Intentional Therapist: Putting You In Your Schedule

For those of you who are familiar with Intentional Therapist and the 4 C’s model of self-care you know our Connection pillar includes not only connecting with others but also connecting with our own values.  For many people, faith and spirituality are important values that we often don't talk enough about. In this episode we speak with Whitney Owens about the ways she incorporates faith into her practice.  Whitney talks with us about some of the common misconceptions about faith-based practice, some important considerations for running an ethical faith-based practice, and how connecting with her faith has been an important component of her own “soul-care.”    Highlights:Differences between incorporating faith into our business practices versus clinical practiceCommon misconceptions about faith-based practiceHow Whitney defines ethical faith-based practiceHow to ethically counter religious messages that negatively impact women’s’ self-careThe distinction between “tired” and “weary”Whitney’s favorite “self-care” and “soul-care” practicesWhitney Owens is a licensed professional counselor, group practice owner, and faith-based private practice consultant. She is located in Savannah, Georgia, where she manages a private pay group practice with 10 plus clinicians. Along with running her practice, she consults practice owners around the country on how to start and grow a successful faith-based practice. She hosts summits, a weekly podcast, and a membership community for faith-based practice owners called Wise Practice. She has spoken at numerous events such as both the Georgia and Maryland annual professional counselors conferences as well as trainings for Florida’s Counseling Association. In 2023 she will be speaking at Meet you in Kentucky, which is for group practice owners, as well as hosting her own summit in Savannah. In her free time, Whitney enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls, running, reading, and relaxing in the backyard.Connect with Whitney:whitney@whitneyowens.comhttps://www.whitneyowens.com/https://watersedgecounseling.com/Instagram: @WhitneyOwensConsulting FREE PDF on Tips for Marketing with Churches:https://www.whitneyowens.com/Free Facebook Membership Community for Faith-Based Practice Owners: https://www.facebook.com/groups/533909554128629 Registration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:intentional@intentionaltherapist.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapistDisclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

Supervision and consultation are important components of mental health clinicians’ training and professional development.  These activities can also play an important role in clinician wellness and self-care.  In this episode we speak with Shannon Heers, founder of Firelight Supervision, about the differences between consultation and supervision, how these activities contribute to clinician wellness and what we can do to get the most out of supervisory/consultation experiences.  Shannon also shares her perspective about what tends to get in the way of clinicians accessing these beneficial activities.  Highlights:Differences and similarities between supervision and consultationHow supervision and consultation contribute to clinician well-beingWhat clinicians can do to get the most out of their supervisory/consultation experienceReasons why clinicians don’t access supervision and consultationWhat clinicians can do to access supervision/consultation supportsShannon’s favorite “non-conventional” self-care practiceShannon Heers is a therapist, approved clinical supervisor, and the founder of Firelight Supervision.  Firelight Supervision provides clinical supervision to counselors and social workers pursuing licensure, as well as clinical consultation for post-licensure professional growth and development.  Shannon is also the owner of Catalyss Counseling, a private-pay group private practice located in Colorado.  Shannon is passionate about burnout prevention in the counseling field and ensuring that all therapists and supervisors get the clinical support they deserve.  Connect with Shannon:info@firelightsupervision.com https://firelightsupervision.com Registration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:intentional@intentionaltherapist.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapistDisclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

Remember that feeling you had as a kid, when your interests were held with such intensity and passion that they couldn’t help but bring you joy?  When was the last time you experienced - or allowed yourself to experience - that type of passionate interest in something?  In this special bonus episode we speak with author Tabitha Carvan about how Benedict Cumberbatch helped her do just that, and why it’s so hard, yet so important, for women to reclaim this part of themselves.  Although Tabitha may not be a mental health clinician by training, the insights she shares with us offer a very therapeutic and fresh perspective on the importance of connecting with joyful pursuits and how this is such a foundational part of our self-care.    Highlights:What brought Tabitha to write a book full of references to Benedict Cumberbatch but ultimately not actually about him at allWhy its so easy for us, as women, to get disconnected from our passionsWhy connecting with joyful pursuits can cause women to feel like there’s something “wrong”How embarrassment and shame get in the way of our passionsTabitha’s important take-home messageTabitha’s favorite “non-conventional” self-care practiceTabitha Carvan is the author of This Is Not A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch and a science writer for the Australian National University.  She lives in Canberra, Australia.  Connect with Tabitha:http://www.tabithacarvan.com/Registration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:intentional@intentionaltherapist.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapistDisclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

Enid De Jesus, a licensed therapist and coach, shares her journey of breaking free from negative narratives and helping introverted women honor their needs. Highlights include understanding introverted and highly sensitive women, protecting personal energy, connecting with like-minded women, staying true to oneself in a society that values extroversion, and granting permission for self-care and connection.

When’s the last time you sat down to really reflect on your values?  In this busy world it’s so easy to go through life without really giving this much thought.  Yet, setting some time aside to do just that can help us truly create a life from which we don’t need to escape.  In this episode we speak with Lisa Mustard, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (and co-member of the PsychCraft Network), about a pivotal time in her career and how examining her values and priorities set her on a journey to becoming a Coach and podcast host of The Therapy Show.  Lisa speaks with us about how these side businesses align with her values and how the concepts of “grace” and “fail forward” have helped her remain compassionate towards herself and stay motivated even in the face of disappointment.    Highlights:The “wake-up” call that triggered Lisa’s revised self-care journeyLisa’s top values and how these shape her workThe importance of adopting “grace” and a “fail forward” attitude to move through challengesHow the concept of “courage” showed up in Lisa’s journeyHow creativity shows up for LisaOne step female clinicians can take today to start developing a work life that aligns with their valuesLisa’s best non-conventional self-care practiceLisa Mustard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in South Carolina. She’s also a wife to Billy, mama to two daughters, puppy wrangler, lover of health, wellness, and fitness, and a personal development junkie.  When she turned 40 she decided to pivot her skill set and try some new things which has brought her to where she is today – a Podcaster and Coach.  Her podcast, The Therapy Show, provides therapists with a convenient way of accessing continuing education and professional development and her coaching sessions help her clients move forward in living their best lives.     Connect with Lisa:https://lisamustard.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lisamustardpodcaster/ https://www.facebook.com/thetherapyshowwithlisamustard Access a FREE CE hour by competing one of Lisa’s podcourses: https://www.lisamustard.com/podcoursesUse the code: intentional (before June 1, 2023)Registration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:intentional@intentionaltherapist.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapistDisclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

Liz Gray, licensed clinical social worker, shares how organizational systems are crucial for self-care. She discusses barriers to setting them up, gender differences, and practical tips for organization. Liz also talks about Focusmate for accountability, non-conventional self-care practices, and the benefits of pole dancing.

If you’re like us, there was probably a time in your career when you sought after that oh so elusive “work-life balance” and saw that as the true mark of self-care.  The only problem, of course, is that “balance” is incredibly hard (if not impossible) to find and, as it turns out, may not actually be what we truly need to thrive.  In this episode we speak with clinical psychologist and parent of three, Dr. Yael Schonbrun about “work-family enrichment” and how adopting this mindset can help us appreciate the gifts inherent in our multiple roles and how these roles can work together to help us truly thrive.  We also discuss the importance of values and how the evolutionary perspective can put us in a better position to understand and work with our hardwired tendencies to experience guilt and feel overwhelmed.  Yael also shares her perspective on rethinking the concept of rest.     Highlights:Why “work-family enrichment” is such a helpful mindsetHow the evolutionary perspective can help us understand the common experiences of guilt and overwhelmHow values fit into helping us navigate our multiple rolesThe importance of redefining the concept of restOne step female clinicians can take today towards better “work-family enrichment”Yael’s favorite “non-conventional” self-care practiceDr. Yael Schonbrun is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at Brown University, co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast, and author of Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like too Much). Connect with Yael: https://yaelschonbrun.com/https://twitter.com/DrYaelSchonbrunRegistration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:intentional@intentionaltherapist.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapistDisclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

