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JAN 12

When Narcissism Walks Into Your Therapy Office | Dr. Anthony Mazzella | TPOT 415

If you've ever found yourself thinking, "Why is this client so hard to reach?" or "Why does every conversation turn into a power struggle?" this episode is for you. Today, I'm joined by Dr. Anthony Mazzella, a psychoanalyst who specializes in working with narcissistic dynamics. We go far beyond surface-level conversations about narcissism. This isn't about labels, buzzwords, or quick fixes. It's about what's actually happening underneath the behavior and what truly helps. We talk about why arguing over "reality" never works, why confrontation often backfires, and how curiosity, containment, and staying with the process can completely change the way therapists work with narcissistic clients and how partners survive narcissistic relationships. Whether you're a therapist sitting with these dynamics in the room, a supervisor guiding clinicians through complex cases, or someone trying to understand a relationship that feels confusing and exhausting, this conversation offers a grounded and compassionate framework for understanding narcissism. This is one of those episodes that stays with you, and I'm really glad to share it with you today. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Read the show notes here Watch on YouTube Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Dr. Mazzella As a leader and expert in the field, Dr. Mazzella holds various clinical positions, including, but not limited to, treating patients in his private practice, training professionals at two post-graduate training institutes, conducting research, and lecturing across the country. While his focus with his patients is psychodynamic in nature, his main goals are to build a trusting relationship and help each patient reduce the frequency and intensity of their emotionally painful thoughts and suffering. He helps his patients overcome both acute and long-standing problems that may be more embedded in their personality. Website Instagram Podcast Facebook LinkedIn YouTube

Jan 12

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46 min
4D AGO

Diversifying a Private Practice Through Couples Work | Erin Valente | TPOT 418

What if couples therapy isn't about fixing the other person at all? In this episode, Gordon sits down with Erin Valente, a couples therapist based in Los Angeles, to talk about one of the most common mistakes couples make when they come to therapy—and why real change doesn't live with one partner, but in the relationship itself. They explore why couples work can feel intimidating for therapists, how regulation and co-regulation shape meaningful conversations, and what it really takes to help couples move out of blame and into connection. Erin also shares how she's structured her private practice to avoid burnout, including her work with ketamine-assisted therapy, groups, and coaching. Whether you work with couples, are curious about relationship dynamics, or are thinking about new ways to diversify your practice, this episode offers a grounded, thoughtful look at what healing in relationships actually looks like. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Read the show notes here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Meet Erin Valente Erin Valente is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in trauma-focused therapy for individuals and couples. With advanced training in EMDR, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, and somatic and narrative therapy, Erin helps clients reconnect with their inner voice and move toward healing, growth, and authentic connection. A lifelong student of the human experience, Erin explores the intersections of psychology, emotion, and personal wisdom. She believes that while psychology offers valuable direction, true healing emerges when we integrate our own understanding of who we are and what we need. Her approach centers on helping individuals and couples rediscover alignment, resilience, and self-compassion as they navigate life's inevitable challenges—heartbreak, love, loss, and transformation. Drawing from her background in trauma-informed therapy, domestic violence work, and somatic awareness, Erin creates a deeply resonant therapeutic experience that empowers lasting change. She has been featured on multiple podcasts, hosts her own show, and is launching a group coaching program designed to help individuals and couples cultivate passionate, healthy relationships that support the healing of the human experience. Website Instagram Private Podcast: Healing the Human Experience

4d ago

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32 min
12/22/2025

How AI Can Transform Private Practice Marketing | Greg Goodman | TPOT 413

I am so excited for today's episode because we're diving into one of the most transformative tools in private practice right now: AI. And joining me is someone who has been living at the intersection of mental health, creativity, and digital marketing for nearly two decades—Greg Goodman of Goodman Creatives. Greg isn't a therapist, but his story is rooted deeply in the world of mental health. Inspired by his father's work as a clinician, he built a career helping therapists share their voice, grow their practices, and create meaningful impact through smart, authentic marketing. Today, he runs an international creative agency that exists to support helpers—and now he's leaning all the way into how AI can make marketing more accessible than ever. In our conversation, Greg and I talk about the real, practical ways therapists can use AI to save time, generate powerful copy, create content with confidence, and stand out in a growing field. We also explore the ethical concerns around AI, the importance of keeping our humanity in the process, and how to train AI to actually sound like you. If you've been curious—or even hesitant—about how AI fits into your private practice, this episode is going to open your eyes to what's possible. Greg brings a blend of heart, tech wisdom, and decades of industry experience, and I can't wait for you to learn from him. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Read the show notes here Watch on YouTube Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Greg Goodman Greg Goodman is a marketing and web design expert with two decades of experience helping therapists grow thriving practices. With a deep understanding of the mental health industry, Greg specializes in creating authentic, client-centered marketing strategies that resonate with both therapists and the people they serve. His passion for visual storytelling plays a key role in his work, as he believes powerful imagery can make a therapist's message more relatable and emotionally impactful. Driven by a calling to "help the helpers," Greg's dream is to positively impact the mental health of more than 1,000,000 people around the world. As the founder of Goodman Creatives, he combines artistry and strategy through thoughtful web design, empathetic copywriting, ethical AI, and photographic storytelling—helping therapists feel confident, reduce overwhelm, and build practices that thrive long term. Website Facebook Instagram

