelly Higdon, Lilia Carey, Maelissa Hall, Melissa Garcia, Miranda Palmer, Rachel McMurray, Saba Harouni Lurie, Sana Vawda, Sandra Miller, Sherry Shockey-Pope, Silvy Khoucasian, Susette Magana, Terry Heptinstall, Uriah Guilford, and Zanetta Van Putten We have more interviews to come!! Check back!!   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. We’re going to be at Exhibitor Table #142 at the conference. Come visit us to meet us, hop on the podcast or livestream, and to take advantage of our giveaways and raffles. Learn about our exciting events for next year and sign up for opportunities to get extra special rates during our flash sale! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 14 Dec 2017 22:10:00 -0000 Having Fun at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference: Talking about Modern Therapist Problems in the Exhibitor Hall full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Talking about Modern Therapist Problems in the Exhibitor Hall Episode 12: Having Fun at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference Survival Guide Tips, Tools, and Name Dropping It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: We’re having a great time at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference!! We sat down and talked with so many of the exhibitors and participants. Adam Luke, Alise Bartley, Ben Caldwell, Chris Williams, Cori Rosenthal, Douglas Evans, Ernesto Segismundo, Frances J. Harvey, Jason Odegaard, Jean Penilla, Jill Johnson-Young, Jo Muirhead, Joanne Holbert, Joey Tapia-Fuselier, Kelly Higdon, Lilia Carey, Maelissa Hall, Melissa Garcia, Miranda Palmer, Rachel McMurray, Saba Harouni Lurie, Sana Vawda, Sandra Miller, Sherry Shockey-Pope, Silvy Khoucasian, Susette Magana, Terry Heptinstall, Uriah Guilford, and Zanetta Van Putten We have more interviews to come!! Check back!!   Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. We’re going to be at Exhibitor Table #142 at the conference. Come visit us to meet us, hop on the podcast or livestream, and to take advantage of our giveaways and raffles. Learn about our exciting events for next year and sign up for opportunities to get extra special rates during our flash sale! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Episode 12: Having Fun at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference

Survival Guide Tips, Tools, and Name Dropping

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

We’re having a great time at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference!!

We sat down and talked with so many of the exhibitors and participants.

Adam Luke, Alise Bartley, Ben Caldwell, Chris Williams, Cori Rosenthal, Douglas Evans, Ernesto Segismundo, Frances J. Harvey, Jason Odegaard, Jean Penilla, Jill Johnson-Young, Jo Muirhead, Joanne Holbert, Joey Tapia-Fuselier, Kelly Higdon, Lilia Carey, Maelissa Hall, Melissa Garcia, Miranda Palmer, Rachel McMurray, Saba Harouni Lurie, Sana Vawda, Sandra Miller, Sherry Shockey-Pope, Silvy Khoucasian, Susette Magana, Terry Heptinstall, Uriah Guilford, and Zanetta Van Putten

We have more interviews to come!! Check back!!

 

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

We’re going to be at Exhibitor Table #142 at the conference. Come visit us to meet us, hop on the podcast or livestream, and to take advantage of our giveaways and raffles. Learn about our exciting events for next year and sign up for opportunities to get extra special rates during our flash sale!

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1882 no Getting Ready for The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/getting-ready-for-the-evolution-of-psychotherapy-conference It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Navigating the conference Geeking out over therapy Connecting with colleagues all over the world Survival Guide Tips: Plan to support your own stamina Pick speakers, not topics (don’t miss people this time around – they may not be around the next time) Go early to get good seats at the big talks Names we drop Bandura, both Becks, Chopra, Glasser, Loftus, Meichenbaum, Miller, Minuchin, Morisette, Siegel, Yalom, Zieg, Zimbardo Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. We’re going to be at Exhibitor Table #142 at the conference. Come visit us to meet us, hop on the podcast or livestream, and to take advantage of our giveaways and raffles. Learn about our exciting events for next year and sign up for opportunities to get extra special rates during our flash sale! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Tue, 12 Dec 2017 08:00:00 -0000 Getting Ready for The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference: Survival Guide Tips, Tools, and Name Dropping full 11 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Survival Guide Tips, Tools, and Name Dropping It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Navigating the conference Geeking out over therapy Connecting with colleagues all over the world Survival Guide Tips: Plan to support your own stamina Pick speakers, not topics (don’t miss people this time around – they may not be around the next time) Go early to get good seats at the big talks Names we drop Bandura, both Becks, Chopra, Glasser, Loftus, Meichenbaum, Miller, Minuchin, Morisette, Siegel, Yalom, Zieg, Zimbardo Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. We’re going to be at Exhibitor Table #142 at the conference. Come visit us to meet us, hop on the podcast or livestream, and to take advantage of our giveaways and raffles. Learn about our exciting events for next year and sign up for opportunities to get extra special rates during our flash sale! Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Navigating the conference
  • Geeking out over therapy
  • Connecting with colleagues all over the world
  • Survival Guide Tips:
  • Plan to support your own stamina
  • Pick speakers, not topics (don’t miss people this time around – they may not be around the next time)
  • Go early to get good seats at the big talks
  • Names we drop
  • Bandura, both Becks, Chopra, Glasser, Loftus, Meichenbaum, Miller, Minuchin, Morisette, Siegel, Yalom, Zieg, Zimbardo

