Edge of the Couch

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch , share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at connect@edgeofthecouch.com. We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth . Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a...

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch , share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at connect@edgeofthecouch.com. We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth . Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a...

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch , share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram, or email us at connect@edgeofthecouch.com. We have partnered with Janeapp, our favourite all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth . Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign-up for a...

Self-awareness is a gift, right? Until it isn’t. Self-awareness can help us grow, connect, and live more fully. But when it goes too far, it can crystallize into self-criticism, intellectualizing, and anxiety. In this episode, we talk about what happens when clients almost have TOO much self-awareness. Alison opens the conversation with a quote from Girls star, Jemima Kirke, who once told “unconfi...

For the first time on Edge of the Couch, we’re bringing you a Part 2! The response on Instagram (@edgeofthecouchpod!) to the topic of oversaturation was so engaging that we knew we had to continue the conversation. In this episode, we take it deeper: Does the field weed out bad therapists? In a sea of therapists, what does a good fit really mean? And how can we push back against the culture of com...

Welcome back for Season 9 of Edge of the Couch! And hello to those of you who might be just starting your grad programs and finding us for the first time.  When we were in school, professors kept bringing up their concern that there was oversaturation in the field. So, we discuss this question: Is it true that there are too many therapists? That question feels even more pressing now than when we f...

In the final episode of the season, we revisit the topic of imposter syndrome. We talked about imposter syndrome in the very first episode of the podcast way back in 2021. How has our thinking about imposter syndrome evolved since then? In this episode, we explore what it looks like to own your experience as a therapist, even when there is still discomfort and self-doubt. We also share what is bri...

What do therapists mean when they say someone has a "victim mentality"? In this episode, we unpack this flippant term and explore what’s going on underneath it. We recognize that "victim mentality" is applied to several distinct phenomena. We discuss the difference between being an actual victim of harm, using "victimhood" as a protective defense, and unprocessed grie...

Have you ever found yourself being the villain in someone else’s story? In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to be perceived as "the bad guy." As therapists, we will get cast as the villain at some point. Our clients get cast as the bad guy in their other relationships. In some ways, it's inevitable. And not everyone gets a redemption arc. How have you been cast as the vill...

Has another therapist ever told you, “You shouldn’t work harder than the client”? In this episode, we talk about what people really mean when they use this phrase. We unpack how privilege, trauma, the relationship, theoretical orientation, and modality all shape what “effort” really looks like in the therapy room.  What do we lose when we expect therapy to be equal effort? What does it mean to &qu...

You know those moments in session when something inside says, "Something just shifted", "Pause here", or "Hmm..this is not lining up"? In this episode, we dig into what it means to follow our therapist intuition. We talk about how intuition grows over time, how it shows up in the room, and how we tentatively introduce our impressions. What’s your relationship with int...

In light of the recent mass killing at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, we decided not to publish an episode this week. We're honouring that our bodies need more time to grieve, recalibrate, and rest. We know many of you have also been impacted and we hope you're honouring your needs as well. Donate directly to families impacted. Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreo...

Are therapists who "call out" their clients more effective? This week, we’re responding to a Reddit post from a therapist who proudly claims to be a "mean therapist". They describe themselves as solution-focused, direct, and not afraid to hold clients accountable. We unpack what might be behind that identity, what types of therapists and settings tend towards mean-ness, and wha...

All therapists miss essential information-- things like self-harm, abuse, and disordered eating. These can have major consequences. In this episode, we discuss what gets missed in the therapy room, why it happens, and what we can do about it. From clients showing up drunk in session to disclosures that slip past us, we explore the kinds of clinical information that can go unnoticed, even by experi...

In this episode, we’re talking about a dynamic that (dare we say) all therapists are familiar with: working with clients who over-intellectualize. We explore why some clients show up to therapy in their heads while disconnected to their bodies and emotions, and how intellectualizing is both foundational and a block to good therapeutic work. We talk about the common pitfalls therapists fall into, e...

Are we "treating" our clients, as in doing something *to* them, or *with* them? In this episode, we dig into situations where therapy aligns more closely with a medical model, and how we prefer to work using an open-ended approach. We discuss why therapy isn't always/only about alleviating suffering, but changing their relationship with it. You'll notice we get noticeably fired...

Social media is one of the most impactful frontiers for therapists right now. So many questions are coming up for therapists at this time-- should I have social media at all? Should I market on social media? How much is too much to share? The internet is forever - what does that mean for me putting parts of my life online? In this episode, we discuss showing up on social media as a therapist, the...

Every therapist has been there. You’re in session and suddenly something your client says hits a nerve. Maybe it’s a detail in their story that pulls up your own history or something about their client presentation you can't quite put your finger on. In this episode, we dig into what happens when something comes up in session that feels like being poked by a white-hot poker. If you’ve ever ha...

Supervision and consultation are a core part of being a therapist, whether in practicum, newly graduated, or a decade into practice (and beyond). In this episode, we discuss how to get the most out of supervision, like bringing a list, not fixating on every misstep, and sharing the messy parts of your work, ensuring that any supervision conversations are intentional, useful, and ultimately helpful...

Trends in the therapy world come and go. Girl-bossing, therapists-as-content-creators, and now “the cool therapist”. Maybe you’ve seen the same “cool therapist” stuff we have - acting like new therapists are scared of everything, making skits or memes about disregarding ethical considerations, and acting like following thoughtful rules is somehow stuffy! If you’ve listened to the podcast for a whi...

This is the most intense political landscape that we’ve ever experienced as therapists. Many of our clients are also hugely impacted by policies being enacted and fear is a common feeling for both therapists and clients alike. The focus of the episode is how to talk to clients about politics when it comes up in session because we know it can feel scary and precarious. We both share how we navigate...

What happens when a client expects therapy to “fix” them or assumes their therapist will always have the wise, perfect answer? In this episode, we explore how to set realistic expectations around the therapy process, the therapist’s role, and how change actually happens. How do we balance validating our clients’ hopes while grounding them in what therapy can (and can’t) do? Join us on Patreon for...

We’re so happy to be back after our holiday hiatus. We're starting the new season with a highly requested topic-- opening a private practice. Since we graduated, the landscape of the counselling field has changed tremendously. More and more clinicians are opening their own practices right after graduating and we know that can be extremely anxiety-provoking. While we don’t share specific how-t...

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Being a Therapist in 2024 conference at the beautiful Jane Headquarters in North Vancouver. In this special episode, we dive into questions from the audience about niching, overcoming imposter syndrome, and working within organizations. We wrap up with messages to our younger selves, reflecting on what we wish we’d known when we were just starting out. We...

How can we support clients in navigating the big life decisions, including to stay or leave relationships, choose career paths, or family planning? In this episode, we explore the therapeutic role of discernment. Often, people are grappling with the pros and cons of each choice. Some of these conversations are vital and productive, and other times, it feels like we are spinning our wheels. As the...