276 - Elle McAlpine - An Intimacy Coordinator Sets the Stage for Consent and Authentic Connection on Screen and in Real Life
Conversations With a Wounded Healer
Release Date: 01/08/2025
Conversations With a Wounded Healer
Change may be inevitable, but it’s far from easy. That’s especially true in the therapy field. Part of my own shift is a greater focus (on this podcast and IRL) on system-wide transformation, especially in the group practice realm. How do we bridge the gap between employees and owners when both feel overworked and underpaid? Sociocracy could be the answer. But first, what the heck is sociocracy? Ted Rau, PhD., co-founded Sociocracy For All (SoFA), a nonprofit that makes decentralized, consent-based governance accessible to workplaces, organizations, and communities. He knows a lot...
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In the words of my esteemed co-host, Anne Remy, “There’s a difference between an elder and a person who is older than you.” Judith Lewis Herman, MD, is wise––a psychiatrist, professor, researcher, author, and advocate who helped establish the diagnosis of PTSD back before many of us were born. In addition to her work with veterans and children, Judith fundamentally altered the discourse around women’s traumatic experiences and pioneered subsequent treatments for victims of abuse. How’s that for street-cred sagacity!? I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this is Anne...
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There's no denying that our systems and selves are at a crossroads. So, my fellow therapists, will we accept the universe's invitation to evolve, or will the profession regress beyond the point of no return? Ki Smith believes in the potential of the collective to transform and transcend our current fractured moment. They're a psychotherapist, coach, mediator, and facilitator of power-conscious nonviolent communication and an affiliated teacher with the Right Use Of Power Institute. The two of us explore what it means to foster personal and professional relationships in which collective...
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Let’s play fill-in-the-blank: Sex is _____ . The possibilities are endless! But, my word of choice is intimate. It’s a perfect shorthand for the spectrum of desires, experiences, and, yes, traumas that inform every sexual encounter––even if the act in question is fake. As in: part of an acclaimed Hollywood film in which sex represents the main character’s evolving agency. Intimacy Coordinator Elle McAlpine has worked on some impressive projects, including the award-winning film, Poor Things and the award-winning Netflix series Baby Reindeer. Co-host Anne Remy engages Elle in a...
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Oh, fellow therapists, how I love you! That said, I'm super-concerned about our capacity to move through interpersonal challenges exacerbated by, among other things, a volatile election season. My question is: How do we model being with folks outside the profession––even those we disagree with––if we can't make space for complexities of thought and motivation within our own community? Marc Mathys considers Spiral Dynamics a solid foundation on which to build. You may have already guessed that Marc and I spent the bulk of this episode exploring the trajectory of the collective. What...
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Self-care is a basic human right. Sadly, intuitive healing practices like acupuncture are often dismissed, especially in Western society, as woo-woo or pseudoscientific time-wasters. Thank goodness for practitioners like the delightful Jo Darling in Brighton, UK! Jo is passionate about women’s health and healing, and she’s also co-host Anne Remy’s acupuncturist, so we’ll finally get to the core of Anne’s cross liver sitch. Are you curious about how acupuncture works and why this Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has stood the test of time? Jo offers clear, supportive...
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Discomfort doesn’t automatically denote danger. Identifying the difference and holding those nuances takes practice. Let this episode be part of the lesson plan. Deborah Ooten, PhD., is the founder/director of the Conscious Living Center, and she’s the first person to successfully merge the teachings of the Enneagram with the Spiral Dynamics evolutionary model. I’m a fan of both models; my co-host Anne Remy isn’t. Friction can rub us the wrong way AND expand our capacity for complex conversations. As Anne says, it’s possible to engage with concepts that you vehemently disagree...
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Disclaimer: No! Anne’s conversation isn’t with that Alex Jones. Instead, it’s with Alex Jones, the creator of Humans of Brighton And Hove, an Instagram account featuring candid street photos and stories of folks in the UK’s eclectic, beloved seaside village. While Alex’s photography is stunning, the captions create a broader community of compassion. They’re real, raw glimpses into the subject’s world. And they reveal how kindred humans are despite the manufactured divisions of race, religion, or economic status. GUEST BIO Alex Jones is a storyteller, interviewer, and...
