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

More Than Cogs in the Machine: Bringing trauma-informed principles into the workplace Curt and Katie chat about trauma-informed workplaces. We explore what a trauma informed workplace is, why it is important to implement, and how best to do so. We also explore some practical challenges to creating a trauma-informed workplace and ideas for how to handle these challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk about how to create a trauma-informed workplace People affected by trauma are expected to perform in the workplace, but often have difficulty with environments that treat them as replaceable. This can lead to employee underperformance, burnout, and turnover in the workforce. Healthy interactions with the workplace can help both the individual and corporate performance. This workshop addresses principles and practices that allow for employers to create a trauma informed workplace. What is a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Remembering that all workers are human ·       Collaboration and encouraging autonomy for employees ·       Acknowledging that trauma exists for everyone ·       Trauma is addressed in the workplace (e.g., mitigating secondary or vicarious trauma) ·       4 R’s of Trauma can give guidance to how to identify and respond to trauma ·       Supportive policies go beyond self-care ·       There is a systemic mechanism to support staff and improve ·       Based in trust and trustworthiness What are the risks of not having a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Lower employee productivity, lower quality work ·       Higher levels of burnout, absenteeism, presenteeism ·       Recreating past traumas when we’re not aware of the dynamics in play How can therapists create and benefit from a trauma-informed workplace? ·       Create supportive policies and procedures ·       Evaluate how well trauma informed principles are being implemented ·       We discuss an evaluation tool for this purpose ·       CTIPP Toolkit (Campaign for Trauma Informed Practice and Policies) ·       Acknowledge shared humanity ·       Creating connection and collaboration between team members ·       This may be something that needs to be repaired or built within a workplace that has problems ·       Understanding how to build, sustain trust, and effectively take feedback and implement it ·       Transparency and accountability What are some challenges in implementing a Trauma-Informed Workplace? ·       Very challenging conversations needing repeated repair ·       Avoiding conversations about trauma ·       Digging deeply into emotional life of employees (i.e., with the potential of HR violations) ·       Practical limitations to what employers can provide to their employees ·       Us versus them mentalities and not seeing opportunities to collaborate Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon 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/

Pursuing Happiness as a Therapist: An interview with Stevon Lewis, LMFT Curt and Katie interview Stevon Lewis, LMFT, about how he makes his career more sustainable. We look at his current philosophies around low effort, alignment, and fun. We also explore how he was able to initially able temper his expectations, work through misaligned paths, and pivot when needed. Finally, we talk about what it looks like behind the scenes to pursue a number of different revenue and marketing streams. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about how to make a sustainable therapy career We invited Stevon Lewis back to talk about creating a sustainable career, even if it means pivoting and rebuilding your career or your brand. How can you build a positive and sustainable career as a therapist? ·      It’s important to assess your performance, your level of happiness, etc. ·      Don’t be afraid to pivot ·      Assess if you are working too hard or are misaligned with the work ·      Determine whether your unease is due to lack of skill or misalignment ·      Frame assessment based on practical evaluation versus moving to “I’m a failure” When can you actually make choices that serve you better as a therapist? ·      Initial career choices may not be as ideal as one would like ·      It is important to temper your expectations to your current situation ·      Many therapists start in community mental health and may not be able to choose who we see and what we do ·      Be flexible and open to working with less than ideal clients, identify the learning opportunities ·      There is a ramp up and a building up of a caseload and career that takes time ·      Understand that pivoting is part of the journey because we don’t know what we’re good at or what we’re going to like How do therapist influencers work effectively? ·      There can be a lot of effort behind the scenes ·      Delegating and contracting out elements of the work can be helpful ·      Efficiency is important to be able to do a bunch of different things to be successful ·      Stevon talks about how he does his “low effort” version of social media posting and interaction ·      Looking at the minimum effort for maximum result ·      Accept doing what you need to do to get the results you would like (not comparing to all others) 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/

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: 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/

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: 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/

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? Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Patreon 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/

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: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ 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/

Are You Too Burned Out to Work? An ethical assessment of therapist burnout and impairment Curt and Katie chat about the ethics of working while burned out. We look at what burnout is, how it develops and what the impacts are on clients and treatment outcomes. We also explore individual and systemic strategies to mitigate the risks of burnout. 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 therapist burnout So many therapists complain that they are burned out, but then continue to work. Is this ethical? In this continuing education podcourse, we explore what therapist burnout is, how therapists get burned out, potential impacts on the therapeutic work with clients, and when (and whether) it moves into the threshold of unethical behavior. We talk specifically about what makes a therapist impaired and how therapists can assess their own capacity to ethically care for their clients. We also look at how to respond to signs of burnout appropriately. Finally, we dig into systemic concerns that lead to burnout and who really is responsible for a therapist’s burnout and potential impairment. Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies. Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our learning platform 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/

What Therapists Need to Know About Menopause and Perimenopause: An interview with Dr. Sharon Malone, MD Curt and Katie interview Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, author of Grown Woman Talk, about menopause and perimenopause. We explore the mental health impacts as well as the differential diagnosis when assessing a woman over 40 who might be experiencing this phase of life. We also talk about what good treatment can look like, including discussing the debate about hormone therapies. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about mental health impacts of (peri)menopause After Katie was diagnosed with perimenopause, she began looking for sources of information on this seldom-talked-about phase of women’s lives. She found Dr. Sharon Malone’s work and was so excited that she agreed to come on to talk about menopause and perimenopause as well as her new book, Grown Woman Talk! What is perimenopause and menopause? ·      Life stages for women in midlife and beyond ·      Hormonal shifts (not just dropping, but inconsistent through ·      Remodeling of the brain ·      Perimenopause is not short, it can be up to a decade ·      Too often women think they can power through, but it can and should be treated What are the psychological impacts of perimenopause and menopause? ·      Feeling different or more emotional due to hormonal shifts during up to a decade prior to menopause (when hormones drop) ·      During perimenopause there is an uptick in depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, late onset ADHD, rage, brain fog ·      Perimenopausal mood and psychological changes may be better treated by hormones than by typical psychotropics ·      The differential diagnosis should start with ruling out perimenopause for any woman 40+ What does good perimenopause treatment look like? ·      The most effective treatment of perimenopausal symptoms is estrogen or menopause hormone treatment ·      Too often, women get individual symptoms treated by individual specialists rather than a more global impact of hormone imbalances ·      Hormone treatments can potentiate antidepressant (synergistic effect) for mood concerns ·      We also address the concerns related to hormone treatment (the study was misrepresented) ·      Women should be armed with the questions to ask and collaborate and agree on treatment with their doctors 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/

Conscious and Trauma-Informed Leadership: An interview with Kelly L. Campbell Curt and Katie interview Kelly Campbell about her work with leaders. We explore the ways in which trauma can impact leaders, their teams, and their organizations. We also look at what trauma-informed leadership coaching can look like, including overarching goals for trauma-informed and high conscious leadership.      Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore trauma-informed leadership While writing her book, Kelly Campbell reached out to Curt and Katie to connect with a previous interviewee, Dr. Sidney Stone -Brown. We loved that she is talking about trauma-informed leadership, so we invited her to come on the podcast to talk with us about it.     What is trauma-informed leadership coaching? ·      Recognizing that past traumas can impact how someone leads a group ·      Identifying impacts of trauma on a client’s ability to perform the tasks of leadership ·      Working to shift dynamics within leaders (and their teams) based on impacts of past trauma What are the common impacts of trauma on leaders and their leadership skills? ·      People-controlling behaviors (like micromanagement) ·      People-pleasing behaviors (like not holding people accountable) ·      Lack of trust ·      Impostor Syndrome ·      Attrition of employees ·      Lower profitability (as a lagging indicator) What is the goal for trauma-informed leadership? ·      High conscious leaders ·      Vulnerability and trust ·      Healing the impacts of trauma on the workplace ·      Refraining from people-controlling or people-pleasing behaviors ·      Modeling a new way of being to shift the company culture ·      Self-advocacy, clear boundaries, and improved communication 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/

Is It Worth It? Analyzing return on investment for your therapy practice Curt and Katie chat about different types of return on investment (ROI) for a therapist in private practice. We look at what therapists often get wrong when deciding how to invest their time, money, or energy. We also give some ideas of what can be more effective in getting the highest ROI (of all types) for your therapy business and career. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk return on investment In response to last week’s episode on managing your money, we had additional ideas on the concept of a return on investment. What are the different types of return on investment that therapists have in their practice? ·      The financial ROI of money in versus money out ·      How much time spent versus the benefit to your practice and yourself ·      The amount of energy spent (or saved) or the type of energy you have available at different types of day ·      Connections made while networking and how they can be valuable to a therapist (e.g., referral sources, friends, support system, business collaboration) ·      Learning and expertise, continuing education ·      Enjoyment and fun ·      Supporting mission, vision, and/or values, legacy What do therapists typically invest time, money, or energy in, that don’t have a good ROI? ·      Saying yes to everyone and every opportunity ·      Going to networking with only financial ROI (getting referrals for your therapy practice) as a goal ·      Insufficient marketing (i.e., not staying consistent through enough touch points before someone refers or signs up as a client) ·      Not assessing return on investment for the different types of activities you perform for your practice ·      Getting additional certifications without a clear ROI for your practice 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/

Don’t Forget to Pay Yourself and Other Money Planning Strategies: An interview with Carla Titus Curt and Katie interview Carla Titus, Fractional CFO about what therapists get wrong when budgeting for their private practice. We explore financial strategies to maintain a viable business as well as how you can grow your business responsibly. We talk about making sure to pay yourself first, then set up a rainy-day fund, and follow that with saving additional extra funds for hiring or new services before you scale.     Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we explore what therapists need to know about financial planning for their business Curt and Katie talk with Carla Titus about financially planning for your business. We look at common mistakes as well as how you can grow while still paying yourself.    What does financial planning look like for a therapy practice? ·      Managing cash flow ·      Understanding the Return on Investment for new ventures ·      Running the numbers on costs and revenue, the gross margin ·      Calculating the profitability of adding clinicians or trying new programs ·      Working to get a total profit margin of 10-20% ·      Creating a reserve fund and saving profit to reinvest, when needed Common Mistakes therapists make when financially planning for their practice ·      Not paying attention to their expenses ·      Not tracking cash flow (i.e., not getting billables timely and having expenses that are due before you have the money on hand) ·      Therapists often avoid looking at numbers ·      Scaling before you have another reserve of money to fund it (2-3 payroll runs for a new employee for example) What should therapists do before hiring a clinician into their private practice? ·      Save money from profit to reinvest into the business ·      Making sure you have your rainy-day fund prior to adding additional funds to float a new person as they get up to speed ·      Make sure you’re able to pay yourself while bringing on the new hire ·      Order of priority: pay yourself, save for a rainy-day, then save for scaling How can a therapist manage their “money,” even when they are just starting out? ·      If you’re taking out a business loan or grant, have a plan for how you’re going to use that money ·      Focus on revenue generating ideas to be able to get money and/or pay back loans ·      Expenses should also have a high return on investment for the business longevity and the bottom line ·      Try to avoid shiny object syndrome ·      Know the expectation of the outcome for the money you are spending (for example on marketing) ·      Evaluate outcomes and course correct when needed ·      Beware the sunk cost fallacy 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/

An Expert Witness Weighs in on Therapist Malpractice: An interview with Dr. Frederic Reamer Curt and Katie interview Dr. Frederic Reamer about his perspective as an expert witness opining on therapist conduct. We talk about the three types of cases he sees (mistakes, challenging decisions, and misconduct) as well as what therapists can do to protect and set themselves up for success.    Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we share an expert witness perspective on therapist mistakes Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Frederic Reamer about how therapists can get in trouble as well as what an expert witness does when evaluating these therapist mistakes.   What do Expert Witness do for cases involving therapists? ·      Evaluate malpractice and standard of care ·      Opine on whether therapists have acted appropriately in their role as professionals ·      Reviewing records, reports, depositions, and testifying on trial What are the different types of cases that are brought against therapists? ·      Good people making mistakes ·      Challenging ethical dilemmas (i.e., making a decision that is not wrong, but leads to a bad outcome) ·      Misconduct (e.g., having sex with clients, inappropriate dual relationships, impaired therapists) How can therapists set themselves up to avoid getting sued or licensing board complaints? ·      Appropriate documentation ·      Consultation with colleagues or supervisors (and document this consultation) ·      Have sufficient malpractice insurance 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 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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/