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

Curt and Katie talk about how to take care of your clients, your communities, and yourself after a mass shooting. We look at the types of victims, the different stages of response, and treatment considerations.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: Responding to the recent Mass Shootings The different roles that therapists can be expected to play after a Mass Shooting incident The types of victims of these events (from victims radiating out to people who are learning about these events on social media) The different stages of trauma response – and the caution to not assume everyone will end up with PTSD Who is at risk for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder The different factors that can lead to an emotional response to the shooting, regardless of how close you are to the incident The importance of Psychological First Aid (and how Critical Incident Stress Debriefing can be harmful) Vicarious and Re-traumatization, triggers, no response The impact of previous traumas The importance of community supports and types of community interventions Looking at how to assess boundaries and be part in the community healing Post-Traumatic Growth and finding meaning, purpose How often those with mental illness diagnoses might feel stigmatized when they are scape-goated and should also be supported How the role that therapists play can impact therapists The careful assessment of how you can help and what you can offer to people impacted by these events Important self-care reminders for therapists

An interview with Jeff Guenther, LPC, about how therapy has been whitewashed and biased for a very long time. Curt and Katie talk with Jeff about his efforts to use his privilege to increase inclusion and diversity and to shine a light on biases that we all hold.  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 therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.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 Jeff Guenther, LPCJeff Guenther, LPC, is a therapist in Portland, OR. He has been in private practice since 2005. Jeff is the creator and owner of Portland Therapy Center, a highly ranked therapist directory. He also hosts a podcast called Say More About That about trending mental health topics. Jeff has launched a new progressive therapist directory at TherapyDen that fights racism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination. Sign up for a profile at TherapyDen and get your first six months free.In this episode we talk about: Jeff’s entrepreneurship and his focus on creating access for mental health Therapy directories and how he came to identify the need to use the directory to fight against racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. Using privilege for good and to support inclusion and access for mental health services Looking at the controversy in developing a progressive therapist directory The goal to be inclusive, not solely politically progressive White privilege and bias The problems with Psychology Today and how this directory is slowly seeming to respond and start addressing racial and gender diversity The white washing of therapy and the fight to increase access and diversity Understanding the bias that is being reinforced by Disney Movies How bias can show up in the therapy room, your marketing, and in your intake Addressing systemic bias The history of therapy and how it continues to influence bias Looking at how implicit bias can be addressed by individual therapists The biases that are less understood or addressed The responsibility of therapists to actively work toward societal inclusion The ability to change things in one generation

Curt and Katie talk about the different types of burnout. We look at the differences between employee and entrepreneur burnout, including how to prevent it and how to treat it.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 difference between burnout for employees and entrepreneurs How the different nature of how we work impacts how/why we burn out Employee burnout: cog in the machine, dehumanization, lack of agency Entrepreneur burnout: hustling for income, decision fatigue, facing change with rigidity How to prevent the different types of burnout The importance for putting systems in place to decrease the tendency for entrepreneurial burnout When passion and obsessive efforts can also cause burnout The danger of having a lack of balance between passion and rest or personal life Types of burnout – overload, underchallenged, neglect Moral Injury, locus of control, and the impact of unhealthy work environments The challenges of having to work outside of our “zone of genius” in starting a private practice Different types of shame related to impostor syndrome, “hobby practice,” charging too much How excuses can get in the way Ideas on how to address burnout

An interview with Patrice Douglas, LMFT, talking about mental health stigma in the Black Community. Curt and Katie talk with Patrice about how she is working to decrease stigma and increase access to competent treatment for African Americans. 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 therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.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 Patrice N. Douglas, LMFT, CAMS-IPatrice N. Douglas is a licensed therapist, Certified Anger Management Specialist, and Certified Parent Child Interaction Therapist in California and Texas. She is currently a doctoral candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles. She is the owner of Empire Counseling & Consultation located in CA, NY, and TX where she specializes in anger management, men’s issues, minority mental health, as well as parenting. Patrice is passionate about decreasing stigmas in minority communities by curating initiatives such a t-shirt campaign that spreads awareness about mental health as well as uses the profits to pay for therapy for those who can’t afford it as well as low cost workshops. She has been featured in Bustle, HelloGiggles, Therapy For Black Girls, and other platforms discussing the various topics surrounding mental health.In this episode we talk about: Mental Health Advocacy within the Black Community Reducing Mental Health Stigma How awesome Patrice’s Instagram is The pros and cons about social media and how you can use it to decrease mental health stigma Patrice’s Infographics and how she has used them (and the response that she has gotten) The way Patrice has used social media to provide education and has gotten a lot of visibility Culturally specific impacts of mental health concerns – historical context, religion, lack of trust Barriers to Mental Health Treatment for African American Clients including cultural mistrust The impact of slavery, experimentation, institutionalization on access and perspective The importance of understanding cultural differences, stereotypes, privilege, bias Advice for Allies – hold space, consultation, understand required competence Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome – intergenerational trauma from slavery impacting the current generation of Black people The movement that Patrice is starting to increase awareness and decrease stigma – through t-shirts, infographics The importance of consultation, cultural humility, historical context

Curt and Katie talk about haters, heated online discourse that seems to delight in shaming other therapists, Schadenfreude, and the laziness of taking other people down while squandering the opportunity for creativity and positive discourse.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 backlash from haters that is created when you step out as a therapist The different theories: dehumanizing therapists, protecting the public from bad therapists, pushing back against innovation Characterizing this dynamic as Schadenfreude (and defining it) The irony that therapists are not showing positive, healthy communication online How jealousy and impostor syndrome can show up The ways that therapist training may contribute to these unhealthy conversations Dehumanizing people into brands or when people become intertwined with their concept and the idea is humanized The entitlement that people can feel when interacting with brands, forgetting that there are people behind these brands The emotionality and righteousness in the communication The act of bringing other people down in a public forum, rather than raising up own arguments The plea to bring in alternative perspectives to add to the discourse, rather than focusing on taking the other person down The laziness in just saying that you don’t like something, a passive “take down” The reinforcement that trolls get (likes, comments, arguments) and a call to action to stop feeding the trolls How the bystander role might be relevant Responsibilities of original posters and commenters The impact of social media on professional reputation Curt’s plea to #CitetheStatute The way that social media can feel like we’re talking to ourselves, or to people who are far removed and somehow not impacted by us The lack of emotional resources that can impact how we engage with our community of therapists online The possibilities when we are able to use these social networks for creativity and discourse

An interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr., M.S. LMFT about what it means to be “not your typical psychotherapist.” Curt and Katie talk with Ernesto about the overlap with the #moderntherapist and how to navigate the unique challenges of being different as a therapist.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 therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.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 Ernesto Segismundo, Jr. M.S. LMFTErnesto Segismundo is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Ernesto received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Biola University and received his Masters of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University. Ernesto has over 10 years of clinical counseling experience working in settings such as group homes, domestic violence shelters, churches, and outpatient programs. Ernesto treats marriage and family relationship problems. Ernesto also treat individuals suffering from depression, anxiety and addiction. Along with Ernesto’s counseling experience, he has conducted various classes and seminars concerning relationships and mental health related topics such as parenting, substance abuse, maintaining healthy marriages, private practice social media and video marketing and managed care practices.Ernesto is currently an adjunct professor at Hope International University and owns a group practice called CAV Family Therapy with offices located in Huntington Beach and Fullerton California. In this episode we talk about: The return of Ernesto Segismundo Ernesto’s vision for traveling continuing education The Not Your Typical Psychotherapist Summit What it means to be a “not the typical psychotherapist” and the cross-over with #moderntherapists The difficulty with have “haters” when you break out of the norm The challenge of trying to do something and then getting shamed for not doing “enough.” The importance of finding support with people who get it The big vision that puts you in front of a large audience and makes you vulnerable What it means to be authentically yourself and keep putting yourself out there How being yourself is the same as branding – you will attract and you will repel The social proof that can strongly contribute to these movements How these movements can contribute to improvements in mental health stigma, mental health access The importance of celebrating differences and accepting each other as atypical therapists The benefits and the draw backs of communication on social media How to effect change or provide feedback to people who are in the public eye The difficulty when someone is shamed on social media How you can take care of yourself as someone who is willing to step outside of the box An Alternate title: Congratulations you now have haters

Curt and Katie talk about how to successfully navigate the changes that occur during the summer when you’re in private practice. We look at how to plan for the whole year, sync your vacations with your clients, get business maintenance done during the summer, and make sure you’re incorporating your own self-care.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 change of pace that often happens when the summer hits The importance of taking a bird’s eye view of the full year, rather than focusing month to month How to set your fees to address the time off and missed sessions during the year Planning your vacation at the same time that your clients will be out The need to lead by example, showing self-care and boundaries How to take advantage of down times, so that you are ready for the uptick when the fall hits The types of assessments that you can do on your practice during the summer How to move away from panic, by planning financially for the full year The MTSG challenge: Catch up on your notes in July Setting yourself up for a more lucrative practice with increasing fees or cleaning up practices Taking vacations and getting your practice vacation ready Vacation coverage and helping your practice stay responsive during your vacation The joy of implementing your systems during the slower times (because it takes time) The possibility of having a better schedule when the summer ends – assessing and moving to an ideal schedule after moving people around during the summer Getting training during the summer, so you can actually implement it deliberately Re-evaluating your personal routines and self-care/self-maintenance Putting some effort into getting content (social media, blog posts, marketing, etc.) planned out and created Capitalizing on the creative time out of the office Evaluating your practice and your business planning

An interview with Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor, about creating your own business opportunities when you identify a need in your community (or yourself). Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how to identify what type of entrepreneur you are, how to identify opportunities, and what to consider when adding these businesses to your therapy practice. 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 therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.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 Lawton, Licensed Counselor and Scaling Strategist for the Solo-TherapistMarissa Lawton is a licensed counselor, national board-certified counselor, and member of the American Counseling Association. She is also a corporate-trained marketer, girlmom, and brand whisperer who lights up walking solo-therapists through aligned business building strategies. Marissa is the creator of Side Hustle Support Group, a 6-month mentorship that helps therapists capitalize on their experience and education and pair it with their innate stories and superpowers to scale both themselves and their practices through online income.Her upcoming program, Baby Steps Beyond the Couch, teaches her 90-day methodology for therapists to make their first recurring $1000 in non-clinical revenue. Opening them up to the world of possibilities beyond seeing 1:1 clients. You can learn more about Marissa at marissalawton.comIn this episode we talk about: Marissa’s background in corporate finance What happened for Marissa when Lehman Brothers died and her husband was stationed in the middle of nowhere Alaska How Marissa recreated herself when it became clear that she couldn’t have a conventional job The entrepreneurial practice of finding a gap to fill and how therapists are actually at an advantage The strengths that therapists bring to their work How therapists can miss opportunities due to fear or lack of confidence How to find your passion and what you need to share When comparison can hold us back How we can find needs in our communities, and figuring out The Four Types of Entrepreneurs and the strengths of each The need for transparency in business and how that impacts therapists How to manage the power dynamic when you are a therapist and have another entrepreneurial pursuit How to talk about determining where clients fit and how to navigate the dual relationships that can develop

Curt and Katie talk about how therapists can be called into action in their off time. We look at how being a therapist can impact our relationships, how to put boundaries around your therapist role, and the risks of crossing boundaries between personal and professional roles with your friends and family members.    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 things that therapists might complain about with their therapist friends How to identify what role you play with the people in your life How to not do therapy with your friends or others who are seeking “free therapy” Limit-setting, navigating your loved one’s needs Becoming a resource, not a therapist Giving referrals, supporting connection Specific tactics about how to avoid being the “counselor” for your friends and family members The importance of empowering the people around you to soothe themselves When it is hard to take off the therapist hat Determining how you engage, what emotional energy you have to give after a therapy day When you may decide to step across the line Determining which role your friend or family member actually want you to play How perspective-taking can start irritating the people in our lives and may even lead to you losing your sense of self and identity The expectations that others can have of us How to set the boundaries with your friends and family members The impact of how the role we played in our family of origin can mean a bit role shift after we train to be a therapist How being an emotional hub can impact you as a therapist in the room When it is okay to use some of your therapist skills in your relationships How compassion fatigue and bias can make you a less empathic to your loved ones

An interview with Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW about how we have been trained to handle grief wrong. Curt and Katie talk with Jill about what the Kubler-Ross model is useful for (and what it’s not) as well has how therapists can better deal with grief – for themselves and in their practice. 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 therapists must develop a personal brand to market their practices.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 Jill A. Johnson-Young, LCSW, Grief educator, and CEO of Central Counseling Services of Riverside and MurrietaJill Johnson-Young, LCSW is a dynamic and engaging presenter. She is consistently noted for providing thorough and useful information to meet the needs of the audience. Professional and community seminars have returned reviews thanking her for being the best seminar of the conference, for being personable and including questions from the participants, and for both the lecture content and the interactive portions of the programs. Jill is available for presentations about the following issues: Grief and loss: all ages, all kinds of losses (pets, family, friends, chronic illness and sudden losses, hospice and what to expect, new ways to see grief, coping, how loss impacts the grieving person, others) Dementia: Losses, involved, coping for those with dementia and those impacted by it, recovery after a loss form dementia, family dynamics in coping with dementia When she is not out speaking, which is one of Jill’s favorite parts of her career, she is the CEO and Clinical Director of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California. She is a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator and specializes her private practice work in grief and loss, dementia, trauma, and adoption issues. She has more than a decade of experience with hospice and trains therapists and social workers in areas that include correctly treating childhood trauma, grief and loss, and dementia care. She holds a BA from UC Riverside and her MSW from the University of South Florida.In this episode we talk about: Jill’s story and how she has been nicknamed the grief whisperer, the rebellious widow, and a black widow and how she is a grief rebel disruptor How Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is used incorrectly – it was designed for anticipatory grief The “common knowledge” about grief that is not really common knowledge How our society commonly avoids death, dying, and grief – even therapists are afraid of funerals What normalizing death can do to help your clients, especially children The importance of integrating a lost loved one into your sense of self The unexpected consequences of grief Physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational effects of grief Therapists’ responsibility when treating a griever The concept of reconstructing your life after a loss The differences between typical loss and traumatic loss How people grieve differently, especially related to roles, development, family dynamics Why to pull back from deifying the dead How therapists can handle when their own grief comes up with grieving clients What therapists (and all people) do wrong when interacting with a griever How celebrities dying can impact our clients