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Explore every episode of the podcast Very Bad Therapy

Dive into the complete episode list for Very Bad Therapy. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
147. Termination Session18 sept. 202300:45:56

Thank you for listening!

146. Patreon Selects: Carrie-Ben Therapy (aka CBT 2.0)04 sept. 202301:11:44

Carrie and Ben create their own model of therapy. Goal setting! Psychoeducation! Exploitation and worrisome sales tactics! What does it say about psychotherapy when our progressively cynical efforts to develop a modality end up mirroring some of the norms in our field? This episode is evidence-based and supported by neuroscience.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 5:13

Part One: 5:13 – 1:08:54

Part Two: 1:08:54 – 1:11:44

 

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Show Notes:

145. Patreon Selects: Book Review - All Therapy Books21 août 202301:31:56

All therapy books have an oddly similar message: *This* form of therapy is the one that truly matters, and *this* science/philosophy/whatever is the key to understanding how human psychology actually works. These narratives can’t all be true, so are they all simply bullshit instead? We read through Scott Alexander’s legendary blog post, Book Review: All Therapy Books, and discuss whether therapy gurus really believe the answers they are selling.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 10:36

Part One: 10:36 – 1:29:35

Part Two: 1:29:35 – 1:31:55

 

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Show Notes:

143. Patreon Selects: Fun With the Psychology Today Profile Generator24 juil. 202301:17:36

Life can be hard at times. Do you want to feel more visible and important in your relationships? Are you curious about why every Psychology Today profile looks the same? We get silly with the incredible Therapist Generator and learn all about treating sunroof addition with truckload therapy and registered turtleneck therapy. The therapist profiles are fake, but our desire to meet you where you are on your journey is very real.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 26:05

Part One: 26:05 – 1:14:55

Part Two: 1:14:55 – 1:17:35

 

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Show Notes:

142. VBT Study Hall: Client Testimonials and Reviews17 juil. 202301:20:15

Social proof has become a crucial element of consumer decision making in the Internet era. So why don’t the vast majority of therapists ask their clients to give testimonials or leave reviews? We ponder the frustrating tension between psychotherapy ethics codes and literature on marketing in the 21st century, and we do our best to advise therapists about what to do in response to a bad online review.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

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Show Notes:

141. “Not All Christians…” (with Josh Foster, LCPC)03 juil. 202301:28:45

What is religious trauma, and why do some therapists refuse to work with clients who use that language? In today’s episode, Jeremy speaks about his experiences with therapists who felt the need to defend their faith in session, and we are joined by Josh Foster, LCPC to discuss the complicated intersection between evangelical Christianity and ethical psychotherapy.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Ben Caldwell Labs – training, advocacy, books, and additional resources for counselors and therapists. Today’s episode is also sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 11:11

Part One: 11:11 – 50:09

Part Two: 50:09 – 1:28:44

 

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Show Notes:

140. VBT Study Hall: What Does “Trauma-Informed” Mean?19 juin 202301:18:16

Trauma-informed therapy is…what, exactly? And is trauma actually stored in the body, or is that just a clever narrative that a few enterprising gurus have used to sell books and trainings? We dig deep into the research on trauma to answer these questions and more, and Carrie introduces her breakthrough trauma-focused treatment: dog therapy.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

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Show Notes:

139. Politics in the Therapy Room (with Dr. Ben Caldwell)05 juin 202301:27:43

Let’s get controversial! Is it a good idea for a therapist to project their own political views onto a client? For today’s guest Ruth, the answer is a resounding “no.” We hear her story of a therapist who took her political advocacy too far, and Dr. Ben Caldwell rejoins us to explore the ethics of discussing politics in therapy. Plus, how can therapists know if they are trauma-informed enough for their clients?

