How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Part 1.5

The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

Episode 226: How to Fire Your Clients (Ethically) Part 1.5

Curt and Katie chat about different therapist-client mismatches and how to manage them. We explore how to balance dealing with discomfort in therapy and seeking consultation with knowing when and how to refer out clients. We also talk about how to incorporate ideas of redefining and decolonizing therapy.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

• How to manage situations when the client having a clinical need that the therapist does not feel capable to treat.
• Different kinds of therapist-client mismatches.
• Cultural considerations in therapist-client matching and incorporating ideas of redefining and decolonizing therapy.
• How to refer out clients when there is a mismatch and what to do if the client doesn’t want to be referred out.
• What to do when you have different ideologies than your clients.
• The benefit of sitting with discomfort when you disagree with your client and knowing when to seek consultation.
• How to support clients when they aren’t aware that a different therapeutic style (e.g., direct vs. indirect) may be beneficial to them.
• The importance of reviewing treatment plans with client (even when not required).
• Revisiting how to address therapy interfering behaviors and how to appropriately terminate with clients when necessary.
• Barriers in referring clients out.