In this episode, Miranda is joined by Jennifer Keehn, LPCC, to unpack all things therapeutic letter writing. We’re talking emotional support animal letters, housing accommodations, FMLA, gender affirming surgery documentation—you name it. Whether you’re brand new to writing letters or have been doing it for years, we’re breaking down what needs to be included, how to protect your license, and the key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind. If you’ve ever wondered "Should I be writing this?" or "What should I say?"—this one’s for you.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions

00:38 Overview of Letter Writing in Therapy

00:59 Types of Letters and Their Purposes

01:26 Challenges and Concerns in Writing Letters

03:28 Guidance on Writing Emotional Support Animal Letters

07:27 Writing FMLA Documentation

10:18 Gender Affirming Surgery Letters

16:07 Ethical Dilemmas in Writing Letters

19:09 Court Summaries and Custody Plans

21:34 School Accommodations Letters

22:10 Discussing Military Deployment Letters

22:52 Writing Return to Work Letters

24:13 Bariatric Surgery Letter Considerations

26:02 Adoption Process and Therapy Letters

29:32 Emotional Support Animal Letters

32:42 Workplace Accommodations and Letters

37:03 Tips for Writing Effective Letters

42:55 Conclusion and Resources for Clinicians

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this short but meaningful episode, Miranda (a licensed clinical social worker) is joined by fellow therapists Letisha and Gina for a real conversation about social anxiety. They break down how it can show up in both kids and adults, and share effective ways to treat it—including CBT, ACT, and the power of social stories.

You’ll also hear about tools like the SCARED assessment that help guide diagnosis and treatment. Whether you're a clinician or just curious, you'll walk away with practical strategies and insight to better understand and manage social anxiety.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:32 Understanding Social Anxiety

01:40 Diagnosing Social Anxiety in Kids

03:59 Treating Social Anxiety: CBT and ACT

07:26 Using Social Stories for Anxiety

13:19 Exposure Therapy and EMDR

14:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda is joined by trauma therapist Amy Wilkerson, LICSW, for a conversation that many of us need but don’t always know how to start—understanding dissociation.

Amy brings deep experience working with clients in foster care, adoption, and the military, and she breaks down what dissociation really is (hint: it’s not just zoning out during a boring meeting). We talk through how dissociation shows up in everyday life, why it’s often connected to trauma, and how therapists can support clients with curiosity and care.

We also dig into therapeutic approaches like EMDR, parts work, and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), plus we share some grounding tools you can use right away.

Whether you’re a therapist or someone who’s ever felt disconnected from yourself—this one’s for you.

Links:

• Learn more about Amy and her practice here.
• The Haunted Self by Onno van der Hart, Ellert Nijenhuis, and Kathy Steele
• Trauma and the Struggle to Open Up by Robert T. Muller
• Deep Brain Reorienting by Frank Corrigan
• Trauma Related Dissociation by Suzette Boon, Onno van der Hart Ph.D., and Kathy Steele

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:27 Amy's Background and Experience

02:23 Understanding Dissociation

03:03 Symptoms and Everyday Examples of Dissociation

05:18 Causes of Dissociation

06:03 Trauma-Related Dissociation

10:12 Parts Work and Dissociation

17:29 Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

22:19 Grounding Skills and Regulation

27:38 Recommended Resources and Conclusion

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Miranda interviews Kailah Tuttle, LPC, a certified geek therapist, about the innovative field of geek therapy. They discuss how incorporating elements of geek culture, such as anime, video games, roleplaying games, and superheroes, can enhance therapeutic practices.

Kayla shares her experiences with therapeutic Dungeon Master training and how geek therapy helps clients connect with their passions, process experiences, and learn skills through relatable characters and stories. They also touch on the importance of play and staying connected to one's inner child.

Whether you're a therapist looking to expand your toolkit or simply interested in the intersection of mental health and geek culture, this episode offers a fascinating insight into an emerging approach to therapy.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:25 Diving into Geek Therapy

02:00 Therapeutic Dungeon Master Training

02:41 Play Therapy and Geek Therapy

04:36 Certification and Competency in Geek Therapy

07:27 Practical Applications of Geek Therapy

08:29 Therapeutic Dungeons and Dragons

15:59 Finding Your Niche as a Therapist

19:13 Exploring Art and Geek Therapy

19:24 Narrative Therapy and Superhero Stories

20:09 Creative Activities in Therapy

21:35 Geek Therapy in Practice

22:29 Integrating Geek Culture in Talk Therapy

23:54 Building Rapport Through Shared Interests

28:06 Geek Therapy as a Therapeutic Lens

31:02 Practical Interventions and Techniques

33:58 Connecting with the Inner Child

35:10 Final Thoughts and Resources

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, licensed clinical social workers Miranda, Gina and Letisha, discuss 'Attached' by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller. They explore the book's insights on attachment styles—secure, anxious, and avoidant—while noting its omission of disorganized attachment. The episode touches on how these styles influence relationships, offers critiques on the book's approach, and provides practical advice on communication and self-awareness in relationships. Listener questions enhance the discussion with real-world applications and experiences.00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions00:55 Discussion on 'Attached' by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller02:27 Attachment Styles and Their Implications05:08 Critiques and Personal Insights on the Book14:27 Q&A Session: Listener Questions25:09 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Link to book: https://amzn.to/41yJBYd

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, therapists Miranda Barker and Karna Boynton share an in-depth conversation about secondary traumatic stress (STS). Karna, an experienced clinician and licensed marriage family therapist, opens up about her personal experience with STS, describing how the compounded stress from her professional and personal life led her to encounter PTSD-like symptoms.

We're discussing the distinctions between burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and secondary traumatic stress, emphasizing the need for mental health professionals to prioritize self-care and seek support when needed.

Karna offers valuable advice on recognizing warning signs, setting boundaries, and finding coping mechanisms that work. This episode aims to shed light on the significant impact of STS on therapists and the importance of acknowledging and addressing this often-overlooked issue.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Meet the Guest

00:24 Karna's Career Journey

02:06 Understanding Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS)

03:24 Burnout vs. Compassion Fatigue

07:14 Vicarious Trauma Explained

11:49 Personal Experiences and Warning Signs

24:55 The Pressure Cooker: Personal and Professional Struggles

33:09 The Breaking Point: Recognizing the Signs

33:21 Physical Manifestations of Stress

34:12 Therapeutic Modalities and Their Impact

35:40 The Emotional Toll of Trauma Work

36:28 Navigating Client-Therapist Boundaries

39:40 Assessment and Realization

41:56 Experiencing Secondary Trauma

48:45 Steps Towards Recovery

51:49 Reevaluating and Rebuilding

53:26 Sharing the Journey

58:36 Final Reflections and Advice

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Heather Olsson, LCPC and Matthew Toman, APRN, both at Ellie Mental Health in Naperville, IL, join this episode to explore how some physical illnesses or issues can mask as mental health problems.

Heather and Matt share their experiences and insights on how to best support clients and the huge benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare.

They also discuss the impact of physical health on mental well-being and the role of lab tests in diagnosing and treating various conditions. This conversation aims to empower therapists and healthcare professionals to better support their clients by understanding the connection between physical and mental health and collaborating with physicians.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Therapist Thrival Guide

00:31 Meet the Guests: Heather and Matt

01:27 The Importance of Medication Management

02:07 Personal and Professional Collaboration

05:13 Bridging the Gap Between Mental and Physical Health

05:40 Understanding the Role of Lab Work

11:05 The Impact of Thyroid Function on Mental Health

17:12 GeneSight Testing and Medication Management

24:18 Starting SSRIs and SNRIs: What to Expect

24:38 Overlap of PCOS and Mental Health Symptoms

25:45 Empowering Clients and Treatment Teams

26:01 Key Lab Tests for Mental Health

28:03 Alcohol's Impact on Mental and Physical Health

30:20 SSRIs and Sexual Dysfunction

37:39 Exploring Medication Alternatives

41:45 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you!This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠.

Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if you could separate your work and personal life—along with all the emotions tied to them? In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, therapists Miranda and Lucas unpack the psychological and philosophical themes of Apple TV+’s Severance.They explore dissociation, compartmentalization, and the human desire to escape suffering, connecting these ideas to real-life therapy. How does avoiding discomfort affect mental health? Is the pursuit of happiness overrated? And what can Severance teach us about meaning and fulfillment?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Welcome

00:29 Severance Themes & Psychological Concepts

03:27 Dissociation, Compartmentalization & Therapy Insights

06:59 Escaping Suffering vs. Finding Meaning

15:42 Is Happiness the Goal?

26:20 Final Reflections & Practical Takeaways

💬 Would you sever uncomfortable emotions if you could? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Subscribe for more deep dives into psychology, therapy, and pop culture.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you!This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#Severance #TherapistReact #MentalHealth #Dissociation #Compartmentalization #Philosophy #Happiness #TheTherapistThrivalGuide

In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, join Miranda, a licensed clinical social worker, alongside Letisha and Gina, as they candidly discuss Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).

The discussion covers the DSM-5 criteria for ODD, its symptoms, and the stigma associated with the diagnosis. They explore alternative diagnoses, underlying issues like trauma, ADHD, and autism, and talk about effective treatment strategies including parent management training and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

The conversation also emphasizes the importance of seeing each child through a fresh and unbiased lens.

Timestamps:

02:32 Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria of ODD

05:02 Challenges and Controversies in Diagnosing ODD

06:01 Personal Experiences and Case Studies

08:49 The Impact of Labels and Diagnoses on Children

21:59 Differential Diagnoses and Overlapping Conditions

23:42 Understanding ODD and ADHD Differences

24:09 Trauma and Its Impact on ODD

25:15 Foster Care and ODD Diagnoses

28:49 Mood Disorders and Autism in Relation to ODD

31:19 The Unique Aspect of Vindictiveness in ODD

34:06 Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating ODD

38:02 Effective Strategies for Managing ODD

44:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you!

This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week we are joined by Shelby Finley, a Clinic Director for Ellie Mental Health in Kansas City. Shelby shares her expertise on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a modality that is especially useful for newer clinicians.

The conversation covers the foundational components of DBT, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation. Shelby explains why DBT is beneficial for new therapists and how it can be applied to various diagnoses beyond Borderline Personality Disorder.

The episode also explores practical skills like TIPP (Temperature change, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, and Progressive muscle relaxation) and the importance of recognizing and managing emotions for effective therapy. Miranda and Shelby discuss the integration of DBT with other therapeutic modalities and the transformative impacts it can have on both clients and therapists. Tune in to learn how you can implement these DBT strategies into your practice.

LINKS:

Marsha Linehan's book: https://amzn.to/4hJmvVH

PMR Recording: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jTsJbdEh7SOR0OOwnORBP?si=3809c5b2cb5e4439

00:16 Meet Shelby Finley: Clinic Director and Therapist

00:58 Why DBT is Essential for New Clinicians

03:58 The Foundations of DBT

06:16 Applying DBT Skills in Therapy

12:29 Distress Tolerance: Handling Crisis Moments

13:19 The TIPP Skill: Temperature, Intense Exercise, and More

19:35 Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Paced Breathing

24:54 Practicing Skills in Therapy

26:44 Interpersonal Effectiveness

34:48 Emotional Regulation and Wise Mind

38:47 Integrating EMDR with DBT

42:09 Resources and Training for DBT

45:59 Conclusion and Future Discussions

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you!

This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture.
⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