The Thoughtful Counselor

Dr. Raissa Miller interviews Dr. Kathryn Ford about the centrality of openness in relationships. Dr. Ford discusses the relational neuroscience underlying her Aperture Awareness approach and offers practical and concrete strategies for fostering and enhancing openness. Dr. Ford shares specific examples from her clinical practice and provides listeners with ideas and resources for further learning.   For more on Kathryn, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Dr. Margaret Lamar interviews Drs. Kelly Coker, Kristi Cannon, Savitri Dixon-Saxon, and Karen Roller about their new project taking a new look at lifespan development. They share the importance of understanding lifespan development within the context and culture the clients experience and grow. The conversation includes how we can better conceptualize our clients using a contextual and cultural lens of lifespan development For more on Drs. Kelly Coker, Kristi Cannon, Savitri Dixon-Saxon, and Karen Roller, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Tyler talks with Dr. Julia Whisenhunt, Associate Professor at the University of West Georgia, about how counselors can make ethically wise decisions when in crisis intervention. As part of her co-authored book, "Crisis Intervention Ethics Casebook," she discusses the SAFETY framework (Nobbman et al., 2014), Triage Assessment Form (Myer et al., 1992), and LASER protocol (Myer et al., 2021) that can help counselors to make ethical decisions in the heat of the moment that promotes compliance with aspirational ethics and multicultural practice. For more on Julia, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Dr. Amanda Waters speaks with us about the power of responsive vs reactive intentionality when creating community. She shares with us the importance of doing our own cultural identity work in order for us to create our own firm centers while retaining our soft edges. She gives examples of how lifelong learning will help us address mental health disparities within college campuses and community work that focuses on supporting others. For more on Amanda, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Michele Kerulis discusses the relationship between movement and mental health. She shares insights from the interdisciplinary field of exercise psychology and from her extensive work with athletes, including how to help enhance motivation, increase self-awareness, and support athletes' unique mental health challenges. For more on Michele, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Balancing intersecting roles as parents, counselors, and counselor educators can be difficult. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Litam and Dr. Maddie Clark dive into the challenges of becoming new parents in the productivity-driven world of academe. Listen along as they describe strategies for counselors and counselor educators to support clients and students who are preparing to grow their families For more on Maddie links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Today we introduce a new member of the Thoughtful Counselor team, Dr. Margaret Lamar! We learn about her specializations in parent mental health, societal values of mothering, and the impact of unrealistic expectations of mothers on parents, children, and families. Dr. Lamar discusses the realities of pandemic parenting and shares essential tips for managing the COVID-19 stress within the family. Stay tuned for more episodes with Dr. Lamar!   For more on Margaret, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Tyler talks with Sydney Wasdin as she shares her story of becoming a therapist and yoga instructor and integrating these complementary philosophies into therapeutic practice. Jessica and Sydney discuss the significance of utilizing bodywork in the therapy process, how yoga intersects and parallels therapeutic principles, and recommendations for incorporating yoga concepts in session to enhance your practice.

Dr. Kevin Cokley speaks to Dèsa Daniel about the formation of his edited book Making Black Lives Matter Confronting Anti-Blackness Racism. During the episode, Cokley speaks about why his work is personal and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. He shares with us how cultural mistrust can influence BIPOC communities when seeking treatment. For more on Kevin, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies.

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Tyler talks with Dr. Brandee Appling, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services at the University of Georgia. She is a co-author on an article published in the Journal of Counseling & Development entitled, “Using the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies to Decolonize Counseling Practice: The Important Roles of Theory, Power, and Action.” Dr. Appling discusses how to put social justice theories into counselor action, explore privilege and oppression in session, and strategies to decolonize our therapy work. For more on Brandee, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concep.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dr. Megan Speciale interviews Emily Behrs, AMFT and Kaila Hattis, LMFT about using a body-positive framework for working with teens who struggle with negative body image, disordered eating and nutrition, and/or unhealthy exercise patterns. Emily and Kaila share strategies about how to incorporate body image and nutrition into the intake and assessment process, broach topics related to self-esteem and body image with teen clients, and how to navigate privacy and confidentiality concerns with incorporating families into treatment. The guests also discuss the role of social media, COVID-19, and online learning on self-image, diet and nutrition, and mental health.   For more on Emily & Kaila, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concep.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu  

