Intentional Therapist: Putting You In Your Schedule

Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen

Self-care shouldn’t be another task on your to-do list!  This is the show that helps you as a busy and dedicated female mental health therapist to redefine your approach to self-care.  Because we need so much more than bubble baths and breathing exercises! Hosted by Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen, clinical psychologists, founders of Intentional Therapist, and self-care advocates, our mission is to help you build a life where you thrive right alongside your clients, without guilt and without burning out.  Join us as we explore practical strategies grounded in our 4 C’s model – Connection, Compassion, Courage, and Creativity – to help you create more space for yourself while continuing to support your clients.  Whether you work in a solo private practice, within a large organization, are a new grad, or are nearing retirement, this show has something for you.  Tune in for short but valuable episodes filled with relatable and insightful new perspectives, actionable ‘self-care experiments’, and the encouragement and permission you need to put more of you back in your schedule and create a life from which you don’t need to escape. To learn more about Intentional Therapist and our 4 C’s model of self-care, visit us at: www.intentionaltherapist.ca  [Please note:  This podcast was previously called Thrivival 101, and you can continue to find our original interview episodes in this podcast feed.]

  1. 22 בספט׳

    E17: Upgrade your self-care belief system! Part 1: Self-care is PART OF our work

    If you’re a therapist who feels like self-care always comes last, you’re not alone. Most of us were trained—implicitly or explicitly—to treat our own needs as optional, something to squeeze in after clients, paperwork, and family demands. But what if that belief is exactly what’s draining your energy, your clarity, and even your ability to show up fully for the people you serve? In today’s episode, we’re kicking off a new series that challenges outdated ideas about self-care and replaces them with essential upgrades. We’ll start with one of the most important shifts: recognizing that self-care isn’t extra—it’s part of the work. Because when we stop treating our well-being as optional, everything changes: our presence in sessions, our resilience, and the sustainability of our careers. Episode Highlights: Self-care belief system upgrade #1: Self-care is part of our workWhy the old view doesn't serve us: Self-care is seen as optional and exhaustion is normalizedThe new view: Self-care is a core professional competence and part of our deliverablesSelf-care experiments:Create a reset/recovery ritualAudit your scheduleProfessional alignment reflectionResources Mentioned: Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time by Brigid SchulteRegistration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist: intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/ Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

    21 דק׳
  2. 8 בספט׳

    E16: Check-in on your self-care along with us! The importance of seasonal self-care check-ins

    What if your to-do list isn’t the problem — but rather a quiet signal that one of your self-care pillars is out of balance? As therapists, we’re trained to notice these signs in others, but we often overlook the gentle nudges from within:  things like a creeping sense of resentment, a loss of joy, or a growing disconnection from the parts of ourselves that used to feel vibrant. As we kick off a new season of Putting You In Your Schedule, we’re inviting you to slow down with us and take stock — not with judgment, but with curiosity and compassion. In this episode, we’ll walk you through a seasonal self-care check-in using our 4 C’s framework: Connection, Compassion, Courage, and Creativity. Whether or not you’ve used our self-care assessment tool before, we’ll help you pause to notice what’s working, what’s not, and where there’s room for small but meaningful shifts. Let’s begin this season with intention around the foundation that supports everything else — our own well-being. Episode Highlights: A refresher on the 4 C's modelThe 4 C's self-care assessmentSigns that we might need to pay attention to each of our 4 C'sSelf-Care Experiments: Assess your self-care needs in this specific seasonShare your self-care assessment with a trusted colleague or loved oneTake some baby stepsResources Mentioned: Visit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment:  https://www.intentionaltherapist.caRegistration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist: intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/ Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

    21 דק׳
  3. 16 ביוני

    E15: Experimenting With Experiments: Season 1 Self-Care Experiments Round Up

    What if the real secret to sustainable self-care isn’t about working harder—or even trying to be “better”—but simply about noticing, connecting, and giving yourself permission to take small, imperfect steps? In today’s episode, we’re taking a second look at the many self-care experiments we’ve shared throughout the year to reveal a refreshingly doable framework that can support you, not just in theory, but in real life. As we wrap up the season and head into summer, we’re reflecting on the common threads woven through our self-care experiments— and offering you a fresh way to approach your own self-care journey. Whether you’re just tuning in or have been with us all season, you’ll leave today’s episode with a clearer, kinder path forward—and a little extra inspiration to carry you into your next season.  Episode Highlights: Round-up of self-care experiments shared throughout this seasonThemes in experimentsNotice/monitor/observe (kindly and non-judgmentally!)Connect with colleaguesChallenge unhelpful beliefs with permission and imperfect actionSelf-Care Experiment: Use the Notice-Connect-Challenge frameworkResources Mentioned: Visit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment:  https://www.intentionaltherapist.caConnect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist: intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/ Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist Ready to upgrade your self-care? Check out the independent study version of our course, Thrivival Skills for Therapists, and earn 3 CE credits! Because self-care is PART OF our jobs! More info at: https://intentional-therapist.newzenler.com/courses/thrivival-skills-for-therapists-independent-study Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

    14 דק׳
  4. 2 ביוני

    E14: Why can’t I actually put myself in my schedule?! 3 ways to more intentionally protect your self-care efforts

    Have you ever looked at your schedule and wondered why everyone else’s needs made the cut—but yours didn’t?  In this podcast episode, we’re exploring a question we hear all the time: Why can’t I actually put myself in my schedule?!  If you resonate with this question, know that you are not alone, and, that you are not doing anything wrong.   Please stick around as we explore what contributes to this struggle of protecting the time we want to devote to our self-care.  And most importantly, we will be sharing three practical, intentional ways to support your self-care efforts—without adding more pressure or guilt. These are simple shifts that can help you hold space for yourself, just like you do for everyone else. Let’s talk about how to stop squeezing yourself out of your calendar and start making your needs a priority again. Episode Highlights: Change is hard, even for therapistsImpact of our beliefsImpact of life circumstances and readiness for changeRemember that change is a processSelf-Care Experiments:   Use permission liberallyUse scaffolding liberallyFigure out what doesn’t work for youResources Mentioned: Episode 2 on Toxic Time Messages Episode 11 on Self-Care SabotageEpisode 12 on Personal Rights Visit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment:  https://www.intentionaltherapist.caConnect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist: intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/ Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist Ready to upgrade your self-care? Check out the independent study version of our course, Thrivival Skills for Therapists, and earn 3 CE credits! Because self-care is PART OF our jobs! More info at: https://intentional-therapist.newzenler.com/courses/thrivival-skills-for-therapists-independent-study Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

    16 דק׳
  5. 19 במאי

    E13: This is your brain on breaks: 3 benefits of incorporating breaks into our days

    What does your typical day look like?  Does it include regularly occurring breaks or do you often find yourself constantly on the go?  If you’re like most of the female mental health therapists we’ve spoken with, most of your days probably feel like you’re going non-stop, both at work and at home.  And while there can admittedly be some sense of accomplishment that comes with fitting as many things from our never ending “to-do list” into our days, it comes at a cost.   In today’s episode we’ll talk about the concepts of energy expenditure and energy recovery and three important ways that breaks can contribute to your self-care.  And, as always, we’ll wrap up the episode with some practical self-care experiments, because taking breaks is often much harder than it seems!  So if you’re in need of some justification for yourself, or others, about why we truly need breaks, then stay tuned. Episode Highlights: The importance of both energy expenditure and energy recoveryWork and rest are partnersWe can get better at rest3 benefits of taking breaksSelf-Care Experiments:   Monitor your energy patternsAdd in some breaks to your scheduleExperiment with how you spend your breaks   Resources Mentioned: 2021 study by the Microsoft Human Factors LabBook:  The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal, by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz Book:  Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less, by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang Podcast:  Episode 258 of The Lazy Genius Podcast with Kendra Adachi, about the 7 different kinds of rest Visit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment:  https://www.intentionaltherapist.caConnect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist: intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/ Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist Ready to upgrade your self-care? Check out the independent study version of our course, Thrivival Skills for Therapists, and earn 3 CE credits! Because self-care is PART OF our jobs! More info at: https://intentional-therapist.newzenler.com/courses/thrivival-skills-for-therapists-independent-study Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

    14 דק׳
  6. 5 במאי

    E12: Therapists have rights too! 3 personal rights to embrace for better self-care

