The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT
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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.

  1. Before You Refer to the Hospital: De-Escalation, Safety Planning, and Wraparound Care for Teens in Crisis

    2D AGO

    Before You Refer to the Hospital: De-Escalation, Safety Planning, and Wraparound Care for Teens in Crisis

    Before You Refer to the Hospital: De-Escalation, Safety Planning, and Wraparound Care for Teens in Crisis When a suicidal teen is in crisis, is the hospital really the safest call? What outpatient therapists need to know. Curt Widhalm, LMFT, leads this episode from his work running a comprehensive DBT private practice in Los Angeles that specializes in higher-acuity adolescent cases, including teens with serious suicidality, self-harm, and emotional dysregulation. These are exactly the clients most often routed toward psychiatric hospitalization or platform-based care, and Curt argues the default-to-hospital reflex frequently makes things worse, not better. Drawing on recent research and his clinical experience, Curt walks through the iatrogenic harms of adolescent psychiatric inpatient care, why post-discharge is the highest-risk window for completed suicide, and how clinician anxiety can drive premature 5150 holds and crisis referrals. Katie Vernoy, LMFT, joins with years of LPS-designated assessment experience from community mental health, naming what really happens when a teen gets sent in, including the relational rupture that often starts the moment a crisis evaluation is requested. Together they show outpatient therapists, including solo practitioners, how to build the clinical infrastructure that makes hospital diversion a real option: standardized risk assessment, collaborative safety planning that starts at intake, verbal de-escalation, family-integrated care, and wraparound treatment teams that include both formal providers and informal natural supports. This is a continuing education podcourse. Therapists can earn 1 CE credit through the Modern Therapist Learning Community at moderntherapistcommunity.com. What you'll take away: - How to recognize when a teen client really needs inpatient care, and when escalation will cause more harm than help - How to use standardized risk assessment tools (C-SSRS, LRAMP) without losing the therapeutic relationship - How to build a safety plan that actually works, and what to leave out (hint: no-suicide contracts) - What to teach parents about verbal de-escalation and environmental modifications at home - How to construct a mini Intensive Outpatient Program inside a solo or small-group practice - Who belongs on a wraparound treatment team, and how to find informal supports that families often forget to mention - How systemic barriers and health disparities shape access and outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and lower-SES adolescents Timestamps: 00:15 - CE intro and how to earn 1 CE credit 05:17 - Why outpatient therapists need real de-escalation protocols 11:23 - What actually happens during a crisis evaluation, with Katie's LPS-designated insights 18:46 - Iatrogenic harm and post-discharge suicide risk in adolescents 26:27 - Distant admissions, capped beds, and reentry into school and community 30:43 - Building safety plans from the first session, not the first crisis 34:32 - What belongs in a comprehensive adolescent safety plan 41:05 - When a teen says "I want to die," and why language matters 47:27 - Family-integrated care in solo private practice 48:56 - Building a mini IOP without the institutional overhead 55:29 - Wraparound teams and the role of informal natural supports 59:51 - ROIs, HIPAA-compliant communication, and minor consent 1:01:00 - Health disparities and access for marginalized adolescents Earn 1 CE credit: Therapists can earn 1 CE credit for this episode through the Modern Therapist Learning Community. Register, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation to receive your certificate. Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT CEPA #132270). Please check with your licensing board to confirm eligibility. Full show notes, references, and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com CE enrollment: moderntherapistcommunity.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/

    1h 13m
  2. Inside the Troubled Teen Industry: Wilderness Therapy, Residential Treatment, and the Harm Done to Kids – An Interview with Chelsea Maldonado and Dr. Will Dobud

    MAY 18

    Inside the Troubled Teen Industry: Wilderness Therapy, Residential Treatment, and the Harm Done to Kids – An Interview with Chelsea Maldonado and Dr. Will Dobud

