Welcome to the Therapist Thrival Guide, where the team of Ellie Mental Health Therapists dig into all the relevant, complex aspects of being a therapist that…
43:32998 views · 1y ago · 43:32
Guests: Kids Under Five, Kaleigh Boysen-Quinata
In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, licensed clinical social worker Miranda Barker sits down with Kaleigh Boysen-Quinata, LMFT, and Stephanie McDonald, LPC, to explore the unique challenges and rewards of working with children under five in therapy.
38:56700 views · 1y ago · 38:56
Guest: Jessie Colter
In this episode, Miranda Barker, LICSW, sits down with Jessie Colter, LICSW, to explore the essential role of parent coaching in child therapy. Together, they break down therapeutic approaches, highlight why parent involvement matters, and share strategies for navigating real-world family dynamics.
Topics: Exploring Therapeutic Modalities · Parent Involvement in Child Therapy · Challenges & Strategies in Parent Engagement · Case Studies & Real-Life Examples · Working with Adolescents & Teens · Managing Overly Involved Parents
41:59694 views · 1y ago · 41:59
Guests: AI Therapists, Dr. Rachel Wood
In this episode, Miranda Barker, LICSW, and Dr. Rachel Wood, a licensed counselor with a PhD in cyber psychology, dive into the fascinating intersection of psychology and technology. They discuss the rise of AI tools like Character AI and AI therapists, and their impact on the mental health field.
Topics: Understanding Cyber Psychology · AI in Therapy: Current Trends · Concerns and Misconceptions About AI Therapy · The Rise of AI Companions · The Illusion of Intimacy with AI · Therapeutic Relationships vs. AI Interactions
45:351.6K views · 1y ago · 45:35
Bipolar disorder can be one of the most challenging diagnoses for clinicians to understand and treat—so in this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, I’m sitting down with Rachel Snipes, LPC, who specializes in trauma and clinical supervision, to break it all down.
Topics: What is bipolar disorder? · Symptoms and misconceptions · Types of bipolar disorder (I vs II) · How diagnosis is made · Common challenges in diagnosis · Understanding mania
17:5079 views · 1y ago · 17:50
Welcome to your go-to resource for navigating the challenges and celebrating the successes of running a thriving clinic. Designed specifically for clinical directors and mental health leaders, this series features real stories, proven strategies, and practical insights from your peers. Each episode offers actionable takeaways to help you lead with confidence, clarity, and impact.
40:011.9K views · 1y ago · 40:01
Guest: Therapeutic Writing
In this episode, we are joined by licensed professional counselor DeeAnna Nagel to talk about one of her favorite creative tools—therapeutic writing—and how it can be woven into clinical work. Whether you’re a therapist curious about adding writing to your toolkit or simply interested in new ways to process emotions and experiences, this episode is full of practical ideas you can start experimenting with right away.
Topics: Exploring Therapeutic Writing · Journaling Techniques and Prompts · Incorporating Aromatherapy and Somatic Work · The Power of Written Communication in Therapy · Challenges and Training in Online Therapy · The Early Days of Online Therapy
31:41484 views · 1y ago · 31:41
Guest: Emily Turcotte
In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda is joined by Emily Turcotte, LICSW, a therapist with deep expertise in trauma, anxiety, and depression. We unpack the complexities of insomnia—what it is, why it often becomes chronic, and how it frequently shows up alongside things like PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety.
Topics: Welcome & guest intro · Emily’s specialties & therapy approaches · What is insomnia, really? · How insomnia ties in with anxiety, trauma & depression · Using DBT skills to support better sleep · Nightmares, grounding, and relaxation
43:47279 views · 1y ago · 43:47
Guest: Therapist Roxi
In this episode of Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda is joined by Roxanne (Roxi), one of our trauma therapists based out of the Woodbury office. Roxi brings experience in EMDR and IFS—and shares both her clinical wisdom and personal story of navigating panic disorder.
