Explore every episode of the podcast The Reframe

My guest is Dr. Gerald Corey, Professor Emeritus of Human Services and Counseling at California State University, Fullerton and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans. Dr. Corey has authored or coauthored 16 textbooks on topics such as counseling theories, group counseling, clinical supervision, and professional ethics. He is a Fellow of the American Counseling Association, a Fellow of the Association for Specialists in Group Work, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 17, Counseling Psychology and Division 49, Group Psychotherapy).

Dr. Corey offers strategies for effectively integrating theory with your unique personality and style, shares his thoughts on taking risks and overcoming setbacks, and highlights the necessity of self-care. He also describes the evolution of his theoretical orientation, explains the benefits of utilizing an integrative approach to working with clients, and reflects on some of the important lessons he has learned over the course of his 60-year career.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Marissa Davala, Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and 2020-2021 IAMFC Emerging Leader. Her clinical and research interests focus on couples counseling, preventing infidelity and maintaining monogamy, trauma-informed care, and attachment concepts.

Dr. Davala discusses her strategies for nurturing self-reflection and ongoing curiosity, explains the roles that humility and transparency play in her clinical work, and shares about how the generosity of mentors helped her build a successful private practice. She also reflects on the various challenges associated with being an early-career academic and describes how she acknowledges her missteps and growing edges with students.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Rick Balkin, Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator, in the Department of Leadership and Counselor Education, at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Balkin is the immediate past editor of the Journal of Counseling & Development, the current editor of the International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, and a Fellow of the American Counseling Association. His research focuses on counseling outcomes, instrument development, research methods, forgiveness, and religious diversity.

Warning: This episode contains descriptions of sexual abuse and suicide.

Dr. Balkin discusses how studying and teaching martial arts increased his self-confidence and ability to build strong relationships, describes how working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital impacted his growth as a new professional, reflects on some of his most memorable and challenging cases, and shares about how his clinical work has informed his research into forgiveness. He also explains how recent hardships and struggles have increased his willingness to express vulnerability and nurture deeper friendships.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Rebecca Pender Baum, current President of IAMFC (2020-2022). She is an Associate Professor and Practicum and Internship Coordinator, in the Department of Counseling, at Murray State University and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the State of Kentucky. Her research focuses on play therapy, marriage, couple and family counseling, trauma and crisis work, and supervision.  

Dr. Pender Baum discusses the priorities and goals she’s working to accomplish during tenure as IAMFC President, describes the instructive and humbling nature of couple and family counseling, and recounts how mentors challenged and encouraged her to overcome imposter syndrome and embrace new leadership roles. She also highlights various opportunities to serve and advocate for the profession through involvement with IAMFC.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Mr. Mike Shook, creator and host of the wildly popular and always informative podcast, The Thoughtful Counselor. Mike is a mental health counselor in China, where he provides counseling to English speaking cross-cultural workers and immigrants living in Beijing. He is a National Certified Counselor and a licensed mental health counselor in the State of Florida. Prior to becoming a counselor, Mike worked in Central China for an NGO that provided care for children with medical needs.

Mike discusses what it’s like to live and practice counseling in China, explains how he strives to apply ethical counseling practices in a country where the profession is still emerging and unregulated, and describes what he’s learned about health and well-being from his Chinese colleagues. He also shares about the challenging and humbling nature of striving to become a more culturally competent clinician, highlights his strategies for receiving and integrating corrective feedback, and reflects on how hosting a mental health podcast has influenced his clinical work and professional identity.

My guest is Dr. Heather Trepal, Professor and Coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is the current President of The American Counseling Association (ACA) and a Past-President of The Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and The Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC). Dr. Trepal’s research focuses on counselor preparation and supervision, gender issues and sexual trauma, non-suicidal self-injury, and professional advocacy.

Dr. Trepal discusses the initiatives and goals she’s working to achieve as ACA President, describes her passion for supervising bilingual counselors and working with Spanish-speaking clients, recounts some of the lessons she’s learned from past disappointments and setbacks, and highlights the importance of seeking out supportive and challenging mentors. Dr. Trepal also explains the personal and sometimes painful nature of licensure portability, shares her hopes for the future of the counseling profession, and offers encouragement to novice counselors currently struggling to attain full licensure.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Kellie Camelford, Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Counseling at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She’s a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, specializing in adolescents, self-harm, women’s issues, infertility, and parenting training. Prior to joining the faculty at LSUHSC, Dr. Camelford worked as a high school counselor at an all-girls parochial school and as a clinician in private practice.


Dr. Camelford discusses her approaches to involving parents in the school counseling process, highlights the rewarding and challenging nature of counseling adolescents, explains how her work has benefited from practicing self-compassion and self-care, and describes how she responds to clients who tell her that she looks young for her age. Dr. Camelford also reflects on how she has transformed professional disappoints into opportunities for reflection and growth, shares strategies for effectively bracketing one’s values within the counseling relationship, and stresses the importance of vulnerability within the practice of consultation.

My guest is Dr. Mark E. Young, Professor Emeritus of Counselor Education at the University of Central Florida and a charter member of IAMFC. He is the co-founder of the UCF Marriage and Family Research Center, the author of five counseling textbooks, and a nationally recognized expert and leader in the field of marriage and family counseling.

Dr. Young recounts his early struggles and missteps as a novice counselor, describes his approaches to using humor and taking risks with clients, and offers tips for making the most of pre-licensure supervision. He also discusses the common challenges and setbacks associated with couples counseling, highlights strategies for effectively working with high conflict couples, and shares about his hopes and vision for the future of marriage and family counseling.

My guest is Dr. Victor Yalom, Founder & CEO of psychotherapy.net. He is a licensed psychologist, with over 25 years of clinical experience, specializing in couples and group counseling.


Dr. Yalom discusses his career-long effort to become a more genuine and authentic clinician, describes his struggles to overcome unhelpful social comparisons, highlights the professional importance of personal reflection and self-acceptance, and shares about the value of inviting open and honest feedback from clients. He also reflects on the greatest lessons he has learned from working with master clinicians such as James Bugental, Sue Johnson, and his father, Irvin D. Yalom.

My guest is Dr. Kathleen Smith, author, therapist, and associate faculty member at The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. Her writing has appeared in Salon, Slate, New York Magazine, and Counseling Today. She is the author of The Fangirl Life and the forthcoming book, Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down.


Dr. Smith offers practical tips for maximizing your experience in an online counseling degree program, highlights helpful strategies for effectively marketing a private practice, discusses her work and involvement with The Bowen Center, shares about the joys and challenges of launching and maintaining a writing career, and describes the core principles that guide her clinical work.


To learn more about Dr. Smith’s new book and to subscribe to her weekly newsletter, The Anxious Overachiever, visit: https://kathleensmith.net/

My guest is Dr. Jason King, Student Development Coordinator for the Department of Counseling at Walden University. He specializes in couples counseling and treating compulsive and addictive behaviors. Dr. King is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in the State of Utah and has served as the Governor-appointed chair of the Utah Clinical Mental Health Counselor licensure board since 2009. Additionally, Dr. King served as a committee member on the DSM-5 Revision Task Force for the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), and he co-edited the book DSM-5 and Family Systems.

Dr. King highlights strategies for working with challenging and resistant clients, shares about his efforts to embrace critical feedback and overcome self-doubt, describes the various ways that he incorporates humility and humor into his clinical work, explains how to effectively utilize diagnosis within the framework of the wellness model, and discusses systemic approaches to using the DSM-5.

My guest is Ms. Temple Price, doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Howard University and a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor in the State of Maryland. She earned an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Xavier University of Louisiana, has served as an Editorial Assistant for the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, and previously worked as a graduate research assistant at the Center for Traumatic Stress Research in New Orleans.

Ms. Price discusses the various challenges she encountered during her first year of doctoral studies, reflects on the valuable lessons and advice she has received from mentors, and describes the growing pains associated with her work as a pre-licensed clinician. She also highlights the importance of practicing cultural humility, explains how persevering through disappointment can foster growth and resilience, and shares her hopes for the future of the counseling profession.

My guest is Dr. Brian Canfield, Professor of Counseling at Florida Atlantic University and IAMFC’s Director of International Education and Development. He is a past-President of IAMFC, and a Fellow and Past-President of the American Counseling Association. Specializing in marital issues and family conflict, Dr. Canfield is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida and Louisiana, a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Arkansas, and is an internationally recognized expert in the field of marriage and family counseling.

Dr. Canfield recounts the valuable lessons he’s gained over the course of his 30-plus year career, discusses the importance of self-care for maintaining clinical effectiveness and safeguarding against professional impairment, highlights his approaches to working with potentially deceptive clients, and shares about his experiences organizing and attending IAMFC's annual Oxford Family Counseling Institute. He also describes how his research on family of origin issues influences his clinical work, discusses the relational pitfalls he commonly encounters in his couples work, and explains the importance of bracketing one’s values and setting realistic expectations when counseling couples considering divorce. 

For more information about IAMFC's annual Oxford Family Counseling Institute, visit: http://bit.ly/IAMFC-Oxford

My guest is Dr. Melinda Paige, founder of The Trauma Competency Institute and a nationally recognized trauma expert. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Georgia, with over 20 years of clinical experience, specializing in trauma-focused counseling. Dr. Paige has delivered presentations and trainings on trauma competency, throughout the United States, and received the American Counseling Association Professional Development Award in 2018. 

Dr. Paige recounts challenges she experienced in her early work with survivors of trauma, discusses the fundamental elements of effective trauma work, highlights the value of systemic approaches to treating trauma, explains how advances in neuroscience and neurobiology have improved trauma-focused interventions, and describes her practices for safeguarding against burnout and promoting personal wellness.

For additional trauma information and resources, visit: The Trauma Competency Institute and Dr. Paige's Facebook Community Forum

My guest is Dr. Paul Peluso, Professor and Chair of the Department of Counselor Education at Florida Atlantic University and a Past-President of IAMFC. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida and Georgia, specializing in couples counseling and treating infidelity. Dr. Peluso is the author/coauthor of six books, has lectured internationally on the topic of affairs, and currently serves as IAMFC’s Representative on ACA’s Governing Council.

Dr. Peluso discusses his early struggles and shortcomings as a couples counselor, describes his research on infidelity and his approaches to helping couples recover from affairs, highlights the major issues that currently threaten the long-term survival of the family counseling profession, and recounts his formative experiences training under the legendary author and family therapist, Dr. Gus Napier.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.

My guest is Dr. Ted Remley, Booth-Bricker Endowed Professor of Counseling at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans and a former Executive Director of the American Counseling Association. A widely recognized expert in the area of ethical and legal issues in counseling, he is licensed to practice law in Virginia and Florida, and licensed to practice counseling in Virginia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Dr. Remley was instrumental in the legislative effort that resulted in the passage of the first counselor licensure bill in the United States.

Dr. Remley describes his initial struggles with achieving a healthy work life balance, discusses ethical issues that commonly evoke undue fear in counselors, highlights some of his unconventional approaches to teaching and mentorship, and offers insights from his extensive work promoting and teaching counseling throughout the world.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.

My guest is Dr. Cheryl Mark, Assistant Professor of Counseling at Colorado Christian University and IAMFC’s current Board Member At-Large. She is an EMDR certified counselor, a trained neurofeedback practitioner, and a Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider. Dr. Mark specializes in treating trauma and working with military personnel and their families.

Dr. Mark discusses her prior work as a domestic violence counselor, shares about the rewarding nature of counseling clients who have experienced trauma, explains how living abroad enhanced her multicultural perspective, highlights the benefits and challenges associated with technology-assisted counseling, and describes her involvement in planning IAMFC’s Annual World Conference.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.

My guest is Dr. Robert L. Smith, Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Executive Director of IAMFC. He previously served as the 63rd President of the American Counseling Association and was recognized as an ACA Fellow in 2010.

Dr. Smith recounts his formative educational and clinical experiences, describes the origins and development of IAMFC, shares his vision for the future of the counseling profession, and offers insights and recommendations for successfully completing the dissertation process.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.

Episode 4 features an interview with Dr. Ramya Avadhanam, who recently earned a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from The College of William & Mary. Over the past seven years, she has provided counseling to individuals, couples, and families in a variety of settings, delivered presentations at national and international conferences, and conducted research in the areas of multiculturalism and systemic practices.

Dr. Avadhanam discusses how mentorship has contributed to her academic, professional, and personal growth, explains her process for respectfully broaching cultural issues with clients, describes her ongoing struggles with perfectionism, and offers tips for maintaining a balanced approach to excelling in a graduate counseling program.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.

My guest is Dr. Bret Hendricks, Professor, Program Coordinator, and Associate Chair in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership at Texas Tech University. He specializes in treating trauma, substance abuse and addiction issues, and has nearly 20 years of experience counseling children, adolescents, and families.

Dr. Hendricks discusses the importance of embracing new professional challenges, describes how his clinical work elevates his teaching and research, shares about the benefits of inviting honest feedback from trusted colleagues, and highlights the evolution of marriage and family counseling ethics.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.

My guest is Dr. Lee Teufel-Prida, Assistant Program Director and a core faculty member for COUNSELING@NORTHWESTERN. A licensed clinician in both California and Florida, she has nearly 20 years of counseling experience, working with children and families in community agencies, juvenile justice facilities, and private practice.

Dr. Teufel-Prida discusses the evolution and benefits of technology-assisted counseling, the importance of prioritizing self-care and ongoing professional development, and offers practical tips for maintaining an active research agenda.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.

My guest is Dr. Sam Gladding, Professor of Counseling at Wake Forest University, author of over 45 books, and the current President of IAMFC.

Dr. Gladding discusses his philosophy of leadership and his vision for the future of IAMFC. He also highlights the benefits of humor and creativity in counseling and recounts fond memories from his over 40 years as a counselor, professor, author, and leader.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.

Coming soon, a new podcast series produced by IAMFC and hosted by Dr. Robert Casares.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website.