In this episode, Dr. Raissa Miller talks with Jurie Rossouw, author of Executive Resilience and founder of the resilience training and development company, Driven. Jurie offers a neuroscience-informed definition of resilience and discusses the Predictive 6-Factor Resilience scale (PR6) and framework. Jurie reviews the six domains of resilience and discusses specific activities individuals can do to enhance resilience in each of the domains. Jurie also talks about the mobile-resilience building app, Driven, and shares about the various programs individuals can participate in for personal or professional application.   For more on Jurie, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concep.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dèsa speak with Dr. Germine “Gigi” Awad about the formation of AMENA PSY and her advocacy efforts for AMENA communities. They briefly talk about racial centrality as the key to understanding the importance of racial identity. Awad encourages students to claim their power while advocating for change. For more on Gigi, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dr. Megan Speciale and Dr. Clark Ausloos discuss how professional counselors can work toward building more inclusive spaces for transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive young people in and outside of the school setting. Listeners will learn about some of the common barriers experienced by gender diverse students, as well as concrete strategies to strengthen clinical and advocacy skills to enact affirming social and institutional change.   For more on Clark, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit us online.   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dr. Tanupreet Suri speaks with Dr. Aaron Smith on the intersections of technology and mental health in the age of COVID. Dr. Suri discusses her work promoting greater access to mental health services - especially for students from diverse backgrounds - who are often impacted by the switch to online classes and Telehealth. Dr. Suri notes that technology be both deleterious to peoples' wellbeing, as well as an important source of social and mental support. Finally, we discuss how students and clients can use technology to find culturally-relevant counselors to work with, as well as her upcoming textbook on the experiences of counselors who have sought mental health services during COVID.   For more on Tanupreet, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Join Dr. Stacey Litam and Dr. Jose Luis Tapia-Fuselier Jr. as they discuss the importance of providing disability responsive care. In this episode, Dr. Litam and Dr. Tapia-Fuselier outline the challenges faced by interabled partners, identify strategies to support disabled clients, and challenge professional counselors and counselor educators to relearn what they think they know about sex therapy and disability.  For more on Jose, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Megan Speciale talks with Dr. Theodore Burnes about supporting the mental and emotional health needs of clients who are involved in the sex work industry. The conversation explores Dr. Burnes's experience as a therapist and advocate with the sex worker population and also provides an overview of common misconceptions and stigma impacting sex workers. Dr. Burnes outlines strategies to better equip counselors inside and outside of the counseling office with the knowledge, skills, and awareness necessary for affirming and resiliency-based work with this population.   For more on Theodore, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu  

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Tyler sits down with Dr. Camden Morgante, a licensed clinical psychologist, writer, and speaker, to discuss purity culture. This conversation discusses the problematic messages of purity culture that promote false promises and can activate feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and low self-worth. In addition, we address how therapists can mindfully and intentionally work through spiritual trauma, the belief that purity is a measure of worth, the myth of women as gatekeepers of sexuality, and the grief that comes with dismantling the fairytale that purity will earn a person a dream spouse. For more on Camden, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu  

In this episode, Dèsa speaks with Pearis Bellamy and Dr. Della Mosley about the formation of Academics for Black Survival and Wellness, aka Academics for Black Lives. They share the successes and challenges of their work as healer-scholar-activists and why the fight for Black liberation leads to the liberation of everyone. We discuss the power of communities, how counselors can be healers beyond the counseling room, and why nothing starts in academia.   For more on Pearis and Della, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu  

In this episode, Megan talks to Kaila Hattis, LMFT about the importance of involving and empowering parents in the therapeutic care of their teenage children. Using a family systems lens, Kaila describes the benefits of parent involvement in the counseling process with teenagers and outlines strategies to help overcome some of the potential challenges that can arise in and outside of the therapy session. Kaila also describes tools to help facilitate communication skills building, boundary setting, and mutual goal development.    For more on Kaila, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit www.thethoughtfulcounselor.com   The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu