How Therapists Can Responsibly Support Disaster Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Shannon Goodhue, LCSW, PhD Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Shannon Goodhue about how therapists can ethically support disaster-impacted communities. We explore how disaster mental health differs from traditional therapy, why most people don’t need long-term services, and how trained professionals can provide stabilization and support in both local and national crises. Shannon outlines the American Red Cross trainin...
Jun 23, 2025•39 min
How Therapists Can Support Community-Building in Immigrant and Marginalized Populations: An Interview with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Adriana Rodriguez, LMFT, about how therapists can support clients from immigrant and marginalized communities in building and maintaining safe, affirming relationships. They explore cultural responsiveness, identity, risk appetite, and how therapists can expand their awareness and approach beyond individualistic norms. Guest Bio:Adri Rodrigue...
Jun 16, 2025•45 min
The Business of Therapy: Surviving Economic and Industry Disruptions Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can adapt to the changing business landscape of private practice, including fewer client inquiries, economic challenges, and increased competition. We share practical strategies for maintaining a sustainable therapy practice, improving marketing efforts, and building strong referral networks. Transcripts and additional information for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In...
Jun 09, 2025•34 min
Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on Buying Time, LLC Curt and Katie talk with Bibi Goldstein, of Buying Time, who provides virtual assistant services for therapists. Bibi shares her journey from starting a personal assistant service in 2007 to evolving into a comprehensive VA company. She emphasizes the importance of delegating tasks, using systems like QuickBooks and scheduling software, and maintaining consistent social media presence. Bibi's team provides comprehensive suppo...
Jun 05, 2025•50 min
Understanding Sexual Trauma and Hookup Culture in Therapy with Gay Men: An Interview with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Michael Pezzullo, LMFT, about providing affirming and trauma-informed therapy for gay men. We explore common misconceptions therapists hold, the complexities of hookup culture, and how sexual trauma often shows up in subtle and misunderstood ways. We also look at how clinicians can better navigate issues of consent, drug use, and boundary violations when worki...
Jun 02, 2025•35 min
Therapy Insurance and Billing Trends for Private Practice in 2025: An Interview with Sanjana Sathya Curt and Katie chat with Sanjana Sathya, co-founder of Thrizer, about the current landscape of mental health billing and insurance. Drawing from the 2025 State of Mental Health Insurance and Marketing report, Sanjana shares insights from hundreds of clinicians on reimbursement trends, hybrid practice models, and strategies for reducing administrative burden. They explore how therapists can make su...
May 26, 2025•43 min
Navigating Incel Culture: Therapy Approaches for Manosphere Clients Curt and Katie respond to all the discussions that popped up about the Netflix series Adolescence and its portrayal of a 13-year-old boy accused of murder. We chat about the complexities of working with clients labeled as "incels." We also explore the importance of understanding the impact of that label (especially when clients are not self-identified as “incels”), internet culture - particularly the manosphere, and the challeng...
May 19, 2025•47 min
Planning for Death or Incapacitation - What Therapists Need to Do: An interview with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D. Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Robyn Miller, Ph.D., of TheraClosure about professional wills and what therapists need to do to effectively plan for their own incapacity or death. She shares her experience stepping in as a practice executor for colleagues, the trauma that can result when therapists disappear without explanation, and the systems she’s created through her program to provide co...
May 12, 2025•44 min
Interpersonal Branding - Therapist Marketing That Aligns With Who You Are: An interview with Carrie Wiita Curt and Katie chat with Carrie Wiita about authenticity, first impressions, and why traditional business coaching doesn’t work for most therapists. Carrie critiques traditional business coaching models that rely on anecdotal “success stories” and mindset hype, and instead offers a relational, thoughtful, and research-informed framework to help therapists show up in alignment with their prof...
May 05, 2025•42 min
Special Episode: Modern Therapist’s Consumer Guide on JotPsych Curt and Katie talk with Nate Peereboom, CEO and co-founder of JotPsych, an AI-powered scribe designed to automate therapy notes and save therapists 90–95% of their note-taking time. Jot Psych supports over 30 languages, integrates with many EHRs, and prioritizes security and privacy. In this conversation, we dive into how AI can support clinicians while protecting the integrity of the therapeutic relationship. This episode is part o...
Apr 30, 2025•49 min
When Laws and Ethics Conflict: Civil Disobedience, Social Justice, and Our Role as Therapists Curt and Katie chat about what happens when legal requirements clash with ethical responsibilities—and how therapists can stay grounded in their values while navigating complex decisions. When you find yourself in a situation where the law seems to contradict your ethics, or even violate your clients’ basic human rights, what do you do? In this deep-dive episode, we explore the tension between law and e...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Reproductive Mental Health, Intersectionality, and Systemic Barriers: An interview with Dr. Loree Johnson Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Loree Johnson about the intersections of reproductive mental health, race, and systemic injustice. Dr. Johnson shared powerful insights about the shame, grief, and medical trauma that many clients face, especially Black women and other folks from historically marginalized communities. We dive into how therapists can hold safer, more informed spaces for clients ex...
Apr 21, 2025•33 min
What Therapists Need to Know to Support the Trans Community: An interview with Artie Hartsell Curt and Katie chat with Artie Hartsell from ACLU North Carolina about how current anti-trans policies are impacting the trans community. We explore the historical erasure of trans identities, the rise of anti-trans legislation, and the real-world impact on housing, medical care, and documentation. Artie also shares resources for legal aid, community support, and how therapists can show up for their tra...
Apr 17, 2025•36 min
What Should Not Be Normalized in Our Profession? Curt and Katie chat about a discussion that came up in the Modern Therapists Facebook group – What is something that you wish other therapists would stop pretending is normal. We explore the normalization of waiting until license renewal for CE, balancing accountability without chastising clients, and acknowledging countertransference in therapy. We also tackle the high costs of specialized training, the problems of treating children in isolation ...
Apr 14, 2025•36 min
How Can Therapists Accept (and Impact) Technology?: An interview with Dr. David Cooper Curt and Katie chat with Dr. David Cooper of Therapists in Tech to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in therapy. Dr. Cooper highlights the importance of tech literacy, privacy, and security in digital mental health while advocating for therapists to use AI as a tool for efficiency rather than replacement. He compares this shift to the transition from paper charts to electronic health re...
Apr 07, 2025•36 min
Reviewing a Disciplinary Case on Suicidality, Erotic Transference, and Between-Session Communication: How do therapists hold appropriate boundaries? Curt and Katie chat about a disciplinary case against Dr. Eric Bergeman, highlighting key ethical concerns for therapists. They explore documentation practices, therapist responsibilities, and boundary management, particularly in cases involving suicidality and erotic transference. The conversation underscores the importance of clear treatment plann...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 14 min
What Therapists Need to Know About Immigration: An interview with Andy Strait Curt and Katie chat with Andy R. Strait, Esq., about immigration policies, mental health, and the role of therapists in supporting immigrant clients. They explore legal challenges, asylum cases, and the impact of fear-driven policies on mental health. Strait emphasizes the importance of legal representation, knowing one’s immigration status, and providing accurate resources. Therapists can help by offering pro bono eva...
Mar 27, 2025•42 min
Reacting to Regime Change: How Therapists Can Advocate for our Clients and Communities Curt and Katie chat about how the United States has shifted since the inauguration of President Trump. We look at how therapists can advocate for their clients and the communities they serve and/or live in. We look at strategies for therapists to stay informed, provide vetted resources, and be present for clients who may be struggling with the changes. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodc...
Mar 24, 2025•35 min
When Your Client Dies By Suicide: An interview with Dr. Nina Gutin Curt and Katie chat with Nina J. Gutin, Ph.D. about to discuss the emotional, professional, and systemic impact of client suicide on clinicians. We break down the common reactions of guilt and blame, highlight the importance of postvention support, and explore strategies to navigate grief and maintain clinical confidence. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode, we talk about the...
Mar 17, 2025•35 min
Stop Wasting Your Time on Awareness Campaigns Curt and Katie chat about the limitations of performative awareness campaigns and the need for action-oriented advocacy. Inspired by the article Stop Raising Awareness Already by Ann Christiano and Annie Niemand, they critique viral campaigns like Kony 2012 and the CDC’s zombie apocalypse campaign, highlighting the importance of targeting the right audiences, crafting compelling messages, and developing a theory of change. Transcripts for this episod...
Mar 10, 2025•30 min
MFTs Providing Therapy Across State Lines Through License Portability in the United States: An interview with Roger Smith Curt and Katie chat with Roger Smith, Chief Advocacy Officer and General Counsel for American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, about the challenges and progress in licensure portability for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs). He explains why AAMFT opted for an endorsement model over interstate compacts, the success of the Access MFTs initiative, and what’s ne...
Mar 03, 2025•36 min
The Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health: An interview with Dr. Alyssa Dietz Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alyssa Dietz, a clinical psychologist and digital mental health expert, about the evolving role of AI in therapy. Dr. Dietz discusses how AI can enhance therapy by delivering evidence-based care, particularly in structured approaches like CBT, while acknowledging its limitations with complex, multi-diagnosis cases. She emphasizes the need for collaboration between therapists...
Feb 24, 2025•43 min
Exploring Systemic Trauma and Relational Privilege with BIPOC and LGBTQI Couples: An interview with Akilah Riley-Richardson Curt and Katie chat with Akilah Riley Richardson, MSW about the challenges therapists face when working with BIPOC and LGBTQI couples. Akilah discusses the impact of systemic trauma, how it affects relationships, and the importance of creating therapeutic models tailored to marginalized communities. She introduces The PRIDE Model for therapy and The BIOME Stance for therapi...
Feb 17, 2025•38 min
How Therapists Can Truly Help After a Disaster Curt and Katie chat about the impact of the recent Los Angeles wild fires on therapists, their clients, and communities. We explore the importance of self-assessment, responsible crisis response, and balancing personal care with providing support. From donating (and marketing) services ethically to understanding trauma timelines, Curt and Katie provide practical advice for therapists navigating community-wide disasters. Transcripts for this episode ...
Feb 10, 2025•33 min
Helping Parents Become What They Needed as a Child: An interview with Bryana Kappadakunnel, LMFT Curt and Katie chat with Bryana Kappakunnel, LMFT about conscious parenting, discussing how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healing personal triggers can help parents foster healthier and more connected relationships with their children. With a background in infant and early childhood mental health and her upcoming book Parent Yourself First, Bryana offers valuable insights for therapists a...
Feb 03, 2025•41 min
Identifying the Graduate Program for the Career You Want – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Eden Lathem In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our final interview is with Eden Lathem, a second-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Eden shares her path from working in prison education and with individuals with disabilities to finding...
Jan 30, 2025•28 min
Becoming a Therapist as a First Generation Immigrant – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Marvin Vasquez In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our third interview is with Marvin Vasquez, a first-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), which is an all in-person program. Marvin shares his journey into therapy, shaped by his immigrant ...
Jan 27, 2025•42 min
Finding Alignment in a Second Career – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Iris Wilson-Farley In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our second interview is with Iris Wilson-Farley, a 54-year-old trans woman and graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Iris shares her journey moving from a 32-year corporate ...
Jan 23, 2025•38 min
From Broadway to Grad School – Special Series Becoming a Therapist: An interview with Derek Isetti In this new series, Curt and Katie interview graduate students and will follow them on their journey to becoming a therapist. Our first interview is with Derek Isetti, a 50-year-old graduate student in a two-year Master of Social Work program at California State University, Stanislaus. Derek shares his journey from careers in musical theater and speech-language pathology to pursuing a career in the...
Jan 20, 2025•39 min
What if you hate private practice? Curt and Katie chat about the realities of private practice and why it isn’t the idyllic career path it’s often made out to be. We dig into reasons therapists may dislike private practice, like financial instability, isolation, lack of accountability, and ethical concerns. We also share ways therapists can navigate these hurdles and find fulfillment in their work. Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com! In this podcast episode we talk...
Jan 13, 2025•41 min
