The Clinical Moment

Boundaries are one of the most common,and most challenging, topics that come up in therapy. In this episode of The Clinical Moment, Casey Baker and Amy Davis sit down with LSI therapist Emily to explore what boundaries really are, why they matter, and why they can feel so difficult to set.Emily shares her clinical perspective on boundaries through a cognitive behavioral lens, while also discussing practical strategies clients can use in everyday life. From understanding the difference between requests and boundaries to navigating discomfort, pushback, and feelings of guilt, this conversation offers meaningful and approachable tools for personal growth.You’ll also hear Emily introduce the Stoplight Method ,a simple yet powerful framework to help identify when boundaries may be needed and how to implement them effectively.In this episode, we discuss:• Why boundaries are not requests• Why setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable or selfish• How to respond when others push back• The Stoplight Method for identifying boundary needs• Using CBT strategies to challenge irrational thoughts• How boundaries improve relationships and reduce anxietyWhether you're navigating relationships, work dynamics, or personal growth, this episode offers practical guidance and encouragement for building healthier boundaries.

In this episode of The Clinical Moment, hosts Amy Davis and Casey Baker welcome Dhavy Patel, a temporary licensed mental health counselor at LSI, to discuss the complexities of trauma and its impact on both clients and clinicians. Dhavy shares insights from his recent presentation on compassion fatigue and introduces the use of poetry therapy as a powerful tool for reflection and healing among helping professionals.The conversation explores common misconceptions about trauma, the ways trauma can manifest in the body and mind, and why responses to traumatic experiences vary widely across individuals. Dhavy discusses practical clinical approaches including somatic awareness, trauma timelines, and person-centered engagement to support clients in understanding their experiences and moving toward healing.The episode also addresses the emotional toll trauma work can have on clinicians, highlighting the importance of professional support, self-compassion, and recognizing early signs of burnout or dysregulation. Throughout the discussion, Dhavy emphasizes resilience, reminding listeners that healing is possible, even after complex and long-standing trauma, and that progress often begins with small, meaningful steps.This episode offers valuable insights for clinicians, helping professionals, and anyone navigating their own healing journey.Link to Dhavy's Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/dhavy-patel-des-moines-ia/1495524

In this episode of The Clinical Moment, hosts Amy Davis and Casey Baker sit down with Michael, an LSI clinician who works with youth in juvenile detention centers across Iowa and is also a singer in his personal life. Michael shares how showing up, including attending court hearings, can transform trust, engagement, and willingness to heal, especially for young people who have never had a consistent advocate. He explains his deeply relationship-based approach and how he integrates Solution-Focused strategies such as exceptions, scaling, and future-oriented planning to help youth identify strengths, build realistic goals, and create a concrete “24/7 plan” for life outside detention.The conversation expands into healthy relationships more broadly. Michael discusses what makes relationships emotionally safe, how communication breaks down, especially around trust injuries, and how couples can shift from reactive conflict to clearer needs, empathy, and repair. Along the way, he connects music and voice as metaphors for authenticity and expression, and he discusses creative tools that support youth in telling their stories in new ways.Resources mentioned in the episodeNorcross and Lambert on psychotherapy outcome factors, including the role of client factors, the therapeutic relationship, and techniqueChild and Adolescent PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) used as part of initial assessment and conversation with youthACEs, Adverse Childhood Experiences referenced as a parallel lens for understanding history and impactGabor Maté and Compassionate Inquiry for trauma framing, with emphasis on what happens inside as a result of what happenedSuno AI music creation tool used to support youth expression through lyric-writing and song creationCommissioned gospel music group Michael listened to growing upHelped, Hugged, or Heard communication check-in tool for couplesListen to Michael's music here:https://open.spotify.com/track/4zvwoNQdQYsfRhOE01gXej?si=qELrm3jyRJOXRUBg3gYwZghttps://music.apple.com/us/album/love-letter/1858486891?i=1858486892

In this episode of The Clinical Moment, the hosts are joined by Joe (LSI therapist, Des Moines) for a grounded, values-centered conversation about habits and self-care. Rather than framing habits as “fixing yourself” or becoming more productive, the discussion reframes habits as signals of what we’re valuing, avoiding, coping with, or moving toward. Joe shares how his existential, person-centered approach emphasizes meaning-making, identity, authenticity, and learning to sit with discomfort (instead of only trying to “cope it away”). Together, they explore how habits can support change when they’re rooted in values and identity, how language shapes commitment (“I’m trying” vs. “I am”), and how small shifts can compound over time, especially when approached with curiosity and grace rather than judgment.Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeBooks & AuthorsAtomic Habits — James ClearHow Not to Speak of God — Peter RollinsThe Case for God — Karen ArmstrongHour of the Heart — Irvin YalomA Year with Thomas Merton — Thomas MertonThe Existentialist Survival Guide — Gordon MarinoMan’s Search for Meaning — Viktor FranklConcepts & ApproachesValues clarification / values card sort (narrowing down values and creating a personal values statement)Identity-based habit change (language + identity shift)Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (acceptance + values-based action)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) (dialectics; coping strategies; “urge surfing” referenced)Solution-Focused “Magic Wand” question (imagining desired change)Time audit / screen-time review (where time goes vs. where you want it to go)Practical Tools Discussed5–4–3–2–1 grounding: 5 things you see, 4 feel, 3 hear, 2 smell, 1 tasteTexture grounding: noticing tactile sensations (clothing, chair, objects)“Go touch grass”: literal reconnection with the present moment outdoorsSour candy grounding: lemon drops / sour candies as a quick sensory resetAccountability supports: trusted people, mentorship, community support (12-step mentioned as one example—acknowledging it isn’t for everyone)

Welcome to the first episode of The Clinical Moment. In this opening conversation, co-hosts Amy Davis and Casey Baker share why this podcast was created and what listeners can expect moving forward.Both hosts work within Lutheran Services in Iowa, a statewide nonprofit with more than 160 years of service and a growing clinical team of over 40 therapists providing care across Iowa through in-person and telehealth services. This podcast was created to highlight the people behind the clinical work and to make mental health conversations more human, relatable, and accessible.In this episode, Amy and Casey introduce themselves, reflect on their roles in clinical services, supervision, and education, and discuss the value of authenticity, collaboration, and ongoing growth. They share how The Clinical Momentgrew out of real conversations between colleagues and why creating space for reflection matters.Listeners will also hear what to expect in future episodes, including monthly themes such as self-care, relationships, trauma awareness, stress, creativity, and professional development. Each episode will feature LSI clinicians sharing their practice, passions, and lived experience with an emphasis on honesty over perfection.This podcast is for clinicians, students, clients, and anyone interested in mental health and meaningful connection. The episode closes with a preview of the first guest clinician and an invitation for listeners to engage, ask questions, and join the conversation.