The AAMFT Podcast

Follow The AAMFT Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

The AAMFT Podcast is an all-access pass to the latest news, developments, and thought leaders in the world of systemic therapy. Hosted by Dr. Eli Karam, it strives to relate, educate, and innovate one episode at a time. The episodes explore topics that re

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy


    • Jun 13, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 51m AVG DURATION
    • 130 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The AAMFT Podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and systemic approaches. As a listener, I have found this podcast to be incredibly educational and inspiring. The host, Dr. Eli Karam, does an excellent job interviewing systemic clinicians from various disciplines who have made notable contributions to the field of MFT.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is that it provides an opportunity to learn more about specific topics and receive recommendations for further reading. The guests on the show share their expertise and personal experiences, which brings their work to life. It's not just about theories and concepts, but also about understanding the "person" behind the theory. This adds depth and richness to the episodes.

    Additionally, the range of guests featured on the podcast is impressive. They include leaders in the field, authors of influential books, and innovators of models in MFT. Hearing from these experts gives listeners a direct insight into their thoughts, ideas, and contributions to the profession. It's like having access to an easily accessible archive of classic interviews.

    Furthermore, Dr. Eli’s passion and knowledge are palpable throughout every episode. His dedication to his profession shines through as he asks insightful questions that are relevant to practicing therapists at all stages of their careers. This makes each conversation engaging and informative for listeners.

    While there aren't many negative aspects to this podcast, one potential downside could be the release frequency of episodes. Some listeners may want more frequent releases as they find these episodes invaluable for their education and growth as MFTs. However, it's important to note that quality should always take precedence over quantity when it comes to content creation.

    In conclusion, The AAMFT Podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in Marriage and Family Therapy or systemic approaches. With its diverse range of guests, educational content, and passionate host, this podcast offers valuable insights into the field while serving as a source of inspiration for professionals. Whether you are a student, practitioner, or simply someone interested in the subject matter, this podcast is a treasure trove of knowledge and personal stories.



    Search for episodes from The AAMFT Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The AAMFT Podcast

    129: Personal Grief Rituals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 63:18


    In this episode, Dr. Eli sits down with Paul Martin to discuss a new model of mourning that honors the uniqueness of each loss.

    Episode #128 - The Importance of Therapist “Way of Being”

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 61:37


    In this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Dr. Eli sits down with Dr. Fife and Dr. Whiting to explore the therapist's “way of being” as a meta-intervention.

    Episode 127: Managing Gaming and Social Media Habits

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 57:29


    In this episode, Eli talks with Dr. Catherine Knibbs about how we use technology in everyday life. They also discuss how to identify when intervention is needed to assist our client systems in mastering problematic uses of technology.

    Episode #126 - Navigating Family Estrangement

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 56:36


    In this episode, Dr. Eli sits down with systemic therapist Karl Melvin to discuss how clinicians can better support estranged adult clients using Karl's Estrangement Inquiry Model.

    Episode 125: Single Session Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 58:33


    In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Michael Hoyt to discuss guidelines and methods to make a single therapy session efficient and effective for individuals, couples, and families.

    Episode 124: Neurodiverse Couple Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 61:58


    In this episode, Eli is joined by Kelli Murgado-Willard, who discusses assessing, treating, and integrating practical interventions with neurodivergent clients.

    AAMFT Podcast Episode #123: Working with Native American & Indigenous Client Systems

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 40:19


    In this episode, AAMFT Leadership Symposium keynote speaker Dr. Laurelle Myhra joins Eli to discuss both the benefits and challenges of conducting systemic therapy with indigenous populations within predominantly Western mental health systems.

    AAMFT Podcast Episode #122: Family Therapy for Caregivers of Dementia

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 54:58


    In this episode, Sara Qualls joins Eli to discuss how family therapy may help caregivers cope with symptoms of cognitive impairment while still meeting the needs of multiple relatives.

    AAMFT Podcast Episode #121: Fertility Counseling with Couples

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 48:34


    In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Kristy Koser for a discussion about helping couples navigating complex decisions while maintaining their relationship after a diagnosis of infertility and pursuing fertility treatments.

    Episode 120: Ron Levant

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 47:40


    In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Ronald Levant to discuss normative male alexithymia and how he uses Alexithymia Reduction Treatment (ART) to support his clients in their therapy journey.

    Episode 119: Randy Heller

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 70:20


    In this episode Eli sits down with Dr. Randy Heller to discuss the similarities and differences between collaborative divorce and traditional divorce mediation.

    Episode: 118 Devin Hussong

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 50:52


    In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Devin Hussong to talk about integrating humor into the practice of systemic therapy.

    Episode: 117 Kristina S. Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 42:12


    In this episode, Eli is joined by the AAMFT Systemic Ethics Textbook editor, Kristina S. Brown, Ph.D., LMFT, to discuss the book and current developments shaping systemic therapy's ethical practice.

    Episode: 116 Kat Hertlein

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 50:59


    During this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Kat Hertlein for a discussion about using AI tools to supplement systemic therapy. Tune in to hear Dr. Hertlein explore the benefits and risks of using AI in mental health, including potential data privacy and security issues.

    Episode: 115 Rebecca A. Cobb

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 47:56


    In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Rebecca A. Cobb, the editor of the new book -The Therapist's Notebook for Systemic Teletherapy: Creative Interventions for Effective Online Therapy – to explore innovative strategies and ways to adapt in-person therapy interventions for telehealth.

    Episode 114: Shay Thomas DMFT, LMFT and Paul Hokemeyer J.D., Ph.D.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 49:53


    In this engaging episode, Eli hosts a discussion with Dr. Paul Hokemeyer and Shay Thomas, DMFT, LMFT. They delve into the ways in which marriage and family therapists negotiate and make use of various media opportunities.

    lmft dmft
    Episode 113: Janina Fisher

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 40:45


    In this episode, Eli and Dr. Janina Fisher discuss a new way of thinking about shame from a neurobiological perspective—as a survival strategy driving somatic responses of automatic obedience and total submission.

    Episode 112: Christie Eppler

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 42:15


    In this episode, Eli sits down with Christie Eppler, PhD, LMFT, to talk about her new book, “Cultivating Systemic Resilience in Therapy.” During this conversation, they discuss how to foster resilience in clinical treatment with individual and relational clients, supervisees, and in the therapist's own life.

    Episode 111: Max Zubatsky, PhD, LMFT, Tai Mendenhall, PhD, LMFT, & Jessica Goodman, PhD, LMFT

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 69:03


    In this episode, Eli sits down with three experienced physicians (Max Zubatsky, Tai Mendenhall, and Jessica Goodman), who are also MedFT supervisors, to discuss their perspectives and experiences as supervisors of systemic therapists at all levels of training.

    MFT License Portability

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 48:30


    In this episode, Eli interviews AAMFT's very own Chief Advocacy Officer, Roger Smith, to discuss AAMFT's efforts in developing a model of MFT license portability in order to promote more objectivity in assessing qualifications, as well as standardization between states in our increasingly mobile society.

    Episode 109: Dafna Lender

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 54:40


    On this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Dafna Lender, LCSW, speaks to Eli about secure attachment of children with their caregivers, and the importance of playfulness and rupture repair in the parent-child relationship.

    Episode 108: Sue Johnson, Jim Furrow & Gail Palmer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 69:10


    It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Sue Johnson on April 23, 2024. In this very special tribute episode, we hear from Sue in her own words about her childhood and professional legacy. Sue was also a cherished friend whose warmth and wisdom profoundly touched all who knew her. Two of those friends and leaders in the EFT Movement, Gail Palmer & Jim Furrow, join Eli to share their memories and emotional last conversations with their mentor.

    Episode 107: Barry McCarthy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 50:18


    In this episode, we confront the traditional male-female power struggle over intercourse frequency and replace it with a new understanding in which both women and men value affectionate, sensual, playful, and erotic touch.

    Episode 106: Martha Kauppi

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2024 47:38


    In this episode, LMFT Martha Kauppi, sits down with Eli to explore polyamory from a systemic therapist's perspective. Martha is a therapist, author, speaker, and educator specializing in complex relational therapy, sex issues, and alternative family structures.

    Episode 105: Ramani Durvasula

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 53:47


    In this episode week's episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Durvasulais to explore the telltale behavioral patterns of narcissism and techniques that you can use with your client to encourage healing and growth.

    Episode 104: Harville Hendrix & Helen LaKelly Hunt

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 66:19


    In this episode, Eli sits down with married couple's therapists Harville Hendrix and Helen Lakelly Hunt, to discuss the unique challenges of approaching relationships with mindfulness and empathy. Their renowned Imago Relationship Therapy model, now being taught internationally, focuses on healing the inner self and utilizing needs-focused dialogue to heal the couple.

    Episode 103: Don Posner

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 56:38


    In the first installment of 2024 and the beginning of Season 6 of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli speaks with sleep expert, Donn Posner. Dr. Posner is one of the leaders in the field of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and the founder and President of Sleepwell Consultants.

    Episode 102: Bill Pinsof

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2023 86:13


    In one of the most personal and revealing interviews in AAMFT Podcast history, Eli explores with Bill his origin story and both his successes and challenges throughout his pioneering journey into systemic therapy integration.

    Episode 101: Steven Porges

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2023 55:17


    In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Porges to talk about his latest book aimed at the general public. It definitively presents how Polyvagal Theory can be understandable to all and demonstrates how its practical principles are applicable to anyone looking to live their safest, best, healthiest, and happiest life.

    Episode 100: Deb Dana

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2023 58:45


    In this episode, Deb and Eli discuss practical Polyvagal skills and how we can use Polyvagal Theory to transform the way we navigate our professional and personal relationships.

    Episode 99: Dr. Doug Snyder

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 49:57


    In this episode, Eli dives deep with Dr. Doug Snyder into a proven, research-based approach for treating couples impacted by the trauma of infidelity to learn the clinical skills that will empower your couples to recover after significant breaches of trust.

    Episode 98: Dr. Karen Gail Lewis

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 46:05


    In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Lewis to discuss the four components of sibling ghosts: frozen images, crystalized roles, unhealthy loyalty, and sibling transference.

    Episode 97: Sara Reed

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 48:20


    In this episode, Eli talks with a MFT leader in this area, Sara Reed. Sara is a mental health futurist and has spent her early career reimagining effective mental health care in the medical system.

    Episode:96

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2023 48:15


    In this interview, Dr. Ellyn Bader sits down with Eli to describe the evolution of her work as a couples therapist. She also recalls how she and her therapist husband, Dr. Peter Pearson, founded the Couples Institute and the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy, a model that teaches therapists how to diagnose, intervene and significantly help troubled relationships.

    Episode 95: Dr. Chris Habben

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 52:38


    In this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli has a thought-provoking conversation with AAMFT Past President & current Chair of the Spirituality in Clinical Practice (SICP) Topical Interest Network - Dr. Chris Habben.

    Episode 94: Barbara McCrady

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2023 50:01


    In this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli and leading scientist-practitioner, Barbara McCrady, review the historical and conceptual underpinnings of ABCT, as well as the specific treatment elements and structure.

    Episode 93: Jim Furrow

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 52:41


    On this installment of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli interviews EEFT innovator, Jim Furrow, Ph.D. They discuss how to confidently lead family members through distress and past injuries to create new relational patterns, bond with each other, and experience a fuller sense of security.

    Episode 92: Teresa McDowell, Carmen Knudson-Martin, and Maria Bermudez

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2023 48:18


    On this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli sits down with the authors ofSocioculturally Attuned Family Therapy - Teresa McDowell, Carmen Knudson-Martin & Maria Bermudez – for a thoughtful dialogue on the need for marriage and family therapists to engage in socially responsible practice by infusing diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout theory and clinical practice. They explore why sociocultural attunement and equity matter, providing clinicians with integrative, equity-based family therapy guidelines. It is a valuable listen for any systemic practitioner wanting to apply a critical consciousness to their work.

    Episode 91:Chris Michaels

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2023 29:53


    In this episode, Eli sits down with AAMFT CEO, Chris Michaels, to discuss these findings and other important developments impacting all practicing MFTs. Download the 2022 MFT Industry Workforce Study for insight into these as well as anticipated challenges and trends facing the profession in the coming years at aamft.org.

    Episode 90: Vienna Pharaon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2023 62:46


    Vienna Pharaon is a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of New York City's most sought-after relationship therapists. Vienna is the creator of @mindfulMFT on Instagram where she's helping over 600K people around the world heal their wounds. She has been featured in The Economist, Vice, and Motherly, and has led workshops for Peloton and Netflix, among others. Her latest book, The Origins of You, unlocks a healing process to help our clients understand their own family of origin—and examine what worked (and didn't) in that system. In this episode, Eli sits down with Vienna to explore the importance of continuing to do your own family origin work throughout your life course as a systemic therapist.

    Episode 89: Ryan Seedall and Tony Rousmaniere

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 50:47


    Helping families/systems to achieve their goals is one of the most rewarding (and challenging!) clinical tasks. While therapists usually receive excellent training in theoretical underpinnings coupled with many hours of therapy and a high standard of supervision (often delivered by live or video review).There still remain too few avenues for practice and to achieve competency in core Systemic Family Therapy (SFT) skills.In this episode, Eli talks to Tony & Ryan about adopting deliberate practice methods to support experiential — “learn by doing” — training.

    Episode 88: Jessica ChenFeng

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 49:15


    Jessica ChenFeng Ph.D, LMFT- Currently holds position as Associate Director of Physician Vitality and Professor of Medical Education at Loma Linda University. In this podcast Jessica discusses her background as a second generation Taiwanese American, and how her personal and surveyed experiences within her community influenced her career path. Eli and Jessica dive into some of the racial and cultural considerations practitioners should keep in mind when working with Asian and Asian American clients. Along with reasons why members of certain communities might seek out therapy at lower rates, and how the landscape of therapy for these communities is shifting with more culturally informed practices.

    Episode 87: Dr. Bill Miller

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 43:52


    In this episode Dr. Bill Miller, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry may be best known for his framework on motivational interviewing.Dr. Miller shares a bit of his path as a clinician and how he finds his work at the intersection of psychology and spirituality.He and Eli discuss his most recent work with ambivalent clients, and client systems. Which utilizes techniques such as rolling with resistance and changing how systemic therapists can reframe the concept of low motivation by engaging with empathy and alliance.

    Episode 86: Dr. Pauline Boss

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 49:29


    Dr. Pauline Boss is a clinician, educator, and principal theorist on the concept of ambiguous loss. In this episode, Pauline talks about her research, work with grieving communities, and how we are all impacted by ambiguous loss. This experience can be defined by the way we handle major life transitions, psychological loss, or unfulfilled expectations. Dr. Boss delves into the lack of attention grief receives in educational realms, due to our culture's fear and rejection of pain, along with the myth of closure. Finally, she discusses how she hopes her body of work impacts future clinicians and the way our culture handles the nuances of loss.

    Episode 85: Adam Fisher and Nathan Hardy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2022 48:59


    This week's episode features collegial debate between two colleagues who are proponents of two schools of thought: Attachment or EFT Theory, and Differentiation or Crucible Theory. The two schools are substantially different in how they view aspects of adult development, and we have two guests who will walk us through the differences and similarities. We are joined this week by Adam Fisher and Nathan Hardy. Dr. Fisher is an assistant clinical professor at Brigham Young University, with a joint appointment between Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and the department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education (CPSE). Dr Hardy is an Associate Professor and graduate of the COAMFTE accredited Ph.D. program at Kansas State University. Dr. Hardy came to OSU in 2016. Dr. Hardy serves as the MFT Program Director and is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and Clinical Fellow of AAMFT. This week they sit down with Eli to discuss their early education and influences, similarities and differences between Attachment and Differentiation, the type of therapist and client each model works best for, and more.

    Episode 84: Ann Steiner

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 47:48


    What is a professional will, and do you need one? What would become of your practice in the event of an emergency? This week, Eli sits down with Dr. Ann Steiner. Dr. Steiner is a licensed as a Marriage and Family Child Counselor and maintains a private practice in Lafayette, CA. She and Eli discuss early influences and what drew her to the profession, what a professional will is, why it's important to have one in place, practical advice on how to set one up, and the importance of choosing your own “emergency response team.” Finally, they discuss the challenges people face when attempting to set up a professional will, some strategies to overcome them, and more.

    Episode 83: Shelley Hanson and Silvia Kaminsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 47:09


    This week on the podcast we're talking leadership with outgoing AAMFT President Shelley Hanson and AAMFT President-elect Silvia Kaminsky. Shelley and Silvia sit down with Eli to discuss their early-career influences and beginnings of their leadership journey. They also discuss the importance of systemic thinking to leadership, the benefits of having diverse people in positions of leadership, imposter syndrome, and how to look for opportunities to serve where your passion takes you. Finally, they discuss programs such as AAMFT's Leadership Symposium, and how these programs can benefit emerging leaders.

    Episode 82: Doug Breunlin and Bill Russell.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2022 56:23


    What does it mean to be an integrative systemic therapist? This week on the podcast we're sitting down with Doug Breunlin and Bill Russell. Doug Breunlin has practiced individual, couple and family therapy. He has served as a consultant for Cook County Hospital's Departments of Pediatrics and Family Practice for 12 years, in addition to providing consultation to mental health centers, special education programs and residential facilities, and is co-author of Metaframeworks: Transcending the Models of Family Therapy. Bill Russel has practiced systemic psychotherapy, developed and administered mental health service programs, and trained and supervised therapists. He has worked in academic institutions, community agencies, a private practice, a therapeutic school and the Veterans Administration. For the past twenty-six years Mr. Russell has worked at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Bill and David chat with Eli about the meaning of integrative systemic therapy, their early work and career influences, the importance of introducing the client to the model rather than the other way around, their work at institutions such as the Institute for Juvenile Research and The Family Institute at University of South Wales, and more.

    Episode 81: John Rolland

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2022 50:16


    John Rolland, MD, MPH, is Executive Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Chicago Center for Family Health and author of the book: Helping Couples and Families Navigate Illness and Disability. Dr. Rolland is an AAMFT approved clinical supervisor and serves on the Editorial Boards of several journals. In this episode Dr Rolland sits down with Eli to discuss early inspirations and what sparked his interest in family systems, the difficulty of integrating the pathology driven medical model with the strength and health model of family therapy, and his Family Systems Illness Model. Dr Rolland also discusses the need for psychoeducation to give families the beginnings of a map they can use to get through the experience of illness.

    Episode 80: Deb Coolhart

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2022 46:22


    Deb Coolhart, Associate Professor at Syracuse University, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with a private practice in Fayetteville, NY. She is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and an AAMFT-approved supervisor. Under her leadership, the Gender Expansive Support Team was created and continues to provide services in the Central New York community. In this episode, Deb sits down with Eli to discuss her early career and research interests and influences, the need for inclusive, affirming language, the need to acknowledge the pervasive experience of mistreatment that trans people face, the different ways clients may experience dysphoria, and much more.

    Episode 79: Evan Imber-Black

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 52:45


    Evan Imber-Black, PhD, is currently Professor and Program Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Masters Program at Mercy College, and was a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. Evan was a longtime faculty member at the Ackerman Institute and former Director of Ackerman's Center for Families and Health. In this episode, she sits down with Eli to discuss her early career influences and why she became a therapist, her proudest memories from her time as editor of Family Process, and the concepts of family rituals and family secrets. Eli and Evan discuss what makes a good family ritual, how to create family rituals, and finally the delicate balance between the need for privacy and the impact of family secrets.

    Claim The AAMFT Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel