

The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy
Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 22, 2025 • 40min
Somatic Therapy, Nervous System Regulation, and Expanding Capacity for Rest: An Interview with Linda Thai
Somatic Therapy, Nervous System Regulation, and Expanding Capacity for Rest: An Interview with Linda Thai
Curt and Katie chat with Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200 about practical, culturally aware somatic tools therapists can use, helping clients (and themselves) expand capacity for rest, and integrating bottom-up work ethically when working with trauma survivors and adult children of refugees and immigrants.
Full show notes and transcripts available at mtsgpodcast.com.
About Our Guest: Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200
Linda Thai is a trauma therapist and educator specializing in brain- and body-based modalities for addressing complex developmental trauma. She teaches mindfulness, grief tending, and somatic practices with a special focus on adult children of refugees and immigrants. Linda has assisted Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in psychotherapy workshops on attachment trauma and offers trainings and courses worldwide.
Key Takeaways for Therapists
Gentle rocking and orienting to distance are accessible entry points for regulation.
Track SUNs (Subjective Units of Nourishment) as well as distress in sessions.
Somatic work expands capacity for rest, not just activation.
Therapists must contextualize disembodiment within colonization, hustle culture, and systemic exploitation.
Choose teachers and communities that match your style before committing to long trainings.
Join the Modern Therapist Community
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann: DW McCann FacebookMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com

Sep 15, 2025 • 41min
The Initial Consultation Call: Setting the Foundation for Therapy
The Initial Consultation Call: Setting the Foundation for Therapy
Curt and Katie chat about consultation and intake phone calls — the crucial first step in the client–therapist relationship. They explore how to balance logistics with empathy, set realistic expectations, and create safety and rapport from the very beginning.
About our Hosts:Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com
Key Takeaways for Therapists:
How consultation calls set the tone for therapy
Balancing logistics (fees, scheduling, insurance) with rapport-building
Exploring referral sources, past therapy experiences, and client expectations
Avoiding underselling yourself when discussing fees
For more information and full show notes, visit: mtsgpodcast.com
Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree
Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

Sep 8, 2025 • 44min
Unmasking Shame, Myths, and Healing for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: An Interview with Jeremy Sachs
Unmasking Shame, Myths, and Healing for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: An Interview with Jeremy Sachs
Curt and Katie chat with Jeremy Sachs, integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist, about supporting male survivors of sexual abuse. We explore harmful myths and stereotypes, the developmental impacts of sexual trauma, and the systemic and cultural barriers that make healing harder. Jeremy shares therapeutic approaches for early disclosure, building safety, and integrating trauma-specific interventions like Narrative Exposure Therapy, as well as the role of transformative justice in recovery.
About Our Guest:Jeremy Sachs is an integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist from London, UK, now based in Glasgow, Scotland. Since the 2010s, he has run services that support individuals living with trauma or marginalisation, helping them to connect and find community. In 2016, he focused on developing therapy services for men, boys, and trans people who have survived sexual abuse and rape. He runs recovery groups and a private practice both online and in-person.
Key Takeaways for Therapists:
Myths like “men always want sex” or “they must have enjoyed it” are harmful and based on misunderstandings.
Sexual abuse rarely occurs in isolation—context and systemic oppression matter.
Containment and safety should precede trauma-specific work.
Narrative Exposure Therapy can help integrate fragmented memories.
Transformative justice offers community-based alternatives to the criminal justice system.
Get the full show notes and transcript at: mtsgpodcast.com
Join the Modern Therapist Community
Linktree
Patreon
Podcast Homepage
YouTube
Facebook Group
Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

Sep 1, 2025 • 48min
Relational Healing, Neuroplasticity, and the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow
Relational Healing, Neuroplasticity, and the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexa Altman, Ph.D. and Shira Myrow, LMFT
In this episode, Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, LMFT, about psychedelic-assisted therapy and how it supports trauma healing, neuroplasticity, and relational transformation. They explore how these treatments work, what integration really means, and how therapists can ethically and safely engage with this emerging field.
About our guests:Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, MFT, are co-founders of iPsychedelic Therapy. With backgrounds in trauma-informed psychology, spiritual counseling, and relational healing, they offer a holistic approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy that centers ethical care, integration, and transformational growth.
Key takeaways:
Psychedelics are not shortcuts—they act as amplifiers and accelerants in trauma work.
Integration is a crucial part of psychedelic-assisted therapy and often overlooked.
Clinicians must examine their own biases and seek robust training.
Some clients are not appropriate for these treatments due to fragility or lack of therapeutic background.
A safe therapeutic container, rigorous consent, and preparation are essential.
Regulatory frameworks are still emerging and need clinician involvement.
More info, transcripts, and full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com
Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree
Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

Aug 25, 2025 • 1h 13min
Advanced Minds, Unique Challenges: Therapeutic Approaches for Gifted Children
Advanced Minds, Unique Challenges: Therapeutic Approaches for Gifted Children
Gifted children often present with complex needs that are misunderstood or misdiagnosed. In this continuing education episode, Curt and Katie explore how asynchronous development, emotional intensity, and cognitive complexity show up in the therapy room—and what therapists need to build effective therapeutic alliances. They highlight key research, therapist characteristics that support clinical success, and how to work with masking, perfectionism, and challenging behaviors without pathologizing giftedness.
Key Takeaways:
Giftedness includes uneven cognitive, emotional, and social development
Misdiagnosis and masking are common
Therapist flexibility, intensity, and curiosity matter more than techniques
Gifted children often resist therapy when they feel misunderstood
Parents may need education and validation around giftedness
About Our Hosts:
Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.com
Katie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com
CE Available for this Episode
To earn 1 CE unit, visit moderntherapistcommunity.com
More info and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com
Join the community: linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com

Aug 18, 2025 • 45min
Relational Self-Awareness and the Hard Truths of Couples Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexandra Solomon
Relational Self-Awareness and the Hard Truths of Couples Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexandra Solomon
Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon joins Curt and Katie to discuss what therapists get wrong in couples therapy, how to work with high-conflict dynamics, and the power of relational self-awareness. We explore how therapists can show up better prepared for the real work of helping relationships grow—or gracefully end.
About Our Guest:Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, author, and host of the Reimagining Love podcast. Known globally for her relational self-awareness framework, Dr. Solomon bridges clinical wisdom, research, and pop culture in her work with couples. She is the author of Loving Bravely, Taking Sexy Back, and Love Every Day.
Key Takeaways:
The relationship—not the individuals—is the client in couples therapy
Why individual therapist skills don’t always translate to couples work
How regulation and self-awareness reduce conflict and promote connection
What therapists should know about the "change partner vs. acceptance partner" dynamic
Why therapist bias and romantic myths can derail the work
More info, transcripts, and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com
Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann: facebook.com/McCannDW
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com

Aug 11, 2025 • 36min
What Do You Have to Offer? How Describing Your Ideal Client Might Be Repelling Good Enough Clients
What Do You Have to Offer? How Describing Your Ideal Client Might Be Repelling Good Enough Clients
Curt and Katie chat about common mistakes therapists make when writing their websites and directories — especially using “ideal client” language that may turn away the very clients they want to help. They explore how to write therapist website copy that’s client-centered, inclusive, and more effective for attracting referrals.
Key Takeaways:
Describing ideal clients too rigidly can unintentionally alienate potential referrals
Language should reflect client experiences and therapy process — not just therapist preferences
Blog posts are a flexible, strategic way to expand on specialty areas without over-niching
Websites should be regularly updated to reflect current practice and make contact easy
Listen to the full episode and access resources:https://therapyreimagined.com/podcast
Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

Aug 4, 2025 • 40min
Mindfulness, EMDR, and Wearable Tech: An Interview with Dr. Steve Dansiger
Mindfulness, EMDR, and Wearable Tech: An Interview with Dr. Steve Dansiger
Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Steve Dansiger about integrating mindfulness into EMDR, what therapists often get wrong about mindfulness, and how wearable technology might enhance trauma healing. Steve shares his journey from punk rock drummer to EMDR trainer to tech innovator—and how sound and vibration may support grounding, resourcing, and trauma reprocessing.
About Our Guest: Dr. Steve Dansiger
Dr. Steve Dansiger is a clinical psychologist, EMDRIA-approved EMDR consultant, longtime mindfulness practitioner, and co-founder of HapTech Holdings. He is the creator of the MET(T)A Protocol and co-author of multiple books on EMDR, trauma, addiction, and mindfulness. Steve’s work spans clinical practice, innovation, and international teaching, bringing together ancient wisdom and cutting-edge tech.
Key Takeaways:
Therapists and clients often misunderstand mindfulness as “clearing the mind.”
Mindfulness is already embedded in EMDR and helps stabilize and prepare for trauma work.
Starting with just 1–2 minutes a day can be effective, especially with neurodivergent clients.
Wearable tech using sound and vibration may help ground and resource clients in session and beyond.
Therapists need to maintain their own mindfulness practice to model and teach it effectively.
For full show notes, transcripts, and more episodes:
🔗 www.mtsgpodcast.com
Join the Modern Therapist Community:
🌐 Linktree
Creative Credits:
🎙 Voice Over by DW McCann
🎵 Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

Jul 28, 2025 • 1h 14min
Rethinking Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Children reacting to the system around them
Rethinking Oppositional Defiant Disorder—Children Reacting to the System Around Them
Curt and Katie chat about Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), reframing it as a response to systemic and environmental stressors rather than a characterological flaw in children. They explore diagnostic challenges, systemic bias, and treatment considerations that support children and families more holistically. This episode is designed to help therapists critically assess and intervene when working with oppositional or defiant behaviors.
Course Available for CE Credit:One unit of continuing education is available for this episode at moderntherapistcommunity.com. Listen, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and earn your certificate!
Key Takeaways:
Understand how ODD criteria can be misapplied without systemic context
Identify the impact of trauma, neurodivergence, and racism on misdiagnosis
Apply a functional, family systems-based approach to treating oppositional behaviors
Learn which interventions are evidence-based—and which to avoid
Recognize the importance of treating ODD like an adjustment to environment, not a lifelong label
Link to Full Show Notes:Full references, transcript, and resource list at mtsgpodcast.com
Join the Modern Therapist Community:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits:
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com
Voice Over by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW

Jul 21, 2025 • 36min
How Virtual Clinical Supervision is Changing the Field: An Interview with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT
How Virtual Clinical Supervision is Changing the Field: An Interview with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT
Curt and Katie chat with Rachel Ledbetter, LMFT, CEO and Co-Founder of Motivo, about how virtual supervision is transforming therapist training and professional development. We explore how technology can remove barriers for prelicensed clinicians, improve the supervision experience, and create space for mentorship beyond administrative oversight. Rachel also shares insights on the future of AI in mental health and what supervisors can do to better support early career therapists.
Guest Bio:Rachel Ledbetter is the CEO and Co-Founder of Motivo Health, a pioneering platform dedicated to transforming the landscape of mental health care by facilitating virtual clinical supervision for behavioral health professionals. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Rachel's personal experiences navigating the licensure process have profoundly influenced her mission to remove barriers for aspiring therapists. Through Motivo, she continues to make a lasting impact by supporting the next generation of therapists and ensuring that quality mental health services are accessible to all.
Key Takeaways:
Supervision should focus on developing a clinician’s unique identity—not just administrative tasks.
Virtual supervision increases access and continuity, especially for rural and underserved areas.
Motivo actively tracks licensure requirements and verifies supervisor qualifications.
AI can ease therapist burdens (e.g., documentation) but shouldn’t be used to raise productivity quotas.
Supervisors are more effective when they support both professional development and self-of-the-therapist work.
More info and full show notes at mtsgpodcast.com
Join the Modern Therapist Community:https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits:
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – groomsymusic.com
Voiceover by DW McCann – facebook.com/McCannDW