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If you’re one of the 43 million Americans currently living under the crushing weight of student loan debt, that’s by design, not personal failure. Under our late-stage capitalist system, the cost of a college degree has far outpaced the wages offered to pay for it. Tiffany Konyen, a Doctoral Candidate in the Anthropology and Social Change department at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, wants to change how America thinks about financing education for its citizens. Their research offers insight into the impacts of student loan debt on material life...
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Independent bookshops are magical places. But building that mix of quiet corners and convivial community doesn’t come without a lot of sweat equity. Indie bookshops thrive because of the booksellers behind them, real live humans who concentrate on more than just commerce. Carolynn Bain, founder, and owner of Afrori Books in Brighton, UK, is “that” indie bookseller, an award-winning entrepreneur whose meticulously curated titles and culturally focused events define what it means to be an indispensable neighborhood resource. Since opening in October 2021, Afrori Books has become...
info_outlineLet’s play fill-in-the-blank: Sex is _____ . The possibilities are endless! But, my word of choice is intimate. It’s a perfect shorthand for the spectrum of desires, experiences, and, yes, traumas that inform every sexual encounter––even if the act in question is fake. As in: part of an acclaimed Hollywood film in which sex represents the main character’s evolving agency.
Intimacy Coordinator Elle McAlpine has worked on some impressive projects, including the award-winning film, Poor Things and the award-winning Netflix series Baby Reindeer. Co-host Anne Remy engages Elle in a nuanced conversation about the power dynamics, energy transference, and permission structures at play behind the scenes of our favorite films and series.
GUEST BIO
Elle McAlpine is the co-founder of EK Intimacy and brings a unique perspective to intimacy coordination through her background in acting and directing. Passionate about exploring character psychology and storytelling through sexual expression, she helps create spaces where actors can approach intimate scenes with agency and creativity. Her recent work includes Poor Things, One Day, and The Winter King.
Redefining the Future of Psychotherapy: From Disruption to Innovation
Are you feeling the seismic shifts currently reshaping the therapy field? From AI to rising healthcare costs, our field is at a crossroads – but what if these disruptions weren't just challenges, but opportunities for transformation?
I'm excited to introduce "Redefining the Future of Psychotherapy" – a groundbreaking 12-week program where I've partnered with organizational consultant Marc Mathys to help therapists navigate and thrive in these changing times.
Together, we'll explore how cultural values and systemic forces are impacting mental health care. You'll learn to apply powerful frameworks like Spiral Dynamics to enhance your practice, transform challenges into opportunities, and develop practical strategies for both you and your clients.
Starting February 13th, 2025, we'll meet virtually every Thursday for live, interactive sessions. You'll earn a Level 1 Certification in Spiral Dynamics, and up to 24 CEUs are available.
This isn't just about surviving these tumultuous times – it's about working together to create positive change. Visit https://bit.ly/futureoftherapy to register today.
Know the Numbers/Navigate the Feelings: Financial Literacy for Group Practice Owners
Join Aggie Chydzinski and Sarah Buino for an engaging and interactive online workshop designed specifically for group practice owners. Gain valuable insights into financial literacy and begin to build confidence in your business management skills. This workshop will equip you with essential tools to understand the numbers and address the emotions surrounding your business finances. Designed for group practice owners of businesses large and small.
Details: 7pm CST Live on Zoom - Third Thursday of every month! The final meetings for 2024 will be on 12/19. In January we’ll meet on 1/16.
Cost: Pay what you can. Guests who pay $17 or more will receive access to the recorded webinar. 1 CE available for social workers and counselors who attend the session live.
Save your spot here: https://bit.ly/cwhgpfinancial
Authentic Leaders Group
Are you a therapist stepping into leadership for the first time?
Or maybe you've been in a leadership position for a while, but are bumping up against new struggles?
Our Authentic Leaders Group is here to help you become the authentic and wholehearted leader you aspire to be. And we believe this journey is best undertaken with the guidance of experienced mentors alongside fellow learners.
Next cohort starts November 2024!
Join Sarah in this journey of self-discovery and leadership mastery, where you'll enhance your leadership skills and forge meaningful connections with fellow therapists who are committed to their own growth and the betterment of the therapy field.
Register now to be part of the next Authentic Leaders Group!
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