    Inside the Troubled Teen Industry: Wilderness Therapy, Residential Treatment, and the Harm Done to Kids – An Interview with Chelsea Maldonado and Dr. Will Dobud Dr. Will Dobud and survivor advocate Chelsea Maldonado on wilderness therapy, residential treatment, institutional abuse, and what therapists need to know to support troubled teen industry survivors.  Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Will Dobud and Chelsea Maldonado about what actually happens inside the troubled teen industry, why the marketing rarely matches the reality, and how wilderness therapy programs and residential treatment facilities continue to operate despite decades of survivor testimony, documented abuse, and youth deaths.  The conversation covers why so many adopted youth and foster youth end up in these facilities, how restraints, isolation, and medical neglect produce lasting trauma, and why power dynamics and institutional structure undermine real therapeutic work. Will and Chelsea also discuss the silence of professional associations after youth deaths, the recent Atlantis Leadership Academy case in Jamaica, and what therapists working with troubled teen industry survivors can do to create safer therapeutic relationships.  In this episode, we discuss:  What therapists get wrong about wilderness therapy and residential treatment Why "round the clock therapy" marketing rarely matches the reality inside facilities How restraints, isolation, and medical neglect cause lasting harm Why adopted youth and foster youth are disproportionately placed in these programs The role of power dynamics and institutional structure in the troubled teen industry Why survivors are highly traumatized and highly therapy resistant How therapists can work more safely and effectively with survivors The silence of professional associations after youth deaths in licensed, accredited facilities  Timestamps:  07:34 – What actually happens inside troubled teen industry facilities 13:04 – Katie reflects on her own residential treatment experience 16:28 – Common harms: restraints, medical neglect, sexual abuse 19:38 – Power, conversion-style programming, and adopted youth 24:31 – Why these facilities still exist 28:07 – Attachment, restraints, and institutional contradictions 33:00 – What actually helps youth in crisis 38:14 – The Atlantis Leadership Academy case and survivor-led advocacy  Guests: Dr. Will Dobud, Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University and former wilderness therapy field guide whose research focuses on improving outcomes for teenagers and exposing harm in the troubled teen industry (willdobud.com). Chelsea Maldonado, troubled teen industry survivor, lead researcher for the Trapped in Treatment podcast, and consultant to Paris Hilton's nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact (1111mediaimpact.com).  Full show notes and transcript: 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/

    49 min
  3. Why Therapists Stop Working with Kids and What It Takes to Stay: Sustainability, Boundaries, and Pivots for the Long Haul

    MAY 11

    Why Therapists Stop Working with Kids and What It Takes to Stay: Sustainability, Boundaries, and Pivots for the Long Haul

    Why Therapists Stop Working with Kids and What It Takes to Stay: Sustainability, Boundaries, and Pivots for the Long Haul Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT push back on the field's quiet stereotype that working with kids is the "starter home" of private practice, the place clinicians put in time before graduating to a cardigan and a wing-back chair. Working with kids and teens is not entry-level work. It is some of the most clinically and physically demanding work in the profession, and it has a sustainability problem that rarely gets named honestly. Curt and Katie examine why so many therapists who work with kids and teens hit a wall around the five-year mark, and why that wall is rarely about clinical depth. They unpack the sensory toll, the parent communication load, the school and provider coordination, the cost of running a play therapy room, and the way a child caseload can quietly distort a clinician's sense of what is developmentally typical. They also talk about how to build a long-haul career working with kids, teens, and families without becoming, in Curt's words, "a cynical, glitter-covered shell of a human being." This is a conversation for therapists in private practice, supervisors of clinicians who work with minors, and anyone weighing whether to keep working with kids, scale back, or pivot. In this episode, we discuss: Why working with kids is not a lesser clinical specialty Why the work is hard to sustain, and why "burnout" alone does not fully explain it How shifting from kid sessions to family work and parent work extends the clinical impact The sensory, physical, and administrative load of working with kids Why parents contact child therapists more than adult clients contact their own therapists The financial and logistical reality of running a play therapy room How a clinical caseload can distort a therapist's sense of typical development When a pivot to adult, family, or parent work is healthy, and when it is avoidance Timestamps: 00:15 — The "starter home" stereotype, and the five-year wall 06:03 — The 167-hour problem and why kid work is family work 10:08 — The sensory and physical toll 12:58 — Caseload diversification and structuring the day 19:41 — The unpaid hours: parents, schools, and the village 23:43 — The play therapy industrial complex 27:59 — Keeping up with kids' culture without losing yourself 30:19 — How a clinical caseload distorts the sense of typical development 33:09 — Expectations, moral injury, and what "fix my kid" really costs 35:01 — When a pivot is survival, and when it is avoidance 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/

    43 min
  4. When Good Moms Feel Bad: Supporting Mothers in Therapy with IFS and the Mom Parts Method – An Interview with Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT

    MAY 7

    When Good Moms Feel Bad: Supporting Mothers in Therapy with IFS and the Mom Parts Method – An Interview with Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT

    When Good Moms Feel Bad: Supporting Mothers in Therapy with IFS and the Mom Parts Method – An Interview with Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT, creator of the Mom Parts Method, on IFS, maternal mental health, mom shame, and why "bad mom" parts are protectors, not problems. Curt and Katie talk with Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT about what therapists often miss when working with mothers, and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) can be adapted for the real conditions of motherhood. Jessica is the creator of the Mom Parts Method and author of When Good Moms Feel Bad: An Empowering Guide for Transforming Guilt, Anxiety and Anger into Compassion, Confidence and Connectedness (Balance, 2026). Drawing on more than fifteen years of clinical work in maternal mental health, Jessica translates IFS into accessible, motherhood-native language. The Mom Parts Method gives mothers simple tools to identify their parts, access their Inner Mom, and approach guilt, grief, rage, and overwhelm with curiosity instead of correction. This is a useful conversation for therapists working with mothers, perinatal mental health clinicians, and anyone interested in more affirming, non-pathologizing approaches to maternal mental health. In this episode, we discuss: What therapists often get wrong when working with mothers How the Mom Parts Method translates IFS into motherhood-native language The role of patriarchy, under-resourcing, and matrescence in maternal distress Why "bad mom" parts (rage, panic, perfectionism, the inner critic) are protectors The five-step Mom Parts Method, from triggering event to remedy How therapists' own parts show up in this work Why healing in maternal mental health is wholeness, not elimination Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Timestamps: 03:30 - What therapists get wrong with mothers 04:47 - Shame and the "bad mom" taboo 10:45 - Patriarchy, matrescence, and the systemic context 17:42 - The five-step Mom Parts Method 29:56 - Healing is wholeness, not elimination 33:48 - When to bring parts work into session 35:27 - When Good Moms Feel Bad and Mothercentered training Guest Bio: Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT is a Level 3 Certified IFS Therapist, IFSI Approved Clinical Consultant, and a Certified Perinatal Mental Health therapist (PMH-C) with advanced training in IFIO. She is the creator of the Mom Parts Method and author of When Good Moms Feel Bad (Balance, 2026). She trains clinicians through her Mothercentered certification program. Learn more at www.momparts.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community Podcast: mtsgpodcast.com Patreon: 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/

    44 min
  5. Why Fixing Teens Doesn’t Work and What Actually Helps Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Will Dobud

    MAY 4

    Why Fixing Teens Doesn’t Work and What Actually Helps Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Will Dobud

    Why Fixing Teens Doesn’t Work and What Actually Helps Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Will Dobud Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Will Dobud about what therapists often get wrong when working with teens, why adolescent behavior is so often overpathologized, and how connection, play, risk, and mastery can better support youth mental health. They also explore the so-called youth mental health crisis, the impact of overmanagement and disconnection, and what therapists can do to better engage young people in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways. About Our GuestDr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway. He is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University and an award-winning researcher focused on improving therapy outcomes for teenagers and promoting safe, ethical practices. His work has also examined America’s Troubled Teen Industry, especially wilderness therapy. Key Takeaways Teens are often overpathologized when they may be showing developmentally normal behavior. Youth therapy should focus on engagement, interaction, play, and doing things together, not just sitting and talking. Social disconnection, fewer third spaces, and less unstructured play may be contributing to youth distress. Young people will seek connection wherever they can find it, including online and through AI relationships. Therapists can help teens build resilience by supporting autonomy, mastery, and meaningful participation. Find the full show notes and transcript at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com 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/

    47 min
  6. The Burden of Potential: Therapy for Gifted Adults Navigating Burnout, Identity, and 2e Considerations

    APR 27

    The Burden of Potential: Therapy for Gifted Adults Navigating Burnout, Identity, and 2e Considerations

    The Burden of Potential: Therapy for Gifted Adults Navigating Burnout, Identity, and 2e Considerations Gifted adults do not usually come to therapy naming giftedness as the issue. More often, they present with burnout, anxiety, depression, underperformance, identity confusion, relationship strain, or existential distress. In this continuing education episode, Katie Vernoy and Curt Widhalm explore how gifted adults show up in therapy, how to distinguish giftedness from high achievement, and how 2e considerations can complicate assessment and treatment. Curt and Katie discuss the hidden cost of success, including masking, perfectionism, chronic overfunctioning, executive functioning workarounds, code-switching, and the pressure of living up to potential. They also look at what helps in therapy: deeper assessment, intellectual attunement, self-compassion, sustainability, accommodations, and values-aligned treatment. In this podcast episode, we discuss: common presenting concerns for gifted adults in therapy the difference between giftedness, achievement, and eminence burnout, perfectionism, and chronic overfunctioning masking, self-editing, and existential loneliness 2e considerations and hidden neurodivergence treatment strategies that go beyond basic coping skills This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit through the Modern Therapist Learning Community. To receive CE credit, listen to the episode, register for your free profile at moderntherapistcommunity.com, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation. Full show notes, transcript, and episode resources will be available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: https://www.mtsgpodcast.com 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/

    1h 15m
  7. How Therapists Can Help Clients With IBS, Chronic Nausea, and Gut-Brain Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Ali Navidi

    APR 23

    How Therapists Can Help Clients With IBS, Chronic Nausea, and Gut-Brain Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Ali Navidi

    How Therapists Can Help Clients With IBS, Chronic Nausea, and Gut-Brain Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Ali Navidi, PsyD Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Ali Navidi, PsyD about disorders of gut-brain interaction, including IBS, chronic nausea, and other GI conditions that therapists may see more often than they realize. They explore how the gut-brain axis works, which clients may be more likely to struggle with these concerns, how therapists can stay within scope, and why specialized behavioral health treatment can directly improve symptoms rather than only helping clients cope with them. About Our GuestDr. Ali Navidi, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of GI Psychology, a national telehealth practice specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and chronic pain. In addition to providing patient care, Dr. Navidi oversees clinical training and outreach initiatives at the practice. He has presented on GI disorders and chronic pain to organizations across the country, including the American College of Gastroenterology, UNC School of Medicine, George Mason University, Georgetown University (Grand Rounds), INOVA, as well as through podcasts, television appearances, and multiple State Academies of Nutrition and Dietetics. Key Takeaways Therapists are in a strong position to notice GI issues, especially in clients with anxiety, trauma histories, autism, or eating disorders. Disorders of gut-brain interaction are not just “in someone’s head.” The pain and symptoms are real, even when there is no visible structural problem. Therapists should encourage appropriate medical evaluation and collaborate with gastroenterologists rather than trying to diagnose IBS or other GI disorders on their own. Specialized CBT and clinical hypnosis can directly treat gut-brain disorders, not just the anxiety that surrounds them. Dr. Navidi, PsyD describes a treatment model focused on hypervigilance, catastrophizing, and visceral hypersensitivity. When diet questions come up, therapists should be cautious and refer to GI-focused dietitians when appropriate. Therapists should also be careful about overconfident claims related to the microbiome, SIBO, and other popular gut-health conversations. For full show notes and the transcript for this episode, visit mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: mtsgpodcast.com 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/

    40 min
  8. What Therapists Need to Know About Neurodivergent Clients and Families: An Interview with David Smith, LCSW

    APR 20

    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/

    51 min
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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.

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