Very Bad Therapy

Latest Episodes:

136. Very Bad Group Therapy May 01, 2023

Show notes

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

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135. VBT Study Hall: Treatment Planning Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Show Notes:

134. Neurodiversity and Diagnosis (with Halina Brooke, LAMFT) Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

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

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133. VBT Study Hall: Termination Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Show Notes:

132. Some Bad Parts (with Dr. Sheila Addison) Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

"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

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Show Notes:

Donate to Trans Lifeline
Dr. Sheila Addison: Website / Twitter

131. VBT Study Hall: First Sessions Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

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 Therapy Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

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

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Show Notes:

129. Patreon Selects: Will Carrie Ever Get Licensed? Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

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 Alliance Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

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) Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

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.

Introduction: 0:00 – 7:22

Part One: 7:22 – 37:54

Part Two: 37:54 – 1:23:15

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Show Notes: