Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists: Clinical Confidence + Reassurance, Reframing Imposter Syndrome, Overwhelm and Bu

Stefanie Armstrong + Cathy Schweitzer: Trauma Trained Mental Health Therapists, Practice Owners, Authors and Clinical Supervisors
  • 4.7 (13)
  • Mental Health

As a mental health therapist have you ever been awake at 2am replaying sessions in your head, wondering if you’ve done and said the right thing? Do you ever feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure of your confidence as a clinician? Do you ever feel like you must be the only mental health therapist who feels this way? You’re not alone, we've been there too.  We’ve lived the long days, secretly thinking "I'm just not good at this yet. My supervisor would do a better job with this client." We've been through the draining sessions, and the silent car rides home where you just can't help from crying. We know the weight of secondary trauma, burnout, and self-doubt and we also know the power of grit, resilience, and community.  We're Cathy and Stef, two "been there, done that" trauma-trained, EMDR-certified, Somatic Experiencing-trained practice owners, and we created The Gritty Therapist as a safe space for clinicians who are tired of feeling like they’re the only ones struggling with confidence and imposter-syndrome.  Our goal: help you feel less isolated and more confident.    Each episode delivers real-talk, grounded in our own experiences with late-night worries, confusion and how we continue to grow our own grit and confidence. We’ll share the exact tools we’ve used to avoid burnout (and get out of burnout!), rebuild confidence, and stay connected to our purpose and passion. You’ll also hear from guest therapists who’ve walked through the trenches and discovered how to grow their gritty confidence while actually having a life outside the therapy room. Whether you’re holding space for vulnerable children, families, or adults, this podcast will remind you that you’re not alone. Together, we’ll explore strategies to help you become a more confident mental health therapist...all while keeping it real, compassionate, and relatable. 👉 Free resources + downloads: www.thegrittytherapist.com 👉 Follow us on Instagram: @grittytherapist

  1. 4d ago

    The Primal Question: Exploring What's Underneath Anxiety, Relationships & Clinical Work-Part One

    What if the behaviors, anxiety, relationship struggles, perfectionism, and even therapist imposter syndrome all trace back to one core question running quietly beneath the surface? In this raw and unfiltered conversation, we dive deep into The Primal Question framework by Mike Foster and explore how these core emotional needs shape us personally, professionally, and clinically. From nervous system regulation to attachment wounds to therapist countertransference, this episode goes to the “why” underneath the scramble. Cathy shares how her primal question, Am I Secure?, shows up in money fears, clinical work, and even business ownership. I, Stefanie, open up about my question, Am I Loved?, and how fears of rejection can surface inside the therapy room. Together, we unpack how understanding the primal question can become a powerful roadmap for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and stronger therapeutic relationships. This conversation is especially powerful for EMDR therapists, somatic therapists, trauma therapists, and clinicians who want to better understand how their own nervous system responses show up in session. Inside this episode we cover:   ✨ How the “scramble” connects to autonomic nervous system dysregulation  ✨ Why therapists get emotionally triggered in session  ✨ How attachment wounds shape clinical work and relationships  ✨ The connection between trauma, somatics, and core emotional needs  ✨ Using self-awareness to reduce burnout and imposter syndrome  ✨ Why healing starts beneath the behaviors If you’ve ever found yourself overthinking sessions, needing reassurance, people pleasing, fearing rejection, or feeling emotionally activated by clients, this episode will hit home in the best possible way. This is Part 1 of a deeply honest two-part series. 🔥 Ready to build more confidence and stop second-guessing yourself as a therapist? Check out our new training: Clinician Rewired: Grit Over Good Intentions Designed for therapists who are tired of feeling stuck in imposter syndrome and ready to feel more grounded, regulated, and confident in the therapy room. If this episode resonated with you:  ⭐ Follow and subscribe  ⭐ Leave a 5-star review   ⭐ Share with another therapist who needs this conversation Because therapy takes more than knowledge. It takes grit. 💛 Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.

    22 min

  2. May 18

    The Nesting Dolls Intervention: Integrating Parts of Self, Emotional Regulation, and Memory Networks

    What if the “big reaction” your client is having to everyday things isn’t manipulation, defiance, or attention-seeking… but a younger part stepping forward asking for care and trying to protect? In this episode of The Gettin’ Gritty Podcast for Mental Health Therapists, we walk you through one of our favorite trauma-informed interventions: the nesting dolls intervention for working with younger parts of self, attachment wounds, shame, and emotional triggers.  Using simple stacking dolls, we explain how therapists can help both children and adults begin making sense of why certain situations pull them into “kid logic,” dysregulation, or deeply wounded emotional states. This is not about pathologizing clients or diving straight into trauma processing. It’s about building insight, compassion, regulation, and a cohesive narrative before the deeper work begins. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ How to introduce the nesting dolls intervention with kids and adults ✨ The difference between parts of self and dissociation ✨ Why “triggered” behavior often comes from younger wounded parts ✨ How this intervention reduces shame and builds self-compassion ✨ Ways to incorporate attachment-focused resourcing and EMDR concepts ✨ Tips for using this intervention with parents in the room ✨ Practical “pro tips” for choosing and using nesting dolls in session We also share how this intervention naturally bridges into EMDR resourcing, attachment repair, and building therapist confidence in trauma work. You'll find that this intervention will help clients understand the younger parts of themselves that still need safety, attunement, and connection. 💛  ⭐ Love the show? Share it with another therapist and leave a review to help us grow this gritty little corner of the mental health world. Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.

    26 min

  3. May 10

    Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough: Building Grit and Resilience as a Mental Health Therapist

    Do you feel like you are a "good therapist" but there's just something missing? In this honest and practical episode of The Gettin’ Gritty Podcast for Mental Health Therapists, we dive into the difference between good intentions and clinical grit. Because empathy, active listening, and caring deeply about clients matter... but they are not always enough to create transformation. This episode explores the uncomfortable but necessary actions therapists must sometimes take to help clients move forward: asking hard questions, challenging patterns, setting boundaries, involving families, and stepping outside our own comfort zones as clinicians. We share real clinical examples from trauma therapy, attachment work, therapist supervision, and family systems work to show how therapists can get “lost in the weeds” of being well-intentioned without taking the gritty clinical actions that foster actual change. You’ll also hear:  Why good intentions can sometimes make therapists feel better more than clients  How nervous system regulation and therapist discomfort are connected  The importance of relational and attachment-focused therapy  Why self-exploration is critical for therapist growth  How therapist grit builds confidence, resilience, and stronger clinical outcomes  A practical “call to action” challenge you can use immediately in your sessions this week If you’re a mental health therapist struggling with burnout, self-doubt, stuck cases, people-pleasing in the therapy room, or fear of challenging clients and families, this episode will feel like a deep exhale and a gentle push forward all at once. Now go get your gritty on!  Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.

    22 min

  4. May 3

    Don’t Force It: The Grit of Letting Therapy be Human with Becky Caldwell

    What happens when a fourth-grade teacher walks into a counseling class… and never looks back? In this episode, we sit down with Becky Caldwell, therapist and co-host of the  Probably Bad Advice Podcast to talk about her unconventional path into the therapy world and the real, unfiltered experience of becoming a clinician later in life. We get into the stuff that doesn’t make it into textbooks:  – The shock of hearing trauma for the first time  – Carrying clients’ stories home in your body  – Imposter syndrome that whispers, “Who do you think you are?” – And the moment you realize… you don’t actually have to have all the answers Becky shares how her age and life experience became an unexpected superpower in the therapy room, why connection matters more than technique, and what it really means to build grit as a therapist (hint: it’s not about pushing harder). We also talk about:  -Letting go of perfection and embracing presence  -The power of slowing down instead of “fixing”  -Navigating rejection when a client doesn’t come back  -Creating spaces for women to rediscover who they are outside of their roles If you’re a new therapist who's a little "older" (don't worry Becky says the same thing), a seasoned one, or somewhere in the messy middle, which is ALL of us, this episode will remind you: You’re not alone, you’re not doing it wrong, and the work is deeper and grittier than you think. You can find Becky on Instagram @probablybadadvicepodcast  Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.

