With me in today's episode of Colleague Down the Hall Podcast is Andrea Brognano. Andrea shares her insights about continuing education, its importance and its benefits to therapists. The discussion delves into how CE can help therapists to stay informed and updated about the latest developments, research and the best practices in this field. It also allows therapists to explore diverse training opportunities. It emphasizes the value of expanding one's knowledge and skill set through various courses, including topics such as trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, ethics, and more. The discussion also stresses the need for therapists to be adaptable in their approach, and open to learning and evolving as the needs of clients change.The discussion touches on the benefits of joining consultation groups or peer supervision sessions and the potential for therapists to become CE providers. The overall emphasis is on continuous learning, growth, and collaboration in the mental health profession, with a focus on providing competent and ethical care to clients.

"So I always talk to people about if you celebrate Thanksgiving, and you go and you grab your plate at Thanksgiving, and you pile on the mashed potatoes. And then you pile on the green beans and the turkey and all this and think of that plate that you have as your life. Okay, how much else can you add to that? If you think you can add more, that's fine. But let's go ahead and dig in and start eating it. And what's gonna happen is you're not feeling good. So you might think that you could put all of that on your plate and take it all down, but you're gonna make yourself sick. So what can you take off of your plate before you put it back? Or go back for a second? Right? Allow yourself to look at your life in that way. What are you adding onto your plate that you're going to now digest? Is it really digestible?" - Andrea Brognano

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The significance of approaching continuing education (CE) with intention and curiosity. Therapists are encouraged to seek out trainings that align with their interests, enhance their skills, and address client needs effectively.

• The importance of being an advocate for clients and staying informed about relevant topics and changes in the mental health field.

• The benefits of remote trainings, which allow therapists to attend courses without the additional expenses of travel and accommodations.

• The importance of periodic ethics training is stressed, as ethical dilemmas may arise due to changes in societal norms, technology, and client needs.

• Continuing education is an opportunity for personal and professional growth, promoting a mindset of lifelong learning and adaptability in the evolving field of mental health.

Andrea Brognano is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician and the group practice owner of Therapy Connection, an online mental health group practice that was established in late 2019. Therapy Connection has expanded to several states and expanded services including in home services in NY and NJ for children with disabilities. Andrea opened her second company, Achieve With Andrea (AWA), in the summer of 2021. AWA has several different programs including a membership to help therapists with their social media, hosting women's retreats and workshops, useful journals for purchase, and a course for female entrepreneurs. Andrea is passionate about mental health and how to help other entrepreneurs maintain mental wellness to be able to excel while holding a life-work balance.

Connect with Andrea:

https://www.instagram.com/andreabrognano/

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/enrollment

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Jeanene is joined by a group of colleagues to navigate a complex case involving a client who strongly expresses views opposing the therapist's identity and rights, making it challenging for the therapist to remain neutral and address more relevant therapeutic topics. The discussion delves into exploring the client's treatment goals and understanding the underlying issues, finding alternative interests and relationships to diversify his discussion, and even referring out for better support. Ultimately, therapists should acknowledge that you might not be the right fit for everyone and should remain open to evolving therapeutic situations, especially in the context of societal changes and polarizing events, and be willing to adjust their approach accordingly.

"I can't just sit here and agree with every option you throw at me, because that wouldn't really be therapy anyway. If that's something that's important to you, you know, we want to get you to someone who can actually give that to you. And then it allows him to actually decide what he really wants to do. He's got two options, he's gonna be like, I can get back into discussing therapy goals, and we can talk about maybe there's some other outlets, you can talk about that specifically with, and we can work on these other things. But if that doesn't work for you, that's valid. But then there's other options. He's gonna have to decide, okay, you know, I want to stay with you. Because I've been with you for a few years, I'm comfortable with you. We can work on how you get that need met somewhere else? I mean, I guess you would kind of do that with a lot of things, even politics, you're trying to get this need met through me. And that's not really a therapist's need, we can talk about it, we can support it. But really, we want to figure out how to get that need met in your environment." - Michelle Scott

What you'll learn from this episode:

• Therapists may encounter cases where clients hold views opposing their own beliefs that may challenge their neutrality in the therapy room.

• Therapists should explore clients' treatment goals and needs, including potential underlying issues driving their focus on specific topics, like politics.

• Referring a client out can be a valid and ethical decision, especially if the therapist feels they cannot adequately meet the client's needs or if it impacts their own well-being.

• Seeking consultation and support from colleagues is beneficial in navigating complex cases or ethical dilemmas.

• Documentation of the decision-making process, including reasons for referral, is important for the therapist's protection and for ensuring transparency in client care.

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/enrollment

Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

In this episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, I tackle the widespread issue therapists face: staying up-to-date with progress notes. The repercussions of falling behind can affect a therapist's personal well-being, their professional reputation, and the caliber of care their clients receive. I offer tangible solutions and strategies to counter this problem, offering therapists the means to regain control, diminish stress, and align their documentation practices with the industry's professional standards. I emphasize the intrinsic link between a therapist's well-being and the quality of care they provide - by mastering progress note management, you'll be proactively improving both. Join me in exploring these essential tips today!

"Self-care and professional support are huge when it comes to this aspect of our work along with many others. And I don't like even using the word self-care any longer, but make sure that you're engaging in activities that rejuvenate you and that help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. You also want to seek professional support such as supervision or consultation to discuss challenges related to progress note documentation. Supervisors or mentors can provide guidance suggestions and help navigate any uncertainties. And again this is an area where your consultation group is going to be really helpful. They can help you with terminology for a progress note or a treatment letter or things like that that you need to send if you want to have other eyes on it so you feel a little bit more confident." - Jeanene Wolfe

Hear more about:

• The impact of getting behind on progress notes.

• The impact on therapists of missing progress notes.

• How to stay current on progress notes.

• Six areas that can cause difficulty for therapists around progress notes.

• The importance of efficient documentation practices.

• Tools to help you stay on track.

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/intensive/

Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

For this week's episode, Chris McDonald joins me to talk about a topic which doesn't get addressed very often; how to manage mistakes in private practice. We also discuss the importance of disconnecting from work and reconnecting to your personal self. We get into the importance of self-care for therapists and the significance of setting boundaries and taking breaks to prevent burnout.

"If you are able to, I always like to make it a mindful practice to tell myself that, okay, work is done today. And have some kind of intention, like I will leave work at the office, I will be present for myself and my family. So think about your values, what's important to you. Letting go of the task for me, I can easily be like, Oh, I gotta go send this. The Letting Go task reminds yourself of the present moment. I am here. And I'm switching gears to let go of work. And even just using visualization, if you're a visual person, imagine putting it, I call it the shelf of putting it away, or a filing cabinet, but locking it up. That was something I've learned as well. Whatever you still need to get done will still be there when you start working tomorrow. Making that mental emotional disconnect. Just taking a moment to close your eyes, connect with it and take some breaths. Do something that's good for you to kind of release the day, I think can be so helpful."

• Chris McDonald

Hear more about:

• The significance of seeking support and guidance from colleagues or mentors in the field.

• Reflecting on therapeutic errors as a normal part of the learning process and as a way of fostering personal and professional growth.

• The value of silence and creating a safe space for healing in therapeutic relationships.

• Recognizing the necessity of disconnecting from work to recharge and nurture personal well-being.

• The challenge of knowing when to cancel sessions due to illness and the need for self-compassion in taking care of one's physical and mental well-being.

Chris McDonald Info

Chris McDonald is a Holistic Therapist, Yogi, Meditation Teacher and Author. She owns a group online practice called "Path to Hope Counseling". She is a 200 hour RYT, is Certified in Brainspotting and offers gentle yoga to clients in session, and offers private yoga sessions. She specializes in treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma and grief in young adults. To support her fellow Therapists she offers Clinical consultations and Supervision, Therapy for Therapists and is the author of "Self-Care for the Counselor" She has helped many therapists prioritize their own mental health and wellness. She is host of "The Holistic Counseling Podcast" which helps Therapists deepen their knowledge of holistic modalities and build their practice with confidence.

https://www.facebook.com/holisticcounselingpodcast

https://www.instagram.com/holisticcounselingpodcast/

Tiktok @holisticcpodcast

Here's a free gift for your listeners:

Claim your 30 day Aura app guest pass and From Chris McDonald

Find Peace and get restful sleep with me on Aura!

https://www.aurahealth.io/guestpass/chris-mcdonald

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/enrollment

Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

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Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

Listen as Jeanene facilitates a group colleagues in exploring the boundaries of social media in psychotherapy. This week's episode discusses how you respond when a client reaches out through social media, the ethical considerations and boundaries related to social media interactions in therapy, and the importance of having clear social media policies in the therapist's informed consent. The conversation emphasizes that as a therapist it is significant to maintain confidentiality, set the appropriate boundaries, and to have open discussions to address clients' behavior and expectations in the therapeutic relationship.

"So I think the other piece that in this kind of case you're presenting is that this person has been trying to extract information, trying to figure out more information too. So I feel like that's an additional layer in the mix. I personally don't feel like I would delete the comment. I'd probably discuss it first in session, and check in surrounding it. But I think like my clinical kind of yellow-orange flags would be raised at this point saying, okay, what's going on here? And is this gonna keep happening in the comments? Or what's this about? But I think I'm inclined to talk about it first and then pull the client into that decision-making process. Maybe they don't really have any stigma or concern about people knowing they're in therapy. And I'd also hate to crush that and say gosh, you should have stigma and shame."

What you'll learn from this episode:

• How to manage the expectation of not responding when a client reaches out via social media and the importance of having this in your informed consent.

• How different generations have different perspectives on sharing on social media.

• How to use social media to market professionally and ethically.

• The need to have ongoing discussions about social media, potential ethical dilemmas, and other related scenarios that may arise, ensuring awareness and proactive management of these issues.

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/enrollment

Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

Therapists face many challenges in establishing and maintaining a sustainable private practice. In this episode, I will highlight the issues of isolation, heavy workloads, and financial concerns that therapists often encounter and provide you with 10 practical steps and strategies that will support therapists in overcoming these challenges and building a thriving practice. These steps include identifying ideal clients, setting boundaries, seeking peer consultation, and nurturing a supportive network. The overall aim is to help therapists enhance their confidence, work-life balance, and professional growth and to normalize the things we experience in our work that we were never trained about.

"Meeting regularly with colleagues will help with the loneliness you may be feeling and also with your imposter syndrome. We were not trained about impostor syndrome, or the many gray areas in our work. And those are things that can be immensely draining for us. Having trusted colleagues to get support around these issues will not only help you feel more confident in your work, but also help you grow as a clinician. There's nothing better than giving consultation on a case and having your colleague follow up with how helpful it was with their work with that client. It feels super wonderful to know that you are giving back to your colleagues the way they're giving to you. And it also helps instill confidence in your own knowledge base in your own work, which is going to go a long way to staving off impostor syndrome."

Highlight of this week's episode:

• Look at the way you're scheduling your sessions and learn to end your sessions on time. Determine what a full caseload looks like.

• Take regular lunch breaks to recharge and practice self-care. Step away from work, engage in activities that replenish you, and avoid doing administrative tasks during this time.

• Develop the ability to confidently say no without apologizing. Set clear boundaries with clients and others who may make requests outside your practice policies or seek free therapy.

• Make sure you're getting regular peer consultation and get the support you need from a colleague down the hall.

• Make sure that the balance between client sessions, peer support, continuing education and personal time are getting looked at to maintain the work-life balance and avoid getting burnout.

• Do an annual assessment of your practice. January is a great time to implement changes.

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/enrollment

Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

For this week's episode, I am talking with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani about the importance of holistic well-being, self-exploration, and the willingness to explore unconventional methods for personal growth and healing.

"I had done sound baths before and I really liked them. But this time around, I was just telling a bigger pull to do alternative things like I do go to therapy. And I just felt like there was something else missing. And it was like there are all these other tools available to us. And I went, and I booked just a one on one, which I didn't even know you could do that. I thought it was just like sound baths and like people banging on bowls. I didn't really understand that sound healing can be used for so much more than that. I mean, people use it for physical ailments, and obviously emotional and mental things. And so I booked a one on one. And, you know, she kind of asked me a little bit about what I wanted from it. And I was like, I'm just kind of in a weird place in my life right now. I don't know what my next steps are. And it was amazing. Like, it was an hour of complete relaxation."

• Gabrielle Juliano-Villani

What you'll learn from this episode:

• The concept of using sound vibrations for therapeutic purposes and its potential benefits for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

• The importance of meditation and how everyone can benefit from mindfulness.

• The alternative methods for healing and self-care beyond traditional approaches, such as sound therapy, and how they can offer unique benefits.

• How to stimulate your vagus nerve and how it brings you back to your baseline when you feel unsafe or there is a threat in your environment

• Dealing with burnout in your work. Recognizing the touchstones or indicators when you need to take care of yourself and make necessary changes

Guest Info

Gabrielle Juliano-Villani is an executive coach for the SBA THRIVE program, international speaker, retreat leader, and has been featured in Authority Magazine, The Daily Om, Bustle, and the Everyday Woman TV Network. When she's not working, Gabrielle is teaching Zumba, surfing, or reading a psychological thriller at the beach

gabriellejulianovillani.com

medicareconsultingfortherapists.com

instagram.com/gjvconsulting

tiktok.com/@gabriellejulianovillani

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellejulianovillani/

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/intensive/

Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

Joining me for this episode is a group of therapists I met at The Thrive Summit in Costa Rica in February 2023. We were hanging out in an airport bar and began having a conversation that evolved into a discussion of some uncomfortable topics. Listen in as we recall the experience and demonstrate the importance of having conversations with those who have differing perspectives and life experiences than our own. We also share some of our thoughts and perspectives about another shooting that occurred in Nashville. The overall theme of today's podcast emphasizes the importance of respectful dialogue, self-reflection, and growth in addressing uncomfortable conversations.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• The importance of having uncomfortable conversations with other people.

• How to communicate effectively, learn to listen and respect one another despite having different views and opinions.

• The tendency for people to fear what they don't understand or know about. This fear can be a barrier to addressing complex issues. There's a need to explore the underlying factors that contribute to certain behaviors, such as violence and aggression. Factors such as unmet needs, mental health disorders, biological, environmental, social, and psychological influences all play a role.

• The influence of media, including shows and news, on shaping perceptions and beliefs is discussed. The conversation raises awareness about the portrayal of violence and its impact on society.

"What really stood out for me is during our undergrad or even in grad school, we learned about multicultural competence. And I feel that's more of like, looking through a wider lens and learning. For some reason. I think that connecting how... learning about culture, and learning about race, and we all sat there and we all kind of felt similar. That was interesting to me, because we all felt the same way about a certain topic. We all had somatic responses. I almost was like, Whoa, how are we not prepared to feel how are we feeling? We all feel the same time so that was really interesting. That was just an experience." - Emilyann Behar

Guests:

• Angela Franklin, LMHC

• Emilyann Behar, CPC-I, LCA, LCADC-I

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/emilyann-behar-las-vegas-nv/774794

• Jennifer Lively-Pagliuca, LCSW

www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-lively-pagliuca-6a63aa8b

• Steven Mollura, LMHC, LPC

Serving clients in PA, NY and FL.

www.prosperitycc.com

[email protected]

412-254-6043

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/enrollment

Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

Listen as Jeanene facilitates a group of therapists as they navigate the consultation of a complex case involving a client with a long history of treatment-resistant depression. The discussion gets into the ethical conundrums and legal responsibilities of therapists when it comes to looking at conflicting factors such as protecting the safety of a client vs their right to self-determination.

"I love that each of you is bringing your experience theoretical and treatment orientations to the table and everyone is finding these little glimmers of different ways this case could be approach which is so wonderful about case consultation because it allows the therapist Steve to hear about other types of therapy or other perspectives that might assist this client that he's either not exposed to or hasn't tried."

What you'll learn from this episode:

• The challenges of treating individuals with treatment-resistant depression who have not found significant relief from various therapeutic approaches.

• The complexity of such cases and the need for individualized treatment approaches.

• Gathering comprehensive information about the client's history, including previous treatment attempts, diagnoses, family history of mental health issues, and substance abuse, is crucial for formulating an effective treatment approach.

• The ethical and legal obligations to protect the client's well-being.

• The importance of seeking consultation and collaboration among therapists especially in complex cases with life or death implications.

Connect with Jeanene:

Join a clinical consultation group: https://oasisfortherapists.thrivecart.com/enrollment

Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

Join my free therapist Facebook group: www.facebook.com/jeanenewolfelcsw/

Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

Joining me today in this delicious depth discussion is Alex Castro Croy, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Addictions counselor. He shares how important it is to savor and appreciate the delicious moments in life as it provides inspiration, motivation and a sense of purpose. And how acknowledging the humanness of both clients and therapists can help pave the way for an open and honest therapeutic relationship with the client.

"But I think it's super important to also celebrate and share the delicious moments, because those are the peaks. Those are the moments where, you know, maybe I'm going through a valley right now and your delicious share is going to eat and resonate with what I need to what I need to hear right now. I really encourage this a lot with clinicians and professionals, coaches, when we get together with our soul tribe with those individuals that we trust, and we can be open and vulnerable with. Let's have some delicious time." - Alex Castro-Croy

What you'll learn from this episode:

• The concept of delicious depth discussions

• Sharing delicious moments with your soul tribe where you can be open and vulnerable can reignite the spark and your passion.

• The wounds and vulnerabilities we have experienced can become a source of insight and connection with clients. Embracing the pain and discomfort associated with healing allows for personal and professional development.

Alex Castro-Croy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Addictions Counselor (LAC). He is also a bilingual EMDR certified-trauma informed therapist and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Depth Psychology. Mr. Castro-Croy is the Clinical Director and president of Life Recovery Center in Northglenn and Denver, Colorado. Mr. Castro-Croy has over 15 years combined experience as a Drug Court Probation Officer, EMDR certified therapist, and as an addiction treatment provider (ATP). He is known for training in the State of Colorado, the United States, and internationally on topics of trauma, addiction, self-care and implementation of Jungian psychology in the addiction/trauma field. He also currently works as an Adjunct professor at Metropolitan State University (Graduate and undergraduate) in the Human Services department.

Connect with Alex:

• www.facebook.com/alexcastrocroy

• https://transcendingconsultinggroup.com

• www.ted.com/talks/alex_castro_croy_not_my_chicken

Connect with Jeanene:

• Listen to more episodes of the podcast: www.ColleagueDownTheHall.com

• Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

• Join my free therapist Facebook group: www.facebook.com/jeanenewolfelcsw/

• Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/