More Exemplary

It's hardly a secret that therapists (and other helpers) and the best, brightest, and kindest folks out there. But what about when the relentless performance and sacrifice wear us down? On this episode, Monica Helvie, LMFT, sits with me and explains the inner workings of overfunctioning caregivers that lead to exhaustion and burnout- and walks us through how she works with people to overcome these all-too-common afflictions. If you're noticing that your mental health career grind is becoming kind of a grind, you should hear what Monica has to say!Connect with Monica:Free Burnout Checklist- https://monicahelvie.aweb.page/p/8f6d0a69-2efd-4521-8d6c-bb2a1a9d815dInterested in coaching and interest list for YOU 2.0 (7 week group coaching program)- www.businessofthriving.comIG - @monicahelvielmftTherapy- www.monicahelvie.com 

Part II of Stacy Baker's Story!Those of us who supervise (hopefully) understand that the relationship between supervisor and supervisee is as important as any clinical information we could provide. But what about when the supervisory relationship and workplace are tainted by racism and ineptitude? In this two-part episode, I interview Stacy Baker to learn about her experience working in a practice that failed her as an employee and as a clinician. People who are interested in creating a mindful, ethical, anti-racist environment for their supervisees and clinicians will have a lot to learn from her story!

Those of us who supervise (hopefully) understand that the relationship between supervisor and supervisee is as important as any clinical information we could provide. But what about when the supervisory relationship and workplace are tainted by racism and ineptitude? In this two-part episode, I interview Stacy Baker to learn about her experience working in a practice that failed her as an employee and as a clinician. People who are interested in creating a mindful, ethical, anti-racist environment for their supervisees and clinicians will have a lot to learn from her story!

"Highly Sensitive People", while not an official diagnosis, is a description of a group of people that have long gone ignored in our society. In the last 20 years or so, folks have started specializing in working with this group of people. Lori Cangilla was kind enough to join me and provide us with a primer on how people can do good, competent work with this group of people that might comprise as much as 50% of all therapy clients. If you have ever had someone refer to themself as an HSP and not known what to do with that information, this is your first step!

If you've done any amount of networking, then you've met a million therapists who say they like working with creative folks. But what does it take to do really good work with creatives? This week, I spoke with entertainment-industry-veteran-turned-therapist Phil Stark about his journey from creating to healing fellow creators. If you enjoy laughing and learning, you're going to love Phil. If you don't, then you're gonna hate him- but you should still read his book.

One of the sad truths about the field of therapy is that there isn't enough positive guidance or mentorship for folks who are new to the field- and the result, often, is exploitation and/or misery. This week, Ben Esch, AMFT, sat down with me to discuss some of the pitfalls and red flags that prelicensed people might encounter in the world of therapy (as well as some of the good stuff). If you're getting started in the field and don't yet know what to look out for, I hope this will be an invaluable listen for you.

Any credible therapist does their own work on their own trauma. However, few therapists have the level of self-love and vulnerability it takes to be able to look at their own role within and effects on the world around them. This week, I was lucky enough to talk to Harry Au, who candidly discusses his own healing journey. Of all the interviews I've given, this one really spoke to the heart of what More Exemplary is about- self-examination, values, love, and change. 

 As people become more aware of the abuses being visited by high-demand groups, the need is constantly rising for skilled clinicians who can treat trauma related to cult abuse. This week, I was treated to a highly interesting and informative talk on this topic by Melissa Hannan, who was definitely there of her own free will and not because she was an associate in my practice. You can ask her. If you're intrigued by the idea of recovering from this kind of abuse, you're going to love hearing what Melissa has to say!

Grief is one of those universal issues that virtually everyone faces- so why are clinicians so scared to work with it? This week's guest, Cynthia Greenburg-Dunlop, gives us the straight dope on her journey towards focusing on treating grief and the challenges and fulfillment she's experienced along the way. If you quail at the idea of working with grief clients, you're going to want to hear Cynthia's wise and insightful take on this issue.