    Have your sessions with clients ever incorporated the topic of assertiveness and its related benefits?  If so, then you’re likely familiar with the “Personal Bill of Rights” and how eye opening this resource can be to clients, particularly those who’ve regularly either ignored their needs or put them well below those of others. The Personal Bill of Rights can offer our clients a different way of thinking about themselves which, in turn, can help them start shifting their actions in ways that align more so with their Personal Bill of Rights.   But have you ever thought about how incorporating a Bill of Rights might actually support your self-care?  In today’s episode we take a look at three rights, in particular, that can be particularly powerful in supporting female mental health therapists’ self-care.  So if you’re interested in finding ways to use personal rights to support your self-care, this episode is for you!  Episode Highlights: What is a Personal Bill of Rights3 key rights for therapists:I have the right to my own needs for personal space and timeI have the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfectI have the right to change my mind Self-Care Experiments:   Be an objective observerEmbrace a right and act accordinglyImagine a female mental health therapist bill of rights      Resources Mentioned: Kristin Neff's website:  https://self-compassion.org/Visit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment:  https://www.intentionaltherapist.caConnect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist: intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/ Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist Ready to upgrade your self-care? Check out the independent study version of our course, Thrivival Skills for Therapists, and earn 3 CE credits! Because self-care is PART OF our jobs! More info at: https://intentional-therapist.newzenler.com/courses/thrivival-skills-for-therapists-independent-study Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

    17 דק׳
  7. 21 באפר׳

    E11: Self-care sabotage: 3 types of beliefs that may be hurting your self-care from the inside out

    How often do you take time to reflect on your beliefs and the ways they might be influencing your self-care?  If you’re like most female mental health therapists, you’re likely so busy tending to your professional and personal roles and responsibilities that this hasn’t even crossed your mind.  Yet, the reality is many of us may be unknowingly buying into beliefs that could be sabotaging our self-care. In today’s episode we look at three types of unhelpful beliefs and the ways they might be sabotaging your self-care efforts.  We're also talking about how connection, compassion, and  courage can provide powerful antidotes to these unhelpful beliefs. So if you are ready to stop “shoulding” on yourself, please tune in! Episode Highlights: Three types of beliefs that can sabotage our self-careTherapist "musturbations""Shoulding" on our self-care"Canning" our self-careSelf-Care Experiments: Be an objective observerConnect with othersChallenge your unhelpful beliefsResources Mentioned: Book:  Leaving It at the Office by Drs. John Norcross and Gary VandenBosVisit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment:  https://www.intentionaltherapist.caConnect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist: intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/ Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist Ready to upgrade your self-care? Check out the independent study version of our course, Thrivival Skills for Therapists, and earn 3 CE credits! Because self-care is PART OF our jobs! More info at: https://intentional-therapist.newzenler.com/courses/thrivival-skills-for-therapists-independent-study Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

    16 דק׳
  8. 7 באפר׳

    E10: Connection in a post-pandemic world: 3 ways connecting with others can change the self-care game

    As a mental health professional, you undoubtedly know the significant role our relationships can have on our overall well-being.  In fact, it’s probably something you discuss with most, if not all your clients at some point during therapy.  But how often do you take the same time and care to reflect on your own relationships with others?  In today’s episode we revisit the connection pillar of our 4 C’s model, this time, focusing on our connections to others and the important role this plays in our self-care.  We’ll also be talking about how connection plus courage can offer a particularly powerful boost to our self-care and our self-care culture and how all of this relates to compassion.        Episode Highlights: The powerful benefits of connection plus courageConnection and compassionConnection as a way of overcoming limiting beliefsSelf-Care Experiments: Taking stock of our connections with others Adding a dose of courage to our connectionsConnection as a way of overcoming limiting beliefsResources Mentioned: Visit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment:  https://www.intentionaltherapist.caConnect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist: intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/ Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist Ready to upgrade your self-care? Check out the independent study version of our course, Thrivival Skills for Therapists, and earn 3 CE credits! Because self-care is PART OF our jobs! More info at: https://intentional-therapist.newzenler.com/courses/thrivival-skills-for-therapists-independent-study Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

    15 דק׳

אודות

Self-care shouldn’t be another task on your to-do list!  This is the show that helps you as a busy and dedicated female mental health therapist to redefine your approach to self-care.  Because we need so much more than bubble baths and breathing exercises! Hosted by Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen, clinical psychologists, founders of Intentional Therapist, and self-care advocates, our mission is to help you build a life where you thrive right alongside your clients, without guilt and without burning out.  Join us as we explore practical strategies grounded in our 4 C’s model – Connection, Compassion, Courage, and Creativity – to help you create more space for yourself while continuing to support your clients.  Whether you work in a solo private practice, within a large organization, are a new grad, or are nearing retirement, this show has something for you.  Tune in for short but valuable episodes filled with relatable and insightful new perspectives, actionable ‘self-care experiments’, and the encouragement and permission you need to put more of you back in your schedule and create a life from which you don’t need to escape. To learn more about Intentional Therapist and our 4 C’s model of self-care, visit us at: www.intentionaltherapist.ca  [Please note:  This podcast was previously called Thrivival 101, and you can continue to find our original interview episodes in this podcast feed.]

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