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102. Breaking the Stigma: New Perspectives on Addiction and Recovery with Michael Chiappione

Release Date: 03/13/2025

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

More Episodes

“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 out those things in hearing some of these pop culture or songs that we all know. So then the goal is, especially in the group process, in the class, by being able to identify those things that we can then move forward and approach that person in a more welcoming manner, instead of a ‘look at them, they're doing it again’. Or ‘why can't they stop,’ to kind of try to create a better understanding, with more empathy about where this person might be coming from” - Michael

Here are the key takeaways:

Using Music and Film in Addiction Recovery – Michael Chiapone discusses his unique approach to helping individuals with substance use disorders by incorporating music and film to foster deeper understanding, empathy, and engagement in therapy.
Breaking the Stigma Around Addiction – The conversation highlights the importance of moving beyond judgmental perspectives on addiction, recognizing it as a complex issue rather than just a matter of willpower, and promoting a more compassionate, person-centered approach.
Challenges in Treating Substance Use Disorders – The discussion covers the evolving nature of addiction, particularly with the rise of fentanyl and other potent substances, and the need for adaptable, evidence-based treatment approaches.
The Role of Policy in Social Justice and Mental Health – Michael shares his involvement in policy discussions affecting social work and mental health, emphasizing the need for professionals to stay informed and advocate for policies that protect vulnerable populations.
The Importance of Self-Care for Mental Health Professionals – The conversation stresses the need for therapists and social workers to prioritize self-care, avoid burnout, and acknowledge the emotional demands of their work while maintaining personal well-being.

About the Michael Chiappione:

Michael Chiappone, LCSW, is a seasoned social worker, educator, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in mental health and substance use treatment. As the CEO and Founder of CHI Professional Development, he creates and delivers continuing education courses for social workers, mental health professionals, and community advocates, focusing on practical skills and real-world applications.

Michael has dedicated his career to working with individuals facing homelessness, mental illness, and substance use disorders, serving as the Director of a Substance Use Disorder clinic and previously holding leadership roles at Hope House Ministries. He is passionate about teaching clinicians how to integrate evidence-based practices, ethical decision-making, and advocacy into their work.

Beyond clinical work, Michael is deeply engaged in policy discussions affecting social justice. Through his WTF: Policies That Threaten Social Justice series, he explores how shifts in legislation impact marginalized communities and challenges social workers to take an active role in advocacy and systemic change.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Michael explores the intersections of mindfulness, recovery, and personal growth through innovative projects like CHI Golf, a brand that promotes mental clarity and focus on and off the course. He is also developing a Recovery Chatbot Website, designed to provide digital peer support and track progress for individuals in recovery.

Connect with Michael:

Website: www.chiprodevelopment.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chi_pro_development/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chi_pro_development

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chi-professional-development-inc/

Get updates about future Fictionalized Clinical 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/

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