Talking Therapy Ep. 35 Working with Adoption with Lesli Johnson MFT

RJ and John sit down with “Rebecca.” Rebecca is the pseudonym of a new marriage and family therapy student. She is a young woman who has decided to embark on her education and training in psychology and counseling. This will be a multi-part series where we touch base with Rebecca time to time throughout her education and training. RJ and John both listen to her experience and offer advice.

Therapist, internet entrepreneur and cartoonist Victor Yalom, PhD joins us to talk about what he has learned from the greats. As someone who has had access to some of the greatest minds in the field he has some very interesting things to say about presence and being with clients in the here and now. Victor is also owner of the site Psychotherapy.net, a collection of articles, videos and so much more. He tells us how it all began with a simple recording of his mentor James Bugental. 

The world with Coronavirus has posed challenges for therapists everywhere. With significant parts of the country in extensive lockdown many of us have switched our entire practices to an online format. Will this change therapy forever or is this just a slight adjustment - or are we all just suffering from Adjustment Disorder? RJ and John practice social distancing by logging on with psychiatrist Dr. Amir Ettekal to talk about what it’s like to do therapy and be with clients in a virtual space.

Dr. Martha Koo of the Neurowellness Spa in Manhattan Beach, CA sits down with the boys to talk about the FDA approved treatment of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (or TMS). Dr. Koo, a psychiatrist, talks about how TMS works and how it can help. She also discusses some of the other treatments her clinic offers including IV Ketamine and Photobiomodulation. 

John and RJ sit down to talk with one of the lions of the field of psychotherapy, Dr. Moe Gelbart. An administrator, therapist and businessman, Dr. Gelbart recounts a long and successful career in psychotherapy and gives the boys insight into how he's helped people and made a good living in psychotherapy.    This episode is exclusively sponsored by Ben Caldwell Labs, creating a more empowered, more effective generation of psychotherapists. Check them out at www.bencaldwelllabs.com.

Suicide may be one of the most intense and difficult things for any therapist to work with. Norine VanderHooven, LCSW and Chair of the Youth Suicide Prevention Committee for the American Association of Suicidology joins us to talk about facts and strategies to use with clients expressing suicidal ideation.  This episode is exclusively sponsored by Ben Caldwell Labs, creating a more empowered, more effective generation of psychotherapists. Check them out at www.bencaldwelllabs.com.    

Lesli Johnson, MFT joins us to discuss clinical issues around adoption. She brings her own personal perspective as someone who is adopted as well as a caring and passionate clinical approach to this subject. She discusses a concept known as the Ghost Kingdom and the challenges and trauma adoptees and adoptive parents face. Not many people specialize in this work but it touches almost everyone - therapist or not. Definitely a great listen. This episode is exclusively sponsored by Ben Caldwell Labs, creating a more effective, more empowered generation of psychotherapists. Check them out at www.bencaldwelllabs.com

Dr. David Godot joins us to talk about the use of hypnosis and hypnotic practices in therapy. He also talks about his experience at the Adler Institute as well as Alfred Adler and his unique ideas about the formation of personality and how people see themselves. Find David Godot here: https://psychlab.us This episode is exclusively sponsored by Ben Caldwell Labs, www.bencaldwelllabs.com, creating a more effective, more empowered generation of mental health professionals. 

Sara Schulting-Kranz joins us to talk about her transformation from married mother of three, who one day discovered “my husband is gay,” to life coach helping and leading people on journeys of their own transformation in the Grand Canyon and in the Sierras. Sara talks about the power of nature to heal and the amazing life changes she and her clients have gone through on such incredible treks. She also talks about what it was like to help blind para-olympian Shawn Cheshire hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim. Check her out at www.liveboldlycoaching.com. This episode is sponsored by Ben Caldwell Labs. Ben Caldwell labs provides exam prep, continuing education, advocacy and more. Ben Caldwell labs is building a more empowered, more effective generation of psychotherapists. Check them out at www.bencaldwelllabs.com

Dr. Ben Caldwell returns to the show to pick a bone with John about a statistic he quoted during our popular Sue Johnson interview. Ben discusses divorce and marriage and its current state in our society. We also touch on the ever emotional subject of Emotional Support Animals and how or if therapists should support their use.