Antiracist Practices in the Room: An Interview with Dr. Allen Lipscomb

Curt and Katie speak with Dr. Allen Lipscomb, PsyD, LCSW about what therapists should consider in working with Black clients, common mistakes, and implementing anti-racist procedures into practice. What can therapists do better? Where is graduate education lacking? How do we respect and explore our Black client’s narratives? Who can work with Black clients? How can therapists help clients heal from race-based trauma?

How can we do better with our Black male clients?

What does it mean to be antiracist?

What is Dr. Allen Lipscomb’s BRuH Method?

Who can work with Black male clients?

What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements

Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should make public statements and diagnose public figures. This is our first continuing education eligible podcast, discussing the ethics of speaking out about the mental health of people in the public eye. We explore the origins of the Goldwater rule, a group of psychiatrists who purposefully broke it, and how masters level organizations address this concern. We also provide you with some ideas about how you can make this decision for yourself.

In this podcast episode we look at the ethics of modern therapists diagnosing public figures

For our first continuing education worthy podcast, we wanted to address something that is becoming more and more prevalent in our field: therapists speaking out about the mental health of public figures.

What is the Goldwater Rule?

How the Goldwater Rule (and Similar Ethical Principles) Have Shifted Over Time

The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump – the Public Diagnosis of an American President

Current Guidelines for Modern Therapists

Cautions When Using Your Professional Judgment

Working with Trans Clients: Trans Resilience and Gender Euphoria

An interview with Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II, about how therapists can be better clinicians for trans people. Curt and Katie talk to Beck about gender identity (and why every therapist should do their own work around gender), historical perspectives on masculinity and femininity, the concepts of trans resilience and gender euphoria, the real problems with the DSM diagnosis of gender dysphoria and considerations for providing therapy to trans clients. 

Interview with Beck Gee-Cohen MA CADC-II Director of LGBTQ+ Programming

In this podcast episode we talk about trans mental health

We invited Beck Gee-Cohen, MA CADC-II to come talk with us about providing therapy for trans individuals.

Modern therapists need to keep learning when working with trans clients

The work that therapists must do around gender

 The Concept of Trans Resilience

Gender Dysphoria versus Gender Euphoria and the problems with the DSM

Better Therapy for Trans Clients

Who’s in the Room? Siri, Alexa, and Confidentiality

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can maintain confidentiality in a world of AI assistants and smart devices. What duty do clinicians have to inform clients? How can we balance confidentiality with the reality of how commonly these devices are involved in therapy? Can telehealth therapy be completely confidential and data secure? We discuss our shift in clinical responsibility, best practices, and how we can minimize exposure of clinical data to ensure the confidentiality our clients expect and deserve.

In this podcast episode we talk about something therapists might not consider: smart devices and AI assistants

We received a couple of requests to talk about the impact of smart devices on confidentiality and their compliance with HIPAA within a therapeutic environment. We tackle this question in depth:

What are best practices for protecting client confidentiality with smart devices?

What should therapists consider when smart devices and AI assistants are in the room?

 – Curt Widhalm

How do Alexa and Siri impact HIPAA compliance for therapists?

What can modern therapists do with their smart devices?

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Psychotherapy in Ontario: How Confidential is my Therapy? By Beth Mares, Registered Psychotherapist The Privacy Problem with Digital Assistants by Kaveh Waddell

Hey Siri and Alexa: Let's Talk Privacy Practices by Elizabeth Weise, USA Today

Patient and Consumer Safety Risks When Using Conversational Assistants for Medical Information: An Observational Study of Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, 2018

Hey Siri: Did you Break Confidentiality, or did I? By Nicole M. Arcuri Sanders, Counseling Today

Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant Not HIPAA Compliant, Psychiatry Advisor

Hey Alexa, are you HIPAA compliant? 2018

Person-Centered Tech

How to Understand and Treat Psychosis: An interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Maggie Mullen, LCSW, a national trainer on culturally responsive, evidence-based care for psychotic spectrum disorders. We talk with Maggie about their anti-racist and disability justice framework of psychosis, understanding psychosis on a spectrum, what to do when psychosis enters the treatment picture, assessment of psychosis, and treatment using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). We also talk about how society defines “normal” and pathology, exploring cultural differences in these definitions.

Interview with Maggie Mullen, LCSW

In this podcast episode we talk about looking at psychosis differently

Maggie Mullen’s anti-racist and disability justice framework of psychosis

“Psychotic spectrum” versus the segregation of psychosis as “other”

“We are often the least prepared to deal with our most acute clients”

What to do when psychosis comes into the treatment picture for our clients

Why Maggie Mullen is using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to treat psychosis

“People with psychosis deal with emotion dysregulation, actually more so than the average person…that's where we know DBT is really effective”

Understanding psychosis differently, including the cultural differences of what is “normal”

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Psychosis by Maggie Mullen, LCSW

Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose?

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists typically select their clinical theoretical orientation for treatment. We look at the different elements of theoretical orientation (including case conceptualization, treatment interventions, and common factors), what impacts our choices, the importance of having a variety of clinical models to draw from, the types of practices that focus on only one clinical theory, and suggestions about how to approach choosing your theories for treatment, including some helpful assessments.

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists pick their theoretical orientation

We received a couple of requests to talk about clinical theoretical orientation and how Curt and Katie chose their own. We tackle this question in depth:

Choosing a clinical theoretical orientation

The different elements of clinical orientations

What impacts which theoretical orientation we choose as therapists

The importance of having a variety of clinical theories that you can draw from

Why some therapy practices operate with a single clinical model

Suggestions on How to Approach Choosing Your Clinical Theoretical Orientation

Instruments for Choosing a Theoretical Orientation

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Institute for Creative Mindfulness

Very Bad Therapy Podcast

Petko, Kendrick and Young (2016): Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What influences a counseling student to choose?

What is the Best Type of Therapy Elimination Game

The Practice of Multimodal Therapy by Arnold A. Lazarus

Poznanski and McClennan (2007): Measuring Counsellor Theoretical Orientation

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Unlearning Very Bad Therapy

Interview with Dr. Diane Gehart: An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education

The January 2022 Surprise of Good Faith Estimates Requirements

Curt and Katie chat about the No Surprises Act, specifically how to navigate the requirement for clinicians to provide Good Faith Estimates to clients. We talk about the impact of Good Faith Estimates on the intake process, potential complications when providing these estimates to your patients, and suggestions for how to simplify and systemize this requirement.    

In this episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide we talk about the No Surprises Act and the Good Faith Estimate Requirement

When we heard about the planned implementation of these new requirements, we decided to dive into the legislation and articles from professional associations to understand what we actually need to do starting January 1, 2022.

What is the No Surprises Act and the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Requirement?

How will the Good Faith Estimate Requirement impact the Intake Process for Therapy?

Potential Complications Curt and Katie see for Therapists Providing Good Faith Estimates

Our Suggestions to Systematize the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Requirement for Therapists

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

APA Article: New Billing Disclosure Requirements Take Effect in 2022

Suggested Notification Language for Good Faith Estimates

Template for a Good Faith Estimate

Good Faith Estimate Legislation Language from the No Surprises Act

Federal Register: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II

CMS.gov: Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II, Interim Final Rule with comment period

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance?

Make your Paperwork Meaningful

How Can Therapists Actually Retire? - An interview with David Frank, financial planner for therapists

Curt and Katie talk with David about managing finances, including student loan debt and retirement. We look at when to start saving, what to do when you’re starting to save for retirement later in life, and how much is too much to save. David also shares his concept of a Money Date and how you should start looking at your financial picture. He also talks about financial planning and when to seek a professional for support.

Interview with David Frank, Turning Point Financial Life Planning

In this podcast episode we talk about: Managing Personal and Professional Finances

Navigating Student Loan Debt

Retirement and Investing in your Future “Starting to save and invest young is such great advice… and… it’s advice for time travelers”

“No one does this money thing perfectly, even if we start out of the gate pretty strong.”

David Frank’s Concept of “Money Dates”

How Much Money to Save

Financial Planning – When and why to seek help with your money

Should Private Practice Therapists Take Insurance?

Curt and Katie chat about the latest data from SimplePractice on private practice clinicians billing insurance. We explore the most common set up for clinicians (a hybrid insurance/private pay practice) as well as how therapists bill insurance, the disparity between private pay fees and insurance rates (and how different these disparities are across the United States), how strategies for growing private practices are affected by who is paying, and how to set yourself up for a successful hybrid insurance practice.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Demystifying the Most Commonly Used CPT® Codes for Mental Health

Relevant Episodes:

Busting Insurance Myths

Make Your Paperwork Meaningful

Noteworthy Documentation

Negotiating Sliding Scale

Special Interview: Open Path Psychotherapy Collective

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

 Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

When Clients Have to Manage Their Therapists

Curt and Katie chat about the work (or mental load) therapists often give to clients that is really ours. We talk about requiring our clients to do things that are not helpful to treatment like: manage our time, do excessive paperwork, negotiate through our money stuff, be guinea pigs, or teach us about their culture or other differences. We also look at the impact of these abdications of responsibility on the therapeutic relationship and the clinical work.   

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about: