Edge of the Couch

Self-awareness is a gift, right? Until it isn’t. Self-awareness can help us grow, connect, and live more fully. But when it goes too far, it can crystallize into self-criticism, intellectualizing, and anxiety. In this episode, we talk about what happens when clients almost have TOO much self-awareness. Alison opens the conversation with a quote from Girls star, Jemima Kirke, who once told “unconfident young women” that maybe they’re just “thinking about themselves too much.” We discuss how therapists can recognize this pattern in clients, and how to help self-knowledge find a softer place to land.

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

For the first time on Edge of the Couch, we’re bringing you a Part 2! The response on Instagram (@edgeofthecouchpod!) to the topic of oversaturation was so engaging that we knew we had to continue the conversation. In this episode, we take it deeper: Does the field weed out bad therapists? In a sea of therapists, what does a good fit really mean? And how can we push back against the culture of competition in the field, instead rooting ourselves in accountability, consultation, and community? Thanks for coming along with us this season! We'd love to know what you think.

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

Welcome back for Season 9 of Edge of the Couch! And hello to those of you who might be just starting your grad programs and finding us for the first time. 

When we were in school, professors kept bringing up their concern that there was oversaturation in the field. So, we discuss this question: Is it true that there are too many therapists? That question feels even more pressing now than when we first started the podcast five years ago, as the landscape of the field has shifted dramatically. In this episode, we explore why the number of therapists and the number of good therapists aren’t the same thing, and why thoughtful gatekeeping plays an essential role in upholding the standards of the profession. This is a spicy one! What do you think?

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

In the final episode of the season, we revisit the topic of imposter syndrome. We talked about imposter syndrome in the very first episode of the podcast way back in 2021. How has our thinking about imposter syndrome evolved since then? In this episode, we explore what it looks like to own your experience as a therapist, even when there is still discomfort and self-doubt. We also share what is bringing each of us imposter-y feelings lately. We discuss how privilege shapes who feels like an imposter and who’s more comfortable taking up space, and the importance of cultivating a supportive therapy community. 

Is imposter syndrome inevitable? Does it ever go away?

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Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person events, and over 150 webinars to choose from at LeadingEdgeSeminars.org, and find the training that actually works for you." Use the code EDGE10 to get 10% off select purchases

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

What do therapists mean when they say someone has a "victim mentality"? In this episode, we unpack this flippant term and explore what’s going on underneath it. We recognize that "victim mentality" is applied to several distinct phenomena. We discuss the difference between being an actual victim of harm, using "victimhood" as a protective defense, and unprocessed grief or trauma. We also examine how "victim mentality" is often used to discredit marginalized people and survivors of violence. Finally, we explore how, as therapists, we can respond with more understanding for where the client is coming from and skill to navigate these nuanced situations.

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Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person events, and over 150 webinars to choose from at LeadingEdgeSeminars.org, and find the training that actually works for you." Use the code EDGE10 to get 10% off select purchases.

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

Have you ever found yourself being the villain in someone else’s story? In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to be perceived as "the bad guy." As therapists, we will get cast as the villain at some point. Our clients get cast as the bad guy in their other relationships. In some ways, it's inevitable. And not everyone gets a redemption arc.

How have you been cast as the villain?

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Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person events, and over 150 webinars to choose from at LeadingEdgeSeminars.org, and find the training that actually works for you." Use the code EDGE10 to get 10% off select purchases.

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

Has another therapist ever told you, “You shouldn’t work harder than the client”? In this episode, we talk about what people really mean when they use this phrase. We unpack how privilege, trauma, the relationship, theoretical orientation, and modality all shape what “effort” really looks like in the therapy room. 

What do we lose when we expect therapy to be equal effort? What does it mean to "work hard" in therapy anyway?

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Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person events, and over 150 webinars to choose from at LeadingEdgeSeminars.org, and find the training that actually works for you." Use the code EDGE10 to get 10% off select purchases.

Please note: this discount does not apply to the EMDR training.

https://leadingedgeseminars.org/?ref=7078

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

You know those moments in session when something inside says, "Something just shifted", "Pause here", or "Hmm..this is not lining up"? In this episode, we dig into what it means to follow our therapist intuition. We talk about how intuition grows over time, how it shows up in the room, and how we tentatively introduce our impressions. What’s your relationship with intuition in the therapy room... and how do you know when to trust it?

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Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person events, and over 150 webinars to choose from at LeadingEdgeSeminars.org, and find the training that actually works for you." Use the code EDGE10 to get 10% off select purchases.

Please note: this discount does not apply to the EMDR training.

https://leadingedgeseminars.org/?ref=7078

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

In light of the recent mass killing at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, we decided not to publish an episode this week. We're honouring that our bodies need more time to grieve, recalibrate, and rest. We know many of you have also been impacted and we hope you're honouring your needs as well.

Donate directly to families impacted.

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram

Are therapists who "call out" their clients more effective? This week, we’re responding to a Reddit post from a therapist who proudly claims to be a "mean therapist". They describe themselves as solution-focused, direct, and not afraid to hold clients accountable. We unpack what might be behind that identity, what types of therapists and settings tend towards mean-ness, and what might be driving someone drawn to that kind of therapist. We also explore our own uneasiness with the term, and why calling yourself a “mean therapist” might reflect something more complicated, like a defense against criticism or discomfort with softness.

Let us know what you think about this episode!

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Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person events, and over 150 webinars to choose from at LeadingEdgeSeminars.org, and find the training that actually works for you." Use the code EDGE10 to get 10% off select purchases.

Please note: this discount does not apply to the EMDR training.

https://leadingedgeseminars.org/?ref=7078

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch, share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at [email protected].

We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a free one-month grace period on your new account.

Alison McCleary
www.woodstovewellness.ca

Jordan Pickell
www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca
@jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram

Edge of the Couch
www.edgeofthecouch.com
@edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram