

The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy
Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT
The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide: Where Therapists Live, Breathe, and Practice as Human Beings 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 clinicians must develop a personal brand to market their private practices, and are connecting over social media, engaging in social activism, pushing back against mental health stigma, and facing a whole new style of entrepreneurship. To support you as a whole person, a business owner, and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 25, 2022 • 1h 18min
Therapy for Executives and Emerging Leaders
Therapy for Executives and Emerging LeadersCurt and Katie chat about how therapists can support leaders. We look at optimal leadership, leadership identity development, barriers for emerging leaders, challenges that executives face, and how therapists can support these leaders. We explore specific interventions and career assessment questions. This is a continuing education podcourse.Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!In this podcast episode we explore how therapists can help leadersDuring times of turmoil - like a global pandemic, an unstable economy, and social unrest - we want to be able to rely on our leaders to help us weather the storm. We look to our employers, our legislators, and our community leaders to solve problems and remain calm. But who supports our leaders? It’s important for therapists to understand leadership and the unique challenges that leaders face, so they can help. Further, therapists must be available to provide support to emerging leaders who are coming from much more diverse backgrounds and perspectives who may need help navigating a system that doesn’t always accept them or align with their lived experiences. We talk about leader identity development and how leaders develop over time. We look at common barriers and challenges for leaders at all stages of development as well as suggested interventions to address these needs.What do therapists get wrong when working with leaders?
Therapists don’t include career assessments and leadership assessment
Understanding the interrelation between work and mental health
Bias related to stereotypical leaders and not seeing leadership where it shows up outside of able-bodied, tall, white men
The calm, peaceful, work-life balance versus optimal performance and ambition
Cosigning on poor work behavior and overwork
What is good leadership?
Leadership can be taught and can be beneficial for every client
Concepts of leadership as a process and a position
Interdependent, collaborative
Servant Leadership
Transformational Leadership
What does leadership identity development look like?
The 6 stages of the model created by Komives, et al.
Moving from identifying leaders, understanding positional leadership, then moving to more of a process and interdependent relationship
How leadership identity development impacts adult clients
What impacts emerging leaders?
Identities, especially marginalized identities
Relationships with authority figures
Resources, privilege within typical leadership development opportunities during childhood and early adulthood
Relational trauma, boundaries, communication
Marginalized identities and stereotypes with no sure-fire way to perform acceptably
Lack of safety and empowerment
Career and Leadership Assessment
Leadership identity development stage
Current employment
Work/life balance
Role of work in client’s life and within family system
Therapists Working with Leaders
Life experience that therapists can draw upon
Identifying what you don’t know
Understand your own work trauma and leadership development
The CHAT Model (or Katie’s model: clarify, imagine, simplify, act)
Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival GuideHey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community! Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com.You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com

Jul 18, 2022 • 30min
I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health Clinicians
I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health CliniciansCurt and Katie discuss how clinicians can decide what types of jobs to pursue when they first graduate from their clinical program. We look at whether you should go into a community mental health organization or a private practice. We also dig into what you might want to consider when making these choices and looking for these jobs. Curt and Katie share their own perspective and experiences to help you consider many different options at this stage in your career.Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!In this podcast episode we talk about a new therapist’s career path We received a listener email asking advice for how to approach getting their first job after graduating. We decided to answer that listener and to address the question of how to start your career more broadly. Should you go into a community mental health organization or private practice?“I'm of the philosophy that, especially if where you imagine yourself being is in private practice at some point, my recommendation is start doing that as soon as reasonably possible” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT
Considerations related to longer term goals
Practical and logistical factors related to compensation, benefits, and time
Clinical training and opportunities
What to consider when looking to join a group private practice“When you are looking for a group practice, don’t look for something that’s just a duplication of a community mental health organization… there is a discernment that needs to happen to identify: is this actually preparing you for the private practice that you want to have in five years? Or is it a mill, where you're churning through insurance clients that don't align or… you're working for a fee that you wouldn't be able to sustain?” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT
Caseload and pay expectations
Training and supervision opportunities
What you are willing to do to obtain your own clients
Whether you will stay at an agency while building a caseload
What are the job options for therapists when they graduate?
The importance of informational interviews to understand the options
The benefits (and detriments) to different types of work settings
Community mental health versus private practice
Moving around and getting different experiences versus starting in a niche
Identifying what is right for you

Jul 11, 2022 • 33min
What Therapists Should Know about the Rollout of 988
What Therapists Should Know about the Rollout of 988Curt and Katie discuss the new suicide hotline, 988, that is set to roll out July 16, 2022. We talk about the legislation for 988 as well as what the primary concerns are for the launch. We explore the resources and infrastructure that is promised (but not ready) as well as ideas that might improve the success of this new initiative.Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!In this podcast episode we talk about what is already going wrong with the 988 roll out. We have been paying attention to the 988 roll out and are concerned by the lack of preparation and funding for its implementation. We talk about why we’re freaked out about the upcoming roll out.What is 988?
Legislation (from 2020) makes the national suicide hotline easier to access, using the phone number 988 – set to launch on July 16, 2022
Crisis, Suicide, or Lifeline phone number
Replaces the previous numbers: 800-273-8255 (phone) or text to 741741
Connecting local resources to local callers
An entry point into the local crisis response system
Opportunities for call, text, or messaging support during times of crisis
What are the primary concerns with the launch of 988?
Lack of infrastructure (calls are being sent out of state or not being answered at all)
Lack of local resources to handle crisis response
Lack of funding to develop these resources (potentially NO funding for staff, text, chat)
Huge gaps in the crisis response system that will be exposed by increased access to this system
Challenges with training hotline workers, who are likely going to be volunteers
Inadequate training for inclusive services and linguistically responsive services.
Ideas to improve 988 and the United States Mental Healthcare program
Funding streams through Medicaid, combining forces with 911
Using the implementation to identifying gaps
RAND suggestions to coordinate with local organizations for strategic planning and identifying stable funding sources, needs assessments related to personnel
Advocacy at the state level to make sure state legislatures are making this work
Curt’s idea: have hotlines staffed with prelicensed or provisionally licensed folks (earning double hours toward licensure)
Advocacy at the federal level to increase funding across the whole country
Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!SAMHSA 988 webpageRAND Report: How to Transform the US Mental Health SystemRAND Working Paper – Preparedness for 988 Throughout the United States: The New Mental Health Emergency HotlineFind Your LegislatorsRelevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Fixing Mental Healthcare in America A Living Wage for PrelicenseesEpisodes on Suicide

Jul 4, 2022 • 37min
The Clinical Supervision Crisis for Early Career Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks
The Clinical Supervision Crisis for Early Career Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Amy ParksCurt and Katie interview Dr. Amy Parks about the lack of resources for pre- and provisionally licensed mental health professionals to find a clinical supervisor. We discuss the current state of clinical supervision, the barriers for folks becoming clinical supervisors, what makes a good supervisor, navigating online supervision, and what licensed folks might consider when seeking consultation.Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!An Interview with Dr. Amy Parks, Founder of the Clinical Supervision DirectoryDr. Amy Fortney Parks brings with her over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents and families as both an educator and psychologist. She is a passionate “BRAIN -ENTHUSIAST” and strives to help everyone she works with understand the brain science of communication, activation and relationships.Dr. Parks has a Doctorate in Educational Psychology with a specialty in developmental neuroscience. She is a Child & Adolescent Psychologist as well as the founder and Clinical Director of WISE Mind Solutions LLC and The Wise Family Counseling, Assessment & Education in Virginia. She is also the founder of the Clinical Supervision Directory – a connection super-highway for supervision-seekers working towards licensure in counseling and social work across the US.Dr. Parks serves as a Clinical Supervisor for Virginia LPC Residents, as well as Dominion Psychiatric Hospital. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at George Washington University & The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Parks is a frequently sought-after parent coach and speaker for families and groups around the world. In this podcast episode, we talk about clinical supervision for modern therapistsWe look at the gap in clinical supervision for prelicensed or provisionally licensed mental health professionals.What is the state of clinical supervision for mental health professionals?
No consistent resources for newly graduated clinicians to find supervisors
Different state to state or area to area
Lack of supervisors and a lack of a mechanism to connect supervisors and supervisees
What are the barriers to folks becoming clinical supervisors?
Different standards in different states
Sometimes becoming a supervisor is too overwhelming, complicated, or too much responsibility
The need for advanced training in supervision
What makes a good supervisor?
Training
Diverse experience
Understanding the boundaries between supervision and counseling
Supervisor, consultant, teacher roles
Cultural humility, bias – looking at clients and supervisees
Navigating Online Supervision
Video supervision (rather than phone)
Have supervisees record (video) their sessions for feedback
Research shows that telesupervision is as effective as in person
Laws related to in-person versus virtual supervision
Supervision or Consultation After Licensure
The value of getting consultation after you’re licensed
The importance of a beginner’s mind
The challenges of finding good consultation
Finding the right match when seeking supervision or consultation

Jun 27, 2022 • 1h 14min
What is Parental Alienation and How Can Therapists Successfully Treat it?
What is Parental Alienation and How Can Therapists Successfully Treat it?Curt and Katie chat about a controversial topic: Parental Alienation. We look at what parental alienation is, the controversies and complexities surrounding this process, how to assess for parental alienation, and how to effectively treat the family system. We talk about how traditional therapy methods are inadequate and potentially harmful in these cases and what to do instead. This is a continuing education podcourse.Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!In this podcast episode we explore Parental AlienationWe both have worked with families that What is Parental Alienation?
The impact a parent/guardian has over how a child interacts with another parent/guardian
Complex dynamic within a family where conflict is present
Breakdown of relationship based on behavior of alienating parent toward targeted parent
The Four Factor Model from Baker (2020)
How do you assess for Parental Alienation?
Challenges with correctly identifying this process/dynamic
Controversies and lack of recognition of Parental Alienation as a separate diagnosis from Parent-Child Relational Problem
Identifying what Parental Alienation is not
Clues that stories from kids are manufactured versus authentic stories of child abuse
The need for access to the full family system to obtain sufficient information
Exploring: What is alienating behavior? How does it work?
Effective Case Conceptualization and Treatment for Parental Alienation
The importance of a family systems approach
Involvement of government systems
Uncovering the generational or individual trauma for all members of the system
How to engage the tools available to advocate for important treatment elements to be in place
The importance of understanding scope and how to write recommendations to court
Preventing therapist shopping and treatment avoidance
Harmful recommendations that can hinder progress within these systems
Treatment teaming and avoiding isolation
Educating about Parental Alienation
Supporting the targeted parent to improve the relationship with the child
Working with alienating parent to prepare for improvement in child’s relationship with targeted parenting
Co-parenting and conflict resolution
Therapist communication with all members of the system
Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival GuideHey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community! Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com.You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourseContinuing Education Approvals:When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information

Jun 20, 2022 • 47min
The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSW
The Practicalities of Mental Health and Gender Affirming Care for Trans Youth: An Interview with Jordan Held, LCSWAn Interview with Jordan Held, LCSWJordan Held (he/him/his), LCSW is a Primary Therapist and Gender Specialist at Visions Adolescent Treatment Center. Prior to Visions, Jordan was a Therapist and Intake Coordinator at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in the Center for Trans Youth Health and Development, the largest trans youth health clinic in the USA.Jordan’s mental health practice centers around creating a trauma-informed and healing-centered space for both adolescents and their families. Jordan’s expertise is working with gender and sexual minority youth with complex histories of PTSD and trauma. Jordan speaks internationally about creating and supporting affirmative LGBTQ+ environments with an emphasis on informed consent and enhanced family communication. As a queer-identified, transgender man, Jordan brings an important dual perspective to his work as a mental health provider.Prior to social work, Jordan worked extensively in secondary school education, with a decade of experience teaching, coaching, and developing health and wellness curricula. Jordan’s work focuses on gender violence prevention, diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultivating strength and belonging for teens. Jordan is on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Laurel Foundation, JQ International, and Mental Health America of Los Angeles. Jordan is also a long-time facilitator at Transforming Family, a support group for gender-diverse youth and their family. In this podcast episode, we talk about trans mental healthWhat is gender-affirmative care?
The way that “gender affirming care” is being taken out of context
What is actually happening, how it has been politicized
The misinformation related to what is available to children who are exploring their gender (i.e., parental consent and youth care)
The role of therapists versus the role of medical providers
Discussion of gender norms
Different types of transition for trans individuals
Social transition (name, pronouns, clothes, haircut)
Medical interventions that may start during puberty (i.e., puberty blockers, progesterone only birth control)
Cross sex hormones and surgeries (which actually require a long process)
States are very specific for what they require for gender care (as do insurance companies)
Conversations in therapy for trans youth
Gender journey
Meeting the kids where they’re at
Lying to get what they need
Letters and recommendations for surgery
The gender dysphoria diagnosis and sorting that out from depression, anxiety, etc.
Supporting trans youth with social transition and getting the support they need
The concerns with maladaptive coping skills available online
Positive resources for trans youth (scroll down to resources)
Identity and impacts
The Politicization of Trans Individuals
Jordan grew in privilege when he transitioned
Legislation
Schools removing conversations related to gender and sexuality
Play and sports being withheld from trans kids
Bias and how being trans is perceived
The actual numbers of trans folks who want to play sports or want to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity
Advice for trans kids and families where gender care is illegal, advice for therapists
Age limits and laws that don’t align with logic
Culture, privilege, and being trans
Increasing or decreasing privilege when one transitions
Getting used to the changed dynamic within society based on external experience
The complexity of the experience and the changing of the experience
The concept of “passing” and how it taps into bias

Jun 13, 2022 • 36min
Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy in the Media: An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFT
Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy in the Media: An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFTCurt and Katie interview Danah Davis Williams, LMFT on the portrayals of mental health and therapy in the media. We explore responsible portrayals as well as the harmful practices that some writers and studios engage in. We also talk about the opportunities for modern therapists to have an impact on how diagnoses and mental health treatment are represented on film and television.Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!An Interview with Danah Davis Williams, LMFTDanah Davis Williams is a Licensed Psychotherapist, an Actor, a Psychological Creative Consultant, a Podcast Host and current Past President of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).As a therapist, Danah is in private practice in Santa Barbara, California (California Coastal Counseling) where she specializes in helping people break destructive patterns of coping through the use of practical, evidenced-based coping skills and personal process. She is extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).As a consultant, Danah provides personalized psychological consultation for filmmakers, executives and creatives committed to socially responsible, captivating storytelling through authentic characterization of mental health, its treatment and interpersonal impact. She runs a psychological consulting business helping entertainment industry leaders ensure accurate representation of mental health: working with filmmakers, writers, execs, and high-profile actors from networks like FX, CBS, ABC, NBC, Freeform and MGM.What does the media get wrong when portraying mental health and therapy?
Inaccurate portrayals of diagnoses
Manipulative or unethical therapists
The problems with “guilty pleasures” that include inaccurate or harmful portrayals
The opportunities for therapists to be creators and consultants
Translating clinical work into consulting and creating
Vulnerability when sharing journey as a therapist
Using skills from practice building to create opportunities as a creator
The process of consultation for scripts and what to consider when providing feedback
Ethical thoughts related to representations
How to build a network and consulting business
How the storytellers look at mental health and healing
The silver bullet that “heals” the client
Inaccurate portrayals of therapy or healing and the impact on clients
Ethics to consider (especially given you’re not acting within your profession with an ethical code)
The challenges of unscripted shows
Shows that get it right when it comes to mental health and treatment
This is us – Toby
Comprehensive and realistic, tapping into lived experience within actors and/or writers
The attempts to portray diversity and the experience of marginalized communities and their interaction in the mental health system
Diversifying Media and the Portrayals of Mental Health and Therapy
Ava Duvernay’s Array program
Michael B Jordan hiring students and mentoring the next generation
Decreasing stigma for folks who have not typically sought mental health services
How to advocate for accurate mental health portrayals in the media
Calling things out on social media that are good and things that are done poorly (or are harmful)
Content creation about shows you watch (like blogs, articles, etc.)