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Journal Party.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 8:55

Part One: 8:55 – 44:33

Part Two: 44:33 – 1:24:21

Part Three: 1:24:21 – 1:27:42

 

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Show Notes:

138. Patreon Selects: Is EMDR a Cultish Pyramid Scheme?22 mai 202301:12:14

No, EMDR is not a cultish pyramid scheme. With that out of the way, why is EMDR training so expensive when its theoretical foundations are supported by dubious (at best) research? In this clickbaity-titled episode, Angela Nauss, EMDRIA-certified LMFT, joins us to describe the experience of paying thousands of dollars to “watch the dumpster fire from inside the dumpster.” Please direct all angry emails to vbtpodcast@gmail.com.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 9:40

Part One: 9:40 – 1:12:13

 

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Show Notes:

137. VBT Study Hall: Evaluating Research15 mai 202301:31:42

How do we know which psychotherapy research is trustworthy? Dr. Alex Williams and Dr. John Sakaluk help us search for evidence in all the logical places: the replication crisis, RCTs, qualitative studies, dolphin therapy, Canadian football, researchers fighting Connor McGregor, and of course, EMDR. This episode is brought to you by MR. BEAR (Meta-analysis, Registered, Big sample size, Experiment, Active control group, Replicated).

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

136. Very Bad Group Therapy01 mai 202301:18:18

What makes for effective group therapy? Cohesion, expectation setting, and as today’s guest Thomas can attest to, not having the therapist give the middle finger to a group member. We try to make sense of Thomas’ experience by looking into research on group therapy, and we also try to make sense of our own experience of failing to find a single group therapy expert.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 9:57

Part One: 9:57 – 46:11

Part Two: 46:11 – 1:18:17

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

135. VBT Study Hall: Treatment Planning17 avr. 202301:25:34

What exactly is treatment planning and why do some therapists dread having to do it on a regular basis? This episode is Carrie’s love letter to treatment plans – why they are used, how they can improve therapy outcomes, and why Ben is wrong in his stubborn resistance to writing out a detailed plan for every client.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

134. Neurodiversity and Diagnosis (with Halina Brooke, LAMFT)03 avr. 202301:27:21

What’s so important about a diagnosis? For neurodivergent clients, it can mean affirmation, community support, and access to much-needed services…if the diagnosis is correct. In today’s episode, we talk to Harley about her challenges in seeking diagnoses of autism and ADHD, and Halina Brooke rejoins us to discuss some of the best practices (and controversies) in supporting autistic clients.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 8:24

Part One: 8:24 – 49:54

Part Two: 49:54 – 1:27:20

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

133. VBT Study Hall: Termination20 mars 202301:14:35

Nothing lasts forever, including therapeutic relationships. Therapy can end in lots of different ways, but what constitutes a good goodbye? We dig into the research on termination and the related ethics codes and come away with a surprising conclusion: firing a client is almost always ethically acceptable.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

132. Some Bad Parts (with Dr. Sheila Addison)06 mars 202301:23:06

“No bad parts” is a common mantra in therapy – the various parts of ourselves are always working to serve some beneficial purpose. But what happens when a therapist communicates to a client that significant parts of who they are aren’t welcome in the therapy room? Today’s guest Adam describes having to compartmentalize aspects of his identity with his therapist, and Dr. Sheila Addison joins us to discuss how to provide affirming services to all parts of a client.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Mental Health Match.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 4:53

Part One: 4:53 – 41:18

Part Two: 41:18 – 1:23:05

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

131. VBT Study Hall: First Sessions20 févr. 202301:19:15

What happens in the first session of therapy? More importantly, why do one-third of clients not come back for the second session? We look for answers in the research on client expectations and consider some creative perspectives on increasing first session effectiveness, including a radical idea that clients dropping out of therapy might actually be a positive outcome.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Mental Health Match.

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

130. Gambling Therapy06 févr. 202301:23:38

Is good therapy as simple as whatever activity makes a client feel better? What if that activity is a singular focus on sports betting strategy? In today’s episode, we talk with Christine to learn from her experience of “gambling therapy” and answer the question of whether or not it’s a good thing to be friends with your therapist (spoiler: no, no it is not).

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Mental Health Match.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 5:39

Part One: 5:39 – 46:05

Part Two: 46:05 – 1:23:37

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

129. Patreon Selects: Will Carrie Ever Get Licensed?23 janv. 202301:09:55

Carrie hasn’t worked as a therapist in over a year. Will she ever get licensed, and how is her decision connected to the apparent reality that many therapists are actively trying to not see clients? We explore the interesting trend of therapists looking for side hustles, and Carrie forces Ben to confront his extreme aversion to participating in the real world (aka sales and marketing).

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 4:16

Part One: 4:16 – 1:09:53

 

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128. VBT Study Hall: The Therapeutic Alliance16 janv. 202301:06:38

You’ve already heard that the therapeutic alliance is important to client outcomes, but does anyone actually know why? We dig into the research to figure out if ruptures can be a good thing (yes!), what clients and therapists should know about the therapeutic alliance, and why this topic has been fervently researched over the last half-century.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Mental Health Match.

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

127. Enlightenment is Not a Treatment Goal (with Dr. Jim Jobin)02 janv. 202301:23:16

Many clients want a spiritual component to their therapy, but what happens when a therapist acts more like a theologian than a mental health professional? Today’s guest Kelsey describes her experience of having spirituality weaponized against her in sessions, and Dr. Jim Jobin joins us to discuss how religion can be ethically and effectively incorporated into the therapeutic environment.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 7:22

Part One: 7:22 – 37:54

Part Two: 37:54 – 1:23:15

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

126. VBT Study Hall: Interventions19 déc. 202201:23:10

It seems odd that most therapists – us included – aren’t 100% certain about what constitutes an intervention. Are interventions scripted in-session activities? What about the theoretical orientations themselves? There isn’t one single answer, but interventions aren’t that difficult to understand if you zoom out far enough…and get a little bit of help from ChatGPT.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new couples and individual clients.

 

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Show Notes:

125. So You’ve Stereotyped Your Client (with Deanna Fierman, LPC)05 déc. 202201:40:40

Stereotypes aren’t always a bad thing. That may not be true in therapy, especially when a client is made to feel like they are representing an entire group of people. That’s what we explore with today’s guest Jess, and we’re also joined by Deanna Fierman, LPC, to talk about what therapists should do after their biases about identity lead to clinical errors. Plus, Ben finds a therapist and Carrie gets a mammogram.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 18:09

Part One: 18:09 – 54:04

Part Two: 54:04 – 1:38:02

Part Three: 1:38:02 – 1:40:39

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

124. VBT Study Hall: Theoretical Orientations21 nov. 202201:31:23

There are over 600 types of psychotherapy. What are they, where did they come from, and what makes them important? We dive deep (too deep, probably) into a $900 textbook in an attempt to make sense of the spectacularly confusing topic of theoretical orientations. This is an integrative episode – we integrate a lot of information with even more information.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

Bonus: Clinical Licensing Exams Don't Work (with Dr. Ben Caldwell)14 nov. 202200:58:44

In the United States, mental health professionals must pass a clinical exam to become licensed in their field. These exams appear to do nothing to make psychotherapy more effective or safe. They are, however, very efficient at furthering structural racism. Dr. Ben Caldwell joins us to make a very compelling, research-based argument for why these clinical exams should be abolished immediately.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

123. Catching Feelings (with Dr. Ben Caldwell)07 nov. 202201:30:33

It’s not unusual for clients to develop feelings for their therapist. It’s also not unusual for therapists to develop feelings for their clients. So why is it such a bad idea for a therapist to share (or act) on those feelings? Today’s guest Kate shares a story that illustrates exactly why, and Dr. Ben Caldwell rejoins us to talk about what should happen when clients and therapists develop feelings for one another.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists and Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 8:40

Part One: 8:40 – 44:35

Part Two: 44:35 – 1:30:32

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

122. Patreon Selects: Degrees of Confusion (Part II)24 oct. 202201:13:22

Justin Norris rejoins us to conclude our conversation about the perplexing maze that is the application process for grad school. We use the California State University (CSU) system as a case study to illustrate why program requirements aren’t always what they seem, and Carrie discusses which therapy programs do a great job of defining and providing quality to their students. Plus, Subaru gets lots of free advertising.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 10:35

