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

By: Curt Widhalm LMFT and Katie Vernoy LMFT
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  • Summary

  • 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.
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Episodes
  • Navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Lies About God: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich

    Navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Lies About God: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich
    Sep 23 2024
    Navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Lies About God: An interview with Dr. Jamie Marich Curt and Katie interview Dr. Jamie Marich about her new book coming out in October 2024, You Lied to Me About God. We explore the impacts of religious abuse, Jamie’s personal story of spiritual trauma, and what therapists can miss when working with clients on these topics. We also dig into the idea that therapists can let their clients down when they don’t do their own internal work, address their bias, and show up effectively. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we look at the impacts of spiritual trauma on therapy clients We invited our friend, Dr. Jamie Marich, back on the podcast to talk about her story (and her upcoming book) that deals with spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and the lies that have been told "in God's name" that lead to shame and isolation for many of our clients. What are the impacts of spiritual abuse and religious trauma? · Definition of shame as the lie someone told you about yourself · Spiritual abuse goes deeper because the lies are told in God’s name · There are big impacts of religious trauma on those in the LGBTQ+ community as well as those who are seeking deep spiritual connection Looking at the concept of forgiveness within the context of religious and other trauma · How forgiveness can be helpful · How forgiveness is weaponized within the church and can be harmful · Forgiveness is not required, acceptance is a more appropriate goal How can therapists make sure they are not adding to the harm for clients with religious trauma? · Do your own work, so you can approach clients where they are · Be authentic, don’t lie to your clients, but don’t bring it up unless asked · Seek consultation to enhance your understanding of the client’s situation · Cultural humility is key, and don’t rely solely on your clients to be the cultural informant · Do not impose your spirituality on your clients, but be open to discussing spirituality · Be aware of the power dynamics, so you don’t become the client’s new guru · Help clients to find their own answers rather than relying on external authority Other ideas we touched on in this podcast episode · The importance of critical thinking · “Therapy cults” that promote adherence to a specific intervention model · The challenges of folks seeking compliance and righteousness, rather than taking a nuanced approach to topics and deciding for themselves Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/
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    46 mins
  • Do Therapists Lie to Their Clients?

    Do Therapists Lie to Their Clients?
    Sep 16 2024
    Do Therapists Lie to Their Clients? Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists are dishonest and whether they should be. We received a request from a listener to talk about the idea that therapists lie to their clients. We look at what types of lies are common, whether lying is expected or acceptable, what to do instead, and how to decide whether you will lie or not in session. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through how, when, and why therapists lie We received a listener email requesting a discussion on therapist dishonesty and the impact on the therapeutic relationship. What types of lies might a therapist tell? · Whoppers (fraud) · Fibs (untruths that support the clinical work or the therapeutic relationship) · Omission (concealing facts that impact the client) · Deflections (bending the truth for therapeutic effect) · Denial (rejecting reality, with positive and negative results) Is it good or bad for a therapist to lie? · Fraud is never okay, and is illegal and unethical · Fibs may be in the best interest of the client OR could be to protect the therapist (which is human, but not really okay) · Professionalism, exaggerating/minimizing emotional responses for therapeutic effect, and “social niceties” may be appropriate, but it is important to think about authenticity and whether it will negatively impact the client if they perceive the deception · If a client is asking for the therapist’s opinion of them, the context of the client’s treatment agreements and their needs, as well as the therapeutic relationship impact whether a therapists will be best served by honesty or deflecting or denying the truth What can therapists do when they are tempted to lie to their clients? · Make the decision of whether to tell the truth based on the context of the relationship and treatment goals · Be more transparent with the client about therapist’s limitations, while also holding hope and accountability to address these limitations · Work collaboratively with the client to get to the information or treatment interventions that are needed, rather than working by and for yourself. · If you lie to your client and it backfires, work to make repairs (see our episode on “Should Therapists Admit Mistakes?) Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/
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    41 mins
  • Welcome to Therapist Grad School!

    Welcome to Therapist Grad School!
    Sep 9 2024
    Welcome to Therapist Grad School! Curt and Katie chat about what the career is like, what is important to know starting out in grad school. We look at what prospective therapists need to know as they enter school, including hard truths and tips for social support. We also talk about what changes are needed in the profession and how students and new therapists can navigate these challenges. We provide suggestions on how to best take advantage of the opportunities in graduate school. We also unveiled a new project for the podcast. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk through what the therapist career is like We decided to talk through what it is like to be a therapist and how to best navigate your grad school education. What do prospective therapists need to know as they enter grad school? · Grad school doesn’t cover all that you’ll need to know to be an effective therapist · Lived experience is valid and definitely informs your work · It is important to assess what you already know, what you need to unlearn, what interventions you can add to what you already know · Learning how to be a “safe therapist” is not the same as learning to be a “good therapist” · Theories and orientations are foundational, but you can’t know them all · Once you graduate, that’s when you actually start learning how to be a therapist What can grad school students and new therapists expect regarding needed changes in the profession? · Changes may happen, but slowly · There can be times for advocacy to help increase the sustainability of the practice · You don’t need to worry about getting a job immediately, but you can start working with clients or in the field, if you would like or need to do so financially · There are a number of students who burnout before graduation, so pay attention to your capacity and self-care practices What opportunities are important to take advantage of while you are in grad school for therapy? · Consider taking the hardest or more complex practicum sites to learn how to work with the most challenging populations · Volunteer to do roll plays and risk making mistakes in your classes · Make mistakes while you are a student and prelicensed individual to get the supervision and oversight, to learn from these mistakes What are some hard truths about becoming a therapist? · The therapy profession is not for everyone · Not all students will make it through to graduation or to licensure (whether by choice or not) · Grad schools are not always transparent with how long it will take to get through the program, whether you will have support in getting a practicum site · The entry level jobs in the field may not pay very well (i.e., some are at or only slightly above minimum wage) · There is a risk of becoming disillusioned by the state of the world and the profession What are the social elements of becoming a therapist? · If you’re only friends and socializing with therapists, your view of the world may become more limited · There can be echo chambers, especially around social justice topics within mental health · Having friends who are therapists, so you can have the validation and understanding of other therapists · Socialization can be too focused on alcohol-forward events. It is important to find other ways to socialize to avoid the risks of substance abuse and dependence, especially as therapists are held to a higher standard through licensure · Take responsibility for self-care/self-maintenance Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement: Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/
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    39 mins
Alternative & Complementary Medicine Psychology Hygiene & Healthy Living
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