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

Why Fixing Teens Doesn’t Work and What Actually Helps Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Will Dobud

Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Will Dobud about what therapists often get wrong when working with teens, why adolescent behavior is so often overpathologized, and how connection, play, risk, and mastery can better support youth mental health. They also explore the so-called youth mental health crisis, the impact of overmanagement and disconnection, and what therapists can do to better engage young people in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways.

About Our GuestDr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway. He is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University and an award-winning researcher focused on improving therapy outcomes for teenagers and promoting safe, ethical practices. His work has also examined America’s Troubled Teen Industry, especially wilderness therapy.

Key Takeaways

Teens are often overpathologized when they may be showing developmentally normal behavior.

Youth therapy should focus on engagement, interaction, play, and doing things together, not just sitting and talking.

Social disconnection, fewer third spaces, and less unstructured play may be contributing to youth distress.

Young people will seek connection wherever they can find it, including online and through AI relationships.

Therapists can help teens build resilience by supporting autonomy, mastery, and meaningful participation.

Find the full show notes and transcript at mtsgpodcast.com.

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The Burden of Potential: Therapy for Gifted Adults Navigating Burnout, Identity, and 2e Considerations

Gifted adults do not usually come to therapy naming giftedness as the issue. More often, they present with burnout, anxiety, depression, underperformance, identity confusion, relationship strain, or existential distress. In this continuing education episode, Katie Vernoy and Curt Widhalm explore how gifted adults show up in therapy, how to distinguish giftedness from high achievement, and how 2e considerations can complicate assessment and treatment.

Curt and Katie discuss the hidden cost of success, including masking, perfectionism, chronic overfunctioning, executive functioning workarounds, code-switching, and the pressure of living up to potential. They also look at what helps in therapy: deeper assessment, intellectual attunement, self-compassion, sustainability, accommodations, and values-aligned treatment.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

common presenting concerns for gifted adults in therapy

the difference between giftedness, achievement, and eminence

burnout, perfectionism, and chronic overfunctioning

masking, self-editing, and existential loneliness

2e considerations and hidden neurodivergence

treatment strategies that go beyond basic coping skills

This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit through the Modern Therapist Learning Community. To receive CE credit, listen to the episode, register for your free profile at moderntherapistcommunity.com, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation.

Full show notes, transcript, and episode resources will be available at mtsgpodcast.com.

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
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Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/

How Therapists Can Help Clients With IBS, Chronic Nausea, and Gut-Brain Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Ali Navidi, PsyD

Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Ali Navidi, PsyD about disorders of gut-brain interaction, including IBS, chronic nausea, and other GI conditions that therapists may see more often than they realize. They explore how the gut-brain axis works, which clients may be more likely to struggle with these concerns, how therapists can stay within scope, and why specialized behavioral health treatment can directly improve symptoms rather than only helping clients cope with them.

About Our GuestDr. Ali Navidi, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of GI Psychology, a national telehealth practice specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and chronic pain. In addition to providing patient care, Dr. Navidi oversees clinical training and outreach initiatives at the practice.

He has presented on GI disorders and chronic pain to organizations across the country, including the American College of Gastroenterology, UNC School of Medicine, George Mason University, Georgetown University (Grand Rounds), INOVA, as well as through podcasts, television appearances, and multiple State Academies of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Key Takeaways

Therapists are in a strong position to notice GI issues, especially in clients with anxiety, trauma histories, autism, or eating disorders.

Disorders of gut-brain interaction are not just “in someone’s head.” The pain and symptoms are real, even when there is no visible structural problem.

Therapists should encourage appropriate medical evaluation and collaborate with gastroenterologists rather than trying to diagnose IBS or other GI disorders on their own.

Specialized CBT and clinical hypnosis can directly treat gut-brain disorders, not just the anxiety that surrounds them.

Dr. Navidi, PsyD describes a treatment model focused on hypervigilance, catastrophizing, and visceral hypersensitivity.

When diet questions come up, therapists should be cautious and refer to GI-focused dietitians when appropriate.

Therapists should also be careful about overconfident claims related to the microbiome, SIBO, and other popular gut-health conversations.

For full show notes and the transcript for this episode, visit mtsgpodcast.com.

Join the Modern Therapist Community
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Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits
Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
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What Therapists Need to Know About Neurodivergent Clients and Families: An Interview with David Smith, LCSW

Curt and Katie talk with David Smith about neurodiversity-affirming therapy, autism, ADHD, PDA, family systems, and burnout for neurodivergent therapists. David shares both clinical expertise and lived experience as an autistic therapist, offering practical guidance for working more effectively with neurodivergent clients and the families around them.

About Our Guest: K. David Smith, LCSW

K. David Smith, LCSW, is an autistic therapist who provides neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed therapy online in 5 states (Oregon, California, Idaho, Vermont, and Florida). He also provides clinical supervision for therapists working toward LCSW or LPC licensure in Oregon, particularly those who are neurodivergent themselves or who are passionate about supporting neurodivergent clients. In addition, he provides consultation, training, and workshops for medical practices and professionals, other therapists, employers, and school districts about ways to become more neurodiversity-affirming and supportive of neurodivergent people.

Key Takeaways

- Therapists often miss neurodivergence entirely and may treat anxiety, depression, or “thought errors” without considering whether a client is struggling in environments that were not built for their nervous system.

- Neurotypical therapists can work well with neurodivergent clients when they lead with curiosity, attunement, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt how therapy is structured.

- PDA can look like defiance, but David reframes it as an anxiety- and threat-based response to demands. Traditional rewards and consequences may backfire.

- Neurodivergence in families is often intergenerational, with different neurotypes shaping attachment, communication, expectations, and family roles.

- Neurodivergent therapists need more than generic self-care. Sustainable practice may require reducing demands, grounding, rest, and nervous-system-informed regulation.

Full show notes and transcript will be available at mtsgpodcast.com.

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
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Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

How Clients Experience Therapy: From First Inquiry to the Waiting Room: An Interview with Michael Ashford

Curt and Katie talk with Michael Ashford about how clients experience therapy before the clinical work even begins. They explore what therapists can learn from customer service, communication, and marketing to create a smoother, more supportive experience from first inquiry through intake, onboarding, waiting room logistics, and practice policies. This conversation looks at how clarity, thoughtful systems, and strong boundaries can improve client experience while also supporting therapists.

About the Guest
Michael Ashford is the Senior Director of Marketing at Sign In Solutions and has spent the past decade building and leading marketing teams at companies large and small. Michael is a former award-winning journalist, a two-time TEDx speaker, and holds a Master’s degree in Communication from Kansas State University. Michael’s approach to marketing focuses on scaling companies through the power of effective communication, storytelling, and humanizing brands.

Key Takeaways

Client experience starts before the first session

Clear expectations reduce client stress and confusion

Website messaging, intake, and onboarding should feel seamless

Waiting room and check-in systems matter more than many therapists realize

Good customer service includes strong boundaries around time, fees, and cancellations

Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com

Join the Modern Therapist Community:
Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/