In this mini-episode of Therapists Unchained, Sivie Suckerman, MA, LMHC, ACS, provides updates about the Therapists Unchained community and thanks listeners for their support. A core focus is building community and facilitating engagement, including promoting past events and two monthly "labs": the Liberated Practice Lab, focusing on business and practice issues, and the Collective Care Lab, offering mutual aid for navigating shared traumatic realities. Sivie outlines equitable, tiered membership options for accessing the labs, including per-lab and subscription models, emphasizing flexibility and affordability to ensure broad participation. Additionally, she encourages listeners to engage with the Mental Health Professionals Equity Alliance (MHPEA), a new 501 (c) (6) professional organization focused on policy and advocacy, in which she is a founding board member.

Please check out Therapists Unchained's website: www.therapistsunchained.com

Please check out MHPEA at: www.mhpea.org

You can also reach out to me at: [email protected]

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

In this episode of Therapists Unchained, host Sivie Suckerman, MA, LMHC, ACS, sits down with Jack Register, LCSW, LIASC, CCS, ICAADC, ICCS, a seasoned advocate and clinician with experience in public policy and systemic change. Together, they discuss Jack’s journey as a registered lobbyist at both the state and federal levels, unpacking the nuanced difference between advocacy and activism.

Jack shares how therapists and other mental health professionals can use their relational and communication skills to influence policy, shape legislation, and drive lasting change in the systems that impact their clients. The conversation also spotlights the work of the Mental Health Professionals Equity Alliance (MHPEA), which brings together professionals across disciplines to promote equity-centered, collaborative policy engagement in the mental health field.

Jack is a licensed clinical social worker and independent clinical addiction specialist licensed in multiples. Jack is also a clinical supervisor, adjunct professor, policy specialist, and community organizer. Jack is the Founder and Clinical Director of Catharsis Counseling Center. Jack is a PhD Candidate at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. 

Jack has been in the field for over 20 years and combines knowledge of direct policy practice with clinical skills and helps to translate for policy makers what the life is of the average everyday clinician. Jack has received awards for advocacy as well as for being a professor. In 2007 social work today magazine named him one of today's most influential social workers. In 2019 other voices, a chamber of commerce program through the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, named Jack a change agent in the community.

Jack lives in Arizona with his partner and their fur children, the oldest of which, Belle is 30.  

⚠️ Tiny audio gremlins alert! You may notice a bit of mic rustling and a soft ring in and out of this episode. If you are sensitive to noise like me, you might want to turn your volume down a smidge or not use headphones while listening to this episode. 

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

In this week's episode of Therapists Unchained, Sivie Suckerman, MA, LMHC, ACS sits down with Ellen Tanner, MS, OTR/L occupational therapist and founder of Hearing the Helper. Ellen shares her personal journey with burnout and how it opened her eyes to the deeper systemic challenges facing helping professionals. Together, they discuss why self-care alone falls short—and how storytelling can spark collective healing and drive change across education, healthcare, and social services.

Ellen Tanner’s mission is to heal burnout and co-create a regenerative new paradigm in education, healthcare, and social services. She cultivates this work from two angles: as a coach and consultant, she helps helpers rise from acute burnout and guides leaders to reimagine systems with upstream solutions that spark resilience, restore meaning, and minimize downstream harm; as Executive Director of Hearing the Helper, she leads a storytelling movement that transforms lived experiences into collective wisdom. A licensed occupational therapist for 20 years, Ellen has served across the lifespan in schools, healthcare, mental health, and social services, experiences that fuel both her credibility and her conviction. Through speaking, teaching, and visionary workshops, she illuminates pathways of healing and possibility, transforming exhaustion into resilience and organizations into life-giving cultures where helpers—and those they serve—can truly thrive.

To inquire about Ellen's services as a coach, consultant, speaker or for workshops, you can get in touch at https://www.ellenmarietanner.com.

**As you explore my site, know that I'm still transitioning my coaching and consulting practice to fully focus on burnout recovery and prevention, it takes time to catch up on all the things!

If you'd like to know more about Hearing the Helper or Submit a Story you wish people would listen to as a helping professional visit us at https://www.hearingthehelper.org.

If you'd like to learn about inspiring research on burnout recovery and prevention visit https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/coral.

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

Sivie Suckerman, MA, LMHC, ACS interviews Caitlin Archibald, MS, LPC, NCC, ACS, a licensed professional counselor and approved clinical supervisor who owns Chrysalis Counseling Center, a group practice in New Jersey. They discuss the challenges faced by small group practices amidst the rise of large venture capitalist (VC) backed mental health companies.

Caitlin earned her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Monmouth University in 2014. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (in NJ and via telehealth in DE), an Approved Counseling Supervisor, small group practice owner, and mom. Since founding The Chrysalis Counseling Center in 2020, she has dedicated her practice to trauma-informed, person-centered, and mindfulness-based approaches—blending techniques like CBT, Somatic Therapy, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, and IFS. Her approach is grounded in empathy, humor, and mindfulness, aimed at helping individuals feel "a little less overwhelmed and a little more put back together" each week. 

You can follow her practice on instagram and facebook @thechrysaliscounselingcenter. 

Check out Caitlin's PDF, How to Leave VC.

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

Marta Hamilton, MA, LPC-S, and Sivie Suckerman, LMHC, ACS, discussed the inspiration and mission behind TeleWellness Hub, highlighting its commitment to supporting wellness based professionals through diverse service listings, community building, and advocacy. Tune in to hear an exciting announcement about a new partnership between Therapist Unchained and TeleWellness Hub, designed to empower and support each other's initiatives through collaborative promotional strategies and integrated membership options. Including how you, our listeners, can get involved and join a growing community of mental health professionals committed to connection, support, and innovation.

Marta Hamilton, MA, LPC-S, founded TeleWellness Hub with a deep belief in the power of connection and compassion. With over a decade of experience as a licensed mental health professional with a background and training in diverse settings (clinical, research, forensic, holistic) and as an entrepreneur in private practice, Marta understands the unique challenges of owning and managing a practice, as well as the struggles faced by solopreneurs in the mental health field. Having been a therapy client herself, Marta knows firsthand the difficulties of navigating the current system to “get help”- even as a provider herself. Inspired by her experiences as both a provider and client and driven by a commitment to breaking down barriers, she created TeleWellness Hub.

telewellnesshub.com

Use Promo Code: UNCHAINED to receive 3 months FREE!!

**Please also note that the Free CE Event is now closed to RSVPs! My apologies for the miscommunication at the end of this episode. Please join us with a paid subscription to fully explore the TU community labs at www.therapistsunchained.com**

🛠️ Production note: You might notice a few odd cuts or little glitches here and there as we get used to our new recording software. We’re ironing out the kinks, and we really appreciate your patience and you sticking with us while we fine-tune things behind the scenes!

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

Sivie Suckerman, MA, LMHC, ACS, and James Ahearn, JD, LPC, PhDc, explore the complex intersection of law, ethics, and mental health care. They unpack the relationships between clients, providers, and insurance companies; examine the growing influence of big tech and venture capital; and discuss how collective power can drive systemic change. Their conversation also highlights creative alternatives to traditional collective bargaining, the legal implications of the Corporate Practice of Medicine (CPOM) and Managed Services Organizations (MSOs), and practical ways clinicians can navigate a healthcare system shaped by intentional scarcity and structural complexity.

James P. Ahearn, JD LPC, PhDc is a founding partner at Ahearn Kershman, LLC in Clayton who earned his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law while simultaneously completing his Master of Arts in Spanish. In addition to being an attorney, James is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is in the home stretch of earning his Ph.D. in Counseling. James recognizes that legal action gives rise to numerous emotional experiences and integrates his legal and counseling skills to guide and advocate for his clients. He offers perspectives from the mind of a lawyer with the heart of a counselor. James practices in various areas in addition to family law to include immigration matters, landlord-tenant matters, property disputes, and business services to fellow mental health professionals, among others. Additionally, James is also a member of the CFLA - Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis. James works as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly addressing name changes and gender marker changes for trans and nonbinary individuals. He is a member of WPATH - World Professional Association for Transgender Health. James is a founder and Co-Chair of Philotimo, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing barriers to mental health treatment for LGBTQ+ individuals. Beyond the realm of law, James is the Clinical Director of Sonder Counseling, LLC, an adjunct professor at Webster University, and a Board member of Psychotherapy Saint Louis.

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

Sivie Suckerman, LMHC, ACS, catches up with Nicole Sartini, LPCC, IMHP, to discuss Nicole’s advocacy work and the founding of both Bridge Counseling and Wellness and the Mental Health Insurance Reform Task Force. The conversation explores Nicole’s motivation to confront inadequate insurance reimbursement and the lack of enforcement of mental health parity laws. The two discuss how to approach organizing, the state of provider education, and alternatives to traditional insurance models. Together, they highlight the importance of education, empowerment, collective action, and interdisciplinary collaboration in driving systemic change within the mental health field.

Nicole Sartini, LPCC, IMHP, is a licensed psychotherapist, social impact entrepreneur, and advocate based in Louisville, KY, with over two decades of experience in the mental health field. Nicole is a passionate advocate for social justice and health insurance reform, as well as a speaker and facilitator on authentic empowerment and heart-led leadership. She is dedicated to building a world that values authenticity, emotional intelligence, and mutual respect. Nicole believes true power is a “we” thing, not a “me” thing. She encourages heart-led leaders to claim their empowerment, embody “power with” leadership, and foster a society where people can follow their intuition, be fully themselves, and act in service of the greater good.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.bridgemindbody.com

Instagram: @edensidesanctuary 

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

This week on Therapists Unchained, Sivie Suckerman, LMHC, ACS, chatted with Pam Rothman, LPC, to discuss her journey across diverse provider settings—from community mental health to tech-based mental health platforms. Pam offered a candid look into her experience at BetterHelp, highlighting the platform’s demanding model, low compensation, and prioritization of profit over therapist well-being. She also spoke to the broader challenges of working with insurance and emphasized the critical role of clinical supervision. Together, Sivie and Pam explored systemic issues fueling the perceived therapist shortage, the lack of business education and support for clinicians, and their shared experiences navigating the complexities of the mental health field.

Pam received her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Holy Family University in 2015. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, practice owner, and clinical supervisor in the state of Pennsylvania. To learn more about Pam’s supervision services, feel free to reach out via email:

[email protected]

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

In this episode of Therapists Unchained, Sivie Suckerman, LMHC, ACS, sits down with Laura Durkin, LMFT, PhD, to unpack the systemic challenges mental health professionals face. From rigid professional identities and inadequate supervision to exploitative contracts and lack of organizational support, they explore the urgent need to rethink therapist training, strengthen advocacy, and build a more collaborative, sustainable, and ethical field rooted in community.

Laura is a WA State Approved Clinical Supervisor and received her PhD in 2025 in Counselor Education and Supervision from Antioch University, with her dissertation research focusing on accessibility within systems of higher education. She is passionate about the progressive evolution of the field of mental health as a whole. 

She is also a mother, partner, daughter, sister, and friend. She likes to practice yoga, paint/doodle (all website art is her own), write, dance, hike/camp, cook, embrace solitude, and connect with loved ones.

https://www.lauradurkincounseling.com/

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.

In this episode of Therapists Unchained, Sivie Suckerman, LMHC, ACS, interviews Jennifer Koriath, LCPC, LPC on the ins and outs of dealing with insurance companies, filing complaints, and how to advocate for yourself and your clients. There is a lot of venting in this one folks so we hope you enjoy commiseration with a side dish of holding insurance companies accountable!

Jen Koriath, LCPC, LPC has 10 years experience in the field of psychotherapy. She works with clients who experience chronic pain/illness, anxiety and trauma. When she’s not guiding people toward healing with her unwavering belief in unconditional positive regard, she’s outsmarting insurance companies and making sure her clients get every benefit they deserve. A fierce advocate for social justice, Jen makes it her mission to create a world where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported. And when she’s not busy saving the world one therapy session at a time, you can find her stretching it out in pilates or sneaking belly rubs for her four-legged best friends. Jen is licensed in Colorado and Illinois and is the Chief Psychotherapist and Owner of Thrive Counseling & Wellness, PC which operates in both Colorado and Illinois. 

This episode was produced and edited by Mckenna Paddock, MA, LMHCA, ATR-P.