Discussing content in sessions to help process what folks are viewing or their own experience
Not watching or purchasing tickets to content that is harmful (not reinforcing “guilty pleasures”)

Jun 6, 2022 • 31min
Beware of Scams Targeting Therapists
Beware of Scams Targeting TherapistsCurt and Katie discuss common scams that specifically target therapists. We look at how to identify scams or sketchy business practices that can be very confusing as well as dangerous to clinicians. We also talk about how to protect yourself as well as solid business practices that you can implement to stave off some of these scammers. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!In this podcast episode we talk about scams that target therapistsWe have heard about a lot of scams in our careers. We figured it was time to do another “survival guide” episode on how to protect ourselves as therapists.What are the most common scams targeting therapists?
Information used from popular therapist directories
Claiming to be a law enforcement professional, missed court date, or the IRS
Image copyright infringement
Businesses that target you to charge them for things that are free or with another company
Clients or people seeking therapy for family members and then overpay and ask for a refund
Text messages or emails with unsolicited links that can leave malware on your computer
Phishing schemes
Testing stolen credit cards or stolen identities
How can modern therapists protect ourselves from these scams?
Get into wise mind (avoid responding to false urgency)
Go through official channels (contact actual officials)
Contact an attorney if unsure
Understand how legal notices are properly delivered
Caution with financial systems and not allowing people to pay upfront
Requiring person seeking services to contact therapist
Cyber security trainings
Communicating appropriately and consistently
Holding to systems and boundaries
Make sure to share these scams with professional organizations, the official entity, or your licensing board
Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Abundance Practice Building Article on Copyright InfringementFrom Joe Borders: Currently Active Scams Targeting Therapists From APA: Protect your practice from scams targeting psychologists From APA: More reports surface of telephone scammers targeting psychologists From the SF Chronicle: ‘He held me hostage with no gun but with his words’: The phone scam gaslighting therapists From Counseling Today: Technology Tutor: Scams aimed at counselors From Psych Today: The Phone Scam That Targets Psychologists From CPH & Associates: Scam Targeting Therapists: What You Need to Know From 10News.Com: The jury duty scam you should know about

May 30, 2022 • 1h 17min
Beyond Reimagination: Improving your client outcomes by understanding what big tech is doing right (and wrong) with mental health apps
Beyond Reimagination: Improving your client outcomes by understanding what big tech is doing right (and wrong) with mental health appsCurt and Katie chat about the big tech “disruptors” in the mental health space and what therapists can learn from their tactics to support clients. We look at who is using mental health apps, what mental health apps are getting right (and wrong), and how therapists can take what is working and work differently to more effectively serve our own clients. This is a continuing education podcourse.Looking at the gaps in mental health treatment and how big tech is working to “fix” them
Exploring the goals from the Rand report on fixing mental healthcare in the United States
Mental Health apps (with many broad definitions)
Access to lots of different types of services and self-help
A one stop shop with a full range of services
Direct negotiation with insurance companies
The types of technology used in mental health apps and the risks and benefits of these advances
Algorithms
Geo location data
Complex payment structures
Outcomes and feedback
What mental health apps are doing well for clients
Getting clients into therapy much more quickly
Decreasing costs for consumers
Increasing flexibility and availability
Not requiring for things to happen in real time (asynchronous therapy)
What mental health apps are getting wrong
McDonaldization and commoditization
Proprietary treatment methods and incentives for specific worksheets or staying within the app
Misalignment between the goals of the client and the goals of the corporation
Self-driven, leading to folks to potentially getting insufficient resources
Individual versus community focus
Caseloads and potential for therapist income (as well as burnout and poor care)
Concerns about the additional risks that can happen with mental health apps
The apps are not bound by HIPAA, but instead the SEC
Data sharing and Alexa suggesting supplements to address client mental health concerns
Additional legal and ethical risks
Who is using app-based mental health services?
Therapy veterans are moving to apps
Access is not actually improved
The reasons that clients are moving from a traditional therapist to therapy apps
Outcomes across different types of apps and different types of clients
Niche apps are more effective than generalist apps
What we can do to move our therapist practices forward?Using the benefits of technology to decrease friction for your clients accessing therapists
Increasing flexibility and creativity
Be a better therapist and understanding the digital therapeutic alliance
Paying attention to laws and ethics, scope of practice, and treatment planning
Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival GuideHey modern therapists, we’re so excited to offer the opportunity for 1 unit of continuing education for this podcast episode – Therapy Reimagined is bringing you the Modern Therapist Learning Community! Once you’ve listened to this episode, to get CE credit you just need to go to learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse, register for your free profile, purchase this course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation! Once that’s all completed - you’ll get a CE certificate in your profile or you can download it for your records. For our current list of CE approvals, check out moderntherapistcommunity.com.You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourseContinuing Education Approvals:When we are airing this podcast episode, we have the following CE approval. Please check back as we add other approval bodies: Continuing Education Information

May 23, 2022 • 40min
The Risks and Consequences of Failing to Report Child Abuse
The Risks and Consequences of Failing to Report Child AbuseCurt and Katie discuss the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences case against Barbara Dixon, LMFT who failed to report child abuse for Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos who both subsequently died from abuse by caregivers. We look at what this therapist missed as well as appropriate child abuse reporting, including the nuance of when to report. CW: details of child abuse discussed.Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!In this podcast episode we talk about the importance of child abuse reportingWe talk about the failure to report abuse by Barbara Dixon, LMFT that has recently been in the news related to the deaths of Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos.The case related to the child abuse death of Gabriel Fernandez
Content Warning: Details of the case, including the actions taken (and not taken) by Barbara Dixon, LMFT
The decision-making process with child abuse reporting
Who is responsible to decide to report child abuse – the clinician or the supervisor?
When supervisors or agencies tell clinicians under supervision not to report child abuse report
The individual responsibility that each clinician holds
The myth that you’re working “under” your supervisor’s license
How do you decide whether you should report child abuse?
Clarity from child abuse reporting laws
Hesitation based on systemic response, the therapeutic relationship, and the paperwork hassle
Where there are gray areas and nuance
The consequences of failing to report child abuse or adequately document services or risks
Your agency or supervisor may not be held liable for your actions (especially if you don’t document what you did)
Incomplete documentation hurts – it doesn’t help you hide from liability
Appropriate Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting
Interviewing the child separately
Following up on what you’ve asked for
Understanding at what point it becomes our responsibility (i.e., having sufficient information)
Documenting each stage and make sure to appropriately close out treatment file when needed
Consultation and not making the decision on your own
Defining the injury and assess from there
Understanding normal childhood response to typical life events (and noting changes)
Navigating the gray areas in child abuse assessment
Looking at impact, intent, and injury
Using the context to help decide when there isn’t a definitive line
Adequately documenting, even when you aren’t sure you’re making the right decision, is important and necessary
Looking at what needs systemic intervention and what needs family therapy
Getting past the discomfort to report child abuse report
It is your responsibility
Taking a moment to understand the purpose of reporting
Reducing your own liability
Obtaining resources for families
Understanding the risk for families of systems getting involved
Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Los Angeles Times Article: Counselor who didn’t report abuse of Gabriel Fernandez, Anthony Avalos put on 4-year probation Citation/Enforcement Decision on Barbara Dixon LA Times Article: Charges dismissed against social workers linked to Gabriel Fernandez’s killingRelevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast: Now Modern Therapists Have to Document Every F*cking Thing in Our Progress Notes? Do Therapists Curse in Session? Toxic Work Environments Giving and Getting Good Supervision Make Your Paperwork Meaningful: An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey Hall Noteworthy Documentation: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell, LMFT CYA for Court: An interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW


