82. Providing Safe and Affirming Therapy Practices With LGBTQIA+ Clients with Dara Hoffman
Release Date: 10/24/2024
102. Breaking the Stigma: New Perspectives on Addiction and Recovery with Michael Chiappione
Colleague Down the Hall
Tune in to The Colleague Down the Hall Podcast for an insightful conversation with Michael Chiapone, LCSW, as he explores addiction and recovery through the unique lens of music and film. This episode sheds light on the power of creative tools in therapy, the importance of reducing stigma, and how understanding shame and connection can transform treatment approaches. “Get back to a bigger ‘What is this’? If this person was your patient, what are they trying to say? Where are they? Where are they in the stages of change? Where are they in a cycle of addiction? And to try to tease...
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101. Future-Proofing Your Private Practice: Navigating 2025 with Confidence with Valery Krieg
Colleague Down the Hall
Want to stay ahead in your private practice? Valery Krieg joins Jeanene Wolfe In this episode to discuss future-proofing your practice in an ever-changing landscape. They dive into marketing strategies, burnout prevention, and navigating industry shifts, plus an inside look at the upcoming Savvy Practice Summit, a free virtual event packed with expert advice on marketing, scaling, and financial strategy for therapists.The sign-up form for the summit is in the show notes. Tune in now and take your next steps toward success! “The first thing that I always tell my clients that I work...
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100. The Cost of Care: Why Therapists Are Struggling to Stay Afloat with Miranda Palmer
Colleague Down the Hall
In this milestone 100th episode of The Colleague Down The Hall Podcast, Jeanene Wolfe welcomes Miranda Palmer, LMFT, a passionate therapist advocate, to discuss the financial and systemic challenges facing therapists today. Miranda shares insights from a recent discussion on the biggest problems therapists encounter. She highlights unsustainable insurance reimbursement rates, financial instability, and the increasing number of therapists leaving the profession. They dive into the complexities of insurance contracts, clawbacks, and the impact of venture capital-backed companies entering the...
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99. Geek Therapy: Fandoms, Healing, and the Power of Play with Ariel Landrum
Colleague Down the Hall
Jeanene Wolfe welcomes Ariel Landrum to discuss how geek therapy integrates clients' passions and fandoms into therapy, using media consumption as a tool for self-discovery. The conversation explores the use of RPGs, video games, and collaborative media engagement in therapy, alongside practical applications for different age groups and theoretical approaches. Ariel highlights the importance of staying current with pop culture, addressing parental concerns about video games, and teaching digital citizenship. Ethical considerations in online therapy, including HIPAA compliance and safe digital...
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98. The Power of Vulnerability: Why Therapists Need to Be Vulnerable Too
Colleague Down the Hall
In this episode of The Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Jeanene Wolfe explores a topic that therapists encourage in clients but often struggle with themselves—vulnerability. While we create safe spaces for others, many of us hesitate to open up with colleagues, fearing judgment or self-doubt. Jeanene unpacks why vulnerability feels risky in the therapy field, the challenges it presents, and how avoiding it can lead to isolation and burnout. She shares her own journey in private practice and offers practical steps to build a safe, supportive professional network. Whether it's finding a...
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97. Blending Tarot with Therapy: Insights from Dreya Blume
Colleague Down the Hall
In this episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Jeanene Wolfe welcomes Dreya Blume, a licensed clinical social worker and long-time Tarot practitioner, to explore the integration of Tarot into therapy. Dreya delves into the history of Tarot, its misconceptions, and its use as a projective tool rather than fortunetelling. She shares her Tarot journey, its parallels to inkblot tests, and how she uses it in sessions to help clients connect with their intuition. The discussion covers the importance of open-mindedness in therapy, authenticity in practice, and the growing acceptance of...
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96. The Business of CEUs: From Building Courses to Marketing to Creating Additional Income Streams with Michelle Risser
Colleague Down the Hall
In this episode, Jeanene Wolfe chats with Michelle Risser, a therapist turned CEU provider and multi-passionate entrepreneur. Michelle shares her journey from working in HIV/AIDS social work to teaching large conferences and eventually becoming a CEU provider during COVID as a way to explore additional income streams. She discusses the paperwork and approval process, emphasizing that it shouldn't deter therapists from sharing their expertise. Using the acronym KEEP (Knowledge, Education, Experience, Passion), Michelle helps therapists identify their unique strengths and build courses on topics...
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95. Creating Safe Spaces: Working with Intimate Partner Violence with Dr. Keith Klostermann
Colleague Down the Hall
In this episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Jeanene Wolfe welcomes Dr. Keith Klostermann to tackle the critical topic of intimate partner violence (IPV). They explore how the pandemic exposed the complexities of IPV, with Dr. Klosterman breaking down its various forms—physical, emotional, financial, and sexual—and discussing its prevalence across diverse demographics. The conversation emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces, recognizing subtle signs, and integrating explicit safety planning into therapy. “I think it's figuring out, does the client feel...
