Episode 22 - Unstructured but Intentional with Marissa Davala

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

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

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

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/