Clearly Clinical

08/22/2024

In the United States, approximately 53 million adults provided unpaid care to an adult or child in 2020, which represents over one in five Americans. This caregiving often results in significant emotional, physical, and financial stress for the caregiver.

How can clinicians better support clients who are navigating this complex role?

In our latest on-demand podcast CE course, Diane Bigler, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW, delves into the stress and issues associated with caregiving, focusing on its impact on mental health. The course offers strategies to support individuals in their caregiving roles, with a particular emphasis on cultural considerations. You'll gain valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by caregivers and learn about essential resources for assessing and supporting them.

We hope you find this course both informative and practical for your practice. Our gratitude to Diane for openness in sharing both her professional and lived experience on this topic.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lh_3VtLMDAA?si=M9tB2buQ2Z7QdvaZ . Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

08/09/2024

In recent years, ketamine has seen increased use for treating mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and trauma. For example, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2021) found that repeated intravenous (IV) ketamine infusions lead to a significant and rapid reduction in symptom severity for individuals with PTSD, with improvements lasting several weeks.

Could ketamine treatment help your clients?

Our new on-demand podcast CE course features Dr. Abid Nazeer, FASAM, exploring ketamine's role in mental health treatment, including various administration methods, safety considerations, and its impact on traditional approaches. Dr. Nazeer covers key questions such as how ketamine differs from existing treatment options, ideal patients and conditions for this type of care, the addiction potential of ketamine, and what a typical treatment journey looks like for patients both short and long-term.

We hope it's helpful for you.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and here on Youtube: https://youtu.be/leuuDbNT8xM?si=QnmBybH7miug5qZ2. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

08/01/2024

Clinical documentation is one of the most tedious parts of clinical practice, and many of us are looking for ways to streamline our work. Things like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are really appealing due to the potential time savings, but…

Is using AI in therapy ethical?

This week's new on-demand podcast CE course features Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey exploring the ethical use of artificial intelligence in mental health practice. In this interview, Dr. McCaffrey reviews current applications of AI in therapy and highlights critical ethical and legal considerations for clinicians, including relevant aspects of HIPAA and guidance on navigating the evolving landscape of AI tools. Listen in and discover how AI can simplify clinical work while ensuring client information remains secure.

We hope it's helpful for you.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPAlUeFZd40. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

07/19/2024

Recent studies reveal that nearly a quarter of U.S. adults now identify as religiously unaffiliated, a dramatic increase from just 16% in 2007. This shift signifies a profound change in the nation's spiritual landscape, raising critical questions about the future of faith, identity, and community.

Have you noticed more clients questioning and/or leaving their faith?

Our new on-demand podcast CE course features returning guest Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren, author of Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion (APA LifeTools Series), providing insights into the evolving religious landscape in the US and the increase in people leaving religion. Discover the reasons behind this shift, learn about the psychological effects of religious residue for people who are either wanting to leave religion or already have, and learn clinical interventions to effectively support clients who are wrestling with the impact of leaving organized religion.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your work and better understand this growing trend.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ihQHASrkaM&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

07/11/2024

Epigenetic racial trauma refers to the biological mechanisms by which the experiences of racial trauma can affect gene expression and be passed down to subsequent generations. This means that the stress and trauma experienced by ancestors due to racism can leave chemical marks on their DNA, which can influence the health and behavior of their descendants.

How can we help our clients of Color understand and cope with the impact of ancestral traumas on their lives today?

Our new on-demand podcast CE course features returning Clearly Clinical guest Dr. Sonja Sutherland, LPC, delving into the groundbreaking field of epigenetics and its role in transmitting trauma across generations. Dr. Sutherland explains how historical and intergenerational traumas, especially race-based ones, can profoundly impact individuals and communities, shaping their emotional, physical, and psychological well-being. This course provides a crucial framework for therapists to address the legacy of race-based trauma in their practices.

We hope you find it helpful. Our gratitude to Dr. Sutherland.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and here on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khpnA7wONNw&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

06/28/2024

“No matter how hard I try, I'm always late…”

Chronic lateness and difficulty anticipating how much time a task may take are common experiences for people who are neurodivergent, often with significant consequences on personal and professional relationships (and even therapy).

What can we therapists do to help clients who experience time blindness?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features returning guest Robin Abbott, OTR/L, author of Sound Advice: How to Help Your Child with SPD, Autism and ADHD from the Inside Out, discussing why time awareness might be impaired in people with autism/ADHD/sensory processing differences and the significant effects it can have on their daily lives. Robin shares how our construct of time is rooted in auditory processing, and she introduces practical interventions to help clients improve their time awareness.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and tools to support your clients with time perception.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws4hNkIY5MI&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

06/14/2024

Opioid medications, while commonly prescribed for chronic pain, can lead to dependence and addiction, complicating the overall management of the condition. Additionally, opioids often fail to address the underlying causes of chronic pain, potentially worsening long-term outcomes for patients.

What are evidence-based alternatives to opioids in the management of chronic pain?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features addiction and pain management expert Dr. Mel Pohl, coauthor of The Pain Antidote, in a comprehensive discussion on modern pain neuroscience and the pitfalls of opioid treatment for chronic pain. Dr. Mel highlights the limitations of the opioid model and offers alternative, evidence-based non-pharmacologic treatment options that can significantly improve patient outcomes, including discussion of complementary interventions pulling from Polyvagal Theory and Mindfulness.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform or here on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Kd2IhBwoc&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

06/06/2024

Discussing financial issues in therapy may make both therapists and clients uncomfortable; money is often considered a taboo topic, deeply intertwined with personal values and emotions. This societal discomfort can limit our clinical ability to address all aspects of clients' well-being, including their financial health and literacy.

What do therapists need to know to better address the financial aspects of their clients' mental health?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features Certified Financial Therapist Dr. Traci Williams in a compelling conversation about financial health and how we all relate to money. This course examines the underlying reasons behind individuals' distinct relationships with money like sociocultural considerations and past experiences, and offers valuable insights for practitioners about how to nurture financial literacy in our clients (and perhaps ourselves!).

We hope it's helpful for you.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and here on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOGUKawdv8c&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

05/29/2024

Incidents of antisemitism in the US have increased dramatically in the last eight months, now at an all-time high. Many Jewish people feel targeted and unsafe.

What do non-Jewish therapists need to know to better support Jewish clients through antisemitism, and create safer clinical spaces?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features Dr. Liya Levanda in an open and compassionate conversation about the increases in antisemitism and the impact of transgenerational trauma on Jewish clients. Dr. Levanda helps form a foundation for creating a practice more welcoming of Jewish clients, and, in doing so, cultivating social justice advocacy to truly be inclusive of all.

We hope it's helpful for you. Our sincere appreciation to Dr. Levanda for joining us for this conversation.

Please see our other recent podcast CE courses:

As Wartime Realities Unfold: Supporting Clients In Traumatic Shock (Ep. 191)

Bridging The Divide: The Realities for Jewish and Arab Clients in a Time of Heightened Discrimination (Ep. 209)

Caring For Palestinian Clients Through Trauma: Limitations of Western Norms and More Fitting Approaches (Ep. 208)

Listen to the new episode for free on your favorite podcast platform or here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91_Bf-R5OfM&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

05/28/2024

Many of us find ourselves glued to the news, image after image coming not only from Gaza and Israel, but also from protests/counterprotests and hate crimes here in the US. Antisemitism and anti-Arab sentiments are heightened, and many people from these marginalized groups feel scared, targeted, and undersupported.

How do we clinicians embody cultural humility and Do No Harm with both Jewish and Arab clients?

Our new podcast episode/CE course features Arab-American Cheryl Qamar, LCSWR, and Dr. Mark Hammel, a Jewish American counseling psychologist, in an earnest and transparent discussion about the realities of antisemitism and anti-Arab discrimination, and related forms of ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious discrimination affecting Jewish, Arab, and Muslim communities in the United States. In addition to defining various terms and discussing the increases in discrimination facing these groups, Cheryl and Mark explain the use of the touchstones of cultural sensitivity, trauma-informed care, and psychoeducation in order to help clinicians provide thoughtful, effective care to clients who both share and differ from our own personal (therapist’s) belief systems, whether due to membership in these groups or as allies.

These are not often easy conversations to navigate with our clients. Our sincere appreciation to Cheryl and Mark for joining us for this conversation, and for their courage and dedication to the field. Stay tuned for additional content about supporting Jewish clients, in addition to our recent episode about supporting Palestinian clients.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform or here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxSX7eGFEEw&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

05/09/2024

Mental health professionals are challenged by severe suffering globally, affecting various communities around us, communities that we, ourselves may be part of. These conflicts pe*****te our news cycles and our souls.

