Join us as we look back at one of our favorite episodes! Walk-and-talk therapy with a client by a beautiful pond sounds idyllic until a gaggle of geese attacks! Brandi shares a story that you will not believe, filled with so many twists and turns. Come laugh with us in this hilarious and unbelievable episode that has a surprisingly insightful ending.

Join us as we take a look back on one of our favorite episodes! Cate Edelstein, the therapist behind the super popular @therapist.memes.fordramaqueens Instagram account, revealed her identity for the first time in public! She shares her personal journey of creating and maintaining the humorous, and sometimes controversial, public social media account for therapists. We dive deep and discuss the impact of complex mental health information being explained in shorter and shorter clips on social media and how it can influence our client's perceptions of themselves.

Join us as we hear from Candace as she shares her story about a challenging moment she faced as a therapist and new mother. While in a session, she started experiencing physical discomfort due to the need to pump. She had to navigate the decision of how to disclose this to her client and take care of her own needs. Candace emphasizes the importance of authenticity and self-disclosure in building rapport with clients. She also reflects on the unrealistic standards therapists often hold themselves to and the need to prioritize self-care.

Tune in this week as Bradley shares his journey of being diagnosed with ADHD and autism while pursuing a career as a therapist. He initially questioned whether he could be a therapist with autism, but with the support of his therapist and program, he took a break to focus on his healing and growth. Bradley emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting neurodivergent individuals in therapy, and the need for more awareness and resources in the field. He also shares about how to find a balance between acknowledging a diagnosis but not letting it define you, and recognizing that disability does not mean inability.

Join us as we hear from Devon who shares her experience of being both a therapist and Mrs. North Dakota America. She discusses how she got into the world of pageants and the challenges of balancing her roles. Devon highlights the importance of self-disclosure and building rapport with clients, as well as navigating the boundaries of visibility in a small community. She shares strategies for managing client curiosity and maintaining confidentiality. Devon emphasizes the value of authenticity and being seen as a therapist, while also pursuing personal interests.

Communicating with clients is already hard, but imagine how much harder it gets when your client criticizes your Mandarin language skills and requests a transfer. Cat shares this experience and reflects on the power dynamics as she struggled to find a balance between her therapeutic style and the client's needs. Through supervision and self-reflection, she learns to put aside her ego and approach the client with empathy and validation. The rupture and repair process in therapy is explored, and Cat emphasizes the importance of not taking criticism personally and understanding the client's struggles.

What happens when your clinical judgment and employer expectations conflict? In this episode, Liana shares her experience working in a substance abuse outpatient treatment center where fraternization between clients was strictly prohibited. She discusses the challenges of navigating this rule and the impact it had on her therapeutic relationship with a client who was involved in a relationship with another client. Liana also talks about the conflict between confidentiality and the obligation to disclose details about her client to her employer, as well as the negative response she received from her supervisors when she disclosed the situation. The episode highlights the tension between following workplace rules and maintaining ethical standards as a therapist.

Join us as we hear from Daisy who shares her journey of experiencing vicarious trauma and physical symptoms while working in the field of medical social work. She describes how she felt intense empathy for her patients, to the point of experiencing their symptoms herself. Eventually, she made the difficult decision to leave her job and start her own private practice. Through therapy and body work, Daisy has found healing and a better quality of life. She encourages others to listen to their intuition and prioritize their well-being, and gives us the important reminder that it is okay to leave a setting even if you're "good" at it.

Join us this week as Courtney shares her experience of feeling like a bad therapist during her internship and how she navigated through it. She discusses the challenges she faced during the internship match process and the unexpected population shift in her work. Courtney also talks about the importance of exploring alternative career paths and reaching out to professionals in different fields. She emphasizes the need for graduate students to think creatively, get curious, and be open to different opportunities. Courtney encourages therapists to ignore the naysayers and seek advice from those who have built successful careers.

Join us this week as Elizabeth shares her experience of creating a school-based therapeutic program virtually during the pandemic and the impact it had on her mental health. Elizabeth opens up about questioning her self-worth and capabilities as a therapist. She shares the impact of write-ups and disciplinary action on her mental health and how the support of her friends and family helped her realize the need for change. Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of finding the right work environment and how it can positively impact clinical work. She encourages therapists to trust their gut and prioritize their mental health when making career decisions. Get vulnerable with us this week as we dive deep into our own mental health as therapists.

In this episode, MaryBeth shares a story where she made a schedule change for two clients without fully considering the impact it would have on them. One client felt second best and requested a new therapist. MaryBeth reflects on the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the need to balance the needs of both therapist and client. She emphasizes the significance of repairing ruptures in the therapeutic relationship and the value of open communication.

Graduate school teaches us a lot, but it doesn't teach us everything we need to navigate being a therapist. In this episode, Shannon shares her experience of going on two maternity leaves while working in private practice. She discusses the logistical and emotional challenges of planning and communicating her leave to clients. Shannon also talks about the guilt she felt about taking time off and the importance of self-care during pregnancy. She reflects on the support she received from the therapist community and the lessons she learned from her experiences. Listen until the end for a discount code at Shannon's Etsy shop for therapists: Focus on the Therapy.

In this episode, Robyn shares her personal experience with burnout and questioning her abilities as a therapist. She discusses the signs of burnout and the costs of overdoing and people-pleasing. Robyn emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and attuning to oneself while maintaining attunement with clients. She also highlights the need for honest conversations about burnout in the therapy community.

In this episode, Allie spills the tea on how she failed her clinical licensure exam the first time around. She hilariously recounts the reasons behind her delay in taking the exam and the absurd challenges she faced during the process, including *spoiler alert* accidentally sitting for the wrong exam. In all seriousness, we hope that this episode normalizes how challenging our exams can be and that sometimes we fail, but it doesn't mean the end of our careers.

In this episode, Samantha discusses her experience with imposter syndrome and the challenges of getting licensed as a therapist. She shares the daunting process of preparing for licensure exams and the pressure that comes with it. Samantha emphasizes the importance of self-care and seeking support during this time. She also normalizes the possibility of exam failure and encourages perseverance. We can't wait to celebrate with Samantha when her licensure is official!

Eddie shares his experience of working in a treatment program during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges he faced in a toxic work environment. He discusses the difficulties of working in person while most mental health services had moved to virtual platforms. Eddie and his colleagues requested to go virtual for safety reasons but were met with resistance from their supervisor and HR. The lack of support and dismissive attitude towards their concerns led to a culture of fear and discomfort. Eddie eventually left the job and emphasizes the importance of knowing one's worth and not tolerating a toxic work environment.

Join us this week as Noura shares her experience of unexpectedly going into labor and the challenges she faced in managing her private practice and clients during her maternity leave. She discusses the lack of closure and feelings of abandonment that arose from not being able to communicate with her clients during her hospital stay. Noura also reflects on the impact of this experience on her decision to start her own private practice. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and compassion for therapists in similar situations and highlights the benefits in having our network of peers for support.

In this episode, Liane shares her experience of overbooking clients and the negative impact it had on her well-being and the therapeutic relationships. She realized that saying yes to every client request was not sustainable and led to feelings of resentment and dread. By evaluating her time and making changes, she created a schedule that worked for her and her clients. Liane advises therapists to trust their boundaries and not succumb to a scarcity mentality. Therapists everywhere will relate to the journey of finding a balance between time and income that aligns with personal needs and values.

In this episode, Josh shares two stories that made him question his role as a therapist. The first story involves encountering a client at a music night he was hosting, leading to a moment of awkwardness and reflection. The second story takes place during a low point in Josh's life, where he ran into a former client while engaging in some self-destructive behavior on a night out. Through these experiences, Josh emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, trusting one's intuition, and learning from mistakes. He also announces the upcoming release of his book, 'And How Does That Make You Feel?' that we get a sneak peek into!

Jonathan, a behavior analyst, shares his journey of struggling with mental health and questioning his ability to be a good therapist. He discusses how his mental health issues affected his work and personal life, leading him to seek help and take a different approach to his own treatment. Jonathan highlights the importance of applying behavior analysis to mental health and emphasizes the need for therapists to prioritize their own well-being.