Part One: 10:35 – 1:10:11

Part Two: 1:10:11 – 1:13:21

 

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Show Notes:

121. Patreon Selects: Degrees of Confusion (Part I)17 oct. 202201:31:46

Have you ever wondered why the process of applying to grad school is so unclear at times? In part one of two, we are joined by Justin Norris, an expert in systems of higher education, to talk about the surprisingly interesting topics of accreditation, for-profit vs. non-profit designations, and public vs. private universities. If you wanted to become a therapist but ended up in a sales funnel, this episode is for you.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 19:21

Part One: 19:21 – 1:27:53

Part Two: 1:27:53 – 1:31:45

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

120. Hard Conversations03 oct. 202201:37:41

What happens when a therapist doesn’t want to work with a client? What should happen? Tom shares his experience with a therapist who chose avoidance over honesty, and we discuss ten types of hard conversations that frequently give therapists anxiety. Plus, is Steve Carrell a good enough TV therapist to avoid getting murdered?

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 11:00

Part One: 11:00 – 37:54

Part Two: 37:54 – 1:37:40

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

119. Patreon Selects: The Intersections of Philosophy and Psychotherapy19 sept. 202201:16:27

Dr. Sally Gibbons is an Oxford-educated philosopher, professor of bioethics and philosophy at UCLA, and licensed professional clinical counselor. We discuss her academic background, what inspired her transition to a career in mental health, and how philosophical thinking informs her humility and curiosity with clients. We also explore the intersections between philosophy and psychotherapy and how this relates to questions about what it means to be a human being and what we owe each other. Plus, Dr. Gibbons shares her own experience of very bad solution-focused brief therapy.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 13:08

Part One: 13:08 – 1:11:38

Part Two: 1:11:38 – 1:16:26

 

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Show Notes:

118. Testing Patients (with Rachel Simon, LCSW)05 sept. 202201:20:49

Psychological testing can be complicated. It shouldn’t have to be hostile, even if the evaluation is not intended to be in a client’s best interest. In today’s episode, Jacob shares his experience of a truly ridiculous psych assessment, and we speak with Rachel Simon, LCSW MEd about how assessors can minimize the harmful impact of their own biases – and the biases built into the psych tests themselves.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 6:49

Part One: 6:49 – 43:54

Part Two: 43:54 – 1:20:49

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

117. Patreon Selects: The History of Expertise in Therapy (Part II)22 août 202200:58:06

The history of expertise in medicine and science led the field of psychotherapy to its beloved empirically supported treatments (ESTs). Psychiatrists were prescribing pills, and psychotherapists were offering best practices. But how did these best practices get their reputation, and what happens when clients and therapists alike believe uncertain truths about mental health treatment? We conclude our two-part historical journey with a look at some contemporary alternatives to the medical model and what this all means for the most important aspect of therapy: helping clients get better outcomes.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 3:39

Part One: 3:39 – 58:05

 

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116. Patreon Selects: The History of Expertise in Therapy (Part I)15 août 202200:55:40

Therapists are considered mental health experts. How did this come to be, and is it necessary for the future of the field? Join us as we trace the surprising history of the medical model in therapy from its origins in the Scientific Revolution to the evolution of treatment manuals. Part I takes us all the way to 1987, with cameos by the Catholic Church, Ben Franklin, Sigmund Freud, Hans Eysenck, and more. If you’ve ever wondered why psychotherapy seems to have such a confusing relationship with medicine and science, this episode is for you.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 4:02

Part One: 4:02 – 55:39

 

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115. What is Bad Therapy, and Who Gets to Provide It? (with Dr. Ben Caldwell)01 août 202202:02:05

Today’s guest Marie shares her thought-provoking story about a preoccupied telehealth therapist, and we drag Dr. Ben Caldwell into another one of our philosophical crises about what constitutes very bad therapy. Is it not following a treatment plan? Having young children show up in session? Ignoring ruptures? Regularly showing up late? And while we’re at it, what even is therapy? Who should get to be a therapist during the pandemic? Join us on the struggle bus as we try to parse out issues related to telehealth, laws, ethics, clinical practices, privilege, social systems…and bullshit.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists and Empifany (Instagram / Facebook).

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 11:20

Part One: 11:20 – 54:41

Part Two: 54:41 – 1:57:06

Part Three: 1:57:06 – 2:02:04

 

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Show Notes:

114. Patreon Selects: An Actor, a Sommelier, and a Poker Player Walk Into a Bar18 juil. 202201:17:48

Carrie and Ben are joined by friend of the podcast Rachel Bennett to talk about how their past careers have shaped their identities as therapists. Topics include:

  • How working in fine dining informs the importance of being of service and providing experiences to therapy clients
  • How very few people in therapy and acting know what they're doing and how this helps with impostor syndrome
  • The humility required to be a successful poker player and therapist, as well as the need to separate short-term results from long-term process
  • The importance of learning how to self-regulate in the presence of others
  • How all of this (as always) relates to feedback-informed treatment

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Empifany (Instagram / Facebook).

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 9:03

Part One: 9:03 – 1:17:47

 

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Show Notes:

113. Psychedelics and Therapy (with Ben Hearn, LPCC-S)04 juil. 202201:28:08

Consciousness-altering psychedelic drugs have shown tremendous promise in mental health treatment. The future of psychedelic-assisted therapy is uncertain, but one thing seems clear: the psychedelics are for the client, not the therapist. Today’s guest Matthew shares his peculiar experience with a not-quite-levelheaded therapist, and Ben Hearn joins us to discuss everything you ever wanted to know about this emerging pathway to psychological healing.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists and Empifany (Instagram / Facebook).

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 3:57

Part One: 3:57 – 35:46

Part Two: 35:46 – 1:26:38

Part Three: 1:26:38 – 1:28:06

 

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Show Notes:

112. Patreon Selects: Desperate Remedies for Mental Illness20 juin 202201:07:12

Dr. Andrew Scull is the Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, at UCSD. He has written extensively about the history of psychiatry and the treatment of madness. We discuss why it seems like the more you know about mental illness, the less clear things become. We also explore myths about biology and neuroscience, the likelihood of a clear solution for improving psychotherapy, and the politics that have shaped our mental healthcare systems.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Join our charity drive! We are matching up to $6,000 of your donations to the world’s most effective charities. To contribute, visit GiveWell.org and use the fundraising code VBT.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 5:18

Part One: 5:18 – 1:07:11

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

111. Talking About Antisemitism (with Halina Brooke, LAMFT)06 juin 202201:22:54

The field of psychotherapy has increasingly prioritized discussions about issues of oppression and marginalization. This is, of course, a sign of progress. But who gets left out of these conversations? Today’s guest Kaley shares her experience of antisemitism in therapy, and Halina Brooke rejoins us to talk about how Jewish clients are impacted when therapist education reinforces harmful narratives.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists.

 

Join our charity drive! We are matching up to $6,000 of your donations to the world’s most effective charities. To contribute, visit GiveWell.org and use the fundraising code VBT.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 6:09

Part One: 6:09 – 38:26

Part Two: 38:26 – 1:20:00

Part Three: 1:20:00 – 1:22:52

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

110. Patreon Selects: The VBT Guide to Grad School (Part II)23 mai 202201:14:46

We’re back with Dr. Ben Caldwell to conclude our thoughts on grad school and the surprising reality that it isn’t meant to make you a good therapist. We talk about starting supervision, avoiding moral injury, and most importantly, all the things that graduate education does very well in supporting early-career clinicians. Plus, we share our best advice for anyone getting started in their career in mental health.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Join our charity drive! We are matching up to $6,000 of your donations to the world’s most effective charities. To contribute, visit GiveWell.org and use the fundraising code VBT.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 2:38

Part One: 2:38 – 1:03:04

Part Two: 1:03:04 – 1:14:45

 

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Show Notes:

109. Patreon Selects: The VBT Guide to Grad School (Part I)16 mai 202201:16:16

Dr. Ben Caldwell joins us to discuss everything you need to know about going to school to become a therapist. His most important message? Treat grad school like a convenience store – get in and get out. We explore how to choose a school, how to get the most out of the experience, and where to focus your energy along the way. This episode is for anyone interested in becoming a therapist or for those already in grad school – especially if some of your experiences don’t seem to make sense.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by courtmandatedtraining.com.

 

Join our charity drive! We are matching up to $6,000 of your donations to the world’s most effective charities. To contribute, visit GiveWell.org and use the fundraising code VBT.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 5:44

Part One: 5:44 – 1:16:15

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

108. The Inevitable CBT Episode (with Alyssa Davis, LMFT)02 mai 202201:36:41

Of course we were going to end up doing an episode about CBT eventually. Emily describes visiting a CBT therapist who seemed uninterested in doing any real work, and Alyssa Davis joins us to cognitively restructure our beliefs about therapy models. Plus, some notes on EMDR, common factors, and deliberate practice. This episode has a bit of everything.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by courtmandatedtraining.com and The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists.

 

Join our charity drive! We are matching up to $6,000 of your donations to the world’s most effective charities. To contribute, visit GiveWell.org and use the fundraising code VBT.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 8:36

Part One: 8:36 – 40:09

Part Two: 40:09 – 1:15:06

Part Three: 1:15:06 – 1:36:40

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

Bonus: Introducing the Learn Psychotherapy Podcast25 avr. 202200:41:07

Ben and Carrie have a new podcast! It’s called Learn Psychotherapy, and we’re inviting you to listen and practice along to develop your therapy skills.

 

Learn Psychotherapy: Website / YouTube / Apple Podcasts / Spotify

 

Skill Criteria for Soliciting Client Feedback:

  1. Begin with a short response, reflection, or validating comment.
  2. Ask the client for feedback about some aspect of therapy that is related to the subject of the client statement.

 

Thanks for joining us to develop your therapy skills just a little bit beyond where they were yesterday. Visit Sentio University to download the client statements, sample responses, and skill criteria for this episode. To start the practice section, skip ahead to 26:42.

 

Instructions: We encourage you to learn by trying this skill yourself. Pause the episode after each client statement and try to improvise a response that meets the skill criteria and feels authentic to you. Have fun, and happy learning!

107. Patreon Selects: Ask Us Anything!18 avr. 202201:18:44

We’re long overdue for a good old-fashioned Q&A episode. You’ve sent in your questions, and we’re here to opine about everything from the importance of therapists getting their own therapy to the curious reluctance of the mental health field to embrace social psychology. Plus, we begrudgingly discuss the latest TikTok therapist drama to make a point about when it might be better to actually reject client preferences in session…or something like that. Social media is the worst.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by courtmandatedtraining.com.

 

Join our charity drive! We are matching up to $6,000 of your donations to the world’s most effective charities. To contribute, visit GiveWell.org and use the fundraising code VBT.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 13:10

Part One: 13:10 – 1:18:43

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

106. Psycho, Education04 avr. 202201:15:02

What happens when a therapist and client have two very different conversational styles? Therapists can try to build rapport in many ways, which unfortunately is reflected in our guest Ben’s experience of being given terrible advice mislabeled as psychoeducation. Whether a client is talkative or reserved, one thing is for sure: randomly praising Donald Trump as a paragon of confidence is curious at best.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by courtmandatedtraining.com and The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists.

 

Join our charity drive! We are matching up to $6,000 of your donations to the world’s most effective charities. To contribute, visit GiveWell.org and use the fundraising code VBT.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 9:31

Part One: 9:31 – 39:55

Part Two: 39:55 – 1:15:01

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

105. Patreon Selects: The Elephant in the Therapy Room21 mars 202201:18:28

Dr. Robin Hanson is an associate professor of economics at George Mason University and the coauthor of The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life. He joins us along with guest host Dr. Alex Williams to explore what clients are subconsciously signaling when they seek therapy – and what therapists are signaling to others when they enter the field. Plus, why is feedback-informed treatment similar to paying a friend $100 for a home-cooked meal?

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 4:54

Part One: 4:54 – 1:18:27

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

104. Crises in the Time of Intake (with Dr. Ben Caldwell)07 mars 202201:27:53

When does somebody officially become a client of therapy? And what happens if, before that distinction is made, crises occur and the therapeutic relationship unravels? Our guest Neith shares her experience navigating this scenario, and Dr. Ben Caldwell explains why little of this is clear cut, but some of it is clearly bad. Plus, we introduce a new segment: Is It Bad Therapy?

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 7:16

Part One: 7:16 – 44:14

Part Two: 44:14 – 1:25:45

Part Three: 1:25:45 – 1:27:52

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

103. Patreon Selects: The Therapists’ Side of the Story21 févr. 202200:52:59

On Very Bad Therapy, we seek to understand what it’s like for clients to have bad therapeutic experiences. Should we focus more on the therapists’ side of the story? Dr. Patrick Wiita joins us to continue our conversation from the end of episode #72 to discuss some very interesting questions:

  • Are we doing a disservice to our listeners by not considering the “bad” therapists’ point of view?
  • What are we suggesting by being unquestionably validating of our guests’ stories?
  • Is it even possible to have this podcast if we challenge our guests’ perspectives?

Plus, Carrie finds deep meaning in a breakfast sandwich.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 3:57

Part One: 3:57 – 52:28

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

102. The Good and Bad of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (with Fred Kutnick, LCSW)07 févr. 202201:26:02

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is considered the front-line treatment for borderline personality disorder. What exactly is DBT, and why is it nothing like the invalidating experience that Amy describes in today’s episode? To accept and change the reality of bad DBT, we speak with Fred Kutnick, LCSW about the propositions of good DBT.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Organized Therapist – Social Media for Therapists.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 7:17

Part One: 7:17 – 44:17

Part Two: 44:17 – 1:23:33

Part Three: 1:23:33 – 1:26:01

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

101. Bonus: Hollywood and Mental Health (with Thomas Lennon)31 janv. 202200:48:20

Thomas Lennon is an acclaimed actor and screenwriter, best-selling novelist, and most importantly, Carrie’s long-time friend. We break from our usual format to chat with Tom about his good experiences in therapy, the impact of fame on mental health, and Metallica getting family counseling together. This was a fun conversation – maybe next time we can talk with Paul Rudd!

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 5:42

Part One: 5:42 – 48:19

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

100. Patreon Selects: Is Good Therapy Just the Absence of Bad Therapy?17 janv. 202201:08:25

Carrie and Ben are joined by Dr. Will Dobud to discuss two burning questions: is good therapy just the absence of bad therapy, and should we ban the use of cognitive behavioral therapy? We explore the importance of teaching people to think about psychotherapy models differently, the appeal of bringing therapy back to its pragmatist roots, and what the biased origins of personality tests can teach us about taking precautions when using theories of pathology. Plus, what can we learn from the wonderful history of smoke enemas?

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 5:43

Part One: 5:43 – 1:08:24

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

99. Conversations With a Therapy Failure Expert03 janv. 202201:44:33

Beth is a self-described therapy failure expert. She joins us for the whole episode (and more!) as we discuss her personal bad therapy experiences, what therapists think of clients who disclose their stories of bad therapy, why therapists often struggle to provide specialized services, and the fact that some therapists simply aren’t good at making their clients feel understood.

 

Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

 

Introduction: 0:00 – 7:53

Part One: 7:53 – 53:02

Part Two: 53:02 – 1:41:23

Part Three: 1:41:23 – 1:44:32

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

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