What Would Dr. Meyers Do?

We're diving deep into the realities of interracial relationships — the highs, the hurdles, and the healing that can come from love across cultural lines. Meet Dassin and Stephanie Blackwell who are quite reflective on their relationship and the privileges they have and the challenges they have faced as an interracial couple. With genuineness and awareness, they share their obstacles they have navigated within their family system and greater society. Join us as we talk about the beauty of blending different worlds; navigating identity, assumptions, and unconscious bias; what makes these relationships not just possible, but powerful. Whether you're in an interracial relationship, curious about the dynamics, or just open to hearing honest perspectives, you will learn and be inspired to embrace diversity. Dr. Dassin Blackwell, a lifelong educator, coach, and athletics administrator with over 20 years of experience working across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III. Currently, I serve as the Assistant Director of Athletics Compliance and Director of Sprint Football Operations at St. Thomas Aquinas College, where I lead academic support, NCAA eligibility, and holistic development for more than 450 student-athletes. My foundation in athletics began on the field as a student-athlete at Towson University. That moment not only defined my playing career, but also deepened my belief in the transformative power of sport. As a coach for 20 years, I had the privilege of being part of two conference championship teams and coached for a national championship, helping student-athletes achieve success at the highest levels both on and off the field. Throughout my career, I've held leadership roles at institutions including Georgetown, Towson, Pace, Hofstra, Frostburg State, Iona University. My work has included everything from managing NCAA compliance and GSR reporting to implementing department-wide systems like SPRY and mentoring first-generation student-athletes. I earned my Ph.D. in Educational Management from Hampton University, and my passion lies in bridging the worlds of athletics and education. Stephanie Blackwell is a dedicated and compassionate Licensed Master Social Worker with a commitment to fostering positive change. Stephanie received her Master's in Social Work from Fordham University in 2024, along with receiving a Specialized Certificate in Crisis and Resilience and her CASAC-T Certification. She received her Bachelor's in Social Work at Molloy University in 2023. In 2022, she was awarded BSW Student of the Year by the New York State Social Work Education Association. Stephanie currently serves on the NYSSWEA Board as Vice President. She also serves on the Molloy University Alumni Association Board. Stephanie is the Lead Clinician at Lincoln Hall, where she supports adolescent boys who have crossed U.S. Borders unaccompanied, searching for a better life in the U.S.

Are you effected or not effected by food allergies? Either way you need to become more informed. Food allergies affect much more than what ends up on the plate—they're deeply woven into the emotional fabric of households, shaping the experiences of kids, parents, adults, and entire families. In this heartfelt, practical episode, we explore those hidden layers from socialization, quality of life and self-esteem. Folks suffer from anxiety, depression, OCD, and trauma. Dr. Dennis educates us all on why we need to become more informed, how we can find resilience, and manage countertransference around the "right" way to intervene. You can learn more about Dr. Dennis at ksdfamilysolutions.com and email her at drdennis@ksdfamilysolutions.com A resource:https://www.foodallergycounseling.org/ Dr. Kelly Sullivan Dennis is a licensed clinical social worker with a PhD and over 30 years of experience working with individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. She serves as an assistant professor in the Social Work Department at Molloy University, where she teaches both undergraduate students and graduate students through the Fordham-Molloy MSW Collaborative. Her academic work is informed by her clinical expertise and her dedication to fostering inclusive, justice-driven social work practice.In her clinical work, Dr. Dennis supports clients coping with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, chronic illness, and major life transitions. She has a special interest in working with children and families to help manage complex issues such as food allergies, chronic illness, and family system challenges. Her approach is strengths-based and integrative, drawing on evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-focused intervention, play therapy, narrative therapy, and solution-focused counseling.Throughout her career, Dr. Dennis has worked in a wide range of settings, including schools, mental health centers, community agencies, parent resource centers, libraries, and places of worship in order to bring mental health support into the heart of the community. She is also an active community educator, leading workshops on grief and loss, trauma, crisis response, parenting children with complex needs, and navigating life with food allergies.Dr. Dennis is a proud member of the Academy of Food Allergy Counseling (AFAC) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Her work is guided by a strong commitment to social justice, human rights, and the belief that every individual deserves dignity and access to compassionate, competent care.

Do you doubt your abilities? Feel like a fraud? And yet, there isn't evidence that you're a failure? You're struggling with imposter syndrome, a phenomenon affecting up to 70% of adults at some point with 25–30% of high achievers suffering regularly. Imposter syndrome doesn't just sap confidence—it can fuel burnout, anxiety, and perfectionism that hold you back . If you've ever thought, “Soon they'll find out I'm not really that good,” this episode is your proof that you're far from alone—and far more capable than you believe. In this episode, Dr. Meyers shares her own experiences with imposter syndrome and offers guidance on how to manage the feelings. Reclaim your sense of belonging, and celebrate your real accomplishments.

Judith Belmont, MS is a psychotherapist and author who offers practical approaches to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Through examples, she translates CBT principles into user-friendly tools for personal growth, emotional wellness, and mental health education. Her work focuses on helping people identify and challenge negative thought patterns, build healthier habits, and improve self-esteem. With actionable strategies her approach helps to manage anxiety, stress, and everyday challenges. www.belmontwellness.com; amazon.com/author/judithbelmont

Mary Anne Cohen, Director of the New York Center for Eating Disorders, coined the term "emotional eating". In this episode, she offers a nuanced perspective on Ozempic acknowledging its potential to provide relief from compulsive eating yet cautions that this benefit is only part of the story: the need to adress the deep emotional wounds at the heart of many eating disorders. She warns that Ozempic can feed dangerous cultural narratives that equate thinness with moral or emotional worthiness—reinforcing stigma around body diversity and compounding shame. Although we are still learning all of the information around weight-loss drugs, Cohen feels that Ozempic must be paired with a comprehensive personal strategy and invites us to think critically

There's a lot we can understand about the sibling abuse experience and outcome for the survivor through a theoretical lens. Dr. Meyers presents the theories in a digestible manner that helps anyone seeking to learn more about themselves or survivors and how relationships can be challenging. There is a bright side: resiliency is addressed as is therapy as an imperative measure to leading a more satisying life and a sense of self-worth.

One of many anxieties about working with people and their emotional lives is contending with suicidal gestures. This case presentation of a 16 year old with depression and anxiety and a history of child abuse uncovers the importance of accurate diagnoses and highlights the need for collaborative efforts to intervene appropriately. Further, rectifying one's own capabilities as a therapist based on needed expertise with particular populations must be prioritized over the desire to handle all.

After ten years of sexual abuse by her stepfather, Nicole Braddock Bromley found the courage to disclose to her mother at 14 years old. Though she encountered a receptive and supportive response from her mother, the trauma of abuse and subsequent events created deep wounds. Speaker/author/survivor and internationally recognized advocate for sexual abuse and trafficking victims, Nicole shares how she has turned her wounds into scars and became a model for healing, finding forgiveness, and using storytelling to transform lives.

How do we undertand the trauma immigrants have experienced in their home country and now our own? A professor, community social worker, and BSW student share personal and professional experiences that fuel their passion and compassion for the immigrant population. Join us as we dispel the notion that immigration is a new issue and confront this administration's conflation of terrorism and immigration and the need for border security. How do we help navigate the fears of immigrants and citizens? Our guests make a call to challenge dis/misinformation and speak truth to power.

The stigma of mental illness is reflected in Regina, a social worker who contends with her own mental illness diagnosis and its implications for working in the field. Having been let go from a few jobs, she raises the ethical dilemma of disclosure: the pathologizing impact vs. the potential for accomodations. Where is the boundary or adaptation in the social work profession regarding embracing employees who may be struggling with the same disorders as those we treat? Regina shares her personal experience navigating her BiPolar II disorder and calls to action the need for societal awareness and social work advocacy.

Making the move to private practice requires several considerations: When is the right time? Will I be financially stable? What is the cost/benefit ratio? Am I prepared personally and professionally? What is needed to be successful? Barbara Murphy, a seasoned professional, discusses her own trajectory to private practice and along the way, answers some common questions and anxieties about making the transition. She also provides an invaluable resource to support private and agency practitioners.

A sibling sexual abuse survivor and a mother of a SSA survivor and perpetrator share their experiences in the hope of coming to terms with "how did this happen?!". Their stories help each other try to make sense of each other's lens and what evolves is an empathic development for each other's plight. A very enlightening conversation ensues about how to disclose this assault to parents and what victims and survivors want and need.

It may be challenging to consider how there is joy in working with ill youth, and even chronically and terminally medically ill children. To her own surprise, Cloe Southard, LMSW has certainly found that joy. She gives us a new perspective about this work and engages in conversation about ethical dilemmas including the debateable issue of sustaining life vs. quality of life. She also is quite transparent about her countertransferential challenges.

There are many ways to treat trauma from psychotherapy to CBT, Ketamine, and EMDR. Dr. Meyers is interested in exploring it all. This week she is joined by Dr. Kammer, an expert on EMDR who discusses the use of it as a method to reprocess painful memories by reformulationg negative beliefs. She explains how eye movement desensitization and reprocessing works. Both complicated and fascinating, we delve into how trauma is processed by the brain and because it is overwhelming, there can be an inability to process it. As a result, the trauma remains stored in the limbic system. By following the therapist's hand movements or a moving light, listening to audio stimulation, or tapping on their shoulders, the therapist helps the client reprocess the natural information that occurs during REM sleep. How is this done? Tune in to find out.

Kellyanne Brady, PhD is pregnant. How might this impact her treatment? Transference is likely to occur. How might her clients' feelings be overtly or subtly communicated, or not revealed at all? How does Dr. Brady's countertransference come into play? What happens when a therapist is going through their own major life transition? These are questions anyone can relate to regarding how to remain present and how much to share or self-disclose.

From the last podcast episode on sibling abuse, my guest, Lorene Stanwick wanted to ensure that she communicated specific aspects of her experience. In a follow-up conversation, she focuses on the insidious nature of abuse and her road towards healing. She discusses the catharctic aspect of writing a play on sibling abuse and her desire to be the voice for others. Many folks can relate to feeling you may have left out important things during a conversations. But perhaps for Lorene, the desire to revisit our conversation conveys the deep need to be heard and understood, something a sibling abuse victim never had.

Not being believed when someone has been abused magnifies the experience of trauma. What happens when ones own family doesn't acknowledge the abuse from parents to siblings to perpetrators? Lorene Stanwick, an adult survivor of sibling abuse talks about these implications and the profound impact this has had on her. In this episode, Lorene shares her truth and shares her processing around losing her family, and her ultimate decision to choose herself.

Meet Alma, a BSW student who is just beginning her social work education. In spite of how astute, insightful, and self-aware she is, she still contends with feelings of insecurity and finding her voice. Dr. Meyers strives to normalize Alma's feelings and in doing so, addresses areas of anxiety and concerns most practicing professionals grapple with. Along the way, they have some important lessons to ease the discomfort of doing the work.

In this episode you are sure to gain a better understanding of what is at the root of most couple conflict; the need to focus on the underlying feelings that are raised for each member of the pair; and the path towards empathy for the other's perspective. Dr. Meyers' guest, Sindee Gozansky emphasizes the discord and upset found in couples conflict that usually originates in historical, early and familial relationships. She offers her own challenges in working with couples, and the necessity of balancing alignment with both individuals.

Many of us have some form of body dysmorphia, and so we can all relate to this episode. Societal pressures make it almost impossible not to contend with a disorted perspective of our personal appearance. Ruth Kalai, LCSW works with young professionals whose bodily perceptions often indicate a representation of some other aspect of unhappiness, anxiety, or failure. Learn a cognitive-behavioral technique that can ease the suffering that comes with this disorder. Ruth also shares her personal struggles with body perception and normalizes the "obsession" we share with physical appearance. Check out more about Ruthie at Ruthiekalai.com

Dr. Meyers has a pointed, open and honest conversation with two racially different professors who co-teach a course on diversity. As they engage in processing their differences and making decisions about how to navigate the course, they and their student model how to optimize discussions on racial differences and positions of power, privilege, and oppression. In the midst of this socially and politically stressful time, let's accept discomfort as we pave a path towards self-awareness, openness to others, and bridging the biases that can divide us.

Join Dr. Meyers as she celebrates her 100th episode with some reflections on her favorite episodes, responses to listener's questions about therapy and podcasting, and banter with her guest on topics of self-care and of all things, cursing.

There are some challenges facing the field of social work and education. COVID exacerbated issues already plaguing the field in terms of staffing and burnout; staff and supervisors are overwhelmed with caseloads and supervisors vary in their ability to provide quality supervision. As gatekeepers, three field directors chat about the state of the social work field and its impact on the provision of educational experiences for students. They also discuss the shifts that needs to happen for students, field instructors and higher education personnel to meet the needs of each and subsequently client populations.

Whether you enjoy the holidays or not, they can still be a source of expectation, stress, and pressure. Dr. Meyers identifies some of those challenging aspects and offers a few tips on successful navigation.

Join my guest, Lilach Koch, LMSW a professional and personal expert on autism spectrum disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities as she genuinely discusses her journey with her own daughter. Her patience and commitment has also come u with challenges as she strives to facilitate her daughter's social-emotional development and advocate for community awareness and resources. Email Lilach at kotchlmsw2022@gmail.com

In the second part of Diane's story of sibling sexual abuse, Diane shares more about her sibling dynamics, generational abuse, and her relationship with her abusive brother throughout the years. https://dianetarantini.com/ facebook.com/DianeTarantiniAuthor diane@dianetarantini.com

A passionate advocate for child safety education and a sibling sexual abuse surivor, Diane Tarantini shares her family dynamics and experience on which her memoir is based. She discusses her parents' ineffective intervention and how she forgave them and her brother. She models reilience and hope through her wisdom, work, and vibrant personality. Site: https://www.dianetarantini.com/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/DianeTarantiniAuthor Email: diane@dianetarantini.com

Transitioning from student to practitioner is challenging and raises questions about one's capability. It is disarming and scary. Seasoned clinicians claim these feelings as well. Newbie Montana Aquino, LCSW shares when her anxiety is activated and how her personal boundaries have been tested. She shares her work and management of one client who crosses the therapeutic boundary with his sexualized behavior.

We can all identify with the feeling of not feeling capable in the workplace. Maybe you even experience fear that you will be "found out". Those who experience imposter syndrome are very capable, intelligent people. It's the perfectionism or fear of failure that create unrealistic self-imposed expectations. Dr. Meyers speaks with Dr. Gabriella McBride, a seasoned professional who works in higher education and shares her vulnerability with imposter syndrome. She shares her emerging and shifting roles and identity in the social work profession, and along the way, her and Dr. Meyers offer tips and tools for shifting our doubting self-perceptions.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder creates an intrusion on thoughts and actions. Join Lauren Wolfe, MS, LPC as she discusses the ways in which OCD shows up. We may be able to identify ourselves with some aspects of this anxiety-driven obsession. In a very relatable manner, Lauren shares her experiences with clients and offers cognitive-behavioral and calming techniques to to help ease its intensity and provide a sense of safety.

Dr. Meyers shares her experience with a friend battling catatonic depression and reflects about the societal perception of mental illness and challenges us to consider the stereotypes as to whom it effects. Depression doesn't discriminate.

In the first sibling abuse series focused on sibling sexual abuse, learn about its prevalence, characteristics, signs, family context and the short and long-term impacts. Dr. Whitworth guests in an informative episode offering important information and a resource bringing awareness and policy needs to protect children. https://www.unh.edu/ccrc/saara UNH.SAARA@unh.edu Phone: (603) 862-0936Facebook: SAARA InitiativeInstagram: SAARA Initiative

How do our relational styles of attachment get programmed from earlier caregiver figures? What is healthy attachment? We tend to repeat what is familiar despite wanting something better or different. Join Dr. Meyers and Dr. Bott as they offer their perspectives and banter on fears, desires, and needs that create challenges in relationships. Knowing your own pattern and needs is essential towards obtaining it.

In this re-launch of one of Dr. Meyers' favorite episodes, Mara, a seasoned client is back for a second round of questions about all things therapy. She probes to learn more about what therapists really think but don't say or let on to their clients. Dr. Meyers shares her own personal responses to Mara's fears about how her therapist may truly perceive her. The genuine exchange offers an affirming look into the mind of a therapist and the human aspect of the therapist-client relationship.

What does it truly mean to take an authentic approach with both supervisees and clients? Dr. Andrew Dahlstrom shares the meaningfulness and impact of authenticity and its necessity towards developing trusting and growth producing clinical and interpersonal relationships. Dr. Dahlstrom's approach is rooted in his own introspection and reflection of the personal path of healing that positioned him well to do the work of a therapist. A theme emerges about shared suffering amongst therapists, supervisees, and clients. Dr. Dahlstrom cultivation of trust with his clients and supervisees moves them to showing their vulnerability; a precedent to growth.

There seem to be similarities and even some overlap between social workers and teachers in regard to their perspectives and how we conceptualize the importance of interpersonal relations and work towards developing those skills. Social-Emotional Learning is an educational concept being taught in school curriculum. It's about individual learning and application of a set of social, emotional, and related skills, behaviors, and values that enable students to succeed in school. How might we, as adults develop our own ability to connect with others and grow emotionally and socially?

What is the difference between constructive and deconstructive patterns between siblings? What is the role of the parent in creating expectations of relations between sibling and intervening when there is unacceptable behavior? Dr. Corinna Tucker takes on these aspects of detecting sibling abuse, preventing its occurrence and developing socio-emotional learning in children towards cultivating empathy and healthy sibling relationships.

Be a fly on the wall to a clinical case discussion about working with a domestic violence victim and the countertransference that ensues. Stephanie Blackwell shares her identification with the client's self-esteem and victimization as her own past experience parallels that of her client. Working with victims of any kind of abuse can raise a plethora of emotions for the therapist whether closely identified or as someone bearing witness.

Join Kina Wolfenstein, LMSW, expert on complex trauma as she discusses the symptoms of complext trauma, the lived experience of shame and emotional disregulation, the impact on attachment styles and interpersonal relationships, and the treatment intervention of somatic experiencing. You can access her "Complex trauma recovery" podcast at linktr.ee/cptsdtherapist

A therapist with an inclination towards rationalization, intellectualization and detachment takes on the world of interpersonal relationships. Dr. Dahlstrom faces his vulnerability as he addresses his sense of shame, passion about being authentic, and identification with the population whom he works. He takes a deep dive into his countertransference, particulary when he found himself attracted to his client.

Confronting others is often feared and not always easy, but it does not have to be equated with conflict or hostility. It is a necessary aspect of communication that can result in getting your needs met. Dr. Meyers offers an empowering perspective and elements of delivery that facilitates the ability to communicate effectively.

A story of emotional and physical abuse from an adult who experienced a fearful sibling relationship and her process towards self-care and self-preservation. Rachael cut off her abusive brother and shares her path towards reunification and repair. She shares her experience through childhood and adulthood and her ability to heal through shifting her perspective of her sibling as someone who needed help.

There are long-term implications of being raised by Holocaust survivors. Gloria LeBeaux, LCSW reflects on her challenges around vulnerability, safety, and caregiving in her youth. She addresses how she has shifted her identity from being a child of a Holocaust survivors and all that entails to being so much more: a social worker, friend, and mother. The events of October 7th present new challenges to living in a world where safety feels compromised.

Finding a therapist can feel daunting. What is important when seeking therapy? Dr. Meyers and Dr. Brady discuss typical anxieties about starting therapy, and considerations for choosing the right therapist. They address types of therapy and approaches, and the training and credentials that one should consider when entering treatment. Do you want to know what a good fit looks like between a client and a therapist? Tune in to find out and ease the experience of choosing the right therapist for you.

Frustrated with not being able to help his physically ill client feel better, my guest contends with his own history of helplessness with his father who died at a young age. Understanding his countertransference helps the clinician get grounded and set realistic expectations for himself and subsequently his client.

Are you overwhelmed with work, even if you love it? Do you find it hard to balance work and personal life? Is it our human right to disconnect from and NOT engage in work-related electronic communications during non-work hours? How can you create a boundary to advance your personal needs? Join Dr. Meyers and her guests in a lively discussion about the Right to Disconnect Laws. It's time for the U.S. to adopt Euopean laws that protect the well-being of employees.

There are long-term implications of being raised by Holocaust survivors. Gloria LeBeaux, LCSW reflects on her challenges around vulnerability, safety, and caregiving in her youth. She addresses how she has shifted her identity from being a child of a Holocaust survivors and all that entails to being so much more: a social worker, friend, and mother. The events of October 7th present new challenges to living in a world where safety feels compromised.

Join us for another very personal account of sibling abuse as Dr. Meyers speaks with Jennifer, a survivor of sibling abuse. In this poignant episode, learn about how Jennifer navigated her early experience with her brother, how it impacted her intimate relationships, and how she continues to try to grapple with her sibling relationship.

What would you want in a therapist? What does it mean to be a modern therapist? Dr. Meyers speaks with with two dynamic, flexible, and innovative therapists who embrace genuiness in their work and recognize the need to be adaptive in their approach given the world we're living in. If you think therapy should incorporate the trends of our times and acclimate to the needs of a new generation of clients, then tune in! They also cover the very real experience of burnout across all professions and offer practical, sustainable advice on living a more manageable, restorative lifestyle.

How is it for you to provide or receive feedback? So many of us have difficulty doing this: we don't want to create hurt feelings or have hurt feelings. However, feedback is essential to growth. Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) is an evidence-based practice that involves routinely soliciting constructive feedback from clients about the treatment and their experience of the clinician. This week, Elizabeth Irias, an expert in FIT will discuss how this process works, her experience with client responses, and how she manages countertransference.

There is a lot of pressure these days to be "woke"; to be culturally sensitive, culturally competent, and culturally humble. What does this look like as a clinician? Join Dr. Meyers in an exploration of self-awareness and self-reflection and a few simple tools to work towards inclusion and culturally humble practice.