February 10, 2025

How Therapists Can Truly Help After a Disaster

33 minutes

Curt and Katie chat about the impact of the recent Los Angeles wild fires on therapists, their clients, and communities. We explore the importance of self-assessment, responsible crisis response, and balancing personal care with providing support. From donating (and marketing) services ethically to understanding trauma timelines, Curt and Katie provide practical advice for therapists navigating community-wide disasters.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk through how therapists can help during and after crises

Curt and Katie live in Los Angeles, which was recently ravaged by wild fires. We decided it would be important to reflect on our experience and provide support to other therapists seeking ways they may be able to help their own communities.

Self-Assessment and Prioritizing Personal Care during a Natural Disaster or Community Crisis

Therapists are encouraged to assess their capacity to provide support, ensuring they do not overextend themselves during a crisis.

Curt emphasizes radical acceptance and forgiveness for cancellations or temporary service disruptions caused by disasters.

Katie highlights the importance of therapists taking care of themselves before offering services, noting the potential for long-term impacts on both providers and clients.

How to Market Therapy during a crisis without feeling like an ambulance chaser

Curt and Katie stress the importance of donating services ethically, avoiding lead generation tactics or branding during a crisis.

They discuss reviewing scheduled marketing campaigns to ensure sensitivity to the current situation.

Therapists are encouraged to work with established organizations (like the Red Cross) to maximize the impact of their efforts.

Curt and Katie discuss the risks of using disasters to build personal brands and stress focusing solely on service and support.

They suggest volunteering with experienced organizations to avoid complications and maximize resources for those in need.

Recognizing Individual Needs and Trauma Timelines for disaster survivors

Not all clients experience or process trauma in the same way; therapists must tailor their support to individual needs and stages of impact.

Curt shares insights from his experience supporting clients after the Boston Marathon bombing, emphasizing the importance of addressing varying levels of trauma severity.

Katie highlights the need for long-term care systems to address ongoing trauma responses.

How Therapists can balance Caretaking and Personal Needs during a disaster

Curt shares his experience of being overwhelmed by personal messages and work demands during the crisis.

Katie emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and giving oneself permission to focus on personal care.

Therapists are reminded that they are part of the crisis too and should ensure they meet their own needs before taking on the caretaker role.

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

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By Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT

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