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
  • 5.0 (12)
  • 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. 9H AGO

    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.

    38 min

  2. MAR 29

    4 Ways to Build Confidence as a Mental Health Therapist, Even when you Feel Stupid

    Ever sit in session and think, “Why did I become a therapist… I have no idea what I’m doing?” Yeah. You’re not alone. Us too.  In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists Podcast, we’re getting honest about something most therapists won’t say out loud: sometimes, you feel… stupid. There, we said it.   And instead of pretending that goes away with experience, we’re breaking down 4 real, practical ways to build confidence as a therapist, especially in those moments when self-doubt is loud and your nervous system is on edge. Inside this episode, we cover:  Why saying the “obvious” thing in session can actually deepen clinical work (and how to do it without sounding condescending)  How to use opposite action (DBT-informed) to move through therapist self-doubt in real time  Why building confidence outside the therapy room (yes, even something like snorkeling 🐠) strengthens your clinical presence  The power of community and consultation, from seasoned therapists and newer clinicians  How reconnecting to your “why” and early identity can anchor you when imposter syndrome hits This isn’t about perfection.  It’s about grit. This episode is especially for:  New therapists struggling with confidence  Burned-out clinicians questioning their skills  Therapists navigating imposter syndrome  Anyone in the “messy middle” of their therapy career Because here’s the truth: Confidence isn’t something you magically earn one day. It’s something you build—moment by moment—by staying in the room, even when it feels uncomfortable. If this episode resonated, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it with a therapist who needs to hear it, leave a review and follow the show...help us grow this community of gritty, real clinicians. ✨ 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.

    21 min

  3. MAR 22

    How to Build Confidence as a New Therapist: Supervision, EMDR, and Attachment Trauma Work with Debra Wesselmann, LIMHP

    What happens when a powerful clinical model is built from mentorship, courage, and a deep belief that kids and families can heal? In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists, we sit down for part two of our chat with Debra Wesselmann, LIMHP to unpack the story behind the Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children and Adolescents (IATP-C), a framework that has helped clinicians make sense of complex child and family work through an attachment and trauma lens. We discuss:   What the Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children and Adolescents (IATPC) is  Why predictability and framework matter in trauma and attachment treatment  How clinicians can help parents understand behavior through an attachment and trauma lens  The connection between regulation, shame reduction, and “connecting the dots”  Why mentorship, patience, and taking risks matter in becoming a strong therapist This conversation goes beyond theory. You’ll hear how the protocol was developed, why structure and predictability matter so much for both therapists and families, and how a strong clinical framework can reduce shame, support regulation, and help connect present-day behaviors to the deeper story underneath them. Deb also shares reflections on her connection to Francine Shapiro, the importance of mentorship in our field, and why so many early-career therapists need to hear this truth: you do not have to feel fully ready before you begin. Sometimes growth starts by doing the brave thing before your nervous system feels caught up. If you work with children, adolescents, trauma, attachment wounds, or overwhelmed family systems, this episode offers both practical insight and a powerful reminder that healing work is never about chasing the crisis of the week. It is about slowing down, seeing the whole picture, and building a roadmap that helps everyone feel safer, steadier, and more connected. Whether you’re a seasoned clinician or still finding your footing in the messy middle, this episode will leave you with a clearer lens, a little more confidence, and a reminder that therapy takes more than knowledge. It takes grit. ✨ 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. 💛

    30 min

  4. MAR 15

    EMDR for Kids and Adolescents: The Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol (IATP-C) with Debra Wesselmann LIMHP

    What happens when attachment trauma, EMDR therapy, and family work come together into one powerful foundational protocol? In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists, we sit down with our longtime mentor, supervisor and collaborator Debra Wesselmann, LIMHP co-founder of the Attachment Trauma Center of Nebraska, to tell the story behind the Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children and Adolescents. This conversation is part origin story, part clinical masterclass, part helping you gain the grit!  Deb explains how the protocol provides a clear framework that helps therapists: Reduce chaos in complex child and family casesHelp parents understand behavior through an attachment and trauma lensStabilize the nervous system before trauma processingIntegrate EMDR therapy, family therapy, and attachment repairMove from crisis-driven sessions to intentional trauma treatmentDeb shares how the protocol evolved from years of working with children and families struggling with attachment trauma, behavioral dysregulation, and complex developmental trauma. What began as a challenge, how to integrate family therapy, attachment repair, and EMDR reprocessing, eventually became a structured framework now used by therapists around the world. You’ll also hear the behind-the-scenes story of how Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR therapy, encouraged Deb to write the book that would formally introduce the protocol to the field AND how Deb supported and encouraged us to be gritty enough to quit our full-time positions as school counselors, become full time mental health therapists, help develop the protocol, open the Attachment and Trauma Center of Nebraska, conduct research and write the Integrative Treatment books.  But this episode isn’t just about history. It’s about how therapists can actually do this work.  And if you’re an early-career therapist feeling overwhelmed with complex cases, this episode will remind you that even experienced clinicians started somewhere. Sometimes grit in this field simply means: trying something new before you feel fully ready. Because therapy takes more than knowledge. It takes grit. ✨ 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. 💛

    27 min

  5. MAR 8

    EMDR with Children: 3 Attachment Interventions for Trauma, Regulation and Parent-Child Connection

    In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist, we share three EMDR attachment interventions for child therapy. These practical exercises help therapists strengthen parent-child attachment, support nervous system regulation, and repair early trauma wounds. Listen to this one if you’re a therapist who works with:  Children with attachment traumaFoster or adoptive familiesKids with separation anxietyChildren who struggle with emotional regulationClients with histories of neglect or abandonmentWe walk you through three simple, but powerful exercises (well, we think they're powerful because we created them and have the research to prove it, more on that later!) that integrate bilateral stimulation, attachment repair, and co-regulation in therapy sessions with children and parents and what's cool is that these exercises can be found in the book EMDR and Family Therapy: Integrative Treatment for Attachment Trauma in Children By Debra Wesselmann, the 2nd Edition.  What's also cool is that along with Debra Wesselmann, we are the co-founders and original co-authors of this protocol.   In this episode we cover:  • How to expand the Magical Cord of Love attachment exercise using EMDR bilateral stimulation  • A powerful Safe Place for Baby / Nesting Dolls intervention to repair early attachment wounds  • How to use the game, Jenga, as a regulation and attachment exercise to expand a child’s window of tolerance  • Why object constancy and attachment security are often disrupted in children with trauma histories  • How attachment-based EMDR interventions help children build emotional regulation and relational safety  • Why therapists should consider including caregivers and parents in sessions to deepen attachment repair.   ✨ 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. 💛

    33 min

  6. MAR 1

    Using The Gritty Ninja in Session: Emotional Regulation, Coping Skills and Somatic Awareness

    What if one of your most powerful clinical interventions… was a children’s book? But first... If you want more practical, grounded tools like this, check out our course Where Rookie Means Ready  (yes, it’s intentionally affordable) and grab our free Grit Kit here! Because grit isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the courage to keep trying when things get uncomfortable. And that takes nervous system capacity. In this short and sweet episode, we break down how The Gritty Ninja by Mary Nhin can become a surprisingly effective tool for therapists working with kids, teens, adults...and honestly, ourselves. We unpack the book’s simple definition of grit, “having the courage to keep trying even when faced with challenges”  and explore how the Four C’s (Confident, Calm, Carefree, Capable) map directly into somatic work.  Here’s what we cover: How to introduce a “kids book” to a resistant teen or adult (hint: we all have a younger part inside)Using visualization (image channel) to build confidencePairing positive mantras with interoceptive awarenessHelping clients face fear of failure without nervous system hijackApplying SIBAM (sensation, image, behavior, affect, meaning) in real timeWhy grit isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about expanding the gap between stressor and responseWe walk through how to guide clients to:  ✔ Visualize success  ✔ Notice the sensations that arise  ✔ Adjust posture and behavior  ✔ Name the affect  ✔ Create new meaning (“I am capable”) We talk about how “riding the edges” of a triggering situation builds vagal tone and resilience one gritty step at a time. This episode is also a reminder that therapists need grit too.  If you’ve ever felt intimidated by a new intervention, imposter syndrome, or even hitting record on a podcast…you’re not alone. Therapy takes more than knowledge.  It takes regulation.  It takes repetition.  It takes grit. Because you don’t need to feel perfectly confident to begin. You just need to be willing to try again. We'd love it if you would subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast with your gritty bestie.  And don’t forget to grab our free resources at thegrittytherapist.com.

    15 min

  7. FEB 22

    The Grit Kit Explained: Prepared, Not Perfect. Humility, Confidence and Grit in Mental Health Therapy Work

    Ever walked out of supervision thinking, “I should’ve known that”? Yeah. Us too. But first...get on our newsletter list here! In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist, we’re digging into a powerful quote that stopped us in our tracks: Be humble in preparation, but confident in execution.-Andy Frisella And we’re unpacking what that really means for therapists in the messy middle of their careers. Because here’s the truth:  Humility doesn’t mean weakness.  Confidence doesn’t mean certainty.  And your inner critic? It’s stealing more clinical energy than you think. We talk about: The vulnerability of asking “basic” questions in supervisionHow overthinking emails (yep, we’ve been there) is often fear in disguiseThe hidden cost of self-criticism in sessionWhy humility actually fuels confident executionHow to build real, embodied confidence through reps, not perfectionThe difference between self-reflection and self-attackWhat to do when you are the barrier in session (without shaming yourself)This episode is a masterclass in gritty awareness, the kind that expands the gap between stressor and response. When you notice the sympathetic spike (“I’m messing this up”), engage your vagal brake, and choose curiosity over criticism,  that’s grit. Confidence isn’t controlling the session.  It’s walking in knowing:  “I don’t know everything. And I can handle what unfolds.” That’s nervous system resilience. That’s rapid parasympathetic recovery. That’s the work. Your action steps from this episode: Practice humility in consultation: bring yourself into the case discussion.After supervision, intentionally notice how your confidence shifts in session.And if you want more practical tools like this, our Grit Kit (monthly email) delivers: 3 books that shaped how we think and practice2 podcasts or episodes that shifted our perspective1 carefully chosen quote (never random, always intentional)Real, human reflections from usWe’re not bots. We’re therapists in it with you. Because grit isn’t grinding.  Grit is growing with regulation, reflection, and confidence. Subscribe, leave a review, and share with your gritty bestie. And don’t forget to grab our free resources at thegrittytherapist.com. Now go widen the gap. 💛

    19 min

  8. FEB 15

    The Missing Piece in Therapist Training: The story behind Where Rookie Meets Ready

    What does it actually mean to be a “gritty” therapist? In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist, we pull back the curtain on the class we created for new clinicians: Where Rookie Meets Ready: Grit School for the Real World. Because let’s be honest, grad school teaches you interventions… but it doesn’t teach you how to handle the messy middle of being a therapist: uncertainty, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, overthinking after sessions, and the slow burn of burnout. We’re redefining grit in a way that protects your nervous system and your career. In this conversation, we talk about: Why grinding it out is NOT the same as grit (and how it leads to therapist burnout)The difference between self-reflection vs. self-criticismHow to build therapist confidence without pretending you “know it all”Why uncertainty is a normal part of therapy work (and how to tolerate it)How humility and self-awareness make you a stronger clinicianThe simple weekly ritual we love: the Sunday Scaries Reset (and how it helps therapists stay grounded)If you’re a new therapist, provisional therapist, early-career clinician, or even a seasoned therapist feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burned out, this episode will help you feel less alone and more equipped. Because therapy takes more than knowledge. It takes grit. ✨ 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. 💛

    18 min
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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

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