359 episodes

The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide: Where Therapists Live, Breathe, and Practice as Human Beings It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when clinicians must develop a personal brand to market their private practices, and are connecting over social media, engaging in social activism, pushing back against mental health stigma, and facing a whole new style of entrepreneurship. To support you as a whole person, a business owner, and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

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

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.4 • 207 Ratings

The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide: Where Therapists Live, Breathe, and Practice as Human Beings It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. We are human beings who can now present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection. Especially now, when clinicians must develop a personal brand to market their private practices, and are connecting over social media, engaging in social activism, pushing back against mental health stigma, and facing a whole new style of entrepreneurship. To support you as a whole person, a business owner, and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

    Are You Burned Out or Are You Bored?

    Are You Burned Out or Are You Bored?

    Are You Burned Out or Are You Bored?
    Curt and Katie chat about another type of burnout, “bore out.” We explore the difference between burnout and boredom. We talk about what might be unique to therapists’ jobs that would lead to boredom. We also dig into how dissociation can show up as either burnout or boredom. Finally, we share ideas on how modern therapists can mitigate some of the impacts of burnout, boredom, and vicarious trauma.
    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
    In this podcast episode we talk about both burnout and “bore out”
    Katie has been feeling a little bit bored lately, so she decided to do some research on what might be happening. She uncovered a concept “bore out” which seems to be the opposite of burnout, but with similar consequences. We decided to dig into this topic to see what therapists can do to try to avoid (or address) burnout.
    What are the differences between burnout and boredom?
    ·       Burnout is overstimulation to the point of running out of energy
    ·       Boredom is under-stimulation to the point of lack of creativity and stagnation
    ·       Burnout is a pretty common topic, but “bore out” never really took off
    ·       People more likely to leave a job due to boredom
    What are the types of boredom that therapists face?
    ·       Clinical boredom (repeated stories, lack of progress)
    ·       Repetitive clinical work (due to niche, evidence-based practice)
    ·       Notes and documentation are frequently described as boring
    ·       Trauma therapists may become cynical
    ·       Vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and moral injury
    ·       Desensitization and disengagement of vicarious trauma can feel like boredom
    ·       Dissociation may also be part of this disengagement
    What can therapists do to address boredom?
    ·       Clinical consultation and your own therapy
    ·       Professional development and continuing education
    ·       Refreshing your knowledge and bringing new techniques into session
    ·       Adequate stimulation to get work done
    ·       Doing things in small doses
    ·       Reframing things to make them more positive (not “onerous” or “boring”)

    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/

     

    • 36 min
    Seeking Purpose Beyond Accomplishment: An interview with Kasey Compton

    Seeking Purpose Beyond Accomplishment: An interview with Kasey Compton

    Seeking Purpose Beyond Accomplishment: An interview with Kasey Compton
    Curt and Katie interview Kasey Compton, LPCC, on her new book, In Search of You. We explore her journey of healing and what it was like to put that healing into a public space. We also talk about Kasey’s challenges with being bullied in her home town due to the choices she has made (getting divorced and then choosing a same-sex relationship) and how her “hard head” has helped her to get through it all. She also shares some ideas for therapists in their own healing journeys.  
    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
    In this podcast episode, we talk about how even successful therapists may need their own healing journey
    Curt and Katie talk with Kasey Compton about her new book, In Search of You: When Doing More Isn’t Doing It Anymore.
     What is “In Search of You” about?
    ·       Kasey wrote a book while going through therapy about her healing process
    ·       Looking at moving away from accomplishment and toward making meaning
    ·       Getting to a place of self-love
    ·       Using Kasey’s stories she wrote during therapy, in real time
    How can a high achiever, people pleaser, or “seeker” move toward self-love?
    ·       Understanding the relationship between love and accomplishment (or lack of relationship between these two)
    ·       Understanding the difference between authenticity and vulnerability
    ·       Shifting one’s relationship with shame
    What is it like to heal in public?
    ·       Coming to terms with vulnerability
    ·       For Kasey, her hometown is religiously conservative who were very judgmental about her stages of healing (including her divorce, a new relationship with a woman, and now writing this book)
    ·       Putting on emotional armor in unsafe places
    ·       Finding community support
    ·       Moving forward with boldness and self-acceptance
    ·       Detaching from outcomes
    How do these lessons apply for therapists?
    ·       Taking a holistic, full person look at who you are professionally
    ·       Using a timeline to understand ourselves and how our lives have impacted us
    ·       Doing our own work with a therapist or through journaling and doing a timeline
    ·       Finding balance
    ·       Moving away from self-sacrifice as a mechanism toward accomplishment
    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/

    • 39 min
    When Your Clients are Wealthy and Well Known: An interview with Dr. Holly Daniels, LMFT

    When Your Clients are Wealthy and Well Known: An interview with Dr. Holly Daniels, LMFT

    When Your Clients are Wealthy and Well Known: An interview with Dr. Holly Daniels, LMFT
    Curt and Katie interview Dr. Holly Daniels about working with high profile clients. We talk about the lifestyle factors (like isolation and dehumanization) that come with celebrity as well as the differences when working with famous and powerful people who bring in more common concerns like relationship challenges. We also explore the skills and trustworthiness required to be able to succeed with these clients.
    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
    In this podcast episode, we talk about what it’s like to work with the rich and famous
    Curt and Katie asked Dr. Holly Daniels to talk about her work as a therapist, relationship coach, and consultant for the wealthy and well-known.
     What is it like working as a therapist or a coach with the wealthy and well-known?
    ·      Seeing the isolation and the reality of their lives
    ·      Making sure to avoid being swept up in the fame
    ·      Understanding the countertransference tendencies (to agree, to be critical)
    ·      Don’t get sucked into aligning with them if it isn’t in their best interest (everyone around them agrees with them)
    ·      Don’t join the power struggle when clients become very dismissive
    ·      Therapists must be emotionally very boundaried and logistically very flexible
    ·      When people are this wealthy or well-known, they have to be very cautious and they have a very high bar related to trust – therapists need to know how the difficulty with trust impacts the relationship
    ·      Allow the client to bring the public information into the session, don’t assume their response to what is in the news
    How can therapists support clients who have an influential public persona?
    ·      Separating your personal self from your public persona
    ·      Looking at these two selves as related, but not the same
    ·      Helping clients to let go of public approval or hate as related to who you are
    ·      The commodity is the public persona, not you
    What are the family systems and relationship concerns that come with fame?
    ·      There is a closed, isolated bubble where there can be a lot of enmeshment
    ·      There are different challenges and dynamics unique to being part of a famous person’s life
    ·      Looking at the full family system, including the kids
    ·      Feeling guilty for having mental health concerns because they have so much
    ·      It is important for therapists not to bring in their own political or social agenda
    ·      People dehumanize famous people

    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/

    • 39 min
    When Your Client is a Little Bit Famous: The unique needs and perspectives for working with content creators in therapy

    When Your Client is a Little Bit Famous: The unique needs and perspectives for working with content creators in therapy

    When Your Client is a Little Bit Famous: The unique needs and perspectives for working with content creators in therapy
    Curt and Katie chat about the unique needs that content creators (youtubers, podcasters, onlyfans performers) bring to session. We look at the development stages of being a creator, what exactly a “content creator” is, pros and cons (for mental health) of being a content creator, and how therapists can work more effectively with these folks. We also talk about the safety concerns and ways that therapist scan support content creators in protecting themselves. This is a continuing education podcourse.
    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
    In this podcast episode we talk about therapy with content creators
    Content creators and influencers have their own sets of mental health challenges. Therapists working with content creators have many factors to consider when it comes to the particularly unique influences that this occupation has on a person’s mental health. This workshop explores how content creation, streaming, and parasocial relationships affect the mental health and worldview of creators in ways that are both similar and different to other types of performers.
    Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide
    You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://moderntherapistcommunity.com/podcourse/
    Continuing Education Approvals:
    Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.

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

    • 1 hr 12 min
    The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology

    The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology

    The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology
    Curt and Katie chat about pop psychology. We look at what it is, how it influences society, the dangers of leaving it unchecked, and how therapists can support their clients in navigating through all the different self-help content. We also challenge the use of Enneagram and Myers Briggs as “identity” and talk about using pop psychology as a starting point for conversation rather than taking it all at face value.
    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
    In this podcast episode we talk about the dangers of pop psychology
    Curt has had a bee in his bonnet about pop psychology and the potential harms of watering down psychology for the public. We decided we’d take a critical look at what’s out there, including self-help, business, and news content that may be harming the public.
    What is pop psychology?
    ·      Researchers sharing their findings through popular media using lay language
    ·      Applied psychology – practical self-help created by psychology practitioners geared toward improving your life
    ·      Targeting people with mental health concerns to decrease suffering – may be created by people with lived experience and is self-help in the place of therapy
    ·      Applying psychology to other realms (like business or sales, spirituality)
    What are concerns with pop psychology?
    ·      Overemphasizing the importance of specific pop psychology principles and claiming these things as identity
    ·      Not going back to the evidence base or looking at who the authors are (is it their research or is it a good storyteller who is extrapolating)
    ·      The impact of the audience on which stories or psychological findings are shared
    How does Malcolm Gladwell fit into this conversation about the dangers of pop psychology?
    ·      He was enamored with the “Broken Windows” theory of policing and his writings influenced the use type of policing in New York (including Stop and Frisk)
    ·      He ignored the criticism of these policies, like the racial bias that was seen
    ·      He chose not to write about policies that were working to decrease the over prescribing opioids
    ·      He has not recognized the influence on those who read his work
    What role can therapists play in supporting our clients around pop psychology?
    ·      Talk with our clients about what they are reading and use it as a starting point
    ·      Bring the evidence-based science into the conversation
    ·      Help them to create a unique, tailored plan for your client to use what works for them
    ·      Correcting misinformation (e.g., the stages of grief)
    ·      Putting out content that is accurate
    ·      Staying current on what is being talked about in popular media
    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/

    • 38 min
    Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey

    Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey

    Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey
    Curt and Katie interview Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey of QA Prep about her assessment of the AI tools available for therapists. We chat about the high expectations many clinicians have for note writing tools (and whether these expectations are really reasonable right now). We also look at what therapists are getting wrong when starting to use these tools, exploring some concerns related to HIPAA compliance and who is actually putting together these tech tools.
    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
    In this podcast episode, we talk about the development of AI tools for therapists
    Curt and Katie asked Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey to come on and talk about what she thinks about AI for documentation.
    What are therapists getting wrong about AI?
    ·      Therapists believe that AI can do their notes, but it is often a lot of work and/or is an expensive application is required
    ·      There is a choice when using a free platform and/or an untrusted platform is that you are either writing an insufficient note or adding PHI, which causes you to break HIPAA
    ·      AI for notes takes a very long time due to how slowly they process the information as well as your need to review and edit each note
    ·       Some platforms are claiming to be HIPAA compliant and are not
    What are the different ways that AI works to provide documentation?
    ·      AI listens to the session and/or you upload the recording or a transcript
    ·      You enter the information on what happened in the session and AI writes the formal notes
    What do therapists need to know about an AI platform before using it?
    ·      Checking for actual HIPAA compliance versus a false statement about HIPAA compliance
    ·      Understand how it is telling you to use the software
    ·      Do they give you a BAA?
    ·      The pricing is relatively similar to an EHR - $10-$40 per month
    ·      This is not an electronic health record or practice management system
    ·      Some of the AI applications do not have access to the diagnosis, assessment, treatment plans, so you will have to insure that you prove medical necessity and demonstrate the clinical loop
    Are these AI platforms really ready for therapists?
    ·      The tech experts are taking care of data security
    ·      Many companies are still figuring these things out
    ·      All of the platforms Maelisa tested created fake elements of sessions (i.e., put things in the notes that did not happen)
    What else can therapists use AI for?
    ·      Creating templates for progress notes (i.e., not for a specific client, no PHI)
    ·      Creating resources for clients
    What do therapists need to do for their clients if they are using AI?
    ·      You must inform your client that you are using AI (informed consent)
    ·      AI is experimental, so it must be optional for your clients to opt in
    ·      You must insure that the platform is actually secure and HIPAA compliant
    ·      Ethics codes aren’t really saying anything, but some statements could be coming out soon on the ethics of how to use AI with or for clients
    What do therapists need to know about AI?
    ·      It is very new and changing constantly
    ·      This is going to happen, so we need to understand and participate in this transition
    ·      New resources will be created through AI
    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/

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
207 Ratings

207 Ratings

Vitaliya McElveen ,

Impostor syndrome episode

Great topics however I am giving this podcast only 3 stars... bc the episode about the impostor syndrome was super important to me … but it felt like podcasters were constantly laughing at the struggles of people who deal with it :(
Perhaps it would be a great idea to be more sensitive to consider listener's feelings.

Aim5055 ,

Great for students

As a nascent student in Masters of Counseling desiring to become a competent colleague, I find this podcast educational, informative, challenging, and enjoyable. It's a favorite workout background! Beyond the books and syllabus are the carefully curated real-world experiences that bring balance and nuance to practicing.
I find their attitude, expertise, humor, and sensitivity as professionals to professionals refreshing.
Thanks for producing this content!

PODDoisseur ,

Enjoyable

I really enjoy listening to this podcast! The hosts are not only knowledgeable and insightful, but also entertaining. I appreciate the way they approach psychological topics with an openness, making the subject matter both engaging and accessible to the professionals and regular people who also tune in. Curt has a particularly interesting sense of humor that always manages to make me smile. I read a review that misunderstood Curt’s tone as condescending. I have found that often people who are not very intelligent mistaken sharp wit and humor as condescending 🤷‍♂️.
I highly recommend this podcast to anyone interested in psychology and looking for an informative listen.

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