What Would Dr. Meyers Do?

Confronting others is often feared and not always easy, but it does not have to be equated with conflict or hostility. It is a necessary aspect of communication that can result in getting your needs met. Dr. Meyers offers an empowering perspective and elements of delivery that facilitates the ability to communicate effectively.

A story of emotional and physical abuse from an adult who experienced a fearful sibling relationship and her process towards self-care and self-preservation. Rachael cut off her abusive brother and shares her path towards reunification and repair. She shares her experience through childhood and adulthood and her ability to heal through shifting her perspective of her sibling as someone who needed help.

There are long-term implications of being raised by Holocaust survivors. Gloria LeBeaux, LCSW reflects on her challenges around vulnerability, safety, and caregiving in her youth. She addresses how she has shifted her identity from being a child of a Holocaust survivors and all that entails to being so much more: a social worker, friend, and mother. The events of October 7th present new challenges to living in a world where safety feels compromised.

Finding a therapist can feel daunting. What is important when seeking therapy? Dr. Meyers and Dr. Brady discuss typical anxieties about starting therapy, and considerations for choosing the right therapist. They address types of therapy and approaches, and the training and credentials that one should consider when entering treatment. Do you want to know what a good fit looks like between a client and a therapist? Tune in to find out and ease the experience of choosing the right therapist for you.

Frustrated with not being able to help his physically ill client feel better, my guest contends with his own history of helplessness with his father who died at a young age. Understanding his countertransference helps the clinician get grounded and set realistic expectations for himself and subsequently his client.

Are you overwhelmed with work, even if you love it? Do you find it hard to balance work and personal life? Is it our human right to disconnect from and NOT engage in work-related electronic communications during non-work hours? How can you create a boundary to advance your personal needs? Join Dr. Meyers and her guests in a lively discussion about the Right to Disconnect Laws. It's time for the U.S. to adopt Euopean laws that protect the well-being of employees.

Join us for another very personal account of sibling abuse as Dr. Meyers speaks with Jennifer, a survivor of sibling abuse. In this poignant episode, learn about how Jennifer navigated her early experience with her brother, how it impacted her intimate relationships, and how she continues to try to grapple with her sibling relationship.

What would you want in a therapist? What does it mean to be a modern therapist? Dr. Meyers speaks with with two dynamic, flexible, and innovative therapists who embrace genuiness in their work and recognize the need to be adaptive in their approach given the world we're living in. If you think therapy should incorporate the trends of our times and acclimate to the needs of a new generation of clients, then tune in! They also cover the very real experience of burnout across all professions and offer practical, sustainable advice on living a more manageable, restorative lifestyle.

How is it for you to provide or receive feedback? So many of us have difficulty doing this: we don't want to create hurt feelings or have hurt feelings. However, feedback is essential to growth. Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) is an evidence-based practice that involves routinely soliciting constructive feedback from clients about the treatment and their experience of the clinician. This week, Elizabeth Irias, an expert in FIT will discuss how this process works, her experience with client responses, and how she manages countertransference.

There is a lot of pressure these days to be "woke"; to be culturally sensitive, culturally competent, and culturally humble. What does this look like as a clinician? Join Dr. Meyers in an exploration of self-awareness and self-reflection and a few simple tools to work towards inclusion and culturally humble practice.

We hear how important self-care is, but how do you take the first steps towards making sure you take care of YOU? Self-care leads to self-compassion, even though you may think that self-care requires self-compassion! A true practitioner of self-care, Alina Haitz, had to become an expert in this area to address her mental health diagnosis, and along the way, she learned self-acceptance and self-love. Who doesn't want that for themselves?!

Being a target of sibling abuse certainly takes its toll. But there are contributing factors that help to mitigate the long-lasting effects. What are they? Some of these protective factors occur during childhood and some require survivors to be pro-active in adulthood to regain their sense of self. There is hope. Take a listen to feed yourself or nourish your clients or friends.

