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.

Amy shares her journey from working in schools to starting her own private practice. She discusses the challenges she faced and the doubts she had about being a therapist. Amy also talks about the importance of planning and finding a niche in private practice. She shares her experience working with a nonprofit and balancing her schedule. Amy offers advice for therapists considering starting their own private practice and emphasizes the need for self-care and support.

In this episode, Katie discusses the challenges she faced when a client brought up a topic closely related to her personal life and her identity, and how it triggered her own biases and judgments. Katie reflects on her initial reactions and the impact it had on her therapeutic relationship with the client. She shares the process of navigating through her countertransference and the importance of seeking consultation and support. Katie emphasizes the need for self-care and self-reflection in order to be an effective and compassionate therapist.

In this conversation, Cori shares a story about receiving an email from a psychologist who criticized their therapeutic approach after she asked for a ROI before consulting. Cori reflects on their initial reaction, the impact on their self-perception as a therapist, the shame spiral she went down, and the importance of seeking consultation. We discuss and emphasize the need for curiosity and open-mindedness in the field and all that comes with it.

Therapists often experience feelings of responsibility and grief when a former client is involved in a tragic event. Join us this week as returning guest Leah shares a story about a former client who was involved in a fatal car accident. Leah emphasizes the importance of creating supportive connections and finding spaces to process these difficult emotions. She also highlights the need for more open conversations about therapist grief and the unique ethical considerations that therapists face in these situations.

Join us this week as Kari shares her experience of being in an dual therapeutic relationship and how it has shaped her understanding of self-disclosure and boundaries in therapy. She discusses the blurred boundaries and power dynamics that existed in her relationship with her therapist who was also her coworker then turned supervisor. Kari reflects on the impact of this experience on her own therapy practice and emphasizes the importance of seeking consultation and supervision, setting appropriate boundaries, and considering the impact of self-disclosure on clients.

Happy New Year!! Kick off 2024 by joining us in reflecting back on one of our most loved episodes while we spend time with our loved ones this week. Whether you've heard it before or it is new to you, this story is so juicy.

Nikki realizes that two of her clients are in a love triangle, except they don't know it! She tells us how she realized that the client who shared her husband is cheating on her with an unknown person and the client who shared they had a new relationship are actually talking about the same person. Nikki discuses navigating this tricky situation ethically and morally, while ensuring she is doing no harm to her clients.

Happy holidays!! Join us in reflecting back on one of our most loved episodes while we spend time with our loved ones this week. Whether you've heard it before or it is new to you, this story is hilariously amazing.

Sonia shares how a situation involving delusions, kittens, and major countertransference resulted in her avoiding consultation and going above and beyond for a client. You won't believe how this one ends!

Margaret shares her personal story of discovering her husband's affair with one of her clients while working as a therapist in the addiction treatment field. She discusses the impact of the affair on her work and professional identity, as well as the challenges she faced in integrating the experience into her personal and professional life. Margaret emphasizes the importance of having a support network and finding people who understand and care about you.

Speaking up is difficult, especially when people around you invalidate your experience. Emily shares her experience of sexism at her internship and how she spoke up for herself and her clients.

The brilliant brain behind @mentalhealthfunnies shares her story of discrimination and pregnancy at her internship. Hear how she responds to the microaggressions, advocates for herself, and the resulting fallout from being terminated from the internship.