In this episode, black sheep therapist Dr. Tina Vitolo shares her journey going from a college student who is told by a professor that she should quit the social work program to a best selling author, PhD, and successful therapy business coach. After licensing boards were unable to provide clarification, Dr. Vitolo spent $11,000 and nearly a year of her time determining whether she could integrate witchy practices like tarot, astrology, and energy work into therapy. This conversation will empower any professional who has been afraid to bring their spiritual gifts into the therapy room! Resources in this episode: Ritual candles by Lunam Love The Black Sheep Therapist: Integrating Spiritual & Energy-Based Modalities in Your Clinical Practice Dr. Tina Vitolo About our guest: Dr. Tina Vitolo, DSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, researcher, and founder of The Black Sheep Therapist® and the Innovative Practitioner Accelerator®. With nearly two decades of experience in the mental health field, she specializes in helping therapists ethically integrate somatic, spiritual, intuitive, and other complementary approaches into psychotherapy without compromising clinical integrity or licensure. After earning her Doctor of Social Work, Dr. Vitolo's research focused on the role of complementary and alternative interventions in clinical social work, leading her to recognize a critical gap between traditional clinical training and the realities of integrative practice. Rather than asking therapists to choose between authenticity and ethics, she developed frameworks that help clinicians ground unconventional modalities in clinical theory, informed consent, documentation, and regulatory standards. Through her trainings, mentorship programs, and professional community, Dr. Vitolo has helped thousands of therapists build practices that reflect who they truly are while remaining transparent, ethical, and professionally defensible. She is known for translating complex legal, ethical, and clinical concepts into practical strategies that allow therapists to practice with greater clarity, confidence, and integrity. Dr. Vitolo is also the author of The Black Sheep Therapist, where she challenges conventional thinking in mental health and advocates for a future in which evidence, ethics, intuition, and innovation can coexist. Her mission is to empower clinicians to stop hiding the work they believe in and instead build practices that honor both science and soul. About the hosts: Stacey Aldridge, LCSW has worked in the mental health field for over 15 years. She works with women and LGBTQ+ clients addressing late diagnosed ADHD and autism, relationship issues, and anxiety in perimenopause. She is also a Reiki Master and body-neutral Certified Holistic Health & Wellness Coach working with people anywhere in the world. She is trained in Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique and has an interest in helping those who are processing past life trauma. A late diagnosed ADHD-er herself, Stacey also has 3 small business on Etsy where she sells handmade ice dyed tie dye clothing; curated retro and vintage home goods; and handmade ritual bath products and spell candles. She is also the editor of this podcast! Stacey lives with her husband Jon and their 3 elderly dogs on unceded Chahta Yakni (Choctaw) land in Central Mississippi. Visit her website to learn more about working with her and her various non-therapy related businesses! Charity O’Reilly, LPC has been a trauma healer since 2006. She provides EMDR intensives to clients from all over the world. Charity is the co-author of You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health Tool Kit, and How to Understand and Deal with ADHD. She trains nationally and internationally on topics related to healing trauma and our parts. She has also been featured talking about trauma healing on multiple podcasts and on Letters from Love with Elizabeth Gilbert. Charity lives with her husband, chickens, cats, and many foster kittens on a homestead on Lenape Land in what is now called Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Visit her website to learn more about working with her. Follow us on social media! @ WitchyTherapistPodcast on Instagram WitchyTherapyPodcast on Facebook http://witchytherapistpodcast.staceyaldridgelcsw.com Charity O'Reilly, LPC @ TeaWithATraumaTherapist http://charityoreilly.com/ Stacey Aldridge, LCSW @ Stacey Aldridge LCSW and @ HolisticallyStacey http://www.staceyaldridge.com
