Through The Eyes Of A Therapist

Hello, everyone!  Today we discuss what it's like to be a therapist in the times of the Coronavirus epidemic.  Myself and two other therapists located in El Paso, Texas talk about: what it's like to run a small business/private practice during a pandemic, how to prepare yourself as a therapist to see clients via tele-health during these unprecedented times, why you should see a therapist during this outbreak, struggles we see in our communities, and helpful tips/advice (other than washing your hands) for coping with this worldwide stress. Must have information about today's guests: Guillermo Castañeda (Memo) is a mental health counselor and hypnotherapist and the director of Counseling of El Paso. He completed his Masters in Education in Mental Health Counseling at The University of Texas at El Paso, and is certified in Hypnotherapy by the Hypnosis Motivational Institute. His clinical approach is eclectic as he believes that one size doesn’t fit all.  His training and modalities range from Cognitive Behavio

Hello again, everyone!  Jen Reeves, LMFT-S, CST is back on the podcast giving us her expert opinion on the Netflix show "Sex Education".  We discuss the characters from the show and talk about boundaries, teen development, and sex therapy in pop culture. SPOILERS AHEAD! Takeaways from the episode: Sex education should start at an early age Portrayals of sex therapists in pop culture -- can be inaccurate/damaging Sex therapists can work with individuals and couples about their relationships and sex lives There are certain things that sex therapists (or any therapist) should not EVER DO We may not be talking to our teens about sex adequately enough Jen has a "Dear Abby" type sex column called "Getting Jiggy With Jen"...ask her a question here: jiggywithjen@gmail.com and follow here https://www.facebook.com/jiggywithjen/ Here is more info about Jen:  https://houstonrelationshiptherapy.com/more-about-jennifer/  Watch Sex Education on Netflix here: https://www.netflix.com/title/80197526 *Recommendation

Hello again and welcome back to season three of Through the Eyes of a Therapist podcast!  If you are a millennial, or if you were paying attention to life in the early 2000s, you may remember the iconic pop princess, Britney Spears!  She has had an eventful life in the public eye…and what better way to dissect her resilience than with my returning guest on the show, Luis Cornejo, founder of Psychosocial Media, Marriage and Family therapist, and all-out Britney fan!   Takeaways from this episode: Hear how Luis was inspired by Britney to pursue a career in mental health. Precipitating events can trigger a cascade of issues. Britney’s career may have impacted her mental health status. Money and fame can’t prevent mental illness or emotional decline. Privilege impacts recovery. Child stars feel immense pressure to perform, and celebrities are trained to sell themselves as a product/brand.  Remember to get in touch with us by writing to hello@throughtheeyesofatherapist.org  and enjoy this episode! One l

In this episode, two licensed professional counselors discuss the popular and controversial show "13 Reasons Why".  Andrea Rios, LPC and Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, NCC dissect and dialogue about the implications the show can have on their clients.  After a lunchroom discussion, the two therapists decided to record their opinions and perspectives for the podcast. LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED.  SPOILERS AHEAD. Mentioned in the episode: https://13reasonswhy.info/ UPENN Study on 13 Reasons Why Find me on Instagram @throughtheeyesofatherapistpod or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/throughtheeyesofpodcast/ *Recommendations, discussion, and disclosures are for informational/entertainment purposes only.  You should never substitute consultations/information from your own mental health/medical professionals with information from this podcast.* *We do not own the rights to 13 Reasons Why. All discussions about the show are for entertainment purposes only.  No copyright infringement intended.*    

Welcome back to Through the Eyes of a Therapist Podcast!  This season is all about pop-culture and the unique view of shows, books, and movies through a therapist's point of view!   In this episode we have returning guest/co-host, Elisa D.  She is an LMSW who specializes in childhood trauma and works with victims of crime.  This lens allows her to talk with me about Harry Potter's early childhood experiences.  We cover complex trauma, resilience, early childhood development, and adverse experiences.   As mentioned in the episode: if you have had any bad experiences with Snape-like teachers, we want to hear about them!  Please write to hello@throughtheeyesofatherapist.org I will be going on maternity leave in a couple of weeks, but will still be publishing episodes at least once per month!  Thank you for your patience with me and this child who is due in mid-September 2019! See you for the next episode about 13 Reasons Why! Find me on Instagram @throughtheeyesofatherapistpod or Facebook https://www.facebo

If you want to be a psychologist but are considering a non-clinical route, this is a great episode to listen to. Social Psychology, just like clinical or counseling psychology, is only one of the many niches in the psychology world.  This area of psych explores why people do what they do, why we think what we think--biases, perception, preferences, familiarity (to name a few phenomena).  To be a social psychologist also probably means doing research, meaning you're also probably an experimental psychologist.  My guest today is Clarissa Arms-Chavez, Ph.D, a tenured associate professor and social experimental psychologist at Auburn University.  She and I discuss: social psych, working in academia, clinical psych, teaching at a university, tenure, impostor syndrome, and being a department chair.  She also gives advice to undergraduates thinking about going to grad school! Must have info about today's guest:   Clarissa J. Arms-Chavez, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Psychology Depar

In this episode, I talk with my friend and colleague, Elisa.  We discuss introverts, extroverts, ambiverts and some labels that [we] introverts do not like.  We talk about pets, counselor life, and my extroverted partner.  Are you an introvert?  Listen for our GAME/QUIZ that gives characteristics of a true introvert (it'll make you say *same*) Stay tuned to the very end for a special easter egg surprise (silliness ensues)!  

Hello, Through the Eyes of a Therapist Podcast listeners!  If you’ve gotten this far in my latest series on becoming a therapist, you’ve heard about Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinical Social Workers, and School Counselors.  You know by now that to become a therapist, you need to get a master’s degree and to become fully licensed, you must complete a post-graduate internship.  Most of these last at least 18 months post masters and you need to accumulate 3,000 hours of supervised practice. Supervised practice means that you must contract someone who is a clinical supervisor to oversee and sign off on your 3,000 hours.  Clinical supervisors make an investment in provisionally licensed practitioners by meeting with them on a weekly basis, going over treatment plans, evaluations, personal issues that may be affecting work with clients, and progress notes.  This is, probably, the last time a clinician is being closely monitored in their career before becoming independently licensed. To explain this

Equine therapy is a treatment modality that can be used for a wide array of client populations and issues in counseling.  Equines are horses, and if I didn't do an episode about equines, I wouldn't be able to call myself a true Texan!  I am so excited to release this interview because I learned so much about the healing power of horses in counseling/therapy.  My guest, Janet Nicholas, gives us details on how to become an equine therapist (not to be confused with hippotherapy) and why horses are so healing in this capacity.  I hope you enjoy this content as much as I do! Must have info about my guest:   Janet Nicholas is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor from South Texas.  She has been working in the mental health field for 20 years.  Her personal and professional experiences have led her to engage in her current passion of equine therapy.  She has her own practice where she sees clients in a traditional office, but also does some of her favorite work out in her

Contemplative therapy has foundations in clinical psychology and Buddhist psychology.  This approach may be helpful if you: have a busy life, have a life...if you live, breathe....lol.  It can be beneficial for ANYONE.  In this episode, my guest and I discuss the difference between conventional therapy and contemplative therapy.  We also talk about anxiety, which is, according to Catalina, one of the most common problems in her practice.  We also talk about how contemplative therapy can help a person develop an awareness of their own emotions.  She also explains how to start your own daily contemplative practice.   Must have information about my guest:   Catalina is a Contemplative Therapist and Life Coach with extensive studies in Tibetan Buddhism in India. She’s developed the Silence Therapy Technique for Self-Healing, offering her clients the tools to find home within themselves through self-observation, stillness and the ability to tune in to the voice of our inner wisdom. She enjoys Silence, trav

Through the Eyes of a Therapist Podcast has reached 10 thousand plus downloads!  Thank you to all listeners! ----more---- Career counseling can be very helpful for people who are just starting out in college or at a university or those who are changing careers.  Career counselors need to be aware of upcoming career/job market trends, career/job requirements, college or university admission requirements, military career knowledge, and personality/skills matching.  My guest today, Vanessa, is a career counselor at a local community college.  She does lots of things like---skills and aptitude testing, advising, crisis intervention, and working with the early-college high school students.  She also teaches as an associate professor and serves on different campus committees. Must have info about today's guest:   Vanessa B. Monroy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Anger Resolution Therapist with experience in mental health counseling and career counseling. She graduated from New Mexico Sta

If you want to be a school psychologist or have ever wondered what a school psychologist does, then this episode is for you!  School psychologists are collaborators, advocates, leaders, and team players!  They are in charge of assessing school aged children and identifying their needs for success in school.  They work with other clinicians like Occupational and Speech therapists as well as mental health therapists and school counselors!  In this episode we talk diagnosis, IEP's, and the many factors influencing student struggles and successes.  Must have info about my guest: Mawule has been praised for her contributions to the field of school psychology and behavior analysis on addressing diversity and inclusion. She is a nationally certified school psychologist and board certified behavior analyst. With the specialization of diversity and cultural competency, Mawule has completed research, lead workshops, and facilitated discussions throughout the United States and abroad. Her philosophy centers around

"Play is the language of children and toys are their words."-A Play Therapy Philosophy.   Working with children in therapy requires special skills.  Sometimes the best approaches with children are left to the experts who we call Registered Play Therapists.  This special certification/registration takes at least 300 extra supervised hours to attain post-licensure.  In my interview with Kristin Trick, LPC, RPT, she explains to us how to become a registered play therapist, what kinds of issues play therapists can help with, and why to choose a play therapist over a conventional therapist for your child.   Below is some must-have information about my guest:     Kristin P. Trick, MA, LPC, RPT is a therapist who works in private practice at Sawyer Behavioral Health where she provides therapy services to children, adolescents, and adults. She offers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) along with art and pla

In this episode, we talk about how clinical supervisors are needed beyond graduate internships and licensure requirements!  Supervising at an agency can help clinicians be more well rounded and prepared for many client issues.  Supervision is also discussed in the previous episode with Dr. Kate Walker (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN). Tim Mendoza graduated with a Masters of Education in Counseling from the University of Texas at El Paso.  He is currently the outpatient supervisor for Bethanna, a non-profit outpatient behavioral health program in Philadelphia.  This organization focuses on the provision of evidence based practices including PCIT and TFCBT for children and families.  He is certified in both therapy modalities and is currently working on his Level One Trainer Certification for PCIT.  Tim has over 11 years of clinical and supervisory experience and is also trained in EMDR and TCIT.    Mentioned in the episode: www.epcgc.org http://bethanna.org/services/behavioral/ https://www.cacrep.org/ REMEMBER TO

In this episode, I interview my friend and colleague, Myra. She is a Licensed Clinical Social worker and marathoner. She is certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). We discuss the field of social work, running, trauma, and self-care.