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

Marketing with EmpathyAn interview with Kat Love, on the hurdles therapists face when marketing their practices. Curt and Katie talk with Kat about how to develop relationships with referral sources on social media, advice on writing website copy, and the great importance of knowing yourself (and processing some of your stuff) when making a marketing plan. We also talk about some data you’ll want to review to adjust your planning and writing prompts to help get you started.     It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.Interview with Kat LoveTherapists helped Kat heal from childhood sexual abuse, so now they specialize in helping therapists with their marketing. From helping you find the words to write to implementing the marketing strategies you need, Kat helps therapists get more clients, more referrals, and start making an impact. Check out Kat’s services that help with copywriting for therapists and marketing and business coaching for therapists.In this episode we talk about: The hurdles that therapists have to jump over to market their practice How mindset blocks keep therapists from creating a marketing plan The confusion and overwhelm in the DIY marketing space When you don’t know how to execute your marketing plan The problem of doing too many social media channels at once How to network on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter Building relationships with people on social media You can even do cold outreach and warm up the relationship within the digital world The importance of doing things that align with your natural talents and interests The type of data you should be looking at to adjust your marketing plan Ideas for how to market based on who you are Advice on writing website copy How journaling and blocking out time for self-discovery can move you past your blocks Understanding what works for you Vulnerability and self-awareness required for building a business and a website Your website isn’t about you What you may need to process before you can get your marketing on point The key things that need to come through in website copy Speaking to clients’ pain points so they feel seen Writing about the benefits of therapy in general as well as specifically with you Listening to your clients and asking your family and friends to understand how you show up as a helper, listener, and therapist Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!katlove.comempathycopy.comGroup Practice Owner’s SummitRelevant Episodes: Clinical Marketing The Brand Called YouConnect with us!Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences Our consultation services:The Fifty-Minute HourCredits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

Don’t Take Tax Advice from TherapistsAn interview with Julie Herres of GreenOak Accounting on why you shouldn’t take tax advice from random therapists in a Facebook Group. Curt and Katie talk with Julie about common mistakes therapists make while trying to do their own bookkeeping and accounting, a new way to look at expenses, what is (and is not) tax deductible, what business entity you might consider, and why the picture is extra complex right now, meaning expert advice is especially important.   It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.Interview with Julie Herres, GreenOak AccountingJulie Herres is an accountant and the owner of GreenOak Accounting. Her firm provides accounting, bookkeeping & tax services to private practice owners throughout the United States. Their mission is for every practice to be profitable! Julie and her team have worked with hundreds of private practice owners, so they are uniquely positioned to be a trusted advisor to clients. Julie also hosts the Therapy For Your Money Podcast, where she talks about all things money & finance for private practice.In this episode we talk about: The common mistake of not saving enough for taxes Bookkeeping mistakes How to look at your numbers, what numbers you should know about Expenses that may be outsized for your need Problem-solving for when your numbers are out of whack The importance of planning and having a conversation with an expert Being a good steward of the money that is coming into your therapy business What you can do proactively to plan for your business and taxes What you can do to clean up your books and then plan ahead going forward The value of basic budgeting and forecasting, even for 2021 Uncertainty and luck can be navigated Covid expenses and plans for investing in growth What you can still do to address 2020 taxes (including quarterly tax payments) What to spend money on when you have extra money at the end of the year The possibility of maximizing retirement accounts, etc. What you can do into 2021 that still impact 2020 taxes The need for really good advice based on the complexity of income, loans, etc. Which experts to go to for advice, which to go to implement your plan The danger of taking tax advice from a FB group and other questionable advice Personal expenses are not typically tax deductible (therapy, clothes, makeup, etc.) What you can deduct related to gifts Marketing expenses and usual and necessary expenses for business. Different business entities and some of the things to consider when deciding (spoiler alert: get advice because these things are so complex and depend on your full financial picture Things to consider in becoming a corporation and who to get help from How to prepare for changes (or potential changes) expected for 2021 The way in which having an accountant can support you in staying abreast of what you need to know as a business owner Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!Julie’s website: GreenOak AccountingTherapy for Your Money PodcastFree tax planning checklist: greenoakaccounting.com/taxRelevant Episodes: The 4-1-1 on your 401KConnect with us!Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined Conferences Our consultation services:The Fifty-Minute HourCredits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

Therapists Struggling with DarknessCurt and Katie chat about how therapists are struggling during the pandemic. We looked at how client material impacts therapists. We also explored unique risk factors and protective factors. We talked about the stigma for therapists to admit that something is not okay as well as the tendency to move that conversation out of the public space (just go to therapy). We have some ideas about how we can better take care of ourselves and each other.It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.In this episode we talk about: How we are struggling during the pandemic Sitting with client’s darkness and how that impacts therapists even before the pandemic The impact client material can have on therapists The stigma around therapists having mental health concerns Anxiety contagion, energy drain of working with depression Impacts on libido, mood, suicidality Unique risk factors for therapists Risk factors for suicidality The heaviness and suicidality that can enter thought processes The shame and the simplification when therapy is the only suggestion “We deal with some heavy shit.” Taking the conversation about therapists struggles out of the social space (“go to therapy”) The lack of research about therapists as a workforce, the client impact on therapist, or therapists as clients Therapists as human beings in both private and public ways The feeling of being stuck and not being able to talk about it when you’re a therapist How legal and ethical concerns play a part Having a job, having people around you can be protective factors Isolation and lack of social support Boundary issues, vagueness to keep others at bay How therapists support each other (and the importance of social support) The danger of feeling trapped, especially if you’re isolated Practices to incorporate to reinforce resilience How we consume information and how the people around you are perceiving the news can impact you Self-assessment of risk factors, identification of protective factors What actually helps when someone is struggling The group responsibility as well as our individual responsibilities How to manage community care without overburdening yourself The importance of assessing capacity to support and give to our colleagues and friends Creating reinforcements and structure for regular support Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below might be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Signing up for our newsletterRelevant Episodes: Quarantine Self-Care for Therapists Therapist Suicide Suicidal Therapists Therapists in Therapy Toxic Work Environments The Mental Load of Therapists Structuring Self-Care Connect with us!Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2021 Our consultation services:The Fifty-Minute HourCredits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ 

Noteworthy DocumentationAn interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT about some basic documentation information as well as updates relevant to the 21st Century Cures Act. Curt and Katie talk with Ben about what to consider when writing your notes including what to include and what should not be included. We look at who can see your progress notes as well as other considerations related to records requests and confidentiality.      It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.Interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFTDr. Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723) and the Education and Director for SimplePractice Learning. He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics and is the author for several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTS, LPCCs, and LCSWs.In this episode we talk about: Documentation as our favorite thing ever Excitement about Ben breaking the record on number of interviews on this podcast What needs to go into your documentation Accurate, adequate, and timely Standard of care How much information to put into your notes Who is the audience for your documentation Who might request records The importance documentation in continuity of care Where to put client quotes The difference between progress and process or psychotherapy notes What can be subpoenaed (including psychotherapy notes) How much information you include based on what is advisable to protect self The benefit of doing documentation for yourself as well as for treatment efficacy The 21st Century Cures Act – Open Notes (deadline now extended through April 2021) Optional certification process that requires clients to have access to all the information in their chart without charging them) Most mental health providers have no changes required from this change Most private practice EHRs are not on these systems Hospitals may have this requirement, but individual practitioners are not responsible for the mechanism to provide documentation to clients How to make sure you’re ready for clients to see your documentation The communication is going on for people who are required to comply with this open notes mandate, including how to access information and who to contact with questions In most states, clients have a fundamental right to request their records Confidentiality and access to records for family members, especially parents of minor children Conversations to have at the beginning of treatment in these situations regarding what will be included in the chart (and what will not be put into the chart) What not to include in your chart (specifically written reports from child abuse reports) A debate of who owns the record – who can see them is different from who owns them

Grad Programs Moving OnlineCurt and Katie chat about the quick move to online learning when the pandemic hit. We talk about the challenges with virtual platforms – what has worked and what has not. We look at the decisions related to starting or continuing therapist education at this time. We also talk about the opportunities that have been gained and ideas for students and professors on how to more effectively approach online graduate programs.It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.In this episode we talk about: Graduate programs for therapists moving online during the pandemic The education one applied for is vastly different from what you’re getting right now The rapid shift to online education and lack of deliberate choices to shift how to teach Synchronous and asynchronous elements of education The requirement for faculty to learn and utilize technology effectively A lack of interaction due to polite students keeping their mics off The spoke and wheel conversations that impact how learning happens The lack of guidance on how to create truly effective online education Navigating time on screens Role plays translating into learning telehealth, rather than in-person therapy The lack of interaction with the material, more passive learning Developing clinical efficacy for telehealth The uncertainty of the efficacy of clinical work in the newer space of telehealth The impact on discussions social justice, racial and cultural identity, due to the ability to opt out of the conversation in online education The importance of figuring out how people learn and how it applies to the online space Should people delay or pause education? What the impacts on the workforce might be Opportunities within the online learning space, especially when the technology is well used Theoretical versus practical base The need to have more deliberate and direct conversations to create connections that may have happened organically The adjustments and planning that may improve the situation Different factors that impact each student’s and each professor’s ability to engage Looking at expectations, support, and needed infrastructure What students can do to better access education during this time Developing personal relationships with professors Putting together options to increase connection and interaction with peers Seeking career mentorship and synchronous conversations Moving from venting and commiserating to advocacy within the system The ability to make changes, be nimble, and put forward a collective voice

