The Therapist Thrival Guide

In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide , licensed clinical social worker Miranda Barker sits down with Kaleigh Boysen-Quinata, LMFT, and Stephanie McDonald, LPC, to explore the unique challenges and rewards of working with children under five in therapy . Together, they cover everything from early childhood diagnoses and play-based modalities like Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Play...

Bipolar disorder can be one of the most challenging diagnoses for clinicians to understand and treat—so in this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, we are sitting down with Rachel Snipes, LPC, who specializes in trauma and clinical supervision, to break it all down. We talk through the key differences between Bipolar I and Bipolar II, how to spot symptoms, and why it’s often misunderstood or m...

In this episode, Miranda Barker, LICSW, sits down with Jessie Colter, LICSW, to explore the essential role of parent coaching in child therapy. Together, they break down therapeutic approaches, highlight why parent involvement matters, and share strategies for navigating real-world family dynamics. From trauma-informed modalities to practical case examples, this conversation is packed with insight...

In this episode, Miranda Barker, LICSW , and Dr. Rachel Wood, a licensed counselor with a PhD in cyber psychology, dive into the fascinating intersection of psychology and technology. They discuss the rise of AI tools like Character AI and AI therapists, and their impact on the mental health field. The conversation covers various aspects including the use of AI as a supplementary tool in therapy,...

In this episode, we are joined by licensed professional counselor DeeAnna Nagel to talk about one of her favorite creative tools—therapeutic writing—and how it can be woven into clinical work. DeeAnna shares how writing, whether through journaling, email, or chat-based therapy, can help clients process their experiences in a way that feels safe and personal. We explore different approaches, from s...

In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide , we're sitting down with Christy Gunter, LMSW to unpack the complexities of chronic trauma—what it is, how it impacts the brain and body, and what we can do to help clients heal. Christy explains chronic trauma as repeated exposure to threat or harm. Over time, the brain and nervous system start to adapt in ways that were meant to protect us but...

In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide , Miranda is joined by Emily Turcotte, LICSW, a therapist with deep expertise in trauma, anxiety, and depression. We unpack the complexities of insomnia—what it is, why it often becomes chronic, and how it frequently shows up alongside things like PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety. Emily walks us through how she supports clients struggling wit...

In this episode of Therapist Thrival Guide , Miranda is joined by Roxanne (Roxi), one of our trauma therapists based out of the Woodbury office. Roxi brings experience in EMDR and IFS—and shares both her clinical wisdom and personal story of navigating panic disorder. We explore how trauma can show up in the body, the therapeutic techniques that help clients feel safe and empowered, and why belief...

Need a deeper understanding of intimate partner violence—and how to support those impacted by it? In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide , we are joined by Christy Sim, a therapist at Ellie Mental Health in Grapevine, Texas. Christy brings incredible insight to the conversation, shaped by her doctoral research and years of working directly with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV)....

In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide , Miranda is joined by Letisha and Madison for a thoughtful, honest conversation about Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab. This book sparked such a rich discussion—one that we know will resonate whether you’re a therapist, a client, or just someone trying to navigate relationships more clearly. This episode dives into what healthy bound...

In this episode Miranda sits down with Jean Hoarder, a therapist and the Clinic Director at in Pittsburgh. Jean works closely with franchise owners Fred and Sharon (who are mentioned, but not a part of this episode). Jean gets real about what it was like stepping into a clinic environment that wasn’t working—and how she helped turn things around. We talk about the importance of consistent leadersh...

In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide , we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Dall—former educator, now ADHD coach and consultant—to talk about something we both care deeply about: what ADHD actually looks like in women. Spoiler alert: it’s often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood. We get into our own stories, the emotional toll of masking, and what it means to get a diagnosis later in li...

In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide , I’m joined by the insightful Letisha Harris to talk through It Shouldn’t Be This Way by Janina Scarlet : a book rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy that blends practical tools with a compassionate approach to healing. We unpack themes like rewriting your origin story, navigating the difference between acceptance and enabling, and using metap...

In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide , Miranda sits down with Heather Dunlap, a licensed professional counselor and occupational therapist, to break down what occupational therapy (OT) really is—and how it complements the work we do in mental health. Heather shares her unique perspective as a dual-licensed provider, offering insight into how OT supports clients across the lifespan in dev...

In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide , Miranda is joined by Hannah, a licensed associate marriage and family therapist and one of the newest content creators at Ellie Mental Health. Together, we dive into the world of Erotic Blueprints —a framework that explores the different ways people experience and connect with pleasure. We break down the five blueprint types: energetic, sensual, sex...

In this episode, Alexa (Director of Compliance), and Emily Kohler Hanson team up to unpack everything you need to know about treatment planning. We’re diving into what makes a solid treatment plan—from understanding the difference between goals and objectives to using the SMART format to write ones that actually work. We’ll walk you through how to keep plans client-centered, compliant, and connect...

In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide , Miranda sits down with Sam Griggs, a licensed professional counselor and clinic director, to unpack the real-world challenges and rewards of providing mental health services in school settings. Sam shares what it’s really like to support students' mental health within the structure of a school day-- from navigating school expectations to managin...

In our 100th episode, Miranda is joined by Steve Drzewoszewski, LCSW, LCADC, CCS, CSC, a therapist and clinic director from New Jersey who’s been exploring the growing role of AI in the mental health world. We get into all the big questions—Is AI actually useful for therapists? What are the risks? And how do we use it responsibly without losing the heart of the work? We talk through how tools like...

In this episode, Miranda sits down with Kathy Flamino, founder and CEO of Move Mindfully, and Chrissy Mignogna, their lead trainer and director of education. We dive into what it really looks like to integrate trauma-responsive, body-based practices into everyday spaces—therapy sessions, classrooms, hospitals, and even juvenile justice settings. Kathy and Chrissy are all about making these tools a...

In this episode, Miranda is joined by Erin Stevens, LPC-S from New Orleans, for a conversation about a powerful and creative idea that emerged during the height of the pandemic: a virtual book club for clients. Erin shares how she launched the group, the logistics behind keeping it running, and how reading books like The Body Keeps the Score helped participants process trauma and build meaningful...

Join Miranda Barker, LICSW, and Dr. Robyn Janssen, licensed psychologist, for a deep dive into the realities of working with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). In this episode, Dr. Janssen shares insights from her dissertation on therapist countertransference when supporting clients with BPD—and why structured approaches like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can make all the difference. You’...

In this episode, Miranda is joined by Jennifer Keehn, LPCC, to unpack all things therapeutic letter writing. We’re talking emotional support animal letters, housing accommodations, FMLA, gender affirming surgery documentation—you name it. Whether you’re brand new to writing letters or have been doing it for years, we’re breaking down what needs to be included, how to protect your license, and the...

In this short but meaningful episode, Miranda (a licensed clinical social worker) is joined by fellow therapists Letisha and Gina for a real conversation about social anxiety. They break down how it can show up in both kids and adults, and share effective ways to treat it—including CBT, ACT, and the power of social stories. You’ll also hear about tools like the SCARED assessment that help guide di...

In this episode of Therapist Thrival Guide , Miranda is joined by trauma therapist Amy Wilkerson, LICSW, for a conversation that many of us need but don’t always know how to start—understanding dissociation. Amy brings deep experience working with clients in foster care, adoption, and the military, and she breaks down what dissociation really is (hint: it’s not just zoning out during a boring meet...

In this episode, Miranda interviews Kailah Tuttle, LPC, a certified geek therapist, about the innovative field of geek therapy. They discuss how incorporating elements of geek culture, such as anime, video games, roleplaying games, and superheroes, can enhance therapeutic practices. Kayla shares her experiences with therapeutic Dungeon Master training and how geek therapy helps clients connect wit...