Dr. Steve Burghardt, LCSW, an activist and professor of social work talks about his committment to valuing social workers. He shares his thoughts fueling his book The End of Social Work and challenges the expectation that social workers labor under intolerable working conditions and financial strain. Dr. Burghardt advocates for the increased pay of social workers and addresses the leadership failures that create a culture in which they should handle burnout through self-care rather than collective action.

We are facing a mental health crisis. Children are plagued with anxiety, depression and chronic school absenteeism. This is resulting in social and emotional delays in addition to academic issues. The pandemic has increased social anxiety. Social pressure is allayed by, yet increases social isolation. Dr. Carrie Sollin talks about the short-term and long-term impact of this crisis and offers individual tools, familial, and school-based approaches to shift a generation of troubled youth.

Hajrah Beig, first generation Pakistani-American embraces her heritage but can find it tricky bridging the culture she identifies with at home and the culture she finds at school and the greater environment. As she talks about family norms and expectations, contending with oppression, and her experiences navigating bias we can all learn to be more culturally humble.

Most of us are aware of the stereotypes associated with the child welfare system and the realities of this system's limitations. Two BSW graduates discuss their experiences navigating the demonstrated lack of professionalism, engagement failures, and interventions that contradicted the social work values they were learning in the classroom. Contending with a punitive approach to family management, they worked to adapt and thrive in that environment, with a few lessons to offer along the way.

Sibling aggression and abuse are the most common forms of family violence yet these impacting and traumatic experiences are still not being wholly addressed through policy, advocacy, and systemic change. There is hope! Learn about an Initiative (SAARA) that is breaking ground in the realm of sibling abuse awareness and change. If you have experienced sibling abuse this episode is sure to resonate with you. If you are in need of resources to address sibling abuse, this episode is for you. If you want to learn more about the impact of sibling relationships, especially when there is non-normative conflict, this episode is for you. And, if you want to learn more about what is being done to advance this social issue and what what you can do, you will learn how.

Dr. Meyers discusses the state of, and fear of vulnerability in a way that most anyone can relate. She makes the case that allowing oneself to be vulnerable is imperative to growth. Social workers also must experience vulnerability to develop professionally and also to be aligned with clients.

Are you in co-parenting distress? Do you work with someone who has major conflict with their partner around parenting choices. Separation and divorce create complications for children. Brook Olsen, a high-conflict divorce expert talks about processes to help navigate stressful and destructive communication and cultivate a healthier environment for the children involved.

Adolescence is hard! We know that first hand. The pressures of this time of development impact parents and their desire to protect or punish youth as an effort to influence behavior. Adolescents struggle with impulse control, the need for immediate gratification and experimentation as a means towards growth. How does this impact social media use - and how does social media use and other peer and societal pressures impact behaviors? A social worker shares her expertise working with adolescents and gets real about her own challenges with her teen daughters.

What can we all learn about ourselves and how to get what we need from hearing from those who are struggling to get what they deserve and are entitled to receive? Many of us struggle with asking for what we need. What happens when you aren’t getting what you need from someone in a work position that is charged with providing that service to you? Although field supervisors are contractually obligated to provide supervision to students, they can sometimes fall short in their responsibility. What can we all learn about ourselves and how to get what we need from hearing from those who are struggling to get what they deserve and are entitled to receive?

A survivor of sibling sexual abuse shares her experience with her abusive brother and the family dynamics that shaped this relationship. She also shares the progress made in her intimate relationships as well as with her family members.

Whether you enjoy the holidays or not, they can still be a source of expectation, stress, and pressure. Dr. Meyers identifies some of those challenging aspects and offers a few tips on successful navigation.

There are quire a few essentials in doing therapy. As we banter about those essentials including empathy, listening without judgment, self-efficacy, and accepting feedback Kellyanne Brady, LMHC reminds us to "be present not perfect". Whether a beginner or seasoned professional it's easy to lose sight of this idea. And, certainly all of us who walk on this earth have challenges with some of these conceptes, therapist or not. What do you struggle with when doing this work - or just living in a world driven by connection to others? This episode also considers what is needed to build and deepen relationships.

In episode 19 we asked Alba Torres, a social work student who is a survivor of severe and multiple forms of child abuse and has a history of abandonments how she will manage potential work with the population with whom she identifies: children of abuse. A year after her first exposure to the work, she reflects on how she came through the anticipated experience. What does it take to heal as a clinician in order to do good work with clients?

Dr. Meyers shares her raw, emotional account of uninvited sexual advances from a respected colleague. Even in subtle form, this may be uncomfortable or unwanted - and our social construction of gender shapes what may be considered appropriate or inappropriate and raises question as to what should be tolerated or accepted. Her story sheds light on the nuanced ways in which the target can be disarmed and the challenge of setting boundaries and regaining control.

Happy one year anniversary to WWDMD! Celebrate with us as we reflect on the past year and where we will be heading. So much learning and growing has been done for me, my guests, and the audience. I've had conversations with academicians, clinicicans, students, and a couple of folks outside of the profession.
Some things I've realized? I want to keep going, broaden the range of topics, use my platform to help folks feel validated in their experiences, and share more of myself!

Have you ever been in a collaborative relationship that wasn’t going well? We can all learn from Emily Brierly’s experience with a peer whom she co-lead a social work group. Emily discusses her frustration when finding herself with a different agenda. To complicate matters, the different racial identities created anxiety for Emily as she attempted to manage power dynamics.

Tracey Clingo addresses her client’s anger but gets caught in her own fears of confrontation. Through reflection, self-awareness, and insight around counter transference, Tracey contends with the why’s and how’s of her own emotional reactions. Her ability to process her own and her client’s emotional underpinnings allows her to be armed with the ability to engage in an otherwise frightening situation.

We can understand the impact of sibling abuse on survivors quite well through a psychodynamic lens. When we develop our knowledge of the ways in which the abusive experience affects perceptions of self and others, we can also learn about styles of attachment and the ways in which challenges are manifested in interpersonal relationships. Sibling abuse preys on one’s ability to trust and rely on others; an active desire to please others; defenses are employed to self-protect while also keeping others at a distance. We all crave connection, but for survivors of sibling abuse that desire comes with a huge price.

Many of us contend with challenging aspects of our work that require us to advocate for our needs, or confront a colleague. Usually this presents as quite scary and fearful. As social workers, we have to be able to advocate for ourselves if we are going to be able to advocate for our clients, but we know it’s usually easier to do some things for others rather than ourselves. Three social workers confront their own anxieties about getting their needs met. Through exploring their fears and perceived outcomes of confrontation they find motivation to put their needs into action.

This episode is sure to extend its relevance beyond the profession of clinical work. We can all learn from the social workers in episode 14 who are back to talk about how they developed their ability to sit with silence and convey empathy with confidence. They talk about how their own need to be helpful and their own difficulty being alone with their thoughts impacts their ability to sit silently in someone else’s company. In spite of this, they have done the work - on themselves - so that they can be better social workers as well as better intimate partners and friends to others. They also share their depth of understanding of empathy and ways to offer it. Their own personal and professional growth sheds light on how we can shift our emotional awareness and deepen our connection to others.

Sibling abuse indicates a form of child neglect because in order for it to occur and persist, there is a lack of effective parental intervention. Since sibling abuse is a product of a dysfunctional family environment, it is important to understand the experience from a family systems lens. What dynamics contribute to the existence and perpetuation of sibling abuse? How does the way parents relate to each child influence the sibling relationship? This episode addresses these questions and more. Do you have questions about sibling abuse? DM Dr. Meyers.

Silas Kelly, Social Worker and podcast host shares his childhood experience of abandonment, neglect and then rescue through foster care. He shares his path towards healing, stability, gratitude, and ultimately a calling to the profession of social work.

An elder client financially exploited by a neighbor. Reminiscent and supportive counseling amazingly improves her dementia. Then she expresses romantic love for her clinician. Dr. Meyers and her guest discuss various forms of demonstrated love from clients and how to manage it.

Celeste Viciere is here to explain the process of healing the inner child She discusses the importance of becoming aware of how our early childhood experiences, emotions and neds are played out in adulthood and how we can develop new patterns of being. "Shifting" is a challenging process that Celeste has worked on herself. Her straight-forward understanding, explanation and tools may just lead you to develop a more satisfying you.

How we physically present ourselves does leave room for judgment. Does our appearance send the message we want regarding how we would like to be perceived? Can we control how we are perceived? Attire and physical being are compared to earning respect as Molloy University students reveal their own personal styles and the impact that has had on them, and others.

Dr. Meyers is in conversation with Anne, who shared her personal story of sibling abuse in episode #38. Now, Anne shares how, through her work with a client who was a survivor, Anne came to her own realizations of her childhood sibling relationship. The work between client and therapist became significantly healing for both. Anne was able to validate and identify her client’s experience as abusive and in turn, was able to give meaning to her own lived experience. Together, they forged a path towards healing.

Working with clients who have been traumatized requires understanding of trauma-informed practices, psychodynamics, and neuroscience - and requires self-care. How do we know when to help the client process their trauma or recognize they may not be ready? Dr. Daria Hansen shares the strategies she applies to her clients, her students, and herself.

Three university professors and clinicians talk about their personal and teaching experiences with racial diversity, equity and inclusion and how their positionality and identities present challenges teaching and approaching this material. They have to navigate their own emotions as they help others to open themselves to the vulnerability and necessity to learn about and own their own identities inclusive of privilege and oppression.

Do you ever struggle with the benefits vs. limitations of communicating through texting? How about when used in the therapeutic relationship? Emily Brierly, a Molloy University social work student feels misaligned with a co-intern’s intervention with a group of high school students as they planned a conference and were in need of task follow-through. What arises is the questionable use of texting as a tool for, or inhibitor of engagement.

Dr. Meyers is interviewed by a documentarian and recent social work graduate to share her career choices and path, with a focus on her personal journey as well. It is no coincidence that the two intertwine. Who is Dr. Meyers? You’ll have to listen to find out.

A survivor of sibling abuse who also happens to be a seasoned therapist shares her experience with her abusive brother, the family dynamics that induced and perpetuated this relationship, and how she has been impacted. It wasn’t until middle adulthood that she recognized this relationship as abusive. What can we learn about sibling abuse from her story?

A budding social worker relates his personal experience with loss at a developmentally significant age. His own history affects his tolerance of his clients’ dependency on him. With self-reflection and insight, Anthony Gaetani considers his understanding of his client's projections and is working through his own fear of disappointment.

Dr. Meyers presents her experiences teaching a course on Diversity: Power, Oppression and Social Justice. As a white professor, she addresses setting the climate and speaks candidly about her challenges and the classroom interactions that have taught her so much.

Petrina Williams, a new professional and graduate of Molloy University and Columbia University Social Work programs raises the question when and how to be your authentic self with clients: when it may work well - and when it may not. With humor, she opens about her high expectations of herself, her military background, and how she inadvertently transfers those standards of behavior onto clients.

Professor and clinician Cynthia Bott discusses how she has navigated her lesbian identity and how this has created a niche practice which she finds both gratifying and limiting. She takes us on a journey of interesting topics related to the LGBT+ population and explores the sociological impact on what is considered normative. The importance of language and terminology is addressed with non-judgemental candor.

There are several forms of termination with a client. The client can end treatment, the therapist can end the client’s treatment or the therapist can terminate his/her practice. Lisa Newland, a seasoned social worker shares her path from community social work to private practice and back as she decides to close the doors to her clinical practice. We are given a window into the complexity of feelings that can be ignited for both client and therapist.

We are talking about how therapists manage when we experience and struggle with something similar in our life at the same time as our clients. Dr. Meyers and her guest also chat about those times we may still be contending with the resonance of our own “stuff”.