In this episode we reconnect with Arianna Smith, licensed professional counselor (LPC) and copywriting coach for therapists, to learn more about her 2-month sabbatical and her transition back to work.  Arianna shares some of the challenges associated with planning and returning from a sabbatical, what she learned about herself as a person and a therapist, and how she’s used this information to reshape her work and personal life.  She also shares some tips for how to make the most of a sabbatical and talks about other ways therapists can intentionally take breaks in meaningful ways.  We end this episode, hearing about Arianna’s newest “non-conventional” self-care practices.  Highlights:The important difference between “time off” and a “sabbatical”Some of the challenges of planning for and returning from a sabbaticalSteps Arianna took to maximize her time away from workWhat she learned about herself during her sabbaticalHow pre-planning/over-planning for your return can interfere with the processHow her sabbatical helped her develop deeper connectionsArianna’s favourite “non-conventional” self-care practiceTherapist by day, copywriter by night, Arianna Smith, LPC (she/her), helps therapists write words that sound like them and attract their ideal clients.  Her mission is to help therapists shatter their creative blocks and write words brimming with punch + personality.Connect with Arianna:arianna@thecopycove.comwww.thecopycove.com www.courageouscopywriting.comwww.facebook.com/thecopycoveAccess Arianna's free training Banish Bad Copy: Masterclass for Therapists to help you up-level your copy.   This is also the best way to find out more about her upcoming webinars and other offerings.  Registration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:intentional@intentionaltherapist.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapistDisclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

When most of us think of self-care we probably don’t think about developing a side business.  We know that wasn't our expectation when we started Intentional Therapist.  And yet, enhanced self-care is exactly what a side business can offer!In this episode we speak with Dr. Tamara Soles about what led her to create her side business (including a podcast and online parenting course) and how these activities fit into her self-care.  We specifically talk with Tamara about how the 4 C’s of self-care (connection, compassion, courage, and creativity) show up in her side business, as well as how to navigate some of the risks to our self-care that might show up when developing a side business.  As always, we end the discussion with Tamara's favourite non-conventional self-care practices - which just happen to be things that each of us can likely do today!  Highlights:What lead Tamara to develop her side businessHow the 4 C’s of self-care show up in her side businessWays to navigate some risks to self-care that may arise when developing a side businessLessons learned along the wayOne step to take towards developing your own side businessTamara’s favourite “non-conventional” self-care practicesDr. Tamara Soles is a child psychologist, parent coach, and founder of The Secure Child Center for Families and Children in Montreal, Canada. She’s also the mom of twins who present everyday opportunities to live what she’s practiced with families for over 15 years - that harnessing the power of connection helps children thrive!  Dr. Tamara created No More Power Struggles, a positive parenting course using based-based and attachment-focused strategies.  She’s also the host of a podcast for therapists called This Hour has 50 minutes, which offers continuing education credits. Connect with Dr. Tamara Soles:https://www.thesecurechild.com/Listen to the episode on Writing Therapy Notes and get 1 hour of CE credit free:https://drtamarasoles.com/episode-38/Registration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:intentional@intentionaltherapist.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapistDisclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

All of us undoubtedly know firsthand how challenging it can be to regularly incorporate wellness strategies into our workday.  The idea of moving into private practice can become particularly appealing as it is often seen as providing opportunities for us to take more control over our work life and build a practice that supports our wellness.  Sadly, many female clinicians quickly learn that by moving into private practice they have simply traded one demanding boss (and work environment) for a new one (those darn unrelenting high standards!).  Sound familiar?  If so, please know that you’re not alone and that it doesn’t need to be this way.  In this episode we had the opportunity to discuss how to combat these challenges with the lovely Dr. Kimberly Grocher, a licensed social worker and coach with the Private Practice Startup, who loves helping clinicians integrate wellness into their practice.  Highlights:What led Kimberly to become a coach with the Private Practice StartupHow she helps other clinicians incorporate wellness into their practice How the work she does honours her own values and why that’s importantWhat hinders clinicians from reaching out for help from a therapist or coachOne step clinicians can take to begin integrating wellness into their practiceKimberly’s favourite “non-conventional” self-care practiceKimberly provides psychotherapy to couples and women who are navigating mood, anxiety and trauma disorders as well as reproductive mental health. As an executive coach, she loves working with professional women and entrepreneurs to help them align their business/professional goals with their ideal lifestyle while being physically, mentally and spiritually healthy. She integrates yoga and mindfulness practices into her work with clients. Kimberly is also the coach for the Private Practice Startup, helping other therapists build and grow their dream private practices. Fun fact: Kimberly loves photography, has a background in film and media production, and  is a huge Game of Thrones fan. Connect with Kimberly:https://kimberlybondsgrocher.com/  https://www.privatepracticestartup.com/Registration is now open through September 29th for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below: Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort Option 2: Independent Study Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:intentional@intentionaltherapist.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapistDisclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.