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

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 Millen Umoh, LMFTMillen Umoh is a New York State licensed psychotherapist currently practicing in Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of Pepperdine University with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. Millen specializes in working with individuals dealing with relationship break-ups, separation, divorce, unhealthy interpersonal relationship patterns, and other major life transitions. She also has extensive experience treating anxiety and mood disorders. Learn more about Millen on her website: www.millenumoh.com In this episode we talk about: Millen’s story, her specialty (and her former blog Psych and The Single Girl) Unique challenges for therapists on the dating scene Setting boundaries, having reciprocal conversations, receiving in addition to giving When to talk about your profession while online dating What happened when Millen told people she was unemployed App dating – setting up your bio, what to disclose, how to present yourself Red flags, when to left swipe What to do if coming across clients on the app How to address with clients if they become aware of your dating status Social Media and informed consent to clarify boundaries How to approach seeking long-term relationships, when in your career you might want to date Options for getting out on the dating scene (online dating, app dating, getting out for live events, meeting organically) Self-disclosure about dating – when it might be appropriate or how to show understanding and knowledge The perks of dating when you’re a therapist Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.TinderBumbleMatch.com Relevant MTSG Podcast Episodes: Dual Relationships – Pros and ConsOur Next Event:The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

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 social media has made the world smaller Personal branding, marketing, and the move away from the blank slate leading to dual relationships Digital natives having extensive social media and digital presence before determining they want to be a therapist Whether to express your opinions on non-therapy stuff Distinguishing personal, private, and professional online, in-person, etc. Showing respect, maintaining confidentiality, and boundaries Encouraging discussions on how to navigate dual relationships correctly (rather than just saying “don’t do it” related to technology) Translating milieu settings and small towns as templates for how to behave on social media Curating personal disclosures online Sharing your personal views does not mean you can discriminate Whether therapists should do yelp reviews or share their opinions on current events Healthy dual relationships Whether or not to google clients or to view their social media Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Ofer Zur’s Article on Googling ClientsOther Episodes Mentioned:Our Take on TextsSmall Town Sex TherapistOur events this year:The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are:Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.comA Quick Note:Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch:www.mtsgpodcast.comwww.therapyreimagined.comOur Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/https://twitter.com/therapymovementhttps://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ 

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 Laura Reagan, LCSW-CLaura Reagan, LCSW-C is a clinical social worker specializing in complex trauma in her private practice outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She is also the host of Therapy Chat podcast. Laura offers individual and group consultation with clinicians who work with trauma focusing on addressing the impact of vicarious trauma, as well as creating a trauma-informed practice. Connect with Laura at www.laurareaganlcswc.com.In this episode we talk about: Laura’s story The definition of vicarious trauma Preparation to manage crisis intervention, trauma response work, and being on-call Self-care, debriefing, supportive supervision The cumulative effects of hearing about clients’ traumatic experiences Over-work and negative self-concept due to the need to keep people safe Decreasing feelings of competence and safety Distinction between vicarious trauma, burnout, and countertransference The fight or flight response related to secondary traumatic stress Offsetting the negative impacts of vicarious trauma Building community and connection The limits of incident debriefing and the need for therapists to process their own stuff that is brought up by vicarious trauma The importance of personal therapy, consultation Critical Incident Debriefing Taking care of yourself within a trauma-informed practice The danger of ignoring vicarious trauma (PTSD symptoms) Managing your emotions without shutting down or becoming disregulated Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Therapy Chat Podcast Simple Self-Care for Therapists by Ashley Davis Bush Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot LipskyLaura Reagan’s ConsultationLaura Reagan’s On-Line Trauma Therapist CommunityLaura’ Reagan’s In-Person Trauma CommunityRelevant MTSG Podcast Episodes:Therapist SafetyThe Danger of Poor Self-CareOur Next Event:The Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!

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 create toxic work environments for themselves and their teams How therapists can make poor managers (and some suggestions on how to improve) How to change your environment and when to leave it How to assess if it is you, your work culture, or both What makes an environment toxic: unclear or unreasonable expectations, lack of communication, illegal activities, predatory practices toward prelicensed individuals, gas lighting, too much venting How to advocate (when you can) What to do when you feel like you can’t leave Coping strategies when you can’t leave right away (setting boundaries, avoiding the people who are always complaining, asking for what you need) Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Situational Leadership ModelOther Episodes Mentioned:Giving and Getting Good SupervisionGetting the Supervision You WantOur events this year:The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal BrandThe Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are:Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.comA Quick Note:Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch:www.mtsgpodcast.comwww.therapyreimagined.comOur Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/https://twitter.com/therapymovementhttps://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

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 Uriah Guilford, MFTUriah Guilford is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, the owner of Guilford Family Counseling and the mastermind behind The Productive Therapist, a business that provides virtual assistants to therapy practice owners. He is a technology enthusiast, productivity nerd and a pretty rad drummer. Uriah is always searching for creative ways to provide counseling to youth and families as well as help therapists to get more done, while working less.You can learn more about Uriah’s businesses here: www.productivetherapist.com and www.guilfordfamilycounseling.comIn this episode we talk about: Improving efficiency through automation, delegation, and elimination Differences between an in-person versus a virtual assistant Managing Virtual Assistants (VAs) using technology What therapists should delegate first What to look for in a VA (qualities of successful VAs) What skills to require and what you can train on How to make the transition into delegating to a VA The productivity dip that can happen when you hire someone The issues and the best practices in adding a team member Becoming efficient with templates and processes Getting really good at delegating What we should be doing – working on the business, CEO strategic thinking, client care Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Uriah’s new Virtual Assistant company: The Productive Therapist – mention the podcast to get 2 hours of free VA services Zoom Video ConferencingSimplePracticetodoistQuip.comTrelloAsanaGoogle DocsUseloom.com Alexa/Amazon Echo Our events:The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal BrandThe Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

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: Calling people back How much time to spend on making referrals Horrible business and legal considerations like kickbacks, cartels, and antitrust issues What we’re legally and ethically responsible for related to making referrals Call logs and why they are useful Keeping the best interest of the client in mind What to call referrals from on-line directories and Facebook groups Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Other Episodes Mentioned:In-Person NetworkingThe Brand Called YouOur events this year:The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal BrandThe Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are:Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.comA Quick Note:Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch:www.mtsgpodcast.comwww.therapyreimagined.comOur Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/https://twitter.com/therapymovementhttps://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

WE HEARD YOU AND WE’RE MOVING TO ONE EPISODE A WEEK!ALSO… LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW TO HEAR OUR SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEMBER CODE TO GET EXTENDED EARLY BIRD PRICING THROUGH FRIDAY 4/27/18 ON OUR LAW AND ETHICS WORKSHOP MAY 18TH, 2018!!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 definition of Personal Branding and what it means for therapists How to use your authentic voice How to identify how best to present yourself How you come across to others, especially to clients Answering the question, what do I offer? The danger of mimicking others Professional bios versus authentic connection Your professional persona Why it is important to really represent who you are as a therapist Ethical reasons to embrace your style (and communicate it well) How to take off the blank screen or blank slate, looking at the self-exploration that’s needed How our experiences and our values can impact treatment Relevant ethics codes related to choosing who you work with, embracing your skill set, and rejecting clients based on demographics What to put on your website How fear can get in the way of effectively reaching your clients How personal branding is the antidote to being “too niched.” Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Dr. Ben Caldwell’s Book Saving PsychotherapyOther Episodes Mentioned:Bad Marketing DecisionsWhat is a Modern TherapistAre You Sure You’re a Specialist?How Much is Too Much?Building the Psyko Therapist BrandThe Fight to Save PsychotherapyTherapists in Therapy  Our events this year:The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal BrandThe Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are:Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.comA Quick Note:Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch:www.mtsgpodcast.comwww.therapyreimagined.comOur Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/https://twitter.com/therapymovementhttps://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/  

