44. First Session F*ck Up

**In case you missed the announcement, we have shifted to biweekly episodes! We want to make sure we are always bringing you the best of the bad and never making bad podcasts, and this switch will make sure it stays that way. Our next episode will air on April 29th. We can't wait to see you then! Graduate school teaches us a lot, but it doesn't teach us everything we need to navigate being a therapist. In this episode, Shannon shares her experience of going on two maternity leaves while working in private practice. She discusses the logistical and emotional challenges of planning and communicating her leave to clients. Shannon also talks about the guilt she felt about taking time off and the importance of self-care during pregnancy. She reflects on the support she received from the therapist community and the lessons she learned from her experiences. Listen until the end for a discount code at Shannon's Etsy shop for therapists: Focus on the Therapy. Connect with our sponsor, Jane, and don't forget to use the code "BADTHERAPIST" for a one-month grace period on your account AND to get get your swag for switching! Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Shannon at her private practice or her Etsy shop for therapists: Focus on the Therapy. Don't forget to use code BADTHERAPIST for 25% off your order! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

**In case you missed the announcement at the beginning of the episode, we will be shifting to biweekly episodes after this week! We want to make sure we are always bringing you the best of the bad and never making bad podcasts, and this switch will make sure it stays that way. Our next episode will air on April 15th. We can't wait to see you then! In this episode, Robyn shares her personal experience with burnout and questioning her abilities as a therapist. She discusses the signs of burnout and the costs of overdoing and people-pleasing. Robyn emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and attuning to oneself while maintaining attunement with clients. She also highlights the need for honest conversations about burnout in the therapy community. Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Robyn on her website! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

In this episode, Allie spills the tea on how she failed her clinical licensure exam the first time around. She hilariously recounts the reasons behind her delay in taking the exam and the absurd challenges she faced during the process, including *spoiler alert* accidentally sitting for the wrong exam. In all seriousness, we hope that this episode normalizes how challenging our exams can be and that sometimes we fail, but it doesn't mean the end of our careers. Connect with our sponsor, Jane, and don't forget to use the code "BADTHERAPIST" for a one-month grace period on your account AND to get get your swag for switching! Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

In this episode, Samantha discusses her experience with imposter syndrome and the challenges of getting licensed as a therapist. She shares the daunting process of preparing for licensure exams and the pressure that comes with it. Samantha emphasizes the importance of self-care and seeking support during this time. She also normalizes the possibility of exam failure and encourages perseverance. We can't wait to celebrate with Samantha when her licensure is official! Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Samantha on her Instagram or her website! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

Eddie shares his experience of working in a treatment program during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges he faced in a toxic work environment. He discusses the difficulties of working in person while most mental health services had moved to virtual platforms. Eddie and his colleagues requested to go virtual for safety reasons but were met with resistance from their supervisor and HR. The lack of support and dismissive attitude towards their concerns led to a culture of fear and discomfort. Eddie eventually left the job and emphasizes the importance of knowing one's worth and not tolerating a toxic work environment. Connect with our sponsor, Jane, and don't forget to use the code "BADTHERAPIST" for a one-month grace period on your account AND to get get your swag for switching! Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Eddie on his Instagram or his podcast Millennial Mental Health Channel! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

Join us this week as Noura shares her experience of unexpectedly going into labor and the challenges she faced in managing her private practice and clients during her maternity leave. She discusses the lack of closure and feelings of abandonment that arose from not being able to communicate with her clients during her hospital stay. Noura also reflects on the impact of this experience on her decision to start her own private practice. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and compassion for therapists in similar situations and highlights the benefits in having our network of peers for support. Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Noura on her website or Instagram! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

In this episode, Liane shares her experience of overbooking clients and the negative impact it had on her well-being and the therapeutic relationships. She realized that saying yes to every client request was not sustainable and led to feelings of resentment and dread. By evaluating her time and making changes, she created a schedule that worked for her and her clients. Liane advises therapists to trust their boundaries and not succumb to a scarcity mentality. Therapists everywhere will relate to the journey of finding a balance between time and income that aligns with personal needs and values. Connect with our sponsor, Jane, and don't forget to use the code "BADTHERAPIST" for a one-month grace period on your account AND to get get your swag for switching! Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Liane on her website or Instagram! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

In this episode, Josh shares two stories that made him question his role as a therapist. The first story involves encountering a client at a music night he was hosting, leading to a moment of awkwardness and reflection. The second story takes place during a low point in Josh's life, where he ran into a former client while engaging in some self-destructive behavior on a night out. Through these experiences, Josh emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, trusting one's intuition, and learning from mistakes. He also announces the upcoming release of his book, 'And How Does That Make You Feel?' that we get a sneak peek into! Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Josh on his website, his Instagram, and make sure to check out his new book, And How Does That Make You Feel? Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

Jonathan, a behavior analyst, shares his journey of struggling with mental health and questioning his ability to be a good therapist. He discusses how his mental health issues affected his work and personal life, leading him to seek help and take a different approach to his own treatment. Jonathan highlights the importance of applying behavior analysis to mental health and emphasizes the need for therapists to prioritize their own well-being. Connect with our sponsor, Jane, and don't forget to use the code "BADTHERAPIST" for a one-month grace period on your account AND to get get your swag for switching! Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Jonathan on his Instagram! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support

Amy shares her journey from working in schools to starting her own private practice. She discusses the challenges she faced and the doubts she had about being a therapist. Amy also talks about the importance of planning and finding a niche in private practice. She shares her experience working with a nonprofit and balancing her schedule. Amy offers advice for therapists considering starting their own private practice and emphasizes the need for self-care and support. Did something in the show resonate with you? Help us spread the Am I a Bad Therapist message! Check out our new merch, filled with plenty of sarcasm and bad therapist humor! Follow Am I a Bad Therapist on Instagram for sneak peeks, previews, and all of the latest information about the podcast! Connect with Amy on her website or her Instagram! Connect with Kathryn inside the The Therapist Network or join the Network on Instagram. Connect with Allie on Instagram, access the Creative Intervention Library, or shop all things mental health on her Etsy store! Do you need professional podcast producing, editing, or music? Connect with our amazing producer, Austin! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/am-i-a-bad-therapist/support