Topics: Welcome & Intro · Roxi’s path into trauma therapy · What complex trauma really means · EMDR & IFS: How they work and why we use them · How beliefs shape the healing process · Navigating cultural mismatch in therapy
44:424.8K views · 1y ago · 44:42
Need a deeper understanding of intimate partner violence—and how to support those impacted by it? In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, we are joined by Christy Sim, a therapist at Ellie Mental Health in Grapevine, Texas. Christy brings incredible insight to the conversation, shaped by her doctoral research and years of working directly with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).
Topics: Welcome + intro · Types of IPV · Spotting the signs · How to create a safety plan · Therapeutic approaches that help · Using EMDR ethically
50:11559 views · 1y ago · 50:11
In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda is joined by Letisha and Madison for a thoughtful, honest conversation about Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab. This book sparked such a rich discussion—one that we know will resonate whether you’re a therapist, a client, or just someone trying to navigate relationships more clearly.
Topics: Welcome + Meet Letisha and Madison · How we talk about boundaries in therapy · A look at the different types of boundaries · What makes boundaries actually work · How we've struggled (and grown) with boundaries personally · What makes boundary enforcement so hard
49:21297 views · 1y ago · 49:21
Guest: Kathy Flamino
In this episode, Miranda sits down with Kathy Flamino, founder and CEO of Move Mindfully, and Chrissy Mignogna, their lead trainer and director of education. We dive into what it really looks like to integrate trauma-responsive, body-based practices into everyday spaces—therapy sessions, classrooms, hospitals, and even juvenile justice settings.
47:50530 views · 1y ago · 47:50
Guest: Jennifer Keehn
In this episode, Miranda is joined by Jennifer Keehn, LPCC, to unpack all things therapeutic letter writing. We’re talking emotional support animal letters, housing accommodations, FMLA, gender affirming surgery documentation—you name it. Whether you’re brand new to writing letters or have been doing it for years, we’re breaking down what needs to be included, how to protect your license, and the key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.
Topics: Overview of Letter Writing in Therapy · Types of Letters and Their Purposes · Challenges and Concerns in Writing Letters · Guidance on Writing Emotional Support Animal Letters · Writing FMLA Documentation · Gender Affirming Surgery Letters
16:49626 views · 1y ago · 16:49
In this short but meaningful episode, Miranda (a licensed clinical social worker) is joined by fellow therapists Letisha and Gina for a real conversation about social anxiety. They break down how it can show up in both kids and adults, and share effective ways to treat it—including CBT, ACT, and the power of social stories.
Topics: Understanding Social Anxiety · Diagnosing Social Anxiety in Kids · Treating Social Anxiety: CBT and ACT · Using Social Stories for Anxiety · Exposure Therapy and EMDR
32:21867 views · 1y ago · 32:21
Guest: Treating Dissociation
In this episode of Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda is joined by trauma therapist Amy Wilkerson, LICSW, for a conversation that many of us need but don’t always know how to start—understanding dissociation. Amy brings deep experience working with clients in foster care, adoption, and the military, and she breaks down what dissociation really is (hint: it’s not just zoning out during a boring meeting).
Topics: Amy's Background and Experience · Understanding Dissociation · Symptoms and Everyday Examples of Dissociation · Causes of Dissociation · Trauma-Related Dissociation · Parts Work and Dissociation
37:44792 views · 1y ago · 37:44
Guest: Kailah Tuttle
In this episode, Miranda interviews Kailah Tuttle, LPC, a certified geek therapist, about the innovative field of geek therapy. They discuss how incorporating elements of geek culture, such as anime, video games, roleplaying games, and superheroes, can enhance therapeutic practices.
Topics: Diving into Geek Therapy · Therapeutic Dungeon Master Training · Play Therapy and Geek Therapy · Certification and Competency in Geek Therapy · Practical Applications of Geek Therapy · Therapeutic Dungeons and Dragons
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