12/22/2025

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40 min
JAN 26

Free Continuing Education for Therapists | Tobin Richardson | TPOT 417

In today's episode, I'm excited to introduce you to Tobin Richardson, the founder of a platform called Save the Therapist. When I first learned about what Tobin is building, I knew this was something many of you would want to hear about. Continuing education is a requirement for all of us, but let's be honest. It can be expensive, time-consuming, and sometimes hard to fit into an already full schedule. Tobin saw that problem firsthand and decided to do something about it. He created a platform that offers high-quality, accredited continuing education for therapists that is completely free. In this conversation, Tobin shares his background in counselor education, what led him to start Save the Therapist, and how the platform works. We talk about why the podcast format is such a powerful way to learn, how therapists can earn CE credits without added financial pressure, and why accessibility in education matters now more than ever. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the cost or logistics of earning CE credits, or if you're simply looking for a more practical and user-friendly way to keep learning as a clinician, I think you'll really enjoy this episode. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Ten Sessions Meet Tobin Richardson, EdD, NCC Tobin Richardson, EdD, NCC, is a counselor educator with a decade of experience building and delivering innovative educational resources to therapists in both community mental health and large VC-backed provider organizations. Since launching in early 2025, his NPR-style CE platform, Save the Therapist, has garnered over 4,000 therapist registrants and more than 7,000 course completions. Website Instagram

Jan 26

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33 min
JAN 19

Preventing Burnout in Private Practice | Dr. Julie Merriman | TPOT 416

There are some conversations you record where you know right away that they're going to land differently. In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Julie Merriman, a therapist, professor, and longtime advocate for helpers who are quietly burning out. We talk about something that hits close to home for many of us in this profession: what happens when we're really good at helping everyone else, but don't know how to receive ourselves. Julie shares how so many therapists become what she calls "floating heads of competence." We're full of knowledge, skill, and clinical insight, yet deeply disconnected from our bodies, our needs, and our sense of purpose beyond performance. We talk honestly about burnout, compassion fatigue, money, boundaries, nervous system regulation, and why private practice itself isn't what burns us out. Disconnection is. This isn't a conversation about working harder or pushing through. It's about staying human in a profession that asks a lot of us, and learning how to stay in it without losing ourselves. If you've ever felt tired in a way that rest doesn't fix, this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Read the show notes here Watch on YouTube Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Dr. Julie Merriman Dr. Julie Merriman is a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, professor, and author, and the voice behind From Burnout to Freedom—a movement helping high-achieving women in healthcare over 50 heal from burnout and reclaim their freedom. With more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice and counselor education, Dr. Merriman has trained hundreds of emerging therapists, served as an associate dean, department director, and clinical coordinator, and led CACREP accreditation work. Her scholarship and teaching span compassion fatigue, burnout, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, spiritual integration, and the lived experience of long-term helpers. After experiencing a profound, career-shaping burnout that ultimately contributed to her breast cancer diagnosis, Dr. Merriman rebuilt her life and work from the inside out. Today, she blends neuroscience, embodiment practices, and decades of clinical wisdom to guide women healers through identity transitions, emotional exhaustion, and the "scorched earth" season that often arrives after 50. Her podcast, From Burnout to Freedom, offers honest conversations and research-backed strategies for women who have spent a lifetime caring for everyone else and are finally ready to reclaim creativity, joy, and purpose. Dr. Merriman brings a relatable, deeply human presence to every interview. She combines academic rigor with ranch-life storytelling, humor, and a fierce commitment to helping helpers heal. Website Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Facebook

Jan 19

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33 min
11/17/2025

Integrating Sexuality and Somatic Work in Private Practice | Darshana Avila | TPOT 408

In today's episode, I am sitting down with Darshana Avila for a truly fascinating and important conversation about the intersection of sexuality, somatic work, and trauma healing. As therapists, we often talk about the mind and body connection, but many of us shy away from exploring how that connection relates to our clients' sexuality, intimacy, and sense of pleasure. Darshana brings a deeply trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach to this work, helping clients reconnect with their bodies, navigate consent, and move beyond shame into embodied wholeness. In our discussion, we explore what sexological bodywork actually looks like, how it differs from traditional sex therapy, and why somatic awareness is essential for both healing trauma and deepening intimacy. We also touch on how therapists can hold space for these conversations within private practice and why it is so important to bring curiosity, consent, and compassion to this part of the human experience. This is one of those episodes that might stretch your perspective a bit, and that is a good thing. I am so grateful to Darshana for sharing her wisdom, and I think you will walk away with a richer understanding of how to support your clients and yourself in a more embodied and holistic way. In This Episode, We Cover: How Darshana's personal journey led her to somatic and erotic healing work The difference between sexological bodywork and traditional sex therapy Why somatic awareness is essential for trauma healing and intimacy What it means to truly "come home to your body" How consent goes beyond just saying yes or no The role of the nervous system in safety, pleasure, and connection How therapists can introduce somatic principles in private practice Understanding erotic wholeness and how it expands our idea of healing The impact of shame and cultural conditioning around sexuality Why pleasure and safety are part of the same healing process Resources Mentioned In This Episode Watch on YouTube Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Darshana Avila Darshana Avila is a trauma-informed somatic sex & intimacy practitioner (SEP, CSB) who guides people through embodied journeys of erotic wholeness. Her work blends nervous-system regulation, somatic awareness, consent-fluency, and relational liberation. Featured on Sex, Love & Goop (Netflix), she supports women, non-binary folks, and couples in reclaiming pleasure, voice, and connection. Website LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

11/17/2025

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44 min
09/22/2023

Ed Cohen | Exploring the Path to Healing and Transformation | K&C 25

Are you looking for a fresh perspective on healthcare and healing? In this episode, we delve into the historical shift in medicine's focus from healing as the primary goal to the modern emphasis on diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and billing. Dr. Cohen argues that true healing is a biological phenomenon inherent in all living organisms, emphasizing the importance of supporting individuals in enhancing their overall well-being. The distinction between healing and curing is a central theme, highlighting the transformative power of embracing life's journey, scars, challenges, and all. Dr. Cohen challenges the traditional definition of healing and discusses the limitations of the current healthcare system, particularly regarding access to care and the financial burdens it imposes. Tune in and discover a new way of approaching your own well-being. About Ed Cohen At thirteen, Ed Cohen was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease—a chronic, incurable condition that nearly killed him in his early twenties. At his diagnosis, his doctors told him that the best he could hope for was periods of remission. Unfortunately, they did not mention healing as a possibility. In his book, On Learning to Heal, Cohen draws on fifty years of living with Crohn's to consider how Western medical practices turn from an "art of healing" toward a "science of medicine" deeply affects both medical practitioners and their patients. He demonstrates that although medical sciences provide many seemingly miraculous therapies, it is not solely the way to enhance healing. Exploring his own path to healing, he argues that learning to heal requires us to desire and value healing as a vital possibility. As a therapeutic process, Ed's practice, Healing Counsel, encourages us to embrace the potential for healing embedded in even our most traumatic experiences. From his sessions, people can expect to gain clearer insights about the intelligence that illnesses often reveal and to develop strategies for cultivating more healing relations to their "self" and to the world. Healing Counsel seeks to reframe illnesses and other challenges that are thrown our way as invitations for healing, thereby broadening our repertoire for living unconstrained and with greater grace. His practice emerges from the skills and resources that he has developed while living and thriving with Crohn's disease. Over the last 40 years or so, this experience has challenged him not just to desire to heal, but also to recognize that healing is a value. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Kindness & Compassion Become a Patreon Kindness & Compassion on Instagram Ed's Website Ed on Instagram Ed on LinkedIn Ed on Twitter

09/22/2023

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33 min
JAN 10

The Unconventional Path: Why Your Practice Doesn't Need Another Resolution | TPOT 414

As we step into a new year, many of us feel it—that quiet but persistent pressure to do more, fix more, and somehow have everything figured out right now. New goals, new systems, bigger numbers—and for practice owners, that pressure can feel especially heavy and often pretty lonely. In today's episode, I want to invite you to think about January differently—not as a month for pushing harder or becoming more efficient, but as a chance to slow down and get honest about what you can actually hold. Drawing on Barbara Brown Taylor's Home by Another Way and Oliver Burkeman's 4,000 Weeks, we'll talk about burnout, the efficiency trap, and why things don't magically get easier "once we get there." This conversation is about reconnecting with your why, redefining what growth really means, and considering what it might look like to go home by another way this year—one that creates more space, alignment, and sustainability in your practice and your life. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Home By Another Way Four Thousand Weeks