What do we Western therapists need to know to better support Palestinian clients through ongoing violence and trauma?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features Dr. Dr. Samah Jabr - د. سماح جبر, the Mental Health Director for the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in a thoughtful and reflective conversation about the disparities between Western psychological paradigms and the unique mental health challenges in Palestine. In this interview, Dr. Jabr proposes a critical reevaluation of these practices to better embrace diverse cultural narratives, serve Palestinian clients, and address global mental health concerns.

We hope it's helpful for you. Our sincere appreciation to Dr. Jabr for joining us for this conversation.

Please stay tuned for additional content discussing current national and international conflicts, including the rise of antisemitism and islamophobia, and how we mental health professionals can better understand and best support people affected by these catastrophes.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xznFD8K_xOQ&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year. Please visit our website to learn more.

05/09/2024

Mental health professionals are challenged by severe suffering globally, affecting various communities around us, communities that we, ourselves may be part of. These conflicts pe*****te our news cycles and our souls.
What do we Western therapists need to know to better support Palestinian clients through ongoing violence and trauma?
This week’s new podcast episode/CE course features Dr. Samah Jabr, the Mental Health Director for the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in a thoughtful and reflective conversation about the disparities between Western psychological paradigms and the unique mental health challenges in Palestine. In this interview, Dr. Jabr proposes a critical reevaluation of these practices to better embrace diverse cultural narratives, serve Palestinian clients, and address global mental health concerns.
We hope it’s helpful for you. Our sincere appreciation to Dr. Jabr for joining us for this conversation.
Please stay tuned for additional content discussing current national and international conflicts, including the rise of antisemitism and islamophobia, and how we mental health professionals can better understand and best support people affected by these catastrophes.
Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform. Link in bio. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

05/03/2024

Many of us assume that memory changes are just part of the aging process, but what about the memory and behavioral changes that fall outside the range of neurotypical, the ones that ought to necessitate a referral for more hands-on care?
What do therapists need to know to recognize typical and atypical memory changes in older adults?
This week’s new podcast episode/CE course features returning guest and Geropsychologist Dr. Regina Koepp, host of the Psychology of Aging podcast, in an intimate conversation about the realities of age-related memory decline. In this interview, Dr. Koepp breaks down the need-to-know information for clinicians, including information about comorbidities like depression and PTSD, risk factors, and helpful differential diagnosis guidance. Given that dementia disorders often present with mood and behavioral changes, therapists are sometimes the first professionals to recognize that an older adult may be experiencing more than age-related memory changes.
We hope it’s helpful for you. Our gratitude to Dr. Koepp for sharing her insight with us.
Listen to the episode for free on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Link in bio. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

05/03/2024

Many of us assume that memory changes are just part of the aging process, but what about the memory and behavioral changes that fall outside the range of neurotypical, the ones that ought to necessitate a referral for more hands-on care?

What do therapists need to know to recognize typical and atypical memory changes in older adults?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features returning guest and Geropsychologist Dr. Regina Koepp, host of the Psychology of Aging podcast, in an intimate conversation about the realities of age-related memory decline. In this interview, Dr. Koepp breaks down the need-to-know information for clinicians, including information about comorbidities like depression and PTSD, risk factors, and helpful differential diagnosis guidance. Given that dementia disorders often present with mood and behavioral changes, therapists are sometimes the first professionals to recognize that an older adult may be experiencing more than age-related memory changes.

We hope it's helpful for you. Our gratitude to Dr. Koepp for sharing her insight with us.

Listen to the episode for free on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLFfIXQuZRQ&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

04/22/2024

Hello, fellow therapists! To celebrate Dr. Sue Johnson’s recent free podcast CE course with Clearly Clinical, we've partnered on a great sweepstakes!

Enter to win a free 1-year membership for unlimited Clearly Clinical podcast Continuing Ed courses and Dr. Johnson’s exclusive Demon Dialogues online guide! To enter, follow the guidelines below:

Step 1: Comment on this post and tag a colleague

Step 2: Sign up for Dr. Johnson’s newsletter here: https://drsuejohnson.com/subscribe/

Step 3: Sign up for Dr. Johnson’s free podcast CE course on Clearly Clinical's website here: https://courses.clearlyclinical.com/courses/ceu-social-worker-emotionally-focused-individual-therapy

Three winners will be chosen at random after compiling all entries across channels. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024 on social media channels. We'll also contact the winner via PM and email.

