There are quire a few essentials in doing therapy. As we banter about those essentials including empathy, listening without judgment, self-efficacy, and accepting feedback Kellyanne Brady, LMHC reminds us to "be present not perfect". Whether a beginner or seasoned professional it's easy to lose sight of this idea. And, certainly all of us who walk on this earth have challenges with some of these conceptes, therapist or not. What do you struggle with when doing this work - or just living in a wor...
Nov 28, 2023•47 min
In episode 19 we asked Alba Torres, a social work student who is a survivor of severe and multiple forms of child abuse and has a history of abandonments how she will manage potential work with the population with whom she identifies: children of abuse. A year after her first exposure to the work, she reflects on how she came through the anticipated experience. What does it take to heal as a clinician in order to do good work with clients?
Nov 21, 2023•37 min
Dr. Meyers shares her raw, emotional account of uninvited sexual advances from a respected colleague. Even in subtle form, this may be uncomfortable or unwanted - and our social construction of gender shapes what may be considered appropriate or inappropriate and raises question as to what should be tolerated or accepted. Her story sheds light on the nuanced ways in which the target can be disarmed and the challenge of setting boundaries and regaining control.
Nov 14, 2023•31 min
Happy one year anniversary to WWDMD! Celebrate with us as we reflect on the past year and where we will be heading. So much learning and growing has been done for me, my guests, and the audience. I've had conversations with academicians, clinicicans, students, and a couple of folks outside of the profession. Some things I've realized? I want to keep going, broaden the range of topics, use my platform to help folks feel validated in their experiences, and share more of myself!
Nov 07, 2023•39 min
Have you ever been in a collaborative relationship that wasn’t going well? We can all learn from Emily Brierly’s experience with a peer whom she co-lead a social work group. Emily discusses her frustration when finding herself with a different agenda. To complicate matters, the different racial identities created anxiety for Emily as she attempted to manage power dynamics.
Oct 31, 2023•24 min
Tracey Clingo addresses her client’s anger but gets caught in her own fears of confrontation. Through reflection, self-awareness, and insight around counter transference, Tracey contends with the why’s and how’s of her own emotional reactions. Her ability to process her own and her client’s emotional underpinnings allows her to be armed with the ability to engage in an otherwise frightening situation.
Oct 24, 2023•30 min
We can understand the impact of sibling abuse on survivors quite well through a psychodynamic lens. When we develop our knowledge of the ways in which the abusive experience affects perceptions of self and others, we can also learn about styles of attachment and the ways in which challenges are manifested in interpersonal relationships. Sibling abuse preys on one’s ability to trust and rely on others; an active desire to please others; defenses are employed to self-protect while also keeping oth...
Oct 17, 2023•46 min
Many of us contend with challenging aspects of our work that require us to advocate for our needs, or confront a colleague. Usually this presents as quite scary and fearful. As social workers, we have to be able to advocate for ourselves if we are going to be able to advocate for our clients, but we know it’s usually easier to do some things for others rather than ourselves. Three social workers confront their own anxieties about getting their needs met. Through exploring their fears and perceiv...
Oct 10, 2023•34 min
A gay clinician and parent deeply reflects on his experience with oppressive heteronormativity and the challenges faced along his way to parenthood. Dr. Mohan Vinjumari takes us through his roles as educator, social worker, researcher, and therapy client that have helped him make sense of his shame and identity as a gay man and consider his approach to raising a child who will have to contend with multiple vulnerable identities.
Oct 03, 2023•41 min
This episode is sure to extend its relevance beyond the profession of clinical work. We can all learn from the social workers in episode 14 who are back to talk about how they developed their ability to sit with silence and convey empathy with confidence. They talk about how their own need to be helpful and their own difficulty being alone with their thoughts impacts their ability to sit silently in someone else’s company. In spite of this, they have done the work - on themselves - so that they ...
Sep 26, 2023•39 min
Sibling abuse indicates a form of child neglect because in order for it to occur and persist, there is a lack of effective parental intervention. Since sibling abuse is a product of a dysfunctional family environment, it is important to understand the experience from a family systems lens. What dynamics contribute to the existence and perpetuation of sibling abuse? How does the way parents relate to each child influence the sibling relationship? This episode addresses these questions and more. D...
Sep 19, 2023•43 min
Silas Kelly, Social Worker and podcast host shares his childhood experience of abandonment, neglect and then rescue through foster care. He shares his path towards healing, stability, gratitude, and ultimately a calling to the profession of social work.
Sep 12, 2023•45 min
An elder client financially exploited by a neighbor. Reminiscent and supportive counseling amazingly improves her dementia. Then she expresses romantic love for her clinician. Dr. Meyers and her guest discuss various forms of demonstrated love from clients and how to manage it.
Sep 05, 2023•40 min
Celeste Viciere is here to explain the process of healing the inner child She discusses the importance of becoming aware of how our early childhood experiences, emotions and neds are played out in adulthood and how we can develop new patterns of being. "Shifting" is a challenging process that Celeste has worked on herself. Her straight-forward understanding, explanation and tools may just lead you to develop a more satisfying you.
