The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

• Beyond Coping: Radical Healing in a World Not Built for Us – An Interview with José Rosario

  Beyond Coping: Radical Healing in a World Not Built for Us – An Interview with José Rosario Curt and Katie chat with José Rosario about radical healing, disability, cultural trauma, and intersectionality. José shares his story as a scholar, practitioner, and activist, and how his lived experience as a disabled person of color who is also queer informs both his clinical work and research. He discusses how healing must move beyond coping, the importance of community engagement, and how therapists can better support clients with marginalized identities. About Our Guest: José Rosario Born to young Puerto Rican parents, José Rosario developed Cerebral Palsy as a premature baby. His family's journey towards equity deeply impacted his mental health. Currently nearing his PhD in Clinical Psychology, his research focuses on cultural trauma in intersectional communities. He is an Interdisciplinary Minority Fellow for the American Psychological Association, member of the Congressional Diversity and Equality Advisory Board for Congressman James Langevin, and member of the Rhode Island Attorney General Community Advisory Board. He has been honored with the Chris Martin Humanitarian Award and the Victoria Lederberg Award for Excellence in Psychology. Key Takeaways for Therapists Radical healing means moving beyond coping to systemic change and community-based healing. Disability, race, and queerness intersect in ways that compound stigma and systemic barriers. Community is both a source of hope and a vital element of healing. Therapists must step outside the therapy room and engage genuinely with the communities they serve. For full show notes and transcripts, visit: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

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• Navigating Food, Body Image, and GLP-1 Medications: An Interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C

  Navigating Food, Body Image, and GLP-1 Medications: An Interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Therapists are seeing more clients struggling with confusing medical advice, new medications, and diet culture messages that impact their relationship with food and body. In this conversation, Curt and Katie talk with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C about how therapists can examine their own biases, support clients navigating restrictive medical guidance, and encourage healthier, more intuitive approaches to eating. About Our Guest: Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C Robyn began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as the in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last twenty-eight years she has developed her own private practice in Los Angeles, CA. She is a contributing author and is a nationally and internationally known registered dietitian nutritionist. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and Vogue. She has been on national television as the eating disorder expert on The Insider. Robyn is the author of The Eating Disorder Trap: A Guide for Clinicians and Loved Ones, Co-author of the online course Your Recovery Resource, and the host of The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast. Key Takeaways for Therapists Therapists must examine their own food and body biases to avoid unintentional harm to clients. Many physicians have minimal training in dietetics and may give inadequate advice. Clients can advocate for themselves in medical settings, including refusing to be weighed. GLP-1 medications may reduce appetite but can cause malnutrition, fatigue, and bone/muscle loss. Intuitive eating offers a path back to a healthier, more trusting relationship with food. For full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

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• Somatic Therapy, Nervous System Regulation, and Expanding Capacity for Rest: An Interview with Linda Thai

  Somatic Therapy, Nervous System Regulation, and Expanding Capacity for Rest: An Interview with Linda Thai Curt and Katie chat with Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200 about practical, culturally aware somatic tools therapists can use, helping clients (and themselves) expand capacity for rest, and integrating bottom-up work ethically when working with trauma survivors and adult children of refugees and immigrants. Full show notes and transcripts available at mtsgpodcast.com. About Our Guest: Linda Thai, LMSW, ERYT-200 Linda Thai is a trauma therapist and educator specializing in brain- and body-based modalities for addressing complex developmental trauma. She teaches mindfulness, grief tending, and somatic practices with a special focus on adult children of refugees and immigrants. Linda has assisted Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in psychotherapy workshops on attachment trauma and offers trainings and courses worldwide. Key Takeaways for Therapists Gentle rocking and orienting to distance are accessible entry points for regulation. Track SUNs (Subjective Units of Nourishment) as well as distress in sessions. Somatic work expands capacity for rest, not just activation. Therapists must contextualize disembodiment within colonization, hustle culture, and systemic exploitation. Choose teachers and communities that match your style before committing to long trainings. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: DW McCann FacebookMusic by Crystal Grooms Mangano: groomsymusic.com

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• The Initial Consultation Call: Setting the Foundation for Therapy

  The Initial Consultation Call: Setting the Foundation for Therapy Curt and Katie chat about consultation and intake phone calls — the crucial first step in the client–therapist relationship. They explore how to balance logistics with empathy, set realistic expectations, and create safety and rapport from the very beginning. About our Hosts:Curt Widhalm, LMFT – www.curtwidhalm.comKatie Vernoy, LMFT – www.katievernoy.com Key Takeaways for Therapists: How consultation calls set the tone for therapy Balancing logistics (fees, scheduling, insurance) with rapport-building Exploring referral sources, past therapy experiences, and client expectations Avoiding underselling yourself when discussing fees For more information and full show notes, visit: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

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• Unmasking Shame, Myths, and Healing for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: An Interview with Jeremy Sachs

  Unmasking Shame, Myths, and Healing for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: An Interview with Jeremy Sachs Curt and Katie chat with Jeremy Sachs, integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist, about supporting male survivors of sexual abuse. We explore harmful myths and stereotypes, the developmental impacts of sexual trauma, and the systemic and cultural barriers that make healing harder. Jeremy shares therapeutic approaches for early disclosure, building safety, and integrating trauma-specific interventions like Narrative Exposure Therapy, as well as the role of transformative justice in recovery. About Our Guest:Jeremy Sachs is an integrated therapist and Narrative Exposure Therapist from London, UK, now based in Glasgow, Scotland. Since the 2010s, he has run services that support individuals living with trauma or marginalisation, helping them to connect and find community. In 2016, he focused on developing therapy services for men, boys, and trans people who have survived sexual abuse and rape. He runs recovery groups and a private practice both online and in-person. Key Takeaways for Therapists: Myths like “men always want sex” or “they must have enjoyed it” are harmful and based on misunderstandings. Sexual abuse rarely occurs in isolation—context and systemic oppression matter. Containment and safety should precede trauma-specific work. Narrative Exposure Therapy can help integrate fragmented memories. Transformative justice offers community-based alternatives to the criminal justice system. Get the full show notes and transcript at: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree Patreon Podcast Homepage YouTube Facebook Group Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

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