37. Navigating Addiction Through A Family Systems Perspective with Kevin Petersen
Release Date: 11/16/2023
64. Emotional Echoes: When Our Work Hits too Close to Home
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In this episode of the Colleague Down The Hall Podcast, I dive into the concept of “Emotional Echoes” and how our clients’ experiences can sometimes resonate with our own life experiences. I talk about ways for therapists to recognize and manage these emotional reactions to maintain professional efficacy and personal well-being. I touch on the importance of self-awareness, support systems like peer consultation, and self-care strategies to navigate these challenges, and encourage sharing these experiences with colleagues to normalize and address them within the therapeutic community....
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63.Treating Religious Abuse in Private Practice: A Primer for Clinicians with Chris Conley
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In today’s episode of the Colleague Down The Hall Podcast, Chris Conley joins me to talk about religious and spiritual abuse, which is the manipulation or exploitation of a person by a religious or spiritual authority. Chris shares a variety of dynamics for assessing and treating this type of abuse including knowing when to refer out. He also discusses how important it is to be mindful of one's own biases and limitations when dealing with clients' spiritual concerns and the role of therapists in maintaining professional boundaries. “You as the therapist are somebody who is feeling...
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62. Online Video Content: Boost Your Private Practice's Digital Presence
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In today’s episode of the Colleague Down the Hall podcast, I delve into how to enhance your marketing strategy for your private practice using a simple and accessible method. I share insights to guide you on how to create short, engaging, and authentic videos to enhance your online presence. I also touch on leveraging these videos for SEO benefits and building connections with potential clients and other therapists. The more accessible and authentic your marketing, the more clients you attract and connect with. “As therapists, we know the issues that our clients deal with, we...
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61. Breathing Space for Healing: Empowering Therapists To Care for Themselves
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In this new episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, I provide some supportive suggestions and activities for therapists to make sure they are taking care of themselves. I reflect on my observations of stress and challenges among my peers. I also talk about the necessity of therapists incorporating self-care into their routines, similar to the advice they give their clients. I provide practical tips on managing workloads, offer sensory and somatic exercises for stress relief, and encourage building a supportive community among therapists. This episode not only highlights...
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60. When to Refer Out: Professional and Practical Guidelines for Therapists
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In today’s episode, I discuss the importance of referring clients out when their needs exceed a therapist's training or specialization along with some personal needs for the therapist. Therapists need to consider clinical competence, ethical and legal considerations, and dual relationships when deciding to refer a client out. I also address common concerns and challenges therapists face when deciding to refer clients as well as provide strategies for managing challenging cases in therapy. “We also need to look at personal and logistical factors. We've all had those...
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59. Fictionalized Case Consultation: A Therapist Is Contacted By A Former Client Who Now Lives In Another State
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In today’s episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, I am joined by some colleagues to process a fictionalized case. Client Molly has moved to another state and is contacting her former therapist for support. The discussion involves client safety, state jurisdiction laws, licensure requirements, and ethical dilemmas, especially in scenarios involving inter-state practice and teletherapy, “One of the things that I would be looking at is in the dynamics of the therapy that we did do, what is this client's propensity to say I need help? Is this someone who, you know easily...
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58. Aligning Values: The Foundation of Your Private Practice
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In this episode, I explore the significance of aligning personal values in private practice. Drawing from my own experiences and discussions with colleagues, I highlight the pivotal role that values play in shaping decisions regarding policies, client interactions, niche selection, and self-care. "Values act as a compass guiding us in how we show up in the world and in our work." Key Points: Examining personal values is essential for creating a private practice that aligns with individual identity. Values serve as a reference point for making practice decisions regarding...
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57. Transformative Techniques: EMDR, Brainspotting, and ART Explained
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If you're intrigued by the intersection of psychology, therapy techniques, and professional development, you're in for a treat. In this new episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Audrey Schoen and Jenny Hughes join me for an insightful discussion where we discuss the use of EMDR, Brainspotting, and ART. We touch on the foundational aspects of these therapeutic approaches, including their development, application, and the unique benefits they offer to both therapists and clients. We explore the nuances of each technique, share personal experiences and insights, and discuss the...
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56. Reflections from Year One of Podcasting: Embracing Diversity, Learning, and Resilienc
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55. Deep Healing, Less Burnout: The Power of Therapy Intensive with Steffeny Feld
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In today’s episode of the Colleague Down the Hall podcast, Steffeny Feld joins me to explore the concept and benefits of therapy intensives. This is an alternative therapeutic approach that allows for deep, focused work over a condensed period, rather than traditional weekly sessions. We touch on the flexibility of intensives across different treatment modalities and client populations, the challenges of insurance billing, and the importance of aligning practice decisions with personal values and lifestyle needs. This episode emphasizes the transformative impact of therapy intensives for...
info_outlineIn the latest episode of the "Colleague Down the Hall" podcast, we delve into the intricacies of addiction within the family system. My guest, Kevin Petersen, brings a unique blend of personal experience and professional expertise to the discussion. Having personally battled addiction, Kevin now dedicates his career to aiding families as they confront the multifaceted challenges posed by addiction.
Our conversation focuses on the critical need to transform the family system as part of the therapeutic process. We explore the significance of establishing boundaries, actively involving clients in conversations about addiction, and adopting new perspectives to more effectively comprehend and assist both individuals and families.
Kevin highlights the persistent nature of addiction. He stresses that addressing addiction is paramount before effectively tackling co-occurring mental health issues.
The episode also emphasizes the necessity of uncovering and addressing the root causes that lie beneath addiction in individuals and families. It is a move away from merely symptomatic treatments or quick solutions, advocating for a deeper understanding and more comprehensive approach to addiction therapy.
This episode is a rich resource for mental health professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of addiction within family systems and enhance their therapeutic strategies in this challenging yet vital area of mental health care.
“The truth of the matter is, there isn't a therapist on the planet that can get somebody sober. That's not how it works, that's not our job. Our job is to deal with the emotions and the feelings and the stuff that comes when they're sober. And, and so, let's use the tools that are at our feet and be able to say, Hey, I think you know, let's just try for the next month, let's try no drinking, no drugs and we'll be on the honor system, and we'll see how it goes. And then we can walk through it and start seeing how that works.”- Kevin Peterson
Key takeaways:
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The Importance of Addiction Education: Kevin emphasizes the lack of training many therapists receive in dealing with addiction and families. This episode highlights the need for therapists to educate themselves on addiction and its impact on families.
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Treating Substance Abuse as a Initial Priority: Peterson suggests that therapists prioritize helping clients achieve sobriety before addressing mental health issues. He believes that effective treatment for mental health can only occur if clients are not actively struggling with substance abuse.
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Changing the Family System: Rather than relying on tough love or complete cutoff, therapists can focus on changing the family system as a more effective approach. This involves helping families make behavioral changes and creating a supportive environment for recovery.
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Overcoming Fear of Referrals: Many therapists are hesitant to refer out clients with substance abuse issues due to fear of being accused of abandonment. Kevin acknowledges this fear but emphasizes the need for therapists to prioritize their clients' well-being and access appropriate specialized treatment.
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The Role of Therapist Transparency: Kevin discusses therapists being open and transparent about their own experiences and biases. By doing so, therapists can establish a sense of empathy and connection with their clients and create a safe space for discussing sensitive topics related to addiction.
About the guest:
Kevin Petersen, MA, LMFT, is the founder of The Chronic Hope Institute, which provides healing for families in crisis due to addiction and codependency, and family addiction coaching training for clinicians. In 2011, Kevin graduated with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Regis University, and he spent three and a half years working at Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network as an in-home therapist, case manager, crisis evaluator and outpatient therapist for Child and Family Services. Kevin has also worked part-time for The Bridge House, ADMHN's Acute Treatment Unit, as a Mental Health Technician and Counselor. In 2014, Kevin opened his private practice, Petersen Family Counseling, which specializes in working with families and individuals struggling with addictions, codependency, and parenting. Kevin has published two books: Chronic Hope: Parenting the Addicted Child and Chronic Hope: Families & Addiction, which share an integrated, holistic approach to healing families in crisis due to addiction and codependency. Kevin established The Chronic Hope Institute in 2020 with a mission to help families in crisis through family addiction coaching and empower mental health professionals with this training to help families. Dedicated to strengthening the family system, Kevin turns helplessness into hope. If you are struggling with an addict and need a plan, contact The Chronic Hope Institute at www.ChronicHope.us. Kevin began his journey of recovery in May 1991 and has been sober ever since. He lives in Florida with his wife, Amy, and three Boston Terriers Bert, Blanche and Stella
Connect with Kevin Peterson:
Instagram: @kevinwpetersen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chronichopeinstitute
TikTok: @thefamilyaddictioncoach
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ChronicHopeInstitute?si=M9kYbtxrmaa5FKOC
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