Light Up The Couch

Robyn Gomez, LCSW, shares an overview of holistic and ancestral Indigenous approaches to mental health, including a review of concepts like sustainability, balance, core values, and discussion about principals like the Medicine Wheel and others. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.

Dr. Orisha Bowers, Dr. Jamie Marich, and Elizabeth Irias, LMFT, discuss the concept of reproductive justice and identify deliberate actions mental health professionals can take in a post-Roe v. Wade United States, including discussion about harm reduction, spiritual/religious abuse, and our ethical mandates, as well as available resources, considerations about client/clinician privacy and clinical documentation, and navigating potential conflicts between ethical and legal requirements. Note to listeners: This interview discusses sexual violence and uses language that may be upsetting. We also share that this conversation includes reference to umbrella terms like ‘women’s rights’ and 'human rights'. Included in this heading are the rights of transgender and cisgender people, nonbinary people, women, females, girls, and people with internal reproductive organs. Law & Ethics themes discussed in the interview are on a broad, national scale and may not be applicable in your state. The opinions expressed herein are not legal advice, and we recommending consulting with your licensing body, professional association, liability insurance, and/or a behavioral health attorney.

Julia Aziz, LCSW-S, sheds light on the challenges of managing the role of 'healer' when we ourselves are struggling, and explores the impact of being an actively wounded healer on therapy outcomes.

Dr. Dain Kloner, LMFT, discusses the phenomenon of compassion fatigue and provides guidance about how to self-assess one’s own level of compassion fatigue, as well as offers guidance about how to address and manage it moving forward. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.

Robert Scholz, LMFT, LPCC, and Susan Hall, JD, PhD discuss Disaster Mental Health and how it impacts multiple facets of care, ranging from treatment planning to clinician burnout.

Dr. Daryl Chow, Psychologist, takes us on a journey about the limitations of a question-driven first psychotherapy session, and describes research-backed strategies to improve client engagement in order to improve retention and outcomes. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

Beth Rontal, LICSW, details some of the myths and mistakes relating to progress notes, and provides guidance about clinical documentation dos-and-don'ts in order to improve care. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.

Kimberley Quinlan, a private practice practitioner specializing in OCD and body-focused repetitive behaviors, joins to share her expertise. She delves into the complexities of OCD, clearing up common misconceptions and highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis. Kimberley discusses the evolution of treatment, particularly the effectiveness of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). She also addresses the unique challenges of treating OCD in children versus adults, and the impact of pandemic-related stressors on OCD symptoms.

Erika Miley, LMHC, breaks down the appication of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the treatment of sex-related shame, including discussion about concepts like defusion and mindfulness. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.

Georgia King, LCSW, explains how clinicians can support the legal process and help pave the way for safety and security for the lives of those immigrating to the United States through the provision of mental health assessments. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.