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

An interview with Shira Myrow, LMFT about how therapists carry a mental load for their clients, in addition to the load they carry as entrepreneurs and people. Curt and Katie talk with Shira about how to identify (and intervene) when therapists uncover this dangerous burden.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 Shira Myrow, LMFT Shira Myrow is a licensed marriage and family therapist, mindfulness educator and founder of the mindfulness based Yale St. Therapy Group based in Santa Monica where she works in private practice. Shira specializes in relationship intelligence—treating couples and marriages with a focus on rebuilding attunement, improving attachment, and creating emotional literacy. Shira also works with individuals in transition looking for love, in break up recovery or going through divorce. Shira has a special focus on treating adult children of severely mentally ill parents with attachment injuries, including parents with borderline personality disorder, bi-polar and schizophrenia. Shira is also a writer and a regular contributor for Goop online magazine.You can learn more about Shira and contact her here:Website www.shiramyrowtherapy.com/Email: therapy.smyrow@gmail.comInstagram: @shiramyrowlmft, @yalesstreettherapyIn this episode we talk about: The definition of Mental Load, with some of the history of the concept Curt’s admission that Katie is carrying the mental load of this business relationship Invisible emotional labor of managing daily lives and relationships The invisible emotional load that therapists carry for clients and how that might be leading to less respect from other medical professionals How the mental load from work can negatively impact personal life The importance of intentional disconnection from the work when going home. How the mental load can stay in your body, even when you mentally or emotionally disconnect from the work How mindfulness can help address this challenge The danger of privileging productivity above all else The idea of how to incorporate this knowledge into therapist training The complexity of business ownership, modern life, the connectedness afforded by technology The onslaught of information that we get as individuals in the world AND as therapists Attunement and presence in session, with self-regulation, so you can do the work without feeling cold and disconnected Allowing versus suppressing emotions – so you can observe and have emotions pass Tips for identifying when the mental load is having an impact, how to prevent or respond The negative impact of stress on our bodies How society has acclimated to unhealthy levels of stress and technology The unreasonable expectations that come from being plugged in Losing empathy and connection The human struggle to incorporate mindfulness Economy of effort “Life shouldn’t be reduced to a to do list” - Shira Myrow

Curt and Katie talk about how therapists’ outside passions and pursuits can come into the therapy room. We talk about the thought, consideration, and intention that can help these elevate your practice, rather than hurt your clients.   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: Curt’s obsession with running marathons and talking about running in his therapy sessions How your outside identity, hobbies, obsessions, etc. can impact your therapy sessions, your branding How to identify if you can bring your outside stuff into the room Acknowledging things that are obvious to clients, but with sensitivity and conscientiousness When you need to align your niche with your outside passions The possibility of triggering your clients and how to handle that When your outside activities positively impact your work The need to avoid over-identification when sharing hobbies or obsessions with your client Self-disclosure is for the benefit of the client Identifying what is yours and what is your client’s How deliberate practice informs this decision Grounding yourself before session, refocusing and making sure you stay present during session How these activities can make ideas and interventions more tangible The danger of advice giving when you are truly passionate about your activities Making sure to be intentional about your relationship and your treatment by reviewing treatment goals prior to each session Deliberate practice as a mechanism to make sure these obsessions don’t come into session in a negative way Shared interests leading to connection and then short-hand that helps to move the relationship forward Honesty and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship

An interview with Lana Benedek, MD, integrative psychiatrist, on how psychiatry can be practiced differently (not just prescribing medication). Curt and Katie talk with Lana about the importance of focusing on the whole person and incorporating lifestyle changes and commonsense health practices like diet, exercise, sleep and mindfulness in the quest for sustained wellness.  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 Lana Benedek, MD Lana Benedek, MD, is an integrative psychiatrist, consultant and teacher who has worked for more than 15 years with adolescents and adults, helping them to resolve issues of anxiety, depression and addiction. Throughout her career, Lana has been keenly interested in empowering individuals to create long-term healing beyond prescription medication and give them the tools to create lasting well-being. To that end, she has practiced mindfulness meditation and yoga for more than a decade, using it as a foundation for her own life and her approach to treatment. She currently facilitates mindfulness-based therapy groups for individuals with anxiety, depression and addiction throughout Los Angeles, including at the Mind Body Tree House and Resolutions Treatment Center. Additionally, she is on the clinical faculty of the University of Southern California (USC) where she teaches psychiatry trainees about mindfulness and self-care to reduce burnout and stress. Early in her medical career, Lana became interested in the marriage of medicine and other modalities of healing. During medical school while working on the pediatric ward of Howard Hospital in remote Zimbabwe, Lana became attuned to our society’s dependence on external medical treatments, which led her to begin practicing yoga and meditation. Later working with clients in the faculty practice, at USC and within the student health center at University of California at Los Angeles, she saw the benefits of incorporating mindfulness-based practices within her therapy.You can learn more about Lana Benedek, MD at https://drbenedek.com.In this episode we talk about: What Integrative Psychiatry is and what it is not The importance of mind, body, and community Why to focus on root causes and not symptoms How psychiatry can actually focus on least invasive methods, rather than going straight to medication Strengths, individuals’ ability to heal themselves Integrating traditional and alternative methods for healing Walking your talk as a practitioner The goal of sustained wellness, rather than symptom remission Mindfulness and mindfulness-based therapies How the system has evolved to having psychiatrists being the prescribers Risks and benefits of medication How medicine cannot address the underlying causes of symptoms The risk of dependence and withdrawal The importance of the scientific rigor in choosing interventions When clinical experience and values-based medicine are needed The importance of an anti-inflammatory diet: vegetables, good fats, legumes, lean proteins, nuts and seeds, whole grains How your diet can make you depressed Exercise is just as good as an antidepressant for your mood The importance of sleep The commonsense ways to help yourself feel better How to collaborate with an integrative psychiatrist Promoting Mental Wellness Looking at strengths and the whole person, rather than symptoms within a rigid treatment framework Psychoeducation on the causes of your mental health concerns

Curt and Katie talk about antitrust laws – how they impact therapists, how to avoid concerns, and what to pay attention to when you’re a therapist.   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: Sherman Antitrust Law Why antitrust laws are important Looking at insurance companies and the discrepancy that therapists are more held to antitrust than insurance companies for complicated reasons Therapy practices are businesses and in competition with each other Price Fixing and Market Share agreements The problem and risk with group boycotts The difference between colluding and discussing publicly available information How competition discussing fees in small Facebook groups can lead to price fixing The Cardigan Cartel How to communicate fees and discuss insurance issues without getting into antitrust issues Individuals on insurance panels are still competitors How Antitrust can be anti-consumer What the risks are for discussing pros and cons of different insurance panels How to avoid anti-trust problems Why you should talk to an attorney if you’re concerned How interstate commerce relates to antitrust and how Insurance Plans can play a game to get out of all of this The differences between employees who can strike and separate businesses banding together How Single-Payer relates to this topic How associations play into this and why they can survey their members on fees and other aspects of their businesses The difference between being responsible as a business owner and following the trends Sharing information, without making decisions and planning together How often therapists or other healthcare providers get in trouble for antitrust concerns, as well as related licenses Publicly available information is safe to discuss Share information, but don’t put a call to action to do something with your colleagues

An interview with Melvin Varghese, Ph.D., on how he has created and nurtured three therapist-related businesses. Curt and Katie talk with him about how he decided what to create and how he manages these endeavors. 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 Melvin Varghese, Ph.D. Melvin Varghese, PhD is a psychologist in private practice (melvinvarghese.com) in Philadelphia where he works primarily with entrepreneurs and leaders. He's also the founder of Selling The Couch (sellingthecouch.com), a podcast and blog that helps mental health practitioners build careers in and out of the therapy room. He has also started a podcasting course and a community for helpers and healers who podcast, called the Healthcasters (sellingthecouch.com/the-healthcasters). He has also created the STC Directory (sellingthecouch.com/directory), a resource to help private practitioners better connect with one another.In this episode we talk about: How the podcast Selling the Couch got started Additional options for therapists The multiple income stream mindset for therapists Melvin’s transition into being a father and how it impacted his businesses Creating alternative revenue streams when life happens Moving away from only being paid for “butt in seat time.” The guilt when generating income without being present Melvin’s immigration story and how it has impacted his business mindset Deciding on income streams (it is profitable, is it scalable) There is no such thing as “passive” income How to sustain creative energy on new products or services Thinking through the energy and time needed for the sustainability of the alternative income stream Just because you have an idea, doesn’t mean it is a good idea (long-term and sustainable) Building business around family (rather than fitting family in around business) Thinking through how to start and then scale products The upfront mental, emotional, and creative energy for launching alternative income streams Setting an end goal Focusing on one project at a time Solidifying, streamlining, and delegating before moving to the next project Time management, time blocking How Melvin does market research Testing products with Beta Testers Where Melvin gets data, i.e., how do therapists get clients Using and breaking down technology Learning from mistakes The difficulty in sustaining a lot of projects Looking to make an impact and leave a legacy, rather than making money  Relevant Resources:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:Selling the Couch Podcast Katie’s appearance on Melvin’s podcastThe Healthcasters CourseThe STC Directory Apple Insider (books on Steve Jobs) Book: The One Thing Book: 21 Irrefutable Laws of LeadershipThe Call for Speakers for Therapy Reimagined 2019The Modern Therapists Group on FacebookTherapy Reimagined 2019 Relevant Podcast EpisodesOpen to OpportunitiesCredits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ 

Curt and Katie talk about why to join your professional organization, how to best take advantage of the benefits of your membership, and what associations actually 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: Why to join your professional organization What your membership fees go to Advocacy efforts, legislation Finding the cultural fit for your professional organization Joining based on your license, the focus of the org, education The tools that professional organizations provide to their members The power of numbers in advocacy Networking and getting referrals within your local chapter Community building Learning and growing Relationship building How to assess return on investment on joining Opportunities for leadership, education, networking Creating friendships Differentiating yourself within your local community Decreasing isolation Gaining perspective on your work/business situation Continuing Education Making an impact on how your professional organization operates Communication about the current state of affairs Needed information for both pre-licensed and licensed individuals Magazines, Scholarly Journals How to get involved, show up consistently Committees, projects, volunteering How to approach the situation whether you’re an introvert, ambivert, or extrovert Benefits to your business, network and community, education, advocacy, and fun Vote for Curt Widhalm, LMFT for President-Elect of CAMFT

An interview with Daniela Paolone, LMFT about how she treats clients with chronic pain and illnesses while navigating her own diagnosis. Curt and Katie talked with Daniela about how typical therapy doesn’t work for these clients, providing practical strategies for treatment and therapist self-care.Interview with Daniela Paolone, LMFTDaniela Paolone is a Marriage and Family Therapist who is licensed in California and Wyoming and offers support to those impacted by anxiety, depression, life transitions, chronic pain, chronic illness, and medical trauma. She provides online and in-person counseling to California residents and offers online counseling to Wyoming residents. As a therapist with chronic health conditions, she utilizes her personal experiences and professional training in her counseling work. Daniela’s integrative approach helps her clients learn new ways of coping so that they can live more fulfilling lives and feel empowered as they move through life challenges, such as medical illness and chronic pain.  Daniela also offers workshops and consultation support for mental health professionals. She also provides community presentations focused on pain management, stress management, sleep solutions and more. If you want to learn about where she is presenting next, you can sign up for her newsletter here. When you sign up, you will also receive a free guided meditation as thank you gift.  In this episode we talk about: Why Daniela decided that she wanted to go into working with chronic pain and illness as her area of specialty What was missing in the treatment she had seen for chronic pain and illness sufferers The need for structure and for understanding How she has decided how to disclose about her own diagnosis, medical procedures, etc. based on relevance and relatability The specific challenges of being a younger person who has chronic illness Modeling needs and self-care to clients Themes of isolation and not being understood Being a Spoon-y What therapists often get wrong when working with chronic pain sufferers The need to do a good job of assessing functioning, what they can do in a typical day Understanding the neuroscience of pain and how it impacts their ability to do deeper, insight-oriented work The conversation about attendance, options when someone (client or therapist) are having a flare-up (like online services) The need for a more flexible cancellation policy Understanding their schedule of doctor’s appointments The idea of consulting with the other medical professionals on their team The work in session around navigating doctors, their illness The need for a case management hat at times Putting a focus on building skills and support Looking at scope of practice when you have had your own medical journey and have knowledge. How to share information through a psychoeducational lens  Relevant Resources:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:Daniela’s website: www.westlakevillage-counseling.comSpoon Theory: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ 7 Psychological Stages of Chronic Pain (and it also applies to chronic illness)  Functional Medicine defined: https://drhyman.com/about-2/about-functional-medicine/Dr. Datis Kharrazian: https://drknews.com/about-dr-datis-kharrazian/ The Modern Therapists Group on FacebookTherapy Reimagined 2019 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 2018 APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. We talk about the definition of masculinity and each of the guidelines, looking at what they explain well and where they miss the mark. 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: Discussing whether these guidelines would be created The importance of teasing out the differences across demographics, genders, etc. The complexity of men and what the guidelines address The definition of masculinity and Curt’s problem with it The concept of many masculinities The shifting perception of masculinity and femininity Toxic masculinity as the extreme The places where the guidelines miss the mark Comparing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Michael Cerra The stuff that is “no duh.” Discussing intersectionality, the impact of culture, sexism, power, privilege on how men develop Biological, evolutionary, and societal impacts on sexism for men Challenging the idea that we actually value all the different types of masculinity How the educational guidelines miss the need to adjust how schools operate What is missed or misrepresented about bullying How the guidelines address violence The problem with the data on violence – looking at convictions versus how many are committed The concept of “boys will be boys” Physical differences that lead to stand up and be protective The thought that the Guidelines are not acknowledging the biological or physical differences between men and other genders The types of responses men have toward taking care of their health How to embrace masculinity as an element of diversity and not thinking that masculinity is bad Differentiating toxic masculinity from masculinity (i.e., pathologizing masculinity) How this can be perceived in the #metoo era The shifting of what is acceptable for men and potential impacts of these shifts on boys and men How advocacy is addressed in the guidelines, especially looking at intersectionality Relevant Episodes:When is it Discrimination? Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and MenPodcast: Hardcore History Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists GroupTherapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released. 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/

An interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, about her ability to identify opportunities for entrepreneurship. Curt and Katie talk with her about how she has thrived as a therapist and a business owner, even though she doesn’t see herself as a “visionary” or “strategist.”Interview with Anita Avedian, LMFT, CAMS-IV, Executive Director of Avedian Counseling Center, Executive Director of Anger Management EssentialsAnita Avedian is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been practicing psychotherapy since 1996. She opened her practice in 2001 and continues to see clients in Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, Glendale, and Woodland Hills. Avedian Marriage and Family Therapy Corporation was formed in 2018, where Anita merged Anger Management 818 and her private practice into a group practice. Her specialties include working with relationships, anger, social anxiety, general anxiety, and addictions. Anita is the Executive Director of Avedian Counseling Center, with 8 locations, helping people work towards improving their daily lives and relationships.Anita is very involved with the professional community. Anita is the co-Founder and President of the California Chapter of NAMA, and the Founder of Toastmasters for Mental Health Professionals. Anita is an active member of the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS) and the Armenian American Mental Health Association (AAMHA). She also volunteers to help organize the mental health segment of the annual Glendale Health Festival.In this episode we talk about: How Anita started and succeeded at a number of different businesses Learning about business and entrepreneurship The importance of networking and building relationships Following the path in front of her, toward leadership, business, entrepreneurship The additional education she engaged in, so that she was able to learn what she needed to do The path toward all the offerings she has created: a book, creating a curriculum and certificate program, multi-location group practice, managing office space, speaking and presenting, new endeavors How collaboration and fun has led her into opportunities that she didn’t expect Anita claiming that she doesn’t have vision, but has made herself available to the possibilities How she now assesses opportunities for time, feasibility, etc. How she is able to let go of ideas or projects that are not working How she makes decisions and identifies needs in her communities The strategy she takes to expand offerings How and why she says no How her work naturally progresses Why some people miss out on opportunities The ability to trust opportunities to be there when they are needed Doing what she enjoys, building the relationships she wants, in order to live a good life (rather than just to get referrals) Relevant Resources:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:Anita Avedian’s websiteAnger Management 818Anger Management EssentialsShrink SyncAvedian Counseling CenterPhone number: 818-426-2495 The Modern Therapists Group on FacebookTherapy Reimagined 2019Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ 

Curt and Katie talk about how niche, safety considerations, or competence can be used by therapists to discriminate against specific classes of people. Specifically looking at therapists who decide to no longer work with men. 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 might be discriminating when they refuse to work with a specific gender Niche, specialization, scope of competence (or scope of excellence) How to assess whether you are discriminating or providing the highest level of care (i.e., referral) Having a thoughtful process and clear conversation to help clients find the best match Assessing safety in deciding who to take into your practice The importance of good screening tools The problem of refusing to see clients when you are fearful of a whole protected class of individuals Marketing to your ideal client to help the clients you’re best suited to help call you When there is a competence issue to be a therapist when you are not able to work professionally with specific protected classes The role that past traumas and wounding experiences have on our ability to be effective therapists Self-awareness versus discrimination The argument about whether we “have to” serve everyone who reaches out to us for help Options when you don’t feel capable of serving specific issues or specific classes of people Referring out, learning more, working on your own triggers The standard that therapists are held to How not to discriminate – helping clients to make an informed choice, providing professional assistance (referring out) When you must see clients according to the ethics codes How to take care of yourself as a therapist Respecting that we are human beings with limits, while still understanding the higher standard that we are held to