Alliant University

MACC: Inside the Session

Education EN ↓ 6 episodes

Join Alliant University Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling faculty members Dr. Cheryl Fisher and Dr. Jason Branch as they explore the intersection of current events and the counseling profession to provide insights and guidance that can benefit clinical counselors and their patients.

Author

Alliant University

Episodes

Ep. 6: Burnout Is Not Failure: Lessons From Community Health 09.07.2026 46:18

Recorded during Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Inside the Session features Drs. Jason Branch and Cheryl Fisher in conversation with MACC colleague Dr. Kristen Curry, a longtime community mental health practitioner, counselor educator, and Alliant alumna. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Curry candidly explores the realities of burnout, compassion fatigue, and work...

Ep. 5: Education Is Liberation: LGBTQIA2S+ Identity, Advocacy, and Affirming Care 18.06.2026 55:47

In time for Pride Month, this episode of Inside the Session features Drs. Jason Branch and Cheryl Fisher leading a deeply personal and educational conversation with Drs. Elizabeth Watters and Winter Wiorkowski on LGBTQIA2S+ identity, advocacy, and affirming mental health care. Through candid storytelling and clinical insight, the guests unpack key concepts including gender identity, nonbinary expe...

Ep. 4: Cultural Wealth: Counseling Built on Identity, Community, and Care 07.05.2026 49:36

Inside the Session returns with Drs. Jason Branch and Cheryl Fisher inviting fellow Alliant MACC faculty member Dr. Ashley Diaz for a compelling discussion on social justice in mental health, centered on the idea of “cultural wealth”: the strengths, traditions, and lived experiences clients bring into the therapeutic space. Drawing from her experiences as a Latina counselor educator, Dr. Diaz exa...

Ep. 3: Cleaning Out Your Basement: Exploring the Depths of Trauma 18.12.2025 46:41

Dr. Jason Branch and Dr. Cheryl Fisher delve into the complexities of trauma and its far-reaching effects on individuals and communities in this episode of Inside the Session . They explore the definitions of trauma, the impact of the pandemic as a collective trauma, and the concept of intergenerational trauma. Through engaging analogies, such as the house and the backpack, they illustrate how tra...

Ep 2: Supplement, Not Substitute: AI, Social Media, and Tech in Mental Health 06.11.2025 48:23

Drs. Cheryl Fisher and Jason Branch take you Inside the Session with fellow Alliant MACC faculty members Dr. Donnette Deigh and Samantha Guber. Together, they explore the intersection of mental health, social media, and technology, featuring insights from mental health professionals on the impact of social media on mental health, the role of AI, and practical strategies for managing technology use...

Ep. 1: 50 Years of Human Experience in Counseling 28.07.2025 50:17

In this inaugural episode of Inside the Session , hosts Dr. Jason Branch and Dr. Cheryl Fisher introduce themselves and their vision for the show, which aims to explore the intersection of current events and the counseling profession. They discuss the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and the human experience in counseling, while also addressing the challenges counselors face today. The c...