    29 min

  5. Apr 26

    Clients Hesitant to Start Trauma Work? 3 Metaphors to Reduce Anxiety and Build Readiness with children, adolescents and adults

    How do you actually start trauma work with clients… without overwhelming them or shutting them down? If you’ve ever found yourself thinking,  “I know what to do clinically… but how do I bring this up? ...this episode is for you. In this conversation, we’re breaking down 3 simple, powerful metaphors you can use immediately to help clients safely approach trauma work—without flooding their nervous system or reinforcing avoidance. Because here’s the truth: Trauma work doesn’t start when you say “let’s process this.” It starts the moment safety, connection, and regulation enter the room. Inside this episode, we walk you through three go-to interventions we’ve used over and over again with kids, teens, and adults:  The Dark Basement: learning to approach trauma with the “lights on” (aka regulation + present-day awareness)  The Monster in the Closet: why avoidance keeps fear alive and how gentle exposure builds safety  The Glass in the Knee: understanding why unprocessed trauma festers—and how healing actually happens These aren’t just “cute metaphors.”  They’re clinical tools grounded in how the nervous system processes threat, memory, and safety. When clients feel like they’re going back into the trauma alone, their system says nope. But when you expand the gap between stressor and response, when you bring in co-regulation, orientation, and choice, that’s where grit is built.  That’s the work. You’ll walk away from this episode with:  Clear language to introduce trauma work without resistance Practical tools you can use in session today A deeper understanding of how to support regulation while doing hard work And a reminder that healing happens in relationship—not isolationWhether you’re a new therapist or you've been around for a while, this episode will help you feel more confident, more grounded, and a whole lot more gritty. Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.

    26 min

  6. Apr 21

    Why “I Already Tried That” Is Stunting Your Clinical Confidence and Could Lead to Burnout

    Ever find yourself thinking, “I already tried that with this client… now what?” In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists, we kick off a new series: What Grit Is NOT. And first up is a common trap many therapists fall into the “I already did that” syndrome. When clinicians believe they must constantly bring something new and innovative to every session, it can lead to self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and therapist burnout. But the truth is: grit in clinical work isn’t about novelty, it’s about repetition, presence, and perseverance. We share stories from our early days as therapists, including lessons from supervision that challenged our belief that therapy techniques should only be used once. We unpack why effective therapy often requires repeating the same concepts, skills, and interventions over and over, especially when working with trauma, attachment wounds, foster and adoptive families, and emotional regulation. In this conversation, they explore: Why the “I already tried that” mindset blocks clinical growthHow this belief becomes a mental barrier during supervision and consultationWhy repeating interventions is actually how therapists build confidence and masteryThe connection between repetition, nervous system learning, and emotional developmentHow therapists can avoid the pressure to constantly find new tricks or techniquesIf you’re a therapist who has ever wondered whether you’re doing enough or worried that you’ve run out of ideas, this episode will remind you that clinical grit is built in the reps. Because great therapy isn’t about having endless tools.  It’s about showing up, staying curious, and doing the work again. So take the pressure off. And go get your grit on. Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.

    15 min

  7. Apr 12

    Stop Avoiding Parent Sessions: How to Build Grit and Confidence as a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Therapist

    You know that stomach-drop feeling when you realize a parent really needs to be in session, but scheduling it stops you cold? Yeah. We've been there. And we're here to tell you: that feeling doesn't mean you're not ready. It means you're about to get gritty. In this episode, we walk you through a simple 3-step framework for your next parent session, so you can stop avoiding it and start actually doing it. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Step 1: Attune first. Ask what's going well before anything else. It's intentional, it opens the door, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. Step 2: Share your clinical lens. Use the "pan in, pan out" technique to show parents the progress they're living through but can't see. Name the shifts.  Step 3: Pick one behavior + explain the why. Connect current behavior to past trauma. Psychoeducation is your superpower — use it. THE BIGGER PICTURE: You are the neutralizer. Without you in the room, parents and kids can't co-regulate together. When you attune to the parent, the parent can attune to the child. That's the gift you're giving the whole family system. YOUR GRITTY CHALLENGE: Open your calendar right now. Find one client whose parent hasn't been in. Schedule it within two weeks. Grit comes from the reps — so go do the thing. Essential listening for therapists working with children, adolescents, and families navigating trauma, attachment, anxiety, ADHD, and behavioral challenges. Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.

