Light Up The Couch

Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd, a specialist in child therapy, teams up with Elizabeth Irias, a licensed marriage and family therapist, to tackle how children can navigate adult-sized problems. They explore important methods for helping kids manage emotions, including mindfulness and art therapy. The conversation highlights the significance of open communication during tough topics like loss and change. They also discuss the role of children's literature in facilitating emotional discussions, ultimately empowering young minds to build resilience in a complex world.

Dr. Irv Yalom candidly explores the role of a therapist, the intermingling of personal life and career, and his perspectives on existentialism, including the impact of therapist self-disclosure on the therapeutic relationship. Also includes retrospective discussion about his use of ‘here-and-now’ psychotherapy work with terminally ill and bereaved clients. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

Dr. Julia Mackaronis, licensed clinical psychologist, explores the benefits of exploring values- and principle-based supervision techniques instead of focusing heavily on specific therapeutic interventions in order to build clinical confidence and flexibility in supervisees. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.

Dr. Elyssa Helfer, LMFT, provides helpful context and education about the kink community as well as the ways clinicians can more impactfully serve them. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.

Dr. Sonja Sutherland, LPC, dives deep into the mental health impact of systemic racism on BIPOC children and how to supervise early-career clinicians in more effectively serving this population. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.

Tracy Kenela, LMHC, shares important diagnostic and interventional guidance for clinicians who encounter adolescents with eating disordered behaviors, including helpful insight for working with parents/caregivers. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.

April Tith, a licensed marriage and family therapist with experience in family court services, shares her insights on navigating family legal proceedings. She discusses the complexities of court orders and the ethical dilemmas therapists face. April contrasts child custody evaluations with therapy and emphasizes the importance of clear boundaries. She offers practical tips for therapists on documentation, responding to court inquiries, and testifying. Her expertise sheds light on how mental health professionals can effectively work within the legal system.

Cynthia Mulder, LCSW, shares key information about shame and its antidotes, including discussion about the differences between embarrassment, humiliation, guilt, and shame, and ways to both recognize and address shame in psychotherapy. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

Samson Teklemariam, LPC, CPTM, discusses the importance of clinical supervision in addiction treatment, including review of the research-backed benefits of ongoing clinical supervision and revisiting the goals of effective supervision. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

Kelly Hidgon, LMFT, Private Practice Coach, discusses the common hangups clinicians encounter when thinking about boundaries... from topics like how much to charge per session, how to handle late cancellations, and whether to adjust your schedule to accommodate a client's calendar changes, this episode dives in on tough calls. This conversation encourages clinician consideration about their own values and the potential impact of maintaining values-aligned business practices on clinical outcomes. Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT.