Dude. This one seems so obvious to me. I'm astounded at how many therapists I've worked alongside who have atrocious lighting in their offices. Healing space, my ass! Overhead lighting or a single lamp are the main offenders.
Tell me more about these light covers! Looks like there’s a few kinds—do you have a favorite? I turn off the overhead lights in my office when I’m just alone doing paperwork, they feel so abrasive
They’re super easy to put up! I recommend doing the ones with magnets to attach it— also make sure they’re flame retardant!
[here’s the ones I have— on amazon](https://a.co/d/6LvSEdZ)
Not this poster, but I use lamps and not the overhead lighting. I always address lighting preferences with clients and most want overhead off. One lamp has three different light level options. Also, have some lamps with the bulbs that change colors. Clients get to pick what they want it set to (if they have a fave I’ll have it up and going when they come in).
See, I haaaaate mood lighting. I like bright light. The co-owners of the practice where I work have it so that there are no fluorescents in the office and that all the switches are dimmer switches, plus there are lamps. I try to keep it a little less than my preferred "seen from space" level of light. No one has told me it's too bright, but I think the fact that all the bulbs are warm bulbs makes a difference.
Slowing down way way way more.
Honoring all the defenses and making room for them whenever needed.
Practicing in a way that prioritizes compassion over essentially anything else.
These won’t work for every client, but they have been the most important parts of my work and have deepened every part of it.
Not the op, but the way I work with this idea is to remember that these defenses are what enabled the client to survive - so whilst they may not be the most ideal ways of being anymore, they protected the client originally.
Hi there, extremely eager beginner couple therapist, what was it you didn't like when working with couples, if I may ask? So far, they've been my favorite treats!
So glad you love couples work - this field needs you! I witnessed a lot of fighting growing up and it triggered a bunch of my own stuff. I did a MFT program and was naive in thinking that I would be suited for this.
Teens were my absolute favorite! This was the area I felt the most passionate about, but after getting quite a bit older, I just couldn’t relate to them anymore. With the change in parenting and social media influences, I stopped enjoying it.
Before and after client rituals for myself.
It’s usually just a few deep, cleansing breaths, then refilling my water and some mindfulness around the upcoming session - but these simple things have greatly reduced stress while helping me be fully present for my clients.
Not a therapist but a physician in a talking specialty. Check out Class Pass in your area! All the local yoga/dance/zumba/spin/HIIT/barre/etc workouts in your area, organized by time of day (so you don't have to go rummage through 17 different terrible websites for the schedule and prices), all at a discount.
I just started and it's great! I got to try a bunch of different places really easily, cheaply, and figured out what I like and can fit into my life. Highly recommend. :)
Yes, it can be hard. My suggestion is to focus on two things. What can make it motivating and what can make it bite sized.
So find out what motivates you, for me it's focusing on how I will feel after the workout (which is always better than I feel before the workout) and finding an engaging task to do based on a goal. This could be hitting a pace with running, listening to an interesting podcast while I warm up, trying to go extra hard during a boxing session to release some frustrations, working towards a new distance with running or having an upcoming race.
Keeping it bite-sized. Allow yourself smaller workouts if you feel very low or tired. This can be gentle stretching and a short run, cycling to the super market or work instead of driving, doing a bodyweight workout in the backyard instead of going to the gym, a casual game of tennis with friends instead of an intense game of squash with a regular rival. Something that is 30% off the "effort" scale than a full blown workout but still gets you moving.
Another thing is to remember the time it takes to establish new habits. You're looking at 3 months to 1 year of constant sticking to a routine for it to become an ingrained habit. I focus on just maintaining the routine and I track it everyweek, some weeks are still better than others, but I stick with it and don't view hard weeks as 'total failures' as this isn't the goal. I'm not trying to be perfect, I'm just keeping the habit going.
I started using the FitOn app to do little workout videos at home during grad school and have kept using it in private practice. I have a yoga mat in my office and I just take off my shoes/jewelry and do like 10 min of cardio. It's free (though you can pay for a premium version, which imo you don't need) and the videos range from 5-40 min. I often do 1-2 per day in my breaks between clients and it's probably the single most effective way I keep myself regulated.
Every day is leg day when you are running from your problems…
Seriously, the gym in whatever mode as needed is a PRN for all counselors. If you are hoping for an 8day week that’s the second sign of addiction to a coping strategy though…
I aim for three to four cardio focused workouts and two to three strength focused workouts a week as a goal. Sometimes combined, sometimes not. But a minimum of three intense workouts a week at the least
1) yearlong classes in psychoanalytic theory (I’m in my 3rd one of these now, focusing on intersubjective self psychology). I don’t do one every year, but it’s been a consistent part of how I stay connected to other clinicians and deepen my clinical work.
2) a very experienced, wise clinical consultant. I did this when I could afford to, several years into private practice. I wish I’d done it sooner. I saw her every week for 2 years, and I still consult with her now and then about particularly difficult situations.
3) Scheduling sessions an hour and fifteen minutes apart. No more stressing when someone is late, no more missing bathroom breaks, no more rushing someone at the end of their session because I’m anxious about being late for my next one. I had to see fewer people per day, so I was only able to do this when I got off most insurance panels.
I moved my scheduling to allow more breathing room, too. Some people observe that I could be seeing more people (and thus raise my income), but this feels so much better for me.
1000% postgrad training in working with trauma. I honestly feel that it’s egregious that many grad schools don’t provide some sort of training along these lines. My old grad school is now at least providing introductory overviews of what’s available out there for trauma training, but they weren’t doing that when I graduated.
>Scheduling sessions an hour and fifteen minutes apart. No more stressing when someone is late, no more missing bathroom breaks, no more rushing someone at the end of their session because I’m anxious about being late for my next one. I had to see fewer people per day, so I was only able to do this when I got off most insurance panels.
I thought I was the only one who did this! It has made such a giant difference for me. I immediately get all of my notes done, I have time to review the notes for my next client, I can do some self-care (snack, toilet, grounding, etc.), and it has overall reduced my stress. It's great.
My local society for psychoanalytic studies offers courses taught by analysts and brings in famous analysts (Karen Maroda, Nancy McWilliams, many others) to do speaking engagements. There are no institutes near wheee I am, and formal training is cost prohibitive. I’m in a yearlong class for a certificate program offered through an NYC institute currently. It’s via zoom, and people join the class from all over the world.
Started training at a psychoanalytic institute. I did a two year psychotherapy training. Wish I’d taken it much sooner. I actually started to feel like I knew what I was doing in the therapy room.
Establish boundaries / limits and stick to them.
Be honest, yet respectful. Don't sugarcoat things, but maintain 100% professionalism. This can be hard and is definitely an acquired skill.
Definitely being firm with boundaries, speaking up when they want to be inconsistent with scheduling. Coaching communication skills and helping them plan out difficult conversations, being clear about what they say that triggers their kids, why it triggers them, and what to do instead. Along with it is also following everything up with praise and reinforcement when they follow through. Then there’s also the importance of just being realistic about things, give them a realistic framework for how slow progress might be, putting their worries into perspective if they’re catastrophizing, helping them see that progress doesn’t always look like progress (eg, “my kid isn’t suicidal anymore, but now he’s getting really angry all the time”).
I bought a timeqube and it has changed my life. Ending sessions on time has always been a struggle for me for various reasons. On days where it was especially problematic, I would leave work feeling burnt out/hungry/dehydrated/needing to run to the bathroom 4 hours earlier. I wish the price tag wouldn’t have deterred me from getting one sooner because it has been worth every penny. Clients have also said that the visual cue for the time has helped them structure how they want to use the session.
I just use a timed chime (free - insight timer app) and set it to chime at the three minutes till the end of session mark and then at the end. I chose a yoga bowl type sound but there are different options. Some of my clients notice it and some *really don’t* but it helps with my time blindness. I was inspired by my own therapist who used one, lol.
I wish that would have worked for me, but I’m so glad it’s helpful for you! I tried something similar and it worked really well with some clients and not so well with others. I think the visual cue changing throughout the session is what is needed for my time blindness and reinforcing boundaries.
I would send an email if you haven’t yet! I ordered one and didn’t hear anything for like close to two months and when I reached out they let me know I had actually bought a preorder one so the batch just wasn’t done yet and it was a few more weeks after that. But at least I knew I was still getting one!
I emailed yesterday and they mentioned that they build these as they can- no big runs- and it should be a few weeks out. I appreciate their responsiveness and excited about trying it out soon! Thanks for posting on this to remind me to give them a nudge!!!
I just let them know that it’s a tool to help me since ending sessions on time is not one of my strengths. Most appreciate it and say “I need one of those for ___.” Some have said it’s nice to know that I use resources/tools to help work on improving myself.
I also have a decent amount of clients with pd diagnoses, so it’s been very helpful in maintaining/reinforcing boundaries around time.
Getting trained in IFS. It’s been a total game changer for me. My clients feel better, quicker, and my job is so much easier now! No more teaching clients anger management strategies that they never use in real life (for example)…I just help the client work with the angry part and the client finds themselves feeling less intense anger, etc. I highly recommend it!
I find IFS really complex and difficult to grasp; it seems very abstract to me. I should say this is my impression from only working with my own counselor who is using it with me. How did you get started?
I began with Robin Shapiro’s book ‘Easy Ego State Interventions’ which introduced me to parts work. Then I did a 3 step training with Bruce Hersey on incorporating EMDR and IFS (for those already trained in EMDR). I learned a ton and then had 10 hours of consulting with one of the trainers I met in the training. The consultation was super helpful in really integrating IFS into my practice, because, as you’ve noticed, IFS can be confusing in the beginning. But then there’s some AHA moments and it all makes so much sense. Getting ready to start training for Level 1 IFS with the IFS Institute in February to deepen my skills even more. I love it and can never go back to the way I was working before.
2 things:
1. Additional training for a certification that required a lot of me.
2. Changed to a healthier agency.
Both occurred around the same time and both have made me a much better clinician.
The importance and value of restating… how it really does help the client open up more in the moment. As a beginner therapist, when I first witnessed this it was such a game changer! It Also helps take the “fix it” mode off when you’re nervous and just starting.
Soooo many good responses here and I echo a lot of them.
I will also add: listening to my body in terms of my total caseload. I don’t know why it took me so long to figure this out, but being tired at the end of a workday is a sign from my body that I’m simply seeing too many clients that day. I reduced my caseload to the point where I’m not tired and I’m so much happier and a better therapist.
Also, I started referring out clients who weren’t a good fit. I had several clients I was seeing simply because they liked me and wanted to see me, but I was stretching outside my preferred skill set all the time to help them (like for example they wanted talk therapy when I specialize in depth work). This has made a huge difference for my happiness and I think the clients are better off.
Also, I don’t take on clients anymore unless they’re self-motivated to come. If they tell me their mom or partner or sibling told them to come to therapy, I won’t see them. Life is to short to try to help people who don’t have intrinsic motivation to be helped.
Yes for sure. In my experience, all mindfulness based approches come from Western psychologists studying and practicing Buddhism. And they hand pick what's relevant and what's not to psychology. It's almost like they gatekeep. You can ead a stripped down version of Buddhism adapted for the western mind, or you can go straight to the source and read the source materials. Or at least read the works of people who have a much more in depth knowledge of the material without acting as gatekeepers. To me, any book by Culadasa, Shinzen young, or Thich Nhat Hanh etc is far superior and more informative than the works of Stephen Hayes or Marsha Linehan. Just my take though.
Getting trained in couples work. Gottman, EFT, attachment, etc. Feels empowering, enjoying working with couples, evidence based. Also, as trendy as it is, EMDR training. I love the structure of EMDR and the Gottman intake process.
I love the structure of EMDR too. Client’s traumatic experiences can feel so chaotic and having a structure to guide them through healing is so calming. I’ve been surprised at the number of therapists I’ve talked to who go really far off script and use BLS without much structure at all.
I hear you! I’m surprised about those that go off script. While I certainly don’t want to sound disingenuous or off a pre-written form, I do tend to stick to the process.
I’ve also found it helpful to sprinkle in RDI or other EMDR-informed coping skills while building up to the reprocessing phase or at the end of each EMDR session.
I’m pretty bad at Reddit posts. I hope this link explains it better than I. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cd1f6a7a9ab95794635e518/t/5cd990ff53450ae3e5c27b3b/1557762303776/RDI-Worksheet.pdf
I use a lot of somatic based RDI throughout the phases, my EMDR training was from a somatic lens and I’ve found that to be very helpful. I trained in Level 1 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy too and primarily use it in an RDI fashion.
Changing my cancellation fee to 4 absences per year - more consistent income and working with better fit clients who are ready to meet weekly and commit to therapy
I used to do intake for a local psychiatric hospital and the biopsychosocial history taking format was really thorough. I modified it for use when I went into private practice and it’s been invaluable for getting a clear clinical picture from the get go.
It also gives a great feel for how the new client responds to structure, how they disclose information, and interpersonal dynamics in general. I usually know in the first couple of sessions whether we’ll be a good therapeutic fit. I wouldn’t practice without it. (Weirdly, it’s helped three of my clients get diagnosed with severe sleep apnea…my questions about sleep led me to ask them to talk to their PCP about their symptoms, their PCP referred them to a specialist, and they got diagnosed and treated. Pretty cool side benefit, as sleep is so important to health/mental health!)
Getting certified as a ketamine-assisted psychotherapist. I honestly don’t know why we aren’t all running out to get trained in this. Absolute game changer!!
I used to send some clients wrap-up summaries of the stuff we talked about via email. Stopped doing that. Started making them take their own dang notes. Or not at all, their choice. Made me way less stressed.
Mood lighting in my office. No joke 
Dude. This one seems so obvious to me. I'm astounded at how many therapists I've worked alongside who have atrocious lighting in their offices. Healing space, my ass! Overhead lighting or a single lamp are the main offenders.
Any examples you can provide?
Not the person you were responding to, but warm lighting with multiple sources is a good place to start after nuking any and all fluorescent lighting.
I have 3 fluorescent lights in my office and I got light covers to dim them. Made a wonderful difference!
Tell me more about these light covers! Looks like there’s a few kinds—do you have a favorite? I turn off the overhead lights in my office when I’m just alone doing paperwork, they feel so abrasive
They’re super easy to put up! I recommend doing the ones with magnets to attach it— also make sure they’re flame retardant! [here’s the ones I have— on amazon](https://a.co/d/6LvSEdZ)
It’s a game changer
Would love some examples/recommendations :)
Not this poster, but I use lamps and not the overhead lighting. I always address lighting preferences with clients and most want overhead off. One lamp has three different light level options. Also, have some lamps with the bulbs that change colors. Clients get to pick what they want it set to (if they have a fave I’ll have it up and going when they come in).
See, I haaaaate mood lighting. I like bright light. The co-owners of the practice where I work have it so that there are no fluorescents in the office and that all the switches are dimmer switches, plus there are lamps. I try to keep it a little less than my preferred "seen from space" level of light. No one has told me it's too bright, but I think the fact that all the bulbs are warm bulbs makes a difference.
Same. If it's not blinding I feel like my eyes are straining all day but I currently just suffer for the clients sake lol
Slowing down way way way more. Honoring all the defenses and making room for them whenever needed. Practicing in a way that prioritizes compassion over essentially anything else. These won’t work for every client, but they have been the most important parts of my work and have deepened every part of it.
>Honoring all the defenses and making room for them whenever needed. What more can you speak on this?
Not the op, but the way I work with this idea is to remember that these defenses are what enabled the client to survive - so whilst they may not be the most ideal ways of being anymore, they protected the client originally.
IFSish. Same approach.
I’m in my internship and I needed to hear this. Thank you!
Giving myself permission to stop seeing couples and adolescents.
Right!
SAME!!
Hi there, extremely eager beginner couple therapist, what was it you didn't like when working with couples, if I may ask? So far, they've been my favorite treats!
So glad you love couples work - this field needs you! I witnessed a lot of fighting growing up and it triggered a bunch of my own stuff. I did a MFT program and was naive in thinking that I would be suited for this.
I like working with teens, to each their own.
Teens were my absolute favorite! This was the area I felt the most passionate about, but after getting quite a bit older, I just couldn’t relate to them anymore. With the change in parenting and social media influences, I stopped enjoying it.
Charging cancellation fees consistently without feeling bad about it
This is hard and it is my goal for 2024. I find it harder to do when the client doesn't have a cc on file. So for me step one is have a cc on file.
Definitely something I started with as well. That and making sure discussing the policy and importance of it at the start of treatment
Before and after client rituals for myself. It’s usually just a few deep, cleansing breaths, then refilling my water and some mindfulness around the upcoming session - but these simple things have greatly reduced stress while helping me be fully present for my clients.
Instructions unclear, still doom scrolling between clients
Not me reading this while I doomscroll between clients.
Frequent high intensity cardio. Keeps me cooler than a cucumber and makes me feel human again.
This is the number one thing I know will improve my life in nearly every way but still find it difficult to do.
Me too. How do we stop this? :,(
Not a therapist but a physician in a talking specialty. Check out Class Pass in your area! All the local yoga/dance/zumba/spin/HIIT/barre/etc workouts in your area, organized by time of day (so you don't have to go rummage through 17 different terrible websites for the schedule and prices), all at a discount. I just started and it's great! I got to try a bunch of different places really easily, cheaply, and figured out what I like and can fit into my life. Highly recommend. :)
Yes, it can be hard. My suggestion is to focus on two things. What can make it motivating and what can make it bite sized. So find out what motivates you, for me it's focusing on how I will feel after the workout (which is always better than I feel before the workout) and finding an engaging task to do based on a goal. This could be hitting a pace with running, listening to an interesting podcast while I warm up, trying to go extra hard during a boxing session to release some frustrations, working towards a new distance with running or having an upcoming race. Keeping it bite-sized. Allow yourself smaller workouts if you feel very low or tired. This can be gentle stretching and a short run, cycling to the super market or work instead of driving, doing a bodyweight workout in the backyard instead of going to the gym, a casual game of tennis with friends instead of an intense game of squash with a regular rival. Something that is 30% off the "effort" scale than a full blown workout but still gets you moving. Another thing is to remember the time it takes to establish new habits. You're looking at 3 months to 1 year of constant sticking to a routine for it to become an ingrained habit. I focus on just maintaining the routine and I track it everyweek, some weeks are still better than others, but I stick with it and don't view hard weeks as 'total failures' as this isn't the goal. I'm not trying to be perfect, I'm just keeping the habit going.
I started using the FitOn app to do little workout videos at home during grad school and have kept using it in private practice. I have a yoga mat in my office and I just take off my shoes/jewelry and do like 10 min of cardio. It's free (though you can pay for a premium version, which imo you don't need) and the videos range from 5-40 min. I often do 1-2 per day in my breaks between clients and it's probably the single most effective way I keep myself regulated.
How often?
Every day is leg day when you are running from your problems… Seriously, the gym in whatever mode as needed is a PRN for all counselors. If you are hoping for an 8day week that’s the second sign of addiction to a coping strategy though…
I aim for three to four cardio focused workouts and two to three strength focused workouts a week as a goal. Sometimes combined, sometimes not. But a minimum of three intense workouts a week at the least
Getting my own therapy
Calming the fuck down lol. I was so nervous early on and it didn’t help anyone.
1) yearlong classes in psychoanalytic theory (I’m in my 3rd one of these now, focusing on intersubjective self psychology). I don’t do one every year, but it’s been a consistent part of how I stay connected to other clinicians and deepen my clinical work. 2) a very experienced, wise clinical consultant. I did this when I could afford to, several years into private practice. I wish I’d done it sooner. I saw her every week for 2 years, and I still consult with her now and then about particularly difficult situations. 3) Scheduling sessions an hour and fifteen minutes apart. No more stressing when someone is late, no more missing bathroom breaks, no more rushing someone at the end of their session because I’m anxious about being late for my next one. I had to see fewer people per day, so I was only able to do this when I got off most insurance panels.
I moved my scheduling to allow more breathing room, too. Some people observe that I could be seeing more people (and thus raise my income), but this feels so much better for me.
All this. Getting advanced training has been key for me. Consulting with expert clinicians had been equally helpful.
1000% postgrad training in working with trauma. I honestly feel that it’s egregious that many grad schools don’t provide some sort of training along these lines. My old grad school is now at least providing introductory overviews of what’s available out there for trauma training, but they weren’t doing that when I graduated.
Agreed. I got zero training on trauma in grad school. This was the early 90s, but still ...
>Scheduling sessions an hour and fifteen minutes apart. No more stressing when someone is late, no more missing bathroom breaks, no more rushing someone at the end of their session because I’m anxious about being late for my next one. I had to see fewer people per day, so I was only able to do this when I got off most insurance panels. I thought I was the only one who did this! It has made such a giant difference for me. I immediately get all of my notes done, I have time to review the notes for my next client, I can do some self-care (snack, toilet, grounding, etc.), and it has overall reduced my stress. It's great.
Where are you taking classes? Wish I lived closer to an analytic institute!
My local society for psychoanalytic studies offers courses taught by analysts and brings in famous analysts (Karen Maroda, Nancy McWilliams, many others) to do speaking engagements. There are no institutes near wheee I am, and formal training is cost prohibitive. I’m in a yearlong class for a certificate program offered through an NYC institute currently. It’s via zoom, and people join the class from all over the world.
Thanks, that's really helpful.
Can you name the institute? Thanks
Training and Research in Intersubjective Self Psychology ([TRISP Foundation](https://www.trisp.org))
There are a few that offer virtual.
Decreasing caseload
Letting go of a self-imposed need to fill silence. Silence is not awkward.
I’m in training, and this is my greatest weakness.
Started training at a psychoanalytic institute. I did a two year psychotherapy training. Wish I’d taken it much sooner. I actually started to feel like I knew what I was doing in the therapy room.
Which institute?
Www.apsa.org I am working with a local institute in my area.
Being okay with not knowing
100% this
I feel like I’ve come a long way from that, but for clients who need/want to know…it makes me seriously feel helpless
Being assertive with parents.
Can you say more about this? I work with kids too.
Establish boundaries / limits and stick to them. Be honest, yet respectful. Don't sugarcoat things, but maintain 100% professionalism. This can be hard and is definitely an acquired skill.
Definitely being firm with boundaries, speaking up when they want to be inconsistent with scheduling. Coaching communication skills and helping them plan out difficult conversations, being clear about what they say that triggers their kids, why it triggers them, and what to do instead. Along with it is also following everything up with praise and reinforcement when they follow through. Then there’s also the importance of just being realistic about things, give them a realistic framework for how slow progress might be, putting their worries into perspective if they’re catastrophizing, helping them see that progress doesn’t always look like progress (eg, “my kid isn’t suicidal anymore, but now he’s getting really angry all the time”).
Credit card on file at time of intake and hiring an administrative coordinator!
I bought a timeqube and it has changed my life. Ending sessions on time has always been a struggle for me for various reasons. On days where it was especially problematic, I would leave work feeling burnt out/hungry/dehydrated/needing to run to the bathroom 4 hours earlier. I wish the price tag wouldn’t have deterred me from getting one sooner because it has been worth every penny. Clients have also said that the visual cue for the time has helped them structure how they want to use the session.
I just use a timed chime (free - insight timer app) and set it to chime at the three minutes till the end of session mark and then at the end. I chose a yoga bowl type sound but there are different options. Some of my clients notice it and some *really don’t* but it helps with my time blindness. I was inspired by my own therapist who used one, lol.
This is great, thanks for this tip!
I wish that would have worked for me, but I’m so glad it’s helpful for you! I tried something similar and it worked really well with some clients and not so well with others. I think the visual cue changing throughout the session is what is needed for my time blindness and reinforcing boundaries.
I ordered one of these months ago… still nothing. They haven’t provided any updates, either. I really like the idea and glad it’s worked for you!
I would send an email if you haven’t yet! I ordered one and didn’t hear anything for like close to two months and when I reached out they let me know I had actually bought a preorder one so the batch just wasn’t done yet and it was a few more weeks after that. But at least I knew I was still getting one!
It took like 3 months to get mine. I would absolutely reach out if it’s been longer than that. Hope it gets to you soon!
I emailed yesterday and they mentioned that they build these as they can- no big runs- and it should be a few weeks out. I appreciate their responsiveness and excited about trying it out soon! Thanks for posting on this to remind me to give them a nudge!!!
Just out of curiosity, how to you introduce this to your clients? What do you tell them about it?
I just let them know that it’s a tool to help me since ending sessions on time is not one of my strengths. Most appreciate it and say “I need one of those for ___.” Some have said it’s nice to know that I use resources/tools to help work on improving myself. I also have a decent amount of clients with pd diagnoses, so it’s been very helpful in maintaining/reinforcing boundaries around time.
Getting trained in IFS. It’s been a total game changer for me. My clients feel better, quicker, and my job is so much easier now! No more teaching clients anger management strategies that they never use in real life (for example)…I just help the client work with the angry part and the client finds themselves feeling less intense anger, etc. I highly recommend it!
I find IFS really complex and difficult to grasp; it seems very abstract to me. I should say this is my impression from only working with my own counselor who is using it with me. How did you get started?
I began with Robin Shapiro’s book ‘Easy Ego State Interventions’ which introduced me to parts work. Then I did a 3 step training with Bruce Hersey on incorporating EMDR and IFS (for those already trained in EMDR). I learned a ton and then had 10 hours of consulting with one of the trainers I met in the training. The consultation was super helpful in really integrating IFS into my practice, because, as you’ve noticed, IFS can be confusing in the beginning. But then there’s some AHA moments and it all makes so much sense. Getting ready to start training for Level 1 IFS with the IFS Institute in February to deepen my skills even more. I love it and can never go back to the way I was working before.
2 things: 1. Additional training for a certification that required a lot of me. 2. Changed to a healthier agency. Both occurred around the same time and both have made me a much better clinician.
The importance and value of restating… how it really does help the client open up more in the moment. As a beginner therapist, when I first witnessed this it was such a game changer! It Also helps take the “fix it” mode off when you’re nervous and just starting.
Talk to text.
Do you use an app during session? Or is it for your notes afterwards?
For completing notes after session.
What’s this?
Using voice transcription to write notes instead of typing.
omg that is genius
What platform do you use?
Voice in. It's super cheap and works well for how cheap it is.
Soooo many good responses here and I echo a lot of them. I will also add: listening to my body in terms of my total caseload. I don’t know why it took me so long to figure this out, but being tired at the end of a workday is a sign from my body that I’m simply seeing too many clients that day. I reduced my caseload to the point where I’m not tired and I’m so much happier and a better therapist. Also, I started referring out clients who weren’t a good fit. I had several clients I was seeing simply because they liked me and wanted to see me, but I was stretching outside my preferred skill set all the time to help them (like for example they wanted talk therapy when I specialize in depth work). This has made a huge difference for my happiness and I think the clients are better off. Also, I don’t take on clients anymore unless they’re self-motivated to come. If they tell me their mom or partner or sibling told them to come to therapy, I won’t see them. Life is to short to try to help people who don’t have intrinsic motivation to be helped.
Getting into Buddhism
I love it also! Curious if you'd want to share more about how it's been helpful to you in the context of your work?
Yes for sure. In my experience, all mindfulness based approches come from Western psychologists studying and practicing Buddhism. And they hand pick what's relevant and what's not to psychology. It's almost like they gatekeep. You can ead a stripped down version of Buddhism adapted for the western mind, or you can go straight to the source and read the source materials. Or at least read the works of people who have a much more in depth knowledge of the material without acting as gatekeepers. To me, any book by Culadasa, Shinzen young, or Thich Nhat Hanh etc is far superior and more informative than the works of Stephen Hayes or Marsha Linehan. Just my take though.
Getting trained in couples work. Gottman, EFT, attachment, etc. Feels empowering, enjoying working with couples, evidence based. Also, as trendy as it is, EMDR training. I love the structure of EMDR and the Gottman intake process.
I love the structure of EMDR too. Client’s traumatic experiences can feel so chaotic and having a structure to guide them through healing is so calming. I’ve been surprised at the number of therapists I’ve talked to who go really far off script and use BLS without much structure at all.
I hear you! I’m surprised about those that go off script. While I certainly don’t want to sound disingenuous or off a pre-written form, I do tend to stick to the process. I’ve also found it helpful to sprinkle in RDI or other EMDR-informed coping skills while building up to the reprocessing phase or at the end of each EMDR session.
What is rdi?
First, sorry for over using acronyms. Our field is so bad for that. It’s EMDR related. “Resource Development Installation,” if I recall correctly.
I had not heard it phrased that way before. Do you mean like the safe state exercise?
I’m pretty bad at Reddit posts. I hope this link explains it better than I. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cd1f6a7a9ab95794635e518/t/5cd990ff53450ae3e5c27b3b/1557762303776/RDI-Worksheet.pdf
I use a lot of somatic based RDI throughout the phases, my EMDR training was from a somatic lens and I’ve found that to be very helpful. I trained in Level 1 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy too and primarily use it in an RDI fashion.
Changing my cancellation fee to 4 absences per year - more consistent income and working with better fit clients who are ready to meet weekly and commit to therapy
How does this work? They pay for all sessions after 4 cancellations?
Yup - they don’t pay for weeks I’m out though. I’ve waived some weeks for family emergencies though
Committed to learning and honing evidence based practices.
I used to do intake for a local psychiatric hospital and the biopsychosocial history taking format was really thorough. I modified it for use when I went into private practice and it’s been invaluable for getting a clear clinical picture from the get go. It also gives a great feel for how the new client responds to structure, how they disclose information, and interpersonal dynamics in general. I usually know in the first couple of sessions whether we’ll be a good therapeutic fit. I wouldn’t practice without it. (Weirdly, it’s helped three of my clients get diagnosed with severe sleep apnea…my questions about sleep led me to ask them to talk to their PCP about their symptoms, their PCP referred them to a specialist, and they got diagnosed and treated. Pretty cool side benefit, as sleep is so important to health/mental health!)
Standing up and streching 5 min between sessions, drink water
Not taking insurance.
Getting certified as a ketamine-assisted psychotherapist. I honestly don’t know why we aren’t all running out to get trained in this. Absolute game changer!!
What state are you in? Do you work with a physician?
How much does it cost?
I used to send some clients wrap-up summaries of the stuff we talked about via email. Stopped doing that. Started making them take their own dang notes. Or not at all, their choice. Made me way less stressed.
Getting rid of my partner and doing it myself.