Being the Work

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A weekly conversation with therapists, for therapists courageously cracking into our unspoken stories. We seek to put voice to taboo topics in the helping professions, deepen our connections to one another, and ask the difficult questions of what it is to be fully human and a helper at the same time.

Blakely Adams and Ben Wire


    • Nov 15, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 49m AVG DURATION
    • 8 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Being the Work

    What are Your Thoughts on Imposter Syndrome?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 54:43


    Hey helpers! This week we're taking umbrage with the concept of "Imposter Syndrome," sharing some readings and intersectional ideas we hope you'll consider in reclaiming some healthy self doubt AND questioning the environmental and relational elements perpetuating your sense of not belonging. It's time to get inclusive out here y'all, tune in, we're so glad you're here. Readings and Resources: Dan Siegel's book - The Mindful Therapist: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/7529269-the-mindful-therapist Ruchika Tulshyan & Jodi-Ann Burey HBR Articles: "Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome" https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome  "End Imposter Syndrome in Your Workplace" https://hbr.org/2021/07/end-imposter-syndrome-in-your-workplace Feenstra, S., Begeny, C. T., Ryan, M. K., Rink, F. A., Stoker, J. I., & Jordan, J. (2020). Contextualizing the Impostor “Syndrome.” Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 3206.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.575024 ( https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.575024) Herman, J. L. (1997). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence ; from domestic abuse to political terror (Kindle Edition.). Basic Books.https://read.amazon.com/?asin=B00X2ZW918&language=en-US ( https://read.amazon.com/?asin=B00X2ZW918&language=en-U) Langford, J., & Clance, P. R. (n.d.). THE IMPOSTOR PHENOMENON: RECENT RESEARCH FINDINGS REGARDING DYNAMICS, PERSONALITY AND FAMILY PATTERNS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR TREATMENT. 7. McNally, J. (2019, July 9). The Pretend Professional. Counseling Today, 62(1), 44–47. Validation of the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale.: EBSCOhost. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2021, fromhttps://web-p-ebscohost-com.er.lib.k-state.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=bcbd0e24-f4da-46ca-85b4-34fac9cd064d%40redis ( https://web-p-ebscohost-com.er.lib.k-state.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=bcbd0e24-f4da-46ca-85b4-34fac9cd064d%40redis) The Moth | Stories | What Can't Be Fixed. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2021, fromhttps://themoth.org/stories/what-cant-be-fixed ( https://themoth.org/stories/what-cant-be-fixed)

    How Does Containing so Many Secrets Impact You?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 63:36


    This week Ben and Blakely are closely examining the impact of our roles as secret-keepers. One of the sacred foundations of our practice, and the public concept of us, is as locked vaults of human secrets. This containing impacts us, alters our perspective of humanity, and perpetuates some of our loneliness. We can admit we like being 'in on' human secrets, though stashing them all away can be wearying. Tune in, we're so glad you're here. A few FYIs: -we swear sometimes; this is an uncensored show full of our personal opinions./ And remember, we're not YOUR helpers. Everything here is personal opinion, not intended as professional advice. Get the help you need, when you need it, where you need it. Here are a few resources for mental health support for you and those you love: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Home US Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-8255

    What is Your Experience With Burnout?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 54:31


    Hey Helpers! Okay, fine, let's get serious about this looming cloud of *burnout.* Burnout is a beast lurking in the shadows of the helper's life. Culturally many of us are burned out before we even step into the office, then we endure the work there too. Often, the way we define and address the concept of burnout is already working against us. Tune in while we break it down and explore some ideas of what intersects with the helper's burnout cycle, and what might help us break out of it. We're so glad you're here. A few FYIs: -we swear sometimes; this is an uncensored show full of our personal opinions. -References this week: (Book) Can't Even: How Millenials Became the Burnout Generation - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cant-even-anne-helen-petersen/1135053861 And remember, we're not YOUR helpers. Everything here is personal opinion, not intended as professional advice. Get the help you need, when you need it, where you need it. Here are a few resources for mental health support for you and those you love: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Home US Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-8255

    How Do You Know It's Time to Go to Therapy for Yourself?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2021 52:29


    Welcome back! This week it's time to get real about help for the helpers. It's essential we have our turn to access support, intervention, wellness - the work. It's also sometimes difficult to surmount an array of barriers deterring us from our own turn on the couch. Healthcare costs, stigma, and other tricky waters must be forged to get our needs met. So let's take a look at what it takes to do and be the work as the client. We're so glad you're here. A few FYIs: -we swear sometimes; this is an uncensored show full of our personal opinions. And remember, we're not YOUR helpers. Everything here is personal opinion, not intended as professional advice. Get the help you need, when you need it, where you need it. Here are a few resources for mental health support for you and those you love: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Home US Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-8255

    What Does 'Doing and Being the Work' Mean to You?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 45:57


    Hey Helpers, welcome back. We're so glad you're here to join us in exploring the balance of the DOING and the BEING in our work and our lives. Embodying an authentic version of ourselves while managing the workload of therapy and other types of helping can be incredibly challenging. Dive into the dialectic with us; it's messy but worth it. A few FYIs: -we swear sometimes; this is an uncensored show full of our personal opinions. We mention and are influenced by these wise women, especially on this topic: https://brenebrown.com/ https://pemachodronfoundation.org/ And remember, we're not YOUR helpers. Everything here is personal opinion, not intended as professional advice. Get the help you need, when you need it, where you need it. Here are a few resources for mental health support for you and those you love: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Home US Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-8255

    Which Watershed Moments Led You to The Work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2021 66:38


    In our second episode, to continue in exploration of WHY we're here, Ben and Blakely share stories regarding those watershed moments in life which led our path to the helping work. Ben took a 'no' and turned it into a 'hell yes,' while Blakely decided she could do it better than Dr. Phil. Thanks, as always, for tuning in to join us in exploring all the tricky aspects of doing and being the work. A few FYIs: -we swear sometimes; this is an uncensored show -Stephen King writes some damn good books: https://stephenking.com -Further reading on Phenomenology, "Researching Lived Experience" by Van Manen: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/552058.Researching_Lived_Experience And remember, we're not YOUR helpers. Everything here is personal opinion, not intended as professional advice. Get the help you need, when you need it, where you need it. Here are a few resources for mental health support for you and those you love: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Home US Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-8255 cLh6mJtbTpwMjzzPPwYT

    What Brought You to & What Keeps You in the Work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2021 53:18


    In our inaugural episode, we figure it's worth digging into our origins and constants - why YOU, why THIS work? Along the path Ben shares spiritual experiences and inherent empathy guiding the evolution of his 'Faith,' while Blakely took her own pathway of persistent Curiosity and early frustrations with injustice in the world. A few notes: We don't edit our (mostly Blakely's) cursing in this or any episodes. Enneagram Institute: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/ Enneagram & Coffee Podcast https://enneagramandcoffee.squarespace.com/ Clifton Strengths https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/strengthsfinder.aspx Stay tuned, helpers. We're so glad you're here.

    Being the Work Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2021 1:43


    Hey helpers! Coming fall 2021, two mental health professionals are teaming up for a weekly conversation about what it means to be a human and a helper. The stories of therapists and other helpers are often set aside in order to 'do the work,' but our lives are rich, tragic, exciting, and terrifying too! Join us to dive into the complexities of doing and being the work. A few mental health resources for your perusal: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Home US Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-8255

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