Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists: Clinical Confidence + Reassurance, Reframing Imposter Syndrome, Overwhelm and Burnout

In this totally unscripted episode of The Gettin' Gritty Podcast for Mental Health Therapists , we reflect on the biggest lessons we've learned after decades of working with children, families, trauma survivors, and fellow clinicians as EMDR therapists, authors, practice owners and humans. Whether you're a new therapist struggling with imposter syndrome, an EMDR clinician building c...

As promised, another use tomorrow intervention just for you! In this episode of The Gettin' Gritty Podcast for Mental Health Therapists we share another one of our favorite "use tomorrow" clinical interventions: the Past, Present, Future Intervention. This simple yet remarkably effective technique helps clients of all ages begin to move out of trauma time, reconnect with present-day...

What happens when you're a brand-new therapist sitting in sessions thinking, "I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing" ? In Part 2 of our conversation with therapist Erika Hanna , we get real about the insecurities, negative beliefs, and growing pains that so many therapists experience but rarely talk about out loud. Erika shares what it was like stepping from graduate school...

What does grit look like when life doesn't follow the plan? In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists, we sit down with therapist Erika Hanna to explore the winding path from teacher to therapist, the challenges of balancing motherhood and career aspirations, and the courage it takes to trust your inner knowing when the next step isn't clear. Erika shares how un...

Have you ever found yourself feeling unusually reactive with a client, struggling to let go of a case, over-functioning in session, or questioning whether you're "doing enough" as a therapist? In Part 2 of our conversation about The Primal Question   by Mike Foster, we're exploring how our deepest emotional wounds can quietly influence the way we show up in our clinical work, s...

What if the behaviors, anxiety, relationship struggles, perfectionism, and even therapist imposter syndrome all trace back to one core question running quietly beneath the surface? In this raw and unfiltered conversation, we dive deep into The Primal Question framework by Mike Foster and explore how these core emotional needs shape us personally, professionally, and clinically. From nervous system...

What if the “big reaction” your client is having to everyday things isn’t manipulation, defiance, or attention-seeking… but a younger part stepping forward asking for care and trying to protect? In this episode of The Gettin’ Gritty Podcast for Mental Health Therapists, we walk you through one of our favorite trauma-informed interventions: the nesting dolls intervention for working with younger pa...

Do you feel like you are a "good therapist" but there's just something missing? In this honest and practical episode of The Gettin’ Gritty Podcast for Mental Health Therapists , we dive into the difference between good intentions and clinical grit . Because empathy, active listening, and caring deeply about clients matter... but they are not always enough to create transformation. T...

What happens when a fourth-grade teacher walks into a counseling class… and never looks back? In this episode, we sit down with Becky Caldwell, therapist and co-host of the  Probably Bad Advice Podcast to talk about her unconventional path into the therapy world and the real, unfiltered experience of becoming a clinician later in life. We get into the stuff that doesn’t make it into textbooks:  –...

How do you actually start trauma work with clients… without overwhelming them or shutting them down? If you’ve ever found yourself thinking,   “I know what to do clinically… but how do I bring this up? ...this episode is for you. In this conversation, we’re breaking down 3 simple, powerful metaphors you can use immediately to help clients safely approach trauma work—without flooding their nervous...

Ever find yourself thinking, “I already tried that with this client… now what?” In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists, we kick off a new series: What Grit Is NOT. And first up is a common trap many therapists fall into the “I already did that” syndrome. When clinicians believe they must constantly bring something new and innovative to every session, it can lead to sel...

You know that stomach-drop feeling when you realize a parent really needs to be in session, but scheduling it stops you cold? Yeah. We've been there. And we're here to tell you: that feeling doesn't mean you're not ready. It means you're about to get gritty. In this episode, we walk you through a simple 3-step framework for your next parent session, so you can stop avoidin...

What if the version of you who feels the most unprepared… is actually the one being shaped into something powerful? In this episode, we sit down with EMDR consultant, therapist and owner of Growing Glimmers: Childhood Trauma Therapy, Wendy Llamas LCSW, who didn’t even want to be a therapist at first. From being thrown into high-intensity community mental health work that fried her nervous system,...

Ever sit in session and think, “Why did I become a therapist… I have no idea what I’m doing?” Yeah. You’re not alone. Us too.  In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists Podcast, we’re getting honest about something most therapists won’t say out loud: sometimes, you feel… stupid . There, we said it.   And instead of pretending that goes away with experience, we’re breaking...

What happens when a powerful clinical model is built from mentorship, courage, and a deep belief that kids and families can heal? In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists, we sit down for part two of our chat with Debra Wesselmann, LIMHP to unpack the story behind the Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children and Adolescents (IATP-C) , a framework that has help...

What happens when attachment trauma, EMDR therapy, and family work come together into one powerful foundational protocol? In this episode of Gettin' Gritty for Mental Health Therapists, we sit down with our longtime mentor, supervisor and collaborator Debra Wesselmann, LIMHP co-founder of the Attachment Trauma Center of Nebraska , to tell the story behind the Integrative Attachment Trauma Pro...

In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist , we share three EMDR attachment interventions for child therapy. These practical exercises help therapists strengthen parent-child attachment, support nervous system regulation, and repair early trauma wounds. Listen to this one if you’re a therapist who works with:  Children with attachment trauma Foster or adoptive families Kids with separat...

What if one of your most powerful clinical interventions… was a children’s book? But first... If you want more practical, grounded tools like this, check out our course Where Rookie Means Ready    (yes, it’s intentionally affordable) and grab our free Grit Kit here! Because grit isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the courage to keep trying when things get uncomfortable. And that takes nervous system capa...

Ever walked out of supervision thinking, “I should’ve known that” ? Yeah. Us too. But first...get on our newsletter list here ! In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist, we’re digging into a powerful quote that stopped us in our tracks: Be humble in preparation, but confident in execution.- Andy Frisella And we’re unpacking what that really means for therapists in the messy middle of...

What does it actually mean to be a “gritty” therapist? In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist , we pull back the curtain on the class we created for new clinicians: Where   Rookie Meets Ready: Grit School for the Real World . Because let’s be honest, grad school teaches you interventions… but it doesn’t teach you how to handle the messy middle of being a therapist: uncertainty, impo...

Ever found yourself mid-session thinking, “Oh no… what do I say next?” Or felt that sudden spiral of self-doubt that whispers, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this…” You’re not alone. In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist , we unpack what’s really happening underneath those scramble moments in the therapy room...AND we've created a PDF download that explains the 3 steps!  This conv...

Ever find yourself mid-session thinking, “Okay… what do I do next?” In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist , we kick off a “tomorrow-ready” series, complete with a FREE PDF download (grab yours HERE ) just for you!  As mental health therapists we know you want more confidence, more grit, and less imposter syndrome with practical interventions you can use right away. Because well, th...

What does it actually look like to build a sustainable therapy career while raising babies, surviving burnout seasons, and learning how to leave work at work? In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist, we sit down with special guest Taylor Dibble-Townsend, a licensed therapist, former intern at The Cord, and now a Gritty Academy Mentor, to talk about what it really takes to grow into y...

In this episode of The Gritty Therapist Podcast, we share hilarious, awkward, and deeply relatable stories about the moment we say “I’m a therapist," and how people react next. From being ignored at holiday parties, to becoming the “therapist at the table,” to being bombarded with deeply personal questions in public spaces, this episode captures the reality every clinician knows too well. We...

What if what you’ve been calling imposter syndrome isn’t a syndrome at all? In this episode of The Gritty Mental Health Therapist, we dig into a powerful reframe that many early- and mid-career therapists desperately need. We’re talking about grit, boundaries, imposter syndrome, and the hard lessons that actually make you a better clinician, even when they feel terrifying in the moment. Cathy shar...