    19 min

  8. Apr 6

    From School-Based Clinician to EMDR Consultant to Private Practice Owner with Wendy Llamas LCSW

    What if the version of you who feels the most unprepared… is actually the one being shaped into something powerful? In this episode, we sit down with EMDR consultant, therapist and owner of Growing Glimmers: Childhood Trauma Therapy, Wendy Llamas LCSW, who didn’t even want to be a therapist at first. From being thrown into high-intensity community mental health work that fried her nervous system, to stumbling into school-based therapy with zero clinical confidence, Wendy shares what it actually looks like to grow into this work over time. This is a conversation about the messy middle: the space where you don’t know what you’re doing, your nervous system is activated, and every part of you wants to back out… but you lean in anyway. We talk about:  What it means to grow grit when you feel undertrained and overwhelmed  The early clinician experience no one prepares you for (closets, chaos, and all)  How leaning into the "not knowing" builds real clinical confidence  The hidden emotional weight therapists carry (and how it shows up in your life)  Moving from “I’m not enough” to “I can be seen”  Building a private practice from the ground up as a first-gen Latina therapist  Why representation, authenticity, and showing up as your full self matters in this field Wendy’s story is a powerful reminder that grit isn’t about having it all together, it’s about expanding the space between activation and response, and choosing to stay in it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re faking it, falling short, or questioning whether you belong in this field… this episode is for you. Because the truth is—  you don’t grow by avoiding the mess.  You grow by stepping into it. Come as you are, as Wendy would say, and stay gritty. Connect with Wendy: @growing.glimmers.therapy ✨ Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.  Connect with us! Check out our freebies and our NEW Grit School:  Therapist AF: Grit School for the Real World, practical skills, nervous system grounding, and the reps grad school skippedThe Gritty Therapist freebies, tools, and support: thegrittytherapist.comThe Cord Where Science Meets Connection attachment/trauma-focused therapy. Follow along on Instagram @grittytherapist and go get your gritty on.

    38 min
See All (32)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

As a mental health therapist have you ever been awake at 2am replaying sessions in your head, wondering if you’ve done and said the right thing? Do you ever feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure of your confidence as a clinician? Do you ever feel like you must be the only mental health therapist who feels this way? You’re not alone, we've been there too.  We’ve lived the long days, secretly thinking "I'm just not good at this yet. My supervisor would do a better job with this client." We've been through the draining sessions, and the silent car rides home where you just can't help from crying. We know the weight of secondary trauma, burnout, and self-doubt and we also know the power of grit, resilience, and community.  We're Cathy and Stef, two "been there, done that" trauma-trained, EMDR-certified, Somatic Experiencing-trained practice owners, and we created The Gritty Therapist as a safe space for clinicians who are tired of feeling like they’re the only ones struggling with confidence and imposter-syndrome.  Our goal: help you feel less isolated and more confident.    Each episode delivers real-talk, grounded in our own experiences with late-night worries, confusion and how we continue to grow our own grit and confidence. We’ll share the exact tools we’ve used to avoid burnout (and get out of burnout!), rebuild confidence, and stay connected to our purpose and passion. You’ll also hear from guest therapists who’ve walked through the trenches and discovered how to grow their gritty confidence while actually having a life outside the therapy room. Whether you’re holding space for vulnerable children, families, or adults, this podcast will remind you that you’re not alone. Together, we’ll explore strategies to help you become a more confident mental health therapist...all while keeping it real, compassionate, and relatable. 👉 Free resources + downloads: www.thegrittytherapist.com 👉 Follow us on Instagram: @grittytherapist

Information

You Might Also Like