Career Trekking with MTSGAn interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT on her journey from community mental health to private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how she used the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast to shift her mindset and change her career trajectory. Marissa highlights the benefits of belief, guidance, and community.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.Interview with Marissa Esquibel, LMFT“Though she be but little, she is fierce.”– ShakespeareMarissa Esquibel is not like a regular therapist, she’s a cool therapist. With her practice located near Los Angeles, Marissa is on a one-woman mission to empower young women to stop playing small and to start taking up space. She works exclusively with young adults, 20-something’s, who are checking off all the boxes of “success,” and yet, they feel like failures internally. They often come to Marissa dealing with depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, or codependency. As an undergraduate, she attended UC Santa Barbara and then received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. In September of 2018, she became licensed and opened-up shop to her virtual therapy practice in March 2020. When Marissa is not in session with patients, she spends her time reading, hanging out with friends and family, binging on podcasts and audiobooks, attending her own therapy, and making sure to get her 10,000 steps a day. She loves her work, job, and life and looks forward to connecting with you. Learn more about Marissa at therapywithmarissa.comIn this episode we talk about: Marissa’s burnout story and how she made the trek from community mental health to private practice Reflections on the question: what do therapists get wrong (and the self-analysis and feedback informed nature of the question) The idea of self-sacrifice and hard work being required to be a good therapist The importance of critical thinking regarding what is effective, what is healthy for me How Marissa made the decision to move to a group practice and then her own private practice Marissa’s experience at Therapy Reimagined 2019 and her follow up with speakers The need for belief, guidance, and community Marissa talks about the episodes that helped her to move forward How Marissa implemented a new plan for her career “I choose this agony, this heart ache, this effort” – Marissa Esquibel, LMFT Marissa’s choice to be vulnerable at this time and to keep on going The determination and belief that has kept Marissa moving forward on her vision and mission The need to hear from (and connecting with) people at each stage of career development

Quarantine Self-Care for TherapistsCurt and Katie chat about the challenges for therapists during the pandemic. We look at what is unique to therapists’ experiences, causes of burnout, and ways in which therapists can work to protect their mental health and wellness during this time.It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.In this episode we talk about: How therapists can take care of themselves during this time The risks for burnout during COVID – study in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry Taking on clients’ emotions, reacting together in real time Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma The strain of “in this together” Lack of the usual go-to self-care practices Lack of in-person community and connection Difficulty in getting feedback related to how we’re being received Not knowing if we’re providing effective therapy The concept of stasis, and just waiting for things to go back to normal Longer term therapy due to lack of progress or on-going stressors The lack of distraction from work or other responsibilities The danger of filling time with work The struggle or concern related to raising fees during a pandemic How work may have become more of a grind Lack of creativity or inspiration The importance of taking a self-assessment Realistic expectations Priorities and values All the roles we are playing right now What resources do we have available to us? Creating separation between work and personal space (through physical separation, ritual, structure) How to identify opportunities with what is happening now Identifying new challenges and risks, how to mitigate risks Creating a sustainable situation even if it is just for now Managing your schedule Connecting with your community, so you don’t feel so isolated The importance of breaks

An interview with Katie K. May about creating effective therapy groups. They discuss the challenges therapists face, different types of groups, aligning clients with curriculum, and overcoming anxiety. Also, the importance of screening process, transitioning to telehealth, embodying DBT concepts, and marketing strategies for filling therapy groups.

Online Therapy AppsCurt and Katie chat about online platforms that hire clinicians to provide therapy through their apps. We look at how companies like Talkspace and BetterHelp operate related to their workforce, customer data use, and effective client care. We look at the potential for increased mental health access. We also talk about the risks as well as ethical and legal concerns that clinicians may face if they choose to provide services through these apps.  It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.In this episode we talk about: The different telehealth platforms that hire therapists The boundary and privacy issues identified at Talkspace from a NY Times article The use of customer data Clinical efficacy Risk and liability issues related to incorporating Artificial Intelligence into treatment How the platforms work on the clinician side, how clinician gets paid The packages that clients get on word limits, etc. where they may have to renew early to continue treatment The potential clinical issues with how therapists get paid in these apps What is incentivized for therapists on these platforms The boon to mental health access and treatment flexibility from these apps, including text, phone, and video (synchronous and asynchronous communication) The caution about these apps growing beyond their capacity to serve clients The types of clients who are good candidates for these platforms The concern about clients being anonymous to their therapists Managing escalating risk without sufficient information “Counselor” versus “Counseling” services, which provides some cover related to requirements for therapy services and for employee concerns The potential for practicing across state lines The Talkspace memo about practicing across state lines and the app paying for legal fees The legal and ethical risks for practicing across state lines, no matter the help from Talkspace Rating manipulation – false reviews

Biden and Trump on Mental HealthCurt and Katie chat about policies, promises, and actions taken by President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden related to mental health. We look at mental health parity, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, prisons, funding priorities, as well as the importance of voting.It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.In this episode we talk about: The promises and the actions taken by President Trump and Vice President Biden on mental health Mental Health Parity and the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Funding and Social Services Prison and Jail Systems Mental Health workforce The difference between budget allotments and how much money actually gets to the programs The opioid epidemic Suicide prevention and veterans How the candidates talk about mental health and drug abuse Trumps attack on Hunter Biden and desire to reopen mental institutions Control and punishment versus prevention and support Biden normalizing mental health care The importance of voting