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94. A New Horizon: The Ins and Outs of ADHD Assessments for Master’s-level Clinicians with Erin McCarthy Shaw
Colleague Down the Hall
Join us for an enlightening conversation in Episode 94 of Conversations in Depth with Therapists, where host Jeanene Wolfe sits down with Erin McCarthy Shaw, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Discover how Erin’s advanced training in neuropsychiatric and educational assessments is transforming mental health care by addressing ADHD, autism, and more. From ethical considerations and practical implementation to tackling skepticism and accessibility challenges, this episode dives deep into the value of comprehensive evaluations. “It's access to care. We...
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93. (From the Archive) Exploring Money Mindset As A Therapist with Megan Hale
Colleague Down the Hall
Megan Hale joins me for an episode about money mindset for therapists. She discusses the need to examine our relationship with money and ways our mindset holds us back in our work. Megan shares that having a nourishing relationship with money and the changes in perspective that come with that, allows therapists to have better business and personal goals. “And a lot of times, you have to make some hard calls and some value based decisions on what's going to be best for the sustainability of your practice. And I think the other mindset piece that goes into that is oftentimes it's...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Jeanene Wolfe introduces Dara Hoffman, a non-binary, queer-identified licensed counselor with 18 years of experience serving the trans and non-binary community. Dara shares key insights on supporting LGBTQ clients, addressing microaggressions, and creating inclusive therapy spaces. Dara delves into the importance of using correct pronouns, handling mistakes such as misgendering your client, and promoting safety and trust. Dara emphasizes continuous learning, cultural humility, and the need for therapists to stay informed about evolving standards of care. This episode offers valuable guidance for therapists looking to be affirming and inclusive providers.
“Honestly, the fear and the self doubt can really paralyze a therapist from being able to even start working with these clients, referring these clients out too soon, where, really checking in to say, Okay, this is really just because I'm uncomfortable, not because this person's trans, I just don't want to mess up. And that's a point of where more so sticking with your client, especially if you've known them for a while, and turns out they're like, ‘I can finally tell my therapist I'm trans’, but being able to recognize that is a point where you need education or consultation to be able to move forward with that client. If the client would like to have a different therapist, that's a different story, but be careful not to refer out too soon.”- Dara Hoffman
Key points:
***Use Correct Pronouns and Names: It is critical for therapists to gather and use clients' correct names and pronouns from the beginning to avoid microaggressions. Misgendering and using incorrect or gendered language can derail sessions and harm clients' sense of safety.
***Be Culturally Humble: Therapists should balance understanding their clients as individuals while acknowledging their trans identity without hyper-focusing on it unless relevant. If a mistake is made, it’s important for therapists to recognize it, process it after the session, and address it if needed in future sessions.
***Create an Inclusive Space: Inclusive office practices, such as displaying LGBTQ flags and addressing restroom policies, contribute to a safer environment for clients.
***Continuing Ed: Engage in continuous learning and consult colleagues rather than referring clients out too quickly.
***Stay Updated on Standards of Care: Therapists need to remain informed on evolving standards, such as requirements for gender-affirming surgeries or hormone use, by consulting resources like WPATH.
About Dara Hoffman:
Dara Hoffman (they/them) is a nonbinary, queer-identified licensed professional counselor in Colorado Springs, Colorado who has 18 years of experience serving the trans and nonbinary community. As the author of YOU AND YOUR GENDER IDENTITY: A GUIDE TO DISCOVERY, Dara has been recognized nationally as an expert trainer and presenter, sharing their knowledge with organizations, businesses, and conferences across the country.
Currently, Dara provides supervision to interns and licensure candidates and works as a contract trainer and facilitator for various organizations. After closing their private practice two and a half years ago, Dara is in a transformative period, taking intentional steps toward new ventures that resonate deeply with their life’s purpose. As they navigate their own health challenges, Dara is committed to honoring this journey, knowing it will shape and inform the meaningful work they will offer in the future.
Dara lives in Colorado Springs with their cat, Mew and can be found frolicking in hot springs, drum circles and karaoke bars, studying astrology, and hosting gatherings at their home for their beautiful circle of friends.
Connect with Dara:
Website: https://darahoffmanfox.com/
Email: [email protected]
To get updates about future consultation groups: www.CollabOasis.com/FCC_live
Connect with Jeanene:
*Get your free Four Keys to Private Practice Peace of Mind workbook: https://collaboasis.com/4keysworkbook
*Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/
*Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt
*Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/