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

We’re going to be at Exhibitor Table #142 at the conference. Come visit us to meet us, hop on the podcast or livestream, and to take advantage of our giveaways and raffles. Learn about our exciting events for next year and sign up for opportunities to get extra special rates during our flash sale!

Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 1072 no How Much is TOO Much? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/how-much-is-too-much It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: When and how to talk about politics and religion Authenticity versus poor boundaries Countertransference, here and now feelings, and following the client’s lead Remembering that clients don’t have to hold confidentiality for us How and when to pull back the curtain about why you’re using a specific intervention Processing (without over-processing) shifts in the relationships, personal disclosure, and human interactions When to maintain objectivity and when to share your perspective and emotions Understanding how your appearance affects your clients Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom                                   Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when Katie is speaking for Curt.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 07 Dec 2017 08:00:00 -0000 How Much is TOO Much? Authenticity informed by appropriate boundaries, humanity, and clinical efficacy full 10 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Authenticity informed by appropriate boundaries, humanity, and clinical efficacy It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: When and how to talk about politics and religion Authenticity versus poor boundaries Countertransference, here and now feelings, and following the client’s lead Remembering that clients don’t have to hold confidentiality for us How and when to pull back the curtain about why you’re using a specific intervention Processing (without over-processing) shifts in the relationships, personal disclosure, and human interactions When to maintain objectivity and when to share your perspective and emotions Understanding how your appearance affects your clients Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom                                   Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when Katie is speaking for Curt.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • When and how to talk about politics and religion
  • Authenticity versus poor boundaries
  • Countertransference, here and now feelings, and following the client’s lead
  • Remembering that clients don’t have to hold confidentiality for us
  • How and when to pull back the curtain about why you’re using a specific intervention
  • Processing (without over-processing) shifts in the relationships, personal disclosure, and human interactions
  • When to maintain objectivity and when to share your perspective and emotions
  • Understanding how your appearance affects your clients

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom                                 

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when Katie is speaking for Curt.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 2266 no Vulnerability, Mistakes, and The Impostor Syndrome https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/vulnerability-mistakes-and-the-impostor-syndrome It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Vulnerability, self-judgment and the Impostor Syndrome Being a human being in the room, while holding boundaries How to cope with clients responding to you, not just “therapy” or “mental health stigma” Handling mistakes and making repair (and avoiding blaming your clients) The scourge of perfectionism Claiming your whole self (even the goofy parts) What boundaries you should hold related to telling your own story Inviting feedback from your clients How being available 24/7 has increased vulnerability Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. No specific resources were mentioned in this episode because we’re just plain lazy. Want to read about vulnerability? Try anything by Brene Brown – she is fabulous!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when Katie is speaking for Curt – which, let’s face it, is in everyone’s best interest.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   Tue, 05 Dec 2017 08:00:00 -0000 Vulnerability, Mistakes, and The Impostor Syndrome: How to navigate through being a human being AND a therapist (at the same time) full 9 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How to navigate through being a human being AND a therapist (at the same time) It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: Vulnerability, self-judgment and the Impostor Syndrome Being a human being in the room, while holding boundaries How to cope with clients responding to you, not just “therapy” or “mental health stigma” Handling mistakes and making repair (and avoiding blaming your clients) The scourge of perfectionism Claiming your whole self (even the goofy parts) What boundaries you should hold related to telling your own story Inviting feedback from your clients How being available 24/7 has increased vulnerability Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. No specific resources were mentioned in this episode because we’re just plain lazy. Want to read about vulnerability? Try anything by Brene Brown – she is fabulous!!  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. A Quick Note: Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when Katie is speaking for Curt – which, let’s face it, is in everyone’s best interest.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Vulnerability, self-judgment and the Impostor Syndrome
  • Being a human being in the room, while holding boundaries
  • How to cope with clients responding to you, not just “therapy” or “mental health stigma”
  • Handling mistakes and making repair (and avoiding blaming your clients)
  • The scourge of perfectionism
  • Claiming your whole self (even the goofy parts)
  • What boundaries you should hold related to telling your own story
  • Inviting feedback from your clients
  • How being available 24/7 has increased vulnerability

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

No specific resources were mentioned in this episode because we’re just plain lazy. Want to read about vulnerability? Try anything by Brene Brown – she is fabulous!!

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

A Quick Note:

Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when Katie is speaking for Curt – which, let’s face it, is in everyone’s best interest.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

 

]]> 1959 no Creating an Effective Schedule https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/creating-an-effective-schedule It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The importance of time management related to trust, competence, and well-being How to manage your time, energy, and priorities How often self-care can be pushed out of our schedule (and why that’s so bad) Steven Covey’s Big Rocks Putting buffers in, transition time, and back up plans (for after vacation, when sick, etc.) What a crisis really is (and how non-crises can derail us) “Just in time” scheduling Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together the resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:00:00 -0000 Creating an Effective Schedule: Talking about time management, self-care, managing crises, and competence full 8 Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Talking about time management, self-care, managing crises, and competence It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age. In this episode we talk about: The importance of time management related to trust, competence, and well-being How to manage your time, energy, and priorities How often self-care can be pushed out of our schedule (and why that’s so bad) Steven Covey’s Big Rocks Putting buffers in, transition time, and back up plans (for after vacation, when sick, etc.) What a crisis really is (and how non-crises can derail us) “Just in time” scheduling Resources mentioned: We’ve pulled together the resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey  Who we are: Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.   Stay in Touch: www.mtsgpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/ https://twitter.com/therapymovement   Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.

To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The importance of time management related to trust, competence, and well-being
  • How to manage your time, energy, and priorities
  • How often self-care can be pushed out of our schedule (and why that’s so bad)
  • Steven Covey’s Big Rocks
  • Putting buffers in, transition time, and back up plans (for after vacation, when sick, etc.)
  • What a crisis really is (and how non-crises can derail us)
  • “Just in time” scheduling

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together the resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey

 Who we are:

Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world.

 

Stay in Touch:

www.mtsgpodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/

https://twitter.com/therapymovement

 

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

]]> 1697 no Becoming a Group Practice Owner https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/becoming-a-group-practice-owner In this episode we talk with Maureen Werrbach about all things Group Practice: What to consider when starting a group practice Business plans and finances How to shift your marketing and branding for a group practice Structuring your practice and your schedule  Guilt and self-doubt  Hiring, mentoring, and workplace culture How to build a strong team The mistakes Maureen made (and what she says to do differently) Tue, 28 Nov 2017 08:00:00 -0000 Becoming a Group Practice Owner: An interview with Maureen Werrbach of The Group Practice Exchange on practical considerations, common mistakes, and suggested solutions for therapists ready to grow their business full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An interview with Maureen Werrbach of The Group Practice Exchange on practical considerations, common mistakes, and suggested solutions for therapists ready to grow their business In this episode we talk with Maureen Werrbach about all things Group Practice: What to consider when starting a group practice Business plans and finances How to shift your marketing and branding for a group practice Structuring your practice and your schedule  Guilt and self-doubt  Hiring, mentoring, and workplace culture How to build a strong team The mistakes Maureen made (and what she says to do differently) In this episode we talk with Maureen Werrbach about all things Group Practice:

  • What to consider when starting a group practice
  • Business plans and finances
  • How to shift your marketing and branding for a group practice
  • Structuring your practice and your schedule 
  • Guilt and self-doubt 
  • Hiring, mentoring, and workplace culture
  • How to build a strong team
  • The mistakes Maureen made (and what she says to do differently)
]]> 2201 no Navigating the Holidays as a Therapist https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/navigating-the-holidays-as-a-therapist In this episode we talk about: Whether you should decorate your office What to do about gifts Potential trauma, triggers, pitfalls, and challenges related to holidays for clients Diversity of your clients, colleagues, and community  Navigating scheduling challenges during the holidays Fluctuating caseloads Deciding whether to eat with your clients Helping clients to cope during the holidays Thanking referral sources during the holidays Thu, 23 Nov 2017 05:00:00 -0000 Navigating the Holidays as a Therapist: A Conversation About Decorating, Gifts, Food, and Scheduling (related to your therapy practice) full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT A Conversation About Decorating, Gifts, Food, and Scheduling (related to your therapy practice) In this episode we talk about: Whether you should decorate your office What to do about gifts Potential trauma, triggers, pitfalls, and challenges related to holidays for clients Diversity of your clients, colleagues, and community  Navigating scheduling challenges during the holidays Fluctuating caseloads Deciding whether to eat with your clients Helping clients to cope during the holidays Thanking referral sources during the holidays In this episode we talk about:

