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

Curt and Katie talk about haters, heated online discourse that seems to delight in shaming other therapists, Schadenfreude, and the laziness of taking other people down while squandering the opportunity for creativity and positive discourse.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 backlash from haters that is created when you step out as a therapist The different theories: dehumanizing therapists, protecting the public from bad therapists, pushing back against innovation Characterizing this dynamic as Schadenfreude (and defining it) The irony that therapists are not showing positive, healthy communication online How jealousy and impostor syndrome can show up The ways that therapist training may contribute to these unhealthy conversations Dehumanizing people into brands or when people become intertwined with their concept and the idea is humanized The entitlement that people can feel when interacting with brands, forgetting that there are people behind these brands The emotionality and righteousness in the communication The act of bringing other people down in a public forum, rather than raising up own arguments The plea to bring in alternative perspectives to add to the discourse, rather than focusing on taking the other person down The laziness in just saying that you don’t like something, a passive “take down” The reinforcement that trolls get (likes, comments, arguments) and a call to action to stop feeding the trolls How the bystander role might be relevant Responsibilities of original posters and commenters The impact of social media on professional reputation Curt’s plea to #CitetheStatute The way that social media can feel like we’re talking to ourselves, or to people who are far removed and somehow not impacted by us The lack of emotional resources that can impact how we engage with our community of therapists online The possibilities when we are able to use these social networks for creativity and discourse

An interview with Ernesto Segismundo, Jr., M.S. LMFT about what it means to be “not your typical psychotherapist.” Curt and Katie talk with Ernesto about the overlap with the #moderntherapist and how to navigate the unique challenges of being different as a therapist.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 Ernesto Segismundo, Jr. M.S. LMFTErnesto Segismundo is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Ernesto received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Biola University and received his Masters of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University. Ernesto has over 10 years of clinical counseling experience working in settings such as group homes, domestic violence shelters, churches, and outpatient programs. Ernesto treats marriage and family relationship problems. Ernesto also treat individuals suffering from depression, anxiety and addiction. Along with Ernesto’s counseling experience, he has conducted various classes and seminars concerning relationships and mental health related topics such as parenting, substance abuse, maintaining healthy marriages, private practice social media and video marketing and managed care practices.Ernesto is currently an adjunct professor at Hope International University and owns a group practice called CAV Family Therapy with offices located in Huntington Beach and Fullerton California. In this episode we talk about: The return of Ernesto Segismundo Ernesto’s vision for traveling continuing education The Not Your Typical Psychotherapist Summit What it means to be a “not the typical psychotherapist” and the cross-over with #moderntherapists The difficulty with have “haters” when you break out of the norm The challenge of trying to do something and then getting shamed for not doing “enough.” The importance of finding support with people who get it The big vision that puts you in front of a large audience and makes you vulnerable What it means to be authentically yourself and keep putting yourself out there How being yourself is the same as branding – you will attract and you will repel The social proof that can strongly contribute to these movements How these movements can contribute to improvements in mental health stigma, mental health access The importance of celebrating differences and accepting each other as atypical therapists The benefits and the draw backs of communication on social media How to effect change or provide feedback to people who are in the public eye The difficulty when someone is shamed on social media How you can take care of yourself as someone who is willing to step outside of the box An Alternate title: Congratulations you now have haters

Curt and Katie talk about how to successfully navigate the changes that occur during the summer when you’re in private practice. We look at how to plan for the whole year, sync your vacations with your clients, get business maintenance done during the summer, and make sure you’re incorporating your own self-care.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 change of pace that often happens when the summer hits The importance of taking a bird’s eye view of the full year, rather than focusing month to month How to set your fees to address the time off and missed sessions during the year Planning your vacation at the same time that your clients will be out The need to lead by example, showing self-care and boundaries How to take advantage of down times, so that you are ready for the uptick when the fall hits The types of assessments that you can do on your practice during the summer How to move away from panic, by planning financially for the full year The MTSG challenge: Catch up on your notes in July Setting yourself up for a more lucrative practice with increasing fees or cleaning up practices Taking vacations and getting your practice vacation ready Vacation coverage and helping your practice stay responsive during your vacation The joy of implementing your systems during the slower times (because it takes time) The possibility of having a better schedule when the summer ends – assessing and moving to an ideal schedule after moving people around during the summer Getting training during the summer, so you can actually implement it deliberately Re-evaluating your personal routines and self-care/self-maintenance Putting some effort into getting content (social media, blog posts, marketing, etc.) planned out and created Capitalizing on the creative time out of the office Evaluating your practice and your business planning

An interview with Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor, about creating your own business opportunities when you identify a need in your community (or yourself). Curt and Katie talk with Marissa about how to identify what type of entrepreneur you are, how to identify opportunities, and what to consider when adding these businesses to your therapy practice. 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 Marissa Lawton, Licensed Counselor and Scaling Strategist for the Solo-TherapistMarissa Lawton is a licensed counselor, national board-certified counselor, and member of the American Counseling Association. She is also a corporate-trained marketer, girlmom, and brand whisperer who lights up walking solo-therapists through aligned business building strategies. Marissa is the creator of Side Hustle Support Group, a 6-month mentorship that helps therapists capitalize on their experience and education and pair it with their innate stories and superpowers to scale both themselves and their practices through online income.Her upcoming program, Baby Steps Beyond the Couch, teaches her 90-day methodology for therapists to make their first recurring $1000 in non-clinical revenue. Opening them up to the world of possibilities beyond seeing 1:1 clients. You can learn more about Marissa at marissalawton.comIn this episode we talk about: Marissa’s background in corporate finance What happened for Marissa when Lehman Brothers died and her husband was stationed in the middle of nowhere Alaska How Marissa recreated herself when it became clear that she couldn’t have a conventional job The entrepreneurial practice of finding a gap to fill and how therapists are actually at an advantage The strengths that therapists bring to their work How therapists can miss opportunities due to fear or lack of confidence How to find your passion and what you need to share When comparison can hold us back How we can find needs in our communities, and figuring out The Four Types of Entrepreneurs and the strengths of each The need for transparency in business and how that impacts therapists How to manage the power dynamic when you are a therapist and have another entrepreneurial pursuit How to talk about determining where clients fit and how to navigate the dual relationships that can develop

Curt and Katie talk about how therapists can be called into action in their off time. We look at how being a therapist can impact our relationships, how to put boundaries around your therapist role, and the risks of crossing boundaries between personal and professional roles with your friends and family members.    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 different things that therapists might complain about with their therapist friends How to identify what role you play with the people in your life How to not do therapy with your friends or others who are seeking “free therapy” Limit-setting, navigating your loved one’s needs Becoming a resource, not a therapist Giving referrals, supporting connection Specific tactics about how to avoid being the “counselor” for your friends and family members The importance of empowering the people around you to soothe themselves When it is hard to take off the therapist hat Determining how you engage, what emotional energy you have to give after a therapy day When you may decide to step across the line Determining which role your friend or family member actually want you to play How perspective-taking can start irritating the people in our lives and may even lead to you losing your sense of self and identity The expectations that others can have of us How to set the boundaries with your friends and family members The impact of how the role we played in our family of origin can mean a bit role shift after we train to be a therapist How being an emotional hub can impact you as a therapist in the room When it is okay to use some of your therapist skills in your relationships How compassion fatigue and bias can make you a less empathic to your loved ones

An interview with Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW about how we have been trained to handle grief wrong. Curt and Katie talk with Jill about what the Kubler-Ross model is useful for (and what it’s not) as well has how therapists can better deal with grief – for themselves and in their practice. 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 Jill A. Johnson-Young, LCSW, Grief educator, and CEO of Central Counseling Services of Riverside and MurrietaJill Johnson-Young, LCSW is a dynamic and engaging presenter. She is consistently noted for providing thorough and useful information to meet the needs of the audience. Professional and community seminars have returned reviews thanking her for being the best seminar of the conference, for being personable and including questions from the participants, and for both the lecture content and the interactive portions of the programs. Jill is available for presentations about the following issues: Grief and loss: all ages, all kinds of losses (pets, family, friends, chronic illness and sudden losses, hospice and what to expect, new ways to see grief, coping, how loss impacts the grieving person, others) Dementia: Losses, involved, coping for those with dementia and those impacted by it, recovery after a loss form dementia, family dynamics in coping with dementia When she is not out speaking, which is one of Jill’s favorite parts of her career, she is the CEO and Clinical Director of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California. She is a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator and specializes her private practice work in grief and loss, dementia, trauma, and adoption issues. She has more than a decade of experience with hospice and trains therapists and social workers in areas that include correctly treating childhood trauma, grief and loss, and dementia care. She holds a BA from UC Riverside and her MSW from the University of South Florida.In this episode we talk about: Jill’s story and how she has been nicknamed the grief whisperer, the rebellious widow, and a black widow and how she is a grief rebel disruptor How Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is used incorrectly – it was designed for anticipatory grief The “common knowledge” about grief that is not really common knowledge How our society commonly avoids death, dying, and grief – even therapists are afraid of funerals What normalizing death can do to help your clients, especially children The importance of integrating a lost loved one into your sense of self The unexpected consequences of grief Physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational effects of grief Therapists’ responsibility when treating a griever The concept of reconstructing your life after a loss The differences between typical loss and traumatic loss How people grieve differently, especially related to roles, development, family dynamics Why to pull back from deifying the dead How therapists can handle when their own grief comes up with grieving clients What therapists (and all people) do wrong when interacting with a griever How celebrities dying can impact our clients

Curt and Katie talk about treatment teaming as a therapist. We look at why you should do it, things to consider, and what it looks like in different settings.     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: Treatment teams as the most effective way to work with clients The education gap for people related to creating treatment teams The difficulty with the model of the therapist being the primary agent for change The different roles of treatment team members, especially as a therapist The distinction between diagnosis for medical necessity and for the clinical case conceptualization Specific things related to working with psychiatrists The challenge related to perceived hierarchy within the profession The value of having a treatment team leader and how to identify who should be the leader The importance of having a lot of information and additional perspectives The scope of practice considerations and how to talk with someone who has a different scope Fragmented communication within treatment teams Community Mental Health programs that require treatment teaming The different way that we set up a treatment teams when we’re in private practice Confidentiality and communication concerns when treatment teaming How to interact with the other team members The educational considerations related to treatment teaming The “mercenary” reason to do treatment teaming Our Generous Sponsor:Therapy Reimagined 2019: The Modern Therapist Conference presented by SimplePracticeOctober 18 and 19th in Universal City, CA – Hang out with the cool #moderntherapists! We are sponsoring our own podcast because we are so excited about the conference!Grab your continuing education for the year and get trained up on business building, diversity, technology, self-care and all-around amazing professional development this October! Come join us in-person for the same fun we bring to the podcast!!Use the promo code MTSG50 to get $50 off your full conference ticket.Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.Wraparound Services within Community Mental HealthArticle: Hoge MA, Morris J, Daniels A, et al. (2007). An Action Plan on Behavioral Health Workforce Development. Rockville, Md, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Relevant Episodes:In-Person Networking Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group Therapy Reimagined 2019 Our consultation services:The Fifty-Minute HourCredits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/  

An interview Megan Costello, LMFT on taking the best of Community Mental Health into your private practice. Curt and Katie interview Megan about her very successful private practice that is 100% home and field-based. They talk about how to a field-based practice works, including practical considerations.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 Megan Costello, LMFTMegan Costello, LMFT, is a person-centered behaviorist providing in-home counseling for families in Los Angeles. Megan has provided services to clients in their homes or the community for almost 15 years. Megan started her career as a behavioral technician, providing behavioral therapy under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) before she moved into a supervisory role for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) cases (both in- home and school-based cases). Megan continued this work as she obtained her Masters of Science in Counseling at California State University, Long Beach. Megan then added clinical work in community mental health, providing specialized support to children on the autism spectrum with trauma histories. When Megan moved into private practice, she incorporated the best of the in-home and behavioral interventions into her treatment model. She brings practical advice and strategies to her clinical work, providing specialized, comprehensive treatment to higher needs or atypical cases. In this episode we talk about: Megan’s perspective and a new model for private practice How to make applied behavioral analysis more person-centered The value of being relentlessly client-centered and doing the highest impact work, regardless of how convenient to the therapist The types of clients who would benefit more from in-home and school-based therapy The benefits of in-home therapy over in-office therapy The need to price your services accordingly How to create an office in your car How to manage your scheduling The unique challenges of working in the home, looking at confidentiality, family involvement The model that requires family and parent involvement Safety assessments prior to going out to the home How to assess over the phone prior to starting home-based treatment Getting parent buy-in for active involvement in treatment for their child  Relevant Resources:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:Megan’s website: https://www.megcostello.com/Megan’s consultation: https://www.megcostello.com/consultingAND WE HAVE A PICTURE OF MEGAN'S TRUNK ON THE WEBSITE!  The Modern Therapists Group on FacebookTherapy Reimagined 2019Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/ 

Curt and Katie talk about how we value our time, looking at time when we are generating revenue AND the time when we are not generating revenue.    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 initial conversations about time: Curt’s FB post, Jo Muirhead’s Article Philosophical musings about the value of time Podcastception: a podcast sparked by a blog post which was sparked by one of our Facebook posts The value of client hours above other hours How to value non-revenue time The types of non-revenue generating time Valuing time in different ways The importance of self-care hours for many of our listeners and the lesser value that Curt places on these type of hours Decision-making when looking at whether hiring someone to do work for your business The different types of time (self-care, self-maintenance, rest, creative, content creation, work time, maintenance, etc.) and the different types of return on investment for those types (monetary, increased efficiency, positioning, strategic advantage, fulfillment, meaning, purpose, sustainability, quality of life, mission-driven, connection, etc.) The importance of balancing these types of time to avoid burnout or washout The unique return of investment for each person Future-proofing your work (being able to plan for sustained work and retirement) Looking at your whole career when you think about how you do your work Burnout or moral injury as risks for clinicians  Resources mentioned:We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Curt’s Facebook Post on the value we place on time Jo Muirhead’s Blog Post: What if Our Time Isn’t Valued in Monetary TermsJames Clear Blog on How to Track Money and Time Daniel Pink’s book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing Relevant Episodes:Jo Muirhead’s Podcast Episode: Clinician and Entrepreuner Howard Spector’s Episode: Investing in Yourself as an Entrepreneur Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists GroupTherapy Reimagined 2019 Our consultation services:The Fifty-Minute Hour Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/  

An interview Laura Westmoreland, LMFT on addressing body bias, body shaming, and health at every size (HAES) in therapy. Curt and Katie talk with Laura about the common mistakes that therapists make when working with clients living in larger bodies.Interview with Laura Westmoreland, LMFTLaura Westmoreland, LMFT identifies as a white woman living in a larger body, cisgender, straight, and able-bodied; her pronouns are she/her. She acknowledges that she has white privilege.She works with individuals, couples, and families who want to explore what is holding them back from leading the life they desire; both personally and professionally. The key to her work is the relationship developed. Together with her clients, she can create a brave space; a brave space requires stepping out of your comfort zone, risking vulnerability, and being curious.Laura believes... what we struggle with provides insight and can help us grow connection is key; reciprocal relationships require effort regularly engaging in pleasurable activities fosters joy and happiness in nourishing mind, body, and soul that self-compassion is vital to wellbeing all bodies are good bodies  In this episode we talk about: The importance of inclusion related to body diversity What body bias looks like in a therapist office Health At Every Size (HAES) The challenges of living in a larger body The war on obesity and walking into a war zone The medicalization of body diversity with words like “overweight” and the pathologizing of different bodies The danger of colluding with the diet culture The controversy that exists within the eating disorder community related to HAES Focusing on the client’s lived experience, rather than the societal expectations Sorting through when larger bodies suggest symptomology of a mental health or trauma concern versus when someone is healthy in a larger body Showing curiosity around what “feeling fat” means, rather than suggesting a diet or fix The danger of prescribing to people living in larger bodies what we would treat in eating disorder clients (i.e., restriction) How a clinician’s body bias can negatively impact treatment efficacy Intuitive eating – paying attention to hunger and satiety cues Joyful movement, rather than trudging to the gym The importance of finding your healthy practices Assessment best practices Harvard Implicit Bias Tests The different biases that Curt and Katie hold around body sizes Bias and microaggressions that can show up in the therapist office What therapists can look for when assessing whether clients feel comfortable in their own bodies  Relevant Resources:We’ve pulled together any resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links:Laura Westmoreland’s WebsiteFB: Laura Westmoreland LmftIG: haes_therapist_in_laTwitter: @haestherapistlaIntuitive Eating WebsiteBe NourishedJeffery Hunger’s PublicationHarvard Implicit Bias Tests(Association for Size Diversity and Health) ASDAH Dr, Vincent Felitti talks about the Adverse Childhood Experiences StudyThe Modern Therapists Group on FacebookTherapy Reimagined 2019Credits:Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/