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

On The Move: How Run Walk Talk Therapy Reshapes Mental Health An interview with Sepideh Saremi, LCSW
Curt and Katie interview Sepideh Saremi, LCSW, on her therapy model, Run Walk Talk. We look at the practicalities and clinical benefit of including movement (specifically running and walking) in therapy. We talk about the principles of movement as method, movement as modulator, and movement as metaphor.
Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
In this podcast episode, we explore running in a therapy session
We invited Sepideh Saremi to talk about how she works as a therapist. She started running and walking with her clients in 2014 and is now teaching other therapists how to effectively bring these types of movement into therapy.
 How does it work to add running or other forms of movement to therapy?
·      Movement as method (nuts and bolts, practicalities)
·      Movement as modulator (addressing the nervous system)
·      Movement as metaphor
How can a therapist explain running or walk and talk therapy to a client?
·      The purpose of running or walking in therapy is not for the cardio benefits
·      Running and walking in therapy can help clients to connect to self and therapist
·      Run Walk Talk can also make therapy more accessible for some clients
What are the practicalities and benefits of running in a psychotherapy session?
·      Running at a conversation pace
·      Paying attention to the physical interaction
·      Creating an embodied experience
·      Assessing pace and self-care
·      Mindfulness and awareness
·      How to address confidentiality
·      Using the environment clinically
·      The benefits of being outside
·      The relational elements are important in this type of therapy
·      Handling liability when working with clients outside and movement
Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:
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Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
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What Can Therapists Do About the Loneliness Epidemic?
Curt and Katie chat about loneliness as a presenting problem in therapy. We explore the misconceptions about loneliness and how therapists often go to fix the problem rather than understand the problem. We also look at the clinical considerations, including gender differences, the impact of Covid-19, and the changes in how people socialize. Finally, we identify treatment strategies to support individuals struggling with loneliness.  
Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists support clients who are lonely
There is a loneliness epidemic that is coming into the therapy room a lot and we’ve heard from clients, colleagues, and friends that the first response is “fix it.” We don’t think that’s the strongest move, so we dive into how therapists can more effectively support individuals who are lonely.
What are misconceptions about loneliness?
·      It is a normal human feeling and doesn’t always need to be fixed
·      Loneliness is not always related to major depression
·      Loneliness is not the same as isolation, nor is it the same as solitude
What are considerations related to loneliness and socialization?
·      The impact of Covid-19 on individuals and on socialization
·      The changes in how people socialize in the modern age
·      Cognitive distortions when one socializes
·      Attachment wounds and differences in how people relate to others
·      Gender differences in connection and expectations about roles in relationships
How can a therapist explore with a client their relationship with loneliness?
·      Looking at what people need when feeling loneliness
·      Exploring how understood and seen one feels within their relationships
·      Sorting how one can get their needs met with what is available to them
What are the practical considerations needed to address loneliness?
·      Identifying ways to connect with others that fits into time and money parameters
·      Going beyond similar interests and how to find people to truly connect with
·      Exploring coping skills, rejection sensitivity, and self-confidence to set one up for success
·      Looking at how to test new experiences, fail and rebound or succeed and build

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:
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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/

When Doing “No Harm” Isn’t Good Enough: Bringing beneficence to your clients
Curt and Katie chat about ethics again. We look at how therapists decide what is beneficial for clients. We also contrast the concept of “beneficence” (doing good) versus “nonmaleficence” (doing no harm). We specifically explore how to identify when something is in the therapist’s interest versus the client’s interest as well as what therapists can do when clients hold harmful, untrue beliefs. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.
Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists do good, beyond “do no harm”
Therapist healthcare ethics are often taught from the perspective that the professional’s role is to “do no harm” when providing treatment to clients. Lost in the teachings is that therapists have other obligations to address when providing treatment. This workshop focuses on examples of bringing the principle healthcare ethic of beneficence to therapy to help determine “doing good” for the client’s benefit.
What is beneficence in the context of psychotherapy?
·      Do what is good for the client and for treatment
·      “For the benefit if the client”
·      Comparing this with the idea of non-maleficence (“do no harm”) which is don’t do bad things, but also try to prevent bad things from happening
How do therapists decide what is “good” for their client?
·      Assessing the risk of overtaking client autonomy and becoming paternal or parental
·      Balancing all of the core ethical principles and putting them in context for the unique situation for each client
·      Looking at whether therapist self-disclosure is in the benefit of the client
·      Identifying what is therapeutic and beneficial
·      Making sure that therapists move beyond what is comfortable (and not “harmful”) to something that may be less comfortable (and more beneficial)
·      Looking at who therapists choose to work with, balancing therapist self-care and self-protection with what is beneficial to the client and society
What are specific concerns to consider when deciding whether a therapist is working for the benefit of the client?
·      Therapy dogs (are they certified and registered, is it in the treatment plan)
·      Contact between sessions initiated by the therapist (who is the contact for? What does the treatment model say about this type of contact?)
·      Have a thought process and document that thought process when deciding what to do as a therapist
What can therapists do when clients hold distorted beliefs?
·      Identify: Do the distorted beliefs that the client holds cause (or could cause) harm?
·      Understand: What laws or ethics are relevant to whether the distorted belief should be addressed?
·      Get client consent (or not) to talk about the distorted belief and potentially change the course of therapy
·      Is it necessary to discuss the belief at this time?
·      What countertransference issues could impact the efficacy of the conversation with the client?
·      Will the conversation be helpful and potentially change the client’s view?
·      How will the conversation change the course of therapy?
·      Does the therapist have appropriate expertise and training to address the distorted belief?

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Is Seeking an “Abundance Mindset” Toxic?
Curt and Katie chat about abundance and scarcity mindsets, looking at what the research actually says about these often-used terms. We explore the dangers of how the abundance mindset is often weaponized against entrepreneurs (like private practitioners) in how they think and how much they should pay for coaching services. We also look at the role of privilege in how these mindsets are often talked about. Finally, we explore what might be better to focus on instead: practical or growth mindsets as well as wise mind.  
Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
In this podcast episode we talk the dangers of striving for abundance mindset
We’ve heard a lot of people in a lot of different settings talk about the ideas of abundance and scarcity mindsets. We see some problems in how these concepts are used within popular culture.
What does the research say about scarcity and abundance mindsets?
·      When you have scarce resources, you will work to protect yourself and avoid death
·      There is research done on actual “scarcity” that is being inaccurately applied to people who do not have scarce resources (like some of the coaches and entrepreneurs who use this term)
·      People who have more resources think more abundantly (the finding is correlational, not directional)
What are the dangers of the “abundance mindset?”
·      The unrealistic nature of “thinking” your way out of poverty or practical challenges (without the reality of action)
·      The blaming the victim that can happen when someone is having trouble reframing their situation more positively
·      Weaponizing “abundance” to imply that you are sabotaging your practice
·      Using “abundance” as a sales tactic
What should therapists do instead of “being abundant?”
·      A strategic or problem-solving mindset
·      Learning practical strategies to do the work necessary
·      Allowing time to grow into the vision of your practice
·      Growth versus fixed mindset
Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:
Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
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Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

 

How to Navigate Shifts in the Mental Health Field and Your Career Path: An interview with Dr. Melvin Varghese
Curt and Katie interview Dr. Melvin Varghese about how he’s navigated his career path. We look at a life changing event that helped him to get perspective on what is most important to him. We also explore practicalities of prioritizing personal life as an entrepreneur. 
Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
In this podcast episode, we talk about how to prioritize your personal life while having a successful career
We invited our friend Melvin Varghese back to the podcast to talk about how he is navigating shifts in the profession and his life.
 What do therapists get wrong when creating their career?
·      Doing too much and not doing things deeply enough
·      Shifting too quickly when things get hard
·      Failing to look at season of life issues when planning your business
·      Having trouble defining success based on what is resonant to oneself
How can therapists prioritize themselves and sustain a therapy career?
·      Pace yourself based on your own life story, not a mentor’s or the “shoulds” from the profession
·      Be willing to “fail forward”
·      Pushing back against “curated authenticity” and look at how to be real, with boundaries
·      Aligning career with morals and values
·      Focus on “decades over days”
·      Sustainable content creation
What are Melvin’s predictions about the future of the profession?
·      Authenticity and real conversations will succeed where AI posting will not
·      Finding content platforms where effort compounds over time
·      Discovery platforms leading to relationship-deepening platforms
·      Navigating a lot of tech and insurance companies
·      People have less discretionary money, so diversifying your income is valuable
Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:
Our 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/

Are Therapy and Coaching All That Different?
Curt and Katie chat about the differences between coaching and therapy, for a second time. We look at some common myths (and how coaches continue to share this misinformation). We also look at how therapists can effectively incorporate coaching into their therapy sessions, with client consent. Finally, we discuss the challenges inherent in coaching and in therapy, and why therapists may feel they need to choose one or the other. 
Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
In this podcast episode we talk the differences between coaching and therapy
We’ve come back around to exploring coaching. We look at the differences, the pros and cons, and what therapists can incorporate into therapy.
What are the differences between coaching and therapy?
·      There are no regulations for coaching
·      Therapists are limited to providing services where they are licensed or have practicing privileges
·      Coaching is often more directive (but therapy can be directive as well)
·      Coaching has flexibility to work outside of session (although therapists can do coaching calls and more experiential work)
·      Therapy often requires “medical necessity,” and can treat more serious concerns
·      There are sometimes different structures between how therapy and coaching are set up (i.e., coaching has more room for asynchronous courses)
·      There is a false story that therapy always looks at the past or sees clients as broken
What parts of coaching can therapists incorporate into therapy?
·      Therapists can use a more directive, coaching style, even though not all therapists do
·      Therapists, within a treatment agreement, can (and should) hold clients accountable and have more specific goals
·      Lived experience informing the work
·      Marketing with specificity and focused expertise
Why do therapists feel they need to choose between therapy and coaching?
·      It is more complicated to provide different services to your clients
·      There is a potential for dual relationships and the rules are different within coaching
·      The need for informed consent can hinder some of the other types of services that fit into coaching
·      Coaching is for the “worried well” whereas therapy can include folks with deeper issues

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:
Our 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/