Jan 10

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35 min
10/27/2025

Low-Dose Ketamine Treatment Options in Private Practice | Sharon Niv, Ph.D. | TPOT 405

Today's episode is one I've really been looking forward to because we're diving into something that's transforming the way we think about mental health treatment: low-dose ketamine therapy. My guest, Dr. Sharon Niv, is the co-founder of Joyous, a public benefit company helping make this kind of care more accessible and affordable than ever before. Sharon brings a fascinating background in cognitive psychology, meditation, and technology, and she's helping bridge the gap between neuroscience and therapy in a way that's incredibly gentle, safe, and empowering for both clients and clinicians. We'll talk about what makes psycholytic, or low-dose, ketamine different from traditional psychedelic experiences, how it can enhance the therapeutic process, and how you, as a therapist, can get trained to integrate it into your own work. This is one of those conversations that opens your mind to what's possible in therapy, so let's jump in. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Sharon Niv, Ph.D. Dr. Sharon Niv is a cognitive psychologist and co-founder of Joyous Team, a Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to making evidence-based mental health treatments accessible and affordable. Her work bridges the worlds of neuroscience, technology, and therapy with a focus on how scalable, data-driven approaches can enhance emotional well-being. Dr. Niv earned her Ph.D. in Brain and Cognitive Science from the University of Southern California, where she conducted research on EEG biomarkers, neurofeedback, and the neural underpinnings of mood and behavior. She also holds a B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in Clinical and Cognitive Psychology from USC. Before founding Joyous, Sharon worked on developing virtual-reality interventions for chronic pain and neurofeedback programs designed to help people improve emotional regulation and resilience. A long-time meditation practitioner, she combines scientific rigor with a deep understanding of mindfulness and experiential learning. Through Joyous, Sharon and her team are pioneering low-dose (psycholytic) ketamine therapy, creating safer, more sustainable pathways for individuals and therapists to experience healing and insight. Her mission is to empower both clinicians and clients with practical tools that promote neuroplasticity, compassion, and mental clarity. The Power of Therapy + Joyous Joyous Substack LinkedIn

10/27/2025

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45 min
06/02/2025

Dori Lewis | Should you Consider Integrating Psychedelics into Trauma Work in Private Practice? | TPOT 384

What if the path to healing trauma isn't just through talk therapy, but through carefully guided psychedelic experiences? In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, I sit down with Dori, an experienced therapist and psychedelic facilitator, who shares her deeply informed perspective on the nuanced, responsible, and transformational use of medicines like ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin mushrooms. Dori doesn't just follow trends—she's been on the frontlines, participating in research, working underground before legalization, and now helping clients access inner healing intelligence in a grounded, therapeutic way. If you're curious about how psychedelics actually fit into trauma work, when they're appropriate, and why they're not a one-size-fits-all miracle, this conversation will challenge your thinking and expand your clinical toolkit. Tune in to discover how seasoned therapists like Dori are bridging science, soul, and therapy to help clients heal in ways traditional methods sometimes can't reach. Are you ready to explore the real story behind the hype? Let's dive in. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Google Ads for Therapists Consulting with Gordon Mental Health Wear TN Watch this episode on YouTube Read the show notes here Meet Dori Lewis Dori Lewis, MA, MEd, LPC-S, is a co-founder of Elemental Psychedelics and the owner-operator of Reflective Healing in Fort Collins, CO—a psychotherapy group practice that specializes in psychedelic therapy using ketamine, integration therapy, transpersonal psychotherapy, and clinical supervision. With over a decade of clinical experience, Dori blends transpersonal psychology, depth work, and psychedelic-assisted therapy within a model that centers the therapeutic relationship. To date, she has stewarded nearly 100 ketamine therapy sessions and countless more individual and group ceremonies. She has also been trained and mentored in shamanic ritual, which has helped her bridge traditional counseling practice with transpersonal and existential realms—spaces that can hold incredible meaning and connection for clients. As an educator and trainer, Dori has delivered numerous talks to the professional psychedelic community through the Nowak Society and other guest lectures. In 2022, she spoke on the importance of psychedelic facilitator ethics through the lens of existential shadow work as a main stage speaker at the Emergence Festival. She co-teaches introductory psychedelic therapy workshops and served as a core lead faculty member with the Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) from 2020 to 2023, where she specialized in training new and experienced clinicians on topics like set and setting, ethical ceremony, cultural appropriation in spiritual practices, and ritual in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. As interest in psychedelic medicine grows, Dori believes it is the responsibility of those with a voice in professional and psychedelic communities to stay informed—and to intercept and challenge disinformation and questionable ethical practices emerging in the public arena. Website

06/02/2025

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37 min

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