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

When Does Therapy Really Start? Managing Risk and Responsibility Before the First Session

When does therapy actually begin—and when does therapist responsibility start? Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy explore the ethical, legal, and clinical risks that can arise before the first session ever happens, and what therapists can do to protect both their clients and themselves.

In this host-led episode, they break down common scenarios involving consultation calls, intake paperwork, crisis disclosures, collateral contacts, and missed first appointments. They offer practical guidance for clarifying client status, setting boundaries early, and reducing risk at the very start of care.

Key Takeaways for Therapists


Therapy can begin earlier than many clinicians expect


Agreeing to treatment may create responsibility even before the first session


Intake paperwork disclosures can require timely follow-up


Clear communication about availability and crisis procedures reduces risk


Collateral contacts are not clients unless explicitly defined as part of treatment


Follow-up and documentation matter, even when therapy never fully begins

Read the complete show notes and resources for this episode at:https://mtsgpodcast.com

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Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

Voice Over: DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music: Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/

When Therapy Goes Vibe-Forward: The Cost of Losing Clinical Depth

An Interview with TJ Walsh, LPC

When therapy becomes more about relatability and “vibes” than clinical depth, what gets lost? Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with TJ Walsh, LPC about how social media culture is shaping therapy expectations, why neutrality and containment still matter, and how supervision and self-work support real therapeutic change.

This episode challenges therapists to balance authenticity with professionalism and to clearly orient clients to the slower, relational work that meaningful therapy requires.

Key Takeaways for Therapists


Why vibe-forward therapy can feel supportive but limit long-term change


How neutrality functions as containment, not disengagement


The difference between validation and treatment


How social media shapes client expectations of therapy


Why supervision should continue well beyond licensure

Full Show Notes & Transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast

Creative Credits

Voice Over: DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music: Crystal Grooms Mangano – https://groomsymusic.com/

REPLAY: Working With Politically Divided Families with Angela Caldwell, LMFT

In this Reprise episode, Curt and Katie revisit their timely conversation with Angela Caldwell, LMFT on working with politically divided families. This episode explores family systems, differentiation, distress tolerance, and therapeutic neutrality when political conflict enters the therapy room. Angela offers a hopeful, clinically grounded framework for helping families tolerate opposing viewpoints, stay in relationship, and navigate discomfort without forcing agreement, making this episode especially relevant during election cycles and holiday family gatherings.

You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 375 here: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/how-can-therapists-help-politically-divided-families-an-interview-with-angela-caldwell-lmft/

Replay Episode: Therapy As a Political Act with Dr. Travis Heath

In this reprise episode, Curt and Katie revisit their powerful conversation with Dr. Travis Heath on why therapy is inherently a political act. Originally recorded in June 2020, just days after the murder of George Floyd, this episode examines how therapists navigate racism, systems of oppression, political overwhelm, and community trauma in the therapy room. Curt and Katie reflect on how the cultural landscape has shifted over the past five years, why Travis’s insights still resonate, and what therapists must continue doing to stay engaged in anti racist, decolonizing, and community centered work.

You can see the original show notes and transcripts for episode 158 here: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/therapy-as-a-political-act/

How Therapists Can Actually Rest During the Holidays: Letting Go of Guilt, Productivity, and Instagram-Worthy Expectations

Curt and Katie explore how therapists can create a real holiday break - not a performative or productivity-driven one. They discuss the pressure to rest “perfectly,” the guilt of not fully unplugging, how to shift into restorative downtime, and why passive vs. active rest matters. They also highlight anxiety, money scarcity, grief, and family dynamics that often intensify during the season, offering compassionate strategies for caring for yourself as a therapist and a human.

Key Takeaways for Therapists


You don’t need an Instagram-worthy vacation: real rest is allowed.


Rest is a process, not a switch; transition time matters.


It’s okay to be partially off and still check in lightly as needed.


Passive rest (scrolling) and active rest (movement, nature, connection) serve different purposes.


Anxiety, scarcity mindset, or family stress may drive overworking—notice the “why.”


The holidays can be hard; grief and emotional complexity deserve compassion.

Full show notes at: mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann — https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano — https://groomsymusic.com/