The Therapist Lounge

We talk with Dr. Greg Obert about client-centered therapy and why real change often starts when a therapist shows up as a genuine human being. We dig into deep listening, the power of presence, and how relationship-first work strengthens outcomes even in structured trauma treatment. • Greg’s journey from early psychology classes to clinical practice and podcasting • why an overly rigid CBT introduction can miss the person behind the symptoms • what the Gloria therapy tapes teach about empathy and therapeutic presence • training that builds listening skills by naming the underlying message • client-centered therapy as collaborative rather than directive • unconditional positive regard as nonjudgment rather than approval • how authenticity lowers client resistance and builds trust • trauma work with PTSD and veterans while keeping the person ahead of protocol • why scripts work best as templates customized to the relationship • Greg’s book The Man On The Bench and the impact of unexpected human connection Visit the Royal Oasis Psychotherapy Institute, RoyalOasisPI.com.  

I talk with Ed Tilton from Begin Again Institute about what sex addiction actually looks like in real life and why so many people miss it until relationships are on the brink. We connect compulsive sexual behavior to trauma, digital exposure, and shame, then lay out concrete ways to assess risk and start real recovery for both partners. In this Episode:• how sex addiction presents as porn addiction, infidelity, emotional affairs, and fantasy • why the “predator or pleasure” framing misses the suffering middle • vacancy wounds and violation wounds as early drivers of compulsive sexual behavior • the “three As” of online porn and why escalation happens fast • sextortion and sexploitation risks for teens and adults • mental health signals like anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, and suicidality risk • clinical screening options including the Porn Addiction Use Survey and PATHOS • referral paths to CSATs through ITAP • trauma-informed recovery using brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, and somatic work • partner betrayal trauma support and why relational repair needs its own track • practical parenting boundaries for phones plus age-appropriate sex education Visit begingaininstitute.com for more information and resources. 

Sabrina talk candidly with LCSW and author Beth Canalichio about why therapists need consistent self-reflection and why getting our own therapy can make us more effective and less reactive with clients. We unpack blind spots, burnout, and the ethics of staying client-centered when our feelings, beliefs, or the broader culture get loud.• the case for therapists doing their own therapy• noticing reactions as signals to slow down• blind spots, biases, and cultural assumptions• countertransference, discomfort, and when to seek supervision• ethical duty to refer out when needed• burnout risks, boundaries, time off, and caseload limits• practical tools like journaling, mindfulness, and peer consult• using reflection to strengthen rapport and the therapeutic alliance• staying as neutral as possible amid politics, faith differences, and social media pressure

Sabrina talks with Dr. Binyamin Klempner MSW, PhD from Tel Aviv about using artificial intelligence in therapy without losing clinical judgment, privacy, or the human relationship. They break down how MindBridge uses structured prompts, therapist oversight, and safety flags to support clients between sessions. Learn about the following:• Binyamin's path from hypnotherapy influences to building a therapeutic AI tool • Turning a structured clinical interview into an AI-guided experience • Why “human in the loop” matters more than clever output • Two models for use: subscription support vs therapist-integrated check-ins • Safety flags for concerning language and the limits of algorithmic detection • The gap between what clients tell AI and what they tell therapists • Encryption, confidentiality, and sharing only what clinicians need • A sacrosanct journal that stays private aside from AI • Optional image-based reflections for self-development prompts • Between-session continuity, DBT-style coaching possibilities, and shifting client expectations • Customizing AI tone to match a therapist’s modality and approach Go on to themindbridge.app, or email at [email protected]

We walk with Dr. Jack Gaddy Hilton , Social Worker through the PATH model—Presence, Alignment, Truth, Healing—showing clinicians how to integrate faith ethically without preaching. We explore stigma in churches, training gaps on both sides, and practical tools for reducing shame, building hope, and tracking change.• why stigma keeps Christians from therapy • consent-led spiritual assessment as standard practice • presence for nervous system regulation before insight • alignment to clarify identity and values-driven choices • truth to surface narratives without judgment • healing through repeated, adaptive action • translating parts concepts to accessible language • using the Transformation Index to measure progress • options for training and ongoing supportFollow-up: pathmodel.com — press Get In TouchFollow Dr. Hilton: @UnsungImpathpathmodel.com

We explore worth-conscious therapy with  Dawna Daigneault and map how clinicians can replace conditional approval with a stable foundation of inherent self-worth. Practical tools, visuals, and safety steps help clients move from perfectionism and anxiety to grounded, congruent living.• defining worth consciousness and why awareness alone is not enough• pillars of self-worth versus imitation pillars built on conditions• counterfeits such as achievement and image that fail to increase worth• applying worth-based building blocks to real-life goals and identity choices• shifting perfectionism toward worth-centered action and mindfulness• assessing disruption and sequencing trauma safety before worth work• guiding the lost worth story with attunement, dignity and pacing• clinician self-worth, language choices and boundary-sensitive planning• resources for deeper learning, articles, diagrams and communityFor clients to be sure to buy the bookWe also started a Facebook group for mental health professionals called Understanding Self-WorthIf a clinician would like to be able to read that, it’s available there: https://understandingself-worth.com/

We share a clinician’s roadmap for supporting infertility and reproductive loss with skill and care, from first-line treatments to third‑party reproduction. We name the grief that often goes unseen, the ethics of referral, and the tools that help clients hold hope without false promises.• defining infertility timelines and early workups• medicated cycles, IUI and IVF basics• embryo testing, transfer choices and success rates• financial strain, insurance gaps and access• disenfranchised and secondary grief• cultural, legal and religious pressures• crisis support after failed cycles• couples dynamics and communication• ACT for identity, values and cognitive defusion• rebuilding intimacy beyond procreation• consultation, CEUs and when to refer out“PSI does them, ASRM has like a segment with them… You gotta start somewhere.”https://www.crimsoncardinalcounseling.com/

I talk with Stephanie Fennel about what separates DBT-informed, trained, and certified work, and how those levels shape safety, structure, and outcomes. We clear up myths about coaching, walk through the biosocial theory, and share concrete steps for handling suicidality with care.• DBT-informed vs trained vs certified, and why rigor matters• What DBT coaching is, how limits work, and when to use it• Pretreatment structure, goals, and life-worth-living targets• Commitment to stay alive vs no-harm contracts• Safety planning, protective factors, and priority targeting• Biosocial theory for validation and case formulation• CEU trainings on skills application, suicide, and ethics• Making CEUs affordable, engaging, and practical• Where to find live and virtual trainings and consultationFind trainings and details at smfcounseling.com. “There’s a link on the Trainings page for my February skills training and future events.”

We challenge neuronormative care by centering acceptance, cultural humility, and body-based practices for autistic and ADHD clients. Maverick shares how somatics, narrative therapy, and neuroqueered CBT restore agency, while we unpack DSM limits, language, and training paths that reduce harm.• autism-affirming care based on acceptance and agency• somatic therapy for interoception and proprioception needs• childhood adaptations becoming adult barriers• neuroqueering CBT to address bias and context• narrative therapy for meaning-making and power• neuroqueer identity beyond binaries and norms• DSM limits, self-diagnosis, and decolonizing frames• consent-based language and ongoing check-ins• training resources and global providers• six-month coaching group for rejection sensitivityFollow on Instagram at the.therapist and visit coachingwithmaverick.com to watch the free RSD webinar and learn about the six-month program

Sabrina and Harmony discuss how Gestalt therapy and awake awareness shift the frame from therapist-as-expert to client-led healing grounded in presence, embodiment, and intuition. Harmony Kwiker shares practical ways to honor innate spirituality, reduce burnout, and train in transpersonal skills with clinical rigor.• dismantling the expert model and centering client wisdom• awake awareness versus ordinary mind• the therapy room as a sacred container• somatic work and present-moment experiments• reframing countertransference as intuitive data• trusting patterns as portals to healing• reducing burnout by staying seated in our own energy• training paths at the Institute for Spiritual Alignment• levels covering attachment repair, subpersonalities, and non-ordinary states• practical care for the clinician’s energy and congruenceFind Harmony’s resources and trainings at awakenedtherapist.com