The therapeutic hour is such a unique space in which full attention is dedicated to the client. As clinicians, we are all set to really centre the client in the conversations and skill-building. We want to know all about that singular person and we want them to take up the space for their hour. Not only do they pay for that time, but it’s also a sacred practice of singular attention that is unlike many other aspects of our clients lives. But what happens in the moments when the client isn’t prio...
May 17, 2023•50 min•Season 5Ep. 10
The big question this week is about whether clients owe us the truth. We believe that as therapists, we are always working from the foundational assumption that clients are telling us the truth. We listen and believe their stories, offering reactions to whatever is present at any given time. Even if we are getting partial truths, stories without specific details, or we are hearing a fabrication, our empathy and curiosity are unaffected. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_cou...
May 10, 2023•37 min•Season 5Ep. 9
At the midway point of our season, we’re talking all about what an ideal client really is. We’re also navigating the controversial topic about whether therapists are permitted to be highly selective about the clients they work with. While these topics tend to come up in marketing conversations (how to ensure your website attracts your ideal client, for example), we want to talk about what they mean when it comes to clinical work. Recently, the therapy field has been engaging in some charged conv...
May 03, 2023•48 min•Season 5Ep. 8
As new therapists, we are often exploring what we like, how we want to speak, what our approach really is. And as such, we may adopt an approach that we think fits with our theoretical orientation (“this is probably how an AEDP therapist does therapy”). This week’s episode is all about how to hold our theoretical orientation in mind as a framework while allowing ourselves to develop our own unique styles. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pic...
Apr 26, 2023•40 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Lots of the conversations about being a therapist are heavy and that’s simply the nature of the work. We know that and we love being in the heaviness. But therapy isn’t all heaviness. As therapists, we share many moments with our clients that are sunny and joy-filled, too. This week’s episode is all about lightness, fun, and silliness being used as intentional tools in the therapy space. We explore how to use humour in sessions to deepen relationship, facilitate “coming up for air”, and because,...
Apr 19, 2023•44 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this episode, we discuss the various ways metaphor and analogy come up in therapy. We invite you to use these as tools for deepening the therapeutic relationship, deepening client understanding, and creating a shared vocabulary that you can use with each client. And we have a great time swapping stories of times that these tools have been most helpful! Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickell...
Apr 12, 2023•40 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Content note: Mentions of childhood sexual abuse No matter what your modality, the client goals, or the presenting issue, all clients will mention parenting at some point. This episode explores the complex nature of parents and parenting. We talk about how to do therapy with adult children processing how they were parented. We discuss how to work with parents who want to be more effective. And we share about the very delicate and powerful process of a client choosing to go no or low contact with...
Apr 05, 2023•56 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this listener-requested episode, we define what relationship processing is, why it’s valuable in therapy, and how to have conversations with clients about the therapeutic relationship. We also gently examine if there are moments where relational processing is ill-advised and if there can be too much of a good thing? Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of the ...
Mar 29, 2023•42 min•Season 5Ep. 3
This week’s episode is all about navigating the moment when a client can’t (or won’t?) see the impact and/or benefits of therapy. We share all of the ways that we respond in these types of hard moments. We also share how we have learned to reframe these moments as opportunities for deepening the relationship with the client and for understanding them better. An important takeaway from this episode: there are realistic limitations of therapy. It is an individualistic endeavour in a capitalist, wh...
Mar 22, 2023•40 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 5 of Edge of the Couch. For this season, every episode will focus on a topic requested by listeners. In this episode, we discuss something that every therapist will inevitably face at some point in their career: how to show up for sessions when you're not feeling your best. Whether it's due to illness, a family emergency, a breakup, burnout, chronic pain, or depression, we understand the struggle of having to be "on" when you're dealing with personal issues outside of work. Her...
Mar 15, 2023•39 min•Season 5Ep. 1
[Content note: Mention of abortion] In the closing episode of Season 4, we break our typical format to talk about the feedback we've received about the podcast, specifically when people have told us they have disagreed with us. We appreciate your questions, feedback, and ideas for the podcast, and please keep them coming! Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of t...
Dec 21, 2022•37 min•Season 4Ep. 16
Sometimes you end the video chat or close the therapy room door at the end of session and there's a feeling of confusion, missed opportunity, or incompletion. The session was a dud. In this episode, we talk about our own experiences with sessions that don't really feel like they go anywhere, the feelings that come up, and our unique self-critical voices around our work. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca...
Dec 14, 2022•41 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of the Couch www.edgeofthecouch.com @edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth . Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.pat...
Dec 07, 2022•42 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of the Couch www.edgeofthecouch.com @edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth . Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.pat...
Nov 30, 2022•36 min•Season 4Ep. 11
In this episode, we unpack some of the messages we received in graduate school around the use of questions in session. We share some of our favourite question phrases and encouragement to continue developing your skills (and self-compassion!). Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of the Couch www.edgeofthecouch.com @edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram We have partnere...
Nov 23, 2022•43 min•Season 4Ep. 10
This week, we talk with Jake Ernst, also known as @mswjake on Instagram. He's a social worker, a Clinical Director, and co-host of the This is Not Therapy podcast. Today, we explore what it looks like working with men and boys, trends he's seeing with young people right now, and what it is like being a therapist on social media. Jake is such a warm and brilliant human. This is a fascinating conversation we think you will enjoy. Jake Ernst Clinical Director of Straight Up Health https://www.mswja...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Grad school sometimes tries to separate the various parts of our identity into “therapist” and “everything else” but we don’t think therapists need to do that necessarily. In this episode, we talk about the power of integrating all different parts of ourselves into our work as clinicians, whether it’s sharing with clients our love of gardening or doing the deeper work of acknowledging how the intersectional parts of our identities are already in the room with us for every session. Alison McClear...
Nov 09, 2022•37 min
Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of the Couch www.edgeofthecouch.com @edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth . Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.pat...
Nov 02, 2022•41 min•Season 4Ep. 9
We are joined by Jennifer Hollinshead, the clinical director at @peakresilience , a therapist/supervisor and all around cool person who is going to be talking about what supervisees deserve from their supervisors. She shares her personal (and theory backed) approach to supervision that emphasizes the relationship above all else, how supervisees can make the most out of their supervision time, and how to re-affirm our faith in supervision after we’ve graduated and moved beyond practicum experienc...
Oct 26, 2022•52 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Therapy undoubtedly changes our clients! But how exactly are clients changed? This week, we’re exploring what we have noticed are the consequences of therapy. As you’ll hear, it’s hard to call changes either “good” or “bad”. Oftentimes what feels hard for clients is still good in the long run but it can still really suck right now! Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram...
Oct 19, 2022•51 min•Season 4Ep. 7
We talk about authenticity on our podcast all the time but we haven’t yet slowed down to define what we mean by ‘authenticity’ and what showing up authentically as a therapist really looks like. We share our evolving definitions of authenticity including the characteristics present in an authentic therapist (reciprocity, curiosity, self-reflection) and how those characteristics come alive in the therapy room. We also talk about offering values-driven therapy that helps us feel most aligned with ...
Oct 12, 2022•40 min•Season 4Ep. 6
This week’s episode was highly requested from listeners. We are exploring the causes of burnout for therapists and what we can do about it! Listen more to hear Alison get on her "soap box" about the myth of self-care and learn how Jordan can tell she has been impacted by vicarious trauma. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of the Couch www.edgeofthecouch.com @e...
Oct 05, 2022•42 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Sometimes we concentrate so much on knowing what to say to clients that we forget that what we don’t say is just as therapeutic. This week’s episode is all about the power and impact of nonverbal communication with our clients. This episode explores nods, smirks, grimaces, hand gestures, eye rolls, body movements and so much more. Even the smallest muscle flex in our face when perfectly timed can communicate some really big things to our clients, especially the longer we have been working with t...
Sep 28, 2022•53 min•Season 4Ep. 4
As therapists, it’s normal to think of clients between sessions and hope that they’re doing alright. But what happens when we worry so much that we can’t stop thinking about them? What happens when we find ourselves wanting to check in to be sure they’re okay? What about when we feel like we want to save our clients from pain? This week, we’re diving right in and exploring these questions. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanp...
Sep 21, 2022•47 min•Season 4Ep. 3
As therapists, we can anticipate how first sessions are going to go. The informed consent process and intake questionnaires give us a bit of a script. It's usually in the second session that we shift into the rhythm of what ongoing therapy is going to feel like, but that transition can feel clunky! Second sessions can be an opportunity to clarify expectations, build trust, and create norms for relating. We hope this conversation helps you approach second sessions with thoughtfulness and enthusia...
Sep 14, 2022•46 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Do you have moments in session where your mind goes completely blank and you don't know what to say? In the early years of being a therapist, there can be a real fear of freezing mid-conversation. Here, we share our experiences of mind-blank panic moments, how our relationship with the not-knowing has shifted over time, and phrases we keep at the ready for when we don't know quite where to go. With Edge of the couch, we are here to create a space to delve into the topics that were either shied a...
Sep 07, 2022•47 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In this bonus episode, we went on IG Live to wrap up Season 3 and discuss our thoughts about what therapists are currently facing. If you would like to support our work, give us a review on Apple podcasts or share the show with a friend. You can also join our Patreon to get full access to our bonus episodes. www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on In...
Jun 08, 2022•41 min
For the Season 3 finale, we dive deep into a question we received from a listener: "How do you build trust with a client that has difficulty trusting people?" Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of the Couch www.edgeofthecouch.com @edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jan...
Jun 01, 2022•45 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Thanks for sending in your questions for this special Q+A episode. Some questions were so juicy, we are saving them for full episode conversations. Today's questions include: What do you do when you say the wrong thing at the end of session? How do you deal with guilt for leaving agency work? What is the best training for the money? How do you respond when a client says something inappropriate about your appearance? How do you manage wildly different perspectives in group therapy? Alison McClear...
May 25, 2022•40 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Some topics are a lot edgier than others and this one feels riiiiiiight at the edge, that’s for sure. This week we are exploring what happens when we notice ourselves judging our clients’ actions, especially when we think they have made a “wrong” decision. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpenglow_counselling on Instagram Jordan Pickell www.jordanpickellcounselling.ca @jordanpickellcounselling on Instagram Edge of the Couch www.edgeofthecouch.com @edgeofthecouchpod on Instagram We ...
May 18, 2022•43 min•Season 3Ep. 14