  • Whether you should decorate your office
  • What to do about gifts
  • Potential trauma, triggers, pitfalls, and challenges related to holidays for clients
  • Diversity of your clients, colleagues, and community 
  • Navigating scheduling challenges during the holidays
  • Fluctuating caseloads
  • Deciding whether to eat with your clients
  • Helping clients to cope during the holidays
  • Thanking referral sources during the holidays
]]> 2031 no Therapist Know Thyself https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/therapist-know-thyself In this episode, we talk about: How to assess ourselves Identifying who are clients are and how they find us How to screen clients appropriately Using humor – when, how, and why Being yourself while holding appropriate boundaries Evaluating clinical efficacy Talking about the therapeutic relationship with your client The importance of community, consultation, supervision, and feedback Tue, 21 Nov 2017 08:00:00 -0000 Therapist Know Thyself: A discussion of self-awareness and self-assessment to improve your clinical skills and your career full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT A discussion about Self-Awareness and Self-Assessment, to Improve your Clinical Skills and your Career In this episode, we talk about: How to assess ourselves Identifying who are clients are and how they find us How to screen clients appropriately Using humor – when, how, and why Being yourself while holding appropriate boundaries Evaluating clinical efficacy Talking about the therapeutic relationship with your client The importance of community, consultation, supervision, and feedback In this episode, we talk about:

  • How to assess ourselves
  • Identifying who are clients are and how they find us
  • How to screen clients appropriately
  • Using humor – when, how, and why
  • Being yourself while holding appropriate boundaries
  • Evaluating clinical efficacy
  • Talking about the therapeutic relationship with your client
  • The importance of community, consultation, supervision, and feedback
]]> 2000 no In-Person Networking https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/in-person-networking   Networking is an important skill for all therapists. In this episode we answer the following questions: Why is networking important? What are the common challenges that therapists face? How to network effectively Developing and talking about your niche Becoming memorable to get more referrals – your personal brand Giving out business cards and how to follow up Strategies for effective coffee meetings Developing a collaborative treatment team of referral partners   Thu, 16 Nov 2017 08:00:00 -0000 In-Person Networking: How to Network as a Private Practitioner and Why It's Important full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT How to Network as a Private Practitioner and Why It's Important   Networking is an important skill for all therapists. In this episode we answer the following questions: Why is networking important? What are the common challenges that therapists face? How to network effectively Developing and talking about your niche Becoming memorable to get more referrals – your personal brand Giving out business cards and how to follow up Strategies for effective coffee meetings Developing a collaborative treatment team of referral partners    

Networking is an important skill for all therapists. In this episode we answer the following questions:

  • Why is networking important?
  • What are the common challenges that therapists face?
  • How to network effectively
  • Developing and talking about your niche
  • Becoming memorable to get more referrals – your personal brand
  • Giving out business cards and how to follow up
  • Strategies for effective coffee meetings
  • Developing a collaborative treatment team of referral partners

 

]]> 1875 no Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Awareness for Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/self-care-self-compassion-and-self-awareness-for-therapists After healing her own burnout, Jamie Stacks, LPC began a crusade to help other clinicians with their self-care.  In this episode, we address the following: Self-care as an ethical imperative A holistic approach to self-care The importance of community Why balance is B.S. Self-compassion Blocks to self-care including time and guilt Jamie's burnout story and how she spends her days now Jamie's coffee habit Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:00:00 -0000 Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Care for Therapists: An Interview with Jamie Stacks, LPC full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT An Interview with Jamie Stacks, LPC After healing her own burnout, Jamie Stacks, LPC began a crusade to help other clinicians with their self-care.  In this episode, we address the following: Self-care as an ethical imperative A holistic approach to self-care The importance of community Why balance is B.S. Self-compassion Blocks to self-care including time and guilt Jamie's burnout story and how she spends her days now Jamie's coffee habit After healing her own burnout, Jamie Stacks, LPC began a crusade to help other clinicians with their self-care. 

In this episode, we address the following:

  • Self-care as an ethical imperative
  • A holistic approach to self-care
  • The importance of community
  • Why balance is B.S.
  • Self-compassion
  • Blocks to self-care including time and guilt
  • Jamie's burnout story and how she spends her days now
  • Jamie's coffee habit
]]> 1862 no Social Media and Video Marketing for Therapists https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/social-media-and-video-marketing-for-therapists We had a blast talking with Ernesto Segismundo Jr. M.S. LMFT, of Fylmit.com about all things social media and video marketing. Creating a therapist social media presence Legal and Ethical issues related to posting video content online  The importance of authenticity and genuineness for your personal brand How to get visibility on Social Media  Creating community and engagement with referral sources and colleagues online   Thu, 09 Nov 2017 17:30:00 -0000 Social Media and Video Marketing for Therapists full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT A Conversation with Ernesto Segismundo Jr. M.S. LMFT of Fylmit.com We had a blast talking with Ernesto Segismundo Jr. M.S. LMFT, of Fylmit.com about all things social media and video marketing. Creating a therapist social media presence Legal and Ethical issues related to posting video content online  The importance of authenticity and genuineness for your personal brand How to get visibility on Social Media  Creating community and engagement with referral sources and colleagues online   We had a blast talking with Ernesto Segismundo Jr. M.S. LMFT, of Fylmit.com about all things social media and video marketing.

  • Creating a therapist social media presence
  • Legal and Ethical issues related to posting video content online 
  • The importance of authenticity and genuineness for your personal brand
  • How to get visibility on Social Media 
  • Creating community and engagement with referral sources and colleagues online

 

]]> 1894 no What is a Modern Therapist? https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/what-is-a-modern-therapist In this episode:   How has psychotherapy changed? What do modern clients, patients want? Private, personal, and professional parts of life. Living your personal brand Can we take our clients further than we’ve gone ourselves? Benefits of being a “whole person” or human therapist. Self-assessment and clinical efficacy. Challenges of the therapist/business-owner. Self-care, boundaries, and avoiding burnout. Katie and Curt talk about their worst sessions   Thu, 09 Nov 2017 14:30:00 -0000 What is a Modern Therapist? full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT A discussion of modern psychotherapy and the challenges modern therapists face In this episode:   How has psychotherapy changed? What do modern clients, patients want? Private, personal, and professional parts of life. Living your personal brand Can we take our clients further than we’ve gone ourselves? Benefits of being a “whole person” or human therapist. Self-assessment and clinical efficacy. Challenges of the therapist/business-owner. Self-care, boundaries, and avoiding burnout. Katie and Curt talk about their worst sessions   In this episode:

 

  • How has psychotherapy changed?
  • What do modern clients, patients want?
  • Private, personal, and professional parts of life.
  • Living your personal brand
  • Can we take our clients further than we’ve gone ourselves?
  • Benefits of being a “whole person” or human therapist.
  • Self-assessment and clinical efficacy.
  • Challenges of the therapist/business-owner.
  • Self-care, boundaries, and avoiding burnout.
  • Katie and Curt talk about their worst sessions

 

]]> 2046 no The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Introduction https://mtsgpodcast.libsyn.com/the-modern-therapists-survival-guide-introduction Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy have a brand new podcast, talking about how to navigate Modern Therapist Problems:  Private Practice building and business ownership Social Media Personal Branding Authenticity - in your marketing and in the room Moving away from being a blank slate and the medical model of mental health treatment Self-care as a helper, therapist, social worker, or counselor Thu, 09 Nov 2017 08:00:00 -0000 The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Introduction full Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT Who We Are and Why We're Starting This Podcast Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy have a brand new podcast, talking about how to navigate Modern Therapist Problems:  Private Practice building and business ownership Social Media Personal Branding Authenticity - in your marketing and in the room Moving away from being a blank slate and the medical model of mental health treatment Self-care as a helper, therapist, social worker, or counselor Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy have a brand new podcast, talking about how to navigate Modern Therapist Problems: 

  • Private Practice building and business ownership
  • Social Media
  • Personal Branding
  • Authenticity - in your marketing and in the room
  • Moving away from being a blank slate and the medical model of mental health treatment
  • Self-care as a helper, therapist, social worker, or counselor
]]> 1306 no