Aug 29, 2023•45 min
How we physically present ourselves does leave room for judgment. Does our appearance send the message we want regarding how we would like to be perceived? Can we control how we are perceived? Attire and physical being are compared to earning respect as Molloy University students reveal their own personal styles and the impact that has had on them, and others.
Aug 22, 2023•13 min•Ep. 44
Dr. Meyers is in conversation with Anne, who shared her personal story of sibling abuse in episode #38. Now, Anne shares how, through her work with a client who was a survivor, Anne came to her own realizations of her childhood sibling relationship. The work between client and therapist became significantly healing for both. Anne was able to validate and identify her client’s experience as abusive and in turn, was able to give meaning to her own lived experience. Together, they forged a path tow...
Aug 15, 2023•33 min•Ep. 43
Working with clients who have been traumatized requires understanding of trauma-informed practices, psychodynamics, and neuroscience - and requires self-care. How do we know when to help the client process their trauma or recognize they may not be ready? Dr. Daria Hansen shares the strategies she applies to her clients, her students, and herself.
Aug 08, 2023•36 min•Ep. 42
Three university professors and clinicians talk about their personal and teaching experiences with racial diversity, equity and inclusion and how their positionality and identities present challenges teaching and approaching this material. They have to navigate their own emotions as they help others to open themselves to the vulnerability and necessity to learn about and own their own identities inclusive of privilege and oppression.
Aug 01, 2023•56 min•Ep. 41
Do you ever struggle with the benefits vs. limitations of communicating through texting? How about when used in the therapeutic relationship? Emily Brierly, a Molloy University social work student feels misaligned with a co-intern’s intervention with a group of high school students as they planned a conference and were in need of task follow-through. What arises is the questionable use of texting as a tool for, or inhibitor of engagement.
Jul 25, 2023•16 min
Dr. Meyers is interviewed by a documentarian and recent social work graduate to share her career choices and path, with a focus on her personal journey as well. It is no coincidence that the two intertwine. Who is Dr. Meyers? You’ll have to listen to find out.
Jul 18, 2023•43 min
A survivor of sibling abuse who also happens to be a seasoned therapist shares her experience with her abusive brother, the family dynamics that induced and perpetuated this relationship, and how she has been impacted. It wasn’t until middle adulthood that she recognized this relationship as abusive. What can we learn about sibling abuse from her story?
Jul 11, 2023•42 min
A budding social worker relates his personal experience with loss at a developmentally significant age. His own history affects his tolerance of his clients’ dependency on him. With self-reflection and insight, Anthony Gaetani considers his understanding of his client's projections and is working through his own fear of disappointment.
Jul 04, 2023•39 min
Dr. Meyers presents her experiences teaching a course on Diversity: Power, Oppression and Social Justice. As a white professor, she addresses setting the climate and speaks candidly about her challenges and the classroom interactions that have taught her so much.
Jun 27, 2023•40 min
Petrina Williams, a new professional and graduate of Molloy University and Columbia University Social Work programs raises the question when and how to be your authentic self with clients: when it may work well - and when it may not. With humor, she opens about her high expectations of herself, her military background, and how she inadvertently transfers those standards of behavior onto clients.
Jun 20, 2023•29 min
Professor and clinician Cynthia Bott discusses how she has navigated her lesbian identity and how this has created a niche practice which she finds both gratifying and limiting. She takes us on a journey of interesting topics related to the LGBT+ population and explores the sociological impact on what is considered normative. The importance of language and terminology is addressed with non-judgemental candor.
Jun 13, 2023•50 min
There are several forms of termination with a client. The client can end treatment, the therapist can end the client’s treatment or the therapist can terminate his/her practice. Lisa Newland, a seasoned social worker shares her path from community social work to private practice and back as she decides to close the doors to her clinical practice. We are given a window into the complexity of feelings that can be ignited for both client and therapist.
Jun 06, 2023•42 min
We are talking about how therapists manage when we experience and struggle with something similar in our life at the same time as our clients. Dr. Meyers and her guest also chat about those times we may still be contending with the resonance of our own “stuff”.
May 30, 2023•45 min
The experience of sibling abuse is presented to make a case for consideration of sibling abuse as a Complex Trauma. Dr. Meyers defines sibling abuse and trauma and complex trauma. Then through application and example, she applies the defining aspects of complex trauma to the repercussions of the abusive relationship for the survivor.
May 23, 2023•29 min
So much can be learned about the client from the way she relates to the therapist. It’s usually an indication of her relationships outside of the therapy. Equally informational is the client’s past, as a significant indicator of her current functioning. At the same time, the therapist must be aware of her own feelings that arise in working with the client and understand where those feelings are coming from. With openness and genuineness Dr. Meyers presents a case that highlights the transference...
May 16, 2023•26 min
We all have been trapped in systems that fail us. Amanda Sanchez, MSW is back to discuss navigating these systems. How have you been impacted by faulty systems, and limited access to resources? What can we do as social workers and as good citizens?
May 09, 2023•22 min