As clinicians, sometimes the road is not so clear- in a field with so many different options for theories, methods, and approaches, how does any of us become a fully-realized therapist while running a business and doing the clinical work? Djuna Osborne has done the hard work to learn about herself, and finally found an incredible modality that allows her to do the kind of work that suits her clients and makes Djuna feel fulfilled at the end of the day. If you feel like you haven't really hit your stride yet as a clinician, and you're wondering what it would look like to explore something else within the field, you're going to want to hear about Djuna's experience!

Rebecca Doppelt is a clinician practicing in Los Angeles, who has really cool and interesting ways of conceptualizing and working with betrayal. She was kind enough to share with me her own original treatment method, which blends trauma and grief therapy, and how she uses it to ease people's pain and teach them how to re-parent themselves.

S2E9: I Am the Net (with Marissa Esquibel)Marissa Esquibel is a thriving therapist in Claremont, CA, and the host of the Codependummy Podcast. Marissa shares with me the harrowing tale of starting a business right at the beginning of the pandemic, and how she helped herself overcome the setbacks and fear so that she can help others.

As we launch into a new presidency, a new year, and hopefully a new era in how we treat one another, I took the opportunity to discuss Peace and Contentment with podcaster and friend Erline Maingot. Erline's viewpoints are always interesting to me, and she's not afraid of hard questions. Enjoy!

My friend and colleague Jackie Shapin has been getting a lot of training in the area of OCD recently, and was sharing with me some of the amazing things she's learned about how this disorder affects people, the unexpected ways it shows up, and most importantly, how it's treated. This conversation was a learning experience for me, and I hope it will be for you, too.

Alcoholic families are shaped differently than families without an addict. Nick interviews Michelle Lange to learn some of the issues and obstacles faced by people who grow up with an alcoholic parent.

An amazing podcast with my friend and colleague, Tiffany McLain discussing how to kick some ass in business and in life.

Tune in to this episode to hear Amoret's story and as we discuss all things related to narcissism.

In the last episode of Season 1, I brought back nearly all the guests from the first season to discuss our personal and professional responses to the racism that -although it has existed for centuries- is just now becoming more visible to people like us on a daily basis.This conversation, like the profession of psychotherapy itself, was populated disproportionately by white people. We all felt self-conscious about that, but agreed that it was better to have the conversation and risk being incomplete or exposing our own racism than not to have the conversation at all.As a group and as individuals, we welcome anyone's feedback on the content of this podcast, as it will surely contribute to our own growth as humans and as clinicians.

In this episode, I talk with Blacksburg, Virginia-based therapist Sarah Kate Valatka about the ways our lives were beginning to take shape during the beginning of the coronavirus.

I spoke with Los Angeles-based Kirstin Carl, MFT, about the work that traumatized people can do to rebuild their self-esteem and find love and contentment. People who are survivors of trauma often feel the most alone and helpless of any of us- and Kirstin's voice is an important one for them to hear.

I spoke with my friend Clint Berry, who always has a fresh outlook on troubling times. Clint shared with me the ways that he finds contentment, and accesses unconditional love for the world around him. I've always valued Clint's perspective- both because it's so positive, and also because it's often really, really different from my own.

I spoke with Cincinatti therapist Rose Kormanyos about the work of therapy with individuals and couples who are highly intelligent and deeply cerebral. Rose had a lot to say about existential contentment vs. joy, which is always at the center of the happiness conversation.

During this episode, Holly Anderson and I brave the challenges of wind-battered sound to discuss Holly's practice with highly successful women, and the fears that hold people back from leading the lives that they want.

In the inaugural episode of More Exemplary, I talk with Virginia-based therapist Jenn Fredette, LPC, and we embark on a swear-laced discussion on the different ways that she and I work with anger, and the ways that we seek happiness in daily life.