The Thoughtful Counselor

A conversation with Dr. David Nylund on the history and art of therapeutic letter writing. We discuss the emergence of letter writing in narrative therapy as an alternative to "traditional"notes and documentation, crafting letters that keep the conversation going, and new movements in how to use letter writing in therapeutic work. For more on David, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit bit.ly/ttc-119 Support us at www.patreon.com/thethoughtfulcounselor

Current installment of the Leader's Project: Eric Beeson In this episode, Dr. Allison Kramer interviews Dr. Gregory Moffatt about the impact of his self-disclosure of personal struggle in 2018's most popular Counseling Today article, "The Hurting Counselor," with a focus on Moffatt's Mantra: The professional counselor's ethical imperative to practice routine and crucial self-care. For more Gregory, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com Support us at www.patreon.com/thethoughtfulcounselor

Current installment of the Leader's Project: Anna Flores Locke A conversation with Dr. Alyson Carr on (nearly) all you need to know when preparing to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). We discuss why the test is important and useful for counselors, the format of the exam, and concrete ideas to help you prepare. For more on Alyson, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com. Support us at www.patreon.com/thethoughtfulcounselor

Mike talks with Nicole Stargell and Matt Glowiak on connecting with our communities "beyond the couch." We discuss the history of counselor community engagement, important considerations when starting out, and possible barriers to community outreach. For more on Nicole and Matt, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this interview visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com

In this week's collaboration with The Theory of Change Podcast, Alfredo Palacios and Dr. Fred Hanna discusses existential anxiety and its relevance to counselors. As a follow up to EP98 (Existentialism in Counseling) Alredo and Dr. Hanna take a deeper dive into existential philosophy and ways that one can overcome anxiety and experience the thrill of being alive. They discuss techniques and resources counselors can use to learn more about these ideas and incorporate them into their practice. The Theory of Change Podcast Episode 98: Existentialism in Counseling For more about Fred, links and references from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com

Support us at www.patreon.com/thethoughtfulcounselor A conversation with Dr. Howard Schubiner on the latest neuroscience approaches to understanding and treating chronic pain. Dr. Schubiner's Mind Body Program emphasizes the way the unconscious brain and neural pathways (versus structural abnormalities) are the cause of most chronic pain and require a different approach to treatment than standard pharmacological and/or pain psychology frameworks. For more about Dr. Schubiner, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit Make sure to check out: Theory of Change Podcast Leader's Project interview with Jared Rose

Check out the Leaders Project interview with Fred Gingrich In her first segment with The Thoughtful Counselor, Dr. Priscilla Wilson interviews Dr. Kimberly Warfield about a class project involving student exploration and immersion into their communities to explore factors and resources that support or hinder the development of multicultural education. For more on Priscilla and Kimberly, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-CL. Support us at www.patreon.com/thethoughtfulcounselor.

Current installment of the Leader's Project: Fred Gingrich Building on last week's episode, Paul, Jesse, and Mike discuss the origins of The Ways Paradigm and expand on the ways of understanding, being, and intervening in relationship to spirituality and/or religion in the counseling process. For more on Paul and Jesse, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-BJ. Support us at www.patreon.com/thethoughtfulcounselor

A conversation with Jesse Fox and Paul Deal on the history of religion and spirituality in the US, using thick approaches to engage our clients religious and/or spiritual lives, and the possibility of true pluralism and hospitality in counseling relationships and the helping professions. For more on Jesse and Paul, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-Bs.

EDITORIAL NOTE: In June of 2020, after a series of murders of black Americans including Breonna Taylor and George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement, a long-time listener raised a concern regarding this episode, particularly a shift in the conversation from the context of military combat to general policing. Upon reflection, we note that while the discussion was meant to focus on the military, the guest makes reference to general policing in several analogies. In hindsight, clarification of the important distinctions between military combat and policing as well as a clear condemnation of unlawful killings by police is necessary. We are also reflecting on how we can better hold our guests accountable for the ideas they present in these interviews. As editor and producer of The Thoughtful Counselor, I and our team of contributors are committed to critically reflecting on our work to ensure the messages we are promoting do not implicitly or explicitly support or justify systemic racism and police brutality. - Mike Shook Aaron speaks with Colonel Dave Grossman on the psychological effects of combat and lawful-killing and outlines the strengths that Veterans and service people possess that mental health professionals should seek to make use of throughout the therapeutic process. For links from this conversation and the APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com

Support us at www.patreon.com/thethoughtfulcounselor A conversation with Victoria Kress on defining non-suicidal self-injury, meaning making, the ethics of autonomy, and creative interventions for practice. TO learn more about Victoria, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for the episode visit www.thethoughfulcounselor.com

The Thoughtful Counselor team reflects on the challenges of keeping a podcast going, ways our interviews have changed us, and what we are looking forward to in 2019.

A conversation with Dr. Susan Branco on counselors' experience of client-initiated microaggressions, ways to respond, and the need for greater ethical discernment and reflection in complex situations. For more about Susan, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com

A conversation with Dr. James Coan about the research that led to the development of social baseline theory and about potential implications of the theory for clinical work. For more on Jim, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-ts.

Listener and self-proclaimed Thoughtful Counselor "groupie" Martin Timoney interviews Everett Worthington on defining humility, the relational nature of humility, and interventions to boost humility. For more on Everett and Martin, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-ti.

This week, Dr. Allison Kramer speaks with Professor David L. Prucha on the challenges parents and children face in the wake of divorce. Going beyond platitudes, Prucha offers concrete clinical suggestions on how counselors can help both parents and children to avoid the pitfalls of poor parenting, even in times of great emotional pain. For more on David, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-t9.

A conversation with Madeline Clark on the intersections of poverty, social class, and mental health, poverty beliefs among counselors, and how the counseling profession can chart a path forward. For more on Madeline, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-sY.

A conversation with Samara Stone on challenges to practice building in diverse communities, demystifying mental health services, and making a difference while trying to make a living. For more on Samara, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-sK.

A conversation with Dr. Kevin Doyle on the origins of the current opioid crisis in the United States, our collective struggle with pain, and what counselors can do at the systemic, community, and individual levels. For more on Kevin, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-sx.

A conversation with Guy MacPherson, founder of The Trauma Therapy Project, on owning our own stories and histories, cultivating presence in our work, and is new cause in inner work for practitioners interested in trauma work. For more on Guy, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-sp.

A conversation with Dr. Jori Berger-Greenstein on what behavioral medicine is, the role of counselors in assessing medical symptoms, and navigating interdisciplinary collaboration (even when it's frustrating). For more on Jori, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-sg.

A conversation with Dr. Alfredo Palacios on defining existentialism, some of the pillars of existential theory that are most helpful, and how we can incorporate existential ideas into counseling. For more on Alfredo, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-s5.

Over the past decade, the #MeToo movement has ushered mainstream awareness of the overwhelming occurrence of sexual abuse across all demographics of our society. In this episode, Dr. Megan Speciale will interview sexual trauma experts Wendy Maltz and Jimanekia Eborn on how to support survivors' sexual wellness after abuse, including specific strategies that you can use with your clients and loved ones to support their process of healing. For more on the interviewees, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-rQ.

A conversation with Dr. Barbara Herlihy on the the counseling profession going international, how this changes the way we see boundaries, and safeguarding against the exportation of Eurocentric ideas. For more on Barbara, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-rA.

A conversation with Alexandra Katehakis, Ph.D. about the psychobiological factors that contribute to and reinforce a compulsive drive toward sex for affective regulation, as well as relational approaches to assessment and treatment. For more on Alexandra, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-rg.

A conversation with Dr. Jane Joyce on navigating the ethics of incorporating spirituality and religion in a church-based counseling center. For more on Jane, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-r2.

A conversation with Aaron Smith on veteran mental health and wellness, making meaning of difficult and traumatic experiences, and the possibilities of post-traumatic growth. For more on Aaron, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-qH.

This week, Dr. Allison Kramer talks with Professor Mari Dias about her lifetime of experience working with end-of-life patients and bereaved clients in her family's mortuary, hospice settings, her private practice, and on the radio. For more on Mari, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-qu

A conversation with Jessica Smith on counselor self-care, preventing and recovering from burnout, and how to thrive personally and professionally in your practice. For more on Jessica, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-qi.

A conversation with Dr. Allison Harvey about the role of sleep on brain health, the basics of sleep biology, and research supported strategies for motivating and supporting improved sleep habits. For more on Allison, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-q8.

A conversation with Dr. Maelisa Hall on the ins and outs of documentation, how to do it well, and why it matters in the first place. For more on Maelisa, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-pS.

A conversation with Lynea Gillen about an innovative approach to working with children and teens that integrates physical yoga, mindfulness practice, and social-emotional learning (SEL) activities. Lynea highlights program themes, shares personal examples from her work, and offers insights into successful application of the approach. For more on Lynea, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-pD.

A conversation with Everett W. Painter on how people use tattoos to make meaning of traumatic experience and the implication for counseling practice. For more on Everett, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-pr.

This week, Dr. Megan Speciale talks to Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers about religion, values, and sexual wellness. The conversation unpacks the widespread experience of sexual shame: why we feel it, how it impacts our sexual health, and how we can use sex-positivity, body appreciation, and spirituality to overcome it. For more on Tina, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-pe.

The second conversation in a 2-part series with Kelly Coker and Tyler Kimbel on "multiple professional identity disorder," barriers to advancing the counseling profession, international advocacy and how you can help grow the counseling profession. For more on Kelly and Tyler, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-oZ.

The first conversation in a 2-part series with Kelly Coker and Tyler Kimbel on the origin and history of CACREP, the role of accreditation in the counseling profession, and where to go next. For more on Kelly and Tyler, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-ow.

Allison talks with Professor David L. Prucha about the unintended impacts of demonizing domestic violence perpetrators on their victims and tips for counselors working with violent offenders on how to approach this challenging population. For more on David, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-on.

A conversation with Paul Fugelsang, founder and executive director of Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, a non-profit organization that provides middle and lower-income level individuals, couples, families, and children with access to affordable psychotherapy and mental health education services. For more on Paul, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-ob.

A conversation with Rob Reinhardt and Roy Huggins - hosts of the TherapyTech podcast and creators of Person-Centered Tech and Tame Your Practice - on the pearls and perils of using technology in counseling and what counselors are doing right (and wrong) when it comes to incorporating technology into our practice. For more on Rob and Roy, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit TheThoughtfulCounselor.com.

A conversation with Javier F. Casado Pérez on broaching privilege, critical multiculturalism, and encouraging radical wellness in our counseling practice. For more on Javier, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-nE.

A conversation with Dr. Leslie Korn about the impact of nutrition on mental health. In this interview, Dr. Korn highlights good and bad foods for the brain, debunks commonly held nutritional beliefs, and provides practical suggestions for clinicians and clients alike. For more on Leslie, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-nt.

A conversation with Zach Burns on how counselors are uniquely equipped to assist those struggling with homelessness and housing instability, community resources that can be drawn on, and stepping out of our traditional roles as counselors to meet the needs of our clients. For more on Zach, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-ne.

This week in the Sex Series, we talk to sex educator Sarah J. Swofford about how pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting can impact new parents' sexual wellness. She discusses some of the common physical, emotional, and relational challenges experienced before and after pregnancy, and provides strategies for new parents looking for a path to sexual connection. For more on Sarah, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-n1.

Allison talks with Dr. Richard G. Deaner, Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision at Augusta University, about the impact of Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley on the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics and on the importance of not imposing personal values on clients in counseling. For more on Richard, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-mD.

Part 2 of an intriguing conversation with Susan Stuntzner and Angela MacDonald on the intersections of disability and forgiveness, self-compassion, and resilience, barriers to these practices, and how we can work with our clients to cultivate each of these. For more on Susan and Angela, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-mr

The first of two conversations with Susan Stuntzner and Angela MacDonald on the intersections of disability and forgiveness, self-compassion, and resilience, barriers to these practices, and how we can work with our clients to cultivate each of these. For more on Susan and Angela, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-lj

A conversation with Gestalt therapist and trainer Jon Frew on the origins of Gestalt Therapy, shedding the image of Fritz Perls and empty chair work, and how Gestalt's focus on health as opposed to pathology makes it uniquely suitable for the counseling profession. For more on Jon, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-kF.

A conversation with Dr. Craig Cashwell – a professor of Counseling and Human Development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Fellow of the American Counseling Association – about the importance of integrating spirituality and religion into counseling practice and how to do it competently and ethically. For more on Craig, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-ky

A conversation with Dr. Priscilla G. Wilson on how children are socialized into ethnocentric monoculturalism, microagressions and systemic racism, and what counselors can do to make a difference. For more and Priscilla, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-jW.

A conversation with Dee Wagner about Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory. Dee provides easy to understand explanations of polyvagal theory and describes practical suggestions for applying the theory in clinical practice. For more about Dee, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit https://wp.me/p7R6fn-je.