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 Robin Andersen, LMFT, the Founder of PrelicensedRobin Andersen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 100070), the Founder of Prelicensed, the Business Development Manager for TrackYourHours and TrackYourCEUs, and the President of the San Diego North County Chapter of CAMFT. She is passionate about supporting prelicensed MFTs and enjoys focusing on numerous aspects of the MFT field, including entrepreneurship, leadership, and advocacy. Robin strives to create resources that serve the MFT community and move the profession forward. You can learn more about her current and upcoming projects (including the Psychotherapy Forums) by visiting her website.In this episode we talk about: Why she started prelicensed.com and explaining her other current projects, trackyourhours and trackyourceus Robin’s assessment of the gaps in the field for students, trainees, and associates The #postthepay campaign and how prelicensed individuals can navigate job searching The different explanations Robin has heard about why people don’t pay interns and associates The importance of getting mentorship Getting and giving support and mentorship How to advocate as a prelicensed individual How prelicensed individuals can get in their own way Robin’s best tips for successfully moving forward in the career Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Prelicensed Job Search Blog Articles, including: "Does Non-Bilingual Mean Non-Employable?" "An Attendee's Guide to BBS Board Meetings" TrackYourCEUsTrackYourHours Dr. Ben CaldwellCAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences) Our events:The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal BrandThe Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

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 to find a therapist (and all of the challenges in finding the right therapist) The potential for a dual relationship and making sure that you can navigate it The stigma related to shopping for a new therapist Finding someone who is further along in the career and very skilled to be your therapist Whether or not therapy should be a requirement in grad school Whether you can be a good therapist if you’ve never been a therapy client The importance of using therapy to address current mental health concerns as well as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout, and the stresses of being a private practitioner Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Articles: Counselling psychologists' perceptions of the impact of mandatory personal therapy on professional development--an exploratory study Psychotherapy trainees’ experiences of their own mandatory personal therapy raise “serious ethical considerations” Therapy for TherapistsOther Episodes Mentioned:Bad Marketing DecisionsFinding Your Blind SpotsBe a Better TherapistOur events this year:The Brand Called “You”: Legal & Ethical Issues in Developing a Personal BrandThe Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!! Who we are:Curt Widhalm is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. He is a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, and a loving husband and father. He is 1/2 great person, 1/2 provocateur, and 1/2 geek, in that order. He dabbles in the dark art of making "dad jokes" and usually has a half-empty cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Learn more at: www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, coach, and consultant. As a helping professional for two decades, she’s navigated the ups and downs of our unique line of work. She’s run her own solo therapy practice, designed innovative clinical programs, built and managed large, thriving teams of service providers, and consulted hundreds of helping professionals on how to build meaningful AND sustainable practices. In her spare time, Katie is secretly siphoning off Curt's youthful energy, so that she can take over the world. Learn more at: www.katievernoy.comA Quick Note:Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves – except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey. Stay in Touch:www.mtsgpodcast.comwww.therapyreimagined.comOur Facebook Group – The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/therapyreimagined/https://twitter.com/therapymovementhttps://www.instagram.com/therapyreimagined/ Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ 

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 Katrina Soelter, CFPKatrina Strelow Soelter is a Financial Advisor with the Zeutzius, Hutchinson, Sosa Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. She received her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley in Philosophy and German. After graduation, she taught elementary school in the Bay Area, during which time she received her MA from Loyola Marymount University. Motivated by her interest in personal finance and her passion for helping individuals define and achieve the life they want, she changed careers and began working with The Zeutzius, Hutchinson, Sosa Wealth Management Group at Wells Fargo Advisors in 2013. She attended UCLA extension for her CFP® coursework and is a proud CFP® practitioner.She enjoys exploring the different LA neighborhoods, reading a good book, finding local coffee shops, and giving back to her community. She volunteers as a mentor with the Fulfillment Fund and participates with the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, organizations that are close to her heart. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, the Cal Alumni Association, and an activator with SheEO.In this episode we talk about: Why people should invest their money How to prioritize and balance paying down debt (like student loans) with investing early for retirement and purchasing a home Thinking about your savings in buckets (long-term retirement, emergency fund, fun/intermediate planning) Retirement account options, including the advantages of different retirement plans (SEP, Simple) Self-directed investing (like Vanguard, Robo-advisors) and target date funds versus actively managed investing with a professional advisor The differences between stocks and bonds and the importance of understanding the allocation of each within your investments Fees to be aware of when investing How and when to consult a professional financial advisor/certified financial planner Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Getting a hold of Katrina:Katrina.Soelter@wfadvisors.comwww.zhswealthmanagementgroup.comOur events:The Brand Called “You”: Legal and Ethical Issues in Developing Your Personal BrandThe Therapy Reimagined Conference in Los Angeles in October 2018!!Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/