The Therapist Thrival Guide

Hey there, folks! Get ready for a heart-to-heart episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, where we're diving into the world of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping and how it can be a game-changer for those riding the perinatal rollercoaster.

Pregnancy and postpartum life? Yeah, they're beautiful, but they can also throw some serious emotional curveballs. That's where EFT tapping comes in – it's like giving yourself a little mental massage to ease the stress and anxiety that can come with the territory.

In this episode, we're chatting with Maria Yakimchuk– mom and EFT pro – who shares her story and spills the beans on how tapping has helped her navigate the ups and downs of the perinatal journey (and yes, you can do it to yourself!).

LINKS:⁠www.parentonboard⁠.com ⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/parentonboardcoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/parentonboardcoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@parentonboardcoaching⁠⁠Radical Self-Care Mini Course for Moms - ⁠⁠https://mariayakimchuk.podia.com/radical-self-care-for-moms⁠⁠

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Maria Yakimchuk is a Certified Transformational Master EFT Coach who empowers moms to Rise, Heal, and Thrive by embracing their authentic power and inner wisdom, deeply healing themselves and manifesting the motherhood of their dreams. With her unique coaching approach that blends EFT (Tapping), Self-Compassion work, and deep knowledge of maternal mental health, she helps moms heal their own childhood traumas, break free from dysfunctional familial patterns, and eliminate shame and guilt, so they can thrive in motherhood and create new healthy family norms for themselves and their children. She is also a mom of 2 very energetic, sensitive and strong willed boys, and an easy going dog. Maria is no stranger to struggling to find joy in the often busy and chaotic life as a mother. She is a PPD and PPA survivor, who has successfully healed her PPD, PPA, and PMDD, as well as debilitating migraines, with EFT tapping and self-compassion meditations.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠ LinkedIn.⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week we are doing things a little differently and talking about frequently asked questions we receive about parental/maternity leave from fellow clinicians:

- How do therapists navigate maternity leave?

- Do their clients take a break from therapy or see someone else in the interim?

- When do I tell my clients that I'm pregnant? How do I tell them?

- Dealing with morning sickness at the beginning of pregnancy

- How to navigate unpredictable time frames like with adoption

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠ LinkedIn.⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Buckle up for a mini episode for a mini work-week! Therapists Amber Pearson, LICSW and Anna Trout, LMFT are joining the podcast to discuss the show "Love on the Spectrum" on Netflix. As Autistic therapists themselves, they had some thoughts including:

- The mixed reviews their clients bring to them about this show

- What they appreciated about the show and what struck a chord

- What they didn't like and wished they could change about the show

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠ LinkedIn.⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Today we're discussing the complexities of helping children cope with grief and loss, including:

• Common grief-related symptoms in children and adults
• How to adjusting therapeutic approaches based on the individual needs of children
• Strategies such as using expressive arts, memory-making activities, and journals
• The importance of patience and self-disclosure by adults and role of family involvement
• Additional resources, including recommended children's books on grief, are mentioned.

Whether you're a therapist or a parent, this episode provides insightful tips and resources for guiding kids through the challenging emotions associated with loss.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Jordan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Grief Recovery Specialist. She has supported people for 10+ years in different treatment settings including inpatient care, school-based counseling, intensive levels of outpatient programming, and private practice. She thrives to guide people to recognize their strengths through honest self-exploration, authenticity, and humor. A passion close to her heart is working with people through life transitions, including grief and loss. 

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠ LinkedIn.⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES:

• Practical tips and book recommendations for helping kids cope with grief: https://elliementalhealth.com/how-to-help-kids-navigate-through-grief-and-loss/
• Grief Recovery Method blog: https://elliementalhealth.com/understanding-grief-recovery/
• Grief Recovery Method episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7EqdNzwuPgMBbd9OHy3YDM?si=tVn-z4wWSrKFrK7KbwZPkA

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to the Therapist's Guide

00:48 Understanding Grief in Children

02:59 Therapist's Personal Experience with Grief

05:06 Approaching Grief and Loss with Kids

07:48 Common Grief Symptoms Across Ages

12:19 Helping Families Cope with Grief

20:24 Expressive Arts and Memorialization

31:29 Addressing Death and Religion

35:55 Conclusion and Resources

Today, Alice Mills Mai, LPCC-S, NCC joins the podcast to talk all about a modality everyone is talking about: Internal Family Systems (IFS).

The conversation explores the origins, basic concepts, and therapeutic applications of IFS, including defining parts like managers, firefighters, and exiles. They also delve into the qualities of the self and how practitioners can guide clients through parts work and guided imagery. The experts share insights on integrating IFS with other modalities like EMDR, and discuss the significance of IFS training and certification.

OUR GUEST:

Alice is both a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC-S) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). Her mission is to create culturally affirming spaces that foster wholeness, accountability, and liberation where people (therapists and clients) can thrive, learn, and grow. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal family systems (IFS). Alice enjoys working with all of her clients, especially immigrants and children of immigrants, exploring trauma and its implications on our lives.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to the Therapist Thrival Guide

00:27 Alice's Background and Introduction to IFS

01:23 Understanding Internal Family Systems (IFS)

02:40 The Development and Structure of IFS

05:10 Parts Work in IFS: Managers, Firefighters, and Exiles

14:03 Guided Imagery and Experiential Techniques in IFS

22:57 Introducing IFS to Clients

24:41 Training and Certification in IFS

26:45 Comparing IFS with Other Therapies

28:46 Understanding the Self in IFS

31:37 Applying IFS in Therapy

38:22 Final Thoughts on IFS

Ready to UNLOCK your brain? We are joined by Billie Ferguson, LMFT in this episode to discuss a new modality making waves in the therapy world: brainspotting.

In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, host Miranda welcomes Billie Ferguson, an LMFT based out of Oklahoma, to discuss the emerging therapeutic modality of brainspotting. They explore the origins of brainspotting, its connection to EMDR, and how it leverages eye positions to help process trauma. Billie shares valuable insights on how brainspotting works, its application in therapy, and its effectiveness for therapists healing from toxic work environments. This episode is a must-listen for new therapists seeking to learn about innovative practices in therapy.

⁠ABOUT OUR GUEST: Billie Ferguson is a licensed therapist in Oklahoma, and the owner of Ferguson Therapy. With over 10 years of therapy under her belt, Billie uses Brainspotting to help other entrepreneurs, therapists, coaches, and helpers to heal and grow from old beliefs, patterns, and emotional stuck points that are preventing them from building the life they can thrive in.Outside of the therapy room, Billie spends her time with her husband and 2 kids.  From chasing them around tball field or heading off for a weekend of camping, there is always something going on!

Check out Billie's upcoming cohort for therapists working to heal from harmful workplaces by taking a peek at her ⁠website⁠ or following her on ⁠instagram⁠.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:10 Exploring Brainspotting: An Overview

03:54 The Science Behind Brainspotting

05:23 Brainspotting Techniques and Applications

14:55 Self-Spotting: Brainspotting for Personal Use

21:51 Healing from Toxic Work Environments

37:52 Conclusion and Resources

Watch the video podcast: https://youtu.be/KZL8Abx4zAo?si=zakPRSjlJDQ7aMD8

The topic of grief can be difficult, but every therapist knows it’s something we all face at some point. In this episode, we’re diving into the messy, raw, and sometimes surprising world of grief-- through the Grief Recovery Method.

Jordan Mealey, LPC, NCC, ACS, CGRS, CCTP joins to help us understand and explore how to support clients navigating their toughest moments. Join us as we unpack the complexities of loss with compassion, honesty, and always a little bit of humor.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:19 Jordan's Role and Responsibilities

01:47 The Importance of Grief and Loss in Therapy

02:34 Personal Journey into Grief Specialization

08:36 Understanding Different Types of Grief

10:33 Challenges in Discussing Grief

10:58 The Grief Recovery Method

17:16 Therapist's Role in Grief Counseling

32:37 Advice for Non-Specialist Therapists

39:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

OUR GUEST:

Jordan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Grief Recovery Specialist. She has supported people for 10+ years in different treatment settings including inpatient care, school-based counseling, intensive levels of outpatient programming, and private practice. She thrives to guide people to recognize their strengths through honest self-exploration, authenticity, and humor. A passion close to her heart is working with people through life transitions, including grief and loss. 

Political seasons are like a rollercoaster of stress for many, with a whirlwind of info overload and social pressures hitting you from all angles. Whether you're sweating over elections or drowning in updates on laws, political anxiety is a real thing. Let's buckle up and steer through this wild ride while keeping our cool!

In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda and Lucas dive into the topic of politics and political anxiety, especially relevant during election years. The conversation covers the evolving nature of political identity, strategies for therapists to handle political discussions in sessions, and the importance of empathy and understanding in bridging divides. They also address how to balance staying informed without being overwhelmed and offer practical advice for therapists dealing with clients affected by political tensions.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction to Political Anxiety00:52 Lucas's Interest into Politics02:47 The 2016 Election and Its Impact06:24 Facilitating Political Conversations08:59 Therapists Navigating Political Discussions12:56 Balancing Personal Beliefs and Professionalism20:49 Client Relationships and Political Differences25:59 Exploring Personal Relationships Beyond Politics27:15 Impact of Politics on Younger Generations28:55 Humanizing the Other Side29:34 The Privilege of Political Disengagement30:45 Managing Political Anxiety33:07 The Influence of Media Consumption42:09 Empathy and Understanding in Political Discussions43:34 Concluding Thoughts

What does the research say about authenticity, inclusion, and belonging in healthcare? Dr. Sable McElveen, DHA, LCSW-S joins the podcast this week to discuss her research on patient outcomes and strategies healthcare professionals can keep in mind.

Dr. McElveen has a Doctorate in Health Administration and is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor. She works with teens (16+) and adults who represent historically marginalized communities, focusing on clients identifying as Black or LGBTQIA+.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What is outreach? It's all about building awareness for your clinic and services through community engagement and building relationships. Outreach activities can take all sorts of forms, including in-person events, social media campaigns, and partnerships with local organizations.The bottomline: it's building relationships within your community.

In this episode, our outreach team (Marisa Negron and Madeline Matz) share their best practices when beginning outreach in your communities, including some tips, scripts, and examples that have worked for them. We’re cheering you on as you begin the journey of building long lasting relationships with your community!

Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/SlkyDYuvJP0

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠

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.⁠⁠

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 has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Welcome to the Therapist Thrival Guide

00:09 Meet the Outreach Team

01:06 Understanding Outreach in Therapy

02:15 Building Genuine Relationships

06:40 Starting Your Outreach Journey

08:42 Effective Outreach Strategies

11:46 Collaborating with Other Therapists

17:58 Outreach in Schools and Healthcare

24:38 Navigating Conferences and Events

29:18 Community Events vs. Professional Conferences

30:26 Engaging Attendees at Events

31:28 Personal Experiences and Tips

33:40 Effective Giveaways and Engagement Strategies

36:44 Starting Conversations at Events

40:29 Nurturing Relationships Post-Event

46:21 Final Thoughts and Encouragement