04/18/2024

When I first started Clearly Clinical, it was my dream to be able to make CE courses with ‘the greats' affordable and/or free… I believe great CE should be accessible. And here we are, almost six years later, having released free CE courses with some of the industry's heavyweights, including Dr. Julie Gottman, Dr. Irv Yalom, Dr. Scott Miller, and others.

I'm delighted to share our newest free CE course, featuring none other than Dr. Sue Johnson, creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy and now Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy: “Shaping a Secure Sense of Self Using EFIT.” In this special new free on-demand podcast CE course, Dr. Johnson answers important questions about using the foundations of attachment theory and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy to help our individual psychotherapy clients develop a more secure sense of self as a means to improve qualify of life. This interview makes it abundantly clear why Dr. Johnson garners so much respect in our field… her clarity and compassion are stunning.

As a special treat, we've made this free CE course available in two different formats: A trimmed on-demand audio podcast episode (available on all major free public podcast platforms, like Apple, Spotify, etc.) and the full, unedited on-demand video interview, available on YouTube. Sign up for the free CE course here: https://courses.clearlyclinical.com/courses/ceu-social-worker-emotionally-focused-individual-therapy

Watch the full video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UmNaikOnTw8

The CE credit associated with this podcast interview is entirely free (no credit card required; you do not need to be a paid member to enroll in and take this course).

Please tag a friend or share!

Our gratitude for Dr. Sue Johnson for sharing her wisdom.

Dr. Sue Johnson explains how Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy evokes, contains, and uses emotion in specific empirically-supported ways to help individual clients grow and thrive. Interview with Elizabeth 'Beth' Irias

04/04/2024

Roughly 40% of people have experienced intimate partner violence ('IPV'), in a prior relationship and/or the current one. Put differently, over a third of us have been in a violent relationship before… that number is staggering.

What do clinicians need to know to better understand intimate partner violence?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features couple/family violence expert Dr. Keith Klostermann, LMFT, MHC in an eye-opening and comprehensive discussion about the rates of IPV and what clinicians need to know. In this interview, Dr. Klostermann corrects some myths about intimate partner violence and therapy (like “Couples who are violent should never be in couple counseling.”), and outlines some of the legal and ethical issues clinicians need to keep in mind when assessing and caring for these clients.

We hope it's helpful for you.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform and here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtO-IinSHkE&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

03/28/2024

It's pretty safe to say that almost all of us have zoned out while in a virtual meeting… it's not hard to become screen fatigued and start moving on to some other task even though we're supposed to be focused on the meeting.

Knowing that the online format carries specific challenges, how do we do a better job of engaging people in online/telehealth group therapy sessions?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features returning guest and telehealth expert Ariel Landrum, LMFT, in a super helpful podcast CE course about improving online group therapy sessions. In this interview, Ariel delves into effective strategies for structuring sessions, fostering engagement, and managing group dynamics in a virtual environment, including discussion about law and ethics. She also offers some invaluable insider knowledge to help make groups hit-home with our clients.

Our thanks to Ariel for sharing so much fruitful info with us. We hope it's helpful for you.

Listen to the episode for free on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQIb-zw568o&t=1365s&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.

03/08/2024

‘Alexithymia’ is the difficulty identifying and understanding feelings, and it's often a notable reality for people who hold marginalized identities. The emotional calculus for those lacking emotional privilege differs drastically from those who have the emotional privilege to experience and express their emotions without fear of negative consequences.

How can therapists help marginalized community members feel and understand emotion in a world that may actively discouraged it?

This week's new podcast episode/CE course features returning guest Joanne Kim, LMFT, in a deeply intimate conversation about the struggles many marginalized folks experience with relation to emotion… the right to feel it, the right to experience it, and even the right to wrestle with the realities of expressing it. What should someone do with their emotions if they’re in a context where they’re systematically mistreated or discriminated against? In this interview, Joanne paints a heartfelt picture of the potential emotional realities among marginalized groups, and helps give direction to therapists who are wanting to help.

We hope it's helpful for you. Our gratitude to Joanne for sharing her insight with us.

Listen to the episode for free on your favorite podcast platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjOIZb7trGk&ab_channel=ClearlyClinical%C2%AE. Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our membership for $95 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.