The Therapist Thrival Guide

Ready to UNLOCK your brain? We are joined by Billie Ferguson, LMFT in this episode to discuss a new modality making waves in the therapy world: brainspotting. In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, host Miranda welcomes Billie Ferguson, an LMFT based out of Oklahoma, to discuss the emerging therapeutic modality of brainspotting. They explore the origins of brainspotting, its connection to EMDR, and how it leverages eye positions to help process trauma. Billie shares valuable insights on how brainspotting works, its application in therapy, and its effectiveness for therapists healing from toxic work environments. This episode is a must-listen for new therapists seeking to learn about innovative practices in therapy. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:10 Exploring Brainspotting: An Overview 03:54 The Science Behind Brainspotting 05:23 Brainspotting Techniques and Applications 14:55 Self-Spotting: Brainspotting for Personal Use 21:51 Healing from Toxic Work Environments 37:52 Conclusion and Resources Watch the video podcast: https://youtu.be/KZL8Abx4zAo?si=zakPRSjlJDQ7aMD8 Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. The intention is to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. ⁠ Miranda Barker,⁠ MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for nearly three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Executive Producer at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth ⁠ABOUT OUR GUEST: Billie Ferguson is a licensed therapist in Oklahoma, and the owner of Ferguson Therapy. With over 10 years of therapy under her belt, Billie uses Brainspotting to help other entrepreneurs, therapists, coaches, and helpers to heal and grow from old beliefs, patterns, and emotional stuck points that are preventing them from building the life they can thrive in.Outside of the therapy room, Billie spends her time with her husband and 2 kids.  From chasing them around tball field or heading off for a weekend of camping, there is always something going on! Check out Billie's upcoming cohort for therapists working to heal from harmful workplaces by taking a peek at her ⁠website⁠ or follow her on ⁠instagram⁠.

The topic of grief can be difficult, but every therapist knows it’s something we all face at some point. In this episode, we’re diving into the messy, raw, and sometimes surprising world of grief-- through the Grief Recovery Method. Jordan Mealey, LPC, NCC, ACS, CGRS, CCTP joins to help us understand and explore how to support clients navigating their toughest moments. Join us as we unpack the complexities of loss with compassion, honesty, and always a little bit of humor. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:19 Jordan's Role and Responsibilities 01:47 The Importance of Grief and Loss in Therapy 02:34 Personal Journey into Grief Specialization 08:36 Understanding Different Types of Grief 10:33 Challenges in Discussing Grief 10:58 The Grief Recovery Method 17:16 Therapist's Role in Grief Counseling 32:37 Advice for Non-Specialist Therapists 39:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. The intention is to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. ⁠Miranda Barker,⁠ MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for nearly three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Executive Producer at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jordan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Grief Recovery Specialist. She has supported people for 10+ years in different treatment settings including inpatient care, school-based counseling, intensive levels of outpatient programming, and private practice. She thrives to guide people to recognize their strengths through honest self-exploration, authenticity, and humor. A passion close to her heart is working with people through life transitions, including grief and loss. 

Political seasons are like a rollercoaster of stress for many, with a whirlwind of info overload and social pressures hitting you from all angles. Whether you're sweating over elections or drowning in updates on laws, political anxiety is a real thing. Let's buckle up and steer through this wild ride while keeping our cool! In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda and Lucas dive into the topic of politics and political anxiety, especially relevant during election years. The conversation covers the evolving nature of political identity, strategies for therapists to handle political discussions in sessions, and the importance of empathy and understanding in bridging divides. They also address how to balance staying informed without being overwhelmed and offer practical advice for therapists dealing with clients affected by political tensions. 00:00 Introduction to Political Anxiety 00:52 Lucas's Interest into Politics 02:47 The 2016 Election and Its Impact 06:24 Facilitating Political Conversations 08:59 Therapists Navigating Political Discussions 12:56 Balancing Personal Beliefs and Professionalism 20:49 Client Relationships and Political Differences 25:59 Exploring Personal Relationships Beyond Politics 27:15 Impact of Politics on Younger Generations 28:55 Humanizing the Other Side 29:34 The Privilege of Political Disengagement 30:45 Managing Political Anxiety 33:07 The Influence of Media Consumption 42:09 Empathy and Understanding in Political Discussions 43:34 Concluding Thoughts The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. ⁠⁠Miranda Barker⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for nearly three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth #politics

What does the research say about authenticity, inclusion, and belonging in healthcare? Dr. Sable McElveen, DHA, LCSW-S joins the podcast this week to discuss her research on patient outcomes and strategies healthcare professionals can keep in mind. Dr. McElveen has a Doctorate in Health Administration and is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor. She works with teens (16+) and adults who represent historically marginalized communities, focusing on clients identifying as Black or LGBTQIA+. Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. ⁠Miranda Barker⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for nearly three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth

Q: What is outreach? A: It's all about building awareness for your clinic and services through community engagement and building relationships. Outreach activities can take all sorts of forms, including in-person events, social media campaigns, and partnerships with local organizations. The bottomline: it's building relationships within your community. In this episode, our outreach team (Marisa Negron and Madeline Matz) share their best practices when beginning outreach in your communities, including some tips, scripts, and examples that have worked for them. We’re cheering you on as you begin the journey of building long lasting relationships with your community! Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/SlkyDYuvJP0 CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome to the Therapist Thrival Guide 00:09 Meet the Outreach Team 01:06 Understanding Outreach in Therapy 02:15 Building Genuine Relationships 06:40 Starting Your Outreach Journey 08:42 Effective Outreach Strategies 11:46 Collaborating with Other Therapists 17:58 Outreach in Schools and Healthcare 24:38 Navigating Conferences and Events 29:18 Community Events vs. Professional Conferences 30:26 Engaging Attendees at Events 31:28 Personal Experiences and Tips 33:40 Effective Giveaways and Engagement Strategies 36:44 Starting Conversations at Events 40:29 Nurturing Relationships Post-Event 46:21 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. The intention is to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth

New podcast coming Fall of 2022 from Ellie Mental Health!

Curious what a therapist thinks about the new INSIDE OUT 2 movie? Letisha and Miranda are discussing it all in this BONUS episode! What we're talking about: - Teaching kids to name their emotions - How therapists can incorporate this into therapy sessions - Riley's panic attack and grounding exercises - Layered complexity of feelings - Our own experiences with the movie as parents Link to thermometer tool: https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-... Link to Diane Abler's books: https://amzn.to/4cA3Qck 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:41 Discussing Inside Out 2 01:37 Personal Experiences with Inside Out 2 03:58 Therapist Perspective on Emotions 07:50 Analyzing Riley's Panic Attack 19:11 Connecting Emotions and Therapy Techniques 22:55 Practical Applications in Therapy 35:39 Final Thoughts and Recommendations The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. ⁠⁠Miranda Barker⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for nearly three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth

Chelsea Wire, MA LPC and Kailah Tuttle, LPC are two of our talented therapists at Ellie Mental Health that are passionate about the work they do and love educating other therapists about it! What we're covering: - How art therapy works and what it can be used for - Strategies and ideas for incorporating art and creativity into your therapy - How to become an art therapist 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Meet the Art Therapists: Chelsea and Kailah 01:04 Pathways to Becoming an Art Therapist 03:07 Understanding Art Therapy 06:13 Art Therapy Techniques and Tools 13:50 Art Therapy for Different Age Groups 20:02 Art Therapy for Trauma and Anxiety 25:40 Favorite Art Therapy Prompts and Tips 29:30 Final Thoughts and Takeaways Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for nearly three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is like a superhero for your brain, using a unique blend of eye movements, sounds, and tactile stimulation to help process and heal from painful memories and experiences. In this episode, we're chatting with therapists who have experienced the transformative power of EMDR firsthand and are passionate about teaching others! Amber Silva, LLMSW and Gina Young, LICSW are therapists that are using EMDR in their practice with clients. In this episode: - Breaking down the science behind EMDR, exploring how it helps rewire the brain and create lasting positive change - Basics of the EMDR process, including the importance of creating a safe space and the various methods of bilateral stimulation used in therapy - Different ways EMDR can be used - The different types of traumas it can address - EMDR's application for both children and adults. Whether you're a therapist interested in training or someone curious about how EMDR can help, this episode offers valuable insights and practical information. Read the transcript: Read the transcript: https://elliementalhealth.com/understanding-emdr-therapy-basics-process-and-benefits/ Watch the video podcast: https://youtu.be/e4Ix5z60Js0 Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. ⁠Miranda Barker⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for nearly three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth

We are BACK with a whole new season of content! We are listening and focusing on topics you are asking for. To start things off, we are talking all about ADHD. We have therapists Davin Cobb, LAMFT, Christina Gonzalez, LCSW, and Physician Assistant Joey Lusvardi, PA-C to discuss this diagnosis. What we're discussing: - Getting an ADHD diagnosis - Strategies for managing ADHD - Dealing with ADHD as a therapist Link to video podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4Cx1adMGuw Transcript: https://elliementalhealth.com/what-to-know-about-adhd-medications-strategies-from-clinicians-and-prescribers/ Link to book: https://amzn.to/3REldA3 Link to ADHD "Focus Plan": https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/adhd-focus-plan The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture. ⁠Miranda Barker⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for nearly three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care. The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth