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

Authentic Side HustlesAn interview with Annie Schuessler about when and how to consider adding a business outside the therapy room. Curt and Katie explore with Annie about how someone can actually succeed in developing a side hustle, looking at the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and effective products and services.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 Annie Schuessler, MFT, Rebel TherapistAnnie Schuessler is a business coach and the host of the podcast Rebel Therapist® where she shares stories of people creating unique and innovative businesses. She’s been a therapist in private practice for 20 years, and a business coach for over 10 years. Her mission is to help people trained as therapists create and launch exceptional programs beyond the therapy room. She lives in San Francisco with her wife and two children. When she’s not recording a podcast or working with her clients, you can find her trying to convince her family to play Catan with her. You can find her resources at rebeltherapist.me.In this episode we talk about: The mistakes therapists make in developing their side hustles Why it doesn’t make sense to go for passive income right away The importance of creativity and passion for the impact you want to have The role burnout should (or should not) play in what you decide to do Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs Why you need grit and perseverance The problem with cookie cutter programs or programs from people one step ahead of you Where to focus and how to initially develop your offering The need for identifying what you have to offer and how to develop authority Owning your experience and standing out Selling a process versus expert information The challenges of marketing and some ideas about how to address these challenges Authentic relational approach for therapists turned coaches The considerations for starting another business now during the COVID pandemic and the global economic crisis Why fluff won’t sell, especially now Creation of free resources to provide value to your community The risk of repurposing others’ work for your own The need to articulate your unique viewpoint, understand your mission and purpose The fear of being bold and standing out 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 are 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!Rebel TherapistRebel Therapist PodcastRelevant Episodes:Creating OpportunitiesClinical MarketingBeyond Selling the CouchConnect 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/

Shared Traumatic ExperiencesCurt and Katie chat about the potential that clients will take care of us because we’re all going through the global pandemic. We look at the humanization and boundary shifts that can happen. We also talk about how to handle the nuance of the changes in the therapeutic relationship to help sustain stronger clinical efficacy.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 clients may become more aware of their therapist’s own challenges due to the pandemic Clients testing to see if we have capacity to manage what is happening AND their issues as well The reality of the additional disclosure that is happening with telehealth How we’re managing the conversations about the human experience, the unique situations we’re facing, and our clients’ concerns The disinhibition effect for both clients and therapists via telehealth Discussions about availability and flexibility with clients Research on Shared Traumatic Experiences Boundary shifts that need to be discussed How to handle the shifts in the relationship with nuance The need for therapists to take care of themselves – more deliberately and differently than we might have done prior to the pandemic The added stressors that are being put on therapists that our clients are likely aware of The importance of not pathologizing our clients wanting to take care of us during this time The positives for telehealth and some of the boundary shifts The importance of community for therapists right now Acknowledging that therapists who have stayed in the office require support as well Risk factors for therapists who wear different hats and have different projects 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! Article by Lori Gottlieb in the AtlanticArticle about the Disinhibition Effect Article: Therapeutic Intervention in a Continuous Shared Traumatic Reality: An Example from the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict Article: Negative consequences of helping and the length of work experience Article: Shared Traumatic Reality and Boundary Theory: How Mental Health Professionals Cope With the Home/Work Conflict During Continuous Security Threats  Therapy Reimagined 2020:Therapy Reimagined 2020 Conference: Speakers!!Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors Relevant Episodes:The Brand Called YouRecession-Proofing Your PracticeSystems of Self-CareImpaired TherapistsTrauma Informed Work PlaceThe Mental Load of TherapistsVulnerability, the News, and You Connect with us!Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference) Our consultation services:The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

The Person of the TherapistAn interview with Dr. Harry Aponte about challenging the idea that therapists can be blank screens or “surgeons.” We talk with Dr. Aponte about the importance of the self of the therapist in creating the relationship and doing effective clinical work. We also look into his Person of the Therapist Training and much of his body of work supporting therapists as well as communities of color. Interview with Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFTDr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT, is a family therapist known for his writings and workshops on the person of the therapist, spirituality in therapy, therapy with disadvantaged and culturally diverse families, and structural family therapy. Dr. Aponte was a staff member and teacher of family therapy at the Menninger Clinic, and subsequently Director of the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center. Currently, Dr. Aponte is clinical associate professor in the Couple & Family Therapy Program of Drexel University in Philadelphia. He has a private practice in Philadelphia, and conducts training and workshops throughout the country and abroad.Dr. Aponte published Bread & Spirit through Norton, a book that speaks to therapy with today’s poor in the context of ethnicity, culture and spirituality.Dr. Aponte and Dr. Karni Kissil have edited a book entitled The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self, published by Routledge (2016).In this episode we talk about: Aponte’s story, including his work with Salvador Minuchin, Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen Debunking the idea that therapists act as surgeons and that clients from marginalized communities “don’t talk.” Aponte’s racial background interacting with the work that he did The reasons he was asked so frequently asked to work with families in poverty-stricken areas How the ideas in The Person of the Therapist came to be Bringing mental health into communities of color Social justice and advocacy within the therapist’s purview Working with Jim Lester, an activist in Philadelphia, to bridge the gap between education, mental health services for kids who were truant The ideas of structural therapy being translated into the communities The difference of lived experience in bringing oneself into the therapeutic relationship The Person of the Therapist training at Drexel University How Harry’s personal experiences continue to impact his work What is missing in most clinical training The use of self in therapy The importance of knowing yourself before you become a therapist The idea that you must also know your hang ups and challenges and what you’ll be bringing into the room, so you can recognize and be “with” your clients “Therapy is not a conversation; it is an experience.” – Dr. Harry Aponte The vulnerability of being a therapist and the need to do work your work early in your training The importance of doing versus reading about what should be done Reasons that understanding yourself and bringing yourself into room provides better therapy 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 are 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! Family Therapy Pioneer Salvador Minuchin on the Therapist’s Self (article in Psychotherapy Networker) The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self (book) Relevant Episodes:How to BE a Therapist Connect with us!Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference) 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/

Returning to the OfficeCurt and Katie chat about the considerations for reopening offices closed during shelter in place orders. We talk through the specific logistical, clinical, and legal and ethical elements of the decision-making process for those who shifted to telehealth in response to the pandemic.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 importance of therapists assessing their own needs prior to returning to in-person work The proposed phased reopening of California The unique elements of different practices that might impact your timing (logistics, populations treated, coordination with other clinicians in the same space, etc.) Clinical considerations for how therapy is delivered during this time The challenge of managing a waiting room Ideas how to apply recommendations from the CDC or WHO to a therapy office Systems to put into place, policies to consider (especially related to employees and wage replacement for ill workers) How to communicate with your clients The need to identify what boundaries you will hold and how you will address them clinically The ability to have these conversations ahead of time, the additional time you can use to move back to the office, if you decide to Telehealth insurance reimbursement – ideas and advocacy recommendations Shortening the work week, using your office for as few days as possible, staggering shifts in group practices Removing items that don’t need to be in the waiting room or any other spaces ADA accessibility that decreases contact with door knobs Cleaning protocols HEPA filters – mixed feedback and things to think about Requirements for clinicians and clients to stay home if sick, to wear a mask if entering the building Waiving late cancel fees for illness, or strong recommendations for shifting to telehealth in those situations Potential liability if taking temperatures of clients, other ideas, etc. Physical distancing, keeping telehealth going when possible, contactless sessions Tracing contacts – the ability (or mandate) to disclose who has come to your office Updating your office policies and consents Strategically planning for reopening an office 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! The Phases for Reopening California CDC Resource Page Recommendations from CDC CDC Guidance on Cleaning and Disinfecting Recommendations from WHORecommendations from OSHA Therapy Reimagined 2020:Therapy Reimagined 2020 Conference: Speakers!!Therapy Reimagined 2020 Call for Sponsors Relevant Episodes:The Viral EpisodeConfidential Communications Connect with us!Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference) Our consultation services:The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

Curt and Katie talk about the concern that therapists will be gaslit as therapist workforce takes on the next epidemic – the mental health pandemic. We discuss how mental health workers are seen as essential, but are not paid or are underpaid. We dig into the dangerous “Hero Narrative” and its specific impacts on the health and livelihood. We also provide some calls to action to move our profession in the right direction, especially during these times.             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 concern that mental health workers are seen as essential, but are often not paid The stagnation of wages already present in our profession The opportunity to stand up and improve our profession The call for volunteers that has already started The challenge of considering volunteerism relative to the needs of your clients and your family The other opportunities to give back and serve clients for free and increase access to mental health services The public demonization of therapists pushing back on requests to provide free mental health services The danger of the Hero Narrative The specific impact of the feminization of caring and helping professions The fallacy of “getting paid” in supervised hours How this work is like jumping on a grenade for the greater good (and you can only jump on one grenade) Ways to pull out the idea that “Sacrificing” yourself is necessary or even acceptable as a therapist – looking at ourselves as the instruments of change requiring us to protect ourselves Call to Action – the need to stand up for self-protection, refrain from taking unpaid positions, positions without proper protections, and from taking supervisory positions that support these types of organizations Call to Action – Contacting legislators to support only legislation that provides protections for the therapists, demand language that only provides funding to agencies that already pay their workers Call to Action – Pressure professional organizations to support and write these types of bills The importance of asking for a living wage for mental health workers How to give back and volunteer responsibly and thoughtfully

An interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager at Hushmail, about how to appropriately comply with HIPAA in how you communicate with your clients. Curt and Katie talk with Jarrod about encryption, security considerations, and how (and why) to create a HIPAA compliant office, even now.Interview with Jarred Bolen, Technical Account Manager, HushmailJarred Bolen joined Hushmail in 2016 with over five years of support experience for software and telecommunications companies and a longtime interest in internet security. Starting in Customer Care, he moved to the Sales team as a Technical Account Manager in 2019, and now helps new Hushmail customers connect with their clients and colleagues.In this episode we talk about: How to use email (even your normal email) in a HIPAA compliant manner The benefits of encryption, what it is, and types of encryption available Going beyond what is required to address the ethics of keeping your client’s information safe Who is required to be HIPAA compliant, e.g., covered entities The argument against the complaint that it is an inconvenience to clients to remain compliant The consideration related what is (or is not) Protected Health Information (PHI) How to create a HIPAA-compliant office The importance of documentation of your processes Potential legislation asking for back doors into encrypted services – concerns and potential risks Staying up-to-date with updates within the tech sector Setting yourself up for success from the beginning (even if you start this type of secure communication during the global pandemic) What is included in Hushmail service, how Hushmail has evolved from the beginning Our Generous Sponsor: Therapy ReimaginedSo…you’re wondering how to make it through this. Worried about finances, what’s next, how to keep doing your best therapy, continued adjusting to telehealth, etc. Now, more than ever, it may be worth it to invest in your clinical and business decisions to improve your practice. We recognize that getting help is better than going at it alone.During overwhelming or uncertain times (like these) it can be especially helpful to seek supervision or consultation. When you can’t get out of your own panic or concrete thinking, we’d like to be your thinking partner. But we know that money is uncertain, so we’re offering our 50-minute-hour at half price. That’s right - a consultation with Curt or Katie (while we’re stuck in quarantine) for only $100.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 are 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!Special offer from Hushmail: Hushmail is a secure email, web form, and e-signature service that lets you send and receive private, encrypted emails, attachments, and web forms to and from anyone, even people who don't use Hushmail. With easy-to-use webmail, a secure message center, drag-and-drop form builder, and iPhone app, there's no complicated installation. Just sign up and start sending securely. Our Healthcare plans come configured for HIPAA compliance, and our legally binding e-signatures comply with ESIGN and UETA.New Hushmail for Healthcare customers who sign up through Therapy Reimagined receive a 10 percent lifetime discount!  HHS Risk AssessmentOur consultation services:The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

Curt and Katie talk about the updates to the Ethics Code for CAMFT that was approved in December, 2019. We talk about the new guidance on testimonials, marketing to each other’s clients, and duplication of services. We look at what we can do and what we probably still shouldn’t do.         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 California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Code of Ethics Update Solicitation of testimonials – clarifying who you can ask for testimonials Re-evaluating clients, looking at how they have their own agency and autonomy Defining “undue influence,” seeking legal definition to aid the understanding what should be considered within the ethics code change Looking at how the perceived or actual power differential impact can be considered Even if we can, should we solicit testimonials? Appropriate tactics for asking for testimonials Looking at antitrust and other reasons for these changes Why we can now compete for each other’s clients How we can see each other’s clients Do what makes sense and don’t be a jerk

Episode 149: Treating First RespondersAn interview with Yael Shuman, LMFT, on the unique challenges that First Responders face and treatment considerations. Curt and Katie talk with Yael about what therapists get wrong working with first responders, especially when therapists are unable to keep their stuff together when these clients disclose their traumatic experiences. We look at resources, resilience, and preparing for trauma (rather than waiting for it to occur).       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 Yael Shuman, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, EMDR and EA-EMDR trainedYael Shuman, is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with more than 25 years’ experience working with individuals, couples, and organizations. Yael is passionate about helping people to live a fulfilling life. Trauma interrupts life by creating a stuck place that is uncomfortable and distressing. Without the right knowledge and skills, you cannot move beyond the distress. With skills development in emotional stability and resiliency, people can reduce the impact of a traumatic situation and have improved coping skills to help them move forward and process the trauma from distress to fulfillment.She maintains a private practice in Denver, Colorado. She has experience in PTSD/ trauma, and specializes with Military and Veteran and First Responders issues, and how to express the experiences through communication. Her practice includes providing EMDR for trauma treatment, supervises interns, and working with life issues including developing healthy relationships, stress management, anxiety, depression (including PPD) and divorce recovery. It is well researched that people living with trauma are likely to experience more of these life issues and, if they are left unaddressed, then further disruption in life is likely to occur. Yael has years of experience and believes it is incredibly important to assist clients with emotional stability, for them to feel safe and secure, before processing their trauma.Prior to her work as a Marriage & Family Therapist, Mrs. Shuman spent 5 years working with Los Angeles County Child Protective Services (Family Preservation Unit) and foster care. She holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from California Family Study Center and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California State University Northridge. She is trained in EMDR and Equine-assisted EMDR. Additionally, she is a member of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapists, EMDRIA, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.In this episode we talk about: Unique challenges of working with First Responders and the unique culture Training that first responders typically get (and don’t get) The lack of training on trauma responses and developing resilience The culture of silence related to first responders – they don’t report distress or trauma responses – you can’t take it, you’re broken The risk of first responders who die by suicide The impacts of lack of therapist training and experience on individual clients The challenge of holding space for traumatic experiences of first responders The disturbing events that first responders regularly experience A perspective on how to interact with trauma with our clients The importance of specific training on working with first responders

An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell about the rapidly changing directives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Curt and Katie interview Ben about telehealth, HIPAA, and all of the efforts of continuity of care during quarantine, shelter-in-place orders. We look at legal, ethical, and clinical responsibilities during these uncertain times.        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 Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD, LMFTBenjamin 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 Statue 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: How to identify what to do and how to respond to all the changing instructions from officials about practicing therapy during these times The debate around telehealth versus in person treatment The legal and ethical responsibilities therapists hold regarding continuity of care Client opt-in and preference, fears about client abandonment The myth that you are required to keep seeing clients no matter what The moral aspect of choices made during treatment, especially during uncertain times like these Clinical considerations for clients who are not appropriate for telehealth The importance of identifying and managing all types of risks during these times The fallacy that you can now practice across state lines without any restrictions The possibilities for seeing clients who have returned home to other states, the reasonable argument for continuity of care Advice for implementing telehealth quickly, including choosing a HIPAA compliant platform The benefits of complying with telehealth training requirements Misinformation that can confuse folks within the Facebook Therapist Groups The challenges that licensing boards are facing related to testing and licensing delays and related laws or regulations Professional wills – basic requirements and legal/ethical responsibilities Connecting with clients, human to human related to illness and emergency The growing importance of communication in this new era of health awareness The requirements for “essential workers”

Curt and Katie talk about how to prepare for economic uncertainty as one of the ripple effects from COVID-19. We talk about practical suggestions of what you can do now to weather a recession as well as continue forward with the practice you’d like to build.        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 economic uncertainty as a ripple effect from COVID-19 Looking at the research after the Great Recession The importance of self-assessment and business-assessment, being thoughtful about the decisions you make about your business Moving beyond scrambling to telehealth into changes you want to incorporate longer-term How to prepare for a changing world How critical cash flow can be during these times Tightening your financial practices (e.g., timely invoicing and charging credit cards, billing insurance, collecting copays) Focusing on profit, not growing your business Looking at your numbers (revenue, expenses, profit) How to be agile without taking on too much risk Understanding what you do that is the highest value offering (highest profit margin) and do more of that – maximizing your most profitable services Pay off and minimize debt, cutting costs to improve financial position Setting yourself with a rainy-day fund Navigating to weather uncertainty Exploring different business models that are focused on need versus luxury Being intentional with how you adjust offerings and how you are flexible in your practice Therapists’ requirement to manage their own needs (in therapy or otherwise) to sustain their therapy practice – clients need guidance and feel like they are getting what they are paying for Pay attention to your numbers to continue monitoring what you need to do The importance of the customer experience and maintaining your current clients Communicating clearly with your clients and prospects How to increase the quality of your offerings to sustain current clients and get new ones Plan for the long-term of your practice