The Reframe

My guest is Mr. Mike Shook, creator and host of the wildly popular and always informative podcast, The Thoughtful Counselor. Mike is a mental health counselor in China, where he provides counseling to English speaking cross-cultural workers and immigrants living in Beijing. He is a National Certified Counselor and a licensed mental health counselor in the State of Florida. Prior to becoming a counselor, Mike worked in Central China for an NGO that provided care for children with medical needs.

Mike discusses what it’s like to live and practice counseling in China, explains how he strives to apply ethical counseling practices in a country where the profession is still emerging and unregulated, and describes what he’s learned about health and well-being from his Chinese colleagues. He also shares about the challenging and humbling nature of striving to become a more culturally competent clinician, highlights his strategies for receiving and integrating corrective feedback, and reflects on how hosting a mental health podcast has influenced his clinical work and professional identity.

My guest is Dr. Heather Trepal, Professor and Coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is the current President of The American Counseling Association (ACA) and a Past-President of The Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and The Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC). Dr. Trepal’s research focuses on counselor preparation and supervision, gender issues and sexual trauma, non-suicidal self-injury, and professional advocacy.

Dr. Trepal discusses the initiatives and goals she’s working to achieve as ACA President, describes her passion for supervising bilingual counselors and working with Spanish-speaking clients, recounts some of the lessons she’s learned from past disappointments and setbacks, and highlights the importance of seeking out supportive and challenging mentors. Dr. Trepal also explains the personal and sometimes painful nature of licensure portability, shares her hopes for the future of the counseling profession, and offers encouragement to novice counselors currently struggling to attain full licensure.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Kellie Camelford, Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Counseling at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She’s a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, specializing in adolescents, self-harm, women’s issues, infertility, and parenting training. Prior to joining the faculty at LSUHSC, Dr. Camelford worked as a high school counselor at an all-girls parochial school and as a clinician in private practice.

Dr. Camelford discusses her approaches to involving parents in the school counseling process, highlights the rewarding and challenging nature of counseling adolescents, explains how her work has benefited from practicing self-compassion and self-care, and describes how she responds to clients who tell her that she looks young for her age. Dr. Camelford also reflects on how she has transformed professional disappoints into opportunities for reflection and growth, shares strategies for effectively bracketing one’s values within the counseling relationship, and stresses the importance of vulnerability within the practice of consultation.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Mark E. Young, Professor Emeritus of Counselor Education at the University of Central Florida and a charter member of IAMFC. He is the co-founder of the UCF Marriage and Family Research Center, author of five counseling textbooks, and a nationally recognized expert and leader in the field of marriage and family counseling.

Dr. Young recounts his early struggles and missteps as a novice counselor, describes his approaches to using humor and taking risks with clients, and offers tips for making the most of pre-licensure supervision. He also discusses the common challenges and setbacks associated with couples counseling, highlights strategies for effectively working with high conflict couples, and shares about his hopes and vision for the future of marriage and family counseling.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Kathleen Smith, author, therapist, and associate faculty member at The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. Her writing has appeared in Salon, Slate, New York Magazine, and Counseling Today. She is the author of The Fangirl Life and the forthcoming book, Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down.

Dr. Smith offers practical tips for maximizing your experience in an online counseling degree program, highlights helpful strategies for effectively marketing a private practice, discusses her work and involvement with The Bowen Center, shares about the joys and challenges of launching and maintaining a writing career, and describes the core principles that guide her clinical work.

To learn more about Dr. Smith’s new book and to subscribe to her weekly newsletter, The Anxious Overachiever, visit: https://kathleensmith.net/

My guest is Dr. Jason King, Student Development Coordinator for the Department of Counseling at Walden University. He specializes in couples counseling and treating compulsive and addictive behaviors. Dr. King is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in the State of Utah and has served as the Governor-appointed chair of the Utah Clinical Mental Health Counselor licensure board since 2009. Additionally, Dr. King served as a committee member on the DSM-5 Revision Task Force for the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), and he co-edited the book DSM-5 and Family Systems.

Dr. King highlights strategies for working with challenging and resistant clients, shares about his efforts to embrace critical feedback and overcome self-doubt, describes the various ways that he incorporates humility and humor into his clinical work, explains how to effectively utilize diagnosis within the framework of the wellness model, and discusses systemic approaches to using the DSM-5.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Ms. Temple Price, doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Howard University and a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor in the State of Maryland. She earned an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Xavier University of Louisiana, has served as an Editorial Assistant for the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, and previously worked as a graduate research assistant at the Center for Traumatic Stress Research in New Orleans.

Ms. Price discusses the various challenges she encountered during her first year of doctoral studies, reflects on the valuable lessons and advice she has received from mentors, and describes the growing pains associated with her work as a pre-licensed clinician. She also highlights the importance of practicing cultural humility, explains how persevering through disappointment can foster growth and resilience, and shares her hopes for the future of the counseling profession.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Brian Canfield, Professor of Counseling at Florida Atlantic University and IAMFC’s Director of International Education and Development. He is a past-President of IAMFC, and a Fellow and Past-President of the American Counseling Association. Specializing in marital issues and family conflict, Dr. Canfield is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida and Louisiana, a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Arkansas, and is an internationally recognized expert in the field of marriage and family counseling.

Dr. Canfield recounts the valuable lessons he’s gained over the course of his 30-plus year career, discusses the importance of self-care for maintaining clinical effectiveness and safeguarding against professional impairment, highlights his approaches to working with potentially deceptive clients, and shares about his experiences organizing and attending IAMFC's annual Oxford Family Counseling Institute. He also describes how his research on family of origin issues informs his clinical work, discusses the relational pitfalls he commonly encounters in his couples work, and explains the importance of bracketing one’s values and setting realistic expectations when counseling couples considering divorce. 

For more information about IAMFC's annual Oxford Family Counseling Institute, visit: http://bit.ly/IAMFC-Oxford

My guest is Dr. Paul Peluso, Professor and Chair of the Department of Counselor Education at Florida Atlantic University and a Past-President of IAMFC. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida and Georgia, specializing in couples counseling and treating infidelity. Dr. Peluso is the author/coauthor of six books, has lectured internationally on the topic of affairs, and currently serves as IAMFC’s Representative on ACA’s Governing Council.

Dr. Peluso discusses his early struggles and shortcomings as a couples counselor, describes his research on infidelity and his approaches to helping couples recover from affairs, highlights the major issues that currently threaten the long-term survival of the family counseling profession, and recounts his formative experiences training under the legendary author and family therapist, Dr. Gus Napier.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/

My guest is Dr. Sam Gladding, Professor of Counseling at Wake Forest University, author of over 45 books, and the current President of IAMFC. 

Dr. Gladding discusses his philosophy of leadership and his vision for the future of IAMFC. He also highlights the benefits of humor and creativity in counseling and recounts fond memories from his over 40 years as a counselor, professor, author, and leader.

For more information about The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, visit IAMFC's website: http://www.iamfconline.org/